Darrell Hammond filled in for Don Pardo - H 2014
Saturday Night Live is expected to pay tribute to longtime announce Don Pardo when it returns this week.
Pardo, who died last month at 96, was described as the heart and soul of the show by creator Lorne Michaels. Below are five of the reasons why he was such a beloved figure during his 70 years with NBC.
1. 60th anniversary celebration
This video was prepared for Pardo in 2004 to celebrate his 60th anniversary working for the network. Pardo’s new replacement, Darrell Hammond, had particular praise for him in the piece.
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2. Pardo on Hammond
Speaking of Hammond, Pardo had kind words of his own for the comedian, who saved his bacon by filling in for him one night.
The flub
Even Pardo wasn’t always perfect, yet he was able to talk about it with such charm.
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4. The Price is Right
Pardo was a mainstay across NBC’s properties, including The Price is Right. He got a big on-air congratulations on the birth of his sixth child on one of the episodes, plus a heartfelt goodbye on his final episode.
5. Pardo covers the Kennedy assassination
During his decades at NBC, Pardo was there for some of the most important moments of the 20th century, including the death of President John F. Kennedy Jr.
So, what are your favorite Pardo memories? How should SNL honor him? Let us know in the comments.
Email: Aaron.Couch@THR.com
Twitter: @AaronCouch
Sept. 27, 4:45 p.m. An earlier version of this story misstated the date of Pardo’s death. THR regrets the error.