Welcome Back, Bob!

The Officially Un-Official Robert Osborne Welcome Home Party

[welcomebackbob]

The Welcome Back Bob Blogroll!

Wow! I think it’s safe to say the Welcome Back Bob campaign has been a terrific success, thanks entirely to fabulous support from the classic film community’s online constituency. From Twitter (where #WelcomeBackBob was a trending topic last night) to Tumblr (which was featured yesterday in Slate Magazine) and back again, this celebration of the return of Robert Osborne to TCM has morphed into something unprecedented: an emotional rallying of classic film fanatics who were, for four days, able to band together and share exactly what it is that touches us so deeply about these movies-- and just why Robert Osborne means so much to us.

And a tremendous thank you is definitely in order to the hundreds of folks who tweeted out their love for Robert O -- the names are too numerous to mention here, but too fabulous to forget. (You know who you are. ;)

We've proved how truly special the classic film community classic really is. Wonderful work, all!

Signing off,

Carley & Will

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@BobbyRiversTV (Bobby Rivers) http://tinyurl.com/cykyes4

@LouLumenick (Lou Lumenick) http://tinyurl.com/7yzda6p 

@TCM_Party @hockmangirl http://tinyurl.com/828g554

@MnstrIsleResort (Miguel Rodriquez) http://tinyurl.com/colkcf8 

@NoirGirl (Casey Koester) http://tinyurl.com/brtkc67 

@scarlettolive (Katie and Hilary) http://tinyurl.com/6wge7ra 

@GlamAmor (Kimberly Truhler) http://tinyurl.com/6uu8nuh 

@CitizenScreen (Aurora) http://tinyurl.com/7rszknl 

@IEphemera (Cliff Aliperti) http://tinyurl.com/7a5zem4

@HollywoodLegacy (Lana Morgan) http://tinyurl.com/84b43ms

@classic_film http://tinyurl.com/csmjo25

@girloftheplains (Kathy) http://tinyurl.com/claeo4r

@EliseCD (Elise Crane Derby) http://tinyurl.com/c369nxr

@jon_melville (Jon Melville) http://tinyurl.com/c9gdgrj

@biscuitkitten (Jill) http://tinyurl.com/bq7nbs6

@IrishJayhawk66 (Kellee Pratt) http://tinyurl.com/cbw6g6t

@DraconicVerses (Jim Phoel) http://tinyurl.com/cqkrvdf

@MaterialGirl850 (Angela) http://tinyurl.com/7acwgbo

@AC_Spankie (Amanda) http://tinyurl.com/7dzah5a

@BrandonBrownNYC (Brandon Brown) http://tinyurl.com/889th36

@TheRedan3553 (Raquel) http://tinyurl.com/7pay4u3

@tonyalit (Tonya Rice) http://tinyurl.com/746f78y

@ScribeHard (Michael Nazarewycz) http://tinyurl.com/7ucnd2p

@RebelliciousRed (Annette) http://tinyurl.com/7neooaa

@ChampaignMatt (Matthew Gladney) http://tinyurl.com/72qycyv

@vivandlarry (Kendra Bean) http://tinyurl.com/87uxk5a

@trueclassics (Brandie) http://tinyurl.com/7q8c4vo

@4ever_Classics (Meredith G.) http://tinyurl.com/7slv64f

@oldfilmsflicker (Marya E. Gates) http://tinyurl.com/77z34zn

@Gene730 (Gene Zoriach) http://tinyurl.com/6rhr4fg

@DriveInMob http://tinyurl.com/7rmb7v7

@HollywoodComet (Jessica Noelle Pickens) http://tinyurl.com/73ypggc

@tpjost (Trevor Jost) http://tinyurl.com/7uc6lbp

@dereliction_row (Jennifer Baldwin) http://tinyurl.com/cabhoeo

@TheLaydeeEve (Eve) http://tinyurl.com/7jmyn62

@Ch_eekyGirl (Nicole Alvarado) http://tinyurl.com/bvdr85h

@thecinemadoctor (Drew Morton) http://tinyurl.com/cz5fzgs

@HaroldItz (Harold Itzkowitz) http://tinyurl.com/bu5uowc

@Mercurie80 (Terry Canote) http://tinyurl.com/cofuad8

@FolkLaur (Lauren Foulk) http://tinyurl.com/bq5okfb

@nancybroden (Nancy Broden) http://tinyurl.com/cbog33b

@CulturalGutter (Carol Borden) http://tinyurl.com/bo3ltox

@T_Lawson (Trey Lawson) http://tinyurl.com/7kqmjoq

@GCDB + @furiouscinema (Pete Roberts) http://tinyurl.com/6vc5swu

@RiverCityOtter (Jake Moore) http://tinyurl.com/8yrzc95

@j_bacardi (David Allen Jones) http://tinyurl.com/7n6rygx

@wicked_cricket (Bev Rose) http://tinyurl.com/75huby9

@jenlea84 (Jennifer) http://tinyurl.com/ch6cxv2

@zombiedad (Scott) http://tinyurl.com/ceggkhh

@chaplinlives http://tinyurl.com/ch7mq8k

@Soxwriter (Pat) http://tinyurl.com/7pc3hlr

@ricksahm (Rick Geissal) http://tinyurl.com/7vad2vz

@bkthecinephile (Brandon Kyle) http://tinyurl.com/c597mz7

@mharvey816 (Michele Harvey) http://tinyurl.com/cl9w7kb

@perfectlypaula (Paula Kirsch) http://tinyurl.com/7n9bup7

@Willmckinley (Will McKinley) http://tinyurl.com/bopwleh

@misscarley (Carley Johnson) http://tinyurl.com/7s7utgr

@PurpleMixTape http://tinyurl.com/7s7utgr

@CaftanWoman http://tinyurl.com/7s7utgr

[welcomebackbob]

What I *WANTED* to Say Was...

OK. So. Two years ago, I was one of the lucky classic film fans in attendance at the opening night premiere of the restored A Star is Born at Turner Classic Movies first annual Classic Film Festival here in Hollywood. Halfway through the film, I had to make an emergency dash to the ladies room. If you've never been to Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the ladies and men's rooms are positioned down a steep staircase at opposing ends of the lobby, which means I had to pass by the men's to get to the ladies... and who should be ascending the staircase just as I go charging past? Yep. So, I pause, debating for two hot seconds on whether or not to introduce myself at such an awkward moment.  Oh, what the hell, I'm an awkward gal. Made sense. And so I marched up to him and forcefully extended my hand, confident the impressively fashioned phrases up in my head were being reliably translated vocally: "Mr. Osborne, I must say, such a pleasure to make your acquaintance! I do so enjoy your academic yet still entertaining insights every evening, in fact, I daresay that I rather look forward to it.” What came out was something along the lines of “Oh! Wow! Uh... you... you’re Robert Osborne! I.. I.. uh... I really ... uh ... love your stuff. I mean your work. I mean. I love what you do and ... uh ... so ... yeah!” No recovery from something like that. But a chance at redemption came three nights later: the night after the Fest had wrapped, my buddy Nicole and I were having margarita at our favorite Mexican food restaurant in Hollywood which is strategically placed across the street from one of the city’s most beloved revival theaters. That night they were screening Gone With the Wind, which I’d never seen on the big screen, and eager to keep the warm glow of classic film heaven burning, we were both eager to attend. In the booth behind us? Yep. Again. So I sit there for twenty hot minutes, debating. Mr. Osborne was enjoying some visibly wonderful one-on-one conversation with an elderly gent, most definitely a very old friend, and as much as I wanted to redeem myself ... Nicole and I decided to let them be.  He looked so happy that night, I could not bring myself. But Mr. Osborne, if I’d had the backbone I pretend to possess... what I would have said was what I wanted to say that awkward men's room moment at Grauman’s Chinese: I adore you. Thank you for making THIS all possible. Words cannot express how very much it means to me and millions of classic film fans like me.

-- From @MissCarley, webmistress The Kitty Packard Pictorial

[welcomebackbob]

The real brains behind Welcome Back Bob shows his school spirit! Well done to Will McKinley!

[welcomebackbob]

Good to have you back Mr. Osborne.

- From Jessica

[welcomebackbob]

Welcome Back

To a true professional who is better at this than anyone else .  He's one of the reasons I watch.  

Hope you are well and will continue with us for years to come.

-From Sidney Carton

[welcomebackbob]

Wizard of Oz Cast Reunion Honors Robert Osborne

From Kiwi Grant (on Twitter @HollywoodLegacy) comes this whimsical well wish to the returning Robert Osborne:

Thank goodness Robert Osborne is back!! We have missed seeing him on TCM...

My friends Dorothy, Toto, Tinman, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion are so excited, they gathered for a cast reunion in front of the gates of MGM studio gates.

[welcomebackbob]

We are delighted that Slate Magazine gives a nod to Robert Osborne with their post "Welcome Back, Bob: An Iconic TV Host Returns": 

After a five-month absence, Robert Osborne, the primetime host for Turner Classic Movies, will return to the network tonight at 8 p.m. And it’s not a moment too soon for his diehard fans: As the day has neared, a surprising number of blogs—some created for the occasion, like Welcome Back, Bob: The Officially Un-official Robert Osborne Welcome Home Party—have been celebrating his resumption of duties, some even launching countdowns to his “homecoming."...

(read full article here)

[welcomebackbob]

tpjost Trevor Jost 

  One of my friends just called me, and want to know if I could play no their rec league basketball team tonight. I said no. #WelcomeBackBob

[welcomebackbob]

Fun photo from @WillMcKinley ...

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[welcomebackbob]

From Gene Zoriach, and his extensively knowledgable website, comes this welcome to Mr. Osborne and a pictorial intro to the first film on tonights lineup: Jewell Robbery, starring Kay Francis and William Powell. (Follow Gene on Twitter @Gene730 :

On Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, TCM will welcome back Robert Osborne with a selection of movies that sounds like the cream of “Bob’s Picks,” where Mr. Osborne would treat viewers to a night of his personal favorites and/or guilty pleasures.  I think it’s safe to assume that the first film in TCM’s prime time lineup this night, starting at 8 PM EST, “Jewel Robbery,” (WB, 1932) is the start of an evening of favorites, as it stars two of his favorite actors, Kay Francis and William Powell.

Robert Osborne deserves a considerable amount of credit when it comes to Kay Francis — his championing of her work by making many of her films regularly available on TCM broadcasts, including Kay Francis “Star of the Month” and “birthday” promotions, and his frequent mentioning of this vastly underrated, star — who was all but forgotten (as she wished) until Osborne and  TCM resurrected her work and reputation, has given a new generation the chance to see for themselves why she was for a time in the 1930s the most popular and highest paid actress in Hollywood.... (read full post here)

[welcomebackbob]

... and another cameo in Footlight Parade! Who knew? (submitted via @BiscuitKitten)

[welcomebackbob]

Bob Osborne's little known cameo in Singin' in the Rain... Submitted from TCM/Twitter fan @BiscuitKitten

[welcomebackbob]

tcm TCM 

  Join us in welcoming back Robert Osborne as he resumes his primetime hosting duties TONIGHT starting at 8pm ET. #WelcomeBackBob

[welcomebackbob]

DVR Alert: Robert Osborne & William Powell

New York Post film critic Lou Lumenick , who served as a TCM Guest Programmer in 2010, has just posted this piece on Osborne's return to TCM. Thanks, Lou! (Follow Lou on Twitter @LouLumenick)

   Hooray! Tonight on TCM, Robert Osborne makes his very welcome returning to hosting at 8 p.m. Eastern after a very well-deserved five month vacation. It's the first time he's been off the air since the network's founding in 1995.

“Honestly, it was no big deal,” he tells Atlanta Magazine in his first interview since returning to work in October (TCM tapes segments at least a couple of months in advance, and he has already shot an new entire season of "The Essentials'' with Drew Barrymore). “Essentially, I had worked 17 years straight without a vacation. I wanted a lump of time just to relax and unwind. I wanted to go get an MRI and a CATscan. I wanted to get a facial and get some crowns put on my teeth. I wanted to start going to a gym regularly. I wanted to pamper myself a little. I feel really good and very well rested.'' (read full article here)

[welcomebackbob]

Some Thoughts on Robert Osborne...

From Raquel who runs the Now Watching blog, some personal thoughts on the special place the TCM network, and Robert Osborne, has in her life: 

Wow, where to start.

The beginning?

Alright, the beginning.

It all started when I was in middle school. I was sick one day when I was in 8th grade, it was probably the usual trouble with my tonsils, my Mom had mercy on me and let me stay home from school.

Usually when I stayed home from school I spent the day watching Mexican or Brazilian soap operas, or in bed reading, but this time was different, my dad had finally caved and we now had cable. I had a plethora of channels to choose from and no way of deciding where to begin so I started channel surfing.

I discovered two things that day, the first was Kenneth Branagh (I fell madly in love with Branagh while watching him in ‘Henry V’) and the second was TCM. I remember that ‘An American Romance’ was playing when I stumbled upon TCM and I fell in love for a second time, not with a gorgeous and talented man (those of you who know me are aware that this occurs often) but with a television channel. Unfortunately cable TV didn’t last long in our house, my parents decided that my siblings and I spent far too much time in front of the television screen so I didn’t get to enjoy TCM for quite some time...

(Read full post here)

[welcomebackbob]

As a massive Beatles fan, this wonderfully tongue-in-cheek intro Robert Osborne did for a Beatles parody ("The Bug Outs" in A Hard Bug's Bite) makes my heart oh-so-happy...!