By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Please join me in extending my condolences to my dear Sister/Friend Lillian Smith upon the transition of her lifelong friend, icon, mentor, “boss” the great talk show host PHIL DONAHUE.
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| TALK SHOW GREAT PHIL DONAHUE MAKES HIS TRANSITION |
I was in Chicago for the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION/2024, and had stopped by to see Lillian for the first time in nearly 20 years. We had spent the evening before reminiscing over the many guests she had bought onto his show and the challenges and triumphs she had experienced as one of his producers (actually his best producer - IJS).
When her son called to tell her of the announcement of his transition, we were discussing her impending book about her years with DONAJUE. It was such a shock to learn of Phil's passing we were both frozen on the spot momentarily. We turned on the TV to get more information, but the news hadn't hit the channels yet.
But the internet was full of the life and times of Phil Donahue! Lillian tried to handle the news with her usual grace and bravado, but it was clear to see she was trying to process the news. It's difficult to deal with loosing someone who had played such a large role in your life suddenly making his transition to the realm of the Ancestors.
Now we realized that going down memory's
lane the evening before, talking of all the stellar shows she had
produced for DONAHUE during the 17+ years that she was his
creative producer, idea lady, may have been his spirit saying his final goodbye.
It was because of Lillian's connections with the Black community that DONAHUE interviewed and featured some of the most iconic Black leaders of the 1980s and 90s – including Minister Louis Farrakhan, Rev. Al Sharpton, the coverage of the Tawana Brawley case, Rev. Al Sharpton, C. Vernon Mason, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Haki Madhubuti, Sharazad Ali - just to name a few. She was the one who made things happen behind the scenes. At the tiny height of 4'9" Lillian wielded a lot of power. They were a great team. Her can do attitude, coupled with Donahue's undying love for people, regardless of where they came from, their titles, race or ethnicity, made magic, and made it possible for Black people to be seen and heard in real time.
Thanks to Lillian I was on DONAHUE 14 times. So I was going through my own special set of memories of this Iconic
Talk Show Host. Donahue enjoyed giving the guest the microphone and let them speak for themselves. I was fortunate to have been one of those. Though I was not in the limelight like many of his guests, he often gave me my shot. My favorite Donahue saying, as he handed me the mike to add my 2 cents worth of wisdom to the subject at hand was: “...and I know you will be
brief!” fully knowing that I was going to be anything but! Then he'd hand me the mike and step away to allow me to chime in. WOW!
Like so many of his fans, I loved the way he trusted his audience and his guests, and allowed them to speak for themselves, speak from their own truth, and to allowed the audience to respond from their own understanding. It was liberating, and simulaneously allowed the American public to express themselves. It was one big friendly conversation.
So my condolences to my dear sister/friend LILLIAN SMITH, Marlo Thomas-Donahue, his family, staff, crew, and the entire world that had the opportunity to watch the magic happen.
The last time I saw Donahue was over 20 years ago when comedic genius and activist, Dick Gregory had come to New York to perform at Caroline's Comedy Club. Lillian and I caught the show, but Phil had eased in incognito, and sat at the back of the room - trying to not be noticed. However it didn't work - Dick saw that tuft of white hair and spent the rest of the evening cracking jokes about him - with a back and forth matching of wits between the two of them; much to the delight of the audience! And a good time was had by all.
I guess these two can now continue the dialogue on a more celestial basis!!
Thanks for the wonderful memories!
And rest in peace and power PHIL DONAHUE!
Gloria DULAN-Wilson
