Robert Wagner on TCM

If you watched the Tab Hunter movies on TCM last night, you will have seen that they were being introduced by Robert Wagner, and not Robert Osborne. It's been reported that Robert Osborne had "minor" surgery and afterwards decided to take a vacation. As such, for the next several weeks we're going to be seeing "friends of TCM" presenting the movies.

I always wonder when I see something like "minor surgery", especially when it was kept confidential for so long. TCM records its pieces some time in advance, although I'll admit I don't know quite how far in advance since I'm not certain how far in advance they're able to firm up the prime time schedule. In the case of The Essentials, that's quite a long time, as with the Guest Programmers and, presumably, the Stars of the Month, but for other nights, I suppose it might not be until the whole monthly schedule is finished ten weeks ahead of time or so. Obviously, everybody had to know for some time that Osborne was going to be absent. On the other hand, it could mean that they know know when he's going to be back, as they've implied just when Osborne will be making his return.

Anyhow, I think we all wish Osborne a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back on TCM full-time real soon. For the record, the next two "Friends of TCM" have been announced as Jane Powell for the week of July 18, and Tippi Hedren for the week of July 25.