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Rukeyser puts stock in his fans

Apr 1, 2002  •  Post A Comment

Some of Louis Rukeyser’s comments from “Wall $treet Week” on March 22. He was dismissed after the show ended:
Well, a funny thing happened to me on the way to the studio this week. I got ambushed.
By the time I completed the journey of hundreds of miles from my home that I’ve been making for 32 years to bring you this program, I half-expected to find the door bolted, the furniture padlocked and my swiveling armchair up for auction.
There was a report late this week that, judging from the truly extraordinary reaction we’ve been getting, seems to have stunned millions of Americans-including yours truly: the idea that some folks apparently think they can do “Wall $treet Week” without Louis Rukeyser.
Well, more power to them-but here’s the important part: Contrary to what you may have read or heard, another weekly program with me as host and commentator will be on television.
I want to assure all our loyal viewers-and the underwriters who have supported us over the years-that Louis Rukeyser will still very much be around.
It turns out that the woods are full of smart television executives who are wonderfully excited at the prospect of producing and distributing the new Louis Rukeyser program.
The name may change a little bit-that’s what we have lawyers for!-and we will not be coming to you from the studio that has been my television home for 32 years-but never fear-we will be offering the program to public television.
Just before the show ended, Mr. Rukeyser made these additional remarks:
And now, what I promised you: How you can make sure to see the new program I’m developing.
Don’t bother writing PBS or [Maryland Public Television]. Make your wishes known to your own local public television station. And do it right now.
As soon as this program is over, I want you to rise out of your chair-not to shout, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore,” but to telephone-or better still, write or e-mail your local station, saying that you’ve heard that Louis Rukeyser is still going to have a program-and you’d like to see it.
I promise you: If enough of you do that, it will do the job.