I am Uncapie...

Legendary talk show host and interviewer, Tom Snyder, who was a staple of late night television, passed away Sunday due to complications of leukemia at the age of 71.

Here was a man who loved going to work in the radio and television business for over 40 years.

Known for his casual style of interviewing and unique, jovial laugh, Mr. Snyder began his career in Milwaukee as a radio reporter moving into local television in the 1960's. A few years later, he became a news anchor in at KYW-TV Philadelphia ending up at NBC Channel 4 in Los Angeles.

In 1972, Mr. Snyder left the news world to host "The Tomorrow Show," which followed "The Tonight Show," hosted by Johnny Carson where is catch phrase was, "Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax and watch the pictures now as they fly through the air" as he fired up a smoke with his cigarette cloud swirling around him during interviews.

So popular was his show, even Dan Ackroyd lampooned him in the early days of "Saturday Night Live."

In 1995, he returned to late night television once again with , "The Late, Late Show" that followed David Letterman's, "The Late Show" where the show continued until 1998 when he was replaced by Craig Kilborn.

Mr. Snyder was a tough, yet kind-hearted and funny host. He had some of the most fascinating people on his show. Alfred Hitchcock, Charles Manson, the last interview with Moe Howard of the "Three Stooges" a week before he died, actor Tony Randall discussing his late-in-life family and how happy he was in front of an audience, this weird comic book guy who had a copy of "Marvel Tales #1" who talked about comic collecting, Wendy-O of the "Plasmatics" who cut a car in half with a chainsaw on stage while Mr. Snyder smoked his cigarette and watched with smiling interest.

But, sometimes when a jerk would call in with a rude comment towards his guest, he'd let them have it. As in the case with Wolfgang Puck where he was discussing his cooking techniques when a caller phoned in stating that cooking was for sissies and women. Mr. Snyder stood up and yelled at the camera, "Yeah, punk...what a sissy. He's worth millions and talented and you're nothing but a foul-mouthed punk so get off my line, punk!"

Mr. Snyder told it like it was.

His unique style will always be remembered. He will be missed.

Uncapie