Walter Jacobson and Bill Kurtis speak the the staff at WBBM-TV on the eve of their final broadcast. (CBS)
CHICAGO (CBS) — The legendary duo of Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson signed off as anchors Thursday after a re-teaming of more than two years at CBS 2.
Thursday’s 6 p.m. newscast was the last for the co-anchors, who first worked together on the anchor desk for WBBM-TV in 1973. The end of their latest stint was marked by an affectionate video tribute that included highlights — and a few humorous low-lights — from their time at WBBM-TV.
Tributes in the piece included well-wishes from CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley and “Anchorman” star Will Ferrell, who slipped in a few irreverent remarks. Kurtis narrated the comedy hit.
“That’s our news at six,” a beaming Kurtis, surrounded by CBS 2 colleagues, said at the close of Thursday’s 6 p.m. newscast.
The newscasters hand over their 6 p.m. anchor duties to Rob Johnson and Kate Sullivan, who currently anchor the station’s weekday 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts.
After Kurtis and Jacobson returned to the station as co-anchors on Aug. 23, 2010, they have helped contribute to the across-the-board ratings growth of CBS 2’s newscasts.
Previously, Kurtis and Jacobson anchored the station’s weekday 10 p.m. news, the market’s dominant, top-rated newscast, from 1973-82.
