Good Morning!

I tend to agree with Mr. Reed in that I think you need to be from Greensboro to bond with this book. However, having also worked with Lee at WFMY and at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, I can say that having listened to his accounts of his years in broadcasting, ANY written account would be somewhat limited. Lee is a fine gentleman; one of the nicest people I have ever met, and it was an honor to have known him...

Maybe you have to be from Greensboro, NC to enjoy this book--but I think it will be fascinating to anyone with an interest in television history. Mr. Kinard began broadcasting when TV was still a novelty. His recollections of those early days help us understand that, long before TV news became the ratings-hungry, revenue-generating circus it is today, there was a genuine sense of obligation to the local community. This book gives a glimpse of the real thought that went into fulfilling that responsibility. Mr. Kinard is not your average TV personality--not your typical pretty face on an empty suit. He is a true pioneer who literally spent hours on the air, live, every day--learning as he blazed trails where none had gone before. He saw much promise in the television medium. He worked hard to help his show reach its highest potential, and fought hard against the temptation to pander and become an "idiot box." Unfortunately, this short book only serves as an appetizer; one gets the sense there's an all-you-can-eat buffet of memories just waiting to be published. My only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because this book is too short. Perhaps Mr. Kinard will write more of his broadcast days soon. If you know The Good Morning Show from Lee Kinard's days (and that is the only "real" Good Morning Show), buy this book while you still can. You'll hear his familiar baritone voice in your head as you read his words. If you've never heard of the guy, buy it anyway, and get a sense of the early days of local television broadcasting. (In the interest of full disclosure, I must state that I worked at WFMY for a few years in early 1980s, and part of that time was for Mr. Kinard on The Good Morning Show. But today I look back on a career of almost 30 years, and Lee Kinard stands out as one of the most interesting figures I've encountered--perhaps even the most important person I've worked for.)