European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 10, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Jessica Savitch new books probe tragedy of to s Golden girl  associated presso n screen. Abc anchorwoman Jessica Sovitch was television s Golden girl authoritative Beautiful intelligent of screen Iho Liller quickly vanished five years after her death two biographies dig beneath the Radiant image. Though Savitch s family and fiends dispute their findings both books describe a life marrow by drugs psychological problems her husband s suicide and in Lens ambition. Her whole life was a suicide Mission says Alanna Nash author of Golden girl  Ion. S 18.95. Gwynda Blair author of almost Golden Simon & schuster $13,95says Savitch was the wrong woman in the wrong place at the wrong Lime. Drive and am Bulian certainly got her to Iho lop bul it did i provide her with the stability needed to withstand the pressure of thai place in the Sun. But even More than Hal the changes that were taking place in the news Industry that both elevated her and punished her is Worth  popular with viewers but not with most colleagues. Savitch skyrocketed to television stardom in the 1970s, first As a local Anchor on Philadelphia s Kew to and then As Anchor of Abc s weekend news digest. By the late 1970s, the Petite blonde with Tho uncanny Knack of romancing Iho television camera was dubbed Abc s Golden girl by Newsweek Magazine. Five years later her Star lading she and wow York Post executive Martin Fischbein drowned when her car toppled into a canal in Bucks county a. The medical examiner s report said drugs were not involved. However both books argue Hal Savitch had a cocaine problem that had crippled her career. There was evidence olins lability Early on. Her main ambition was to become the first Irma la network Anchor and to do it by time she was 30. Erma Bombeck she gave herself an Edge she shaved a year Oil her age. But then her dream was shattered when Abc hired Barbara Walters at $1 million a year to co Anchor the nightly newscast. Jessica s highly audible outrage Las cd for a Long Lime Ihnn she went into a Corner of the Kew newsroom and cried Nash wrote. Her tirades and tantrums were legendary within the business according to the biographers. Kew cameras captured one particularly vivid outburst in which Savitch berated the Crew during a commercial break ranting raving screaming and then coolly returned to the newscast. Kew staffers set the videotape to music and sent it to Savitch s new network colleagues at Abc before her arrival. As her Star Rose so did her Palma Donna status. Besides wallers she was the Only Anchor reporter to travel with an entourage that included a Driver Hairdresser personal assistant and Secretary both books delve into her two marriages a Long affair with an abusive news producer the suicide other second husband or. Donald Payne and alleged lesbian liaisons they differ in their approach Blair concentrates on the Selling of television news blaming much of Savitch s Rise and fall on the nature of the Industry. She broke in at a time when television news was undecided whether it was news journalism or entertainment Blair said. Savitch was often criticized As being a lightweight a reporter who had not paid her dues. Said Blair Al the Lime she was exactly what they wanted her to be a pretty face who brought in  Nash on the other hand delves into Savitch s background her father s death of kidney disease at age 33, her Chilly relationship with her Mother her crippling insecurities citing several psychiatrists including a Lew who treated Savitch Nash concludes that Savitch had a borderline uht arson the glitter surrounding Abc s Jessica Savitch vanished quickly. Personality disorder which is characterized by psychological instability impaired social behaviour mood swings and trouble with interpersonal relationships. She argues Hal Savitch s problems can be traced to a childhood incident when she argued with her father and then ran away hiding for hours in a Field near her Home. When she reappeared her father berated her and screamed that she would never amount to anything. Soon after he died Savitch always believed she was the cause of his physical deterioration Nash said. Blair agreed the person whose approval she wanted the most her father she could never  drugs the authors said fed All her other problems and led to the destruction of her professional life. Those tuned Inlo Abc news digest the night of oct. 3, 1983. Saw that destruction firsthand As the anchorwoman appeared 10 suffer a breakdown on camera. She was dead 20 Days later. Savitch s Molher and Sisters Stephanie and Lori did not cooperate with either author. Lori Savitch an anchorwoman at her older sister s former station Kew in Philadelphia has denied her sister was addicted to cocaine Nash s Book is the More gossipy of lha two. Full of details about Savitch s troubled relationships with men some have questioned the purpose of such an intense and personal review of Savitch s life but both authors feel there s a lesson to be Learned. It is a cautionary tale and a sad one said Nash. I think it s about the corrupting influence of Fame about misplaced ambition. She was a woman who did t know who she was. She Only existed on television is like a spoiled child at the dinner table. When it s hungry it grabs everything in sight and devours it until there is nothing left. When you try to feed it something new it Rolls it around in its Mouth for maybe 13 weeks then spits it out it s hungry All the Lime. In our cily we have 33 channels. You can turn on the to Al 5  Foj gospel Bill and watch it until 4 30 . The Neil Day when father knows Best flashes on the screen. Lately i be been worried about the eating habits of television. There in t enough entertainment news. Sports business weather drama politics or music to till it up. We have sportscasters interviewing one another and weather persons staging contests to predict the first snowfall. There s a station that Lel Eeals Congress in Page 16 the stars and stripes session. I m amazed this is sold without a prescription from your doctor one station does nothing but Roll by to schedules. During the political conventions we watched five minutes of a Limo with a Flag on the fender parked in a garage. There Are millions of people out there every Day ripping of society fighting Over custody of children climbing mountains and protesting. We re breaking our Bones trying to manufacture enough news to satisfy the appetite of television but it s not enough. How Many rhinos mating in the wild can you build an hour around How Many people can Charles Kuralt find who play a Chain saw with their nose but mostly what concerns me is the future of talk shows. Where Are tomorrow s guests coming from after Joan Kathleen and Jane tap the Pool of interesting guests in the morning we have Phil Oprah Sally Jessy Regis Kathie Lee and Gary Bealing the monday october 10,19b8 shrubbery Lor More. This is followed by More talk with Larry Barbara Johnny David Jay Bob Geraldo Morion and Ted so Why was everyone surprised recently when a professional actor admitted to bopping around from one show to another posing As a walking crisis it was inevitable. There Are Only so Many people in this country who Are willing to sit around and talk about their first sexual experience. Which brings us to another shortage topics. We re getting to the Point where hosts Are scrambling for themes that Wilt grab a viewing audience. Any Day now Well be Down to oversexed nazi nuns racism in the Plant world citizens against clean air and my stomach implant was a big mistake television needs better food. Reruns Are just empty calories. C 1998 Erma Bombeck