The gathering crowd
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 4:54 PM by Sam Singal
By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor
Outside our building, crowds are already pressing against the barricades for tonight's Christmas tree lighting. The history of the tree is great, its roots are modest but these days, largely because of NBC's live telecast, the event has become massive...and quite frankly, other than the parties in every 30 Rock office with a tree-view (watch the live coverage to see how many people flash their office lights in order to be seen on live TV) it's a good day to avoid this building. We employees usually try to get clear of the place after our broadcast by using underground tunnels across 6th Avenue. For the television audience at home (and for those lucky enough for a good spot in the crowd and some source of warmth on a cold winter night) it's a great sight to witness...and it comes at a good time. I was just checking the headlines on the web. A sampling: CHRYSLER EXEC: FAILURE COULD SPARK DEPRESSION, FEDS TO EXPAND RESCUE; REVIEWING HUNDREDS OF BANKS, MORE JOB CUTS AT TIME, BALLY TOTAL FITNESS FILES CHAPTER 11. It's a grim holiday season for a lot of people. Tonight, for a while at least, music and light will distract us.
We hope you can join us tonight.