On-air tributes poured in yesterday for legendary producer Jack Reilly, who passed away yesterday morning. FNC’s FOX Report featured a package about Reilly’s life and included an interview with FNC Chairman Roger Ailes, who “was a production assistant for him” in 1962.
“He was a terrific television producer and a terrific human being,” said Ailes. “Sometimes that’s hard. With him, it looked easy.” See the FNC segment below, and after the jump, more on-air tributes:
Click continued for Reilly tributes from ABC, CNBC and FBN…
ABC’s Charlie Gibson:
Jack Reilly was the most decent of men, a class act, with the softness of spots in his big Irish heart. He was modest, he was shy, he was self-effacing, but a great producer who knew when to inject himself and when to let you do your work. All of us who worked for Jack and with Jack are better for it.
CNBC’s Sue Herera:
He was exceptionally giving in many different ways. He would give you advice, but you never really thought you were getting advice from Jack. he did it in the nicest, most subtle way.
FBN’s Neil Cavuto, who described Reilly as “Bob Newhart doing news,” said when he left CNBC, Reilly told him: “I’d hate to see you go, but I guess with Roger, you’d be stupid not to.”