On Leaving Face the State.

The statement I wrote and read on the January 10th edition of Face the State: “Comedian Joan Rivers lived by a wise code: Walk through any open door. Say yes to opportunity. I was delighted to follow that advice when I accepted WFSB’s invitation to co-host Face the State last fall. Duby and I arrived as a team and leave as one. I’ll do what I usually do: Write a column for the Sunday edition of The Hartford Courant and report news on my website, Daily Ructions. I’ll continue to say yes to opportunities—and I hope you will too.”

You learn to apply concealer and embrace the teleprompter, and what does it get you? Fired from Connecticut’s venerable public affairs program, Face the State. That’s show business, innit? The unhappy details are here.

I hope you enjoyed the 13 programs the talented staff at WFSB, Duby McDowell and I created. We are grateful to our guests, who offered their knowledge and insights with viewers in these perilous times. Producer Tracy Furey shared our enthusiasm for finding a diverse array of guests. She was a peerless guide into a new role and leads a crew of professionals who offer and welcome ideas.

Thank you for the kind, encouraging and amusing messages friends and readers have sent since Tuesday’s unilateral decision became known Friday.

Daily Ructions readers are accustomed to video garnishes, often with music, that enhance written content. Judy Garland’s variety show lasted one season but has endured for more than 50 years as 26 episodes of excellence. The custom of the time was to close a series show with the same brief number each week. This post required a closer and the video above is cued to one that gives a jolly winks to the camera.

Let’s get back to the news.