Rappaport To The Rescue

Chuck Scarborough made history when he hit the 50-year milestone at WNBC in New York.  I am so honored to be joined with this news icon and his incredible wife, Ellen, who are beloved voices for animals in need. 

Listen to Episode #55 Now:

BIO:

Emmy award-winning news veteran Chuck Scarborough has been reporting for the National Broadcasting Company since 1974.

Over the years, he has led breaking news coverage locally and abroad. Scarborough has filed reports from Europe; Russia; the Middle East; the Philippines; Mexico and South America. Scarborough, a U.S. Air Force veteran, began his television career as an anchor and operations manager at WLOX-TV in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was anchor/reporter for WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; WAGA-TV in Atlanta and WNAC-TV in Boston.

Scarborough has earned 36 local Emmy awards and was honored by the New York Chapter of Television Arts & Sciences with their 2014 “Governor’s Award” as recognition of his long and distinguished career in journalism. Scarborough’s work has also earned awards from the Associated Press, New York Press Club; the Aviation and Space Writers; the Washington Review of Journalism’s Best in the Business; the Working Press Association; and the New York State Broadcasters Association. As a part of NBC 4’s continuing coverage of Hurricane’s Sandy, Scarborough earned a National Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award.

He has authored three novels, Stryker (1978), The Myrmidon Project (1980), and Aftershock (1991) and has written articles for publication in New York Magazine, Boston Magazine, and American Home Magazine. A proficient aviator, Scarborough holds a commercial pilot’s license.

Scarborough lends his time and talent to support a number of non-profit organizations that aid and support animal welfare, the environment, arts and education. He is also the voice for the New York Cares Coat Drive PSA – the Shivering Liberty Statue.

Scarborough, a Phi Kappa Phi, holds a Bachelor of Science degree Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern Mississippi and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Mercy College. He is married and has two children.

Transcript:

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Announcer: This is Pet Life Radio.

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Announcer: Let's talk pets.

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Announcer: Rappaport to the Rescue with award-winning animal advocate, best-selling author, journalist, and pet products creator, Jill Rappaport.

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Jill Rappaport: Hey, welcome to Rappaport to the Rescue.

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Jill Rappaport: I'm Jill Rappaport.

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Jill Rappaport: Our first show in the new year, and I want to wish all of you a very happy and healthy new year.

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Jill Rappaport: And here's to a great 2025 filled with love, peace, health, happiness, and of course, what do I always say is the most important thing?

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Jill Rappaport: Adoptions.

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Jill Rappaport: Make this your year to make a difference for animals in need who need your help now more than ever.

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Jill Rappaport: Well, I certainly have a great show kicking off the new year today because my guest is one of the most recognized faces in TV news.

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Jill Rappaport: He's won an incredible 36 Emmy Awards, and he's also one of the first inductees into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

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Jill Rappaport: Chuck Scarborough has been in the Anchor Chair in New York for an incredible 50 impactful years.

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Jill Rappaport: Did you hear that number?

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Jill Rappaport: 5050.

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Jill Rappaport: And he ended 2024 with one of the most memorable and heartfelt farewells in TV history.

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Jill Rappaport: Along with his stellar career, what I love about Chuck is he also happens to be one of the most passionate voices for animal welfare.

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Jill Rappaport: And together with his equally talented and beautiful wife, Ellen, they have made such a huge impact for animals in need.

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Jill Rappaport: So when we come back, the legend himself, Chuck Scarborough, along with his better half, Ellen, will both be joining us on Rappaport to the Rescue.

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Jill Rappaport: So stay tuned.

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Announcer: You know the expression, cats have nine lives.

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Announcer: Well, what if you can give them one more?

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Announcer: The Give Them Ten Movement is on a mission to help give cats an extra life.

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Announcer: How?

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Announcer: With spay and neuter.

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Announcer: Spaying or neutering your cat helps them live a longer, healthier life.

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Announcer: And it helps control free roaming cat populations too.

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Announcer: Learn more about the benefits of spay and neuter and meet Scooter, the neutered cat, at givethemten.org.

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Announcer: That's GiveThem, T-E-N dot org.

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Announcer: Oh, sure.

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Announcer: It's all fun and games until someone ends up in a cone.

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Announcer: That's right.

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Announcer: We are animals.

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Announcer: Deal with it.

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Announcer: Pet Life Radio.

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Announcer: Let's talk pets.

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Announcer: Let's talk pets.

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Announcer: Let's talk pets.

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Announcer: On Pet Life Radio.

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Announcer: Pet Life Radio.

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Announcer: petliferadio.com.

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Jill Rappaport: Welcome back to Rappaport to the Rescue.

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Jill Rappaport: I'm Jill Rappaport, and you heard the intro.

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Jill Rappaport: We have a legend in the dog house.

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Jill Rappaport: The one and only Chuck Scarborough, my dear friend and his incredible wife.

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Jill Rappaport: I love you guys so much.

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Jill Rappaport: And would you believe we're going on almost five years since you were last on this show?

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Jill Rappaport: You were one of my debut guests back when COVID started in 2020.

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Chuck Scarborough: I was hoping to get an invitation back.

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Chuck Scarborough: I waited year after year.

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Chuck Scarborough: And finally, finally.

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Jill Rappaport: It took a little while, but Chuck, you're so famous.

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Jill Rappaport: Even the Empire State Building lit up for you.

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Jill Rappaport: It was very hard to get you back until now, but I have to tell you, I am so honored.

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Jill Rappaport: And what a year it's been for you.

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Jill Rappaport: And first month off and retirement, how has it been?

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Chuck Scarborough: Well, it's been very quiet.

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Chuck Scarborough: We coincided with the holidays, so it sort of felt like the usual Christmas vacation.

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Ellen Scarborough: He's my handyman.

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Chuck Scarborough: Yes, I've been a handyman.

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Chuck Scarborough: We won't go too deeply into that, but we've spent a lot of time at home.

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Chuck Scarborough: So I really haven't kind of grasped the idea that I don't have to go anchor broadcasts now, that I'm liberated from the anchor desk, if that's the proper term.

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Chuck Scarborough: I dearly loved it for actually more than half a century, because I began my television career in news eight years before I arrived in New York in 1974.

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Chuck Scarborough: So it was actually 58 years.

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Chuck Scarborough: Yeah, it's a big transition, Jill, but I'm looking forward to whatever adventures lie ahead now, and I've got lots of directions I could go.

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Chuck Scarborough: This being one of them, being on a podcast with you.

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Jill Rappaport: Well, our audience can't see your faces, but I love that you're both still smiling and so happy.

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Jill Rappaport: Now that you have him home 24-7, Ellen, that is encouraging.

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Ellen Scarborough: Encouraging for whom?

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Jill Rappaport: For all of these years that you've been married, Chuck gets up, he goes to work, he comes home very late at night, and you've had this time to yourself, and now you got him around full time.

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Jill Rappaport: Is it a good thing or not?

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Ellen Scarborough: Well, I just tell him he has to wear a suit every day.

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Jill Rappaport: And that voice, hello, Ellen, welcome to my house.

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Chuck Scarborough: It gets a little awkward at night when it's bedtime, but if that's what Ellen wants, that's what she gets.

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Jill Rappaport: Well, what is that like for you, Chuck?

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Jill Rappaport: I mean, you talk about 58 years, and for those of you who didn't hear, and I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't have heard about all of the celebrations starting last spring when you actually had your 50-year celebration in the anchor chair there, it was so unbelievable.

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Jill Rappaport: The Empire State Building lit up in blue and gold.

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Jill Rappaport: There were tributes from celebrities, from politicians, from officials all over wishing you well, and then you made this incredible decision recently, literally right before December that this was it.

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Jill Rappaport: You were going to call it quits.

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Jill Rappaport: Why?

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Jill Rappaport: Why now?

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Chuck Scarborough: Well, the time seemed about right.

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Chuck Scarborough: The 50th anniversary occurred in March, and we had this over-the-top kind of two-week thing that you described.

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Chuck Scarborough: It was fun.

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Chuck Scarborough: The company dredged out all kinds of reports I've done over the last 50 years, and some of my favorite stories, and we got to rerun them.

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Chuck Scarborough: Yes, there is this blizzard of congratulations and happy farewells when you finally decide to go.

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Chuck Scarborough: But I guess I'm still recovering from that wild ride for that last seven months.

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Chuck Scarborough: Because after the 50th anniversary, there were some discussions about whether how much longer I would stay with the company and how much longer I'd stay on the anchor desk.

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Chuck Scarborough: Frankly, I'm still under contract with NBC, and still if I choose to do so can go in and do some special reports.

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Chuck Scarborough: But for the meantime, I don't have the tyranny of the anchor desk pinning me there, except for I begged to get away to go do something, which I dearly loved to do in years past.

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Chuck Scarborough: But just the idea of cutting back after all these years, after I'm 81 years old now, I thought it was just time to relax a little bit and spread my wings a little bit.

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Chuck Scarborough: I've been doing one thing for a long time.

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Ellen Scarborough: Jill, do you think he looks 81?

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Jill Rappaport: Again, because this is audio, if you know Chuck, you know he looks at least 25 years younger than he is minimum.

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Jill Rappaport: And I'm looking at you now and I'm thinking, it's shocking to think that you're 81 years old, but I also believe you look that good because you've done what you love for the majority of your life.

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Jill Rappaport: You truly love it.

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Chuck Scarborough: I think there's a lesson in that, yes.

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Chuck Scarborough: I think that if you do something you like, if you're really committed to it and passionate about it, yes, I think that that keeps you vital, it keeps you engaged and it keeps you probably more youthful, it keeps your brain working anyway to some extent.

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Chuck Scarborough: And that's rather critical.

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Chuck Scarborough: But yes, if you can do that, if you can find your passion and find a way to make that work for you, I think it does help a great deal over the long haul.

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Jill Rappaport: Well, very few people in this business, and I really can count them, maybe less than one hand.

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Jill Rappaport: And now I have to say, you and Hoda Kappi, who have decided to leave at the top of their game.

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Jill Rappaport: That is a privilege and an honor that very few people get.

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Chuck Scarborough: I think the thought was that I better, since I'm thinking about it, since the idea has been put into my head and I'm thinking about stepping back from the anchor desk, that I better do it before I start to fail seriously, before I start to become less competent and embarrass myself at some point.

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Chuck Scarborough: Yes, there are lessons about that that abound in our society, about people hanging on too long beyond their appropriate retirement date.

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Chuck Scarborough: I just think that that was part of the consideration that this, although I think probably the top of my game was several years ago, it wasn't just now.

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Chuck Scarborough: I think I was still on my game and I'm still on my game to a large extent, and that was I think an appropriate time to step back a little bit and begin to pull the plug.

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Jill Rappaport: But we were really shocked and Ellen, I think I messaged you immediately.

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Jill Rappaport: I said, please say it isn't so, because back in March when we had this huge celebration, nobody even had an idea, a thought, a hint that you could be going into this direction of like, I'm going to call it quits right before the holidays.

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Jill Rappaport: Was this something that just came up in the fall?

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Jill Rappaport: Did you think about it last March when you hit the 50 year milestone?

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Chuck Scarborough: Yes, I was thinking about it then.

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Chuck Scarborough: The 50 year milestone was kind of important to me.

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Chuck Scarborough: I wanted to get there just because it's a big number and a nice round number and we love round numbers.

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Ellen Scarborough: So many people came up to and said, don't ever leave.

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Chuck Scarborough: Yes, that was hard.

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Chuck Scarborough: But yes, the thought was flitting around, but not fully formulated at that point.

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Chuck Scarborough: I reached the 50th anniversary.

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Chuck Scarborough: After that, I began thinking about, well, how much longer do I really want to do this?

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Chuck Scarborough: Should I really think about, as we were talking a moment ago, before things start to disintegrate, before I start to deteriorate with age?

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Chuck Scarborough: Maybe I should get out before I do something that embarrasses myself.

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Chuck Scarborough: Or another thing that embarrasses myself worse, but not that there haven't been embarrassing moments before, which we won't go into, of course, Jill.

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Chuck Scarborough: But in any event, it was a process.

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Chuck Scarborough: The process finally came to a head several months ago.

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Jill Rappaport: Of course, as we all know, Hoda Kapi just bid adieu to the Today Show.

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Jill Rappaport: Andy Cohn said something very interesting to her on the set the other day.

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Jill Rappaport: He said, you know, this is so great.

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Jill Rappaport: You went out on your own terms.

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Jill Rappaport: It was your decision.

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Jill Rappaport: I want to check back with you in a month.

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Jill Rappaport: And now you are a month out.

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Jill Rappaport: Was it the right decision, Chuck?

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Jill Rappaport: Are you thrilled you did this or do you really kind of miss that?

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Chuck Scarborough: No, I'm not thrilled.

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Chuck Scarborough: Not thrilled I did it, but I can't tell you that it was the wrong decision.

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Chuck Scarborough: It wasn't a thrilling thing.

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Chuck Scarborough: In fact, I feel sort of people congratulate you on your retirement.

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Chuck Scarborough: You know that, don't you?

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Chuck Scarborough: People when you retire, people come up to you and congratulate you and say, congratulations on your retirement.

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Chuck Scarborough: Is it just that you actually didn't get fired, that you were able to retire?

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Chuck Scarborough: Was it?

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Chuck Scarborough: What's to congratulate you?

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Chuck Scarborough: I guess you achieved it.

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Chuck Scarborough: You got there, you survived the entire work life, and now theoretically have a lot of retirement or hands.

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Chuck Scarborough: I will figure out after I do a lot of little things, which kind of got swept by the wayside during my working life, little things around here, I will look for other things to do.

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Chuck Scarborough: And one of them might be to become a competitor of Jill Rappaport in the podcast.

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Jill Rappaport: Well, the difference with you and me is, I've had my shows taken away.

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Jill Rappaport: I didn't want to say goodbye.

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Jill Rappaport: Unfortunately for me, it's like, uh-uh, no more show.

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Jill Rappaport: And I'm still hoping and working to get that show again.

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Jill Rappaport: I don't think I could ever walk away from anything because I always feel when I get something, it was so hard to get it that I just never want to let it go.

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Jill Rappaport: But that's why I'm saying, you are in this rarefied error, Chuck.

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Jill Rappaport: Very few people get to the point in this business at that level in their career.

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Jill Rappaport: And Ellen, I know you agree with me, where they are at the top and they choose to leave on their terms.

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Jill Rappaport: And it's an enviable position that, you know, even your last day, you're so humble, Chuck, when all of your co-anchors and you had your beautiful grandchildren on with you.

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Jill Rappaport: And I could tell you were choked up, but you do it in the Chuck Scarborough way with class and dignity.

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Jill Rappaport: But I could tell it was very emotional for you.

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Chuck Scarborough: Oh, it was.

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Chuck Scarborough: There was no doubt about that.

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Chuck Scarborough: It was.

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Chuck Scarborough: That last broadcast was extremely emotional.

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Chuck Scarborough: A lot happened that I wasn't expecting.

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Chuck Scarborough: I didn't expect some of the things that were said.

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Chuck Scarborough: I particularly was touched by both Hoda and Al Roker, who had very nice things to say.

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Chuck Scarborough: And my grandchildren completely blindsided me.

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Chuck Scarborough: They went in with my daughter and her husband, and they had said they had lunch in the city.

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Chuck Scarborough: That was the very day, the day of the last broadcast.

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Chuck Scarborough: They had this ruse set up that I did nothing wrong.

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Chuck Scarborough: And they were going to the city to meet a friend with the kids and all having lunch together.

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Chuck Scarborough: What they were doing was going to NBC and doing this little newscast with the two grandchildren, my granddaughter, seven, and my grandson, ten, planting them on the anchor desk.

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Chuck Scarborough: And my daughter, Elizabeth, had prepared a script for them about granddaddy.

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Jill Rappaport: And they were so good.

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Jill Rappaport: I saw future anchors there.

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Chuck Scarborough: Yeah, that was the first take, I'm told.

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Chuck Scarborough: Actually, they pulled it off beautifully and had pictures to support it.

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Chuck Scarborough: I had no idea that was going to happen.

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Chuck Scarborough: So that knocked me for a loop on the broadcast.

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Chuck Scarborough: But I think just, you work in this business, Jill, and you work with people every day who you admire.

00:12:58.288 --> 00:13:01.788
Chuck Scarborough: And it's a fairly intimate thing doing broadcast, as you know.

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Chuck Scarborough: You get deeply into the stories with other people.

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Chuck Scarborough: You are involved in this sort of frenetic deadline every day, getting broadcasts put together.

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Chuck Scarborough: And there isn't a lot of time doing that to sip back and tell people how much you appreciate them.

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Chuck Scarborough: So to have all of that happen, and for me to have an opportunity to explain to my coworkers how much I appreciated them and how what an honor it was to work with them, was really, it was really emotional.

00:13:28.228 --> 00:13:31.208
Chuck Scarborough: It was really humbling and very satisfying.

00:13:31.208 --> 00:13:36.788
Chuck Scarborough: It was a way a little surprising, frankly, from several things that were said, but I did appreciate it all.

00:13:36.788 --> 00:13:44.948
Chuck Scarborough: And I think I'm probably still coming down from that blizzard of kind thoughts and farewells, so coming back down to earth.

00:13:44.948 --> 00:13:48.748
Chuck Scarborough: But it's been a month now, so the eagle should have landed at this point.

00:13:48.748 --> 00:13:54.248
Jill Rappaport: Well, and now that Ellen has gotten carpenters in there to widen the doors, right, Ellen?

00:13:55.588 --> 00:14:00.188
Jill Rappaport: First of all, for our audience listening to this, Ellen is like a supermodel.

00:14:00.188 --> 00:14:01.168
Jill Rappaport: She's about 5'11.

00:14:01.528 --> 00:14:03.868
Jill Rappaport: She's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.

00:14:03.868 --> 00:14:09.188
Jill Rappaport: She's as brilliant as she is beautiful and always stays out of the limelight.

00:14:09.188 --> 00:14:10.308
Jill Rappaport: You don't like it, Ellen.

00:14:10.308 --> 00:14:12.088
Jill Rappaport: I've noticed that about you.

00:14:12.088 --> 00:14:14.388
Ellen Scarborough: No, when people say, are you also in the news business?

00:14:14.388 --> 00:14:16.228
Ellen Scarborough: Oh, heavens, no.

00:14:16.228 --> 00:14:22.748
Chuck Scarborough: But what she does is what you do when you're so passionate about, too, and I as well, and that's her passion for animals and for animal welfare.

00:14:22.748 --> 00:14:23.548
Jill Rappaport: That's right.

00:14:23.548 --> 00:14:26.108
Chuck Scarborough: You guys, the two of you are really involved in that.

00:14:26.108 --> 00:14:34.768
Jill Rappaport: Well, and you too, Chuck, you know, in the intro, I talked about the fact that the two of you together have been so powerful for animal welfare.

00:14:34.768 --> 00:14:38.968
Jill Rappaport: And my favorite event every year is the Humane Lunch Day.

00:14:39.588 --> 00:14:39.928
Ellen Scarborough: Yay.

00:14:39.928 --> 00:14:43.448
Jill Rappaport: It is the most unbelievable experience.

00:14:43.448 --> 00:14:46.668
Jill Rappaport: Then every year, Chuck is the host of the event.

00:14:46.668 --> 00:14:52.748
Jill Rappaport: And you are so passionate, you and Ellen, what you've done for animals and your rescues.

00:14:52.748 --> 00:14:55.988
Jill Rappaport: What is it about these animals that give us back so much?

00:14:56.228 --> 00:14:59.028
Ellen Scarborough: They don't ask for money and they don't talk back.

00:15:00.208 --> 00:15:04.408
Jill Rappaport: An unconditional love and they never look at you go, did you gain a little weight?

00:15:04.728 --> 00:15:05.508
Ellen Scarborough: Right.

00:15:05.508 --> 00:15:08.468
Ellen Scarborough: They love you no matter what you look like.

00:15:08.468 --> 00:15:12.248
Chuck Scarborough: In fact, we're looking at, we've got Phoebe snoozing on the sofa directly opposite.

00:15:12.248 --> 00:15:13.888
Chuck Scarborough: That's her dog.

00:15:13.888 --> 00:15:19.248
Jill Rappaport: Your rescue, your black lab that you actually went quite a far distance to rescue from Texas.

00:15:19.288 --> 00:15:19.708
Ellen Scarborough: We did.

00:15:19.708 --> 00:15:21.568
Chuck Scarborough: We had to go to Texas to get this one.

00:15:21.608 --> 00:15:25.968
Chuck Scarborough: We had an interesting adventure over the summer when the grandchildren were here.

00:15:25.968 --> 00:15:30.688
Chuck Scarborough: There was a little gray cat that was found in Central Park and it was abandoned in Central Park.

00:15:30.688 --> 00:15:31.828
Chuck Scarborough: Little tiny thing, probably five pounds.

00:15:31.828 --> 00:15:37.168
Ellen Scarborough: Balancing on a wire fence in the rain, this little cat.

00:15:37.168 --> 00:15:40.028
Chuck Scarborough: And well, tell the story about how she was found and what happened.

00:15:40.028 --> 00:15:51.648
Ellen Scarborough: Well, a friend of mine, Sonia Isaac O'Donnell, she's a real hero for cats in the city and a friend of hers who also rescues cats, saw this cat in the city.

00:15:51.648 --> 00:15:53.188
Ellen Scarborough: She was walking a dog.

00:15:53.188 --> 00:15:59.268
Ellen Scarborough: I don't know if it was her own dog or someone else's, and saw this cat teetering on this wire fence.

00:15:59.268 --> 00:16:08.408
Ellen Scarborough: And she picked up the cat, put it on her shoulder and continued to walk her dog and walked blocks on blocks to get to a vet.

00:16:08.408 --> 00:16:11.628
Ellen Scarborough: And this cat just calmly was there on her shoulder.

00:16:11.628 --> 00:16:14.168
Ellen Scarborough: Can you imagine in all the chaos of New York?

00:16:14.168 --> 00:16:15.448
Jill Rappaport: Perched on her shoulder.

00:16:15.448 --> 00:16:15.688
Ellen Scarborough: Yes.

00:16:16.168 --> 00:16:18.408
Ellen Scarborough: I mean, this cat wanted out.

00:16:18.408 --> 00:16:21.428
Ellen Scarborough: It was looking for the first ride.

00:16:21.428 --> 00:16:22.868
Ellen Scarborough: And that's where it started.

00:16:22.868 --> 00:16:23.688
Ellen Scarborough: Chuck, you can.

00:16:23.688 --> 00:16:27.708
Chuck Scarborough: Well, Ellen got wind of this and she called Arf.

00:16:27.708 --> 00:16:30.828
Chuck Scarborough: So I asked if Arf would take the little cat in.

00:16:30.828 --> 00:16:33.288
Chuck Scarborough: Cat needed a home and needed someplace to go.

00:16:33.288 --> 00:16:35.788
Jill Rappaport: And Arf is the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons.

00:16:35.788 --> 00:16:36.128
Jill Rappaport: Yes.

00:16:36.128 --> 00:16:38.708
Jill Rappaport: And it's just a wonderful organization.

00:16:38.708 --> 00:16:40.188
Chuck Scarborough: Yeah, that's the East end of Long Island.

00:16:40.188 --> 00:16:42.628
Chuck Scarborough: So the Arf said, of course, we'll take the kitty cat in.

00:16:43.288 --> 00:16:48.368
Chuck Scarborough: And so we had the cat taken from Manhattan to the East end of Long Island.

00:16:48.368 --> 00:16:50.268
Chuck Scarborough: And Ellen fell in love with the cat.

00:16:50.268 --> 00:16:51.468
Chuck Scarborough: It was the little kitty cat.

00:16:51.468 --> 00:16:53.088
Chuck Scarborough: We had to go went to visit the cat.

00:16:53.088 --> 00:17:02.028
Ellen Scarborough: I just was so amazed that this cat was so clever and so resourceful and in the rain to make herself seen.

00:17:02.028 --> 00:17:03.208
Ellen Scarborough: And it worked for...

00:17:03.208 --> 00:17:04.688
Chuck Scarborough: What was the name they gave the cat?

00:17:04.688 --> 00:17:05.248
Ellen Scarborough: Celeste.

00:17:05.248 --> 00:17:06.368
Chuck Scarborough: Celeste, yeah, Celeste.

00:17:06.368 --> 00:17:07.308
Chuck Scarborough: The cat has a new name now.

00:17:07.308 --> 00:17:08.568
Chuck Scarborough: This is where the story gets interesting.

00:17:09.008 --> 00:17:13.068
Chuck Scarborough: So Ellen decided that we would foster the key.

00:17:13.068 --> 00:17:14.208
Chuck Scarborough: We have a dog and a cat.

00:17:14.208 --> 00:17:21.908
Chuck Scarborough: And so with the grandchildren in South Hampton, we brought this little kitty home and everybody was very happy to see a little kitty.

00:17:21.908 --> 00:17:30.128
Chuck Scarborough: Everybody except our dog and cat, who initially were curious, but eventually were absolutely terrified.

00:17:30.128 --> 00:17:33.408
Chuck Scarborough: The dog is 48 pounds, our cat's probably 15 pounds.

00:17:33.408 --> 00:17:36.188
Chuck Scarborough: This was a little six pound gray kitty.

00:17:36.688 --> 00:17:38.648
Jill Rappaport: And your cat is like a person.

00:17:38.648 --> 00:17:39.868
Jill Rappaport: I've never met a cat like your cat.

00:17:39.868 --> 00:17:41.268
Chuck Scarborough: That's George the cat.

00:17:41.268 --> 00:17:46.948
Chuck Scarborough: And George was intrigued initially until the first time the little gray cat swatted him.

00:17:46.948 --> 00:17:51.508
Chuck Scarborough: Then the two of them, our two animals, were petrified of this little creature.

00:17:51.508 --> 00:17:53.548
Chuck Scarborough: And we thought it would settle down.

00:17:53.548 --> 00:17:57.008
Chuck Scarborough: So it didn't settle down for the couple of weeks in South Hampton.

00:17:57.008 --> 00:18:00.648
Chuck Scarborough: So now the cat has moved from South Hampton to our house in Connecticut.

00:18:00.648 --> 00:18:05.628
Chuck Scarborough: And as in the being kept in the room we're in now just to acclimate itself.

00:18:05.868 --> 00:18:08.068
Chuck Scarborough: And dynamic doesn't shift.

00:18:08.068 --> 00:18:13.328
Chuck Scarborough: We look one day, we were sitting here, where we are right now on the sofa in our library.

00:18:13.328 --> 00:18:17.708
Chuck Scarborough: And we see the little gray cat is sitting on a chair staring at the door.

00:18:17.708 --> 00:18:20.368
Chuck Scarborough: And they look at the door, which is 20 feet away.

00:18:20.368 --> 00:18:27.708
Chuck Scarborough: And both our dog and cat are sitting side by side, backs to the door looking terrified, wanting nothing but out.

00:18:27.708 --> 00:18:30.808
Chuck Scarborough: They want out of the room with that other, that animal in there.

00:18:30.808 --> 00:18:36.428
Chuck Scarborough: So we decide very reluctantly that this is just not going to work out.

00:18:36.428 --> 00:18:40.708
Chuck Scarborough: We just can't get this cat to integrate into the family.

00:18:40.708 --> 00:18:46.948
Chuck Scarborough: So my son calls his mother in Florida to cut to the chase here.

00:18:46.948 --> 00:18:52.528
Chuck Scarborough: We end up flying the little kitty down to live with my ex-wife.

00:18:52.548 --> 00:18:53.288
Jill Rappaport: Oh my God.

00:18:53.288 --> 00:18:59.508
Chuck Scarborough: In Florida, who lives alone in an apartment, she adopted the cat.

00:18:59.508 --> 00:19:09.828
Chuck Scarborough: So now the cat went from Central Park to the East End of Long Island to South Hampton, to Connecticut, and then to Jacksonville, Florida, and is now living happily in Jacksonville, Florida.

00:19:09.828 --> 00:19:11.428
Jill Rappaport: She officially adopted Celeste.

00:19:11.428 --> 00:19:12.308
Chuck Scarborough: She officially adopted.

00:19:12.308 --> 00:19:12.848
Chuck Scarborough: Yeah.

00:19:12.848 --> 00:19:17.348
Chuck Scarborough: Celeste is now Catherine, named Catherine by our grandson.

00:19:17.348 --> 00:19:23.008
Jill Rappaport: When you consider the beginning and now where she's ended up, and does your ex-wife adore her?

00:19:23.168 --> 00:19:24.428
Ellen Scarborough: Yes.

00:19:24.428 --> 00:19:30.988
Ellen Scarborough: What a good sport she was to take on this cat, who clearly, I don't know, had a few problems, I think.

00:19:31.468 --> 00:19:33.548
Ellen Scarborough: She survived Central Park.

00:19:33.548 --> 00:19:36.048
Ellen Scarborough: So, but they're getting along beautifully.

00:19:36.048 --> 00:19:38.188
Jill Rappaport: I can't believe the story.

00:19:38.188 --> 00:19:39.848
Ellen Scarborough: Good kind of story, isn't it?

00:19:39.848 --> 00:19:41.488
Jill Rappaport: This is amazing.

00:19:41.488 --> 00:19:55.948
Jill Rappaport: But Ellen, on the board of ARF, and I know you're not just a board member, you are out there reaching out to people, texting people when you hear of a disaster situation, urging people to please adopt, please foster, do whatever you can.

00:19:55.948 --> 00:19:59.608
Jill Rappaport: You both are really in the trenches trying to spread the word, aren't you?

00:19:59.888 --> 00:20:09.048
Ellen Scarborough: Well, yes, and the nice thing is that Chuck and Em see so many events that we've done over the years, poor thing, and give them a voice, right, hon?

00:20:09.048 --> 00:20:12.448
Chuck Scarborough: Well, yes, but I think you underestimate your contribution, my sweet.

00:20:12.448 --> 00:20:20.088
Jill Rappaport: Well, I know, it cracks me up, because Ellen comes off somewhat shy, and I always say, your personality, the way you look, I mean, get out there, sister.

00:20:20.088 --> 00:20:22.408
Jill Rappaport: And she's like, no, no, I'll be in the background.

00:20:22.408 --> 00:20:30.408
Jill Rappaport: But I actually had the huge shoes to fill for the Wildlife Rescue when I was filling in for Chuck as host this summer.

00:20:30.408 --> 00:20:35.048
Jill Rappaport: And following Chuck Scarborough, literally, you know, who needs Ozempic?

00:20:35.048 --> 00:20:37.088
Jill Rappaport: You're nauseous, you're scared.

00:20:39.068 --> 00:20:41.068
Jill Rappaport: Chuck, you are a hard act to follow.

00:20:41.068 --> 00:20:42.388
Jill Rappaport: I have to tell you.

00:20:42.388 --> 00:20:44.968
Ellen Scarborough: Oh, I think you can do it to some, Jill.

00:20:44.968 --> 00:20:46.008
Chuck Scarborough: No, no, no.

00:20:46.188 --> 00:20:51.188
Chuck Scarborough: I've been to many of your events, and we've even co-anchored, you and I, some of these events for wildlife.

00:20:51.708 --> 00:20:52.728
Ellen Scarborough: And they need help.

00:20:52.728 --> 00:20:54.608
Chuck Scarborough: You take a backseat to nobody and that, my dear.

00:20:54.608 --> 00:20:59.688
Jill Rappaport: And that's what I love about both of you, because it's not just dogs and cats, it's the wildlife and the hand.

00:20:59.688 --> 00:21:00.568
Ellen Scarborough: Oh, yes.

00:21:00.568 --> 00:21:02.808
Ellen Scarborough: And not enough people care.

00:21:02.808 --> 00:21:03.948
Jill Rappaport: Exactly.

00:21:03.948 --> 00:21:05.668
Chuck Scarborough: Yeah, that place has a lot of difficulty.

00:21:05.668 --> 00:21:08.828
Chuck Scarborough: It just struggles to stay afloat, and it's so necessary.

00:21:08.828 --> 00:21:11.568
Chuck Scarborough: It's the only place you can go on Long Island.

00:21:11.568 --> 00:21:22.648
Chuck Scarborough: On the east end of Long Island, if you find an injured animal somewhere, a wild animal, or you have any kind of an issue with wild animals, they're there 24-7, but they're hanging on by their fingertips financially.

00:21:23.228 --> 00:21:26.048
Ellen Scarborough: Evelyn Alexander, Wildlife Rescue Center.

00:21:26.048 --> 00:21:28.048
Jill Rappaport: And I've called them several times.

00:21:28.048 --> 00:21:31.328
Jill Rappaport: I've seen literally deer hit right in front of me.

00:21:31.328 --> 00:21:34.168
Jill Rappaport: And I call them and they are the most wonderful people.

00:21:34.168 --> 00:21:46.188
Jill Rappaport: They are there is like within minutes and to comfort that animal, whether they can save it or even in its last minutes of life, they will give that animal a warm blanket and comfort that animal.

00:21:46.188 --> 00:21:46.988
Jill Rappaport: They're incredible.

00:21:46.988 --> 00:21:48.448
Jill Rappaport: They're truly doing God's work.

00:21:48.448 --> 00:21:55.708
Jill Rappaport: But Chuck, now that you have more free time, and Ellen, now that you have them around more, what's your wish?

00:21:55.708 --> 00:21:56.908
Jill Rappaport: What's your hope and dream?

00:21:56.908 --> 00:21:57.968
Chuck Scarborough: I haven't formulated that yet.

00:21:57.968 --> 00:22:00.788
Chuck Scarborough: Of course, Animal Welfare will always be part of the program.

00:22:00.788 --> 00:22:02.888
Chuck Scarborough: That's something that we're both committed to.

00:22:02.888 --> 00:22:08.188
Chuck Scarborough: But the rest of the time, the time that I've freed up here has yet to be filled in.

00:22:08.188 --> 00:22:11.848
Chuck Scarborough: I've got this, I'm looking at this void I've had.

00:22:11.888 --> 00:22:13.948
Ellen Scarborough: I think Jill has a few ideas.

00:22:13.948 --> 00:22:14.408
Ellen Scarborough: Yeah.

00:22:14.408 --> 00:22:16.268
Chuck Scarborough: So I'm going to be considering options for a while.

00:22:16.268 --> 00:22:19.768
Chuck Scarborough: And I'm under contract for the next six months with NBC.

00:22:20.008 --> 00:22:23.308
Chuck Scarborough: So that's a good time to think about if there's anything else I'd like to do.

00:22:24.068 --> 00:22:24.768
Chuck Scarborough: And we'll see what happens.

00:22:24.768 --> 00:22:29.448
Jill Rappaport: Well, I have a feeling Chuck, that that six months would be 60 years.

00:22:29.448 --> 00:22:33.948
Jill Rappaport: I don't think they'd ever put an expiration date on anything you'd want to do.

00:22:33.948 --> 00:22:43.528
Chuck Scarborough: Probably I didn't, the one thing I didn't do and think properly was the National Broadcasting Company, effusively enough, for keeping me employed for the last 50 years.

00:22:43.848 --> 00:22:45.908
Chuck Scarborough: It's been a marvelous company to work for.

00:22:45.908 --> 00:22:54.068
Chuck Scarborough: And I know you've been there and, you know, what an extraordinary place it is, what a historic place it is, what a storied place it is, 30 Rock.

00:22:54.068 --> 00:23:02.988
Chuck Scarborough: That was certainly a grand privilege and I really, really appreciated being able to work there for so long with so many extraordinary people.

00:23:02.988 --> 00:23:09.048
Jill Rappaport: When you watch Hoda, all the tears and the emotion, I know you can relate more than most.

00:23:09.048 --> 00:23:13.728
Jill Rappaport: What are your thoughts and feelings for her now that you've been away from it for almost a month?

00:23:13.728 --> 00:23:15.128
Jill Rappaport: How do you think she'll deal with it?

00:23:15.128 --> 00:23:17.288
Jill Rappaport: Because it's going to be an adjustment.

00:23:17.508 --> 00:23:17.848
Chuck Scarborough: I think so.

00:23:17.848 --> 00:23:20.428
Chuck Scarborough: I think everybody goes for an adjustment differently.

00:23:20.428 --> 00:23:21.788
Chuck Scarborough: It's a major change in life.

00:23:21.788 --> 00:23:24.868
Chuck Scarborough: This is something that's been a huge part of my life for a long time.

00:23:24.868 --> 00:23:35.468
Chuck Scarborough: So to veer away from that, to not completely, because as you say, the door is open and always will be, I hope, but to not have a daily role in that.

00:23:35.468 --> 00:23:37.628
Chuck Scarborough: I think it's going to require an adjustment.

00:23:37.628 --> 00:23:43.108
Chuck Scarborough: I'm not far enough ahead of her in the process to give her any terrific advice on this.

00:23:43.108 --> 00:23:46.088
Chuck Scarborough: There's nothing I can say right now that would give her a guidance or comfort.

00:23:46.528 --> 00:23:56.428
Chuck Scarborough: But I think she is, as you mentioned earlier, because she's stepping out, not retiring, I don't think, but at the top of her game and she has other interests she wants to pursue.

00:23:56.428 --> 00:24:09.188
Chuck Scarborough: I think whatever she decides to do, she will excel in and she'll spread her wings and have new experiences and make the turn, make the adjustment, one that I hope to be able to make as well.

00:24:09.188 --> 00:24:11.228
Jill Rappaport: So no regrets, right Chuck?

00:24:11.228 --> 00:24:12.068
Chuck Scarborough: I don't know.

00:24:12.068 --> 00:24:14.328
Chuck Scarborough: Regrets, I've got a few.

00:24:14.388 --> 00:24:15.908
Jill Rappaport: Okay, thanks Sinatra.

00:24:15.908 --> 00:24:26.168
Chuck Scarborough: Yeah, but no, I think it was the right decision and I'm comfortable with it and I am curious about what lies ahead, certainly.

00:24:26.168 --> 00:24:30.588
Jill Rappaport: Ellen, this is the time where you can really do some great exciting things.

00:24:30.588 --> 00:24:34.008
Jill Rappaport: Do you have any plans, maybe that you haven't even shared with Chuck yet?

00:24:34.008 --> 00:24:35.668
Chuck Scarborough: I think she might have plans she hasn't shared with me.

00:24:35.668 --> 00:24:43.588
Chuck Scarborough: I'm not quite sure what they are, but we've been talking about general trends, about perhaps a little more ambitious travel that lies ahead.

00:24:43.588 --> 00:24:45.228
Jill Rappaport: Yeah, you guys love to travel.

00:24:45.228 --> 00:24:47.568
Chuck Scarborough: We have to find a place we both agree on.

00:24:47.568 --> 00:24:48.788
Chuck Scarborough: I suggested Australia.

00:24:48.788 --> 00:24:52.168
Chuck Scarborough: She doesn't want to go to Australia, so that's where we're standing.

00:24:52.168 --> 00:24:52.848
Chuck Scarborough: I've never been.

00:24:52.848 --> 00:24:54.148
Chuck Scarborough: Have you been to Australia?

00:24:54.148 --> 00:24:55.488
Jill Rappaport: No, I hate flying.

00:24:55.648 --> 00:24:57.628
Jill Rappaport: If I could drive there, I might go.

00:24:57.628 --> 00:24:59.428
Ellen Scarborough: That would be a tough one.

00:24:59.428 --> 00:25:06.968
Jill Rappaport: Ellen, now that you don't have to worry about adhering to Chuck's schedule with your plans, that's going to be so freeing for the both of you.

00:25:06.968 --> 00:25:13.708
Ellen Scarborough: Well, I was hoping to rent a place in Snowmass or go to the Adirondacks for a while.

00:25:13.708 --> 00:25:23.288
Ellen Scarborough: I'm missing more snow and I haven't gotten a yes from Chuck yet, but Phoebe is ready to go.

00:25:23.288 --> 00:25:25.068
Ellen Scarborough: I think George will go with us.

00:25:25.068 --> 00:25:26.908
Ellen Scarborough: I would love to go to Japan.

00:25:26.908 --> 00:25:28.948
Ellen Scarborough: I'd love to go to India.

00:25:28.948 --> 00:25:34.688
Ellen Scarborough: A lot of places I haven't been, but I have a feeling Chuck doesn't want to do all those places.

00:25:34.688 --> 00:25:35.428
Ellen Scarborough: We'll see.

00:25:35.428 --> 00:25:36.268
Chuck Scarborough: Not all at once.

00:25:36.408 --> 00:25:39.548
Chuck Scarborough: Well, we can have a check off list.

00:25:39.548 --> 00:25:39.948
Ellen Scarborough: Yeah.

00:25:39.948 --> 00:25:42.348
Jill Rappaport: Is he more relaxed and chilled now?

00:25:42.468 --> 00:25:43.628
Ellen Scarborough: No.

00:25:43.628 --> 00:25:44.468
Ellen Scarborough: Not at all.

00:25:44.468 --> 00:25:46.848
Jill Rappaport: Take your time answering that, Ellen.

00:25:49.628 --> 00:25:52.848
Chuck Scarborough: I'm afraid relaxed and chilled has never described me very well.

00:25:53.808 --> 00:25:59.328
Ellen Scarborough: But like the general, he just has more time to tell me what I need to do.

00:25:59.328 --> 00:26:01.768
Ellen Scarborough: But he's very busy doing things himself.

00:26:01.768 --> 00:26:03.268
Jill Rappaport: Well, that's what I love about Chuck.

00:26:03.268 --> 00:26:04.908
Jill Rappaport: See, people don't know that side of you.

00:26:04.908 --> 00:26:13.508
Jill Rappaport: But when I went to visit you at your home in Southampton, Chuck's got the tool belt on, he's in the carpentry, he's out in the field, he's out in the lawn.

00:26:13.508 --> 00:26:15.188
Jill Rappaport: He's a hands-on guy.

00:26:15.188 --> 00:26:17.508
Ellen Scarborough: He really would be a very good engineer.

00:26:17.728 --> 00:26:27.468
Ellen Scarborough: He can figure out every broken piece of equipment, every broken furnace on the property and before the repairman can.

00:26:27.468 --> 00:26:29.508
Ellen Scarborough: So he's good at that.

00:26:29.508 --> 00:26:32.228
Ellen Scarborough: I don't know if that's where he wants his future to be.

00:26:32.228 --> 00:26:35.608
Chuck Scarborough: I'm going to open up the Platt's Repair Store.

00:26:35.608 --> 00:26:38.628
Jill Rappaport: Oh, Chuck, you're a man's man, man.

00:26:38.628 --> 00:26:39.488
Jill Rappaport: Get in there.

00:26:39.488 --> 00:26:40.808
Chuck Scarborough: It's all logic.

00:26:41.528 --> 00:26:42.428
Chuck Scarborough: It's the same thing.

00:26:42.428 --> 00:26:43.728
Chuck Scarborough: What do we do as journalists?

00:26:43.728 --> 00:26:46.388
Chuck Scarborough: We look into things and try to figure out how they work, right?

00:26:46.388 --> 00:26:46.688
Jill Rappaport: Yeah.

00:26:46.688 --> 00:26:47.028
Chuck Scarborough: Everywhere.

00:26:47.028 --> 00:26:47.688
Jill Rappaport: Exactly.

00:26:47.688 --> 00:26:49.008
Chuck Scarborough: And try to figure out what's really going on.

00:26:49.008 --> 00:26:53.088
Chuck Scarborough: And it's the same thing with around the house, the same thing with all the things around you.

00:26:53.568 --> 00:26:59.668
Chuck Scarborough: If you're curious enough, you'll kind of dive in and figure out how it works and what makes it tick, and then you can fix it.

00:26:59.668 --> 00:27:02.308
Jill Rappaport: Oh, well, this has been so much fun.

00:27:02.308 --> 00:27:04.228
Jill Rappaport: This is so great catching up with you.

00:27:04.228 --> 00:27:11.968
Jill Rappaport: And I can't wait till our next show to see Ellen, what Chuck is up to and where he's at with everything.

00:27:11.968 --> 00:27:13.828
Ellen Scarborough: I'm waiting to see that too.

00:27:13.828 --> 00:27:15.428
Chuck Scarborough: Yes.

00:27:15.428 --> 00:27:25.788
Jill Rappaport: And on a final note, anything for our animal-loving audience, any messages you want to share with them to encourage people to open up their hearts and homes to these wonderful animals in need.

00:27:25.788 --> 00:27:38.508
Ellen Scarborough: Rescue animals are so grateful and so wonderful, and they're usually very healthy because they aren't a single breed and they are ready to be loved and taken care of.

00:27:38.508 --> 00:27:42.048
Ellen Scarborough: And I can't imagine my life without rescue animals.

00:27:42.048 --> 00:27:49.488
Ellen Scarborough: In fact, I might be without my husband if I have as many as I would like, but he has drawn the limit at times.

00:27:50.068 --> 00:27:55.868
Ellen Scarborough: But it's just the most wonderful, rewarding, joyful part of your life that you can imagine.

00:27:55.868 --> 00:28:01.428
Ellen Scarborough: And it would be a shame to not take advantage of that for yourself and for the animals.

00:28:01.428 --> 00:28:02.428
Chuck Scarborough: And I'll second that.

00:28:02.428 --> 00:28:03.768
Jill Rappaport: That's so beautiful.

00:28:03.768 --> 00:28:04.548
Chuck Scarborough: That's wonderful.

00:28:04.548 --> 00:28:04.968
Jill Rappaport: Yeah.

00:28:04.968 --> 00:28:06.528
Jill Rappaport: Oh, thank you both so much.

00:28:06.528 --> 00:28:07.968
Jill Rappaport: You're amazing people.

00:28:07.968 --> 00:28:08.928
Ellen Scarborough: Thanks, Jill.

00:28:08.928 --> 00:28:10.028
Ellen Scarborough: Nice to talk.

00:28:10.028 --> 00:28:15.948
Jill Rappaport: And thank you all for joining us on this first show of Rappaport to the Rescue for 2025.

00:28:17.208 --> 00:28:18.168
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00:28:18.608 --> 00:28:20.548
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00:28:20.548 --> 00:28:23.188
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