| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| HTA ID | HTA-0440 |
| Title | Good Riddance Henry — Farewell Musical Tribute |
| Date | c. July 1981 |
| Date Confidence | MODERATE — Henry left PM Magazine/WDVM in July 1981 to join NBC; the farewell tone and musical production value suggest a staff goodbye |
| Program | PM Magazine / WDVM internal production |
| Station | WDVM-TV (formerly WTOP-TV), Channel 9, Washington DC |
| Duration | ~3:24 |
| Format | Musical comedy / Farewell tribute |
A comedic farewell musical tribute produced by Henry's colleagues at WDVM when he departed for NBC in 1981. The piece is a staged musical number in which a colleague (likely the co-host or a staff member) sings a parody love song to Henry, complete with a chauffeur-driven limousine scene and comedic physical comedy.
The lyrics, set to "You Made Me Love You," are rewritten as a farewell: "The very mention of your name... you made me love you." The piece includes staged comedy with someone being tackled ("Get off him!") and ends with the singer declaring "As far as I'm concerned, you'll always be the top." The tone is affectionate roast — colleagues saying goodbye through humor.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| People | Henry Tenenbaum (departing host), "Harry" (singer/colleague), unidentified colleagues |
| Organizations | WDVM-TV, PM Magazine |
| Locations | Washington DC (studio/location) |
| Subjects | Farewell, departure, staff tribute, musical parody |
| Themes | Camaraderie, career transition, humor, affection |
| Tone | Comic, affectionate, roast-style |
"Where to, sir? Uh, home, Henry, and be quick about it."
"As far as I'm concerned, you'll always be the top."
"You know you made me love you."
A produced musical number with staging, a limousine scene, and physical comedy. This appears to be an internal production — possibly aired as part of Henry's final PM Magazine episode or produced as a private farewell gift. The production quality suggests it was shot by the PM Magazine crew using station resources. The song is a parody of "You Made Me Love You" (1913, James Monaco/Joseph McCarthy).
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Era | PM Magazine/WDVM period (1979–1981) |
| Event | Henry's departure for NBC (July 1981) |
| Theme | HTA-0384 Funnies Reel — another compilation/roast piece |
| Career | HACD records documenting the NBC transition |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Source File | Goodriddance henry.txt |
| Alternate Files | Goodriddance henry (1).txt (duplicate) |
| Source Location | /transcript_working/!transcript macwhisper/ |
| Transcription Quality | Fair — music and overlapping voices make some lyrics unclear |
| Repository Status | Preserved |
This farewell piece is significant as documentary evidence of Henry's departure from PM Magazine and the affection his colleagues held for him. The timing aligns with July 1981 when Henry left WDVM to join NBC News. The production value — a full musical number with staging — reflects the resources available at a major-market station and the regard in which Henry was held by his team. The piece may have aired on his final PM Magazine broadcast or may have been produced solely as an internal farewell. The filename "Goodriddance henry" is clearly ironic — the content is warmly affectionate.