Photo by Jason Winkeler Photography, courtesy of Nine Network
Donnybrook celebrates 30 years tonight with an hour-long, live special on the Nine Network. The segment will reminisce about the show's three decades and include some pre-recorded messages of congratulations from notable St. Louisans.
Airing Thursdays at 7 p.m., the program features host Charlie Brennan of KMOX, as well as four outspoken panelists, including St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bill McClellan, broadcaster Wendy Wiese, SLM contributor Alvin Reid, and SLM owner and Riverfront Times founder Ray Hartmann. Together, they discuss timely, controversial issues facing the region.
While the panelists often hold vastly different opinions, Nine Network president and CEO Jack Galmiche commends their rapport—a model that's often emulated but rarely duplicated.
"Other public television stations across the U.S. have observed the audience that we have in St. Louis for Donnybrook and have attempted to copy the Donnybrook format, but it's never quite worked," he says. "We believe this is because of the Donnybrookers—the people of Donnybrook who can have a conversation, respectfully disagree with one another, and do that in a way that informs the people of the community about the events of the day."
Donnybrook began in 1987 with the late Martin Duggan, former St. Louis Globe-Democrat editorial page editor, at the helm. McClellan and Hartmann were two of the original panelists, along with St. Louis Business-Journal co-founder (and SLM co-owner) Mark Vittert and the late Rich Koster, a former Globe-Democrat editor. Over the years, other notable St. Louisans have debated at the Donnybrook table, including the late Anne Keefe.
Today, Donnybrook's role in the community remains the same as that first broadcast: coming together to share different viewpoints and helping St. Louisans understand the issues of the day—a role that's as important as ever.
Galmiche still recalls the first event he worked with Donnybrook's panelists. More than a decade ago, when he came to the Nine Network, the station hosted a group of viewers and donors. Guests watched a live taping of the show and then joined the panelists for a conversation. The evening lasted longer than anticipated—even after the guests left.
"I walk back into the room, and the Donnybrookers are still sitting there, talking with one another," Galmiche recalls. "It said something to me about who they are, the relationship they have."
Donnybrook airs at 7 p.m. on Channel 9.
