I thought I would add some context surrounding the phrase, Stay classy, San Diego. Firstly, San Diego was not discovered by the Germans in 1904 and does not mean “a whale's vagina”.
‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’ begins with these evocative words; “There was a time, a time before cable, when the local anchorman reigned supreme, when people believed everything they heard on TV. This was an age when only men were allowed to read the news.”
It is unclear if Ron Burgundy’s original quote, “You stay classy, San Diego”, was actually taken from someone or something. But the line is embedded in history, with many famous newsreaders using it as their final sign-off (notably Andrew Marr here in the UK). In fact, I have even used it after presentations and lectures – it just feels right.
So, this is how I see it.
Early in the planning of the film, Will Ferrell specifically went to find famous San Diego newsman Jack White (1939-2020) and asked him to be the advisor on a new concept. Ferrell grew up in nearby Irvine, CA and had seen White on the TV as a child. They finally found time to meet at White’s home. While sifting through photo albums with White, Ferrell was struck by a photo of Harold Greene from the early 70’s. Greene had a smooth moustache and a matching perm hair. Ferrell was so impressed he invented his character from Greene’s image. Even carving out a comedic name to match but still paying homage to Greene and White, Ronald Joseph Aaron Burgundy.
Harold Greene was a little-known reporter in Los Angeles and jumped at the chance to move south to SD and be the face of a spanking new news team at a new ABC affiliate. His popularity grew as quickly as the city. Within a year he has moved to a competing station (KGTV) and took them to the top of local ratings. It was here that he started working with Jack White.
I remember Harold Greene very well and have even met him. I was in the line buying an ice cream cone at the Fashion Valley Baskin Robbins and he bounces to the counter, jumping in front of everyone else. He asks for a large scoop but is turned down because of the hoard of kids just behind him. Unhappy, he shouts out, “But I’m Harold Greene”. Greene was clearly too famous for our little city.
He soon left San Diego and tried to take the huge San Francisco market. But things did not go to plan and he was forced to return to Los Angeles. Again, that did not work out, so he returned to anchor again with White in San Diego at KGTV.
Enter Veronica Corningstone.
Over at KFMB they were assembling the ‘dream team’ to take on all other newscasts. Headed by hard hitting and easy to look at, Allison Ross, these guys meant business. But, her higher ratings and the injection of a tall handsome Texan named Michael Tuck (1945 – 2022) as her Co-Anchor was Greene’s undoing.
Greene packed up and went back to LA again after poor ratings and had far more success. He landed a gig as the weekend anchor at KABC. Green slowly rebuilt and became the entertainment reporter allowing him to hobnob with celebs and Hollywood types. He even has a star on the Walk of Fame.
There was never a relationship between Greene and Ross as far as anyone knows.
Tuck may very well be the influence for Wes Mantooth, played by Vince Vaughn in the film. There is a fine resemblance and was most certainly Greene’s rival for ratings. Perhaps the character’s name came from a famous 1970’s TV actor, Randolph Mantooth. He played a firefighter name Gage on NBC’s Emergency for six seasons during the decade but many remember him from high profile episodes of The Love Boat.
I have even heard arguments saying sport announcer and legend, Ted Leitner was the influence for Steve Carell’s character, Brick Tamland. I don’t see it as Leitner was too sharp. Nor do I see Clark Anthony as an influence for Paul Rudd’s character Brian Fantana. Anthony was too trusted by viewers even if the hair and moustache is spot on.
Allison Ross stayed in San Diego, won 6 Emmys while the newscast producers chewed through even more male co-anchors. She moved to radio in 1993 and semi-retired in 2010. Ross is still well known in San Diego as a veteran’s supporter and directs a Public Relations firm. But she does not have a star on the Walk of Fame.
Michael Tuck did a 9-year stint in LA during the 90’s and returned to the same news desk. He was famous for his editorials and out-spoken commentary. He can be spotted in films like ‘Prizzi’s Honor’ and ‘Armageddon’ as a newsreader.
Here in the UK, whenever I tell people I am from San Diego, they smile. Took me ages to understand why. I had always thought it was because it’s always sunny and a stunning place to live. Nope. They are wondering if it was actually named after a whale’s vagina.
Sadly, the film was shot in Long Beach rather than where the famous quote would imply. There are only random shots of Harold Greene’s beautiful town in the final edit. Shame.