The Miami News from Miami, Florida • 74

JOANNE HOOKER Miami NTV Radio Editor The Miami News BILL REINKE somewhere, play a little jazz piano, sing some songs. Or maybe go to Los Angeles. It seems he's been trying to get there for years but something always comes up. For now though, Wilson at 55-years-old, is happy with what he does as the Channel 6 Night Owl Movie host. "Hey, I get paid to watch old movies," he says, turning pages in the blue looseleaf binder full of commercials that is the pitchman's equivalent to the Bible.

over the cooking, with the help of some guest chefs. There were years on the road with his own band and years in Cleveland and New York with WNBC where he was Big Time. Number one rated shows, good money. Days when it seemed that every other commercial message was brought to you in that deep, easy voice of his. It's been fun, but, on the whole, says Wilson, he thinks he would have liked to own a bar As the song says, it's a long and winding road.

Along the way, Big Wilson has hooked up with Monroe the Singing Dog that was in Scranton, Pa. and Fido the Canary in Cleveland. There was even a Mary Wilson once in Philadelphia. She stalked off her own cooking show when Wilson came in to spice it up. Did he flinch? Not him.

He took 4 The Miami New TV Radio.