Sioux City Journal from Sioux City, Iowa • 19

INSIDE: 'National Treasure' plays DaVinci gamespage C2 erts end entertainment fA i iTP Oil Nov. 26, 2004 01 Write on Bndget Jones has added to her diary and now has more stories to tell but are they worth sharing? Check out the review of "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason." Page C3 www.siouxtityjouniaLcorn Brokaw ends more than two decades as anchor By Bruce R. Miller Journal stiff wnier But he does think there has been ample opportunity for farewells. "I had one election have one at the end of a two-hour I'll have one that night. It won't be an opus, it'll be more of a personal farewell." Interestingly, Brokaw said he thing to do with him.

Admittedly, his time at the University of Iowa was unproductive. "I majored in beer and co-eds," he said. "1 did not lose my passion for the public arena or journalism. But I was seriously adrift." The I960 election coverage proved inspirational and it------ pjl. -jtS feels a kinship with the people "in the red states" who watch him nightly.

"It's more important for us to listen than talk when we leave these studios. People there have a variety of want us to hear what's on their mind and what worries them. It's always a renewing process for Coming back to South Dakota to run for office, however, is out of the question. "I'm running for cover. I'm not running for office," he said with a laugh.

"I'm a great admirer of the prompted Brokaw to enroll at the University of South Dakota. There, he said, he met Bill Far-ber, "the godfather to all of us Ken Bode, Pat O'Brien, former S.D. Gov. George Mickel-son." Farber, a university professor, told Brokaw he had a "rigid standard for you to adhere to." He helped the aspiring journalist find focus. That led to a weekend job at KTIV where he began his television career in earnest.

Quickly, Brokaw moved from there to Omaha to It's more important for us to listen than talk when we leave these studios. People there have a variety of want us to hear what's on their mind and what worries them." A solid South Dakota work ethic served Tom Brokaw well during his tenure as anchor of the "NBC Nightly News." In South Dakota, the former Yankton resident said, "you were always judged by how hard and effectively you worked. You couldn't talk your way through something." When he retires Wednesday after more than two decades as NBC's leading journalist, Brokaw will leave a legacy of hard work one that once earned him the nickname "Duncan the Wonder Horse." The 64-year-old won't depart television entirely, just the nightly news. He'll continue to do documentaries and special reports for the network. First, though, he plans an extensive vacation one that's expected to include mountain climbing and backpacking further evidence that he's not one to retire in the conventional sense.

For the first time, he said during a telephone interview Tuesday, he and wife Meredith will be able travel together without interruption. When he suggested they do something together, his wife said, "I'm going to be on a horseback safari in Africa. Maybe you can meet me there" proof he has "an active wife." Meredith Brokaw, actually, is one of the driving forces behind the Emmy-winning anchorman. Brokaw said if she hadn't "completely written me off' in the '60s he might not have pursued a career in broadcasting. The former Miss South Dakota, however, told him he was going nowhere and didn't want any Tom Brokaw hosted his final election coverage during November, above.

When he steps down from the "Nightly News" Wednesday, he'll cap a career that has included some impressive achievements including anchoring the Today" show, top, reporting from China in 1983 and cov- orinn thn P.hallonnor ovnlneinn in 1QRR Hfl'll rnn- B'-. Si If Atlanta to Los Angeles before landing with NBC News in 1966. Before assuming the "Nightly News" reins, he anchored the morning "Today" program. As Wednesday's final broadcast approaches, Brokaw said he has written and rewritten what he wants to say. Those words "won't be off the cuff.

I've been turning them over in my mind." political I have no interest in running for office." Covering the recent presidential election, in fact, was more than enough. Election night "is never relaxing," he said, "because it's a night when the whole world is watching. The SEE TOM BROKAW continued on page C3 2l tmue with the networK, heading a documentary tzr Mr unit- TYHn 7 sbraii mm 'to Matt Long finds lucky break in 'Jack Bobby' 111 mint it By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer LOS ANGELES "A year ago, I was doing that," Matt Long says as he points to a waiter collecting glasses off a table. Today, he's one of the stars of "Jack Bobby," a WB series about two brothers -one who grows up to become president of the United States.

Amazing? Totally. "But I'm pretty level-headed, so I'm trying to stay grounded," the 24-year-old says. While catering in New York, Long often worked events where producers were present. He thought about slipping them his resume, but realized "you can't be the guy drooling over someone if you want to continue working." He played the game letting and wound up at a reading for "Jack Bobby." "It was an amazing script," he says. Muddying the water? A producer had seen him the night before, told him they had seen his tape and said, 'That's Jack." "So I was nervous and there was a ton of material to remember.

I didn't have it memorized and I felt I really blew it." Two days later. Long's manager called and said the producers wanted to screen test him in Los The trip was his first ever to California, but the audition worked and he got the part "For a boy from Winchester, that's huge," he says with a big smile. "I'm sure it happens all the time, but it was amazing for us. I know people back home are freaking out." In his own, reserved way, Long is, too. While he hasn't gone Hollywood since getting the part just want to get my credit card bills paid off ASAP," he says), he has speculated about playing the role for another five or 10 years.

His character the older brother dies at some point, propelling the younger brother to seek the presidency. How all that happens is anyone's guess. But, Long says, "I hope it doesn't happen for a long time." Long's trek to employment is not unlike that of a number of young actors particularly those this season. Performers on managers arrange auditions high school," he says. So when it came time to choose his next move.

Long opted for New York. "The whole city is such a tight. community you can't help but be seen if you do something. There's more opportunity for an actor with nothing on his resume to get involved in small productions." While in New York, Long landed a commercial and a bit part in a movie. He was cut out of the film, but got tape that he could show others.

Now, he has a TV show one that could last a long time or set him up for more work. That he's playing someone eight years younger doesn't matter. "I don't look 24, which is good," he says. "And there are a lot of older actors on TV playing younger kids. Besides, Jack is mature for his age." Like the character.

Long has a younger brother. His, though, is in the Marines. Unlike Jack, Long wasn't a star athlete in high school. "I played sports, but I wasn't good at them at all," he admits. "I was into the theater, choir and stuff like that." He was and is close to his brother and remembers tense moments with his own parents, but "they weren't such a big deal, like they are on this show." That gives him something to feed off as an actor and it helps him remember what matters most.

Publicity, a new wrinkle for an aspiring actor, has just begun to enter his life. Teen magazines have come calling; he's not shutting the door. "It's a sign of success," he says. "Besides, it comes with the territory. Hopefully, I'll be able to transition over into adult roles." Right now, he says, everything is so new.

"I'm confident this is a great show," he says. "Everybody is excited. But I've signed a short lease on my apartment. Just incase." V--" such shows as Veronica Mars, lite as we know it" and "Lost" tell similar stories. They graduate from college (Long has a degree from Western Kentucky 1 Matt Long plays the older brother in "Jack Bobby the new political drama on The WB.

The series airs Wednesdays. LrC A University), go to New York or Los Angeles, take bit parts in order to get agents, then make the audition rounds. If they get work, great. If they don't, they wait wait for the phone to ring. It's a frustrating existence.

Long says, but it's like a rite of passage for young actors. 'I did a lot of theater in college and.