WABC/Channel 7 Moves On Without Gil Noble, Like It Is

Noble, as we reported previously, was hospitalized in July with the medical condition.

WABC general manager Dave Davis confirms to FishbowlNY, the veteran of Channel 7 for more than four decades, is unable to return to his beloved show as he recovers.

“He continues to recuperate, and according to his family, is making progress,” Davis emailed staffers. “We join them in their prayers for a complete recovery.”

Since Noble, 79, took ill, Davis had been airing classic Like It Is episodes. But Davis says that will not continue.

“[Noble] owned the rights to that,” Davis confirmed.

The general manager is looking toward the future by creating a new public affairs broadcast that he promises will keep strong ties to black viewers. 

“It will be a show that explores issues that are important to the African-American community, everything from jobs, housing, education and, culture.”

Davis says the show will have rotating hosts from those already at Channel 7.

“I’m not sure who that’s going to be yet,” Davis admits.

The new show, beginning October 16^th, will keep the old timeslot of Like It Is, Sunday at noon.

But an era has sadly come to an end. Noble joined WABC in 1967, but became synonymous with Like It Is, which he was with since the outset in 1968.

Over the years, Noble interviewed hundreds of prominent black personalities from Arthur Ashe to Malcolm X.

“We cannot duplicate Gil Noble or Like It Is, but we should always respect his passion for the truth.”

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