The Big Idea! The Twin Towers, WPIX and the Henry Tillman

This is WPIX's 20-minute documentary exploring the popular mid-1980s WPIX ad campaign featuring Henry Tillman, a fictional WPIX junior executive whose one job was to find a “big idea” to promote the station — and the obvious choice to promote Channel 11 was the Twin Towers, except poor Henry never got it.

The campaign was a huge success, and is fondly remembered to this day. We've interviewed all the key players in the campaign, including the actor himself.

Produced by Kim Pestalozzi. Conceived by Rolando Pujol. Copyright 2016, WPIX Inc.

[njtomboy]

So amazing. I remember this campaign very well. I've always felt close to the towers as I was born 12/26/70. Sigh. Thanks for this wonderful documentary.

[Nick_Nightingale]

WPIX was probably my favorite channel in the 80s. Love Doug Paul's announcer voice.

[aviduser]

Local TV was amazing back then. Oh how I miss it.

[Clubbingclown]

I need one of those Henry Tillman autographs

[JHollowayNetwork]

What about the stuff from the Original "Circle 11" era of WPIX from 1969-1976?

[drummingdanny]

Doug Paul = Charlie O'Donnell
Ralph Lowenstein = Gene Wood
Bill Biery = Jack Clark
Jim Cutler = Sean Parr
Bob Tracey = Les Marshak

The greatest announcers in the game that made PIX what it is.

[unclestashtv]

Ha...who knew Henry Tillman was a Red Sox fan!!

[RobLivesLove]

hey i'm curious! do you have any footage from the moment or day the original WPIX became WB11 back in 1995?