"I really want to see Zhao Zhongxiang!" Song Dandan, who was dressed as an old lady in the northeast, shouted eagerly at a Spring Festival gala many years ago. The camera immediately turned to the person "desperately wanted to see", and in front of the national audience, Zhao Zhongxiang smiled gently. So far, this sketch is still broadcast on TV.

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Sketch "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" stills

On the morning of January 16, 2020, Zhao Zhongxiang's son, Zhao Fang, announced on Weibo that Zhao Zhongxiang died of illness in Beijing at 7:30 in the morning.

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Zhao Fang posted Zhao Zhongxiang’s death microblog

on this day, which happened to be Zhao Zhongxiang’s 78th birthday. On January 16th of previous years, it was a joyous day, but I didn't expect it to be a sad day this year. Although belonged to his era is long gone, although he will be gradually forgotten by everyone, but the imprint of the era left by him is indelible.

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Old photos of Zhao Zhongxiang

The first male announcer

If someone says that Zhao Zhongxiang is the first announcer in the history of Chinese TV, he will correct it very seriously: "Shen Li is the first announcer in the history of Chinese TV, and I am the number one. Two, but as a male, I count as the first male announcer."

At the end of the 1950s, China's television industry had just started. In 1959, Premier Zhou Enlai visited Beijing Television Station (now China Central Television), and after learning that the station lacked an announcer, he personally instructed him to recruit TV announcers among middle school students in Beijing.

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Zhao Zhongxiang's old photo

The 18-year-old Zhao Zhongxiang stood out from thousands of applicants and became the only one selected, and he began his broadcasting career.

At that time, the equipment of the TV station was very rudimentary, all relying on manpower and manual work, and the program could only be broadcast live, and no errors were allowed.

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Zhao Zhongxiang's old photos

Zhao Zhongxiang once recalled that when he was doing live TV broadcasts every day, he was under a lot of pressure, and he was nervous for seven days a week. He sweated hot in summer and cold in winter.

But the live TV broadcast day after day has also exercised Zhao Zhongxiang's ability. On October 1, 1960, Zhao Zhongxiang was sent to broadcast the live broadcast of the National Day parade with Shen Li. Since Zhao Zhongxiang successfully completed the task, he has served as a live commentator for the National Day many times since then. According to statistics, he broadcasted and hosted the National Day celebration 9 times, setting a record that no one has surpassed so far.

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Zhao Zhongxiang’s old photo

Because Zhao Zhongxiang was the only male announcer in the station, he was reporting on many major national events at the time, including important party and government meetings, announcements, and decrees, the Sino-Indian border self-defense counterattack, the first atomic bomb The test explosion was successful, the first artificial satellite was launched and so on.

In 1973, Zhao Zhongxiang was appointed as the sole announcer to broadcast important news about Chairman Mao.

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Old photos of Zhao Zhongxiang

In 1976, Premier Zhou passed away and Chairman Mao passed away. With a sad and desolate voice, Zhao Zhongxiang tremblingly conveyed everything through black and white TV sets to the whole of China and the world.

In 1978, CCTV began to produce 20-minute domestic news films and 10-minute international news films, which were later merged into "News Broadcast". Zhao Zhongxiang became the first broadcaster of "News Network" and was the only person designated to appear on the screen.

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Zhao Zhongxiang's old photos

In 1985, Zhao Zhongxiang left the news broadcast post.

"China's Cronkite"

"The first Chinese reporter to enter the White House" label is Zhao Zhongxiang's lifelong pride.

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Zhao Zhongxiang interviewed Carter at the White House

On January 1, 1979, China and the United States established diplomatic relations. Soon, 37-year-old Zhao Zhongxiang was sent to report on a visit to the United States with a Chinese government delegation led by Deng Xiaoping.

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After entering the White House to meet with the then U.S. President Carter, Zhao Zhongxiang’s first sentence was: "Mr. President, this is the first time a reporter from China Central Television of the People’s Republic of China has the opportunity to interview an American president." "Also reported in detail the whole process of Zhao Zhongxiang's interview.

During the visit of Zhao Zhongxiang and Carter and his wife, Zhao Zhongxiang successfully cooperated with NBC, ABC and CBS CB.S’s show host cooperated, and his easy hosting ability impressed his American counterparts and also earned him the title of "China's Cronkite". Before and after, Zhao Zhongxiang also interviewed Reagan, Kissinger and other foreign dignitaries.

Cronkite

Zhao Zhongxiang wrote in his future memories: "I am insignificant, but what I represent is a cultural tradition of five thousand years. What I should reflect is the temperament and demeanor of the growing Chinese people who are standing up. And the dignity of self-respect and self-respect.”

Not only that, but as a reporter, Zhao Zhongxiang interviewed Wang Jinxi in Daqing, Chen Yonggui from Dazhai, Shi Chuanxiang, a national model worker, etc., and reported that the doctor in charge of replanting severed hands, Chen Zhongwei, and the diplomatic hero Wang Weizhen, Mathematics master Hua Luogeng and other typical figures, as well as art masters in the mid-20th century, such as Ma Lianliang, Qiu Shengrong, and Hou Baolin.

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Zhao Zhongxiang interviews old photos of

The successful host

in addition to serving as a news announcer and reporter, Zhao Zhongxiang is also invited to participate in the production of other types of programs, such as hosting.

In 1981, Zhao Zhongxiang hosted the "Beijing Middle School Student Intelligence Contest" for the first time as a host, and participated in all aspects of the competition, including the topic, schedule, hosting, and scoring. Therefore, he became the first to transfer from broadcast The host of the special program.

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Zhao Zhongxiang's old photos

Later, he presided over the "Second Middle School Student Intelligence Contest", "Dandelion Knowledge Contest" and "Army Knowledge Contest" organized by CCTV, which were well received by all walks of life.

In 1983, the first CCTV Spring Festival Gala was broadcast. Zhao Zhongxiang gave the opening speech and said the first sentence of the first Spring Festival Gala.

From 1984 to 2000, Zhao Zhongxiang hosted the 13th Spring Festival Gala. His old partner Ni Ping has also become a beautiful scene of the Spring Festival Gala, and Zhao Zhongxiang has become an idol in the hearts of Chinese audiences. In a later interview between Zhao Zhongxiang and Ni Ping

, Zhao Zhongxiang recalled his experience of hosting the CCTV Spring Festival Gala and said: "What I am most proud of is that I have hosted so many Spring Festival Gala, (I) have never added a word to the host word. , One less character. The host word is completely written by the writer. Once he gives you the word, he can’t change a word at all. I don’t know the experience of other hosts. As far as I am concerned, add a word and subtract it. One word is not allowed." The names of Zhao Zhongxiang and Ni Ping

Zhao Zhongxiang are so familiar to the audience that apart from the Spring Festival Gala, there are two columns, "Animal World" and "Man and Nature." No need to look at the picture, just by listening to his voice, the audience can feel the ease and peace.

According to statistics, Zhao Zhongxiang has dubbed more than 2,500 titles of "Animal World" and "Man and Nature", with over 18 million words of commentary.

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"Man and Nature" stills

China's first variety show puzzle column "Zhengda Variety Show" was broadcast in 1990. That year, Yang Lan, who had just graduated from university, partnered with comedian Jiang Kun to host for a year, but the ratings declined steadily. When life and death were at stake, Yang Lan thought of Zhao Zhongxiang. She hoped that Zhao Zhongxiang could go out in danger and host "Zhengda Variety Show" with herself.

After Yang Lan's long-term soft grinding and hard soaking, Zhao Zhongxiang started the 66th program on July 28, 1991 and stood on the host seat of "Zhengda Variety Show". Soon, with his unique "Zhao-style humor", Zhao Zhongxiang gradually improved the ratings of "Zhengda Variety Show", and finally set a 37% ratings record, which no one has surpassed so far.

In addition, Zhao Zhongxiang also hosted large variety shows such as "Hong Kong Return", "Macau Return", "Millennium Jubilee" and hundreds of various thematic evenings.

The wonderful life of his later years

In 2009, after working at CCTV for nearly 50 years, Zhao Zhongxiang officially retired. At the age of 67, he did not calm down to support his life, but started various new attempts.

On June 20, 2009, Zhao Zhongxiang's partner Wu Zongxian and Wang Guan hosted the variety show "Dancing Forest Conference".

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"Dancing Forest Convention" stills

After, he hosted and participated in several programs such as "The Return of the King", "Old Zhao Meeting Living Room", "Chinese Poetry" and other programs.

Some people think that Zhao Zhongxiang is the oldest host in China and should retire. In Zhao Zhongxiang's eyes, age is nothing at all, as long as he survives, he will fight. He said: “I’m not too old to say that I’m old. There are many presenters abroad who are nearly 90 years old and are still hosting. I’ve just reached seventy, and my life is scarce in seventy years, but there are more entertainers of this age I am alone."

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Stills of "Old Zhao Meeting Living Room"

In 2015, Zhao Zhongxiang was hired as the honorary director of the host professional committee of the Chinese Television Artists Association, responsible for the training of young host.

In December 2018, Zhao Zhongxiang commented and recorded the final piece of "Man and Nature". According to the staff, before that, Zhao Zhongxiang recorded more than 3 consecutive hours each time, with 4 episodes in one recording. It is very admirable that he can maintain such a tone in his seventies.

From the end of 2018 to 2019, he appeared in the variety show "Our Master" and "Sound in the Scene" to help out his friend Ni Ping.

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"Our Master" stills