I got to interview him for a school project back in the 60's. He invited me down to the TV studio, gave me a mini tour, and answered all my questions. He was extremely kind and generous.
Awe Sonny we will miss you. You were a part of my childhood into adulthood. Detroit will never forget you. No doubt you are already bringing joy to Heaven you brought to all us us when here with us all these years. God Speed to his family. You'll always be in our hearts.
My mom always (smirkingly) called him our second father (us kids were glued to the TV when he was on). She acted like he was disgusting, but she was right there watching it too!
Absolutely the longest lived "gotta watch, can't miss!" TV program in our house. The guy was not only funny and talented, he actually was a true weather expert.
I interviewed Sonny Eliot two years ago for a project on the 1968 Detroit Tigers. He is indeed a gentleman among gentlemen whose sense of humour remains infectious to this day. Perhaps he's who Morecambe and Wise had in mind when they sang "Bring Me Sunshine."
I remember watching Sonny Eliot on WWJ-TV, channel 4 and he is doing the weather back in the 1960s when I was a kid. I used to laugh while Sonny Eliot doing a joke. Sonny Eliot also doing the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, Greenfield Village & Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, and Belle Isle Park in Detroit.
I met him at the Detroit Zoo when i was a kid. The memory is a bit fuzzy but i remember he had a Boa or Python around his neck, i remember getting an autograph picture which i don't have anymore.
My family would tune in most nights to enjoy Sonny's wit. You don't find it today. I've also met a woman on a train who called him Sonny Idiot. His weather forecasts were mini Laugh-In segments in my family.
Thank you for this, the first time I've seen him in three decades. Loved him as a kid, and he seems to be a genuinely nice person and not a showbiz a-hole.
There were 3 Detroit icons. Sonny . JP McCarthy. And although not from Detroit Soupy Sales made his his big breakthrough there and he always had fond memories of his time at WXYZ .
I remember watching Sonny on Channel 4 when it was WWJ, which was owned by The Detroit News. And anchors like Dick Westerkamp, Robert Lyle, Dwaine X. Riley and Mort Crim after 4 became WDIV.
The last time Sonny did the weather was on a weekend newscast on Channel 7 in the early nineties. He referred to Bill Bonds as "The big anchor with a little toupe". I guess channel 7 didn't bother to give him a job after that one.
I used to watch channel 4 all the time and see Sonny Eliot do the weather, and also served as the J.L. Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade host as well. He always squeaked the Keewenaw Pinensula, and we often knew the temperature in Paradise, and it was sometimes hotter in Hell (Michigan!) than Detroit. Thanks for sharing - I last saw him on channel 4 back in the early 1970's!
ANyone remember when he said "Its about as cold ad the hairy ass mary from the county clair"? that was just halarious! It was on a chilly st. pattys day.
I remember the Detroit city airshow..dont remember the year...somewhere in the mid 70s he was tied to the top of a bi=plane with a microphone ,,they took him up doing loops and everything ...was funny ...and fun times ...he was the best ...no doubt
His jokes were awful. His patter was nonstop. He always took the Keweenaw peninsula off the map. But you don't realize how much you'll miss a guy until he's gone.
Sonney was a wonderfull weather man.! He will be missed
I lived in Port Huron,Mi during the summer of 1973.Sonny Eliot was a must watch at 6 and 11.
My all time favorite weatherman
I got to interview him for a school project back in the 60's. He invited me down to the TV studio, gave me a mini tour, and answered all my questions. He was extremely kind and generous.
Awe Sonny we will miss you. You were a part of my childhood into adulthood. Detroit will never forget you. No doubt you are already bringing joy to Heaven you brought to all us us when here with us all these years. God Speed to his family. You'll always be in our hearts.
My mom always (smirkingly) called him our second father (us kids were glued to the TV when he was on). She acted like he was disgusting, but she was right there watching it too!
Absolutely the longest lived "gotta watch, can't miss!" TV program in our house. The guy was not only funny and talented, he actually was a true weather expert.
What a delightful guy. I wish we all would stop trying to impress others with how impressive we are, and start spreading joy like Sonny.
Snow & drizzle - SNIZZLE! Who could forget Sonny at his best. Fond memories of childhood in the Detroit area in the 1960s and 70s.
The sound you make in a bathtub "Brevoort!." I'll never forget that one.
Sonny has always been the most memorable guy on TV. I will remember him always.
RIP Sonny! I grew up to you on TV and you made me smile all the time!
RIP Sonny, your forecasts always made me smile. You were one of a kind and will be missed.
RIP Sonny....
Sonny was the best weatherman ever.
A real Detroit classic !! My grand parents watched him every day .
Back in the day when Detroit had the best of everything! Hard to believe, eh? Vote Democrat! Detroiters did.
thank you. detroit native, living in new york. sonny was/is the best.
What a remarkable man. And he gave accurate weather without computers and junk.
Yes, he sure did! I became a very informed weather nut by age 6 or so, just from watching his show.
For the wonderful childhood memories
Sonny was the best weatherman ever! R.I.P. Sonny Eliot... we will never forget you!
Thank you Sonny Elliot and Nanny for the wonderful childhood memories
I interviewed Sonny Eliot two years ago for a project on the 1968 Detroit Tigers. He is indeed a gentleman among gentlemen whose sense of humour remains infectious to this day. Perhaps he's who Morecambe and Wise had in mind when they sang "Bring Me Sunshine."
When growing up in Metro Detroit, we all enjoyed seeing the weather with Sonny... never been replaced!
Loved Sonny!
I remember watching Sonny Eliot on WWJ-TV, channel 4 and he is doing the weather back in the 1960s when I was a kid. I used to laugh while Sonny Eliot doing a joke. Sonny Eliot also doing the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, Greenfield Village & Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, and Belle Isle Park in Detroit.
I met him at the Detroit Zoo when i was a kid. The memory is a bit fuzzy but i remember he had a Boa or Python around his neck, i remember getting an autograph picture which i don't have anymore.
My family would tune in most nights to enjoy Sonny's wit. You don't find it today. I've also met a woman on a train who called him Sonny Idiot. His weather forecasts were mini Laugh-In segments in my family.
RIP Sonny.
Thank you for this, the first time I've seen him in three decades. Loved him as a kid, and he seems to be a genuinely nice person and not a showbiz a-hole.
RIP Sonny
One of the Detroit greats! RIP Sonny
There were 3 Detroit icons. Sonny . JP McCarthy. And although not from Detroit Soupy Sales made his his big breakthrough there and he always had fond memories of his time at WXYZ .
Yes. Soupy Sales came into being in Detroit. Lunch With Soupy. Whatta show!
He was a B24 bomber PILOT that was shot down over Germany in WW2. He spent time in German POW camp.
I remember watching Sonny on Channel 4 when it was WWJ, which was owned by The Detroit News. And anchors like Dick Westerkamp, Robert Lyle, Dwaine X. Riley and Mort Crim after 4 became WDIV.
Thanks for posting, I always enjoyed Sonny's hourly forecasts on WWJ. I heard the sad news this morning, R.I.P. Sonny.
I'm not sure what got me thinking of Sonny but I'm glad I did. I remember my grandmother and I watching Sonny and her calling him silly idiot.
The last time Sonny did the weather was on a weekend newscast on Channel 7 in the early nineties. He referred to Bill Bonds as "The big anchor with a little toupe".
I guess channel 7 didn't bother to give him a job after that one.
sorry I missed that.
i grew up watching Sonny Eliot...i friend of mine used to call him "silly idiot"
Sonny was great! I loved how he did the weather.
I used to watch channel 4 all the time and see Sonny Eliot do the weather, and also served as the J.L. Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade host as well.
He always squeaked the Keewenaw Pinensula, and we often knew the temperature in Paradise, and it was sometimes hotter in Hell (Michigan!) than Detroit.
Thanks for sharing - I last saw him on channel 4 back in the early 1970's!
RIP Sonny...That you for the laughs.
Wonderful to hear his voice. Great interview. Many fine forecasters, but, Sonny was the best.
Let me know if anyone finds videos on Sonny Eliot's Treasury of Trivia.
I remember watching him every night. Or Bud Davies on channel 9 Windsor.
Sonny Eliot at the Zoo, Friday after the news in the mid 60s, I think.
ANyone remember when he said "Its about as cold ad the hairy ass mary from the county clair"? that was just halarious! It was on a chilly st. pattys day.
I remember the Detroit city airshow..dont remember the year...somewhere in the mid 70s he was tied to the top of a bi=plane with a microphone ,,they took him up doing loops and everything ...was funny ...and fun times ...he was the best ...no doubt
The classic chalk board. How old school Today everything is computerized. how things have changed.
Computerized, yet so full of shit.(do they even do weather anymore on The Weather Channel?)
Joe Kaye I don’t even remember saying this 9 years ago 😂
He was a Genius and Master, or as Sonny would say "Gester"
He did good till he mentioned Carlin Harlin's size 12 shoes - bad boy !
He was funny but I remember when there was severe weather like tornado watches or warnings, there were no jokes.
Remember Inga dinga dine in the UP
Yes! Engadine.
Noh Phog
Good choice Detnews website... This is a great video. Goodbye Sonny...
Bye bye, Sonny, :-(
His jokes were awful. His patter was nonstop. He always took the Keweenaw peninsula off the map. But you don't realize how much you'll miss a guy until he's gone.
RIP Sonny