Believe it or not, I worked with "Gerry" Rivera for a few hours one morning 28 years ago. It was in the basement level of ABC-TV's Network Operations building on 66th Street between Columbus Ave and Central Park (a block and a half from Lincoln Center). I was a summer intern in the videotape department; Rivera and a nameless producer were viewing clips for his first network appearance, a patchwork hodgepodge called "Good Night, America". At the time, his 'real' job was as a location reporter for WABC-TV, the New York affiliate which shared space, staff and facilities with the network.

Rivera's favorite off-camera phrase at the time -which I heard continually that morning - was "f***in' A".

The guy was tabloid from the very beginning, imho... do the words "Al Capone's Secret Treasure" ring any bells?

E'