“The Tomorrow Show”’s host Tom Synder has passed away. He contracted Lukemia in 2005.

“Talk show host Tom Snyder, whose smoke-filled interviews were a staple of late night television, has died after a struggle with leukemia. He was 71.

Snyder died Sunday in San Francisco from complications associated with leukemia, said his longtime producer and friend Mike Horowicz.

Known for his improvised, casual style and robust laughter, Snyder conducted a number of memorable interviews as host of NBC’s “The Tomorrow Show.” Among his guests were John Lennon, Charles Manson and Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols.

Snyder began his career as a radio reporter in Milwaukee in the early 1960s, and eventually moved to local television news. He anchored newscasts in Philadelphia and Los Angeles before moving to late night.

“He loved the broadcast business,” said Marciarose Shestack, who co-anchored a noontime newscast with Snyder at KYW-TV in Philadelphia in the 1960s. “He was very surprising and very irreverent and not at all a typical newscaster.”

In 1972, Snyder left news to host “The Tomorrow Show,” which followed “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.

His catch phrase for the show was: “Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air.” Snyder smoked throughout his show, the cigarette cloud swirling around him during interviews.”

I remember as a young man staying up past Johnny just to see Tom’s show. It was considered “cool” to have said, “Did you see John Lennon on Tomorrow last night?” He was funny, asked questions that showed his intellect and insight.

Definitely an American treasure, gone, but not forgotten.

Youtube has an extensive video list of his interviews. Here’s a fave of mine: