Scott Pierce, longtime TV critic at Deseret Information, then Tribune, dies

SALT LAKE CITY — Scott D. Pierce, longtime tv critic at first the Deseret Information and later the Salt Lake Tribune, died Friday at age 64.

Pierce started making use of his sharp wit and eager eye as a TV critic in 1990 at Deseret Information, although that wasn’t his first reporting gig for the newspaper.

The Brigham Younger College graduate started his journalism profession as a part-time reporter within the late Eighties within the Utah County Bureau earlier than changing into an evening police reporter on metropolis desk. He later moved to sports activities, earlier than getting his “dream job” as a TV critic for Deseret Information. It was a job that took him on media excursions to satisfy celebrities and gave him an almost-insider’s view of the tv trade. Alongside the best way, he met tv’s heroes and villains — and a few icons whose encounters he treasured.

Pierce wrote for the Deseret Information for 20 years, earlier than he was a part of a spherical of layoffs in 2010. Inside a day, the gifted critic had been employed by The Salt Lake Tribune, the place he lined TV but additionally wrote basic information options, amongst different assignments, which expanded because the Tribune suffered its personal newspaper trade downsizing. He remained there till his dying.

Pierce was a longtime member of the Tv Critics Affiliation and served as its president in 2014.

In a Salt Lake Tribune tribute to Pierce printed Friday, reporter Julie Jag referred to as him “the Swiss Military knife of reporters, seemingly capable of deal with something and in fast order.”

That would even have referred to his sharp wit.

Tributes have been plentiful as information of his dying reached his many pals in journalism. Most of them talked about his humorousness, his unbelievable expertise and his versatility.

“As a longtime Deseret Information reporter, editor and critic, Scott was a devoted journalist who was actual and real. Like so many within the Deseret Information household, I’ll bear in mind him for his zeal for the career, his brutally trustworthy tv critiques, his unbending integrity, his humorousness and his friendship,” stated Sarah Jane Weaver, Deseret Information editor.

“Scott was a real skilled — succesful, hard-working, a superb and entertaining author,” stated retired Deseret Information metropolis editor Angelyn Hutchinson. “He was a really witty good friend and colleague. A few of my favourite occasions within the Options Division have been our early morning conversations punctuated by his pleasant sarcasm. We have been each followers of the unique ‘Dallas,’ so to listen to his tackle it and different TV exhibits was at all times memorable and satisfying. His passing is manner too quickly. His pals — and readers — will miss him.”

“Pierce was pleased with his Binghamton, New York, roots and his love of BYU sports activities,” stated Scott Taylor, a longtime good friend and colleague first on the BYU scholar newspaper, the Every day Universe, and later on the Deseret Information.

“He initially thought I had the perfect gig as sports activities editor protecting the BYU soccer staff that went 11-1 and completed within the High 10 nationally,” he stated. “However he was at all times fast to remind me that he was sports activities editor the following yr, when the Cougars went undefeated and have been named the 1984 nationwide champions.”

<!–[if IE 9]><![endif]–>

Taylor stated his good friend was excellent for the TV critic job. “It was a task tailored for Scott D. Pierce, along with his intensive reminiscence and love for all issues TV in addition to his sharp wit,” Taylor stated. He added, “He beloved his youngsters and will heat any room along with his large grin and contagious snicker.”

“Scott was at all times a variety of enjoyable,” stated Chuck Wing, managing editor for cross-platform information and pictures at Deseret Information and KSL. “Even on a day when issues weren’t going his manner, in his personal cranky kinda manner, he may crack a smile or make you snicker. He was so witty. As a journalist, Scott was prime shelf. He was revered by all of us on the (Deseret) Information but additionally across the nation by fellow tv critics. He’ll be missed by all.”

Susan Whitney, a former Deseret Information reporter, stated, “Anytime one thing can be occurring within the information, I might simply be attempting to rush and get to work as a result of I did not need to miss what he needed to say about it. He and Jeff Vice and Scott Iwasaki can be speaking very first thing within the morning about no matter present occasions had occurred, they usually have been additionally so hilarious, however particularly Scott.”

Like different colleagues, she famous his various abilities: “He may lay out pages, cowl sports activities, cowl TV, cowl something. He was such an excellent man.”

When requested to remark for this story, Iwasaki, leisure editor of The Park Report and a detailed good friend and former colleague, wrote a tribute of his personal:

“The snicker. Everybody within the room knew when Scott D. Pierce discovered one thing humorous. It wasn’t a quiet giggle. It was a deep snicker that erupted from deep inside his soul and stuffed each open house round him.

“His love for his pals. Whereas some individuals perceived Scott’s demeanor as jaded, sarcastic and gruff, his soul was gold. Whereas sarcasm was a technique of him displaying how a lot he preferred you, when (a) good good friend wanted recommendation, he wasn’t afraid to allow them to inside his world. He would sit down with them, look them within the eyes and pay attention. After a pause, he would give essentially the most thought-provoking and impressed recommendation that made a distinction. If you happen to have been a good friend, you knew it.”

And at last, “His love for household. He has spent nights awake caring for his sick youngsters and his furry youngsters. Throughout household events, the relations would attempt to outdo one another with sarcastic barbs, fun-loving nudging and boisterous laughter which brings me again to … everybody within the room knew when Scott discovered one thing humorous.”

Scott D. Pierce was born April 18, 1960, to Donald and Mary Lou Pierce and grew up in Endwell, New York. At BYU he was editor of The Every day College, the campus newspaper.

Greater than something, he was a household man who doted on his three youngsters: Hillary, Jonathon and Amanda. He additionally doted on his fur youngsters, filling his Fb with photographs of his beloved pets.

Pierce is survived by his companion, Rob Sonoda; his three youngsters: Amanda Pierce (Jeremy Tyrell), and twins Hillary Pierce and Jonathon Pierce; and by his granddaughter, Remi Tyrell, in addition to siblings. Plans for a memorial service are pending.