The real Ted Baxter’s name was Ted Russell. He anchored in Minneapolis for years. He was drunk 24/7, and became a Ted Baxter. Later got sober at WFTV in Orlando and was a brilliant journalist.
Here he is, starting at about :45, still great even when the teleprompter goes down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkUlyK142B0
Gone now, but missed.
Interesting clip. I’m glad he was able to turn things around.