TV & VIDEO - March 8, 1989

After an attempted telephone hookup failed Monday, the “Today” show’s Byrant Gumbel and weatherman Willard Scott, the colleague he sharply criticized in a confidential memo, kidded each other when they finally got together Tuesday through the magic of TV. Scott, vacationing near Ft. Myers, Fla., jokingly ordered Gumbel via TV to “hold up your right hand” and pledge that “I, Bryant Gumbel, promise to never write another memo and leave it in the computer again.” Gumbel, who had dutifully raised his right hand, lowered it, grinned, and responded: “I don’t know about that. I can’t write longhand. . . .” “We’ve already broken his wrist, Willard,” co-host Jane Pauley said. “It’s OK.” Gumbel offered no apologies for his critical remarks about Scott, which were contained in a 5-month-old private memo that NBC said was stolen from Gumbel’s office computer and made public by Newsday last week. Scott celebrated his 55th birthday Tuesday. He’s due back at work on Monday.