NBC pages are finally stylin’ after years of sporting tired, dowdy duds.
The network’s iconic, blazer-clad workers – immortalized by Kenneth Parcell, the cheerful page on NBC sitcom “30 Rock” – are proudly wearing chic new uniforms for the first time in over 10 years.
Forget those old off-the-rack sacks – these babies are sleek, Brooks Brothers’ originals perfect for giving that guided studio tour, working crowd control on overeager tourists or fetching coffee for the never-satisfied boss.
NBC pages began wearing their new uniforms Friday to coincide with the start of the network’s coverage of the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
The new threads were chosen by viewers in an online poll after the “Today” show announced in March that NBC would update the standard page-wear to celebrate the page program’s 75th anniversary.
“When people feel confident with their appearance, they deliver content more confidently to their audience,” said NBC page manager Karissa Hoffman.
The page program, which began at 30 Rock in 1933, is steeped in history – and counts among its alums “Charlie’s Angels” star Kate Jackson, Bob “Captain Kangaroo” Keeshan, Regis Philbin and Ted Koppel.
Both Philbin and Koppel said they were glad to hear about the new uniform designs.
“I have very vivid memories of my page uniform,” Philbin told The Post. “I had just traded in my naval officer’s uniform – I was a lieutenant JG – for my page uniform, so I basically swapped one outfit for the other.
“And I thought the page uniform was pretty sharp. We used to have an inspection every day.”
Koppel said he and his NBC page brethren “looked like little admirals” in their uniforms.
“We were really sharp,” he told The Post, adding that, once donned, the uniform seemed to transform its wearer.
“It was a huge sense of power. You have no idea,” he said.
“[The uniform] was navy blue and we had either white, red or gold braid on our shoulder. It depended on whether you were a lowly page, a middle-of-the-road page or a godlike page.
“I was always one of the lesser pages,” he said.