Gleason included some topical remarks in the opening moments of the apology, joking that he had been set to go watch the Los Angeles Open golf tournament that was held on January 8, 1961. Gleason implied that it would have been more enjoyable to watch Arnold Palmer struggle on the 18th hole at Rancho Park where he took a 12 or that he could have gone on a cruise on a Portuguese ship and been spared from hosting the show, referencing the Santa Maria hijacking.