Devin Scillian And The Great Decatur Wallaby Hunt Of 1986

Today Detroit tv viewers know Devin Scillian as WDIV's senior news anchor, a man of gravitas and authority. Once upon a time, he was but a humble mid-market assignment reporter in Decatur.  

Back in 1986, a wallaby escaped from a Decatur zoo and our man Devin was sent to cover it. As you can see from this vintage report recently uploaded on the Youtubes, and shared on his Facebook page, an enterprising Scillian went beyond the sound bites and press statements to hunt down the wallaby for (we assume) an exclusive interview.

Attempting to win the animal's trust, he offered it food that wallaby's are known to enjoy, a Happy Meal bucket--remember that simpler time when McDonald's could literally market a bucket of food to children?--and an oil can of Foster's beer. Though the wallaby managed to outsmart this trap, give Scillian credit for the effort. You simply cannot learn this kind of reporting instinct in J-school. -- JTW