If there was any doubt that mine is no longer the youngest generation, I had to look no further than our newsroom and my assignment for Wednesday.

As part of my weekly "Check It Out" segment, I had an interview scheduled with the lead actor in the Heinz Hall production of "Twelve Angry Men" - Richard Thomas. His claim to fame is the role of "John-Boy" in the 70's TV hit "The Waltons". Remember the famous line at the end of the show "Good night John-Boy"? Obviously the younger members of our newsroom did not. Melanie Taylor and Demetrius Ivory had blank stares when I mentioned the show - and the character. Not to worry. Their day will come.

I sat down with Richard at the Double Tree Hotel Wednesday. He was a very nice and engaging person - a man in his 50's but with a face that had hardly changed since his TV stardom of the 70's. Richard tells me he has always been a actor who lived for the stage rather than for the screen. His first acting role on stage - was at age six.

We discussed "Twelve Angry Men" - the play he's doing based on the movie starring Henry Fonda 50 years ago. Thomas plays juror number 8 - who tries to turn 11 other jurors over to his side in a case filled emotion and prejudice. It's a story that still has legs 50 years later - even more so because of our obsession with celebrity-court cases.

Thomas says he doesn't mind people recognizing - and identifying him - as John-Boy when he's doing this role. Still, he says every so often at the end of the performance, someone will invariably yell "Good night John-Boy" at the end of the performance.

He has been here before - shooting scenes a decade ago in the film "Wonder Boys", but he says this time around he plans to real visit and take in Pittsburgh and all it has to offer in terms of art, culture and museums. It was a joy meeting one of the icons of my youth and it would be worth you time to go see "Twelve Angry Men" at Heinz Hall. Just don't yell "Good night John-Boy" when the curtain comes down.