A brilliant, hilarious, exhilarating look at the Gore Vidal v. William F. Buckley paradigm-busting 1968 debates that changed TV journalism for the worse. I’m “biast” (pro): Gore Vidal is one of my heroes
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
This is how much the world has changed (or at least how much America has changed): In 1968, the lowest-rated TV network, ABC, decided to come up with a stunt that would boost ratings of their coverage of the Democratic and Republican national conventions, in the run-up to that autumn’s Presidential election. And what they came up with was this: They gave two of the nation’s most prominent public intellectuals, Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr., ten nights of juicy evening airtime to debate the election and the state of the nation. And it worked: ABC’s ratings soared.
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
This is how much the world has changed (or at least how much America has changed): In 1968, the lowest-rated TV network, ABC, decided to come up with a stunt that would boost ratings of their coverage of the Democratic and Republican national conventions, in the run-up to that autumn’s Presidential election. And what they came up with was this: They gave two of the nation’s most prominent public intellectuals, Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr., ten nights of juicy evening airtime to debate the election and the state of the nation. And it worked: ABC’s ratings soared.
- 7/24/2015
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Similar News
Reports: Marvel Studios Already Has Things Planned for Live-Action X-Men Reboot that Some Fans Won’t Like
- 4/29/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Reports Reveal Marvel Studios Plans For X-Men Live Action Reboot & Some Fans Are Not Going To Like Them
- 4/29/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
Marvel’s Biggest Bomb Connects X-Men ’97 to MCU in the Most Epic Way: Theory
- 4/26/2024
- by Sayantan Choudhary
- FandomWire
Raising Cain (1992) – Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie?
- 4/29/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
7 Best Shows Like ‘Sugar’ To Watch If You Love The Series
- 4/29/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
‘Art Happens Here’: John Lithgow Offers Artistic Pursuits for His Characters From ‘Dexter’ & More (Video)
- 4/26/2024
- TV Insider
John Candy Brilliantly Channeled Orson Welles For Billy Crystal's Short-Lived TV Show
- 4/30/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Deadline’s Contenders Television: Documentary + Unscripted Streaming Site Launches
- 4/29/2024
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline Film + TV
“There Was Little Evidence Anybody Was Ever Going To Care”: How Steve Martin Overcame Doubters To Reach Comedy Heights – Contenders TV: Doc + Unscripted
- 4/27/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
‘Scooby-Doo’ Live-Action Series in the Works at Netflix
- 4/29/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jeff Bridges Returning for ‘Tron: Ares,’ Says De-Aged Character in ‘Tron: Legacy’ Looked ‘More Like Bill Maher Than Myself’
- 4/29/2024
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
Peacock Hiking Prices for Second Time in Two Years
- 4/29/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety - TV News
Box Office: ‘Challengers’ Scores First Place Finish With $15 Million Debut
- 4/28/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety - Film News
Box Office: ‘Dune 2’ Passes $700 Million Globally, ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ Tops $500 Million Worldwide
- 4/28/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety - Film News
Nicki Nicole Says Rap Music Helped Her Get Out of Her Shell
- 4/29/2024
- by Brenda Barrientos
- Popsugar.com
Revisiting Jennifer Lopez’s 2011 Album “Love?” and What It Signifies Today
- 4/29/2024
- by Kimmy Dole
- Popsugar.com
Thalia's "A Mucha Honra" Album Is a Love Letter to Música Mexicana
- 4/26/2024
- by Lucas Villa
- Popsugar.com
Julio Torres's "Problemista" Shows the US Immigration System Is a Relentless Maze
- 4/24/2024
- by Johanna Ferreira
- Popsugar.com
Chuwi Is the Voice of a New Puerto Rican Generation
- 4/23/2024
- by Juan Arroyo
- Popsugar.com
Lionel Richie Revealed Which Artist Is Still a ‘Nervous Wreck’ After ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’
- 4/30/2024
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
The Illuminator Strikes Again
- 4/30/2024
- MUBI
In the Streets
- 4/30/2024
- MUBI
Martin Freeman Defends ‘Miller’s Girl’ Role Over Jenna Ortega Age Gap Backlash: ‘We’re Not Saying It’s Great’
- 4/30/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
‘Knuckles’ Opening Credits Go Full ’90s Throwback
- 4/30/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Jeff Bridges Returning for ‘Tron: Ares,’ Says De-Aged Character in ‘Tron: Legacy’ Looked ‘More Like Bill Maher Than Myself’
- 4/29/2024
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
Box Office: ‘Challengers’ Scores First Place Finish With $15 Million Debut
- 4/28/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety - Film News
Box Office: ‘Dune 2’ Passes $700 Million Globally, ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ Tops $500 Million Worldwide
- 4/28/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety - Film News
Lionel Richie Revealed Which Artist Is Still a ‘Nervous Wreck’ After ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’
- 4/30/2024
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Festival winners among 2024 Producers on the Move selection
- 4/30/2024
- ScreenDaily
‘Scooby-Doo’ Live-Action Series in the Works at Netflix
- 4/29/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Peacock Hiking Prices for Second Time in Two Years
- 4/29/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety - TV News
BAFTA TV Craft Awards: ‘Black Mirror,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ ‘Slow Horses’ Among Winners
- 4/28/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lionel Richie Revealed Which Artist Is Still a ‘Nervous Wreck’ After ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’
- 4/30/2024
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire Television
SNL Feedback Show – Ramy Youssef, Kristen Wiig, & Ryan Gosling (S49 E15-E17)
- 4/30/2024
- by Saturday Night Network
- LateNighter