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Bill Buckley and Firing Line Get Roasted (1986-01-14)
About this film
A complete change of pace for this last segment of the anniversary celebration. The zingers come too fast to count, but here is the beginning of Jeff Greenfield's introduction: "Hello, and welcome to a special edition of Firing Line. My name is Jeff Greenfield, and, no, there has not been a bloodless coup. William F. Buckley is alive, well, present, and, God knows, soon to be heard from. I have temporarily fled the sleazy commercialism of ABC News for the purism of non-commercial, taxpayer-supported television to act as your host or guide or ringmaster ... Most television shows don't last a single season on the air. Five years is an extraordinary achievement; a decade is often cause for national celebration. So part of our purpose tonight is to try to figure out the incredible longevity of a show that disdains every convention of the medium of television.... For instance, television is said to be a visual medium. The only element of visual interest on Firing Line I have ever been able to detect is whether Mr. Buckley would someday part his hair with his tongue."
Directors & creators
Southern Educational Communications Association
Subjects
public broadcasting, AAPB, William F. Buckley Jr., Jeff Greenfield, Firing Line, ABC News, Stanford University, television industry, satire, political commentary, media criticism, anniversary celebration, broadcast journalism
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