FIRING LINE: THE END OF FIRING LINE (PART 2 OF 2) (TV)
Summary
Continued from T:64201. Part two of two. The final
episode of this talk/interview series hosted by William
F. Buckley, Jr. This episode picks up in the middle of
a discussion about the highlights of thirty-plus years
of "Firing Line," according to the panel of guests,
which includes politician and lifelong liberal activist
Mark Green, nineteen-year "Firing Line Debate" moderator
Michael Kinsley, "Weekly Standard" editor Bill Kristol,
"National Review" editors Rich Lowry and Rick
Brookhiser, and former Reagan speechwriter Peter
Robinson. Buckley then introduces a clip reel that is
divided evenly between appearances Buckley made on
other shows, and parodies of "Firing Line" and its host.
The reel opens with a David Frye impersonation of
Buckley that focuses on the host's notorious flickering
tongue. In the next clip, Johnny Carson appears in a
bit that imagines what would happen if Buckley were
hired as a color commentator for sports broadcasts. In
the third clip, Carol Burnett introduces Robin Williams,
who parodies Buckley's fondness for extremely esoteric
analogies. Buckley himself is then seen being
interviewed by Woody Allen; he also answers questions
from Rowan and Martin on an episode of "Laugh-In."
After the clip reel is complete, Buckley asks all of his
panelists to comment on the issues on which they will
continue to focus in their political and journalistic
careers in the coming years. Once everyone has
answered, Buckley thanks director Warren Steibel for his
many years of service, and a crew member brings out a
bottle of champagne with which to celebrate.
(Network affiliation varies; this program was also
syndicated from 1966 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1977.)
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Mr. and
Mrs. Theodore R. Stanley.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: November 30, 1998
- RUNNING TIME: 0:28:08
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:64202
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk shows
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Warren Steibel … Producer, Director
- George Kahookele … Associate Producer
- Muriel Oxenberg Murphy … Associate Producer
- Mark Nix … Associate Producer
- Dorothy McCartney … Researcher
- John Virtes … Researcher
- William F. Buckley, Jr. … Host
- Rick Brookhiser … Guest
- Mark Green … Guest
- Michael Kinsley … Guest
- Bill Kristol … Guest
- Rich Lowy … Guest
- Peter Robinson … Guest
- Woody Allen
- Carol Burnett
- Johnny Carson
- David Frye
- Dick Martin
- Dan Rowan
- Warren Steibel
- Robin Williams