David Bianculli

Many of these shows were attacked or censored by their corporate owners in well-publicized clashes that exposed and fought against the interference.

The CBS Late Show franchise is being retired from the schedule, but most of the time this year, the comics and their programs persevered.

Finally, my favorite TV moment of 2025 came courtesy of CNN.

Not for a news bulletin, but for televising, live from Broadway, a production of Good Night and Good Luck, starring George Clooney as veteran CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow.

At the end of the play, Clooney recites Murrow's actual speech to news and TV executives from 1958, urging them to use TV wisely.

In the year 2025, the best of television, from the American Revolution to adolescence, is living up to Ed Murrow's inspirational ideals.

We all just have to find the best that's out there.

Then, find the time to watch it.

This is Fresh Air.

I'm David Bianculli.

John Le Carre wrote spy novels that transcended the genre.

Philip Roth called Le Carre's 1986 novel, A Perfect Spy, the best English novel since the war.

The author's most beloved character was George Smiley, the physically unassuming but brilliant British spymaster.

He was the protagonist of many Le Corre novels, including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley's People, both of which were adapted into hit TV miniseries starring Alec Guinness as George Smiley.

Le Carre, whose real name was David Cornwell, died in 2020.

But George Smiley returned last year in the novel called Carla's Choice.

It was written by Cornwell's son, Nick, who goes by his own pen name, Nick Harkaway.

Harkaway spoke with Fresh Air's Sam Brigger last year.

Here's Sam.

We're listening to Sam Brigger's interview from last year with novelist Nick Harkaway about his book Carla's Choice.