David Bianculli

Many TV presentations of Broadway shows over the years were filmed or pre-recorded, not performed live. Modern TV musicals that weren't pre-recorded, such as Alison Williams and Christopher Walken in NBC's Peter Pan Live in 2014, were staged expressly for TV. One nationally distributed live performance that did emanate directly from Broadway was a 2016 production of the musical She Loves Me.

Many TV presentations of Broadway shows over the years were filmed or pre-recorded, not performed live. Modern TV musicals that weren't pre-recorded, such as Alison Williams and Christopher Walken in NBC's Peter Pan Live in 2014, were staged expressly for TV. One nationally distributed live performance that did emanate directly from Broadway was a 2016 production of the musical She Loves Me.

Many TV presentations of Broadway shows over the years were filmed or pre-recorded, not performed live. Modern TV musicals that weren't pre-recorded, such as Alison Williams and Christopher Walken in NBC's Peter Pan Live in 2014, were staged expressly for TV. One nationally distributed live performance that did emanate directly from Broadway was a 2016 production of the musical She Loves Me.

But that was live-streamed, not televised. So when CNN says of Good Night and Good Luck that, for the first time ever, Broadway goes live on television, it's being very careful with its wording. No matter, I'm really excited about this special TV event.

But that was live-streamed, not televised. So when CNN says of Good Night and Good Luck that, for the first time ever, Broadway goes live on television, it's being very careful with its wording. No matter, I'm really excited about this special TV event.

But that was live-streamed, not televised. So when CNN says of Good Night and Good Luck that, for the first time ever, Broadway goes live on television, it's being very careful with its wording. No matter, I'm really excited about this special TV event.

Good Night and Good Luck, written by George Clooney and his production partner Grant Heslov, is based on the story of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow, who set the standards for excellence in news reporting for the entire industry. First as a CBS radio reporter during World War II, then as the host of the TV news magazine See It Now in the 1950s.

Good Night and Good Luck, written by George Clooney and his production partner Grant Heslov, is based on the story of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow, who set the standards for excellence in news reporting for the entire industry. First as a CBS radio reporter during World War II, then as the host of the TV news magazine See It Now in the 1950s.

Good Night and Good Luck, written by George Clooney and his production partner Grant Heslov, is based on the story of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow, who set the standards for excellence in news reporting for the entire industry. First as a CBS radio reporter during World War II, then as the host of the TV news magazine See It Now in the 1950s.

He used that TV pulpit to challenge Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy, whose communist witch-hunting tactics of lies, bullying, and unfounded accusations had divided and paralyzed the country.

He used that TV pulpit to challenge Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy, whose communist witch-hunting tactics of lies, bullying, and unfounded accusations had divided and paralyzed the country.

He used that TV pulpit to challenge Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy, whose communist witch-hunting tactics of lies, bullying, and unfounded accusations had divided and paralyzed the country.

When Murrow and his team, which included producer Fred Friendly and director Don Hewitt, migrated to TV, they were like kids with a new set of toys, playing with the possibilities of live television and a new visual medium. On that first show in 1951, they opened by showing live side-by-side images of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, simply because they could.

When Murrow and his team, which included producer Fred Friendly and director Don Hewitt, migrated to TV, they were like kids with a new set of toys, playing with the possibilities of live television and a new visual medium. On that first show in 1951, they opened by showing live side-by-side images of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, simply because they could.

When Murrow and his team, which included producer Fred Friendly and director Don Hewitt, migrated to TV, they were like kids with a new set of toys, playing with the possibilities of live television and a new visual medium. On that first show in 1951, they opened by showing live side-by-side images of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, simply because they could.

And they used it well, very well. Three years later, in 1954, they devoted an entire program to the tactics of Joe McCarthy, using his own recorded words and images to expose him. The counsel Murrow gave that night, speaking on live TV to his national audience, absolutely is worth hearing today, more than 70 years later.

And they used it well, very well. Three years later, in 1954, they devoted an entire program to the tactics of Joe McCarthy, using his own recorded words and images to expose him. The counsel Murrow gave that night, speaking on live TV to his national audience, absolutely is worth hearing today, more than 70 years later.

And they used it well, very well. Three years later, in 1954, they devoted an entire program to the tactics of Joe McCarthy, using his own recorded words and images to expose him. The counsel Murrow gave that night, speaking on live TV to his national audience, absolutely is worth hearing today, more than 70 years later.

Twenty years ago, Clooney directed a movie about that Murrow-McCarthy confrontation. He and Hesloff wrote it and named the 2005 film after the phrase with which Murrow ended each radio and TV broadcast. Clooney had a supporting role as Murrow's producer, Fred Friendly. Murrow was played by David Strathairn, whose portrayal was as faithful and respectful as the movie's script.

Twenty years ago, Clooney directed a movie about that Murrow-McCarthy confrontation. He and Hesloff wrote it and named the 2005 film after the phrase with which Murrow ended each radio and TV broadcast. Clooney had a supporting role as Murrow's producer, Fred Friendly. Murrow was played by David Strathairn, whose portrayal was as faithful and respectful as the movie's script.