Clooney's TV History Lesson Why Broadway's Obsessed (And You Should Be Too!)

George Clooney Is Bringing His Latest Straight to Your TV. It’s Right on Time.

Broadway is currently captivated not by a splashy musical, but by a thought-provoking play about the history of television news: Good Night, and Good Luck. The play, starring George Clooney, has achieved remarkable success, proving that serious drama can still draw significant crowds.

The play's popularity is undeniable:

• It's breaking records with an unprecedented $4.2 million in box-office grosses in a single week.
• This surpasses even blockbuster productions like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
• Despite high ticket prices (with some seats reaching nearly $300), audiences are flocking to the Winter Garden Theatre.

Why is this play resonating so deeply with audiences? It's a timely examination of journalistic ethics, focusing on the legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow and his battles against red-baiting Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

Clooney, who directed the 2005 film version, clearly felt the message about a courageous and uncompromising press was vital to reiterate in today's climate. The play, directed by David Cromer, stays true to the movie's core while adding a theatrical spectacle with a large cast, a jazz combo, and monitors displaying Murrow's broadcasts.

However, the real draw seems to be something more profound. It's the opportunity to spend time with like-minded individuals who share concerns about the world, nodding and applauding in unison. It's the chance to be in the same room as figures like Anderson Cooper or even Barack and Michelle Obama, who reportedly attended a previous performance.

But with limited seating and a short run, the play's reach is constrained. Thankfully, Clooney and his team have devised a solution to bring Good Night, and Good Luck to a wider audience and return it to its original medium: television.

Mark your calendars!

• On Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern, the play's penultimate performance will be broadcast live on CNN.
• It will also stream simultaneously on Max and CNN's website (no subscription required for the latter).

This marks a significant moment, as it's the first time a Broadway play has been broadcast on television, harking back to an era when live TV was the norm.

The play features excerpts from Murrow’s famous "Wires and Lights in a Box" speech, where he emphasizes that television is a powerful "instrument" that can be used for good or ill. Clooney, as Murrow, highlights the importance of avoiding a situation where the medium is used solely to "entertain, amuse, and insulate," warning that "the whole struggle is lost.”

While the play presents a somewhat stark dichotomy between informing and entertaining, it serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role of journalism in a healthy society. It encourages us to consider the responsibility and consequences of our media choices.

Ultimately, Good Night, and Good Luck reminds us that the power to shape the narrative and hold those in power accountable lies, in the end, with us – the audience. In a media landscape increasingly complex and often compromised, Clooney's timely production serves as a crucial call to action.

Tags: Broadway, George Clooney, Good Night, Good Luck, Theater, Play, Box Office, Tonys, Show, News, Journalism, Edward R. Murrow, CNN, Live Broadcast

Source: https://slate.com/culture/2025/06/george-clooney-broadway-good-night-good-luck-cnn-tonys.html