Fox News Channel airs the fifth episode in the periodic series, “Television & the Presidency,” tonight at 9pmET, looking at the years 1997-2000 and President Bill Clinton.
The series began in 1984, and it has been eight years since the last original episode aired. Confused? The Washington Post’s Tom Shales saw the new episode, and explains. “The first documentary was produced for the regular old Fox network by media maestro Roger Ailes, who is now the mischievous CEO of Fox News,” writes Shales. “He no longer produces the specials himself, however; tonight’s was done by Clay Rawson and Peter Russo.”
Chris Wallace anchors, and everyone from former Clinton press secretary Mike McCurry to Karl Rove appear.
“It seems like pure and simple party-pooping for Fox to rewash this dirty linen now,” writes Shales, but he concludes, “The hour is skillfully edited, written and assembled, and Wallace does an effortlessly authoritative job.”
The past installments air each subsequent Saturday.