Koppel Exits: A Dignified Departure

By Brian 

“Revisiting interviews with a dying man might seem like an unusual way to end almost 26 years with a news show known for covering global stories, but Ted Koppel makes it work just fine in his last Nightline broadcast tonight,” the Sun’s David Zurawik reviews.

The broadcast includes the highlights of three interviews Koppel did in 1995 with Morrie Schwartz. “The interviews, titled ‘Morrie: Lessons of Learning,’ led to the best-seller Tuesdays with Morrie, after one of Schwartz’s former students, Mitch Albom, saw him on Nightline and re-established contact. Koppel also has Albom on tonight’s show.”

“Koppel says in tonight’s program that the president of ABC News in 1995, Roone Arledge, questioned doing the series with Schwartz, fearing it might be a ‘downer’ for viewers. Koppel knew better. And he’s right again tonight in betting on Schwartz.”

Advertisement
Advertisement