Thursday, February 28, 2008

PASSAGES: WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY

"William Buckley, with his winningly capricious personality, his use of ten-dollar words and a darting tongue writers loved to compare to an anteater’s, was the popular host of one of television’s longest-running programs, 'Firing Line,' and founded and shepherded the influential conservative magazine National Review."
- The New York Times

Roger Catlin gave this description of Buckley that is probably the most palatable for this knee-jerk moderate:

"William F. Buckley, Jr., was, in addition to a columnist, a frequent figure on TV where his brand of conservatism was of a most erudite type – so far away from the oafish know nothing bullies of today’s right wing broadcasting brethren."

Buckley was his own best representative in TV Land with his hosting duties on 'Firing Line' for 33 years, beginning in 1966. But he was also served with several televersions in the sketch comedy dimension of Skitlandia, most notably played by Joe Flaherty on an 'SCTV' "show" called 'Just For Fun' with the televersions of Indira Gandhi and Pierre Trudeau, and hosted by Stan Kanter.

William F. Buckley died Wednesday at his home in Connecticut at the age of 82.

BCnU.....
Toby OB

"Last call for lunatic liberals and their 3rd-world girlfriends."
'William F. Buckley'
'SCTV'

1 comment:

Lionel Braithwaite said...

Oh, does that skit bring back memories of watching SCTV. Thanks for the reminder.

I can't say that I will miss Buckley, but I can't imagine life without him.