Washington Week in Review," PBS' long-running public affairs program, is a stolid, dependable performer that features Washington reporters talking about current events, adding a bit of information when that seems called for.
Its devotees think "Washington Week" is deep. It is, but only as you compare it to the political food fights that take place elsewhere on the television dial.
Nevertheless, it is going through a bad time. Its producers want to pep it up, give it more attitude, get panelists to be bolder, edgier.
In service of this more lively vision, "Washington Week" is now without Ken Bode, its moderator.
The producers are temporarily bringing back Paul Duke, the previous moderator, who, if anything, is even more stolid and dependable. Curious thing, TV.
Inevitably, it seems, we are destined for yet another left vs. right tag team match to teach us, once again, that we have only two choices in our political life: evil and even worse evil. Swell.
Arnold Rosenfeld is editor-in-chief of the Cox Newspapers. His e-mail address: arnold.rosenfeld@cox.com.
Pub Date: 3/02/99
