Here's my list of the top 5 political shows on television. For a show to make my list it must meet the following criteria:
- After watching the show one must feel as though they actually learned something about policy, politics, or a politician.
- No loud music, no yelling (unless it's funny), and absolutely NO TALKING POINTS!!
Here's the list, starting with #5...
5.)
News Hour with Jim Lehrer
Great newscast every day of the week. Much more informative than the evening news on CBS, ABC, or NBC. Real political junkies must tune in on Friday. On Friday's the show ends with an 8 to 12 minute discussion between two regular columnists. The two people who usually participate are
Mark Shields and David Brooks. Others who sometimes fill in or who have in the past include Paul Gigot, David Gergen, Thomas Oliphant, Rich Lowry, Bill Kristol, Ramesh Ponnuru, and William Safire.
4.) Washington Week
3 PBS programs make my top five. Gwen Ifill hosts this PBS classic. Airs on Friday nights between News Hour with Jim Lehrer and The McLaughlin Group. Ifill is an incredible host/moderator. The show doesn't have the loud sounds, yelling, and talking points of shows like Hardball. Guests follow a format where discourse takes place - so the viewer can actually learn something.
3.) Tim Russert
Tim Russet hosts Tim Russert, a weekly interview program airing Saturday nights on CNBC. It's a fantastic show. The complete opposite of Meet the Press.
2.) Q&A
Airs Sunday nights on C-SPAN. Hosted by Brian Lamb - the CEO of C-SPAN. Lamb's resume includes working for the White House during the Johnson administration, and working in the Pentagon during the Nixon administration. This show is great because it's an hour long, with no commercials and no yelling. The way Lamb conducts the show makes it look like his guests are being interviewed for a job. Recent guests include: William Kristol, Keith Olbermann, Mitt Romney, Randi Rhodes, and Mark Warner.
1.) The McLaughlin Group
Airs Fridays on PBS at 8:30pm. The cast includes: John McLaughlin The Host, Pat Buchanan the Paleoconservative, Tony Blankley the Neoconservative, Eleanor Clift the Liberal, plus one guest panelist each week. I love this show. You get insightful analysis and comedy at the same time, and by comedy I mean unintentional comedy. Watch the show to see what I'm talking about. Everything from how the panelists interact to the music - it's just a great show!
Honorable Mention:
- This Week with George Stephanopoulos (the Roundtable segment)
- The Chris Matthews Show (not to be confused with Hardball)
Coming soon: The 5 worst political shows on TV