20/20


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

From Wikipedia:

20/20 is an American "television newsmagazine", (similar in depth to a "print newsmagazine"), broadcast on ABC since June 6, 1978. Created by ABC News executive Roone Arledge[citation needed], the show was designed similarly to CBS's 60 Minutes but focuses more on human interest stories than international and political subjects. The program's name derives from the "20/20" measurement of visual acuity.

History

The show's anchors on the premiere telecast were Harold Hayes, the renowned editor of Esquire magazine who also served as senior producer, and famed Time art critic Robert Hughes. The debut received largely harsh reviews; The New York Times described it as "dizzingly absurd" and the Washington Post denounced it as "the trashiest stab at candycane journalism yet." In his autobiography Roone: A Memoir, Arledge recalled that probably the most embarrassing part of that initial program was the Claymation segments featuring caricatures representing then-President Jimmy Carter (singing "Georgia on My Mind") and Walter Cronkite (closing the show intoning, "That's the way it was"). As a result of the scathing reviews, serious and drastic changes were made immediately: Hayes and Hughes were fired (as was original executive producer Bob Shanks), and a then semi-retired Hugh Downs was recruited to take on the role of sole host on the following week's program.

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Highlights
Barbara Walters on joining 20/20
01:21
Who talked about this show

Lowell Bergman

View Interview
Lowell Bergman on working for 20/20 and the differences between reporters and producers
06:27
Lowell Bergman on the investigative stories he covered at 20/20 and ABC News
03:10
Lowell Bergman on the freedom he had at ABC and CBS to do investigative stories
02:14
Lowell Bergman on the origin of 20/20
03:05

Anderson Cooper

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Anderson Cooper on being a correspondent for 20/20 Downtown
03:10

Hugh Downs

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Hugh Downs on the disastrous start of 20/20
01:37
Hugh Downs on the origin of 20/20 (contd.) and Roone Arledge's improvements to the show (including asking Downs to anchor the program)
04:30
Hugh Downs on differences between 20/20 and 60 Minutes
00:45
Hugh Downs on the stories he's enjoyed most on 20/20
01:37
Hugh Downs on Geraldo Rivera's work on 20/20 and after
03:10
Hugh Downs on doing two nights of 20/20 per week
00:54

Sheila Nevins

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Sheila Nevins on getting fired from 20/20
00:53

Geraldo Rivera

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Geraldo Rivera on how 20/20 was initially received
02:26
Geraldo Rivera on leaving 20/20
03:35

Barbara Walters

View Interview
Barbara Walters on joining 20/20
01:21

Av Westin

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Av Westin on the creation of 20/20
02:42
Av Westin on the changes he brought to 20/20 
03:03
Av Westin on comparing 20/20 and 60 Minutes
01:13
Av Westin on the stories 20/20 covered and competition from other news magazines
02:44
Av Westin on the firing of Geraldo Rivera from 20/20 and his thoughts on Rivera as a journalist
04:44
Av Westin on leaving 20/20
01:21

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