Editing Firing Line (TV program) (section)

===Show format===
Although the program's format varied over the years, it typically featured Buckley interviewing, and exchanging views with, a guest, while seated together in front of a small studio audience. Standing or sitting further away in the studio, an "examiner", typically a [[Modern Liberalism in the United States|liberal]], would ask questions, generally toward the end of the show. Most guests were intellectuals or those in positions of power, being notable in the fields of politics, religion, literature and academia. Their views could either sharply contrast or be in strong agreement with Buckley's.<ref>{{cite news | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/nyregion/29buckley.html | title =On TV, Buckley Led Urbane Debating Club | last =Konigsberg | first =Erik | date =February 29, 2008 | newspaper =[[The New York Times]] | access-date =December 23, 2018 | quote ='Over 33 years, the list of guests on "Firing Line" was impressive and very much bipartisan: Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Clare Boothe Luce and Henry A. Kissinger on the right. Muhammad Ali, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Jimmy Carter and William M. Kunstler on the left. There were also, of course, people who, by dint of political or personal conviction, would not appear on "Firing Line.{{"'}}}}</ref>

Reflecting Buckley's talents and preferences, the exchange of views was almost always polite, and the guests were given time to answer questions at length, giving the program a leisurely pace. "The show was devoted to a leisurely examination of issues and ideas at an extremely high level", according to [[Jeff Greenfield]], who frequently appeared as an examiner. [[John Kenneth Galbraith]] said of the program, "''Firing Line'' is one of the rare occasions when you have a chance to correct the errors of the man who's interrogating you."<ref>{{cite news | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/nyregion/29buckley.html | title =On TV, Buckley Led Urbane Debating Club | last =Konigsberg | first =Erik | date =February 29, 2008 | newspaper=The New York Times | access-date =December 23, 2018 | quote ={{'"}}Firing Line" is one of the rare occasions when you have a chance to correct the errors of the man who's interrogating you,' John Kenneth Galbraith said that night.}}</ref>

The show might be compared in politeness and style of discourse to other national public interview shows, specifically those hosted by [[Richard Heffner]], [[Charlie Rose]] or [[Terry Gross]], but Buckley was clearly interested in debate. In a 1999 ''[[Salon.com]]'' article, ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'' editor [[William Kristol]] summarized Buckley's approach to the show: "Buckley really believes that in order to convince, you have to debate and not just preach, which of course means risking the possibility that someone will beat you in debate."<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.salon.com/media/lehm/1999/01/07lehm.html | title =Firing Line Ceases Fire | last =Lehman | first =Susan | date =January 7, 1999 | website=[[Salon.com]] | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110628213313/http://www.salon.com/media/lehm/1999/01/07lehm.html | access-date =December 23, 2018 | archive-date =June 28, 2011 | quote ='Buckley really believes that in order to convince, you have to debate and not just preach, which of course means risking the possibility that someone will beat you in debate,' says Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, adding that 'not that many people could beat Buckley, of course.' }}</ref> Buckley was not averse to asking tough questions of friendly guests either, according to [[Tom Wolfe]], who recalled the interviewer asking him whether there were really any original insights in his book ''[[The Bonfire of the Vanities]]''.<ref>{{cite news | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/nyregion/29buckley.html | title =On TV, Buckley Led Urbane Debating Club | last =Konigsberg | first =Erik | date =February 29, 2008 | newspaper=The New York Times | access-date =December 23, 2018 | quote =Tom Wolfe praised Mr. Buckley somewhat ruefully for being a tough interrogator, 'even though we agreed on so many things.'}}</ref>

Buckley and his producer, [[Warren Steibel]], used various methods over the years to bring extra perspectives to the show. In the early years, there would often be a panel of questioners. In 1977 the panel was replaced by an "examiner" who played a larger part in the proceedings. Examiners varied, with [[Jeff Greenfield]], [[Michael Kinsley]], [[Harriet Pilpel]], and [[Mark Green (New York politician)|Mark Green]] appearing most frequently. When the show was shortened to 30 minutes in 1988, the role of examiner was eliminated, but there was often a moderator, whose role was similar to that of the moderator in a formal debate. The moderator would introduce both host and guest, and then ask the opening question.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt6m3nc88c/entire_text/ | title =Register of the Firing Line (Television Program) broadcast records | publisher =Online Archive of California | access-date =December 23, 2018 | quote =The moderator would introduce both host and guest, and then ask the opening question. Source: Preface to the program catalogue compiled by ''Firing Line'' staff member Linda Bridges}}</ref>

Starting in 1978, scattered among the regular broadcasts were occasional specials and two-hour formal [[debate]]s, with opening statements, [[structure of policy debate#Cross-Examination Periods|cross-examination]], and closing statements. In 1988, at Buckley's request, the running time of regular program shows was reduced from one hour to a half-hour. Beginning in March 1993, the two-hour formal debates would often be followed by half-hour shows in which most or all of the participants engaged in informal discussion. In the 1980s and 1990s, the debate episodes were frequently broadcast on the Monday evenings after PBS pledge drives concluded.

A recurring episode that Buckley had rebroadcast every Christmas, beginning in 1981, was an interview he did with [[Malcolm Muggeridge]] at his home in Sussex, England. The title of the episode was "How Does One Find Faith?" The episode deals with questions that are religious and spiritual in nature.<ref>{{cite magazine | url =https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/buckley-christmas-tradition/ | title =A Buckley Christmas Tradition | last =Fowler | first =Jack | date =December 25, 2015 | magazine =[[National Review]] | access-date =December 23, 2018 | quote =Bill's acclaimed program, Firing Line, had a delightful Christmas tradition: to rerun his wonderful 1981 interview with Malcolm Muggeridge on 'How Does One Find Faith?' After you digest your figgy pudding, we recommend you take a few minutes to watch this clip from the program. Albeit brief, you are sure to enjoy seeing two giant conservative intellects discussing faith.}}</ref>