Editing Robert MacNeil (section)

===Other work===
In director [[Michael Almereyda]]'s 2000 modern-day adaptation of ''[[Hamlet (2000 film)|Hamlet]]'', MacNeil portrayed the Player King, reimagined as a TV news reporter.<ref>{{cite book |last=Worthen |first=W. B. |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/shakespeare-performance-studies/retrotech-writing-theatre-and-technologies-of-performance-michael-almereyda-hamlet/52BF127EFF58FF8910C8253B61FB7608 |title=Shakespeare Performance Studies |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |doi=10.1017/CBO9781107295544.004 |isbn=978-1-107-05595-7 |publication-date=July 5, 2014 |at=Chapter 4: Retrotech: writing, theatre, and technologies of performance Michael Almereyda, Hamlet |access-date=April 18, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=French |first=Philip |date=December 17, 2000 |title=Hamlet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/dec/17/philipfrench1 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=April 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418022056/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/dec/17/philipfrench1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the [[September 11 attacks]], MacNeil called PBS and offered to help.<ref name="MyCountry"/> He joined PBS's coverage of the attacks and their aftermath, interviewing reporters and giving his thoughts on the events.<ref name="MyCountry"/>

In 2007, MacNeil hosted the PBS television miniseries ''[[America at a Crossroads]]'', which presented independently produced documentaries about the "[[War on Terrorism]]". The series initially ran from April 15–20, with further episodes later that year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/14/arts/television/14stan.html |title=The World Since 9/11, in Detail and Sorrow |work=The New York Times |date=April 14, 2007 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228181723/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/14/arts/television/14stan.html |url-status=live |last=Stanley |first=Alessandra}}</ref>

In a ''[[Sesame Street]]'' Special Report, [[muppet]] parody of the [[Iran-Contra scandal]], MacNeil investigated a "Cookiegate" incident involving the [[Cookie Monster]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/throwback-thursday-newshours-visits-sesame-street/ |title=Throwback Thursday: NewsHour's visits to Sesame Street |publisher=PBS |date=November 13, 2014 |access-date=September 10, 2017 |archive-date=October 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009233317/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/throwback-thursday-newshours-visits-sesame-street/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1998, for Season 29's "Slimey to the Moon" story arc, MacNeil took the role of co-anchor with [[Kermit the Frog]], as Slimey, Oscar the Grouch's pet worm, and four other worms made a landing on the Moon.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/1997/12/24/19353239/sesame-street-worm-to-embark-on-space-odyssey |title= Sesame Street Worm to Embark on Space Odyssey |date= December 24, 1997 |access-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710003928/https://www.deseret.com/1997/12/24/19353239/sesame-street-worm-to-embark-on-space-odyssey |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38wxWb0xF9Q |title=Official Sesame Street YouTube Channel |date=December 2014 |via=YouTube |access-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710003859/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38wxWb0xF9Q |url-status=live}}</ref>

MacNeil chaired the [[MacDowell Colony]]'s board of directors from 1993 to 2010.<ref>MacDowell Colony Press Release, [http://portablemacdowell.org/#news/chairman-robert-macneil-and-president-carter-wiseman-to-retire-from-macdowe Chairman Robert MacNeil and President Carter Wiseman to Retire from MacDowell Leadership] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208115626/http://portablemacdowell.org/#news/chairman-robert-macneil-and-president-carter-wiseman-to-retire-from-macdowe |date=February 8, 2018 }}, April 15, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2018.</ref> He was succeeded by [[Michael Chabon]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Carolyn|last=Kellog|date=December 7, 2010|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2010/12/michael-chabon-is-the-new-chair-of-the-macdowell-colony-board.html|title=Chabon named chairman of MacDowell Colony board|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=February 25, 2018|archive-date=February 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225205843/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2010/12/michael-chabon-is-the-new-chair-of-the-macdowell-colony-board.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Inspired by his passion for language, he made the nine-part television series ''The Story of English'' in 1986 for PBS and the BBC, detailing the development of the English language.<ref name="pbs2024"/> ''The Story of English'' is also a companion book, also produced in 1986. The book and the television series were written by MacNeil, [[Robert McCrum]], and William Cran.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gross |first=John |date=September 26, 1986 |title=Books of the times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/26/books/books-of-the-times-905986.html |access-date=April 19, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419173814/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/26/books/books-of-the-times-905986.html |url-status=live }}</ref>