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September 21, 2008

YOUNG VOICES

1,000 Episodes
by Jeremy Freed

  • TOPICS
  • TV

 

1,000 shows? Really? That's a whole lot. A lot of guests, a lot of questions, a lot of songs and a lot of laughs. And, of course, a lot of “Keep the faith.” It's hard to contemplate exactly what 1,000 shows is, but the effect is undeniable.

Thursday's episode, a collection of some of Tavis' most memorable conversations of the past five years, highlighted the sheer volume of amazing dialogue the the Tavis Smiley show has created. Whether in conversation with Bill Cosby or Mandy Moore, Ted Kennedy or Carlos Santana, the conversations on the show are thoughtful, frequently funny and always enlightening. Tavis' guests span the culture, from musicians to journalists to politicians to poets, and his questions are equally wide-ranging. No matter who the guest or what the conversation, it is assured to be worth watching.

There are few other places on television where such intelligent conversation can be found night after night. After 1,000 shows, it has become more than clear that this is a place where, whoever the guests, you will hear something thought-provoking discussed.

The venues for intelligent debate in the media seem to be less and less every day, and for television that is especially true. For that reason, the show is a gem. The free exchange of ideas seen there every night, about the country, the world and the role of African Americans in it, is something worth continuing as long as possible.

Congratulations to everyone involved on the first 1,000 shows. May the next 1,000 be even better.

REACTION

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