In a major move for CNN today it announced that it will exclusively televise the penultimate performance of George Clooney’s record-shattering play, Good Night, and Good Luck, live from New York’s Winter Garden Theatre on Saturday, June 7, 2025. The limited-run production, which has captivated audiences since its March debut, will air at 7 p.m. ET on CNN, CNN International, and stream on CNN.com, marking the first time a live Broadway play has ever been televised.
“This announcement marks a historic Broadway first: never before has a live play ever been televised,” CNN stated in a news release, underscoring the significance of the event. The broadcast will bring Clooney’s critically acclaimed adaptation of his 2005 film to millions, amplifying its powerful message about journalism, courage, and democracy.
Good Night, and Good Luck dramatizes the real-life clash between legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow and Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s Red Scare, a period marked by widespread fear of communism. Clooney, who directs and stars as Murrow, has earned widespread praise, including a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Play. The production has also garnered four additional Tony nominations and smashed weekly box office records, becoming the highest-grossing play in Broadway history.
The play’s themes resonate deeply in today’s polarized climate, particularly amid ongoing attacks on the media. The Trump administration has escalated tensions with the press, barring the Associated Press from certain events and pushing to defund NPR and PBS. Clooney, a prominent Democratic donor and vocal Trump critic, has emphasized the play’s relevance. In a prior interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, he quoted Murrow’s timeless words: “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and a conviction depends on evidence and due process of law.” Clooney added, “Those are extraordinarily powerful words for who we are at our best.”
The broadcast also carries personal significance for Clooney, whose political activism has been in the spotlight. Before the 2024 election, he co-hosted a high-profile fundraiser for then-President Joe Biden. However, a forthcoming book by Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson reveals a troubling moment at the event: Biden failed to recognize Clooney, a longtime acquaintance, leaving the actor “shaken to his core.” Weeks later, Clooney penned a widely discussed op-ed urging Biden to exit the presidential race following his faltering performance at CNN’s debate, a decision that reshaped the election.
The live broadcast promises to be a cultural milestone, blending theater, television, and timely political commentary. For Clooney, it’s a chance to honor Murrow’s legacy and remind audiences of journalism’s vital role in safeguarding democracy.
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