Election Soundtrack

The election coverage that wouldn't end is recapped in this production by CNN, and hearing about the fiasco in Florida is somehow not as grim an experience as one might expect. A number of faces familiar to CNN viewers (including Judy Woodruff, Bernard Shaw, Bill Schneider, Jeff Greenfield, Candy Crowley, and Larry King) share their memories of events, and enough behind-the-scenes material is included to ensure that the program is more than just a review of what news junkies have already seen. Everyone in the country had an opinion about who was trying to steal the election, and viewing some of the coverage as it appeared will surely revive some bitter emotions. And, it's too bad, America, but there's no way to avoid use of the word "chad." This production is essentially instant history, and the review of Florida ballots by journalists was far from complete when the program was assembled, so no attempt is made to offer a definitive explanation of what happened in Florida. And though it surely contains something to infuriate everyone, this is a good one-hour review of the 36-day debacle that riveted America. --Robert J. McNamara