George Clooney makes Broadway history as Good Night, and Good Luck becomes the first play broadcast live on CNN, earning record-breaking success.
George Clooney has officially made his Broadway debut — and a historic one at that.
His Tony-nominated play Good Night, and Good Luck became the first Broadway production to be broadcast live on television, airing on CNN and CNN.com on Saturday, June 7.
The groundbreaking event marked a major moment for Broadway, bringing live theater to a nationwide audience in real time.
The play stars Clooney, 64, as iconic journalist Edward R. Murrow, known for his fearless reporting during the McCarthy era. Clooney, who co-wrote the stage adaptation with longtime collaborator Grant Heslov, also directed the original 2005 film.
The Broadway production is helmed by director David Cromer and has quickly risen to historic success — becoming the highest-grossing play in Broadway history and the first to surpass $4 million in a single week.
In a statement ahead of the live broadcast, Clooney said, “I can’t tell you how exciting it is to do something that’s never been done. CNN is the perfect place to bring this story of courage to so many more people than we could have ever hoped. Live TV. No net. Buckle up, everyone.”
CNN CEO Mark Thompson echoed the sentiment, noting the play’s powerful message about journalism: “Good Night, and Good Luck is not just a celebration of a golden age in TV journalism.
It’s about the importance of the free press and the need for strong news organizations to report the facts in a fair-minded way.”
The production has received five Tony nominations, including Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for Clooney. Other nods include Best Scenic Design, Costume Design, Sound Design, and Lighting Design.
Clooney, however, is modest about his chances of winning, joking on Late Night with Seth Meyers about being more focused on fixing his “bad” hair than taking home a Tony.
Good Night, and Good Luck wraps up its limited Broadway run on Sunday, June 8, but its groundbreaking broadcast has already secured its place in theater history.
