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The Open Mind (TV series)

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The Open Mind
The Open Mind logo
The Open Mind logo
GenreInterview
Created byRichard Heffner
Presented byAlexander Heffner
Country of originUnited States
Production
Running time30 minutes
Production companyThe Open Mind Legacy Project
Original release
NetworkNational Educational Television
ReleaseMay 1956 (1956-05) –
present

The Open Mind is a nationally broadcast public affairs interview program. It is the longest running program in the history of American public television.[1] First broadcast in May 1956, this "thoughtful excursion into the world of ideas" across politics, media, technology, the arts and realms of civic life currently originates from CUNY TV studios and airs on public television stations. Its creator, Richard Heffner, was host until his death on December 17, 2013.[2] Alexander Heffner, Richard Heffner's grandson, took over as the program's host in 2014 renewing its commitment to civil discourse for the new generation.[3] In 2023, the producer of The Open Mind released a special series of conversations with elected officials over meals in their home states, Breaking Bread with Alexander, that premiered on Bloomberg TV and are now available on The Open Mind.[4][5] Season 2 will launch on July 4, 2024 and be released on Bloomberg Originals and The Open Mind.[6]

History[edit]

The Open Mind was conceived to elicit meaningful insights into the challenges that society faces in contemporary areas of public concern. The program's title is attributed to a quote of Barnard College dean Virginia Gildersleeve, "Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out."[7] The theme music chosen by Heffner, "World Without Time," is by the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra from their LP Adventures in Time. Recent guests have included Pete Buttigieg, John Kasich, Bernie Sanders, Ernesto Zedillo, Salman Rushdie, Omar Saif Ghobash, Jonathan Sacks, John I. Jenkins, 9th Wonder, Shabaka Hutchings, J.B. Smoove, Claes de Vreese, Joe Weisberg, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Nan Whaley, Mitchell Baker, Zeynep Tufekci, Naomi Oreskes, and Maya Soetoro-Ng.[8] In May 2016, the program entered its 60th season.[9]

Guests[edit]

Thousands of guests have appeared on the program, including many prominent civil- and human-rights leaders (Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Gloria Steinem, Elie Wiesel, Ken Roth), intellectuals and historians (William F. Buckley, John Hope Franklin, Neil Postman, Robert Caro), economists (Milton Friedman, Alan Greenspan, Paul Krugman), politicians (Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Richard Lugar, Dianne Feinstein), jurists and lawyers (Thurgood Marshall, Stephen Breyer, Judith Kaye, Tim Wu, Jameel Jaffer), educators (Arne Duncan, John Palfrey, Martha Minow, Michael S. Roth), journalists (Frank Bruni, Jean Guerrero, Isobel Yeung, Wesley Lowery), and musicians (Macy Gray, Moby, Aloe Blacc, Ottmar Liebert).[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ellefson, Lindsey (2020-09-01). "How PBS' 'The Open Mind' Plans to Thwart Disinformation Ahead of Election: 'There Are Not Two Sets of Facts'". TheWrap. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  2. ^ "Richard Heffner, Historian, Teacher, Pioneer of Public Television, is Dead at 88", Rutgers University, December 19, 2013.
  3. ^ Cohen, Noam, "'Open Mind' Host Continues Grandfather’s Vision for New Generation", The New York Times, September 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Johnson, Ted (2023-06-27). "Political Figures Have In-Depth Chats Over Their Favorite Meals In New 'Breaking Bread' Series On Bloomberg Originals". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  5. ^ "Breaking Bread Archives". The Open Mind, Hosted by Alexander Heffner. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  6. ^ Kurtz, Judy (June 26, 2024). "'Breaking Bread' series aims to show the 'disarming effect' food can have on political talk". The Hill. Retrieved June 27, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ Heffner, Richard, The Closing of the American Mind (interview/video/transcript; 1st min's of 29), interview with Allan Bloom, 1987.
  8. ^ Open Mind's verified Facebook page
  9. ^ Smith, Harry, "Meet the grandson taking after Richard Heffner on PBS" (interview/video), NBC News Today, April 10, 2016.
  10. ^ Official Website, Archive.

External links[edit]

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