This can’t be right, can it? Yes, nine years have passed since George Stephanopoulos faced the press to fend off questions about President Clinton’s policies and peccadilloes.
The one-time senior adviser on policy and strategy in the first Clinton administration is on the other side of the information fence as host for ABC’s “This Week” (8 a.m. Sundays, KMGH-Channel 7).
Stephanopoulos was in town Wednesday to talk to a Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce luncheon. In a chat before his speech, he deplored the atmosphere in Washington, D.C. “It’s as bitterly divided as I’ve ever seen it,” he said. “The atmosphere has become poisonous.”
“This Week” avoids shouted showdowns and putdowns. “On Sunday morning, people are looking for communication, and to feel like they’ve learned something,” he said.
Since he became host of “This Week” in June 2002, Stephanopoulos has interviewed world leaders from Moammar Khadafy to Tony Blair. The interview he’d love to bag: President Bush. “He’s been in office five years. I guess I would ask him to just level with people. I think if you level with people they will cut you some slack.”
Weekend highlights
Today
Today’s release of the biopic on country singer Johnny Cash has moved Turner Classic Movies to drag out “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” the 1964 film on the life and death of Hank Williams, and “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (1980) about Loretta Lynn (6 and 8 p.m., TCM).
HGTV unveils yet another home fix-up show, “FreeStyle,” featuring young people in three cities and their designers who are allowed to spend nothing to make changes (7:30 p.m., HGTV).
Saturday
“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” the second in the seemingly never-ending series of HP stories, has Harry digging into secrets that are freezing the kids, literally (7 p.m., Channel 7).
Eva Longoria, the scheming- yet-loving wife from “Desperate Housewives,” plays it for laughs on “Saturday Night Live.” Korn is the musical guest (10:35 p.m., KUSA-Channel 9).
Sunday
Greeley author Connie Willis’ short story “Snow Wonder,” about a mystical Christmas Eve storm, stars Mary Tyler Moore (8 p.m., KCNC-Channel 4).
Around the dial
Denver radio legend Don Martin, credited as the first to cover the city’s traffic from the air, is the subject of a one-hour interview by Steve Alexander on “KOOL Sunday Morning” (6 a.m. Sunday, KXKL 105.1-FM). A second hour airs on Nov. 27. … “Colorado State of Mind” tackles illegal immigrants and state services (7:30 tonight, KRMA-Channel 6). … Quotable: “The whole aim of politics is to keep the populace alarmed … by an endless series of hobgoblins.” H.L. Mencken
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
