inAuguration 93: America Gets the Bill

inAuguration 93: America Gets the Bill

Comedy Central

January 20, 1993

Politics

VHS
C+

Clinton gets inaugurated, with "Live - eight hours later" coverage from CC.  Al Franken wears a top hat and says things going to and from commercial, but most of the commentary is chyrons.  Sometimes dull, but has its moments.  And, yes, we're basically in the mid '90s now, although that won't be immediately obvious.

inDecision 92: In Review

Franken, Henry, and Behar

inDecision 92: In Review

Comedy Central

January 20, 1993

Politics

VHS

B

CC presents highlights of the campaign, in preparation for their inaugural coverage....

inDecision 92: Election Night: Fragment

inDecision 92: Election Night: Fragment
Comedy Central
November 3, 1992
Politics
VHS
B-

Future Senator Al Franken and company, including Joy Behar, Roy Blount, Jr. and Buck Henry, cover Bill Clinton's election from a humorous and decidedly Democratic angle.  There are some slow moments, but it's worth watching again for things like footage of Calvin Trillin at the Republican Convention interviewing "the wrong George Bush," i.e. the giddy, somewhat goofy eldest son of the President.  Note that CC used this opportunity to promote not only Gaffney's Women Aloud but three of the classic sitcoms it was then airing:  Bilko, Car 54, and That Girl.  (I don't have enough space to tag Phil Silvers, but, yes, he was also on a great episode of Gilligan's Island.)

Inauguration '89 [fragment]

Inauguration '89 [fragment]
ABC
January 20, 1989
News
VHS
B-

This is the footage after the Inauguration Ceremony and before the parade technically begins, still running to about an hour and a half.  The commentary especially emphasizes the differences between the Reagans and the Bushes, including oddly enough on class issues.  We hear that President Bush had a good friendship with Jesse Jackson and was concerned about the homeless.  And we hear a lot about the appeal of having little grandchildren in the White House.  (I think I spotted the Bush twins although not their father.)  A particular contrast to Reagan, and of course to Trump, is that Bush, Sr. very much did not run as an outsider to Washington.

Dan Quayle speaks briefly and he and Marilyn can be seen walking outside their cars, like George and Barbara.  The Reagans are nowhere in sight.  Barbara Walters joins the panel, but I'm not tagging her until I see her on another of my shows.

Vote 88: Election Night [partial]

Vote 88: Election Night [partial]
ABC
November 8, 1988
News
VHS
C+

Watching this now, I'm struck by four things:

1. George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis may well be the dullest pair of presidential candidates in living memory, and coverage that doesn't mention such things as Willie Horton, specific Dan Quayle blunders, or Dukakis's missteps, including the tank photo, is of its nature not going to be terribly interesting;
2. The obligatory shouts of "Ninety-two" from determined Dukakis voters seem especially bizarre when '92 had such a different feel to it, presidentially and otherwise, so that '88 was much closer in spirit to '84 than to '92;
3. You can't watch this without thinking about the candidates' families, from poor Kitty "recently hospitalized" to grinning George, Jr.;
4. I was heartbroken at the time, doomed to another four years of Republicans, and now I can't get worked up beyond snarkily remarking, after the president-elect calls Reagan the most decent man he ever met, "You need to get out more, George."