George Clooney Makes Broadway History as Good Night, and Good Luck Airs Live on CNN

In a moment that may redefine the relationship between Broadway and television, George Clooney has made history — not just as an actor or filmmaker, but now as a Broadway trailblazer.

On Saturday, June 7, the penultimate performance of Clooney’s Tony-nominated play Good Night, and Good Luck was broadcast live on CNN from the Winter Garden Theatre. The event marked the first time in history that a Broadway play has been aired live on television in real time.

“I can’t tell you how exciting it is to do something that’s never been done,” Clooney said in a statement leading up to the event. “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.”

The broadcast, which also streamed on CNN.com, featured Clooney playing legendary broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow — a role that marked Clooney’s Broadway debut at the age of 64. The play, adapted from the 2005 Oscar-nominated film of the same name, dramatizes Murrow’s fearless reporting during the height of McCarthyism in the 1950s.

CNN CEO Mark Thompson praised the network’s decision to carry the play live. “Good Night, and Good Luck is not just a celebration of a golden age in TV journalism,” Thompson said. “It’s also about the importance of the free press and the need for strong news organizations to report the facts in a fair-minded way. That’s something we still care deeply about.”

A Night of Firsts

This groundbreaking televised performance is more than a novelty — it’s a major step in making Broadway more accessible. While live musicals have been televised before, a full, live broadcast of a dramatic play straight from Broadway is unprecedented.

The production, directed by Tony Award-winner David Cromer, has also set financial records, becoming the highest-grossing play in Broadway history and the first to surpass $4 million in a single week.

The play closes on Sunday, June 8, after a limited run that has been both commercially and critically successful. It has earned five Tony nominations, including Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for Clooney, and nods for Sound Design, Scenic Design, Costume Design, and Lighting Design.

From Silver Screen to Broadway Stage

Clooney originally co-wrote and directed the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck, which starred David Strathairn as Murrow and Clooney as CBS producer Fred W. Friendly. The movie was widely acclaimed and earned six Oscar nominations, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Clooney and co-writer Grant Heslov.

For the Broadway version, Clooney and Heslov reimagined the story for the stage, with Clooney stepping into the role of Murrow himself.

It’s a full-circle moment for Clooney — not only does it mark his Broadway debut, but it places him at the center of a story about truth, media integrity, and the dangers of political fearmongering, all of which remain relevant today.

Going Gray for the Role — Literally

Clooney’s transformation into Murrow wasn’t just emotional; it was physical too.

During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers earlier this week, Clooney joked about the toll the role has taken on his hair. Wearing a cap to hide an awkward stage of hair dye growing out, he said, “It’s bad. It’s still dark on top, but it’s gray at the bottom… So you get that really nice-looking grow-out of gray.”

He added, “I look like I’m going through some horrible midlife crisis.”

The actor revealed that one of the first things on his post-show to-do list is to fix his hair — but he stopped short of revealing whether he thought he’d walk away with a Tony Award on Sunday night.

“I’m not thinking very positively about winning a Tony,” Clooney said with a laugh. “But it’s been an amazing ride.”

A Timely Reminder

Beyond the headlines and the historic broadcast, Good Night, and Good Luck has resonated with audiences for its urgent themes.

Set in 1954, the play follows Murrow as he takes a stand against Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose anti-Communist witch hunts left a chilling mark on American politics. The play raises pointed questions about press freedom, political intimidation, and the responsibility of journalists in the face of government overreach.

It’s a story that Clooney has long championed, and one that now, thanks to CNN’s broadcast, has reached a national — and even global — audience.

As theater fans tuned in from living rooms across America, many wondered whether this could signal a new era for Broadway. Can live television and streaming platforms help make theater more democratic, reaching people who can’t make it to New York City?

If George Clooney has anything to say about it — the answer is yes.