Name: Prime Time LIVE
Genre: News
Released: 1989-08-03
Rating: 3.5

The show that invented 'gotcha' journalism before Twitter could.

vintage chaosnewsroom drama90s intensity

Latest Episode

60 min

Season 21 • Episode 21

Latest

Crime (10)

Sep 9, 2009

Overview

News

Primetime is an American news magazine show which debuted on ABC in 1989 with co-hosts Sam Donaldson and Diane Sawyer and originally had the title Primetime Live.

Content warning

magazine show

media ethicscelebrity culturejournalistic ambition

Standout Aspects

Direction

Roone Arledge basically invented modern TV news.

Best for:Solo·Background

Heads up:Triggers

Creator

Roone Arledge

First AiredAug 3, 1989

StatusEnded

Vibe

Pacefast

Intensityhigh

Tonemixed

Feelmedium

Seasons23·Episodes105

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

Primetime Live pioneered the confrontational interview style that dominates cable news today.

Trivia

The infamous 1992 'Anatomy of a Riot' special nearly got ABC sued by the LAPD.

Gallery

Prime Time LIVE (1989)