Summary

Act One: Scene One takes place in New York in the 1960s. The television news anchors Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, Walter Cronkite, introduce themselves on air. Whereas the first three introductions go smoothly, the introduction of Howard K. Smith on ABC News is marred by technical difficulties in the run up to going on air, which Howard complains about to a producer.

The four news anchors step into the same scene together as they have their photo taken for the cover of the TV Guide. An interviewer from the TV Guide asks the news anchors for their opinions on the role of television news in the upcoming election year, mentioning divisions in society over issues such as the Vietnam war. The Interviewer refers to the fact that Howard and ABC have a significantly smaller audience share than the others.

The scene...