New York, NY: November 20, 2003 -- To delve into the polarizing issues surrounding the hotly debated movie, SHOWTIME will present a special round-table forum, titled CONTROVERSY: "THE REAGANS," which will air on Monday December 1 at 9:00 PM (ET/PT).   The forum brings together an eclectic and experienced panel comprised of journalists, historians, biographers and educators with wide-ranging knowledge of Reagan and the political issues related to his presidency.  

 

Originating live from Washington, DC, the panel will be moderated by Frank Sesno, award-winning journalist, Professor of Public Policy and Communication at George Mason University, former CNN Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent.  Panelists currently scheduled to appear include: Marvin Kalb, Senior Fellow at the Joan Shorenstein Center for the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University; Martin Anderson, Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, former Chief Domestic and Economic Policy Advisor during the Reagan years, and co-author of several books culled from Reagan letters and writings; Carl Sferrazza Anthony, author of First Ladies, First Ladies Volume II, producer of THE REAGANS and former speechwriter for Nancy Reagan and contributing editor of George Magazine; Lou Cannon, Ronald Reagan biographer and author of five Reagan books, including GOVERNOR REAGAN: His Rise to Power and PRESIDENT REAGAN: The Role of a Lifetime; and Linda Chavez, President of the Center for Equal Opportunity and syndicated writer and political analyst for FOX News. 

 

In order to let as many viewers weigh in on the controversy surrounding the film, THE REAGANS, SHOWTIME will stream the panel discussion live on SHO.com simultaneously with the airing of the panel discussion on the network.  The panel discussion will be available on SHO.com until December 10.  Immediately following the panel, viewers can log on to SHO.com and add their comments and questions about the movie on a message board.  In addition, viewers can participate in an online poll about the film.

 

THE REAGANS, which premieres Sunday, November 30 at 8:00 PM on SHOWTIME, takes a look at the 40th president and his family, ranging from the early days of the Reagans' marriage through Mr. Reagan's White House years.   The film stars Judy Davis and James Brolin and is directed by Robert Allan Ackerman.  Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are executive producers with Robert Allan Ackerman serving as co-executive producer.  The script, by Jane Marchwood, Tom Rickman and Elizabeth Egloff (writer credits not final), is based, in part, on First Ladies, a book by Carl Sferrazza Anthony, a former speechwriter for Mrs. Reagan.