We goofed in The Skinny this week when we said that tonight’s CD8 debate between Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Republican challenger Jesse Kelly would be at 6:30 p.m. on Arizona Illustrated.

Instead, it’s an expanded one-hour affair starting at 6 p.m. If you’re a political junkie, you won’t want to miss this showdown in one of the tightest House races in the country.

Speaking of Arizona Illustrated: Fans of the show won’t have to do without anchor Bill Buckmaster after he steps down from his nightly duties after Nov. 5.

Buckmaster, who will be starting 2011 with a new morning radio show on The Jolt, 1330 AM, says he’ll be sticking with the Friday Roundtable through the end of year.

“I’m delighted that I have a chance to keep doing the Roundtable,” Buckmaster says.

As a member of Buckmaster’s posse on the Friday Roundtable, I’m also delighted to hear that we’ll have more opportunities to interview newsmakers and talk politics together on Friday afternoons. The Range recently heard from a lot of folks in the community who tell us they’re really going to miss having Buckmaster on Arizona Illustrated, which airs nightly at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 6. Let’s hope that The Powers That Be can find a way to keep him around on Friday nights for a long time to come.

This article appears in Oct 21-27, 2010.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

4 replies on “CD8: Giffords and Kelly Debate For An Hour Tonight on Arizona Public Media’s Channel 6. Plus: Buckmaster Sticking With KUAT-TV’s Friday Roundtable!”

  1. Without Bill’s calm, fair and unflappable demeanor, the show wouldn’t be the standout it is. M Kenski

  2. I just wish Buckmaster would learn the difference between “consul” and “council”. It’s aggravating to hear him reporting on the city consul.

  3. I enjoyed the debate except for one thing. The sound pickups for the canidates, the mic’s used by anchor Bill Buckmaster and the other panel worked fine, but the sound pickups used by the canidates was a mess. Lot’s of feedback and weak. Could have been better if they had tested the system prior to the start.

    R. Fritts

  4. Buckmaster is an institution in southern Arizona. The Friday Roundtable needs his vast knowledge of politics, his rapport with the journalists and his high level of on-air professionalism. I hope he hosts the Friday roundtable for several more years. Southern Arizona needs Buckmaster.
    M.Kwock

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