Firing Line was an American public affairs show founded and hosted by conservative William F. Buckley, Jr., founder and publisher of National Review magazine. Its 1,504 episodes over 33 years made Firing Line the longest-running public affairs show in television history with a single host. The erudite program, which featured many of the most prominent intellectuals and public figures in the United States, won an Emmy Award in 1969. Reflecting Buckley's talents and preferences, the exchange of views was almost always polite, and the guests were given time to answer questions at length, slowing the pace of the program. "The show was devoted to a leisurely examination of issues and ideas at an extremely high level", according to Jeff Greenfield, who frequently appeared as an examiner. John Kenneth Galbraith said of the program, "Firing Line is one of the rare occasions when you have a chance to correct the errors of the man who's interrogating you." The show might be compared in politeness and style of discourse to other national public interview shows, specifically those hosted by Charlie Rose or Terry Gross, but Buckley was clearly interested in debate. In a 1999 Salon.com article, The Weekly Standard editor William Kristol summarized Buckley's approach to the show: "Buckley really believes that in order to convince, you have to debate and not just preach, which of course means risking the possibility that someone will beat you in debate." Ended December 15, 1999
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Seasons | |||
| Specials | July 1987 | December 1999 | 38 |
| Season 1 | April 1966 | December 1966 | 29 |
| Season 2 | January 1967 | December 1967 | 25 |
| Season 3 | January 1968 | December 1968 | 17 |
| Season 4 | February 1968 | December 1969 | 11 |
| Season 5 | January 1970 | December 1970 | 8 |
| Season 6 | January 1971 | December 1971 | 17 |
| Season 7 | January 1972 | December 1972 | 12 |
| Season 8 | January 1973 | December 1973 | 27 |
| Season 9 | January 1974 | October 1975 | 29 |
| Season 10 | January 1975 | December 1975 | 15 |
| Season 11 | January 1976 | December 1976 | 13 |
| Season 12 | January 1977 | November 1977 | 14 |
| Season 13 | November 1977 | December 1978 | 15 |
| Season 14 | January 1979 | December 1979 | 18 |
| Season 15 | January 1980 | December 1980 | 17 |
| Season 16 | January 1981 | December 1981 | 21 |
| Season 17 | January 1982 | October 1982 | 9 |
| Season 18 | January 1983 | December 1983 | 11 |
| Season 19 | January 1984 | December 1984 | 11 |
| Season 20 | February 1985 | December 1985 | 9 |
| Season 21 | January 1986 | October 1986 | 11 |
| Season 22 | February 1987 | October 1987 | 6 |
| Season 23 | January 1988 | August 1988 | 5 |
| Season 24 | January 1989 | November 1989 | 10 |
| Season 25 | January 1990 | December 1990 | 10 |
| Season 26 | January 1991 | August 1991 | 4 |
| Season 27 | January 1992 | December 1992 | 7 |
| Season 28 | January 1993 | October 1993 | 11 |
| Season 29 | January 1994 | October 1994 | 3 |
| Season 30 | April 1995 | December 1995 | 9 |
| Season 31 | May 1996 | July 1996 | 2 |
| Season 32 | January 1997 | October 1997 | 6 |
| Season 33 | January 1998 | December 1998 | 11 |
| Season 34 | January 1999 | December 1999 | 9 |
| Unassigned Episodes | 44 |
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specials | 0 | ||
| Unassigned Episodes | 514 |
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | September 1966 | April 1969 | 3 |
| Unassigned Episodes | 511 |
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