So, you missed the big night. It happens. Last June, specifically June 7, 2025, George Clooney did something that had never been done in the history of the Great White Way. He put his Broadway debut, a stage adaptation of Good Night, and Good Luck, live on CNN. It was a massive swing—no safety net, no "let's fix it in post," just raw theater beamed into millions of living rooms.
Ever since that one-night-only event wrapped up, the question keeps popping up in group chats and search bars: will CNN rebroadcast George Clooney?
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Honestly, the answer is a bit of a "yes, but not where you think." If you're hovering over your TV guide waiting for CNN to slot it into a Tuesday night lineup at 9:00 PM, you’re probably going to be waiting a long time. CNN’s role in this was largely about the live historic event. They wanted the "now or never" energy. Once the curtain fell at the Winter Garden Theatre on June 8, the broadcast rights basically shifted back into the hands of the producers and digital distributors.
The Reality of the CNN Rebroadcast
CNN isn't really in the business of running "reruns" of plays. Their deal was a "landmark theatrical and live television event," according to Mark Thompson, the head of CNN. They treated it like a breaking news special or an election night—high stakes, high viewership (over 7 million people tuned in), and then they moved on to the next news cycle.
If you’re looking for a repeat on the actual CNN cable channel, don't hold your breath.
But here is the twist. While CNN has moved on, the footage itself didn't just vanish into a vault. There was a lot of chatter about unions—Broadway unions are notoriously picky about filmed performances—making a replay impossible. People on Reddit were convinced it was a "watch it live or lose it forever" situation. They were wrong.
Where You Can Actually Watch It Now
As of January 7, 2026, the game changed. Netflix stepped in.
Because Magnolia Pictures handled the digital rights, they worked out a deal to put Good Night, and Good Luck: Live from Broadway on the streaming giant. This isn't just a grainy bootleg. It’s the high-definition "pro-shot" that was captured during that penultimate performance.
- Platform: Netflix (US, UK, and select regions)
- Release Date: January 7, 2026
- Content: Includes the full play plus some of the pre-show context
It’s actually a better way to watch it if you care about the nuances. When it aired on CNN, there were a few technical jitters—that’s the nature of live TV—but the version streaming now has been polished up. You get Clooney playing Edward R. Murrow, facing down Senator Joseph McCarthy, and it feels surprisingly modern.
Why the CNN Broadcast Was Such a Big Deal
George Clooney is a smart guy. He knew that ticket prices for the play were hitting upwards of $300, which basically means only the elite could see it. He told the New York Times that he wanted to "democratize" the experience.
By partnering with CNN, he took a story about the free press and put it on a news network. It was meta. It was bold. It was also a massive risk for his Broadway debut. If he'd flubbed a line, 7 million people would have seen it instantly.
The production didn't just air the play, either. CNN's Anderson Cooper and Pamela Brown hosted a whole surrounding program. They talked to journalism students and experts like Marvin Kalb. It wasn't just "a movie on TV"; it was a cultural moment about the state of truth in 2026.
The "Archive" Rumors
For a few months in late 2025, there was a digital scavenger hunt. People were trying to find the CNN broadcast on the Internet Archive or via shady YouTube uploads. Most of those got nuked by copyright strikes pretty quickly.
The fact that it’s now legally on Netflix is a relief for anyone who doesn't want to risk a virus just to see Clooney in a 1950s suit.
What This Means for Future Broadway Shows
Because the Clooney experiment worked, we’re likely going to see more of this. It proved that people will actually sit down and watch a play on their couch if it’s marketed correctly.
However, don't expect every play to land on CNN. This worked because Good Night, and Good Luck is literally about the history of television news. It fit the brand. Unless someone writes a play about a 24-hour news cycle starring a massive A-lister, CNN will probably stick to the news.
How to Get Your Clooney Fix
If you’re still searching for that specific CNN experience, here is your checklist for what to do right now.
1. Check Netflix first.
Don't bother scrolling through the CNN app or Max looking for a replay. The exclusive streaming window has moved. If you have a Netflix subscription, just search "George Clooney" or "Good Night, and Good Luck."
2. Look for the "Truth and Power" Special.
While the play itself is on Netflix, some of the auxiliary interviews Anderson Cooper did might still pop up in clips on CNN’s YouTube channel or their "The Whole Story" archives. These are great if you want the "behind the scenes" intellectual deep dive.
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3. Watch the 2005 Movie.
If you want to compare, the original film is still floating around on various VOD platforms. It’s wild to see the difference—in the movie, Clooney played Fred Friendly, but on stage (and in the CNN broadcast), he took the lead as Murrow.
4. Follow the Tonys.
Since this was a 2025 production, Clooney was a huge part of the awards conversation. You can find his performance clips through the Tony Awards archives if you just want the highlights of his "best" moments from the run.
The era of "one and done" television is mostly over. Even though CNN isn't rebroadcasting the event on their linear channel, the digital footprint of George Clooney’s Broadway stint is larger than ever. You just have to know which app to open.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
Log into your Netflix account and search for the production title directly. If you are outside the US or UK, check your local listings for Magnolia Pictures' digital distribution, as they are rolling it out globally through the first quarter of 2026. Keep an eye on CNN’s "Original Series" tab for any potential anniversary retrospectives, but for the full performance, streaming is your only path.