July 21, 2008
HELL HATH NO FURY...:
After 49 years, Charles Van Doren talks (Alex Beam, July 21, 2008, IHT)
Now 82, Van Doren is telling pretty much all, in an article scheduled for publication in next week's New Yorker. The classically educated Van Doren - St. John's College; Columbia; the Sorbonne - pulls no punches describing his Mephistophelian epiphany, when he first appeared on nationwide television in a show he knew was fixed."Papa, forgive me! Mama forgive me! Uncle Carl, forgive me!" he writes, referring to his famous uncle, Columbia professor Carl Van Doren. "I've remembered that moment for more than forty years."
Speaking from his home, Van Doren said he had no idea how people will react to his story. "I hope the reaction is positive, but it may be a disaster," he said. "I'm a little nervous about it, to tell you the truth."
Van Doren writes at some length about his dealings with Julian Krainin, a producer for WGBH's "American Experience" program. In 1991, Krainin almost lured Van Doren back onto television to participate in a PBS episode, "The Quiz Show Scandal." In his New Yorker article, Van Doren strongly implies that Krainin - "skilled in the art of journalistic seduction" - was less than honest in his dealings with him.
"He never conveyed that suspicion to me when I was dealing with him," Krainin said in a telephone interview. "He may want to portray himself more as a victim than an active operator."
In Van Doren's life, history did repeat itself. When Krainin co-produced "Quiz Show," the 1994 Robert Redford movie about the scandal, he sent Van Doren a $100,000 contract to sign on as a consultant.
Van Doren wanted to say yes, without realizing that this was 1956 all over again, except now it was Robert Redford offering him money. Van Doren's wife, Geraldine, saw the moment for what it was: Mephistopheles taking a second pass at her husband's soul.
Van Doren turned down Redford's money, and saw the movie in a theater like everyone else.
...like a demos fooled.
