Frontline: The Choice

The upcoming presidential election is one of the most memorable in decades. It's a race that pits the iconoclast John McCain against newcomer Barack Obama; the heroic former prisoner of war against the first African American major party nominee. For two hours tonight, the 20th anniversary broadcast of The Choice examines the rich personal and political biographies of these men and goes behind the headlines to discover how they arrived at this moment and what their very different candidacies say about America.

Baltimore Sun TV critic David Zurawik gave the program, which airs tonight on MPT at 9 p.m., a glowing review. Here's a little of what he had to say:

The producers weave the political histories of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama into a nearly seamless two-hour film that moves with such focus and force that it feels more like 30 minutes. Narrative, or to use an older fashioned term, storytelling, is what drives this documentary with such velocity.

Whet your political appetites with the clips below, and be sure to tune in tonight.