‘Fail Safe’ No Gimmick

Having read Howard Rosenberg’s preemptive strike against CBS’ “Fail Safe,” I’m happy to report that he couldn’t have been more off target (“Ditching the Fail-Safe; This Is Progress?,” April 7).

“Fail Safe” was truly a compelling two hours of television. Far from being simply a “super gimmick” or a chance to see if “an actor’s pants fall down,” the program was a dramatic story, well told, with fine actors displaying their craft in its purest form short of live theater. (And how many of us would have the opportunity to see live theater with a cast list that reads like this one?) Even the black-and-white broadcast served the production by further focusing on the well-written script and the talent of the players.

“Fail Safe” succeeded because it took full advantage of its format (as opposed to the live “ER” episode, which attempted to shove one format into another for no particular purpose). If it can be done with this kind of quality all around, I hope we haven’t seen the last of the live television drama.

A step back to “antiquity,” Mr. Rosenberg? No, just a long-neglected format, which, as “Fail Safe” proved, has the potential to be as valid and compelling as any other on the small screen.

MICHAEL MASSEI

Pasadena