   the mclaughlin group is a syndicated half-hour weekly public affairs television program in the united states, where a group of five pundits discuss current political issues in a round table format. it has been broadcast since 1982, and is currently sponsored by metlife. previous underwriters included: pfizer, the new york stock exchange, and ge (the longest-serving). ==format== the general format for the show consists of a moderator john mclaughlin along with four commentators&mdash; usually pat buchanan, eleanor clift, mort zuckerman, and tom rogan. the identity of the regular panelists has varied over the years. a typical episode covers three or four issues. the first is introduced by mclaughlin, beginning with, "issue one..." which is explained by him, usually in a prerecorded video segment accompanied by his voice-over. he then proposes a question for the panelists, starting with buchanan (if present). the conversation is usually sedate at the beginning of the program, but as opposing viewpoints emerge there is more verbal rough-housing, good-natured gamesmanship and occasionally very loud crosstalk as panelists attempt to out-yell the others, all of which are the show's trademarks. the panelists are supposed to yield when mclaughlin speaks, and he sometimes reminds them of that rule during the show. mclaughlin will usually present a dichotomous "exit question..." so that each panelist may make a closing remark on the issue. subsequent issues (possibly separated by advertising breaks on commercial stations) are begun by mclaughlin in a similar fashion, but open heated debate begins more quickly. time permitting, mclaughlin may ask the panelists for "predictions" at the close of the episode, a
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