Për mendimin tonë

"Good night and good luck" – an expression with a history beyond the BBV screen

Shkruar nga Sindi Salaj

22 Prill 2025

"Good night and good luck" – an expression with a history beyond

Ledion's expression? No...

When an expression is repeated repeatedly on screen, it begins to be closely associated with the person who says it. This is what happened with moderator Ledion Liço, who at the end of every broadcast of "Big Brother VIP", greeted us with the words: "Good night and good luck." A simple phrase, but one that has already become his signature expression on screen.

Recently, Fifi, in an Instagram post about new musical projects, concluded with the same expression, describing it as "Ledion's expression." This prompted me to make a small historical stop.

"Good night and good luck" – an expression with a history beyond

Because, in truth, "Good night, and good luck" – the original version of the expression – is not a "product" of Ledion, but of one of the most daring cases of modern journalism.

This was the famous phrase with which Edward R. Murrow, one of the most famous American journalists of the 20th century, closed his broadcasts while challenging Senator Joseph McCarthy and the climate of fear that the latter had created through his "witch hunts" against alleged communists. Murrow "shouted" the truth at a time when this required courage, integrity, and a deep professional conviction.

"Good night and good luck" – an expression with a history beyond

Murrow didn't use this expression as an ordinary greeting. It was a message to colleagues, to citizens, to democracy. It was a way of saying, "We're trying to do our job." Later, George Clooney immortalized this story in the film "Good Night, and Good Luck," a tribute to journalism with a backbone.

Let's return to our country. In Albania, where the media has often been accused of having connections with the government, of under-the-table deals, the use of such an expression can sound a bit...ironic. Especially when it is used at the end of a format that is not known to be challenging the system or inciting any revolt against political reality.

To be clear: there is nothing wrong with Ledioni using this expression. He has the right to use it in his own way, as a friendly greeting (because it is a more dignified way to end the show than some meaningless joke).

It is important for the public to know where this expression came from. To understand its original meaning, the context in which it was born, and the reason why it entered history.

Whether we then want to use it on Instagram, on television or in everyday conversations is a matter for debate. Some may think there's nothing wrong with it - after all, it's a beautiful greeting. Others may say it's pointless for someone/media to use it that they don't think is challenging the system. And others may have no opinion at all.

But anyway:

Good night/day and good luck! :)

Copyright Anabel.al / Reprinting without permission of the editorial staff is prohibited.