The plot of the confrontation before and after

How and why Molchanov managed not to become Solovyov or Kiselev. Farewell against the background of the anniversary

An important anniversary happened on a jubilant May day: the main state television and radio company of Russia turned 35 years old. The day before, Vladimir Molchanov passed away, who for the modern history of the fatherland is no less valuable than the entire VGTRK holding company. At first glance, the two events belong to different conceptual series, but only at first. In the palisade of chance there is often a pattern hidden.

The anniversary was extremely modest. That is, all the high awards were presented, all the words appropriate for the occasion were said, everyone who should have fallen back to the roots, but the broadcast network almost did not react to the celebration. Channel One celebrated its 30th anniversary a year ago, but the celebrations continue to this day, and the gigantic structure, the hope and support of current politics, has shown unprecedented modesty. Why?

Pelevin insists: the final truth is always communicated to a Russian person using obscenities, but swearing is now prohibited. Therefore, I will risk putting forward my version of the answer: Dobrodeev, the creator of the information empire, as well as its permanent leader, is in no hurry to be proud of his successes.

Oleg Borisovich, equipped with unique intuition, always walked ahead of the process. And when he worked at the Soviet State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, and when, with Gusinsky’s money, he created the first private liberal channel that fought against the authorities, and when he headed the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), a stronghold of the very power that he had recently fought against. Dobrodeev called NTV an information center (which was the holy truth) and rushed into brighter distances. But how he himself will someday define the size of VGTRK in his upcoming memoirs is an open question. A language has not yet been invented to describe such construction projects of the century.

While I was wandering in the wilds of definitions, I thought about how difficult it must have been for him, an intelligent, subtle, talented man, to make a radical change in the life of the channel, which turned towards propaganda. How he internally accepted the manifesto of Solovyov, who declared himself and his like-minded people the heirs of Levitan. By the way, about like-minded people.

Liberals turning into guardians is not a new story in world and Russian politics. But the large team assembled by Dobrodeev in the space between the same Solovyov and Kiselev is an entire national team for a rapid change in fate.

Anniversary is a time for results. At his zenith, Dobrodeev adhered to the rule: information should not be political information. Today this phrase sounds like an ancient aphorism, covered with the noble patina of time.

The paradoxes of history are an inexhaustible topic. The leading information resource avoided demonstrating anniversary victories worthy of endless drumming. And Vladimir Molchanov, who had long disappeared from the radar, on the contrary, became the hero of the day on the day of his departure. Which is amazing. Nowadays, the path of a person who preserved himself despite the logic of reality, time, and proposed circumstances is not in demand. The plot of the confrontation between a single individual before and after (“Before and after midnight” was the name of Molchanov’s root project) became an impressive antithesis to Levitan’s heirs.

Molchanov also came out of the broad overcoat of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, like Dobrodeev and many other reformers. He began with the then exotic ability to charm the numerous scions of imperial houses who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. That didn’t stop him and his “inner prince” from easily descending into the mine and communicating with the inhabitants of the Moscow pub. He was the first to report during a search in the office of KGB Chairman Kryuchkov and invited the porn star Chicholina to his broadcast; he exposed the Nazis and introduced his compatriots to Baryshnikov and Nuriev. And even Maxim Galkin* was the first to invite Molchanov to his program.

And now the time has come for return visits. Vladimir Kirillovich, after a very, very long break, appeared on TV - he turned 70 years old, Molchanov is as good as before (if not better), looks great, holds himself well, but his eyes don’t sparkle. The evening is stalling, he lacks energy.

The narrative is thrown back into the past, merits and laurels annoyingly stick around the hero, who has something to say here and now. Only the format does not allow it. He is clearly bored at this dubious celebration of life.

Rewatching that program now, I realized the main thing: Molchanov managed not to become Solovyov or Kiselev. At the end of the last century, the refined Vladimir Kirillovich, a socialite, an expert on the Netherlands, the son of a famous composer, seemed to many to be mannered and deliberate. Today it is perceived as a triumph of sanity. He didn’t betray anyone, and first of all himself. He left at the height of glory because it was no longer possible to stay for reasons of hygiene. Wise, accurate in his assessments, ironic, gentle, does not envy anyone, does not condemn anyone. The once bilious Zinaida Gippius remarked: Chekhov is hopelessly normal, not like Gogol or Dostoevsky. Molchanov is from the same cohort as Chekhov, who is almost a relative to him: Olga Leonardovna Knipper-Chekhova is the godmother of Vladimir Kirillovich. And in this hopeless normality is his main value for a world heading into the abyss.

* Included by the Russian authorities in the register of “foreign agents”.