A Documentary Film by Robert Orlando
In a time when media spin flooded the political landscape, one magazine dared to fight back with satire, wit, and fierce independence. This is the story of Bob Tyrrell, his band of iconoclasts, and the making of a conservative media institution.
About the Film
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Robert Orlando, Surviving the Kultursmog revisits the rise of R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. and The American Spectator from its founding in Bloomington, Indiana to its role in shaping modern conservative media. Featuring original interviews, rare archival material, and original artwork by Yogi Love, the film traces decades of fearless journalism through the Reagan revolution, the Clinton years, and beyond.
Watch
From the full documentary to curated excerpts and a behind-the-scenes conversation with director Robert Orlando, explore the film in the format that suits you.
The complete film. From its origins in the counterculture of 1960s Bloomington to the corridors of Washington, D.C., this is the full story of Bob Tyrrell and the magazine that refused to bend.
Watch Full FilmA touching three-minute portrait of the man behind the magazine.
Watch TeaserThe opening section featuring "Through the Smog" and "Breaking Away from Bloomington," covering the 1960s and '70s up to the Reagan years.
WatchThe Clinton era and Troopergate, blending music, storytelling, and archival material into a creative narrative.
WatchAn in-depth conversation between Paul Kengor and director Robert Orlando, recorded live at The American Spectator's October 2025 gala.
Watch on RumbleArchival Footage
Nearly a dozen archival appearances spanning three decades of television, from Firing Line with William F. Buckley, Jr. to C-SPAN BookNotes and beyond. These original source clips chronicle Tyrrell's evolution as a public intellectual and provocateur.
Go Deeper
Trailer, teasers, cast, director's vision, reviews, press coverage, and original artwork by Yogi Love.
Interviews and articles by Leonora Cravotta and Rob Orlando published on The American Spectator.
The creative process, the director's approach, and how the documentary came together.