In the following review of the original television broadcast of Visit to a Small Planet, Gould offers a favorable appraisal of Vidal's play.

Visit to a Small Planet, seen on Sunday evening via the National Broadcasting Company, was welcome good fun, something off the beaten path in television drama. Not only was it satirical fantasy, a most rare video commodity but also it was satirical fantasy in which all the pieces fitted together.

Gore Vidal, the author, wrote about a gentleman from another dimension who is fascinated by the helpless earth people. Cyril Ritchard portrayed the visitor with great style and relish. And Jack Smight, the director, made sure everyone in the control room kept tongue in cheek. The fruit of their labors was a production that on the whole was an amusing adult lark, a decided credit to the Television Playhouse.

In Mr. Vidal's play the...