Televised

Pontius Pilate, the first unwitting interviewer,
came to wardrobe to check on the comfort of his guest.
"This is my production; shall we talk of truth, show the trailer?"
After that, cancelling the episode was what he thought best.

But production would not have it, so Pontius Pilate
stacked the show, in Roman fashion, with bloody blows,
and with Roman ingenuity, searched the law to bet
on appeasement by Barabbas, but the audience yelled no.

Yet the guest, abused by wardrobe and the make-up staff,
made excuse for Pilate, from his agony gave ease,
as he did to a guest beside him, not too later,
as he did to the dogged audience, breathed out his peace.