Matthews’ eyes dart from side to side as he listens to proposals and seems ready to break in. The group debates the most dramatic, the most important, the most odd-ball questions they can use to spice up the show.

All the while, Matthews rocks back and forth in his chair. He cranes his neck. His eyes go left to right. All the while Matthews looks ready to go at it.

After about 15 minutes—just as the meeting is getting interesting—Matthews gives the sign to one of his people, who escorts The Crimson’s reporter from the room.

Matthews’ rapid-fire style of pitching questions manage to throw Dean off at points, not just with his draft deferral, but with such core positions as whether he supports right-to-work laws.

“I do, no wait, I don’t,” the candidate stumbles.

Some candidates find Matthews too abrasive.

Kucinich declined an offer to appear as a guest on the show, citing personal grievances against the host.

But Griffin brushed away this criticism.

“I’m surprised Kucinich has such thin skin,” Griffin says.

Dean, who is known for his temper, fared well tonight, at least according to Griffin.

The producer pulled out his favorite sports allusion.

“Dean came to play,” he says.

—Staff writer Jonathan P. Abel can be reached at abel@fas.harvard.edu.