The multitudes had their doubts about the O.J. Simpson interview.

Yet he was forthright. He was incisive. He was earnest. He was commanding. He was believable. He was intelligent. He was perceptive. He was unwavering. He was undaunted. He was, in short, close to being exemplary.

And Simpson was pretty impressive, too.

Wednesday night's quizzing of Simpson live on the Black Entertainment Television showcased not only the quizee and his unreleased video--affirming that months of cell time did not diffuse his personal magnetism before a close-up camera--but also interviewer Ed Gordon.

The insulting advance talk (largely by whites) concerned the likelihood of BET anchor Gordon, an African American, being soft on Simpson, given the ethnicity of his network and polls showing a preponderance of blacks endorsing the verdict that acquitted Simpson of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole, and Ronald Goldman.

Yet Gordon's good work Wednesday, while on a sizzling seat with Simpson, should have been anticipated. Those familiar with his interviews of other difficult and controversial subjects (his stand-up work with Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan in 1994, for example) know he is highly capable. Gordon's crisp questioning in volatile situations and his professional demeanor--note that he consistently addressed Simpson as "Mr. Simpson" instead of the chummier "O.J." favored by most of his fellow TV journalists--are a primer for other interviewers.

This guy is definitely no patsy. He prepares, listens carefully, processes information speedily and is strong, often pressing subjects to answer questions they prefer finessing, without being a bully.

What Gordon didn't ask Wednesday, but should have, given his subject's stated irritation about others "speaking for me," was why Simpson did not speak for himself at his trial. The moment cried out for Gordon to jump in.

Queried about that Thursday morning by KABC-AM radio host Michael Jackson, Gordon said he omitted the question in expectation of Simpson repeating the defense line about prosecutors not proving their case against him and it being his legal right not to testify. Still, Gordon should have put the question to Simpson just to get him on the record.

Simpson vs. Gordon came after Simpson's earlier 11th-hour withdrawal from a scheduled interview with NBC's Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric and after reports by CNN that he had subsequently promised a TV interview to Greta Van Susteren, the attorney who co-hosts CNN's legal series "Burden of Proof." Although praising Van Susteren, Simpson denied Wednesday night that he had made a firm commitment to her.