Today, we'll talk Oscars -- from the host to the length to the acceptance speeches, how could Hollywood's biggest night change to become more interesting? We'll also discuss NBC's falling rating's with Warren Littlefield, former NBC President of Entertainment and author of "Top of the Rock." Later, we'll consider activist investors and the incoming sequestration's effect on the California economy. All that and more, on AirTalk.
What defines a successful Oscar night?
Seth MacFarlane took to the stage at Dolby Theater last night to host the 2013 Oscars. The show clocked in at three and a half hours and featured several musical performances. MacFarlane’s typically incendiary humor received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, both live and on Twitter, but the most resonant criticism of the show is not a new one: how can the Academy make the Oscars more interesting?
The show has come under fire in recent years for being long and slow, and is frequently filled with mundane speeches and sub-par jokes. Putting MacFarlane front and center may have been a bid for a young male audience, but was it effective?
Do you tune in for the host, or the awards themselves? What kinds of changes could make the Oscars more compelling? What were your favorite moments from last night’s show? Join us to discuss last night’s awards, the biggest snubs and surprises and the most deserved wins.
Guests:
Nicole Sperling, reporter for the Los Angeles Times
Brian Lowry, Chief TV Critic for Variety Magazine
Mallika Rao, arts reporter for the Huffington Post, wrote “Oscar Night Rescue Plan: How To Fix The Academy Awards”
NBC suffering sweeps week like never before
NBC is struggling this month after receiving its worst sweeps week ratings ever in the key 18-49 demographic, adding to a series of blows for the network. The network is failing to keep up with competitors ABC, CBS, Fox, and for the first time ranked below Spanish-language Univision -- finishing in last place during February sweeps.
In the 1990s, long before “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” fought tooth and nail for ratings, NBC reigned supreme during primetime. Their Thursday night line-up was unbeatable, and millions of viewers tuned in all week for heavy-hitters like “Friends,” “Frasier,” “Law and Order,” and “ER.” The network was at the top of its game, earning a reputation for “Must See TV.”
Former NBC President of Entertainment Warren Littlefield joins Larry to discuss his insider account of NBC in its golden age. His book, “Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV” is an oral history that includes behind-the-scenes accounts from some of NBC’s most beloved stars. Delve into the creativity, effort, and risk behind the shows that made the network so popular – before it all fell apart.
Guest:
Warren Littlefield, Former NBC President of Entertainment; Author, “Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV”
Activist shareholders try new tactics
Apple, PNC Financial Services Group and gun manufacturers are each under pressure from activist investors. David Einhorn wants Apple to pay out some of its $137-billion in cash to shareholders. A segment of PNC’s investors want the bank to review how its loans contribute to global warming. And in California, the country’s biggest public pension fund is selling its shares in firearms makers.
While the companies’ shareholders each want different things, the high-profile conflicts all highlight the powerful influence of shareholder rights. AirTalk examines the strategies of all the stakeholders and the history of investor activism.
How do shareholder rights coexist or conflict with corporate interests? Should corporate governance be “shareholder-centric” or “board-centric?”
Guests:
Laura Berry, Executive Director, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
Robert M. Daines, the Pritzker Professor of Law and Business and Co-Director, Rock Center on Corporate Governance at Stanford
Eric Talley, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Professor of Law; Director, Berkeley Center for Law, Business, and the Economy, UC Berkeley
White House warns of dire impact of sequestration on California
An $85 billion automatic cut is set to happen on Friday, and President Obama is intent on pressuring congressional Republicans to avoid sequestration. The White House yesterday issued reports about how sequestration will affect each state.
This report states that in California, $87.6 million will be cut from school budgets, and educational funding for programs for children with disabilities and Head Start will also face cuts. On the environmental front, California could lose funding for improved clean water and air quality. In addition, fewer children will receive vaccines, fewer seniors will receive state-provided meals and there will be over 9,000 fewer admissions to substance abuse programs.
Are Republicans swayed by this report? How realistic are its claims? Do you think there will be consequences to sequestration?
Guest:
Kitty Felde, KPCC Washington correspondent
Revealing ‘hidden biases of good people’ in ‘Blindspot’
Many Americans like to think that they hold few, if any, racial prejudices, but when it comes to choosing friends, a number of these same people are likely to base their choices on race without even realizing it.
Social psychology professors Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald refer to the phenomenon of unconsciously harboring any type of prejudice as a psychological ‘blindspot.’ After overseeing comprehensive research on the subject, Banaji and Greenwald have determined how unconscious bias can affect nearly every facet of American culture including race, religion, disability, age, gender/sexuality, politics and more. Much of this research was developed through Implicit Association Tests (IATs), which are designed to assess individuals’ hidden biases and automatic mental reactions.
Leading psychologists Banaji and Greenwald offer insight into these tests with their new book, “Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People.” The co-authors provide an in-depth analysis of mental blindspots including explanations of how and why the human brain’s ability to perceive things accurately can be impaired. What hidden biases might you harbor? Listen in to find out.
Guests:
Mahzarin Banaji , Ph.D., Co-Author, “Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People;” Richard Clarke Cabot Professor of Social Ethics in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University
Anthony Greenwald, Ph.D. , Co-Author, “Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People;” Professor of Psychology, University of Washington, as well as Adjunct Professor of Marketing and International Business