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AirTalk

Is old the new young?

Senior citizens Willie Rubel Jr. (L) lifts his cane with stregnth building resistance bands attached beside Albert Marshall (R) during a demonstration by R.S. Mitchell, owner of Mitchell's Martial Arts in Salisbury, Maryland, during a lesson in 'Cane-Fu', an acient from of self-defense on April 10, 2009 at a senior citizen home in Salisbury, Maryland.
Senior citizens Willie Rubel Jr. (L) lifts his cane with stregnth building resistance bands attached beside Albert Marshall (R) during a demonstration by R.S. Mitchell, owner of Mitchell's Martial Arts in Salisbury, Maryland, during a lesson in 'Cane-Fu', an acient from of self-defense on April 10, 2009 at a senior citizen home in Salisbury, Maryland.
(
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images
)
Listen 17:27
Is old the new young?
Jay Leno won out over Conan O'Brien in the late-night talk show wars, Diane Sawyer is pulling higher ratings than Katie Couric, and Brett Favre is outplaying men half his age in the NFL- it seems that grown-ups are more in vogue in a youth-obsessed culture. What's behind the trend? Are baby-boomers trying to hold on to the spotlight? How much is influenced by the anxiety of the economic crisis, when "grown-up" virtues like financial responsibility make maturity seem more appealing? Larry talks with LA Times critic Mary McNamara about her essay, "New motto: Trust everyone over 30."

Jay Leno won out over Conan O'Brien in the late-night talk show wars, Diane Sawyer is pulling higher ratings than Katie Couric, and Brett Favre is outplaying men half his age in the NFL- it seems that grown-ups are more in vogue in a youth-obsessed culture. What's behind the trend? Are baby-boomers trying to hold on to the spotlight? How much is influenced by the anxiety of the economic crisis, when "grown-up" virtues like financial responsibility make maturity seem more appealing? Larry talks with LA Times critic Mary McNamara about her essay, "New motto: Trust everyone over 30."

Guest:

Mary McNamara, Television Critic, Los Angeles Times