Today on the show, we'll look at both sides at the Prop 8 debate, days before it heads to the Supreme Court. Then, "The Big Lebowski" turns 15, part two of Patt Morrison's interview with LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, tackling asian stereotypes in film and TV, announcing the winner of the Toyota Avalon pledge prize and much more.
A look at both sides of the Prop 8 debate
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear one hour of oral arguments in the case challenging California's Prop 8, which bans same-sex marriage. This morning we'll review some of the arguments that will be made by both sides.
We'll begin with the sponsors of Prop 8, those in favor of upholding the ban, as they will be the first to present their case next week.
Joining Take Two to preview those arguments is John Eastman, a constitutional law professor at Chapman University and Chairman of the Board at the National Organization for Marriage. He also filed an amicus brief in support of Prop 8.
After the justices hear from the supporters of Prop 8, they'll turn to the lawyers representing the two California same-sex couples who challenged the measure.
Joining us to preview those arguments is Courtney Joslin, she's a Constitutional Law Professer at the UC Davis Law School. She filed an amicus brief in the Prop 8 case and co-authored an amicus brief in the DOMA case.
Tackling Asian stereotypes in film and TV
When you think of the most famous Asian characters in film and TV, what might jump to mind are characters like criminal mastermind Fu Manchu; the prostitute who says, "Me so horny," in Full Metal Jacket; or perpetual foreigner Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles.
Not to mention archetypes like the brainiac, or the kung fu master, or the dragon lady.
But these stereotypes that don't accurately reflect the 14.6 million Asian-Americans in this country.
This Saturday, these images are getting tossed out of the rickshaw they rode in on: the first summit on Asian-American stereotypes takes place at the Japanese American National Museum in LA.
It's called "Beyond the Bad and the Ugly." Jeff Yang is the organizer and writer of the Tao Jones column at the Wall Street Journal.
"We’re not saying erase all negative references," Yang says, "but there are plenty of places where you can play into race and make them human rather than just a two-dimensional character. And they work really well."
Friday Flashback: Iraq War, federal budget, March Madness and more
We'll talk about the week that was with our regular political roundtables. On tap this week, the Nancy Cook with the National Journal and James Rainey from the Los Angeles Times.
The Dude at 15: LA's 'Lebowski Fest' unites followers of the Coen Bros' cult hit (video)
Fifteen years ago this month, directors Joel and Ethan Coen introduced Americans to a movie about bowling, acid flashbacks and a rug that, above all things, really tied the room together. "The Big Lebowski" starred actor Jeff Bridges as "The Dude." It wasn't a commercial success, and it barely made enough to cover its $15 million budget.
Fast forward to today. The film's become an obsession for thousands of people, and many of them are in L.A. this weekend for "Lebowski Fest." KPCC's Kevin Ferguson reports on the film's transformation from cult classic to L.A. institution.
RELATED: How would you describe The Big Lebowski phenomenon to an outsider?
Loosely based on Raymond Chandler's "The Big Sleep," "The Big Lebowski" takes place over several days in the life of Jeff Lebowski, better known as The Dude, a Venice burnout with a penchant for white Russians.
I'll try for a synopsis: In an attempt to replace a soiled rug, The Dude and his friend Walter, a chaotic Vietnam vet played by John Goodman, insert themselves into a bizarre feud involving millionaires, porn producers, nihilists and a severed toe.
Shot entirely in and around Los Angeles, it's a movie with so many swear words and devoted fans that even the TV-friendly overdubs have made their way into our hearts:
Walter: "Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps? This is what happens!"
But for lots of critics, like Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter, "The Big Lebowski" was just a good movie, not amazing. Todd reviewed the movie when it came out in 1998.
"I mean I thought it was a very clever and at times funny Coen brothers film. But I didn't think it was the greatest thing I'd ever seen [or] the best Coen brothers film I ever saw," said McCarthy. "So, you know, I enjoyed it but kind of forgot about it, and I've never seen it again."
The same went for Will Russell, a moviegoer from Louisville:
"I did not dislike it, but I wasn't bowled over by it. I was just kinda confused. I was like, 'Oh, well, that was pretty cool, but I don't know.' I ended up seeing it a couple more times on VHS," said Russell. "On the third time, I just found myself, like, laughing out loud every scene. Suddenly I'd just fallen in love with this film!"
Russell and his friends went on to start Lebowski Fest, a nationwide convention of fans of the film. In cities like New York, Los Angeles, Louisville and London, The Dude's devotees watch the film, go bowling, hold costume contests and, of course: drink white Russians.
Lebowski Fest has also been a gathering place for people involved in the movie: stars like Jeff Bridges to bit players, extras and even the real life Dude himself, Jeff Dowd.
Dowd, better known as The Dude, is a Santa Monica producer who inspired the movie's main character. He's a fixture in the industry and had worked with the Coens before. He shows up to a lot of Lebowski Fests, and when he talks to fans he acknowledges the movie gets a lot right.
The real Dude abides
"Did we drink white Russians for a while? Yeah, I don't know whether it was a month or two months," said Dowd. "Were you drinking the same drink in your senior year of high school as you were in your junior year of high school? I doubt it."
But "The Big Lebowski" has an appeal that goes beyond cult status. Sure, it's inspired costumes and merchandise — tattoos, even — but unlike other cult movies, as the film's grown in popularity, so has its respect among critics and academics. Scott Foundas is Variety's chief film critic:
"A much better analog, in a way, might be to a film like 'Blade Runner,' which largely received negative reviews at the time of its release [and] was not a big performer at the box office," said Foundas. "Thirty years later, people look back and say it was one of the most influential films of all times in so many ways."
For Jeff Dowd, the real Dude, "The Big Lebowski" is all that and more: a philosophy for living, a love song for the weird characters you find around L.A. Perhaps most importantly, though, it unites people.
"The number one choice for a lot of families now at Christmastime — and this is really weird and almost sick — is 'The Big Lebowski,'" said Dowd. "You know, you have a Christmas dinner, there's 30, 40, 50 people there. Twenty people from extended family. And about the time the dinner ends, the dark stuff starts to come out. So we put 'Big Lebowski' [on] now, and instantly, those 20, 30, 50 people start to laugh together."
Say what you will, at least it's an ethos.
Lebowski Fest kicks off Friday, March 22, at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, followed by a bowling party on Saturday. Click here for more info on the event.
Antonio Villaraigosa on his hopes for LA's next mayor
This morning we continue our discussion about the legacy of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who leaves office on June 30.
RELATED: See all of KPCC's coverage of Villaraigosa's legacy
Even before stepping into the Mayor's office, Villaraigosa was deeply entrenched in Los Angeles politics. He's been the Democratic leader and the Speaker of the California State Assembly and a member of the Los Angeles City Council.
KPCC's Patt Morrison sat down with Mayor Villaraigosa to talk about what surprised him about his time in office and what he hopes to see in the next mayor.
RELATED: See/hear part I of Patt Morrison's interview with Mayor Villaraigosa
But she started out by asking him why most Angelenos didn't bother voting in the mayoral runoff:
"I think people have a responsibility, no matter how frustrated they are, in fact, if they really are that frustrated, then they have a bigger responsibility to vote. And we've all got to look within all of those people, the 86 percent who didn't vote and we've got to say shame on you. We've all got to vote."
On which qualities he think are important in the next mayor:
"Courage, risk taking, but there's no question that the next mayor has to continue to set the bar high. We can't be afraid to dream and set bold standards, so the next mayor should be a risk taker, should have courage to be able to challenge their own interests, the people that supported them. The next mayor's got to be able to herd the cats in a city where you don't have the kind of power other mayors do, and the next mayor needs to set their own path. It's not going to be my path, it's going to be their path and they can't be afraid to chart that path."
On whether he feels like the job has worn on him:
"I don't feel tired, but I see the wear on my face, you see it on President Obama, I think you see it on Governor Brown. These are big jobs, they're tough jobs, you feel the strain of the job, but I still wake up every morning, for one, thanking God that I'm alive, and two, thanking him and the people of the city for giving me this job."
On not reaching all the goals he set for himself:
"I'm going to continue to set the bar high, from my vantage point, I think it is important to set high goals. Sometimes you make them, sometimes you don't, but when you set goals that are easily attainable, yeah you get to say you did it, but did you really? There are a lot of times when we've understated, and sometimes when we overstated, but I think it is important to set a high goal."
On the L.A. Times and his hopes for business in the city:
"I hope that whoever buys the next paper, when this paper gets out of bankruptcy is going to be from LA. I would have liked that the owners of The Dodgers were from LA. The new owners, Guggenheim, have been good LA partners, there's no question about it, but it's great to have owners that were here, live here, have a stake here. I'd like to see more fortune 500 companies, but I'll tell you something, the reason why I'm so passionate about immigration reform, 44 percent of all the new businesses that are started are started by immigrants."
Space News: Is the universe older than previously thought?
It's been quite a week for space news. By some reports, Voyager, the far traveling space vessel may have finally entered deep space.
A new study found the universe may be older than previously believed, and Amazon's Jeff Bezos helped fund a project that retrieved the engines from the Apollo mission from the bottom of the ocean.
We'll also get an update on the Mars Curiosity Rover.
Bruce Betts from the Planetary Society joins Take Two with more.
The Dinner Party: Stanley Cup, human billboard and more
Every week we get your weekend conversation starters with Rico Gagliano and Brendan Newnam, the hosts of the Dinner Party radio show.
Alcatraz marks 50 years since notorious prison closed its doors
Fifty years ago this week, one of the most notorious prisons in the world slammed its cell doors for the last time. Alcatraz, The Rock, The forbidding island fortress in the middle of San Francisco Bay.
It was a federal penitentiary housing some of the system's most dangerous inmates for 29 years. People like Al Capone, Mickey Cohen, and of course, the Bird Man of Alcatraz.
Today, it's one of San Francisco's biggest tourist destinations, attracting more than a million visitors a year. Here to tell us a little more about the history of Alcatraz is John Martino, a former park ranger at Alcatraz and the author of the book, "Fortress Alcatraz."
A rivalry between soccer clubs gains momentum in Los Angeles (Videos)
On a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Home Depot Center in Carson, two soccer teams are battling it out. But these aren’t professionals. They’re actually fans, member of clubs that passionately support the local teams: The L.A. Riot Squad roots for the Galaxy and The Black Army 1850 backs Chivas USA.
The pro teams share the same stadium, and they face each other three times during the season in games called Super Clásicos. And fueling the rivalry are the fan groups that are unique to soccer.
As Chivas fan Alan Matthews, a native of Ecuador, explains: “Basically it’s live or die with the team. When the team is losing and they’re not doing good, you’re still there, you’re still supporting. And if we’re down three-zero, you’re still supporting, you’re still on your feet. You’re still chanting, you’re still there for the team."
Angel Mendoza, from Gardena, is Matthews' Black Army teammate. He says Chivas is David to the Galaxy's Goliath: “We’re the underdogs, we’re the working man’s team. The Galaxy, they’re the Hollywood-Beverly Hills team. You know, the superstars.”
And that, in a nutshell, is what this rivalry boils down to — not just for the fan clubs, but for the teams they support.
The L.A. Galaxy has been a winning team in the American soccer league, and until this year it boasted one of the biggest stars in soccer, David Beckham.
Chivas USA, was established here in 2004 by the same owners of Chivas Guadalajara, a championship team in the Mexican soccer league. The idea was to draw fans from L.A.’s large Mexican community. At the outset, Chivas prided itself on a roster made up entirely of Mexican players. The problem is that Chivas USA has hardly been a match for the Galaxy.
Video: Watch a game video from LA Riot Squad, Thursday Night from Luis Sanchez on Vimeo.
To some Galaxy fans, like Don Loney, exporting a Mexican team to L.A. to attract Latinos was just a cheap marketing trick.
“They are such a patronizing embarrassment to American soccer and American culture,” Loney says. “They are like the Taco Bell of Major League Soccer. They are a fake. They are ersatz. They are artificial. And they had the nerve to say they were going to run the Galaxy out of town and force us to be their fans.”
Loney’s passionate dismissal of Chivas is not uncommon among Galaxy supporters. They regard other teams in the league, such as the San Jose Earthquakes, as real adversaries. Chivas, they say, is not worthy of respect.
“I am counting the hours until they go,” Loney says. “I am a Galaxy Hamas. I do not recognize their right to exist.”
Jason Barquero, who covers soccer for Univision, agrees that up to now it’s hardly been a level playing field. “Chivas isn’t there yet,” he says. “I think they’re still what the Clippers were several years back and what the Angels were a very long time ago. But I think Chivas can change that around if they start to win.”
Barquero also points out a unique aspect of this rivalry: Galaxy fans are much more ethnically mixed, he says, and come from all walks of life.“Chivas USA is very niche,” he adds. “You’re going to find a certain fan base that covers a little more blue-collar, a little bit of the everyday Mexican and Mexican-American, both first- and second-generation. In many cases it’s all Spanish speaking, in some cases they’re bilingual."
This is especially noticeable in the sections where the support groups sit. Most of the Galaxy chants are in English, while Chivas fans tend to chant in Spanish.
Last Sunday's game had a bit of a surprise in store for both sides. Chivas held the Galaxy scoreless for most of the game, even after they lost a player to a red card and played one man down for the entire second half.
Galaxy forward Jack McBean scored in the 83rd minute and it appeared that, once again, the Galaxy would walk away from another Super Clásico as the victor. But with one minute left to go, L.A. native Carlos Alvarez scored for Chivas and the game ended as a tie.
For Chivas fan Andres Morales, who came from Riverside with his wife and two kids, tying the Galaxy was like a victory. “I didn’t expect it,” Morales said, barely able to contain his joy. “I thought we were going to lose. But it’s a sweet goal right there. So nice, especially in the middle of all the Galaxy fans.”
Video: Listen to the chants and watch interviews with two Chivas USA supporter groups, Black Army 1850 and Union Ultras from VancouverWhiteCapsFC on YouTube.
Morales was born and raised in Mexico. Perhaps the original idea of drawing Mexicans and Mexican Americans might be working after all.
“It’s a traditional team that most of my family follows,” Morales said. “So it’s like I follow it, my son follows it, my daughter. So it’s like having part of home over here.”
Susan Brand, outfitted in all forms of Galaxy paraphernalia, came from Torrance to see the game with her husband. They both caught the soccer bug years ago when their daughter started playing. She thinks the rivalry might actually turn into something exciting to watch.
“Yeah I think it’s going to be bigger now,” Brand says. “Chivas I think is an improved team this year. Past couple of years, you know they haven’t been that good. But this was a tough game.”
Indeed, if Chivas continues to play well, it could mean more fans, more rivalry and more respect.
By the numbers:
 Chivas USA |
 LA Galaxy |
|
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Founded | 1995 |
| José Luis Sánchez Solá "Chelís" | Coach | Bruce Arenas |
| ChivaFighter (goat) | Mascot | Cozmos |
| Start at $17.00 | Tickets | Start at $12.50 |
| 13,056 | Attendance | 23,136 |
| Jorge Vergara Madrigal | OWNER | AEG |
| First in Western Conference in 2007 | best season | MLS Cup Champions in 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012 |
| Sascha Kljestan (USA), Jonathan Brornstein (USA), Claudio Suarez (Mexico), Paco Placencia (Mexico) | notable former players | David Beckham (UK), Luis Hernandez (Mexico), Carlos Hermosillo, Jorge Campos, Mauricio Cienfuegos (El Salvador), Cobi Jones (USA), Martin Pavon (Honduras), Eduardo Hurtado (Colombia) |
| La Irrevente | Supporters | Galaxian |
| Union Ultras (Section 101) | Supporters | Angel City Brigade (Section 121/122) |
| Black Army 1850 (Section 138) | Supporters | LA Riot Squad (Section 137/138) |
| Read Black Army 1850 chants | The chants | Listen to Angel City Brigade chants |
*Average home game attendance from 2012 season.
Source: MLSSoccer.com, LAGalaxy.com, CDChivasUSA.com
Announcing the winner of the Toyota Avalon XLE Touring sweepstakes prize
You might remember that we had this pledge drive, you know where we ask for your support, you know to keep giving you things like that great story on the Lebowski Fest. Well, one of the prizes we were giving away was a brand new 2013 Toyota Avalon XLE Touring.
Congratulations to winner and sustaining member, Robin White!
In a previous version of this segment page, we said the car was a 2013 Toyota Avalon. It is actually a 2013 Toyota Avalon XLE Touring.