This week we're discussing all the news that's fit to podcast (and some that isn't) as we sit down for Nakea's first viewing of James L. Brooks' Broadcast News (1987).
The real-life model for Holly Hunter's character in Broadcast News was recently promoted to be the president of beleaguered CBS News, so we're taking this opportunity to talk about what's wrong with TV journalism. Then, we're watching Broadcast News, which explains how it all went wrong, while managing to be one of the great workplace comedies of the 1980s.
But will the Unenthusiastic Critic think it's all fake news?
Program
0:00: Prologue: from Broadcast News
1:05: Cultural Osmosis: Pre-Viewing Discussion
15:48: Interlude: Scene from Broadcast News
17:21: The Verdict: Post-Viewing Discussion
51:58: Outro and Next Week's Movie
Notes and Links
—Movie Reviewed: Broadcast News (dir. James L. Brooks, 20th Century Fox, 1987)
—Links and Resources: "Susan Zirinsky, CBS Veteran, Is First Woman to Lead Network’s News Division," John Koblin, New York Times; "How ‘Broadcast News’ Predicted Journalism As We Know It," Haley Mlotek, The Ringer; "James L. Brooks on Journalism, The Oscars, and Broadcast News," John Meroney and Patricia Beauchamp, The Atlantic; Excerpt from Remarks by David Corvo, VP of NBC News, March 4, 1998, niemanstoryboard.org.
—Find additional episodes, leave a comment, or make a donation at unaffiliatedcritic.com.
—Email us, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. (Suggestions of movies to watch for future episodes are very welcome.)
—"Warm Duck Shuffle" by Arne Huseby is licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:06 — 49.9MB)
