Press Play with Madeleine Brand
A Very White Oscars, French Speech Laws, and the Business of Pot
This year’s Oscar nominations were announced today. We look at the lack of diversity among the overwhelmingly white, male nominees and what it says about the Academy, plus other snubs and surprises.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenThe latest round of Oscar nominations were announced today, and the lack of diversity in the acting categories is getting a lot of attention. We talk about that and we look at the snubs and surprises. Then, one iconic L.A. structure is in peril this week while another’s been destroyed; should the city doesn’t do a better job of preserving its architecture? Next, in our weekly Internet roundup, why a French comedian found himself behind bars for a Facebook post. After that, one Silicon Valley investment firm has made a big gamble on pot. What could the deal mean for the industry, and what are the implications of a legal case in Northern California to reclassify pot as a less dangerous drug? And finally, how is tech changing the restaurant industry? New smartphone apps allow users to pay to skip the reservation line, while other innovations let chefs market themselves in whole new ways.
Banner Image: OSCARS statuettes by Prayitno
In this episode
5 storiesOscar’s Diversity Problem
Oscar nominations came out this morning, and it turns out that 2014 was a great year for men at the movies -- especially white men. Perhaps not so good for everyone else. There were no people of color nominated in the acting categories, and no women were nominated as best director or in any of the writing categories.
Read the story9 minL.A.’s Historic Preservation Casualties
Norms Restaurant on LaCienega Boulevard has stood as an increasingly rare example of space-age Googie architecture since 1956. But maybe no more. Last week, L.A.’s Department of Building and Safety gave the diner’s owners permission to raze it.
Read the story6 minFrench Comedian Arrested for Facebook Post (And Other Web News)
It’s been just over a week since the deadly shooting at France’s Charlie Hebdo magazine. Hundreds of thousands have been gathering daily in Paris to mourn the killings and applaud the magazine’s brave stance on free speech.
Read the story9 min“Ganjapreneurs” and the Case to Reclassify Pot
These seem to be booming days for the marijuana industry, as more states move to decriminalize it. Legal pot businesses raised more than $100 million last year, according to one research firm.
Read the story14 minPaying for Your Restaurant Reservations
Your chances of getting a dinner reservation at Republique at 7:30 this Saturday night are somewhere between slim and none, unless your name is George Clooney. Or, unless you’re willing to pay up. New smartphone apps will take your money in exchange for hard-to-get seats at some of L.A.’s top restaurants.
Read the story8 min
