Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Women in Hollywood Boardrooms, and J.G. Ballard's Punk Rock Influence
The boardroom is the height of power and influence in Hollywood but at companies like Sony, Viacom and Comcast, women fill only about 18% of the board seats. And the science fiction writer J.G. Ballard has influenced several films, and also a whole generation of post-punk and new wave musicians.
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenPresident Obama is meeting with teachers and school officials today to talk about reducing testing time for students. Right now, big city school district's average about 112 mandatory standardized tests a year. And how is this school testing mania playing out here in California, and in Los Angeles?
Then, the TV show Empire recently introduced a new character: a scheming lawyer called Thirsty Rawlings played by Andre Royo. He played Bubbles on The Wire. That and more in our weekly TV roundup.
Next, the boardroom is the height of power and influence in Hollywood but at companies like Sony, Viacom and Comcast, women fill only about 18% of the board seats.
Finally, the science fiction writer J.G. Ballard has influenced several films, and also a whole generation of post-punk and new wave musicians.
Banner Image: Bonnie Hammer, President of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment & Universal Cable Studios; Credit: Rubenstein, photographer Martyna Borkowski
In this episode
5 storiesObama Aims to Reduce Testing Time for Students
President Obama is meeting with teachers and school officials today to talk about reducing testing time for students. On Saturday, he admitted that there is too much testing in public schools. Right now, big city school district's average about 112 mandatory standardized tests a year.
Read the story9 minSchool Testing in L.A.
How is this school testing mania playing out here in California, and in Los Angeles?
Read the story9 minTV Roundup: 'Empire' Introduces A New Character
The TV show Empire recently introduced a new character: a scheming lawyer called Thirsty Rawlings played by Andre Royo. He played Bubbles on The Wire. Writer Aisha Harris argues that Royo’s performance on Empire is so good, it’s time for TV fans to forget about Bubbles and say hello to Thirsty.
Read the story9 minWomen in the Hollywood Boardroom
The boardroom is the height of power and influence in Hollywood but at companies like Sony, Viacom and Comcast, women fill only about 18% of the board seats .
Read the story8 minJ.G. Ballard's Punk Influence
The science fiction writer J.G. Ballard was prolific. He wrote 18 novels during his career and published more than two dozen short story collections. Several of his works have been turned into films, and a new film based on his work—High Rise—is on the festival circuit right now.
Read the story11 min
