Host Masud Olufani, contributor Andy Borowitz and host Celeste Headlee
Brandon Ogden for PBS
New Series Hosted by Celeste Headlee and Masud Olufani and Featuring New Yorker Humorist Andy Borowitz Provides Historical Context to Today's Headlines
ARLINGTON, VA -- RETRO REPORT on PBS, a new one-hour magazine format series hosted by journalist Celeste Headlee and artist Masud Olufani and featuring New Yorker humorist Andy Borowitz, premieres Monday and Tuesday, October 7-8, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, pbs.org and the PBS App. Presented by Georgia Public Broadcasting and produced by Retro Report, a non-profit organization whose mission is to arm the public with a complete picture of today's most important stories, the series offers viewers a fresh perspective on current headlines, revealing their unknown - and often surprising - connections to the past. The series continues Mondays and Tuesday nights, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET through Tuesday, October 29.
In today's 24-hour news cycle, with breaking headlines, all-news networks and online outlets constantly competing for attention, RETRO REPORT on PBS aims to widen the discussion, revealing the story behind the story, providing new insights into how today's events have been shaped by the past. Each episode will explore four distinct stories, closing with Now It All Makes Sense, a special segment featuring the wit and wisdom of author and comedian Andy Borowitz.
Topics to be explored include how decades-old research on human behavior shows that social media's addictive power is by design rather than chance; why half a million children still have dangerously high lead levels even though it was banned from gasoline and household products decades ago; how the sex education policies of today are informed by failures of programs created during the Clinton era; and why mandatory arbitration agreements enacted on Wall Street 20 years ago have negatively impacted today's #MeToo movement.
Today, more information is available than ever before, and it's coming from countless sources - with varying degrees of credibility, said Perry Simon, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, PBS. RETRO REPORT on PBS takes viewers on a journey into the most important stories of the day, looking at them through the lens of their often surprising historical roots, providing new insights while correcting the record and exposing myths along the way.
We are honored to be working with PBS on this program and cant imagine a better partner for this new show, said Kyra Darnton, Executive Producer, RETRO REPORT on PBS. Together, we hope to bring a deeper understanding of todays important news stories by exploring their roots in history.
Public media has always set the bar for objective, balanced news coverage, said GPB President and CEO Teya Ryan. As our world becomes more infiltrated with different mediums and an increasing desire to stay informed, RETRO REPORT on PBS explores the deeper context of stories and empowers viewers to discern facts and overarching themes in society.
PBS will partner with its member stations to develop localized content that is inspired by RETRO REPORT on PBS and aimed at telling stories that connect local communities with their own unique histories.
Schedule and Episode Listings
Mondays and Tuesday, 9:00-10:00 pm ET
Episode 1: Monday, October 7
Explore how social media's addictive power today might be explained by psychological experiments from the 1950s. Discover how recent NFL protests have ties to 1968. See how Wall Street women fought harassment before #MeToo, and learn why pythons are invading the Everglades. Andy Borowitz compares political ads to cigarettes.
Episode 2: Tuesday, October 8
See how data pulled from DNA websites is solving cold cases and how drug rules stem from one pill's side effects. Learn how a screen addiction cure is rooted in the past and why Americans are ambivalent about robots. Andy Borowitz objects to no news.
Episode 3: Monday, October 14
Dig into bystander behavior and learn how a decades old murder can shed light on how we react to online violence. Explore the surprising connection between the Navy's 1990s Tailhook scandal and the decision to open combat roles to women today. See why psychedelic drugs like LSD, which sparked fear in the 1960s, have now become a promising treatment for depression. Follow the voyage of a trash barge in the 1980s that persuaded us to recycle. Andy Borowitz highlights lunar hoaxes.
Episode 4: Tuesday, October 15
President Trump's strategy for dealing with the press may seem new, but it's strikingly similar to the path taken decades ago by a previous president. Learn the origin of vaccine fears and why measles cases are soaring. Discover the origins behind free agency in sports, which date back to a baseball pioneer, and the unintended consequences of a law intended to rescue wild horses. Andy Borowitz bemoans the no-apology apology.
Episode 5: Monday, October 21
Learn why texting may be able to reduce suicide rates based on by forgotten research from decades ago and why surrogate parenthood is still being shaped by the Baby M. case. Investigate why lead, banned years ago, is still a danger, and why a solution for global warming may come from a Cold War concept. Andy Borowitz recalls a flaming river.
Episode 6: Tuesday, October 22
Discover the lessons from a 1970s public housing experiment and understand the roots of routine newborn testing. Explore head injuries in pro sports and see why too few people, not too many, is a problem. Andy Borowitz takes on Space Force.
Episode 7: Monday, October 28
Learn how risks are measured after the Challenger disaster and how current immigration controversies echo the past. Discover the truth behind the infamous lawsuit over hot coffee and t
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Host Masud Olufani, contributor Andy Borowitz and host Celeste Headlee
