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A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Tuesday 21 March 2023
Anthony Fauci documentary on PBS covers a career of crises

By MARK KENNEDY with the former AIDS activ-
AP Entertainment Writer ists who once decried him.
NEW YORK (AP) — There’s They have long since rec-
a moment in the new PBS onciled; they were all on
documentary about Dr. the same side, after all —
Anthony Fauci when a science.
protestor holds up a hand- “I put aside the confron-
made sign reading, “Dr. tational behavior and the
Fauci, You Are Killing Us.” attacks on me and listen
It says something about to what they were saying,”
Fauci that it’s not initially Fauci explained in the inter-
clear when that sign was view. “And what they were
waved in anger — in the saying was making perfect
1980s as AIDS made its sense. It made me feel if I
deadly rise or in the 2020s were in their shoes, I’d be
with COVID-19 vaccine op- doing exactly what they
ponents. were doing.”
“American Masters: Dr. That’s not the case when
Tony Fauci,” offers a por- protestors in recent years
trait of an unlikely lightning began attacking Fauci for
rod: A government infec- mask mandates, school
tious disease scientist who closures, quarantines and
advised seven presidents. bizarre claims about the
Fauci hopes it can inspire This image released by PBS shows Dr. Anthony Fauci in a scene from the documentary “American COVID-19 vaccines.
more public servants like Masters: Dr. Tony Fauci,” premiering nationwide on PBS, Tuesday, March 21. Associated Press “There’s one sign that says,
him. “I just felt that there ‘Fauci, You’re Killing Us’
needed to be a story of divided country, a presi- climate,” said Mannucci. of Americans, but his long and the other sign that says
people understanding dent who amplified the Michael Kantor, executive career at the National In- ‘Fauci, You’re Killing Us’
what public health officials division and then a public producer for the American stitute of Allergy and Infec- but the rationale for those
go through, but also I hope health crisis you couldn’t Masters series, says Fauci tious Diseases was marked from the 1980s to 2023 is
as a source of inspiration for ask for a worse combina- is a figure who has been by numerous previous enormously different,” Fau-
young people who are ei- tion of things,” he said. central to American life for health scares, among them ci said. “They couldn’t be
ther in science or interested Director Mark Mannucci decades and deserves an HIV, SARS, MERS, Ebola and more different.”
in going into science,” he offers an intimate look at examination, even if some even the nation’s 2001 an- In one remarkable se-
told The Associated Press. his subject, with images of virulently oppose him. thrax attacks. quence in the documenta-
The documentary airs Tues- Fauci running from meet- “Dr. Fauci is a very contro- The film shows that Fauci ry, Mannucci presses Fauci
day and later streams. ing to meeting and wolf- versial figure, and there are learned a lesson in humil- on whether he might have
Fauci allowed a film crew ing down Wheat Thins be- going to be people who ity with AIDS, as the dis- handled things differently
to follow him for 23 months tween Zooms. His wife at- are going to voice just as ease stubbornly persisted looking back like asking
starting in January 2021. tests to the stress by point- in the film great displea- and activists argued not Americans to adopt masks
The documentary covers ing out their security detail sure about what he’s done enough was being done sooner or ordering quar-
his career and its crises, es- due to threats. and about his approach from the government. “I antines faster. Mannucci
pecially the way COVID-19 “The story illuminates and to things. But isn’t that the went from a world of suc- relied on 10 long sit-downs

was handled by the Trump he’d be the first to say it whole point of public me- cess and gratification to a with Fauci to develop trust
administration. some very dark stuff about dia? It is intended to make world of frustration and fail- with his subject and didn’t
“When you talk about all this country and how a per- that conversation happen ure,” he says in the film. clutter the documentary
of the different things com- son who has devoted his in the best possible way.” Mannucci’s camera flash- with testimonials from talk-
ing together for a disaster, life to helping individuals COVID-19 may have in- es-forward to today, with ing heads, wanting to focus
that’s what happened: A got so twisted in this current troduced Fauci to millions Fauci cordially meeting up on Fauci’s experiences. q

Bidens to host ‘Ted Lasso’ cast to promote mental health

By ZEKE MILLER and DAR- of addressing your mental Swift, Phil Dunster, Brett
LENE SUPERVILLE health to promote over- Goldstein, Brendan Hunt,
Associated Press all wellbeing,” the White Toheeb Jimoh, Cristo Fer-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- House said. nandez, Kola Bokinni, Billy
dent Joe Biden and first The third season of the Harris, and James Lance.
lady Jill Biden will host the Emmy-winning, feel-good Biden has previously called
cast of the TV series “Ted Apple TV+ series began on lawmakers in both par-
Lasso” at the White House streaming last week. ties to expand resources to
on Monday to promote A White House official said fight the “mental health cri-
mental health and well- the Bidens have seen some sis” in the nation as part of
being. Jason Sudeikis, who of the show and are fa- his “ unity agenda.”
plays the title character an miliar with its “message of His administration has
American coaching a soc- positivity, hope, kindness, surged funding to bolster
cer team in London and and empathy.” Cast mem- the 988 Suicide and Crisis
Brett Goldstein, from left, Toheeb Jimoh, Hannah Waddingham,
Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, all members of the cast of other members of the cast bers expected to be in at- Lifeline and expand school-
“Ted Lasso,” pose for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los will meet with the Bidens tendence include: Han- based mental health
Angeles on March 6, 2023. “to discuss the importance nah Waddingham, Jeremy professionals.q
Associated Press