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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 10 april 2018
Couric's Nat Geo series turned newsier than anticipated

By DAVID BAUDER on white anxiety, toggled
NEW YORK (AP) — There's a between Hollywood and
danger in planning a news- Silicon Valley for the story
oriented television series a on gender inequality and
year in advance. touched down on college
But circumstances smiled campuses to learn a new
on Katie Couric and her six- glossary of "PC culture."
part National Geographic National Geographic
channel series, "America In- hasn't broached the idea
side Out," which premieres of making "America Inside
Wednesday at 10 p.m. Out" a regular series for
Eastern. Some of the topics Couric, nor is she certain
she chose to explore, like about whether she would
gender inequality and ra- want to do that.
cial attitudes as reflected in After her years in the net-
the debate over Confeder- work trenches as “Today”
ate statues, became more show host and “CBS Eve-
prominent after she started ning News” anchor, she’s
working on the series. built a varied portfolio. She
Couric and a crew were does a weekly podcast
filming the episode about and is working on some
Confederate monuments scripted projects that she’s
that kicks off the series this This image released by National Geographic shows Katie Couric, left, "host of America Inside Out reluctant to talk about yet.
week in Charlottesville, with Katie Couric," and Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, founder and editor of MuslimGirl, in New York. She can pick and choose,
Virginia, last August, and Associated Press like she did recently with
attended a rally by white a temporary assignment
supremacists that turned some depth; the series also Elisabeth Moss, Aasif Mand- sonality said it's important hosting the Winter Olym-
violent. looks into what it's like to be vi, Roseanne Barr, Cornel for people to get out of pics opening ceremony
"While I had these ideas last a Muslim in America; white West and others. The epi- their own bubbles and for NBC. “Sometimes I miss
spring, so many of them working-class anxiety; how sodes offer a nuanced look speak to people who aren't being in the middle of it
have intensified and even technology is affecting hu- at some meaty issues that necessarily like-minded. all,” she said. “But then I
exploded into the public manity; and the new rules are not often examined to "I still have a lot to learn," remember being frustrated
consciousness in a way of political correctness. this extent on television. she said. "I think we all by being in the middle of it
that I never anticipated," Couric even copped to "The one thing that I've al- have a lot to learn. I think all and not being able to
Couric said. some of her own bad be- ways enjoyed doing, and I we should admit that, and do deep dives on impor-
The series is an outgrowth havior in the technology hope have been pretty de- we'd probably be a lot tant topics. So the grass
of Couric's special on gen- episode, revealing a smart- cent at, is to be able to look better off." To that end, is always greener. I really
der fluidity that aired on phone reliance that is only at stories, these disparate she logged plenty of miles enjoyed the opportunity
National Geographic last getting worse. stories, and sense a trend in reporting for the series. to spend a few months do-
year. Both Couric and Na- Interviews are heavily fea- or a big-picture change," She visited communities ing the kind of journalism
tional Geographic wanted tured, from the likes of Ju- Couric said. in Pennsylvania, Nebraska I wish there was more of,
to explore other issues with lianne Moore, Viola Davis, The veteran television per- and Iowa for the episode frankly.”q

Tina Fey: Online bullying makes her 'Mean Girls' relevant

By JOHN CARUCCI "So it feels like it's an even true with those moments,"
Associated Press more-timely reminder now Richmond said.
NEW YORK (AP) — Tina Fey that we all need to just kind Like the film, the musical
had no idea "Mean Girls" of take a breath before we tells the story of a teenage
would be timelier today hurt each other." girl who grew up in Africa
than it was 14 years ago. Fey wrote the story for the and ends up in a subur-
And that makes her a little show with her husband, Jeff ban U.S. high school. There
uneasy. Richmond, who composed she quickly learns the cruel
"It's just sort of unfortunate the music. They were asked nature of being popular.
that it does," the Emmy- about the difference be- Though it's a comedy, it de-
winning actress and writer tween the stage and film picts clique mentalities and
said Sunday at the opening versions. the negative effect that
night party for her Broad- "The core message is the has on self-esteem.
way adaptation of the same, but I think nothing Before the opening night
2004 film "Mean Girls." pulls it out like singing," Fey performance, a star-stud-
"When the movie was writ- said. ded guest list walked the
ten, it was about relational Richmond said you can go pink carpet, including Jeff Richmond, left, and Tina Fey participate in the curtain call
for the "Mean Girls" opening night on Broadway at the August
aggression among girls. to different emotional plac- Glenn Close, Jerry Seinfeld, Wilson Theatre on Sunday, April 8, 2018, in New York.
And now, everyone does es through music. "There Tony Parker, Martin Short, Associated Press
that. The government does are other things in a musi- Elle Kemper, Jimmy Fallon,
it. People are unkind. They cal that you can't dig into Alec Baldwin, Kate McKin- tunately still timely when it people can be catty, they
don't respect each other's like you can in the movie. non and Lorne Michaels. comes to bullying, but she's could be mean, but kind-
basic human dignity, and But I think this emotional Kemper, the star of TV's "Un- also optimistic. ness is always going to pre-
so social media is such a thing, you certainly can. breakable Kimmy Schmidt," "I think the truth of it is unfor- vail. That sounds corny, but
disease, right?" Fey said. And I think that that rings said the musical is unfor- tunately eternal. You know, true," Kemper said.q