The January-February issue of Texoma Living! Magazine, featured an article, After more than 500 shows, Dennis McCuistion and Niki Nicastro still do programs about “… things that matter with people who care.”
Below are the first few paragraphs of the article. Click here for the complete PDF on the McCuistion Program after 500 episodes.
About ten minutes into the program a loud, chirping fire alarm went off in the studio at KERA-TV, Channel 13, and everything came to a halt. There was no fire, just noise. After a minute or two, the alarm stopped, only to start again in a few moments. It was ten minutes before things were sorted out.There was a benefit in the mishap, however. The guest, a man in a gray suit and baggy brown socks, had been hit with an attack of flop sweat when the red light on the camera blinked on. The perspiration had beaded up on his face, and his forehead was glistening. The interruption gave the makeup woman an opportunity to come on the set and dry him off. Taking off his jacket and complaining loudly about the heat from the studio lights, the guest, who had been thirty minutes late for makeup and was grumpy, decided to finish the show sans coat.
The floor director politely pointed out that when the show aired, it would appear that the jacket had suddenly —magically it would seem to the viewers—disappeared, so the coat went back on. Finally, all was put back in order, the imaginary fire extinguished, or at least the alarm thought so, the guest acclimated to the lights, which weren’t all that hot after all, and the taping started again.
The host, Dennis McCuistion, who has been doing this sort of thing for twenty years and is well schooled in the vagaries of television, was not particularly bothered. He watched the rerun of the tape up to the point the alarm sounded, and when the floor director gave the countdown and the action sign, he looked into the camera and restated the question the guest had been answering. The guest, who was prepared to name names in the collapse of the housing market, soldiered on, and in forty-five minutes or so another McCuistion Program was in the can.
In today’s news update we are covering a few links related to the 2010 census, health care and Obama’s transparency pledge.
Obama taking health care push to Ohio
Washington (CNN) — President Obama heads to Ohio on Monday to push for a health care overhaul.
Obama is set to deliver an address on health insurance in Strongsville, outside Cleveland.
The president will spend time “going through why reform is important, going through what it will do the minute he signs the legislation on behalf of millions of Americans, discussing what happens, again, if we decide now is not the time,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said at a news briefing Friday.
A decennial tradition that dates back 220 years to the days of George Washington continues today when federal census forms start arriving at more than 120 million households across the United States.
But hanging over this 23rd U.S. census are concerns about a decline in participation.
While the U.S. census has always evoked some resentment toward the feds for poking their nose into people’s business, there’s a sense that America’s distrust of the government has reached greater heights and could contribute to poor census returns.
FOIA-request audit shows response to Obama transparency pledge is uneven
The Obama administration’s first year of efforts to improve access to government information has yielded mixed results, according to an audit of Freedom of Information Act requests set to be released Monday. The report by the National Security Archive at George Washington University comes at the start of Sunshine Week, the annual attempt by federal groups and news organizations to promote better access to government information.
This last week in Dallas, the World Affairs Council of Dallas Ft. Worth, along with our host station, KERA, sponsored Rick Steves, social activist, author, TV host and travel expert. Steves spoke at the new Wylie Theatre to a packed house, in spite of the rain. He was as many viewers know him to be, charming and engaging.
However, I’m not writing about his ability to charm or engage an audience or even about his travel slides, all of which were certainly worth the price of admittance. I’m writing about some of his rather startling sentiments regarding travel and what it could be, but often is not. Steves doesn’t believe travel is about margaritas and fun in the sun, but that travel serves to humanize. It’s about meeting and talking to the people of the country. He says that if we get to really know about our counterparts in other parts of the world and how similar their values are to ours – their wishes for their children and their families and community are so similar to ours – “it’s tough to demonize them.”
From Merely “Other People” to People Just Like Us
Rick started his travels at age 14 when he and his parents visited family in Norway. One afternoon while people watching at a local park, he noticed that just as his parent’s world revolved around him, and they went out of their way to make him happy, and provide experiences for him, the other families were doing the same for their children. “Right then,” he said, “my 14 year old egocentric self took a huge hit.” He realized, “This planet is home to billions of equally lovable children of God.” He’s carried this understanding with him throughout his travels around the globe.
Steves tells us,
“Travel inspires creative new solutions to the persistent problems facing our nation. Travel helps de-demonize. We’re 4% of the total world population. God blesses us and everyone else too.”
He commented on how it [travel] broadens our understanding. He says, “Most people at the wheel have a vested interest and it’s not yours and mine.” Rick also commented on everything from anarchists to terrorists, fundamentalism to trade policy, stating “It’s trade policy that keeps people poor;” the European Union, drug policies, water challenges around the globe and military forces.
Not for the Faint of Heart
He didn’t spare himself either, “the two sets of braces I bought to keep my kids teeth straight could have paid for a well for water-starved people, so that a woman could stay home with her children and not have to walk most of her day to go get water.” Introspectively he said, “We’re better than that.” Rick Steves took no prisoners, castigating media as well for their continual dumbing down.
He’s not for the faint of heart and I’m not sure how he’d go over at a Tea Party, but this rainy Sunday he caused that audience to really think. I couldn’t help but be reminded of how Dennis and I strive for the same on our TV program, and in our speeches “when we talk about things that matter with people who care…” also not about dumbing down nor for the faint of heart.
***
Niki Nicastro McCuistion
Executive Producer/Producer McCuistion
Stay for Part One or Part Two or Both
Location:
KERA Studios
3000 Harry Hines and Wolf
Schedule:
4:00 PM - Registration for Part One Tapings
4:30 PM Sharp – Part One Tapings
4:30 – 5:00 PM
- Philip K. Howard: Founder and Chair Common Good; Author of The Death of Common Sense
5:30 – 6:00 PM
Women, Wealth and Giving: The Virtuous Legacy of the Boom Generation
- Becky Sykes: Executive Director, Dallas Women’s Foundation
- Margaret May Damen and Niki Nicastro McCuistion; co-authors of Women, Wealth and Giving
- Jim Falk: CEO World Affairs Council Dallas Fort Worth
6:15 – 6:45 PM
The Homeless Today
- MDHA/The Bridge: Mike Faenza, President and CEO
- Union Gospel Mission and others
- Supper Break -
6:15 PM - Registration for Part Two Tapings
7:45 PM Sharp – Part Two Tapings
7:45 – 8:15 PM
Our Constitution Today
- Cal Jillson, PhD SMU Political Scientist, Author of Pursuing the American Dream
- Thomas K. West PhD, Professor of Politics University of Dallas
8:30 – 9:00 PM
TV and Its Impact on Society
- Hank Moore: Futurist
RSVP a must please as seating is limited.
To: Nikimccuistion@gmail.com
214-750-5158
Stay tuned for updates…
In today’s news updates we provide links on health care, international women’s day and AIG sale to MetLife.
Obama to appeal for public support on health care
WASHINGTON — With the fate of his signature legislative initiative far from certain, President Barack Obama is taking his last-ditch push for health care reform on the road.
In a speech Monday in Philadelphia, Obama will try to persuade the public to back his plan to remake the nation’s health care system, while also urging uneasy lawmakers to cast a “final vote” for a massive reform bill in an election year.
Obama’s pitch in Philadelphia, along with a stop in St. Louis Wednesday, comes as the president begins an all-out effort to pass his health care proposals. Though his plan has received only modest public support, Obama has implored lawmakers to show political courage and not let a historic opportunity slip away.
World Marks International Women’s Day
(CNN) — The world marks International Women’s Day on Monday, an annual celebration that highlights their economic, political and social achievements.
“International Women’s Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men,” the United Nations says.
AIG in $15.5 billion unit sale to MetLife
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — AIG agreed Monday to sell its American Life Insurance Co. unit to MetLife Inc. for $15.5 billion in cash and stock, in beleaguered AIG’s second sale of an international unit in a week.
AIG said it will sell the unit, known as Alico, for $6.8 billion in cash and the remainder in MetLife equity. The deal leaves AIG as the second-largest shareholder of MetLife, with a stake of more than 20% in the company.
In today’s news update we will hear from AIG, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Toyota and updates on the job market.
AIG Plans to Sell Remaining Transatlantic Stake
American International Group Inc. plans to sell its remaining 13.8% stake in casualty reinsurer Transatlantic Holdings Inc. held by its American Home Assurance Co. subsidiary.
The 9.19 million shares AIG wants to sell would be worth about $494 million based on Translantic’s closing share price on Thursday.
Transatlantic shares were down 3.7% in recent trade at $51.77, while AIG rose 4.3% to $27.87 amid a broad market gain.
Rep. Frank questions safety of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac investments
An influential voice on Capitol Hill has unexpectedly called into question the safety of investing in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, raising the specter that investors who have lent money to the two firms or bought their mortgage-backed securities could one day suffer losses.
The comments by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, come despite the assumption of many investors that investments in the two mortgage finance giants are risk-free. Until now, federal officials — who took over Fannie and Freddie two years ago to save them from collapse — have signaled to the market that lending the companies money is just about as safe as lending to the U.S. government itself.
Toyota incentives rouse would-be buyers
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Toyota’s new incentive plan appears to have piqued the interest of buyers looking to snag a good deal, reports showed Thursday, even as the automaker’s recall woes linger.
Edmunds.com and kbb.com, Web site of Kelly Blue Book, both reported significant increases in traffic among users expressing serious interest in Toyota vehicles since the automaker announced a new incentive plan on Tuesday.
Jobs report shows unemployment unchanged
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — As severe winter storms crippled East Coast cities, the U.S. economy shed thousands of jobs in February, according to a government report released Friday. But the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
The Labor Department said the economy lost 36,000 jobs in the month, fewer than the 68,000 jobs economists were expecting, according to a survey conducted by Briefing.com.
In today’s news we provide links to the White House social secretary’s departure, health care and the stock market.
NATIONAL NEWS
White House social secretary Rogers leaving: aide
Rogers is personally close to first lady Michelle Obama and is part of a group of Chicagoans who came to Washington with President Barack Obama.
The official had no further details on Rogers’ departure.
HEALTHCARE
Race to Pin Blame For Health Costs
A battle over who to blame for rising health-care costs is escalating, as groups seek to pin the problem on each other and say none of the health-care legislation under consideration does enough to solve it.
U.S. spending on health care reached $2.5 trillion in 2009, according to federal estimates. It is expected to jump to $4.5 trillion in 10 years.
Obama Shows Testy Side at Health Care Summit
Of all the hats President Obama tried on at Thursday’s seven-and-a-half-hour health care summit, it appeared the one he was most comfortable wearing was that of the prickly professor.
In between playing the roles of moderator and deal-maker, the president took several opportunities to dress down his classroom of Republican critics. Through a series of awkward clashes between him and the Republicans, the summit may have served more to portray Republicans as intransigents intent on stonewalling a bill no matter what, than it served to pave the way for a compromise.
US STOCK MARKET
US HOT STOCKS: CKE Restaurants, AIG, Gap, Athenahealth, DTS
U.S. stocks rose Friday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 10 points to 10331, the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.5 points to 1104 and the Nasdaq Composite Index increased 3.3 points to 2237. Among the companies whose shares are actively trading are CKE Restaurants Inc. (CKR), American International Group Inc. (AIG) and Gap Inc. (GPS).
Private-equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners has agreed to take private CKE Restaurants (CKR, $11.13, +$2.22, +24.92%) for about $619 million, but the company will have six weeks to find a higher offer. The deal comes as the parent of the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s fast-food chains has struggled, especially with Carl’s Jr. In the four weeks ended Jan. 25, same-store sales at Carl’s Jr. slid 9%. CKE has been averse to the deep discounting that some rivals have been doing to prevent sales declines. Rival restaurant owners Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK, $21.13, +$0.80, +3.94%) and Sonic Corp. (SONC, $8.49, +$0.15, +1.80%) also rose.
Join us this Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 12 noon on KERA, Channel 13 where McCuistion airs its 20th year on KERA with the fourth of a six-part series – 20 Years of McCuistion: Media and the Internet.
When we joined the ranks of the media in 1990, the worldwide web had just been invented. In fact, very few people even had access to email. Today? Blackberries and iPhones, Facebook, Twitter, and Google are all household names and media itself has changed as a result.
In the last 20 years we have interviewed some of the most prestigious names in journalism including: Bill Moyers, Jim Lehrer, Bob Schieffer, and Sam Donaldson. Join us this Sunday as we hear from them and others.
All McCuistion TV episodes can be found at on our website where you can both watch the videos and interact with the McCuistion team and other viewers. You can also follow McCuistion TV on Twitter.
Join us as we talk about things that matter with people who care…
For more information contact:
Niki N. McCuistion
Executive Producer/Producer
214-750-5157
nikin@nikimccuistion.com
In today’s news update we look at new health care plan links and into the situation of the spy cams at a US high school.
Republican Doctors Offer to Make White House Call for Health Care Summit
A Republican congressman who serves as co-chairman of the House Doctors Caucus is requesting President Obama include representative doctors at his health care summit on Thursday.
Though the guest list for Thursday’s event won’t be finalized until Wednesday, Pennsylvania Rep. Tim Murphy, who is also a psychologist, has asked Obama to request participation from the 20-plus members of Congress with health care experience.
Obama Details Plan to Expand Health Care to Uninsured
WASHINGTON — President Obama on Monday laid out for the first time a detailed legislative proposal for overhauling health care, largely sticking with the approach passed by the Senate with unified Democratic support in December but making concessions to the House version as well.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is opening a probe into allegations that a US high school used laptop cameras to monitor students.
The investigation is the result of a class action suit filed last week against Lower Merion School District.
School student Blake Robbins was told last November he had been accused of “improper behavior in his home” – and the evidence for this behaviour was a photograph of him in his bedroom taken via his laptop’s camera.
Join us this Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 12 noon on KERA, Channel 13 where McCuistion airs its 20th year on KERA with the third of a six-part series – 20 Years of McCuistion: Motivation and Leadership.
Motivation is often defined as that which gives purpose; action toward a desired goal. Sharing their stories on motivation on this 20th anniversary segment are several of the leading motivational speakers in the country.
We hear from motivational speakers:
- The late, Rosita Perez, CPAE
- Ed Foreman, CPAE, Founder of the Successful Life Program
- Vinnie Roazzi, successful businessman and the author of The Spirituality of Success
- Margo Chisholm, mountaineer and author of To The Summit
We also hear from corporate governance and leadership experts:
- Sharon Allen, Chairman of Deloitte and Touche, LLP
- Bill George, professor of management practice at Harvard Business School and former Medtronic CEO
- Todd Bluedorn, CEO of Lennox International
We encourage you to view all McCuistion TV episodes, where you can both watch the videos and interact with the McCuistion team and other viewers. You can also follow McCuistion TV on Twitter.
For further details on the series, please contact Niki Nicastro McCuistion at (214) 750-5157 or email her at nikin@nikimccuistion.com.
Join us this Sunday as we talk about things that matter with people who care…
