South Asian Youth in Marriage Crisis

Crisis. That is the first word which comes to mind when assessing the state of marriage amongst the South Asian youth in America. One could write a sociological paper analyzing how Indian and Pakistani parents are simply out of touch with their American-born kids. Being of South Asian descent myself and exposed to the drama of getting hitched, I felt it prudent to write a fictional letter based upon the experiences I have encountered for all those out there who have no voice or say in their future.

Dear Mom and Dad:

There comes a point in everybody’s life when one must become forthright and honest. My time has arrived and you must hear the truth for better or worse. For the past five years, you have showcased me like a piece of meat to your family, friends, and strangers in the hopes that I will get married. You have exaggerated my credentials and forced me to compose a resume outlining my life history like I was applying for a job at Goldman Sachs. Unfortunately, I’ve had no luck. Maybe this is god’s plan. Maybe this is my destiny; not marry within the community. I have repeatedly said that I don’t have much in common with the less-than attractive people you introduce to as they tend to be fresh-off-the-boat. Do you listen? No! How can I marry someone who is interested in watching Bollywood films and listening to desi music 24/7 while i go out to work?

Both of you need a reality check. You claim you are Americans with the U.S. flag placed proudly on the forefront of our well-manicured lawn. But behind close doors, you openly criticize and look down on their cultural norms. Um, we live in the United States. This is the west where guys and girls openly date. Maybe if you’d allow me to do the same in college, I wouldn’t be this old [32] and unmarried. You may have changed your physical location when coming to this country, but your mentalities have not evolved. This will explain why I have had to lead a double life.

I have been dating an African-American for the past three years. Even though I tell you I am going to my friend’s house for the weekend, I’m really seeing my partner. Our outings are diverse and adventurous. At dinner, we settle for a decent meal that is accompanied by lots of good wine. Yep. I’m on a one-way ticket to hell. While you’re busy watching Mr. Shah Rukh Khan, my partner and I settle for a nice Sunday drama on PBS. Hey, what you don’t know can’t hurt you! And touching upon that theme, remember when you asked me to drop of that delicious biryani you made for Mrs. Khan? She and her husband went out-of-town for the weekend and left their daughter home all alone? Ring a bell? Well, sweet little Deena was having a partay filled with all sorts of shenanigans. Oh, I didn’t get involved. Amidst the blaring music, I simply placed the dish on the kitchen island while Deena was dancing and taking vodka shots with the jocks from her high school football team. Did she see me? No! She was drunk and too busy flinging her bra in the air shouting “HECK YEA, F*CK YEA.” I’ve always known she was a double-faced slut who had her parents wrapped around her little finger. But I’m not like that.

As a dutiful child, I have respected most of your wishes and gone along with your unreasonable demands. Fortunately, that will no longer continue. I will get married at some point but not to a person of desi descent. I’m taking control of my destiny and will do everything in my power to ensure my say is final. For now, I’m interested in me, myself and I [furthering my education and getting a better job]. You see, I have the courage and the conviction to be the first of many to say LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE.

P.S. When my kids reach puberty, I will talk to them about sex. Get over it!

What Would Turness Do at NBC?

If NBC News is on the verge of appointing a British woman as its next president, what would she do in her position at the beleaguered network? Here are some ideas…

Foreign Desk: Increase funding and ask that editors dedicate more air-time to international stories.

Ann Curry: Take her out for a meal and ease the noticeable tension. The new president will want Curry to stay with the network and may offer her the chance to anchor her own show.

Today:  Re-invigorate the brand offering new and innovative ideas to draw viewers back in. It is understood that the U.K. media business is a “factory” for  bold programming ideas [Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Weakest Link, American Idol].

Nightly News: Give Brian Williams a co-anchor or “supporting anchor.” ITV’s flagship newscasts at 6:30 and 10 pm feature two anchors. 

NBC News: Rebrand the news output featuring a consistent and less-cluttered look. Turness recently oversaw the relaunch of ITV News with the help of a British branding firm well-known for its on-air identities. Her name pops up at the end of the clip. See link above.

Sophisticated is Back with The Good Wife

Hallelujah. An audience exists for sophisticated drama. Over nine million viewers tuned into watch the season finale of The Good Wife on CBS. Having ended season four with twists and turns, The Good Wife, created by Robert and Michelle King, is without a doubt the smartest show on network television. It boasts consistently good writing, a stellar and impeccably-dressed cast & outstanding production values. In an era where programming has been dumbed down to reach the lowest common denominator of society, the Tiffany network is challenging the status quo with a slew of shows that entertain and make the audience think. Shows like CBS This Morning and The Good Wife prove that audiences exist for “niche” programming. The good news [no pun intended] is advertisers have taken notice. And not just any type of advertiser. In March 2012, luxury jeweler Cartier ran a whopping three-minute commercial during a Good Wife episode. It was beautifully executed and viewers took notice. When an advertisement compliments the values of a t.v. show, it’s a natural brand extension that makes creative and financial sense for all parties.

I offer two words to the cast and whole crew including Robert and Michelle King, Brooke Kennedy, and David Zucker; thank you!

BBC Lacks Primetime Strategy in U.S.

As Al-Jazeera America ramps up efforts to launch in the U.S., the BBC will need to re-tool their primetime strategy. It is surprising if you consider the simple fact that BBC World News has expanded its distribution in the states over the past year. Currently, GMT with George Alagiah and World News America with Katty Kay are the corporation’s flagship morning and evening shows respectively for the U.S. market. But Kay’s show is the one I take issue with. It has a confusing and un-original name: BBC World News America. Hence, I am watching BBC World News America on the BBC News channel known as BBC World News. Don’t worry if you cannot keep up. I get confused too. I thought the channel refresh in January would encompass a complete rebranding of WNA, but the name and presentation stayed the same.

Moreover, WNA goes out on BBC World News AND PBS at a time when most people are still at work or are on the road. You have to wait till 9 pm EST to watch a newscast aimed at the U.S. It’s a typical BBC “bulletin” with a special introduction welcoming PBS viewers. That’s it. Uh, what about all the viewers who have access to the 24-hr news channel in the states? What I expect from the BBC, Al-Jazeera or any other foreign broadcaster is to invest in distinct and incisive programming that people can watch at a reasonable hour. Anything less tells me that you are not serious about this market.

Since the Beeb is looking to fill the position of “Head of News,” I would make a few changes if I got the job (I can dream, can’t I?). I see plenty of potential in Dani Sinha. She could flourish on an attachment in the Washington bureau and as stand-in presenter for Katty Kay. The channel should hire Imran Garda who left AJE under a year ago. He makes on-air journalism look just as natural as breathing when it is not. He could give Mishal Husain a run for her money. The programming and scheduling for the U.S. market will need re-tooling as it is unfocused and disjointed. And finally, the Beeb needs to form a partnership with CBS. Under the leadership of David Rhodes and Jeff Fager, the Tiffany network is becoming a source of serious news and measured reporting at a time when most broadcasters are placing speed above accuracy.

The Rundown: Ali Velshi, Etihad and More…

Media: Al Jazeera America has poached CNN’s Ali Velshi. His last day with CNN/CNNi was Friday. Velshi may work with Kamahl Santamaria who presents “Counting the Cost” on Al Jazeera English. Santamaria tells DC Internationalist: “AJAM will be a separate channel, but we will of course share resources. Give it time and we’ll see ”

Media: Yalda Hakim has begun anchoring newscasts for BBC World News.

Travel: Etihad Airways added non-stop flights from Abu Dhabi to Dulles to its schedule last weekend. The airline also unveiled a lavish lounge. The press release states the following: “Located next to the airline’s departure gate in Terminal A, the lounge provides premium passengers with unfettered and convenient direct access to the aircraft without having to go through a traditional departure gate.” Nice!

Food: Le Pain Quotidien is on an expansion craze in the D.C. area. Chevy Chase and Union Station will soon get the Belgian cafe experience.

Wanted: Star Power for Al Jazeera America

There has been gossip surrounding a union between Al Jazeera America and Ann Curry. She would get the opportunity to tackle serious issues facing this country and Al Jazeera would have gained a huge star. It needs a few of those if the network is to be taken seriously at the table. Spending a speculated $500 million bought the airwaves, but star power is essential and a testament to their credibility issue. A few other choices including American-born Tony Harris who is already familiar with U.S. viewers. He is currently based with the network in Doha. Adrian Finighan would also be good choice as he was a hit with viewers on his BBC/PBS broadcasts. The list of potential candidates is endless. But the network does have the opportunity to cultivate some fresh faces for its Californian operations. It would be interesting to see who they pick for positions based in Culver City and San-Francisco.

What do you think?

Harry Gordon Selfridge and Ron Johnson: Retail Icons Met with Doubt

Jeremy Piven plays Harry G. Selfridge in the PBS drama “Mr. Selfridge.”

Harry Gordon Selfridge, an icon of the retail industry who founded the world-famous department store Selfridges, will soon come to life on television. “Mr. Selfridge” premieres at the end of this month on PBS and Entourage’s very-own Jeremy Piven will play the American-born retailer. JCPenney’s embattled CEO Ron Johnson will probably watch the show with intrigue and wonder if will he get his own show in a hundred years. Johnson takes inspiration from Selfridges for his JCP vision and while these two men may be separated by history, they have a lot in common.

Both are considered titans of the retail industry and have gone to great lengths to make shopping a pleasure instead of a dreaded chore. Like Selfridge – but for different reasons,  Johnson is facing intense scrutiny as sales at JCP have plunged; coupon-addicted customers bailed after he moved to an everyday pricing scheme. Consequently, loyal and elderly skewing consumers had no incentive to check out the uninspiring merchandise in the dated and deplorable stores which had not been updated since the opening days at Woodstock.

While radical plans to turn JCP into a consortium of branded “shops-within-a-shop” are moving along, sales continue to slide. There was no way Johnson could have manufactured a turnaround in four business quarters. JCP had excessive inventory that needed clearing. Ancient systems were being employed to manage the IT infrastructure. Excessive funds were being spent on promotions. And the company had a bloated workforce. Sounds like the Titanic was ready to sink. Unfortunately, Johnson jumped on when they were ready to hit the iceberg.

As a pioneer of the retail industry with his legendary stints at Target and Apple, Johnson can make JCP work despite his early mistakes. The current “shops” are already performing 20 percent above the rest of the old JCPenney store.  But the board must take the company private in order to give Johnson the time and breathing space needed to execute his vision. Investors are already calling for Johnson’s ouster. But what they fail to understand is that all the talent drawn to JCP because of Johnson and his initiatives will bail.

Harry Gordon Selfridge