tavis smiley? tavis: i am happy to have you here. there was a rumor, may be some truth to it, all over the internet that bill moyers was thinking about coming back to pbs, un-retiring. >> like rumors of my death, which happen occasionally, this was exaggerated. we have been exploring some things to do, including specials, miniseries, potentially an interview show of the smaller mold than the one we did, but we have not decided anything yet. i am still enjoying the reflection and deliberation. we're working on a four part series and we're hoping to finish by the end of the year, the time between the civil war and the election of 1912 when corporate power became dominant in the american economy and workers and people in the south had to fight back to try to win their place and dignity. but there is no weekly series in the planning right now. tavis: to your point, i know and i thought of you when this happened many months ago, but that citizens united decision must rub you raw. >> i have long had this concern about how money is in polit

they'll start after you say, that -- i don't know but that tavis smiley beverage sure is delicious. i don't want to see that in the middle of my show. no offense. tavis: none taken. are there examples you came across of where product placement in significant ways or ways we ought to be concerned about really has changed the focus, the direction, the look or message of a film? >> they start to write story lines around certain products. when "heroes" came out, one thing that pushed me to make this was when "heroes" pushed the nissan rogue into the story line of the show. let the people who write be writers and let those who sell widgets sell them. there's a lot more mystery, you see me cold calling companies, you see a woman from guess say, we will never put you on a billboard ever. then someone from abercrombie and fitch says, do you want us to tell you why you're not abercrombie and fitch material. she tells me, you're pale, balding, mustache, you have bad skin, a large nose, you're not very attractive, you're not in very good shape. she goes down the list of here's why you're inadeq

. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment, one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] >> it's great to be here on pbs for a couple of night sitting across from one of the really talented broadcasters in my generation. tavis is celebrating his 20th year in the business and is about to release a new book called "fail up, 20 lessons on building success from failure." and the book will be available in stores on may 1. mr. smiley, it's great to have you with us as a guest as i host this show. tavis: it's an honor to be on your program. i have to start by saying -- >> you can't stand it! tavis: how honored i am to have you do this on the occasion of these 20 years. i know you have ties older than i've been doing television. >>

i'm tavis smiley. tonight a conversation with a true legend over the civil rights era, diane nash. she was on the student nonviolent coordinating committee better known as sncc. she takes part in a documentary about the freedom riders. it airs next month on pbs. a conversation with diane nash coming up right now. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i am james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer. nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: an honor to welcome diane nash to this program. in the early 1960's she became a key figure in the civil rig

from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight, our conversation with television wasn't -- television legend betty white, less than a year shy of her 90th birthday. in addition to her role on "hot in cleveland," she has a new memoir called "if you ask me." our conversation with tv icon betty white, right now. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i'm james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference, you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and answer, nationwide insurance is happy to help tavis improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- tavis: pleased and delighted to welcome betty white back to this program. the legendary television actress is a se

tavis: good evening, from los angeles, i am tavis smiley, we have first bill james, the man known for his baseball abstract has turned to the attention of the subject of crime, in the new book called "popular crime." and we have deejay and social activists moby is here, with his new release. thank you for joining us now. >> all i know is he is james and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i am james. >> yes. >> for everyone making a difference, you make us all look better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley and work to remove obstacles of economic empowerment, one piece at a time. >> and from contributions from your pbs station, from viewers like you. thank you. tavis: bill james is a noted baseball writer that started his baseball abstract in 1987, and he's working for the red sox that has turned to a different text, "popular crime," for a celebration, and he joins us from kansas city, an honor. >> thank you. tavis: when you say celebration, what do you mean. >> we pick up stories and make popular entertainment out them. television is full of it. full of fictional and

i'm tavis smiley. first up, a conversation with singing legend dionne warwick. in conjunction her 50th anniversary the music business she is out now with a new c.d. "only trust your heart," made up of contemporary jazz standards and also malcolm mcdowell is here. this year marks the 40th anniversary of "a clockwork orange," the stanley kubrick classic is in stores may 31. we're glad you have joined us. dionne warwick and malcolm mcdowell coming up right now. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i am james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer. nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made pos

a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television]

tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley.me with musician and deejay moby and his campaign against corporate tax breaks. >> all i know is his name is james and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i'm james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> -- you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--

. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and answer, nationwide insurance is happy to help tavis improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: please welcome k.d. lang to this program. she is out with the critically acclaimed new cd called "single allowed -- sing it loud," with her band siss boom bang. >> ♪ now i know that letting go was -- again and again and again i confess, i need you badly hold me in your arms and loved me madly ♪ tavis: i cannot resist, k.d. lang, so i will say it one more time, siss boom bang. how did that come about? >> well, we recorded it around independence day. when this group of individuals walked into the studio, it felt like fireworks. i played the record for my best friend. she listened for a few days and said it starts off like day k.d. lang, then siss boom

from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. as water levels rise, there are renewed fears for the region still recovering from hurricane katrina. first up, a look at the response to the current crisis with actor and activist harry shearer. he is out with a documentary about the role of the army corps of engineers, "the big uneasy." also, suze orman is here with a book called "the money class." >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i'm james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and answer, nationwide insurance is happy to help tavis improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] pippe tavis: we are pleased to have harry shearer back on the program. the actor

i'm tavis smiley. first up tonight a conversation with acclaimed actor, writer and director kenneth branagh. he has become synonymous with shakespeare thanks to numerous films he's acted in and directed but starting this week out with something zilededly different. the marvel comic film "thor." and a conversation with ice-t. the law and order star is out with a new member hoyer called "ice." film maker kenneth branagh and actor ice-t coming up right now. >> all i know is his name is james and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i'm james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference. >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports "tavis smiley." with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic 'em mourment one conversation at a -- empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you.

. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station. thank you. tavis: please welcome raphael saadiq back to this program. he is back with a new solo project that is generating all kinds of bus. ." is called "stone rollin' good to have you back on this program. it all works. this last project, not this one, the prior projects, that thing was so banging. i was wondering if you had a follow-up in backed -- that genre. did you note that you had to come back this way again? >> i made a slight departure. this record is a lot louder. it is more edgy. it is a departure from the motown thing, but i lived in those areas anyway. if you go back and listen to some of the older records, you will see the way that i see it. tavis: what about that last project made you want to stay in the genre of that makes us feel like we're back? >> i feel like that is my home. that is where i feel comfortable. i produce a lot

from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. first up, demaurice smith. as owners continue to lock out players, the players are making this case for a more equitable revenue split with the team owners. cornel conversation with west on how progressives perceive the obama white house. a conversation with demaurice smith and cornel west coming up next. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i'm james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and answer, nationwide insurance is happy to help tavis improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: demaurice smith is the head of the nfl players association. he is a former criminal prosecutor who worked with eric holder. good to have you on th

from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. first up, a look at the continuing rift between u.s. and pakistan following the raid that killed osama bin laden. julie mccarthy is the pakistan- based correspondent for npr at the time of the u.s. mission. also, the summer travel season kicks off this memorial day weekend. the polls show a record number of americans will be hitting the roads. a conversation about trouble with travel writer paul theroux on his latest book, "the tao of travel." as you join us, julie mccarthy and paul theroux coming up. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i'm james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and answer, nationwide insurance is happy to help tavis improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kce

. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment, one conversation at a time. >> nationwide is on your side >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. kcet public television] --www.ncicap.org-- tavis: i am always pleased to have tom selleck on this program. in addition to his role on the popular show jesse stone, he shows on this season's most watched new show called "blue bloods." here are scenes from "blue bloods." >> what about the boys? >> what are we going to do? >> it is my considered opinion that this gets out and the media gets ahold of it, she won't have much of a chance. >> so you have another hit on your hands. >> is there any would around, i need to knock on wood. actually, cbs likes to hold their announcements. i think it is a hit. it is a hit for me. it is a show i wanted to succeed, not only when i first read the script

good night from new york, and as always, keep the faith. >> for more information visit tavis smiley on pbs. tavis: join me next time for the president's head of the deficit reduction committee, alan simpson. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i'm james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- --www.ncicap.org--

. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment, one conversation at a time. >> nationwide is on your side >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> his latest text is called " tangled webs." he was also named a columnist for the business section of "the new york times." is an honor to have you here. what do you hope to bring to your column? >> i want to speak out for the individual, in the book tour will shareholders and consumers. we are living in a world that is being accommodated by the wealthy, the big institutions, and i think we need somebody to stand up for everybody else. tavis: what is your sense that this will do in that regard? >> pitbull getting loans that they never should have, interest rates -- we

tavis smiley.re is nothing that has ever likeened in tavis smiley's that was not driven by racism and hatred of tavis smiley because of his skin cover. if he gets a massage and the press a little too hard, the massage therapist is a racist unless they are black and, in that case, they are ande uncle tom. he was interviewing an author around -- about radical muslims. she made an observation, triggering a broadside from out of nowhere from tavis smiley against the tea party equating bloodthirsty terrorists. watch this. >> somehow the idea got into their minds to kill other people is a great thing to do. >> christians do that every single day in this country. people walk into post offices, they walked into schools -- i could do this all day long. they are invoking the tea party every day. they were recently arrested for making threats against officials. that is within the political -- that is the body politic of this country. [catcalls] >> how many of you knew that the shootings at columbine was a chr

. >> nationwide supports tavis smiley. we are proud to join tapas in supporting educational literacy it -- to join tavis in supporting educational literacy. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> pleased to welcome dick van dyke back to the program. the comedy legend is celebrating 60 plus years in show business with a new memoir, already a "the new york times" bestseller. we will get to the wonderful stories in the text, but first, a small sampling of his economic work. >> 0h, rob. >> i would be thinking exactly what you are thinking. >> darling. oh, rob, the you think you could ever forgive me? >> sure, i forgive you. what did you do? chin ♪of that noble sin bad ♪ me i was supercalifragilistic... ♪ ♪ bang bang chitty chitty bang bang ♪ [laughter] did we get you good? >> yes, you got me. >> that is just a small sample of when you see that kind of real, and you try

. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment, one conversation at a time. >> nationwide is on your side >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- tavis: richard clark is the former adviser for counter- terrorism under bill clinton and george w. bush. he is also the best-selling author of books like "against all enemies." he joins us from arlington, virginia. good to have you back on this program. we knew it would come to this. i am surprised it took a few days to get to it. to release or not to release. president obama said we are not going to release. what he will stay on 60 minutes is that we do not need to spike the football. there is nothing to be gained by spiking the football. is the president right? >> it

this week tavis smiley reaches a milestone. plus our pachbl looks at men, women and the issue of justice. we found a teacher who makes math and science fun. that's what's going on in our world starting now. captions made possible by the u.s. department of education and central city productions, inc. >>> journalist tavis smiley is celebrating 20 years of interviewing some of the world's most influential people. i sat down with him at the studio museum in harlem to discuss his life, his new book and his thoughts on the first black president. >> first of all, brother, let me congratulate you. you just celebrated your 20th year in media. >> hard to imagine i've been doing this 20 years. i started out for the late great mayor of the city of los angeles tom bradley. never thought i would be in the media, much less 20 years. i feel good about the fact that we get a chance every day on our tv and radio shows to try to get people to reexamine the assumption they hold, help people expand their inventory of ideaing. i'm having a lot of fu

. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment, one conversation at a time. >> nationwide is on your side >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- tavis: alan simpson served as co-chair of the president's bipartisan national commission on fiscal responsibility and reform following on long and distinguished career in the senate for wyoming. he is the former chairman of the veterans affairs committee. >> it is a beautiful day in wyoming. blue sky, 65 degrees. >> let me start with the news of the day. i want to get to the deficit reduction ideas in a moment. trying to figure out how we move forward, whether we raise the debt ceiling. we are supposed to see a week of debate on this issue and then we killed and take in

he is -- >> tavis smiley has a show on n.p.r., the tavis smiley show.a great example of broadcast excellence as demonstrated by n.p.r.. it is the year of n.p.r., isn't it? my tax dollars and yours go to support this kind of balanced and unbiased journal isk excellence. they just hired a lobbiest last week to secure more money. >> this is a nice award but it is not his first award. apparently for three consecutive years he has received an award from the naacp called the excellence -- i'm sorry, the of course we all know what a great friend and a fair advocate for the tea party movement the naacp is. >> >> bicepping the tea party award on behalf of tavis smiley, we would like to thank him for his unwavering condominium to fair reporting of the tea party movement. we would like to but we can't. he hasn't demonstrated this yet. but there is always next year. today we can thank him for continuing to point out the absurdity of the left ch [applause] >> thank you. i'll see you in four years. four more years. see if you can find me. >> while neal was reading "w

there is -- tavis smiley.re is nothing that's ever happened in tavis smiley's life that was even mildly negative, that wasn't driven by racism and hatred of tavis smiley because of his skin color. if he gets a massage and they press a little too hard, mat sadge therapist is a racist unless they're black in which case they're an uncle tomorrow -- tom. now, last may 25, he was interviewing an author about radical muslims and she made a pretty innocent observation triggering a broad side from out of nowhere from tavis smiley against the tea party, equating them really with blood thirsty terrorists. here, watch this. >> somehow the idea got into their minds that to kill other people is a great thing to do and they would be rewarded in the here jr. after. >> but christian does that every single day in this country. >> could they blow people up? >> christians every day. people walk into post offices, i mean, people walk into post offices, they walk into schools, that's what columbine is i can do this all day long. t

tavis smiley. being arrested calling people a niggaer, spitting on people. >> think it over. >> the winner of the zero burman award. -- olbermann award. >> finally the winner of the -- ed schultz. >> republicans lie. see you dead. they want to make money off your course. >> are we ready? can i hear you? here we go. number one, thomas. [applause] #2, tavis smiley. [applause] number 3, kieth olbermann. [applause] number 4, ed shultz. [applause] [whistling] are you ready? the think it was close? the first announcement is that as we tabulated the result, it was clear that you are all races. -- racist. it was unanimous after a bit of debate. the winner is ed schultz. [applause] can we play at one more time? can we do it one more time? no, ok. there is one more question. >> they would rather make money off of your dead corpse. >> there you go. one more question for the night, the bars are open in the back. >> i present to you the coolest man in the history of the universe, the outlaw. [applause] >> next,

tavis smiley was with us last hour.dent obama's standing right now with african-american voters. and if he's addressed their needs. this is what he had to say. >> the president has not done enough about black unemployment in part, i think, because respectfully, he's afraid of being accused of being tribal if he does, in fact, help the african-american community in specific and unique ways. he ought not to be afraid of that. our jewish brothers and sisters want help on israel. he stands up for them, and gays and lesbians wanted don't ask, don't tell overturned. he took too long, but he got it done. he responded to them. >> robert, what do you make of that? >> i think it's divisive. i think the president has shown a great commitment to all segments of our public family, of our country. and i think that kind of rhetoric doesn't help the unemployment picture, doesn't help bring people together. it's going to be critical in bringing about solutions. >> dana. >> i don't think we can still be segregating communities in 2011. i