34. When Do-Gooders Do Bad Things

Nancy’s reporting from Portland, where tragedy struck after a man accused of domestic abuse was bailed out by an activist organization. Sarah’s reporting from her couch, where the Emmys forced her to sit through a women-pooping commercial not once but three times. They discuss the glory of Sheryl Lee Ralph bursting into song and how Jimmy Kimmel’s gag went wrong. Is “White Lotus” worth watching? Did everyone but Sarah know that Matthew McFayden, aka Tom on “Succession,” was British? And can Ricky Gervais just host all future award ceremonies, please?

We turn to the dust-up at Oberlin College, where an altercation at a beloved local bakery exploded into accusations of racial profiling and protests that cratered a family business. The resulting court case led to a $36 million fine for the college, which has not paid a dime — until now. We wonder if cases like this will make administrators think twice before jumping into the fray, and we notice how enclaves of privilege often protest the loudest about other people’s privilege.

In the hot box this week: Nancy praises the genius who made “Pet Sounds,” while Sarah tries to decode the sounds of her pet.

Episode Notes:

“Portland Freedom Fund bailed out man accused of violating domestic violence order. A week later, he was charged with murder,” Maxine Bernstein (Oregonian)

Clip of Nancy and Sarah talking about Abraham murder and how the city finds itself where it is

Car reporting on what Portland is looking like

Nancy Rommelmann @NancyRomm

Portland Dispatch #2: In two hours, I’ve been told (by different people) of a woman who gave birth last month on a Portland street and left the baby, and an overdosed guy lying dead on the sidewalk. “When you’re ‘anything goes,’” one said, “everything goes.”

Real Time With Bill Maher, “Why Are Men in Crisis?”

“Emmy Awards 2022: The Complete List” (Variety)

“Emmy Ratings Hit Record Low, Viewership Falls 25% From Last Year” by Jennifer Maas (Variety)

The very quotable “Abbott Elementary”:

dana scully @aliciafIcrrick

abbott elementary once said:

Sheryl Lee sings Diane Reeves’ “Endangered Species” during acceptance speech

Sheryl Lee Ralph in Dreamgirls

“Will I Ever See the $36 Million Oberlin College Owes Me?” by Lorna Gibson (Common Sense)

“After a Legal Fight, Oberlin Says It Will Pay $36.59 Million to a Local Bakery” by Anemona Hartocollis (New York Times)

“Hurts So Good,” by Suzy Weiss (Common Sense)

Love and Mercy official trailer

Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road official trailer

The Beach Boys, “God Only Knows”

Inside the Mind of a Cat official trailer

Outro song: “Love And Mercy,” by Brian Wilson

Wallace says, smoke ‘em