In Awe of Brokaw...

      

         On Thursday, Tom Brokaw and his traveling band of retired journalists rolled into The Crosby Hotel on the Lower East Side. In his post-retirement mode, America’s favorite newsman has been driving across the country, finding real people with inspirational stories about surviving in these financially difficult times. His new documentary, “American Character Along Highway 50” is a sobering look at families, students, and cities, struggling to get by in the historic first year of the Obama Administration.

         The screening, brought to us by the good people at the USA Network, was a festive occasion, complete with Ms. American Character 2010. That's sort of like Ms. Golden Globe, but not quite as well-publicized. Nevertheless she did a good job with the hors d'oeuvres. All good documentary screenings have free cocktails, and this one was no different. The secret is to have enough free wine because you can, but not so much that when Tom Brokaw shows up you ask him how he feels being bumped to 12:05.

         “American Character” is filmed in the same vein as Charles Kuralt’s “On The Road” segments from years ago. Brokaw’s journey begins in Chesapeake Bay and winds its way through America’s heartland, ending in Sacramento. We are given a glimpse  of Maryland’s struggling crab industry, which depends on immigrant workers to survive. We are then transported down the road to the Washington D.C. school district, headed by bold-talking education reformer Michelle Rhee. She is a young, Korean-American in charge of a largely African-American school district. Her job is to provide her students with a chance for success. She does her job a little differently than most – she listens to her students and acts accordingly.  She even implemented a controversial program that pays students to get good grades. The critics, like myself, argued that students shouldn’t be paid for something they’re supposed to do. Brokaw argued, however, that all those rich kids in private school get new cars when they do well, so why can’t those who are less fortunate also be rewarded. Point taken.

        The story hits an emotional point when Tom sits down with service men who have been seriously injured during their time in Iraq and Afghanistan, and have now returned home to begin their lives anew. They are quadriplegics, missing arms and legs, and have severe brain injuries. These are people who have served multiple tours of war and now have come home with nothing. During his visit, he meets with Navy Seal Officer Eric Greitens, who founded The Mission Continues, an organization designed to empower wounded and disabled veterans to continue their service to their country. As Greitens states in the film, his mission is to change the way our veterans are treated when they return home.

        The road trip continues through the Mid-West, and then onto Colorado, Nevada, and on to Sacramento. Along the way we are introduced to families that are struggling with medical care for themselves, their families, and in danger of losing houses and a way of way of life. In Sacramento, former NBA All-Star Kevin Johnson has taken the reigns of his hometown as its new mayor. His transition from professional athlete to political figure isn't easy, especially given the cities unemployment and homelessness rate. That's why he's in it, though, because it's a challenge and he has that American Character to rely on.
  
        “American Character Along Highway 50” premieres on Monday, January 18th at 8PM, on the USA Network.