Talking Animals

Leslie Griffith--Emmy-winning journalist

Leslie Griffith–a veteran television journalist who’s won numerous awards, including nine Emmys, and also won awards and acclaim for a TV piece she did on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and its abuse of Asian elephants–discusses the genesis of that piece, the possibly darker and certainly more under reported story that many of Ringling’s touring elephants have tuberculosis that can be spread to other elephants and humans, Ringling owner Kenneth Feld’s history of retaliating against journalists and authors who’ve done pieces or books critical of Ringling, the fact that she’s never been an animal activist or member of an animal welfare group, that she’s currently writing a book about corporate censorship of the media, and more. [www.LeslieGriffithProductions.com]

COMEDY CORNER: Brian Regan’s “Flipper & Gentle Ben” [www.BrianRegan.com]
MUSIC: Hot Club of Cowtown’s “Red Bird,” Antibalas’ “Elephant,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Everly Brothers’ “Bird Dog”