
About this episode
Welcome to the age of ‘Broke TV.’
It seems like the days of prestige TV shows about the wealthy elite have been replaced by the vocal majority: the downwardly mobile.
New Yorker TV critic, Inkoo Kang, noticed that her favorite shows so far this year all focused - in some respect - on the people whose lives have been financially squeezed beyond recognition by the very elite we used to enjoy watching.
Building resentment about the shrinking middle class, a hopeless job market, and few political pathways towards change has made our entertainment reflect a devastating reality back to us. Inkoo joins the show to break down how we got to this point and the fine line between entertainment and catharsis on screen.
You can read Inkoo’s article, ‘Welcome to the Age of Broke TV’, here.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
It seems like the days of prestige TV shows about the wealthy elite have been replaced by the vocal majority: the downwardly mobile.
New Yorker TV critic, Inkoo Kang, noticed that her favorite shows so far this year all focused - in some respect - on the people whose lives have been financially squeezed beyond recognition by the very elite we used to enjoy watching.
Building resentment about the shrinking middle class, a hopeless job market, and few political pathways towards change has made our entertainment reflect a devastating reality back to us. Inkoo joins the show to break down how we got to this point and the fine line between entertainment and catharsis on screen.
You can read Inkoo’s article, ‘Welcome to the Age of Broke TV’, here.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Get every episode summarized
Each time It's Been a Minute publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from It's Been a Minute

In America, are you what you wear?
It's Been a Minute
Sep 4, 202623:15completed

Where did all the 'masculine men' go?
It's Been a Minute
Sep 2, 202625:37pending

It's healthy to eat your feelings. Here's why.
It's Been a Minute
Sep 1, 202637:21pending

The rise of 'intentional living'
It's Been a Minute
Aug 31, 202626:37pending