CBS News Sunday Morning Season 41 Episode 4 January 27, 2019
- January 27, 2019
On January 27, 2019, CBS News Sunday Morning aired its fourth episode of season 41. The show kicked off with a segment on the 61st annual Grammy Awards, which took place the previous night. Correspondent Nancy Giles interviewed some of the night's big winners, including Lady Gaga and Kacey Musgraves, and explored the controversies surrounding the event. The segment also delved into the history of the awards and how they have evolved over the years.
Following the Grammy segment, correspondent Martha Teichner explored the phenomenon of "dark tourism" – visiting places associated with death and tragedy. Teichner visited sites like the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland and the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, interviewing tourists and experts to try to understand why people are drawn to such places.
Next up, correspondent Mo Rocca profiled artist KAWS, whose distinctive characters have become ubiquitous in the art world and on city streets around the world. Rocca interviewed KAWS, whose real name is Brian Donnelly, to learn about his background and creative process. The segment also examined the appeal of street art and the crossover between the worlds of high art and commercial culture.
In a segment on the future of work, correspondent David Pogue explored how automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping the job market. Pogue talked to experts in robotics and technology, as well as some of the millions of workers whose jobs are at risk of being automated. The segment tackled questions about the ethics of automation and how society can adapt to these changes.
Later in the show, correspondent Rita Braver profiled actress Sissy Spacek, who discussed her long career in Hollywood, her love of music, and her home in a small town in Virginia. Braver also talked to Spacek's husband, production designer Jack Fisk, about their partnership on and off the screen.
Another segment on the show examined the history of February 2, Groundhog Day. Correspondent Tracy Smith traveled to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where the annual tradition of predicting the weather based on the behavior of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil has been going on for over a century. The segment explored how Groundhog Day became a cultural phenomenon and why people continue to flock to Punxsutawney every year to witness the event.
Finally, the show closed with a segment on the American Shakespeare Center, a theater company in Virginia that performs Shakespeare's plays the way they were originally staged – with minimal sets and props, and with the actors interacting directly with the audience. Correspondent Lee Cowan talked to the company's founders and members about their unique approach to Shakespeare and how it connects with audiences today.
Overall, the January 27, 2019 episode of CBS News Sunday Morning covered a diverse range of topics, from the Grammys to dark tourism to the future of work to Shakespeare. The show's mix of news, culture, and human interest remains a hallmark of the long-running Sunday morning program.