Listen to Culture Gabfest No. 183 with Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, Julia Turner, and special guest Elizabeth Banks by clicking the arrow on the audio player below:

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In this week's special live Culture Gabfest, our critics debate the controversy surrounding This American Life’s retraction of Mike Daisey’s popular monologue, The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs. Next, Gabfesters ponder the princess of quirk, Zooey Deschanel, star of the sitcom New Girl. Finally, the Gabfest is joined by actress Elizabeth Banks to discuss her new motion picture The Hunger Games. 

Huge thanks to Zócalo Public Square, our partner for the LA Live Culturefest, for all their help in bringing the show to California. And a special shout-out to Zócalo’s Managing Director Dulce Vasquez. Thanks also to the Petersen Automotive Museum for hosting the event in their exquisite Italian Design gallery.

Here are some links to the things we discussed this week:

Slate’s Jason Zinoman calls Mike Daisey “a sad story.”
This American Life’s retraction of their Mike Daisey episode.
Slate’s Dan Kois reviews John D’Agata’s book The Lifespan of a Fact.
The Washington Post’s report on Mike Daisey’s talk in Georgetown.
Reuters' Jack Shafer on the fictions of In Cold Blood.
Mike Daisey’s blog post addressing the controversy.
Gawker’s Adrien Chen on how he was “duped by Mike Daisey’s lies.”
Troy Patterson’s Slate review of the sitcom New Girl.
Slate’s Jessica Grose on Zooey Deschanel’s “girly problem.”
New York’s profile of “the Pinup of Williamsburg,” Zooey Deschanel.
SNL’s parody of Deschanel keeps things quirky.
New Girl’s official site.
Salon’s Laura Miller on The Hunger Games vs. the Twilight series.
Slate’s Erik Sofge wonders how producers will adapt The Hunger Games’ problematic third book.
Elizabeth Banks’ personal website.
The Hunger Games’ official website.

See all of Slate’s coverage of The Hunger Games here.

The Culture Gabfest weekly endorsements:

Julia’s pick: America’s national parks, especially the Aldo Leopold Wilderness in New Mexico.
Dana’s pick: Dodie Smith’s novel I Capture the Castle. Also, M. Ward’s album Transfiguration of Vincent.  
Stephen’s pick: Robert’s Frost’s poem Once by the Pacific, and Frederick Exley’s novel A Fan’s Notes. Also, the Boss, Bruce Springsteen. 
Elizabeth’s pick: The graphic novel, best purchased at Los Angeles’ comic book store Meltdown Comics.

Outro: “You Really Got a Hold on Me” by She & Him

You can email us at culturefest@slate.com.