or


[10/08/14 - 12:02 PM]
Baratunde Thurston Joins Pivot's Nightly, Primetime News Program "TakePart Live" as Co-Host
"I am so excited to join the smart and insightful conversations around the news of the day with Meghan [McCain] and Jacob [Soboroff] at TakePart Live," said Thurston.

[via press release from Pivot]

BARATUNDE THURSTON JOINS PIVOT'S NIGHTLY, PRIMETIME NEWS PROGRAM "TAKEPART LIVE" AS CO-HOST

Los Angeles, CA (October 8, 2014) - Participant Media's television network Pivot announced today that Baratunde Thurston, CEO and co-founder of Cultivated Wit, author of The New York Times best-seller How To Be Black, and prolific keynote speaker, is joining TakePart Live as a co-host. Baratunde Thurston joins Meghan McCain and Jacob Soboroff on the nightly news program (10pm ET/7pm PT) produced by Embassy Row (Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, AMC's Talking Bad and Talking Dead).

"I am so excited to join the smart and insightful conversations around the news of the day with Meghan and Jacob at TakePart Live," said Thurston. "This show is a great example of what a thoughtful, community-engaged, and respectful debate can be. I can't wait to add my point of view, wit, and beard to the mix."

Thurston, a frequent guest co-host on the show, joins McCain and Soboroff nightly as they address today's hottest issues and headlines, in an environment meant to invite the audience to take part, live. They debate the nuances of topics trending in the news and social media, inform viewers about how they can take part in today's issues, and have in-depth conversations with notable guests in a rowdy, intelligent, hour-long conversation.

"Baratunde's work and Take Part Live share the same goal: to raise awareness and inspire action through entertainment. We are thrilled to be able to include his perspective and skills to the show," said Belisa Balaban, EVP of Original Programming for Pivot.

Thurston is a compelling social commentator who frequently tackles highly charged, emotional issues like race relations, politics and social justice. His wit and intelligence offer a new lens on what's happening in the world. He's an accomplished speaker and author who released the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller, How To Be Black (Harper Collins, 2012). The comedic and satirical memoir chronicles Thurston's "coming-of-blackness" and explores themes of race, democracy and politics. In that same year, Thurston co-founded Cultivated Wit, a company that uses humor, design, and technology to produce events like "Comedy Hack Day" and to create marketing campaigns that make the truth more accessible and interesting.

Thurston also served as the politics editor and director of digital for The Onion from 2007 until 2012, helping expand the satirical news outlet's colonization of the digital future through apps, e-readers, social media, and more. Prior to joining The Onion, Thurston co-founded the popular website Jack & Jill Politics, a black political blog.

Since premiering earlier this year, TakePart Live has established itself as a unique nightly news program that encourages guests to talk about issues and topics important to them, from Moby's efforts to save the bees, Michele Bachmann discussing what it's like to be a female in Congress, to Larry King and T-Pain having an auto-tune duet on what they'd do if they were president for a day. Other notable guests have included an impressive array of celebrities, social media personalities, politicians, and experts including Evan Rachel Wood, Mandy Moore, Jose Antonio Vargas, Arianna Huffington, RuPaul, Matthew Lillard, Kermit the Frog, Jason Ritter, Fred Willard, Theo Rossi, Lisa Lampanelli, Wilmer Valderrama, Jack Osbourne, Andrew W.K., and many more.

TakePart Live also presents in-depth and signature segments exploring issues facing citizens of the world more deeply including TakePart World, shot this season on location in Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda, #JustVote, a multi-year voter initiative spearheaded by Soboroff, and Return the Service, McCain's signature segment spotlighting Veterans.

About Pivot

Participant Media's television network Pivot (Pivot.tv), launched nationally in August 2013, serves passionate Millennials (18-34) a diverse mix of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. Pivot focuses on entertainment that sparks conversation, inspires change and illuminates issues through engaging content and connects audiences to a wealth of content and actions through its affiliated website TakePart (TakePart.com). Pivot is available in approximately 45 million homes in North America via traditional pay TV subscription, integrating a live and on demand streaming option via the Pivot app. Follow Pivot on Twitter at @pivot_tv and on Facebook at facebook.com/pivottelevision.

Participant Media (ParticipantMedia.com) is a global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing, and digital content that inspires social change. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital platform and television network, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action.





  [october 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· TAKEPART LIVE (PIVOT)





[10/03/25 - 02:17 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting '25 MLB Wild Card Series
Across eight games, the MLB Wild Card Series is averaging 4.4 million viewers, up 65% from last year.

[10/03/25 - 12:37 PM]
BET+ Sets October 23 Premiere for "Carl Weber's The Family Business" Season 6
The 10-episode season will premiere with two episodes, followed by one episode weekly, with the finale on Thursday, December 18.

[10/03/25 - 12:07 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues to Shatter Records - Growing Two Weeks in a Row Since Season Premiere for First Time Since 2005
Plus: "High Potential" hit a season high in Total Viewers (4.24 million), growing by double digits over the show's comparable third episode from last fall.

[10/03/25 - 10:57 AM]
Legends, Champions and Icons of October Highlight FOX Sports' Postseason Broadcaster Lineup
FOX Sports begins its Postseason coverage Saturday, October 4 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One as the New York Yankees face the Toronto Blue Jays.

[10/03/25 - 10:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Gold Rush" Returns with High-Stake Risks and Land Fury on Friday, November 7 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
With only a few short months to mine, top bosses and rising underdogs collide in a race to claim new ground, move more dirt, and strike it rich.

[10/03/25 - 09:12 AM]
FOX Nation Secures Exclusive U.S. Rights to Docuseries "Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar"
The acclaimed series will make its anticipated U.S. debut on FOX Nation on Monday, October 6.

[10/03/25 - 08:02 AM]
TNT Sports to Be Exclusive Home of 2025 NLDS & NLCS
Both best-of-five NLDS series begin Saturday, October 4.

[10/03/25 - 08:01 AM]
TNT Sports Sets BIG EAST Men's College Basketball Schedule for Inaugural 2025-26 Season
TNT Sports' regular season BIG EAST men's basketball schedule will feature 40 appearances by St. John's, UConn, Creighton, Xavier, and Marquette, programs that each clinched berths in last season's NCAA Men's Tournament.

[10/03/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "27 Nights" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a woman is admitted by her daughters to a psychiatric clinic for her carefree ways, an expert must judge if she is ill or simply wants to enjoy life.

[10/03/25 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Steve" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.

[10/03/25 - 03:02 AM]
Miguel Herran Will Play Poli Diaz in "El Porto the Vallecas," the New Film by Daniel Calparsoro for Netflix
Inspired by true events, the film follows the life of Policarpo "Poli" Díaz (Miguel Herrán), a young man from Vallecas who, despite a childhood marked by poverty and family violence, became a boxing legend in 1980s Spain, even fighting for the world lightweight title.

[10/03/25 - 03:01 AM]
Netflix Honors Jane Goodall with Posthumous Release of "Famous Last Words" Docuseries Following Her Passing
The series showcases reflective interviews with some of the world's most influential cultural figures, who agreed to sit down and discuss their legacy, and give their final words, with the understanding that it would only be shared with the world after they passed.

[10/02/25 - 04:09 PM]
ESPN Delivers the Most-Watched WNBA Semifinals Ever
Game 5 between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces averaged 1.8 million viewers, peaking at 2.1 million.

[10/02/25 - 03:01 PM]
Video: "Twisted Wonderland" - Trailer - Disney+
Your favorite villains reimagined in ways you've never dared to dream.

[10/02/25 - 02:51 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting Day One of MLB Wild Card Series
Coverage of Red Sox versus Yankees averaged 6.5 million viewers, peaking at 9.9 million.