We discuss the woes and joys of Oscar night with a distinguised panel of experts, featuring Emily Yoshida, Jon Bronson and veteran observer Jim Gibson.

We debate the merits of Cirque, the stupendous journey of Angelina Jolie's leg, the perils of Billy Crystal and whether anything can be done to save this darn show.  Join us for this very extra-special episode. 

We talk of the Oscar race and marijuana madness this week on the podcast of the downfall of civilization.  

I talk of the he state of the Oscar race and tales from the Awards trail of tears with Tom O'Neil, editor of Gold Derby, one of the media's most reknowned Oscar pundits.

Hillel Aron stops by to talk about his LA Weekly cover story on the chaos unleashed across Los Angeles wrought by the conflicting medical marijauna regulations.

Please ruminations, reflections and reminiscences aplenty! 

I discuss the Grammys, Whitney Houston's passing and the sad state of the music industry with Ryan Shiraki, one of the most astute observers of the music world. Director of the cult sensation film Spring Breakdown, former music booker for SNL as well as the a prolific writer and director of contemporary TV shows such as Awkward and the Hard Times of RJ Berger.

We take a giant leap towards the end of civilization with three very special guests viewing the collapse from all sides.  We are joined this week by:

• Richard Abowitz: a veteran Vegas journalist tells of about Leaving Las Vegas for Portlandia in the mountains, to become editor of the Jackson Hole Weekly.

• Jim Gibson: One of America's great scholars and thinkers about the culture joins to discuss the Superbowl, SNL and the Oscar Race

• Stacey Grenrock Woods: Esquire columnist returns to discuss Part Two of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion.