Stephen Dubner

He was recently voted the most feared agent in Hollywood. Big surprise. Anyway, then R.J. Cutler shows up, totally different energy from Ari, less rat-a-tat, but obviously lovely. And the two of them are getting along nicely, which is not a bad thing for me. So I'm feeling good. And then I notice something strange. The theater is quiet. By now, the doors should be open.

He was recently voted the most feared agent in Hollywood. Big surprise. Anyway, then R.J. Cutler shows up, totally different energy from Ari, less rat-a-tat, but obviously lovely. And the two of them are getting along nicely, which is not a bad thing for me. So I'm feeling good. And then I notice something strange. The theater is quiet. By now, the doors should be open.

He was recently voted the most feared agent in Hollywood. Big surprise. Anyway, then R.J. Cutler shows up, totally different energy from Ari, less rat-a-tat, but obviously lovely. And the two of them are getting along nicely, which is not a bad thing for me. So I'm feeling good. And then I notice something strange. The theater is quiet. By now, the doors should be open.

The audience should be settling in. And our pre-show playlist should be playing. I put this one together myself. There was some Thelonious Monk, some Arcade Fire, a piece from Handel's Messiah. Long story. And also some music specific to tonight's guests. For RJ, we're playing Young Gravy's Martha Stewart and Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish.

The audience should be settling in. And our pre-show playlist should be playing. I put this one together myself. There was some Thelonious Monk, some Arcade Fire, a piece from Handel's Messiah. Long story. And also some music specific to tonight's guests. For RJ, we're playing Young Gravy's Martha Stewart and Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish.

The audience should be settling in. And our pre-show playlist should be playing. I put this one together myself. There was some Thelonious Monk, some Arcade Fire, a piece from Handel's Messiah. Long story. And also some music specific to tonight's guests. For RJ, we're playing Young Gravy's Martha Stewart and Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish.

RJ made a great film about Billie called The World's A Little Blurry. And for Ari, we're playing Superhero by Jane's Addiction. That was the theme song from Entourage. At least we're supposed to be playing all those songs. Instead, there is no sound coming out of the speakers. And then when I look out from behind the curtain, I see there are no people in the seats either. So what's happening?

RJ made a great film about Billie called The World's A Little Blurry. And for Ari, we're playing Superhero by Jane's Addiction. That was the theme song from Entourage. At least we're supposed to be playing all those songs. Instead, there is no sound coming out of the speakers. And then when I look out from behind the curtain, I see there are no people in the seats either. So what's happening?

RJ made a great film about Billie called The World's A Little Blurry. And for Ari, we're playing Superhero by Jane's Addiction. That was the theme song from Entourage. At least we're supposed to be playing all those songs. Instead, there is no sound coming out of the speakers. And then when I look out from behind the curtain, I see there are no people in the seats either. So what's happening?

It turns out that the theater's PA system had crashed. We had been told earlier that it was a new system, state-of-the-art, but, well, I don't know what happened. The next hour was pretty chaotic. The microphones aren't working, speakers aren't working, keyboard player can't get any sound out of his keyboard setup. There's a grand piano backstage.

It turns out that the theater's PA system had crashed. We had been told earlier that it was a new system, state-of-the-art, but, well, I don't know what happened. The next hour was pretty chaotic. The microphones aren't working, speakers aren't working, keyboard player can't get any sound out of his keyboard setup. There's a grand piano backstage.

It turns out that the theater's PA system had crashed. We had been told earlier that it was a new system, state-of-the-art, but, well, I don't know what happened. The next hour was pretty chaotic. The microphones aren't working, speakers aren't working, keyboard player can't get any sound out of his keyboard setup. There's a grand piano backstage.

We start trying to wheel it out onto the stage, but it's missing a wheel. So that doesn't work. Meanwhile, Ari Emanuel, the most famous agent in show business, is waiting backstage. What the f*** are these people doing? He's saying. We're getting close to showtime. The theater is still empty. It turns out they didn't want to let anyone in while they're trying to fix the PA system.

We start trying to wheel it out onto the stage, but it's missing a wheel. So that doesn't work. Meanwhile, Ari Emanuel, the most famous agent in show business, is waiting backstage. What the f*** are these people doing? He's saying. We're getting close to showtime. The theater is still empty. It turns out they didn't want to let anyone in while they're trying to fix the PA system.

We start trying to wheel it out onto the stage, but it's missing a wheel. So that doesn't work. Meanwhile, Ari Emanuel, the most famous agent in show business, is waiting backstage. What the f*** are these people doing? He's saying. We're getting close to showtime. The theater is still empty. It turns out they didn't want to let anyone in while they're trying to fix the PA system.

As I later learned, some ticket holders were left standing outside. in the cold rain, Finally, they opened the doors and people started filling the seats. We still didn't have a PA system. At some point, I take the stage to speak with the crowd. And people see me. They start clapping. They think the show is starting. And I announce as loudly as I can that, no, the show is not starting yet.

As I later learned, some ticket holders were left standing outside. in the cold rain, Finally, they opened the doors and people started filling the seats. We still didn't have a PA system. At some point, I take the stage to speak with the crowd. And people see me. They start clapping. They think the show is starting. And I announce as loudly as I can that, no, the show is not starting yet.

As I later learned, some ticket holders were left standing outside. in the cold rain, Finally, they opened the doors and people started filling the seats. We still didn't have a PA system. At some point, I take the stage to speak with the crowd. And people see me. They start clapping. They think the show is starting. And I announce as loudly as I can that, no, the show is not starting yet.

We don't have a sound system. And then I ask people in the back rows of the balcony if they can hear me without mics. And they shout, yes, they can. So that's a good sign. I mean, these old theaters were built before amplification, so maybe we can pull it off without mics. Ari, meanwhile, is getting even antsier backstage. He says, let's just do it without mics. I can shout.

We don't have a sound system. And then I ask people in the back rows of the balcony if they can hear me without mics. And they shout, yes, they can. So that's a good sign. I mean, these old theaters were built before amplification, so maybe we can pull it off without mics. Ari, meanwhile, is getting even antsier backstage. He says, let's just do it without mics. I can shout.