7 chapters across the catalog
Allegations of rigging surfaced during the Miss America question segment, as Miss New York was given a direct question about Donald Trump while the eventual winner, Miss Arkansas, was asked about Hillary Clinton. Despite Miss Arkansas running over her allotted time and giving an incomplete answer, she was not disqualified. The segment is viewed by some as a scripted audition for future media or Broadway roles rather than a spontaneous competition.
Miss America Pageant, Julie Chen, Plastic Surgery
The hosts critique the Miss America pageant, focusing on a segment where Julie Chen's past plastic surgery is used as a prompt for contestants. Miss Florida, Miranda Jones, discusses her blue-collar background and the need for jobs before being cut off by the host. Dvorak argues the show is rigged and notes that the judges and hosts represent a specific demographic shift in the pageant's production.
New York State's Mental Hygiene Law includes provisions for involuntary admission to psychiatric facilities, a term described as Orwellian and synonymous with brainwashing. Constant engagement with Facebook is characterized as mentally unhealthy due to the prevalence of entertainment-focused news and performative outrage. Analysis of televised events like the Miss America pageant is now conducted via recordings to avoid the "unhealthy" experience of real-time viewing.
Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev, Cup Song Talent
Kira Kazantsev, representing New York but originally from Walnut Creek, California, won the Miss America 2015 pageant. Her talent performance involved playing a plastic cup while singing, a trend popularized on YouTube. The hosts note a shift in the pageant's production style, describing it as more "Miss World" in its focus on high-quality visuals and "hot" contestants.
Military Sexual Assault, Miss New York Answer, Weakness Words
Miss New York Kira Kazantsev answered a question about female leadership in the Senate by focusing on sexual assault in the military. The hosts criticize her delivery and her use of the word "essentially," which they label a "weakness word." Despite their critique of her answer, Kazantsev ultimately won the competition.
Miss New York, Nina Davuluri, Miss Florida Timing
The hosts analyze the final Q&A segment of Miss America, where the winner, Nina Davuluri (Miss New York), discussed multiculturalism and plastic surgery. They contrast her performance with Miss Florida, who spoke about her father's unemployment. They allege the contest was rigged, noting that Miss Florida was cut off early while Miss New York was given more time to speak.
A critical review of the 2012 Miss America pageant highlights instances of perceived media manipulation and political bias. Miss California, Laura Kepler, is noted for explicitly mentioning her desire to "manipulate the media," while the eventual winner, Miss Wisconsin, is criticized for failing to answer political questions directly. The discussion contrasts the traditional Miss America pageant with Donald Trump's Miss USA and examines the intelligence of contestant responses regarding Occupy Wall Street and the 1% wealth gap.
