Friday, May 29th at 9/8cSchools teach us almost everything, but not "Money 101." For the basics on finance, turn to UN-BROKE: What You Need to Know About Money. It's an unconventional look at the fundamentals of everyday finance with all the facts about credit cards, mortgages, stocks and bonds, investing and 401(k)'s, in a fresh new format combining information and humor. The one-hour special airs FRIDAY, MAY 29 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Hosted by "Good Morning America' contributor and President of Ariel Investments Mellody Hobson, the special features Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, the Jonas Brothers, Christian Slater, Cedric the Entertainer, Seth Green, Sesame Workshop's Oscar the Grouch, Rosario Dawson and the E*Trade Babies, among others.
Hobson said: "Financial education is critically important, and 'UN-BROKE' proves that it doesn't have to be boring. The economic crisis was a harsh wake-up call that we can't keep doing the same thing in the same way. To me, that meant taking a fresh look at my own approach to financial education. This will make people laugh while they learn."
The special's take on basic money sense includes:
? Will Smith, who gets down to basics with a boardroom full of corporate finance executives.
? Samuel L. Jackson, who appears as a bestselling author of self-help books and who is "Broke as Hell and Not Going to Take it Anymore!"
? The Jonas Brothers, who teach screaming teenage girls the mysteries of the stock market. ? Seth Green, who explains the fundamentals of a smart mortgage from his "crib."
? Cedric the Entertainer, who talks back to credit cards.
? Christian Slater and Rosario Dawson, who visit an office workplace to explain the importance of investing in a 401(k) retirement plan.
? The E*Trade Babies, who meet Mellody for an online chat from their high chairs.
UN-BROKE: What You Need to Know about Money is a co-production of Lincoln Square Productions and Overbrook Entertainment. The executive producers are Mellody Hobson and Rudy Bednar. A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.
And yeah, I think anyone with a more pleasant voice could replace Susie Orman. I have gone to the usual financial seminar, as well. It usually starts with some "motivational speaker" talking about his own success years ago in a market that is now over inflated, and when he gets to the "hook" it comes down to "...well, the first thing you need to do is take that extra $10,000 dollars you have in the bank and ..." at which point the majority of us are looking at each other as if to say, "Could he actually be talking to me?", and figuring out where the exit is. The lowest price seminar I was ever at was the ones which sell you financial government grants for a thousand dollars (and they want it right NOW at the seminar from your CREDIT CARD) and after the interest you would pay on the credit card, you would be better off getting a grant proposal writer and hiring him on a commission basis.