The following podcast contains explicit language.

On the next Lexicon Valley, a look at the F word.

Not the F word, F word, F word. The other F word. Fagot.

Whoa. Are you using that as an epithet, Bob?

No, Mike, I'm not. But if I were, it's a lot more complicated than it sounds.

The evolution of an epithet Monday on the next Lexicon Valley.

I'm Stephen Metcath, and this is the Slate Culture Gap Fest, Half Time in America Edition.

It's Wednesday, February 8th.

On today's program, Smash, the new NBC musical drama

about a musical drama, Hugo, and its 11 Oscar nominations. I'm going to be very curious to hear

from Dana whether it deserved those 11. And finally, Super Bowl ads with Slate's own Seth Stevenson.

So, Julia, Smash is the new show on NBC. It's got, it's producer credits a sport,

an incredible pedigree, all the way from Steven Spielberg to people who helped make NYPD Blue,

the musical Chicago, the musical hairspray. The question, I think, correct me if I'm wrong,

but the question surrounding a show

like this isn't whether it can interest you in musicals. It can't interest me in musicals. There's

zero chance of that. The question is whether it can interest a viewer in the making of a musical.

And I'm curious after an episode whether you think the answer to that's yes.

Oh, I'm so on board. I thought it was so fun and soapy.

It was – Steve was pointing to himself with a big grin.

Steve loves smash.

Just guys.

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