This month, he is hosting a new talk show on PBS Guam called “Beer Summit with David Cohen.”
“I decided I didn’t want to practice law full-time and I have a lot of ideas for projects that I wanted to get involved in. This has been one of my favorite projects. I really want to see this through and see where I can take it,” Cohen told the Variety when asked why he switched to the media.
The show, loosely inspired by President Obama’s White House “beer summit” with a Harvard professor and his arresting officer, is a forum to debate contentious issues like the War on Terror, same-sex marriage, abortion, healthcare, education, among others.
Cohen, who is from American Samoa, acts as the moderator as guests with two opposing views debate on a topic.
He said people have the impression that islanders are mainly involved in cultural things such as dancing and singing but in reality they are as insightful as mainlanders on national and international issues as well.
“The Marianas have people who are very articulate and intelligent who can discuss national and international issues as well as people on the mainland,” said Cohen who held a previewing of his show on Saipan Saturday night.
“We’re mostly portrayed as doing traditional dances or crafts, which is good. But people aren’t used to seeing Pacific islanders as being intelligent, hopefully humorous, on issues of national and international importance so I’d like to see them in this light as well,” he added.
Beer Summit premieres on KGTF-TV Channel 12 tomorrow at 8 p.m. and will be shown again on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
On April 12, it will be aired on its regular Tuesday time slot at 7:30 p.m. with replays every Saturday at 8 p.m.
“One thing that I am proud about the show is that most of our talents are Pacific islanders,” said Cohen.
Viewers can learn more about the show and how to support it at www.kickstarter.com.
“I’d like to encourage people to find out about Beer Summit and how they can support it on kickstarter.com. They should go to the site and search ‘Beer Summit.’ There, they can learn about the show and how they can support it in exchange for limited edition T-shirts, DVDs, personalized thank you notes and other rewards,” said Cohen.
The first season guests include University of Guam President and former U.S. Congressman Robert Underwood, Travis Coffman, host of “The Big Show” on Sorensen Media Group’s K57 Radio; former Bush administration officials Ramona Jones and Juan Carlos Benitez; former CNMI Rep. Tina Sablan; University of Guam Professor Ron McNinch; and Guam activist Tim Rohr.
