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Independent Lens · S8E22 — Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Season 8 episodes
1. Still Life With Animated DogsOct 24, 20062. The World According to Sesame StreetOct 24, 20063. Muskrat LovelyOct 31, 20064. Paul Conrad: Drawing FireNov 7, 20065. Democracy on DeadlineNov 21, 20066. Two Square MilesNov 28, 20067. A Sad Flower in the SandDec 12, 20068. Revolucion: Five VisionsDec 19, 20069. Short Stack 2006Dec 26, 200610. A Fish StoryJan 2, 200711. ShadyaJan 16, 200712. Beyond the CallJan 23, 200713. TwistedJan 30, 200714. Billy Strayhorn: Lush LifeFeb 6, 200715. Motherland AfghanistanFeb 13, 200716. Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and RhymesFeb 20, 200717. Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?Feb 27, 200718. StolenMar 20, 200719. Race to ExecutionMar 27, 200720. China BlueApr 3, 200721. Black GoldApr 10, 200722. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the RoomApr 24, 200723. The Cats of MirikitaniMay 8, 200724. Sentenced HomeMay 15, 200725. KnockingMay 22, 200726. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph HillMay 29, 200727. La Lupe Queen of Latin SoulMay 6, 2007
Synopsis
Enron dives from the seventh largest US company to bankruptcy in less than a year in this tale told chronologically. The emphasis is on human drama, from suicide to 20,000 people sacked: the personalities of Ken Lay (with Falwellesque rectitude), Jeff Skilling (he of big ideas), Lou Pai (gone with $250 M), and Andy Fastow (the dark prince) dominate. Along the way, we watch Enron game California's deregulated electricity market, get a free pass from Arthur Andersen (which okays the dubious mark-to-market accounting), use greed to manipulate banks and brokerages (Merrill Lynch fires the analyst who questions Enron's rise), and hear from both Presidents Bush what great guys these are.
