Charlotte Talks

2012 in Charlotte has been anything but quiet. We've had our share of controversy, scandals, political turmoil, budget woes, and time on the national - and international - stage. Now that the year is coming to an end, we'll gather WFAE news reporters to go through some of the major stories to hit the Queen City this year. Join us for a 2012 News Roundup, when Charlotte Talks.GuestsDr. Michael Bitzer - WFAE's "The Party Line" Blogger and Associate Professor of Politics and History at Catawba CollegeJulie Rose - WFAE ReporterLisa Miller - WFAE ReporterMichael Tomsic - WFAE Reporter

Part One: Art Forgery and Alberto Giacometti. Counterfeits and forgeries plague the art world. Google "Pablo Picasso" or surf over to eBay and you can own your very own Picasso fake. It's something museums, galleries and artists foundations themselves are dedicated to fighting. And there's a lot of money at stake. The most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction was by a Swiss artist named Alberto Giacometti - it sold for $104 million in 2010. Because the artist's work is so valuable, it's ripe for forgeries. We'll meet the person who spends time fighting fraud and counterfeiting for the Alberto and Annette Giacometti Foundation and hear about the Giacometti exhibit now on display at the Bechtler.GuestsVeronique Wiesinger - Director and Chief Curator of the Paris-based Alberto and Annette Giacometti Foundation. Much of her time is spent fighting fraud and counterfeiting.John Boyer - President and CEO of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.Giacometti: Memory and Presence runs through February 8, 2013 at the Bechtler. Details. Part Two: The Charlotte Hornets 2.0? A very loud group of people in Charlotte want their Hornets back. And there's a chance they just might get it. When the Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002, some say the Bobcats never filled the void they had for their nostalgic Hornets. Now that New Orleans is looking to change their name to the Pelicans, that opens the door to Charlotte reclaiming the name, something Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is open to and even George Shinn, former owner of the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets would like to see happen. We'll look at the possibility of the Charlotte Hornets 2.0, what it would cost and what it would mean to Charlotte.GuestsScott Fowler - Sports Columnist for the Charlotte ObserverJohn Morgan - Charlotte native, organizer of the 'Charlotte Hornets 2.0 Movement,' involved in Bring Back The Buzz, a group advocating for the Bobcats name change

Part One: Art Forgery and Alberto Giacometti. Counterfeits and forgeries plague the art world. Google "Pablo Picasso" or surf over to eBay and you can own your very own Picasso fake. It's something museums, galleries and artists foundations themselves are dedicated to fighting. And there's a lot of money at stake. The most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction was by a Swiss artist named Alberto Giacometti - it sold for $104 million in 2010. Because the artist's work is so valuable, it's ripe for forgeries. We'll meet the person who spends time fighting fraud and counterfeiting for the Alberto and Annette Giacometti Foundation and hear about the Giacometti exhibit now on display at the Bechtler.GuestsVeronique Wiesinger - Director and Chief Curator of the Paris-based Alberto and Annette Giacometti Foundation. Much of her time is spent fighting fraud and counterfeiting.John Boyer - President and CEO of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.Giacometti: Memory and Presence runs through February 8, 2013 at the Bechtler. Details. Part Two: The Charlotte Hornets 2.0? A very loud group of people in Charlotte want their Hornets back. And there's a chance they just might get it. When the Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002, some say the Bobcats never filled the void they had for their nostalgic Hornets. Now that New Orleans is looking to change their name to the Pelicans, that opens the door to Charlotte reclaiming the name, something Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is open to and even George Shinn, former owner of the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets would like to see happen. We'll look at the possibility of the Charlotte Hornets 2.0, what it would cost and what it would mean to Charlotte.GuestsScott Fowler - Sports Columnist for the Charlotte ObserverJohn Morgan - Charlotte native, organizer of the 'Charlotte Hornets 2.0 Movement,' involved in Bring Back The Buzz, a group advocating for the Bobcats name change

Part One: Art Forgery and Alberto Giacometti. Counterfeits and forgeries plague the art world. Google "Pablo Picasso" or surf over to eBay and you can own your very own Picasso fake. It's something museums, galleries and artists foundations themselves are dedicated to fighting. And there's a lot of money at stake. The most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction was by a Swiss artist named Alberto Giacometti - it sold for $104 million in 2010. Because the artist's work is so valuable, it's ripe for forgeries. We'll meet the person who spends time fighting fraud and counterfeiting for the Alberto and Annette Giacometti Foundation and hear about the Giacometti exhibit now on display at the Bechtler.GuestsVeronique Wiesinger - Director and Chief Curator of the Paris-based Alberto and Annette Giacometti Foundation. Much of her time is spent fighting fraud and counterfeiting.John Boyer - President and CEO of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.Giacometti: Memory and Presence runs through February 8, 2013 at the Bechtler. Details. Part Two: The Charlotte Hornets 2.0? A very loud group of people in Charlotte want their Hornets back. And there's a chance they just might get it. When the Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002, some say the Bobcats never filled the void they had for their nostalgic Hornets. Now that New Orleans is looking to change their name to the Pelicans, that opens the door to Charlotte reclaiming the name, something Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is open to and even George Shinn, former owner of the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets would like to see happen. We'll look at the possibility of the Charlotte Hornets 2.0, what it would cost and what it would mean to Charlotte.GuestsScott Fowler - Sports Columnist for the Charlotte ObserverJohn Morgan - Charlotte native, organizer of the 'Charlotte Hornets 2.0 Movement,' involved in Bring Back The Buzz, a group advocating for the Bobcats name change

Part One: Art Forgery and Alberto Giacometti. Counterfeits and forgeries plague the art world. Google "Pablo Picasso" or surf over to eBay and you can own your very own Picasso fake. It's something museums, galleries and artists foundations themselves are dedicated to fighting. And there's a lot of money at stake. The most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction was by a Swiss artist named Alberto Giacometti - it sold for $104 million in 2010. Because the artist's work is so valuable, it's ripe for forgeries. We'll meet the person who spends time fighting fraud and counterfeiting for the Alberto and Annette Giacometti Foundation and hear about the Giacometti exhibit now on display at the Bechtler.GuestsVeronique Wiesinger - Director and Chief Curator of the Paris-based Alberto and Annette Giacometti Foundation. Much of her time is spent fighting fraud and counterfeiting.John Boyer - President and CEO of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.Giacometti: Memory and Presence runs through February 8, 2013 at the Bechtler. Details. Part Two: The Charlotte Hornets 2.0? A very loud group of people in Charlotte want their Hornets back. And there's a chance they just might get it. When the Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002, some say the Bobcats never filled the void they had for their nostalgic Hornets. Now that New Orleans is looking to change their name to the Pelicans, that opens the door to Charlotte reclaiming the name, something Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is open to and even George Shinn, former owner of the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets would like to see happen. We'll look at the possibility of the Charlotte Hornets 2.0, what it would cost and what it would mean to Charlotte.GuestsScott Fowler - Sports Columnist for the Charlotte ObserverJohn Morgan - Charlotte native, organizer of the 'Charlotte Hornets 2.0 Movement,' involved in Bring Back The Buzz, a group advocating for the Bobcats name change

John Connaughton, Director of the Babson Capital Economic Forecast, has joined us every business quarter this year to forecast the months ahead and to look back at the year so far. This quarter we'll look back over the whole year as well as taking a peek into economic health for North Carolina in 2013. We'll also look at how the fiscal cliff issue may affect North Carolina directly and whether Dr. Connaughton thinks a second recession is looming or whether we are on the road to recovery. Our economic year in review and a prediction of things to come, when Charlotte Talks.GuestJohn Connaughton - Babson Capital Professor of Financial Economics and Director of the Babson Capital Economic Forecast

John Connaughton, Director of the Babson Capital Economic Forecast, has joined us every business quarter this year to forecast the months ahead and to look back at the year so far. This quarter we'll look back over the whole year as well as taking a peek into economic health for North Carolina in 2013. We'll also look at how the fiscal cliff issue may affect North Carolina directly and whether Dr. Connaughton thinks a second recession is looming or whether we are on the road to recovery. Our economic year in review and a prediction of things to come, when Charlotte Talks.GuestJohn Connaughton - Babson Capital Professor of Financial Economics and Director of the Babson Capital Economic Forecast

John Connaughton, Director of the Babson Capital Economic Forecast, has joined us every business quarter this year to forecast the months ahead and to look back at the year so far. This quarter we'll look back over the whole year as well as taking a peek into economic health for North Carolina in 2013. We'll also look at how the fiscal cliff issue may affect North Carolina directly and whether Dr. Connaughton thinks a second recession is looming or whether we are on the road to recovery. Our economic year in review and a prediction of things to come, when Charlotte Talks.GuestJohn Connaughton - Babson Capital Professor of Financial Economics and Director of the Babson Capital Economic Forecast

John Connaughton, Director of the Babson Capital Economic Forecast, has joined us every business quarter this year to forecast the months ahead and to look back at the year so far. This quarter we'll look back over the whole year as well as taking a peek into economic health for North Carolina in 2013. We'll also look at how the fiscal cliff issue may affect North Carolina directly and whether Dr. Connaughton thinks a second recession is looming or whether we are on the road to recovery. Our economic year in review and a prediction of things to come, when Charlotte Talks.GuestJohn Connaughton - Babson Capital Professor of Financial Economics and Director of the Babson Capital Economic Forecast

"Jolly Old St. Nicholas," at least the way we've been brought up to think of him, is a red-cheeked, fat, white-bearded man in a red suit and hat. But the REAL St. Nicholas of Myra has a far different image. How did we get our modern idea of Santa Claus, or "St. Nick," and how does he compare with Nicholas of Myra? We'll be joined by a man who has chronicled the life Nicholas, and has studied the legend of Santa Claus and will put them together for us.GuestAdam English - Associate Professor of Religion at Campbell University. He wrote The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of MyraAdam English's blog 'The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus'

"Jolly Old St. Nicholas," at least the way we've been brought up to think of him, is a red-cheeked, fat, white-bearded man in a red suit and hat. But the REAL St. Nicholas of Myra has a far different image. How did we get our modern idea of Santa Claus, or "St. Nick," and how does he compare with Nicholas of Myra? We'll be joined by a man who has chronicled the life Nicholas, and has studied the legend of Santa Claus and will put them together for us.GuestAdam English - Associate Professor of Religion at Campbell University. He wrote The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of MyraAdam English's blog 'The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus'

"Jolly Old St. Nicholas," at least the way we've been brought up to think of him, is a red-cheeked, fat, white-bearded man in a red suit and hat. But the REAL St. Nicholas of Myra has a far different image. How did we get our modern idea of Santa Claus, or "St. Nick," and how does he compare with Nicholas of Myra? We'll be joined by a man who has chronicled the life Nicholas, and has studied the legend of Santa Claus and will put them together for us.GuestAdam English - Associate Professor of Religion at Campbell University. He wrote The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of MyraAdam English's blog 'The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus'

"Jolly Old St. Nicholas," at least the way we've been brought up to think of him, is a red-cheeked, fat, white-bearded man in a red suit and hat. But the REAL St. Nicholas of Myra has a far different image. How did we get our modern idea of Santa Claus, or "St. Nick," and how does he compare with Nicholas of Myra? We'll be joined by a man who has chronicled the life Nicholas, and has studied the legend of Santa Claus and will put them together for us.GuestAdam English - Associate Professor of Religion at Campbell University. He wrote The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of MyraAdam English's blog 'The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus'

The holidays are a time for parties, feasts and gift giving but entertainment is also big this time of year. Hollywood studios release December films they hope will bring Oscar nominations under their tree and there is always a new Christmas tale or two. This holiday season may be one of the biggest ever with blockbusters, often reserved for summer, like the latest James Bond film, the last Twilight movie, a new beginning for Lord of the Rings and the musical event of the year with Les Miserables. We look at the current slate of holiday films from before Thanksgiving to Christmas day when Charlotte Talks.GuestsSean O'Connell - Senior Film critic for AMCfilmcritic.comMatt Brunson - Arts and Entertainment Editor for Creative LoafingAnn Marie Oliva - Film Critic for Arts a la ModeFandango Holiday Movie Guide

The holidays are a time for parties, feasts and gift giving but entertainment is also big this time of year. Hollywood studios release December films they hope will bring Oscar nominations under their tree and there is always a new Christmas tale or two. This holiday season may be one of the biggest ever with blockbusters, often reserved for summer, like the latest James Bond film, the last Twilight movie, a new beginning for Lord of the Rings and the musical event of the year with Les Miserables. We look at the current slate of holiday films from before Thanksgiving to Christmas day when Charlotte Talks.GuestsSean O'Connell - Senior Film critic for AMCfilmcritic.comMatt Brunson - Arts and Entertainment Editor for Creative LoafingAnn Marie Oliva - Film Critic for Arts a la ModeFandango Holiday Movie Guide