U.S.HOT TAKE OR NOT
Erin Lee Carr and Michelle Bruton: a 27th date that clicked
The documentary filmmaker, whose father was Times media columnist David Carr, says she can't do small talk; it is why Michelle Bruton stood out.
Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman on this story, from BBN Tonight at 6:08 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The New York Times's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance
- First reported by The New York Times: “She Gave Dates 30 Minutes. This One Clicked in the 27th.”, with reporting from Wikipedia.
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 6:08 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The New York TimesShe Gave Dates 30 Minutes. This One Clicked in the 27th.
- WikipediaErin Lee Carr facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorErin Lee Carr, the filmmaker and daughter of the late Times columnist David Carr, gave every first date thirty minutes.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe twenty-seventh clicked, the New York Times reports.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorShe says she can't do small talk, and she didn't on the first date with Michelle Bruton. Two hot takes. Vera.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorTwenty-six rejections, thirty minutes each. That's the only hiring process in America that tells you no on the day.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNOT. Twenty-six people got a performance review and a bill for the drinks.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThirteen and a half hours of dates. And the twenty-seventh is the only one where somebody didn't check the time.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHOT. The maths holds up.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorHank, that's generous. Dale just called a wedding a layover.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI called it a flight with a happy ending. Read the transcript, Vera.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFinal take, and it's the hottest. Thirty minutes is far too generous. I know within nine, and I'm usually wrong.
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Photo: Thomas Wolf · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
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