Anita Hill - On October 11 and 12, 1991, all the major television networks pre-empted their fictional afternoon soap operas and much of their evening and weekend schedules to broadcast the real-life political soap opera of the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigation of Anita Hill's accusations of sexual harassment against Supreme Court justice nominee Clarence Thomas. More than 40 million U.S. households watch the two-day televised hearings and the networks lose an estimated $15 million to $20 million in ad revenue. The hearings were instigated by National Public Radio host Nina Totenberg whose broadcast reported that the Judiciary Committee had not taken Hill's charges seriously.  In a calm and dignified manner, Anita Hill, a University of Oklahoma law professor, reported to the Committee that while in his employ, Clarence Thomas allegedly handed her a can of soda with a pubic hair on it, talked about pornography and videos starring Long Dong Silver, and repeatedly advised her of his sexual prowess. The graphic testimony entertained, and shocked many but mostly it brought to the forefront, the topic of sexual harassment in the workplace. In the end, the  Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve Clarence Thomas' nomination to the Supreme Court, much to the chagrin of many Americans.