1 00:00:04,795 --> 00:00:21,955 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. CNN 2 00:00:22,115 --> 00:00:25,395 Speaker 1: has finally been called out for its televising of the 3 00:00:25,475 --> 00:00:30,515 Speaker 1: Trump town hall. Called out by an active CNN broadcast journalist, 4 00:00:31,155 --> 00:00:35,675 Speaker 1: and not just by any active CNN broadcast journalist, but 5 00:00:35,875 --> 00:00:39,955 Speaker 1: by one of the seminal figures in the entire history 6 00:00:40,155 --> 00:00:43,115 Speaker 1: of the network, and called out by her not just 7 00:00:43,195 --> 00:00:47,955 Speaker 1: in public, but during the commencement address at the Columbia 8 00:00:48,075 --> 00:00:55,555 Speaker 1: University Graduate School of Journalism, CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane 9 00:00:55,755 --> 00:01:00,355 Speaker 1: Amanpour the first on air person at CNN to say 10 00:01:00,355 --> 00:01:03,475 Speaker 1: what so many evidently feel as sharply now as they 11 00:01:03,475 --> 00:01:06,795 Speaker 1: did when the Trump fiasca was still live on CNN's air. 12 00:01:07,675 --> 00:01:10,795 Speaker 1: She used the terms of the diplomat she has often covered, 13 00:01:10,835 --> 00:01:14,275 Speaker 1: and she maintained the tone of respect and politeness that 14 00:01:14,355 --> 00:01:16,675 Speaker 1: has defined her since that day I first met her 15 00:01:16,675 --> 00:01:19,995 Speaker 1: in the nineteen nineties, and then for twenty five minutes, 16 00:01:20,235 --> 00:01:26,075 Speaker 1: she diplomatically and respectfully and politely blew Chris Licked to 17 00:01:26,315 --> 00:01:30,115 Speaker 1: hell and the decision to prostitute the network for the 18 00:01:30,115 --> 00:01:33,715 Speaker 1: sake of the ephemeral Trump ratings with him, often by 19 00:01:33,755 --> 00:01:37,395 Speaker 1: merely repeating what journalism is supposed to do and never 20 00:01:37,515 --> 00:01:40,155 Speaker 1: having to say that last week Chris Licked and CNN 21 00:01:41,035 --> 00:01:42,075 Speaker 1: did nothing of the kind. 22 00:01:42,275 --> 00:01:45,835 Speaker 2: Especially to speak truth to power, to hold the powerful 23 00:01:45,835 --> 00:01:49,875 Speaker 2: accountable is not just a slogan. It is vital. And 24 00:01:49,955 --> 00:01:52,795 Speaker 2: when we do it well, it makes a huge difference, 25 00:01:52,835 --> 00:01:56,395 Speaker 2: and when we don't, it makes an equal but opposite difference. 26 00:01:56,995 --> 00:01:59,555 Speaker 2: I was advised early on to find my voice, and 27 00:01:59,595 --> 00:02:02,435 Speaker 2: once I figured out what that meant, I did, And 28 00:02:02,515 --> 00:02:05,675 Speaker 2: for better or for worse, I've always to speak out 29 00:02:06,035 --> 00:02:09,995 Speaker 2: when staying silent might have been easier. So right now, 30 00:02:10,035 --> 00:02:12,795 Speaker 2: in this moment, for me personally, I want to do 31 00:02:12,915 --> 00:02:16,915 Speaker 2: what's right and empathize with and acknowledge all those who 32 00:02:16,955 --> 00:02:20,395 Speaker 2: need to trust us at CNN, the most trusted name 33 00:02:20,475 --> 00:02:23,475 Speaker 2: in news, I understand that the town hall a week 34 00:02:23,515 --> 00:02:27,355 Speaker 2: ago was for many an earthquake. And indeed, because I'm 35 00:02:27,355 --> 00:02:30,795 Speaker 2: a reporter, before I came here today, i'd come from London. 36 00:02:31,155 --> 00:02:33,675 Speaker 2: I met with CNN CEO Chris Licked at our New 37 00:02:33,755 --> 00:02:36,715 Speaker 2: York headquarters, and he said the same thing, that it 38 00:02:36,795 --> 00:02:39,835 Speaker 2: was an earthquake, but for slightly different reasons, and I'll 39 00:02:39,875 --> 00:02:43,515 Speaker 2: go into them. I wanted to hear from him firsthand 40 00:02:43,795 --> 00:02:47,115 Speaker 2: what he had been thinking we had a very robust 41 00:02:47,195 --> 00:02:48,195 Speaker 2: exchange of views. 42 00:02:48,395 --> 00:02:52,995 Speaker 1: Well, I bet Christi anavan por emphasized two critiques of 43 00:02:53,035 --> 00:02:57,555 Speaker 1: the town hall, the presence of the live, uncontrolled, uncontrollable 44 00:02:57,595 --> 00:03:02,715 Speaker 1: audience and another issue, the presence of the live, uncontrolled, 45 00:03:03,115 --> 00:03:04,515 Speaker 1: uncontrollable Trump. 46 00:03:04,755 --> 00:03:08,715 Speaker 2: I still respectfully disagree with allowing Donald Trump to appear 47 00:03:08,795 --> 00:03:13,195 Speaker 2: in that particular format. We're all grown ups, of course, 48 00:03:17,555 --> 00:03:20,955 Speaker 2: and we can hold differing opinions without a great, big 49 00:03:20,995 --> 00:03:25,355 Speaker 2: blow up. We know Trump and his tendencies. Everyone does. 50 00:03:25,635 --> 00:03:29,315 Speaker 2: He just seizes the stage and dominates. No matter how 51 00:03:29,435 --> 00:03:33,595 Speaker 2: much flak the moderator tries to aim at the incoming 52 00:03:34,595 --> 00:03:38,715 Speaker 2: it doesn't often work for me. I would have dropped 53 00:03:38,715 --> 00:03:42,835 Speaker 2: the mic at nasty person, but then that's me. I've 54 00:03:42,875 --> 00:03:44,795 Speaker 2: been in the ring for a long time with many 55 00:03:44,835 --> 00:03:45,515 Speaker 2: of these people. 56 00:03:45,755 --> 00:03:50,115 Speaker 1: And with that aside, Caitlin Collins disappeared in a quick 57 00:03:50,355 --> 00:03:55,355 Speaker 1: puff of smoke, and when Christiana, i'm'm poor compared what 58 00:03:55,515 --> 00:03:58,435 Speaker 1: CNN and Licked and almost everybody else in American journalism 59 00:03:58,915 --> 00:04:02,275 Speaker 1: had been doing to how the media of seventy years 60 00:04:02,275 --> 00:04:04,675 Speaker 1: ago initially tried to cover the infamous Senator Joe mcac 61 00:04:04,755 --> 00:04:08,355 Speaker 1: arthy and thus let him run rampant across our landscape 62 00:04:08,435 --> 00:04:12,555 Speaker 1: unchecked for four years. Lichts and CNN's arguments for putting 63 00:04:12,555 --> 00:04:18,195 Speaker 1: Trump on live also disappeared. In a quick puff of smoke. 64 00:04:18,275 --> 00:04:21,315 Speaker 2: Your own Columbia Journalism Review a few weeks ago addressed 65 00:04:21,355 --> 00:04:25,355 Speaker 2: precisely this issue, concluding that the American press and maybe 66 00:04:25,395 --> 00:04:28,715 Speaker 2: the world's press, still hasn't learned how to deal with 67 00:04:28,955 --> 00:04:33,395 Speaker 2: or cover Donald Trump. Maybe we should revert back to 68 00:04:33,515 --> 00:04:37,195 Speaker 2: the newspaper editors and TV chiefs of the nineteen fifties, who, 69 00:04:37,235 --> 00:04:41,515 Speaker 2: in the end refused to allow McCarthyism onto their pages 70 00:04:41,995 --> 00:04:45,835 Speaker 2: unless his foul lies, his witch hunts, and his rants 71 00:04:46,075 --> 00:04:50,155 Speaker 2: reached the basic evidence level required in a court of law. 72 00:04:50,915 --> 00:04:55,435 Speaker 2: His influence gradually decreased with all but his fervent cliques 73 00:04:55,555 --> 00:05:05,035 Speaker 2: and cults. So maybe less is more, Maybe lie is 74 00:05:05,075 --> 00:05:06,075 Speaker 2: not always right. 75 00:05:06,355 --> 00:05:10,035 Speaker 1: And then never saying the words Christian I'm I'm poor 76 00:05:10,115 --> 00:05:13,435 Speaker 1: did what Chris Licht and Anderson Cooper and Jake Tapper 77 00:05:13,675 --> 00:05:18,635 Speaker 1: and Caitlin Collins and a hatful of unnamed CNN spokespeople 78 00:05:18,715 --> 00:05:21,955 Speaker 1: never had the simple courage nor the simple decency to do. 79 00:05:22,675 --> 00:05:27,195 Speaker 1: After the Trump fiasco, she apologized on behalf of her 80 00:05:27,235 --> 00:05:28,195 Speaker 1: beloved network. 81 00:05:28,395 --> 00:05:32,195 Speaker 2: Today, I can only hope that your trust in us 82 00:05:33,035 --> 00:05:37,435 Speaker 2: might have been shaken but not shattered, that you believe 83 00:05:37,715 --> 00:05:42,475 Speaker 2: we can survive and rebuild that trust, and that most importantly, 84 00:05:43,155 --> 00:05:45,995 Speaker 2: you will continue to see and know that we are 85 00:05:46,075 --> 00:05:49,835 Speaker 2: still the only network that brings you the world. I 86 00:05:50,115 --> 00:05:54,035 Speaker 2: also want you to digest this. It is my mantra 87 00:05:54,275 --> 00:05:56,915 Speaker 2: and I've learnt it through bitter experience in the field. 88 00:05:57,595 --> 00:06:04,675 Speaker 2: Be truthful, but not neutral both ciderism, on the one hand, 89 00:06:04,715 --> 00:06:09,235 Speaker 2: and on the other hand, is not always objectivity. It 90 00:06:09,275 --> 00:06:14,035 Speaker 2: does not get you to the truth. Drawing false moral 91 00:06:14,155 --> 00:06:21,075 Speaker 2: or factual equivalence is neither objective or truthful. Objectivity is 92 00:06:21,115 --> 00:06:25,035 Speaker 2: our golden rule, and it is in weighing all the 93 00:06:25,195 --> 00:06:30,115 Speaker 2: sides and all the evidence, hearing everyone reporting everything, but 94 00:06:30,355 --> 00:06:34,195 Speaker 2: not rushing to equate them when there is no equating. 95 00:06:34,515 --> 00:06:39,115 Speaker 1: Memorial services for Chris Licht's professional reputation and any possible 96 00:06:39,155 --> 00:06:42,035 Speaker 1: defense of the Trump town hall will be held next week. 97 00:06:42,875 --> 00:06:47,635 Speaker 1: Missamonpor will not be invited to speak. In a bit 98 00:06:47,675 --> 00:06:51,155 Speaker 1: of meta reporting. However, CNN's Oliver Darcy, previously the only 99 00:06:51,195 --> 00:06:54,515 Speaker 1: CNN employee of any kind to express even the mildest 100 00:06:54,515 --> 00:06:57,635 Speaker 1: criticism of the town Hall on the record reported that 101 00:06:57,715 --> 00:07:00,915 Speaker 1: Lickt knew in advance that Amanpor was to speak at Columbia, 102 00:07:01,315 --> 00:07:03,835 Speaker 1: and that he even emailed the entire CNN family of 103 00:07:03,875 --> 00:07:06,835 Speaker 1: four thousand employees worldwide that they should watch the feed 104 00:07:07,075 --> 00:07:09,715 Speaker 1: from the Jay School because it was a quote rare 105 00:07:09,755 --> 00:07:13,635 Speaker 1: and exceptional honor. I guess that's the only thing he 106 00:07:13,635 --> 00:07:17,355 Speaker 1: could have done. See if he messed with her, or 107 00:07:17,395 --> 00:07:19,835 Speaker 1: if he messes with her now, he will have a 108 00:07:19,915 --> 00:07:23,795 Speaker 1: walkout on his hands. And I know, Christian, i'manpoor for 109 00:07:23,795 --> 00:07:28,155 Speaker 1: about twenty five years, and we are professional friends. And frankly, 110 00:07:28,275 --> 00:07:31,035 Speaker 1: I think that she pulled punches in her speech and 111 00:07:31,275 --> 00:07:33,995 Speaker 1: obviously in her meeting with Lickt, at least as she 112 00:07:34,115 --> 00:07:39,075 Speaker 1: described it. She is polite and sincerely, polite and old 113 00:07:39,155 --> 00:07:42,355 Speaker 1: fashioned formal, as you heard. And on the other hand, 114 00:07:42,995 --> 00:07:46,435 Speaker 1: I have always believed, and she has always smiled when 115 00:07:46,435 --> 00:07:49,955 Speaker 1: I have told her this, that she could disappear people. 116 00:07:50,635 --> 00:07:54,675 Speaker 1: If Lickt vanishes tomorrow without leaving a clue, and somebody says, Keith, 117 00:07:54,715 --> 00:07:58,595 Speaker 1: what do you think happened to him? I would simply mumble, Christian, 118 00:07:58,675 --> 00:08:04,195 Speaker 1: I'm poor. Probably, and still with four knowledge, CNN managed 119 00:08:04,235 --> 00:08:06,915 Speaker 1: to screw this up Amanpour's address to the Columbia Jay 120 00:08:06,955 --> 00:08:09,515 Speaker 1: School graduation ceremony. And remember this is something that came 121 00:08:09,555 --> 00:08:12,955 Speaker 1: to a baseball player's speech upon being inducted into the 122 00:08:12,955 --> 00:08:16,955 Speaker 1: Baseball Hall of Fame. That address occurred at almost the 123 00:08:17,035 --> 00:08:21,515 Speaker 1: exact hour that Chris Lick rewarded the hapless Kitlyn Collins, 124 00:08:21,515 --> 00:08:24,835 Speaker 1: who did not drop the mic at nasty person for 125 00:08:25,035 --> 00:08:29,075 Speaker 1: selling out whatever principles a former George Soros conspiracy theorist 126 00:08:29,155 --> 00:08:33,595 Speaker 1: for Tucker Carlson's Daily Caller could possibly have and being 127 00:08:33,675 --> 00:08:37,675 Speaker 1: the punching bag on CNN for Trump rewarding Kitlyn Collins 128 00:08:37,675 --> 00:08:40,875 Speaker 1: by giving her her own nine PM show with weeks 129 00:08:40,875 --> 00:08:46,315 Speaker 1: and weeks of anchoring experience on her resume. The amanpur remarks, 130 00:08:46,435 --> 00:08:49,035 Speaker 1: as they spread today and in the days and weeks 131 00:08:49,075 --> 00:08:53,195 Speaker 1: and probably years to come, will subsume the Collins show, 132 00:08:53,235 --> 00:08:55,835 Speaker 1: which they're not saying they've named, but which I assume 133 00:08:55,875 --> 00:08:59,955 Speaker 1: will be called. Well, at least she tried with Caitlyn Collins, 134 00:09:01,115 --> 00:09:03,755 Speaker 1: CNN executive speaking off the record, I think, to the 135 00:09:03,755 --> 00:09:05,795 Speaker 1: New York Times and others said that no, they had 136 00:09:05,835 --> 00:09:08,475 Speaker 1: not even gotten around to figuring out what kind of 137 00:09:08,555 --> 00:09:13,755 Speaker 1: show Collins would do the show premieres next month in primetime, 138 00:09:14,435 --> 00:09:17,115 Speaker 1: even as she is being trashed on the left and 139 00:09:17,315 --> 00:09:21,115 Speaker 1: misogynistically and crudely mocked on the right. Maybe it can 140 00:09:21,155 --> 00:09:25,435 Speaker 1: be televised live from the Anderson Cooper's career memorial broadcast silo. 141 00:09:26,755 --> 00:09:29,715 Speaker 1: But Chris Flicked always has a plan. See an executives 142 00:09:29,755 --> 00:09:33,195 Speaker 1: against speaking off the record. That means Licked see an 143 00:09:33,315 --> 00:09:36,195 Speaker 1: executive speaking off the record, think that maybe what they 144 00:09:36,235 --> 00:09:39,915 Speaker 1: could do with her show is are you ready cover 145 00:09:40,595 --> 00:09:44,435 Speaker 1: one or two of the top news stories every night? 146 00:09:44,915 --> 00:09:45,115 Speaker 3: Right? 147 00:09:45,795 --> 00:09:50,355 Speaker 1: Genius a news show on cable news network only only 148 00:09:50,555 --> 00:09:55,835 Speaker 1: we'll do news in it. Wait, we're already putting news 149 00:09:55,835 --> 00:10:02,355 Speaker 1: in CNN news shows. Damn. I would point out here 150 00:10:02,355 --> 00:10:04,835 Speaker 1: that Licked has also done the following strategy, which which 151 00:10:04,835 --> 00:10:08,475 Speaker 1: is either thirty seventh dimensional chess or its plain old. 152 00:10:08,675 --> 00:10:10,915 Speaker 1: When we worked together at MSNBC, we used to think 153 00:10:10,915 --> 00:10:15,475 Speaker 1: he ate paste stupidity. Upon arrival at CNN a year ago, 154 00:10:15,515 --> 00:10:18,475 Speaker 1: he had an okay morning show and at Okay Primetime 155 00:10:18,595 --> 00:10:21,075 Speaker 1: without a nine pm host because the guy had just 156 00:10:21,115 --> 00:10:24,755 Speaker 1: gotten fired. Soon after his arrival. He moved his ten 157 00:10:24,795 --> 00:10:27,475 Speaker 1: PM host, Don Lemmon from that hour to the morning show. 158 00:10:27,635 --> 00:10:31,915 Speaker 1: To shore up mornings. Now he is moving his morning 159 00:10:31,915 --> 00:10:35,795 Speaker 1: host Collins from the mornings to nine PM to shore 160 00:10:35,875 --> 00:10:40,475 Speaker 1: up primetime. Maybe before year's end he can complete this 161 00:10:40,595 --> 00:10:43,195 Speaker 1: by moving Collins back to mornings to shore up the 162 00:10:43,235 --> 00:10:45,715 Speaker 1: mornings again, or by doing what he wound up doing 163 00:10:45,715 --> 00:10:48,355 Speaker 1: to Lemon when Lemon could not function in the mornings. 164 00:10:48,395 --> 00:10:50,915 Speaker 1: As everybody told him, Lemon could not function in the mornings, 165 00:10:51,675 --> 00:10:57,755 Speaker 1: a firing, speaking of which, so sure looks like I'm 166 00:10:57,795 --> 00:11:01,875 Speaker 1: not the only one who dumped Laura Ingram. Matt Drudge 167 00:11:01,995 --> 00:11:05,515 Speaker 1: reporting yesterday that Fox is moving Sean Hannah into Tucker 168 00:11:05,555 --> 00:11:09,555 Speaker 1: Carlson's old eight PM slot, which is actually an adroit 169 00:11:09,635 --> 00:11:12,275 Speaker 1: move that may not stop the bleeding over there, but 170 00:11:12,355 --> 00:11:16,235 Speaker 1: will probably staunch it. But Drudge, without spelling it out, 171 00:11:16,275 --> 00:11:21,475 Speaker 1: says that Jesse Waters and the spectacularly overconfident Greg Guttfeld, 172 00:11:22,155 --> 00:11:24,795 Speaker 1: We'll be getting new primetime shows, and all that would 173 00:11:24,795 --> 00:11:27,035 Speaker 1: be left if Hannity is moving to eight would be 174 00:11:27,155 --> 00:11:29,435 Speaker 1: nine and ten, And if one of them is on 175 00:11:29,515 --> 00:11:32,835 Speaker 1: at ten, it means Ingram just lost her primetime ten 176 00:11:32,915 --> 00:11:36,835 Speaker 1: PM program, didn't she? Lots of people jumped on this 177 00:11:36,915 --> 00:11:39,515 Speaker 1: by saying this meant Laura Ingram had been fired by Fox, 178 00:11:39,555 --> 00:11:42,555 Speaker 1: and Fox jumped right back, stridently saying she was the 179 00:11:42,635 --> 00:11:45,475 Speaker 1: highest rated woman in cable and she hadn't been fired, 180 00:11:45,715 --> 00:11:48,915 Speaker 1: and also stridently avoiding saying anything like what time her 181 00:11:48,955 --> 00:11:51,555 Speaker 1: show would be on going forward or if we just 182 00:11:51,595 --> 00:11:54,675 Speaker 1: see her like for fifteen seconds at a time between commercials. 183 00:11:55,635 --> 00:11:58,395 Speaker 1: Fox also made the claim that the firing presumption was 184 00:11:58,435 --> 00:12:02,515 Speaker 1: being spread by left wing activists, which is the first 185 00:12:02,555 --> 00:12:07,875 Speaker 1: time anybody's called Matt Drudge alone left wing activist. I'll 186 00:12:07,915 --> 00:12:11,555 Speaker 1: remind you from the yes, I dated Laura Ingram twenty 187 00:12:11,555 --> 00:12:13,795 Speaker 1: five years ago, and I have the scars to prove 188 00:12:13,835 --> 00:12:17,075 Speaker 1: it that. On our first of two dates, Laura explained 189 00:12:17,075 --> 00:12:20,515 Speaker 1: to me how the not very vast right wing conspiracy 190 00:12:20,595 --> 00:12:24,555 Speaker 1: worked and how it included her brother and his friend, 191 00:12:24,835 --> 00:12:28,555 Speaker 1: Matt Drudge. I don't know if that's the footprint of 192 00:12:28,675 --> 00:12:32,675 Speaker 1: information movement here, but it's funny. It was Drudge who 193 00:12:32,715 --> 00:12:35,755 Speaker 1: first reported Tucker Carlson getting the Fox eight pm show 194 00:12:35,795 --> 00:12:38,515 Speaker 1: and Megan Kelly, if you remember who the hell she was, 195 00:12:38,715 --> 00:12:41,875 Speaker 1: getting the nine pm slot, And in fact, Drudge once 196 00:12:41,915 --> 00:12:45,875 Speaker 1: hosted a show himself on Fox, but insisted on wearing 197 00:12:45,915 --> 00:12:49,755 Speaker 1: his hat during it, and the only thing anybody remembers 198 00:12:49,755 --> 00:12:53,395 Speaker 1: from it is the hat from what I was able 199 00:12:53,395 --> 00:12:55,915 Speaker 1: to see on here. Neither Hannity nor Ingram said anything 200 00:12:56,315 --> 00:13:01,875 Speaker 1: in their broadcasts last night about reassignments. Still big day 201 00:13:01,915 --> 00:13:06,115 Speaker 1: over here in keith Land, My God, God, Tucker Carlson 202 00:13:06,155 --> 00:13:09,155 Speaker 1: and probably Laura Ingram are gone from Fox in a 203 00:13:09,155 --> 00:13:13,195 Speaker 1: little over three weeks. And Chris got his licked kicked 204 00:13:13,715 --> 00:13:19,315 Speaker 1: by Christian Amanpoor at Columbia j School. And whereas there 205 00:13:19,395 --> 00:13:21,515 Speaker 1: is much to discuss about the debt limit and the 206 00:13:21,515 --> 00:13:24,195 Speaker 1: fourteenth Amendment and why the man I would nominate for 207 00:13:24,275 --> 00:13:28,395 Speaker 1: president right now is Representative Jamal Bowman. I'll get to 208 00:13:28,435 --> 00:13:31,515 Speaker 1: that in a moment, but for now, excuse me while 209 00:13:31,675 --> 00:13:33,475 Speaker 1: I kiss the sky. 210 00:13:38,835 --> 00:13:59,115 Speaker 3: Right A talk on our Ston f drumcon Derisia, dinm Dinazoa, 211 00:14:00,195 --> 00:14:05,795 Speaker 3: Don Lastmo god. 212 00:14:07,955 --> 00:14:20,435 Speaker 4: Man, Bell, Don Broyd, Don Bood, Don Kananzi Falst. 213 00:14:22,755 --> 00:14:31,475 Speaker 1: This is countdown with Keith Olberman postscripts to the news, 214 00:14:31,755 --> 00:14:36,475 Speaker 1: some insights, some snarks, some predictions, and the lesson for 215 00:14:36,595 --> 00:14:42,395 Speaker 1: today is throw the first punch. You know who throws 216 00:14:42,475 --> 00:14:47,515 Speaker 1: the first punch? Democratic Congressman Jamal Bowman, who represents my hometown, 217 00:14:47,715 --> 00:14:50,115 Speaker 1: and I am damn proud of it and damn proud 218 00:14:50,155 --> 00:14:54,395 Speaker 1: of him. Democrat Robert Garcia filed a privilege motion to 219 00:14:54,515 --> 00:14:58,395 Speaker 1: expel George Santos and all of the other people living 220 00:14:58,475 --> 00:15:02,075 Speaker 1: in his body from Congress. The privilege motion must be 221 00:15:02,155 --> 00:15:05,595 Speaker 1: voted on within two days. Republicans then vote to refer 222 00:15:05,675 --> 00:15:08,595 Speaker 1: that motion to the Ethics Committee, which allows them both 223 00:15:08,675 --> 00:15:12,475 Speaker 1: to bury the motion for months, while still pretending that 224 00:15:12,555 --> 00:15:17,555 Speaker 1: they are standing up against Santos's bottomless pit of con jobs. Well, 225 00:15:17,595 --> 00:15:20,235 Speaker 1: at dusk yesterday, George Santos is standing there on the 226 00:15:20,235 --> 00:15:24,195 Speaker 1: steps of the House talking to gullible easy mark reporters, 227 00:15:24,235 --> 00:15:27,715 Speaker 1: exercising his one and only skill, making it up as 228 00:15:27,715 --> 00:15:32,395 Speaker 1: he goes along. And who appears but Conresson Jamal Bowman. 229 00:15:33,155 --> 00:15:37,435 Speaker 1: You will recognize him. He used to be a school principal. 230 00:15:37,875 --> 00:15:41,075 Speaker 1: They did not have a PA system at his school. 231 00:15:41,315 --> 00:15:49,835 Speaker 1: His voice thus sounds like a first punch. I can't 232 00:15:49,875 --> 00:15:50,435 Speaker 1: continue to. 233 00:15:50,355 --> 00:15:52,675 Speaker 3: Asrust you guys. 234 00:15:53,235 --> 00:16:04,515 Speaker 1: I'm gonna lotch all right. Why don't the party Republicans kicking? 235 00:16:05,795 --> 00:16:06,355 Speaker 3: Come on? 236 00:16:08,995 --> 00:16:14,715 Speaker 1: Hate it gets better? Who now enters stage right? Marjorie 237 00:16:14,715 --> 00:16:18,435 Speaker 1: Taylor Barney, rebel Karen Green, Party's hanging by your thread 238 00:16:18,675 --> 00:16:23,155 Speaker 1: and the party hands. The party's hanging by your thread. 239 00:16:23,755 --> 00:16:27,955 Speaker 3: You got to save the party. Listen, no more cuanon, 240 00:16:28,835 --> 00:16:30,835 Speaker 3: no more mad that heart feel. 241 00:16:30,755 --> 00:16:35,195 Speaker 1: No more death ceiling nonsense. Come on now, save the party. 242 00:16:35,515 --> 00:16:36,835 Speaker 1: We save America. 243 00:16:37,195 --> 00:16:40,635 Speaker 3: Saved it's children. We do something about guns. 244 00:16:41,355 --> 00:16:44,675 Speaker 2: Come on infesting as a case s because baughter is 245 00:16:44,755 --> 00:16:45,355 Speaker 2: the party is. 246 00:16:45,355 --> 00:16:48,955 Speaker 1: What truck left talking about? Where's the microhood kids? 247 00:16:49,155 --> 00:16:49,475 Speaker 4: You got? 248 00:16:49,595 --> 00:16:51,275 Speaker 1: Where is something that we love them? 249 00:16:51,795 --> 00:16:54,595 Speaker 3: We love the mife and children probably be awesome. 250 00:16:54,995 --> 00:16:55,915 Speaker 4: You can't find them? 251 00:16:56,115 --> 00:17:00,315 Speaker 1: What are you talking about talking about my grant children? 252 00:17:00,235 --> 00:17:02,555 Speaker 3: No, no, we don't know. I don't know. That's Fox 253 00:17:02,675 --> 00:17:04,515 Speaker 3: Boos has Fox this. 254 00:17:04,875 --> 00:17:10,875 Speaker 1: I needs to save the party. Save the party, Save 255 00:17:10,995 --> 00:17:18,915 Speaker 1: the party. Also save the liver. Jamal Bowman knows how 256 00:17:18,955 --> 00:17:23,875 Speaker 1: to make a scene, knows how to mock the easily mocked, 257 00:17:24,435 --> 00:17:27,715 Speaker 1: is not afraid to do any of that. Bless him, 258 00:17:28,395 --> 00:17:33,035 Speaker 1: clone him. There are some exceptions to this, but generally speaking, 259 00:17:33,075 --> 00:17:35,035 Speaker 1: this is the way it has been in our country 260 00:17:35,195 --> 00:17:38,755 Speaker 1: for two decades or more. Nearly the entirety of the 261 00:17:38,795 --> 00:17:42,675 Speaker 1: moral force of the nation, nearly the entirety of responsible 262 00:17:42,795 --> 00:17:47,035 Speaker 1: governance in the nation, nearly the entirety of law and legality, 263 00:17:47,315 --> 00:17:51,195 Speaker 1: and justice. All of that has belonged to the Democrats, 264 00:17:51,955 --> 00:17:55,235 Speaker 1: but all of the political courage and skill, all of 265 00:17:55,275 --> 00:17:59,915 Speaker 1: that has belonged to the Republicans and the fascists. And 266 00:17:59,995 --> 00:18:03,035 Speaker 1: you know how that changes. You know how Democrats stop 267 00:18:03,195 --> 00:18:08,635 Speaker 1: losing despite having more responsible governance, law, legality, and justice. 268 00:18:09,435 --> 00:18:14,355 Speaker 1: By Jamal bowmaning this by throwing the dam first punch 269 00:18:18,315 --> 00:18:22,395 Speaker 1: to that end, quote, Republicans have made it clear that 270 00:18:22,395 --> 00:18:25,435 Speaker 1: they are prepared to hold our entire economy hostage unless 271 00:18:25,435 --> 00:18:28,595 Speaker 1: you accede to their demands to reduce the deficit on 272 00:18:28,635 --> 00:18:32,555 Speaker 1: the backs of working families. That is simply unacceptable, writes 273 00:18:32,555 --> 00:18:36,395 Speaker 1: a group of Democratic senators including Ed Markey, Liz Warren, 274 00:18:36,515 --> 00:18:40,115 Speaker 1: and Bernie Sanders. To President Biden, we write to urgently 275 00:18:40,155 --> 00:18:43,115 Speaker 1: request that you prepare to exercise your authority under the 276 00:18:43,155 --> 00:18:46,995 Speaker 1: fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. Using this authority would allow 277 00:18:47,035 --> 00:18:49,915 Speaker 1: the United States to continue to pay its bills on 278 00:18:50,075 --> 00:18:56,755 Speaker 1: time without delay, preventing a global economic catastrophe. The fourteenth Amendment. 279 00:18:57,035 --> 00:19:00,635 Speaker 1: We have discussed this before, particularly that part about the 280 00:19:00,715 --> 00:19:04,315 Speaker 1: validity of the public debt authorized by law shall not 281 00:19:04,355 --> 00:19:07,715 Speaker 1: be questioned. And what Biden should do is schedule a 282 00:19:07,755 --> 00:19:10,435 Speaker 1: news briefing or a short speech and say simply, the 283 00:19:10,435 --> 00:19:14,675 Speaker 1: Constitution of the United States obligates me, under the fourteenth 284 00:19:14,675 --> 00:19:19,075 Speaker 1: Amendment to pay the debts incurred by the previous Trump administration, 285 00:19:19,275 --> 00:19:23,475 Speaker 1: and I will do so. There will be no default, 286 00:19:23,835 --> 00:19:27,515 Speaker 1: There will be no Republican cuts to services or anything 287 00:19:27,555 --> 00:19:31,395 Speaker 1: else to benefit the rich and the corporations and the Trumps. 288 00:19:31,755 --> 00:19:34,915 Speaker 1: The debts will be paid regardless of what the House does. 289 00:19:35,315 --> 00:19:39,675 Speaker 1: And I do not negotiate with terrorists. There will be 290 00:19:39,795 --> 00:19:45,475 Speaker 1: no further negotiations with Republicans until they raised the debt ceiling. 291 00:19:45,995 --> 00:19:51,555 Speaker 1: Thank you. That's it. Tell the country who's at fault. 292 00:19:51,955 --> 00:19:53,915 Speaker 1: Tell them how you are going to stop those who 293 00:19:53,955 --> 00:19:57,435 Speaker 1: are at fault. Tell them why for once, for once, 294 00:19:57,555 --> 00:20:01,435 Speaker 1: let the lead Democrat in this country throw the first punch. 295 00:20:03,115 --> 00:20:05,355 Speaker 1: What would the Republicans do in the mo mirror image 296 00:20:05,395 --> 00:20:07,955 Speaker 1: of this situation. They would throw the first goddamned punch. 297 00:20:08,195 --> 00:20:10,115 Speaker 1: They would tell the public what they were going to do. 298 00:20:10,315 --> 00:20:13,755 Speaker 1: They'd do it. They'd proclaim themselves righteous and good and 299 00:20:13,915 --> 00:20:17,635 Speaker 1: God driven, and they would blame the other party. Dare 300 00:20:17,715 --> 00:20:19,955 Speaker 1: the other party to do something about it. Always make 301 00:20:19,995 --> 00:20:22,835 Speaker 1: sure the other party looks like the guilty party, throw 302 00:20:22,955 --> 00:20:27,075 Speaker 1: the first punch. Does the fourteenth Amendment constitutionally obligate the 303 00:20:27,115 --> 00:20:29,915 Speaker 1: president to pay national debts? I don't know. I'm not 304 00:20:29,995 --> 00:20:33,235 Speaker 1: a constitutional lawyer. I took one law class as a 305 00:20:33,315 --> 00:20:37,915 Speaker 1: junior at Cornell. But act like it does, Act like 306 00:20:37,955 --> 00:20:41,115 Speaker 1: it does until Kevin McCarthy proofs he is really stupid 307 00:20:41,195 --> 00:20:44,715 Speaker 1: enough not just a posture and threaten about the debt ceiling, 308 00:20:44,835 --> 00:20:48,355 Speaker 1: but to actually go into a court with the expressed 309 00:20:48,475 --> 00:20:52,035 Speaker 1: obvious desire to get a judge to rule that, sorry, 310 00:20:52,355 --> 00:20:56,595 Speaker 1: the world economy has to crash. Go ahead, keV, explain 311 00:20:56,715 --> 00:20:59,555 Speaker 1: that to your corporate masters. Go ahead, keV, find a 312 00:20:59,635 --> 00:21:02,315 Speaker 1: judge who wants to push the button and launch the 313 00:21:02,355 --> 00:21:06,395 Speaker 1: economic nukes against every man and child in the country. 314 00:21:06,835 --> 00:21:16,675 Speaker 1: Mister President, throw the first punch. You know who else 315 00:21:16,755 --> 00:21:20,115 Speaker 1: threw the first punch yesterday? The National Archives, the proud, 316 00:21:20,235 --> 00:21:25,515 Speaker 1: the few, the brave, the librarians, the archivists, might be 317 00:21:25,555 --> 00:21:27,875 Speaker 1: the ones who put Trump in jail, and they just 318 00:21:27,955 --> 00:21:31,915 Speaker 1: threw another first punch against him. The Archives warned Trump 319 00:21:32,035 --> 00:21:34,635 Speaker 1: by letter that it will now hand over to Jack 320 00:21:34,675 --> 00:21:38,555 Speaker 1: Smith's sixteen records, which show that Trump knew damned well 321 00:21:38,635 --> 00:21:42,675 Speaker 1: that he couldn't just declassify documents by snapping his fingers. 322 00:21:43,435 --> 00:21:47,475 Speaker 1: His primary line of defense, especially after he boasted on 323 00:21:47,595 --> 00:21:50,915 Speaker 1: that Nuremberg rally on CNN last week, that he deliberately 324 00:21:50,955 --> 00:21:54,635 Speaker 1: took classified records. His primary defense has been that a 325 00:21:54,715 --> 00:21:58,195 Speaker 1: president can just I don't know, blink three times, and 326 00:21:58,235 --> 00:22:01,955 Speaker 1: then a classified document is a not classified any more document. 327 00:22:02,795 --> 00:22:06,475 Speaker 1: The sixteen records in question, the Archives has written Trump 328 00:22:06,715 --> 00:22:11,675 Speaker 1: all reflect communications involving close presidential advisors, some of them 329 00:22:11,675 --> 00:22:15,515 Speaker 1: directed to you personally concerning whether, why, and how you 330 00:22:15,635 --> 00:22:21,355 Speaker 1: should declassify certain classified records. In other words, those sixteen 331 00:22:21,435 --> 00:22:24,955 Speaker 1: documents provide that thing all prosecutors love, and we're beginning 332 00:22:24,995 --> 00:22:29,235 Speaker 1: to see that Jack Smith especially loves guilty for knowledge. 333 00:22:29,995 --> 00:22:33,115 Speaker 1: They told Trump he didn't have carte blanche to declassify. 334 00:22:33,355 --> 00:22:37,955 Speaker 1: He and his aides clearly responded. Message understood. Then he 335 00:22:38,035 --> 00:22:41,355 Speaker 1: stole the records. Then he claimed he could declassify them 336 00:22:41,635 --> 00:22:43,955 Speaker 1: as if he never knew any differently, Oh, Starry, here 337 00:22:43,835 --> 00:22:47,275 Speaker 1: are sixteen documents proving you did damn well too know 338 00:22:47,435 --> 00:22:52,475 Speaker 1: differently throw the first punch, and you know who else 339 00:22:52,515 --> 00:22:54,995 Speaker 1: threw a first punch at Trump? The office of Manhattan 340 00:22:55,035 --> 00:23:00,155 Speaker 1: District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump's main skill in life is 341 00:23:00,195 --> 00:23:05,435 Speaker 1: to use the bureaucracy to wear and slow the bureaucracy down. 342 00:23:06,475 --> 00:23:10,315 Speaker 1: He gets indicted, he gets arrested, he stalls. He and 343 00:23:10,395 --> 00:23:13,035 Speaker 1: his lawyers complained that the DA was not specific about 344 00:23:13,035 --> 00:23:16,235 Speaker 1: the alleged crimes and the specific laws he is supposed 345 00:23:16,235 --> 00:23:18,835 Speaker 1: to have broken. And then the right wing echo chamber shouts, 346 00:23:18,835 --> 00:23:22,515 Speaker 1: it doesn't even say which law he's broken. Guess who 347 00:23:22,675 --> 00:23:25,315 Speaker 1: just sent him a list of the laws he's broken. First, 348 00:23:25,435 --> 00:23:29,595 Speaker 1: the agreement to unlawfully suppressed negative stories about defendant before 349 00:23:29,635 --> 00:23:31,835 Speaker 1: an election in order to influence the outcome of the 350 00:23:31,835 --> 00:23:35,235 Speaker 1: election that breaks New York Election Law one seven Dash 351 00:23:35,275 --> 00:23:38,875 Speaker 1: one five to two and Federal Election Campaign Act fifty 352 00:23:38,915 --> 00:23:44,275 Speaker 1: two USC. Three zero one zero one. Second, multiple false 353 00:23:44,315 --> 00:23:46,915 Speaker 1: statements in the business records of different entities to advance 354 00:23:46,955 --> 00:23:50,195 Speaker 1: that agreement that breaks New York tax Law one to 355 00:23:50,235 --> 00:23:55,515 Speaker 1: eight zero one dash a dash three. Third, disguising reimbursement 356 00:23:55,555 --> 00:23:58,875 Speaker 1: payments by doubling them and falsely characterizing them as income 357 00:23:58,915 --> 00:24:02,515 Speaker 1: for tax reasons that breaks the same state tax law. 358 00:24:02,595 --> 00:24:06,995 Speaker 1: And fourth, multiple admissions of specific crimes by participants, including 359 00:24:06,995 --> 00:24:10,915 Speaker 1: by guilty please to felonies breaking New York State penal 360 00:24:10,995 --> 00:24:15,555 Speaker 1: Law one seven five point zero five. Will there be 361 00:24:15,595 --> 00:24:19,515 Speaker 1: anything else? Mister Trump? Do you need a receipt for 362 00:24:19,715 --> 00:24:26,995 Speaker 1: having had your head handed to you? And one more 363 00:24:27,355 --> 00:24:33,435 Speaker 1: first punch throwne Ron Widen, God Love, Ron Wyden. While 364 00:24:33,475 --> 00:24:36,275 Speaker 1: Dick Durbin is sitting there wondering if he can get 365 00:24:36,315 --> 00:24:39,435 Speaker 1: Dianne Feinstein an assistant to help her figure out where 366 00:24:39,435 --> 00:24:42,835 Speaker 1: she's been the last three months California or Washington. Senator 367 00:24:42,915 --> 00:24:48,155 Speaker 1: Ron Wyden just threatened to subpoena Harlan Crowe's ass Widen, 368 00:24:48,275 --> 00:24:51,155 Speaker 1: in his role as the Senate Finance Committee Chair, was 369 00:24:51,195 --> 00:24:54,035 Speaker 1: the one who wrote Crow a month before Durbin elaborately 370 00:24:54,075 --> 00:24:57,315 Speaker 1: announced he was going to write him. Widen wanted a 371 00:24:57,315 --> 00:25:03,395 Speaker 1: full list of every gift pride well gift thrift. He 372 00:25:03,515 --> 00:25:06,275 Speaker 1: wanted a list of every rift Harland Crowe ever gave 373 00:25:06,315 --> 00:25:10,075 Speaker 1: Clarence Thomas and the accompanying tax records. And Crowe's lawyer 374 00:25:10,075 --> 00:25:13,195 Speaker 1: wrote back saying Senate Finance had no jurisdiction. So Widen 375 00:25:13,315 --> 00:25:15,595 Speaker 1: just hit Crow's lawyer in the face with the first 376 00:25:15,595 --> 00:25:20,755 Speaker 1: punch metaphorically, of course, wrote him back. The lawyer's quotes 377 00:25:21,075 --> 00:25:24,835 Speaker 1: assertions are without merit. Senator Widen wrote a cursory review 378 00:25:24,875 --> 00:25:28,915 Speaker 1: of the committee's activities demonstrates long standing oversight and legislative 379 00:25:28,995 --> 00:25:32,995 Speaker 1: interests in gift and estate tax laws. It goes without saying, 380 00:25:33,075 --> 00:25:36,355 Speaker 1: but mister Crow is not a branch of government. My 381 00:25:36,515 --> 00:25:39,515 Speaker 1: hope is that with the issue of committee jurisdiction settled, 382 00:25:39,795 --> 00:25:42,755 Speaker 1: mister Crowe provides answers to the questions I've put before 383 00:25:42,795 --> 00:25:48,795 Speaker 1: him a second time un quote Owen. Then surprise, Ron 384 00:25:48,835 --> 00:25:52,875 Speaker 1: Wyden also throws the second punch quote. I realize the 385 00:25:52,875 --> 00:25:56,475 Speaker 1: committee may need to follow another route to compel his answers, 386 00:25:57,035 --> 00:25:59,675 Speaker 1: and I'm prepared to make that happen. 387 00:25:59,915 --> 00:26:00,635 Speaker 3: And he's down. 388 00:26:01,075 --> 00:26:02,675 Speaker 1: Arland, Crow's lawyer is down. 389 00:26:02,875 --> 00:26:07,835 Speaker 4: The count is five ah four three tarhar and Crow's 390 00:26:07,915 --> 00:26:10,315 Speaker 4: lawyer has beaten in one round. 391 00:26:16,275 --> 00:26:27,475 Speaker 1: Throw the first punch. Still ahead on countdown, just to 392 00:26:27,475 --> 00:26:30,835 Speaker 1: get away from politics and Fox Quote News and CNN 393 00:26:30,915 --> 00:26:34,355 Speaker 1: for two minutes the day I fell off a cliff 394 00:26:34,515 --> 00:26:37,675 Speaker 1: shooting the commercial in things I promise not to tell 395 00:26:38,475 --> 00:26:40,875 Speaker 1: first in each tradition of Countdown, we feature a dog. Indeed, 396 00:26:40,915 --> 00:26:43,555 Speaker 1: you can help. Every dog has its day. Two weeks 397 00:26:43,595 --> 00:26:47,595 Speaker 1: ago I told you about venom an. Unfortunately, named Pity 398 00:26:47,635 --> 00:26:49,955 Speaker 1: Puppy who faced death here in New York. Even though 399 00:26:49,955 --> 00:26:52,635 Speaker 1: he's great with kids, he plays with other dogs, he 400 00:26:52,715 --> 00:26:56,195 Speaker 1: lets you rub his cheeks. What do I find out yesterday? 401 00:26:56,235 --> 00:26:59,595 Speaker 1: But he's not only been saved, but he's being fostered 402 00:26:59,635 --> 00:27:03,355 Speaker 1: by one of my old dog sitters. She has changed 403 00:27:03,395 --> 00:27:07,475 Speaker 1: his name from Venom to Venice, and she says quote, 404 00:27:07,555 --> 00:27:10,315 Speaker 1: he's a huge angel. He also has a growth they 405 00:27:10,395 --> 00:27:12,315 Speaker 1: have to remove. They believe it's benign, but it has 406 00:27:12,395 --> 00:27:15,675 Speaker 1: to go. And she and Happy Go Lucky Mastiff Rescue 407 00:27:16,035 --> 00:27:18,755 Speaker 1: are trying to raise funds for the operation. If you 408 00:27:18,795 --> 00:27:21,035 Speaker 1: can help Venice, you can find him at Happy Go 409 00:27:21,195 --> 00:27:25,275 Speaker 1: Luckymastiff Rescue dot com or on my Twitter feeds. Any 410 00:27:25,315 --> 00:27:29,435 Speaker 1: donation will be gratefully accepted. I thank you, and Venice 411 00:27:29,475 --> 00:27:47,635 Speaker 1: thanks you. There's an ad agency in Santa Monica. They 412 00:27:47,675 --> 00:27:49,595 Speaker 1: just called me, would you like to do two commercials 413 00:27:49,595 --> 00:27:55,275 Speaker 1: for Boston Market? I answered with profound indifference, Okay, would 414 00:27:55,315 --> 00:27:57,755 Speaker 1: you like to do two commercials for Boston Market for 415 00:27:57,795 --> 00:28:01,555 Speaker 1: two hundred and fifty thousand dollars? I believe My next 416 00:28:01,555 --> 00:28:04,915 Speaker 1: words were, well, I can't do them today, but sure. 417 00:28:05,755 --> 00:28:08,155 Speaker 1: They faxed me the scripts. They're actually pretty funny, very 418 00:28:08,155 --> 00:28:10,555 Speaker 1: well done. I think you like them. I believe. My 419 00:28:10,675 --> 00:28:13,075 Speaker 1: next next words were, if I don't have to kill 420 00:28:13,115 --> 00:28:15,675 Speaker 1: anybody in them, call them back and say yes and 421 00:28:15,715 --> 00:28:19,915 Speaker 1: get the money. Since the idea was these ads would 422 00:28:19,955 --> 00:28:23,115 Speaker 1: run on sports telecasts, most of them on ESPN. My 423 00:28:23,355 --> 00:28:26,595 Speaker 1: yes got back to management at ESPN pretty quickly. You 424 00:28:26,635 --> 00:28:30,235 Speaker 1: can't do these, one of the executives explained, dismissively. We 425 00:28:30,235 --> 00:28:34,515 Speaker 1: don't let anybody do commercials, I laughed. Every one of 426 00:28:34,595 --> 00:28:38,355 Speaker 1: us has done this is Sports Center commercials. Some of 427 00:28:38,435 --> 00:28:40,755 Speaker 1: us have written that this is Sports Center commercials. You 428 00:28:40,755 --> 00:28:43,235 Speaker 1: don't even give us days off for making them, let 429 00:28:43,275 --> 00:28:44,995 Speaker 1: alone give us money. This is money I don't have 430 00:28:45,075 --> 00:28:48,515 Speaker 1: to ask you for. The executive shook his head. Those 431 00:28:48,555 --> 00:28:51,795 Speaker 1: aren't commercials. Those are promotional announcements. They're in your contract. 432 00:28:52,155 --> 00:28:57,035 Speaker 1: Nobody here does commercials, I said. Chris Berman has done 433 00:28:57,395 --> 00:29:00,395 Speaker 1: a beer commercial in three out of the last five 434 00:29:00,475 --> 00:29:04,355 Speaker 1: Super Bowls. My commercial is just for food. Well, he's 435 00:29:04,395 --> 00:29:08,195 Speaker 1: b I pointed out. I went to high school with him, 436 00:29:08,315 --> 00:29:10,475 Speaker 1: and I was the star of their most popular program, 437 00:29:10,475 --> 00:29:12,875 Speaker 1: a little thing called Sports Center TV Guy thatd just 438 00:29:13,035 --> 00:29:15,715 Speaker 1: named us one of the top ten shows on TV. Shows, 439 00:29:15,835 --> 00:29:20,875 Speaker 1: not sports shows usin Seinfeld. Sorry, well, now I got 440 00:29:20,915 --> 00:29:24,115 Speaker 1: a little angry, which never happened to me at ESPN, 441 00:29:24,395 --> 00:29:27,515 Speaker 1: and I went to my ace in the hole. My 442 00:29:27,635 --> 00:29:30,275 Speaker 1: contract expires in like ten months, and you know I 443 00:29:30,315 --> 00:29:33,115 Speaker 1: intend to leave, and during those ten months, you're going 444 00:29:33,155 --> 00:29:35,675 Speaker 1: to pay me about two hundred and sixty thousand dollars. 445 00:29:35,915 --> 00:29:37,795 Speaker 1: So Boston Market is going to pay me two hundred 446 00:29:37,795 --> 00:29:41,395 Speaker 1: and fifty thousand dollars for two days work instead of 447 00:29:41,435 --> 00:29:44,875 Speaker 1: ten month's work. Plus they're going to take me out 448 00:29:44,875 --> 00:29:47,635 Speaker 1: first class to LA for a couple of days, and 449 00:29:47,715 --> 00:29:49,715 Speaker 1: they're probably going to do some radio spots and I'll 450 00:29:49,755 --> 00:29:52,435 Speaker 1: make another twenty five grant. So you're giving me a choice, 451 00:29:53,115 --> 00:29:58,395 Speaker 1: make say, two hundred and seventy five thousand dollars in 452 00:29:58,515 --> 00:30:00,435 Speaker 1: like five days for them, or make two hundred and 453 00:30:00,435 --> 00:30:03,435 Speaker 1: sixty thousand dollars here between now and next September when 454 00:30:03,435 --> 00:30:06,395 Speaker 1: I'm planning and leaving. Anyway, if you make me choose 455 00:30:06,435 --> 00:30:08,915 Speaker 1: between those two, which do you expect me to choose? 456 00:30:10,275 --> 00:30:13,915 Speaker 1: The executive coughed we'll get back to an hour later. 457 00:30:13,955 --> 00:30:16,075 Speaker 1: He got back to me by phone. Okay, we see 458 00:30:16,075 --> 00:30:18,315 Speaker 1: your point, but there are still two problems we can't 459 00:30:18,315 --> 00:30:21,195 Speaker 1: just let everybody do commercials. I said, well, you know, 460 00:30:21,555 --> 00:30:23,715 Speaker 1: why don't you just let anybody who went to the 461 00:30:23,795 --> 00:30:26,475 Speaker 1: high school that Berman and I went to do commercials. 462 00:30:26,595 --> 00:30:29,835 Speaker 1: He did not laugh at that. Wow, how about only 463 00:30:29,875 --> 00:30:32,755 Speaker 1: your regular weekday sports center anchors get to do commercials? 464 00:30:33,395 --> 00:30:36,635 Speaker 1: There was a grunt and a maybe. Then we got 465 00:30:36,675 --> 00:30:40,915 Speaker 1: to the gist of the real problem. Here's the real problem. 466 00:30:41,155 --> 00:30:45,235 Speaker 1: People on your show. They'll be resentful. And I said, 467 00:30:45,555 --> 00:30:48,275 Speaker 1: why will they be resentful? Because the production assistants are 468 00:30:48,275 --> 00:30:50,515 Speaker 1: expecting that they're going to get their own commercials too. 469 00:30:51,155 --> 00:30:54,075 Speaker 1: And I said, how about this, the day I'm out 470 00:30:54,115 --> 00:30:57,675 Speaker 1: there actually shooting the commercial, I will get Boston Market 471 00:30:57,675 --> 00:31:01,475 Speaker 1: to like cater dinner for the show staff, even if 472 00:31:01,515 --> 00:31:03,995 Speaker 1: I have to pay for it myself. There was a 473 00:31:04,035 --> 00:31:08,995 Speaker 1: long silence. Ones would management be included in that? And 474 00:31:08,995 --> 00:31:11,875 Speaker 1: can we get all the side dishes too? I swear 475 00:31:11,915 --> 00:31:17,035 Speaker 1: to God so off. I flew at the beginning of December, 476 00:31:17,315 --> 00:31:20,795 Speaker 1: during a winter that had gone frigid in October in Bristol, Connecticut, 477 00:31:20,835 --> 00:31:22,435 Speaker 1: and the next thing I knew, I was on the 478 00:31:22,475 --> 00:31:27,995 Speaker 1: beach in Malibu at Leo Correo State Park. The crew 479 00:31:28,755 --> 00:31:31,395 Speaker 1: is complaining because it is raining lightly and only about 480 00:31:31,435 --> 00:31:35,915 Speaker 1: fifty five degrees. To me, fresh from the hinterlands and 481 00:31:35,995 --> 00:31:38,075 Speaker 1: having not been back to La since I had moved 482 00:31:38,115 --> 00:31:40,315 Speaker 1: out in nineteen ninety two, It's like I'm in Tahiti. 483 00:31:41,395 --> 00:31:43,955 Speaker 1: And my agent was right. The scripts were funny and original. 484 00:31:44,195 --> 00:31:47,395 Speaker 1: They were ascend up of the old Calvin Klein obsession 485 00:31:47,915 --> 00:31:51,915 Speaker 1: perfume commercials. There are two extremely thin models and they 486 00:31:51,955 --> 00:31:55,795 Speaker 1: are filmed writhing in frustration on the beach on the 487 00:31:55,835 --> 00:32:00,115 Speaker 1: big rock outcroppings at Leo Correo State Park. She is 488 00:32:00,155 --> 00:32:03,995 Speaker 1: supposed to say, emptiness, how can I fill this empty 489 00:32:04,075 --> 00:32:07,675 Speaker 1: void of mpess? They are in black and white, but 490 00:32:07,875 --> 00:32:11,875 Speaker 1: I emerge from behind a rock or or wherever I'm 491 00:32:11,955 --> 00:32:14,475 Speaker 1: in color. They are in black and white, and I 492 00:32:14,515 --> 00:32:16,395 Speaker 1: say when they say, don't know what to do about 493 00:32:16,395 --> 00:32:21,835 Speaker 1: this emptiness, I say, eat something. I then sell the sandwich. 494 00:32:21,915 --> 00:32:23,715 Speaker 1: Then it cuts to a shot of me walking them 495 00:32:23,755 --> 00:32:27,475 Speaker 1: down the beach with my arm over each of their shoulders, 496 00:32:27,795 --> 00:32:30,435 Speaker 1: telling them eating is a good thing, and who's wearing 497 00:32:30,475 --> 00:32:33,835 Speaker 1: cologne or who likes sports or other stupid things like that. 498 00:32:36,275 --> 00:32:39,075 Speaker 1: For a quarter of a million dollars, Well, we start 499 00:32:39,075 --> 00:32:41,235 Speaker 1: this at eight am and the producer and the director 500 00:32:41,355 --> 00:32:43,755 Speaker 1: John say to me and the two models and the crew, look, 501 00:32:43,795 --> 00:32:45,675 Speaker 1: this rain is just going to get heavier as the 502 00:32:45,755 --> 00:32:47,995 Speaker 1: day goes on. So what we want to do is 503 00:32:48,035 --> 00:32:50,675 Speaker 1: not take a break for lunch. We'll just shoot until 504 00:32:50,715 --> 00:32:53,315 Speaker 1: like two pm, and then you can have lunch, or 505 00:32:53,355 --> 00:32:55,115 Speaker 1: you can take your lunch with you, and you'll all 506 00:32:55,155 --> 00:32:57,955 Speaker 1: get paid for a full day. And everybody agrees. The 507 00:32:57,995 --> 00:33:01,835 Speaker 1: actress agrees, and she swears as she agrees. The actress 508 00:33:01,875 --> 00:33:04,995 Speaker 1: is named Una. Una is from Chicago, and it will 509 00:33:04,995 --> 00:33:10,115 Speaker 1: soon prove Una swears more than a long shoreman. This 510 00:33:10,195 --> 00:33:15,195 Speaker 1: blanking colt can blank my blanking blank. To be fair, 511 00:33:16,235 --> 00:33:19,075 Speaker 1: Una and the guy are dressed in Calvin Klein rags 512 00:33:19,115 --> 00:33:21,555 Speaker 1: and they are there and they are from there, and 513 00:33:21,595 --> 00:33:24,675 Speaker 1: they are freezing while I am wearing a production company 514 00:33:24,715 --> 00:33:27,715 Speaker 1: brand new suit and shoes, and to me it feels 515 00:33:27,715 --> 00:33:30,955 Speaker 1: like it's Tahiti. We take a couple of hours where 516 00:33:30,995 --> 00:33:33,395 Speaker 1: we do all the shots where I emerge from behind 517 00:33:33,435 --> 00:33:35,915 Speaker 1: the rocks, or go around the rocks, or over the rocks, 518 00:33:35,995 --> 00:33:39,155 Speaker 1: or I look over the rocks, and the director finally says, okay, 519 00:33:39,155 --> 00:33:41,435 Speaker 1: we got five good options. Let's set up for the 520 00:33:41,515 --> 00:33:45,315 Speaker 1: walk down. The beach with your arms around each other's shoulders. 521 00:33:46,275 --> 00:33:49,715 Speaker 1: By now it's noon or twelve thirty. And as they 522 00:33:49,755 --> 00:33:52,355 Speaker 1: move the cameras and the rain starts to move from 523 00:33:52,355 --> 00:33:56,195 Speaker 1: a mist to like a light rain. Two prop guys 524 00:33:56,235 --> 00:33:59,555 Speaker 1: bring out rakes, and I'm sitting with the crew and 525 00:33:59,555 --> 00:34:01,995 Speaker 1: I've been asking them questions all morning in between takes 526 00:34:01,995 --> 00:34:05,115 Speaker 1: about how this is all being arranged and made lit. 527 00:34:05,115 --> 00:34:08,635 Speaker 1: And I say, rakes, what do you need rakes for 528 00:34:08,755 --> 00:34:11,835 Speaker 1: on a commercial? And they say you'll see. And then 529 00:34:11,915 --> 00:34:14,075 Speaker 1: each time me and Una and the guy walk down 530 00:34:14,115 --> 00:34:16,075 Speaker 1: the beach and the director says cut, we go back 531 00:34:16,075 --> 00:34:18,955 Speaker 1: to the starting point. Now out come two stage hands 532 00:34:18,995 --> 00:34:23,995 Speaker 1: with rakes and they rake the sand on the beach smooth, 533 00:34:24,835 --> 00:34:30,195 Speaker 1: and I say, oh, footprints. So each time I walk 534 00:34:30,275 --> 00:34:32,875 Speaker 1: down this damp beach with the rain just a little 535 00:34:32,915 --> 00:34:35,515 Speaker 1: harder than it was the take before, in my brand 536 00:34:35,515 --> 00:34:39,475 Speaker 1: new dress shoes, what I'm basically doing is polishing the 537 00:34:39,515 --> 00:34:42,675 Speaker 1: soles of these brand new shoes on damp sand. I mean, 538 00:34:42,715 --> 00:34:45,155 Speaker 1: by the time the director John says we are done, 539 00:34:45,315 --> 00:34:48,275 Speaker 1: these soles of these shoes are so shiny. I could 540 00:34:48,315 --> 00:34:52,475 Speaker 1: go ice skating in these shoes. And John comes over 541 00:34:52,555 --> 00:34:54,835 Speaker 1: and he says, listen, we got another half an hour. 542 00:34:54,955 --> 00:34:56,595 Speaker 1: Can we go back and try a new way for 543 00:34:56,675 --> 00:34:58,715 Speaker 1: you to appear on the rocks? I mean, can you 544 00:34:58,915 --> 00:35:02,235 Speaker 1: Can you climb rocks at all? And I say, yeah, actually, 545 00:35:02,475 --> 00:35:04,555 Speaker 1: I'm surprisingly good at it. You wouldn't think so, but 546 00:35:04,675 --> 00:35:07,515 Speaker 1: I can climb rocks. And he points to one rock 547 00:35:07,555 --> 00:35:10,995 Speaker 1: out cropping on the beach. Maybe it's eighteen twenty feet high, 548 00:35:11,035 --> 00:35:13,395 Speaker 1: and he says, try to climb up that and go 549 00:35:13,395 --> 00:35:16,155 Speaker 1: as high as you can. If there's nothing that'll support you, 550 00:35:16,155 --> 00:35:18,395 Speaker 1: we'll forget it. And I try, and sure enough I 551 00:35:18,435 --> 00:35:20,235 Speaker 1: get up near the top and there is a perfect 552 00:35:20,315 --> 00:35:23,315 Speaker 1: little shelf in the rock that I can comfortably stand on. 553 00:35:24,035 --> 00:35:27,355 Speaker 1: And the director points the camera up and he says, oh, damn, 554 00:35:27,395 --> 00:35:29,955 Speaker 1: the angle's too tough. I can't swing the camera down 555 00:35:30,075 --> 00:35:32,875 Speaker 1: fast enough for when you say eat something, so I 556 00:35:33,075 --> 00:35:36,115 Speaker 1: refocus on the models. It won't work. Is there anything 557 00:35:36,275 --> 00:35:38,515 Speaker 1: lower on the rock where you could stand? Can you 558 00:35:38,595 --> 00:35:42,235 Speaker 1: come down at all? And I said, I think so. 559 00:35:42,355 --> 00:35:44,955 Speaker 1: I think I can come down a little bit. Well, 560 00:35:45,035 --> 00:35:49,475 Speaker 1: little did I know? Sure enough, maybe nine ten feet 561 00:35:49,635 --> 00:35:53,555 Speaker 1: from the beach, up in the sky, there is another 562 00:35:53,595 --> 00:35:57,395 Speaker 1: little foothold on this rock. Outcropping. It is not big 563 00:35:57,515 --> 00:35:59,555 Speaker 1: enough for me to put both my feet on it. 564 00:35:59,595 --> 00:36:01,835 Speaker 1: But I say, if you don't mind me holding onto 565 00:36:01,875 --> 00:36:04,155 Speaker 1: the rock as I say, eat something, I can do 566 00:36:04,195 --> 00:36:07,235 Speaker 1: it from here. And the director says, okay, let's try it. 567 00:36:07,675 --> 00:36:10,395 Speaker 1: And I climb down the rock and he's moving the 568 00:36:10,435 --> 00:36:13,395 Speaker 1: camera and I put my left foot on this flat part, 569 00:36:13,435 --> 00:36:15,435 Speaker 1: which is nine or ten feet up from the beach, 570 00:36:15,675 --> 00:36:18,595 Speaker 1: and for a couple of seconds everything is fine. I'm good. 571 00:36:20,035 --> 00:36:24,155 Speaker 1: And that's when I feel that my left shoe, my 572 00:36:24,355 --> 00:36:28,675 Speaker 1: brand new left shoe, straight from the floor, shine catalog, 573 00:36:28,955 --> 00:36:32,715 Speaker 1: bright and shiny and now having been polished by four 574 00:36:32,755 --> 00:36:34,955 Speaker 1: hours of walking up and down on a wet beach, 575 00:36:34,995 --> 00:36:37,875 Speaker 1: complete with two guys there to rake the beach and 576 00:36:37,955 --> 00:36:40,635 Speaker 1: make sure it is as shiny as it possibly can be. 577 00:36:42,475 --> 00:36:47,115 Speaker 1: My left shoe, slipperier than a diamond, is now moving 578 00:36:47,195 --> 00:36:52,515 Speaker 1: of its own accord. I'm holding, I'm doing a good 579 00:36:52,635 --> 00:36:57,195 Speaker 1: rock climbing job, but the shoe, the shoe is not holding. Hey, 580 00:36:57,675 --> 00:37:00,955 Speaker 1: I say, with some alarm, I'm about to fall off. 581 00:37:02,675 --> 00:37:05,675 Speaker 1: I hit the sand no more than five five seconds later, 582 00:37:06,315 --> 00:37:10,195 Speaker 1: so that's about us sixteen foot drop from my head 583 00:37:10,235 --> 00:37:14,195 Speaker 1: to the beach. And for weeks, for years still to 584 00:37:14,235 --> 00:37:16,955 Speaker 1: this day, it has amazed me more than anything else 585 00:37:16,995 --> 00:37:20,155 Speaker 1: that happened. It has amazed me how much went through 586 00:37:20,235 --> 00:37:24,435 Speaker 1: my mind before I crashed. In fact, before I actually fell, 587 00:37:25,475 --> 00:37:28,115 Speaker 1: I know, I did a quick height calculation. Yeah, fifteen 588 00:37:28,155 --> 00:37:31,755 Speaker 1: sixteen feet. I recognized that the outcropping was so vertical 589 00:37:31,795 --> 00:37:33,995 Speaker 1: that I was unlikely to hit any of the rock 590 00:37:34,355 --> 00:37:37,595 Speaker 1: on the way down. But just the same I remember 591 00:37:37,675 --> 00:37:42,275 Speaker 1: that the rocks continued under the sand. See. I took 592 00:37:42,275 --> 00:37:44,955 Speaker 1: two years of geology, and this was going to be 593 00:37:45,075 --> 00:37:49,275 Speaker 1: a hard landing. More amazingly than all that, Though I 594 00:37:49,315 --> 00:37:53,155 Speaker 1: had taken judo as a kid, I hated every minute 595 00:37:53,195 --> 00:37:57,715 Speaker 1: of judo. Nineteen sixty five nineteen sixty six, so twenty 596 00:37:57,755 --> 00:38:01,035 Speaker 1: six and twenty seven years before we shot this commercial, 597 00:38:01,795 --> 00:38:06,915 Speaker 1: I was in the studio, the Judo Studio in White Plains, 598 00:38:06,995 --> 00:38:11,395 Speaker 1: New York, the day of the nineteen sixty five Northeast blackout, 599 00:38:12,155 --> 00:38:15,195 Speaker 1: and the only happy memory of the entire judo experience 600 00:38:15,235 --> 00:38:19,955 Speaker 1: I had was when our instructor, Bob Durocher locked us 601 00:38:19,995 --> 00:38:22,795 Speaker 1: in the dojo that had been converted from a store 602 00:38:22,835 --> 00:38:25,315 Speaker 1: that had a front door that was set in several 603 00:38:25,395 --> 00:38:28,035 Speaker 1: feet from the streets so they could put display cases up. 604 00:38:28,915 --> 00:38:30,635 Speaker 1: And now it's pitch black. So he went out and 605 00:38:30,675 --> 00:38:34,075 Speaker 1: got his Volkswagen Karmen Gia drove it up over the 606 00:38:34,155 --> 00:38:38,435 Speaker 1: sidewalk into that set in entryway of this converted storefront. 607 00:38:38,555 --> 00:38:41,475 Speaker 1: He put his high beams on. He flooded the dojo 608 00:38:41,595 --> 00:38:43,795 Speaker 1: with enough light that we kids could change out of 609 00:38:43,795 --> 00:38:46,915 Speaker 1: our judo stuff and back into our regular clothes and 610 00:38:47,035 --> 00:38:50,115 Speaker 1: wait for our parents to come get us. He did 611 00:38:50,115 --> 00:38:53,435 Speaker 1: a great job. I didn't like the judo so much, 612 00:38:53,875 --> 00:38:59,435 Speaker 1: but his blackout operations practice was superb. So now, with 613 00:38:59,595 --> 00:39:01,995 Speaker 1: all of this having gone through my head in a second, 614 00:39:02,075 --> 00:39:05,195 Speaker 1: I began to fall, and everything else from that year 615 00:39:05,275 --> 00:39:08,355 Speaker 1: of once a week judo classes comes back to me. Relax. 616 00:39:08,515 --> 00:39:11,035 Speaker 1: As you drop, the more of your body that hits, 617 00:39:11,275 --> 00:39:14,955 Speaker 1: the less you'll get hurt. Hands protect the head. Drop 618 00:39:15,115 --> 00:39:19,035 Speaker 1: like a sack of sand. I did not hit the sand, 619 00:39:19,155 --> 00:39:21,715 Speaker 1: per se. I kind of splattered on my left side 620 00:39:22,355 --> 00:39:26,475 Speaker 1: swop as I rolled over onto my back and took 621 00:39:26,515 --> 00:39:30,355 Speaker 1: a breath and sat up. Of all people, Una was 622 00:39:30,395 --> 00:39:32,595 Speaker 1: the first to race over to me. You want some 623 00:39:32,675 --> 00:39:36,995 Speaker 1: blank and tea. I said, no, thanks, let me see 624 00:39:36,995 --> 00:39:39,915 Speaker 1: if I'm dead. The grips. Tried to help me to 625 00:39:39,915 --> 00:39:42,315 Speaker 1: my feet, but I felt some very sharp pain that 626 00:39:42,355 --> 00:39:46,235 Speaker 1: which suggested we should slow down. The problem was, though, 627 00:39:46,275 --> 00:39:48,395 Speaker 1: even if I needed an ambulance, there was no way 628 00:39:48,435 --> 00:39:50,875 Speaker 1: to get one down to where we were shooting, As 629 00:39:50,915 --> 00:39:54,715 Speaker 1: that rock out cropping that I had just fallen from suggested, 630 00:39:55,795 --> 00:39:57,875 Speaker 1: I like to call it a cliff every now and again. 631 00:39:58,235 --> 00:40:02,195 Speaker 1: Leo Correo State Park had a real cliff in it 632 00:40:02,355 --> 00:40:04,475 Speaker 1: and a flight of stairs, I mean a hundred steps 633 00:40:04,515 --> 00:40:07,355 Speaker 1: to one hundred steps up to the Pacific Coast Highway 634 00:40:07,475 --> 00:40:10,555 Speaker 1: and a park. Sure enough, I was able to stand, 635 00:40:11,115 --> 00:40:14,715 Speaker 1: but I couldn't move easily. Everything hurt. So the two 636 00:40:14,795 --> 00:40:17,315 Speaker 1: biggest members of the crew let me drape my arms 637 00:40:17,315 --> 00:40:20,475 Speaker 1: over their shoulders, exactly the way I had draped my 638 00:40:20,715 --> 00:40:23,795 Speaker 1: arms over their shoulders of the models during the beach shot. 639 00:40:25,155 --> 00:40:29,315 Speaker 1: I stopped for a second. Hey, Ona, you sure you 640 00:40:29,395 --> 00:40:34,275 Speaker 1: don't want to Frankin carry me up the stairs, she said, 641 00:40:34,315 --> 00:40:39,955 Speaker 1: with genuine sincerity. Now that's blank and funny. Seemed to 642 00:40:40,035 --> 00:40:41,795 Speaker 1: me like it took about a month to get up 643 00:40:41,835 --> 00:40:45,235 Speaker 1: those stairs. I assumed there would be an ambulance waiting 644 00:40:45,275 --> 00:40:49,555 Speaker 1: by this point. Instead, there was a park ranger. This 645 00:40:49,715 --> 00:40:51,515 Speaker 1: is a state park. I have to see you first, 646 00:40:51,555 --> 00:40:54,635 Speaker 1: then I have to call the fire department. I said, well, 647 00:40:54,635 --> 00:40:56,875 Speaker 1: this pain on my side here, this feels like fire, 648 00:40:56,875 --> 00:40:59,235 Speaker 1: but I don't think it's actually fire. He called the 649 00:40:59,235 --> 00:41:01,795 Speaker 1: fire department. They showed up, They assessed me. They called 650 00:41:01,835 --> 00:41:05,315 Speaker 1: the ambulance. At some point, probably when I was being 651 00:41:05,355 --> 00:41:10,715 Speaker 1: half dragged up the steps, something happened on the impact side. 652 00:41:10,795 --> 00:41:13,515 Speaker 1: If I now tried to lower my left arm from 653 00:41:13,635 --> 00:41:18,075 Speaker 1: way above my head, I got severe shooting, burning pain 654 00:41:18,595 --> 00:41:22,635 Speaker 1: from my left arm pit to about my left knee. Cleverly, 655 00:41:23,195 --> 00:41:27,115 Speaker 1: I figured out not to do that. Keep your left 656 00:41:27,235 --> 00:41:32,235 Speaker 1: arm above your head and it won't hurt. I use 657 00:41:32,315 --> 00:41:34,475 Speaker 1: the restroom in the ranger station. There was no blood, 658 00:41:34,475 --> 00:41:39,315 Speaker 1: so no kidney damage. I'm okay. It does, however, hurt, 659 00:41:39,355 --> 00:41:43,035 Speaker 1: and something could be broken. Now I go back outside, 660 00:41:43,115 --> 00:41:45,475 Speaker 1: my arm above my head like I'm signaling for a 661 00:41:45,595 --> 00:41:48,475 Speaker 1: cab on the streets of New York City. And the 662 00:41:48,515 --> 00:41:51,115 Speaker 1: ambulance shows up and the AMTS tell me to get 663 00:41:51,155 --> 00:41:54,235 Speaker 1: on there gurney, and I said, I can't. I can't 664 00:41:54,315 --> 00:41:58,995 Speaker 1: lower my arm unless I want excruciating pain. I can't 665 00:41:59,035 --> 00:42:02,595 Speaker 1: move my arm. I have to stay in this position, 666 00:42:02,635 --> 00:42:07,435 Speaker 1: looking like a Flamenco dancer. But I said, listen, can 667 00:42:07,515 --> 00:42:09,675 Speaker 1: you lock the wheels on this gurney? And they said, 668 00:42:09,755 --> 00:42:11,355 Speaker 1: sure we can, of course we can. And I said, 669 00:42:11,595 --> 00:42:14,915 Speaker 1: just lock the wheels and I'll just back up onto 670 00:42:14,955 --> 00:42:18,795 Speaker 1: the end of it and I'll fall backwards. And it worked, 671 00:42:19,395 --> 00:42:21,835 Speaker 1: and so with my left arm still extended over my head, 672 00:42:21,835 --> 00:42:25,555 Speaker 1: they loaded me into the ambulance. Apparently, when I fell 673 00:42:25,555 --> 00:42:28,635 Speaker 1: from that rock or cliff as I call it, it 674 00:42:28,715 --> 00:42:32,395 Speaker 1: looked like I had been shot. Fifty sixty people on 675 00:42:32,475 --> 00:42:36,115 Speaker 1: a commercial crew. The shooting day is over. They have 676 00:42:36,195 --> 00:42:39,475 Speaker 1: missed lunch. There is a very nice catered lunch sitting there. 677 00:42:39,995 --> 00:42:43,355 Speaker 1: And they told me later that everybody was so disturbed 678 00:42:43,355 --> 00:42:46,195 Speaker 1: by what happened to me that only three people even 679 00:42:46,275 --> 00:42:49,675 Speaker 1: took something to go and know. The director was not 680 00:42:49,955 --> 00:42:54,355 Speaker 1: filming as I fell. Sadly, so we hit every pothole 681 00:42:54,515 --> 00:42:57,275 Speaker 1: on Pacific Coast Highway on the trip from the beach 682 00:42:57,315 --> 00:43:01,915 Speaker 1: to the hospital. Oh ah, ooh, I call my agent 683 00:43:02,035 --> 00:43:05,875 Speaker 1: from my cell phone, she laughed. I called ESPN actually 684 00:43:05,875 --> 00:43:07,835 Speaker 1: to check on the catered dinner. Oh what's new? Oh? 685 00:43:07,835 --> 00:43:10,355 Speaker 1: I fell off a cliff shooting the commercial. They laughed. 686 00:43:10,955 --> 00:43:13,075 Speaker 1: And I'm lying there in the emergency room waiting for 687 00:43:13,235 --> 00:43:15,915 Speaker 1: X rays when my cell phone rings again and I 688 00:43:15,955 --> 00:43:18,355 Speaker 1: reach into my left pocket and I had the phone 689 00:43:18,435 --> 00:43:21,075 Speaker 1: halfway to my ear when I realized, my left side 690 00:43:21,155 --> 00:43:25,235 Speaker 1: does not hurt anymore at all. It does not hurt 691 00:43:25,275 --> 00:43:30,115 Speaker 1: at all. Well, that was a quick recovery. I sat up. 692 00:43:30,315 --> 00:43:32,915 Speaker 1: My left side felt fine, In fact, it felt great, 693 00:43:33,435 --> 00:43:35,475 Speaker 1: and a nurse came over and suggested I should lie 694 00:43:35,515 --> 00:43:38,675 Speaker 1: back down again. I said, why, somehow I got better 695 00:43:38,835 --> 00:43:41,195 Speaker 1: on the trip from all the potholes and just lying here, 696 00:43:41,755 --> 00:43:44,275 Speaker 1: in fact, I feel great. Did you guys remove my 697 00:43:44,395 --> 00:43:46,995 Speaker 1: left leg while I wasn't looking? Did you replace it 698 00:43:46,995 --> 00:43:48,675 Speaker 1: with the left leg that I had when I was twelve? 699 00:43:48,715 --> 00:43:50,715 Speaker 1: Because I could hop back to Connecticut on my left 700 00:43:50,795 --> 00:43:55,315 Speaker 1: leg right now, Just cancel the flight, she laughed. She said, no, 701 00:43:55,955 --> 00:43:58,075 Speaker 1: what I was feeling would be the morphine they gave 702 00:43:58,115 --> 00:44:00,115 Speaker 1: me so they could twist me around and take the 703 00:44:00,275 --> 00:44:03,395 Speaker 1: X rays they needed. And I said, please never ever 704 00:44:03,595 --> 00:44:08,275 Speaker 1: give me any more that ever again. Thank you. My 705 00:44:08,395 --> 00:44:11,035 Speaker 1: Judo flashback, as it turned out, had done the job. 706 00:44:11,115 --> 00:44:14,755 Speaker 1: I had broken nothing. The er doctor complimented me on 707 00:44:14,795 --> 00:44:17,555 Speaker 1: my fall, and he said, I probably had six or 708 00:44:17,595 --> 00:44:21,195 Speaker 1: eight different sprains on my left side. It would hurt, 709 00:44:21,355 --> 00:44:23,635 Speaker 1: but it would keep getting better and I'd be able 710 00:44:23,635 --> 00:44:25,995 Speaker 1: to make my flight home the day after next. He 711 00:44:26,075 --> 00:44:29,675 Speaker 1: was completely right, although I now found twenty five years 712 00:44:29,755 --> 00:44:32,395 Speaker 1: later that it's beginning to hurt like I just fell 713 00:44:32,435 --> 00:44:35,435 Speaker 1: off the cliff. Anyway, I went back to the hotel. 714 00:44:35,515 --> 00:44:37,555 Speaker 1: I ate well, I slept well, I managed to walk 715 00:44:37,595 --> 00:44:39,195 Speaker 1: around with the help of a cane, and I went 716 00:44:39,235 --> 00:44:42,075 Speaker 1: back for day two of the commercial shoot. This one 717 00:44:42,115 --> 00:44:45,675 Speaker 1: is in a mansion in Pasadena, a room teeming full 718 00:44:45,715 --> 00:44:49,955 Speaker 1: of UNA's lying on the floor. They're photographs through chandeliers. 719 00:44:49,995 --> 00:44:52,315 Speaker 1: They're lazy, rich kids who also need to be told 720 00:44:52,355 --> 00:44:57,475 Speaker 1: to eat something. I arrived and walked into applause from 721 00:44:57,515 --> 00:45:01,355 Speaker 1: the crew, and I delivered a well rehearsed line. And 722 00:45:01,395 --> 00:45:04,155 Speaker 1: now for my next trick, which is when the director 723 00:45:04,235 --> 00:45:06,515 Speaker 1: John came over and apologized, and he said he thought 724 00:45:06,555 --> 00:45:10,195 Speaker 1: this entry into shot for me would be way easier. 725 00:45:10,435 --> 00:45:11,995 Speaker 1: What I had to do is lie on the floor, 726 00:45:12,315 --> 00:45:17,395 Speaker 1: then sit up and deliver the line eat something. If 727 00:45:17,395 --> 00:45:19,875 Speaker 1: you can sit up, he said, that is. If you can't, 728 00:45:20,195 --> 00:45:22,395 Speaker 1: we can do something else. Can you sit up? And 729 00:45:22,435 --> 00:45:24,275 Speaker 1: I thought about it, and I rubbed my lower back 730 00:45:24,315 --> 00:45:26,515 Speaker 1: and I said, based on the day so far, yeah, 731 00:45:26,515 --> 00:45:30,755 Speaker 1: I could, but probably only six or seven times. And 732 00:45:31,675 --> 00:45:34,555 Speaker 1: I said, while I can sit up, it's clear to 733 00:45:34,635 --> 00:45:37,795 Speaker 1: me one of those bad sprains was in the muscles 734 00:45:37,795 --> 00:45:40,475 Speaker 1: somewhere of my lower back. And if I try to 735 00:45:40,555 --> 00:45:43,715 Speaker 1: lay back down, I lose control. I'll just crash back 736 00:45:43,755 --> 00:45:45,995 Speaker 1: to the floor. That actually happened getting out of bed 737 00:45:46,035 --> 00:45:50,915 Speaker 1: this morning. So after each take, the same two guys 738 00:45:50,915 --> 00:45:53,155 Speaker 1: who had walked me up the stairs after I fell 739 00:45:53,155 --> 00:45:56,155 Speaker 1: at the beach gently held my arms and shoulders and 740 00:45:56,315 --> 00:46:01,195 Speaker 1: lowered me back to lying on the floor. We got 741 00:46:01,195 --> 00:46:03,755 Speaker 1: what we needed. I went back to the hotel. I 742 00:46:03,795 --> 00:46:06,035 Speaker 1: had dinner with some friends. The next day. I was 743 00:46:06,035 --> 00:46:08,115 Speaker 1: a little sore, but perfectly fine to get back on 744 00:46:08,155 --> 00:46:11,195 Speaker 1: the plane east, and sure enough, only time ever, I 745 00:46:11,275 --> 00:46:14,155 Speaker 1: had a west to east tailwind. The flight from lax 746 00:46:14,195 --> 00:46:17,395 Speaker 1: to Newark took three hours and forty eight minutes. We 747 00:46:17,555 --> 00:46:20,555 Speaker 1: traversed the country like a dart shot from a gun 748 00:46:20,995 --> 00:46:25,835 Speaker 1: or an Ulderman falling from a rock out cropping. Oh, 749 00:46:25,835 --> 00:46:30,315 Speaker 1: by the way, the commercial was an immediate success, unlike 750 00:46:30,395 --> 00:46:34,075 Speaker 1: any that Boston Market had ever done before. In those days, 751 00:46:34,115 --> 00:46:37,155 Speaker 1: they were packed each night for dinner at every location, 752 00:46:37,555 --> 00:46:42,555 Speaker 1: selling half chickens and full meals with potatoes and salads, 753 00:46:43,035 --> 00:46:45,275 Speaker 1: and they were getting an average of twelve dollars out 754 00:46:45,315 --> 00:46:47,435 Speaker 1: of every customer. The rest of the day the place 755 00:46:47,515 --> 00:46:51,515 Speaker 1: was empty. The idea behind my commercials. They were designed 756 00:46:51,515 --> 00:46:53,515 Speaker 1: to bring in a lunch crowd a sandwich and a 757 00:46:53,515 --> 00:46:57,675 Speaker 1: soda and a bag of chips for four dollars. Soon 758 00:46:57,715 --> 00:47:01,835 Speaker 1: they were swamped at lunchtime. Boston Market ordered three more commercials, 759 00:47:02,195 --> 00:47:04,035 Speaker 1: these to be shot in a studio in New York. 760 00:47:04,075 --> 00:47:08,155 Speaker 1: They offered me fifty grand a day. An entire new 761 00:47:08,315 --> 00:47:11,235 Speaker 1: career vista was opening in front of me. I was, 762 00:47:11,555 --> 00:47:14,075 Speaker 1: for a week or two in early nineteen ninety seven 763 00:47:14,435 --> 00:47:19,635 Speaker 1: the most successful male commercial actor in the country. We 764 00:47:19,715 --> 00:47:23,795 Speaker 1: shot those three spots. I interrupted a grunge concert to 765 00:47:23,835 --> 00:47:26,555 Speaker 1: shout eat something at the band, and then I got 766 00:47:26,555 --> 00:47:29,355 Speaker 1: carried off by the crowd in a mosh pit. And 767 00:47:29,435 --> 00:47:32,435 Speaker 1: I interrupted a Romeo soap opera surgeon coming on to 768 00:47:32,515 --> 00:47:35,715 Speaker 1: his nurse by rising from the operating table to shout 769 00:47:35,755 --> 00:47:39,035 Speaker 1: eat something. And then we did something with ballplayers at 770 00:47:39,035 --> 00:47:41,315 Speaker 1: the stadium on Randall's Island. And I remember nothing of 771 00:47:41,355 --> 00:47:44,555 Speaker 1: that because Unlike the first two, they never edited the 772 00:47:44,595 --> 00:47:50,195 Speaker 1: film because that's when it happened, their equivalent of falling 773 00:47:50,235 --> 00:47:54,515 Speaker 1: off the cliff. I will confess it had not occurred 774 00:47:54,515 --> 00:47:57,555 Speaker 1: to me. Then again, I did not own Boston Market. 775 00:47:57,875 --> 00:48:00,595 Speaker 1: I did not work for their marketing department. I did 776 00:48:00,635 --> 00:48:03,875 Speaker 1: not run the ad agency they employed. But none of 777 00:48:03,915 --> 00:48:07,155 Speaker 1: them anticipated it either. After the first few weeks of 778 00:48:07,195 --> 00:48:10,115 Speaker 1: giddy glee about the lunch crowds I had brought them, 779 00:48:10,515 --> 00:48:15,955 Speaker 1: somebody noticed something unfortunate and unexpected. Basically, for every four 780 00:48:16,035 --> 00:48:18,475 Speaker 1: dollar lunch they were now selling, they were selling one 781 00:48:18,715 --> 00:48:24,395 Speaker 1: fewer twelve dollars dinner. They had not gained any new customers. 782 00:48:24,595 --> 00:48:26,955 Speaker 1: They had just managed to get their customers to each 783 00:48:26,995 --> 00:48:32,755 Speaker 1: spend eight dollars less. These very well made, very memorable 784 00:48:32,795 --> 00:48:36,515 Speaker 1: commercials worked very very well, And the problem with that 785 00:48:36,755 --> 00:48:39,755 Speaker 1: was each time they did work, it cost Boston Market 786 00:48:39,795 --> 00:48:43,915 Speaker 1: eight dollars. By the end of nineteen ninety seven, Boston 787 00:48:43,915 --> 00:48:47,155 Speaker 1: Market was something like nine hundred million dollars in debt. 788 00:48:47,835 --> 00:48:50,595 Speaker 1: It had filed for bankruptcy and had been taken over 789 00:48:50,635 --> 00:48:55,275 Speaker 1: by McDonald's. On the other hand, I got my money, 790 00:48:56,235 --> 00:48:59,075 Speaker 1: and in the twenty five years plus since Boston market 791 00:48:59,075 --> 00:49:01,755 Speaker 1: has not once used a celebrity endorser to try to 792 00:49:01,795 --> 00:49:06,675 Speaker 1: sell their food. Oh and there was one other positive outcome. 793 00:49:07,155 --> 00:49:10,515 Speaker 1: I'm actually very proud of this. The ad agency got 794 00:49:10,515 --> 00:49:13,675 Speaker 1: the award in question. I did not, so I don't 795 00:49:13,715 --> 00:49:16,395 Speaker 1: know which group gave it to us, but that eat 796 00:49:16,635 --> 00:49:22,315 Speaker 1: Something campaign actually won an award because somehow my shouting 797 00:49:22,435 --> 00:49:26,515 Speaker 1: eat something at Una and the other way thin models, 798 00:49:26,555 --> 00:49:30,195 Speaker 1: somehow that cut through to at least some victims of 799 00:49:30,315 --> 00:49:35,435 Speaker 1: eating disorders. The Boston Market eat Something ad campaign for 800 00:49:35,475 --> 00:49:38,755 Speaker 1: which I fell off a cliff. Okay, a rock outcropping 801 00:49:39,115 --> 00:49:42,035 Speaker 1: for which I fell off a rock outcropping got an 802 00:49:42,035 --> 00:49:59,635 Speaker 1: award from a national Bolimia association. I've done all the 803 00:49:59,715 --> 00:50:01,995 Speaker 1: damage I can do here. Thank you for your support. 804 00:50:02,195 --> 00:50:07,355 Speaker 1: Last night, Countdown got its nine millionth download since we 805 00:50:07,435 --> 00:50:11,035 Speaker 1: started last year. Half of these have been since February. 806 00:50:11,715 --> 00:50:15,835 Speaker 1: Thank you tell the others. Here are the credits. Most 807 00:50:15,835 --> 00:50:17,915 Speaker 1: of the music was arranged, produced, and performed by Brian 808 00:50:17,995 --> 00:50:21,115 Speaker 1: Ray and John Phillip Shaneal, who are the Countdown musical directors. 809 00:50:21,315 --> 00:50:25,195 Speaker 1: All orchestration and keyboards by John Phillip, Schanelle, guitars based 810 00:50:25,195 --> 00:50:28,515 Speaker 1: and drums by Brian Ray. Produced by Tko Brothers. Other 811 00:50:28,555 --> 00:50:31,355 Speaker 1: Beethoven selections have been arranged unperformed by the group No 812 00:50:31,475 --> 00:50:34,635 Speaker 1: Horns Allowed. The sports music is the Olderman theme from 813 00:50:34,835 --> 00:50:37,635 Speaker 1: ESPN two, and it was written by Mitch Warren Davis 814 00:50:37,635 --> 00:50:41,155 Speaker 1: courtesy of ESPN, Inc. Musical comments from Nancy Fauss. The 815 00:50:41,195 --> 00:50:44,475 Speaker 1: best baseball stadium organist ever. Our announcer was Kenny Maine. 816 00:50:44,675 --> 00:50:47,395 Speaker 1: Everything else is pretty much my fault. That's countdown for 817 00:50:47,435 --> 00:50:49,835 Speaker 1: this the eight hundred and sixty third day since Donald 818 00:50:49,875 --> 00:50:53,275 Speaker 1: Trump's first attempted coup against the democratically elected government of 819 00:50:53,275 --> 00:50:56,715 Speaker 1: the United States. Do not forget to keep arresting him 820 00:50:57,035 --> 00:51:00,155 Speaker 1: while we still can. The next scheduled countdown is tomorrow. 821 00:51:00,235 --> 00:51:03,435 Speaker 1: Until then, I'm Keith Olberman. Good morning, good afternoon, good night, 822 00:51:03,955 --> 00:51:14,915 Speaker 1: and throw the first punch. Countdown with Keith Olderman is 823 00:51:14,955 --> 00:51:19,755 Speaker 1: a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit 824 00:51:19,795 --> 00:51:24,475 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.