10/1/02

LC02101

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IS TOUGH ENOUGH FOR ADULTS, BUT IT PALES IN COMPARISON TO BEING AN OVERWEIGHT KID.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE FUN OF ME WHEN I LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SEAT WOULD SQUEAK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THEY’D SAY, HEY, FAT BOY, WHY ARE YOU MAKING SO MUCH NOISE? EVEN THE TEACHERS SEEMED TO BE LIKE A LITTLE BIT LEANING TOWARDS SKINNER PEOPLE AND I WAS FEELING THAT.

VAL>> GRAY DAVIS HAS FLOODED THE AIRWAVES WITH CAMPAIGN COMMERCIALS, BUT IS THE GOVERNOR USING THOSE ADS TO CLAIM CREDIT HE DOESN’T DESERVE?

>> “DAVIS SIGNED LEGISLATION INCREASING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. SIMON HAS SAID HE WOULD ROLL BACK THAT INCREASE....”

VAL>> WE’LL PUT THE COMMERCIALS TO THE TEST IN TONIGHT’S REALITY CHECK.

JESS>> AND THEN WE’LL TALK WITH AN ACTOR WHO’S PLAYED SOME MEMORABLE CHARACTERS. YOU MAY REMEMBER HIM AS ONE OF THE ROCKED OUT MUSICIANS IN A CLASSIC LITTLE FILM CALLED “THIS IS SPINAL TAP”. MICHAEL MCKEAN HAS HAD MANY STANDOUT ROLES SINCE THEN AND TONIGHT WE’LL ASK HIM ABOUT HIS LATEST ONE.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. IN THIS YEAR OF ABDUCTIONS, MANY OF US HAVE WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN, BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, ONE OF THE GREATEST THREATS THEY FACE COMES NOT FROM A PREDATOR, BUT FROM FOOD. AMERICA’S KIDS ARE OVERWEIGHT AND, OVER THE NEXT THREE NIGHTS, WE’LL BE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY.

VAL>> WE’RE CALLING OUR SPECIAL SERIES “TIPPING THE SCALES” AND IT BEGINS WITH A STRUGGLE OF ONE YOUNG BOY WHO’S TRYING TO SLIM DOWN BEFORE HIS WEIGHT CAUSES SEVERE HEALTH PROBLEMS. AS GAY YEE REPORTS, THAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH CHILDHOOD OBESITY. IT CAN HURT MORE THAN A KID’S SELF-ESTEEM.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> LET’S SEE HOW MUCH I WEIGH TODAY.

GAY YEE>> THE MORNING WEIGH-IN. EVERY TIME FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL MARCELLO GETS ON THE SCALE, HE CRINGES.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> 237. WAYS TO GO.

GAY YEE>> AT OVER TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, THIS ISN’T BABY FAT.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> IT’S REALLY HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT EVEN THOUGH IT’S SO EASY TO GAIN WEIGHT. IT’S LIKE IF YOU GAIN ONE POUND, IT TAKES LIKE A WEEK JUST TO TAKE THAT OFF AND IT’S VERY DIFFICULT.

GAY YEE>> MICHAEL MARCELLO IS LIKE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN SWEPT UP IN ONE OF AMERICA’S FASTEST GROWING EPIDEMICS: CHILDHOOD OBESITY. IN JUST THE LAST TWENTY YEARS, THE NUMBER OF SERIOUSLY OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN IN THE U.S. HAVE DOUBLED. AMONG ADOLESCENTS, IT’S TRIPLED. AND IF YOU WONDER HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN, JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE TYPICAL AMERICAN DIET.

OUR GREAT-GRANDPARENTS WOULD BARELY RECOGNIZE WHAT WE EAT AND HOW MUCH OF IT WE EAT AND THEY’D SURELY NEVER UNDERSTAND WHERE WE EAT IT. THAT’S HOW MUCH THE COUNTRY’S DIET HAS CHANGED OVER THE PAST CENTURY. AND IT DOESN’T JUST LOOK DIFFERENT. TODAY’S FOOD IS DIFFERENT. MUCH OF IT IS HIGHLY PROCESSED, NUTRIENTS GET LEECHED OUT WHILE FATS, SUGARS AND SODIUM GET ADDED. THE RESULT? TODAY’S FOOD TYPICALLY HAS MORE CALORIES PER BITE THAN IT DID GENERATIONS AGO.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> THIS WOULD BE MY NORMAL MEAL FROM IN-N-OUT. SHAKE, FRIES AND A HAMBURGER.

GAY YEE>> ALL OF WHICH ONLY ADDS TO HIS HEALTH PROBLEMS AND UNDERMINES HIS SELF-ESTEEM WHEN HE’S AT SCHOOL.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE FUN OF ME WHEN I LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SEAT WOULD SQUEAK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THEY’D SAY, HEY, FAT BOY, WHY ARE YOU MAKING SO MUCH NOISE? EVEN THE TEACHERS SEEMED TO BE LIKE A LITTLE BIT LEANING TOWARDS SKINNER PEOPLE AND I WAS FEELING THAT.

GAY YEE>> BUT IT’S NOT JUST BRUISED EGOS EXPERTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT. DOCTORS POINT TO THE MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS THAT OFTEN ACCOMPANY OBESITY, SLEEP APNEA, ASTHMA, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND SOMETHING THAT WAS ALMOST UNHEARD OF AMONG YOUNGSTERS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, TYPE II DIABETES.

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> THIS IS A MUCH, MUCH MORE PREVALENT ISSUE THAN IT EVER WAS BEFORE. IN ABOUT 1992 AND 1994, MOST OF US WOULD SAY AT THE MOST FIVE PERCENT OF OUR PATIENTS HAD TYPE II DIABETES. NOW WE’RE LOOKING AT OUR OWN CENTER ONE IN FOUR CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES NOW.

GAY YEE>> THE FOOD INDUSTRY SPENDS $36 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON ADVERTISING, MUCH OF IT AIMED AT CHILDREN, BOMBARDING THEM WITH MESSAGES TO EAT, EAT, EAT. AND WHEN THEY DO, SOME GET IN TROUBLE.

JENNY MARCELLO>> WE WENT TO THE DOCTOR IN JUNE AND I TOLD THEM MICHAEL’S NOW APPROACHING 250. I’M SCARED. I DO NOT WANT MY CHILD DYING ON ME.

>> HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT TYBO IS?

GAY YEE>> MICHAEL’S DOCTOR REFERRED THE FAMILY TO KIDSHAPE.

CHRISTIANNE WERT>> KIDSHAPE IS A FAMILY-BASED PEDIATRIC WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

GAY YEE>> IT’S AN EIGHT-WEEK TREATMENT PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP OBESE CHILDREN LOSE WEIGHT.

CHRISTIANNE WERT>> THESE CHILDREN ARE REFERRED TO US WHEN THEY ARE GREATER THAN TWO HUNDRED POUNDS. THE PROBLEM REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT A LONG TIME AGO.

GAY YEE>> THERE’S HELP FROM REGISTERED DIETICIANS --

>> SOME OF YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT MIGHT BE A REALLY GOOD GOAL FOR EXERCISE.

GAY YEE>> -- MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND EVEN FITNESS TEACHERS. AND THERE IS ONE KEY REQUIREMENT. THE WHOLE FAMILY HAS TO PARTICIPATE.

CHRISTIANNE WERT>> IT’S CRITICAL THAT THE ENTIRE FAMILY ADOPTS HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES BECAUSE A CHILD IS NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IF THEY ARE TRYING TO EAT HEALTHIER, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE FAMILY IS NOT.

JENNY MARCELLO>> AND AFTER WORKING WITH HIM BY MYSELF, THEN IT BECAME THE PARENT-CHILD CONFRONTATION.

GAY YEE>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EIGHT WEEKS, JENNY MARCELLO TOLD THE OTHER PARENTS HER YEARS OF TRYING TO HELP MICHAEL HAD GONE NOWHERE.

JENNY MARCELLO>> I COULD SEE HIM GROWING AND GROWING AND HE COULDN’T SEE HIMSELF GAINING THAT WEIGHT. WHEN HE SURPASSED MY WEIGHT AND HE WAS YOUNGER THAN ME, I SAID, OH, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE? I’M REALLY OUT OF CONTROL.

GAY YEE>> JENNY WAS TOLD TO GIVE UP CONTROL AND INSTEAD BECOME MORE OF A CHEERLEADER AND COACH. HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE? GETTING MICHAEL OUT THE DOOR FOR A 3.8 MILE WALK EVERY DAY. MICHAEL PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN THIS SUCCESSFUL HAD IT NOT BEEN A TEAM EFFORT. THE WHOLE FAMILY GOT WITH THE PROGRAM, ADOPTING NOT JUST HEALTHIER EATING HABITS, BUT ALSO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.

JENNY MARCELLO>> SO WE’VE GOT CANTALOUPE, BLACKBERRIES, APPLES..

GAY YEE>> THE WHOLE FAMILY IS CHANGING ITS HABITS, ESPECIALLY AT THE SUPERMARKET. NOW THEY BUY FRESH FOOD AND SPEND A LOT LESS TIME IN THE AISLE WITH THE FROZEN MICROWAVE MEALS.

JENNY MARCELLO>> AND YOU HAVE TO REALLY READ THE LABELS WHICH WE LEARNED AT KIDSHAPE THAT IF YOU READ THE LABEL NOW, YOU COMPARE THE CALORIES TO THE FAT CALORIES. THERE’S ONLY 240 CALORIES IN HERE, BUT OF THAT, IT’S 45 FAT CALORIES.

GAY YEE>> MICHAEL’S DAD, SONNY, IS THE COOK IN THE HOUSE. FOOD IS PREPARED AHEAD. IT’S JUST AS CONVENIENT AS THE PROCESSED PRE-PACKAGED STUFF THE BUSY FAMILY USED TO EAT, BUT WITHOUT ALL THE CALORIES.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> SO I START OUT MEASURING ONE CUP OF RICE. I ACTUALLY PREPARE MY OWN LUNCHES FOR SCHOOL THAT ARE LIKE COMPOSED OF VEGETABLES, CHICKEN, RICE AND FRUIT.

GAY YEE>> THE CHANGES IN DIET AND LIFESTYLE ARE PAYING OFF. IN JUST EIGHT WEEKS, MICHAEL HAS LOST NEARLY TWENTY POUNDS.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> FINALLY NOW, AFTER ALL THIS STRUGGLE, I FINALLY HAVE FOUND A WAY TO GET SOMETHING WHERE I CAN ACTUALLY BEGIN TO CHANGE MYSELF.

GAY YEE>> MICHAEL HAS LEARNED LESSONS ABOUT FOOD THE HARD WAY, BUT HE SAYS HIS PERSONAL PAYBACK ISN’T WHAT HE SEES ON THE SCALE. IT’S WHAT HE HEARS NOW AT SCHOOL.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> NOW I’M ACTUALLY CHANGING AND PEOPLE SEE IT AND THEY REALIZE THAT I AM REALLY TRYING AND THEY RESPECT ME FOR THAT.

JESS>> AS YOU SAW IN THAT REPORT, JOINING US NOW IS DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN. SHE IS AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN HOLLYWOOD. COULD WE DISPEL SOME NOTIONS -- I ASSUME DISPEL IS THE RIGHT WORD -- IS OBESITY A GLANDULAR PROBLEM?

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> OH, VERY INFREQUENTLY IS IT REALLY DUE TO A GLAND PROBLEM.

JESS>> AND SOME PEOPLE SAY MY METABOLISM IS THE PROBLEM.

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> WELL, THERE’S A VEILED DISTRIBUTION OF PEOPLES’ METABOLISM, BUT MOST OF US AREN’T VERY DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER.

JESS>> AND WE SAW WITH SOME OF THOSE PARENTS, IS IT GENETIC?

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> THERE IS A GENETIC COMPONENT.

JESS>> AND CAN IT BE CULTURAL?

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> WELL, IT’S A LIFESTYLE CHOICE. PART OF THAT IS INVOLVING OUR CULTURE. AND THERE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A BIG SHIFT OF HOW WE ALL LIVE OUR LIVES IN THE LAST FIFTY TO A HUNDRED YEARS THAT HAS REALLY HELPED PROMOTE THIS PROBLEM.

VAL>> NOW IF DIABETES IS ONE OF THE MAIN THREATS, YOU’RE SEEING A LOT OF CHILDREN COME IN WITH THIS TYPE II DIABETES, HOW IS IT TREATED? IS IT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY RECOVER FROM OR IS IT SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH ALL THEIR LIVES? ARE THEY AT RISK OF DIABETES ALL THEIR LIVES? HOW DOES THAT WORK?

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> WELL, THAT KIND OF DIABETES, WHAT WE CALL TYPE II DIABETES, IS REALLY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF INSULIN TO ACT NORMALLY IN THE BODY AND ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT OF AN INABILITY TO MAKE ENOUGH INSULIN. IF WE LOOK AT THAT AS KIND OF A CONTINUUM, IT STARTS SLOWLY. WE COULD PREVENT IT FROM BECOMING FULL-BLOWN DIABETES IF WE INTERVENED AND WE GOT SOMEBODY TO REALLY LOSE WEIGHT, CHANGE THEIR LIFESTYLE. WE’RE LOOKING FROM AN INVESTIGATIONAL STANDPOINT WHETHER THERE MIGHT BE A ROLE FOR SOME MEDICATIONS TO HELP PREVENT DIABETES. IT LOOKS, SO FAR, THAT A CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN WE’RE GOING TO FIND MEDICATIONS TO BE.

THEN IF YOU GET DIABETES, AGAIN, IF YOU REALLY BUY INTO LIFESTYLE AND LOSE WEIGHT AND CHANGE HOW YOU LEAD YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN REALLY MAKE THAT DIABETES EITHER KIND OF GO AWAY OR GET A LOT BETTER SO THAT MAYBE YOU DON’T NEED TO TAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS. THEN IF YOU GET FARTHER AND FARTHER AND FARTHER, IT BECOMES HARDER AND HARDER TO TREAT, IT TAKES MANY MORE MEDICATIONS AND LEADS TO THE COMPLICATIONS THAT DIABETES LEADS TO, BLINDNESS AND HEART DISEASE. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THESE COMPLICATIONS USUALLY DEVELOP ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN YEARS OR TWENTY YEARS AFTER YOU’VE BEEN DIAGNOSED.

JESS>> BUT, DOCTOR, THE BASIC PRESCRIPTION IS DIET AND EXERCISE STILL, HUH?

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> WELL, A GOOD NUTRITION PLAN WORKS. WE’RE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THAT WORD “DIET” AND TALK ABOUT A HEALTHY EATING PATTERN.

JESS>> AND YOU HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM INDIA. IS THIS A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM?

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> OH, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE WORLDWIDE PROBLEM. THERE ARE AREAS SUCH AS ASIA THAT ARE GOING TO SEE MUCH MORE OF THIS KIND OF DIABETES THAN WE ARE IN THE UNITED STATES.

VAL>> IS IT BECAUSE WE’RE EXPORTING OUR FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS AND FOOD?

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> PARTLY. WE’RE EXPORTING OUR FAST FOODS AND THE TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING. THEY’RE GETTING INTO, YOU KNOW, CARS AND NOT WALKING ANYPLACE. THEIR WORK HABITS HAVE CHANGED AND FOOD HAS CHANGED FOR THEM AS WELL.

JESS>> IF CHILDREN GET INVOLVED IN NUTRITION AND EXERCISE, DOES IT BECOME A LIFELONG HABIT THEN, YOU HOPE?

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> WELL, THAT’S CERTAINLY THE HOPE. YOU KNOW, WE REALLY FEEL WE’VE GOTTEN TO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE LIFE HAS CHANGED SO MUCH. SCHOOLS HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH. I MEAN, WHAT USED TO HAPPEN AT SCHOOL IS NOT WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW. WE’D LIKE TO CHANGE SCHOOLS BACK, MODEL GOOD BEHAVIOR INSIDE THE SCHOOL, HELP FAMILIES LIVE BETTER AND MORE HEALTHY LIVES AND MAKE BETTER CHOICES.

VAL>> IN FACT, THAT’S WHAT WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT TOMORROW. PERFECT SEGUE. DR. KAUFMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR COMING IN.

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> TOMORROW, AS WE SAID, MORE OF OUR LOOK AT CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND WE’LL ASK WHY SCHOOLS HAVE GOTTEN SO HOOKED ON THE MONEY THAT THEY MAKE FROM JUNK FOOD.

>> THERE IS A LARGE FEAR THAT WE’RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY IF WE DON’T SELL SODA AND JUNK FOOD ON CAMPUS. THE IRONY IS THAT IT WAS NEVER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR STUDENTS TO SUBSIDIZE THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE’RE IN A REALLY SAD SITUATION IF WE’RE RELYING ON THEIR POCKET CHANGE TO RUN A SCHOOL.

JESS>> FIVE WEEKS AND COUNTING. THAT’S HOW LONG IT IS TO THE NOVEMBER 5 ELECTION AND THE MAIN ATTRACTION IS THE RACE FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR. GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS PLANS TO SPEND $3 MILLION DOLLARS A WEEK ON TELEVISION COMMERCIALS. THAT AMOUNTS TO NEARLY $18,000 AN HOUR.

VAL>> PHEW. WHILE DAVIS AND OTHERS ARE SPENDING MONEY ON THOSE ADS, WE’LL BE PUTTING THE COMMERCIALS THROUGH OUR POLITICAL MEAT GRINDER TO SEPARATE THE FACT FROM FANTASY. WE CALL IT “REALITY CHECK” AND TONIGHT CINNY KENNARD BEGINS WITH A LOOK AT A DAVIS COMMERCIAL PLAYING ON A TELEVISION NEAR YOU.

>> “GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS HAS GONE TO BAT FOR....”

CINNY KENNARD>> FOR MONTHS, THE GRAY DAVIS CAMPAIGN HAS COMMANDEERED THE TELEVISION AIRWAVES, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT TO POUND HIS OPPONENT AND BOAST OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THEY CALL THIS AD “ROLLBACK”.

>> “SIMON HAS SAID HE WOULD ROLL BACK THAT....”

CINNY KENNARD>> BUT WE FOUND, IN SOME CASES, DAVIS CLAIMS CREDIT WHERE OTHERS ACTUALLY TOOK THE LEAD.

>> “HE RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE.”

CINNY KENNARD>> DAVIS DID NOT RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE. IT’S NOT HIS JOB. IT’S THE JOB OF THE INDUSTRIAL WELFARE COMMISSION. ONCE THAT PANEL VOTES, THE MOVE DOES NOT REQUIRE RATIFICATION BY THE LEGISLATURE OR APPROVAL BY THE GOVERNOR, BUT THE GOVERNOR DOES APPOINT THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. IN THIS SAME COSTLY POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT, DAVIS TAKES YET MORE CREDIT.

>> “AND IMPROVED FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE.”

CINNY KENNARD>> TRUE, DAVIS DID IMPROVE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, BUT THE CALIFORNIA WORKER WILL PAY MORE IN PREMIUMS. THE LAW TAKES EFFECT IN 2004 AND THE COST OF THE NEW BENEFITS, ESTIMATED AT $117 MILLION DOLLARS IN ITS FIRST YEAR, WILL BE PAID ENTIRELY BY THE WORKER THROUGH HIGHER DISABILITY PREMIUMS DEDUCTED FROM THEIR PAYCHECK.

>> “AND HE SIGNED A LAW GIVING PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO....”

CINNY KENNARD>> THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN STARTED AIRING COMMERCIALS IN EARLY JUNE. SINCE THEN, THE ADS HAVE HAMMERED AWAY AT OPPONENT BILL SIMON QUESTIONING HIS MANAGEMENT OF HIS BUSINESSES. ONE SIMON COMPANY IS KNOWN AS GEOLOGISTICS.

>> “BILL SIMON FIRED HUNDREDS OF WORKERS, MANY WITHOUT NOTICE.”

CINNY KENNARD>> THE FACT IS, 650 NEW JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED SINCE SIMON PURCHASED THE COMPANY AND ANALYSTS EXPECT GEOLOGISTICS TO BECOME PROFITABLE. THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE THIS SUSTAINED AD BLITZ FOR THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS. IT’S A TACTIC SIMON IS UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO MATCH.

>> “GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS. EXPERIENCE WE TRUST. VALUES WE SHARE.”

JESS>> JOINING US NOW IS CINNY KENNARD. SHE'S A VETERAN POLITICAL REPORTER AND AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF JOURNALISM AT USC. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THIS IS ABOUT THE WAY IT IS IN ALL THESE CAMPAIGNS. THERE'S NOTHING REALLY STARTLING IN THIS, IS THERE?

CINNY KENNARD>> NO. IT'S JUST THAT THE MONEY KEEPS GETTING GREATER AND GREATER. LET ME JUST SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE. SINCE LABOR DAY, IF WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT A GRAPHIC THAT WE HAVE, GRAY DAVIS HAS SPENT NEARLY $6 MILLION DOLLARS -- THAT'S JUST SINCE LABOR DAY -- ON TELEVISION AD BUYS IN CALIFORNIA AND ALL THE BIG MARKETS AND SOME OF THE SMALLER ONES AS WELL, WHILE HIS OPPONENT, THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, HAS SPENT NEARLY $2 MILLION. NOW TAKE A LOOK AT THE YEAR TO DATE, WHICH I FOUND STARTLING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN HAS SPENT, IT'S NEARLY $27 MILLION DOLLARS --

VAL>> -- YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CAMPAIGN, INCLUDING THE PRIMARY?

CINNY KENNARD>> EXACTLY. WE'RE INCLUDING THE PRIMARY IN THAT, VAL. YOU LOOK AT WHAT MR. SIMON HAS SPENT, WHAT THE FORMER LOS ANGELES MAYOR RIORDAN HAS SPENT AND THEN WHAT THE FORMER STATE CONTROLLER -- WELL, ABOUT TO BE -- MR. JONES HAS SPENT, AND IT'S ONLY A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. IT MAKES YOU SEE THE CORRELATION PERHAPS BETWEEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT AND THE SUCCESS YOU HAVE AS A CANDIDATE. HOWEVER, HAVING SAID ALL OF THIS, IN LOOKING BACK, THAT ALTHOUGH GRAY DAVIS SET RECORDS BACK IN THE LUNGREN RACE FOUR YEARS AGO, STILL NOBODY HAS SET THE RACE THAT MR. CHECKY IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOUR YEARS AGO, WHICH WAS NEARLY $39 MILLION DOLLARS.

VAL>> OH, MY GOSH.

JESS>> AND THE NATURE OF THE TELEVISION SPOTS, THE NEGATIVE ADS. APPARENTLY THEY CONTINUE TO WORK. THE L.A. TIMES POLL REPORTED THIS MORNING THAT DAVIS HAS INCREASED HIS LEAD SUBSTANTIALLY.

CINNY KENNARD>> IT'S HARD WHEN A VIEWER IN CALIFORNIA IS SEEING SOMEWHERE FROM TEN TO TWENTY TELEVISION COMMERCIALS EVERY TIME THEY TURN ON THE TELEVISION A WEEK. IT'S HARD TO COMBAT THAT. YOU PROBABLY WON'T SEE THAT FROM THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY --

VAL>> -- YOU MEAN THE SIMON CAMPAIGN?

CINNY KENNARD>> EXCUSE ME, THE SIMON CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP PACE WITH WHAT DAVIS WILL PUT OUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

VAL>> BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE LOOK AT YOUR REALITY CHECK AND WATCH THE COMMERCIAL AND WE GO, OKAY, WE'RE BEING MANIPULATED, THESE ARE HALF-TRUTHS AND SPINS, AND YET, DARN IT, THEY WORK ON THE AVERAGE VOTER.

CINNY KENNARD>> IN SOME REGARDS, YOU CAN CERTAINLY SAY THAT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IN THIS CAMPAIGN, HOWEVER, IS THAT THE VOTER IS NOT GETTING A CLEAR LOOK AT HOW DIFFERENT THESE TWO CANDIDATES ARE. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A CLEAR CHOICE. OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, MR. SIMON COMMENTED ON MANY OF THE ACTIONS GOVERNOR DAVIS HAS TAKEN ON SEVERAL BILLS AND THERE WAS A CLEAR DIFFERENCE. ON STEM CELL RESEARCH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A BILL ON THAT. SIMON SAID HE'D VETO IT. ON MORE PUNISHMENT FOR GUN MANUFACTURERS, MR. SIMON WAS ASKED WOULD YOU HAVE SIGNED THAT BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR DID AND SIMON SAID, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. I WOULD VETO IT. THE SHAME IN ALL THIS IS THERE ARE --

JESS>> -- THAT'S WHY HE GOT THE NRA'S ENDORSEMENT? (LAUGHTER)

CINNY KENNARD>> EXACTLY, A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AND THE MONEY, BY THE WAY, THAT COMES WITH THAT. SO THE DIFFICULTY IN ALL THIS IS THAT THE VOTER IS NEVER GETTING TO SEE WHERE THEY CLEARLY STAND ON ISSUES.

VAL>> BUT WE WILL BE LOOKING TO YOU FOR MORE OF THESE REALITY CHECKS THAT CAN CUT THROUGH ALL THIS SPIN AND THE HALF-TRUTHS ON THESE COMMERCIALS.

CINNY KENNARD>> AND IN FAIRNESS, WE SHOULD SAY THAT WE WILL LOOK AT THE SIMON CAMPAIGN LATER THIS WEEK.

VAL>> OH, GOOD POINT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CINNY KENNARD.

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JESS>> THAT TV CLASSIC, "LAVERNE & SHIRLEY", WAS ALL ABOUT TWO BLUE COLLAR GIRLS IN MILWAUKEE, BUT THAT SHOW ALSO FEATURED ANOTHER DYNAMIC DUO, TWO GUYS NAMED LENNY AND SQUIGGY. OUR NEXT GUEST WAS LENNY AND THEN HE STARRED IN A LITTLE FILM WITH A HUGE FOLLOWING. YOU MAY REMEMBER MICHAEL MCKEAN IN THE MAKE-BELIEVE DOCUMENTARY CALLED "THIS IS SPINAL TAP".

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> AND MICHAEL MCKEAN IS HERE TONIGHT TO TALK, I HOPE, ABOUT THE UNIVERSE MAYBE --

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> -- STILL VALID QUESTIONS, I THINK (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) BUT YOUR NEW ROLE IS AS A TRAVELING SALESMAN WHO OBSERVES SOMETHING CALLED THE "100 MILE RULE". WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> WHAT IS THE 100 MILE RULE?

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> WELL, IT'S THE PREMISE THAT, IF YOU GET FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM HOME, THERE'S A CUTOFF POINT WHERE NOTHING YOU DO CAN BE MORALLY REPREHENSIBLE. IN THE MOVIE BUSINESS, WE SAY "OLDC", ON LOCATION DOESN'T COUNT. I DON'T SAY THAT, BUT SOME PEOPLE IN SHOW BUSINESS SAY THAT (LAUGHTER). I THINK IT'S ABOUT GROWN MEN WHO BEHAVE LIKE LITTLE BOYS WHEN THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.

VAL>> SO IT'S ABOUT THREE TRAVELING SALESMEN, ALL HUSBANDS, IS THAT CORRECT?

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT. I'M GOING ON MY FOURTH WIFE, I THINK, IN THIS ONE. THAT'S ALL OFF-SCREEN. ONE OF THE OTHER CHARACTER'S WIFE IS IN EVIDENCE.

VAL>> THERE IS ONE CHARACTER WHO ACTUALLY TRIES TO BE FAITHFUL TO HIS WIFE?

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> YES, AND YOU SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, IF YOU GO TO SEE THE MOVIE, YOU DO, YES.

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> IT'S A VERY INTERESTING FILM. IT WAS DIRECTED BY BRENT HUFF AND ONE OF THE PRODUCERS IS A GUY NAMED JOHN NELSON. HIS GRANDPARENTS WERE ACTUALLY OZZIE AND HARRIET. HOW GREAT IS THAT? YOU KNOW, IT'S THE ONLY REASON I NEEDED TO DO THIS FILM, BUT IT ACTUALLY TURNED OUT REALLY GOOD.

JESS>> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT OZZIE NELSON MAKES A POSTMORTEM APPEARANCE?

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> OH, NOW, THAT'S A TERRIBLE THING TO SAY (LAUGHTER). DOES HE? I THINK SO. DID THEY? DID THEY DO THAT? I THINK I SAW A ROUGH CUT. NO, I THINK I SAW ONE --

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) NOW YOU HAVE SUCH A VARIED CAREER. YOU HAVE TELEVISION AND FILM AND ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT ROLES. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WAS JUST -- MAYBE THIS IS UNDIPLOMATIC -- YOUR GOLDEN ERA? (LAUGHTER)

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> (LAUGHTER) I'M STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO MY GOLDEN ERA. WELL, I'M REALLY HAVING A GREAT TIME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'M DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. I PLAY THE ROLE OF MARTY SHORT'S BANDLEADER ON THE PRIMETIME GLICK SHOW ON COMEDY CENTRAL, ADRIAN VAN VOORHEES. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY DREAM TO PLAY THE HARP AND I STILL CAN'T, BUT I FAKE IT REALLY WELL NOW (LAUGHTER). I'M GOING TO MEXICO IN A COUPLE OF DAYS TO DO THIS FILM CALLED "AND STARRING PANCHO VILLA AS HIMSELF" WITH ANTONIO BANDERAS AND ALAN ARKIN --

VAL>> -- SOUNDS LIKE A COMEDY.

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> -- AND IT'S BEING DIRECTED BY BRUCE BERESFORD. NOT REALLY, NO. IT'S WRITTEN BY LARRY GELBART, WHO'S CERTAINLY A VERY FUNNY WRITER --

VAL>> -- HE'S FANTASTIC.

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> -- AND IT'S A WONDERFUL KIND OF MOVIE ABOUT WHY WE HAVE HEROES AND WHAT'S POLITICAL ABOUT THAT.

JESS>> YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT WRITING CREDITS OF YOUR OWN. "LAVERNE & SHIRLEY"?

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> YEAH, I WROTE A COUPLE OF THOSE, YEAH.

JESS>> AND SOME DIRECTING?

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> YEAH, YEAH, A BUNCH OF THAT. YOU KNOW, I CAN'T HOLD A JOB IS THE PROBLEM, JESS (LAUGHTER). I WISH I COULD FIND SOMETHING NICE AND STEADY.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TELEVISION TODAY? HAS IT GOTTEN GOOD, ESPECIALLY SITCOMS? YOU'D SAY "LAVERNE & SHIRLEY" WAS KIND OF A STANDARD FOR ITS DAY. I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE SOME PRETTY GREAT SITCOMS.

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> YEAH, YEAH, AND IT'S ALL CASTING. YOU KNOW, IT'S WHEN YOU GET THAT RIGHT. A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE SHOWS THAT DON'T WORK BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO SHOEHORN SOMEONE INTO A ROLE THEY DON'T REALLY BELONG IN OR THEY HAVE A COUPLE THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THE CHEMISTRY. THAT HAPPENS ON THE BIG SCREEN AS WELL ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE FEELING THAT WRITING STARTS WITH COMEDY, BUT, YOU KNOW, CASTING IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. I'M TRYING TO BE VERY DIPLOMATIC AND NOT SAY WHAT --

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) I WAS GOING TO SAY.

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> AS LONG AS "THE SIMPSONS", "LAW AND ORDER" AND "THE X-FILES" ARE STILL ON IN RERUNS, THAT'S FINE.

VAL>> YOU'RE HAPPY, OKAY.

JESS>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A SCENE FROM THE "100 MILE RULE". YOU'RE ABOUT TO NEGOTIATE, IS THAT RIGHT?

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> YEAH, YEAH, SOME HARDBALL.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO NOD BECAUSE THAT WAS QUITE A PITCH.

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> I WAS HOPING YOU'D AVOID THE ONE SHOT OF MY BALD SPOT IN THAT SCENE, BUT YOU HAD TO GET IT IN THERE, DIDN'T YOU? (LAUGHTER) OH, WELL.

JESS>> A LITTLE BLACKMAIL IN THIS MOVIE, HUH?

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> YEAH, YEAH. IT'S KIND OF A BLACKMAIL PLOT, BUT HOPEFULLY IT'S A PLOT THAT HAS SOME SURPRISES STREWN LIKE REARRANGED FURNITURE IN A DARK ROOM.

JESS>> IT'S NOT A MORALITY PLAY.

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW. WHAT ISN'T A MORALITY PLAY THESE DAYS? I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE IT IS, MAYBE IT IS.

VAL>> KIND OF A DARK COMEDY.

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> YEAH. I THINK THAT, IF THERE'S A MORAL, IT'S BEHAVE YOURSELF. BOY, THAT'S DOWNRIGHT REACTIONARY, ISN'T IT?

VAL>> YOU SUMMED IT UP AND NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO GO (LAUGHTER).

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> OH, YES, YOU DO. IT'S AT THE HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL, IN FACT. SCREENING VERY, VERY SHORTLY, AND I WISH I KNEW WHEN.

VAL>> FANTASTIC. NOW, OF COURSE, YOUR CLASSIC ROLE --

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> -- FRIDAY. SORRY. AT THE ARC LIGHT.

VAL>> VERY GOOD. YOUR CLASSIC ROLE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU FROM IS "THIS IS SPINAL TAP". I THINK WE HAVE A CLIP OF THAT AS WELL. ARE YOU TIRED OF EVERYBODY BRINGING THAT UP?

MICHAEL MCKEAN>> NO. IT HAS FALLEN TO ME TO BE A KIND OF A COLLECTION OF CATCH PHRASES AND IT'S USUALLY STUFF THAT I DON'T SAY. BUT WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME ON THE STREET AND THEY GO, "HEY, TURN IT UP TO ELEVEN", THAT'S ANOTHER CHARACTER AND THAT'S NIGEL. BUT I'M STILL LIKE OH, ROCK AND ROLL, YOU KNOW. IT'S JUST NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED AND I THINK IT HAPPENS JUST ENOUGH FOR ME. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE BEING JAMES GANDOLFINI AND TRYING TO WALK DOWN THE STREET IN NEW YORK CITY. I MEAN, THAT MUST BE A NIGHTMARE.

JESS>> YOU'RE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WHO HAS MANAGED TO KEEP WORKING AND THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR THAT. OUR THANKS TO MICHAEL MCKEAN. THE FILM IS "100 MILE RULE". IT IS DIRECTED BY BRENT HUFF.

VAL>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS EVENING. YOU CAN FIND TRANSCRIPTS OF OUR SHOWS ON OUR WEBSITE IF YOU GO TO KCET.ORG. CHECK OUT NOT JUST TRANSCRIPTS, BUT AUDIO STREAMING OF PAST PROGRAMS AS WELL AS UPCOMING SPECIALS. IT'S ALL THERE ON OUR WEBSITE, SO CHECK IT OUT.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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