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CNN Live At Daybreak

What's the Talk Around the Country?

Aired September 05, 2002 - 05:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So, you ask, what's the talk around the country other than here at CNN?
We want to check in with Jimmy Barrett at WRVA News Radio 1140 in Richmond, Virginia.

Jimmy's on the phone with us right now.

Hi, Jimmy.

JIMMY BARRETT, WRVA RADIO HOST: How are you this morning?

COSTELLO: Good.

I guess we must talk about "American Idol" because what a phenomenon this has become.

BARRETT: Well, it has. And here's what you have to wonder. I have one word for you this morning.

COSTELLO: What?

BARRETT: O Town.

COSTELLO: O Town?

BARRETT: Remember O Town?

COSTELLO: No.

BARRETT: No, well, that's why, see. The making of the band was supposed to make O Town a star and now we have Kelly Clarkson, of course, who's the new American idol. And the question I suppose the cynics in all of us would ask this morning is how long will Kelly Clarkson be a star?

COSTELLO: Well, she's already got a record deal, doesn't she? So maybe she'll make it bigger than O Town did, who knows?

BARRETT: Well, here's what she has. She has a million dollar recording contract. Now, out of that million dollars, I imagine they're probably going to be, what, charging a little bit to produce the CDs and to get them distributed. So how much of that million dollars will she see? I guess we just, we'll have to wait and see.

She's not going to rake any real money unless she turns out to sell a whole lot of CDs and quite frankly I hope she does. COSTELLO: Well, she needs a good songwriter and she just needs one good catchy song, because what she sang on "American Idol" last night, you know, they had those two songs that they wrote for the singers to sing?

BARRETT: Right.

COSTELLO: Those kind of stunk.

BARRETT: Yes, well, I think you're right. I mean you're only as good as the material and let's face it, you know, artists like Celine Dion always end up with a great song so.

COSTELLO: Yes.

CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Maybe she should sing the national anthem at the Richmond Raceway this weekend.

BARRETT: I think she's, isn't she supposed to do it at some September the 11th remembrance? I think she is.

MYERS: Oh, is that right?

COSTELLO: Oh, Jimmy, I'm glad you brought that up because that's making a lot of people angry. Yes, she is going to sing at the Lincoln Memorial on September 11 during the ceremonies there to remember that day and some people say that just smacks of lousy commercialism.

BARRETT: Well, here's the thing, though, do we, can we agree on one thing, she's a very, very good singer?

COSTELLO: Yes.

BARRETT: All right. If she treats the national anthem with the love and respect and reverence that we would hope that she would, then what is wrong with having her sing it? She could...

COSTELLO: Well, I only have one thing to say about that, Jimmy, and I'm just bringing up what people are saying. There is actually a group that went after the winner of "American Idol" to sing at the Lincoln Memorial and they're using the performance to promote their cause.

BARRETT: Well, all right. Yes, I mean if that's the case, then I understand where the controversy exists. But I mean as far as just because of the fact that she happened to win on a television show and she's singing the national anthem, I don't have any particular problem with that.

COSTELLO: Hey, let's talk about this, what you see Wisconsin has banned West Virginia's mascot from bringing in his musket. What the hack is that about?

BARRETT: Hey, well, I, well, first of all, I have some good news on that story. It looks like the University of Wisconsin has finally realized well, hey, wait a minute. Maybe we're just, maybe we're being a little too politically correct here.

COSTELLO: Well, it's not a real musket is it?

BARRETT: Yes, well, it's, they use gunpowder. They fire it off. It's like a starting pistol. It's not going to hurt anybody. But I don't think that's where the problem is. I mean take a look -- you can see this guy right now. I don't know why we're concerned about him carrying a gun.

MYERS: Well, I am.

BARRETT: That's what...

MYERS: I know why we're concerned.

BARRETT: Well, look it...

MYERS: Look at the hat, dude.

BARRETT: He looks like Daniel Boone, doesn't he? Well, here's the problem. I mean he's wearing a fur cap. He's got a buckskin jacket and pants. He's got leather shoes on. I'm sure that pouch he's carrying has got leather in it. And you know what else? I bet he smokes a corncob pipe and drinks moonshine.

MYERS: Yes.

BARRETT: And this guy, this guy...

MYERS: Yes, give him a gun.

BARRETT: I mean the gun is the least of this guy's problems, OK? He's done all the deadly sins here. I guess Wisconsin has changed their mind and said yes, OK, you can bring the gun in, but you can't fire it.

COSTELLO: Oh.

MYERS: Yes.

BARRETT: But the university...

COSTELLO: Because why did they do it in the first place?

BARRETT: Well, it's the University of Wisconsin.

MYERS: It's a mascot.

BARRETT: I mean they're a little...

COSTELLO: No, I mean why, they have a firearms policy and they want to, and they have a policy that says no guns.

BARRETT: Well, they do. But you know what? I think that policy there, you make exceptions for things like mascots. I mean it's obvious this is not a firearm that's going to be used to actually shoot anybody or anything. But the University of Wisconsin, it's up there in, how should we say, liberal land, and I think, you know, the politically correct folks there used this as an opportunity to ban what they think is...

COSTELLO: So, basically, Jimmy, what you're saying, if you're a weird looking mascot, go ahead, bring that gun, because it's safe.

BARRETT: Well, my guess is if you want to, if you have an Indian mascot, you might run into problems at the University of Wisconsin, as well.

MYERS: Yes.

BARRETT: Let's put it that way.

MYERS: Hey, Jimmy, we've got to go and I know you do, too.

BARRETT: See you guys later.

MYERS: I will see you in about 36 hours.

BARRETT: Yes, we're looking forward to it. We'll head on down to the racetrack and you can explain NASCAR to me, because I'm still trying to figure it out.

COSTELLO: You guys are going to the races?

MYERS: We're going to the race.

BARRETT: Yes.

MYERS: Yes, ma'am.

BARRETT: Yes, we are.

COSTELLO: Oh, CNN, a place where...

MYERS: We still don't have tickets, of course, but we're going. We're going to have to go scalp 'em somewhere.

BARRETT: Hey, maybe somebody will recognize us and lend a helping hand. I hope so.

COSTELLO: Yes, fat chance.

Anyway, Jimmy, thank you very much for joining us. We appreciate it.

BARRETT: See you guys.

MYERS: See you, dude.

COSTELLO: Friends are made here on CNN. It warms my heart.

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