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American Morning

Butterball Turkey Tips

Aired November 28, 2002 - 07:51   ET

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

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: They can be a Thanksgiving cook's best friends, the people manning the Butterball turkey tip line. That's where this turkey is located, as is our Jeff Flock. He's in Downers Grove, Illinois, gathering the information you desperately need for that perfect Thanksgiving bird, and he joins us live now.
Well, I've never been to the turkey tip hot line live -- Jeff.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a turkey of an assignment, I'll tell you, Carol, so you're really missing out. But we are listening in to all sorts of folks here. It's fascinating to listen to these people, as they actually answer these questions that come in here.

And if you're calling right now, chances are you've got a -- you know, your turkey is frozen or it's on fire or something. So, it's interesting to...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, is going to brown and smokey (ph), and it's going to get really bronze. It's going to get a dark, golden brown. It's the most (ph) absolutely beautiful.

FLOCK: I love it. Positive reinforcement, that's always a great thing.

There are 46 people here, all college educated, all who have been prepping for this on these phone, and everybody is pretty much -- Shirlene (ph), everybody is on the phone here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes. But certainly this morning, we're all busy talking.

FLOCK: Now, if you're getting a call right now, chances are somebody has got a problem, right? I mean, they are calling because, oh, my god, the thing is still frozen. And if it's still frozen, what do I do? Put it out in the street or something, what?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, no. It depends on when dinner is being served. If they have a couple of hours yet before dinner, or it's time to put the turkey in the over, they can put it in cold water. Or otherwise, they'll just need to start it in the oven with it still being a little icy.

FLOCK: Gotcha. And it's just fascinating to listen to this lady. Here, let's just listen. It's just always great to listen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right, well, thank you. Have a good day.

FLOCK: And they're all so polite. Isn't that great. Even if you've got frantic people on the other end.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right. Well, we know how important this day is to everyone, and the turkey is always the star of the meal. So, you know, it's great to help people, even though they are frantic. They appreciate it.

FLOCK: We don't want it burned or frozen, one or the other. Shirlene (ph), you are the dean of Butterball U, I am told. So, you're in charge of training all of these folks, and it's fascinating to see this operation. I appreciate the time. Thank you.

Carol, that's the latest here. If you've got a particular question for your turkey, I'd be happy to answer it for you.

COSTELLO: Jeff, I want to know what the weirdest question is. I keep waiting for that.

FLOCK: Well, that's a good one. What is the weirdest question?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, you know, most of the questions are pretty sensible, but we do -- we had one caller who -- a little boy thought that a turkey cavity was a garage, and it would be perfect for his Hot Wheels car. So, he rolled his car into the cavity of the turkey, and of course, mom put the stuffing in on top of the Hot Wheels car.

So, they may not be real weird, but they're fun and heartwarming stories.

FLOCK: And so, the answer was, don't eat the car, but you can eat the stuffing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, that's right. That's right. You can eat the stuffing, but not the car.

FLOCK: And the number to call, by the way, if we haven't missed it, is 1-800-butterball.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.

FLOCK: OK. And even if you don't have a Butterball turkey, you might as well go ahead and call, right? You will help anybody.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right. We will help everyone.

FLOCK: Good deal. There you go.

COSTELLO: That was a cute story.

FLOCK: All right, Carol.

COSTELLO: Jeff Flock, thanks. We'll get back to you.

FLOCK: My pleasure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired November 28, 2002 - 07:51   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: They can be a Thanksgiving cook's best friends, the people manning the Butterball turkey tip line. That's where this turkey is located, as is our Jeff Flock. He's in Downers Grove, Illinois, gathering the information you desperately need for that perfect Thanksgiving bird, and he joins us live now.
Well, I've never been to the turkey tip hot line live -- Jeff.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a turkey of an assignment, I'll tell you, Carol, so you're really missing out. But we are listening in to all sorts of folks here. It's fascinating to listen to these people, as they actually answer these questions that come in here.

And if you're calling right now, chances are you've got a -- you know, your turkey is frozen or it's on fire or something. So, it's interesting to...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, is going to brown and smokey (ph), and it's going to get really bronze. It's going to get a dark, golden brown. It's the most (ph) absolutely beautiful.

FLOCK: I love it. Positive reinforcement, that's always a great thing.

There are 46 people here, all college educated, all who have been prepping for this on these phone, and everybody is pretty much -- Shirlene (ph), everybody is on the phone here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes. But certainly this morning, we're all busy talking.

FLOCK: Now, if you're getting a call right now, chances are somebody has got a problem, right? I mean, they are calling because, oh, my god, the thing is still frozen. And if it's still frozen, what do I do? Put it out in the street or something, what?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, no. It depends on when dinner is being served. If they have a couple of hours yet before dinner, or it's time to put the turkey in the over, they can put it in cold water. Or otherwise, they'll just need to start it in the oven with it still being a little icy.

FLOCK: Gotcha. And it's just fascinating to listen to this lady. Here, let's just listen. It's just always great to listen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right, well, thank you. Have a good day.

FLOCK: And they're all so polite. Isn't that great. Even if you've got frantic people on the other end.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right. Well, we know how important this day is to everyone, and the turkey is always the star of the meal. So, you know, it's great to help people, even though they are frantic. They appreciate it.

FLOCK: We don't want it burned or frozen, one or the other. Shirlene (ph), you are the dean of Butterball U, I am told. So, you're in charge of training all of these folks, and it's fascinating to see this operation. I appreciate the time. Thank you.

Carol, that's the latest here. If you've got a particular question for your turkey, I'd be happy to answer it for you.

COSTELLO: Jeff, I want to know what the weirdest question is. I keep waiting for that.

FLOCK: Well, that's a good one. What is the weirdest question?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, you know, most of the questions are pretty sensible, but we do -- we had one caller who -- a little boy thought that a turkey cavity was a garage, and it would be perfect for his Hot Wheels car. So, he rolled his car into the cavity of the turkey, and of course, mom put the stuffing in on top of the Hot Wheels car.

So, they may not be real weird, but they're fun and heartwarming stories.

FLOCK: And so, the answer was, don't eat the car, but you can eat the stuffing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, that's right. That's right. You can eat the stuffing, but not the car.

FLOCK: And the number to call, by the way, if we haven't missed it, is 1-800-butterball.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.

FLOCK: OK. And even if you don't have a Butterball turkey, you might as well go ahead and call, right? You will help anybody.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right. We will help everyone.

FLOCK: Good deal. There you go.

COSTELLO: That was a cute story.

FLOCK: All right, Carol.

COSTELLO: Jeff Flock, thanks. We'll get back to you.

FLOCK: My pleasure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.