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American Morning
Satire Sequel; Battleground States
Aired October 08, 2004 - 09:30 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone, on a Friday. Welcome back here. Bill Hemmer, along with Heidi Collins.
Good morning to you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
HEMMER: Must-see TV tonight.
COLLINS: yes.
HEMMER: George Bush, John Kerry, getting ready for debate No. 2. They may have some new battleground states to think about, too. We'll look at some poll numbers that are right now creating new uncertainty on the electoral map. We'll get to that story in a moment.
COLLINS: It's exciting, isn't it? Certainly exciting for these two guys, Jibjab -- that's not their names -- Gregg and Evan Spiridellis are actually their names, and they have made a huge splash, and they're going to talk about it this morning. They're latest spoof on the presidential campaign, you're looking at it. We'll talk to them and see more of "It's Good to be in D.C."
HEMMER: Equal time for equal views, right?
COLLINS: That's right, they did a really good job with that.
We're going to check on the stories in the news, though, first this morning with Kelly Wallace once again.
Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again to you. And good morning, everyone.
We begin in the Middle East. Egyptian and Israeli officials are working to evacuate all Israelis out of the Sinai Peninsula. This after at least 26 people were killed in attacks on three tourists resorts in Egypt filled with vacationing Israelis. An Israeli official is blaming Al Qaeda or an affiliate group for the bombings.
Here in the United States, Martha Stewart is serving her first day behind bars. Stewart arrived early this morning at a prison in Alderson, West Virginia. She will spent the next five months at the minimum-security facility that is being called "Camp Cupcake." And how did the homemaking diva spend her last day of freedom? A spokeswoman for her company says Stewart was at her office, working. This weekend, Lori Hacking's family will come together. Burial services are scheduled for the Salt Lake City woman tomorrow morning. You'll recall that Lori Hacking's remains were discovered in a Utah landfill last week. She had been missing since July. Her husband, Mark, is charged in the killing.
And a new warning from Johnson & Johnson. According to Reuters News Agency, the company will tell doctors next Monday that patients taking the arthritis drug Remicade may have a higher risk of lymphoma, a blood cancer. That gets you caught up.
Back to Heidi and Bill.
HEMMER: We'll see you again in a couple of minutes, look at the electoral map.
WALLACE: Absolutely.
HEMMER: Looking forward to that. Thank you, Kelly.
COLLINS: Thanks, Kelly.
And now the brothers behind the presidential campaign parody "This Land" have done it again. The sequel to their Internet blockbuster is called "It's Good to be in D.C." It premiered last night on "The Tonight Show."
Here's a peek.
(MUSIC)
COLLINS: And joining us from Santa Monica, California, Gregg and Evan Spiridellis. Their the creators of Jibjab Media.
Good morning, guys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning, Heidi. Thanks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning.
COLLINS: So tell me first, Evan, let's start with you, how did you come up with this idea? We know this is the second time around for you. But how did you come up with the idea? And then how long does it take once it goes from the idea phase onto the Web?
EVAN SPIRIDELLIS, JIBJAB.COM: Well, with this land we felt like we had done our election piece. But we were guests on "The Tonight Show," and when we were there, Jay Leno asked us if we'd do a follow- up for the show. So that's the kind of opportunity that doesn't come around every day.
COLLINS: It was a challenge.
E. SPIRIDELLIS: And it was a huge challenge. But, you know, of course we said yes, we came back to our studio and panicked, because we had to follow up this land. But we broadened our scope, and you know, we're proud of the follow-up.
COLLINS: Well, Gregg, you know, as we look at this, you really do a good job, I think, of, you know, giving a hard time to both candidates, or both sides, Republican and Democrats.
Let's listen one more time here to another clip and I'll get your comment in a moment.
GREGG SPIRIDELLIS, JIBJAB.COM: Sure, great.
(MUSIC)
COLLINS: Kind of makes you want to do a little jig. So tell me, who have you heard from? Have you heard from Senator Kerry's people, or from the Bush administration at all?
G. SPIRIDELLIS: Yes, well, we've heard from both sides in the press. We've seen quotes from Chris Heinz, and also from the head of the RNC. And the great thing about "This Land," and what you said before, was that both sides seemed to be able to laugh at themselves, and that's our goal. I mean Jibjab is not about our personal political views or one side or the other; it's about, you know, making people laugh, and that's what we, you know, tried to do again with "D.C." So that's been our goal.
COLLINS: And it's been viewed by 50 million -- well, I don't know how many different people, but 50 million hits on your Web site. I know you guys actually started in a garage like in 1999 or so. How amazing is it to you that now all of these people are seeing the creations that you come up with?
E. SPIRIDELLIS: Well, this is the dream come true. This is kind of why we started this thing. And it is totally, totally amazing and mind boggling, and we're grateful to anybody that's got it in their in-box and sent it to a friend or family member. That's the reason we're here.
G. SPIRIDELLIS: And you know -- I'm sorry. Never before on the Internet can two creators, like you said, in a garage create something that was literally viewed around the world. And that's what peeve been trying to do for five years. And somehow -- and we still can't believe it, it happened with "This Land." And like Evan said, we owe it all to the people who forwarded it.
COLLINS: We certainly appreciate your time this morning, Gregg and Evan Spiridellis. And I know some of the proceeds will be going to a charity as well. So thanks again, guys.
G. SPIRIDELLIS: Thank you.
E. SPIRIDELLIS: Thank you. Thanks for having us.
HEMMER: Nothing like getting a premiere on the tonight show, huh?
COLLINS: Yes, nice. HEMMER: Bravo.
Back in March, both campaigns identified about 20 states as battlegrounds that could go either way for President Bush or John Kerry. Now, less than a month before this election, only about half may truly be up for grabs.
Kelly Wallace breaks out the map for us now, red and blue states.
Good morning to you.
WALLACE: Good morning, Bill.
You know politics always interesting, also sometimes surprising, as you'll see. A few surprise states turning out to be possible key battlegrounds in these final few weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I know the president will join me in welcoming all of Florida to this debate.
WALLACE (voice over): It was no accident the first presidential debate was in Florida, the first and only vice presidential face-off in Ohio, and the last two presidential showdowns in Missouri and Arizona. All four states had been considered battlegrounds by both campaigns just a few months ago, but things have changed.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Wait until you get to Phoenix!
WALLACE: A CNN analysis of the latest polling shows Arizona likely going for President Bush and Missouri leaning the president's way. The Kerry campaign is no longer running TV ads in either place.
KERRY: I'm John Kerry and I approve this message.
WALLACE: So keeping in mind the ever-changing political landscape, get your pens ready. Here are some of the states up for grabs. Those we already mentioned, Florida and Ohio, and also Pennsylvania. But Colorado? That's right. A state Mr. Bush won by more than 8 points in 2000, a state where Senator Kerry prepared for tonight's debate.
KERRY: Well, obviously I'd like to win all of Colorado's electoral votes.
WALLACE: And a state where the race is neck-and-neck, according to the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We should have used the resources that we had.
WALLACE: And then there is New York, which explains why Senator Edwards was there yesterday. Recent polls show the race tightening in a state the Democrats easily won four years ago. Where else is it too close to call?
BUSH: Help is on the way!
WALLACE: Other states Mr. Bush won in 2000: New Hampshire, West Virginia, Nevada. And other states Al Gore won: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and New Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: So bottom line, about 12 or so competitive battleground states. These are the places where the campaigns are devoting most of their resources, because these states could -- underline could -- play the biggest role on election day.
HEMMER: And ultimately on that day, we will see then who turns out to vote.
WALLACE: Which is the key, who is going to get more of the...
HEMMER: In an election like this, you're exactly right.
WALLACE: Absolutely.
HEMMER: Thank you, Kelly. You watching later tonight?
WALLACE: I am watching, counting the hours.
HEMMER: Oh, yes.
7:00 Eastern, our coverage starts in St. Louis. I will be in Columbus, Ohio, with a group of undecided voters, two dozen -- twelve men, twelve women -- gauging their debate reactions in realtime to the questions and the answers and impressions they see later tonight. We'll see you then. Here's Heidi again with more.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Thank you, Chad.
In a moment, a New York City cab driver and a very good story, too. One of them goes the extra mile in today's "Extra Effort" segment. We'll get to that in a moment.
COLLINS: Honesty -- nice policy, huh?
And Beach Boy Brian Wilson back with an album three decades in the making. Curious what is sounds like. "90-Second Pop" up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: All right. Not sure what Madonna has to do with today's "90-Second Pop," but we're here to find out, aren't we, ladies? With us today, Sarah Bernard, contributing editor for "New York" magazine. Good morning, Sarah, on a Friday.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
HEMMER: Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly." Good morning, Jess.
JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Good morning.
HEMMER: And Crystal McCrary Anthony, good morning to you, the author of "Gotham Diaries" with us today on "90-Second Pop."
Jess, you're up first, by the way. Brian Wilson has released an album...
SHAW: Yes.
HEMMER: ... after 37 years in the making. What in the world took so long?
SHAW: Well, yes, he started it -- in 1967, he started working on this. He sort of famously had a sandbox in the room while he was composing. You know, there were a lot of drugs involved and -- which he has fully admitted to. And, you know, if you are a Beach Boys fan, you've heard some of these tracks over the past few years.
HEMMER: OK.
SHAW: A lot of bootlegs going on. But you know...
HEMMER: Well, he said we realized we had something a little too advanced for the people of that time?
SHAW: Yes, there was lot of in-fighting.
HEMMER: What's he talking about?
SHAW: Well, he and the Beach Boys fought so much over this album to the point where the Beach Boys are not on the album. It is Brian Wilson recording with his touring band.
HEMMER: The question is: Is it any good?
BERNARD: Well, it's supposed to be pretty good actually.
SHAW: Yes.
BERNARD: And when he says ambitious, I think he means that there is -- it's kind of like a medley of all different styles of music. The lyrics are all about the history of America. So, this is not your typical Beach Boys' fare.
HEMMER: I would say.
BERNARD: And he actually said...
CRYSTAL MCCRARY ANTHONY, AUTHOR, "GOTHAM DIARIES": This one is a masterpiece, right?
SHAW: Yes.
BERNARD: And he said he's actually -- he didn't go back to it for so long because he was actually afraid of it. There was one point where they were recording a song called "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" from the fire section of the masterpiece, and then a warehouse down the street actually burned down. So, he start thinking that there was, you know, magical powers to this music.
HEMMER: Well, Jessica, you said it, though.
SHAW: It's the '60s, right, exactly.
HEMMER: You said a lot of drugs.
SHAW: There was something else going on there.
HEMMER: And he said we were all on kind of crazy drugs at that time.
BERNARD: Yes, that's right.
ANTHONY: He said it's the greatest smile since Mona Lisa, so...
HEMMER: Let's talk about Botox now, kind of a smile-drug connection here.
BERNARD: Yes.
HEMMER: This is in L.A., a woman is suing, the jury is deliberating.
ANTHONY: Right, right.
HEMMER: She says she's got all kinds of medical problems. What happened?
ANTHONY: Sure, sure. Irena Medavoy, who is a Hollywood socialite -- I mean, this has all of the elements of a great Hollywood blockbuster. You have, you know, the set -- you're already in Hollywood. You have the socialites.
But the issue here is whether or not these injuries that -- you know, she claims she has severe migraines. Were they actually caused by these Botox injections that were used sort of in an experimental use to treat her migraines?
HEMMER: Well, does she get legal points against her for vanity?
ANTHONY: Well, you know, I'll tell you what, the community is certainly divided about that question.
HEMMER: Yes.
ANTHONY: I mean, the Hollywood community has a real issue with her suing her doctor, who is this long-time Hollywood dermatologist. I mean, he's friends with Michael Jackson. He's buddies with Elizabeth Taylor.
SHAW: I don't know...
(CROSSTALK)
SHAW: Right. Do you really want to use Michael Jackson's dermatologist?
HEMMER: Hey, note to user: Just accept the wrinkles.
We'll leave it there. Good to see all three of you. Have a great weekend, OK?
ANTHONY: Thank you.
HEMMER: All right -- Heidi?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Still to come now, how are the markets reacting this morning to the jobs report? Andy Serwer checks on Wall Street, coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Jobs the big topic on Wall Street today. Andy's back on that.
Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you guys again.
Let's check out and see what's going on on Wall Street. A muted reaction, as you might expect, this morning. The Dow is down eleven points, this in response to the jobs report that came out a little whiles back, and where we had a report, 96,000 jobs created in the month of September. Lower than expected. We were looking for 150,000 jobs. The unemployment rate stays constant at 5.4 percent.
Let's look and see where the jobs were added and lost. Here's where the jobs were added: service, strong; government, well, in temps -- some people would say those aren't quality jobs necessarily.
Let's move on to where the jobs were lost. Manufacturing continues to be weak in this country. For a couple months there in the spring, we did see some gains in that sector. But a continued contraction overall in manufacturing. And obviously this is going to be big stuff for...
HEMMER: Let me put you on the spot, if you're John Kerry, how do you argue those numbers tonight in this debate? SERWER: Well, I'd say they're worse than expected. I would say that economists usually look for 200,000 jobs to be created per month at this point in a recovery. And I would say, overall, that there have been job losses during the bush administration.
HEMMER: And if you're the president you say?
SERWER: If I'm the president, I would say we have 13 straight months of job creation. We've created over 1.5 million jobs this year so far. So you're going to get that back and forth.
HEMMER: The point's already been made. It depends on who you want to listen to and what numbers you're going to hear and going to make sense.
SERWER: That's right. We'll let the people decide, right?
COLLINS: We will.
Sixty-million last time around watching the debates?
HEMMER: Yes, 62.5.
SERWER: And a little baseball on tonight, too. You can pick and choose.
COLLINS: But it's Friday, you can flick, right?
SERWER: Right.
COLLINS: OK, Andy Serwer, thank you.
Well, our weekly "Extra Effort" series is a tribute to those going the extra mile to help others. This morning, it's a caring, yes, a caring, New York City cab driver. He returned a prized possession, and he's restored some precious memories to the family of a young cancer patient, just when it all seemed it was lost.
Here's CNN's Alina Cho now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are we getting hooked up to?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Chemo!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last time.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A final chemotherapy session captured on home video. For 11-year-old Meaghan Collins, who's battling bone cancer, a party is next.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When the last drop comes, (INAUDIBLE) let's go crazy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three... CHO: Fun and games, followed by a limo ride home with her friends, precious memories for a family who had been through so much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here she is, you know, a survivor, we're finished.
CHO: The celebration didn't last long. The very next day the Collins family got in a New York City cab, got out, and mistakenly left behind the family's video camera and two other cameras. Even now, Lorraine Collins (ph) has trouble talking about it.
LORAINE COLLINS, MEAGHAN'S MOTHER: That I possibly had left the camera in the taxi.
CHO (on camera): Houston, we have a problem.
COLLINS: Yes, exactly. And I knew exactly where it was.
CHO (voice-over): In Virendra Shukla cab.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This happens all the time.
CHO: The cabbie with a conscience turned the cameras in to police, without knowing the Collins family had contacted the media. "The New York Post" published a big picture and article. There was even a reward.
Cabbie Shukla had no idea, and didn't care.
(on camera): So when you found out what this was, how did you feel?
VIRENDRA SHUKLA, CAB DRIVER: It was very nice that they received it back, and it was their memory.
CHO: Shukla even met up with the Collins family, as their possessions and memories were returned.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With your camera.
CHO: As for the $5,000 reward, Mr. Shukla declined. The money will go to charity. His wish is that Meaghan will get better. The little girl who loves Beanie Babies and watching the Olson twins...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just want to say, thank you very much for finding our video camera, and now I can watch all the videos on it.
CHO: In the comfort of her bedroom, on the road to recovery.
Alina Cho, CNN, Stockholm, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And that's exactly why we do this segment on Fridays. What a great way to end the week. Well, you know, that $5,000 reward is going to a charity, as Alina mentioned. It's near and dear, though, to the Collins family, called the Tomorrow's Children Fund. It provides emotional support to children fighting cancer and other blood disorders.
HEMMER: Nice story. I left my digital camera in a cab a couple months ago, still missing.
COLLINS: Calling all cab drivers.
HEMMER: Please!
Next hour on CNN, Martha Stewart is in prison, her first day there, live to Camp Cupcake with Daryn Kagan next hour. We're back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Want to check in with Andy Borowitz one more time now, the Question of the Day on this Friday.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITIZREPORT.COM: Yes, well, we've been asking, should the way a candidate looks during a debate really matter? And Here are the final answers.
John says, "Who cares if someone registers facial expressions during a debate? Isn't it a bit silly that people turn in to news, someone sighing, or blinking or making a face while someone else says something they disagree with. We drive it into the ground with coverage."
Majid from Gainesville, Florida writes, "Wouldn't you look uncomfortable when you've realized you've just been taken behind the woodshed?"
And finally, JP writes, "Hey, Andy, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." And I'm not wearing lipstick, if that was a personal...
COLLINS: Hey, I am. I'm the only one. Oh, no, Kelly's over here, too.
HEMMER: This format is going to be very interesting tonight. You know Gallup goes out and tries to find these uncommitted or undecided voters, but the wild card in all this is that once a person gets the microphone, you're not quite sure what topic they're going to go to or what question they will ask.
Aaron Brown's coming up in about twelve short hours, preview of "NEWSNIGHT" right now.
Here is Aaron, looking forward to that later tonight -- Aaron.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AARON BROWN, "NEWSNIGHT" ANCHOR: Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT," the polls tightening, the stakes rising, heading into the second presidential debate in St. Louis. After the debate is over, the spinners have spun, a fact check from us. How did they do this time around? That story, plus all the day's top news. We'll throw in the Morning Papers, too. NEWSNIGHT, CNN tonight, at midnight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Aaron, thanks for that. We've got to run. Debate tonight, 7:00 our coverage starts. The debate is at 9:00, and...
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center now.
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 October 8, 2004 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone, on a Friday. Welcome back here. Bill Hemmer, along with Heidi Collins.
Good morning to you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
HEMMER: Must-see TV tonight.
COLLINS: yes.
HEMMER: George Bush, John Kerry, getting ready for debate No. 2. They may have some new battleground states to think about, too. We'll look at some poll numbers that are right now creating new uncertainty on the electoral map. We'll get to that story in a moment.
COLLINS: It's exciting, isn't it? Certainly exciting for these two guys, Jibjab -- that's not their names -- Gregg and Evan Spiridellis are actually their names, and they have made a huge splash, and they're going to talk about it this morning. They're latest spoof on the presidential campaign, you're looking at it. We'll talk to them and see more of "It's Good to be in D.C."
HEMMER: Equal time for equal views, right?
COLLINS: That's right, they did a really good job with that.
We're going to check on the stories in the news, though, first this morning with Kelly Wallace once again.
Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again to you. And good morning, everyone.
We begin in the Middle East. Egyptian and Israeli officials are working to evacuate all Israelis out of the Sinai Peninsula. This after at least 26 people were killed in attacks on three tourists resorts in Egypt filled with vacationing Israelis. An Israeli official is blaming Al Qaeda or an affiliate group for the bombings.
Here in the United States, Martha Stewart is serving her first day behind bars. Stewart arrived early this morning at a prison in Alderson, West Virginia. She will spent the next five months at the minimum-security facility that is being called "Camp Cupcake." And how did the homemaking diva spend her last day of freedom? A spokeswoman for her company says Stewart was at her office, working. This weekend, Lori Hacking's family will come together. Burial services are scheduled for the Salt Lake City woman tomorrow morning. You'll recall that Lori Hacking's remains were discovered in a Utah landfill last week. She had been missing since July. Her husband, Mark, is charged in the killing.
And a new warning from Johnson & Johnson. According to Reuters News Agency, the company will tell doctors next Monday that patients taking the arthritis drug Remicade may have a higher risk of lymphoma, a blood cancer. That gets you caught up.
Back to Heidi and Bill.
HEMMER: We'll see you again in a couple of minutes, look at the electoral map.
WALLACE: Absolutely.
HEMMER: Looking forward to that. Thank you, Kelly.
COLLINS: Thanks, Kelly.
And now the brothers behind the presidential campaign parody "This Land" have done it again. The sequel to their Internet blockbuster is called "It's Good to be in D.C." It premiered last night on "The Tonight Show."
Here's a peek.
(MUSIC)
COLLINS: And joining us from Santa Monica, California, Gregg and Evan Spiridellis. Their the creators of Jibjab Media.
Good morning, guys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning, Heidi. Thanks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning.
COLLINS: So tell me first, Evan, let's start with you, how did you come up with this idea? We know this is the second time around for you. But how did you come up with the idea? And then how long does it take once it goes from the idea phase onto the Web?
EVAN SPIRIDELLIS, JIBJAB.COM: Well, with this land we felt like we had done our election piece. But we were guests on "The Tonight Show," and when we were there, Jay Leno asked us if we'd do a follow- up for the show. So that's the kind of opportunity that doesn't come around every day.
COLLINS: It was a challenge.
E. SPIRIDELLIS: And it was a huge challenge. But, you know, of course we said yes, we came back to our studio and panicked, because we had to follow up this land. But we broadened our scope, and you know, we're proud of the follow-up.
COLLINS: Well, Gregg, you know, as we look at this, you really do a good job, I think, of, you know, giving a hard time to both candidates, or both sides, Republican and Democrats.
Let's listen one more time here to another clip and I'll get your comment in a moment.
GREGG SPIRIDELLIS, JIBJAB.COM: Sure, great.
(MUSIC)
COLLINS: Kind of makes you want to do a little jig. So tell me, who have you heard from? Have you heard from Senator Kerry's people, or from the Bush administration at all?
G. SPIRIDELLIS: Yes, well, we've heard from both sides in the press. We've seen quotes from Chris Heinz, and also from the head of the RNC. And the great thing about "This Land," and what you said before, was that both sides seemed to be able to laugh at themselves, and that's our goal. I mean Jibjab is not about our personal political views or one side or the other; it's about, you know, making people laugh, and that's what we, you know, tried to do again with "D.C." So that's been our goal.
COLLINS: And it's been viewed by 50 million -- well, I don't know how many different people, but 50 million hits on your Web site. I know you guys actually started in a garage like in 1999 or so. How amazing is it to you that now all of these people are seeing the creations that you come up with?
E. SPIRIDELLIS: Well, this is the dream come true. This is kind of why we started this thing. And it is totally, totally amazing and mind boggling, and we're grateful to anybody that's got it in their in-box and sent it to a friend or family member. That's the reason we're here.
G. SPIRIDELLIS: And you know -- I'm sorry. Never before on the Internet can two creators, like you said, in a garage create something that was literally viewed around the world. And that's what peeve been trying to do for five years. And somehow -- and we still can't believe it, it happened with "This Land." And like Evan said, we owe it all to the people who forwarded it.
COLLINS: We certainly appreciate your time this morning, Gregg and Evan Spiridellis. And I know some of the proceeds will be going to a charity as well. So thanks again, guys.
G. SPIRIDELLIS: Thank you.
E. SPIRIDELLIS: Thank you. Thanks for having us.
HEMMER: Nothing like getting a premiere on the tonight show, huh?
COLLINS: Yes, nice. HEMMER: Bravo.
Back in March, both campaigns identified about 20 states as battlegrounds that could go either way for President Bush or John Kerry. Now, less than a month before this election, only about half may truly be up for grabs.
Kelly Wallace breaks out the map for us now, red and blue states.
Good morning to you.
WALLACE: Good morning, Bill.
You know politics always interesting, also sometimes surprising, as you'll see. A few surprise states turning out to be possible key battlegrounds in these final few weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I know the president will join me in welcoming all of Florida to this debate.
WALLACE (voice over): It was no accident the first presidential debate was in Florida, the first and only vice presidential face-off in Ohio, and the last two presidential showdowns in Missouri and Arizona. All four states had been considered battlegrounds by both campaigns just a few months ago, but things have changed.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Wait until you get to Phoenix!
WALLACE: A CNN analysis of the latest polling shows Arizona likely going for President Bush and Missouri leaning the president's way. The Kerry campaign is no longer running TV ads in either place.
KERRY: I'm John Kerry and I approve this message.
WALLACE: So keeping in mind the ever-changing political landscape, get your pens ready. Here are some of the states up for grabs. Those we already mentioned, Florida and Ohio, and also Pennsylvania. But Colorado? That's right. A state Mr. Bush won by more than 8 points in 2000, a state where Senator Kerry prepared for tonight's debate.
KERRY: Well, obviously I'd like to win all of Colorado's electoral votes.
WALLACE: And a state where the race is neck-and-neck, according to the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We should have used the resources that we had.
WALLACE: And then there is New York, which explains why Senator Edwards was there yesterday. Recent polls show the race tightening in a state the Democrats easily won four years ago. Where else is it too close to call?
BUSH: Help is on the way!
WALLACE: Other states Mr. Bush won in 2000: New Hampshire, West Virginia, Nevada. And other states Al Gore won: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and New Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: So bottom line, about 12 or so competitive battleground states. These are the places where the campaigns are devoting most of their resources, because these states could -- underline could -- play the biggest role on election day.
HEMMER: And ultimately on that day, we will see then who turns out to vote.
WALLACE: Which is the key, who is going to get more of the...
HEMMER: In an election like this, you're exactly right.
WALLACE: Absolutely.
HEMMER: Thank you, Kelly. You watching later tonight?
WALLACE: I am watching, counting the hours.
HEMMER: Oh, yes.
7:00 Eastern, our coverage starts in St. Louis. I will be in Columbus, Ohio, with a group of undecided voters, two dozen -- twelve men, twelve women -- gauging their debate reactions in realtime to the questions and the answers and impressions they see later tonight. We'll see you then. Here's Heidi again with more.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Thank you, Chad.
In a moment, a New York City cab driver and a very good story, too. One of them goes the extra mile in today's "Extra Effort" segment. We'll get to that in a moment.
COLLINS: Honesty -- nice policy, huh?
And Beach Boy Brian Wilson back with an album three decades in the making. Curious what is sounds like. "90-Second Pop" up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: All right. Not sure what Madonna has to do with today's "90-Second Pop," but we're here to find out, aren't we, ladies? With us today, Sarah Bernard, contributing editor for "New York" magazine. Good morning, Sarah, on a Friday.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
HEMMER: Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly." Good morning, Jess.
JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Good morning.
HEMMER: And Crystal McCrary Anthony, good morning to you, the author of "Gotham Diaries" with us today on "90-Second Pop."
Jess, you're up first, by the way. Brian Wilson has released an album...
SHAW: Yes.
HEMMER: ... after 37 years in the making. What in the world took so long?
SHAW: Well, yes, he started it -- in 1967, he started working on this. He sort of famously had a sandbox in the room while he was composing. You know, there were a lot of drugs involved and -- which he has fully admitted to. And, you know, if you are a Beach Boys fan, you've heard some of these tracks over the past few years.
HEMMER: OK.
SHAW: A lot of bootlegs going on. But you know...
HEMMER: Well, he said we realized we had something a little too advanced for the people of that time?
SHAW: Yes, there was lot of in-fighting.
HEMMER: What's he talking about?
SHAW: Well, he and the Beach Boys fought so much over this album to the point where the Beach Boys are not on the album. It is Brian Wilson recording with his touring band.
HEMMER: The question is: Is it any good?
BERNARD: Well, it's supposed to be pretty good actually.
SHAW: Yes.
BERNARD: And when he says ambitious, I think he means that there is -- it's kind of like a medley of all different styles of music. The lyrics are all about the history of America. So, this is not your typical Beach Boys' fare.
HEMMER: I would say.
BERNARD: And he actually said...
CRYSTAL MCCRARY ANTHONY, AUTHOR, "GOTHAM DIARIES": This one is a masterpiece, right?
SHAW: Yes.
BERNARD: And he said he's actually -- he didn't go back to it for so long because he was actually afraid of it. There was one point where they were recording a song called "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" from the fire section of the masterpiece, and then a warehouse down the street actually burned down. So, he start thinking that there was, you know, magical powers to this music.
HEMMER: Well, Jessica, you said it, though.
SHAW: It's the '60s, right, exactly.
HEMMER: You said a lot of drugs.
SHAW: There was something else going on there.
HEMMER: And he said we were all on kind of crazy drugs at that time.
BERNARD: Yes, that's right.
ANTHONY: He said it's the greatest smile since Mona Lisa, so...
HEMMER: Let's talk about Botox now, kind of a smile-drug connection here.
BERNARD: Yes.
HEMMER: This is in L.A., a woman is suing, the jury is deliberating.
ANTHONY: Right, right.
HEMMER: She says she's got all kinds of medical problems. What happened?
ANTHONY: Sure, sure. Irena Medavoy, who is a Hollywood socialite -- I mean, this has all of the elements of a great Hollywood blockbuster. You have, you know, the set -- you're already in Hollywood. You have the socialites.
But the issue here is whether or not these injuries that -- you know, she claims she has severe migraines. Were they actually caused by these Botox injections that were used sort of in an experimental use to treat her migraines?
HEMMER: Well, does she get legal points against her for vanity?
ANTHONY: Well, you know, I'll tell you what, the community is certainly divided about that question.
HEMMER: Yes.
ANTHONY: I mean, the Hollywood community has a real issue with her suing her doctor, who is this long-time Hollywood dermatologist. I mean, he's friends with Michael Jackson. He's buddies with Elizabeth Taylor.
SHAW: I don't know...
(CROSSTALK)
SHAW: Right. Do you really want to use Michael Jackson's dermatologist?
HEMMER: Hey, note to user: Just accept the wrinkles.
We'll leave it there. Good to see all three of you. Have a great weekend, OK?
ANTHONY: Thank you.
HEMMER: All right -- Heidi?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Still to come now, how are the markets reacting this morning to the jobs report? Andy Serwer checks on Wall Street, coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Jobs the big topic on Wall Street today. Andy's back on that.
Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you guys again.
Let's check out and see what's going on on Wall Street. A muted reaction, as you might expect, this morning. The Dow is down eleven points, this in response to the jobs report that came out a little whiles back, and where we had a report, 96,000 jobs created in the month of September. Lower than expected. We were looking for 150,000 jobs. The unemployment rate stays constant at 5.4 percent.
Let's look and see where the jobs were added and lost. Here's where the jobs were added: service, strong; government, well, in temps -- some people would say those aren't quality jobs necessarily.
Let's move on to where the jobs were lost. Manufacturing continues to be weak in this country. For a couple months there in the spring, we did see some gains in that sector. But a continued contraction overall in manufacturing. And obviously this is going to be big stuff for...
HEMMER: Let me put you on the spot, if you're John Kerry, how do you argue those numbers tonight in this debate? SERWER: Well, I'd say they're worse than expected. I would say that economists usually look for 200,000 jobs to be created per month at this point in a recovery. And I would say, overall, that there have been job losses during the bush administration.
HEMMER: And if you're the president you say?
SERWER: If I'm the president, I would say we have 13 straight months of job creation. We've created over 1.5 million jobs this year so far. So you're going to get that back and forth.
HEMMER: The point's already been made. It depends on who you want to listen to and what numbers you're going to hear and going to make sense.
SERWER: That's right. We'll let the people decide, right?
COLLINS: We will.
Sixty-million last time around watching the debates?
HEMMER: Yes, 62.5.
SERWER: And a little baseball on tonight, too. You can pick and choose.
COLLINS: But it's Friday, you can flick, right?
SERWER: Right.
COLLINS: OK, Andy Serwer, thank you.
Well, our weekly "Extra Effort" series is a tribute to those going the extra mile to help others. This morning, it's a caring, yes, a caring, New York City cab driver. He returned a prized possession, and he's restored some precious memories to the family of a young cancer patient, just when it all seemed it was lost.
Here's CNN's Alina Cho now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are we getting hooked up to?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Chemo!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last time.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A final chemotherapy session captured on home video. For 11-year-old Meaghan Collins, who's battling bone cancer, a party is next.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When the last drop comes, (INAUDIBLE) let's go crazy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three... CHO: Fun and games, followed by a limo ride home with her friends, precious memories for a family who had been through so much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here she is, you know, a survivor, we're finished.
CHO: The celebration didn't last long. The very next day the Collins family got in a New York City cab, got out, and mistakenly left behind the family's video camera and two other cameras. Even now, Lorraine Collins (ph) has trouble talking about it.
LORAINE COLLINS, MEAGHAN'S MOTHER: That I possibly had left the camera in the taxi.
CHO (on camera): Houston, we have a problem.
COLLINS: Yes, exactly. And I knew exactly where it was.
CHO (voice-over): In Virendra Shukla cab.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This happens all the time.
CHO: The cabbie with a conscience turned the cameras in to police, without knowing the Collins family had contacted the media. "The New York Post" published a big picture and article. There was even a reward.
Cabbie Shukla had no idea, and didn't care.
(on camera): So when you found out what this was, how did you feel?
VIRENDRA SHUKLA, CAB DRIVER: It was very nice that they received it back, and it was their memory.
CHO: Shukla even met up with the Collins family, as their possessions and memories were returned.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With your camera.
CHO: As for the $5,000 reward, Mr. Shukla declined. The money will go to charity. His wish is that Meaghan will get better. The little girl who loves Beanie Babies and watching the Olson twins...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just want to say, thank you very much for finding our video camera, and now I can watch all the videos on it.
CHO: In the comfort of her bedroom, on the road to recovery.
Alina Cho, CNN, Stockholm, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And that's exactly why we do this segment on Fridays. What a great way to end the week. Well, you know, that $5,000 reward is going to a charity, as Alina mentioned. It's near and dear, though, to the Collins family, called the Tomorrow's Children Fund. It provides emotional support to children fighting cancer and other blood disorders.
HEMMER: Nice story. I left my digital camera in a cab a couple months ago, still missing.
COLLINS: Calling all cab drivers.
HEMMER: Please!
Next hour on CNN, Martha Stewart is in prison, her first day there, live to Camp Cupcake with Daryn Kagan next hour. We're back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Want to check in with Andy Borowitz one more time now, the Question of the Day on this Friday.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITIZREPORT.COM: Yes, well, we've been asking, should the way a candidate looks during a debate really matter? And Here are the final answers.
John says, "Who cares if someone registers facial expressions during a debate? Isn't it a bit silly that people turn in to news, someone sighing, or blinking or making a face while someone else says something they disagree with. We drive it into the ground with coverage."
Majid from Gainesville, Florida writes, "Wouldn't you look uncomfortable when you've realized you've just been taken behind the woodshed?"
And finally, JP writes, "Hey, Andy, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." And I'm not wearing lipstick, if that was a personal...
COLLINS: Hey, I am. I'm the only one. Oh, no, Kelly's over here, too.
HEMMER: This format is going to be very interesting tonight. You know Gallup goes out and tries to find these uncommitted or undecided voters, but the wild card in all this is that once a person gets the microphone, you're not quite sure what topic they're going to go to or what question they will ask.
Aaron Brown's coming up in about twelve short hours, preview of "NEWSNIGHT" right now.
Here is Aaron, looking forward to that later tonight -- Aaron.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AARON BROWN, "NEWSNIGHT" ANCHOR: Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT," the polls tightening, the stakes rising, heading into the second presidential debate in St. Louis. After the debate is over, the spinners have spun, a fact check from us. How did they do this time around? That story, plus all the day's top news. We'll throw in the Morning Papers, too. NEWSNIGHT, CNN tonight, at midnight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Aaron, thanks for that. We've got to run. Debate tonight, 7:00 our coverage starts. The debate is at 9:00, and...
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center now.
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