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New Day
The Michael J. Fox Show; New York's Bike Share Program, Citibikes; Teen Helps Homeless
Aired September 27, 2013 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: You're watching NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: I straighten my tie. I fix my jacket. And then I say, welcome back to NEW DAY. It's Friday, September 27th.
Coming up this half hour, Michael J. Fox is back where he belongs, staring in a TV sitcom. His first prime time role in 10 years. Imagine that. His new show premiered last night. He's going to be telling Nischelle Turner all about it. Good to have him back.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Uh-huh.
And it's also good to have "The Good Stuff" and it's getting even better. We told you about a boy who wrote a letter asking Santa to save his twin sister from bullying. Well, Santa has sent his elves early. You don't want to miss this one.
CUOMO: But first, let's get to Michaela for the five things you need to know for your new day.
Mick.
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Here we go.
Number one, global warming is real. A sweeping new report released by the U.N. confirming the earth is getting warmer, oceans are rising and humans, we're mostly to blame.
The Senate is expected to pass a spending bill today to keep the government operating, but it's expected to face opposition in the House with only three days to the shutdown deadline.
Today a U.N. chemical weapons panel could vote on a plan that requires Syria to dismantle its chemical weapons program. Diplomats say the resolution would be legally binding.
A United Airlines flight from Houston to Seattle made an emergency landing in Boise, Idaho, after the pilot had a heart attack. He was rushed to a hospital. No word on his condition.
And at number five, all bad things must end, people. The series finale, rather, of "Breaking Bad," it airs Sunday night on AMC. Nobody call the Cuomo house. By some estimates, more than 8 million people expected to watch. We always update those five things to know, so be sure to go to newdaycnn.com for the very latest.
BOLDUAN: Let's continue talking about TV, shall we?
PEREIRA: OK.
BOLDUAN: Michael J. Fox is making a TV comeback. His new self-titled show premiered last night. It's been over a decade since he took on a staring prime time role. And this is a big commitment as the 52-year- old continues battling Parkinson's disease. Something, of course, he's very public about and has been a big advocate for, against trying to, obviously, solve that disease. He spoke with our Nischelle Turner and she is here now with more of that conversation.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we talked about it at the Emmys.
BOLDUAN: Yes.
TURNER: You know, Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's when he was 30 years old. So he's been battling this for 22 years. And this show is an interesting concept because he's taking real life issues and putting them on display for America and, in the process, finding the silver lining in his struggle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, ACTOR, "THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW": They love you, man. The whole world loves you.
TURNER (voice-over): Michael J. Fox is feeling the love again as the star of his own TV show.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, ACTRESS, "THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW": Call it inspirational.
MICHAEL J. FOX, ACTOR, "THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW": Are you crying? Is she crying?
TURNER: His self-titled sitcom premiered on NBC last night. His first lead role on television in over a decade. He's playing Mike Henry, a famous newsman who put his career on hold after developing a serious medical condition.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, ACTOR, "THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW": NYPD.
FOX: Yes, I'm fine. I said I was fine on the phone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It doesn't matter. We have to respond.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since we're both here, could I get you to sign an autograph? My uncle's got Alzheimer's.
FOX: I've actually got Parkinson's.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Either way.
TURNER: Parkinson's, of course, is what interrupted his own career. Worsening symptoms prompted the actor to abandon his last sitcom, "Spin City," in 2000.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, ACTOR, "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM": Oh, thanks.
TURNER: Until recently, he had limited his TV appearances, popping up on "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you shake that up on purpose?
FOX: Parkinson's.
TURNER: And "The Good Wife."
FOX: You are Mrs. Forick (ph).
TURNER: But taking on a weekly series is a much bigger commitment.
TURNER (on camera): What's it been like?
FOX: It's been a lot of hard work, but it's been - it's been satisfying. It's been a learning experience to see what is difficult for me to do now, and (INAUDIBLE) understands what I'm capable of and that I didn't give myself credit for being capable of.
TURNER (voice-over): Fox's efforts to cope with Parkinson's, which struck him at the age of 30, haven't always gone smoothly.
FOX: Just felt unfair in a way.
TURNER: He told Howard Stern he got so down at one point after his diagnosis he began drinking heavily.
FOX: I used to drink to party, but then I was drinking -- now I was drinking alone and just drinking to just not --
HOWARD STERN: Every day?
FOX: Every day.
STERN: So you were self-medicating?
FOX: Yes.
TURNER: With that long behind him, his focus is back on work.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, ACTOR, "THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW": Can I have a personal victory right now? We are starving.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TURNER: Now, some of the reviews that I've seen so far for the show are very, very likeable, which I agree. I saw it and I really liked it. Now, the show has a good sense of itself. Also, some people say that it's not bursting at the seams with hilarity, but I'm not sure that's the aim of it. This is also, guys, a move by NBC to return to destination television on Thursday night. They've already ordered 22 episodes of the show.
BOLDUAN: That's a lot, too, right?
TURNER: Yes. That means they have a lot of faith in this show actually.
PEREIRA: It is.
BOLDUAN: Yes. Because normally isn't it a 13 or a 12 episode a (INAUDIBLE)?
TURNER: Yes. You know, they're putting faith in Michael J. Fox and they think it's a good thing because it really is -- it's a smart show, it's a good show and it's very relevant.
PEREIRA: He is -- his track record, every show that he's been on has been fantastic.
TURNER: Yes, "Family Ties," "Spin City," everything.
PEREIRA: Yes.
BOLDUAN: Yes. (INAUDIBLE) list them out (ph) like that. And maybe - it's kind -- it's an ensemble cast.
TURNER: Yes.
BOLDUAN: I mean it obviously focuses a lot on him. but it's an ensemble cast. And "Modern Family," a huge success. Kind of getting back to the ensemble cast comedy (ph).
PEREIRA: Family also is such a big thing that people like watching.
TURNER: Yes. Yes, it definitely is. And I think it's very interesting too because this is so new, it's him putting his most vulnerable self out there for America, no filter.
PEREIRA: Yes. (INAUDIBLE) Michael J. Fox. Love it.
TURNER: Yes, so I love that.
CUOMO: Best kind of reality TV.
TURNER: Yes.
CUOMO: Because he's reflecting on something that's actually worth looking at.
TURNER: Yes. Absolutely, Chris.
BOLDUAN: Yes. Thanks, Nischelle.
TURNER: You're welcome. CUOMO: All right, that was good stuff. So you know what we're going to do? We're going to call it the better stuff today.
PEREIRA: Oh.
CUOMO: All right, here's another reason. You remember, we told you about the fraternal twins, Ryan and Amber Suffern. Ryan had written a letter to Santa. He didn't want toys, he wanted the kids at school to stop bullying his sister. OK. The story first came to us at CNN as part of an iReport. The gut-wrenching letter went viral, moved people, the world over, to take action, including, here's our upset, Harlem Globetrotter Ant Atkinson. He headed to Amber and Ryan's school to show some love and to bring his own message against bullying. You see, even this guy was bullied as a kid.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANT ATKINSON, HARLEM GLOBETROTTER: There was a guy about 6'7" and he wasn't too happy or thrilled that he didn't make the team. So I guess he felt like it was right for him to pick on me.
AMBER SUFFERN, VICTIM OF BULLYING: He went through the same thing I went through. I was thinking the same thing.
ATKINSON: It's a touching story and it's something - you know, shows what true love really is. When we got a, you know, a hold of this story, you know, it was a perfect opportunity. I'm right down the street. I come down here and help these kids out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: The longer I do this job, the more I believe the best lesson you could teach kids is that bully is wrong. The message Ant had for Amber and Ryan and the rest of their school was the ABCs of preventing bullying. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN SUFFERN, SISTER WAS VICTIM OF BULLYING: A stands for action -
A. SUFFERN: B stands for bravery. That's easy.
R. SUFFERN: C stands for compassion. I hope that no one gets bullied in this school.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: Compassion.
PEREIRA: Those two.
CUOMO: You have to teach compassion. It's sad. I know. You think it happens at home. It happens at places of worship. Well, it doesn't. really the school's the bastion of it. It's great that Ant went down there, spreads this message. Amber, and a lot of kids like here, not many of them have a sibling like she does. BOLDUAN: Yes.
PEREIRA: Yes.
CUOMO: Imagine that, a kid that age, telling Santa, I don't want toys, I want you to help my sister with bullying. It breaks her heart, but it also increases the urgency. It's a big problem. Amazing how many schools and teachers say kids will be kids. This is what happens.
PEREIRA: Well, that's no excuse.
BOLDUAN: It's not.
PEREIRA: It's great to see that so many people from various parts of the world and the community have come out.
BOLDUAN: To support her.
CUOMO: (INAUDIBLE).
BOLDUAN: People are taking notice.
PEREIRA: Very good.
CUOMO: And good on (ph) you, Globetrotters.
PEREIRA: Yes, indeed.
CUOMO: One more reason I like to take the kids there. I also tell them I used to be a Globetrotter, which is, of course, a big fat lie. Something parents shouldn't do.
(CROSS TALK)
TURNER: I was like, what's wrong with that good stuff (INAUDIBLE).
BOLDUAN: That's it. And on that note -
PEREIRA: Come on (ph).
BOLDUAN: Coming up next, forget the cars, forget the trains, CitiBikes, these bike sharing programs, they're all the rage here in the big apple and in a growing number of cities really around the world, but is cycling on the streets of New York safe? It depends on who's on the bikes. We threw on helmets to find out.
PEREIRA: (INAUDIBLE) a good idea.
CUOMO: I didn't know you were supposed to return the bike. The fine has been amazing.
PEREIRA: You still have it?
BOLDUAN: And it's all on your credit card.
CUOMO: John Berman has the NEW DAY award of the day. It's got everything you could ask for, true love, tears of joy, a public marriage proposal on bended knee and an old lady flipping everyone the bird.
PEREIRA: No.
CUOMO: You've got to stick around for this one.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PEREIRA: You may question the veracity of that song, though, that - because we do some bad things with that bicycle.
Welcome back. As we enjoy the last warm days of summer here in New York, or at least the warm weather, we decided to take a spin on the city's latest craze, CitiBikes. You've seen them around town, perhaps, if you've been in New York. It's the city's new bike share program. You know, we are a competitive bunch, though. So we knew it wouldn't just be a nice serene day of bike riding in the park. Who knew?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CUOMO (voice-over): It's the hottest new way to travel around the concrete jungle, CitiBike.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK CITY: I am thrilled to declare that as of this moment, CitiBike is officially launched.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): The program was modeled after successful bike programs in Washington, D.C., London and Paris. Since its launch in May, more than 3 million riders have racked up more than 7 million miles. That's like traveling around the globe more than 280 times.
PEREIRA (voice-over): Since celebs are Seth Meyers and Leonardo Dicaprio area already cruising around town on a set of wheels, we decided to take a spin ourselves.
CUOMO: Please, allow me to pay.
BOLDUAN: Thank you.
PEREIRA: For us New York newbies, traveling by bike was pretty intimidating.
PEREIRA (on camera): Oh, oh (INAUDIBLE).
CUOMO (on camera): Watch the bus!
BOLDUAN: The bike share program is aimed at encouraging New Yorkers to ditch those yellow cabs and subways for a different set of wheels.
BOLDUAN (on camera): What is the point of the bike share program?
JANETTE SADIK-KHAN, NYC DOT COMMISSIONER: It's a great way for people to get around town for those short trips. Half the trips in New York City are under two miles.
(voice-over): but CitiBike has had its share of critics.
JON STEWART, TALK SHOW HOST: Oh, they're not safe. It doesn't work.
CUOMO: Some are petitioning to keep CitiBike racks away from upscale buildings, trying to avoid the occasional crowd, like this impromptu spin class.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All about core tightening.
CUOMO: The biggest concern flooding the already crowded streets of New York with a crop of inexperienced bikers.
BOLDUAN: Isn't that dangerous, just encouraging inexperienced riders to jump on a bike and head out?
SADIK-KHAN: Actually it's not. We found that when we put down bike lanes that street becomes 40 percent safer for all users.
PEREIRA: That's a good thing for us. We lost Cuomo since our resident New Yorker sped ahead after just a few minutes.
BOLDUAN: Don't worry, I'll never leave you. We're going down -- we're going down together.
Oh the park I see the park.
But of course we couldn't end our leisurely ride on our shiny blue bikes without a little challenge.
CUOMO: We have the Bethesda Fountain, the beautiful fountain in the middle of Central Park right by the big pond, we can race to there. You guys start here. I'll go over to Columbus Circle. What's the wager the. Loser buys ice cream? I'll be going this way.
BOLDUAN: Bye-bye.
PEREIRA: See you.
BOLDUAN: Do you know where we're going Michaela?
PEREIRA: No, I have no idea.
BOLDUAN: Are you ready I have an idea.
PEREIRA: What's your idea?
BOLDUAN: I say we drop the bikes.
PEREIRA: Ok.
BOLDUAN: We jump in a pedicab and we just declare victory no matter what.
PEREIRA: I'm down.
BOLDUAN: We're done. PEREIRA: All right.
BOLDUAN: Hey you know where Bethesda Fountain is?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
BOLDUAN: Can we go right there?
PEREIRA: Can you ride like the wind as fast as possible? Leave your helmet on, we can go fast.
BOLDUAN: Hold on, kids. Bethesda or bust.
PEREIRA: And while we were wheeling and dealing -- Chris on his Citi Bike was facing an uphill battle.
CUOMO: This bike doesn't go that fast. Of course it could be the person on it.
BOLDUAN: Look ma, no hands.
PEREIRA: No hands.
CUOMO: Who knew there were all these hills in the city? I did.
BOLDUAN: So do we look -- do we look sweaty?
PEREIRA: No, no probably not.
BOLDUAN: We need sweat.
PEREIRA: Ok all right. So where are we going? Thank you.
BOLDUAN: Victory. High five. Is ours.
And after what seemed like hours, Chris finally arrived.
BOLDUAN: There you are. Look at how tired he is. Where have you been, Cuomo? Where have you been just -- you're all red and sweaty. What happened?
CUOMO: How come you guys don't look hot?
BOLDUAN: Our bike ride was perfect.
PEREIRA: Look at how sweaty.
CUOMO: This doesn't feel right.
PEREIRA: This doesn't feel right. Why is that?
BOLDUAN: It was real good from our end.
CUOMO: All right, lunch is on me.
BOLDUAN: And with that, ice cream. CUOMO: You want some ice cream?
PEREIRA: I want ice cream.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: The taste of victory right here.
CUOMO: I knew you cheated. No only (INAUDIBLE) competitor, I'd rather die. I'd rather die.
BOLDUAN: This probably is poisoned. Did you know that we cheated?
CUOMO: Of course, by definition I knew you would cheat. Those bikes don't go fast enough. You see that guy who passed me in the park. He had like all these bags in the front and back of his bike.
BOLDUAN: It was fun though. We had a good time.
CUOMO: It was fun. You know what I liked most about it?
PEREIRA: What was that?
CUOMO: Was being with you guys.
BOLDUAN: It was a really good day together.
CUOMO: That was a lot of fun.
BOLDUAN: You weren't even with us. We were beating you.
CUOMO: That's what I'm saying that was the best part is that I didn't have to actually spend any time with you.
BOLDUAN: You made that event enjoy your ice cream you scream.
CUOMO: It's not like healthy ice cream. It's not good.
BOLDUAN: He knew.
This week's CNN hero, 15-year-old Nicholas Lowinger is trying to help thousands of homeless children who have gone back to school and need shoes. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLAS LOWINGER: September is back to school and for most kids that means back to school shopping.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I try it on?
LOWINGER: I used to take those things for granted until I realized that there were a lot of kids who didn't have those sort of luxuries. I remember my first shelter visit seeing kids who were just like me, the only difference being they had footwear that was falling apart. It just wasn't right. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I lost my job, I had to decide either to spend money on the shoes or medicine or diapers.
NICHOLAS LOWINGER: My name is Nicholas Lowinger and I'm 15 and I give new shoes to kids living in homeless shelters across the country. I have donated new sneakers to over 20,000 kids in 21 states.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow thank you.
LOWINGER: Homeless children, they shouldn't have to worry about how they'll be accepted or how they'll fit in. Tiana?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow. Shoes.
LOWINGER: It's more than just giving them a new pair of shoes. I'm helping kids be kids. Their self-esteem goes up, their whole attitude for life changes. That's really what makes it so special for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CUOMO: John Berman is not working out religiously. He's working out the award of the day and he is here now with his NEW DAY award of the day.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And here what I have for you is true love, for all of you of course but also in a much bigger sense. Let me introduce to you Kenny Lovelace and Molly Ryan. They went to a Colorado Rockies game. Kenny brought her there to propose marriage. How romantic is that right?
CUOMO: Very.
PEREIRA: Yes.
BERMAN: He actually brought along a wedding photographer to capture the moment and snap the pictures. So lovely, right? Kenny goes down on one knee to propose, you can see the joy in his face the expectation in her body language, it is perfect bliss about as romantic as it gets.
CUOMO: Sure.
BERMAN: Except for one problem. Let's take a look at this, there you see her. See that woman in the foreground, she is not as into this whole thing as Lenny and Molly here. Kenny is putting a ring on Molly's finger this woman is revealing a very different finger, and it is not the ring finger.
Now, we cannot show you that finger, there are entire departments here at CNN devoted to keeping that finger from appearing on our TV but it is there, trust us, so what we're left here, Kenny and Molly have possibly the best wedding proposal photo of all-time --
BOLDUAN: Ever. BERMAN: -- ever.
PEREIRA: Ever.
BERMAN: -- and a happy, friend, emotionally generous woman sitting in front of them she wins our award today. She wins the "most likely to punch bunnies" award. Honestly, if you can not get behind an adorable wedding proposal, you know, you like deface pictures of unicorns seriously.
Next week that woman is going to steal all the presents in Whoville. I'm convinced there's something like seriously wrong going on. It's a wedding proposal.
BOLDUAN: I know. And it's not like he had a marching band brought in.
BERMAN: And it's like the Rockys are in last place, it's not like they're getting in the way of the game.
CUOMO: We're sure that she was doing it thought right.
BERMAN: Oh, yes.
CUOMO: Because I don't want some angry, septuagenarian in here. -- on the list the people who want to behind your behind.
PEREIRA: What else is happening in that picture?
BOLDUAN: That's all that could be happening. Look at it again. She's scratching --
BERMAN: There it is.
PEREIRA: Adjusting her glasses?
BOLDUAN: You create her thought bubble and we will be right back.
BERMAN: That's joy. Mazel Tov. It's her way of saying Mazel Tov.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PEREIRA: yes.
CUOMO: Jackie Lomax.
BOLDUAN: There you go, Chris's new favorite song.
PEREIRA: But it's not dawning so much now.
BOLDUAN: We're going to have a new dawn on Monday. That's it for NEW DAY. "CNN NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello begins.
Carol, take it away.
PEREIRA: What happened, my dear? CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I sure will. Have a great weekend.
BOLDUAN: You too.
COSTELLO: Thank you.
"NEWSROOM" starts now.
Happening now in the "NEWSROOM" on the brink, three days from a government shutdown and neither side is budging. With the debt ceiling fight on the horizon is our economy and your bottom line in trouble?
Plus crash test. CNN tests the auto braking systems in new cars. Do they really work?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep your foot off the brake. Keep your foot off the brake. Did it stop you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Also, "Stand Your Ground" back in the spotlight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You were thinking you might have to shoot her?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: yes, I did.
