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Hulu Announces Exclusive Rights to "South Park" Episodes; Gaza City Bombed 10 Times an Hour by Israel; Archie Comic to End; Sex Predators Hired at Theme Parks; Smell Test Alzheimer's; George W. Bush Has Knee Surgery.

Aired July 14, 2014 - 14:30   ET

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


DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Fans of "South Park," you can rejoice now. You can now find every "South Park" episode in just one place. It's a streaming TV service. It's called Hulu. You've probably heard of it. They announced a deal that gives them exclusive rights to the huge backlog of episodes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): I'm going down to South Park. I'm going to have myself a time.

KIDS (singing): Friendly faces everywhere. Humble folks without temptation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going down to South Park. I'm going to leave my -

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: "CNN Money's" Cristina Alesci joins us now.

What does this many mean? If you don't have Hulu Plus, can you not watch "South Park?"

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: You definitely can, the news episodes, at least, on Comedy Central. What Hulu has done is locked up the older content, making some "South Park" fans unhappy, because you used to be able to get it for free on southparkstudio.com. Now you've got to pay for it if you want the convenience of being able to search and consume the content the way that you like.

LEMON: So it's about monetizing it? They felt they were giving away this content and that --

ALESCI: The creators are putting a nice chunk of change in their pockets. The reports say $80 million.

LEMON: So what does this mean for Hulu? This is a big get for a young company, isn't it?

ALESCI: It is. It is. Hulu has its share of troubles, for sure. And all of these online platforms are trying to get more eyeballs to their own platform as people cut the cord and move away from the traditional cable model and watch more and more content online. The trick is you have to have a lot of money to get the content, not just old content, like this "South Park" stuff but also new content. And the real winner here has been Netflix. They have been outspending anyone else that really wants to make a dent in this business. They have been outspending Hulu and Yahoo! And it's been working for them. They have 36 million subscribers. Just to put this into context, Hulu has six million subscribers.

LEMON: Is it an age thing? Because I had this new entertainment system at home where you can press a button, and get Netflix and get this, and I find myself reaching for the old remote control, going, wait, I want to do guide. It doesn't work that way anymore, does it?

ALESCI: It doesn't, but more and more people are going to be consuming the content that way. And right now, it isn't as intuitive as all of these guys would like it to be. Because there's no one singular spot for everything. You know, that's going to change. I was just in Sun Valley, Idaho, where a lot of these media executives were trying to get their heads around, you know, exactly what you're talking about. How can we make this experience so seamless that people are going to use it like they use their iPhones?

LEMON: Right, right.

Thank you. Appreciate it, Cristina Alesci.

U.S. officials telling CNN that Secretary of State John Kerry may travel to Egypt to seek a deal to stop the fighting next door between Israel and Palestinians living in Gaza. The Israeli bombardment continues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(EXPLOSIONS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The toll among Palestinians, 176 dead. That, since Israel started bombing a week ago today. Those bombs have wounded close to 1,300 in Gaza. The Israelis today say they downed this drone off the southern Israeli coast. They say it flew from Gaza among the barrage of rockets being fired by Hamas, which thus far have caused no Israeli deaths but at least one serious injury.

Let's quickly take another look at Gaza right now. It is a tiny, orange strip by the Mediterranean Sea, about the same square mileage as Detroit and getting bombed 10 times an hour by the Israelis. According to national, international monitors, that's what's happening. Very, very dangerous there.

CNN's Ben Wedeman has a report for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The clock is ticking. It's time to go. Israel ordered inhabitants to leave by 2:00 p.m. Sunday. Hamas told them to stay put.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

WEDEMAN: "I don't answer to them," says Ahmed. "I do what's best for us."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

WEDEMAN: He's sending his family to safer ground in Gaza City, relatively safer, that is, although he'll stay behind. Luckily, he caught a taxi to take them away, and not a moment too soon.

(EXPLOSION)

(SHOUTING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

WEDEMAN: These children have heard the crash of shelling and air strikes for days now --

(SCREAMING)

WEDEMAN: But it still terrifies them.

(CROSSTALK)

(SCREAMING)

WEDEMAN: This is the third time in the last five years Ahmed's family has had to flee their home.

(on camera): Like almost everybody in this area, we're leaving too. It's dangerous. There is shelling there. There's some people staying behind basically to guard their houses. But as the man back there told me, 80 percent of the people in this area have already left. And at this time, the deadline to leave ends in 35 minutes.

(voice-over): On the drive into Gaza City, empty streets and rubble from the Israeli air strikes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(EXPLOSION)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: By taxi, or mostly by foot, the people fleeing the north are heading to United Nations schools, more than 1,000 in this school alone. Food has yet to be provided. The only source of sustenance, a water tanker.

(CROSSTALK)

WEDEMAN: Anjamine (ph) and her family of 15 fled their home at 2:00 in the morning. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

WEDEMAN: "We told the kids, get up, get up," she tells me. "We walked all the way here. This baby needs milk, but we don't have any. We have nothing. Not even safety."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

WEDEMAN: There's little to do here but wait until the fighting stops, and they can go back to their homes, if they're still there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Ben Wedeman is with us now from Gaza.

Ben, you showed us that family fleeing northern Gaza for Gaza City. Could people there actually leave Gaza to get away from the bombing, and if so, where would they go?

WEDEMAN: Well, they can't go. And at the moment, the Egyptian border, which is the only way out, is closed to only those -- I mean, it's basically open to only those with Egyptian travel documents or passports. So there's really nowhere they can go. And even though they will go to Gaza City or other parts of the Gaza Strip, the fact of the matter is, those air strikes, which you mentioned are happening about once every five minutes, are happening all over Gaza. So there's really nowhere truly safe in Gaza where they can go. And as I said, they can't leave Gaza at all -- Don?

LEMON: Ben Wedeman, thank you. Appreciate your reporting.

Just ahead on CNN, the comic book character, Archie, set to die a violent death this week, and the reason is revealed.

Plus, a six-month CNN investigation finds sex predators are beating the system and getting hired at some of America's best-known theme parks. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Comic book fans have followed the beloved character Archie since 1941. Well, on Wednesday, you'll find out what caused this. You see Archie lying in a pool of his own blood on the cover of the next issue of "Life of Archie."

Nischelle Turner is here with more.

We knew the series would end, but not exactly like this. What happened?

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. 75 years --

LEMON: Geez.

TURNER: -- Archie comics have been giving us joy. We knew back in April that series would end. We knew Archie would die. But now we're learning how he died. And he's dying in a pretty heroic way. It's what the creator said, it's what we come to know Archie for as being heroic. And he's dying taking a bullet for his gay best friend, Kevin Keller, so he is saving his life and we see that there. He's taking a bullet for him. So that's how Archie is going to die.

I don't know how much we can get into the details of the plot, but the publisher did tell us, gave us a statement, and says, "Archie died as he lived, a hero, representing the best in all of us. The fact that he's saving Kevin" -- the most important new character. You know Kevin came along a little bit later. "The most important new character in Archie lore, since Archie, Betty and Veronica, Jughead and Reggie, is a metaphor for the rebirth this company has experienced." So he's going out like a champ.

Look at you.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: I just -- where have I been? You see the "Madd," but the cartoons aren't usually that political. But this --

(CROSSTALK)

TURNER: Well, Kevin Keller is --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Important social issue.

TURNER: Yeah, because he's a gun control advocate, and so there is -- Archie is dying by a bullet. Kevin Keller is a gun control advocate. He's a Senator, so there is a lot of kind of political themes that's going around in this. I'm not sure how it's going to go over. But the final issue is on stands on Wednesday. So we'll have to see.

And we're going to say goodbye to the end of an era. I think it's nostalgic. One generation always asks the question, Maryann or Ginger. My generation asks "Betty or Veronica." Betty or Veronica? And I was Team Betty all the way. So, yes, absolutely.

LEMON: Oh, my gosh.

TURNER: I know they're laughing over here.

You're Team Betty, too? Exactly.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: I used to work out at the same gym with Ginger.

TURNER: Really?

LEMON: Tina Louise. She's very nice.

(CROSSTALK) LEMON: She would say, how do you get this, and I would think Ginger is asking me.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: OK. Just let's not do that to Scooby Doo, please. I don't think I could take it.

TURNER: This man right here. Scooby will live forever.

LEMON: Right.

Ana Navarro?

TURNER: Ana Navarro, Team Betty or Team Veronica?

ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Oh, Veronica.

(LAUGHTER)

NAVARRO: Veronica.

(LAUGHTER)

TURNER: Team Veronica for her.

LEMON: Thank you, Nischelle. Appreciate it.

TURNER: Absolutely.

LEMON: Thank you, Ana Navarro. Appreciate that as well.

Germany claims bragging rights in the World Cup after putting away Argentina yesterday in extra time. This goal in the 113th minute. Did you watch this?

TURNER: I did.

LEMON: This was crazy. The final score 1-0, the same score the Germans beat the United States with back in June. After setting ratings records domestically, TV executives hope to see a similar bump next world cup as a U.S. team figures to be even more competitive in 2018.

I was in a bar, drinking a beer --

(LAUGHTER)

TURNER: And let's end the story there.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: - and eating chicken wings. It was really fun to watch.

TURNER: Yeah, good game. Great goal.

LEMON: Yeah. All righty.

Just ahead, a six-month CNN investigation finds sex predators are beating the system and getting hired at some of America's best-known theme parks.

Plus, what if there was a test to predict Alzheimer's? Would you take it? It turns out there might be. And the answer could be right there on your face. Don't miss it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Whatever you're doing right now, you need to sit and pay attention to this story. A six-month CNN investigation finds sex predators are beating the system and getting hired at some of America's best-known theme parks. It is a story that is airing tonight, 8:00 eastern, on "A.C. 360."

Investigative correspondent, Kyra Phillips, is here with a preview.

Kyra, what did you discover here?

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: I'll tell you what, I discovered these employees at these famous theme parks are around our children. And you have absolutely no idea how perverse they are. We're talking about men who work the rides, operate as security guards, even performers, and being arrested for sex crimes against children. You're actually going to hear from some of them in our story. But I want to be clear that none of these cases involve teenagers or children that were visiting the parks.

Polk County sheriff, Grady Judd, known nationally for these aggressive sex stings, and that's how we discovered a pattern of theme park arrests.

But here's just a taste of his passion to take down these child sex predators.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: I talked to a number of these men, and they said it's entrapment. I was totally set up.

GRADY JUDD, SHERIFF, POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: What else are they going to say? Are they get to get on national news and say, "I'm a pervert?" "I'm a child predator"? "I seek sex with little boys"? No, they're not going to tell you that. When they tell you, that look them in the eye and say, you're a liar. What you really are is a pervert, a sexual pervert and a child predator.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, Kyra, what's the answer? How do you keep predators from being hired in the first place?

PHILLIPS: It's ongoing and intense background checks. And each of the representatives at these theme parks said we are doing everything we can, we're putting our power behind that in doing it. But obviously, it's still not enough. And you'll see that more can be done. Our story is already prompting action orthopedic surgeon capitol hill and you'll see more on "A.C. 360" tonight at 8:00.

LEMON: You point out none of these crimes involve guests visiting the parks, right?

PHILLIPS: Right, absolutely. But if you talk to child -- or experts on child sex predators, it doesn't matter. The threat is still there. That's what they tell us.

And, you know, more than anything, Don, this is a story about awareness. Every parent, every family member, just needs to be vigilant. And no matter whether it's theme parks or schools or churches, these sex predators, according to the sheriff -- and we all have found out through these stories -- know where the children are. They want to go where the children are.

LEMON: You never know. No one makes an announcement about their proclivities, right, so you never know.

Great story. I can't wait to see it tonight. 8:00 p.m., right here on CNN, "A.C. 360."

Thank you, Kyra Phillips.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: Always a pleasure to see you, as well.

You know, if you could take a test to learn if you have an incurable disease, would you do it? Researchers think they might have discovered the connection between a person's sense of smell and Alzheimer's. See that story behind the study and what it means. That's coming up next.

Plus, the U.S. is sending some of the 50,000-plus immigrant children who have crossed the border on a one-way flight home. But, for some immigrants, deportation just means another attempt to make it back to America. Rosa Flores joins me live from Honduras, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A teen in Omaha, Nebraska, snapped what might be the most epic picture of all. One of the most epic pictures of all. Tom White posted a pic of himself on a sidewalk standing in front of Warren Buffett and Paul McCartney sitting casually on a bench in the background. He said, "Chillin' with my homeys," the tweet said that linked to the copy of the image on Instagram. And earlier in the evening, the billionaire and the Beatle had dinner at an Italian restaurant in Omaha, according to Omaha.com, and then they headed to an ice cream shop. Buffett apparently comes in quite a bit, but this was the first time he brought in a Beatle. McCartney is playing a show in Lincoln, Nebraska tonight. And I'll be speaking with that kid tonight, 10:00 p.m. eastern right here on CNN. Make sure you tune in. Meantime, hundreds of top minds in Alzheimer's research are meeting

amid excitement about some possible new amazingly low-tech ways to detect the disease. But here's the catch? If tests become available, would you want to know that your brain was headed, where it was headed, and on what course it's headed? This is an image of the advanced-stage Alzheimer's, right? Part of the brain shriveled up. Cells die. The new tests would likely involve no needles, no big scanning machines and, in one case, all patients would have to do is just sniff.

Our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, joins me now.

So this is a smell test, Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I know. It sounds so weird, a smell test for Alzheimer's, Don, but it turns out the part of our brain that governs smell and Alzheimer's are really the same part of our brain. So when smell starts suffering, it may be an indication you're going to go on to develop Alzheimer's.

So in this test, they gave people a different smells. And people who had a tough time distinguishing one smell from another, they were more likely to have Alzheimer's. And the test was pretty good. It wasn't perfect, but quite accurate.

LEMON: So there's also an eye test. How does that work?

COHEN: When people get Alzheimer's, Don, they get these tangles and plaques you can see afterwards in an autopsy. You can't do that when someone is alive. But if you look in the eye, you can sometimes see the same plaques and tangles, visualize them. And this test, very similar to the smell test, was not completely accurate, but did a really pretty good job of predicting who was going to get Alzheimer's.

LEMON: So you say that we are years away, Elizabeth, from doctors' offices offering these types of tests. But will patients want to know? Is there anything that a person can do to prevent Alzheimer's? Why would you want to know?

COHEN: You know what, Don? There isn't much you can do to prevent Alzheimer's. Some people say keep your brain active, do crossword puzzles. There are some drugs might help with some of the symptoms but there's not a lot you can do. So I will tell you some people I've chatted with are like forget it, I wouldn't want to know I'm going to get Alzheimer's or I have a high likelihood of getting Alzheimer's when I get older. Other people say I want to know, because I want to prepare, I want to do financial planning or do whatever I want to do while my brain is still intact.

I think that it's going to be a very difficult decision for some people to make. Do you want to know this? I mean, I will tell you, personally, I wouldn't want to know at my age. I'm in my 40s. Do I want to know, in my 70s, I'm likely to get Alzheimer's? I wouldn't want to know it.

LEMON: You don't look a day over 35. COHEN: Well, thank you. I appreciate that.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: A day over 30.

Hey, I want to ask about another medical subject while I have you here. Former President George W. Bush had knee surgery. What do you know about it? It didn't sound risky. Was it?

COHEN: No, it's not a high-risk procedure at all. It was a partial knee replacement, and that means that parts of his knee, perhaps some of the cartilage, some of the bone, was deteriorating. Doctors go in, get rid of stuff not working so well anymore, and they put in prosthetics to replace it.

And believe it or not, people go home that day, and you can actually put full weight on your knee. He had this done on his other knee a couple months ago. And he was, you know, climbing the stairs that same day.

So believe it or not, cutting into the knee, scraping away parts, putting in new parts, is really not such a big deal compared to some other surgeries.

LEMON: It's a routine procedure. But you know how he likes to bike. It's going to be a while, probably, right, a little bit?

COHEN: You know what? Not as long as you might think. People do a lot of activity, even right away. You do do physical therapy for a couple of months? So maybe he won't be, you know, biking at full force. But he might be biking relatively soon.

LEMON: All right. Thank you very much. Elizabeth Cohen, appreciate it.

COHEN: Thank you.

LEMON: Top of the hour. I'm Don Lemon, in for Brooke today. Thank you for joining us.

At any moment, we should witness what U.S. authorities hope will be the most the hard-hitting message to stop the huge influx of undocumented immigrants coming to the border, seeing those who tried being sent back. We're expecting to see a plane from the U.S. landing in San Pedro, Honduras. The city is the reported murder capital of the world with a murder rate 12 times that of Chicago. Homeland Security Secretary, Jeh Johnson, said this week that the U.S. would start deporting the tens of thousands of migrants showing up at the Texas border. 57,000 of them so far are children.

On the phone with me now is CNN's Rosa Flores in San Pedro, Honduras.

Rosa, what do we know about this flight?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I should start by saying that it's literally unfolding as we speak. We are awaiting to hear from authorities here. That plane could arrive at any moment right now.