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Deadly Storm; Flight Canceled; Family Guy Fans Fight; Poll: 27 Percent Plan to Shop on "Black Friday"
Aired November 26, 2013 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A great big challenge. This morning, snow is falling in parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Those driving along major interstates in the East Coast are urged to take caution. Air travelers could also face delays or canceled flights. CNN's Rene Marsh is at Washington Dulles International Airport this morning.
How's it going so far?
RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's nasty out here, Carol. We're getting some of that rain that you're talking about there. We can tell you the snapshot for travelers who will be going by air today and tomorrow, at this point, there are hundreds of delays across the country. Right where you are there in Atlanta, they had a ground stop because of low clouds. And, of course, we know that is a critical airport. It is one of the busier airports. So the bottom line is this. If you are headed to the airport today, expect even more delays.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARSH (voice-over): Been there, done that. Dulles Airport revved up these snow plows during the last snow storm in March. Today, Dulles and airports up and down the East Coast are prepared to do the same if it comes to it.
ROB YINGLING, SPOKESMAN, METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY: So far the forecast seems to be pointing towards a nuisance storm from our perspective. One that's not going to result in severe cancellations, but more so delays.
MARSH: But still, it could be a nightmare for some flyers.
DANIEL BAKER, FLIGHTAWARE.COM: We see a lot of delays and we see a lot of cancellations with storms like this.
MARSH: Daniel Baker runs the flight tracking website flightaware.com. He says making matters worse, planes are already full.
BAKER: The issue they run into is, if you cancel one flight, there may not be capacity on later flights to accommodate all of the displaced passengers.
MARSH: Twenty-five million people are traveling by air this Thanksgiving holiday, up 1.5 percent from last year.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we decided to leave early and we're just keeping our fingers crossed.
KYLIE MERSCH, PASSENGER: Hopefully, we'll be there and we'll be all right and still be able to visit family and enjoy our week.
MARSH: Busiest travel day, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The second busiest day, tomorrow. Just in time for the storm.
BAKER: Well, what I always say is, have a low expectation when traveling through bad weather on the airlines, particularly around the holidays, and you won't be disappointed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARSH: All right. And the FAA, they are predicting that these delays will continue throughout the day. And even at those airports where they're going to need to deice those planes, that will slow things down quite a bit as well. And for those flyers, things don't look any better for tomorrow. That wind is going to create some trouble for people trying to get to their destination tomorrow as well, especially in the New York area.
Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Rene Marsh, thanks, I think.
Joining me now is Courtney Scott, senior editor for Travelocity.
Hi, Courtney. Welcome.
COURTNEY SCOTT, SENIOR EDITOR, TRAVELOCITY: Hi there. Thank you.
COSTELLO: Thanks for being here.
So even if it doesn't snow, high winds and rain is going to have a big impact on air travel. We heard Rene say that. And there's a good chance that many people could see their flights delayed or canceled. So probably the first thing you should do is check your air carrier before you even head to the airport, right?
SCOTT: Exactly. You know, air carriers are already posting travel advisories that are showing you which days are impacted and which airports are impacted and allowing you to make the changes that you need without a cancellation penalty or a full refund. So that's what you, as a travel, want to look for. And you want to make sure that you are going online and making those changes as soon as possible. Tomorrow is looking like the worst day. So if you can at all modify your plans to get out early or at least see if there are any available flights today, tonight, you're going to be in a better situation.
COSTELLO: Yes, for goodness sakes, don't use the phone, use the Internet.
SCOTT: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: If you do -- if you do find your flight is canceled, though, what do you do next besides cry? SCOTT: Well, first of all, go to the gate agent. Find out what plans they have in place and what are the next available flights? You have the right to the next available flight as a passenger. Now that may not be the next flight that's on the board. That may mean a flight that's tomorrow. So, go online, go to your ticket counter and find out what is happening at your local airport. I would also recommend checking what the availability for hotels are in your local area if you don't have friends and family to stay with because if weather gets really bad tomorrow, we may not have any flights going in and out.
COSTELLO: Oh, don't say that. That will jinx us. I'm just hoping it's just delays and not cancellations, but you never know.
SCOTT: You know -
COSTELLO: It is important, though, isn't it, to be nice? One, because it's not the ticket taker's fault that your flight was canceled or delayed. And, two, you really can catch more flies with honey. That old cliche is true. So tell us how the conversation should go.
SCOTT: Well, you know, it's really hard to keep calm in these situations. You've planned all year to be home with your family. So, you know, it's really important to just kind of ask what's happening, not demand -- make strong demands about this - you know, demanding you be on the next available flight. Everybody is doing the best that they can in this situation. Of course, we know it's a trying situation. Pack your patience. That comes, you know, for everyone that's traveling on the roads, in the air and, you know, just in general this Thanksgiving.
COSTELLO: Gotcha. And a final question. Delta and U.S. Airways have waived change fees and that's certainly a plus. So, how should flyers take advantage of that? Are there more airlines going to do the same because they know there might be delays or cancellations tomorrow?
SCOTT: Sure. Yes, that is the standard protocol for most airlines is to waive change fees or offer you a full refund if you decide, in fact, to not take your flight at all. So that's kind of the standard across the industry. It's up to you, though, to, you know, go online and find out what the particulars are of your specific carrier.
COSTELLO: Good advice. Courtney Scott with Travelocity, thanks so much for joining us this morning.
SCOTT: You're welcome. Thank you.
COSTELLO: Of course this Sunday, as I said, marks the busiest travel day of the year for flyers. Some 2.5 million people are expected to pass through airports in those 24 hours alone. Ahead of the chaos, CNN spent the day at the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta. From special blast suits and bomb squads, to inside the control tower, we're giving you a rare glimpse into a world where everyone is going somewhere. So, check it out, cnn.com/atl24 for more on a city hiding in plain sight.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, it's not just talk and outrage any more. Cult "Family Guy" fans now talking to social media, trying to force Fox to resurrect the beloved character, you know, an alcoholic dog, from the dead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't even know I had a son until today. And, besides, it's not like Tracy ever asked for my help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it seemed like they're all set without you. She's done a fine job creating a child friendly environment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great parenting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh, gosh. More on the fight to save the alcoholic and womanizing dog Brian Griffith.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: "Family Guy" fans are -- they're outraged over a fictional character's death. They've taken it to the next level. In a shocking twist, Brian, the family's talking dog, was killed off on Sunday night's episode.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh. Brian, no!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brian, look out! No, Brian!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God! Brian! Brian, can you hear me?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy crap! What the hell happened?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That guy sucked.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh. In the last 24 hours alone, thousands have signed on to petitions and Facebook pages urging the alcoholic, womanizing dog be brought back to life. CNN entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner in New York with more on this.
That's a pretty grizzly scene.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: It's tough. You don't know whether to laugh or cry, Carol.
COSTELLO: Oh.
TURNER: I mean, come on.
COSTELLO: So there's a change.org petition, I know that, but what other efforts are out there? TURNER: Well, first of all, no one saw this one coming. This was definitely a total shock to a lot of people because Brian has been a major character on this show since it launched back in 1999. And naturally fans are saying, what is going on, like you were saying before.
Many are hoping to bring Brian back. You talked about that online petition that went up on change.org after Sunday's episode. It's already gotten more than 33,000 signatures. Look at the petition. Here's part of what it says. It says, "Brian Griffin was an important part of our viewing experience. He added a witty and sophisticated element to the show. "Family Guys" and Fox Broadcasting will lose viewers if Brian Griffin is not brought back to the show." It also says that "the writers of "Family Guy" didn't just kill off one of their creations, they killed off the dog who has lived in our homes for the last 15 years. They killed the dog we all have come to love. They killed America's dog." I don't know that, but we'll go with it, Carol. We'll just go with that.
But to add insult to injury to these viewers, you know, they already replaced, Brian, Carol. It didn't even last a full episode of mourning. The Griffins got another dog later on in the episode named Vinnie. He's voiced by "The Sopranos" star Tony Sirico, who show creator Seth MacFarlane is a big fan of. People aren't happy about this, though. They put stuff on FaceBook. They almost broke Twitter last an. Folks are really upset that Brian is gone.
COSTELLO: Well, now I was just thinking of ways they could bring Brian back.
TURNER: Yes.
COSTELLO: It could be like that Dallas episode. Stewie could go to sleep and then he wakes up - he wakes up and like Brian could walk out of the shower and he could say it's all a dream.
TURNER: Well, you know, Stewie does have a time machine. And the reason Brian couldn't be saved is this episode is because Stewie's time machine was broken and they couldn't get it fixed so Brian ultimately died from his injuries. But you never know what's going to happen with that time machine. There's ghosts on the show. There's all kinds of different stuff. I say they bring Brian back later on and they have this kind of brains versus brawn because no one knows if Vinnie is this mobster or ex-mobster. He cooked an Italian feast for the family already. So that would be an interesting kind of battle of the pups.
COSTELLO: So much more complicated than mine. And I actually stole that idea from "Dallas."
TURNER: I know. I created that in my head. Maybe I should be a writer for "Family Guy."
COSTELLO: You are fantastic.
TURNER: Let's blow this pop stand. COSTELLO: I know. Exactly. Nischelle Turner, thanks so much.
All new in the next hour of NEWSROOM, a crack smoking mayor, Rob Ford has been comedy gold for writers. Now that famous story could help one comedian get his big movie to the big screen.
Plus, John Boehner is one of Obamacare's most outspoken critics. And while he fights to repeal the law, the speaker of the House finally signs up for government health care. And he's in for some sticker shock. That's ahead in the next hour of NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Checking our top stories at 48 minutes past the hour.
A huge storm system moving east making a mess for holiday travelers: storm bringing snow or ice from Charlotte North Carolina into northern Pennsylvania. In the meantime the southeast getting very heavy rain right now -- strong storms stretching from Louisiana into Northern Virginia. We're covering the storm like no other network -- another detailed forecast coming up in 15 minutes.
The ex-Marine who risked his life to save a woman who jumped from the stands at the Raiders game is now talking about his awesome catch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONNIE NAVIDAD, SAVED FALLING WOMAN: As she started to descend, I braced myself to catch her. I was hoping I can -- I can when I caught her, just lock my arms around her so she could absorb the impact with me. But, unfortunately, she hit and she bounced off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh take a look at his arms. His name is 61-year-old Donnie Navidad. He spent the night in the hospital after catching that woman. He is now recuperating from those bruises. He is also rejecting the "hero" label. He says he would do it all over again though.
If you've ever had jury duty you know there are lot of questions like where do you work and what do you think of capital punishment? Well an online juror questionnaire for the DeKalb County court in Georgia listed "slave" as an occupation choice. A potential juror discovered the entry and told the court. The court responded saying it was a mistake and they're now working to fix the problem.
The Coast Guard is responding to a vessel sinking in the Mississippi River near LeClaire, Iowa. Officials have closed part of the river to deal with oil that's discharging. About 100,000 gallons of petroleum products are on board. The tow boat, actually it was a tug boat, has submerged objects before sinking. All crew members got off safely.
It is Thanksgiving which means family and friends and for many of you shopping. Yes people are already camping out at Best Buys in Akron, Ohio hoping to score a deal. Who cares if it's freezing outside? Well they don't care in Acworth, Georgia either. These people pitched a tent in rainy, frigid temperatures to be first in line. I hope they have a battery-powered space heater. I think they have one somewhere inside that tent.
The National Retail Federation predicts Americans will spend over $600 billion in November and December and the average shopper will spend about $400 over the Thanksgiving weekend alone. Question is, is that door buster flat screen TV really a deal or should you skip the tent and wait?
Our chief business correspondent, Christine Romans is in New York with answers. Hi -- Christine.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi Carol. Well, you know, there will be some deals. No question there will be other things that you can get cheaper or for the same price all year around.
So be careful. Now let me tell you one thing first we've been showing of those pictures of people lining up. Consumer Reports has a brand new survey; 56 percent of Americans, more than half of us will not go shopping any day over the weekend right? Half of us are going to skip. Half of us and why are we going to skip -- because we don't like the crowds and we don't really think we're going to get a good deal. We think it's a little overhyped.
So let me peel back for you where there are deals and where to avoid. The folks at "Deal News" put it down like this if you want to go shopping on Thanksgiving that is the day to get smart phones, gaming items, HD TVs. Black Friday is the day you're going to see the real electronics coming out, the laptops, the computers, maybe iPhones. They'll be looking for some special right there, kitchenware on Black Friday.
And then Carol after this holiday weekend cyber Monday that's the made up holiday, to get you to keep shopping even after you've missed the first few days -- clothing and shoes.
Now later on in the season, that's when apparel and winter type items are going to be much cheaper. So you can hold off on the Christmas sweater for now if you want. And a couple of things to remember you're going to be seeing these selling priced gymnastics we're talking about it. Maybe something looks like it's a great deal at $17.99 you can Google around and find out it may have been $17.99 since the Fourth of July holiday deal. So some of these are not really going to be really sales.
A couple of different analysts telling us that toys right is not the best deal on toys. Wait until you get closer to the holiday. And make sure you pay for it as soon as you can. Because Carol if you don't pay for it by January then you're paying interest, late fees and it's hurting your credit score. So what kind of deal is that right? Now it even costs more than you thought it was so remember pay attention, make sure you pay for it on time -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Good advice. Christine Romans thanks as always.
ROMANS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Still to come in the Newsroom, Colin Kaepernick keeps the 49ers in playoff contentions. And oh the Redskins. The "Bleacher Report" is coming your way next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The 49ers return to form last night dominating the Redskins on Monday night football. Andy Scholes is here with "Bleacher Report." The Redskins.
ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Yes that's the Redskins. Good game for the 49ers you know because they lost back to back games coming into this and they're only 6-4 in the season so they really needed a game like this to get them going again and look like the Super Bowl contenders everyone thought they were going to be.
You know, Colin Kaepernick, he's taken a lot of -- plenty of criticism so far this season. But he showed up in a big way last night -- threw three touchdowns in the game. Now, his counterpart RG3 on the other hand, he had a rough night. Griffin was sacked four times by the Niners' defense. Carol, the Redskins, they didn't even score a touchdown in this game -- San Francisco. They won easily, 27-6. Now despite their 3-8 record, RG3 says no one is quitting in the Redskins locker room.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GRIFFIN III, WASHINGTON REDSKINS: I think we're all frustrated. Everybody is tired of losing -- us, fans, media, everybody. One thing that to take away is one thing we're not, we're not quitters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Scholes: Ten former pro hockey players have filed a class action lawsuit against the NHL claiming that the league hasn't done enough to protect players from concussions. This comes less than three months after the NFL settled their lawsuit with its former players. The NHL suit argues that the league continues to contribute to injuries today by refusing to ban fighting and body checking. The lawsuit seeks damages and NHL sponsored programs for players.
All right. You've got to see this dunk from the Maui (ph) invitational last night, Carol. Syracuse's C.J Fair throws down the monster slam. Watch him get whacked in the face. They didn't call a foul on the play and check him out, he comes out with a huge gash.
COSTELLO: I thought he would break his nose or something.
SCHOLES: He got some stitches, he got some medical treatment and hey, guess what -- he was back in the game just a few minutes later so good for him.
COSTELLO: Wow, I would be crying.
SCHOLES: And a great dunk.
All right. One of the top stories on BleacherReport.com today is about the new two-year, $48 million extension the Lakers gave Kobe Bryant. Now Carol this one came out of nowhere yesterday. The Lakers tweeted out a picture of Kobe at a table signing a new contract. Then later Kobe tweeted -- here's him sitting at the table. And then later Kobe tweeted out a picture of the contract with the hash tag, Laker for life.
Now Carol, this contract is getting a lot of criticism from the NBA analysts saying, you know, Kobe's maybe the highest paid player this year and for the next two seasons. And of course, he's 35 years old. He's coming off a season ending injury. Some people were hoping he would take a Tim Duncan like contract -- take less money so the Lakers could sign more players, but hey, if you're going to give him that much money, I would take it too.
COSTELLO: All right. I would too. What am I talking about? I'm being a hypocrite.
Andy Scholes thanks so much.
The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.
Happening now in the NEWSROOM -- travel crunch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We decided to leave early and we're just keeping our fingers crossed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The roads are really slick and I've seen a lot of accidents already.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
C12: 43 million of us all trying to get home.
The Macy's Parade carefully watching the storm. Will Snoopy, Pokemon, Spongebob be grounded?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: we have a sergeant assigned to each of the balloons. They can be lowered all the way to ground or the determination is made not to fly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Also, another sinkhole threatening to swallow another Florida home.
Plus, Black Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We call it the Super Bowl of retail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Black Friday deals and steals. But should you wait?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've bought over 65 percent more TV this year, five times as many sheet sets, two times as many tablets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: There's big demand. Wal-Mart saying its customer bought 5,000 items every second last year.
And bombastic and brash -- Toronto mayor, Rob Ford. Is he coming to a theater near you? You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks so much for joining me.
With less than 24 hours to go until the busiest travel day of the year, a massive storm system moving east could make getting out of town for Thanksgiving one big headache for more than 40 million of us. Here is what it looks like right now in Pittsburgh -- can't see much, right -- 33 degrees and foggy; about an inch of snow already on the ground in Pittsburgh. Snow also coming down hard in Columbus, Ohio. The high in Columbus today will be just above the freezing mark.
Here in Atlanta, it's 36 degrees. Plenty of rain expected. And now a live look from New York -- not too bad right now. But the heavy rain is on its way.
