Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Comments From Jackson Fans at Nasdaq

Aired August 31, 2001 - 07:53   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.
VINCE CELLINI, CNN ANCHOR: Michael Jackson is in New York getting ready for his reunion concerts and trying to bring a thrill or two to Wall Street.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, our Jeanne Moos makes the most of Jackson's financial stage in Times Square.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael Jackson is used to seeing his name in lights but not on the Nasdaq. The markets may be down, but Jackson fans were up, even if their idol seemed a little shaky on his whereabouts.

MICHAEL JACKSON: This is Times Square?

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: That's Times Square right there.

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: It's Times Square.

MOOS: Michael Jackson and the Nasdaq don't exactly go together like stocks and bonds.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: It's not your average day on Nasdaq.

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: Be honest, this is something you don't see every day.

MOOS: Michael was briefed on how to open trading.

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: Now this whole wall is going to lit up, OK?

MOOS: And once that was out of the way, things got weirder. They wheeled out a birthday cake.

UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: Happy birthday dear Michael.

MOOS: It was his 43rd.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Michael Jackson's been around a long time. He's been around since before you were born.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: How do you know?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Because you said you were 13.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Oh, yes. You remember that?

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: I saw him the first time on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

JACKSON: When I had you to myself...

MOOS: Remembering the way he used to look and then seeing him at the Nasdaq sort of makes you take stock of the pop star.

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: You know, he looks a mess, an absolute mess.

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: He's a normal looking guy, you know? He's not, there's no odd about him.

MOOS: Note the resemblance.

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: He's just a normal looking guy.

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: If it works for him.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Does it work for you?

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: A big deal about his nose. Everybody has had their nose done.

MOOS: Michael didn't get his nose out of joint at this event.

JACKSON: I'm deeply moved.

MOOS: So was the market, the Nasdaq down 51 points. Michael was gracious, more gracious than "USA Today," which described the event this way, "two fallen icons, a fading pop star and a stock market that crashed teaming to spiff up their battered images."

UNIDENTIFIED FAN: Yes, I'd just like to say Mike, we support you. Don't worry about it, because you're going to be all right. Don't worry about the negative criticisms in the media.

MOOS: But the pop star and the folks at Nasdaq did this because they wanted the publicity. After all, both could use a comeback. Michael came back as he was about to leave, came back to have a bite of his cake at an event that took the cake.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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