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Super Bowl Ads

Aired February 02, 2005 - 13:33   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In the news right now, a tsunami survival story we're just learning about from the Associated Press. Just a few moments ago, police in New Delhi say nine men, women and children, have been rescued from a remote Indian Ocean island. That's 38 days after the tsunami swept across South Asia. The rescue team says the survivors climbed to a hill, kept walking, got lost, then wandered until they were spotted. More than 5,000 other people are missing on Indian Islands of Andaman (ph) and Nicobar (ph).
One day after Dan Rather steps down at CBS News, Bob Schieffer will step in to replace him on March 10th, but only on a temporary basis, until CBS comes up with a new format for the evening news. That according to an announcement a short time ago from CBS News president Andy Hayward. Schieffer has covered Washington for CBS News for more than 30 years, and is a great guy and friend of our show.

The Coast Guard is unveiling a new undersea device, it says, will make the nation's vulnerable ports more secure. It uses robotic cameras, and divers to check hulls and piers for hidden explosives, and if an underwater intruder is detected, it can direct security forces to the troublespot.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Which image from last year's Super Bowl do you remember? No. 1, last year's winner? Maybe No. 2, Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction? Or was it No. 3, the dueling dysfunction ads? At the Super Bowl, advertisers want their image to be memorable. Well, the FCC would surely like them to be a little more family friendly. What will the 145 million Americans who will watch the game see this year?

Joining us from our New York bureau, David Droga, a longtime advertising executive and worldwide creative director of Publicists Worldwide.

David, good to see you.

DAVID DROGA, PUBLICISTS WORLDWIDE: Nice to be here, thank you.

PHILLIPS: So what do you think, will advertisers be overly cautious this year?

DROGA: I definitely think they'll be overly cautious. The ripples of last year's nipplegate and so on has affected every boardroom across the country. So I think returning to a more wholesome type of entertainment is definitely in the cards, I think.

PHILLIPS: Now, I as reading that you were saying, for example, Budweiser is going to stay away from the so-called toilet humor, yet you go online and already they're kind of going that way.

DROGA: Well, humor's definitely part of the Budweiser tone of voice. I think it's the type of humor they'll stay clear of. You go to their site and they do have ads that make fun of the whole scandal last year, and people have high expectations of Budweiser advertising. But I think fundamentally, it will still be entertaining, but probably less cutting edge, in chance of sort of offending anybody really.

PHILLIPS: Are there any new nonnegotiable regulations for advertisers this time around, since -- you know, looking at what happened last year?

DROGA: I don't think there's been anything written on paper that people have to adhere to. I think fundamentally, though, people -- it's a question of taste and subjectivity now. I think the big revealing thing of last year was it wasn't just an audience filled with testosterone. I mean, they had 500,000 complaints. It showed it is a family event. It's more than male football fans who want to be entertained at any cost.

PHILLIPS: Interesting you say testosterone and then you talk about family event. And then I think of my E.T. (ph) that couldn't believe at halftime he was seeing a certain ad when his, you know, 8- year-old daughter walked in, you know, about dysfunction. So what about Viagra ads and these other copycat-type of drugs? Are there still going to be a lot of those?

DROGA: I imagine you will see them. I mean, these pharmaceutical companies have an extraordinary amount of money. And I think that is the interesting rub, because there was a lot of talk last year about the whole halftime entertainment. But the whole question about that subject matter being raised in a living room -- I would have thought that would be more contentious actually, but I think they'll definitely be there. The money that's spent to actually get ads on air, think it's $2.5 million per spot, most pharmaceutical companies have the money, and I think they will be there, definitely.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's interesting that you say that, because there was such a scandal that came out of the Janet Jackson ordeal. And it went to -- carried over into radio stations, what you can say on the radio, what you can see on television. Yet you're telling me, it sounds like if you've got enough money, it doesn't matter, you can still push the limit.

DROGA: Well, I think the pharmaceutical companies, they have to adhere to certain boundaries. They're not as overt. It's all very suggestive. So they're sort of hoping that that won't register with the younger audience.

But there's no question, I mean, if you've got the money, you've bought the time, you can basically put your wares to show. Naturally, the pharmaceutical companies have to adhere to much more stringent rules then, say, the Budweisers and the car companies, absolutely.

PHILLIPS: So, David, what's the process to get your ads on Super Bowl day? What do you have to go through? How do you make the pitch? I'm curious if you've ever done it also. But what's the process?

DROGA: Well, it's a huge one, because It is essentially the one time of the year -- it is our Oscars, it's the corporate catwalk for advertising, and I think all big brands want to be seen there.

Clearly, the first thing is are they prepared to pay the money? I think we were talking when you take into consideration the average production cost, this is working out to be near $200,000 a second just to be seen on the Super Bowl, and that's sort of space program proportions. Once they're prepared to sign off on that, then a lot of clients will produce a lot of commercials, only going to run a few of them.

But, you know, it's a long process. Everybody is aware that you've got a captive audience. This is one time of the year where people are interested in advertising, want to be entertained by advertising, as opposed to viewing it as a distraction. So a lot of people take into consideration most of the time, entertain at any cost, which is what the was attitude last year. Now it's entertain with a conscious.

You saw in the press last year, people do polls about what is the most memorable commercial. This is one time where people are interested genuinely in what we're doing, and they expect it, and they expect something great. And I worry this year is going to be slightly timid, because I think it's going to be overcompensation for last year.

PHILLIPS: And finally, from your opinion, do these ads really increase sales if it airs during that time period? If they air during the Super Bowl do you definitely see a difference as a company owner?

DROGA: I think you do. I think there's two mindsets going into it. I think there's those that -- it's just a great time to get an audience of 100 million-plus and it might be relevant, so bums on the seats for the launch of a new film or the launch of a new car.

And then there are those where this is much a brand ego thing, where it's -- you know, the Budweisers and the Pepsis. Where it's not, to say, relevant to any particular time, but it just reemphasizes the fact they're a big, serious player. So some it's about just enhancing the brand image and some you see direct sales. But I think it is -- people wouldn't pay it if it didn't reap rewards, I think.

PHILLIPS: David Droga, longtime advertising executive. Thanks for your time today.

DROGA: Pleasure, thank you.

O'BRIEN: Now, David didn't mention the real reason for this.

PHILLIPS: Oh, yes? Hold on, David, don't go away yet.

O'BRIEN: It's so the corporate fat cats get an executive suite, a sky box for the game, right? Isn't that what it is? DROGA: Well, I think there's no question that, you know, there's a little bit of corporate dueling going on there, people who want to see their spot. But the money is so extraordinary, I think, that it has to go a little -- I hope it goes a little bit beyond that.

PHILLIPS: It would be interesting to see what the talked-about ad is this year, don't you think?

O'BRIEN: Always is, fun to watch, it is.

PHILLIPS: David, are you calling it?

DROGA: Yes, I imagine -- clearly, I imagine the Buds and the Pepsis will do some extraordinary things.

PHILLIPS: All right.

DROGA: I think some of the car companies will do some things. But it's going to be very interesting. I mean, I'm as anxious as you are.

PHILLIPS: We'll talk to you afterwards, then.

DROGA: Definitely. Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, David.

O'BRIEN: Too late for us here at LIVE FROM to get a spot, I guess.

PHILLIPS: We could use the promo.

O'BRIEN: We could.

If you could -- if you have to go to the hospital, you might reasonably expect to get better, right? But each year, hospitals and their infections therein make millions of patients -- millions -- sicker. And it might wind up killing thousands of others. Details on a disturbing Centers for Disease Control report are ahead.

And later, going whole hog for a groundhog, a goofy tradition brings out a huge batch of fans and a rodent that's a superstar. We put the punk in Punxsutawney. Let's just say, remember, Phil begins with P, shall we say?

PHILLIPS: Is that for phat?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: An infection is among the last things patients might expect to get after admission to the hospital. Aren't you supposed to get better there? What can patients do to avoid infections? Don't check into the hospital? Well, that might not be an option for some.

Here's our health correspondent Elizabeth Cohen to explain all this. Of course, you want to find sick people, you go to a hospital. I guess we can understand why there might be infections there.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, they're more prone to infections because they're already sick. But I'll you, the numbers, when you hear the numbers, it's pretty scary. Consumers Union, the group Consumers Union, says that more people die of hospital-acquired infections each year than die of auto accidents and homicides combined. The numbers are huge.

Let's take a look at some specifics. According to a report in the "New England Journal of Medicine," five percent to ten percent of hospital patient get infections in hospitals every year. That adds up to about two million patients a year. 90,000 of those die. That adds up to a cost of $5 billion each year in care that those people require.

Now, why do people get infections in the hospital? Many of them are from catheter procedures. The catheter actually introduces some kind of a bacteria or a virus. Many of the people who get infected are in intensive care units. Not surprising, those are the sickest. Some people get infected from heart procedures and also from artificial body parts, when you're having a fake knee or a fake hip put in. And those last two help explain why these numbers seem to be on the rise. As doctors invent more and more fake parts to put in our body, whether it's a hip or a heart valve, that increases the chance of getting some kind of an infection.

Well, the Centers for Disease Control is meeting with the American Hospital Association and other groups next week to try to see what they can do about this. One of the problems is there's actually a lot of fuzziness in this area. Only four states require hospitals to report infections that are acquired there. So it's kind of hard to get a lay of the land for exactly what's happening.

O'BRIEN: So if you check into the hospital, you're getting a new knee, you say to the doctor, can I have a clean one, please? I mean, seriously what can you do to guard against this?

COHEN: You need to ask for a clean knee and you also need to ask the doctor for clean hands. This is very disturbing, but there are studies that show that doctors, way too often, forget to wash their hands.

O'BRIEN: No, no.

COHEN: It is true.

PHILLIPS: Eww.

COHEN: I would, unfortunately, not kid you about this.

O'BRIEN: Aren't they supposed to sit under there and sing happy birthday and scrub with that gritty stuff and stuff like that?

COHEN: Yes, one would think, but apparently they don't wash their hands as much as they should. So that is the first tip if you're in the hospital and you want to avoid a hospital-acquired infection, of course as everybody does. Remind that doctor to wash his or her hands.

Also, before ask -- before you go into the hospital, ask about the infection rate for your procedure. Ask specifically about the infection rate. And if it's high, ask if there are any alternatives to that procedure. Maybe you don't need a fake knee. Maybe there are other things that you can do. But take that risk into consideration.

O'BRIEN: If your doctor has dirty fingernails, get him out of your room, right?

COHEN: Right, get another doctor.

O'BRIEN: All right. Elizabeth Cohen. Startling news. Thank you very much.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Well, he spent nearly three decades of his life in prison, talking about Nelson Mandela, the symbol for racial equality and freedom in South Africa and really around the world.

As part of CNN's anniversary series "Then and Now," we take a look back at Nelson Mandela and where he is today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Both the symbol and a source of power for the fight against apartheid in South Africa, Nelson Mandela never gave up. He was imprisoned in 1962 for his leadership of the outlawed African National Congress in the battle to win equal rights for blacks. Mandela was released more than 27 years later. He received the Nobel Peace Prize and became the first black president of South Africa.

Married for the third time on his 80th birthday in 1998, he retired from the presidency one year later. Mandela is now 86 years old. After a battle with prostate cancer and other health problems, he retired from public life last year.

NELSON MANDELA: Don't call me. I'll call you.

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Only to reemerge to spear-head a new cause. Mandela leads a fund-raising group for AIDS victims called 4664, after his prison number. The fight, once again, is personal for Mandela. His son died of AIDS in January.

MANDELA: Let us give publicity to HIV/AIDS, and not hide it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Well, in case you had forgotten it, where's my card? Where's my Groundhog Day card?

PHILLIPS: I got your card, pal. It's with your birthday card...

O'BRIEN: Everything is ground hog day here. Starts off with Sonny and Cher, remember, the Bill Murray movie?

PHILLIPS: Exactly. They wanted to play clips and they wouldn't let me, because the video is so good from the actual ceremony today.

O'BRIEN: It's some sort of fair usage. Anyway, it's always a big deal in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. But for some reason, it was a bigger deal than usual this year. Groundhog Day officials say -- yes, there are Groundhog Day officials; it's a job -- say there was a record crowd at Gobbler's Knob, a splendid time had by all. One big exception, however, the star of the show.

PHILLIPS: Punxsutawney Phil, or "spill," we should say. You'll see what we mean.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning! Welcome to the 119th trek to Gobbler's Knob! This is the largest weekday crowd in the history of Groundhog Day! Are you ready for an early spring?

(APPLAUSE)

Or six more weeks of winter?

Who do you want to see?

CROWD: Phil, Phil, Phil!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We wish them all a happy Groundhog day. Bill then placing Phil on top of the old oak stump from where he surveyed his surroundings. He then turned to President William, and in ground hog-ese directed him to read this scroll which reads, "As I set in the sun, it's all about fun. But I'm sorry to say, I see my shadow today. When I see my shadow, six more weeks of winter."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's only the messenger!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, coming up in the second hour of LIVE FROM, a health scare for the pope. We're going to update you on his condition. We'll also look at who will succeed him when the time comes.

O'BRIEN: And later, a young man on his way up, climbing the tallest mountain in our hemisphere. He'll take a few minutes to talk about it with CNN. LIVE FROM's hour of power begins after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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 February 2, 2005 - 13:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In the news right now, a tsunami survival story we're just learning about from the Associated Press. Just a few moments ago, police in New Delhi say nine men, women and children, have been rescued from a remote Indian Ocean island. That's 38 days after the tsunami swept across South Asia. The rescue team says the survivors climbed to a hill, kept walking, got lost, then wandered until they were spotted. More than 5,000 other people are missing on Indian Islands of Andaman (ph) and Nicobar (ph).
One day after Dan Rather steps down at CBS News, Bob Schieffer will step in to replace him on March 10th, but only on a temporary basis, until CBS comes up with a new format for the evening news. That according to an announcement a short time ago from CBS News president Andy Hayward. Schieffer has covered Washington for CBS News for more than 30 years, and is a great guy and friend of our show.

The Coast Guard is unveiling a new undersea device, it says, will make the nation's vulnerable ports more secure. It uses robotic cameras, and divers to check hulls and piers for hidden explosives, and if an underwater intruder is detected, it can direct security forces to the troublespot.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Which image from last year's Super Bowl do you remember? No. 1, last year's winner? Maybe No. 2, Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction? Or was it No. 3, the dueling dysfunction ads? At the Super Bowl, advertisers want their image to be memorable. Well, the FCC would surely like them to be a little more family friendly. What will the 145 million Americans who will watch the game see this year?

Joining us from our New York bureau, David Droga, a longtime advertising executive and worldwide creative director of Publicists Worldwide.

David, good to see you.

DAVID DROGA, PUBLICISTS WORLDWIDE: Nice to be here, thank you.

PHILLIPS: So what do you think, will advertisers be overly cautious this year?

DROGA: I definitely think they'll be overly cautious. The ripples of last year's nipplegate and so on has affected every boardroom across the country. So I think returning to a more wholesome type of entertainment is definitely in the cards, I think.

PHILLIPS: Now, I as reading that you were saying, for example, Budweiser is going to stay away from the so-called toilet humor, yet you go online and already they're kind of going that way.

DROGA: Well, humor's definitely part of the Budweiser tone of voice. I think it's the type of humor they'll stay clear of. You go to their site and they do have ads that make fun of the whole scandal last year, and people have high expectations of Budweiser advertising. But I think fundamentally, it will still be entertaining, but probably less cutting edge, in chance of sort of offending anybody really.

PHILLIPS: Are there any new nonnegotiable regulations for advertisers this time around, since -- you know, looking at what happened last year?

DROGA: I don't think there's been anything written on paper that people have to adhere to. I think fundamentally, though, people -- it's a question of taste and subjectivity now. I think the big revealing thing of last year was it wasn't just an audience filled with testosterone. I mean, they had 500,000 complaints. It showed it is a family event. It's more than male football fans who want to be entertained at any cost.

PHILLIPS: Interesting you say testosterone and then you talk about family event. And then I think of my E.T. (ph) that couldn't believe at halftime he was seeing a certain ad when his, you know, 8- year-old daughter walked in, you know, about dysfunction. So what about Viagra ads and these other copycat-type of drugs? Are there still going to be a lot of those?

DROGA: I imagine you will see them. I mean, these pharmaceutical companies have an extraordinary amount of money. And I think that is the interesting rub, because there was a lot of talk last year about the whole halftime entertainment. But the whole question about that subject matter being raised in a living room -- I would have thought that would be more contentious actually, but I think they'll definitely be there. The money that's spent to actually get ads on air, think it's $2.5 million per spot, most pharmaceutical companies have the money, and I think they will be there, definitely.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's interesting that you say that, because there was such a scandal that came out of the Janet Jackson ordeal. And it went to -- carried over into radio stations, what you can say on the radio, what you can see on television. Yet you're telling me, it sounds like if you've got enough money, it doesn't matter, you can still push the limit.

DROGA: Well, I think the pharmaceutical companies, they have to adhere to certain boundaries. They're not as overt. It's all very suggestive. So they're sort of hoping that that won't register with the younger audience.

But there's no question, I mean, if you've got the money, you've bought the time, you can basically put your wares to show. Naturally, the pharmaceutical companies have to adhere to much more stringent rules then, say, the Budweisers and the car companies, absolutely.

PHILLIPS: So, David, what's the process to get your ads on Super Bowl day? What do you have to go through? How do you make the pitch? I'm curious if you've ever done it also. But what's the process?

DROGA: Well, it's a huge one, because It is essentially the one time of the year -- it is our Oscars, it's the corporate catwalk for advertising, and I think all big brands want to be seen there.

Clearly, the first thing is are they prepared to pay the money? I think we were talking when you take into consideration the average production cost, this is working out to be near $200,000 a second just to be seen on the Super Bowl, and that's sort of space program proportions. Once they're prepared to sign off on that, then a lot of clients will produce a lot of commercials, only going to run a few of them.

But, you know, it's a long process. Everybody is aware that you've got a captive audience. This is one time of the year where people are interested in advertising, want to be entertained by advertising, as opposed to viewing it as a distraction. So a lot of people take into consideration most of the time, entertain at any cost, which is what the was attitude last year. Now it's entertain with a conscious.

You saw in the press last year, people do polls about what is the most memorable commercial. This is one time where people are interested genuinely in what we're doing, and they expect it, and they expect something great. And I worry this year is going to be slightly timid, because I think it's going to be overcompensation for last year.

PHILLIPS: And finally, from your opinion, do these ads really increase sales if it airs during that time period? If they air during the Super Bowl do you definitely see a difference as a company owner?

DROGA: I think you do. I think there's two mindsets going into it. I think there's those that -- it's just a great time to get an audience of 100 million-plus and it might be relevant, so bums on the seats for the launch of a new film or the launch of a new car.

And then there are those where this is much a brand ego thing, where it's -- you know, the Budweisers and the Pepsis. Where it's not, to say, relevant to any particular time, but it just reemphasizes the fact they're a big, serious player. So some it's about just enhancing the brand image and some you see direct sales. But I think it is -- people wouldn't pay it if it didn't reap rewards, I think.

PHILLIPS: David Droga, longtime advertising executive. Thanks for your time today.

DROGA: Pleasure, thank you.

O'BRIEN: Now, David didn't mention the real reason for this.

PHILLIPS: Oh, yes? Hold on, David, don't go away yet.

O'BRIEN: It's so the corporate fat cats get an executive suite, a sky box for the game, right? Isn't that what it is? DROGA: Well, I think there's no question that, you know, there's a little bit of corporate dueling going on there, people who want to see their spot. But the money is so extraordinary, I think, that it has to go a little -- I hope it goes a little bit beyond that.

PHILLIPS: It would be interesting to see what the talked-about ad is this year, don't you think?

O'BRIEN: Always is, fun to watch, it is.

PHILLIPS: David, are you calling it?

DROGA: Yes, I imagine -- clearly, I imagine the Buds and the Pepsis will do some extraordinary things.

PHILLIPS: All right.

DROGA: I think some of the car companies will do some things. But it's going to be very interesting. I mean, I'm as anxious as you are.

PHILLIPS: We'll talk to you afterwards, then.

DROGA: Definitely. Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, David.

O'BRIEN: Too late for us here at LIVE FROM to get a spot, I guess.

PHILLIPS: We could use the promo.

O'BRIEN: We could.

If you could -- if you have to go to the hospital, you might reasonably expect to get better, right? But each year, hospitals and their infections therein make millions of patients -- millions -- sicker. And it might wind up killing thousands of others. Details on a disturbing Centers for Disease Control report are ahead.

And later, going whole hog for a groundhog, a goofy tradition brings out a huge batch of fans and a rodent that's a superstar. We put the punk in Punxsutawney. Let's just say, remember, Phil begins with P, shall we say?

PHILLIPS: Is that for phat?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: An infection is among the last things patients might expect to get after admission to the hospital. Aren't you supposed to get better there? What can patients do to avoid infections? Don't check into the hospital? Well, that might not be an option for some.

Here's our health correspondent Elizabeth Cohen to explain all this. Of course, you want to find sick people, you go to a hospital. I guess we can understand why there might be infections there.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, they're more prone to infections because they're already sick. But I'll you, the numbers, when you hear the numbers, it's pretty scary. Consumers Union, the group Consumers Union, says that more people die of hospital-acquired infections each year than die of auto accidents and homicides combined. The numbers are huge.

Let's take a look at some specifics. According to a report in the "New England Journal of Medicine," five percent to ten percent of hospital patient get infections in hospitals every year. That adds up to about two million patients a year. 90,000 of those die. That adds up to a cost of $5 billion each year in care that those people require.

Now, why do people get infections in the hospital? Many of them are from catheter procedures. The catheter actually introduces some kind of a bacteria or a virus. Many of the people who get infected are in intensive care units. Not surprising, those are the sickest. Some people get infected from heart procedures and also from artificial body parts, when you're having a fake knee or a fake hip put in. And those last two help explain why these numbers seem to be on the rise. As doctors invent more and more fake parts to put in our body, whether it's a hip or a heart valve, that increases the chance of getting some kind of an infection.

Well, the Centers for Disease Control is meeting with the American Hospital Association and other groups next week to try to see what they can do about this. One of the problems is there's actually a lot of fuzziness in this area. Only four states require hospitals to report infections that are acquired there. So it's kind of hard to get a lay of the land for exactly what's happening.

O'BRIEN: So if you check into the hospital, you're getting a new knee, you say to the doctor, can I have a clean one, please? I mean, seriously what can you do to guard against this?

COHEN: You need to ask for a clean knee and you also need to ask the doctor for clean hands. This is very disturbing, but there are studies that show that doctors, way too often, forget to wash their hands.

O'BRIEN: No, no.

COHEN: It is true.

PHILLIPS: Eww.

COHEN: I would, unfortunately, not kid you about this.

O'BRIEN: Aren't they supposed to sit under there and sing happy birthday and scrub with that gritty stuff and stuff like that?

COHEN: Yes, one would think, but apparently they don't wash their hands as much as they should. So that is the first tip if you're in the hospital and you want to avoid a hospital-acquired infection, of course as everybody does. Remind that doctor to wash his or her hands.

Also, before ask -- before you go into the hospital, ask about the infection rate for your procedure. Ask specifically about the infection rate. And if it's high, ask if there are any alternatives to that procedure. Maybe you don't need a fake knee. Maybe there are other things that you can do. But take that risk into consideration.

O'BRIEN: If your doctor has dirty fingernails, get him out of your room, right?

COHEN: Right, get another doctor.

O'BRIEN: All right. Elizabeth Cohen. Startling news. Thank you very much.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Well, he spent nearly three decades of his life in prison, talking about Nelson Mandela, the symbol for racial equality and freedom in South Africa and really around the world.

As part of CNN's anniversary series "Then and Now," we take a look back at Nelson Mandela and where he is today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Both the symbol and a source of power for the fight against apartheid in South Africa, Nelson Mandela never gave up. He was imprisoned in 1962 for his leadership of the outlawed African National Congress in the battle to win equal rights for blacks. Mandela was released more than 27 years later. He received the Nobel Peace Prize and became the first black president of South Africa.

Married for the third time on his 80th birthday in 1998, he retired from the presidency one year later. Mandela is now 86 years old. After a battle with prostate cancer and other health problems, he retired from public life last year.

NELSON MANDELA: Don't call me. I'll call you.

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Only to reemerge to spear-head a new cause. Mandela leads a fund-raising group for AIDS victims called 4664, after his prison number. The fight, once again, is personal for Mandela. His son died of AIDS in January.

MANDELA: Let us give publicity to HIV/AIDS, and not hide it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Well, in case you had forgotten it, where's my card? Where's my Groundhog Day card?

PHILLIPS: I got your card, pal. It's with your birthday card...

O'BRIEN: Everything is ground hog day here. Starts off with Sonny and Cher, remember, the Bill Murray movie?

PHILLIPS: Exactly. They wanted to play clips and they wouldn't let me, because the video is so good from the actual ceremony today.

O'BRIEN: It's some sort of fair usage. Anyway, it's always a big deal in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. But for some reason, it was a bigger deal than usual this year. Groundhog Day officials say -- yes, there are Groundhog Day officials; it's a job -- say there was a record crowd at Gobbler's Knob, a splendid time had by all. One big exception, however, the star of the show.

PHILLIPS: Punxsutawney Phil, or "spill," we should say. You'll see what we mean.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning! Welcome to the 119th trek to Gobbler's Knob! This is the largest weekday crowd in the history of Groundhog Day! Are you ready for an early spring?

(APPLAUSE)

Or six more weeks of winter?

Who do you want to see?

CROWD: Phil, Phil, Phil!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We wish them all a happy Groundhog day. Bill then placing Phil on top of the old oak stump from where he surveyed his surroundings. He then turned to President William, and in ground hog-ese directed him to read this scroll which reads, "As I set in the sun, it's all about fun. But I'm sorry to say, I see my shadow today. When I see my shadow, six more weeks of winter."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's only the messenger!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, coming up in the second hour of LIVE FROM, a health scare for the pope. We're going to update you on his condition. We'll also look at who will succeed him when the time comes.

O'BRIEN: And later, a young man on his way up, climbing the tallest mountain in our hemisphere. He'll take a few minutes to talk about it with CNN. LIVE FROM's hour of power begins after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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