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Iraq Captors Set New Deadline for Jill Carroll; Axis of Evil Comedy Tour

Aired February 10, 2006 - 14:30   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: He got his start on Broadway and appeared in numerous films and TV shows over the course of his 60-year acting career. And yet, we'll always know him as Tom Willis, George and Wheezy's honky neighbor with the interracial marriage on TV's "The Jeffersons."
Today, we remember the late Franklin Cover for his other roles as well. You can see him in the films "Wall Street" and "Stepford Wives" among others. After "The Jeffersons," his television career kept going into the 1990s with appearances on "Will & Grace," "E.R.," and "Mad About You." Franklin Cover died Sunday in New Jersey. He was 77 years old.

When the three most famous tenors in the world sang at Dodger Stadium in 1994, the world was listening.

(MUSIC)

PHILLIPS: And unbeknownst to them, a musical phenomenon was starting. Soon there were Three Irish Tenors, Three American Tenors, Three Chinese Tenors, even -- and we're not kidding -- Three Redneck Tenors. But what about tenors who could sing Mozart and Marvin Gaye?

(MUSIC)

PHILLIPS: That's actually a little Usher. Meet Three Mo' Tenors, Ramone Diggs, Marvin Scott and Kenneth Alston Jr. These trained opera singers can hit high notes with Usher as easily as Puccini. The Three Mo' Tenors join me now live from our New York studio. Hi, guys.

RAMONE DIGGS, TENOR: How you doing?

KENNETH ALSTON JR., TENOR: How are you doing?

MARVIN SCOTT, TENOR: How are you?

PHILLIPS: Look at you three. You look all dressed up and ready to go. Are you ready to perform? Maybe we should let you sing for the next 20 minutes. Well, I got to ask you. How did this all start? Ramone, give me just a quick little background on you.

DIGGS: Me personally?

PHILLIPS: Yes. DIGGS: Well, actually I was in school in Philadelphia. I went to the Curtis Institute of Music. And I was in my last year of grad program, and one of our former directors of one of the operas had heard me sing and they were looking for Three Mo' Tenors. And I got a phone call to sing for them, and I went and sang and here I am two years later.

PHILLIPS: Here you are. All right let's take a little bit -- let's take a little listen to the opera. And then I'm going to ask the other two, Marvin and Kenneth, a couple of questions.

(MUSIC)

PHILLIPS: Man. So Marvin, were you ever exposed to opera as a kid?

SCOTT: Well, my family is from the West Indies. And my father was a carpenter. My mom's a nurse. There wasn't much opera going on in my house.

PHILLIPS: What were you listening to?

SCOTT: We were listening to country music and Caribbean music, reggae, Solkov (ph), but my father, he saw this movie. It's a story that Mario Lanza played about the story of Caruso. And ever since I was about 2 years old, my father has been singing the "Lord's Prayer" and "Ave Maria" in the style of Mario Lanza. So I think that's probably where I got my inspiration.

PHILLIPS: And if you watched Coretta Scott King's funeral and we heard the "Lord's Prayer" -- saw it was absolutely amazing -- so I can just imagine. Now Kenneth what about you? Were you ever exposed to opera?

ALSTON: I was exposed to opera by way of the classical music station in New York City, so that's all I used to sing. And I used to run around the house singing. And my mom was just like, what is he going to be when he grows up? And I was like, I'm going to be a singer. I'm going to be a singer.

PHILLIPS: Did you know it was going to be opera though?

ALSTON: No, I did not. Not just there, but I guess that's where I am right now, aren't I?

PHILLIPS: Yes, really. You never know how things are going to go. Ramone what about you? As a kid, were you exposed to opera?

DIGGS: Well, actually, you know, I start singing when I was a little -- one of those kids who liked to just get up in front of people. I would do anything, I would say anything. And eventually I got around to singing. And I felt like I knew I could sing but nobody else knew.

And so finally everyone else found out. And then it became, let's get Ramone a teacher. And then once I had a teacher, she actually founded the Amarillo Opera with Mila Gibson.

And she exposed me to opera because when I started, you know, I didn't know where I was from. I didn't know that black people sang opera. I hadn't been exposed to it in that way. So, yes, and even still, I didn't know that I was going to end up being an opera stinger.

PHILLIPS: ,Well that's interesting. Because you listen to the three of you. Unbelievable voices, I must say.

DIGGS: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Marvin, has this opened up great opportunities for more African-Americans to be accepted in the world of opera and hope that maybe at times opera can become a little more hip thanks to you guys and your talent?

SCOTT: Well, I think it does on two levels, from the ground up and from the top down. Certainly seeing three African-American tenors performing from opera to spirituals, jazz and blues, it makes some sort of impression.

But I know that there are people who come to our shows who have never been to an opera before, and it inspires them to listen to something more and listen to a little bit something that perhaps they wouldn't have listened to because they were somehow touched by what we perform on the show.

And those same people may then go to the opera house and purchase a ticket. And when more of those people buy tickets, they demand to see people like us on stage as well. So ...

PHILLIPS: Perfect -- go ahead, I'm sorry.

SCOTT: So that's why I really enjoy working with the Three Mo' Tenors, and I feel like it does serve that purpose as well as entertaining.

PHILLIPS: And that's the perfect segue, because I want folks to hear a little Alicia Keys now.

(MUSIC)

PHILLIPS: All right, Kenneth, now be honest with me. Has Pavarotti, Domingo, or Carreras ever called any one of you guys and said man, I got some competition?

ALSTON: No, but I'm pretty sure if they did they could get down with us and get hip and be with us. Let's see if they can hang and do all the different styles of music that we do.

PHILLIPS: Do any of you guys speak Italian? Kenneth?

ALSTON: No, I don't.

PHILLIPS: No. How about you, Marvin? SCOTT: I do speak Italian and German as well.

PHILLIPS: Ramone?

DIGGS: Very little, and a little French, but very little.

PHILLIPS: All right. I know you're prepped for this. Fifteen seconds or less, just give me a little something.

PHILLIPS: Just give me a little something.

DIGGS: Oh, OK.

SCOTT: OK.

DIGGS: What do you want to do? All right. We can do this.

PHILLIPS: I love it. Let's go.

(MUSIC)

PHILLIPS: Wow, Marvin, Kenneth, Ramone, you guys are awesome. I can't wait to see the show. Thank you so much for your time today.

SCOTT: Thank you for having us.

PHILLIPS: All right, guys. It was terrific.

DIGGS: Bye now.

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, unexpected humor from the axis of evil.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many people here were Middle Eastern on September 10th and Mexican on September 11th, anyone?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Nice little stand-up comics bring people together with laughs. LIVE FROM waves the cover charge straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We continue to follow the latest developments with regard to Jill Carroll and her fate.

Fred, what are you hearing?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, more information now on how that Kuwaiti television station may have got information about the deadline being set by the captors of that American journalist being held hostage in Iraq, Jill Carroll. A deadline has been set of February 26th. That's what's being reported by this Kuwaiti station and confirmed by us. Jassim Boodai is chairman of the Alrai Television Station, the Kuwaiti television station, that I'm speaking of.

He is on the line with us now.

And, Jassim, how did you get this information, this latest information today?

JASSIM BOODAI, CHAIRMAN ALRAI TV: We received the information through the same sources that delivered the tape and the letter yesterday to us.

WHITFIELD: Sorry, I was just going to say we are looking at that videotape that you received yesterday that we were also able to look in on the videotape being released and taped rather on February 2nd, according to what Jill Carroll was saying on the audio.

BOODAI: Yes, that's right.

WHITFIELD: How did this tape come about? And why did you make the decision to air the tape and that it was legitimate as well as the information today?

BOODAI: Well, yesterday we received the tape and the letters that is supposed to be handwritten by Jill Carroll. A personal letter that contains personal information.

We decided to air the tape, thought it looked genuine. It did not contain anything that is suspicious. And we refrained from stating what it is in the letter due to the nature of the situation.

We preferred to hand over the letter along with the original copy of the letter along with the tape to the local authorities here to handle.

WHITFIELD: And what kind of cooperation do you get from authorities? How forthright are you with authorities about how you are receiving this tape, how you are receiving this information? Because, ultimately, I would imagine that the authorities would say some of this information can help them lead some kind of clues to Jill Carroll herself.

BOODAI: As a station, as a human being, our first and only main concern today right now is the safety of Jill Carroll. That's why we are fully cooperating with the authorities here, answering all of their questions, passing all the information we have to them, as well as today's information, which we got a couple of hours ago, more than a couple of hours ago. And that's related to the deadline.

WHITFIELD: What are some of the questions that the authorities are asking you?

BOODAI: Well, I prefer to leave this between us and the authorities for the time being. Because it's all -- the matter is very delicate now. And for the sake of her safety, I prefer to refrain from answering any questions and giving any information until hopefully she is safely released.

WHITFIELD: Now, are you expecting anymore information or dialogue to take place in the near future between your station and these sources close to the captors or the captors themselves?

BOODAI: Well, today we got the information that based on the deadline of the 26th of February that Jill Carroll is well mentally and physically. And she is in a safe house near somewhere central Baghdad living with some women. And that they confirm that they deny killing the translator who was with her. That's what we got today.

Frankly, I don't know whether we will get anything else. I hope that we will get good news this next time.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jassim Boodai, chairman of the Alrai, the Kuwaiti television station. Thank you so much for that latest information--Kyra.

BOODAI: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Thanks Fred.

The news keeps coming, and we will keep bringing it to you. More LIVE FROM next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: It's not usually very funny to be a Muslim in the post 9/11 world, but some stand-up comedians are changing that, one show at a time.

Debora Villalon of our San Francisco affiliate KGO checked out the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I finally got on a plane and they served us dinner, but for some weird reason, all my food came to me pre-cut.

DEBORA VILLALON, KGO REPORTER (voice-over): They're the kind of jokes only a Middle Eastern comic can make.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And when did the PLO ever have carnivale?

VILLALON: And the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour makes the most of current events and the political climate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about if the bomb was on his head? That would be funny.

VILLALON: The three headliners had been performing together a year when the September 11th attacks happened. For a while after, they tread softly on stage, but then found audiences had become more interested in what they had to say. MAZ JOBANI, EGYPTIAN-AMERICAN COMIC: It feels like this is our time to step up because you see so much negativity out there of the Middle East. And so one of the golds we have is that when people leave, they laugh. And they go, oh wait, that guy from the Middle East and he was funny. That was kind of strange. And he didn't throw rocks or anything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we're just trying to change minds one person at a time.

ALI MAFI, IRANIAN-AMERICAN COMIC: How many people here were Middle Eastern on September 10th and Mexican on September 11th? Anyone?

VILLALON: The tour also showcases local comics on their way up, like this 20-year-old from Marin.

MAFI: My whole shtick is that I'm a gay, fat Muslim. And I want to say hello to all my gay, fat Muslims out there.

VILLALON: These comics admit humor isn't exactly a hallmark of their culture. It's a point comedian Albert Brooks makes in his mock documentary, "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World," in theaters now.

And the Axis of Evil comics feels it's unfortunate that reaction to Denmark's political cartoons of Muhammed escalated into riots.

ARON KADER, PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN COMIC: Those were really in bad taste. They should have apologized. However, if you a problem with somebody and they offend a whole entire group, you sue them. You just -- you hire Jewish lawyers and sue.

AHMED AHMED, EGYPTIAN-AMERICAN COMIC: We want to bring American Western humor from the Middle Eastern and Muslim point of view to the forefront. To say hey, it's OK to laugh at yourselves. We think -- I think God has a sense of humor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to welcome to the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour. And we're looking for North Korean, if you guys know anybody.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Indiana Jones, eat your heart out buddy. A mysterious tomb just discovered in Egypt's Valley of the Kings isn't from one of your movies. This is the real deal, and the first tomb found there since King Tut in 1922. The big mystery, who the heck are the mummies? Kings, queens, nobles, or just ordinary gardeners who had a dream job? One thing the American archaeologists who found it are sure of, it dates back some 3,000 years. They'll keep digging to find out who those mummies are. We'll let you know what they come up with.

Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, standing by in Washington to tell us what's coming up at the top of the "SIT ROOM."

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, thanks very much, Kyra. Hurricane finger pointing. The former FEMA director, Michael Brown, gets grilled on Capitol Hill. While the city of New Orleans was destroyed by flood waters, who in the government was taking charge? We're going to be asking some tough questions this hour.

Also, Vice President Dick Cheney and the CIA leak. Is he facing any legal troubles? We're taking a closer look at this story.

Plus, the case for war. A former senior intelligence analyst accuses the White House of choosing to heed only the intelligence that bolstered its case for war. He'll be joining us live here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."

And operation slap shot. The hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky and his wife, are they caught up in a gambling sting?

That and much more, right here, Kyra, at the top of the hour.

PHILLIPS: We won't miss it. We never do.

BLITZER: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: He made his name playing football. Now Lynn Swann wants to score some political points. Up next, a new poll shows the former Steeler gaining ground on Pennsylvania's Democratic governor. LIVE FROM is back after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: It looks like football hall of famer Lynn Swann is scoring some points in his race for Pennsylvania governor. He's expected to pick up the formal endorsement of the state Republican party tomorrow. He got a boost when his top GOP rival dropped out of the race this week, and a new poll has even better news for Swann. He's closed the gap with incumbent Democrat Ed Rendell. A new Keystone poll gives 45 percent to Swann's 42 percent. Swann has no political experience, but he's well-known for years as a Pittsburgh Steeler. That Steeler victory in the Super Bowl can't hurt.

What's a top play-by-play announcer worth? How about a cartoon rabbit? Al Michaels, who just called the Super Bowl for ABC Sports, wanted to move to NBC for Sunday night football broadcast next season. So the two networks had to work out a trade. Michaels gets to join his former Monday night football partner John Madden at NBC. In exchange, NBC gives ABC's parent company, Disney, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a cartoon character created by Walt Disney in the 1920s when he worked for Universal Pictures. Disney's ESPN also gets rights to show Ryder Cup Golf, Olympics and other sports highlights.

Stocks and bonds just aren't good enough.

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