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A Look Back at Reagan's Hollywood Days; What Really Goes on Behind the Scenes at 'Saturday Night Live?'

Aired June 10, 2004 - 10:30   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A man who truly knows Hollywood, and he knew Ronald Reagan as well, legendary publicist Warren Cowan joins me for a look back at Reagan's Hollywood days, and some surprising behind-the-scenes stories.
And two years in the trenches at "Saturday Night Live," the stories he can tell, and he is, in a new book. Jay Mohr joins me to talk about his new book. It's called "Gasping for Airtime."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: President Bush and French President Jacques Chirac held talks as the G8 summit prepared to wrap up in Sea Island, Georgia. That's our top headline at the bottom of the hour.

Mr. Bush acknowledged the two have had differences in the past, but added that they are friends and able to talk about the future. One of the tough issues they did discuss was what type of role NATO should play in Iraq in the future.

John Kerry has emerged as the front-runner in a new presidential preference poll, an "L.A. Times" poll of voters nationwide. Kerry had 48 percent to George Bush's 42 percent, with Ralph Nader at 4 percent. Most of those polls disapproved of Bush's handling of the economy and of Iraq.

Louisiana voters will decide on a Senate-approved ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state constitution. Lawmakers must still schedule the vote either September 18, or the dates of the general election, which would be November 2nd.

Firefighters are trying to keep a wildfire from reaching a small town on the Arizona-New Mexico border. The Three Forks fire has grown to 5,500 acres. It is now about four miles from Nutrioso (ph), Arizona. Residents are on alert for possible evacuation.

We're looking at a live picture of the Capitol Rotunda, where Ronald Reagan lies in state. It's in the same place where Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were embraced by grieving Americans. At least 2,000 people an hour will stream past Reagan's casket, draped with the flag that flew over the capital during his inauguration in 1981.

Ronald Reagan is remembered as the Great Communicator. Our next guest helped craft his image and his appeal before politics came along. Legendary Hollywood publicist Warren Cowan represented Reagan as an actor in the 1950s and '60s. We're honored to have him with us from our L.A. bureau this morning.

Good morning.

WARREN COWAN, HOLLYWOOD PR EXECUTIVE: Good morning.

KAGAN: They're telling me I should call you Warren, but somehow Mr. Cowan seems more appropriate.

COWAN: OK.

KAGAN: OK. Well, thanks for being with us.

Do you remember the first time you met Ronald Reagan?

COWAN: I met him at the early days at Warner Bros. But then I came to work for him in the 1950s, and early '60s. And as I watched yesterday the president being flown to Washington, I could only recall that during the days I represented him, President Reagan refused to fly.

KAGAN: I was reading that this morning, as I was getting ready for this interview. I find that fascinating. You say that when he had to get from place to place, he insisted on taking trains; he did not like to fly.

COWAN: We booked his publicity tours by train. And interestingly enough, a dozen years ago, I had occasion to sit next to President Kennedy at a small dinner party, and at that time, I reminded him about his non-flying days, and I asked him how he overcame his fear of flying. And he told me, I always knew that God would tell me when it was the right time to fly. And I said, excuse me, Mr. President, I think you mean God and the Republican Party.

KAGAN: And did he have a chuckle out of that?

COWAN: Yes, I told him that for 16 years, when he was governor and president, I never saw a newscast that did not begin or end with his stepping off of an airplane or a helicopter. Yes, he did chuckle when I told him that.

KAGAN: I want to go back to the days in Hollywood, because that chapter of his life, he's always described as a B-movie actor. So as someone who knew him then, when did you have a sense, what were some of the first signs that this was a man who was meant for more than just that type of career?

COWAN: My guess is that it began with the film "Rockne," which took him out of the B-picture category and landed him on the top level. And then he did "King's Row," of course.

And incidentally, I don't think too many people know that Ronald Reagan headlined once in Las Vegas. He appeared for two weeks at the Last Frontier Hotel, and his then-agent Pierre Cossette has written about it in his book, "Another Day in Showbiz," about how Reagan headlined. He sang, and danced and did a little comedy, and he appeared for two weeks at top salary in Las Vegas. KAGAN: Which would have been about what back in those days?

COWAN: In those days, I'm told, that Frank Sinatra and the others stars were being paid $15,000 a week.

KAGAN: Wow.

COWAN: That's what he received. And although the show -- his show was well received, he retired from his nightclub career after the two weeks in Las Vegas.

KAGAN: Sounds like he found it was not a good idea to keep that day job, that there were other big things ahead for him than...

(CROSSTALK)

COWAN: I think so.

KAGAN: Now, if you were working with Ronald Reagan back in the '50s and '60s, that means -- I don't know how early in the '50s it was that you came together -- but you were there for from the beginning of the love affair between him and Nancy Reagan, or at least the beginning of their marriage.

KAGAN: Actually, I first knew him when he was married to Jane Wyman.

COWAN: OK, so you did go back.

COWAN: Who she was a client of mine in the Johnny Belinda days, and she was married to Ronald Reagan, then I did know him when he first knew and met Nancy, who was introduced to him by the film director Mervyn Leroy. And their romance, of course, is legendary. And I think watching her yesterday at the casket was very, very touching.

KAGAN: It was very moving, one of the great love stories, not just of Hollywood, of politics.

COWAN: I agree.

KAGAN: Let me ask you the final question about Mr. And Mrs. Reagan, because, Mr. Cowan, that you are in the PR business, you see all sorts of things that need to be covered up and spun in terms of romance. When you get -- when you were able to be up close to this couple, what was it that you could see was so special about the spark and the love between them?

COWAN: Just the twinkle in their eyes and the genuine love affair. And what you saw was what you saw, was just up there and out front. And what I loved was that they were always holding hands. Even in almost public ceremonies, they would be holding each other's hands.

KAGAN: And how perfect is the picture we have right there. Just as you would point out, they are holding hands. Warren Cowan, a PR legend yourself, thanks for taking the time to be with us this morning.

COWAN: Pleasure.

KAGAN: We appreciate your remembrances of Ronald Reagan.

COWAN: Pleasure.

KAGAN: Thank you so much.

Let's take a look at what is ahead in this week of national mourning. Tomorrow, Mr. Reagan's state funeral will be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, then his casket will be flown back to California, where a private funeral service will be held at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

KAGAN: Now on to "Everyday Hero." It's our semi-regular feature, shining the spotlight on people who show exceptional courage or selflessness. Today's hero exhibits both, and sadly it could cost him his life. Six-year-old Donald Houser Rasharem (ph) is on life support after jumping into his apartment swimming pool to save a young friend. He did even though he couldn't swim. Donald helped the 5- year-old girl escape the half-filled pool unharmed, but he went under, and now he is hospitalized in critical condition.

If you know of an everyday hero, we'd like to hear the story. Send us an e-mail, livetoday@CNN.com.

KAGAN: The life of a funny man coming up. Comedian Jay Mohr talks to us about his days of what he calls "Gasping for Airtime" on "Saturday Night Live."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: So what really goes on behind the scenes at "Saturday Night Live?" According to comedian Jay Mohr, there are panic attacks, gastrointestinal distress, and sometimes even more laughs than you see on stage. It was a two-year stint for him. He describes it as the trenches. He's now written a tell-all. It's titled "Gasping for Airtime," and he's here to dish. Jay Mohr is our guest from New York City.

Jay, good morning. Thanks for being here with us.

JAY MOHR, COMEDIAN: It's a real pleasure, Daryn. Thanks for having me.

KAGAN: Let's start on the positive, first. Looking through your book, you say hands down for you, Chris Farley the funniest man that you worked with.

MOHR: The most beautiful man I ever worked with in my life. Chris Farley was a wrecking ball of joy. And I didn't realize it until I was about halfway through the book that it was turning almost into idolatry for Chris, how much he had meant to me as a mentor and watching him on a day-to-day basis. And the stuff you didn't see on camera, just his day-to-day life.

See, I'm watching these clips right now. It just makes me laugh.

KAGAN: Cracking you up.

MOHR: Just the most beautiful man I ever met. The funniest ever.

KAGAN: And left us way too soon.

MOHR: Absolutely. His circle on this earth was way too small for the amount of love he gave off.

KAGAN: Now let's talk about a little lack of love, or a little cattiness, perhaps. Some of the stuff that you dish in the book? You share stories about John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Roseanne Barr. Not the most flattering portraits of some of these stars, Jay.

MOHR: Yes, people might get a little upset. But maybe they should have just been nicer to me if they were going to be upset after -- you know, you should always be nice to people...

(CROSSTALK)

MOHR: You never know who's going to write a book 12 years after the fact.

John Travolta was on the show. And it was really odd, because after you pitch ideas to the host, Loren Michaels always ask the host if they have any ideas of their own. And they usually just defer to the writing staff.

But John Travolta brought in like four yellow legal pads, and they were completely filled out, scribbled with tiny print like John Nash from "A Beautiful Mind," like an insane person had written five legal pads full of sketches.

And we all sat there for an hour, trapped. And he said, "I have a sketch where I play a Hasidic Jewish detective."

(CROSSTALK)

MOHR: But in hindsight, that's actually kind of funny.

KAGAN: So maybe he was ahead of his time.

MOHR: Yes, maybe he was, and maybe -- I think we were all just angry that we were trapped. You know, we were angry he didn't defer to the staff.

KAGAN: I hear you do a pretty mean Christopher Walken impression. So can you do Christopher Walken behind the scenes at "Saturday Night Live"? MOHR: Of course. For, Daryn, you're in Atlanta, the ATL, Hotlanta. I'm doing it for you because you're fantastic. And you can get me that much closer to Aaron Brown.

Oh! It's crazy. We could really talk for a long time. He and I, because we're both from Jupiter.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: The Aaron Brown line got a big laugh here in the Atlanta newsroom.

MOHR: I can hear the crew laughing. If you make the crew laugh you're doing all right.

KAGAN: I'm telling you. That is the toughest audience. Absolutely.

I need to ask you just an inside baseball question from the world of Hollywood. Is it a good idea to write a book that has catty stories? I mean you're a guy who goes clear across all different lines in Hollywood. Are you afraid that people aren't going to want to do lunch?

MOHR: I've never been concerned with that. I've really been fortunate to have lived my life where I don't really have to do anything as far as work goes.

And all of that is because I'm a stand-up comic. And the comedy clubs have been so good to me and I've been able to make such a good living in comedy. So if the rug was pulled out from under me in Hollywood, you know, there's always comedy clubs in Atlanta, Houston, Irvine, California, New York City.

So I'm not too afraid. And plus it's what happens to me. I'm recording what happened. And a lot of the book is not so much pointing the fingers at others, but pointing fingers at myself. I'm the screw up. I'm the one that's not fitting in here.

And I have such horrible panic attacks when I'm on the show. And I would go to my doctor, Dr. Noelle Taylor (ph), when I was on the show. And I got diagnosed with a panic disorder.

So a lot of the -- it's a lot more honest than I think people will expect. It's not as much pointing the finger at everyone else as it is pointing at me and realizing that I am not doing the best I can do here.

KAGAN: Well you knew after a couple of years it was time to go. And I think between the movies, the producing, all the other stuff, you're doing OK.

The book is called "Gasping for Air Time." Jay Mohr, thanks so much.

MOHR: It's really great to talk to you. Thank you so much. KAGAN: You got to come back another time to and talk about "Last Comic Standing."

MOHR: Oh, I'd love to.

KAGAN: OK, we're out of time today. But another time.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: Jay Mohr.

And you can keep an eye on entertainment 24/7 by pointing your Internet browser to cnn.com/entertainment. Among the highlights you'll find there, old friend, Simon and Garfunkel bridging those troubled waters but not always seeing eye to eye.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right. It's June. The kids are out of school. People are taking vacations. Why not. A Colorado neighborhood covered with hail. All part of an intense series of storms that blew through the area. The state also had strong winds and at least one tornado on Wednesday.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

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 June 10, 2004 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A man who truly knows Hollywood, and he knew Ronald Reagan as well, legendary publicist Warren Cowan joins me for a look back at Reagan's Hollywood days, and some surprising behind-the-scenes stories.
And two years in the trenches at "Saturday Night Live," the stories he can tell, and he is, in a new book. Jay Mohr joins me to talk about his new book. It's called "Gasping for Airtime."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: President Bush and French President Jacques Chirac held talks as the G8 summit prepared to wrap up in Sea Island, Georgia. That's our top headline at the bottom of the hour.

Mr. Bush acknowledged the two have had differences in the past, but added that they are friends and able to talk about the future. One of the tough issues they did discuss was what type of role NATO should play in Iraq in the future.

John Kerry has emerged as the front-runner in a new presidential preference poll, an "L.A. Times" poll of voters nationwide. Kerry had 48 percent to George Bush's 42 percent, with Ralph Nader at 4 percent. Most of those polls disapproved of Bush's handling of the economy and of Iraq.

Louisiana voters will decide on a Senate-approved ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state constitution. Lawmakers must still schedule the vote either September 18, or the dates of the general election, which would be November 2nd.

Firefighters are trying to keep a wildfire from reaching a small town on the Arizona-New Mexico border. The Three Forks fire has grown to 5,500 acres. It is now about four miles from Nutrioso (ph), Arizona. Residents are on alert for possible evacuation.

We're looking at a live picture of the Capitol Rotunda, where Ronald Reagan lies in state. It's in the same place where Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were embraced by grieving Americans. At least 2,000 people an hour will stream past Reagan's casket, draped with the flag that flew over the capital during his inauguration in 1981.

Ronald Reagan is remembered as the Great Communicator. Our next guest helped craft his image and his appeal before politics came along. Legendary Hollywood publicist Warren Cowan represented Reagan as an actor in the 1950s and '60s. We're honored to have him with us from our L.A. bureau this morning.

Good morning.

WARREN COWAN, HOLLYWOOD PR EXECUTIVE: Good morning.

KAGAN: They're telling me I should call you Warren, but somehow Mr. Cowan seems more appropriate.

COWAN: OK.

KAGAN: OK. Well, thanks for being with us.

Do you remember the first time you met Ronald Reagan?

COWAN: I met him at the early days at Warner Bros. But then I came to work for him in the 1950s, and early '60s. And as I watched yesterday the president being flown to Washington, I could only recall that during the days I represented him, President Reagan refused to fly.

KAGAN: I was reading that this morning, as I was getting ready for this interview. I find that fascinating. You say that when he had to get from place to place, he insisted on taking trains; he did not like to fly.

COWAN: We booked his publicity tours by train. And interestingly enough, a dozen years ago, I had occasion to sit next to President Kennedy at a small dinner party, and at that time, I reminded him about his non-flying days, and I asked him how he overcame his fear of flying. And he told me, I always knew that God would tell me when it was the right time to fly. And I said, excuse me, Mr. President, I think you mean God and the Republican Party.

KAGAN: And did he have a chuckle out of that?

COWAN: Yes, I told him that for 16 years, when he was governor and president, I never saw a newscast that did not begin or end with his stepping off of an airplane or a helicopter. Yes, he did chuckle when I told him that.

KAGAN: I want to go back to the days in Hollywood, because that chapter of his life, he's always described as a B-movie actor. So as someone who knew him then, when did you have a sense, what were some of the first signs that this was a man who was meant for more than just that type of career?

COWAN: My guess is that it began with the film "Rockne," which took him out of the B-picture category and landed him on the top level. And then he did "King's Row," of course.

And incidentally, I don't think too many people know that Ronald Reagan headlined once in Las Vegas. He appeared for two weeks at the Last Frontier Hotel, and his then-agent Pierre Cossette has written about it in his book, "Another Day in Showbiz," about how Reagan headlined. He sang, and danced and did a little comedy, and he appeared for two weeks at top salary in Las Vegas. KAGAN: Which would have been about what back in those days?

COWAN: In those days, I'm told, that Frank Sinatra and the others stars were being paid $15,000 a week.

KAGAN: Wow.

COWAN: That's what he received. And although the show -- his show was well received, he retired from his nightclub career after the two weeks in Las Vegas.

KAGAN: Sounds like he found it was not a good idea to keep that day job, that there were other big things ahead for him than...

(CROSSTALK)

COWAN: I think so.

KAGAN: Now, if you were working with Ronald Reagan back in the '50s and '60s, that means -- I don't know how early in the '50s it was that you came together -- but you were there for from the beginning of the love affair between him and Nancy Reagan, or at least the beginning of their marriage.

KAGAN: Actually, I first knew him when he was married to Jane Wyman.

COWAN: OK, so you did go back.

COWAN: Who she was a client of mine in the Johnny Belinda days, and she was married to Ronald Reagan, then I did know him when he first knew and met Nancy, who was introduced to him by the film director Mervyn Leroy. And their romance, of course, is legendary. And I think watching her yesterday at the casket was very, very touching.

KAGAN: It was very moving, one of the great love stories, not just of Hollywood, of politics.

COWAN: I agree.

KAGAN: Let me ask you the final question about Mr. And Mrs. Reagan, because, Mr. Cowan, that you are in the PR business, you see all sorts of things that need to be covered up and spun in terms of romance. When you get -- when you were able to be up close to this couple, what was it that you could see was so special about the spark and the love between them?

COWAN: Just the twinkle in their eyes and the genuine love affair. And what you saw was what you saw, was just up there and out front. And what I loved was that they were always holding hands. Even in almost public ceremonies, they would be holding each other's hands.

KAGAN: And how perfect is the picture we have right there. Just as you would point out, they are holding hands. Warren Cowan, a PR legend yourself, thanks for taking the time to be with us this morning.

COWAN: Pleasure.

KAGAN: We appreciate your remembrances of Ronald Reagan.

COWAN: Pleasure.

KAGAN: Thank you so much.

Let's take a look at what is ahead in this week of national mourning. Tomorrow, Mr. Reagan's state funeral will be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, then his casket will be flown back to California, where a private funeral service will be held at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

KAGAN: Now on to "Everyday Hero." It's our semi-regular feature, shining the spotlight on people who show exceptional courage or selflessness. Today's hero exhibits both, and sadly it could cost him his life. Six-year-old Donald Houser Rasharem (ph) is on life support after jumping into his apartment swimming pool to save a young friend. He did even though he couldn't swim. Donald helped the 5- year-old girl escape the half-filled pool unharmed, but he went under, and now he is hospitalized in critical condition.

If you know of an everyday hero, we'd like to hear the story. Send us an e-mail, livetoday@CNN.com.

KAGAN: The life of a funny man coming up. Comedian Jay Mohr talks to us about his days of what he calls "Gasping for Airtime" on "Saturday Night Live."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: So what really goes on behind the scenes at "Saturday Night Live?" According to comedian Jay Mohr, there are panic attacks, gastrointestinal distress, and sometimes even more laughs than you see on stage. It was a two-year stint for him. He describes it as the trenches. He's now written a tell-all. It's titled "Gasping for Airtime," and he's here to dish. Jay Mohr is our guest from New York City.

Jay, good morning. Thanks for being here with us.

JAY MOHR, COMEDIAN: It's a real pleasure, Daryn. Thanks for having me.

KAGAN: Let's start on the positive, first. Looking through your book, you say hands down for you, Chris Farley the funniest man that you worked with.

MOHR: The most beautiful man I ever worked with in my life. Chris Farley was a wrecking ball of joy. And I didn't realize it until I was about halfway through the book that it was turning almost into idolatry for Chris, how much he had meant to me as a mentor and watching him on a day-to-day basis. And the stuff you didn't see on camera, just his day-to-day life.

See, I'm watching these clips right now. It just makes me laugh.

KAGAN: Cracking you up.

MOHR: Just the most beautiful man I ever met. The funniest ever.

KAGAN: And left us way too soon.

MOHR: Absolutely. His circle on this earth was way too small for the amount of love he gave off.

KAGAN: Now let's talk about a little lack of love, or a little cattiness, perhaps. Some of the stuff that you dish in the book? You share stories about John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Roseanne Barr. Not the most flattering portraits of some of these stars, Jay.

MOHR: Yes, people might get a little upset. But maybe they should have just been nicer to me if they were going to be upset after -- you know, you should always be nice to people...

(CROSSTALK)

MOHR: You never know who's going to write a book 12 years after the fact.

John Travolta was on the show. And it was really odd, because after you pitch ideas to the host, Loren Michaels always ask the host if they have any ideas of their own. And they usually just defer to the writing staff.

But John Travolta brought in like four yellow legal pads, and they were completely filled out, scribbled with tiny print like John Nash from "A Beautiful Mind," like an insane person had written five legal pads full of sketches.

And we all sat there for an hour, trapped. And he said, "I have a sketch where I play a Hasidic Jewish detective."

(CROSSTALK)

MOHR: But in hindsight, that's actually kind of funny.

KAGAN: So maybe he was ahead of his time.

MOHR: Yes, maybe he was, and maybe -- I think we were all just angry that we were trapped. You know, we were angry he didn't defer to the staff.

KAGAN: I hear you do a pretty mean Christopher Walken impression. So can you do Christopher Walken behind the scenes at "Saturday Night Live"? MOHR: Of course. For, Daryn, you're in Atlanta, the ATL, Hotlanta. I'm doing it for you because you're fantastic. And you can get me that much closer to Aaron Brown.

Oh! It's crazy. We could really talk for a long time. He and I, because we're both from Jupiter.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: The Aaron Brown line got a big laugh here in the Atlanta newsroom.

MOHR: I can hear the crew laughing. If you make the crew laugh you're doing all right.

KAGAN: I'm telling you. That is the toughest audience. Absolutely.

I need to ask you just an inside baseball question from the world of Hollywood. Is it a good idea to write a book that has catty stories? I mean you're a guy who goes clear across all different lines in Hollywood. Are you afraid that people aren't going to want to do lunch?

MOHR: I've never been concerned with that. I've really been fortunate to have lived my life where I don't really have to do anything as far as work goes.

And all of that is because I'm a stand-up comic. And the comedy clubs have been so good to me and I've been able to make such a good living in comedy. So if the rug was pulled out from under me in Hollywood, you know, there's always comedy clubs in Atlanta, Houston, Irvine, California, New York City.

So I'm not too afraid. And plus it's what happens to me. I'm recording what happened. And a lot of the book is not so much pointing the fingers at others, but pointing fingers at myself. I'm the screw up. I'm the one that's not fitting in here.

And I have such horrible panic attacks when I'm on the show. And I would go to my doctor, Dr. Noelle Taylor (ph), when I was on the show. And I got diagnosed with a panic disorder.

So a lot of the -- it's a lot more honest than I think people will expect. It's not as much pointing the finger at everyone else as it is pointing at me and realizing that I am not doing the best I can do here.

KAGAN: Well you knew after a couple of years it was time to go. And I think between the movies, the producing, all the other stuff, you're doing OK.

The book is called "Gasping for Air Time." Jay Mohr, thanks so much.

MOHR: It's really great to talk to you. Thank you so much. KAGAN: You got to come back another time to and talk about "Last Comic Standing."

MOHR: Oh, I'd love to.

KAGAN: OK, we're out of time today. But another time.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: Jay Mohr.

And you can keep an eye on entertainment 24/7 by pointing your Internet browser to cnn.com/entertainment. Among the highlights you'll find there, old friend, Simon and Garfunkel bridging those troubled waters but not always seeing eye to eye.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right. It's June. The kids are out of school. People are taking vacations. Why not. A Colorado neighborhood covered with hail. All part of an intense series of storms that blew through the area. The state also had strong winds and at least one tornado on Wednesday.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

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