Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Three Boys Missing in New Jersey; Billy Graham's Last Crusade; Mr. Moviefone
Aired June 24, 2005 - 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: And now the latest on that extensive search which is underway this hour in Camden, New Jersey, looking for three boys who disappeared on Wednesday. Foul play has not been ruled out. Authorities can see they have virtually no clues as to what happened to these boys.
Our Allan Chernoff is in Camden, New Jersey, with the latest on this search. Allan, hello.
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
In fact, Lieutenant Mike Lynch (ph) of the Camden Police has just completed a press briefing and he conceded to the media that the police here simply do not have any solid leads right now. All they continue to do is just search the area. It is a three-square mile area that they are focusing, surrounding the home of the Cruz family where the children were last seen.
They had about 150 officers, both police from the city of Camden and also state troopers, as well as some federal agencies involved in this search. They are also using choppers in the air and they've got boats along the Delaware River. Keep in mind, Camden is right across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.
They still believe that the children walked away somehow and perhaps are hiding, perhaps got lost. They are not, as you said, ruling out foul play, but they say they also have no evidence that there has been any foul play, any abduction here, so they're not really focusing on that possibility just yet, but of course, trying to do as much as they can to find the children as quickly as possible.
For the parents, of course, this has been very, very difficult. We spoke with some of the mothers earlier this morning. And the longer the wait goes on, the harder it becomes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELBA CRUZ, MISSING BOY'S MOTHER: We're just frustrated because it's dragging on longer and longer than I expected. And just, frustration because there's nothing, no clues, nothing. And the police are doing a excellent job of searching. All they can do. But still, nothing.
DAVID AGOSTO, MISSING BOY'S FATHER: I'm holding this pants. It's what gets me by, you know? It's a pair of shorts. I think it's like his favorite shorts. That's what I use to -- gets me by. (END VIDEO CLIP)
CHERNOFF: Missing are 5-year-old Jesstin Pagan, 6-year-old Daniel Agosto and 11-year-old Anibal Cruz. They were last seen right outside of the Cruz family home. The mother stepped in for about five minutes to prepare dinner. When she came out, the children were gone. And that was Wednesday, a little bit after 5:00 Eastern time. Back to you.
KAGAN: It's a big puzzler. Thank you, Allan Chernoff from Camden, New Jersey.
This weekend, Billy Graham holds what he says will be his final U.S. crusade. The evangelist is 86 years old. He'll be preaching in New York City. It's where he had one of his most memorable engagements in his six-decade career. Back in 1957, Graham held a 16- week revival at Madison Square Garden.
CNN's Alina Cho is in New York with more on this weekend's crusade. Hello.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, there, Daryn. Good morning to you.
And in many ways, Billy Graham is coming full circle. It was in 1957 here in New York that he first rose to national prominence. So it is fitting, in many ways, Daryn, that he is returning here for what he is calling his last crusade in America.
Dr. Graham will be preaching to a much more diverse crowd than he did in 1957. New York is a melting pot, after all, and so are its churches.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice-over): Across the street from a used car lot, a stone's throw away from a housing project, is New York's largest church. The Christian Cultural Center is symbolic of the changing face of the city's Evangelical Christians. At least that's how the pastor, A.R. Bernard, sees it.
REV. A.R. BERNARD, CHRISTIAN CULTURAL CENTER: Literally, the complexion of New York City is changing. Most of these churches are as far as, Latino, Korean.
CHO: And growing each day, part of the reason why Reverend Graham is coming back.
He first came to New York in 1957.
REV. BILLY GRAHAM, EVANGELIST: The day of opportunity would be gone and you had not given your life to Jesus Christ.
CHO: What was supposed to be a four week revival stretched to four months. At a packed news conference this week, the 86-year-old preacher, ailing from Parkinson's Disease, his voice now reduced to a whisper, said he loves New York and that this crusade will be his last in America.
GRAHAM: And I just thank god for a city that speaks all these languages with so many people.
CHO: Dr. Graham's message this weekend will be translated into 13 different languages. There is seating for 70,000 people and an open field to accommodate even more. Members of the Christian Cultural Center will be among those attending.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fact that he's crossed over to my demographic makes him significant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's a wonderful opportunity for me to become a part of history.
CHO: Reverend Bernard says New Yorkers will once again embrace Graham and his message.
BERNARD: There are those who still think that New York City is in spiritual darkness and spiritual drought and in the hands of Satan. But I'm here to say and declare, with the spotlight that Dr. Graham brings, he is delighted to know that things have changed and god is alive and well and vibrant in New York City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Dr. Graham will be speaking for just 30 minutes on each of the three nights, beginning tonight. His health, you know, is a major concern. He has not only Parkinson's disease, but also prostate cancer. He walks with a cane because of a hip fracture. And he is also hard of hearing. He, of course, is also 86 years old.
For all of those reasons, Daryn, Graham's son, Franklin, will be on standby as a substitute preacher in case of emergency. But, of course, everyone is hoping and certainly praying in this case that Billy Graham will be just fine this weekend -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Thank you, Alina Cho in New York City. "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" is going to take a special one-hour look at Billy Graham's life and the impact of his ministry. You can watch it on CNN tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Eastern and again Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
And we're going to have more on Billy Graham's legacy in the next hour on CNN LIVE TODAY. Joining us, Rick Warren. You know him as the author of "The Purpose Driven Life." He's also founding pastor of the 50,000-member Saddleback Church in California.
Let's show you some live pictures that we're getting from right here in Atlanta, just outside Atlanta. Sandy Plains Road. This is a CVS Pharmacy building, fully engulfed in flames. We're keeping an eye on it. Obviously, a time when the drug store would have been open. And we're also hearing word that's a daycare center very near this pharmacy that has been evacuated. Once again, a fully engulfed CVS Pharmacy building just outside of Atlanta. Keep an eye on that.
Admitted bomber Eric Rudolph is hitting the Internet. He is telling all. Still to come, new details of how he survived in the woods and alluded police for years.
Plus, are IBM hiring policies coming at the expense of its American workers? We'll have that story and a check of the financial markets coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
KAGAN: I want to update you now on that fire story we're tracking just outside of here in Atlanta, Marietta, Georgia. The CVS pharmacy fully engulfed in flames. Fire officials say the cause looks to be suspicious. Now the pullout, you see to the right there -- well, it's kind of hard. There kind of panning all around. There you go.
There are a number of children outside, because just not even across the street, just right next door to the CVS, there is a school called the Goddard School. We're told it's a daycare for summer. And all of the children have been brought. You can even see cribs there on the lawn. They've been brought outside the building. This is just within striking distance of where this fire is, and it looks like they're being led in an area that would be even safer.
So once again, this is Marietta, Georgia, a daycare center next to it, fully engulfed, a CVS Pharmacy that is on fire. They're evacuating the kids and getting them to a safer place.
Let's go ahead and check other news coast to coast this morning, Eric Rudolph. The bomber is now Eric Rudolph the blogger. A long article believed to be written by Rudolph has been posted on the antiabortion Web site. It describes foraging for food while avoiding capture, and a couple of close calls with hunters during his five years on the run.
In San Francisco, the mother of a 12-year-old boy who was mauled to death by a family dog has now been charged with child endangerment. The woman said she put her son in the basement to protect him from the male pit bull, which has been acting aggressively. The attack came on June 3rd.
And in Minnesota, a 10-year-old boy is in critical condition after being mauled by a lion and a tiger. The big cats were in cages at an auto junkyard that the boy and his father and his boy were visiting. They suddenly attacked the boy when the owner opened up their cage.
CNN also strives to keep you up to date on the news, but if you are away from your television, just log on to our Web site, and it's a new feature.
CNN's Veronica De La Cruz tells us more from dot-com desk.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: CNN.com is offering a whole new way to get the headlines. You can read them and now you can watch them, too. Stay connected to the world around you. Log on to CNN.com and click on the latest now in the news update. You'll find a fast-paced, constantly updated two-minute rundown of the day's top stories. International headlines, stories from the homeland, health, market updates, and the latest in showbiz.
To find the updates, search for the green watch box located on our home page and down below you'll find a Now in the News link. The stories will be brought to you in a much larger format. Our new video player has dimensions similar to widescreen televisions.
So log on to CNN.com to get the headlines on demand and at your command, anchored by Christina Park and yours truly. And for the next couple of weeks, catch Anderson Cooper as he brings you updates from our CNN studios in New York. "Now in the News" video updates, a quick way to stay updated online all the time, available now at CNN.com.
From the dot-com news desk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: It is unlikely pairing in many people's minds.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL FERRELL, ACTOR: Hi, I'm Jack Wyatt.
NICOLE KIDMAN, ACTRESS: I know.
FERRELL: Thank you.
How would you like to be on a television show?
KIDMAN: I can't.
FERRELL: Oh! Anyone can act.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Will Ferrell take on a revamped version of "Bewitched" on the big screen, but does it have the magic to pull Hollywood out of a slump? Mr. Moviefone is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CAINE, ACTOR: Hello.
KIDMAN: Daddy!
CAINE: Well, if it isn't my spell-casting magical daughter.
KIDMAN: I was provoked. I fell off the wagon. It was a onetime thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Nicole Kidman and Michael Caine doing it for laughs in "Bewitched." The film also stars Will Ferrell. It opens today. It's inspired by the hit TV show the golden age of sitcoms. One of my all- time favorite TV shows. The question is whether Kidman can conjure up box office magic with a twitch of the nose.
Mr. Moviefone here. He is also known as Russ Leatherman in another life. He has our answer.
RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Good morning.
By the way, you do that very well.
KAGAN: Thank you. Want to see it again?
LEATHERMAN: Yes, sure. Go ahead.
Hey, by the way, you just saved the world 10 bucks, OK?
KAGAN: Really? That's the whole thing?
LEATHERMAN: I'm serious about that. Here's the deal with "Bewitched." And we want to move through these pretty quickly, because we've got something else to talk about.
KAGAN: That we do.
LEATHERMAN: This is a very average romantic comedy. You have two big stars, Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman, both very likable, but in a movie that's plot is very convoluted. He plays an actor who is a producer also. He's casting for the lead in "Bewitched," for Sam, and he sees Nicole Kidman, she twitches her nose, not unlike you, then he hires, but oddly, she's s a real witch!
That was the biggest problem I had with the movie. I thought that the plot really was convoluted. I wish they'd just try do a TV show -- a remake of the TV show and maybe switch the Darrens halfway through. That would have been interesting.
KAGAN: I could have played it.
LEATHERMAN: I'm telling you.
KAGAN: Another Daryn.
LEATHERMAN: But -- you could have! But this was really a very average movie. I was pretty disappointed by it. I'd say if your expectations aren't much, then go see it. Otherwise, you might want to wait for the DVD.
KAGAN: OK. Another remake from my childhood, "Herbie Unloaded." The love bug.
LEATHERMAN: No, I'm sorry, Herbie is fully loaded. And I think you know what I'm talking about. Yes, moving right on. This is -- Daryn, this is a remake of the TV show that is really pretty lame. I was in a theater full of very small kids and there were approximately three laughs in the entire movie.
KAGAN: Even the kids didn't like it?
LEATHERMAN: And if the kids aren't laughing, I don't know who is. I mean, Lindsay Lohan is a terrific little actress and she's fun to watch, but aside from that, not much going on here.
KAGAN: Well, talk about not much going on. This is the other thing we want to talk about. This is a horrendous summer for Hollywood. The worst box office we've seen in, what, 20 years?
LEATHERMAN: 20 years, yes. It's down for the 17th straight week. And everybody is talking about it. Why aren't people going to the movies? And I think there are a few reasons. If movies blow, people don't go! That's what Mr. Moviefone says.
KAGAN: That's Mr. Moviefone.
LEATHERMAN: Yes, you can use that if you want.
KAGAN: But actually, we have a poll where people were asked, well, why aren't you going to the movies? And they said it costs too much, they don't have the time and also the poor quality of movies. I think people also just staying at home -- yes, watching DVDs.
LEATHERMAN: Well, I think that's -- A.P. and AOL also did a poll that said 75 percent of people would prefer to stay home and watch movies on DVDs. And there are a few reasons. If you see a couple bad movies and they cost you 10 bucks, you're going to think about it the next time you go. That's why you have people like me to try to help you out.
But also, as the release window gets shorter and you can get -- watch a DVD maybe 30, 60 days after a theatrical release, a lot of people are waiting for them. You know, there are people that will always go to movies and those are the teenagers, the teenagers and the teenagers. And that's really because it's a social event for them. They're looking to get out of the house and do something else. But as, you know, we get older like, you know, you and I, Daryn...
KAGAN: Speak for yourself, Russ!
LEATHERMAN: OK, like me. Going to the theater becomes sort of a pain if you have, you know, the big-headed woman in front of you or the person bringing in the Carl's, Jr. It sort of makes you want to stay home. So this is a trend that I think will continue as home theaters get cheaper, as people stay home. But there will always be the group of people that go to the movies. And -- but let's just hope they pick up the product and the movies get better.
KAGAN: Yes, and thanks for explaining why we have people like you, because I've been kind of wondering.
LEATHERMAN: Wait a second now! KAGAN: Thank you, Russ.
LEATHERMAN: You're welcome, Daryn, bye bye.
KAGAN: You have a great weekend. 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, those grumpy old muppets, Statler and Waldorf. They are now fulltime movie reviewers. See? Mr. Moviefone's not the only one. You're going to find out what they have to say about "Bewitched" and "War of the Worlds."
Stay with us. When we come back, we're going to update you on the latest regarding the fire that has engulfed a CVS Pharmacy just outside of Atlanta, in Marietta, Georgia. There is a daycare center just next door. We'll tell you what's happening with those kids.
(COMMERCIAL BERAK)
KAGAN: Let's go ahead and bring you the latest pictures of what we're seeing in Marietta, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. A CVS Pharmacy fully engulfed in flames. And we're at the mercy of our local affiliates here as they bring us the pictures. This, they're saying, is suspicious causes. And very close to a daycare center. We're not getting the best picture right now. So we'll go ahead and get off that picture.
But basically, you have a pharmacy in Marietta, Georgia, fully engulfed in flames. Look like they're knocking down those flames. Daycare center, the Goddard School on Trickem (ph) Road. There's a number of Goddard Schools here in the Atlanta area. They got the kids out, they're moving them to a safer area. We will continue to update that story, as more information becomes available.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Well, he is the man who many say will be the spiritual successor to Billy Graham.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't have to be perfect to be used by God. You just have to be available. You have to be willing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: The author of "The Purpose-Drive Life" joins me to talk about Billy Graham's crusade this weekend in New York City.
And President Bush and Iraq's prime minister speak to reporters from the White House. We'll bring that to you live, as the second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
