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American Morning

Men Discuss Being Models in Retirement Community Beefcake Calendar

Aired July 03, 2001 - 11:48   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: I don't know what you think is going on in retirement communities across America, but probably not what they've come up with at the Carlisle in southern Florida. They have put together a "Men of the Carlisle Calendar."

Joining us from Miami, to talk about the project, are two of the pinup boys, you may call them -- I mean with all due respect of the project. We have 81-year-old Peter Leslie and Jack Tillman, who is 80.

Gentleman, good morning, and thanks you for joining us.

Peter, let start with you. You're 81 years old?

PETER LESLIE, "MR. FEBRUARY": Right.

KAGAN: And I understand you're Mr. February?

LESLIE: Yes, I am.

KAGAN: Can you tell us -- I think that we have a picture of your month and your photo shoot. Let's take a look at it, and you tell us about the photo shoot.

LESLIE: Well, the photo shoot is little bit mixed up, because I'm born in April. They moved me to February in order to make it more glamorous.

KAGAN: You know why? The women of the Carlisle didn't want to have to wait until April to see you, Peter.

LESLIE: I think you're right. I am learning how to run.

KAGAN: Jack, you're 80 years old?

JACK TILLMAN, "MR. JUNE": No, I'm also 81.

KAGAN: You're 81? Sorry, I didn't mean to take away a year there.

TILLMAN: I'm younger than he is, though.

KAGAN: For the record. TILLMAN: By 20 days.

KAGAN: By 20 days. And you're Mr. June -- is that right?

TILLMAN: No, I'm in June.

KAGAN: Yes, you're Mr. June. And where was this picture taken?

TILLMAN: This was taken on a pier, looking out across the bay.

KAGAN: How did you guys get selected for this?

TILLMAN: I don't know.

LESLIE: It's obvious, isn't it?

KAGAN: Yes, obviously -- I can't see how you would not be selected, with your stellar good and all that sex appeal you bring to the project, as well...

TILLMAN: Oh, boy.

KAGAN: ... but was there tough competition?

LESLIE: No, we're the youngest.

KAGAN: You're the youngest at the Carlisle?

LESLIE: Almost.

KAGAN: Whose idea was it?

LESLIE: Excuse me?

KAGAN: Whose idea was it?

LESLIE: I guess the management thought we were just the greatest guys around, being young, active, all that.

KAGAN: Jack, what about when you first heard about this idea? What did you think?

TILLMAN: I just didn't. I thought it would keep me occupied for a while, and we went and had all our pictures taken, and there was a lot of joking involved. We had a good time with it.

KAGAN: But as I understand, this thing has really taken off.

TILLMAN: It has.

KAGAN: You guys have been getting a lot of attention.

TILLMAN: It has.

KAGAN: How so?

TILLMAN: It just snowballed.

KAGAN: You've been getting attention -- go ahead, Peter.

LESLIE: It made the local paper. From the local paper, we made it to "The New York Times," which really is no big deal -- but when we made CNN, we knew we made it.

KAGAN: There you go!

TILLMAN: Very well done.

KAGAN: That's a man after our own heart.

Has this brought a lot of attention to you from the ladies?

LESLIE: We don't have a lot of room. We've already had pretty much of an attachment.

KAGAN: Yes, I want to say, for the record, because I'm sure there's a lot of ladies watching today who would be interested, you both are attached, you have lady friends in your lives already.

LESLIE: Yes, we do.

KAGAN: Is that right?

TILLMAN: Yes.

LESLIE: But you know, there's always room.

KAGAN: Peter, I hope your girlfriend's not watching, because she's not going to be too pleased about that.

TILLMAN: There's such a thing as diversity.

KAGAN: Is this calendar for sale? What if folks across the country see it? Can they buy it?

LESLIE: I think they can. I'm not sure.

KAGAN: Where is the Carlisle located, exactly?

LESLIE: Across the street from the Ritz-Carlton -- I call it the Ritz-Carlisle -- in Lantana, Florida, right on the ocean.

TILLMAN: It's a barrier island.

KAGAN: Actually, we're hearing that the calendar sold out. So you snooze, you lose with "The Men of the Carlisle" -- you've got to act a lot quicker.

LESLIE: We're going to auction them now.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: You're going to auction them. What about individually for you guys. This, as we said, has taken off more than you ever expected. Perhaps could there be further modeling assignments for each of you?

LESLIE: We hope so.

KAGAN: Just in case Calvin Klein is watching, you guys are ready to model and hit the runways, if they need you.

LESLIE: Thank you, and that's a great compliment.

KAGAN: Peter Leslie and Jack Tillman, thank you for joining us. Congratulations on the calendar, and we look forward to February and June next year especially.

Thanks for being with us.

LESLIE: Thank you.

TILLMAN: Thank you.

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