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CNN Sunday Morning

Oil Depot Explodes in London; Richard Pryor Remembered

Aired December 11, 2005 - 09:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, that's the sound of explosions. Also evacuations and environmental concerns all surrounding this. And this was the scene eight hours ago as flames from a series of explosions at an oil depot lit up the skies over London. Here is the thing right now, though, as authorities prepare for what could be more blasts from this accidental inferno. Boy, it's still burning at this time.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: It's going to burn itself out, huh?

NGUYEN: Yeah, they say they're going to have to starve it. We'll get details on how that works. But, we want to say good morning to everybody out there. Thanks for joining us here at the CNN Center in Atlanta on this 11th day of December. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: I'm Tony Harris. It is 9:00 a.m. in the East, 6:00 a.m. in the West, 2:00 p.m. in London. We'll take you live to London in just a moment. But first here's a quick look at other stories making headlines this morning, "Now in the News."

The families of four Western hostages are pleading for their freedom. Now that yesterday's deadline passed without any word of their executions, this is the second deadline the kidnappers have let pass. So, it's unclear the fate of the hostages. The kidnappers are demanding release of all Iraqi prisoners.

Richard Pryor died yesterday of a heart attack in California. He was 65 years old. He's being remembered as a comic who turned his pain into humor and inspired dozens of other comedians; we'll talk to one later this hour.

A malfunctioning braking system may have played a factor in this week's a deadly crash at Chicago's Midway Airport. Pilots tell investigators thrust reversers used to slow a jet didn't immediately kick in. The Southwest airlines plane skidded off runway and plowed into a busy intersection killing a 6-years-old boy.

NGUYEN: Well, north of London people are being told to stay in their homes an stay away from fumes being emitted from a huge series of explosions still rocking one of Britain's largest oil depots. Red hot fires continue to burst sending dark towers of smoke into the air. Now, the first blast was heard more than eight hours ago when sleeping Brits woke to a blow that shattered windows and rattled doors.

Police say there is no indication the explosions were anything other than an accident. People who live near the depot, well, they've been evacuated. Dozens have been injured though and some seriously. And there is plenty of fuel in this depot to keep it burning even exploding for quite a while. CNN's Ryan Chilcote updates us now from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The series of explosions that rocked the fuel depot north of London were so powerful residents felt it dozens of miles from the site. When the blast began just after 6:00 a.m., residents say the flames lit up the pre-dawn sky, then as dawn broke, clouds of smoke from the blaze blocked out the rising sun. An amateur cameraman provided these pictures in the immediate aftermath.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No windows left, nothing (INAUDIBLE).

CHILCOTE: It's too early to identify the exact cause, police say, but it does not appear to be the work of terrorists.

CHIEF CONSTABLE FRANK WHITELEY, HERTFORDSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY: There is nothing to indicate anything other than an accident at this stage.

CHILCOTE: One of the biggest concern now is the smoke itself. Some residents from the nearby commuter town of Hemel Hempstead are saying they can taste oil in the air. Police are encouraging residents to stay indoors and close the windows. If the windows were blown out by the blast, residents are being told to leave.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We haven't been told whether we can return home. I don't know when we can -- I don't know whether it's safe to return home.

CHILCOTE: As more fuel tanks catch fire the police say there will be more explosions. Rescue crews say they can't even begin to fight the fire until they amass enough supplies to make an all-out effort.

Ryan Chilcote, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, since the oil depot fire is going to burn for some time and the plume of black smoke is now settling over nearby communities many residents are evacuating. Firefighters are using foam to contain the blaze and keep it under control. Local police say it appears to be accidental.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITELEY: As a result of the operation at the scene, we are anticipating that there will be further explosions during the morning and we want to reassure the public that that is nothing untoward and is now expected.

In terms of the site itself, there were a number of staff at the site at the time of the accident and work is clearly still being undertaken to assess and collate information about their status. However, at this stage, we believe there are around 36 casualties. I would emphasize that the vast majority are not serious.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: The billows of oily smoke, mostly aviation fuel, can cause irritation and residents are advised to stay indoors.

HARRIS: Well, people living as far as way as 40 miles from the site were awakened by the blast. Paula Newton joins us from the scene with reaction from some residents.

And Paula, good to see you again this morning. I know you've been out there for most of the day. We've just heard a moment ago that residents of the area should be on the lookout for more possible explosion. I take it this is still a very active scene.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is for sure, Tony. You know, once in a while we do see over my shoulder here, you know, the flames going up and you still get sense that this is still a very, very intense, strong fire, that they are not even close to putting out as of yet. They've actually told us that there -- that this fire needs to continue to be active so it can just starve itself out.

In the meantime, the word to residents is to get to the evacuation centers especially if you have trouble with your respiratory system. But you know Tony, this explosion was massive. You have to think, we're here about 25 miles north of London and people in London felt it in bed at 6:00 this morning. We were just with some residents that had their -- they had the full back draft of this explosion into the front of their homes, windows blown apart, you know, front doors blown open, and then inside, plaster coming down, rooftops coming down. It was really quite an explosion. And it rattled people for miles -- Tony.

HARRIS: Paula, just curious. I think I've heard reports, I'm pretty sure of this, that there may be as many as 20 tanks on that site. Do you have any idea of how many of those tanks are actually involved?

NEWTON: Actually, there are, we're told, 26 tanks and 20 are involved. Exactly how involved they are, we don't know. What they do in these situations is they work to fight the fire from the outside in. They will have fire retardant all over the exterior, what is currently not burning, to make sure that those don't ignite. You can imagine the type of fire ball, which is why, though, authorities have warned everyone here, look, there could be more explosions. We do have the situation under control, but you could hear more explosions, and that in some homes could even mean more damage.

HARRIS: Well...

NEWTON: Right now though we haven't seen anything all that active in the last few hours. HARRIS: Well, that was my next question to you. I mean if it's still very much an active scene, still pretty hot there, as you can see in the pictures behind you -- how much, practically speaking, can firefighters really do to contain this?

NEWTON: They can do a lot in the sense of really cordoning the area around it. Also these tanks are filled by pipelines underneath. All of those obviously have been cut off and they are making sure that the fire really only has fuel for what is burning up right now, that it does not get any extra fuel into that fire and as they say, they will starve it, that will take at least hours, if not days. And as you can see behind me, that thick black smoke will continue to hang over this community. They are in fact concerned, right now, about the environmental effects, but they are keeping an eye on it -- Tony.

HARRIS: Man. Good work, Paula Newton for us on the side of that massive explosion at that plant. Paula, we'll check back with you at the bottom of the hour. And as we get new developments, we will certainly bring those to you at home.

Former Minnesota senator and democratic presidential contender, Eugene McCarthy has died. He's remembered as a man who stood up for peace. McCarthy ran for president five times. His 1968 run galvanized nationwide opposition to the Vietnam War. The Johnson administration, he said, seems to have set no limit to the price which it is willing to pay for a military victory. McCarthy died early Saturday in Washington. He was 89.

NGUYEN: Well, comedian Richard Pryor broke all the rules and broke new grounds while doing it. Pryor died after suffering a heart attack at his California home. He battled multiple sclerosis for nearly a decade and he became known for turning his pain into comedy. A close friend remembers Richard Pryor this way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL MOONEY, WRITER, COMEDIAN: He'll be greatly, greatly missed because people loved him. I mean, he finally did what expression called the crossover that came about, but at first it was just black and black people would walk through fire for Richard. You know? It's just that we just lost a very talented and a very loving and giving man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And comedian Jonathan Slocumb joins us as we remember the life and legacy of Richard Pryor. Also comedian/actor Chris Tucker will be joining us to talk about Richard Pryor, as well. Both of them coming up in the rest of the show.

HARRIS: As we just saw moments ago in Paula Newton's report, it was quite an awakening this morning, for people north of London. Stay with CNN for more on the London explosions. As you heard, people are being told to stay inside and away from possibly toxic smoke and fumes. NGUYEN: Plus, they are angry and anxious. In New Orleans this morning, protesters take their discord from the streets of the Big Easy all the way to Washington.

BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And we also have snow showers this morning in Cleveland, heaviest snow has gone by. Still some light snow ahead. Let's take a live look outside at Cleveland. Well we've a already seen snow, fog, cold temperatures and by the way one of the biggest football games of the season coming up this afternoon. Talk about your weather forecast for Cleveland and the rest of the country, that's all coming up in a couple of minutes on CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: You're watching CNN SUNDAY MORNING with Betty Nguyen and Tony Harris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: So, well, it's breakfast time.

NGUYEN: You can stop eating your cookie for a moment. But you need the nourishment.

HARRIS: We have a show-gram (ph) to do here.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: Welcome back, everyone. All morning, here on CNN, Iraqi students have been telling us what they think about the American presence in their country and some of them have had some rather pointed comments for President George Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RANA EMAD MIHRAN, 20 YEAR-OLD STUDENT (through translator): America failed at many aspects, it did not know what Iraq is, its environment, its people. America only knew one thing, that there was a tyrant regime and it helped us to get rid of it. It's OK, but now we should have an Iraqi who understands us and rules us and not to bring people who ruled by America itself.

I would say to President Bush, please give us a chance to take our decisions by ourselves, so we do not have to carry out your decisions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: So that brings us to this morning's e-mail question -- it's great to hear from Iraqis.

NGUYEN: Yeah, to hear it from their mouths.

HARRIS: (INAUDIBLE) it's the military; it's the politicians, the politician over there.

NGUYEN: Let's talk to the people.

HARRIS: And now we're hearing from the people. Our e-mail question this morning: How do you define victory in Iraq? Send us your thoughts to weekends@cnn.com.

NGUYEN: Well, if you're just joining us, here is a look at today's top stories for you. Here is a live picture, look at that, dark plumes of smoke loom over a London superb. That's a huge plume of smoke there. After several explosions this morning at an oil depot, that makes sense with all the smoke, 36 people though were hurt in the blast, four of them seriously. Aviation fuel was in the warehouse and officials say more explosions may occur. So, we're going to keep a watch of this. Police are asking people to stay inside and avoid the toxic smoke if they can.

Life imitates art. New York's actor Lillo Brancato, Jr. who played Robert DeNiro's son in "A Bronx Tale," he and another man were taken into custody into custody in connection with the shooting death of an off-duty police officer.

And comedian Richard Pryor died of a heart attack. The comedic pioneer suffered multiple sclerosis in his last years. Pryor will be remembered for his fearless delivery of raw comedy, touring -- or turning pain into laughter. He was 65, so young.

HARRIS: Guests coming up, boy we're got guests on Richard Pryor's life, his legacy. Chris Tucker.

NGUYEN: Chris Tucker. We're going to be speaking with him.

HARRIS: Wow.

NGUYEN: Also Mitch Slocumb.

HARRIS: That's coming up in just couple of minutes. Well right now, we want to show you the picture we've been looking at all morning from Cleveland, Ohio. Let's look at that, because there is a big football game.

NGUYEN: Oh yeah.

HARRIS: You throw the records out, Betty. Here's the thing...

NGUYEN: Yeah, this is kind of football weather. Kind of.

HARRIS: It is. Exactly! Brad Huffines, this is perfect football weather for the battle of Ohio. You've got Cincinnati to the south, Cleveland right there, the north coast of America. Perfect football weather today. And you throw the records out, because the Bengal's are winning everything and browns are losing everything.

NGUYEN: But you never know with a rivalry like that. Right?

HARRIS: You never know. Any given Sunday. Good morning, Brad. HUFFINES: Just doesn't matter. Doesn't matter at all.

HARRIS: It doesn't?

HUFFINES: The weather. In fact, it'll add to the aura.

NGUYEN: Right.

HUFFINES: Bad weather always levels out teams anyway, not that this, you know -- this bedlam series needs to be leveled out.

HARRIS: All of a sudden we're at the Sports Center.

NGUYEN: Yeah, apparently.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Those trucks and SUVs, minivans, those sorts of things.

HUFFINES: Be careful.

NGUYEN: Don't have one of those.

HUFFINES: Hold on tight.

HARRIS: All right, Brad, thank you.

Loud explosions, hot fire, and toxic smoke, it could last for days? We will take you back to London in just a few minutes for the latest information in the oil depot explosions and good morning, Shanon Cook.

SHANON COOK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony Harris. An arresting story when we go global. A police officer trades her guns for a crown? You'll meet the new Miss World, poised, elegant, but you probably don't want to mess with her.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Time now to check the other stories making news around the world this morning.

NGUYEN: A lot to tell you about. Chileans are electing a new leader today. And to find out who is in contention we turn to Shanon Cook at our international desk. Good morning. Shan! So what can you tell us?

COOK: Well, Betty, as you say, voters head to the polls today to choose the -- Chile's next president. Quite an interesting election, the outcome could be historic. A socialist candidate named Michelle Bachelet is poised to become Chile's first female president. She is considered the front-runner in the election. A former doctor, Bachelet once treated torture victims and served as a defense minister.

Now, in Iraq, still no word from the captors of four Western hostages a day after their deadline has passed. In Toronto, family and friends gathered a show of support for the Canadian hostage, James Loney. He's one of the four kidnapped members of the Christian Peacemakers who have been in Iraq since October 2002 investigating allegations of abuse against Iraqi detainees. In the UK, a Baptist church is holding a vigil all weekend for a British hostage Norman Kember.

Now we want to go to Hong Kong where demonstrators gathered to protest the upcoming World Trade Talks there. These talks are scheduled for Tuesday and the protesters oppose globalization. This is the first of three major marches planned.

Now Tony, you're -- you know, you're probably going to want to look the other way now. We're talking Miss World Pageant here.

HARRIS: All right. OK. Why is that?

NGUYEN: Oh yeah, close your eyes. Close your eyes.

COOK: Don't want to offend you.

HARRIS: Wow.

COOK: The winner...

NGUYEN: She's beautiful.

COOK: Check her out. Miss Iceland, she's a 21-year-old anthropology and law student and get this. She's a part-time police officer.

NGUYEN: Uh-oh, step back! Shape up.

COOK: She works part-time at a local airport. Eventually she wants to be a lawyer. This Miss World Pageant, by the way, took place at a beach resort in China. Apparently, this is the third time a woman from Iceland has won the pageant. But you though, I think it's safe to assume that it's probably the first time a police woman has actually won. Makes you wonder, you know, did she threaten to arrest everybody if she didn't win the crown?

NGUYEN: Oh, no, Shanon!

COOK: You never know.

NGUYEN: Were they intimidated by her good looks perhaps?

COOK: Maybe that had something to do with it.

HARRIS: Let me see one more of those pictures. Let me see one more of those pictures.

NGUYEN: You want to see those pictures again?

HARRIS: Let me see one more of those pictures. Police woman. Huh? NGUYEN: He was asking about the swimsuit competition, earlier.

HARRIS: Oh, Betty!

NGUYEN: I'm exposing you, aren't I? Sorry, Tony.

HARRIS: OK, police woman, huh?

COOK: We deliberately took the bikini pictures out, Tony. Didn't think you could handle it.

HARRIS: Cuff me, I dare you! I dare you.

COOK: Frisk me, he says!

NGUYEN: I think I hear a wife calling. Is that a wife on the phone? All right, you're in trouble, big trouble.

HARRIS: Yes, I live in trouble.

NGUYEN: Yeah, you stay there. Don't you? Thank you, Shanon.

COOK: Thanks, guys.

NGUYEN: Well, British residents living near the oil refinery inferno have been told not to breathe the air. Basically stay inside, try not to breathe the air outside. Let's clarify that because you can't not breathe the air. Plus, there is a possibility of more explosions. And we're headed back live to London for latest on that.

HARRIS: And a true American original is no longer with us. A colleague remembers the trail trailblazing comedian, Richard Pryor, live here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Tony Harris. Thank you for being with us. Get up, get out shopping. The 11th day of December, time is running out.

NGUYEN: It is running out. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: Let's get you caught now up with headlines now in the news.

The injury count is up to at least 36 and the fires are still burning after a series of blasts in one of Britain's largest fuel depots. Smoke and fumes clog the air north of London. People miles away are being told to stay inside and close their windows. Police say the blasts appear to be accidental.

We're monitoring the tense situation in Iraq. There is still no word from the insurgents who kidnapped four Western peace activists, even though a threatened deadline to kill the hostage passed yesterday. The kidnappers have demanded the release of all prisoners being held by U.S. and Iraqi authorities.

At an a surprise announcement this morning, Iran is offering the U.S. a share in building a new nuclear power plant. It is a bid to head off White House oppositions to its atomic program. Tehran also wants to build other nuclear power plants in southern Iran with foreign help.

Authorities in the London area fear more explosions today from a huge fire at a large fuel depot just north of the city. Three dozen people were injure, four of them seriously, when petroleum tanks exploded early this morning shaking people 40 miles away out of their beds. As CNN's Paula Newton joins us from the scene now with the latest on this still-developing story. Paula, good morning.

NEWTON: Good afternoon here to you, Tony. Right now evacuees are wondering whether they can go back home. But, as you can see behind me, the plume of black smoke continues to rise high above the sky. From time to time we have still seen flames rising up from that fire. Tony, this fire is still very, very intense and they are telling local residents, as you explained, to stay indoors. If you're feeling any kind of discomfort at all, to come to one of the evac weighing centers and stay comfortable and stay indoors.

Right now as you said, this was an accident, they believe. But, top of the minds here, in Britain certainly terrorism. When people were rattled out of their beds they thought what now? They are not ruling out terrorism at this point, but it'll be days before they can actually do a full investigation -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK, Paula. Paula Newton for us on the scene of that massive explosion. As you can see in those live pictures, it still continues to burn. We'll following this story closely throughout the day. Live pictures now and we will bring you the latest developments as soon as we get them -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Well, some of you laughed until you were in tears. Others were just too shocked to know what to do. One thing is for sure, Richard Pryor changed the face of comedy and he brought raw, real-life issues to the stage, many of them his own and today we are remembering Richard Pryor.

On the phone with us is comedian and actor Chris Tucker. Thank you for joining us today. I wish it was under better circumstances. But, for you, how much of an inspiration was Richard Pryor to you?

CHRIS TUCKER, COMEDIAN/ACTOR: He was such a big inspiration. Growing up, just in my life and then inspiring me to be a stand-up comedian. You know, he just is like the godfather of comedy. And it's been a big inspiration for so many young comedians.

NGUYEN: Oh, yeah. I like the way you put that, the godfather of comedy. When do you first remember seeing his work and what kind of a first impression did he leave on you?

TUCKER: I remember the first seeing him in a movie called "Stir Crazy," and my father used to take us to the movies like on the weekends and I member him walking down in this scene in prison. He just made me laugh so much. You know, he made me want to do -- be in the entertainment business, some kind of way, you know, doing standup or doing movies. So, he inspired me so much in that scene. I said I always wanted to, you know, emulate him in movies and when the way I felt, I wanted people to feel the same way in my movies, so he was a big inspiration to me.

NGUYEN: Oh yeah, in looking at his life, he's made some 40 movies. I mean, that's not to mention his standup routines. You know, you mention one of that -- one of the movies. But there are so many of them. What are some other scenes that you're always going to member when you think of Richard Pryor?

TUCKER: Man, I remember him "Busting Loose" in -- I remember some movies in standup comedy and albums, everything I listened to, I mean, I listened to this to this day, it inspire me, you know, for my standup and stuff. So it's -- he's done so much stuff that's just classic and still makes me laugh.

NGUYEN: I know, is he so funny without a doubt, every time you watch it, it just makes you roll into laughter. But for younger generations, unfortunately, we haven't seen this legend pass. How important is it for people like you to share your thoughts on Richard Pryor so that they can know this man, this pioneer?

TUCKER: Oh, it's very important, because, you know, all of the, you know, young comedians, black and white, you know, Richard Pryor, you know, inspired a lot of us, I mean, if not all of us, to do what we do and the way we do standup and the way we, you know, we go from standup to movies. Richard Pryor, we followed his career, I know I followed his career a big deal, you know.

NGUYEN: And without a doubt, you obviously are a part of his legacy, because of the inspiration that he was to you and what you've done with your life. And you've brought us so much joy through your work. Chris Tucker, thank you for your thoughts today and sharing that with us.

TUCKER: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: We have other news to tell you about right now. The woman at center of this morning's soldier story isn't a soldier at all, but she is serving her country in a very unique and critical way as a military daughter and wife. Readers around the country enjoy Sarah Smiley's unique perspective in a syndicated column, and now in a critically acclaimed book called "Going Overboard, The Misadventures of a Military Wife." Sarah Smiley joins us now from Florida.

Good morning to you.

SARAH SMILEY, AUTHOR, COLUMNIST: Hi, good morning.

NGUYEN: Well, OK, let me read this. You have been a Navy dependent for 28 years. First, a daughter, now a wife of a navy pilot. Does your book really tap into issues that other military wives haven't figured out or is it just that you've had the courage to come out and say it?

SMILEY: Well, no. I think that my experiences are relevant to a lot of military spouses. But, yes, I'm trying to break the mold and make it OK to talk about these things.

NGUYEN: You know, I got to read, too, something that your husband wrote to you as he was trying to woo you and make you become his wife for eternity. And this is what he said. He says, "My dear Sarah. Dear, sweet, perfect wonderful, Sarah," oh if we only had someone like that, Sarah, "Would you do the honor of being my wife and sharing your life with me? But, wait, before you answer, let me tell you a little bit about the job," as if you didn't already know, Sarah, "First of all, I am a Navy pilot and I move often. We will have very little control over when or where we go. And sometimes we will be told that we are moving one place only to find out at the last minute that we are going somewhere else. Are you good with flexibility? Can you pack and unpack quickly?" I mean it's one thing to say, hey, will you marry me, but then with all these stipulations did you ever think, oh, I don't know if I can do this for the rest of my life!

SMILEY: Actually that's really funny because that was one of my columns that I wrote. I wrote that for Dustin. He didn't say those things.

NGUYEN: Oh, oh, oh, you were speaking -- well basically he pretty much could have said it because it's the truth, right?

SMILEY: That's right, exactly.

NGUYEN: So, as you get into this, you are really quite frank and candid about what it's like. And you went on to talk about some of the things that a lot of women wouldn't, especially when their spouses are away, like the crush you had on your doctor. Now that must have been something that was difficult to put out there in the open.

SMILEY: It really was. But I felt like it was an important thing to talk about and that part of the book was really hard on my mother, also a military wife, obviously. And it took her about two weeks to get over the book after that part. Well, it was about the doctor.

NGUYEN: Did she think, oh, no! What? Is this really my daughter saying this?

SMILEY: But then eventually she concede about two weeks later she told me, well you know, Sarah, I guess I can understand because when your dad was serving in the Gulf War, I kind of had a crush on Benjamin Netanyahu.

NGUYEN: Oh really, she went for the top. Huh? Yeah, forget the doctors. She's going for those politicians.

SMILEY: Which is obviously a lot different than having a crush on your doctor, but you know, I could see her -- it really magnified, for me, the difference between her generation of military spouses and mine. NGUYEN: Yeah, absolutely. And the last thing I got to ask you, because, gosh, we have so much that we could talk about, what kind of reaction are you getting from others, including your husband in putting all of this out there? Because like I said, you're frank and candid and people who want to know can learn it from what you're saying.

SMILEY: He's been really good-natured about it. He says sometimes that, you know, my sacrifice for his job is that we have to move around the country and it's been hard for me to keep a job when I was teaching and now writing, that's obviously not a problem. But -- he says his sacrifice for my career is that sometimes he has to wear a paper bag on his head when he has to go to work in the mornings. But the response has been great, especially from a lot of civilians who say that my book has been a glimpse for them of what it's like to be a military spouse. And it's accessible because it's humorous and it's not a how-to. And I think it's just a really good way for civilians to get a look at our lives.

NGUYEN: Yeah, it's a good dose of reality. Sarah Smiley, author of "Going Overboard, The Misadventures of a Military Wife." Thank you so much for your time.

SMILEY: Thanks for having me.

NGUYEN: Sure.

HARRIS: And still ahead, remembering Richard. Legendary comedian Richard Pryor is no longer with us but his legacy will stay around forever. Pryor influenced generations of comics with his hard edged humor. We will go to live to Los Angeles to talk to one of them. That's coming up in just minutes on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right. Admit it, Betty, admit it.

NGUYEN: OK.

HARRIS: Richard Pryor's comedy got to you in one way or another. He broke all the rules, all the time, but he paved the way for many successes and one of them is comedian Jonathan Slocumb who joins us live from our Los Angeles bureau. Jonathan, good to see you!

JONATHAN SLOCUMB, COMEDIAN: What's going on, brother man?

HARRIS: You, "Steve Harvey Show" star, you. Good it see you.

SLOCUMB: Hey, great to see you, too, big man.

HARRIS: And as Betty mentioned it earlier, we're sorry that it's on this occasion, but, boy, talk to us about Richard Pryor. Here's the thing for me with for Richard Pryor. There are certain people who get into your bone marrow, certain performances you sort of live there, and for me, Richard Pryor is one of those performers. Your earliest recollection of Richard Pryor, when did he burst on to your consciousness?

SLOCUMB: This is one of the main reasons why I came on this morning, more than anything. I mean he affected everybody the same way. He made us laugh. But I do the kind of comedy that's considered clean comedy. I want people to please understand that Richard Pryor's language did not denote that he was a bad person. You know, I have one great experience. I worked with him years ago in Atlanta. He was hosting an event and he was back stage with me. He said that not many people made him laugh without cussing. And I told him, because I'm a Christian, I say there is Christ in me. And he said, "Well, you got to pray with me so I can get some of that Christ." And backstage we had prayer and one of the great signs of knowing he's just a good man and he'll be sorely missed.

HARRIS: Jonathan, you're young, you know, you're a lot younger than me. You don't remember the all of the -- you don't remember the old-school Richard Pryor do you?

SLOCUMB: Man...

HARRIS: You remember Mudbone?

SLOCUMB: See, first of all, I'm probably older than you are.

HARRIS: You're not older than me.

SLOCUMB: Just kidding! I mean, dearly beloved, we are gathered here today -- oh, man, of course.

HARRIS: That's Mudbone...

SLOCUMB: That's Mudbone, man.

HARRIS: That's good. But, here is what you have to talk about for folks. That groundbreaking film, you remember "Live on Sunset Strip?"

SLOCUMB: What?

HARRIS: All right, now here's the thing. It is probably the funniest film -- correct me if I'm wrong here -- single film, maybe ever?

SLOCUMB: No, no, no, no -- well, see, the good thing is comedians today need to know the importance of doing a live standup performance.

HARRIS: Yes.

SLOCUMB: Because not only are we able to reach back and look at the good stuff that Richard Pryor did, we can laugh like he's still here today.

HARRIS: Richard.

SLOCUMB: It was the best. Oh, no doubt, man. No doubt. HARRIS: Right. And that film -- I go back to that film because it was groundbreaking at the time because comics weren't doing -- they weren't filming their standup and certainly didn't think they could put it in a theater and fill -- and win an opening weekend. Could they? They weren't thinking that?

SLOCUMB: No. Man, please. Because like you say, at time it wasn't being done. But Richard Pryor always -- man, broke all the rules. You know, it doesn't matter. Richard Pryor went to the white people's homes, black people's homes, he was everywhere, man. The guy...

HARRIS: So what was it? We it observational? He talked a lot about had is life. Was it just his observational humor? But observation is looking at other things. Oh, oh, you remember he was imitating animals and gave animals voices and things like that?

SLOCUMB: That just -- all that goes along with the fact that he was a genius, man. Comedians learned, get all of his DVDs, all of his CDs. The man -- his observations were from the eyes and the heart of a man who is just -- who had just been out there, you know. And you can't deny his greatness.

HARRIS: Why -- what single thing will you miss the most about him?

SLOCUMB: I will miss the most -- the best thing I will miss about him is the fact that he transcended every other demographic, every other category...

HARRIS: Everybody went to see his show.

SLOCUMB: Everybody went to see his show. And right now, in 2005, his language is mild compared to what they have now.

HARRIS: Mmm, boy.

SLOCUMB: You know, so people should really embrace this man, go get his stuff. Let's have a big Richard Pryor party. Let's put a big screen on Crenshaw tomorrow night.

HARRIS: On Crenshaw?

SLOCUMB: Come on man.

HARRIS: OK. All right.

SLOCUMB: And you know what? And you know that -- and you know he's being welcome in heaven by Red Fox right now. "Come on in dummy, it's about time you got here, dummy! Welcome to heaven, dummy! "

HARRIS: Jonathan, good to see you. Thanks for getting up so early this morning.

SLOCUMB: All right man. What's up (INAUDIBLE)?

HARRIS: All right. All right. Comedian Richard Pryor a legend who will sorely be missed. He was 65 years old.

A little later this afternoon, Steve Harvey, Steve Harvey, this is Jonathan Slocumb on the "Steve Harvey Show." OK? And Steve Harvey will be on CNN this afternoon to talk about -- to talk about his mentor, no doubt, groundbreaker, the guy paved the way for some. For a long time he was the highest paid black performer in all of Hollywood. We'll be right back with more of CNN SUNDAY MORNING right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Hundreds of hurricane evacuees marched in protest this weekend. They are demanding a bigger role in the rebuilding of New Orleans and to be provided with more hurricane assistance. People from more than 50 grass-roots organizations from the Gulf Coast are making their needs known. They want local, state, and federal governments to hire locals to rebuild their communities, to stop all home evictions and make rent affordable.

Well, survivors over Hurricane Katrina are convinced racism is what slowed the disaster response. Several voiced their concerns last week on Capitol Hill in a hearing held by a special House committee investigating the government's response to Katrina.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOREEN KEELER, NEW ORLEANS EVACUEE: We suffered through it because we had no way of getting out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.

KEELER: And I think if it was not poor African-Americans who would be most affected by this, there would have been a plan in place, there would have been equipment in place, there would have been everything needed in place to get folks out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me just ask this. Evacuation plans are generally the product of local governments, not federal. Do you -- all levels?

KEELER: I blame local, I blame state, I blame federal. I think we got disappointed by every branch of government that exists.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: So, did anything come out of the hearing? Doreen Keeler, whom you just heard, joins us now from New Orleans. We appreciate your time. First let's get back to what was said at the top of this. You truly believe racism was at the heart of the slow response?

KEELER: I think racism played a part in the slow response. I also think the socioeconomic status of the people who were left in the city also played an important part. NGUYEN: So as you went to Washington and testified, do you think or do you feel or do you even know that that appearance made a difference and are you seeing difference?

KEELER: I hope it did, at least it gave us an opportunity, people who were actually involved in evacuation process, in the entire disaster, it gave us a voice. It gave us a chance to express our own personal experiences on what happened and our own observations. Where it's going to go from there, don't know. I hope it will make an impact, but that's yet to be seen.

NGUYEN: But, you weren't given any promises or told anything was going to happen as a result of it?

KEELER: No. We were promised that investigations will continue. We were promised that they would continue to ask questions. I know later on in, I think next week, they're going to be interviewing all the people from New Orleans. I think the mayor is going you next week, then the mayor of -- some people from Mississippi. But exactly what impact our appearance had, we don't know yet.

NGUYEN: Do you feel that the rebuilding process, where we are now, is slow, and why do you think it is taking so long?

KEELER: In my neighborhood, I don't see any rebilling or much rebuilding. They've cleaned up the streets, they just started bus service. I've been back here three times. This is my third time coming back and I've seen the city get a little bit cleaner. But as far as structures being rebuilt or families coming back, they still don't have a place to come back to.

NGUYEN: So, and you plan on coming back, you're going to stay a part of New Orleans?

KEELER: I would love to, if New Orleans continues to be a part of me. It depends on the condition of the city.

NGUYEN: That's what I was going to ask.

(CROSSTALK)

KEELER: It depends on what I got the city to do (ph).

NGUYEN: What is it going to take? Yeah, what do you need? What kind of assurances do you need to come back and make that your home once again?

KEELER: First, we got to have schools so we have places to put children so they can get educated. That way I feel we'll have businesses who come here and can actually house their families and have businesses grow. We need a big improvement in all levels of government. We need the city -- we need the city to become a city. Right now that's not what it is. What it is, I can't exactly tell you, but right now it is not a city.

NGUYEN: And without the people of New Orleans, the many cultures, the very background it's never going to be the same, right?

KEELER: New Orleans has great physical structures that makes it a city, but the culture of New Orleans, I think, is what makes people come to New Orleans. I think it's the culture of New Orleans that makes Mardi Gras, that makes Jazz Fest, that makes all the activities. I think it is the culture of New Orleans that makes conventions want to come here and enjoy themselves. It's a great place for both residents and visitors.

NGUYEN: Yeah, it is a great place.

KEELER: That's why they need to rebuild it.

NGUYEN: Hopefully it will be great once again. Doreen Keeler, we thank you for your time. Best of luck to you as you attempt to go home and make that a new home for you. Thank you.

KEELER: Thank you. Thanks a lot.

HARRIS: And time now to check in with Howard Kurtz in Washington to see what's ahead on CNN's "Reliable Sources."

HOWARD KURTZ, "RELIABLE SOURCES": Coming up, is the press ignoring positive news coming out of Iraq? Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says absolutely, but plenty of journalists disagree.

ABC rolls out its new anchor team while CBS eyes Katie Couric. Can they turn around the slide in news ratings?

And a special interview with Cokie Roberts on the disaster she's seen firsthand in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the deadly earthquake in Pakistan and last year's southeast Asian tsunami. That's all ahead on "Reliable Sources" 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

NGUYEN: And Howard just talking about all those weather disasters. No disaster now but a lot of cold, a lot of snow.

HARRIS: (INAUDIBLE)

HUFFINES: Yeah, well we to have say in a situation like this, guys, that you know one wreck can make a personal disaster, so slow it down.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Nice weather. All right. Thank you.

HARRIS: Brad, thank you. "Reliable Sources" with Howard Kurtz is up next.

Plus we're going to keep you on top of all the developments in the London explosions. And you want to be sure to join Wolf Blitzer on "Late Edition" at 11:00 Eastern. Have a great day.

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