5/20/02

LC020520

JESS MARLOW>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

BIG NEW PLANS FOR DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, MAYBE EVEN A NEW FOOTBALL TEAM, BUT WHO GAINS? THE CITY OR WEALTHY DEVELOPERS?

NICK PACHECO>> THE IDEA OF A FOOTBALL TEAM WAS NEVER PART OF OUR PLAN, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE TIMING IS VERY COINCIDENTAL. SO I WANTED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE OUT THERE AND I INTRODUCED A MOTION THAT SAYS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO LURE A FOOTBALL TEAM. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR A STADIUM.

JESS>> IF YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER NIXON, YOU PROBABLY SPENT MANY HOURS WITH HER IN YOUR LIVING ROOM. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT "THAT GIRL", ACTRESS MARLO THOMAS. SHE WAS A ROLE MODEL FOR A GENERATION OF INDEPENDENT-MINDED YOUNG WOMEN AND TONIGHT SHE'S HERE WITH SOME REAL LIFE STORIES YOU NEVER GOT ON THE TV SHOW.

PLUS, A SIDE OF THE MUSLIM WORLD RARELY SEEN BY AMERICANS. WE'LL CONTINUE OUR TOUR OF EGYPT WITH A VISIT TO SOME OF THE SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS OF CAIRO, AND A FEW OF THE SIGHTS MIGHT LOOK VERY FAMILIAR.

IT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

JESS>> GOOD EVENING, I'M JESS MARLOW. VAL HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM, A NEW STADIUM AND A BIG NEW HOTEL NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER. THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAY BE IN STORE FOR DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, BUT CAN ALL THOSE PROJECTS LIVE UP TO THE PROMISES BEING MADE BY DEVELOPERS AND THE CITY? THE STADIUM DEAL IS A STAND-ALONE PROPOSAL THAT ALLEGEDLY WILL NOT COST TAXPAYERS A NICKEL, BUT TAX MONEY CLEARLY IS AT STAKE WITH THE OTHER PROJECTS. TONIGHT GAY YEE LOOKS AT THE BIG PICTURE FOR DOWNTOWN L.A. AND HEARS FROM BOTH THE BOOSTERS AND THE SKEPTICS.

GAY YEE>> SIGNS OF NEW ENERGY IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. THE NEW DISNEY MUSIC HALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THE NEW CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL ABOUT TO OPEN AND, OF COURSE, THE STAPLES CENTER. BUT WITHIN A FEW FEET OF THESE LANDMARKS, THE ENERGY RUNS OUT. STREETS FILLED WITH HOMELESS, SHUTTERED BUILDINGS AND NO JOBS, CLEAR INDICATIONS DOWNTOWN L.A. IS STILL FAR FROM HEALTHY. SO THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL HAS OKAYED A PROJECT THAT SOME BELIEVE COULD BE THE SHOT IN THE ARM DOWNTOWN NEEDS.

NICK PACHECO>> IT'S ALL ABOUT BRINGING JOBS AND HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL CENTERS TO DOWNTOWN.

GAY YEE>> THE CITY CENTER PLAN CREATES AN 879-ACRE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF DOWNTOWN. AMONG THE POSSIBILITIES, A NEW HOTEL TO HELP THE STRUGGLING LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER NEARBY AND A SHINY NEW STADIUM TO LURE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL BACK TO LOS ANGELES.

ERIC GARCETTI>> REDEVELOPMENT IS AN INCREDIBLE TOOL THAT ALLOWS LOCAL CONTROL AND MONEY THAT'S GENERATED LOCALLY TO BE SPENT LOCALLY.

GAY YEE>> REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS CAN HELP BLIGHTED AREAS BY DIVERTING PROPERTY TAX MONEY INTO SUCH THINGS AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS. IT'S ALSO A WAY OF GIVING BUSINESSES AN INCENTIVE TO MOVE INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY'VE ABANDONED.

WHILE SOME SEE REDEVELOPMENT AS A CURE FOR DOWNTOWN'S ILLS, OTHERS ARE MORE SKEPTICAL. THEY SAY THEY'VE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK A TIME OR TWO ON MATTERS SUCH AS THESE AND THIS, TO THEM, SMELLS LIKE A BOONDOGGLE.

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT'S GOING ON. I THINK YOU HAVE A HANDFUL OF DOWNTOWN REAL ESTATE INTERESTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM THEIR SUCCESS IN DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, LAWYERS, NEWSPAPERS, WHOEVER, WHO WANT TO SEE THIS THING DONE ON THEIR TERMS.

GAY YEE>> COUNTY SUPERVISOR, ZEV YAROSLAVSKY, IS WARY. HE'S CALLED THE NEW PLAN A RIP-OFF WAITING TO HAPPEN. HIS BIGGEST COMPLAINT? THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT COULD ROB THE COUNTY OF A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. YAROSLAVSKY SAYS IF THAT HAPPENS, THE COUNTY WILL SUE.

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> I DON'T THINK IT'S ROCKET SCIENCE IN A POLITICAL SENSE TO SAY THAT PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS SHOULD NOT BE SPENT TO UNDERWRITE A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL STADIUM OR ANY FOOTBALL STADIUM IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

GAY YEE>> BUT CITY COUNCILMAN, NICK PACHECO, SAYS THIS TAX MONEY WON'T BE USED FOR A STADIUM.

NICK PACHECO>> THE IDEA OF A FOOTBALL TEAM WAS NEVER PART OF OUR PLAN, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE TIMING IS VERY COINCIDENTAL. SO I WANTED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE OUT THERE THAT I INTRODUCED A MOTION THAT SAYS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO LURE A FOOTBALL TEAM. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR A STADIUM.

GAY YEE>> ANGELENOS HAVE HAD BAD MEMORIES ABOUT TRYING TO BRING FOOTBALL BACK TO L.A.

RICHARD RIORDAN>> WE ARE THE PLACE FOR WORLD-CLASS SPORTS AND LOS ANGELES IS TRULY A CITY OF CHAMPIONS. SO NFL FOOTBALL, WELCOME BACK TO LOS ANGELES.

GAY YEE>> IN THE LATE 1990'S, THEN MAYOR RICHARD RIORDAN VOWED A PRO TEAM WOULD PUT DOWN ROOTS AT THE L.A. COLISEUM, BUT L.A. LOST OUT TO HOUSTON WHICH WAS WILLING TO BUILD A NEW STADIUM. TODAY, THE OWNER OF THE STAPLES CENTER, THE ANSCHUTZ ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, HAS UNVEILED ANOTHER FOOTBALL PROPOSAL CALLING FOR A 64,000-SEAT STADIUM TO LURE THE NFL BACK. THE ANSCHUTZ COMPANY SAYS IT WILL NEED BOND MONEY FROM THE CITY AND CASH FROM THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE, BUT THE COMPANY PROMISES TAXPAYERS WON'T HAVE TO PONY UP.

BUT SOME VETERANS OF PAST DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ARE SKEPTICAL. ALICE SALINAS IS HOUSING DIRECTOR OF THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION. IT BUILDS LOW-INCOME HOUSING IN DOWNTOWN L.A. SHE RECALLS HOW DEVELOPERS PROMISED THAT NO ONE WOULD BE HURT BY THE STAPLES PROJECT.

ALICE SALINAS>> THE STAPLES CENTER DISPLACED OVER 400 FAMILIES AND MANY OF THOSE FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED WITH RELOCATION BENEFITS, BUT THEY ONLY PROVIDED THEM FOR 42 MONTHS.

GAY YEE>> THE CITY COUNCIL SAYS THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME, THOUGH YAROSLAVSKY SAYS ITS TRACK RECORD DOESN'T HOLD UP.

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> FOR FORTY YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. IT'S PRODUCED 8,000 HOUSING UNITS. IN FACT, A PART OF THEM HAVE BEEN AS A RESULT OF REDEVELOPMENT. MOST OF THEM ARE MARKET RATE. IT DIDN'T DO A DARN THING TO CHANGE THE HOUSING PICTURE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

GAY YEE>> IN LOS ANGELES, GAY YEE FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> JOINING US NOW IS PROFESSOR FERNANDO GUERRA FROM LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY. HE HEADS THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF LOS ANGELES. PROFESSOR GUERRA, IS THIS A BONANZA OR A BOONDOGGLE?

FERNANDO GUERRA>> WELL, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE BOTH (LAUGHTER). IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT PLAYS OUT. THE IDEA HERE IS TO CREATE A WIN-WIN SITUATION, A WIN FOR THE CITY SPECIFICALLY AROUND HOUSING, AROUND REDEVELOPING DOWNTOWN, AND A WIN FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN TERMS OF THOSE WHO WOULD WANT FOOTBALL HERE.

JESS>> YOU HEARD ZEV YAROSLAVSKY AND HE IS THREATENING A LAWSUIT. WHAT BASIS WOULD THE COUNTY HAVE FOR SUING THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES OVER THIS ISSUE?

FERNANDO GUERRA>> WELL, THE IDEA OF WHAT THEY CALL TAX INCREMENT. IT MEANS THAT, FOR INSTANCE, RIGHT NOW THE COUNTY COLLECTS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TAX. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO COLLECT THAT TAX, BUT AS NEW BUILDINGS ARE PUT ON VACANT LAND, IT CREATES AN ADDITIONAL TAX BECAUSE NOW YOU'VE TAXED THAT PROPERTY AS WELL. THAT INCREMENT, THAT NEW TAX, THAT NEW VALUE, WOULD NOT GO TO THE COUNTY. IT WOULD GO TO REPAY BONDS OR IT WOULD GO TO BUILDING HOUSING, ETC. AND THE COUNTY FIGURES THAT THEY ARE DUE THAT MONEY AND THEY WOULD WANT THAT.

BUT NOW TO BE FAIR TO ZEV, HE'S ONLY THINKING ABOUT NOT THE TOTAL REDEVELOPMENT AREA, WHICH IS OVER 150 ACRES. HE'S SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE 27 ACRES RIGHT AROUND THE STAPLES CENTER THAT HE BELIEVES IS NOT BLIGHTED AT THIS MOMENT AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THAT REDEVELOPMENT AREA.

JESS>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SUBJECT AND AT THE ISSUE. CAN LOS ANGELES TAXPAYERS BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE ASSURANCES THAT THIS WILL NOT COST TAXPAYERS A PENNY?

FERNANDO GUERRA>> WELL, THEY HAVE A MODEL TO GO BY. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A PROPOSAL OR A THEORY. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE STAPLES CENTER. THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE PROPOSING THE NFL STADIUM. THEY CURRENTLY HAVE BONDS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING AND ARE BEING PAID BY THE TICKET TAX OF THAT STAPLES TAXES --

JESS>> -- TAX THAT ORDINARILY WOULD GO TO THE CITY, TO THE GENERAL FUND?

FERNANDO GUERRA>> BUT THERE WOULD BE NO TAX IF THERE WAS NO STADIUM, SO YOU COULDN'T SELL TICKETS FOR SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T EXIST. SO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS, THERE WOULD BE NOTHING HERE. YOU WOULD NOT BE COLLECTING THAT TAX, SO LET US USE THAT TAX TO PAY THE BONDS TO BUILD THIS AND, IN ADDITION, YOU WILL GET ALL KINDS OF OTHER BENEFITS, MEANING OTHER BUSINESSES WOULD BE DEVELOPED AROUND THERE OF WHICH YOU DO COLLECT THAT TAX.

JESS>> WHAT'S YOUR JUDGMENT ON WHETHER THIS IS GOING TO COME TO FRUITION? THEY'RE LOOKING AT PERHAPS THREE YEARS FROM NOW? WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

FERNANDO GUERRA>> WELL, THERE ARE THREE MAJOR AREAS AND THREE MAJOR ISSUES. ONE IS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS REDEVELOPMENT AREA WHICH IS DONE AND HAS TO FINISH THAT OUT AND THERE HAS TO BE NO SUIT BY THE COUNTY OR BE SLOWED DOWN BY THE COUNTY, SO GOVERNMENTAL ACTION, NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, THE ANSCHUTZ ENTERTAINMENT ALONG WITH OTHER PARTNERS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REST OF THE CAPITAL TO THEN BE ABLE TO BUILD THIS STADIUM. A STEP BEFORE THAT, THOUGH, HAS TO BE ASSEMBLING THE LAND, THE 20-SOME ODD ACRES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO ACTUALLY BUILD THE STADIUM. THAT, AGAIN, REQUIRES GOVERNMENTAL ACTION IN TERMS OF THE CITY ACTUALLY CONDEMNING THE LAND, PURCHASING IT AND THEN SELLING IT TO THIS GROUP.

THEN THE THIRD AREA IS THE NFL. YOU HAVE TO GET AN NFL OWNER TO MOVE A TEAM. THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO GET OUT OF A PREVIOUS LEASE THAT THEY MAY BE IN OR THEY HAVE TO CREATE AN EXPANSION, A 33RD TEAM, WHICH IS NOT LIKELY. BUT THERE'S AN INDICATION THAT THERE ARE UP TO SIX TEAMS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING. WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO MOVE TO LOS ANGELES?

JESS>> BUT ONLY IF THERE IS THE NEW LUXURIOUS FACILITY BUILT FOR THEM.

FERNANDO GUERRA>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

JESS>> THE NFL HAS DISAPPOINTED LOS ANGELES IN THE PAST, BUT THEY'RE ONBOARD WITH THIS ONE, DO YOU THINK?

FERNANDO GUERRA>> WELL, AGAIN, THERE'S A CAN-DO TYPE OF OWNERSHIP. THEY BUILT THE STAPLES CENTER. OVER 60,000 PEOPLE ATTEND THE STAPLES CENTER DURING THE WEEK WHEN YOU HAVE THE LAKERS, CLIPPERS AND KINGS PLAYING. WE'RE ASKING FOR 60,000 TO ATTEND ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. NOW MANY PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T GO, OR WHAT HAVE YOU. BUT REMEMBER, FOR THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU NEED LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF L.A.'S POPULATION TO BE THERE ON SUNDAY.

JESS>> TELEVISION WILL MAKE UP THE REVENUE.

FERNANDO GUERRA>> OH, ABSOLUTELY, AND LUXURY SUITES.

JESS>> PROFESSOR GUERRA, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR TALKING TO US. WE APPRECIATE IT.

FERNANDO GUERRA>> THANKS, JESS.

JESS>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, HE'S BEEN CALLED A TERMINATOR AND A BARBARIAN, BUT ARE CALIFORNIANS READY TO CALL HIM GOVERNOR? THE POLITICAL JOURNEY OF A MOTION PICTURE SUPERSTAR, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER. IS HE READY TO TRADE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF HOLLYWOOD FOR THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN SACRAMENTO OR IS IT ALL JUST TALK? THAT STORY TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

THIRTY YEARS AGO, SHE SEEMED LIKE THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, BUT IN FACT, SHE WAS A SHREWD AND SAVVY TV PRODUCER WHO LEARNED A LOT FROM HER FAMOUS FATHER. WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? HERE'S A HINT.

"EVERY ONE OF YOU IS WRONG FOR THIS PART, EXCEPT THAT GIRL."

JESS>> THAT GIRL IS THIS GIRL, MARLO THOMAS. SHE'S WRITTEN A NEW BOOK FILLED WITH SOME INSPIRING STORIES. IT'S CALLED "THE RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME: MARLO THOMAS AND FRIENDS". SHE'S KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE A FEW OF THOSE STORIES IN PERSON AND THOSE STORIES ARE GOING OVER VERY WELL. NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER LIST?

MARLO THOMAS>> YES, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

JESS>> I WOULD THINK SO.

MARLO THOMAS>> YES, ESPECIALLY SINCE ALL THE MONEY FROM THE BOOK GOES TO ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL, SO THAT'S VERY GOOD.

JESS>> AH, THAT'S GOOD. IT WAS INTERESTING, YOUR CONCERN ABOUT NOT BEING ALWAYS KNOWN AS YOUR FATHER'S DAUGHTER, BUT IN FACT, THIS BOOK IS REALLY BASED ON SOME WORDS HE TOLD YOU.

MARLO THOMAS>> NO, IT WASN'T THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO BE KNOWN AS HIS DAUGHTER --

JESS>> -- BUT ONLY KNOWN AS HIS DAUGHTER.

MARLO THOMAS>> -- I DIDN'T WANT TO BE COMPARED TO HIM. THAT WAS IT. THE WORDS COME FROM THAT STORY. WHEN I WAS ABOUT EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD, I WAS APPEARING AT THE LAGUNA BEACH PLAYHOUSE THAT BETTE DAVIS HAD FOUNDED. IT'S A WONDERFUL THEATER IN LAGUNA. I THINK IT'S STILL THERE.

JESS>> IT STILL IS.

MARLO THOMAS>> I WAS DOING "GIGI" THERE AND I WAS EIGHTEEN. ALL THE REVIEWS AND ALL THE INTERVIEWS COMPARED ME TO MY FATHER. WOULD I BE AS GOOD AS DANNY THOMAS? WOULD I LAST AS LONG? WOULD I BE AS POPULAR? THAT'S WHAT WAS SO DEVASTATING. SO I WENT TO MY FATHER WHO I ADORED WHO WAS A VERY WISE MAN. I SAID, "DADDY, I LOVE YOU AND I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY THIS, BUT I WANT TO CHANGE MY NAME. I DON'T WANT TO BE A THOMAS. I WANT TO RUN AS FAR AWAY FROM THIS AS I CAN." IN HIS WISDOM, HE SAID TO ME, "I RAISED YOU TO BE A THOROUGHBRED AND THOROUGHBREDS RUN THEIR OWN RACES. THEY DON'T LOOK AT ANY OF THE OTHER HORSES. THEY JUST WEAR THEIR BLINDERS AND THEY RUN AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO."

JESS>> AND THOSE WERE THE RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME.

MARLO THOMAS>> THOSE WERE THE RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME. "RUN YOUR OWN RACE, BABY", HE SAID TO ME.

JESS>> YOU DID A MARVELOUS JOB OF EDITING IT. YOU'VE GOTTEN SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE TO TELL YOU THEIR STORIES.

MARLO THOMAS>> THAT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE IT ISN'T JUST ANY GOOD WORDS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF MY FATHER HAD SAID TO ME AT THAT CRUCIAL POINT IN MY LIFE, "OH, DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THOSE PEOPLE" OR "OH, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT PEOPLE THINK" OR "OH, JUST BE INDEPENDENT", IT WOULDN'T HAVE LASTED. BUT HE SAID THOSE WORDS AND THAT'S WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT. I ASKED 108 PEOPLE FROM MUHAMMAD ALI TO STEVEN SPIELBERG AND JACK NICHOLSON AND JUSTICE GINSBERG AND ALL THE FIRST LADIES AND ALL THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE, GREAT WRITERS LIKE TOM WOLFE AND TONY MORRISON AND AMY TAN.

I ASKED THEM ALL THE SAME THING: IF YOU WERE EVER AT A CROSSROADS WHEN YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, MAYBE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAD HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE, MAYBE YOU LOST A JOB, MAYBE YOU LOST A LOVED ONE, MAYBE YOU LOST YOUR MONEY, YOU JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO, DID ANYBODY EVER AT THAT MOMENT SAY JUST THE RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME? EVERYBODY HAD THEM.

YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER USED TO SAY THAT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. BUT THE OLDER I GET, I REALIZE THAT ACTIONS DO SPEAK LOUD, BUT THEY DON'T LAST AS LONG. SOMEHOW WORDS JUST SWIM AROUND IN OUR HEADS FOREVER AND SOME OF THEM ARE VERY GOOD AND ENCOURAGING AND LOVING WORDS LIKE THE WORDS MY FATHER SAID TO ME.

SOME OF THEM CAN BE VERY NEGATIVE WORDS LIKE MUHAMMAD ALI'S STORY. HE TALKS ABOUT WHEN HE WAS IN SCHOOL, HE HAD A TEACHER WHO TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. AFTER HE LEFT SCHOOL AND HE WON THE GOLD MEDAL AT THE OLYMPICS, HIS FIRST BOXING GOLD MEDAL, HE CAME BACK TO THE SCHOOL AND HE PUT THE GOLD MEDAL ON HER DESK AND HE SAID, "REMEMBER ME? YOU SAID I WAS NEVER GOING TO AMOUNT TO ANYTHING? WELL, I'M SOMETHING AND I'M THE GREATEST." SO THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE IN THERE.

JESS>> I LOVE THE ONE TOM BROKAW WROTE BECAUSE HE'S A MAN I KNOW A BIT ABOUT. THE WORDS GIVEN TO HIM WERE "GET OUT".

MARLO THOMAS>> GET OUT OF SCHOOL, YES. HE WENT TO THIS PROFESSOR AND HE HOPED THE PROFESSOR WAS GOING TO PUMP HIM UP. THE PROFESSOR SAID, "I THINK THE BEST THING FOR YOU TO DO IS JUST DROP OUT OF SCHOOL." HE DID. HE HAD TO DROP OUT.

JESS>> GO BACK TO BEING THE PLAYBOY YOU'VE BEEN.

MARLO THOMAS>> YEAH, AND THAT'S SO GREAT TO KNOW. BECAUSE TOM BROKAW IS THIS VERY POLISHED, ACCOMPLISHED, BUTTONED-UP KIND OF GUY AND FOR HIM TO ADMIT THAT -- AND AL PACINO ADMITS THAT HE HAD A BOUT WITH ALCOHOLISM. HE'D BECOME VERY SUCCESSFUL AND EVERYTHING WAS COMING AT HIM TOO FAST, LOTS OF MONEY, LOTS OF WOMEN, LOTS OF EVERYTHING, LOTS OF PARTS, OFFERS, EVERYTHING THAT HE HADN'T HAD BEFORE. HE BEGAN TO DRINK AND SPIRAL DOWNWARD. HE WENT OUT WITH A FRIEND OF HIS WHO WAS ALSO HIS ACTING COACH. CHARLIE LAWTON WAS HIS NAME. CHARLIE SAID TO HIM, "I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AL." AL SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" HE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF HOW MANY TIMES YOU'RE LIFTING THAT GLASS TO YOUR LIPS."

NOW IF CHARLIE HAD SAID, "AL, YOU'RE A DRUNK" OR "AL, YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH", AL WOULD HAVE BEEN DEFENSIVE. HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE CHANGE. BUT BECAUSE HE SAID IN THIS VERY LOVING WAY, "I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING", HE WAS ABLE TO REFLECT ON IT AND HE STOPPED AND HE DOESN'T DRINK ANYMORE.

JESS>> I KNOW A COUPLE OF GUYS WHO WOULD SAY THAT THE RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR THEM WERE "YOU'RE UNDER ARREST". (LAUGHTER) DID YOU GET ANY OF THAT?

MARLO THOMAS>> (LAUGHTER) NO, WE DON'T HAVE THAT. PROBABLY THE ONLY THING WE DON'T HAVE.

JESS>> YOU'VE BEEN SURROUNDED BY -- YOU'RE A VERY STRONG PERSON YOURSELF AND IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SAY "THAT GIRL" BECAUSE WE DON'T SAY "GIRL" ANYMORE, DO WE?

MARLO THOMAS>> NO.

JESS>> THAT "WOMAN", YES.

MARLO THOMAS>> WELL, IN THOSE DAYS, WE STILL SAID "GIRL".

JESS>> YEAH. BUT MARRIED TO A PRETTY STRONG MAN? AND YOUR MOTHER, YOU MENTIONED, ALSO A VERY STRONG PERSONALITY?

MARLO THOMAS>> YES.

JESS>> BUT YOUR BACKGROUND WITH USC AND YOU WERE GOING TO BE A TEACHER?

MARLO THOMAS>> YEAH, I GRADUATED AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER FROM USC, UH-HUH. WELL, MY PARENTS INSISTED ON THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT GONE TO COLLEGE. IN FACT, MY FATHER ONLY WENT TO A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL. MY MOTHER GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. SO MY FATHER'S FEELING, LIKE EVERY SECOND GENERATION AMERICAN -- HIS PARENTS CAME OVER FROM THE OLD COUNTRY, SO HE WAS A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN, WE WERE SECOND GENERATION AMERICAN -- HIS FEELING WAS HIS CHILDREN WERE GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE AND GET A DIPLOMA AND THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER THAT, YOU KNOW, ENTITLED THEM TO DO SOMETHING IN THE WORLD, AND SO WE DID.

JESS>> HOW DOES YOUR HUSBAND, PHIL DONAHUE, REACT TO YOUR BOOK'S SUCCESS?

MARLO THOMAS>> HE'S IN IT.

JESS>> YES, I KNOW.

MARLO THOMAS>> OH, HE'S VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. HE REALLY IS. HE SAID TO ME THIS MORNING, "YOU HIT A HOMERUN, HONEY." I'M VERY EXCITED TOO.

JESS>> ANYBODY TURN YOU DOWN FLAT?

MARLO THOMAS>> TURNED ME DOWN FLAT? NO. THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT I COULD NOT GET IN TIME. I COULDN'T GET NELSON MANDELA IN TIME. I GOT THE DALAI LAMA IN THE NICK OF TIME. HE DOESN'T SPEAK ON THE PHONE, BY THE WAY, DID YOU KNOW THAT? THE DALAI LAMA DOES NOT TALK ON THE PHONE. I WANT TO COME BACK AS HIM IN MY NEXT LIFE, I'LL TELL YOU THAT. (LAUGHTER) AND NELSON MANDELA WAS AWAY FOR TWO MONTHS, SO I COULDN'T GET HIM. BY THE TIME I THOUGHT OF HIM, I COULDN'T GET HIM IN TIME. I COULDN'T GET STEVE JOBS IN TIME. I REALLY WANTED HIM TOO. SO THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE I JUST COULDN'T GET IN TIME.

JESS>> BUT DOES IT SURPRISE YOU THAT EACH OF THESE PEOPLE -- YOU HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF THEM -- BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL FAIRLY SHORT STORIES, EACH OF THEM HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE THE RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME MADE THE DIFFERENCE?

MARLO THOMAS>> YEAH. IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE TED KOPPEL, WHEN I CALLED HIM, SAID, "OH, I DON'T HAVE ANY WORDS." I SAID, "I KNOW YOU DO. LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS." HE CAME UP WITH -- I LOVE HIS STORY. AND THEY'RE ALL LIKE SHORT STORIES. I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE A QUOTE BOOK BECAUSE I CAN NEVER REMEMBER A QUOTE, BUT A STORY REALLY DOES HANG ON FOREVER. THERE'S A WONDERFUL INDIAN PROVERB THAT I START THE BOOK WITH AND IT SAYS, "TELL ME A TRUTH AND I'LL BELIEVE YOU, TELL ME A FACT AND I'LL BE IMPRESSED, BUT TELL ME A STORY AND IT WILL LIVE IN MY HEART FOREVER."

JESS>> IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE AND IT'S GOING TO LIVE WITH "THE RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME: MARLO THOMAS AND FRIENDS". I'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO SPELL MARLO ONE OF THESE DAYS. THERE'S A "W" ON THE END. (LAUGHTER)

MARLO THOMAS>> (LAUGHTER) I WAS GOING TO SAY, IF I'D MARRIED YOU, IT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE.

JESS>> MARLO MARLOW. (LAUGHTER)

MARLO THOMAS>> MARLO MARLOW (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> OUR THANKS TO MARLO THOMAS.

HERE'S A REMINDER ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THIS WEEK. ANOTHER ONGOING "ETHICS PROJECT" IS COMING UP ON WEDNESDAY. THIS TIME, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ETHICS OF HOLLYWOOD.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD WANT TO BE A FILMMAKER WHO WENT TO MY GRAVE SAYING THE ONLY THING I DID IN LIFE WAS MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO GO HOME AND TAKE A SHOWER.

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JESS>> THE NATION OF ISRAEL GETS MORE FOREIGN AID DOLLARS FROM THE UNITED STATES THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY, BUT EGYPT IS A CLOSE SECOND. SO WHY DO SO MANY EGYPTIANS SAY THEY HATE THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT? TONIGHT WE'LL FIND OUT IN THE SECOND PART OF OUR TOUR ACROSS CAIRO. THE STORY COMES FROM OUR FRIENDS AT CHANNEL ONE NEWS, A NETWORK THAT'S BEAMED INTO THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL CLASSROOMS ACROSS AMERICA. THE CORRESPONDENT IS GOTHAM CHOPRA AND SOME OF THE SIGHTS WILL NEED NO EXPLANATION.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> WHEN I VISITED CAIRO, I WAS TAKEN TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF WHAT HAS EMERGED AS A NEW CULTURAL FORCE THROUGHOUT THE ARAB WORLD. [EGYPTIAN PHRASE] TRANSLATES TO "WHO WANTS TO WIN A MILLION" OR BETTER KNOWN AS "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE". I'M SITTING ON THE SET AND IT LOOKS SIMILAR, EVEN THOUGH IT'S EMPTY. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SHOWS NOT JUST HERE IN EGYPT, BUT ALL OVER THE ARAB WORLD.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> DO YOU WATCH THE SHOW "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE"?

>> YES, IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD SORT OF A GAME SHOW THAT BIG IN THE ARAB WORLD.

>> IT'S A FUN SHOW. IT'S LIKE "WHEEL OF FORTUNE" OR ANY OF THOSE IN THE STATES.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> DO YOU WATCH THAT SHOW "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE"?

>> IF I GO TO THAT SHOW, I WILL NOT ONLY WIN ONE MILLION, BUT TWO MILLION.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> THE POPULARITY OF THE ARAB VERSION OF "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE" IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW EGYPT IS GLOBALIZING, SOMETHING THAT MANY MAY NOT REALIZE.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE 8.5 MILLION AMERICAN TEENAGERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT EGYPT OR SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT?

>> PLEASE READ ABOUT OUR COUNTRY BEFORE ASKING US QUESTIONS ON THE NET, LIKE DO YOU RIDE CAMELS? IT'S REALLY SAD. I MEAN, WE HAVE THIS AMAZING AWARENESS OF THEM. WE KNOW WHAT THEIR LIVES ARE LIKE. WE HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT HERE, THEY HAVE THIS ONE PERCEPTION THAT IT'S JUST EGYPT AND PYRAMIDS, TOURISM.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> THE U.S. GIVES EGYPT AROUND $2 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD GETS, EXCEPT FOR ISRAEL. AND ALONG WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THE U.S. ALSO EXPORTS OTHER THINGS.

WE HEARD THAT EIGHT YEARS AGO, WHEN THE FIRST MCDONALD'S OPENED, THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LINED UP. WELL, TODAY THEY'RE KIND OF ON EVERY STREET CORNER. IT'S NOT EVEN SO AMERICAN. MCDONALD'S IS KIND OF EGYPTIAN. WHO WOULD GUESS THAT FALAFEL, THE TRADITIONAL MIDDLE-EASTERN DISH OF FRIED MASHED GARBANZO BEANS, COULD BE MERGED WITH A "BIG MAC"? IT DOESN'T TASTE LIKE CHICKEN.

>> CRUNCHY.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> YOU CAN NOW SEE "TOYS-R-US". YOU CAN SEE "ADIDAS" HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MALL IN THE MIDDLE OF CAIRO. IT'S STARTING TO LOOK A LOT SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE BACK IN THE STATES.

ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T MEAN EVERYTHING IS PERFECT. THE MAJORITY OF EGYPTIANS ARE POOR AND AREN'T ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF WESTERN DEVELOPMENT. ONE THING WE'VE NOTICED IS THIS HUGE SLUM BY THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. BASICALLY, THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T REALLY PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO THESE PEOPLE. MOST OF THEM DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY, MOST OF THEM DON'T HAVE PLUMBING AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE LIKE.

I WAS INVITED TO SEE A TYPICAL HOME IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. IT LOOKED LIKE IT'S STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT'S NOT. NINE PEOPLE LIVE HERE. WOW, SO MANY LITTLE CHICKENS.

>> THIS AREA IS SO NEGLECTED. WE NEED ELECTRICITY, WE NEED LIGHTS, WE NEED PAVED ROADS.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> BUT THE COMPLAINTS OF THE PEOPLE AREN'T OFTEN HEARD. EGYPT IS NOT A DEMOCRACY AND YOU CAN GO TO JAIL FOR OPPOSING THE GOVERNMENT.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR OWN GOVERNMENT?

>> PLEASE DON'T ASK THAT QUESTION.

>> BAD QUESTION.

>> JUST CHANGE THE SUBJECT. PEOPLE GENERALLY DON'T TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> EGYPT'S PRESIDENT, HASNI MUBARAK, HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS AND, EVERY TIME THERE ARE ELECTIONS, HE WINS OVER NINETY PERCENT OF THE VOTE BECAUSE NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO RUN AGAINST HIM.

ONE OF THE SIGNS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS STILL A REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT IS THAT THIS GUY, MITCHELL, MY PRODUCER, ISN'T CARRYING THE BIG CAMERA THAT HE USUALLY DOES. THAT'S BECAUSE THESE GUYS OVER HERE WON'T LET HIM. THEY'RE THE STATE POLICE AND THEY WON'T LET US BRING A CAMERA TO TAKE SHOTS JUST OF THE STREETS. ESSENTIALLY, WE APPEAR AS TOURISTS. (LAUGHTER) MITCH IS ACTING LIKE A TOURIST, SHOPPING FOR HIS MOM.

SO AS EGYPT EMBRACES THE FORCES OF GLOBALIZATION, IT MUST ALSO OVERCOME BARRIERS LIKE POVERTY AND REPRESSION. STILL, THE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

IT'S TUESDAY NIGHT HERE IN CAIRO AND WE'RE JUST HANGING OUT WITH SOME OF THE FELLOWS AT THE LOCAL BARBER SHOP AND WE'RE WATCHING WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ALL AROUND THE ARAB WORLD IS WATCHING. WE ARE WATCHING -- HOW DO YOU SAY IT? [EGYPTIAN RESPONSE] THERE YOU GO. OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE". WE'RE DEFINITELY FEELING POOR, DEFINITELY FEELING POOR.

[FILM CLIP]

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> YOU GUYS ARE GOOD, VERY GOOD.

JESS>> THANKS AGAIN TO OUR FRIENDS AT CHANNEL ONE NEWS FOR PROVIDING US WITH THAT REPORT.

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