11/22/02

LC021122

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> NO NEED TO WAIT FOR THE BIG ONE TO HIT. ONE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALREADY BEING WRECKED BY AN ACTIVE FAULT LINE.

DAWN MURANAKA>> I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE HOMEOWNERS HERE WERE SET UP AND, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN. THAT'S NOT WHAT GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT, IN MY MIND.

VAL>> WE’LL ALSO FIND OUT HOW THE WAR ON TERRORISM MAY START IN YOUR GARAGE. MAYBE YOU NEVER THOUGHT OF SUV’S AS THE ENEMY, BUT ARIANNA HUFFINGTON HAS AND TONIGHT WE’LL FIND OUT WHY SHE’S TRYING TO LINK THESE GAS-GUZZLERS WITH THE LIKES OF OSAMA BIN LADEN.

JESS>> AND THAN A LOOK BACK AT THE LIFE AND CAREER OF LEGENDARY FILMMAKER, BILLY WILDER.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> WE’LL MEET THE AUTHOR WHO HAS SOME BEHIND-THE-SCENES STORIES ABOUT WILDER’S GREATEST FILMS.

VAL>> IT’S ALL COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

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.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. LATELY WE’VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT EARTHQUAKES AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF SOME DEVASTATING JOLT IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE, BUT TONIGHT YOU’RE ABOUT TO MEET A GROUP OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNERS WHO DON’T HAVE TO WAIT. THEY LIVE ATOP AN ACTIVE FAULT LINE THAT’S ALREADY DESTROYING THEIR HOMES AN INCH AT A TIME.

VAL>> A THIRTY-YEAR-OLD CALIFORNIA STATE LAW IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT DEVELOPERS FROM BUILDING ON ACTIVE FAULTS, BUT SOMETIMES THE EXPERTS CAN’T AGREE ON WHAT’S ACTIVE AND WHAT ISN’T. AND AS TONI GUINYARD REPORTS, THAT’S WHERE THE TROUBLE STARTED FOR SOME HOMEOWNERS IN YORBA LINDA.

TONI GUINYARD>> TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. THE BACK YARD OF A HOUSE IN YORBA LINDA, A HOUSE BUILT ON TOP OF AN EARTHQUAKE FAULT. IT'S IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT, AT FIRST GLANCE, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER TO BE THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR A DREAM HOME. RON MURANAKA, AT ONE POINT, THOUGHT SO.

RON MURANAKA>> I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND WE PAID $565,000.

TONI GUINYARD>> AND NOW?

RON MURANAKA>> AND NOW IT'S WORTH ZERO. YOU CAN'T SELL IT BECAUSE NO BANK WILL LOAN ON IT FOR SOMEONE TO BUY IT, SO ESSENTIALLY IT'S NOT WORTH ANYTHING.

TONI GUINYARD>> THAT'S BECAUSE, IN 1998, PART OF HIS BACK YARD SLID DOWN THE HILL AND WHAT FIRST APPEARED AS A SMALL CRACK IN 1999 OPENED WIDER AND WIDER, EVENTUALLY BECOMING A FISSURE RUNNING FROM HIS BACK YARD DIRECTLY UNDER A NEIGHBOR'S HOME.

TONI GUINYARD>> WHAT DOES THE CITY ATTRIBUTE THIS PROBLEM TO?

DAWN MURANAKA>> HOMEOWNERS OVER-WATERING THEIR YARDS AND EL NINO RAINS. THERE WASN'T ANY DISCLOSURE MADE TO ANYONE THAT SAYS, OH, IF YOU OVER-WATER YOUR YARD OR IF YOU WATER YOUR YARD, YOUR HOME, YOU KNOW, YOUR HOUSE IS GOING TO SLIDE DOWN A HILL. I MEAN, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S LIKE BLAMING THE HOMEOWNERS INSTEAD OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR, YOU KNOW, THEIR ACTIONS.

WILLIAM BOLLARD>> THIS PROPERTY IS TOO CLOSELY LOCATED TO A VERY ACTIVE SEISMIC ZONE. THAT WAS INFORMATION WHICH WAS NOT GIVEN TO THESE PURCHASERS, OUR CLIENTS, ADEQUATELY OR IN A TIMELY FASHION.

TONI GUINYARD>> ATTORNEY BOLLARD REPRESENTS THE MURANAKAS. THEY ARE SUING THE CITY OF YORBA LINDA, ACCUSING THE CITY OF FAILING TO DISCLOSE THE HOUSE WAS BUILT ON AN ACTIVE FAULT AND FAILING TO ADEQUATELY MAKE REPAIRS AFTER LEARNING OF THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY, REPAIR CREWS ARE REMOVING AND REPLACING THE CRACKED WALKWAY OUTSIDE OF MARTIN AUSLANDER'S HOME.

MARTIN AUSLANDER>> BASICALLY, IT COMES DOWN TO THIS. I CAN'T GIVE THE HOUSE AWAY. WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THIS HOME, I WAS THE FIRST BUYER IN LINE AND THERE WERE 2,500 CARS LINED UP BEHIND US. WE WERE TOLD THAT THESE WERE GOING TO BE THE FINEST QUALITY HOMES, THE NICEST IN LUXURY LIVING.

TONI GUINYARD>> AND IT WAS, HE SAYS, UNTIL THE CRACKS APPEARED IN THE CEILING, THE WALL, AROUND THE WINDOWS, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

MARTIN AUSLANDER>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS WAS ON AN ACTIVE EARTHQUAKE FAULT. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS WAS ON A SPRING. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE EARTH WAS MOVING. I'M NOT THAT KIND OF -- I DIDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF EXPERTISE.

TONI GUINYARD>> HE DOES NOW. HE AND SEVENTY-NINE OTHER BRYANT RANCH HOMEOWNERS NOW KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT THE FAULT. THEY SETTLED THE LAWSUIT WITH THE DEVELOPERS. ATTORNEY KENNETH KASDAN REPRESENTED THE RESIDENTS. USING THIS MAP PREPARED FOR TRIAL, HE SHOWS THE GREEN DOTTED LINES REPRESENTING WHAT HE SAYS ARE EARTHQUAKE FAULTS RUNNING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

KENNETH KASDAN>> IT'S OUR CONTENTION THESE PEOPLE WERE DEFRAUDED. THEY WEREN'T TOLD IT. WHAT THEY WERE TOLD WAS THAT THE SEISMIC ACTIVITY HERE WAS NIL, THAT THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY. THEY WEREN'T TOLD ABOUT THE SPECIAL STUDY EARTHQUAKE ZONE THAT THE LAW REQUIRED BE DISCLOSED. CHANCES ARE VERY HIGH THAT YOU'LL SEE A CASE LIKE THIS ALL OVER AGAIN BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THESE KINDS OF SHENANIGANS ARE GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WILLIAM BOLLARD>> WHAT SHOULD A PROSPECTIVE BUYER DO? ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOCATION OF FAULTS AND THEIR ACTIVE STATUS OR LESS ACTIVE STATUS AND GET AS INFORMED AS THEY CAN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ASSUME THE DEVELOPER OR THE MUNICIPALITY IS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE DISCLOSURES YOU NEED.

TONI GUINYARD>> DAWN MURANAKA CAN NOW RATTLE OFF A LIST OF WHAT SHE CALLS TROUBLE SPOTS.

DAWN MURANAKA>> THIS ONE, THERE WAS A LOT 34, 33, CITY DOCUMENTS ON 32, 31 WAS SINKING, 30 WAS CONDEMNED AND REMOVED, 29 WAS CONDEMNED AND REMOVED....

TONI GUINYARD>> IT'S THE TYPE OF SEISMIC INFORMATION SHE URGES OTHER RESIDENTS TO INVESTIGATE BEFORE BUYING A HOME.

JESS>> SOME OF THE HOMEOWNERS WHO’VE SUFFERED DAMAGE HAVE RECEIVED CASH SETTLEMENTS, BUT MANY CLAIM THE MONEY WASN’T NEARLY ENOUGH TO FIX THEIR HOMES OR TO BUY NEW ONES. MEANWHILE, THE CITY OF YORBA LINDA FEELS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONTROVERSY AND OFFICIALS THERE DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE IN TONI GUINYARD’S STORY.

VAL>> MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, HIV IS NO LONGER AN AUTOMATIC DEATH SENTENCE, THANKS TO RECENT MEDICAL ADVANCES, BUT IS THAT PROMPTING SOME PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN SOME RISKY BEHAVIOR?

GAY YEE>> FRIDAY NIGHT, AND THE HOLLYWOOD CLUB SCENE. PEOPLE MAY BE PREACHING SAFE SEX ON THE WAY IN, BUT PRACTICING WHAT THEY PREACH IS A DIFFERENT MATTER.

>> EVEN FOR MY GAY FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, THEY THINK THAT IT CANNOT HAPPEN TO THEM. WHEN I SEE THEM HAVING, YOU KNOW, SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS UNPROTECTED, IT REALLY BOTHERS ME.

JESS>> FOR THOSE OF US WHO DRIVE SUV’S, AND WE KNOW WHO WE ARE, IT’S HARD TO ACCEPT THE CLAIMS THAT THOSE BIG VEHICLES MIGHT BE GIVING AID AND COMFORT TO AMERICA’S ENEMIES. BUT OUR NEXT GUEST CLAIMS THAT EVERY TIME WE GAS UP AN SUV, WE’RE PUTTING MONEY INTO THE POCKETS OF OSAMA BIN LADEN AND OTHERS BENT ON DESTROYING THE UNITED STATES. THAT’S WHY SHE SAYS SHE DUMPED HER OWN SUV AND BOUGHT A HYBRID CAR THAT GETS OVER FIFTY MILES A GALLON.

VAL>> AND ARIANNA HUFFINGTON ISN’T FINISHED YET. SHE IS PRODUCING A TV SPOT CALLED “GOT OIL?” IT WILL PORTRAY SUV’S AS UNPATRIOTIC. THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS BEING OVER THE TOP AND CLEARLY IT IS, ISN’T IT?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> NO, NOT AT ALL. IN FACT, THIS CAMPAIGN IS TRULY A PEOPLES’ CAMPAIGN BECAUSE I JUST WROTE A COLUMN IN WHICH I ASKED THE RHETORICAL QUESTION, WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO PAY FOR A PEOPLES’ AD CAMPAIGN TO JOLT OUR LEADERS INTO REALITY? IT WAS PROMPTED BY THE FACT THAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS SUED THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR DARING TO PROPOSE HIGHER FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS.

THE POINT OF THE COLUMN WAS THAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO RUNNING THESE ADS CONNECTING TAKING DRUGS TO THE WAR ON TERRORISM. YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY HAVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE SAYING, YOU KNOW, I’M TAKING DRUGS, I’M HELPING BLOW UP BUILDINGS. SO ACCEPTING THE LOGIC OF THE ADMINISTRATION, SHOULDN’T WE BE RUNNING ADS MAKING THE MUCH MORE LEGITIMATE CONNECTION BETWEEN DRIVING GAS-GUZZLING SUV’S AT NINE TO TWELVE OR THIRTEEN MILES PER GALLON AT A TIME WHEN WE DESPERATELY NEED TO BE OIL INDEPENDENT SO THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO DEPEND ON THESE MIDDLE EASTERN POTENTATES FOR OUR OIL AND THEREFORE DETERMINING OUR FOREIGN POLICY ON THESE CONDITIONS?

JESS>> THE DIFFERENCE IS, THE GASOLINE IS A LEGITIMATE SANCTIONED PRODUCT AND DRUGS ARE NOT.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> BUT THAT’S NOT THE CONNECTION THEY’RE MAKING. ON THE CONTRARY, I WOULD SAY THAT DRUGS ARE AN ADDICTION AND DRIVING SUV’S IS A LIFESTYLE CHOICE. LET ME SAY, UP UNTIL A YEAR AGO, I WAS DRIVING AN SUV, SO IT’S NOT LIKE I HAVEN’T BEEN DRIVING AN SUV. I WAS DRIVING A LINCOLN NAVIGATOR AT THIRTEEN MILES PER GALLON. IT WAS A FRIEND OF MINE, ACTUALLY LAURIE DAVID, A REAL ENVIRONMENTALIST ON THE BOARD OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, WHO POINTED OUT TO ME AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT THAT’S NOT THE WAY TO GO. IT’S NOT EVEN PATRIOTIC. YOU KNOW, AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, WE’RE ALL TOLD TO BE PATRIOTIC, TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE WAR. WELL, THAT’S AN EASY SACRIFICE TO MAKE.

JESS>> BUT TO SUGGEST THAT THESE SOCCER MOMS ARE AIDING OSAMA BIN LADEN, THAT’S A BIT OF A STRETCH (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CONTROVERSIAL LINES THAT JESS IS SO UPSET ABOUT (LAUGHTER). HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARIANNA WILL HAVE PEOPLE SAY IN THE TV SPOT THAT SHE IS PRODUCING. IMAGINE THESE WORDS BEING SPOKEN BY PEOPLE WHO DRIVE SUV’S. ONE SAYS “I GASSED 40,000 KURDS.” ANOTHER PERSON WILL SAY “I HELPED HIJACK AN AIRPLANE.” A THIRD DRIVER SAYS “I HELPED BLOW UP A NIGHTCLUB.” AND THE TV SPOT ENDS WITH THE PEOPLE SAYING “WE DID IT ALL BY DRIVING TO WORK IN OUR SUV’S.” WELL, OF COURSE, IT’S ALL MAKE-BELIEVE. THESE ARE ACTORS SAYING THE LINES, BUT THE POINT IS VERY REAL AND THAT’S WHY JESS IS MAD (LAUGHTER).

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> ARE YOU? (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> WELL, IF YOU’RE WILLING TO WALK TO WORK, THAT’S FINE. YOU WERE ABOUT A HALF HOUR LATE GETTING TO THE STUDIO PROBABLY BECAUSE YOUR HYBRID CAR BROKE DOWN (LAUGHTER).

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> NO, NOT BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING MY HYBRID CAR, BUT BECAUSE OF DREADFUL TRAFFIC IN THIS TOWN. BUT MY POINT IS THAT THESE ADS ARE A PARODY. YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE SENSE MUCH MORE WHEN YOU’VE SEEN THE DRUG WAR ADS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE EXACT SAME LINES IN MANY CASES THAT THEY’RE USING IN THE DRUG ADS. WHAT WE’RE CLAIMING IS THAT, WHEN PEOPLE SEE THE CONNECTIONS, WHEN THEY CONNECT THE DOTS, THEY WILL MAKE DIFFERENT CHOICES. WE ARE ALSO ASKING DETROIT TO START USING THE HYBRID TECHNOLOGY THAT DOES EXIST TO PUT HYBRID SUV’S ON THE ROAD. I MEAN, YOU CAN HAVE SUV’S. LET THEM HYBRID.

VAL>> IN FACT, YOU DID GIVE UP YOUR SUV. YOU KNOW DRIVE A PRIUS, IS IT?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> FIFTY-TWO MILES PER GALLON.

VAL>> FIFTY-TWO MILES TO THE GALLON.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> MY DAUGHTERS ARE LOVING IT. THEY ARE ELEVEN AND THIRTEEN. YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE TIME WE’RE DRIVING TO STARBUCKS AND WE’RE DRIVING TO BUY GROCERIES AND WE’RE DRIVING TO MEETINGS. WE ARE NOT DRIVING OFF-ROAD MOST OF THE TIME AND WE’RE NOT DRIVING WITH TWELVE KIDS MOST OF THE TIME. ON TOP OF IT, SUV’S ARE NOT SAFE. I MEAN, WE HAVE MORE AND MORE EVIDENCE NOW THAT THERE ARE EIGHT TIMES MORE DEATHS IN SUV’S THAN IN NORMAL CARS. SO ALL THESE WAYS THAT WE’VE TRIED TO SELL THOSE SUV’S, LIKE THE SAFE WAY TO GO, IT’S NOT EVEN TRUE.

JESS>> BUT WITH YOUR HYBRID, YOU’RE AIDING OSAMA BIN LADEN, BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> WE’RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT PEOPLE WALK OR THAT THEY ACTUALLY RIDE THEIR DONKEYS TO WORK. WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT, JUST BY INCREASING OUR FUEL EFFICIENCY, WE CAN END, LITERALLY END, OUR OIL DEPENDENCE ON THE MIDDLE EAST. NOW THAT’S A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT.

JESS>> ARE YOU JOINING THE GROUP THAT’S RAISED THE QUESTION “WHAT WOULD JESUS CHRIST DRIVE”?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> WELL, I LOVE THIS GROUP AND I THINK IT’S VERY INTERESTING THAT YOU HAVE A GROUP OF RELIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTALISTS --

JESS>> -- ENVIRONMENTAL EVANGELISTS, HUH?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> YES, WELL, CHRISTIANS AND JEWS ARE PRODUCING AN AD SAYING “WHAT WOULD JESUS DRIVE?” AND THAT YOU HAVE A GROUP OF PROGRESSIVES IN LOS ANGELES PRODUCING AN AD THAT’S CONNECTING THE DOTS. I THINK THAT’S VERY INTERESTING. IT SHOWS THAT, WHEN YOU HAVE STRANGE BEDFELLOWS LIKE THAT, SOMETHING REAL IS HAPPENING AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL.

VAL>> ANY REACTION YET FROM ANY, YOU KNOW, OFFICIALS IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION? ANY POLITICAL LEADERS ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, BESIDES JESS? (LAUGHTER)

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> (LAUGHTER) YEAH, THIS IS THE FIRST FORMAL RESPONSE WE’VE HAD. NO, THE REACTION HAS BEEN FROM THE PEOPLE AND FROM THE MEDIA ACTUALLY. WE’VE HAD AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE FROM THE PEOPLE WHO’VE CONTRIBUTED TEN, TWENTY, FIFTY DOLLARS TO MAKE THESE ADS. ALL THE MONEY RAISED TO MAKE THE ADS HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTED IN SMALL DONATIONS. EVERYBODY MAKING THE ADS, THE PRODUCER LAWRENCE BENDER WHO PRODUCED “PULP FICTION” AND “GOODWILL HUNTING”, THE DIRECTOR SCOTT BURN, WHO WAS THE CO-CREATOR OF THE “GOT MILK?” CAMPAIGN, ARE DONATING THEIR SERVICES.

JESS>> I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU’RE HAVING GREAT FUN WITH IT AND CAN APPRECIATE THAT, AS A MATTER OF FACT, BUT DO YOU NOT RUN THE RISK OF BEING IN THE GROUP LIKE THE MILITANT VEGETARIAN WHO’S TALKING TO YOU WHILE WEARING A LEATHER COAT?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> NOW, JUST BECAUSE I’M WEARING A LEATHER COAT (LAUGHTER) --

JESS>> -- THAT’S JUST COINCIDENTAL.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> NO, OUR POINT IS NOT TO CENSOR PEOPLES’ BEHAVIOR, BUT TO ASK THEM TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES. WE’RE NOT ASKING FOR LEGISLATION TO MAKE YOUR SUV ILLEGAL. WE ARE SAYING TO LOOK AT THE CONSEQUENCES, THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, OF OUR CHOICES, AND I SAY OUR BECAUSE I HAD AN SUV UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY. THEN WE’RE SAYING TO OUR POLITICAL LEADERS TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR INCREASING FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS AND DON’T SUE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR DOING THAT.

VAL>> ELABORATE ON THAT. NOW THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS CONSIDERING OR HAS HAD --

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> -- NO, NO, IT HAS.

VAL>> IT HAS PASSED.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> IT HAS PASSED LEGISLATION.

VAL>> AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW SUING CALIFORNIA SAYING I’M SORRY, YOU CAN’T DO THAT?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> ABSOLUTELY. SAYING YOU SHOULD ONLY APPLY THE FEDERAL CLEAN AIR STANDARDS. YOU DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE YOUR OWN STANDARDS. WHICH IS EQUALLY ABSURD BECAUSE THE CONSERVATIVES LOVE STATE’S RIGHTS WHEN THEY AGREE WITH THEM AND THEY DON’T LIKE STATE’S RIGHTS WHEN THEY DON’T AGREE WITH THEM.

VAL>> AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT ALL THESE LAWYERS AND EVERYTHING, IT CAN GET TIED UP IN COURT. YOU WOULD THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE A FEW OTHER MORE PRESSING ISSUES.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> YES, LIKE CATCHING OSAMA BIN LADEN, RIGHT? (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> SO YOU’RE REALLY TRYING TO PRICK THE CONSCIENCE OF AMERICAN MOTORISTS?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> EXACTLY, ABSOLUTELY, AND DETROIT.

JESS>> AND DOING IT WITH A VERY SHARP HAT PIN.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> IT TAKES A SHARP HAT PIN TO PRICK PEOPLES’ CONSCIENCE. IT TOOK A SHARP HAT PIN TO PRICK MINE.

VAL>> AND WHO IS GOING TO PAY -- I MEAN, YOU CAN MAKE THE ADS. THAT’S ONE COST. BUT THE EVEN BIGGER COST IS PAYING FOR THE AIR TIME TO GET THEM ON THE AIR. WHO’S GOING TO PAY FOR THAT?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> WE ARE TALKING ALREADY TO MAJOR DONORS AND WE’VE HAD ONE BIG DONATION ALREADY TO GET THEM ON THE AIR, BUT WE WANTED TO GET THEM MADE JUST THROUGH SMALL DONATIONS.

JESS>> THEY WON’T BE BROUGHT TO YOU BY FORD EXCURSION OR LINCOLN NAVIGATOR --

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> -- WELL, THEY’RE WELCOME TO CONTRIBUTE (LAUGHTER), ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> WELL, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE GOTTEN PUBLICITY ABOUT THIS SO FAR AND BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> WELL, AND EVERY TIME WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, MORE PEOPLE ARE MAKING THE CONNECTION, SO THAT HAS ITS OWN VALUE.

JESS>> WELL, IT’S FUN TO BE WITH YOU. YOU ALWAYS BRING ENTERTAINMENT INTO IT AS WELL.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON>> THANK YOU.

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JESS>> YOU MAY REMEMBER MARILYN MONROE’S FAMOUS SCENE WITH HER SKIRT BILLOWING UP ABOVE THE SUBWAY GRATE OR JACK LEMMON AND TONY CURTIS WEARING LIPSTICK AND HIGH HEELS IN “SOME LIKE IT HOT”. THOSE FILMS WERE THE WORK OF A HOLLYWOOD GIANT NAMED BILLY WILDER.

VAL>> TONIGHT WE’LL HEAR SOME BEHIND-THE-SCENES STORIES ABOUT WILDER’S GREATEST FILMS WHEN WE MEET THE AUTHOR WHO JUST PUBLISHED HIS BIOGRAPHY, BUT FIRST A LOOK AT SOME OF THE LASTING MEMORIES BILLY WILDER CREATED FOR ALL OF US.

[FILM CLIP - “DOUBLE INDEMNITY”]

[FILM CLIP - “THE APARTMENT”]

[FILM CLIP - “SUNSET BOULEVARD”]

[FILM CLIP - “SOME LIKE IT HOT”]

JESS>> “NOBODY’S PERFECT”. THAT’S THE TITLE OF THE NEW BILLY WILDER BIOGRAPHY AND JOINING US NOW IS THE AUTHOR, CHARLOTTE CHANDLER. THIS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED ALMOST AS AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. YOU HAD SUCH ACCESS TO BILLY WILDER.

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> I KNEW HIM FOR A LONG TIME AND I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO USE HIS WORDS THAN MINE, SO IT IS VERY CLOSE TO THAT. I MEANT IT TO BE THAT WAY.

JESS>> STARTING WITH HIS CHILDHOOD?

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> YES. HE TALKED ABOUT THAT. WHEN I FIRST MET HIM, HE DIDN’T TALK VERY MUCH ABOUT HIS CHILDHOOD BECAUSE HE WAS VERY UNHAPPY AND EVEN FELT A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT HIS MOTHER HAVING REMAINED IN AUSTRIA AND THE HOLOCAUST AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED, SO IT WAS A VERY PAINFUL MEMORY. BUT THEN, IN LATER YEARS, HE DID TALK WITH ME ABOUT IT.

VAL>> IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD. BROUGHT UP DURING THE WAR, IMPOVERISHED, RIGHT? HE WENT TO A -- WAS IT A BOARDING SCHOOL IN WHICH HE WASN’T VERY HAPPY?

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> WELL, HE WASN’T A SCHOLAR, AS HE SAID, SO HE WASN’T HAPPY IN SCHOOL. BUT NOT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE WAS IMPOVERISHED, BUT BECAUSE HE REALLY DIDN’T LIKE SCHOOL. HE WAS IN VIENNA AT THE TIME. HE WAS BORN IN A PLACE CALLED SUCHA, WHICH BELONGED TO THE AUSTRIA-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE, AND EVERYONE BELIEVED IT WAS FOREVER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WASN’T AT ALL. BUT HIS FAMILY WAS ABLE TO GO TO VIENNA BECAUSE THEY HAD A CHAIN OF RAILWAY RESTAURANTS. SO ACTUALLY, WHILE THEY DIDN’T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, THEY DID EAT WELL AND HE HAD A LIFELONG INTEREST IN FOOD, ESPECIALLY DESSERT.

JESS>> YOU SAID HE WAS NOT A SCHOLAR, SO IT’S NATURAL THAT HE WENT INTO JOURNALISM, RIGHT? (LAUGHTER)

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> IT WAS FOR HIM. HE SAID IT WAS THE ONLY THING HE COULD THINK OF TO DO FOR A PERSON WHO HADN’T LIKED SCHOOL AND, BESIDES, HE LIKED THE RAINCOATS THAT THEY WORE. HE LIKED THE IMAGE OF THE JOURNALISTS IN THE MOVIES THAT HE SAW.

VAL>> WHAT WAS THE TURNING POINT THAT GOT HIM INTO MOVIES?

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> IT WAS IN BERLIN. HE’D GONE THERE TO REVIEW SOMETHING OF PAUL WHITEMAN’S AND, WHILE HE WAS IN BERLIN, HE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE SOME SILENT SCREENPLAYS AND HE TURNED OUT FIVE A MONTH. HE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND THEN, AS SOUND CAME IN, HE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO SOUND.

JESS>> AND HE CHOSE TO BE A DIRECTOR SO THAT NOBODY COULD CHANGE HIS SCRIPT?

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> THAT WAS IT, EXACTLY. IT WAS TO PROTECT HIS WORDS.

VAL>> WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A LITTLE BIT OF HIS WORK. THE FIRST ONE IS FROM A CLASSIC MOVE, “THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH” WITH MARILYN MONROE. LET’S TAKE A LOOK.

[FILM CLIP]

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> THERE WAS LAUGHTER IN THE STUDIO WHILE YOU WERE SHOWING THAT. BILLY WILDER WOULD HAVE LIKED THAT.

JESS>> HE TALKED ABOUT MARILYN MONROE AS BEING NOT ONLY DIFFICULT, BUT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK WITH.

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> VIRTUALLY. BUT OF COURSE, WHEN I KNEW HIM AND HE WAS LOOKING BACK AT IT ALL, I REMEMBER WALKING TO THE PICTURE FRAMERS WITH HIM AND HE HAD THE PLATE BLOCK OF HER STAMPS AND A PICTURE OF HER. HE SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, AS YOU SAID, BUT THAT IF SHE’D BEEN HERE AND HAD A PICTURE TO MAKE, HE WOULD HAVE MADE THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN BECAUSE IT WASN’T REALLY A MISTAKE, THAT THERE WAS NOBODY AS LUMINOUS AS MARILYN MONROE.

VAL>> SO ALL THAT EFFORT, HER DIFFICULTY WAS WORTH IT WHEN HE SAW IT ON THE SCREEN. HOW MANY MOVIES DID HE MAKE WITH HER? JUST --

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> TWO.

VAL>> JUST TWO.

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> IT SEEMS LIKE MORE.

JESS>> PUNCTUALITY WAS NOT HER LONG SUIT.

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> NO. BILLY WILDER SAID SHE SHOULD HAVE STUDIED NOT WITH LEE STRASBERG, BUT WITH FELIPE, THE WATCH COMPANY.

VAL>> WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER CLIP, THIS ONE FROM “SABRINA” STARRING WILLIAM HOLDEN AND HUMPHREY BOGART.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> IT WAS WIDELY RUMORED THAT HE AND BOGART DID NOT GET ALONG WELL.

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> YES, BUT HE FELT IT WAS EXAGGERATED, THAT ACTUALLY WILLIAM HOLDEN WAS THE GREATEST PERSON IN THE WORLD FOR HIM AT THAT TIME AND AUDREY HEPBURN WAS SPECTACULAR. HE SAID GOD KISSED HER ON THE CHEEK. HE FELT THAT HUMPHREY BOGART RESENTED THAT THE THREE OF THEM WERE SO CLOSE. HE SAID THEY WERE, BUT THAT DIDN’T MEAN THAT HE DIDN’T RESPECT HUMPHREY BOGART. HOWEVER, DESPITE WHATEVER QUARRELS OR PROBLEMS THEY HAD ON THE SET, WHEN HUMPHREY BOGART WAS DYING, BILLY WILDER WOULD GO TO VISIT HIM AND HE SAID THAT NO ONE WAS EVER MORE HEROIC AND, AT THAT TIME, HUMPHREY BOGART WAS THE HERO IN THE MOVIES.

VAL>> OUR FINAL CLIP IS WITH JACK LEMMON AND SHIRLEY MACLAINE IN A MOVIE THAT’S NOT KNOWN AS WELL AS THE OTHERS. THIS ONE IS CALLED “IRMA LA DOUCE”.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> HE MUST HAVE LIKED JACK LEMMON A LOT.

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> HE DID. ORIGINALLY, WILLIAM HOLDEN WAS THE CLOSEST FRIEND OF HIS, BUT THEN IT BECAME JACK LEMMON AND HE REALLY THOUGHT A GREAT DEAL OF JACK LEMMON AS AN ACTOR AND AS A FRIEND. THIS PICTURE WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST MONEY-MAKERS FOR BILLY WILDER. IN ITS TIME, A LOT OF PEOPLE WENT TO SEE IT.

JESS>> “IRMA LA DOUCE”, YES.

VAL>> DID HE MAKE ANY FLOPS?

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> OH, HE DID, YES. “ACE IN THE HOLE” WAS ONE. BUT HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY THAT HE REALLY LIKED “ACE IN THE HOLE” AND, AT ONE POINT, HE SAID IT WAS HIS FAVORITE FILM. HE SAID HE HAD TO LOVE IT BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE DID AND HE CALLED IT THE RUNT OF THE LITTER.

JESS>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHARLOTTE CHANDLER. THE BOOK, AGAIN, IS “NOBODY’S PERFECT” AND ALSO THERE IS TO BE A PLAY OF “NOBODY’S PERFECT”.

CHARLOTTE CHANDLER>> YES, THERE’S GOING TO BE A PLAY. I’M VERY EXCITED. I’M WRITING IT AND DAVID BROWN IS PRODUCING.

JESS>> IT’S “NOBODY’S PERFECT: BILLY WILDER, A NEW LOOK AT THE LEGENDARY DIRECTOR”.

VAL>> AND AS ALWAYS, WE INVITE YOU TO KEEP TRACK OF THE LATEST NEWS AND OUR PROGRAM BY LOGGING ONTO KCET.ORG. YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT THE “NEWSROOM”. IT HAS LINKS TO OUR SHOW AND ALL KINDS OF CURRENT EVENTS.

JESS>> AND THAT’S TONIGHT’S PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT’S PROGRAM.