4/28/03

LC030428

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> CRACKING DOWN ON DANGEROUS DRIVERS. THE DMV MEANS BUSINESS WITH A GET-TOUGH APPROACH THAT RELIES ON ANONYMOUS TIPS.

WILLIAM MORGAN>> MY LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED BECAUSE I HAD AN EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL LEVEL AND IT’S BEEN HECK TRYING TO GET IT BACK, I’LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

VAL>> AND THEN, WHO’S BOSS? WE’LL FIND OUT WHY SOME COMPANIES ARE QUICK TO HAND OUT MANAGEMENT TITLES TO LOW-LEVEL WORKERS WHO HAVE NO REAL AUTHORITY.

JESS>> PLUS, THE CELEBRITY VOICES BEHIND A ZOOLOGICAL REVIEW.

VAL>> IT’S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES 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>> WOULD YOU TURN IN A FRIEND OR A RELATIVE WHO IS A HAZARD ON THE HIGHWAY?

JESS>> PLENTY OF PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE AND IT’S NEVER BEEN EASIER. ANONYMOUS TIPS ARE COSTING SCORES OF DRIVERS THEIR LICENSES AND, WHILE CRITICS SAY THE SYSTEM IS RIPE FOR ABUSE, GAY YEE TELLS US THE DMV HAS NO INTENTION OF TURNING BACK NOW.

GAY YEE>> WALK UP TO JUST ABOUT ANYONE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND YOU’LL HEAR LOTS OF STORIES ABOUT BAD DRIVERS.

MARTIN DONOVAN>> I DON’T KNOW, BUT I SEE THEM ON THE ROAD. THEY WILL CHANGE LANES WITHOUT ANY PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT, WITHOUT USING THEIR INDICATORS, MAKING TURNS WHEN IT DOESN’T CORRESPOND. I’VE SEEN IT. I’VE SEEN IT OFTEN. A BAD DRIVER IS SOMETHING ONLY IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, BUT SOMEONE WHO COULD BE A PUBLIC DANGER, I THINK, YES, ONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

GAY YEE>> AND THE DMV IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE WHO COME HERE ON ROUTINE BUSINESS HAVE NO IDEA THAT SOMEBODY IS ACTUALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO ALL THOSE DRIVERS WHO REPRESENT A PUBLIC MENACE. THIS IS THE DMV’S DRIVER SAFETY BRANCH, A SPECIAL SECTION WITH A MISSION, AND THAT’S TO GET UNSAFE DRIVERS OFF THE ROADWAYS. EVERY YEAR, THE SAFETY BRANCH DEALS WITH THOUSANDS OF PROBLEM DRIVERS, NEGLIGENT DRIVERS, DRUNK DRIVERS AND PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY TROUBLED DRIVERS.

CHRISTINE FARRIS>> HELLO, MR. SMITH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE FARRIS AND I’M CALLING YOU IN REGARDS TO A NEGLIGENT OPERATOR HEARING.

GAY YEE>> IF YOUR DRIVING HABITS BRING YOU FOUR TICKETS IN A YEAR’S TIME, THE STATE CALLS YOU NEGLIGENT.

SERGIO PEREZ>> OUR NEGLIGENT OPERATOR USUALLY THEIR BEHAVIOR IS THAT THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG. EVERYONE GETS TICKETS AND THAT’S WHY THE DEPARTMENT TAKES THEM SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR HAVING AN ACCIDENT IS GREATER THAN ANY OTHER DRIVER.

GAY YEE>> ATTORNEY ANTHONY SCOTT SPECIALIZES IN DMV LICENSE SUSPENSION HEARINGS. HE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL ABOUT THE DRIVERS WHO ACCOUNT FOR MOST OF THE NEGLIGENCE CASES.

ANTHONY SCOTT>> MOST OF MY CLIENTS ARE YOUNG AND THEY JUST PAY THEIR TICKETS AND THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE NO CONSEQUENCES.

GAY YEE>> BUT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES. A NEGLIGENT DRIVER CAN FIND HIMSELF LOSING HIS LICENSE FOR SIX MONTHS, THOUGH HE CAN ASK FOR A LESSER PENALTY IF HE CHOOSES A HEARING.

SERGIO PEREZ>> THAT’S WHAT THE HEARING PROCESS ALLOWS. YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND EXPLAIN WHY YOUR RECORD IS THE WAY IT IS AND IT’S UP TO THE HEARING OFFICER TO DETERMINE WHAT THE APPROPRIATE ACTION WOULD BE.

ANTHONY SCOTT>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEY COME IN WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY, WILL START ARGUING ABOUT, OH, THIS SPEEDING TICKET SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ME, THE LEFT TURN -- THAT’S NOT WHAT IT’S ABOUT. IT’S WHAT CHANGED IN YOUR LIFE AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO IMPROVE ON YOUR DRIVING SKILLS IN ORDER TO MAKE A HEARING OFFICER FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT YOU’RE NOT GOING TO COME BACK IN ANOTHER TWO MONTHS WITH MORE TICKETS?

GAY YEE>> AND THERE IS ONE KIND OF BAD DRIVER WHO IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE OUT OF LUCK.

WILLIAM MORGAN>> MY LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED BECAUSE I HAD AN EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL LEVEL AND IT’S BEEN HECK TRYING TO GET THEM BACK, I’LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

GAY YEE>> THOUGH PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE CAN AND OFTEN DO ASK FOR A DMV HEARING IN THE HOPE OF HOLDING ON TO THEIR LICENSE, THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO PREVAIL.

ANTHONY SCOTT>> IF, IN FACT, THE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO DO, FILLED OUT THE PAPERWORK CORRECTLY, GIVEN THE TEST APPROPRIATELY, MOST PEOPLE WILL LOSE. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY IN ORDER FOR A PERSON TO PREVAIL AT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE HEARING.

GAY YEE>> AND THEN THERE ARE THE MEDICAL CASES. IF YOU LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND A DOCTOR KNOWS ABOUT IT, THE DMV IS LIKELY TO KNOW AS WELL. DOCTORS ARE OBLIGATED TO REPORT THESE CASES. WHEN ARDE ATHEIAN HAD A STROKE FOLLOWING A DIVORCE, HE FACED DRIVING WOES AS WELL.

ARDE ATHEIAN>> I HAD A STROKE AND I DIDN’T KNOW THAT THE STATE AUTOMATICALLY TAKES THE DRIVER’S LICENSE AWAY.

GAY YEE>> AT THIS POINT, ATHEIAN HAS HIS DRIVING PRIVILEGES BACK. THOUGH HE REMAINS DISGUSTED, HE HAD TO PROVE HE WOULD BE SAFE ON THE ROAD. AND ACCORDING TO ATTORNEY SCOTT, OLDER DRIVERS OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES CALLED IN FOR HEARINGS BEFORE THE DMV.

ANTHONY SCOTT>> POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE. ESPECIALLY THE OLDER YOU GET, THE CLOSER SCRUTINY THE POLICE OFFICERS LOOK AT MY CLIENTS.

GAY YEE>> SCOTT SAYS HE’S OFTEN SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING OLDER DRIVERS WHO ARE REFERRED BY POLICE TO THE DMV TO KEEP THEIR LICENSES, BUT THERE’S ONE TYPE OF CASE WHERE FEW EVEN TRY TO PREVAIL. ANYONE WHO THINKS A DRIVER IS TOO DANGEROUS TO BE ON THE ROAD CAN LET THE DMV KNOW. SAY A SON OR A DAUGHTER THINKS AN ELDERLY PARENT NEEDS TO STOP DRIVING, BUT DOESN’T WANT A CONFRONTATION. THE DMV SAYS IT WILL INVESTIGATE AND, IF THE CLAIM HAS MERIT, THE DRIVER’S LICENSE WILL BE TAKEN AWAY. IN CASES LIKE THIS, THE PERSON REPORTING CAN ASK TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND, ACCORDING TO THE DMV’S SERGIO PEREZ, ONLY ONCE HAS HE SEEN SOMEONE FILE A FALSE REPORT TO GET BACK AT ANOTHER PERSON.

SERGIO PEREZ>> I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE. I’VE BEEN WITH THIS PROGRAM FOR ALMOST TWENTY YEARS IN SEVERAL OFFICES AND I’VE HAD ONE CASE OVER THE YEARS THAT I WAS AWARE OF WHERE THERE WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD KIND OF ISSUE AND THE PERSON WAS REPORTED ERRONEOUSLY.

JESS>> NEW FIGURES OUT OF WASHINGTON INDICATE OUR HIGHWAYS MAY BE MORE DANGEROUS NOW THAN THEY’VE BEEN IN YEARS. TRAFFIC FATALITIES ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL IN A DECADE AND THAT BREAKS THE RECENT TREND TOWARD FEWER FATAL ACCIDENTS DUE IN PART TO BETTER SAFETY FEATURES IN MOST CARS.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, BEHIND THE GLITTER AND THE GOLD OF CALIFORNIA’S INDIAN CASINOS. THE TRIBES ARE MAKING A FORTUNE, BUT CASINO WORKERS SAY THEY CAN’T AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE. WE’LL FIND OUT WHY TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HERE’S TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES “WHAT DO YOU THINK?” POLL. LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG AND WEIGH IN ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: “ELDERLY DRIVERS SHOULD BE GIVEN A HANDS-ON DRIVERS TEST AT AGE 70, AGREE OR DISAGREE”. WE’LL COUNT YOUR RESPONSES AND REPORT THE RESULTS ON TOMORROW NIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> IF YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU'RE LIVING AT THE OFFICE, YOU'RE NOT ALONE. NOT SINCE THE TWENTIES HAVE AMERICANS SPENT MORE TIME AT WORK. MANY PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE THE OVERTIME, BUT EVEN THAT MAY BE GOING AWAY IF A NEW MEASURE GETS THE SUPPORT OF CONGRESS. PLUS THERE'S A MAJOR PUSH UNDERWAY TO RECLASSIFY SCORES OF HOURLY WORKERS AS SALARIED EMPLOYEES. THAT MEANS NO MORE OVERTIME, PERIOD.

VAL>> NOW JOE ROBINSON IS AN AUTHOR WHO HAS DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE AMERICAN WORKPLACE. HIS BOOK IS CALLED "WORK TO LIVE: A GUIDE TO GETTING A LIFE". ROBINSON SAYS AMERICANS NEED MORE TIME OFF AND HE CLAIMS SOME OF THE NEW WORKPLACE MEASURES IN WASHINGTON ARE HEADING US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. JOE ROBINSON, WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

JOE ROBINSON>> VERY NICE TO BE HERE.

JESS>> JOE, YOU LOOK AT THE EUROPEAN AND EVEN THE ASIAN PATTERN FOR LONG VACATIONS AS BEING THE NORM, AND THE REVERSE IS TRUE HERE, IS IT NOT?

JOE ROBINSON>> IT IS. WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD THAT DOESN'T HAVE A MINIMUM PAID LEAVE LAW. IT'S FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS BY LAW IN ALL THE COUNTRIES OF EUROPE AND THE CHINESE HAVE THREE WEEKS, THE JAPANESE HAVE TWO, WE HAVE NONE.

VAL>> DO YOU MEAN OUR VACATION THAT OUR EMPLOYER OFFERS, YOU KNOW, PAID VACATION, IT'S NOT MANDATORY?

JOE ROBINSON>> NOT MANDATORY AT ALL. IN FACT, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET ANY VACATION TIME. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT MADE ME WANT TO START THIS BOOK HERE. I GOT A LETTER FROM A WOMAN WHO TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD BEEN WITH HER COMPANY FOR TEN YEARS. SHE GOT NO PAID LEAVE AT ALL AND SHE'S SEVENTY-FOUR YEARS OLD. I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS.

VAL>> NEVER A PAID VACATION? THAT'S AMAZING.

JOE ROBINSON>> RIGHT.

JESS>> SO THIS WORKS OFF SORT OF THE MINIMUM WAGE LAW TOO? YOU'RE ASKING MINIMUM VACATION?

JOE ROBINSON>> WELL, EXACTLY. MINIMUM PAID LEAVE IS WHAT IT'S CALLED. IT'S JUST A STANDARD FEATURE OF MOST CIVILIZED NATIONS (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> NOW TELL US WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON BECAUSE THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE. THAT'S AN ISSUE OF RECLASSIFYING EMPLOYEES SO THAT FEWER THEN QUALIFY FOR OVERTIME. WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

JOE ROBINSON>> RIGHT. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SEPARATE ISSUES TAKING PLACE IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW. ONE IS CALLED A COMP TIME BILL. THAT IS GOING TO CONVERT HOURLY PEOPLE INTO OVERTIME PEOPLE WHO THE EMPLOYERS CAN WORK THEM OVERTIME FOR FREE IN EXCHANGE FOR COMP TIME LATER.

VAL>> SO THEY'RE CONVERTING FROM HOURLY TO SALARIED?

JOE ROBINSON>> WELL, THAT'S KIND OF THE EFFECT OF IT, BUT THEY'RE STILL HOURLY EXCEPT THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE TO TRANSLATE THOSE OVERTIME HOURS INTO OTHER COMP TIME HOURS LATER. BUT IT'S KIND OF A RUSE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THAT COMP TIME FOR THIRTEEN MONTHS. I KNOW FROM MY OWN RESEARCH HOW HARD IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR VACATIONS, THEIR MEASLY ONE OR TWO WEEKS, TO ACTUALLY NOT FEEL AFRAID TO GO TO THE EMPLOYER TO ASK FOR THAT TIME OFF OR FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE THOUGHT OF AS UNCOMMITTED TO THE COMPANY. FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY -- YOU CAN GET UP TO FOUR WEEKS COMP TIME ON THIS -- I WANT MY FOUR WEEKS COMP TIME, IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S JUST NOT THE REALITY.

JESS>> BUT IF THEY'RE MADE MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES OR SALARIED EMPLOYEES, THEN YOU CAN WORK THEM AS MANY HOURS AS YOU WANT WITH NO OVERTIME AT ALL?

JOE ROBINSON>> WELL, THIS IS TRUE. ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE SO MUCH OVERTIME IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE CLASSIFIED AS SALARIED. THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO OVERTIME PAY PROVISIONS AND THEY CAN BE WORKED UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF HOURS. NOW THERE'S A NEW REGULATION THAT THE WHITE HOUSE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR JUST CAME FORWARD, A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED SALARIED. IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG BROADENING OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED SALARIED FROM SOME VERY SPECIFIC TESTS THAT WE'VE HAD UP UNTIL NOW TO THE POINT WHERE THERE ARE GOING TO BE MANY MORE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOME SALARIED WORKERS AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO UNLIMITED HOURS FOR FREE.

JESS>> AND IT'S THE SALARIED WORKERS WHO ARE SOMETIMES TOLD "IF YOUR CAR ISN'T IN THE PARKING LOT ON SATURDAY, DON'T SHOW UP ON MONDAY." (LAUGHTER)

JOE ROBINSON>> (LAUGHTER) YEAH. THEY'VE PRACTICALLY BEEN BRINGING THEIR SLEEPING BAGS TO WORK LATELY.

JESS>> YOU WRITE ABOUT THE COMMANDMENTS. I GUESS THERE ARE TEN AT LEAST?

JOE ROBINSON>> WELL, I CALL THEM THE OFFICE COMMANDMENTS. THEY'RE A SET OF FALSE BELIEFS THAT WE JUST KNOW ARE TRUE, YET THEY'RE NOT. THEY CONSTANTLY CAUSE US TO INFLICT MORE WORK ON OURSELVES. ONE, BEING THOU SHALT NOT BE AMONG THE FIRST TO LEAVE THE OFFICE AFTER CLOSING TIME. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY PLAYS THAT TENNIS WITH THE CLOCK TO SEE WHEN IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO LEAVE. IT'S ALL BASED ON A LOT OF WORK GUILT AND A LOT OF MANIPULATION BY OTHERS THAT, IF WE LOOK AT IT CLOSELY, WE DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW. ANOTHER ONE IS THOU SHALT NOT TURN DOWN OVERTIME OR EXTRA ASSIGNMENTS. WE THINK WE CAN'T DO THAT, BUT YOU ACTUALLY CAN AND YOU NEED TO IN ORDER TO SET BOUNDARIES IN THIS 24-7 WORLD.

VAL>> BUT IF YOU TELL SOMEONE, OKAY, LOOK, IF IT'S 5:00 OR EVEN 4:30, IF YOU'RE FINISHED, GO HOME, OR SAY YOU CAN'T ACCEPT OVERTIME. BUT EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THE PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF THAT ARE. THE PERSON WHO DOES STAY LATE AND THE PERSON WHO DOES ACCEPT THE OVERTIME GETS AHEAD OR, WHEN LAYOFFS COME AROUND, YOU KNOW WHO WILL BE LAID OFF FIRST.

JOE ROBINSON>> WELL, THIS IS THE PERCEPTION. I DON'T THINK IT'S ALWAYS TRUE, BUT IT IS --

JESS>> -- IS THAT WHY YOU NEED REGULATION?

JOE ROBINSON>> WELL, WE NEED LESS OVERTIME BASICALLY AND ANY WAY WE CAN GET THAT, WHICH IS IN TERMS OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO ON THEIR OWN SAY, OKAY, I'VE PUT IN MY TEN HOURS TODAY, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE, I'M GOING TO SET SOME BOUNDARIES AND GET HOME TO THE REST OF MY LIFE. THAT'S ONE WAY, OR TO STOP THE REGULATION THAT WILL NOW TURN SO MANY MORE PEOPLE INTO SALARIED EMPLOYEES.

VAL>> TELL US ABOUT THAT. WHAT STAGE IS IT IN TERMS OF BECOMING LAW?

JOE ROBINSON>> WELL, IT HAS NOW BEEN SENT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT. PEOPLE HAVE UNTIL JUNE 30 TO NOTIFY THEIR CONGRESS PERSON --

VAL>> -- THIS IS THE BILL THAT'S IN CONGRESS, CORRECT?

JOE ROBINSON>> THIS IS THE FEDERAL REGULATION, THE CHANGE THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. SO IT GOES THROUGH A NINETY-DAY PERIOD OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND PEOPLE HAVE UNTIL JUNE 30 TO REGISTER THEIR COMPLAINT WITH THAT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, TO THEIR CONGRESS PERSON, TO TRY TO STOP THIS.

JESS>> YOU USE ONE STATISTIC THAT OUGHT TO BE FAIRLY PERSUASIVE AND THAT'S THE SUGGESTION THAT FORTY PERCENT OF AMERICAN WORKERS WORK MORE THAN FIFTY HOURS A WEEK.

JOE ROBINSON>> IT'S A STAGGERING NUMBER AND, YOU KNOW, THE IRONY OF IT IS THAT ALL OF THIS EXTRA WORK ISN'T EVEN PRODUCTIVE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE STUDIES, SOMEBODY WHO WORKS SEVEN FIFTY-HOUR WEEKS IN A ROW WILL GET NO MORE DONE THAN IF THEY WORKED SEVEN FORTY-HOUR WEEKS IN A ROW.

VAL>> REALLY? THEY'VE DONE STUDIES TO THAT EFFECT?

JOE ROBINSON>> FATIGUE STUDIES, YES. AND THERE IS ANOTHER STUDY THAT HAS MRI SCANS OF FATIGUED BRAINS AND THEY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE ONES THAT ARE SOUND ASLEEP. SO THERE'S JUST NOTHING GOING ON UP THERE AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> YOU'RE ALSO SEEKING THREE WEEKS VACATION AFTER ONE YEAR ON THE JOB?

JOE ROBINSON>> THREE WEEKS VACATION AFTER A YEAR ON THE JOB IS WHAT THE WORK TO LIVE CAMPAIGN IS LOBBYING FOR RIGHT NOW. WE THINK THAT, IF TWO WEEKS IS THE NORM FOR MOST AMERICANS, ANOTHER WEEK ISN'T GOING TO MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. AMERICAN COMPANIES WHO ARE USING THAT PLAN, SUCH AS SAS INSTITUTE, A BIG SOFTWARE COMPANY IN NORTH CAROLINA, ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH IT. THEIR PRODUCTIVITY HAS ACTUALLY GONE UP WITH THE EXTRA VACATION TIME. MORALE IS HIGHER. PEOPLE WORK HARDER.

VAL>> WELL, JOE ROBINSON, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US OVERWORKED, FATIGUED, UNDERPAID PBS WORKERS (LAUGHTER). WE DO APPRECIATE IT. AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED "WORK TO LIVE: A GUIDE A GETTING A LIFE".

TO SEND A COMMENT OR A QUESTION TO OUR PROGRAM, YOU CAN REACH US BY MAIL AT THIS ADDRESS:

LIFE AND TIMES
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90027

YOU CAN ALSO CALL OUR VIEWER COMMENT LINE (323) 953-5555) OR CONTACT US THE FAST WAY BY E-MAIL AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> BEHIND THE FRIENDLY CHARACTERS AND SWEET STORIES IN CHILDREN'S BOOKS, THERE IS AN INTENSELY COMPETITIVE BUSINESS. GOOD STORIES AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE NOT ENOUGH. TODAY'S KIDDY BOOKS ARE MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCES THAT INCLUDE CD'S, ORIGINAL MUSIC AND CELEBRITY PERFORMERS.

VAL>> ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN'S BOOKS AUTHORS IS SANDRA BOYNTON. HER BOOKS INCLUDE "PAJAMA TIME" AND "BARNYARD DANCE" AND NOW HER LATEST BOOK IS CALLED "PHILADELPHIA CHICKENS". IT IS BILLED AS AN ILLOGICAL ZOOLOGICAL MUSICAL REVIEW. NOW YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE CHICKENS BY NAME, BUT YOU'LL RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE CELEBRITY VOICES BEHIND THEM AND ONE BELONGS TO BROADWAY ACTRESS, PATTY LUPONE.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> AND SANDRA BOYNTON JOINS US NOW TO TELL US JUST WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN IN THE KIDS' MARKET THESE DAYS.

JESS>> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO GET PATTY LUPONE TO DO THAT (LAUGHTER).

SANDRA BOYNTON>> (LAUGHTER) IT TAKES ASKING HER. I'M A HUGE PATTY LUPONE FAN AND, WHEN I WROTE THIS SONG, I WORKED WITH A COMPOSER IN PHILADELPHIA. I WRITE THE LYRICS, WE WRITE THE MUSIC TOGETHER. WE WROTE THESE LYRICS AND I SAID I'VE GOT TO ASK PATTY LUPONE. SHE CAN ONLY SAY NO (LAUGHTER). SHE LOVED THE SONG AND SAID YES.

JESS>> SHE OBVIOUSLY WAS HAVING FUN RECORDING IT.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> IT WAS FUN RECORDING IT WITH HER. SHE DIDN'T REALLY NEED ANY HELP. YOU FELT A LITTLE RIDICULOUS. YOU'RE THERE SAYING, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DIRECT HER AND YOU GO, PHEW, COMMAND PERFORMANCE (LAUGHTER). BUT IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

VAL>> BUT IS THIS BOOK A SONG BOOK OR IS IT A KID'S STORY BOOK OR WHAT IS IT?

SANDRA BOYNTON>> ACTUALLY, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THE BOOK IS AN EXCUSE FOR A CD. I ACTUALLY PRODUCED THE CD FIRST. I DON'T LOVE CHILDREN'S MUSIC. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND MOST CHILDREN'S MUSIC I FIND CONDESCENDING AND A LITTLE RELENTLESS AND NOT REALLY MUSICALLY LEGITIMATE.

VAL>> IT JUST PLAIN OLD DRIVES ME CRAZY (LAUGHTER).

SANDRA BOYNTON>> YEAH, EXACTLY. SO AFTER FOUR CHILDREN'S WORTH OF CHILDREN'S MUSIC, I THOUGHT I REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR CHILDREN THAT HAS ALL THE MUSIC THAT I LOVE AND THAT I LOVED AS A CHILD. MY PARENTS WOULD BRING HOME BROADWAY SHOW TUNES AND THEY LISTENED TO ELLA FITZGERALD. I LISTENED TO BUDDY HOLLY. YOU KNOW, MY BABYSITTERS PLAYING BUDDY HOLLY OR ELVIS PRESLEY, EARLY BEATLES, AND I THOUGHT I WANT TO RECREATE THIS MUSIC FOR CHILDREN. SO THAT'S ACTUALLY WHERE THIS STARTED. I FIRST PRODUCED THE CD AND THEN I DID THE BOOK SHOWING THE LYRICS AND ILLUSTRATIONS TO GO ALONG WITH IT, BUT THE CD REALLY CAN STAND ON ITS OWN.

JESS>> BUT IT'S THE PARENTS OR THE FAVORITE AUNT AND UNCLE WHO BUY THESE BOOKS. YOU'VE GOT TO APPEAL TO THEM TOO.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> YOU DO. I THINK IT'S SORT OF THE "ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE" PHENOMENON.

JESS>> ARE THESE THE DIXIE CHICKS? (LAUGHTER). NO, I GUESS NOT.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> (LAUGHTER) NO, THESE ARE MY VERY OWN PHILADELPHIA CHICKENS.

VAL>> NOW YOU DO YOUR OWN ILLUSTRATIONS TOO?

SANDRA BOYNTON>> I DO, YES.

VAL>> AND, OF COURSE, YOU STARTED DRAWING AS A CHILD, RIGHT?

SANDRA BOYNTON>> I STARTED DRAWING AS A CHILD. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK WHEN I WAS FOUR.

JESS>> AH, PIGS ARE GOOD.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> YES, PIGS ARE GOOD.

VAL>> BUT YOU DON'T DRAW PEOPLE. YOU JUST DRAW ANIMALS?

SANDRA BOYNTON>> WELL, MY ANIMALS ARE PEOPLE. I CAN'T DRAW PEOPLE (LAUGHTER), SO --

VAL>> -- YOU CAN'T PEOPLE PEOPLE (LAUGHTER).

SANDRA BOYNTON>> RIGHT, EXACTLY.

JESS>> WELL, WE'RE TOLD YOU ALSO DRAW ANIMALS BECAUSE YOU'RE FREED FROM THE CONSTRAINTS OF AGE, GENDER, RACE, ETC.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> IT'S REALLY TRUE.

VAL>> AND ALL THAT POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> YES, IT'S TRUE. YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO A HIPPO, YOU CAN DELIGHT IN ITS ROUNDNESS AND, AS SOON AS YOU GIVE IT A GENDER OR A RACE, YOU'RE MAKING A COMMENT AND IT GIVES IT A KIND OF BAGGAGE YOU DON'T WANT. YOU WANT THE DELIGHT IN A CHARACTER, NOT ANY SORT OF COMMENTARY, NOT ANY SORT OF EXTRA WEIGHT (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) IS IT A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS? THE CHILDREN'S BOOK BUSINESS?

SANDRA BOYNTON>> WELL, I DON'T REALLY KNOW BECAUSE I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS COMPETING IN THE CHILDREN'S BOOK BUSINESS AND STRATEGIZING. I DO THE WORK THAT I LOVE AND --

VAL>> -- AND YOU GOT IN KIND OF THROUGH THIS BACK DOOR OF GREETING CARDS.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> I DID GET INTO IT THROUGH THE BACK DOOR. I STARTED DOING CARDS TO PAY MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE AND THEN THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL. I WENT TO YALE AS AN UNDER-GRADUATE. I WAS AN ENGLISH MAJOR AND THEN I WENT TO UC BERKELEY IN DRAMA AND TRANSFERRED TO YALE DRAMA SCHOOL AFTER THAT. I WAS SUPPLEMENTING MY FELLOWSHIP BY DESIGNING GREETING CARDS.

JESS>> LET'S WATCH JUST A LITTLE MORE OF THIS. I WANT TO SEE.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> SURE.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> LAURA LINNEY.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> LAURA LINNEY, YES.

VAL>> NOW YOU HAD ART INFUSED IN EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR EARLY EDUCATION. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU SEE ART CLASSES AND CURRICULUM BEING PURGED FROM OUR SCHOOLS THESE DAYS?

SANDRA BOYNTON>> IT'S HORRIFYING, ACTUALLY, THAT ARTS IN GENERAL, WHETHER IT'S DRAMA OR MUSIC OR ART, ARE CUT OUT OF CURRICULUMS FOR BUDGET REASONS OR EVEN SPORTS CUT OUT FOR BUDGET REASONS. YET COMPUTERS ARE COMING INTO THE CLASSROOM WHICH I FEEL THAT ANY CHILD KNOWS HOW TO USE THE COMPUTER. IT'S PERMEATED THE CULTURE. IT DOESN'T REALLY NEED TO BE PART OF THE CURRICULUM, BUT NOT EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO BEING CREATIVE OR TO ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.

VAL>> BUT IT'S ALWAYS SO HARD TO CONVINCE, YOU KNOW, BUREAUCRATS OR EDUCATION POLICYMAKERS THAT ART IS SOMETHING SERIOUS. I MEAN, THEY ALL SEE IT AS RECREATION.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> YEAH, IT'S ACTUALLY EXTRAORDINARY, GIVEN THERE WAS A STUDY BACK IN THE FORTIES. ACTUALLY, THE SCHOOL I WENT TO FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE WAS A BENEFICIARY OF THAT STUDY SHOWING THAT STUDENTS WHO WERE AT SCHOOL THAT HAD ART CENTRAL TO THE CURRICULUM DID BETTER IN ALL SUBJECTS.

VAL>> ACROSS THE BOARD.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> ACROSS THE BOARD.

JESS>> THIS MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION OF YOURS, YOU'RE GETTING CHILDREN INTRODUCED TO VARIOUS ARTS, MUSIC AS WELL AS THE --

SANDRA BOYNTON>> -- I HOPE SO AND I HOPE THE MUSIC IS INFECTIOUS ENOUGH THAT CHILDREN WILL GET UP AND DANCE AND MAYBE THEIR PARENTS WILL GET UP AND DANCE WITH THEM.

JESS>> WE NEED TO HOLD ON TO VAL (LAUGHTER). "I LIKE TO FUSS". THAT'S HER TITLE SONG (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S RIGHT BECAUSE THEY CAN LISTEN AND READ THE LYRICS AND, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE THE MUSIC WRITTEN OUT IN BACK, THE SCORE FOR THEM SO THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO READ MUSIC.

SANDRA BOYNTON>> SO THE MUSIC IS IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK ALSO.

VAL>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.

JESS>> THAT'S TERRIFIC. OUR THANKS TO SANDRA BOYNTON. THE BOOK IS "PHILADELPHIA CHICKENS", A TOO-ILLOGICAL ZOOLOGICAL MUSICAL REVIEW.

VAL>> AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THOSE GREAT BIRTHDAY CARDS (LAUGHTER).

SANDRA BOYNTON>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> SPEAKING OF MUSICAL REVIEWS, "THE PRODUCERS" MAKES ITS LONG-AWAITED LOS ANGELES DEBUT THIS WEEK AT THE PANTAGES THEATER.

JESS>> THE TWO NEW STARS, JASON ALEXANDER AND MARTIN SHORT, HAVE SOME PRETTY BIG SHOES TO FILL. ON BROADWAY, NATHAN LANE AND MATTHEW BRODERICK HELPED TO MAKE "THE PRODUCERS" A HUGE HIT. BUT THE SHOW'S CREATOR, MEL BROOKS, SAYS HE HAS NO WORRIES.

MEL BROOKS>> THE EXCITEMENT IS BACK AND IT'S THRILLING. IT'S GOOSEBUMPS TIME AGAIN. I MEAN, THEY DANCE SO BEAUTIFULLY, THEY SING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NOTE AND THEY CAN HIT ANY PART OF ANY SONG I'VE WRITTEN GORGEOUSLY, WITH SOMETIMES TOO MUCH BRAVADO. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT (LAUGHTER). BUT THEY REALLY ARE -- I THINK, I MEAN, YOU KNOW THEIR WORK FROM OTHER THINGS, BUT TOGETHER, I MEAN, THE SUM TOTAL OF THEIR TALENTS IS MULTIPLIED INTO A GORGEOUS, FANTASTIC NIGHT. I MEAN, I'M VERY HAPPY.

SUSAN STROMAN>> I HAVE TO SAY THAT, IN REHEARSAL, THE CHEMISTRY IS WONDERFUL. WE ARE LAUGHING ALL THE TIME.

MARTIN SHORT>> IT'S BEEN PRETTY EASY SO FAR. I THINK THAT, AS FAR AS THAT GOES, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO BE LIKE. YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE SENSITIVE TO INPUT, IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE PETULANT, JERKY. JASON WAS ALL THOSE THINGS, SO I HAD TO ADAPT --

JASON ALEXANDER>> -- YOU HAD TO ADJUST.

MARTIN SHORT>> YEAH.

JASON ALEXANDER>> I WASN'T GOING TO ADJUST.

MARTIN SHORT>> HE WASN'T GOING TO ADJUST. NOT WITH HIS EGO.

VAL>> AND "THE PRODUCERS" OPENS AT THE PANTAGES ON MAY 2. A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN FIND TRANSCRIPTS OR HEAR AUDIO OF RECENT LIFE AND TIMES PROGRAMS ON OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG. JUST CLICK ON LIFE AND TIMES AND CHECK OUT OUR SPECIAL FEATURES AS WELL.

JESS>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS FOR JOINING US AND GOOD NIGHT.

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