have come to expect. which mean efforts by bob combs' recycling pig farm stay out of view. the sustainable side of las vegas's future, out of sight but not out of mind. richard crest, cnn, london. >> "one simple thing." thanks for watching. we'll see you tomorrow night. "larry king live" starts now. >> larry: tonight after years of silence, john edwards' mistress speaks out in a sensational interview. rielle hunter talks about having sex on their first night together, the secret cell phone call that portrayed her affair and whether john edwards really wanted a baby. we have the inside scoop on this no holds barred interview. what does jesse ventura have to say about cheating politicians? he's here and ready to rumble. and todd bridges -- >> arnold, you're a lot older on

the inside than you look to be on the outside. >> larry: the ugly secrets including sexual abuse by a former publicist behind his pain. the near deadly spiral into drug addiction and crime and being on the same cellblock as the menendez brothers. and ramirez. how did he survive all that is next on "larry king live." >> larry: good evening. rielle hunger appears in the april issue of "gq" magazine. how did you land this? >> it was a little bit of luck. we had a mutual friend that put her in touch with me. there is nothing like getting that phone call, do you mind if rielle hunter calls you? that's kind of how it happened. >> larry: now let's run through

some of the headlines from rielle hunter's interview with you. slept with john edwards the first night. elizabeth edwards confronted john after answering a cell phone call. she believes that edwards hoped she'd have an abortion. john edwards feared the wrath of elizabeth. he was emasculated. miss hunter did not think that edwards should run for president. what surprised you the most? >> oh, well just her candor in general. she didn't whitewash anything. she didn't sugar-coat anything. she answers everything. and i guess in specifically what surprised me was that she is very much in love with him to this day.

and you don't call it a conventional romance. but they certainly have very, very strong feelings for each other. >> larry: all right, she feels such compassion for elizabeth edwards yet she also says this about john edwards, "most of his mistakes or errors in judgment were because of the fear of the wrath of elizabeth. the wrath of elizabeth is a mighty wrath." "she is pretty rough here. >> for better for worse, she answered everything from her gut. now i think in some ways i think anybody who's ever been in a situation like she's in, you know, this isn't a new, novel idea that you believe, you know, the man's version of what is terrible about his marriage that is not terrible about your wonderful romance. i think there's a little bit of that. she is a very open minded person about a lot of things. but i think she is directly straight about how she feels

about what he told her about their marriage. >> larry: does she have any remorse? any remorse at all? >> you know -- remorse. you know, the remorse is like, you know, did you something criminal or terrible. i don't think she -- i think she feels -- she said, she feels compassion for elizabeth. i believe that. she feels -- she said to me, you know, i always had such judgment about infidelity. she comes from a family of infidelity both parents. and so i think remorse is a weird word for her, though. i don't think she feels like she did a horrible thing by falling in love with this man. and she doesn't -- >> larry: she acknowledged -- i'm sorry. >> i'm sorry, larry. you know, she made a comment that, you know, she believes infidelity does not happen in healthy marriages and that she says the home was a wreck before i got there. i was not the home wrecker. and i think she really believes that. >> larry: she acknowledges that she -- she acknowledges that he was untruthful to a lot of

different people on a lot of different occasions. >> right. >> larry: but she told you, he doesn't lie to me. he discloses everything to me. he doesn't lie to me at all. does that surprise you? >> yeah. and i pressed her on that. i said, you know, right now a lot of people in america think he is one of the most untruthful men in america. we know he lied to his wife. you know he lied to his staff. and to the country. you don't think he lies to you? and she said, he doesn't lie to me. she believes that. >> larry: she's -- she speaks in the present tense. are they talking every day? your opinion? are they involved now? >> i don't know how -- if they talk every day. but there's no question they have an on going loving relationship. >> larry: did you ask her why doesn't he get divorced and they get married? >> well, he's apparently on that path. i did say to her, you know, come

on. he's separated. you obviously have a great relationship. he adores his daughter. why not just be together? and her answer was, you want the fairytale ending. and i said don't you? and she said, i want whatever life brings me. and that is her attitude about life. >> larry: this affair was instantaneous, right? they meet at the hotel and they slept together that night? >> yeah. the way she describes the meeting, i'm laughing just because i'm sure nobody's ever done that before. but anyway, she -- the way she described it is just this instant, amazing connection. it was just this spark, crazy thing. and then she was outside the hotel and he walked around the corner and it was just this magical thing. and he said please call me. please call me.

i'm only here one night. please call me. and then she talks about, you know, how it progressed to his room. >> larry: she calls him johnny. >> she does. she does. she said she -- the first week of their relationship that she said, you know, i -- i just can't call you john. it doesn't come out right. can i call you johnny? and his response was, that's my name. and it's very funny. i never knew that. that his actual birth name is johnny. i guess we needed this to find that out. >> larry: by the way, we asked john edwards and elizabeth edwards for their reactions to the interview with rielle hunter. both declined to provide a statement. elizabeth's sister nancy told us enough has been said.

the "gq" photos speak a now few thousand words. speaking of that, i know you talked to her last night. what is her reaction to the photos? the writer has nothing to do with the photos. >> right. >> larry: on "the view" today, i understand that barbara walters said she spoke to her and she cried for hours about the photos. thought they were repulsive. didn't she pose for them? >> yes. and you know what? i think this is a little bit hysterical. i think what really happened here was, you know, when this first hit, today we have everybody making comments on the blog. they were brutal. i think it did get to her. and i think she said, ooh. but in the days to come she is going to be fine with them. she is a -- she's a beautiful, sexy woman. i mean, you know, the funny thing, i'm shocked by all this over the photos. first of all, it's "gq," it's not "the new republic." this racy photo thing, she's not in a bikini standing on her head. >> larry: then why is she hurt by them. >> i think she's more hurt about it reaction to them. but, you know, you ever go on and read all the comments. i think that's what probably this is about. and i think she'll come to see them as -- and obviously at the time she was photographed she liked the photos.

so i hope she -- >> larry: what do you make of the andrew young thing? his book is a major best seller. he told anderson cooper what made the difference of all the parties talking about his book are minor little things. nothing in essence. seriously discounts what he says. >> well, there's a major thing rielle hunter claims which is different and that is that it was andrew young's idea. and claims she overheard conversation. there is so many versions out now and people have to come to their own judgments about who is telling the truth on what thing and what they -- they all say this about rielle hunter. she is not making a nickel. she has nothing to sell. and in the course of this entire interview, she didn't sugar-coat anything for better or for worse. >> larry: and you liked her, i gather. >> i do. i do. i mean i like fascinating people who have really interesting

things to say. but i do. she's -- she's much different than the character tour that has been out there for years. you know, of this flaky new agey home wrecker. she is a complicated, interesting, warm person. >> larry: you got a hell of a piece. terrific interview. did a great job. known you a long time. you're top of your game. >> i'll meet you at the regency. >> larry: i've seen lisa there many times. >> ssshhh. >> larry: the article in the april "gq" out now. jesse ventura is standing by. what does he think about this? [ male announcer ] rethinking what pain reliever you're taking? fact: for over 25 years, in test after test, advil has been shown to be safe and effective when taken as directed. for relief you can trust, reach for advil.

>> larry: we're here to get the political news of the day, jesse ventura, the former independent governor of minnesota. the best-selling author of a terrific new book, "american conspiracies: lies, lies, and more dirty lies the government tells us."

also actor and democrat sean austin. he served on the president's council on service from 2003 through 2004. and in washington, congresswoman michelle bachman, republican of minnesota. first, what do you make of this whole rielle hunter-john edwards thing? >> well, it's simple as this, larry, you know, they all think they'll never get caught if they go out and cheat when they're high profile people. and you'd think they'd learn a lesson and realize they will. because in today's world of media and everything that goes on in media, you're not going to get away with anything anymore. >> larry: congresswoman bachmann, it happens to republicans, too, sanford and others. what do you think -- do you think it's the drive for power that attracts this? >> it probably is. and i think people are in very high pressure situations and they get into a temptation. it's just horrible. it makes me sick to watch it. my heart is broken for john edwards' children, for elizabeth. it's bad all the way around.

>> larry: sean, what's your read? >> well, i think the congresswoman is absolutely right. there's a lot of pain. there's a lot of pain for a lot of people. you know, this article is -- the woman has every right to speak out. and, you know, it's a great piece, i guess, for "gq," we have one of the most important public policy discussions and votes coming up. not just for our interview but just in the national conversation. it's just like we really can't afford the time to talk about that right now. we have to be focusing on something else, that's my feeling. >> larry: what's going to happen this week, jesse, with the health bill? >> well, if the democrats can ever get their act together, i mean they have the president. they have the house and the senate. i can't -- i'm sitting here amazed that it's taken this long. >> larry: michelle, if i can

call you michelle, you've been on so much and i've known you a long time, when reagan came in, one of his strong policies was to cut taxes. they passed that bill. they did it the same way the democrats want to do this, by a vote. only the 51 votes to pass it, doing through some parliamentary procedures. what do you have against this president taking his number one policy mode and doing it the same way? >> he has every right to go ahead and push his policy that he wants to. the problem is the american people have soundly rejected this job killing government takeover of health care. and for that reason, i think it's very important that we listen to the will of the people on this, larry, because after all, it's people, their loved ones that will be hurt, the health care system, the economy. there's a lot at stake right now. and i think it's really important that politicians listen to the voters. >> larry: but you're there to lead not to follow.

>> that's true. and based upon what my research has been on this issue, i think there's a better way we can do it. i'd love to see everyone be able to buy any health insurance policy they want anywhere in the united states. buy it with their own tax-free money and deduct the rest on their income tax return. that's bringing cost down. that's really what people want. >> larry: sean astin, he ran on this. >> he did. you know, this is an amazing country. everybody's got a voice. there's lots of voices screaming they want things done their way. the people did speak. the people voted overwhelmingly for this guy. the people have vote the consistently. and the democrats are in power. it's a big issue. it has -- it is full of complex ideas. >> larry: you are saying they

gave reagan what he wanted, they should give him what he wants? >> i'm saying the people are represented. and right now there's a choice being made. and there's some good stuff in this bill, stuff that everyone agrees on. you shouldn't have your insurance premiums raised out of, you know, control quickly with no reason. you should be able to take your insurance with you if you get, you know, you leave your job. you should, you know, there's like -- there's a bunch of good stuff in here. we should be celebrating it. >> larry: pick up on that in a minute. the president slammed insurance companies again today, demanded a vote on his health care bill. will he get it? ♪ [ woman ] nine iron, it's almost tee-time. time to face the pollen that used to make me sneeze, my eyes water. but with new zyrtec® liquid gels, i get allergy relief at liquid speed. that's the fast, powerful relief of zyrtec®, now in a liquid gel. zyrtec® is the fastest 24-hour allergy medicine.

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i don't know about the politics. i know what's the right thing to do. and so i'm calling on congress to pass these reforms. and i'm going to sign them into

law. i want some courage. i want us to do the right thing, ohio. >> larry: what do you make of this? >> he has to be out there and be high profile. but what i'd like to know is this, a question they won't answer for me. if -- now there's been government-run health care in the state of hawaii for 40 years. it seems to do very well. my other thing is if government-run health care is so terrible, then why do we have government-run health care for our veterans? and we've done that since world war ii. does that mean we're screwing the veterans over with bad health care? i don't think -- >> he's talking about insurance reform. i think that's a big thrust of this bill. >> larry: michelle, at a rally in minnesota over the weekend, you said people shouldn't have to pay for this. you're not saying people don't have to pay their taxes, do they?

>> we all know you go to the slammer if you don't pay your taxes. you certainly have to pay your taxes. >> larry: in this case, isn't it more insurance reform than government-run? >> well, i think what we'll see happen on insurance is we'll see a lot of the little guys go away. we'll end up having a few insurance companies. they'll turn into something more akin to public utilities. government will tell insurance companies how they have to conduct themselves. and they'll be just very few. so there will be very few choices. and, actually, insurance premiums will increase probably 35% for the younger people, especially. so it will be a big change in insurance. >> larry: sean? >> well, that's a huge crystal ball that's being read, you know?

they have to trust that the insurance providers they have to choose from are going to be fair and that they're going to get the best possible deal for themselves. i don't think that's like, you know, i don't -- i have no idea if it's going to weed out the little guy. this is america. people are entrepreneurs. >> larry: couldn't we say there's no reason for a country this rich for someone not to have medical coverage. >> it's a shame. it is shameful that people can't go to the doctor and, i mean, i know this is kind of beating the horse. but if we have not been misled into the iraq war, imagine the money we would have. we could provide that health care. and i'd rather have health care than the iraq war. >> larry, it's a moral imperative that we absolutely have to deal with in this country. >> larry: i will ask michelle if she agrees with that. you can't argue with a big deal.

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>> larry: we're back with representative michelle bachmann, sean astin and jesse ventura. his new book is "american conspiracies: lies, lies, and more dirty lies the government tells us." there you see the cover. michelle, do you agree with sean that it's a moral imperative that we take care of our

citizens less fortunate? >> well, we do. anyone who needs to go to a hospital today in the united states has full access. but under president obama's bill, $500 billion will be cut out of medicare, 30 million people will go under the system -- >> larry: are you saying that people who need medical care, every person in america who needs medical care gets it? >> well, what's going to happen, larry -- >> larry: you are saying that's the case today? >> today, anyone who goes to the hospital, whether you're here legally in the united states or illegally, you have a right to go to a hospital in the united states. >> larry: you have a right to go, what if you're not insured? >> remember, under this plan -- >> larry: they have to see you. >> remember under the plan people have a right to go on a waiting list. but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll get the high quality health care that they're getting today. >> the emergency room thing is part of the cost problem. instead of getting the preventative treatment, early

treatment, people are uninsured and show up at hospital rooms and cost us -- we're already with universal health care. we're overpaying for it in terms of hospital stays. >> that's what happens. they go to the emergency room where it costs even more instead of just going to the doctor's office. you know? and so you'll save a tremendous amount of money by eliminating all these people being forced to go to the emergency room. >> larry: michelle, you do agree there is a problem? >> there's no question there's a problem. that's why the solution that i offered was to bring costs down. that's the real problem in health care today. the high cost. we need to attack that. unfortunately, president obama's plan will increase costs about $2.3 trillion. and that's not going to help anyone. we're looking at massive tax increases. and president obama's own numbers say we'll lose about 5.5 million jobs. that won't help the economy

right now. >> larry: the congressional budget office, sean, says the senate bill will reduce $118 billion. >> is that true? i don't know. what i do know is all the stuff that i've looked at on the bill, it's a long bill, it's a lot of repetition. it represents the hard work of hundreds of people working incredible hours. and there's good stuff in it. so if people -- if opponents, good willed opponents of instruments in this bill they disagree with, let's have a smart discussion throughout november and -- or throughout the summer and in november elect the people who are going to make the right adjustments. but right now, how long are we going to ask people to wait? people are suffering. they've been suffering since november. >> larry: if the public is against it, then democrats' heads will roll in november, right? >> absolutely. but let's remember, the public is educated to day by sound bite news. and so how good is it when you got fox out there who's certainly with an agenda. you know, they're cowards. they won't let me on yet they'll criticize me behind my back and

won't let me on. but that's here nor there. but the thing is that i agree with sean. you got people out there that need help right now. they've needed it for a long time. we should be ashamed. every other industrialized country in the world -- >> let's be excited. we talk about how the government doesn't do stuff. the government is doing stuff. right now, it's -- it ain't pretty to look at. but there's good stuff in this bill that everyone can agree on. and let's enjoy that and work on what needs to be fixed as we go forward. >> larry: michelle, you get good health care, don't you? >> yes, we do. >> larry: why should you get better than john jones? >> well, i'm an employee and i work for the health care coverage that i get and it's a part of my benefit package. i'm just like any other federal employee. >> larry: but you're an employee of us. >> that's right. >> larry: we employ you. >> that's right, i am. and i get a benefit package that is the same as any other federal employee. and i pay 29% of my premium. and at one point governor

ventura ran on for governor that people loved in minnesota, he ran on personal responsibility. that resonated with me with the people in minnesota. it's important that people understand, too, that all of us have an obligation to add to the system and to pay for the services that we consume. >> larry: okay. we got some more coming and then we're going to meet todd bridges. don't go away. >> larry: get in a couple calls. new freedom, pennsylvania. [ male announcer ] when we built our first hybrid,

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>> larry: get in a couple calls. new freedom, pennsylvania. hello. >> caller: hello. good job, larry. this question is for senator bachmann. >> larry: go ahead. >> caller: i'd like to know where they're getting their polling numbers from. no one ever polled myself and a lot of other people. and, also, would she be willing to give up her insurance since the citizens of this country pay for her insurance so she can see how it would feel to be -- >> larry: congresswoman? >> thanks so much. the poll i cited was cnn's poll. i think that's pretty reputable,

a cnn poll. and also, i've been without insurance, my husband and i, when we've had little children. and so we just lived without it and, you know, tried to take care of ourselves the best we could. and we -- >> larry: did anyone get seriously sick? >> we had a little bit of money set aside. frankly, we were pretty poor at that time. we were putting ourselves through graduate school. >> larry: no one got seriously sick? >> well, we had to take money out when we took the children to the doctor, that's what we had to do. but that's also part of being responsible parents, getting a job that offers health insurance. and so we bought our own insurance by ourselves. but then we also got jobs that offered insurance, too. >> larry: you wanted to say? >> i would say the congresswoman works incredibly hard and is entitled to the benefits she receives. i think similarly every citizen of a great nation should be entitled to something. not to freeload, but to some sense of fair play. if they are trying to work that they, you know, and are in between jobs they don't have

their entire economic fortune wrecked because somebody gets an illness and they're not covered. it's just -- it's just good government. yeah. >> well, i agree. sean said it all, larry, again. we're the only industrialized nation in the world that doesn't provide health care for our citizens and it's high time -- i thought we were supposed to lead the world instead of follow the world. >> larry: naples, florida, hello. >> caller: hi, i have a question. first of all, what happened to the transparency that is supposed to be in washington that he was supposed to be so transparent about what's happening and the back room deals that are going on? and what about the one poll a year, he's not even concentrating on any job, how about those people, jesse, about those people that are suffering that are out of work and there's no stimulus jobs for anybody out

there. they're just concentrating on passing their own agenda. i hope can you answer that, jesse. >> well -- you know, when you look at the situation, they're passing their own agenda like george bush didn't? they all have agendas. they all work to pass their agendas. that's nothing new in the world of politics. they all have agendas. >> larry: michelle, the stimulus plan seems to be working. it kicked into jobs. the banks paid back most of what they were loaned. don't you think that's kind of working? >> no, not at all. the stimulus has been a miserable failure. the president said if we pass the trillion dollar spending that the unemployment rate wouldn't go above 8%. it's now been hovering at 10%. so it's really been an abysmal failure. and it's actually added to the overwhelming debt burden. that's part of our problem. we have social security and medicare. this year we're putting out more money for social security than what we're taking in. seven years ahead of time, medicare will be broke in seven years. so i don't know where we're going to go to get all the money

to pay for all these entitlement programs. >> larry: hold on. >> larry, first, the stimulus package, the bailout started with president bush. >> that's right. >> obama just followed that. so to come on and say what he's doing isn't working, well then obviously -- and who ran the debt up more than anybody? george bush and the republicans. >> larry: we're running out of time. sean, is it going to pass? is it going to pass? >> i hope so. i mean i think, you know -- >> larry: you think so? >> well, president obama, senator obama when a candidate obama said it at every campaign stop, i can't do this on my own. i need the american people. i need your support to get this done. now it's a moment for anybody who supported him who thinks that maybe, you know, he's telling the truth and is doing what he said and is trying to deliver some health insurance reform. call your senators and call everybody and say good job. had is great.

i hope you get it over the finish line. >> larry: thank you all very much. governor jesse ventura, actor sean astin and congresswoman michelle bachmann, republican of minnesota. he played willis on the '80s sitcom "different strokes." actor todd bridges is standing by to tell us about his battle with drugs, physical and sexual abuse he says he suffered growing up and now he has stayed clean for almost 17 years. that's next. it can happen anytime, when you least expect it... a regular moment can become romantic. and when it does, men with erectile dysfunction can be more confident in their ability to be ready with cialis. with two clinically proven dosing options, you can choose the moment that's right for you and your partner. 36-hour cialis and cialis for daily use. cialis for daily use is a low-dose tablet you take every day, so you can be ready anytime the moment's right. >> tell your doctor about your medical condition and all medications and ask if you're healthy enough for sexual activity. >> don't take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. >> don't drink alcohol in excess with cialis.

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our own stereo. willis, i think we died and went to heaven! >> come off those clouds, little brother. >> don't get too used to this place. >> what you talking about, willis? >> larry: joining us now, todd bridges, former child star known by willis on the hit tv series "different strokes." after that show ended, he spiralled downward into a life of drug addiction and crime. he writes about what happened and his return to sobriety in a new book "killing willis." from "different strokes" to the mean streets to the life i always wanted. there you see its cover. by the way, what do we mean by the term in the title "killing willis"?

>> because i was trying to kill myself. and because willis is a part of me. i was trying to destroy that whole part of me. >> larry: you were on a suicidal path? >> yeah. >> larry: you're lucky to be alive. >> i'm not lucky, i'm blessed to be alive. >> larry: what happened to you after the show? >> after the show, what happened -- the show kept me sane. during the show, i was 22 years old. when the show ended, i basically have found that i lost all my money, my accountant ripped me off. i was suffering from sexual abuse, suffering from physical abuse. >> larry: has a child? >> yeah. >> larry: who abused you? >> my father abused me physically and then my publicist abused me sexually. >> larry: your publicist? >> yeah. >> larry: did you ever charge him?

>> no. what happened was the bad part it was when we -- i finally came out and told my mother what happened, my father and my father took his side. and he talked to my dad. >> larry: so you had problems during the run of the show. >> yeah. but it never was effective on the show. it happened after the show. i had all the problems on top of me. i deposit know how to rationally do them. and how to fix them. my mother told me i should go to therapy. i thought back then in the early '80s that meant you were crazy. >> larry: how long were awe bussed? >> my father my entire life i lived with my father. i was my father's remote control changer. he would wake me up in the middle of the night to change

the tv for him. he took out a lot of aggression on me. he would slap me in the back of the head and say cruel things to me. growing up as a 12-year-old kid, that stuff really hurts. >> larry: how long were you on the show? >> eight years. i was on shows before then. i was on "fish." i was also on "barney miller." i was on -- i did a show with denny thomas. i was in "roots." i was the first black "little house on the prairie." i did 15 episodes of "the waltons." >> larry: child stars have difficulties later on. >> i would say all kids have difficulties when going through such enormous pain and suffering. i can't really pinpoint and say child stars. it is a very small percentage of us that have had problems. like at sean astin, he didn't have problems. but the public -- the media wants to make it out to be all of us. it's a great deal of us. we all have problems. >> larry: we'll ask in a minute how this turned to crime. how you wound up in jail. our guest, todd bridges, the book, "killing willis." as having to decide to go for it? at the hartford, we help businesses of all kinds... feel confident doing what they do best. by protecting your business, your property, your people. you've counted on us for 200 years. let's embrace tomorrow. and with the hartford behind you, achieve what's ahead of you. ♪

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>> larry: we're right back with todd bridges and his extraordinary first book. first, let's check in with anderson cooper. what's up tonight? >> tonight, a push on a health care bill this week, we uncovered a special deal for drug companies. it took a lot of lobbying and money. drug companies got what they wanted. we'll show what you they got and why it may cost you more money. we're "keeping them honest"

tonight. tonight, what rielle hunter says about her and john edwards' affair and why she insist that's john edwards never lied to her, even though he lied to his wife and the entire population of the united states. we'll also show you the photographs she posed for. and a sexual abuse scandal closing in on the pope's past. some shocking statistics tonight. more than half the priests accused of sexual misdeeds in the past decade were never prosecuted. we're "keeping them honest" and we track down one priest that is still a priest and the church paid one of his accusers more than $1 million. those stories and more on "360." >> larry: unbelievable. anderson cooper at the top of the hour. back with todd bridges, the author of "killing willis." you wrote that your co-star who died of an overdose in 1999 introduced you to sex and marriage marriage. >> it came at a critical point in my life. when that happened with her, it

actually got me back on line and realizing that was okay with girls. and what is happening to me wasn't really my fault. but i still couldn't stop blaming myself. >> larry: she came on with you? >> yeah. it was -- i was asleep one night and we were all taking a nap in the teacher's room. and i woke up and she was down there doing something to me that i never experienced before in my life. but i realized that it was, you know, that i didn't feel dirty. it didn't feel wrong, you know? >> larry: how about gary coleman? >> you know, i really love gary. but he is suffering from just the whole thing of physical, you know -- he's healthwise is not great. and he's very mad at the world. and i understand that. >> larry: did you talk to him? >> i tried talking to him. he doesn't want to communicate very much with us. >> larry: how about the drinking and drugs? how did that start? >> for me, it was a way to -- i never thought that doing that would make me addicted. they really didn't explain to us

about addiction. it was a way to cover up the pain i was going through. and never felt that i would become addicted. but i was wrong. and my brother used to tell me drugs will lead to harder drugs. i didn't believe him. and it did. >> larry: what about all the girls in your life? janet jackson one of them. >> yeah. she is a great person. we -- she was g i loved janet. and she is still the same. i talked to her a few months ago. she is still great. and i love those kind of people in my life. >> larry: how did you end up in jail? >> i made stupid mistakes. things i shouldn't have done, like, for instance, using drugs. carrying a gun in my car with drugs in my car. and, you know, i just -- like i said, it's detailed in "killing willis." it explaining the whole transformation. i felt while doing drugs it could make me feel better. but what it did is tear me down and send me to jail. >> larry: how long were you in jail for? >> i think the first case in '99, i did nine months in county

jail. that is when i was there. i was next to menendez. i was there next to richard ramirez. and i said something to the nights doctor one time, i said if you had to do this all over again, what would you do again? he said this time it wouldn't be old ladies. i said wow, man, you're really a bad person. >> larry: how about the menendez boys? >> when i would talk with my mom, eric menendez would get sadment they really thought they would get out. they thought they would win this case and get out. i never thought they would ever get out. i knew i would get out one day. i was really only there for drug addiction. >> larry: johnnie cochran was your lawyer? >> one of the best lawyers ever. he was a great guy to me. my last case he told me if i didn't straighten my life out, he wouldn't represent me. >> larry: how much time did you do in all? >> nine months in county and eight months in chino

correctional facilty. >> larry: what straightened you out? >> god and i wanted a different life. i wanted to feel -- not feel the pain anymore of all the suffering for what i was putting myself through. and, you know, once an addict, you get sick and tired of being sick and tired. i remember saying going to court one last time, mother, help me out one more time. she wasn't a caretaker. she told me if you continue using drugs, i'm never going to help you again. and i remember going to court and i was sitting in court and i realized i was tired. i was ready. but at that particular time when i was ready, i still didn't know how to go about it to really change my life. and god put the right people in my path to really help me find freedom. >> larry: did you go to rehab? >> i went to rehab. this time i went to rehab and shut my mouth and really listened. and really realized that i had to change the heartache and pain i was feeling. >> larry: was it tough to beat it? >> you know, i would say that it was very tough to lick it but not lick drugs and alcohol. it is very tough to lick

forgiving myself. because i was so angry at myself and mad at myself for allowing me to go through that, i didn't know how to forgive myself. and in "killing willis," it details how a person learns to forgive them self. if you can't forgive you can't forgive anybody else. >> larry: what's next for todd bridges when we come back. [ announcer ] if you think about it, this is a lot like most job search sites. - they let everyone in, - [ crowd groans ] so the best people can't stand out. join theladders.com. the premium job site for only $100k+ jobs... and only $100k+ talent.

>> larry: you twla getting arrests was the best thing that could happen in your life. >> it helped me discover i really want to be sober. the last time i was sitting in that jail, i realized something had to be different about me. i had to stop listening to myself. my own best decisions got me in that situation. i don't blame anybody in my book about what i went through. i accept full responsibility. i made horrifying mistakes in my life. >> larry: but no trouble with the law since 1992. sober more than 16 years. >> yep. >> larry: do people still hang that label? >> yeah, they hang the label. >> larry: why? >> because they have nothing else better to say. you know? and, you know, i know that gd's going to change all that now. and that's why i really wrote the book, not to change the label but make people realize there is a better way out. >> larry: you knew corey haim? >> yes. i tried to help him. he wasn't ready. that's the thing about drug addiction, either you're ready

or not. two things will happen with you with drug addiction, you'll either go insane or you're going to have death. that's something that -- that's what a practicing drug addict has to look forward to. >> larry: what's next? >> for me, i'm going to do my life story. that's one of the things i want to do. i want to show -- "dumbest criminals" on tv. >> larry: "dumbest criminals"? >> yeah, we talk about people that are doing things wrong. i'm so glad that there were not cameras around when i was doing those things. i really want to spread the message of recovery, spread the message of forgiveness. i mean that's the secret to life is forgiving yourself and once i learned to forebif myself, forgiving everyone else was so easy. i foreforgave my father and the guy that molested me. i depict how to forgive and which direction to go. >> larry: it must be the hardest thing -- it's the basis of christianity? >> and also the basis of life.

forgiving is in any relationship. >> larry: it's hard, isn't it? >> very much. so you want to continue -- you don't want to accept responsibility, that's the biggest problem in america. we don't want to accept responsibility. and i accept full responsibility for my terrible actions. >> larry: what was "different strokes" like? >> for me, it was a wonderful experience. it was a safe haven for me? >> larry: a happy cast? >> happy cast. but the three kids had lives that parallels so much with what they were going through and dealing w gary coleman was dealing with the fact that he was adopted, didn't know who his real parents were. his parents made him work when he was ill and not feeling well. dana was in a severe car accident. her mother wasn't around that much. so we all had things going on. but as i said, it's a small part. >> larry: what about the dad? >> i talk to him on a regular basis. >> larry: how is he doing? >> he's doing great. he is 86 years old. we communicate at least two times a week. and he's like my dad. he's -- >> larry: is he on important figure to the cast? >> oh, yeah. he was important to me.

he was better than my dad was. he actually went fishing with me and hung out with me. my dad's idea of taking us fishing is drop us off and leave us. you know? and my life, my mother has been so influential, my brother and sister. they've been influential in my life. >> larry: do they still show it late at night? >> i still get checks. he can don't get dvd money, but i still get checks from it. it's funny, the checks come in. i get checks for shows like the waltons. i'm blown 16 away that i got a $20 check from that show. >> i did 15 episodes of "the waltons." they say good night to me and my name is bud. they say good night bud. i say good night john boy. >> larry: i'm afrpg thus nxious this, todd, you deserve a lot of credit. "killing willis" is the book, from "different strokes" to the metr