on the bill. what we do know is that 32 democrats have already announced that they will join 178 republicans in voting against the bill. if republicans can persuade six more, just six more of them to vote no, defeat is assured here. i want to give you a reminder that cnn's special programs begins tomorrow morning 9:00 a.m. eastern, we'll be covering it all day long, so make sure that you stick with us for up-to-the-minute details, coverage, analysis from the best political team on coverage. i'm don lemon, see you back here at 10:00 p.m. eastern. "larry king live" starts right now. he thinks i'm neater than hard salami. >> larry: tonight, tv's golden girls sweetheart, betty white. a half million facebook fans

helped land her a special hosting gig. >> live from new york, it's "saturday night." >> larry: she's just signed to do a new tv series. >> i don't like you. >> larry: she scored in a super bowl ad. >> you're playing like betty white out there. >> that's not what your girlfriend said. >> larry: what is this secret of betty white's long success. plus, dennis kucinich. >> i have taken a detour. >> larry: his first announcement since announcing his flip on health care. why did he change his mind? and then one of the all-time musical greats, aretha franklin, the queen of soul joining us from the mandolin hotel from washington. all of that next on "larry king live." >> larry: believe me, yes, she's here. comedienne/actress, betty white is here with us.

before we speak to her, we want to talk about the big news of the day. she's ticked that she's not on before him, dennis kucinich, democrat of ohio, he made headlines earlier today by announcing that he's changed his mind and will vote for health care reform. congressman, was there any arm twisting involved here? >> no, i -- you know, the president and everyone else i spoke to was -- they made their case. i provided the counter argument as to the changes that i wanted to see in the bill. but now we've moved beyond that, i think the things i want to see eventually in health care, we can move toward over the years. i described it this morning, i will say it again, this was a detour. if you hit a roadblock, you chae a choice, you can go straight and maybe go over a cliff or you can take a detour and eventually get to the destination you want to get to. i hope as i work with the president on the next step, we can deal with the issues like nutrition, complimentary issues,

alternative medicine, things like that. >> larry: knowing you for a while, did you ever think to yourself, i'm copping out on my values? >> no, because i've been very strong in the congress, in arguing that if we can't have a single payer, at least we should have a public option, we should protect the rights of states to pursue a single payor plan. and i -- i've been basically, the last person to say, well, you know what, this is the best we can do. but i will tell you this, i'm not stopping, larry. i'm going to do everything i can to help nurture those efforts that are happening in states across the country to move toward single payer. i'll work with the president in getting this bill passed, and the president has committed to work with me, in seeing further health care reform after this bill is out of the way. >> larry: do you think it will pass? >> i think it will, yes. >> larry: how close a vote? >> i think it will be within a

few votes. this is a -- this has been a big debate in america, but unfortunately, it's been a debate with so many distortions. people look at president's position and describe as socialized medicine. it's clearly not. i'm all for the government to be the single payer. the president isn't talking about that. the president is talking about reform within the context of a fore profit system. you know what? it wasn't my way, but i'm not a my way or the highway kind of guy. when all is said and done, i made my point, i couldn't get my way. it was more important to see people get a chance to have some coverage, even if it's from private insurance companies than to kill the bill. i didn't want to be responsible for killing the bill, even though i didn't get what i wanted out of the process. >> larry: despite your majority in both houses, did the president lose his way anywhere along the way here? why is it so close? >> well, it's so close because there's -- you know, it's a very contentious issue to begin with. the insurance companies are very powerful, and when you look at

how insurance companies have basically lorded over health insurance in this year for so many years now. in the last four years, they've raised rates by double digits. they have a lot of power, they have a lot of political power. the president took this on, he made it the central issue, he did it at some risk to his presidency. he understands that, what we need to do is not just get this bill done, but we need to refocus on other issues in health care and on the broader issues of the economy that have to deal with jobs, wages, helping people stay in their homes, education and peace. i mean, these are things that we can look, to but if this bill goes down, it'll put the president in a bad way and i think the congress may start to become less effective. >> larry: you said your wife played a part in your decision, how so? >> i speak about these things with elizabeth all of the time and i ask her for her opinion

and laid it out to her and i just her judgment. she's somebody who has a deep understanding -- not just of the process, but of human nature and potential. and i laid it out and said, i'm thinking of supporting the bill, what do you think? and we talked about it, and she supported it, that meant a lot, because you don't -- those of us who are in partnerships understand that you want to see if you can get the person who you live with on board. and she has been, and i appreciate that. >> larry: when do you think it will go to a vote? >> i think we're talking about by the end of this week. >> larry: you mean the weekend? >> yes, larry. again, this is the first step. by no means is this bill the bill i wanted, i'm highly critical of it. and i don't take back anything that i said. but what i do believe is, we take a step, we go in the direction of changing health care. if the bill goes down, though, i doubt that this president or any president in the near future or any congress in the near future

will want to touch anything remotely related to health care so there's a lot at stake. >> larry: thanks for joining us, dennis. >> larry king, thanks for the chance to be on your show. thank you. >> larry: congressman dennis kucinich, democrat of ohio. betty white is standing by -- she's sitting by. she'll be answering your questions and yours. go to to facebook.com/larry king, send your questions in. we'll be right back.

>> larry: lovely betty white. ♪ >> get 'em, betty. get 'em. >> i could tell you stories that would break your heart. >> do it! >> i actually know many of you, and i've worked with quite a few, maybe had a couple. and you know who you are. >> this is the sparkling television star and great "password" player, betty white. >> that's the camera. when the red light goes on that's when the camera -- >> i know what i'm doing, just queue me in and then stick a sock in it. >> your curiosity is going to be so piqued you'll beg for more. >> larry: she's here, betty white. emmy winning actress, comedienne. also known as a strong voice for

animal health and welfare. she's set to host "saturday night live" may 8th. and star in a new tv series "hot in cleveland." she's 88 years young, when you get to be that age you're proud to say it. >> i don't know where the breaking point comes. at first you try to hide it and begin to brag and now i'm to the point of "hello, i'm betty white. i'm 88." >> larry: by the way, do you have a thought on this health care issue? >> i think it's -- my opinion means nothing, because i'm not politically oriented, but i really think it's wonderful if it does pass. >> larry: how did the "saturday night live" thing come about. it's going to feature a reunion of tina fey, amy poehler. >> don't ask me, it came out of nowhere. somebody put a -- i think it's facebook, they began to get hits, and i never -- years and

years ago i turned it down like three times because i -- it's so new york and i'm not new york. i just thought the safe way to play it was not to do it. then all of a sudden this thing came, and the next thing i know i'm going to be doing it in may. >> larry: are you nervous? >> yes. >> larry: you're nervous? all these years, experience you have in the business, you're nervous? >> the more years that go by, the nervouser you get. >> larry: you'll have a good time, and it was a facebook campaign. a half a million people signed on. by the way, do you twitter? >> no, i'm afraid i don't. i know what it is, but i don't use it. >> larry: lorne michaels says he always wanted you to host. >> i don't believe that, or he would have asked me. >> larry: but they asked you long ago? >> long ago, three times. yeah but it's -- but they've been so nice. and i have no idea how this thing burgeoned.

>> larry: i'll tell you an idea. the facebook campaign to get betty white on "saturday night live" was inspired by a super bowl commercial she did. watch this. >> mike, come on! >> mike, what is your deal, man. >> come on, man, you've been riding me all day. >> you're playing like betty white out there. >> that's not what your girlfriend said. >> eat a snickers. >> better? >> better. >> larry: a snickers commercial and suddenly the rejuvenation of betty white. >> it's so silly and we're all over in the world in it. we're in africa. we're in the middle of europe. >> larry: did have you great fun doing that. >> great fun. it was cold. it was early in the morning but it was fun. >> larry: did they tackle a dummy? >> no, the stunt lady took the dive into the muddy water, and i had to get in and lie down in it. she did all the work and i got the laughs. if that isn't an injustice i don't know what it is. >> larry: we have a facebook

question. what kind of skits do you want to do on "saturday night live"? >> i have no idea, i'll do whatever they tell me to do. >> larry: when did you start in this business? >> it was 1949. i was on a local television show here, with a local disc jockey, al jarvis. we were on 5 1/2 hours a day, six days a week for four years. >> larry: that was your beginning? >> that was the beginning. no script. no nothing. you just sort of, you talked. >> larry: how do you explain your longevity? >> shear, blind luck. i'm the luckiest broad that ever drew breath. >> larry: just luck, no talent? >> well, i think the reason for the longevity is people have generations. several generations have gotten to know me over the years. so i've become sort of, part of a -- you know, you have relives that you're not thrilled with -- sort of part of the family. >> larry: you know, "saturday night live" the general appeal

is the young demographic. >> i know, what are they doing with me? >> larry: it is a thought. ah, you'll kill 'em. they'll love you. >> we'll have fun. >> larry: we'll be back with more of betty white, she has a new tv series.

you're playing like betty white out there. >> that's not what your girlfriend said. >> you work hard, you're in every movie.

>> well i'm such a -- i'm such a whore i can't say no to you. >> does anyone else smell pot? >> what are you, a cop? >> no. >> then what's it to you? >> brian? >> ryan, my name's ryan. >> get me a cup of coffee. >> no my name is ryan. >> well, when betty white says she of thes a cup of coffee you get her a [ bleep ] cup of coffee. >>. >> larry: the way that snickers super bowl commercial won the best super bowl ad commercial during last year's super bowl. here's one. do you consider yourself a new sex symbol for the younger generation? >> oh, yes, oh, yes. i mean, i -- it's not that i consider myself that, i just have to concede the point. you know, it's so true. >> larry: you were a loose woman, weren't you, betty? admit it! >> i was loose. well, gravity took over.

>> larry: were you easy? would you say you were easy? i mean, not when married to allen? >> no, no, i wasn't easy. i'm an incurable romantic. >> larry: but you played easy on "mary tyler moore." >> oh, well she was just the sight of hookerville. >> larry: people -- by the way, sarah palin, you stirred up a little fuss a while back, when you called her on a late-night tv interview a crazy bitch. >> that was written, it was craig ferguson. and we all -- >> larry: he wrote that for you? >> yeah, they wrote a lot of stuff for me. >> larry: i thought that was an impromptu interview? i've done craig. they don't -- >> well, we do little sketches, i play different characters coming in. i was john mccain's speechwriter. and so he -- craig said, well, i understand. he doesn't use a computer. then what -- oh, no. he commutes by -- i mean he communicates by carrier pigeon.

the only trouble is, sarah palin keeps shooting them down. that crazy bitch. >> larry: good delivery. we had this question tweeted to kingsthings. we get tweeted, we get facebooked. if asked, would you do "dancing with the stars"? >> i have been asked and i thanked them very profusely and i said, no thank you. i think cloris leachman took care of that whole department. >> larry: it's really testing. >> it is. it would be fun and i would love it. but i think there comes a time when i don't want to embarrass the audience. but cloris, cloris did it and she did find so i think she's taken care of our age bracket. >> larry: you had a great marriage with allen, didn't you? >> i did. he was the best. he was the love of my life. >> larry: he left too early. how old was he? >> allen was 64. he said -- that bloomin' baked sea got him. what you saw was what you got.

he was one of the nicest, dearest people. >> larry: and a great game show host. >> oh, yes, great game show host. and what i fell in love with, what got us together was his enthusiasm. he was interested in everything. there wasn't anything he didn't want to know more about and care about. that's fun to live with. >> larry: and you never remarried? >> nope, when you've had the best, who needs the rest? >> larry: this animal thing -- >> oh, well. >> larry: have you always been an animal lover? >> since the womb. >> larry: you're an advocate too, right? >> not so much an advocate. i work for animal health and well-being. i'm not into politics. i don't demonstrate. i'm not an activist. >> larry: you're not in pita. you're not in peta? >> no, i'm not. those people do fine thing. and we need those things. but i've been with the morris animal foundation for 45 years. >> larry: do you object based on the recent killing, do you

object to the recent whales being kept in the big pools? >> i've also worked with the los angeles zoo for 46 years. i -- of course, for that individual whale, and i'm going to get in trouble for this. of course, i would love to have him swimming free. but the only way we can make the public aware of animals, what they are -- you can read about them, you can see them on film forever, but unless you come to the zoo, and see and smell and touch the real animal, you don't know that elephants are in trouble, you don't know why they're in trouble. and i think it could be the same -- >> larry: so those in the zoo are paying a price, in a sense, to educate us? >> to educate us. but they're not paying a price, they're getting such tender loving care and safety and all of that but it's not freedom. it's easy for the outside people to say, oh, we should let them

all be free. what we're doing to their environment, and taking away from their environment, pretty much there's not going to be any place to set them free. >> larry: there ain't no free. >> exactly. >> larry: we'll be right back with betty white on this edition of "larry king." we invite you to put us to the test. and may the best car win. we invite you to put us to the test. ♪ well, look who's here. it's ellen. hey, mayor white. how you doing? great. come on in. would you like to see our new police department? yeah, all right. this way. and here it is. completely networked. so, anything happening, suz? she's all good. oh, my gosh. is that my car? [ whirring ] [ female announcer ] the new community. see it. live it. share it. on the human network. cisco. [ wind howling ] [ male announcer ] when you have sensitive skin... ♪ ...a lot of things can really irritate your face...

shaving shouldn't be one of them. gillette fusion power has five blades with an anti-friction coating that shave with incredible comfort, so your skin looks and feels great, until the next game. fusion. proven performance even on sensitive skin. ♪ it's another thing to back it up. the chevy 5-year/100,000 mile transferable powertrain warranty. with roadside assistance and courtesy transportation, it's the best coverage in america.

>> larry: we're back with the adorable, delightful, talented, beautiful betty while. >> ooh, i love all those things. >> larry: a facebook question from david. this is serious. betty, what are you doing saturday night? >> what did you have in mind? >> larry: a date proposal. >> well, that sounds -- >> larry: when was the last time you went out on a date? >> probably about five years ago. >> larry: what was it like? you were 83 bouncing along? >> well, i wasn't bouncing as much then as i am now. >> larry: where did he take you? >> to dinner, we have a -- had a nice dinner, and he's a very nice man, but somehow i just -- dating is work now. it used to be fun. but dating is kind of work now. >> larry: so you never got over al? >> never. never will. >> larry: your upcoming series in tv land is called "hot in

cleveland." we have a sneak peek. take a look. >> i'm melanie. i'll be leasing the place. >> i've been the caretaker of this house for 50 years. but you can kick me out. >> i wouldn't -- >> no worries, if you can escape from the nazis, you can handle anything. >> you escaped from the nazis? >> escaping from the nazis was the least of my worries. >> boy, you don't hear that very often. so what are you, like a hundred? >> i don't like you. >> larry: what's the premise of "hot in cleveland"? >> it's three gals. wonderful gals. valerie bertinelli, jane leeves and wendy malac. and they're all not having any action in los angeles so they decide to fly to paris maybe for some romance, well there's a plane problem and they're grounded in cleveland.

and as they walk through to get another flight, all the guys in the airport are hitting on them and eyeing them and all of that. and they said, why are we spending all of that money to go to paris when we're hot in cleveland? >> larry: ah! and you are the caretaker the house they live? >> they moved into the house. i'm the proverbial in the house. it's great fun, the girls are wonderful together. the chemistry together is great. >> larry: you don't have to work, why do you keep doing this? >> it's such fun, larry. why should you stop something you enjoy so much? my life, half animals, half show , the two things i love the most, why should i quit? >> larry: are you at all surprised that you are suddenly very hot again? >> oh, i'm not hot again, but i mean i'm surprised to -- >> larry: hot again. >> what did you have in mind, larry? >> larry: you can't get over that, can you? >> no, i can't but i will try everything that i can get.

i'm just amazed and i'm thrilled and i'm -- i'm going along with it and been enjoying it. >> larry: you did a movie with sandra bullock, right? "the proposal." >> "the proposal." >> larry: what did you think of her at the academy awards? >> i was so excited. it's not easy to root for somebody when meryl streep is also in the contention. but i just was so delighted. and what's happened to her is -- she is one of the nicest, greatest, most human beings that i know. she's just a -- >> larry: and the talent. she's a hell of a talent. >> oh, tell me about it. >> larry: took "blind side" for people to realize it though. >> yes, yes but they did realize it in time to give her the award, which was great. >> larry: so more moments with betty white when we come back. you can start right here. just click to match your department store shades for less. easy, breezy, beautiful. covergirl.

i'd like one of those desserts and some coffee. - sure, cake or pie? - pie. - apple or cherry? - cherry. oil or cream? oil or cream? cream. some use hydrogenated oil. reddi-wip uses real dairy cream. nothing's more real than reddi-wip. i can download files up to 10x faster than 3g... outside. i can stream the movie "airplane" to my cell phone... at the airport. i can have a crystal-clear videoconference with my clients... ...muffin basket or something... ...while working offsite, or share five high-speed connections for online gaming...

while enjoying the great outdoors. [ video game sound effects ] eat it, yoshi! what can you do with 4g? [ male announcer ] experience 4g from sprint. it's more than a wireless network. deaf, hard-of-hearing and people with speech disabilities, it's a wireless revolution. access www.sprintrelay.com. is to reproduce every color in the world on tv. introducing quattron quad pixel technology. it adds a fourth color, yellow, to the standard rgb color system, creating a vast array of colors you can't see with your tv's three color technology. but, you can see this. whoa! oh my. [ male announcer ] quattron from sharp. you have to see it, to see it. [ engineer laughs ]

i'm don lemon at the cnn headquarters in atlanta. update you on tomorrow's crucial vote on health care reform. listen up, president obama has lost vital support from fellow democrats on his health care reform bill. as of now, 26 democrats, this is the latest count, 26 democrats still undeclared. that means they have not said whether they will vote yes or no

on that bill. undecided. so what we know right now though is 32 democrats have already announced that they will join 178 republicans in voting against the bill. if the republicans can persuade just six more of them to vote no, then it will be defeated. president obama and democratic leaders in congress have a lot riding on this vote. the outcome could effect, even, define the rest of his presidency. >> don't do it for me. don't do it for the democratic party. do it for the american people. they're the ones who are looking for action right now. >> we have a reminder for you. cnn special programming begins tomorrow, 9:00 a.m. eastern. we'll be covering it all day long. so make sure you stick with us for up-to-the-minute analysis from the best political team on television. i'm don lemon.

i'll see you back here in about 2 nierng 30 minutes at the top of the hour. "larry king live" continues next. >> larry: by the way, you've had two -- three enormous hit television shows, right? "mary tyler moore," "golden girls," and what was the other one? >> "mama's family." still goes along it. how lucky can you get to have that? >> larry: you've had an extraordinarily successful career in a business that can be tough to be successful in. >> when they say, when you reach a certain age, women can't get a job, i'm hoping they don't discover that in my department. you're celebrating an anniversary coming up. >> larry: june 1st, 25 years. this show, this slot right here. it's the longest running show starting at the same time on the same network, hosted by the same person. >> oh, congratulations, larry, that's wonderful. >> larry: if you tell me i'm going to be 88 i'll take it.

>> okay. >> larry: did you ever think you'd be 88? or you don't think about it? >> i think i learned at my mother's knee, we never thought age. everybody else is so age conscious, but you go for a long time not wanting anybody to know how old you are, and then you pass a breaking point and then i can't tell you when that comes and then you brag about it. but i just don't think -- it's my health and my energy that i'm so blessed with, and so grateful for that i'm busy being grateful for that rather than worrying about how old i am. >> larry: what do you do with your romantic urges? >> i have a golden retriever, but in a nice way. no, i'm an incredible romantic, and i get crushes. >> larry: you do? >> oh, do i get crushes. >> larry: do you have a current crush? >> no. only a private one. nobody knows about the ones, but

i have -- i fantasize and i have a great time. >> larry: you know, last night was terrific, right? >> absolutely. >> larry: another facebook question, who's the funniest person you know, besides yourself? you know you're funny. who makes you laugh? >> i don't. my agent, jeff, he calls me on a business call and we're laughing each other silly and lauthat's lovely relationship to have with your agent. >> larry: especially an agent. because agents aren't generally funny. >> no, they're not. he's not a good agent, he's a funny agent. >> larry: what haven't you done? who's on your to-do list? >> my standard answer to that is always robert redford. that doesn't get me anywhere. >> larry: have you ever met him? >> no, i don't want to, i want to enjoy it from a distance.

i would be panicky if i ever met him. i've taken his name in vain for so long. >> larry: all you have to do is go up to utah, and he's there. >> i know. he's also about santa monica. >> larry: he don't hide. he's public. >> i don't ever want to meet him. it would spoil all the fun. i want to fantasize and talk about him behind his back. >> larry: i'll tell you, he looks just as good on screen -- ever looked. he's aged very well. >> oh, i -- tell me about it. >> larry: is there something you would like to do though professionally you haven't done? >> professionally, no. >> larry: have you done broadway? >> no, not broadway, i've done theater. >> larry: stage? >> yeah i did eight productions of "the king and i" and "south pacific" and all of those. i had the fun of doing it in the big outdoor arenas like kansas city and st. louis. i've never had the desire to do broadway, isn't that silly? i just enjoy -- well, i've been a television kid all my life. so recently, in the past few

years i've done big screen movies. and that was very exciting. >> larry: one other thing, the secret in television, in all those great sitcoms you did is the writing, right? >> you can't do it without the writing. actors will take all the credit, but it's got to be on the page or it doesn't work. >> larry: and "the mary tyler moore show" was the greatest example. >> yes, it was wonderful, and so was "golden girls," the greatest writing staff in the world. you would go in for the monday morning read around the table. >> larry: you would have laugh at the read-arounds, right? >> and you would laugh -- you would have trouble getting through the script because it cracked you up. >> larry: great seeing you, betty. >> wonderful, as always. >> larry: can't wait for saturday, may 8th. >> thank you. and happy anniversary. june 1st. >> larry: thank you. don't forget the show. it's called "hot in cleveland." it's going to air on tv land. >> thank you so much. >> larry: aretha franklin

joining us from the hotel in washington. next. [ male announcer ] when we built our first hybrid, youtube didn't exist. and facebook was still run out of a dorm room. when we built our first hybrid, more people had landlines than cell phones, and gas was $1.75 a gallon. and now, while other luxury carmakers are building their first hybrids, lexus hybrids have traveled 5.5 billion miles. and that's quite a head start. ♪ to chart a greener path in the air... and in our factories.

to find cleaner, more efficient ways to power flight. and harness our technology... for new energy solutions. around the globe, the people of boeing are working together, to build a better tomorrow. that's why we're here. ♪

♪ ♪ you make me feel like a natural woman ♪ ♪ woman >>. >> larry: it's a great pleasure to welcome to "larry king live" one the all-time musical greats

aretha franklin queen of soul, multigrammy award winner. a new cd coming out soon called "aretha: a woman falling out of love." our charity. we're so indebted to her and we so adore her for doing this. what do we mean by a woman falling out of love? >> well, that's just the opposite of falling in love, larry. actually, it's just the phases that one goes through when it's not happening or it's not going to work or it was happening and then it stopped working. and just the phases that a woman goes through. >> larry: we can never explain how we fall in love. but is it harder to explain falling out? >> actually, not. i have some of it documented on my new album. >> larry: i'm looking forward to

it. this is your first studio cd since 2003 when you had "so damn happy." what took so long? why seven years? >> you know, when you're in concert, and i'm in concert most of the year with the exception of the early months when it's inclement weather and the highways are too bad, because i dry, i don't fly. myself and john madden, right? >> larry: right. >> and i just -- the time just gets away from you. i can't believe it's been this long. >> larry: you wrote several of the songs, right? >> yes. one of them "how long i've been waiting." and that has to do with a woman falling out of love. and "i adore you," and i "abore you a woman fallingoud of love." those kind of things. mixed emotions.

vacillating. >> larry: i know the scene. is it different, aretha, when you sing a song you wrote than when you sing a song someone else wrote? >> not really. i think -- well, perhaps, yeah, it would be more personal with things that i write. but depends i think on how you relate. >> larry: but once you're singing, you're singing, right? >> yeah. >> larry: now, i understand two of your sons -- >> but when it's personal, it is more personal. >> larry: i understand two of your sons -- >> it's a little more -- it's a little more personal. >> larry: -- two of your sons worked on. your young son wrote a new song called "new day," right. >> yes "new day." written my son kelf. he has a christian hip help group. it's a family oriented group and my grandson jordan who is a terrific rapper as well as kelph

and my son eddie is singing "his eye's on the sparrow" and eddie will be a vocalist to be reckoned with. he's wonderful. he's genuine. he's so genuine. >> larry: by the way besides the new cd, aretha's getting a lot of buzz for a candy bar commercial. we're going to show it to you now. watch. >> can we turn the ac up? i'm dying back here. >> it's on. can't you feel it? >> can you feel that? >> oh. >> jeff, eat a snickers, please. >> why? >> every time you get hungry turn into a diva. just eat it so we can all -- >> eat it. >> thank you. >> better? >> better. >> will you get your knees out of the back of my eat is. >> oh, oh. >> you're not you when you are hungry. snickers satisfies. >> zip it. >> larry: some of the best commercials on television. you had to have a lot of fun

doing that with liza? >> oh, i did, i did. when i walked in the studio i walked into patti. patti was there doing one. i love that expression liza had on her face. and more than -- more than that, i really had fun with the guys in the car. we had a ball. but the little boom, i had to talk to him after it was over. i said you know, you know this is script, right? this is nothing personal. he said, oh, i'm a professional. i said okay that's wonderful and i'm just glad to hear you say that. ♪ ♪ when i first met you baby ♪ you are only sweet 16 ♪ yeah ♪ yeah ♪ when i first met you baby

♪ you were only sweet 16 th eren 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. day or night. >> 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. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache, or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours. >> if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, stop taking cialis and call your doctor right away. >> 36-hour cialis or cialis for daily use. ask your doctor if cialis is right for you.

you can be ready for your moment with cialis. you go next if you had a hoveround power chair?

♪ ♪ don't you know you are ♪ there ain't no way ♪ i tell you that it airport no way ♪ it ain't no way ♪ ♪ it ain't no way baby no >> larry: we're back with aretha franklin. that diva reputation, is it fair? are you a diva? >> no. would i be a diva, no. >> larry: no you're not. you're too down home. >> i'm very down to earth. i really am. lowen in the middle. >> larry: by the way divas can be fashions icon. by the way the smithsonian asked you to donate that amazing hat

that you wore when you sang "america the beautiful" during the obama naurgz. you have turned the hat over to them. >> i have not and i'm seriously considering the franklin hat instead of the smithsonian museum. >> larry: why? >> well we couldn't really come to terms concerning the hat. and when i thought about it i said, well, wait a minute. i have enough artifacts and things to go into a museum myself and i have my father's things as well. so why not consider something like the motown museum, i can have the franklin museum. >> larry: why not -- hey, good point? by the way, how do you like -- what did you think of michelle obama? >> i think she is is quite fashionable. i think as we all have seen, some of that comes, well, i'll get to that later. she is a very gracious lady and what else? let's see.

i think she is one -- i think she's one of the president's, how should i put it -- >> larry: biggest assets. >> definitely. definitely. that is the word i was looking for. she is one of his greatest assets. >> reporter: you were awarded the presidential medal of freedom in 2005. first, what was that like? >> what was it like? i was sitting at home and i was watching something happening in the east room of the white house and just working on my paperwork and said, wow, maybe i'll get something like that. i continued on with my paperwork. maybe a week later the phone rang and they told me that i was going to be awarded the

presidential medal of honor. i was, like, huh. what? is this a joke? is this a joke? it took a moment to sink in. finally i said, wow, this is real. this is real. >> larry: it has been eight months since the death of michael jackson. i know you knew him in his younger days. you were neighbors with the jackson family. what do you best remember about young michael? >> oh, boy. his originality, i think and the fact he was so precocious as a young artist. he was so mature beyond his years. i listened to him as a singer and i said he is very, very mature vocally to be so young. but more than that, i think his kindness and his gentleness. conveyed it.

>> larry: what did you make it on "american idol" did "think," hit a high "c" note. were you watching? >> no. who was it? >> larry: i forget her name. have you seen it? >> no. occasionally, i used to catch "american idol." with my schedule i haven't been able to catch it lately. >> larry: she was amazing. the crowd went nuts. the judges went nuts. >> okay. i'll have to try to get a copy of that. >> larry: would you be a judge on "american idol." >> i haven't been invited on "american idol." >> larry: well, that is insane. >> i see so many young singers singing my things. why haven't i been invited. >> larry: right now after this appearance i can guarantee they are going get you over there.

>> okay. >> larry: guarantee it. >> sounds good to me. i would love to go over. >> larry: what do you think of susan boyle, who became the overnight sensation. the number one cd in america. >> was that susan boyle that hit the high note? >> larry: no. this was a new contestant. >> no. i'm just kidding. i think susan boyle is a very good singer. she was quite surprising to the judges, the audience and all. she is proof that that audience for good music is still right there and they're there in multiple millions. who really want to just hear some good music. ♪ ain't no way for me to love you ♪

♪ if you won't let me ♪ and ain't no way for me to give you all you need ♪ ♪ if you won't let me give all of me ♪ ♪ i know it's a woman's duty to love and help her, help her, help her man ♪ ♪ awesome! whoa! guys... the blue goes on the left. [ female announcer ] getting ready for the big game?

bring it. bounty extra soft. the bounty with a little extra softness. it's super absorbent, and it works extra hard for your money. in this lab demo, one sheet of bounty extra soft out-scrubs two sheets of the bargain brand. ♪ [ cheering ] [ female announcer ] game on! bounty extra soft. look for our prints. when we tn lolobster into irresistible creations. like new wood-grilled lobster and parmesan scampi... our signature lobster lover's dream... and eleven more choices. right now at red lobster. host: could switching to geico 15% or more on car insurance? host: does charlie daniels play a mean fiddle? ♪ fiddle music

charlie:hat's how you do it son. vo: geico. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance.

♪ looking out on the morning rain i used to feel so inspired ♪ >> larry: you have had so much success. anything aretha, you haven't done you'd like to do? >> is there anything i haven't done i'd like to do? i would love to do a starring or supporting part in a movie. i haven't been offered any scripts. what is wrong? >> larry: well, if oprah is watching, she is next. she'll bring you in to do that. what is next for you, by the way? >> listen, i have been all over my agent, something supportive

and meaty and a good supporting or starring character. i would love to do a movie. haven't done anything since "the blues brothers." >> ma'am, would it make you feel better if you knew that what we are asking matt to do is a holy thing. >> we are on a mission from god. >> don't you blasphemy. you walk out without matt "guitar" murphy. >> larry: you ever think of retiring? >> not really. no. i have no plans to retire. i'm in for the long run, larry. >> larry: did you ever get tired of singing? ever. have you ever been on stage where you wish you weren't on stage? >> definitely not. no. only if i didn't feel well. only if i didn't feel well.

that is a very, very rare occasion. there's been a time or two when i had the worst cold. i've really wanted to be at home but as they say, you just got to hang with it and get through it and work on the cold. >> larry: you are an angel. you are an american idol of long standing. you belong right at the top where you've always been. you are sensational. i thank you for coming to washington for us. >> thank you so much. it's my pleasure. thank you for inviting and having me. >> larry: aretha franklin. now here she is with an all-time classic "a natural woman." ♪ you make me feel you make me feel you make me feel like a natural woman ♪