tonight, get ready for the weekend with some friday-night fights. jon minus kate plus nancy grace. do the math on that one. >> that's why they're coming off -- >> that's why the show is coming to a stop. >> quit arguing and work on your marriage. wouldn't that be a better idea? and go back to a happy family? >> love her. then world record holder and television legend regis philbin talks about everything. and you may know him as the creator of an obscure little show. called "seinfeld" the very funny larry david joins me. all this and more tonight.

i had so much fun with him on wednesday i had to have him back for more. joining me now is actor, comedian and author, david alan grier. his new book is "barack like me." david, is barack like you? how is he like you? >> i hope not. i don't think he would have been elected president. it's a play on words. one of the things is i'm not barack obama. i couldn't make it through the press line of "dancing with the stars" without cursing people out. let alone president. >> he is extraordinary. >> yes. yes, he is absolutely -- >> the movie "guess who's coming to dinner?" sidney pottier had to have a ph.d., had to work for the u.n. and be perfect in that film. i thought when obama was elected that is how perfect the black guy had to be in order to get elected. >> you're absolutely right. i remember one point during the

election, and i -- how much time and energy was spent by barack obama and his organization just proving to america, i'm just like you. there's nothing to fear. i have a wife. i have two kids. >> they still don't believe it. the birthers still believe he wasn't born in the united states. >> well, he wasn't. other than that, i still voted for him. >> he was born in hawaii. but people still think that he's a muslim instead of a -- they just make up stuff as they go along, you know? you made your case for america to vote for obama last year. let's look at this. >> all i got to say is white america, wake up. i'm talking about all the white folks who refuse to vote for a black man. i got news for you. he's not black. he's half black. he barely passes the brown paper bag test. >> what kind of studying do you have to do to pass that test? >> it's very simple. brown paper bag next to the skin.

yes. >> you know, comedians have trouble -- white comedians are having trouble making jokes about obama. do you think that they're scared that they're going to be construed as racist? >> i think for a while they were. definitely when i was doing "chocolate news." that was during the primary leading up to the election, and i know "the daily news," "snl," a lot of people were afraid to really say any jokes about him for fear of being branded racist. it seems to have loosened up now. >> he wasn't doing anything wrong. when george bush was in office, it was a bonanza. he was so -- he didn't read. he talked crazy. sarah palin is a bonanza for comedians. obama is not that funny, frankly. >> he's not. i think for america, we like presidents that stumble down stairs. >> we do. >> or smack their head into doors. that vomit in the laps of foreign dignitaries. that's -- you know what i'm

saying? i don't think barack obama is going to go out like that yet. because he is so tight. his thing is so smooth. you have to find -- >> have you found anything yet? do you see a hook? >> i am looking very closely. >> we're relying in the comedy world on black comics to come up with the material. >> i find a lot of comedy about him but it's more along the lines of what you saw in the "chocolate news." it's not -- i mean, i don't see a lot of comic flaws or things about his character that i can exploit and say, wow, you know how he blinks his eyes? no, he's not that guy. >> the jokes are about how perfect he is. how boring it is to have a perfect president. >> how perfect i am. >> how perfect you are is even better. you are not that perfect. i read -- you did march with martin luther king. >> i did. >> that's a great thing. in 1963. how old were you? >> i was a little, little kid. i remember -- here's what it is. when martin luther king jr. came to detroit, it was his march on poverty.

and he gave a preliminary version of the "i have a dream speech," and he was invited to detroit to march by reverend c.l. franklin, aretha franklin's dad. >> oh. >> yeah, so my parents, our whole family marched whether i wanted to or not. i was a kid. i wanted to play ball. i wanted to play with my friend. i didn't want to put on church clothes and march all day with my parents. i was bribed with ice cream, but it was one of those situations where my mom said, look, this will be historic. you will remember -- >> sure, any kid could go to play baseball. that was an historic moment. on the other side of things, you also tried to join the black panthers when you were a teenager. >> yes, yes. >> that was kind of like the -- i mean, they were not exactly the most peaceful group. >> no, they weren't. >> martin luther king was nonviolent. the panthers, they were, and insighted to riot in the 1968

democratic convention. >> that was sexy back then. from '63 to by the time i was 15, i mean, to be revolutionary, to talk that talk was sexy, was smooth, was cool. i couldn't wait to be, you know, a black panther. of course, they wouldn't let me join. in my book i talk about the death of the black man. when i was a kid, that's what we wanted to be. the death of the angry black man. i wanted to be link from mob squad with a big afro and telling white people, you know, forget you. i want to be that belligerent guy. because when we were kids, we were like, oh, that dude is cool. you know, you know? >> do you think you'll join the gray panthers? do you think that will be cool? >> probably. probably. >> your dad, your dad wrote a book called "black rage" in 1968. your father's a writer. >> yeah, he wrote a couple of books and he's still militant after all these years. >> he still is? >> yeah. when i was kicked off of "dancing with the stars," he wrote me an e-mail and said, is it too early to call racism?

do you think these white folks were jealous of a good looking black man who went to yale? they couldn't take it. i was like, calm down. calm down, eldrid. don't -- don't -- >> i love that. >> he was absolutely ready to, you know, marshal up the troops. and do another march. >> what an interesting father you had. my father barely spoke to me. now, you also write you're cool with gay marriage. i thought that was interesting. because as a rule, the black community is not that cool with gay marriage. >> who told you that? >> there's something called the down low we all know about. >> we all watched that ""oprah winfrey show"." >> i don't think the black community is cool with homosexuality. tell me i'm wrong. tell me i'm wrong. >> i can't speak for the majority of the black community, but i'll tell you this. there's probably the contingency of the black community that's very church going, that identify themselves as born-again christians, maybe they have a problem.

i, myself, identify myself as a heathen. i really don't care. >> you're a heathen? you don't care? >> listen, i'm getting a divorce now. if gay people want to get some of this, come get it. >> come get the divorce. >> they have a 50/50 shot at best for success, okay. i personally don't want to wake up next to me in bed, okay? i want something softer, more beautiful, feminine. that's my personal taste. you know, if gay people -- >> your position is misery loves company. i totally appreciate that. >> i want to see gay couples stuck with their significant other that home depot with that faraway look in their eye "get me out of here." >> the glazed deer in the headlights, "please, god, help me." >> another indigo girls concert, no! yes, yes. >> david alan grier, thank you very much for coming on. >> you're welcome. >> it's really been a pleasure to see you. okay. back in just a minute with larry david.

i love this guy. he's a captain of the tv industry. he produced and co-created a little megahit called "seinfeld" and created a starring vehicle for himself. let's take a look. >> you know if there is anything i can do, you'll let me know. >> you know what? there is something you can do. >> what? >> yeah. you can come over today at 1:00 and visit with her. >> visit her? >> yeah. >> what are you kidding? >> what, you didn't mean it? >> of course not. >> joining me now from hbo's "curb your enthusiasm." my pal, larry david. welcome to the show, larry. does it feel like old times being here with me? >> in the sense that we worked together? >> yes. i don't think we've ever said -- i've never sat across the desk from you. >> you've sat across the table because in 1987 when i was doing some show called "way off broadway" for lifetime, remember that?

>> of course. >> you were writing for me on the show. you used to come over to my apartment with really a stack of notes and concepts. your mind was always filled with ideas. then we worked out the stuff and we would then order in and the show would pay for it and you would get so excited. they're going to pick up the check? they're going to pay for this? >> yeah. anything for free. you know, you'd take anything. i notice, now, like i have some stuff, you know, that i give away. you know, people in the office. nobody -- you can mention, like, a record from 1970 -- yeah, i'll take it. anything that's for free, people will just take. they don't discriminate. they don't care. >> they still want it. >> they want it, yes. >> but -- >> it's the best way to get rid of your garbage. really. >> the laughter that you hear is the staff, they hang around

here. we have hank gallo and frank santopadre. >> like gallo and santa padre. we call them the explorers. don't they sound like -- >> yes, yes. >> i want to show a little clip of you doing standup. >> no, come on. seriously. really? are you going to run this by me? >> come on, let's just show it. >> chuck scarborough, who's the -- he's like the anchorman. he's the kind of guy you want to play tennis with. he's such a nice guy, you can cheat the pants off. it's no good chuck, it's not going to work. >> i didn't hear what i said. >> doesn't matter. doesn't matter what you said. i can't believe they dug that up. >> what the hell is that? >> that's you, i guess. >> yeah. yeah. >> you look better now. i like you. you're so cute now. >> see, that's young larry. he resents that. yeah. you know, last night somebody came up to me and said, my god, you know, you look so much better in person than you do on

tv. >> i hate that. >> i said, what is that? is that supposed to be a compliment? what, i look like a dog on tv? i don't get that. >> fix you up for television, so you should look better. >> look better, yeah. >> you are a very -- i remember you from the old days of "catch a rising star." you were what you would call a temperamental comic. >> yes. temperamental. >> the comics always loved to come into the room and say, larry's getting up. everybody would look at their watches and see how long you'd last. >> they didn't know if i was going to have a break down on stage. yes. you didn't know what was going to happen. >> what would happen to you when you would get up there and didn't get the first laugh, let's say? >> i didn't? i don't like it -- i don't react well to adversity. i'm a baby. you know? really almost the way that john mcenroe used to be when he played tennis if a call went against him. "what, you -- what?" that's how i was. something went against me. if a person -- i could be doing great.

if i saw one person talking during the whole thing, i'd go "hey, hey, you!" "oh, what, you don't like this?" oh, look, you don't like this? >> then you'd walk off. then you'd leave. >> i can't do this. i'm getting out of here. >> that stops -- >> one time i actually -- i've done this story before. i went up on stage, it was "catch a rising star." went up on stage and looked at the audience and i went, i don't think so. >> just the way they looked. >> just the way they looked. >> was enough. >> and i left. yes. >> you didn't have any money in those days. >> no. >> you don't have cab fare. you were living in that dungeon for actors. >> yeah. >> the manhattan plaza. >> the manhattan plaza. now you have money. very successful. you made a lot of money on "seinfeld." really a lot of money. not like my kind of money. your money. big money. >> let's not forget i got divorced. >> i know. california, she took half,

didn't she? >> yeah. >> that is outrageous. >> isn't that crazy? >> you are the one who's funny. you're the one who made all the money. why should she get half? i don't get that. you must have got hit with the economy a little bit, too, right? >> yeah. so, you know, i really don't have anything near what's -- >> what you had. that's so good. you can't live -- >> i'm not complaining. >> no, don't complain about it. in the new season of "curb" you have arranged for a "seinfeld" reunion. am i right? >> yes. >> okay. let's take a look. >> why would we do something like this? i mean, i remember you talking about whenever a sitcom does a reunion episode, you say, isn't this pathetic? >> i said pathetic. >> desperate. pathetic. when we would watch other shows and see them do reunion shows you would look and make that face, that very judgmental face of yours. >> who did you call first? did you call jerry first? >> jerry. >> yeah, and then who? >> people ask me that question

and i'm not telling them. >> why did you decide to do it now? the reunion? just like that? >> i had the idea a few years ago, and hurricane katrina came along and the thought of the idea about taking in the blacks, which became the art for that season. that seemed topical at the time to coincide with katrina. i needed to exploit that tragedy any way i could. >> as only you could. >> so then i did that. so i still have the idea. and i thought this season -- maybe, maybe we could do this. but it was a very ambitious thing to undertake, really. >> to get them all together. >> to get them all together and to get all those schedules down and get all the sets and all that and then write the shows. what were the shows going to be? it's one thing to say you just want to do a reunion, but what's it going to be about? >> you're thinking all the time

about those shows, aren't you? always thinking about the plots. >> yes. >> everybody loves to work on "curb" because you don't have a script. they improvise and make it up within your parameters. you haven't exactly asked me to be on, over the years. >> i haven't exactly or haven't asked? >> haven't asked. one of my spies told me -- >> we had suzy epsin on -- >> we're the same person. one of my spies told me michael richards is in one of the things, something about him. i don't know what it is because the information is not out. could it be that hysterical craziness he went through saying the "n" word in the club. >> what about it? >> is the episode going to be about that? >> he's not on just one episode. >> one of the episodes. >> we will touch upon it, yes. we will touch upon it. >> let's talk a little. is there anything else you want to tell me about "curb?" any little secrets or any little things that are going to happen? you're single now on the show.

>> yes. "curb" larry is single and the real larry is single. >> yes. >> so we're seeing parallels, right in the scripts? are you going to meet another woman? >> i have a couple of dates. >> in reality or on the show? >> no. hopefully -- hopefully i will have a couple of dates in reality. i kept my fingers crossed. i've been divorced two years. maybe one day i will have a date, but, no, on the show i have, you know, two episodes, two dating episodes. >> two dating episodes. you dating anyone in real life? >> presently, no. >> no? you're loose? >> yes. >> oh, wow, i'm putting that out right now for all you women. woody allen -- >> i'm loose -- and promiscuous. >> my kind of guy. >> i run the gamut. >> you came to the right place. new york is full of women who are loose and promiscuous. >> i've heard that for years. >> do you think they're more slutty in l.a. or new york? >> i was part of the hippy generation, free love and all

that. i kept going, where is it? i don't see anything. >> i missed it too, the whole sexual revolution. i am so resenting. just passed me by. >> when i come back i want to talk a little bit about your past. larry and i will be back. stick around.

earlier this week i had the pleasure of talking to a tv legend. he also happens to be the world record holder for most hours on television. that was before regis philbin did this show. we start with a rare clip from his first show. take a look. >> they package things -- they wrap things today like it infuriates me to open anything. >> what do you think when you see that, rege? how many years ago was that? >> i think that was one of my best shows. you know, i started a talk show

in 1961 and it ran 3 years then they brought me up to hollywood to follow steve allen on the "westinghouse" evening show. >> yeah. >> of course, i just wasn't ready for that. on my show in san diego i produced it myself, i flew the people in from los angeles. >> power. >> i put them up at the hotel. i did everything i wanted to do. i got to hollywood, i find out i got a producer, i got a associate producers, i got writers and i wasn't prepared for that. i blew that wonderful opportunity. >> look at you now, how many opportunities you've had since that. >> it took me a long time to accomplish where i'm at now. >> so many co-hosts. >> yes, over the years. so many is right. >> you've had -- what was the first one? >> first one years and years ago was mary hart. >> mary hart with the legs. >> she had legs then, too. >> was she sexually harassed at her job? >> not by me. no, i saw her, i was doing a local show in -- i was going to start a local talk show on

television. i was doing the news on kabc in los angeles. i knew the show was coming and they wanted me to have a co-host. so i asked mary hart. she was one of the first. before that it was sarah purcell and cindy garvey here in new york. then anne abernathy. then kathie lee who stayed 15 years. now kelly has been there eight. >> it's been eight years since kelly? >> yeah. >> i used to sit in with you a few times. >> i enjoyed that. >> they never offered me the gig. >> who denied that? >> i had a job already. >> of course you did. >> you know, you're such a character in a certain way in the business. "saturday night live" has captured it. let's look at that. >> my god. >> i love these. >> look who's back! >> i'm back. >> look who's back! i'm back. i never felt better. >> oh, come here, reeg. mwah. >> very funny. >> you find that flattering when

you see that? >> i kind of enjoyed it. i don't know. i thought he was very good. the guy who started this whole thing was dana carvey, though, when he appeared on "saturday night live." i'm out of control! he would say, you know? honest to god, i never said that. >> you scared me. but you do act like that. >> i can't believe you recoiled. >> you really scared me. >> what you go through every morning on that panel of women? i scared you? >> you scared me. there's, you know, i'm on this new show now and i'm all by myself here. >> let me ask you something. how does it feel? it's strange to be without four co-hosts, isn't it? >> it does feel different. i don't have people interrupting me. >> how do you think they feel about you getting primetime spot? >> i think they're happy for me. >> you think so? >> you don't think so? >> when are four women happy for another woman getting something they'd love to have? tell me that! >> you're assuming they'd love to have another show. i mean, i have how to work hard. >> they want so sit here. they want to sit right here. >> sherry shepard has a -- a new sitcom. >> i'm on this show tomorrow night. >> you're really making the round.

>> i'm not making the rounds. people invite me. >> how many hours a week do you work? >> four. i'm on four days a week except when we go to sweeps and then -- >> what about the millionaire show? you're on that also. >> i'm not on the millionaire show. it went off six years ago. can somebody help me here? >> what do you mean? aren't you back hosting? i saw you recently. >> it was for ten nights. >> all right. >> but thank you for staying in touch. >> do you think you actually saved the network like they say? >> i absolutely did. in the years that millionaire show came on, abc was desperate, more desperate than they are today. that's saying a lot. so, anyway, yes, i went on there and, bang, the show was an enormous hit. >> yes. you did. kathie always said -- or was it kelly? i never get -- it was one of them. >> it was kelly lee -- i mean -- and then kelly. >> so now you like kelly the best? >> do i like kelly the best? i love them all. they're all my girls, you know?

>> how do you feel about the fact barbara walters is considered a living legend and you're not? >> maybe because she's lived longer than me. oh. hey, hey. don't ever tell barbara that. >> no, no. she's not watching. >> wait a minute. barbara walters is a true icon if you want to call anybody an icon. no, honest to god, she blazed a lot of trails in this business for women, for people -- >> she's a pioneer. we wanted to get her a stagecoach recently. >> thank you. no, but she's great. i don't consider myself in her league to tell you the truth. >> why not? you're on icon on television also. >> no, i'm not. she interviewed fidel castro, you interviewed who? newt gingrich. >> i never interviewed him. >> you don't do that? you don't like politics? >> i really -- as a matter of fact i don't like politics. >> really? >> i really don't. i think -- it's so jaded now and everybody

has to follow the party line. >> what about when fdr was in office? >> then i interviewed him. >> let me ask you something. what do you think about leno's show? let's talk show biz for a second. >> well -- >> do you think he made a good move or what? >> the first week he did. ratings went through the roof and that. >> curiosity. >> it's a tough thing, isn't it? to do a variety show with all of the best the networks have got to put up right now. >> yeah. >> he may survive. he will survive this few weeks until people either make up their minds about what they're watching on the other networks and come back to him or maybe they don't. >> why did he give up his desk? the desk, all comedians need notes in front of them. need a desk. >> yeah. >> that was a big mistake. i'm going to call him. >> exactly right. i was almost going to call him and say, jay, don't give up the desk. >> get the desk back. >> the desk is everything. >> exactly. >> he wanted a different look. he wanted to have more of a variety show than what he had. why not do what they were doing before which was a big success? >> i know.

it's a tough slot. it really is. anderson cooper has been sitting in for you. >> he wants my job so bad. >> do you think he has your mojo? >> anderson cooper every night dreams about getting my job permanently really. >> really. >> he doesn't want to grow up like the wolf. he wants his own job. >> i think he has grown up like the wolf already. now, what about this halloween show you have coming up? i've heard you're doing -- what costumes are you doing? >> i don't know this year. it's yet to be decided by my producer. gelman. >> oh, gelman. >> he makes all the decisions. >> yeah. doesn't he listen to you? >> we all -- >> isn't he really your bitch instead of you being his bitch? >> i hear kathy griffin say that. how dare her say that about gelman. it was funny. i think we started the whole thing about the host getting dressed up for halloween. do you girls? do you do it? >> we're going to get dressed up. >> do you do it every year? >> every year. it ruins my makeup and hair. i despise it. >> if something changes it drives you crazy. >> yeah. >> we always come up with a

pretty good show. you know, i think it's a lot of fun. i just hate going through it. >> well, i mean, one year you came out as a woman and kelly came out as a guy, right? >> exactly. i did that, i think, with kathie lee and then with kelly as well. she does a funny regis, kelly. >> she does. >> oh, yeah. >> before we go -- i have to ask you -- >> where are we going? i want to hang around a little while longer. >> now you want to stay? before you were -- you know what? i know you don't do politics, but how about pop culture. are you shocked and upset jon and kate gosselin are getting a divorce? >> you know, she was on the show. i may have made a big mistake. i want to tell you something, i have a thing against reality shows. i think they are so fake. i think they are all produced before they begin. i think people know where they're going, what they're going to say, what the situation is. these things just don't happen. you know that. you have eight cameras set up. those these guys, the producers tell them, hey, this is -- i thought it was -- i thought it was a setup. the divorce. now i think it's headlines like a divorce, especially with a

woman who has eight kids. >> exactly. i don't care for him at all. >> well, i didn't say i loved them either. i'm talking about what reality shows can do. >> look, if these shows -- >> you're a very attractive woman. >> thank you, regis. >> honest to god, with this lighting you can go all the way. >> the lighting is fantastic. never a dull moment with regis. back in just a minute with something that's been bugging me.

tell me something. has anybody in this country ever heard of a salad? the new food fad sweeping the nation is the donut burger. 1,500 calorie bacon cheeseburger with a glazed butter krispy kreme donut in place of the bun. it looks gross like some kind of giant zit waiting to explode. all that's missing is the whipped cream, maple syrup and pepperoni pizza. the combo platter comes with a side of fries and defibrillator. according to the center for disease control, 65% of americans are obese or overweight. 66% if you count rush limbaugh's head.

can i ask a question? exactly how big a burger do we need? we have quarter pounders, half pounders, fat burgers, in-n-out burgers. i'm sorry. nobody needs to eat half a herd for lunch. a bar owner in georgia claims to have invented it and named it the luther burger. in honor of luther vandross who by the way, died of a heart attack at age 54. is this the best way to honor him by seeing how quickly they can get luther's fans to join him? heart disease is the number one killer in this country. which makes me wonder -- are the people selling these two tons of fun cooks or killers? that's a little harsh, but think about it. if tobacco companies have to put warning labels on cigarettes, why not do the same thing on donut burgers? hey, tubbo, when you're finally done chewing, feel free to call 911. that should do it.

i've learned a lot from the comments people have written. it helps me learn better.

i would love to be mom and dad. >> hey, you talk the talk but you don't walk the walk. go out with one 22 after the next while she's at home with the children and say you want to work it out. that's not working it out, jon gosselin. >> nancy seems a little annoyed there. here to talk about the latest in the jon and kate melodrama and a few other things, comedian kathleen madigan. editor-in-chief of "maxim" magazine. joe levy. comedian and commentator, chuck nice. he's nice. is there any woman in america this guy can get along with, jon gosselin? >> no, had he never seen her program? what did he think she was going to do? >> add stupidity to the list that he would think he would get along with nancy grace. >> completely dumb. every time i see him on tv, he's saying i don't want to be on tv. you know what, that makes you and 300 other million people, jon. quit going. quit showing up. that's where television shows are taped, at tv stations. >> tv studios. exactly. >> right.

>> i watch that, i see a woman with blond hair laying into him really giving it to him. i think he must be having a flashback to his marriage. >> yeah. he's used to it. >> he's panicked. >> that's a very good point. >> he was dumbfounded. >> kate is here. >> we have another sound on tape as they call it around here from that show. let's see this. >> i just love it. why is this always about you? why are we talking about you? she asked you about your children. >> because he's an important part of his children. >> can we speak without you piping in? i would look to hear -- how does it always get back to you? >> i don't know. i just thought, you know, you need -- >> that's a good place to start. >> does, does -- duh, duh, duh. >> you know, love and hate is so close. maybe nancy really likes him. >> you know, it's really good to see him actually hold his own with a tiger like that. you know? to be able to get in there and fire right back, you know? >> he's on television here. she's in new york on your show. who's in pennsylvania?

who's raising these children? like -- >> should change the name of the show to "plus 8." get both of them out. >> just "plus 8." >> two of the kids are super annoying. let's get rid of them too. and down to this six. >> come on. >> no, they're really annoying. >> here's what he said, jon gosselin. when we told the kids we were going to get divorced, the 5-year-olds said, they all speak at the same time, i guess, and they said, what's for lunch? they all said. >> see, even they knew it was coming. >> his point being they don't really care that the parents are getting divorced. you buy that? >> i don't. >> i just think they want to make sure they're going to be fed. they're worried about their parent's income. is there going to be food? these are basic questions. >> i don't think they realize these people are their parents anymore. >> there's a key grip they call dad. >> maybe it's the camera crew? i think they'd miss the camera crew, wouldn't you? >> those people are nice to them. service lady has hershey's kisses. you're going to like those

people if you're a kid. >> why doesn't the crew adopt those kids and dump the gosselins? that's an idea. >> that would be great. "the crew plus 6 minus the two annoying ones." >> speaking of the not bright groups, let's move on to levi johnston. he's going to pose for "playgirl" online. is alaska ready for this? >> is the internet ready for this? >> every gay man in america is ready for it. they're excited. >> did you see those photos of him topless in "gq?" shirtless, holding the baby. >> he's been going to the gym for six months. >> he's working out. >> may need more than six months. >> yeah. >> when you saw him in the pistachio commercial, he had a beer gut. he's been throwing them back. >> he's young. >> he'll work it out. he's a kid. you know? >> i say go for it, make the money now. two months from now no one's going to know his name. so if someone is willing -- >> if that were only true. >> no. >> he'll be gone. >> i'm not eating any of those pistachios if i ever lay eyes on

that spread. that's all i'm saying. >> do you think he knows -- >> it's not like he has a career plan that he might ruin by being naked. >> that's true. >> i was going to run for president, but i took naked pictures of myself. >> what about the apex technical school? can he go there? something like that, you know? >> something where he has a tool belt. >> does he realize playgirl is basically a magazine for gay guys? do you think he knows that? >> no. no there are only two gay people in alaska. they haven't told him. >> why don't we -- i'll tell you, you know what, why don't we put him in -- i don't think he's going to look that good in a bikini. i don't think he's going to do the waxing that's necessary. i question his commitment. >> that's where you're wrong. i say keep the mystique. go for the bikini. don't do the nude thing. go for the bikini. >> i think if you told him we'll give you $100 if you let us wax you, he'd be like, all right, dude. that's all it would cost. >> i think he'd give you change.

>> he'd be on the first bus to brazil, he thinks you get there by bus. you know who else is getting naked, serena williams. she's doing a magazine cover also. u.s. open something -- >> espn. the body issue. she's one of a bunch of athletes who have posed in some sort of state of undress. >> uh-huh. all right. >> i've seen enough naked men. there's no reason to see serena without her clothes on. >> oh. >> whoa. whoa. >> nice. >> she's not really naked, is she? >> she looks great -- i saw the pictures. >> is she really naked, though? >> covering the boobs and covering mrs. happy. she's like, you know, in a position. she looks very good, actually. >> really, isn't that a little too much? >> this one, i'll show you another one. oh, we have to break.

breaking news tonight -- satsuma, florida -- a 5-year-old little girl tucked into bed. five hours later, she's gone, vanished, the back door propped wide open. daddy comes home from the night shift to find not a trace of little haleigh. the last person to see the 5-year-old alive that night, new stepmother, misty croslin. bombshell tonight -- little haleigh's disappearance. the nine-month search for the brown-eyed 5-year-old. and the finger-pointing at the

babysitter turned stepmom misty croslin all finally take a toll. d-i-v-o-r-c-e, that's right, divorce. the two agree to formally split. but why now? has father ronald cummings worst fears been confirmed, that new stepmother misty croslin implicated in the disappearance of his 5-year-old girl? tonight, with us live, taking your calls, ronald cummings. >> last night at chili's. >> what did he do? >> got down on his knees and said will you marry me. >> the tensions are rising. she's taken off again. she needs her space. >> focus on my daughter missing and not what's going on in my life besides my daughter

going missing. >> okay, sir, let me talk to you wife. let me get some information from her. >> my little girl -- >> okay. can i talk to her? >> have you asked her what happened? >> i ask her. but that -- i don't get any answers from her about, you know -- i don't see -- what she's telling me is not inconsistent. >> -- they go out and look for the right person, they would have the answers. but they're trying to get all the answers from me. >> do you think misty holds some information that could help do that? >> i don't think that she holds any information -- >> everybody knows that i love haleigh and ronald and junior. i just want haleigh home. >> i have stated all along and i will continue to state that my grandchildren love misty and that misty loved my grandchildren. good evening.

i'm nancy grace. i want to thank you for being with us. tonight -- little haleigh's disappearance. the nine-month search for the brown-eyed 5-year-old. and the finger pointing at babysitter turned stepmother, misty croslin, finally all take their toll, d-i-v-o-r-c-e, divorce. but what, if anything, does it mean in the search for haleigh? >> everybody's probably going to take this marriage thing the wrong way, but it's not. it's still focusing -- things are still focused on haleigh. this is what haleigh wanted. she's always talked about it. >> when did you last see her? >> it was about 10:00. we were sleeping. >> what will it take for misty to come back home and tell us the truth? >> do you feel misty is the key to this investigation? >> no, i don't. i think they're barking up the wrong tree. >> ronald is doing the best that he can to encourage misty to get with law enforcement and tell them anything she may have forgotten. >> do you believe that misty was

indeed home and that she's been telling the truth? >> yeah, i believe she's telling the truth. >> i don't care who it is. but we want haleigh to come home. >> as you sit here, do you believe in your heart that they see you as a suspect? >> no, i don't. >> i don't either. i talked to the lead detective. his name is john legend. >> and he said? >> he doesn't think that she's a suspect. >> everyone, you are seeing earlier video from nbc's "today" show. i want to go straight out to marlaina schiavo, our producer on the story from the very, very beginning. she's joining us from st. augustine, florida. marlaina, divorces happen every day, they're a dime a dozen. why is this significant? >> nancy, this is significant because all along during this entire time, everybody's been

questioning ronald. and they've been questioning this marriage and why now, why after the last person to see haleigh gets married to the father of little haleigh. and now, after everything, they are splitting up. they've been saying for a long time that this has not been affecting them. they've been saying that they have not been fighting. they've been saying that, you know, misty was on vacation when she went to orlando. now we know why she's in orlando this time. it's because this marriage is ending. >> joining us tonight exclusively and taking your calls live, he's not afraid of the light of the camera or answering your calls. he has taken a lie detector test. we have been told that he passed. the biological father of little haleigh, ronald cummings. as you all know by now, cummings at work at the time little haleigh goes missing. comes home to find not a trace of her. all he finds is his then girlfriend at home with her hands wide open, "where's haleigh?" ronald cummings, why now?

why a divorce now? many people say your worst fears have been confirmed, that you along with the rest of the country, believe that croslin knows more than she's telling. >> miss nancy, i'm not sure that's the case. it's just we can't go anywhere without being -- you know, it's a hard -- it's hard enough to be a married couple, and then we can't go anywhere without being questioned or people staring at us or anything like that. >> okay. so you're getting a divorce because people stare at you? i don't believe that for one minute. >> no, that's not why i'm getting a divorce. i'm -- that's a part of the reason why i'm getting a divorce. >> then why are you doing it? >> the two of us -- the two of us have agreed to go separate

ways, and if in the long run something comes about haleigh then she can -- you know, it will be whatever. >> are you trying to say -- >> i still don't believe -- go ahead. >> are you trying to say in the long run you may get back together, in the long run she may finally tell you what happened that night? in the long run what? >> that, miss nancy, i'm not sure what's going to happen in the long run. i can't predict the future. but i would sure hope that just with the family problems and everything else it's just -- it's too much on the relationship. >> when you say family problems, are you referring to the fact that her family says she's not telling the truth about the disappearance of your little girl, her mother, her brother, and others? >> well, it's not only that. it's also, you know, the fight and everything -- it's just

everything. >> we are taking your calls live. with me, ronald cummings. today it is announced that he is divorcing girlfriend-turned-stepmother misty croslin, the last one to see this little girl alive, little haleigh cummings. the tip line -- 888-277-tips -- 8477. there is a reward for help in finding little haleigh. her family still believes she's alive. out to the lines. brenda in west virginia. hi, brenda. >> caller: hi, nancy. welcome back. thank you. and i'm going to thank you again. but thank everyone for your prayers for my mother. i really appreciate that. >> caller: yeah. what i wanted to know was why did they wait so long to search the pond?

you know, that pond never went nowhere, and all this time was wasted. why didn't they search that pond within a few days? >> good question. to ellie jostad, our chief editorial producer on the story, what about it, ellie? we heard all these stories about this pond. then, not one, but two letters emerged, detailing an alleged party late that night when haleigh went missing, a party fueled by drugs. there was an allegation little haleigh accidentally ingested oxycontin at that party, that she died, and that her body was disposed of in that pond. do i believe it? no. simply because, ellie, you know a bunch of people at a party are not going to keep their yaps shut. >> right. >> all right? that's the only reason i don't believe that story. go ahead, ellie. >> well, police won't say that the letter was the cause of the search.

they said they already knew about this pond, they'd searched around it in the past and that they'd planned to do a more thorough search. so they won't say there's a cause and effect between that jailhouse letter and the pond being searched. >> out to the lines. portia in florida, hi, portia. >> caller: hi, nancy. i'm actually calling from california. >> good to know. portia in california. thank you for calling, dear. >> caller: thank you for taking my call, miss nancy. >> yes, ma'am. >> caller: my question is has anyone, the police or mr. cummings himself, have they -- i understand that little haleigh has a medical condition. have they looked into whether or not she was given her medication that night, and if so, perhaps that would give them a better time frame of the last time, you know, that she was in the home. >> now, portia in california, that's an excellent question. to ronald cummings, he is taking your calls tonight on the heels of a divorce announcement in the last hours. he is splitting from girlfriend turned stepmother, the last person to see haleigh alive. her story has come under fire. misty croslin.

ronald, was she on medication for the turner syndrome? >> miss nancy, she was on medication, but at the time the only medication she needed was her albuterol treatment, which came in a breather. so all she has to do is a couple squirts and that's it, so that her asthma is -- so she can breathe well and she's not wheezing. >> correct me if i'm wrong, ronald, but the albuterol, the inhaler, you can't look at it and tell how much is in there, correct? >> no, ma'am. >> so you don't know if she used that before she went to bed or not. was her inhaler still there? >> yes, ma'am. >> so the inhaler was still there. everyone, with me tonight, ronald cummings, the biological father and guardian of little haleigh. the search is still on. but tonight, another wrench in the works. a divorce for ronald cummings and stepmom -- new stepmother misty croslin.

we are taking your calls live. ronald cummings answering your calls. as we go to break, i want to thank you for all of your thoughts and your prayers for my mother, elizabeth. i'm happy to report that tonight she is stabilized. once again, god answers prayers.

i love her like she's my own and i'll do anything to get her back. >> big news in the search for little haleigh cummings. we're hearing her father, ron cummings, and his teen bride, misty, are headed for divorce. >> ronald told her on sunday that he wants a divorce. on monday he headed to st. augustine to his attorney's office, and then by monday afternoon she was packing her stuff and she left town. >> just being married, it can be stressful, and there can be challenges. add on top of that everything that they went through during their marriage. i think it would be virtually impossible for any couple to survive that. >> she is the one that holds the

key information to finding out what happened to this beautiful little girl. i mean, who was with her? the last person with her? she was. >> miss neves, i don't mean to grill you, but it just doesn't all fit together. >> to me, it's a very dysfunctional family. and that's the best way i can describe that. >> they go out and look for the right person, maybe they would have the answers. but they're trying to get all the answers from me that i don't have. >> have you asked her what happened? >> i ask her, but i -- i don't get any answers. >> what, if anything, does a divorce at this stage mean in the search for little haleigh? taking your calls live tonight, haleigh's father, ronald cummings. let's unleash the lawyers. joining me tonight -- out of new york, family law attorney, child advocate sue moss. out of los angeles, eric chase. a defense attorney out of new york, renowned attorney jason oceans. straight to you, sue moss. weigh in. >> he's divorcing her before the prom.

maybe she'll go with her felon mom. i mean, only stevie wonder didn't see this coming. but this should be a simple case. and that's because florida's a no-fault state, which means either party's entitled to divorce for the asking. unfortunately, because of ron's being laid off, there's really no support issues, there's probably no property to divide, and certainly there's no children's issue because the couple never had a child together. >> to ronald cummings, ronald, who wanted the divorce? you or her? >> i think we both agreed on it. >> who brought it up first? >> i did. >> and what did she say? >> she agreed to it. >> immediately? >> not really immediately, but pretty close to immediately. >> so at first she did not want the divorce? >> not really. >> eric chase, l.a., what do you

make of the fact that a lot of people speculated she wanted to marry cummings so he could never testify against her? but in florida the law is very different than it is in a lot of other states. explain, chase. >> well, she would have been very wrong if that's what she assumed because in florida there's an exception to the marital communication privilege and that exception is if it involves harm to a child of one of the parents. she could have been forced -- i'm sorry, he could have been forced to testify about her if he knew anything. and by the way, nancy, it doesn't appear that he does know anything about misty's involvement in -- >> put up the lawyer. put up the lawyer. chase, he's divorcing her. all right? it doesn't mean he was there at the time the child went missing. but certainly, he has heard varying and conflicting stories from misty croslin. i mean, i have. and i'm 1,000 miles away. so don't say he doesn't know anything.

okay? >> well, you're right -- >> maybe he doesn't want to know anything. >> well, there's conflicting stories, but i haven't seen anything, any evidence connecting misty to her disappearance other than the fact she's been unable to retell the story the same way more than once. >> well, you know, jason oshins, to me, that's a problem. >> yeah. >> i've seen a lot of witnesses, a lot of witnesses, they'll add to the story. they'll say, oh, yeah, and i remember "x," and i remember it was a red car. and it had glass packs or it had -- this was the tag number. but they don't change the story. the story doesn't change. i have a problem with the story changing. >> well, it's -- >> to me that's evidence. >> nancy, it's the inconsistency. any good investigator will tell you that over time the consistency of the story, or for that matter the inconsistency will continue to lead investigators -- >> put chase back up. >> -- toward targeting someone. >> put the lawyers back up. chase, did you hear that? >> i did. but you were a prosecutor, nancy, and you used to argue to juries -- >> so? >> you used to argue to juries --

>> so? >> that your witnesses had problems keeping the story straight as they told it time after time after time. >> i know you were going to make a point. somewhere in there. i'm wading through it. >> we don't expect witnesses to remember everything perfectly every time they tell the story. >> okay, not what i said. i said "the story changed." ronald cummings, did it ever disturb you that misty croslin's story actually changed? >> yes, ma'am, it did. >> i hope that they -- they find my child alive, obviously. but one way or another, i want my daughter to come home. i need some closure. ddddd

i just got home from work. my 5-year-old daughter is gone. i need somebody here now. >> listen to me. we've got two officers -- >> if i find whoever has my daughter before ya'll do, i'm killing them. i don't care. i'll spend the rest of my life in prison. >> i didn't do anything to that little girl. i would never hurt her. i mean, they love me. they -- i mean, they look at me i would never hurt her. i mean, they love me. they -- i mean, they look at me like their mom. >> do you feel that misty has the key to this investigation? >> no, i don't. i think they're barking up the wrong tree.

>> it's definitely an issue that she's 17 years old because she doesn't have those adult thinking skills that a lot of us would have, even though she's leading a very adult life. >> the police have not -- still have not been able to put together a timeline on exactly what happened that night because of her inconsistencies. >> she took that police polygraph. i don't believe she took -- she passed it the first time. i don't believe she did. now this one. then there was that voice stress test. i mean, something is wrong with her story, ronald. >> i don't know, miss nancy. >> everybody knows that i love haleigh and ronald and junior. a family. just like haleigh wanted. >> the last holdout, the last person that is giving her an ability not to go out and not to tell the truth is ron. it seems to me that they should put their foot down and tell misty that the time for being vague is over. >> when you go to pick up your son and you see misty, have you tried to speak to misty croslin about what happened that night?

>> no. >> why? >> i can't. >> why? >> because she was the last one to see our daughter and i just -- i -- >> i mean, if somebody was the last person to be with my child, john david or lucy, and police say they have the key to what happened, i would at least say "what happened?" >> well, i haven't seen her since the results. but i did talk to her on the telephone, and she was telling me she had no problem with me and that she didn't have anything to do with our daughter going missing, that she was at home and all this stuff that everybody's saying is lies about her. that's the only time i've talked to her. >> okay. well, you know, you've got to take that with a box of salt because what do you expect the ex-wife is going to say about the new girlfriend, okay? that's never good. we are taking your calls live. to jane velez-mitchell, host of hln's "issues" and author of a

fantastic new book we're going to talk about shortly. jane, what about croslin's mother behind bars? they already put the squeeze on her brother, who coughed up quite a bit of information in a late night jailhouse interview. now mommy's behind bars on a forgery of a check. >> and she remains behind bars. and i think that the whole effort of law enforcement is to put the squeeze on this family because who would misty confide in? if she was going to tell one person what really happened that night? mama. of course she would confide in mama. and what's the best way to get mama to talk? keep her behind bars. it worked with the brother. it will ultimately work with the mom. although it will take longer. >> okay, jane, the mom is now extradited from tennessee to florida. in a nutshell, nutshell, what did the brother cough up? >> well, i mean, he essentially said he went over there that night, knocked on the door, and nobody was home at the crucial time when misty said she had put the kids to bed but she was still up and there was a tv on.

so it just doesn't add up. the brother essentially completely busting her story wide open. >> with me right now, mike brooks, former fed with the fbi. mike, thank you for being with us. weigh in. >> nancy, you know, as law enforcement says, the only thing about misty, the only thing consistent with her are her inconsistencies. two failed law enforcement polygraphs right from the beginning. they wanted tim miller to come back and help them look again, and he says no, i'm not coming back unless you take a polygraph. she took a polygraph. she failed that also. you know, there's just all the pieces in this timeline from the very beginning just don't add up. and if she wants to help law enforcement, then come back from orlando, sit down with or without your lawyer, and tell the truth -- period. >> with me right now, exclusively, ronald cummings. taking your calls. now, that's brave. not just talking to the police

but talking to the country, live. ronald, mike brooks makes an excellent point. why won't she come and sit down with police and talk to them? >> that, miss nancy, i can't answer for you. i'm sure that maybe her attorney can answer it for you. and hopefully that she will. >> uh-uh. uh-uh. no. you have to have talked to her about talking to the police. what did she say? >> we have talked to her about talking to the police. >> what did she say? >> she said she's talked to them. >> they want to talk to her again. why won't she do it? >> i have no knowledge of them wanting to talk to her where she wouldn't do it. >> okay. let's go to terry shoemaker, attorney for haleigh's father, ronald cummings. okay. you know, i know, the police know, the rest of the country

knows the police want to talk to misty croslin. it's not a secret. so how can she say with a straight face that she does not know they want to talk to her? please enlighten me, mr. shoemaker. you've got a good reputation. >> right. well, i think everyone knows the police would love to sit down and talk with her. it's my guess that probably her attorney isn't allowing her to do that, which isn't uncommon in this type of situation. >> okay. back to you, cummings. your lawyer knows police want to talk to her. so do not lie to me. you've never lied to me before to my knowledge. don't tell me you didn't know police want to talk to her again. we all know it. we've talked about it on this show, on national tv. now, i'm telling you, police want to talk to her. now, why is she back in orlando and not speaking to police? >> that i'm not sure, miss nancy. i already told you the same as what terry said. it's probably due to her attorney, his advice. >> she actually -- stopped by the putnam county sheriff's department today to inform them of where she's going and where

she'll want to be if they wanted to speak to her. >> you know what? i didn't get that whole thing. with me -- let me introduce you. brandon beardsley, family law attorney representing ronald. repeat, sir. >> my understanding is before she left for orlando that she stopped by the putnam county sheriff's department and reported in and told them where she was going if they needed her. >> did they try to question her? >> i don't represent misty. >> did they try to question her at that time? >> not to my knowledge. all i know is what i was told. and of course it's hearsay. but i was told from a reliable source that she did check in -- >> well, mr. beardsley -- >> -- before she left town -- >> mr. beardsley, this is not a court of law so -- >> i understand that. >> -- you don't have to make your own objection on hearsay. all right? so, i find it very difficult to believe that she was at the police station and nobody threw a question at her. but who knows, for all i know she went in and -- >> well, they can't -- >> -- talked to the secretary. >> if she goes in and her attorney's not there and they know she's represented, they

can't just question her. you know that. >> yes, mr. beardsley. i do know that. but when someone voluntarily marches alone into the police station -- repeat, voluntarily -- certainly, you know, mr. beardsley, that even when one is represented by counsel, if they voluntarily speak to police, that is admissible in a court of law -- yes/no? >> yes, ma'am. you are correct. but -- >> we are taking your -- >> listen, all i -- all i know is what i was told. i don't know if they questioned her or not. >> well put. out to the lines. barbara in missouri. hi, barbara. >> caller: hi, nancy. >> hi, dear. what's your question? >> caller: i was just wondering why they aren't looking at misty's brother more. he put himself at that trailer. just because he said he knocked real loud and left does not mean he didn't try the door. we know one of the doors was not locked because there was no break-in. so what if he went in, everyone

was sleeping, and he took the little girl? >> to marlaina schiavo, what about him? he does place himself there. >> he does place himself there. but to say that his door -- their door was not locked, we're not entirely sure what happened that night. we know the door was propped open on the side of the house, but we don't necessarily know who propped that door open. so we don't know if the door was unlocked, nancy. >> okay. we don't know if the door was open. that's not really knocking me out, marlaina. what about it? to you, ellie jostad. what do we know about the brother? >> well, we do know that the brother has spoken to police and they say that he's not a suspect, same with the rest of misty's family. police continually go back to their line they've said, especially since haleigh's birthday, that haleigh -- i'm sorry, rather, that misty is the person who holds the key, that she's failed to give a detailed account of what was going on that night, and they want to know from any other citizen who might know what she was doing that night, they want them to come forward and speak to them as well. >> leslie austin, psychotherapist, new york, weigh in quickly. >> i'm not surprised ron is being really careful.

he doesn't want to tick her off. she's the only one who has a clue. she's not going to talk either. she just wants to save her skin. right now she's walking in the street, she's not in jail. why would she talk to anyone? like casey anthony. >> well, lesley austin, once again, you've made perfect sense. quick break, everybody. we're taking your calls. live with us tonight taking your questions, ronald cummings, haleigh's father, this on the heels of an announcement just hours ago, divorce. what does it mean in this investigation? and tonight, a special congratulations to liberty united methodist church, macon, georgia, hearing the call to serve others. they are building a beautiful playground, redesigning, painting, and kicking off their very first parents' morning out to serve others. today, the most beautiful playground equipment, swing set, tunnel, steps, the works, have arrived on the scene. it's love in action. and god bless the little children that are coming your way, liberty methodist.

it's not like a bicycle or a car. somebody stole my child from me. >> she's gone and that's all i know. >> there's a lot of tension. it's very tough for -- strain on a relationship when there is something that you think maybe needs to be told and you're not getting that information. >> we are taking your calls live. out to jane. thank you. okay. ronald cummings, you want to

take a shot of that one? okay, go ahead. go ahead, mr. beardsley. [ no audio ] >> mr. beardsley, no offense. you have a wonderful reputation. i've checked you out thoroughly. but nobody gets a divorce because somebody looks at them in the check-out line. i'm not buying that for a minute. what i am buying is that you guys don't want to tell me why the divorce -- or if cummings wants to admit he does not

believe croslin's story. that's his business. i asked the question, you guys didn't answer, but i want to bring this back to haleigh. a 5-year-old little girl is missing tonight. to dr. gwen o'keefe, pediatrician, and ceo and founder of pediatricsnow.com. dr. o'keefe, thank you for being with us. >> my pleasure, nancy. >> a child with turner's syndrome, what problems does she face if she's still alive? >> you know, nancy, i've been thinking a lot about that. there's two issues here. the first is her asthma, and the second is her turner syndrome. with her asthma i'm very concerned that she doesn't have her inhaler. with the stress of being missing and with the change in season

right now, especially if she's exposed to the flu, that is a gigantic concern. she's likely experiencing some asthma symptoms, and without that inhaler she's likely getting into trouble. with the turner syndrome we didn't hear about any known issues, but those kids have issues with growth. they have issues with their endocrine systems. even if she doesn't have issues now, she needs very close monitoring of things like diabetes, possible heart problems, possible kidney problems, possible high blood pressure. >> ronald cummings, along with lawyers terry shoemaker, brandon beardsley, thank you for being with us. mr. cummings, i can say that tonight for the first time i don't believe you. i think you do suspect your ex-wife, soon to be ex-wife's story. i think you don't want to discuss it in the midst of a divorce. why? i don't know that yet. but i'll find out. thank you for being with us. right now, with me, jane velez-mitchell. take a listen. >> the haleigh cummings case. did the little girl accidentally

overdose on oxycontin? we've got a copy of a letter that places misty cummings and little haleigh at a wild drug-fueled party the very night she disappeared. the author of the letter says she's just paraphrasing a theory police got from somebody else. the writer of the letter essentially claims the whole story is a big lie. tonight's big issue, keeping dark secrets. if misty croslin cummings does indeed know more than she -- >> you know, i've been reading my book, "eleventh victim," but forget about that. here is jane velez-mitchell, my friend, my co-worker, here on hln. jane, i'm completely knocked out. you know what? there's not a lot of ways to say it, but let me say it nicely. you've got a lot of guts. >> thank you, nancy. >> you've got a lot of guts. tell me about the book, "i want," by jane velez-mitchell. >> i wrote this book because i struggled with a lot of problems. and why waste a problem?

i found solutions -- >> wait. i have to write that down. why waste a problem. >> why waste a problem? yeah. i struggled with alcoholism for most of my life. i finally by the grace of god got sober 14 1/2 years ago. >> praise the lord. >> yes, praise the lord. it was a miracle. and i don't use that word lightly. >> hold on, let me step back. how did you -- i mean, look at you, you're young, beautiful, talented, smart, education, the works. how did you get in the bottle? >> well, i believe i have a genetic predisposition, which i describe in my book, which i dedicate to my father, pierce mitchell. my dad was a high-functioning alcoholic. so i think i had it in the genes. but i also saw it environmentally. i didn't realize people didn't drink every night until i got out into the world and started to see that other people didn't drink every night. >> you know what, that's crazy. because i never saw anybody drink until i went to college. >> and that's probably why you don't have a problem. >> somebody handed me a beer and i poured it into a plant because i thought it smelled bad. okay, now --

>> you're lucky. >> so you grew up in this environment. and when did you realize -- what made you realize you had a problem? >> well, i blacked out. and that's the classic hallmark of alcoholism. i wouldn't remember what happened after a certain hour. and that was very, very terrifying. in fact, all the stories we cover, you and i, drugs and alcohol, and they don't have a clue, and i went through this whole process, they can save themselves a lot of hell and a lot of heart ache. drug addiction, it only gets worse, its progressive. >> and looking at you, i mean, nobody would believe you have ever had a problem. >> well, the people who knew me way back when would, because they saw me in action, and i was very lucky, i didn't get a dui, but i was a lush. >> jane velez-mitchell, you know what? she has a heart of a pioneer.

her new book, "i want." i'm so proud of her and i'm so proud she's with us tonight. and she's taking your calls.