The Inside Scoop
-Lazerus Long
Welcome to Inside Scoop. This is where you'll find information about some of the stories the CBS News broadcasts, as well as CBS.com, are following. And our correspondents and producers, give you an inside peek at what it took to get the story.
On the CBS Evening News, Correspondent Bill Geist takes a look at the newest entry into the SUV market, the Ford Excursion. It's the granddaddy of all SUVs, bigger than the Chevy Suburban by five inches. Why do we need cars the size of trucks? What's next? A tractor trailer in every driveway?
Says Producer Jason Sacca: "Driving the biggest car on the road with a character like Bill Geist was quite an adventure. He would toss off comments as we roared down the road like 'people are scattering!' and 'I feel like the number 57 bus.. maybe we should stop and pick up passengers' and 'I wonder what's going on in the back seat?' We had quite a day, and a lot of fun. The car turned a few heads and everyone was impressed--not difficult considering the Excursion is 19 feet long and 7 feet high. We tried to think of the silliest thing in the world to try to fit in the trunk....and I think we found it!! Watch and see."
And from Saturday Morning: Ever wonder if those health foods that you're eating are really as healthy as their ads claim? Consumer Correspondent Herb Weisbaum reports on the growing popularity of fruit smoothies and sandwich wraps.
And, those of you who have kids preparing for college, will want to hear from Carlos Watson, the founder of Achieva, an organization that offers professional advice to kids applying to colleges.
Plus, tune into Chef on a Shoestring, as Chef Cyril Renaud from La Caravelle in New York City makes tomato and basil feuillette, early fall squash and okra risotto, and, for dessert, roasted cinnamon apples.
Don't forget to print the chef's recipe at CBS.com every week. There's a big archive of past recipes, too. You'll find it at CBS.com on the Web, shortcut: chef. Or, on AOL, use keyword chefonashoestring.
And, by the way, if you haven't checked your attic for valuables consider tuning into Tony Hyman's collectibles segment on CBS News Saturday Morning and on CBS.com because you just might get lucky. On a recent Saturday Morning, viewer Mary Ann Dolan of Ardmore, Penn., brought in a replica of the famous Hindenburg airship. Collectibles expert Tony Hyman said it was worth at least $1,500. He had consulted Art Bink, a blimp and dirigible memorabilia collector. In 50 years of collecting, Bink had never seen a replica like Dolan's.
Also on CBS.com is a list of the email addresses of other experts who are happy to answer your questions about ollectibles. At CBS.com, just type in this shortcut: collectibles. On AOL, our keyword is CBS News; choose On Air from there to get to Saturday Morning's site.
And from Sunday Morning: Is Anybody Out There? CBS News Correspondent Bill Whitaker explores the question of the existence of intelligent aliens in faraway galaxies with renowned astronomer Jack Welch. Plus, CBS News Correspondent Mark Phillips talks with best-selling author J.K. Rowling, whose Harry Potter series of books is taking the children's literature circuit by storm. And, in "Taxi Cab Quips And Confessions," Anchor Charles Osgood takes a drive with Manhattan photographer and cabbie David Bradford, whose soon-to-be-released collection of photos culminates 15 years of plying his trade and making his art on the streets of New York City.
On Face The Nation: Bob Schieffer talks to House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Minority Leader Richard Gephardt about the possibility of a government shutdown. And Former Education Secretary and Republican activist William Bennett weighs in on the recent controversies surrounding Presidential hopeful Patrick Buchanan.
Each Sunday, Anchor and Correspondent Bob Schieffer ends his broadcast with his commentary, and observations about life. In case you missed his commentary last week, reflecting on the tragedy in Ft. Worth, here is an excerpt: "If you had a two-year old, what would you do about such things as drain cleaner, kitchen knives and other household necessitates that pose a danger to children? You wouldn't stop buying them. You'd just put them out of reach on a higher shelfÂ… Just common sense, which makes me wonder why we refuse to take the same commonsense approach when it comes to dealing with guns. It is not a question of taking guns from sportsmen or legitimate gun owners, as the professional gun lobbyists would have you believe... We wouldn't question for a moment putting rat poison beyond the reach of a two-year-old. Why is it so hard for us to put guns on a higher shelf? Why was it so easy for a deranged man to arm himself with lethal weapons?"
60 Minutes: In his first interview about his controversial biography of Ronald Reagan, Edmund Morris -- who had unprecedented White House access -- tells Lesley Stahl fascinating insights about the 40th president and explains why he put himself into the book as a fictional character. Also: Affirmative action in college has always meant trying to put minority students onto predominantly white campuses. But what happens when an historically black college offers scholarships to white students only? Morley Safer finds out.
A few highlights scheduled for Monday's This Morning: Investigative Correspondent Robera Baskin brings you a very special and personal story. Ever since Baskin's 70-year-old father Alan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July, his friends and family have been trying to find a way to cope with the news of his illness. A family friend found a way that would allow those close to him to share their thoughts and feelings by creating a living eulogy on the Web. Roberta talks about her father and the site, Alanbaskin.net.
And parents will want to watch This Morning's Parental Guidance series, which on Monday will feature parenting expert Katy Abel. She have tips for parents on how to get kids to help out around the house.