MetroFocus: March 3, 2017

THERE'S AN INCREASE IN DISCRIMINATION CASES IN NEW YORK CITY.

THE COMMISSIONER ON HUMAN RIGHTS IS HERE WITH THE DETAILS OF A DISTURBING NEW REPORT.

> FORMER WRESTLER AND FORMER MINNESOTA GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA MAKES THE CASE FOR MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION.

> THE GREAT PATSY CLINE WAS ONE OF THE VOICES THAT DEFINED AMERICAN MUSIC OF THE 20th CENTURY.

TONIGHT A LOOK AT THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MICROPHONE.

> AND QUEEN VICTORIA SAT ON THE BRITISH THROWN FOR 63 YEARS BUT THIS SEASON'S MINISERIES ABOUT HER LIFE COMES TO AN END THIS WEEKEND.

WE WILL TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES.

ALL THAT AND MORE AS 'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪♪♪

THIS IS 'METROFOCUS' WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY --

CORPORATE FUNDING FOR 'METROFOCUS' WAS PROVIDED BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA, YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.

AND BY PSE&G, SERVING CUSTOMERS, STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE JPB FOUNDATION AND THE FORD FOUNDATION.

> TONIGHT OUR CHASING THE DREAM INITIATIVE ON POVERTY AND OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA SPOTLIGHTS NEW YORK CITY.

IT IS A TRUE MELTING POT, PEOPLE AND CULTURES FROM VIRTUALLY EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD COEXIST IN RELATIVE PEACE AND HARMONY, BUT DOES OUR INCREASING DIVERSITY MEAN GREATER FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL?

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST STATISTICS FROM THE NEW YORK CITY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, 2016 SAW A 60% INCREASE IN REPORTS OF ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION COMPARED TO THE YEAR BEFORE.

2016 ALSO SAW AN INCREASE IN TOTAL DAMAGES AND CIVIL PENALTIES AWARDED TO VICTIMS OF DISCRIMINATION.

AND ONE OF THOSE AREAS TO SEE THE LARGEST INCREASE WERE REPORTS OF NATIONAL ORIGIN, RACE, RELIGION AND CITIZENSHIP DISCRIMINATION.

THOSE CASES WERE UP 30% IN 2016 AS COMPARED TO 2015.

DO THESE STATISTICS MEAN ACTUAL DISCRIMINATION IS ON THE RISE OR IS THE RECENTLY REENERGIZED COMMISSION BECOMING MORE EFFECTIVE AS IDENTIFYING AND PROSECUTING REAL VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHTS OF THE NEW YORKERS?

JOINING ME NO YOU TO SHED LIGHT ON THE STATE OF FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY IS CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK CITY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, CARMELYN MALALIS.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO FIRST FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND, WHAT IS THIS COMMISSION?

WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE?

WHAT DOES IT DO?

SURE.

SO WE ARE THE CITY AGENCY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE -- AND I USE THAT WORD VERY CAREFULLY -- RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THE CITY'S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-HARASSMENT LAWS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE TAKE IN COMPLAINTS OF DISCRIMINATION FROM THE PUBLIC, WE ALSO WHEN WE THINK IT'S WITHIN THE CITY'S INTEREST IF PEOPLE ARE ALSO NOT EMPOWERED TO PUT THEIR NAME OUT THERE ON A COMPLAINT AND COME TO US WITH A COMPLAINT IF WE GET ENOUGH INFORMATION FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT ISSUES IN HOUSING, IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION AND EMPLOYMENT, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE CITY, IF WE HEAR ABOUT THOSE SORTS OF THINGS WE CAN ALSO INITIATE OUR OWN INVESTIGATIONS AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET DAMAGES FOR COMPLAINANTS WHO COME FORWARD AS WELL AS FOR THE DETERRENT EFFECT, ALSO PENALIZE FOLKS WHO WOULD SEEK TO ENGAGE IN DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT IN NEW YORK CITY BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEND THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THAT HAS NO PLACE IN THIS CITY.

WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT IN THE INTRO BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.

WHERE ARE THE GROUPS THAT SEEM TO BE MOST VULNERABLE AT LEAST FROM THE STATISTICS THAT YOU HAVE?

I THINK THAT'S BEEN INTERESTING IS I'VE BEEN AT THE COMMISSION FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ALSO MENTIONED IN YOUR INTRO IS HOW WE'VE TRIED TO REVAMP THIS AGENCY AND I THINK THAT IT'S BEEN FAIRLY TIMELY, YOU KNOW, THE LAST TWO YEARS ESPECIALLY, I THINK THE LAST YEAR, EVEN IF YOU LOOK NATIONALLY WE ARE SEEN DISTRESSING REPORTS OF HOW DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT, HOW BIAS ATTACKS AND HATE CRIMES AND HATE-RELATED VIOLENCE HAS INCREASED.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT IS HAPPENING ALSO LOCALLY, BUT I THINK ALSO MOST IMPORTANTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING LOCALLY IS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING FORWARD BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE WHAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE FOR PEOPLE, GOVERNMENT MEANING REPRESENTING SOME OF THESE VULNERABLE GROUPS, WHETHER THEY ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT RACE DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING OR, YOU KNEW, THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION OUT ON THE STREETS OR THEY ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT GENDER DISCRIMINATION, WHAT HAVE YOU, THAT THEY FEEL THAT THERE'S CONFIDENCE WITHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO HANDLE THOSE TYPES OF COMPLAINTS.

WELL, IF THAT'S WHAT THE ORGANIZATION IS THERE FOR, WHAT IS IT THAT REGULAR NEW YORKERS CAN DO?

SAY YOU ARE ON THE SUBWAY AND YOU SEE SOMEONE BEING VERBALLY ABUSED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR YOU COULD JUST -- I MEAN, THERE IS A MILLION WAYS YOU COULD SEE INCIDENCE OF DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT HAPPENING.

WHAT IS IT THE AVERAGE NEW YORKER CAN DO?

DO THEY COME TO YOUR OFFICER OR WHAT'S THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION?

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUT OUT THERE IS IF YOU'RE SEEING SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

WHETHER YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT OR WITNESSING IT BEING PERPETRATED AGAINST SOMEBODY ELSE.

I THINK ONE OF THE MOST INSIDIOUS THINGS ABOUT DISCRIMINATION IS HOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE AND IN THEIR DAILY LIVES WHERE IT'S BECOME SO NORMALIZED.

WHERE THEY THINK THIS HAPPENS TO ME BUT THIS IS A PART OF LIFE.

WHO IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

FRANKLY THE REASON I CAME TO THIS AGENCY IS I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW NEW YORK CITY IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING IT YOURSELF, IF YOU'RE SEEING SOMETHING HAPPENING TO SOMEBODY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR SOMEBODY YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ON THE STREET, WITH HE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE REDRESS AT AN AGENCY.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE MONETARY DAMAGES ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE ARE ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION THAT WE HAVE FOUND.

THERE'S ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF STOPPING THAT TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION IF THERE IS A POLICY OR PRACTICE IN PLACE.

SO THAT ALSO MEANS FOR PEOPLE WHO LET'S SAY SOMEONE IS NOT HIRED BECAUSE OF A PROTECTED -- BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE AND WE FIND THAT THERE WAS AN ACT OF DISCRIMINATION, WE CAN ORDER THE EMPLOYER, DO YOU KNOW WHAT, TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND ONE OF THE AREAS OF REDRESS THAT PERSON CAN GET IS TO GET THAT JOB.

IF WE FIND IN HOUSING DISCRIMINATION THAT A LANDLORD IS REFUSING TO ACCEPT SOMEBODY'S HOUSING VOUCHER BECAUSE OF SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION, THEY'RE SAYING, DO YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE YOU HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING FOR YOUR APARTMENT WITH A LINK VOUCHER OR SECTION 8 VOUCHER, THAT'S DISCRIMINATION AND IF WE FIND THAT'S HAPPENING WE ARE GOING TO SAY, NO, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT PERSON, THAT PERSON GETS THAT APARTMENT.

OR IF THERE IS NO APARTMENT AVAILABLE WE CAN SAY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT, WE ARE GOING TO PENALIZE YOU FOR DOING THIS TO THIS PERSON AND COUNTLESS OTHERS YOU MAY HAVE ALSO TURNED AWAY FOR THAT SAME REASON.

SO PEOPLE CAN GET REAL THINGS FROM COMPLAINTS OF DISCRIMINATION.

BUT WE AS A CITY CAN ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION OUT THERE IF WE KNOW THAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THE CITY THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING SPECIFIC ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION, WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE OF A SPECIFIC INDUSTRY, A SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD OR, YOU KNOW, A SPECIFIC TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION, WE CAN'T ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, WE CAN'T PUT OUT THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT WE NEED TO, WE CAN'T GO TO THE COMMUNITY --

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.

-- IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THAT SOUNDS UNBELIEVABLY CRUCIAL ESPECIALLY FOR NEW YORK CITY AND AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD THAT YOU WOULD WANT QUICKLY WITH THE LAST FEW SECONDS THAT WE HAVE.

ABSOLUTELY.

IF FOLKS ARE SEEING DISCRIMINATION, IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING IT IN THEIR LIVES THEY SHOULD CALL THE 311 AND ASK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

THIS HE CAN REACH THE COMMISSION DIRECTLY AT 718-722-3131.

PLEASE DO REACH OUT TO US.

WE WILL FOLLOW UP.

THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND TALKING TO US ABOUT THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

THANK YOU.

> MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HOT TOPIC BUT FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IT IS A MAELSTROM THAT MAY WELL END WITH A SHOWDOWN AS A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THREATENS TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY STATE VOTING TO LEGALIZE POT FOR RECREATIONAL USE.

DESPITE THE ADMINISTRATION'S COMPARING POT TO THE OPIOID CRISIS MORE AND MORE STATES ARE LEGALIZING IT.

ONE ACTIVIST AT THE FOREFRONT OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IS JESSIE VENTURA.

I RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK 'JESSE VENTURA'S MARIJUANA MANIFESTO.'

I BEGAN OUR CONVERSATION BY ASKING HIM WHY WITH SO MANY CRITICAL ISSUES FACING THE COUNTRY HE CONSIDERS MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION SUCH AN IMPORTANT CAUSE.

SOMEONE VERY CLOSE TO ME DEVELOPED AN EPILEPTIC SEIZURE DISORDER LATE IN LIFE.

I WOULD NOT HAVE MY QUALITY OF LIFE TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR MARIJUANA.

THIS PERSON WAS SEIZING THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK AND I HAD TO DEAL WITH THESE SEIZURES.

THE PERSON WAS PUT ON FOUR DIFFERENT PHARMACEUTICAL MEDICINES, ONE AFTER THE OTHER, ALL OF THEM DIDN'T WORK FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, ALL HAD HORRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS.

WE TOOK THE PERSON TO COLORADO BECAUSE AT THE TIME MINNESOTA DIDN'T ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THE PERSON WENT TO COLORADO, GOT DROPS UNDER THE TONGUE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND HAS BEEN SEIZURE FREE NOW FOR OVER TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND IS COMPLETELY WEANED OFF ALL PHARMACEUTICAL PILLS.

MARIJUANA CURED THESE SEIZURES.

THAT'S WHY I BECAME SO PASSIONATE BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE SUFFERING MANY MEDICAL DISORDERS THAT ONLY MARIJUANA SEEMS TO HELP.

STEVE CUBBY THE GUY WHO WROTE THE FORWARD IN MY BOOK HE WAS DYING FROM INOPERABLE CANCER AND HE WAS GIVEN FIVE YEARS TO LIVE.

HE HAS BEEN LIVING 35 YEARS NOW BECAUSE OF MARIJUANA IS KEEPING HIM ALIVE.

WHEN YOU READ HIS FORWARD, YOU WILL BE SO ANGRY WITH OUR GOVERNMENT YOU WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO TALK.

HE LOST A LOT FIGHTING THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT YOU CALLED THE ACTIONS OF OUR GOVERNMENT A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY.

IT IS.

WHEN IT COMES TO MARIJUANA.

ELABORATE.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, MARIJUANA WAS THE ECONOMIC DRIVEN FOUNDATION OF OUR COUNTRY FOR 160 YEARS.

DO YOU REALIZE TODAY THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THOMAS JEFFERSON WOULD HAVE HAD THE DEA BREAKING IN THEIR HOMES, ARRESTING THEM AND JEFFERSON AND WASHINGTON WOULD BE CHARGED AS DRUG DEALERS TODAY AND BE PUT IN PRISON.

SO FOR 160 YEARS WE WERE FINE.

THEN ALONG CAME THE '30s AND WILLIAM RANDOLPH HURST, THE GUY WITH THE NEWSPAPERS, HE OWNED THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF TIMBERLAND BUT RATHER THAN COMPETE IN CAPITALISM HE USED HIS POWER IN WASHINGTON, LIKE TODAY, TO BUY OFF THE POLITICIANS.

THEY DECLARED MARIJUANA AND HEMP ILLEGAL THEN SO WE WERE FORCED TO BUY TIMBER FROM HIM TO MAKE PAPER.

THINK OF THIS, THE CONSTITUTION, THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND BETSY ROSS' FLAG ARE ALL MADE OUT OF MARIJUANA.

WELL, IF YOU COULD SUMMARIZE HOW DO WE GET FROM THAT TO THIS WAR ON MARIJUANA AND --

WELL, BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT MONEY AND IT'S ABOUT CORPORATE BUYOUT.

THE PHARMACEUTICALS DON'T WANT MARIJUANA LEGAL BECAUSE YOU CAN USE IT RATHER THAN TAKE THEIR PILLS.

ALCOHOL DOESN'T WANT MARIJUANA LEGAL BECAUSE YOU MIGHT DECIDE TO SMOKE POT INSTEAD OF DRINK.

YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT CLAIM TO BE CAPITALISTS, WHICH IS ABOUT COMPETITION, WHO ARE USING THE LAW TO LIMIT THE COMPETITION SO THAT THEY CAN MONOPOLIZE A CERTAIN ELEMENT OF OUR KMI.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WATCH THE FILM 'ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN' DO YOU REMEMBER THAT FILM.

FOLLOW THE MONEY.

WHERE WOODWARD GOES DOWN AND DEEP THROAT SAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY.

WELL, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROFOUND THAT IS WITH GOVERNMENT.

FOLLOW THE MONEY.

LAST YEAR NEW YORK CITY BANNED THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA WHICH IS NOT MARIJUANA BUT MIMICS THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA AFTER 4,500 CASES OF EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS BECAUSE OF THE USE OF THE DRUG AND AFTER ONE --

BECAUSE IT WAS SYNTHETIC.

IF THEY HAD THE REAL STUFF THEY WOULDN'T BE GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

BUT IN COLORADO ITSELF SINCE IT WAS LEGALIZED THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE OF 30% IN EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS --

DO YOU WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER LITTLE THING?

YEAH.

HEROIN USE HAS DROPPED IN EVERY STATE THAT'S LEGALIZED POT.

WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE PEOPLE SMOKING POT OR DOING HEROIN?

I WILL TAKE POT.

THEY TELL YOU MARIJUANA IS A GATEWAY DRUG.

NOT TRUE.

OUR VETERANS -- WE'VE ALREADY STUDIED IT.

THERE'S A UNIVERSITY WE FINANCE IN ISRAEL, THEY SAID IT COULD HELP FOOTBALL PLAYERS WITH THE HEAD INJURY, THE TRAUMA OF THAT, IT HELPS POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS, IT HELPS GLAUCOMA, THE LAST IS ON AND ON AND ON.

AND TELL ME ONE PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG THAT DOESN'T HAVE A BAD FLIP SIDE TO IT.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH MARIJUANA AND THE LEGALIZATION OF IT SAY -- WHAT'S IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?

I'M HOPING IN MY LIFETIME I SEE IT FULLY LEGALIZED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS IT WAS AS I SAID IN THE DAYS OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS, GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THOMAS JEFFERSON.

YOU COULD ACTUALLY TRADE WITH ENGLAND, THEY PREFERRED MARIJUANA OVER MONEY.

SO HOW DO WE GET THERE?

I MEAN, THE STATES ARE MOVING, HOW DO --

THE STATES HAVE TO DO IT AND THE OTHER UNIQUE THING, MARIJUANA IS THE ONLY THING THAT ALLOWS THE DEA DECIDES ON MARIJUANA.

THAT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED TO MAKE THE DECISION?

THEY PROFIT FROM IT.

AND WE GIVE YOU EXAMPLES IN THIS BOOK WHERE THE DEA HAS BUSTED DOWN DOORS MULTIPLE TIMES, KILLED PEOPLE AND THEN FOUND OUT IT WAS THE WRONG HOUSE AND NO ONE IS PROSECUTED.

I GUESS IT'S COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN THE WAR ON DRUGS.

WELL, GOVERNOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS MATTER.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

> BEST KNOWN FOR SONGS LIKE CRAZY, I FALL TO PIECES AND SWEET DREAMS, PATSY CLINE DEFINED MODERN COUNTRY BY USING HER SINGULAR TALENT AND HEART WRENCHING EMOTIONAL DEPTH TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS OF GENDER, CLASS AND GENRE.

PATSY DIED IN A PLANE CRASH IN 1963 AT JUST 30 YEARS OLD, BUT DURING HER BRIEF LIFETIME SHE OVERCAME SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLES AND EMERGED AS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND ICONIC WOMEN TO COME OUT OF NASHVILLE'S MUSIC SCENE IN THE 1950s AND '60s.

CLINE'S MUSIC AND THE STORY OF HER PERSEVERANCE IS THE SUBJECT OF AMERICAN MASTERS PATSY CLINE.

TAKE A LOOK.

NEXT UP IS A LADY WHO IS THE HOTTEST THING IN COUNTRY MUSIC THESE DAYS.

SHE IS ONE OF THE FINEST VOICES IN AMERICA.

HERE SHE IS SINGING ONE OF HER BIG, BIG HITS, MS. PATSY CLINE ♪♪♪

SHE DEFINITELY CROSSED GENRES AND BOUNDARIES.

SHE CAME THROUGH THE CAR WRECK, THE BAD MARRIAGE, I MEAN, THE POVERTY THAT SHE LIVED IN AND HAVING TO QUIT SCHOOL AND GO TO WORK, ALL OF THOSE THINGS MADE HER WHAT SHE WAS.

THE FACT THAT THE SONGS STILL TO THIS DAY RESONATES WITH SO MANY PEOPLE, IT'S INSANE REALLY TO THINK THAT A SONG LIVES ON FOR SO LONG.

♪ YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU ♪♪♪

PATSY CLINE HAD THE MOST PROFOUND EFFECT ON MY LIFE OF ANYBODY I NEVER MET.

♪ I GO OUT WALKING AFTER MIDNIGHT ♪♪♪

JOINING ME NOW IS THE FILM'S PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR, BARBARA J. HALL.

BARBARA, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

ALL RIGHT.

SO PATSY CLINE, WHAT IS IT ABOUT -- I THINK MOST AMERICANS ARE AT LEAST VAGUELY FAMILIAR WITH HER AT THIS POINT BUT WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER STORY THAT MADE YOU SAY THIS NEEDS -- IT DESERVES A DOCUMENTARY?

WELL, I THINK MOST PEOPLE COME TO PATSY FOR HER MUSIC.

THAT VOICE SOMEHOW IS TIMELESS, SHE CAN -- CONTINUES TO SELL RECORDS, SHE CONTINUES TO BE ON THE CHARTS, BUT HER STORY TO ME WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE SHARED AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, PARTICULARLY AS WOMEN IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS OF ANY -- IN ANY ASPECT OF THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS, THIS WOMBAT LD THROUGH WITHOUT SETTING OUT TO BATTLED.

SHE JUST BARGED THROUGH THE SYSTEM WITH VERY LITTLE EDUCATION, VERY LITTLE SUPPORT AND JUST DIDN'T GIVE UP.

SOMEHOW KNEW SHE HAD A GIFT THAT JUST HAD TO BE HEARD.

WELL, MOVING ON TO PATSY'S PROFESSIONAL CAREER, HOW WAS IT THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THOSE SONGS AND MAKE THEM HER OWN IN A WAY THAT SHE -- IT'S ALMOST HARD TO HEAR SOMEONE ELSE PERFORM THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SO JUST COMPLETELY IDENTIFIED WITH HER VOICE?

SHE DID NOT SETTLE FOR A BAD NOTE, A BAD DYNAMIC IN A TIME WHEN THEY DIDN'T GO BACK AND FIX THINGS.

THEY DID -- YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TWO HOURS TO DO A SONG IN THE STUDIO, IF THAT, AND WHEN IT WAS DONE IT WAS DONE.

SO THEY HAD -- SHE HAD TO BE ON, SHE HAD TO BE ON PITCH, SHE HAD TO BE ON TIME.

SO THOSE RECORDINGS, THEY CAME FROM THE GUT AND I THINK IT'S THAT AUTHENTICITY THAT WE FEEL IN HER MUSIC.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE SO DRAWN TO IT.

WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS THAT YOU COULD SAY IT'S CLEAR THAT PATSY CLINE WAS AN INFLUENCE ON THEM AND THEY SORT OF CARRY A LITTLE BIT OF THAT INFLUENCE IN THEIR WORK TODAY?

WELL, WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEBODY LIKE KACEY MUSGRAVES SINGING TODAY ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE SHE'S REALLY MEANING WHAT SHE'S SAYING, SHE'S REALLY BELIEVABLE, THAT'S AN INFLUENCE OF PATSY CLINE, BUT I THINK WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT IS PATSY CLINE TAUGHT A LOT OF WOMEN -- UNBEKNOWNST TO HERSELF -- NOT TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER, NOT TO SETTLE FOR CLOSED DOOR BEHIND THEM AND NOT TO BE TOLD HOW TO MANAGE THEIR CRAFT.

I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE THAT SHE HAS HAD PARTICULARLY ON WOMEN TODAY.

EVERY WOMAN -- FEMALE ARTIST THAT I'VE COME ACROSS HAS SAID WE OWE A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO PATSY FOR PUSHING THROUGH A TESTIMONY THAT JUST WASN'T TERRIBLY FEMALE FRIENDLY AT THE TIME.

SHE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ICON, AN AMERICAN ICON, BUT IS THERE ANYONE TODAY THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY COMPARE HER TO.

OH, BOY.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS HARD.

I THINK SHE WAS THE ADELE OF HER TIME.

YOU KNOW, SHE WASN'T SUPER POLISHED, SHE WAS GLAMOROUS IN HER OWN WAY, HER LOOK, HER SOUND WERE UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC TO HER AND HER -- HER WAY OF DEALING WITH THINGS, HER WAY OF RELATING TO PEOPLE WAS REALLY GENUINE AND DOWN TO EARTH.

YOU FELT LIKE YOU COULD BE HER GIRLFRIEND.

YOU FELT LIKE YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE AND REALLY POUR OUT YOUR GUTS AND SHE WOULD BE LISTENING.

I THINK -- AND I GET THAT FEELING WHEN I HEAR AND WATCH ADELE.

SO THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE --

WELL, I'M SURE THAT WOULD BE A SUBJECT THAT WOULD MAKE FOR A GREAT DEBATE, ESPECIALLY AMONG PATSY CLINE FANS.

BARBARA HALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ALL THE WAY FROM NASHVILLE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

AND THANK YOU FOR HONORING PATSY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, SHE REALLY DOES DESERVE THAT.

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF PATSY CLINE AMERICAN MASTERS IS ON MARCH 4th ON THIRTEEN AT 9:00 P.M. DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

> DOWN TON ABBY FANS HAVE BEEN IN MOURNING SINCE THE END OF THE NOW CLASSIC SHOW WHICH EXPLORED THE UPSTAIRS AND DOWN STAIRS WORLDS OF THE CRAWLEY FAMILY AND THE LIVES OF THEIR HELP.

NOW MANY OF THEM WILL BE IN MOURNING FOR A NEW PBS SERIES 'VICTORIA' AS IT, TOO, COMES TO A CLOSE WRAPPING UP IT'S FIRST SEASON THIS SUNDAY.

'VICTORIA' HAS GIVEN VIEWERS THE ROYAL TREATMENT BY TAKING US BACK TO THE 19th CENTURY AND THE HALLS OF POWER IN BUCKINGHAM PALACE, A TIME WHEN ENGLAND HAD A NEW YOUNG RULER WHO ALSO JUST HAPPENED TO BE A WOMAN.

THE SHOW ALSO EXPLORED THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE, ROYAL DRAMA AND ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC LEADERS, QUEEN VICTORIA HERSELF.

AND FANS CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW IT WILL ALL PLAY OUT.

AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND'S SEASON FINALE I HAD THE CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH THE SERIES CREATOR AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK 'VICTORIA' DAISY GOODWIN.

WE STARTED OFF BY DISCUSSING WHY VICTORIA'S STORY LENDS ITSELF SO WELL TO TELEVISION.

I WAS ORIGINALLY WRITING THIS AS A NOVEL AND AS I DISCOVERED MORE AND MORE ABOUT IT I THOUGHT, HEY, THIS IS REALLY THE STUFF OF DRAMA.

FORGET 'GAME OF THRONES' THIS IS THE REAL THING.

HER UNCLE WHO THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THINKS IS A MURDERER IS THE NEXT 'TO THE THROWN.

SHE'S GOT TO BE PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS OR WHATEVER AND HE'S IN, HE'S KING.

SO IT WAS VERY, YOU KNOW -- NOW WE KNOW THAT SHE RAN FOR 63 YEARS, BUT THEN SHE WAS THIS LITTLE TINY GIRL, SHE WAS ONLY 5 FOOT AND EVERYBODY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY HADN'T HAD A QUEEN FOR 200 YEARS.

PEOPLE THOUGHT SAYING GOD SAVE THE QUEEN WAS WEIRD, IT FELT STRANGE.

IT'S REALLY AN INTERESTING TIME.

EVERYBODY IS JOCKEYING FOR POSITION AND EVERYBODY THINKS THAT THIS LITTLE GIRL WHEN SHE COMES TO THE THROWN WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL HER, SHE WILL BE NO PROBLEM BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL BECAUSE WHEN SHE COMES TO THE FLOWN SHE'S LIKE I'M GOING TO DO THINGS MY WAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TENDS TO HAPPEN TO ME WHEN I WATCH THESE DRAMAS IS I WILL FALL DOWN THE WIKIPEDIA RABBIT HOLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND WHAT IS DRAMA.

FIRST TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK WHERE THE DIFFERENCES ARE.

WELL, I MEAN, I'M A HISTORIAN BY TRAINING, I'VE STUDIED HISTORY AT CAMBRIDGE.

I FIRST GOT INTERESTED IN QUEEN VICTORIA AT CAMBRIDGE AND STARTED TO READ HER DIARY WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS OLD.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH QUEEN VICTORIA AS IT WERE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

I COME TO IT NOT AS SOMEBODY WHO THINKS IT WOULD BE GREAT TO MAKE A SERIES ABOUT VICTORIA, I WANTED TO DO THIS BECAUSE I KNEW SHE WOULD BE A GREAT SUBJECT AND THE BOOK AND THE SERIES IS THE COMBINATION OF A YEAR -- OF YEARS, MY LIFE, SPENT STUDYING VICTORIA.

SO SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE CRITICIZED THE SERIES FOR DEPARTING FROM REALITY, BUT I'M AFRAID I SAY ACTUALLY I STAND BY MY THEORIES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE HISTORY AND WHAT I'VE WRITTEN IS IN MY VIEW A VERY TRUE PORTRAYAL NOT ALWAYS, YOU KNOW -- THERE MAY BE SOME DEPARTURES IN TERMS OF DATES OR WHATEVER BUT A VERY TRUE PORTRAYAL OF VICTORIA THE CHARACTER AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HER.

I THINK THAT MY STORY, THE STORY I'VE WRITTEN IS VERY TRUE TO THE REAL WOMAN AND THE DILEMMAS THAT SHE FACED.

WELL, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT GOING FORWARD WITH THIS?

I MEAN, OF COURSE WE ALL KNOW WHAT HER ACTUAL LIFE HOW IT PLAYED OUT THROUGH HISTORY, BUT WHAT CAN WE EXPECT COMING FROM THE SERIES?

WELL, I THINK YOU KNOW HOW PEOPLE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT HER EARLY LIFE ACTUALLY.

SO I'M HAVING GREAT FUN UNPACKING THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD VICTORIA, YOU KNOW, FACES A LOT OF THE DILEMMAS THAT A MODERN WOMAN FACES BECAUSE SHE'S MORE POWERFUL THAN HER HUSBAND, YOU KNOW, AND SHE'S GOT TO COMBINE MOTHERHOOD, NINE CHILDREN, AND HAVING A VERY DEMANDING JOB.

HOW DOES SHE DO THAT?

OBVIOUSLY SHE'S GOT A LOT OF HELP BUT THAT'S A TOUGH THING TO DO.

THE ONLY THING THAT OF COURSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE THAT WE HAVE NOW IS CONTRACEPTION.

HENCE THE NINE CHILDREN.

YEAH.

HER LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE DIFFERENT.

THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE ALSO PLAYED OUT IN THIS AND ONE OF THE ONES THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IS HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRIME MINISTER.

YES.

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT FOR HER.

LORD MELVIN WHO IS HER FIRST PRIME MINISTER IS IN MY OPINION VICTORIA'S FIRST LOVE.

SHE'S COME OUT OF THE SCHOOL ROOM, SHE'S COMPLETELY UNDUE TOWARD, SHE'S VERY -- QUITE NAIVE AND SUDDENLY THIS CHARMING MAN WHO IS LIKE FAMOUS LADIES MAN WALKS -- AND HE IS THE FIRST MAN SHE HAS EVER BEEN ALONE WITH, YOU KNOW, AND HE'S UTTERLY CHARMING AND FLATTERS HER AND MAKES HER FEEL GOOD, MAKES HER FEEL LIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT SHE CAN BE QUEEN AND HE FEELS THE SAME ABOUT HER SO THEY HAVE THIS VERY, VERY INTENSE RELATIONSHIP FOR THREE YEARS.

I MEAN, IT'S PLATONIC, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY GOT ROMANTIC UNDERTONES.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU READ HER DIARIES, HE IS ON EVERY PAGE, PRETTY MUCH ON EVERY LINE AND SHE BREATHES, SLEEPS AND THINKS OF NOTHING BUT MELVIN UNTIL THE MOMENT WHERE PRINCE ALBERT TURNS UP AND THEN SUDDENLY DING DONG, WE'VE NOT, YOU KNOW, THE MOST HANDSOME PRINCE IN EUROPE AND SHE SWITCHES HER AFFECTIONS.

WELL, I THINK THAT'S A LOT FOR AUDIENCES TO CHEW ON AND DEFINITELY A LOT FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY AND LEARN ABOUT QUEEN VICTORIA.

DAISY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO NICE TO TALK TO YOU, JENNA.

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