♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE LATEST ON SENATOR MARK KELLY'S CHANCES OF BEING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

>>> A RECENT DISCOVERY COULD MAKE FOR AN IDEAL SPOT FOR HUMANS TO MAKE A BASE ON THE MOON.

>>> AND VALLEY NATIVE AND NORTH AMERICAN TOUR RETURNS HOME FOR A SHOW IN SCOTTSDALE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

U.S. ECONOMIC GROWTH INCREASED LAST QUARTER TO A 2.8% ANNUAL RATE ACCORDING TO THE U.S. COMMERCE DEPARTMENT WHICH REPORTS IT COINCIDES WITH EASING OF INFLATION WHICH FWRU AT 2.6 ANNUAL RATE DOWN FROM 3.4% LAST QUARTER.

THE NUMBER INDICATES THE NUMBER IS ON THE VERGE OF A SO-CALLED SOFT LANDING WHICH HIGHER INTEREST RATES AND LOWER INFLATION WITHOUT TIPPING THE ECONOMY INTO RECESSION.

>>> GABBY GIFFORDS WAS ASKED ABOUT HER HUSBAND ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY.

>> HE IS MY BEST FRIEND.

HE IS SO FUNNY, FUNNY, FUNNY.

I LOVE HIM A LOT.

TED: KELLY IS CONSIDERED TO BE AMONG THE FRONT RUNNERS TO BE HARRIS' VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE.

>>> HARRIS IS IN A VIRTUAL TIE WITH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

LEADING 4% TO 47% AMONG LIKELY VOTERS AND A JUMP FROM THE SAME POLL EARLIER IN THE MONTH WHICH HAD TRUMP.

LEADING PRESIDENT BIDEN BY SIX PERCENTAGE POINTS.

TRUMP LEADS HARRIS BY TWO POINTS AND NARROWING OF TRUMP'S NINE-POINT LEAD OVER BIDEN IN THE EARLIER POLL, BUT REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL LIKE FLORIDA SENATOR MARCO RUBIO SEE CHANGE OF A DIFFERENT SORT WITH THE NEW PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

>> SHE'S A REAL LIBERAL.

THEY RENTED BIDEN, THEY OWN HER.

SHE WAS IN THE ROOM WHEN THEY MADE ALL THE DECISIONS THAT DESTROYED THE COUNTRY.

BOTH SIDES HAVE ENTHUSIASM IN THE END.

TED: CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM ISSUED EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING STATE AGENCIES TO CLEAR HOMELESS CAMPS THAT CITIES COULD ENFORCE ANTI-CAMPING LAWS, THERE IS NO LONGER A BARRIER TO ADDRESS ENCAMPMENTS WITH, QUOTE, URGENCY AND HUMANITY.

SAN FRANCISCO'S MAYOR VOWED TO BE, QUOTE, VERY AGGRESSIVE AND ASSERTIVE AND MOVING ENCAMPMENTS FROM CITY STREETS THERE.

>>> ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY'S NAME CONTINUES TO BE INCLUDED IN SPECULATION LARDING A POSSIBLE SPOT AS KAMALA HARRIS' VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE.

SHOULD KELLY BE THAT CHOICE?

WE WELCOME BEN GILES, SENIOR EDITOR, ARE YOU THE SENIOR EDITOR OR A SENIOR EDITOR?

>> A SENIOR EDITOR.

TED: OKAY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT ARE WE HEARING HERE?

>> SPECULATION IS THE KEY WORD.

NOT HEARING ANYTHING DIRECTLY FROM MARK KELLY AND HIS CAMP.

KELLY WAS CAUGHT AT THE CAPITOL EARLIER TODAY TALKING ABOUT WHETHER IT'S HIS MILITARY SERVICE OR DECISION TO RUN FOR U.S. SENATE FOUR YEARS AGO, MARK KELLY SAID, I'VE BEEN CALLED TO SERVE AND ENJOYED STEPPING UP WHEN THAT CALL COMES.

BUT I SPOKE WITH HIS POLITICAL ADVISORY EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND THEY'LL NEITHER CONFIRM NOR DENY HE'S IN THE RUNNING BUT HAS NOT STOPPED SPECULATION.

>> THE LIST IS NARROWING AND NARROWING AND HE'S ALWAYS THERE?

>> YEAH, HE'S GOT A PRETTY COMPELLING BACK STORY AS AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT, A VETERAN, AN ASTRONAUT FOR GOODNESS SAKES, ALWAYS CAMPAIGNS WELL AND GOT A COMPELLING FAMILY BACK STORY WHEN IT COMES TO HIS BRUSH WITH GUN VIOLENCE, THE SHOOTING OF OVER A DECADE A GO OF CONGRESSWOMAN GABBY GIFFORDS, HIS WIFE.

SOME OF THE REASONS HE'S VETTED AS VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE BECAUSE HE'S OUTSPOKEN AND A PERSONAL TALE TO TELL WHEN IT COMES TO GUN VIOLENCE.

TED: NAVY PILOT, ASTRONAUT, WIFE OF GABBY GIFFORDS, CONFIRMED IN THE SENATE, YOU DON'T SEE THAT, DO YOU?

>> LOT OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES SPECULATED ARE GOVERNORS, WHETHER IT'S NORTH CAROLINA'S GOVERNOR OR PENNSYLVANIA'S GOVERNOR, AND DEMOCRATS HISTORICALLY HAVE NOT PICKED GOVERNORS AS VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATES.

I THINK SINCE THE 40s.

THEY HAVEN'T PICK AID GOVERNOR TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE IN THAT WAY.

IN THAT SENSE, KELLY'S BEING A SENATOR MIGHT BE A BOON FOR HIS CHANCES.

TED: AND THE RELATIVE INEXPERIENCE, THAT COULD PLAY A PART, I WOULD IMAGINE, LOOK AT J.D.

VANCE, YOU'RE NOT SEEING A HECK OF A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THERE EITHER.

>> SURE, THE CRITICISM COULD CUT BOTH WAYS AS YOU MENTIONED JUST THERE.

BUT WHAT KELLY HAS SHOWN IS AN ABILITY TO WIN TOUGH CAMPAIGNS IN WHAT IS NOW A BATTLEGROUND STATE.

HE WON THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO FINISH JOHN McCAIN'S TERM IN 20, AND WON A FULL SIX-YEAR TERM IN 2022.

CLOSE RACES BUT RACES WHERE HE PROVED HIMSELF UP TO THE CHALLENGE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

TED: AND YOU MENTIONED THESE ELECTIONS WHICH HAPPEN EVERY TWO YEARS FOR UNITED STATES SENATE.

SHOULD HE BE CHOSEN AND SHOULD HE WIN, WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING, DON'T WE?

>> GOES BACK TO 2016, WHEN JOHN McCAIN WON A NEW SIX-YEAR TERM IN HIS RACE FOR THE SENATE.

STARTING IN 2020, THERE HAS BEEN A NEW RACE FOR SENATOR IN ARIZONA.

THE HARRIS-KELLY TICKET WINS IN NOVEMBER.

KELLY WOULD HAVE TO RESIGN BEFORE INAUGURATION DAY, JANUARY 2025.

THAT WOULD TRIGGER A SPECIAL ELECTION IN 2026, LIKE THE ELECTION KELLY WON IN 2020 TO DETERMINE WHO SERVED THE LAST TWO YEARS OF KELLY'S TERM IN THE SENATE AND THEN 2028, ANOTHER ELECTION FOR ANOTHER FULL SIX YEARS AND IN 2030 ANOTHER ELECTION FOR WHOEVER WINS THIS 2024 ELECTION WE'RE HAVING NOW.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER A DERK -- DECADE STREAK OF U.S. SENATE RACES IN OVER 20 YEARS.

TED: KEEP ROLLING THE SIXES ALONG.

IF ALL OF THIS HAPPENS AND GOVERNOR HOBBS DOES CHOOSE SOMEONE TO SUCCEED AND TAKE THAT, WHO ARE THE NAMES?

IT SEEMS LIKE GREG STANTON WOULD BE THE ONE I THINK OF FIRST, I WOULD IMAGINE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW FOLKS WAITING IN LINE.

>> GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS TEAM IS NOT SPECULATING ABOUT THAT AT THIS POINT.

THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY SEEN AS A DEEP BENCH FOR DEMOCRATS CAPABLE OF STEPPING UP AND RUNNING STATEWIDE.

I HEARD STANTON, I ALSO HEARD APPOINTING A LATINO OR LATINA TO THE SEAT OR MAYBE A NATIVE TO THE SEAT BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A BIT OF A GROUNDBREAKING MOVE FOR HOBBS TO APPOINT A MINE TORT SERVE.

TED: SHE WOULD HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE THAT WOULD WIN THAT SEAT IN ANOTHER ELECTION, TO WIN THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> THAT IS THE RISK THAT DEMOCRATS MIGHT BE TAKING IF THEY APPOINT KELLY.

IF KELLY IS THE VP, I SHOULD SAY.

HOBBS WOULD GET TO A POINT AS REPLACEMENT, THIS IS A COMPETITIVE STATE WHEN IT COMES TO STATEWIDE RACES, NO GUARANTEE WHOEVER IS APPOINTED COULD GET RE-ELECTED IN 2026, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS TO GAIN BACK A STATEWIDE SEAT.

TED: YOU MENTIONED REPUBLICANS.

>> IT'S JUST SPECULATION AT THIS POINT.

TED: LAST POINT ABOUT MARK KELLY, HIS POLITICS.

WILL DEMOCRATS AT THE CONVENTION, YOU'RE GOING TO THE CONVENTION, GOOD LUCK, FELLA.

ARE THEY OKAY WITH A GUY WHO IS TOUGH ON THE BORDER, WHO IS NOT NECESSARILY IN LINE WITH UNION AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IS HE A FAVORITE AMONG DEMOCRATS?

>> I THINK WHAT KELLY BRINGS TO THE TABLE AND KIND OF THE TYPE OF CHARACTER HE'S TRIED TO DISPLAY SINCE BEING ELECTED TO THE U.S. SENATEA SOMEONE WHO'S NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER, SPECIFICALLY HIS OWN PARTY.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE BORDER.

THAT COULD BE SEEN AS ASSET BECAUSE MAYBE IT'S A WEAKNESS FOR HARRIS HAVING BEEN THE BORDER CZAR, TAKING CRITICISM FROM REPUBLICANS FOR WHAT THEY SAY ARE BIDEN'S FAILURES AT THE BORDER.

THEY COULD POINT TO KELLY AS AN ADVOCATE TO THE BORDER, FIXING GAPS IN THE BORDER WALL.

THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT MIGHT HELP IN A STATE LIKE ARIZONA, WHICH COULD BE A STATE THAT DECIDES THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

TED: INDEED, BEN GILES OF KJZZ, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED A CAVE ON THE MOON, THE FIRST TIME A CAVE FOUND ON THE LUNAR SURFACE AND COULD BE AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR HUMANS TO BUILD LIVABLE SPACES.

JOINING US IS ROGIER WINDHORST, I'M GOING TO CALL YOU ROGIER, A LOT EASIER TO PRONOUNCE THAT.

A CAVE?

>> THERE'S A RADAR AND A CAMERA THAT RUNS HERE AT ASU, BUT THE RADAR HAS SEEN THE EVIDENCE FOR AN UNDERGROUND CAVITY THAT LEADS TOO THE CRATER.

THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PHENOMENA.

WE SEE IT IN HAWAII, CANARY ISLANDS AND ICELAND AND IT MAY HAVE LEFT THE CAVITIES BEHIND.

TED: COUPLE HUNDRED MILES MAYBE FROM THE APOLLO 11 LUNAR?

THAT CLOSE, HUH?

>> YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK THERE WITH THE ROVER AND ASTRONAUTS, YOU COULD BUILD A HABITAT AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE.

TED: YOU MENTIONED A LAVA TUBE, 130 FEET TEEP, CONSIDERABLE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SIDES, DOWN THE STRUCTURE, DO YOU KNOW?

>> IT MUST HAVE BEEN RUNNING LIQUID ROCK ONCE UPON A TIME.

MORE SOLID ROCKS SURROUNDING IT WHEN IT COOLED OFF AND THE LAVA DISAPPEARED FROM THE CHANNEL AND LEFT A CAVITY BEHIND THAT IS NOT UNCOMMON ON EARTH.

CAN IT HAPPEN ON THE MOON AS WELL.

A LONG STRUCTURE.

TED: IN THE BOTTOM CAVITIES?

>> PRESUMABLY COULD HIDE FROM THE SUN.

TED: THIS BEING A BASE FOR FUTURE HUMAN MISSIONS FOR SPACE EXPLORATION.

>> MINUS 200 AT NIGHT FOR 14 DAYS AND PLUS 250, TWICE THE TEMPERATURE OF PHOENIX DURING THE 14 DAYS OF SUNLIGHT.

THAT'S 400 DEGREES DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU LIVE AT ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE, YOU COULD BE IN THE SHADE OR THE DAYLIGHT AS NEEDED.

TED: THAT'S FASCINATING THE TEMPERATURE UP THERE.

WE'RE TAKING A LOOK RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS THE DEAL, RIGHT?

>> YEP.

TED: DO YOU THINK THERE ARE MORE OF THOSE?

THERE HAS TO BE MORE?

>> SHOULD BE.

TED: WAS IT A NEW KIND OF RADAR, SYSTEM THAT FOUND THIS?

>> NO, IT'S BEEN, THE LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER HAS BEEN USED FOR IMAGING BUT CONVINCED THE UNDERGROUND STRUCTURE NEXT TO WHAT YOU SEE IS AN OPENING BUT MORE LIKE A VOLCANIC SINKHOLE RATHER THAN A CRATER.

ALL THE OTHERS ARE IMPACT CRATERS WHERE ROCKS HIT THE SURFACE OF THE MOON A LONG TIME AGO.

THIS IS PART OF A SYSTEM.

WE DON'T HOW BIG IT IS, IF YOU COULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT WITH ROPES OR TECHNIQUE LIKE AN ELEVATOR, IT WILL TAKE MANY LUNAR MISSIONS TO IMPLEMENT.

THAT BUT YOU WOULD HAVE IN PRINCIPLE A PLACE WHERE IT'S MORE FORGIVING TO LIVE.

TED: IS THAT THE KIND OF THING NASA IS WORKING ON?

IT SOUNDS FAR OUT FOR THE FUTURE, BUT IS IT SOMETHING THEY'RE WORKING ON NOW?

>> IF WE'RE GOING TO LIVE ON THE MOON PERMANENTLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS TO DO.

I WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE THAT WITH A ROVER.

TED: I WOULD THINK IF IT'S 130 FEET DEEP, AND YOU'RE WEARING EQUIPMENT AND USING 100 WHATEVER OUTSIDE, THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO GET IN AND OUT OF.

>> BACKPACKED WITH 40 POUND BACKPACK HAVEN'T YOU?

TED: YOU STILL GOT TO GET THROUGH.

>> YOU NEED ROPES AND GOOD IRON OR STEEL CABLES TO GET DOWN.

IT'S NOT SIMPLE.

TED: NO, NO, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, HOW BIG A DEAL IS THIS FOR SCIENCE.

>> THIS IS A BIG DEAL IT.

GIVES US A VIABLE WAY TO STAY ON THE MOON LONGER THAN A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS.

THIS WOULD OFFER THE POSSIBILITY TO STAY THERE FOR A LONG TIME IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

THAT'S THE PLAN, OF COURSE.

TED: WE GOT YOU HERE, AND LOVE TALKING ABOUT THE CAVES AND THE MOON AND THE PERSEIDS ARE COMING AND WE SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PERSEIDS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CAN GET OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO SEE ANYTHING IN THE VALLEY.

WHAT ARE THE PERSEIDS?

WHAT ARE THEY?

WHERE ARE THEY?

>> SANDSTORM IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM, A DUST CLOUD LEFT OVER BY THE COMET THAT HAS BEEN GOING AROUND THE SUN EVERY 130 YEARS OR SO.

IT CAME IN 1865.

IT CAME BACK IN 1992.

AT THAT POINT, IT WAS IN 1885 IT WAS RECOGNIZED, AS A COMET A FEW YEARS LATER, PEOPLE RECOGNIZED IT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PERSEIDS AROUND AUGUST 11, 12 CREATE A BEAUTIFUL SPECTACLE OF METEORS HITTING THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE AND VERY CONSISTENT, IT HAPPENS EVERY AUGUST 11, 12, 13.

GO TO 87 AND MAKE SURE THERE'S A MOUNTAIN BETWEEN YOU AND PHOENIX.

BRING A LONG CHAIR, MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO RATTLESNAKES, BRING COFFEE.

LOOK AT THE NORTHEAST, THERE WILL BE A W-SHAPED CONSTELLATION, RIGHT UNDERNEATH IT, THE PERSEID CONSTELLATION AND THE DUST CLOUD IS FIXED IN SPACE.

JUST SIT THERE AND LOOK EVERY MINUTE, THERE WILL BE ONE OR TWO THAT WILL HIT THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE.

TED: AND THE PATH LINE STARTS OR BEGINS AT OR NEAR PERSEID.

>> YES, THAT'S WHERE THE COMETARY TRAIL POINTS AT FROM OUR PERFECT.

TED: ISN'T THAT FASCINATING.

I LOVE LOOKING AT THE STARS AND IN THE SUMMER, LOOKS LIKE, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE VALLEY, THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE.

>> YEAH, AND IN MONSOONS IN AUGUST, THAT'S EARLY EVENING, IF YOU GO LATE AT NIGHT PAST MIDNIGHT, MONSOONS DIE DOWN, THE SKY WILL BE DARK, LOOK AT NORTH-NORTHEAST, LOOK AT NORTHEAST ON THE LAWN CHAIR, YOU CAN'T MISS IT.

TED: YOU FIND ONE, YOU KNOW WHERE TO KEEP LOOKING.

>> THAT WILL BE VERY REGULAR.

TED: WE'LL DO THAT.

GREAT STUFF.

LOVE HAVING YOU ON TALKING ABOUT THE STARS AND PERHAPS CAVES ON THE MOON.

>> COME TO ASU TO STUDY IT ALL.

TED: THANK YOU, SIR, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> WELCOME.

.

TED: VALLEY NATIVE AND ASU GRADUATE NICK CARTELL IS STARRING AS JEAN VALJEAN IN THE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR OF "LES MISERABLES."

CARTELL IS OUT WITH A NEW ALBUM TITLED A THOUSAND SPOTLIGHTS AND HOMETOWN CONCERTS TOMORROW AND SATURDAY NIGHT AT ASU-KERR IN SCOTTSDALE.

WE WELCOME NICK CARTELL TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

HOMETOWN GOT IT GOING GOOD, HUH?

>> I'M TRYING.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT A THOUSAND SPOTLIGHTS BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR AFIELD.

THIS IS MORE THAN A CONCERT, YOU ARE DOING SPEECHIFYING HERE.

>> THERE'S AN ALBUM, IT IS A FULL SHOW TOMORROW NIGHT.

BAKE STORY AS I LOVE LETTER TO THEATER.

IT'S A LOVE LETTER OF MY JOURNEY FROM STARTING HERE IN THE VALLEY TO WHERE I AM NOW.

TED: WHERE DID YOU START IN THE VALLEY?

>> I WENT TO CHAPARRAL AND GRADUATED FROM ARIZONA STATE.

AND I HAVE MY ROOTS REALLY ARE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, JUST RIGHT OUT THE DOOR WHERE I PERFORMED BEFORE.

TED: A LOT OF KIDS PERFORM AND GET INTO IT AND GET OUT OF IT.

WHEN DID YOU KNOW THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO?

>> YOU KNOW, THE BUG BIT ME WHEN I WENT TO SEE IN SEVENTH GRADE WENT TO SEE A PRODUCTION OF CINDERELLA, AND I GREW UP SINGING IN THE PHOENIX BOY'S CHOIR IN TOWN, BUT THE FIRST TIME I SAW ACTORS AND DANCERS PUTTING TOGETHER A SHOW THAT WAS MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH AND THEY WERE ENJOYING IT, AND I WAS LIKE THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO.

I AUDITIONED FOR THE FIRST SHOW AT ASU THEATER, AND HISTORY EVER SINCE.

TED: WHEN DID YOU KNOW -- AGAIN, A LOT OF KIDS GET THE BUG, WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE PRETTY GOOD AT THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, PROBABLY IN HIGH SCHOOL.

HIGH SCHOOL THAT I WAS LIKE, OKAY, I KNOW I CAN SING, THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT I CAN SING, I TOOK A LOT OF CLASSES AND HAD A LOT OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS TO GET TO WHERE I AM BUT A LOT OF LESSONS THAT I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY AND ONE OF THE LESSONS IS IT'S NOT RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT A NO, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT NOW.

IF THERE IS A STUDENT OUT THERE, IF THERE IS A KID THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, THAT SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT NOW, NOT A NO.

TED: THAT'S GREAT ADVICE, REALLY GOOD STUFF BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE GET STUCK, OH, GEEZ, IF YOU REALLY WANT IT, AGAIN, MAYBE NOT NOW.

>> EXACTLY.

TED: THE ALBUM HAS BROADWAY, HAS DISNEY, HAS JAZZ, HOW DID YOU SELECT THE PLAY LIST.

>> THESE ARE ALL SONGS THAT SPEAK TO ME, THAT I LOVE TO SING, SONGS THAT THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THEM SENT GOOSE BUMPS UP AND DOWN MY SPINE.

IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE THEY'RE ALL SONGS THAT I'VE SUNG BEFORE, WANTED TO SING BEFORE BUT ALSO SONGS THAT REPRESENT PARTS OF MY LIFE, WHERE I AM NOW IN MY CAREER AND HOPE TO GO IN THE FUTURE.

TED: ARE THERE SONGS THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY LOVE AND GIVE YOU THE CHILLS BUT YOU KNOW IT'S NOT FOR YOU?

>> 100%.

100%.

YES.

A LOT OF SONGS LIKE THAT.

IN THE CANON OF MUSICAL THEATER AND POP SINGING THAT I GO, THAT IS A GREAT SONG BUT I CANNOT DO THAT ONE.

TED: CONVERSELY, ARE THERE SONGS THAT YOU NEVER CONSIDERED BUT GAVE IT A SHOT AND WENT WHOA.

>> THAT, TOO.

100%.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SONGS THAT WERE KIND OF LIKE ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW THAT WE DIDN'T PICK FOR THE ALBUM THAT HOPEFULLY DOWN THE ROAD THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE COMING OUT AND WE'LL ADD THE SONGS ON.

TED: I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT JEAN VALJEAN, EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT PRONUNCIATIONS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

JEAN VALJEAN.

TED: WHAT IS IT LIKE TO INHABIT THAT CHARACTER?

>> FIRST OFF, A DREAM COME TRUE, TO PLAY SUCH AN ICONIC CHARACTER AND TO GET TO TAKE UP THE MANTLE EVERY NIGHT.

IT'S A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY IN NOT ONLY LEADING THE SHOW BUT THE COMPANY.

THERE IS SO MUCH JOY I FIND IN DOING THAT ROLE EVERY NIGHT.

AND NOW AFTER I PERFORMED THE ROLE OVER A THOUSAND TIMES, I STILL FIND NEW THINGS IN THAT ROLE EVERY SINGLE NIGHT WHEN I STEP ON THE STAGE.

BEING IN THE AUDIENCE IS DIFFERENT.

SOMEBODY MIGHT REACT TO SOMETHING I SING DIFFERENTLY.

AND CATCH AN ENSEMBLE OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE, THAT'S DIFFERENT.

THAT'S HOW I KEEP IT FRESH AND CONTINUE TO PERFORM SUCH AN ICONIC CHARACTER.

TED: IT WOULD SEEM TO ME, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT, YOU WAKE UP, I'M JEAN VALJEAN AGAIN, WE GOT TO DO THE SAME.

DIFFERENT STAGE, DIFFERENT CROWD, DIFFERENT FEELING.

LIVE THEATER, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WITH LIVE.

>> THAT IS THE JOY OF LIVE THEATER.

LIVE THEATER WAS THE FIRST THING WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, IT WAS THE FIRST THING TO CLOSE, THE LAST THING TO OPEN, BUT AUDIENCES ARE FLOCKING TO LIVE THEATER, THEY'RE COMING BACK BECAUSE THEY WANT TO FEEL THAT, THAT EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN A SHOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SEE TONIGHT AND THE NEXT NIGHT IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

TED: AND YOU'RE PART OF IT.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR NICK CARTELL?

HAVE YOU GOT IT PLANNED OUT OR SERENDIPITOUS?

>> I WOULD SAY THE THING ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY, THERE'S NO USE IN PLANNING.

I HAVE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS AND THINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO, BUT FOR NOW, I'M EXCITED FOR THIS ALBUM TO COME OUT.

EXCITED TO GET THIS OTHER PART OF ME, THIS OTHER VOICE THEY HAVE OUT FOR AUDIENCES TO HEAR THAT'S NOT JEAN VALJEAN, AND THAT I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE ON THIS JOURNEY OF PORTRAYING THIS CHARACTER, LUCKILY MY FAMILY IS OUT WITH ME ON THE ROAD, MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ON THE ROAD WITH ME, AND I'M THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT.

TED: YEAH, YEAH.

BEFORE WE GO, THE KIDS AT VALLEY THEATER, THE KIDS AT CHAPARRAL HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT DO THEY THINK OF THIS?

>> IF I'M IN TOWN AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE MASTER CLASS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IN SOME RESPECTS THEY'RE AWESTRUCK AND I'M ALWAYS LIKE I'M JUST ME.

I WAS YOU WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL.

I WAS THE PERSON THAT WOULD WAIT AT THE STAGE DOOR.

ANY TIME I CAN GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

ANY TIME I GIVE BACK TO THE FOLKS THAT HELPED TO MAKE ME WHO I AM, I ALWAYS TRY TO DO THAT.

TED: CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR SUCCESS, ASU-KERR TOMORROW NIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT.

CONTINUED SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

Support for Arizona.