>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": WE'RE MOVING INTO A NEW PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST COVID PLANS OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE, THE STATE HOUSE, AND CITY HALL.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, EXACTLY?

AND IS IT REALLY TIME TO LOSE THE MASKS?

DR. SABRINA ASSOUMOU, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER, AND HARVARD EPIDEMIOLOGIST WILLIAM HANAGE JOIN ME.

THEN, LATER, EMMY AWARD-WINNING ACTOR KIEFER SUTHERLAND, KNOWN FOR HIS ROLE AS JACK BAUER ON "24" AND THE GREAT "STAND BY ME," JOINS ME ON HIS OTHER CAREER, AS WHAT I'D CALL A "COUNTRY-ISH" SINGER, OUT WITH A NEW ALBUM AND A PERFORMANCE NEXT WEEK IN BOSTON.

♪♪ >> Braude: IT WOULD BE THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY TO SAY WE'RE ALL EAGER FOR THE PANDEMIC TO BE OVER, AND AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ROLL BACK SAFETY MEASURES EVEN FURTHER AMID A DECLINE IN CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND DEATHS, INCLUDING HERE IN BOSTON -- WHERE PARTS OF THE CITY'S MASK MANDATE WILL LIFT ON SATURDAY -- IT CAN START TO FEEL LIKE IT ALREADY IS.

THAT INCLUDES THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S NEW APPROACH TO THE PANDEMIC, WHICH FOCUSES ON GETTING AMERICANS BACK TO THEIR NORMAL ROUTINES, AS THE PRESIDENT DECLARED DURING HIS STATE OF THE UNION EARLIER THIS WEEK TO A LARGELY MASKLESS CROWD.

BUT, AS BIDEN ALSO POINTED OUT, THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN PUT COVID BEHIND US FOR GOOD.

>> THANKS TO THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IN THE PAST YEAR, COVID-19 NO LONGER NEED CONTROL OUR LIVES.

AND IF CONGRESS PROVIDES THE FUNDS WE NEED, WE'LL HAVE NEW STOCKPILES OF TESTS, MASS PILLS, READY IF NEEDED.

I CAN'T PROMISE A NEW VARIANT WON'T COME, BUT I CAN -- I CAN PROMISE YOU WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER TO BE READY IF IT DOES.

>> Braude: THE NEW PLAN FOCUSES ON BOTH PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO DO END UP CATCHING COVID, WHILE GETTING BACK TO INDOOR DINING, ENTERTAINMENT, AND VISITING FAMILY AND FRIENDS LARGELY MASK-FREE.

THAT INCLUDES A NEW TEST-TO-TREAT PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD LET PEOPLE GET TESTED AT A PHARMACY AND GO HOME WITH ANTIVIRAL PILLS ON THE SPOT IF THEY'RE POSITIVE.

ALSO, GREATER SURVEILLANCE OF THE VIRUS THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE WASTE-WATER TESTING, AS WELL AS BOOSTING COVID VACCINE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING IN THE U.S., AND SENDING SHOTS TO COUNTRIES THAT NEED THEM.

ON TOP OF THAT, OFFICIALS ARE ALSO CONSIDERING DROPPING MASK REQUIREMENTS FOR AIRPLANES BUT LETTING THE CURRENT MANDATE EXPIRE LATER THIS MONTH.

BUT IS THIS THE RIGHT CALL?

AND IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME?

I'M JOINED NOW BY DR. SABRINA ASSOUMOU, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND AN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER, AND WILLIAM HANAGE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AT HARVARD'S CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL'S CENTER FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASE DYNAMICS.

>> Braude: IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, I KNOW IT IS HARD TO GENERALIZE, BUT IS THIS WAVE OF REMOVAL FROM MASKS AND VACCINE MANDATES THE RIGHT THING TO DO RIGHT NOW?

>> Doctor: I THINK WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE IN MASSACHUSETTS IS LESS THAN 2%.

SO ALL OF THE INDESES ARE HITTING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IS IT TIME TO START REMOVING SOME OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS?

BUT WE STILL NEED TO REMAIN CAUTIOUS.

IF YOU LOOK AT BOOSTING, EVEN IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB, BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF ROOM.

AND WE HAVE THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET VACCINATED, AND SO I WANT TO SAY IT IS GOOD TO START THINKING ABOUT THIS, BUT WE STILL NEED TO REMAIN CAUTIOUS BECAUSE THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

>> Braude: I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY, BILL, WE HAD THE GOVERNOR ON THE RADIO SHOW TODAY, AND WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS WASTE-WATER ANALYSIS, HE SOUNDED PRETTY POSITIVE.

HERE IS GOVERNOR BAKER.

>> WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO START USING WASTE WATER TO TRACK COVID BECAUSE YOU CAN TRACK THE VELOCITY OF THE GROWTH AND THE VELOCITY OF THE DECLINE.

IT USUALLY RUNS SOMEWHERE FROM FIVE DAYS TO A WEEK AND A HALF AHEAD OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND OUR WASTE-WATER SITS ATTESTING RATES THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE JULY, WHICH IS VERY ENCOURAGING.

>> Braude: DO YOU FIND IT TO BE "VERY ENCOURAGING," TO USE THE GOVERNOR'S WORDS, BILL?

>> HE IS FORMALLY SPEAKING CORRECT.

I AM ON THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD OF THE COMPANY THAT DOES THE WASTE-WATER MONITORING.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WE CAN GET A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM THIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU CAN SEE IN RECENT WEEKS IT HAS PLATEAUED.

IT DROPPED VERY, VERY QUICKLY, AND NOW IT IS PLATEAUED.

IF WE START MAKING THESE CHANGES, WE CAN BE SURE GIVING THIS VIRUS FOR OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSMIT, WILL LEAD TO IT TAKING OFF.

I'M A REASONABLY QUALIFIED OPTIMISTIC, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, WE CAN SEE THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING OVER THE LAST WEEKS ARE HAVING AN IMPACT.

>> Braude: WHEN I LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, THERE IS STILL 1700 DEATHS A DAY, WHICH IS A SHOCKING NUMBER HAS WE APPROACH A MILLION, WHICH IS EVEN MORE SHOCKING IN TOTAL, AND I'M ASSUMING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO ARE DYING -- AND, AGAIN, I'M NOT MINIMIZING IT -- ARE UNVACCINATED OR UNBOOSTED.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YEAH.

WELL, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED BECOME INFECTED, THE RISK OF SEVERE OUTCOMES IN VASTLY, VASTLY GREATER.

WE DO SEE SOME DEATHS AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED, BUT THAT IS NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISING BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED.

AND SOMETIMES RASH THINGS HAPPEN IN VERY LARGE NUMBERS.

BUT IT IS THE MOST SERIOUS FOR THE UNVACCINATED POPULATION, THAT'S CORRECT.

WE COULD DO A LOT BETTER AT GETTING BOOSTERS TO THOSE OVER AGE 65 IN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE REALLY BEEN SUFFERING THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, CAN WE TALK ABOUT MASKS FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES?

WHENEVER WE BRING UP MASK MANDATE REMOVALS ON THE RADIO, VIRTUALLY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR CALLS IS FROM A PARENT WHO HAS A 5 TO 11-YEAR-OLD, WHO MENTIONS THE PFIZER VACCINE FOR 5 TO 11-YEAR-OLDS IS NOT VERY AFFECTIVE AT INFECTION PREVENTION.

OR FOR A PARENT OF A CHILD UNDER FIVE WHO SAYS WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A VACCINE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE LEGITIMATELY CONCERNED PARENTS, DOCTOR?

>> Doctor: I HAVE A 3-YEAR-OLD AND I HAVE A 60-YEAR-OLD PARENT, AND SO IT IS APPLICABLE TO THE ADVICE I'M ACTUALLY FOLLOWING.

THE STUDIES THAT WE SAW THAT CAME OUT OF NEW YORK STATE WERE DISAPPOINTING IN TERMS OF WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT INFECTION, BUT THE KEY MESSAGE, FIRST OF ALL, TO UNDER SCORE THAT THE VACCINE IS STILL VERY GOOD AT PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE.

BUT IT IS GOING TO BE SO IMPORTANT TO STILL HAVE A LAYERED APPROACH.

GET YOUR CHILD VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND STILL USE THOSE LAYERS, MEANING MASKING AT CERTAIN TIMES, AND WE HAVE TO EVALUATE WHEN ARE THE TIMES WE SHOULD STILL BE MASKING.

>> Braude: BILL, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHO ELSE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING KEEPING THEIR MASK ON, EVEN IF THE MANDATE IS GONE.

FIRST I WANT TO PLAY FOR YOU A BULLYING GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA WHEN HE IS TALKING TO SOME STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF MASKING.

AND THIS WAS YESTERDAY.

>> YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WEAR THOSE MASKS.

PLEASE TAKE THEM OFF.

HONESTLY, IT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING, AND WE HAVE TO STOP WITH THIS COVID THEATER.

IF YOU WANT TO WEAR IT, FINE, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT IS GOOD TO BE AT U.S.F -- >> Braude: A POOR IMITATION OF DONALD TRUMP BY GOVERNOR DeSANTIS IN FLORIDA.

PUTTING THAT ASIDE -- >> IT IS PROFOUNDLY UNHELPFUL.

AND HE ALSO CONTRADICTS HIMSELF SAYING, FEEL FREE TO DO IT IF YOU WANT TO, BUT KNOW IF YOU DO I'M GOING TO BE BULLYING YOU.

YOU CAN TELL HE IS NOT A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

>> Braude: NOR IS HIS SURGEON GENERAL.

WHO SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING KEEPING A MASK ON AT THIS TIME, BILL HANAGE?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THERE ARE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE COUNTRY WHO REMAIN VULNERABLE, EITHER BECAUSE THEY'RE OLDER OR THEY HAVE CO-MORBIDITIES OR THEY'RE IMMUNE SUPPRESSED.

AND WE CAN HELP THEM BY GIVING THEM A GOOD MASK, LIKE AN N-95, AND TWO MASKS OVER EACH OTHER.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT WE NORMALIZE MASKING.

SO WE DON'T SAY, YOU LOOK WEIRD, YOU'RE WEARING A MASK.

THEY MAY HAVE A REASON, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS CATCHING A FLIGHT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE INFECTED.

OR THEY WANT TO SEE THEIR GRANDMOTHER IN A NURSING HOME.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT OKAY FOR PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO WEAR IT.

>> Braude: I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT.

IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JOE BIDEN SAID THE OTHER NIGHT, THIS TEST-TO-TREAT PROGRAM, YOU GO TO YOUR PHARMACIST AND YOU GET A TEST, AND IF YOU TEST POSITIVE, YOU GO HIM WITH THESE ANTIVIRAL PILLS.

BUT THERE IS NO DOCTOR IN BETWEEN IN THAT PROCESS.

THE PHARMACY GIVES YOU THE RAPID TEST.

YOU TEST POSITIVE -- HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T, BUT IF YOU TEST POSITIVE, THEY HAND YOU A PILL.

CAN A PHARMACIST DO THAT WITHOUT A DOCTOR IN THE MIDDLE?

>> Doctor: WELL, I THINK THE WAY IT IS SET UP, AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY KEY AND IMPORTANT, IS TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONTRAINDICATIONS, AND THAT IS WHY WE WOULD NOT BE GIVING YOU THAT PARTICULAR MEDICATION.

AND PHARMACISTS ARE REALLY GOOD AT DOING THAT.

YOU CAN TELL ANY DOCTOR THAT WILL BE PRESCRIBING THE PFIZER MEDICATION RIGHT NOW ARE TALKING TO PHARMACISTS TO -- THAT ALONG WITH THEM THEY'RE REVIEWING TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO CONTRAINDICATIONS.

AND EVERYTHING I THINK SHOULD BE IMPORTANT IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS TEST-TO-TREAT APPROACH, IT IS NOT ONLY PHARMACISTS, BUT OPENING IT TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, TO V.A.

SPOTS AND PLACES.

AND I THINK ONE OTHER THING I'VE HEARD, IS HOW CAN WE DO THIS THROUGH TELEMEDICINE?

SO TRYING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO BE REALLY CHEAP.

>> Braude: THE KEY TO THIS IS THIS ANTIVIRAL PILL, ASSUMING YOU CAN GET IT IN TERMS OF MASS PRODUCTION, AND IT IS CRITICAL IT BE ADMINISTERED AND TAKEN IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER YOU DO TEST POSITIVE, CORRECT?

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR AN ANTIVIRAL.

IT IS USEFUL TO LINK IT RIGHT AFTER PEOPLE REALIZE THEY'RE INFECTED, PARTICULARLY IF THEY'RE VULNERABLE.

>> Braude: CAN WE GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD, STARTING WITH YOU, BILL.

THERE WAS A PIECE IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" ABOUT UKRAINE, NOT THE MISERY AND THE HEROISM WE'RE SEEING, BUT THE DISEASE DANGERS.

WAR AND DISEASE ARE CLOSE COMPANIONS IN NEAR TIMES, AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POLIO OUTBREAK THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO CONTROL.

BUT RELEVANT TO THIS CONVERSATION, THERE IS DEEP CONCERN, IN LIGHT OF THE CLOSE QUARTERS, THE MILLION REFUGEES, THE SHORTAGE OF ADEQUATE AMOUNTS OF WATER, THAT THERE HAS POTENTIAL FOR THERE TO BE A COVID EXPLOSION ON TOP OF ALL OF THE OTHER PAIN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.

BILL, DO YOU SHARE THAT CONCERN?

>> I CERTAINLY DO.

ALTHOUGH I'M AFRAID YOU'RE TALKING TO THE WRONG INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN THE FAMILY.

MY WIFE DOES A LOT OF WORK IN UKRAINE, AND SO WE KNOW THE AREA PRETTY WELL.

WE'VE BEEN SEEING REASONABLY LARGE AMOUNTS OF INFECTION THERE AND OTHER PARTS OF EASTERN EUROPE.

THEY HAVE SOME OF THE WORST PER CAPITA MORTALITIES IN THE WORLD AWRDZ.

ALREADY.

>>> SO YOU CAN EXPECT THERE TO BE MORE SEVERE OUTCOMES, AND IT WILL BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO TREAT PEOPLE BECAUSE THE HEALTH CARE HAS ALL OF THE DISRUPTION.

AND RUSSIA IS ALSO ABLE TO HAVE OUTBREAKS OF OMICRON, AND THAT MAY BE INFLUENCING WHAT IS GOING ON ON THE GROUND THERE AS WELL.

WAR AND PETULANCE REALLY DO GO TOGETHER.

>> Braude: DO YOU HAVE A FINAL THOUGHT ON THAT, DOCTOR?

I THINK IT IS TOO LATE FOR PREVENTION, AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS, HOPEFULLY, TREATMENT, I GUESS?

>> Doctor: I THINK IT IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, AND IT WILL BE SO KEY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THE CRITICAL TOOLS, VACCINATION AND TRYING TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO CARE WILL BE REALLY KEY.

>> Braude: SABRINA AND BILL, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: NEXT UP, A MAN WHO HAS MORE THAN 70 FILM AND TV CREATES IN A CAREER THAT HAS SPANNED ALMOST 40 YEARS, FROM "STAND BY ME," "A FEW GOOD MEN," AND "DARK CITY," TO "TWIN PEAKS" AND, OF COURSE, "24."

>> I HAVE KILLED TWO PEOPLE SINCE MIDNIGHT; I HAVE NOT SLEPT FOR OVER 24 HOURS.

SO MAYBE -- MAYBE -- YOU SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE AFRAID OF ME THAN YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> Braude: BUT FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, EMMY AWARD-WINNER KIEFER SUTHERLAND HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING ON A SERIES OF VERY DIFFERENT VIDEOS.

AND THIS IS HIS LATEST: ♪ SHE WHISPERS BABY, BABY, WALK SLOW ♪ ♪ BABY, BABY DON'T GO ♪ ♪ OH, NO ♪ >> Braude: THAT'S "BLOOR STREET," THE TITLE TRACK OF HIS LATEST ALBUM, HIS THIRD SINCE 2016.

HE'LL BE PERFORMING MARCH 8 AT THE CITY WINERY.

KIEFER SUTHERLAND JOINED ME THE OTHER DAY TO DISCUSS.

>> Braude: KIEFER SUTHERLAND, IT IS GREAT TO MEET YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: AS A GUY WHO SPENT HIS CAREER, EVEN WHEN YOU WERE A KID, PERFORMING IN FRONT OF A CAMERA AND A CREW, WAS IT NOT TERRIFYING PERFORMING IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE THE FIRST TIME, OR THE FIRST 50 TIMES?

>> YEAH.

IT WAS THE GREAT MISTAKE THAT I MADE.

I KEPT THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVING A 30 SOME ODD YEAR CAREER IN FILM AND ON STAGE AS AN ACTOR, THAT THAT WOULD SOMEHOW HELP ME WHEN PIE I WOULD GO TO PERFORM THESE SONGS.

THE MISCALCULATION WAS REALLY SIMPLE.

AS AN ACTOR, YOU GET TO PERFORM A CHARACTER.

STAND BY ME, I WAS NOT ACE MERRILL.

I'M KIEFER SUTHERLAND PLAYING ACE MERRILL.

AND I'M NOT JACK BAUER, BUT I'M KIEFER SUTHERLAND PLAYING JACK BAUER.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FOUND MYSELF INCREDIBLY EXPOSED, TELLING PEOPLE PRIVATE MOMENTS OF MY LIFE THROUGH THESE SONGS.

AND THAT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT.

AND THERE WAS A SHOW WE DID IN ANNARBOR, MICHIGAN, AT A WONDERFUL LITTLE THEATER.

IT WAS THE FIRST SHOW WE PLAYED WHERE THE AUDIENCE WAS SEATED.

IT WASN'T A KIND OF DINGY BAR.

AND IT FELT MORE LIKE A THEATER, AND I FELT MORE COMFORTABLE TELLING STORIES ABOUT WHY I WROTE THIS SONG AND MAYBE YOU MIGHT HAVE A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE IN YOUR LIFE.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SHOWS JUST BECAME INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT AND MOVING FOR ME.

YOU KNOW, I WROTE A SONG ABOUT THE PASSING OF MY MOTHER.

AND I EXPLAINED WHAT I HAD GONE THROUGH.

AND THEN I SAW OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE, A WOMAN PUT HER ARM AROUND HER FRIEND, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT WOMAN HAD LOST SOMEONE VERY CLOSE TO THEM.

I STARTED TO GET A SENSE OF THESE KIND OF SHARED EXPERIENCES THAT WE WERE HAVING THAT OBVIOUSLY AS AN ACTOR YOU CAN'T HAVE EXCEPT THROUGH A CHARACTER.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS WAS MUCH MORE PERSONAL.

AND SO IT BECAME A REAL LOVE OF MINE.

AND SO WE'VE DONE SOME 500 SHOWS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS LEADING UP TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED, HOPEFULLY, TO GET BACK TO IT AGAIN.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL HEARD THAT HORRIBLE SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE KIND OF THING, WHEN PEOPLE DON'T LIKE WHAT AN ATHLETE HAS TO SAY.

DO YOU ENCOUNTER SHUT UP AND ACT, YOU'RE GREAT AT SOMETHING, DO THAT AND DON'T DO THIS?

>> NO.

I HAVE TO BE HONEST, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE GRACIOUS TO ME, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

LOOK, I GET IT.

THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF ACTORS WHO HAVE DONE MUSIC KIND OF A ONE-OFF THING AND JUST TO KIND OF DAB THEIR TOE INTO IT.

I TAKE IT MORE SERIOUSLY THAN THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO KIND OF ACCEPT THAT I EVEN WANTED TO DO THIS.

I MADE MY FIRST TWO RECORDS WITH A WONDERFUL ARTIST NAMED JUDE COLE, WHO REALLY HAD TO KIND OF TALK AND WALK ME INTO THIS.

BUT THE SECOND HE STARTED KIND OF RECORDING SOME OF THE SONGS THAT WE HAD WRITTEN TOGETHER, I LOVE THE WAY THAT HE MADE THEM SOUND.

AND, AGAIN, I FELL IN LOVE WITH TOURING.

AND SO I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE, THE AUDIENCES THAT WE'VE HAD HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.

AND ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS IS KIND OF TO BE AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE, AT THIS AGE, AND LEARNING SOMETHING NEW AND HAVING SOMETHING BE AS KIND OF REFRESHING AND EXCITING AS IT IS.

AND IT HAS INFORMED EVERYTHING ELSE THAT I'VE DONE.

WHEN I WENT TO GO DO "DESIGNATED SURVIVOR," A TELEVISION SHOW WE DID THREE SEASONS OF, THERE WAS A LOT MORE OF MYSELF IN THAT CHARACTER, AND I THINK THAT WAS A DIRECT KIND OF RELATION TO SONGWRITING AND FEELING COMFORTABLE ABOUT EXPRESSING MYSELF TO AN AUDIENCE THROUGH MUSIC.

>> Braude: I LOVE WHEN YOU SAID LEARN SOMETHING NEW AT YOUR AGE.

I FEEL THAT WAY ALMOST EVERY DAY WHEN I LEARN SOMETHING.

I CAN SO RELATE TO THAT, KIEFER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE C.D -- THE ALBUM -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THEM THESE DAYS -- >> I'M STICKING WITH THAT.

THAT'S WHAT I CALLED THEM WHEN I WAS A KID.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF PERSONAL, THAT WAS A PRETTY IMPORTANT STREET, A MAIN DRAG IN TORONTO, A PRETTY IMPORTANT STREET IN YOUR LIFE, RIGHT?

>> VERY MUCH SO.

I WAS DOING "DESIGNATED SURVIVOR" IN TORONTO, CANADA, AND I WAS WALKING AROUND, AND OBVIOUSLY I GREW UP THERE, AND I JUST KIND OF WAS STRUCK -- I CAME TO THE BIG MAIN INTERSECTION IN TORONTO, WHICH IS BLOOR STREET, WHICH RUNS EAST AND WEST, AND YONGE STREET, WHICH RUNS NORTH AND SOUTH.

AND I REALIZED ALL OF MY FIRSTS HAPPENED RIGHT HERE.

THE FIRST JOB I EVER HAD WAS IN THE HUDSON BAY FOOD COURT.

THE FIRST KISS I HAD WAS IN FRONT OF THE SUBWAY ON BLOOR STREET, WHICH WAS RIGHT THERE.

THE FIRST TIME I THINK I GOT BEAT UP WAS RIGHT ON THAT CORNER.

THE FIRST TIME I BUSED WITH A GUITAR WAS RIGHT ON THAT CORNER.

I WAS OVER TAKEN WITH A KIND OF NOT NOSTALGIA, AND A REALLY WARM FEELING THAT AT THE AGE OF 11 I COULD TAKE THE SUBWAY WITH MY FRIENDS AND THAT WAS NORMAL.

NOW IF I SAW A KID ON THE SUBWAY, I WOULD THINK THEY WERE LOST OR SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL NOT ONLY ABOUT THE TIME THAT I GOT TO GROW UP IN BUT WHERE I GOT TO GROW UP.

AND SO THE SONG IS JUST REALLY A NOSTALGIC WALK DOWN THE BLOOR STREET MEMORY LANE FOR ME.

>> Braude: WHAT DID YOU DO AT THE HUDSON BAY FOOD COURT AS A KID?

>> I WORKED AT A PLACE CALLED COMOCCIO'S, AND WE MADE PIZZAS AND CHICKEN CACCIATORE, AND I WORKED THE LINE THERE.

AND ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS I EVER GOT TO DO, THE CHEF NEXT TO ME WAS ABOUT 18 OR 19, AND I WAS ABOUT 14, AND HE WAS REALLY GOOD-LOOKING, SO THE LINE OF GIRLS AROUND THE CORNER WAS JUST EXTRAORDINARY.

AND, YEAH, I HAD A GREAT TWO YEARS THERE.

>> Braude: SO EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE A TORONTO KID FOR A DECENT PART OF YOUR LIFE, I READ SOMETHING THAT YOUR FAVORITE HOCKEY PLAYER IS BOBBY ORE?

>> AND I GOT TO MEET BOBBY ORR.

AND I GOT TO MEET BOBBY ORR THAT EVENING.

I HAD AN OLDER BROTHER WHO WAS SEVEN YEARS OLDER THAN ME, AND HE WAS A GREAT, GREAT HOCKEY PLAYER.

I IDOLIZED HIM, AND BOOB OR ORBOBBYORR WAS HIS FAVORITE HOCKEY PLAYER, AND SO BY THE TIME I WAS THREE, HE WAS MY FAVORITE HOCKEY PLAYER.

WHEN I THINK OF BLOOR STREET, I THINK TORONTO HAS HOSTED MANY A BOSTON TEAM ON THEIR WAY TO GREATNESS, ONLY TO KIND OF BE PUSHED ASIDE, WHETHER IT IS THE MAPLE LEAFS OR THE BOSTON BRUINS.

AND I THINK WE HAVE ALSO HAD YOU AS OUR GUEST ON THE WAY TO A COUPLE OF WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS -- >> Braude: I'M A PHILLY BOY.

LET'S DO THIS BY QUIZ, IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME.

WHAT DO JOHN LITHGOW, JASONJOHN LITHGOW JASONROBARDS AND JON VOIGHT HAVE IN COMMON?

>> THEY'RE ALL EXTRAORDINARY ACTORS.

>> Braude: SO LET'S CHANGE THE QUESTION.

THOSE THREE AND YOU.

TIME IS UP.

THEY ALL HAVE OR WILL PLAY F.D.R.

HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED A REAL PERSON BEFORE?

>> NO.

THIS WAS A FIRST.

AND F.D.R., IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT ANY INTERVIEW THAT I EVER GAVE WITH REGARDS TO DESIGNATED SURVIVOR, I WAS OFTEN ASKED WHO ASKED WHO MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT WAS, AND MY ANSWER WAS ALWAYS F.D.R., AND FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.

HIS ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, EIGHT DAYS AFTER HIS PRESIDENCY, TO PUT THEIR MONEY BACK IN THE BANKS AND TO TRUST THE BANKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEPRESSION WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT AND ECONOMICALLY SAVED THE UNITED STATES.

THE POLITICAL PROWESS THAT HE EXHIBITED IN NAVIGATING AMERICA'S LACK OF DESIRE TO COMMIT TO WORLD WAR II AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO AID ENGLAND IN A TIME OF INCREDIBLE CRISIS WAS EXTRAORDINARY.

AND IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FIRST LADY, HIS RESPECT FOR HIS WIFE AND HER INTELLECTUAL PROWESS AND HER POLITICAL NUANCE WAS EXTRAORDINARY IN A TIME WHEN MOST MEN KIND OF RELEGATED WOMEN TO SECOND-CLASS CITIZENSHIP, AND SO I ADMIRED HIM FOR THAT.

SO FOR MANY REASONS I WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY THE CHARACTER.

BUT ALSO BECAUSE I CARE SO MUCH ABOUT HIM, I DID NOT WANT TO FAIL.

AND I FELT THAT THE KEY TO PLAYING HIM WAS THE VOICE.

AND,000AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD DO PHYSICALLY THAT WOULD BRING US TOGETHER, BUT HE HAD SUCH AN INTERESTING CADENCE, AND THAT UP STATE NEW YORK, MID-ATLANTIC ACCENT.

ELEANOR SAID IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE IF WE WERE TO ENTERTAIN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIERS DOWN IN THE SOUTH, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM TOGETHER.

AS LONG AS THAT VOICE WAS SOMEHOW INTACT, I FELT A REAL HARNESS OF THAT CHARACTER.

>> Braude: SO IF WE GO, WHICH WE WILL, MARCH 8 TO THE CITY WINERY, WHAT ARE WE GETTING?

>> WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, A VERY STRIPPED-DOWN SHOW.

I'M GOING TO START THE SHOW WITH MYSELF AND THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR.

I HAVE TWO OTHER GUYS THAT WILL COME OUT, ONE IS A GUITAR PLAYER AND ANOTHER IS A GREAT STEEL PLAYER.

I'M GOING TO TELL WHY I WROTE SOME OF THESE SONGS, I'M GOING TO PLAY SOME OF THESE SONGS, MAYBE RAISE A GLASS OR TWO AND HAVE AN EVENING GETTING TO KNOW YOU.

THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THE CITY WINERIES IS IT IS A CASUAL ATMOSPHERE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A GREAT MEAL, AND IT IS A PLACE WHERE I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT DOING A VERY MUCH MORE INTIMATE, SEATED SHOW.

I WOULD LOVE AT THE END OF EVERY ONE OF THE NIGHTS THAT WE GO OUT AND PLAY ON THIS TOUR THAT IT FEELS LIKE WE HAD A CONVERSATION.

>> Braude: I LISTENED TO THE C.D.

FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST NIGHT.

IT WAS SPECTACULAR.

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU DID AN INTERVIEW WHEN YOU WEREN'T ASKED ABOUT JACK BAUER?

>> I WOULD PROBABLY SAY SINCE 2001.

>> Braude: YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: AGAIN, YOU CAN CATCH KIEFER SUTHERLAND AT BOSTON'S CITY WINERY NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 8.

FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION, HEAD TO citywinery.com/Boston.

>>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR "TALKING POLITICS."

ADAM REILLY WILL TALK TO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR CHRIS DOUGHTY AND HIS NEW RUNNING MATE, KATE CAMPANALE, ON THEIR VISION FOR MASSACHUSETTS.

PLUS, THE PANEL WILL TAKE UP BOSTON MAYOR MICHELLE WU'S MOVE TO LIMIT RESIDENTIAL PROTESTS, AND A ROCKY REOPENING FOR THE STATE HOUSE.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A LITTLE MORE FROM KIEFER SUTHERLAND.

♪ WALKING DOWN FLOOR ♪ I MAKE THE RIGHT ON YONGE ♪ ♪ THIS OLD TOWN AND I'VE GONE ROUND AND ROUND ♪ ♪ BUT THIS IS WHERE I'M FROM ♪ ♪ I CAN FEEL THE WIND COMING OFF THE LAKE ♪ ♪ IT CUTS RIGHT TO THE BONE ♪ ♪ A CROOKED SMILE GROWS ON MY FACE ♪ ♪ 'CAUSE NOW I KNOW I'M HOME ♪ ♪ SHE WHISPERS, BABY, BABY, WALK SLOW ♪ ♪ BABY, BABY, DON'T GO ♪ ♪ OH, NO ♪ ♪ HER SKYLINE IS A FRIEND OF MINE ♪ ♪ AND SHE'S SHINING BRIGHT TONIGHT ♪ ♪ A GENTLE SNOW FALLS FROM THE SKY ♪ ♪ SO I PULL MY JACKET TIGHT ♪ ♪ SEARCHING FOR A CIGARETTE ♪ ♪ I FUMBLE FOR A LIGHT ♪ ♪ STEEL ON STEEL ♪ ♪ I CAN HEAR THE WHEELS OF A STREET CAR PASS ME BY ♪ ♪ WHISPERS, BABY, BABY, WALK SLOW ♪ ♪ BABY, BABY, DON'T GO ♪ ♪ OH, NO ♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org