TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

CASES OF WHOOPING COUGH IN ARIZONA ARE AT HIGHEST LEVELS IN OVER TEN YEARS.

>>> ALSO A LOCAL NONPROFIT HELPS KIDS AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.

>>> AND A LOOK WHAT WILL BE IN THEATERS FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY MOVIEGOERS, THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

MATT GAETZ TODAY WITHDREW HIS NOMINATION FOR U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP NAMED FORMER FLORIDA A.G. PAM BONDI AS NOMINEE.

GAETZ WAS A SURPRISE CHOICE DESPITE THE SAME JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ONCE HAVING INVESTIGATED GAETZ FOR ALLEGATIONS OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND DRUG USE, GAETZ REPEATEDLY DENIED HAVING SEX WITH A MINOR AND NO CHARGES BROUGHT BUT INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS THAT GAETZ WAS NOT FULLY VETTED AND DID NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO BE CONFIRMED.

>> SKIPPING WHAT HAS LONG BEEN KEY PART OF THE PREPARATION FOR CONFIRMATION WHICH IS FBI BACKGROUND CHECK, AND MAKING THE DECISION SO QUICKLY, MAY HAVE LED TO AN EARLY CONSTELLATION THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE A REALITY TV SHOW CASTING CALL THAN A SERIOUS AND CREDIBLE PROPOSALS FOR CABINET.

TED: GAETZ'S WITHDRAW IS THE FIRST MAJOR POLITICAL SETBACK FOR TRUMP WHO RESPONDED BY STATING THAT GAETZ WAS DOING VERY WELL IN SEEKING APPROVAL TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL, BUT THAT GAETZ DIDN'T WANT TO BE A DISTRACTION FOR THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION.

TRUMP ADDED, QUOTE, MATT HAS A WONDERFUL FUTURE AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS HE WILL DO.

>>> PETE HEGSETH IS ALSO FACING SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS.

>> SEXUAL ASSAULT WOMEN IN MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA.

>> AS FAR AS MY IMMEDIATE CONCERN, THE MATTER WAS FULLY INVESTIGATED AND I WAS COMPLETELY CLEARED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TED: BUT THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR SENATE DEMOCRATS.

>> I THINK THIS NOMINATION IS DOOMED.

IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN MADE.

IT WAS NEVER VETTED.

THERE WAS NO BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, AND WE'RE GOING TO PUSH FOR ALL OF THE FILES, FROM LOCAL POLICE AND PROSECUTORS AS WELL AS WHATEVER WRITTEN INTERVIEWS AND TESTIMONY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT PETE HEGSETH IS THOROUGHLY VETTED AND ALL OF THE FILES ARE TURNED OVER TO THE COMMITTEE.

TED: THAT SAID, SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE SHOWING SUPPORT FOR HEGSETH'S NOMINATION.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS RAMPING UP COLORADO RIVER WATER SHORTAGES.

THE GOAL IS TO GET AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER BASIN STATES BEFORE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TAKES OVER.

THE SIDES HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO AGREE WHO SHOULD BEAR THE BRUNT ON FUTURE WATER CUTS.

OPERATING PLAN FOR THE RIVER MUST BE IN PLACE BY AUGUST OF 2026.

>>> FIRST-TIME JOBLESS CLAIMS FELL TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE APRIL, ACCORDING TO LABOR DEPARTMENT NUMBERS RELEASED TODAY.

DESPITE THE DECLINE IN INITIAL CLAIMS, THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED ARE STAYING THAT WAY LONGER PERIODS OF TIME.

THE SLOWDOWN IN JOB GROWTH IS DUE TO EMPLOYERS REINING IN HIRING AS OPPOSED TO MASS LAYOFFS.

>>> WHOOPING COUGH, KNOWN AS PERTUSSIS IS SPREADING ACROSS ARIZONA, CASES AT HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2013 ACCORDING TO DATA FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES WHICH REPORTS 591 CASES AS OF MID-NOVEMBER.

JOINING US IS DR. FRANK LOVECCHIO FROM VALLEYWISE HEALTH.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

TED: BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR, WHAT IS WHOOPING COUGH?

>> AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE CAUSED BY PERTUSSIS, A BACTERIA YOU ARE VACCINATED WHEN YOU ARE A LITTLE KID, A BOOSTER WHEN YOU ARE 11 OR 12 AND IT WEARS OFF, AND THAT'S WHY YOU SOMETIMES GET IT AS ADULT.

LITTLE KIDS THAT DON'T GET IT, SOMETIMES CAN DIE FROM IT.

KIDS THAT DON'T GET VACCINATED CAN DIE.

ADULTS THAT GET IT CAN GET PNEUMONIA AND MENINGITIS.

THE MOST COMMON THING IS A VERY, VERY BAD COUGH.

THEY CALL IT WHOOPING COUGH BECAUSE YOU MAKE A WHOOPING SOUND.

TED: THEY CALL IT WHOOPING SOUND BECAUSE OF THE SOUND.

>> IT'S VERY, VERY HARD TO TREAT THAT COUGH.

WE TRY ANTIBIOTICS BUT A LONG PROCESS, SOMETIMES LIKE A MONTH-LONG TO GET RID OF THE COUGH.

TED: HOW LONG AFTER EXPOSURE DO SYMPTOMS APPEAR?

>> USUALLY TWO WEEKS OR SO, AS YOU SAID EARLIER, THIS YEAR IS SO MUCH.

IT'S BEEN DOUBLE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT WE EXPECT AT THIS TIME.

TED: IS IT DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE?

>> SOMEWHAT, HAVE YOU DO A SPECIAL CULTURE.

USUALLY IT'S A GODSEND WHEN THE PATIENT GIVES A CHARACTERISTIC COUGH, THE BARKING, IT'S BEEN GOING ON A WHILE.

TED: DO THE SYMPTOMS DIFFER FROM KID TO KID, YOU SAY THE COUGH IS ALMOST ALWAYS THERE, THE WHOOP?

>> THE WHOOP IS CLASSIC BUT STARTS OFF AS A SLOWER COUGH, CAN START OFF AS PNEUMONIA AND LITTLE BABIES GET APNICK OR STOP BREATHING, THAT IS DIFFICULT WHEN THEY ARE UNDER ONE YEARS OF AGE.

TED: TREATMENT IS ANTIBIOTICS, HOW CONTAGIOUS IS THIS?

>> VERY CONTAGIOUS, IF YOU GET A TETANUS SHOT, THAT HAS PERTUSSIS IN IT.

DTP, YOU WANT THE P PART, MAKE SURE THE TETANUS IS IN IT, THE P PART.

TED: THE 100 DAY COUGH?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

TED: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> YOU DON'T WANT THAT FOR 100 DAYS.

TED: THERE IS A VACCINE AND FIVE DOSES FOR LITTLE FOLKS.

>> HAVE TO GET IT BEFORE THEY GO SCHOOL BUT AS AN ADULT, WHEN YOU GET YOUR TETANUS SHOT, YOU WILL GET A PERTUSSIS SHOT TOO.

TED: WHY THE INCREASE?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> A LOT OF THEORIES, THE BIGGEST ONE IS PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING VACCINATED AS MUCH.

IN OUR STATE NOT GETTING VACCINATED AS MUCH AS OTHER STATES.

TED: WITH COVID, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE MASKING, YOU HAD QUITE THE DIP FOR A FEW YEARS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, NOW THEY THINK IT'S CATCHING UP.

LAST YEAR IT WAS LIKE HALF AS MANY CASES AT THIS TIME.

DOESN'T EXPLAIN IT ALL.

TED: SO JUST VACCINATION IS A MAJOR PART OF THIS, HUH?

>> VACCINATE, IF YOU ARE SICK STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE LIKE ALMOST ALL RESPIRATORY DISEASES.

TED: IS THIS HAPPENING ONLY IN ARIZONA OR CASES AROUND THE COUNTRY?

>> ARIZONA IS ENDEMIC, WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN CASES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

TED: WHY IS THAT?

OTHER PLACES THERE ARE VACCINE SKEPTICS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY?

>> THERE ARE GET-TOGETHERS WE HAD EARLIER, THOSE WOULD HAPPEN THREE WEEKS BEFORE AND PROBABLY WHAT'S HAPPENING.

TED: INTERESTING, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT PERTUSSIS IS?

>> LITTLE BABIES CAN DIE.

VACCINE IS THE SINGLE MOST PROTECTION, YOU CAN GET CARE, YOU CAN GET ANTIBIOTICS, IT CAN GO TO YOUR LUNGS AND BRAIN.

TED: THAT SOUNDS VERY BAD.

THE FLU, WHAT ARE WE SEEING?

NOW THAT WE GOT YOU HERE, I WANT TO ASK YOU.

>> AMAZING PEAK FOR THE FLU, GOOD FOR THE FLU, BAD FOR PATIENTS, 200% HIGHER CASES, MAYBE PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER, MAYBE COVID CATCHING UP.

PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING VACCINATED AS MUCH FOR THE FLU.

THE FLU VACCINE IS NOT GREAT, ONLY HIT ABOUT 35%.

WHEN IT HITS 50%, WE ARE ECSTATIC.

TED: WHEN YOU SAY THE FLU SEASON, DO YOU MEAN THE SEASON COMING UP HERE?

>> THE SEASON COMING UP.

VACCINE FOR THE FLU IS THE SINGLE BEST THING TO PREVENT THE FLU, OBVIOUSLY, NOT BEING EXPOSED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT, BUT WE TRY TO PREDICT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE LIKE AUSTRALIA AND WHICH FLU IS GOING CRAZY, H1N1.

WE ARE THREE OR FOUR MONTHS BEHIND.

AND IT GETS RELEASED.

WE ARE STUCK WITH BECAUSE IT'S IN THE VIAL THEY'RE GIVING IT TO YOU.

WE CAN'T GET IT RIGHT ALL THE TIME.

WE HAVE TO GET BETTER TECHNOLOGY TO ONLY BE A MONTH BEHIND INSTEAD OF THREE MONTHS BEHIND.

TED: IF IT ENDS UP BEING REALLY DIFFERENT AND NOT EVEN WORTH IT, IS THERE A WAY TO GET AN UPDATED FLU VACCINE LATER IN THE YEAR?

>> THEY DID THAT ONE TIME.

I THINK THE H1N1 OR H3N3 OUTBREAK, AND IT TAKES A MANDATE FROM THE GOVERNMENT, WE CAN PRODUCE THIS.

YOU GET DONE IN ABOUT A MONTH.

TED: OKAY, THAT'S RELATIVELY ENCOURAGING.

IN ARIZONA, SEEMS TO ME, THIS IS EXPERIENCE, SEEMS LIKE THE FLU SEASON IS A LITTLE LATER HERE USUALLY.

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW?

>> JUST THE OPPOSITE.

WE'RE SEEING IT SO EARLY WHICH IS SO SURPRISING.

WE HAVE SEEN BILEVEL PEAKS, USUALLY YOU GET A PEAK AROUND CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEAR.

THIS YEAR SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED EARLY, AND WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE GET IT AND THEN IT'S OVER.

TED: YEAH, COULD GET A DOUBLE DIP.

>> DOUBLE DIP IS WHAT WE WORRY ABOUT.

TED: GREAT INFORMATION, DOCTOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DR. FRANK LOVECCHIO, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

.

>> PROJECT RESET IS A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT WORKS TO SUPPORT YOUTH AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.

AND TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME ALEXA MORGANROTH, THE CO-CEO OF PROJECT ARIZONA.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GREAT TO BE HERE.

MY CO-CEO IS IN THE AUDIENCE, LAURA BURN, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TO SHARE OUR MISSION.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR MISSION, WHAT IS IT?

>> HELP EVERY ARIZONA YOUTH AND FAMILY GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED.

I'M A LONG-TERM RECOVERY PERSON MYSELF, THE PROCESS AS A TEEN ADOLESCENT AND ADULT WAS INCREDIBLY FILLED WITH BARRIERS AND ONE BARRIER AFTER ANOTHER, AND NO MATTER HOW AMAZING THE TREATMENT SERVICE WAS, HOW FREE THE TREATMENT CENTER WAS, THERE WAS A CORE COMPONENT TO ALL OF THEM, NOBODY HEARD YOUR VOICE, SO THE TEENS TODAY, WHAT WE SEE, IF WE HAVE A NONPROFIT THAT HEARS THEM, THAT CAN PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES NEEDED, LIKE OPEN COMMUNITY GROUP ON THE WEEKEND, WHICH WE DO CALLED ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, AND THE KIDS CAME UP WITH THAT.

WE HAVE PICKLEBALL, WE HAVE A BASKETBALL COURT, A BODEGA THEY CAN BUY STUFF FROM EARNING CHIPS.

WE HAVE PARENT EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO CONTINUE TO REDUCE THE STIGMA.

TED: WHEN YOU SAY THEIR VOICES AREN'T HEARD.

GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE.

>> AN EXAMPLE IS WE DO THIS KIND OF TREATMENT.

WE DO THIS KIND OF SERVICE.

WHEN SOMEBODY COMES TO US, IT'S YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE, RIGHT?

WHAT DO YOU WANT AS THE PERSON SEEKING HELP, NOT WHAT DOES MOM WANT?

WHAT DOES DAD WANT?

THAT'S A HUGE PART OF IT.

WE CAN'T HELP A KIDDO WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS BEING PART OF IT.

IT'S HEARING THEIR VOICE AND CHOICE, BUT PROVIDING THE SAME TREATMENT IN EXPERIENTAL FASHION, BY HAVING A MUSIC ROOM ON PREMISES, BY ALLOWING THEM TO SAY WHAT GROUPS THEY WANT TO BE IN AND PROVIDING INFORMATION AROUND IT, SPECIFICALLY TO REDUCE THE RECIDIVISM OF INDIVIDUALS GETTING IN TROUBLE IN SCHOOL.

TED: AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS, PREVENTION REFRESH IS A TWO-WEEK AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM HERE.

DESCRIBE THAT?

>> SO IT'S TWO WEEKS, ESSENTIALLY 40 HOURS, AND IT IS TO MARKET TO SCHOOLS FOR FREE, AND TO ASK THEM TO NOT GO SUSPENSION AS THEIR FIRST ANGLE, RIGHT?

WE'LL TAKE THEM, WE WON'T CHARGE YOU, WE'RE A NONPROFIT, AND WE WANT TO EDUCATE AND WE WANT TO INCREASE THE COMMUNICATION, WE WANT TO DECREASE HARMFUL BEHAVIORS AND INCREASE COMMUNITY, AND WE PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT TREATMENT CENTERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THE CLINICAL TREATMENT, WHEN NEEDED BUT AMERICORPS MEMBERS WHO WE PARTNERED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PROVIDE THE TUTORING AND ACADEMICS AND LIFE SKILLS AND SUPPORT TO ENGAGE THE KIDDOS IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE A DIVERSION PROGRAM, PRETTY MUCH?

>> LITTLE BIT, INTERVENTION.

TED: AND RESTED DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S PEER RUN, THAT'S BASICALLY YOU'RE IN CHARGE.

>> PEER RUN, SO I'M NOT IN CHARGE.

TED: YOU'RE TALKING TO THE KIDS AND TELL THEM THEY'RE IN CHARGE.

>> WE TRAIN THE KIDDOS AND TRAIN OUR AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS AND HAVE STAFF PRESENT, BUT WE HAVE A PICKLEBALL COURT, RIGHT?

WE HAVE A BASKETBALL COURT.

THE POINT IS TO BRING THE KIDDOS TOGETHER IN OPEN CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE'S ISSUES THEY'RE EXPERIENCING THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WITH THEIR PARENTS, THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WITH PEERS BECAUSE OF STIGMA.

HOW DO WE GET THE KIDDOS IN ONE PLACE?

I FELT BAD WHEN MY FRIEND POSTED THIS PICTURE OF ME.

I CAN'T STOP SCROLLING THE INTERNET AT NIGHT.

IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME?

WE'RE HAVING OPEN CONVERSATIONS AND SEEING AMAZING OUTCOMES THE LONGER THEY STAY.

TED: THERE'S A PARENTS' BOOT CAMP, AND GUEST SPEAKERS, OPEN MEETING KIND OF THING?

>> YES, WE HAD TO PUT IT ONLINE DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE COMING.

WE COULDN'T FIT THEM IN THE ROOM, SO WE NOW DO THAT ONLINE WITH OUR NEW PROPERTY, WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT BACK IN PERSON.

SO THE SECOND FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, WE SEND OUT A ZOOM LINK AND DO A LOT WITH THE YOUTH COALITIONS IN THE AREA AND VALLEY OF THE SUN UNITED WAY GIFT US OUR START-UP FUND FOR THE GUEST SPEAKERS, SO WE DO THAT THE SECOND FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, AND WE JUST GIVE OPEN TOPICS OF EDUCATION.

TED: BEFORE WE GO, A MINUTE OR SO LEFT.

YOU MENTIONED YOUR NEW FACILITIES.

YOU GOT TO A NEW FACILITY.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> I STARTED ORGANICALLY, MOM AND POP, RENTING A COUPLE HOURS A DAY FROM SOMEBODY, AND WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, WE HAD A LOT OF COMMUNED MEMBERS, A LOT OF HELPERS AND WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE OUR OWN COMPLEX, AND THE COMPLEX IS LOCATED OFF THOMAS AND 25th PLACE.

IT'S GATED, AND THAT'S WHERE OUR NONPROFIT IS LOCATED.

TED: WOW, MUST FEEL REALLY GOOD TO HAVE THAT THING THERE, IT'S YOUR BASE?

>> IT'S OUR HOME BASE.

IT'S OUR HOME BASE, AND IT IS BUILT FOR KIDS.

IT WAS DESIGNED BY A CREATIVE DIRECTOR WITH A MIND FOR TRAUMA, BRANDING AND KID DEVELOPMENT.

TED: WELL, ALEXA, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ALL-ENCOMPASSING, BIG GOALS BUT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US.

TED: YOU BET.

.

TED: THANKSGIVING WEEKEND MEANS BIG BUDGET MOVIE RELEASES, THIS YEAR IS NO EXCEPTION ALONG WITH WICKED AND GLADIATOR AND MOANA.

WE GOT A GOOD PREVIEW FROM A COLUMNIST FROM "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.COM.

BILL, NICE LITTLE BACKDROP, YOU ARE LIVING THE LIFE HERE.

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND IS ALWAYS BIG FOR MOVIES.

WHY IS THAT, BILL?

IS THAT HISTORIC?

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT PART OF IT IS, THE HOLIDAYS IN GENERAL ARE BIG FOR MOVIES, BUT I THINK THANKSGIVING IS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE COME HOME, AND THEY'RE WITH RELATIVES THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IN WEEKS, MONTHS, MAYBE YEARS, AND MAYBE AFTER A DAY OR TWO, YOU REALIZE, THERE'S A REASON I DIDN'T SEE THEM FOR DAYS OR WEEKS OR MONTHS OR YEARS.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO -- YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.

A LITTLE OF THAT CONCENTRATED TOGETHERNESS CAN GO A LONG WAY.

I THINK PEOPLE LIKE TO GO OUT AND SEE A GOOD MOVIE, AND USUALLY BIG FOR FAMILY MOVIES AS WELL.

TED: THAT'S WHERE WE GET TO THE BLOCKBUSTERS AND BIG TITLES AND START WITH WICKED WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE THE NUMBER ONES, YOU THINK?

>> YES, YES.

I MEAN THERE'S WICKED AND THERE'S GLADIATOR 2, THEY'RE TRYING TO REDO SOME OF THE BARBEN HEIMER MAGIC BY CALLING IT WICKED.

WICKED IS GOING TO BE THE BIG ONE AND BY FAR THE BETTER MOVIE.

I'M FINE WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A HUGELY POPULAR MUSICA.

IT'S NOT QUITE A BAIT AND SWITCH BUT TRICKY MARKETING HERE.

IT'S A TWO-HOUR 40 MINUTE MOVIE AND IT'S ONLY PART ONE.

THE ENTIRE MUSICAL ON BROADWAY IS ONLY 2 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES, SO, YOU'RE -- ABOUT TO COMMIT TO FIVE HOURS OF WICKED BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND NEXT.

TED: YOU GET THROUGH WITH THE WHOLE FILM AND YOU GO HOME AND HAVEN'T SEEN THE WHOLE FILM.

>> YOU'VE SEEN HALF OF IT.

IT'S A TWO ACT PLAY, YOU'VE SEEN THE FIRST PART.

TED: YOU SAY IT'S A GOOD FILM, DID YOU SEE THE STAGE PLAY?

>> I HAVE NOT.

TED: WONDERING OF THE SIMILARITIES.

>> IT'S PRETTY -- IT IS PRETTY FAITHFUL TO THE STAGE PRODUCTION EXCEPT IT'S REALLY LONG, SO WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THERE ARE A LOT OF DANCE NUMBERS, HUGE PRODUCTION NUMBERS.

JOHN CHAO, THE DIRECTOR DID CRAZY RICH ASIANS, HE'S IN THE VISUAL, SUMPTUOUS, BIG KIND OF STUFF, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THAT.

AND I HAVE TO SAY, ARIANA GRANDE AND CYNTHIA AREVA, THEY CAN BELT IT OUT, MAN.

THEY DO NOT -- THEY'RE THE BEST THING ABOUT IT.

THEY NEED TO BE THE BEST THING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE MOST THING ABOUT IT, BUT ARIANA GRANDE IN PARTICULAR, SHE'S HITTING SOME NOTES THAT ARE LIKE ASTOUNDING.

I WAS IMPRESSED.

I THINK SHE'S AN UNDERRATED ACTOR, TOO.

YOU SEE HER ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE," THEY DON'T HAVE TO RETOOL THE SHOW FOR HER LIMITED SKILLS, SHE'S PRETTY GOOD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS IS EXPECTING, IT'S A GOOD TIME AT THE MOVIES, AND I THINK THAT MAKES IT A PRETTY PERFECT THANKSGIVING FILM.

TED: WHAT ABOUT GLADIATOR 2, I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT THE ORIGINAL, THAT WON AN OSCAR FOR BEST PITCHES?

>> THAT WON FIVE OSCARS.

TED: HOLY SMOKES.

>> BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR FOR RUSSELL CROWE.

WE'RE ON TV, I'M THE EMPEROR, THIS IS WHAT I SAY.

I THOUGHT THAT THE FIRST ONE WAS STUPID.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF COOL PARTS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

THAT WAS GOOD, AND I WILL HAVE MY VENGEANCE IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT, AND YOU GOT 2 1/2 HOURS BEYOND THAT, AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE SECOND FILM IS IT'S A LOT LIKE THE FIRST FILM, A LOT.

DOWN TO LIKE THE BEAT OF THE PLOT.

AND PAUL MESSCIAL, I LOVE HAVING A GUY THAT CAN PLAY THE QUASI-ROMAN GUY, HE GREW UP IN AFRICA, BUT HE'S FROM ROME, BUT THE SAVING GRACE OF THIS MOVIE IS DENZEL WASHINGTON, AND HE IS FANTASTIC, HE HAS BEEN A BAD GUY BEFORE, BUT THIS GUY IS LIKE JUST LIKE A WISE, JUST CONFIDENT BAD GUY.

TED: YEAH.

>> AND THAT'S NOT A SPOILER BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT IT.

I COULD WATCH HIM DO ANY, BUT I REALLY LIKED WATCHING HIM DO THIS.

TED: REALLY, SCOTT CARRIES A LOT OF CLOUT IN HOLLYWOOD.

HE CAN DO THE SAME FILM TWICE.

MOANA 2, GLADIATOR 2.

THE ROCK IS ALL OVER THE PLACE HERE.

HE'S GOT ALSO THIS RED ONE THING OUT THERE.

COMBINE THE TWO IF YOU WANT.

>> I DON'T SEE MOANA 2 UNTIL MONDAY.

THAT'S WHEN THE SCREENINGS FOR THAT ARE, BUT I'M EAGER TO SEE IT BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE WAS A BIG HIT.

DWAYNE JOHNSON WAS A HUGE MOVIE STAR.

THE JURY IS OUT WHETHER HE STILL IS.

RED ONE, I THINK COST ABOUT $250 MILLION TO MAKE.

IT MADE 30 SOME MILLION AT THE BOX OFFICE LAST WEEK.

I DON'T CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT BOX OFFICE MYSELF.

I'M NOT THE PERSON PAYING THE CHECKS, BUT RED ONE IS, IN ADDITION TO APPARENTLY BEING A FLOP, TERRIBLE.

TED: WOW.

>> IT IS A HORRIBLE MOVIE, BUT ANY KIND OF A WAY THAT'S ENJOYABLE TO WATCH.

TED: DOES IT COME AROUND THE OTHER SIDE AND BECOME ENTERTAINING?

>> NOT QUITE.

NOT IN THE WAY THEY COULD CALL -- IT'S NOT A CULT FILM.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SAY, IT'S THE HOLIDAYS, LET'S WATCH J.K. SIMMONS AS A BUFFED-OUT SANTA WHO WORKS OUT FOR HOURS AT A TIME.

LET'S WATCH HIM OR CHRIS EVANS, CHRIS EVANS IS KIND OF COOL IN IT, ACTUALLY.

IT'S NOT QUITE MEAN-SPIRITED, IT'S LIKE NOTHING SPIRITED.

IT'S JUST LIKE, HERE'S SOMETHING, IT'S THE NORTH POLE, LET'S PUT SPIES UP THERE, KIDNAP SANTA, HOW ABOUT THAT?

TED: ALL RIGHT, THAT SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.

BEFORE WE GO.

WE GOT TV TO WORRY ABOUT, STREAMING, NETFLIX, QUICKLY, ANYTHING STAND OUT?

>> I THINK THE BEST THING I'VE SEEN ON TV THIS YEAR AND IT'S NOT NEW, SINCE IT'S STREAMING IT'S ALWAYS THERE, A PEACOCK SERIES CALLED ENGLISH TEACHER.

IT'S REALLY FUNNY BUT ALSO TACKLES -- THIS IS GOING TO MAKE IT SOUND MORE PREACHY THAN IT IS, IT'S NOT PREACHY AT ALL.

IT TACKLES REALLY BIG SUBJECTS BUT IN A FUNNY WAY, BUT A GOOD WAY.

IT DOES ABOUT THE BEST JOB I'VE SEEN IN MEDIA OF SOMEONE GOING AFTER OR AT LEAST CHALLENGING THE -- WHAT WOULD YOU CALL IT, THE PARENTS MOVEMENT TO SORT OF CHANGE THE CURRICULUM IN SCHOOL, AND TO CHANGE THE BOOKS CAN YOU READ IN THE LIBRARY, AND THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN TEACH IN HISTORY CLASS, AND WHETHER YOU CAN FAIL A KID, IF THEY DO FAILING WORK.

THEY TALK ABOUT THERE'S GUN CONTROL, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS, IT MAKES IT SOUND PREACHY, IT'S NOT, IT'S FUN.

I HAVE TO SAY ON THE TV FRONT, A SERIES I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN JANUARY ARE THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON TRUMP.

I THINK THAT'S THE THING MOST PEOPLE WATCH ON TV.

TED: YOU CROSSED ON OVER THERE AND WE HAVE TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, AND THANKS FOR THE WARNING ON RED ONE AND THE GOOD THING ON WICKED AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> SURE, SURE.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.