>>> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

WE HEAR FROM THE ONLY FORMER WE HEAR FROM THE ONLY FORMER U.S.

SENATOR CURRENTLY TOURING U.S.

SENATOR CURRENTLY TOURING AS A STANDUP COMIC.

AS A STANDUP COMIC.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF EGO >> THERE'S A LOT OF EGO INVOLVED.

INVOLVED.

YOU HAVE TO -- YOU HAVE TO BE A YOU HAVE TO -- YOU HAVE TO BE A PERFORMER.

PERFORMER.

I DID FIND THAT HAVING BEEN A I DID FIND THAT HAVING BEEN A PERFORMER IS VERY HELPFUL WHEN PERFORMER IS VERY HELPFUL WHEN YOU'RE QUESTIONING IN HEARINGS.

YOU'RE QUESTIONING IN HEARINGS.

>> LEARNING HOW THE BOXER KNOWN >> LEARNING HOW THE BOXER KNOWN AS "THE GREATEST" MADE AN IMPACT AS "THE GREATEST" MADE AN IMPACT RIGHT HERE IN WESTERN MASS -- RIGHT HERE IN WESTERN MASS -- >> I COULD PRETEND TO BE ALI IN >> I COULD PRETEND TO BE ALI IN THE GYM AND IN THE FIGHTS IN MY THE GYM AND IN THE FIGHTS IN MY MIND, I WAS HIM.

MIND, I WAS HIM.

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THINGS, BUT I WOULD PRETEND SAY THINGS, BUT I WOULD PRETEND I WAS HIM.

I WAS HIM.

>> AND WE'LL KICK OFF HISPANIC >> AND WE'LL KICK OFF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH BY EXPLORING THE HERITAGE MONTH BY EXPLORING THE WORK OF AN AFRO-CUBAN VISUAL WORK OF AN AFRO-CUBAN VISUAL ARTIST.

ARTIST.

>> I DON'T LIKE TO BE FINE.

>> I DON'T LIKE TO BE FINE.

I DIDN'T FIND MYSELF JUST AS A I DIDN'T FIND MYSELF JUST AS A VISUAL ARTIST AND THEN I BRING VISUAL ARTIST AND THEN I BRING EVERYTHING TOGETHER BECAUSE I EVERYTHING TOGETHER BECAUSE I HAVE THE ANNIVERSARY IN MY -- HAVE THE ANNIVERSARY IN MY -- UNIVERSE IN MY MIND.

UNIVERSE IN MY MIND.

>> WE'LL BRING YOU THOSE STORIES >> WE'LL BRING YOU THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON CONNECTING POINT.

CONNECTING POINT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR >>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

POINT."

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

FORMER U.S.

SENATOR AL FRANKEN FORMER U.S.

SENATOR AL FRANKEN IS BACK IN THE COMEDY BUSINESS IS BACK IN THE COMEDY BUSINESS WITH THRAWCH OF HIS NEW COMEDY WITH THRAWCH OF HIS NEW COMEDY TOUR, "THE ONLY FORMER U.S. TOUR, "THE ONLY FORMER U.S.

SENATOR CURRENTLY ON TOUR."

SENATOR CURRENTLY ON TOUR."

THE STAND-UP SHOW WILL BE THE STAND-UP SHOW WILL BE HEADING TO 15 CITIES NATIONWIDE HEADING TO 15 CITIES NATIONWIDE AND THE FIRST STOP WILL BE RIGHT AND THE FIRST STOP WILL BE RIGHT HERE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AT HERE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AT NORTH HAMPTON'S ACADEMY OF NORTH HAMPTON'S ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

MUSIC.

BEFORE HE TURNED TO POLITICS, HE BEFORE HE TURNED TO POLITICS, HE SERVED AS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SERVED AS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL WRITERS ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" WRITERS ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" FOR 15 SEASONS.

FOR 15 SEASONS.

IN ADDITION TO HIS SNL DAYS, IN ADDITION TO HIS SNL DAYS, HE'S RECEIVED FIVE EMMYS, TWO HE'S RECEIVED FIVE EMMYS, TWO GRAMMYS, AND AUTHORED FOR NUMBER GRAMMYS, AND AUTHORED FOR NUMBER ONE "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST ONE "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST SELLERS.

SELLERS.

I SPOKE WITH FRANKEN TO LEARN I SPOKE WITH FRANKEN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TOUR AND WHY HE MORE ABOUT THE TOUR AND WHY HE DECIDED TO LAUNCH IT.

DECIDED TO LAUNCH IT.

>> I ALWAYS DID COMEDY.

>> I ALWAYS DID COMEDY.

I DID IT STARTING IN GRADE I DID IT STARTING IN GRADE SCHOOL.

SCHOOL.

AND YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING AND YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO AUDIENCES OVER THE LAST FEW TO AUDIENCES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

MONTHS.

I'VE BEEN GOING DOWN TO THE I'VE BEEN GOING DOWN TO THE COMEDY CELLAR IN GREENWICH COMEDY CELLAR IN GREENWICH VILLAGE.

VILLAGE.

AND YOU KNOW, I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT AND YOU KNOW, I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.

THIS.

THAT EVERY SCHOOL HAS A STAGE.

THAT EVERY SCHOOL HAS A STAGE.

AND EVERY ADULT, THE TEACHER, AND EVERY ADULT, THE TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, THE ADMINISTRATIVE PRINCIPAL, THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, THE CUSTODIAL STAFF, THE STAFF, THE CUSTODIAL STAFF, THE LUNCH -- EVERYBODY WANTS -- LUNCH -- EVERYBODY WANTS -- WANTS ENCOURAGING KIDS TO GET ON WANTS ENCOURAGING KIDS TO GET ON THE STAGE.

THE STAGE.

AND THEN ONCE YOU'VE GRADUATED AND THEN ONCE YOU'VE GRADUATED SCHOOL, NO ONE WANTS YOU TO GET SCHOOL, NO ONE WANTS YOU TO GET ON STAGE!

ON STAGE!

BUT I JUST DID IT ALL THROUGHOUT BUT I JUST DID IT ALL THROUGHOUT SCHOOL.

SCHOOL.

AND I JUST -- IT'S PART OF WHO I AND I JUST -- IT'S PART OF WHO I AM.

AM.

AND YEAH, I'LL BE DOING -- AND YEAH, I'LL BE DOING -- TALKING ABOUT POLITICS AND TALKING ABOUT POLITICS AND SATIRE.

SATIRE.

YOU KNOW, DOING IT IS A YOU KNOW, DOING IT IS A TIERICALLY.

TIERICALLY.

SO IT'S ALL PART AND PARCEL OF SO IT'S ALL PART AND PARCEL OF WHO I AM.

WHO I AM.

IT'S ALL ONE ASPECT OF GROWING IT'S ALL ONE ASPECT OF GROWING UP.

UP.

>> SPEAKING OF YOU DOING COMEDY >> SPEAKING OF YOU DOING COMEDY BEFORE, YOU SPENT 15 SEASONS ON BEFORE, YOU SPENT 15 SEASONS ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" AS AN "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" AS AN ORIGINAL WRITER AND YOU WON FIVE ORIGINAL WRITER AND YOU WON FIVE EMMYS FOR WRITING AND PRODUCES EMMYS FOR WRITING AND PRODUCES AS WELL AS TWO GRAMMYS.

AS WELL AS TWO GRAMMYS.

YOU EVENTUALLY WENT ON TO SERVE YOU EVENTUALLY WENT ON TO SERVE MINNESOTA IN THE SENATE FROM MINNESOTA IN THE SENATE FROM 2009 TO 2018.

2009 TO 2018.

HOW DOES ONE GO FROM BEING A HOW DOES ONE GO FROM BEING A COMEDIAN TO A POLITICIAN?

COMEDIAN TO A POLITICIAN?

>> FOR ME, IT MADE SENSE.

>> FOR ME, IT MADE SENSE.

I WROTE A LOT OF THE POLITICAL I WROTE A LOT OF THE POLITICAL SADIRE ON SN -- SATIRE ON SNL, SADIRE ON SN -- SATIRE ON SNL, ALONG WITH JIM DOWNEY, WHO IS ALONG WITH JIM DOWNEY, WHO IS CONSERVATIVE.

CONSERVATIVE.

SO WE DIDN'T REALLY FEEL SO WE DIDN'T REALLY FEEL DWIEWRNG THAT TIME THAT IT WAS DWIEWRNG THAT TIME THAT IT WAS OUR JOB TO BE -- JUST TO DO WELL OUR JOB TO BE -- JUST TO DO WELL OBSERVED SATIRE.

OBSERVED SATIRE.

AND NOW IT'S REALLY HARD, I AND NOW IT'S REALLY HARD, I THINK.

THINK.

THE COUNTRY IS SO DIVIDED.

THE COUNTRY IS SO DIVIDED.

AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS ODD.

AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS ODD.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, NO COMEDIAN I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, NO COMEDIAN HAD BEEN A SENATOR BEFORE.

HAD BEEN A SENATOR BEFORE.

AND I HAD TO CONVINCE PEOPLE OF AND I HAD TO CONVINCE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA THAT THAT MADE SENSE!

MINNESOTA THAT THAT MADE SENSE!

AND IT WAS USED AGAINST ME BY MY AND IT WAS USED AGAINST ME BY MY OPPONENTS AND STUFF.

OPPONENTS AND STUFF.

BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY, PEOPLE BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY, PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA GOT IT, OBVIOUSLY.

OF MINNESOTA GOT IT, OBVIOUSLY.

AND THAT -- IN A WAY, THAT AND THAT -- IN A WAY, THAT SATTARISTS KIND OF SEE THROUGH SATTARISTS KIND OF SEE THROUGH THINGS IN A WAY AND I THINK AS I THINGS IN A WAY AND I THINK AS I WAS SERVING, ANY RE-ELECTION WAS WAS SERVING, ANY RE-ELECTION WAS A LOT EASIER THAN MY -- I WON A LOT EASIER THAN MY -- I WON THE FIRST TIME BY 312 VOLTS.

THE FIRST TIME BY 312 VOLTS.

THE SECOND TIME BY OVER 200,000.

THE SECOND TIME BY OVER 200,000.

>> HOW DIFFERENT OR HOW SIMILAR >> HOW DIFFERENT OR HOW SIMILAR IS LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD TO LIFE IN IS LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD TO LIFE IN WASHINGTON?

WASHINGTON?

WERE THERE THINGS THAT YOU WERE THERE THINGS THAT YOU LEARNED AS A COMEDIAN THAT LEARNED AS A COMEDIAN THAT HELPED YOU AS A POLITICIAN?

HELPED YOU AS A POLITICIAN?

>> WELL, I DIDN'T LIVE IN >> WELL, I DIDN'T LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD.

HOLLYWOOD.

I WAS IN NEW YORK.

I WAS IN NEW YORK.

BECAUSE I WAS DOING SNL.

BECAUSE I WAS DOING SNL.

BUT I -- I'D TAKE -- I TAKE IT BUT I -- I'D TAKE -- I TAKE IT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SHOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SHOW BUSINESS.

BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BOTH PRETTY -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BOTH PRETTY -- CAN BE PRETTY TOUGH WORLDS.

CAN BE PRETTY TOUGH WORLDS.

THEY'RE DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE DIFFERENT.

BUT YEAH, YOU -- THERE'S A LOT BUT YEAH, YOU -- THERE'S A LOT OF EGO INVOLVED.

OF EGO INVOLVED.

YOU HAVE TO -- YOU HAVE TO BE A YOU HAVE TO -- YOU HAVE TO BE A PERFORMER.

PERFORMER.

I DID FIND THAT HAVING BEEN A I DID FIND THAT HAVING BEEN A PERFORMER WAS VERY HELPFUL IN -- PERFORMER WAS VERY HELPFUL IN -- WHEN YOU'RE QUESTIONING IN WHEN YOU'RE QUESTIONING IN HEARINGS.

HEARINGS.

IT -- SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE IT -- SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE QUESTIONING, YOU NEED A LOT OF QUESTIONING, YOU NEED A LOT OF NUANCE.

NUANCE.

AND YOU HAVE TO LISTEN.

AND YOU HAVE TO LISTEN.

AND I FOUND THAT MY COLLEAGUES, AND I FOUND THAT MY COLLEAGUES, EVEN THOUGH -- LIKE ON THE EVEN THOUGH -- LIKE ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, MOST OF MY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES -- I WASN'T A LAWYER.

COLLEAGUES -- I WASN'T A LAWYER.

NOT OBVIOUSLY.

NOT OBVIOUSLY.

BUT I WASN'T.

BUT I WASN'T.

AND -- BUT I LISTENED DIFFERENT, AND -- BUT I LISTENED DIFFERENT, I THINK, THAN MY COLLEAGUES DID.

I THINK, THAN MY COLLEAGUES DID.

MANY OF WOMAN WERE -- OF WHOM MANY OF WOMAN WERE -- OF WHOM WERE PROSECUTORS, BUT I -- I WERE PROSECUTORS, BUT I -- I THINK I HAD AN ADVANTAGE IN THE THINK I HAD AN ADVANTAGE IN THE WAY I QUESTIONED FROM BOTH BEING WAY I QUESTIONED FROM BOTH BEING A PERFORMER AND AND A WRITER.

A PERFORMER AND AND A WRITER.

AND SO I BROUGHT A LOT OF TOOLS AND SO I BROUGHT A LOT OF TOOLS TO THE JOB THAT NO ONE ELSE HAD TO THE JOB THAT NO ONE ELSE HAD REALLY HAD.

REALLY HAD.

>> NOW, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT >> NOW, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW COMEDY AND SATIRE IS A HOW COMEDY AND SATIRE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT NOW-A-DAYS WITH LITTLE DIFFERENT NOW-A-DAYS WITH THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE.

THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE.

CURRENTLY YOU'RE THE HOST OF THE CURRENTLY YOU'RE THE HOST OF THE AL FRANKEN PODCAST WHICH TOUCHES AL FRANKEN PODCAST WHICH TOUCHES ON POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

ON POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

CAN COMEDY HAVE A ROLE IN CAN COMEDY HAVE A ROLE IN BRIDGING THE DIVIDE WE ARE BRIDGING THE DIVIDE WE ARE SEEING BETWEEN THE POLITICAL SEEING BETWEEN THE POLITICAL PARTIES?

PARTIES?

>> I THINK IT CERTAINLY HAS A >> I THINK IT CERTAINLY HAS A ROLE -- ALWAYS HAS.

ROLE -- ALWAYS HAS.

IT'S HAD A ROLE, IF DONE RIGHT, IT'S HAD A ROLE, IF DONE RIGHT, WHICH IS A BIG -- YOU HAVE TO WHICH IS A BIG -- YOU HAVE TO UNDERSCORE, DONE RIGHT, IT CAN UNDERSCORE, DONE RIGHT, IT CAN SHED A LOT OF LIGHT.

SHED A LOT OF LIGHT.

AND IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF AND IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS.

LOOKING AT THINGS.

BUT I THINK IT'S A VERY -- CAN BUT I THINK IT'S A VERY -- CAN BE A VERY HELPFUL WAY OF LOOK AT BE A VERY HELPFUL WAY OF LOOK AT THINGS AND CUTTING THROUGH THINGS AND CUTTING THROUGH STUFF.

STUFF.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE SO DIVIDED.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE SO DIVIDED.

AND IT'S -- I DO TALK IN MY SHOW AND IT'S -- I DO TALK IN MY SHOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A, YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A, YOU KNOW -- THERE ARE REALLY GOOD KNOW -- THERE ARE REALLY GOOD AMERICANS ON BOTH SIDES.

AMERICANS ON BOTH SIDES.

AND IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER THAT.

AND IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER THAT.

I TALK ABOUT TED CRUZ NOT GOING I TALK ABOUT TED CRUZ NOT GOING TO CAN -- GOING TO CANCUN DURING TO CAN -- GOING TO CANCUN DURING THAT DISASTER.

THAT DISASTER.

I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MINNESOTANS DURING FLOODS AND MINNESOTANS DURING FLOODS AND TORNADOES.

TORNADOES.

AND WHAT YOU LEARN IS HOW GREAT AND WHAT YOU LEARN IS HOW GREAT PEOPLE ARE TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.

PEOPLE ARE TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.

AND IT'S HARD REALLY TO NOT SEE AND IT'S HARD REALLY TO NOT SEE PEOPLE AS PEOPLE, BECAUSE YOU PEOPLE AS PEOPLE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T -- YOU SEE PEOPLE DO DON'T -- YOU SEE PEOPLE DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.

EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.

AND -- YOU SEE -- I REMEMBER I AND -- YOU SEE -- I REMEMBER I WAS AT A FLOOD SOUTH OF DULUTH, WAS AT A FLOOD SOUTH OF DULUTH, AND THERE WAS THIS COUPLE AND THERE WAS THIS COUPLE ABOUT -- IN THEIR 60S WHO LOST ABOUT -- IN THEIR 60S WHO LOST THEIR HOME BECAUSE IT WAS A THEIR HOME BECAUSE IT WAS A FLOOD AND THEIR FOUNDATION FLOOD AND THEIR FOUNDATION COLLAPSED.

COLLAPSED.

AND THESE TEENAGE KIDS JUST CAME AND THESE TEENAGE KIDS JUST CAME TO HELP THEM HAUL OUT THEIR TO HELP THEM HAUL OUT THEIR STUFF.

STUFF.

AND IT WAS HEAVY STUFF.

AND IT WAS HEAVY STUFF.

AND THESE KIDS DID IT -- THESE AND THESE KIDS DID IT -- THESE OLDER PEOPLE COULDN'T DO IT.

OLDER PEOPLE COULDN'T DO IT.

AND THE COUPLE TOLD ME, WELL, AND THE COUPLE TOLD ME, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T KNOW -- WHAT YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T KNOW -- WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.

WE WERE GOING TO DO.

WE HAVE RELATIVES OF MISSOURI, WE HAVE RELATIVES OF MISSOURI, WE'RE THINKING OF MOVING THERE.

WE'RE THINKING OF MOVING THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

THESE KIDS -- THEY'RE JUST THESE KIDS -- THEY'RE JUST AMAZING AND THEY'RE OUR AMAZING AND THEY'RE OUR COMMUNITY, SO WE'RE STAYING COMMUNITY, SO WE'RE STAYING HERE.

HERE.

AND I HAD NO IDEA WHETHER THEY AND I HAD NO IDEA WHETHER THEY WERE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

WERE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

I HAD NO IDEA -- YOU JUST SEE I HAD NO IDEA -- YOU JUST SEE THAT THEY'RE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.

THAT THEY'RE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.

AND I WISH WE COULD GET BACK AND I WISH WE COULD GET BACK ON -- TO THAT.

ON -- TO THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF -- PEOPLE THERE'S A LOT OF -- PEOPLE PROFITING FROM DIVIDING PEOPLE.

PROFITING FROM DIVIDING PEOPLE.

>> IN A RECENT INTERVIEW WITH >> IN A RECENT INTERVIEW WITH THE REPUBLICAN, YOU MENTIONED THE REPUBLICAN, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WILL NOT RULE OUT A THAT YOU WILL NOT RULE OUT A RETURN TO PUBLIC OFFICE.

RETURN TO PUBLIC OFFICE.

WHAT IS IT THAT DRIVES YOU TO WHAT IS IT THAT DRIVES YOU TO WANT TO KEEP THAT POLITICAL DOOR WANT TO KEEP THAT POLITICAL DOOR OPEN STILL?

OPEN STILL?

>> I LOVE THE JOB.

>> I LOVE THE JOB.

I REALLY DID.

I REALLY DID.

AND I THINK -- I WAS GOOD AT IT.

AND I THINK -- I WAS GOOD AT IT.

AND IT -- IT'S A PLACE WHERE I AND IT -- IT'S A PLACE WHERE I COULD ACCOMPLISH A LOT.

COULD ACCOMPLISH A LOT.

SO -- I'M KEEPING THE DOOR OPEN.

SO -- I'M KEEPING THE DOOR OPEN.

>> WE LOST YOUR FORMER STATISTIC >> WE LOST YOUR FORMER STATISTIC NIGHT LIFE COLLEAGUE NORM NIGHT LIFE COLLEAGUE NORM MACDONALD WHICH PEEK -- THIS MACDONALD WHICH PEEK -- THIS PEEK WHO -- THIS WEEK WHO PASSED PEEK WHO -- THIS WEEK WHO PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER.

AWAY FROM CANCER.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH NORM AND WHAT WILL YOU REMEMBER NORM AND WHAT WILL YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT HIM?

MOST ABOUT HIM?

>> NORM WAS A BRILLIANT COMEDIAN >> NORM WAS A BRILLIANT COMEDIAN WHO APPROACHED THINGS WHO APPROACHED THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN -- ALL THE DIFFERENTLY THAN -- ALL THE GREAT ONES KIND OF APPROACH GREAT ONES KIND OF APPROACH THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

BUT HE APPROACHED THEM VERY BUT HE APPROACHED THEM VERY DIFFERENTLY.

DIFFERENTLY.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] AND WAS VERY BRAVE IN THE WAY -- AND WAS VERY BRAVE IN THE WAY -- AND FEARLESS.

AND FEARLESS.

MORE FEARLESS THAN BRAVE.

MORE FEARLESS THAN BRAVE.

I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.

I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.

HE JUST HAD A WAY OF TELLING A HE JUST HAD A WAY OF TELLING A JOKE AND HE HAD A PERSPECTIVE JOKE AND HE HAD A PERSPECTIVE THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S.

ELSE'S.

AND HE REALLY VALUED STAND-UP AND HE REALLY VALUED STAND-UP COMEDY.

COMEDY.

THAT'S WHAT HE SAW HIMSELF AS.

THAT'S WHAT HE SAW HIMSELF AS.

HE DIDN'T SEE HIMSELF AS A HE DIDN'T SEE HIMSELF AS A SITCOM.

SITCOM.

HE WASN'T -- REALLY -- HE LOVED HE WASN'T -- REALLY -- HE LOVED STAND-UP.

STAND-UP.

AND THAT'S PARTLY WHY I'M DOING AND THAT'S PARTLY WHY I'M DOING THIS TOUR, IS I REALLY LOVE THIS TOUR, IS I REALLY LOVE STAND-UP.

STAND-UP.

AND I'VE BEEN -- YOU KNOW, SORT AND I'VE BEEN -- YOU KNOW, SORT OF PREPPING FOR THIS AT A CLUB, OF PREPPING FOR THIS AT A CLUB, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT.

WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT.

I'M GOING TO THE COMEDY CELLAR I'M GOING TO THE COMEDY CELLAR IN GREENWICH VILLAGE.

IN GREENWICH VILLAGE.

THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING THAN THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING THAN PEOPLE COMING TO SEE ME IN PEOPLE COMING TO SEE ME IN NORTHAMPTON.

NORTHAMPTON.

SO IT WILL BE -- I'VE BEEN DOING SO IT WILL BE -- I'VE BEEN DOING THESE -- THIS CLUB FOR MONTHS, THESE -- THIS CLUB FOR MONTHS, AND I'M GOING TO SEE WHAT IT'S AND I'M GOING TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN I -- WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIKE WHEN I -- WHEN PEOPLE ARE PAYING TO COME SEE ME.

PAYING TO COME SEE ME.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> THIS SUNDAY NIGHT KEN BURNS' >>> THIS SUNDAY NIGHT KEN BURNS' LATEST DOCUMENT WE'RE MUHAMMAD LATEST DOCUMENT WE'RE MUHAMMAD ALIE WILL PREMIERE ON ALIE WILL PREMIERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA.

NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA.

THE FILM EXPLORES THE LIFE AND THE FILM EXPLORES THE LIFE AND LASTING LEGACY OF THE LATE LASTING LEGACY OF THE LATE HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION.

HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION.

MORE THAN CASSIUS CLAY IN IN IN, MORE THAN CASSIUS CLAY IN IN IN, ALI CAPTIVATED MILLIONS OF FANS ALI CAPTIVATED MILLIONS OF FANS ACROSS THE WORLD WITH HIS SPEED, ACROSS THE WORLD WITH HIS SPEED, GRACE, AND POWER IN THE RING, GRACE, AND POWER IN THE RING, AND HIS COCKY AND CONTROVERSIAL AND HIS COCKY AND CONTROVERSIAL PERSONALITY OUTSIDE OF IT.

PERSONALITY OUTSIDE OF IT.

SURPRISINGLY, ALI WAS NO SURPRISINGLY, ALI WAS NO STRANGER TO WESTERN STRANGER TO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS BOTH DURING AND MASSACHUSETTS BOTH DURING AND AFTER HIS CAREER.

AFTER HIS CAREER.

DAVE FRASER TALKED WITH SOME DAVE FRASER TALKED WITH SOME LOCAL PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF THE BOXING WORLD TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BOXING WORLD TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE MAN KNOWN AS "THE GREATEST."

THE MAN KNOWN AS "THE GREATEST."

>> ON THE WALL IN SPRINGFIELD >> ON THE WALL IN SPRINGFIELD HANGS A PICTURE OF MUHAMMAD ALI, HANGS A PICTURE OF MUHAMMAD ALI, KNOCKING OUT SONNY LISTEN IN KNOCKING OUT SONNY LISTEN IN 1965.

1965.

ALI TRAINED FOR THAT FIGHT.

ALI TRAINED FOR THAT FIGHT.

>> HE REALLY REVOLUTIONIZED WHAT >> HE REALLY REVOLUTIONIZED WHAT BOXING IS IN THE RING.

BOXING IS IN THE RING.

FOR A LOT OF YEARS, BOXING WAS FOR A LOT OF YEARS, BOXING WAS TWO GUYS STANDING IN FRONT OF TWO GUYS STANDING IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER AND EVERYTHING WAS EACH OTHER AND EVERYTHING WAS TRADITIONAL AND ORTHODOX.

TRADITIONAL AND ORTHODOX.

HE CAME IN WITH AN UNORTHODOX HE CAME IN WITH AN UNORTHODOX STANCE, WOULD SWITCH IT UP, AND STANCE, WOULD SWITCH IT UP, AND ME AS A BOXING COACH, WHEN I ME AS A BOXING COACH, WHEN I WATCH HIM, I GO, JESUS, WATCH HIM, I GO, JESUS, EVERYTHING HE'S DOING IS WRONG!

EVERYTHING HE'S DOING IS WRONG!

BUT IT'S WORKING!

BUT IT'S WORKING!

>> CORN CASSIUS CLAY IN 1947, HE >> CORN CASSIUS CLAY IN 1947, HE WAS NO STRANGER TO WESTERN WAS NO STRANGER TO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, HAVING LIVING ON MASSACHUSETTS, HAVING LIVING ON UNION STREET IN SPRINGFIELD UNION STREET IN SPRINGFIELD DURING THE 1960s AND HE WOULD DURING THE 1960s AND HE WOULD MEET WITH FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE MEET WITH FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE NATION OF ISLAM.

NATION OF ISLAM.

BUT FOR MANY, IT IS THE SPORT OF BUT FOR MANY, IT IS THE SPORT OF BOXING THAT ALI IS NOSE KNOWN BOXING THAT ALI IS NOSE KNOWN FOR.

FOR.

>> HE CAME IN AND HE KNEW HOW TO >> HE CAME IN AND HE KNEW HOW TO MAY THE MENTAL GAME, THE MAY THE MENTAL GAME, THE EMOTIONAL GAME!

EMOTIONAL GAME!

WHEN HE GOT IN THERE, IT WAS NOT WHEN HE GOT IN THERE, IT WAS NOT JUST A PHYSICAL BATTLE.

JUST A PHYSICAL BATTLE.

IT WAS A PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL IT WAS A PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL BATTLE.

BATTLE.

THAT'S SOMETHING YOU TRY TO SEE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU TRY TO SEE MIMICKED NOW.

MIMICKED NOW.

BUT IT WILL NEVER BE DUPLICATED, BUT IT WILL NEVER BE DUPLICATED, NOT LIKE HE DID.

NOT LIKE HE DID.

HE DID IT AT A TIME WHERE THAT HE DID IT AT A TIME WHERE THAT WAS UNHEARD OF.

WAS UNHEARD OF.

>> ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY HAS BEEN A >> ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY HAS BEEN A PIVOTAL FIGURE ON THE LOCAL PIVOTAL FIGURE ON THE LOCAL BOXING SCENE FOR MORE THAN 30 BOXING SCENE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

YEARS.

THE CONNECTICUT NATIVE OWNS AND THE CONNECTICUT NATIVE OWNS AND OPERATES CHARTER OAK BOXING IN OPERATES CHARTER OAK BOXING IN HARTFORD.

HARTFORD.

>> AS A KID I USED TO READ MY -- >> AS A KID I USED TO READ MY -- MY FATHER HAD THESE BOOKS.

MY FATHER HAD THESE BOOKS.

THREE BOOKS.

THREE BOOKS.

SUGAR RAY ROBINSON'S BOOK, WILLY SUGAR RAY ROBINSON'S BOOK, WILLY PEP'S BOOK, AND MUHAMMAD ALI'S PEP'S BOOK, AND MUHAMMAD ALI'S BOOK.

BOOK.

ALI'S WAS THE MOST INTERESTING, ALI'S WAS THE MOST INTERESTING, AND AT THAT TIME ROBINSON AND AND AT THAT TIME ROBINSON AND PEP WERE WAY RETIRED, BUT ALI PEP WERE WAY RETIRED, BUT ALI WAS STILL FIGHTING, AND I WAS WAS STILL FIGHTING, AND I WAS EXPERIENCING IT IN REALTIME.

EXPERIENCING IT IN REALTIME.

I COULD PRETEND TO BE ALI IN THE I COULD PRETEND TO BE ALI IN THE SWRM AND IN THE FILES N MY SWRM AND IN THE FILES N MY MIND -- FIGHTS N MY MIND, I WAS MIND -- FIGHTS N MY MIND, I WAS HIM.

HIM.

I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THINGS BUT I WOULD PRETEND I WAS THINGS BUT I WOULD PRETEND I WAS HIM.

HIM.

>> IN 1984 ALI WAS DIAGNOSED >> IN 1984 ALI WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON'S SYNDROME.

WITH PARKINSON'S SYNDROME.

THE FORMER CHAMPION'S MOTOR THE FORMER CHAMPION'S MOTOR SKILLS SLOWLY DECLINED AND HIS SKILLS SLOWLY DECLINED AND HIS MOVEMENT AND SPEECH WERE MOVEMENT AND SPEECH WERE LIMITED.

LIMITED.

IN SPITE OF THIS, ALI REMAINED IN SPITE OF THIS, ALI REMAINED IN THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT, IN THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT, TRAVELING THE WORLD TO MAKE TRAVELING THE WORLD TO MAKE HUMANITARIAN, GOODWILL, AND HUMANITARIAN, GOODWILL, AND CHARITABLE APPEARANCES.

CHARITABLE APPEARANCES.

>> AND HE WALKED BY ME AND HE >> AND HE WALKED BY ME AND HE WENT TO THE TABLE AND HE STARTED WENT TO THE TABLE AND HE STARTED SIGNING, HE STARTED MOTIONING SIGNING, HE STARTED MOTIONING PEOPLE OVER.

PEOPLE OVER.

WHEN IT WAS MY TURN TO MEET HIM, WHEN IT WAS MY TURN TO MEET HIM, HE GOT UP AND SAID, OH, NO!

HE GOT UP AND SAID, OH, NO!

JOE FRASER!

JOE FRASER!

THAT'S WHAT HE CALLED ME.

THAT'S WHAT HE CALLED ME.

I SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS I SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A COMPLIMENT OR NOT, BUT HE SAID A COMPLIMENT OR NOT, BUT HE SAID A LOT OF BAD THINGS ABOUT JOE.

A LOT OF BAD THINGS ABOUT JOE.

BUT IT WAS REALLY FUNNY AND THE BUT IT WAS REALLY FUNNY AND THE WHOLE ROOM WAS LAUGHIG AND WHOLE ROOM WAS LAUGHIG AND EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING.

>> IN 1990 I MET HIM, AND HE WAS >> IN 1990 I MET HIM, AND HE WAS VERY -- HE COULDN'T EVEN SPEAK VERY -- HE COULDN'T EVEN SPEAK THAT LOUD.

THAT LOUD.

BUT THE INTERACTION WAS BUT THE INTERACTION WAS PHENOMENAL.

PHENOMENAL.

WE SHADOW BOXED WITH EACH OTHER WE SHADOW BOXED WITH EACH OTHER AND IT SHOWED MOO THANK YOU IN AND IT SHOWED MOO THANK YOU IN HIS -- ME THAT IN HIS MIND HE HIS -- ME THAT IN HIS MIND HE WAS CLEAR CLEAR-HEADED HE KNEW WAS CLEAR CLEAR-HEADED HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

WHAT WAS GOING ON.

HE COULD EXPRESS IT, HE JUST HE COULD EXPRESS IT, HE JUST COULDN'T DO IT LOUDLY OR COULDN'T DO IT LOUDLY OR ENERGETICALLY.

ENERGETICALLY.

BUT THINGS FROM HE SAID TO ME, BUT THINGS FROM HE SAID TO ME, IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT HE WAS IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT HE WAS VERY, VERY MUCH ON THE BALL.

VERY, VERY MUCH ON THE BALL.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD DAY.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD DAY.

>> IN 1991 ALI VISITED >> IN 1991 ALI VISITED SPRINGFIELD AT THE INVITATION OF SPRINGFIELD AT THE INVITATION OF THE ROCKY MARCIANO FOUNDATION.

THE ROCKY MARCIANO FOUNDATION.

CO-CHAIRS OF THE EVENT.

CO-CHAIRS OF THE EVENT.

>> THIS AMAZING LUMINARY, THIS >> THIS AMAZING LUMINARY, THIS INTERNATIONAL PLAYER, ONE OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLAYER, ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE IN THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, STAYED TO SIGN SIGNATURES WORLD, STAYED TO SIGN SIGNATURES FOR AN -- AND AUTOGRAPHS ON FOR AN -- AND AUTOGRAPHS ON PHOTOGRAPHS, ON MUHAMMAD ALI PHOTOGRAPHS, ON MUHAMMAD ALI DOLLS, ALL KIND OF STUFF.

DOLLS, ALL KIND OF STUFF.

IT WENT ON FOR HOURS.

IT WENT ON FOR HOURS.

EVERY HUMAN BEING THERE, 1500 EVERY HUMAN BEING THERE, 1500 PEOPLE, THEY GOT AN AUTOGRAPH.

PEOPLE, THEY GOT AN AUTOGRAPH.

>> ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS HE >> ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS HE RECALLS WAS ALI'S VISIT TO THE RECALLS WAS ALI'S VISIT TO THE PEDIATRIC QING AT -- WING AT BAY PEDIATRIC QING AT -- WING AT BAY STATE MEDICAL CENTER.

STATE MEDICAL CENTER.

HE WAS REMINDED OF THE IMPACT HE WAS REMINDED OF THE IMPACT THAT VISIT HAD JUST A SHORT TIME THAT VISIT HAD JUST A SHORT TIME AGO.

AGO.

>> A FEW MONTHS AGO, ACTUALLY, >> A FEW MONTHS AGO, ACTUALLY, THIS YEAR, THE MOM OF ONE OF THIS YEAR, THE MOM OF ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN WAS SAYING TO THOSE CHILDREN WAS SAYING TO PAUL, GOSH, PAUL, YOU MAY NOT PAUL, GOSH, PAUL, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT I WAS THERE THE KNOW THIS, BUT I WAS THERE THE DAY THAT YOU BROUGHT MUHAMMAD DAY THAT YOU BROUGHT MUHAMMAD ALI TO VISIT MY SON.

ALI TO VISIT MY SON.

MY SON NEVER BELIEVED THAT MY SON NEVER BELIEVED THAT NEW -- MUHAMMAD ALI HAD ACTUALLY NEW -- MUHAMMAD ALI HAD ACTUALLY COME TO SEE HIM.

COME TO SEE HIM.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH.

PAUL SENT HER A PHOTOGRAPH OF PAUL SENT HER A PHOTOGRAPH OF ALI KISSING HER SON.

ALI KISSING HER SON.

THAT'S GIGANTIC TO THAT FAMILY.

THAT'S GIGANTIC TO THAT FAMILY.

I'VE BEEN TO WAKES AND SEEN A I'VE BEEN TO WAKES AND SEEN A PHOTOGRAPH OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH PHOTOGRAPH OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH ALI IN THE CASKET OR NEXT.

ALI IN THE CASKET OR NEXT.

I'VE SEEN IT LAMINATED ON I'VE SEEN IT LAMINATED ON PEOPLE'S REFRIGERATORS.

PEOPLE'S REFRIGERATORS.

THIS WAS MUHAMMAD ALI.

THIS WAS MUHAMMAD ALI.

AND ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN AND ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN REVERED FIGURES ON THE PLANET.

REVERED FIGURES ON THE PLANET.

AND HE CAME HERE TO SPRINGFIELD.

AND HE CAME HERE TO SPRINGFIELD.

>>> THIS WEEK MARKS THE >>> THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE HISPANIC BEGINNING OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, WHICH IS HERITAGE MONTH, WHICH IS OBSERVED FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH TO OBSERVED FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH TO OCTOBER 15TH, AND IN OCTOBER 15TH, AND IN CELEBRATION, ART FOR THE SOUL CELEBRATION, ART FOR THE SOUL GALLERY IN SPRINGFIELD WILL GALLERY IN SPRINGFIELD WILL FEATURE A NEW TINT ENTITLED -- FEATURE A NEW TINT ENTITLED -- NEW EXHIBIT, ENTITLED POP NEW EXHIBIT, ENTITLED POP GEOMETRIC, THE ART OF CARLOS GEOMETRIC, THE ART OF CARLOS MATEU.

MATEU.

IT OPENS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH IT OPENS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH AND FEATURES ARTWORK INSPIRED BY AND FEATURES ARTWORK INSPIRED BY MATEU'S AFRO-CUBAN BACKGROUND.

MATEU'S AFRO-CUBAN BACKGROUND.

I SPOKE WITH HIM LEARN TO MORE I SPOKE WITH HIM LEARN TO MORE ABOUT HIS CAREER AS A VISUAL ABOUT HIS CAREER AS A VISUAL ARTIST AND DANCER.

ARTIST AND DANCER.

>> MANY YEARS AGO I WAS >> MANY YEARS AGO I WAS PARTICIPATING AT THE EXHIBITION PARTICIPATING AT THE EXHIBITION OF THE -- [INAUDIBLE] I THINK OF THE -- [INAUDIBLE] I THINK THAT WAS THE BEGINNING AND THE THAT WAS THE BEGINNING AND THE GALLERY STARTED SEEING MY WORK.

GALLERY STARTED SEEING MY WORK.

THEN IN THE CITY.

THEN IN THE CITY.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, THEY AND THEN AFTER THAT, THEY MENTIONED IT TO ME.

MENTIONED IT TO ME.

CARLOS, WE WANT YOU TO COME TO CARLOS, WE WANT YOU TO COME TO SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

AND I -- I WAS OPEN TO EXPAND MY AND I -- I WAS OPEN TO EXPAND MY HORIZONS AND TO SHOW MY WORK TO HORIZONS AND TO SHOW MY WORK TO ANY TYPE -- ANY TYPE OF ANY TYPE -- ANY TYPE OF COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

AND SO FINALLY, I HAVE THE AND SO FINALLY, I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO BE THERE.

PLEASURE TO BE THERE.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED.

>> YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED IN >> YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED IN CUBA AND YOU MOVED TO THE CUBA AND YOU MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1997.

UNITED STATES IN 1997.

YOUR PAINTINGS REFLECT YOUR YOUR PAINTINGS REFLECT YOUR AFRO-CUBAN BACKGROUND AS WELL AS AFRO-CUBAN BACKGROUND AS WELL AS YOUR EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE LIVING IN THE BEEN LIKE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES.

UNITED STATES.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO SEE THAT HOW ARE WE GOING TO SEE THAT COME ACROSS IN THIS EXHIBIT AND COME ACROSS IN THIS EXHIBIT AND WHY DOES YOUR HERITAGE SERVE AS WHY DOES YOUR HERITAGE SERVE AS SUCH AN INSPIRATION FOR YOU?

SUCH AN INSPIRATION FOR YOU?

>> MY FIRST PAINTINGS, THEY WERE >> MY FIRST PAINTINGS, THEY WERE PRACTICALLY REPRESENTING LIKE PRACTICALLY REPRESENTING LIKE VIEWS OF HAVANA, AND FEELING VIEWS OF HAVANA, AND FEELING LIKE I WAS MISSING MY CITY.

LIKE I WAS MISSING MY CITY.

AND EVERYTHING WAS VERY AND EVERYTHING WAS VERY TRADITIONAL.

TRADITIONAL.

VERY STRONG CULTURAL ORIENTED IN VERY STRONG CULTURAL ORIENTED IN TERMS OF MY BACKGROUND.

TERMS OF MY BACKGROUND.

SO I WAS WORKING WITH THE SO I WAS WORKING WITH THE GALLERY ALSO FOR THE FIRST GALLERY ALSO FOR THE FIRST COUPLE, THREE YEARS.

COUPLE, THREE YEARS.

SINCE MY WORK WAS VERY, VERY SINCE MY WORK WAS VERY, VERY TROPICAL, VERY REFLECTING ALL TROPICAL, VERY REFLECTING ALL THE NATION OF CROIB.

THE NATION OF CROIB.

AND THAT -- CARIBBEAN.

AND THAT -- CARIBBEAN.

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING.

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING.

>> THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE YOU'VE >> THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE YOU'VE HAD A COMBINATION OF FORMAL ART HAD A COMBINATION OF FORMAL ART STUDIES AND COMPLETED YOUR ART STUDIES AND COMPLETED YOUR ART EDUCATION AT THE RENOWNED EDUCATION AT THE RENOWNED NATIONAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS IN NATIONAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS IN HAVANA.

HAVANA.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOUR INTEREST HOW AND WHEN DID YOUR INTEREST IN ART BEGIN AND DID YOU EVER IN ART BEGIN AND DID YOU EVER IMAGINE THAT THIS COULD RESULT IMAGINE THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN A PROFESSION FOR YOU?

IN A PROFESSION FOR YOU?

>> WELL, THE BEGINNING IS I >> WELL, THE BEGINNING IS I THINK THAT YOU ARE BORN WITH IT.

THINK THAT YOU ARE BORN WITH IT.

I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE, THEY CHOOSE I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE, THEY CHOOSE TO BE ARTISTS, BUT I DIDN'T TO BE ARTISTS, BUT I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE ARTIST.

CHOOSE TO BE ARTIST.

I WAS BORN AN ARTIST.

I WAS BORN AN ARTIST.

I'M RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS I'M RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT MY STYLE, BECAUSE MY STYLE ABOUT MY STYLE, BECAUSE MY STYLE IS THE COMBINATION WHEN YOU LOOK IS THE COMBINATION WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S NOT LIKE -- I SAY AT IT, IT'S NOT LIKE -- I SAY YOU DON'T SAY I'M GOING TO PUT A YOU DON'T SAY I'M GOING TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF PICASSO, VAN GOGH.

LITTLE BIT OF PICASSO, VAN GOGH.

THIS IS GOING TO MY STYLE.

THIS IS GOING TO MY STYLE.

THAT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

THAT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

MAYBE FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT NOT MAYBE FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT NOT FOR ME, BECAUSE I DID IT VERY FOR ME, BECAUSE I DID IT VERY NATURAL.

NATURAL.

AND UNCONSCIOUS WAY.

AND UNCONSCIOUS WAY.

AND ONE DAY I WAS AT THE AND ONE DAY I WAS AT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY DRAWING A NATIONAL ACADEMY DRAWING A BANANA TREE WITH STRAIGHT LINES BANANA TREE WITH STRAIGHT LINES AND I SAID, I HAVE TO KEEP THE AND I SAID, I HAVE TO KEEP THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRAWING OR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRAWING OR PAINTING.

PAINTING.

THIS IS NOT CUBISM.

THIS IS NOT CUBISM.

AND DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME I AND DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME I WAS STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY SILK WAS STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY SILK SCREEN.

SCREEN.

SO I BROUGHT IN THE SEPARATION SO I BROUGHT IN THE SEPARATION OF LAYERS OF TRADITIONAL SILK OF LAYERS OF TRADITIONAL SILK SCREEN.

SCREEN.

BUT I SAID I HAVE TO CONNECT THE BUT I SAID I HAVE TO CONNECT THE PAINTING WITH THE DRAWING.

PAINTING WITH THE DRAWING.

SO ALL THE SEPARATION OF LAYERS SO ALL THE SEPARATION OF LAYERS STARTED TO RESPONDING TO THE STARTED TO RESPONDING TO THE DRAWINGS AND WASN'T IN A DRAWINGS AND WASN'T IN A STRAIGHT LINES AND ALL THE STRAIGHT LINES AND ALL THE SHAPES WAS WITH THE STRAIGHT SHAPES WAS WITH THE STRAIGHT LINE.

LINE.

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT I DEFINED MY STYLE, IS THE WHAT I DEFINED MY STYLE, IS THE COMBINATION OF THE EXPERIENCES COMBINATION OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE.

THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE.

>> ALTHOUGH THIS EXHIBIT IS >> ALTHOUGH THIS EXHIBIT IS BEING CELEBRATED IN HONOR OF BEING CELEBRATED IN HONOR OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND EMBODIES YOUR AFRO-CUBAN EMBODIES YOUR AFRO-CUBAN HERITAGE, HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR HERITAGE, HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR ART WILL SPEAK TO EVERYONE ART WILL SPEAK TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF THEIR CULTURAL REGARDLESS OF THEIR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

BACKGROUND?

>> I'M HOLDING MY BACKGROUND, >> I'M HOLDING MY BACKGROUND, THAT'S THE FOUNDATION.

THAT'S THE FOUNDATION.

THAT'S THE FOUNDATION.

THAT'S THE FOUNDATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT -- IT'S WHAT LET AND THAT'S WHAT -- IT'S WHAT LET YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

AND WHERE YOU COME FROM AND AND WHERE YOU COME FROM AND WHERE TO GO.

WHERE TO GO.

YOU DON'T HAVE A STRONG YOU DON'T HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION, YOU CANNOT GO FOUNDATION, YOU CANNOT GO ANYWHERE.

ANYWHERE.

SO I HAVE TO START FROM THAT SO I HAVE TO START FROM THAT FOUNDATION, THAT I WAS BORN IN FOUNDATION, THAT I WAS BORN IN CUBE ALL, THEN I'M CARIBBEANAN CUBE ALL, THEN I'M CARIBBEANAN AND THEN LATINO AND AFRO-CUBAN.

AND THEN LATINO AND AFRO-CUBAN.

AND I HAVE TO DEFINE SOME WAY, I AND I HAVE TO DEFINE SOME WAY, I WILL DEFINE MYSELF AS AFTER WILL DEFINE MYSELF AS AFTER RO -- AFRO-CUBAN.

RO -- AFRO-CUBAN.

I DON'T LIKE TO BE DEFINED.

I DON'T LIKE TO BE DEFINED.

I BRING EVERYTHING TOGETHER, I BRING EVERYTHING TOGETHER, BECAUSE I HAVE THE INFLUENCER MY BECAUSE I HAVE THE INFLUENCER MY DREAM AND YOU ARE DREAMING -- DREAM AND YOU ARE DREAMING -- UNIVERSE IN MY DREAM AND YOU UNIVERSE IN MY DREAM AND YOU HAVE DREAMING AND YOU ARE FLYING HAVE DREAMING AND YOU ARE FLYING AND YOU DON'T HAVE LIMITATION AND YOU DON'T HAVE LIMITATION INSIDE OF YOU.

INSIDE OF YOU.

SO INSIDE OF ME ON EVERYTHING.

SO INSIDE OF ME ON EVERYTHING.

I BELONG TO EVERY CULTURE.

I BELONG TO EVERY CULTURE.

I BELONG TO THE PLANET.

I BELONG TO THE PLANET.

SO THE END OF MY MESSAGE IS SO THE END OF MY MESSAGE IS WE'RE ALL CONNECTED.

WE'RE ALL CONNECTED.

THAT'S THE END OF EVERYTHING.

THAT'S THE END OF EVERYTHING.

>>> AFTER CANCELING LAST YEAR >>> AFTER CANCELING LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, A BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, A BELOVED NEW ENGLAND FALL BELOVED NEW ENGLAND FALL TRADITION IS BACK.

TRADITION IS BACK.

THE BIG E FAIR KICKED OFF THIS THE BIG E FAIR KICKED OFF THIS MORNING, BRINGING BACK THE FOOD, MORNING, BRINGING BACK THE FOOD, FUN, AND ENTERTAINMENT FUN, AND ENTERTAINMENT FAIR-GOERS HAVE ENJOYED FOR MORE FAIR-GOERS HAVE ENJOYED FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

THAN A CENTURY.

IN A DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, REVISIT IN A DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, REVISIT THE SIGHTEDS, SOUNDS, AND TASTES THE SIGHTEDS, SOUNDS, AND TASTES OF THE BIG E AND MEET SOME OF OF THE BIG E AND MEET SOME OF THE VENDORS, RIDE OPERATORS, AND THE VENDORS, RIDE OPERATORS, AND OTHERS WHO LICK NEW ENGLAND'S OTHERS WHO LICK NEW ENGLAND'S LARGEST FAIR POSSIBLE.

LARGEST FAIR POSSIBLE.

>>> I WAS RAISE OTHER THE ROAD, >>> I WAS RAISE OTHER THE ROAD, SO WHEN YOU LOOKED AT CARNIVAL SO WHEN YOU LOOKED AT CARNIVAL LIGHTS AT NIGHT, IT'S SOMETHING LIGHTS AT NIGHT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT TOUCHED MY SOUL.

THAT TOUCHED MY SOUL.

SO THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

SO THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

>> EACH SHOW IS DIFFERENT.

>> EACH SHOW IS DIFFERENT.

YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE THE YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE OF EACH DIFFERENT SHOW.

CULTURE OF EACH DIFFERENT SHOW.

LIKE THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE LIKE THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS THAT WE DO BECAUSE I LOVE SHOWS THAT WE DO BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THIS FAIR WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THIS FAIR AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.

AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.

IT'S REALLY COOL.

IT'S REALLY COOL.

>> YOU CAN FIND THIS INTERVIEW, >> YOU CAN FIND THIS INTERVIEW, AS WELL AS EXTRA FEATURES, AS WELL AS EXTRA FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT MUCH MORE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> OBSERVED FROM SEPTEMBER 10TH >>> OBSERVED FROM SEPTEMBER 10TH TO 19TH, WELCOMING WEEK TO 19TH, WELCOMING WEEK CELEBRATIONS THE COMMUNITIES AND CELEBRATIONS THE COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT FULLY EMBRACE ORGANIZATIONS THAT FULLY EMBRACE NEW IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR NEW IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF OUR COUNTRY.

FABRIC OF OUR COUNTRY.

FOR 30 YEARS, CENTER FOR NEW FOR 30 YEARS, CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS HAS BEEN WELCOMING AMERICANS HAS BEEN WELCOMING IMMIGRANTS, MIGRANTS, REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS, MIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND ASYLUM SEEKERS TO WESTERN AND ASYLUM SEEKERS TO WESTERN MASS.

MASS.

I SPOKE WITH LAURIE MILLMAN, I SPOKE WITH LAURIE MILLMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CENTER FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS, AS WELL AS FORMER NEW AMERICANS, AS WELL AS FORMER STUDENTS, BIANI SALAS AND STUDENTS, BIANI SALAS AND MOHANAD SALMAN, TO LEARN MORE MOHANAD SALMAN, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK THE ORGANIZATION ABOUT THE WORK THE ORGANIZATION UNDERTAKES LOCALLY AND THE UNDERTAKES LOCALLY AND THE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON NEW IMPACT THEY HAVE ON NEW IMMIGRANTS.

IMMIGRANTS.

>> WELCOMING WEEK IS A NATIONAL >> WELCOMING WEEK IS A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO CELEBRATE INITIATIVE TO CELEBRATE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES THAT OPENLY EMBRACE NEWCOMERS THAT OPENLY EMBRACE NEWCOMERS AND RECOGNIZE THAT IMMIGRANTS AND RECOGNIZE THAT IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE TREMENDOUSLY TO YOU CONTRIBUTE TREMENDOUSLY TO YOU ARE OUR SHARE -- TO OUR SHARED ARE OUR SHARE -- TO OUR SHARED COMMUNITIES AND ARE PRO-ACTIVE.

COMMUNITIES AND ARE PRO-ACTIVE.

SO ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES SO ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INTENTIONALLY THAT ARE INTENTIONALLY INCLUSIVE.

INCLUSIVE.

>> LET'S GO TO YOUR STORY, >> LET'S GO TO YOUR STORY, BECAUSE YOU WERE A FORMER BECAUSE YOU WERE A FORMER STUDENT AND NOW WORK AT THE STUDENT AND NOW WORK AT THE CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS.

CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT BROUGHT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT BROUGHT TO YOU THE UNITED STATES AND WHAT YOU THE UNITED STATES AND WHAT LED YOU TO THIS ORGANIZATION.

LED YOU TO THIS ORGANIZATION.

>> SO AS YOU KNOW, AS MOST >> SO AS YOU KNOW, AS MOST IMMIGRANTS, I HAVE DIFFERENT IMMIGRANTS, I HAVE DIFFERENT CULTURE, LANGUAGE, CUSTOMS, AND CULTURE, LANGUAGE, CUSTOMS, AND TRADITIONS.

TRADITIONS.

THEREFORE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO THEREFORE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE WITH THIS COMMUNITY FOR ENGAGE WITH THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE FIRST TIME AND TO BE PART OF THE FIRST TIME AND TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, UNLESS THIS COMMUNITY, UNLESS THEY'RE -- THEIR PEOPLE ARE -- THEY'RE -- THEIR PEOPLE ARE -- INSTITUTIONS SUPPORT ME AND INSTITUTIONS SUPPORT ME AND GUIDE ME TO -- TO THE PART OF GUIDE ME TO -- TO THE PART OF THE -- SO I FOUND IT WITH THE THE -- SO I FOUND IT WITH THE CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS.

CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS.

AS YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING HERE IN AS YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, YOU NEED TO THE UNITED STATES, YOU NEED TO MAKE INTERVIEW TO ACCEPT YOU FOR MAKE INTERVIEW TO ACCEPT YOU FOR NEW JOB.

NEW JOB.

AND IT'S HARD FOR THE PEOPLE AND IT'S HARD FOR THE PEOPLE THEY HAVE -- SECOND LANGUAGE, THEY HAVE -- SECOND LANGUAGE, TO -- TALK ABOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO -- TALK ABOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE OR YOUR CULTURE.

OR YOUR CULTURE.

SO WHEN THE CENTER FOR NEW SO WHEN THE CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS BELIEVE YOU, THAT IS AMERICANS BELIEVE YOU, THAT IS PUSH YOU FORWARD.

PUSH YOU FORWARD.

>> BIANI, YOU ALSO ARE A FORMER >> BIANI, YOU ALSO ARE A FORMER STUDENT, NOW TURNED EMPLOYEE FOR STUDENT, NOW TURNED EMPLOYEE FOR CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS.

CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS.

WHAT LED YOU TO THE WHAT LED YOU TO THE UNITED STATES AND TO THIS UNITED STATES AND TO THIS ORGANIZATION AS WELL?

ORGANIZATION AS WELL?

>> THE SYSTEM IN THE >> THE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES ASK TOTALLY UNITED STATES ASK TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

DIFFERENT.

-- IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN -- IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE SYSTEM THAT YOU'RE USED TO.

THE SYSTEM THAT YOU'RE USED TO.

TO NAVIGATE AND THEY TAKE MY TO NAVIGATE AND THEY TAKE MY HAND AND WALK THROUGH MANY HAND AND WALK THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT PROCESSES WITH ME.

DIFFERENT PROCESSES WITH ME.

SO YOU FEEL THE COMPANY.

SO YOU FEEL THE COMPANY.

YOU FEEL THE SUPPORT.

YOU FEEL THE SUPPORT.

AND YOU FEEL REALLY -- THAT YOU AND YOU FEEL REALLY -- THAT YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT YOU -- THAT HAVE SOMEBODY THAT YOU -- THAT CARE ABOUT YOU.

CARE ABOUT YOU.

>> NOW, LAURIE, BIANI AND >> NOW, LAURIE, BIANI AND MOHANAD ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF MOHANAD ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF FORMER STUDENTS TURNED EMPLOYEE.

FORMER STUDENTS TURNED EMPLOYEE.

YOU ALSO HAVE SOME FORMER YOU ALSO HAVE SOME FORMER STUDENTS THAT SERVE ON THE STUDENTS THAT SERVE ON THE BORDERS.

BORDERS.

-- BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

-- BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

WHY IS THIS FOR THE WHY IS THIS FOR THE ORGANIZATION?

ORGANIZATION?

>> EVERYONE BRINGS A DIFFERENT >> EVERYONE BRINGS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

PERSPECTIVE.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO OFFER AND WE DON'T WANT TO OFFER SERVICES WITHOUT GUIDANCE FROM SERVICES WITHOUT GUIDANCE FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE JOURNEY THAN WE DO.

JOURNEY THAN WE DO.

30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE GIVES YOU 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE GIVES YOU SOMEEY DEN SHALS -- SOME SOMEEY DEN SHALS -- SOME CREDENTIALS, BUT EVERYBODY CREDENTIALS, BUT EVERYBODY CHANGES.

CHANGES.

EVERYTHING IS EVOLVING AS WE ALL EVERYTHING IS EVOLVING AS WE ALL KNOW, HAVING LIVED THROUGH THIS KNOW, HAVING LIVED THROUGH THIS CRAZY CRISIS THAT NO ONE COULD CRAZY CRISIS THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED.

HAVE ANTICIPATED.

AND YOU NEED GUIDANCE.

AND YOU NEED GUIDANCE.

AND BIANI AND MOHANAD AND OUR AND BIANI AND MOHANAD AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS HELP US TO STAY ON BOARD MEMBERS HELP US TO STAY ON THE RIGHT PATH OR TO CHOOSE A THE RIGHT PATH OR TO CHOOSE A DIFFERENT PATH, BUT WE WOULDN'T DIFFERENT PATH, BUT WE WOULDN'T BE EFFECTIVE WITHOUT CONSTANT BE EFFECTIVE WITHOUT CONSTANT ONGOING FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO ONGOING FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND WHO CAN TELL HAVE BEEN THERE AND WHO CAN TELL US, THIS IS HELPFUL AND THIS US, THIS IS HELPFUL AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR CPR FOR >>> THAT DOES IT FOR CPR FOR SEPTEMBER 17TH -- "CONNECTING SEPTEMBER 17TH -- "CONNECTING POINT" FOR SEPTEMBER 17TH.

POINT" FOR SEPTEMBER 17TH.

YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES YOU SAW TONIGHT AS WELL AS YOU SAW TONIGHT AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING >>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.