THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IS SIGNING OFF ON DEATH WARRANTS AT A RECORD-BREAKING PACE AND A FOCAL POINT AT THE CENTER OF THE MOST RECENT EXECUTIONS, PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN ON DEATH ROW FOR DECADES.

ITS PRACTICE AND PERFECTION FOR A CHANCE THAT MAY NEVER COME A LOOK AT THE EFFORT.

IT TAKES TO BE CONSTANTLY READY AS THE UNDERSTUDY FOR A THEATER PRODUCTION AND SOCCER FRENZY IS TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY, EVEN THOUGH THE WORLD CUP IS NEARING ITS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH, THE CELEBRATIONS OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME MAY LINGER STATESIDE FOR YEARS TO COME.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ONE YEAR AFTER FLORIDA SET A MODERN STATE RECORD FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

THE STATE IS ONCE AGAIN LEADING THE NATION WHEN IT COMES TO EXECUTIONS.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 60 YEARS, THE GOVERNOR HAS SCHEDULED 2 EXECUTIONS ON THE SAME DAY THIS WEEK.

DENNIS SO SHORT DIED BY LETHAL INJECTION.

HE SPENT MORE THAN 40 YEARS ON DEATH ROW AFTER BEING CONVICTED IN THE MURDER OF 18 YEAR-OLD PATRICIA GIFFORD.

IN 1982, AT 74 YEARS OLD.

SO TOUR BECAME THE OLDEST INMATE TO BE EXECUTED IN STATE HISTORY.

HIS DEATH CAME JUST WEEKS FOLLOWING THE EXECUTION OF DUSTY RACE.

SPENCER.

ALSO, 74 CONVICTED OF STABBING HIS WIFE TO DEATH.

THE RAPID PACE OF EXECUTIONS COMES AT A TIME WHEN TO MORE DEATH WARRANTS WERE SIGNED BY GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS FOR MORE ON THE RISE IN STATE EXECUTIONS.

I AM JOINED BY WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS.

JOHN, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PRACTICE OF INCREASING EXECUTIONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WHY IS THIS GAINING SO MUCH ATTENTION?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S GETTING ATTENTION BECAUSE FLORIDA HAS BEEN A BIT OF AN OUTLIER IN RECENT YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO THE PACE OF EXECUTIONS, FLORIDA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 40% OF ALL EXECUTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE COUNTRY LAST YEAR.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SIGNED A RECORD 19 DEATH WARRANTS THAT YEAR THAT SHATTERED THE STATE'S PREVIOUS RECORD OF 11 EXECUTIONS IN ONE YEAR THAT WAS SET BACK IN 1936.

BUT FOR CONTEXT, WHEN HE FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE, HIS FIRST YEAR HE SIGNED TO DEATH WARRANTS.

AND THEN THE SUBSEQUENT 3 YEARS HE SIGNED 0 DEATH WARRANT OF ANY OF THOSE YEARS.

AND THEN ONE DEATH WARRANT IN 2022.

6 2023, 8 IN 2024.

AND THEN THAT EXPLODED INTO THE RECORD 19 LAST YEAR.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS YEAR WE MIGHT BE ON PACE TO MEET OR EXCEED THAT NUMBER.

YOU CAN'T WITH THE DEATH OF A SOLDIER.

HIS EXECUTION MARKS THE 10TH IN FLORIDA AND THERE'S AT LEAST 2 MORE DEATH WARRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN SIGNED.

DESANTIS SIGNED THE DEATH WARRANT FOR JAMES DUCKETT.

NOW THIS WAS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF KILLING AN 11 YEAR-OLD GIRL BACK IN 1987, HE'D BEEN SET TO BE EXECUTED ON MARCH 31ST, BUT HIS EXECUTION WAS STAYED BECAUSE HE HAD REQUESTED NEW DNA TESTING THAT HE SAID WOULD EXONERATE HIM.

HE'S LONG PROCLAIMED HIS INNOCENCE.

THAT DNA TEST WAS THOSE TEST RESULTS WERE INCONCLUSIVE.

SO NOW HIS EXECUTION IS SET TO HAPPEN ON JULY.

28TH.

AND THAT'S THE SAME DAY.

FLORIDA IS ALREADY SCHEDULED TO EXECUTE DOMINIC.

THE ATTORNEY, THIS IS THE 80 YEAR-OLD MAN AND PEOPLE.

IF HE IS EXECUTED, WILL BECOME THE OLDEST PERSON EXECUTED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND THAT'S KIDS GOING TO BE ANOTHER MILESTONE ON JUST, YOU KNOW, THE AGE OF THE PEOPLE BEING EXECUTED.

BUT THIS WILL MARK THE FIRST TIME IN FLORIDA RECORDED HISTORY THAT WE'VE CARRIED OUT 2 EXECUTIONS IN THE SAME DAY.

>> I'M CURIOUS, HOW DOES THIS INCREASED PACE OF EXECUTIONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA STACK UP WITH THE BROADER PUBLIC OPINION ON THE DEATH IT WELL, IT'S AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP.

>> ACCORDING TO GALLUP POLLING, I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT PUBLIC OPINION ON THIS FOR DECADES, SUPPORT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE U.S.

REACHED ITS PEAK AT 80% BACK IN 1984.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, IT'S BEEN STEADILY DECLINING.

SINCE THEN LAST YEAR NATIONWIDE, THERE ARE STILL A SLIM MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORTED THE DEATH PENALTY ABOUT 52%.

BUT IF YOU BREAK THAT DOWN BY DEMOGRAPHICS, THAT SUPPORT GOES DOWN, EVEN GLASS, FOR INSTANCE, THE GALLUP POLLS FIND THAT A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, 55 AND UNDER DO NOT SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY.

YOU KNOW, AND THIS ALSO COINCIDES WITH A NUMBER OF FACTORS LIKE THE GROWING NUMBER OF DEATH ROW EXONERATIONS SINCE THE 1970'S MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE ON DEATH ROW HAVE LATER BEEN EXONERATED AND FOUND EVIDENCE AND FOUND IN A SENSE.

AND FLORIDA LEADS THE PACK THERE, FLORIDA.

HE'S EXONERATED 30 DEATH ROW INMATES WHO WERE FOUND LATER TO BE INNOCENT.

THAT'S MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

>> HOW HAS THE GOVERNOR'S INCREASED PACE AT THIS TIME REALLY IGNITED DEBATE ABOUT EXECUTING OLDER INMATES FOR CONTACT.

FLORIDA, EXECUTED 70 YEAR-OLD DUSTY RACE.

SPENCER.

>> FOR KILLING HIS WIFE IN 1992.

THAT HAPPENED IN LATE JUNE.

>> HE WAS THE OLDEST EXECUTED FLORIDA INMATE AT THAT TIME UNTIL DENNIS SOLDIER JUST ON WEDNESDAY, WHO WAS ALSO 74.

BUT HE WAS JUST DAYS OLD OR IN SPENCER.

AND NOW WITH THE IMPENDING EXECUTION OF DOMINIC, A KNEE ON JULY 28TH.

HE'S 80 YEARS OLD.

SO HE'LL BECOME THE OLDEST EXECUTED FLORIDA PRISONER.

AND THERE ARE A FEW OTHERS OLDER COACH ONI WHO ARE STILL ON DEATH ROW IN FLORIDA.

BUT IT'S KIND OF IGNITED DEBATE THAT SORT OF GOES BEYOND WHETHER OR NOT YOU SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF EXECUTING SOMEONE WHO IS ELDERLY LIKE OPPONENTS SAY WITH AN ELDERLY AND MAKE THE PUNISHMENT NO LONGER SERVES ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE.

AN EXECUTION DECADES AFTER THE CRIME IS UNLIKELY TO DETER FUTURE OFFENDERS MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN LIFE IMPRISONMENT WOULD SOME ARGUE THAT DECADES OF INCARCERATION HAVE ALREADY IMPOSED SEVERE PUNISHMENT DIMINISHING THERE, RETRIBUTIVE VALUE OF AN EXECUTION AGE AND DECLINING HEALTH CAN ALSO BE A FACTOR.

IF OLDER PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA OR COGNITIVE DECLINE, THEY THAT MIGHT NO LONGER REFLECT SOCIETY'S INTEREST IN PUNISHING THE PERSON WHO COMMITTED THE CRIME.

DECADES LATER.

NOW, CONVERSELY, SUPPORTERS OF THIS AND WHO DON'T MIND ELDERLY INMATES BEING EXECUTED SAY, YOU KNOW, THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME DOES NOT DECLINE WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME AND VICTIMS.

FAMILIES HAVE OFTEN WAITED AN ANGUISHED FOR DECADES, WAITING FURTHER SENTENCE IS TO BE CARRIED OUT, WAITING FOR JUSTICE AND THEY NOTE THAT THESE DELAYS COME FROM THE CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED APPEALS PROCESS.

SO THEY'RE INITIATED BY THE INMATES, NOT BY THE STATES IN ACTION AND EXEMPTING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE REACHED AN ADVANCED AGE, COULD CREATE AN INCENTIVE TO PROLONG LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

YOU KNOW, JUST TRY TO KEEP THE GUY ALIVE AS LONG AS YOU CAN.

AND EVERY REACHES A CERTAIN AGE THEY WANT TO EXECUTE HIM.

THAT BEING SAID.

I THINK THIS DOES TAKE AN INTERESTING TOLD IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT.

AND THIS IS ASIDE FROM WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE SUPPORTS OR OPPOSES THE DEATH PENALTY.

AND THAT QUESTION IS, DOES THE RAPID PACE OF EXECUTIONS WERE EXPERIENCING NOW DESENSITIZE US TO THE CONCEPT OF STATE-SANCTIONED KILLING.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S JUST BECOME NORMAL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, DON DAVIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LATEST ON THIS.

THANKS.

>> FOR MORE ON JOHN DAVIS IS REPORTING AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE AND AROUND THE STATE.

BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS PREPARE TO TAKE IN THIS YEAR'S WORLD CUP.

FINAL.

SOME ARE CHANGING THE CHANNEL TO VIEW THE GAME WITH SOME INTERN >> THIS WEEK THERE ARE 14 SHOWS ON STAGE AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THEATERS.

>> JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT OUR LOCAL THEATER SEAT IS WTC ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US TODAY?

>> WELL, JENNIFER, WITHOUT 35 COMMUNITY AND EQUITY THEATERS AND MORE THAN A DOZEN HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAMS PRODUCING SHOWS FOR MARCO ISLAND.

THE SARASOTA.

THEATER IS A BIG PART OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE.

SO WE'VE BEEN TAKING YOU BEHIND THE CURTAIN TO EXPLORE WHAT GOES INTO MAKING A PLAY OR MUSICAL.

NOW, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WE VISITED THE SET OF THE LITTLE MERMAID TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ART OF COSTUME DESIGN AND THE MECHANICS OF QUICK COSTUME CHANGES.

WE WENT TO LEHIGH SENIOR HIGH TO SHOW YOU HOW SET TO SIGN CAN REALLY SHOWCASE DANCERS AND ACCENTUATE THEIR ENTRANCES.

AND WE TOOK YOU TO REHEARSALS OF FROZEN IN CHICAGO TO WATCH CHOREOGRAPHERS PUT TOGETHER ICONIC DANCE NUMBERS LIKE LOVE IS AN OPEN DOOR AND ALL THAT JAZZ.

TODAY WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THEATER.

UNDERSTUDIES.

NOW NO ONE ATTENDING A SHOW WANTS TO HEAR THAT THE LEADER INACCURATE PLAYING A PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS OUT TO ILLNESS OR INJURY.

BUT IT HAPPENS AND THEATER COMPANY'S PLAN FOR THAT CONTINGENCY.

BROADWAY PALM DINNER THEATRE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS 9 UNDER STUDY AND 2 SWINGS FOR THE WIZARD OF OZ, INCLUDING FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE SOPHOMORE RYLAN DEC.

SHE'S THE UNDERSTUDY THAT WOBBLES WHO PLACED OR THINK?

RYAN WAS KIND ENOUGH TO TELL US WHAT GOES INTO MAKING AN UNDERSTUDY AND WHY SHE'S WILLING TO PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT TO LEARN DOROTHY'S LINE SONGS AND DANCES KNOWING SHE MAY NEVER SEE THE STAGE IN THAT ROLE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> I GOT A MESSAGE TO OUR CASTING DIRECTOR AND HE ASKED IF I WANTED TO COME BACK TO OZ BECAUSE I DID THE MOST RECENT PRODUCTION OF OZ HERE, WHICH WAS IN 2022, I THINK AND IT'S YEAH, I JUST ASK YOU TO SEND IN SOME MATERIALS FOR UNDERSEA DOROTHY.

I DID.

AND THEN YOU LET ME KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE MY CONTRACT.

AND THAT'S HOW I GOT INTO IT.

>> THE INSANITY, THE CALLS IN A MOMENT OF PANIC STARTS THE INSTANT THE CAST RECEIVES TO TEXT NOTIFYING THEM.

SOMEONE CAN'T GO ON.

>> IT'S LIKE.

>> A HUGE LIKE PANIC MOMENTS LIKE THERE'S LIKE AN HOUR WHERE LIKE WILL GET A TAX WHERE IT'S LIKE, HEY, I THINK LIKE THIS PERSON'S OUT AND IT'S LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, REALLY, YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD.

OH, MY GOSH.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

>> WHEN THE LEAD GOES DOWN.

>> THE SUCCESS OF THE SHOW FALL SQUARELY ON THE UNDERSTUDY SHOULDERS.

>> EVERY CAST MEMBER FROM THE SCARECROW TIN MAN IN LINE TO THE MUNCHKINS AND THE CITIZENS OF OZ TAKE THEIR VERBAL AND VISUAL CUES FROM DOROTHY.

THAT'S EQUALLY TRUE OF THE CONDUCTOR AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE ORCHESTRA.

>> I WANTED TO BE AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE FOR THE REST OF THEM.

IF I DO HAVE TO GO ON.

>> SEAMLESS MEANS IDENTICAL IN EVERY WAY TO MEG WOBBLES IS THE JOB OF THE UNDERSTUDY NOT JUST TO PERFORM THE ROLE SHE HAS TO PERFORM THE ROLE EXACTLY AS AN WHERE WOBBLES DOES ANY DEVIATION, ANY DEVIATION AT ALL AND HOW SHE DELIVERS HER LINES, HOW SHE MOVES IN RELATION TO HER CASTMATES AND HOW SHE SINGS EACH OF THE MUSICAL'S ICONIC NUMBERS COULD THROW EVERYONE OFF FOR HER COSTARS TO ON SABLE MEMBERS TO THE ORCHESTRA TO TOTO.

I WANT TO BE US.

>> CLOSE TO WHAT SHE'S DOING IS POSSIBLE.

AND LIKE NOT ONLY FOR SAFETY REASONS, BUT JUST TO KEEP THE SHOW CONSISTENT.

I WANT TO THROW LIKE AN ODD BALL LIKE A DELIVERY OF A LINE OR SOMETHING AT THEM LIKE I WANTED TO BE AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE FOR THE REST OF THEM.

IF I DO HAVE TO GO ON STILL.

>> IT IS A FACT THAT SOMETHING BAD HAS TO HAPPEN FOR RYLAN TO EVER PERFORM AS DOROTHY ON STAGE.

>> PERSONALLY, I FIND THE JOY IN IT EVEN BEING CONSIDERED TO WORK ON DURING SOMEBODY AS AMAZING AS MEG AND BEING ABLE TO PRACTICE AND STILL LEARN A PRINCIPAL TRACK WITHOUT THE RISK AND THE PRESSURE OF DOING IT 8 TIMES A WEEK, 50 TIMES.

SO IT'S A UNIQUE ROLE.

IT'S MORE LIKE AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF ANYTHING.

>> YET SOME UNDERSTUDIES HAVE GONE ON TO ENJOY GREAT CAREERS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.

SHIRLEY MACLAINE REPLACE CAROL HANEY IN THE PAJAMA GAME AND WENT ON TO STAR IN THE MATCHMAKER.

CAN CAN AND SWEET CHARITY.

BERNADETTE PETERS, THE DAINTY JANE UNDERSTUDY IN GYPSY ACHIEVE SUCCESS ON STAGE AND IN FILM WINNING TONY AWARDS FOR SONG AND DANCE.

AND ANNIE, GET YOUR GUN RYLAN'S GOALS OR LESS LOFTY.

SHE STARTS HER SOPHOMORE YEAR AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE NEXT MONTH.

>> WE EXCELLENT SEASON.

COMING UP.

THEY'RE DOING SISTER ACT, A DIRTY, ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS.

THE DOLLHOUSE CLAY AND WAIT UNTIL DARK.

SO I'LL BE AUDITIONING FOR THAT SEASON AND SEE WHAT COMES OF IT DURING MY SUMMERS, I HOPE TO BE HERE OR AT THE SISTER THEATER ARE WORKING FOR ANYWHERE.

THAT WILL TAKE ME ANDS JUST.

BOOSTING THAT MY CRAFT AND BUILDING A RESUME.

>> STILL RYLAN WOULD RELISH THE CHANCE TO SING OVER THE RAINBOW JUST ONCE FOR A LIVE AUDIENCE.

>> I DID GET TO SEE IT ONCE WITH THE ORCHESTRA DURING OUR ATTACK BECAUSE THEY WERE ALSO BUSY ON STAGE.

AND I WAS JUST SITTING HERE WAITING TO GO ON.

SO THEY PULLED ME OVER AND HAVE YOU SEEN THAT THE ORCHESTRA'S THEY COULD GET THE TIMING OF THE SONG AND STUFF AND IT IS JUST REALLY A MAGICAL SONG.

DOROTHY, SUCH A MAGICAL CHARACTER AND ALL OF THE SHOW IS JUST WONDERFUL.

MAGNIFICENT, SO MAGICAL.

IT'S SO LIGHT HEARTED IN FUN, BUT ALSO LIKE PUNCHY AND SPUNKY AT THE SAME TIME, THE WIZARD OF OZ IS ON THE MAIN STAGE ARE PROBABLY PALM DINNER THEATRE THROUGH AUGUST.

8TH.

>> AND EVEN IF SHE DOESN'T APPEAR IN THE ROLE OF DOROTHY, YOU'LL SEE RYLAN IN THE ENSEMBLE SHE'S A MUNCHKIN, A SNOWFLAKE XI'AN AND ONE OF THE FLYING MONKEYS.

FOR WDSU NEWS, TOM HOME.

>> BE SURE YOU ARE FOLLOWING ALL OF TOM HALLS.

ARTS REPORTING AND ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT HAPPENINGS ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

THIS SUNDAY, THE FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL MATCH BETWEEN SPAIN AND ARGENTINA IS EXPECTED TO DRAW A GLOBAL AUDIENCE OF AT LEAST 2 BILLION VIEWERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE VIEWERSHIP FOR THE WORLD CUP IS UP 92% FROM THE 2022 CUP.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE DEADLINE AND THAT TRACKS TV AUDIENCE NUMBERS.

THE MATCH BETWEEN THE U.S.

AND BELGIUM.

DREW 30 MILLION VIEWERS, THE LARGEST SOCCER AUDIENCE IN US TELEVISION HISTORY.

BUT FOR SOME WATCHING THE GAME HAS BECOME A LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND THEY'RE CHOOSING TO WATCH THE GAME THROUGH AN INTERNATIONAL LENS.

>> SO WE SAT DOWN TO WATCH THE OPENING MATCH BETWEEN MEXICO AND SOUTH AFRICA.

AND WHEN WE TURNED IT ON FOX, WE DIDN'T EVEN WATCH IT.

5.10, MINUTES BEFORE WE IMMEDIATELY FLIPPED IT OVER TO TELL A BUDGET YOU NEED TO.

AND WHILE I CAN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THEY'RE SAYING ON TELEMUNDO BECAUSE THEY'RE SPEAKING IN SPANISH.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOU JUST KNOW BY THEIR COMMENTATORS, THEY PICK UP THEIR PACE, WIN THINGS EXCITING, START TO HAPPEN.

THEY JUST GET OVERJOYED.

THEY JUST HAVE A GREAT TIME TALKING ABOUT THE MATCH IN GENERAL AND IT'S OVERALL JUST LIKE WAY MORE ENJOYABLE TO WATCH >> THE REALLY BIG THING FOR ME ALSO WITH TELEMUNDO IS THAT DURING THE HYDRATION BREAK, THEY DON'T CUT TO COMMERCIAL US TO STAYS ON.

THE FIELD STAYS WITH THE PLAYERS.

THESE AREN'T QUARTERS.

THIS IS A HYDRATION BREAK.

THIS IS NOT A THIS IS NOT A FULL PAWS IN THE GAME.

SO IF I'M WATCHING BY MYSELF, I MAKE THE INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO WATCH TELEMUNDO BECAUSE OF THAT TURN IT RIGHT.

SO SOMETIMES IT IS A BARRIER, ESPECIALLY LIKE WHEN THEY'RE HANDING OUT YELLOW AND RED CARDS >> I HAVE TO KIND OF GUESTS AND THEN SOMETIMES I CAN PICK UP A LITTLE BIT IF THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, LOCK UP BASE ARE IF THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT FEED OR SOME OF THE MORE COMMON WORDS, YOU KNOW, I CAN PICK UP TO ABOUT SEEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE SPANISH BROADCAST WHEN I'M AT WORK.

MAYBE I'M DRIVING.

IT BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO THE ENERGY AND THE ATMOSPHERE.

>> OF THE GAME.

WHEN I CAN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS BE WATCHING.

YEAH, A I'M A LITTLE WORRIED WHEN IT'S OVER BECAUSE I'VE JUST BECOME SO.

>> COMFORTED BY THEIR TEMPO AND THEIR TONE AND EVERYTHING IS VERY COMFORTING.

THE NEXT WORLD CUP.

WE'RE GOING TO WATCH IT JUST LIKE THIS.

>> SO AFTER MILLIONS OF FANS CAME TO NORTH AMERICA TO CELEBRATE THE GAME OF SOCCER SETTING, RECORD ATTENDANCE NUMBERS IN TELEVISION RATINGS.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE SPORT IN AMERICA?

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THIS SUNDAY'S FINAL AND IF HOSTING ANOTHER WORLD CUP COULD BE ON AMERICA'S HORIZON.

>> SO AS WE PREPARE FOR THE WORLD CUP FINALE PITTING REIGNING CHAMPS ARGENTINA AGAINST SPAIN.

I'M JOINED BY SOCCER JOURNALIST AND HISTORIC KARTIK CHRISTIAN.

I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> YES, GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> SO NOW, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GETTING READY.

THEY'RE EXPECTED TO HAVE UPWARDS OF 2 BILLION PEOPLE VIEWING THIS FINALE COMING UP SUNDAY.

HOW HAVE YOU PERCEIVE THIS WHOLE TOURNAMENT SO FAR?

AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS GOING INTO THE ARGENTINA?

SPAIN MATCH?

>> WHAT'S BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS IN TERMS OF THE CROWDS IN TERMS OF PEOPLE GETTING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THERE WERE LOTS OF CONCERNS, INCLUDING EXPRESSED BY ME ABOUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS.

ALL RIGHT.

IN HOST CITIES, HOW EASY OR WAS A GOOD GOING TO BE FOR FANS TRAVELING FANS TO GET AROUND?

WOULD THERE BE SOME OF THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE?

WE HEARD THAT MIGHT IMPACT THIS TOURNAMENT, AT LEAST IN WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

SO I THINK THE TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS FOR FIFA AND FOR THE SPORT OF FOOTBALL OR SOCCER.

IF YOU PREFER I'M GOING INTO THIS.

FINAL IS GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY ARGENTINA IS ON THIS, RON, WHERE THEY WON THE LAST 2 COPA AMERICA AS THEY WON THE LAST WORLD CUP IN PENALTIES OVER FRANCE IN THE FINAL THEY HAVE THE GREATEST PLAYER ARGUABLY OF ALL TIME AND MESSY.

HE'S CARRYING THEM.

THEY COME FROM BEHIND.

I THINK IN EVERY MATCH IT FEELS LIKE IN THE KNOCKOUT STAGES ARE OR HAVE HAD TO BREAK A DEADLOCK LATE AND SPAIN HAS WON A LOT OF MAJOR TOURNAMENTS IN THE LAST 20 YEARS THEMSELVES.

AND THEY PLAY FOOTBALL IN A VERY DIFFERENT MANNER THAN ARGENTINA.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS.

WE FASTENING FOR AMERICAN AUDIENCES WHO ARE NEW TO THE SPORT GOING TO SEE TOO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STYLES OF PLAY THAT SWITCHING GEARS TO THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE NOT FAVORITES COMING INTO THIS TOURNAMENT BUT STILL HAD A NICE SPECIAL GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING.

I THINK I SAW 30 MILLION VIEWERS.

>> SET A MODERN SOCCER RECORD FOR THEIR MATCH AGAINST BELGIUM.

IT GETS ASKED AFTER EVERY WORLD CUP.

BUT DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S ANY CORRELATION BETWEEN SOCCER MAY BE TAKING A RISE UP NOW FOLLOWING THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT FOR, YOU KNOW, FANS IN AMERICA.

>> I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A BUMPY MAY NOT BE THE BUMP EVERYBODY'S HOPING FOR IN THE BUSINESS AND EVERYBODY'S EXPECTING.

I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH CASUAL FANDOM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.

AND ACTUALLY, IF YOU ADD THE SPANISH-LANGUAGE NUMBERS, 30 MILLION IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH-LANGUAGE NUMBERS TO THAT USA-BELGIUM GAME, IT'S CLOSER TO 50 MILLION.

I THINK THERE ARE 18 MILLION VIEWERS IN SPANISH.

WE'RE AT 48 MILLION AND SIMILARLY THE IN WHEN MEXICO GAME HAVE BETWEEN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

I THINK IT WAS.

22 IN ENGLISH AND 20 FOR OUR FOREIGN SPARE SO THEY CAN BACK UP TO 46 MILLION.

SO TOO HUGE AUDIENCES BACK-TO-BACK NIGHTS ON UNITED STATES TELEVISION BUT THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT THERE'S ALWAYS SORT OF A DROP-OFF AS BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF THESE TOURNAMENTS.

AND THEN THERE'S SO MUCH ELSE GOING ON AND ON THE AMERICAN SPORTING CALENDAR.

SO THE KEY IS FOR MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER.

AND THE UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES, INCLUDING THAT THE TEAM, I'VE SEEN A PULSE ON DOWN THE ROAD FROM YOU IN USL TO REALLY KIND OF CAPITALIZE ON THE NEW ENERGY.

THE NEW FANS GO OUT AND FIND THEM AND BE ABLE TO TALK TO LOCK THEM TO LOCAL CROPS.

SO I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A SLIGHT BUMP ON BOTH.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE ALL OF THE NEW FANS STAY FANS.

THEY MAY COME BACK IN 4 YEARS, BUT THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE RETAINED ARE IN THE IMMEDIATE NEAR TERM.

>> AND THEN LOOKING BEYOND EVEN 4 YEARS, ALL THE WAY TO 2038 THERE WHERE WE KNOW THE NEXT 2 WORLD CUPS ARE LINED UP WHERE THEY CAN BE LOCATED.

BUT THERE IS THIS VACANCY NOW.

COUPLE YEARS OUT FROM HERE AND THERE ARE RUMORS THAT MAYBE THE WORLD CUP WILL ONCE AGAIN COME TO UNITED STATES FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT.

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD IN RESPONSE TO MAYBE THAT 2038 IS BACK IN NORTH AMERICA.

YES, OH, MY.

>> UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S A VERY LIKELY THAT ARE 2030, 80'S.

EITHER BACK HERE OR MAYBE GOES UP YET.

THERE'S A COMBINATION OF OF OF LAW, WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THAT CAN DO IT.

BUT IT'S A LOT MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO GOING TO COME HERE IN 2042.

WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT CHIKE.

SO THE QUESTION FOR THE UNITED STATES, I THINK IT IS.

WHAT WILL THE HOST CITIES BE?

BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS THAT DROPPED OUT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE.

SO THAT'S FOR EXAMPLE.

WHY YOU DON'T SEE MATCHES IN CHICAGO.

YOU DON'T SEE MATCHES IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THOSE ARE 2 HUGE MISSES RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

THE PLANNING FOR THIS WORLD CUP WAS SO POOR IN MANY REGARDS THAT FEE FOR THEMSELVES HAD TO MOVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THE GROUND ON THE GROUND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES A YEAR OUT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO THEY HAD TO DO A LOT OF THINGS OPERATIONALLY THAT THEY WERE HOPING WOULD BE HANDLED LOCALLY IN ADVANCE.

SO HAVING LEARNED THAT LESSON, I THINK THEY'LL PROBABLY BE BETTER PREPARATION AND A LITTLE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OFF WITH JUST SICKLY HOW YOU HAVE TO HANDLE THIS.

IF YOU'RE A LOCAL OR STATE GOVERNOR OR LOCAL COUNTY OR STATE GOVERNMENT AND IN FACT, IN MAY CASES OF FALSE TO COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, MORE THAN CITY GOVERNMENTS TO HANDLE THESE THINGS IS AS WE'VE SEEN WITH BUCK MANY OF THE HOST CITIES IN THE U.S.

>> WELL, IT SEEMS TO HAVE TURNED OUT WELL FOR THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT SHOULD BE EXCITING MATCH BETWEEN SPAIN AND ARGENTINA ON SUNDAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND ENJOY THE GAME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER WORLD CUP FUN FACT FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

IF YOU'RE GEARING UP TO ATTEND THE NEXT WORLD CUP, GET READY TO PACK YOUR BAGS.

THE 2030 TOURNAMENT, IT WILL BE CO-HOSTED BY MOROCCO, PORTUGAL IN SPAIN WITH SPECIAL OPENING MATCHES TAKING PLACE IN ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY AND URUGUAY.

ALL TO COMMEMORATE 100 YEARS OF THE WORLD CUP.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME MATCHES IN THE TOURNAMENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON 2 SEPARATE CONTINENTS.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, WE ARE PREVIEWING A NEW WGCU DOCUMENTARY THAT DIVES INTO THE HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FROM THE LEGACY LEFT BEHIND BY ITS ORIGINAL FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

THE CALUSA DEVELOPED A CIVILIZATION THAT THOUGHT OFF CAN KEEP THE DOORS AND BUILT A POWERFUL CONDEMN IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NEXT MONTH.

WGCU BRINGS YOU A NEW STORY THAT SHOWS THE RESILIENCY OF THE PEOPLE STILL RECOGNIZE AROUND OUR AREA TO THIS DAY.

WGCUS JANINE ZEITLIN OFFERS A PREVIEW OF AN UPCOMING PROGRAM.

DECODING ANCIENT FLORIDA.

THE CALUSA LEGACY.

>> WE START OUR EXPLORATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S COLLUSIVE LEGACY AT THE MOUNT HOUSE ON FORT MYERS BEACH, THE MOUND HOUSE IS WHAT I LIKE TO CALL TRIPLE THREAT.

A NATURE PRESERVE A HISTORIC HOME CALUSA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE WHERE THERE'S A MISSION TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF ARTIFACTS.

>> EVEN MORE AMAZING IS THAT THIS OLD HOUSE SURVIVED HURRICANE IAN.

I SAW HOW THAT 2022 STORM OBLITERATED.

THIS ISLAND'S YET THE OLDEST STRUCTURE ON FORT MYERS BEACH STOOD ITS GROUND.

>> THE SECRET THE ENGINEERING OF THE CALUSA PEOPLE.

>> THEIR ENTIRE LIVES STYLE WAS WAS MORE CONDUCIVE AND MORE ADAPTABLE TO THIS LANDSCAPE AND TO THE CLIMATE IMPACTS.

>> THE CALUSA ENGINEERED RESILIENCE INTO THE LANDSCAPE.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ANCIENT SOCIETY ABOUT HOW TO STAY IN THE PLACES WE LOVE?

>> DECODING ANCIENT FLORIDA, THE MOUND HOUSE.

>> IS THE FIRST IN THE LIMITED SERIES AND IT IS SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED ON TUESDAY.

AUGUST 25TH ON WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP IN OUR NEXT PROGRAM WITH ELECTION SEASON RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, WE FIND OUT WHAT STEPS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE EVERYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO CAST THEIR VOTES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN FLORIDA LIVING WITH A DISABILITY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT W G C DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.