YOU AS A CBS CORRESPONDENT, BUT YOU STARTED YOUR LIFE IN SHOWBIZ

IN MAYBE THE MOST WONDERFUL WAY I THINK YOU COULD DO IT, TOURING

SOUTHEAST ASIA IN THE MUSICAL "GREASE."

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> James: WHAT WAS THIS LIKE?

YOU ALL SAW ME IN THAT?

>> James: WE ALL SAW IT.

HOW COULD WE FORGET?

>> James: IS THERE A BIG MARKET IN SOUTHEAST ASIA FOR

"GREASE"?

>> THE WAY WE MARKET IT, IT WAS THE MID '90s, STANDING ROOM

ONLY IN JAKARTA.

I PLAYED THE YOUNGEST OF THE GREASERS.

I'M A DUTY.

BUT THE POSTERS THE PRODUCERS PUT UP SHOWED JOHN TRAVOLTA AND

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN.

PEOPLE BOUGHT TICKETS AND SHOWED UP AND SAW ME.

>> THE ORIGINAL FIRE FESTIVAL.

( LAUGHTER ) >> James: YOU WERE ALSO ONCE A

ROLLER SKATING WAITER A FRENCH RESTAURANT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

>> James: WHAT A LIFE, MO.

WHAT A LIFE.

>> YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO.

>> James: HOU HOW WAS THAT?

WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO DO THIS?

>> I'LL SAY I NEVER DROPPED A PLATE.

WE USED TO HAVE TO CARRY HOT FRENCH ONION SOUP.

>> BETTER THAN COLD.

YEAH.

THE RESTAURANT WAS CARPETED, WHICH WAS NOT REALLY A SMART

THING SO THE CARPET WOULD SNAG.

I WOULD PICK THE ROLLER SKATES UP AND STEP LIKE THAT, IT WAS

EASIER.

>> James: THAT'S HOW I ROLLER SKATE.

>> THE HEAD WAITER WAS ON ROLLER GLADES WHICH HAD JUST COME IN

THEN.

TOTALLY EARLY ADOPTER AND THAT WAS PRETTY INTIMIDATING.

>> SOUND LIKE YOUR LIFE IS A MAD LIBS.

( LAUGHTER ) EVERY SPECIFIC FROM THE STORY

YOU SAID WAS TOTALLY RANDOM.

( LAUGHTER ) >> NO, JUST GENERATED THESE

STORIES BACKSTAGE.

>> THAT'S COOL.

I ONCE WAS BORN IN A FORTUNE COOKIE.

( LAUGHTER )