Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Robert Blake Not First or Last Celebrity Arrested

Aired April 19, 2002 - 06:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Robert Blake is certainly not the first, or will he be the last celebrity arrested. CNN's Anne McDermott has a look at some stars, whose close-ups including a mug shot.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNE MCDERMOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Robert Blake's arrest was pretty tame, at least compared with a certain former football player's. But both are part of a grand tradition of celebrity crime.

Remember Lana Turner, or more to the point, the death of her lover? That was big doings back in the 50s, especially when it turned out the daughter did it.

Since then, low doings and the hypes of Hollywood have commanded attention, even if it's just allegations of shoplifting, even if it's just so-so celebs, like Paula Poundstone or a "West Wing" writer.

Now, Robert Downey was downright fascinating, maybe because he kept getting into trouble over and over again. He didn't seem crazy about all of the attention, nor did homeowners who had O.J. journalists camped out on their lawns.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of you, it's really obscene.

MCDERMOTT: Sometimes even lawyers didn't like it, but mostly they did.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning, my dear. How are you?

MCDERMOTT: She represented a Menendez brother, and they became celebrities of a sort, maybe because they lived in Beverly Hills. Now, Rodney King could make no such claim, but he became a famous crime victim thanks to his role in a video that was seen by more people than most Hollywood blockbusters.

And so it begins again, after the arrest, the press conferences, and then sound bytes from all of the neighbors.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The general feeling was that he was a hothead and kind of angry and unpredictable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The encounters I had had with him have always been very, very positive, very friendly, very nice.

MCDERMOTT: And then, well, most of us will just have to stay tuned.

Anne McDermott, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Oh, yes we will.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.