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CNN Live Today

Interview with Harvey Levin

Aired December 03, 2002 - 11:51   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: So let's talk some more about the Michael Jackson trial as well as other celebrity tribulations this morning.
Harvey Levin is executive producer of "Celebrity Justice," a syndicated newsmagazine, and he joins us this morning from Los Angeles. Good to see you, how are you?

HARVEY LEVIN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Hey, Leon.

HARRIS: All right. Let's see -- should we expect any more bizarre scenes this morning or anytime this week in the Michael Jackson trial?

LEVIN: Of course you should. It is just unbelievable. He said to the jury and the judge, I have to go to Germany to pick up a humanitarian award, and the next thing they see on TV is Michael Jackson dangling his baby off a balcony.

HARRIS: Well, he said he had to pick up the award, he didn't say he had to pick up his kids.

LEVIN: You know, I just think the bizarre nature of what he does has to have some impact on his credibility, because he's in the middle of a big trial.

HARRIS: Yes. Well, as I understand it, I also read something this morning about kids out there skipping school to go to court to see him outside. Is that true?

LEVIN: Oh, are you kidding? This is like a rock concert for a lot of kids. Absolutely true. I mean, there are people from the media that are traveling. This is an out of the way place, hours and hours to get there because it's not just a trial, but it's this bizarre side show, and it's free, Leon.

HARRIS: Should we even care about what happens inside the courtroom? What about the trial itself? Is it even worth talking about?

LEVIN: Well, it's a trial about a concert promoter who said he was stiffed by Michael Jackson, and at stake is over $21 million. So, it is a big deal to him. He's already -- at least, according to some reports, having money trouble. This is a big chunk of change.

HARRIS: All right. Now, someone -- not talking about money, but about their career. Whitney Houston is out talking. As I understand it, she is talking with ABC, with Diane Sawyer, she will be talking with her tomorrow -- she has already talked with her, but it is going to be aired tomorrow. What do you know about this interview?

LEVIN: Right. Well, Whitney Houston has had so many legal troubles, and not just her, but her husband, sitting right there, Bobby Brown. They have been cited for everything from drug use to driving without licenses to illegally watering their lawn in New Jersey. So they've had lots of problems, and my understanding of this interview is she wants to basically say, I'm OK. I mean she's -- this is such an interesting shot, Leon, I have to tell you.

I talked to Bobby Brown's lawyer, and he said he was surprised when Whitney showed up in court last week for Bobby Brown, but he thinks she's going to be his secret weapon that this jury is going to be so wowed by her, that he thinks they're going to be extremely forgiving toward him. Having a star behind you, standing by your man, so to speak, is very powerful in court.

HARRIS: He might want to keep that one a secret, though. I don't know. Finally, got to ask you real quick, Winona Ryder she goes back to court on Friday. Is that correct? What happens then?

LEVIN: Well, I have something to tell you about that. Our Pat Lolamit (ph), "Celebrity Justice," interviewed the district attorney, Steve Cooley, who rarely gives interviews. He told us that he wants to make sure -- he will tell the judge -- I want to make sure she gets psychological counseling because he believes she is a chronic shoplifter. He wants to make sure -- get this -- that she gets some kind of drug treatment. He believes she has a drug issue, and that's what he says. And he wants to make sure she gets serious community service, not Hollywood community service, or else he thinks jail should be in order. It's up to the judge, obviously.

HARRIS: Well, good luck on all that. We rarely see anything come down that stiffly there in those kind of courtrooms.

LEVIN: Though this was a different case, Leon. Remember, she was charged with three felonies.

HARRIS: That is true, that is true. Harvey Levin, thanks much.

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







Aired December 3, 2002 - 11:51   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: So let's talk some more about the Michael Jackson trial as well as other celebrity tribulations this morning.
Harvey Levin is executive producer of "Celebrity Justice," a syndicated newsmagazine, and he joins us this morning from Los Angeles. Good to see you, how are you?

HARVEY LEVIN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Hey, Leon.

HARRIS: All right. Let's see -- should we expect any more bizarre scenes this morning or anytime this week in the Michael Jackson trial?

LEVIN: Of course you should. It is just unbelievable. He said to the jury and the judge, I have to go to Germany to pick up a humanitarian award, and the next thing they see on TV is Michael Jackson dangling his baby off a balcony.

HARRIS: Well, he said he had to pick up the award, he didn't say he had to pick up his kids.

LEVIN: You know, I just think the bizarre nature of what he does has to have some impact on his credibility, because he's in the middle of a big trial.

HARRIS: Yes. Well, as I understand it, I also read something this morning about kids out there skipping school to go to court to see him outside. Is that true?

LEVIN: Oh, are you kidding? This is like a rock concert for a lot of kids. Absolutely true. I mean, there are people from the media that are traveling. This is an out of the way place, hours and hours to get there because it's not just a trial, but it's this bizarre side show, and it's free, Leon.

HARRIS: Should we even care about what happens inside the courtroom? What about the trial itself? Is it even worth talking about?

LEVIN: Well, it's a trial about a concert promoter who said he was stiffed by Michael Jackson, and at stake is over $21 million. So, it is a big deal to him. He's already -- at least, according to some reports, having money trouble. This is a big chunk of change.

HARRIS: All right. Now, someone -- not talking about money, but about their career. Whitney Houston is out talking. As I understand it, she is talking with ABC, with Diane Sawyer, she will be talking with her tomorrow -- she has already talked with her, but it is going to be aired tomorrow. What do you know about this interview?

LEVIN: Right. Well, Whitney Houston has had so many legal troubles, and not just her, but her husband, sitting right there, Bobby Brown. They have been cited for everything from drug use to driving without licenses to illegally watering their lawn in New Jersey. So they've had lots of problems, and my understanding of this interview is she wants to basically say, I'm OK. I mean she's -- this is such an interesting shot, Leon, I have to tell you.

I talked to Bobby Brown's lawyer, and he said he was surprised when Whitney showed up in court last week for Bobby Brown, but he thinks she's going to be his secret weapon that this jury is going to be so wowed by her, that he thinks they're going to be extremely forgiving toward him. Having a star behind you, standing by your man, so to speak, is very powerful in court.

HARRIS: He might want to keep that one a secret, though. I don't know. Finally, got to ask you real quick, Winona Ryder she goes back to court on Friday. Is that correct? What happens then?

LEVIN: Well, I have something to tell you about that. Our Pat Lolamit (ph), "Celebrity Justice," interviewed the district attorney, Steve Cooley, who rarely gives interviews. He told us that he wants to make sure -- he will tell the judge -- I want to make sure she gets psychological counseling because he believes she is a chronic shoplifter. He wants to make sure -- get this -- that she gets some kind of drug treatment. He believes she has a drug issue, and that's what he says. And he wants to make sure she gets serious community service, not Hollywood community service, or else he thinks jail should be in order. It's up to the judge, obviously.

HARRIS: Well, good luck on all that. We rarely see anything come down that stiffly there in those kind of courtrooms.

LEVIN: Though this was a different case, Leon. Remember, she was charged with three felonies.

HARRIS: That is true, that is true. Harvey Levin, thanks much.

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