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CNN Live Today

Celebrity Dramas

Aired December 31, 2002 - 10:44   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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Singer Diana Ross has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Police in Tucson, Arizona say the singer had a blood alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit. Authorities say Ross cooperated with the arresting officer. She's set to appear in court on January 13.
Now last spring, Ross spent some time in a California drug and alcohol rehab center. At the time, her publicist said the singer had some personal issues. We're taking a look at some of the most intriguing legal cases of the year, and we want to talk a little more about Diana Ross' run-in with the law. Who better to talk to, gab with -- I was going inform swear there for a moment, Harvey, but I caught myself.

Harvey Levin, the executive producer of "Celebrity Justice." I'm feeling a little too relaxed today, I think, because it's New Year's Eve.

How are you?

HARVEY LEVIN, EXEC. PROD., "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Well, you know, the idea of I come on to gab -- I'm a reporter, Carol.

LIN: I'm sorry, a serious journalist, and I should treat you as such.

LEVIN: Right, I'm the gabber.

LIN: Gab away. What is going on with Diana Ross? Does she have a drug and alcohol problem?

LEVIN: It seems like there is a problem. She was in rehab in May. And this is twice the legal limit, .20, at least that's what she is charged with.

I think what's kind of interesting about this, is you know, all of these cases seem to end up in Malibu, and there's a judge there who -- Judge Lawrence Mira, who has handled so many of these cases. It's almost like he is the sympathetic ear. He is really a good judge. But when you go into uncharted territory like Arizona, you never know how judges will look at celebrities. They might say, they always get breaks. So I would be a little scared if this happened outside the jurisdiction of Malibu, and I'm really being serious about that, because there are a lot of other judges who feel like the stars are coddled so. So you never know what happens outside the state.

LIN: So what happens then to someone like Michael Jackson? Will he be -- is there a possibility he will face criminal charges for that baby-dangling incident?

LEVIN: I doubt it. What I heard was, that's not going to happen. And also, the criminal charges would have to be filed in Germany. So nobody in the United States has jurisdiction over it. It's going to happen. I think the big thing about this, Carol, it's just incredible to me. He's self-destructing before our very eyes. We've always known that he was bizarre. But you know, when you look at what this guy has done in the trial, a trial where he is being sued for $25 million for being a no-show at two millennium concerts, making faces at the camera, you know, coming in wearing the most bizarre outfits.

Being a no-show himself at these trials, and looking at his face, there's something going on there. I mean, I just find it absolutely stunning that we are watching the falling apart of a huge star. It's sad in a way.

LIN: We all remember when he -- not all of us, but some of us remember when he was five years old and so cute.

LEVIN: I remember.

LIN: I'm dating myself here.

In the meantime, we have really amazing video of the want-to-be filmmakers who looked like they were trying to rip off Sony Studios?

LEVIN: Unbelievable. This is such an incredible story. "Celebrity Justice" got this tape. It is a tape of two 25-year-olds who are going through Sony Studios, they broke into the executive offices, and they stole two scripts. They were worth half a million dollars. And they recorded themselves in the act doing it. They actually got into James L. Brooks's office. What they did, was they left Sony, they went home, they doctored the scripts, because they felt they could do a better job, broke in a second team to the Sony Studios to return the scripts with the changes that they made, and get this, then they cut this videotape of burglarizing Sony into an 18- minute short film, and they submitted it to film festivals around the country. I just think this is incredible.

They were charged, the woman was charged with a misdemeanor, and I hear it will be pleaded out. But only in Hollywood, do you break in twice and you don't get jail time, and it's like, well, they're artists, they're writers, cut them a break. It's just incredible to me.

LIN: Oh, God. In the meantime, do you have any developments in Dr. Laura months they are's murder out in Los Angeles? That was so bizarre, took a couple moves to find the body.

LEVIN: It's just an amazing story. Her mother, Yolanda, who was 77 years old, was found murdered in her apartment. She had been there for up to three months. Nobody had phoned her. Laura Schlesinger apparently was completely estranged from this woman. There was a report that the body was actually unclaimed at the morgue. I'll give Dr. Laura her due on this one. Apparently that is not the case. She had tried to get the body, but because of the murder investigation, the coroner wasn't releasing it. She did get it yesterday, and has made arrangements.

But, Carol, I have to tell you something, I think the most remarkable thing about this story, and would have of the most stunning things about the year, is Laura Schlesinger issuing a statement saying my mother chose to die the way she chose to live, alone and isolated. The idea that she would trash her mother is so unbelievable to me, whether she is estranged or not, to put a spin on why she's estranged, I'm beyond outraged.

LIN: Here's a woman doling out advice to the public, and everyone is wondering how could it be that her mother went unfound for a couple of months.

LEVIN: Doctor, heal myself, you know what I'm saying?

LIN: Yes, lessons to be learned, even from the famous.

LEVIN: I know.

LIN: Hey, Harvey, what are you wishing for the New Year, what are your resolutions?

LEVIN: You say that in such a confrontative way, Carol.

OK, I am wishing for the well being of every celebrity in the United States of America. No, come on, that's -- you know what, we -- the celebrities actually like being on our show, because what we do is we present a fair balanced report on what's going on with them, and they want their side out, so they actually come to us, so you know that. What is yours, by the way?

LIN: Since I'm seven months pregnant, I plan on losing some weight.

LEVIN: You know what, maybe you should do that two months from now.

LIN: After I have the baby, most definitely.

LEVIN: The timing isn't so good, Carol, you know what I'm saying.

LIN: Well put. Thank you very much, Harvey. You have a great New Year's.

LEVIN: You, too, Carol. Great talking to you.

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 31, 2002 - 10:44   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Singer Diana Ross has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Police in Tucson, Arizona say the singer had a blood alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit. Authorities say Ross cooperated with the arresting officer. She's set to appear in court on January 13.
Now last spring, Ross spent some time in a California drug and alcohol rehab center. At the time, her publicist said the singer had some personal issues. We're taking a look at some of the most intriguing legal cases of the year, and we want to talk a little more about Diana Ross' run-in with the law. Who better to talk to, gab with -- I was going inform swear there for a moment, Harvey, but I caught myself.

Harvey Levin, the executive producer of "Celebrity Justice." I'm feeling a little too relaxed today, I think, because it's New Year's Eve.

How are you?

HARVEY LEVIN, EXEC. PROD., "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Well, you know, the idea of I come on to gab -- I'm a reporter, Carol.

LIN: I'm sorry, a serious journalist, and I should treat you as such.

LEVIN: Right, I'm the gabber.

LIN: Gab away. What is going on with Diana Ross? Does she have a drug and alcohol problem?

LEVIN: It seems like there is a problem. She was in rehab in May. And this is twice the legal limit, .20, at least that's what she is charged with.

I think what's kind of interesting about this, is you know, all of these cases seem to end up in Malibu, and there's a judge there who -- Judge Lawrence Mira, who has handled so many of these cases. It's almost like he is the sympathetic ear. He is really a good judge. But when you go into uncharted territory like Arizona, you never know how judges will look at celebrities. They might say, they always get breaks. So I would be a little scared if this happened outside the jurisdiction of Malibu, and I'm really being serious about that, because there are a lot of other judges who feel like the stars are coddled so. So you never know what happens outside the state.

LIN: So what happens then to someone like Michael Jackson? Will he be -- is there a possibility he will face criminal charges for that baby-dangling incident?

LEVIN: I doubt it. What I heard was, that's not going to happen. And also, the criminal charges would have to be filed in Germany. So nobody in the United States has jurisdiction over it. It's going to happen. I think the big thing about this, Carol, it's just incredible to me. He's self-destructing before our very eyes. We've always known that he was bizarre. But you know, when you look at what this guy has done in the trial, a trial where he is being sued for $25 million for being a no-show at two millennium concerts, making faces at the camera, you know, coming in wearing the most bizarre outfits.

Being a no-show himself at these trials, and looking at his face, there's something going on there. I mean, I just find it absolutely stunning that we are watching the falling apart of a huge star. It's sad in a way.

LIN: We all remember when he -- not all of us, but some of us remember when he was five years old and so cute.

LEVIN: I remember.

LIN: I'm dating myself here.

In the meantime, we have really amazing video of the want-to-be filmmakers who looked like they were trying to rip off Sony Studios?

LEVIN: Unbelievable. This is such an incredible story. "Celebrity Justice" got this tape. It is a tape of two 25-year-olds who are going through Sony Studios, they broke into the executive offices, and they stole two scripts. They were worth half a million dollars. And they recorded themselves in the act doing it. They actually got into James L. Brooks's office. What they did, was they left Sony, they went home, they doctored the scripts, because they felt they could do a better job, broke in a second team to the Sony Studios to return the scripts with the changes that they made, and get this, then they cut this videotape of burglarizing Sony into an 18- minute short film, and they submitted it to film festivals around the country. I just think this is incredible.

They were charged, the woman was charged with a misdemeanor, and I hear it will be pleaded out. But only in Hollywood, do you break in twice and you don't get jail time, and it's like, well, they're artists, they're writers, cut them a break. It's just incredible to me.

LIN: Oh, God. In the meantime, do you have any developments in Dr. Laura months they are's murder out in Los Angeles? That was so bizarre, took a couple moves to find the body.

LEVIN: It's just an amazing story. Her mother, Yolanda, who was 77 years old, was found murdered in her apartment. She had been there for up to three months. Nobody had phoned her. Laura Schlesinger apparently was completely estranged from this woman. There was a report that the body was actually unclaimed at the morgue. I'll give Dr. Laura her due on this one. Apparently that is not the case. She had tried to get the body, but because of the murder investigation, the coroner wasn't releasing it. She did get it yesterday, and has made arrangements.

But, Carol, I have to tell you something, I think the most remarkable thing about this story, and would have of the most stunning things about the year, is Laura Schlesinger issuing a statement saying my mother chose to die the way she chose to live, alone and isolated. The idea that she would trash her mother is so unbelievable to me, whether she is estranged or not, to put a spin on why she's estranged, I'm beyond outraged.

LIN: Here's a woman doling out advice to the public, and everyone is wondering how could it be that her mother went unfound for a couple of months.

LEVIN: Doctor, heal myself, you know what I'm saying?

LIN: Yes, lessons to be learned, even from the famous.

LEVIN: I know.

LIN: Hey, Harvey, what are you wishing for the New Year, what are your resolutions?

LEVIN: You say that in such a confrontative way, Carol.

OK, I am wishing for the well being of every celebrity in the United States of America. No, come on, that's -- you know what, we -- the celebrities actually like being on our show, because what we do is we present a fair balanced report on what's going on with them, and they want their side out, so they actually come to us, so you know that. What is yours, by the way?

LIN: Since I'm seven months pregnant, I plan on losing some weight.

LEVIN: You know what, maybe you should do that two months from now.

LIN: After I have the baby, most definitely.

LEVIN: The timing isn't so good, Carol, you know what I'm saying.

LIN: Well put. Thank you very much, Harvey. You have a great New Year's.

LEVIN: You, too, Carol. Great talking to you.

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