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American Morning
90-Second Pop: Culture Watch
Aired July 07, 2003 - 07:51 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's time for "90-Second Pop," where you get the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on the world of pop culture delivered in 911 style. Our fast-talking, quick-witted panel, B.J. Sigusmund is the entertainment reporter for "Newsweek" -- they're laughing while I say that -- and Michelle Mitchell is the author of "The Latest Bombshell," and Toure is a contributing editor for "Rolling Stone" magazine.
Good morning to all of you. Thanks for joining us.
B.J. SIGUSMUND, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER "NEWSWEEK": Good morning.
MICHELLE MITCHELL, AUTHOR, "THE LATEST BOMBSHELL: Good morning.
TOURE, CONTRIBUTING EIDTOR, "ROLLING STONE": Hello.
Toure, let's begin with you. Let's talk a little bit about Kobe Bryant.
TOURE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: And he is now facing allegations of sexual assault. What kind of impact, whether it's proven true or not true, could this potentially have on his career?
TOURE: Yes, I mean, you know, America doesn't tend to forget. We tend to remember the charge and forget the exoneration. And it's an interesting moment for Kobe, because they've been trying to make him the star. People kind of don't want to take that with the new Jordan thing. Lebron (ph) is coming in. Lebron (ph) is the new Jordan now. Everyone wants to focus on him, so Kobe is trying to find ways to maintain the spotlight and say, hey, what about me? And it's going to be an interesting year for him. He's already said, I'm going to be a free agent next year. And the Lakers are, like, what are you talking about? So what's going on?
SIGUSMUND: Just on a personal front, though, he has had a very squeaky clean image up until now. He just got married a couple of years ago.
O'BRIEN: A new baby in January.
SIGUSMUND: He just had a baby in January.
TOURE: But he's never been comfortable with the other Lakers, never been known as one of the guys, would be one of the guys. So, we've always been wondering, what's going on with this guy? MITCHELL: Any time a guy is charged -- even the implication of a sexual assault is not good. It's especially not good because these guys are held up as role models and it affects their endorsement money. So, whether or not he's guilty, unfortunately he's probably going to be charged, at least in the realm of commercial opinion.
SIGUSMUND: Right.
TOURE: Right.
O'BRIEN: Let's move on to our next topic. Simon Cowell of "American Idol" theme has a new show where he actually plays cupid. He originally was just the executive producer of the show, and now he's actually going to be in it. B.J., one, can he save the genre? Because it seems like reality shows are sort of...
SIGUSMUND: Well, this summer, there are just so many reality shows it's impossible to keep up with them. And that's the problem that "Cupid" has. It's a cute idea. It's sort of an "American Idol" meets "The Bachelor." America votes on which guys they should set up with this woman. But Simon Cowell wasn't even going to be on air. He was just going to be the executive producer. But recently, they decided to make him narrate at least the first couple of shows, which says to me that CBS is worried and is pulling out all of the stops to get people to watch this show, a least when it debuts.
TOURE: I mean, we like Simon, because he's catty, he's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) people, he's in your face, the same thing that you would never say to somebody. If he's not doing that on "Cupid," then what are you doing if that's your role?
SIGUSMUND: Right.
MITCHELL: But if he is, it makes it easier for women to date. I mean, I wouldn't mind having a Simon Cowell sort of being (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of my date. That could be very interesting.
O'BRIEN: Yes, that says volumes about you, Michelle.
MITCHELL: I know. It's frightening.
O'BRIEN: All right, let's take one second to talk about politics. Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean is now more than $1 million ahead of the nearest Democratic rival when it comes to raising money. He's actually getting a lot of support online. He claims himself that actually it's not like he's some kind of techie. What is going on here, Michelle?
MITCHELL: Well, this is a trend that started in the last couple of election cycles. People realized they could raise a lot of money online. It's another sort of grassroots way. This is the next evolution of grassroots politics. He's doing a very, very smart thing in utilizing this thing. What I love, though, is the whole aura of celebrity endorsement in politics. This is not like buying a coat. This does not affect your vote. But politicians love when a celebrity endorses them, because all of a sudden they're the cool kid, they're part of the cool group and they never were.
SIGUSMUND: Although there was a little bit of a backlash, all of those celebrities that first came out against the war in Iraq earlier this year, and then because the war moved so swiftly there was a little bit of backlash against those celebrities. And we don't have to say more than Dixie Chicks to remember what it was like for certain people.
(CROSSTALK)
MITCHELL: Yes, but politicians still love to hang out with these guys.
O'BRIEN: Let's take one moment to talk about our last topic, which are movies. And so far, as we all know, during the summer the weekend box office has been pretty depressing. Even sure things like "Charlie's Angels" the sequel, everyone thought that was going to be great. It really didn't do too well. There are two pirate movies coming out. There is the "Sinbad" movie and then there is "Pirates of the Caribbean."
SIGUSMUND: Right, well...
O'BRIEN: Could they save the summer? Are we putting all of our stock in pirates this summer?
TOURE: We're so cynical now. I feel like we've seen all of the GC (ph). We've seen all different sorts of things that can happen, and we've been through two years of hell, like, fantasy is not, like, moving us any more. It's not the same.
O'BRIEN: So, back to good story-telling kind of...
MITCHELL: Although I have to say, "Pirates of the Caribbean" is my favorite ride at Disneyland, and there are millions of people...
O'BRIEN: So, that seems like a good movie.
MITCHELL: I think it could. This is Johnny Depp, and let's not underestimate the power of Johnny Depp.
SIGUSMUND: Not only Johnny Depp, but Orlando Bloom (ph) who is huge...
MITCHELL: Oh, yes.
SIGUSMUND: ... with teenage girls, plus it's got one of the stars...
(CROSSTALK)
MITCHELL: Not just teenage girls, B.J.
SIGUSMUND: Well, the teen girl market is really the market that you want for a movie these days. MITCHELL: Right.
O'BRIEN: My first day and I've learned so much about Michelle I cannot even...
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Thanks so much for joining us.
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 July 7, 2003 - 07:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's time for "90-Second Pop," where you get the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on the world of pop culture delivered in 911 style. Our fast-talking, quick-witted panel, B.J. Sigusmund is the entertainment reporter for "Newsweek" -- they're laughing while I say that -- and Michelle Mitchell is the author of "The Latest Bombshell," and Toure is a contributing editor for "Rolling Stone" magazine.
Good morning to all of you. Thanks for joining us.
B.J. SIGUSMUND, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER "NEWSWEEK": Good morning.
MICHELLE MITCHELL, AUTHOR, "THE LATEST BOMBSHELL: Good morning.
TOURE, CONTRIBUTING EIDTOR, "ROLLING STONE": Hello.
Toure, let's begin with you. Let's talk a little bit about Kobe Bryant.
TOURE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: And he is now facing allegations of sexual assault. What kind of impact, whether it's proven true or not true, could this potentially have on his career?
TOURE: Yes, I mean, you know, America doesn't tend to forget. We tend to remember the charge and forget the exoneration. And it's an interesting moment for Kobe, because they've been trying to make him the star. People kind of don't want to take that with the new Jordan thing. Lebron (ph) is coming in. Lebron (ph) is the new Jordan now. Everyone wants to focus on him, so Kobe is trying to find ways to maintain the spotlight and say, hey, what about me? And it's going to be an interesting year for him. He's already said, I'm going to be a free agent next year. And the Lakers are, like, what are you talking about? So what's going on?
SIGUSMUND: Just on a personal front, though, he has had a very squeaky clean image up until now. He just got married a couple of years ago.
O'BRIEN: A new baby in January.
SIGUSMUND: He just had a baby in January.
TOURE: But he's never been comfortable with the other Lakers, never been known as one of the guys, would be one of the guys. So, we've always been wondering, what's going on with this guy? MITCHELL: Any time a guy is charged -- even the implication of a sexual assault is not good. It's especially not good because these guys are held up as role models and it affects their endorsement money. So, whether or not he's guilty, unfortunately he's probably going to be charged, at least in the realm of commercial opinion.
SIGUSMUND: Right.
TOURE: Right.
O'BRIEN: Let's move on to our next topic. Simon Cowell of "American Idol" theme has a new show where he actually plays cupid. He originally was just the executive producer of the show, and now he's actually going to be in it. B.J., one, can he save the genre? Because it seems like reality shows are sort of...
SIGUSMUND: Well, this summer, there are just so many reality shows it's impossible to keep up with them. And that's the problem that "Cupid" has. It's a cute idea. It's sort of an "American Idol" meets "The Bachelor." America votes on which guys they should set up with this woman. But Simon Cowell wasn't even going to be on air. He was just going to be the executive producer. But recently, they decided to make him narrate at least the first couple of shows, which says to me that CBS is worried and is pulling out all of the stops to get people to watch this show, a least when it debuts.
TOURE: I mean, we like Simon, because he's catty, he's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) people, he's in your face, the same thing that you would never say to somebody. If he's not doing that on "Cupid," then what are you doing if that's your role?
SIGUSMUND: Right.
MITCHELL: But if he is, it makes it easier for women to date. I mean, I wouldn't mind having a Simon Cowell sort of being (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of my date. That could be very interesting.
O'BRIEN: Yes, that says volumes about you, Michelle.
MITCHELL: I know. It's frightening.
O'BRIEN: All right, let's take one second to talk about politics. Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean is now more than $1 million ahead of the nearest Democratic rival when it comes to raising money. He's actually getting a lot of support online. He claims himself that actually it's not like he's some kind of techie. What is going on here, Michelle?
MITCHELL: Well, this is a trend that started in the last couple of election cycles. People realized they could raise a lot of money online. It's another sort of grassroots way. This is the next evolution of grassroots politics. He's doing a very, very smart thing in utilizing this thing. What I love, though, is the whole aura of celebrity endorsement in politics. This is not like buying a coat. This does not affect your vote. But politicians love when a celebrity endorses them, because all of a sudden they're the cool kid, they're part of the cool group and they never were.
SIGUSMUND: Although there was a little bit of a backlash, all of those celebrities that first came out against the war in Iraq earlier this year, and then because the war moved so swiftly there was a little bit of backlash against those celebrities. And we don't have to say more than Dixie Chicks to remember what it was like for certain people.
(CROSSTALK)
MITCHELL: Yes, but politicians still love to hang out with these guys.
O'BRIEN: Let's take one moment to talk about our last topic, which are movies. And so far, as we all know, during the summer the weekend box office has been pretty depressing. Even sure things like "Charlie's Angels" the sequel, everyone thought that was going to be great. It really didn't do too well. There are two pirate movies coming out. There is the "Sinbad" movie and then there is "Pirates of the Caribbean."
SIGUSMUND: Right, well...
O'BRIEN: Could they save the summer? Are we putting all of our stock in pirates this summer?
TOURE: We're so cynical now. I feel like we've seen all of the GC (ph). We've seen all different sorts of things that can happen, and we've been through two years of hell, like, fantasy is not, like, moving us any more. It's not the same.
O'BRIEN: So, back to good story-telling kind of...
MITCHELL: Although I have to say, "Pirates of the Caribbean" is my favorite ride at Disneyland, and there are millions of people...
O'BRIEN: So, that seems like a good movie.
MITCHELL: I think it could. This is Johnny Depp, and let's not underestimate the power of Johnny Depp.
SIGUSMUND: Not only Johnny Depp, but Orlando Bloom (ph) who is huge...
MITCHELL: Oh, yes.
SIGUSMUND: ... with teenage girls, plus it's got one of the stars...
(CROSSTALK)
MITCHELL: Not just teenage girls, B.J.
SIGUSMUND: Well, the teen girl market is really the market that you want for a movie these days. MITCHELL: Right.
O'BRIEN: My first day and I've learned so much about Michelle I cannot even...
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Thanks so much for joining us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
