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CNN Live Today

Celebrity Dramas

Aired July 08, 2003 - 10:51   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: From television now to real-life drama for basketball pro Kobe Bryant. The Lakers star on the defense now. He is facing allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in Vail. Authorities in Colorado are still deciding whether there's enough evidence to actually charge him with criminal charges.
For more on this story and other high-profile celebrity cases, we're joined by Harvey Levin, executive producer of "Celebrity Justice."

Harvey, good morning. Good to have you with us.

HARVEY LEVIN, EXEC. PROD., "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's talk about Kobe first. Interesting news conference that I think you were with us to watch yesterday between the D.A. in Eagle County and the sheriff. It seems perhaps that the sheriff might have jumped the gun a little bit in arresting Kobe Bryant. Is that possible?

LEVIN: I think it's more than possible. I think it's probable. You heard the district attorney say in this conference he wasn't going to look backwards. He's going to look forwards. Those are words of somebody who was really ticked off that he wasn't consulted before Kobe Bryant was arrested. Frankly, it didn't make sense to me why the sheriff arrested him over the fourth weekend. But bottom line is he did it, and now it's in the D.A.'s court. The D.A. has to decide whether to file.

KAGAN: Let's say no charges are ever filed. How does this help or hurt Kobe Bryant?

LEVIN: I think because the thing here is sports and there have been so many legal problems with sports stars, I don't think it hurts him as much. There are so many sports people who get in trouble. Kobe Bryant is the golden boy and has never had a problem, and so to that extent, it may stand out a little bit more. If nothing is ever filed, I think people are going to look at it as a bum wrap, but we have to see what happens.

KAGAN: Let's look at a lawsuit now that Viacom was considering a bum rap. Spike Lee goes to Viacom and says, you're trying to change this network named TNN to Spike TV. He objected. It went to court. I'm still trying to figure out how this thing settled out, because it will be called spike TV. LEVIN: It will be called Spike TV. "Celebrity Justice" was at the hearing that wrapped up about a half hour ago, and both parties said they've reached a settlement. The injunction has been lifted. TNN can call it Spike TV. As for what settlement is, they're not talking, not talking about money. It's interesting, because Johnnie Cochran, who represents Spike Lee, said outside the courtroom today that Spike Lee looks forward to working on future projects with Viacom. That may give you some sense of what this settlement, at least partially, involved.

KAGAN: One thing that was so interesting, while this was going on, Spike Lee was shooting a project for Showtime, which is owned by Viacom. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

LEVIN: We're dealing with monster companies in this world. Seems like three companies own everything in the world of media. And because of that, it's almost like the business rules have change -- you can say no hard feelings in one division, as you sue another division of the same company, and it just seems to be welcome to the new millennium.

KAGAN: From the family courts, Sharon Stone and her newspaper editor hubby calling it quits. Could this be a case where she ends up paying him alimony?

LEVIN: I don't know what situation was. There were reports, and I cannot confirm them, there were reports there was a prenup going in. I don't know whether that is or is not the case. What I find interesting about this, Daryn, is they took the initiative, they are so Hollywood savvy, they issued a press release before anybody in the media knew about it and said, look, it's amicable, we care about our son, we're going raise the son together. They really took the initiative, and I think more and more stars are learning that you file a divorce paper and all it says is "irreconcilable differences," that's not a grade great headline, so they're trying to create their own.

KAGAN: Trying to do it themselves. Harvey Levin for "Celebrity Justice" thanks for letting us see behind the headlines as we share information and insight this morning.

LEVIN: Great seeing 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 July 8, 2003 - 10:51   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: From television now to real-life drama for basketball pro Kobe Bryant. The Lakers star on the defense now. He is facing allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in Vail. Authorities in Colorado are still deciding whether there's enough evidence to actually charge him with criminal charges.
For more on this story and other high-profile celebrity cases, we're joined by Harvey Levin, executive producer of "Celebrity Justice."

Harvey, good morning. Good to have you with us.

HARVEY LEVIN, EXEC. PROD., "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's talk about Kobe first. Interesting news conference that I think you were with us to watch yesterday between the D.A. in Eagle County and the sheriff. It seems perhaps that the sheriff might have jumped the gun a little bit in arresting Kobe Bryant. Is that possible?

LEVIN: I think it's more than possible. I think it's probable. You heard the district attorney say in this conference he wasn't going to look backwards. He's going to look forwards. Those are words of somebody who was really ticked off that he wasn't consulted before Kobe Bryant was arrested. Frankly, it didn't make sense to me why the sheriff arrested him over the fourth weekend. But bottom line is he did it, and now it's in the D.A.'s court. The D.A. has to decide whether to file.

KAGAN: Let's say no charges are ever filed. How does this help or hurt Kobe Bryant?

LEVIN: I think because the thing here is sports and there have been so many legal problems with sports stars, I don't think it hurts him as much. There are so many sports people who get in trouble. Kobe Bryant is the golden boy and has never had a problem, and so to that extent, it may stand out a little bit more. If nothing is ever filed, I think people are going to look at it as a bum wrap, but we have to see what happens.

KAGAN: Let's look at a lawsuit now that Viacom was considering a bum rap. Spike Lee goes to Viacom and says, you're trying to change this network named TNN to Spike TV. He objected. It went to court. I'm still trying to figure out how this thing settled out, because it will be called spike TV. LEVIN: It will be called Spike TV. "Celebrity Justice" was at the hearing that wrapped up about a half hour ago, and both parties said they've reached a settlement. The injunction has been lifted. TNN can call it Spike TV. As for what settlement is, they're not talking, not talking about money. It's interesting, because Johnnie Cochran, who represents Spike Lee, said outside the courtroom today that Spike Lee looks forward to working on future projects with Viacom. That may give you some sense of what this settlement, at least partially, involved.

KAGAN: One thing that was so interesting, while this was going on, Spike Lee was shooting a project for Showtime, which is owned by Viacom. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

LEVIN: We're dealing with monster companies in this world. Seems like three companies own everything in the world of media. And because of that, it's almost like the business rules have change -- you can say no hard feelings in one division, as you sue another division of the same company, and it just seems to be welcome to the new millennium.

KAGAN: From the family courts, Sharon Stone and her newspaper editor hubby calling it quits. Could this be a case where she ends up paying him alimony?

LEVIN: I don't know what situation was. There were reports, and I cannot confirm them, there were reports there was a prenup going in. I don't know whether that is or is not the case. What I find interesting about this, Daryn, is they took the initiative, they are so Hollywood savvy, they issued a press release before anybody in the media knew about it and said, look, it's amicable, we care about our son, we're going raise the son together. They really took the initiative, and I think more and more stars are learning that you file a divorce paper and all it says is "irreconcilable differences," that's not a grade great headline, so they're trying to create their own.

KAGAN: Trying to do it themselves. Harvey Levin for "Celebrity Justice" thanks for letting us see behind the headlines as we share information and insight this morning.

LEVIN: Great seeing 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