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American Morning

90-Second Pop, Culture Watch

Aired February 12, 2004 - 07:44   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Guess what time it is? "90-Second Pop" once again.
Here to put their spin on the world of pop culture, a panel of AMERICAN MORNING idols, we like to call them. Andy Borowitz is a humorist, also the author of a new book called "Governor Arnold." Have you read it? It's hilarious.

Also this morning, Sarah Bernard, she's a contributing editor for "New York" magazine, making her debut, I might add, this morning. Welcome.

SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: And B.J. Sigesmund is a staff editor for "US Weekly."

Hey, B.J. Nice to see you.

B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Good morning, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Good morning to all of you.

Let's get right into talking about actually "American Idol." Thirty million people watch that.

ANDY BOROWITZ, HUMORIST: Isn't that amazing?

O'BRIEN: Twenty-six million watch the Grammys.

BOROWITZ: I know. I know. Four million more. I mean, to me, I mean, it's obviously enormously popular. But I think what "American Idol" has that the Grammys doesn't is Simon. I think Simon is the key, because actually when I was watching the Grammys, I was wishing Simon was there, especially when Sting was doing that tribute to the Beatles. I wanted to cut to Simon and have him say, you have no future in the music industry.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Some national (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BOROWITZ: Exactly.

BERNARD: Yes. SIGESMUND: The judges are so much meaner this time around. I was watching the other night when, you know, the first eight of the final 32, and I thought a lot of the performances were really good, and then they would cut to Randy, and he'd be like, yes, that was OK.

O'BRIEN: Well, the thing...

(CROSSTALK)

BERNARD: That's their job.

O'BRIEN: Right. And they had heard 10 million people. They are so over it, I get the feeling.

(CROSSTALK)

SIGESMUND: Yes.

BERNARD: I don't think it's Simon. I think it's Ryan.

BOROWITZ: Ryan?

SIGESMUND: No, he's a star.

BERNARD: I think it's Ryan. I think it's all about Ryan.

SIGESMUND: It is all about Ryan.

O'BRIEN: Yes, it's all about Ryan Seacrest.

(CROSSTALK)

BERNARD: Ryan Secrest, he's got his own show now.

O'BRIEN: Right.

BERNARD: And that's really, I think, what some ladies tune in for.

SIGESMUND: He's got a lot of charisma.

BERNARD: Simon is kind of -- he's too mean and bitter.

(CROSSTALK)

SIGESMUND: I liked Fantasia. She's actually one of the first two...

BERNARD: She can win.

SIGESMUND: ... who made the final 12. She...

O'BRIEN: Is that her real name?

SIGESMUND: Who knows? A lot of them change their name.

BERNARD: Their "American Idol" name.

SIGESMUND: A lot of them have these horrible names, and when they first audition, and then they suddenly become, you know...

(CROSSTALK)

BOROWITZ: Her original name was...

O'BRIEN: They all change it back.

BERNARD: I know.

BOROWITZ: It was Fantasia Weinstein (ph). It is a changed name. It's a changed name.

O'BRIEN: Her parents are so proud.

Let's talk a little bit about Valentine's Day movies. And, B.J., you said there is actually some out there.

SIGESMUND: Well...

O'BRIEN: You like this Drew Barrymore movie.

SIGESMUND: There is really one movie to see this weekend. It is "50 First Dates" with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. This is the team behind the "Wedding Singer," a move that came out six years ago on Valentine's Day weekend and made a ton of money. Sony has the field all to themselves this weekend.

O'BRIEN: What's the premise of this movie? She has lost her short-term memory.

SIGESMUND: Yes, she's lost her short-term memory, and he's a commitment phobe.

BOROWITZ: This is...

SIGESMUND: And he falls in love with her.

BOROWITZ: It's a woman who every morning she wakes up and she doesn't remember the guy she's with. It's the Paris Hilton story (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

O'BRIEN: Oh, a new low!

(CROSSTALK)

SIGESMUND: Yes, yes.

BERNARD: I know.

BOROWITZ: I keep trying.

BERNARD: You know, I was thinking (UNINTELLIGIBLE), because I was thinking this is a perfect movie for Drew Barrymore, considering it should be called something like 50 starter marriages. Right? Like, how many times has been she been married?

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Simon's.

SIGESMUND: Yes, I think (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BERNARD: We're doing our Simon's...

(CROSSTALK)

BOROWITZ: We're trying to get that assertive thing going.

O'BRIEN: Wow!

BERNARD: I have an anti-Valentine's Day suggestion.

O'BRIEN: Really?

BERNARD: I think that...

O'BRIEN: Is this you take someone you hate to the movies or...

BERNARD: Yes, do that. Or you take your girlfriends and you go and watch the "Sex and the City" marathon that's going on this weekend, because Samantha, the man-eating Samantha is the perfect antidote...

O'BRIEN: Right.

BERNARD: ... for all these sort of over-the-top romances.

O'BRIEN: Because you're hating men at this moment?

BERNARD: Well, yes, absolutely. Go watch that.

O'BRIEN: She sounds (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

Let's talk about this movie, "The Perfect Husband," the Laci Peterson story. First, I guess, is there a perspective that the movie is coming from? I mean, do they say -- not say specifically -- but do they sort of imply the guilt or innocence of Scott Peterson?

BERNARD: They do. And we were sort of talking about it earlier. It's kind of like guilty before proven guilty. This is a new genre, it seems, is developing, kind of like the pre-conviction docu-drama, the "Times" was calling it. They did this with the D.C. sniper case. USA had a quick movie made on that.

O'BRIEN: And Charles Dutton (ph) as Chief Moose.

BERNARD: That's right. And so this one is kind of in the same vein. And I don't know what's stranger. If they're doing this before even the pretrial hearings are done, or that, you know, Dean Cain, Superman, has chosen to make this his sort of career invention comeback. It's really strange. (CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: He looks a lot like Scott Peterson.

SIGESMUND: Yes.

BERNARD: He does.

BOROWITZ: You know, this movie, when you look at it, could taint the jury pool, and it could ruin the chance for a fair trial. But in the network's defense, it is sweeps. So, you know, I think that they...

O'BRIEN: So it will be OK.

BOROWITZ: Yes.

SIGESMUND: Supposedly Dean Cain is very good in it, and he spent a lot of time studying the way the guy came off on his ABC interview to just learn how to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BERNARD: Well, that's all he had to go from, because...

O'BRIEN: He said that he made no presumptions about...

BERNARD: Oh, he did say that.

O'BRIEN: ... his character's guilt or innocence, is what he has sort of, you know, he's officially said.

SIGESMUND: Right.

BERNARD: Well, he really didn't have much to go on, I think, except for the interviews that they've done and all of the tabloid stuff, because no one obviously from the family or any side is actually going to sit down and give them any inside information.

O'BRIEN: No one is helping them with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) movie...

BERNARD: Right.

BOROWITZ: Well, it's just another...

O'BRIEN: ... while they're working on the trial really.

BERNARD: Right, right, they're a little busy.

BOROWITZ: Another Valentine's Day viewing option.

BERNARD: Exactly, a love story.

BOROWITZ: Yes.

BERNARD: A love story.

O'BRIEN: Oh, my goodness. Well, that is it for this edition of "90-Second Pop." You guys, as always, thanks. Sarah, welcome.

BERNARD: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Nice to have you as always.

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 February 12, 2004 - 07:44   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Guess what time it is? "90-Second Pop" once again.
Here to put their spin on the world of pop culture, a panel of AMERICAN MORNING idols, we like to call them. Andy Borowitz is a humorist, also the author of a new book called "Governor Arnold." Have you read it? It's hilarious.

Also this morning, Sarah Bernard, she's a contributing editor for "New York" magazine, making her debut, I might add, this morning. Welcome.

SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: And B.J. Sigesmund is a staff editor for "US Weekly."

Hey, B.J. Nice to see you.

B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Good morning, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Good morning to all of you.

Let's get right into talking about actually "American Idol." Thirty million people watch that.

ANDY BOROWITZ, HUMORIST: Isn't that amazing?

O'BRIEN: Twenty-six million watch the Grammys.

BOROWITZ: I know. I know. Four million more. I mean, to me, I mean, it's obviously enormously popular. But I think what "American Idol" has that the Grammys doesn't is Simon. I think Simon is the key, because actually when I was watching the Grammys, I was wishing Simon was there, especially when Sting was doing that tribute to the Beatles. I wanted to cut to Simon and have him say, you have no future in the music industry.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Some national (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BOROWITZ: Exactly.

BERNARD: Yes. SIGESMUND: The judges are so much meaner this time around. I was watching the other night when, you know, the first eight of the final 32, and I thought a lot of the performances were really good, and then they would cut to Randy, and he'd be like, yes, that was OK.

O'BRIEN: Well, the thing...

(CROSSTALK)

BERNARD: That's their job.

O'BRIEN: Right. And they had heard 10 million people. They are so over it, I get the feeling.

(CROSSTALK)

SIGESMUND: Yes.

BERNARD: I don't think it's Simon. I think it's Ryan.

BOROWITZ: Ryan?

SIGESMUND: No, he's a star.

BERNARD: I think it's Ryan. I think it's all about Ryan.

SIGESMUND: It is all about Ryan.

O'BRIEN: Yes, it's all about Ryan Seacrest.

(CROSSTALK)

BERNARD: Ryan Secrest, he's got his own show now.

O'BRIEN: Right.

BERNARD: And that's really, I think, what some ladies tune in for.

SIGESMUND: He's got a lot of charisma.

BERNARD: Simon is kind of -- he's too mean and bitter.

(CROSSTALK)

SIGESMUND: I liked Fantasia. She's actually one of the first two...

BERNARD: She can win.

SIGESMUND: ... who made the final 12. She...

O'BRIEN: Is that her real name?

SIGESMUND: Who knows? A lot of them change their name.

BERNARD: Their "American Idol" name.

SIGESMUND: A lot of them have these horrible names, and when they first audition, and then they suddenly become, you know...

(CROSSTALK)

BOROWITZ: Her original name was...

O'BRIEN: They all change it back.

BERNARD: I know.

BOROWITZ: It was Fantasia Weinstein (ph). It is a changed name. It's a changed name.

O'BRIEN: Her parents are so proud.

Let's talk a little bit about Valentine's Day movies. And, B.J., you said there is actually some out there.

SIGESMUND: Well...

O'BRIEN: You like this Drew Barrymore movie.

SIGESMUND: There is really one movie to see this weekend. It is "50 First Dates" with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. This is the team behind the "Wedding Singer," a move that came out six years ago on Valentine's Day weekend and made a ton of money. Sony has the field all to themselves this weekend.

O'BRIEN: What's the premise of this movie? She has lost her short-term memory.

SIGESMUND: Yes, she's lost her short-term memory, and he's a commitment phobe.

BOROWITZ: This is...

SIGESMUND: And he falls in love with her.

BOROWITZ: It's a woman who every morning she wakes up and she doesn't remember the guy she's with. It's the Paris Hilton story (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

O'BRIEN: Oh, a new low!

(CROSSTALK)

SIGESMUND: Yes, yes.

BERNARD: I know.

BOROWITZ: I keep trying.

BERNARD: You know, I was thinking (UNINTELLIGIBLE), because I was thinking this is a perfect movie for Drew Barrymore, considering it should be called something like 50 starter marriages. Right? Like, how many times has been she been married?

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Simon's.

SIGESMUND: Yes, I think (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BERNARD: We're doing our Simon's...

(CROSSTALK)

BOROWITZ: We're trying to get that assertive thing going.

O'BRIEN: Wow!

BERNARD: I have an anti-Valentine's Day suggestion.

O'BRIEN: Really?

BERNARD: I think that...

O'BRIEN: Is this you take someone you hate to the movies or...

BERNARD: Yes, do that. Or you take your girlfriends and you go and watch the "Sex and the City" marathon that's going on this weekend, because Samantha, the man-eating Samantha is the perfect antidote...

O'BRIEN: Right.

BERNARD: ... for all these sort of over-the-top romances.

O'BRIEN: Because you're hating men at this moment?

BERNARD: Well, yes, absolutely. Go watch that.

O'BRIEN: She sounds (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

Let's talk about this movie, "The Perfect Husband," the Laci Peterson story. First, I guess, is there a perspective that the movie is coming from? I mean, do they say -- not say specifically -- but do they sort of imply the guilt or innocence of Scott Peterson?

BERNARD: They do. And we were sort of talking about it earlier. It's kind of like guilty before proven guilty. This is a new genre, it seems, is developing, kind of like the pre-conviction docu-drama, the "Times" was calling it. They did this with the D.C. sniper case. USA had a quick movie made on that.

O'BRIEN: And Charles Dutton (ph) as Chief Moose.

BERNARD: That's right. And so this one is kind of in the same vein. And I don't know what's stranger. If they're doing this before even the pretrial hearings are done, or that, you know, Dean Cain, Superman, has chosen to make this his sort of career invention comeback. It's really strange. (CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: He looks a lot like Scott Peterson.

SIGESMUND: Yes.

BERNARD: He does.

BOROWITZ: You know, this movie, when you look at it, could taint the jury pool, and it could ruin the chance for a fair trial. But in the network's defense, it is sweeps. So, you know, I think that they...

O'BRIEN: So it will be OK.

BOROWITZ: Yes.

SIGESMUND: Supposedly Dean Cain is very good in it, and he spent a lot of time studying the way the guy came off on his ABC interview to just learn how to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BERNARD: Well, that's all he had to go from, because...

O'BRIEN: He said that he made no presumptions about...

BERNARD: Oh, he did say that.

O'BRIEN: ... his character's guilt or innocence, is what he has sort of, you know, he's officially said.

SIGESMUND: Right.

BERNARD: Well, he really didn't have much to go on, I think, except for the interviews that they've done and all of the tabloid stuff, because no one obviously from the family or any side is actually going to sit down and give them any inside information.

O'BRIEN: No one is helping them with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) movie...

BERNARD: Right.

BOROWITZ: Well, it's just another...

O'BRIEN: ... while they're working on the trial really.

BERNARD: Right, right, they're a little busy.

BOROWITZ: Another Valentine's Day viewing option.

BERNARD: Exactly, a love story.

BOROWITZ: Yes.

BERNARD: A love story.

O'BRIEN: Oh, my goodness. Well, that is it for this edition of "90-Second Pop." You guys, as always, thanks. Sarah, welcome.

BERNARD: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Nice to have you as always.

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