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CNN Live Today

Bush Meeting With King Abdullah of Jordan

Aired May 06, 2004 - 10:30   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: I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at the top stories "At This Hour."
U.S. forces have come under fire after rolling into Najaf and taking over the governor's office. Exclusive video phone images earlier this hour as CNN's Jane Arraf -- delivered a live report. U.S. troops who were helping Iraqi allies regain control of the city exchanged gunfire with insurgents. Rebels loyal to the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have a strong militia there.

Elsewhere in the Najaf region, U.S. troops have the cleric's Mehdi Army with more than 20 insurgents killed.

Back here in the U.S. an Oklahoma man is charged with knowingly exposing a dozen women to HIV. Three of then have developed AIDS and prosecutors say as many as 170 people may have been exposed either by Anthony Eugene Whitfield or one of his partners. Whitfield has entered not guilty pleas to 12 counts including sexual assault.

And this is New York's skyline of the future with the tallest building in the world rising from the ruins of the World Trade Center site. Ground will be broken on 4th of July and the skyscraper will measure, appropriately enough, 1,776 feet. It has been dubbed the Freedom Tower.

Want to go to the White House now. That is where the administration has wrapped up an informal briefing. A lot of news coming out of there today. Our White House correspondent is there. Dana Bash, good morning.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. And a lot of the talk here this morning, as you can imagine, is still the fallout from those pictures and the fallout from what the president knew and didn't know about those pictures and about the abuses in general.

This morning, of course, the question that is coming from Capitol Hill and elsewhere is whether or not the defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, should perhaps resign over this. That question was posed to the press secretary, Scott McClellan, this morning. Specifically, whether or not the president wants Rumsfeld to stay in his job.

The answer was absolutely. The press secretary here says that the president very much appreciates the job that Secretary Rumsfeld is doing, that he still has great confidence in his leadership and, of course, in the men and women of the military. But we do know, Daryn, that yesterday morning, early morning, the defense secretary was here at the White House in a private meeting with the president in the Oval Office. And we are told the White House let it be known that the president admonished him. Essentially said that he was not happy with the process here, the fact that the president did not know about the photographs of these abuses until they ended up on television last week. And he said he wanted to get to the bottom of why that happened.

So publicly they are making it known that the president is not happy with this process. And it's certainly an extraordinary thing for a White House that does not like to show its internal problems in public. And it's extraordinary for a president who talks about loyalty.

But this morning again, Daryn, just as the president said yesterday, the White House was saying that they understand that these images are quite harmful, not only to the U.S. perception -- the perception of the U.S. around the world, but harmful to what they are trying to do to advance freedom and democracy, as Scott McClellan, put it in Iraq -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Meanwhile, as we talk about visitors to the White House, Dana, a key leader from the Middle East arriving today.

BASH: That's right. Jordan's king, King Abdullah, will be here at the White House. This is a meeting that was canceled a couple of weeks ago because of fallout from another big issue, of course. And that is the Middle East peace process. The fact that the president went along with Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister's plan to pull out of Gaza and most of the West Bank.

So the key here to be looking for is to see what the president says to try to stem some of the problems that the Arab world has with this in terms of what this means for Palestinians. Whether or not the president is going to say publicly or at least in a written form that the U.S. is not going to prejudge this, that in the end, there will be some negotiation with both the Palestinians and Israeli before there is any kind of final decision on how this all works out.

But the other important thing to watch for, Daryn, is the president will have an Arab leader here in the Rose Garden to see if there's any discussion, any acknowledgment of the effect that these prisoner photos are having in the Arab world and particularly in Iraq and among even some key allies like Jordan.

KAGAN: Yes, we have a lot more in the next hour on reaction in the Arab world to the two interviews the president gave out yesterday to those Arab language television networks. Thank you, Dana Bash, at the White House.

And more on President Bush and Jordan's King Abdullah. They are to deliver remarks in the Rose Garden. You heard Dana discussing this. You're going to see this live. That is scheduled now for 2:05 Eastern, 11:05 a.m. Pacific. Check out some new numbers. There's a new Gallup poll showing a tightening presidential race. It's six months before Americans got to the polls. For more on President Bush's approval rating and a match- up with the presumptive challenger John Kerry, let's bring in CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider. Bill, good morning.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's go to the first numbers asking people who they would prefer to be the next president of the U.S.

SCHNEIDER: The first numbers we have are the three-way race between Kerry, Bush and Nader. And as we can see, it is a tie! Kerry 47, Bush 47. Nader holding the balance there at 3 percent.

Is this good news or bad news? Well it's like the glass that's either half empty or half full. Democrats are a bit dismayed. For all of President Bush's problems in Iraq, with the scandal over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, the 9/11 Commission hearings, soaring gasoline prices, Kerry can still manage no better than a tie.

But that is slight movement for Kerry because two weeks ago he was running six points behind. Now the race is dead even.

KAGAN: But the question has to do with all that. If it's only some slight movement, what would it take to get Senator Kerry over the top?

SCHNEIDER: Yes. Well that's what Democrats are asking. What's wrong with the Kerry campaign? Why isn't he surging in the polls instead of just creeping upwards?

There's certainly a lot of trouble there for President Bush. Take a look at his numbers that -- the approval numbers on how he's handling Iraq. This poll was taken after the photos had come out and the news of the mistreatment of prisoners. And this is the lowest approval number, 42 percent, the president has ever gotten.

A solid majority of Americans now, 55 percent disapprove of the way the president is handling Iraq. We're also seeing low numbers for his handling of international affairs. The lowest ever number for his handling of the economy. And even his ratings on handling the war on terrorism are barely positive, 52 percent. That, to, is the lowest rating he's ever gotten.

What the poll says is the president is in trouble. But are Americans ready to embrace John Kerry as the alternative? I think we have to say they're not sure. But the president is certainly in trouble, that's clear.

KAGAN: Well, six months to decide. Bill Schneider, thank you so much for that.

SCHNEIDER: That's right. KAGAN: A congressional hearing on censorship might be on the agenda. It's all to look at the dust up between Disney and filmmaker Michael Moore. Disney said it decided a year ago not to release Moore's anti-Bush movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11." It's accused Moore of exploiting that now for publicity.

And Moore says he's being muzzled to protect Disney's corporate interests.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: We live in a country now where the control of our media is in fewer and fewer hands.

We're down to just a few studios now. If the few remaining studios decide that dissenting voices shouldn't be heard, that we don't have to provide all of the information to the people, just to some of the information, are we better off as a society, as a free open Democratic society? I don't think so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Disney's action has led Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey to request a hearing. Lautenberg's press release states that, quote, "While corporate leaders rarely exercise discretion over gross indecency or violence, we have seen a number of corporate conglomerates censor material recently based on political content."

More to follow on whether it actually comes to being, that hearing on Capitol Hill.

What will happen on CNN LIVE TODAY, you think you've had a splitting headache? How about this? An x-ray nobody would want. Hard to believe. Those are nails! And there's the man who survived the attack of the nail gun.

And get ready to say goodbye to some "Friends." A look back at the group that has become an icon of America's pop culture.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And now to our "Everyday Hero." A 9-year-old boy who is battling leukemia, he wanted to help other children facing a similar fight. So he did it by creating a video game. We get details now form reporter Don Sanchez of our affiliate in San Francisco, KGO-TV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON SANCHEZ, KGO-TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Ben's game, the hero battle cancer cells. The video game is the wish of 9-year- old Ben Duskin who was diagnosed with leukemia four years ago. He wanted the game for other kids in a painful fight against cancer.

BEN DUSKIN, CANCER PATIENT, GAME DESIGNER: I just wanted to just try to help other people know what's going on inside their body. SANCHEZ: Eric Johnson of LucasArts was the pro who worked with Ben for six months to create the game.

ERIC JOHNSON, LUCASARTS: He, actually, he brought in game design ideas that I never could of come up with. He actually brought in something called a port one day in a jar which is a device that they implanted inside him. And he said this is how the player gets into the game.

SANCHEZ: Here's how you play...

JOHNSON: We have seven shields, the trophies you collect. And each shield is associated with a side effect that a kid in treatment has to watch out for.

SANCHEZ: Things like fever, rash, colds, bleeding.

(on camera): The players become medicine in the battle against the cancer cells. And there's some advice in here from Ben to kids who may be going through what he did. He says, don't be afraid.

(voice-over): It's been a special emotional day for his family and friends.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It just means closure, you know? It was -- Ben went through so much for so long. And to have it end happily and hopefully helping other people is his dream and just overwhelming.

SANCHEZ: Mayor Newsom declared this Ben Duskin Day. Make a Wish gave him a plaque. And the best news is that Ben is in remission.

DUSKIN: I want to be a professional basketball player.

SANCHEZ: Later this week, the game will be available to download free.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And that story about Ben was from reporter Don Sanchez of our affiliate KGO-TV.

We want to hear from you and your nominations for our "Everyday Heroes." E-mail us those stories at LiveToday@cnn.com.

They've been our "Friends" for a decade. We're going to look at their pop culture legacy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This just in to CNN. "Friends" bid farewell tonight, in a one-hour finale. Have you heard that? It leaves behind a noticeable comedy void on the tube.

Bill Keveney of "USA Today" joins us from L.A. with some insight on the show's ending and the future of sitcoms.

Bill, good morning.

BILL KEVENEY, "USA TODAY": Good morning, Daryn, or maybe I should say happy "Friends" day.

KAGAN: Happy "Friends" days, it's like a national day of mourning in some ways.

They said to Me, Daryn, don't ask Bill about Rachel and Ross. Do they end up together? That's not where we're going here.

KEVENEY: If they don't, I expect NBC might need some more security guards there at the gates tomorrow.

KAGAN: Exactly. Might be another battleground.

But let's look at what this means for the bigger picture of sitcoms on television. Interesting line, in fact, the piece that you wrote recently in "USA Today," if you look ahead in fall, this will be the first season in two decades that network television does not have a dominant sitcom in primetime. That seems almost impossible.

KEVENEY: It's been almost 20 years since "Cosby" was on. We just had a string, "Cheers," "Roseanne," "Frasier" leaving. We still have "Raymond." "Raymond's" dominant, but that may just have a shortened season left, and they still are working those details out, so it's a signpost that there hasn't been a really great overall, dominant comedy in a number of years.

KAGAN: So nothing on the horizon? No buzz out there in Hollywood about watch out for this show or that show?

KEVENEY: That "Joey" is getting some talk, the "Friends" spinoff, but those are difficult to bet on. NBC has invested a lot in the show called "Father of the Pride," which is an animated comedy with Dreamworks, could have some possibilities. Jessica Simpson, very hot, has a comedy. They're looking at a pilot. They're looking at it at ABC. There is an interesting one with John Stamos. It's almost like "24" on a date. So there are things, but the networks are looking at their pilots right now, and we're just starting to get buzz on what might be hot.

KAGAN: But it seems that whenever anybody is talking about the doomsday of sitcoms, they blame reality television, that this has become junk food for the networks?

KEVENEY: To some degree. It's a little bit cause and effect. Reality is cheaper. People seem to tune in. It seems to have all of the buzz and the rage now. You know, the apprentice is filling up half of NBC's historic two-hour comedy block, but you know, they still want comedies, they play better in syndication, make you a lot of money on the back end of the show, so they can't give up on those, but it is tempting to put reality wherever you have a hole.

KAGAN: And what about these six actors. Who do you think five, 10 years from now will be a hot property? KEVENEY: Well, Jennifer Aniston looks like things are building up. She's had a couple of good movies. You know, David Schwimmer looks like he's going into directing, so maybe he'll be more behind the scenes. Matt LeBlanc's character on friends seemed to really kind of ignite more in the final few years, so he may have a chance. People seemed to really like the Joey character and him. So there is a good chance, you know, they might want to stick with him.

KAGAN: And Lisa Kudrow, it seems like she's had some success in the movies as well?

KEVENEY: She has, and she's actually chosen some really interesting roles and some character roles, and she could have a good future there. I mean, they all will have to face so and so was on "Friends," but you know, there are worse things to be known for.

KAGAN: Bill Keveney -- will you be watching tonight?

KEVENEY: Oh, definitely, I want to see what happens, you know, like the rest of the world.

KAGAN: Very good. Well, millions and millions are supposed to as well. Bill Keveney from "USA Today," thanks for dropping in.

KEVENEY: Thanks, Daryn.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

You can read more about the "Friends" finale on CNN.com. The Web site will also keep you up to date on all the entertainment news, including the ongoing feud between Michael Moore and Mickey Mouse.

Coming up in the next hour of CNN LIVE TODAY, we're previewing John Grisham's new film. It's called "Mickey." Guess who's stopping by? John Grisham himself will be here in the studio. You're not going to want to miss that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: From Southern California, a pointed reminder to be careful with those power tools. A 39-year-old construction worker fell from the roof onto a coworker with a nail gun, and that drove six nails into his head. Get this, though. Remarkably, doctors say the man will make a complete recovery.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

KAGAN: Best-selling author John Grisham joins me here in the studio in just a little bit. We'll be talking about one of his latest ventures. He is writing for film. Household hints legend Heloise is coming by a little bit later. What can't you figure out at home? Send your questions now. LIVETODAY@cnn.com is our e-mail address. She will tell you what the answer is to your household challenges.

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 May 6, 2004 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at the top stories "At This Hour."
U.S. forces have come under fire after rolling into Najaf and taking over the governor's office. Exclusive video phone images earlier this hour as CNN's Jane Arraf -- delivered a live report. U.S. troops who were helping Iraqi allies regain control of the city exchanged gunfire with insurgents. Rebels loyal to the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have a strong militia there.

Elsewhere in the Najaf region, U.S. troops have the cleric's Mehdi Army with more than 20 insurgents killed.

Back here in the U.S. an Oklahoma man is charged with knowingly exposing a dozen women to HIV. Three of then have developed AIDS and prosecutors say as many as 170 people may have been exposed either by Anthony Eugene Whitfield or one of his partners. Whitfield has entered not guilty pleas to 12 counts including sexual assault.

And this is New York's skyline of the future with the tallest building in the world rising from the ruins of the World Trade Center site. Ground will be broken on 4th of July and the skyscraper will measure, appropriately enough, 1,776 feet. It has been dubbed the Freedom Tower.

Want to go to the White House now. That is where the administration has wrapped up an informal briefing. A lot of news coming out of there today. Our White House correspondent is there. Dana Bash, good morning.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. And a lot of the talk here this morning, as you can imagine, is still the fallout from those pictures and the fallout from what the president knew and didn't know about those pictures and about the abuses in general.

This morning, of course, the question that is coming from Capitol Hill and elsewhere is whether or not the defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, should perhaps resign over this. That question was posed to the press secretary, Scott McClellan, this morning. Specifically, whether or not the president wants Rumsfeld to stay in his job.

The answer was absolutely. The press secretary here says that the president very much appreciates the job that Secretary Rumsfeld is doing, that he still has great confidence in his leadership and, of course, in the men and women of the military. But we do know, Daryn, that yesterday morning, early morning, the defense secretary was here at the White House in a private meeting with the president in the Oval Office. And we are told the White House let it be known that the president admonished him. Essentially said that he was not happy with the process here, the fact that the president did not know about the photographs of these abuses until they ended up on television last week. And he said he wanted to get to the bottom of why that happened.

So publicly they are making it known that the president is not happy with this process. And it's certainly an extraordinary thing for a White House that does not like to show its internal problems in public. And it's extraordinary for a president who talks about loyalty.

But this morning again, Daryn, just as the president said yesterday, the White House was saying that they understand that these images are quite harmful, not only to the U.S. perception -- the perception of the U.S. around the world, but harmful to what they are trying to do to advance freedom and democracy, as Scott McClellan, put it in Iraq -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Meanwhile, as we talk about visitors to the White House, Dana, a key leader from the Middle East arriving today.

BASH: That's right. Jordan's king, King Abdullah, will be here at the White House. This is a meeting that was canceled a couple of weeks ago because of fallout from another big issue, of course. And that is the Middle East peace process. The fact that the president went along with Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister's plan to pull out of Gaza and most of the West Bank.

So the key here to be looking for is to see what the president says to try to stem some of the problems that the Arab world has with this in terms of what this means for Palestinians. Whether or not the president is going to say publicly or at least in a written form that the U.S. is not going to prejudge this, that in the end, there will be some negotiation with both the Palestinians and Israeli before there is any kind of final decision on how this all works out.

But the other important thing to watch for, Daryn, is the president will have an Arab leader here in the Rose Garden to see if there's any discussion, any acknowledgment of the effect that these prisoner photos are having in the Arab world and particularly in Iraq and among even some key allies like Jordan.

KAGAN: Yes, we have a lot more in the next hour on reaction in the Arab world to the two interviews the president gave out yesterday to those Arab language television networks. Thank you, Dana Bash, at the White House.

And more on President Bush and Jordan's King Abdullah. They are to deliver remarks in the Rose Garden. You heard Dana discussing this. You're going to see this live. That is scheduled now for 2:05 Eastern, 11:05 a.m. Pacific. Check out some new numbers. There's a new Gallup poll showing a tightening presidential race. It's six months before Americans got to the polls. For more on President Bush's approval rating and a match- up with the presumptive challenger John Kerry, let's bring in CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider. Bill, good morning.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's go to the first numbers asking people who they would prefer to be the next president of the U.S.

SCHNEIDER: The first numbers we have are the three-way race between Kerry, Bush and Nader. And as we can see, it is a tie! Kerry 47, Bush 47. Nader holding the balance there at 3 percent.

Is this good news or bad news? Well it's like the glass that's either half empty or half full. Democrats are a bit dismayed. For all of President Bush's problems in Iraq, with the scandal over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, the 9/11 Commission hearings, soaring gasoline prices, Kerry can still manage no better than a tie.

But that is slight movement for Kerry because two weeks ago he was running six points behind. Now the race is dead even.

KAGAN: But the question has to do with all that. If it's only some slight movement, what would it take to get Senator Kerry over the top?

SCHNEIDER: Yes. Well that's what Democrats are asking. What's wrong with the Kerry campaign? Why isn't he surging in the polls instead of just creeping upwards?

There's certainly a lot of trouble there for President Bush. Take a look at his numbers that -- the approval numbers on how he's handling Iraq. This poll was taken after the photos had come out and the news of the mistreatment of prisoners. And this is the lowest approval number, 42 percent, the president has ever gotten.

A solid majority of Americans now, 55 percent disapprove of the way the president is handling Iraq. We're also seeing low numbers for his handling of international affairs. The lowest ever number for his handling of the economy. And even his ratings on handling the war on terrorism are barely positive, 52 percent. That, to, is the lowest rating he's ever gotten.

What the poll says is the president is in trouble. But are Americans ready to embrace John Kerry as the alternative? I think we have to say they're not sure. But the president is certainly in trouble, that's clear.

KAGAN: Well, six months to decide. Bill Schneider, thank you so much for that.

SCHNEIDER: That's right. KAGAN: A congressional hearing on censorship might be on the agenda. It's all to look at the dust up between Disney and filmmaker Michael Moore. Disney said it decided a year ago not to release Moore's anti-Bush movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11." It's accused Moore of exploiting that now for publicity.

And Moore says he's being muzzled to protect Disney's corporate interests.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: We live in a country now where the control of our media is in fewer and fewer hands.

We're down to just a few studios now. If the few remaining studios decide that dissenting voices shouldn't be heard, that we don't have to provide all of the information to the people, just to some of the information, are we better off as a society, as a free open Democratic society? I don't think so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Disney's action has led Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey to request a hearing. Lautenberg's press release states that, quote, "While corporate leaders rarely exercise discretion over gross indecency or violence, we have seen a number of corporate conglomerates censor material recently based on political content."

More to follow on whether it actually comes to being, that hearing on Capitol Hill.

What will happen on CNN LIVE TODAY, you think you've had a splitting headache? How about this? An x-ray nobody would want. Hard to believe. Those are nails! And there's the man who survived the attack of the nail gun.

And get ready to say goodbye to some "Friends." A look back at the group that has become an icon of America's pop culture.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And now to our "Everyday Hero." A 9-year-old boy who is battling leukemia, he wanted to help other children facing a similar fight. So he did it by creating a video game. We get details now form reporter Don Sanchez of our affiliate in San Francisco, KGO-TV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON SANCHEZ, KGO-TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Ben's game, the hero battle cancer cells. The video game is the wish of 9-year- old Ben Duskin who was diagnosed with leukemia four years ago. He wanted the game for other kids in a painful fight against cancer.

BEN DUSKIN, CANCER PATIENT, GAME DESIGNER: I just wanted to just try to help other people know what's going on inside their body. SANCHEZ: Eric Johnson of LucasArts was the pro who worked with Ben for six months to create the game.

ERIC JOHNSON, LUCASARTS: He, actually, he brought in game design ideas that I never could of come up with. He actually brought in something called a port one day in a jar which is a device that they implanted inside him. And he said this is how the player gets into the game.

SANCHEZ: Here's how you play...

JOHNSON: We have seven shields, the trophies you collect. And each shield is associated with a side effect that a kid in treatment has to watch out for.

SANCHEZ: Things like fever, rash, colds, bleeding.

(on camera): The players become medicine in the battle against the cancer cells. And there's some advice in here from Ben to kids who may be going through what he did. He says, don't be afraid.

(voice-over): It's been a special emotional day for his family and friends.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It just means closure, you know? It was -- Ben went through so much for so long. And to have it end happily and hopefully helping other people is his dream and just overwhelming.

SANCHEZ: Mayor Newsom declared this Ben Duskin Day. Make a Wish gave him a plaque. And the best news is that Ben is in remission.

DUSKIN: I want to be a professional basketball player.

SANCHEZ: Later this week, the game will be available to download free.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And that story about Ben was from reporter Don Sanchez of our affiliate KGO-TV.

We want to hear from you and your nominations for our "Everyday Heroes." E-mail us those stories at LiveToday@cnn.com.

They've been our "Friends" for a decade. We're going to look at their pop culture legacy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This just in to CNN. "Friends" bid farewell tonight, in a one-hour finale. Have you heard that? It leaves behind a noticeable comedy void on the tube.

Bill Keveney of "USA Today" joins us from L.A. with some insight on the show's ending and the future of sitcoms.

Bill, good morning.

BILL KEVENEY, "USA TODAY": Good morning, Daryn, or maybe I should say happy "Friends" day.

KAGAN: Happy "Friends" days, it's like a national day of mourning in some ways.

They said to Me, Daryn, don't ask Bill about Rachel and Ross. Do they end up together? That's not where we're going here.

KEVENEY: If they don't, I expect NBC might need some more security guards there at the gates tomorrow.

KAGAN: Exactly. Might be another battleground.

But let's look at what this means for the bigger picture of sitcoms on television. Interesting line, in fact, the piece that you wrote recently in "USA Today," if you look ahead in fall, this will be the first season in two decades that network television does not have a dominant sitcom in primetime. That seems almost impossible.

KEVENEY: It's been almost 20 years since "Cosby" was on. We just had a string, "Cheers," "Roseanne," "Frasier" leaving. We still have "Raymond." "Raymond's" dominant, but that may just have a shortened season left, and they still are working those details out, so it's a signpost that there hasn't been a really great overall, dominant comedy in a number of years.

KAGAN: So nothing on the horizon? No buzz out there in Hollywood about watch out for this show or that show?

KEVENEY: That "Joey" is getting some talk, the "Friends" spinoff, but those are difficult to bet on. NBC has invested a lot in the show called "Father of the Pride," which is an animated comedy with Dreamworks, could have some possibilities. Jessica Simpson, very hot, has a comedy. They're looking at a pilot. They're looking at it at ABC. There is an interesting one with John Stamos. It's almost like "24" on a date. So there are things, but the networks are looking at their pilots right now, and we're just starting to get buzz on what might be hot.

KAGAN: But it seems that whenever anybody is talking about the doomsday of sitcoms, they blame reality television, that this has become junk food for the networks?

KEVENEY: To some degree. It's a little bit cause and effect. Reality is cheaper. People seem to tune in. It seems to have all of the buzz and the rage now. You know, the apprentice is filling up half of NBC's historic two-hour comedy block, but you know, they still want comedies, they play better in syndication, make you a lot of money on the back end of the show, so they can't give up on those, but it is tempting to put reality wherever you have a hole.

KAGAN: And what about these six actors. Who do you think five, 10 years from now will be a hot property? KEVENEY: Well, Jennifer Aniston looks like things are building up. She's had a couple of good movies. You know, David Schwimmer looks like he's going into directing, so maybe he'll be more behind the scenes. Matt LeBlanc's character on friends seemed to really kind of ignite more in the final few years, so he may have a chance. People seemed to really like the Joey character and him. So there is a good chance, you know, they might want to stick with him.

KAGAN: And Lisa Kudrow, it seems like she's had some success in the movies as well?

KEVENEY: She has, and she's actually chosen some really interesting roles and some character roles, and she could have a good future there. I mean, they all will have to face so and so was on "Friends," but you know, there are worse things to be known for.

KAGAN: Bill Keveney -- will you be watching tonight?

KEVENEY: Oh, definitely, I want to see what happens, you know, like the rest of the world.

KAGAN: Very good. Well, millions and millions are supposed to as well. Bill Keveney from "USA Today," thanks for dropping in.

KEVENEY: Thanks, Daryn.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

You can read more about the "Friends" finale on CNN.com. The Web site will also keep you up to date on all the entertainment news, including the ongoing feud between Michael Moore and Mickey Mouse.

Coming up in the next hour of CNN LIVE TODAY, we're previewing John Grisham's new film. It's called "Mickey." Guess who's stopping by? John Grisham himself will be here in the studio. You're not going to want to miss that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: From Southern California, a pointed reminder to be careful with those power tools. A 39-year-old construction worker fell from the roof onto a coworker with a nail gun, and that drove six nails into his head. Get this, though. Remarkably, doctors say the man will make a complete recovery.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

KAGAN: Best-selling author John Grisham joins me here in the studio in just a little bit. We'll be talking about one of his latest ventures. He is writing for film. Household hints legend Heloise is coming by a little bit later. What can't you figure out at home? Send your questions now. LIVETODAY@cnn.com is our e-mail address. She will tell you what the answer is to your household challenges.

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