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American Morning

'90-Second Pop'; Saluting the Troops

Aired February 09, 2005 - 09:34   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Just a tick past 9:30 here in New York. Good morning, everybody. We're going to get back to Iraq in a few moments here. Election results expected to be announced tomorrow. Apparently there's a snag. Iraqis getting their first taste of something we know a little about here in this country, the election recount.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hanging chads.

HEMMER: Not across the entire country, but just in a few areas. So we'll let you know what's happening there in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also, a very moving commercial from the Super Bowl. Remember this one? Nothing really fancy or anything. But just an ovation that's given to U.S. troops as they walk through an airport. Those were not actors. Those were actual members of the service. We're going to talk to one young woman about her sudden fame.

HEMMER: Wow, touching spot.

O'BRIEN: I love this spot. People said that it sort of made them choke up. They only ran it one time. That's it, it's done. Of course, we've run it 50 million times.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I know. It makes me keep on crying too.

O'BRIEN: It's beautifully done. You don't really say that about a lot of commercials.

COLLINS: One heck of a story behind each person walking through that airport, too.

Good morning.

COLLINS: Good morning, once again, guys. Got a few headlines to get to here. We've been talking about Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice all morning. She's pushing for our European allies to take a tougher stance now against Iran's nuclear program.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECY. OF STATE: We've set no deadline, no timeline. The Iranians know what they need to do. They shouldn't be permitted to -- under cover of civilian nuclear power, or try to continue to try to build their forces. I think everybody understands that the Iranians have to be held to their international obligations. We haven't set any timetables. We continue to be in completely close consultation with...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Secretary Rice has been meeting with NATO and European Union officials in Belgium this morning. She has just wrapped up a news conference at NATO headquarters.

In Washington, members of Congress taking up a debate today over asylum-seekers. The house is looking at a measure that would make it easier for judges to reject immigrants seeking asylum. The legislation would give the Homeland Security Department more power to tighten border security and track illegal immigrants.

In Sri Lanka, DNA tests being done today on the little boy known as "Baby 81." He's the baby who was found alone after the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia. Several people have come forward claiming to be the parents, but only one couple is undergoing that DNA testing. The baby is expected to stay the in the hospital until the test results are fully reviewed. It's going to be a long time, something like April they say.

O'BRIEN: It's like trauma piled on top of trauma on top of more trauma.

COLLINS: Hopefully something good will come of it.

O'BRIEN: Yes, let's hope so. Thanks, Heidi.

HEMMER: There is new videotape today of the explosions and the gunfire in central Baghdad today. Iraqi police battling insurgents. A huge plume of dark and heavy smoke in the Iraqi capital. Also, word today that election results will not be announced tomorrow, as expected. Those stories now with Nic Robertson from the Iraqi capital.

Nic, hello. What's happening?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Earlier in the afternoon, an intense gun battle broke out on Haifa Street, a street notorious for insurgent activity. A convoy of vehicles belonging to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan political party was driving down the street. Three PUK members were killed in the shootout that lasted for some time. Apache helicopters were brought in, surveillance helicopters flew over the area. And for a while, a plume of black smoke could be seen coming up from the area. Also in Baghdad, a member of Baghdad's interior ministry has been kidnapped, the interior minister still look for him.

And in the south of Iraq, a journalist working for a U.S.-funded Arabic-language service, Al-Hura (ph) was killed in his house. Gunmen broke into his house as he was getting ready to leave at the beginning of the day, shot him, also killing his 6-year-old son.

Election officials are saying that election results are still being calculated. They are not anticipating results in the next few days. They say it's more likely results will be released early next week. They are recounting some 300 ballot boxes, and also looking into issues of complaints in the counting and complaints that some of the polling stations. They say that this is not a delay, but results now, it appears, from the Election Commission, final election results, may not come out until next week.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Perhaps the one measure of how Americans feel about U.S. troops in Iraq can be gauged through one of the most popular ads that ran during the Super Bowl. Let's take a look:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: I love this commercial. The company behind the commercial, Anheuser-Busch, used 12 real soldiers, some of them on active duty, some Reservists and some veterans.

Joining us this morning is one of them, she's out of Los Angeles, Captain Colleen Johnson. She's a Reservist with the U.S. Air Force.

Nice to see you. Thank you so much for joining us.

Tell me a little bit how you were picked for this ad.

CAPT. COLLEEN JOHNSON, U.S. AIR FORCE RESERVES: Thank you.

Yes, I was -- I just found out two days before the ad was scheduled to be shot that they were looking for real military people to take part in the commercial. So my boss encouraged me to go audition for it. And along with about 12 other people, I was chosen to be in the commercial, and I was just really humbled and grateful I got to represent so many of my friends and family members who are in the service, and some of whom are deployed right now.

O'BRIEN: Some, I imagine, who are deployed to Iraq. The ad, I think, it's fair to say, kind of implies that everyone's getting an ovation because they're returning from service in Iraq. None of you in the actual ad served in Iraq. Do you ever think about that? Have you thought about that at all?

JOHNSON: Well, we were representing our brethren who are -- some of whom are overseas right now. We -- certainly, all of us were acting. We weren't wearing our own military uniforms. Those were costumes that we were wearing.

But some of those in the commercial had served in the first Gulf War. But myself, I've not deployed to the Middle East. But I was very humbled to be able to represent some of my friends over there right now.

O'BRIEN: It had to be a really just fun shoot to do. Tell me a little bit. I mean, I was amazed to read that those were costumes and not actual uniform. What was the shoot like behind the scenes? How many times did you have to walk through there, because Hollywood's all about the retake the and the retake and the retake?

JOHNSON: Right.

O'BRIEN: What was it like?

JOHNSON: Well, it was a long day. We must have walked down that terminal about 50 times that day, and so it was a little bit exhausting. But we had a lot of fun with it. We learned a lot. None of us were actors. We've never -- I've never been in a commercial before. There were a couple people who'd been extras before, in other entertainment venues.

But all of us were just really excited. This was something new. We were thrilled to see what kind of a masterpiece would be shown. We had heard a lot about Joe Pitka, the director, and that he was really renowned in the commercial-making business. So we were excited to see what he would put together with Anheuser-Busch, and we were all very please and thankful that they did such a fine commercial honoring the troops.

O'BRIEN: He did, didn't he? He did such a great job.

JOHNSON: Yes.

O'BRIEN: I think that is a really moving commercial. And I've got to tell you, I'm not really moved by a lot of commercials. Of course, the whole point behind an ad is a message, right? I mean, they're trying to sell beer, Anheuser-Busch. Do you think that's the main point? Or do you think the other point -- what do you think come coming out most strongly, buy beer, or remember the troops?

JOHNSON: I think remember the troop, hands down. You know, Anheuser-Busch has supported the troops for a while. In fact, I saw an ad in "USA Today" that they've opened up Busch Gardens and Sea World free to military member and their dependents until this coming December. And I've actually taken advantage of that offer before.

I'm just really pleased that companies are supporting our troops, because it's really encouraging to all of us, when U.S. corporations step up, make a vocal opinion -- you know, make a vocal support of all of us and put their money where their mouth is, and I think that's what Anheuser-Busch has done.

O'BRIEN: Speaking of money, you made a couple hundred bucks for this ad as well for your work as an actor.

Congratulations. I think it's a terrific ad. And I'm not alone in that.

Captain Colleen Johnson joining us, a little bit of her story. I wondering if she's going to be bitten by the bug after this.

Thanks, Colleen -- Bill.

JOHNSON: Thank you.

HEMMER: Well done, captain. Thanks, Soledad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: A major shakeup at one of the biggest names in the computer business. Andy tell us how the market is reacting this morning.

HEMMER: Also just less than a week from Valentine's Day, and if you're looking for a gift, J-Lo and Ben's loss could be your gain. The low, low price in a moment here, on "90-Second Pop."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody. It's time again for "90-Second Pop." Say hello to our own private dancer, Andy Borowitz from BorowitzReport.com. We will explain that in a moment. Jessica Shaw, "Entertainment Weekly."

Nice to see you, Jess. Good morning.

JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": You too.

HEMMER: And the prince of urban populism, the name lives on.

Toure, good morning.

TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT: Aren't we simply the best?

HEMMER: You can be the pop.

TOURE: Are we simply the best?

HEMMER: Let me work on that.

TOURE: All right.

HEMMER: Hang on. J.Lo's ring is going back to Harry Winston.

TOURE: Yes.

HEMMER: How do you re-acquire a ring like this?

TOURE: I have no idea. I mean, this is, like, the big memento of the Titanic of failed relationships. You know, like, who would possibly want this? I mean, it's like the ultimate Hope diamond of sloppy seconds, you know. The thing that it made me think of is that one of the big reasons why Ben left Jen... HEMMER: Yes.

TOURE: ... is because he wants some sort of a family, something nice that he can deal with. And Brad Pitt also left a Jen...

HEMMER: So we think now.

TOURE: ... because he...

HEMMER: This is just our own little conjecture (UNINTELLIGIBLE), of course.

TOURE: Yes. Because he wants a family. And they were both with Gwyneth Paltrow, who has a nice family. You think they wish, maybe we had -- maybe we could have that decision to do over...

HEMMER: Yes?

TOURE: ... because we had somebody who wanted a family.

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: Wait, wait, wait. Does Gwyneth, does she have a rock the size of this thing that J. Lo has?

SHAW: Well, I have to say about the rock, I have a little bit breaking news. I got the rock.

TOURE: Oh!

ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Oh!

SHAW: I got it. I acquired it from Harry Winston.

BOROWITZ: And actually, what I did hear about this whole J.Lo thing is that if you also buy the ring from her first marriage, she'll throw in free shipping.

HEMMER: Not bad.

BOROWITZ: Yes.

HEMMER: With the pop on the inside, right, the bubble rap?

TOURE: And she'll throw in the ring from the second wedding as well.

SHAW: Right, exactly. That one she's just giving away.

HEMMER: You know, the breaking news from a week ago is that you got engaged.

SHAW: Yes.

HEMMER: Congratulations again to you.

SHAW: Oh, thank you, Bill.

HEMMER: I still don't know how you re-acquired this ring.

BOROWITZ: You're still milking that.

SHAW: I've ditching him for the ring.

HEMMER: Take us to the Oscars now.

SHAW: Yes.

HEMMER: Some people apparently are not going to get their 15 minutes or their 2 minutes on stage. They're going to stay in their seats? What's happening here?

SHAW: I'm not too sorry about that. I have to say that I think there are really only 10 or 12 awards that anyone wants to see anyway. And the rest of them just sort of turn the Oscars into this four-hour, soul-sucking TV event. So, you know, what's going to happen, the producer, Gill Cates (ph), has decided that he's going to cut the show down, and some of the lesser awards, like, you know, sound advising and things like that, will come from the -- someone in the audience will present them.

BOROWITZ: By the way, if Jessica's voice cuts out at this point, that's because the people in the sound department have decided to eliminate her.

HEMMER: Yes, keep on...

BOROWITZ: You've got to be careful about that.

HEMMER: But they want to save time, right?

SHAW: Yes.

HEMMER: But...

SHAW: They want to get it down to just three and a half hours, and it's always over four hours.

HEMMER: But in some categories, they're going to take all of the nominees on stage, right?

SHAW: Oh, yes.

HEMMER: And then announce the winner? It's kind of like Atlantic City and Miss America.

BOROWITZ: Here's a way to save some time, I think, which is that we all know Jamie Foxx is going to win. He's won eight awards already. I can actually recite his acceptance speech already. I know the whole thing about no matter what life throws, you've got to just keep on walking. So, let's just say at the beginning, ladies and gentlemen, Jamie Foxx has won. Now on with the show.

SHAW: But can you cry about the grandmother?

BOROWITZ: Right. I can do that.

TOURE: But he'll throw it out to all of the black actors beforehand. So you've got to do that part of it, too.

BOROWITZ: Right. I've got to do that, too.

HEMMER: And the good news is that Chris Rock won't walk off stage if Jamie Foxx wins.

All right, let's leave it there. Let's stay together. Here's Soledad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: All right, Bill, thanks. One of the most powerful players in the computer business gets tossed. Andy's going to tell us how the market is reacting today. Stay with us. That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Huge development at Hewlett- Packard to talk about. With more on that and also a look at Wall Street this morning, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business." Good morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you, Soledad.

Carly Fiorina, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, has resigned, forced out, reports say, by the board. Disagreements over the direction of that company. That stock is trading this morning. It is a Dow stock, and it's up nearly 10 percent. Let's look at the big board here. The Dow's up fractionally.

This is the great do nothing market of 2005. Now it's absolutely flat. You rarely see that. You see that? Index was absolutely flat there for one second. That's a thrill. For some of us. For some of us here on AMERICAN MORNING, obviously not the others. For me, I got a big kick out of that, I really did.

Let's just quickly follow up on this Carly Fiorina story. CNN caught up with Carly Fiorina in late January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, asked her about the future at the company. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLY FIORINA, FMR. HEWLETT-PACKARD CEO: Right now I see my future at H.P. I have said, in answer to that question many times, that I have never thought about the next thing in my career. I'm one of those people that needs to focus all my time and energy on what I'm doing. And this is a great company, it's a great challenge and I have a lot left to do here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERWER: Well, apparently not true anymore. Carly Fiorina has resigned at H.P.

O'BRIEN: Andy, thanks.

SERWER: You're welcome.

HEMMER: Back to the "Question of the Day." One more time, here's Jack.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Bill. Do you think President Bush can cut the deficit in half in the next four years?

Rick in Flanders, New Jersey: "How about giving the president a break? He's managing a major war effort, regional deployment on a scale we haven't seen in decades. He's battling the issues, trying to find solutions for Social Security, nuclear proliferation, global terrorism, health care, the deficit. The list goes on."

Tom in Richmond writes: "Using the Bush plan, I have just managed to finally balance my personal budget. I just left out city, state, local and federal taxes."

Mickey in Ft. Lauderdale writes: "Jack, please, there is nothing worse than to wake up to watch the news and there you are, complaining again. I watch the news to see what's important, not your rambling on about nothingness. You're a negative person, Jack. Remember, the glass is half full, not empty."

HEMMER: Wow.

SERWER: Oh, please.

HEMMER: Mickey's no friend of Jack.

CAFFERTY: Thanks a lot, Mickey.

HEMMER: We can try him again tomorrow, right?

SERWER: Mickey's got rose-colored glasses.

HEMMER: Thank you. Let's get a break here. Up next, hour here, the BTK killer, decades-old mystery, grabbing the media spotlight with a series of cryptic messages.

Is it really the stuff of higher education? One professor says yes. He'll join Rick Sanchez and Betty Nguyen next on CNN LIVE TODAY. We are back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(CLIP FROM "COSMOPOLITAN" AWARDS SHOW)

O'BRIEN: Wow, that's like white girl, supermodel rap!

SERWER: It doesn't get any better than that.

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: It's not easy walking a runway that goes 50 yards.

SERWER: It's your birthday, it's Christmas, it's everything out there.

O'BRIEN: You know, they said it all. It's the hardest clanker on CNN News. Billy is one of "Cosmopolitan" magazine's "Fun, Fearless Males." All the guys joining him as well. "American Idol," Simon Cowell, was there as well. Benjamin McKenzie, the actor. Kevin Bacon, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), David Spade, Drew Lachey, and Carson Kresley (ph).

HEMMER: It was a cool group of guys. And they are far more talented than I. But we had to get a good little laugh by the end of the show, right?

O'BRIEN: He doth protest too much.

SERWER: I thought you looked good. Congrats.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Congratulations.

HEMMER: Thank you very much.

SERWER: Great stuff.

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 9, 2005 - 09:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Just a tick past 9:30 here in New York. Good morning, everybody. We're going to get back to Iraq in a few moments here. Election results expected to be announced tomorrow. Apparently there's a snag. Iraqis getting their first taste of something we know a little about here in this country, the election recount.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hanging chads.

HEMMER: Not across the entire country, but just in a few areas. So we'll let you know what's happening there in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also, a very moving commercial from the Super Bowl. Remember this one? Nothing really fancy or anything. But just an ovation that's given to U.S. troops as they walk through an airport. Those were not actors. Those were actual members of the service. We're going to talk to one young woman about her sudden fame.

HEMMER: Wow, touching spot.

O'BRIEN: I love this spot. People said that it sort of made them choke up. They only ran it one time. That's it, it's done. Of course, we've run it 50 million times.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I know. It makes me keep on crying too.

O'BRIEN: It's beautifully done. You don't really say that about a lot of commercials.

COLLINS: One heck of a story behind each person walking through that airport, too.

Good morning.

COLLINS: Good morning, once again, guys. Got a few headlines to get to here. We've been talking about Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice all morning. She's pushing for our European allies to take a tougher stance now against Iran's nuclear program.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECY. OF STATE: We've set no deadline, no timeline. The Iranians know what they need to do. They shouldn't be permitted to -- under cover of civilian nuclear power, or try to continue to try to build their forces. I think everybody understands that the Iranians have to be held to their international obligations. We haven't set any timetables. We continue to be in completely close consultation with...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Secretary Rice has been meeting with NATO and European Union officials in Belgium this morning. She has just wrapped up a news conference at NATO headquarters.

In Washington, members of Congress taking up a debate today over asylum-seekers. The house is looking at a measure that would make it easier for judges to reject immigrants seeking asylum. The legislation would give the Homeland Security Department more power to tighten border security and track illegal immigrants.

In Sri Lanka, DNA tests being done today on the little boy known as "Baby 81." He's the baby who was found alone after the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia. Several people have come forward claiming to be the parents, but only one couple is undergoing that DNA testing. The baby is expected to stay the in the hospital until the test results are fully reviewed. It's going to be a long time, something like April they say.

O'BRIEN: It's like trauma piled on top of trauma on top of more trauma.

COLLINS: Hopefully something good will come of it.

O'BRIEN: Yes, let's hope so. Thanks, Heidi.

HEMMER: There is new videotape today of the explosions and the gunfire in central Baghdad today. Iraqi police battling insurgents. A huge plume of dark and heavy smoke in the Iraqi capital. Also, word today that election results will not be announced tomorrow, as expected. Those stories now with Nic Robertson from the Iraqi capital.

Nic, hello. What's happening?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Earlier in the afternoon, an intense gun battle broke out on Haifa Street, a street notorious for insurgent activity. A convoy of vehicles belonging to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan political party was driving down the street. Three PUK members were killed in the shootout that lasted for some time. Apache helicopters were brought in, surveillance helicopters flew over the area. And for a while, a plume of black smoke could be seen coming up from the area. Also in Baghdad, a member of Baghdad's interior ministry has been kidnapped, the interior minister still look for him.

And in the south of Iraq, a journalist working for a U.S.-funded Arabic-language service, Al-Hura (ph) was killed in his house. Gunmen broke into his house as he was getting ready to leave at the beginning of the day, shot him, also killing his 6-year-old son.

Election officials are saying that election results are still being calculated. They are not anticipating results in the next few days. They say it's more likely results will be released early next week. They are recounting some 300 ballot boxes, and also looking into issues of complaints in the counting and complaints that some of the polling stations. They say that this is not a delay, but results now, it appears, from the Election Commission, final election results, may not come out until next week.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Perhaps the one measure of how Americans feel about U.S. troops in Iraq can be gauged through one of the most popular ads that ran during the Super Bowl. Let's take a look:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: I love this commercial. The company behind the commercial, Anheuser-Busch, used 12 real soldiers, some of them on active duty, some Reservists and some veterans.

Joining us this morning is one of them, she's out of Los Angeles, Captain Colleen Johnson. She's a Reservist with the U.S. Air Force.

Nice to see you. Thank you so much for joining us.

Tell me a little bit how you were picked for this ad.

CAPT. COLLEEN JOHNSON, U.S. AIR FORCE RESERVES: Thank you.

Yes, I was -- I just found out two days before the ad was scheduled to be shot that they were looking for real military people to take part in the commercial. So my boss encouraged me to go audition for it. And along with about 12 other people, I was chosen to be in the commercial, and I was just really humbled and grateful I got to represent so many of my friends and family members who are in the service, and some of whom are deployed right now.

O'BRIEN: Some, I imagine, who are deployed to Iraq. The ad, I think, it's fair to say, kind of implies that everyone's getting an ovation because they're returning from service in Iraq. None of you in the actual ad served in Iraq. Do you ever think about that? Have you thought about that at all?

JOHNSON: Well, we were representing our brethren who are -- some of whom are overseas right now. We -- certainly, all of us were acting. We weren't wearing our own military uniforms. Those were costumes that we were wearing.

But some of those in the commercial had served in the first Gulf War. But myself, I've not deployed to the Middle East. But I was very humbled to be able to represent some of my friends over there right now.

O'BRIEN: It had to be a really just fun shoot to do. Tell me a little bit. I mean, I was amazed to read that those were costumes and not actual uniform. What was the shoot like behind the scenes? How many times did you have to walk through there, because Hollywood's all about the retake the and the retake and the retake?

JOHNSON: Right.

O'BRIEN: What was it like?

JOHNSON: Well, it was a long day. We must have walked down that terminal about 50 times that day, and so it was a little bit exhausting. But we had a lot of fun with it. We learned a lot. None of us were actors. We've never -- I've never been in a commercial before. There were a couple people who'd been extras before, in other entertainment venues.

But all of us were just really excited. This was something new. We were thrilled to see what kind of a masterpiece would be shown. We had heard a lot about Joe Pitka, the director, and that he was really renowned in the commercial-making business. So we were excited to see what he would put together with Anheuser-Busch, and we were all very please and thankful that they did such a fine commercial honoring the troops.

O'BRIEN: He did, didn't he? He did such a great job.

JOHNSON: Yes.

O'BRIEN: I think that is a really moving commercial. And I've got to tell you, I'm not really moved by a lot of commercials. Of course, the whole point behind an ad is a message, right? I mean, they're trying to sell beer, Anheuser-Busch. Do you think that's the main point? Or do you think the other point -- what do you think come coming out most strongly, buy beer, or remember the troops?

JOHNSON: I think remember the troop, hands down. You know, Anheuser-Busch has supported the troops for a while. In fact, I saw an ad in "USA Today" that they've opened up Busch Gardens and Sea World free to military member and their dependents until this coming December. And I've actually taken advantage of that offer before.

I'm just really pleased that companies are supporting our troops, because it's really encouraging to all of us, when U.S. corporations step up, make a vocal opinion -- you know, make a vocal support of all of us and put their money where their mouth is, and I think that's what Anheuser-Busch has done.

O'BRIEN: Speaking of money, you made a couple hundred bucks for this ad as well for your work as an actor.

Congratulations. I think it's a terrific ad. And I'm not alone in that.

Captain Colleen Johnson joining us, a little bit of her story. I wondering if she's going to be bitten by the bug after this.

Thanks, Colleen -- Bill.

JOHNSON: Thank you.

HEMMER: Well done, captain. Thanks, Soledad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: A major shakeup at one of the biggest names in the computer business. Andy tell us how the market is reacting this morning.

HEMMER: Also just less than a week from Valentine's Day, and if you're looking for a gift, J-Lo and Ben's loss could be your gain. The low, low price in a moment here, on "90-Second Pop."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody. It's time again for "90-Second Pop." Say hello to our own private dancer, Andy Borowitz from BorowitzReport.com. We will explain that in a moment. Jessica Shaw, "Entertainment Weekly."

Nice to see you, Jess. Good morning.

JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": You too.

HEMMER: And the prince of urban populism, the name lives on.

Toure, good morning.

TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT: Aren't we simply the best?

HEMMER: You can be the pop.

TOURE: Are we simply the best?

HEMMER: Let me work on that.

TOURE: All right.

HEMMER: Hang on. J.Lo's ring is going back to Harry Winston.

TOURE: Yes.

HEMMER: How do you re-acquire a ring like this?

TOURE: I have no idea. I mean, this is, like, the big memento of the Titanic of failed relationships. You know, like, who would possibly want this? I mean, it's like the ultimate Hope diamond of sloppy seconds, you know. The thing that it made me think of is that one of the big reasons why Ben left Jen... HEMMER: Yes.

TOURE: ... is because he wants some sort of a family, something nice that he can deal with. And Brad Pitt also left a Jen...

HEMMER: So we think now.

TOURE: ... because he...

HEMMER: This is just our own little conjecture (UNINTELLIGIBLE), of course.

TOURE: Yes. Because he wants a family. And they were both with Gwyneth Paltrow, who has a nice family. You think they wish, maybe we had -- maybe we could have that decision to do over...

HEMMER: Yes?

TOURE: ... because we had somebody who wanted a family.

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: Wait, wait, wait. Does Gwyneth, does she have a rock the size of this thing that J. Lo has?

SHAW: Well, I have to say about the rock, I have a little bit breaking news. I got the rock.

TOURE: Oh!

ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Oh!

SHAW: I got it. I acquired it from Harry Winston.

BOROWITZ: And actually, what I did hear about this whole J.Lo thing is that if you also buy the ring from her first marriage, she'll throw in free shipping.

HEMMER: Not bad.

BOROWITZ: Yes.

HEMMER: With the pop on the inside, right, the bubble rap?

TOURE: And she'll throw in the ring from the second wedding as well.

SHAW: Right, exactly. That one she's just giving away.

HEMMER: You know, the breaking news from a week ago is that you got engaged.

SHAW: Yes.

HEMMER: Congratulations again to you.

SHAW: Oh, thank you, Bill.

HEMMER: I still don't know how you re-acquired this ring.

BOROWITZ: You're still milking that.

SHAW: I've ditching him for the ring.

HEMMER: Take us to the Oscars now.

SHAW: Yes.

HEMMER: Some people apparently are not going to get their 15 minutes or their 2 minutes on stage. They're going to stay in their seats? What's happening here?

SHAW: I'm not too sorry about that. I have to say that I think there are really only 10 or 12 awards that anyone wants to see anyway. And the rest of them just sort of turn the Oscars into this four-hour, soul-sucking TV event. So, you know, what's going to happen, the producer, Gill Cates (ph), has decided that he's going to cut the show down, and some of the lesser awards, like, you know, sound advising and things like that, will come from the -- someone in the audience will present them.

BOROWITZ: By the way, if Jessica's voice cuts out at this point, that's because the people in the sound department have decided to eliminate her.

HEMMER: Yes, keep on...

BOROWITZ: You've got to be careful about that.

HEMMER: But they want to save time, right?

SHAW: Yes.

HEMMER: But...

SHAW: They want to get it down to just three and a half hours, and it's always over four hours.

HEMMER: But in some categories, they're going to take all of the nominees on stage, right?

SHAW: Oh, yes.

HEMMER: And then announce the winner? It's kind of like Atlantic City and Miss America.

BOROWITZ: Here's a way to save some time, I think, which is that we all know Jamie Foxx is going to win. He's won eight awards already. I can actually recite his acceptance speech already. I know the whole thing about no matter what life throws, you've got to just keep on walking. So, let's just say at the beginning, ladies and gentlemen, Jamie Foxx has won. Now on with the show.

SHAW: But can you cry about the grandmother?

BOROWITZ: Right. I can do that.

TOURE: But he'll throw it out to all of the black actors beforehand. So you've got to do that part of it, too.

BOROWITZ: Right. I've got to do that, too.

HEMMER: And the good news is that Chris Rock won't walk off stage if Jamie Foxx wins.

All right, let's leave it there. Let's stay together. Here's Soledad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: All right, Bill, thanks. One of the most powerful players in the computer business gets tossed. Andy's going to tell us how the market is reacting today. Stay with us. That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Huge development at Hewlett- Packard to talk about. With more on that and also a look at Wall Street this morning, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business." Good morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you, Soledad.

Carly Fiorina, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, has resigned, forced out, reports say, by the board. Disagreements over the direction of that company. That stock is trading this morning. It is a Dow stock, and it's up nearly 10 percent. Let's look at the big board here. The Dow's up fractionally.

This is the great do nothing market of 2005. Now it's absolutely flat. You rarely see that. You see that? Index was absolutely flat there for one second. That's a thrill. For some of us. For some of us here on AMERICAN MORNING, obviously not the others. For me, I got a big kick out of that, I really did.

Let's just quickly follow up on this Carly Fiorina story. CNN caught up with Carly Fiorina in late January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, asked her about the future at the company. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLY FIORINA, FMR. HEWLETT-PACKARD CEO: Right now I see my future at H.P. I have said, in answer to that question many times, that I have never thought about the next thing in my career. I'm one of those people that needs to focus all my time and energy on what I'm doing. And this is a great company, it's a great challenge and I have a lot left to do here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERWER: Well, apparently not true anymore. Carly Fiorina has resigned at H.P.

O'BRIEN: Andy, thanks.

SERWER: You're welcome.

HEMMER: Back to the "Question of the Day." One more time, here's Jack.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Bill. Do you think President Bush can cut the deficit in half in the next four years?

Rick in Flanders, New Jersey: "How about giving the president a break? He's managing a major war effort, regional deployment on a scale we haven't seen in decades. He's battling the issues, trying to find solutions for Social Security, nuclear proliferation, global terrorism, health care, the deficit. The list goes on."

Tom in Richmond writes: "Using the Bush plan, I have just managed to finally balance my personal budget. I just left out city, state, local and federal taxes."

Mickey in Ft. Lauderdale writes: "Jack, please, there is nothing worse than to wake up to watch the news and there you are, complaining again. I watch the news to see what's important, not your rambling on about nothingness. You're a negative person, Jack. Remember, the glass is half full, not empty."

HEMMER: Wow.

SERWER: Oh, please.

HEMMER: Mickey's no friend of Jack.

CAFFERTY: Thanks a lot, Mickey.

HEMMER: We can try him again tomorrow, right?

SERWER: Mickey's got rose-colored glasses.

HEMMER: Thank you. Let's get a break here. Up next, hour here, the BTK killer, decades-old mystery, grabbing the media spotlight with a series of cryptic messages.

Is it really the stuff of higher education? One professor says yes. He'll join Rick Sanchez and Betty Nguyen next on CNN LIVE TODAY. We are back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(CLIP FROM "COSMOPOLITAN" AWARDS SHOW)

O'BRIEN: Wow, that's like white girl, supermodel rap!

SERWER: It doesn't get any better than that.

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: It's not easy walking a runway that goes 50 yards.

SERWER: It's your birthday, it's Christmas, it's everything out there.

O'BRIEN: You know, they said it all. It's the hardest clanker on CNN News. Billy is one of "Cosmopolitan" magazine's "Fun, Fearless Males." All the guys joining him as well. "American Idol," Simon Cowell, was there as well. Benjamin McKenzie, the actor. Kevin Bacon, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), David Spade, Drew Lachey, and Carson Kresley (ph).

HEMMER: It was a cool group of guys. And they are far more talented than I. But we had to get a good little laugh by the end of the show, right?

O'BRIEN: He doth protest too much.

SERWER: I thought you looked good. Congrats.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Congratulations.

HEMMER: Thank you very much.

SERWER: Great stuff.

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