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Showbiz Tonight
Oprah, Letterman End Feud; John Voight Dishes on Playing Pope; Media Watchdogs Say Video Games Getting Worse
Aired December 02, 2005 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: I`m A.J. Hammer.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: I`m Brooke Anderson. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Oprah, David! David, Oprah!
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Sweet would not be a word anyone would use to describe you.
HAMMER: Tonight, did Oprah Winfrey and David Letterman really bury the hatchet? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, with the inside story on Oprah`s long-time- coming visit to Letterman.
"Today`s" tomorrows, stunning reports that Katie Couric is considering a move to another network and another time of day. Tonight is Katie going to jump ship?
Jon Voight, as John Paul. Tonight, Jon Voight`s revealing story about playing the pope. Plus, how he opened up to us about his daughter, Angelina Jolie.
JON VOIGHT, ACTOR: Every minute I`m thinking about her.
HAMMER: Jon Voight, in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
VOIGHT: Hi, I`m Jon Voight and if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Hello, I`m Brooke Anderson live in Hollywood.
HAMMER: And I`m A.J. Hammer live in New York City.
Tonight, everybody is talking about the reconciliation of two of the biggest names on TV. Last night, Oprah Winfrey ended her 16-year boycott of "The Late Show with David Letterman." sure, Dave has made fun of Oprah plenty of times over the years, including in front of an Academy Awards audience of about one billion people. But now, the reported clash of the two TV titans has come to a sweet and highly rated end.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don`t miss this memorable late show right after the CBS News special report, "Hell: Frozen Over."
HAMMER (voice-over): That wasn`t a real news report but the unthinkable really did happen last night on "The Late Show with David Letterman." Dave saying the words TV fans and maybe the host himself thought they`d never hear him say.
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, CBS` "LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Oprah Winfrey!
HAMMER: After 16 years of Letterman`s constant begging and Oprah`s repeated ignoring, Winfrey finally appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
LETTERMAN: I want to thank Jimmy Carter for negotiating the peace settlement.
HAMMER: "The Late Show" became the Oprah show. Right from the opening monologue...
LETTERMAN: Even my mother said tonight she may switch over from Leno.
HAMMER: ... to the Top Ten List of Things Overheard on Oprah`s Answering Machine.
LETTERMAN: The No. 1 message on Oprah`s answering machine. "It`s Nick, hey, have you seen Jessica?"
HAMMER: Backup host Tony Danza waiting in the wings, just in case things went awry with Oprah. Dave could not stop gushing over his elusive guest.
LETTERMAN: God, you look great.
WINFREY: Thank you.
HAMMER: And Oprah couldn`t believe her ears.
LETTERMAN: I can`t thank you enough. I really can`t thank you enough. It means a great deal to me. And I`m just very happy.
WINFREY: Does it really?
LETTERMAN: Absolutely.
WINFREY: Does it really? I`ve been hearing for the past week you talking about it, and I didn`t know if you were really serious or were you just doing your "Dave" thing, yes.
HAMMER: And when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s David Haffenreffer talked to Oprah Winfrey just minutes after her appearance on "Letterman," it was clear the queen of daytime talk was still bowled over.
WINFREY: I was prepared for a roller coaster ride, and what I got was the most gracious sailing, the most -- I was -- I mean, during the interview, I kept -- I couldn`t even believe he was so kind. He was so kind and so warm and so -- unexpected. For me.
HAMMER: So if everything was so lovey-dovey between Dave and Oprah, what was all the feud talk about in the first place? Dave offered this explanation when he first announced Oprah`s appearance last month.
LETTERMAN: We found out through reliable sources that Oprah hated me.
HAMMER: Hate may be a strong word, but it`s been clear for a long time that Oprah was never a big Letterman fan.
In the 1980s, Letterman made fun of Oprah a lot, including the two times when she appeared on his show in 1989. She told "TIME" magazine, quote, "I felt completely uncomfortable sitting in that chair, and I vowed I would not ever put myself in that position again."
And, of course, you can`t mention the Oprah-Dave feud without mentioning the 1995 Oscars, which Letterman hosted, with Oprah Winfrey in the audience.
NICKI GOSTIN, "NEWSWEEK": When David Letterman hosted the Oscars, he made a joke in his opening monologue, Uma meet Oprah, Oprah made Uma, and it was sort of goofing on the fact that they have really weird names, and it sort of fell flat.
HAMMER: But the two were all smiles about it last night on "Letterman."
WINFREY: I thought it was funny.
LETTERMAN: Well, you were the one.
HAMMER: Oprah even presented Dave with an autographed photo of her and Uma Thurman, yet one more indication that their so-called feud was no more.
WINFREY: I have never had a moment`s feud with you, as far as I knew.
LETTERMAN: I think you`re right about that.
WINFREY: I think it takes two people to feud.
LETTERMAN: Exactly.
WINFREY: I did not know.
LETTERMAN: As far as I`m concerned it`s not a feud because I think the world of you.
HAMMER: After the taping, Winfrey was due across the street at the Broadway theater, where the musical version of "The Color Purple," which Oprah is producing, was making its debut.
And Oprah got a high-profile escort.
LETTERMAN: I`ll be happy to escort you over there.
WINFREY: You are going to escort me over?
LETTERMAN: I`ll take you over.
WINFREY: Right.
HAMMER: So maybe, just maybe Oprah and Dave can provide hope for feuding celebrities everywhere, because if the giants of daytime and nighttime TV can get along, so can the rest of us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And as you just heard last night, Dave joked during his opening monologue that Oprah`s appearance on his show might just be enough to get his mom to switch over from Leno. Well, if his mom didn`t tune in, certainly plenty of others did. CBS says that last night`s "Late Show" was the program`s largest audience in a decade, ten years, the audience more than 13.5 million viewers. Nielsen says that`s triple Letterman`s normal audience.
Well, tonight, Heather Mills McCartney is celebrating a victory, and at the same time, preparing to mark a solemn anniversary with her husband, former Beatle Paul McCartney.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with Heather in California, as she led a PETA celebration just outside a J. Crew store. Now the celebration was there to mark the announcement that J. Crew has ended its sale of fur, and they pulled all fur from its stores right in the middle of this busy holiday season.
Well, Heather told us that she was thrilled, and actually a little surprised.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEATHER MILLS MCCARTNEY, ANIMAL ACTIVIST: I`ve been involved in charity work, you know, for 15 years, so it`s nothing new to me, and I realize the power of so-called celebrity. So, you know, we did this boycott outside J. Crew three months ago. I never dreamed in a million years that they would be pulling fur from their collection four weeks before Christmas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: We also talked to Heather about her plans for next week. Thursday, December 8, is the 25th anniversary of John Lennon`s death. Heather said that she and Paul mark that anniversary every single year, as well as that of Beatle George Harrison, and Paul`s late wife Linda.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCARTNEY: We always commemorate John`s anniversary, George`s anniversary and Linda`s anniversary, and Paul always does a tribute to them on the tour and, you know, we have a toast in their memory because, obviously, they`re three people that Paul loved immensely, and I admire all of them. And, so, we always toast and commemorate them, fantastic people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Heather also told us that she and Paul are in touch with Lennon`s children, and said they just had drinks with Sean the other day.
ANDERSON: Tonight in a "SHOWBIZ Sitdown," Jon Voight. The Oscar- winning actor is known for his roles in "Midnight Cowboy," "Coming Home," and "The Champ." And now he`s taking on a new subject: the pope. Voight stars in a four-hour CBS miniseries about Pope John Paul II.
He opened up to me about playing such a revered figure, and spoke frankly about his relationship with his daughter, Angelina Jolie.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VOIGHT: It`s late. Getting late. I have just two more words: good night!
I never thought that I would be asked to play this fellow. And of course, you never know in my business what you`re going to be asked to do. And it just didn`t seem to me that there was this fellow out there that was in some way similar. Now when they gave it to me, I looked at it, and I said, "You know, I think I can do this guy. I think I can do this fellow."
ANDERSON: Did you ever get to meet him?
VOIGHT: No, I never did meet him, Brooke. But I think I know him as well as anybody now.
ANDERSON: People saw you and actually thought maybe you were the pope. They looked at you -- they looked at you with awe and reference. Talk to me about this strong reaction.
VOIGHT: Well that`s a good thing to do. I`m dressed as the pope, and you get a little more respect.
ANDERSON: And the resemblance, when you have on the papal finery, I mean, people really strongly reacted to you.
VOIGHT: Yes, there was that, there was that. Yes, you`re right, Brooke, they did. And I think the reason why is because -- well, first he was a beloved figure. But then again, I think that people didn`t have the chance to say good-bye to him.
When I was with people in the streets in Krakow and Rome, they -- there was so much emotion. And -- and of course, John Paul was great with people. He was great. He touched people, you know. He was very -- every time he was in conversation with people, people thought he was -- everything else disappeared. They were talking directly to him.
And so, you know, I was doing that with the people. I was, you know, addressing them, playing with them, kissing babies and having some fun. And they -- it was a game we were playing, but there was a lot of sincere emotion in it.
Never happened to me before.
ANDERSON: It`s a long way from "Midnight Cowboy." pretty different, huh?
VOIGHT: A little different, yes. Somebody asked me, "Could you have done this when you were younger?"
I said, "No, I couldn`t have done it when I was younger. I would have to have had a little age, not only physically, but just emotionally. Just a little bit more understanding of things."
ANDERSON: What do you still want to do with your life?
VOIGHT: You know, I`ve made some mistakes. I`ve made my amends. I`ve learned a lot. And I`m getting closer to being able to do the -- be at my best to help, to leave a little bit of something from the life, you know. And I think that`s what we`re here for, is learn a little lesson and try to get on track. And once you get on track, you do as much good as you can to help other people.
ANDERSON: And it`s been very public knowledge that you and your own daughter haven`t spoken in quite some time. Are things on the mend?
VOIGHT: Angie and I haven`t spoken in awhile. But you know, I always -- I`m always in hope that that`s going to dissolve quickly. We`re going to be able to embrace and get on the way. And I certainly send her all my love every day. Every minute I`m thinking about her.
ANDERSON: You`re deeply spiritual?
VOIGHT: Yes, and it`s not -- I just think I just discovered a few things, you know. You know what I mean? It`s not like -- I`m not somebody who is a proselytizer. But I`ve just discovered, when you get to my age, Brooke, you learn these things.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: The first part of CBS` two-part miniseries airs this Sunday.
HAMMER: Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, two "Lost" stars are found to be driving under the influence. We`ll have that story.
ANDERSON: Coming up, keeping up with the Joneses. The legendary music man Quincy Jones talks to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about producing "The Color Purple." And he`ll tell us about a humanitarian mission that`s close to his heart. Stay tuned as "Q" joins us for some "Q and A."
HAMMER: And Katie Couric may have her eye on CBS. Will the queen of the mornings take on the evening news? We`ll look into it, coming up.
First we want to hear from you on this very topic. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day as we launch into the weekend. Katie Couric: should she leave "Today" to anchor the CBS Evening News? You`d like to vote, the web address: CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Our e-mail address, if you`ve got more to say, is ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`re going to read some of what you have to say coming up later in the show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
Tonight, the battle against sex and violence in video games is getting more intense. The National Institute on Media and the Family says games that are rated "M" for mature have seen a 3,000 percent increase in profanity and an 800 percent in sexual content since the 1990s.
The group also says in a secret shopper survey, children as young as 8 and 9 were able to purchase M-rated games in most stores. Now, some senators want a federal law banning their sale to minors.
Here`s CNN`s Ali Velshi for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Forty-six percent of frequent video game players are under 18, according to the Entertainment Software Association. So how do you keep these games out of kids` hands?
There is a ratings system: "T" stands for teen, "M" for mature. But does it work?
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: seven out of 10 children report playing M-rated games.
VELSHI: The video game industry says comments like that are out of context and out of touch.
DOUG LOWENSTEIN, PRESIDENT, ESA: This is a classic example of a generation attacking the media that`s preferred by another generation.
VELSHI: Sony`s PlayStation 3, coming out next year, will have parental controls. So will Nintendo`s new console. Xbox 360 already has them.
MICHAEL GARTENBERG, VP AND GAME ANALYST, JUPITER MEDIA: The industry responding not only with the rating system to inform parents but also technology that lets parents control explicitly what content their children have access to.
VELSHI: But parental controls require, well, parental control.
LOWENSTEIN: The average 12-year-old last time I checked doesn`t drive and doesn`t have $50 or $60 every week sitting in their pockets. The truth of the matter is that if a child has a video game that`s most appropriate for them, chances are they got it from Mom and Dad.
VELSHI: But this industry watchdog says video games breed destructive behavior, obesity and addiction.
DAVID WALSH, PH.D., NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON MEDIA AND THE FAMILY: One out of seven kids who plays video games, particularly teenage boys, develop patterns that are so -- that are so addictive that if you almost erase the word "cocaine" and put in the word "video game," it would all fit.
VELSHI: That, says the industry, is simply unfair.
LOWENSTEIN: About the only thing these groups haven`t blamed on video games is the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Ali Velshi for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: And a showbiz icon, the legendary Quincy Jones. To date he has earned 27 Grammy awards. He co-produced the film "The Color Purple," which received 11 Oscar nominations. He`s responsible for huge hits, of course, that you know: Michael Jackson`s "Thriller," "Billie Jean," "We Are the World" among them. Well, this year Quincy`s celebrating 60 years in the business.
Quincy Jones, nice to have you here on the show.
QUINCY JONES, PRODUCER: That`s amazing because I`m only 49.
HAMMER: I don`t know how you were able to pull that off. I was doing the math and it didn`t work.
JONES: I have a daughter that`s older than me.
HAMMER: That`s crazy.
JONES: It`s amazing. Genetic engineering.
HAMMER: Last night an enormous night here in New York City and particularly for you as "The Color Purple" on Broadway opened up. You were there on the red carpet. We were seeing you walking down there with all the stars around. You seemed very well rested, Quincy. Big night.
JONES: No, I wasn`t well rested at all, but it didn`t matter. I was so turned on, because it`s like a continuum of, you know, we started in 1984 to get that thing on the screen. Transferring Alice`s incredible spiritual Pulitzer Prize book from an epistolary novel to a narrative, which you have to have for definitely for a film and a Broadway show, too.
But all of these things just kept coming back at me as this show was just blowing my -- taking my head off. My daughter said -- she saw it before, "Daddy, they`re going to pick you up with a spoon after this." And it was just incredible.
HAMMER: So the idea of bringing it to Broadway, when they brought that to you, I mean, it`s a pretty intense story. What was your first reaction?
JONES: That wasn`t -- I wasn`t involved. I kept saying, no, no, no. I was busy. Scott Sanders and Roy Furman took it to this point. I just came on lately, just a little bit before Oprah. And when I saw what they had in mind, you know, it`s just awesome.
You know, I stay busy all the time, and I had no idea that it was going to be that ambitious, you know. It`s just -- what a change, 180 degree change of concept, you know, with the same material, but to have songs and choreography, sets and costumes and so forth. It`s a whole other story.
HAMMER: Being a part of it as a producer and seeing it to Broadway certainly a great accomplishment for you.
I mention 60 years in the business, man, and the accomplishments are far too numerous to mention, from all of the successes with Michael Jackson to doing "We Are the World," to all of your work with Ray Charles. I`m not even going to go down the list. Is there something in the musical career...
JONES: Frank Sinatra.
HAMMER: Frank Sinatra, as well. We can`t forget Frank.
JONES: Never forget him.
HAMMER: Is there a single thing, though, in your musical career that stays with you as one of your greatest achievements?
JONES: They`re all like my children. I have seven children, and I adore my children. I just adore my children, like I do my lady Kimberly, you know. And it`s -- I couldn`t choose if I had to. Between Ella or Sara or Ray Charles or Sinatra or Tony Bennett or Michael Jackson.
HAMMER: Just done too many great things.
JONES: It`s like -- it`s like somebody once called me Ghetto Gump.
HAMMER: Don`t know how to exactly take that. Won`t put you on the spot.
JONES: Me either. It`s OK. Doesn`t matter.
But I`ve been running around the world for -- and my biggest passion is traveling to see what the world really is and all. God bless CNN and FOX and these things, but I like to go see.
I was in Baghdad last year seven weeks before the embassy got bombed. We were with Sergio de Mello, who got killed in that. I thought it would be the safest place in Baghdad because I`d been there 15 years before. I was over there with my friends, some kids in Geraldson (ph). It`s just amazing what the reality -- like Cambodia.
HAMMER: Talk to me about that. You just returned from Cambodia, which inspired you to now commit yourself to doing whatever you can for needy children around the world.
JONES: I`ve been doing that for 40 years. Cambodia is another layer because we were fortunate enough to have an alliance with UNICEF, a good alliance and all. Got these great ladies, Sandy Thurman (ph) and Jennifer McCrae (ph) working. And we`re building an infrastructure.
But the passion and the attitude, we were building homes in South Africa five years ago with Habitat for Humanity. It`s just part of -- as Leo Tolstoy had an amazing saying that I think expresses it all: "My piece of bread can only belong to me if I know everybody else has their share. And if they don`t have to starve while I eat." And that`s very true, because I come from the same place.
HAMMER: Sure.
JONES: Chicago in the ghetto, you know, during the Depression. So you know, it`s very organic, you know. It just never goes away and I`ve been fortunate enough to travel with bands all my life, and I did 400,000 miles in the Middle East last year.
HAMMER: Well, Quincy, congratulations on all of the work you`re doing with relief efforts around the world and on 60 years in the business, despite the fact that you`re only 49.
JONES: Just getting started.
ANDERSON: Coming up, Ben Affleck goes from changing lanes to changing diapers.
HAMMER: And Alanis Morissette live. Of course, you know the songs from her, like "You Ought to Know," and "Ironic." Well, we`re also going to ask her about a teenage secret. That`s coming up in the interview you`ll only see on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: And rumors CBS is wooing Katie Couric for the evening news. Does she have her eye on the prize? And will he make her job on "Today" yesterday`s news?
But first, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." On "Seinfeld," what`s the name that George is saving for his future baby? Is it A, Steinbrenner; B, Seven; C, Puddy; or D, Peterman? You guys remember this one. Think about it. We`ll be right back with your answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: So, again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." On "Seinfeld," what`s the name that George is saving for his future baby? A, Steinbrenner; B, Seven; C, Puddy; or D, Peterman? The answer is C, Seven, which was Mickey Mantle`s number.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
It is now time for "Talk of the Day." On the Ellen DeGeneres show, Ellen proves she`s no help in the kitchen. Let`s take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, TALK SHOW HOST: Pasta`s in there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The pasta`s in there. You saute a little garlic and then shallots.
DEGENERES: Just throw them in?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, just throw them in. All right. Be careful.
DEGENERES: That`s what I`m talking about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s what I`m talking about. OK. Now the salt -- look at that; look at that. Out of the kitchen.
DEGENERES: You just told me to put that in there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, no.
DEGENERES: It was all...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. We`re going to add...
DEGENERES: What is it sitting there for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little cognac maybe and a little chardonnay. Not too much. All right? And a little wine. No. You drink that. I drink this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I guess Ellen goes out for dinner quite a bit.
Well, coming up, trouble in paradise as two "Lost" stars get arrested in Hawaii. We`re going to tell you what happened, coming up.
ANDERSON: Also ahead, rumors the Tiffany network is dangling a sterling job in front of Katie Couric. Will she say yes to CBS?
HAMMER: Also a superstar you ought to know. It`s been a big year for Alanis Morissette. She`s going to join us so she can share her dogma on music, politics and her battle with eating disorders as a teenager. She`ll be joining us live in the interview you`ll see live only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues in one minute. Hi, everybody, I`m Thomas Roberts with your "Headline Prime Newsbreak."
Two bodies found in northern Ohio may be those of two New Hampshire children. The father, Manuel Gehring, told authorities he killed 14-year- old Sarah and 11-year-old Philip in July 2003 but he couldn`t remember where he buried them. He hanged himself in jail last year. A woman and her dog discovered the remains in a shallow grave near Interstate 80.
Several environmental groups say federal and state agencies are downplaying the health concerns in New Orleans. They say heavy metal, pesticides and petroleum in the residue from Hurricane Katrina could cause cancer and people shouldn`t return until it`s cleaned up.
And the controversial Christmas display in Oklahoma City might cause some kids to worry so, kids, cover your ears, because in this one Santa has died in front of a car repair shop in the area. There`s a Santa, reindeer and sleigh and crime scene tape. Santa`s face-down in the grass with an arrow in his back and the Grinch who shot him not on display just yet. What a mess.
That`s the news for now. I`m Thomas Roberts. We take you back for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thirty-one minutes past the hour, as we launch into the weekend. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And you`re watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.
HAMMER: A lot of buzz going on right now, Brooke, about the possibility of Katie Couric leaving the "Today" show, where she has been cemented for about 14 years now, to move over to the "CBS Evening News." It could change her whole schedule. It could perhaps up her pay grade a bit. Would it be a good move for Katie? Would it be a good move for CBS? Can she save the "CBS Evening News"? We`ll investigate, coming up in just a few minutes.
ANDERSON: Yes, a lot of people think that she has really kept the "Today" show in the top spot for a long time, A.J.
Plus, coming up live, Alanis Morissette. It`s been 10 years since "Jagged Little Pill." She burst onto the U.S. music scene with that. Now she`s got a greatest hits album out. We`ll talk about that. We`ll talk about how she`s seen the music industry change over the past decade and also her struggle with eating disorders as a teenager. All that coming up.
But first, a look at tonight`s "Hot Headlines."
And two stars from the hit series "Lost" are making headlines, but for all the wrong reasons. Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Ana Lucia on the ABC series, was pulled over in Hawaii, which is where the show is filmed. Police say her car was weaving and that she failed a sobriety test. Just 15 minutes earlier, the same thing happened to her co-star, Cynthia Watros. Both women were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and released on $500 bail. They`re ordered to appear in court at the end of December.
Also tonight, newlyweds Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have a little daredevil. Garner gave birth to a girl Thursday evening a week early. Mother, father and baby are said to be doing great. We hear the name Violet is a definite maybe, but no official word on that yet.
And we hear that Affleck`s ex-girlfriend, Gwyneth Paltrow, is pregnant again. Reports say Paltrow is expecting her second child with Coldplay front-man Chris Martin. No comment from Paltrow`s reps.
And those are tonight`s "Hot Headlines."
HAMMER: Tonight, startling news that Katie Couric may be thinking of jumping ship and moving from the "Today" show to fill the very big shoes left behind by Dan Rather. There are several reports out there today that talks are actually heating up between CBS News and the "Today" show darling, whose $15 million-a-year contract runs out next May.
Now, the story goes that she`s being wooed to fill the "CBS Evening News" anchor chair left empty when Dan Rather left and the same chair that Bob Schieffer has been keeping warm.
Joining us live from Pittsburgh, the author of "Anchoring America" and the news director over at WPGH-Pittsburgh, Jeff Alan. It`s nice to see you, Jeff.
JEFF ALAN, AUTHOR, "ANCHORING AMERICA": Hi, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, let`s get into it. CBS, of course, has their long- standing tradition of being number three. With Dan Rather at the helm, they were number three in the evening news race. Why do you think that CBS thinks that Katie Couric would be their savior?
ALAN: Well, they are looking at star power, plain and simple. You know, first of all, most of the people I`ve talked to, they really think Katie Couric is more of a show host, like on the "Today" show, than she is a network news anchor. So you`ve got to weigh her star power versus the credibility of the "CBS Evening News." There could be a really -- a big credibility issue if she sits down in Dan Rather`s chair over there.
HAMMER: But she certainly has interviewed plenty of heads of state over the years and many other big newsmakers and been in that chair for important news events. Do you think she could pull it off?
ALAN: Yes, but she`s also done dog shows and had monkeys running around the studio with her, too. So, I mean, you know, there`s both sides of the coin. And a lot of people remember Katie for a lot of the antics she`s pulled over the years on the "Today" show and the things she`s done, and the weddings she`s put on, and things like that.
So, again, it goes back to the credibility issue. And I think the new head of CBS News coming over from sports is really looking to become more of an entertainment type of show.
A.J., do you remember the movie "Network" that Paddy Chayefsky wrote?
HAMMER: Sure. Absolutely.
ALAN: Well, it`s closer and closer to that Howard Behl "News Hour" that we remember. And for the viewers who haven`t seen that, go watch it. It`s entertaining.
HAMMER: Well, of course, Katie has been anchoring the "Today" show for 14 years now. It`s been number one for the last 10 years, many people say because of Katie Couric. So why in the world would she want to do this?
ALAN: You know, I really can`t answer that. I think it`s a different lifestyle for her. She`s been up in the morning, and this is more of a regular job.
And I`ve got to tell you, it`s got to be a field day for her agent, a dream come true: a bidding war in the millions of dollars between two networks for one person.
HAMMER: Oh, certainly. If, you know, she`s making $15 million bucks now over at the "Today" show and about to go into a contract negotiation, and CBS wants her, absolutely. It could drive her dollars up. And, certainly, they would have to top that amount, so, if she were to become the "Evening News" anchor over at CBS, would she be worth the money? And I know that I`m just asking you to speculate here.
ALAN: Good question. No, that`s a real good question. I mean, do you want to pay $20 million, $25 million to a single person and then have it fail? And then what do you do? You`ve got a contract to pay out, probably over three or four years. And that`s a lot of money.
HAMMER: Well, things are heating up. Let the games begin. Jeff Alan, thanks a lot for joining us from Pittsburgh.
ALAN: Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT called CBS about this today and we got a "no comment" from them. But we do have our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day" to get a comment from you. And here it comes. Katie Couric: Should she leave "Today" to anchor the "CBS Evening News"? You can keeping voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight. You can also write to us at showbiztonight@CNN.com. We`re going to read some of your e-mails, coming up at 55 past the hour.
ANDERSON: An emotional good-bye for "Good Morning America" weatherman Tony Perkins, who signed off today after seven years on the show. Perkins is returning to his hometown of Washington, D.C., where he`ll be the weatherman for WTTG-TV. That`s the station where he started his career. His fellow team at "GMA" sent him off with parting gifts and some parting shots, as they showed some of his memorable moments.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, Jennifer Aniston says she was just plain blown away at the honor of landing on the cover of "GQ" magazine`s "Men of the Year" issue. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there in Los Angeles last night as Aniston and her reported boyfriend, Vince Vaughn -- was also a man of the year -- came out to separate the cover.
Also on the list, seven-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong and actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. Also Terrence Howard. For Howard, the honor made him think of his personal man of the year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERRENCE HOWARD, ONE OF GQ`S MEN OF THE YEAR: My father. My father.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes? Why is that?
HOWARD: You know, he worked so hard. I mean, he`s my man of the year every year. He`d get up 5:00 in the morning and come home 10:00 at night and still come in and give us a kiss and still, on the phone, he blows me a kiss. He`ll say, "Mwah," and blow me a kiss on the phone, you know? I`m 36 years old.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: As for picking a woman, "GQ" says it chose Aniston because of the dignity and grace that she showed while her marriage to Brad Pitt was falling apart.
ANDERSON: Still ahead on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a whole new twist on "Candid Camera." See what happens when a photo booth starts barking orders to strip. "Laughter Dark," coming up.
HAMMER: Then our live interview with Alanis Morissette. Her raw songs certainly speak to a generation. Now she`s up to something new, and you can bet it`s something powerful. It`s the interview you`ll only see on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And "Transamerica." It`s the movie about a transsexual on a road trip. We`ll hear from movie critic Leah Rozen on whether it`s a must-see or a don`t-see. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be right back.
HAMMER: And now it`s time for a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT birthday shout-out, where we give fans a chance to wish their favorite stars a happy birthday. Tonight, it`s a birthday shout-out to "Charlie`s Angels" star Lucy Liu. She`s celebrating birthday 37 today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Lauren Feathers (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Erica Feathers (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I`m their mom, Jenny. And we wanted to say happy birthday to Lucy Liu from the "Charlie`s Angels." We love you, Lucy Liu.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
It`s time now for another "Showbiz Sitdown," this time with Alanis Morissette. The Canadian-born alternative rocker burst onto the music scene 10 years ago with her album "Jagged Little Pill," with hits like "You Ought to Know" and "Ironic," it was an easy pill to swallow. The anthem of angst has sold 30 million copies, making it the best-selling debut ever for a female artist. Alanis is out with a brand-new CD, a greatest hits collection. Joining me now, live in Hollywood, Alanis Morissette.
Hi, Alanis.
ALANIS MORISSETTE, MUSICIAN: Hi, how are you?
ANDERSON: Doing great. Thank you. And this new album, "The Collection," just that, a greatest hits album, I want to ask you, if you could pick just one of your songs from over the years that really defines you today, what would it be?
MORISSETTE: That`s a hard one to do, but I think the song "Everything" really encapsulates all parts: my anger, my joy, you know, me in my best moments, me in my more challenging, fear-filled moments. It covers the whole gamut.
ANDERSON: You have a lot of autobiographical songs. And you`ve been in this business for a while. You`ve certainly seen how the industry has changed over the past 10, 15, 20 years, Alanis.
In fact, this summer you sold "Jagged Little Pill Acoustic" in Starbuck`s. The way music is distributed is so different. Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones have also done that. Do you think, if you were just starting out now, would you be able to break in? Would it be more challenging now, compared to then?
MORISSETTE: It`s certainly more challenging, but I actually enjoy that. I enjoy having to put my pioneer hat on and brainstorm with all the amazing people around me to come up with creative ways to let people know that records are even out.
ANDERSON: All right. Well, another challenging aspect, you have been open about the fact, Alanis, that you struggled with an eating disorder when you were a teenager. In fact, this was the cover story of "Newsweek" this week, that children as young as age nine struggle with eating disorders.
What do you think about the standards out there, the impossible standards, many think, that Hollywood sets, and some people dangerously try to live up to them?
MORISSETTE: Well, I notice the effect it has, just based on when I travel. I travel a lot around the planet. And I notice that, in different cultures, the cultures where there`s less of a beauty standard of having to look one certain way, I feel immediately a little bit better about myself by default. So I think it`s very prevalent, and I think it`s up to every individual to really challenge it within their own hearts and minds.
ANDERSON: And how did you overcome it?
MORISSETTE: Did a lot of work, did some therapy, starting from 14 onwards. And I was just determined not to be, you know, governed by the tyranny of being told how to look and just really seeing that I`m a beautiful creature in this amazing temple that I`m in right now.
ANDERSON: Oh, that`s beautiful.
MORISSETTE: Yes.
ANDERSON: And, Alanis, we at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT have extensively covered celebrities` opinions on the war in Iraq. You have strong opinions, but you, you know, talk about them in a more subtle way, through song.
MORISSETTE: Right.
ANDERSON: Do you feel it`s your obligation to really take a stand as a celebrity?
MORISSETTE: I don`t feel it`s an obligation. I feel more that it`s an inspiration on my part to talk about, you know, really the core of what underlies all things, political unrest, whether it`s the war in Iraq or any unrest that`s happening on a grander scale.
I think it really comes down to our consciousness level and how connected we are within our own selves, within what we define at a higher power, and all of that can be symptomatically seen in all that`s going on in the planet, but it really starts within. And I know that sounds, you know, a little esoteric but I believe it to be true.
ANDERSON: Not at all. Great philosophy. And, Alanis, a lot of people know you`ve been engaged for, what, two years to actor Ryan Reynolds. Do you guys have a date set yet?
MORISSETTE: We haven`t set one yet, but I really do feel like he`s my husband already, so it`s just a matter of time.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: Well, let me ask you this: How do you guys deal with being in the public spotlight? Because we`ve seen so many celebrity couples break up, especially this year, Jen and Brad, Nick and Jessica. It`s very sad to watch. How do you guys hold it together under such intense pressure?
MORISSETTE: Well, I do see a relationship as a people-growing machine, and there`s that first phase of infatuation, when all is going well. The second phase is very conflict-ridden. And I think, if people can really stick it out through that phase, and get to the next third phase, which is, you know, two people passionately loving each other, it can fare pretty well in the long run.
But it`s that second critical juncture phase where people are fighting a lot. I think that a lot of times people think that that`s the time to jump ship, but that`s when I usually buckle down more.
ANDERSON: Good for you, and good for Ryan. Alanis, thank you so much for being here and sharing your philosophy on so many different things. We appreciate it.
MORISSETTE: Yes, thanks for asking and having.
ANDERSON: Of course. Of course.
And you can pick up a copy of her greatest hits CD, "The Collection," featuring the new single, "Crazy," in stores now.
HAMMER: It is time now for "The Showbiz Guide" where, throughout the week, we help you decide where to spend your dollars on movies, music, DVDs and more. Tonight, it`s "People`s" "Picks and Pans" new movies.
Felicity Huffman takes a chance in the new indie flick, "Transamerica" and a new dark comedy from Tom Arnold. It`s called "The Kid and I."
Joining me in New York, "People" magazine movie critic Leah Rozen. It`s a pleasure to see you. Happy Friday.
LEAH ROZEN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Thank you. Same to you.
HAMMER: Let`s talk about "Transamerica." Of course, we all know Felicity Huffman these days from her role as a working housewife or a working woman in "Desperate Housewives." What about this role as a transgendered person?
ROZEN: Well, I think it`s going to be a big surprise to a lot of people, because she has always sort of -- on the show, you know, she`s the sensible one, really, although she`s frazzled. And in this, though, she is playing a man who is on his way to being a woman. She`s pre-op, but she`s dressed in sort of the most gauzy pink and purple outfits and is actually very funny.
When you hear the synopsis of the film, it`s basically she, or he, she discovers that he had a son he never knew about. Now he goes to find this 17-year-old kid whose in trouble, bails him out. And then they go on a cross-country drive.
When you hear the plot, you think, "Ew," you know? But it`s a much smarter film than you expect. It`s funny in ways you don`t anticipate. It brings on all sorts of colorful characters, but it doesn`t strain. They stay on for a little bit, do their part, and then they sort of get off the screen.
HAMMER: Well, let`s move on to "The Kid and I." Tom Arnold in a movie that, I understand, has even a much more interesting back story than the movie itself.
ROZEN: It has a great back story, which actually ends up in the movie, which is this is a movie starring a now 22-year-old kid named Eric Gores who has cerebral palsy. His father is a very wealthy Beverly Hills businessman. Eric Gores lived right next door to Tom Arnold. The two of them used to talk across the fence sometime.
Eric told Tom his dream was to be an action movie star. And Tom Arnold ended up writing a very sweet little movie about Tom Arnold -- about a guy who`s basically Tom Arnold, a washed-up movie star who does this film for this kid because Daddy`s paying for it, which, indeed, Eric Gores` father paid for the film.
But it`s really -- it`s not a film you`re going to say anything un- nice about. It`s the kind of film -- I think if you took a kid, it would be a good movie to take a kid to and let them see there`s a wider world and that all kinds of people can do all kinds of things.
HAMMER: Leah Rozen, thanks, as always, for your insight.
ROZEN: You`re welcome.
HAMMER: And for more "Picks and Pans," you can always grab your copy of "People" magazine, which is on newsstands now.
ANDERSON: In tonight`s "Laughter Dark," "The Tonight Show" rigs up a photo booth with hidden cameras and a microphone. And we get to see what people will do for a free photo. So let`s take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome to the Universal Studios free photo booth. Please throw your daughter in the air to activate the free photos.
(LAUGHTER)
How long have you been dating?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two years.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please sit down.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, crap!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All righty, we got to go. Are you taking a picture?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This would be a good time to propose.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
(LAUGHTER)
To activate your free photos, please take off your shirt.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is it asking?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please take off your shirt, it says.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Take off your shirt, honey.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please take off your pants.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please take off my pants now?
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, nobody`s watching. Go.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: In case you were wondering, yes, he does take off his pants. Don`t trust it if it`s for free.
Well, there is still time for you to sound off in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." We`re asking, on a Friday night, Katie Couric: Should she leave "Today" to anchor the "CBS Evening News"? You may continue to vote at CNN.com/showbiztonight or write to us at showbiztonight@CNN.com. We`ll read some of your e-mails live, next.
ANDERSON: But first, this week`s "Entertainment Weekly" must list. Here are five things that you just have to check out.
First, "EW" says break out the remote and tune into "Invasion" and check out the strange happenings in a Florida town. Then pick up "Born to Run." This is the 30th anniversary reissue of the classic Springsteen album and includes plenty of extra features.
New on DVD, "EW" says the wonder has been restored to the 1933 classic "King Kong." plus, on this two-disc set, Peter Jackson shares his thoughts on the past and present "Kong" movies.
Next, sit down and flip through "Crap Cars" by Richard Porter. This book is full of ugly automobiles that would make you cringe if you saw them on the road.
And finally, "EW" says to get Seinfeld seasons five and six on DVD. You know, it`s the award-winning show about yadda, yadda, yadda. For more on the must list, pick up a copy of "Entertainment Weekly" on newsstands now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMIE-LYNN DISCALA, ACTRESS, "THE SOPRANOS": This is Jean Lendell (ph). And I`m wearing Judith Ripka jewels (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why did you choose this dress?
DISCALA: I don`t know. I felt like a princess, but it`s kind of, just, I don`t know, very flowy and dream-like, very fantasy, very -- I don`t know. I felt pretty in it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We`ve been asking to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Katie Couric: Should she leave "Today" to anchor the "CBS Evening News"?
Here`s how the vote`s been going on a Friday night: 32 percent of you say yes, so 68 percent say no, she should stay where she is. Among the e- mails we`ve received, one from Cindy all the way from Alaska. Hello, Alaska. She writes, "John Roberts is the only logical choice for the CBS anchor position. Katie Couric should stay put with NBC."
And Ronald wrote from Texas saying, "She will be exceptionally good at whatever she does, with a lot of followers and supporters."
If you wish, you can continue to vote by going to CNN.com/showbiztonight.
ANDERSON: And we do appreciate your e-mails. It is time now to see what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT next week. So let`s take a look at the "Showbiz Marquee."
Marquee Guy, it`s all yours.
MARQUEE GUY: Get ready for "King Kong" Monday. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going ape. We`re live as the big fellow takes over the Big Apple. We`re not monkeying around, folks. There`s serious stars coming out for "King Kong": Jack Black, Naomi Watts, Martha Stewart, Donald Trump, Danny DeVito, everyone who`s anyone -- well, maybe, except for Donkey Kong. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes bananas live at the "King Kong" premiere, Monday.
This is the Marquee Guy and -- why, why look right there. Isn`t that -- yes, it is. It`s the Empire State Building. I think I`ll go for a climb.
HAMMER: I`d like to see him climbing up the Empire State Building right now.
ANDERSON: Yes, and beat his chest a little bit at the top, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Brooke, we`ll see you here on Monday.
ANDERSON: I`m headed your way. See you in the Big Apple.
I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN Headline News.
END
