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Showbiz Tonight
Developments in the News Wars; Study: Stars Influence Smoking in Children; Al Sharpton Calls for Clemency for Death Row Prisoner; Broadway Musical Tells Story of Frankie Valli
Aired December 06, 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: And I`m Brooke Anderson. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the anchor wars. Why Katie Couric`s "Today`s" may be numbered and why there could be "60" other reasons for her to switch to CBS. Plus, ABC`s new anchor team. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with major new details on the inside story that led to choosing a replacement for Peter Jennings. Tonight we play musical anchor chairs.
Smokescreens. Tonight, a startling proposal that all movies that show smoking be rated "R." Will it work, or will the plan go up in smoke? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with a heated debate on lighting up on screen.
The raging religious controversy over the new movie "The Chronicles of Narnia." Disney shoots for a marketing miracle. But is it a Christian movie, or just a kids` movie?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think it`s a movie which could bring people to Christ?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, absolutely.
HAMMER: Tonight, the risk behind the selling of "Narnia."
TERI HATCHER, ACTRESS: Hi, I`m Teri Hatcher. If it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Hello, I`m Brooke Anderson live in New York.
HAMMER: And I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, we bring you the inside story on the backstage drama that is causing the biggest anchor upheaval in network news in years. Dramatic new developments today in the battle between NBC and CBS over Katie Couric.
ANDERSON: That`s right. Plus the story you haven`t heard about how ABC decided to fill Peter Jennings` anchor chair.
Our David Haffenreffer is live right now in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom -- David.
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, ever since the big three anchors of Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather and Peter Jennings left the airwaves, the evening network newscasts have been in a bit of a state of turmoil. Katie Couric`s contract with NBC`s "Today Show" expires soon, and there are rumors she may be looking to do an evening newscast. And we`re learning more about who ABC News picked and didn`t pick to fill its big anchor chair.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATIE COURIC, CO-HOST, NBC`S "THE TODAY SHOW": Inside Studio 1-A, I`m Katie Couric along with Matt Lauer.
HAFFENREFFER: When will we find out if Katie Couric will stay inside Studio 1-A with Matt Lauer?
ANNOUNCER: Reporting from ABC news headquarters, Elizabeth Vargas.
HAFFENREFFER: What led ABC News to pick Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff to replace late anchor Peter Jennings? And which seasoned newsman turned down that job and why? Today, we saw all kinds of movement on all kinds of fronts. As SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you, "Today in the News Wars."
REGIS PHILBIN, CO-HOST, ABC`S "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": But now, everybody`s watching Katie Couric.
HAFFENREFFER: Regis is right. CBS is trying to woo Katie Couric to take over "The CBS Evening News" anchor chair temporarily being filled by Bob Schieffer. In addition to an offer that could boost her current $16 million a year salary to close to $20 million, we found out today that CBS is dangling one more carrot in front of Couric.
JOE FLINT, "WALL STREET JOURNAL": Our understanding here is that there`s a desire on her part and a desire on CBS` part to also have her become a presence on "60 minutes."
HAFFENREFFER: Even if she gets the CBS "60 Minutes" and the evening newscast gigs, why would Katie leave "Today," the No. 1 morning show and the most profitable morning news program on TV, for "The CBS Evening News," the lowest rated of the barely profitable big three evening newscasts.
PHILBIN: The prestige.
KELLY RIPA, CO-HOST, ABC`S "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": The prestige.
HAFFENREFFER: Again, Regis is right.
HOWARD KURTZ, HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": There is something about the prestige and the gravitas of being an evening news anchor, and no single woman has ever done that that. I think that there`s a certain lure there.
HAFFENREFFER: It`s clear why CBS would want Katie. Not only could she provide a boost to its perennial third place newscast, if CBS poached Couric, it could deliver another blow to "Today," which recently has lost ground to "Good Morning America" on ABC.
Speaking of ABC, we have more intriguing news from that front in the news war.
ANDERSON: It seems like you two like each other.
HAFFENREFFER: Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruffs were all smiles when they talked to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT hours after ABC announced they would be the new co-anchors of ABC`s "World News Tonight." But today, everyone was abuzz with who turned down the job.
CHARLES GIBSON, CO-HOST, ABC`S "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": Good morning, America. I`m Charles Gibson.
HAFFENREFFER: A new development. Reports say veteran newsman Charles Gibson was offered a deal that would have put him in the anchor chair through 2007. Why did he turn it down? It all has to do with election day.
ANNOUNCER: Live coverage of "Vote 2004."
HAFFENREFFER: Election night is like the Super Bowl for news anchors, and Gibson wanted to stay on through the next presidential election in 2008. ABC News boss David Westin reportedly balked at that, because he wanted Vargas and Woodruff to take over in 2008. When Gibson said no, Westin simply tapped Vargas and Woodruff to take over now.
KURTZ: We`re not in Walter Cronkite`s America anymore. Bob and Elizabeth are a young, dynamic and attractive duo, and if they lack the depth of experience of a Charlie Gibson, who`s 62 years old, ABC clearly hopes they make up for it with pizzazz.
HAFFENREFFER: Why is all this money and attention being paid to a news format that some say is dying? Regis and Kelly...
PHILBIN: The prestige.
RIPA: The prestige.
KURTZ: They are still a very prestigious part of every network. They`re what Americans turn to when there`s a war or a big plane crash or space shuttle blows up.
HAFFENREFFER: Twenty-five million Americans still tune into the big three network evening newscasts. That`s still an audience that both CNN and our cable competitors would kill for and an audience for which the networks will continue to wage war.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAFFENREFFER: And just a few moments ago, I had a chance to set down with NBC`s president, Jeff Zucker. He`s a long-time friend of Katie Couric`s and was credited with her success at "The Today Show," 10 years of it, in fact. He chose his words carefully, saying media speculation is just that, speculation, but...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF ZUCKER, PRESIDENT, NBC UNIVERSAL TELEVISION: The beauty of that program is that it`s bigger than the sum of its parts and any one person on the program. With regard to Katie, she`s been a huge part of the success of the program, and I hope will continue to be so. But I think she`ll make a decision several months from now. I don`t think there`s anything imminent at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAFFENREFFER: Katie Couric`s contract with NBC expires in May -- Brooke.
ANDERSON: It will be interesting to see what happens then. David, thank you so much. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s David Haffenreffer.
Well, we had "King Kong Monday" here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, and it was so good, we just have to give you a little "King Kong Tuesday."
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was the only entertainment show to bring you live coverage of last night`s premiere here in New York. We caught up with director Peter Jackson and the film`s stars, Naomi Watts and Jack Black. For Watts and Black, the film was a departure. And for Jackson, a dream come true.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER JACKSON, DIRECTOR: Well, the 1933 film was the movie that made me want to become a filmmaker. I saw it on TV when I was 9 years old, and if I hadn`t seen that movie when I was 9, I probably wouldn`t have become a filmmaker.
JACK BLACK, ACTOR: Yes, this was a more dramatic role than the ones I`ve played in the blast. But, you know, it`s like drama/action/adventure/fantasy. It`s not like "Kramer vs. Kramer." It wasn`t a crazy stretch like that, but it was more about just the high intensity life-or-death running away from monsters and that I can do.
NAOMI WATTS, ACTRESS: I never thought of myself as an action heroine in any way. But that`s kind of what I had to be. I mean, on a daily basis, it was lots of running and jumping and kicking and, you know, all that kind of stuff and the aches and pains and bruises of God knows what were eventually taking its toll.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: "King Kong" opens in theaters next Wednesday, December 14. And next week is "King Kong Week" here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, including interviews with the stars of the film that you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Tonight, smoking in the movies and a startling new proposal to keep kids from seeing anyone smoke on screen. A new study out today from the University of California is demanding that movie -- movies featuring smoking scenes get a tough "R" rating.
Live tonight in San Francisco for a "showbiz newsmaker interview," is one of the researchers who headed up the study, Annemarie Charlesworth. Annemarie, thanks for being with us.
ANNEMARIE CHARLESWORTH, RESEARCHER: Thank you very much for having me.
HAMMER: To say this is a comprehensive study would be an understatement. You guys certainly pulled out a lot of statistics here, startling, and one that jumped out at me in particular, if a teen`s favorite movie star smoked in the film at least two films two times in a film that he or she watched, that teen is five times more likely to take up smoking? Can this possibly be true?
CHARLESWORTH: Yes, it is true. In fact, if a teen`s favorite star smoked in more than three films, they were 16 times more likely to smoke. So, you know, favorite stars` behavior is incredibly powerful and very influential.
HAMMER: And smoking in the films not an issue that`s going to go away any time soon unless you guys have something to do with it. Since 2002, the number of "G" and "PG" movies featuring smoking have now outnumber "R"- rated films that feature smoking,. What kind of an impact do you think this actually has on kids, and kids taking up smoking?
CHARLESWORTH: Well, you know, our study showed that smoking in the movies was responsible for recruiting 390,000 U.S. teens each year to smoke, which is almost enough to replace about 400,000 smokers who died each year.
So the kind of impact that the smoking in the movies is having is pretty severe. So...
HAMMER: OK. You have a lot of numbers, certainly backing up your argument and hoping for this "R" rating and perhaps that films that depict smoking will get this "R" rating.
Of course, there`s a flip side to the argument, from the MPAA, the movie -- the people who do the movie ratings. Their statement has said that tying a ratings system to any single item is a bit of a slippery slope, because there are all kinds of behaviors that parents find objectionable. Certainly a reasonable thing to say. What`s your response to that?
CHARLESWORTH: Well, you know, the parents rely on the ratings system to give them information about the movies so that they can make informed decisions for their children. And right now, the MPA -- the MPAA ratings aren`t doing that.
In the movies that were released from 2002 through 2004, of 314 movies with tobacco, only one disclosed that tobacco was in the movie through the MPAA rating. So they just need to be accurate, and they need to be useful for parents. And they need to give parents the information that parents deserve to make informed decisions about their children.
HAMMER: So a quick yes or no, Annemarie, if you succeed and you get an "R" rating slapped on movies that depict smoking, do you think it will make a difference?
CHARLESWORTH: Well, we`re pretty -- we know it will make a difference. It will reduce exposure by half...
HAMMER: OK.
CHARLESWORTH: ... which would prevent about 200,000 kids from smoking each year.
HAMMER: Well, thanks for sharing your information with us tonight. We appreciate it. Annemarie Charlesworth from the University of California.
CHARLESWORTH: Thank you very much.
HAMMER: Thank you for joining us.
ANDERSON: And now we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Smoking debate: should films that show smoking be rated "R"? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight, and send us e-mail at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`ll read some of your thoughts later on in the show.
HAMMER: Well, it was 25 years ago this Thursday that the world was shocked to hear the news that John Lennon had been shot to death by Mark David Chapman. On the anniversary of the former Beatle`s death, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be bringing you a very special event. Be sure to join us for an hour of live coverage devoted to Lennon`s legacy.
I`m going to be live from Strawberry Fields in New York City, right there in Central Park, joined by some very special guests. We`ll have special reports on Lennon`s life and tributes from the biggest stars in the world that you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It all happens Thursday at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern on CNN Headline Prime.
ANDERSON: Are you ready for "Al in the Family"? That`s right; Reverend Al Sharpton may get his own sitcom. He joins us live, next, in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Also, "The Lion, the Witch, the Wardrobe," the controversy. We have the story of the religious debate surrounding how the "Narnia" movie is being marketed coming up in a "SHOWBIZ Special Report."
ANDERSON: And, Frankie goes to Broadway. It`s a season of change for Frankie Valli. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT gets the scoop from Frankie himself, coming up.
HAMMER: First here comes tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Which NBA star did not appear in the 1996 film "Space Jam"? Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, or Scottie Pippen? We`re coming right back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: So again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Which NBA star did not appear in the 1996 film "Space Jam"? Answer, "D," Scottie Pippen.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
Tonight Snoop Dogg is using his new music video to rally against the scheduled execution of former gang leader Tookie Williams. Snoop`s new video is called "Real Soon," and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has your first look.
"Real Soon" is the first single from Snoop`s new album, which comes out next week. Williams founded the Crips gang and is scheduled to die next week for the shooting deaths of four people back in 1979.
Celebrities including Snoop have rallied around him, saying he has become a man of peace, writing anti-gang books for children. On Thursday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger holds another clemency hearing to consider Williams` appeal.
Well, Snoop Dogg isn`t the only celebrity rallying around Tookie Williams. Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover, Jesse Jackson and civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton are just a few of the other big names that are calling on Governor Schwarzenegger to stop next week`s scheduled execution.
Joining us live tonight here in New York for another "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview in New York, the Reverend Al Sharpton.
Nice to see you, Reverend Al.
REV. AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: Good evening, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, there is overwhelming support for Tookie Williams. He`s a convicted four-time murder, as I mentioned, founder of one of the most deadly and notorious gangs ever, the Crips. Why this amassing of support for him?
SHARPTON: Well, because I think what he has done down through the years has been nothing short of incredible. He has written books and has written children`s books that have really affected and turned people`s lives around. He has shown a lot of young Americans, particularly in urban centers, the folly of being involved in gang life.
It would be for more positive for him to live behind bars and continue that work. There`s nothing gained by executing him. There is question of the evidence, but clearly, there`s no greater good by executing him than to allow him to continue in his work that was even once nominated for a Nobel Prize.
HAMMER: And you`re not the only one who feels that way. As I mentioned, a lot of people rallying around in support. Yourself, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a lot of celebrities out of Hollywood, from Snoop Dogg to Jamie Foxx to Danny Glover. With so many celebrities involved, do you think the celebrity voice here will have any impact on the celebrity in the governor`s house in California?
SHARPTON: Well, I would hope that not only the celebrity but the people. I talked today with people that are planning a huge rally on Thursday in front of the governor`s office as he listens to those lawyers on both sides of this.
I would hope that he does also what`s best for the young people in his state. He should ask himself not what Jamie Foxx or Snoop Dogg or Al Sharpton, he should ask himself if this man can write books that could literally change the minds of young people, that could save lives in my state, why would I have him executed when he`s proven to be such a positive force?
HAMMER: So Reverend Al, what`s your gut feeling as to what`s going to happen here? The hearings are happening again on Thursday.
SHARPTON: I hope that the governor does the right thing. I think this is bigger than party. I do not know what he will do, but I think that we all are doing the right thing to appeal to him.
And, as you say, people across the board, I was at the "The Color Purple" premiere the other night. Jamie Foxx and I talked about this, and they`re very passionate about this, because we feel the work he does is very much needed in reaching young people and turning them around.
HAMMER: All right, well, moving now from politics to acting, which is something that you`re doing with a brand-new CBS pilot, "Al in the Family." What`s going on here? You`re playing yourself?
SHARPTON: Well, that`s -- let me just first of all, this is the first time I`ve talked about it publicly. I`m not choosing a new career. I`m not an actor, don`t want to act. I`m being Al Sharpton. You know, I turned down what I considered good money to play a role on Broadway in Chicago. I`m not -- my passion is not in being the new Archie Bunker. I don`t want to be the alternative to Archie Bunker. My passion would be to be the alternative to George Bush.
But some very talented writers have come up with a concept that we can do a social type of atmosphere of a family to show a life in America. I`m going to do the pilot. And we are going to see where it goes. But I will in no way ever change from my intent as a human rights and civil rights activist.
HAMMER: All right. Al Sharpton, I`m marking that down right now, and we appreciate you joining us. Reverend Al Sharpton.
SHARPTON: All right. A.J., take care.
HAMMER: Take it easy.
ANDERSON: Tonight, time for a "SHOWBIZ Sitdown" with Frankie Valli and the cast of "Jersey Boys." The story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons has come to life in the new hit Broadway show, "Jersey Boys."
I sat down with Frankie and the cast members to talk about the new show and the heyday of the Four Seasons.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Congratulations, first of all, to all of you. And what is it like sitting here with Frankie Valli, this music legend, who you`re all...?
FRANKIE VALLI, SINGER: Is he here?
ANDERSON: He is here, right here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it him? Oh, yes.
ANDERSON: What`s it like being a part of this monumental story?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s unbelievable. It`s a dream come true.
ANDERSON: Well, Frankie, I want to go back. Let`s go back to 1962. "Sherry." Huge hit. What was it like? Radio was the biggest thing around.
VALLI: Right, right.
ANDERSON: When you heard yourself on the radio, what did you think? Were you like, "Ah, this is it. We have made it."
VALLI: Well, I wasn`t really sure, to be very honest with you. You know, when you`re struggling for a long time trying to get a hit record. I could hardly believe it.
Everybody else was -- in the group went out and bought new cars and everything else and I was driving around in this old jalopy, you know, and they were laughing at me. I wasn`t sure, you know what I mean?
And even after the second hit, you know, and the first house I bought was a two-family house, I figured in case things fell apart, I would have somebody else helping to pay the mortgage, another family. It took me...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Still got that house?
VALLI: It took me a couple of years to really realize that we had really made a Mark and then it just was exciting.
ANDERSON: I`ve seen the musical, and it seems like you guys are just really enjoying yourselves. It would be hard not to, wouldn`t it? This man is fabulous. The music is terrific.
VALLI: Without blowing any smoke, these guys are good at what they`re doing. They really are good. And in order for audiences to really enjoy it the way they -- from what I`ve seen, you have to be out there and perform it and do it well. So they`re really good at what they`re doing. You know, they deserve a lot of credit for this.
ANDERSON: Well, the range you have, no one else has a range like you. Were you intimidated about taking on this role? Your voice is terrific, but how did you prepare?
DANIEL REICHARD, ACTOR: I trained, you know, like it was a marathon. It`s a lot of singing for one show. So, I worked really, I sang every day for four months before we even had one day of rehearsal, swam, did things to build up my lungs.
ANDERSON: Did you go see Frankie perform?
REICHARD: I saw him perform in Vegas. He didn`t know.
VALLI: I know.
REICHARD: I was there with a note pad and taking notes.
VALLI: We`ll talk about that later.
ANDERSON: What do you think of his falsetto?
VALLI: I think he`s terrific. You know, the funny thing about a vocal experience, from anybody the way I looked at, first of all, I never took a vocal lesson. So, I thought everybody sang. I mean, we all talk and we all walk and we all do all these things. Falsetto for me was just something that I had. And in talking with John, it was a lot the same for him, to.
ANDERSON: Natural.
VALLI: So it kind of came naturally. He does it terrifically, I must tell you right now.
ANDERSON: I agree with you.
VALLI: There are times that I actually think it`s me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: "Jersey Boys" is playing now on Broadway here in New York City.
HAMMER: Want to watch "Law and Order" on the bus, maybe catch some "Dragnet" while you`re online in the grocery store? A big announcement for the iPod nation, coming up.
ANDERSON: Plus, the folks who are marketing "Narnia," the new sci-fi fantasy film, may be taking a page from "The Passion of the Christ." A "SHOWBIZ Special Report on the selling of "Narnia," coming up.
HAMMER: And the inside story on comedy legend John Belushi. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sat down with two of the people who knew him best, including his fellow Blues Brother, Dan Aykroyd. That`s also coming your way.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
NBC is diving headfirst into the iPod nation. Today, NBC Universal announced a deal with Apple to sell TV shows on iTunes. ABC was the first. Just a short time ago, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with NBC universal president, Jeff Zucker.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZUCKER: I don`t think anybody can argue that making "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" available on iTunes has hurt those ratings in any way. The fact is, I think it`s all additive, and I think that -- I think it`s just helping the consumer. The consumer is the big winner here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: NBC shows will go for a buck 99 per show.
ANDERSON: Up next, "The X-Men." "X" marks the spot for a third time. Your first look at "X-Men 3" in a "SHOWBIZ Showcase."
HAMMER: And remembering John Belushi. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sits down with the comic legend`s widow and fellow Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd.
(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."
Saddam Hussein`s trial ended in another outburst today, after witness testimony about brutal abuse by Hussein`s regime, the former leader said he would not return to an unjust court. He also told the judge "to go to hell." Testimony continues tomorrow.
Also in Iraq, two suicide bombers attacked a police academy in eastern Baghdad killing at least 36 people. More than 70 wounded. In all, there were 10 separate deadly attacks today in Iraq.
Police are looking for a gunman who shot another man at a city high school. Authorities say the incident was gang-related. No students were involved.
Stress from an unhappy marriage can slow the healing of physical wounds, according to a new study. It shows bickering couples heal at 60 percent the speed of non-hostile couples. Arguing couples are also at an increased risk for high blood pressure, as well as depression.
That is the news for now. I`m Thomas Roberts. We take you back for more of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson. You are watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Well, still to come in the next 30 minutes, it`s been 23 years since comic legend John Belushi passed away. His story has never been told by his friends and family in a proper way. Bob Woodward did that book, "Wired," back in the `80s which portrayed Belushi in a very unflattering way and that kept his family and friends silent ever since then.
Well, there`s a new book out. I will speak to Belushi`s widow and Dan Aykroyd, of course, one of his close friends and fellow blues brother, about the life of John Belushi.
ANDERSON: Looking forward to what they have to say.
Also, A.J., a religious debate is brewing over the upcoming film, "The Chronicles of Narnia." Is it a Christian film or is it just a kids movie? Well, Disney has been quietly marketing it to Christians. It`s similar to what was done with "The Passion of the Christ," getting it into churches. Coming up, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report on how "Narnia" is being sold. It`s pretty interesting.
HAMMER: All that is on the way.
But first, let`s get to tonight`s "Hot Headlines." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas joins us live from Hollywood.
Hello, Sibila.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, A.J.
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learned today that Jennifer Aniston is suing over topless photos. The actress claims a paparazzo photographer used a telephoto lens to snap her when she was partly undressed in her home. In the suit filed in Los Angeles, Aniston is seeking money and wants to make sure that the photo cannot be sold.
And TrimSpa is being sued over Anna Nicole Smith. The producer of last summer`s Live 8 Concert says that Smith, a spokesperson for the weight loss supplement company, showed up drunk and was dressed too scantly at the televised event.
And Christina Applegate and her husband, Jonathan Schaech, say it ain`t so, have called it quits. In a statement obtained today by SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the couple says they have filed for divorce after four years of marriage. The decision was mutual.
And those are tonight`s "Hot Headlines." A.J., back to you.
HAMMER: Another one bites the dust. Thanks very much. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: Now a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, the controversy surrounding "The Chronicles of Narnia." Narnia is a brand-new film based on C.S. Lewis`s children`s book. So why is Disney, which is distributing the film, aggressively comparing it to a very adult movie, "The Passion of the Christ," and marketing it to evangelicals?
Here`s CNN`s faith and values correspondent, Delia Gallagher, for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN FAITH AND VALUES CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If you`re the average moviegoer, Walt Disney Pictures has a message for you. If you like fun-for-the-whole-family movies, like "Harry Potter," you`ll love Disney`s hugely expensive new film, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe," another special effects-laden fantasy adventure. That`s what all of America has been hearing for weeks.
But for nearly a year, Disney has been sending one group a very different message, telling them that you`ll like this movie if you liked this movie. That`s right, Mel Gibson`s deeply controversial, ultra-violent "Passion of the Christ."
The faithful stunned Hollywood by flocking to "The Passion." The take so far? More than $600 million worldwide and still counting. So Disney`s trying to rake in those "Passion" dollars by quietly -- but aggressively -- marketing "Narnia" to evangelicals as a Christian movie.
It`s a risky strategy. The studio doesn`t want to alienate all those families who like their fantasy adventures but would avoid a spiritual tie- in. It`s walking a fine line.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Enjoy your show.
GALLAGHER: Studio executives didn`t really want to talk about their huge, faith-based marketing effort. So we traveled to First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale to see for ourselves.
PASTOR LARRY THOMPSON, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH: I want to welcome you to this unique sneak peek of what I believe is going to be one of the greatest films of all time.
GALLAGHER: Pastor Larry Thompson has invited several hundred children to a special "Narnia" celebration, a chance to see an extended trailer for the film.
THOMPSON: Five, four, three, two, one. Go to Narnia with me.
GALLAGHER: The movie is based on the first book of "The Chronicles of Narnia," a beloved seven-volume series by the late British author C.S. Lewis.
Seven volumes. It`s a safe bet Disney execs are thinking "Harry Potter" meets "The Passion of the Christ" box office with lots of sequels.
"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" tells the tale of four children who discover a magical wardrobe, a door into a wondrous land, torn apart by a cruel witch and later saved by its true king, a noble lion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need your help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know, but understand: The future of Narnia rests in your courage.
GALLAGHER: It doesn`t seem deeply spiritual. But for many evangelicals, that`s exactly what it is.
THOMPSON: How many of you remember the name of the lion? What`s his name? Aslan. Now, in the movie, who does Aslan represent? Jesus, that`s right. Aslan represents Jesus Christ.
GALLAGHER: C.S. Lewis is best known for "Narnia," but he was also one of the 20th century`s foremost Christian writers. And it`s widely accepted that he wrote "Narnia" as a biblical allegory.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aslan is on the move.
GALLAGHER: That`s why in the story...
THOMPSON: Everything is frozen. It`s always winter, and it`s never Christmas.
GALLAGHER: Events like the one at First Baptist happen over and over again, 140 churches across the country so far. In fact, Disney hired the same team that marketed "The Passion" to churches to preach the gospel of "Narnia."
(On-screen): You think it`s going to be good?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not good. Great.
GALLAGHER: Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: More than great. Better!
GALLAGHER (voice-over): And just as Disney hopes pastors will spread the word about the movie, pastors hope the movie will spread the word about Jesus Christ.
(on-screen): Do you think it`s a movie which could bring people to Christ?
THOMPSON: Oh, absolutely. Everything we do here has that goal to ultimately bring people to Christ.
All right, that is your lion. There you go.
GALLAGHER (voice-over): Pastor Thompson is weaving "Narnia" into his Christmas season sermon.
THOMPSON: So that we can keep the children, the family all engaged at the same time.
GALLAGHER: But remember that fine marketing line Disney walks with "Narnia"?
DENNIS RICE, SENIOR VP, WALT DISNEY STUDIOS: Well, it`s a fantasy adventure. It`s about four kids who are taken away from war-torn London during World War II.
GALLAGHER (on-screen): Is it also a Christian story?
RICE: If C.S. Lewis were here, he`d tell you that he didn`t write a Christian book, and we certainly don`t think we`ve made a Christian movie.
GALLAGHER (voice-over): But they are hoping for a marketing miracle. And we know, in Disney`s magic kingdom, sometimes a lion is not just a lion.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is in theaters this Friday.
HAMMER: As we reported earlier, a group of California researchers is proposing an R rating for any movie that features smoking scenes. This is the focus of our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day" that we`ve been asking. The question is: Smoking debate: Should films that show smoking be rated R?
Sound off by voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight. If you`d like to e- mail us, our address is showbiztonight@CNN.com. We`re going to read some of your thoughts later in the show.
It was 25 years ago this Thursday that the world was shocked to hear the news that John Lennon had been shot to death by Mark David Chapman. Well, on the anniversary of the former Beatle`s death, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s going to be bringing you a very special event.
Please do join us for an hour of live coverage devoted to Lennon`s legacy. It will be live from Strawberry Fields -- that`s where I`m going to be -- in New York City`s Central Park with some very special guests. We`ll have special reports on Lennon`s life, and we`ll have tributes from the biggest stars in the world that you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
It all gets under way this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern time on CNN Headline Prime.
ANDERSON: I just love listening to that music.
HAMMER: It`s such a good song.
ANDERSON: Oh, it`s great.
Teri Hatcher`s a big star. But before she hit the big time in "Desperate Housewives," she had big hair. Find out how she went from `80s eek to today`s chic, next in "Tuesday InStyle."
HAMMER: Also, we`re going to hear never-before-revealed stories about the late John Belushi from his widow, Judy, and "Blues Brothers" partner Dan Aykroyd, including the little-known way that Aykroyd paid tribute to Belushi in "Ghostbusters." It`s the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Plus, "X-Men 3." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has your first look in tonight`s "Showbiz Showcase." And see how "Frasier" joins the fun. That`s next.
And if you want a comic book fix, you`ll want to check out what`s new on DVD this week. The Thing, Mr. Fantastic, the Human Torch and the Invisible Woman appear on store shelves this week. It`s the "Fantastic 4," starring Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis.
Russell Crowe and Ron Howard`s "Cinderella Man" is a knockout choice and generating some Oscar buzz. And Jessica Simpson, Sean William Scott, and Johnny Knoxville in the big-screen adaptation of "The Dukes of Hazzard." Plenty of car chases and Simpson in those tiny Daisy Duke shorts.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
Tonight, a revealing look at the life of comic icon John Belushi. At the age of 30, Belushi had a top-selling album, he was starring in "Saturday Night Live," and was the popular party animal Bluto in the cult hit, "Animal House."
Well, tragically, of course, Belushi died only three years later of a drug overdose. Now, his closest friends are finally setting the record straight about the real John Belushi in a new book. His widow, Judy, and old friend and "Blues Brothers" partner, Dan Aykroyd, sat down with me to share some of their fondest memories.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: "Saturday Night Live," when John started with the show and your era with John on the show, has forever set the gold standard for it. It has always set the bar, a bar many say has never been met. What, to you, was the defining moment of you with John Belushi on "Saturday Night Live"?
DAN AYKROYD, ACTOR: Well, I think it was more watching his work and seeing the stuff develop, I think. You know, certainly samurai was a defining moment. His Truman Capote, his impressions of Brando, the Godfather, watching him do "The Godfather," just seeing him develop and seeing his work evolve, and, you know, just watching him hit them out of the park every week. That was joyous to see.
HAMMER: Back in 1989, Bob Woodward wrote "Wired," which really presented this unflattering view of John. It was a biography, but was it that? Was it more propaganda against drugs? Who really knows? But it wasn`t a pretty picture. Did you really do this sort of as a way to set the record straight from that time?
JUDITH BELUSHI PISANO, JOHN BELUSHI`S WIDOW: In a way, but I began it even before I had approached Bob Woodward, which is how that book evolved. And I had wanted to do a video biography. And then along the way, I did get involved with Bob Woodward. He did do a book, and I was not happy with it. I didn`t think it represented John well at all.
I mean, I don`t mean it wasn`t a nice thing of him. I mean, it didn`t portray him -- it was, as you say, unflattering and -- but just missed him. It just didn`t capture him.
HAMMER: Why don`t we take a look at some pictures because, you know, this book not only has great interviews with a lot of people who were big in his life, but there were some fantastic photo moments in it, as well.
Dan, what`s going on here?
AYKROYD: That`s our bunk beds on the 17th floor of Rockefeller Center. That`s my office, and that`s him in the lower bunk and me in the top bunk.
HAMMER: So at "Saturday Night Live," you actually -- you guys would take naps or what would you do?
AYKROYD: No, no.
PISANO: In their office, they had bunk beds.
AYKROYD: We slept there two nights a week usually. Well, I did, anyway. John sometimes. But I slept there...
PISANO: And he napped.
AYKROYD: ... Tuesday. He would nap, yes. I slept there all the way through Tuesday night, all the way through Wednesday night. And we had -- I eventually had them put a shower in so that we could stay there.
HAMMER: Nice.
AYKROYD: So that`s the bunk beds.
HAMMER: Well, let`s flip pages and see what`s next in our little look book of John Belushi. Well, this one must have come from your personal collection.
PISANO: Yes, that`s our first prom. We went to two proms. Now, this one we`re pretty uptight. Next one we went to, we were much looser. And it was a lot more fun.
HAMMER: What year would this have been?
PISANO: His senior prom, `67.
AYKROYD: John was very charming.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: What comes to mind -- what`s the first thing that comes to mind, Dan, when you see that photo?
AYKROYD: I think he was a great dancer and...
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: How was his breath, though?
AYKROYD: Oh, John had good breath.
PISANO: He did.
AYKROYD: No, he was -- you know, I just -- it`s these alpha, Albanian males from Illinois. They just really know how to sing the blues. His brother knows how to do it, too.
HAMMER: Let flip the page here. Oh, that wasn`t our last one. Here we go.
PISANO: That`s the toga party from "Animal House."
HAMMER: And that`s you.
PISANO: That`s me.
HAMMER: Who knew?
PISANO: Who would know? I was his dancing partner. And on the stairs, when he smashes the guitar, I`m the one behind him who kind of goes like this.
HAMMER: I don`t think a lot of people realized that.
PISANO: I`m a featured extra. I currently continue to gets checks. He doesn`t.
HAMMER: Cover of "Rolling Stone" magazine. So was this a major accomplishment for him? Did he care about this kind of stuff? Did he care about these...
(CROSSTALK)
PISANO: He was thrilled when he was on the cover.
AYKROYD: He did.
PISANO: This was his fourth one, I think.
AYKROYD: And Jan Winter (ph) was one of his best friends. He loved Jan.
HAMMER: And Jan is featured in this book, as well. There`s some quotes from him.
You two both appeared in blue face as the "Blues Brothers" on another cover of "Rolling Stone" magazine, but that was a big deal for him?
PISANO: Yes, on the cover of "Rolling Stone."
HAMMER: Doesn`t get better than that.
PISANO: No.
HAMMER: Biggest misconception about John Belushi?
AYKROYD: That he was Bluto in real life. He had a little bit of the Bluto in him, because he was charming and people used to follow him. He was a leader. But, you know, Bluto...
PISANO: He was messy.
AYKROYD: Yes, he was messy. But Bluto you don`t associate with any kind of academic sense. And John was well-read, very well-read, in everything, literature, theater, science.
PISANO: History.
AYKROYD: History. He was a Napoleon freak. And you could sit down and talk to him about anything.
HAMMER: So not Bluto, but probably closer to the "Ghostbusters" character, Slimer?
AYKROYD: Well, I was writing "Ghostbusters" when I heard he died. And he was going to be on the "Ghostbusters." But Slimer is definitely a nod to John`s -- lunch with John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: The book is such a cool read, because it really is the words of those who knew him best. And if you want more information on the book and the life of John Belushi, just visit belushibook.com. "Belushi: A Biography" is also out in stores now.
ANDERSON: In tonight`s "Showbiz Showcase," your first look at "X-men 3." And it looks to be x-traordinary. It`s the third installment in the "X-men" franchise, based on the comic book series, and some new faces have signed on, like Brett Ratner behind the lens, and a big bad beast that`s one of the good guys, played by Kelsey Grammer. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATRICK STEWART, ACTOR (voice-over): Since the dawn of existence, there have always been moments when the course of history shifted. Such a turning point is upon us now.
IAN MCKELLEN, ACTOR: They wish to cure us. And I say we are the cure.
STEWART: The conflict is between the better and worse angels of our very nature whose outcome will change our world so greatly there will be no going back.
I do not know if victory is possible. I only know that great sacrifice will be required. And, because the fate of many will depend on a few, we must make a last stand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Looks to be action-packed. "X-men 3" is scheduled to hit theaters Memorial Day weekend of 2006.
HAMMER: It`s time now for "Tuesday InStyle." Tonight, Teri Hatcher. She has played a wide range of characters, from, of course, Lois Lane in "The Adventures of Lois and Clark," to the sexy, single Susan Mayer on "Desperate Housewives." And, as her career has evolved, her looks have, too.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POLLY BLITZER, "INSTYLE" MAGAZINE: We chose Teri Hatcher as this month`s beauty transformation, because she has sported so many beautiful, elegant, and sometimes quirky looks. And we wanted to showcase them for the readers, to see how she`s transformed throughout the years.
Teri made it big in the `80s. She had her career in full force. And it was reflected in her big hair, which was very quintessential, you know, hairdo of the time. And she sported it with the best of them.
Teri sported a cropped-do for her role in "Lois and Clark." And even though she was wooing Superman, her makeup artist told us that it was a little bit too conservative for her, but she learned to let her hair down for her later roles as a "James Bond" girl. And it was so elegant and sexy and sensual, which is really encapsulated in the photos.
Teri`s look is a lot more sensual and softer in her role as Susan Mayer on "Desperate Housewives," and she has proven that 40 is not fatal in Hollywood. She looks glamorous and gorgeous. And whether her hair is up or let down, she is just breathtakingly a beauty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You can read more about Teri Hatcher`s beauty transformation by grabbing your copy of "InStyle" magazine on newsstands now
ANDERSON: And there`s still time for you to sound off in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Smoking debate: Should films that show smoking be rated R? Please vote at CNN.com/showbiztonight or write to us at showbiztonight@CNN.com. We`re going to read some of your e-mails lives, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Throughout the show, we have been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Smoking debate: Should films that show smoking be rated R? Let`s take a look at how the vote is going so far: It`s pretty one-sided. Sixteen percent of you say yes, 84 percent of you say no.
Here`s an e-mail. Darby writes, "I think the rating of R for a smoking scene is absurd. Where do we draw the line?" You can keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight.
HAMMER: It`s time to find out what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow. Here comes the "Showbiz Marquee." Go ahead, Marquee Guy.
MARQUEE GUY: Tomorrow, Z gets to ask A everything. From A to Z, Renee Zellweger interviews one of the most respected journalists in the business, CNN`s Christiane Amanpour. It`s a Renee role reversal, tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Also tomorrow, we`re getting crazy like a Foxworthy, Jeff Foxworthy, the guy that brought us "Blue Collar TV" and is a proud card-carrying redneck. Wait until you hear the A.J. comedy smackdown, tomorrow.
This is the Marquee Guy. And I reckon tomorrow`s going to be gosh- darn funny. Y`all come back now, ya hear?
HAMMER: We are doing a comedy smackdown.
ANDERSON: Was it a smackdown?
That is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN Headline News.
END
