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Showbiz Tonight
Intrigue Behind New Year`s Eve Celebrations; TV Producer Returns Hurricane Rescued Dog to Owner; New Year Promises Movie Showdowns; Isaac Hayes Dishes on "South Park," New CD; "People" magazine is out with its annual half their size issue, where real people have lost hundreds of pounds simply by eating right and not resorting to extreme measures;
Aired December 28, 2005 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: I`m Brooke Anderson in New York.
JASON CARROLL, CO-HOST: And I`m Jason Carroll, in for A.J. Hammer. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Clark cliffhanger. Dick Clark`s New Year`s Eve comeback, shrouded in mystery. A doctored photo, raising serious questions about his serious life threatening illness.
Plus, questions for Clark`s New Year`s Eve competitor, Carson Daly, live in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
CARROLL (voice-over): The weight is over! From Kirstie Alley to Peter Jackson, Hollywood is downsizing big-time. And so are weight-loss winners everywhere. Only SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the skinny on shedding pounds the healthy way. Thinner winners, who prove less is more!
ANDERSON: Plus, clash of the titans. Superman, taking on the X-Men. Tom Cruise versus Tom Hanks. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT blows the lid off what may be the biggest blockbuster battles in movie history.
ISAAC HAYES, SINGER/ACTOR: I`m Isaac Hayes. If it happens today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: Hello, I`m Jason Carroll live in New York, filling in for A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson.
Tonight, the Dick Clark controversy. We`re counting down to 2006 and tonight, there are shocking allegations there`s something wrong with Dick Clark. This, as the networks rehearse their New Year`s Eve specials.
CARROLL: What`s going on? Only SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can give you the details. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Adrianna Costa is here live with the inside story, in a "SHOWBIZ Special Report" -- Adrianna.
ADRIANNA COSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jason, thanks for having me.
Tonight, allegations Dick Clark isn`t as well as we might all think. Now this time last year, he suffered a massive, life-threatening stroke, but he promised to make his first appearance -- public appearance, that is, this New Year`s Eve on the show that bears his name, of course.
And now he has more competition that ever before.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COSTA (voice-over): He`s almost like America`s version of Father Time. Dick Clark has been ringing in the New Year since 1972.
And this year everyone`s buzzing because it will be his first time of making a public appearance since a stroke a year ago.
DICK CLARK, HOST, NEW YEAR`S EVE SPECIAL: Everything is going great in Times Square.
COSTA: He and "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest will take the helm at ABC this year, Seacrest to sign a multi-year deal with the network to take over the New Year`s show long-term.
But there`s a big curiosity factor here surrounding Clark`s true role in the show. How much will he actually be on camera, and how well is he really doing?
ALAN FRUTKIN, "MEDIAWEEK": There will always be the curiosity of how well he`s doing after his illness, but I also think, you know, with someone like Dick Clark, there`s an element of nostalgia.
COSTA: ABC released this photo of Clark along with Seacrest and Hilary Duff, the three main hosts of the show, but many say, hey, that`s a doctored photo and that ABC inserted a pre-stroke photo of Clark.
FRUTKIN: I think it`s a real tightrope for them. They`re in a tough position to promote the night with Dick Clark`s presence, at the same time being careful of the image they`re putting out there and, specifically, his image.
COSTA: But today, some of the mystery of Clark`s state came unraveled. Ryan Seacrest talked to Clark recently and told the Associated Press that his voice was, quote, "not exactly as it probably sounded as when he was healthiest before the stroke, but it definitely sounds like Dick."
Seacrest also says Clark will make an on-air speech and won`t be in a wheelchair. Clark`s presence, however large or small, could be one of the most important factors of the evening.
FRUTKIN: Dick Clark was one of the instrumental people in introducing popular music to American audiences. So, there have been generations of viewers now that have grown up, you know, from "American Bandstand," listening to Dick Clark, and I think people feel really fondly towards him.
COSTA: And don`t be fooled. Dick`s not the only dude in his 70s to rock out on New Year`s Eve. His main competition: talk show host Regis Philbin who will take the New Year`s celebration over at FOX. So, on the biggest party night of the year, why all the older guys?
FRUTKIN: I think also the networks on this night in particular, they`re looking to Cross all generations and bring in as many viewers as possible.
COSTA: Here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT we think it`s pretty interesting all the swapping that`s going on between networks, but we decided to get things straight.
OK, so here it goes. Philbin, who has a talk show on ABC, is heading over to FOX for New Year`s. And Seacrest, usually on FOX`s "American Idol," is heading over to ABC to hang with Clark. But Seacrest isn`t the only young one to be partying like a rock star on New Year`s Eve.
CARSON DALY, TALK SHOW HOST: We have a jam-packed hour.
COSTA: NBC brought in Carson Daly to host their New Year`s show. He`ll bring in comedian Wanda Sykes and singer Mary J. Blige to ring in the new year. And to prep for his big night, Daly says he`s been watching old tapes of -- you guessed it -- Dick Clark.
FRUTKIN: Don`t you want to know who I`ll be watching?
COSTA: OK, Alan, why don`t you tell us?
FRUTKIN: It`s Anderson Cooper on CNN, absolutely.
COSTA: Oh, yes, we can`t forget our own Anderson Cooper. He`ll be live in Times Square with coverage around the country.
But when it comes to that certain nostalgia every American wants, this acquaintance shall not be forgotten.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTA: All right, I`m ready to party now. Looking forward to New Year`s, of course. Ryan Seacrest also said that they still haven`t exactly nailed down what Dick Clark`s role on the New Year`s Eve show will be, but the bottom line is that people have grown up watching him, and want to see a lot more of him.
Brooke, back over to you.
ANDERSON: They sure do. Thank you so much, Adrianna. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Adrianna Costa. And remember, you can catch Adrianna`s entertainment reports every morning on "Robin and Company" from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN Headline News.
And in just a few minutes, we`ll talk live with Carson Daly, one of the hosts looking to become king of New Year`s Eve.
Well, from losing weight to quitting smoking, lots of people will be making promises to themselves this weekend. And we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. New Year`s resolutions: have you ever really kept one? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Send us e-mail: ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We will read some of your thoughts later in the show.
CARROLL: Tonight, the remarkable story of a dog who became a media star seen by millions of people around the world, after being rescued on- camera following Hurricane Rita. This is no Benji or Lassie story, just a dog tale filled with heartbreak, separation, and tears of joy. So grab a tissue to wipe your eyes. You`re probably going to need one.
Here`s CNN`s Miles O`Brien for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MILES O`BRIEN, CO-HOST, "AMERICAN MORNING": I think there is a dog in here. We`re going to go in and check.
(voice-over) It was the morning after Hurricane Rita. We had just weathered the storm at the police station when shortly after dawn, we heard a whimper amid the wreckage of a storage shed.
(on camera) There he is. There he is. Don`t let him go. Don`t let him go. He`s OK. He`s just scared and wet.
(voice-over) It was a spontaneous moment which later provided some grist for Jon Stewart.
(on camera) We`ll make sure that the dog gets back to his rightful owner.
JON STEWART, HOST, COMEDY CENTRAL`S "THE DAILY SHOW": This story has a happy ending. Miles O`Brien was adopted by a nice family in Baton Rouge.
O`BRIEN (voice-over): Truth is for producer Dana Garrett, it was love at first sight.
DANA GARRETT, CNN PRODUCER: When she came out of that crate, she was so forlorn looking and she just crawled into my life and honestly, if she had had arms to hug me, she would have. She just crawled up and pressed against me and was just so sweet and I really just fell in love with her immediately.
O`BRIEN: No tags, no phone number on the crate, and police said if the owner did not materialize soon, the dog would be put on sleep.
GARRETT: Especially having rescued her I just thought, you know, I can`t let that happen.
O`BRIEN: A week passed. No one came forward. Dana and the dog left town together...
GARRETT: Go get her.
O`BRIEN: ... to Dana`s home in New York. She named her Sunny. She made fast friends, canine and human alike. It was a happy ending -- or so it seemed.
MISTY MCCORTNEY, DOG`S RIGHTFUL OWNER: Hey, is my mom there?
O`BRIEN: Enter Misty McCortney, the dog`s rightful owner. The 17- year-old adopted the puppy when she was only 4 weeks old, named her Neveah. That`s heaven spelled backwards.
MCCORTNEY: We ended up taking her home the first night we got her. She couldn`t eat on her own, so we bottle fed her.
O`BRIEN: Misty had been frantically trying to track the dog down. She finally got the story from police.
GARRETT: You`d like to get the ball.
O`BRIEN: And six weeks after we rescued the dog, Dana got the call she feared.
GARRETT: I knew at that point that I was so attached that I wasn`t going to be able to just put her in a crate and put her on a plane and ship her back home.
O`BRIEN: So Dana drove her back, 1,300 miles, to Misty`s new home with her dad in Nebraska.
GARRETT: Here she is.
MCCORTNEY: Neveah. Hi there, baby, oh my God. You`re getting me all dirty, but I don`t care.
GARRETT: She saw Misty and she was happy. But then it kicked in. And you can see, when she really realized who it was, and she got so excited and just started whimpering and scampering around. And it just made me feel so good that she recognized her and was really happy to see her.
MCCORTNEY: I just feel really, really excited that she`s here. And I want to thank you so much for bringing her back. I`m really happy you brought her back.
O`BRIEN: A bittersweet end to the tale of the pup-struck producer, the grateful owner and a well-loved pooch.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: That was CNN`s Miles O`Brien for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. You know, I spoke to Dana Garrett, the producer down there, and she just said that dog Sunny just stole her heart.
ANDERSON: I bet so. And I bet it was so hard to return the dog but such a heart-warming feeling. It was so touching to see it when the dog was reunited with her rightful owner.
CARROLL: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: All right, Jason.
Coming up, can you dig it? Isaac Hayes bares his soul about everything from "Shaft" to Scientology. It`s the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
CARROLL: And Hollywood is taking it off and slimming down the healthy way. And they`ve got company. We`ll meet some weight-loss winners who are cheering, "Honey, I shrunk myself!"
ANDERSON: Plus, get ready for a year of living dangerously. Fasten your seatbelts 2006 is shaping up to be one heck of a thrill ride. We`ll reveal the blockbusters that will have you reeling with excitement.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s only live entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with an insider`s look at what you can expect at the movies in 2006. And get ready for one of the most amazing blockbuster showdowns we`ve ever seen.
Joining me live here in New York is Peter Travers, film critic for "Rolling Stone" magazine, and Tom O`Neil, columnist for the awards site, TheEnvelope.com.
Tom, Peter, thank you both for being here. Welcome.
PETER TRAVERS, FILM CRITIC, "ROLLING STONE": Thank you.
TOM O`NEIL, COLUMNIST, THEENVELOPE.COM: Thanks.
ANDERSON: First, I have to ask you, what do you think about the glut of blockbusters we will be seeing? It`s a fairly long list here: "Mission: Impossible III," "Superman Returns," "Da Vinci Code," "Pirates of the Caribbean 2," "X-Men 3." Will this be -- really, you`re all laughing.
TRAVERS: Don`t you feel the excitement in your voice when you say that? I mean, think of the originality. Think of the imagination that we`re seeing in Hollywood. Wow.
ANDERSON: I hear a bit of sarcasm in your voices.
TRAVERS: Do you? I didn`t mean to do that. But the fact is, can`t they think of anything new? You know, last year, at least they did "The Wedding Crashers." It was an original movie.
O`NEIL: And it ended up as the fourth biggest movie of the year and it paid off. The problem here is that we`re seeing remakes across the board. "Miami Vice" is coming out. We`re seeing "Poseidon," a remake of "The Poseidon Adventure." Even some of the quality movies, like "Lady from Shanghai" with Nicole Kidman, is a remake of the Orson Welles movie.
TRAVERS: Even worse...
ANDERSON: So you want more -- you want originality. This is -- you`re thinking lack of creativity here?
TRAVERS: Come on, even in February before the summer happens, we get "Basic Instinct 2." Do we want to watch Sharon Stone Cross and uncross her legs again? I don`t want to be there. I`ve done it already.
ANDERSON: OK. All right. Moving on then, we are going to see some controversy in 2006. "The Da Vinci Code," critics are saying it`s blasphemous. Then you`ve got Oliver Stone`s upcoming film about the September 11 attacks. Coming out in the fall, very close to the fifth anniversary of 9/11. Is it too soon? How do you think audiences will respond to this?
TRAVERS: It`s difficult to say. There`s -- "The Da Vinci Code" is a huge best-seller. So people want to see it. Why they cast it with Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou, two of the most sexless actors that are currently on the screen when the book was all about this tension, this sexual tension that happened while they were finding out if Jesus had a child with Mary Magdalene.
I don`t think with Ron Howard directing it, there`s controversy there. But what do you think about Oliver Stone`s movie?
O`NEIL: The Oliver Stone movie, the thing we can take a big sigh of relief for is that he didn`t write the secret. And I think when we see movies like "Alexander" that are bombing, I`m afraid the guy has lost his spark. He still knows how to point a camera, but I think he doesn`t anymore remember how to write a great script. And this thing started as a good script. The studio came to Oliver, and I think there`s hope for it.
ANDERSON: Nicolas Cage is starring in that one.
TRAVERS: At least there`s a little edge there, you know? I mean, something is new about them. So I`m semi hopeful.
ANDERSON: Semi hopeful about that one. OK? But still with that laughter.
All right. And the box office...
TRAVERS: I`m sorry.
ANDERSON: It`s good. I like that you`re having fun, I enjoy that.
Now, the box office has been in a slump. Moviegoers are increasingly unsatisfied with the movie-going experience. Can it get worse in terms of higher ticket sales, more and more commercials before w see a film? What do you think we`ll see?
TRAVERS: Can it get worse? It can always get worse. I mean, yes, there was panic about it. I think now it`s down to six percent less. So what did they do? They`re afraid. Right? Fear is what runs Hollywood. That`s why all these sequels and remakes and everything else. And if that fails, there`s going to be jumping out of windows. Heads will roll.
ANDERSON: They have to do something to cover the cost.
TRAVERS: There will be more drama in what happens in the studios than we`re seeing on the screen.
O`NEIL: That`s not the problem. The reason we now have 22 minutes, Brooke. That is the average amount of commercial time before you see a real movie.
ANDERSON: That`s why I never get there on time.
O`NEIL: Don`t even bother. Just show up 20 minutes late.
And the reason the popcorn is so expensive is that when a movie opens on a given weekend, the only money that that theater makes is 10 cents on the dollar. Hollywood is that greedy. It progresses to 20 cents the next week, et cetera, to 50 cents. But we see movies one weekend at a time in America and the theater is desperate to make money.
So it starts with Hollywood greed and taking too much of the bite and then the theater trying to make their money, and it`s a lousy experience going to the movies.
ANDERSON: We will see...
TRAVERS: It`s too expensive. The mid-level movie means that wait in three months and you can watch it on DVD.
O`NEIL: Right.
ANDERSON: DVDs are coming out really quickly.
TRAVERS: So that`s killing the box office.
ANDERSON: Unfortunately, we are going to have to leave it there, guys.
TRAVERS: Oh, no!
ANDERSON: It`s been too much fun. Tom O`Neil, Peter Travers...
TRAVERS: Thank you.
ANDERSON: ... thank you both for being here and sharing your insight. We appreciate it.
CARROLL: All right. Time now for a "SHOWBIZ Sitdown," with soul music legend Isaac Hayes. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s A.J. Hammer spoke with Hayes about his new CD/DVD set, getting animated on "South Park," and how his most famous song ever, the theme from the 1971 cult film "Shaft," changed his life forever.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: Could you have imagined when you were composing it, that this was going to be the lightning in a bottle for you?
HAYES: No, I was just thinking about pleasing the producer, Joel Freeman, and Gordon Parks, the director, get through this whole thing in one piece. They would have my head on a platter.
When I finished it, we went back to my studio and recorded the whole thing, soundtrack and extended some of the pieces and put it out and I didn`t think about a thing, but it started building. Interest started building and people started talking Oscar. You crazy. And then, when I got the nomination, OK.
HAMMER: Suddenly, it was legitimate to you.
HAYES: It was legit, man.
HAMMER: Part of this collection, this bonus DVD, featuring the legendary 1972 Wattstax concert after the Watts riots. In fact, I want to bring some of this up right here so we can take a look at it, because the footage is truly wonderful to behold. And here you are on stage. You also appear on stage wearing your legendary iconic gold chain outfit suspenders. When you take a look at this, what are you thinking?
HAYES: Well, you know, those were -- I had a lot of fun with that. You know...
HAMMER: And the fur boots, we should mention.
HAYES: Exactly, and the tights.
HAMMER: You ever break this stuff out and pop it on just for fun?
HAYES: I`ve given it most of it away to charities and things like that. I think I have one set of chains.
HAMMER: It`s just amazing to behold. And Jesse Jackson on stage.
HAYES: Check out the fro. Check out the fro on Jesse.
HAMMER: And Jesse`s introducing you. Is Jesse a guy you`re still in touch with?
HAYES: Yes, we`re good friends. You know, that was 125,000 people at the L.A. Coliseum that day, and they sat through the whole day. Through the chill of the evening and the whole day without incident. You get about four people together, you get a fight now. But, back then, the whole day without incident.
HAMMER: And I must be clear to point out that it includes some of your more recent work as Chef from "South Park." Not only the song, but you have the she video included on the DVD, as well.
HAYES: Yes, singing "Chocolate Salty Balls."
HAMMER: Yes, you know, it`s going to be a classic for decades to come.
And I have to ask you, because a lot of people have been tuning into the "South Park" where you`ve gained a hold new generation of fans as the voice of character Chef. But you haven`t been on recently, and I know there are a lot of different characters they have to cover on the show. Where has Chef been? When is he coming back?
HAYES: I don`t know. I was talking about that with the creators the other day.
HAMMER: The creators of "South Park."
HAYES: Exactly. I`m still -- I`m still in the wings, so I`m here.
HAMMER: They had a show on "South Park" a couple of weeks ago, having a little fun with Scientology, poking fun at it, lampooning it...
HAYES: Yes. Yes.
HAMMER: ... making particular fun of Tom Cruise. You`ve been very vocal about the fact that Scientology has been very beneficial in your life. Set the record straight. Did have anything to do with the fact that we`re not seeing Chef on "South Park"?
HAYES: No, no, no, no, no. They do what they do. And I`m sure -- I`m sure I`ll show up eventually.
HAMMER: So what`s your reaction to that episode? Did you see it?
HAYES: The episode, I didn`t see it but I was told about it. But they lampoon everybody. And if you believe them, you got a problem.
HAMMER: And it certainly has made the news over the past year, particularly because Tom Cruise, one of its better known members...
HAYES: Yes.
HAMMER: ... was in the news quite a bit. And it created a fair amount of controversy, so for people who may not be informed who think it`s a cult, who think it`s all of these things, fire and brimstone, whatever it is, what do you say to those people? How do you set them straight?
HAYES: Learn what Scientology is, that`s all. You`re going on hearsay, learn what it is. Go and take a course. Ask questions. You get your answers. I got mine. And my life has never been the same.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: Always great, that was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the "Daly" planet. New Year`s Eve -- New Year`s host Carson Daly appears live in the interview you`re going to see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
CARROLL: And the downsizing of America. From Hollywood to the heartland, Americans are half what they used to be. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT shows you the healthy regimens coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CARROLL: Bree Van De Kamp is known for being uptight on "Desperate Housewives." But Marcia Cross tells "InStyle" that in real life she`s more relaxed, even as her wedding day comes close to us. We have the details about Marcia`s big day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE ZUCKERMAN, "INSTYLE" MAGAZINE: Well, Marcia Cross is on the cover of our weddings special, not only because she`s going to make an absolutely stunning bride, but because she`s returned to sort of the spotlight in a massive, massive way with the success of "Desperate Housewives."
What`s so interesting is that Marcia is completely open with "InStyle" about her expectations for love and romance in her life. At 43 years old, she really resigned herself to the idea that she was going to be single forever. And then, when money manager Tom Mahoney came along, it sort of turned all her preconceived notions of her romantic life on its ear.
MARCIA CROSS, ACTRESS: I was not one of those women or girls who thought about my wedding when I was younger. I`m actually quite shocked that I`m having one. But, so I`m coming to it now.
ZUCKERMAN: Marcia, although this is hard to believe, says that she looks horrible in white. So she`s probably going to opt for something with a little bit of a rosy glow.
Interestingly, you know, today, many couturiers who are making wedding gowns aren`t necessarily sticking with the formula of the bleached out ivory or cream satin, you know, princess gown. Many of them are making gowns in blush hues, in peaches, even in blue, believe it or not.
Marcia actually models this very, very beautiful, festive, if you can call it that, Vera Wang gown. It`s got a huge, billowing tulle skirt and a sort of tighter bodice and this really beautiful green ribbon accent. This dress was made for dancing.
If Bree Van De Kamp from "Desperate Housewives" were planning Marcia Cross` wedding, six months ago she already would have been baking the macaroons that would go in the welcome baskets for her out-of-town guests when they arrived for the ceremony.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: Some of the most celebrated holiday weddings are in the new "InStyle" wedding book on sale January 6.
ANDERSON: Newscasters who are also newsmakers. We rewind a turbulent year in the media, coming up.
CARROLL: Plus, Carson Daly`s "Last Call" of the year. He`s ringing in 2006 as host of the Times Square special, and he`s here live coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And Kirstie Alley and Peter Jackson are heading into the new year much, much thinner. Coming up, how celebrities are shedding pounds the healthy way and you can, too. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 31 minutes past the hour. I`m Brooke Anderson.
CARROLL: And I`m Jason Carroll, filling in for A.J. Hammer. You`re watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.
And, of course, the new year is just about upon us. And, of course, a lot of people making new year`s resolutions. One of them always, "I want to lose more weight." Well, in an upcoming issue of "People" magazine, they`re going to be focusing not just on celebrities, but regular folks like you and me who lost weight the natural way, just doing reasonable things like eating right. We`re going to be talking to a woman who lost 180 pounds. So, really, kudos to her.
ANDERSON: Right. Went from a size 28 to a size 2. Pretty darn amazing.
CARROLL: Wow.
ANDERSON: Also, Jason, you`re familiar with Carson Daly, right?
CARROLL: Yes, of course.
ANDERSON: The late-night talk show host.
CARROLL: Cool guy.
ANDERSON: He`s now joined the ranks -- exactly, cool guy. He`s in our green room, so there we go, cool guy.
CARROLL: Better say he`s cool.
ANDERSON: He`s now joined the ranks of Regis Philbin, Dick Clark, our own Anderson Cooper, by way of New Year`s Eve. He has his very own New Year`s Eve special on NBC. He`ll tell us live what he hopes to do to stand out from the rest of the pack. That`s coming up.
CARROLL: OK. Sounds good.
But first, let`s get to tonight`s headlines. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Adrianna Costa joins us live from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom. Tell us what you got.
ADRIANNA COSTA, CNN HEADLINE NEWS CORRESPONDENT: In New York City, thank you guys so much for having me. It is phenomenal to be here, I have to say. I sound like I`m accepting an award or something.
Let`s talk Ryan Seacrest. OK, Ryan Seacrest says Dick Clark is busy getting ready for New Year`s Eve. Seacrest is co-hosting "Dick Clark`s New Year`s Rockin` Eve." He says Clark`s voice isn`t exactly the same as it was before he had a stroke last year, but he still sounds like himself. And this will be Clark`s first appearance since he had the stroke.
Moving on, Mariah Carey is giving 50 Cent a huge run for his money. Carey and 50 are locked in a year-end race for best-selling album of 2005. As of Christmas Day, 50 Cent`s "Massacre" was number one, with 4.8 million copies sold. But Carey`s "The Emancipation of Mimi" is coming in for a close second with 4.6 million copies sold. Now, if she continues to sell copies at her current rate, she could surpass 50 Cent by the end of the year.
Jessica Simpson will start a new year in a new home. Less than two weeks after filing for divorce from Nick Lachey, Simpson has moved into a $3 million home in Beverly Hills, according to "People" magazine. And that`s about that.
Now, better pay attention to the law when you`re around Mira Sorvino, because she`s now Deputy Sorvino to you. Sorvino has been sworn in as a deputy sheriff in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It`s a ceremonial position, although she does get a badge. That`s pretty darn good to me. Sorvino is following in her father, Paul`s, footsteps. Now, he was sworn in as a deputy after he shot the movie "That Championship Season That Championship Season" in Scranton.
Those are your "Hot Headlines" for the evening. Jason, back on over to you. And it is so great to be here, I have to tell you.
CARROLL: Great to have you.
COSTA: Thank you.
CARROLL: All right, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Adrianna Costa, thank you so very much. And be sure to watch Adrianna`s entertainment reports Monday through Friday between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. on "ROBIN AND COMPANY" here on CNN Headline News.
ANDERSON: It`s great to see people excited.
All right. We are just days away from the new year, which means some of you will resolve once again to get fit. Well, listen up, because some Hollywood heavyweights have dropped the pounds, and people like you and me are now half their size. "People" magazine is out with its annual half their size issue, where real people have lost hundreds of pounds simply by eating right and not resorting to extreme measures.
To tell us how, live in New York is a woman who has lost half her size, literally, Heather Haouchine, and the senior editor of "People" magazine, Galina Espinoza.
Now, we`re going to wait to reveal Heather. We want to do a before- and-after. But, Galina, I`ll start with you. One of the unique things about this issue is that these people don`t go to extreme measures. They don`t starve themselves. They don`t do the gastric bypass surgery. They really change their lifestyles, right?
GALINA ESPINOZA, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: That`s exactly right, because I think that so many people are tired of all the empty promises. It seems like every week there`s yet another diet that swears you`re going to be able to get thin quick. But we have found 10 real people who lost weight the old-fashioned way, by cutting back on calories and by working out. And their dramatic weight-loss stories are incredibly inspiring.
ANDERSON: One of those people is here with us today, Heather Haouchine. And we want to show a before picture first. Let`s see if we can get that up. Heather was 300 pounds. She has lost 180 pounds, and here she is. She joins us live tonight.
Heather, you look fantastic, a shadow of your former self, really. Thank you for being here.
HEATHER HAOUCHINE, LOST 180 POUNDS: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Of course. Now, I want to hold these up. These are your jeans. Can we see -- you used to wear these, went from a size 28 to what you are now, a size 2. Specifically, how did you do it?
HAOUCHINE: I did it through the support of Weight Watchers. I learned special tricks from Weight Watchers, from my group at Weight Watchers. I learned that you do not have to join a gym. There`s other ways of getting activity without joining the gym.
You can do simple things like I did. I got rid of my hamper, and I used to -- I have to travel up and down three flights of stairs to throw those dirty clothes away several times a day. Parking the car further away.
One thing that I did not do was give up any food. I eat all the same foods that I ate back then, I eat now. Life`s too short not to enjoy food. I love food.
ANDERSON: Portion control, then.
HAOUCHINE: Portion control, everything...
ANDERSON: How long did it take you to lose 180 pounds?
HAOUCHINE: A year and four months.
ANDERSON: So it`s not a quick fix.
HAOUCHINE: Baby steps.
ANDERSON: It takes a while.
HAOUCHINE: No, it`s baby steps. And you have to look at the smaller -- you know, you have to look at little small goals, because sometimes the big picture can be very overwhelming and fearful.
ANDERSON: Taking one step at a time.
ESPINOZA: Yes, we should mention that Heather has three kids, and I think...
ANDERSON: Triplets.
ESPINOZA: ... that one of the turning points for her was realizing that she needed to be a good role model for those kids. As she says in the story, how could she tell them to eat their vegetables when she wasn`t doing the same?
And what`s so great about all of the people featured in the issue...
ANDERSON: Including celebrities.
ESPINOZA: ... including celebrities, is that they each had kind of this moment of truth, this light bulb moment where they realized, "You know what? I need to take control of this."
ANDERSON: Because you`ve got Kirstie Alley in here. She looks fantastic, has lost 55 pounds. Also, Camryn Manheim has lost a ton of weight. Specifically, how did they do it?
ESPINOZA: Well, what`s great is that all of them chose different plans. Camryn did it very, very slowly. It took her several years, in which she just started to slowly eat more healthfully and also to exercise more. Kirstie, as everyone is aware, has been a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig and has really limited the portions that she`s eating, and she`s also been adding a little bit of dance routines to her workout. She hired a group of choreographers to come up with cardio workouts for her that she now does four days a week.
ANDERSON: Well, good for both of them.
And, Heather, we all watch television. We all watch films. Many out there say Hollywood is putting out this image of the unattainable, the unhealthy, skinny, skinny, skinny is so much better. What message do you feel Hollywood is sending to women?
HAOUCHINE: Well, I just think you have to look at yourself as an individual and set realistic goals. I know that I used to look at TV and I used to look at those moms on TV and I`d be like, "They`re so active and running around." And I want to be that mom, and I wasn`t that mom.
So when I walked through the door at Weight Watchers, that was my goal, just to be the mom I wanted to be, kind of what I saw portrayed on, you know, TV.
ANDERSON: Many women out there are probably watching looking at you as a role model, an inspiration to them. What would you say to them to motivate them to be where you are today and to get fit?
HAOUCHINE: I`d say, have fun, enjoy life, enjoy food, and ask for help. Get help. It`s OK to say, "I need help with this. It`s a little out of control." And, you know, portion control is a big thing.
ANDERSON: Well, you are an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your story.
HAOUCHINE: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Heather Haouchine and Galina Espinoza from "People" magazine, thank you both for being here.
And for more about folks who lost half their size, pick up a copy of "People" magazine. It is on newsstands on Friday.
CARROLL: And we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." New Year`s resolutions: Have you ever really kept one? Keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight and write us at showbiztonight@CNN.com. Your e-mails are coming up at 55 past the hour.
It`s the end of an era for Dunkin` Donuts. The star of its classic ad campaign has died. That story is next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Plus, late-night`s other Carson gets ready to ring in the new year with his own version of the Daly show. We`ll find out what new year`s tricks he has up his sleeve. Carson Daly joins us live. That`s coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
CARROLL: And we`re getting out the crystal ball; 2006 will be a year of change in network news. But will people change channels? The future of the media, coming up in a live report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s only live entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson.
It is the battle of the New Year`s Eve specials across the networks. From Regis to Dick and Ryan, from Carson to Anderson, the networks are all hoping to catch your eye at midnight. And joining us live, Carson Daly, who is hosting NBC`s program, "New Year`s Eve with Carson Daly."
Hi, Carson.
CARSON DALY, HOST, "NEW YEAR`S EVE WITH CARSON DALY": Hey, Brooke, how are you?
ANDERSON: I`m doing well, thank you.
DALY: Thanks for having me on.
ANDERSON: Thanks for being here.
DALY: And CNN has their own show with your brother, Cooper, so...
ANDERSON: We do, and I want to talk to you about that. Years ago, there used to be one man, Dick Clark.
DALY: That`s right, sure.
ANDERSON: Now, there`s Dick Clark, there`s Regis Philbin, there`s Anderson Cooper on CNN, there`s you, on MTV, ESPN has specials...
DALY: ESPN has one, too?
ANDERSON: Can you believe it?
DALY: What do they do?
ANDERSON: Why the New Year`s Eve craze?
DALY: Wow, good. Bring it on.
ANDERSON: Why the craze?
DALY: Well, it`s a big night for broadcasting, you know? I don`t know. I don`t know why everybody has a show. I mean, you can thank -- that giant ball that drops is really the real star, I think, that night, and the intoxicated people in Times Square. So people want to see that, so the more shows that are showing that, probably the better.
ANDERSON: You have a lot of competition, as we just named.
DALY: Yes.
ANDERSON: What are you going to do to stand out from the rest of the pack?
DALY: I`m going to do the show in a dress.
ANDERSON: That ought to do it.
DALY: I think that -- yes, a nice pink gown, actually.
ANDERSON: Some drag on New Year`s Eve.
DALY: We`re going to be live. I think for us the whole thing was -- you know, we`re going to come on at 11:30. And we want to just show the sights and sounds. Again, I really think that that night people watch to see everybody in Times Square, half a million people. It`s such a spectacle.
So, for us, I think our intention was to sort of scale down, if you will. We`re going to be on for about an hour. We`re going to be all live, and we have Mary J. Blige, who has the new number-one album in the country. And she`s going to be performing live.
And so people who couldn`t make it to New York or wonder what it`s like to be there to watch the ball drop, I think our show`s going to offer that. We`re not going to leave what Times Square`s doing. I think, so that`ll play...
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: You`re bringing the viewers to Times Square with you.
DALY: Yes, yes, actually.
ANDERSON: Well, this has been another really incredible year for you, not only with this New Year`s Eve special, but with your talk show, your late-night talk show. Last fall...
DALY: Thank you. It`s killing right now. It`s doing great.
ANDERSON: What is the hardest part about having a talk show? I know it`s been a big transition, I`m sure.
DALY: Well, I`ll tell you, Brooke. Having the show is great. Having the show -- it`s on when America sleeps is different. You know, you hope that somebody stumbles to the rest room in the middle of the night and, "I know that, the kid from MTV on."
It`s great, and it`s been a lot of fun. We just recently...
ANDERSON: I hear Jimmy Kimmel say that a lot.
DALY: Yes, yes, yes. Well, Jimmy`s on, too. And he`s on when people are still up, though, which is nice.
But we just relocated the show out to Los Angeles, which has been great. And we`re having an absolute blast doing it. And to be on NBC after the "Tonight Show" and "Conan O`Brien," it`s just a ton of fun to do it.
ANDERSON: Some good company to be in.
DALY: Yes. And it`s a great place for me to expose a lot of new bands. And, you know, there`s not a lot of rules going on at 1:30, so we have a lot of fun with it.
ANDERSON: Pretty much anything goes.
DALY: Yes.
ANDERSON: Well, celebrities stop by and talk to you every night. 2005 has been very eventful year shall we say, to put it lightly.
DALY: Yes.
ANDERSON: What`s your favorite story from 2005?
DALY: In the whole year?
ANDERSON: Yes.
DALY: One story?
ANDERSON: Can you pick one?
DALY: Oh, boy. I liked when -- and I know celebrities have been big in 2005, and I know Tom Cruise has been a big name, and Katie Holmes. But I liked when the guy did the flower and the water squirted out.
ANDERSON: Oh, that was so mean.
DALY: I thought that was a great moment.
ANDERSON: You thought it was great?
DALY: Yes, I just thought it was funny.
ANDERSON: Ah, well, I don`t know that Tom Cruise thought that was too funny...
DALY: Yes, no, I don`t think he did.
ANDERSON: ... but that was the one that stood out to you, all right.
DALY: And him and Matt Lauer on "The Today Show" when they were going at it.
ANDERSON: How many times have we seen that clip, right?
DALY: That`s a sitcom I`d like to see.
ANDERSON: Well, we would love to have you back on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT any time. And let me ask you, if you were here a year from now, who at that time do you think would be the biggest star out there, the one everybody`s talking about?
DALY: A year from now?
ANDERSON: Yes, maybe somebody who`s on the cusp right now.
DALY: There`s this young actress that I think is going to have a breakout year, who`s gone to have a long career, and she`s awesome. And her name is Dakota Fanning. Look for her. She`s something else.
ANDERSON: Who`s that, Dakota?
DALY: Next year, it will make sense.
ANDERSON: Quite a talent, and has worked with some of the biggest names in the business.
DALY: Well, she will. She will. She`s going to be big.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. And we`ve been asking viewers all night, have they ever really kept a new year`s resolution?
DALY: My answer is no, no, not at all.
ANDERSON: Do you make them?
DALY: It`s like Valentine`s Day. You should love your spouse or the people that you`re with every day. So why quit smoking just because it`s, you know, January 1? You should work towards those resolutions at all -- throughout the year.
ANDERSON: That`s a pretty good philosophy.
DALY: I don`t know what any of that means. I just can`t keep a promise, that`s my problem.
ANDERSON: Oh, well, we will have to leave it there. Carson Daly, thank you so much...
DALY: Happy new year, Brooke. Thanks for having me.
ANDERSON: ... for being here. Happy new year to you, as well.
And you can catch NBC "New Year`s Eve" with Carson Daly this Saturday on NBC.
CARROLL: Tonight, a war of words against Steven Spielberg and his controversial film, "Munich." The Palestinian mastermind of the 1972 terror attacks says he`s angry that he was not consulted for the film, which chronicles the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics and the retaliation that follows.
Mohammad Daoud says, of "Munich," "If Spielberg really wanted to make it a prayer for peace, he should have listened to both sides of the story and reflected reality, rather than serving the Zionist side alone." Spielberg`s camp has insisted the director`s take is balanced and adds that advisers included a Palestinian consultant.
Well, it`s been a topsy-turvy year in TV news. Hurricane Katrina gave many news shows and reporters the chance to shine. But the departure of Dan Rather and the death of Peter Jennings left big network news programs looking for their next big stars. One network thinks their salvation may come in the form of a rival`s perky morning show host.
Joining us live from Philadelphia is veteran news anchor and author of "Lennon Revealed," Larry Kane. And, live in Pittsburgh, we have the author of "Anchoring America" and "Responsible Journalism," Jeff Alan.
All right, Jeff, I`m actually going to start with you. And the issue here, ABC, where we`re going to have Bob Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas, they`re going to be taking over next week, January 3rd, for "ABC World News Tonight." The question is, do you think audiences are ready for the dual anchor team for their evening news?
JEFF ALAN, AUTHOR, "ANCHORING AMERICA": Jason, I don`t think audiences care at this point, you know? You know, many people were so loyal to Dan, Peter and Tom, after having been on for over 20 years, that this throws a wrench in everybody`s viewing habits.
And plus, of course, we have cable news now. We have news on the Internet and what have you. So, I don`t think they`re going to make a big difference. And I think people are going to keep looking around, and I think we`re going to see those evening ratings keep sliding downhill.
CARROLL: You do?
ALAN: Yes.
CARROLL: OK, let`s flip over to the other side. Let`s get the other opinion. What do you think?
LARRY KANE, VETERAN BROADCAST ANCHOR AND AUTHOR: I think you`re going to have a very interesting year. First of all, CBS will go after Katie Couric. They`ll waste a lot of money. Katie Couric leaves NBC`s "Today Show," nothing changes at the "Today Show," nothing changes at the "CBS Evening News."
Bob Schieffer`s doing a great job. With all due respect to Katie Couric, remember what happened with Bryant Gumbel? Millions of dollars spent, and it was all wasted in the morning program.
I think Jeff will agree that the key here is not that the up-front talent -- and you`re looking at one, who`s been at three stations in the last 38 years -- it`s about the content. You home grow anchors, like CNN is doing with Cooper, like NBC did with Brian Williams, and look where he is now.
It`s all home-grown talent. It`s not trading places. So I don`t think, especially, buying a name is the way to go in contemporary television.
CARROLL: But here`s the other thing, Larry. I mean, what we`re going to have is we`re going to have three new anchors, possibly three, if Couric, as what a lot of people are writing, ends up going over to CBS. But the question is, there`s definitely going to be a learning curve no matter what. And so do you think audiences will allow for a learning curve, no matter who is sitting in that very important chair?
KANE: Audiences are going to go to the best-produced program, whether it`s on CNN, the other cable channels, ABC, NBC or CBS. It`s all about the news. Bob Schieffer is closing in right now, and he`s doing it with a pretty good product. That`s what it`s all about.
CARROLL: All right, Jeff, what do you think about what Larry just said there?
ALAN: Oh, right on, Larry. I mean, he is right there with exactly what I was going to say.
And, you know, the interesting point here, again, is it`s not only the learning curve, Jason, from learning about new anchors; there`s learning about new technologies, too. One of the things I`m predicting for next year is somebody is going to produce the first newscast for cell phones.
I mean, all the cell phones that are out there right now are streaming video. So that means they`re ripe for a newscast. So a CNN could come along and produce a newscast just for your cell phone and make more money, a new revenue stream there. So that will even be another place that we dilute this news audience through.
CARROLL: Larry, what do you think of that?
KANE: I think he`s absolutely on target: Hand-held is everything. It can be everything. And right now, there are companies -- there`s a company called GoTV out in California that does the very same thing.
It`s also about VOD, video on-demand. And video on-demand is not just for "Desperate Housewives" or programs like that. It`s for newscasts. When you can watch the newscast when you want to watch the newscast, that`s the name of the game.
And watch out for satellite radio. Satellite radio cannot achieve its full potential until it gets local news. When satellite radio makes a deal with the CBS stations, or gets its own news, that`s when it might take off.
CARROLL: All right. We`re going to have to call it there, Larry Kane, live in Philadelphia, and Jeff Alan, live in Pittsburg. Gentlemen, thanks to both of you.
ALAN: Thanks, Jason.
KANE: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Well, there`s still time for you to sound off in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." New Year`s resolutions: Have you ever really kept one? Vote at CNN.com/showbiztonight or write us at showbiztonight@CNN.com. We are going to read some of your thoughts live, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL VALE, DUNKIN` DONUTS SPOKESPERSON: Time to make the doughnuts. I make the doughnuts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: The star of those famous Dunkin` Donuts commercials has died. Actor Michael Vale has passed away from complications of diabetes. The commercials starring Vale ran for 15 years before he retired in 1997. In a statement, Dunkin` Donuts says Vale`s character became a beloved American icon that touched millions with his sense of humor and humble nature. Michael Vale was 83 years old.
ANDERSON: Throughout the show, we`ve been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." New Year`s resolutions: Have you ever really kept one?
Let`s take a look at how the vote is going so far. It`s a pretty wide gap here: 24 percent of you say yes; 76 percent of you say no.
Here are some of the e-mails we`ve received. Christopher from Ontario, Canada, writes: "Life is too short to wait for only one time in the year to make a resolution. Self-improvement is lifelong work."
Al in California writes, "I have kept one. In 1984, I made a resolution to never make another resolution in my life."
Does that count, Jason?
CARROLL: I think Al is a smart guy.
ANDERSON: Al, Christopher, we appreciate all your e-mails. You can keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight.
CARROLL: All right. Time to see what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow. Take it away, Marquee Guy.
MARQUEE GUY: Tomorrow, make it your resolution to tune in for a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special. New Year`s or not, thin is always in, in La-la Land. And the stars will go to almost any lengths to get there. The incredible shrinking starlets, the good, the bad, the dangerous, we have them all. Just weight and see! The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special on body image in Hollywood. Where? Here. When? Tomorrow.
This is the Marquee Guy. Pound for pound, ounce for ounce, microbe for microbe, the slimmest Marquee Guy in town.
ANDERSON: You know, I think you could give him a run for his money. You`re a pretty slender guy.
CARROLL: You`ve got to love him. I`m fit, though, fit.
All right. That`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Jason Carroll, filling in for A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson. Stay tuned for more Headline News.
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