Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
ABC News Anchor, Cameraman Seriously Hurt; Correspondent Explains Why News is Worth the Risk; "Crash" Takes Surprise Prize at SAG Awards; What Do SAG Awards Mean for Oscar Chances?; Pornography Abounds on the Internet
Aired January 30, 2006 - 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.
SIBILA VARGAS, CO-HOST: And I`m Sibila Vargas. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff seriously wounded in Iraq. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the heartbreaking and emotional connection Woodruff`s family has to the family of a newsman killed during the war. Plus, Hollywood stars in shock and talking to us about how they reacted.
ALFRE WOODARD, ACTRESS: I immediately started saying prayers for him.
HAMMER: Porn on the Internet. A stunning new report on what`s out there, and who`s seeing it, even children. Tonight, porn out of control, and why even parents may not be able to protect their kids.
Surprise, surprise! Major upsets at one of Hollywood`s biggest award shows.
DON CHEADLE, ACTOR: It`s a film that doesn`t end when the credits rolled.
HAMMER: Tonight, who "crashed" the SAG Awards, and why everyone`s buzzing about it the night before the Oscar nominations.
JOSH HOLLOWAY, ACTOR: Hi, I`m Josh Holloway from "Lost," and if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: Hello, I`m Sibila Vargas live in Hollywood.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer, live in New York City.
Tonight the bombing heard around the world that has left one of America`s most prominent anchormen fighting for his life. The news that anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman were badly hurt when a roadside bomb went off in Iraq has sent shock waves across America. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the story covered, from Iraq to New York to Hollywood.
Tonight, we bring you the very latest, the reaction, emotion and the aftermath today that everyone everywhere is talking about.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: From ABC News, this is "World News Tonight."
HAMMER (voice-over): Just minutes ago, the big story on "ABC World News Tonight" was a personal and painful one for the ABC News team, an update on their seriously injured anchor, Bob Woodruff, and cameraman, Doug Vogt.
ELIZABETH VARGAS, CO-ANCHOR, "ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT": I`m Elizabeth Vargas in New York. My co-anchor, Bob Woodruff, and his cameraman, Doug Vogt, are showing signs of improvement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The doctors here are taking another look at them to see just how serious the situation is.
HAMMER: TV news crews have converged at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany to bring up to the minute details about their fallen fellow journalists. Woodruff and Vogt were flown here today after Sunday`s roadside attack. Both are being treated for severe head injuries. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned that Woodruff is the most seriously injured.
BRIAN GAMBLE, LANDSTUHL, HOSPITAL COMMANDER: I can`t get into specifics what the wounds are by individual or by patient, but I can tell you that they`re wounds that you would typically see in an improvised explosive device, IED.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s when the vehicle hit the roadside bomb.
HAMMER: As ABC News and other outlets go over the details of the attack, people are breathing sighs of relief, knowing that it could have been much worse. Military officials say if that it hadn`t been for body army like the kind Woodruff is wearing in this photo, taken just minutes before the blast, both men would be dead.
On "The Today Show," former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw came out of retirement to tell viewers the horrifying details of the attack that he had learned from Woodruff`s family and his wife, Lee.
TOM BROKAW, FORMER NBC NEWS ANCHOR: Immediately after the explosion, he turned to his producer, and "Am I alive?" And "Don`t tell Lee," and then he began to cry out in excruciating pain. But he was able to walk to the helicopter.
HAMMER: It`s what all of America is talking about. At the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Hollywood, the stars told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they respect the sacrifices journalists like Woodruff and Vogt make.
ANGELA BASSETT, ACTRESS: As a serious journalist, that is, I guess, one of the possibilities of -- you know, possible consequences of bringing to us what`s going on in the world.
HOLLOWAY: I have huge respect for them for doing that, because they are literally risking their lives every day out there.
ED HARRIS, ACTOR: I applaud people like Bob who are over there trying to get to the truth of the matter. And I hope he`s OK.
HAMMER (on camera): Here at ABC, all of this comes at a particularly bad time. People are still mourning the death of Bob Woodruff`s predecessor, Peter Jennings, just last August.
But this sad news has shaken journalists everywhere, because it provides a harsh reminder that reporting from Iraq is a very, very dangerous business.
ANNOUNCER: Right at the moment history is being made, Bob Woodruff is again right there.
HAMMER (voice-over): When Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas inherited the chair from Jennings in November, Woodruff told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that they were going to go where the story takes them.
BOB WOODRUFF, CO-ANCHOR, "ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT": This is the best of all worlds. We`re going to be able to anchor and we`ll be able to get out on the big stories when they break.
HAMMER: In Woodruff`s hometown near Detroit, Michigan, an old high school friend says Woodruff`s passion is to report from the field.
ROB MACGREGOR, WOODRUFF`S HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND: Bob sincerely, I would assume, never said no to an assignment. And again, I doubt that he sought these things out; however, he did feel that it was important to be able to be where the action was.
HAMMER: That`s a sentiment Woodruff`s boss, David Westin, echoed this morning on "Good Morning America."
DAVID WESTIN, ABC NEWS PRESIDENT: He knows the risks. He knows them very, very well. And we all know that there is substantial risk. At the same time, what we do is we report the news.
HAMMER: Ironically, Woodruff, a husband and father of four, recently got a sad and personal reminder of the dangers of battlefield reporting.
DAVID BLOOM, FORMER NBC NEWS REPORTER: We`re part of a very large convoy here.
HAMMER: In 2003, NBC reporter David Bloom died of a blood clot while covering the Iraq war. Bloom and Woodruff were close friends. As Tom Brokaw tells "The Today Show," Woodruff left his assignment in Iraq to accompany Bloom`s body back to the states, and Woodruff has been there for his friend`s family ever since.
BROKAW: About a year after David had died, the girls were invited to a father-daughter dance, and Bob took a night off and took one of the girls as her surrogate father.
HAMMER: Now Bloom`s family is there for Woodruff. Bloom`s widow, Melanie, is in Germany right now, giving comfort to Woodruff`s wife. As the families and colleagues of both Woodruff and Vogt wait and pray for their speedy recovery.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Elizabeth Vargas was choking back tears and thanking viewers for their support at the end of tonight`s "World News Tonight."
Well, one of CNN -- CNN`s own is also covering Iraq from a very dangerous spot, a danger zone, indeed, reporter Michael Holmes. I spoke with Michael this afternoon and I asked him if the attack on Woodward (sic) and his cameraman is taking a personal toll. And Michael also told me about why he does it, and about a situation that almost got him killed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: More than once, actually, yes. I mean, obviously, the ambush we were involved in two years ago which lead to the deaths are two of our friends, that was one that I felt I was lucky to get out of. And if we hadn`t had an armed guard on that occasion, I`d be dead and so would four of our colleagues. As it is, we did lose two people.
But there was a debate at the time, I remember, two years ago, about whether the media should have armed guards, and all of this. And that debate stopped pretty quickly after one of them saved our lives. Now everyone has armed guards.
There was a time in Ramallah in the West Bank when I was with one of our camera people, and we were very, very close to a fire fight, and bullets pinging off walls. And I felt a bit lucky that day, too. We had Israeli troops fire into the back of our vehicle one day from about 20 feet away. That was another lucky one.
I think anyone who covers conflicts is going to have a few of those stories.
HAMMER: Michael, tell me, what is it about a reporter`s instinct that makes him want to do this, to stay in the story, even as dangerous as it may get?
HOLMES: I think it`s the passion for the story. You know, I think those of us who come to places like this, and cover the story also are -- there have been studies about this actually -- tend to be the people who are best equipped to deal with it, deal with some of the horrible things that you see and some of the stresses that you obviously encounter.
You know, the mentality of it, I don`t know. I`ve got a couple little kids and my daughter hates me coming over here. She`s only 7.
But if you`re going to be in this business and your passion is covering international news, I think you have an automatic desire to be where that story is. And I`m not saying that you be fool-hardy or you run around and take risks. That`s not what we do. I`ve been in the business nearly 30 years, and I`m not about to die for any story. But if you do want to be in the business and cover big stories, you`ve got to go to them.
HAMMER: And you mentioned your family. How difficult is that for you, because obviously it has to be one of the main things that you personally contend with. How difficult is it for you to justify being there with the family at home?
HOLMES: Yes, I`m divorced. I`ve got a 7-year-old girl who worries herself sick sometimes about it. She knows what happened in the ambush, and it troubles her. When I said I was going to away again, she said, "I hope it`s not Iraq."
My little boy is 6 and he actually think it`s really cool that I get to hang out with soldiers. And you know, my fiance, she`s -- she`s getting used to it, to be honest.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Michael also told me that he understands the risks of being out there, but the reason he goes is because, in order to tell this type of story, he feels you really have to see what`s going on in person.
S. VARGAS: Now we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Reporters in Iraq: is it worth the risk? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight and send us e-mail at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`ll read some of your thoughts later in the show.
HAMMER: Well, as we saw, Woodruff`s injury was the talk of the red carpet at the SAG Awards. Coming up, we`re going to hear more reaction from the stars.
S. VARGAS: Plus, porn on the Internet. A stunning new report on what`s out there, and who`s seeing it. Coming up, porn out of control, and why parents may not be able to protect their kids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHEADLE: We believe that it really celebrates the definition what an ensemble is all about. I mean, there`s 74 of us, so...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There were major upsets at one of Hollywood`s biggest award shows. Coming up, we`re going to tell you who "crashed" the SAG Awards, and why everyone is buzzing about it the night before the Oscar nominations come out.
First, here comes tonight`s "`Entertainment Weekly` Great American Pop Culture Quiz." In 2003`s "School of Rock," what private prep school does Dewey Finn`s fledgling rock band attend? Was it Dalton, Horace Mann, Horace Green, or Welton Academy? We`re coming straight back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Once again, tonight`s "`Entertainment Weekly` Great American Pop Culture Quiz." In 2003`s "School of Rock," what private prep school does Dewey Finn`s fledgling rock band attend? Was it Dalton, Horace Mann, Horace Green, or Welton Academy? The answer is "C," Horace Green.
S. VARGAS: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s only live entertainment news show. I`m Sibila Vargas.
Tonight it`s countdown to the Oscar nominations. And everyone in Hollywood is counting the wins from last night`s Screen Actors Guild Awards to see might get Oscar gold. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was front and center at the SAG Awards, and I have your inside look at the winners. Personal interviews with the stars and the latest on the big upset that`s stirring up all of Hollywood.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MORGAN FREEMAN, ACTOR: "Crash."
S. VARGAS (voice-over): "Crashing" the party and the talk of all of Hollywood today, the ensemble cast of "Crash." They stole SAG`s top prize for best performance in a motion picture.
CHEADLE: It really celebrates the definition of what an ensemble is all about. I mean, there`s 74 of us.
S. VARGAS: "Crash," a film about racial tensions in Los Angeles, pulled off a huge surprise upset over the much hyped film "Brokeback Mountain." The upset was the story of the night, and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was one on one with the "Crash" cast, just moments after their big win.
Ludacris told me it was a life-changing movie.
LUDACRIS, RAPPER/ACTOR: It`s really just about self empowerment, self improvement. You know, just self-educating yourself about what`s going on, not only in the world, but just what`s going on within yourself.
S. VARGAS: Other big wins of the night: recent Golden Globe winners Philip Seymour Hoffman, for becoming controversial writer Truman Capote in "Capote." And Reese Witherspoon for her spot on portrayal of June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line."
In supporting film roles, Paul Giamatti won top honors for his role in "Cinderella Man," and Rachel Weisz won for "The Constant Gardener."
Rachel came straight to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s SAG suite after her big win. She told me filming the thriller about government corruption in Africa really impacted her.
RACHEL WEISZ, ACTRESS: We were filming in morgues and in real hospitals. We were filming in the real Kenya, the kind of Kenya that tourists don`t really get to see. That was really an extraordinary experience.
S. VARGAS: And onto the small screen. The drama "Lost" found its way to win the best dramatic cast award, and "Lost`s" Harold Perrineau told me he`s happy people are finding complicated dramas again on TV.
HAROLD PERRINEAU, ACTOR: If we`re responsible for that, coming -- scripted dramas coming back, then that`s great. Because for awhile, we were a little -- we were almost obsolete with the reality shows.
S. VARGAS: Also fashionable, Kiefer Sutherland, who talked to me after he picked up the best dramatic performance award for "24."
KIEFER SUTHERLAND, ACTOR: It`s a shock when they call your name, and it`s an incredibly humbling experience to walk into a room like that. And you see every actor that you`ve ever wanted to work with, actors that have shaped how you work.
S. VARGAS: And Sandra Oh talked to us after she picked up best dramatic actress award for "Grey`s Anatomy."
SANDRA OH, ACTRESS: It`s a lot of fun. It`s really hard work, long hours. But it`s worth it, because people really seem to enjoy the show. And it`s really nice to be a part of something that people respond to so positively.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. VARGAS: And this all comes hours before Oscar nominations are handed out. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be there. I`ll be there tomorrow morning for that, bright and early.
So what, if anything, does winning a SAG award mean to Oscar hopefuls? Joining me live here in Hollywood, Tom O`Neil of Envelope.com and Julie Jordan of "People" magazine.
Thank you guys so much for being with us.
TOM O`NEIL, ENVELOPE.COM: Hi.
S. VARGAS: Big upset. "Brokeback Mountain." I mean, what is the prize? Director Ang Lee got the award, the best director award, at the DGA`s over the weekend. What`s going on in Hollywood? Has it lost its love for "Brokeback Mountain"?
JULIE JORDAN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Well, you know, I think most importantly, you`ve got to remember, the actors are nominating the actors. They`re honoring themselves for the SAG Awards. So I don`t think it`s a matter of "Brokeback Mountain" not them getting the recognition it deserves. I think they`re a safe bet for the Oscar nominations, both Ang Lee and best picture.
But last night, you know, "Crash" is such a diversified cast. The actors were again honoring themselves. I think that`s where the appreciation came from.
S. VARGAS: It was an ensemble film, correct?
JORDAN: Exactly. Exactly.
S. VARGAS: Still, I mean, it kind of left people a little...
O`NEIL: It was totally shut out, "Brokeback." That`s what was so surprising.
S. VARGAS: That`s right. Heath Ledger was nominated.
O`NEIL: Right. And Michelle Williams. I thought if there was a "Brokeback" win, it would come in the supporting actress race. And I still think she could win at the Oscars. If they`re going to give it best picture, they like to give it an acting award, and that`s where they`ll go.
But look, SAG is the biggest union in Hollywood and the gayest union in Hollywood. Let`s be honest. Where`s the "Brokeback" love?
S. VARGAS: Where`s the "Brokeback" love? And let`s talk about the big surprise of the evening. "Crash" did extremely well.
JORDAN: Right.
S. VARGAS: Is this the little movie that could?
JORDAN: Well, again, I think people are really looking at the performances within the movie, and the message, of course. You know, this year alone, between "Brokeback," "Crash," you know, you`re really sending out a strong message in terms of subject material, these movies that are being honored.
So, you know, it was nice to see the cast get up there. And again, it was a surprise. We like surprises. We don`t like to be bored.
S. VARGAS: A little refreshing.
JORDAN: Yes. You want something different.
S. VARGAS: And you want to be surprised come Oscar time. Don`t you?
JORDAN: That`s right, otherwise it`s three hours of just tedium and boredom. You know? And it`s just really -- it`s hard to sit through if it`s everything you expect. We want those dark horses. We want some surprises.
O`NEIL: They could win best picture. If there`s one movie that can beat "Brokeback," it`s "Crash."
JORDAN: "Crash," definitely.
O`NEIL: And the studio knows it. Lions Gate has blitzed Hollywood with 130,000 DVD TV screeners, the most in Oscar history. They taste it.
JORDAN: They`re doing their best.
O`NEIL: And we`re about to face something very odd. When the nominations come out tomorrow, the race shuts down for a month.
JORDAN: Yes.
O`NEIL: All the guild awards are up in January. There`s a lot of time for people to get bored.
S. VARGAS: Yes. Got to move on to the best actress category. I was in pins and needles yesterday looking at Reese Witherspoon and Felicity Huffman. It reminded me of Annette Bening and Hilary Swank.
JORDAN: Right. Right. Well, you know, again, you`re got two different performances. You`ve got to say the academy loves it when you dress down. Think of Charlize with "Monster." You know, Felicity is definitely not playing the beautiful part here.
Reese is playing June Carter. She`s amazingly beautiful, you know, songstress, just looking and being this amazing woman. And it`s a biopic, again, always something the academy kind of lends, I guess, or goes towards.
At the same time, it`s hard.
O`NEIL: The babe always wins. And the women over 40 seldom win. They seldom win. But, you know, this could be different. Because Felicity Huffman has one wild card going for her that is fascinating. When we see upsets at the Oscars, it`s little movies like "Iris," like "Pollack," like "Monster`s Ball." That last DVD screener the voter gets to in their stack. And that`s "Transamerica" this year.
JORDAN: Right.
S. VARGAS: OK. Let`s move on to Philip Seymour Hoffman, Reese Witherspoon, Rachel Weisz. All got Golden Globes this year and also the SAGs yesterday. What`s the probability of them getting Oscar nominations and then maybe Oscar gold?
JORDAN: It`s usually a really good indication, if they get the Globes and the SAGs. Its means there`s kind of a united front in their support. I would say very safe bet you`re going to see all three go home with the gold come Oscar tonight. But at the same time, it`s always those dark horses you have to watch.
O`NEIL: Philip Seymour Hoffman is the only slam dunk. We could have lots of surprises. This year we`ll have no tipoffs, because those guild awards aren`t a few days ahead of time.
S. VARGAS: Well, thank you guys. Thank you both.
JORDAN: Of course.
S. VARGAS: Tom O`Neil and Julie Jordan. Thank you.
And remember, tomorrow`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will have extensive coverage of the Oscar award nominations, including interviews with the nominees as the Oscar countdown begins. That`s tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at 7 and 11 p.m. Eastern.
HAMMER: Well, the band Train is out with a new album. Is it worth getting on board? We`re going to find out next in "Picks and Pans." Plus new music from the band Yellowcard and Heather Headley.
S. VARGAS: Plus, porn on the Internet. A stunning new report on what`s out there, and who`s seeing it. Coming up, porn out of control, and why parents may not be able to protect their children.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOODARD: Well, I immediately started saying prayers for him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: News anchor Bob Woodruff, wounded in Iraq. It was the talk of the red carpet at the SAG Awards. Coming up, what the stars told us about how they felt right after hearing the news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. VARGAS: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Sibila Vargas.
It was a big weekend for "Big Momma`s House," the sequel. "Big Momma`s House 2," starring Martin Lawrence, debuted at No. 1 at the weekend office. Final figures out today showed it brought in $28 million, making it the second-best January opening ever, behind the re-release of "Star Wars" in 1997.
Emma Thompson in the family comedy "Nanny McPhee" debuted in second place, followed by the vampire thriller "Underworld: Evolution." "Annapolis" opened in at fourth. And the animated "Hoodwinked" was fifth.
HAMMER: Time now for the "SHOWBIZ Guide," where throughout the week we help you decide where to spend your dollars on movies, music, DVDs and more. Tonight in "People`s Picks and Pans," we`re talking about what`s new in music. The band Train returns with their fourth studio album, while Heather Headley and punk rockers Yellowcard take a second shot at success with their new releases.
Joining me live in New York to tell us about them is "People" magazine writer Anne Marie Cruz.
Anne Marie, Train, the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning band has always been one of my favorites. They have a brand new album called "For Me, It`s You. And let`s take a quick listen to the song "Cab."
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know their hits, from "Calling All Angels" to "Drops of Jupiter," which won them a Grammy. What about this album?
ANNE MARIE CRUZ, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: You know, "Cab" has that great Jayhawks inflected kind of feel, like from the "Hollywood Town Hall" days, but I think, just like the previous three albums, this is going to be a silver bullet to platinum again. They continue to turn out the great hits. And the title track, "For Me, It`s You," is just so heartrending that you have to listen to it.
HAMMER: All right. Sounds like a good choice.
Let`s move on to Heather Headley. This is her sophomore CD called "In My Mind." Let`s take a quick listen to the title track from the CD.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s been four years since she released her debut album, which earned her a Grammy nomination. What about this CD?
CRUZ: I think this one could be Grammy worthy, as well. And if you have time to plan your Valentine`s Day gifts, I think this is a good one. Because a lot of soulful ballads on it. And the last song, "Change, will really appeal to the people who loved her in "Aida," because it`s just a soaring gospel song.
HAMMER: A lot of people compare her to sort of Whitney Houston and say maybe she`s going to take over in the Whitney Houston vein, since we`re not hearing a lot from Whitney these days.
CRUZ: Yes, she doesn`t bring any of Whitney`s transcendence, but luckily, she doesn`t bring any of Whitney`s recent trashiness either. The thing is, I think it`s kind of unfair to compare her to Whitney. She`s sort of her own thing. She`s kind of got a Jill Scott sort of groove. And you know, I think she`s going to definitely make a mark.
HAMMER: All right. And now something completely different, punk rockers -- I call them pop punk rockers -- Yellowcard. They`re back. Their CD, "Lights and Sounds" We know them from "Ocean Avenue." What about this disk?
CRUZ: You know, they really don`t want to be called punk poppers anymore. Especially with the resident violinist, Sean Mackin. They really are maturing on this album. They have a song about an Iraqi fighter from the U.S. who dies before he turns 20.
And you know what? I think this is a great album. It shows they`ve matured.
HAMMER: I won`t call them punk poppers any more. They have a violin.
Anne Marie Cruz, thank you, as always.
CRUZ: Thank you.
HAMMER: And for more "Picks and Pans," you can grab your copy of "People" magazine. You`ll find it on newsstands now.
Well, Tom Cruise is up for some awards tonight. But I don`t think he`s doing any couch-jumping in celebration. We`re going to tell you why it`s a bittersweet honor. That`s coming up next.
S. VARGAS: Plus, porn on the Internet. A stunning new report on what`s out there and who`s seeing it. Coming up, porn out of control, and why parents may not be able to protect their kids.
HAMMER: And ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff seriously wounded in Iraq. Our coverage continues with the heartbreaking and emotional connection that Woodruff`s family has to the family of a reporter who died while covering the war. That is still ahead. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
VARGAS: And I`m Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. You`re watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.
Tonight, Hollywood`s reaction to the big nation`s news. I mean, just -- Bob Woodruff, ABC newsman, and Doug Vogt injured in Iraq. I got to speak to a lot of the celebrities in the SAG Awards yesterday. Their hearts went out. Very emotional testimonies. I mean, just talking about journalists in general and how they put their lives on the line. Very emotional reaction. That`s coming up, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes, what has happened truly just underscores the danger that these reporters can face sometimes. And people are talking about it everywhere.
Also coming up, Sibila, you may be aware, perhaps not from personal experience, there`s a ton of porn on the Internet. A ton is actually a huge understatement.
VARGAS: Yes.
HAMMER: It is staggering how much porn is available online. There are some new statistics that we have to reveal to you, and it is out of control how easy it is for your kids to get access to this online porn.
VARGAS: Wow.
HAMMER: We will delve into that, coming up in just a few moments.
But first, let`s get to tonight`s "Hot Headlines." As Hollywood`s best are about to be announced with tomorrow`s Oscar nominations at 7:30 in the morning Eastern time. That means it is also time for the worst of Hollywood. The Razzies are out. And leading the dishonors, Tom Cruise, with three nominations, including worst actor for "War of the Worlds."
Worst picture contenders include "Son of the Mask," "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigalo," and "The Dukes of Hazzard."
"Commander in Chief" is checking out for a bit. The ABC drama, starring Geena Davis as president of the United States, is actually going on the shelf beginning in March. In its place, a new comedy called "Sons and Daughters." ABC says "Commander" will return later this spring. The show started off with strong ratings, but over the past few weeks numbers have been down, especially with the return of FOX`s mega-hit, "American Idol."
And Lindsay Lohan`s London visit lands her in the hospital. The teen queen was having tea at Bryan Adams` mansion in the U.K. He`s the guy who sang "Summer of `69." Well, she apparently dropped her cup, which gashed her shin. She got stitched up at the hospital and is doing fine now.
And those are tonight`s "Hot Headlines."
VARGAS: As we sold you earlier, ABC news co-anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman Doug Vogt suffered serious injuries in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq on Sunday. Tonight, Hollywood is reacting to the news and expressing admiration for journalists like Woodruff and Vogt who are on the front lines in very dangerous areas telling their stories. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there at last night`s SAG Awards in Hollywood as stars expressed their overwhelming concern and support.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS (voice-over): The red carpet at the 12th Annual SAG Awards was overshadowed by news of the attack on ABC anchorman Bob Woodruff and his cameraman, Doug Vogt. And as the news spread, celebrities found little to cheer about.
"Desperate Housewives" actress Alfre Woodard told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she did the first thing that came to mind upon hearing the news.
ALFRE WOODARD, "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES": I immediately started saying prayers for him.
VARGAS: Actor Ed Harris, who was nominated for his starring role in the TV miniseries "Empire Falls," told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, while he hopes the ABC team is OK, he applauds journalists like Woodruff and Vogt who work every day to get the truth out to the public.
ED HARRIS, ACTOR: I applaud them all. And I wish that the lines of communication were a little bit more open. I don`t know how much really -- how much truth we`re getting out of Iraq. And I think the news is a bit censored these days, more so and so. So I applaud people like Bob who are over there trying to get to the truth of the matter. And I hope he`s OK.
VARGAS: Echoing Ed Harris` sentiments, "Lost" star Josh Holloway. He plays Sawyer on the hit ABC show and told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, while he feels badly for all the journalists injured in Iraq, he thinks journalists have to continue to tell the story.
JOSH HOLLOWAY, "LOST": It has to be done. It needs to be done. People need to see what`s going on over there to bring it to an end one day, you know? And I have huge respect for them for doing that, because they are literally risking their lives every day out there to possibly bringing about a resolution to this thing.
VARGAS: But with no end of the Iraq war in sight, celebrities, including "Medium" star Patricia Arquette, tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT journalism in dangerous areas like Iraq are an important step in telling the story.
PATRICIA ARQUETTE, "MEDIUM": It`s a dangerous occupation. I mean, it is an important thing to have journalists willing to tell the truth in these dangerous areas. We are at war with terrorism, and I guess that`s where they`re launching their war from. So we do need that news. But it is a dangerous, dangerous thing.
VARGAS: And while America is hoping and praying for the ABC team`s recovery, S. Epatha Merkerson summed up for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT what the world is now learning about the remarkable journalist Bob Woodruff and Doug Vogt.
S. EPATHA MERKERSON, "LACKAWANNA BLUES": Anyone who walks toward danger is an extraordinary human being. There is something in their makeup that makes them want to know, that makes them want to help, that makes them want to participate. And those are the kind of people you want to meet.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: And "Grey`s Anatomy" star Sandra Oh told me backstage that she imagines the job of a journalist to be just as dangerous as a fireman or policemen. But as scary as that may sometimes be, it`s really important for them to continue to do their jobs.
HAMMER: Well, there`s no doubt that the news of Bob Woodruff and photographer Doug Vogt sent shockwaves through America and the world. But for their families, the worry and the grief unparalleled. The incident calls to mind the death of NBC`s David Bloom, who died covering the war back in 2003.
Well, it turns out that their stories and the families are closer than many people know. CNN`s Mary Snow joins us live from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom with the latest on this story -- Mary?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A.J., Bob Woodruff and David Bloom had a bond professionally and personally. They were close friends with jobs that took them on dangerous assignments. It`s something their wives understood well, and they grew even closer through tragedy. Now that support is being called on once again.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice-over): As Bob Woodruff was flown to the military hospital in Germany, his wife, Lee, was on her way to be with him. By her side, Melanie Bloom. Melanie lost her husband, David, an NBC correspondent, in 2003. He died of a medical condition while covering the Iraq war. When the shocking news came, it was Lee Woodruff who got the first call. She and Melanie Bloom talked about it on "The Jane Pauley Show" last year.
LEE WOODRUFF, WIFE OF INJURED ABC NEWS CO-ANCHOR: For some reason, they couldn`t get through on the phone, so they called me. And it was 2:00 in the morning. And, of course, my first thought was, "What`s happened to Bob?" And I called Mel, and I said, "NBC`s trying to reach you." I didn`t ask what was wrong, but they told me to get in the car and start driving to her.
SNOW: As Lee went to comfort her friend, Bob Woodruff cut short his assignment in Iraq to attend Bloom`s funeral. Woodruff spoke about their families` bond to Larry King.
BOB WOODRUFF, CO-ANCHOR, "WORLD NEWS TONIGHT": Our wives hit it off. And they had a lot in common with husbands like us. They didn`t have to explain anything to each other, so we became very, very close friends, family friends. Our kids became friends.
SNOW: When Bloom`s twins had a father-daughter dance recently, it was Woodruff who stepped in to take them. Like Bloom, Woodruff also has twin girls, the youngest of his four children. America saw their love for one another during ABC`s coverage of the tsunami.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come home soon?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come home soon.
WOODRUFF: Dora and Claire, sweeties, you`re breaking my heart now.
SNOW: Woodruff told his children he would give them a massive hug when he returned home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: And as anyone who knows Bob Woodruff will tell you, well, Bob is know for his passion about his work. He has an even greater passion for his family -- A.J.?
HAMMER: Mary, I have always heard that he just loves being out there in the field. Thanks very much for that report. CNN`s Mary Snow for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
This leads us to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." We`ve been asking you to vote online tonight on: Reporters in Iraq: Is it worth the risk? Keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight. You can also write to us at showbiztonight@CNN.com, is our e-mail address. We`ll get to some of your e-mails in about 15 minutes.
VARGAS: Well, it`s no secret that porn is all over the Internet. But there is a hidden danger, too. Up next, a shocking report about who`s surfing what online and what -- can anything be done to protect your children? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Four-letter word for "bloke"? A male.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: A four-letter word for "gusto"? A five-letter word for "puncture"?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Coming up, we`ve got a look at the brand-new movie all about a six-letter word that means "mystery." Now, I want you to think about this. Your clues are: celebrities everywhere are hooked, and you need a sharp pencil and sharp mind to be successful at it. You think about that. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson will have the story, coming up next.
VARGAS: And now a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT birthday shoutout, where we give fans a chance to wish their favorite stars a happy birthday. Tonight, a birthday shoutout to actor Christian Bale, who played Batman in last year`s "Batman Begins" movie. He`s celebrating his 32nd birthday today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, my name is Frederick (ph). I`m from Norway. Congratulations with your birthday, Christian Bale. You were great in the film, "Batman." You`re my hero now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York, and you`re watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.
Well, certainly no secret how big porn is and how big the business of porn is. It`s certainly no secret that it`s all over the Internet. Recent statistics show that 40 million Americans admit to visiting adult Web sites and 70 percent of men, between the ages of 18 to 34, say they look at Internet porn at least once a month.
What these figures do not reflect are the millions of children who are coming across the x-rated stuff every single day. Joining me now live from Hollywood, Xeni Jardin. Xeni runs the technology blog site, BoingBoing.net
Good to see you, as always, Xeni.
XENI JARDIN, BOINGBOING.NET EDITOR: Hi, A.J.
HAMMER: Let`s get into this, because it is simply outrageous how much porn there is out there. It is out of control. Obviously, the market warrants it or the market demands it. It`s a big, big moneymaker. But what`s truly outrageous is how easy it is for kids to run across this stuff on the net. Why does it remain so easy?
JARDIN: Well, I think you have to start off the discussion by remembering that the vast majority of porn is produced by, marketed to, and sold to adults. And that`s still -- you know, adult-to-adult transactions, that`s still legal. It`s a huge business, and it`s still legal.
The problem here is when we have young people coming across the material when they shouldn`t be, obviously. Nobody agrees that that`s a good thing.
There are three ways to fight that. One of them is dealing with it in the family, having parents have, you know, more contact with their kids about what they`re accessing online. The second is with technology, by using Internet filters in homes, in libraries. And then the third is with government, with laws that might enforce new criminal penalties on Web sites, adult Web sites that fail to keep kids out.
HAMMER: Backing up to the technology, certainly the Web sites put in place some sort of precaution so that if kids stumble upon their sites, supposedly they can`t get in. But don`t they simply have those, you know, buttons that you click, "I am 18 and over" or "I`m not 18 and over." And, really, what kind of protection is that?
JARDIN: Well, that`s not a filter. I mean, that`s an age verification screen and it relies on the honesty of the user.
But when we`re talking about filters, let`s say, you know, filters like NetNanny or other software that parents can install at home, or that, you know, many libraries, many schools have in place that will filter out Web sites that are assumed to be objectionable Web sites.
The bad thing about filters -- a couple of bad things. I mean, one thing is that they can sometimes keep safe content out by mistake and they can let content that`s obscene get in. But this is still, in the eyes of many, a better solution than having government become more involved in mandating what people ought to be able to access online. We get into issues of free speech there that are concerning to many.
HAMMER: And real quickly, Xeni, there is some government -- some talk of the government perhaps getting more involved? I have less than 10 seconds.
JARDIN: Well, yes. The government recently issued subpoenas to search engines about that, looking to see how often kids access information online by mistake. Those issues are still being fought out in court, and we`ll have to see how that plays out in the future.
HAMMER: And hopefully, parents will continue to be involved or get more involved with what they`re kids are taking a look at on the net. Thanks as always, Xeni Jardin, from the blog site BoingBoing.net.
JARDIN: Thank you, A.J.
VARGAS: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was the only entertainment news show live at the Sundance Film Festival this past week. And of course, we were there when the awards were handed out on Saturday.
Two films that take a look at the immigrant life in America were the big winners. "Quinceanera," a Hispanic teen drama, won both the festival jury and audience award for U.S. dramatic film. And "God Grew Tired of Us," which follows three Sudanese boys adjusting to life in this country, won the festival jury and audience award for U.S. documentary. Congratulations.
HAMMER: So, what`s a six-letter word that also means "mystery"? Well, it`s "puzzle." And a movie all about puzzles, crossword puzzles to be exact, got an awful lot of buzz at this year`s Sundance Film Festival. The movie`s called "Wordplay," and celebrities are hooked. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson clues us in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR (voice-over): What`s an eight-letter word for a clever verbal challenge that`s inspired a contest? The answer is "Wordplay," the title of a documentary devoted to the "New York Times" crossword puzzle and the countless Americans that try to conquer it every week.
JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": I respect very much those that create the puzzles. I don`t know how they do it. Quite frankly, I don`t know why they do it.
ANDERSON: "Wordplay" is crisscrossed with celebrities, but the real stars are the man behind the puzzle...
WILL SHORTZ, "NEW YORK TIMES": My name`s Will Shortz. I`m the crossword editor of the "New York Times."
ANDERSON: ... and the country`s premiere puzzle-solvers who spend much of their time training for an annual tournament.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, 202. I can never get under two minutes. Dang it.
ANDERSON (on-screen): Hi, guys.
(voice-over): A handful of players from the film came to Sundance. They gave me tips on completing the Sunday "Times" puzzle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You waste time by putting the tops and bottoms on the "I" there, so...
ANDERSON (on-screen): That`s a good trick.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So when it says "jaw-breaker," it has a question mark. You know it`s something like a pun.
ANDERSON: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So in this case, it`s fist. You`re thinking candy, but it`s...
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Ah, very clever.
(voice-over): After making progress with the pros, I hit the sidewalks of Sundance for a little more help.
(on-screen): Four-letter word for "hold your horses."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wait.
ANDERSON: Wait, of course.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that`s right, yes.
ANDERSON: That`s an easy one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Four-letter word for "bloke"? A male.
ANDERSON: ... a four-letter word for "gusto"? A five-letter word of "puncture"?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Maybe wound?
ANDERSON: Crossword puzzle, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.
ANDERSON: Oh, great. We found one. Forty-two down, four-letter word, "some stingers."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some stingers? I don`t know. But I`ll think about it. When I come back, I`ll let you know.
ANDERSON: Thank you. OK. We`ll see if he comes back.
(voice-over): Sure enough, he did.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what? Rays. R-a-y-s.
ANDERSON (on-screen): Rays, sting rays.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give that a shot.
ANDERSON: Ah, that`s great.
(voice-over): And we finally figured out that stickler.
(on-screen): OK, so maybe now we can do 116 across, "gusto."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Zest?
ANDERSON: Very good. No one else could get that. That`s perfect.
(voice-over): Now if I could only get 33 across.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And I`m of no help in that situation. Well, the makers of the film, "Wordplay," just solved another problem: how to get distribution for their film. That puzzling situation was answered. They sold "Wordplay" during Sundance it to the Independent Film Channel for a million dollars.
Well, in tonight`s "Laughter Dark," the best from late-night TV, Steve Carell talks about making a sequel to his hugely successful movie, "The 40- Year-Old Virgin," on "Late Night with Conan O`Brien."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONAN O`BRIEN, HOST, "LATE NIGHT": Now, "40-Year-Old Virgin," such a huge success. People have to be pressuring you now to do a sequel.
STEVE CARELL, ACTOR: There`s been some talk of the sequel being the fact that this character, Andy Stitzer, now embraces the idea of sex and intercourse. So he cherishes it now, and he has now become the 41-year-old whore.
(LAUGHTER)
And so I think that`s -- I think that is the sequel. He`s a fiend.
O`BRIEN: Yes, yes. I like that title. That title would work. I`d go to see that.
CARELL: And it`ll be a hard x. It`ll be...
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Just going to crank that rating right up. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VARGAS: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
It`s time now for "Talk of the Day," the best from the day`s talk show circuit. Earlier on "Live with Regis and Kelly," after sharing gum with Jimmy Kimmel on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Regis wanted to prove he wasn`t a germophobe on his show. So he took his trusty co-host and producer put him to the test. Look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REGIS PHILBIN, CO-HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": He takes the gum out and says, "Regis, you want a little gum?"
(LAUGHTER)
What is Regis supposed to say, "no"? I`ve seen "Brokeback Mountain." Give me that gum.
(LAUGHTER)
Now, wait a minute, wait a minute.
(LAUGHTER)
I don`t know. Jimmy Kimmel`s gum tasted better.
(LAUGHTER)
KELLY RIPA, CO-HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": This is my gum from Gelman, twice removed. I believe Art had it first, though, I`m not sure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s disgusting. Ew.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: Oh, no, they didn`t. Oh, gosh, that is just so disgusting. Thank god I would never do that to you, A.J. Never, never ever.
HAMMER: I appreciate that. And it`s a little difficult coast to coast, anyway, Sibila.
Well, we`ve been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." We`re asking: Reporters in Iraq: Is it worth the risk?
The voting didn`t go how I thought it would tonight. Here`s how it`s going: 26 percent of you say, yes, it is; 74 percent of you say no.
Among the e-mails we`ve received, we heard from Cathy in Missouri who writes, "I don`t think journalists should be right in the middle of a warzone. It takes away from our guys who are doing their job."
Daniel from North Carolina thinks reporters need to be in Iraq. "Without some sort of voice to keep us honest, we may run the risk of becoming what we are fighting to stop."
You can keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight.
VARGAS: Well, time to see what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow. Let`s take a look at the "Showbiz Marquee." Marquee Guy, take it away.
MARQUEE GUY: Tomorrow, get that coffee brewing, because we`re waking up real early tomorrow for the Oscar nominations. But we won`t be grouches. It`s the moment we`ve all been waiting for, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Oscar countdown begins, with the Academy Award nominations, tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, Barry`s back. The guy who writes the songs that makes the whole world sing is singing songs others have written. Hmm? Barry Manilow does 1950s classics. Cool. And Barry`s buddying up with an old pal he hasn`t worked with in 30 years. Hey now, Barry Manilow tomorrow.
This is the Marquee Guy. And A.J., Sibila, as Barry would say, I can`t smile without you.
HAMMER: You know, I suddenly have the urge to call the Marquee Guy Mandy, and I don`t know why.
(LAUGHTER)
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
VARGAS: And I`m Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN Headline News.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
END
