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Showbiz Tonight
Trump for President?; Jon Stewart Shares Plans for Oscars; Celebs to Walk Away with Golden Gift Bags at Oscars; Bond Fans Dissing New Pick; New Ad Campaign Targets Crystal Meth Users;
Aired March 01, 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 in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, shocking ads, frightening messages. Tonight, a startling new television campaign against dangerous drugs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This wasn`t supposed to be your life.
HAMMER: Tonight, the billionaire behind the campaign reveals why he has made this his mission, live on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Plus, drafting the Donald. Will Donald Trump go from "The Apprentice" boardroom...
DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MOGUL: You`re fired.
HAMMER: ... to the Oval Office? We are not kidding. Tonight, the all-too-serious campaign to put the Donald in the White House.
And, will Stewart succeed? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes one-on-one with Jon Stewart just days before he hosts the Oscars.
ANDERSON: You`re not going to please everybody.
JON STEWART, HOST, COMEDY CENTRAL`S "THE DAILY SHOW": What? No one told me that. When did that happen?
HAMMER: Jon Stewart, in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
D. TRUMP: Hi, I`m Donald Trump
MELANIA TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP`S WIFE: Hi, I`m Melania Trump.
D. TRUMP: And if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Hello, I`m Brooke Anderson, live in Hollywood.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer, live in New York City.
Brooke, as you well know, here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, stories always filter into our news room. All day long, every day, we`re hearing one of our producers shout about, or maybe a few of them, possibly with an expletive involved, I`m ashamed to say, "Are you kidding me?"
ANDERSON: I know, A.J. Hear it all the time. You`re right.
HAMMER: Well, this was going on today. Are you ready for this? Donald Trump for president.
ANDERSON: OK, it`s my turn. Seriously, are you kidding me?
HAMMER: No, I`m not.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): On "The Apprentice," Donald Trump dispatches his brand of entrepreneurial justice to the strains of the old Ojays tune, "For the Love of Money."
But it could be that Trump`s next gig will come with an even more well-known theme song.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now report there`s a full-blown "draft Donald Trump for president" campaign going on, at DonaldTrump2008.com, where you, too, can jump on the Trump band wagon.
FRANK MACKAY, CHAIRMAN, NEW YORK INDEPENDENCE PARTY: He`s someone that I think could take this job and do a hell of a job with it.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT went right to Frank MacKay, head of New York`s Independence Party, which is behind the draft Trump effort. MacKay tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the country needs a man like Trump.
MACKAY: I think he`s clearly competent. He`s a top flight manager. He`s an intelligent man. And in his private life, he`s a reader, he`s well-read. Donald Trump has a serious chance to be president of the United States.
HAMMER: Trump for president? Sound way too weird? Well, the Donald thought about running before. Back in 2000 he considered going for the Reform Party nomination but backed down. Maybe he even thought it was way too weird.
But now maybe, just maybe, Donald may be stoking a political fire in his belly. The "New York Post" quoted sources as saying Trump is definitely interested in running for president in 2008 as an independent.
(on camera) Donald Trump has done it all. He`s conquered real estate. He`s conquered primetime. He`s even a best selling author. And seeing that our current president has an MBA, the idea of a businessman in the White House, not so far-fetched.
I decided to take my own early informal survey.
People are talking about the idea of Donald Trump running for president. What do you think?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don -- Don`s the man. He knows what he`s doing. He`s gotten this far.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to applaud him because he`s been a brilliant businessman. But I would not want him as my president, no.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He does a wonderful job running his businesses. He should probably stick to that.
HAMMER: OK. So let`s make believe for just a moment Trump became president. Remember, this is make believe. Over the years Trump has shared his philosophy on a number of presidential topics. There`s Trump on leadership.
TRUMP: A leader leads hard people.
HAMMER: There`s Trump on party politics.
WOLF BLITZER, ANCHOR, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Do you identify more as a Democrat or a Republican?
D. TRUMP: Well, you`d be shocked if I said that, in many cases, I probably identify more as a Democrat.
HAMMER: Trump has even sounded off on the war on terrorism, suggesting that he would have gotten rid of Osama bin Laden as fast as he sends an "Apprentice" contestant packing.
D. TRUMP: You`re fired.
HAMMER: Last year, Trump told "Esquire" magazine, quote, "I would have been tougher on terrorism. Bin Laden would have been caught long ago. Tell me, how is it possible that we can`t find a guy who`s six foot six and supposedly needs a dialysis machine? Can you explain that one to me?"
And, on international diplomacy, we could hope that Trump would show more diplomacy with a difficult world leader than he did with Martha Stewart.
TRUMP: I just happen to be a warrior. I just happen to be somebody that believes in attacking.
HAMMER: So maybe the Trump platform needs some more work. As the host of a show watched by about 10 million people, Trump could definitely get the attention of voters, even those who may not like him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wouldn`t have my vote, yet maybe I`d listen to see.
HAMMER: And if it doesn`t work, Trump always has a pretty decent day job.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: We should add that, while Donald Trump hasn`t officially ruled out a run for the presidency in 2008, he hasn`t actually committed to one either. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did contact Trump`s people to get a comment on his presidential ambitions. They weren`t able to get back to us by showtime tonight.
Brooke, I`m thinking it`s unlikely, particularly because he would have to divulge all of his financial information. And my guess he holds that pretty close to the vest.
ANDERSON: He does. He is remaining noncommittal. And you know, stranger things have happened, though. Look, Arnold Schwarzenegger, former bodybuilder and actor, now governor of California. Who know? I, too, remain a bit skeptical, though.
And A.J., president is one thing, but hosting the Oscars, a completely different beast. Just ask Jon Stewart. I talked one on one to the man who`s driving that train, "The Daily Show`s" Jon Stewart. Stewart`s big gig hosting the Oscars this Sunday just a few days away, and in between the jokes and the laughs, I was able to get an idea of just how he`s feeling.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Rolling?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m rolling.
STEWART: Rolling.
ANDERSON: Rolling.
STEWART: Action.
ANDERSON: You are at the helm of what everybody calls Hollywood`s biggest night. Are you nervous at all?
STEWART: Hollywood is so excited to have an awards show, something they`ve never seen before.
ANDERSON: Never, ever.
STEWART: What we`re going to do is we`re going to take people and recognize their work for excellence. And those that win, we`ll give them a trophy.
ANDERSON: And that`s never happened before.
STEWART: This is the kind of show that has never happened before.
ANDERSON: No.
STEWART: And I think people are going to be blown away by it.
ANDERSON: It will be a first, and you will be part of it.
STEWART: I think it`s going to take off.
ANDERSON: It`s going to be a hit.
STEWART: You`ll see this kind of thing for years. Years!
ANDERSON: Years, I tell you. How political are you going to take the show?
STEWART: There`s going to be no comedy. As a matter of fact, I`m not doing a monologue. I have written a speech, just about the state of the union, the state of the world, that I think is really -- it lays out my legislative agenda for this year. And I think the people are going to really dig it. I`ve got some alternative energy plans that are going to surprise some people.
ANDERSON: Something to really keep the viewers tuned in.
"Brokeback Mountain," one of the biggest contenders in the field...
STEWART: Yes.
ANDERSON: ... has been fodder for comedians for months now.
STEWART: Yes.
ANDERSON: Are you going to continue on the "Brokeback" theme?
STEWART: I didn`t want to. But I do want to obey the law. And the law is you have to do five to seven gay cowboy jokes. They have to be explicit, and you have to mention the phrase "gay cowboy."
ANDERSON: No more than seven, no less than five.
STEWART: That`s exactly right. If you do more than seven, they feel that you`re being gratuitous. If you do less than five, you`re not honoring the joy of the gay cowboy movie. So we`re going to try and balance that as best we can and still hopefully put on a good show.
ANDERSON: Keep it in that range.
STEWART: Yes. And it doesn`t matter when they come. I could throw seven of them out there at the very end of the show. You don`t know.
ANDERSON: Early on, later on.
STEWART: That`s exactly right. Doesn`t matter.
ANDERSON: How are you preparing for this whole thing?
STEWART: I get up at 5:30, and I have half a melon. Then I jazzercise.
Actually, we`re just -- we`re just sitting in a windowless room, writing jokes. And that`s all you`re going to do.
ANDERSON: Your writers from "The Daily Show"? Or bringing in...
STEWART: There are a few guys out from "The Daily Show," some friends of ours from out in L.A., and a couple of the guys that have also worked on the Oscar show, just melding that group.
ANDERSON: Have you gotten advice from previous hosts?
STEWART: Yes, one of them told me, "Stop calling here." Another guy said, "I know that was you who sent that note."
No, they`ve been very generous with telling me, you know, to just relax. That you know, you`ve been in comedy 20 years, and this is a comedy gig. And do it in that way.
ANDERSON: This is a big gig. And what do you think -- you`re not going to please everybody. You never can.
STEWART: What? No one told me that. When did that happen? I`m not? Do you have their names, who I`ll please?
ANDERSON: So what do you think of people who say you may not be the right fit for Oscar host?
STEWART: My -- they could very well be right. I don`t know. I mean, I don`t know what the right fit is. Again, it`s -- those are all things that are so far out of your control that it makes no sense to spend any time on, other than do what you think is good and funny.
ANDERSON: Are you watching the films? Have you...
STEWART: Yes, I watched the films and old hosts and things like that. I had a nice time just sort of immersing myself in it, and then we`ll roll from there. But the truth of the matter is, you know, I don`t please everybody on my show every night. So this is just not pleasing more people. It`s just a larger stage.
ANDERSON: Do you have predictions? Who do you think the big winners will be?
STEWART: I really think, and this is going to be a very surprising thing. I think "Rocky." I think Sylvester Stallone is going to emerge. And people are going to be very surprised. They`re going to say to themselves, "I didn`t know that was even out."
ANDERSON: How are you at all -- there have been so many...
STEWART: Hey, confetti.
ANDERSON: Confetti. It`s starting all ready.
STEWART: See, now you have a plan.
ANDERSON: There have been so many Oscar hosts that have really succeeded here, so many that some say may not have done so well. Are you afraid at all?
STEWART: I`m afraid of a lot of things, but, you know, I`ve been fired a lot. So it`s not, you know -- you never want to do badly, but you also never want to paralyze yourself thinking about doing badly.
ANDERSON: Right.
STEWART: You just want -- the idea you think, like, geez, some people haven`t done so well. You know, showbiz is -- you don`t get into it for the health plan. You get into it for the opportunities and the fun, try different stuff.
ANDERSON: Well, you, I`m sure you`re going to do just fine.
STEWART: I`m looking forward to it.
ANDERSON: I bet you are. We`re looking forward to seeing you out there.
STEWART: Thank you very much.
ANDERSON: My pleasure.
STEWART: Nice to meet you. Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And Jon told me yesterday that he was basically wrapping up press and basically promoting the show, A.J., and that now it is time to strictly focus on his jokes and his performance. So he is excited.
HAMMER: Brooke, you warmed him up pretty good. By the end he was actually answering your questions seriously.
ANDERSON: By the end of it he was. But we had a lot of laughs. It was a lot of fun.
HAMMER: I think he`s a great choice personally.
ANDERSON: All right. And we want to ask you, our viewers, what do you think? It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Jon Stewart, is he the right choice to host the Oscars? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Send us an e-mail at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`re going to read some of your thoughts later on in the show.
HAMMER: Do not forget. Put it in your Palm Pilot if you need to. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going to be live on the red carpet right before the 78th annual Academy Awards on Sunday. You can join me, Brooke Anderson and Sibila Vargas for a special Oscar edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It gets underway at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on CNN Headline News.
Then at 6 p.m. Eastern, our live coverage moves on over to CNN. Move on over with us for "Hollywood`s Gold Rush." Once again, let me, Brooke and Sibila bring you all the action live. We hope you`ll join us.
ANDERSON: Yes, we do. OK, if you were a star, and even if you don`t get an Oscar gold, you will walk away with at least $50,000 worth of free stuff. Find out why, live next.
Plus we`ll also have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don`t do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You`re looking at the shocking way one billionaire is trying to get kids to stop using dangerous drugs. We`re going to have the man behind the mission joining us live in the interview you see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Also Kid Rock speaks only to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. You`ll definitely be surprised at what he thinks of that sex tape floating around the Internet. A SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive interview, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer live in New York. This is TV`s only live entertainment news show.
Well, tonight, some new developments in the Kid Rock sex tape story. Only SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has them. Now, if you may remember, there`s this video that you`re watching which is floating around on the Internet right now, which shows Kid Rock and former Creed singer Scott Stapp engaged in explicit sex acts with strippers.
Well, the two sued to stop the sale of the tape. And just a short time ago, I sat down with Kid Rock exclusively, and here`s what he had to say about the video.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KID ROCK, SINGER: I`m embarrassed about the company I`m going to be in now.
HAMMER: Because it`s Scott Stapp?
KID ROCK: No, just I`m out with all the other people that put out these tapes. I`m the last person, if you check my track record, that goes along with something that`s going on in the mainstream. It seems to be very popular, if you`re a celebrity, to tape yourself having sex.
HAMMER: Sure, sure.
KID ROCK: Well, I`m not into that. I don`t do it. Obviously -- obviously, six years ago in Florida. They came into the room with this camera. I`m standing there, these girls are with me, and he`s kind of like dude what`s with the camera? Or something. He`s like, "Oh, no, no. It`s just mine." Whatever, whatever. I might not have been exactly sober at the time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hey, it`s rock `n roll. We`re going to have more of my exclusive interview with Kid Rock coming up tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Put the cameras down, people.
OK. Moving now to a different sort of controversy, this one surrounding James Bond. Many long-time fans of the series aren`t happy with the new 007 choice, Daniel Craig. They say he`s anything but a suave spy. So will the new blond Bond bomb? Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(AUDIO GAP)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: OK. We are experiencing some technical difficulties. Sorry about that. But maybe Daniel Craig will prove the skeptics wrong. The former Bond certainly thinks so. Sean Connery calls Craig a terrific choice. Roger Moore says he`s a "hell of a good actor." And Pierce Brosnan predicts he will have the last laugh.
Now, "Casino Royale" is scheduled to hit theaters in November.
HAMMER: Well, no one, not even James Bond can doubt the power of free stuff, especially if it`s $52,000 worth of the stuff. We`re talking about Oscar swag, the free gift baskets that nominees, presenters and winners are going to receive after Sunday`s big show.
But we have to ask, why in the world would companies give away so much free stuff? So who better to ask than Lash Fary, the so-called sultan of swag, joining me in New York.
Nice to see you, Lash.
LASH FARY, GIFT BAG CONSULTANT: Nice to see you, A.J.
HAMMER: And swag, I should point out, although I`ve heard the acronym spelled out in different ways, it is really "sealed with a gift."
FARY: Yes.
HAMMER: You`ve been at this for awhile now, but I understand it`s not that long ago that you were going to companies saying, "You should give me free stuff to give away to celebrities." And they looked at you like you were crazy.
FARY: Seven years ago it wasn`t this proliferation of pop culture magazines, "Us Weekly," "In Touch," "People," and all these entertainment news programs talking about what celebrities are wearing, what makeup they use, what clubs they go to. That`s all helped their cause, and can make these product and service companies to pay the fees and the marketing and cost of goods for all this to get celebrities behind their product.
HAMMER: And now millions of dollars worth of this free stuff, all this swag is being given to the celebs every year. Why are these companies doing it? Why do they want to give away so much of this?
FARY: In a word: marketing. It`s effective marketing. There`s no better brand ambassador to have than a celebrity, you know. So these companies. This watch company, for example. This is a $2,800 watch. This is Carmel 38 (ph).
HAMMER: Right.
FARY: They would die to have George Clooney on the red carpet at an event wearing their watch.
HAMMER: OK. So let me ask you about that and sort of the cost benefit for the company. Because they`re giving away, let`s say whether it`s this watch, or a $10,000 watch. You know, they`re probably giving away 20 of them. Winds up on George Clooney`s wrist. Is that really worth it to them in the end? Is that publicity of that value that you`re talking about?
FARY: Part of it is an intangible benefit. And then you`ve got -- you have the famous Gap story with Sharon Stone, where she wore a Gap T- shirt to the Oscars and it sold out nationwide in Gap stores the next day. So there`s an undeniable power of celebrities behind products.
HAMMER: Well, let`s talk about some of the stuff that you`re giving away to some people this year. But tell me, because you`ve been doing this for awhile, from plasma TVs to lasik eye surgery, a lot of outrageous things wind up in these gift baskets. What the most expensive item that you`ve ever put in one?
FARY: Typically, the most expensive items, it`s often the most expensive item in the Oscar presenters` bags this year. They are trips and resort stays. So in the official presenter gift bag is a trip to Hawaii. In the nominee bag there`s actually a trip to the Mirage Hotel in Vegas. It`s a $27,000 package. That includes a real nice suite, a private pool. Most importantly, tickets to the first ever Cirque du Soleil Beatles show that they`re going to have.
HAMMER: So, and as you`re mentioning, you`re giving stuff now this year. You`re not the official Oscar basket, but what you`ll be doing is sending baskets to people who were nominated but didn`t win.
FARY: Consolation prizes, you know?
HAMMER: Consolation prizes.
FARY: Well, it takes a lot of consoling when you don`t win an Oscar. That`s a pretty big thing not to win.
HAMMER: So how many of these -- what did you say, $2,800 watches. You`re giving away 40 of these watches. And that is worth it to the company?
FARY: They have definitely decided it is. For example, Habienas (ph), they`ve created these thousand dollar flip-flops. These are limited edition. They only made them for Oscar nominees.
HAMMER: Diamond encrusted flip-flops?
FARY: These are crystals with they have a black diamond pendant hanging from them. One thousand dollars.
HAMMER: I`m not going to get them myself (ph).
FARY: Well, maybe not for you, but some of the ladies. I think Reese might really enjoy them.
HAMMER: What is the item that people really want? Electronics, I imagine?
FARY: Well, gentlemen tend to like electronics. Women love skin care. We`ve got amazing skin care. I have to tell you, I think that everyone`s favorite item in the gift bag is going to be the must-have fashion. The emergency item, the Tide to Go stain removal pen.
HAMMER: There`s the big plug.
FARY: It`s a fantastic product. I`ve been obsessed with it for a few weeks now. Any food item that I`ve spilled on me, I`ve taken out with it.
HAMMER: I`ll just put it right there.
Thanks for joining us on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Appreciate it.
ANDERSON: OK. There is a controversy surrounding James Bond. Many long-time fans aren`t happy with the new choice of 007, Daniel Craig, so here is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to tell us about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When your name is Bond.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who are you?
SEAN CONNERY, ACTOR: Bond. James Bond.
MOOS: You`ve got a lot to live up to.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Remember, I know all about you, 007. Sex for dinner, death for breakfast.
MOOS: But what happens if you`re lunch? The new James Bond is being eaten alive by the press.
KATRINA SZISH, EDITOR, "US WEEKLY MAGAZINE": People are calling him the blond Bond shell. He`s a blond shell of a Bond.
MOOS: "Blonde`s bad luck" was the headline of "Us Weekly." It started the moment he was introduced, arriving by boat.
MILES O`BRIEN, CO-HOST, "AMERICAN MORNING": James Bond wearing a life jacket. Give me a break?
MOOS: That other James Bond steered his own boat, dodging bullets. And actor Daniel Craig is perhaps a little too honest.
DANIEL CRAIG, ACTOR: I`d like to thank the Wolverines for bringing me in like that and scaring the (expletive deleted) out of me.
MOOS: Now filming of "Casino Royale" has started, and in his first fight scene, Craig`s two front teeth reportedly got knocked out.
SZISH: His dentures had to be flown in from London.
MOOS: Then the new Bond got shafted by the stick shift of that classic Aston Martin.
(on camera) He got in the Aston Martin and he couldn`t drive a stick shift.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, that`s just not right.
MOOS (voice-over): The "Chicago Sun-Times" asked, "Isn`t this just required guy knowledge passed on with how to open a bottle of wine or how to operate a grass grill?"
(on camera) Do you think a guy should already know how to drive a stick?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He should know how to drive everything.
MOOS (voice-over): To think, Pierce Brosnan managed to drive upside- down.
Maybe Craig needs that gizmo that lets Bond drive from the back seat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`s ugly to be James Bond. He`s not handsome.
MOOS (on camera): I think he`s handsome.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, if you lined up all the other James Bonds with him, would he be your first or second choice?
MOOS (voice-over): Could it get any pettier?
SZISH: We`re also hearing now that he has shaved his chest.
MOOS: Contrast that with furry Sean Connery. One British tabloid called Craig, "Ow ow seven." Saying he got a nasty bout of prickly heat after getting sunburn while filming in the Bahamas.
None of this, by the way, has been confirmed by Craig`s press reps.
And then there`s the anti-Craig web site, Craig Not Bond -- ouch. It calls for a boycott of the new Bond movie. It morphs Craig`s face into one of the three stooges, and into a Neanderthal man and compares his looks to the Riddler.
Past Bonds have come to the rescue, saying what a fine actor Craig is. People are still sticking that gear shift to him. Double Oh Seven may have a license to kill, but it`s his license to drive that`s killing him.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos, reporting for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: And coming up, we`ve got this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look, I`m just going to shoot up just once. All right? I`m not going to be like that guy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A startling new TV campaign to get kids to stop using dangerous drugs. We`ll speak to the billionaire behind the ads live coming up.
ANDERSON: So get this, a new poll says more people can name members of the Simpson cartoon family than the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Is it really true? Coming up, a "Simpsons" civic lesson.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: We have been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Jon Stewart, is he the right choice to host the Oscars? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
So what do you think? Do Americans really know more about the FOX show "The Simpsons" rather than the Bill of Rights? Well, I hit the streets to find out. That`s coming up.
Also on the way, there`s a startling new campaign to shock kids into staying away from dangerous drugs. Tonight, the billionaire behind the eye-opening ads will join me live in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And you are watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Join me in a little experiment here, Brooke?
ANDERSON: Absolutely.
HAMMER: Can you name for me the five freedoms guaranteed by our First Amendment in the Constitution?
ANDERSON: Speech, press, religion, assembly, petition.
HAMMER: I don`t think you got them. I don`t have my list in front of me, and I don`t know. Could you name all the members of the Simpsons from the television show "The Simpsons"?
ANDERSON: You know, I might struggle with that one. Marge, Homer, Bart...
HAMMER: See, then you`re not like most of America. There`s a survey that just came out saying more people can name all the Simpsons than can name the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Anyway, I hit the streets in New York City today to find out if this poll is actually true, my own unscientific survey. We`ll do that in just a few moments. You were a bad subject for this experiment.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: I can`t wait to see that, A.J.
And also did you know that many of this year`s Oscar nominees, before they hit the big time in Tinseltown, they were toiling away, working their way to greatness in much lesser-known roles? And we have the clips. So coming up, Phillip, Terrence, Heath, Felicity, Reese, among others, how they got their start. And you don`t want to miss that.
HAMMER: Always great to flash back.
First, tonight, we`re going to get to something a bit more serious, graphic and moving video that you do not want to miss. We`re talking about commercials that are warning teens against the addiction of methamphetamines, a big problem in this country.
There`s one group that has an ad campaign that is absolutely startling and scary. We`re going to talk to the billionaires behind this project to see if the scare tactics really work.
But first, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has those commercials for you. It is an inside look at a pandemic that`s gripping the nation. And I want to give you fair warning here: These commercials are very graphic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop looking at me!
HAMMER (voice-over): It`s a commercial sure to stop you in your tracks, a teen high on meth robbing a laundromat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This wasn`t suppose today be your life!
HAMMER: Dramatic, but driving the point home that methamphetamine is a growing problem in America, especially among teens. It`s known by many names, speed, crystal, crank and Tina. But whatever you call it, whatever the form, it`s highly addictive. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can report it`s to blame for an increase of some 70 percent of robberies and burglaries nationwide.
Made from common household products like fertilizer and cold medicine, meth is an easy, cheap drug that`s taking America by storm. Most at risk, teens in the West, Pacific Northwest, and Midwest rural areas. Eighth- graders in rural areas are 59 percent more likely to use meth than their counterparts in big cities.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m going to sleep with him for meth just once.
HAMMER: Montana is one of the states that`s been hit the hardest. Of all the people serving jail time for drug-related crimes in Montana, an unbelievable 70 percent are due to meth. And Montana teens are most susceptible; 44 percent of them say they know exactly where to get meth, a scary notion. Even scarier, one out of five Montana teens say they have close friends who use meth.
Government agencies and private organizations are mobilizing across the nation to do something about it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My parents think I`m sleeping at your house.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I`m just jumping in the shower.
HAMMER: At the forefront, the Montana Meth Project. They`re targeting the most at-risk age group, teens ages 12 to 17. Through print ads and TV commercials, they`re spreading the word about the dangers of meth.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don`t do it. Don`t do it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: A scary, scary prospect.
Well, joining me now live from Washington, D.C., Thomas Siebel. He`s the chairman of the Montana Meth Project, the group that`s behind these powerful commercials.
Tom, thanks for being with me tonight.
THOMAS SIEBEL, WWW.NOTEVENONCE.COM: Good evening.
HAMMER: I have to tell you, I was a little shocked. I`ve been aware that this problem was out there. I was pretty shocked to hear some of these statistics when we were working on the story today. Very powerful commercials. Clearly, you guys have an uphill battle here. Do you think this kind of scare tactic will actually make some headway into the problem?
SIEBEL: Well, it`s a nasty problem. It`s reaching epidemic proportions in Montana and many states in the United States, the number-one crime problem in America. We`re engaged in a very large-scale experiment in prevention in Montana. And we`re doing our best to educate young people in the state about some of the product attributes of this product so they could make a better-informed consumer decision.
HAMMER: Well, here`s another one of those commercials that you`re using for that purpose. Let`s take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m going to try meth just once. I`m going to smoke this just once. I`m going to steal just once. I`m going to sleep with him for meth just once.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m going to try meth just once.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tom, we`re seeing facial scars, some really graphic images. Are you at all afraid that the commercials might be a little too graphic for some people to handle?
SIEBEL: Well, it`s a very disturbing subject. The ads are very well- researched, and we reviewed them with panels of experts, in fact panels of addicts and people in prison for methamphetamine. They`re very, very realistic.
HAMMER: So that leads me to my question: Are they actually, you know, real-life situations or are they perhaps exaggerated a bit? Because, obviously, as you said, you`ve spoken to people who have been in these situations. But have you heightened what we`re seeing at all to perhaps, you know, lend the scare tactic a little more weight?
SIEBEL: No, it probably understates reality. We have a new of real addicts on film that we`ve considered using for ads, but those visuals are so disturbing that we think they`ll be too shocking, so we`re using actors under simulated situations that actually tone it down a little bit.
HAMMER: All right. Well, let`s see how toned down this next ad is. Here`s one more commercial that you guys are running.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m only going to try meth once. I`m not going to be like that guy. And, look, I`m only going to smoke meth once. I`m not going to be like that guy. Look, I`m just going to shoot up just once! All right? I`m not going to be like that guy. I`m not going to be like that guy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m only going to do meth once. I`m not going to end up like that guy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I know the commercials are, for the most part, brand new, but will you be able to have any sense or gauge any sense as to whether or not they`re having an effectiveness?
SIEBEL: Yes, we have. We`re doing extensive consumer research in the state of Montana. We did a baseline survey in the summer of 2005. We`re doing our first follow-on tracking survey right now where we`re very precisely measuring attitudes and behavior towards methamphetamine amongst young people in the state.
HAMMER: Well, Tom, it`s clearly something that is needed. And I applaud you for the work that you`re doing. And best of luck with the project.
SIEBEL: Thank you.
HAMMER: Tom Siebel from the Montana Meth Project, thanks for joining me tonight.
ANDERSON: Meth has certainly ruined a lot of lives.
All right, now it is time to get tonight`s "Hot Headlines." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas joins us live in Hollywood.
Hey, Sibila.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brooke.
People are lining up to buy the "Walk the Line" DVD. Today we learned that the DVD sold more than 3 million copies in its first day out. "Walk the Line" is nominated for five Oscars, including best actor and actress nominations for Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.
Monica and Chandler are coming back to TV. "Friends" star Matthew Perry has signed on for a new NBC show about a late-night sketch comedy writer. And Courteney Cox will star in a drama pilot for FX called "Dirt," in which she plays the editor of a tabloid magazine.
And Jessica Alba is reportedly not happy about being on the cover of "Playboy." In a letter, Alba`s rep says that "Playboy" asked her to pose, but she said no, so the magazine got a still photo of her in a bikini and superimposed its bunny trademark on the photo.
Alba`s attorney is demanding that "Playboy" stop circulating the issue and give Alba a monetary settlement for damaging her reputation by implying she`s naked inside the magazine. We made a call to Alba`s publicist but haven`t heard back yet.
And those are tonight`s "Hot Headlines." Brooke, back to you.
ANDERSON: Thanks, Sibila. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas.
OK, long before he played Truman Capote, Philip Seymour Hoffman was chasing tornados in "Twister." But he`s not the only Oscar nominee who has had some interesting twists and turns in their careers. We check out the Oscar nominees` early roles. You don`t want to miss it. That`s coming up.
Also ahead...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: We have freedom of our right to party. Is that still out there?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Do you know your rights? See what happens when I hit the streets to find out what`s easier to name, your First Amendment rights or the characters on "The Simpsons"? You`ll be surprised. It`s coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s only live entertainment news show.
All right, Brooke, so I did my own little survey walking the streets today. Have you heard about this one survey that was taken?
ANDERSON: I did hear about it, yes.
HAMMER: This is a phone survey of 1,000 adults. Now, here of some of the stats that came out of it. About a quarter of the people surveyed could only name more than one of the five freedoms that are guaranteed by our First Amendment, not a great statistic.
ANDERSON: No, that`s not very high, no.
HAMMER: But a better statistic, more than half, myself included, can name at least two members of the Simpsons family.
ANDERSON: Oh, yes. OK, I can do that, at least two, right? What`s the little one`s name? I always forget...
HAMMER: That would be Baby Maggie.
ANDERSON: That`d be Maggie, OK.
HAMMER: Yes, who never speaks.
ANDERSON: And also some people -- a lot of people could name two out of three "American Idol" judges, as well, I believe, is part of that survey.
HAMMER: That is correct. But today, I dealt with the First Amendment issue and "The Simpsons." And see what I found out when I hit the streets of New York City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The right to vote, the freedom of speech. Right to bear arms. That`s absolutely right.
HAMMER: You know, she is cheating though.
Can you name these people?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I believe it`s the Simpson family.
HAMMER: Do you know their names?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Marge, Homer, Bart, Lisa, and I have no idea what that small thing is.
HAMMER: OK, well, that`s Maggie, but there you go. We can name the Simpsons; we can`t name the freedoms.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s sad. That`s a commentary on the American state.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I can`t. I know it`s freedom of the press.
HAMMER: Another five things I need you to name.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Oh, sure. Oh, no, this is so embarrassing, because I know these and not -- yes, Homer, the Simpsons, yes.
HAMMER: What does that say about our country, because this is the common response?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s terrible.
HAMMER: Maybe you should walk away right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, yes, I`m going to leave.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to bear arms...
HAMMER: It`s kind of tough, isn`t it? They`re not right there.
Can you name these five individuals by name?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes. Those are "The Simpsons." Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t know if I can.
HAMMER: Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. We have freedom of our right to party. Is that still out there?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what`s the point of this, to show that we don`t really know what our Constitution stands for?
HAMMER: Most Americans can name the five Simpsons, can`t name the five freedoms.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I could name the six kids in "The Brady Bunch," but I can`t remember the five Simpsons.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, they may have to visit "The Brady Bunch" in the next survey that they do. I have to say, Brooke, a lot of people walked away embarrassed and ashamed.
ANDERSON: I bet. The one guy you said, "You should walk away right now." And he turned around and walked away. It`s funny, but it`s very sad, as you said.
HAMMER: That`s pretty much how it went.
ANDERSON: OK, A.J., the countdown to Oscar Sunday does continue. And I`ve got to tell you, getting around in Hollywood is getting a bit more different, if you could believe it. Traffic in L.A. is getting worse.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT cameras were on Hollywood Boulevard, which has been shut down right in front of the Kodak Theater. That`s so construction crews can build the tents and red carpet areas for the big stars. For the stars, the red carpet is the final stop on the road to the Oscars. The on- ramp to that road is filled with some of the, well, let`s just say lesser roles these actors took to make it big.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): With just five days to go before the big awards show, the Oscars, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did some digging into this year`s crop of nominees. And while they are sure to be the undisputed champions of the red carpet come Oscar Sunday, they weren`t always at the top of the heap. After all, they had to start somewhere.
Heath, Philip, Joaquin, Matt, Felicity, Keira, Reese and Michelle, they may be big shots this year, but they all got their start somewhere, and many of them in smaller parts that could easily be forgotten. So SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did what we know how to do best; we snooped, searched and combed our archives to show you, our loyal SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers, some of this year`s nominees` earlier works of art.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT invites you to take a walk down celluloid lane. Let`s begin with Philip Seymour Hoffman. He`s nominated for playing Truman Capote, the popular yet tortured writer, in "Capote." But rewind 10 years ago. He played Dustin Davis, a tortured tornado chaser in the action- packed movie "Twister."
Then there`s Heath Ledger. In "Brokeback Mountain," he played Ennis Del Mar, an American cowboy who explores his romantic feelings for a fellow cowboy in the wiles of Wyoming. His daring role has made him this year`s critical darling, but, like everyone else in Hollywood, he too was a teenager once and he played a rebellious one in the 1999 teen romance, "10 Things I Hate About You."
HEATH LEDGER, ACTOR: Now, there`s a way to get a guy`s attention, huh?
ANDERSON: Like Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix is all grown up with his own Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in the biopic, "Walk the Line." But back in 1989, he too played a precocious teen in the comedy drama, "Parenthood." That`s him right there.
Joaquin`s "Walk the Line" costar, Reese Witherspoon, also nominated for her portrayal as June Carter Cash, made her own mark in Hollywood playing a smart blond in the "Legally Blonde" franchise, but we found this early clip of the young married mother of two where she played a 14-year- old girl who falls in love for the first time, in the 1991 film, "Man in the Moon."
Since her hit TV show "Desperate Housewives," Felicity Huffman hasn`t been resting on her laurels. And right before she shot the pilot for her role as Lynette in the hit ABC TV show, she starred in a little indie film called "Transamerica."
Her transformation for the role earned Huffman her first Oscar nod, but SHOWBIZ TONIGHT found a clip of her in this 1990 drama, "Reversal of Fortune." Get a load of that hair!
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can bet Keira Knightley is feeling pretty proud of her Oscar nomination for her starring role in "Pride and Prejudice," but it wasn`t a corset that got this actress her first big role. It was her fancy footwork on the soccer field in the 2002 film, "Bend it like Beckham," that made her a hot property on both sides of the Atlantic.
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, ACTRESS: Oh, you are so full of it!
ANDERSON: He plays a racist cop in this year`s triumphant film, "Crash," earning him his first Oscar nomination. But who could forget Matt Dillon playing Dallas in the 1983 coming-of-age movie "The Outsiders"?
MATT DILLON, ACTOR: Man, I thought New York was the only place I`d end up in a murder rap.
ANDERSON: And then there`s Terrence Howard. He`s nominated for his starring role in last year`s Sundance hit, "Hustle and Flow." But do you remember him in the 1995 drama, "Mr. Holland`s Opus"? We didn`t either, until we found this clip.
And last but certainly not least, because not only has this actress earned her place in Oscar history with a nomination for her role in "Brokeback Mountain," she`s also had the year of her life on a personal note, a brand new mom to a baby girl she just had with fiance, co-star, and fellow Oscar nominee Heather Ledger. Michelle Williams has wowed the critics with her Oscar-nominated performance in the gay cowboy movie, a very, very grownup role, as compared to her TV teen drama, "Dawson`s Creek."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I also wanted to mention George Clooney, nominated for best supporting actor. He started with "The Facts of Life" and "E.R." Many of you may remember him on those two shows. Boy, have they all come a long way.
Oscar night will be a big night. And we are going to be right there live on the red carpet before the show, so be sure to join me, A.J. Hammer, and Sibila Vargas for a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That`s this Sunday, 5:30 p.m. Eastern on CNN Headline News. Then move on over to CNN at 6:00 p.m. Eastern. Our live coverage continues with Hollywood`s gold rush. Again with me, A.J. and Sibila bringing you all the action. So we do hope you`ll join us.
HAMMER: Well, throughout the show tonight, we`ve been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." We`ve been asking: Jon Stewart: Is he the right choice to host the Oscars?
Here`s how the vote has been going so far tonight. It looks like you like him for the role: 71 percent of you saying yes; 29 percent of you saying no.
Among the e-mails we received, we heard from Eric in Washington who writes, "Jon Stewart could read the ingredients off a box of Wheaties and make it not only funny, but also relevant."
We also heard from Megan in Florida who writes, "Jon Stewart is an excellent choice. He should be a contender for the presidency while he`s at it."
ANDERSON: Now, for your consideration, a look at some of this year`s nominees for the 78th annual Academy Awards, which will be handed out this Sunday.
Tonight, the nominees for best actress in a leading role. First up, Judi Dench for "Mrs. Henderson Presents." This is Judi Dench`s fifth Oscar nomination. Back in 1998, she won best supporting actress for "Shakespeare in Love."
This is the first Oscar nomination for Felicity Huffman for her role in "Transamerica." In the film, Huffman plays a man undergoing a sex change. It`s also the first Academy Award nomination for Keira Knightley, who`s vying for best actress for her role in the adaptation of Jane Austen`s "Pride and Prejudice."
This is the second nomination for Charlize Theron, who`s nominated for her role in "North Country." In 2003, Theron won best actress for her role as Aileen Wuornos in "Monster."
Finally, a first Academy Award nomination for Reese Witherspoon, for her roll as June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line."
Stay with us. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: You`re looking at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT master control. It is time now to see what`s coming up tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Here`s your "Showbiz Marquee."
Tomorrow, Kid Rock. I sit down with Kid Rock. We talk about his new album and that sex tape everyone`s talking about. Is he embarrassed about it? Well, yes, but not for the reason you might think. That`s tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, the Susan Lucci of the Oscars. There`s a guy named Kevin O`Connell. He`s a sound mixer. Nominated 17 times, he has lost 17 times. Well, now he`s nominated again for "Memoirs of a Geisha." Will the 18th time be the charm? Kevin O`Connell joins us live tomorrow.
ANDERSON: Here`s to hoping Kevin can finally snag that Oscar.
And that is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN Headline News.
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