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Showbiz Tonight
`The Da Vinci Code`: Early Reaction; `Idol` Insight; Giuliani Time; Paul McCartney`s Split Could Mean Big Bucks for his Wife; Teaching Dogs to Read; `Will & Grace` Cast Rings the Closing Bell at the NYSE
Aired May 18, 2006 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I`m Brooke Anderson at the Cannes Film Festival with big news about "The Da Vinci Code."
A.J. HAMMER, CNN CO-ANCHOR: And "LARRY KING`s" race against time to save a little boy`s life. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, is a billion-dollar Beatles battle brewing?
Tonight, will Heather Mills walk away with a huge chunk of Paul McCartney`s billion-dollar fortune? Or will they be able to "work it out"? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates what could become one of the biggest divorce duels ever.
Also, is it really possible to teach your dog to read? Tonight, the amazing way some doggie owners are showing their pooches to bark from a book.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can teach your dog to read two or three words in the space of maybe 15 or 20 minutes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: We`re not kidding. But come on. We just got to ask, a novel idea? Or is teaching Rover to read just plain ridiculous? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals why it may not be so rough after all.
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Cannes, at the Cannes Film Festival. Now, in just a couple of hours, the long-awaited, much anticipated, "The Da Vinci Code" will finally open worldwide. Now, this comes just two days after the film had its world premiere here in Cannes, but that premiere was followed by a tremendous amount of criticism. However, that criticism isn`t expected to make a big impact. Many people feel "The Da Vinci Code" will still open big at the box office.
Now, I`ve been here all week long. And while other films have been shown here at Cannes, including "X-Men: The Last Stand," the Cannes Film Festival has been all about "The Da Vinci Code."
Finally, after months and months, the veil of secrecy has been lifted, but the reaction is mixed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): It was judgment day. It was "Da Vinci" day.
TOM HANKS, ACTOR: This is not a documentary. This is not something that is pulled up and said, these are the facts and this is exactly what happened.
ANDERSON: The film festival began with Tom Hanks and Ron Howard defending their drama.
RON HOWARD, DIRECTOR, "THE DA VINCI CODE": This is supposed to be entertainment. It`s not theology.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Witness the biggest cover-up in human history.
ANDERSON: The thriller, with biblical undertones, has captured the world`s attention.
Religious leaders have denounced the film and called for boycotts. Still, the world premiere of "The Da Vinci Code" went off without a hitch.
The night was capped off with a bash to celebrate the film`s introduction to the masses.
(On camera): Here at "The Da Vinci Code" premiere after party, the mood is the celebratory one for the cast and the crew, but the feelings of many of the critics who saw the film are decidedly different.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a big disappointment. "The Da Vinci Code" is just kind of dull, and it`s dull for two and a half hours, which is a long time to be dull. They sort of forgot to do character development and put in any humor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don`t think it was very good. I think especially the French actors were no good. Especially (inaudible) or two. I think she was not convincing at all.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Others disagreed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything was perfect. The fact, everything. The actors were great. The actress is really good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s really arrived, full of adrenaline, of explosion. It`s nonstop.
ANDERSON: Inspired by a book read by millions. The true test of "The Da Vinci Code", the film, now lies with moviegoers. A box office code that won`t be able to hide the real numbers.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a film. It`s going to make money. No matter what, this is going to make huge money.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it`ll probably be another one of these big Hollywood movies that does well, but not as well as everybody had hoped.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (on camera): Now, I spoke with Director Ron Howard earlier today. He told me the harsh criticism is disappointing, but not surprising. He also told me he feels "The Da Vinci Code" will perform well at the box office, due to the curiosity factor and the fact that he believes people want to be involved in the discussion. More of my interview with Ron Howard tomorrow.
A.J., back to you in New York.
HAMMER: Well, of course, Brooke, "The Da Vinci Code," not just a book, not just a movie, it really has spawned an entire industry, hasn`t it?
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. The public`s enthusiasm for Da Vinci seems to be insatiable. Now travel agencies, tour guides, even the famed Louvre are taking advantage of the book`s popularity.
Here`s CNN`s Jim Bittermann for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nothing, French Author Alexander Dumas (ph) wrote, succeeds like success.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our visit today lasts about two hours.
BITTERMANN: You walk down a Paris street, you`re likely to run into someone either leading or following a Da Vinci tour.
You walk through a London train station, and you just might get recruited to join Da Vinci code breaking contest.
Peter Caine, a Paris tour guide, like many here, feels a debt of gratitude towards its author.
PETER CAINE, PARIS TOUR GUIDE: We are all lifting our glasses to Dan Brown, because he has really spawned an industry in Paris.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dan Brown is why.
BITTERMANN: Olivia Decker is part of that industry. Her chateau, just outside Paris, figures notably in the author`s murder history. So now, she hosts her own guests at three nights for $2,500 a piece.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When Jesus said...
BITTERMANN: And if that`s not enough and you really want the deluxe tour, one high-end operator offers not only just days at Decker`s chateau, but Da Vinci stops in London and Scotland for a mere $8,800 per person. Airfare not included.
SUSAN SCHOCHET: Obviously, the people here have it to spend, and I think if you`re going to spend it on something, this is certainly on something educational. It is worthwhile.
BITTERMANN (on camera): Meanwhile, here at that repository of the educational and worthwhile, the Louvre Museum, the reception to "The Da Vinci Code" has gone from the disdainful to the deferential.
(Voice-over): Since the book`s first murder takes here, the movie people wanted it for a backdrop. And since there was money involved, the Louvre discovered it was not too proud to go Hollywood.
HENRI LOVRETTE, DIRECTOR, LOUVRE MUSEUM: We don`t have to be reluctant, you know. And it brings somebody who never came to the Louvre. If you didn`t read the book, I think it`s something for its importance.
BITTERMANN: In the end, just about the only Parisian institution in the book that has not been caught up in the Da Vinci dementia, is the Church of San Sopeis (ph).
A sign has been put up to explain to Code fanatics that not all of what the book says is true really is. Never mind, just out in front of the church a small nod of symbologist singles are about to partake in a bit of "Da Vinci Code" rally dating.
As 27-year-old Emily Delmore will tell you, the object here is not money, but love.
EMILY DELMORE, RALLY DATER: And if I didn`t win the game and have some fun, it would be a good day.
BITTERMANN: But alas, not every adventure can have a Hollywood ending.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Maybe next time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I`ll be back a little later in the show with Leah Rosen of "People" magazine, for her review of "The Da Vinci Code."
A.J., you know we trust Leah`s opinion. She is always honest. That is coming up a little later in the show.
HAMMER: And we will look forward to it.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson, thank you very much.
And Brooke is not done yet. We are getting one more night of her from the Cannes Film Festival, including interviews with the stars of "The Da Vinci Code," right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That will happen tomorrow at 11:00 p.m., Eastern, as we get into the weekend.
And now let`s go to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s" Sibila Vargas in Hollywood.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Well, A.J., SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first told you about Paul McCartney and Heather Mills` shocking split yesterday. They say it`s amicable. But as they say, money changes everything.
Coming up a bit little later on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, will Heather go after Paul`s estimated billion-dollar fortune? And if so, how much will she get? Some say she might be entitled to half. We`ll look into that.
But first, we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Paul McCartney split: Does Heather Mills deserve half his money? Vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight, and send us e-mail at, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: You may remember in the days after 9/11, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was known as "America`s mayor." But tonight, there`s a revealing new documentary that rips into him. We`ve got that next.
VARGAS: Also, it was a record-night on "American Idol." But will the two that are left, Katharine and Taylor, actually be sellable stars? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Adrianna Costa doesn`t hold back. That`s next.
Plus, we`ve also got this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can teach a dog to read two or three words in the space of maybe 15 or 20 minutes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Can you really teach your dog how to read? Make no bones about it, some do think it`s possible. But is there more bark than bite to this story? Find out, coming up.
VARGAS: But first, tonight`s entertainment weekly great American pop culture quiz. What name does Marion Crane sign on the guestbook of the Bates Motel in "Psycho"? Melinda Hitch, Marie Samuels, Maria Smithee or May Ross? Think you know the answer? We`ll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VARGAS: So again, tonight`s entertainment weekly great American pop culture quiz. What name does Marion Crane sign on the guestbook of the Bates Motel in "Psycho"? Melinda Hitch, Marie Samuels, Maria Smithee or May Ross? Marion, played by Janet Leigh, signs in as "Marie Samuels." The answer is B.
HAMMER: And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We are TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer.
I hope you`re ready because it`s time now for a little story today that made us say, "that`s ridiculous." Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. But tonight we`re going to substitute lots of sex for the drugs.
"Maxim" magazine, out with its lost of the 10 living legends of sex and the number of women that these guys claim to have slept with is absolutely shocking. Listen to this.
"Rolling Stones" Guitarist Bill Wyman, claims 1,000. "KISS" Front Man Gene Simmons, he is famous for his escapades, more than 4,000. Even Julio Iglesias and Engelbert Humperdinck -- you can insert your own joke there -- they`re at 3,000 a piece. Classy.
Among actors, babe magnet Jack Nicholson, at 2,000. And, yes, Charlie Sheen claims to have slept with 5,000 women. We say "that`s ridiculous."
And now if you feel kind of icky and you just want to hop in the shower for just a second, I`ll completely understand -- Sabila.
VARGAS: I`m feeling a little icky here.
HAMMER: I`m getting out the hand sanitizer right now.
VARGAS: Ooh, gosh. That`s so -- I don`t think I`ve ever met that many people -- 5,000 people? I haven`t met that many people. Have you?
HAMMER: I don`t know that I have, but there`s one guy who even claims 8,000 women, so it doesn`t stop.
VARGAS: And Wilt Chamberlain, how much?
HAMMER: Yes, it just goes on and on. I don`t even know, maybe like 20 grand.
Well, let`s move on now to something a little more palatable. Like, "American Idol." Now, if A.I. were a presidential race, we would be saying this, tonight, the primaries are over and now it`s time to vote for a brand new commander in chief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let`s see it now. Elliott Yamin, the journey ends, but you have a lot to be proud of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: With the tens of millions watching, there`s a good chance you saw viewers cast their votes and give the boot to Elliott Yamin last night on "American Idol," setting up the final showdown for next week between the gray-haired Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee, who one writer described today as sultriest. They said sultry.
I got to tell you, these numbers are really remarkable. FOX says an estimated 50 million votes were cast. The overnight ratings show that more than 27 million people watched the show.
So, let`s bring in the woman who really is our know all, see all idol expert. There she is, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s very own Adrianna Costa.
ADRIANNA COSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello.
HAMMER: It`s a pleasure to see you, Adrianna.
COSTA: Oh, A.J., you too.
HAMMER: Let`s get into this here because Elliott may have lost last night. He may have been tossed off the show. This vote so incredibly close. You heard 50 million were cast, but less than a percentage point separating everybody.
Let`s -- Danny throws numbers up here. Let`s take a look at exactly what happened. Elliot, with 33.06 percent of the vote. Now, the number one and two slots, we don`t know who they were, if it was Taylor at number one or Katharine at number one. But they got 33.68 percent and 33.26 percent of the vote, as you see.
So, Adrianna, what does that say?
COSTA: Well, I`ll tell you something. For Idol junkies like me, I was a little bit surprised because I thought it was going to be Taylor`s win by a long shot. Doesn`t look like that.
And they`re obviously leaving the suspense in for next week. We don`t know, as you mentioned, if Katharine took the top spot or Taylor. You know, some people are predicting different ways. What I will say is they were within six-tenths of percentage point of one another, which is so unbelievable. So really, at this point, it`s anybody`s game still.
HAMMER: Now, I know you`ve said it before. I`ve heard you say it. I`ve seen you say it. You`re not a huge fan of Taylor.
COSTA: Are you going there?
HAMMER: Yes, I want to know.
COSTA: I love Taylor, actually. I loved him from the first few times he came in with his harmonica, singing blues styles. But you know what? Here`s the thing. Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks are both in the final two for a reason. They`re both incredibly talented. What I think about Taylor is I loved how genuine he is. He`s so likable. He`s unique. And I think that all comes across on the TV screen. So when I`m going to be voting for an American Idol, I just don`t want to vote for somebody`s talent, I want to vote for the whole package.
HAMMER: Right.
COSTA: And I think he has the whole package.
HAMMER: Do you though? Because Kelly Clarkson, obviously, the gold standard. Look what she has gone on to achieve. In fact, finally, she truly has transcended the notion that, you know, somebody can`t win, as Clive Davis even said on the show last night, somebody can`t win a TV talent show and go on to win GrammyrMD+IN_rMDNM_s. She has done that.
COSTA: Right.
HAMMER: Is that something that you think Taylor is up for?
COSTA: Oh absolutely. You don`t even associate Kelly Clarkson with Idol anymore. She is her own entity at this point. I think the same thing could happen with Taylor Hicks.
Let me tell you this. This is how I look at it. One to five years down the line, am I still going to want to buy his records? And I`ll tell you, yes, for two different reasons. For starters, because I don`t think the fame is going to go to his head. I mean, I could be wrong, I don`t know. And secondly, because I think with the right people behind him, the right producers, the right advisors, he is going to evolve tenfold. I think he will be amazing because you know what? The votes are there. Everything is there right now. He`s bluesy, soulful. He`s got so much heart. You know what I mean?
HAMMER: And I have to ask you, you know, you say OK, he can handle the job, he`s up for the job. Is he going to get the job? We saw how close it was with the 50 million votes last night. We can certainly count on that in the finale, at least that many votes. You know, do you think it will be that close? And do you think it will go to Taylor?
COSTA: I think it will be close. I mean, you got to remember that the votes -- if you`re voting for a guy, OK? Last week, say you were voting for a male, your votes were split between Elliott and Taylor. Now it`s between a girl and a guy. So really, you know, the votes will be split there. A lot of men love Katharine McPhee.
And I want to point out right now. Something that I do think that she does well, is uses her sexuality and her looks to her advantage, which she very well should do. Don`t you agree?
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, it`s you know, you use what you got, especially when you got this one shot, for sure.
COSTA: If I had to put my money on or my face bets on somebody, it would be Taylor -- not by a long shot.
HAMMER: All right, Adrianna. All right, we will be watching. Everybody, the nation will be watching next week.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`S Adrianna Costa, I appreciate your insight.
You can always catch her Adrianna`s entertainment report every week day morning on "ROBIN & COMPANY," from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Eastern, here on CNN HEADLINE NEWS.
Well, when the two planes hit the World Trade Center on that tragic day, September 11, New York City residents turned to one man for leadership, advice and comfort. That man was Big Apple mayor at the time, Rudy Giuliani. But tonight, there`s a new movie out that`s taking aim at the guy that`s become known as "America`s mayor" in the days following the attack.
CNN`s Mary Snow joins us for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the story.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, A.J., it`s a very different look at Giuliani. It`s a controversial film. One that takes a look at Rudi Giuliani before September 11.
Now, some are comparing it to Michael Moore`s "Fahrenheit 9/11" that was so critical of the Bush administration. Others are praising the film, saying people should see it, especially if Giuliani runs for president in 2008.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Honorable Rudolph Giuliani.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW (voice-over): He`s come to be known as "America`s mayor." Rudy Giuliani rose to national prominence for his leadership in New York on 9/11. He`s considering a run for the White House in 2008. Filmmaker Kevin Keating does not want to see him as president. He`s come out with a documentary, "Giuliani Time."
Keating portrays Giuliani as and authoritarian while he was mayor.
KEVIN KEATING, FILMMAKER: I would characterize him as dangerous. Dangerous to our constitutional rights, to our legal system.
SNOW: The film includes interviews with officials, like William Bratton, the former New York City police commissioner.
WILLIAM BRATTON, FORMER NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: He does rule by intimidation, by fear. It`s well known and delights to be known as a tough guy.
SNOW: The film highlights controversies that took place during Giuliani`s tenure, such as police brutality, protests over a public art exhibit he called sick, and policies on welfare that came under fire.
Giuliani did not participate in the film, and his office declined comment on it. New York Republican Congressman Peter King is among the Giuliani supporters in the film. King calls Giuliani a great mayor, and says liberals will be on the attack.
REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: Rudy Giuliani is going to bring out all the Michael Moores of the world. And if we have Michael Moore on the one side and we have real Americans on the other side, Rudy wins that fight.
SNOW: Former Democratic New York City Mayor Ed Koch praises the film, calling it a piece of history. He wrote a book called "Giuliani: Nasty Man," but voted for Giuliani twice. He predicts the film may have an expected result.
ED KOCH, FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: If this film is seen in parts of the United States outside of New York city, it would actually bring in some supporters to clamor for Giuliani`s brand and seek his election as president.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Again, Giuliani`s office declined any comment on the film, which is now playing only in New York, but will open in other cities later this month -- A.J.
HAMMER: It`s so interesting because I remember at the time, the man could just do no wrong.
SNOW: Absolutely.
HAMMER: CNN`s Mary Snow, thanks for joining us tonight. I appreciate that.
So, will Paul McCartney`s wife go after his reported billion-dollar fortune? Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the latest on what really could become the biggest divorce duels ever.
VARGAS: And the king stops by -- as in Larry King. He`ll tell us the story of his race against time to save a little boy`s life.
Plus, we`ve also got this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Want to do some light reading?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Has your local bookstore gone to the dogs? Coming up, how to teach an old dog new tricks -- like how to read. Is the author of a new book legit or just chasing her tail? H
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VARGAS: Well, a lot of the controversy over "The Da Vinci Code" deals with the book`s and movie`s suggestion that Jesus secretly married Mary Magdalene and had kids with her. So what do you believe out there?
Nothing like a little scientific poll to sort it all out, courtesy of us, CNN.
This just came in today. So here we go. Most of you, six out of 10, if you`re counting, don`t think Jesus married Mary Magdalene. About the same number think they didn`t have kids either.
But here`s something really interesting. "The Da Vinci Code" depicts Opus Dei as a murderous cult that will do anything to protect the secret that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had children.
Even though that`s made up, in a CNN poll, 60 percent of people think secret societies, like Opus Dei, have had a significant amount of power and influence on the world.
HAMMER: So, the question everybody`s asking now, how good a movie is it? Well, coming up, "People" magazine`s take on "The Da Vinci Code." That`s in the showbiz guide.
VARGAS: Also, is a billion-dollar Beatles battle brewing? Tonight, will Heather Mills walk away with a huge chunk of Paul McCartney`s billion dollar fortune? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates what could become one of the biggest divorces duels ever.
And we`ve also got this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can teach your dog to read two or three words in the space of maybe 15 or 20 minutes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So can you really teach your dog how to read? Hey, make no bones about it, there are some people who think it`s possible. The question is, is there more bark than bite to this story? You`ll find out, coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. I`m Sophia Choi. And here`s your headlines prime newsbreak.
Well, Americans still don`t approve of how President Bush is handling the immigration issue. But a new CNN poll shows they generally support the policy he outlined in Monday night`s address; 79 percent of those polled favor a program which would allow illegal immigrants already in the U.S. to become citizens after they fulfill certain criteria.
Italy`s new prime minister says the war in Iraq was a grave mistake, but he says Italy will remain on the front lines in the war against terror.
And a popular painkiller, Vioxx, might have been putting users at risk of developing strokes. A public health expert made the warning after looking at new data. It`s those same concerns that forced Merck to recall Vioxx in late 2004. But the drug company says it disagrees with those new findings.
And that`s a look at the news for now. I`m Sophia Choi.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
A.J. HAMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for a Thursday night, it is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ANCHOR: And I`m Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: So in the south of France, all week long Sibila at the Cannes Film Festival, it`s all about "The Da Vinci Code". The reviews coming out of Cannes about "The Da Vinci Code" not very good. A couple okay, but not great. "People" magazine`s lead critic Leah Rosen, our movie critic joins us every single week right here, I trust everything she has to say. We`ll go back to Cannes to hear what she says about this film, the most anticipated film of the year coming up in a few minutes.
VARGAS: I can`t wait to hear what she has to say. Also, I have to ask you a question and I know it`s going to sound preposterous, but, does your dog know how to read?
HAMMER: Absolutely.
VARGAS: You`re too much. Yeah, but you know, there actually are some people that think that they could teach dogs how to read.
HAMMER: That`s right.
VARGAS: Well, that`s coming up.
HAMMER: Fascinating story, actually. It`s really, really cool.
VARGAS: Believe it or not.
HAMMER: But first, tonight. It could easily be one of the most expensive celebrity breakups of all time. Paul McCartney`s divorce from Heather Mills McCartney really could get ugly as the couple starts splitting up their assets, namely the former Beatle`s whopping $1.5 billion fortune. I said billion. With a "B." And there may be no prenuptial agreement. If that`s the case, Mrs. McCartney could walk away with a huge chunk of it. So joining me now in New York, famed celebrity divorce attorney, Raoul Felder to help us sort through what may or may not happen. Raoul it`s nice to see you.
RAOUL FELDER, CELEBRITY DIVORCE ATTORNEY: Well it`s nice to see you A.J.
HAMMER: Let`s run through some of these numbers because he really is a very wealthy man. It breaks down to, as we said, around $1.5 billion, he has $752 million in assets, $282 million inheritance, that`s from ex-wife Linda, $90 million from his 2005 tour, that`s recent earnings for him. And $9.4 million for a home in St. John`s Wood in London.
FELDER: A.J. that`s not even counting the money that`s guaranteed, in other words the royalties --
HAMMER: -- royalties and all of that.
FELDER: If the guy just went to sleep for the next 12 years he`d be making millions of dollars.
HAMMER: Well let`s talk about what she may be making. And we`ll get into whether or not there is a prenup. But if there is no prenup, what could she, best case scenario potentially be taking away here?
FELDER: She could be walking away in the neighborhood of $200 million, which is a pretty good neighborhood. First of all, she gets, without any question any money left over that wasn`t spent in the four years marriage. And they said he makes $45 million a year, he got $90 million from the tour. So there`s got to be a lot of money left over there. She`s going to get child support, she`s going to get alimony or maintenance for herself.
And then there`s a question, she may even increased the value of what his marital estate is by this means. She gave him a new -- if I were her lawyers, this is what I would say, she gave him a new dimension. He was now a soft fuzzy face involved in charity. Wasn`t so before. So maybe that adds a dimension to the celebrity. Hello. To add dimension to the celebrity, more money. The celebrity -- a valued celebrity.
So she`s going to be a very, very rich woman. And there`s going to be a lot of losers. He`s going to lose money, his kids are going to lose money, future girlfriends are going to lose money.
HAMMER: As I mentioned, she has said that she had suggested a prenup. He said he wanted to show that he really loves her, prenup not necessary. This guy is worth, as we said, $1.5 billion as it stands now. Is it really possible that there`s no prenup Raoul?
FELDER: If he didn`t have a prenup, he should see a psychiatrist, not a lawyer. I`d like to know what he was smoking -- when he turned down from having a prenup. Maybe it`s true. Maybe there are two theories.
HAMMER: You deal with celebrity divorces all the time. Obviously, there are pressures being in the public eye, which is what they claim to have really led to their divorce, been the catalyst for it. Is that really enough from your perspective to break it up?
FELDER: A.J., there are mother-in-laws and kids from former marriage and kids from former marriage, and hello, he was sort of a celebrity before he met her. It`s not like she met a guy who later won the lottery or something. So it`s kind of ridiculous. I mean she knew what she was getting into and it was there beforehand. Probably more press when they were going to get married than after they were married.
HAMMER: Good chance it has to do with other things. One way or the other, she`s going to walk away with a lot of money.
FELDER: Lots of dough.
HAMMER: All right, Raoul Felder, it`s always interesting to get your take on these things. Thanks for joining us tonight.
FELDER: Thank you A.J.
VARGAS: And that leads us to the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Paul McCartney`s split -- does Heather Mills deserve half his money? Keep voting at cnn.com/showbiztonight. And write us at showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`re going to read some of your e-mails tomorrow.
HAMMER: It`s time now for "People`s Picks & Pans." and, for that, we`re going back to the Cannes Film Festival in France, where SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson had a chance to catch up with "People" magazine film critic, Leah Rozen.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tonight, we have "People`s Picks & Pans" from the 59th Cannes Film Festival. We are talking about what else, "The Da Vinci Code", the most anticipated film of the year. Joining me now to chat about it is "People" magazine`s Leah Rozen. Leah, great to see you.
LEAH ROZEN, FILM CRITIC, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: Nice to see you Brooke.
ANDERSON: Give it to me straight. What did you think of the movie?
ROZEN: Well, you know I was really looking forward to this one before I saw it. Then I saw it and I`ve got to say, this is a big disappointment. "The Da Vinci Code" is just kind of dull, and it`s dull for two and a half hours, which is a long time to be dull.
ANDERSON: Now this is Ron Howard, Producer Brian Grazer. Tom Hanks, a power house trio. Many people thought they couldn`t fail.
ROZEN: These are all very talented people who I`m sure will have better luck next time. The problem with the film is just they`re trying to be faithful to the book, they`ve got so much material to cover. And the movie just -- they sort of forgot to do character development and put in any humor because they`re so busy telling you all this information they have to tell you and doing all this exposition and giving you all this alleged religious history.
And there`s just no chemistry between Tom Hanks and the leading lady Audrey Tautou. She is given nothing to do. She is nearly decorative. The movie only gets a little lively when Ian McKellen is in and he`s a lot of fun. But then when his character disappears, like I said, it`s a two and a half hour movie, and you still got a ways to go.
ANDERSON: I thought Ian was pretty brilliant. And Audrey Tautou what you said about her, she didn`t have much dialogue in many of the scenes. She just was looking at the other actors.
ROZEN: No. Her character in the book -- her character is quite spirited and quite -- and in the movie, she just, you know, dullsville. The other thing about the film that was just, you know there`s this big surprise coming at the ending. But as an audience, you`ve figured it out. You can see it coming a mile away.
ANDERSON: Is that the scene where everyone was laughing when it was supposed to be serious. That was the one you`re referring to?
ROZEN: People were laughing in the audience and I got to say I was among them. So I think this is a film, it`s going to make money no matter what. This is going to make huge money, if 30, 40 million people read the book, they`re going to go to the movie.
ANDERSON: So it could still be a blockbuster?
ROZEN: I`m guessing it`s going to make a lot of money but I`m guessing most of the critics are going to pan it the way I have.
ANDERSON: Do you think Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, these guys can bounce back from this?
ROZEN: Yeah, I mean it`s a movie, they`ll make others, they`ll make good ones, better luck next time.
ANDERSON: Better luck next time, you heard it here. Leah Rozen for "People" magazine. Reporting from the 59th Cannes Film Festival, I`m Brooke Anderson.
HAMMER: And you can pick up your copy of "People" magazine, you`ll find it on newsstands now. And I must let you know that Brooke is going to be finishing up SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s coverage of Cannes and the premiere of "The Da Vinci Code" tomorrow right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at 11:00 p.m. eastern.
VARGAS: Well he`s usually the one asking questions, but tonight, we`re pulling the old switcheroo on CNN`s own Larry King to hear all about his new book about fathers. Larry King next in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
We`ll also have this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
You can teach a dog to read two or three words in the space of maybe 15 or 20 minutes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And why not? A woman who says not only can you teach an old dog new tricks, you can teach him or her how to read. That`s right. How to teach rover to read, coming up. So stay. Right where you are.
VARGAS: Well first, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT birthday shout-out, where we give fans a chance to wish their favorite stars a happy birthday. Well tonight, we`re sending one out to baseball great Reggie Jackson, he`s celebrating his 60th birthday today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Mr. October, this is Mark Spaulding from Mitchellville, Maryland, I just want to wish you a happy birthday. Hope all is well. Hope you have a great day. Congratulations, man.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Time now for another story today that just made us say, "That`s ridiculous." It`s a book that says, are you ready for this? You can teach your dog to read. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How many owners can say this about their dogs?
BONNIE BERGIN, PRESIDENT, ASSISTANCE DOG INSTITUTE: He`s been reading for about two years now.
MOOS: You don`t believe it?
BERGIN: Good boy.
MOOS: Still don`t believe it? Well, believe this. Okay, so a novel might be too much.
Want to do some light reading? "War and Peace." It will just take a minute.
"Teach Your Dog to Read" makes no bones about it. Okay you`re right, your dog will never be able to read this book, but it might teach him the basics.
BERGIN: When you can teach your dog to read two or three words in the space of maybe 15 or 20 minutes, once you see that, then you know it`s real.
MOOS: Bonnie Bergin is considered a pioneer in assistance dog training. She founded "The Assistance Dog Institute" in Santa Rosa, California. Her new book shows how to use flash cards to teach dogs to read. But is it actually reading?
BERGIN: They`re looking at it as an abstract symbol.
MOOS: First you show the card and say the command a few times.
BERGIN: Throw.
MOOS: Then you graduate to flashing the card without saying the word.
BERGIN: Good boy.
MOOS: A reward is crucial. Though the treat tends to be more powerful than the written word.
Is this what you`re looking for?
The flash cards get harder. Two letters, three letters, three words. And their dogs have mastered as many as 20 written commands. We also saw a lot of guessing. When shown the command down, Norton first tried to speak, then he did a turn and only then did he go down. Moments later he apparently mistook shake for speak. But when he was shown speak upside down --
He`s doing it.
MOOS: We made up a few of our own flash cards.
Bark Yeah. Guess she doesn`t want to join. Run, spot, run. And another of your literary favorites.
But seriously, folks, why teach dogs to read?
BERGIN: We`re looking for ways to stretch their mind
MOOS: So instead of just splashing around a pool.
Hi, we`d like to know where the canine section is.
MOOS: Head for the bookstore together. See anything that appeals to you. Cassie, a little beach reading. Next thing you know, she`ll be map reading. North, south, east, instead of "War and Peace."
Only 1,000 pages to go Cass.
How about the doggy equivalent of a romance novel?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: "Teaching Dogs to Read", now that`s ridiculous. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Although I`m thinking, Sibila, that perhaps the one dog that turned down the opportunity to be in Oprah`s book club, maybe he had a problem with the whole James Frey thing, I don`t know.
VARGAS: That`s not nice.
HAMMER: Well, look, I have a book for a dog to read and I have a very special guest here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT who is going to tell us about that book, Larry King, of course. The host of "LARRY KING LIVE", now in his 20th year on CNN. Just in time for Father`s Day, or for your dog, whichever it is, Larry has a brand new book out, "My Dad and Me." Some of the celebrities, notables that Larry has interviewed throughout the years, share memories and lessons they learned from their own dads. It`s always a pleasure to welcome the king and an owner to have you here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
LARRY KING, AUTHOR, "MY DAD & ME": Three dogs so far have read this book.
HAMMER: And how`d that work out for them?
KING: Two liked it and one couldn`t associate with it because he never made touch with his father.
HAMMER: It was a little ruff.
KING: It was hard for him --
HAMMER: No, no, Larry, it was a little "Ruff". Yeah, really, really bad. Larry, you`re a father of five. You know a little something about being a dad, but it`s a very personal reason isn`t it that you decided to put together this collection of stories for the dads.
KING : True. I have three grown children, one 50, one 43, and one, the girl is 38, and then I have two other children who are seven and about to be six. Two boys. And I have a stepson, too, my wife`s son. So I know about fatherhood. And my own father died when I was 9 1/2. I thought about him a lot over the years and what effect that had on me. So this year now raising two little ones, taking them to school every day, I`m really involved in their life.
I got to thinking back to my father, how much I miss that. He took me to school. I missed that. I missed that in my life. When he died, I lost that. So we wrote to people and asked people to remember their fathers. And Crown Publishing liked the idea and so we`ve compiled I think about 123 people from Donald Trump to Derek Jeter, reminiscing about what their father meant to them and what affect the father role had in life. And there`s a special role the father has.
HAMMER: And what`s interesting is you read through these stories from everybody, from Bill Gates to former President Bush. You see that the fathers not always because of their positive actions influence their kids, in other words, it may be don`t follow by my example and you`ll do okay. Jack Lalane comes to mind.
KING: Jack Lalane, one of the fittest persons ever, physically fit, he`s in his 90`s and he still does cart wheels. His father didn`t take care of himself at all and his father wasn`t a very good father. Rory Geller`s father hit him, made his wife have eight or nine abortions. So you can learn a lot by having a bad influence. You can do the reverse. Take a bad influence and work against that and of course a lot of positive influences. Donald Trump who thinks about his father every day because he taught him about integrity and business. Don Mattingly, a great ballplayer. His father was never interested in whether he won or lost.
HAMMER: And even though your father passed away when you were nine years old, obviously he set you on some sort of wonderful path that has not only led you to this amazing career you had, but how much good you do for others. You work with of course the "Larry King Cardiac Foundation." You`ve been working to get a heart transplant for an eight-year-old Afghan boy and I understand you have some amazing news.
KING: I have some very good news. Cooperating with the pentagon, they flew the boy over from Afghanistan. We`ve been working on this a long time. Took a lot of red tape, you might imagine. The surgery was done today, this afternoon, and was successful, and he`s in recovery at Children`s Hospital in Washington. I`m going to go see him in Washington next Tuesday. And this is wild, A.J. As he was undergoing the surgery, his mother gave birth to a little boy.
HAMMER: You`re kidding?
KING: So he has a little brother. And that`s the best part of what I do. Is to when I make the call to people that we`re going to help them get a new heart or a transplant or whatever we do, we do so many procedures, so it`s such a hoot to me to have this happen, that we were able to work in -- the Pentagon flew him over in a military transport.
HAMMER: Wow!
KING: It`s a great, great story.
HAMMER: Well congratulations on that. It is nice to have friends in high places, isn`t it?
KING: That don`t hurt either.
HAMMER: Yeah, when you really need it. I want to shift gears for a second. I need to ask you about Paul and Heather. I know Paul McCartney and Heather Mills not only were on your show as guests. I know Heather actually has substituted for you and hosted your show.
KING: They have been at our home.
HAMMER: I know you were very social with them. One word that keeps coming up since the news broke yesterday that they were splitting up is shock. A lot of people just seem dismayed that a couple that seemed like they were truly the real thing are going their separate ways.
KING: Well obviously, we never know what`s going on. We only know people from the way we see them up front. My wife said she wasn`t surprised and she knows Heather very well. It was hard to begin with. Heather has a mind of her own, she`s a very strong woman. It must be awfully difficult to be married to Paul McCartney.
HAMMER: I imagine.
KING: You`re talking about a major world symbol, forget all the money. And the attention they got and then having a little daughter and they blamed -- they said the media was a lot at fault. The last time I had them on was when they were up in Canada trying to stop the pounding -- you know what they do to the seals up there is a really sad story. What they do, they club them to death and they were appearing together and she sort of controlled that interview. She was the one most aggressive. So you see little underpinnings but it`s always sad to see when something like this happens. And I`m hoping that it isn`t over.
HAMMER: Well that`s what they`re saying that it`s just a split at the moment. Who knows where it`s actually heading. But you mentioned of course they`ve been saying that the primary catalyst for this happening is the fact that the pressures of being in the public eye have made it so difficult. Obviously, just being married is a very difficult thing. Are the pressures from being in the public eye, you know, you`re a big star, and --
KING: Well, you have to be very -- your movements are wise. You have no real privacy, so when you go out, and you`re in the public eye, you`re sitting in a restaurant, people observe you. You know, but just because they`re observing you. So if you have a bad -- every husband in America has had a bad word with his wife at dinner. You`re a celebrity and have a bad word, suppose you get a little ticked, you get a little ticked.
HAMMER: You got to control it.
KING: So you get up and you storm into the men`s room. What the hell was that all about and it`s in the "Enquirer."
HAMMER: Yeah, exactly. You got to watch out for it. Well Larry thanks for coming on talking about your book.
KING: I hope you like this book.
HAMMER: Yes, it`s called "My Dad and Me." It is a heart warming collection of stories about fathers from a host of Larry`s famous friends. And you can find it in stores now and of course you can watch "LARRY KING LIVE" every night at 9:00 p.m. eastern on CNN.
VARGAS: Just a few hours before the series finale of "Will & Grace," the stars of the show rang the closing bell on Wall Street today. There they are, Sean Hayes, Debra Messing, Eric McCormack and Megan Mulally. CNN`s Kyra Phillips interviewed them today, but Messing and McCormack didn`t have their earpieces and all the extra noise on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, well it made for an interesting exchange alright. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We can totally talk smack about them and they`ll have no idea. What are you thinking? What do you think of Debra`s dress?
What? What?
What do you think of Debra`s breasts?
PHILLIPS: No. No, not her breasts. Her dress.
Her dress. Oh, I think it`s beautiful. It`s Chanel, right? It`s a Chanel dress. She`s very proud of it.
PHILLIPS: Although the other parts look great too.
We`re over stimulated. This is a very grownup venue for us to be in.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: Just like them to go out with a bang. Well we wish them all the best. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be right back.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Last night, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We were asking bad reviews for "The Da Vinci Code" -- will you still go see the movie? 67 percent of you said yes you will. 33 percent of you said no you won`t. Here are some of the e-mails we received. We heard from Mayela in Wisconsin who writes, "Critics usually don`t get it right. People have to watch it first before they can agree with a critic they`ve never talked to." We also heard from Heather who lives in Florida and writes, "I have nothing against the movie, but I will not pay $10 to see any movie. I`ll wait for the DVD." She makes a decent point. Although DVD is not cheap either.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
VARGAS: And I`m Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. Thank you so much again for watching and good night. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN "HEADLINE NEWS."
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I`m Sophia Choi and here`s your headline prime news break. Sad news out of Iraq. Four U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter were killed today in a roadside bombing northwest of Baghdad. Italy`s new prime minister said the war in Iraq was a grave mistake. But he says Italy will remain on the front lines in the war against terror.
Officials in Conway, South Carolina are holding a suspect in connection with a deadly attack in a high school parking lot. An 18 year old female student was stabbed to death as students were arriving for class.
And a group of scientists have asked congress to fund research for plug in hybrid vehicles. They say the cars can get 100 miles a gallon.
A coffee break at work is great, but surfing the net, apparently a lot better. A new survey finds that half of Americans with internet access at work would give up their morning coffee if it meant they could keep surfing the internet. And that`s a look at news for now. I`m Sophia Choi.
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