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Showbiz Tonight
Special Edition: CNN Heroes
Aired December 06, 2007 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CNN HN HOST: Tonight a very special live edition of TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN HN HOST: And I`m Brooke Anderson and we`re live at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
HAMMER: Now on a special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, countdown to "CNN Heroes."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. HAROLD SCOTT SOUTHWORTH, ADOPTED IRAQI ORPHAN: No soldier goes to war and comes home with an idea of adopting an orphan from the war zone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, an extraordinary event, a star-studded tribute saluting ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hollywood`s biggest stars sharing the amazing stories of their heroes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People hear about these diseases and they say, forget it, it`s incurable. I don`t think so, I really don`t.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight the inspiring stories of people who do so much to help others. The everyday heroes who will inspire and amaze you. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s, "Countdown to CNN Heroes" begins right now.
Hello I`m A.J. Hammer at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and welcome to a very special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Hi, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson outside on the red carpet and we are counting down to an extraordinary event at the top of the hour, "CNN Heroes, an All-Star Tribute." Just one hour from now we will want you to switch over from Headline News to CNN as some of the biggest stars in the world help us honor the real heroes in the world, ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things.
HAMMER: Brooke, I`m inside the museum right now where the stars and the heroes are gathering and on CNN at the top of the hour, CNN`s Anderson Cooper and Christiane Amanpour will be hosting the show. It`s going to include what I know will be amazing performances from Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow and a great duet by Norah Jones and Wyclef Jean.
ANDERSON: And during this hour, A.J., we will be bringing you the amazing stories of so many of these heroes who will be honored for "Championing Children," helping young people, "Community Crusaders," people coming up with creative solutions to local problems, "Defending the Planet," those protecting the environment, "Fighting for Justice," heroes advancing civil rights, "Medical Marvels," improving human health and Young Wonders, those under 18 years old making a big difference.
HAMMER: Over the past year, CNN has been bringing you the stories of these heroes, people that you the viewers have let us know about. Eighteen finalists have been chose for the ultimate honors tonight. After a year in which CNN got more than, listen to this, 7,000 nominations in 93 countries and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you so many of these heroes` stories are truly remarkable.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (on camera): They are among us, they are men, women, children, in our neighborhoods, in our country, around the world. People from all walks of life who have one thing that unites them, they inspire. They are heroes.
Tonight, in an extraordinary event like no other, we celebrate these people around the world who are dedicating their lives to improving the lives of others. Those who spend their lives championing children.
SOUTHWORTH: My name is Major Scott Harold Southworth. I`m a member of the Wisconsin National Guard and the proud father of an Iraqi orphan by the name Ala`a Din (ph).
HAMMER (voice-over): Others who perform the extraordinary with medical marvels.
TREY WILSON, GIVES FREE DENTAL CARE TO KENYANS: I`m Trey Wilson, I live in New York City and I provide free dental care and dental education to Kenyans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Those who take the lead as community crusaders.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Afghanistan brought me a lot and I wanted to bring a little something back.
HAMMER: Others still who are fighting for justice in places where being brave is deadly.
SOMALY MAM, AFESIP: My name is Somaly Mam and my mission led to help the victims to take them out of the brothel.
HAMMER: Those defending the planet, doing their best to protect the environment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Larry Gibson, I am to the keeper of the mountain.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And the young wonders, children not old enough to even vote, changing the lives of thousands for the better.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every day 6.00 people die because they don`t have access to clean water. I feel I shouldn`t live in a world like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight you will hear so many of their stories as CNN pays tribute to our world`s heroes. Like this Wisconsin national guardsman who saved the life of a disabled Iraqi orphan.
SOUTHWORTH: No soldier goes to war with the expectation of coming home and adopting an orphan from the war zone.
HAMMER: It was a split second decision that changed his life.
SOUTHWORTH: I could not as a Christian man walk away from that little boy.
HAMMER: And so he became the orphan`s father.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you, father.
SOUTHWORTH: I love you too, buddy.
HAMMER: But for some heroes, it takes more than love to help those in need.
TREY WILSON, GIVES FREE DENTAL CARE TO KENYANS: My life would have been a Monday through Friday Madison Avenue dentist, getting into my car and driving out to the country and gardening all weekend.
HAMMER: Instead, dentist Trey Wilson from New York City decided to go where he was most needed, halfway around the world to remote Kenya, where there is one dentist for every 60,000 people.
WILSON: Routinely I saw in my clinic four-year-olds with 20 teeth that need to be extracted.
HAMMER: He sees as many as 1,200 people with each visit completely free of charge.
WILSON: Every single one of us has that capacity to be of service to others and I just did something about it.
HAMMER: Sometimes for these heroes doing something about it means risking their lives in the name of something much higher than themselves. Larry Gibson is a West Virginia man who refuses to sell his land to the coal mining companies.
LARRY GIBSON, WON`T SELL TO COAL COMPANIES: One vice president of a coal fields company told me my 50 acres was worth $1 million an acre. I said you can have my right arm, but you`ll never get my mountain.
HAMMER: He won`t have his mountain because he knows they`ll blow it up to get the coal. Cheap for the coal companies, disastrous for the ecosystem, ruining the land and leaving the mountains marred and depleted. But Larry will not give up.
GIBSON: I`m here, my feet are planted. I`m not giving up nothing. I can`t imagine not fighting.
HAMMER: Human beings who risk their lives in the name of the environment and others heroes who risk it instead for justice.
MAM: My work is so dangerous. You face the police, you are corrupted, you go into court, sometimes they are so corrupted.
HAMMER: Somaly Mam has devoted her life to the dangerous job of rescuing young girls who had been sold to brothels in Cambodia. There are 30,000 prostitutes in the capital of Cambodia alone. A quarter of them are children.
MAM: I have people trying to destroy me everywhere. They are trying, trying. But I just want to say to them, no way.
HAMMER: Somaly puts her life at risk every day running an organization that has rescued 3,000 sex slaves from brothels.
MAM: I just want to give them love for real. It`s what I needed.
HAMMER: Somaly is just one of many heroes fighting for justice. And for others they become heroes simply by helping a community thrive.
MATIN MAULAWIZADA, HELPS AFGHAN WAR WIDOWS: After years of war and years of suppression.
HAMMER: In Kabul, Afghanistan, there is an astonishing 50,000 women widowed from the war. Destitute, uneducated, living hand to mouth, but one man is changing that.
MAULAWIZADA: My entire point was to make sure the widows and women will be able to be able to proudly work and be proud of their work and work outside of their house.
HAMMER: A Hollywood makeup artist, Matin Maulawizada left the bright lights and stardom to return home to Kabul to help these women start their own business.
MAULAZWIZADA: It`s just amazing. It sells itself, really.
HAMMER: He`s selling their stunning handmade scarves at an online project called Afghan Hands.
MAULAZIWADA: My whole dream is for them to basically have the confidence to see the beautiful objects that they`re making.
HAMMER: Matin is just one of many nominated in the category of community crusaders. But we must not forget that heroes come in many shapes and sizes, even pint-sized.
RYAN HRELJAC, HELS BRING WELLSTO UGANDA: My teacher said there are people who have to walk 10 kilometers to get to a dirty mud hole and I decided to do something about it.
HAMMER: What Ryan Hreljac decided to do is astounding. He saved up his money and bought a well for a small impoverished village in Uganda.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The well which Ryan built was the first clean water they ever had.
HAMMER: Ryan now 16 years old has built 266 wells in 12 developing countries.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is a hero. He is a warrior who made it happen.
They are out there, the warriors, the heroes, leading the charge they selflessly and with little fanfare are driven to remarkable acts in the name of helping their fellow man.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (on camera): If that doesn`t inspire you, I don`t know what will. And what I think what is truly amazing, Brooke, as I pointed out earlier, these nominations came from 93 countries around the world.
ANDERSON: It is certainly a global event, A.J. And through this even tonight, fortunately, these worthy individuals will be receiving even more international attention. But you know what I love about this is these are people who rarely if ever receive the attention that they deserve, the recognition they deserve, but that is changing tonight so it truly is a very special event.
And some of the biggest Hollywood stars will be here tonight to honor the work of CNN`s Heroes, tonight`s amazing tribute will include star studded performances by Sheryl Crow and the queen of R&B, Mary J. Blige. I spoke with Mary on the red carpet about how his heroes set an example for all of us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY J. BLIGE, SINGER: These folks can inspire the world to do something, I mean, make people want to help out and not just stay quiet when something`s going on, but reach out and help someone else. I mean, this is bigger than just a celebrity, this is like, OK, you got regular, everyday people that have 9:00 to 5:00, saving lives and doing things that are great and they`re being honored for their work, so it makes someone else sitting at home say I`m going to get out and help my necks door next door neighbor with a problem she`s having. So it`s a beautiful - it`s a blessing, actually.
ANDERSON: It certainly is. And how does performing at an event like this compare to performing at other events that you do.
BLIGE: This for me is all I really do. The reason why I do my music is for the regular, everyday person so it means a lot to me to be able to sing to all those honored tonight that are regular -- This is what I do. All my fans are every day regular people that love what I do because I love them. And I show them in my music they do.
ANDERSON: When you think about an event like this and you think about your high-profile status, do you feel an obligation as a celebrity to encourage others to get involved.
BLIGE: I feel an obligation to encourage them, but the only way I can encourage them is by being an example. People don`t want to hear what you got to say, they want to say what you`re really doing. So it`s all about action.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I can`t wait, just a short time from now. Over on CNN Mary J. Blige will be performing "Come to Me" live for the very first time. And A.J. some other performers Norah Jones and also Wyclef Jean so a lot of high-profile people here to support these regular heroes. But each of these celebrities will tell you it`s not about them, it`s about these ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
HAMMER: Yes, and it`s about time. And Brooke, it`s truly amazing what it took to put this whole night tonight. And coming up the co-host of this all-star heroes tribute, CNN`s own Anderson Cooper right here giving us a fascinating look behind the scenes. We`ll also have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIANNE MOORE, ACTRESS: I think people hear about these diseases and they think, oh, forget it, it`s incurable. Well I don`t think so, I really don`t.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That`s one of my favorite actresses, Julianne Moore and she`s also a mother of two and I bet that played a big role in her making an amazing choice to fight against a little known but devastating disease. We`ll bring you the story of how a totally random run in on the street led her to find her hero.
HAMMER: All right you`re ready? Because I`ve been waiting all night to say this. Coming up, a guy who plays Hiro on NBC`s "Heroes" right here on CNN`s Heroes. Masi Oka. Tonight Masi`s going to be standing right here with me to talk about his amazing charity, how he`s a real-life hero to some very needy kids. That is all coming up on this special SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Countdown to CNN Heroes."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to this special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Countdown to CNN Heroes." I`m A.J. Hammer, inside the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
ANDERSON: A.J., I`m out here on the red carpet and tonight we are counting down for the top of the hour for this absolutely awesome event, "CNN Heroes, an All-Star Tribute." Tonight CNN is honoring ordinary people who do extraordinary things and also some of the biggest Hollywood stars will be here to honor the heroes, including Glenn Close, Harry Connick Jr., Rosario Dawson, Kyra Sedgwick and talk show host Tyra Banks.
I spoke with Tyra on the red carpet when she arrived tonight and she opened up to me about why this night is like no other.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYRA BANKS, TALK SHOW HOST AND MODEL: What I love about this event is that it`s honoring not famous people, but real people that don`t have to do what they do, but they saw something, they saw something was wrong and they got out of their comfort zone and made change. And I think it`s important to show the younger generation especially, because I think they feel like, oh, somebody else will do it or it will get done or I don`t matter and it just goes to show that one person can make a difference.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tyra Banks will be presenting the award in the "Championing Children" category honoring everyday people who demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the welfare of children.
HAMMER: Julianne Moore is a mother of two and absolutely one of my favorite award-winning actresses. Well, tonight, I have to tell you, there was no acting when she made the emotional choice to help fight a little known but debilitating disease, one that affects a million people worldwide. And the story behind her getting behind this battle is truly amazing. A totally random meeting on the street inspired Julianne to help her "Medical Marvel" heroes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOORE: I think people hear about these diseases and they think, oh, forget it, it`s incurable. I don`t think so, I really don`t. My name is Julianne Moore. And my hero is Tom and Peg Lindsey who are working very, very hard to bring awareness to find a cure for tuberous sclerosis.
Tuberous sclerosis causes benign tumors to grow in major organs.
PEG LINDSEY, FIGHTING FOR CURE FOR TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS: Tommy was born on June 27, 1999. At about five weeks I started to see his shoulder twitch a little bit. They gave him cat scans and everything. It was terrible.
TOM LINDSEY, FIGHTING FOR A CURE FOR TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS: Finally after an MRI they realized they were looking at tumors in Tommy`s brain.
P. LINDSEY: First the neurologist came in and he said, your son has tuberous sclerosis, he`ll never walk, he`ll never talk. You should consider an institution. But in talking to other people, life was not that bad. He doesn`t have a death sentence. He does have a chance.
T. LINDSEY: We made a pact that we weren`t going to allow this to happen to anyone if there was anything we could do about it. We decided we wanted to make tuberous sclerosis a household name.
It`s just as common as cystic fibrosis and yet no one in the medical community is very familiar with it.
We were sending out all these letters and trying to get some kind of recognition without an answer back from anyone until the day that I ran into Julianne Moore.
MOORE: And I`m walking down the street and I hear, Julianne Moore, hey my name is Tom Lindsey, and this is my son Tommy and he has a disease called tuberous sclerosis and we just had brain surgery.
T. LINDSEY: I tried to get the last three and a half years of his life out in 20 seconds. And said, I`m just one father, my wife is one mother. We need someone to help us out.
MOORE: Since then I have kind of been involved as their spokesperson.
T. LINDSEY: She went and testified before Congress with me. She comes to every fund-raiser, remarkable woman, remarkable, remarkable woman.
Oh, great, wow! Wow!
It seems to me now that my life was almost mapped out and supposed to happen. Tommy was given to me for a reason, we were supposed to a find a cure.
P. LINDSEY: I feel like we might not be helping Tommy, but we`re helping the next kid.
MOORE: When you`re dealing with something is extraordinary, you say I`m going to educate other people in the world about this. I`m going to make this part of the kind of fabric of our lives and that`s what they have done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: See, good deeds can even start with a conversation on the street. You can check out cnn.com/heroes to see just how far Julianne Moore and the Lindseys have gone to fight tuberous sclerosis.
Another big star, Harry Connick Jr., he is getting behind this great heroes event tonight. He will be performing on stage. I`ve got to tell you, here is a guy who spends a lot of his own time on charity work, he has done so much to help rebuild his hometown of New Orleans. Well, Harry is going to be right here with me. Coming up live. Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOUTHWORTH: No soldier goes to war with the expectation of coming home and adopting an orphan from the war zone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I think this story is absolutely unbelievable. An American soldier, a hero fighting in Iraq, risking his life, saves another, a disabled Iraqi orphan.
Headline News MORNING EXPRESS anchor Robin Meade joins me for this incredible story.
ANDERSON: And A.J., I think this guy is a hero among heroes. Wesley Autrey threw himself in front of a subway train here in New York City to save a stranger`s life, that`s next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to this special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Countdown to CNN Heroes, an All-Star Tribute."
I`m A.J. Hammer live inside the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson outside on the red carpet where the stars have been arriving all night. And this amazing star-studded event has been months in the making. You have to se how it all came together piece by piece. CNN`s Anderson Cooper and Christiane Amanpour are hosting the show. And Anderson told me this is definitely one you don`t want to miss.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: What should we expect about this awards show? I don`t think you and Christiane will open with a song and dance number. It`s not a typical awards show.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: There is going to be a big Debbie Dllen dance number that Christiane and I are working on. I am a little bit concerned about it. No, thankfully we will be doing none of that.
We do have some great performers but tonight is really about these remarkable people and bringing them out on stage and letting the world see and hear about the remarkable things they have done.
ANDERSON: Why do you think it`s so important to shine the light on these worthy individuals? Because they don`t always receive the attention that they deserve.
COOPER: Yeah. These are people that are toiling in obscurity around the world in their communities and I think it`s important to give them a global stage. It`s not about giving them a pat on the back, but it`s about giving them recognition that will bring more support to their organization and also hopefully encourage other people out there to see that it is possible and to see, you know what, it is possible for one person to make a big difference.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And remember we want you to change the channel, no, no, no, not right now, but at the top of the hour, tune in to CNN for this amazing "All Star Tribute.
And A.J. I think this guy is a hero among heroes. Wesley Autrey threw himself in front of a subway train here in New York City to save a stranger`s life. Well, tonight I have got a very special surprise for this subway hero.
HAMMER: And coming up right here live with me at "CNN Heroes" a guy who plays a Hiro on NBC`s "Heroes," Masi Oka. Did you get that? Well, tonight, Masi is a real-life hero himself helping needy kids with a wonderful charity. You`re watching a special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Countdown to CNN Heroes."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: You`re looking at live picture of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City where just 30 minutes from right now an extraordinary star studded event gets under way.
You`re watching a special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Countdown to CNN Heroes."
Welcome back to this special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Countdown to CNN Heroes." I`m A.J. Hammer, live at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson live on the red carpet outside the museum. And the excitement is building because in just a half our hour from now on CNN Anderson Cooper and Christane Amanpour will be kicking off "CNN Heroes, an All-Star Tribute."
HAMMER: It`s such an amazing night, Brooke, and it`s the culmination of a whole year honoring ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things. And the all-star tribute to them tonight is going to include what I am certain will be amazing performances from Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Wyclef Jean and Norah Jones, and the presenters include a whole slew of big name stars like Glenn Close and Kyra Sedgwick and Harry Connick Jr. But of course, the real stars tonight, the heroes themselves. Over the past year, you the viewers nominated more than 7,000 heroes in 93 countries. The judges had the unenviable task of picking 18 finalists in these categories, championing children, community crusader, defending the planet, fighting for justice, medical marvel and young wonder.
ANDERSON: Throughout the year, A.J., we have met so many everyday heroes with stories that just blew us away. One of them Wesley Autrey, he became known as the Subway Superman, the Subway Savior and the hero of Harlem. Autrey made national news after he jumped into the path of an oncoming train to save the life of a student who had a suffered a seizure. We`re going to be talking to Autrey live right here in just a moment.
But first CNN`s Randi Kaye reminds us why Wesley Autrey is one of CNN`s everyday superheroes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What were you thinking when you jumped on those tracks?
WESLEY AUTREY, LIFESAVER: Saving this guy. What a way to start up a new year than to save a life?
I had to make a split-second decision. I hopped down here, one foot there, one foot there, I looked, I see an oncoming train. I`m trying to get him up but he done fell in and his hands are wet. And I`m trying to get him and I`m slipping and each time I go, I look, the train getting closer, train getting closer. The train was about right there and I was like, you can`t get him up, go to the gutter, I just grabbed him and leaned on top of him and held him down in the gutter and got in the nasty water.
It happened just like that. I had something like seven to 10 seconds, the driver of the train was putting on its brakes. I hear the train squeaking, people are screaming. The thing just grazed my hat.
I`m underneath with the guy, I`m on top of him and I`m like, excuse me, everybody be quiet. Everybody got real quiet. I`m like, there`s two little girls up there, I`m their father, let them know that their daddy is OK, I`m not hurt. And let everybody else know that the man is OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Autrey instinctive and unselfish act saved our son`s life.
AUTREAY: I don`t consider myself a hero. I just did something to help someone that was in need of help.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And joining me here now is the subway hero himself, Wesley Autrey. Wesley, it`s great to see you.
AUTREY: Likewise, likewise, how you been.
ANDERSON: I am going well. Thank you.
And now you really garnered international attention when you did this back in January, you saved this student`s life. What has the experience been like for you since then?
AUTREY: Well, I have been traveling all over. I just came back from Munich, I did a TV show over there. I re-enacted the subway hero thing, live, me and the host, and that`s the first time I ever had an opportunity to do something like that and it was fun. The show was a blast.
But I`m back here in America now, I`m very glad to be home. I was invited back, I think in June or July to Berlin, which is the capital and they have a bridge there that they want to inscribe my name.
ANDERSON: Wow.
AUTREY: That`s like the Hollywood walk of fame here.
ANDERSON: Wow. All over the world you are known. Congratulations, and it`s well deserved. You risked your life to save the life of this person. And what`s it like to be here at this event tonight with all of these other everyday heroes?
AUTREY: I look, you know, it`s like each one, we all got something we can give to somebody else and whether it`s the smallest or it`s the biggest thing that you can do, I mean giving a quarter or buying someone coffee or giving a person two dollar if they ask for it, it doesn`t help. It doesn`t hurt, but, you know what I`m saying?
ANDERSON: Before I let you go, we want to give you this special treat, it`s from New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter, it`s a signed jersey and a fellow New Yorker and he`s very proud of what you did. You are a true hero. Wesley Autrey, thank you so much.
AUTREY: Thank you, Derek. I got a message for you, the fellas in the hood want to know when you and me are going take a stroll. They been asking me that. And this came in right on time.
ANDERSON: Right on time. Enjoy. Have fun tonight. Thank you, Wesley.
All right, Wesley Autrey. And as we mentioned, one of the many performers tonight will be the amazing Sheryl Crow and we actually got to see and hear her dress rehearsal and I can tell you you will be blown away by her performance tonight, she`s singing a new song tonight, "Shining over Babylon."
Just a short time ago I got to speak with Sheryl and she told me about the song`s very powerful message.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHERYL CROW, MUSICIAN: The song actually is -- I`m hoping that people will find hope in it even though it sounds sort of like an apocalyptic diatribe, a litany of things that are going on around us right now. But the chorus hopefully will be inspirational and will incite a feeling that we all have some power in this.
ANDERSON: You have been very outspoken in public about the need for people to come together to combat global warming and a lot of celebrities have joined in that fight. Do you think the message resonates with the American public to get involved as much as everyone needs to?
CROW: I think over the course of the last six to eight months, we`re all being forced to face up to the fact that the science is there, there`s no more debate and we`re looking at even more dire predictions than what was originally predicted by the IPCC. And I think people are starting to feel the necessity when they`re hearing that a third of species will be gone in a certain amount of years and they`re watching the polar caps melt. So I think six months ago people will still debating it and also clinging to the hope that this is cyclical but now we don`t have time.
ANDERSON: You`ve been to countless award shows. Why is this show different and special?
CROW: I think this is the most amazing idea. Every single day I go online or I read the newspapers or I turn on CNN and it just seems like it`s constant inundation of bad news and it`s so great that we`re celebrating people who are out there on a day-to-day basis without the big glory of the awards and all and we`re honoring them here. And just these small amounts of ingenuity that have taken off and really effected a change in people`s lives by these people just caring. It`s a wonderful acknowledgement and I hope it continues.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And Sheryl Crow isn`t the only one performing live tonight. There will be blockbuster performances by R&B star Mary J. Bilge a duet by Norah Jones and Wyclef Jean.
HAMMER: Can`t wait to hear that. Now to the man, however, who plays hero on NBC`s "Heroes" right here at CNN Heroes. But he is a different kind of hero tonight.
Masi Oka is also the global ambassador for One Laptop Per Child. This is a non profit group that he`s looking to outfit nearly two billion children in underdeveloped countries with laptop computers. He`s also a presenter tonight.
Masi Oka, always great to see you. Global ambassador for One Laptop Per Child, such an ambitious project. How is it going to get the computers into the hands of these kids?
MASI OKA, ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD: Right now we`re going through a campaign called a give one get one program, where people in America can get a laptop, one of these XO lap tops to a child in need in a developing nation and get one for the child in their life. So that`s kind of the program we`re continuing into December 31.
So that way we`re going to set up a virtual pen pal system connecting kids all over the world.
HAMMER: And we`re talking about underdeveloped countries here, but I understand these computers have hand power, hand crank, some easy ways to make them operate in places where maybe there`s not electricity.
OKA: Absolutely. The whole idea of the laptop, the XO laptop is supposed to be very `s low cost but it has all these amazing designs to make them durable where you don`t have power or you don`t have easy access to electric or whatever the resources we would have for a normal laptop. So it has a great design, like the display, based on lighting and stuff. So it`s all these amazing technological futures that has gone into it and careful in the design so that it can survive in these locations.
HAMMER: That`s amazing that you are doing this, because obviously information is power, we`re in the information age. How is the program going? I`ve been wondering if you guys are actually able to get these laptops out there?
OKA: It`s going fantastically, they can go to www.laptop.org to get more information and you can constantly see what`s going on with the project and how we`re constantly advancing. And what`s the greatest thing is just to see the smile on the kids. Because fundamentally even though we`re giving laptops, what we`re doing is giving education. At it`s core this is an education project and it`s giving education to kids all over the world.
HAMMER: Well, congratulations on all the good work you`re doing with that program and thank you for being a part of CNN Heroes tonight, we really appreciate it. Masi Oka from NBC`s "Heroes" among the many big stars who are arriving here tonight for the CNN Heroes tribute. In just a few minutes, we`re going to take you right inside the theater because we want to give you your very first look at the big show that`s coming up. We will also have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. SCOTT HAROLD SOUTHWORTH, ADOPTED IRAQ WAR ORPHAN: No soldier goes to war with the expectation of coming home and adopting an orphan from the war zone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: On a night filled with so much inspiration, another absolutely amazing story, a soldier, a hero fighting for his country, risking his life, saves another, a disabled Iraqi orphan. Robin Meade, the anchor of MORNING EXPRESS on CNN Headline News brings us this incredible story and that`s coming up.
And Harry Connick Jr. is also presenting an award tonight. He of course a hometown here for New Orleans in his own right. We`re going to be speaking with him as this special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Countdown to CNN Heroes" continues. Don`t go anywhere, we are coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOUTHWORTH: No soldier goes to war with the expectation of coming home and adopting an orphan from a war zone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And that was Major Scott Harold Southworth who has been nominated as a CNN hero for his work championing children. His amazing story is coming up and I`d like to welcome you back to this special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. "Countdown to CNN Heroes."
I`m A.J. Hammer in New York at the American Museum of Natural History for a very special event. Tonight Hollywood`s biggest stars are out here in full force to honor everyday people doing extraordinary things. Now the nominees for CNN Heroes are truly inspirational people. Singer Harry Connick Jr. has certainly inspired many people through his charitable efforts and he`s going to be presenting the young wonder award for achievement for a person under 18, Harry Connick Jr. joining me now.
It`s always a pleasure to see you, Harry.
CONNICK: Thanks, A.J. It`s good to be with you.
HAMMER: So you got to hear the stories of these amazing children, how unbelievably inspiring were these stories?
CONNICK: Oh, it`s incredible, man, I mean, these young people really make you wonder if you have accomplished anything. You know, they just have these ingenious ideas and this great initiative and it just makes you comfortable knowing that these are the young folks are going to be great leaders in our community. So it`s a great honor to be able to present to them.
HAMMER: And everybody is excited about the basic theme of tonight`s event, we`re honoring ordinary people doing extraordinary things. We`re not honoring the stars tonight. But you certainly are among celebrities who really has done their part, you really have pitched in. Whenever you`re out there doing whatever volunteer work that you may be involved with, or whatever projects you may be involved with, are you seeing more and more young people getting involved?
CONNICK: Oh it`s fantastic, A.J. I started -- well it`s not really a program, it`s sort of a project called the Musician`s Village in New Orleans with Branford Marsalis, and we have had so many young people come. And we have had over 50,000 volunteers and many of them are high school students and college student and they come from all over the world and it`s great to know that I think the genuine spirit of the American people, and people all over the world is a kind one and people really want to give and want to help and I think it`s wonderful that people are being honored tonight for those types of achievements because I think people in general have a very good quality about them and human nature is a good thing. You know?
HAMMER: Well, you and I have certainly talked a lot about the work that you have done to rebuild your home of New Orleans after the devastation of Katrina. What can you tell us what you`re seeing from your perspective when you go down there now?
CONNICK: Well, I tell you what. I`m seeing by Brad Pitt, I`ve got to give it up. He really is doing an amazing job. I mean, he put his money where his mouth is. And he`s got some great ideas. In fact I wrote him a note today to thank him. I don`t know him, I maybe met him one time. But it`s people like that, if we had 20, 30 more people like that around, New Orleans wouldn`t have any problem at all.
I see things like that which are great demonstrations of leadership and passion and integrity and that makes me very happy. New Orleans has a long, long way to go. I think people who go down there and see the touristy areas may think really it`s coming back. But when you go to the residential places like the Ninth Ward, it looks like the hurricane happened just weeks ago. So it`s thanks to people like Brad and other people who are really contributing, Jim Pate who works with our musician`s village that really kind of bring the city back.
HAMMER: Well, thanks for all the work you do, Harry Connick Jr. We`ll look forward to you presenting here tonight on CNN Heroes. And now as our special coverage of the "Countdown to CNN Heroes" continues. We`ll bring you a remarkable story of a soldier who defines the term above and beyond the call of duty, for his story, we go to Robin Meade, the anchor of MORNING EXPRESS on Headline News.
Robin joins us now from inside Atlanta`s Fox Theater. Robin?
ROBIN MEADE, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: Andrew, our next CNN Hero went to war in Iraq and he came home with a son. If you have ever watched our show, you know that we salute the troops every day. Just to give them some recognition. Well, something tells me that our next hero from Wisconsin probably doesn`t want the recognition, but he says if one child with special needs gets adopted because of the story you`re about to see, it`s all worth telling it. Meet CNN Hero Scott Southworth.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOUTHWORTH: No soldier goes to war with the expectation of coming home and adopting an orphan from the war zone.
My name is Major Scott Harold Southworth. I`m a member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard and the proud father of an Iraqi orphan by the name of Ala`a Din (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on Ala.
SOUTHWORTH: My soldiers and I volunteered at the Mother Teresa orphanage in Baghdad, Iraq. I did not choose Ala`a, Ala`a chose me. When the sisters informed me that they were going to have to move him to the government orphanage, I instantly told them I would adopt him.
There were a number of obstacles to bringing him to the United States, not having enough money, not having a stable enough career, not having a wife. But I could not as a Christian man walk away from that little boy. It really was a step of faith for me to just put that into action.
You`re a good little boy. I know you are.
It`s been about two and a half years since I picked Ala`a up in Baghdad. He`s learning how to walk, he`s learned addition and subtraction, he`s learning to read the English language. He`s just a brilliant little boy.
Work those legs.
He`s limited by some of the things he can do physically, but I never treat Ala`a as though he`s disabled.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you pa.
SOUTHWORTH: I live you too, buddy.
Ala`a is so much more a blessing to me than I am to him. I felt a ton of sympathy for Ala`a when I was in Iraq. But Ala`a didn`t need my sympathy, what he need was some action.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MEADE: My favorite part of that story is where he says, I didn`t choose Ala`a, Ala`a chose me.
Now Scott says he`s doing really well, he`s learning to read, in fact he`s memorized the spelling of about 30 words and what a difference the two of them must be making in each other`s lives and for that matter, ours as well. A.J., back to you.
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Robin. And you can catch Robin every weekday morning on MORNING EXPRESS here on Headline News from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. We`re getting really close to the top of the hour where everything gets underway. "CNN Heroes, An All Star Tribute" is going to fire up in exactly nine minutes and 33 seconds. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special live edition coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to this special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Countdown to CNN Heroes." I`m A.J. Hammer live at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
And I`m Brooke Anderson inside the museum, inside the theater where just moments from now, "CNN Heroes, an All-Star Tribute" will begin.
People are making their way to their seats are it now. This is an incredibly special event because CNN is honoring ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things, these are regular people who are making a tremendous impact on others. Now, 18 finalists were chosen from more than 7,000 online nominations that CNN received this year, those nominees from 93 countries and these 18 finalists will amaze and inspire you with their humanitarian efforts.
Now a winner will be chosen in six different categories tonight. Those categories are "Championing Children," "Community Crusaders," "Defending the Planet," "Fighting for Justice," "Medical Marvels" and "Young Wonders."
Now that last category, "Young Wonders," that is for young people under the age of 18 who have been making a big difference in other people`s lives. It will also be a star studded event tonight. Mary J. Bilge, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow are set to perform.
Also some big celebrity presenters on hand as well, including Kyra Sedgwick, Harry Connick Jr. and Glenn Close, and also Tyra Banks, I spoke with Tyra Banks on the red carpet as she was arriving earlier and she talked to me about how challenging it is to motivate young people to get involved. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BANKS: I think we live in a society right now, especially with youth that are obsessed with fame. So if you can see that if you help people, you can get highlit (ph), you don`t have to be a star in a movie. Actually giving can give you some accolades too. I think that`s a good message. I don`t think that`s what the message is for you guys but I`m just thinking about young people in their heads and I can see them being encouraged because of tonight because of that.
ANDERSON: How they would think about it in order to inspire themselves to get motivated.
BANKS: Yes.
ANDERSON: And who`s your hero?
BANKS: I have to say my mother is my hero. Without that woman - I mean, she gave up so much of her live to support me when I was a model in the crazy fashion world. She has kept me sane and a pretty decent person so she definitely is my hero. She is.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Very nice, her mother is her hero. I bet a lot of people could say that as well. And A.J. unlike a typical awards ceremony, this show honors people who rarely if ever receive the recognition that they deserve but that is going to change tonight. They will be honored. It will be a night of entertainment, a night of emotion and a night of inspiration.
HAMMER: We`re always celebrating the celebrated whether it`s the actors and actresses or the music stars who already get so much acknowledgement for that everything they do. So it`s really terrific to see that happening for the ordinary people tonight. Brooke, obviously a very exciting night about to get underway here at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. I would like to thank you for spending the past hour with us, this night is just beginning as CNN pays tribute to all the ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
ANDERSON: That`s right. You have been watching a special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on CNN Headline News.
Right now we want you to flip it on over to CNN where Anderson Cooper and Christiane Amanpour will get ready to kick off "CNN Heroes, an All-Star Tribute."
END
