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Piers Morgan Live

Zimmerman Granted Bail; Interview with Rodney King; Interview with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Aired April 20, 2012 - 21:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

PIERS MORGAN, HOST: Tonight, the stunning decision in the Trayvon Martin shooting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDGE KENNETH R. LESTER, JR.: I'm going to grant the motion. Set bond in the amount of $150,000.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: George Zimmerman granted bail and telling Trayvon's grieving parents this --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, DEFENDANT: I want to say I am sorry for the loss of your son.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Freedom for the man accused of murder? Is it right? What does it say about the case against him? I'll ask high profile judges from Florida.

Plus, there was the tape that shocked the nation. Rodney King and the police beating that nearly burn down Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RODNEY KING: Can we -- can we all get along? Can we get along?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Twenty years after the not guilty verdict, and the riot, what does King think about Trayvon and race and what it takes to keep America great?

My exclusive interview ahead.

And from Seinfeld to the second in command.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS, ACTRESS: Hey, Sue. Did the president call? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Julia Louis-Dreyfus having a role (ph) as the vice president. But is she mocking Sarah Palin? I'll ask her.

And then, "Only in America," a very pushy mother and the ghastly prom queen billboard for her daughter.

This is PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT.

(MUSIC)

MORGAN: Good evening.

Our big story tonight, George Zimmerman granted bail and perhaps just hours away from freedom. The man charged of murdering Trayvon Martin will be released for just $150,000 bond.

Zimmerman apologized publicly to Trayvon's parents in court today. And the prosecutor grilled him about it. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PROSECUTOR: Why did you wait so long to tell Mr. Martin and the victim's mother, the father and mother? Why did you wait so long to tell them?

ZIMMERMAN: I was told not to communicate with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Dramatic moments in court early today. We'll get tot all the new details in just a moment.

Also, Rodney King has a lot to say about Trayvon's case. In 1991, he was savagely beaten by police officers captured on video. The officers were acquitted by a mostly white jury. That set off days of riots across Los Angeles.

Twenty years later, Rodney King is with me tonight for an exclusive interview on keeping America great, Trayvon Martin, and what he thinks of the police today.

And little later, everyone's favorite sitcom star, Julia Louis- Dreyfus, on everything from "Seinfeld," to politics, to her love life.

We begin with our big story: George Zimmerman granted bail after saying sorry to Trayvon Martin's parents.

With me now is Natalie Jackson, the co-counsel for the Martin family.

Natalie Jackson, obviously, pretty dramatic day today in many ways. What was the family's reaction to George Zimmerman being granted bail? And also to his public apology?

NATALIE JACKSON, MARTIN FAMILY LAWYER: Well, the family was prepared for George Zimmerman getting a bail. We talked to them about that. So, they were prepared for that.

What they weren't prepared for was for George Zimmerman to get on the stand and pretty much grand stand. We had talked about this yesterday. His attorney had reached out and also his attorney made media statements that George wanted to meet the family.

We said this is not the proper time or place at this point. So, this was the first day this family has been in court and actually heard testimony and seen the killer of their son. And so, it was really emotional. It wasn't the proper time or place.

And so, it's easy to conclude this apology was not for the family, it was for George Zimmerman.

MORGAN: I suppose looking at it from his point of view he's been heavy criticized for not apologizing to date for what he did. And I suppose he thought it was the first opportunity that they had to do so. I mean, can you really blame him for wanting to do what everyone's been screaming at him to do?

JACKSON: Well, the apology is for the family. And if it's for the family and they tell you it's not the proper time or place, then you don't do it just because you've been criticized. That just leads to let people know it was self-serving.

MORGAN: Obviously the legal process is now started. The arrest happened as the family wanted. I've interviewed them several times. I know that was the main thing they were after. If we now have a trial and if George Zimmerman gets acquitted, in other words, a jury concludes that he was acting under the "Stand Your Ground" law as it stands in Florida, how will the family feel about that? Are they prepared for that eventuality?

JACKSON: Well, this family has said all along that they have full faith in the justice system. And they believe in Angela Corey. They believe that Ms. Corey is ethical and she knows what she's doing and her office knows what they're doing. And they don't believe that Ms. Corey would have brought this charge had she not believed that Zimmerman was guilty of murdering their son.

That being said, once again, all along, you've seen this family. This is -- this is a praying family. And they trust in God. And they trust in what happens.

And they also trust and believe in the justice system. And that's what this legal team has told them.

So, what happens is up to Angela Corey's office, it's up to this judge, and it's up to God.

MORGAN: It was a very emotional day for the family. We could see particularly with Trayvon's father seemed to be in tears for a lot of what he was listening to. Obviously, very hard for them to finally come face to face with the man who killed their son.

JACKSON: Yes. It was. And I will tell you, we saw an interesting dynamic today, is because normally Sybrina Fulton is the person who is the more emotional one. And today, it was really hard to sit by Tracy Martin as he hears information about the killing of his son. And see him so full of emotion. Sybrina was comforting him.

MORGAN: Natalie Jackson, for now, thank you very much.

JACKSON: Thank you.

MORGAN: And with me now are two former Florida judges, Karen Mills Francis and Larry Seidlin.

Welcome to you both.

And, obviously, you're both very aware of Florida law. It seems this will all come down to the "Stand Your Ground" law and its application.

But, first, let me ask you, Judge Larry, what you thought of what happened in court. George Zimmerman being set on bail of $150,000. Would you have expected that knowing Florida law as you do?

LARRY SEIDLIN, FORMER FLORIDA STATE COURT JUDGE: Well, it was a discretionary call by the judge. The judge has to -- has to be proved in front of the court.

The biggest standard for the prosecutor other than beyond a reasonable doubt like we have in a jury trial, here, it has to be a presumption, a great presumption that he's guilty of the crime. And then if there's substantial discrepancies in the evidence, the defendant has a right to bail. And here there was substantial discrepancies.

But it was discretionary by the court. The judge could have ruled either way, and we could have backed up the judge by our legal analysis.

There's politics in the judicial system. It permeates all parts of it. As you know the judge in Florida has to run for election for re-election once every six years. The prosecutor in this case has to run every four years. And no one's blind to that.

In America, there's two systems of justice. There's one system for the black population and there's one system for the white population. And many times, the black folks get a shorter end of the stick in our justice system.

And I saw it when I was in juvenile court. They would make an arrest of a juvenile for a shoplifting case. Where if it was a white boy committing the crime, his parents would get a phone call and not have to go through the criminal justice system.

MORGAN: Let me bring in Judge Karen then.

Strong words there from Judge Larry. Do you agree with what he just said?

KAREN MILLS-FRANCIS, HOST, "JUDGE KAREN": Piers, I have been in a legal community in Miami for well over 20 years. We have so many cases set for Arthur hearing in Dade County that we have a judge assigned just to hear Arthur hearing cases.

And what I saw today in that courtroom was one of the most inept hearings that I have ever seen. It was very hard for me to believe that this case, with all the national attention, the prosecutor calls in one detective and his first word was "I didn't expect to testify today"? The way the prosecutor questioned the detective, it sounded like he had been handed the file this morning.

You have to remember a week or so ago, we hear Angela Corey tell us she did an intensive investigation. And I believe she did an intensive investigation. We got to remember, the governor took this case away from the prosecutor in Seminole County. He took this case away from the investigators in Seminole County. That's what we heard from today.

It's real obvious because it's left everybody feeling, oh, they don't really have a case.

I think what was very obvious is that this prosecutor didn't know about the evidence. This prosecutor doesn't know what the FBI investigation came up with. This prosecutor doesn't know anything about forensics.

He tries to bring in some conflicting testimony that the defendant has given. And we couldn't hear that. There was one thing that I did hear today. We heard him say that Zimmerman said Trayvon had his hand on his mouth and his nose and he was able to break away, grab his gun, and shoot him. Well, then, how do you account for the 12 or 15 cries for help?

I have said from the beginning, that this case comes down to who was crying for help on the 911 tape. The prosecutor said today we have FBI evidence about the tape. Why didn't that introduce that today?

One-o-one in law school, you learn that Florida is a wide open cross examination state. What that means is you are not limited in your cross examination by what is brought out in direct testimony.

So, this grand standing today to allow Zimmerman to get on the stand and make a statement and then basically not be able to cross examine him -- I have never seen that in my life. He may as well have sat on the stand and said, "I'm innocent".

MORGAN: Well, fascinating assessment there from two judges who know. For now, Judge Larry Seidlin and Judge Karen Mills-Francis -- thank you both very much.

MILLS-FRANCIS: Thank you, Piers.

I want to bring in well-known Florida attorneys to weigh in now on our big story. Trial lawyer Roy Black and Jeff Ashton, former prosecutor and also wrote the book, "Imperfect Justice."

Fascinating comments I thought from the two judges who know Florida well.

Let me start with you, if I may, Jeff Ashton. As a former prosecutor, did they have a point there? I mean, what did you make of what they were saying?

JEFF ASHTON, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Well, I don't really agree with at least the last commentator. You know, it is not an usual at all for a witness -- the cross examination of a witness to be limited based on what's asked in direct. That happens every day in the courtrooms I've been in.

So, I was not at all surprised that Judge Lester didn't allow free rein to the prosecution in questioning on cross-examination. I felt that this Arthur hearing was handled about as I expected. I didn't expect the prosecutor to present a whole lot of evidence. I expected them to present the affidavit.

To correct one of the judges who just spoke, the defense called the investigator, not the prosecutor. And the defense seemed very prepared to cross examine essentially the investigator about what he said in the affidavit and why. I thought that was done very well.

But I felt the prosecution in this case planned on presenting as little as they need to in order to have the Arthur hearing. So I did not -- I don't agree with the last two commentators that this was somehow done incompetently. It didn't seem that way to me at all.

MORGAN: Roy Black, you've been a defense attorney for many years. Would you be confident if you were defending George Zimmerman now from everything you've seen, read, and heard?

ROY BLACK, TRIAL LAWYER: Well, Piers, I was really sort of shocked watching this hearing. The state gave these press conferences, they gave excellent press conferences, saying they do this very detailed examination. They charge this man with murder. Yet they back it up with nothing in court.

They say this man is a danger to the community. And they don't present any evidence that proves any of that. I mean, I'm very shocked that the state did not put forth any real evidence to support this charge.

MORGAN: I mean, does that mean they don't have any evidence, or does that mean they're holding it back for the full trial? What's your gut tell you?

BLACK: Well, it may be they're holding it back. But how can you go in as an elected prosecutor saying we've charged this man with murder. Not only that but we think he's a danger to the community so we ought to keep him in jail -- but then not present any evidence to prove that. That's what lawyers do.

Our job is to come to court and present evidence to a judge in a bail hearing like this. The judge wasn't presented with any evidence that this man was a danger to the community. He wasn't presented with any real evidence that this man was guilty of murder. How do you expect a judge to do a decent job in making a ruling when you don't give him any evidence?

MORGAN: Yes. It's certainly a fascinating case. Today was just one of many dramatic days. And I guess we'll all just have to wait and see how this trial unravels.

But, for now, Jeff Ashton and Roy Black -- thank you very much.

ASHTON: Thank you.

BLACK: Thank you.

MORGAN: It's been 21 years since another infamous case of race and violence galvanized the country: the beating of Rodney King still disturbing to watch.

A Black motorist had been pulled over by White police officers following a car chase. Despite a brutal beating caught on tape, the officers were found not guilty in Los Angeles erupting a day of looting and rioting.

And joining me now is Rodney King.

Rodney, the Trayvon Martin case must bring back a lot of memories for you. And engender many emotions. What do you feel about it?

KING: Well, I'm -- you know, I -- I can't -- I feel that the pain, you know, that the family is going through. I -- it brought back memories from 20 years ago, you know?

But I know that -- how the justice systems works, you know? It's a slow process, but it does work. You know what I mean? With the tools and way the law is set in place. It's just a slow process. The most frustrating part is the wait, you know?

And because of how the -- you know, the law works in this country. But I don't want to jump to any conclusions, you know?

MORGAN: Do you believe that race was a big factor in the Trayvon Martin case? Do you think that George Zimmerman was a racist who targeted Trayvon because he was black?

KING: Well, I -- what I think is the laws are - the rules are old. And a lot of them outdated. And some people who tries to be -- to get on the police's side could be too friendly -- over friendly to make themselves likeable. And they have a little -- a lot of common sense and a little smarts about them, they know the law. Sometimes they take the law into their own hands and they take it too far.

And you know, law enforcement gets to a point where they said, well -- they can say, "Well, we're tired of doing our beatings. We're tired of -- we're tired of doing -- doing the killing. So we're getting blamed for it. So we're going to leave it into the citizens' hands.

MORGAN: I mean, the big question for this case I think is would George Zimmerman have shot Trayvon Martin if he didn't know the "Stand Your Ground" law existed, which could then protect him.

KING: Some people know the law, and they'll go right to the edge, and -- what they can get away with. And this case is -- is no different. It's no different. This is a case where -- the family deserves justice, you know, bottom line. And --

MORGAN: What do you feel about Trayvon's family? I mean, you --

KING: I feel sorry for them, man. That's was just a baby. This is -- this is just a baby. And I - I feel sorry that he had to pay his -- pay with his life for that type of law. And here's this -- it's -- you know, it's just got a wait.

We've just got to wait and see how things turn out. And just, you know, hold on -- hold on to tempers, and keep our country together like we -- like we're supposed to be. But we'll -- you know, we'll get - we got to get through it, and make sure that this never happens again.

I'll never be able to hold a gun. And I'm a felon. So I mean, if I had a gun to -- and I could represent myself on hold my ground, I don't -- I don't know how my mind would change. I don't know. I don't know.

But I know that every -- some of those rules need to be changed, and especially that "Stand Your Ground" law for some of the people that can hold a gun, because some people shouldn't even have a gun.

MORGAN: I think that's very true

Let's come back and talk more about this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MORGAN: Back now.

Rodney King has written a new book, "The Riot Within: My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption." He's here to talk about that, and keeping America great.

The reason I say, "Keeping America Great," it's a regular segment we run, Rodney. And one of the key things that I think America has to deal with is the issue of race, and how it has moved -- it's certainly moved forward from the days of the '60s and the '50s -- definitely moved forward. And yet there's still a sense - there's a lot of racism in this country and that black people generally don't get a fair equality yet in this country.

What do you think of that?

KING: Well, you know, it's probably an old stigma also because you got to look at the -- you know, the way our country was built. It was -- it was built, you know, through -- from slavery days in the process of getting to where we are to this day -- to modern day.

And there's always going to be some type of racism. But that's up to us as individuals in this country, and to look back and see all the accomplishments that we have gotten up to this far.

MORGAN: When you wrote the book, what are your feelings when you finished it towards the officers who did what they did to you that day 21 years ago?

KING: First of all, thank goodness that I stayed alive. I mean --

MORGAN: Could you really believe it was happening in your country, in America, that you were being effectively beaten to within an inch of your life for being black, it seemed to most people.

KING: Yes. I mean, it happens all -- it used to happen all the time. For it to happen to me, I never thought it would happen to me.

MORGAN: Have you forgiven, in your mind, the policemen that did what they did?

KING: Yes. I've forgiven them because -- I mean, America has forgiven me for so many things and gave me so many chances. You know, I've been in this country all my life. And it's one of the wonderful things about it is you, you know, get to have a second chance. And I've been given a second chance, you know?

MORGAN: Despite how awful the incident was, do you think that the whole episode and all the notoriety and attention it got, did it in a strange way benefit your life, do you think? Going forward?

KING: Oh, yes. That's what I'm saying. I'm here. If I was anywhere else in the world, I would have been dead by now or shot and killed. I wouldn't have been able to have my book out after 20 years.

It took 20 years to get this far. Had I been living back in the '50s or the '60s, I wouldn't have survived through it. I would have been finished off. There wouldn't be a book writing. There wouldn't be no book, you know? So I wouldn't have any grounds to tell my story, you know?

(CROSSTALK)

MORGAN: How do you feel now about the police?

KING: I have much respect for them, much respect. Because I've been -- they've -- some of them have went out their way over the years to try to make it up to me, you know? And it's OK, it's OK. Not all of them is bad, you know?

But the ones that are just messes up the whole program of what they really trying to do, you know? But I know that we definitely need them. I do appreciate having the police.

MORGAN: Well, it's good to see you, Rodney. I'm glad you've written a book. It's a very powerful and emotional book.

It tells an extraordinary book. What I like is there's no sense of self-pity. There's no bitterness. You tell your story honestly, I think. And for that, it has real and raw power.

And I appreciate you coming in.

KING: Oh, thanks. Thanks for having me.

MORGAN: And good luck with your life.

KING: Yes.

MORGAN: Next, from Elaine on "Seinfeld" to begin vice president, a hysterical Julia Louis-Dreyfus joins me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Want to get it started? I'll get it started.

(MUSIC)

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: You can't have "Seinfeld" without Elaine. You can't have Elaine without Julia Louis-Dreyfus. And after nine seasons, an Emmy for "Seinfeld," she went to star on "Watching Ellie" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine". Now she's on the role that maybe something she's been born to play, the vice president in HBO's new political drama comedy. I don't know what you call it. We'll come to that in a moment. It's called "Veep". It looks terrific. And you join me now.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I do. I'm joining you. How are you?

MORGAN: I love the way you were laughing so uncomfortably at yourself dancing there.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Well, I mean, could you imagine if you were dancing like that?

MORGAN: No.

(CROSSTALK)

MORGAN: That's how I dance.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Oh, it is?

MORGAN: Pretty much, yes.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Well, then, we have to go out dancing. (LAUGHTER)

MORGAN: When you look back at "Seinfeld," because it is such an iconic show, even we Brits love "Seinfeld." So, the whole world loved that show. When you do something that huge --

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yes.

MORGAN: -- what is life after "Seinfeld" really like? Do you still look on scenes like that with great affection or does it become this terrible curse you wish you'd ever been involved with?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Hardly. It was a complete blessing. I grimace because -- you know, it's -- I'm making fun of myself doing that. So, there's an element of being -- there's a feeling of some shame and humiliation watching that. But I just feel very blessed to have had that experience.

Who knew that would have happened, you know?

MORGAN: When you first started?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: "Seinfeld"?

MORGAN: Yes.

LOUIS: I thought we would have been canceled.

MORGAN: At moment when you first start making (INAUDIBLE), at what moment do you start thinking -- actually this could be huge?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I think I never really caught up to how big -- honestly to how big it was until right before we ended.

MORGAN: Really?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I swear to you. I think for a couple of reasons. First of all, it did take awhile for the show to become a big, big hit. It took four years. Then all of a sudden we were an overnight sensation.

And in addition to that, I was having my babies during this period of time. I have two boys who are not babies anymore. But still. I was very sort of going back and forth to work and mothering and work and mothering. And I remember when we were shooting the final episode and they had to put up like screeners in front of the stage to keep people from looking in with telephoto lenses, because everybody was dying to know who was going to be on the final episode.

And I was shocked that anybody gave a crap.

MORGAN: Didn't like 100 million people watch that?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I don't remember. I don't think it was 100 million people.

MORGAN: It wasn't far off it.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Really?

MORGAN: It was like a Super Bowl, yes. The whole of America just stopped to watch you.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Wow. Do we have a fact checker here?

MORGAN: If I'm exaggerating, go with me.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yes, yes, yes. No, it was about 100 million.

MORGAN: Whatever it was, it was a ridiculous audience. I'm being clarified. It's 76 million.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Seventy six million, so you've got that. But wait a minute. No, I have 95 million. That's what they're telling me.

MORGAN: We really are splitting hairs here. You sound like you're very affectionate about it. Do you still all hang out? Do you have like little "Seinfeld" reunions in some dingy little bar in Manhattan?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: We get together on a daily basis. What are you talking about?

MORGAN: Do you ever meet? Did you all just go off? Do the ships just pass out of the port and that's it?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: We do see each other on occasion. And in fact, we got together -- I guess it was last year. And we did the -- or the year before. I don't know. Time's off for me. But anyway, we did the whole thing on "Curb Your Enthusiasm." We did the "Seinfeld" reunion there.

And that was pretty wild, because that was like being in a time capsule, going back in time. And we recreated the sets for "Seinfeld" and stuff. It was very strange and nostalgic.

MORGAN: Have you ever worked out in your head why it got so big? Even though you weren't aware of it at the time, now you look back and you realize the phenomenon of "Seinfeld." It always will be. It airs reruns all the time. What is it about that show, do you think?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Well, I think it's a couple things. First of all, I think it's sort of lightning in a bottle. A lot of good fortune, everything kind of lined up.

Having said that, it was a singular vision. We were left alone to our own devices. People didn't get in our way. People meddling with the sort of, dare I say, artistry of the process. And it was good casting.

And we made ourselves laugh doing it. And I think if you can have a very good time and genuinely enjoy what you're doing and believe in it truly, you're not faking it at all, I think that comes through the material.

MORGAN: Elaine was very opinionated.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yes.

MORGAN: Are you? I get the sense you're quite a little political activist. You like to have pretty stronger views and opinions about your country, its politics.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Well, I mean, you know. I'm -- yes. The answer is yes. I mean, I'm opinionated. I'm not running for office myself. I mean, I'm -- Norman Lear once said -- he said that having -- celebrity is something you spend. You can spend it down. And so I have, on occasion, sort of used my celebrity to share -- to put a shining light on certain issues that I think need looking at.

And a lot of them for me have been environmental.

MORGAN: Let's look at one of these. Have a watch of this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOUIS-DREYFUS: President Obama said let us be the generation that ends the tyranny of oil. Man, that was great. Except I just checked and right now big oil is still pretty much running the show. But Mr. President, you've got a fabulous chance to turn that around and make good on your word.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yeah, that was me.

MORGAN: Strong words for the president.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: No, not so strong. Very supportive, in fact. And fortunately for us, the president and the White House did the right thing on the Keystone Pipeline and didn't allow it to go forward.

All of that aside, I'm not an authority. I'm not an expert. I'm not a scientist. So -- and I don't pretend to be. But like I say, I sort of use my celebrity to help. And also frankly, as a citizen, I like to be vocal and I vote and support certain candidates.

MORGAN: Will you be backing Obama in November?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Are you kidding? A hundred percent man, 100 percent.

MORGAN: Didn't have you down as a Mitt Romney kind of girl.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: No. That's not my guy.

MORGAN: Let's come back after the break and talk about your new show, "Veep," because you play a vice president, and although at first look there's a Palinesque feel, actually you couldn't be more different to her.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Correct.

MORGAN: Let's discuss why after the break.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: OK.

MORGAN: And you're relieved I did that the right way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You need me to sponsor this bill.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yes I do. I do need you to do that. And I want to know what you need from me. What do you need? You need some non- earmark earmarks? You need support during your re-election campaign? I just won't be photographed eating a hot dog or any other phallic food.

Oops. That was a mistake.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Julia Louis-Dreyfus playing the vice president on HBO's "Veep." She's back with me now. It's very funny, this. I was watching it earlier today. There's another scene later on when you're the vice president and you get told the president's having heart murmurs, and you can barely contain your glee, because you're thinking I've it. Then you realize how awful this looks.

It's dark but funny.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Thank you very much.

MORGAN: It's a nonpartisan show, in the sense that you never declare your political allegiances.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: That's right. We never identify the party that she is in. You never see the president, as a matter of fact. The show is -- it's -- the way that the politics and White House and Capitol have been portrayed I think in the past, very well, is either sort of very nobly, like "The West Wing," which was a wonderful show, of course, or sinister.

And this is between the two. It's a show about political behavior. And it's just sort of to -- our show shows sort of the raw grittiness of life in politics.

MORGAN: Do you like the freedom that HBO gives you? Because you're able to use profanity. There's some racy sex scenes.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yeah.

MORGAN: It's pretty full on, isn't it. LOUIS-DREYFUS: It's (EXPLETIVE DELETED) fantastic.

(LAUGHTER)

MORGAN: You can't say that on CNN.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Don't you have a bleeper here?

MORGAN: Yes, we're going to have to now. That whole dream dies. I always had you down as this vestal virgin figure.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Oh, please. You don't know who you're talking to. You have no idea.

MORGAN: It's HBO though. It clearly is very liberating in that sense.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Absolutely liberating. It has been -- but not just because of the language, I have to say. There are very -- Armando Innuci (ph), who's a Brit, and he's the genius creator behind this show and the director, he has a very specific way of working.

This is HBO being supportive of the process. So there's a -- there's a respect there for the artist and what you're creating.

MORGAN: Inevitably because you're playing a female vice president, there will be comparisons to Sarah Palin. She's been the only one who was even remotely near that role. Did you have more or less sympathy for her by the end of your process, just on what it takes to be a vice president?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I have more sympathy for all women in government. I think that being a woman in a position of power is tricky, and -- but important and crucial actually. I think the more women we have in power, the better off our country will be.

MORGAN: More Sarah Palins?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: No, not more Sarah Palins in my opinion.

MORGAN: Just clarifying exactly what you mean.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yes, thank you. I'm glad you did that. Otherwise, we could have had a problem.

MORGAN: I was thinking of the headline, you know, Julia calls for a hundred more Sarah Palins.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: No, I would like 100 more female Democrats. That's what I'd really like. But it is -- it's hard to be a political person, Male or female, by the way.

MORGAN: You're in a profession where women have become increasingly dominant, in many ways. Do you sense there's proper equality in America now or anything near it?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: You mean in politics?

MORGAN: No, I mean just generally for women in America right now?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Well, it's interesting because all of these issues are -- trans-vaginal probes and --

MORGAN: How did we get to trans-vaginal probes?.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: We're talking about women and power.

MORGAN: Wow. That's the most alarming segues I've ever had.

(CROSS TALK)

MORGAN: I was talking about female equality in America.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I answered. I answered. I answered.

MORGAN: Clarify yourself. I know where you're going with that. Tell me.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: What I mean is that I'm hoping that -- here's what I mean.

MORGAN: You mean as long as we have states in this country and governors that approve that kind of thing for woman, there is no real equality.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yes, absolutely.

MORGAN: Because men would never have to be ordered by a state to do that purely for reasons connected to birth control.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Exactly.

MORGAN: That's the sort of politer way of putting it.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: You did that -- you handled that very well.

MORGAN: What did you feel about the whole Republican debate about all these social issues? It seems to me it was a very strange way to win a female vote.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: They didn't win.

MORGAN: You can see Romney's numbers going down with women, because they're like hang on. This is our lives you're talking about.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yeah. Well, it didn't work for them. It hasn't worked. So it'll be interesting to see how they try and shift it back around, because they will.

MORGAN: Are you expecting some sharp flip-flopping?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I know. I've seen it. I'm seeing it. And I will see it.

MORGAN: What do you make of your country right now generally?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I love it. I don't know. I don't know what that question means.

MORGAN: I suppose what I mean is, we run a regular segment here called Keeping America Great. The reason I chose that particular phrase is it's more positive than saying everything's going to hell in a hand cart. You're perspective as a successful businesswoman, actress and so on. You've had your finger in many pies in this country.

But what do you think is the problem? What is the solution for America?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I have no idea.

MORGAN: Yes, you do.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: No, I don't.

MORGAN: You must have thought about this. What about for your kids? What America do you want for them? How are we going to get there?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: For my children, I want my children to be active. I want them to be -- you know, this -- I want them to vote. I want them to be active. I want them to give back. I want them to be kind and compassionate. What else?

MORGAN: That's good.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yeah.

MORGAN: Are enough Americans pursuing that line of ambition, do you think? Good old fashioned American values?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: How about the whole world? How about the idea of compassion and kindness across the board. This is why I'm not running for office.

MORGAN: I love this.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: You do?

MORGAN: Yes, it's why you should be running for office.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: All right, I'm going to run. I'm announcing my run for --

MORGAN: This is fantastic.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: It's happening now. Spur of the moment and I'm running for office. What office do you think I should run for?

MORGAN: I would go on the anti-transvaginal probe brigade. And on that bombshell, let's have a break.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Oh (EXPLETIVE DELETED) me.

Oh no, good luck getting all that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOUIS-DREYFUS: And I just kind of go like this into his face. Just like that, I go. Then I turn around and I find a steel pot or a crow bar, you know, something really heavy. I just start banging it into his stomach like this. I go ugh--

Then I get into my car or my truck, my tank. And it's really good. And I just kind of roll on over the --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: This is fantastic. Let this run.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Please don't. Cut it. Cut it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOUIS-DREYFUS: With love in my heart. Praise the lord Jesus.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Fantastic. That was Julia Louis-Dreyfus making her debut on "Saturday Night Live" with your husband Brad Hall.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yes, he was my husband then.

MORGAN: So he watched you do that and decided I want to marry that woman.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: A few years later, he came around to it I guess.

MORGAN: What part of that character did he fall in love with?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I'm not sure any part of it.

MORGAN: You are a little bit crazy aren't you? In a good way.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yeah, you think?

MORGAN: Yes, definitely.

Tell me about brad. You have been married 25 years.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Twenty five years in June, yeah.

MORGAN: Two sons, 14 and 19.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yeah. MORGAN: Charles and Henry.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yeah.

MORGAN: I have two boys at this age. A bit of a handful.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yeah, but I like my guys. I mean, it's really funny because I come from a family of all girls. And so each time I got pregnant, I was convinced I was going to have a girl and I was utterly shocked that I had a boy each time.

And completely -- it's just a miracle these two children of mine. You know, they're the lights of my life.

MORGAN: And given most actors tend to be neurotic, paranoid, insecure wrecks --

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Right.

MORGAN: How have the pair of you, who are in the same profession, managed to stay happily married for 25 years?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Well, let's see, first of all, we're separating. No, I'm kidding.

(LAUGHTER)

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I think I got lucky and I chose the right guy for starters. And --

MORGAN: How did you know he was the right guy?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Here's the deal. I realized it early on. I was so sure of it that I knew that if I told anybody, they'd tell me I was crazy. So I kept it to myself.

MORGAN: I love that.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: There's your answer.

MORGAN: That's fascinating.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yeah. I knew -- I was really -- I thought he was so -- yeah. I just knew it. Oh, my God, that's him. OK. Well, I can't tell anyone.

MORGAN: Do you feel lucky?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I do feel lucky. I am lucky. I don't feel lucky.

MORGAN: Not as lucky as he must be.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Right, he's much luckier.

MORGAN: I think we're all agreed he's luckier. LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yes, he's luckier.

MORGAN: Do you make each other laugh?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Oh, yeah.

MORGAN: Who makes the other one laugh more? Who's funnier? Because there's an "SNL" battle every day?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: No, it's not an "SNL" battle. But who's funnier? I don't know how to answer that. We have a good time together. And we share the same interests and -- and he's a good companion, I think. It's nice to go through life together.

MORGAN: I like this story.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Seriously unbelievable if three weeks after this airs that -- never mind.

MORGAN: Are you seriously about to split up?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding.

(CROSS TALK)

MORGAN: I'm going to look stupid.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: That's what I mean. You're going to look stupid.

MORGAN: It's been a real pleasure to meet you.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Thank you so much. So nice to be here.

MORGAN: Good luck with the show. I like "Veep." I think it is going to be a good hit.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I hope you're right.

MORGAN: I have a feeling, because it's got British writers and you starring. What could go wrong?

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yes.

MORGAN: Starts on Sundays, HBO, tune in.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: I appreciate it.

MORGAN: Nice to meet you.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: Thank you. So nice to meet you too.

MORGAN: Coming up next, Only in America.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I was involved with Heroes in 2008, Carolyn's Messages Project just touched my heart.

When you think about the people in this world that need help, the last people on that list are children of incarcerated parents. That to me is why I'm coming out here today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what are the total number of messages delivered by the Messages Project Now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're right at 9,000

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow, that's a lot of children that have this opportunity.

So tell me about this facility.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a maximum security prison. And it is the pilot for California.

Good morning, how are you? I'm Carolyn.

Talk from your heart. In 15 minutes, we're going to give you a signal at least.

Are we ready to roll? Here we go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, kids. I know that you're angry with me and you should be angry with me. The difficulties that you have faced over the years, that's my fault.

Hold on a second.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can see that sadness, that guilt that they had for whatever decision they made that's impacted their children their entire lives.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you set these fathers down in front of that camera, they're dad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't imagine, with all the things that's going on in these children's lives, what this means to them. On behalf of all of them, thank you so much.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MORGAN: For tonight's Only in America, pushy, pushy parents. You see it in school, on the field, in pageants, in contests small and large. Moms and dads putting pressure on their kids to succeed and often putting their own interests above those of their children.

I saw it week after week on "America's Got Talent." My heart used to sink for these poor kids who were forced to chase what was usually a parent's dream. But few of them ever quite matched the shamelessness of a mother from Texas called Tammy Day. Now Tammy loves her little daughter Brandy. Of course she does. Most mothers love their little daughters. And she wants Brandy to be the prom queen for her school. Again, of course she does. What mother wouldn't?

But this is the point when normal mothers and Tammy Day part company. You see Tammy really, really, really, really wants to see little Brandy become the prom queen. In fact, she's so desperate to make this happen, she's paid 1,300 dollars for this gigantic billboard to publicize Brandy's credentials, screaming the slogan "Vote Brandy For Prom Queen."

Forgive me if at this point I reach for the sick bucket. But Tammy remains unrepentant.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAMMY DAY, MOTHER: Families feel that, you know, it's a little too much or over the top, you know, for a one night, you know, prom. But then again, it only happens one time in your child's life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Voting for the Harka (ph) Heights High School Prom court occurred on Monday, but the winner won't be announced until the dance tomorrow night. I sincerely hope that Brandy Day loses, not because I blame her for any of this, because I don't. She's just a kid. But because if she wins, then her mother will continue to push, push, push her into even more unedifying world of manipulative, horrible exploitation.

My message to Tammy Day is simple: if you truly love your daughter, let her take her own chances in life, on the same playing field as the rest of her schoolmates. Trust me on this, she'll thank you in the end.

That's all for us tonight. "AC 360" starts now.