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Large Soft Drinks Banned In New York Starting Tuesday; Jodi Arias On Witness Stand Again This Week; Documentary About Journey's Lead Singer To Be Shown In Theaters; North Korea Threatens U.S.
Aired March 09, 2013 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.
We have a great show plan for you but we are going to get to the stories you're talking about in just a moment. But first, let's get you up to speed on the day's headlines.
This beach house in Massachusetts, it is trashed. Several others on the same beach trashed as well. They have to be demolished now. A strong winter storm beat up Plum Island again this weekend where residents have been fighting a losing battle against erosion.
Two separate suicide bombings killed 18 people in Afghanistan today just hours after Chuck Hagel touched down on his first overseas trip as defense secretary. Taliban militants are claiming responsibility for the first which struck outside the defense ministry in Kabul. Shortly after, another suicide bomber attacked a checkpoint south of Kabul.
Your next trip to Washington won't include a stop inside Pennsylvania Avenue's most famous residence, at least not right now. The White House announced its ending all public tours beginning today to help save money. The move is in response to the forced spending cuts. The secret service says the tours cost $74,000 a week.
Democratic sources in Washington tell CNN that this man is President Obama's choice to be the next secretary of labor. Thomas Perez currently heads up the justice department civil rights division. If Perez is nominated, he'll have to be confirmed by the Senate.
Here's what else we're talking about tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The government controlling what you eat and drink. Now the New York mayor is looking at how people listen to music.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mayor Bloomberg should butt out.
LEMON: Is this the nanny state at work? We are asking, do you think we are stupid? Are we?
The trial that has everyone talking, unbelievable admissions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The idea of the schoolgirl outfit, was that something that you were interested in.
LEMON: And jaw-dropping details.
JODI ARIAS, DEFENDANT IN TRAVIS ALEXANDER'S MURDER CASE: It would be more for his pleasure.
LEMON: We've got the very latest on the Jodi Arias murder trial.
From rags to rock star.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His voice was huge. I said, but can he speak English?
LEMON: Our legendary rock band found its newest lead singer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm short. I'm so Asia.
LEMON: For the most unlikely of places.
And just for CNN --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Show the camera.
LEMON: Actor Jim Carrey runs into trouble showing off the best card trick he knows.
Plus, familiar faces could return to the star wars franchise and the rambling Rand Paul.
All that just ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. Welcome.
Let's talk, shall we? We're all grown-ups here, right? We can think for ourselves, make decisions about where to go, what to do, what to eat. And if some of those decisions aren't the best, then, so be it. We are adults, live and learn, right?
But it seems like some of our political leaders want to protect us from the real world, even protect us from our own possibly bad decisions. Here's a case in point for you.
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has launched a long list of personal crusades over the years. No smoking in public places like parks, no trans-fats in New York restaurants food. And starting Tuesday, a ban on large sugary soft drinks. No more big gulps for you.
And just this week, word that New York is going to spend a couple of hundred grand on a PR campaign to warn people about, wait for it, ear buds. Your mom always told you that listening to loud noises, noises and music can damage your hearing. Thanks, mom -- I mean, mayor. So, let's go deeper on this. Should the government really be poking its nose into your ears and the smallest details of our lives? I have invited some really smart people to talk about it.
David Harsanyi is the editor of the human events. He is in Washington. And he is the author of the book "Nanny State." And his new book is called "Obama's Four Horsemen." Talk show host Jerry Doyle is in Los Angeles tonight. He is also the author "have you seen my country lately?" And in Los Angeles, you know my friend Wendy Walsh. She is a psychologist and expert in human behavior. She is also an author. We have three authors here tonight. Here is going to flag the book. He is going to take the book. He is going take that all of our show. Her book is called, "30-Day Love Detox." And I just got the, what do you call it? The pre-order --
WENDY WALSH, HUMAN BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST: The galleys.
LEMON: The galleys. (INAUDIBLE), I just got it from there.
So, let's start with the rule taking effect on Tuesday, guys, about the size of sugary soft drinks. Already is creating silly problems for New York businesses.
A quick report now from CNN's Mary Snow before we talk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Along with the cup of coffee, a side of new rules. Dunkin Donuts is handing out these flyers to its New York City customers on how new regulations spills over into its coffee business,
It is part of the ban on super sized sugary drinks that goes into effect Tuesday. It is part of the city effort to fight obesity. To comply, Dunkin Donuts will no longer put sugar in coffee over 16 ounces. You will have to do it yourself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So starting Tuesday in New York City, Dunkin Donuts will put the sugar in your coffee if it's a medium. But if your order large coffee, you have to put it in yourself.
OK, Jerry, I mean, do you find this ridiculous?
JERRY DOYLE, SYNDICATED RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I find it ridiculous that Mayor Bloomberg -- if you remember back in 2010, they put out the healthy heroin brochure. I think they spent like $35,000 for 70,000 brochures and there were 16 steps that they told you, you needed to take in order to be healthy when you're doing heroin. And Bloomberg said, look, if you're going to do certain things, you might as well do them as healthy as possible.
I would have to think the same would apply to a sugary beverage as it would to heroin or in reverse, don't do sugary beverages, don't do heroin. So I find it a little odd that the mayor decided to take a firm stand on soda and not heroin.
LEMON: David, listen, we know sugar isn't bad, we know that it's not bad for you. After all, your book is called "the nanny state." I mean, is the mayor looking out for us or for people who can't look out for themselves?
DAVID HARSANSYI, EDITOR, HUMAN EVENTS: You know, I'm sure his intentions are good. But first of all, they're ineffective laws. What they do though, they reflect how government thinks they have a right to involve themselves in your life in every aspect. So, it reflects something larger, I think, that's corroding our government because they are busy trying to tell us what to drink rather than taking care of real problems almost everywhere across the country.
LEMON: OK. Wendy, you're the human behavior --
WALSH: Can I get in there, Don?
LEMON: Maybe people need to be saved. Go ahead, Wendy.
WALSH: OK. Here's what you should know. In ad for (INAUDIBLE) past, there were trace nutrients, sugar, salt and fat. And we have an unfettered desire and craving for these things that many can't control. But modern capitalist America has capitalized on that and make sure they put a large dose of that in everything they give us. How can we be making free choice when we're addicted? We are addicted to everything from sex and gambling to salt, sugar and fat? Unless, you think this is a nanny state, what this is, is finally consumer protection. Remember, we don't have socialism here. We have neo- capital - sorry, neo-futilism. We are about 20 grams only --
LEMON: Who is that? I don't know if it was Jerry -- who was that?
DOYLE: Both of us, I think.
HARSANSYI: I think it was both of us.
Go ahead, David, why?
HARSANSYI: So, essentially she's arguing that you can coerce people now on any level because essentially we're addicted to everything, including sex. Well, if we are addicted to sex, as you just said, why don't we dictate promiscuity? Why are we allowed to do whatever we want in the bedroom? I mean, you know, there is no end to this. It's a slippery slope that has no end if we buy the idea that we can't control our choices and our behavior.
LEMON: Jerry --
WALSH: So, why not start somewhere?
LEMON: Before I let Jerry respond, I want to play devil's advocate here.
And Wendy, I'm going to be on your side here. A guy like Bloomberg, I mean, maybe he's raising awareness. Remember Giuliani ten years ago, a lot of people thought the smoking ban went too far. Nowadays, a lot of New Yorkers seem to like it. So, maybe the soft drink thing, they'll like it and maybe will like the sugary - maybe, they will like it. They realized this is good for me. I'm healthier now. Maybe their weight will go down and their health will get better.
Go ahead, Jerry.
DOYLE: It's what I call the creeping incrementalism. It's easy to go after cigarettes, tobacco, gambling and drinking because that's the low-hanging fruit. But eventually they want to worm their way into every nook and cranny of your English muffin light.
Look. I smoke cigarette. It is really stupid. When you light something on fire and breathe it in and your first reaction is to cough and shoot your eyeballs across the room. It's probably not good for you. I pay a premium on my health insurance for that. I'm going to die sooner than I should. My life expectancy tables, I actually call myself from the herd and save the system money.
It's my right to smoke a legal FDA-approved product. It's my right to drink soda. It's my right to eat fatty foods. It's my right to gamble. It's my right. It's my life. And if we start to take away the individual's ownership of their own lives, what, down the line, in creeping incrementalism does the government then say, they have the right to regulate?
LEMON: But, doesn't that affect other people? I mean.
WALSH: You guys are paranoid.
LEMON: Go ahead.
WALSH: Paranoid. OK. You are absolutely scared and paranoid. This is consumer protectionism. That's all this is.
DOYLE: Oh, come on.
WALSH: Let's protect children. Let's make sure that if you give a McDonald's toy, that there's enough vegetables and fruit in there. Let's big route what are the reward systems that are biology craves and let's be careful that it's not exploited by corporations. That's all.
HARSANSYI: What if I don't want --
DOYLE: What about protecting children by getting the 19,000 kids in New York City shelters out of the shelters? Why don't we protect kids and their families by getting the 1.7 million people who live in New York City below the poverty line?
LEMON: Jerry, those are all good questions. And speaking of kids, I want to ask you --
WALSH: Let's start with sugar. LEMON: Listen. Remember a happy meal and the kids meal, remember that, when that was banned a while ago? And then --
DOYLE: Yes.
LEMON: So, how far -- is this going too far? Is this becoming a real --
HARSANSYI: Yes.
LEMON: It goes beyond New York City. Don't answer that question. And how much further can it go or will it go before it is stopped? We are going to talk more on the other side of the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I appreciate being looked out for. But I think you control the volume of these. So, it's up to personal responsibility for us to take care of our own ears.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Your message to Bloomberg is?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stay out of my ears.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mayor Bloomberg should butt out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's the same thing with the sodas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Mayor Bloomberg should ear butt out. That's what he should say. My guests are back. They are fighting. If only you guys could hear what we spoke about during the commercial break.
We are talking this hour about freedom and choice. What happens when the government doesn't like our choices, then tries to force us to make so-called better decisions, to stop smoking, to turn down that music? And by the way, get those happy meals away from children.
Remember when San Francisco tried to stop restaurants from handing out toys in kids' meals that lacked the right amount of fruits and vegetables. And people don't go, kids don't go to McDonald's for fruits and vegetables, I'm sorry.
This is from a city that prides itself on being open-minded. And back in 2002, before he took on the sugary soda, ear buds, Michael Bloomberg pushed a ban on trans fats in New York restaurants.
Is that something the New York mayor should be worried about? Is it really the government's job to make us better people?
David, I want you to weigh in because Jerry said he's got - I don't like Jerry talking. He says he has every addiction known to man. I let him weigh in on that. But, David, barely, let me talking, you wrote the book on it.
HARSANSYI: Well, let me give you an example. Christopher Hitchens who died from cancer from smoking, probably, I heard him say once, without smoking, life wouldn't have been worth it for him. Now, I kind that find that sad. But I'm just saying that -- I've read the constitution. It doesn't say anywhere that I have to be healthy. So, I'm not sure why anybody should be coercing me to be healthy. It's not the job of government in any document --
WALSH: But nor should you be coerced to be unhealthy.
HARSANSYI: How am I coerced to unhealthy?
WALSH: Because they're hiding sugar, salts and trans fats in your food.
HARSANSYI: Right. But there's transparency. So I know it's in my food and I make decisions.
LEMON: But, isn't it right to tell people what's in there? I think to tell people what's in there, to have the labels on there, the nutritional values, the education system to tell you, here's what's wrong and what's right. Here's what you should know. The news media tell you. But then, to have someone ban it, I mean, you know, David, you said -- tell us what your night is going to be like - I'm sorry, Jerry, tell us what your night is going to be like tonight?
DOYLE: I'm going to leave here. I'm going to go to the Nine Steakhouse over at the Palms and I'm going to have a big, fatty steak and I'm going to have lobster garlic mashed potatoes and I'm going to drink buckets of booze and I'm going to go gamble, I'm going to smoke cigarette and tomorrow I'm going to wake up and say, that was a great night.
WALSH: And, honey, you are going to cost us so much money because we practice emergency room medicine in this country and I'm not going to end up paying for your heart attack. That's the problem.
HARSANSYI: That's a great argument to not have socialized medicine, actually.
DOYLE: Yes, right. I pay a premium on my health insurance.
WALSH: The bottom line is Bloomberg is saving money in health care because most Americans don't have health insurance and they practice emergency room medicine and we end up paying for it anyway.
LEMON: She brings up a very good point because that does happen. And that was one of the big arguments behind the Obama health care plan, was that many Americans are paying for people who overindulge, so to speak. Go ahead, Jerry.
DOYLE: With regard to smoking cigarettes, I smoke for the children because I love children. Now, the tobacco taxes -- I bought a pack of cigarettes in Times Square in New York City, it is in Times Square. It was $14 a pack. I thought I was hysterical. But the tobacco taxes go to fund the state children's health insurance program that's started under Clinton with Ted Kennedy and has been expanded and expanded and expanded to the point that they don't want you to smoke. But they do because they want the state children's health insurance program so they can buy votes.
And in New York City, a family of four making $93,000 a year can get subsidized health insurance because I smoke cigarettes. Now, if you're not going to ask me to be a part of the consumption, don't ask me to pay for your kid's health insurance.
LEMON: OK. Let's get back on track. Because a lot of snack companies, and even food companies, they pay a lot of money to figure out exactly what gets people hooked as Wendy said. And then they use that. It gets people hooked. They come in and that's what we do.
HARSANSYI: They're hooked on food?
WALSH: And it's mostly disguised. The salt, sugar and trans fats is disguised.
LEMON: But here's the thing, Wendy, so people are -- you and I talk about it. People are addicted to relationships. Some people -- they have to be in a relationship. Some people are addicted to love. Some people are addicted to sex. Some are addicted to getting their hair colored, to hair weaves, to wig, to makeup. Where do you stop? Where do you draw the line?
DOYLE: Right.
WALSH: Well, why don't -
DOYLE: And then, if you don't stop, when do people have their own --
WALSH: Where do you start? Where do you start? You start with at least slurping a little less sugar in your soda, please?
DOYLE: Yes, that's your --
LEMON: Wendy, I understand what you're saying but that is your value judgment. I think it's just as bad when I see someone who's addicted to a bad hairdo, that's just as offensive to me as someone who may be smoking a cigarette. I'm just saying that's your particular value system.
DOYLE: I want to ask Wendy -- if we start to take away the little decision makings that people have in their lives, when it comes to them making major decisions about their lives and who's going to be in their lives and what they're going to do with their lives, if we're bubble-wrapping them from the reality of the world that they're going to face, when are they ever going to have the opportunity to face a decision and make it on their own where they're not turning to government or turning to some agency or every decision has to be micromanaged by someone who supposedly knows better for us than we're supposed to know for ourselves?
LEMON: I got to wrap it up.
WALSH: That's a lovely or well argument. But the truth is we get babies addicted to sugar in Uterus these days. So, corporations own us.
LEMON: David, I will give you the last word. Go ahead.
HARSANSYI: We're all addicted to food and we're all going to have sugar. And it's really not anyone's business how much sugar I have. I mean, that's where I stand. I don't think it's complicated. And just last word, it's ineffective. This ban is not going to help anyone. It's not going to save a single life or it is not going to make anyone more skinny than before.
LEMON: I'm glad we're all in --
DOYLE: Eat sugar, go outside, run around, have fun.
LEMON: I say everything in moderation. Thank you guys.
WALSH: Bye.
LEMON: And next -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The trial that has everyone talking, unbelievable admission.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The idea of the schoolgirl outfit, was that something that you were interested in?
LEMON: And jaw-dropping details --
ARIAS: It would be more for his pleasure.
LEMON: We've got the very latest on the Jodi Arias murder trial.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Boy, is there a reality show playing out in an Arizona courtroom. And the main player is Jodi Arias, charged with the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander. This trial has it all -- sex, lies, audiotape, betrayal and much, much more. And Jodi has been center stage for 17 days on the witness stand. And it really got interesting, really interesting this week when the jurors got to ask Jodi their questions. I want you to listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You said when the gun went off, you weren't sure if you shot Travis. So when you came out of the fog on your way to Utah, why didn't you call 911 to help Travis?
ARIAS: When I sort of came out of the fog, I realized, oh, crap, something bad had happened. And I was scared to call any authority at that point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Let's talk jaw law and justice now. Criminal defense attorney Holly Hughes is here.
Holly, this trial -- this is something else. These questions really give you a peek into the minds of jurors. This doesn't happen in every state.
HOLLY HUGHES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Right. There is only three states in the nation that allow jurors to submit questions.
LEMON: Arizona is one of them. I don't know, we have seen lots of high-profile trials. Conrad Murray, we saw Casey Anthony. I don't know if we have ever seen, gotten a peek into the jurors' minds like this.
HUGHES: No. And this is invaluable for both sides because what you can do is, you sort of get an idea where they're going, right, where their thought process -- are they buying the defense or are they really siding with the prosecution? And then, you get to come back and sort of remold. The defense is still in their case in chief. So a lot of the questions, it seemed to me, were sort of poking at this self-defense thing. You know, why didn't you call for help once you were safe and out of the situation? Why didn't you do x, y, z?
What the defense can do in response to that is have their experts who are coming up after her answer those types of questions. Why would a person, even if they acted in self-defense, there is expert on domestic violence, still not call for help? So, they can tailor what's coming and the prosecution still gets a rebuttal case. If they think they need to, they can address those issues as well.
LEMON: So, sounds like doubt. And let's listen to one of those questions that really makes it sound like they doubt her version, Arias' version of the events. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After all the lies you have told, why should we believe you now?
ARIAS: Lying isn't typically something I just do. I'm not going to say that I've never told a lie in my life before this incident. But the lies that I've told in this case can be tied directly back to either protecting Travis' reputation or my involvement in his death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Come on.
HUGHES: I see skepticism on your face, Don Lemon. What's that about?
LEMON: Well, we said this has captured the nation. I don't know how true that is. I think it's captured some people who like trials. Other people are just like, really, why are we paying attention to this because she's admitted lying and killing? Why is this going on so long? Why is this even on my television? This woman obviously has lied and she's admitted to killing this man.
HUGHES: Yes, she has. I think there is a whole host of reasons. I never wanted a death penalty case. And anytime the state seeks the death penalty against a woman, typically, a pretty woman, you know, we saw that with the Casey Anthony trial, lots of people were fascinated because you've got this attractive young woman and the state is sayings, OK, but look beyond the veneer, look at what she did. And she deserves the ultimate penalty. So, I think a lot of people are fascinated by that whole part of the justice system.
And I think she thinks she can convince others of this. I don't think she's actually bought into it because she's very slippery in what she says, what she doesn't say, how she tries not to answer questions. And I think what the defense is hoping is especially with this part, how do you not remember stabbing somebody 27, 29 times and slitting them from ear to ear? They're going to ask the domestic violence expert to explain, well, she is suppressing that because it was so traumatic for her, it was so awful for her. Sort of like when young children are abused. It's not that they forget their whole childhood. They know they were in kindergarten. They know things happened. But they suppress that really dark, awful thing. And that's what they're going to try to have the DV expert convince the jury of. I'm not sure they are going to buy it in this case, Don.
LEMON: Thanks to Holly Hughes.
This week, George Lucas may have let the cat out of the bag. The creator of Star Wars says you will probably see some familiar faces in the new "Star Wars." That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Let's take a look at some of the big stories this week in entertainment.
Comedian, and I say that lightly, Dean Obeidallah is back.
Dean, you heard holly Hughes talking about Jodi Arias, the trial.
DEAN OBEIDALLAH, POLITICAL COMEDIAN: Yes.
LEMON: Listen to actress Jennifer Love Hewitt commenting on the complexities of the trial.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT, ACTRESS: Sex can be provocative. It can be dangerous and it can be amazing and romantic and passionate. I mean, it can really be all of those things. (END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And, Dean, as an aside, Hewitt did say, if asked, she would consider playing the part of Jodi Arias in a TV movie. Would you watch it?
OBEIDALLAH: Maybe. I think she's better suited for the Supreme Court. I'm hoping President Obama nominates her if there's a vacancy because she is clearly a legal scholar. Of course sex sells.
Obviously sex sells, the idea itself. But this trial, you just talked about it. It's so much more than sex, frankly. It's about a woman killing a man, which is rare. Usually there's three women killed a day by domestic violence in America. We don't hear they get away. Also, you have this woman giving three different versions of her story, Jodi Arias. And the brutal way her ex-boyfriend was killed. So, I think there's so much going on. It's not just sex with this case.
LEMON: That and -- I'm different. This and the Casey Anthony, have not watched one second of the trial. It does not interest me. But I know people are very interested in it. People love watching it.
OBEIDALLAH: They are. But I think the Trayvon Martin case is going to be -- it's going to be a national case, much more than this. I think, this is really a small case. George Zimmerman will be much bigger.
LEMON: All right, this past week, George Lucas sort of spilled the beans. Now, he sold the "Star Wars" franchise to Disney. But, he said the big free from the original cast Carrey Fisher, Mark Hamel, and Harrison Ford, all said they would do new "Star Wars." Do you think that would be good or do you think it would be weird?
OBEIDALLAH: It would be great. It's nostalgic. You know, we know, there's a lot of ageism in Hollywood. Harrison Ford is 70 years old. I know, Don, you just had a birthday, you're about his age. So, I think it is really inspiring to you as well.
LEMON: Don't hate.
OBEIDALLAH: I'm not hating.
LEMON: Don't crack. I could be 70, but I still look good. I wouldn't mind.
OBEIDALLAH: All right, Don. You look great for your age, whatever that might be. I don't know, do you carbon dating or something after the show to figure out your age. But, I think people are going to -- it's nostalgic like "the expendables." Don't forget that with all the former action stars coming together. I think this is the same thing. And it's "Star Wars," of course it's going to be a big opening. With them, I think it will be interesting.
LEMON: Jon Stewart taking a break. He is going to take three months off to director a movie. Cast member John Oliver, big break for him, is going to sit in his seat. Those are big shoes to fill.
OBEIDALLAH: They are. I know John Oliver. I did a lot of shows with John. I think he is great. He is really funny. And I think that my good friend, (INAUDIBLE), the brown correspondent, and I wish there would also produce - I also host one time, it would mean so much to young Indian and Middle Eastern-American kid --
LEMON: I wanted the brother to host. So, I mean. Come on.
OBEIDALLAH: I got it. I love - just one week. Let us do one week, just like the other like young brown kids to see a guy like that behind the desk. And let the African-American guy -- that would be great to do that.
It's a really testament to Jon Stewart, though. This guy, he said in the quotes he wants to be challenged. As a creative person, you know, there is - you get this comfort zone. You get a little -- it's not as exciting anymore. This is the first and he wrote the feature and is going to direct it.
LEMON: Yes.
OBEIDALLAH: It is very challenging to John.
LEMON: Yes. And I do. I mean, I've seen John Oliver when we were out on the campaign trail. He comes and he does it, then, he goes on the campaign trail.
Hey, real quickly, one last thing, what's going on with Justin Bieber? He is nice Canadian boy. Every time I see him now, he's half naked, showing his underwear, his pants are falling down. He even tweeted a picture from the hospital. It is like, does he need some pro-parent-- what the hell is going on?
OBEIDALLAH: We should ship Justin Bieber to North Korea instead of Dennis Rodman and let them keep him and figure out what is going on with this kid. I don't know - and he shows up two hours late for a concert. Come on, buddy. He just did that in London the other day. I don't know. You need more attention, Justin? That is what is going on? You get the most attention in the world and still the kid is so needy for attention.
LEMON: Yes. I just sort of wonder if he's going down the low- hand road, or -- I don't know what it is, but seriously, I'm actually concerned for him. Because I think it is, you know, I think he was a nice kid and now something weird is happening. And pull your pants up. It's disgusting.
OBEIDALLAH: Yes. Pull your pants up. And you know, Don, the thing in the hospital bed was a bit --
LEMON: We've got to go. We got to go.
OBEIDALLAH: Bye, Don.
LEMON: All right. All right, Dean. We are coming right back in a few minutes. But next -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: From rags to rock star.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His voice was huge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said can we speak English?
LEMON: How a legendary rock band found its new lead singer.
ARNEL PINEDA, LEAD SINGER, JOURNEY: I'm short, I'm so Asian.
LEMON: From the most unlikely of places.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Usually rock bands are defined by their lead singers. It may be unfair, but that's just the way it is. So, when the band Journey and Steve Perry split, many thought the band was through. But according to a new documentary, something pretty incredible happened. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I looked and looked and looked. And I was ready to give up. I just clicked on one last link and I pushed it -
Arnel popped up with his band singing in Manila. I go this is too good to be true.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His voice was huge. I said, but can he speak English?
PINEDA: I got this message. Interested in singing with the real band Journey? This is impossible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's the lead singer in journey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: What an amazing story. Ramona Diaz is the director of the film, "Don't Stop Believing, every man's journey." It details how Arnel Pineda became the lead singer of journey. She joins me now from New York.
Ramona, you know, a skeptic would say, and this is the greatest marketing stunt of all time. I don't know. Is that really true?
RAMONA DIAZ, FILMMAKER, DON'T STOP BELIEVING, EVERYMAN'S JOURNEY: Yes. Yes, I guess it's true. I mean, this is -- they're having such a wonderful time with Arnel. And, you know, they are their - they are relevant again. You know, they are more successful than I've ever been with Arnel.
LEMON: You know, he sounds similar. Doesn't sound exactly, but he sounds enough like Steve Perry that it sounds enough like him in concert that you actually believe that it is. If you close your eyes, it could be him, right?
DIAZ: Yes.
LEMON: Let's listen to a quick clip of the former singer.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
LEMON: OK. Now let's hear Arnel. This is, I believe, the very you tube video, the Journey band member heard the first time. Let's listen.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
LEMON: OK. So that's pretty uncanny. How hard was it for the band to accept that this wasn't some fake-out because he does sound a lot like Perry?
DIAZ: Yes, I think -- when Neal found him on you tube, it struck him that he sounded like Perry. But you are right. I mean, if you close your eyes, he sounds like Perry. But there is still a little bit of difference. I think it's more of a rocker, if you really listen. But, you know, Don, the hard core Journey fans who of course are very attached to Perry, even a lot of the skeptics, you know, followed him on the road were won over by Arnel because he not only sounds like what they call the legacy sound of Journey but he's very -- extremely entertaining on stage.
LEMON: Yes.
DIAZ: Because he jumps around and he really engages the audience. And you can't help but love him. And I think you see some of that in the film.
LEMON: Not only is he not Steve Perry, but frankly, he doesn't look like Steve Perry. He doesn't look like the others in the band. Was it difficult for some of the fans to accept him at all or did he win them over pretty quickly?
DIAZ: He won them over pretty quickly. But he's very self- aware. Like he says in the film, you know, I'm short, I'm Asian. And so, I look nothing like Steve Perry. But I think that, you know, Arnel is really proof positive that talent really rises above race and culture.
LEMON: Right.
DIAZ: Because you really see his talent and you can't deny it. So, even some of the very skeptical members of the audience were won over, in spite of themselves.
LEMON: I always wondered how Steve Perry felt about finding someone who sounded almost, you know, just like him. But you said he issued a statement to Oprah saying, you know, a few years back, saying he wished him very well, right? So, he appears to be OK with it. DIAZ: Yes, yes.
LEMON: Where can we see your film?
DIAZ: The film is playing in select cities across the United States. And you can check out everymansjourney.com for theater listings. But it's also available on DOD, so in iTunes and you know, Comcast, infinity on streaming.
LEMON: OK.
DIAZ: But, I urge people, you know. I mean, it's really fun to see it in the theater because it becomes very communal experience. People really love hearing him sing. And it's just a great theater experience.
LEMON: Well, it's called "don't stop believing, every man's journey." And you can see it as Ramona Diaz said, you can it in the theater. You can see it on DOD.
Thank you so much. We really appreciate it. Best of luck to you, OK?
DIAZ: Thank you. My pleasure. Thank you.
LEMON: You know, this past week, Rand Paul made headlines for nearly 13-hour filibuster. Not only is he getting hammered from the left, he's also getting shots from the right as well. Why? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Twelve hours, 52 minutes. That is how long Senator Rand Paul's filibuster lasted. Everyone was like, Bill Maher and (INAUDIBLE) complimenting Paul, even, we hear his father is getting hammered by conservatives like "the Wall Street Journal" editorial board.
Political comedian, Dean Obeidallah joins me again from New York.
Dean, if you were Senator Paul, how would you respond to this liberal love and conservative grumpiness?
OBEIDALLAH: I think take your friends where you can get them. He's gotten some support in the tea party. So, he had some on the right, frankly. I think what he did was a great thing. And I'm a progressive guy. The drone policy has to be articulated by the president. The president cannot be an emperor. He just put thumbs up or thumbs down to kill people. We have to have a protocol in place. Some kind of regulations, due process has to be there. And I'm glad Rand Paul did this, to be frank.
LEMON: OK. So, let's switch some gears here. North Korea ratcheted up its big talk threatening a preemptive nuclear attack on the U.S. These are big words from a nation that can barely launch a rocket across a bathtub. Are you scared? OBEIDALLAH: I'm petrified, Don. Actually, nobody cares. This is the reality. I'm not even kidding. I've tweeted about it. I talked about it in the comedy clubs the last few nights. No one cares.
The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un, if you're watching this, that doesn't get our attention, threatening us. You have to do something to make us focus on you like date a Kardashian, you know, or hand out with Justin Bieber or punch Justine Bieber. That will get a lot of attention.
And my point is, we follow pop culture a lot more than this kind of stuff because no one feels North Korea is a threat. I mean, their tanks are probably in the 1950s. You got like run them like this and then it wrap up and then it go fast. So, it's really an empty threat to us.
At the same time, the U.N. is considering more sanctions, just voted for more sanctions and he's threatening us to show he's a responsible leader. He's not. But again, I don't think anyone's paying attention. That's the reality.
LEMON: Did I just see a Kardashian? You said date a Kardashian.
DIAZ: Date a Kardashian.
LEMON: So listen. Real quickly, this is nothing to do with what we talk about. And it just ran across the words as you said talking about pop culture. I think one of the most interesting pop culture stories this week and the biggest was my friend and yours Joy Behar leaving "the view."
She's been there since the beginning, 16 years. That's one of the biggest jobs in show business in talk and she's deciding to leave. And she's a comedienne and she is probably going back to doing just that.
OBEIDALLAH: To do comedy. And, you know what, I got on "the view" twice. And it was because of Joy. She saw me perform in a New York comedy club. And that's the reason I got on "the view" a few years ago. I think she's great. And I hope, I wish her the best. I know she'll be successful whatever she does. She's smart and funny and comes across great. And I have always been a huge fan of hers.
LEMON: I second that. Thank you, Dean.
OBEIDALLAH: Thanks, Don.
Still ahead -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Just for CNN --
JIM CARREY, ACTOR: OK. Show the camera.
LEMON: Actor Jim Carrey runs into trouble showing off the best card trick he knows.
CARREY: Is this your card? Is this your card?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been in and out of foster care for most of my life. When you move from place to place, you don't really get the same connections that your peers have. You get very insecure. You don't think that people really care about your desires and wishes.
DANIELLE GLETOW, CNN HERO: When I became a foster parent, I realized a lot of these children decide that it's not worth wishing anymore because it isn't going to happen. People have made promises to them that they haven't kept. Do you want to take any of the babies?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sure.
GLETOW: All right. Here you go.
Everything's brand new. I thought, how do we give them the feeling that people are out there that care about you even if you've never met them?
My name is Danielle Gletow. And I've helped make wishes come true for thousands of foster children all over the country.
Anybody anywhere anytime can look at hundreds of wishes from children in foster care. Working on auditioning for a play. He needs the radio in order to practice with his audition CD. Wishes are as unique as the children who make them and so personal.
Isn't that beautiful?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: Yes.
GLETOW: These small things make an enormous difference in the life of a child. It's really just a kid being a kid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My wish was for a suit so that I could attend a family member's funeral. It meant a lot that someone took the time and they knew that that was important.
GLETOW: This looks awesome.
When a child's wish is granted, we are reassuring them that their voices are being heard.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: I love you, Evie.
GLETOW: There is this big world out there that just wants to wrap their arms around them and protect them. And we need to all step up and do that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: In Austin, Texas, the south by southwest festival is all about the latest gadgets and cool music but it's also about new movies.
Our Nischelle Turner sat down with cast members of the new film "the Incredible Burt Wonderstone." Steve Carell, Olivia White and Jim Carrey who had something very special for Nischelle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We learned magic.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I was going to say. First I thought that was like a pack of swords.
CARREY: Not that great at shuffling.
TURNER: OK. What are you going to show me here?
CARREY: OK. All right. Pick a card.
TURNER: Nice fan, by the way.
CARREY: Thanks.
OK. Show the camera.
TURNER: You see it?
CARREY: Now, put the card back in the deck. Anywhere at all. OK. Fantastic. Would you like to shuffle that?
TURNER: I'm the word. Steve? I'm not the worst. Steve is the worst.
CARREY: OK. Is that your card?
TURNER: No.
CARREY: Is that your card?
TURNER: No.
CARREY: Is that your card? Is that your card? Is that your card? Is that your card? Is that your card? Is that your card?
TURNER: You are so good!
CARREY: Is that your card?
TURNER: Just throw them all at you.
CARREY: Is this your card? TURNER: You're not good.
CARREY: Is this your card?
TURNER: Sorry. I still haven't found my card, Jim.
CARREY: You'll find it in your pants later. That's the weird thing about this trick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: He is great. They never did find her card. "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" by the way, opens next Friday.
A man runs into trouble, a flight delay. But he's not trying to make some business meeting. He is flying to see his dying mother, one last time. His story is our moment of the week and it's up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: And now a look at our moment of the week.
For most of us, a delayed flight is, at best, an annoyance. But for one California man, it may have been the chance to see his mother one last time.
In late January, Kerry Drake got the news his mom was dying. So he booked a united airlines flight from San Francisco to Lubbock, Texas, with a connecting flight in Houston. The problem was, he only had 40 minutes to switch planes. When his first flight was delayed, drake became distraught. So flight attendants radioed the pilot of the connecting flight who held the plane for 20 minutes. He ended up getting to the hospital just in time to say good-bye to his mom.
OK. And just reminder before you go to bed, make sure you set your clocks ahead one hour. Otherwise you're going to be late for something tomorrow. OK? Daylight saving time.
From the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Don Lemon. Thank you so much for watching.
Good night.
