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At This Hour

Separating the Villains from the Heroes; The Interview in Theaters; Gift Card Issues

Aired December 25, 2014 - 11:30   ET

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

ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN: So ahead this hour, so who is naughty and who is nice in 2014? We're going to separate the villains from the heroes. What do you suppose is this guy? Where -- he might have hit the nughty list. Yes, probably. OK, so find out who else is on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM CUNNINGHAM: I'm Lt. Col. Tom Cunningham in Bagram, Afghanistan, wishing a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my family back at Fort Stewart, Georgia and back in Illinois. Merry Christmas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BANFIELD: So, it is a gift that just a few days ago look like it was not going to get out of the package, but now at this hour, audiences around the country are getting their first glimpse at the controversial comedy "The Interview", that's the Seth Rogen film it opens up today in about 300 independently-owned theaters across the country. And if you didn't feel like trekking outside, it's also available on a handful of at-home streaming video services.

The FBI issued a fresh warning about possible threats tied to the movie which you'll probably know by now, centers on the assassination plot against the leader of North Korea.

For his part, President Obama had pushed for its release as a matter of artistic freedom, and here he is on the golf course in Hawaii where he's vacationing with the First Family, making that point and clear.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, USA PRESIDENT: I'm glad it's being released and Merry Christmas everybody.

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BANFIELD: Yes. Glad it opened and Merry Christmas, he says. You might expect that a movie about doing away with the leader of North Korea would be in pretty big demands. High, high demand on the flip side, it's 38 parallel. That would be South Korea, and as it turns out, South Koreans don't seem to be exactly gripped but the idea of today's release of The Interview, weird right? That's what Kyung Lah thought so she checked it out from Seoul. KYUNG LAH, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: While the United States has been embroiled in the on-off-on again release of The Interview, here in Seoul, South Korea, which is just 60 kilometers from North Korea, the movie isn't on any big screens at all. Here on Christmas day is just another day at the movies for domestic films. Multiple movies shown in this country right now are local domestic-made movies. "The Interview" was never planned on being released here, Sony picture is saying that they thought the sense of humor simply wouldn't resonate Koreans.

But this man says now after all of a controversy, he's actually interested in trying to see it. But this man says, frankly he doesn't think the trailer looks very funny and he wouldn't pay money to actually see it.

South Korean can see the movie, they're just going to have to stream it on their personal computers or their personal devices. Kyung Lah, CNN Seoul.

BANFIELD: All right, thank you Kyung and Merry Christmas to you as well.

You're one of the lucky ones if you made it to your family without any travel delays because almost 3000 flights, 3000 were postponed because of rain and poor visibility all on Christmas Eve. Great for Santa, not good for you. Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia they all had flight delays as long as two hours. And more than 380 flights were just canceled outright all together, just gone.

Triple A had projected about 98 million Americans would be traveling 50 or more miles this holiday season, and if you're wondering, yes, that is as 4 percent increase from last year.

Former President George H.W. Bush spending this Christmas day in a Houston hospital and he's going to stay there tonight as well. All of that after he experienced of shortness of breathe on Tuesday night. Spokesperson says, the 90-year old -- the prognosis remain very positive and that he's stating another night just as a precaution. Two years ago, President Bush was hospitalized for bronchitis and a persistence cough and it got very bad, but his aid says this time it's different, so were wishing you all good things, President Bush if you're watching this from the hospital this morning, Merry Christmas to you.

Let's talk about the Pope, Pope Francis addressing the faithful this morning in Saint Peter Square. It's almost right of passage. It's just something lot of people look forward to on their TV set on Christmas morning, the annual Christmas message, head of the Roman Catholic church drawing attention this year to the plight of war refugees. Particularly, the more than 3 million children and adults displaced by the civil war in Syria. He also noted that the increased instability in Iraq and the rise of the terror group ISIS, not by name but certainly every knew what he was talking about.

In the meantime, just last hour, take a look at your screen. Britain's Queen Elizabeth releasing her own Christmas message. This is a great annual as well, she was offering special honor to those who are risking their lives to help other people.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIZABETH II, QUEEN OF ENGLAND: I have been deeply touched this year by the selflessness of aid workers and medical volunteers who have gone abroad to help victims of conflict or of diseases like Ebola, often at great personal risk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BANFIELD: The queen also spoke about reconciliation and she recalled the moment of a century ago when German and British soldiers fighting World War I put down their weapons.

So, also getting into the Holliday spirit, Michelle Obama, the First Lady was on NORAD's Santa tracker hotline yesterday. She talked for about half an hour with children who are keeping tabs on the progress of the jolly man and his play. Love this picture, it's adorable.

According to the Whitehouse, an eight year old name Sarah (ph) asked Mrs. Obama if the President believes in Santa Clause, that's a good one and she replied, ready quote.

"The President believes in Santa, very much, yes. That's one of the reasons why we try to help the kids who call, because we've got all this wonderful equipment. And they're going to be at your house at soon as you are fast asleep. That's when Satan comes. He doesn't come until you're asleep, OK?"

I would personally like to thank, Mrs. Obama for that message.

The naughty and nice list -- I love this time of year. You know, naughty and nice doesn't even begin to cover it. We've put together the list from the most dastardly to the most joyful inspiring stories and groups of people of 2014.

So our top 10 heroes and villains, here's Rachel Crane.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RACHEL CRANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As the year comes to a close, it's time to count down the top 10 heroes and villains of 2014. Let's start with the villains. Number 10, hackers. Apples, Snapchat and Michael's, Sony. CNN Mmoney calls 2014, the year of the hack. More than half of American adults have had their personal information exposed by data breaches. Number nine, Vladimir Putin. Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded an annex, Crimea in March. He's accused of fueling a bitter conflict in Eastern Ukraine and then providing the weapons that brought down Malaysian Airline Flight 17, killing all 298 on board.

Number eight, Boko Haram. In April, Boko Haram militants kidnapped more than 200 teenage girls from a boarder school in Nigeria. Despite hope this fall that the girls would be returned, Boko Haram now says the girls have converted to Islam and have been married off. And the group attacks on villages in Nigeria continue. Number seven, ISIS. That terror hit close to home this year when ISIS released five horrific videos of both British and American hostages being beheaded. The group took control of large areas of lands in both Iraq and Syria, prompting President Obama to authorize airstrikes in September.

OBAMA: To degrade and ultimately destroyed the terrorist group known as ISIL.

CRANE: Number six, the Ebola virus. The symptoms of Ebola are scary enough. The death toll is even scarier. Ebola has skilled more than 6,000 people this year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to take the risk, or else our country will be wiped away.

CRANE: As we hit the halfway mark, it's time to turn to the heroes. Number 5 is a sports hero, Derek Jeter.

UNIDENTFIED MALE: Number 2, Derek Jeter.

CRANE: After a stellar 20-year career, Derek Jeter's last game at Yankee Stadium ended with the game winning hit. On his way off the field, Jeter wishes his opponent luck in the post-seasons, showing the humility that makes the Yankee's captain a fan favorite.

Number 4, Tyler Doohan. 8-year old Tyler Doohan managed to rescue six people including two children from a burning mobile home in upstate New York in January, but a last ditch effort to save his disabled grandfather from the flames cost the boy his life.

Number three, this cat, four-year old Jeremy was riding his bike near his Bakersfield, California home when his neighbor's dog attacked. The family's cat, Tara intervened, risking one of her nine lives to save Jeremy.

ERICA TRIANTAFILO, JEREMY'S MOTHER: She saved the day, chased him away and then came back to him after the dog was gone.

CRANE: Number two, Lauren Hill.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As the ball goes down to Lauren Hill and the lay- up is good.

CRANE: When Lauren Hill hit a lay-up in her first college basketball game, fans erupted. Hill is dying from a rare form of brain cancer and the game was moved up two weeks so she could play.

Number one is our final hero, Kevin Vickers. The sergeant-at-arms was hailed a hero when he stopped an armed man at Canada's House of Commons. Vickers shot and killed Michael Zehaf Bibeau after he stormed the Parliament Building in October. Numbers of parliament saluted Vickers with a standing ovation as he ushered in the start of a new session at the next day.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BANFIELD: That's my man, Kevin Vickers. Shout out Canada. Merry Christmas.

Still ahead this hour, what were the top stories in entertainment this year? We've got the list and we're willing to share. Stay with us coming at you.

And are you headed out tomorrow to look for some of those awesome post-Christmas deals that are in almost every store? If so, you are in luck because we've got some great news for you about something a little different this year, and some tips for you, brave souls, grab yourself a pen and paper, we're going to see you on the other side of the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BANFIELD: Stories of amazing success of love, shock, disgrace and the heartbreaking loss of some of our most beloved celebrities. Those are some of the headlines that were dominating the entertainment world in this past 2014. Our Nischelle Turner gives off the top 10.

NISCHELLE TURNER: Frozen fever, this movie has won two academy awards made over a billion. Yes, that's a billion with a B, a billion dollars worldwide and that song again, what was it? Because of that song, the Frozen sound track has also become the best selling album of the year.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today, the sad news that comedian Joan Rivers has passed away at the age of 81.

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TURNER: The comedy world in, well, just all of us who loved to laugh, mourn the passing of an icon when Joan Rivers died in September of this year. She was 81 years old and died of complications while undergoing a minor surgery. All of Hollywood came out and mourned her. Good bye, Joan.

So what do we at call her? She T-Swizzle, T-Swift. Taylor Swift, Cha-Ching. She became the first female artist to have three albums sell more than 1 million copies in one week. (inaudible) lower that girls did? Also she said bye-bye to Spotify, Taylor pulled her music from the streaming service and proved well, they need her more than she needs them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're now hearing from Bill Cosby's attorney, right, denying all allegations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TURNER: We're talking about Bill Cosby and his fall from grace in 2014. More than 20 women have now come forward and said Bill Cosby sexually assaulted them. NBC has now cancelled his upcoming project and Netflix has postponed his comedy special.

Celebrities and selfie seems to go hand in hand these days. And what happens when those personal photos become public spotter (ph), a number of pictures of A-list celebrities were hacked in to and released to the public. Pictures of people like Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton. JLaw didn't take this one lying down though, no, she called it a sexual violation and a crime.

It was Super Bowl Sunday but the news that overshadow the game was the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Yes the Oscar-winning actor died in February after an accidental overdose. Celebrities took to social media to pay their condolences. Everyone seemed to say he was a good man who makes great movies.

I think we're all still talking about what happens in an elevator doesn't stay in an elevator, Yes, the fight, the lounge, Jay Z in the elevator at the Met Gala, Beyonce standing to the side. Everyone then said what's going on with this marriage? Are they breaking up? Are they getting a divorce? Well Beyonce and Jay Z gave us a little answer at the MTV Video Music Awards. He got a big kiss from his wife which said to all of us, mind your business.

Jay Leno said farewell, David Letterman announced he was leaving, too. Now, we're seeing a new breed of Late Night TV host. Stephen Colbert is taking over for David Letterman, of course, Jimmy Fallon took over for Jay Leno and he didn't miss the beat.

Tan-tan-tanan! Yes, I'm talking about weddings. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, they got married too much fanfare in Italy. So we all see Kim Kardashian post every single moment of her life on Instagram. Well, that kiss, it became the most liked picture on Instagram this year.

Then there was Brangelina, they surprised us all. How did they keep that secret? Well, because they're private, that's how.

And then of course, there is Hollywood royalty of all royalty, George Clooney. How did Amal Alamuddin get him to walk down the aisle? I need to talk to that lady because whatever secret she got, I want it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tonight, we've learned that Robin Williams, a treasure to millions, has died.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TURNER: There's not a lot that shocked us in Hollywood anymore but this one stunned us all, I'm talking about the passing of Robin Williams. He was 63 and Williams was sober, but we now know he was struggling with severe depression and early stages of Parkinson's disease. Robin Williams was a loved and be loved in Hollywood. He was a husband, he was a father, and to all of us, he was just kind of our favorite guy. He's legacy will live on and he will never be forgotten. BANFIELD: Nuchelle, thank you and Merry Christmas to you as well. You can catch the top 10 of 2014. It's a special we got with Brooke Baldwin coming up on CNN Sunday at 6:30 Eastern Time. I encourage you, check it out.

Also ahead this hour, Ho-Ho- Ho, it's Hover (ph) with a post-Christmas sale star tomorrow and we're going to have the information that will give you the upper hand when you're going into those must-have Christmas items that just didn't make it under your treat.

Plus, a big tip that ponder the thousands of us forget to do and it cost us money every year.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BANFIELD: I hope you got your present open and all of those gift cards unwrapped. And now if you got some free cash raining down on you from holiday gift cards and returns, we've got an expert to tell you how to this best. It's called maximizing the benefit.

Marshal Cohen is the chief industry analyst of the NPD Group and his with me live now. OK, so first and foremost, Marshall, why is it that we screw up so often with those gift cards we get and either forget about them or let them expire and how bad is that problem?

MARSHALL COHEN, CHIEF INDUSTRY ANALYST OF THE NPD GROUP: Well, it's really a big issue. We tellers love gift cards because 25 percent of consumers forget that they even got a gift card before they ever use it. The majority of consumers don't even redeem them within the first month. So, retailers love it and consumers they just don't manage them well. They put them in their desk drawer, they forget where they are, they forget that they even have them, and they don't use it. That's bad, that's just wasting sound money.

BANFIELD: Wasting sound money. And, you know, I always put them in my wallet so that if I happen to be going by a store, it's there. I have it. But maybe the better idea is that if you're going back for returns, maybe not tomorrow because it's pretty busy, take those gift cards with you and do it all at one time. It's not just sort of sound economic sense?

COHEN: Yes. The best real thing to really do is we all tend to think that. You should rush out and go spend the gift care money right away. And that's not necessarily he best thing to do because right now, the stores are probably stripped bare more than they will ever be during the course of the year. Better idea, save your gift cards, wait a few weeks, let the stores replenish some of he new -- the merchandise and go in and get what you want rather than get what's best over.

I love that you're carrying your gift cards around, because that is the right way to go. You never know when you're going to pass that store and use it, but you have to remember that they're even in your wallet.

BANFIELD: But you know what, Marshal, my wallet is like a steamer trunk, I'm so tired of having all that junk that I carry around but it is money, and I don't want to forget about them. So, I understand that you've done some research to figure out that we have sales tomorrow that might be as high as 70 percent off, that things were already about 50 percent off. But this after Christmas sales are going to be higher than 60 percent and 70 percent off. I would think you want to take those gift cards and maximize the use of them with such great deals.

COHEN: Yes. One of the key things as recognized this year, retailers were very aggressive on price. So items that we're already on sale, particularly things like clothing, sweaters, jeans, the -- give the accessory market. Look for those price point that we're already at 50 off before Thanksgiving, and then all the way through up 'til Christmas to, you know, today. They were at 50 off, now they're going to go to 70-75 off.

So really great time to go out and...

BANFIELD: Sweet.

COHEN: ... and build your winter wardrobe.

BANFIELD: And wear your sneakers. Marshal Cohen, thank you so much and happy holidays to you. It's nice for you to join us today.

Hey, all my family watching me at home and I'm sorry I can't be with you. I said I'd tug my ear for family and friends, principal of my kids' school as well. So that's the Hi, the shout-out, the Merry Christmas.

Thanks everyday for joining us at this hour. Also to Michaela and Berman who are at home with their families. There's a whole lot more coming ahead though. I'm having -- I have a little program, that it is Legal View. It starts right after this.

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