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Capping the Gulf Oil Gusher; Bangkok in Chaos; First Gay Bishop Ordained; Playboy's New Dimension

Aired May 15, 2010 - 19:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: It is really getting ridiculous in the Gulf. They see the problem. They know the cause. They announce a solution. So why then is every try suddenly an epic failure?

A magazine that has built its fortune on sex and change minds in the process is breaking the mold again, promising a fuller experience.

Plus, a historic end to a show that made two bars of music perhaps the most famous ever in television history. Tonight, a "Law & Order" super fan makes his plea and wonders why a national obsession is coming to an end.

(MUSIC)

LEMON: Hello, everyone.

For more than three weeks now, oil has been gushing from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico, and the government and the oil industry still haven't figured out quite how to stop it yet. Today, the latest effort: inserting right a tube into the leak to siphon off at least some of the oil. It could happen as son as tonight, we're told. It won't solve the problem even if it works, but it could be a first step toward reducing the flow of oil. It is a delicate operation.

Last night's first attempt failed. And as we know, they're also relying heavily on those chemical dispersants. Well, but many wonder if those dispersants could be as dangerous as the oil itself.

So, we want to bring in now our David Mattingly. He's joining us from New Orleans.

David, talk to us about what's going on in the Gulf right now.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, as far as the dispersants go, after the EPA stopped to have a test of how these things were being run, they decided to give approval. So, now, B.P. is using those dispersants again at the bottom of the ocean.

Again, this is something of an experiment. These dispersants have never been used beneath the surface of the water and they've never been used in this quantity. There seems to be an upside to this that they don't use as much dispersant if they use it at the source, but at the same time, a lot of environmental concerns about what this might be doing to the environment in the long term. We're not seeing a big oil slick on the top of the surface as a result, the shorelines are not being coated with a thick oil as a result, but at the same time, that oil is breaking down, those hydrocarbons are still within the water column and breaking down into smaller particles.

Again, the big question here is: what will be the long-term effect?

LEMON: Yes. And no one knows what the long term effects would be.

David Mattingly, thank you very much for joining us, from down in New Orleans.

We're going to continue to talk about this story now. The search for a way to stop the leak comes as some outside experts question whether B.P. has low-balled the amount of oil gushing from the well. The company measures the leak at about 5,000 barrels a day.

But a Purdue University researcher this week, after analyzing video of the leak, estimated the flow at about 70,000 barrels a day. That's a lot of oil.

CNN's Brian Todd put the question directly to B.P.'s managing director for the Americas and Asia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB DUDLEY, B.P. MANAGING DIRECTOR: Well, that's not -- that's not what our experts -- multiple experts, not only from B.P. and the industry say. This crude is what's called a "light sweet crude." It has lots of gas. And when it comes out, it expands very rapidly, a little bit like bubbles in a soda pop. So, it's very difficult to look at it and say that this -- the volume will be much higher. We certainly don't see that at the surface.

The NOAA satellite photographs are fairly accurate in terms of where the crude is coming out. You can measure the thickness of the crude. A lot of it evaporates pretty quickly. That number is not anywhere close to anything that we think. We believe today, best estimates, rough, 5,000 barrels a day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, Congressman Ed Markey, who chairs an energy subcommittee, says he's going to launch an investigation into the size of the leak.

Let's turn now overseas. A warning to American travelers from the State Department today: stay out of Bangkok because of scenes like these in the street.

(VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: At least eight more people were killed today in clashes between troops and anti-government protestors, bringing the death toll to 25 over three days.

Our Sarah Sidner is in the middle of it all in Thailand's capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (INAUDIBLE) road here in Bangkok and the situation has turned extremely violent. (INAUDIBLE) It sounds like they are firing this way. There's a lot of explosions today, another one going off.

And what you're also seeing is people from the protesters throwing things, more and more tires, trying to create a lot of smoke so the army cannot see them as they move about in this area. (INAUDIBLE) That was really, really close to us.

Members of the press are trying to run and snap a few pictures and running out. It's extremely dangerous right now. The army, the military has said that it is going push in. That appears to be what is going on right now. They are trying to get these protesters out of the commercial center of Bangkok and an extremely dangerous situation.

Sarah Sidner, CNN, Bangkok.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: If you are planning to travel to Europe, well, you better check your itinerary. Remember that volcano in Iceland that shut down air travel overseas last month? Well, it could do it again to airports in the U.K. as early as tomorrow. And German officials say they may have to start closing airports starting Monday. Volcanic ash already has forced some closures this week from Spain to the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa.

We'll get more on this a little bit later on from our meteorologist here, Karen Maginnis.

A true test of faith for Gulf Coast residents -- is the power of prayer powerful enough?

Also, after making a name for himself on the Food Network, you can see his mug shot on practically every network, accused in a murder-for- hire scheme.

And just when you thought you'd seen it all -- well, "Playboy" goes 3D. We will show you.

But don't just sit there. Obviously, that wasn't the "Playboy" video. Don't just sit there. Be a part of this conversation. We want you to send a message to us on Twitter on Facebook. Make sure you follow us on Twitter as well, and then log on to my blog CNN.com/Don. We want to hear what you think.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So, listen, let's talk about what's happening in the Gulf Coast. It's really horrific down there and who knows when it's going to stop. The scenes of the oil slick waves and tar balls on beaches are devastating if you are from the Gulf Coast area like I am. It is flat-out fatiguing when you've been through a hurricane like Katrina just five years ago. So, how much more can the people of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, everywhere down there, Florida -- how much can they take?

Well, tonight, the Reverend Jim Ball gives us some insight on that. He is the CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network.

Thank you for being here. What do you say to the community, sir, that has faced so much, especially in light of all the hurricanes that they had, trying to recover from that, and now this tragedy?

REV. JIM BALL, CEO, EVANGELICAL ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK: Well, Don, it's great to be with you and your viewers.

It's in these trying tough times that we need to be calling upon our faith. That's why we're people of faith. And when these times happen, we have spiritual resources that we can draw upon in terms of prayer, our faith communities. Anyone, anywhere, any time can call upon the Lord and ask for his strength and his wisdom and his courage to see them through such trying times as these.

LEMON: You know what, Reverend, it's kind of a catch-22 there because -- let's just be, you know, we -- the folks there make their living really off the oil industry, a lot of people. And a lot of people also make their living off of fishing in the ocean as well. I always say, though, that -- as I said yesterday to General Honore and to several of our guests -- that the Gulf of Mexico is part of the social fabric there because that's how we relate to each other. We all vacation in the Gulf of Mexico and then we all, you know, eat the food and you come over, hey, come on in. Have some food or whatever.

So, it can be a real identity crisis if it keeps going the way it is.

BALL: Well, if we -- if we remember that we're children of God, that's the firmest foundation in terms of our identity that we can have. But I -- it is a very trying situation when you have family members, some who are watermen and fishermen, others who are on the oil rigs, and you have a terrible situation like this happen. But, you know, we are called by God to be stewards of his creation. This actually presents us with an opportunity to do better in that regard.

LEMON: You are involved in, what it is, the National Day of Prayer for Creation Care, is that what it is? What is that all about?

BALL: That's right. We're -- on May 25th, we're going to be having the National Day of Prayer for Creation Care. And it's a time for the whole country to come together in prayer and to pray to God to ask him to help us to be the stewards he's calling us to be, and for us to understand what his will is in terms of caring for his creation.

LEMON: Before I let you go, people come to you about this particular problem in the Gulf, and what are you telling them?

BALL: Well, I'm saying to folks that nothing can separate us from the love of God as Paul says in Romans 8. He's always with us and as I said before, folks can reach out to him any time, anywhere in prayer and be strengthened by him. And I encourage folks also to join with other people of faith to get encouragement from our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

LEMON: Yes. Well, Reverend Jim Ball, we can use you guys down there and my family as well can use all the prayers that they can get. So, I hope the whole --

BALL: We'll be praying for anyone.

LEMON: Thank you very much, Reverend. Good to see you.

BALL: Thank you for having me.

LEMON: And still ahead, the kind of thing you'd probably see on a TV cop show, right? A former TV chef charged with hiring the homeless to carry out a murder.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Let's look now at some of our top stories.

In Pakistan, the prosecution has rested in the trial of five American Muslim immigrants charged with planning terrorism attacks. Pakistani- Americans from Alexandria, Virginia, pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges. They are accused of conspiring against America and NATO forces. The defense will present its case when the trial continues next month.

Federal prosecutors say a former Mexican presidential candidate has vanished under what they call suspicious circumstances. Diego Fernandez de Cevallos was the 1994 presidential candidate of the now ruling National Action Party. His car was found near his ranch in central Mexico and there were signs of violence. De Cevallos is a major figure in the ruling party and is one of the country's leading attorneys.

President Barack Obama honored law enforcement officials killed in the line of duty today at the Capitol. He spoke at the National Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony. The president praised those who serve their neighbors allowing them to live free from the fear of crime. The memorial ceremony is for the families of fallen police officers who died in service last year.

The 9-year-old Dutch survivor of Wednesday's devastating plane crash in Libya is back home in the Netherlands. The boy has been told his parents and older brother are dead. He flew home with his aunt and his uncle. The little boy was a sole survivor when the plane crashed during a flight from South Africa, killing 103 people.

Chef Juan-Carlos Cruz once hosted a show on the Food Network. Today, the former host of "Calorie Commando" is accused of trying to hire homeless people to carry out a murder. In addition to his TV show, Cruz wrote the Juan -Carlos Cruz "Calorie Countdown" book, a five-week eating strategy for sustainable weight loss which was published in 2007.

So, let's get more now from CNN's Alan Duke in Los Angeles. What is going on with this TV chef? How did this, all of sudden -- all of sudden, come about? Did he have past run-ins with the law or police?

ALAN DUKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We know of none of those. But, apparently, his career wasn't going so well. He's not regularly on the Food Network anymore. You go to there Web site and you don't see him there. You see some of the archive material. But his show in 2004, 2005, 2006, apparently did well, all built around him with a low-calorie recipe cookbook and eating smart.

But Cruz in the last several days has been in jail because of $5 million bond that he's not been able to meet. We'll see him in court on Monday. And it's Monday that we'll find out more about this.

The police in Santa Monica are being very quiet. They are not telling us yet who the alleged victim is, whether it was a close relative or a close friend. We've been led to believe it was somebody that he knew well. And the people he tried to hire, homeless people who frequent the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

LEMON: That's what I'm going to ask you. That seems very odd. So, did he just go to the streets and hire some homeless people. Did he know these people possibly? You say they are being tightlipped. But are these facts or at least -- is this information known at all now?

DUKE: Well, there are a lot of people who are -- live on the streets or thereabouts in Santa Monica, the Venice area. You've been there. You know how laid-back it is. And they're just a part of the fabric there.

But allegedly Cruz went to a couple of these and asked them to help him in a murder plot, to kill somebody. These people then -- these individuals who have not been identified -- then went to the police on the street and said, hey, this guy is trying to pay us cash to help him kill somebody.

LEMON: Yes.

DUKE: So, then the Santa Monica detectives went undercover, met him several times and then finally, on Thursday afternoon, at a dog park in west Los Angeles and made the arrest.

LEMON: So, listen, I can ask you this, Alan -- when I heard the name, I was like, there was, you know, there was someone who had the same name Juan-Carlos Cruz at, very frankly, a television station, I worked with different people. I'd never heard of this guy. I've never seen him before. I watch the Food Network.

And you are saying, you know, back in 2004, 2005, 2006, I watched the Food Network then. I just don't remember him being a big player. So, lately in his life, had he have some issues? Because I know people talked about it in that area. And, you know, people know especially if you are sort of a pseudo-celebrity.

What kind of issues had he been dealing with lately if any at all? DUKE: You know, I had some of the same feelings that you just said because you get a taste of celebrity. And he was sort of a chef celebrity for a while on the Food Network. But they got dozens of them. Some of them rise to the stop, like Jamie Oliver. We hear about him all the time.

LEMON: Yes.

DUKE: But Cruz, we didn't hear much about. If you go to his Web site, a couple of his main Web sites are no longer online. And the one that he does have still online promoting his book "Calorie Countdown" is -- apparently not been updated for about a year.

What he's been doing -- we don't know. So, he was not at the top of his career.

LEMON: Yes. Well, we hope he's OK and we're glad in the process that no one did get killed. And as we say, innocent until proven guilty. So, we shall see here.

Alan Duke, thank you.

We'll talk about opening the flood gates in Tennessee. The rising water has finally give way in dramatic forms. That story is straight ahead.

And we'll take you to a school where parents take on a pivotal role in their child's education.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Just look at that. Tennessee is still trying to clean up from the deadly floods that ravaged parts of the state just two weeks ago. And tonight, we're getting a unique view of how -- just how powerful the torrent of water was in parts of Nashville.

The surveillance video from inside an auto parts store in west Nashville -- look at that -- it just shows a wave of water just smashed right through the plate glass window in front of the store, pushing cash registers from their foundation and quickly filling the entire building. Volunteers used boats to rescue the employees trapped inside of that store. My gosh!

Let's turn to Karen Maginnis now.

Karen, that is amazing. But look how just -- it smashed and moved everything out of there.

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And you have just given a very good illustration of the difference between a flash flood, which happens like that and very destructive --

LEMON: Quickly, yes.

MAGINNIS: -- and something that happened to my house back in September, many people across the Atlanta area where the water rises --

LEMON: Rises, yes.

MAGINNIS: -- and then it goes back down a couple of hours later. Very dramatic images coming out of the Nashville area.

You know what? They are under the gun again. This is going to happen over the next 24 hours. I want to show you this, especially right across north-central, middle Tennessee. Generally speaking, one, two, possibly three inches. Worst-case scenario, we're expecting maybe some isolated areas where as much as four inches of rainfall is possible.

We are going to see these thunderstorms just kind of sweep through, and as a result, a flash flood watch is possible and it does include that Nashville area. This goes until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. So, we're watching kind of this repetitious effect of the atmosphere where we are seeing just wave after wave of moisture.

We have in the last 24 hours -- take a look at these pictures -- of large sides hail in Tennessee. You know, golf ball to in some cases softball-size hail. Damage reported. And this is in the area of Clarksville where they did see those storms yesterday. And they're even saying that we could see, as I mentioned, the flash flood watch.

But for tonight, maybe severe thunderstorm watch could be issued across this north-central Tennessee area. I think the worst maybe over but a little a bit further towards the south, we've got some problems reported there.

All right. You probably have heard about this ash cloud. All right. Just about three, two, three weeks ago, this grounded 10,000 flights across Europe. And now it looks as if the volcano is active again in Iceland.

But I want to show you what we anticipate as far as the weather is concern, extending all the way from Iceland down across the United Kingdom. British air space over the next 24 to 72 hours could be closed, Don, because they are saying that this ash cloud is going to filter down across the U.K., maybe towards France as we go into the next several days. And -- so, we'll have to watch out. They could cancel one of Europe's largest airports, Heathrow, by tomorrow.

LEMON: I had a friend who is just in Italy. And he told me his journey coming back and it was like -- what? And he goes I can't believe -- and he's a pilot. So --

MAGINNIS: My husband is a pilot. He was stuck in Frankfurt for a week.

LEMON: Oh, boy.

MAGINNIS: Yes, it was crazy.

LEMON: It's so bad actually.

MAGINNIS: You can say it was so bad actually.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: All right. Thank you, Karen.

MAGINNIS: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: It's not a gadget. It's not a gadget.

MAGINNIS: It's really cool.

LEMON: It's not. My entire rundown -- everyone asks, even people on Twitter, Karen Maginnis asks, yes, I'm carrying the iPad because my whole rundown is in the air. My scripts are in here, I don't have to print them. I save some paper and it's all right here. So --

MAGINNIS: You're a green man.

LEMON: There you go. (INAUDIBLE). Trying to get used to it. Thank you, Karen.

MAGINNIS: All right.

LEMON: Appreciate it. We'll see you just a little bit.

All right. So, ask any parent or teacher and they'll say the same thing. Being involved in your child's education is key to their success.

CNN education contributor Steve Perry went to Los Angeles to examine how Overland Elementary School gets parents involved and keeps them involved.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: Welcome to Los Angeles. We are here this morning at Overland Elementary School. We are here to discuss how to involve parents in child's education with the principal, Anna Born, and some of the parents.

So, what is it you do to get your parents involved in your children's day?

ANNA BORN, PRINCIPAL, OVERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Well, the parents are involved in every aspect of the school -- all the way from the beginning of the day with the drop off lane.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning.

BORN: And they'll open the doors, let them out of the car, say "Good morning," welcome them into school.

EVE GELB, OVERLAND PARENT TEACH ASSN.: We have an art committee. We have a library committee. We have a safety committee that works hand in hand with our staff to make sure that earthquake supplies are ready. We have a science committee. We have a technology committee. STEVE HERMAN, CHMN, FRIENDS OF OVERLAND: The parents fund raise annually to support instruction throughout the school. The thing that we also have tried to do is within the fund-raising, it is fund- raising for the school. It is not fund-raising for, you know, this grade or that grade or this program.

TED HUNTER, DROP-OFF LANE VOLUNTEER: I wanted to be part of the thing that protected my biggest investment which is my children. Why would I not want to contribute to an organization or a group that was molding my biggest investment?

STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: Does it make your job easier, harder?

ANNA BORN, PRINCIPAL, OVERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: It makes what I want to do easier.

PERRY: OK.

BORN: Because I know there's a way to do it, because parents are involved.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, Steve Perry.

OK. Up next, one of television's greatest hits coming to an end. Come on, guys. How does it go? Chung, chung. You know what I'm talking about.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So every week I check with our chief political correspondent Candy Crowley to talk politics and preview tomorrow's "State of the Union." This week all eyes are on Tuesday's primaries.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: For political junkies, Tuesday is the night. And you're right. Pennsylvania is the greatest race. I mean, you got this 80-year-old one-time senior senator who switched from Republican to Democrat about a year ago. In the year of anti-incumbent. So he has been in the U.S. Senate 30 years, OK. And now along comes Joe Sestak, who is a congressman, two terms, four years, spent most of his career in the military.

Specter is the candidate of the establishment, of President Obama, Joe Biden, all the Republican, sorry, Democratic committees have endorsed Arlen Specter. Nobody has helped Sestak. And he has been able to push this into a draw at this point. He's to the left of Specter, but I think what's at play more here in Pennsylvania. A lot of things are at play, it's multi determined but the incumbent thing really comes to play in Pennsylvania. It will be a fascinating night.

LEMON: And Candy, you have them both on "State of the Union," right? CROWLEY: I do. And also Robert Bennett, who you know got thrown out as senator of Utah. He didn't make it to the cut for the Republican primary. He also, a multi-term incumbent. So it has just been fascinating. I have to say one word about Arkansas. We have Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat. She is being challenged from the left. So all kinds of dynamics going in that will make for a very fun watching.

LEMON: And so this anti-incumbent thing, it's going to be interesting to watch, which is, you know, Tuesday is the big political junkie night but even come the midterms or whatever in November. That's going to be crazy to watch and see what happens to incumbents, right?

CROWLEY: It'll be fun. It will be - it is what we sit around and wait for.

LEMON: Candy, always enjoy watching you. Thank you for this chat.

CROWLEY: Thanks. Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. Make sure you watch Candy Crowley tomorrow morning 9:00 a.m. Eastern and again at noon Eastern as well.

Now we get to some of your top stories. The Episcopal Church ordained its first openly lesbian bishop this afternoon in Long Beach, California. 56-year-old Reverend Mary Glaspool has been with her partner for 19 years. She is the first openly gay U.S. bishop ordained since the Reverend Jean Robinson was confirmed in New Hampshire back in 2003.

Conservative factions in the Episcopal Church opposed the ordination of gay bishops.

Google is under fire for privacy problems. The internet giant is being criticized by Germany for a breach of privacy with wi-fi data. Germany's Consumer Protection minister says the incident proves Google still lacks an understanding of privacy concerns. Google apologized but admitted it has vacuumed up investigation from public wi-fi network and stored it for its own use.

32 years and counting and no Triple Crown winner in horse racing. Looking at "Lucky," won today's Preakness, dashing the triple crown by Kentucky derby winner "Super Savor." Looking at Lucky, made his move on the final turn and won the race by 3/4 of a length. Super Savor came in eighth. It has been a long time.

What a greeting. Cheers greeted 16-year-old Jessica Watson when she sailed into Australia's Sydney harbor today. She became the youngest person ever to sail non-stop around the world alone and unassisted. For seven months, the teen battled 40-foot waves and home sickness. Technically, it's not an official record. Because the World Speed Sailing Council has discounted it's youngest, discontinued I should say it's youngest category. That's too bad but that doesn't matter to Jessica or her fans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSICA WATSON, SAILED AROUND THE WORLD: It was daunting. It was so overwhelming. I haven't seen a person for almost seven months.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Now that Jessica Watson has sailed around the world she has much much more modest goals now. Getting her driver's license, eating fresh fruit and getting a full night's sleep. I know that's right, as they say.

Trying to prove it is not just one-dimensional.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy cow.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I'll buy this in a heartbeat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: "Playboy" goes 3-D. What could possibly be next?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Fans of legal dramas, well, they are in mourning tonight, shedding tears over these sounds of their favorite TV show. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: These are their stories.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Darn it, I love that. Well, you know it. "Law & Order" has been canceled after 20 seasons on the air. NBC hasn't given specific reasons why but it may be because of poor ad revenue. "Law & Order" is now tied with "Gunsmoke" for being, follow me, the longest running primetime scripted television show. So why did it last? Why did we love it so?

Tonight, we have Josh Dickie, a deputy editor from thewrap.com, which covers entertainment and media who was one of the first to break the story yesterday that "Law & Order" was no more. And then we Brandon Bird, a die-hard "Law & Order" fan. In fact, he credits the show for helping him find full-time work as an artist after his name got around for doing "Law & Order" inspired work.

As a fan, these are really cool. Look at that. Brandon, I want to ask you. What was your immediate reaction when you heard the series was canceled?

BRANDON BIRD, "LAW & ORDER" POP ARTIST & FAN: I would say shock. I kind of expected it to go for like 10, 20 more years, frankly. LEMON: You know, I thought it would go forever and ever too because it is one of the most successful dramas in television history. You know, a day when you hookey or you're sick and you're at home and they have the "Law & Order" episodes, what do you call that? Marathons. The marathons, right?

BIRD: Yes.

LEMON: That has gotten me through a lot of sick days. All right. Josh, why was "Law & Order" canceled?

JOSH DICKEY, DEPUTY EDITOR, THEWRAP.COM: This is Hollywood, Don. It was the bottom line. It's that simple. The show was making about $120,000, $130,000 for a 30-second ad buy last year.

LEMON: Yes.

DICKEY: This year the ratings slipped a little bit as they have for about the five, six, seven years now and they were only getting about $60,000 per episode. And that's an expensive show to make. So it just wasn't making money like it used to. And if it had been making money we probably still would be seeing it. That is not the case.

LEMON: But the ratings have to do OK. Because it's only on NBC, all these, you know, spinoff episodes, it is also on one of our networks here, on U.S.A.. You see it every where. So it has to be successful in some sense. Was it an over saturation? Do you think it was over saturated?

DICKEY: No. The franchise was still pretty healthy. They were getting 6 million, 7 million viewers in the slot on Monday nights, which is respectable for that time slot. But it wasn't necessarily the viewers that they wanted. There was only 1.7 rating from 18 to 49 demographics. That franchise was just getting older and it's people - the people who were watching it are getting older as well. And you know, it's just time, I guess, it come.

Look "Law & Order," the original series is over but "Law & Order" as a franchise, which has made billions of dollars. That's with a b, billions for NBC Universal will live on for a long time.

LEMON: I would venture a guess to that this is probably the impetus to those "CSI" things. I think this is where they sort of got the idea and just took it a little bit more high-tech. I'm always surprised, Brandon, it's like, it kind of lulls you in, "Law & Order," you can watch it. You can stay tuned the whole time or you can fall asleep and you know, what I mean and you wake up and you still sort of get back into it. So why do you think, you know, people keep coming back? What makes you keep wanting to come back to it?

BIRD: I think because there is so much of it. And I mean, I first got into it when I was sort of on the verge of unemployment and started watching three hours a night. And decided either I could lose myself to that or turn it into art. And there's just like, you can see an episode and sort of forget you've seen it because how it starts is not always how it ends. And it has its own lie formula and rhythms and it's kind of, like each episode, even if it is different, is so really familiar. Because it follows the same kind of pattern and structure. And it's just great. It is like a lullaby.

LEMON: It is very interesting because it is almost like background music, sometimes or like elevator music. It is sad to say. But I will see one and didn't see a whole one and you catch it and say I've seen this one but I didn't see the middle or I didn't see the end. It's great that it's on. So there are so many actors who have been on "Law & Order" and I think "Law & Order" made many of those actors famous or at least sort of helped their careers, gave a boost to their careers that had been struggling. Do you agree, Josh?

DICKEY: Yes, don't call it the cast list for "Law & Order" on IMDB because it will crash your computer. It is like 2,300 people long. That is just people have appeared on multiple episodes. It doesn't include the one shot wonders. You know, something like 700 speaking parts per season and every one of those speaking parts has a pay check for somebody including residuals.

LEMON: Who are some of the most famous alumnus there?

DICKEY: Oh, gosh, I think that it made Chris Noth. That show.

LEMON: Mr. Big, right?

DICKEY: It has been through so many people. Yes. I mean, it's like the "Menudo" model of television. You don't necessarily have to have the same stars year after year, as long as you keep cycling them through. A lot of drama behind the scenes with people coming and going in that show. But clearly the formula was the show.

The formula was the mother of all crime procedurals on primetime television which dominates the primetime schedule right now. So they hit on something with the procedural and that was going to live on no matter who they cast.

LEMON: Well, Josh and Brandon, we have to say, it used to be NBC had the most famous three. The doom, doom, doom. Now the "Law & Order," chung, chung, which is also NBC. Probably the most famous two bars of music ever in television.

BIRD: Yes.

LEMON: Thank you, guys. Brandon, I'm sorry. Don't cry. You'll be OK. All right. We always have reruns.

BIRD: Yes. Like 500 of them.

DICKEY: You'll have "Law & Order" Los Angeles very, very soon.

LEMON: All right. Thanks, guys.

DICKEY: Just like this.

LEMON: All right. Thanks, guys.

Whip out your 3-D glasses because "Playboy" goes 3-D, next here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Guys, you're at home? Look at CNN right now, guys? Everybody in the studio's looking at that behind me in the monitor wall. If you pick up the new issue of "Playboy" hitting newsstands this weekend, and you know who you are, all of you, you'll notice something different. It's opening up a whole new dimension for the magazine's fans, and as our Jeanne Moos explains it leaves even less to the imagination.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS (voice-over): Ready? Lo and behold, it's "Playboy's" latest centerfold.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy cow!

MOOS: In 3-D.

JIMMY JELLINEK, CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER, "PLAYBOY": This is the beautiful naked body in three dimensions jumping out of the page into your arms.

MOOS: Maybe not into your arms, but still -

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looks very realistic. Like I could - just touch her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like I'm in a strip club. She's right in front of me about to dance.

MOOS: OK, guys, now you're getting creepy. Surrender the glasses. Actually, they're rather flimsy glasses come with the issue, you assemble them yourself, all in hopes of seeing every dimension of model Hope Dworaczyk - "Playmate of the Year."

JELLINEK: Hef actually wanted to do this with the first issue of "Playboy."

MOOS: But it was way too expensive way back then and now CNN's fellow Time-Warner company, HBO is picking up part of the cost to advertise its series "True Blood."

(on camera): "Playboy's" first-ever 3-D centerfold, what do you think?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have a copy of "Playgirl"?

MOOS (voice-over): Sorry, no male centerfold for gay readers. Unfortunately putting the glasses on the camera won't make 3-D work on TV.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, the text appear larger than they should be.

MOOS: Actually 3-D is a growing part of porn. "Hustler's" even planning an x-rated 3-D spoof of "Avatar." Although "Saturday Night Live" has already featured Navi love making.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow, that's crazy stuff. Where did you learn that stuff?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: College.

MOOS: "Playboy" isn't exactly breaking new ground. "Sports Illustrated" has done 3-D photo spreads twice already.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.

MOOS: With their swimsuit edition.

JELLINEK: Yes, but who cares about "Sports Illustrated"? This is "Playboy."

MOOS: And how do models feel about the idea that readers might be tempted to reach out and touch their 3-D image.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whoa, I don't even want to go there.

MOOS: Critics say "Playboy's" circulation is dwindling.

(on camera): No, no. This is a desperate gimmick.

(voice-over): But "Playboy" sees things through rose-colored and turquoise glasses.

JELLINEK: It's a big day for men every where who want to see women in three dimensions.

MOOS: At least 3-D dispels the notion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I'll buy this in a heartbeat.

MOOS: That nude models are one dimensional.

(on camera): What pat looks most realistic to you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those.

MOOS: Those are very 3-D.

OK. Those are 38-D.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, those are 44-D.

MOOS (voice-over): Jeanne Moos -

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know if there were some movement to it.

MOOS: CNN.

(on camera): I'm doing the best I can, sir. I can't do everything here.

MOOS (voice-over): New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Kevin, pay attention. Which camera am I on? Oh, OK, thank you. So into that story. Messing up over here. That may be one of the most tantalizing uses of 3-D technology but there's a lot more impressive stuff on the horizon and if there is anybody who knows about that it is Katie Linendoll, she is a tech whiz. You may have seen on A&E's "We Mean Business" as the - what was it the chick geek? Can I call you the chic geek? Is that it?

KATIE LINENDOLL, TECHNOLOGY HOST, A&E'S "WE MEAN BUSINESS": That works.

LEMON: On HLN, on the Style Network, "What I Hate About Me" and she's joining me live now from New York. So, those are your glasses, right? Where are your 3-D glasses?

LINENDOLL: They are.

LEMON: I thought that you had some 3-D glasses to show me, where are they?

LINENDOLL: Wait for it.

LEMON: Oh, wait for it? OK. Nice.

Those are nice ones. Where'd you get those?

LINENDOLL: You know, a lot of people said that they were big and clunky and I was like, oh, my gosh, come on, you're being totally shallow. But and now I get it, they are embarrassing. They're big, they're clunky. This is not going to help me on date night, Don. It's not.

LEMON: But when you're in the privacy of your own home, which is where most people look at "Playboy," the glasses really don't matter.

LINENDOLL: Right.

LEMON: This is one of the most low tech uses for 3-D. You have to have these big glasses but you said it's not clunky. We had those, what in the 1970s when they tried do 3-D on television.

LINENDOLL: Yes.

LEMON: Why is "Playboy" doing this?

LINENDOLL: Exactly, well, "Playboy's" actually jumping into the 3-D bandwagon here, 2010's all about 3-D. And we're not just going to see it on "Playboy," we're seeing it everywhere. 3-D photography in the Olympics. (inaudible) come out in 3-D. Youtube is 3-D-enabled but obviously the big one here is 3-D television that every big manufacturer is right on board. It's all about 3-D television this year. That's just the way it's going and that's the way the new format's going to be. LEMON: I just got - you know, I had a TV that wasn't HD, I had one that was HD-ready. And now it's HD and then it's going to be 3-D. I mean I'll be able do this and like, touch someone's kids or something. Hey, stop doing that. I mean, what's it going to be next? Like are you able to beam like a TV show right into your living room?

LINENDOLL: I know it's exciting, but the problem here is there isn't the content out there available and there's only two 3-D TVs out there, in the market. Upwards of $3,000 and I just kind of tell you, too, people think about 3-D and they back to the '70s and this technology has been around forever and you typically using these old school -

LEMON: In the 50s.

LINENDOLL: Red and blue glasses. But what people don't realize is the new 3-D TVs are so incredibly immersive and the depth and the clarity are really unparallel. You feel like you're part of the experience and there's even warnings on a lot of 3-D TVs out there that say if you are pregnant, you're elderly or if you have been drinking, don't watch because you could get sick. It's so incredibly intense, but I've got to tell you, Don, what's crazy is the glasses.

We've shown you how big and clunky they are, but the other crazy part about them is they're 200 bucks a pop right now. So if you have kids, if you have a family of four, you multiply that by 200, it really adds up and then if you want to have the neighbors come over, just forget it. They're really expensive. Because they use this active shutter technology which is part of the new 3-D experience.

So it's very expensive. Big and clunky. And it's really at the earlier adopter stage. Early, early adopter stage. So you know, we're still getting people to hop onto high definition. 3-D TV, that's where manufacturers think it's going to be next.

LEMON: Yes, I tell you, Katie, man, don't - if you've been drinking don't do watch a 3-D TV. Does "Playboy" know that because you know a beer and a "Playboy" kind of goes together. It's kind of like chicken wings and beer.

LINENDOLL: Right.

LEMON: All right. Katie, so much to think about it. HD, 3D, Blu- Ray, SD, iPad, iPod, whatever, I don't know what to do. Thank you, Katie. Come back and join us. I like your energy. Let's hang out a little bit. Send me some stories.

LINENDOLL: Yey, absolutely.

LEMON: All right.

LINENDOLL: For sure.

LEMON: Hockey fans hit the streets and believe it or not, their team won?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: It is just part of the news that you might have missed this week. Find out what happened and why they rioted.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Hey listen, breaking news and this is just coming in. Just as we were coming of the commercial break so I really haven't had a chance to look at it, but this is what I'm being told by producers. Norad tells CNN that this afternoon two CF-18 hornets, were scrambled from a base in Winnipeg, Canada, to escort a Cathay Pacific flight to the international airport in Vancouver, Canada. A major there tells CNN the action was taken in response to a potential threat to the flight.

The plane was escorted to the airport and directed to a restricted area. Listen, this is some videotape that we have of that plane coming in. Again, just out of break. Just before we came out of break we got this information. F-18 Hornets had to be scrambled to escort this plane from Canada in response to a potential threat to the flight. Plane was escorted to the airport and directed to a restricted area. The Cathay Pacific jet on the runway from CTB, this is our video I believe from CTB - and we're trying to get more information in.

But again, we don't know exactly what happened, what the potential threat was, but we're going to check on it for you, and if it warrants, it will break into programming, but we're going to see you back here at 10:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN with the very latest, news and information.

I'm Don Lemon in the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. An "AC 360 Investigation, American Al Qaeda" starts right now.