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Pop Goes the Metrodome; Directed to Discriminate; Interview with Matthew Morrison of "Glee"
Aired December 12, 2010 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: How about this for a Christmas present? Just look at it. Bags and bags and bags of pot. Santa was very generous to one Connecticut man but the Grinch stepped in, and now, he is behind bars.
It's apparently OK to racially profile, discriminate at one job in New York City. Taxi drivers are being told not to pick up people because of their race and the way they look. The man who's telling them to do it is here to explain. Do you have any questions for him?
And I interviewed the heartthrob on the hit TV show "Glee," Matthew Morrison. Why is he in Washington hanging out with the first family, Annie Lennox, Ellen DeGeneres and Mariah Carey? We will let him explain.
(MUSIC)
LEMON: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.
Minneapolis, we have a problem. The city's Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome stadium, home of the Vikings, right now is lying in a gigantic heap like a popped balloon. More than 17 inches of snow from yesterday's blizzard was too much for the Teflon roof and it came tumbling down in a big way. We're going to get the very latest from the scene in just a moment.
But first, we're going to take you to Chicago. A little snow couldn't stop today's game at open air Soldier Field between the Bears and the Patriots. But at O'Hare Airport, nearly 1,000 flights were canceled and many others were delayed.
In Wisconsin, sections of interstate are impassable and more than 70 counties are under a state of emergency. Wintry weather is even blowing through the Deep South right now. This is what it was like today right here in Atlanta on the way into work.
Now back to Minneapolis. The New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings were supposed to play today at the Metrodome. They were supposed to. But that game is postponed to Monday when the Giants' flight was diverted to Kansas City yesterday because of that blizzard.
CNN's all platform journalist Chris Welch is at the Metrodome right now, joining us, looking very cold. He's bundled up.
So, Chris, this has happened before. How long will it take to repair? CHRIS WELCH, CNN ALL PLATFORM JOURNALIST: Well, they don't have an exact answer on that yet, Don. It's happened before. They say they fixed it in a matter of days before. So, really, it seems to -- at least, to me that's a pretty quick time to fix a whole roof, you know? Basically, they just re-inflate, I guess re-pressurize, fix the hole and put it back up. But they don't have an exact date or time frame yet, because the people who are flying in town to check it out, give an estimate, aren't here yet basically.
LEMON: So, the Giants and Vikings game has now been moved to Detroit. What about fans who bought tickets to today's game, Chris?
WELCH: Yes. OK, so if you bought a ticket to today's game, in Minneapolis, you want to check it out, you're from New York, you're heading here, head to Detroit tomorrow night. They're going to be giving away free tickets to Detroit residents or anyone else basically. But if you had a ticket to this game, you can go there and get preferred seating, get prime seating on the 50-yard line. So, not a bad deal.
But I suppose it's not a great consolation if you have to make a pretty long road trip from Minneapolis to Detroit, or maybe an expensive flight. That might not be worth it.
LEMON: Minnesotans are used to snow. So, what's happening in the city itself? Is everything still shut down or are they just taking this in stride, Chris?
WELCH: Yesterday, pretty much everything was shut down. You couldn't even really find a grocery store that was open. Everybody staying inside. You couldn't look out your window more than 30 feet and see nothing but snow blowing around. It was pretty nasty.
Today, things are changing a little bit. The sun came out. It's still brutally cold. So, it's a little deceiving to see the sun. But people are out and about. Some people were taking pictures of the Metrodome today, obviously.
And tomorrow, we don't, at this point, have a long list of school and at least as of an hour ago, there were officially no school closings for Minneapolis or St. Paul proper. So, let's keep our fingers crossed that things keep getting better.
LEMON: Yes, let's hope it gets better and you get in and stay warm. We appreciate your reporting. Our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is on the case as well.
Jacqui, you can hear the wind on the microphone there.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I know.
LEMON: I mean, it's cold. It's windy.
JERAS: It is.
LEMON: That roof is unbelievable. If we can get pictures of that roof -- you and I were talking about this yesterday, we saw Eli Manning. We saw the team stuck in the airport.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I was asking you if it was going to -- the game was going to play out and we didn't think so. You didn't think so.
JERAS: Yes. They might have gotten there this morning, though, flight-wise. But, yes, with the Metrodome being collapsed, that's kind of a problem.
LEMON: Yes. The wind still remains strong and the wind chill, by the way, in the Twin Cities, is brutally cold. It feels like 11 below. But the temperature on the thermometer tonight is going to be somewhere near that number as well. So, really dangerous cold wind chills are going to remain across parts of the Upper Midwest.
Now, what about the blizzard? Is this still going on? Well, a very small area, take a look at this map showing you this red here, that's where we still have blizzard warnings in effect. So, Green Bay, basically down here near Oshkosh, and then just northern parts of Lower Michigan, we got some of those warnings and those should be expiring in the next couple of hours.
Winter storm warnings remain in effect across much of Lower Michigan, including you in Detroit, expecting maybe to see another three inches or so on top of what you already have, which is about five in the downtown. In there, you can see Chicago under a winter weather advisory. That's what that purple is as those snow showers start to taper off a little bit.
But it remains brutally cold with those winds. That's going to continue to be the big story over the next couple of days as those temperatures drop and the winds kick in is that the wind chill indices are going to be dangerously cold.
And look at those winds. It's not snowing over there anymore over there in Iowa or Minnesota, but those rural areas, even though we heard from Chris, saying that these schools are open in the city, some of the outlying areas might have problems because the secondary roads get covered right back up in those open areas.
All right. Let's show you what's going on in terms of travel. It's really a nightmare for a whole lot of people. We heard about 1,300 flights canceled out of O'Hare; ground stop for Teterboro, Atlanta over two hours; Boston, Chicago, six hours they're reporting if your flight is on time; an hour in LaGuardia, JFK; Newark over two hours; 25 minutes in Philadelphia.
And last but not least, I want to mention our friends out west, Don, we've got a storm here which has been kind of stuck in place, bringing very, very heavy rainfall, up to six inches in the foothills. And we had some problems with some landslides up towards the Vancouver area. And that's interacting with some Amtrak problems. So, a lot of rain out in the Pacific Northwest as well.
LEMON: Six-hour delay out of O'Hare? JERAS: That's what they're saying. But most flights have been canceled. So, call.
LEMON: It is a mess. Jacqui, stick around. We're going to be needing you all evening here on CNN. Thank you.
JERAS: All right.
LEMON: Our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras.
You know, the weather got patrons over Missouri showboat a weekend to remember. More than 600 people were out for a day of entertainment on the Branson Belle when it ran aground on the lake because of high winds. They spent the night wrapped in table cloths and sleeping on the floor. But this morning, finally, rescued.
The company that owns the boat rigged up a 30-foot plank to shore. They walked on a 30-foot plank. The people were escorted to safety despite the high winds and frigid temperatures. The entire process took several hours and I bet it was very scary.
This story is just in to CNN. CNN has confirmed now that six American soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province. "The New York Times" reports that more than a dozen U.S. and Afghan soldiers were also wounded when a suicide van packed with explosives rammed a building that they were occupying. Troops clawed through the rubble to put out survivors and witnesses say the huge blast could be heard eight miles away.
Racial profiling, discrimination, those are supposed to be illegal. But they're happening in taxicabs in New York City, because a boss says it is OK. Why? I'll ask him live next.
And a sign of the future candidate for president? Sarah Palin in Haiti. Her message to Americans about the recovery there following a devastating earthquake and outbreak of a disease.
And losing a parent to cancer is tough, especially for young children. One foundation is trying and succeeding at making it easier by creating fond memories while the parent is still alive. You'll meet a family who has experienced their goodwill.
And I'm online. I know you're on, too. So, check out my social media accounts and let's connect. Also, check out the best of my program on CNN.com/Don. On there right now, my interviews with Annie Lennox and Matthew Morrison from "Glee."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. I want everyone to listen up because this story has gotten a lot of interest and is causing a lot of controversy. New York City cab drivers are now being told to racially profile potential customers after a shooting that left one of their own in critical condition. The incident was captured on a dash cam from inside the cab. Police are looking for 22-year-old Shawn Peace. Look at that -- 22-year-old Shawn Peace. That's dash cam from inside the taxi. They say he shot the driver -- the driver's name is Trevor Bell -- seven times on December 3rd in Queens.
Fernando Mateo is the president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers.
Fernando, you are telling drivers to racially profile for their own safety. And you're telling them to racially profile black and Hispanic potential passengers -- and you are of black and Hispanic heritage yourself.
FERNANDO MATEO, NEW YORK STATE FEDERATION OF DRIVERS: That is correct. I'm asking them to profile their own because it's going to save lives. We're tired of burying. We're tired of seeing children left without their parents. We're tired of seeing widows. We're tired of actually seeing our own community killing our own drivers, and that is wrong.
And if being politically correct means I have to lie, then you know what? I will be politically wrong all the time. I'm here because I need to make sure that everyone understands that our community, the black and Hispanic community, has a very serious problem. And the problem is that we are out there killing our own.
We transport about a million Hispanic and black people every day, hardworking people. We will continue to do that. But we need to weed out the criminal element that lives amongst us that's just preying on us day after day after day. Three hundred armed robberies, assaults, murders, every month by blacks and Hispanics is unacceptable.
And I will speak as loud as I have to do make sure we can stop it.
LEMON: Mr. Mateo, let me jump in here. So, again, you're saying that most of the crimes most of the crimes committed against taxi drivers are committed by black and Hispanic passengers?
MATEO: That is correct. Ninety-nine percent of all the crime that's committed against our drivers are committed by black and Hispanic men. And you know what? I'm willing to bet that in every city around this country, the same thing is happening.
But people are afraid to come forward because they're afraid to say the truth. They're afraid that a few are going to come out and condemn them. You know what? I defended my community every single day of my life. I will continue to do that.
But I am also willing to condemn my community when we are wrong. And that's what we need. We need to say the truth.
LEMON: What are you --
MATEO: We need to address the issues and I'm going to do that.
LEMON: What are you saying to your white drivers? Does this apply to the white members of the federation? MATEO: Basically, we have very little -- you can count on one hand the white drivers that we have. We -- the communities that we serve are east New York, south Bronx -- south Bronx, Jamaica Queens, the most dangerous places in this city.
And you know what? We serve the community with a lot of love, with a lot of hard work. And we don't deserve what we're getting back. We don't deserve to be mugged and shot and killed by gang members, by people who hide their face before they get in the cab, by groups of thugs that are there preying on the drivers. Enough is enough.
LEMON: OK. Mr. Mateo, I want to get some -- you made that point -- I want to get something else in. Because you have been accused her of ethnic betrayal because you yourself, you're Hispanic and black, you admit that you felt racially profiled even in an elevator once, a woman who's clutching her purse tightly and moving away from you. That is a different story -- you know, profiling is profiling, discrimination is discrimination.
But what you're talking about is a life or death situation here. And how do you -- how do you make the difference between that and someone like me or you who won't be picked up by a taxi and then their life is in danger because they're on the streets of New York in the wee hours of the morning and can't get a way home?
MATEO: People like you and me don't wear gang colors. People like you and me don't hide our faces before we're picked up. People like you and me are, by far, the majority of who we are as a community. And we are providing transportation for those. It's not those that I am referring to. It's those criminal elements that live amongst us.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: So, let me get this straight. Let me get this straight. You're talking about -- so, if I'm dressed in a suit the way I'm dressed or if I'm wearing blue jeans and just a shirt, how would you -- how would you separate me from someone who's wearing a hoodie? At times, it's snowing today, I do -- I wear a hoodie and I cover my face and, you know, even have on a ski cap that sometimes you can't see my face.
MATEO: Well, you know what, unfortunately if the driver can't identify you, can't see you and can't describe you to the police in case there is --
LEMON: Then don't pick -- you say don't pick them up.
MATEO: Then don't pick them up. It's not worth risking their lives.
LEMON: So, it's not all black and Hispanics. It's not all black and Hispanics. You're asking them to use a judgment based on the way they look and the way someone is dressed?
MATEO: That is correct. And anyone that misunderstands me doesn't know me. Everyone knows who I am. And everyone knows that I'm a defender of our people and our community. But right now, I'm defending the drivers. I'm defending -- I'm standing up for them. So, I can accept criticism from everybody and anybody. It doesn't matter. As long as they support what I'm doing, that's what's important.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: What's been the response, Mr. Mateo? What's been the response from drivers? What's been the response from people in New York City?
MATEO: Drivers have been applauding me. People in New York City, eight out of 10, have been supporting me. If you read the blogs; if you see what people are saying, they're saying it is about time someone comes out and says the truth.
You know what? It hurts -- it hurts me, but the truth is the truth. And I am going to stick by the truth 100 percent. I will not back down from the truth.
And, unfortunately, it's our own committing crimes against our own. I can't blame it on Asians or on whites or on Indians. I can't look somewhere else because we're not transporting that segment of the community. We're transporting majority -- the majority of the people we transport are Hispanics and blacks.
LEMON: Yes.
MATEO: And you know what? They're the ones that are preying on us. The criminal element amongst us are the ones that are killing us. And it's unacceptable.
LEMON: Fernando Mateo is the president of the New York State --
MATEO: I'm willing to accept the responsibility
LEMON: Fernando Mateo is the president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers and he is very passionate about this. Again, one of his drivers was killed back on December 3rd in Queens, and they're looking for him now.
Mr. Mateo, thank you very much. We appreciate you joining us.
MATEO: Thank you, Don.
LEMON: Thank you.
A mudslide dead ahead here on CNN. You've seen the snowstorm that's pounded the Midwest. But rain -- a lot of it -- is causing major travel problems right here in the Northeast -- I should say the northwest. And emergency room doctors are bringing critical care to patients even before reaching the hospital. We'll ride along in the ambulance and show you how it is done.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A new tool allows emergency room doctors to see exactly what a patient's condition is from the back of an ambulance racing to the hospital. For young children, it could be a life saver.
CNN's Gary Tuchman explains in today's "Age of Discovery."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Headed for Cincinnati's Children's Hospital is an ambulance loaded with high-def video conference technology so that what you see here inside the vehicle is what doctors see in a hospital's critical care unit, like in this practice run. Part of a pilot program, this technology is currently being used in the transport of premature infants and incubators.
DR. HAMILTON SCHWARTZ, CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: For the first time, physicians can see what they need to see with their own eyes and trust their own judgment that the care that they're directing is right for that patient.
TUCHMAN: A transport A.V. computer is mounted on to the patient's stretcher.
SCHWARTZ: It has two cameras attached to it. It has a camera that sort of hovers over above on a swing arm. And that is a high definition, rotating 360 degree camera that has tremendous zoom capabilities. And the other camera is on a retractable pen light.
TUCHMAN: A digital stethoscope on board, along with noise canceling headphones, allows the hospital staff to hear breath and heart sounds clearly.
SCHWARTZ: Myself and my team believes that this transport A.V. system will save lives with its ability to speed up critical care that we're able to provide for these patients.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Just ahead on CNN: taking a vacation from cancer. When a family is living with a death sentence, the best medicine can be an all-expense paid trip to a luxury location. You're about to meet the man who started the Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation and one family who briefly was able to put cancer behind them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation understands what it means for children to lose a parent to cancer. So, it does something about it, while the parent is still alive. We call it creating great memories while the parent is still around and, hopefully, the parent won't go anywhere. It treats the entire family to a once in a lifetime luxury vacation to give the children wonderful memories with mom or dad or mom and dad.
A few weeks ago, the foundation sent the Wilson family of Tennessee to Los Angeles to attend the American Music Awards. It must have been nice. They were put up in a VIP suite at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood, very swanky.
Everything was aimed at taking their minds off the cancer and instead to focus on making fun memories together, including being entertained at a private magic show.
So, let's meet the family now. Rosann Wilson is here with her family, her husband Ray and son Christian.
Thank you. Good to see you.
ROSANN WILSON, LATE-STAGE CANCER PATIENT: Good to see you.
LEMON: Also with us is Jon Albert. He's the founder of the Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation which he and his wife Jill launched when she was dying back in 2006.
So, Rosann, thank you. Your diagnosis was so grim. I know this trip meant a lot to you. Before you tell me about the trip, how are you doing? You recently had another round of chemo, right?
ROSANN WILSON: Yes, I did. Wednesday was my last treatment. And I'm doing pretty well. A lot better than what the doctor anticipated I would be doing at this point -- as I started treatment in July, actually, on this round of chemo. So, I'm doing significantly better than what the prognosis was at that time.
LEMON: Well, very good. We're thinking about you and we're praying for you.
And being with your son and husband here, on that trip -- what did that trip mean to your family, to you and your family?
ROSANN WILSON: It -- as I was telling John -- was a series of wow moments. It's just from the moment we got off the plane until we got back on the plane, everything was red carpet as far as we're concerned. They took excellent care of us from the beginning to the very end, just very personal attention to us and our needs.
LEMON: How old are you, Christian?
CHRISTIAN WILSON, ROSANN'S SON: I'm 17.
LEMON: Seventeen years old. So, you understand what's going on here.
C. WILSON: Yes, I do.
LEMON: What was it like to spend the special time with your mom here? Because I know you've seen her deal with I'm sure the chemo and getting diagnosed.
C. WILSON: Yes. I mean, as you said, I understand what's going on. When I was younger, of course, first diagnosed, I didn't really know. But now that I understand, and I have to go through this every day, going on this trip was a really great experience. And it accomplished what the Jack & Jill Foundation is supposed to accomplish, creating great memories. LEMON: Yes. And to you, what does this mean to you?
RAY WILSON, ROSANN'S HUSBAND: This was -- this was huge. I've seen her go through so much, you know? And for four consecutive days, I saw my wife smile, you know, which she didn't have to worry about the next treatment. She didn't have to worry about anything.
Jack & Jill just really created the situation where she could just relax and enjoy life for four days. And I think about in this, that was the best part of it.
LEMON: Yes. Jon, you hear what they said about what it means to them. How did you -- how did you come to -- obviously, your wife was sick, right? Was this something you thought about together? Was this some epiphany you had that you needed to create memories not only for your family, but for others?
JON ALBERT, FOUNDER, JACK & JILL LATE STAGE CANCER FOUNDATION: You know, Don, when you're going through cancer treatment, it's amazing how many families we saw, moms and dads in their 20s, 30s and 40s, late stage, terminal diagnosis, leaving behind children. And as awkward as this sounds, we wanted to develop an organization that was on the smile side -- as Ray said, the laughter, the joy, the positive side of late stage cancer.
So, as awkward as that sounds, that's what side we're on. We fly in the face of cancer with beaches and sunsets and music and ball games. And that's what we do. We give these families a time-out, a cherished time together while they can.
LEMON: What does this do for you when you see this happening, having gone through it?
ALBERT: When Ray said what he just said, that's -- that fulfills the mission of the foundation. It gives us a chance in my wife's name to give something back to these families. And they do go through a tremendous amount of grief, of turmoil, of sadness, and rarely, especially in today's day and age will I use the word entitlement or deserve.
LEMON: Yes.
ALBERT: But you know what? This family and the 400 families that we have treated across the family, they deserved that break.
LEMON: Yes.
ALBERT: They deserved that time-out.
LEMON: Yes.
And if you can talk about, you know, Elizabeth Edwards family, you can only imagine what her children are going through. And there are many, many others dealing with the similar situation as you are. What can you say to people who are watching about hope, about dealing with it, about their families? ROSANN WILSON: Well, one thing that I say whenever I encounter anyone who's going through it, and I encounter pretty frequently, more than I anticipated, unfortunately, with cancer diagnosis. But I suggest, you know, just face your fears. I mean, we're all going to die one day of something. But in our -- my case, I just happen to know what it probably will be. But I don't fear that it's going to happen. I try to live each and every day to the fullest, get the most out of it and keep a positive attitude. That, I believe, helps more than anything, is just your attitude and the people that you have around you. If you keep positive people around you, that will keep your spirits up. And it is a healing, when you are feeling good inside, even though physically you may not be great. But just stay positive, you know? Live every day like it's going to be the last.
LEMON: Well, Rosann, I'm sure you helped a lot of people, and just by you guys coming on and talking.
Christian, Ray, John, thank you so much.
And it is incredible what you do. What is your web site to your foundation?
ALBERT: The web site is Jajf.org. And we're on Facebook. And what we do is very conducive to Facebook. Because you don't see chemotherapy, you don't see radiation, you see smiles, you see laughter. The song "Live Like You're Dying" is hopefully going to be our anthem, a beautiful song, and that really epitomizes what we are all about. So it is jajf.org. And we really appreciate the consideration.
LEMON: You're an amazing inspiration, each of you, all of you. Thank you, and best of luck to you again. We're thinking of you and praying for you.
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Great organization and great family.
I don't think this is what Santa Claus had in mind for a Christmas present. Pot under the Christmas tree? Talk about a very merry Christmas.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The news right now on CNN, frigid temps today have much of the Midwest locked in a deep freeze after a powerful blizzard. The storm stretched from Iowa up to Minnesota and Wisconsin. In Minneapolis, more than 17 inches of snow and high winds proved too much for the city's Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. It collapsed this morning like a popped balloon. Today's Giants/Vikings game was moved to tomorrow night in Detroit.
In Washington State, severe flooding unleashed mud slides, suspending Amtrak train service between Seattle and Portland, Oregon, through tomorrow. Buses are taking passengers between cities instead. Once there, they can get back on trains to their original destinations.
Sarah Palin is on the move again. This time she is in Haiti. She's joined evangelist, Franklin Graham, and his charity, Samaritan's Purse, on a humanitarian mission. Haiti is being ravaged by cholera even as it continues to recover from the huge earthquake 11 months ago. Today, as her trip drew to a close, Palin told reporters she hopes the American people won't turn their backs on the people of Haiti.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH PALIN, (R), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: I don't want Americans to forget the need that is here. more importantly for Americans and people across the world to know what an individual can do to make a difference, to contribute, to kind of get out of your comfort zone and volunteer to help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Haiti's struggles have worsened in recent days. A disputed presidential election sparked violence, which threatened to plunge the country into renewed chaos.
As the WikiLeaks diplomatic cables continue to trickle out, they continue to surprise. One of the cables suggests that North Korea wanted rock legend Eric Clapton to perform in Pyongyang as a way of building goodwill between the U.S. and North Korea. An intermediary, who relayed the request, said North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's son is reportedly a big fan of Clapton. Representatives for Eric Clapton have not commented on that.
President Barack Obama with a face-to-face message for America's CEOs. And who is going to be in line to take home some hardware in Hollywood? Those are just two of the stories that will be making the news this week. We have your headlines before they happen.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Hollywood's annual awards season kicks off this week with the Golden Globe nominations. But we begin our look ahead at the coming week with the president's agenda.
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ed Henry in Washington. A big week for President Obama. On Wednesday, he'll have a CEO summit across the street from the White House, where he'll try to sell his controversial tax cut plan. Then on Thursday, he releases a year-end review of Afghanistan policy. Officials say it will show some progress, but also note a lot more work needs to be done.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: I'm Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. This week the long-awaited report on progress in the war in Afghanistan. How much progress? And how soon can troops really come home? And Defense Secretary Robert Gates still hopes that Congress will do something about repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the closing days of the congressional lame-duck session. PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: I'm Paul Steinhauser at the CNN political desk. New York City's Independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg joins with some leading Democrats, Republicans and some other Independents to launch a new group that hopes to find nonpartisan solutions. It is called No Labels and kicks off tomorrow in New York City. Later in the week, two men who may want to run for the White House, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Former Senator Rick Santorum speaker to Republicans in crucial early voting states.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. Wall Street is preparing for a pretty busy week of economic news, which kicks off with a closely watched report on November retail sales, following the readings on consumer confidence, new home construction, and also a report on leading economic indicators for last month. On Tuesday, Federal Reserve officials will meet in Washington for a one- day meeting on interest rates. Also this week, we'll get earnings from Best Buy, General Mills and FedEx. We'll track it all for you on "CNN Money."
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: I'm "Showbiz Tonight's" A.J. Hammer. Here is what we're watching this week. Golden Globe nominations will be announced. That means it is the beginning of Hollywood's blockbuster awards season. Who will be the early favorites? Also "Showbiz Tonight" is going one on one with Matt Damon. "Showbiz Tonight" is live at 5:00 eastern on HLN, and we are still TV's most provocative TV news show at 11:00 p.m. eastern and pacific.
LEMON: All right, let's take a look at what's coming up overseas with CNN international desk editor, Azadeh Ansari.
Azadeh, let's start with Julian Assange.
AZADEH ANSARI, CNN INTERNATIONAL DESK EDITOR: Right. He's going to be in court on Tuesday, and he's going to have a new bail hearing taking place.
And on Monday, we'll have the launch of openleaks.org, which is a new site where whistle-blowers can anonymously and securely post leaked information. This time, not made available to the public. It's going to be disseminated to different media organizations and then the media can decide which ones they want to then leak out.
LEMON: Where will this end? Last week, when he was arrested by appointment, it was really a zoo outside of the courthouse, or outside of the police headquarters there.
Let's talk about the Chilean miners. There some news when it comes to them?
ANSARI: OK, so 26 out of the 33 miners are in Manchester, England, and why do you think that is?
LEMON: Why?
ANSARI: Because the Manchester United game versus Arsenal is taking place tomorrow.
LEMON: OK.
ANSARI: So they're going to be at the game. And actually, one of the Chilean miners -- the 53-year-old, -- his last name is Ramirez. He used to be a former professional soccer player and part of the Chilean national team. Isn't that cool?
LEMON: You know, these guys, they -- it is very cool. They spent a lot of time underground and now they're living the life, and they should be.
ANSARI: It's really neat.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: We were really worried about them. I'm sure they were too.
Oprah in Australia.
ANSARI: Can never get enough.
LEMON: Oprah is everywhere, huh?
ANSARI: So, yes, the one and only Oprah Winfrey, the queen of daytime TV is --
LEMON: I thought they had gone to Australia. No?
ANSARI: She's in Australia.
LEMON: She's in Australia now?
ANSARI: But you know what it is? She's going to be taping her show at the Sydney Oprah House. Not the opera house, the Oprah House.
(LAUGHTER)
Two tapings, and they anticipate 6,000 people attending each taping.
LEMON: I'll have to DVR Oprah. Usually, I'm at work and can't see it. I thought the whole thing was over with Australia.
Thank you, Azadeh. Have a great week ahead.
ANSARI: You too.
LEMON: Auburn's Cam Newton takes home this year's Heisman trophy. But amid rumors of a pay-for-play scandal, how long will he keep it? And former NFL pro-bowler, Jamal Anderson, and sports attorney, David Cornwall, they're talking Cam Newton's future, one of the most coveted coaching jobs in college football, as well. They're talking about the roof collapse at the Metrodome. They're going to face off. What are they going to fight about this week? I wonder.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: A brutal snowstorm takes out the Minnesota Metrodome and an NFL game in progress. A big name college coach calls it quits again, but the coach in waiting at another school immediately jumped ship to replace him. And the wait is over. The envelope please, a Heisman trophy winner is named.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: The winner is Cam Newton of Auburn University.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: After weeks of controversy, Cam Newton is a runaway winner of the Heisman trophy. So much going on in the world of sports, and that's why we got these guys with us.
I always know it is Sunday when you guys are here.
Jamal Anderson, a former running back for the Atlanta Falcons, and he knows sports well. He's a sports analyst now. And then David Cornwall, a sports attorney. And he litigates everything sports. He's a know-it-all. That's what I say.
Listen, let's start with the amazing video out of Minneapolis at the Metrodome roof, it caved in, heavy snow. Take a look at this, and we'll talk about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Vikings will not be playing today in Minneapolis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Isn't that crazy? It came down, drip, drip, drip, and then, look, there you go. Lucky no one was inside. New York Giants game with the Minnesota -- with Minnesota Vikings now moved to tomorrow night in Detroit.
So is that pretty rare for that to happen?
JAMAL ANDERSON, SPORTS ANALYST: Absolutely. I'm trying to think the last -- the last occasion I can remember it happening, Don, was in San Diego, the wildfires. I think in 2003, 2004, the Chargers game was moved, but, yes, it is rare. You don't expect a stadium roof to ever collapse. I know there was inclement weather in Minnesota. And Jacqui Jeras was talking about it. It has been pretty bad up there.
LEMON: But for them to have to move it -- I remember the Saints having to move for -- during Katrina. And in 2003, what was it, Miami had to move it to Tempe.
(CROSSTALK) LEMON: Yes, that's what we were talking about, yes.
DAVID CORNWALL, SPORTS ATTORNEY: The blessing here is that nobody was in the dome. But think about this. This game is now going to be in Detroit. First Monday night football game in Detroit in ten years. And the Lions are not playing in it. Imagine that.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: And -- but you laugh, but the Lions beat the Packers today.
LEMON: Yes, but free tickets for all too. That's the interesting thing. To get people to go to the game, and all the people, I guess, today they're going to be reimbursed, I would imagine.
CORNWALL: Yes. There's got to something --
ANDERSON: What happened a couple of years ago in the San Diego Charger game was first come, first serve-basis, the NFL offers tickets to all the fans. Actually, a great thing for people in Detroit. They'll see a great football game if they are able to come.
LEMON: Cam Newton, you've been writing about this. You've been fighting about this. You've been saying the rules need to be changed, that they're draconian. You're saying he should have followed the rules. And now he's the Heisman trophy winner after his dad was accused of soliciting money. They said he didn't have anything to do with it.
Jamal, do you have any problem with him being --
ANDERSON: No, Cam Newton was clearly the best football player in college football, one of the best football players we have ever seen take a college football field. So, no, I don't have a problem with him winning the award at all. Once he was cleared by the NCAA, I don't think anybody should have a problem with him. There were 105 voters who abstained from putting Cam's name on the ballot. I'm like you're running your own campaign to black ball the kid when the NCAA clearly said he could play.
LEMON: Do you have a problem with it?
CORNWALL: I have a problem with the 105. They better have led perfect lives. They're small minded and mean spirited. I don't have a problem with him winning the Heisman. I don't have a problem with him keeping it. And if there is anything that comes out from the NCAA, my first thing is, you prove to me first that whatever his father did compromised the integrity of the games that Cam Newton played in. If I were the Heisman trust, I would rewrite the bylaws and say, we'll determine who is eligible for the Heisman, and not the NCAA.
LEMON: Going back to Auburn, is he going to go pro?
ANDERSON: He's gone. Did you hear him try to rewrite the bylaws for Auburn? (LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Is he going back to Auburn or pro?
ANDERSON: He's going pro.
LEMON: He's gone?
ANDERSON: He's gone.
Obviously, we have a situation here, where you know more than anybody else about the lockout, what could happen.
CORNWALL: The more compelling reason to go pro is that, once they have a new CBA, there is likely to be a rookie wage scale. He has -- this is like the last opportunity for incoming NFL players to make a bunch of money.
LEMON: Let's talk Florida football. Coach Urban Meyer resigned. Didn't he do that last year?
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: And then reneged and then said, I'm going to do it.
CORNWALL: That might be why they hired a coach so quickly.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Will Muschamp?
ANDERSON: Will Muschamp from the University of Texas was actually the coach-in-waiting in Texas. He's been there since 2008.
LEMON: I was going to say, he had a deal, right?
ANDERSON: And coach said University of Auburn, and was on the LSU staff, in 2003, and Nick Saban's team that won the national championship. So very, very familiar with the SCC (ph). I know when this first happened, the name that you think right off the bat was Dan Mullins, because of the success he's had now in Mississippi, and Charlie Strong, who was also very success there --
LEMON: Is it a good hire? Will people continue to go? Will it drop off attendance?
CORNWALL: It's a great hire. He's supposed to be a great defensive mind, great motivator and great recruiter. The story here is how Texas let this guy get away.
LEMON: So, Florida is not going to miss a beat, even without --
ANDERSON: No.
CORNWALL: The most important hire is going to be his offensive coordinator because he's a defensive guy.
ANDERSON: And also he's got to get a quarterback. We saw what happened now, Florida, in this past year -- listen, this whole thing, whatever Meyer started, from him having health issues, then he started to take less time in the office, wasn't there like 150 miles an hour like before. Look what happened on the football field. Florida is still one of the more talented universities. They have blue chippers up and down the roster. And he's a good coach.
LEMON: I saw you in the "NEWSROOM" last week. You're like, look what you started. Do you have like a little cot, a little bed in here, because every time I turn it on CNN, you're on more than the anchors?
ANDERSON: I am on CNN "NEWSROOM North" and my office faces your --
(LAUGHTER)
I am right at home. "NEWSROOM North," thanks you very much. Good people down there.
LEMON: We love having you on.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: You know what's funny though? I'm surrounded by Saints fans. The 27th, it's going to be interesting. The 27th.
LEMON: Oh, Monday night. Really.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: -- has his Jersey on now. He's in the "NEWSROOM." My E.P., my producer is from New Orleans and he said, "who dat" in my ear. And I'm from Louisiana as well.
(LAUGHTER)
It's a losing battle.
(CROSSTALK)
CORNWALL: That was probably the saddest part about the Heisman ceremony yesterday, is that Reggie Bush was not there.
LEMON: Yes.
CORNWALL: That's a good reason to start this thing all over again.
David, Jamal, thank you. Guys are awesome.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Have a great Sunday.
He's one of the hottest stars on one of the hottest shows on television. Talking about Matthew Morrison. He's Mr. Shuster on "Glee." He stops by to talk about why he is hanging out tonight in Washington.
And a legendary performer pardoned for a crime nearly 40 years after his death.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Right now in Washington, the taping of the annual "Christmas in Washington" show is taking place. It airs Friday at 8:00 p.m. eastern on our sister network, TNT. Friday, 8:00 p.m. eastern on TNT.
Actor Matthew Morrison, star of "Glee," he is among the performers, and I spoke with him about the show.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: So, Matthew Morrison, every time I get a magazine, you're on the cover. I turn on one of the entertainment shows, you are there. It's just a sensation. I don't know if I can call it overnight, because you had a long career before this. What do you make of what's happened with you and being asked to perform at "Christmas in Washington"? Amazing.
MATTHEW MORRISON, ACTOR: It's pretty amazing to be here. This is my second weekend in a row to be here. I performed at the Kennedy Center honors last weekend. Whenever the president calls you to come and sing, it's like, yes, I'll pack my bags and get on a plane and hope out here. Because I'd do anything for the Obamas. It's a great family we have in the White House.
LEMON: I was talking to you before we started rolling tape. And you said you were on two-hours sleep. Annie Lenox sang for me. You said don't ask me to do it. I had two hours of sleep.
(LAUGHTER)
You guys have been working hard to make this show perfect, haven't you?
MORRISON: Yes. And yesterday actually, I filmed all day and then did Leno at night and took the red eye here. I got two hours of sleep this morning in the hotel, and don't I look great?
(LAUGHTER)
No, and we had rehearsal all day. When something like this happens, you have to take advantage of every opportunity given to you. And it's just been a great ride. I was built for this. I love this kind of pace. I thrive on it. Because I had a lot of time where I was a struggling actor and things were still, so when something like this happens, you really have to ride this moment.
LEMON: What are you going to perform? Do you know?
MORRISON: Yes, I'm going to be -- I decided to use one of my talents playing the ukulele, and parlay it into something special. I don't know when the next time we're going to have a president from Hawaii in office.
(LAUGHTER)
I'm going to sing (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE), the Hawaiian Christmas song.
LEMON: Who are you, Don Ho? I mean, come on.
MORRISON: I am Don Ho, come back to life.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Listen, let's talk --
MORRISON: And I'm also singing --
LEMON: Go ahead. I'm sorry.
MORRISON: I'm also singing "Oh Holy Night."
LEMON: Oh, well. Very nice. Again, you won't sing for us, I know, because you said you had two-hours sleep.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Talk to me though.
MORRISON: Thank you.
LEMON: We hit on it a little bit before, earlier in the interview, but this "Glee," this sort of just behemoth, just mega hit, are you floored by the success of this show?
MORRISON: Absolutely. You know, when we started this show, when we did the pilot, we all felt like we were a part of something special, but I don't think any of us ever expected it to reach these kinds of heights. I thought it was big in the United States, but I recently traveled to the U.K and Australia and it's like the biggest thing. It's like the Beatles over there. I'm blown away by the success of it.
But at the same time, I get it. It's such a fresh show that really is doing new things that haven't been seen on television before. And you know, I think music is the universal language that we all speak. And I think people are just really loving it on many different levels.
LEMON: I'm sure you're going to be counting your blessings this Christmas for the success of "Glee." What else will you be thinking about for the holiday season and thanking Santa Claus or God or whomever for?
MORRISON: I will be thankful for my friends, my health, and hopefully for my Steelers doing well.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: You're a Steelers fan?
MORRISON: I'm getting looks from people. I don't know. Another Steelers fan here. Sorry.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Matthew Morrison, we look forward to your performance. And you're such a good sport. Thank you for coming on. Good luck and merry Christmas.
MORRISON: Thank you so much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Actor Matthew Morrison and a host of other celebrities, including singer and activist, Annie Lenox, appear in "Christmas in Washington," Friday at 8:00 p.m. eastern on TNT. And you'll hear from Annie Lenox. She sings Christmas carols to me next on CNN.
