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NYPD Defends Muslim Surveillance; Drugs Ended Once-Promising Career of Chris Herren; Marco Rubio's Mormon Background; "The Artist" Predicted to Sweep Academy Awards; Relentless Bombardment In Homs; Gas Prices Shoot Up; Protesters Back On The Street In Afghanistan
Aired February 24, 2012 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR, "NEWSROOM": Live in Studio Seven, I'm Suzanne Malveaux. I want to get you up to speed for this Friday, February 24th.
This relentless bombardment by Syrian forces in the city of Homs is now in it third week. World powers are are meeting in Tunisia mapping out a plan to get humanitarian aid in and the dead and the wounded out.
The so-called "Friends of Syria" group includes U.S., Arab and European nations. They're preparing to give political legitimacy to the Syrian opposition. And we're hearing that for the first time Arab nations have started supplying arms to Syrian rebels.
Check out that video. Protesters back on the street in Afghanistan for the fourth straight day, voicing outrage over the burning of Korans by troops at a U.S. military base. Afghan officials say eight people have been killed in today's demonstrations. NATO says burning the Korans was a mistake and has apologized, as has President Obama.
You can't get a break when it comes to gas prices. Regular shot up 12 cents this week alone. That's right. According to AAA, nationwide, the average price for a gallon of gas, $3.64. Some prices in the country already more than $4 a gallon. It's become an election year issue, a hot button issue, that President Obama is addressing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Anybody who tells you that we can drill our way out of this problem doesn't know what they're talking about or just isn't telling you the truth.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: There you have applause, cheers. That is Maryland state senate, which has voted to legalize same-sex marriage. Governor Martin O'Malley has pledged to sign the bill into law.
When he does, Maryland will join six states. We're talking Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, and Washington, D.C., all of which currently issue same-sex marriage licenses.
Thirty-five thousand postal jobs are now at risk. The head of the postal workers' union says it's a disaster. He's talking about plans to close or consolidate 223 mail centers around the country. Some workers are going to take early retirement. Others are going to be laid off or have to move to a new facility. And the postal service is trying, essentially, to cut $20 billion over the next three years.
A Major League baseball player suspended for alleged doping may be in uniform back on opening day. Milwaukee Brewers outfielder, Ryan Braun, was suspended for 50 games after failing a league drug test. But a neutral appeals panel has thrown out the suspension. The board's not going say how it came to the decision, but Major League baseball blasted the ruling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL MAHER, COMEDIAN: I would like to tonight announce a donation to the Obama Super PAC, which has the very unfortunate tongue twister name "Priority USA Action." I would like to give that PAC $1 million.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: All right. He's making it funny, but it's no joke. Comedian Bill Maher putting his money where his mouth is, giving away $1 million dollars to help keep President Obama in the White House.
It's a big boost for the Super PAC. "Priorities USA Action" raised less than $59,000 last month, that is according to the Federal Election Commission.
Back to the crisis in Syria, as nations around the world meet to discuss how to stop the bloodshed that is escalating by the day. Their goal is to demand a ceasefire so that food and medical supplies can be brought into the hardest hit areas, especially, we are talking about, the besieged city of Homs.
About 70 countries are involved in the so-called "Friends of Syria" conference. They include the U.S., Arab, European countries. Meeting is taking place right now in Tunisia.
Our Elise Labott, she is there. She's joins us via Skype from the capitol, Tunis.
Elise, first of all, what have these countries, these "Friends of Syria," decided to do? What has come out of this meeting?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a couple of things, Suzanne. Firstly, they want to increase humanitarian aid to the Syrian people, who so desperately need it, putting out a proposal in their conference document to urgently get humanitarian aid in. Although there's plenty of aid stockpiled on the borders, the real challenge is getting President Assad to get that aid in and they're making an urgent call for him to stop the violence and do that. Secondly, they want to boost up the opposition. They're saying they're going to increase their outreach and they're calling them now a legitimate representative of the Syrian people because they really can't reach those groups inside. And, if you saw, this is the way they did it in Libya. First, they called them a legitimate representative then that was a gradual step toward recognition.
And, thirdly, they want to increase that pressure on the Assad regime to try and peel away his supporters in the regime, military, even in his family. Officials telling us that they want a tsunami wave of pressure against him at this conference.
MALVEAUX: And, Elise, we know that the situation on the ground is dire. We have heard from our reporters. We have talked to people inside Syria. Why is it so hard for the international community to respond?
LABOTT: Well, Suzanne, there's a multiple number of factors. The most importantly, first of all, up until now, there really hasn't been an international consensus on how to go about it. Some have wanted to arm the opposition and intervene militarily. Others are saying we need a political solution. So, I think this conference is starting to jell and international plan.
Next, they really don't know the opposition well. These Syrian National Council are exiled outside the country. There are a lot of groups inside the country that can't communicate with each other, can't communicate with the outside world, so the opposition is fragmented. Today, they heard from the head of the Syrian National Council, Burhan Ghalioun, who's presenting a plan and they're starting to get to know the opposition more.
Also, let's remember. President Bashar al-Assad still has some support in the country, a great deal. And a lot of people are concerned about what comes after.
And geography, Suzanne. It was much easier in Libya when you had that sea border. Now, it's really land-locked and it's really hard to get any aid and troops in.
MALVEAUX: And, Elise, you were with the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. What is she saying? What is she calling on for the United States and other leaders to do?
LABOTT: Well, for the United States part, she announced $10 million in emergency aid, calling on other nations to do the same, calling on more sanctions, calling for stepped-up contact with the opposition. Everybody really in lockstep, these 70 countries.
And she's saying that President Assad is going to pay a price for defying his people, violating human rights, defying the will of the international community. I think you're going to see a lot more support for the opposition. From the U.S., some non-lethal training and arms.
MALVEAUX: All right, Elise Labott, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it. Thank you.
Here's a chance, "Talk Back" on one of the big stories. The president is apologizing for NATO troops accidentally burning Korans.
Carol Costello, she's live from Washington and, Carol, some folks are upset and some people believe that this could actually save lives because it's a life and death situation that a lot of people don't understand in Afghanistan.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It kind of boils down to this, Suzanne -- apologize or demand an apology in return. It like everything else has become a politically-charged question with potentially deadly consequences.
I'm sure you've heard. NATO troops in Afghanistan inadvertently incinerated several Korans. Massive violent protests seemed to spring up immediately. Protesters chanting, "Death to America," throwing rocks and burning cars. More than a dozen people have been killed, including two Americans.
President Obama in a move designed to calm things down, apologized for the Koran burning, alarming one of his Republican challengers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Two young Americans were killed and four other Americans were wounded by an Afghan soldier, who we probably were paying for, who we probably armed, and who we had probably trained.
And the president of the United States as commander-in-chief apologizes to the Afghan government for having burned Korans.
Let me say, I believe the Afghan government owes the families of the soldiers an apology.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So far, Afghan president, Hamid Karzai has not apologized, maybe because he doesn't want to or maybe because a Karzai apology could further incite the mobs that are now threatening the U.S. consulate.
For the U.S. troops fighting along Afghan soldiers it's frustrating. Listen to American general, George (sic) Allen, talking to U.S. forces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GENERAL JOHN ALLEN, ISAF COMMANDER: There'll be moments like this, when your emotions are governed by anger and, the desire to strike back. These are the moments when you reach down inside and you grip the discipline that makes you a United States soldier and you gut through the pain and you gut through the anger and you remember why we're here. We're here for our friends. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, should America be governed by anger or should it apologize?
So, the "Talk Back" question for you today - should President Obama have apologized to Afghanistan. Facebook.com/carolCNN. Facebook.com/carolCNN. I'll read your responses later this hour.
MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you, Carol.
Here's a rundown of the some of the stories that we are covering.
First, flames lighting up the sky after a pipeline explosion rocks a Texas neighborhood.
And New York police, they've taking pictures of mosques and Islamic-owned businesses in the name of stopping terrorism. Find out why New Jersey politicians are furious about it.
Then this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(UNKNOWN): A dollar bill was handed to me and at 18 years old I snorted my first line of cocaine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: A former basketball star shares his story about how he became an addict.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Outrage is intensifying over the burning of Korans in Afghanistan. It happened at the Bagram Airfield. It's a U.S.-run military base. The backlash now has been deadly.
Protesters, they've have taken to the streets for the fourth straight day now. At least eight people were killed in the demonstrations today alone.
Our Nick Paton Walsh, he is joining us from Kabul and we know, Nick, that NATO has apologized. President Obama apologized. What more do the Afghans need, what more do they want, in order to know that this was a mistake?
NICK PATON WALSH, , CNN CORRESPONDENT: I don't think there is much at this point that ISAF or U.S. can do to calm this down. Afghan authorities last night appealed to everybody to show restraint, around about Friday prayers when these protests began. There were hopes they could pass peacefully, but it's been another deadly day here.
Let me run through the tally for you of what's happened. The worst violence has been in the west. The U.S. consulate apparently protested around and clashes there and in other parts of that province have resulted in six people losing their lives and about nine injured.
Then, in Kabul, protesters marched toward the presidential palace, shots fired over their head. Seven people injured in the protest there today.
And then in the north, another dead in protest and in east another dead in protest. So, no let-up in this fury, no matter what kind of apology they get.
An investigation into how this happened is on-going, Suzanne, but we're now in our fourth day and the question really is, what happens tomorrow? Is the bitter cold Afghanistan's now feeling, is that going to try and temper these protests or are we going to see yet another day?
Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: Can you explain to our audience? Some people might not understand how serious an offense this is to burn the Koran and why people are so incredibly emotional about this?
WALSH: It's deeply offensive to the Muslim faith to mistreat their holy text. I mean, what happened is on a detention facility near Kabul on Bagram, these religious texts were, according to a military official, being used to pass around extremist messages between prisoners.
They were rounded up, put in some kind of bag for disposal. They were supposed to be disposed of appropriately, they say, but they ended up being sent to an incinerator where local Afghans work.
Now, we understand that really under the Muslim faith texts like that should be buried or, if necessary, burned and the ashes taken care of with reference, but the kind of offhand disposal is deeply offensive to the Muslim faith.
And that's why you're seeing this anger, sparking, I think, fury from many Afghans who feel resentment after a decade in which they haven't got what they thought they were promised and they've seen corruption spread across their country.
MALVEAUX: And, Nick, we've done expensive stories on Guantanamo Bay where the detainees - that people have been trained. They know how to deal with these religious materials and handle them.
Is this a situation where NATO and U.S. troops were not trained on how to dispose of the Koran?
WALSH: That's not something, really, that NATO want to discuss. I know soldiers here have basis religious-sensitivity training, but clearly there wasn't enough that this particular bag or box of waste papers or religious texts, as it turned out to be, was handled appropriately.
The military official I spoke to doesn't want to explain what they had originally planned to dispose of these texts appropriately, but, clearly, there was a mistake, unintentional, they say. But this really horrifying blunder has ended up now with costing dozens of lives.
Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: All right, Nick Paton Walsh. Thank you, Nick.
A frenzy in Orlando over $220 Nike shoes. That's right, Nike shoes. Police in riot gear have to control as crowds push and shove to be first in line for these sneakers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: All right, so you're tired of being tracked by advertisers when you're online? Well, there might be some help on the way from the Web companies themselves.
A coalition of Internet giants has agreed to allow a "Do Not Track" button. So what does that button do? It would be embedded in most Web browsers.
Our Dan Simon, he's live in San Francisco to talk a little bit about this. So, does it really work? Would this possibly mean an end to online tracking?
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No. You know, this is something that sounds actually really good in theory, being able to go on your browser, click one button, and not be tracked whatsoever. This doesn't do that.
What this does is it prevents advertising companies from being able to send you targeted ads. Some people like having targeted ads. Other people would prefer not to get them.
What this does, it prevents those ads from loading into your browser, but the searches will still be tracked and, you know, Internet companies still have free rein here, being able to monitor your internet habits, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: So, if it's not going to do that much, why do you suppose they're offering this button?
SIMON: Well, this is really a public relations game here. The Web companies and the advertising companies have fought this. This is where they make most of their money, by the way, by sending you targeted advertisements, so naturally, they didn't want this.
And we're beginning to see a theme here, Suzanne, I think, in the early part of 2012, and that's consumer privacy on the Internet. You know, there's a lot of interest with how Facebook, what they do with your data, what they can see, what Google sees and Google does with your data.
And, so, there's been a lot of pushback from privacy advocates to try to get some controls in place. This is one step. This is an advanced step, if you will, but it's not going to do much to ease a lot of concerns out there.
MALVEAUX: All right. So, a little good news, a little bad news, we'll see how it goes. Thank you, Dan. Appreciate it.
Checking news across country. Firefighters say they have contained a fire burning in a fuel tank near Galveston, Texas. A blaze erupted last night after an explosion at an oil terminal. Students at nearby Texas A&M University were ordered to stay indoors.
Another skier has been killed in an avalanche. Timothy Baker was skiing with a group of friends in an out-of-bounds area near a Utah resort. Rescue crews found him buried under three feet of snow.
The launch of a new Nike basketball shoe touched off a frenzy in Orlando last night. Hundreds of people packed the mall parking lot to buy the $220 shoes. Riot police as several people rushed toward the store. There were no reports of any arrests or injuries.
This week's "CNN Hero" is a doctor who makes his house calls by boat. That's right. He sails into some of the world's most remote areas to treat more than 10,000 patients in the last two years. All for free. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DR. BENJAMIN LABROT, FOUNDER, "FLOATING DOCTORS": My name is Benjamin LaBrot. I don't have a private medical practice and I make no salary.
JOLIE LABROT: Ben, you want to take her? This is Ingrid.
B. LABROT: I started an organization called "Floating Doctors" to use a ship to bring health care to communities that have fallen through the cracks and been denied access to health care.
"Floating Doctors" has a 76-foot, 100-ton ship that we refurbished from a completely derelict hull and we use that to transport supplies.
Since we set sail about two-and-a-half years ago, our mission has been continuous. We were two months in Haiti. We transited to Honduras then we've been working in Panama for about the last eight months.
In the last two years, we've treated nearly 13,000 people in three countries.
I'll find patients who have never seen a doctor before in their lives.
That is about a good result from that ultrasound as we could possibly can hope.
A typical community is usually living with no electricity, with no running water, with no sewage, essentially living with none of the basic requirements, as we understand it. We've built schools. We've done community projects. We've provided health education for thousands of patients.
"Floating Doctors" is an all-volunteer organization. Nobody gets paid. All of our medical supplies are donated.
I had to postpone many aspects of own personal life. I don't have a home somewhere. I had to give up a lot, but I gained everything.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: New Jersey politicians are furious over New York Muslim surveillance program. The NYPD says it's all in the name of post 9-11 security.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK CITY: It's very cute to go and to blame everybody and say we should stay away from anything that smacks of intelligence gathering. The job of our law enforcement is to make sure that they prevent things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're working on next.
Why New Jersey politicians are so angry about New York's Muslim surveillance program.
Then this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(UNKNOWN): A dollar bill was handed to me. At 18-years-old, I snorted my first line of cocaine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: A former NBA player travels the country, telling students his personal story of becoming addicted to drugs.
And, later, we reveal some of the tricks behind the filming of the Oscar frontrunner, "The Artist."
And the governor of New Jersey, furious. He and other state officials want New York City police officers to keep a controversial Muslim surveillance program on their side of the river. The NYPD says it all in the name of post 9-11 security.
Susan Candiotti has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For six months, starting in late 2006, New York police scanned open access websites of Muslim students organizations at several universities in the northeast, including Yale, Columbia, Syracuse and University of Pennsylvania, looking for any signs that might lead to terror plots, a senior law enforcement official tells CNN.
As first reported by the Associated Press, New York police also took photos of mosques and Muslim-owned businesses, including dollar stores and restaurants in nearby Newark, New Jersey.
After finding out, New Jersey's governor was fuming. He says he's about helping another jurisdiction, but ...
GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: It's got to be coordinated and the NYPD has, at times, developed a reputation of, you know, asking forgiveness rather than permission in certain areas of coming into other states and doing things.
CANDIOTTI: Governor Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker want an investigation of the NYPD.
In a statement, Booker said, "If the New York police had no specific reason to single out Muslims, it's, quote, "deeply disturbing," adding, "To put large segments of a religious community under surveillance with no legitimate cause or provocation, clearly crosses a line."
But New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg is unapologetic in defending his police department.
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: The job of our law enforcement is to make sure they prevent things. You only do that to -- by being proactive. You have to respect people's right to privacy.
CANDIOTTI: An NYPD spokesman tells CNN it was mapping out places where terror suspects from other countries may try to blend in to avoid detection and the surveillance shouldn't shock anyone, saying Newark police were briefed and even escorted the NYPD.
Still, Muslim students are livid.
JAWAD RASUL, STUDENT: This tactic actually creates more hatred. A better approach would be to take a proactive approach and engage the Muslim youth at a large level.
RUBINA MADNI, FORMER STUDENT, YALE UNIVERSITY: I disagree with the way this was implemented, with the way they went about trying to find terrorist activities.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Are Muslim students being singled out without hard evidence or are police doing what they are supposed to do -- protect public safety?
Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: You know this guy from the TV show "Top Chef." But Sam Talbot is more than just handy in the kitchen. Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks with him about food and celebrity and also with living with a disease that changed his life.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: One of TV's top chefs has a disease that dramatically changed his life years ago but hasn't slowed him down. Sam Talbot's ambition -- it hasn't dampened his success. Dr. Sanjay Gupta caught up with him in today's "Human Factor."
(HUMAN FACTOR)
MALVEAUX: Good for him.
He went from being a star on the basketball court to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS HERREN, FORMER BASKETBALL STAR: I woke up in the back of ambulance. The police officer cuffed me and said, "My man, you were dead 30 seconds ago."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Former Boston Celtic Chris Herren talks about his struggle with drugs and his recovery.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: He was on his way to NBA stardom until drug abuse ended a once-promising basketball career. In today's in-depth look at addiction, Jason Carroll talked with one man about hitting rock bottom, and what he's doing to make sure others learn from his mistakes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks for being here.
HERREN: Hey, thank you.
CARROLL (voice-over): Chris Herren is back on the court.
HERREN: With two minutes, my name is called in the starting line up.
CARROLL: But this one-time rising basketball star is not performing the way he once imagined.
HERREN: My first memory was hanging on the street corner waiting for oxycontin.
CARROLL: Herren is speaking to student at Pengry (ph) School in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, talking about who he really is.
(on camera): How do you define who you are?
HERREN: I'm a recovering drug addict, extremely grateful for one day at a time.
CARROLL: In a basketball town like Fall River, Massachusetts, Herren was the answer to all those who dreamed of making it. A 2,000 point scorer at Durfee High School, a McDonald's all-American, a "Sports Illustrated" darling, all before Herren started for Boston College.
HERREN: I was like every other kid, an athlete. I went out Friday and Saturday nights, thinking what high school kids do. And I took it one step further than most. A dollar bill handed to me and at 18 years old, I snorted my first line of cocaine.
CARROLL: Three failed drug test, and a year later his career at Boston College was over. But Herren wasn't out of the game. He landed at Fresno State, the Denver Nuggets, then his hometown Boston Celtics. But his drug use escalated, turning to deadly overdoses.
HERREN: I woke up in the back of the ambulance, the police officer cuffed me and said "my man, you were just dead 30 seconds ago."
In the world of addiction you hate yourself, so you escape yourself. Whatever drug is in front of me, I'll take because I don't like being me.
CARROLL: After years of abusing heroin, prescription drugs, after losing his career and nearly his family, Herren accepted step through a 12-step program. His troubled past detailed in the book "Basketball Junkie." He's been sober since August 1, 2008.
(on camera): Three years sober --
HERREN: Three and a half.
CARROLL: Three and a half.
HERREN: Don't cheat me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A nice round of applause for former --
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- basketball player and --
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- Chris Herren!
(APPLAUSE)
CARROLL: Speaking about addiction is therapy for Herren, taking his story to schools nationwide and reaching out to people like Luke Surrothy (ph) and his father. Luke has had trouble with alcohol.
LUKE SURROTHY (ph), ABUSING ALCOHOL: It helped put perspective on there is a path I can take from this point.
CARROLL: I took Herren 14 years to find his path to sobriety.
(on camera): Do you think to yourself what could have been?
HERREN: Who cares? Who cares? Honest to god, why should I care? Because it's -- I'm too happy where my feet are today to worry about my footprints behind me.
CARROLL: Jason Carroll, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: While heroin, cocaine and marijuana often dominate the headlines about substance abuse, one of those addictive drugs could be in your immediate cane cabinet. In our next hour, we'll speak with a Dr. Thomas Freed, director of the Centers for Disease Control, about the dangers of prescription drug use and abuse. That is 12:40 eastern right here on CNN.
You've been sounding off on the "Talk Back" question, should President Barack Obama have apologized to Afghanistan over the accidental burning of Korans by NATO soldiers?
Carol Costello is joining us from Washington.
Carol, I imagine there is a lot of emotion on both sides.
COSTELLO: A lot of strong opinion today, Suzanne. The question, should the president have apologized to Afghanistan.
This from James, "This country runs a lot on arrogance. It doesn't matter what the extremist Muslims are doing. If we want respect, we show respect. Burning Korans was stupid. Grow the hell up. When you're trying to put an end to the conflict, you don't add fuel to the fire."
This from Mike, "No, it shows weakness. Plus, the extremists consider the burning unforgivable. Good guys finish last in diplomacy.
This from Caleb, "Yes, of course, the president should apologize. In return, the Afghan president should apologize for the loss of American lives. It's a two way street where both sides messed up."
This from Dee, "When it comes to the soldiers lives being at stake, yes."
Keep the conversation flowing. Facebook.com/carolCNN. I'll be back with you in about 20 minutes or so.
MALVEAUX: Thank you.
We have a punch line for you. I know you're a sports fan. I don't know if you had a chance to see it last night -- I had to go to bed early --
(LAUGHTER)
But Jeremy Lin's New York Knicks lost -- they lost to the Miami Heat last night.
COSTELLO: They lost to Lebron James? Come on!
MALVEAUX: I don't. He didn't have a great game. But it wasn't all bad news for the Linsation. We can still call him that, right? He got a tribute in a remake of the most famous "Pearl Jam" song. I want you to check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: Carol, do you know who that is?
COSTELLO: That's Eddie Vetter.
MALVEAUX: No. No. This is Jimmy Fallon, the late-night comedian.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: Wow.
MALVEAUX: -- with a spot-on impersonation. Can you believe that?
COSTELLO: It is insanely good.
MALVEAUX: Yes, it was really good. Anyway, not all bad for Jeremy Lin. Got a little props. It was a mixed bag for him last night. But we'll see how he does.
COSTELLO: If you know what that song is originally about, maybe not such a tribute. It is funny.
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: OK. Carol, you have to fill me in on that one.
Thank you, Carol. Good to see you.
So something Senator Marco Rubio did at 8 years old could stop the rising star from becoming vice president. That's in our "Political Ticker."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Catholic to Mormon to Catholic to Baptist to Catholic, right? Rising star, possible Republican vice presidential candidate, Senator Marco Rubio, has been on a spiritual journey since he was a young kid.
Mark Preston is live from the political desk in Washington with more on this.
So what do we make of this, is all the different faiths a strength, or does once being Mormon put him out of the running as potential V.P. with Mitt Romney?
MARK PRESTON, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL DIRECTOR: I don't think it's the latter, Suzanne. What is interesting is we found out about this spiritual journey from Marco Rubio, who is, as you said, certainly one of the most mentioned, if not the most-mentioned person for V.P., whether it's Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich, who eventually wins the GOP nomination.
But what we found out is that in this memoir that he's going to release in October, he talks about the spiritual journey where he was baptized as a Catholic but then became Mormon when he was 8 only to leave it after a few years to go back to the Catholic Church. Has he got older, he decided to go to a Baptist church and he has since gone back the Catholic Church.
What this shows is Marco Rubio has a sense of spirituality in him and was on a journey to find it. The whole idea that he was Mormon as a child and is not going to matter, I don't think if Mitt Romney were to win the nomination. I think people, at this point, have moved beyond Mitt Romney's religion. They are concerned about the economy. And for the Republican Party, Marco Rubio is somebody they think is a rising star. So much ado about nothing, but certainly a fascinating story.
MALVEAUX: And, of course, they are talking about Marco Rubio.
I want to go back to Mitt Romney here. He got Arizona's largest newspaper to endorse him. What does that mean? Is that really significant in terms of improving his chances? Because he's been pretty much in a pit. He's been trying to get out of it.
PRESTON: Yes, he has. He's been in a ditch on the side of the road. He had a very good debate the other night. The largest newspaper in Arizona, of course, just endorsed him this morning.
Now, we put a lot of faith in endorsements and think that they can put you over the top. I think this just shows that Mitt Romney certainly, through the eyes of the editorial page of the "Arizona Republic," at least has the values that some of these folks in Arizona are talking about. So Mitt Romney is leading in the polls. The lead is very close in the most recent CNN poll. There are other polls that show that he has a bigger lead. But I can tell you what, heading into Tuesday, it is Mitt Romney's to lose.
Now, Suzanne, you're heading out to Arizona, is that correct?
MALVEAUX: We're leaving this evening for the primaries, of course, next week. I understand that you've been talking nothing but food, about some good places to eat out there?
PRESTON: Absolutely. When you go to Arizona, first of all, the people are so nice. They were kind hosts to us during our CNN debate. Tex-Mex is the way to go out there. There is no doubt about that. But if you're looking for good pizza, go to a --
(LAUGHTER)
-- go to Trepi (ph). Good New York slice of pizza. And a place called Slices. A good mixture of students and police officers all go in there. But a good place to stop by.
MALVEAUX: We're going to have some pizza then tonight. We'll see how it goes.
Thank you.
PRESTON: Thank you, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: For the latest political news, go to CNNpolitics.com.
As Mark mentioned, I'm getting on a plane and headed to Arizona tonight for Tuesday's primary. We're going to talk about folks about immigration, gasoline prices, foreclosures. Catch my live reports all next week from Arizona, starting on Monday at 11:00 a.m. eastern, in a state that could mean everything for the Republican presidential candidates.
And Hollywood's biggest night just two days away. Will a silent film rule the night? We're going to go live to L.A. to turn up the sound on "The Artist."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Two days and counting until Hollywood's biggest night. This year, a silent movie is a leading contender to take home the biggest award.
Nischelle Turner is turning up the sound on "The Artist."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hollywood, the late 1920s. This is the era of "The Artist," the story of silent movie star, George Balentine (ph), whose career crumbles when sound enters the picture.
Recreating that era took some serious location scounting. (on camera): I want to let you in on some secrets of "The Artist." The opening sequence of the film was shot right here in Los Angeles at the famous Orpheum Theater (ph).
(MUSIC)
(voice-over): That rapturous audience, part real and part fake. "Showbiz Tonight" can reveal movie makers hired extras and digitally multiplied them to fill all of the seats.
(on camera): For another important scene, filmmakers came here to the historic Bradbury Building.
(on camera): this is where George bumped into the starlet, Peppy Miller (ph).
The director wanted to convey that Balentine's (ph) career is headed down and hers is rising, so a staircase is called for.
Executive producer, Richard Middleton, helped film the location.
RICHARD MIDDLETON, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: All the staircases you could possibly find. They're also period appropriate. This is by far the best that you could find.
TURNER: You may recognize the building from the Jack Nicholson movie "Wolf" or "Blade Runner."
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (INAUDIBLE).
TURNER: Middleton revealed secrets to "Showbiz Tonight," like how hard of a sell this was to Hollywood agents.
MIDDLETON: It's silent? What? Why do I want to put my client in this movie?
TURNER: Middleton confirmed two big-name actors turned down roles. They may be kicking themselves now.
And Uggie, the dog from the movie, it turns out he had a couple of stunt doubles, Dude and Dash. The only problem, they didn't all look the same.
MIDDLETON: So we had to, you know, do a little doggie makeup and hair coloring. Dash we sent into the dog groomer for a cut and color.
TURNER: In the end, Uggie's doubles were seldom used.
And that title, it wasn't always "The Artist."
MIDDLETON: The original title was "Beauty Spot." It's the beauty mark that George puts on her to distinguish her from the other artists.
TURNER: If voting goes "The Artist's" way, it will earn yet another title -- Oscar winner. (MUSIC)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: All right. Joining us is Nischelle.
Nischelle, I actually saw somebody interview that dog. It kind of funny.
(LAUGHTER)
Do we actually think "The Artist" has a really chance of winning?
TURNER: Absolutely, he has a chance to win. It's the favorite right now, Suzanne. There's a couple of other movies, "Hugo," "The Descendent," are making late pushes. But most people would be surprised if "The Artist" did not win for best picture.
MALVEAUX: Do we think any big surprises in some big categories?
TURNER: It's coming back again to "The Artist." He won the SAG Award and now the push has come around to him. We thought it would be a battle for best actor with George Clooney and Brad Pitt. But it looks like he's becoming the best actor. It's coming down to a slugfest between Viola Davis and Meryl Streep. Some people out there think they could cancel each other out and Michelle Williams could come in and win the Oscar as her portrayal as Marilyn Monroe.
MALVEAUX: Wow. I'll be watching. Sunday, right?
TURNER: Yes. It's going to be great.
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: All right. Thanks. Can't wait to see all of the highlights and what everybody is wearing on the red carpet. It should be a lot of fun.
Thanks, Michelle.
TURNER: Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
(LAUGHTER)
