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"Saturday Night Live" Welcomes the First Female Black Member in Six Years; New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Stumping for the Reelection of Fellow Republican Governor; Suspect in Philadelphia School Shooting in Police Custody; AFC and NFC Championship Games Tomorrow; Exclusive Interview with John McAfee

Aired January 18, 2014 - 18:00   ET

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

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Police and volunteers have been scouring the Long Hill area for missing "Wall Street Journal" reporter, David Byrd. He vanished last Saturday after going for a walk. His family is particularly worried, because Byrd has a liver condition that requires medication twice a day. A few media reports have said that his credit card was used two times last week in Mexico, but the family is not confirming that. Byrd is an energy markets reporter for the "Wall Street Journal."

It has been a painful vacation for dozens of passengers onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The "Majesty of the Seas" docked in Miami yesterday after a four-night trip to several ports of call, including the Bahamas. The cruise line say that 66 passengers were suffering from various gastrointestinal problems, and more than 2500 people were on board. The cruise line suspects norovirus is the cause of those problems.

And "Saturday Night Live" welcomes its first female black member in six years. Sasheer Zamata makes hers highly anticipated debut in a few hours. She is joining us now after it was planned for the cast's lack of diversity, and she already had a following from her web series and appearance in a few commercials. In just about 20-minutes time, we'll speak with former SNL actor, Chris Parnell, about what it's like to step into that SNL spotlight.

All right. Let's reset. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM and I'm Martin Savidge. It is very nice to be with you.

Two big parties happening this evening. On the left in Los Angeles, it is the Screen Actors Guild awards. On your right, that is the White House where the first lady is celebrating her 50th birthday with an equally star-studded crowd.

Let's get this party started right now with our Nischelle Turner on the SAG awards red carpet in Los Angeles.

Hi, Nischelle. What is happening now? NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Martin. How are you? I wish you are here with me because I need a date for the Screen Actors Guild. I am all by myself here on the platform.

We are just about 30 minutes away from the big CNN special live show, CNN at the SAG awards, the Actors red carpet. We called it the Actors red carpet, because it is where the actors honor the actors.

I love the show, Martin, because it is two hours long. It is quick. They give out 15 awards. They have a little dinner. They drink a little wine. And everybody has a party. Like you said, there will be a party here in Los Angeles tonight. So again, just in 30 minutes, we will kick off a live red carpet preshow, all of your favorite actors and actresses in Hollywood will stop by and talk to us. And it is going to be a good day. It is hot, but it is going to be a good day.

SAVIDGE: I wish I was there. If only you had told me ahead of time, I would have been right out there for you. Thanks.

TURNER: And next time, Martin, don't you stand me up.

SAVIDGE: All right. You have a deal. Thank you very much, Nischelle. Appreciate it. I will look forward to talking to you later.

President Obama, meanwhile, has told reporters that not even the NSA, that is saying a lot, knows who is on tonight's birthday party guest list, did I mention that I actually do, or the gift that he has for his wife. It is the first lady's 50th birthday party and without a doubt the hottest society ticket within the belt way tonight. The guests, whoever they may be, were given very specific instructions about what to do beforehand and what they cannot bring.

Our Sunlen Serfaty is at the White House.

And Sunlen, the leaks have begun, so break some news about that guests list.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, you see, it is getting from star power tonight to more. And Jennifer Hudson, the singer, just arrived in Washington, D.C. And she did confirm to TMZ that she is at attending the White House for the first lady later tonight, and she said that she doesn't got the first lady a present, but that is OK, she said that she anticipates to get the party hopping with her new single.

And there is going to be a lot of dancing here later tonight, Martin. Let me show you a picture of the invitation. It specifically says on invitation to wear dance attire, and President Obama has also told people to wear comfortable shoes.

This party likely will last well past midnight here at the White House. And a lot of Michelle Obama's friends are coming in from Chicago. And we have promised many celebrity guests and performers here. I also want to show you just how much of the White House this party is taking over here. The entire state floor that is the first floor of the White House is going to be open to party guests. It will be able to move from the blue room to the red and green room from the east side to the state dining room. These will all be open. Drinks and dessert will be served and there will be a band on hand. It will likely be quite the party.

Martin, back to you.

SAVIDGE: All right, Sunlen, thanks very much. I'm missing all of the fun.

All right, to something far more serious. And Governor Chris Christie, he has escaped cold and the snowy New Jersey for the weekend, but the headaches from home have managed to follow him all the way to Florida. Christie is stumping for the reelection of fellow Republican governor, Rick Scott. He is the star of some fund-raising activities, most of them invitation only. No news cameras please.

CNN's Tory Dunnan is live in Orlando.

And Tory, you know, these campaign events are not open for the media, but from what you can see around them, is there any sign that Christie's troubles are haunting him there?

TORY DUNNAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Martin, first of all, I want to say that Nischelle and Sunlen are doing parties and covering that, but we are covering this close door fundraiser which is a little bit of a different situation going on here, because there is not a lot of access, as you can imagine at these fundraisers happening. And Governor Chris Christie is here in the state of Florida with three happening today. First one was earlier in Orlando and it was a fund- raiser for Florida governor Rick Scott. Then he went on to Palm Beach for a fund-raiser for the Republican Governors Association. And then, up next is another one in Fort Lauderdale, also for Scott.

But we actually caught up with one woman who is inside of the event here in Orlando earlier today and let's just say that she played a little bit of a guessing game with us about what happened inside. Take listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: What was the reaction to Governor Christie in there?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excellent.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: What did he say?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Talked about Governor Scott, how good he is.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Did anything about scandal come up?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said no, nothing. (END VIDEO CLIP)

DUNNAN: All right. So you heard it there, Martin. He said zip about the scandal.

Now, obviously, this is a weekend full of events so perhaps he might say something during one of those events happening there. But the biggest thing about this entire weekend and the trip to Florida is that it really going to be is a measure of where Chris Christie stands in terms of the star power and his fund-raising abilities and at a news conference right after the scandal basically unfolding. He was asked by a reporter whether or not this would affect his ability to be the chairman of the Republican Governors Association and he said, no, it wouldn't. He will continue the do his job, and that is what he is doing here this weekend in Florida, he is doing his job fund-raising.

SAVIDGE: All right, Tory Dunnan, thanks very much. Good job of handling that drive-by question. Thanks very much.

Philadelphia police tell CNN the suspect to the school shooting yesterday now is in police custody. Investigators issued an arrest warrant this morning for that juvenile. He has been charged two counts of aggravated assault. Police say two students were wounded yesterday in the gymnasium. Both students are expected to make a full recovery.

Well, the White House says it is time for the Taliban to lay down their weapons and talk about peace. This comes after yesterday's deadly attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul, aimed at foreigners and United Nations personnel. Three Americans were among the 21 people killed in that bomb and gun fire attack on a restaurant. They worked for the American university in Kabul. The Taliban has claimed responsible.

And at least 19 people were killed in a string of bombings across Baghdad today, another 74 wounded in seven explosions. Iraq hoped to put the violence of the past year behind it, but just Wednesday, at least 61 people were killed in a wave of attacks across that country.

Firefighters struggling to put out a wild fire just north of Los Angeles. The Colby fire as it is known is only 30 percent contained after torching more than 1,800 acres. The fire is just one symptom of California's catastrophic drought. Governor Jerry Brown asked residents to use 20 percent less water to help with the crisis. Americans could see the impact at the grocery store. California farms produce or it has nearly half of all U.S. grown fruits and vegetables in this country.

And there is a good chance that the McAfee anti-virus software protects your computer. So, what does the man behind that software suggest you do to protect yourself on the recent credit card security hacking. We will ask him about guarding your privacy from the government, and even why he says that still he is on the run from law enforcement. That is all coming up next.

Also ahead, the debut of "Saturday Night Live's" first African- American female cast member in years. It will happen tonight. We will be talking to a former cast member who knows very well, and we are asking him what she can expect.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: There was a time this man's name was on just about everybody's computer.

John McAfee, the tech pioneer help create McAfee any virus software that protects millions of computers. His colorful life has plenty of bizarre highs and lows. He left his name as a company behind decades ago and he wound up on the run in Central America. Authorities in Belize wanted to question him about the death of a neighbor.

Cops raided his jungle compound and they seize his belongings and he went into the hiding and got deported from Guatemala. Well, today at age 68, McAfee is putting all of that behind him.

I want to bring in John McAfee who is joining us from Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is nice to see you again, sir, after running across you down in Belize and following your exploits elsewhere. Thank you for coming on the show tonight.

JOHN MCAFEE, FOUNDER, MCAFEE ANTI-VIRUS: And it has been 14 months, and thank you again, and thank you for reminding me about my past, Martin.

SAVIDGE: All right. But, let's talk a bit about someone else's past. And specifically, Target, the hacking scandal that they have gone through. This is of course, a big security concern for many people losing their personal information.

What was your reaction when you heard about this big hacking?

MCAFEE: Well, it was no surprise, you know. We all know that the NSA has been spying on the Americans, but that is the least of our problems. And by the way, I would not want to be the president today or rather and I will go attend his party, this is between a rock and a hard place with the NSA issue. We have the NSA saying that if you back off of this, we are disarming at a time of heightened cyber warfare. And then, we have the American public saying, you know, enough is enough, you know, give us privacy. But this all folds into the target problem.

I think that America has lost its way. We are in the first cyber war, and we are hopelessly ill prepared. We have lost 110 million credit cards in one hack alone. That is the Target. Forty million to begin with and then the additional 70, three other major department stores have been hacked.

Last week, refrigerators and microwave ovens and televisions were hacked here in America and were sending out bogus e-mails. This, we know, is merely the beginning of a much larger attack. The next war is not going to be bombs and guns and missiles, it is going to be destabilizing the American economy both socially and economically to the point that it collapses. And it won't be need for arms. SAVIDGE: Well, let me ask you this, John, because you are an expert. And I know you are brilliant when it comes to matters of security. When it comes to protect ourselves, is there a way we can or must we get used to the future where everything is open and out on the internet?

MCAFEE: Well, if everything is open, and out on the internet, we are lost. We have to have privacy, Martin. It is a fundamental necessity of culture. Privacy is a choice. If you have a dinner party with a new neighbor, you will choose to divulge certain things about yourself and restrict other thin things. When you get to know someone, then you divulge more and more. This is the nature of privacy. We choose to divulge what we want. We can't suddenly have everybody knowing everything. There would be chaos.

SAVIDGE: Do you think that there is a security software that could be develop to protect us both when we shop and our privacy online?

MCAFEE: It is not just a software, Martin. It is how do we protect ourselves from ourselves. All right, of these hacks were not done by the high-tech people using software and hardware, these attacks were done using the frailties of human beings. Curiosity for example, we break in people break into the corporations not by breaking their encryption all of the time, but by dropping a thumb drive in front of a card that is owned by an overweight secretary within the corporation. On the back it says, weight loss tips. She takes in, plugs in to our computer and suddenly, the hacker owned the corporation. It is the human frailties that we have to worry about now. We have more technology than we know what to do with.

SAVIDGE: I want to, before our time runs out, sort of get an update on where things are. I know, the last time I saw you, you were playing officials in Belize. You were then deported out to Guatemala. What is going on with your life now?

MCAFEE: Well, I don't have any legal problems whatsoever. The Belizean government never charged me with anything. They really wanted to question me like they questions all of my neighbors. I just chose not to be questioned. So, I have no legal issues.

I am working on a security project called de-central which an alternate to the internet, an alternative to the internet that is completely secure. I'm consulting with organizations and spending a lot of time talking to the press. This is I think my 17th time in the studio here in the past four months trying to alert the American public to the realities.

We are in a new world. The warfare has changed.

SAVIDGE: John, I have to end it there. But it is a pleasure, at least, to catch up and see how you are and talk about all things technical. Good luck in the future. Thank you.

MCAFEE: Thank you, Martin.

SAVIDGE: Here's millions as an NFL coach, and this is a great story. So, why does he insist on wearing the $8 khakis from Wal-Mart. And does it really matter? Is it important? Well, it turns out it is.

We are talking about that and a lot of other stuff with the AFC and the NFC championship games coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: All right. Let's bring in our favorite sports expert, Terrence Moore. He is a sports contributor to CNN.com. He is a columnist for mlb.com.

And Terrence, let's talk about tomorrow's AFC, NFC championship games. We have got New England and Denver. But more important, we got those superstar quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Brady.

So, and that really is a classic matchup I would think in the mind, some other public. I mean, you can't think of two other quarterbacks that you would like to see going head-to-head.

TERRANCE MOORE, CNN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, but I will tell you something here, Martin.

Peyton Manning has got to win this thing. OK. Let's look at this. Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning is a guy who is on the verge of owning every passing record in the history of mankind, yet he has a lifetime losing record in the post-season. So, he has got to win now, because otherwise, you will be a pretty quarterback. And the list of pretty quarterbacks are long, you know, guys like Dan Marino was a pretty quarterback, Fran Tarkenton was a pretty quarterback, and Jim Kelly was a pretty quarterback. Guys who has the great stats, but no super bowl rings, this guy has got a super bowl ring, but up till he wins another one, he is the most underachieving NFL quarterback ever.

SAVIDGE: So, you kind of put, you know, Manning in the category, say with, closer to a Jim Kelly and or maybe, you know, Fran Tarkenton instead of a Brady and Bradshaw?

MOORE: He has got to win it again. And remember now, he is 37 and he is coming off of the most neck surgeries. So, he doesn't have that much time. This is a must-win for him right now to get it done.

SAVIDGE: You have got this Seahawks and the 49ers, they are going to square off. What do you think of that matchup and, I mean, who are you going to rout for there?

MOORE: Well, I thought that the 49ers are going to win it. And that is because of this, the pants guy. You have to love the pants. This is a great story.

SAVIDGE: It is a great story. And let's talk about this. This is the coach, OK. So, the khaki pants, of course, regular part of his uniform, you could say, and it turns out that he buys them, I guess, from Wal-Mart and pays about $8.

MOORE: Right.

SAVIDGE: His wife is not keen about that. He has got some heat over it and she threw them out. He went out, bought more. And of course, this goes just to the superstition, right?

MOORE: Well, there is no question about that. I mean, people think of superstition when it comes to the players, but these coaches and the managers are just as superstitious than anybody else. I mean, you have Nick Saban, you know, the coach of Alabama and he used to have his daughter giving him a penny before every game a couple of years ago, just because.

Sparky Anderson, the old baseball manager, when he went out to Yankee pitcher, he would make sure they have to cross or to follow line and touch it. And remember, john Thompson, the old Georgetown basketball coach, not the young one, but the old one, get that towel over the shoulder, not just the white for perspiration from his forehead, but because to keep the hexes away, I guess, in those minds. If his wife does something crazy, Jim Harbaugh's wife, and takes the khakis away, he will probably lock himself in the room and watch the game on TV.

SAVIDGE: Put on a bare shorts.

(LAUGHTER)

SAVIDGE: Let's go to baseball because I want to ask you real quick. You know, instant replay, and you are out there and pretty outspoken on this subject when it comes to baseball. It is going to be introduced this year, right?.

MOORE: That is right.

SAVIDGE: So, tell me why. What bothers you about?

MOORE: Well, first of all, it is straight from Satan. But the (INAUDIBLE), you know. But the bottom line is, if you are going to the baseball game this year, be prepared to bring your pajamas and a fluffy pillow, because this game is going to be long, OK.

SAVIDGE: You think that it is going to drag the whole game.

MOORE: It really is, OK? And they are talking about both managers having up to two challenges through the sixth inning. Then after that, from the seventh inning on, on parts at their discretion can call for an instant replay, and that is very, very dangerous.

SAVIDGE: Yes, it sounds very, very complex. And I know that we are going to talk more about it.

Terrence, great to see you.

MOORE: Thank you.

SAVIDGE: Thank you very much.

It is a big night for as weekend TV staple. I'm talking about "Saturday Night Live," a debut of its first African-American female cast member in years. We are talking to a former cast member that you knows very well about it, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: For comedians, there may be no bigger achievement than performing on "Saturday Night Live." And tonight, Sasheer Zamata steps on the stage of 30 rock as the show's first black female cast member in six years. It is, of course, a huge honor, but it comes with a ton of pressure, especially after critics more or less demanded "SNL" hire a black woman.

Our next guest is an "SNL" veteran spending eight seasons on the show. Chris Parnell joins me now on telephone from Los Angeles.

Chris, thank you for joining us. And you know, in five hours, she is going to be stepping live out on the stage. What do you think is going through her mind right now this first night?

CHRIS PARNELL, ACTOR (via phone): Well, you know, I am sure that she is bit nervous, obviously. And she is probably thinking about her sketches, you know and what she is going to be in particular tonight. They are probably finishing up the rehearsing of the sketches now and she will be heading to dinner soon at the NBC cafeteria with the rest of the cast and crew. And then a live dress rehearsal around 8:00 and then there will be a break and then they will have some notes in Lorne's office. And then, they will get ready for the live show at 11:30.

SAVIDGE: Critics have basically demanded this. In other words, demanded that producer Lorne Michaels hire a black woman. And I wonder, does this kind of add to the pressure that is on Zamata, or is the pressure really so huge it won't matter at all?

PARNELL: Well, it is a good question. I mean, I think it will add some pressure to her, but, I mean, she comes to the show with such a great skills of it. She studied drama in college, and then she has done the upright citizens brigade and she done the standup, and she has written and directed and produced her on music -- I mean, her own video for the Internet and done a series of those. So, she is, I mean, she is the perfect hire for the show really.

SAVIDGE: What about this idea of, you know, of quota for the hiring which in essence has seems to imply, does everyone, do you think get a fair shot at "Saturday Night Live"?

PARNELL: You know, I can't give an honest answer to that. I mean, I think, you know, I think "SNL" does a pretty very good job of scouting out there. You know, obviously, they could probably be a little more aggressive about, you know, hiring people of color. But I don't think it is something that in any way they try not to do. I mean, I think they would love to have more diversity in the cast. But it is just, you know, it depends on where they are looking and the comedy troupes, the groundling like the upright citizens brigade, second city, you know, and who they see out there in the country doing this stuff.

SAVIDGE: And if you are the show, if you are the writers and you are the producers, do you acknowledge it? In other words, do you embrace this problem and the fact that you are bringing someone on as a result or do you make no mention of it? In other words, do you make fun? Do you incorporate it into the comedy or just leave it alone?

PARNELL: I would be surprised if they didn't make some fun of it. I mean, they obviously made fun of the issue back when Kerry Washington hosted towards the end of the last year to great effect. It was a hilarious sketch. And I will be surprised if they don't, you know, they don't make fun of it themselves.

SAVIDGE: Does the humor, the style of the humor, the subjects that are covered, does it change as a result of who is a member of the cast and where they come from?

PARNELL: You know, it can, I mean, because all of the cast is expected to write on their own, and Sasheer is obviously a writer. You know, she will bring what she bring to the show and she will probably, you know, there will be writers that tune in with her and want to contribute to what she brings and her writing. But, you know, she is a woman. You know, she's going to bring her own thing, and some of it may have to do with the fact that she is African-American and probably a lot of it won't.

SAVIDGE: Will you be watching?

PARNELL: I will absolutely be watching.

SAVIDGE: And, you know, is it the butterflies, you know, that will affect her most, or do you think that as a professional, she is still simply already knows what she is going to say and how she is going to handle herself?

PARNELL: You know, it is hard to predict how you are going to respond. But she seems like a pro to me, just in terms of what I have seen her do online. And I will be surprised if she is not pretty prepare and ready to go.

SAVIDGE: I would, too.

And Chris Parnell, we should ask, where to find you these days?

PARNELL: Well, you can see me on " "Suburgatory" on ABC on Wednesday night at 8:30 and "Archer" on FX Network and "Rick and Morty" on Cartoon Network.

SAVIDGE: Well, we appreciate your insights very much on "Saturday Night Live." It is a program we have all grown up watching for decades. And it is a program that continues to evolve.

Chris Parnell, thank you very much for joining us on the telephone from Los Angeles.

PARNELL: Thanks for having me, Martin.

SAVIDGE: As we mentioned, it is a big night in Hollywood, the only night when actors honor their colleagues, the actors' red carpet as they will be there for the Screen Actors Guild awards. In fact, we can take you there right now to watch.