Return to Transcripts main page
Joy Behar Page
Nancy Kerrigan`s Dad Dies; Obama Prepares to Deliver State of the Union Address
Aired January 26, 2010 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOY BEHAR, HOST: Tonight on THE JOY BEHAR SHOW, skater Nancy Kerrigan won our sympathy at the 1994 Olympics when she was attacked by a rival. Now tragedy strikes again as her father dies under very suspicious circumstances.
Then, President Obama is getting ready to give his State of the Union address tomorrow night. I think he`s going to need a really great opening act. If only FDR was available.
And comedian Tracey Ullman joins me in the studio. Next to Claude Monet, she`s my favorite impressionist.
All this and more starts right now.
Former Olympic ice skating star Nancy Kerrigan, once known for double axles and for being on the receiving end of a knee clubbing scandal with Tonya Harding is now in the middle of another criminal case, this time involving her family. Kerrigan`s father is dead and her brother is behind bars, accused of assault and battery against 70-year-old Daniel Kerrigan.
Here with the latest on this case is CNN legal analyst Lisa Bloom. Hi Lisa.
LISA BLOOM, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hi Joy.
BEHAR: Hi. Why is Nancy`s brother, Mark, behind bars?
BLOOM: He`s behind bars because he told the police that he put his hands around his 70-year-old father`s throat in the middle of an altercation about using the phone. His father then fell to the floor and some time later, we don`t know exactly how much later, but his father passed away.
So he certainly is under a lot of scrutiny right now, I think potentially facing homicide charges. The police initially took him in for assault and battery because that`s the admission of an assault. There is also a special added charge, if you would, under Massachusetts law because it was an attack on somebody over the age of 60, so it`s elder abuse.
BEHAR: I see. There`s a report that he was disorderly and he also smelled of booze. Is that true?
BLOOM: That is correct. The police report, which I`ve read, said that he smelled of alcohol, that he could barely stand up. He was screaming profanities when they came in, so they believed him to be under the influence.
By the way, this 44-year-old man that you`re looking at now on the screen has a history of criminal behavior, other assaults and batteries. He told the police that he had been in prison for four years.
BEHAR: There he is, there he is.
BLOOM: Yes.
BEHAR: So the autopsy now will be a critical piece of information, right?
BLOOM: Yes, absolutely. Because the police are going to look at that to see whether the father had, for example, marks on his neck, whether his wind pipe -- his (INAUDIBLE) was crushed; whether this was an act of suffocation which would give rise to homicide charges, or whether somehow the father died of natural causes coincidentally.
The mother told the police that he died of a heart attack. Now, she may not have been in a position to know. She may have been in shock. By the autopsy will answer those questions.
BEHAR: So the mother is an important witness in this. But I read somewhere that the mother is legally blind. Not that that makes a difference, I guess, but does that impede the investigation at all, her eyewitness description?
BLOOM: Well, you know, Joy, she can be an ear witness. She could have heard the altercation that went on in the home. She could corroborate her son`s story or she could disprove it depending on what she heard.
I don`t know where she was in the house. I don`t know what she heard. But certainly a blind person is capable to testify as to what they heard.
BEHAR: Of course.
Now I want to turn to another story. Mel Gibson has decided to stick his two cents into the Tiger Woods story. Joining Lisa and me to discuss this are clinical psychologist Judy Kuriansky and comedian Robert Schimmel. Welcome guys.
SCHIMMEL: Hi.
KURIANSKY: Good to be here.
BEHAR: So Gibson is jumping to Tiger`s defense. Listen to what he told "Good Morning America".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEL GIBSON, ACTOR: I feel bad for the guy. I mean they`re beating the hell out of him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well he did do what he did.
GIBSON: Ask any human being walking the planet, have you ever done anything that you`re not too proud of? And I think most people will say yes, you know, I`ve done a few things I`m not to proud of. And a lot of times, the most difficult thing about all of that is being able to forgive yourself. I love the guy. You know?
He`s full of flaws like all the rest of us and he`s getting a rough time. And the truth is I want to watch him play golf.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Does it break your heart?
KURIANSKY: Break your heart? I want to break his heart. He is an outrage, that guy.
BEHAR: Mel Gibson?
KURIANSKY: Mel Gibson. Talking about himself. I`m glad he`s admitting all his flaws. We could sit here for hours talking about his flaws. That`s why he wants Tiger Woods to be excused, so he can be excused for the list of all the things that he has done.
BEHAR: So he identifies with Tiger.
KURIANSKY: Totally.
BEHAR: That`s what this is about.
KURIANSKY: This is a projection of him. Look at, Tiger Woods is Mel Gibson just like him running around with other women, cheating on his wife, having children out of wedlock, being all the things -- being anti- Semitic, attacking the police, being angry.
Mel Gibson is talking about himself.
BEHAR: I know. But we can`t accuse Tiger Woods of all those things.
KURIANSKY: No. I`m saying these are things Mel Gibson has done himself. He wants forgiveness from us because his movie is coming out. Please, public, don`t think I`m a bad person. Even as a psychologist I do not think that this man is in any position to be talking about Tiger Woods.
BEHAR: What do you think, Robert?
SCHIMMEL: I think as a man, he is in a position to talk about it. And everybody is flawed. And I don`t think that he was waiting for someone like Tiger to come along to get him off the hook. I think he`s definitely paid a heavy price for what he did.
As far as being anti-Semitic, I do have to tell you that I am Jewish and I am a 9-year cancer survivor. And Mel Gibson, when I was diagnosed even though I`ve never met him, Mike Sculley (ph), the guy that was running "The Simpsons" who created my pilot was running a pilot for Mel and Mel offered to fly me to Australia to meet two doctors that were cutting edge oncologists and paid for the whole trip and the treatment if I decided to be treated there.
And he knew I was Jewish. So the anti-Semitic thing, sometimes people say things they don`t mean. I`ve said things I don`t mean.
BEHAR: What he said -- when he said during those ranting moments, he said the "f"-ing Jews, the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. He said the alcohol was talking but a lot of truth is said in alcohol.
KURIANSKY: I would agree with that.
BEHAR: Lisa -- let Lisa in. Let me hear what you have to say, Lisa.
BLOOM: Joy, usually people who are anti-Semitic and racist think of people as a group. They don`t like the group but they might like individuals. But bottom line for me is I think it`s heartwarming that these billionaire philanderers are sticking together. They have to stand by each other.
Mel Gibson and Tiger Woods, you know, the sense of entitlement I think people at the very top have, whether it`s at the top of entertainment or sports, "We can do whatever we want. The rules don`t apply to us. We need to be forgiven. Boo hoo hoo."
They lose all sense of reality and the values that most people think are important.
KURIANSKY: I agree. And it`s the pack phenomenon that they all gather together, just like all the Hollywood people with Roman Polanski trying to get him excused for the horrific things that he did. And the same thing is happening with Mel Gibson trying to get excuse for Tiger Woods.
SCHIMMEL: I don`t think he`s trying to get...
KURIANSKY: Here is a man who (INAUDIBLE) the church and behaves in a totally, totally anti-Christian way. He may do something nice for you, that`s his way of trying to absolve himself, I don`t think that that`s...
BEHAR: Is this a question Robert of this is one of my best friends?
SCHIMMEL: Ok. But it has nothing to do with show business. And what he does with the women has absolutely nothing to do with playing golf. First of all, golfers lie. So he says 12 girls, I say and two were mulligans (ph). And addicted to sex, only a guy can invent that kind of disease. I don`t go for the addicted to sex thing.
KURIANSKY: Oh please.
SCHIMMEL: You know, if I came home and caught my wife with 12 guys, which is pretty close to the truth and she said she was addicted to sex, I would have simply said, how come you`re not addicted when I`m home?
BEHAR: She`s addicted to the other 12.
SCHIMMEL: To the other 12 but not me.
KURIANSKY: Women are addicted to sex, too and I have interviewed them. I have interviewed women who put their card, they stop at a light Joy and they hand their business card into the car of the man in the next car while they`re waiting at a red light. Women have sex addictions, too.
BEHAR: Maybe they`re just hoes. Why would they be addicted?
SCHIMMEL: You know, one of the girls came...
KURIANSKY: They`re not in control. That`s what the addiction is. There`s Mel, and there`s Tiger Woods.
(CROSSTALK)
SCHIMMEL: Where are these girls? 310-494...
BEHAR: But Judy -- all right.
Let`s talk about the relationship between Tiger and Elin for a second. You brought that up. She`s called off the divorce from Tiger at this point, reportedly, allegedly. Is the -- is that going to work? Is there any hope for this?
Lisa, let me hear from you now.
BLOOM: I can`t imagine why she would stay with him. He has publicly humiliated her. I think his behavior was downright cruel. He had to know he was going to get caught when he was involved with all of these different women.
His wife is home pregnant, with new born babies and he`s out engaging in this behavior. Why on earth would she stay with him unless there`s a lot of money involved? That`s really impossible.
SCHIMMEL: I can think of 300 million reasons why she would stay.
BEHAR: Wait a second. She`s going to get a lot of money anyway if she stays with him or she doesn`t stay with him.
BLOOM: She might get more if she stays.
BEHAR: How much does she really need? $300 million is enough. Come on.
KURIANSKY: Yes. I agree with you.
A lot has to do with the children. Women stay because of the -- she has two little infants but listen, that woman is not going to want her -- want him to touch her breasts when he has just nuzzled his face into those huge humongous breasts of all these women he`s had affairs with. I don`t think that is ever going to happen. She will not want him ever to have sex with him again.
SCHIMMEL: I want some of that.
KURIANSKY: Listen, I have seen these cases.
SCHIMMEL: I`m going to be anti-Semitic in a minute. I can`t take it. What`s going on here?
KURIANSKY: What do you mean?
And six months in a -- one month in a rehab center is not going to change -- that Tiger will not change his stripes.
(CROSSTALK)
SCHIMMEL: Who cares? You know what? If he worked at Best Buy nobody would even care what he did. It`s only because he`s in the public eye.
BEHAR: Yes.
SCHIMMEL: And you know what, it would bother me sincerely if any of the women said they were forced to do it. Nobody is saying they were forced to do it. One girl said she got $40,000 for one night. For $40,000, I`ll wear a wig and I`ll be his girlfriend.
KURIANSKY: And another woman said, he didn`t even give her a dime and another woman said she begged him for money and he didn`t give her a dime...
SCHIMMEL: He didn`t give me a dime, wow, sorry hooker.
BEHAR: So what do you -- so what do you attribute all the media attention around this? People can`t get enough of this story.
SCHIMMEL: I`ll tell you why, because people don`t want to cut -- say, ok, you know what? We`re going to drop Tiger and cut to the rubble in Haiti and you can see what`s really happening in the world.
BEHAR: People are watching that too?
SCHIMMEL: I know, but not -- but people need an escape. And you know what? Tiger -- here, I`ll give you a perfect example. I grew up through Beverly Hills...
BEHAR: Yes.
SCHIMMEL: ...with my dad, see these mansions and I go well somebody with money must have to left that to this guy and he said why don`t you believe that somebody actually worked and earned the money to have it. Because doesn`t that says something about you if you don`t.
Tiger is perfect in everything. Everybody has been waiting to find the skeleton in his closet to show that he`s a little more human like us.
BEHAR: He was too perfect.
SCHIMMEL: He`s too perfect.
BEHAR: He was too perfect then, but Mel Gibson is not in that category.
SCHIMMEL: No.
BEHAR: Thanks, everyone. If you want to check out Robert Schimmel`s act you can catch him at Comics in New York on January 28th -- he`s funny -- to the 30th.
Coming up, the president`s next act. You`ll laugh, you`ll cry. That`s next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BEHAR: President Obama has got a make or break speech to give tomorrow night when he presents his State of the Union address. How quickly things changed. Remember when the word hope applied to something besides God? I hope Scott Brown doesn`t screw up health care. Or I really pray that Robert Byrd doesn`t pose nude for "Cosmo".
Does a man known for making powerful speeches have another game changer in him?
Here to talk about it are my guests": Ron Reagan, political commentator and son of former President Ronald Reagan. Robert Zimmerman, CNN contributor and Democratic strategist and Lizz Winstead, comedienne and co-creator of "The Daily Show".
Ok, it seems to me that he`s in trouble, guys, ok.
Ron, let me start with you. Do you think Americans like Bob Herbert says today are having trouble figuring out who Obama is?
RON REAGAN, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, I think they are. And it is trouble for the president here. I mean, he came to office promising great change and everybody was expecting that. Well, maybe not everybody, but certainly progressives were expecting change, systemic change.
And yet what do we have? We have Larry Summers and Tim Geithner being the economic advisers and everything. I think tomorrow night what he really has to do is indicate that he understands that the American public is angry. People on the right are angry about certain things. They`re running around with their little posters with the Hitler mustaches on Obama and all that sort of things.
But people on the left are angry, too. Because they feel like they`re not getting what they voted for.
BEHAR: Ok.
REAGAN: And so he`s got -- he`s got to indicate that he understands that anger first and foremost.
BEHAR: Do you think that -- do you guys think that Geithner and Larry Summers and Bernanke should be fired -- Robert?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, that`s not the issue. And I think Ron made a very good presentation for the group therapy wing of the progressive movement today and I admire Ron very much.
But the issue is not going to be analyzing who Barack Obama really is. And the issue is not engaging him, analyze, having and holding seances or using Ouija boards. The challenge is to get results. That`s the challenge for this president and for this Democratic Congress.
And the State of the Union speech is a dramatic moment. But what`s going to be defining is if his words are put into action. If they`re not, then you`re going to see the progressive movements and the Democratic leadership truly be in trouble.
BEHAR: He seems to be very unpopular right now with the left, like you guys.
LIZZ WINSTEAD, COMEDIAN: Well, I mean, first of all to your point, I would say yes, people want results...
BEHAR: Yes.
WINSTEAD: ...but there needs to be change to get those results. You said do you think Bernanke should be fired? I do. I don`t want him running the Fed. I don`t want him to having the job at FedEx. I don`t think the guy is qualified after all.
BEHAR: He was the person of the year in "Time" magazine...
WINSTEAD: Oh yes, because you know but...
BEHAR: ...that was a month ago.
WINSTEAD: Yes, but I just feel like, Obama has plans that take a long time and Americans are suffering now and they`re going to have to realize nothing is going to happen in six months.
ZIMMERMAN: Well, we have every right -- well, we have every right to be impatient and every right to demand a greater accountability from the administration and from the Democratic Congress.
BEHAR: Right.
ZIMMERMAN: And it`s frustrating when we see in fact not a clear message coming out of this administration as to how many jobs are created or what the future is and even more important when the Democratic Congress, the Democratic Senate today rejected an independent commission to, in fact, deal with deficit reduction. What is that about? They can`t even agree to do something like that?
REAGAN: Bob, I didn`t mean to imply before that this is about reading tea leaves and peering into President Obama`s soul. Actions are what`s important. we have to judge him by what he does. I was merely saying that what he has done so far in some instances has not been what many of his supporters voted for.
BEHAR: You know, Ron, a lot of the news media is reporting that at this time during Ronald Reagan`s administration, his numbers were even lower than Obama`s at this point and he pulled it out...
REAGAN: Yes.
BEHAR: ...and didn`t he fire a bunch of people at that time if I recall?
REAGAN: There`s a -- yes, the poll numbers, that`s a good observation. This isn`t about just President Obama`s poll numbers. They are sort of middling really when you look at past history here.
BEHAR: Yes.
REAGAN: But he`s -- he has to show that he understands that some mistakes have been made here. When you come to Office promising transparency for instance in the health care debate and the first thing you do is sit down behind closed doors and cut a deal with big pharma so that they are going to be able to charge Americans more than they charged anybody else in the planet, that`s a problem.
BEHAR: Are we lost in health care now? We`re not going to get anything, are we?
ZIMMERMAN: You know, I really do believe it still can be done. Now, the process is going to be taken, I don`t know the real problem is, you already have the Democratic Senators and the Democratic House members have already voted for health care reform.
Now the question is they -- they`re going to get blamed for it back home whether it`s implemented or not. The issue for them now is to explain what this bill is and to rally American support behind it to make this -- to turn into a reality.
BEHAR: Yes.
ZIMMERMAN: Otherwise they`ll never get it put through.
WINSTEAD: They also have to tie it to the fact that job creation is going to hinge on how you keep health care costs down because people cannot create jobs, small businesses can`t create jobs, if they can`t cover people and Obama has got to make the case...
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: He doesn`t explain that properly. People don`t understand that.
WINSTEAD: ...people needs to understand this. It`s important.
BEHAR: Yes, yes.
ZIMMERMAN: One of the greats behind the Reagan era and behind the Clinton era was, there was a very defining issue, a very defining philosophy and a sense of optimism and belief it could be achieved. And really the challenge of the State of the Union speech is to allow (ph) very simply and clearly what the agenda is going to be and make sure the Democratic Congress in fact stands with him.
BEHAR: Ok. You know, there`s a rumor that he`s going to bring up "don`t ask, don`t tell" in this speech. Isn`t that kind of like throwing them off the main problem in the country right now or isn`t it? What do you think?
ZIMMERMAN: It`s about time the Democrats in Congress and the White House came out of the closet on "don`t ask, don`t tell" and put this bill in place.
BEHAR: Right, right. Good point.
ZIMMERMAN: Now, I must tell you, people like Congressman Patrick Murphy, he`s been a leader in the House in terms of overturning it. The White House can take initiatives. For example, the defense authorization bill, they can put legislation in to repeal "don`t ask, don`t tell". That`s how we got it in the first place.
BEHAR: Why doesn`t he become more like bush and just say I`m the decider and this is what I decide. He doesn`t seem to have...
ZIMMERMAN: That worked real well. That was great.
BEHAR: You know what? It worked in some ways.
ZIMMERMAN: He got his agenda done Joy. You`re absolutely right. He did.
BEHAR: Who can he blame right now, besides Bush?
WINSTEAD: Well, I don`t know. That`s exactly right.
BEHAR: Let`s find somebody.
REAGAN: Max Baucus maybe, I don`t know Joe Lieberman?
(CROSSTALK)
WINSTEAD: Yes. Ben Nelson.
BEHAR: Or Joe Wilson. You lie.
Ok. Everyone, sit tight. Back with my panel in a minute. We have more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BEHAR: I`m back with my illustrious panel. Let`s listen to something else President Obama said to ABC News.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: The one thing I`m clear about is that I`d rather be a really good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president. And I believe that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Have we ever had a good one-term president? I don`t think we have.
ZIMMERMAN: By the way, if he`s going to be a mediocre president, he`s not going to have a second term.
REAGAN: That`s right. Yes. He`s going to be a mediocre one-term president.
WINSTEAD: I was so awesome as president, I think I`m going to open up a Starbucks. I`m just going to hang it up.
BEHAR: Do you think he should brag a little bit more, too?
ZIMMERMAN: That`s not his problem.
BEHAR: People don`t hate us around the world anymore. We don`t hear that the banks are closing. The Wall Street is rebounding. Why don`t people say, hey, he`s accomplished those things and he`s not doing a bad job?
WINSTEAD: Because there are no jobs.
BEHAR: Well Ron, what should he do? What`s the one thing that he has to do to get the left wing back in his corner?
REAGAN: Well, I think Bob said something very important in the last segment and that is when he was talking about a governing philosophy and he alluded to the Reagan administration and the fact that he more or less knew where they stood.
I don`t know that you know where the Democratic Party -- forget President Obama in particular but where the Democratic Party stands today. I would say that the person who is emblematic of the party right now is Harold Ford, Jr. You remember he ran in Tennessee, lost the Senate race there, moved to New York and all of a sudden he`s pro choice and pro marriage equality for gay people.
Well, that`s all great, but he wasn`t that way just a little while ago. So you have to ask yourself, what does this man actually stand for?
BEHAR: I see. Well, he could change.
REAGAN: And that`s fine, but what does the Democratic Party stand for? If I ask you that question, what is the answer?
BEHAR: It stands for winning.
REAGAN: Exactly and that means nothing.
ZIMMERMAN: And we`re not going to win unless he gets results. I should point Harold Ford did have 100 percent NARAL, National Abortion Rights Action League vote in 2004 in Tennessee.
BEHAR: Well, that`s good.
ZIMMERMAN: A supportive civil union...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: But not marriage.
BEHAR: No.
WINSTEAD: He also came out strongly against choice. There`s profound videotape that you can see him saying on the Internet, why don`t you repeal Roe v. Wade and (INAUDIBLE) abortion?
ZIMMERMAN: He was making the case that you can be pro choice but that`s also a pro life position.
BEHAR: What about Scott Brown, the Republicans are worried that he`s really a liberal. He`s pro choice, the guy. They got him -- what about that?
WINSTEAD: You know what? Scott, again, this newbie, Palin, Scott Brown, they`re on the scene and all of a sudden, literally he won. And Sunday shows were already saying should he be president? They`re like bad speed daters.
BEHAR: It`s like that sort of cynical John McCain thinking in a way. Let`s put Sarah Palin on the ticket. She`s unqualified but let`s put her out there. He`s handsome, let`s put him out there.
WINSTEAD: But to have the love out of these people when you don`t know them.
BEHAR: Dan Quayle. Didn`t George Bush the first put Dan Quayle because the women thought he was cute?
ZIMMERMAN: Here`s something. The public is always smarter than the pundits. They caught on with Sarah Palin and rejected her and Scott Brown has got -- outside of a smile and a photo history, he hasn`t shown much in terms of policy.
BEHAR: Yes. What would your father say about these TEA partiers Ron, do you think?
REAGAN: Oh, I think he would be unamused by the TEA partiers with their Hitler signs and all the rest of it. No, I don`t think he`d be cottoning to that much at all. As much as we`re ringing our hands about the Democratic Party though and it`s all well that we do that, we have to remember that the alternative, the Republicans are a true train wreck -- a train wreck.
Look at Sarah Palin. Look at Scott Brown. You know.
WINSTEAD: Right.
BEHAR: And with that, I bid you adieu. Ron, Robert Thanks. Lizz will stay with me.
We`re about to move on to critical matters of national importance, like drama on the set of "American Idol". That`s this show -- you know that`s this show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST: I am going to be the new judge on "American Idol." I`ve not missed one episode of that show. I`ve watched every single thing. I love everything about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Ellen DeGeneres sure seemed excited about her new gig on "American Idol" back in September. These days, however Idol`s newest judge is singing a different tune, due apparently to Simon Cowell`s behavior. He is reportedly acting like something that rhymes with pitchy. Joining me to discuss this and other earth shattering entertainment news are Lizz Winstead, comedian and co-creator of "The Daily Show." Rob Shuter from AOL`s "Popeater" and Lindsay Powers, Senior Editor for US Weekly and usmagazine.com. Okay. What happened, Rob?
ROB SHUTER, AOL`S "POPEATER" COLUMNIST: Oh it`s horrible. It was first day at work and they were mean to her.
BEHAR: To Ellen?
SHUTER: Simon was late. Simon`s always been late. Simon`s late for everything, but he was an hour and a half late. And Ms. Ellen --
BEHAR: Why?
SHUTER: Because he`s a diva. He`s been late since day one at Idol. It`s interesting is there has not been a single leak until he quite. And suddenly blah blah blah and people were leaking stuff.
BEHAR: Why are they leaking stuff?
SHUTER: Well I think he`s done now. They don`t care. Like they don`t have to protect him anymore.
BEHAR: No, they have to protect Ellen and be nice to her now. SHUTER: They are protecting Ellen. So they`re building Ellen up as this gracious lady who sat and waited for an hour and a half and told the bully off for being late.
BEHAR: I think she`s really like that though.
SHUTER: No, everything about her, she`s a great person and people love her. Like you and your staff Joy.
BEHAR: So she has the right to be angry, right Lindsey?
LINDSAY POWERS, SR. EDITOR, US WEEKLY: Well she has the right to be upset if Simon was legitimately standing her up, but US weekly confirms that he was actually signing his contract at that moment to leave Idol, to take over the Xfactor. So he had a lot of business going on. You know, let`s be honest, Ellen is the kind of the new kid of the block. Does she really have the right to kind of throw all of this --
BEHAR: Can I be cynical for a second?
POWERS: Please!
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: Is it possible that this is a publicity stunt? I mean, there was Simon and Paula and the little friction and now he`s hiring Paula. Is there a publicity stunt to get some action buzz about the show?
LIZZ WINSTEAD, CO-CREATOR; "THE DAILY SHOW": Okay if this is a publicity stunt?
BEHAR: Yes.
WINSTEAD: It is the most boring scandal. This is actually -- Tiger`s text messages were actually more interesting than the stupid scandal. If he was like with Adam Lambert re-creating that, that would be one thing. He was late and this what they leak? This is the leak from "American Idol"? That Simon was late. Show business and they shoot in L.A. the guy was late. Are you high? Have you ever been on the highway there?
BEHAR: Is it publicity, Rob?
SHUTER: It probably is. We`re talking about it. But late is late, I think it`s rude. Like if you`re -- when we have dinner, if you`re an hour and a half late - it`s late
WINSSTEAD: But it`s Simon Cowell. I have never been - you know what like the gentleman, he`s not David Nivens - it`s Simon Cowell --
BEHAR: You know what it`s a boring story. Let`s move on.
SHUTER: Boring, boring.
BEHAR: What about other "Idol" news.
WINSTEAD: Oh please.
BEHAR: That big Mike, who got booted off the show because he was part of the top 24 and his father spilled the beans to the press. I understand that he spilled it to his wife who works on the newspaper. That`s a proud father or just not that bright? He screwed up his did now.
SHUTER: Pride that. Pride that, I think it`s part of the confidentiality clause.
BEHAR: Well he knew the rules.
SHUTER: Well but you know what -
BEHAR: Look he screwed up his kid.
SHUTER: He screwed up -- who cares. He was the top 25, they didn`t give us the winner. They didn`t tell us like, it doesn`t make any difference that we know. I think it`s really mean of "Idol" to do this. They should have him back.
BEHAR: They should have him back, why should be penalized for his father`s sin, yes.
POWERS: But don`t you think they kind of have to set ground rules? I mean there`s are like 12,000 kids that come to every single auditions. I mean if they`re like, everyone would still be in those seats -- the show of - the ratings would go down even lower than they already are this season. * WINSTEAD: How is the kids? I`ve seen the adults?
SHUTER: Baby, they`re 22.
BEHAR: He`s got to be under 28.
WINSTEAD: All I`m saying if he`s going to be an adult and his father, I don`t understand the sins of the father thing, you know what I mean?
BEHAR: You`re not supposed to spill the beans that your child, whoever is in the top 24, that`s all. And he did.
WINSTEAD: But did the kid get kicked out because he told the father and the father told the press, like does the kid wasn`t supposed to tell anyone?
SHUTER: I though she finally -
WINSTEAD: You can`t tell anyone?
SHUTER: No, but this person has an important point, never tell your parents anything.
BEHAR: I agree with that. Yeah.
POWERS: Well, who does?
BEHAR: All right, let`s switch it up. Rumors say that Conan is in fact going to FOX. Which makes sense that he walked off if he already had a deal, right, Lindsay?
POWERS: Yeah. It is compelling and you know I worked with "The New York Post" for a number of years and for them to be reporting that this is happening makes it seem like it`s true. And it`s a great thing.
(LAUGHTER)
POWERS: Oh did (UNINTELLIGIBLE) say that on air right there?
WINSTEAD: Sorry, sorry -
(CROSSTALK)
POWERS: But no, I mean I`m sorry but for FOX to come down and be saying that FOX is tighter to be saying - you see the connection right there. And you know it seems like a really good fit I feel like for Conan to end up on FOX. He attracts a younger audience. He`s going to have, you know, more of these viral videos and now FOX -
BEHAR: Right.
POWERS: when they`ve tried to do this before, bring in a night time host, they never - they never really had that clout.
BEHAR: Well even though FOX new is the to the right of Kaiser Wilhelm, FOX entertainment is very edgy and very entertaining. Married With Children, Glee -
SHUTER: American Idol.
BEHAR: Is there.
POWERS: American Idol.
BEHAR: Yes.
WINSTEAD: But the thing is that it`s all up to the affiliates. And I don`t know that they can gather 100 affiliates which is about what they`ll need to make this work. Already to have them sign on and say yeah, we`re willing to take this leap and Conan`s awesome but remember Conan`s numbers, at times like, weren`t great.
SHUTER: And also timing doesn`t have a show, remember they hired a guy that couldn`t attract an audience. It seems like it`s not going to be enough.
BEHAR: So what`s going to happen?
WINSTEAD: But what is that time slot? I think the bigger question is -
BEHAR: He`s going on at 11.
SHUTER: 11?
WINSTEAD: No, no but what I`m saying is that time slot now, I feel like with all of the new media and all the stuff we have.
SHUTER: Seinfeld, three feet.
WINSTEAD: That audience might not be the cream of the crop and there anymore. And I think that`s what we may be finding out.
BEHAR: That doesn`t spell success for Conan the way you describe it..
SHUTER: He`s got $40 million to retire.
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: Come on he`s young.
WINSTEAD: Yes.
BEHAR: He needs to work. He wants to work.
POWERS: I think he`s probably stuck at night.
SHUTER: So what -
(CROSSTALK)
WINSTEAD: I think people will tune in --
POWERS: I think he has a second life on the job.
SHUTER: I think this if the first week I think people will tune in and then will realize why we didn`t tune in.
POWERS: I don`t think so. I don`t think so.
BEHAR: At 11:00 right now, FOX is running comedy reruns. Now maybe the audience likes that.
WINSTEAD: Well you know we`ll see what that demographic is because that`s also the "Daily Show" demographic and they`ve got that solid spot. And it`s the same kind of viewer. So you wonder if they`ll split the difference at 11:00 if it goes to FOX.
BEHAR: Right. Well here`s a sad note, he can`t take the masturbating bear with him.
(CROSSTALK)
WINSTEAD: I want him to take it -
BEHAR: What did you say?
POWERS: We don`t know what that means for the show because it`s - you know the octomom.
WINSTEAD: Do bears even masturbate?
BEHAR: I don`t know, I haven`t really checked with the bear lately.
WINSTEAD: Okay.
BEHAR: Finally, in unrelated news, the octo babies have turned 1. I`m not sending eight gifts those children need to learn to share. I mean let`s talk about her for a minute. Do you think -- first of all, they`re having a birthday party, I`m assuming, right.
WINSTEAD: You invite no one.
SHUTER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
POWERS: Is that correct you have a party? I know.
(CROSSTALK)
POWERS: The whole invitation.
BEHAR: She has the other kids, too.
POWERS: Yes, I know that`s what I`m saying.
SHUTER: A lot --
BEHAR: Rob, what do you think about her lately? I mean she posed in her bikini.
SHUTER: She`s like a bond. I got the figure today.
BEHAR: Tell me.
SHUTER: "Star" magazine had her on the cover last week in a bikini, body belly hanging out, sold nothing. You won`t see her on a cover for six months. They won`t risk it again. So she`s trying to sell the pictures from this birthday party and no one is going to buy.
BEHAR: Why do you suppose it`s not selling?
SHUTER: I think people are over her. I think it`s a moment, an interesting moment.
WINSTEAD: She`s got to realize at some point, she had that weird lip implant and I think it`s because of her poor vagina was exhausted. Can we say that?
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: Well who wouldn`t. Why not. On this show, yes.
WINSTEAD: Okay, all right but like no one -- she`s done, please.
BEHAR: So her 15 minutes are up.
SHUTER: Done.
WINSTEAD: I don`t know. So next time she does anything she`ll be coming through the tunnel with the elephant. But -
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: It`s over.
POWERS: I think she`s been lying - I think if she can line those kids up put them sunny hats, matching t shirts, take them to the beach, I would totally look at photos.
SHUTER: Maybe that can sell but this one of the photo in a bikini.
WINSTEAD: That`s true but I also think too that any woman who has one kid and tries to get to the gym knows that there`s not enough time in the day. How many children does she have? 35.
BEHAR: I think she has 8 and another 4 or something.
SHUTER: 4. 6 for them.
BEHAR: Oh okay, so that`s 14 -
SHUTER: 14.
WINSTEAD: So 14 kids and she finds time to do a -
SHUTER: Photo shoot.
WINSTEAD: Photo shoot and work out.
BEHAR: Where does she get the money to support 14 children?
(CROSSTALK)
SHUTER: The photograph.
WINSTEAD: Do you want to know my completely not based in truth theory?
BEHAR: Yes, sure.
WINSTEAD: That doctor is the father of all of them. I think it`s all his sperm.
POWERS: The fertility inseminator.
SHUTER: Wow.
BEHAR: Was he at the birthday party, do you think at the birthday party?
POWERS: Yes, what a riot.
SHUTER: Picture labor.
WINSTEAD: Okay so I really do think that it`s all his sperm.
BEHAR: Probably. Do they look like him?
WINSTEAD: Well who knows? They do now.
BEHAR: They need to go on Maury Povich.
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: What about the 15 minutes, are they up for the Gosselins yet?
SHUTER: It`s going down. People just don`t go from hot to cold just like that. It takes a little bit of time to go down that hill. So it`s certainly -- it`s over for him.
BEHAR: It`s over.
SHUTER: Kate if she keeps changing her hair and keeps you know, developing the whistles going maybe she can stretch it a little longer but he`s done. He`s done.
BEHAR: Okay, but how about the Spideys before we go?
SHUTER: The Spideys?
BEHAR: The Spidey, Montag, Heidi Montag.
SHUTER: She`s on the cover of our magazine tomorrow with plastic surgery gone wrong. So they`re going to keep going --
BEHAR: I thought it went right. We saw the pictures on people.
WINSTEAD: No she crossed goo line. Didn`t you see her? She crossed the goo - her`s and goo
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: Thanks, everybody, very much. Up next, multitalented comedienne Tracey Ullman stops by. Don`t go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Security screener Chanel Montechello is dealing with the early morning shuttle.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I paused the way, I paused the way, it ain`t in the sack, it ain`t falling back. Take those shoes off.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on is that necessary?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it is. You can hide a nuclear device in there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Or a bomb in your underwear for that matter. That was Emmy award winning Tracey Ullman as a security agent in the third premiere of her show time show "State of the Union." Tracey, it`s so nice to have you here.
TRACEY ULLMAN, EMMY AWARD WINNER: Oh thank Joy.
BEHAR: Now you play so many characters on your show, my God. No one is safe.
ULLMAN: I wish you played on with that bit, because we break into a wonderful dance sort of like an homage to Michael Jackson because my choreographer friend Joe Malone who was one of the passengers there used to be in all these videos. And so we suddenly break out and dance. It was just so much fun, to really dance.
BEHAR: We`ll have to release the video. It`s on the DVD, right?
ULLMAN: That`s the show that premiered last night. So it will be on Itunes. Itunes.
BEHAR: Or showtime on demand or something? I think they were there.
ULLMAND: I would think so yes.
BEHAR: Who is your favorite character, do you have one?
ULLMAN: You know, I`m so eclectic it`s ridiculous. I`m somebody for 50 minutes and then I`m ready to move on. That`s why if I could just think of one character to be, if I could be like Angela Lansbury in "Murder She Wrote"
BEHAR: You`d make a lot of money.
ULLMAN: Do you know what I mean? Yes, it would be a lot calmer for me.
BEHAR: How do you - do you do some men, also right?
ULLMAN: I do. There`s nobody I wouldn`t attempt really. Yes, I did Barney Frank in this show.
(LAUGHTER)
ULLMAN: You know what he thought, he sometimes did these nut gags and his teeth in. And he`d go - and he`s waiting to do a question. I love Barney Frank.
BEHAR: I do, too.
ULLMAN: I love his voice. I know that he loves you.
BEHAR: Yes, why does he look like he doesn`t have any teeth?
ULLMAN: I don`t know, bless him. I don`t care.
BEHAR: He`s very smart.
ULLMAN: Oh, he`s smart.
BEHAR: He`s great on TV. I want to have him here.
ULLMAN: Yes.
BEHAR: So what about Glenn Beck or Limbaugh, do you do them?
ULLMAN: I didn`t. I was going to be like Trish Limbaugh, I was going to be like Rush Limbaugh`s sister.
BEHAR: Oh how would you do that?
ULLMAN: I don`t know.
BEHAR: Have you been working on it?
ULLMAN: But I decided not to do it.
BEHAR: He`s blustery.
ULLMAN: He`s blustery and I didn`t know if I could do that much bluster. I`m not a blusterer and then the sketch would just be about bluster. So I ended up being Simona Cowell, so I decided to be like a bird -
BEHAR: Simon Cowell`s sister?
ULLMAN: Yes, Simon Cowell`s sister who sits around his pool and picks on the maids. This sandwich is absolutely terrible. I mean it`s absolutely disgusting, you have taken a basic classic and destroyed it. So I did that. But yeah, I had a great time this year. Seven shows, "State of the Union." I go across the country, I attempt anybody.
BEHAR: Really.
ULLMAN: I did an impression on you. I thought about you for awhile.
BEHAR: Maybe I`m next.
ULLMAN: Yes.
BEHAR: The voice alone will kill you.
ULLMAN: Hello, I`ll sound like Don Corleone.
BEHAR: It`s ridiculous. Do you ever hear from the people you imitate, like get mad at you or anything.
ULLMAN: No one has come up to me yet.
BEHAR: No.
ULLMAN: No. They would probably love to.
BEHAR: You think so.
ULLMAN: I imitated Megan McCain last night and she left a little tweet saying I laughed.
BEHAR: I think I`m going to show that a little later -
ULLMAN: Yes. Which is nice.
BEHAR: A little footage of that.
ULLMAN: And look what I look like today? Snookey. Majority shore. Down to Jersey shore bitch. I love those kids. Don`t you love those Italian American kids?
BEHAR: No.
ULLMAN: Aren`t they like, you know you do. They`re funny.
BEHAR: They are funny.
ULLMAN: They were just like those when we were younger.
BEHAR: I was never like that, stop it.
ULLMAN: Oh come on, girls like that were a laugh. She wants to be a veterinarian. She`s a nice girl, yes.
BEHAR: Who, Snookey Doug?
ULLMAN: Yes, Snookey.
BEHAR: That`s a good idea for her.
ULLMAN: Yes, please.
BEHAR: You have to study science, Snookey, okay.
ULLMAN: I don`t think she could -- I like her, she`s cute.
BEHAR: What is the difference exactly between you and Cybill?
ULLMAN: I`m a happy schizophrenic. I`m not tortured. I don`t know and I`m pretty happy to be me at the end of the day, Joy.
BEHAR: Well how do you work - I`m more interested in how you would work on a character. Like what is the first thing you would do with a character?
ULLMAN: Well just if I can - there`s a word that I can say - I just love voices, I hear voices in my head. Some kids throw a football around. I would hear voices - I`d imitate the teacher. I imitate my family. It got me attention. I don`t know, I just hear a buzz word and I want to do it, like.
BEHAR: Uh huh.
ULLMAN: Like when I date Laura Bush, everybody`s a hero. You know, I`d hear just these words -
BEHAR: That works.
ULLMAN: And I want to do it.
BEHAR: That`s good.
ULLMAN: I did Rachel Meadow and I realized that she has a goofy laugh. She goes --- and if I can get one little sound, oh there you go, I think I`ll do that one. But I never used to impersonate celebrities.
BEHAR: No.
ULLMAN: But everyone is so celebrity obsessed.
BEHAR: Oh that`s fine.
ULLMAN: And if you throw a sprinkling over them in a show, you`ll get more attention imitating a celebrity than you would yourself.
BEHAR: You know you were talking about when you were a kid hearing voices.
ULLMAN: Yes.
BEHAR: You know a lot of people think that comedy is a defense basically. You know, defending yourself from something.
ULLMAN: Yes.
BEHAR: What was yours? What were your early years like that brought you to comedy?
ULLMAN: I`m not one of those -- everyone says comics are really sad and tragic.
BEHAR: I never believe that.
ULLMAN: No, I mean are you? Tragic Sad?
BEHAR: No, no.
ULLMAN: Not really. I just like a laugh.
BEHAR: Right. But usually there`s a side spin.
ULLMAN: I don`t understand - I`ve never done stand up like you. I mean I couldn`t stand up -
BEHAR: No, but you`re funny.
ULLMAN: And tour the country and stay in a travel lodge and talk about airlines. I just -
BEHAR: Oh I don`t see that either.
ULLMAN: Did you ever do that?
BEHAR: No.
ULLMAN: Can you imagine?
BEHAR: No, I did the tristate area, that was it for me.
ULLMAN: Yes, you did tristate.
BEHAR: Yes. Snooky and that`s it.
ULLMAN: Snookey those girls, I love them! Sorry, sorry.
BEHAR: But you know like -- I had very curly hair.
ULLMAN: Did you.
BEHAR: They used to tease me. And so -
ULLMAN: Are you straightening it now.
BEHAR: Yes, of course, so I was defensive against the insult.
ULLMAN; Yes.
BEHAR: You know that`s one of the things you do with comedy.
ULLMAN: Yes I was told I look like a troll by my uncles.
BEHAR: Oh, that`s charming.
ULLMAN: Oh they still say that I look like a troll but that makes me laugh. You might be successful but you still look like a troll. And that`s fair enough. You got a lot of yourself in my family.
BEHAR: Were your parents funny?
ULLMAN: My whole family is funny. My sister looks like the playboy bunny and I was the little troll one that made people laugh.
BEHAR: Do you get excited when you see yourself in the Queen? The movie "The Queen" --
ULLMAN: Oh it really pissed me off when they put me in The Queen.
BEHAR: Why?
ULLMAN: They didn`t ask me if I could be in the Queen. They just took that clip and put me in it. The scene with Cherie and Tony Blair.
BEHAR: Yes.
ULLMAN: And I actually wrote to them and said that I didn`t say that I would be in that.
BEHAR: What they didn`t pay you for that?
ULLMAN: Well two people came up to me, one person came up and said why are you being horrible to the queen? And someone else came up to me and said, oh I love what you said about the queen. So but I didn`t ask to be in there.
BEHAR: Right.
ULLMAN: So I got them to pay a lot of money to Great Ullman street hospital in princess Diana`s name.
BEHAR: That`s nice.
ULLMAN: See that`s the whole story for you right there. That`s something I`ve never talked about before.
BEHAR: Right.
ULLMAN: I`m happy hour.
BEHAR: What about Queen Elizabeth? Would you ever do Queen Elizabeth?
ULLMAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) did it.
BEHAR: No, that`s off limits to Brits.
ULLMAN: Well, you know, my husband and I, I`m waving. You see the waving, that`s what they did it like back in England. The class system. So don`t get me started.
BEHAR: And now that you`re an American, you can really go for it now because you`re American.
ULLMAN: Yes, exactly. You got rid of them.
BEHAR: Because when I was in England, you can`t make a joke about the queen in England. They get very ticked off.
ULLMAN: Oh it`s like dropping a lead fart.
BEHAR: Uh huh.
ULLMAN: Some people will and some people won`t. There`s a real dividing line. You know you`d be surprised who will do the whole wants the honors, wants to be service and get knighted, and you know.
BEHAR: Yes.
ULLMAN: They say the same thing when they meet you. They go, you`ve been very busy, haven`t you? Which is a really good thing to say. Because you go, yeah, I have, actually. Anyway.
BEHAR: We`ll be back with Tracey Ullman and your twitter questions. You don`t like them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Megan, you look like a very attractive, very talented young Democrat.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m not a Democrat, I`m not a Democrat, I`m not, I`m not, I`m not. Please don`t call me one.
I`ll get really, really, pissed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Nice to see that her satire is bipartisan. That was Tracey Ullman as John McCain`s daughter, Megan. And as our pal airing Anna Huffington on showtime show "State of the Union." how did you get Arianna`s accent down? It`s Zsa Zsa also.
ULLMAN: Yes.
BEHAR: It`s a little Zsa Zsa, a little Ivana.
ULLMAN: Yes.
BEHAR: It`s like a mixture of those three.
ULLLMAN: Yes, very throat, hash there. I saw your show last week talking about the sleep challenge. Yes all about Arianna right?
BEHAR: Oh yes.
ULLMAN: Arianna, don`t take your computer to bed. Don`t take your twitter. Don`t tweet in bed. It`s like an all-you-can-tweet breakfast. It`s so tempting to impersonate her. She`s been very kind to me. They like me being me. She`s very generous. I like her a lot.
BEHAR: She`s very good.
ULLMAN: Yes.
BEHAR: And so is Megan, she`s a very nice girl.
ULLMAN: Yes.
BEHAR: I`m sure she`d think that was funny. Okay. Now here are some twitter questions. Do you tweet?
ULLMAN: No.
BEHAR: You don`t? You don`t like it?
ULLMAN: I don`t facebook or anything. I`m just antisocial. If I ever go on those things, someone lousy would contact me. They`d go, remember me? You go, oh, no!
BEHAR: Facebook is for the fans, really, to write to you and interact with you. You might like that. Twittering is -- can get people in trouble.
ULLMAN: What, are you in trouble over it?
BEHAR: I can`t go into it today.
ULLMAN: You`re stressed. Why are you stressed?
BEHAR: No, it`s fine.
ULLMAN: Tell me why she`s stressed. Who -- what did you tweet? What did you do?
BEHAR: Nothing. I can`t discuss it right now.
ULLMAN: Oh!
BEHAR: You have to let certain things go. Maybe they`ll disappear. You pray. Okay. Here`s a good twitter question for you. "The Simpsons" got its start on the "Tracey Ullman show." are you disappointed you`re not involved in it now?
ULLMAN: I hear from the Simpsons quarterly.
BEHAR: You do? They send you a check?
ULLMAN: I`m very proud of "The Simpsons."
BEHAR: It`s a very funny show. And our pal Julie Cavner.
ULLMAN: Of course.
BEHAR: I did a movie with her.
ULLMAN: I know, she`s based on the character in that Nora Ephron show years ago.
BEHAR: That`s right, "This Is My Life." is there something you want to do career wise that you haven`t done yet?
ULLMAN: I like to do Dr. Strangelove multiple character film. I`d love to do a really great, to have a story line that sustains for 90 minutes. That would be great.
BEHAR: that would be great. Do you do Sarah Palin and Nancy Pelosi?
ULLMAN: I didn`t bother with Sarah Palin because Tina Fey did the definitive Sarah.
BEHAR: Right.
ULLMAN: She did it. She hit it out of the park.
BEHAR: You can`t follow that one, how about Nancy Pelosi?
ULLMAN: Nancy Pelosi, I did a little Nancy Pelosi thing in the very first episode. I had a little shot of her having a needle put in her forehead. But, you know, and you saw her eyes. And you saw her eyes.
BEHAR: Yeah. You don`t do Obama.
ULLMAN: No. I can`t -- you know, no. That doesn`t organically come to me to be Michelle. I mean, I talk about them. Maybe next year.
BEHAR: Maybe Michelle.
ULLMAN: Maybe Michelle`s mom going to yoga classes and living in the White House.
BEHAR: Yes, but we don`t know her too well.
ULLMAN: They`ve got enough grief going on right now. Aye aye aye.
BEHAR: You could have her doing the vegetable garden. She`s very into the organic garden.
ULLMAN: Yes, (inaudible), in San Francisco -
BEHAR: Yeah.
ULLMAN: Yes, there you go.
BEHAR: That would be perfect.
ULLMAN: There`s a connection.
BEHAR: I think they`re so multitalented and multiorgasmic I hope also.
ULLMAN: Oh yes.
BEHAR: Nice to have you, my dear.
ULLMAN: That`s why I use clitter. Who`s going to cut that one? Get snipping.
BEHAR: Okay, thanks, Tracey. Tracey Ullman "State of the Union" airs on showtime.
ULLMAN: They`re not real.
BEHAR: They`re not. These are. Mondays at 10:30. Good night, everybody. No, these are real.
END
