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Joy Behar Page
Russian Adoption Scandal; No Love for Obama; Senator Brown Snubs Sarah Palin? Seagal`s Sex Slaves; Cumming Attraction
Aired April 13, 2010 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOY BEHAR, HLN ANCHOR: Tonight on THE JOY BEHAR SHOW. The Tennessee mother who returned her adopted 7-year-old child back to his native Russia has opened the door to questions about the entire adoption process. We`ll try to find some answers.
Then, Jesse James` alleged mistress Michelle "Bombshell" McGee wants to apologize to Sandra Bullock. And she must be sincere because she tattooed the apology on her ankle. Well, that was the only safe left.
And Alan Cumming is a true renaissance man, actor, singer, entrepreneur, he even has his own fragrance. Maybe I should get my own fragrance. What shall I call it? Let`s, see how about pasta putanesca?
That and more right now.
More controversy in the story of the Tennessee mother who returned her adopted child to Russia; there are new reports that Tori Hanson was trying to adopt a second child. And while local authorities consider pressing charges against her, Russian officials are threatening to halt all adoptions in the United States.
Joining me to discuss this case are Dr. Charles Sophy, psychiatrist and Medical Director for the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services and Alisa White Karwowski, author of "A Guide to Russian Adoption: professional counseling and personal insights," and the mother of two adopted sons from Russia as well.
But first, CNN`s Martin Savidge is following this case in Tennessee. Martin, what`s the latest?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Joy, as you point out there, there is this issue that has come forward about information pertaining to possibly a second adoption. We heard about this information last evening. We did not it go with it because it was not from an attributable source.
Let me point out a few things about that. Number one, there is no adoption agency that`s worth its salt that would go ahead with a second adoption for this person if it was in the first year of their previous adoption. And they certainly wouldn`t go forward with the adoption if they knew that there was another child in trouble within the home.
So there`s a lot of skepticism about this initial report.
BEHAR: I see.
SAVIDGE: Meanwhile, the family is still very much out of the sight. They have not spoken, and the attorney who I talked to that represents the family, I talked with her today. And she said she is not going to let her client talk to anyone, either the media or sheriff investigators -- Joy.
BEHAR: Well, that`s probably smart of the attorney, to protect her client. The sheriff`s department is investigating possible charges, though. What do you know about that?
SAVIDGE: Well and they are. The two charges that they`re really looking at possibly here are either abandonment, which is that the child was somehow abandoned, although right now they say, look, there was, in fact, an adult with this child every step of the way right up to where the child got into Moscow and the company of the airline and then picked up by a driver and actually delivered to a child welfare office in the hands of an adult.
So it doesn`t appear that abandonment is the case right now.
The other issue, was there abuse? Now, that`s going to be very difficult for investigators here to try to prove because the child of course is 5,700 miles way in Russia. They have asked for the assistance of Russian authorities. The Russians say that they will try to provide medical records and they`ll also try to provide a video interview with the child. But that`s going to take time.
BEHAR: I see. So there will be something coming out -- out of Russia regarding information about the child?
SAVIDGE: Absolutely.
BEHAR: Yes.
SAVIDGE: Russian authorities, of course, are anxious to cooperate with the investigation because they believe there should be charges against this American family.
BEHAR: Ok. Now the adopted mother said that the child was violent. What are the Russians saying?
SAVIDGE: The Russians are saying just the opposite. In fact, they depict a child that is an absolute angel. They say in all the time that they have had the child now for several days that he is behaved wonderfully, and in fact, there are at least three Russian families that have stepped forward and they`ve said, "We would love to adopt this child."
So you`re getting a completely different picture than what the family portrayed on the American side of things, which is why, Joy, we have tried so hard to track down the family to get it straight from them. So far they`ve declined.
BEHAR: Ok, thanks very much Martin for the update.
Alisa, now you adopted two sons from Russia.
ALISA WHITE KARWOWSKI, AUTHOR, "A GUIDE TO RUSSIAN ADOPTION": From St. Petersburg, yes.
BEHAR: Was your experience anything like this?
KARWOWSKI: It wasn`t at all, thankfully. We -- when my husband and I went to travel to Russia, we opted to have a second medical done on both of our children, and that`s a repeat of blood work and also a repeat of every test that had been done on them up to that point, after that point. And we met with the Dr. Uri Yurchenko (ph) in the EuroMed Clinic --
BEHAR: Yes.
KARWOWSKI: -- and he was a pediatrician actually in the United States for ten years. And everything that he said to us is exactly what was confirmed at the (INAUDIBLE) hospital in Boston --
BEHAR: Really?
KARWOWSKI: -- the international adoption clinic, as well as with our pediatrician in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. So for us thankfully we had the opposite. We didn`t have any issues like that.
BEHAR: Thankfully.
KARWOWSKI: -- with terrible emotional issues.
BEHAR: The grandmother of this adopted child --
KARWOWSKI: Yes.
BEHAR: -- they call the grandmother, the adopted mother`s mother. She has said, quote, "Russian orphanage officials completely lied to her daughter -- her daughter because they wanted to get rid of him." Do you buy that?
KARWOWSKI: I really don`t. Knowing the Russians that we`ve worked with, they care about the children in the orphanages and they want what`s best for them. There is no way that I would ever believe that somebody who basically volunteers their time in an orphanage would send a child into a - - or send a child where they thought he shouldn`t go or maybe that he wasn`t healthy enough behaviorally or whatever.
BEHAR: But this was a different orphanage from the one you used.
KARWOWSKI: It was, it was.
BEHAR: So you never know.
KARWOWSKI: I don`t. But I just -- I know that they hardly make any money. They`re often there because they themselves haven`t had children, so -- and I have seen firsthand in the orphanage the love that the care takers have given to -- not only to my children but other children including children with handicaps.
So they wouldn`t do that. I don`t think that they would set up an American family or a child.
BEHAR: I see. Dr. Sophy, in your experience --
DR. CHARLES SOPHY, PSYCHIATRIST: Yes.
BEHAR: -- with adoptions, would Hanson had been aware she was adopting a troubled child?
SOPHY: I would hope that she`s aware of the fact that she`s adopting a child that has any kind of issue. As was said earlier, you get medical records. You have the opportunity to get a second medical evaluation and a psychiatric mental health evaluation. The facts are there. How you interpret them is up to you.
You may not want to believe the fact that he may have had alcohol exposure or drug exposure in utero and that would have an effect. But the facts of the matter are that they are there in the medical records. And it`s up to you to really get the clarity you need to make an informed decision. And there is no excuse not to be able to make a decision.
BEHAR: Well, adapting to the new situation for this boy would take some time. I think that -- it sounds like she went ahead --
SOPHY: Yes, absolutely.
BEHAR: -- she jumped the gun.
KARWOWSKI: You know, in a sympathetic way, I do know the feeling of, you know, there is a little -- of maybe a little piece of you that`s a little like I want this to work. We can make this work. We`ve done so much to get to this point, but the point is this is a life decision for not only the child but your family.
SOPHY: That`s right.
KARWOWSKI: So you do have to take --
BEHAR: Right.
KARWOWSKI: -- that step -- you know take a step back and -- and not let your heart get involved and not think that you can maybe handle something that`s a little too difficult for you.
BEHAR: Wouldn`t the first thing that you do, Dr. Sophy when you brought the child to the United States, is take the child for a checkup and find out if there`s anything you should deal with? I don`t know that she did any of that.
SOPHY: Absolutely. I mean, there`s -- there`s evaluations that need to be done once you get to this country, plus there`s those givens of when you`re going to adopt a child whether its` internationally or domestically within the country, there is that honeymoon period.
There`s the period for them to kind of get to know you and then they`re going to act out. They`re going to push against you, they`re going to try to make you leave them because they`re used to being left. And you have to stay that stay and work through that test to show them that they can trust you and that they can love you.
KARWOWSKI: Right.
SOPHY: And if you fail that, which it seems like in this case we failed, we send that child back. At the end of the day there is a child who suffering damage after damage and episode after episode of being rejected and being told in many different ways that he`s broken.
BEHAR: It`s terrible.
KARWOWSKI: And this little boy only lived with her for six months.
BEHAR: Yes.
KARWOWSKI: And the older the children are research suggest that it takes longer for that adjustment to --
SOPHY: Absolutely.
KARWOWSKI: -- you know, he`s lost his language, his culture, his little friends, his family, his food, everything.
BEHAR: But -- well, just to play -- to play devil`s advocate, they claim that the boy was -- was threatening to set the house on fire, took a 3-pound statue and threw it at one of the aunts in the family.
SOPHY: But you know what, Joy --
BEHAR: I mean, they were scared maybe.
KARWOWSKI: Probably --
SOPHY: I understand. I deal with those -- I deal with those behaviors every day. We have many different resources within this country that we can deal with those kinds of aggressive, threatening, violent behaviors no matter where they`re coming from adoption issues or mental health issues or whatever.
KARWOWSKI: Early trauma.
SOPHY: Yes. Emergency rooms, crisis teams, the post-adoption services that should be in place with the agency that set up this adoption should definitely be in place for this woman to reach to.
BEHAR: You know, now Russian officials have threatened to halt all adoptions to the United States. Dr. Sophy, what does that mean for American families who -- who are waiting to adopt children from Russia? They won`t be able to do it?
SOPHY: Well, I think what -- yes, I mean, what that means is it`s a sad situation that they either will slow the process down until they clarify this or that they will put a stop to it, which I think is really sad for the families and the children who could be united together and become a nice, solid, stable, safe and permanent family, which is what every child should have; a safe and permanent loving family, whether it`s biological or not.
KARWOWSKI: Right.
SOPHY: So hopefully that won`t stop the process.
BEHAR: Ok, the -- let me just run this little tape.
The local Tennessee sheriff on this case has spoken out about possible charges. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF RANDALL BOYCE, BEDFORD COUNTY SHERIFF`S OFFICE: We`re looking now. Abuse has been mentioned. We`re looking at maybe possibly abandonment; several different things along those lines.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Alisa, this woman has possibly poisoned the well for a lot of other families, but you`re here saying how great it was to adopt these children so we`re counteracting a lot of that.
KARWOWSKI: Right. I am. I think from my perspective what the Russians really are looking for is some assurance that we can protect and we can be sure that once these children are placed -- they require, the Russian Federation requires a post-placement visit six months, one year, and two years. And ironically this boy has just been home six months, so I don`t know what happened there.
And then -- not only that, but certainly they want some other bilateral agreement. I believe that they`ve invited our government to Moscow to discuss this so that we can sign something to say listen, we`re all in this together. This is for the betterment of human beings, adults and children.
BEHAR: According to the reporter from CNN, it sounds as though like he has other options in Russia and other people in Russia to adopt him. So we hope that`s true.
KARWOWSKI: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: Thanks very much both of you.
We`ll be back after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming up a little later on THE JOY BEHAR SHOW, alleged Jesse James mistress, Michelle "Bombshell" McGee apologizes to Sandra Bullock. But will Sandra accept?
And Conan O`Brien makes a surprise move back to late night.
Now back to Joy.
BEHAR: President Obama continues to get pounded by the right and occasionally by the left, even though he`s had less than 18 months to undo eight years worth of damage. But in spite of several key accomplishments all we seem to hear are complaints and attacks and I really don`t get it.
Here to explain it all to me are Roy Sekoff the founding editor of huffingtonpost.com and Candy Crowley, host of CNN`s "STATE OF THE UNION".
Now, let me ask you guys. He`s brought the economy back from the brink of depression. He`s restored our international reputation. The guy passed health care reform. He ended the stem-cell research ban, which was major, and he`s working on lowering the number of nukes in the world.
What more does this guy have to do to get some credit, I ask you, Roy?
ROY SEKOFF, FOUNDING EDITOR, HUFFINGTONPOST.COM: Well, you know, it pains me to say this, Joy, but I think Sarah Palin actually kind of nailed a little bit of this aspect when she said, "how is that hopey changey thing going for you?"
By that, I mean he really came in with all this promise and this expectation that business was going to be very different in Washington. And instead, despite those accomplishments, we`re really sealing this. It feels like government isn`t working. It`s business as usual, and I think they`re blaming the President for that.
BEHAR: I mean Candy, what is going on? Should the administration be out there patting themselves on the back more?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Well, part of the problem is also -- and I totally agree that right now when you look at the polling, what do people care about? They care about the economy. More than three-quarters think the economy is terrible. Who do they blame? While they still blame George Bush in large numbers, increasing numbers are blaming President Obama. He`s the one, after all, in office. So that is dragging him down.
The rest of it for a year plus they`ve been working on health care reform. He got health care reform, major piece of legislation, but the fact is, again, when you look at the polling, people think he should have been paying attention to the economy.
Add to that that who is the President`s best spokesperson? It`s the President. So, you know, it is double-duty to a certain extent if they want someone out there patting themselves on the back, it`s going to have to be the President, because that`s who people listen to.
BEHAR: I see. But maybe they need a pit bull on the left. You know? On the right they have Sarah, they have Glenn Beck, they have Rush Limbaugh. In the old days they had Cheney and Karl Rove. Who is the pit bull in his administration that needs to say, "Listen, this is what we`ve done?" Roy.
SEKOFF: They`ve got the pit bull named Rahm Emanuel. He`s pretty ferocious.
BEHAR: You know what Roy, we don`t hear from him. I don`t hear anything from him. Where are the quotes? Where is the bragging? Where is the bragging going? I don`t hear anything from him.
SEKOFF: Well, I think the problem is also the messaging. I think Candy will tell you, I think traditionally the Republicans have an easier time with their black and white selling. It`s much easier to say he`s a socialist who wants to pull out the plug on grandma than it is to have a more nuanced thing. We`re going to pull these people into pools and we`re going to give some tax breaks and it`s going to work out for the better. Which is an easier sell?
BEHAR: Do you expect, Candy, the mood to turn around when the health care bill kicks in?
CROWLEY: No, I expect the mood to turn around if the economy gets better. I think because the health care is going to take a while to kick in over the course of the next four years. 2014 is when some of these things kick in.
I think really right now people are focused on the economy. If people become convinced -- because there`s plenty of indicators out there that things are getting better, but the jobless rate is still at 9.57. People don`t feel as though it`s getting better. I think once they crack that code, you`ll see the President`s numbers turn around.
BEHAR: Ok. One reason Obama isn`t getting any credit for the progress he`s made could be because of people like Jon Voight. The actor appeared on Fox News this weekend and railed against the President. Listen.
JON VOIGHT, ACTOR AND ACTIVIST: President Obama feeds these people poison, giving them the idea that they`re entitled to take from the wealthier who have lived and worked in a democracy that understands that capitalism is the only truth that keeps a nation healthy.
It is a socialistic, Marxist teaching and with it little by little he rapes this nation.
BEHAR: And I liked him so much in "Midnight Cowboy". What happened to him?
SEKOFF: That`s not coming home, is it, Joy? You know, you kind of --
BEHAR: Go ahead. Go ahead, Roy.
SEKOFF: I said you kind of get -- you have to get a feeling for why his daughter Angelina Jolie and he were estranged for the last seven years. Yikes.
BEHAR: How can Obama ever combat this fear mongering rhetoric, name- calling and just lies -- basic lies, Candy?
CROWLEY: Listen, it`s not as though Jon Voight is a leading voice in the Republican Party, and let me just remind you that there were some fairly awful things said by people in Hollywood and across the Democratic Party about President Bush. It comes with the territory. It is what happens.
Is this president getting more of it than past presidents? You`ve have to go back and measure that. Certainly there`s an intensity now that feels pretty bad, but, you know, it just is what it is. There are going to be -- there`s a section of the population that is never going to like President Obama in the same way there was a section of the population that was never going to like George Bush.
BEHAR: Right.
SEKOFF: But Candy, there wasn`t a network that was 24/7 pounding in this big lie message that he`s some kind of socialist Muslim Kenyan who wants to turn us into the second coming of the Soviet Union -- 24/7, you know.
CROWLEY: Well, you know -- listen, I mean everyday there are -- I`m not talking about, you know, there are many, many, many venues for this to happen, and people are getting -- the places where people get their information now is so focus odd their own ideology, that it does create, you know, more of a kind of real attitude that I haven`t seen in the past.
Ok, guys, stay right there. The latest Sarah Palin dish when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BEHAR: Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Express roll into Boston tomorrow and guess who won`t be there to greet them? Massachusetts Senator, Scott Brown. It looks like the new GOP pin-up boy is trying to distance himself from the Tea partiers and Sarah Palin.
I`m back with Huffington Post`s Roy Sekoff and CNN`s Candy Crowley.
Now, considering Senator Brown`s in the Kennedy state, what other choice did he have but to distance himself from the Tea partiers, Candy?
CROWLEY: Well, exactly. Let`s remember who elected Senator Brown and that is a large independent vote. So you have to keep that in mind. After all he`d like to get elected again.
Listen, this is going to be a problem not just in Massachusetts. Massachusetts is a notoriously liberal state. It`s going to be a problem for Republicans across the country, particularly in the primary season.
The real test is going to come when the general election rolls around, when the Republicans have selected the people they want to have run for office whether they`re going to be able to bring the Tea Party on board.
BEHAR: But do you think that this is a political decision on Scott Brown`s part, or is he basically snubbing them because he thinks that they`re not the brightest or whatever his position is on that.
CROWLEY: I think if Scott Brown wanted to be there, he could be there.
BEHAR: If he wanted to be there, he could be there.
SEKOFF: I think he`s --
BEHAR: Nice answer, Candy, very diplomatic.
SEKOFF: Joy, we se how scary this faction of the party is getting. I mean did you see today the Oklahoma Tea Party announced that they would like to form their own armed militia. I mean this is a state where 15 years ago Timothy McVeigh did his damage. Think about the messaging there.
If you`re a moderate Republican, which is already kind of an endangered species, you think I don`t want to align myself with this lunatic fringe which is really taking over the party with this racism and this xenophobia and this outbreak of violence. I think you have to run for the hills.
BEHAR: Go ahead, Candy.
CROWLEY: Let me just -- I just wanted to say that the Republicans` dilemma at this point is how to embrace the good part of the Tea Party, the aspects of it and that is -- that`s where the passion is in politics right now.
The people that are motivated to go and vote are those who attach themselves to the Tea Party. But at the same time they have to distance themselves from whatever radical elements there are that are claiming to be part of the Tea Party or are part of the Tea Party. So this really is a balancing act which I think you`re going to see play out state by state.
BEHAR: Is the Tea Party actually going to help the Democrats by splitting the GOP in two, do you think?
SEKOFF: I think that`s the real test. If 2010 comes down to being a referendum on Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and the Democratic Congress, I think the Democrats are in trouble.
But if it can be a referendum on Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann and the lunatic fringe there in the Tea Party, I think that helps the Democrats a great deal.
BEHAR: What do you think Candy? Is it good for the Democrats?
CROWLEY: I think the Democrats are hoping to put a wedge there, because the more the Democrats can frame Republicans as crazy and as, you know, extreme, the better off it is for the Democrats. But the Democrats are already in trouble simply because of the calendar, because this is a time when the party in power tends to lose seats. They`re going to lose seats. The question is how many, how big a defeat is it going to be?
BEHAR: Right. Ok. Thanks very much. Very interesting guys.
CROWLEY: Thanks.
BEHAR: Ok.
SEKOFF: Thank you.
Up next "Bombshell" McGee has apologized to Sandra Bullock and is reportedly trying to change her image. Good luck with that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming up a little later on THE JOY BEHAR SHOW, from the hit CBS series "THE GOOD WIFE" the very talented and funny Alan Cumming. Now back to Joy.
JOY BEHAR, HLN HOST: Steven Seagal, tough guy and actor star of Steven Seagal law man is in trouble with the law himself. He`s being sued for $1 million by a former model who claims he harassed and sexually assaulted her in his - in his New Orleans home. Joining me now to discuss this and more are Rob Shuter, AOL`s Popeater columnist, Sarah Bernard, "New York Magazine" contributing editor, and comedian Bobby Slayton. OK, here`s a picture of his accuser, Kayden Nyugen, on TMZ, just FYI. You see what she looks like. Rob, how -- what do you think of these claims?
ROB SHUTER, AOL`S "POPEATER" COLUMNIST: It`s a crazy story. What happens is this girl applied for a job to be his assistant on craigslist - of all places --
BEHAR: This lady.
SHUTER: This lady -
BEHAR: Yes.
SHUTER: And she got the job and then she went to his New Orleans home and spent several months there where she claims over this period of time she was groped several times -
BEHAR: Yes.
SHUTER: And he often would ask her to massage him. And then she`s almost claiming, too, that she was held captive there until she managed to escape.
BEHAR: Why was she held captive? Why couldn`t she just leave?
SHUTER: She said it was a remote home and she couldn`t get out is what she`s claiming.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, NEW YORK MAGAZINE: Well one of the reasons is because if you call the cops in New Orleans, I mean he is the cops. He is the law, he is an officer in New Orleans -
BEHAR: That`s right. That was exactly why --
BERNARD: So she`s sort of claiming that that`s why it was confusing. But I think it`s really noteworthy that she`s actually suing him but she did not file a criminal complaint.
SHUTER: Yes.
BERNARD: So that make the whole thing a little bit more of a he said and she said and very fishy.
SHUTER: Yes.
BEHAR: Right but there`s also, go ahead -
BOBBY SLAYTON, COMEDIAN: It`s also interesting, you know when you do the he said and she said thing, generally, and you see my action, I`m a little massaganisstic, I would take the side of the guy. You know because women do sometimes file false complaints and there are all kinds of false allegations, he raped me and he did this. But in this case it`s Steven Seagal. And this guy, you might not know, but he`s been made up of stories in the past and he`s complicated things. He`s embellished things, you know, so it`s hard to believe Steven Seagal about anything. But the one thing he didn`t do, and she should be happy about this, he never made her watch any of his movies. He tied her up and force her watch some of those films and his stupid TV shows -
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
SLAYTON: That would have been a complaint.
BEHAR: So you don`t -- I think she`s lying just because she`s female? Is that what I heard?
SLAYTON: No, no, what I heard is I said, generally, if I hear a he said she said type thing I go with the guy initially.
BEHAR: Why?
SLAYTON: Because I`m a guy. I mean initially, but then when I look at who the guy is, you know, I mean like governor, Spitzer, he`s the governor of New York. Hey come on he`s a governor, could this be really be real? I mean you know, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt.
BERNARD: Haven`t you learned from all these stories your theory is not a good one?
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: Exactly.
SLAYTON: See I wouldn`t do something like that. You hear about all the stuff that`s going on and Sandra Bullock, which we`ll talk about later, you hear about all these guys do horrible things. And comedians, our life is so boring. We never get a chance to cheat on my wife or go to sex addict clinics.
BEHAR: All right well anyway even if the lawsuit is dismissed -
SLAYTON: Right, right.
BEHAR: Doesn`t this damage his image a little bit, even though we know what his image is?
SLAYTON: Yes, right.
SHUTER: It`s no good for him. I mean even if it is dismissed it`s not good for him.
BEHAR: Yes.
SHUTER: It`s another joke now that he`s going to have next to his name for a very long time.
BEHAR: Yes.
SHUTER: You shouldn`t apply for jobs on craigslist. Like I don`t trust the bicycle I buy on craigslist, let alone a job.
BEHAR: And then she just goes to New Orleans to an obscure and crazy house.
BERNARD: It`s a little bit what were you honestly expecting with this job was going to entail? Let`s be honest here. You know this is -- she`s a little to blame, too.
BEHAR: OK moving on to Sandra Bullock`s story, alleged Jesse James mistress Michelle "Bombshell" McGee -- I could say that all day - "Bombshell" McGee, has broken her silence and apologized to Sandra Bullock. McGee was on the Australian show which is called "TODAY TONIGHT" and E had the clip. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE "BOMBSHELL" MCGEE: I`d say, Sandra, you know, I`m sorry, I`m sorry for your embarrassment, I`m sorry and all this is public. It is a heart-felt apology. I`m sorry for what she`s going through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: I could read her all day. You notice Bobby that she didn`t apologize to Sandra for sleeping with her husband. Only that she`s sorry about the publicity.
SLAYTON: I`m sticking up for the woman here. First of all, when you apologize to somebody, if you bump into them, you apologize. But when you sleep with somebody`s spouse you can`t apologize or find god and say everything is OK. What`s amazing to me, is you look at that woman "Bombshell" McGee -
BEHAR: "Bombshell" McGee -
SLAYTON: And Jesse James. It sounds like a Dick Tracy cartoon.
(LAUGHTER)
SLAYTON: It`s not like people from "POPEYE". Where is the sea hag? But look at her. She looks like Marilyn Manson slept with Beetle Juice, why would you risk your marriage with a beautiful super star like Sandra Bullock over that?
BERNARD: Well let`s talk about the apology, this is the worst apology I`ve ever seen.
BEHAR: Isn`t it?
BERNARD: This is one of those I`m sorry you feel that way apologies.
SHUTER: Right, right.
BERNARD: I mean if she wanted to do something nice for Sandra Bullock, she would go away.
SHUTER: Right.
BERNARD: I mean really what she`s trying to do here is say she`s apologizing, but I`m sure all her people are calling up every TV station about a reality show right now -
BEHAR: Exactly.
BERNARD: So she`s just getting herself in front of the cameras.
SHUTER: And she got paid for this interview. The reason that she did it -
BEHAR: In Australia, in Australia.
SHUTER: Yes so -- everyone wants to talk to her here, and no one is willing to pony up the cash because I think that backlashed about what that means and Sandra, nobody wants to upset Sandra.
BERNARD: Yes.
SHUTER: So she did the interview in Australia. I think she got $10,000.
BEHAR: But she`s trying to make herself sounds like an innocent party. She says he lied to me as much as he lied to her. This is like Tiger Woods` mistress` too, they are all the injured party.
BERNARD: All the victims.
SLAYTON: Do you have to give her credit. She was getting a degree as a biochemist. She`s the world`s number one tattoo --
BEHAR: Who "Bombshell?"
SLAYTON: Yes, yes.
BEHAR: Dr. "Bombshell."
SLAYTON: She was getting a degree in biochemistry - I did my research before the show. She`s -
BERNARD: -- Cancer research now. I`m so glad. That makes me feel so much better.
SLAYTON: Wait a second, she raised two children on her own. She`s getting a degree - was getting a degree as a biochemist and she`s the world`s top tattoo and fetish model. That`s a great resume. I don`t care how you -
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: No matter how you put it -- she also, Rob, she goes on to say she`s surprised more people are not taking her side. Delusional.
SHUTER: Yes delusional.
BEHAR: Can we say delusional?
SHUTER: Yes delusional, totally delusional, totally self-absorbed. She`s looking for her reality show, she`s looking for her next minute of fame and she`s probably going to get it.
BERNARD: But the one thing I think we should point out, which is, there`s so much goodwill for Sandra Bullock in Hollywood. And I think that`s another reason why people haven`t, you know, given her even more time -
(CROSSTALK)
SHUTER: You are right.
BERNARD: She`s one of those rare people that she is really respected.
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: What do you think about Sandra Bullock in this? I mean do you have an idea - she`s with a guy, he`s got all -
SHUTER: I don`t know.
BEHAR: All these swastikas all over the place, he takes a picture in Nazi uniform. What the hell is that about?
SHUTER: You know what -
BEHAR: I mean wouldn`t she know about it?
SLAYTON: Well she dresses as Nazi, he dresses as Nazi, and all I have to say being a Jew, they are (inaudible), what are you going to do?
(LAUGHTER)
SLAYTON: You act like you`re nothing. Are you crazy?
BEHAR: OK, finally new details behind Conan O`Brien`s announcement that he`ll making his new late night home on TBS. It`s a five-year deal for less money. Should we hold a telethon for Conan?
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: OK. And he`s going to have ownership of the show, right?
SHUTER: Yes, yes.
BEHAR: So he`ll make more?
SHUTER: Potentially he could make a for fun from this. The deal with FOX fell apart I was told because of money. He wanted a lot of money from FOX. The other thing too that he didn`t want, is he didn`t want the pressure of ratings. He did not want to fail again. So going to this cable network where ratings are little, you know, not very important but not as expected as being back on FOX.
BEHAR: Right, he would have had to compete with the other two guns.
BERNARD: I don`t think it fell apart because of money. I think they weren`t going to guarantee that he would be on at 11:00 because they have so many kind indicated programs. But I think the great thing about this is that now he`s going to be in front of a younger audience. I mean cable, honestly, gives him more freedom, right. We love people.
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: Old people don`t watch cable?
(LAUGHTER)
BERNARD: No but the young -- everyone watches cable. No, but his lead-in is going to be "THE OFFICE" and "THE FAMILY GUY." That`s going to be a much younger audience than NBC.
SHUTER: Much lower -
BEHAR: Than Jay Leno was.
SHUTER: Yes.
BERNARD: But the interesting thing though is that now I mean I kind of wanted him to be up against Leno again just for fun.
BEHAR: Yes.
BERNARD: But I think that now it`s going to be so interesting, he`s up against Jon Stewart, right?
BEHAR: Yes.
BERNARD: And Chelsea Handler.
BEHAR: What do you think of that? What do you think of that?
SLAYTON: I`m happy for both of them. These are two more shows I can`t get on.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
SLAYTON: You know what it`s about Conan? He`s so white maybe Ted Turner will colorize him so he has color on his face.
BEHAR: Yes that would be good, listen, what about Leno. He was atypically mum on this whole thing last night.
SHUTER: Yes and I bet he will stay silent. He wants this to just go away, he wants this problem to just be gone, and it`s not going to go anywhere.
BEHAR: I thought that they -- Conan was OK about Leno until one night he said something like that, you can have -- listen, boys and girls, you can have anything you want unless Jay Leno wants it. And I thought that was a low blow on Conan`s part.
BERNARD: It is a little but I mean you understand him being angry. But I just want to say something about George Lopez thing. Apparently this whole situation would not have happened if George hadn`t actually called Conan and said, listen, this is a great idea and I`m happy about it. Because Conan said I don`t want to be the one -
SHUTER: Right.
BERNARD: To kick someone else off of the air -
BEHAR: He`s scared, George, let`s face it, who isn`t?
OK if you`re in New York this weekend be sure to catch Bobby Slayton performing at comics and don`t forget his new DVD, "Born to be Bobby" is available on April 27th. Thank you, guys. Up next "THE GOOD WIFE`S" Alan Cumming joins me, so stick around.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BEHAR: This guy is a wonderful actor. He was noticed by an American audience in the movie "Circles of Friends" and went on to play a bond villain, all before winning a Tony for his performance in "Cabaret." I saw that, he was great. He`s currently appearing on my favorite show, "THE GOOD WIFE." take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALAN CUMMING, ACTOR: The only reason I`m here is because of what I heard about your reputation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Which is?
CUMMING: You`re a son of -- can I say son of bitch or is that too salty.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s fine.
CUMMING: You sir, are a son of bitch but a son of a bitch who likes to change things for the better. I`ve also heard that you`re toxic and if I join your merry little band of political hobbyist this year, I`m going to end up regretting it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Here with me now is the very talented Alan Cumming. Welcome to the show, Alan.
CUMMING: Thank you, Joy.
BEHAR: What were you saying to me? You wanted to take a bitch out?
CUMMING: I thought that they beeped out one of my bitches and let one go.
BEHAR: Yes.
CUMMING: It was kind of --
CUMMING: Well they liked one bitch and they didn`t like another bitch. That`s how they are around here.
CUMMING: Nice, me too.
BEHAR: I really love that show.
CUMMING: Yes.
BEHAR: I watch it. I love it. I think you`re all so terrific and have a great American accents.
CUMMING: Thank you.
BEHAR: You play a Jewish guy.
CUMMINGS: I`m Jew, yes.
BEHAR: In this play but, yes, with an American accent.
CUMMING: I`m an American Jew, I call them a Jew in the suit.
BEHAR: Jew in a suit, what you are is like a Scot in a suit -
CUMMING: I am a Scot in a suit today.
BEHAR: Well not to say scotch, right, Scottish.
CUMMING: Scottish or yes, scotch is the drink.
BEHAR: You can`t say scotch.
CUMMING: It would be patronizing.
BEHAR: Yes it would.
CUMMING: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: Yes but you know I always find that the Britts can do - even though you are Scottish, British -
CUMMING: I`m British too.
BEHAR: You know the whole thing.
CUMMING: There`s Scottish in Britain, too.
BEHAR: Yes but that whole group over there.
CUMMING: Yes.
BEHAR: Wales, Scotland -
CUMMING: Yes, over there, yes.
BEHAR: Ireland, England, all of that group. They always can do great American accents.
CUMMING: Well you know why? I mean, well not, I think it`s because we`re are so bombarded by American culture, much more so than the other way around. So -
BEHAR: Probably.
CUMMING: You know, there`s so many more films and television series that are American that we have on our screens and televisions compared to the British or English ones you get. So I think more people over there can do a passable American accent than the other way around, I think.
BEHAR: Yes, do you keep that going when you`re working on "THE GOOD WIFE." Do you just stay in there, the accent, the American accent the whole time?
CUMMING: No. No.
BEHAR: You can switch back and forth?
CUMMING: I switch back and forth.
BEHAR: You`re a switch-hitter? Well I`ve heard about you anyway.
CUMMING: I just gave you that.
BEHAR: Yes, you did. Thank you for that. Thank you
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: Now I understand you`re working on a one-man show.
CUMMING: Yes.
BEHAR: And it`s all about becoming an American citizen.
CUMMING: Yes. It`s called -- well, originally it was called -- I did it a year ago, and throughout last year it`s called "I Bought a Blue Car Today" and I did an album of the same name and that was the sentence I wrote down in my citizenship test when they ask you to prove that you can read and write English.
BEHAR: Uh-huh.
CUMMING: And today that show is that made time, things that happened to me since I came to America and my thoughts about it and I sang these songs I like so I`m doing it at Feinstein`s in New York at the end of April then in June.
BEHAR: I want to come, I want to come see you. I`d go to Feinstein`s all the time. I like it there.
CUMMING: Oh you do?
BEHAR: Now you became a citizen November 20, `08, three days after the presidential election.
CUMMING: Yes.
BEHAR: Were you sorry you couldn`t vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin?
(LAUGHTER)
CUMMING: Bitter. Bitter. Yes. You betcha I was.
BEHAR: You betcha.
CUMMING: No. You know the whole reason for me starting the process was so I could -- I was really inspired by Obama. When you have a green card, you can do everything that a real American can do aside from vote.
BEHAR: Yes.
CUMMING: And so I just thought, you know, I want to be part -- I kind of mouth off about politics and stuff this country and I think I should go the whole hog. So it just takes a little longer now than it used to -
BEHAR: Yes.
CUMMING: Anything to do with immigration. So - I`ll vote next time.
BEHAR: Yes, but do you have anybody in Scotland who like, Sarah Palin, who is running for higher office, would they ever think of somebody that unqualified to run for higher office like that?
CUMMING: Absolutely not. No way that would happen in Britain. It`s a peculiar -- I think -- I think in some way the Sarah Palin phenomenon has to do with the fact that she makes a lot people feel comfortable about themselves.
BEHAR: Oh really?
CUMMING: Yes. I think she -- and the fact she`s so -- what`s the word? Shows off and enjoys the fact she`s uninformed.
BEHAR: Yes.
CUMMING: She makes a lot of people uninformed think why should we be informed? That`s part of her --
BEHAR: Her charm?
CUMMING: Yes. I can`t conceive of it at all happening here. Anywhere outside of America to be honest. Maybe Italy.
BEHAR: In Italy, too. They`ve had some whacky -- right. So they`re a little whacky there, too. Let`s talk about the fact that you came out. When did you come out of the closet? I hate that expression.
CUMMING: I do, too.
BEHAR: It`s weird.
CUMMING: Like you`re hiding.
BEHAR: You are hiding, yes.
CUMMING: Like, I don`t know. It`s funny, I was talking about this the other day. I don`t, you know, I actually came out in a public way because I was sort of famous and thought I should say stuff about it and say it in forum I felt I could say what I felt and it wouldn`t be, you know, treated sensationally. But I also, I kind of came out - I think when you`re at drama school, and you are shagging some boy, you don`t really have to have a press conference.
BEHAR: No. That`s true.
CUMMING: And so as the years went by and you know I was married and that was all --
BEHAR: To a woman?
CUMMING: I was married to a woman, but I had a boyfriend at drama school and got married to a woman.
BEHAR: Only the Brits are that versatile.
CUMMING: I do think it`s actually less of a big deal about gayness in general but also going backwards and forwards. And I don`t, it`s just, you know, but anyway. When I came to America I found people`s interest in my sexuality was much more - it was much more stronger. I found out journalists were just obsessed about it. And I was really amused, and then eventually I thought I should really do it in a way that I feel that I can control and I he feel would be a positive. Because I think, you know, when you become more well-known, it`s more important what you say about your sexuality and how you feel --
BEHAR: Well it has an impact.
CUMMING: Well, absolutely. That`s why I came out in "out" magazine and he was naked on the cover.
BEHAR: I wonder if we have that? We can always block a few spots.
CUMMING: As it were.
BEHAR: OK. Stay right there. We`ll be back with more from Alan Cumming in a minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BEHAR: I`m back with actor Alan Cumming. You started a website called itsasickness.com. What`s that about?
CUMMING: Yes, it`s about obsession. It`s really exciting, actually. It`s about where you can go --because I think in our society right now, and in our culture we`re all really obsessed. We don`t just have hobbies. We`re obsessed by things, whether it`s, like, shoes or your blackberry. Do you know what I mean?
BEHAR: Yes.
CUMMING: It`s a very obsessive time. And so me and my friend Barnaby and Fred, we`ve started a website where you can go, the point of it is you can go and either join a group or make a group if there`s not one for your obsession and see -- meet other people obsessed with the same thing as you and then add content and find out more things you`re obsessed by.
BEHAR: Oh I see.
CUMMING: And we call that your sickness. Everyone is sick.
BEHAR: Yes.
CUMMING: So it can be -
BEHAR: So what are you obsessed with?
CUMMING: Well my groups on the site are truffle oil?
BEHAR: Truffle oil?
CUMMING: Yes. Lina Savaroni (ph) she was a Scottish singing sensation who became anorexic then had a lobotomy --
BEHAR: In that order?
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: In that order?
CUMMING: Yes she died of a lobotomy. It`s a tragic story.
BEHAR: Sounds horrible.
CUMMING: I`m kind of obsessed by her. Then and these fairies in Scotland that go to all the islands Caladorium Fairies, I`m obsessed with them.
BEHAR: What kind of fairies?
CUMMING: You know fairies -
BEHAR: Oh fairies - I though you said fairies.
CUMMING: No.
BEHAR: Oh OK.
CUMMING: And gay rights is one of my obsessions.
BEHAR: Yes.
CUMMING: And flip videos, I love doing flip videos. And luxury travel.
BEHAR: OK. So gay rights is one of your obsessions. It should be I think. You know you`re out there and --
CUMMING: I`m a second-class citizen.
BEHAR: Well, you`re not married in this country. You`re married in the U.K.
CUMMING: I`m married in the U.K. where it`s legal.
BEHAR: Is marriage, or is it called civil unions there?
CUMMING: It`s called civil partnership - is the name --
BEHAR: You have every right every married couple, heterosexual couple has?
CUMMING: Yes.
BEHAR: Every single thing. The issue here in this country is that.
CUMMING: The issue here, some states a civil union different from a civil partnership which is different from marriage. And you know, I think that -- for me I actually think it`s -- I wrote an article for "Out" magazine this month about how I feel the gay rights movement has been hampered by the Semitic issue of the word marriage.
BEHAR: Do you think so?
CUMMING: I do definitely. And I think like the whole Sarah Palin`s of the world are really frightened by the idea of the word marriage being used by non-straight people. And I think -
BEHAR: Oh yes.
CUMMING: And I think as long as you have the same rights and the same legal respect I don`t feel that the word marriage not being used -- and also marriage sort of brings God into in a a funny sort of way that I don`t feel is appropriate.
BEHAR: Yes. I mean, you know, Mike Huckabee who was also running for president, he said some terrible things to say about it. He believes you don`t ahead and accommodate every behavioral pattern that is against the ideal. He says, if people use drug, so let`s go ahead and accommodate those who use drugs. There`s some people who believe in incest so we should accommodate them. He puts all of that together. They conflate these ideas together and frighten everybody.
CUMMING: Yes well that`s the whole idea. The conspiracy of fear. I just find - you know I think about things like that. A man would compare my -- how I live my life to drug abuse or incest or --
BEHAR: Pedophilia.
CUMMING: -- or raising a puppy. Or pedophilia. I think, you know, I find him so offensive. I find his lifestyle so offensive. The fact he goes around spewing venom and lies. I find that so repugnant and offensive. And the fact he`s given so much credence and air time, frankly, you know, why should we have to listen to this stuff? I mean, if you look at it that way, say excuse me, I`m not interested in what you say at all, but people are interesting.
BEHAR: I know, but there are many people who are not.
CUMMING: Thankfully.
BEHAR: And a lot of them are watching this show.
CUMMING: Yes, hooray.
BEHAR: Thank you for coming on with me.
CUMMING: Thank you, Joy.
BEHAR: And thank you all for watching. Good night, everybody.
END
