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CNN Live At Daybreak

MTV and Johnny Knoxville Negotiating to Keep 'Jackass' Show

Aired August 22, 2001 - 07:49   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, one of the most popular shows on MTV is called "Jackass," and I can confess to you right now I have not seen it.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: No, but, you know, it's interesting to see people act and look like jackasses.

MCEDWARDS: Yes, interesting title.

LIN: Yes, very popular show. And you know if you don't have a concept quite, think Three Stooges turned up a notch or two.

And as CNN's Jodi Ross says, don't try this at home. In fact be warned, you might not even want to look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JODI ROSS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Watching the outrageous stunts on "Jackass" makes some people squirm. Now it seems MTV is squirming at the thought of losing their popular show.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dude, 34 hours straight and no one slept.

ROSS: Creator and host Johnny Knoxville reportedly told his hometown newspaper he's had enough. Maybe it's all the controversy or he's now a bona fide star or maybe it's a negotiating tactic. Whatever the reason, Knoxville says he has no interest in continuing the show.

But MTV isn't ready to let go. "Jackass" is one of the highest rated shows on the network so a spokesperson for the music channel told CNN -- quote -- "The fate of the show and Johnny Knoxville's involvement in it is still in negotiations."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Warning, the follow show features stunts performed either by professionals or under the supervision of professionals.

ROSS: Every week "Jackass" warns don't try this at home, but some members of the audience still do. In January, a 13-year-old Connecticut boy suffered severe burns after setting himself on fire in an attempt to imitate a specific episode. Same goes for a group of teens in Kentucky who drove a car to run over one of their friends saying their inspiration was the MTV program.

Outside MTV studies, young fans of the show say only stupid kids would try the stunts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The show is awesome. The kids should learn, they get hurt, they get hurt. It's their fault.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All my friends know better than that and we're all into

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I kind of would like to see the show stay because I think it does have some pretty good entertainment value.

ROSS: For its part, MTV has moved the show from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, there should be a warning on your program, man, the way that you just encourage people to break the law and do dangerous things.

ROSS: So for the first time since "Jackass" debuted last October, the conflict is not between the show and some viewers but between the network and its star.

Jodi Ross, CNN Entertainment News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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