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Latest Gallup Polls; Jack Valenti Shares Oscar Memories
Aired February 22, 2005 - 14:30 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.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And right "Now in the News," it was the ending Texas police anticipated, but not one anyone wanted. Just a short time ago, authorities found the bodies of missing pregnant woman Lisa Underwood and her 7-year-old son Jayden near Denton, Texas. 37- year-old Stephen Barbee, who was arrested and charged with capital murder before the bodies were found, is now in Fort Worth. His bond is set at $2 million. Police say at some point Barbee was romantically involved with Lisa Underwood, but do not know if he was the father of her unborn child.
A last ditch appeal. As one court ordered stay expires, a Florida County judge issues an extension that blocks the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube until 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. The parents of the brain-damaged woman sought the emergency stay to block Terri's husband from having the tube removed. The attorney representing Michael Schiavo says he'll act as soon as legally permissible.
400 victims counted so far in this morning's earthquake in Iran. The magnitude 6.4 quake hit the Kerman province, that's about 125 miles from Bam, which was involved by an earthquake just over a year ago. One official told the media the total death toll may reach 1,000 as many bodies have yet to be dug out of the rubble.
Charged with conspiracy and suspected in connection with a possible plot to assassinate President Bush and now held without bail. Ahmed Abu Ali, 23, indicted on a total of six charges in a Virginia courtroom today, a day after he was returned to the U.S. from a prison cell in Saudi Arabia. He was detained there for 20 months on suspicions of terrorism and supporting al Qaeda.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is working hard this week, trying to rebuild alliances with European leaders. We want to get a pulse of how the U.S. rates in the eyes of the rest of the world.
For more on that, we turn now to Gallup editor-in-chief. That is Frank Newport, of course. He's crunching the numbers in Princeton, New Jersey. What do those numbers say, Frank?
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP: Well, indeed we are. We're looking at what Americans think other people think about the United States. This is the classic looking glass poll. But it's very important, and the American public would agree that those fences do, in fact, need to be mended.
A couple of interesting questions that we have tracked here at Gallup. First of all, how does the U.S. rate in the eyes of the world? 73 percent favorable, back when George W. Bush first took office, Feb. '01. Now less than half. Only 48 percent of Americans say the U.S. is viewed favorably. A little over half say the U.S. is viewed unfavorably. And again, these are American citizens who are projecting that other people view that way about the United States.
Second question, do leaders around the world have respect for President George W. Bush? That's gone up and down as we've tracked it. At one point after 9/11, three-quarters of Americans said yes. Been going down since. Now only about a third of Americans say yes to that. So again, George W. Bush's trip certainly is well-advised if he is mending fences, at least based on American public opinion -- Betty.
NGUYEN: And speaking of that trip, the president met with the French president yesterday. He'll meet with the German chancellor tomorrow. The images of both nations took a hit in the U.S. because of their stance on the war in Iraq. Have those opinions changed at all, Frank?
NEWPORT: Well, they have changed. It's kind of interesting. Germany has recovered in the eyes of Americans more than France. Maybe not surprisingly. Here's the track. You have a favorable opinion of Germany. Was 83 percent, fell to 49 after Germany did not support the U.S. in the Iraq invasion. Now back up to 73 percent, almost recovered.
But look at France. Started out very positive. Pre-Iraq war, Americans, oh, 79 percent favorable opinion of France. Plummeted al the way down to just 34 percent, now back up to 31. So it's recovered a little, Betty. That is American attitudes towards France still not nearly as positive as it was, let's say, three or four years ago.
NGUYEN: And speaking of attitudes, what country do Americans think poses the biggest threat to the U.S. today?
NEWPORT: Well, this is an interesting track. It's a question that's quite simple. We don't prompt Americans, we just say who is the United States' greatest enemy at this point? It used to be, a long time ago, of course, China, USSR. More recently, it was just Iraq all by itself. In fact, North Korea was way down, barely mentioned by Americans. But look how times have changed.
When we just asked it, 22 percent of Americans say it's Korea, North Korea. About the same numbers still say Iraq, then Iran, China, and a few mention Afghanistan -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Frank Newport, as always, very interesting numbers. Thank you.
HARRIS: And news around the world now. Back to the bargaining table. North Korea says it's willing to resume six-party talks on nuclear disarmament under certain conditions. Those conditions were not specified. But it is asking for the U.S. to show what it calls a measure of sincerity.
Pope John Paul II is easing back into his duties today. He met with the prime minister of Croatia. The pope is still frail, but alert. It's the first meeting he's had with a foreign leader since his recent health crisis.
Breaking with tradition again. Britain's Prince Charles will not have a best man at his wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles. His brothers, Andrew and Edward, were his best men for his marriage to Princess Diana. I think you may remember. Many had speculated his sons will fill the role this time around, but the prince's spokesman said the April 8th ceremony won't be that sort of wedding.
The countdown to Oscar night is on. Our Sibila Vargas will have some great behind-the scenes stories for us all week. Hello, Sibila.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Tony. "The Aviator" is up for 11 Oscars this Sunday, including one for director Martin Scorsese. I'm one-on-one with the Hollywood heavyweight coming up.
NGUYEN: And then, take a trip down Oscar memory lane with Jack Valenti. He was head of the Motion Picture Association for many years. We'll talk with him.
And find a penny, pick it up. You know that. Well, lots of people could have some pretty good luck if they picked up this one.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: What stories are most popular for web surfers at this hour? Christina Park is here from cnn.com. From the Dot Com Desk with the D.L., the down low.
CHRISTINA PARK, CNN.COM: The down low.
HARRIS: Yes.
PARK: But remember, it's always changing, so you've got to check back at cnn.com. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston hot, hot, hot in a wax on, wax off story involving Madame Tussaud's famous wax museum in London. You see, after superstars Brad and Jen recently announced their separation, sculptors had to physically separate their wax figures.
A museum spokeswoman says it took quite a lot of work because they were entwined, Jen with a hand on Brad's chest and her other hand on his bottom. It cost a reported $19,000 to remold the wax figures' arms. The wax couple is now on display, but with their backs to each other. Still, the museum is hopeful the couple will reunite, even waxing poetics by saying it would happily spend the money to entwine them once more. Aww.
Also on cnn.com, you'll find our top-ten most popular stories. Making the top ten right now, Martha Stewart's homecoming and why she ate dandelions in prison.
HARRIS: What?
PARK: That's right. The homemaking diva is set to be released from prison next week after her conviction a year ago for the ImClone stock scandal. It seems that all is forgiven with her company and her magazine, "Martha Stewart Living." You can start reading her new column starting in April. And in fact, the magazine editor's already welcoming her back in the March issue. She also spills some details of Stewart's experiences in federal prison.
Through letters, Martha Stewart describes foraging for wild greens, such as dandelions, on the prison grounds. Then, she says, to augment the limited fresh vegetable offerings in the prison diet. She also writes of decorating the prison chapel with remnants from the garden and whipping up tasty microwave recipes with ingredients from the prison commissary. Now once Stewart is released, she'll serve five months of house arrest at her home in Bedford, New York. She's also signed on for two TV shows, a daily lifestyle program and a new version of "The Apprentice," both to be produced by reality show heavyweight Mark Burnett.
Now remember, you can always check our most popular stories, those getting the most clicks, on cnn.com by going to the link at the top right-hand side of your Web site or you can just log on to cnn.com/mostpopular.
HARRIS: Whew, that's a mouthful. Christina, appreciate it. Thank you.
PARK: You're welcome.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Hollywood recognizes its best movie work from last year Sunday night with the 77th Academy Awards. I know I'll be watching. CNN entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas will also be watching, and she's been talking with a legendary director who is hoping multiple Oscars will go to his film "The Aviator." She joins us now from Los Angeles.
Hi there, Sibila.
VARGAS: Hey there, Betty, that's sure right. The famed director is up for his fifth career Academy Award for best director. Hard to believe he hasn't gotten one yet. So what does Martin Scorsese look for in a good script? A good challenge.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: Speaking about challenges, "The Aviator" must have been tremendous, some of the aerial scenes, the grandness of this film.
MARTIN SCORSESE, DIRECTOR: Yes. It was extraordinarily difficult. The thing about it was that I liked the script so much that when I read it -- and I read 190-page version of it first. I talked about some trims and cuts with John Logan. But there's something that just happens when you get involved with this kind of a project. That I looked at it and said, oh I can do this.
(LAUGHTER)
SCORSESE: I didn't realize until I was in preproduction, wait a minute. You know.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE AVIATOR")
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Give us your position.
LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ACTOR: Two thousand feet over -- oh, Christ, I don't know, Beverly Hills.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCORSESE: The first thing I did was lay out all the flying scenes and then worked on those with Rob Legato and his visual effects team. But I laid all those out. I locked myself in a room, in a hotel here for about three days. But I was so excited, I just didn't realize until I got right into the middle of preproduction, this is big.
(LAUGHTER)
VARGAS: It's huge. Yes.
SCORSESE: And we made it on budget and on schedule.
VARGAS: Now this is your fifth nomination.
SCORSESE: Yes.
VARGAS: What makes this one so important to you?
SCORSESE: For me, it's been 32, 33 years of making films. And I'm nominated again. And I feel it's great to be part of the group. And it's also extraordinary to be given the nod again by the professionals and the artists in the industry. It really is. I mean, you could sort of be forgotten about, and you're not, which is very nice. And if you win, you win.
VARGAS: A lot of people will be upset if you don't win, though.
SCORSESE: I feel bad for that, because they have to sort of think in terms of, like, look, I've made so many of these movies that you like. If you like me and my movies, they've already been done. I didn't receive any Oscar for best director. I would like to win. And I would like the film to get some awards. I'd love my actors to get something, but what happens will happen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: And what happens will happen. While many fingers are crossed for Scorsese to win, it's "Million Dollar Baby" director Clint Eastwood that's the favorite. Well, good luck to all the contenders.
And later this week, perhaps the most controversial film nominated for an Oscar. I go behind the scenes with the documentary "Twist of Faith."
NGUYEN: Looking forward to that, Sibila, and also the winners at the Oscars. Can't wait to see who they will be. Thank you, Sibila.
HARRIS: Our next guest has many special memories of Oscar. Jack Valenti was chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America from 1966 until last year. He's in our Los Angeles bureau.
Jack, good to see you.
JACK VALENTI, FMR. PRES., MPAA: Thank you, Tony.
HARRIS: Got to ask you, 38 years of attending the ceremony in Los Angeles. This will be your first year attending not as the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. Do you miss it at all?
VALENTI: Well, no. I'm still part of the industry. And I love that. And the Academy Awards are the Nobel Prize of world cinema. And every time I go, I'm excited. It's a new thrilling adventure. So I'm looking forward to Sunday night with a great deal of zest.
HARRIS: But Jack, if I asked you to look back over the years and tell us all your favorite Oscar year, what would it be?
VALENTI: Well, I think the most memorable scene is when David Niven was on stage.
HARRIS: This is the shortcomings thing, right?
VALENTI: And this fellow streaked across the stage totally nude. And David looked up. And without a beat said: "Well, he's trying to show us some of his shortcomings."
HARRIS: Right. So that would be one of your favorite moments?
VALENTI: Well, it was memorable. But I must say, Billy Crystal and Steve Martin, Bob Hope, I mean, great, great masters of ceremonies. And, of course, Gil Cates will be producing his 12th Oscar this year. He's one of the greatest of all TV -- of Oscar producers. And he promises to have a whole different adventurous new design.
HARRIS: Hey, Jack, what do you think about this idea of Chris Rock, Chris Rock as the host of the Oscars?
VALENTI: I love Chris Rock. I've got a bunch of his albums. He's fantastic. He's a very funny man. He's also very smart. And I think he's going to tailor his remarks to that audience. Although I understand ABC does have...
HARRIS: A little delay on it?
VALENTI: ... a three or five-second delay as a life net. But, you know, Tony, while we're here, what most people don't know is the golden year of the Oscars was in 1939...
HARRIS: 1939. VALENTI: ... when there were nine pictures, any one of which could have won the Academy Award on their own. "Gone With the Wind" won, and there was "Goodbye, Mr. Chips." There was...
HARRIS: "Love Affair."
VALENTI: ... "Wizard of Oz," "Love Affair," "Stagecoach" with Duke Wayne, "Ninotchka" with Garbo, "Wuthering Heights" Laurence Olivier, "Dark Victory" Bette Davis, "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," Robert Donat and Greer Garson. It was an extraordinary array. I was doing some history reading on the Academy and came across that. And I was blown away by the extraordinary talent, the gifted people, and those wonderful movies, which, by the way, 70 years later, whatever it is, almost 70, 65, hold up extremely well.
HARRIS: You know, you had a full-fledged political life as well. Tell us about the three years you spent with Lyndon Johnson and what those three years gave you as you moved on to your work in Hollywood.
VALENTI: Well, I was president at one of the seminal and most tragic, nightmarish events of the 20th Century. I was in the motorcade in Dallas six cars back of President Kennedy when he was murdered, slain in the streets of Dallas. And the nation's life changed. And mine did as well. And I flew back, the new president, he ordered me aboard Air Force One in dallas and said that he wanted me on his staff and wanted me to fly back with him, and I did.
I learned so much from Lyndon Johnson. He was the single most formidable political leader I have ever known or ever will know. And I think, in my 41 years in Washington and Hollywood, I've known them all. I learned about the human condition, and I learned how to treat other people.
And I remember he once told me, he said, if you get into a fight, a political fight, do not try to kill your adversary because your adversary today may have to be your ally tomorrow. Never burn a bridge. Never get personal. And I learned that. And it served me so well in Hollywood which may have helped me survive almost 39 years.
HARRIS: Oh, survived and thrived. Enjoy the show on Sunday.
VALENTI: Thank you very much.
HARRIS: Jack, good to see you.
VALENTI: Thank you very much.
HARRIS: We'll take a break and come back with more LIVE FROM right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: A copper coin worth quite a pretty penny. Take a look at this. 19 -- or, change that, 1792 penny sold for auction. And guess how much, Tony? Just take a guess.
HARRIS: A lot of money.
NGUYEN: $437,000, to be exact.
HARRIS: Told you. A lot of money.
NGUYEN: Yesterday. It went to a New York man. Now, the costly coin once belonged to Oliver Wolcott. He was governor of Connecticut back in the 1790s and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. A lot of history behind this coin. It's been kept in a tobacco tin for decades. Perhaps a more fitting place would be a bank. Just a guess here. Maybe want to put it in the bank now.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
HARRIS: It is almost the top of the hour. Police say they've found a body in the investigation of a missing pregnant woman and her son. We'll update the investigation next.
NGUYEN: And the first lady says adieu to her husband just for the day to deliver her own message of goodwill in Europe.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: "Now in the News." The search for a pregnant Texas woman and her 7-year-old son comes to an end near Denton, north of Dallas. The women's former boyfriend has been charged with murder. We'll have the late, breaking developments coming up this hour.
An American citizen is accused of providing support to al Qaeda and implicated in a possible plot to assassinate President Bush. 23- year-old Ahmed Abu Ali appeared in court in Alexandria, Virginia, today. He was arrested while studying in Saudi Arabia and detained there for 20 months. He was returned to the United States yesterday.
A busy day in Brussels for President Bush. Meeting with European Union leaders a couple of hours ago. He said any notion the U.S. is getting ready to attack Iran is, quote, "ridiculous." Earlier NATO announced all 26 of its member nations would help train Iraqi security forces. Highlights of the president's day are straight ahead.
It's nighttime in Iran, but that hasn't stopped the desperate search for survivors of this morning's earthquake. The 6.4 magnitude quake struck in central Iran, leveling entire villages. At last report, 400 are dead, more than 900 injured.
NGUYEN: It started on Saturday when a bagel shop owner and pregnant mother of one failed to show up for a baby shower in Texas. Police found blood in the Fort Worth home of Lisa Underwood and her 7- year-old son Jayden. Now, yesterday they found Underwood's SUV abandoned in a creek some 30 miles away. And today, a one-time boyfriend was charged with capital murder. And at least one body was also found today, in water, near the Texas town of Denton. Here's a portion of a news conference you may have seen live this morning on CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 22, 2005 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And right "Now in the News," it was the ending Texas police anticipated, but not one anyone wanted. Just a short time ago, authorities found the bodies of missing pregnant woman Lisa Underwood and her 7-year-old son Jayden near Denton, Texas. 37- year-old Stephen Barbee, who was arrested and charged with capital murder before the bodies were found, is now in Fort Worth. His bond is set at $2 million. Police say at some point Barbee was romantically involved with Lisa Underwood, but do not know if he was the father of her unborn child.
A last ditch appeal. As one court ordered stay expires, a Florida County judge issues an extension that blocks the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube until 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. The parents of the brain-damaged woman sought the emergency stay to block Terri's husband from having the tube removed. The attorney representing Michael Schiavo says he'll act as soon as legally permissible.
400 victims counted so far in this morning's earthquake in Iran. The magnitude 6.4 quake hit the Kerman province, that's about 125 miles from Bam, which was involved by an earthquake just over a year ago. One official told the media the total death toll may reach 1,000 as many bodies have yet to be dug out of the rubble.
Charged with conspiracy and suspected in connection with a possible plot to assassinate President Bush and now held without bail. Ahmed Abu Ali, 23, indicted on a total of six charges in a Virginia courtroom today, a day after he was returned to the U.S. from a prison cell in Saudi Arabia. He was detained there for 20 months on suspicions of terrorism and supporting al Qaeda.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is working hard this week, trying to rebuild alliances with European leaders. We want to get a pulse of how the U.S. rates in the eyes of the rest of the world.
For more on that, we turn now to Gallup editor-in-chief. That is Frank Newport, of course. He's crunching the numbers in Princeton, New Jersey. What do those numbers say, Frank?
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP: Well, indeed we are. We're looking at what Americans think other people think about the United States. This is the classic looking glass poll. But it's very important, and the American public would agree that those fences do, in fact, need to be mended.
A couple of interesting questions that we have tracked here at Gallup. First of all, how does the U.S. rate in the eyes of the world? 73 percent favorable, back when George W. Bush first took office, Feb. '01. Now less than half. Only 48 percent of Americans say the U.S. is viewed favorably. A little over half say the U.S. is viewed unfavorably. And again, these are American citizens who are projecting that other people view that way about the United States.
Second question, do leaders around the world have respect for President George W. Bush? That's gone up and down as we've tracked it. At one point after 9/11, three-quarters of Americans said yes. Been going down since. Now only about a third of Americans say yes to that. So again, George W. Bush's trip certainly is well-advised if he is mending fences, at least based on American public opinion -- Betty.
NGUYEN: And speaking of that trip, the president met with the French president yesterday. He'll meet with the German chancellor tomorrow. The images of both nations took a hit in the U.S. because of their stance on the war in Iraq. Have those opinions changed at all, Frank?
NEWPORT: Well, they have changed. It's kind of interesting. Germany has recovered in the eyes of Americans more than France. Maybe not surprisingly. Here's the track. You have a favorable opinion of Germany. Was 83 percent, fell to 49 after Germany did not support the U.S. in the Iraq invasion. Now back up to 73 percent, almost recovered.
But look at France. Started out very positive. Pre-Iraq war, Americans, oh, 79 percent favorable opinion of France. Plummeted al the way down to just 34 percent, now back up to 31. So it's recovered a little, Betty. That is American attitudes towards France still not nearly as positive as it was, let's say, three or four years ago.
NGUYEN: And speaking of attitudes, what country do Americans think poses the biggest threat to the U.S. today?
NEWPORT: Well, this is an interesting track. It's a question that's quite simple. We don't prompt Americans, we just say who is the United States' greatest enemy at this point? It used to be, a long time ago, of course, China, USSR. More recently, it was just Iraq all by itself. In fact, North Korea was way down, barely mentioned by Americans. But look how times have changed.
When we just asked it, 22 percent of Americans say it's Korea, North Korea. About the same numbers still say Iraq, then Iran, China, and a few mention Afghanistan -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Frank Newport, as always, very interesting numbers. Thank you.
HARRIS: And news around the world now. Back to the bargaining table. North Korea says it's willing to resume six-party talks on nuclear disarmament under certain conditions. Those conditions were not specified. But it is asking for the U.S. to show what it calls a measure of sincerity.
Pope John Paul II is easing back into his duties today. He met with the prime minister of Croatia. The pope is still frail, but alert. It's the first meeting he's had with a foreign leader since his recent health crisis.
Breaking with tradition again. Britain's Prince Charles will not have a best man at his wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles. His brothers, Andrew and Edward, were his best men for his marriage to Princess Diana. I think you may remember. Many had speculated his sons will fill the role this time around, but the prince's spokesman said the April 8th ceremony won't be that sort of wedding.
The countdown to Oscar night is on. Our Sibila Vargas will have some great behind-the scenes stories for us all week. Hello, Sibila.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Tony. "The Aviator" is up for 11 Oscars this Sunday, including one for director Martin Scorsese. I'm one-on-one with the Hollywood heavyweight coming up.
NGUYEN: And then, take a trip down Oscar memory lane with Jack Valenti. He was head of the Motion Picture Association for many years. We'll talk with him.
And find a penny, pick it up. You know that. Well, lots of people could have some pretty good luck if they picked up this one.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: What stories are most popular for web surfers at this hour? Christina Park is here from cnn.com. From the Dot Com Desk with the D.L., the down low.
CHRISTINA PARK, CNN.COM: The down low.
HARRIS: Yes.
PARK: But remember, it's always changing, so you've got to check back at cnn.com. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston hot, hot, hot in a wax on, wax off story involving Madame Tussaud's famous wax museum in London. You see, after superstars Brad and Jen recently announced their separation, sculptors had to physically separate their wax figures.
A museum spokeswoman says it took quite a lot of work because they were entwined, Jen with a hand on Brad's chest and her other hand on his bottom. It cost a reported $19,000 to remold the wax figures' arms. The wax couple is now on display, but with their backs to each other. Still, the museum is hopeful the couple will reunite, even waxing poetics by saying it would happily spend the money to entwine them once more. Aww.
Also on cnn.com, you'll find our top-ten most popular stories. Making the top ten right now, Martha Stewart's homecoming and why she ate dandelions in prison.
HARRIS: What?
PARK: That's right. The homemaking diva is set to be released from prison next week after her conviction a year ago for the ImClone stock scandal. It seems that all is forgiven with her company and her magazine, "Martha Stewart Living." You can start reading her new column starting in April. And in fact, the magazine editor's already welcoming her back in the March issue. She also spills some details of Stewart's experiences in federal prison.
Through letters, Martha Stewart describes foraging for wild greens, such as dandelions, on the prison grounds. Then, she says, to augment the limited fresh vegetable offerings in the prison diet. She also writes of decorating the prison chapel with remnants from the garden and whipping up tasty microwave recipes with ingredients from the prison commissary. Now once Stewart is released, she'll serve five months of house arrest at her home in Bedford, New York. She's also signed on for two TV shows, a daily lifestyle program and a new version of "The Apprentice," both to be produced by reality show heavyweight Mark Burnett.
Now remember, you can always check our most popular stories, those getting the most clicks, on cnn.com by going to the link at the top right-hand side of your Web site or you can just log on to cnn.com/mostpopular.
HARRIS: Whew, that's a mouthful. Christina, appreciate it. Thank you.
PARK: You're welcome.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Hollywood recognizes its best movie work from last year Sunday night with the 77th Academy Awards. I know I'll be watching. CNN entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas will also be watching, and she's been talking with a legendary director who is hoping multiple Oscars will go to his film "The Aviator." She joins us now from Los Angeles.
Hi there, Sibila.
VARGAS: Hey there, Betty, that's sure right. The famed director is up for his fifth career Academy Award for best director. Hard to believe he hasn't gotten one yet. So what does Martin Scorsese look for in a good script? A good challenge.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: Speaking about challenges, "The Aviator" must have been tremendous, some of the aerial scenes, the grandness of this film.
MARTIN SCORSESE, DIRECTOR: Yes. It was extraordinarily difficult. The thing about it was that I liked the script so much that when I read it -- and I read 190-page version of it first. I talked about some trims and cuts with John Logan. But there's something that just happens when you get involved with this kind of a project. That I looked at it and said, oh I can do this.
(LAUGHTER)
SCORSESE: I didn't realize until I was in preproduction, wait a minute. You know.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE AVIATOR")
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Give us your position.
LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ACTOR: Two thousand feet over -- oh, Christ, I don't know, Beverly Hills.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCORSESE: The first thing I did was lay out all the flying scenes and then worked on those with Rob Legato and his visual effects team. But I laid all those out. I locked myself in a room, in a hotel here for about three days. But I was so excited, I just didn't realize until I got right into the middle of preproduction, this is big.
(LAUGHTER)
VARGAS: It's huge. Yes.
SCORSESE: And we made it on budget and on schedule.
VARGAS: Now this is your fifth nomination.
SCORSESE: Yes.
VARGAS: What makes this one so important to you?
SCORSESE: For me, it's been 32, 33 years of making films. And I'm nominated again. And I feel it's great to be part of the group. And it's also extraordinary to be given the nod again by the professionals and the artists in the industry. It really is. I mean, you could sort of be forgotten about, and you're not, which is very nice. And if you win, you win.
VARGAS: A lot of people will be upset if you don't win, though.
SCORSESE: I feel bad for that, because they have to sort of think in terms of, like, look, I've made so many of these movies that you like. If you like me and my movies, they've already been done. I didn't receive any Oscar for best director. I would like to win. And I would like the film to get some awards. I'd love my actors to get something, but what happens will happen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: And what happens will happen. While many fingers are crossed for Scorsese to win, it's "Million Dollar Baby" director Clint Eastwood that's the favorite. Well, good luck to all the contenders.
And later this week, perhaps the most controversial film nominated for an Oscar. I go behind the scenes with the documentary "Twist of Faith."
NGUYEN: Looking forward to that, Sibila, and also the winners at the Oscars. Can't wait to see who they will be. Thank you, Sibila.
HARRIS: Our next guest has many special memories of Oscar. Jack Valenti was chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America from 1966 until last year. He's in our Los Angeles bureau.
Jack, good to see you.
JACK VALENTI, FMR. PRES., MPAA: Thank you, Tony.
HARRIS: Got to ask you, 38 years of attending the ceremony in Los Angeles. This will be your first year attending not as the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. Do you miss it at all?
VALENTI: Well, no. I'm still part of the industry. And I love that. And the Academy Awards are the Nobel Prize of world cinema. And every time I go, I'm excited. It's a new thrilling adventure. So I'm looking forward to Sunday night with a great deal of zest.
HARRIS: But Jack, if I asked you to look back over the years and tell us all your favorite Oscar year, what would it be?
VALENTI: Well, I think the most memorable scene is when David Niven was on stage.
HARRIS: This is the shortcomings thing, right?
VALENTI: And this fellow streaked across the stage totally nude. And David looked up. And without a beat said: "Well, he's trying to show us some of his shortcomings."
HARRIS: Right. So that would be one of your favorite moments?
VALENTI: Well, it was memorable. But I must say, Billy Crystal and Steve Martin, Bob Hope, I mean, great, great masters of ceremonies. And, of course, Gil Cates will be producing his 12th Oscar this year. He's one of the greatest of all TV -- of Oscar producers. And he promises to have a whole different adventurous new design.
HARRIS: Hey, Jack, what do you think about this idea of Chris Rock, Chris Rock as the host of the Oscars?
VALENTI: I love Chris Rock. I've got a bunch of his albums. He's fantastic. He's a very funny man. He's also very smart. And I think he's going to tailor his remarks to that audience. Although I understand ABC does have...
HARRIS: A little delay on it?
VALENTI: ... a three or five-second delay as a life net. But, you know, Tony, while we're here, what most people don't know is the golden year of the Oscars was in 1939...
HARRIS: 1939. VALENTI: ... when there were nine pictures, any one of which could have won the Academy Award on their own. "Gone With the Wind" won, and there was "Goodbye, Mr. Chips." There was...
HARRIS: "Love Affair."
VALENTI: ... "Wizard of Oz," "Love Affair," "Stagecoach" with Duke Wayne, "Ninotchka" with Garbo, "Wuthering Heights" Laurence Olivier, "Dark Victory" Bette Davis, "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," Robert Donat and Greer Garson. It was an extraordinary array. I was doing some history reading on the Academy and came across that. And I was blown away by the extraordinary talent, the gifted people, and those wonderful movies, which, by the way, 70 years later, whatever it is, almost 70, 65, hold up extremely well.
HARRIS: You know, you had a full-fledged political life as well. Tell us about the three years you spent with Lyndon Johnson and what those three years gave you as you moved on to your work in Hollywood.
VALENTI: Well, I was president at one of the seminal and most tragic, nightmarish events of the 20th Century. I was in the motorcade in Dallas six cars back of President Kennedy when he was murdered, slain in the streets of Dallas. And the nation's life changed. And mine did as well. And I flew back, the new president, he ordered me aboard Air Force One in dallas and said that he wanted me on his staff and wanted me to fly back with him, and I did.
I learned so much from Lyndon Johnson. He was the single most formidable political leader I have ever known or ever will know. And I think, in my 41 years in Washington and Hollywood, I've known them all. I learned about the human condition, and I learned how to treat other people.
And I remember he once told me, he said, if you get into a fight, a political fight, do not try to kill your adversary because your adversary today may have to be your ally tomorrow. Never burn a bridge. Never get personal. And I learned that. And it served me so well in Hollywood which may have helped me survive almost 39 years.
HARRIS: Oh, survived and thrived. Enjoy the show on Sunday.
VALENTI: Thank you very much.
HARRIS: Jack, good to see you.
VALENTI: Thank you very much.
HARRIS: We'll take a break and come back with more LIVE FROM right after this.
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NGUYEN: A copper coin worth quite a pretty penny. Take a look at this. 19 -- or, change that, 1792 penny sold for auction. And guess how much, Tony? Just take a guess.
HARRIS: A lot of money.
NGUYEN: $437,000, to be exact.
HARRIS: Told you. A lot of money.
NGUYEN: Yesterday. It went to a New York man. Now, the costly coin once belonged to Oliver Wolcott. He was governor of Connecticut back in the 1790s and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. A lot of history behind this coin. It's been kept in a tobacco tin for decades. Perhaps a more fitting place would be a bank. Just a guess here. Maybe want to put it in the bank now.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
HARRIS: It is almost the top of the hour. Police say they've found a body in the investigation of a missing pregnant woman and her son. We'll update the investigation next.
NGUYEN: And the first lady says adieu to her husband just for the day to deliver her own message of goodwill in Europe.
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HARRIS: "Now in the News." The search for a pregnant Texas woman and her 7-year-old son comes to an end near Denton, north of Dallas. The women's former boyfriend has been charged with murder. We'll have the late, breaking developments coming up this hour.
An American citizen is accused of providing support to al Qaeda and implicated in a possible plot to assassinate President Bush. 23- year-old Ahmed Abu Ali appeared in court in Alexandria, Virginia, today. He was arrested while studying in Saudi Arabia and detained there for 20 months. He was returned to the United States yesterday.
A busy day in Brussels for President Bush. Meeting with European Union leaders a couple of hours ago. He said any notion the U.S. is getting ready to attack Iran is, quote, "ridiculous." Earlier NATO announced all 26 of its member nations would help train Iraqi security forces. Highlights of the president's day are straight ahead.
It's nighttime in Iran, but that hasn't stopped the desperate search for survivors of this morning's earthquake. The 6.4 magnitude quake struck in central Iran, leveling entire villages. At last report, 400 are dead, more than 900 injured.
NGUYEN: It started on Saturday when a bagel shop owner and pregnant mother of one failed to show up for a baby shower in Texas. Police found blood in the Fort Worth home of Lisa Underwood and her 7- year-old son Jayden. Now, yesterday they found Underwood's SUV abandoned in a creek some 30 miles away. And today, a one-time boyfriend was charged with capital murder. And at least one body was also found today, in water, near the Texas town of Denton. Here's a portion of a news conference you may have seen live this morning on CNN.
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