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American Morning
Showbiz Today Reports: Singer Aaron Carter Stars in "Seussical: the Musical"; "TV Guide" Reporter Discusses NBC's "The Weakest Link"
Aired April 17, 2001 - 10:36 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The creator of a popular television drama is finding himself now in a real-life drama situation.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, a little law and order here.
Michael Okwu is in New York to tell us about that and more in our "Showbiz Today Reports."
Michael -- hello.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn, good morning, Leon, and good morning, everyone.
That's right: The Emmy-winning creator of NBC's Oval Office drama "The West Wing" is definitely facing his own real-life drama this morning. Aaron Sorkin was arrested Sunday at Burbank Airport, in California, when a search allegedly found illegal hallucinogenic mushrooms in a carry-on suitcase. Sorkin has admitted past problems with substance abuse. He was taken to Burbank City Jail for booking and released on $10,000 bail.
In a statement, Sorkin says he's prepared to proceed as directed by his attorney and in the best interest of his family.
Director Steven Spielberg says he's leaving his post on the advisory board of the Boy Scouts of America because the youth group engages in discrimination. In an apparent reference to scouting's exclusion of gays, Spielberg said, in a statement, he's deeply saddened by this discrimination. He added, "Once scouting fully opens its doors for all who desire the same experience that so fully enriched me as a young person, I will be happy to reconsider a role on the advisory board." Spielberg, who was an Eagle Scout, says he'll continue to encourage the group to end this intolerance and discrimination once and for all.
A happy anniversary to Michael Jackson. A publicist for the king of pop says the singer will be honored at an all-star concert at Madison Square Garden, in September, to honor his 30th anniversary as a solo artist. Whitney Houston, *NSYNC and Britney Spears are all slated to appear, according to Jackson's publicist. If the concert does come to pass, it will also mark a musical reunion -- now, grab your Cheetos doll -- of -- yes -- the Jackson 5. Jackson hasn't performed in the United States since his "Bad" concert tour, in the 1980s.
Aaron Carter is a heartthrob pop star to many young music fans. Now along with achievements in the recording world, Carter is scheduled to appear on Broadway and expand his ever-growing resume.
Bill Tush met with the young thespian in his dressing room and talked about, among other things, his role in "Seussical."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL TUSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Aaron Carter has long gotten out of the shadow of his older brother, Backstreet Boy Nick. He's made it on his own as a solo artist, but this 13-year-old is not resting on his laurels; Carter is taking on Broadway, pounding the boards as JoJo in "Seussical: the Musical."
AARON CARTER: He's the son of the mayor and the mayor's wife. My dad has just been elected, and basically, I get in trouble for thinking too much and imagining a lot of things. Every time I think of something, it appears, and there's new trouble.
TUSH: JoJo might not be so much of a stretch, either.
CARTER: Yes, he's exactly like me. That's the funny thing. I have a big imagination, like big, big, big.
Looking at a crystal ball -- let me see.
TUSH: One thing's out there: Teens will soon be bopping to his next release.
CARTER: I'm recording my third album. We're almost finished with it. We have, like, seven songs on it.
TUSH: And Broadway's not going to be the only place for Carter to hone his acting skills.
CARTER: I did a little skit on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and I did "Liz McGuire," too.
TUSH (on camera): Boy -- so you want to get into more acting?
CARTER: Oh, yes, definitely. I'm, actually, going to be doing the "Liz McGuire Show," probably, like, right after this.
TUSH (voice-over): Carter's run as JoJo ends May 6. "Seussical"'s producers hope his young fans will fill the seats to see their idol, but the singer, once called baby "Backstreet Boy," wants everyone to remember this is not a concert, but Broadway.
CARTER: We're just trying to make a point to just enjoy the slow.
Screaming is allowed, but not screaming "I want candy."
TUSH: After all, remember, for "Seussical: the Musical" Aaron Carter is in character.
Bill Tush, CNN Entertainment News, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
That's all the time we have for now, but join us in one hour for the "Survivor" scoop from "Survivor" host Jeff Probst. He's the one person who won't be booted out of the Outback, and he's joining us live. Don't miss it -- I know I won't.
In New York, I'm Michael Okwu. Back to you -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Michael, thanks so much.
In keeping with that "Survivor" theme, NBC is hoping to score big with its viewers with its latest show. It's called "The Weakest Link."
The show premiered last night. It's an American version of a British hit. "The Weakest Link" has been described as a combination of the popular CBS show "Survivor" and the ABC hit "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
Will the show be a new hit?
Let's talk to Mark Schwed, the writer for "TV Guide," joining us from -- it looks like you're in New York. Hi, Mark.
MARK SCHWED, "TV GUIDE": I'm in Los Angeles.
KAGAN: You're in Los Angeles? Wow, my hometown -- good to have you there, even though it meant you had to get up a little bit early. Good to have you with us.
OK, let's talk "Weakest Link." It was on last night. What did you think?
SCHWED: I felt like I was magically transported back to first grade, and I didn't know the capital of Florida and the evil teacher, Mrs. Crabtree, humiliated me in front of the entire class.
KAGAN: After all that election coverage, you didn't know the capital of Florida?
SCHWED: Now I know. That was first grade. It's Tallahassee.
KAGAN: OK, very good.
SCHWED: Thank you.
The game part of the show was very good. I mean, it's very interesting to watch these people. There are 8 people on the show, and they're trying to play as a team toward $1 million, but basically they're all fighting man for man.
But there's road rage, there's air rage, and now, apparently, we're going to have game show rage. She very mean to them, and I had some sympathy for the contestants until they got off the show and they were interviewed and they started trash talking their other contestants. So I found it really unpleasant.
KAGAN: And then you felt like saying goodbye to them.
SCHWED: I sure did, I sure did.
KAGAN: What about this host or hostess, as the case may be, Anne Robinson? She's British. I guess she's a really big deal in Britain, but here maybe Americans won't get what may be supposed to be kind of funny with British humor.
SCHWED: I didn't find anything funny about her. I just found her to be kind of cruel. You know, I could see where you'd want to get on a guy's case, like last night. A man named Marcus didn't know our president's middle name, and she kind of really got all over him on that -- maybe rightfully so, but it came off as being cruel, and not funny. Maybe the Brits love that kind of humor; I thought it was just unpleasant to watch.
KAGAN: Where do you think this is all going? I think the networks were probably nervous with the impending writers' and actors' strike. Is this the networks trying to grab onto what has been a fad, but also trying to cover themselves in case these strikes take place?
SCHWED: You pretty much hit them both, but they'll put anything on if they think it'll get good ratings. So far the reality show/game show, like "Survivor," all have done incredibly well in the ratings.
I have no doubt that this one is going to do very well. It certainly was hyped endlessly, and there wasn't much else on last night, and it's something new. I just have a feeling people can get tired of this one a little quicker than some of the other game shows that have come on.
KAGAN: We will see.
Well, you're our strong link this morning into the world of television. Mark Schwed from "TV Guide," thanks for being with us. For now, goodbye.
SCHWED: Goodbye.
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