Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Showbiz Today Reports: Jean Smart is `Sweeping Up' in May

Aired May 14, 2001 - 11:45   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Checking in on "Showbiz" news now.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, let's check in on Laurin Sydney, see how she's doing this morning -- hey Laurin.

LAURIN SYDNEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. We have a lot of good stuff today.

It was a happy "Mummy's Day" weekend at the box office. Brendan Fraser and his castmates in "The Mummy Returns" had moviegoers all wrapped up in the action as the sequel took in another $32 million. That puts it over the $100 million mark. So far, it has made $116 million.

"A Knight's Tale" with Heath Ledger debuted at No. 2 with $16 million, followed by "Bridget Jones's Diary."

Now, an actress who is truly sweeping up during network television's coveted May sweeps period is Jean Smart. She can be seen all around your dial guesting in three different series, including one who might have heard of called "Frasier." She was also just nominated for a Tony Award for her Broadway role opposite Nathan Lane in "The Man who Came to Dinner." Here's a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER")

NATHAN LANE, ACTOR: Take that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) off and tell me everything. How are you, my dear?

JEAN SMART, ACTRESS: Darling, I'm so relieved. You look perfectly wonderful, I never saw you look better. My, dear, do I look a wreck. I just dashed through New York, didn't do a thing about Christmas, headed to Carnegie and had my hair done and got right on the train. And the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) coming back was simply hectic, fun, you know but simply...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SYDNEY: And right now, Jean Smart is starring on CNN on "Showbiz Today Reports" -- we're happy to have you -- so busy, that you even have time to be here.

SMART: Thank you. Thank you. SYDNEY: I wanted to start with "Frasier," because it's a role that you were reprising. And it was the most beautiful, most popular girl in high school -- typecasting?

(LAUGHTER)

SMART: Oh, well gee, I had a good time in high school. High school was good. High school was good to me. I don't have the usual horror stories, I guess, that a lot of people do. I was a cheerleader and I was in theater and all of that stuff.

SYDNEY: And we just knew that. What about walking on the set of an established sitcom like "Frasier?" What is it like being the guest star out?

SMART: Well, I hadn't done a guest star since I first came to -- to Hollywood, so that was a little -- it was, yeah, it's a little unnerving. But everyone there is so incredibly kind and supportive that it was -- it was just a blast.

SYDNEY: And now on to No. 2 project. Since there are just so many to talk about and that's "The Oblongs."

SMART: Yes.

SYDNEY Where you lent your voice.

SMART: Yes.

SYDNEY: And your character is Pickles.

SMART: Pickles -- Pickles has -- well yes, Pickles because her -- she has a bit of a drinking problem, so -- just a bit. But she's a very good mother, despite that.

SYDNEY: And she will also be on during May sweeps.

SMART: Yes, yes. And she's a chain smoker, which -- they tried to get her to quit in one episode, which is not a pretty picture. And she occasionally -- they have a chain smoking cat as well and occasionally she lights her cigarette off the cat's.

SYDNEY: It's a little bit different. Can you give us a little taste of Pickle's voice or is that too just difficult to do?

SMART: Oh, I haven't done it for so long! I can't remember the last time -- let's see.

SYDNEY: Since we have no smoking cats here.

SMART: Yes. Well you know, she's always had a couple of, you know, drinks by lunchtime, so you know, she's just kind of feeling good all of the time and occasionally breaks into song, you know, "Happy Mother's Day!"

SYDNEY: That's pretty great. I saw the clip, that's great. And now, what about your role on "The District," another part that you'll be playing during May sweeps.

SMART: Yes, that was fun. It was very -- very different from the role I've been doing on "Frasier". And I play Craig T. Nelson's ex-wife. And she's an ex-cop and a New Yorker. And a redhead -- I get to be the redhead!

(LAUGHTER)

SYDNEY: Three different hair colors, three different roles.

SMART: That's right, that's right.

SYDNEY: One of them, we don't actually see.

SMART: Yes. No, Pickles is bald, but she wears a blonde, beehive wig.

SYDNEY: But you did have hair in your nomination for your Tony Award.

SMART: I did. That was a wig too. It was a gorgeous wig.

SYDNEY: And that was a fantastic play.

SMART: Oh, it was so much fun.

SYDNEY: So you'll be coming back this June. Do you have your speech written?

SMART: Oh, you mean in case I win?

SYDNEY: Yeah.

SMART: And you have the dress picked out and everything?

SYDNEY: Not yet, no.

SMART: You're too busy to do that, Jean. You've got to get going on all this stuff.

SYDNEY: I know. I know. I've been so fortunate, I really have. I've been having a great time. And before, we did four half-hour "Frasier's" back-to-back, but they turned them into two one hours. So tonight -- or Tuesday night is the first hour and then next Tuesday is the last hour. And there's a surprised guest at the end.

SYDNEY: OK, going to give us the initials, because we are out of time?

SMART: No, can't, can't do it, then you'll know.

SYDNEY: OK. Maybe Jean will tell us after the break and then (whisper) I'll tell you after the break, OK?

Jean, thank you so much

SMART: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com