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American Morning
Interview With 'Us' Editor
Aired July 25, 2002 - 09:14 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.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Hollywood is buzzing this morning about a stunning shake-up at the prime time White House. Actor Rob Lowe is leaving his post as deputy communications director in NBC's "The West Wing" at the end of the upcoming season. Now, Lowe says it's time for his character to go, but one report says it's actually because of a salary dispute.
Well, joining us now with more on that and a look at what's ahead in the entertainment world, Erik Jackson, senior editor for "Us" magazine.
Good morning, Erik.
ERIK JACKSON, SENIOR EDITOR, "US" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
NEVILLE: Now I read that it's about money, because, what, he makes $75,000 an episode...
JACKSON: That's right. That's right.
NEVILLE: ... and he wants more?
JACKSON: Just peanuts, $75,000 an episode. You know he's saying that there seems to be that there's no development for his character and that he's a -- that he feels that he's being ignored. Really what I think it is is it's money. His former -- his other castmates Allison Janney and Richard Schiff, they lobbied successfully to double their salary last season and they're now at $70,000. So maybe he's feeling that there is a competition here and he's a leading player and needs to be compensated more.
NEVILLE: But you know what, I don't have a problem with it. People like Rob Lowe's character.
JACKSON: It's true. It's true. I mean you know he's very likable, but the show has become much more of an ensemble. I think it was Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe at initially,...
NEVILLE: Right.
JACKSON: ... but now it's really becoming all about the entire cast of characters.
NEVILLE: That happens. JACKSON: So he might be feeling left behind.
NEVILLE: That happens.
OK, let's move on to this "CSI." What's going on with that?
JACKSON: Well, they're spinning off. They're having "CSI: Miami," and another...
NEVILLE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Right.
JACKSON: Yes. And another actor who left a little prematurely from his show, David Caruso stars. You might remember he left "NYPD Blue" a little too early.
NEVILLE: That was a wrong move at that time.
JACKSON: Yes, it was. Did some flop films and now he's back on the -- on the small screen. This is probably the only surefire hit of the fall in terms of the new shows. So I'm sure it will really take off.
NEVILLE: I hope so. And I don't want to put you on the spot, but my -- I'm a little brain dead. I saw this black actor in that shot.
JACKSON: I didn't see the shot.
NEVILLE: He's on "Soul Food II." I'm sorry, I can't remember this man's name, but he's phenomenal. Anyway, so check out "CSI: Miami."
JACKSON: I think it's going to be a hit.
NEVILLE: "Friends" -- OK, what's going to happen, because now there is concern that maybe the next season will be the last season?
JACKSON: That's right. It's the ninth season of friends. Can you believe nine years of this and then after that no more? People might actually be happy about that because they're looking for a change. But most people are really, really into this show. The network is praying that they can squeeze another season out of these guys, but the producers and the cast are pretty much saying no way. You know they're making -- the cast is making a million dollars an episode.
NEVILLE: A million bucks an episode.
JACKSON: I think the only way they could stay is if, you know, as Conan O'Brien said, they were given the country of France. So...
NEVILLE: Yes.
JACKSON: ... I don't think that's going to happen.
NEVILLE: I -- this is what I think. I think "Friends" should stay around. I like it. I should join the cast of "Friends" for a million bucks an episode...
JACKSON: I'm with you.
NEVILLE: ... because they need a little cafe ole on the set here of "Friends."
JACKSON: I completely agree.
NEVILLE: OK.
JACKSON: I completely agree.
NEVILLE: They do. All right.
Let's move on. Now there's some show called "Push Nevada." I don't know about this show.
JACKSON: Well, this is an interesting hybrid. You know we've got this glut of reality programming. I don't know about you, but I'm a little tired of it.
NEVILLE: Over it.
JACKSON: I'm ready for some scripted drama. So here we've got a show called "Push Nevada," produced by Ben Affleck, big movie star, and it's actually a drama show, a scripted show. But it drops clues throughout its episodes in which you can discover a prize, a cash prize, if you figure out what these clues are. Now it's really tricky. It's kind of a "Twin Peaks" type show, moody, off beat and like I said, very challenging. But if you're smart, you get the cash.
NEVILLE: But you know what, I actually like that. It's a nice little twist on the reality shows.
JACKSON: It is.
NEVILLE: I'm just tired of seeing these people eat bugs and these people running (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
JACKSON: Absolutely. And this show stands on its own. It's not just about winning money,...
NEVILLE: Yes.
JACKSON: ... you know, it's actually a show you'll get into.
NEVILLE: And you know Ben's hanging out with J.Lo these days.
JACKSON: That's right. That's right.
NEVILLE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that.
JACKSON: Check out "Us" magazine for details on that.
NEVILLE: Oh, well, of course we will.
Let's move on to Donny Osmond, he's doing a game show now right?
JACKSON: That's right. That's right.
NEVILLE: Going to do it.
JACKSON: You know "Millionaire" -- "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" was such a huge hit and then came the "Weakest Link," which is a bit of a flash in the pan. But now the game show people think they've really hit on something. Who -- "$25,000 Pyramid," which became a "$100,000 Pyramid," is now getting a makeover, flashier with Donny Osmond as the host.
NEVILLE: Right. Is it going to be a million dollar pyramid, though, because we...
JACKSON: I -- they haven't determined the money. So we need a lot of cash, though, don't we? We're...
NEVILLE: That's right.
JACKSON: ... getting greedy these days. But it should be fun. It's going to have guests -- really sort of kooky guests like Kathy Najimy and the Baldwin brothers and Coolio.
NEVILLE: Well, that's cool.
JACKSON: So it's kind of like, you know, your "Hollywood Squares," you know, mix of different types of celebrities with this great show with this concept.
NEVILLE: When does that start, the fall?
JACKSON: That's in the fall and that's syndicated so it's on at different times in different areas.
NEVILLE: Exactly. Well, listen, it's so nice to have you here, Erik.
JACKSON: Thank you.
NEVILLE: And thanks for sharing all that inside info of...
JACKSON: Absolutely.
NEVILLE: ... what's happening in Hollywood.
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