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American Morning
90-Second Pop, Culture Watch
Aired July 24, 2003 - 07:51 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: "90-Second Pop" is all about quick hits and quick wits, as we look at the world of pop culture.
With us this morning, Tom O'Neil. He's the senior editor of "In Touch Weekly." Also, Thelma Adams. She's a film critic for "US Weekly." And B.J. Sigesmund -- I never get your name right, B.J.! Never ever again.
B.J. SIGESMUND, "NEWSWEEK": I know, I know, I'm sorry.
O'BRIEN: Once again, I'll start by apologizing. Of course, entertainment...
THELMA ADAMS, FILM CRITIC: Just call him Siggy (ph).
O'BRIEN: I'm calling you B.J. and just forget the last name thing.
SIGESMUND: Perfect.
O'BRIEN: Good morning to all of you.
TOM O'NEIL, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Good morning.
ADAMS: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Wow! So, this new documentary coming out, "Confessions of a Cad," which is heavily based on Princess Diana's relationship, of course. Tell me a little bit about this. And, boy, cad is almost an understatement for this guy.
O'NEIL: It really is. In this documentary, which will be shown tonight across the U.K. much to the embarrassment of poor William and Harry and Charles, we're going to see...
(CROSSTALK)
ADAMS: As if they haven't done their own embarrassing things.
O'NEIL: He is coming to America shopping these love letters, these 64 love letters from Princess Di for $16 million. Happily, he didn't find any takers. But...
O'BRIEN: This is James Hewitt, who was having an affair with her over five years.
O'NEIL: Right. And what's going to happen tonight is he's going to be reading from her letters and we're going to be hearing how much she loved him and we're going to be hearing back from him not how much he loved her, but how good she was in the sack and what a fool Charles was to let this go on. This man is despicable.
SIGESMUND: Well, this has been so terrible for him, though; such terrible press in England that he's already backtracking. He's now saying that he would happily turn the letters over to Prince Charles if he was asked over to Buckingham Palace for tea.
O'BRIEN: For tea.
SIGESMUND: But I don't expect that to happen.
O'BRIEN: Yes, I dont think anyone...
ADAMS: I would call it an officer, but not a gentleman, is really what you have to say.
O'BRIEN: It seems like -- even his ex-girlfriend, another ex- girlfriend said shut up already, enough!
O'NEIL: Shut up, right, right.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
O'NEIL: To which I would like to add about this horse trainer, he deserves to be whipped.
O'BRIEN: Oh.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: It doesn't end. Thank you for that segue into "Seabiscuit." The movie is opening tomorrow. Let's talk about some of them. Tobey Maguire, "Seabiscuit." Early word on that, is it good?
ADAMS: Well, the early word on it before anybody saw it was that it was terrific and that it really is the only Oscar contender of the summer. I've seen it. It's a very noble effort. Tobey Maguire is adequate.
O'BRIEN: You don't sound like you love it.
ADAMS: No, you know, it's the story of this race horse. It's really about a race horse and three men who are underdogs, or under- horses depending on the breed.
O'BRIEN: Oh, everybody has got the little (UNINTELLIGIBLE) going on today.
ADAMS: You know, and they all -- it's kind of Depression era and post-Depression, and how they all symbolize America, you know, getting a second chance after the Depression. And it's a beautiful movie to look at, but it also is they try to cram this whole great book into two-and-a-half hours, and it's very hard. It doesn't have that kind of grace that the thoroughbred has.
O'NEIL: Thelma's problem is she's a film critic, and she sees these movies from the gritty perspective of a film critic.
ADAMS: That is my job.
O'NEIL: They tend to...
ADAMS: And my paycheck.
O'NEIL: Thelma, I love you, but you guys tend to hate sentiment and simple movies like "Titanic." This movie has a throbbing glorious heart. It's going to make a fortune. It's the perfect date movie, the perfect family movie.
O'BRIEN: So, you're saying the critics won't like it but the public will love it.
O'NEIL: The critics, but the moviegoers have to be warned, the critics are going to hate this movie, and what they need to depend on is word-of-mouth.
ADAMS: Well...
SIGESMUND: I also think it's admirable, though, that they would release this movie during the summer. It doesn't have huge special effects. There is no -- in "Newsweek" this week, there is no Pink single on the soundtrack, and it's not coming to a Playstation near you.
ADAMS: Have you guys seen it? I just want to know.
O'NEIL: Yes, yes, I have.
ADAMS: It's admirable. It's that word "admirable," the kiss of death.
SIGESMUND: Yes, yes, it does.
O'NEIL: But at the screenings in New York, they were cheering...
ADAMS: And also "Road to Perdition"...
O'NEIL: ... they were cheering this movie.
ADAMS: "Road to Perdition"...
O'NEIL: The audiences love it, they go crazy, and that's what the public is going to do.
O'BRIEN: I guess we will see after this weekend.
ADAMS: After tomorrow.
O'BRIEN: Absolutely.
ADAMS: But there are other movies opening.
O'BRIEN: Right, we've got...
ADAMS: Lara Croft, "Tomb Raider."
O'BRIEN: What's the word on that? I mean, Angelina Jolie...
ADAMS: I've seen it. It's totally, totally fun. I love Angelina Jolie. I even liked the first one which people were mixed on critically. I think this is better than the original, and she's really -- you know, she's like such an action heroine. I've got to say...
O'BRIEN: She is a perfect match for this role.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: What we're seeing, though, in the press is a kinder, gentler Angelina Jolie. Remember, this is the...
O'BRIEN: OK, so is this really -- is this like a re-launch of Angelina? Or do you think...
SIGESMUND: Well, yes, she's trying to re-launch herself. Remember, this is a classic Hollywood wild child who won an Oscar at age 24 and was most famous for that weird speech she gave about her brother and carrying Billy Bob's blood around her neck. Then she got divorced...
O'BRIEN: All very odd.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
O'BRIEN: We can agree on that, right?
ADAMS: Right, right, my blood.
SIGESMUND: But she got divorced last year and, like, disappeared from the public eye...
O'BRIEN: Adopted a baby.
SIGESMUND: ... for a year. And now she's back. She has this adopted kid from Cambodia. She is very serious about her work as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. She is even playing a war camp worker in her next movie. So, she's putting a new version of herself for the public.
O'BRIEN: And maybe she really means it.
ADAMS: But I think -- you know what? My feeling is that she's sincere, and the way that you can tell is if you look at Maddox (ph) in the picture, her son, he is a happy camper. You know, you can tell that the love is real and that she kind of thought with Billy Bob, you know, if you can't love me as a mother, you're out of here.
O'BRIEN: We are so out of time, although there are many 2-year- olds who would be crying and screaming and be perfectly happy children with their mother anyway, but that's a whole other segment for whole other day.
Tom and Thelma and B.J., as always, nice to see you and thanks so much.
ADAMS: Thank you.
O'NEIL: Thank you.
SIGESMUND: Thank you.
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 July 24, 2003 - 07:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: "90-Second Pop" is all about quick hits and quick wits, as we look at the world of pop culture.
With us this morning, Tom O'Neil. He's the senior editor of "In Touch Weekly." Also, Thelma Adams. She's a film critic for "US Weekly." And B.J. Sigesmund -- I never get your name right, B.J.! Never ever again.
B.J. SIGESMUND, "NEWSWEEK": I know, I know, I'm sorry.
O'BRIEN: Once again, I'll start by apologizing. Of course, entertainment...
THELMA ADAMS, FILM CRITIC: Just call him Siggy (ph).
O'BRIEN: I'm calling you B.J. and just forget the last name thing.
SIGESMUND: Perfect.
O'BRIEN: Good morning to all of you.
TOM O'NEIL, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Good morning.
ADAMS: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Wow! So, this new documentary coming out, "Confessions of a Cad," which is heavily based on Princess Diana's relationship, of course. Tell me a little bit about this. And, boy, cad is almost an understatement for this guy.
O'NEIL: It really is. In this documentary, which will be shown tonight across the U.K. much to the embarrassment of poor William and Harry and Charles, we're going to see...
(CROSSTALK)
ADAMS: As if they haven't done their own embarrassing things.
O'NEIL: He is coming to America shopping these love letters, these 64 love letters from Princess Di for $16 million. Happily, he didn't find any takers. But...
O'BRIEN: This is James Hewitt, who was having an affair with her over five years.
O'NEIL: Right. And what's going to happen tonight is he's going to be reading from her letters and we're going to be hearing how much she loved him and we're going to be hearing back from him not how much he loved her, but how good she was in the sack and what a fool Charles was to let this go on. This man is despicable.
SIGESMUND: Well, this has been so terrible for him, though; such terrible press in England that he's already backtracking. He's now saying that he would happily turn the letters over to Prince Charles if he was asked over to Buckingham Palace for tea.
O'BRIEN: For tea.
SIGESMUND: But I don't expect that to happen.
O'BRIEN: Yes, I dont think anyone...
ADAMS: I would call it an officer, but not a gentleman, is really what you have to say.
O'BRIEN: It seems like -- even his ex-girlfriend, another ex- girlfriend said shut up already, enough!
O'NEIL: Shut up, right, right.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
O'NEIL: To which I would like to add about this horse trainer, he deserves to be whipped.
O'BRIEN: Oh.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: It doesn't end. Thank you for that segue into "Seabiscuit." The movie is opening tomorrow. Let's talk about some of them. Tobey Maguire, "Seabiscuit." Early word on that, is it good?
ADAMS: Well, the early word on it before anybody saw it was that it was terrific and that it really is the only Oscar contender of the summer. I've seen it. It's a very noble effort. Tobey Maguire is adequate.
O'BRIEN: You don't sound like you love it.
ADAMS: No, you know, it's the story of this race horse. It's really about a race horse and three men who are underdogs, or under- horses depending on the breed.
O'BRIEN: Oh, everybody has got the little (UNINTELLIGIBLE) going on today.
ADAMS: You know, and they all -- it's kind of Depression era and post-Depression, and how they all symbolize America, you know, getting a second chance after the Depression. And it's a beautiful movie to look at, but it also is they try to cram this whole great book into two-and-a-half hours, and it's very hard. It doesn't have that kind of grace that the thoroughbred has.
O'NEIL: Thelma's problem is she's a film critic, and she sees these movies from the gritty perspective of a film critic.
ADAMS: That is my job.
O'NEIL: They tend to...
ADAMS: And my paycheck.
O'NEIL: Thelma, I love you, but you guys tend to hate sentiment and simple movies like "Titanic." This movie has a throbbing glorious heart. It's going to make a fortune. It's the perfect date movie, the perfect family movie.
O'BRIEN: So, you're saying the critics won't like it but the public will love it.
O'NEIL: The critics, but the moviegoers have to be warned, the critics are going to hate this movie, and what they need to depend on is word-of-mouth.
ADAMS: Well...
SIGESMUND: I also think it's admirable, though, that they would release this movie during the summer. It doesn't have huge special effects. There is no -- in "Newsweek" this week, there is no Pink single on the soundtrack, and it's not coming to a Playstation near you.
ADAMS: Have you guys seen it? I just want to know.
O'NEIL: Yes, yes, I have.
ADAMS: It's admirable. It's that word "admirable," the kiss of death.
SIGESMUND: Yes, yes, it does.
O'NEIL: But at the screenings in New York, they were cheering...
ADAMS: And also "Road to Perdition"...
O'NEIL: ... they were cheering this movie.
ADAMS: "Road to Perdition"...
O'NEIL: The audiences love it, they go crazy, and that's what the public is going to do.
O'BRIEN: I guess we will see after this weekend.
ADAMS: After tomorrow.
O'BRIEN: Absolutely.
ADAMS: But there are other movies opening.
O'BRIEN: Right, we've got...
ADAMS: Lara Croft, "Tomb Raider."
O'BRIEN: What's the word on that? I mean, Angelina Jolie...
ADAMS: I've seen it. It's totally, totally fun. I love Angelina Jolie. I even liked the first one which people were mixed on critically. I think this is better than the original, and she's really -- you know, she's like such an action heroine. I've got to say...
O'BRIEN: She is a perfect match for this role.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: What we're seeing, though, in the press is a kinder, gentler Angelina Jolie. Remember, this is the...
O'BRIEN: OK, so is this really -- is this like a re-launch of Angelina? Or do you think...
SIGESMUND: Well, yes, she's trying to re-launch herself. Remember, this is a classic Hollywood wild child who won an Oscar at age 24 and was most famous for that weird speech she gave about her brother and carrying Billy Bob's blood around her neck. Then she got divorced...
O'BRIEN: All very odd.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
O'BRIEN: We can agree on that, right?
ADAMS: Right, right, my blood.
SIGESMUND: But she got divorced last year and, like, disappeared from the public eye...
O'BRIEN: Adopted a baby.
SIGESMUND: ... for a year. And now she's back. She has this adopted kid from Cambodia. She is very serious about her work as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. She is even playing a war camp worker in her next movie. So, she's putting a new version of herself for the public.
O'BRIEN: And maybe she really means it.
ADAMS: But I think -- you know what? My feeling is that she's sincere, and the way that you can tell is if you look at Maddox (ph) in the picture, her son, he is a happy camper. You know, you can tell that the love is real and that she kind of thought with Billy Bob, you know, if you can't love me as a mother, you're out of here.
O'BRIEN: We are so out of time, although there are many 2-year- olds who would be crying and screaming and be perfectly happy children with their mother anyway, but that's a whole other segment for whole other day.
Tom and Thelma and B.J., as always, nice to see you and thanks so much.
ADAMS: Thank you.
O'NEIL: Thank you.
SIGESMUND: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
