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American Morning
90-Second Pop, Culture Watch
Aired February 19, 2004 - 07:45 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's time once again for our critically-acclaimed segment we like to call "90-Second Pop." Are we critically-acclaimed? In our own minds, we definitely are.
Today's feature: the end of "Sex and the City," a big little man, and a punch-drunk Meg Ryan.
Here to discuss it this morning, humorist Andy Borowitz -- this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is out of control today -- the author of "Governor Arnold." Joining us this morning also, Sarah Bernard is a contributing editor for "New York" magazine, and B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "US Weekly."
Good morning. Good morning.
SARAH BERNARD, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Let's start with talking about "Sex and the City."
BERNARD: I know, this is sad.
O'BRIEN: It is sad. And, of course, the big question is: Who is Carrie going to end up with? What's your guess? I mean, you're a fanatic.
BERNARD: I am a fanatic. I think that no one can resist a fairytale. I think she's really going to end up with Big, even though there is a contingent of people...
O'BRIEN: The fairy tale is Big?
BERNARD: What? You don't think so?
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: I thought the fairy tale is moving to Paris with Baryshnikov.
BERNARD: No, because she's not having a good time there, and she's really wondering, what would Paris be like with Big? And he's, you know, returned to profess his love for her.
O'BRIEN: Here's a guy who has done nothing but be really a pain and a jerk.
BERNARD: I think everyone seen as an (EXPLETIVE DELETED) changes (UNINTELLIGIBLE). (CROSSTALK)
ANDY BOROWITZ, HUMORIST: There goes that critical acclaim.
O'BRIEN: Oh!
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: The e-mail you have just gotten for me.
B.J. SIGESMUND, "US WEEKLY": Yes. Oh!
BERNARD: Oh, no!
O'BRIEN: But everyone...
BERNARD: Everyone's dream is that...
O'BRIEN: The bad boyfriend.
BERNARD: ... the bad boyfriend turns around.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: Can I disagree?
O'BRIEN: Yes, you may.
SIGESMUND: I feel very strongly that Carrie should end up single at the end of this series.
O'BRIEN: Why?
SIGESMUND: That is the spirit of this show.
O'BRIEN: What's the message?
SIGESMUND: This show has been all about for six years poking holes in fairy tales like this. Men on this show do not come along and sweep the women up and save them from bad situations like the one she's in, in Paris. This is about women being...
O'BRIEN: You go, girl.
SIGESMUND: ... OK to be on their own.
O'BRIEN: Do it yourself.
SIGESMUND: And the last scene should be Carrie waking down 5th Avenue, happy with her independence and ready to face it.
O'BRIEN: No! A lot of people...
(CROSSTALK)
BOROWITZ: I am the only one who feels this way. I really want to see her with Clay Aiken.
O'BRIEN: Oh, god! That would be the end!
BOROWITZ: I think that would be the right choice.
O'BRIEN: We have got to move on. So, we'll just see what happens. We'll come back and talk about it later.
BERNARD: Well, there's going to be a movie, don't forget.
O'BRIEN: Oh, right, of course, the movie. So, in case...
BERNARD: Oh, but it's not over.
O'BRIEN: It's over but it's so not over.
"The Littlest Groom" is a reality show on Fox, and many people were worried that it would be in bad taste. Yes, I wonder why they'd be concerned about that. Let's first watch a clip of it in case you haven't seen it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE LITTLEST GROOM")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's basically an invite from Glen (ph) to move in with him to get to know you better. And for those of you who didn't receive a bouquet, thank you so much for being here, and we wish you a lot of happiness and love.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: I think it's sad when people don't get a bouquet. I mean, I so rarely watch these shows, and truly it's like, oh, I'm didn't get the bouquet, it's sad.
BOROWITZ: It is sad.
O'BRIEN: What do you think of this show? I mean, Glen (ph) seems to actually be a really good -- like, they picked a great guy to be the littlest groom.
BOROWITZ: Right. Well, you know, it's not doing that well in the ratings. And I think the viewers are rejecting it because he is, I guess, 4 foot 5, which is technically speaking not the littlest groom. There are smaller grooms out there. But I also think -- you know, I really do think we're now exploiting pretty much every group on reality TV, I think.
SIGESMUND: Well, I think this is where we do draw the line, and the public has always the final say. And the public has drawn the line and said we're not interested. It came in third after "Fear Factor."
BOROWITZ: Yes, I think it's...
BERNARD: Right.
O'BRIEN: But is it because it's boring? Or is it because...
BERNARD: It's not a good show. It's -- I mean, I think (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: Because I don't think the public is saying it's exploitative.
BOROWITZ: Well, you know, there were these plans to do short eye for the tall guy (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but that's not going to happen, I don't think.
SIGESMUND: I think the public is just saying I'm really not that interested in this concept in particular.
BOROWITZ: Yes.
BERNARD: That's why they only obviously did two segments of its. It's not something that goes on like "Survivor" for a long time. And I think the real exploitive part is that he doesn't get anything in the end. He doesn't get $1 million. He doesn't get a record contract.
O'BRIEN: He gets a vacation.
BERNARD: He gets a vacation.
SIGESMUND: A vacation. That's it.
BERNARD: That's true.
SIGESMUND: That's not enough.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: They do a lot better, forget it.
Let's talk about weekend movies. Meg Ryan has a new one called "Against the Ropes."
SIGESMUND: Correct.
O'BRIEN: The critics hate it.
SIGESMUND: The critics, yes, aren't loving it. This is a movie about a woman who comes from a boxing family who discovers this kid who is real rough around the edges, played by Omar Epps, and takes him all the way to the top. You know, it's not too bad, and we gave it a decent review in "US Weekly" actually.
O'BRIEN: It's not too bad. It doesnt...
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: It's February, Soledad. I don't know what you want me to say.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: See that this weekend.
BERNARD: Yes, that sounds great. I think it's just another Meg Ryan trying to reinvent herself again after "In the Cut," which didn't go over so well to begin with. So, this is kind of her playing against hype, but I don't think it's really going to work, because I think people really want to see her doing her cute kind of "You've Got Mail" person.
SIGESMUND: They want her (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BOROWITZ: You know, for those of us, though, who have been waiting to see her do the great Meg Ryan boxing film, I think this is it. I really do.
BERNARD: You are going to see it.
O'BRIEN: It's for you.
BOROWITZ: I'm there.
O'BRIEN: It opens this weekend.
BOROWITZ: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Lucky for you.
BOROWITZ: I'm going to be first in line.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: There is one other movie...
O'BRIEN: Oh, we don't have time.
SIGESMUND: Oh, OK.
O'BRIEN: It looks like we're going to have to save it for next time. You guys, as always, thank you. We just eat up time on this. Thanks, you guys.
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 19, 2004 - 07:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's time once again for our critically-acclaimed segment we like to call "90-Second Pop." Are we critically-acclaimed? In our own minds, we definitely are.
Today's feature: the end of "Sex and the City," a big little man, and a punch-drunk Meg Ryan.
Here to discuss it this morning, humorist Andy Borowitz -- this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is out of control today -- the author of "Governor Arnold." Joining us this morning also, Sarah Bernard is a contributing editor for "New York" magazine, and B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "US Weekly."
Good morning. Good morning.
SARAH BERNARD, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Let's start with talking about "Sex and the City."
BERNARD: I know, this is sad.
O'BRIEN: It is sad. And, of course, the big question is: Who is Carrie going to end up with? What's your guess? I mean, you're a fanatic.
BERNARD: I am a fanatic. I think that no one can resist a fairytale. I think she's really going to end up with Big, even though there is a contingent of people...
O'BRIEN: The fairy tale is Big?
BERNARD: What? You don't think so?
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: I thought the fairy tale is moving to Paris with Baryshnikov.
BERNARD: No, because she's not having a good time there, and she's really wondering, what would Paris be like with Big? And he's, you know, returned to profess his love for her.
O'BRIEN: Here's a guy who has done nothing but be really a pain and a jerk.
BERNARD: I think everyone seen as an (EXPLETIVE DELETED) changes (UNINTELLIGIBLE). (CROSSTALK)
ANDY BOROWITZ, HUMORIST: There goes that critical acclaim.
O'BRIEN: Oh!
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: The e-mail you have just gotten for me.
B.J. SIGESMUND, "US WEEKLY": Yes. Oh!
BERNARD: Oh, no!
O'BRIEN: But everyone...
BERNARD: Everyone's dream is that...
O'BRIEN: The bad boyfriend.
BERNARD: ... the bad boyfriend turns around.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: Can I disagree?
O'BRIEN: Yes, you may.
SIGESMUND: I feel very strongly that Carrie should end up single at the end of this series.
O'BRIEN: Why?
SIGESMUND: That is the spirit of this show.
O'BRIEN: What's the message?
SIGESMUND: This show has been all about for six years poking holes in fairy tales like this. Men on this show do not come along and sweep the women up and save them from bad situations like the one she's in, in Paris. This is about women being...
O'BRIEN: You go, girl.
SIGESMUND: ... OK to be on their own.
O'BRIEN: Do it yourself.
SIGESMUND: And the last scene should be Carrie waking down 5th Avenue, happy with her independence and ready to face it.
O'BRIEN: No! A lot of people...
(CROSSTALK)
BOROWITZ: I am the only one who feels this way. I really want to see her with Clay Aiken.
O'BRIEN: Oh, god! That would be the end!
BOROWITZ: I think that would be the right choice.
O'BRIEN: We have got to move on. So, we'll just see what happens. We'll come back and talk about it later.
BERNARD: Well, there's going to be a movie, don't forget.
O'BRIEN: Oh, right, of course, the movie. So, in case...
BERNARD: Oh, but it's not over.
O'BRIEN: It's over but it's so not over.
"The Littlest Groom" is a reality show on Fox, and many people were worried that it would be in bad taste. Yes, I wonder why they'd be concerned about that. Let's first watch a clip of it in case you haven't seen it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE LITTLEST GROOM")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's basically an invite from Glen (ph) to move in with him to get to know you better. And for those of you who didn't receive a bouquet, thank you so much for being here, and we wish you a lot of happiness and love.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: I think it's sad when people don't get a bouquet. I mean, I so rarely watch these shows, and truly it's like, oh, I'm didn't get the bouquet, it's sad.
BOROWITZ: It is sad.
O'BRIEN: What do you think of this show? I mean, Glen (ph) seems to actually be a really good -- like, they picked a great guy to be the littlest groom.
BOROWITZ: Right. Well, you know, it's not doing that well in the ratings. And I think the viewers are rejecting it because he is, I guess, 4 foot 5, which is technically speaking not the littlest groom. There are smaller grooms out there. But I also think -- you know, I really do think we're now exploiting pretty much every group on reality TV, I think.
SIGESMUND: Well, I think this is where we do draw the line, and the public has always the final say. And the public has drawn the line and said we're not interested. It came in third after "Fear Factor."
BOROWITZ: Yes, I think it's...
BERNARD: Right.
O'BRIEN: But is it because it's boring? Or is it because...
BERNARD: It's not a good show. It's -- I mean, I think (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: Because I don't think the public is saying it's exploitative.
BOROWITZ: Well, you know, there were these plans to do short eye for the tall guy (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but that's not going to happen, I don't think.
SIGESMUND: I think the public is just saying I'm really not that interested in this concept in particular.
BOROWITZ: Yes.
BERNARD: That's why they only obviously did two segments of its. It's not something that goes on like "Survivor" for a long time. And I think the real exploitive part is that he doesn't get anything in the end. He doesn't get $1 million. He doesn't get a record contract.
O'BRIEN: He gets a vacation.
BERNARD: He gets a vacation.
SIGESMUND: A vacation. That's it.
BERNARD: That's true.
SIGESMUND: That's not enough.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: They do a lot better, forget it.
Let's talk about weekend movies. Meg Ryan has a new one called "Against the Ropes."
SIGESMUND: Correct.
O'BRIEN: The critics hate it.
SIGESMUND: The critics, yes, aren't loving it. This is a movie about a woman who comes from a boxing family who discovers this kid who is real rough around the edges, played by Omar Epps, and takes him all the way to the top. You know, it's not too bad, and we gave it a decent review in "US Weekly" actually.
O'BRIEN: It's not too bad. It doesnt...
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: It's February, Soledad. I don't know what you want me to say.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: See that this weekend.
BERNARD: Yes, that sounds great. I think it's just another Meg Ryan trying to reinvent herself again after "In the Cut," which didn't go over so well to begin with. So, this is kind of her playing against hype, but I don't think it's really going to work, because I think people really want to see her doing her cute kind of "You've Got Mail" person.
SIGESMUND: They want her (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BOROWITZ: You know, for those of us, though, who have been waiting to see her do the great Meg Ryan boxing film, I think this is it. I really do.
BERNARD: You are going to see it.
O'BRIEN: It's for you.
BOROWITZ: I'm there.
O'BRIEN: It opens this weekend.
BOROWITZ: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Lucky for you.
BOROWITZ: I'm going to be first in line.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: There is one other movie...
O'BRIEN: Oh, we don't have time.
SIGESMUND: Oh, OK.
O'BRIEN: It looks like we're going to have to save it for next time. You guys, as always, thank you. We just eat up time on this. Thanks, you guys.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
