Return to Transcripts main page

Piers Morgan Live

Interview with Authors of 'HRC'; Interview with Leonard Nimoy; Interview with Boy George

Aired February 10, 2014 - 21:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

PIERS MORGAN, CNN HOST: This is Piers Morgan Live. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world.

Tonight, the most powerful woman in America, maybe the world, Hillary Rodham Clinton, her plans in 2016, her enemies list and what she told her friend about Monica Lewinsky. I'll talk to the authors of the new blockbuster book that reveals the secrets of the woman who might just be on her way back to the White House.

Plus, live long and to prosper, the original Mr. Spock from Star Trek reveals he has lung disease. Leonard Nimoy is here exclusively with a message for everyone even if you quit smoking years ago.

And too bad I don't give out gold medals of busting down doors because U.S bobsledder Johnny Quinn would definitely be in the lead. So far he's broken down a bathroom door and fought his way out of an elevator in Sochi. He'll be here tonight live assuming he hasn't got stuck again.

Also the one and only Karma Chameleon, Boy George is in the house. His songs was a soundtrack of the 80s. He's here exclusively to talk about quitting drugs, finding happiness and his first album of new music in 18 years.

I want to begin now with Our Big Story, new revelations about Former First Lady and the Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. She is the subject of the new blockbuster book "HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton".

Well, joining me now are the authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes. Welcome to both of you.

AMIE PARNES, "HRC: STATE SECRETS AND THE REBIRTH OF HILLARY CLINTON" AUTHOR: Hi Piers.

JONATHAN ALLEN, "HRC: STATE SECRETS AND THE REBIRTH OF HILLARY CLINTON" C0-AUTHOR: Hi Piers.

PARNES: Go Gunners. We're big Arsenal fans.

MORGAN: So here's this book, a very -- well, you're big Arsenal fan in that case.

PARNES: Yeah. MORGAN: Let's just talk about Arsenal show.

PARNES: OK.

MORGAN: OK. Listen up. Listen up. I'm still in grief from the thrashing in the weekend. Let's talk about Hillary Clinton. I'm sure also wants to know about Arsenal.

The book is very stoically covered. There's a picture of a woman looking very presidential under the headline "HRC". It's a big substantial book for the revelations. What to you is the key revelation you would like to communicate to the outside world which defines this woman, Hillary Clinton?

ALLEN: Well, I think the key revelation, Piers, is that it's really sort of in total of the book this is a book about how she would govern. It's a book about she makes decisions. It's a book about who she surrounds herself with. And the way that loyalty ties into that and the ability for -- and sometimes the inability to choose between loyalty and competence.

So I really think Piers that for those who are trying to make a judgment about Hillary Clinton going into 2016 should she run and I think most people think she will. This is something that they should read the whole thing not just those exciting little nuggets.

PARNES: I think it's also her ...

MORGAN: Amie, I mean ...

PARNES: ... comeback story too. I think that it's ...

MORGAN: Yeah, well, let me -- let me ask you Amie ...

PARNES: Sure.

MORGAN: ... about the line that I like which is the enemies list because it kind of place into the sense that the Clintons are very much a them or us organization in the sense that if you're with them, fantastic, they'll be tremendous and loyal to you as many friends who testified. If you're an enemy you've got to be crushed.

Now, I suppose, Amy, the question I would say is are they any different to any other politicians? Isn't that the way politicians work? Am I surprised that people like the late Senator Ted Kennedy or John Kerry or Claire McCaskill are on this hit-list given that they were effectively opposition to them?

PARNES: No. I mean, it's pretty common for politicians to have these kinds of list and I think we say as much but the thing about the Clintons is that they have the power to reward and punish more than any other politician in modern history. So I think that's the most important about them.

But I think, you know, we tell the story about how they -- they do look forward with this list. It's not just, you know, this list was done in 2008 but it can be applied in 2016. It was applied in 2010. It was applied in 2012. So, you know, they look forward but they look back constantly it's part of their narrative.

ALLEN: And, Piers, there's one congressman in particular Jason Altmire. We tell the story of how he had been seen as betraying the Clintons, he have been on Hillary Clinton's healthcare task force when he was a staff on Capital hill. He wouldn't give her his endorsement in the presidential election. It infuriated the Clintons, Bill Clinton in particular. Saw him at a fund raise and kind of stared him down and then a year later, saw him in a funeral and scared him down. He talked about Jason Altmire and other people he quoted him at a dinner saying, "If you don't have loyalty in politics. What do you have?"

And then ultimately in 2012, four years later Jason Altmire had a Democratic primarily. Altmire was seemingly going to cruise to re- election in Bill Clinton in the last couple of weeks endorsed Altmire's opponent flipped what was happening on the ground and all of sudden Jason Altmire was in the private sector. He's now living in Florida out of politics and he's not the only one. There's a whole series of congressman who have similar experiences.

MORGAN: Right. But hang on. Hang on. Look, here's what the Clintons spokesman for Bill Clinton said about, Matt McKenna, the following statement. "The idea that we keep or kept some list, not to mention update, circulate, disseminate and rely upon it is ludicrous. Like every campaign since time began, we keep track of who was for us. The Clintons have always gone out of their way to remember and thank those loyal to them. If that's a crime, we plead guilty."

I mean there's a big difference between the kind of anecdote you've just relayed and say what's going on in New Jersey with Governor Christie staff where they have been directly hurting the electorate in New Jersey in a fit of peak revenge? Isn't it Amie, there's no difference?

PARNES: Exactly, exactly. I think that's the dichotomy here.

I think, you know, what we've seen with Chris Christie is that this was meant to punish the public. This was not the case. This was just -- they were keeping track of who was with them and who was against them. They're punishing politicians. I think that's a lot different. It's not a life or death matter.

ALLEN: Right. And nobody cares if ...

MORGAN: OK. Let's move on. This is not what Hillary did. Let's move on to Hillary Clinton because there's so much in the book, I want to get through a few other things.

Hillary Clinton said about Monica Lewinsky, is a fantastic phrase that she is a narcissistic Looney Tune. I mean it sounds like the kind of thing only a British person would say. Are you sure of that -- or it's in the documents?

PARNES: Yeah. Not in our book. ALLEN: I'm just saying I didn't remember writing that phrase.

MORGAN: Let me just -- let me correct that. According to papers from deceased friend Diane Blair, Hillary Clinton refers to Monica Lewinsky as a narcissistic Looney Tunes. I just thought when I read that, it sounds like a British thing to say. It didn't sound very American. I mean do Americans say things like narcissistic Looney Tune? I mean, do they?

ALLEN: Well educated ones, Piers. That word you just used is too long and involved for me. Narcissistic.

But actually, Hillary Clinton, one of the stories we tell in the book spent the night at Buckingham Palace for a state dinner with the Queen. And she came out and told her aides afterwards, she felt like a fairy tale princess. And you'd think it would be hard to wow Hillary Clinton these days but still was somewhat impressed by the majesty of the palace.

PARNES: And there are a lot of ...

MORGAN: Amie, let me ask you, Amie, this ...

PARNES: Sure.

MORGAN: ... which is the point about the Monica Lewinsky point I guess that people like, you know, Rand Paul and others have been trying to ramp up the sense that when Hillary runs, Bill will still be lurking around and he's a liability because of what happened 16 years ago with an intern at the White House.

Do you think it's actually going to matter? Do the American people still care about Monica Lewinsky enough to punish Hillary at the ballot box because of something Bill did nearly two decades ago?

PARNES: I don't think it matters. I think when people go to the polls, they're going to look for what she did and we talked a lot about that in our book. I think if you want to weigh what she did at state, you should read this book and find out because it is how she makes decisions.

And you know, it's interesting you bring up Bill Clinton. I think that, you know, if he can be the Bill Clinton that he was in 2012 then she's going to do very well. She's going to really ride this out and you know, their strategy will be something akin to what Barack Obama did which was to use him, you know, at public events and not so much talk to the press which is kind of a weakness for him, and he'd rather be talking to the people rather than the press.

So I think if they do that, that's one strategy that they're going to use. They're going to use him to go out and do these big events and use him as the so-called explainer and chief as President Obama calls him.

MORGAN: Well, which he is I mean, Jonathan, he is fantastic in doing and he was that for Barack Obama in the last election campaign. I mean that brilliant speech at the conference basically articulated far better than Barack Obama had done what he was trying to achieve and what he had achieved.

So isn't Bill Clinton in the end that the Midas Touch that every candidate would love to have, and the fact that Hillary is married to him and they've got the brilliant young daughter as part of a package. I mean they are America's first political family and from everything I've seen of them, incredibly impressive. I mean very hard to beat.

ALLEN: I mean there are a lot of politicians in the world who are very jealous of Bill Clinton's natural charm and his ability to condense arguments into a couple of words.

I thought in that convention speech in 2012 for Barack Obama, he brilliantly talked about arithmetic, a longer word than math. And we talked about this in the book a little bit to get across the sort of basic idea that Mitt Romney's plans didn't add up, according to him. And it was so much more devastating for Romney than anything Obama had said.

MORGAN: Amie, let me ask you this, you know, I would have put good money at the time on Hillary Clinton beating Barack Obama and she lost.

PARNES: Sure, yes.

MORGAN: So you got a woman who had tried before to run and got beaten and people were very surprised by that.

PARNES: Right.

MORGAN: So she's not unbeatable.

When you did this book and when you finished it, what do you think are the key negatives that you discovered against Hillary Clinton that people may think about and latch on to when they vote?

PARNES: Well, we tell the story. You know what she did in 2008, she took her aides aside and some close friends and she invited them to her home and to her office and she said, "Tell me what I did wrong? Let's talk about it." And at the end, she has pieced together this mosaic of what she did wrong. And I think we talked about that in the book.

I think in 2016, you're going to see her embrace the fact that she is a woman candidate, a little more which is something that she didn't really do in 2008.

And I think, you know, she heard from aides that there was an arrogance at the top and that people weren't really telling her what she needed to hear. You're going to hear more of that from her coming or she's going to get some truth tellers.

And I think you're going to see a different ball game when it comes to technology. She really learned her lesson, she felt like Barrack Obama ran circles around her campaign. And I think she's going to see a lot -- you're going to see a lot more of that. She applied it at state which is something we talked about a lot about in the book. And I think you're going to see that in the 2016 campaign as well.

MORGAN: OK. Jonathan, the Wall Street Journal, Jonathan Karl reviewed your book and said you appear to have fallen in love with your subject, how do you plead? Guilty or not guilty?

ALLEN: Not guilty. Jonathan Karl and I share a name but not an opinion on this book.

PARNES: No. And I've seen, Piers ...

MORGAN: So you're not guilty of falling in love? But let me finish with this Aime because I ...

PARNES: Sure.

MORGAN: ... thought one of the more interesting parts in there is where you talk about relationship between Obama and Hillary Clinton seems to have ended up pretty good. And one of the reasons for that she supported him pretty whole heartedly on key moments, the surge in Afghanistan, the killing of Bin Laden, and others. Where Joe Biden who may of course be a contender to go against the Democratic nomination, he didn't.

So how significant could that be when it comes to determining who actually gets the Democratic nomination?

PARNES: I think pretty significant, you know, we point in the book that she doesn't really have many marquee achievement. She didn't achieve like a big seal (ph) or something, but she did back the president on these key points like on the Bin Laden raid and the Afghanistan surge.

So I think she's going to, you know, talk about that a little more where Biden kind of who's on the other side. He was a bit more of in doubt. And so I think that plays to her strength a little bit, it shows that she is one of our sources called she has bias for action and it shows that she's decisive, and she knows what she wants to do, and I think that that will play well for her in the campaign.

ALLEN: But, Piers, it's also ...

MORGAN: Well, yeah, go on quickly.

ALLEN: ... they play differently in the Democratic primary where being engulfed can be a very good thing than in when a general election being (inaudible) they be better in the general election than the primary.

MORGAN: Well, look, it's a fascinating book it's called "HRC" that's all it is. This is a start cover like I said, but a riveting read about the woman who may become America's first female president.

So Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, thank you both very much indeed for joining me and best of luck with the book. ALLEN: Thank you Piers. Go Arsenal.

MORGAN: Go Gunners, absolutely.

Coming up, the Olympic athlete who never had a door he couldn't bust open. What would bobsledder Johnny Quinn break next? Well, he's here live from Sochi. If he's escaped.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MORGAN: Olympic athlete faced tremendous challenges to make it to the games, but can't think of any others who've literally had to break down doors twice.

Johnny Quinn had to fight his way on a locked bathroom last week and today got stuck in an elevator. But joining me now live from Sochi is U.S. Olympic Bobsledder and noted escape artist Johnny Quinn.

Johnny, first of all, great to see you alive and out there and let's go through these series of miss adventures you've had. First of all, what happened in the bathroom?

JOHNNY QUINN, U.S. OLYMPIC BOBSLEDDER: Well I was taking a shower like a normal routine. I went in the shower without my phone. I didn't even have a towel and so I get out of the shower, I go to the door to go grab a towel and it won't come unlocked. And so I checked the lock to make sure that I didn't accidentally lock and ensure not to -- the unlock button was unlocked and so I start to move the handle up and down, I'm kind of applying, push and pull in the door to see if I can get it to ajar and nothing.

And my room mate was in the waiting room at the time so he wasn't there. And my other two team mates Nick and Dallas were in the room next door. And so I started to kind of beat on the wall and make some noise, to see if they can hear me and come off for assistance but they couldn't hear me.

And so after waiting around, hoping my roommate was going to come back or somebody would come in. I started to kind of bang on random parts of the bathroom to see if maybe I could get somebody on the hallway to come in. And as I got to the door, I hit it pretty good and it cracked. And so I kind of wind back and hit even harder and my fist goes right through the door so I pulled my fist out and I can see daylight from the room and at that point I've said, "Hey, it's time to get out of here."

MORGAN: Well, you have made this miraculous escape and we've seen the dramatic pictures there. You then find yourself in an elevator and lightning strikes again. What happened?

QUINN: Well, we were going to dinner, we we're on the fifth floor going down to the first floor and I was my pilot Nick Cunningham and two of our mechanics that work on our sleds. And as we got to the first floor the elevator door opened quickly and then shut very hard immediately and so unfortunately everybody had their phones as you can tell by the pictures and people on the first floor kind of heard what was going on. So immediately assistance was right there and we got out of the elevator in a timely manner. But just kind of a funny scenario to happen shortly there after the bathroom door situation.

MORGAN: Are you always this accident prone?

QUINN: No, I, you know, I think it's just a misfortunate of situation in both scenarios. You know, now that everybody is safe and, you know, the door has been fixed, the elevator's been fixed. It's kind of something funny to laugh about but it's been an interesting past 48 hours.

MORGAN: Now you're actually in competition on Sunday in the bobsled which seems a hell of a long way away for you to survive. Are you now keeping your self in safe environments? And how are you making sure you don't get trapped again?

QUINN: Well, our four-man had been in his one of the last events of the Olympic games and so our work started for that competition to get here. But in the meantime, you know, my teammates are giving me a hard time but, you know, it's kind of need to still go to the venues, watch team U.S.A, cheer on the athletes and see them win medals.

So it's adding a lot of fuel to our fire and you can make sure that on race day I'll make sure I shower with the door open and I'll probably take the stairs.

MORGAN: Now, I'm got to ask you, when I saw the opening ceremony I saw the American athlete Joe coming up. You all looked fantastically happy to be wearing those Ralph Lauren outfit, we're you that happy when you first -- somewhat they look like because they were a bit of a psychedelic strain if you don't mind me saying.

QUINN: Well, as a first time Olympian I was pretty excited to put our Ralph Lauren gear and be part of opening ceremonies.

I tell you, walking through opening ceremonies, you know, being a small part of the 230 athlete delegation to represent the United States of America was an unbelievable experience that that words really can't put into proportion, what it was like.

So, for me personally I really enjoyed the gear. It was fantastic walking in opening ceremonies and it's a memory I'll have with me for the rest of my life.

MORGAN: Very understated, I thought, very American.

Now, let's talk seriously about the competition because I interview one of your competitors, the magnificent and named Winston Watt of the Jamaican bobsled team and he was pretty very confident. He's come for medals he told me. Are you worried about the Jamaicans?

QUINN: They're very talented group and it's excited to see how much coverage they are getting, and they're going to be one the tougher teams on the hill that, you know, looking at the field of competition, U.S.A. won piloted by Steve Holcomb they're the defending Olympic champions from Vancouver and they're going to be tough, the Russians are going to phenomenal, the Germans, the Canadians, Latvia, Great Britain. I mean, it's going to be a fantastic competition for four- men. I tell you, we're excited for the challenge.

MORGAN: Well, Johnny you've always got a future as the next Harry Houdini if doesn't work out for you in the bobsled but I think you could be in for some medal on Sunday. I wish you all the very best and thanks for joining me.

QUINN: I appreciate that. Thank you for having me on.

MORGAN: Johnny Quinn, good to see him escaped and alive and well.

When we come back, live long and prosper, the original Mr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy joins me exclusively with quite a serious story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MORGAN: Leonard Nimoy, created one of the best loved characters in TV history, Mr. Spock, he was the crew of the starship enterprise dared to boldly go when no man had gone before him.

But now, he's facing a new challenge. He's been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease even though he quit smoking 30 years ago. And tonight, he's got a warning for everyone else who may have been smoking about what's happened to him.

Joining me exclusively is Leonard Nimoy. Leonard, we're going to get to the real reason you're here. But, first of all, for me to have Mr. Spock in my studio is one of the great moments of my life.

LEONARD NIMOY, ACTOR: I'm flattered.

MORGAN: Does that strike you as weird after all this time?

NIMOY: No. No. No. No. Not at all. Not all. I'm flattered. I'm really I am. I appreciate it. Look, the character has an enormous effect not only on me but on a lot people and I'm ...

MORGAN: What is the -- I mean, do you have to every single day of your life have people asking you if you're logical?

NIMOY: Yeah.

MORGAN: Well, see other think -- what else do people say to you?

NIMOY: No, what they asked me for is to teach them to do the neck pinch.

MORGAN: Yeah.

NIMOY: So, they can knock out somebody that they don't like or they get beamed out of somewhat. Johnny Quinn could have used a beam me up, you know.

MORGAN: He could have known.

NIMOY: I would have just beamed out of there.

MORGAN: What's extraordinary about Star Trek? Is it only three seasons of it were ever made the TV show?

NIMOY: That's right. 66, seven and eight.

MORGAN: Amazing. When I'm growing up and this is one of the big things on television in my country and many countries around the world. Let's get to why you're here because I could talk to you about Star Trek all night but I won't.

You gave up smoking 30 years, and now you're about to be 83 I think you said next week.

NIMOY: Next month.

MORGAN: Next month and 83. Well then you look fantastic.

NIMOY: Thank you.

MORGAN: Well, other than the fact that I know you got this disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

NIMOY: Right.

MORGAN: And this is down to smoking but you haven't smoke for 30 years.

NIMOY: That's right.

MORGAN: So tell me when you discovered you've got this. What was your reaction?

NIMOY: This May. I thought this is unfair.

MORGAN: Yeah?

NIMOY: I quite a long time ago. "Why is this happening to me?" But it's a lesson that I had to learn. I damaged the lung cells many years ago and then as age begins the damage of lung cells as well you begin to feel it. So, it's something that can stick up on you later.

MORGAN: 12 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with the disease, possibly another 12 million have it but don't know it. About 30 percent of people who smoke will get clinically significant COPD. So, is this the big deal, isn't it? And the fact that you've come in and you bought this machine. What is this machine?

NIMOY: This is an oxygenator. I don't carry a tank of oxygen. This machine gives me oxygen by it extracts oxygen out of the atmosphere and I get it up my nose when I need it. I'm still using it sporadically but a couple of years ago I didn't need it at all. Now, there are days when I needed it several times a day.

MORGAN: And that's the breathing issues? NIMOY: That's right. I get short of a breath and suddenly feel like I can't get a full breath, I can't catch my breath. So, I have to go to the machine, you know, to ...

MORGAN: There was a moment unless it's serious but it was a moment when you said you needed to have oxygen and atmosphere and so on while I just -- I was listening to Mr. Spock. And there we were, we were back on the Star Trek enterprise. Catching oxygen, atmosphere, where's Scotty?

NIMOY: Pump it up.

MORGAN: It's almost nothing you can say that's going to make me not think of you, Mr. Spock, however I will try and wrestle back to this seriousness of this.

NIMOY: OK.

MORGAN: What is the message you have to communicate to people watching who perhaps are, you know, 60, 70, 80 gave up smoking ...

NIMOY: Yeah.

MORGAN: ... and talks of vices sometime ago. I might be worried they have this.

NIMOY: The good news now is that people have begun to understand that smoking can be dangerous. When I started smoking it was, they didn't have that in the atmosphere. People being told smoking is terrific. In fact, the big appetizing campaign for Camels was more doctors smoke Camels ...

MORGAN: Right.

NIMOY: ... than any other cigarette.

MORGAN: Which is extraordinary now to think of that.

NIMOY: And they never saw doctors wearing the white coat and holding a cigarette behind -- and sitting behind the desk and smiling at you. Then they also said things like, "Camels are good for your T-zone, good for your taste and good for your throat." Amazing that they were able to do that kind of stuff ...

MORGAN: Right.

NIMOY: ... and it was kind of, cool, OK, you know, doctor say it's OK. What's wrong with it?

Today, we know that it's not OK. So, at least you have that kind of help to get a mindset, to get rid of it, to get rid of the addiction. It is an addiction and it's not easy to stop. I have to go through a couple of programs back in the day.

MORGAN: How many were you smoking at your peak? NIMOY: I was smoking a couple of packs a day. Look, I tell people that I was Olympic championship smoker. If there have been a championship in the addiction, I could have qualified. I could smoke in the shower. I can smoke any place.

And it was something that you -- it was part of my culture. It was part of my gang, my guys, the people I hang out with. It was cool to be able to light a cigarette. And when I was in the army for two years, the tobacco companies came around and giving away free samples to the GIs.

MORGAN: Right.

NIMOY: And the army precipitated that made it possible for them to come in and give me free samples. And every time there was a break, they say, "OK. A 10-minute break smoke and I got them (ph)." That was my word.

MORGAN: Right.

NIMOY: So it was in the culture. Today we have a different kind of culture fortunately and people can be helped psychologically to understand that it's not a good thing to do. But you have to figure out the addiction and understand that it's not too early to quit. Young people think, maybe in 10 years I'll quit, you know. The damage is being done right now, everyday you light a cigarette, that you're losing cells in your lungs.

MORGAN: If I may go back to "Star Trek" because...

NIMOY: Why not.

MORGAN: I just can't think of anything. I'd rather talk to you about other -- and to see what you just talked about.

When William Shatner came on, he's 82. So, you have the same age at the moment. Are you buddies? Did you hang out together?

NIMOY: He is a lot older than I am.

MORGAN: Is he?

NIMOY: He is. He was born four days before me.

MORGAN: Do you hang out with him?

NIMOY: I haven't seen him in a while now. He's very busy. He has his own life. I have mine. He does a lot of -- he does commercials, he does conventions, he has a one-man show, he goes about the country doing -- we just don't have that kind of relationship anymore.

MORGAN: What about the rest of the Enterprise?

NIMOY: You see them all occasionally at "Star Trek" gatherings once in a while. I hear from them all. I follow them on Twitter. They're terrific people. MORGAN: You're big on Twitter?

NIMOY: Yes.

MORGAN: Do you like it as a social piece?

NIMOY: I'm on there because I have a granddaughter who runs a shop called Shop LLAP, live long and prosper, where she sells "Star Trek" related merchandise having to do with me and so forth. I'm her grandfather, so I'm the guy who creates business for him by going on Twitter and saying, "go to my granddaughter." The things we do for our kids, you know.

MORGAN: And when you go to these Treky conventions and there's a bit like a thousand people all dressed up...

NIMOY: More than a thousand.

MORGAN: I mean, a thousand maybe dressed up...

NIMOY: OK.

MORGAN: Is that a bit freaky, that moment when you see them all?

NIMOY: It's fun. It's fun. And you know, it has to do with imagination. The show touched a lot of people's imaginations. I see it as a healthy thing. As a way to act out in fantasy from either way and enjoy this.

MORGAN: What was your favorite ever scene?

NIMOY: Ever scene?

MORGAN: No, the favorite scene of any of the three seasons.

NIMOY: I think I'd have to say that my favorite episode was called "Amok Time." It was an episode where Spock had to go back to his home planet to fulfill a marriage betrayal, and it was a beautiful script written by Theodore Sturgeon, a wonderful science fiction writer.

And in that episode, we heard the words "live long and prosper" for the first time and we saw Spock do this for the first time. And within days after I did that on the show within days after it aired, I was getting it back on the streets and I thought it's a vain.

MORGAN: Right.

NIMOY: People on the street giving it to me, police officers giving it to me, waiters in restaurants. It was all a little -- and still to this day, I still get that greeting.

MORGAN: And what is the technique for the (inaudible) technique. Is there a particular...

NIMOY: No, no, you won't qualify.

MORGAN: It's going to be feeble if you want to wish me ill harm, it might be quite handy.

NIMOY: You have to go to the Vulcan Institute of Technology to learn how to do this.

MORGAN: Well, what are you doing acting -- do you still act at all?

NIMOY: No, no, I have wonderful life.

MORGAN: Yeah.

NIMOY: I'm very much in love with my wife. I have great kids. We have three between us. They are wonderful people. I have six grandchildren and a great grandson. We have wonderful homes and we travel whenever we want to, wherever we want to. I'm enjoying my life very much.

I started working when I was 10 years old and I didn't quit until just a few years ago. So I've had enough of that.

MORGAN: Leonard Nimoy, it's been absolute pleasure to meet you and to talk to you and I wish you all the best. Thank you for bringing in your machine and telling me how it all works.

NIMOY: Thank you.

MORGAN: And a very important thing, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, if you got a feel, you may have it. Or a word about it, contact your doctor and get yourself check up because I would imagine, as with all these things, early detection is a key thing.

NIMOY: That's about it.

MORGAN: Leonard, great to see you.

NIMOY: Great to see you.

MORGAN: Real pleasure. Thanks for coming in.

NIMOY: Thank you.

MORGAN: How do you follow that? I want to tell you how you follow that. The Karma Chameleon himself -- can you imagine a show on cable news in history that had Mr. Spock followed by Boy George.

That's what you'll get into that ladies and gentlemen.

Live and exclusive, Boy George following Mr. Spock, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN MOVIE CLIP)

CULTURE CLUB: Do you really want to hurt me. Do you really want to make me cry? Precious kisses, words that burn me. Lovers never ask you why.

(END MOVIE CLIP)

MORGAN: "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me", Culture Club's breakthrough number one hit from 1982, the moment they introduced the world pretty extraordinary singer named George Alan O'Dowd better known of course as pop superstar Boy George.

He had his ups and downs since then but he's now back on a very big up for the new album, "This Is What I Do," and he joins me now exclusively. The one and only Boy George following Mr. Spock from "Star Trek".

BOY GEORGE, MUSICIAN/ARTIST: I know his to love those eyebrows. I think I actually did those eyebrows in the 70s.

MORGAN: I think you did.

BOY GEORGE: Yeah, I did.

MORGAN: I mean, we all watch "Star Trek", didn't we?

BOY GEORGE: Yeah, it was a great show.

MORGAN: How are you?

BOY GEORGE: I'm very good. Very good, very pleased to be in America, having a great time.

MORGAN: I didn't realize just how famous you are in America. You're huge. Everybody is like, "Look at Boy George. We love Boy George."

BOY GEORGE: Yeah. America has always been my kind of biggest audience, which is nice.

MORGAN: You've been through, as I said, a lot of ups and downs. It's not been easy for you by any means. Life, where are you at now with yourself?

BOY GEORGE: Well, my sixth year is over. March 2nd this year, I'll be...

(CROSSTALK)

BOY GEORGE: So yes, I'm in a great place, you know. It's been having things where we now better than I've ever been, you know, I've kind of -- it kind of feels like, well, I was going to say second chance but I think we had about five of that. I think it is about second chance, put me about my 10th chance. But, I do feel like I've reached a point where I was so quite off a bit and then comes down. I think that's it.

MORGAN: You went probably the darkest period, I mean, up to you to tell me it wasn't up, but when you had big issues with heroin addiction...

BOY GEORGE: Yeah. MORGAN: ... and I think it was your brother who basically help save your life, made it public and did that for you. You know, we lost Philip Seymour Hoffman last week to an addiction. Did you recognized in him a kind of parallel to what you've been through and how would you advice people to try and help them?

BOY GEORGE: It's a difficult one, you know, because obviously, you know, when these things happen, you think about the families and the people they've left behind, you know, is that what I make it about me. I mean, I felt very sad. So, I think he was a great actor. Whenever you lose anyone like that, Amy Winehouse, anyone who's really talented, you know. It's heartbreaking to see that, but unfortunately, when you're in active addiction, you're not thinking about the people, you know what I mean...

MORGAN: It's a very selfish posit even though it's a disease. It's an addiction.

BOY GEORGE: Yeah, I mean, that's something anyone sort of does as an avocation or deliberately but, you know, once -- I think when it -- what happens is that people kind of experiment when they're young. And then some people can take it or leave it. And unfortunately, there are group of people who unable to that in which I'm one and we called as ourselves addict. So, you know, once you realized that, really the only road there is to kind of abstain from everything that ...

MORGAN: And is it an addictive personality generally? Is it people that are just -- they have that stricken them about old manner of things not just drugs?

BOY GEORGE: I think in my case, I mean, I don't know if -- about anyone else. But I think in my case, you know, everything I do, I do to an extreme. And when I discovered, you know, I started, I have a big addiction in the '80s, and you know, I spent a long, long time being clean. And really, the one thing I've done really bad is being drug addict. That's the one thing I felt every time, you know. But, this time around, I kind of have a program, you know, how to support, you know, whereas in the '80s, one cycle clean, I kind of just -- sort of thought I could do it on my own. And I said, but oh, that I have realized to actually know I do need to kind of have support with that.

MORGAN: With Philip Seymour Hoffman, he was clean for 20 years. An incredible period of time...

BOY GEORGE: Yeah.

MORGAN: ... to then have a relapse. But is that, from your experience, is that quite common thing that you're always basically diseased and any moment you could lose that battle even if it has been decades.

BOY GEORGE: Yeah. What they do in recoveries, they say one day a time. So literally, each day is a repress (ph), you know. And you always have to be kind of conscious, not to be around, not to put yourself in situations where you might be tempted. So yeah, it's a daily thing. It's for life, you know.

MORGAN: Only today, Julia Roberts said, the movie star. Lost her -- a sister, I think, is a step sister to a drugs overdose.

BOY GEORGE: Yeah.

MORGAN: It's becoming more ever more prevalent. You mentioned Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Heath Ledger, there been so many in recent years.

BOY GEORGE: Yeah.

MORGAN: Is there a particular attachment between drug addiction and celebrity because you've got the money, you've got the easy access to drugs, and a particular pressure that comes from perhaps life performing in front of a lot of people.

BOY GEORGE: I think a lot of it is that, you know, you can start of for the best intentions in the world you don't want to do it. I was very unto drugs when I was growing up and even in my early teens, you know, and then what happens is you end up being around it, and I think a little bit of peer pressure comes into it as this early, you know, if you are one of those people who come, walk away from it, then you end up with the program, you know.

MORGAN: Let's take a short break. I want to come back and get your view on Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, all the young, Boy George, pop superstars out there because you've been through everything that they're even contemplating. I'll get your advice for them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOY GEORGE: Have I lost my crown or will I be king again. What's the word on the street? Have I lost my crown or will I be king of everything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: "King of Everything" from Boy George's new album "This is what I do." And Boy George is back with me now. Hearing your voice in that, I remember Bob Geldof's account of the Live Aid and the Band Aid single and how you put in long-term (ph) good, pretty hangover, you were the last to arrive, they're all waiting for you. But you came in and despite all of that, you sang in perfect peach like six in the morning or something ridiculous. And many people felt that your voice, your natural voice, was one of the great British voices that's being amusing.

BOY GEORGE: Thank you.

MORGAN: What would you think?

BOY GEORGE: It's quite an honor to say that about yourself, but, I remember, instead of going to the studio, and you know, everybody was like sort of in recording mode. And so, there was no time to stop or practice the song. I had a camera in my face, and that she just go walking to studio tell what I was going to sing and I have to do it. So there was no, you know, there was no ego involved. So you just go on with it, you know. But, I remember Bob Geldof singing a song like a black lady, which I'll describe to you later (ph).

MORGAN: Your sexuality has always been of course the key, I guess, to your personality in terms of your public profile. Big day today for America because NFL college star wasn't going to the National Football League, Michael Sam has come out before the draft is actually made to pick these guys. And everyone is talking about this.

BOY GEORGE: Yeah.

MORGAN: ... You came out, but you came out to family long before you came out...

BOY GEORGE: Yes (inaudible)...

MORGAN: ... as a public person. What advice would you give to people who are famous and have to come out because that brings with it a particular thing, doesn't it?

BOY GEORGE: Well, one of the fine things about coming up publicly is that people always encourage you to do it. And then when you do it, they say, all you do is talk about being gay. So you can't win.

I think, when I was younger, I was a little bit more kind of gang hound (ph) that everyone should come out. Now, I think, if it makes you happy, come out. If this is going to make you miserable, don't come out, just don't have it go (ph) with other gay people. I mean, as long as somebody isn't attacking gay people, I don't care if they're (inaudible). You know what I mean? It's a funny one. I mean, I think you come out because it's going to make you happy, it's going to make your life better, but I don't think you have an obligation. I used to think that.

But I think it's great, you know, football players, you know, we have this great guy, his name is Ben Cohen who is championing (ph), you know, homophobia, you know, with that sort of stuff. And I think -- I admire people like him. I think we need more people like that, you know, because no one's going to listen to us queens, you know, screaming for equality. But -- and, yeah, I just think it could own him, you know, I think it's a very brave thing to do, even now, it's very brave to do.

MORGAN: Completely. Let me ask you about Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber. Two pop super stars at the top of their games, both getting a lot of adverse headlines and attentions. They try to make that break from teenage star to adult star. What do you make with both of them? Miley first.

GEORGE: Well, you know, you're growing up in public, you know, and my little niece, you know, has been watching Miley Cyrus or Hanna Montana, you know. So, she's been in our lives for years. This lovely, adorable... MORGAN: Perfect.

GEORGE: ... busy star. And then she tells me, you know, my sisters have me to explain why she is twerking and getting naked, and all of that stuff. So, it's quite a big transition for parents. They have to explain that, you know, Miley Cyrus is now a young woman, and you know, and she's not exactly being subtle about it.

MORGAN: No. I thought your lack of subtlety. What about Justin Bieber. He seems to be on a mission I think to get rid of that teenage heartthrob teenybopper image.

GEORGE: Yeah. I've been asked a lot about Justin Bieber, I mean, I just sort of feel a little bit sorry for him because I wonder who is kind of looking out for him, you know, among the -- because he is a kid.

MORGAN: He is possibly thinking like, you know, I got three teenage sons and you're going to control them to certain degree.

GEORGE: Yeah. You're right. I mean, there's...

MORGAN: And you want them to kind of, you know, find their own life experiences. And also if you were Bieber that he's being targeted everywhere he goes now, amplifying any time, I mean, when you're being, you know, have front page news of chucking eggs at a wall, it's all getting a bit silly, I think.

GEORGE: It is. But, you know, I think when you're that young -- it feels like the same process is much quicker now. You know, in the old age, you'd make three or four albums, then you'd going to fall apart. Now, it seems to kind of happen straight away, you know. And plus, I think the states are bigger now. You know, people like Justin Bieber are making a lot of money. This is like money that we could have hardly dreamed of...

MORGAN: Right.

GEORGE: ... back in the days.

MORGAN: Yeah. In huge amounts.

GEORGE: You know, ridiculous. So, I think with that, comes huge pressure. I do hope that he gets through it. You know, because he almost feels like he's trying to be really hip-hop. And something I never bother to try to.

MORGAN: I could never see you with a in hip-hop song...

GEORGE: I know, I'm more...

MORGAN: Let's take a break. I'll come back and ask you my two defining questions. How many times Boy George have been properly in love and what is the moment if I gave you five minutes back in your life that you would relive, the great moment of your life. Think on those two answers, OK, and we'll be back in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CULTURE CLUB: Downtown we'll drown. We're in our never splendor. Flower. Showers. Who's got the new boy gender. I'll be your baby. I'll be your score. I'll run the gun for you and so much more. I'll tumble for you. I'll tumble for you...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Boy George is back with me. That of course was "I'll Tumble for You" by Culture Club. Let's go with it. How many times in your life Boy George have you been properly in love?

GEORGE: I would say at this point, I don't think I've ever really truly been in love which...

MORGAN: Really?

GEORGE: ... is quite of shocking thing to say. I mean, I think over the years, I probably felt that I was kind of madly in love with quite few people. There are a couple of ex partners that I love now which is different telling me like I love them as friends. I kind of love them in a way that I could never love them when I was going out with them. And I actually care about what happens to them.

MORGAN: Do you hope to find true love?

BOY GEORGE: I think, yeah. It would be nice. But I think there -- you know, when you are young, you have such unrealistic expectations of other people and you know, your idea of what love is, is kind of a little bit naive, you know. So, as I've got older, I think, it's a bit more man-thing (ph) than the more I realized. You know, I used to think it was a big drum and I needed fireworks because I grow up with that scene. My parents were like that.

MORGAN: Right.

BOY GEORGE: So, I kind of, for years, sort of all those kind of very dramatic relationships were really the real thing. So, I'm waiting.

MORGAN: OK. Well, I think -- my second one which is, if I could give you five minutes back or just an hour, whatever it may be to relive the great moment of your life, what would you choose?

BOY GEORGE: I would probably -- first, when I played Madison's (ph) (inaudible).

MORGAN: What was that? Early '80s?

BOY GEORGE: It was two days before Band Aid, but I do it now so much better now. Wait a minute, let me do it again. That was feeling (ph) very good.

MORGAN: And for everyone who's been twitting you, what on earth is "Karma Chameleon" actually means.

BOY GEORGE: Well, Karma just means action. So it's, you know, law of cause and effect, you know, what you do kind of has an effect good or bad. In Buddhism, everything is Buddhist but everything has a reaction or, you know, good and bad. And a Chameleon is a creature that is used as a metaphor (ph) for someone who didn't really know what they were and wasn't quite choosing themselves, you know.

MORGAN: Well, it's fantastic to talk you. First time I've ever interviewed you.

BOY GEORGE: I know. I think -- did we do a press stuff?

MORGAN: No. I've never interviewed you in my life. I mean, I've been part of your travails, in highs and lows for long time. Anyway, your new album "This is What I Do" is available March of 25th. You're touring in North America. They'll see you with the Nine-piece band. Can't wait to see you there. And for more information, check out boygeorge.com. A living legend as I live and breath.

BOY GEORGE: Thanks.

MORGAN: Boy George, great to see you. And best of luck with the album and of the tour.

That's all for us tonight. AC360 starts right now.