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Showbiz Tonight
`The Da Vinci Code` a Box Office Success; Why Are Some `American Idol` Contestants Successful and Others Not?; Elton John Curses the Press; Madonna`s Confessions on the Dance Floor Tour Causing Controversy; Katie Couric Says Goodbye to NBC`s `Today Show`
Aired May 22, 2006 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Jennifer Aniston`s candid thoughts about prying into her personal life I`m jam A.J. Hammer in New York.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN NEWS ANCHOR And Oliver Stone talks to us about a controversial new 9/11 movie "World Trade Center." I`m Sibila Vargas in Hollywood, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, divine intervention at the box office. Tonight, why we love movies that answer to a higher authority: "Passion," "Narnia,"and now the blockbuster opening of the "The da Vinci Code."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Witness the biggest cover-up in human history.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the power of God and a special report that blows the lid off the secret religious sect in the "The da Vinci Code." We go inside Opus Dei.
Plus, the Dog Whisperer, tonight, the guy who talks to out of control canines. And guess what? They listen. Curing doggie dysfunction with psychology. Tonight, the Freud of Fido. An interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
VARGAS: And I`m Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. And A.J., what an opening for "The da Vinci Code."
HAMMER: So true, Sibila, but SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the story doesn`t stop there. "The da Vinci Code" had a blockbuster beginning over the weekend, either beating or coming close to smashing a bunch of records. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is here with a revelation for you, the power of da Vinci has once again shown the power of God at the box office.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEVIN GORDON, "NEWSWEEK": Witness the biggest cover-up in human history.
HAMMER (voice-over): The divine da Vinci, Dan Bown`s best selling novel is now a best selling movie. It`s yet another big budget religious film doing big numbers at the box office.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it`s more faith that`s big business at the box office.
HAMMER: Despite protests by Christian groups.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: lies, deceit, deception.
HAMMER: .and some downright bad reviews from critics.
LEAH ROZEN, FILM CRITIC, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: It`s dull for two and a half hours, which is a long time to be dull.
HAMMER: "The da Vinci Code" just about cracked every box office record out there.
PAUL DERGARABEDIAN, PRESIDENT, and EXHIBITOR RELATIONS: This movie was No. 1 in Italy, No. 1 Spain, No. 1 or two in South America. Across the bored, worldwide, it was a phenomenon.
HAMMER: "The da Vinci Code" snagged the second biggest worldwide opening ever, racking up $224 million in ticket sales, second only to last year`s "Star Wars Episode III." Da Vinci took in $77 million here in the states proving critics and controversy are not always a lethal combo.
ROZEN: This is a film, it`s going to make money, no matter what. It`s going to make huge money, you know, 30, 40 million people read the book, they`re going to go to the movie.
HAMMER: Whether it`s wrapped in controversy or not, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that the Bible is big business at the box office. Former "Growing Pains" star, Kirk Cameron should know, he stars in "Left Behind," a successful film series marketed directly to Christian audiences. He tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that Hollywood can`t help but take notice.
KIRK CAMERON, ACTOR: There are multitudes of people who want to see faith based movies and, even more specifically, Bible-themed movies.
HAMMER: With survey after survey showing more than 60 percent of Americans saying religion is very important to them, Hollywood is finding that it`s very profitable to turn church-goers into movie-goers.
GORDON: You see this push to sort of work Jesus into films and work Christianity and religion into films in a way that`s sort of subtle and palatable.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT points you to "The Chronicles of Narnia," it raked in more than $743 million worldwide at the box office, and has already sold more than 11 million copies on DVD. It`s a movie with a Christian subtext, also marketed heavily through churches.
And who can forget about "The Passion." Movie-goers and church-goers flocked to Mel Gibson`s "The Passion of the Christ" in 2004, propelling it to box office grosses of near biblical proportions, more than $600 million worldwide. It forced Hollywood to find religion very quickly.
GORDON: I`m sure Hollywood sees that there`s this audience out there that they haven`t yet tapped. The question is, is Hollywood the proper people to tap it. So, they`ve got to figure out a way to sort of get those people convince that they can see something out of Hollywood and not be offended by it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Of course the question remains whether Hollywood will continue to turn out the religions fair. We do know that Disney is working on the second installment, now, of "The Chronicles of Narnia," that due out in the summer of 2008. One person who can certainly understand the power of God, is the Reverend Robert A. Schuller. He succeeded his father, Robert H. Schuller, as the pastor of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries and its internationally televised "Hour of Power." He`s also an accomplished author of 12 books, including this one, his latest, "Getting Through What You`re Going Through."
Reverend Schuller joins me now from Hollywood. Appreciate you being with us, Reverend.
REV. ROBERT A. SCHULLER, CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL MINISTRIES: Well, thank you A.J. it`s a pleasure to be here.
HAMMER: Glad to have you. Let`s get into it now. What is going on in Hollywood? We`ve got all these popular religions-themed films, we mentioned "The Passion of the Christ," of course, "The Chronicles of Narnia," another one soon to come, "The da Vinci Code." What exactly is it, from were you stand, that Hollywood is tapping into here?
SCHULLER: Well, I believe that Hollywood is tapping into a fundamental spiritual reality that people have a need. And we have discovered this need for centuries. And the church is filing the need to a point them, there`s a point which Hollywood could tap in and also fill a need as well.
HAMMER: Well, they`re fulfilling the need, but it seems that they`re doing it more often than ever now, out in Hollywood. The films are more common than ever, so, from your point of view, has there been a disconnect for too long between the Hollywood movies that we`ve been getting and then things that people believe in, in terms of their own faith or religion?
SCHULLER: I think that there`s a combination of both. I think there`s a spiritual reality that people see and need and know. And I think that Hollywood has recognized this and had an opportunity to address it. And I think they`re doing a pretty good job. I loved "Narnia" I like what`s going on with "The Passion of the Christ." When I look at "The da Vinci Code" I see something that`s really not spiritual in nature. It`s touching a spiritual fiber, but it`s really -- we have to remember it`s fiction. It`s just pure fiction.
HAMMER: And I want to talk to yo about that, because lot of people would probably be surprised to hear that you, and you`re a very well-known individual, who`s been doing what you`ve been doing for a long time, and, from what I understand, you think that all the controversy surrounding "The da Vinci Code" is actually a good thing. You never actually thought it should have a disclaimer before the film saying this is a work of fiction, and you don`t agree with a lot of criticism from the Catholic Church on the film; is that right?
SCHULLER: You know, I sympathize with the Catholic Church because I understand that it really attacks the Catholic Church. What I`m excited about is that people are talking about Jesus Christ. Whenever people talk about Jesus Christ, the truth will come to the surface. We have to remember that "The da Vinci Code" was not written by da Vinci, it was written by Dan Brown. "The da Vinci Code" is No. 1 in the fiction section, not the spiritual section, not in the history section and so it`s a No. 1 selling fiction. And as long as people remember they`re watching fiction, I think it`s fine for people to go on and be entertained, just like when they go and they watch "Star Wars." And, so, I encourage people to enjoy entertainment.
But what we have to remember is that there is another code besides "The da Vinci Code," and that is the divinity code. And I`m in the process of encouraging people to recognize the divinity code which that Jesus Christ was born of a Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; he died, he rows again from the grave, and is living in the hearts and mind of people who believe in the divinity code.
HAMMER: Different from what Hollywood may be putting out in "The da Vinci Code," to be sure. I have less than 30 seconds, but I do want to ask you if you feel there`s any downside to Hollywood becoming too obsessed with religion?
SCHULLER: I don`t think so. I think that the more we talk about religion, the more we will really satisfy our intellectual curiosity. And the more we`ll discover who Jesus Christ is. Because I am a firm believer that the truth will always come to the surface. And, as a result of that, the more we discuss, the more we talk about, the more reality we will discover.
HAMMER: Well, I appreciate your insight tonight. Reverend Robert H. Schuller, thank you very much for joing me.
SCHULLER: Thank you, A.J., it`s been a pleasure.
HAMMER: And you can pick up his latest book, it`s called "Getting Through What You`re Going Through" it is on bookshelves, now.
And coming up a bit later on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, we`re going to take you inside for a rare look at the secret society of Opus Dei. That of course is the religious sect that`s portrayed as a murderous cult in the "The da Vinci Code." We`re going to find out what`s fact and what`s fiction, that`s coming up a bit later.
VARGAS: Now we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day. No. 1, do you pay attention to movie critics? Vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight and send us an e-mail at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: Well, first there was "United 93," now "World Trade Center." Tonight, Oliver Atone on the controversy surrounding his new 9/11 movie. The question people are asking, are audiences really ready? We`ve also have this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER ANISTON, ACTRESS: I just don`t want set just such an unrealistic portrayal of where I am at all or who I am and who gives -- let them all -- let everybody be happy, you know?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: A revealing chat with Jennifer Aniston. What she thinks about people prying into her personal life day after day. That`s still to come.
HAMMER: And, when this guy talks, these people listen -- or these pups listen. Tonight, the guy who claims to cure all kinds of doggie dysfunctions with psychology. The Dog Whisperer in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
VARGAS: But first, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly`s Great American Pop Culture Quiz." What was the name of the robot sidekick on FOX`s animated series "Futurama?" Bendo, Flexo, Bender, or Mr. Roboto? Think you know the answer? We`ll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VARGAS: So again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly`s Great American Pop Culture Quiz." What was the name of the robot sidekick on FOX`s animated series "Futurama?" Was it Bendo, Flexo, Bender, or Mr. Roboto? He drank, he swore, he smoked and he bent things -- the answer is C, Bender.
HAMMER: My kind of robot. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We are TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. It`s time now for a story today that just made us say, "That`s Ridiculous." A man from Washington state is plotting a little bit of revenge after his friends turned his apartment into a human hamster cage. That`s right, I mean, take a look at this thing. There was shredded newspaper on the floor, a giant water bottle in the window. Of course the transformation included the 6 foot exercise wheel that you`re seeing as well. Now, apparently this guy just had it coming because a couple of years ago he was the mastermind of a pretty brilliant prank, if I do say so myself. He wrapped a friend`s apartment completely in aluminum foil, right down to the spare change apartment a la rodent, we say, "That`s Ridiculous." But there was no Habitrail inside there. Remember the orange habitrail thing? With the hamsters?
VARGAS: I think that might have been too elaborate, though, but you got to wonder, how much time do they have on their hands?
HAMMER: A little too much. Moving right along, well the big story at the box office over the weekend, of course, was the "The da Vinci Code," it`s what played before the movie in many theaters that had a lot of people on edge and actually left some others in tears. It was the powerful new trailer for Oliver Stone`s "World Trade Center," all about the 9/11 attacks. But the Oscar winning director is not shying away, at all, from the controversy. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson, who has been covering the Cannes Film Festival for the past week got to speak one-on-one with Stone and she is back with us tonight -- Brooke.
BROOK ANDERSON, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: A.J. it was an exciting weekend here at the Cannes Film Festival. Oscar winning director, Oliver Stone is in town. He gave a glimpse of his upcoming emotionally charged "World Trade Center." He`s also here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of his film "Platoon." He`s joined by "Platoon" stars Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Willem Dafoe.
Now two decades ago "Platoon" didn`t play here at the festival, it was deemed too controversial, but not anymore. It did screen here this time.
Now, prior to the screening of "Platoon," Stone showed the first act of the movie, "World Trade Center." He told me, the movie, which stars Nicolas Cage, is almost complete, and he also addressed the concerns that some have that it`s just too soon for this film.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Why now? It`s been close to five years since the tragedy. What would you say to people who think it`s too soon to see a film like this?
OLIVER STONE, DIRECTOR: Oh, I think it`s high time. I think the consequence -- I mean, 9/11 is an enormous event with consequences everywhere in the world, all the politics of the world are now dominated by 9/11, so if film makers can`t start to ask these questions, who the hell can?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have unconfirmed reports this morning that a plane has crashed into the towers at the World Trade Center.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`re prepared for everything. But not this. Not for something this size. There`s no plan.
ANDERSON: What kind of response are you getting about World Trade Center from families of victims? Are you talking with them? Have you gotten approval, disapproval? What kind of feelings are you getting?
CAGE: In this case we`ve had very great corporation from the Port Authority and the widows, most of them. No one`s going to see the same thing in the same way, 9/11 means something different to everybody. But, you know, deal with the reality. Here at ground level, don`t make anything up, follow the story of these two guys who survived it. The rescue effort was amazing, incredible story unto itself. The wives` story was amazing. Just tell it like it is, and let the humanity shine through.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: A.J. Many more high-profile stars will be making their way here to Cannes. The festival runs through Sunday, which is when the top prize, the Palm Door (ph), will be awarded. Back to you in New York.
HAMMER: Brooke Anderson covering the Cannes Film Festival for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Now, if there was ever a super bowl of reality shows, I can tell you it`s this week`s "American Idol" on Wednesday, because America will clown - - crown either Taylor Hicks or Katherine McPhee the next American Idol.
Now, winning Idol or even coming in second place doesn`t automatically guarantee big-time success to follow. Some make it, some don`t. But, the question is. Why? Joining me now is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Adrianna Costa who is our know-all, see-all Idol expert.
Nice to see you Adrianna.
ADRIANNA COSTA, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I don`t know. I don`t even know how I got that title, but thank you very much, A.J..
HEMMER: Well, you`re glued to the set like most Americans every single week. Let`s start out on this concept with Clay Aiken. Here`s a guy who lost out to Ruben Studdard, yet his albums have outsold Ruben`s. We have "Measure of a Man," that sold 2.7 million copies, "Merry Christmas, with Love," sold more than 1.1 million copies and his concerts have grossed more than 27 million bucks. In fact, ask somebody if Clay Aiken "American Idol," they`re likely to tell you that he did, but he didn`t. Why has he done so much better than Ruben?
COSTA: I think in this case, he actually capitalized off his success at the right time. They marketed him, the people behind him -- marketed him in such a brilliant way, there was room for a new pop idol, you know, for a new pop icon and he fit the bill. Anyone from the young girls to the grandmothers are obsessed with him. He`s got a really broad range of fan bases, you know. Also, he jumped on the touring circuit at the right time. So, he`s out there really connecting with his fans, bringing in a ton of money. In fact, they consider Clay Aiken the second most successful Idol contestant after Kelly Clarkson. And he`s actually brought in more ticket sales -- concert ticket sales than she has. So, you know, he`s really done well for himself. I`m sure the little red hair doesn`t hurt. He`s just adorable, right?
HAMMER: Yeah, well, a lot of America does think so. But, you know, being the runner-up, doesn`t always, you know, get you the big fame and fortune that we`ve seen with Clay Aiken. I mean, you look at Justin Guarini. Now, Justin of course, we all remember from season one, he was the runner-up to Kelly Clarkson when Idol first went on the air. Tens of millions of people voted for this guy. His self-titled album that debuted somewhere around 142 thousand copies sold, which is pretty miserable, so explain that.
COSTA: I think if you`re going to talk about any disappointment as far as "American Idol" goes with a contestant, he`s the big disappointment. He`s the big, sort of fluke. And it is really upsetting because, you know what, he could have had a bright career. My opinion is there can only be one giant idol success of the year. Kelly`s Clarkson`s career just kept getting bigger and bigger. People really identified with her, she was America`s sweetheart. A million hit singles, right? Her albums were doing incredibly well. There wasn`t enough room for Justin Guarini. I think that`s just what happened. The timing was off. She was brilliant. You know what, she was such a force that it just wasn`t -- I mean, there couldn`t be two of them. And everyone sort of -- out of sight, out of mind. Everybody sort of forgot about Justin Guarini.
HAMMER: Well, and look at what Kelly Clarkson has been able to achieve. Her two albums sold more than seven million copies, two Grammy Awards, a lot of people would have said that could never happen with somebody from "American Idol." But then we have season three`s winner Fantasia Barino. Now, her album "Free Yourself," a great album, sold 1.6 million copies, which is not so bad, but really not a blockbuster.
COSTA: I mean, you know what, she`s still out there, though. You know, I never really understood the whole Fantasia thing. Maybe the rest of America didn`t either. Obviously she was voted for a reason, right? You know, she`s very talented, got a great voice. She could have a bright career still from here, I think she need, like Kelly Clarkson did, I sort of think she needed to play up the America`s sweetheart status a little bit more and really get into people`s homes and have them identify with her. If that meant touring, going on more tours, that`s what she should have done. Also, she didn`t have the string of -- you know, No. 1 hits that were -- had a lot of radio play or anything. So, that`s where she suffered. Although, you do know, she has af a Lifetime movie coming out, sort of like a rags-to-riches story about her life. And you know what? Maybe she could have a strong career in acting.
HAMMER: She is such a big personality, I do think a big acting career is ahead. We only have out 30 seconds, but I have to ask you about Bo Bice, of course he was last season`s runner-up to Carrie Underwood, who has done phenomenally well. His album did OK, about 600,000 copies, but he`s no Clay Aiken in the runner-up category. So, what`s his future?
COSTA: You know, that album and his hit song "The Real Thing" is doing really well. It`s got a lot of air play. I mean, by industry standards, whatever -- but I think he`s got a bright career because he`s humble, and cute, and he`s rock and roll, we always need rock and roll, right?
HAMMER: All right, Adrianna. You`re right. We got to go.
COSTA: Thank you A.J.
HAMMER: Thank you very much.
COSTA: Good to see you.
HAMMER: And do not forget, you can catch Adrianna Costa`s entertainment report bright and early every weekday morning on "Robin & Company" from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. right here on CNN Headline News.
VARGAS: Well, the rocket man does some cussing at Cannes. Find out why Sir Elton John got furious at the French Film Festival. That`s coming up. Plus we`ve also go this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
"COLLEEN", FMR. NUMERARY ASSISTANT: Opus Dei is a cult. And, you know, I want people to know that, a year ago, I would have never said that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, we blow the lid off the secret religious sect portrayed as murderous cult in ""The da Vinci Code." Opus Dei, what`s fact, what`s fiction? That`s coming up.
VARGAS: And a guy who`s really hot under the collar. Why in the world is this guy jumping on fire?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tomorrow, yes, summertime almost here. What a better time to celebrate the bikini.
(CHEERS)
The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT crew very excited about this. The tiny-weenie swim suit turns 60 this year and she only gets sweeter with age. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT takes you on an exciting nostalgic look back on the babes who made bikinis famous.
(CHEERS)
VARGAS: Sir Elton John -- the explicit Sir Elton John, known for being a bit, shall we say, prickly with the press? Well, he`s done it again. He was presenting an award at the Cannes Film Festival in France when a member of the press interrupted him. That prompted Sir Elson to respond with a few choice words that we can`t even repeat here on cable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELTON JOHN, ENTERTAINER: I`m talking you (BLEEP).
(LAUGHTER)
(BLEEP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What?
JOHN: You should all be shot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: Sir Elton has certainly had several run-ins with the paparazzi and he thinks that they can aggressive sometimes -- A.J..
HEMMER: Well Sivila, Madonna kicks off her world tour in shocking style, even for her and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right there, we bet you`ve never seen "Like a Virgin" like this. That`s next.
VARGAS: Also, when he talks, these pups are all ears. Tonight the guy who claims to cure all sorts of doggie dysfunctions with psychology, the Freud of Fido, the Dog Whisperer and the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HEMMER: And, look up in the sky, it`s a bird, it`s a plane, it`s a crazy guy lighting himself on fire. The scary thing is, he`s done it many times before. Find out why in just a bit. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Monday night coming right back.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for a Monday night. It`s 30 past the hour, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York,.
VARGAS: And I`m Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. Well, tonight, Jen and Vince. We caught up with them over the weekend to talk about many things. And let me just tell you that Jennifer Aniston was not holding back when it comes to telling us how she feels about the media prying into her business. You are not going to want to miss this interview -- A.J.
HAMMER: It`s nice to hear she is actually talking about, though. Good stuff coming up in just a few moments. Also, Sibila, I imagine you`ve seen the show, "The Dog Whisperer?"
VARGAS: Absolutely and I`ve done some of his techniques.
HAMMER: It is wildly popular. This guy does like this voodoo mind meld with the dogs and makes them speak English or something. Well, actually, he really helps owners, including a lot of celebrities, help their dogs. And what we find very often is that the problem, not with the animal, the problem with the owner. He really knows what he`s doing. And the Dog Whisperer coming to the rescue of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT in just a few minutes.
But, first, tonight, the controversy, the protest, and the mystery. "The da Vinci Code" may have topped the box office over the weekend, but it`s at the center of this film, a very real organization that still seems shrouded in s secrecy. The Catholic group, Opus Dei, has sparked a lot of the debate surrounding the movie. And tonight, we are getting and insiders excusive view into the secret world of Opus Dei. CNN`s Faith and Values correspondent, Delia Gallagher, joins us tonight from Rome for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT -- Delia.
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN FAITH AND VALUES CORRESPONDENT: Hi, A.J. you know, Opus Dei is a group of conservative professional Catholics. These are people with nine to five jobs, who live a little bit like priests and nuns. They live in communities, they give a lot of their money back to the communities, and they`re celibate. They also practice corporal mortification. You remember in the "The da Vinci Code," the monk who whips himself with the knotted rope? Well, I went to their headquarters in New York City to find out just what they really do.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Opus Dei has describes itself as a Catholic organization whose mission is to enable people to serve God through work and everyday life. But, in "The da Vinci Code" Brown describes it as a deeply devout Catholic sect, a brainwashing cult and a secret society. From the first page of the book, Brown sets the stage for his tail of conspiracy inside its $47 million headquarters on Lexington Avenue.
This is the actual building. It`s 17 stories tall with separate entrance for men and women. Inside, separate facilities divide male and female members called Numeraries (ph). They make a lifelong commitment to celibacy and to living in an Opus Dei residence. There are his and her chapels, dining rooms, classrooms, and fitness centers.
TONA VARELA, NUMERARY MEMBER: This is the exercise room, also known as the torture chamber.
GALLAGHER (on camera): Ah-ha, the torture the real chamber.
VARELA: Yes.
GALLAGHER (voice-over): Tona Varela has been a Numerary for 25 years.
VARELA: At Opus Dei we are about holiness, and holiness -- you need to be free to love God.
GALLAGHER (on camera): Do you feel brainwashed? Do you feel like you belong to a cult?
VARELA: I hope I don`t look brainwashed to you. And I am completely free. I am very happy and free.
TERRI CARRON, MARRIED OPUS DEI MEMBER: Hey guys!
GALLAGHER (voice-over): Not all members of Opus Dei are celibate. The majority of roughly 3,000 American members are what`s called Supernumeraries. They can marry, have children, and live in their own homes.
CARRON: Here you go.
GALLAGHER: Terri Carron is one of them.
CARRON: I got cheese cake for dessert.
GALLAGHER: A wife, mother of four, and public relations consultant, Terri is one of several members the group has been providing to the media in recent months.
GALLAGHER (on camera): What is the biggest myth perpetuated by the book or the movie about Opus Dei?
CARRON: I think the biggest myth about Opus Dei is that it`s some kind of religious organization, you know, involved in conspiracy to find some elusive holy grail. And the reality is much more down to earth. You know, we`re just people, like Catholics, looking for God in our every day life.
GALLAGHER (voice-over): As for "The da Vinci Code`s" hulking albino monk, named Silas, who steals, murders, and then tortures himself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there a secret you will die for?
GALLAGHER: Opus Dei wants you to meet a real Silas. Far from hulking or albino, Silas Agbim is a Nigerian-born stockbroker who lives in Brooklyn, works on Wall Street and stands just 5` 5".
SILAS AGBIM, OPUS DEI SUPERNUMERARY: I`m not a monk, nor albino. I am married with a wife and three children.
GALLAGHER (on camera): And no murders.
AGBIM: No murders!
GALLAGHER: In your background?
AGBIM: No murders in my background. All you find in my background is a jolly fellow.
GALLAGHER (voice-over): For all the debate about the book and the movie, neither Dan Brown nor the filmmakers are the first to portray Opus Dei in a negative light. Some former members have told stories of fear, entrapment, and brainwashing on this website, the Opus Dei Awareness Network, which claims to describe the group`s questionable practices in vivid detail.
"COLLEEN", FMR. NUMERARY ASSISTANT: Opus Dei is a cult. And, you know, I want people to know that, a year ago, I would have never said that. Looking at this makes me feel sad.
GALLAGHER: Colleen was a Numerary assistant in Opus Dei for 20 years. Living and working in its residences throughout the U.S., including the one in New York. But last year "Colleen" left for good.
"COLLEEN": Opus Dei preaches goodness and peace and love. But really what they do is not ethical. It`s deceptive and it`s scary and it`s not so good. I still have nightmares every night that I`m in Opus Dei and I can`t get out.
GALLAGHER: "Colleen" says she was expected to practice strict rituals, like corporal mortification, striking herself with the knotted whip called a discipline and wearing a spiked metal chain called a cilis as a reminder of Christ suffering.
"COLLEEN": We believed that the more you mortified yourself, the more graces you would win for people.
GALLAGHER (on camera): The albino monk in the "The da Vinci Code" wears a cilis so tightly, he makes himself bleed. They is an actual cilis sworn by Numeraries around their bare thighs for two hours a day. You can see for yourself just somehow sharp these spikes are. Depending on how tightly you tie it, it could be pretty painful.
REVEREND MICHAEL BARRETT, OPUS DEI PRIEST: Corporal mortification is harmless to your health. It doesn`t cause any physical damage, whatsoever.
GALLAGHER: It doesn`t make you bleed?
BARRETT: Not a bit.
GALLAGHER (voice-over): Reverend Michael Barrett insists that Opus Dei is not a cult and thinks that "da Vinci Code" director Ron Howard should have left out any mention of Opus Dei in the movie.
BARRETT: The trailer`s that is I`ve seen are so seen are so sensational, I have this little bit of hope that maybe it`s going to fall on its own foolishness.
GALLAGHER (on camera): He says it`s a work of fiction.
BARRETT: It`s a work of fiction, but it still doesn`t entitle a person to say whatever he wants about real institutions.
GALLAGHER (voice-over): Opus Dei asked Sony Pictures to add a disclaimer to the movie reminding viewers that its fiction. But Ron Howard declined; saying spy thrillers don`t start off with disclaimers.
(on camera): What would you say to moviegoers of "The da Vinci Code?"
BARRETT: I say to see the movie with your eyes open, not to just take things in as though everything presented is fact and true.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GALLAGHER: And A.J., I wanted to show you this headline from an Italian paper. Now, this man is the real head of Opus Dei Worldwide. He says that Dan Brown doesn`t know it, but he`s strength enned Opus Dei. I think that about sums up what Opus Dei thinks of "The da Vinci Code" -- A.J.
HAMMER: It says quite a bit. Thanks very much Delia. That`s CNN`s Faith and Values correspondent, Delia Gallagher, joining us from Rome tonight. And that leaves us, once again, to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We`re asking: "The da Vinci Code" No. 1, Do you pay attention to movie critics? You an keep voting at cnn.com/showbiztonight and also write showbiztonight@cnn.com is our e-mail address and we`ll read some of your e-mails tomorrow.
VARGAS: Madonna has never been one to pay too much attention to critics. She busted out old and new material to kick of her worldwide tour in Los Angeles this week weekend.
There was stuff from her new album, "Confessions on the Dance Floor," and classics like you just heard, "Like a Virgin." That`s a horse saddle she`s straddling there and we`re guessing those are x-rays in the background that are from when she was thrown off that hose last year. Well, plenty of other controversy in the show. She hangs herself on a cross and puts up pictures of President Bush next to Adolf Hitler. Rosie O`Donnell, Nichole Ritchie, and Selma Hayek were at the concert.
HAMMER: Well, are you ready? The big network news shuffle is almost here. Next week Katie Couric says goodbye to NBC`s "Today Show" after 15 years to take over the anchor chair at the CBS Evening News. Well, today, her soon to be competitor, NBC News anchor, Brian Williams, had a little goodbye message for Couric.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN WILLIAMS, NBC NEWS ANCHOR: This is tough. I can`t say I have ever done this before, bid farewell to a friend who happens to be a colleague, a coworker, and then turn around and face them as a competitor. Three great men named Tom, Peter and Dan, who knew long ago the competitors in this job can be close friends. We, you and I, will continue that tradition starting this fall. Welcome to 6:30 Eastern Time. Oh, and that`s 6:30 p.m.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What a nice guy. Couric officially starts on the CBS Evening News in September.
VARGAS: Look, coming up, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn talk with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about "The Break Up." No, not theirs, the movie.
HAMMER: Plus, the Dog Whisper has celebrities lining up to find out how to train their troubled pups. He`s going to join us with his secret. That`s coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
VARGAS: Also ahead, why a man turned himself into a great ball of fire. It`s a story you won`t want to miss. That`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
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HAMMER: Thanks Charles, welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. It`s time now for another story, that just made us say "That`s Ridiculous," and let me assure you we`re all fired up for this one. Take a look at this, 47-year-old Ted Bachelor is all lit up, he`s on fire. Not a trace of chagrin on his face as he dives into Chagrin Falls in Northeast Ohio.
Now, Ted actually first started this dazzling death-defying dive 30 years ago, all the way back then when it was part of a bet to win money to pay for his prom -- creative thinking. Now, this became a yearly thing, Sibila, until he was threatened with some jail time back in 1984. However, this time around, the town told Ted, burn, baby, burn. But, I got to say, goodness, gracious, great balls of fire, "That`s Ridiculous." That was one hot story, Sibila.
VARGAS: But at least, you know, he`s using it for a good cause -- at least now he`s a professional stuntman. And by the way, we should tell our viewers that he wore a frame retardant suit as he burned for a minute before diving into the water. Now, two years ago, A.J. he landed in the Guiness Book of World Records for the longest full body burn without oxygen. That time it was two minutes and 38 seconds.
HAMMER: You`ve been looking this into this.
VARGAS: I have. I don`t know why.
HAMMER: Don`t try this at home. OK?
VARGAS: OK. Well, one more thing that we have considered ridiculous, is the amount of nonstop tabloid attention Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn have gotten as of late. Now, the two stars together in a new romantic comedy, "The Break Up." This movie was shot around the same time that Aniston and Brad Pitt were going through their divorce. Well since there, Aniston and Vaughn have been romantically linked and are constantly stopped by the paparazzi. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with the two stars and asked them about all the tabloid attention they`ve been getting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANISTON: I`m always upset about it, but I`m exhausted being upset about it. You know? I just don`t want -- that`s just just such an unrealistic portrayal of where I am at all or who I am. And who gives. Let them all -- let everybody be happy, you know? That`s the sad thing is that everybody`s really happy and everybody`s really doing really well. So, why they`re still trying to create this soap opera-type, you know, stuff -- but, I guess they just got to sell their magazines, you know, they don`t know what else to do with their lives except -- they should become soap opera writers, actually.
VINCE VAUGHN, ACTOR: You know, my thing with it has always been, you don`t take it personally. They`re just doing their job, they are trying to sell stories or, you know, sell magazine and they would do it to anyone in that position, so you can`t take it personally. Truthfully, for me, I find it all a bit ridiculous, not that it makes me angry. I just think it`s kind of silly. You know, it`s almost like high school gossip and, you know, what`s going on here, what`s not going on there. It`s not that important.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: He makes a good point there. "The Break Up" opens wide release June 2.
HAMMER: Well, people have relationship problems, not only with each other, of course, but from time to time also with man`s best friend -- their dogs. And we have got the guy who has mastered the canine psyche, the Dog Whisperer. Cesar Millan, he has tamed the pooches of Nicholas Cage, Denise Richards, even Oprah Winfrey. His show is called "Dog Whisperer" and is the highest rated show on the National Geographic Channel, and he`s also got this best selling book out called "Cesar`s Way."
Cesar Millan, a pleasure to have you here in New York. We`re big fans of your show, I watch all the time with my dog, who has no behavioral issues whatsoever.
CESAR MILLAN, DOG WHISPERER: Oh, that`s nice.
HAMMER: So we can talk about other people. And you have worked with so many. And I mentioned some of the celebrities that you`ve worked with and one in particular, Denise Richards. I know she has three dogs.
MILLAN: Three Dogs.
HAMMER: You`ve worked with them and the big problem with her, which I think is probably pretty common and you see this with a lot of owners and their dog, they don`t listen to their owner.
MILLAN: Dogs don`t listen to their owners because they humanize them. What they most of the time is they do affection, affection, affection. And what they really need to do is exercise, discipline, then affection.
HAMMER: And this was the case with Denise, correct?
MILLAN: This is the case with pretty much all my clients.
HAMMER: Why was it the case with Denise? What was wrong there?
MILLAN: Well, the side effect that she was dealing with was aggression. And so, in order for her to control the aggression, she needed to become the pack leader, when she was just the follower. If you`re not the pack leader, you`re the follower.
HAMMER: You got to be the alpha dog.
MILLAN: You got to be the alpha dog.
HAMMER: So, I joked before that you do this voodoo mind meld with the dogs, but you do genuinely seem to have a connection, that is, I don`t want to say unusual, but it`s just so cool to watch how you look them in the eye and you really connect in a way that most owners never connect with their pets. How do you do it?
MILLAN: Well, the energy that I project, at the moment I enter into people`s home, is calm assertive. Most of the people go -- ah, oh, my god! Because I make them excited, emotional energy source, you know? So, when a dog is in front of a person who`s projecting calm, assertive energy, naturally they surrender to it. So, from that point on I can tell the dog what I want and what normal -- you know, most of the time people don`t accomplish it.
HAMMER: So people can learn a lot just simply by being calm rather than excited or upset around their dogs.
MILLAN: Being a pack leader you have to really project the pack leader energy, which is a calm, assertive energy, then you can share affection. Everybody wants to share affectation right away and not practice leadership.
HAMMER: So, you talk a lot about leadership. Is that the most common problem that you see? What is the most common complaint you have from dog owners when they`re dealing with their.
MILLAN: Definitely leadership. You know, people do walk dogs, but, when they walk dogs, they`re always -- dog is always walking in front of them. So, if you study a pack of dogs, when-the one in front is the pack leader. So when you see humans walking with dogs, the human in the back, human is the follower. So they need to have the dog walk dog next to them or behind to empower themselves with the position.
HAMMER: Interesting. Because I occasionally will allow my dog, "Seven" to walk in front of me, but not to pull the leash.
MILLAN: Right.
HAMMER: You don`t want to do that. And I`d like to show you a picture of "Seven," just because I`m just so -- Oh, here he is. Look up on the screen. Now there`s "Seven." He`s my -- 90 pounds of love. Chocolate lab, pit-bull mixed, and actually well behaved and we do have that proper relationship. The one thing that sometimes I get a little fearful of is when he meets other dogs, you never know what the chemistry is going to be. And I try not to show him that I`m afraid, but I do get a little nervous that they`re going to get into it. He would never hurt a fly, but there is that tension there. For other people who may experience that same sort of thing. What would you recommend?
MILLAN: Well, there is a way to meet dogs. You know it`s best not to do face to face. It is best to do side by side. This way there`s no eye contact. When they walk side by side, they learn to smell each other and then eventually they relate to each other by smelling the back part of the body instead of the face to face, which that creates confrontation.
HAMMER: Leash or of the leash meeting.
MILLAN: Depends on the trust. How much trust you have. It is best off the leash when you have 100 percent trust in the dog. But if you don`t have 100 percent, the leash is a good helper.
HAMMER: I have to ask you quickly about Oprah Winfrey. You appeared on her show and you helped her with her dogs. You would think Oprah Windrey, she would have the best-trained dogs -- they`d know exactly, hey, that`s Oprah there, we got to be on our best behavior. Not the case, is it?
MILLAN: Well, they don`t see Oprah as Oprah the way we see her. Oprah was sharing affection first and fear -- because she was afraid of what Sophie could have done to other dogs. So who you are in the animal world is energy, not a professional, not anything else.
HAMMER: Yeah, Oprah`s dogs looking at her don`t know how much money she`s worth or that she`s one of the most powerful people on the planet. Well Cesar, we appreciate you stopping by.
MILLAN: Thank you, guy.
HAMMER: It really is a terrific show and I`m glad you were able to be with us on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
MILLAN: Thank you.
HAMMER: And you can catch "The Dog Whisperer" with Cesar Millan, Friday nights on the National Geographic Channes. And the complete first season of the show is out on DVD, tomorrow.
VARGAS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Well, time now for tonight`s "Hot Headlines." It was a bittersweet weekend for Duane "Dog" Chapman A&E`s "Dog the Bounty Hunter." Chapman`s daughter died in a car accident the day before his planned wedding to long-time girlfriend, Beth Smith. The family decided to go ahead with the wedding as a way of celebrating her 23rd birthday. She dried after a stolen car she was riding in lost control crashed. Chapman and Smith star in the A&E`s reality show, "Dog, the Bounty Hunter."
The next time you see Senator Hillary Clinton she just may be plugged into her new iPod whose mix includes Aretha Franklin, "Some Respect," the Beatles "Hey Jude" and "Take it to the Limit" by the Eagles. Good, good selection. The senator shared her music references as part of an interview she gave before a speech before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
A Prince has been voted the world`s sexiest vegetarian in PETA`s on- line poll. The animal rights group announced the results today. Prince is a strict vegetarian and even writes about protecting animals in his songs. He released his latest album "31-21" in March.
And those are tonight`s "Hot Headlines" -- A.J.
HAMMER: All right, Sibila. Well Friday night we asked you to vote on-line in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We are asking: "American Idol," do the best singers win? Kind of a onesided night in the voting, 12 percent of you saying yes, 88 percent saying no. A bunch of e- mails came in, including one from Norma in Nevada who writes: "The best singer does not necessarily win, but the winner will have an exceptional voice,"
We also got an e-mail from Carol Jean who lives in Nebraska. Carol Jean writes, "If the best won, then Ace and Chris would be in the finals and several of the final 12 wouldn`t have made it through tryouts." Which is so true.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Monday night, coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York, and it`s time now to see what is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow, and for that we roll out our showbiz marquis. Charlie, take it away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well tomorrow, as we all know, summer`s almost here. The big Memorial Day weekend`s on the way. What better time to celebrate the bikini.
(CHEERS)
The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT crew very excited about it. The tiny-weenie swim suit turns 60 this year, she only getting sweeter with age. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will take you on an exciting and nostalgic look back at the young ladies and beautiful ladies who made bikinis famous. That`s tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, their cartoons have a cult following on-line, poking fun of politicians and celebrities, if you don`t know the name, you`ll definitely recognize their work. Join us tomorrow as we take you behind the scenes of the Jib-Jab guys, only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And I`m Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. Goodnight A.J. and all you guys stay tuned for the latest on CNN Headline News.
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