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Showbiz Tonight
"U.S. vs. John Lennon"; The Bounty Hunter Busted; Anna Nicole Mystery
Aired September 15, 2006 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: A SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report. Controversy at the movies, including your very first look at a film about Robert F. Kennedy`s assassination.
And a "SHOWBIZ Sitdown" with Matthew Perry.
I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. TV`s most provocative news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Dog gone. The dramatic story behind why TV bounty hunter Dog Chapman was arrested.
Tonight, tough questions. Chapman captured a rapist and that`s why he was arrested. What in the world is going on here?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT hard at work looking for answers.
Big new developments in the shocking death of Anna Nicole`s 20-year-old son.
Tonight, why there may be a second autopsy after the coroner calls the death suspicious. And why is Anna Nicole losing her memory?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the Anna Nicole mystery that gets stranger every day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Friday night finally on.
I am A.J. Hammer in New York.
And there are brand new and fascinating developments in the mysterious death of Anna Nicole Smith`s son`s in her hospital room. We`ll have more on that in just a moment.
But first tonight, the Dog is collared. The arrest of reality TV star and bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman has caused an uproar. Why, people are asking, is the Dog in jail for helping capture a guy who raped three women?
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes looking for answers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DUANE "DOG" CHAPMAN, "DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER: It`s rock and roll! Show time!
HAMMER (voice over): Duane Chapman, known to millions as "Dog the Bounty Hunter," makes a living by bringing bad guys to jail onn the reality show, the most popular on A&E.
CHAPMAN: This is a bank robber. This guy could make it where you don`t go home to see mama.
HAMMER: Now Chapman is facing jail himself in Mexico for, get this, bringing in a really bad guy, serial rapist Andrew Luster.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you the juicy reality behind this reality show star`s legal jam. The outrage from those who say a hero is being unfairly punished.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this is wrong. If he went out there, he had to go out there to pick the man up, then more power to him.
HAMMER: The story begins three years ago here, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was here where Andrew Luster, the heir to the fortune of Hollywood makeup king Max Factor, was hiding out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Luster is considered a fugitive by this court.
HAMMER: Luster had just fled to Mexico after jumping bail during his California trial on charges that he had raped and drug three women. That put the Dog on Luster`s trail.
Chapman and his two bounty hunting partners now featured on his show, son Leland and associate Tim, tracked down Luster in Puerto Vallarta, a high- profile bust which helped Chapman get his TV show on A&E.
CHAPMAN: Many of the people of Mexico came up to me and thanked me and said, "My daughters, my wives are safer because of you."
HAMMER: But bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, and Chapman and his cohorts were arrested just after they brought in Luster. They were released on bail and soon hopped a plane to their home in Hawaii.
But here`s the problem. They never returned to Mexico, which they were supposed to do as part of the terms of their release.
Now SHOWBIZ TONIGHT takes you back to Hawaii, where U.S. authorities arrested Chapman at his home. Now the Dog and the two fellow bounty hunters face possible extradition to Mexico.
BROOK HART, CHAPMAN`S ATTORNEY: Duane apparently violated or is, it`s claimed, violated a Mexican law that prohibits capture of fugitives by persons not authorized under Mexican law.
HAMMER: So now here`s where we stand. The serial rapist, Luster, is now locked up on a 124-year sentence, and the famous and admired bounty hunter who caught this sicko is rewarded by getting locked up himself twice.
The outrage is coming from his friends...
MONA K. WOOD, PUBLICIST: Duane`s holding up really well and we`re really proud of him. And he`s a hero to millions of people. And we just really feel that this is a travesty.
HAMMER: ... his fans...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They should let the good guys alone and look for the bad guys.
HAMMER: ... and even his fellow TV bounty hunters.
New York bails bondsman Tom Evangelista, who starred in the HBO series "Family Bonds," tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he considers Chapman a friend. But Evangelista says Chapman should have known better.
TOM EVANGELISTA, HBO`S "FAMILY BONDS": In our business, the law is the law. I agree, Duane did a great thing by going over there and grabbing this guy and taking him off the street. My heart goes out to him and his family, but the bottom line is, is that if you cross in to another country, you break international law, you`re going to suffer the consequences.
HAMMER: Recently Chapman stopped by SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and told me he sees his job as a calling.
CHAPMAN: And, I mean, it is a good living. The children do it. The wife does it. We`ve made a living at it. And it`s rewarding inside, also, to bring some of these guys in.
HAMMER: And now his fans wait to see if he`ll be punished for doing what he does best, bringing in his man.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And in a statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, A&E says, "A&E supports Dog and his family during this difficult time and is proud of his role in helping to bring convicted serial rapists to justice."
As for Duane "The Dog" Chapman, a U.S. magistrate will actually decide whether he can be legally extradited to Mexico. However, the final decision is actually made by our secretary of state. So perhaps Condoleezza Rice is a fan of Chapman`s show.
Moving on now to brand new developments in the Anna Nicole Smith mystery that we mentioned at the top of our show tonight. There`s new information on the bizarre and unexpected death of Smith`s 20-year-old son Daniel. Daniel died in Smith`s Bahamas hospital room just days after she gave birth to a baby girl.
Joining us tonight, investigative journalist and our good friend Pat Lalama.
Happy Friday, Pat.
PAT LALAMA, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: Hey. Thanks so much, A.J. Great to be with you again.
HAMMER: Good to be with you, as well.
So, an official autopsy, as we know, was done on Tuesday by the coroner`s office down there in the Bahamas, but just today we learned that Anna Nicole Smith`s lawyer has actually brought in a private pathologist who`s going to do a second autopsy.
How unusual is this to have a second autopsy in a case like this?
LALAMA: You know what, A.J.? I think in this case I understand it.
Number one, you`re in foreign territory. You know, you don`t know really who you`re dealing with. We have visions of Aruba. So they just may want to be safe.
Number two, there might be certain things that the first autopsy overlooked.
And three, this is ruled a suspicious death, so maybe, just maybe, A.J., it`s a pre-emptive strike on the part of Anna Nicole if they may know something that happened and, you know, they just want to get their own ducks in a row in case they want to fight the original autopsy.
HAMMER: Which is certainly understandable. And I want to get to that in a moment.
But you mentioned maybe there will be some different levels of outcome in the second autopsy. What do you think they could expect to find that`s different from what they already know?
LALAMA: Well, you know, if there is an implication of any kind of drug or alcohol use or any kind of toxicity, I`m looking toward that. That they would want to argue it with their own results, that maybe these weren`t done properly, or you didn`t take the right samples.
It`s sort of like a DNA thing. "Well, I`m going to do my own DNA samples." You know?
I can understand why they`re doing it, particularly because there`s so much suspicion. I mean, the whole thing kind of stinks a little bit to me.
HAMMER: And as this continues to unfold, Pat, we keep hearing these little things that are going on. Kind of strange things.
A third person in the room is one of the things that was floating around for a while. Now we`re hearing that Anna Nicole is having memory problems.
What do you know about that?
LALAMA: Well, there`s two things, and you mentioned them.
Number one, the third person. And that -- that third person is alleged to be Howard K. Smith (sic), who follows around -- that`s one of her attorneys. He follows -- he`s like joined at her hip.
HAMMER: Howard K. Stern. Howard K. Stern.
LALAMA: I don`t know what he does with his life without her. Howard K. Stern is his name.
And the other one, regarding her memory, you know, it`s possible the trauma could have happened to her. But I don`t know, A.J. I just don`t know.
HAMMER: All right. It will continue to unfold and we will continue to watch it.
Pat Lalama, thanks, as always, for being with us.
LALAMA: OK.
HAMMER: There is some big-time controversy at the movies we have to tell you about tonight. Coming up soon, we`re going to have a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "DEATH OF A PRESIDENT": When that motorcade stopped, that was an emergency situation.
HAMMER (voice over): Tonight, "Death of a President." New outrage over the movie that shows President Bush getting assassinated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "BOBBY": The next president of the United States, Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
HAMMER: The assassination of Bobby Kennedy, your first look at a powerful new movie.
A disturbing new movie shows how American soldiers come home from Iraq and ignored.
JOHN LENNON, MUSICIAN: I`m just one of those faces, you know? People never like my face.
HAMMER: And a the new film that shows how John Lennon`s antiwar protests made him a government target.
I go one on one with Yoko Ono.
Controversy at the movies, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special half-hour is coming your way tonight at 30 minutes past the hour.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, right now, we want to hear from you about one of those movies, "Death of a President." It is the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day."
President Bush assassination movie: Should it be banned from theaters?
Get online to vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight. Got more to say? The e-mail address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.
There`s much more coming your way on this Friday night, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
One of your favorite friends, Matthew Perry, is here. He`s back on TV in one of the most buzzed about new shows for the fall, and there are some interesting parallels to Matthew`s personal life.
Matt Perry coming just ahead in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Also, Hollywood`s most confirmed bachelors, from George Clooney to Owen Wilson. What would it take to get guys like these to settle down?
That and more coming up as we unravel male secrets of love and sex on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: 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 a story that made us say, "That`s ridiculous!"
And this story all about a teenager who became an Internet star by posting her video on YouTube. She goes by the name "Lonely Girl 15." Maybe you`ve seen her.
She blogged about her things like her overbearing parents, how her only friend in the world was a dog. Her videos actually watched more than two million times on YouTube by people who often felt sorry for Lonely Girl. But sure enough, she`s aspiring actress and the blog was created by three aspiring filmmakers who were trying to get their material together for their movie.
Now, "That`s ridiculous!"
Moving on now, Matthew Perry is back in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." He`s playing a man brought in to save a late-night sketch comedy show. It`s hard to believe, but it`s actually been two years since "Friends" signed off as one of the most popular sitcoms in history.
This new show is truly amazing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: It`s nice to see you. And thank you for coming in.
MATTHEW PERRY, ACTOR: Thank you for having me. I love your set.
HAMMER: Thank you very much. We do the best we can.
PERRY: No, I really like it a lot.
HAMMER: You had said before that you really had no intention of making it back on to television. Yet here you are, and on a show that not only is just one of the truly most amazing shows to come out any time as long as I can remember...
PERRY: Thanks.
HAMMER: ... but at the same time, it`s glowing reviews, and people are saying this is going to be around for a while. That`s got to feel pretty good.
PERRY: It does. It feels really good. I -- I hadn`t -- I wasn`t really looking to do anything specific in television or movies or anything. I was kind of enjoying my time off, and I read this Aaron Sorkin script and realized -- I think my ego just kind of took over and I just couldn`t let anybody else do it.
HAMMER: Yes.
PERRY: So -- and so it`s panned out really nicely. Though it`s really hard work. It`s an interesting challenge. And now that the show`s about to come on, which I`m excited about, because there`s been a little bit of hype and people have talked about it a lot and it hasn`t been on yet, so now it`s like in three days or something it`s on and we can just kind of get to the business of making the show.
HAMMER: And let it unfold.
PERRY: Yes.
HAMMER: The ensemble is amazing. The writing is amazing. Aaron Sorkin, of course, who was one of the forces behind "The West Wing," he`s in there writing.
And one of the cool things that happens within the first few minutes of the first episode is a character played by Judd Hirsch espouses everything that`s wrong with television.
PERRY: Yes.
HAMMER: And this is a sentiment that, while this is taking place on a fictional show, it`s something that a lot of people have felt. And truly, since "Friends" went off the air there has not been a sitcom on broadcast TV that has reached that level. They haven`t been able to put anything like that together.
Why do you think it is that nobody`s been able to capture that since then?
PERRY: Yes, I don`t know.
HAMMER: It`s amazing.
PERRY: Well, thank you for saying that. And I think that magic has to happen. You know?
It`s -- that was a bizarre year, 1994. "ER" and "Friends" in the same development.
HAMMER: Yes. And everybody`s always said lightning in a bottle.
PERRY: Yes.
HAMMER: But it really -- it comes down to that.
PERRY: Yes. And who knows what`s going to happen with this show?
I do like that it starts off with a rant against television. I`m actually surprised it doesn`t -- that something like that doesn`t happen in real life more often...
HAMMER: Yes.
PERRY: ... where somebody just snaps and goes crazy. If this was a live broadcast, maybe I would do it right here, right now.
HAMMER: Would you snap for us?
PERRY: Yes. But it`s -- it`s a very smart show. And what I like about it in its -- the episodes that I have seen, and in the process of making the show, it`s everybody`s just aiming at least for it to be significant and smart and funny and fun to watch. You know?
Everybody is really serious about it. And everybody`s -- everywhere you look on the set of "Studio 60," there`s somebody`s who`s smart and driven and really is happy to be there.
HAMMER: Well, as I said, it really -- it comes across. It was interesting to see that Aaron Sorkin wrote your character, Matt -- I don`t know he came up with that. He wrote it with you in mind, and I have to wonder, you know, you get the script, and throughout the entire first episode your character is professing to be all hopped up on pain meds.
PERRY: Yes.
HAMMER: You had something that got a little bit of attention, some issues with pain meds a couple of years ago. So when you saw that in the first script, well, maybe that`s not such a good idea? Or were you thinking, brilliant?
PERRY: I was just thinking it would be relatively easy to play it. You know?
HAMMER: You had done your research.
PERRY: Yes. Absolutely.
You know, the character on the show just had back surgery, so he`s on -- he`s on some pain medications, and it allows him to be a little bit looser in the show. And it just presents a more interesting acting challenge, I think. You know, he is not like a pill-popping guy throughout the...
HAMMER: So that`s going to fade -- as the ark (ph) continues it`s going to kind of fade.
PERRY: Yes. You never know. I mean, that`s up to Aaron.
HAMMER: Sure.
PERRY: You know, I trust that he`ll take the character in a lot of interesting ways. But, you know, the pilot, that character, the pilot, everything just kind of leapt off the page. And that`s why I`m here.
HAMMER: Well, the frenzy and sort of the invasion into your private life hopefully died down a little bit when "Friends" finally did close up shop. Now, as I said, this show is getting a lot of attention and it looks like it`s going to be around for a while.
Are you ready for all the attention and the focus on your life again?
PERRY: Well, we shall see. You know? I mean, the difference is me now. You know?
I treat all of those things dichtly. I put a lot of less import into that kind of craziness and my life is a lot calmer now. So...
HAMMER: Lessons learned basically?
PERRY: Yes. So, I -- you know, I have -- I have a pretty full, pretty happy life away from this -- the insanity of this business and the kind of light of fame. So...
HAMMER: That`s nice.
PERRY: I`m much more grounded than I was back then. So, you know, what I hope, though, for this show, because I love doing it, I love the people, I love working with people that are smarter than me. You know? I love walking in to a room and Aaron and Tommy are in there and I just know that those two guys are smarter than I am. I like working in that kind of environment.
HAMMER: Well, we are happy to have you back. And best of luck with the show, man.
PERRY: Thanks.
Can I take this couch with me?
HAMMER: Would you please? Would you get it out of here?
PERRY: Can I do that?
HAMMER: Let`s go.
PERRY: Can I do you a favor?
HAMMER: Come on. Can we get the wide shot? We`re taking the couch. Let`s go.
PERRY: Let me do you a favor and we`ll get the catch out of here.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: As you can see, the furniture remains.
You can catch Matthew Perry in truly what should be a huge, monster hit, "Studio 60." It premiers on NBC on Monday.
Well, romance and Hollywood certainly go hand in hand. And just about every day we`re hearing about a new celebrity hook-up. Probably a bit more often than that we`re hearing about another big star breakup.
But what can we learn, we the common people, from Hollywood`s heartbreakers? It`s in this book, at least some of the answers. It`s called "Men, Love & Sex: The Complete User`s Guide for Women."
It`s author, the editor-in-chief of "Men`s Health" magazine, Dave Zinczenko, joins us now.
"The User`s Guide for Women" almost sounds a little wrong, but in context it`s right, Dave.
DAVE ZINCZENKO, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR: Right. It`s a complete decoder through every aspect of the relationship for women.
HAMMER: I appreciate you being here. One thing we know for certain and has been proven throughout the ages is that men and women simply communicate differently. And one of the cool things that you uncover in your book or suggest in your book are different words that women may choose to use -- use your words, in other words -- other than the ones that they do.
To make it clear, let me run through a couple of examples that you have in the book.
Women shouldn`t use the term "let`s talk" when they want to have a chat.
ZINCZENKO: Right. That`s a -- that`s a no-no. What you want to say instead is, "Let`s go for a drive or a hike or a walk." Because guys are less tense when they`re doing something physical. And that`s the whole point of the book. You want to eliminate all the communication gaps so that you can have a perfect relationship.
HAMMER: Another communication gap can be presented when women would say, "How do you feel about that?" What should they say instead?
ZINCZENKO: Do not ask a guy how he feels about that. Ask him how he thinks about it. Because guys know how they think about something, but the vast majority don`t tap into their feelings well enough to sometimes be able to articulate them.
HAMMER: True. And here we are upon the weekend, and when the couples go out to a club or a bar or a restaurant, this might come up. Women might -- a woman might say, "Were you staring at that girl?" They shouldn`t say that?
ZINCZENKO: No. You should say, "A lot of attractive people in here," because it`s a less accusatory way of bringing up his art appreciation.
HAMMER: Points well taken. Points well taken.
As I mentioned, we can really look to Hollywood for examples of what women go through in real life, in day-to-day situations. Let`s talk about a few people.
George Clooney comes to mind as the unobtainable bachelor to a lot of women. I think he represents that kind of guy. What do women need to know to get that kind of a guy?
ZINCZENKO: Well, I think if you want a man to fall in love, what you have to realize is guys don`t fear commitment. They fear pressure. So what you want to do is not push too hard and state your intentions to early or too clearly. It`s what I call premature enunciation.
HAMMER: So it`s not a fear of commitment so much?
ZINCZENKO: Correct. And as long as you`re enjoying the journey with the guy, you can -- you can coax him to that place.
HAMMER: All right. Let`s look at what had been considered some of the hot couples.
We had Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra. We also had Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. You know, seeing them on television and in the magazines and on the red carpets. It seemed like there was just passion bounding, and then it fizzled and we all know what happened. They are no more.
How do you keep all that passion sizzling and not fizzling?
ZINCZENKO: Well, the first thing you do is you do not do a reality show based on your relationship.
HAMMER: Very good point.
ZINCZENKO: You know, there`s very few successful ones like Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.
HAMMER: That did work.
ZINCZENKO: Yes, but He probably didn`t realize he was on TV.
HAMMER: Exactly.
ZINCZENKO: But then what you want to do is realize -- keep the spark alive by realizing that routine isn`t what`s bad in relationships, boring routine is. And you want to be able to mix it up and give the guy his space at times.
HAMMER: So, in other words, let the guy do his thing?
ZINCZENKO: Exactly.
HAMMER: Are you paying attention out there? Let the guy do his thing. I think that makes a lot of sense.
Dave Zinczenko, I appreciate your insight on all of this. And we can see how Hollywood can help us realize that. I thank you for that.
ZINCZENKO: Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: You can catch Dave`s new book called "Men, Love & Sex." You`ll find it in stores now.
Controversy at the movies coming up. We have your very first look at "Bobby." It is controversial film all about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
Plus, "Death of a President," a movie that depicts an imaginary assassination of President Bush. We`re going to have the very first reaction from the Toronto Film Festival on the way.
We`ll also have this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YOKO ONO, JOHN LENNON`S WIDOW: Well, this film says it. In the end it says, "War is over if you want it." And I think that`s a very strong message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: ... my interview with Yoko Ono, just as "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon" opens in theaters this weekend.
That`s all coming up in a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, "Controversy at the Movies."
Don`t go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: It has been a record-breaking week for Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. Yesterday a spokesman for the "Guinness Book of World Records" awarded Regis Philbin a certificate for holding the record for the most time on camera on U.S. television, more than 15,000 hours.
Now, as part of the "Guinness Book of World Records" week on the show, Regis and Kelly also took a bunch of pies in the face as NASCAR star Matt Kenseth set a new record in the most custard pies thrown in one minute category. And he hit Kelly with a pie 17 times, 17 pies.
Kelly found out that her name wouldn`t be in the book and she was not happy, because only the thrower`s name gets in. So she took action, and today she picked up the pies herself and aimed them at her guest co-host, Wilmer Valderrama.
We are happy to report she set a new record -- 24 pies. And Wilmer deserved it.
Coming up, "Controversy at the Movies." We`re going to take a look at films that are stirring up a lot of emotion, including one called "Death of a President." It depicts an imaginary assassination of President Bush.
We`ll also have this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ONO: Well, the film says it in the end. It says, "War is over if you want it". And I think that`s a very strong message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: ... my interview with Yoko Ono just as a great movie, "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon," opens in theaters.
All that`s coming up next in a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, "Controversy at the Movies."
Stay with us. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Friday night is coming straight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Friday night is on. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
And we now begin our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report: "Controversy at the Movies."
"The U.S. Vs. John Lennon" has now arrived in theaters. And in just minutes, we`ll have my chat with Yoko Ono about the remarkable ways our government was spending vast resources to track hers and John`s every move. It is unbelievable.
We`ve also got your very first look at the controversial new film "Bobby." It`s all about the assassination of Robert Kennedy.
We`ll also speak with two soldiers about the poor treatment of our troops as it`s depicted in the new film "The Ground Truth."
And we`re going to get into the outrage over the portrayal of a President Bush in "Death of a President."
But first tonight, even though "Death of a President" is make believe, it was a real life, horrific experience for James Brady. Brady was the White House press secretary for President Reagan in 1981 when John Hinckley Jr., obsessed with trying to impress actress Jodie Foster, shot the president, nearly killing him, as seen in this NBC video.
Well, Brady was also hit in the head. He was partially paralyzed for life.
Now Brady is absolutely livid about "Death of a President," which shows a fictional assassination of President Bush in Chicago, taking place next year.
James Brady`s wife, Sarah, is going to be joining us in just a couple of minutes with her thoughts.
But now the director of "Death of a President" admits to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that his film is highly controversial. Talk about an understatement.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson is in Monterey, California, with more on this chilling controversy at the movies - Brooke.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A.J., while director Gabriel Range has admitted it`s controversial, he also says he hopes it opens up dialogue on current U.S. domestic and foreign policy.
Now the title alone has caused consternation. But one scene in particularly is highly contentious. It depicts the fictional assassination of President Bush, and a lot of people aren`t too happy about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): A fictional yet chilling image of President Bush being assassinated. It`s a very brief scene in the film "Death of a President," but it has sparked a deepening controversy, even before it arrives in U.S. theaters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When that motorcade stopped, that was an emergency situation.
ANDERSON: This contentious British film made its debut this past weekend at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it secured U.S. distribution through New Market Films. The deal raised the ire of conservative columnist Terry Jeffrey who adamantly believes U.S. audiences shouldn`t see this movie.
TERRY JEFFREY, EDITOR, "HUMAN EVENTS": We`re in the midst of a war against terrorist. To depict the sitting president of the United States using actual images of him in an assassination I think is just in outrageously poor taste, and it`s not to be commended in any way.
ANDERSON: "Death of a President" is a drama that uses some real- life video of President Bush, and has the look and feel of a documentary. It depicts the president being shot by a sniper in October of 2007 during a visit to Chicago. Chaos ensues, and the nation mourns while authorities hunt down the killer.
NOAH COWAN, CO-DIRECTOR, TORONTO INT. FILM FESTIVAL: The film asks, Well, what is the future? What are we doing to ourselves now? What is our society right now? What - where have we evolved to?
ANDERSON: Toronto Film Festival co-director Noah Cowan tells CNN the festival stands by its decision to feature the film, and that the assassination scene is treated with reverence.
COWAN: It`s handled with such care and such respect that I think those who see the film will see that it`s - it`s - it`s - the image is there for a reason.
ANDERSON: The White House declined to talk about the movie, issuing this statement - quote - "We are not commenting on this movie at all. It does not dignify a response."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had may agents in the backup car, and they had their weapons ready.
ANDERSON: "Death of a President" distributor New Market Films is no stranger to controversy, having released "The Passion of the Christ" in 2004.
PAUL DEGARABEDIAN, EXHIBITOR RELATIONS, INC.: They`re showing that they`re not taking any sides politically. They`re willing to take on virtually any subject matter, regardless of who the target audience is, and get it into the marketplace.
ANDERSON: Early reviews from festival moviegoers are mixed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s a controversial title; it`s a controversial concept. You see the president get shot.
But then from there it just becomes a police procedural. There`s nothing in it that you haven`t seen in "Law and Order."
ANDERSON: And Cowan has his own reviews, saying it`ll be worth the wait.
COWAN: It`s actually a really great thriller. The funny thing about it is that even though it`s this sort of quite intellectual constructed piece, it does have this narrative propulsion. And so you kind of want to know how it ends.
ANDERSON: How long American audiences have to wait is still up in the air. New Market Films isn`t commenting on when "Death of a President" will hit theaters.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Filmmaker Gabriel Range told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT through a statement that he`s thrilled New Market has embraced "Death of a President." We`ll keep you updated on when New Market schedules it for release in U.S. theaters.
A.J., back to you.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke. Thanks so much. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson.
As we told you, Jim and Sarah Brady are absolutely furious about this movie. Jim, of course, was almost killed, and he remains partially paralyzed from when a sicko tried to assassinate President Reagan back in 1981. He at the time was the president`s press secretary.
Jim`s wife, Sarah, joins me now on the phone from Rehoboth, Delaware.
Sarah, I appreciate you being with us tonight.
SARAH BRADY, GUN CONTROL ADVOCATE: Thank you.
HAMMER: So what made you so angry when you heard the premise of this film, "Death of a President"?
BRADY: Well, you know, I guess the number one thing is the re - trying to put into reality a person`s life and the tragedy surrounding an assassination. My heart went out to the Kennedys, to the Kings, to Mrs. Reagan, and to Jim and Me, who`ve all suffered from attempts - either assassinations or attempts on assassination. It seems like such an irresponsible way to either get a political point across, or as I heard you all speaking of, to say it`s a thriller.
To use President Reagan - I mean, President Bush, with whom Jim and I have vast disagreements - but to use him as - as a force of being a thriller, just appalls me.
HAMMER: So let me ask you this straight out, Sarah. I know - I`m certain that you are a person in favor of free speech. But do you think this movie should be banned from theaters in the United States? Is it that irresponsible?
BRADY: Well, I don`t ever believe in banning. I just hope that people will choose not to see something like this, and will revere the - the hurt, the - and agony the country went through with the assassination of President Kennedy, and with the near death of President Reagan and with Bobby Kennedy and with Dr. King and to - I - I mean, I saw it and watched the - today several reruns of Jim lying with his head in the grate, bleeding. These are realities that shouldn`t be fictionalized.
And my heart aches for the Bushes, with whom we have great, great disagreements. We do not agree with them, and I believe that we should open a discourse on differences in public and foreign policy. But.
HAMMER: Yes, it`s certainly - it`s.
BRADY.certainly not in this way.
HAMMER: It does seem this transcends any ill feelings that one may have. And I really appreciate - Sarah Brady, I really appreciate you joining us tonight with your thoughts from Rehoboth, Delaware. Thank you so much.
Well, another film that is sure to stir up controversy even when it hits theaters, "Bobby." Emilio Estevez stars and directs in this flick. It`s a night that the presidential hopeful and JFK`s brother Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in 1968 at the core of the subject matter. Lots of big names in this one, including Harry Belafonte, Christian Slater, Demi Moore and Sharon Stone.
Here is your very first look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE). I agreed to (ph) everyone. FDR, Truman, Premier Khrushchev, all of them. It had to be war (INAUDIBLE) a total of six times.
(INAUDIBLE). Happy times here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator Kennedy, welcome to the Ambassador Hotel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ambassador (INAUDIBLE), Bobby Kennedy needs to get a life (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought (ph) you guys were doing volunteer work.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not when you volunteer to work for the Kennedys. It`s a full-time crusade.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m getting complaints that you`re not allowing the kitchen staff to vote today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They`re not going to vote. Half of them are illegal; they can`t vote.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every day you keep putting the brown man down, Edward.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s right. Let`s keep the brown man down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just send the brown man back across the border.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We didn`t cross the border. The border crossed us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re on stage in (INAUDIBLE), from Senator Kennedy in the Embassy Ballroom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So sad. That woman. I used to be such a fan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m not sure about this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A prayer (ph) each night keeps you from going to the (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What if Teddy loses?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can all forget about our (INAUDIBLE), you know? Do you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dr. King is gone. I don`t like the (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The next president of the United States, Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our lives on this planet are too short. The work to be done is too great. But we can perhaps remember that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life.
(SINGING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Lots more of our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special half hour on "Controversy at the Movies."
Still to come, what`s got people heated up coast to coast? A disturbing look at how some American soldiers who have come after putting their lives on the line in Iraq are ignored.
Plus my revealing interview with Yoko Ono, just as "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon" is opening in theaters this weekend. How the U.S. government actually tried to kick the Beatles star out of the country for speaking out against the war in Vietnam.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s special look at "Controversy at the Movies" coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
More now on our special report: "Controversy at the Movies."
"The U.S." John - "Vs. John Lennon" definitely going to be heating things up. It`s the movie all about the United States government`s efforts to deport John Lennon just for speaking out against the Vietnam War back in the 1970s. I`ll have my interview with Yoko Ono in just a moment.
But first take a look at "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You say you`ve been in trouble all your life. Why is that?
JOHN LENNON, SINGER: I`m just one of those faces, you know? People never liked me face.
(SINGING)
RICHARD NIXON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If we succeed, generations to come will say of us now living that we mastered our moment.
(SINGING)
LENNON: You have to be more politically aware in a day and age like this. It`s impossible to close your eyes to it.
(SINGING)
NIXON: As South Vietnamese forces become stronger, the ray of American withdrawal can become greater.
(SINGING)
LENNON: Peace in your mind, peace in the world. They`re selling it like soap: peace or war. That`s the two products.
GERALDO RIVERA, JOURNALIST: There was a theory that John could imperil the political existence of Richard Nixon.
YOKO ONO, JOHN LENNON`S WIFE: John was daring to speak out.
LENNON: We came here to say to all of you, Apathy isn`t it, and that we can do something.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His activities were being monitored.
LENNON: I was followed in the car, and my phone was tapped. Actually, they wanted me to know, to scare me. And I was scared, paranoid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Immigration and Naturalization Service began deportation proceedings.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will you stop speaking out against the war?
LENNON: No, nothing will stop me. I`ll always say what I feel.
(SINGING)
LENNON: Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. And I`m liable to be put away as insane for expressing that.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Their distortion of the Constitution was the greatest disloyalty to this country.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lennon represented life, and Mr. Nixon and Mr. Bush represent death.
(SINGING)
ONO: His message is still alive.
(SINGING)
LENNON: Our job now is to tell them that there is still hope. We must get them excited about what we can do again.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon."
(SINGING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: It is a powerful film with some stunning revelations.
I had the chance to talk with Lennon`s widow, Yoko Ono, and the writers and producers of the film to get their take on those turbulent times.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Yoko, you certainly were used to having people following you around or waiting for you in various places. But that was usually the fans.
At - at one point were you certain? What began to happen that you were certain that the FBI was really looking over your shoulder?"
ONO: Well, we knew that was happening. But we didn`t want to say too much about it because you sounded too paranoid.
But it was haunting for him, you know? You can`t really pinpoint if - at what point. But when were in (INAUDIBLE) Street, yes, it happened.
HAMMER: A few weeks ago we ran the trailer for the film, when it was just completed and released. And reaction was immediate. A lot of people came up to me - and a few people came up to me on the street, said, I saw that trailer, and I had no idea that the government was going after John Lennon.
Now we see in the film the various ways. But it`s shocking enough that our own government was targeting this superstar.
What shocked you the most in what you uncovered, and - and we see in the film?
JOHN SCHEINFELD, WRITER/PRODUCER, "THE U.S. VS. JOHN LENNON": I think what shocked us the most about this is just the fact that they did this; they took it upon themselves to go after their critics and use various organizations within the government to do that - the INS, the FBI. When one didn`t work, they tried something else. That`s how scared they were of the message that John and Yoko were putting forth of peace.
HAMMER: You had cars waiting outside, mysteriously.
ONO: I know. I know. And the - the phone was amazing. In those days, I think the - the way they did the phones, they didn`t do it very sophisticatedly. So you hear this - the phone just (INAUDIBLE) down, or this sudden noise, and saying to you that somebody is listening in.
HAMMER: Is it impossible to watch this film and watch this story and not draw parallels to what is going in our world today.
If John were alive today, do you feel that he would certainly be a voice of opposition in what`s going in our world?
ONO: Well, just don`t say that in the end that war is over if he wanted (ph). And I think that`s a very strong message. And people would take that, I`m sure.
DAVID LEAF, WRITER/PRODUCER, "THE U.S. VS. JOHN LENNON": The audiences who - the audiences who have seen the movie so far have been inspired, particularly by the end of the movie. And a lot of the young people have said to - to - to me afterwards, Where`s our John Lennon? The older people have said, Where`s John Lennon when you need him now? And to both of them I`ve answered the same: he`s in the movie.
HAMMER: Yes, but what is our John Lennon? If - if you`re going to pick a person in the creative arts world, is there somebody that you see that is - is really doing a good job of - of carrying (INAUDIBLE)
ONO: This is an age where one hero cannot solve all problems. And that`s what John and I were saying at the time, too, you know? Don`t dare follow heroes or leaders. You have to do your own thing.
HAMMER: Pretty clear to you that history is repeating itself? Because I couldn`t help but feel that. It - it`s - it`s obvious that it is, but it`s so striking when you watch this movie.
ONO: Well, I just think it`s very timely that this film is coming out. And of course, time is something that always given from above. It seems like they were thinking of making this film long time before this. So it`s not like they timed this for this, but it`s - it`s a very effective film, I think. It will give a lot of encouragement and inspiration to people.
SCHEINFELD: And we wanted this film to provoke thought and argument and debate. And we think it will.
HAMMER: A lot of films have been made about John Lennon. You say this is the one that John would have loved.
ONO: Yes, I think so.
HAMMER: Why is that?
ONO: Well, because this is what he really wanted to hammer into people. And so here it is. And we went through that experience, and this experience is not very well known.
LEAF: I think when - when you see how every year there`s a vigil in John`s memory, what it tells you is what you see in "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon." In this movie is the reason why people want to keep his spirit and his message alive, because he meant that much to people. And that`s - that`s the story of "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon": this heroic artist who used his fame to try to make the world a better place.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Try to see this film. It`s called "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon." It`s now in limited release in New York and Los Angeles.
Well, another controversial film out called "The Ground Truth" exposes outrage by some U.S. soldiers about what went on while they were being recruited for service, and then they unthinkable: the despicable way they say they were treated when they got back from putting their lives on the line in Iraq. It is amazing to see what goes on.
I had a chance to speak with the director and two soldiers featured in the film.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Demond (ph), you know, you basically signed up to - to be in the National Guard because you wanted to take care of some college expenses. Very typical story. You get shipped off to war. There you are.
So when Patricia (ph) first came to you to talk about your experience, were you eager to tell your story, or were you a bit reluctant at first?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was probably the most reluctant character that she dealt with. Because, I mean, up until the last editing of the film, I didn`t want her to use my footage. I wasn`t - I didn`t feel OK with.
HAMMER: Why - why is that? Is that because of some of the things you said, that you`re like, You know what? I really don`t want people to.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It - it wasn`t at all because of that. It was because I was afraid of being exploited. And I was afraid of possibly - the possibility of - of her exploiting the - the veteran condition. You know, coming home, it`s a very sensitive position that you`re in when you`re coming home and you`re transiting back into being home and being with (ph) your family.
HAMMER: I imagine when both of you signed up for the Guard, you were pretty enthusiastic about it at the time, or at the least the idea, you know, This is going to be something to lead me somewhere, or a means to end in terms of maybe, you know, financially getting some funds to pay for college.
Could you ever have imagined back then that you would be appearing in a film like this, saying the kinds of things that you say in this film about war, about the recruitment process and about coming home and the lack of care that you have gotten since returning?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not at all.
CAMILO MAIJA, FORMER SOLDIER, "THE GROUND TRUTH": Actually, I -- I had been in the active Army duty Army, and I had a pretty good idea of what the military was like, minus (ph) war. And I - you know, when I joined the National Guard, it was actually to complete my eight-year contract with the military.
So I - I - you know, I was a veteran already. And one of the things that they told was that, you know, Now that you`re going to join the National Guard, you know, this - there`s going to be less of a chance of you ever going to war. You know, you`re going to be doing hurricane relief and stuff like that. And, you know, you`re - you`re going to be helping your community and things like that.
HAMMER: And then there you were getting deployed off to war.
MAIJA: Right.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: "The Ground Truth" is now open in select theaters across the country.
So last night we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." We were asking about Whitney Houston filing for divorce: "Whitney Houston: Can she make a comeback?" Kind of an even split last night: 46 percent of you say, "yes"; 54 of you say, "No, she can`t."
We got a bunch of emails, too, including one from Marie in Missouri. She writes, "She will be able to make a comeback because of her powerful voice. She`s a strong woman, and she`ll be back in the spotlight."
But Karen in California doesn`t think so: "Even if she gives up the drugs and Bobby Brown, she will never have the same popularity she once enjoyed."
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: We`ve been asking you to vote on tonight`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." "Death of a President" shows President Bush getting killed. Even though it`s made up, "President Bush Assassination Movie: Should it be banned from theaters?" Keep voting, cnn.com/showbiztonight. Or e-mail us, showbiztonight@cnn.com. More of the e-mails on Monday.
Time to see what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT this weekend in your "SHOWBIZ Marquee."
And this weekend, Whitney Houston`s startling divorce move. The revealing court documents, plus, can Whitney make a comeback? That`s this weekend.
Also this weekend, Crystal Renn, the full-figured model finding success in mainstream fashion, but after a long road. She even starved herself at one point to fit the norm. That`s all coming on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT this weekend.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Glenn Beck coming up next, right after the very latest from CNN Headline News.
END
