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SHOWBIZ TONIGHT

Jackson Almost Thrown in Jail for Being Late to Court; Interview With Bruce Willis

Aired March 10, 2005 - 19:00:00   ET

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


KARYN BRYANT, CO-HOST: Strange days indeed at the Jackson trial.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: And Bruce Willis live. I`m A.J. Hammer.

BRYANT: I`m Karyn Bryant, and this is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

HAMMER: The most dramatic day yet in the Michael Jackson trial. Jackson limps in late, wearing pajamas, under the threat of arrest. What in the world happened? We`re there live.

BRYANT: Bruce Willis live. As his new action movie is about to explode in theaters, Bruce drops in on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

HAMMER: Also live, judging "American Idol." It`s down to a dozen. Did the right ones make the cut? A former "Idol" contestant gives her two cents.

BRYANT: Schieffer in, Rather out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB SCHIEFFER, "CBS EVENING NEWS" ANCHOR: Yes, this is a daunting assignment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: The man who takes over the CBS anchor chair sits down with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and reveals how he`ll fill some very big shoes.

HAMMER: It`s a whole new game for "The Godfather" guys.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brando did it. We figured we`d do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Tonight, how they got pulled back into their famous roles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN CANE, ACTOR: Hi, I`m Dean Cane. And if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, and you`re at the top of the show.

BRYANT: I`m Karyn Bryant. We are live with you from Headline Prime studios in New York City for the next hour.

HAMMER: Michael Jackson came to court today in pajamas and almost got arrested.

BRYANT: Threatened with jail for showing up late, here`s how Jackson looked as he finally did hobble into court. He`s disheveled and wears pajamas to face the boy he is accused of sexually molesting. CNN`s Miguel Marquez is in Santa Maria, California, right now for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Karyn, it was absolute chaos outside the courtroom here in Santa Maria, as we realized that Jackson was not going to be here on time. At 8:35, his lawyer, Tom Mesereau, informed the judge that Jackson had a serious back problem, and the judge wasn`t buying it. He issued that bench warrant that was just about to revoke Mr. Jackson`s bail, and he said, He`s got to be here in an hour.

When he did show up, it was a sight for -- well, sore eyes for his attorneys, but Mr. Jackson was looking fairly very sore himself. And it didn`t get any better in court for him. His accuser, the 15-year-old, was on the stand. The judge made him sit through the entire day`s testimony, the boy testifying that Mr. Jackson touched him inappropriately two times. Very graphic, R-rated detail in there today. He also said that Mr. Jackson fed him wine in Miami, at Neverland ranch, on a plane back from Miami, as well.

Now we got to see if the boy and his siblings, if their testimony can all be corroborated. Cross-examination of this boy started late this afternoon, and it will continue on Monday. Karyn, back to you.

BRYANT: Miguel Marquez in Santa Maria, California. Thank you.

Now, coming up in just a few minutes, Michael Jackson`s career: Is there any way he could ever make a comeback? That`s our hot topic in our "SHOWBIZ Showdown." And it`s also our question of the day. Michael Jackson: Can his career ever recover? You can vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight or e-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.

HAMMER: It is time now for "SHOWBIZ Shorts," a look at some more stories that are making news tonight. Well, we learned today that Jane Fonda is scheduled to have hip replacement surgery sometime in the near future. The 67-year-old actress returns to the big screen in May. She`s co-starring with Jennifer Lopez in "Monster-in-Law."

Drew drawing praise. Drew Barrymore will receive the Distinguished Decade of Achievement in Film Award at Showest in Vegas next week. The annual event is considered the world`s largest gathering in movie pros and theater owners.

We`ve got more "SHOWBIZ Shorts" coming up throughout the show.

BRYANT: Well, tomorrow is a big day for Bruce Willis. His new movie, "Hostage," opens and is a return to form for the action hero icon. I love that. The man himself is joining us now live on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

Welcome, Bruce. What, you`re laughing at icon thing? You don`t buy that?

BRUCE WILLIS, "HOSTAGE": Well, you did really well on that. I like that.

BRYANT: Thanks! It`s true. Well, you know, I mean...

WILLIS: Hard to say, though, "action hero icon."

BRYANT: "Action hero icon." But you know, you`ve been talking lately about how you are -- you`re in a milestone birthday. You`re nearing 50. You`re looking good.

WILLIS: Thank you.

(LAUGHTER)

BRYANT: You strapped on the guns again, went back to action. How did it feel to get back in the action saddle?

WILLIS: It`s good. It`s -- you know, it felt OK. It didn`t feel any different. Didn`t feel strange or anything. "Hostage" is -- certainly has some action elements in it, but it`s, I think, more of a thriller than anything else, kind of (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

BRYANT: Right. Well, it is an a typical -- I mean, you hear the word "hostage," and you think it`s going to be cut-and-dried. Someone gets taken, someone has to deal with somebody getting taken. But can you give us a little bit of a...

WILLIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Well, it`s really complicated. I think everybody at one point or another in this film is -- does qualify as being a hostage, myself included. It -- but it has -- it`s a lot about family, and it has a lot of surprises. And it`s kind of edge-of-your-seat. It`s really fast-paced. Not as fast-paced as this show, but...

BRYANT: All right. OK.

WILLIS: ... it is fast-paced.

BRYANT: All right, well, we`re going to give people a look at a clip...

WILLIS: OK.

BRYANT: ... so we`re going to roll this. This is a bit of "Hostage."

WILLIS: Sweet.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIS: What are you waiting for?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Disregard! You don`t give orders to my men. Now, 10 minutes ago, you called me and told me to shoot out the cameras. Now...

WILLIS: They shot out the cameras? I give you great intel like that, and you just piss it away? Way to go, big time!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m not going to let you step back in after you stepped out!

WILLIS: This is my town!

(CROSSTALK)

WILLIS: ... my jurisdiction, all right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dennis, says he doesn`t trust me anymore. He says he`s going to shoot a hostage if he doesn`t talk to Talley right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: Good lip bite! That was fierce right there.

WILLIS: That`s not a good lip bite!

(LAUGHTER)

WILLIS: Thank you.

BRYANT: Tell you what. Your daughter is in this film. Rumer is in this film.

WILLIS: My daughter, Rumer. Yes. She is.

BRYANT: So tell me through worked out and if that made this hit home for you anymore?

WILLIS: It did. She -- well, because I produced the film, she told me that, you know, she read the script and saw that there was a part in there that she could -- her age category. And I told her that she had to audition, and she did. And she did a great job and she won the part. And it was really fun. It was so sweet. I mean, I can`t believe she`s 16 years old. I don`t know where all the time went. It -- I think it allowed me to get to a much higher point of departure emotionally than had I worked with an actress that I didn`t know...

BRYANT: Right. Right.

WILLIS: ... you know what I mean? Thinking about that horrific idea of having your family held hostage or having someone that you know held hostage and someone that you love was even more intense for me because it was my own daughter.

BRYANT: Right, right. Well, you talk a lot about your daughter, Rumer, and Tallulah and Scout and your ex-wife in "People" magazine. You`re on the cover, showing some belly, too. You look happy and...

WILLIS: Am I showing some belly?

BRYANT: You do show a little -- you look -- you have a little bit of -- a little up here and a little down there.

WILLIS: Just a little bit.

BRYANT: Kind of.

WILLIS: Little bit.

BRYANT: And -- but you`re talking about your family in this. You`re very candid. So what -- what prompted you to just sort of come out and lay everything out there about, you know, breaking up and keeping the kids happy and Ashton and -- you know, how did that all come about?

WILLIS: Well, you know, in the old days, I used to just say, I don`t really want to talk about that.

BRYANT: Right.

WILLIS: Or I`d say, Oh, no comment, or Mind your business, or Leave me alone and stop prying into my life. And I`ve -- you know, I`ve just gotten more sanguine...

BRYANT: Yes.

WILLIS: ... as time has gone on and -- I don`t know. I think it`s a really cool thing. I get a lot of compliments on it. I get a lot of compliments on the fact -- we all do -- that -- people marvel at this, as if it`s some new invention, that Demi and I get along, and that I get long with Ashton and, you know, we kind of hang out together go on vacations together. And I suppose it is...

BRYANT: It`s very modern and very evolved.

WILLIS: It`s evolution, you know?

BRYANT: I mean, most -- a lot of guys are...

WILLIS: Evolved. It is.

BRYANT: ... like bulldogs when it comes to other men with their women, you know, so...

WILLIS: A lot of women are -- a lot of women are bulldogs, too.

BRYANT: You know. Absolutely.

WILLIS: But it`s hard, you know, because it`s hard to get over that anger and resentment and all those other things that go along with, you know, your dreams falling apart...

BRYANT: Right.

WILLIS: No, no, your marriage is...

BRYANT: Right. Right.

WILLIS: ... you know, falling apart. But Demi and I chose to take Will Smith`s advice, or I did.

BRYANT: Yes.

WILLIS: And I told Demi about it, and she goes, Good idea, too. And we just chose to put the kids first, you know...

BRYANT: Right.

WILLIS: ... and chose to...

BRYANT: Great.

WILLIS: ... make them more important than...

BRYANT: Than your egos.

WILLIS: ... our own personal...

BRYANT: I hear you. I hear you. Well, thanks for joining us. And I`m glad about you opening up about this stuff because it`s good to hear.

WILLIS: Did you learn anything new?

BRYANT: I did learn a few things. I did. I`d like to learn more. I wish you could stay. I want to thank you for stopping by.

WILLIS: Thank you.

BRYANT: Of course, "Hostage" opens in theaters tomorrow.

HAMMER: I`d like to get one of those hats, personally.

Well, tonight, Avril Lavigne is revealing what she likes in a guy and what inspires her to write songs. We are the very first to report what the teen sensation tells "Cosmopolitan" magazine in the upcoming issue in April. It`s Avril uncensored in April on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. She is known as a rock chick with an attitude and has legions of devoted fans, but when "Cosmo`s" Lesley Goober sat down with the singer, Avril revealed a side that people usually don`t see. Avril opens up about what she looks for in a guy and how the ones she has dated have helped her find musical inspiration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LESLEY GOOBER, "COSMOPOLITAN" MAGAZINE": Avril said she loves guys with guitars and she likes any kind of skater guy with punk style. She said she would never get caught dead with a guy who`s wearing a buttoned- down shirt like all the guys in LA.

All of the songs are pretty much about guys she`s dated, and you know, she sings about these very every-girl experiences, and I think that`s why she`s so relatable to teenagers and young women because she writes about, you know, waiting for a guy to call her, sitting there waiting by the phone. She writes about -- I mean, she writes and sings about guys who don`t live up to her expectations. So I think, you know, we`ve all gone through that, and I think that`s why she`s so inspiring.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: So with all those songs about men, you may be wondering if the skater-boy-loving Lavigne is dating anyone currently. That one she didn`t talk much about.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOOBER: She has apparently has found true love, although she refuses to either confirm nor deny that he`s Blink 181, Derick Wibley (ph). But there are plenty of pictures out there that pretty much confirm it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Now, when Avril was asked whether or not there was any singer her age that she liked or respected, she simply said, No. That issue of "Cosmopolitan" hits newsstands next Tuesday.

BRYANT: Well, I do wonder how Avril feels about "American Idol." Anyway, they are down to the last 12 contestants this season. We`ll judge last night`s show with a former "Idol" contestant live. That is coming up.

HAMMER: Plus, a big night for Bob Schieffer. He took some time out this afternoon to tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT how he feels about taking over for Dan Rather. That`s coming up a bit later in the show.

BRYANT: Now tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly" "Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Right now, you`re listening to the dance floor classic "It`s Raining Men." It`s performed by the Weather Girls. But our question is, Which talk show band leader wrote this `80s anthem? Do you know, Bruce? We`ll be right back with the answer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: It is 14 minutes past the hour and time now for the "SHOWBIZ Showdown," and it`s all about Michael Jackson. As we reported, the judge in his sexual molestation case threatened to jail him for showing up late to the trial today. And his accuser was back on the stand.

Even if Jackson is acquitted, can he ever return to his former glory days as the "King of Pop"? Well, tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Showdown" hot topic, the future of Michael Jackson`s career. And here to discuss it and debate it, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a one-time Jackson confidant and spiritual adviser. He says a Jackson comeback is not out of the question. And from "Newsweek" magazine, Lorraine Ali, who says Michael Jackson`s career cannot possibly recover.

So Lorraine, let`s get into it. Point for point, why is it not even possible at this juncture?

LORRAINE ALI, "NEWSWEEK": There`s no way it can recover, A, from the scandal. B, the child molestation charges. C, he just hasn`t put out any good music in a good 15 years. And by the time he gets over all of this, he`s going to be close to 50, and it`s really hard to be a pop star when you`re older than the kids` parents who are listening to your music.

HAMMER: Now, Rabbi, you say it`s not out of the question if certain steps are taken by Michael, is that correct?

RABBI SHMULEY BOTEACH, FORMER JACKSON ADVISER: Well, anyone who saw Michael in the trial today could see that the career`s not even the issue. Michael`s at death`s door. I`ve never seen him looking so horrible. Michael is always very careful about his appearance. Not only was he disheveled, he was disoriented. He didn`t know where he was.

You now understand the magnitude of the crisis in his life. So his professional rejuvenation will only come about through radical personal transformation. If Michael pleads guilty at least to the lesser charges in this case and agrees to go to a rehabilitation clinic to completely retransform himself, then the public will see him as having been reborn, whether it be religiously, psychologically. And America loves a comeback. What they won`t accept is someone who doesn`t take responsibility for his life.

Michael has got to show the world that he understands he`s in serious decline. And if Christian ministers who had sex with prostitutes could come back born again and minister to their communities again, I think Michael could do the same. But it`s only going to come about through a radical personal transformation.

HAMMER: What about...

BOTEACH: Michael -- Michael may die. It`s that serious.

HAMMER: Lorraine, what about that? If he owns up to it, if he -- if he takes his life through this radical transformation the rabbi`s talking about...

ALI: No.

HAMMER: Just not possible?

ALI: He will never come back to the level that he was at before. I mean, there just isn`t any way. He may come back as some kind of celebrity in another sense. You know, maybe there`s some kind of redemption if he gets out of these charges, all of that. There`s no way he`s going to come back as the "King of Pop." It`s just not going to happen.

HAMMER: Let`s look at that for a moment...

ALI: And he`s up against -- he`s up against kids right now, like Usher and Justin Timberlake and...

HAMMER: Sure.

ALI: You know, and he`s got all of these charges. It just can`t happen. It won`t.

HAMMER: Let me ask you, through, Rabbi -- you bring up the point if he pleads guilty to even the lesser charge that he gave alcohol to a minor...

BOTEACH: Correct.

HAMMER: ... how can we possibly get by -- how can the public possibly get by the notion of him giving alcohol to a minor, let alone a child who has cancer? How is it possible for people to see beyond that, regardless of what Michael -- whatever steps Michael may take?

BOTEACH: A.J., Michael is a very sick man. If people haven`t seen that by now, especially after today, where they had to go into his bedroom and pull him out so he wouldn`t be arrested. I witnessed that decline in his life. And I know much how good will there is for Michael. Look at all these crazy fans who still call his name. People want Michael Jackson back, but not as a sicko, not as a freak. And the problem is that Michael wants of vindication in the courtroom at the hands of a jury, instead of vindication in life. Look, O.J. Simpson was vindicated, but he -- forget resuscitation. That guy is the biggest pariah in America. Is that what Michael wants?

There has got to be accountability. Now, let me just tell Lorraine, Michael was never the "King of Pop." That was a title he gave himself. There were a lot of big stars. But Michael had...

ALI: Well, actually -- I also...

(CROSSTALK)

ALI: ... I wouldn`t say that O.J. was vindicated. There was a civil trial on that.

BOTEACH: Well, what I`m trying to say is that he didn`t go to prison. But Michael was never the "King of Pop." What Michael was, because people grew up with him from his childhood, there was a certain place in America`s heart that they held for Michael Jackson, and that might still be there. He doesn`t have to be the biggest guy in the world. That`s what destroyed him in the first place, the belief that he always had to be bigger than everyone else. Michael always used to say to me, Shmuley, I`ve outsold the Beatles, outsold Elvis. I said, Michael, why are you haunted by these demons that don`t even exist? Be you!

HAMMER: All right...

BOTEACH: Michael`s talent is organic...

(CROSSTALK)

HAMMER: Lorraine, jump in there. Give meet last word.

ALI: Yes, the question being, can he come back, and can he come back as a pop star? And he can`t. It cannot happen at this point. And whether that`s what`s destroying him or not, I think that`s aside. I mean, he just will not be able to come back and have a singing career like he did before. It just won`t happen. There`s too much baggage there.

HAMMER: OK, we`re going to have to leave it at that and let the trial unfold. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, thank you very much for joining us. And Lorraine Ali from "Newsweek" magazine, appreciate you joining us, as well.

And now we want to know what you think. This brings us to the "SHOWBIZ Showdown Question of the Day." Michael Jackson`s career: Can it recover? Let us know what you think. Is it even possible? Go to the Web to vote by hitting cnn.com/showbiztonight on your Web browser. If you got more to tell us, we take e-mails, too -- showbiztonight@cnn.com is our address. Coming up later in the show, we will share more of what you have to say.

BRYANT: Vin Diesel says Prada really suits him, but he has some other style secrets up his sleeve. We`ll have more on Vin`s winning style coming up.

HAMMER: Also ahead: He`s usually the one wishing people a happy birthday, but today it`s Willard Scott who has something to celebrate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: It is time for more "SHOWBIZ Shorts." Who goes there? Dr. Seuss`s "Horton Hears a Who" is coming to the big screen. Tonight, Twentieth Century Fox animation and Blue Sky Studios are the winners of a bidding war to adapt the book as a computer-graphic animated movie.

Master of the DVD domain. We learned today that the season four "Seinfeld" DVD is going to come out in May. Costs about 50 bucks, includes 13 hours of extras, yada, yada, yada.

More "SHOWBIZ Shorts" coming up throughout the show.

BRYANT: Time for "Thursday In Style." Every month, "In Style magazine" picks its "Man of Style." This time, it`s "Pacifier" star Vin Diesel, who isn`t short on substance, either.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): You`ve known Vin Diesel as a shoot-em-up tough guy, appearing in films like "The Fast and the Furious" and "Triple-X." Until now, that is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VIN DIESEL, "THE PACIFIER": Oh, God. Baby!

BRYANT: Meet the softer side of Vin Diesel. In his latest blockbuster hit, "The Pacifier," he plays a Navy SEAL protecting five rambunctious kids.

MARTHA MCCULLY, EXECUTIVE EDITOR "IN STYLE": On this movie that he`s doing, they call him "the baby whisperer" because whenever one would cry, he was the go-to guy to make the baby stop crying.

BRYANT: Diesel says he got so used to working with the kids, when he began shooting his next film, he had to cut the habit of rocking back and forth. That soft side transfers to his sense of style, as well.

MCCULLY: Vin Diesel has this real sort of tough street guy image. But really, when you talk to him, and you talk about his sense of style, it`s very much down to earth. He doesn`t put on a facade. He`s very simple in what he wears. He likes to be comfortable. He likes simple things like jeans and T-shirts.

BRYANT: And a man of style the 37-year-old admires?

MCCULLY: From a fashion point of view, Vin Diesel really admired the heavyweight boxing champion Joe Lewis. He said that he has a lot of maturity, a lot of confidence, a real American sense of style.

BRYANT: When Diesel decides to do it up, as he did in this month`s "In Style" magazine, Italian suits like Prada and Armani are what he loves best. Diesel says the key to his style is timelessness. He says people should be accountable for what they wore in 1994.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

If you want to read more about Vin Diesel`s fashion sense, pick up a copy of this month`s "In Style" magazine on newsstands now.

HAMMER: Well, Willard Scott has been reporting the weather and shining the spotlight on centenarians for years now, but this morning, the "Today" show turned the spotlight on him because he`s celebrating a quarter century on the show.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLARD SCOTT, "TODAY": He`s 101 years old today.

In Naples, Florida, is 100 years old today...

AL ROKER, "TODAY": It celebrates Egypt, which is not something in this society that we tend to do.

SCOTT: It set off the smoke detector. Are we ready?

KATIE COURIC, CO-HOST, "TODAY": I can`t tell you how meaningful it for the families of the folks.

Well, Willard, if you didn`t feel loved before, you must feel loved right now. What did you think?

SCOTT: Oh, that -- I get teary. I get all emotional. And these -- where`d you get these people? Who are they?

(LAUGHTER)

SCOTT: They were left over from Dan Rather`s closing show last night!

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Well, Scott says one of his favorite moments was when a boy leaned out of a school bus once and said, Hey, Willard, can you wish me a happy birthday in 85 years? Scott`s 100th birthday, by the way, is on March 7, 2034.

BRYANT: Stars from "The Godfather" return to their famous roles. It isn`t for a sequel, but a different kind of offer they can`t refuse. That story coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

HAMMER: Plus, Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart have something in common tonight. It`s a good thing. We`ll tell you what the link is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Bob`s beginning. It`s Bob Schieffer`s first night since taking over for Dan Rather. So what`s it like being in the "Evening News" chair? We ask him.

BRYANT: And judging "American Idol," a season three contestant tells us what she thinks about season four. Latoya London joins us live.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN CABRERA: Hey, I`m Ryan Cabrera. If it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." So good with the words. I remembered.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thirty minutes past the hour now. I`m A.J. Hammer.

BRYANT: And I`m Karyn Bryant.

Here is tonight`s hot headline.

Just missed jail. Michael Jackson narrowly avoided being locked up for the rest of his trial today. He failed to show up on time for court, and then missed the deadline set a judge set for him to appear. Now, Jackson, who eventually showed up in his pajamas, said he was being treated for a back problem. But the judge decided not to take action.

And in testimony today, Jackson`s teenage accuser discussed graphic details about his overnight sleepovers at Jackson`s Neverland Ranch.

HAMMER: Well, we`ve been asking you to vote on tonight`s SHOWBIZ showdown question of the day. Michael Jackson`s career, can it ever recover? We`d like you to keep on voting at cnn.com/showbiztonight, and send us your e-mails at showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`ll share some of what you had to say at 55 past the hour.

BRYANT: Tonight, a new era at CBS. It`s the network`s first evening newscast since Dan Rather retired his anchor chair. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s David Haffenreffer caught up with his replacement this afternoon.

DAVID HAFFENREFFER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Hi, Karyn.

Yes, his replacement is Bob Schieffer, a familiar face at CBS. I paid him a visit today on the set and asked him about his new gig. He just wrapped up his first broadcast a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CBS EVENING NEWS")

BOB SCHIEFFER, CBS NEWS: Good evening. I`m Bob Schieffer. And tonight we turn a page at CBS News.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAFFENREFFER (voice-over): A changing of the guard at the CBS Evening News," Bob Schieffer saying his first words as Dan Rather`s replacement.

(on camera): Any first-night jitters?

SCHIEFFER: Well, you know, a little bit. I mean, this is a pretty daunting assignment. We don`t change anchors very often here.

HAFFENREFFER (voice-over): SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was on set at CBS headquarters with Bob Schieffer today, as he got ready to take over the anchor seat from Dan Rather.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CBS EVENING NEWS")

DAN RATHER, CBS NEWS: For the "CBS Evening News," Dan Rather reporting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAFFENREFFER (on camera): What were your thoughts last night as you watched Dan Rather say goodbye?

SCHIEFFER: Well, it`s hard to believe, even though we knew it was going to happen. Dan Rather is going to be remembered as one of the great reporters of the last half of the 20th century.

HAFFENREFFER: Has he given you any advice about this next part of your career?

SCHIEFFER: Dan and I had a very good conversation yesterday. He wished me the very best. He said, Whatever it is you want to talk about, anytime you need any help, give me a call.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CBS EVENING NEWS")

SCHIEFFER: Bob Schieffer in New York, Dan Rather is in Baghdad...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAFFENREFFER (voice-over): Schieffer and Rather go way back. He`s been with CBS since 1969 and covered the Washington beat for the last 30 years.

(on camera): This is an interim assignment for you. Is there part of you that wishes it was a permanent assignment?

SCHIEFFER: Let me tell you something. As far as I`m concerned, life is a temporary assignment. I survived bladder cancer. For me, the big news in my life is that I`m alive. The rest of it is all details. So I kind of take it one day at a time, one story at a time.

HAFFENREFFER: So what`s the latest on Clinton?

(voice-over): Schieffer takes the anchor seat in third place behind number two, ABC`s Peter Jennings, and number one, NBC`s Brian Williams, two competitors who are also his friends.

SCHIEFFER: I got this wonderful letter today from Brian Williams, who wished me well, and said, Welcome to the competition. And he said, Try to get your new viewers from Peter. He said, Peter told me that he never liked you.

HAFFENREFFER (voice-over): One of Schieffer`s oldest friends is Walter Cronkite.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CBS EVENING NEWS")

WALTER CRONKITE, CBS NEWS: And that`s the way it is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAFFENREFFER: Cronkite told CNN`s Wolf Blitzer that Schieffer should have been tapped for the job years ago.

CRONKITE: I think he`s one of the great television journalists of our time. I would like to have seen him there long time ago.

SCHIEFFER: I appreciate Walter being so kind. But I`m not sure I should have gotten the job 24 years ago. Dan has done a wonderful job in this job, and we all wish him the best.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAFFENREFFER: And Schieffer will continue to host the Sunday morning news program "Face the Nation." Still no word from CBS executives on who will take over as permanent anchor, or how they may rework that program, A.J.

HAMMER: OK, thanks very much, David Haffenreffer.

Well, the "Forbes" annual list of billionaires just came out tonight. High-profile celebs on the list, Oprah. She`s worth $1.3 billion. And Martha Stewart fared well, despite her prison stay. It`s her first time on the list, just making it with a net worth of $1 billion.

BRYANT: "American Idol" contestants are looking for fortune and fame of their own. The lineup of pop star wannabes is now down to 12. Simon, Paula, and Randy had their favorites last night, but it was up to America to decide who was moving on and who was going home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "AMERICAN IDOL")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: America has voted. Two are leaving us tonight. Scott, it`s you in the top 12. Congratulations, you have made it to the next round of the competition.

The ladies, in agony. Girls, please. Come down here and join me.

America voted, Mikalah. You`re in. Congratulations, you have made it into our top 12. Well done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: And here to help us judge the latest cuts, live from Los Angeles, is season three contestant Latoya London.

Good to see you, Latoya.

LATOYA LONDON, "AMERICAN IDOL" CONTESTANT: Good to see you, thank you.

BRYANT: You know, what do you think of last night`s situation? What do you think those who were sent packing?

LONDON: I think that, you know, some of them -- the ones that made it definitely deserve to be there.

BRYANT: Well, let`s talk about the women. Amanda Avila, she was cut last night. What do you think?

LONDON: Honestly, I`m going to tell you the truth.

BRYANT: Tell it, girl.

LONDON: I`ve been so busy, like, I don`t even know who -- Is that Amanda?

BRYANT: That`s Amanda there.

LONDON: OK, OK. Yes. She had -- she had a great -- she had a good voice. But...

BRYANT: But you weren`t feeling it. What about Jenaye here?

LONDON: Jenaye, I think she had a lot of more growing do as far as performance-wise, and getting past that nervousness and executing a song...

BRYANT: Right.

LONDON: ... you know, without really showing your nervousness...

BRYANT: Well, but (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

LONDON: ... but Amanda, I`m not really sure.

BRYANT: OK, OK. And Mikalah Gordon actually was saved at the very last minute. What are you thoughts on her? Do you think next week, she may be saying goodbye?

LONDON: I`m not sure, because, you know, once you start getting into certain genres, and she might stick it out, you know, and do a really good job. She has a great voice.

BRYANT: OK, well, let`s move on to the guys. Scott Sabel was on the edge. He was almost eliminated, but he got the last spot. The jury on this one, I think, is pretty split. What are your thoughts?

LONDON: I have, you know, honestly, I haven`t been catching Scott. I watched "American Idol" for the first time Monday and Tuesday. And I caught the half end of the boys. So I still haven`t really heard Scott other than, you know, what I`m seeing here.

And, but I heard Niko was really good. So that was a disappointment for him to go. But we`ll see next week. I`m going to really start tuning in...

BRYANT: All right.

LONDON: ... and really seeing who these -- what these people can do.

BRYANT: OK, and I hear that you`ve got, you`ve got a record coming out too...

LONDON: Yes, I do.

BRYANT: ... so we`ll keep our ears open for that.

LONDON: In July, yes.

BRYANT: All right, well, thank you, Latoya London.

LONDON: Thank you.

BRYANT: Of course, from season three in "American Idol."

A.J., over to you.

HAMMER: All right, Karyn and Latoya.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make her a match. Ellen`s playing the dating game, but with Tara Reid. Her potential suitors, however, may have other motives. That`s coming up in our talk of the day.

BRYANT: And coming up, if you turn on your X-box or Playstation and think you`re hearing voices, don`t worry, we do, too. And they`re famous.

So again, today`s "Entertainment Weekly" pop culture quiz. Which talk show bandleader wrote the `80`s anthem "It`s Raining Men"? The answer is, Paul Shaffer, of course, of the David Letterman show.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRYANT: It is time for more SHOWBIZ shorts.

Tonight, a new star and "Star Wars." Actor Billy Campbell joins the cast of the "O.C." in tonight`s episode. And during the Fox show, you can catch the premier of "The Revenge of the Sift Trailer." Big news, people. It is the last movie in the "Star Wars" series.

Well, there are "Star Wars" action figures. Now Leann Rimes will have one as well. Mattel is coming out with a Barbie doll based on the country star. Today, a company spokesman told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that the doll will hit Toys `R` Us stores in June.

HAMMER: Well, they`ve been talking all day, and we`ve been listening. And now, as we do every night on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the best from today`s talk shows.

So Tara Reid is apparently looking for a new boyfriend, and the "Ellen DeGeneres Show" agrees to help her find one. And they narrowed the field to six bachelors. But as Ellen found out today, maybe she doesn`t need all that help after all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW")

ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST (on phone): So we`ll fix it up, and I don`t know how we`re going to arrange it. Maybe we`ll send somebody on a date with you and videotape it, and we`ll...

TARA REID (on phone): This is so much fun.

DEGENERES: It is fun.

REID: It is.

DEGENERES: I heard that you`re getting hit on all time now too.

REID: It`s crazy. It`s unbelievable. They`re, like, If you go out with me, can I be on "Ellen"? It`s the funniest thing I`ve ever heard. Everyone`s, like, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) join the "Ellen" (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I`m, like, Oh, no, watch this.

DEGENERES: All right. Well, I`m telling you, let us be the judge. I don`t trust your judgment right now. So let us decide who the guy`s going to be once you date him, OK?

REID: You got it. Definitely.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: I can`t believe that she needs any help finding a boyfriend.

BRYANT: I know we`ve got some people on the staff. We could hook them up. We could start our own version.

HAMMER: Or maybe we can get her number, you know, off the Internet, I don`t know.

BRYANT: Oh, my goodness.

HAMMER: All right, let`s...

BRYANT: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) help our staff get dates, that`s what I`m saying.

HAMMER: Oh, not with Tara Reid.

BRYANT: Yes, not with Tara.

HAMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BRYANT: No, no.

HAMMER: Let`s move on.

You know, promoting movies, just like this, sometimes, not as easy as it seems. Watch as the ladies of "The View" slowly render "Robots" star Greg Kinnear speechless.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE VIEW")

GREG KINNEAR: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) right now, she`s (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Were you a mama`s boy, or were you rebellious, or...

KINNEAR: Anyway, so (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- What about mama`s boy?

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... badly. I mean, because you`re so sweet. I can see you being very sweet.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... ma`am.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The yes, ma`am kind of guy.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s what she means.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... like a sweetheart.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think you were trouble.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t think you`re that sweet.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he`s sweet.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But he looks like he`s...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you can`t be that sweet when you are funny.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But he looks like the kind guy that`d be really sweet to his mom.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really?

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome to "The View," honey.

(CROSSTALK)

KINNEAR: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) always my reoccurring dream that somehow I would end up in the middle of you guys, and it would come start coming at me. I know (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know. This isn`t exactly like...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: You see, Greg didn`t even need to be there.

BRYANT: No, he didn`t. I love Greg Kinnear.

HAMMER: Just hanging out in the middle, everybody`s trying to get personal with him, and then they don`t let him answer.

BRYANT: Yes. Well, what you are you going to do?

Still to come, a new job for Nick Carter, according to Conan O`Brien. That (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is coming in laughter dark.

HAMMER: And you may hear Clint Eastwood`s voice in your head soon. We`ll explain what that`s all about coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: It`s time to head to the game room. That`s where we take a look at what`s hot in video games.

And tonight, something the gamers are saying a lot to themselves lately, That guy sounds familiar. And they`re right when they say that, because more and more Hollywood stars are turning up in video games, including two who are making a return to the family business.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER (voice-over): Just when you thought they were out, Robert Duvall and James Caan are getting pulled back into the Corleone family.

ROBERT DUVALL: It came back quick like we were looping from a week ago or something, it just came back.

HAMMER: They`re reviving their characters from "The Godfather," sensible lawyer Tom Hagen and doomed hothead Sonny Corleone...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE GODFATHER")

(CROSSTALK)

DUVALL: ... your father was business, not personal, Sonny.

CAAN: Well, then business will have to suffer, all right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: For Electronic Arts, a video game version of that film classic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DUVALL: Even the shooting of your father was business, not personally, son.

CAAN: Well, then, business will have to suffer, all right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tracked down Duvall and Caan in New York City. They told us why recreating their classic "Godfather" roles for a video game was an offer they couldn`t refuse.

DUVALL: Brando did it, we figured we`d do it.

HAMMER: That`s right, the Don himself, Marlon Brando, also recorded scenes for "The Godfather Game" just months before he died.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARLON BRANDO: I`m going to call upon you to do a service for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "BATMAN BEGINS")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where are you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: The cast of "Batman Begins" also performed a service. They`re lending their voices and images to the video game version of their upcoming movie. It`s the latest sign that in Hollywood, video games aren`t child`s play anymore.

DAN MORRIS, EDITOR IN CHIEF, "PC GAMER": I think in the last few years, the idea that it`s condescending for a big actor to do a video game has really kind of gone out of the window.

HAMMER: That`s a good thing for game makers, who know that snagging a big-name actor for a game can mean big buzz and possibly big bucks.

Exhibit A, Pierce Brosnan, his most recent and possibly final performance as James Bond was not in a movie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PIERCE BROSNAN: I will try not to blow things out of proportion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: But in last year`s Bond game, everything or nothing. That game pulled in a not-too-shabby $42 million.

The video game version of last year`s summer hit, "Spider Man 2," featured voice work from Tobey Maguire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOBEY MAGUIRE: This is the city I protect, New York City.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: That game netted an amazing $112 million.

And then there`s "Grand Theft Auto, San Andreas."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMUEL L. JACKSON: I almost forgot, Karl. Time to die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Samuel L. Jackson played corrupt cop Frank Tenpenny in that game, which made off with an astounding $253 million. That`s more than double the take of the movie that gave Jackson his most famous role, "Pulp Fiction."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: Correctamundo.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORRIS: We`ve got some examples of games that are every bit as much an artistic achievement as any film, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) too, or a game like that, where they`re really doing something special. A lot of people can look at it and say, That`s something I want to be involved with.

HAMMER: It`s clear that as games get more cinematic, complex, and, well, cooler, even more big-name actors will want to get in on the video game game.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRYANT: Well, you know, A.J., there`s another big Hollywood star who`s down with the video games.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINT EASTWOOD: Go ahead. Make my day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: Clint Eastwood will lend his voice and likeness to a new video game based on one of his biggest film roles, the shoot-first-and-ask- questions-later cop, Dirty Harry. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) recently chatted with Eastwood, and I actually asked him about the video game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: I know you`re going to be involved in a Dirty Harry video game. How is that going to go?

EASTWOOD: Well, that, those are -- I don`t have to do anything. I`m not going to bring -- I`m not going to be -- I think they`re mostly animated, so...

BRYANT: So are you going to provide the voices and things, right?

EASTWOOD: Yes, I mean, I`m going to -- I support the idea, sure.

BRYANT: Well, it`s great, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)... it`s

EASTWOOD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I can come back and be as young as I was when I did Dirty Harry, only animated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). And he`s double-fisted there with Oscars when I`m talking to him.

HAMMER: Yes.

BRYANT: So cool.

Well, Dirty Harry fans, we made your day there with the good news. Here now the bad news. The Dirty Harry game won`t be in stores until late this year or early next. So.

HAMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BRYANT: It`s time now, though, to get your laugh on in laughter dark. As we do every night, we bring you the late-night laughs you may have missed.

HAMMER: Well, just after the Backstreet Boys announced their reunion tour, Nick Carter was arrested for allegedly drink driving, which, according to Conan O`Brien, could hurt his job prospects.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O`BRIEN")

CONAN O`BRIEN, HOST: Former (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a little bit of a sad news, former Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter was charged Tuesday with drunken driving. Yes. As a result, the pizza he was delivering did not arrive on time.

Good night, everybody. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: I don`t think Nick`s really out there delivering pizza.

BRYANT: You think?

HAMMER: I think the Backstreet Boys did pretty well for themselves.

BRYANT: Yes, they probably did.

HAMMER: Yes.

BRYANT: He`s probably set.

HAMMER: Right.

Well, you know, Jay Leno still under that gag order. He`s not able to tell the Jackson jokes. See who got to do his Michael Jackson jokes last night. That`s coming up in laughter dark.

BRYANT: And there`s still time for you to sound off in tonight`s SHOWBIZ showdown question of the day. Michael Jackson`s career, can it ever recover? You can vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight, or e-mail us what`s on your mind at showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`ll read some of your thoughts live next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRYANT: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We have got more laughter dark for you now.

Jay Leno`s gag order in the Michael Jackson trial certainly hasn`t kept the "Tonight" show quiet.

HAMMER: Did you watch last night?

BRYANT: I did.

HAMMER: All right. Well, Leno stood quietly by, as he`s been doing the past several nights. Carrot Top came out, delivered some brutal zingers, and brought along all the props.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "TONIGHT WITH JAY LENO")

CARROT TOP: Howdy. I got some props too.

JAY LENO, HOST: You have a prop?

CARROT TOP: Evidence right from the Michael Jackson...

LENO: Oh, this is evidence. Here we go.

CARROT TOP: Yes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), his mug shot keeps changing, so it has to match his mug shot (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I don`t know. They found a (UNINTELLIGIBLE), they found bottle of wine at Michael Jackson`s house, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(CROSSTALK)

CARROT TOP: This is really good Cabernet, Mr. Jackson. Very good.

Oh, this is great. This is Michael Jackson`s new mask. Have you seen it?

(CROSSTALK)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: That was just wrong. I got a lot of levels, you know?

HAMMER: But Jay didn`t deliver it, so he hasn`t violated the gag order.

BRYANT: Right.

HAMMER: He can uphold his subpoena, which is still in effect, by the way...

BRYANT: Right.

HAMMER: ... it`s still in place.

BRYANT: OK, well...

HAMMER: Nothing for me like that.

BRYANT: ... throughout the show, we`ve been asking you to vote online in our SHOWBIZ showdown question of the day, which does concern Michael Jackson and his career. Can it ever recover?

Let`s take a look at how the vote is going so far. It is extremely one-sided. Eighty-eight percent of you said no, his career can`t recover, 12 percent of you say yes, it can.

And you`ve also been sending us e-mails on this question.

Ryan from Florida says, "I think he can definitely recover. He is the most talented, awe-inspiring performer."

And Michael from Trinidad, Colorado, says, "I don`t think his career will recover. Publicity from the trial will hurt his career, even if he is innocent."

Now, remember, you can continue to vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight. Please do so.

HAMMER: You know, this has been the case before. It`s been a discussion before over the years with the various allegations against Michael Jackson. The gap has certainly widened in terms of whether or not people think he can recover.

BRYANT: This is some serious trouble.

HAMMER: All right.

BRYANT: Yes.

HAMMER: Well, let`s move on now to find out what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT this week, which means tomorrow. Let`s take a look at that SHOWBIZ marquee.

ANNOUNCER: Tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Samuel L. Jackson, he sure knows his fiction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: Oh, I`m sorry, did I break your concentration?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: But Jackson`s new movie is based on cold, hard facts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: What you did, who you did it to, who told you to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Tomorrow, it`s a SHOWBIZ sitdown with Samuel L. Jackson. Oh, and he`s got a "Star Wars" secret, too.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: He couldn`t assassinate anyone. It`s not in his character.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Actually, Gladys, isn`t it a train to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT? She`s still got a whole lot of soul, and a brand-new album too. Gladys Knight, live on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, tomorrow.

And one of Gladys Knight`s friends stops by. It`s Stevie Wonder. His cherie amour`s got a new clothing line, and he plays a big part. Stevie Wonder and his wife, signed, sealed, delivered, it`s Wonder-ful, tomorrow, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

HAMMER: I know you`re a huge Sam Jackson fan and a huge "Star Wars" fan...

BRYANT: Yes, I`m (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

HAMMER: ... and a dancing fan.

BRYANT: Yes.

HAMMER: How his character winds it all up?

BRYANT: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HAMMER: A little insight from Sam Jackson.

BRYANT: Don`t give it away. I love "Star Wars." Don`t mess with me.

HAMMER: Oh, I`m sorry.

BRYANT: All right. Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Hopefully, we will see you here tomorrow. There`s a lot going on, so please tune in.

HAMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) mess with you.

BRYANT: Don`t.

HAMMER: "NANCY GRACE" coming up next, right after the very latest from Headline News.

END


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