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NEW DAY SUNDAY

Gov. Christie Hits Back; Fans Can Expect "Airport-Style" Security; Dylan Farrow Breaks Her Silence in Open Letter; Super Bowl Preview; Bruno Mars Will Rock This Year's Half-Time Show

Aired February 2, 2014 - 07:00   ET

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


CECILY STRONG, SNL: For weekend update, I'm Cecily Strong.

AMY POEHLER, SNL: I'm Amy Poehler.

STEFON MEYERS, SNL: I'm Stefon Meyers.

SETH MEYERS, SNL: And I'm Seth Meyers. Good night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: There have been so many good hosts, but I think he was one of the best.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, good luck to him for sure, as he's taking over NBC's late night.

BLACKWELL: Yes, he's going to -- this month, he's going to replace Jimmy Fallon, when Fallon moves to host "The Tonight Show", moving back to New York.

PAUL: Absolutely.

Hey, thank you so much for spending part of your morning with us. We're not done yet.

BLACKWELL: Yes. We've got a lot more ahead for the next hour of your NEW DAY starts right now.

PAUL: All righty. Sunday is upon us. I hope you have a little chance to breathe today and just do a little relaxing. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: We're covering for a big Saturday, I hope.

PAUL: To get ready for a big Sunday night.

BLACKWELL: Yes, I'm Victor Blackwell. It's 7:00 out here on the East Coast, 4:00 out West. NEW DAY SUNDAY with you now.

And this is the Sunday a lot of football fans have been waiting for. Super Bowl XLVIII.

Denver Broncos against the Seattle Seahawks in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

PAUL: Yes. We've got Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson. And, you know, Manning just won the 2013 MVP Award last night. But I know not a lot of people -- maybe not football fans but they are fans of Bruno Mars.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

PAUL: And Red Hot Chili Peppers.

BLACKWELL: Live look right now in MetLife Stadium where it's all going down.

I just want to highlight the Baltimore Ravens won last year.

And for a few more hours, at least, you know, just a few more hours, they are the NFL world champions.

PAUL: He says he doesn't follow football but you know he loves the --

BLACKWELL: I love Baltimore. That's the team that has the trophy. That's the one I'm pulling for.

PAUL: Yes. Absolutely.

And just a little tidbits here, the Vince Lombardi Trophy is made from sterling silver by Tiffany and Company -- just for all you ladies out there.

BLACKWELL: All right. Hey, with the Super Bowl taking place in New Jersey, of course, the home state of Governor Chris Christie. This was supposed to be a fun, exciting, fun day for him.

PAUL: Yes. Well, the thing is, instead he's fighting back, defending himself against these new claims regarding that scandal over lane closures at the George Washington Bridge.

Want to bring in CNN's Erin McPike, who's been following this. She's live in Washington for us.

Hi, Erin. What have you learned this morning?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christi and Victor -- well, you're right. He obviously wanted the huge media focus this weekend on the region's security of the Super Bowl to get him some credit on the national stage and, of course, revel in some of the glory of it. But he still tried to do that on Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: I was proud to be in New Orleans last year to accept the handoff on behalf of the region and we look forward to hosting everybody in this group that's got a ticket over in New Jersey tomorrow to watch the greatest sports spectacle in the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: But, once again, this weekend, his administration was really fighting back against more of the unwelcomed leaks in this back story behind those lane closures to the G.W. Bridge that his staff directed in September.

Well, Christi's administration issued a statement late Friday to refute former Port Authority official David Wildstein's claim through a lawyer that evidence exists Christie knew about the closures while they were happening and interestingly, they went on offense Saturday.

CNN obtained an e-mail "Politico" first reported that Christi sent to his friends and supporters. Well, that email blasts Wildstein for his continued attempts at immunity and goes on to remind that he was held in contempt by the New Jersey legislature for refusing to testify, failed to provide the evidence he's talking about now and is looking for the port authority to pay his legal bills.

And another line in the e-mail contends David Wildstein will do and say anything to save David Wildstein.

Now, what's more, Christie is unlikely to get much out of the Super Bowl coverage today because on Monday, the documents the New Jersey investigatory committee subpoenaed are due and, of course, that's likely to be a new wave of intention -- Christie and Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right. Erin McPike, thank you.

You know, this maybe this is just wishful thinking and maybe it will actually happen, but this was -- it's still a chance for people in New Jersey to set aside the political scandals for at least a few hours today and celebrate hosting Super Bowl XLVIII.

PAUL: Of course, you know, at the end of the day, one of the top priorities here is keeping any and all security threats to a minimum. That's a critical task obviously.

And I want to let you know, we're just learning New York's new mayor, Bill de Blasio has received a threatening letter.

We want to get out to Alexandra Field right now who is live in New York.

So, what can you tell us about this threat that you know of at this hour?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christi.

The NYPD is confirming that some time on Saturday, New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio did receive a threatening letter. That's how they're describing it. But they say that the letter contained no specific threat.

Now, this letter comes on the heels of a few incidents last week. A white powder was reported to have been found at several hotels near MetLife Stadium and in the office of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. But in all the cases, the FBI determined that that powder was not hazardous.

We should underscore the point, though, that these are the kind of scenarios that law enforcement officials have spent so long preparing for in the run up to the Super Bowl.

<07:05:03>

Now, today is the day preparations will be tested. Law enforcement sources tell us they are confident about the security measures they put into place and we'll see a lot of those security measures in train stations today.

This is, of course, a Super Bowl that will rely on mass transit more than any Super Bowl in the past. At Secaucus Junction, some 15,000 ticket holders will actually have their bags screened before leaving the train station because the train station lets out right near MetLife Stadium and, of course, anyone who is entering MetLife Stadium will go through strict screening and security methods. It will be similar to airport-style security.

Now, MetLife Stadium has hosted significant events in the past. In the '90s, they are a host to a papal visit and world cup soccer game. But one security expert does tell us this is the largest security challenge the stadium has ever faced.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK RODGERS, PUBLIC SAFETY EXPERT: It's terrorism. I think, you know, that's paramount in everybody's mind and it's the preparation that's going into, you know, knowing the challenges, knowing the intelligence that surrounds these games, the sharing of that information from both local to state and national level.

So, I'm sure that's not, that's top of their priority list and then there's the day-to-day things that we need to be concerned about, obviously, the weather. And the traffic challenges that this unique venue presents to us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIELD: Now, in the wake of the Boston marathon bombings, the NFL issued new guidelines that went into effect in all of its stadiums. That meant that fans can no longer carry big bags into the stadiums. They really can just carry small bags or large, clear plastic bags. Those guidelines remain in effect today, just another step trying to this a fun and a secure event -- Christi, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Hey, Alexandra, you compare the security today at MetLife to airport security, but there is no TSA pre-check at the Super Bowl.

How long can people expect to wait to get through security to get to those seats?

FIELD: Yes, that's something that we actually asked law enforcement officials. Will people get there and have to wait hours? Of course, you know, fans are going to want to rush to the game. They might get there early, but we were told that there is a large number of screeners that will be out there doing this screening. The goal is actually to move these lines very quickly because you really do want people to feel confident and like they're going into a safe place. So, why you do want to do all the security measures, you don't want people to feel like they're waiting a long time to go through all of the screening.

So, a little bit of it is mental and we're told that they really shouldn't have to wait too long for the day that they've already waiting so long for.

BLACKWELL: Indeed. Alexandra Field there for us -- thank you.

PAUL: OK. We want to turn now to a story that just exploded yesterday afternoon with a published open letter from an alleged sexual assault victim.

Please, let me forewarn you here. This is tough to talk about. The details are graphic. They're not appropriate if you have children in the room, but we just want you to be prepared for this. For the first time, Dylan Farrow, the adopted daughter of Woody Allen, is breaking her silence about allegations that the filmmaker sexually assaulted her as a child. The allegations first came to light in 1993 after Farrow's mother, actress Mia Farrow, split from Allen. Farrow begins by asking readers, what's your favorite Woody Allen movie?

After describing the alleged abuse, which Allen has consistently denied, we should point, Farrow challenges readers to answer that same question one more time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL (voice-over): Dylan Farrow, the adopted daughter of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow, speaking out for the first time and giving new details of alleged assaults by sexual assault by the famed writer and director. In an open letter published in "The New York Times" blog, she recounts an incident she says happened in 1992.

"When I was 7 years old, Woody Allen took me by the hand and led me into a dim, closet-like attic on the second floor of our house. He told me to lay on my stomach and play with my brother's electric train set. Then he sexually assaulted me. He talked to me while he did it. Whispering that I was a good girl that this was our secret promising that we'd go to Paris and I'd be a star in his movies."

The letter published just weeks after Mia Farrow reignited a long standing feud with her ex by bringing the personal family history back into the public eye.

All this playing out as the 78-year-old Allen was being honored by his peers at the Golden Globe Awards and his latest film celebrated with three Academy Award nominations.

Mia Farrow, displaying her contempt on social media, tweeting, "A woman has publicly detailed Woody Allen's molestation of her at age 7. Golden Globe tribute showed contempt for her and all abuse survivors." Her son Ronan followed suit, making no effort to veil his disgust. "Mr. Woody Allen tribute, did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7, before or after Annie Hall."

It's all part of the convoluted story that is Woody Allen's personal life.

<07:10:03>

The couple separated after 12 years when Mia Farrow discovered that Woody Allen was having an affair with her adopted daughter, Soon Yi, who is now Allen's wife. The same year Dylan told her mother that Allen had touched her inappropriately.

Allen denied the charges, and according to "The New York Times", a team of medical investigators found no evidence of abuse. Allen was never charged but the allegations have tainted his image for two decades.

But Dylan finally breaking her silence and admonishing some of Hollywood's most celebrated by name for, in her words, turning a blind eye by continuing to work with Allen. "That he got away with what he did to me, haunted me as I grew up. I was stricken with guilt that I allowed him to be near other little girls."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: Now, CNN did reach out to Woody Allen's representative for comment. We have yet to hear back from them and also reached out to some of the stars that Dylan Farrow challenged by name in her letter. We have yet to hear their responses as well. But we will have much more on this little a little bit later this hour with CNN's Brian Stelter.

BLACKWELL: And still to come on NEW DAY, investigators in Florida discovered a much bigger crime when they started investigating some missing pills at a crime lab.

Plus, a look at what the weather is going to be like as football fans head out to MetLife Stadium today. It's coming up after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: This next story sounds like something straight out of an episode of "CSI" -- a chemist at a crime lab in Florida, crime lab, has been accused of stealing drugs.

<07:15:04>

Now, he was allegedly swapping out prescription pills for over-the- counter medications.

PAUL: Which basically means it could have compromised evidence in the 2,600 cases that he's handled.

Nick Valencia is following this story for us. And, first of all, any charges in the case?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not yet. They're waiting on formal charges. But they know where the guy is. He's been removed from duty and he's in Escambia County right now and he's hired an attorney.

This is a big deal, guys. Yesterday, when I spoke to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, they said it was a significant thing. It never undertook quite something like this before. And this is wide-ranging. We're talking about 35 counties all throughout the state of Florida, 12 judicial circuits, 2,600 cases in eight years.

Not all of them were drug cases but they're looking into motive here. They think that this is one of their lines of investigation. He may be a drug addict himself or perhaps trafficking this medication. He was replacing prescription pills with aspirin, over-the-counter medication.

PAUL: Oh my gosh.

BLACKWELL: So, these 2,600 cases. I mean, what's he potentially for seeing people who have been convicted, have those convictions overturned, released from prison.

VALENCIA: And when I spoke to the FDL yesterday, they said that was the scary part, is that convictions could be overturned. There's a potentially that presumably guilty people could get off scot-free because of this evidence tempering. It's one chemist that represents 1 percent of all the crime lab analysis, that he's handled. He's base in Pensacola.

I mean, this is wide-ranging, guys, 35 counties all throughout the state of Florida. And the state attorney has weighed in, saying this really underscores the prescription drug problem in the country. We have a big problem. It's been big in Florida the last three years, and they said they've done a lot to attack it, and this is something that they're really significant, really worried about, guys.

So, bigger deal than we may be able to understand right now.

PAUL: Realizing right now.

All right. Hey, nick, thank you so much.

VALENCIA: You got it. Thank you.

PAUL: We appreciate it.

Still to come on NEW DAY: there's a village in Jakarta that has been -- I mean, the pictures are just heartbreaking. It's devastated. What you're looking at there, it's covered in ash. We'll tell you what officials are saying to those villagers about whether they could even go back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

<07:20:19>

PAUL: All right. We want to show you some of the latest pictures we're getting in of this devastation in Indonesia where 15 people are dead now in this village near Jakarta. A volcano roared to life there.

Look at that. Red hot ash it was spewing. Debris went into the air and it all raced down a mountainside.

Rescue crews believed they have found most of the casualties. But they're still searching just to be on the safe side and officials are allowing people to return to their villages now. But they're warning. And, look, this volcano may still be dangerous.

BLACKWELL: We'll continue to watch that. We've also got some updates, news on the big game, the celebration. Football fans in New Jersey, they're going to head to MetLife Stadium later today for the Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLVIII.

So, should they bundle up or carry rain ponchos with them, ear muffs, mittens?

PAUL: Chad Myers, again.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

PAUL: Could -- he drew the long straw. He's there, live, with the weather.

How is it?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'm here, but I'm in New York and the game is in New Jersey and I don't have a ticket. So, I'm staying here. That's OK.

PAUL: Not bad being in New York.

MYERS: It's not bad being in New York, right, especially on the company's dime.

First thing, I got off the airplane on Friday. What do they hand me, a Super Bowl pocket guide. A map to the Super Bowl. No, kind of like a subway map. I sort of got that.

And if you want to go down CNN experience, that's about 38th and Broadway, because the whole Super Bowl experience is all up and down Broadway. They have shut that part of the city down, literally. You have to walk through there.

And let me tell you, I was here for Christmas filling in for Indra as well, and there are more people here today and yesterday than were for the entire Christmas holiday. I'm absolutely -- I'm convinced that there are twice as many people here.

So, what is the second thing they handed me? These super bowl hand warmers. This may go on eBay for a lot of people, not mine. I'm keeping mine to give to my son. But Super Bowl hand warmers. How cold do they think it is going to get? But then it says, here number six, the precaution, do not use while sleeping.

I don't think anybody is going to be sleeping during the Super Bowl, to be very honest. Then, I went out looking for snow and the only snow I could find was that -- dirty snow, because it's been here a long time. Yes. This is how you make a dirty snowman. This is just everywhere. It's not fun at all.

But we're going to get more snow coming during the day tomorrow night and into Monday. There could be three or four inches on the ground here by the time Tuesday rolls around.

The issue is not that people will be cold because it really isn't cold. It's going to be in the 40s. The forecast really -- for the forecast today, might even be 50 degrees today, but it gets cold as night and it snows.

Punxsutawney Phil is coming out, I understand. So, back to you guys.

BLACKWELL: Hey, Chad, you're not the only forecaster we have on this morning.

This is Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney Phil waiting for his prediction on this February 2nd, Groundhog Day. Did not see his shadow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It doesn't look good. Ladies and gentlemen, Punxsutawney Phil!

(CHEERS)

PAUL: You know, I always watch this and think that poor groundhog.

BLACKWELL: Every year, they come and drag me out at this hour of the day.

PAUL: He has no idea what they're doing. Why are they is he holding me up like this?

OK. So, Chad, he didn't see his shadow.

MYERS: Well, how did he not see his shadow? There is 1,000 TV lights on him.

(LAUGHTER)

PAUL: Maybe he's blind by this time because they hold him up in front of the lights every year.

BLACKWELL: He's been awake for hours with all the fireworks and all the noise they've been making.

MYERS: It would make no one else happier but me that this winter would be over, you know? But to be honest, six more weeks until spring even on the calendar. So, that works out perfectly doesn't it? That's why they say six more weeks of winter or not. I think it's still going to be cold here in the East.

And the issue today is here in the East, is that, you know what, people are going to be standing outside for 10 hours. It's going to take, people think from the hotel that I'm staying at, to the game through security back to the hotel is 10, 12-hour experience and people are selling their tickets because they don't want to those outside. They'll stay inside and make $1,000 and watch on TV.

So, Punxsutawney Phil, there he is. Let him listen -- let's listen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now this February 2nd, 2014, the 128th annual trek of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club at Gobbler's Knob. Punxsutawney Phil, seer of seers, prognosticator of prognosticators, was awakened from his winter nap at 7:28 by a huge crowd of his faithful followers!

(CHEERS)

<07:55:02>

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Phil looked to the sky and gazed around his stump and speaking in groundhog ease, he directed president Bill Deeley to the proper scroll which reads, a Super Bowl winner, I will not predict. But my weather forecast you cannot contradict. Why that's not a football, but my shadow I see. It's six more weeks of winter, it must be!

(CHEERS)

BLACKWELL: All right. Live from Gobbler's Knob, six more weeks of winter. Thank you, Punxsutawney Phil.

PAUL: Look at all those people.

BLACKWELL: And thank you to our meteorologist Chad Myers in New York for us.

Also, a serious story we're reading a letter coming out of the blog of Nick Kristof for "New York Times." We're hearing from Dylan Farrow in her own words about allegations of abuse by filmmaker Woody Allen.

PAUL: The thing is about this letter, he's not the only one she's taking aim at. So, up next, we're going to talk and ask a question -- does Hollywood turn its back on victims of abuse?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: I hope you were able to wake up without an alarm clock today. It is Sunday, I'm Christi Paul, and we're at the bottom of the hour now.

BLACKWELL: And I'm Victor Blackwell. Just ease into Sunday.

Let's start this half with five things you need to know for your NEW DAY.

<07:30:02> BLACKWELL: Up first, we're going to New Jersey, but not for the Super Bowl just yet, but for Governor Chris Christie's fight against new claims regarding the scandal of a lane closures at the George Washington Bridge.

His office sent a memo to supporters. Here it is, it's titled, "Five things you should know about the bombshell that's not a bombshell. And it slams his former appointee David Wildstein and questions his credibility. That's because Wildstein's attorney claims, quote, "evidence exists that the governor knew about the lane closures when they happened," although Christie had said publicly that he did.

Up next, Iran has received the first part of more than $4 billion in oil money that had been frozen by international sanction. It's being released now as part of that interim deal that saw Iran cut back on its nuclear program. Iranian media reports that the funds made available to the country amounted to $550 million.

Number three, an arrest has been made in a grisly case that shocked a small Michigan community. Police say 59-year-old woman has been taken into custody after a garbage bag full of human body parts were found along a snowy rural road. Now, "The Detroit Free Press" is reporting the remains belong to the woman's son. He disappeared about a week ago.

Number four, actor Maximilian Schell has died. The Austrian-born actor best known for his role in "Judgment at Nuremberg" won an Academy Award for that performance. Now, according to his agent, he died yesterday at a hospital. There was a long illness. His wife was by his side. He was 83 years old.

And number five now, we're going back to New Jersey and this time, it's been the food, the commercials and the football. In just about 11 hours, Super Bowl XLVIII kicks off. Broncos, the top rated offense, go head-to-head with Seahawks, number one defense.

Good news for the players and the fans of the big game. We just heard from meteorologist Chad Myers who was there on Super Bowl Boulevard. Despite earlier reports of snow and freezing temperatures, it's expected to be low to mid-40s, maybe even 50 in New Jersey.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: OK. This next story is really sensitive. So, I just want to warn you that the details are graphic. They're not appropriate if you have a child in the room, but we just wanted you to be prepared for this thing.

For the first time, the adopted daughter of Woody Allen is speaking publicly about allegations that she was sexually abused by the filmmaker as a child. This was an open letter posted to "New York Time".

And in it, Dylan Farrow recounts the alleged abuse and writes this, quote, "When I was 7 years old, Woody Allen took me by the hand and led me into a dim-closet-like attic on the second floor of our house. He told me to lay on my stomach and play with my brother's electric train set and then he sexually assaulted me." Now, the allegations first came to light back in 1993 and they put claims of molestation back in the spotlight now obviously. Allen, we should point, has continuously denied the accusations and the never charged with anything.

CNN senior media correspondent and host of "RELIABLE SOURCES", Brian Stelter joining me now from New York.

But, Brian, you know, Farrow, Dylan, talked about how her sibling, her mother kind of helped her get through this. That she's married now and she's doing well. But something stood out to us in this quote where she writes, "But others are still scared, vulnerable and struggling for the courage to tell the truth. The message that Hollywood sends matters for them."

So, you know, we're trying to figure out what message does Hollywood send? Again, he was never convicted of anything. But he's acclaimed. I mean, he just won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Globes. He's up for three Oscars in his latest movie "Blue Jasmine." Hollywood loves him.

Is this letter, in your opinion, is it going to change anything?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: What she and her brother Ronan Farrow have suggested in the last few weeks first with tweets from Ronan Farrow and now from this letter is that you cannot separate the two. You cannot separate Woody Allen's remarkable work on screen and his private life. No matter how hard people might try.

I do think this is going to matter because all of the actors and actresses that were mentioned by name in this letter are going to have to figure out how they're going to address this. They're going to have to say something. You know, these are names like Cate Blanchet, Louis C.K., Alec Baldwin, Emma Stone, Scarlett Johansson. She ends by saying, you know, what's your favorite Woody Allen movie?

You know, forcing that conversation is what's new here. And so, none of those celebrities I named have commented. CNN reached out to all the representatives last night and haven't heard back yet. Maybe that will change today because I think they will have to say something about this.

PAUL: Do you think there could be, if people read this letter, which is, it seems really profound. It's almost as though she's writing, at times, in that 7-year-old voice.

<07:35:00>

So, if you believe any of it, do you think that the actors that she does call out by name are at risk for some sort of public backlash?

STELTER: I think that's always a risk, but I think for the most part, this will be about Woody Allen. The key line to me in the piece says that Woody Allen is a living testament to the way our society fails the survivors of sexual assault and abuse. As you mentioned at the top, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. But that kind of statement is where I think she's trying to start a conversation. Not just about her own experience, but about people who come forward and say that they are victims of sexual assault.

Sometimes in this society, those claims are not taken seriously enough.

PAUL: Well --

STELTER: She seems to feel that's what happened to her and I think for days to come, we're going to be talking more about what happened to those people when they come forward.

PAUL: You're absolutely right. I mean, we talk a lot about how the voices of victims get so muddied and especially as children. It's such a sensitive topic, but a lot of people saying, would a child lie about something like that? So, there are so many questions around it.

We should be very careful to compare this two. But when we talk about Hollywood and embracing their own, filmmaker Roman Polanski. Again, pointing out, Woody Allen has not been convicted of anything. But Roman Polanski pled guilty to statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl and then he left the country, he's a fugitive. He was nominated for several Oscars and won in 2003 for "The Pianist" and couldn't even come back to the U.S. to accept the award because if he did, he'd be arrested.

Is there a culture of, quote, "turning a blind eye" as Dylan Farrow asserts?

STELTER: Well, it's worth pointing out, this is happening in the midst of award season. We're a few weeks away from the Oscars, which means this is coming up again and again in the weeks to come. And if a blind eye was ever turned in the past, it can't be now, can't be in the past few weeks.

Nick Kristof, "The New York Times" columnist who published this letter for the first time yesterday, wrote on Twitter last night that he heard from Dylan Farrow and as she said, the outpouring of support has been monumental and I'm so immensely grateful. Thank you.

It's interesting to hear that she is paying attention to all the reaction to this and I'm sure will be today, as well.

PAUL: All right. Brian Stelter, thank you for sharing your perspectives with us.

STELTER: Thank you.

PAUL: And how this is resonating in the media world. We appreciate it.

STELTER: Thanks.

PAUL: And be sure to watch "RELIABLE SOURCES", 11:00 a.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

BLACKWELL: Up next, we're going to go back to New Jersey to look ahead to the big game tonight, as everybody gets ready for some football.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

<07:40:50>

BLACKWELL: Today is the day. Today is the day at MetLife Stadium.

PAUL: I know. We're in the wrong seats.

BLACKWELL: I know.

PAUL: Andy Scholes has got the seat to be had today. He is live there at MetLife.

I know we have been talking about the weather, how it's going to be, and all that good stuff. Give us a good sense of what it is like there right now, would you, Andy?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS: Yes. You know what, guys? For all the talk of having a Super Bowl in New York in February would be a complete disaster, it would be miserable. It's actually not going to be that bad. It's only about 35 degrees at MetLife Stadium right now and around kickoff expected to be around 45 degrees with a slight chance of rain.

So, the NFL really did luck out in this situation. Now, as I just said, weather is not going to be a factor for this ball game. Both teams made their way over to MetLife Stadium for one final walkthrough on the field.

Now, this game is shaping up to be a great one. On one side, you've got the league's best offense in the Denver Broncos and on the other side, you've got the league's best defense and Seattle Seahawks.

Now, Vegas has made the broncos a two-point favorite in this one and a lot of people are expecting them to win this game. Now, the Broncos fearless leader, Peyton Manning, as expected was named this year's MVP and the offensive player of the year. This is Peyton's record fifth MVP award. You look to cap off this record-setting season with a Super Bowl ring tonight. A win would, of course, be great for his legacy.

But Peyton says he'd love to get a win for quarterback champ Bailey who's gone his whole 15-year-career without even playing in a Super Bowl.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PEYTON MANNING, DENVER BRONCOS: I know how hard it is to get to a Super Bowl, being in my 16th season. But for champ to play as long as he has and have a chance to play in his first one speaks to how difficult it is to get there, but it also speaks to his commitment to staying on top of his game, keeping himself in great shape, to be playing corner at his age is extremely difficult.

So, I'm happy for him that he's playing in this game. I know it means a lot to him. I know a lot of the players want to win this game for him and I certainly do, as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: One Seahawks fan could become a legend, if they do, in fact, win the Super Bowl tonight.

Meet Tim Connors. He's already got a Seahawks tattoo with the words Super Bowl XLVIII champs. And, guys, he did this back in August. Now, Tim will be at the game tonight and he say he may be a stupid fan, but he doesn't see them losing.

And for Tim's sake, I kind of hope the Seahawks win so he doesn't have to get that tattoo removed or in someway fixed to be correct, because you wouldn't want to walk around the rest of your life with a Seahawks tattoo saying Super Bowl XLVIII champs if they, in fact, lose this game.

PAUL: Either way, you know some -- he's going to be talking to media tomorrow, either way.

BLACKWELL: Yes. That's some commitment. I mean, he's getting it in pre-season.

Andy Scholes, thank you so much.

PAUL: Thanks, Andy. Have fun.

BLACKWELL: Still to come, Texas is getting ready for a cold spell. We'll have the details after the break.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE ASHE: He wasn't just the first African-American male to win the U.S. Open, but he actually was the first, period, to win the U.S. Open, because the U.S. Open didn't begin until 1958. So, I think it's really important again for us to keep the inclusive importance of that win and the importance of that win, not just to African-Americans but to all Americans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been 20 years since tennis Hall of Famer Arthur Ashe died at the age of 49 after contracting AIDS from heart surgery. His impact on and off the court created a legacy his wife Jennie hopes will deliver a long-lasting message.

ASHE: It's really important that not just today's generation, but generations to come understand him as more than just an athlete, as more just a patient, as more than just a student and a coach. He might not be a great champion.

<07:45:00>

But if you're a well-rounded human being, then you can do just about anything to succeed in life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Twelve minutes to the top of the hour.

Let's go to Texas because a wintry mix is headed to the Dallas area.

PAUL: So much so that we're being told that 280 flights have been canceled. There's a live look at Dallas right there at the moment.

Jennifer Gray, when we talk winter weather, how much are we talking, snow?

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, they could see a little bit of snow, also some sleet. As far as the sleet goes, less than tenth of an inch, and then the snow/sleet combo, we're not even looking at an inch.

So, we're just looking at a little bit in Dallas. It's not there yet. Basically, all of this is in Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle pushing into the Dallas area. Those warnings are in effect. You can see snow across the Texas panhandle.

The worst of it will stay to the north of Dallas in Oklahoma and then pushing to the East. But you can see, sleet trying to push into portions of Dallas on the west side of the city, right there over the Metroplex, but Oklahoma City going to see that snow, as well.

Some of the heavier snow also well to the north in Cleveland, the Ohio Valley with Cincinnati getting a little bit of mixture this morning. Temperatures still at about 35 degrees. So, still a little cold for snow. But we are going to see those temperatures fall throughout the day. This is going to push on out early this afternoon as we head into tonight and to tomorrow. Could see snow showers left on the East Coast and then all be pushing out by Monday afternoon.

So, yes, Dallas could get a little bit of snow today. We're also looking at some patchy fog across portions of the Southeast very dense, less than a quarter mile visibility, guys.

BLACKWELL: All right. Let's hope it burns off pretty soon. Jennifer, thank you.

GRAY: All right.

PAUL: So, still to come on NEW DAY, a preview of this year's Super Bowl half-time show, which a lot of people are interested. People wonder, what about Bruno Mars?

BLACKWELL: What is he going to do to compete with Beyonce? And Madonna and Michael Jackson? We're going to talk about it after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

<07:53:28>

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

BLACKWELL: Let's hope the halftime show is nothing like that.

PAUL: Why not? It was entertaining.

BLACKWELL: Yes, but it's not what people are looking for. That's from last night's "Saturday Night Live" opening monologue, looking at what they think could happen if the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bruno Mars canceled tonight at the halftime show.

PAUL: Because that's going to happen, right.

BLACKWELL: Yes, right?

PAUL: You love it or hate it. Halftime shows are a big deal. More than 110.5 million people watching this show last year worldwide. And in a few hours everybody is going to be looking at Bruno Mars.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

BLACKWELL: This song and "Treasure," my favorites. But Bruno Mars has really high bar to clear with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. You know, last year, Beyonce killed it. She also killed half the lights in the stadium.

<07:55:00>

But it was a great performance.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: All right. Joining us now, Jimmy Alexander from Star 94 "Mornings with Cindy and Jimmy", who's actually still dressed from the club last night.

Complete with whistle.

JIMMY ALEXANDER, STAR 94: You know, it's not actually from the Super Bowl. I have a part-time job at Footlocker that I have to leave --

PAUL: Very nice, yes.

BLACKWELL: Noon to 6:00.

ALEXANDER: By the way, 10 percent --

(LAUGHTER)

ALEXANDER: Great thing about Bruno Mars, a lot of artists, whether it's like let's say, Paul McCartney, I love Paul, but a lot of people are like, he's a little older, like The Who. So doesn't really relate to the multi generations, where somebody like Bruno Mars. My aunt in Connecticut was like, you better be nice to Bruno. Cindy, my partner, her daughter Lily, she said, I love Bruno. I think he really is able to bridge young and old together.

BLACKWELL: Which is a problem the Black-Eyed Peas had. Some of the older generations didn't know who they were. They didn't know the music.

ALEXANDER: You're scaring me --

BLACKWELL: Yes.

ALEXANDER: But the interesting thing about the Red Hot Chili Peppers, what are they going to wear? Are they going to take their shirts off? Are they wearing socks? Remember that --

BLACKWELL: Oh, just one.

(CROSSTALK)

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: But it's one of those times when you look at America -- I think the halftime show represents what's popular in culture at this time.

PAUL: But what do you think they have to do? Because Victor said, there is a high bar after Beyonce. What do they have to do to be the top tomorrow morning?

ALEXANDER: Well, I think if they just keep the lights on, that's good. We don't have all night to watch this football game tonight but I think Bruno Mars is one of those artists -- you remember him on "Saturday Night Live," he can mic other artists.

You know he's dancing like Michael Jackson tonight. We know it. Put your money down on it. And he's going to wear hats -- lots and lots of hats.

BLACKWELL: You know, I think that -- you said Michael Jackson had one of the iconic super bowl shows where impersonators popped up on monitors. He came on the stage so strong.

What are some of your favorites of the year?

ALEXANDER: Well, I think you look at the classic, number one has to be -- and because of ratings. Ratings equals money. Madonna came out. Thank God she didn't wear the girl from the Grammys but she was number one.

You look at Bruce Springsteen had a great show. I mean, that was really all about America. But if you really look at some of the weird things about the Super Bowl halftime show, if you look at the first artist who performed -- it was Carol Channing.

And could you imagine being at the super bowl, all those guys like, hey, Lou, I'm glad Carol Channing's here. She's much better than Barbara. She should have been in the movie "Hello, Dolly." Then, she was so good, two years later they had her back. I don't get why Carol Channing deserved (INAUDIBLE) for people that age. But the first time they had an artist that really did the whole show was a band, was New Kids on the Block in 1991. And they were the first one where it was a real halftime show, not just marching bands.

PAUL: OK. Let's talk about what happened 10 years ago with 90 million people watching the whole Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake debacle. It was 9/16 of a second, think about that, that sparked years of debate and outrage.

So, when you look back at that, if something like that would happen again, would it be the same reaction?

ALEXANDER: Well, they wouldn't let it happen after that. Even in radio, we had 115 meetings every single day about what you can and can't say on the air.

But the interesting thing about that was we really saw what kind of guy I think Justin Timberlake is. Because Justin Timberlake, as soon as it happened and he rips the thing off, he's like it's a wardrobe malfunction. In the song it says "I'm going to have your clothes off by the end of the song." I don't think it surprised everybody.

But what Justin did afterwards, he did, Janet, hey, boo, I got to go. I'm sliding away. I don't have Janet's back --

BLACKWELL: And for weeks, he wouldn't say anything --

ALEXANDER: He still won't talk about it now. He's like, I'm not talking about that. Let Janet take all the pressure about that.

PAUL: Well, I don't know.

BLACKWELL: Well --

PAUL: All right. Hey, Jimmy -- we're so glad you were here. Thank you very much.

BLACKWELL: All right. Make sure you make to work on time.

ALEXANDER: I'll try.

PAUL: Star 94 "Mornings with Cindy and Jimmy".

BLACKWELL: Thank you, Jimmy.

ALEXANDER: I got to go. I'll see you later.

BLACKWELL: It's the end of an era for "SNL's" weekend update.

Seth Meyers said good-bye to the anchor desk. That was on last night's show.

PAUL: And you know it was a good farewell, because it was I mean, obviously, you needed a couple of surprise people to give the sendoff properly.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SETH MEYERS, SNL: It is my last show and I just want to say being on here with my co-anchors and my dear friend, my husband is the perfect way to end. This is the job I always wanted and I had the best time and I met the best people and I just want to thank the crew and the cast especially the writers and Lorne. And thank you very much.

And take us out, Cecily.

CECILY STRONG, SNL: For weekend update, I'm Cecily Strong.

AMY POEHLER, SNL: I'm Amy Poehler.

STEFON MEYERS, SNL: I'm Stefon Meyers.

SETH MEYERS: And I'm Seth Meyers. Good night.

(CHEERS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Big sendoff. And they got Fred Armisen there, too.

Hey, so, Meyers is leaving because he's going to take over for Jimmy Fallon.

<08:00:00>

And then, Fallon is going to replace Jay Leno.

PAUL: Jay Leno.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

PAUL: The whole primetime lineup.

BLACKWELL: Yes, everybody's moving.

PAUL: All over the place.

So, we are so glad that you are with us in the mornings.