MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP
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! SEGUE !
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''INVICTUS" - MORGAN FREEMAN
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Morgan Freeman could hardly have been surprised when Clint Eastwood cast him as Nelson Mandela in "Invictus." After all, Mandela himself had said back in the 90s that he wanted Freeman to play him if a movie was ever made about his life. Freeman was able to become Mandela on screen by spending a lot of time with him. But no matter how much time he spent around the rugby players in the movie, he never mastered that sport. He says rugby is like a foreign language to him. "Invictus" opens today.
Sound:
<<CUT …006 (12/11/09)>> 00:30 "''
Michael Weinfeld
Morgan Freeman prepared to play Nelson Mandela in "Invictus" by holding his hand. AP Entertainment Editor Michael Weinfeld explains why.
<<CUT …007 (12/11/09)>> 00:11 "said Morgan Freeman"
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman says he has known he was going to play Nelson Mandela ever since Mandela himself suggested the idea when he was promoting his autobiography in the 90s.
<<CUT …008 (12/11/09)>> 00:09 "is foreign language"
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman says he may be starring in a movie about rugby, but that doesn't mean he knows anything about it.
<<CUT …009 (12/11/09)>> 00:10 "hold your hand"
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman told Nelson Mandela he needed total access to him in order to prepare to play him. ((cut used in wrap))
<<CUT …010 (12/11/09)>> 00:09 "how you feel"
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman says it was important for him to hold Nelson Mandela's hand as much as possible when he was with him. ((cut used in wrap))
<<CUT …011 (12/11/09)>> 00:38 "more of myself"
Morgan Freeman
This is Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in a scene from "Invictus."
''THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG" - ANIKA NONI ROSE
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) -- She's the voice of Disney's first black animated princess, but Anika Noni (ah-NEE'-kuh NOH'-nee) Rose didn't dream that high as a kid. While she always wanted to be a Disney animated character, she would've been satisfied playing a dandelion. She says speaking for Princess Tiana (tee-AH'-nuh) is "where dreams take off and become bigger than what you had imagined." ''The Princess and the Frog" expands to more theaters today.
Sound:
<<CUT …001 (12/11/09)>> 00:32 "''
Michael Weinfeld
Anika Noni Rose is about to make animated history. AP Entertainment Editor Michael Weinfeld has the story.
<<CUT …002 (12/11/09)>> 00:07 "such a wuss"
Anika Noni (ah-NEE'-kuh NOH'-nee) Rose
Anika Noni Rose says she was overwhelmed when she first saw herself as Princess Tiana.
<<CUT …003 (12/11/09)>> 00:10 "you had imagined"
Anika Noni (ah-NEE'-kuh NOH'-nee) Rose
Anika Noni Rose says when she dreamed of being in a Disney animated feature, she didn't dream of being a princess. ((longer version of cut in wrap))
<<CUT …004 (12/11/09)>> 00:12 "would have happened"
Anika Noni (ah-NEE'-kuh NOH'-nee) Rose
Anika Noni Rose says Disney's first black animated princess will mean something different to each generation. ((longer version of cut in wrap))
<<CUT …005 (12/11/09)>> 00:11 "in your world"
Anika Noni (ah-NEE'-kuh NOH'-nee) Rose
Anika Noni Rose says she wondered if Disney would ever have a black princess.
''SERIOUS MOONLIGHT"
UNDATED (AP) — Another one of Adrienne Shelly's dark romantic comedies is on screen after her death. "Serious Moonlight" is now in limited release. Cheryl Hines directed it from Shelly's script. Meg Ryan and Timothy Hutton star as a married couple in crisis. Kristen Bell is his young girlfriend and Justin Long is up to no good. After Shelly had filmed her earlier movie, "Waitress," she was murdered by a laborer in her New York apartment building.
Sound:
<<CUT …038 (12/11/09)>> 00:20 "to a toilet"
Meg Ryan and Timothy Hutton in scene from "Serious Moonlight"
Here are Meg Ryan and Timothy Hutton in a scene from "Serious Moonlight" written by Adrienne Shelly.
'SURVIVOR' - DAVE AND MONICA OUT
UNDATED (AP) — Two Immunity Challenges, two Tribal Councils and two castaways voted off. Last night's "Survivor: Samoa" saw both Dave and Monica get the boot. There are only two episodes left this season. And Russell is still the man pulling everyone's strings. Just in case there was any doubt as to who might have the Hidden Immunity Idol, Russell wore it around his neck during the second Tribal Council. He didn't have to use it, though. In his farewell message, Dave said Russell was born to play the game.
Sound:
<<CUT …012 (12/11/09)>> 00:11 "me your torch (music fades)"
Jeff Probst, host of "Survivor"
"Survivor" host Jeff Probst announces the result of the first Tribal Council vote. COURTESY: CBS and Mark Burnett Productions ((mandatory on-air credit))
<<CUT …013 (12/11/09)>> 00:10 "play this game"
Dave Ball, contestant voted off "Survivor: Samoa"
Dave says as hard he tried, he couldn't top on of his competitors. COURTESY: CBS and Mark Burnett Productions ((mandatory on-air credit))
<<CUT …014 (12/11/09)>> 00:07 "me your torch (music fades)"
Jeff Probst, host of "Survivor"
"Survivor" host Jeff Probst announces the result of the second Tribal Council vote. COURTESY: CBS and Mark Burnett Productions ((mandatory on-air credit))
<<CUT …015 (12/11/09)>> 00:10 "causing some conflict"
Monica Padilla, contestant voted of "Survivor: Samoa"
Monica says she went down fighting. COURTESY: CBS and Mark Burnett Productions ((mandatory on-air credit))
<<CUT …016 (12/11/09)>> 00100 "''
Excerpt of theme for "Survivor: Samoa"
Here's an excerpt of the "Survivor: Samoa" theme. COURTESY: CBS and Mark Burnett Productions ((mandatory on-air credit))
KENDRA WILKINSON HAS HER BABY
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendra Wilkinson has had her baby. E! reports she and her husband, Hank Baskett, welcomed their son Hank Basket IV just after midnight in Indianapolis. They've issued a statement saying they're "happy and healthy and enjoying every second with little Hank."
ROMAN POLANSKI HEARING
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a surprise move, lawyers for Roman Polanski and his victim in his old sex case joined forces yesterday to ask an appeals court to dismiss the charge. The court is being asked to decide if it should order a Los Angeles judge to consider dismissing the case without Polanski being in the courtroom. The appeals justices did not immediately issue a ruling. Polanski has been a wanted man since he ran off to his native France on the eve of sentencing in 1978. He's now confined to house arrest in his Swiss chalet in the resort town of Gstaad (guh-SHTAHD') while Swiss authorities consider extradicting him back to the U.S.
Sound:
<<CUT …281 (12/10/09)>> 00:16 "period of time"
Chad Hummel
Attorney Chad Hummel says it would be in the interest of justice to dismiss the 32-year-old sexual misconduct case against director Roman Polanski.
<<CUT …282 (12/10/09)>> 00:11 "for a retrial"
Deputy District Attorney Phyllis Asayama
Deputy District Attorney Phyllis Asayama says Roman Polanski is required by law to appear in court to request the dismisal of the 32-year-old sexual misconduct charge against him.
<<CUT …283 (12/10/09)>> 00:15 "about the case"
Marina Zenovich, who directed the HBO documentary, "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired"
Film director Maria Zenovich says her research shows there is irrefutable evidence of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct during Roman Polanski's 1977 court proceedings.
JON GOSSELIN RULING
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — We might see less of Jon Gosselin. A judge has ruled he must stop making media appearances that are at odds with his contract with TLC. TLC CEO Edward Sabin testified that Gosselin has made unauthorized appearances and endorsements. Case in point, he mentioned a pool party that Gosselin hosted at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Sabin says photos from the event were at odds with the wholesome image of the show, "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Gosselin did not appear in court. And, his lawyers did not present any evidence. The judge granted a preliminary injunction. A trial is scheduled for April 19.
GENE BARRY OBIT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gene Barry, who played the well-dressed man of action in the TV series "Bat Masterson," ''Burke's Law" and "The Name of the Game," has died. He was 90. Barry's son says his father died of unknown causes Wednesday at a rest home in Los Angeles. Barry essentially played the same character in all three series: a fashionably-dressed hero who overcame the bad guys with either cunning or force. The series spanned from the 1950s to the 1970s. Barry also sang in musicals like "Kismet" and "Destry Rides Again." And, he was the first to take the Broadway role of the gay night club owner in the musical "La Cage aux Folles."
Sound:
<<CUT …270 (12/10/09)>> 00:16 "over your head (laughs)"
Gene Barry, actor
In this 1995 interview, Gene Barry said he found it hard to live down the fame that 'Bat Masterson' brought him on T-V.
<<CUT …271 (12/10/09)>> 00:20 "not as ordinary"
Gene Barry, actor
In this 1995 interview, Gene Barry said moving from 'Bat Masterson' to 'Burke's Law' improved his public identity -- in his own mind. ((note length of cut))
<<CUT …272 (12/10/09)>> 00:19 "I'm very sloppy"
Gene Barry, actor
In this 1995 interview, Gene Barry said he owed his elegant image to an uncle he borrowed clothes from when he was a starving young actor. ((note length of cut))
<<CUT …273 (12/10/09)>> 00:20 "suffered with it"
Gene Barry, actor
In this 1999 interview, Gene Barry said his greatest fear came true when people started confusing him with his 'Bat Masterson' character.
<<CUT …274 (12/10/09)>> 00:29 "''
Excerpt of theme to "Bat Masterson"
This is archive audio of the theme to "Bat Masterson," which starred Gene Barry, who has died at age 90.
<<CUT …275 (12/10/09)>> 00:29 "''
"Look Over There," from the Broadway musical "La Cage Aux Folles"
This is archive audio of "Look Over There," from "La Cage Aux Folles," sung by Gene Barry, who created the Broadway role of Georges, the gay nightclub owner.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS JOINS "GOOD MORNING AMERICA"
NEW YORK (AP) — George Stephanopoulos might be out buying an alarm clock this weekend. Starting Monday he has to be up in the middle of the night to get to "Good Morning America" on time. He's been hired to take Diane Sawyer's spot, now that she's taking Charles Gibson's spot on ABC's "World News." Chris Cuomo is leaving "GMA" to become co-host of "20/20" with Elizabeth Vargas. Juju Chang will replace him as newsreader.
By Rosalie Fox and Michael Weinfeld
