Tonight on Access Hollywood, it's Championship Friday night.
In this corner, we have Will Smith, who you would swear is Muhammad Ali.
He's talking to us.
In this corner, a young man from Hogwarts school is about to KO the box office.
In this corner, the defending champion doesn't appear to be running scared.
He's beating in the wings another heavyweight named Ocean, and he's got ten helpers.
And you just can't find help like this.
And she's talking to us and performing for you.
And you want to talk about knockout?
It's all right here on a Championship Friday night, Access Hollywood, for November 16, 2001.
The wait is over. Harry Potter is about to work his magic.
Welcome to Access Hollywood. I'm Pat O'Brien.
Hi, everybody. I'm Nancy O'Dell.
Not since Star Wars has pandemonium reached these levels,
the Potter phenomenon officially began in last night's wee hours
as kids stayed up way past their bedtime to see Harry.
We love Harry Potter!
Harry Potter mania has arrived.
Five adults, one child.
The onslaught began with midnight screenings from coast to coast.
It's great.
It's a great movie. I definitely recommend this movie.
My very problem, like all of it.
It is without a doubt the most anticipated film of the year,
and box office gurus Gitesh Pandya tells us Potter is poised to make standings.
Box office records vanish.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is opening in a record 3600 plus theaters
in over 8000 total screens. No movie has opened this wide ever before.
By the numbers, the facts are nothing short of astounding.
Potter will be in 3672 theaters.
That's one out of every two theaters in the country.
And with today's modern multiplexes, it becomes even more fantastic.
The movie will be shown on some 8200 screens.
That's one out of every four screens in the U.S.
And a box office bonanza for Warner Brothers, the film's distributor.
That's what we call a saturated marketplace, absorbing as many dollars as possible
because Warner Brothers knows that the upfront demand is out of control.
So what does it all mean in terms of dollars?
Well, the lost world, Jurassic Park, holds the current three-day record with over 72 million dollars.
Most analysts predict Harry Potter will take in around 80 million over the weekend.
This is a Harry Potter magical weekend, and the wizards will rule.
And by the end of the week, Star Wars Episode I's record of 100 million in five days could also be dust.
So should you rush out to see what all the magic is about?
Well, we took our own exit poll in New York today.
I thought it was an outstanding movie. I want to see a thousand.
I thought it was brilliant, really well done.
It was like, it was wonderful.
As a matter of fact, the positive response nearly overwhelming.
Out of 100 people, 94 say see it, while just six say skip it.
You'll see a lot of that. And for this one, too, waiting in the wings to take a swing at Harry Potter
and other than years' truly huge movies, Ali.
You've probably seen the trailer. Now we take you inside the ring.
I had like turned the film down eight times.
You know, just can't, you can't do Ali.
Oh, but he can. Will Smith packed on 35 pounds so he could float like a butterfly and sing like a beat.
He was a performer, and he was the most brilliant performer.
He's going to scream my name like we was in a cheap motel.
He trained for more than a year for the 105 million dollar.
I think about the champ, but it was one phone call that made Smith jump into the ring.
Ali personally called me and asked me to do the film.
The greatest did more than make a call.
In the upcoming issue of GQ, Smith said Ali actually came to one of his training sessions
and hit the ring for a little sparring action with Smith.
Ali makes his one-two punch at the box office Christmas Day.
And more from Ali and all the holiday movies on our weekend holiday movie spectacular.
Now the current box office champ is Monsters, Inc.
and today we peek behind the curtain to see how they made their animation magic.
The folks at the Pixar Animation Studios near San Francisco have some professional toys
that put them at the top of their game.
Who cares about the company?
What about us?
Well the first thing we do when we start to animate a shot,
you put on your headphones and you listen to the dialogue again and again and again.
You try to figure out what the right performance will be for this character in this shot.
The animators study how their creations might move,
which turned out to be a bit frustrating in the case of one-eyed Mike.
How do you figure out where his skeletal structure is?
His legs seem to be connected to his jaw bone.
It was a lot more challenging trying to figure out how a character like this even sits down in a chair.
Now I'm thinking I should just get out of here.
Monsters slowly evolve from drawing to clay models to computer characters
in detail that is incredibly time consuming.
A second of film is 24 frames
and a three second shot might take someone three weeks to do.
What a plan! Simple yet insane!
The door vault is pretty amazing at Monsters Inc.
It's got something like 23 million closet doors stored in it.
Whoa! Oh boy.
And oh boy is exactly what the Pixar people hope you will say when you leave the movie theater.
Well done!
Kicked off with a kiss from fiancé Christy Turlington,
director and star Edward Burns joined his joyful cast for the premiere of Five Walks of New York last night.
It's a celebration of the greatest city on earth.
New York, I think, can use this right now.
I screw it up somehow.
Is everything alright?
Is there something wrong?
The story of intersecting relationships was originally scheduled to open September the 21st,
but was delayed two months due to the Trade Center tragedy.
Burns decided not to edit out shots of the lost landmarks.
I was speaking to a journalist today and he said when the towers came up in the film, people started to applaud.
Adding Christy's wedding was also postponed, but Burns tells Tony Ponce not for long.
When are we going to make an Honest Man out of you?
Uh, sometime next year.
Yeah?
Sidewalks of New York hits theaters November the 21st.
Coming up, we're on tour and backstage with Britney Spears.
When did the pop princess know she made it?
On the set of Ocean's Eleven, why was Julia Roberts intimidated?
And Harry Potter is here.
What our critic thinks all straight ahead.
Friends, roll on as we fire up the rating scoreboard.
Around 27 million people tuned in last night to watch Rachel's dad react not too happily to the news that Ross got Rachel pregnant.
Over on CBS, Survivor Africa pulled in around 20 million for the hour.
The CSI rules a 9 o'clock hour big with over 25 million easily beating Will and Grace, Just Shoot Me, and the highly hyped Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which drew over 12 million.
Meantime, Temptation Island 2 is in big trouble with the lowest numbers to date, just over 5 million viewers.
And ER was big with over 27 million people tuning in.
Actors Hollywood brought to you by HBO.
Don't miss Britney Spears live in concert from Las Vegas this Sunday, November 18th at 8 o'clock Eastern and Pacific, only on HBO.
For her first live TV concert, Britney Spears wanted a city kind of like her.
Always ready to play.
A little bit dangerous.
And with the kind of high voltage thrills that keep you coming back for more.
Britney Spears, live from Las Vegas.
Coming soon, check your local listings only on HBO.
Walmart's got some new music in the home entertainment department and it sounds something like this.
She is the most significant female artist in the history of popular music.
Madonna, greatest hits volume 2.
Now available at Walmart. Madonna, greatest hits volume 2.
If you want the newest CDs at everyday low prices, we got them right here at Walmart.
In tonight's instant access, Mick Jagger debuted his solo album, Goddess in the Doorway,
at a party attended by Jeff Goldblum, Salma Hayek, and A.J. McLean.
17 News, working in the spirit of the Golden Empire.
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Five piece, seven piece, and nine piece groups from traditional to contemporary, casual to country.
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This week, Britney Spears' new album, J.B.'s Where Else? at number one, and this weekend Britney does a live concert special.
Tony Box hit the road with Britney, who has got a new sound, a new image, and the same off the charts popularity.
It's Britney Spears, the making of a superstar.
Now this HBO special, you nervous, excited, what are you, what are you?
Oh my God.
Just days away from her highly hyped HBO special, Britney was on the road wowing them in Cleveland.
Though the picture of poise when we spoke backstage, Britney swears she'll be less collected come Sunday.
For her first ever live concert special, Britney Spears, live from Las Vegas.
Before I go on stage, I don't know, I don't want anybody around me because I'm going to be a champion.
Really?
Yes.
Now watch me.
Just weeks shy of her 20th birthday, Britney has transitioned from teen idol to bona fide superstar.
Her third album, Britney, had this year's biggest opening week for a female act, selling a whopping 746,000 copies.
And in the past three months, she's graced the cover of Rolling Stones twice.
Was there a seminal point where you said, you know what, I've actually made it?
Um, I remember two years ago, I got in the car, I had been traveling everywhere, like a major overseas promotional tour.
And I got home and my song came on the radio and I was like, man, this is cool.
Ladies and gentlemen, Britney Spears.
Actually though, the turning point came in May of 2000 when she hosted and performed on Saturday Night Live, poking fun of rumors in her monologue.
Oh yeah, there's one more. Oh yeah, the one about my boobs being fake. That is just ridiculous. I mean, what?
It was the moment parents realized what their kids already knew. Britney was a star.
And add to that an image that has evolved from sweet schoolgirl to sexy vixen.
From her eye-popping striptease at last year's MTV Video Music Awards to her snake-riding number on this year's show,
she began pushing the envelope like nobody has since her idol, Madonna.
Suddenly, magazines couldn't get enough. Even the material mom proclaimed herself a fan,
as critics called Britney the Madonna of her generation.
I have my own identity and my own thing, of course. Right.
You know, if I could be compared to anyone, I really respect what she's done with her career.
You okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
Like Madonna, Britney is branching into movies, starring in a coming-of-age film, Crossroads, due out next year.
And like Madonna, she is taking risks musically, with an edgier sound on the new album.
But her fan base is younger than Madonna's ever was, comprised mostly of teeny-boppers,
something Britney is aware of as her audience begins to widen.
Is there any fear on your part of losing the other part of your fan base, maybe the younger folks, younger girls,
that have come to your concert? Oh, really? I mean, my younger fans, I love them so much.
It's such a beautiful thing to see and to be able to make them, you know, smile.
But you know, that's not my intent when I go into the studio, is to like have this audience or this audience.
It's just, I get to go in there and do my thing and just pray that some people will follow along with me.
Thanks, Tony. Now, Britney Spears Live from Las Vegas airs Sunday nights at 8 o'clock on HBO,
and will be broadcast live to U.S. servicemen and women around the world.
Now, if you would like to own a pair of Britney's low-rise jeans, sign by the star, or you can log on to OldNavy.com and bid.
Proceeds go to PSArts, an organization that helps restore arts education in public schools.
And Britney isn't the only pop sensation coming to HBO.
Jenna Jackson will do a live special for HBO. It airs February the 17th.
And in other music news, No Doubt and Pink have been added as performers on the Billboard Music Awards,
December the 4th, on Fox at 8 p.m.
I don't have pet peeves. I have major psychotic hatreds, okay?
He's rude, crude, with width, like a straight razor.
Brace yourself, George Carlin hits HBO tomorrow night for his new comedy special, and he's doing it live from New York City.
I have this attitude, you know, I have this swimming against the tide attitude, out of step with things.
Can you do Ben Laden jokes, or?
Well, you know, my stuff is usually about larger, longer things like abortion or crime or hate.
Can you deal with that?
George Carlin, Complaints and Grievances, live on HBO tomorrow at 10.
I want to see you.
You're safe. It's an important thing.
Sunday night on CBS, romance erupts amid turmoil and in love and war.
True story of a British soldier captured by the Germans during World War II, and the courageous Italian woman who risks her own life to save his.
What about you and your family?
We will survive. Come quickly, I will show you the way over the mountain. Come.
Newcomers Callum Blue and Barbara Babalova star as real-life couple Eric and Wanda Newby.
When I met them, I thought, wow, you know, it really does happen. There's hope for us all.
Still happily married for over 55 years, the Newbies visited the film set in Rome where they received the appropriate royal treatment.
Very, very nice to see it. And, you know, and we had one of those chairs, you know, that films out.
Meantime on Sunday, another new episode of Malcolm in the Middle and Malcolm star Frank Munoz will be hitting the big screen in February in Big Fat Liar, a comedy about a boy's lost essay that gets turned into a huge summer film.
Nancy. Straight ahead, Clooney Pitt, Damon Roberts on the set of Ocean's Eleven.
Plus, what our critic says about Harry Potter and the new Star Wars trailer. It's all moments away.
But first, tonight's Access Info. Good news for Ellen DeGeneres. She will host Saturday Night Live on December 15th with musical guests, no doubt.
How excited are you about that? I'm excited. I think that's something I've always wanted to do and I'm going to, you know, it'll be fun.
And more good Ellen news. This week, the Ellen Show received a full season pickup.
Now the series, which airs tonight on CBS, will move to the network's highly rated Monday night lineup in December.
December.
What was he thinking? Introducing a vehicle designed for your adventures in reality. The all new, more powerful CRV from Honda.
Tonight begins with an all new Providence.
Sid makes a life changing decision. Get out of my life, mother. The search for a missing father begins. Where's my dad? At her new dateline, an all new long order SVU.
A killer is out there. A madman with a taste for the exotic. He wanted his finger. The only thing more twisted than this case. Did you see him? Is the way it ends.
An all new Providence, an all new dateline, and an all new long order SVU, NBC Tonight.
Need a little shape up? Pete Rose says get it to Mako. Our Economico Ambassador Paying Service is only $189. Mako is good, fast, and a great value. It's Mako for Makeovers. Call 1-888-MAKO-USA.
If you think you can sneak a supermarket ham past your loved ones this holiday, think again. Because they'll know this is not a honey baked ham. Only honey baked in taste test after taste test is overwhelmingly preferred for its superior quality and tenderness, fabulous flavor, and exclusive crackling sweet glaze. So don't settle for ordinary. Bring home the extraordinary honey baked ham. Only at the honey baked ham store.
You can rest for a full year with no down payment, no interest, and no finance charges. Only at Sleep and Air on White Lane across from Walmart.
Russell and Remington's Storytellers of the American West is now on display at the Bakersfield Museum of Art from November 25th.
Artists Charles Russell and Frederick Remington capture the spirit of America's most endearing icon, the cowboy. Don't miss your chance to experience the Wild West through the eyes of these two great artists. The exhibit is sponsored in part by the City of Bakersfield, Chevron, Harry and Ethel West Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, and Tahome Ranch. For details, call the Bakersfield Museum of Art at 323-7219.
Entertainment Tonight, weeknights at 7, only on TV17.
You didn't mind being second banana to George?
No, not second banana. It's an ensemble.
And an ensemble like you've never seen, to be exact. Tonight on ABC, Barbara Walters sits down with the cast of Ocean's Eleven. Clooney, Pitt, Damon Roberts. And that's not even half of them. And now we go on the set as the Rat Pack gets a fantastic facelift.
What's the target? Eight figures each. What's the target?
The target? Vegas, baby.
You want to knock over a casino?
Three casinos?
Otherwise known as the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand. Together they're three of the most profitable casinos in Las Vegas.
The take?
On a fight night like the night that we're gonna rob it. $150 million without breaking a sweat.
Las Vegas. America's playground.
Snappy 40s era dialogue.
You're a thief and a liar.
I only lied about being a thief.
Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh behind the lens.
And a collaboration of headliners so jaw-dropping, even the principals were impressed.
I've never had their quiet moments. I know I did, of kind of leaning against the wall and looking around. And man, that Carl Reiner, you know, there's Brad Pitt, you know, and just kind of being in this room with like this high octane.
The place you look and turn around is another brilliant actor who's on every cover of every magazine. It's like working in a magazine centerfold.
It's too bad that he couldn't draw talent, real talent for this film. And it's a bunch of no names and hacks, but they're doing their best.
Be specific but not memorable. Be funny but don't make him laugh. He's got to like you and then forget you the moment you've left his sight.
Gathering this much A-list talent on one set at one time and checking egos at the door.
You couldn't make this film. I mean, everybody had to come in and say, okay, let's all just throw all of that out.
Throw the money out and, you know, we'll gamble on the back end. We make money, we make money, but let's go make a film we'd like to make.
Why do this? Why not do it? Because the house always wins.
Play long enough you never change the stakes. The house takes you unless when that perfect hand comes along you bet big and then you take the house.
Been practicing this, Peter.
A little bit did I rush it. It felt like I rushed it.
No, it was good. I liked it.
With so much testosterone, no wonder Ocean's Eleven was like one big paternity.
Off camera, just been all basketball games, backgammon, playing poker, jokes.
Of course, there is this one lady.
Now what?
Now comes the girl.
I was actually a little bit intimidated because I thought they had this great rapport and they're boys and it's all boys and I'm just going to come in and feel like the outsider.
You're not wearing your ring.
I sold it. I don't have a husband or didn't you get the papers?
My last day inside.
I told you I'd write.
Before she knew it, Julia wasn't just one of the boys but one of the biggest troublemakers.
It's really hard acting with George because I'm supposed to be steely and serious and I was laughing like a 12 year old.
Well now we told you about this weekend's Potter invasion.
Trying to play David to Harry's Goliath?
A couple of rappers in a comedy.
Our critic reviews the field.
This is Harry's Big Weekend.
I think it's a very faithful adaptation.
The problem is that there just doesn't seem to be the whole sense of enchantment, of wonder that you get when you read the book.
What?
The W.A.S.H. is the alternative programming that we have this weekend.
This is geared, I would think, primarily towards an action comic crowd.
It is not being screened in advance for critics, which is usually a sign that they don't want critics to say the movie's not very good.
More reviews now on the new film.
Harry Potter is conjuring up See It!
As most critics are a little higher on the film than our critics, People magazine says it, quote,
"...casts a powerful spell."
Not so for The W.A.S.H., which is getting skiffits in our polls.
The Hollywood Reporter calls it, quote,
"...soggy."
And also opening this weekend in limited release, Steve Martin stars as a dentist in the black comedy Novocaine.
And coming up next, a new Star Wars preview and Starz messages to our troops.
That Matters to You, 17 News.
Kurt Rivera inside the classroom.
Reports on improving education and how our kids learn.
Medical breakthroughs.
Robin Mangrin with cutting edge surgery and new medications that are saving lives.
Connecting with kids.
Charlotte Stark helps us talk with our children and understand their challenges.
Unsung heroes.
Tammy Melchor celebrates people that make our community a better place.
News that matters to you.
17 News, working in the spirit of the Golden Empire.
They said it wouldn't happen, but it did.
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With 17 different models and about 1,000 cars and trucks to choose from at Jim Burke's three locations,
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That's about $3,500 in savings, plus a huge discount on America's best-selling cars and trucks
from the biggest board dealer between L.A. and Sacramento, Jim Burke Ford.
What kind of food can you get delivered in Bakersfield?
Uh, pizza and Jane East?
No way.
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Delivered food isn't just pizza anymore.
Call Restaurant Runner today at 633-9000 or on the web at restaurantrunner.com.
Enjoy the pleasantry of the holiday season this year by attending the 12th annual Chez Noel Holiday Home Tour.
The Assistant Link of Bakersfield invites you to a tour of four Bakersfield homes and great holiday shopping,
bargain box treasures, and refreshments at St. Paul's Church, December 7th and 8th.
Tickets are available for $25 each.
All proceeds help close children and adults through Operation School Bell and Operation Opportunity.
For more information, call 282-3482.
Closed captioning and other considerations for Access Hollywood provided by
When I started having hot flashes and night sweats at menopause,
my doctor recommended hormone replacement therapy, but I didn't listen.
Up to 20% of a woman's expected lifetime bone loss occurs in the years following menopause.
A year later, I went back to my doctor and found I shrunk an inch.
I went on HRT and I've been on it for years.
My hot flashes and night sweats? Golden. I feel great.
HRT is not for all women. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks.
The time to protect your future is now.
Shrek is America's number one selling DVD.
Thank you very much. USA Today gives it four stars.
Yeah, you're gonna love it.
Us Wigley says you haven't seen Shrek till you've seen it on DVD.
Cool. It's the one DVD you gotta own. Shrek on DVD. New shipments in stores today.
If you go to the Harry Potter this weekend, you will see the preview for Star Wars Episode II.
And it's tonight's moment.
Someday I will be the most powerful Jedi ever.
Looks good.
We'll leave you now. It's the messages for the troops. Good night.
Bye.
I want to say to the troops overseas, come home safe and come home soon.
We're thinking of you. We love you. We're behind you. And thank you for what you're doing.
And I just think it is fantastic that you've risen to the occasion.
Thanks a lot for everything you're doing. For my bread. Good luck. And we're sending you lots of love and lots of support.
Stay low, okay? Stay low.
Thank you. And happy Thanksgiving.