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Backstage with Will Ferrell

February 22, 2008 11:41 PM

Producer Melinda Arons reports on tonight's interview with comedian Will Ferrell:

I love politics.  But even in an election year as fascinating as this one, it's nice to take a break from electoral math and post-debate spin and just do something fun.  That's always been a great thing about Nightline....you get to do the hard-core current events stuff and then switch to something hilarious.

And if you want hilarious, you need look no further than Will Ferrell.  As a huge fan of "Anchorman," "Old School," and Ferrell's Bush impression on Saturday Night Live, I made my bosses promise to let me out of the political grind for a couple of days when we secured an interview with Ferrell.

Thus I found myself sitting in a women's locker room in the middle of a snowstorm in Kingston, Rhode Island.  The backstage at the University of Rhode Island event center were converted into a sort of quasi-greenroom and dressing room for Will and his merry band of fellow jokesters, including Will Arnett (I border on Kathy Bates "number one fan" status with that one), and three up and coming comics for a comedy tour tied to Ferrell's new movie "Semi-Pro."

The first thing that struck me about Ferrell was that he's really tall. Most movie stars are depressingly short when you meet them in person.  Ferrell is 6'3".  The second is that he is incredibly nice and laid back. I'd heard he was one of the nicest celebrities around, and was pleasantly surprised to find it to be true. He instantly puts people at ease.   The third is that it's not an act.....he's just really funny.  Everything he says reminds you of your funniest friend, the one who's always cracking you up at work.

Sarcastic without being mean.  Goofy without being stupid.

At one point, I was talking to Will Arnet backstage at the show's rehearsal, asking if he'd be willing to let us talk to him on camera about Ferrell.  At that point Ferrell came over to us and our cameraman followed.  Accustomed to ducking out of the shot, I started to run away. But Ferrell and Arnett caught me.  They took a tensa-barrier (the flexible guardrails used for security lines at airports) and roped me in, making me part of what I can only describe as menage a improv.  They started to pretend like they were New England cops (Will Arnett asked if we wanted anything from "Dunky," aka Dunkin Donuts) dealing with a rogue audience member (me).  It was probably the hardest I've laughed in years.  Unfortunately for me, the cameraman caught the whole thing.  At the time I felt like a total idiot for laughing so hard and not being able to think of a witty line to participate in the shtick. Now that I look at the tape I'm grateful.....you don't mess with guys like that when they're doing their thing. Nothing I could have said would have been as funny as them engrossed in their own back and forth.

In all my celebrity shoots I've never had anyone do anything like that...they're usually so guarded and wary of journalists.  It really was more fun than anyone should have at work.

February 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (0)

Guns & The Stars & Bars

February 21, 2008 5:20 PM

Producer Howard Rosenberg reports:

Randy Laird is a pro-gun activist who wears some of his political views on the back of his shaved head: a prominent tattoo of the Confederate flag. Not that you should infer from the "Stars & Bars" waving proudly above Laird's not-too-redneck that he's embracing anything other than the accoutrements of his fellow Harley-riding pals from the Renegade Classic Biker Outlet Store in Houston.  "I hope you won’t be offended,” Randy Laird implores, “but the whole back of my head is a Confederate flag." 

Laird, who describes his occupation as "disabled Vietnam Veteran," actually roared onto the TV screen at a demonstration on the street outside of Pasadena, Texas resident Joe Horn's house.  Horn is the retired computer manager who shotgunned to death two men—illegal immigrants it turns out—who burglarized his next door neighbor's home on a bright Wednesday afternoon last November, and who has become a central player in the on-going debate in Texas about whether deadly force is justified to protect property. 

The shooting prompted Houston activist Quanell X—head of the city's New Black Panther Nation—to organize a demonstration on the street of the quiet suburb where Horn lives.  When Quanell X announced he was leading a protest to Horn's house, Randy Laird was incensed.  So Laird gathered a few of his friends from Renegade—a lively apparel shop featuring leather vests, jackets, pants and tee-shirts denouncing Hillary Clinton and Jane Fonda.  They quickly mounted a counter-demonstration and were joined by a hundred or so local residents and onlookers.  The result was a collision of perhaps 200 people, waving signs and trying to out-shout each other. Each time Quanell X began to speak through his bullhorn, Laird and his fellow bikers would twist the throttles of their motorcycles and rev the engines to drown him out.

The Pasadena police had a squad of riot police at the ready, but there was no violence.  Laird explained that he and his friends were there for a reason: "We feel very strongly that as Americans," he said,  "someone has to step forward and stop the protest of burglars coming into our home, killing our families and stealing our property.  We have the right, under our Constitution, we believe to protect ourselves, and our families.  I assure you that if someone comes to my house, I would do the same thing Joe Horn did.”

Joe Horn's case is not so clear cut though.  In Texas, the so-called "Castle Law" that went into effect last September, extends the traditional right of a citizen to be secure in their home—or in their "castle," for the statute is based on English common law—to anywhere a Texan has a lawful right to be: in a vehicle, in the workplace or conceivably, at a shopping mall.  And the statute also eliminates the obligation of a person to "retreat" if possible before using deadly force and strengthens protections against civil suits that might be brought by the families of those killed.  The potential problem in the Horn case is that the men he fatally shot were robbing his neighbor's house and posed no imminent threat to him if he just stayed in his home, as a 911 dispatcher told him to do more than a dozen times.

Still, Randy Laird says the law has made Texas a safer place for him, his children and his wife Jannis, who is the vice president of a local bank.  "I think it’s made people more at peace," he said.  "I believe they feel like they have the opportunity now to show that they mean business.  You come in my house and I’m gonna shoot you."

Watch "Nightline" tonight for the full story.

February 21, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (2)

Shooting Hoops in Kosovo

February 18, 2008 6:21 PM

On this day when the World looks at Kosovo's declaration of Independence from Serbia, here’s an observation from a reporter's notebook of ten years ago, jotted down in Pristina after US and NATO Forces pushed the Serbs out of Kosovo in June of 1999.  For more past Nightline coverage of the crisis in Kosovo, click here.

Gerry Holmes reports:

We had been in Pristina for about 5 weeks following NATO's entry and Serb Forces' exit.  The coverage had gone from round the clock to an occasional piece every other day and we welcomed a little break from our house in Pristina where we filed our pieces. 

Two of our local fixers (one Serb and one Kosovar-Albanian) asked a producer and I to play some two on two pick up basketball.  Sounded like a great way to unwind and get some exercise after the previous weeks' work.

We found a high school black top with baskets still up (the nets were mostly torn, but still clinging to their rings).  We could still see smoldering smoke floating through the air behind the basket up a hill in a neighborhood where Serb houses had been burnt down the night before.  A quiet, but eerie and surreal atmosphere for a pick up game. Things were calming down in town, but only in that most fragile and uncertain way.   

We started to play.  And that's when I realized we were part of a one on one game (Serb versus Kosovar Albanian) and we were their two foils.  These guys could play ball.  They had an intensity on every step, shot, and even occasional foul, as they engaged with each other as if they had been NBA all-star rivals for years. 

They had talent and had honed their skills on the playgrounds of the Balkans with an eye to the Pantheon of American ballplayers seen on screens all over the world - and you could see that American influence in their game.  Their moves were dazzling.  The Serb had an aggressive, muscle based game with strong drives to the basket.  Drive after drive the points kept adding up.  I would get an occasional assist.  His opponent was piling up the points with flawless outside shots that just kept sinking.  Beautiful arcs and moves so fast, you couldn't get a hand on his shots. 

What emerged was a fun, energetic - at times tense- pick up game that spoke volumes to me in that one moment about the possibility of some sort of reconciliation someday.  It was my first glimpse of the incredible talent that has come out of the Balkans and onto the NBA courts in recent years, and I was in struck then by their talent and healthy sense of competition on that court, that day. 

I've lost touch with them both, but I wish them well on this day and who knows, if Kosovo is recognized by the International community someday, maybe those remarkable talents I witnessed will play out in a championship round of basketball at the Olympics….Kosovo-Serbia for the Gold.  Maybe…someday.                   

February 18, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (4)

Internet Gun Store Owner: 'We Need Real Answers'

February 16, 2008 11:31 AM

Melinda Arons reports:

When I first read that the same Internet company that sold the Virginia Tech shooter Seung Hui Cho his guns also sold the NIU shooter magazines and a holster, I literally gasped. My initial thought was that the site needs to be investigated and possibly shut down. It sounded like an anonymous, unchecked way for violent criminals to get weapons -- the definition of a dangerous loophole.

I called the Internet company, assuming they'd be defensive and not want to talk to us, but instead the owner Eric Thompson could not have been nicer, and was sincerely distraught that his products had anything to do with these crimes. Thompson argues that "anybody that would like to think that stopping Internet sales of sporting goods is going to stop the process and make it harder for criminals to come into weapons and accessories for weapons is just fooling themselves and putting a band-aid on a problem where we need real answers and real solutions. We sell over 40,000 different products to police officers, to government agencies, to government agents and I would love to believe that our products have saved many more lives than have ever been lost."

Thompson went on to echo the NRA's argument that if students could arm themselves on campus perhaps these shooters wouldn't inflict as much damage. He's a firm believer in the mantra that guns don't kill people, people do, and someone intent on killing will get weapons no matter what. He insists that his company and everyone else he knows in the firearms industry abides by the letter of the law, and that it's no easier to buy a gun on the Internet than at a store, simply cheaper. It's true that both Cho and Kazmierczak got their weapons legally.

Thompson's websites, www.topglock.com and www.gunsource.com represent the fundamental conflict in the gun debate. For those who believe strongly in the Second Amendment, there is no reason why firearms should be any more difficult to buy on the Internet than any other product. But when two young men decide to massacre their classmates within one year and use the same website to do so, it has to give you pause. Unfortunately, using the same Internet seller may only be the beginning of the similarities between these two disturbed students.

February 16, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (13)

The Two Cop Couple

February 15, 2008 10:24 AM

Last night we aired a story on two police partners who fell in love on the job together and got married.  Read more about it here.  Brian and Irene Michaud fight crime together in the tough Tenderloin District of San Francisco, but still manage to make time for romance.  So what did they do for Valentine's day?

Producer Shani Meewella reports:

Brian paid for a Spa trip for Irene, and planted flowers in her car as she came out of her treatment.  He was hiding in a nearby store to see the look on her face.  Irene bought Brian a musical card that when opened played "Can't fight this feeling anymore," by Reo Speedwagon.  It was their day off from fighting crime.

February 15, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (3)

'Castle Law' Stirs up Controversy

February 14, 2008 12:41 PM

Tonight we'll be airing a piece on a controversial law in Texas called the "Castle Law," which gives homeowners increased authority to take action against intruders.  The law has been causing a stir since two incidents in the last two years where homeowners fatally shot burglars.  One of these homeowners was retired computer technician Joe Horn, who shot two burglars last November after being urged by a 911 dispatcher not to.

For Valentine's Day we'll be airing a piece on unique love story: a husband and wife who are also police partners in one of San Fransisco's toughest neighborhoods, the Tenderloin.  To our knowledge, they are the only married police partners in the country.  John Berman spends time with the two as they balance fighting crime during the day and caring for their family at night.

We'll be rounding out the show with a piece on the new first lady of France, Carla Bruni.  The Italian songwriter, singer and supermodel is raising eyebrows in the French press.

February 14, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (12)

Inside the Clemens Steroid Hearing

February 13, 2008 4:17 PM

We're working on putting together a piece tonight on the Roger Clemens steroids hearings taking place on the Hill right now. Producer Karin Weinberg is in the hearing and sending us updates throughout the day. Here are some of her observations.

Karin Weinberg Reports:

It's a circus. Lines of fans outside for only a handful of seats. Fans with Yankees jerseys. Some of the committee members seem genuinely star struck, fans of Clemens. One committee member asked Clemens what uniform he'll wear when he gets into the Hall of Fame.

Dan Burton was the big Clemens defender who said he did not believe Brian McNamee -- Clemens' trainer who said he injected him with human growth hormone -- and asked him how Roger Clemens plans to get his reputation back if it isn't true. Burton said in this country you are "innocent until proven guilty."

Elijah Cummings was hardest on Clemens, and asked the most pointed questions. For Cummings, it came down to good guy Andy Pettitte.  Cummings said the person he believes most is Pettitte.  He asked Clemens, "Why would McNamee lie about you, Clemens, but tell the truth about high use in Pettitte and Knoblauch?"  Cummings said to Clemens, "It's hard to believe you, sir. You're one of my heroes, but it's hard to believe you." Very powerful.

February 13, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (1)

Congrats to Our Editors

February 12, 2008 7:51 PM

The White House Photographers Association announced the winners of its annual awards today--and three of our Washington based editors were honored.

In the long form category, Eric Wray won second place for Evangelical Teens (watch it here).

In the magazine feature category, Gordon Swenson won an Award of Excellence for No Impact Man.

And in the sports category, Mike Proser won an Award of Excellence for a piece on the Iditarod.

Congrats gentlemen!

February 12, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (0)

The Potomac Primary

February 12, 2008 12:34 PM

We just finished our daily 11 a.m. conference call. Here's what we're planning on tonight:

The Democrats and Republicans are fighting it out in three more contests tonight: Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.  And because of the proximity they have to each other, today's contests are getting all kinds of nicknames: the Potomac Primary, the Chesapeake Contests, the Crabcake Primary, etc, etc.

After winning five contests over the weekend, Obama is expected to do well today.  According to recent polls, the junior senator from Illinois is leading by nearly 20 points in both Virginia and Maryland.  ABCNews' David Wright has been following the Obama campaign and he'll have the latest tonight on the Democratic race.

Yesterday we told you we'd be running an update on a story from last year on teenagers who are struggling with prescription drug abuse.  We decided to go with another story later in the day, but today we'll have that prescription drug abuse piece we promised you.

And finally, Jake Tapper will take a look at those viral political ads and their spoofs that get passed around the internet.  You've seen them -- there's Obama Girl and Huckabee Girl.  Yes We Can and No We Can't.  Leave Britney Alone and Leave Hillary Alone.  The list goes on and on. Tune in tonight to see how it all comes together.

February 12, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (6)

Tom Lantos' Legacy

February 11, 2008 4:15 PM

We learned today that Representative Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress, passed away at age 80.  Lantos was also a superdelegate supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton.  Upon hearing the news, co-anchor Terry Moran wrote this in an email to our political unit.

Terry Moran Reports:

It is true his legacy goes beyond this campaign: Tom Lantos was a statesman of the old school: one of the truly great advocates for human rights in the U.S. Congress, a founder of the Human Rights Caucus and a reliable ally for human-rights activists around the world.

Except, perhaps, in the Palestinian Territories, where critics claim he overlooked Israel's human-rights abuses. He may not have been completely pure. No one is. But the world is probably a more just place because Tom Lantos was in it- -  and that's a pretty good legacy to leave behind.
 

February 11, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (11)