Showbiz This Week

`Sopranos' Celebrates Season Premier; `3,000 Miles to Graceland' a Morality Tale, Vegas Style; Taye Diggs Joins `Ally McBeal' Cast

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

BILL TUSH, HOST: Coming up on SHOWBIZ THIS WEEK, Kurt Russell reprises hi role of Elvis for "3,000 Miles to Graceland." We'll peek between the covers of "Sports Illustrated"'s latest swimsuit issue. And we're right in the middle of a mob as "The Sopranos" premiers its season opener.

TUSH: This is like the ticket of the year in New York; Radio City Music Hall, "The Sopranos" party -- Edie Falco, Carmela Soprano, so good to see you. This is becoming an annual event for us.

EDIE FALCO, ACTRESS: I guess it is.

TUSH: We always have to get an update, but you never give us an update.

FALCO: Sorry; I'm just doing my job.

TUSH: But you're, like, the greatest housewife on television.

FALCO: That might be the scariest things I've ever heard.

TUSH: I did see a clip of the show.

FALCO: From this season?

TUSH: Where you're having a little problem with Meadow.

FALCO: I'm just nodding; I'm not agreeing or saying anything.

TUSH: We do this every year.

FALCO: I'll get fired!

Next year there would be a premier and I wouldn't be here, and they would say, what happened, they'd say, she told somebody a plot line and they fire her.

TUSH: You couldn't get fired from that show. Come on; that would be like saying, get rid of Tony.

FALCO: Stranger things have happened. That's all I'm going to say. TUSH: All right, go have good time at the premier -- the party tonight, all right.

OK, and us -- where are we are going? That's the big mystery, but I'm going to fill you in. This week another event I had to miss -- boy, I hated missing this one -- "Sports Illustrated" had their annual swimsuit issue unveiled, if that's a word I may use. And here's a little tease.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AUDREY QUOCK: This is my third year, actually, yes. So I'm, like, a pro at this.

SHIRLEY MALLMANN: This is my first time, and I no idea about all of this, but I'm liking it.

PETRA NEMCOVA: And I am very excited and a little bit nervous about it; but it's, such a big thing to do and it's going to bring lots of new experience and a lot of new things.

MOLLY SIMMS: I've done it before; I'm second-year veteran. That's pretty cool, huh?

AURELIE CLAUDEL: It's a good thing. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is definitely the icing on the cake.

KIM LEMANTON: This is definitely an honor; I'm very happy. It's, like, my dream ever since I was a little girl.

ELSA BENITEZ: I'm really happy about the one they picked, it was one of my favorite. And I also like the ones inside, but this is one, I think -- I love the makeup, the color of the bathing suit.

Now we'll see. I'm so ready for everything that's going to come now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're their fantasy which, hey, there's nothing wrong with that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TUSH: Donald Chianese, uncle Junior. You've become superstar on "The Sopranos" in the past three years.

A little bit crazy? Having a good time?

DOMINIC CHIANESE, ACTOR: I'm having a great time. I only feel that -- I hope the show just goes on and on and on. That's my own private hope.

TUSH: That's because you're having a good time doing it.

All right; last year at the party after the show, you got up and sang, I understand. Are you going to do it tonight?

CHIANESE: If they ask me, I will. I'd be happy to.

TUSH: Well, I'm asking you -- get up there...

CHIANESE: Oh, sure, I'll go up and I'll sing something that everybody will enjoy, I hope.

TUSH: All right uncle Junior -- do people yell that to you on the street when they see you?

CHIANESE: They do.

TUSH: You're looking good; thanks so much for your time.

All right, Lauren Hunter's going to tell us about Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner, both playing Elvis in a new movie called "3,000 Miles to Graceland."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAUREN HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's international Elvis week in Las Vegas. In the midst of the revelry, five Elvises -- or is it Elvi? -- hit the Riviera Casino, pursuing an ex-con's version of the American dream.

KURT RUSSELL, ACTOR: A crazy casino heist.

KEVIN COSTNER, ACTOR: It was kind of like having a party next door and deciding not to turn the music down no matter who asks you to.

HUNTER: "3,000 Miles to Graceland" is a high-body count morality tale, Vegas style.

DEMIEN LICHTENSTEIN, DIRECTOR, "3,000 MILES TO GRACELAND": It's the yin and the yang. It's the -- it's the black hat, white hat Western, if you will.

HUNTER: Kevin Costner's the heavy; Kurt Russell, the flawed hero; and Courtney Cox, the spirited love interest.

RUSSELL: It was kind of fun to take the amoral characters that pervade this weird Elvis world that I think they're all sort of trapped in and be able to play the one character who, because he falls in love and, of course, doesn't know it, finds a conscience and he wants to get out of it.

HUNTER: But there's something about those outfits.

RUSSELL: With Elvis, you understand what he was going for when you put that jumpsuit on.

HUNTER: Russell's acting work is book-ended by the King.

RUSSELL: The first movie I ever did was with Elvis Presley in 1962, a picture called "It Happened at the World's Fair."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR")

ELVIS PRESLEY, ENTERTAINER: Hey, kid, how would you like to kick me in the shin?

RUSSELL: How would I like to kick you in the shin? Mister, are you drunk?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RUSSELL: He was a person who was extremely memorable, even to a kid who really wasn't paying that much attention to anything.

HUNTER: "3,000 miles" Director Demien Lichtenstein paid homage to that film, with a fan asking Kurt Russell's Elvis to autograph the "World's Fair" soundtrack.

But the opening shot is one of the director's favorite scenes.

LICHTENSTEIN: I wanted to create an image that would remain in film history, something that every time you looked at it, you were like, wow, that was cool!

We had 6,000 spectators and 125 police and hundreds of extras. It was quite awesome.

HUNTER: As for Russell, the saga of the solo guy running against all odds is as American as apple pie.

RUSSELL: It's like part of our DNA or something -- I don't know. We want the underdog to make it; we just want him to succeed.

HUNTER: But does he? You'll have to travel "3,000 Miles to Graceland" to find out.

Lauren Hunter, CNN entertainment news, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TUSH: Still to come, Taye Diggs' new role in Ally McBeal makes him one of our stars of tomorrow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUSH: Jamie-Lynn Sigler, good to see you -- Meadow Soprano on the show. You've certainly grown up in the past few years.

JAMIE-LYNN SIGLER, ACTRESS: Yes, I have.

TUSH: Can we get a whole shot of this outfit she's got on? Look at her -- it's freeing cold in New York, but look at you.

SIGLER: Well, I listened to the weather last week and they said it was going to be 60 degrees, so this is the weatherman's fault...

TUSH: So you went out and bought this outfit and you were duped by the weatherman? SIGLER: Right.

TUSH: Well, anyway, tell me a little bit about -- you're in school now?

SIGLER: Yes; I went to college.

TUSH: And I did see some clips, and you're having a little bit of a thing with your mother and dad?

SIGLER: Yes, she runs into even more conflict with her dad -- you know, different choices she's making. She's away from home; she's even more independent than before; and she's a teenager, she makes mistakes.

TUSH: OK, you have you good time tonight.

SIGLER: Thank you very much.

TUSH: Thank you so much; good to see you.

Hey you, how you been? I got to go introduce something over here and I'll come back and say hello to Leslie (ph), one of the PR ladies.

All right, here's what we're going to do now: One of the stars of tomorrow very well could be Taye Diggs. He's a new lawyer -- shut up -- he's new lawyer on "Ally McBeal."

Here's Laurie Blackman to tell us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAURIE BLACKMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: "Ally McBeal" has gone through a few cast changes this season. I'm here on one of their outdoor sets with the newest addition to the Cage and Fish family, Taye Diggs.

So what can you tell me about the guy that you're playing?

TAYE DIGGS, ACTOR: I play a -- it's good to see you, by the way...

BLACKMAN: It's good to see you, as well.

DIGGS: I play a character by the name of Jackson Duper (ph). I guess the character's kind of smooth. He's into sweeping people off their feet; and if they're not swept then, you know, something's wrong.

BLACKMAN: You're an actor who's been working for the last couple years pretty steadily, but the night before you come on to do a show like this, do you get a little nervous? Like first-day jitters?

DIGGS: Hell yes. Oh, yes. I was very, very nervous. You know -- I mean, I was watching the show before things really started happening for me, so it's literally as corny as it sounds: a fantasy come true.

BLACKMAN: If could you pick which lady on "Ally McBeal" you would romance, who would you want?

DIGGS: I can't even say that; they're all fine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "RENT")

DIGGS (singing): The owner of that lot next door has a right to do with it as he pleases.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKMAN: Some people may not recognize this gentlemen. He originated the role of Benny on the Broadway production of "Rent" -- the original Broadway production.

DIGGS: Back in the day, yes.

BLACKMAN: So, of course, you sing, and sing well. I'm starting to think it's a prerequisite for cast members on "Ally McBeal." Do you think they're going to have you sing? Have they as of yet?

DIGGS: I hope so. There was definitely talk of that when I met with David Kelly at the beginning of all this. So I'm hoping that I definitely get the chance to, you know, use the vocal chords a bit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK")

DIGGS: I would like to dance with you.

ANGELA BASSET, ACTRESS: You can't be serious.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKMAN: His serious moves landed Diggs opposite Agela Basset in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" and in hit ensemble films like "Go," "The Wood," and "The Best Man."

What would you like to do with your career from this point forward?

DIGGS: To be honest, I'm trying to catch up with Will -- I'm coming after you, Mr. Smith.

BLACKMAN: Laurie Blackman, CNN entertainment news, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TUSH: Robert Iler, Anthony Jr. back again. We talked last year and, of course, you couldn't tell me much of what was going on.

ROBERT ILER, ACTOR: I can't tell you anything -- I can tell you what's going on last year if you want to know.

TUSH: I know what's going on last year. This is now, what, the third season you're going into and, you know, as a young guy you grow up quicker every year.

ILER: And people tell me that on the street every day -- that it's like I'm growing up in front of America's eyes, you know.

TUSH: Isn't that kind of cool?

ILER: Yeah, that's really cool. You know, like, I see people in the street who I've never met and they tell me, oh, you've grown; and I'm like, what? you know. But it's great.

TUSH: That's funny; well, you're having good time on the series, right?

ILER: Yeah; I'm always having a great time. By the end of the season I just turn into a bad -- I'm getting like a pretty bad kid, and I just turn worse and worse as the episodes go on.

TUSH: See, I got it out of you, buddy.

ILER: No, that's -- I'm allowed to say that.

TUSH: OK.

ILER: I didn't tell you about when they shoot me in the head.

TUSH: Does it happen? You have to watch, right?

All right, Rob, good to see you, buddy.

ILER: All right.

TUSH: Still to come, with her porn past behind her, Traci Lords battles aliens in "First Wave."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUSH: Tony Sirico, Paulie Walnuts -- we're back again at another one of these thing and it's getting crazier.

TONY SIRICO, ACTOR: I love it.

TUSH: I mean, how's your life changed?

SIRICO: I'm as amazed as you. It's for the better, absolutely.

TUSH: But you're having fun doing it.

SIRICO: Great time.

TUSH: What happens when David Chase comes out and says that maybe next year is the last year?

SIRICO: Well, that -- you can quote me, I wouldn't believe everything you here or read. You know, and I'm close. TUSH: Who do you keep that tan?

SIRICO: I got a tanning parlor in the neighborhood.

TUSH: OK.

SIRICO: I tell them (UNINTELLIGIBLE) but, you know, I'm telling you the truth.

TUSH: OK, thanks a lot, good to see you again; have fun tonight.

We're going to go over from HBO to the Sci-Fi channel. Traci Lords -- you remember her? She was the lady that got, well, in a lot of trouble as a teenager doing porn movies -- they pulled all of her porn movies off the shelves -- but she went and made a career for herself as a legitimate actress. And right now she is on the Sci-Fi channel in a thing called "First Wave" where she's battling aliens.

These are the cry baby girls.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TUSH (voice-over): Thanks to directors like Roger Corman and John Waters, who cast her in his comedy "Cry Baby," Traci Lords was able to show she could do more than just take her clothes off for pornos. But at the same time, she knows her fame as an underage porn X-rated star won't go away.

TRACI LORDS, ACTRESS: Looking at it now, I know that it's, you know, it's made me really rich, in a way. You know, it's cost me a lot of pain in a way, but it's also definitely, you know, shaped me and given me a tremendous amount of strength.

TUSH: But even in films like 1994's TV movie "Drag Strip Girl," Lords took her acting seriously. She landed recurring roles on several series, including "Melrose Place," "Roseanne," and "Profiler," to name a few. And now she's one of the lead characters on the Sci-Fi channel's "First Wave."

LORDS: You know what? I'm really happy. It hasn't been easy, by any stretch of the imagination; it's certainly been, you know, had it's trials to it, and it feels really good.

TUSH: As Jordan Radcliffe, Lords and her costars are battling an alien invasion.

LORDS: She starts the series off -- the season off being very, very strong and really sort of bitter and bent on revenge. She's the leader of an underground army; she definitely has that sort of Sigourney Weaver...

TUSH (on camera): Funny you mention this, because I was going to go to that because when Sigourney Weaver did the first "Aliens" they gave her this title: Rambette. You know, do you remember that?

LORDS: Better than a Bimbette. TUSH: Is there a lot of Jordan in you?

LORDS: I think that Jordan is -- she's, you know, she's extremely angry at the beginning and she's really broken and she's really wounded. And I think that, you know, I've certainly felt that at times in my life. But I don't have Jordan's rage. You know, maybe I did 10 years ago.

TUSH (voice-over): Traci Lords once said she would have to win an Oscar to prove herself, but now she just wants to be a survivor.

LORDS: I know -- I just can't get an audition for that damn island. Do you know the producer?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TUSH: Aida Turturro, hi, nice to see you.

Let's get the pleasantries out of the way, and then we'll talk to her about -- hi, it's so good, Aida, good to see you.

AIDA TURTURRO, ACTRESS: Are you cold?

TUSH: A little bit, but look at you, you must be freezing.

TURTURRO: Are we talking to you?

TUSH: Yes, we're going to talk here for just a minute.

OK, Janice -- now, see, I get the seasons confused, you know...

TURTURRO: There's a lot of episodes.

TUSH: We need a scorecard -- you went back to Seattle?

TURTURRO: I went back on the bus.

TUSH: I remember that one.

TURTURRO: Yes; and I'm not dead; I wasn't killed. I'm just -- everybody says, when are you coming back? I said, I'm on the bus; the goes one way, it comes back...

TUSH: so you got an open invitation?

TURTURRO: I'm coming back, yes.

TUSH: OK, good deal.

All right; speaking of coming back, we're going to take a break, then we're coming back.

TURTURRO: OK, great; I'm going to warm up a little bit.

TUSH: There's Chazz Palminteri -- what a star-studded event live on this coast-to-coast hook up. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TUSH: Hey, come here for a minute; last time I saw you, we were having dinner at some charity thing for Christopher Reed and you had just joined the show. And of course that night -- well, Nancy told me, your wife Nancy told me you're not allowed to talk about, it she's not allowed to talk about it -- what you're doing on the show.

JOE PANTOFIANO, ACTOR: For five grand I'll tell you whatever you want.

TUSH: I've got it in my pocket.

But can you give me like an inkling of who you are?

PANTOFIANO: I'm Ralph Cifarretto -- and I haven't told anybody, only because of our relationship. This is a CNN scoop -- I play somebody that grew up with Jim Gandolfini, Tony Soprano and Silvio Dante and Jackie Aprile.

TUSH: OK; do you wear a wig?

PANTOFIANO: Yes.

TUSH: You do wear a wig, OK. I'll see you at the party.

PANTOFIANO: I get 200 a week rental on it.

TUSH: And you don't have to pay the cleaning -- just send it out. I'll see you at the party, Joey; thank you -- and Nancy.

You know what we're going to do? We're going to kind of close out our show, but we're going to do it with a special thing. We got John Pizzarelli with us, who's got a new album called "Let There Be Love." And he played for us in the studio, we talked to him a little bit earlier. Let's go there, listen to John.

It's been fun here with "The Sopranos," and we'll see you next time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

And joining us live in our studio, John Pizzarelli, whose new album "Let There be Love" -- they need to bring back the record albums -- see, you hold these up -- much too small. But we blow them up back there. You're looking good.

JOHN PIZZARELLI, MUSICIAN: That's what -- records used to be that size.

TUSH: Tell us a little bit about the album; that is my kind of music, I love this.

PIZZARELLI: This is an album of songs that span 70 years of songwriting; and they're all love songs. You know, the oldest song is called "Just One More Chance" and then there are some new ones that I've written; in between is "These Foolish Things." There's a Firshberg (ph) song on there -- Dave Firshberg and -- all great standards, all circling around love.

TUSH: Boy, how many did you have to look at before you narrowed it down to what you put on there?

PIZZARELLI: Yes, there was a lot; and you always go through about 30 or 40 songs before you break it down to the 12 or 13 that make it.

TUSH: And that's it.

PIZZARELLI: It's a fun process because you get to learn new songs, too.

TUSH: And now you're going out on tour with Maureen McGovern (ph), I understand.

PIZZARELLI: All around the states with Maureen McGovern, and at Five Sides (ph) at The Regency in April, too.

TUSH: OK -- that's our cabaret here in New York.

Do you find there's smaller -- or fewer places to play?

PIZZARELLI: Yes, that's why we're doing McGovern tour, too, is because we'll be playing a lot of art centers, colleges, places like that, which is great; so people who don't normally get to go to, you know, big hang outs can come to their college -- like Ball State -- they can come here us there, too.

TUSH: Ball State -- where is Ball State?

PIZZARELLI: Indiana.

TUSH: Indiana; OK.

There's a band or an orchestra -- or what is it, a trio behind you?

PIZZARELLI: My trio, Ray Kennedy (ph) and Martin (ph) are on there.

TUSH: They're not here today.

PIZZARELLI: They're not here; they couldn't make it.

TUSH: The world famous Bucky Pizarelli, your father...

PIZZARELLI: Yes, he's on two tracks on there, too.

TUSH: What was it like growing up in a household where -- he was a musician, so it was just natural for you just to get into this?

PIZZARELLI: Yes; I always say if he had been a plumber we'd be talking about joint fittings right now -- so he was a guitar player. TUSH: And you wouldn't be sitting here today, you'd be down in the crew room.

OK John; thanks so much for coming by.

PIZZARELLI: Thanks for having me.

TUSH: Such a pleasure to see you.

(MUSIC)

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