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Chris Christie Faces Jeers After Bridgegate; Super Bowl Ad Breakdown; Youth Football Controversy

Aired February 3, 2014 - 06:30   ET

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


MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: On Sunday Allen's attorney said the story was fabricated by Mia Farrow while she and Allen were embroiled in a bitter breakup.

And to the other big game on Sunday night, featuring a few furry friends in the 10th annual puppy bowl. Makes you giggle, doesn't it? Sixty-six pooches from across the nation went head-to-head. The game's Mvp, a Brittany spaniel named Lauren scored four - a record four - touchdowns, and of course the halftime show features a bevy of cute kittens and a few penguins cheering on the pups from the sidelines. Just in case you didn't get enough action.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Can't get enough puppies.

PEREIRA: Exactly. Adorable.

Those are your headlines. Kate, over to you.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: So adorable. Thanks, guys.

So today Governor Chris Christie's Bridgegate scandal could go a little deeper. New Jersey lawmakers are getting the first stack of subpoenaed documents, as another member of his staff resigns. Meantime, Christie was as combative as ever this weekend, denying new allegations that he knew about the politically motivated lane closures on the George Washington bridge. CNN's Erin McPike has been following this closely for us. She's live in Washington this morning. So, what is the latest, Erin?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kate, we'll see if Christie keeps that aggressive spirit tonight when he takes questions during his monthly, "ask the governor" session on a New Jersey radio station at 7PM. His team did not hold back this weekend, really going after his former appointee, David Wildstein, the one making those new allegations, by pressing the case that Wildstein just wants immunity and wants his legal bills paid for.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCPIKE: What should have been a shining moment for Chris Christie and his state as hosts of this year's Super Bowl overshadowed by jeers.

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE, (R) NEW JERSEY: Good afternoon, everybody. You've already heard enough speeches. Enough speeches to (INAUDIBLE)

MCPIKE: And new questions.

QUESTION: Governor, is there any truth to the allegation?

MCPIKE: On the eve of the big game, the governor's office circulated a scathing e-mail, attempting to discredit the Christie appointee making those allegations, former Port Authority official David Wildstein, who carried out the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge - allegations Christie knew more than he's indicated.

(AUDIO GAP)

MCPIKE: Wildstein's lawyer said Friday, evidence exists tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures during the period the lanes were closed - a charge Christie continues to deny. Even John Wisnewsky, the Democrat leading the New Jersey legislature's investigation, was skeptical.

JOHN WISNEWSKY, CHAIRMAN, NEW JERSEY GENERAL ASSEMBLY: The use of the words evidence exists as opposed to saying I have documents or I have an e-mail, it's a curious choice of words so it raises questions about what does he have and why doesn't the committee have it?

MCPIKE: High-profile Republicans defended Christie saying there's no reason he should stop helping his colleagues as chair of the Republican Governor's Association.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think he should step down, I think he should stay there.

MCPIKE: While others say he should be impeached from his day job, Wisnewsky calls that --

WISNEWSKY: One word -- premature. We don't have enough facts to get to that conversation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCPIKE: Now, we also learned late Sunday that Christie will speak here in Washington next month at an annual gathering of conservatives known as CPAC, which is really a cattle call for potential Republican presidential contenders. He wasn't invited last year after organizers felt he wasn't conservative enough, but this of course, gives him an opportunity to patch up his image with them as he tried to move ahead with his political future. Kate and Chris?

BOLDUAN: And also face reporters once again. All right. Erin, thank you so much.

CUOMO: Now that he's in an all-out brawl with the media, it may make him see a little more conservative. You know Wisnewsky doing the investigation. We'll talk about it in the gut-check. But remember, this isn't just about just when he knew. You have to show that he had something to do with the motivation for closing these lanes in order to punish a political foe. That's the central question. And we haven't heard anything on that. Yeah, that's really the main question. We'll take a break here on NEW DAY. When we come back, a deadly volcanic eruption forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Could more danger be on the way? We have an update for you.

BOLDUAN: And Tim Tebow back in the spotlight. He was featured as the latest pitch man for one of the more memorable commercials during the Super Bowl. We're going to take a look at more of the best and the worst from the big game.

CUOMO: I like Tim Tebow.

<06:35:00>

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Okay?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The 80s called. They want their store back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Twisted Sister.

(CROSSTALK)

BOLDUAN: There was too much awesomeness in that ad. To even push.

Welcome back. That was Radio Shack's hilarious Super Bowl ad last night, one of the many commercials that I think we can agree people turned in to see, from a "Full House" reunion to a ping pong showdown with none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger, last night had its fill of noteworthy commercial moments. Here to break down some of the most memorable ads -- as I get choked up.

CUOMO: I know, you're moved by these things.

(CROSSTALK)

BOLDUAN: (INAUDIBLE) is a reporter with "Ad Week" (ph) and Barbara (INAUDIBLE) an ad critic with "Media Post."

Welcome. Sorry for my --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you for having us. It's emotional.

BOLDUAN: I get very caught up in it. I watch the game just for the ads. Let's try to run through some of these and just get your take. Everyone has an opinion on the Super Bowl ads. Let's start with the Danon commercial with none other than Mr. Stamos.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my goodness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take off your pants, Greek boy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You heard the man!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take those pants off, they're going to stain.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Actually one of the few kind of very overtly sexual ads I saw last night.

BARBARA LIPPERT, AD CRITIC, "MEDIA POST": Yeah, there was no sex, there was no nudity, except for David Backham -

BOLDUAN: Thank you for that.

LIPPERT: -- and so, so I think in the past parents really complained that they want to watch with their kids, and they don't want all those groin jokes, like this one. And also, she's like 20 years younger than he is but people love Uncle Jesse. And they love "Full House" reunions.

BOLDUAN: So you get it all. What do you think?

SAM THIELMAN, REPORTER, ADWEEK: I agree with Barbara and I'm glad I don't have kids who are asking, mommy, why is that lady smiling at that old man? It just doesn't make much sense, I think, if you don't understand.

CUOMO: Old man, he looks pretty good.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

LIPPERT: Apparently, yeah, he's drawing in the female yogurt eaters.

THIELMAN: Are we not seeing him with 80s goggles, though? I feel like I may be.

LIPPERT: Maybe, yeah.

(CROSSTALK)

LIPPERT: We had a lot of that, throwback, a lot of nostalgia.

<06:40:00>

PEREIRA: And a lot of it we'll get to in a little bit with some of the next ones we're going to look at are, the fact that people are watching are families and women and they realize that and they played to it. A lot of emotion in a lot of these ads.

BOLDUAN: The beer commercials kind of ran the range. First you have Budweiser with probably the sweetest ad of the night. Take a look at this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(BUDWEISER AD PLAYS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: I don't know if it makes me want to drink beer, but it sure warms your heart.

THIELMAN: It makes me want a puppy. That's the problem.

(CROSSTALK)

LIPPERT: The Clydesdale, they've used them always but it's hard to use them in something sweet and also fresh.

(CROSSTALK)

LIPPERT: They had a famous commercial where two dalmatians one went on a beer truck and one went on a fire truck so it was an ode to that, and similar to last year, but the best they've had in years.

BOLDUAN: Sam, jump in on this one. I want to play this one. It was a crazy - this I will say may be my favorite one this one was a Bud Lite commercial. Ordinary guy, craziest night of his life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP))

(BUD LITE COMMERCIAL PLAYS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: So good. I love that it played out all night, too. Like you kind of had to keep watching.

THIELMAN: Totally.

(CROSSTALK)

BOLDUAN: It goes so -- Reggie Watts, Mika Kelly, Done Cheadle, the Llama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and then it ends with One Republic. And this really happened to this guy.

THIELMAN: And I think, you know, Ian may not be an actor, but Ian knows something's up when Don Cheadle gets on the elevator with the llama, right? He's probably aware that he's in some kind of a promotion by the end of kind of the Bud Lite theme.

(CROSSTALK)

LIPPERT: I find with the Super Bowl that everything is crowded into one commercial and it's so enjoyable but you can't really see it if you're at a party. You need to see it later to really enjoy it.

BOLDUAN: I enjoyed it more this morning when I watched the whole three minutes.

THIELMAN: You kind of wonder, though, how much bang for their buck they're getting if Arnold is on the screen for like 10 seconds. Like I feel like.

CUOMO: He said the phrase of the night, "tiny tennis."

(CROSSTALK)

BOLDUAN: Okay, we've gotta - there was a Seinfeld reunion. A lot of people were talking about why are they seeing Jerry Seinfeld and George and everything. Why are they seeing them in New York? Now we know why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SEINFELD REUNION AD PLAYS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIPPERT: I thought the 90s called and they wanted their commercial back. I mean, yeah. Well first of all, it's very interesting because it's a $4 million commercial to promote a web series, which is actually very good. But I thought that the jokes were kind of stale and it's really odd to see Jerry, who looks pretty different and the other two guys who look exactly the same.

THIELMAN: That's totally right, and I feel like, too, one of the things that bothered me a little bit about this is the web series they're advertising is actually much, much better than this commercial, Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks sort of talking about their lives together as widowers, it's heart rendering and kind of funny and this is not funny.

BOLDUAN: What do you think?

CUOMO: I think you guys are great.

(CROSSTALK)

BOLDUAN: This was really fun, you guys. Thank you so much.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: And the puppy thing, that caused conflict in the Cuomo household.

(CROSSTALK)

LIPPERT: She was a negotiator.

CUOMO: I got some of those. This is really great.

BOLDUAN: Great to see you guys. Thanks so much.

CUOMO: Coming up on NEW DAY, the controversy surrounding the new reality TV show "Friday Night Tykes." The coaches are under fire for driving their young players to tears with profanity, encouraging violence. Have they gone too far, even for TV? We'll take you through it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(06:45:00)

BOLDUAN: Welcome back. Let's go around the world now starting in Indonesia where a deadly volcanic eruption has forced tens of thousands of villagers to flee their homes. CNNs Paula Hancocks has more.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At least 15 people have been killed in Indonesia. The latest victims of this latest volcanic eruption from Mt. Sinabung. Ash spewed high into the air, at least a mile higher over the weekend on this (INAUDIBLE) then raised on the -- in less than three minutes. The victims who lost their lives were in a village just three kilometers from the volcano.

There's now up to 30,000 people evacuated and all living in temporary housing. Back to you, Kate.

BERMAN: Paula, thank you very much.

And in Thailand, more anti-government demonstrations with protesters there responding to Sunday's national election. CNNs Saima Mohsin has more on this.

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thailand's election went to head out planned (ph) and promised Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, one of the first people to cast her vote, but others were not so lucky. Up to 11 percent of polling stations were shut because of considerable disruption from anti-government protesters.

Candidates were either unable to register ahead of the vote or ballot boxes weren't allowed to make it through to the polling stations overnight as celebrations by anti-government disruptors for the disruption they managed to cause. And now, the constitutional call (ph) is being asked to question to the legacy (ph) of this election. Back to you, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Saima, thanks for that update. Thank you.

CUOMO: All right. So, we all watched last night, right, as these grown men crushed each other and the growing fears about the impact of all the impact, right? So, imagine when it's kids doing the hitting, actually, being encouraged to crush each other. That's what's fueling debate. And now, it's reached a new level with a new reality series that's called "Friday Night Tykes." If you heard of it, it's a show that follows five Texas youth teams --

(07:00:52)

CUOMO: -- made up of kids eight and nine years old. So far, two coaches have already been suspended for encouraging profanity, telling players to hit opponents in the head and all those other bizarre behaviors you wouldn't expect from adults. CNNs George Howell has more for us about it. George, you know, interesting situation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Children's football coaches gone too far?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have the opportunity today to rip their freaking head off and let them bleed.

HOWELL: That's the question at the heart of the controversy surrounding Esquire Network's new reality TV show, "Friday Night Tykes," featuring five San Antonio football teams with children as young as eight years old.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't care how much -- you don't quit!

HOWELL: Is it about teaching discipline through tough love or is it crossing the line?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is where you earn your play time!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If that kid comes across, I want to you put it in his helmet, you understand?

UNIDENTIFIED KID: Yes, sir!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't care if you don't get up. Let's go

HOWELL: Two of those coaches now find themselves facing consequences. According to CNN affiliate, KENS in San Antonio, Charles Chavarria was suspended after cameras caught him telling players to hit the other team in the head.

CHARLES CHAVARRIA, YOUTH FOOTBALL COACH: I'd have regrets with my actions and behaviors. I do have regrets with the shows. I've lost a lot.

HOWELL: Another coach, Marecus Goodloe, was also suspended reportedly for encouraging profanity. He apologized on Twitter saying, quote, "It's been a learning experience and will definitely make me a better person and mentor moving forward. Still, both the CEO of the Texas Youth Football Association and the league parents are defending the program, speaking to CNNs Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

BRIAN MORGAN, TEXAS YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION: I think what is not being shown is, you know, these hits in the show is not being shown what's happening after the fact that the coaches are pulling the kids together to correction their actions as far as to say this is not the proper way to tackle.

LISA CONNELL, MOTHER: It is an intense activity and our kids are pushing themselves, but it's because they have the potential for that greatness.

HOWELL: But some experts say the aggressive techniques and hard hits put kids at risk of suffering serious injuries.

TERRY O'NEILL, PRACTICE LIKE PROS: It's everything that's wrong with youth football, and, to some degree, it's a lot of what's wrong with television.

HOWELL: With more episodes planned to air, the debate continues about whether these young athletes are being pushed to their fullest potential or being pushed past the limit.

George Howell, CNN, Chicago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Reactions when you guys see it?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: It's tough. If you're a parent and you've got a boy that age, it's hard to know. Do you let them play, you let them not?

BOLDUAN: Football is violent. The nature of football --

PEREIRA: Their bodies aren't equipped to handle all those hits. Equipment only protects them so much.

CUOMO: It is tough.

PEREIRA: "Must-See Moment," let's change -- what I do when I'm uncomfortable, I changes subject. Let's go to New York mayor, Bill de Blasio officiating his first ground hog day ceremony in Staten Island. Things are going -- and then this happened.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PEREIRA (voice-over): Yes. We got a runner, folks. Staten Island Chuck as he's known perhaps feeling a little skittish about reporting an extra six weeks of winter, wiggled himself out of the mayor's grasp, popping the drum below (ph) and he's reportedly just fine. Don't worry. Mayor de Blasio should consider himself lucky, though.

Back in 2009, Chuck bit his predecessor, Michael Bloomberg's finger drawing blood. His name is Chuck. He felt like he needed to be chucked. That's my theory.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Listen, I let the football thing goes, so I would have a moment to -- I know Bill de Blasio. I think -- you know, he's a good man. I like him.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: Violations of men (ph) law. One, he had on those crazy gloves, because of the biting incident. And then, he can't hold the woodchuck. It falls on the ground. The woman next to him has no gloves and just quick sit up like nothing. And he's --

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: -- all 6'7" of him with his big fireman gloves on --

BOLDUAN: The mayor has some explaining (ph) to do.

(CROSSTALK)

BOLDUAN: He's like the tallest mayor of New York in history.

CUOMO: You're sitting there with your big gloves, 6'7", you dropped the woodchuck --

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: The woman next to you just scoops (ph) it up like nothing.

BOLDUAN: I know you're thinking -- let's see what would happen if Chris --

CUOMO: Come on, man!

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: Grab the damn woodchuck!

BOLDUAN: Chill out!

CUOMO: Whatever it is. Was it a ground hog?

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: I didn't know it was a ground hog.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: Coming up on NEW DAY, another massive security breach has once again exposed personal information for thousands of people. This isn't the same story. It's a new story. Hear the company that's behind the latest incident so can you protect yourself and hear what they're saying this morning.

BOLDUAN: And an epic jump. A spectacular new video showing every second of Felix Baumgartner's record setting 24-mile plunge to earth.

(07:35:20)

BOLDUAN: Remember when this happened at a whole new vantage point now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What a catch! Touchdown!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good afternoon, everybody. You've already heard enough speeches, enough speeches of the same thing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody loved him. Been one of my favorites forever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did everything I could.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Good morning. Welcome back to NEW DAY. It's Monday, February 3rd, seven o'clock in the east. We're going to start with the most news you can get anywhere right here on NEW DAY.

The big story this morning, obviously the Super Bowl. That's why I'm walking slow this morning, I was at the game. Seattle's impregnable defense put a whopping on your boy, Peyton Manning, treated him like Bill de Blasio with a beaver or whatever that animal is. We're going to show you that later on. They beat the Denver Broncos 43-8. A blowout. Huge plays.

In fact, it was the first Super Bowl title in the Seahawks' 38-year history. So, it's history all over the place. Now, you're looking at the celebrations. Looks scary but we hear it was mostly under control out there in Seattle, the bonfires, the torching mattresses, that stuff, but basically safe.

Meanwhile, Peyton Manning hinting there's a silver lining. He got -- last night, but it may be motivation for him to come back for another season, telling reporters he'll use this loss to fuel another run in the fall.

BOLDUAN: And in New Jersey today, investigators will get the first of thousands of pages of documents subpoenaed in the Bridgegate investigation, this, as another member of Governor Chris Christie's Administration has resigned amid new allegations that Christie knew about the politically motivated traffic jam.

(07:40:25)

BOLDUAN: And, now the man who signed off on the bridge closures publicly sparring with the governor, alleging there's evidence Christie knew about them.

PEREIRA: Breaking overnight, police are searching for a dangerous inmate who escaped from a Michigan prison on Sunday. Shortly after his escape, 40-year-old Michael Elliott (ph) allegedly abducted a woman using a box cutter and had her drive him to Indiana. That woman was able to escape after they pulled over for gas.