Morning Report - News from June 28, 2002

TELEVISION

Heart Surgery Puts Rose Out of Commission

Charlie Rose, the PBS talk-show host and “60 Minutes II” correspondent, was recovering Thursday from open-heart surgery to repair a faulty valve two days before.

“This is a congenital condition that he has had all his life,” Yvette Vega, Rose’s executive producer, told USA Today. After consulting with doctors, he opted for surgery that is expected to double his energy level, she said.

Though it’s unclear how long Rose will be in the hospital, Vega said she “wouldn’t be surprised” if he was back on the air in a week. She plans a mix of taped segments and perhaps a few guest hosts during his absence.

Couric-Coulter Sparks Fly on ‘Today’ Show

It promised to be lively. An interview with commentator Ann Coulter conducted by “Today” show co-anchor Katie Couric--a journalist Coulter referred to in her new book as “the Eva Braun of morning television.”

Promoting “Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right” on Wednesday, Coulter soon found herself in a tiff. Though Couric said she didn’t “want to go tit for tat,” she played hardball with her guest.

Coulter, confronted with the “Eva Braun” characterization, reminded her that “affable” was part of the description. “Thanks. That makes me feel better,” Couric replied.

Sparks also flew over Coulter’s claim that Couric blamed the death of gay college student Matthew Shepard on Christian evangelicals and that Couric’s interview with Ronald Reagan biographer Edmund Morris testified to her liberal bias.

Couric dredged up Coulter’s proposal that the U.S. invade nations harboring terrorists, killing their leaders and converting them to Christianity--an idea, Couric reminded viewers, that got the columnist fired from the National Review. Still, Coulter had the last laugh. Her book jumped to No. 1 on Amazon.com that day, according to Variety.

Israeli Cable Asks for CNN-Fox News Swap

CNN recently sent Eason Jordan, a top executive, to Israel to diffuse charges of pro-Arab bias and calls to remove the network from the airwaves. But the fires are still simmering, it seems.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Israel’s cable companies have applied to the Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting for permission to add the more favorably perceived CNN competitor Fox News Channel to their lineups. Sources maintain they’ve also asked that CNN and the BBC be dropped--a move some see as a negotiating tactic to lower the rates.

In what seems to be a response to Israeli pressure, CNN this week is broadcasting a heavily promoted five-part series, “Victims of Terror,” presented from Israel by Wolf Blitzer. CNN spokesman Matthew Furman counters that perspective.

“The series is an outgrowth of the fact there were two back-to-back suicide bombings last week in which dozens of Israelis were killed and even more injured,” Furman said Thursday. “It was strictly a news judgment.”

Miss Cleo’s Jamaican Roots Investigated

After months of resisting interview requests from the state’s attorney’s office, Miss Cleo--the so-called Jamaican psychic--fielded questions in a Florida courtroom for more than two hours on Wednesday.

The Federal Trade Commission has accused Fort-Lauderdale-based Access Resource Service of deceptive advertising, billing and collection practices. The company allegedly charged $4.95 a minute for the chance to speak to telephone solicitors posing as psychics, billed people who didn’t call, and sent threatening collection letters.

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Miss Cleo (a.k.a. Youree Harris) invoked her 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination when asked about a birth certificate that says she was born in Los Angeles to American parents. She also hinted that her signature accent was not always her style of speaking.

Miss Cleo isn’t backing down from her claims of spiritual powers, however. She claimed that she saw the investigation coming a year ago. She’ll resume her testimony on July 9.

POP/ROCK

Thirty Years Later,

the Doors Reunite

The three surviving members of the Doors will reunite to join some dates of a festival-style tour celebrating the 100th anniversary of Harley-Davidson--their first public concerts since September 1972.

The tour visits the California Speedway in Fontana Sept. 6-8, and the reconstituted Doors--guitarist Robbie Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and drummer John Densmore--will play the first night. Guest singers will fill in for the late Jim Morrison.

Other acts on the alternating bill include the Stone Temple Pilots, Journey, Los Lobos, the Doobie Brothers, George Clinton, Billy Idol, Earl Scruggs and Nickelback. Tickets are now on sale. The tour kicks off in Atlanta July 19.

QUICK TAKES

Billy Joel has checked out of Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Conn., a substance abuse and psychiatric center he entered for treatment June 14.... Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform live July 30 for NBC’s “Today” show.... Penelope Spheeris will direct the story of the Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten and the birth of punk rock in 1970s England for Rhino Films and Panacea Entertainment....

South Coast Repertory theater will stage David Auburn’s “Proof,” winner of the 2001 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize, from Jan. 9-Feb. 9. Michael Bloom will direct the play, which had its Southern California premiere in a touring production at the Wilshire Theatre....

Miramax Films and Artisan entertainment are embarking on “Havana Night, “ a second installment of the 1987 hit “Dirty Dancing.” ....