tv World News Now ABC September 19, 2018 2:12am-4:01am PDT
2:12 am
this is what it looked like this is what it looked like in the new york city subway system as heavy rain from florence fell outside. the water pouring through ceilings and soaking the tracks and platforms below. the flooding forced at least two subway lines to be rerouted for a short time. just when we thought that the
2:13 am
washington, d.c. subway system had the exclusive on hot messes during weather. >> hot messes, yeah. >> here comes new york city. >> never too far behind. >> nope. authorities say a prominent california doctor is a serial rapist who preyed on hundreds of women. he appeared on the bravo series "online dating rituals of the american male" and has been charged with sexually assaulting and drugging two women. investigators say his girlfriend was an accomplice. >> both incidents allegedly took place in 2016. investigators are looking for additional victims. as many as 1,000. they say riley and the doctor may have videotaped their victims. >> we believe the defendants used their good looks and charm to lower the inhibitions of their potential prey. >> attorneys representing the couple say they deny any claims of nonconsensual sex. they're free on bail and will appear in court next month. new developments at cbs in the wake of the departure of the ceo les moonves over those allegations of sexual
2:14 am
misconduct. >> moonves' wife julie chen has made a dramatic and emotional exit from "the talk." the show she's been hosting for the last eight years. here is linsey davis. >> i will miss you all very, very much. >> reporter: the speculation is over, julie chen making it official she will not be returning to "the talk." >> i need to spend more time at home with my husband and our young son. so i've decided to leave "the talk." >> reporter: the announcement played on a video at the end of the show comes a week after les moonves, her husband of 14 years, was forced to resign as ceo of cbs after a dozen women came forward accusing him of sexual misconduct. moonves denies all the allegations. cbs is investigating. when allegations first emerged in july, chen defended her husband, calling him a kind, decent and moral human being. >> i will stand by that statement today, tomorrow, forever.
2:15 am
>> reporter: last week, chen ended cbs' "big brother" using her married name for the first time. >> i'm julie chen moonves. good night. >> reporter: at the same time, her co-hosts on "the talk" tackling the scandal head-on. >> the man has a problem. >> but some of them reduced to tears. >> we thank you for eight years of dear friendship. >> reporter: chen saying good-bye with this message. >> and i know this show and the sisterhood it stands for will live on for many, many, many more years to come. >> reporter: chen is expected to stay on as the host of "big brother," at least until the season finale later on this month. linsey davis, abc news, new york. when we come back, are bert and ernie really gay? >> big question. and what bieber is doing at buckingham palace. "the skinny" is next. >> we live in amazing times. buckingham palace. "the skinny" is next. >> we live in amazing times.
2:16 am
(boy) grandpa, look what i got! (woman) oh dad, wait 'till you see the bike we got for jake. (narrator) hearing loss happens gradually with age... making it easy to ignore. yet most older americans aren't getting their hearing tested. untreated hearing loss can keep your loved ones from enjoying what they cherish most. (woman) dad, can you hear me? (narrator) don't let that happen. speak up about hearing loss. you'll be glad you did.
2:17 am
2:18 am
controversy over bert and ernie. he reportedly started his 15-year career back on the show in 1984 tells a gay magazine he wrote the relationship between the two muppets based on the relationship he had with his own longtime partner. >> boy, am i thirsty. am i thirsty. am i thirsty. >> oh, ernie. ernie, if you're so thirsty, why don't you just get up and get yourself a glass of water, huh? >> because, bert, i'm so tired. the only thing i am more than tired is thirsty. >> y'all, all these years we were watching muppet porn. who knew? >> come on! what a relationship he had. >> he's thirsty. >> so thirsty. the show's parent company sesame workshop denied on twitter the guys are gay, saying they remain puppets and don't have a sexual orientation. >> not that there is anything wrong with it. overnight, sesame workshop
2:19 am
released a statement to abc news saying bert and ernie were created to be best friends and to teach young children that people can get along with those who are very different than themselves. i mean, yeah. >> but meanwhile. >> the twitterverse has been lighting up over the controversy, as you'd expect. >> jennifer tweeted, look, bert and ernie's relationship was way healthier than kermit and ms. piggy's. point for jennifer. >> funky bob writes he doesn't care about bert and ernie's sexual orientation, but how is elmo a toddler with his own apartment? >> questions that need answers. brian says if bert were gay, he would have done something about that unibrow. >> true. there is not a gay man walking in hell's kitchen or the castro with a unibrow. what do you think? bert and ernie gay or straight? >> i'm staying out of this one.
2:20 am
>> look, he's thirsty and tired. >> as long as they're happy. >> that's all that matters. >> as roommates living together and thirsty. >> their rubber ducky, you're right. >> everything in my world is just like, poof. >> we love them. >> a whole new thing. >> we love them the way they are and their muppet parents are accepting of their friendship. >> time for the next story. now to the new details about that surprise marriage proposal on stage at the emmy awards. jan svendsen said she had no idea he was going to propose. they have been dating ten years and finally he put a ring on it. >> now some fresh controversy swirling around the emmys this morning, including some weird clapping.
2:21 am
>> remember last year it was nicole kidman's seal clap that she blamed on her rings. >> but this year, "genius" nominee antonio banderas was spotted doing this. no word from banderas about that weird clap. what is that finger doing? >> i don't know. it's weird. i'm afraid to do it because i fear i would be giving someone the wrong signal. but there was a lighthearted moment as well. >> tracy morgan introduced "stranger things" stars millie bobby brown to bobby brown. >> they didn't meet in person. it's said to have been a telephone introduction. >> how cool. and after the show, a very different side of jessica biel. >> the lead actress nominee shared this photo of herself on instagram chowing down on some cake. >> and this one captioned, "portrait of a hungover woman
2:22 am
who had cake for breakfast." >> wish i looked like the hungover or after eating cake. we're hearing from dakota johnson on what she really thinks of chris hemsworth. she said his body was distracting during shooting. >> because it is. part b is all the doctor stuff... the most important thing to know? medicare doesn't pay for everything. and guess what that means... yep...you're on the hook for the rest. that's why it's important to consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. a plan like this helps pay for some of what medicare doesn't. so you could end up paying less out of your own pocket. that's nice. and these are the only medicare supplement plans endorsed by aarp. selected for meeting their high standards of quality and service. it feels good to have someone looking out for you. want to find out more? call unitedhealthcare insurance company now to request this free decision guide, with aarp medicare supplement plan options
2:23 am
to fit your needs. and learn how this type of plan works together with a part d prescription drug plan. here's something else good to know. with a medicare supplement plan, you have freedom. freedom to go with any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients. you're not restricted to a network. ever. and if you need to visit a specialist, you'll have a choice there, too. your coverage goes with you, too, anywhere you travel in the country. we have grandkids out of state. they love our long visits. not sure about their parents, though. call unitedhealthcare now to learn more and ask for your free decision guide. want to apply? go ahead, apply. anytime's a good time. remember, the #1 important thing, medicare doesn't pay for everything. a med supp plan could help pay some of what's left. and this is the only plan of its kind endorsed by aarp. that's the icing on the cake...
2:24 am
i love cake. finding the right aarp medicare supplement plan for you could be just a quick call away. so...call. for you could be just a quick call away. i'm about to pop a cap of "mmm fresh" in that washer with unstopables in-wash scent boosters by downy. ah, it's so fresh. and it's going to last from wash to wear for up to 12 weeks. right, freshness for weeks! downy unstopables. for a fresh too feisty to quit. and now try downy unstopables with the original scent of tide
2:25 am
we're back with the bonus round and we're back with that update on chris hemsworth. >> because we owe you this one. dakota johnson tells "vogue" australia that hemsworth's body was distracting. >> the 28-year-old said she often found her mind wandering over hemsworth's ripped physique. but she added others on the set had trouble focusing as well. i wonder what bert and ernie would think of this. yeah, all right. >> i get it. >> does he even own a shirt? all right. >> look, i'm not mad at him.
2:26 am
next, justin bieber making headlines for what he did just outside buckingham palace. he pulled out his guitar and serenaded his reported bride hailey baldwin. >> the grand gesture comes less than a week after the couple reportedly tied the knot at a courthouse in new york city. bieber performed for half an hour. wow. even asking for song requests from the crowd. >> and for anyone who had extra change. actor jason biggs is creating a social media stir. >> the "american pie" star took to instagram to poke fun at his wife's over the top lunches that she's been packing for their kids. >> so this is one of jenny mullins' typical packed lunches. look at that, five star, including salmon and cream cheese, oatmeal cup, even raw coconut garnish. go, girl. >> yeah, this is what jason did himself. for monday's lunch, including a rotten avocado, whole sweet potato and burnt gluten-free
2:27 am
cookie. >> half of a bagel? tuesday, just as appetizing, including dry muesli, a box of jell-o and three mentos. >> that's not that bad. the very special birthday surprise for our bestie sara haines over at "gma day." >> the new "gma day" co-star was surprised on air by her husband and two adorable children for her 41st birthday. >> it was part of a series of sweet surprises for her. her co-host michael strahan also brought out her college volleyball coach along with her teammates. wow, it was the sara haines show. big party there. juju chang celebrated a birthday monday. happy birthday, juju, as well. all virgos. >> stay with us.
2:30 am
good morning. i'm janai norman in for diane macedo. >> i'm kendis gibson. here are some of the top headlines we're following this wednesday morning on "world news now." president trump will visit parts of flood ravaged north carolina today. thousands of people who evacuated ahead of hurricane florence are still out of their homes and north carolina's governor says it's not time for them to return yet. more details straight ahead. no investigation, no testimony. the woman bringing sexual assault allegations against supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh won't appear at a public hearing unless there is a full fbi probe, but republicans are not budging. kim jong-un says he'll visit south korea in the near future. that would be a first for any north korean leader.
2:31 am
the two leaders of the koreas met and agreed after a historic summit to eliminate nuclear weapons on the peninsula. they've also agreed to enter a joint bid to host the 2032 summer olympic games. and the baltimore orioles' new look uniform pays special tribute to a community of fans. the lettering was written in braille. those are some of our top stories on this wednesday, september 19th. from abc news, this is "world news now." let's begin this half hour with the final farewell to florence. there is the radar right now. what's left of the storm is now back out over the atlantic ocean. >> but before leaving for good, the remnants of florence dumped heavy rain across parts of the northeast and new england. flash flood warnings posted across the region. that was new york city. one new hampshire community received 5 inches of rain in a six-hour period. >> incredible. meanwhile, floodwaters are still rising in large parts of the
2:32 am
carolinas. two women were killed in south carolina when the van that was taking them to a mental health facility was overtaken by water. now, that brings the storm's death toll to 37. abc's eva pilgrim is there. >> reporter: florence's march to new england overwhelming storm drains and flooding roads across massachusetts. new york's subways turned into waterfalls. in the carolinas, rivers keep rising. all of this flooding because hurricane florence dumped more than 8 trillion gallons of water right here in north carolina. first responders rescuing families from neighborhoods under water. the coast guard plucking this man and his dog from his rooftop. and in kelly, north carolina, sunday -- >> hey, is there more than just you? >> yes. >> okay. >> i've got my son on my back. >> okay. your son's on your back. okay, come on. >> reporter: after their truck
2:33 am
got stuck, the massy family clinging to the trees for dear life for almost five hours. volunteer rescuers finding them. >> oh, my gosh! >> reporter: mom kelly, 35 weeks pregnant holding 6-year-old cameron and 4-year-old celine tight on the rescue boat. they and their father are safe. >> honestly, i kept telling him, you know, if we can make it to sunrise, somebody's coming, you know, somebody's coming. >> reporter: in wilmington, we met karen and robert foster in a long line for basic necessities. >> it just sat over us so long. it dropped so much water. >> how much water is there do you think? >> probably about chest deep. >> reporter: russel davis' home flooding for the second time since he built it. >> it can be replaced, but just going to be a different address. period. >> can't do this again? >> no. >> reporter: the governor asking those who evacuated to stay away for now. the main reason, these roads. as you can see, many are still treacherous, some are closed
2:34 am
including interstate 95 and some rivers are still rising. eva pilgrim, abc news, atkinson, north carolina. >> our thanks to eva this morning. the mayor of wilmington, north carolina says there are now two roads into the flood ravaged city but those routes could be closed again if the floodwaters rise. >> let's check in with paul williams in the accuweather forecast. good morning, paul. >> good morning, kendis, janai. florence is now m.i.a. and good riddance. cleanup weather couldn't be more perfect as they deal with major flooding there. now where we do have problems is the north central part of the country with unsettled weather with a combination of showers and thunderstorms that could likely turn severe. heavy rain we introduce with the punching of the low pressure system causing flash flooding in this part of the country. kendis? janai? >> busy day in minneapolis and minnesota for that matter. paul, thank you. now to the breaking news development out of washington,
2:35 am
the college professor accusing supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh of sexual assault is not willing to testify, at least not without a full fbi investigation. the accuser's lawyer says she wants to cooperate if the matter is first assessed in a bipartisan matter, but republicans say there is no need for further delay. here is lana zak. >> reporter: dr. christine blasey ford's attorney tells cnn her client will cooperate but the call for a hearing on monday is premature. >> there is no reason we should have a public hearing on monday given what has occurred and when it has occurred. this has been rushed through. it's too important to be rushed through. this is not a game, it's a serious allegation. >> reporter: blasey ford's allegation that supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when he was drunk at a party in the 1980s has upended washington. democrats want the fbi to investigate before the hearings proceed. >> there must be an agreement on witnesses. and the fbi should be given time to re-open its background check
2:36 am
investigation into judge kavanaugh, making it much less likely that it will devolve into a he said/she said affair. >> reporter: and even though the fbi is charged with background checks, president trump says he will not be ordering them to follow up. >> i don't think the fbi really should be involved because they don't want to be involved. they say this is not really their thing, but i think politically speaking the senators will do a very good job. >> reporter: in a tuesday night letter to senate judiciary chairman chuck grassley, her attorneys detailed the threats that she's received and asked him to discuss reasonable steps as to how dr. ford can cooperate while also taking care of her own health and security. kavanaugh has vehemently denied the allegation. senate majority leader mitch mcconnell says that if blasey ford does not want to appear publicly, she may testify privately, but either way, he says that should happen on monday. lana zak, abc news, washington. poland's leader may have made president trump an offer he doesn't want to refuse.
2:37 am
he wants to place a permanent military base in his nation and says he would name it "fort trump." president trump says duda has offered to pay the united states more than $2 billion. congress is ramping up its fight against the opioid epidemic. the senate has approved a bill which dedicates billions of dollars to keep the deadly drugs out of the country. here is abc's ali rogen. >> it's the deadliest drug epidemic in the history of this country. we've never seen anything like it. >> reporter: it's become known as the crisis next door, but this week congress is one step closer to providing some much-needed resources and reforms to help fight the opioid epidemic. the senate almost unanimously passing an $8 billion package that contains key initiates like blocking overseas shipments of the deadly drug fentanyl via the u.s. postal service, a method that senator rob portman of ohio says is being especially abused by dealers in china. >> right now, how easy is it to do that?
2:38 am
>> shockingly easy. we did an 18-month investigation. we were able with undercover help from the homeland security department to find out what's really happening, and sadly traffickers are saying if you send it through the post office, we can guarantee delivery. this poison is killing more americans than any other drug right now. >> reporter: portman's bill would require the postal service to flag information about a foreign package before it's shipped like who it's from and what's inside. fedex and u.p.s. already have such requirements. some critics say this bill doesn't go far enough and congress should devote more resources and money to long-term recovery. portman says that is the goal. >> we're just getting started. it is something that is unprecedented. >> reporter: it also expands a program to train first responders in how to administer the anti-overdose drug narcan. house and senate negotiators are still hammering out the differences in their respective
2:39 am
versions, but the plan is to have a bill on the president's desk by the end of the month. ali rogen, abc news, capitol hill. turning now to mcdonald's workers across the country who staged a one-day strike to highlight sexual harassment in the work operation. they walked off the job in ten cities. they demanded that the fast food chain do more to fix the problem. mcdonald's says it takes the issue seriously and was introducing additional measures to protect workers. obesity as an epidemic. a task force is urging doctors to prescribe better diets and exercise for obese patients. they want tools and check-ins to be standardized and for doctors to treat diet and exercise like medical prescriptions. doctors and patients are also being encouraged to meet on a regular basis. nearly 40% of americans are obese. 40%? wow.
2:40 am
here is some good news. a trio of seventh graders are being praised for their honesty. the boys were playing basketball before class in oklahoma city when they stumbled on an orange juice carton with 300 bucks inside. >> i'd be bye. see ya. instead of keeping the cash, they turned it over to their principal. she thought it was a joke until a man called saying he lost it while walking his dog. >> at first we thought it was a wallet and then, hold up, this is $300. >> the boys were rewarded for their honesty. the man who lost the money gave each of them a $25 amazon gift card. >> not bad. that works out nice for those kids. coming up, one man's embarrassing smart doorbell that was an epic fail. why this man's batman t-shirt got him locked out of his own house. and the frightening moments caught on dash cam when a tractor trailer pulls out of a gas station with a little dog still leashed to its bumper.
2:41 am
2:43 am
around here, nobody evreally? it i didn't do it so when i heard they added ultra oxi to the cleaning power of tide, i knew it was just what we needed so now we can undo all the tough stains that nobody did dad? i didn't do it it's got to be tide women are standing up for what they deserve in the office in the world and finally, in the bedroom our natural lubrication varies every day it's normal so it's normal to do something about it ky natural feeling the lubrication you want nothing you don't get what you want we're back with a disturbing video of that dog tied to the back of a semi truck in arizona.
2:44 am
first, we should let you know the dog is okay. the driver was distracted and forgot to unleash his pet. this is all playing out near prescott in arizona. thankfully a volunteer with the sheriff's department spotted the animal, alerted the driver, who thanked the volunteer. >> thank goodness that dog's okay. now turning to first images we're getting of a -- disturbing images from a deadly police shooting near denver. this happened late last month. a passenger pointed a gun at deputies as he got out of the car. he was killed when they opened fire. contrary to initial police reports, that man never fired his gun. body cam video shows the passenger aiming at the deputies. they were not hurt. and a texas daycare owner is accused of tying up children in her home. rebecca anderson is charged with child endangerment. police say she drugged at least nine kids in her care and then strapped them to car seats before putting them into closets. authorities were tipped off by a
2:45 am
father who say they attached a hidden camera to his son's car seat. >> good heads up move on that dad's part. the woman who helped kidnap elizabeth smart 16 years ago being released from prison overnight. smart says she believes wanda barzee is still a danger. >> barzee will remain under supervision for the next five years. dan harris has more. >> reporter: the disappearance of the then 14-year-old captured the attention of the nation. within days, thousands of volunteers joined the search. but there would be no sign of smart for months. she was held in captivity, physically and psychologically abused. she says she was raped every day by mitchell who threatened her with death if she tried to escape. barzee pled guilty to kidnapping and unlawful transport of a minor in november of 2009. she was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. she later pled guilty but mentally ill in connection with a plot to kidnap smart's cousin,
2:46 am
for which she was sentenced to state prison until 2004. after being released for time served from federal prison in 2015, barzee was transferred over to a utah prison to serve out her state sentence. barzee's husband, brian david mitchell, remains behind bars serving a life sentence. barzee was at one time expected to be behind bars in that utah state prison until january of 2024, but a new ruling by the utah parole board found she was entitled to credit for years she spent in federal custody. the utah board of pardons addressed those concerns last week, saying barzee cannot legally be held any longer. saying in a statement, this is not an early release. ms. barzee will have spent 15 years in custody, which is the maximum amount of time allowed by her state conviction and sentence. smart spoke with cbs news about barzee's impending release. >> when you say you think she's a danger, what do you mean by that, dangerous how? >> well, i know what she was
2:47 am
capable of before she was incarcerated. >> reporter: barzee's release no doubt re-opening old wounds, but as the world has seen time and again, it is elizabeth smart's resilience that shines through. >> are there things that i am concerned about? absolutely. but i also refuse to go back to that state of fear that i felt when i was kidnapped. >> our thanks to dan harris there. all right. coming up, why some pro football legends are tackling the nfl. >> what a growing number of former players are now pushing for in their retirement. you're watching "world news now." pushing for in their retirement. you're watching "world news now." breathe freely fast, with vicks sinex. my congestion's gone. i can breathe again! ahhhh! i can breathe again! ughh!
2:49 am
some of the some of the nfl's greatest players ever are demanding some assistance from the league. they're all members of the football hall of fame. >> and they're threatening to boycott future hall of fame induction ceremonies unless the league starts providing them with health insurance and a salary. abc's brad mielke has more. good morning. >> you think of nfl contracts,
2:50 am
right, and you think these guys are set for life. hall of fame running back eric dickerson says that's just not true. a lot of his former teammates did not make big salaries, they put their bodies on the line and they don't get the benefits you would see for an office worker. he told me you won't see him or other players until they get benefits and a cut of the league's revenue. >> i didn't realize this, players don't have health insurance? >> no, when you leave the league, you don't have health insurance. the players that play now will have health insurance for five years and then have to get their own health insurance. you have no health care when you're no longer in the national football league. the guys that played in my era -- if you don't pay for it, you have no health care at all. that's one of the issues, a lot of the hall-of-famers don't have health care. they don't have a proper pension. the pension, some guys getting $1,000, $250, $800 a month. you played two or three years in the national football league and your pension is $2,000.
2:51 am
it's really, really sad because the money that the national football league has made over the years over the great players that have really helped establish this game, it should be more. >> reporter: there is one part of dickerson's plan that has drawn scrutiny. it's only calling for benefits for hall-of-famers. i asked him why isn't it advocating for the lesser known players. he wants to start with the superstars, get a seat at the table and then secure benefits for everyone. you can hear the entire interview on "start here" later this morning. kendis? janai? >> our thanks to brad there. that's a strange one. why only hall-of-famers? there are a lot of lesser-known players who are not making any money at all. >> maybe it's having the name. they also had tough words, the nfl celebrating 100 years in 2020. they said we don't believe 100 years of exploitation -- player exploitation is something to celebrate. >> using exploitation. that's a loaded word there, no
2:52 am
doubt. all right. coming up, could we finally, finally have a cure for baldness? >> the rare oil that actually stimulates hair follicles. "weird science" is next. >> i pushed for this story. es hair follicles. "weird science" is next. >> i pushed for this story. un-stop right there! i'm about to pop a cap of "mmm fresh" in that washer. with unstopables in-wash scent boosters by downy. ah, it's so fresh. and it's going to last from wash to... ...wear for up to 12 weeks. unstopables by downy.
2:53 am
what's the #1 new skincare product in 2018? olay whips. absorbs faster than the $100, $200, and even $400 cream. feels amazing. i really really love this. i will 100% swap up my moisturizer. can i have it? olay whips. you wouldn't accept from any one else. why accept it from an allergy pill? flonase relieves sneezing, itchy, watery eyes and a runny nose, plus nasal congestion, which most pills don't. it's more complete allergy relief. flonase. i'start at the new carfax.comar.
2:54 am
show me minivans with no reported accidents. boom. love it. [struggles] show me the carfax. start your used car search at the all-new carfax.com. do i use a toothpaste that whitens my teeth, or one that's good for my teeth? now i don't have to choose. from crest 3d white, the whitening therapy collection with new spearmint and peppermint oil. it gently whitens, plus it has a fortifying formula to protect your enamel. crest. healthy, beautiful smiles for life. 60% of women wear the wrong size pad and can experience leaks.
2:55 am
you don't have to. with always my fit, try the next size up and get up to 20% better coverage day or night. because better coverage means better protection. always we have it. >> you are in luck. >> so this is apparently the secret formula, is what i'm told. so german -- "weird science." german researchers have found that when sandalwood oil is applied to the scalp tissue there in the lab, the oil stimulates hair growth in six days. >> six days. >> six days. hair follicles -- >> can it work in six seconds? start the clock. let me see. this is the before of it.
2:56 am
i mean, it's follically challenged. we couldn't spare more budget on this? has everybody been using it? there it is. all right. we'll just see. >> spread that around. >> spread it around. >> rub it. >> uh-uh. uh-uh. >> see if it works. >> it smells great. studies have shown that exposing the human skin cells to sandalwood in the lab causes the keratin to multiply. >> we'll come back and check on this science experiment. >> exactly. >> tomorrow, he's going to have a full head of hair. meanwhile, a solar power yacht is capable of sailing around the world without having to stop to refuel. so this electric yacht, it's topped with enough solar panels to cover a full size tennis court. it is 78 feet long. it can sleep ten people.
2:57 am
they're staying quiet on the price because as you can imagine, it probably costs your first three born children. but can sail around the world without having to be repowered. >> you're assuming i care that much about my first three born children. >> kendis. >> i put a value to them. check this out, this guy's nest doorbell didn't necessarily like his batman shirt. it has the technology where it's supposed to face recognize you and can open your door. well, his batman shirt, the nest doorbell thought that the shirt was an intruder and locked him out of his house when the device picked up the face instead of his own face. he shared that screen shot there. >> holy technology, batman. >> i know. then there's this -- good luck, kendis. then there is this. this flood rat -- this flood rat. look, the sandalwood oil. look at this little guy. water during this mini monsoon,
2:58 am
3:00 am
this morning on "world news now," supreme court standoff. >> new developments overnight in the nomination battle of brett kavanaugh. the woman accusing him of sexual assault decades ago says she wants the fbi to get involved before she testifies in front of the senate. one key senator says not so fast. the popular reality show star surgeon charged along with his girlfriend of drugging and raping two women. the authorities say there could be 1,000 additional victims. and the baltimore orioles are being applauded for a special and unique campaign. the team is the first to honor the blind community by wearing jerseys with braille. >> and it's down home food with an uptown look. chicken wings lathered in 24 karat gold. how do they taste?
3:01 am
that's the question. it is wednesday, september 19th. from abc news, this is "world news now." >> that looks amazing to me. >> really? >> yes, yes, yes. jack, you're down for it. doesn't that look good. >> you better be down for it, too. >> digging in. >> everybody's excited. constance is excited about the -- i got a thumbs up. oh, my god. let's remember this moment. can we keep that tape? all right. let's begin with the breaking news, though. the battle over the supreme court. the woman accusing the nominee brett kavanaugh of sexual assault is now calling for an fbi investigation before she testifies. >> an attorney for professor christine blasey ford says there is no reason to hold a public hearing on monday, adding that the matter is too important to be rushed through. >> she also said harassment and death threats since coming forward have forced dr. ford and her family to relocate from their home.
3:02 am
abc's jonathan karl gets us started. >> reporter: christine blasey ford is calling for an fbi investigation into her claims against supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh. she wants that before she agrees to testify before congress. in a letter to senate judiciary committee chairman chuck grassley obtained by abc news, ford's lawyers write, quote, a full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a nonpartisan midwestern and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing. ford's lawyers say her life has been turned upside down and she will not appear on capitol hill on monday. this as president trump expresses concerns about the personal toll on kavanaugh and his family. >> i feel so badly for him that he's going through this, to be honest with you. i feel so badly for him. >> reporter: the president did not say dr. ford's name, nor did he express any concerns about her or her serious allegations.
3:03 am
>> hopefully the woman will come forward, state her case, he will state his case before representatives of the united states senate and then they will vote. >> reporter: dr. ford is now a psychology professor in california. this is what she looked like in her high school year book in the early 1980s, around the time she says a stumbling drunk kavanaugh pinned her to a bed at a party, groping her and trying to take her clothes off. when she tried to scream, she told "the washington post" he put his hand over her mouth. i thought he might inadvertently kill me. she says a friend of kavanaugh's, mark judge, was also in the room. but in a statement tonight to the senate judiciary committee, judge says i have no memory of this alleged incident. brett kavanaugh and i were friends in high school but i do not recall the party. more to the point, i never saw brett act in the manner dr. ford describes. judge kavanaugh emphatically denies the allegations.
3:04 am
cameras caught a glimpse of him leaving his maryland home for the white house. for the second day in a row, he huddled there with his confirmation team. democrats say the fbi should investigate the alleged assault. the president could order an updated background check but today he said the fbi doesn't want to conduct one. >> i don't think the fbi really should be involved because they don't want to be involved. if they wanted to be, i would certainly do that, but as you know, they say this is not really their thing. >> reporter: the fbi has had no comment on any of this, but background checks are conducted at the request of the white house. if the president wanted to re-open kavanaugh's background check, and one was already completed, to look at the new investigations, he could order that done, but he's made it clear he does not intend to do so. jonathan karl, abc news, the white house. overnight, senate judiciary chair chuck grassley made it clear that there are no plans for a full investigation, releasing this statement. dr. ford's testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events.
3:05 am
nothing the fbi or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what dr. ford tells the committee so there is no reason for any further delay. but democrats say she should not be bullied in participating in what they're calling a biased process. >> i just want to say to the men of this country, just shut up and step up. do the right thing for a change. >> obviously the optics of 11, you know, men there on the republican side, it is what it is. that's the committee right now. so we'll just have to do our best. >> if the hearing were to go forward under the terms set by republicans, kavanaugh and ford would be the only witnesses. well, president trump gets a firsthand look at the flooding left behind by florence in north carolina today. >> the state's governor is telling residents who have evacuated to not return home yet. at least 37 deaths are being blamed on the storm. north carolina officials say 16 rivers are now at major flood stage. three more are expected to crest
3:06 am
today or tomorrow. >> take a look, this was the new york skyline as what was left of florence moved through the big apple. heavy rain caused flash flooding across the northeast and into new england and that's what the subway system looked like. what a mess. >> what a mess. accuweather's paul williams has a look at today's forecast. paul, good morning. >> good morning, janai, kendis. what i'm showing you right now is what's missing. florence is gone. away from the east coast, less humid air for the northeast, and that will allow the carolinas to recover from the effects of florence. we had 20 to 40 inches of rain that hit. here is the problem, no rain is going to be there, but we'll still have the effect of major flooding, road closures and the record-setting crests. this is a delayed problem that will stick around the carolinas. kendis, janai? >> our thanks to paul there. a popular california doctor has been charged with drugging and sexually assaulting two women along with his girlfriend. >> he once appeared on a reality tv show.
3:07 am
the handsome surgeon seemed to have it all but now he's accused of teaming up to pick up women, drug them and them rape them. kayna whitworth has the details. >> reporter: this picture-perfect pair here enjoying a vacation in mexico, suspected of being serial rapists with hundreds of potential victims. this popular newport beach orthopedic surgeon had a taste for the reality show spotlight. >> an orthopedic surgeon will make a lot of girls' ears light up. those are the girls i'm not interested in. >> reporter: authorities say he and his girlfriend would allegedly lure unsuspecting women from bars and restaurants. >> we believe the defendants used their good looks and charm to lure their prey. >> reporter: each charged with sexual assault against two women and one count of rape. the first incident in april of 2016. jane doe number one says the couple invited her to a boat party.
3:08 am
she claims she was drugged and taken to his apartment where she says they raped her. police say the encounter was filmed. >> she feels more intoxicated by the drinks than would ordinarily be expected. >> reporter: authorities then made the chilling claim that the pair recorded more than 1,000 videos in many different cities with women seemingly intoxicated or drugged and unable to consent. >> based on this evidence, we believe that there might be many unidentified victims out there. >> trying to get something more substantial. >> the 38-year-old once appeared on a bravo reality show, "online dating rituals of the american male." authorities say there is no evidence any of these women were victims of his alleged attacks. the couple posted their $100,000 bail, which is consistent with the charges they're facing now.
3:09 am
but the d.a.'s office tells me they strongly believe they're just scratching the surface of this case and that's why they're urging more women to come forward. kayna whitworth, abc news, los angeles. well, tesla is the target of a federal investigation thanks to a social media post by the ceo elon musk. last month, musk tweeted he was considering taking the company private. the justice department is looking into whether the comments are accurate and legal. some tesla shareholders believe musk sent the tweet to try to manipulate the company's stock price. well, it's tough times in baltimore for baseball fans. the baltimore orioles are in the midst of a 100-loss season, but -- >> is that bad? >> uh, well -- they're being celebrated by members of a unique baseball community. >> blind fans of america's pastime are praising the club for wearing jerseys with the o's and players' names in braille.
3:10 am
honoring the national community of the blind. based in baltimore for years. jerseys were auctioned off as well. based on their success this year, you can see how many people were in the stands for the games, but, you know, props to baltimore for this gesture. >> it's cool that they did that. the only thing is that it's braille. do you have to -- how do you know unless you -- >> i know. so the first 15,000 fans also received braille alphabet cards. so every fan at that game received braille alphabet cards. there were a lot of people dressed as empty seats. hey, we love it. at least it's a great stadium. coming up, a group of nfl legends is threatening a boycott. hear why the retired football greats are threatening to turn their backs on future hall of fame induction ceremonies. and later, the woman who shattered the record for fastest bike ride in the world that stood for 23 years. you won't believe how fast she was going. that story ahead in "the mix." you're watching "world news
3:13 am
...from far away. but they harryonly see his wrinkles. if only harry used some... ...bounce, to dry. he would be a less wrinkly, winning guy. . two air force two air force pilots are safe after their trainer plane cras two air force pilots are safe after their trainer plane crashed in a field in san
3:14 am
antonio. they managed to eject before the plane went down. all of this playing out near a mall there in san antonio, texas. the aircraft was a t-6a texas trainer as it's called. the air force briefly suspended the use of that plane earlier this year after complaints of oxygen deficiency and other physical issues. the cause of that crash, though, is still in the early stage of its investigation. a group of retired nfl greats is threatening to boycott future hall of fame induction ceremonies unless the nfl meets its demands. >> they want the league to provide them with health insurance coverage and a salary that includes a share of the league's revenue. they claim they helped create the modern nfl, which generated $14 billion in revenue last year, but they say since retiring they've struggled with severe health and financial problems. the group is led by eric dickerson. >> people have this perception that because you played in the national football league, you made all this money, you're a rich guy. that's so far and far in between. >> you can hear from dickerson later this morning on "good
3:15 am
morning america." we should mention that former nfl players have received a pension since 1959. there is also a 401(k) plan they can contribute to along with an annuity program. so far, no comment yet from the league. >> questions how well-organized that group is. two people who are on the list say they're actually not part of that boycott. another person, carl ellard, that's a person on that list, there was no professional football player named carl ellard. >> oops. coming up in our next half hour, florence's fury unleashed on the big apple. this was the scene underground inside our mta -- inside our subway system. what all that water did to at least two subway lines. but first, what did will bring? check it out, gilded chicken wings. but how do they taste? >> so we know what he brought. >> that's next on "world news now." >> that looks amazing. >> that looks amazing.
3:16 am
3:18 am
going to be diane macedo. you outdid yourself this time with gilded chicken wings. >> oh, yeah. >> they really are chicken wings covered in 24 karat gold. will joins us now. will, tell us about these. >> well, football season is officially here, or so they tell me. i'm not watching a ton of football these days. that means wing season more importantly is here. i do get involved in that. so i brought these golden gilded chicken wings. you've never seen wings like this before, you guys. ♪ 24 karat magic in the air >> 24 karat magic in the air? that's so last year. how about 24 karat magic on your plate? say hello to the bling bling chicken wing. that might not be the technical title on the menu at the ainsworth, but that's what i've affectionately dubbed this dazzling dish.
3:19 am
>> 24 karat magic. >> following in the foodie footsteps of instagram favs like the unicorn frappe or #avocadotoast, these 24 karat gold chicken wings are the latest trend satisfying social media trends and taste buds just in time for football season. so in search of sparkles and snackage, my two favorite things, i hit up the ainsworth and found chef justine. since chef justine and her team laid the groundwork, i was on the yellow brick road to success. once they're in the fryer. >> it's already cooked so we're waiting for it to get nice and crispy. >> all the hard work happened before we got here. the baking, the brining, the rub. we showed up when things were getting easy, which is the exact right time to show up. >> now it's nice and golden
3:20 am
brown. so that's the color we're going for. now we're just going to mix the gold butter. >> it's so pretty. >> now this is the chipotle honey. this is the flavor of the wings. we're now going to take the mixture we have and pour it right on there. >> amazing. >> reporter: chef justine taught me some classic culinary techniques. >> not bad. >> there you go. >> i feel like julia child. >> julia child presents the chicken sisters. >> julia and justine, catch that sequel in 2019. it was time for the old razzle dazzle, the shiny shake-up, the golden garnish. >> i can't imagine eating it. it's so pretty. i want to take it home and put it on my shelf or something. >> reporter: yeah, that gold is legit. >> not all gold dust is 24 karat, but here you wanted it to be -- >> a little bit more bling. >> a little bit more bling. bruno mars approved, 24 karat magic.
3:21 am
>> reporter: since there is no such thing as too much bling, we added a few more coats of the gold dust. the best part is, this tasty treasure won't break the bank. >> for a ten-piece order, it's $45. if you get the 50-piece, it's $1,000 and comes with a bottle of ace of spades. >> a fancy champagne that jay-z owns. >> reporter: finally once we got the wings plated to perfection, it was timto see if they were as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. that is so delicious. >> reporter: see, if you're looking to add some 24 karat magic to your life, sometimes it's just best to wing it. ♪ 24 karat magic in the air >> all right. obviously we brought some for the whole squad here. i'm so excited for you guys to try it. >> i almost got my grill. >> dreams do come true here on "world newnow." cheers, everybody. happy -- >> wait, smile. >> happy chicken wing season.
3:22 am
>> how did it taste? >> delish. >> i feel like lil wayne. >> oh, my god. >> "the mix" is next. are is next. 'cuz i'm way too busy. who's got the time to chase around down dirt, dust and hair? so now, i use heavy duty swiffer sweeper and dusters. for hard-to-reach places, duster makes it easy to clean. it captures dust in one swipe. ha! gotcha! and (new) sweeper heavy duty cloths lock away a twice as much dirt and dust. it gets stuff deep in the grooves other tools can miss. you know what? my place is a lot cleaner now. stop cleaning. start swiffering. women are standing up for what they deserve in the office in the world and finally, in the bedroom
3:23 am
our natural lubrication varies every day it's normal so it's normal to do something about it ky natural feeling the lubrication you want nothing you don't get what you want ayep, and my teeth are yellow.? time for whitestrips. crest glamorous white whitestrips are the only ada-accepted whitening strips proven to be safe and effective. and they whiten 25x better than a leading whitening toothpaste. crest. healthy, beautiful smiles for life. our because of smoking.ital. but we still had to have a cigarette. had to. but then, we were like. what are we doing? the nicodermcq patch helps prevent your urge to smoke all day. nicodermcq. you know why, we know how. what's the #1 new skincare product in 2018? olay whips. absorbs faster than the $100, $200,
3:24 am
3:25 am
downy conditions fibers with a long-lasting fresh scent. so your blanket will stay fresh through next week's finale. downy and it's done. surprisingly, we still have chicken wings here. anymore takers? surprisingly, we still have chicken wings here. anymore takers? they're like, no, we're good. >> no? all right. so if the gold chicken wings didn't get you, how about this? chili tater tots and cheese whiz. >> deal. >> they all go together apparently on this pizza at grinder's pizza. some people aren't too happy about it. this restaurant goes through 19,000 pounds of cheese whiz every year. >> oh, my god. that's awesome. >> now would you try that? >> i probably would.
3:26 am
>> really? that actually looks -- it looks absolutely amazing. if grinder's pizza is watching, i know our friends at knbc are watching. send it to us over here. we would give it a try. >> we. >> okay. me. speaking of things you might want to try, so in maine -- a maine restaurant has decided to get their lobsters high off marijuana smoke before killing them. "a," they say it's more humane, but also they say it will make their lobster taste better. in the restaurant's first experiment in its process, they tried a lobster named roscoe placed into a box with a few inches of water and the marijuana smoke was then blown into the box and it made the lobster a little more relaxed. so it tasted -- >> not as feisty. >> it's not as feisty. >> he was calm. he didn't go to work the next day. >> that is absolute nonsense. >> yeah.
3:27 am
the lobster was going to fight the whole thing but then he got high. >> but then he got high. ♪ i was going to fight to live but then i got high ♪ a woman, the fastest bike ride, the fastest bike ride, 183.932 miles an hour. that's how fast this woman rode a bike, shattering a world record that stood since 1995. riding that bike 183 miles per hour. >> not bad. congratulations. >> it doesn't look that fast. >> it doesn't. that vehicle is going 300 miles an hour. so this week, the iphone xs comes out. there is somebody in houston already staking out his position. a houston man outside the apple store, number one for iphone. he has a blog, obviously, but he's been there for days and he wants to be the first person there.
3:28 am
3:30 am
breaking news th breaking news this morning on "world news now." the showdown for the supreme court heats up. the woman accusing supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh of sexual assault is now calling for an fbi investigation before she testifies. the flooding emergency is not over for residents in the carolinas. authorities are telling people who have been evacuated not to return home as yet. this as rivers remain at dangerous levels and the president set to visit the region today. and new this half hour, the renewed controversy over two beloved sesame street muppets. >> why a former "sesame street" writer is suggesting bert and ernie are gay. this morning how the show and twitter are responding to this bombshell news.
3:31 am
this is huge, seismic. it is breaking news on this wednesday, september 19th. from abc news, this is "world news now." this is really -- this is really shocking news. first i think earlier this year we had barry manilow came out of the closet. that was shocking to me. now the possibility of bert and ernie. >> no one would have ever thought it. >> no, not at all. we'll dive into it later on and break down if we'll be seeing them at the next pride parade. we have other things to get into. we'll start with the breaking news, the woman who accused the supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh of sexual assault refusing to testify unless there is a full fbi investigation first. >> her attorney says the claim that kavanaugh groped ford when they were teenagers needs to be assessed in a nonpartisan manner. >> in response, senate judiciary
3:32 am
committee chairman chuck grassley dismissed the need for an investigation, saying there is no reason for further delay. >> meanwhile, democrats on the committee expressed support for dr. ford's call not to rush the process. abc's mary bruce has more from capitol hill. >> reporter: senator mazey hirono, one of only four women on the senate judiciary committee, calls this a moment of reckoning. >> i want to say to the men of this country, just shut up and step up. do the right thing for a change. >> reporter: republican leaders insist they're giving christine blasey ford an opportunity to be heard in public before the judiciary committee hearing next monday. >> this is mainly an opportunity to accommodate her and we look forward to giving her a chance to tell her story. >> do you think her allegations are credible? does she sound credible to you? >> i don't know how you judge that until you have the hearing. >> reporter: republican lisa murkowski, whose vote is critical, suggests there are alternatives. >> if she doesn't want to appear in public before the committee, she can do it privately before
3:33 am
the committee. she would be under oath. >> reporter: if ford does end up testifying, she and judge kavanaugh would be the only witnesses, fielding questions from ten democrats and 11 republicans. all of the republicans men. >> obviously the optics of 11, you know, men there on the republican side, it is what it is. that's the committee right now. so we'll just have to do our best. >> reporter: those senators keenly aware of the excruciating questions anita hill faced during the clarence thomas confirmation hearings more than 25 years ago when she accused him of sexual harassment. >> you testified this morning that the most embarrassing question involved -- i hope this is not too bad -- women's large breasts. that's a word we use all the time. >> reporter: today anita hill writing in "the new york times" there is no way to redo 1991 but there are ways to do better. three of the senators who questioned anita hill back in 1991 are still on the judiciary
3:34 am
committee today. one of them, republican orrin hatch, said he's already siding with kavanaugh. he said he believes kavanaugh's denial and believes ford is mistaken. mary bruce, abc news, capitol hill. >> anita hill will be on "gma" later this morning. meanwhile, president trump showing uncharacteristic restraint. he tweeted the supreme court is one of the main reasons i got elected. i hope republicans and others are watching and studying the democrats' playbook. kavanaugh was at the white house huddling with his confirmation team as the president talked to reporters. >> i feel so bad for him that he's going through this to be honest with you. i feel so badly for him. this is not a man that deserves this. >> as for dr. ford, her attorney says her life has been turned upside down and death threats have forced her and her family to relocate from their home. we're learning details about an upcoming bombshell book from stormy daniels. the adult film actress gets
3:35 am
graphic about her alleged tryst with president trump in 2006. she describes the president's private parts and she says, quoting here, it may have been the least impressive sex i've ever had. i never thought i would read that line on tv. daniels also writes about an incident in 2007 when she overheard a call between trump and hillary clinton. daniels says clinton and trump talked about her race for the democratic presidential nomination at the time against barack obama. daniels says when the call was over, trump was, quote, effusive, saying he loved clinton and calling her so smart. the book, "full disclosure," is out october 2nd. >> i want to commend you for keeping a straight face. now turning to other news. five days after making landfall in north carolina, what's left of hurricane florence has moved back out into the atlantic ocean. >> the storm's remnants created
3:36 am
an eerie scene over new york city as it blew through. meantime, large parts of the carolinas are still dealing with major flooding problems. here is marci gonzalez. >> reporter: devastating flooding covering entire communities. the more than 8 trillion gallons of rain dumped by florence leaving at least five rivers at record levels. water still rising. >> this is the main highway. this is hester town road. >> reporter: stranding people on roadways and in homes. more than 4,000 pulled to safety in north carolina alone. the rescues ongoing. >> right now we have people who are being pulled out of the water. >> reporter: the coast guard plucking this man and his dog from his rooftop. and this family clinging to trees for nearly five hours. >> hey, is there more than just you? >> yes. >> okay. >> i've got my son on my back. >> your son's on your back. okay, come on. >> reporter: volunteers saving the pregnant mother, her husband and two children from the neck-deep water. >> honestly, i kept telling him if we make it to sunrise,
3:37 am
somebody's coming. >> reporter: others in coastal communities breathing a sigh of relief after emotionally evacuating ahead of florence prepared for the worst. >> it just -- it hit me and i shed a few tears. >> reporter: now returning amazed to find their homes unscathed. >> dry as a bone. >> reporter: but thousands of people are still without power as some communities prepare for this flooding to continue for days. president trump expected to visit some of the hardest hit areas today. the catholic diocese of brooklyn has reached a record $27.5 million settlement with four men allegedly abused by a teacher as children. the victims were between the ages of 8 and 12. new york has joined a growing list of states that are investigating sexual abuse cases and alleged cover-ups in the catholic church.
3:38 am
each man will receive nearly $7 million. that's the largest individual payment on record by the catholic church. well, the tampa bay buccaneers' quarterback jameis winston is now being sued for the incident that led to his current suspension. an arizona uber driver claims winston groped her at a restaurant in 2016. the federal lawsuit is seeking more than $75,000 in damages. the incident led to winston's three-game suspension. he has not been criminally charged but i say that tampa bay is not necessarily missing him that much. that fitzgerald kid is doing great for them so far. >> yeah. well, in other news, these have been busy times for the mayor of a houston suburb. >> judy b. cochran recently won her election and also became a great grandmother. this week she shot a 12-foot-long, 580-pound alligator. mayor cochran did it during a hunting trip on her ranch. cochran says it was a safe and ethical hunt. >> don't mess with great
3:39 am
grandma. she also says that massive reptile wasn't a stranger, okay, here's this, her family believes it ate one of their miniature horses a few years ago. >> oh. >> so grandma had a vendetta. >> grandma can keep a grudge. >> yeah. grandma did not come to play. >> if i'm many of her political opponents, all right, you win. >> she plans to have the head mounted and keep part of the tail in her office. >> okay. that's where it got weird. coming up, julie chen bids a tearful good-bye to "the talk." why she told her co-hosts and viewers why she's stepping down from the show. and later in "the skinny," hear which co-star was totally distracted by chris hemsworth's bod. that's ahead in "the skinny" on "world news now." distracted by chris hemsworth's bod. that's ahead in "the skinny" on "world news now." "world news now." and you look amazingly comfortable.
3:40 am
3:42 am
this is what it looked like this is what it looked like in the new y this is what it looked like in the new york city subway system as heavy rain from florence fell outside. the water pouring through ceilings and soaking the tracks and platforms below. the flooding forced at least two subway lines to be rerouted for a short time. just when we thought that the washington, d.c. subway system
3:43 am
had the exclusive on hot messes during weather. >> hot messes, yeah. >> here comes new york city. >> never too far behind. >> nope. authorities say a prominent california doctor is a serial rapist who preyed on hundreds of women. he appeared on the bravo series "online dating rituals of the american male" and has been charged with sexually assaulting and drugging two women. investigators say his girlfriend was an accomplice. >> both incidents allegedly took place in 2016. investigators are looking for additional victims. as many as 1,000. they say riley and the doctor may have videotaped their victims. >> we believe the defendants used their good looks and charm to lower the inhibitions of their potential prey. >> attorneys representing the couple say they deny any claims of nonconsensual sex. they're free on bail and will appear in court next month. new developments at cbs in the wake of the departure of the ceo les moonves over those allegations of sexual
3:44 am
misconduct. >> moonves' wife julie chen has made a dramatic and emotional exit from "the talk." the show she's been hosting for the last eight years. here is linsey davis. >> i will miss you all very, very much. >> reporter: the speculation is over, julie chen making it official she will not be returning to "the talk." >> i need to spend more time at home with my husband and our young son. so i've decided to leave "the talk." >> reporter: the announcement played on a video at the end of the show comes a week after les moonves, her husband of 14 years, was forced to resign as ceo of cbs after a dozen women came forward accusing him of sexual misconduct. moonves denies all the allegations. cbs is investigating. when allegations first emerged in july, chen defended her husband, calling him a kind, decent and moral human being. >> i will stand by that statement today, tomorrow, forever. >> reporter: last week, chen ended cbs' "big brother" using her married name for the first time.
3:45 am
>> i'm julie chen moonves. good night. >> reporter: at the same time, her co-hosts on "the talk" tackling the scandal head-on. >> the man has a problem. >> but some of them reduced to tears. >> we thank you for eight years of dear friendship. >> reporter: chen saying good-bye with this message. >> and i know this show and the sisterhood it stands for will live on for many, many, many more years to come. >> reporter: chen is expected to stay on as the host of "big brother," at least until the season finale later on this month. linsey davis, abc news, new york. when we come back, are bert and ernie really gay? >> big question. and what bieber is doing at buckingham palace. "the skinny" is next. >> we live in amazing times. buckingham palace. "the skinny" is next. >> we live in amazing times.
3:47 am
3:48 am
controversy over bert and ernie. he reportedly started his 15-year career back on the show in 1984 tells a gay magazine he wrote the relationship between the two muppets based on the relationship he had with his own longtime partner. >> boy, am i thirsty. am i thirsty. am i thirsty. >> oh, ernie. ernie, if you're so thirsty, why don't you just get up and get yourself a glass of water, huh? >> because, bert, i'm so tired. the only thing i am more than tired is thirsty. >> y'all, all these years we were watching muppet porn. who knew? >> come on! what a relationship he had. >> he's thirsty. >> so thirsty. the show's parent company sesame workshop denied on twitter the guys are gay, saying they remain puppets and don't have a sexual orientation. >> not that there is anything wrong with it.
3:49 am
overnight, sesame workshop released a statement to abc news saying bert and ernie were created to be best friends and to teach young children that people can get along with those who are very different than themselves. i mean, yeah. >> but meanwhile. >> the twitterverse has been lighting up over the controversy, as you'd expect. >> jennifer tweeted, look, bert and ernie's relationship was way healthier than kermit and ms. piggy's. point for jennifer. >> funky bob writes he doesn't care about bert and ernie's sexual orientation, but how is elmo a toddler with his own apartment? >> questions that need answers. brian says if bert were gay, he would have done something about that unibrow. >> true. there is not a gay man walking in hell's kitchen or the castro with a unibrow. what do you think? bert and ernie gay or straight? >> i'm staying out of this one.
3:50 am
>> look, he's thirsty and tired. >> as long as they're happy. >> that's all that matters. >> as roommates living together and thirsty. >> their rubber ducky, you're right. >> everything in my world is just like, poof. >> we love them. >> a whole new thing. >> we love them the way they are and their muppet parents are accepting of their friendship. >> time for the next story. now to the new details about that surprise marriage proposal on stage at the emmy awards. jan svendsen said she had no idea he was going to propose. they have been dating ten years and finally he put a ring on it. >> now some fresh controversy swirling around the emmys this morning, including some weird clapping.
3:51 am
>> remember last year it was nicole kidman's seal clap that she blamed on her rings. >> but this year, "genius" nominee antonio banderas was spotted doing this. no word from banderas about that weird clap. what is that finger doing? >> i don't know. it's weird. i'm afraid to do it because i fear i would be giving someone the wrong signal. but there was a lighthearted moment as well. >> tracy morgan introduced "stranger things" stars millie bobby brown to bobby brown. >> they didn't meet in person. it's said to have been a telephone introduction. >> how cool. and after the show, a very different side of jessica biel. >> the lead actress nominee shared this photo of herself on instagram chowing down on some cake. >> and this one captioned, "portrait of a hungover woman who had cake for breakfast." >> wish i looked like the
3:52 am
hungover or after eating cake. we're hearing from dakota johnson on what she really thinks of chris hemsworth. she said his body was distracting during shooting. >> because it is. e really thinks of chris hemsworth. she said his body was distracting during shooting. >> because it is. part b is all the doctor stuff... the most important thing to know? medicare doesn't pay for everything. and guess what that means... yep...you're on the hook for the rest. that's why it's important to consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. a plan like this helps pay for some of what medicare doesn't. so you could end up paying less out of your own pocket. that's nice. and these are the only medicare supplement plans endorsed by aarp. selected for meeting their high standards of quality and service. it feels good to have someone looking out for you. want to find out more? call unitedhealthcare insurance company now to request this free decision guide, with aarp medicare supplement plan options
3:53 am
to fit your needs. and learn how this type of plan works together with a part d prescription drug plan. here's something else good to know. with a medicare supplement plan, you have freedom. freedom to go with any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients. you're not restricted to a network. ever. and if you need to visit a specialist, you'll have a choice there, too. your coverage goes with you, too, anywhere you travel in the country. we have grandkids out of state. they love our long visits. not sure about their parents, though. call unitedhealthcare now to learn more and ask for your free decision guide. want to apply? go ahead, apply. anytime's a good time. remember, the #1 important thing, medicare doesn't pay for everything. a med supp plan could help pay some of what's left. and this is the only plan of its kind endorsed by aarp. that's the icing on the cake...
3:54 am
i love cake. finding the right aarp medicare supplement plan for you could be just a quick call away. so...call. for you could be just a quick call away. i'm about to pop a cap of "mmm fresh" in that washer with unstopables in-wash scent boosters by downy. ah, it's so fresh. and it's going to last from wash to wear for up to 12 weeks. right, freshness for weeks! downy unstopables. for a fresh too feisty to quit. and now try downy unstopables with the original scent of tide
3:55 am
we're back with the bonus we're back with the bonus round and we're back with that update on chris hemsworth. >> because we owe you this one. dakota johnson tells "vogue" australia that hemsworth's body was distracting. >> the 28-year-old said she often found her mind wandering over hemsworth's ripped physique. but she added others on the set had trouble focusing as well. i wonder what bert and ernie would think of this. yeah, all right. >> i get it. >> does he even own a shirt? all right. >> look, i'm not mad at him.
3:56 am
next, justin bieber making headlines for what he did just outside buckingham palace. he pulled out his guitar and serenaded his reported bride hailey baldwin. >> the grand gesture comes less than a week after the couple reportedly tied the knot at a courthouse in new york city. bieber performed for half an hour. wow. even asking for song requests from the crowd. >> and for anyone who had extra change. actor jason biggs is creating a social media stir. >> the "american pie" star took to instagram to poke fun at his wife's over the top lunches that she's been packing for their kids. >> so this is one of jenny mullins' typical packed lunches. look at that, five star, including salmon and cream cheese, oatmeal cup, even raw coconut garnish. go, girl. >> yeah, this is what jason did himself. for monday's lunch, including a rotten avocado, whole sweet potato and burnt gluten-free
3:57 am
cookie. >> half of a bagel? tuesday, just as appetizing, including dry muesli, a box of jell-o and three mentos. >> that's not that bad. the very special birthday surprise for our bestie sara haines over at "gma day." >> the new "gma day" co-star was surprised on air by her husband and two adorable children for her 41st birthday. >> it was part of a series of sweet surprises for her. her co-host michael strahan also brought out her college volleyball coach along with her teammates. wow, it was the sara haines show. big party there. juju chang celebrated a birthday monday. happy birthday, juju, as well. all virgos. >> stay with us.
4:00 am
making news in america this morning, a new bombshell in the brett kavanaugh nomination battle. his accuser now refusing to testify before a senate committee, instead demanding an fbi investigation. reaction from capitol hill overnight and what it could mean for kavanaugh's chance of getting onto the supreme court. and the new accusation from president trump overnight. breaking news from north korea, kim jong-un agreeing overnight to permanently dismantle his main nuclear complex, but there's a catch. what he wants the united states to do. a reality tv doctor and his girlfriend accused of preying on women, drugging and assaulting them. >> on orthopedic surgeon will
191 Views
IN COLLECTIONS
KGO (ABC) Television Archive Television Archive News Search ServiceUploaded by TV Archive on