a musical take on the real life of pt barnum. history founded the barnum & bailey circus in the 19th seven years in development? >> and a half. >> and a half? not that anyone's counting. what's it like after all those years to see it come to life? >> it's a great thrill. it's nerve-racking because i care so much about it. we have become a family. also i've been around long enough to know these things don't come along very often. >> i think i've had an idea -- >> reporter: the film follows his journey in creating the first-ever circus. >> putting together a show. i need a star. >> reporter: rallying a group of outcasts and misfits into a spectacle. united against backlash and bigotry. there is a strong current of taking outcasts, allowing them to come out of the shadows. yet at the same time it's met with some of sort of mob mentality. >> right. >> are there sort of parallels in current affairs that you draw on? >> absolutely. >> because art always reflects life. >> as we develop this for seven years, the theme of inclusion, the t

barnum, jr.edad: for saving the lives of many on that december day in 1965, barnum received the medal of honor in february 1967. in his case, it took just 14 months. when you look back at your career and all the tremendous opportunities you've had, how d you feel about it? >> i feel blessed, i really do. soledad: why do you think some people did not get their medal who look back at now and think >> i can see that bias, person bias, and you know, when we' dealing with individuals who make decisions, we're dealing with imperfection. and as a sometimes is not done. soledad: do you think it matter to set history straight? >> without our history, what a i mean, we are what those that have gone before us have done. as they say, if you don't recognize the heroes who'vet freedom free, then shame on you soledad: next on "matter of fact" -- sergeant melvin morris -- a story of recognition denied. >> the actions that morris took there was little doubt in my recognized. soledad: and later, he set a record bi

barnum in "the greatest shgreatest showman. what do p.t. barnum and wolverine have in common?push him up against the back him into a corner, look out. i've got a little bit of that. >> reporter: the movie an over the top homage to the father of barnum and bailey circus in the 19th century. seven years in development. >> and a half. >> reporter: not that anyone's counting. what's it like after all those years to see it come to life? >> it's a break through, nerve-wracking because i care so much about it. we have become a family, and also i've been around long enough to know that these things don't come around very often. >> reporter: the film follows his journey in creating the first-ever circus. >> and i need a star. >> reporter: rallying a group of outcasts and misfits into a spectacle. he makes jumps, accusations that he exploited and took advantage of those who were social pariahs. >> he's a flawed character, but what happened was he genuinely created this family. i'm not sure that's what he intended in the beginning. >> reporter: barnum may have invented showbiz, but jackm

there was an awareness looking at barnum merck-- mermaid where he said it was a mermaid and you go in and it was monkey so to a fishtail and you are like okay and part of what you reacted to his houck could i be so foolish not just i was fooled, but i don't think that second part happens as much. instead of barnum's promise that we are all experts that anyone could be a next dirt, that was part of i think that appeal and now there are no experts. knowing to be an expert in anything. to be a doctor or scientist is to be a fool now and i think that is the thing we have to think about less the media or medium that it comes to us at. >> i was on a plane a couple weeks ago and the pilots got on and said there was a dent in the tale that would not allow him to fly and people on the plane started screaming at him to try and fly the plane. [laughter] >> that is a large part of what's happening here. >> did you fly? >> no. i got off. [laughter] so, we have this thing now and i think we've actually been in denial of the difference between objectivity and subjectivity and in this country i think

but basically he's barnum. barnum was like, why have a a one-ring circus when you can have three?night. and you're all welcome. [ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: you can all fit. >> literally. >> jimmy: it's giant. >> but it's actually going off tonight. >> jimmy: it really is. >> yeah, so you know, if it doesn't go well, i might just stow away. >> jimmy: and tell me about this movie now. because you've been working on this for a while. >> seven and a half years. seven and a half years ago, i just finished -- >> jimmy: so much work goes in to these things, i don't know if people even realize. >> well i just hope for the oscars -- the producer of that came to me and said, "man, you should do what you've done on the oscars, what you've done on stage, you should do it on film." and he had this idea for an original movie musical about p.t. barnum and i said, that's fantastic. to be honest, i thought it was about a one in ten chance because it had been 23 years since a studio had commissioned an all-original movie musical. so, that's -- so all the music is original. >> jimmy: wow. >> a

barnum's life. >> this is barnum. he woumdn't want a staid old period piece. he would want music.ance to be fantastic and cutting edge and new. >> yes! >> it's about imagination. passion. and -- following your dreams. and just -- abandon, fearless abandon in the end. >> enjoy yourselves. >> reporter: "the greatest showman" has zac and zendaya flying high as star-crossed lovers. she's sporting some cotton candy hair for the role. hugh couldn't be prouder of his young co-stars. >> he sings astonishing. his dancing is amazing. he worked really hard on that. you clearly have a skill for >> den someday ya was remarkably skilled at trapeze by the end of the movie. >> action. >> swinging around the room with one arm attached to a piece of rope. legitimately. no harnesses. >> usually, you have a love story and there's choreography. it happens on the ground. literally, everything that happens is flying in the air. me grabbing him. him grabbing me. swing around. >> p.t. barnum, at your service. he believes what makes you different makes you special. it empowers people to just be themselves.

barnum i'm not sure -- of course i'm sure. hitman is the p.t. barnum of poetry. whitman lovers may not agree see -- thereou can are some here -- i don't mean disrespect. it is -- do i contradict myself? of course i do. i contain multiple attitudes which is what the barnum museum did. question, why was there spiritualism before the war? after the war d why you would want to contact the recently departed there were so many of them. but it started in 1848, probably think of 1848 when gain upstate new york you hear there are two sisters and they begin to interpret those knocks actually tell you and give communication with loved ones you have lost or perhaps even loved ones but usually loved ones and many of them, quakers, who went to the fox sisters, they would no out that there was slavery in heaven. so, you see what i mean in this context. mean is that i was interested in bringing together or various tions items of various people, various trying to figure out what their relationship had to do with one another. reconstruction, if anythi anything, because there may n

i'm curious if pt barnum were to put on x-men show what do you think that show would be like?loved the x-men. really that's what he was doing. and it is the same theme. >> all right. so the movie hits theaters on december 20th you can hear the full interview full x-men answer at youtube.continue/fox5 d. d.c.kism i'm heading ready to head to my interviews with terry bradshaw and cat williams and anna kendrick on pitch perfect three. i see star wars later on today. i'm live from here tomorrow and see you back in studio wednesday morning i'll be live with you guys in the morning for sure we have more from zac efron and greatest showman. stay tuned for that. >> kevin is only 36 eye hours away from sleeping is the good news. >> i have not slept -- i don't think i've slept in 11 months. i'm looking forward to sleeping on tuesday night. hey, listen, i love my job so i'm excited. >> no bout doubt about it. have fun today. >> we are celebrating the holidays with some treats from the cheesecake f factory. >> first baptist church of glenn arden some members are here live in the loft with

lincoln barnum, i'm not so sure. whitman is the pt barnum of poetry. whitman lovers may not agree with me. disrespect, doy i contradict myself? of course i contradict myself. i contain multitudes, which is exactly what the barnum museum did. why was the spiritualism before the war? i can understand after what you would want to contact the recently departed, there were so many of them. spiritualism actually started in 848, but i think of 1848 as in upstate new york, you see two sisters who here knocks. they interpret them and they can and put youl you, in communication with loved ones you have lost, or perhaps not even loved ones, but usually. the quakers who went to the fox sisters, they would find out that there was no slavery in heaven, which was what they hear. you see what i mean in the particular context. i was interested in bringing together various questions, or various items of various people and events, and trying to figure out what their relationship had to do with one another. anything, because there may not be answers, or other people may h

barnum. this film is a musical, telling the story of p.t. barnum.s a great cast, including hugh jackman, zac efron, zendaya. it's an incredible musical, and the music itself, written by the lyricist who wrote "la la land" and also the people who wrote the music for "dear evan hansen." worth seeing for the songs alone. my issues with the film were the lip-syncing of the songs. it felt off, and it took me out of the film. actually better than the movie. the beginning is entirely too fast, and i couldn't find myself focusing on one particular character to have an emotional arc. it kind of loses the audience at times. overall, though, jackman is fantastic. i love him in this role. the breakout star here is keala settle, and she plays the bearded woman. my apologies if i have her name wrong. but she's amazing in the film, and she has a performance of a song called "this is me" that will absolutely blow your mind. i gave this movie a 3 out of 5 only because i felt the lip-syncing was off. the songs are amazing. worth seeing for the songs alone. i just did

i'm curious if pt barnum would to put on x-men show what do you think that show would be like?d it is the same theme. >> all right. that's hugh jackman talking about the new movie show. if you go to youtube.com/fox5 d.c. you can see the rest of his answer about the x-men. it is very similar idea. pt barnum went out and he found these incredible stars who were outcasts and afraid to kind of go out and let the public see them, and he kind of turned them into stars and similar theme to the way the x-men felt about the way they felt about their powers. so if you go to youtube.com/fox5 d.c. you can see the full interview with hugh jackman and i'll be back with you guys in the 8:00 and 9:00 and 10am hour with more from this also the golden globe break down. it's like 4:00 a.m. here. pardon me. good to see you guys. i'll talk to you in an hour. >> i was just wondering. >> love hugh jackman. >> do you go shower one hour, shave one hour, you're starting your day with us -- kev. >> it's interesting. my first hit with you guys at 3:45 this morning. i went back -- i laid down for another 1

barnum at your service. >> reporter: a singing hugh jackman serving up circus impresario p.t.man." >> you clearly have a flair for show business. >> for show business? >> uh-huh. >> reporter: in "i, tonya," margot robbie as the fiery figure skater from in the '90s. allison janney killing it as tonya's mother. >> stop that. >> reporter: releases in december often mean real actors playing real people and this holiday season, filmmakers hope you'll want to be part of the year-end awards conversation. >> will you have dinner with me? >> reporter: "phantom thread" is said to be daniel day-lewis' adios to acting about a dressmaker and his muse a must see. "call me by your name" seeks to reinvent the first romance film with critics lauding its performances and its swoon-worthy visuals. >> i can show you around. >> that'd be great. thank you. >> reporter: guillermo del toro in "the shape of water" pits michael shannon against sally hawkins. it's been building oscar buzz for months. >> is she deaf? >> mute. >> reporter: while alexander payne shrinks matt damon for "downsizing." >> nerv

barnum and how he created the greatest spectacular on earth.s lots of singing, dancing, acrobatics as well as a duet sung by fellow disney channel stars all grown-up, zendaya and zac efron after they get to know each other on the road. >> i want to introduce my newest hire. mr. phil carlisle. >> pleasure to meet you. >> pleasure. >> what is your act, mr. carlisle? >> i don't have an act. >> hmm. everyone's got an act. >> so no reviews yet. so instead of reading from the critics, we'll hear actual quotes plightness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business. that was from his 1880 book. and wit z2momz zi0z y2momy yi0y >>> this morning on "world news now," president trump is one step closer to victory. >> in a late night vote, senate republicans have passed a sweeping tax overhaul bill as it now heads back to the house for a revote. so who really wins? and who loses? we'll break it down. >>> and a nay juror investigation under way. at least 12 people are dead in a horrific bus crash in mexico. all of them were cruise ship passeng

barnum's life. >> he wouldn't want some staid old period piece. he'd want the music.ting edge and new. it's about imagination, about passion, and following your dreams. >> enjoy your simples. >> the greatest showman has zach and zendaya flying high as star crossed lovers. she's sporting some cotton candy hair, and hugh couldn't be prouder of his co-star. >> his dancing is amazing. he worked really hard on that. >> you clearly have a flair for show business. >> zendaya was remarkably skilled at trapeze by the end of this movie. swinging around the room with one arm attached to a piece of rope, like legitimately. no harnesses. >> usually when you have a love story and a musical, there's choreography, it all happens on the ground. but literally everything that happens is like flying in the air, me grabbing him, him grabbing me, swinging around. >> p.t. barnum at your service. >> he believes that what makes you different actually makes you special. >> it really dawoes empower peoe to just be themselves. >> that hugh jackman is something else, right? he's always been himse

. >> pj barnum at your service. >> based on pj barnum's life hugh jackman plays the legendaries kingerything every day. >> we did become very close friends because we were together every day. >> we had to play a character for seven years and it is clear why. he is the greatest showman. >> i'm kevin frazier for entertainment tonight. back to you in the studio. >>> and coming up in the next half an hour right here on cbs-3 "eyewitness news" this saturday morning, christmas is a time for family and for some a time for forgiveness, the eagles have that christmas spirit, we will show you video that proves it, and how act are bradley cooper got involved. >>> also ahead a real christmas tree is a tradition for many and they can be beautiful but for some people they can also be miserable. what doctors say you can do to keep your christmas tree from making you sick, we are back in a at college inn we craft a deeper, richer brothok, because every detail matters. we carefully select our all-natural chicken and farm grown vegetables, purposefully blend the most flavorful herbs and spices, and fi

barnum. he brings a band of outcasts together to redefine show business.ourself a showman? in real life? >> no, i'm more of an introvert. >> serious? >> i'm way more quiet. relaxed. but on a stage? i can feel very relaxed there. i don't know why. ever since i was 5, it was the same thing. >> reporter: well, we're all better for it, hugh jackman. one thing about this movie i love, you can take the whole family. it's really, really great. >>> another film that's sure to be a holiday box office favorite. "ferdinand." it was nominated for two golden globes today. anthony anderson and gina rodriguez lend their voices. but it's expressing their voice through hip-hop that seems to get them both in trouble. you both j who would be the better lyricist in a rap? >> doug. >> he would go for the jugular. ♪ i know it's hard to hear but i have a burning question how do you get caught cheating and call it a confession ♪ >> reporter: anthony battled usher. and gina -- rob gronkowski. >> it will be a battle. it would be a real -- if you -- >> do we want to tell? tell them

pt barnum once said there's no such thing as bad publicity and sometimes he tweets things that seem aut he's crazy like a fox. no politician in history has ever use social media the way this presidentp6ñ?ñ? has and hes been so successful at dominating it. he is playing with the media. but, at the end of the day, he has very low approval ratings but the sentiment the stuff that people are reading in and looking at the policy and reacting to. i think that's important. >> should there be concerns propensity to fight back he is a counterpunch or? some people say he punches down or legitimizes folksy should ignore that he could cross the line accidentally and it could have, it could harm him. >> sometimes he doesn't realize he's president of the united states. i honestly think that it when he's reacting to people he office because he has been counterpunching in analyzing and thinking about politics in this way for so long that the other stuff is going to take a little bit more time. >> is there any chance that the media may come around. >> no. i doubt it. president trump in his recent new

barnum. hugh plays the legend who risked it all by making outcasts stars.s initially skeptical protege. >> we have more protesters every day. you're risking everything you built. >> why do you think i'm doing it? >> we were together every day. >> he wanted to play this character for seven years, and it's clear why. he is the greatest showman in many ways. >> za c's love interest is played by sezendaya, who told u the physical commands brought the cast closer. >> you have to trust them to catch you or to, you know, not let go of you, and so, and in many ways, that became our bonding experience. >> there's plenty of bonding and music in "pitch perfect 3." ♪ you better get this party started ♪ >> in the third installment, the college group has graduated, but can't adjust to working in the real world, including rebel wilson's character, fat amy. >> she drops her own one-woman show. >> when a new group of singers steal their spotlight, the girls get a chance to prove themselves and reunite at a uso singing competition. ♪ come on ♪ turn the radio on ♪ it's friday

barnum at your service. >> reporter: a singing hugh jackman in "the greatest showman.", the figure skater from the '90s. allison janney killing it as tonya's mother. >> stop that. >> reporter: real actors playing real people. filmmakers hope you'll want to be part of the year-end awards conversation. >> will you have dinner with me. daniel day-lewis' adios to acting about the dressmaker and his muse. "call me by your name" with critics lauding its performances and its swoon-worthy visuals. >> i can show you around. >> that'd >> reporter: guillermo diaz know del toro "the shape of water," it's been building oscar buzz for months. >> she deaf? >> reporter: while alexander payne shrinks matt damon for downsizing? >> nervous? >> a little. >> reporter: good time to catch "three billboards." >> i don't think those billboards is very fair. >> reporter: saoirse ronan in "lady bird" from greta gerwig. >> is that your given name. >> given to me by me. >> reporter: gary oldman is churchill in "darkest hour" and willem dafoe in "the florida project." >> i warned you, one drip and y

hugh jackman this say film about f barnum and hugh jackman lays him in the film and bottom line he'soverall music and sound tack was better quality element than film itself. it's one of the best i've heard in years. i felt the film i didn't find myself focused on the story line and lip sync pulled me out of moovty at times. decent film, great sound tr track. "and "pitch perfect" i enjoyed spending time with character. the third film was unnec unnecessary. if you want to spend time with the character you'll find it to be a decent film not a great film first is still the best and you can find reviews @kevinmccarthytv twitter i'm kevin mccarthy, fox news. >> got a lot of options. >> "pitch perfect 3." >> i didn't know there was a two. >> i didn't know theres with a one. >> how much time do we have? >> okay. >> all right. >> thanks for joining us tonight, everybody. >> yes "the final 5" is coming up next. merry christmas, happy holidays. >> christmas ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ it all starts with a wish. the final days of wish list are here. hurry in and sign and driv