>>> tonight on "nightline," the exorcist. we'll give you a rare glimpse into a form of catholic exorcism. on a search to answer the ultimate question, does the devil exist? >>> mouthing off. he's america's top earning comedian and he delivers every punch line without opening his mouth. tonight, jeff dun hall is seriously funny. >>> and, snow way. just as the northeast dusts off another pounding from above, wiping out all kinds of winter records and burying dreams of a winter reprieve, we have the weather, by the numbers. >> announcer: from the global resources of abc news, with terry moran, cynthia mcfadden and bill weir in new york city, this is "nightline," january 27th, 2011. >> good evening, i'm bill weir. the idea of the devil, evil incarna incarnate, has symbolic force. and the character of lucifer inhabits our greatest literature. but what about the devil not as a symbol, but as a willful being? a fallen angel in christian belief that cannot only affect human events but enter human bodies? tonight, we go inside the con

you play an exorcist, which -- did you go study with an exorcist? are there exorcists around?there was one on our set. >> jimmy: that's fun. >> yeah, father gary thomas. and he's from california and it's his story. >> jimmy: father gary is an exorcist? this is the story of his life? >> i'm always in doubt about everything, which makes it open but it's an interesting story, because it is about -- does the devil exist or does it not. is it a mental disorder or a possession? father gary asked me, what do you think? i said, i don't know, i have doubts about everything. but it's an interesting. the young actor who is in it with me is colin o'donnell, great young actor, he's -- >> jimmy: was he intimidated working with you? >> oh, yeah. >> jimmy: i would think. >> young irish guy and his first movie and he said, i'm a bit nervous. i said, oh, really, you should be. so i said, a few days went on, he said, how do you think that scene was? i said, is that the way you're going to play the part? i said, it's your career, it's up to you. then he knows it's a joke. then he insults me back.

you can't be afraid as an exorcist. you really can't.r you shouldn't be an exorcist. >> reporter: father gary is traveling to los angeles to go to the movie premier on wednesday. he says it's been an emotional experience especially watching his story play out on the big screen. reporting live from san jose, janine de la vega. >>> stay tuned because ktvu channel 2 news at 6:00 is next with a car fire that turned into a homicide case in san francisco. a neighbor there grabbed his video camera just as flamed broke out. we'll tell you what he captured and talk with investigator, plus -- >> reporter: deportation and domestic violence. why that is being portrayed here in the bay area. that story is next on ktvu channel 2 news at 6:00. >>> the federal programming has been deporting illegal immigrants accused of serious crimes may have a consequence, penalizing victims of violence. >>> and the city may start dimming light, and it's not just because of the environment or the committee, there's an -- environment or economy, it might be something t

. >>> a movie influenced by the exorcist is topped at the box office.he rite earned $15 million this weekend. the warner bros. film starred anthony hopkins, playing an american priest who goes to italy to attend an exorcism class. >>> no strings attach moved to 7, 13.7 million. the mechanic and green hornet tied for third. an intense week in the theaters, getting a bump from its dozen oscar nominations, the king's speech rounds out the top five. >>> lawrence, seems like people were better able to deal with the rains today, at least on the roads. >> and by afternoon, it started to break up and we started to see more sun. some places over an inch of rainfall. looks like things are coming to an end. let's take you out there right now. not bad over the city, skies beginning to break. still a lot of clouds over part of the east bay. showers winding down, as doppler radar picking up that activity, but most heads to the south. slowly dragging its way out of the bay area, now making its way southward toward the monterrey bay area, all the way down into southern

. >>> a movie based on the experiences each and every bay area priest and vatican- certified exorcist took the top spot at the movie box-office. "the right" with sir anthony hopkins is based on the story of father gary thomas, a catholic priest in saratoga. he traveled to rome to learn how to practice exorcism and thomas says is he happy with the film and that the exorcisms depicted are accurate. >>> the stars out in hollywood for the screen actors guildard awards "the king's speech" won for best movie. natalie portman won best actress for "the swan." and "modern family" won for best comedy series. >>> the four of the san francisco giants 2010 world series trophy continues with a stop in the east bay. the trophia has been traveling the country, making stops as far away as new york city. it's back in the bay area tomorrow with a public showing. the trophy will be on display starting at noon at the lesher center for the arts in walnut creek. >>> listen to this, a homeless couple in green bay, wisconsin has won the chance to go to the super bowl. the dallas convention and visitors bureau

fat gary thomas has been the official exorcist of the diocese of san jose the past several years. he was trained at the vatican and movie the rite is loosely based on his experiences. as continual as exorcism is father gary told abc news he says it works and the devil is real. >> when i have been in the involved of ministry of exorcism and prayed with people who have had demon attachment i have seep satan. >> "nightline"more with father gary tonight right after this news cast. >>> 2 words express how people back east are feeling tonight. enough already. forecast calls for a miserable foot of snow overnight but it was actually much worse. new york city got 19 inches. philadelphia 17. north of would ton the steel beam of this warehouse roof were snapped under the weight of 3 and half feet of snow. 2 men were trapped for hours. they are okay tonight. >> wow! we have had just glorious weather here but some changes are coming our way as well. spencer is here with that. >> that video makes me feel bet about telling you that showers are coming our way. okay? right now it is dry outside.

inspired by a story of people being possessed by the devil and exorcists.t. i keep a very open mind. but we had them out on the set. father gary thomas. he's an exorcist. and we had long talks, you know, during the scenes. i think for many source. i said, do you believe in the devil? he said, without a doubt. he said, what do you believe? i said, i'm not sure. but the young actor with me, colin o'donoghue, a wonderful, young actor. he plays the other priest. he actually sat in an on exorcism. >> he sat through one? >> he did. >> what kind of effect did it have on him? >> it was very strange. and there was extraordinary. there was a nunn being exorcised. >> in this one, you are -- >> i play a priest. >> you play a priest. and you end up being possessed by the devil yourself. i want to show a little bit of when that's starting to happen. >> okay. >> shall we begin? i told you, he's not here. >> who are you? >> just an old friend. >> friend? >> yeah. >> i'm not sure i follow you. >> oh, you'll follow me, michael. you've always followed me. you are following me

mccambridge --the debate was who should get credit for the devil coming out of linda blair for "exorcistts in that so i had to be true to my principle. >> jimmy: to your craft. >> yeah. >> jimmy: and then you kicked yourself in the butt. you're like come on. [ laughter ] craft whatever. yeah. i mean, yeah. you're riding your one-eyed horse with a pee saddle. [ laughter ] awful. it ain't happening. [ laughter ] into the sunset. or whatever, wherever chubby wanted to go, i guess. >> wherever. >> jimmy: the one cool thing i got to say i love about you is that you were in -- [ laughter ] you were in -- when "sesame street" first came out you were in one of the first test things -- they just released a dvd and i saw -- >> burt lancaster and i were the first probably known people to participate. i did the letters, did i? >> jimmy: yeah. >> and burt did the numbers up to 10. anyway, i said to mr. robinson, who was one of the producers, holly robinson's dad. i said, you know, this is not going to work because the children will be terrified of those muppet characters. [ laughter ] little did i kn

. >>> a horror movie influenced by "exorcist" is tops at the box office.his weekend. the warner bros. film stars anthony hopkins, who plays an american priest who goes to italy to attend an exorcism class. >>> last week's top film no strings attached slipped to second with 13.7 million. the mechanic and the green hornet tied for third. in its 10th week in the theaters getting a bump from its dozen oscar nominations was "the king's speech." >> the actor goes to the cast of the kings speech. >> the kings speech received a royal welcome at the screen actors guild awards last night. the filmed received two awards for best cast of a motion picture and best actor for leading man colin firth. he also won a golden globe for in a role. >>> among the other winners, natalie portman, best actress for black swan, supporting actor christian bale for the fighter and supporting actress melissa leo for the fighter. >> the most sought after degree is for mcdonald's. they teach management techniques. the school in china compares 1% of applications compared to 7% admission in

horror movie came out influenced by "exorcist" is tops at the box office.he rite he should $15 million this weekend. the warner bros. film stars anthony hopkins to plays an american priest who goes to italy for an exorcism. >> it's based on a story from a priest in san jose. >>> last week's top film no strings attached in second place. the mechanic and green hornet tying for third and bumped from the dozen oscar nominations, "the king's speech." >> still the only one i want to see. >> it's great. >>> a big night in hollywood, as well. "the king's speech," speaking of it got a royal tribute at the screen actors guild awards. >> the actor goes to the cast of "the king's speech." >> that film receiving two awards for best cast of a motion picture and best actor for leading man, colin firth. he also won a golden globe for the rome. >>> among the other winners natalie portman for "black swan," supporting actor christian bale for the fighter. and supporting actress melissa leo also for the fighter. >>> 6:50. coming up, man's best friend getting a few more. see wh