LIZ: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," AFTER A DECISIVE VICTORY FOR TRUMP IN IOWA, CAN HE CARRY THAT MOMENTUM INTO NEW HAMPSHIRE?

PLUS, A LOOK AT THIS WEEKEND’S FLOODING ACROSS NEW ENGLAND.

AND TAKE ON THE LATEST HOLLYWOOD TRENDS.

A BLOWOUT IN IOWA.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WON THE STATE’S CAUCUS, THE FIRST CONTEST OF THE ELECTION CYCLE, WITH JUST OVER HALF THE VOTE.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS AND FORMER UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR CAME IN AS A DISTANT SECOND AND THIRD, SO WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE US AS WE HEAD INTO NEW HAMPSHIRE?

THE EDITOR FOR "THE BOSTON GLOBE’S" NEW HAMPSHIRE COVERAGE JOINS US NOW.

HOW DO YOU INTERPRET IOWA?

IT DOES SEEM LIKE A BLOW OUT.

IT DOES SEEM TO GIVE DONALD TRUMP AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MOMENTUM GOING INTO THE NEXT BIG THING, WHICH IS NEW HAMPSHIRE.

>> THAT THE BIG QUESTION, IS NOT IT REALLY?

I THINK IT IS REALLY A COMPLICATED QUESTION TO ANSWER.

THE CAUCUSES IN THE MODERN PRIMARY SYSTEM HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND 50 YEARS.

IN THOSE 50 YEARS, NO FORMER PRESIDENT EVER RUN AS PART OF IT .

NO GOP CANDIDATE HAS EVER WON BOTH IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE IN A CONTESTED PRIMARY OR CAUCUS, AND NO GOP CANDIDATE HAS EVER WON WITH MORE THAN 13 PERCENTAGE POINTS IN IOWA, AND TRUMP HAS BLOWN ALL OF THAT OUT OF THE WATER, RIGHT?

HE WON BY 31 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

HE IS STORMING UP TO NEW HAMPSHIRE NEXT, AND THE QUESTION IS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, CAN HE HAVE A REPEAT PERFORMANCE?

I THINK THERE ARE A FEW BIG DIFFERENCES, THOUGH.

HE IS ABSOLUTELY THE CHAMP FOR REPUBLICANS, BUT WILL HE BE ABLE TO PERSUADE ENOUGH INDEPENDENTS TO VOTE FOR HIM?

THAT IS TOUGH TO TELL.

>> WE WILL BREAK THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE AS YOU SAY, THERE IS A LOT IN THERE.

DONALD TRUMP IS RESENTING THIS AS A RIDE THE WAVE OF MOMENTUM, JUST HAS TO CLINCH NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND THEN IT IS IT’S PROBABLY PRETTY MUCH GAME OVER.

DO YOU SEE THAT AT ALL?

>> I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY, THAT IF YOU CLINCH THESE TWO, ESPECIALLY SINCE ONE CANDIDATE RARELY DOES OR HAS NOT BEFORE, THEN THAT MEANS THAT IS.

I’M NOT SURE THAT IS HOW IT WILL PLAY OUT.

I THINK IF THE WIND IS NOT AS HUGE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, IF NIKKI HALEY CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN HER SURGE, IF DISSENT IS CONTINUES TO HAVE A LUKEWARM SHOWING, THIS COULD DRAG OUT A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

>> LET’S TALK ABOUT NIKKI HALEY, WHO IS POSITIONING HERSELF AS NEW HAMPSHIRE, I HAVE GOT AN EDGE.

THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW WE ARE DOING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, IN SOUTH CAROLINA, I CAN SAFELY SAY TONIGHT, I WILL HAVE MADE THIS REPUBLICAN PRIMARY A TWO-PERSON RACE.

>> HOW LIKELY DOES THAT SEEM AT THIS POINT?

>> SHE IS CERTAINLY TREATING IT AS HER ONLY OPTION.

HER LATEST ADVERTISING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE DOES NOT EVEN MENTION DESANTIS.

IT IS FOCUSED ON HER VERSUS TRUMP AND, FRANKLY, HER VERSUS TRUMP AND BIDEN, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING.

ACCORDING TO A PUBLIC ABOUT LAST WEEK WITH SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY AND USA TODAY, SHE IS PULLING FAR AHEAD OF DESANTIS.

DISSENT IS VOTERS SAY THEY TURNED TO TRUMP AS AN ALTERNATIVE, BUT NIKKI HALEY SEEMS TO BE DOING OK AMONG INDEPENDENTS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEM INTERESTED IN WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY AS IF SHE IS THE REAL TRUMP ALTERNATIVE LEFT IN THE RACE.

I REALLY THINK AT THIS POINT, IT IS TOO HARD TO SPECULATE.

>> WOULD THAT BE GOOD FOR HER IF SHE PUSHES OUT DESANTIS IN ANY WAY FOR THAT SECOND SPOT?

THAT WOULD SEEM TO LEAVE HER EVEN MORE EXPOSED TO A BIG GAP WITH TRUMP.

>> THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION, AND WITH RAMASWAMY BOWING OUT YESTERDAY AND THROWING HIS SUPPORT BEHIND TRUMP, IT IS A GOOD QUESTION IF DESANTIS’ PRESENCE IS ACTING AS A BUFFER, GIVING HER A FOIL, OR IF HE IS DRAWING INDEPENDENT VOTES AWAY FROM HER AND MAKING IT HARDER FOR HER TO WIN AGAINST TRUMP.

HIS IT’S HARD TO TELL.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM IOWA SUPPORTERS?

>> IT IS HARD TO TELL BECAUSE TRUMP SUPPORTERS HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THAT THERE’S NOTHING HE CAN DO THAT’S WRONG, SO IN SPITE OF 91 CASES OF CRIMINAL COUNTS AGAINST HIM, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE COURTS, THEY STILL FEEL THAT HE IS EITHER SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THEM, SAYING THE THINGS THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE THINKING, OR THAT HE IS A REGULAR GUY WHO IS BEING PERSECUTED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT, EVEN WHEN HE WAS TECHNICALLY THE ESTABLISHMENT AS PRESIDENT, WHICH IS A LITTLE HARD TO PARSE OUT, BUT WE SPOKE RECENTLY -- THERE WAS A STORY THAT CAME OUT TODAY IN "THE BOSTON GLOBE" ABOUT DIFFERENT TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN PARTS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND THE OVERARCHING FEELING WAS, "NOPE, HE IS OUR CANDIDATE.

WE STAND BY HIM NO MATTER WHAT."

DOES IT’S INTERESTING TO READ THAT, BUT I THINK THERE IS A LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR TRUMP FROM HIS BASE, BUT ALSO FROM THE PARTY THAT WE JUST HAVE NOT REALLY SEEN FOR A CANDIDATE THAT IS NOT THE INCUMBENT.

>> IT IS REALLY AMAZING.

I DID SEE THAT REPORTING WHICH ESSENTIALLY SAYS NO MATTER WHAT, I TRUST TRUMP.

WE NEED TO STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT.

WE NEED TO FEEL NORMAL AGAIN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE QUOTES IN THE ARTICLE.

SOME REPORTERS, SOME OBSERVERS MIGHT SAY GOING FROM JANUARY 6 TO THIS MIGHT FEEL A BIT LIKE A HALLUCINATION, BUT NOT TO THESE SUPPORTERS I GUESS?

>> THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT, I THINK.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WHILE MANY PEOPLE ARE APPALLED BY TRUMP’S STRENGTH IN THE PRIMARY SEASON, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SEE THIS AS A SIGN OF HOPE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NOT JUST BELIEVE HIS MESSAGE BUT AGREE WITH IT.

AMONG NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS, IMMIGRATION IS STILL A TOP CONCERN, EVEN THOUGH WITH THE NORTHERN BORDER, THERE IS NOT AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE THERE WITH IMMIGRANTS COMING INTO THE COUNTRY.

GIVEN THAT NORTHERN BORDER SHARED WITH MAINE AND NEW YORK AND NEW HAMPSHIRE ITSELF IS NOT SEEING A LOT OF MEASURABLE ACTIVITY.

THERE’S STILL A LOT OF CONCERN AMONG ORDINARY VOTERS, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE UP IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, WHICH HAS A VERY DIFFERENT MAKEUP IN TERMS OF POLITICS AND THE SOUTHERN PART OF NEW HAMPSHIRE OR THE SEACOAST.

I THINK HIS IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE ITSELF IS NOT REALLY A MONOLITH.

>> THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION FOLLOWED BY THE ECONOMY, THERE WAS THAT ORDER OF INTEREST IN IOWA AS WELL, SAME THING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMMIGRATION IS AN ISSUE THAT OBVIOUSLY TRUMP OWNS, SO HOW DOES NIKKI HALEY CRACKED THAT?

>> I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A REALLY TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.

A LOT OF THE ADVERTISING HAS ALIGNED HER WITH JOE BIDEN, SAYING SHE IS SOFT ON IMMIGRATION.

THERE’S THE GENERAL SENSE THAT MAYBE SHE IS NOT SPEAKING TO IT FORCEFULLY ENOUGH.

THERE ARE A FEW MISSTEPS SHE HAS MADE THAT HAVE CAUSED HER TO REALLY NOT TAKE QUESTIONS.

IN IOWA SHE WAS NOT NOT TAKING QUESTIONS.

TODAY SHE ANNOUNCED SHE WOULD NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN ANY DEBATES UNLESS JOE BIDEN OR TRUMP WERE THERE.

I THINK IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT TO TEASE OUT WHERE SHE REALLY STANDS ON IT IN A WAY THAT WILL CAUSE VOTERS TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ON IT.

>> IF SHE IS NOT GOING TO DEBATE ANYONE BUT TRUMP OR BIDEN, THERE MAY BE NO DEBATE?

>> THAT IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW, THAT THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.

AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A DEBATE ON THE BOOKS WITH ABC ON JANUARY 18.

THERE IS A DEBATE WITH CNN ON THE 21ST, I BELIEVE.

"THE GLOBE" IS HOSTING AN EVENT ON THE 17TH TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THAT IN MANCHESTER, BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY IT WOULD BE DESANTIS UP ON THE STAGE BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO QUALIFIED, HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS SAID HE WOULD BE THERE.

>> HE HAS LEAPFROGGED, I THINK, TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND THEN COMING BACK TO NEW HAMPSHIRE, BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

AFTER THIS NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY, THERE IS KIND OF A LOW -- KIND OF LULL UNTIL FEBRUARY EXCEPT WE HAVE SOME SUPREME COURT ISSUES IMPORTANT TO DONALD TRUMP.

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL FACTOR IN AT ALL?

>> MAY BE AMONG COMPETITION BUT NOT FOR HIS BASE.

EVERY TIME HE FACES A NEW INDICTMENT OR NEW PROCEEDING, HIS FACE SEEMS TO BECOME ONLY MORE THAN ABOUT.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE THAT THE INDEPENDENTS IN THE VENTURE COULD BE A WILD CARD FOR NIKKI HALEY?

>> COULD BE A WILD CARD FOR NIKKI HALEY.

COULD BE A WILDCARD IN GENERAL.

HIS IT’S IMPORTANT NOT TO CONFLATE LIBERTARIANS AND INDEPENDENTS.

TO US IN MASSACHUSETTS, IT MAY SEEM LIKE THEY ARE PRETTY SIMILAR, BUT IT IS DIFFERENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IN THE PRIMARY, INDEPENDENTS NOT REGISTERED FOR EITHER PARTY CAN PARTICIPANT -- PARTICIPATE IN THE PRIMARY FOR EITHER PARTY.

NO MATTER WHICH BALLOT THEY CHOOSE, ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE A DECISION AMONG THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OR ARE THEY GOING TO WRITE IN BIDEN OR CHOOSE ONE OF THE OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES THAT WILL BE ON THERE?

WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

>> THANKS FOR HELPING US PICK THROUGH THAT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> NEXT UP, FROM FULLY SUBMERGED DOCS ALONG THE WATERFRONT TO UN-DRIVABLE ROADS FROM EAST BOSTON TO EVERETT, HEAVY RAINS ABOUT SERIOUS -- BROUGHT SERIOUS FLOODING, AND STORMS LIKE THESE ARE ONLY BECOMING MORE COMMON.

METEOROLOGIST AND PARTNER DAVE EPSTEIN JOINS ME TO DISCUSS, AS DOES A RESIDENT OF EAST BOSTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BESTIE FARMS, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE BELLE ISLE MARSH, AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY GROUP.

DAVE, START US OFF BY PAINTING THE PICTURE OF WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING IN THE FORECAST FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

WE GOT COLD AND IN TERMS OF FLOODING.

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS WE DON’T REALLY HAVE ANY REAL FLOODING TO CONTEND WITH OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

WE HAD THE BIG FLOODING THAT OCCURRED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WITH SECOND STORM IN A ROBE.

PORTLAND, MAINE, SET AN ALL-TIME RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST TIDE EVER AND ALONG -- A LOT OF DAMAGE OF ALONG THE COASTLINE.

>> WE SAW SOME VERY DRAMATIC IMAGES COMING OUT OF MAINE.

>> YEAH, CERTAINLY INCREDIBLE IMAGES, LOSING FISH SHACKS AND WELLS, KENNEBUNK AREA SEEING DAMAGE, PORTLAND AREA SEEING DAMAGE, AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE TREND WE WILL BE SEEING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES.

>> LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE TRENDS GENERALLY.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FROM WHERE YOU ARE IN TERMS OF FLOODING TRENDS?

>> WE DEFINITELY SEE THINGS GETTING WORSE.

IF YOU TALK TO MY NEIGHBORS WHO GREW UP IN EAST BOSTON, HE IS NOTICING IN CONSTITUTION BEACH HOW THE WATER IS EVER CLOSER AND CLOSER.

IF YOU TALK TO JAY WHO LIVES ON MARGINAL STREET, AND SHE HAS BEEN GOING TO THE ART GALLERY ON PORTER STREET FOR 20 YEARS, SHE IS NOTICING HOW THE WATER IS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER, AND SCARY IS THE TERM THAT SHE USES.

WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING MORE FLOODING.

NOT JUST FROM COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING, BUT ALSO FROM RAIN.

WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE ON THE TOP OF A HILL EXPERIENCING FLOODING.

>> CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT?

WHY ARE WE SEEING MORE HEAVY RAIN, MORE INTENSE RAIN, OR PERHAPS THIS TIME BETWEEN RAINS NOT LONG ENOUGH, GROUND IS VERY SATURATED.

WHY ARE WE SEEING MORE OF THESE DIFFERENT FORMS OF FLOODING?

>> MOST OF THIS GOES BACK TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

AS THE CLIMATE WARMS UP, THE AIR IS ABLE TO HOLD MORE MOISTURE, SO WE HAVE MORE HEAVY PRECIPITATION EVENTS.

KNOWING WHEN AND THE NORTHEAST IS FORECAST TO HAVE MORE OF THESE EVENTS THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY OVER THE NEXT CENTURY.

WE HAVE ALSO INCREASED SEA LEVELS BY FIVE TO 8 INCHES SINCE THE 1900 MARKET, AND THAT IS JUST AN AVERAGE.

THE GULF OF MAINE IS THE FASTEST WARMING BODY OF WATER ON THE PLANET, SO THAT ADDS TO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE THERMAL EXPANSION OF WATER, SO ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE COMBINING TO PRODUCE MORE FRESHWATER AS WELL AS SEAWATER FLOODING.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WATCH THESE DISCUSSIONS AND SAY, COME ON, YOU ARE JUST PUSHING CLIMATE CHANGE AS THE THESIS HERE, BUT WHAT WILL IT MEAN IN PRACTICAL TERMS, IF YOU BELIEVE IT IS CLIMATE CHANGE OR NOT?

WHAT WILL WE SEE IN TERMS OF INTENSE RAIN AND FLOODING?

>> I MEAN IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, WE DON’T KNOW.

THAT IS WEATHER AS OPPOSED TO CLIMATE, BUT IN THE BACKGROUND IS THIS INCREASE IN SEA LEVEL RISE, SO OVER THE COMING DECADES, BY THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY, WE WILL SEE MORE CLEAR FLOODING DAYS.

WE WILL SEE SHALL ROADS BEING CLOSED DOWN, ALREADY HAPPENING ACROSS MIAMI AND THE PENINSULA OF FLORIDA, AND AS THE SEALABLE CONTINUES TO RISE, IF A STORM COINCIDES WITH THE LEVELS OF HIGH RISE, WE WILL START BREAKING MORE AND MORE THESE HIGH-RISE RECORDS AND WE WILL SEE MORE DAMAGE.

WE LUCKED OUT LAST WEEK THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF WAVE ACTION AND IT WAS ONLY ONE HIGH TIDE.

BLIZZARD OF 1978 WAS THREE.

>> SALEM EXPERIENCED SOME RECORD FLOODING.

THEY TALKED ABOUT A BREACHED SEAWALL.

VERY DRAMATIC VIEWS FROM RESIDENTS.

IS THAT UNUSUAL?

>> IT IS NOT NECESSARILY UNUSUAL TO HAVE COASTAL FLOODING.

AS THE CLIMATE CONTINUES TO WARM UP, THE FLOODING WE ARE SEEING IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, SO THESE EVENTS WHICH MAY BE WERE ONCE EVERY 100 YEARS, START BECOMING ONCE EVERY 80 OR ONCE EVERY 70.

THAT GAP STARTS SHRINKING.

WHEN YOU HEAR THAT ONCE EVERY 100, IT IS NOT LITERALLY ONCE EVERY 100.

IT IS THE ODDS OF THAT OCCURRING, AND THESE LAWS ARE SHRINKING.

>> PEOPLE STILL THINK ABOUT THIS WHEN THERE IS A MAJOR INCIDENT.

THEY THINK ABOUT IT IN THE MIDST OF A FLOOD, BUT THEN THEY SAY THIS IS ONCE EVERY 70 OR ONCE EVERY 80-YEAR EVENT AND IT DOES NOT SEEM THAT URGENT.

DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE RIGHT ON THE GROUND WHO ARE HAVING MORE FREQUENT FLOODING -- DO YOU THINK WE ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY ENOUGH IN TERMS OF PLANNING FOR IT, FORTIFYING -- THERE IS A BOSTON RESILIENCY PLAN -- ARE THOSE PROJECTS MOVING FAST ENOUGH DO YOU THINK TO MITIGATE THIS?

>> CLIMATE CHANGE IS DEFINITELY WAY TOO AGGRESSIVE IN COMPARISON TO THE STEPS WE ARE TAKING TO COMBAT THAT.

THE CHRONIC PROBLEMS ARE NOT THAT WELL UNDERSTOOD OR UTILIZED.

YOU ARE RIGHT, WE HAVE ONLY REALLY RESPOND TO IT WHEN IT IS IT’S A CUTE, BUT HERE ON THE GROUND, PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THE TREND, THAT IT IS INCREASING AND INCREASING.

THERE ARE PLANTS, BUT IF YOU WALK ONTO THE GREENWAY IN EAST BOSTON, FOR EXAMPLE, AND NOTICED THE FLOODING HAS BLOCKED HER WAY, YOU CANNOT WALK.

THAT IS A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK WITH HER KIDS, AND IF THAT IS BLOCKED, NOW THEY DON’T HAVE THAT SAFE SPACE.

OR YOU GO TO THE HARBOR WALK AND TRY TO WALK THERE AND THAT IS BLOCKED, THE IDEA OF PEOPLE HAVING ACCESS TO THE WATERFRONT IS OUT THE WINDOW.

I MEAN, TO THE OCEAN.

AND THAT TREND IS DEFINITELY INCREASING, AND I DON’T THINK WE ARE MATCHING THE PACE OF THE CRISIS WITH OUR ACTIONS.

>> DO YOU SEE THE APPROPRIATE SENSE OF URGENCY?

YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH RESILIENCY PLANS AND THE IDEA YOU HAVE TO PROTECT SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES.

DO YOU THINK THERE IS ENOUGH URGENCY NOW ABOUT THE ISSUE?

>> I THINK IN SOME CAMPS THERE IS AN URGENCY.

I THINK THERE IS A MISCONCEPTION WITH THE PUBLIC ON WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

WE HEAR THINGS LIKE NOT ONCE EVERY 50 YEARS OR 100 YEARS, BUT AGAIN, THAT IS JUST THE ODDS IT WILL OCCUR.

IT STILL CAN OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY, AND AS THESE EVENTS OCCUR, WE WILL JUST SEE MORE DAMAGE, AND IT’S NOT ONLY COASTAL FLOODING.

AS YOU MENTIONED, IT IS ALSO RIVER AND STREAM FLOODING BECAUSE OF HEAVY PRECIPITATION EVENTS.

WE WERE IN A DROUGHT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO AND NOW WE’VE HAD SOME OF OUR RIVERS AT SOME OF THE HIGHEST LEVELS WE HAVE EVER SEEN EVER RECORDED.

IT IS ALSO THE FLUCTUATION WE ARE SEEING BETWEEN THESE EVENTS OF DRY AND WET.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FINALLY TONIGHT, FROM "MEAN GIRLS" TO "THE COLOR PURPLE."

>> MY NAME IS REGINA GEORGE."

>> ICONIC MOVIES BE ADOPTED AS MUSICALS ARE TAKING OVER THEATERS.

ARE THEY GIVING PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT OR IS HOLLYWOOD JUST GETTING LAZY?

THE HOST OF "UNDER THE RADAR WITH CALLIE CROSSLEY" JOINS ME NOW WITH HER TAKE.

WHAT IS WITH THIS GLUT OF REMAKES?

>> AND YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MORE BECAUSE THIS IS THE YEAR OF 32 REPEATS, SEQUELS, REBOOTS, SPINOFFS.

THAT’S THE WHOLE DEAL.

WHY IS IT HAPPENING?

BECAUSE WE ARE IN A MOMENT IN GENERAL CULTURALLY OF NOSTALGIA.

THIS SHRINKS SAY IT IS COMFORTING TO US IF WE KNOW WE CAN COUNT ON CERTAIN THINGS.

WELL, HOLLYWOOD IS TAKING NOTICE.

SAID IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUY VINYL AND OLD CLOTHES FROM THE 90’S AND YOU LOVE THE OLD SONGS, LET US MAKE SURE WE GO BACK TO CHARACTERS AND MOVIES YOU KNOW ABOUT.

>> GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT.

>> GAVE THEM EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT.

YOU WILL BE SEEING EVERY MONTH OF THIS YEAR SOME OF THESE PREQUELS, SEQUELS, ANYTHING ATTACHED TO A STORY YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT, AND THAT IS A BUILT-IN AUDIENCE FOR HOLLYWOOD, RIGHT?

>> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE?

LET’S START WITH THAT.

WE STARTED WITH "THE COLOR PURPLE," "MEAN GIRLS."

WHAT ELSE?

>> LET’S TAKE A PAUSE ON THOSE.

THEY HAVE BEEN REMADE THREE TIMES NOW FROM THE BOOK TO THE BROADWAY MUSICAL AND NOW TO THE MOVIE MUSICALS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT SO HAPPY, INCLUDING MYSELF, ABOUT SOME OF THE ADAPTATIONS TAKEN WITH THE MOVIE MUSICALS.

THEY DROPPED SOME PIVOTAL SONGS IN BOTH "MEAN GIRLS" AND "COLOR PURPLE," ADDED SOME OTHER STUFF.

NOT SO SURE IT WORKS.

HERE IS THE THING THAT IS SO INTERESTING.

WHEN THEY PROMOTE THESE MOVIES, THEY DON’T TELL YOU THEY ARE MUSICALS.

IF YOU JUST SEE THE TRAILER, IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT FILM, SOMETHING I RECOGNIZE, CHARACTERS I KNOW ABOUT, BUT YOU DON’T KNOW THE MUSIC IS IN IT UNTIL YOU GET THERE.

>> PARAMOUNT’S WORLDWIDE HEAD OF MARKETING SAID I DON’T WANT TO SAY MUSICAL TOO LOUDLY BECAUSE IT TURNS PEOPLE OFF AND WE ARE FAR FROM THE 1950’S AND 1960’S WHEN PEOPLE WOULD GO TO SEE A MUSICAL.

IT IS RISKY TO SAY MUSICAL NOW WITH "WONKA" AND ALL THAT.

>> I DON’T KNOW ABOUT WILLY WONKA, BUT FOR "MEAN GIRLS" AND "COLOR PURPLE," THERE IS EMOTIONAL CONTENT IN THE SONGS THAT WILL BUILD OR SHOULD BUILD, I SHOULD SAY.

IT IS WELL-CONNECTED TO THE PLOT, AND THESE ACTORS AND SINGERS -- COME ON, THESE ARE GREAT SINGERS, SO YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF THE SINGING AND EVEN ITS EMOTIONAL PLACEMENT IN THE SONG, BUT THAT IS JUST ONE THING THAT’S HAPPENING.

>> TAKING "THE COLOR PURPLE," CANADIAN DIRECTOR, MUSICIAN IN HIS OWN RIGHT, HE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO MAKE THIS A JOYFUL STORY -- YOU ARE NOT BUYING IT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE BEHIND THE SORT OF MOTIVATION TO TAKE THAT STORY , MAYBE DOWNPLAY SOME OF THE TRAUMA, FOCUS ON THE INDIVIDUAL UPLIFT, YOU ARE NOT BUYING IT?

>> WHAT I SAY IT IS, REMEMBER, THEY ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO STORIES THEY KNOW AND FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT, TO GET YOU BACK INTO THE THEATER.

THEY LOST A LOT OF MONEY DURING COVID.

THEY ARE JUST RECOUPING.

MAYBE IF THINGS GO RIGHT BY MID-2024, THEY WILL START TO SEE SOME OF THAT, BUT IT’S NOWHERE NEAR WHERE IT WAS BEFORE.

IN TELLING PEOPLE, IT IS A SOFTER TAKE ON SOME OF THE TRAUMA YOU MAY REMEMBER, THAT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE MORE APPROACHABLE, WHEN IN FACT, THE WHOLE STORY HAS SUCH AN EMOTIONAL CONTENT AND FOUNDATION THAT IF YOU START TAKING LITTLE CHUNKS OUT OF IT LIKE SOME KIND OF PSYCHIATRIC ZINGA, YOU ARE SEEING SOMETHING ELSE.

AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE SAME ABOUT THE "MEAN GIRLS" THING.

I NEVER SAW IT ON BROADWAY, SO FOR ME THE MOVIE WAS PRETTY GOOD, BUT I TAKE THE POINT OF THE FOLKS WHO SAW IT ON BROADWAY, IT IS NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS IT WAS.

THERE ARE STUDIOS THAT REALIZED THAT BECAUSE THEY LOST SO MUCH DURING COVID, THEY ARE GOING TO GO BACK NOW, LIKE DISNEY+, AND FILMS THAT WERE ALREADY STREAMED, THEY ARE BRINGING THEM BACK TO THEATER FOR THEATRICAL RELEASE.

YOU’VE GOT "SOUL."

YOU’VE GOT "LUCA."

THEY ARE BRINGING THESE MOVIES BACK BECAUSE HE NEVER SAW THEM IN THE THEATER.

LIKE YOU KNOW, YOU SAW THEM ON STREAMING.

THEY ARE KIND OF FAMILIAR TO YOU.

>> THE PROJECTIONS ARE THAT IF THIS PATH CONTINUES THAT THINGS WILL PICK UP MIDYEAR?

>> YES BECAUSE ALLEGEDLY WE WILL BE DRAWN INTO IT.

JUST SOME OF THE SEQUELS, PREQUELS, WHATEVER.

"GHOSTBUSTERS," "DOING -- "DUNE PART TWO," EVERYBODY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THAT.

"BAD BOYS PART FOUR."

"KUNG FU PANDA."

>> LET’S PAUSE ON "BAD BOYS PART FOUR."

MAYBE ONE OF THE FIRST MAJOR DROPS SINCE THE ACADEMY AWARD TRAUMA.

>> HE HAS HAD ONE MAJOR MOVIE SINCE THEN.

THE SLAP HAPPENED.

"EMANCIPATION" CAME OUT RIGHT AFTER THAT.

DID NOT GET THE KIND OF RECEPTION THAT WAS EXPECTED.

THIS MOVIE IS GOING TO BE KIND OF THE BIGGEST THING HE HAS DONE SINCE THE SLAP, AND THESE ARE CHARACTERS THAT PEOPLE LOVED.

"BAD BOYS THREE" WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IT, THE FINAL CHAPTER OR WHATEVER THEY SAID, BUT NOW IT IS SO INTERESTING THEY DECIDED TO BRING IT BACK BECAUSE THEY KNOW IS IT’S A WINNER THAT THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE A TITLE FOR IT.

THEY CAN’T EVEN FIGURE OUT A TITLE.

IT IS JUST HAPPENING.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WILL SMITH TO BE SEEN IN A SOFTER, KINDER, GENTLER SITUATION, AND HE’S UPLIFTED BY HAVING HIS BODY ON SCREEN, MARTIN LAWRENCE.

SO IT’S GOING TO BE A FUN MOVIE.

I WOULD SAY EVEN WITH PEOPLE BEING VERY UNHAPPY WITH HIM STILL, I PREDICT THAT MOVIE WILL DRAW AUDIENCES STILL.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS MOVIE IS GOING TO GET THOSE BUTTS IN MOVIE THEATER SEATS?

>> I THINK IT WILL.

>> WHY WON’T PEOPLE STAY PARKED AT HOME?

>> SOME OF THESE ARE BEST SEEN ON A BIG SCREEN.

I HAVE TO SAY, LOOKING AT MY OWN HABITS, I HAVE NOT GONE BACK TO THE THEATER AS MUCH AS I WOULD HAVE, BUT I RECOGNIZE AND REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE ON THE BIG SCREEN, SO I COULD BE TEMPTED -- LET’S GO BACK TO "BAD BOYS 4."

I LOVE THAT THE INTERACTIONS TOGETHER IS A LOT OF EXPLOSIONS AND CRAZY ACTION STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN THAT MOVIE.

EVEN "KUNG FU PANDA 4," I WILL TAKE THAT.

>> OK. "DUNE 2," THERE’S A CHANCE TO SEE SOMETHING ON THE BIG SCREEN.

>> AND "INSIDE OUT 2" IS COMING.

THIS IS NOT TO SAY THERE ARE NOT SOME ORIGINAL MOVIES COMING OUT LIKE "THE BOOK OF CLARENCE" IS ONE THAT IS COMING OUT.

VERY DIFFERENT KINDS OF STUFF.

ARE AUDIENCES WILLING TO RISK IT TO GO TO THEATER?

I DON’T KNOW.

MY PREDICTION WILL BE "BOOK OF CLARENCE" WILL BE ON STREAMING PRETTY SOON AND THAT’S WHERE IT WILL FIND ITS AUDIENCE.

>> WE DID HAVE AN INTERESTING FLURRY OF INDEPENDENT FILMS.

>> DURING COVID -- THE REASON WE HAVE SUCH A GLUT NOW OF THESE SEQUELS AND REBOOTS IS BECAUSE SOME OF THEM WERE ALREADY DONE, SOME WERE IN PROCESS, AND THEY HELD THEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT YOU TO SEE THEM EXCEPT ON SCREEN.

NO ONE COULD PREDICT HOW INTENSE THE STREAMING WAS GOING TO BE SO THAT PEOPLE FEEL SO COMFORTABLE NOW THEY HAVE TO DEBATE IF THEY WANT TO GO TO THE THEATER, SO THEY WERE THINKING WE WILL HOLD IT.

BY THE TIME WE GET -- BY THE TIME YOU WILL BE READY TO GET BACK TO THE THEATER, BUT THAT PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER FILMS BEHIND WHICH THEY MAY NOT HAVE PUT MUCH SUPPORT TO GET A CHANCE.

PEOPLE MAY REMEMBER THE FILM MINORITY.

IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO GET ANY OF THE SUPPORT THAT IT GOT.

IT ENDED UP GETTING OSCAR NOMINATIONS.

MANY ACTORS AND DIRECTORS AND WRITERS GOT A CHANCE BECAUSE THE SPACE WAS OPEN.

THEY WERE SAYING JUST FILL IT UP BECAUSE WE ARE NOT BLOWING OUR BIG STUFF.

>> ONE OF THE FIRST OUT OF THE FIRST OUT-OF-THE-BOX IS "MEAN GIRLS."

>> "MEAN GIRLS" AND "COLOR PURPLE."

"MEAN GIRLS PRACTICALLY BROKE THE BOX OFFICE THIS PAST WEEKEND.

"COLOR PURPLE" BROKE BOX OFFICE RECORDS CHRISTMAS DAY.

IT HAS DROPPED OFF SINCE.

I PREDICT IT WILL HAVE A HEALTHY LIFE ON STREAMING AS WELL.

WE WILL SEE.

EVEN IF I’M UNHAPPY WITH SOME OF THE CHOICE IS THE DIRECTOR MADE, IT WAS STILL A GOOD FILM AND DIRECTING.

>> WE MIGHT QUIBBLE THAT IT SHOWS A LACK OF IMAGINATION, BUT IT IS DOLLARS IN THE BANK, SO IT SHOWS THEY GET WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> I’M NOSTALGIC.

WHAT DID YOGI BERRA SAY?

IT’S DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN.

I’M WITH IT.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE YOU ON AGAIN.

THANKS.

THAT’S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.