January 2003

WB 11 Morning News

Reporter: He's played characters from a transvestite to a crazy frat boy, but his career is flying high thanks to his portrayal of Superman's future arch nemisis Lex Luthor in the WB hit series, Smallville. Michael Rosenbaum joins us live. Welcome!

Michael: Thank you. (indicating previous clip) I think Shakira, her hair looked like Twisted Sister...Dee Snyder...it's a little Dee Snyder...

Reporter: (laughing) Totally! It does! Yeah, she's got that in her. Speaking of hair...

Michael: Mmm-hmm.

Reporter: Bald look.

Michael: Yeah, ya like it?

Reporter: Very sexy look. Do you get that a lot?

Michael: It feels good. Follicle free, I'm calling it now...I'm follicle free.

Reporter: Can I feel? Can I feel?

(Michael leans over and she touches his head)

Reporter: This is what...how many days growth is this?

Michael: Uhh...this is , I think, two and a half days of growth.

Reporter: Two and a half days. What's it like shaving your head?

Michael: I have a woman do it for me.

Reporter: Oh, I see....

Michael: You know what I'm talkin' about. You have to have a woman shave your head, don't ya?

Reporter: Yeah, you've got to have a woman for everything, don't you?

Michael: Hey, why not?

Reporter: To be able to tie your shoes even

Michael: Yeah. (indicating reporter's coffee mug)You have a straw...why do you have a straw in your coffee?

Reporter: Um...because it helps me drink it.

Michael: OK. No, but, uh every day I go into the makeup trailer and Natalie is the makeup artist, and she gets a nice hot towel and she warms up my head...

Reporter: Oh, nice.

Michael: (indicating off camera) Yeah, the guys are likin' that....and then she lathers me up...

Reporter: Very nice....

Michael: ...and she shaves me.

Reporter: Do you ever get cut though?

Michael: Every once in a while. I bleed. Ya gotta bleed.

Reporter: But then you get even more sympathy from women. Does it help you get girls?

Michael: The bald head?

Reporter: Yeah.

Michael: I think...I think they like it. I look older though. I'm a lot younger than I look, I think.

Reporter: How old are you?

Michael: I'm, I'm 30.

Reporter: You're 30? Well, you look 30.

Michael: You think so?

Reporter: Yeah...maybe 25.

Michael: I appreciate it.

Repoerter: You know, you're in very good company though, because the bald thing is very in. We have some pictures of some of your fellow cute bald guys. We've got Colin Farrell, Matthew McConaughey and Vin.

Michael: I was bald way before them.

Reporter: You started the trend.

Michael: I started...what's on the dude's forehead?

Reporter: Um...that is from Daredevil and it's some kind of funky thing, which I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'll be seeing it soon and I will be sure to let you know.

Michael: Thanks.

Reporter: Now, let's get to Smallville, shall we? This show has been such a huge success for the WB. When are you actually going to turn on Clark Kent?

Michael: Well, it's not going to happen anytime soon. But there are little things along the way that, um, trigger that turn to the dark side.

Reporter: Right.

Michael: So we've got to keep the viewers watching and wanting that more and more, and they're embracing the character which is really nice.

Reporter: Now, you know, we interviewed Tom Welling...he's a pretty big, athletic guy...

Michael: He's a large man.

Reporter: He is! Can you kick his butt, you think?

Michael: Ahh, sure.

Reporter: No problem?

Michael: Yeah.

Reporter: What does it take to be able to beat a guy up like that?

Michael: Ya just step on his feet.

Reporter: That easy, right?

Michael: Um, Lex Luthor....I'd just have people do it for me. That's the easy way to do it.

Reporter: Yeah, that's true. Now, uh, now I know there's probably no bigger honor than having one of the original Supermans on your show. Christopher Reeve, I understand...

Michael: Supermen

Reporter: Supermen...

Michael: Wouldn't that be? Wouldn't that be correct?(laughs)

Reporter: Yes, that would be correct. Is he going to be shooting anytime soon? Are you guys excited about it?

Michael: Yeah, I just met him. I played at Madison Square Garden Saturday...or Sunday...in a charity game.

Reporter: Played what?

Michael: Hockey. I played hockey at Madison Square Garden...

Reporter: Excellent.

Michael: And it was for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, and he's actually going to perform on the show February 25th, and we are...you have no idea how excited we are.

Reporter: That's got to be the biggest compliment to your show...

Michael: When I met him, I was almost crying. I met Christopher Reeve; I was so honored. And we presented him with a blanket...this Smallville blanket signed by the cast, and he was so sweet...and I was really upset because I don't have any scenes with him. I say, what's cooler than new Lex Luthor with the old Superman--we gotta do a scene like that and he's all for it...

Reporter: Well, you know, the thing about Lex Luthor being a bad guy is you could just maybe be bad and just go into the scene anyway.

Michael: Yeah, maybe I just walk in the scene...they'd love that, wouldn't they?

Reporter: It would go over very well, I think.

Michael: I think so. I think--I think they'd dig that. I'm going to tell the writers. Can we get them?

(Reporter and crew laughs)

Michael: (to crew) She's cute. She should be on the show. No?

Reporter: Thank you.

Michael: Alright.

Reporter: I can't act, believe me. I can not act to save my life.

Michael: Alright.

Reporter: Speaking of ice hockey, you're also a New York Rangers fan, right?

Michael: Die hard. You know, I just played at the Garden and...

Reporter: You're not even from here. What's the deal?

Michael: Rangers, I was at the game, 5 to... I was....I was born in Oceanside, Long Island. I was out of the womb with a Rangers jersey on. I'm serious. I'm a die...I'm a fanatic.

Reporter: Well, I guess you have to be when you're then raised in Indiana and there's not exactly much to do there.

Michael: I grew up in Newburgh, Indiana...I went to college at Western Kentucky University...back to New York and studied theater...did off Broadway way the heck out in like Trenton, New Jersey...that's not even off Broadway...

Reporter: Well, now you're right back home, right here with us...with the family!

Michael: I'm excited! I'm in New York..I'm back in New York...I feel good.

Reporter: Good.

Michael: (to the male anchor) I want your haircut though...I need your haircut...I would look good with that haircut.

Reporter: That means you have to have hair to grow...

Michael: (to anchor) You've got a good head too, man

Anchor: Thank you buddy.

Reporter: Yes he does. Alright, thank you...

Michael: Can we get hair in here, fix him up a little bit?

Reporter: Yeah, she's over there. Carol, come on out.

Michael: Thanks for having me, it was great.

Reporter: Thank you, and please come back.

Michael: I will.

Reporter: And Smallville airs Tuesday nights at 9PM right here on the WB.