his family says he'd been bullied and taunted because of his race. we asked justice correspondent bob orr to fill in the details. >> reporter: the body of u.s. army private danny chen was found october 3 in a guard tower in kandahar, another casualty of the war in afghanistan. the army says the 19-year-old soldier died of what appeared to be a self-inflected gunshot, but military prosecutors today accused eight of chen's fellow soldiers of contributing to his death. chen's platoon leader is charged with eight counts of dereliction of duty, charges against the other seven soldiers ranged from making false statements to negligent homicide and involuntary manslaughter. chen's family today said he was victimized by relentless bullying, assaults, and racist taunts. he was mocked, call "jackie chen" and he reportedly had rocks thrown at him while being dragged across the barracks floor. elizabeth ouyan, an advocate for

chinese americans, spoke for chen's parents. >> whether suicide or homicide, what they did to him caused his death. >> reporter: the military charges came after chen's former classmates, friends, and his father launched an online quest for justice. >> my son wanted to be a policeman. >> reporter: this youtube video titled, "what happened to private danny chen?" pushed the military for answers. >> what happened to danny? >> reporter: beyond the charges, the army provided no details as to what led to chen's death. pentagon spokesman captain john kirby. >> any single case of hazing or inappropriate conduct to a fellow soldier, airman, marine, sailor, coast guardsman is inappropriate. >> reporter: but chen's family wants to know exactly what happened to him right before he

died. they'll get a chance to ask military investigators in a face-to-face meeting, scott, january 4. >> pelley: we asked our research department to remind us of the number of military suicides. they tell us so far this year, there were 154 suicides among active duty troops, about the samals the national average. the f.a.a. today issued new rules that will require airline pilots to get more rest. the rules have been fended off for years by the airline industry but they grew more urgent after a tragic accident in 2009. we asked transportation correspondent mark strassman to tell us about that crash and what the new rules will mean. >> reporter: 50 people were killed when continental connection flight 3407 plunged into a house outside buffalo, new york, nearly three years ago. crash investigators later found the two pilots had come to work exhausted. neither had slept in a bed the night before, napping instead in an airport crew lounge. and the copilot had commuted

cross-country from celtics to newark. both were heard u-conning on the cockpit voice recorder. the pilots accidentally stalled the plane while trying to land. the n.t.s.b. blamed the crash on pilot error, not fatigue, but the accident renewed a call to require for rest for pilots, especially at smaller regional airlines, and prompted today's reforms. the new regulations mandate more rest and less flight time for commercial airline pilots. the minimum number of hours a pilot will have to rest will grow from eight to 10, and the maximum number of hours a pilot can be on duty will shrink from 16 to 14. transportation secretary ray lahood called the changes long overdue. >> this is a big deal today. it's a big deal because for 25 years, people have been talking about this and haven't done a dang thing about it. and we have. >> reporter: beverly acert was killed in the continental connection crash. her s, susan burke, helped push

for these new regulations which she wishes had been in place before the flight's pilots ever took off >> i would have liked to think they would have been more rested and possibly have been able to make better decisions, but we'll never know. we'll never know. >> reporter: passenger airlines will have two years to implement these new regulations, and, scott, some safety experts are disappointed that cargo carriers will be exempt. for them, the f.a.a. says, these new rules are simply too expensive. >> pelley: mark, thank you very much. captain sully sullenberger is our cbs news expert on aviation. and, sully, we just saw the details of the continental connection crash. i wonder, how pervasive a problem is fatigue in the cockpit? >> it's endemic. it happens in every part of the industry, every day. of course, we work very hard to prevent it, but it's something that is inherent in being human. and solving the fatigue problem has been on the national transportation safety board's most wanted list of improvements for over two decades. >> pelley: do these rules take

care of the problem? >> it's a good first step. but it's the beginning of the journey, not the end of it. there's still a lot of work to be done. while this is much better than the status quo, it doesn't go the full distance. >> pelley: what will this mean for pilots going forward? >> well, within two years, when this rule is finally fully implemented, pilots and their passengers will have greater confidence that the pilots will have the ability to get a good night's rest before their duty periods. >> pelley: why would an airline want to schedule their pilots in a way that would make them fatigued? >> you have to understand what an intensely competitive business this is and how closely all of these carriers must watch their costs, but what we have to understand is even administrative decisions, certainly budget decision have, safety implications, and we have to look at this as a system safety approach which fatigue is an important point. >> pelley: you say that this is a first good step. what else should be done? >> well, we still haven't achieved one level of safety.

they have exempted all the cargo carriers from having to comply with these rules. there is a provision that would allow the nonscheduled carriers, which carry 90 pes of our troops to and from overseas, to apply for a waiver from these rules. so we're not there yet. there's still much work to be done. >> pelley: sully sullenberger, thank you very much. tonight, one of the worst offenders in the mortgage crisis, countrywide financial, has agreed to pay $335 million, a record, for steering african americans and hispanics into risky, expensive mortgages. sharyl attkisson reports this case of predatory lending ripped off an astounding number of victims. >> reporter: the justice department says countrywide cheated two00,000 african american and hispanic customers charging them higher fee fees ad interest rates than their white counterpartparts in 41 states ad the strict of columbia. thomas perez heads up the

justice department's civil rights division. >> they were thrilled to have gotten a loan and readies the american dream. they have no idea they could have and should have gotten a better deal. >> reporter: at the height of the boom, countrywide was the largest mortgage lender in the country and it is blamed for making some of the worst loans. a third of them ended in foreclosure or default. justice department officials allege countrywide steered minority bores, or into risky loans, such as exploding adjustable interest rates that rose dramatically in just two or three years. in 2007, an african american family in los angeles getting a $200,000 loan from countrywide, paid $1200 more in fees than similarly qualified white borrowers. the investigation began after the federal reserve and the treasury department alerted the justice department of potential discrimination by countrywide. the case announced today isn't a prosecution. it's a settlement, so no one goes to jail. if it gets the court's approval,

victims are apply for a piece of the $335 million compensation, roughly $1,675 apiece. >> pelley: countrywide is now owned by bank of america. sharyl, i wonder, why didn't the government bring criminal charges this case? >> reporter: we asked about that and the justice department told us their goal in this investigation was not to prosecute executives but to identify discriminatory practicepractices and recovery r victims. >> pelley: sharyl, thanks very much. elsewhere in washington, there is no progress to report tonight over an extension of the payroll tax cut, so in 10 days, nearly 200 million americans will find a tax increase in their paychecks. the two percentage point cut in social security taxes ends on december 31. you may remember that on saturday, the senate passed a two-month extension, but yesterday, the house of representatives refused to go along saying that two months isn't enough. president obama is asking the house to reconsider.

woo have two reports tonight. first norah o'donnell at the white house. norah. >> reporter: well, scott, in an effort to end this standoff, president obama today called speaker john boehner and urged him to call a vote on what the president sees as the only viable option, that two-month extension on the payroll tax cut, and today the president's spokesman, jay karen, said this is it. there will be no further negotiations. >> the ball is in the house's court. there is a compromise available, an avenue out of this blind alley, if you will, that they've driven themselves into, and it is the senate bill. >> reporter: the white house believes they have the upper hand now, and felt emboldened today when the conservative editorial page of the" journal wondered if republicans might end up re-electing the president before the 2012 campaign even begins having permitted mr. obama to position himself as the election-year tax cutter.

>> merry christmas to you. >> reporter: the president was in such a good mood, he went christmas shopping with his dog, bo, in tow. he bought gifts for his two daughters who are waiting for their father to join them in hawaii. with the clock ticking, the white houseots web site asked americans to share their stories. if the tax cut is not extended, the average family would have about $40 less to spend or save with each paycheck so the white house asked, "what does $40 mean to you?" more than 20,000 responses were received have a e-mail or on twitter. $40 is the gas i need to get to work each week. it's also two weeks' lunch money for my kids." one tweet concluded-- and tonight, scott, this is a stalemate. i am told there are no talks going on. there are no negotiations going on. and a senior white house official says even if congress has gone home, the president is

willing to stay here through the holidays to keep the pressure on. >> pelley: thanks, norah. let's go up pennsylvania avenue. a few house members are also staying on insisting the senate come back and compromise. nancy cordes is on capitol hill tonight, nancy. >> reporter: well, scott, speaker boehner did not take the president up on that suggestion to hold a vote right away. he insists that congress could work out a deal very easily to extend this payroll tax cut for an entire year if only senate democrats would just come back. >> we're here. we're ready to go to work. >> reporter: a hand full of lonely house republicans are the only ones left on capitol hill now, waiting to negotiate with senators who left five days ago. >> all we're asking for is to get the senate members over here to work with us to resolve our differences. >> they are not representing the views of the american people. >> reporter: democratic leader

steny hoyer called the move a gimmick, noting that half of the republican negotiators are on record opposing the payroll tax cut. >> i can't remember a time when 160 million americans were adversely affected by the actions that we took yesterday. >> reporter: house republicans are getting no backup from senate republicans who voted overwhelmingly for the stopgap two-month measure and were surprised when the white house failed to follow suit. in fact, some of those senate venezuela gone public with their criticism of their house colleagues, urging them to just accept this two-month deal and come back in january to extend the payroll tax cut for the rest of the year, scott. >> pelley: washington on the brink again. nancy, thank you very much. the u.s. has more gasoline than it needs. so why are prices still so high? it's turning out to be a very merry christmas for retailers. and waiting for some of the last u.s. troops to come home from

iraq when the cbs evening news continues.

>> pelley: the information at a-a-a- expect nearly 92 million americans to hit the road for the holidays. that's a slight increase from a year ago. on average they'll pay $3.21 for a gallon of regular gas.

that's up 22 cents from last year. fuel prices continue to rise, even though america has more gasoline and diesel fuel than it can use. bill whitaker spent some time with a business owner who says that makes no sense. >> let's make the line right here. >> reporter: l.a. small business man peter adeli had a good idea-- keep shipping costs low by loding many maul shipments but now is being hit by high fuel costs. >> it costs about $160 to fill up in a attention in 2009. now in 2011, it's costing over $350 to fill up the tanks on one truck lode. >> reporter: he can't afford to hire more workers, can't expand his business. this year, the average american household will spend a record $4,155 on gasoline. adeli says he'll spend about $98,000 on fuel. >> i can't understand why the prices increase so much even though the national economy and

business overall have not picked up. >> reporter: yet, for the first time in 62 years, the u.s. will export more refined petroleum products -- gasoline and diesel-- than we import. >> well, that's preposterous. it's ridiculous. >> reporter: in the first nine months of this year, we've exported a net 64 million barrels of gas and diesel, enough to run america's engines for a week. with the u.s. economy in the doldrums, we're using less fuel, gasoline, and especially diesel from american refineries is following demand, flowing to growing economies in central and south america. tom kloza is chief oil analyst for the oil price information service. >> right now, across the globe, it's the product that refiners can make the most money on, and it's the product that is in the most demand in emerging economies. >> those experts should be staying here in america, keeping our prices low. >> reporter: it's unlikely to get better for adeli in 2012. gasoline and diesel are expected to stay above $3 a gallon.

bill whitaker, cbs news, los angeles. >> pelley: there has been a massacre in syria. human rights groups say bashar al-assad's troops have killed more than 100 defecting soldiers and activists this week near the turkish border. cell phone video posted on the internet ployeds our only glimpse inside syria. despite the bloody crackdown, thousands continue to protest throughout the country. today, the white house said once again it's time for assad to go. it is a cinematic masterpiece, and now a piece of history from "citizen kane" has sold at auction. that's next.

>> pelley: america's retailers are getting what they wanted for christmas-- new numbers out today show that holiday sales are better than expected, up 2.5% from last year. online sales alone total $32 billion so far, and that's 15% more than a year ago. also on the way up is our weight, and that has forced the u.s. coast guard to cut the number of people allowed to be carried on ferries. the time was the average passenger weighed 160 pounds, and in washington state, most of the puget sound ferries could carry 2,000 people. but now passengers average 185 pounds, so capacity on those same boats has been reduced to

1,750. in his time, orson welles was hollywood, larger than life. and in 1942, he won an oscar for best original screenplay for writing "citizen kane." that oscar has just been sold at auction in los angeles. the unidentified buyer paid $861,000. the war in iraq is over, and they are waiting for the troops to come home. that's next.

>> pelley: i'll be home for christmas-- music to the ears of troops serving overseas, and their families waiting at home. anna werner is waiting with them at fort hood, texas. >> reporter: it's the day 20-year-old brittany hampton has been waiting for. how you feeling today? >> excited. really excited. >> reporter: the day her husband returns home to her and her two girls, four-month-old aubrey and two-year-old sophia. >> who is coming hom today? >> daddy. >> i love my girls to death but it is so hard doing it all on your own. >> reporter: the family hung welcome signs and will greet their father in their sunday best. james hampton has been in iraq since february. >> you're so proud. you're overjoyed.

like, they're doing something so-- so courageous, and just-- you know, you couldn't-- you couldn't ask for a better man. >> reporter: not far away, the thomas boys were a little less cieptive than the hampton girls in their preparations to see their dad. erica thomas' husband, captain darren thomas, has done four tours in iraq. so this is kind of an early christmas present for you. >> it sure is. it's an early christmas present for my entire family. my three-year-old son is excited that his daddy is coming home. >> reporter: darren jr. knows his father, but erica thomas says 18-month-old joshua may not. what's that like? >> it's tough at times. he chose the army and i chose him, so i deal with it. >> reporter: family illness, birthdays, first words-- all done alone. >> i'm so proud of what he's doing, but at the same time it leaves me and the girls alone so much they don't want him growing apart from us. >> reporter: scary.

>> very scary. >> reporter: do you think the mission, this particular mission in iraq, has been worth it? i think i'm going to take the politically correct standpoint on that one since my husband is an officer and just say he did the job he was supposed to do. >> reporter: after 10 months, this moment. the war is over, and so is the wait. anna werner, cbs news, fort hood, texas. >> pelley: welcome home. that's the cbs evening news for tonight. for all of us at cbs news all around the world, good night. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh

now, "entertainment tonight," the most watched entertainment news magazine in the world. clooney and keibler's romantic holiday getaway. >> i may be taking a trip. >> what stacey told us about her christmas in cabo with george. katherine holiday's message with her adopted sister. steven tyler faces off with his girlfriend. >> there was some behavior i'm ashamed of. oprah's return, put .ing 9 idol judge on the spot. >> is it possible to remain ma nothing must. >> jennifer hudson's duet with

her former heavier self. >> you shouldn't have to be deprived, should you, mark. >> no. >> kaley cuoco without her engagement ring. is she hiding from her fiance. dolly parton and queen latifah in a food fight. behind the scenes with the duelling divas. ♪ >> in depth on the biggest entertainment stories from around the world. >> hello and welcome to "entertainment tonight." i'm mark steines. christina mclarty is co-hosting from new york city. >> it is getting chilly in new york city. the christmas spirit is in the air. which stars have opted for a season in the sun? we're tracking the holiday destinations of some of your favorite celebrities. clooney and keibler in cabo. george is relaxed in a blue t-shirt and stacey shows off her

long legs in a pair of pink shorts. the 32-year-old blond accessorizes with a cute hat and huge sunglasses. chilling with a nice holiday beverage. stacey told me about the trip so i asked her what she wants for christmas. >> i like gifts like trips or experiences or scrapbooks, things that are thoughtful and don't have to be expensive. down the beach, ho ho ho horses. leann and eddie on a morning ride. the couple cuddled as she rocked a lavender bikini. eddie was in shorts and ready to party. in beverly hills, arnold schwarzenegger and his entourage looked intimidating but that's how he rolls when he's ready to check gifts off his list. wonder if maria is on it.

mariah carey was stylish in leggings. she is all smiles after visiting her mom's jewelry store. ♪ baby baby baby >> justin bieber goes acoustic with martina mcbride tonight on cbs. ♪ >> gavin degrew and mary j. blige as stars bring messages about the importance of adoption. >> i had the privilege of adopting a child. she's the joy of my life and has a bright future ahead of her. >> denise richards shares her joy. the adoption process was anything but easy. >> anything wanting to adopt is to not give up and to have faith that the right child will find you. >> adoption has played a tremendous role in both of our lives. >> yes, our parents adopted me

when i was 6 months old. it was the best thing that has ever happened to katie. >> meg is one reason katherine adopted her daughter. >> i have this amazing daughter in my life that i wouldn't have. i have this amazing beautiful sister in my life that i wouldn't have otherwise. i think adoption should be something on everybody's mind. >> of course, katherine heigl is one of many celebrities who have chosen adoption. mariska hargitay adopted a baby boy. and viola davis adopted a baby girl. let's go to samantha harris in the "e.t." control room. >> babies could be in the future for kaley cuoco who is engaged. first off the "big bang" star is hosting the people's choice awards on january 11. only "e.t." can take you behind the scenes of her official photo shoot. here's the confetti.

>> kaley is pretty in pink. she proves why she's so funny when we asked about hosting the show for the first time. >> i'm hosting? my god, they don't tell me these things until the day before. yes, i'm hosting. i don't know why they asked me. they're crazy. >> could be kaley, they asked you because you're a nominee for favored tv comedy actress. >> amy, vixen under those layers of wool and polyester. >> i'm excited for being nominated. >> the "big bang theory" is nominated for favorite tv comedy. her co-star jim parsons is nominated. >> we take the people's choice so seriously, because it's the fans and it's important, real people watching television. >> after the people's choice on cbs january 11, the golden globes will air on nbc january 15th. the screen actors guild awards

january 29th and the 84th academy awards sunday, february 26 on abc. for her people's choice shoes, kaley was not wearing her engagement ring from josh president nick. >> don't tell him that. i'm afraid i'm going to lose it. >> kaley told us her biggest fear about hosting is tripping on stage in her high heels. i don't blame her. there was no tripping up the "girl with the dragon tattoo." the thriller opened at 7:00 p.m. and pulled in $1.6 million by midnight. mission impossible "ghost protocol" has earned nearly $83 million since friday. today, steven spielberg's "the adventures of tin tin" opens today. >> what's his name? >> tin tin. >> i'm tin tin, by the way. >> this is a funny movie after

all, an old fashioned binge crosby road picture. >> i'm not sure they went on an adventure like this. >> something happened on the unicorn. the key to everything. >> the globe hopping thrill ride stars billy elliot's jamie bell as tin tin, a young reporter who recovers a treasure lost at sea centuries ago. >> i was bulled over by the way it looks, which is insane. >> determined to beat him to that treasure is ivan ivanovich played by daniel craig. >> i will find it, with or without your help. >> the movie is based on a series of children's books well known to readers in europe. daniel is a big fan. >> i remember reading them and being so excited about the adventures. >> joining tin tin is the guy we

know as gollum from the lord of the rings. >> saved from above! >> the adventures of tin tin is spielberg's first motion animation. >> i've been able to do things in the medium of animation which i could never do in live action. >> the director's other new movie "war horse" hits theaters on christmas day. >> i was devoted to doing tin tin and i had an affair with "war horse." >> this is packed with action from the first frame to the last. we have a lot more to show you. we are going to do just that on this weekend's "entertainment tonight." >> the adventures of tin tin, "e.t." weekend special. from the animation studio to the set. how steven spielberg made this epic 3-d adventure come to life as we look back at the famous director before his oscar.

>> there's ever been a goal to win awards. >> this weekend on "e.t." >> tin tin is already a hit overseas. the movie has growed more than $240 million in europe and asia. my niece and nephew are seeing it this weekend. now, still to come, queen latifah and dolly parton are in a food fight. we break down the star endorsements. oprah's tv return, ditching her comfy talk for the open road. first, here is lady gaga with her version of white christmas off her brand new album, "a very gaga holiday." ♪ i'm dreaming of a white christmas ♪ ♪ just like the one i used to

know ♪ >> closed captioning sponsored by owe --

now, more entertainment tonight in new york city. ♪ >> golden globe nominees, zoey deschanel performing their version of sleigh ride. we are headed back to los angeles and mark steines. >> let's go to chris jacobs in the "e.t." control room. >> thanks, mark. yes, i was the first reporter to visit dolly parton and queen la tee fa on the set of joyful noise. they shared footage with me. what happens when these two legends go head to head. things get a little messy. >> well i am who i am.

>> maybe you were five procedures ago. >> a food fight between the two leading ladies. >> you could use a complete face lift and a little nip and tuck in your attitude wouldn't hurt either. you are untouchable, unloveable. >> you're breaking my hand. >> how has it been working with queen. >> i love queen latifah. there's only one difference between us, she's cool and i ain't. >> she is hilarious. >> they are duelling divas in charge of making their small town choir make it big. >> we got to shake them up. >> get your beyonce out of my face. ♪ i'm starting with the man in the mirror ♪ >> i got a sneak peek at verizon's how sweet the sound youf at the l.a. staple center. ♪ every day >> dolly is doing all kinds of

music. you've been doing rapping. >> oh, yeah, i talk about the movie and talk about the queen who came from the rap world. >> she's a battle rapper too. she's breaking me down. >> i get her good. >> you'll be hearing a whole lot from the ladies. key key palmer, and the choir in this movie. ♪ >> don't miss "joyful noise" when it hits theaters on january 13. still to come, the joy of losing weight. how celebrities are staying slim this holiday season. we dissect the star's secrets. steven tyler on drugs, divorce, and his promiscuous past. what he told oprah. >> that is strayight ahead.

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"entertainment tonight" in new york city rolls on. ♪ santa claus is coming to town ♪ >> i love the jersey boys sound. you'll hear that on a jersey boys christmas. this holiday season is about giving and not gaining when it comes to weight. from kirstie alley, how the stars are helping you stay slim. >> this is jennifer hudson on the set of my new weight watchers ad which is about believing in yourself to achieve goals. >> only "e.t." can show you jennifer side by side with her 22-year-old self in a new ad for weight watchers. ♪ i believe in miracles >> this is taken from "american idol" from seven years ago when she was noticeably heavier. >> i knew i was singing my way to something. i didn't know what or when or how. i believe there was something in

store for me. >> the stars are eager to lock in a weight loss endorsement and for a very good reason. >> the science of losing weight has translated into big business. it's become a $60 billion industry, nearly $400 billion worldwide with celebrities leading the charge. >> i have lost over 65 pounds on jenny craig. >> kirstie alley started with jenny craig but was dropped by the company when she regained weight. she developed her own line called organic liaison. >> this is about not being deprived. >> you should have anything you want, right, mark? >> right. >> weight watchers is the market leader followed by nutrisystem, la weight loss, jenny craig and slim-fast. a good celebrity spokesperson can tip the scales in the company's favor. janet jackson signed on with

nutrisystem. she claims it's the ease of home delivery that attracted her. >> it's easy. you order it, at the most, 48 hours later you get it. >> the home delivery meal plan has grown into an $800 million market which costs monthly about $725. mariah carey attributes her weight loss to jenny craig. >> i can tell by your energy, you feel sexy. >> darling, i'm sexy. i'm all right. >> try this. this is amazing. 150 calories. >> a former biggest loser trainer, now a panelist on the doctors. jillian michaels created the freshology master plan. >> it's all fresh, whole, clean food. it's really a total weight loss solution for people. >> jillian's new book "master

your metabolism" comes out in january and identifies how to change your waistline. >> you form an emotional connection to it that keeps you motivated. it's about you. >> more than a dozen stars are he helps out others with the american red cross. nick cannon, ted danson, phil mcgraw and nancy o'dell to name a few are encouraging support for the red cross holiday giving campaign. >> let's go back to samantha harris in the "e.t." control room. >> it has been about seven months since oprah said good-bye to her talk show. now lady o is hitting the road on her own network to talk to celebrities. first off, steven tyler and his rock and roll excesses? >> there was behavior that i'm ashamed off and i shouldn't do. >> if you play, i'm going to play. i'm going to make that clear to you. >> steven versus erin. rock's bad boy faces off against his girlfriend.

oprah referees. >> i was on the road for a long time too. >> with him? >> i used to pay him, yes. i saw him. i watched him. i saw how he behaved badly. occasionally here and there. >> you said if you're going to play, i'm going to play. out loud you said that. >> i used different words, but yes, i did say that out loud. ♪ >> he became a rock icon as aerosmith's hard loving front man. with three women, he's become the father of four. this interview recalls the best of oprah's skills harkening back to her talk show. in the oprah's next chapter, tyler admits he has regrets. >> is it possible to remain monogamous and be a rock star? >> yes. >> is it possible for you to remain monogamous? >> yes, it is. you know what's going on right

now is i don't want to hurt anybody again. for all the divorces i have had, i hurt those girls deeply. >> tyler says he hurt himself fighting numerous drug and alcohol addictions. >> who has taken more drugs than you? >> i used to be kind of cool, but now it kind of hurts. >> 63 and a judge for fox's "american idol." this hard core idol isn't embarrassed to show off his softer side. >> what's the loveliest, sweetest, open your heart thing he did for you? >> he went all the way to alaska to visit my grandmother who i loved more than anything, passed away a few years ago. he was on tour and he took four days to come up to alaska and meet her, because we knew she wasn't going to be around for long. >> i wasn't expecting that answer. i love that it was that and not he bought me a -- >> harley.

>> this is a big time of year for oprah. we all remember how she played santa on her old talk show. it's our turn. there are three days left of our 12 days of christmas giveaway. for your chance to win, go to etonline and click on the 12 days of christmas giveaway. don't go away right now. we'll be right back. >> in tonight's "entertainment tonight" birthdays, which 24 star lived with robert downey, jr. and billy zane during the first year in los angeles? was it kiefer sutherland or mary lynn rossco. your answer next in the "e.t." birthday. >> closed captioning sponsored by --

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>> in tonight's "entertainment tonight" birthdays, twilight's jackson wrathbone turns 27. who lived with billy zane during the first year in los angeles. that was kiefer sugterland who today turns 45. >> it's hard to believe this week is half over. time flies when you have so much news to report. we'll break down more hollywood headlines for you tomorrow. thank you for being with us. have a great night.