Transcripts For KGO Nightline 20141008 : comparemela.com

those unforgettable stars will join the cast again. and what have they been doing ever since? but first, the "nightline" five. ♪ >> it's time to bring it out in the open. it's time to drop your pants for underwearness. a cause to support the over 65 million people who may need depend underwear. show them they're not alone and show off a pair of depend. because wearing a different kind of underwear is no big deal. join us. support the cause and get a free sample of depend at underwearness.com. >> and number one in just 60 seconds. and good evening. he played a sweet, sympathetic reverend on television. but now, in real life, he's accused of being a monster. with stephen collins, who became famous in the tv show "seven hechbt," leveraging his fame to molest underage girls? that's the allegation his soon to be ex-wife is making, and as you're going hear tonight, she says he's got audio recordings to prove it. we welcome abc's tom llamas to "nightline" with this report. >> reporter: he was the kind, sweet reverend and family man on "sev "seventh heaven." the man the kids turned to when they needed a shoulder to cry on. but tonight, stephen collins fans are seeing anymore in a radically different light. in secret recordings allegedly made by his estranged wife during a joint therapy session in 2012. collins allegedly confessed to molesting and exposing himself to multiple underage girls. >> when you exposed yourself to [ bleep ]'s 10-year-old sister, did you have an erection? >> no, i mean, partial, maybe. >> partial? >> maybe, yes. >> reporter: the audio was obtained by tmz. the 67-year-old actor claimed there were three victims in all. one, he said he abused over several years. >> it happened -- >> with a 10-year-old, okay. >> well, no, it was -- she was 11 and then, like, 12 and 13. >> oh, my god. >> reporter: and then, in graphic detail, he seems to admit that he did more than just expose. >> there was one instance -- >> but how did you, like -- there was -- >> well, this is in the disclosure and i told you before there was one instance, there was one moment of touching where her hand, i put her hand on my penis. >> you put her hand on your penis. >> this house is a tattoo-free zone. not now, not ever. you got it? >> reporter: it's hard to believe this is the same wholesome father from "seventh heaven." the shocking audio was allegedly recorded by grant while they were engaged in a bitter, drawn-out divorce. in court documents obtained by abc news, she called collins a pedophile with a long-term pattern of sexually abusing minor children. and said that their therapist described him as narcicisstic with sociopathic tendencies. she even suggests there may have been other victims, accusing him of using his celebrity status to engender the trust of the families of the children he molested. we don't have a number of total alleged victims, but grant said she first found out about her husband's secret life in early 2012. the couple separated shortly thereafter. that same year, the lapd received information on collins and opened a case. no crime was reported and no victim was identified then. despite the secretly recorded apparent confession, there apparently was not enough to charge collins with a crime. >> a crime cannot be proven based on a defendant's confession alone. okay? that's the law. otherwise, the jailhouse would be full of false confession defendants. you've got to corroborate this confession. >> reporter: now, in light of the new information, the lapd is reviewing their initial investigation to make sure they didn't miss anything the first time around. they're also collaborating with the nypd who told abc news that there is a formal complaint on file. they are currently investigating one allegation that dates back to 1972, when a then-14-year-old girl claims collins molested her. but can he be prosecuted for a crime that occurred over four decades ago? >> there is not a statute of limitations that will preclude a prosecution if this audio tape is authenticated, in other words, proven to be stephen collins, confessing to child w molestati molestation. >> reporter: today, the public remains in shock. >> the fact that "seventh heaven" ran for a decade and had a lot of fans who were very religious, it was known as a family-friendly show, i think that is also what's causing people to be so shocked by this news. >> i love you, dad. >> i love you, too, kiddo. >> reporter: but he wasn't just the doting dad to jessica biel that millions grew up watching for over a decade. but now, in hindsight, there are a number of tv and film projects that seemed to imitate the secret life collins allegedly may have led. >> feeling better? >> i am. >> reporter: in "the babysitter's seduction," he played a father that sleeps with a much younger girl, played by kerri russell. >> i was drunk, she came onto me. i never meant for it -- >> reporter: and in an ironic twist, the man who is being investigated by the manhattan special victims squad was once a guest star on "law & order: svu." today, the recordings hard to ignore by hollywood. collins was quickly fired from the upcoming movie "ted 2." and the up network announced it was dropping "seventh heaven" from its current programming. collins re-signed from the screen actor's guild. >> that's a big deal in hollywood. that's a very prestigious position with a lot of power and influence. >> reporter: as details continue to emerge, fans took to seeshl media to express their shock and dismay. on twitter, reverend camden, how could you? i will never be able to watch reruns the same way again. #childhoodruined. when i was little, i dreamed of having a family like the one on "seventh heaven" and now it's all ruined. one big fat lie. it's all in stark contrast to the warm response stephen collins received when he tweeted a picture of a "seven heaven" cast reunion, writing, first time in eight years. joy, laughs. tonight, no word from collins' camp. while grant released a statement denying that she leaked the reporting. "i woke up today to learn that an extremely private recording i handed over to the authorities in 2012 per their request in connection with a criminal investigation was recently disseminated to the press." >> you may also think, shouldn't this be protected by patient/client, because this conversation apparently took place as a husband and wife are in therapy. all the privileges, husband/wife, attorney/client, doctor/paint. they are all out the window if that conversation is covering up crimes. >> reporter: the trial for the divorce is scheduled to start next week. for "nightline," i'm tom llamas in new york. up next on "nightline," could you live in a home that is 84 square feet? this woman's doing it, and she's not alone. inside the tiny house movement. and later, why "twin peaks," a tv show that's been off the air for nearly 25 years, is now coming back. sometimes healthy is not on the menu. luckily, i always keep my meta health bars handy. it's my favorite bar hands down. from the makers of metamucil, new multi-health meta health bars have natural psyllium fiber that helps promote heart health with a taste consumers prefer. would you like one of these instead? yummy - thanks! experience the meta effect with our new multi-health wellness line and see how one small change can lead to good things. ok, if you're up there, i coulsmart sarah.elp. seeking guidance. just like with your investments. that sets you apart. it does? it does. you're type e*. and seeking another perspective is what type e*s do. oh, and your next handhold... is there. you don't have to go it alone. e*trade gives you the support and guidance to make informed decisions. are you type e*? for new nestlé© toll houser delightfulls morsels, the chocolate you know and love now filled with caramel, peanut butter, cherry, and mint. so peanut butter up some brownies. and caramel-ify those chocolate chip cookies with new nestlé© toll house delightfulls. bake some love™ people who know me, to this day they say,tix. "i never thought you would quit." you know, i really didn't either but chantix helped me do it. along with support, chantix (varenicline) is proven to help people quit smoking. it gave me the power to overcome the urge to smoke. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these, stop chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. don't take chantix if you've had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop these, stop chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be life-threatening. tell your doctor if you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems, or if you develop new or worse symptoms. get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. use caution when driving or operating machinery. common side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. i'm a nonsmoker; that feels amazing. ask your doctor if chantix is right for you. for aujs, a key part of the american dream, at least for some people, have been owning a bigger house. tonight, though, we're going to take you inside one of the most fascinating new trends in real estate. people opting for radically smaller houses. we're talking like 200 square feet, even smaller. and the tiny house movement isn't just about cutting costs. it's about rethinking what we really need to be happy. here's my "nightline" co-anchor juju chang. >> reporter: at first glance, this building, parked in a backyard, might look like a tool shed. >> this is the 84-square foot tiny house. let me give you a quick tour. you might want to stretch first. it's rigorous. >> reporter: but this is what dee williams calls home. a tiny home. the size of a single room. >> from wall to wall, it's six foot, ten inches. >> reporter: here in washington, dee's been living in space the size of a luxurious walk-in closet for ten years. and she's not alone. thousands of tiny homes have been built across america. and the trend is growing rapidly. as recession-wary homeowners attempt to redefine the american dream. >> the sleeping loft, it's a four-foot ceiling up here. i measured myself in order to figure out, you know, how tall to make it. it was so that i could kneel walk across the bed to make the bed. >> reporter: sure, the house has its limits. dee can't take a long, hot shower. >> one thing you may notice is messing is the faucet. i don't have running water. which is okay. >> reporter: nor can she store much food in this small, blue cooler that is her refrigerator. >> i don't think it has anything in it right now. maybe beer. maybe hatch alf and half. what more do you need? >> reporter: all jokes aside, dee says tiny house owners are usually doing some serious soul searching. >> dreaming big in the past was being able to get a good house and then a better house. i think what people are discovering is that those things don't necessarily bring you closer faster to who you want to be. >> reporter: these little buildings may look cute, but they're a radical real estate trend in a country where the average home is a sprawling 2,600 square feet. in fact, most tiny houses are too small to be legal. >> the bathroom is not really a bathroom. the kitchen's not big enough. >> reporter: dee's home, build on a trailer, is classified more like an rv. she's never had any legal trouble, though. and despite their outlaw status, tiny houses have exploded in popularity. there's a documentary on netflix. "tiny: a story about living small." tiny house dating.com, for those looking to share their very intimate space. and there's a reality series on the fyi network, where a small home is built for a different family each week. >> what do you think? >> it is beautiful. >> doesn't it look really nice? >> reporter: john hosts the show. he points out that tiny houses, which cost on average $23,000, could be the answer for today's debt-burdened, cash strapped millennial. >> people coming out of college with huge student loans and want to live mortgage free. >> reporter: he admits the trend is not for everyone. >> tiny house living is extreme. i mean, asking people to go from 2,000 square feet to 200 square feet is aggressive. >> oh, cool. >> that is awesome. >> reporter: kim and ryan castle, a minnesota couple featured on the show, are diving right now. >> we value our experience more than our possessions. >> it's on a trailer. it has to be under 8 1/2 feet wide. prison cells are six feet wide. it's something that's going to have very unique challenges for them. >> reporter: john and his building partner zach have come up with all sorts of tricks. >> dog food. >> that is so cute. >> reporter: to make the most efficient use of space. >> we manage to fit the bed underneath your office. >> reporter: if you're not sure you're ready to take on the space challenges yourself, you can try a tiny house on for size here at caravan, america's first tiny house hotel. >> welcome to the caboose. come on in. kids love the caboose. it's the favorite among children. kind of made it really just kind of fun and playful in here. >> reporter: caravan co-owner deb proves that tiny houses can be just as luxurious also any full size house. >> reporter: all the houses have microwaves, coffee makers, hot plates. and that lifestyle encourages community. >> you need to go to the local laundromat. you don't have a full kitchen. you might need to go to a restaurant. it connects people around them. >> i think i want to stay in each one and build my house. >> reporter: many of caravan's visitors are do it yourselves, trying to get insight before they embark on building their own tiny houses. because diving in unprepared can be dangerous. >> there's definitely a right way and a wrong way. >> reporter: daren williams builds shells of tiny homes like this one. >> it kind of transitions into a full kitchen area. full catwalk in for storage. she's got a big japanese soaking tub. >> reporter: his focus is building green. and for echo conscious homeowners, tiny homes are hard to beat. >> maintenance on this home versus the home that we're right next to, there's a huge difference. heating, cooling, all those things are done in much smaller space. your footprint is reduced because you can't bring home as much stuff. >> reporter: with her 84-square foot hoet, dee williams might have the smallest footprint of them all. but her tiny home has helped her tap into one of life's biggest secrets. >> a lot of people are discovers what they have is really what they need. and they're finding that they're a lot happier once they let go of the myth that, you got to have something more in order to be happy. >> reporter: for "nightline," i'm juju chang in new york. coming up on "nightline," almost 25 years after "twin peaks" creeped out america, it's coming back. what have the stars of the show been doing since then? 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"twin peaks" was dark and strange and to some, completely alienating. it had a hard core cult following, though, and tonight, many of those fans are pretty much freaking out because 25 years after it went off the air, "twin peaks" is coming back. here's abc's david wright. >> reporter: from those first moody bass notes, "twin peaks" was quirky, murky and strange. >> what do you recommend for a hangover? >> tee totalling and prayer. >> good answer. >> reporter: hard to imagine that found a home on network tv, let alone became a hit. but this david lynch cop drama set in the pacific northwest was a huge hit. the pilot of "twin peaks" had an audience twice the size of scandal on its best night. more than 20 million people watching the log lady and the woman with the eye patch and the little person. >> let's rock! >> reporter: this was decades before lannister came on the scene. >> i should have let them kill you all. >> reporter: "twin peaks" blew phil donahue's socks off. >> the most talked about, most written about, most controversial show on television. >> reporter: so, the idea that david lynch may reassemble the cast for a third season on showtime, 25 years after the era of big hair ended, well, that's an idea out of "twin peaks." >> to have a show return for a limited run, with the original co-creators and having him directing all the episodes this is totally unprecedented. >> reporter: a lot has changed in 25 years. not just the coffee best known from the pacific northwest. >> this is, excuse me, a damn fine cup of coffee. >> reporter: or the fact that the characters actually smoked on screen. or that agent cooper was constantly speaking into that dictaphone. >> 54 degrees on a slightly overcast day. weatherman said rain. >> reporter: presumably it will be an i phone now. this cult classic paved the wail for an entirely new genre of tv drama. >> david lynch brought a darkness in small town america that has been repeated on shows like "the sopranos. >>" even something as light as "gilmore girls." >> reporter: without "twin peaks," no "lost." where are they now? agent cooper went on to build a career as the handsome guy who is not exactly the perfect catch in "sex and the city." and "desperate housewives." gorgeous lara flynn boyle went on to big things on "the practice." and seemed headed for big things. but then, her career kind of fizzled. >> just shocked. >> reporter: david lynch safes he's reaching out to most of the original cast. and there were cameos from the likes of heather graham and david duchovny who went on to become major stars. >> i have no idea where this will lead us but i have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange. >> reporter: it surely will. i'm david wright for "nightline" in new york. >> i'm rooting for bow we're. our thanks to david wright and thank you for watching abc news tonight. "world news now" is coming up soon. tune into "gma" first thing in the morning. and, as always, we're online, 24/7 at a b bcnews.coabcnews.co. thanks again for watching, and good night.

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