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Showbiz Tonight
"LA Confidential" Magazine and General Motors Throw Lavish pre-Oscar Parties; Jury is picked for Michael Jackson Trial
Aired February 23, 2005 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: We are taking you to the hottest pre-Oscar parties.
KARYN BRYANT, CO-HOST: And big, late-breaking news in the Michael Jackson and Robert Blake trials.
I`m Karyn Bryant.
HAMMER: And I`m A.J. Hammer. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BRYANT: Party hopping in Hollywood, two big pre-Oscar bashes. Jamie Foxx hit them both. So did we.
HAMMER: The stars were out, including Deborah Gibson. Why did she stop the schmoozing long enough to call me on her cell?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBORAH GIBSON, FRIEND OF A.J.: Let`s try to get A.J. on the phone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRYANT: Sidney Lumet, the director of "Dog Day Afternoon" -- a live tribute tonight for his special Oscar. We`re there live, exclusively.
HAMMER: "One Day at a Time" one time too many? Tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Showdown," TV reunion specials, love them or hate them?
BRYANT: Inside J-Lo`s empire. Jenny leaves the block and takes over the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER LOPEZ: Hey, I`m Jennifer Lopez. And if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, and you`re at the top of the show.
BRYANT: I`m Karyn Bryant. We are live with you from Headline Prime studios in New York City for the next hour.
HAMMER: Let the partying begin! Tonight, we`re just four days away from the Oscars, but we`re oh so on top of the pre-Oscar celebrations.
BRYANT: That`s right. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is RSVP central for the best of the bunch. Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson is live in Hollywood right now. Brooke, please do tell us about all the fun (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BROOKE ANDERSON, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Well, Karyn, A.J., a whole lot of partying going on here. There were two big events last night on opposite sides of town. One was "L.A. Confidential" magazine`s party for cover boy Jamie Foxx. We`ll get to that in a moment. But first, the biggest and flashiest? Well, that would be the fourth annual General Motors runway show, cars, stars and fashion, which took over a full city block in the heart of Hollywood. Now, Jamie Foxx was at both, and we just couldn`t help but follow him from one to the next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): In the house, Demi and Ashton hand in hand. John Stamos, Dean Caine, stars from "The O.C.," Amanda Peet, Allison Janney, but everyone was keeping one eye out for Jamie Foxx, who worked the cameras.
JAMIE FOXX, OSCAR NOMINEE: Hey, hey, hey! On the other side of town, brother. Look out! Hey, I`ve got it all.
ANDERSON: "The Fast and the Furious" star Michelle Rodriguez told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT there`s a reason why cars and fashion go together.
MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, "BLUE CRUSH": To have a nice car and to match it with a nice outfit means you`re getting [deleted] tonight.
ANDERSON: The torrential rain didn`t keep people home. The turn-out was nothing less than A-list. Kanye West warmed up the crowd with a live concert. Strutting their stuff, not only Foxx, but fellow Oscar nominee Catalina Sandino-Moreno, Regina King, Vivica Fox, Anthony (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and even "Napoleon Dynamite" star Jon Heder, who got funky on the runway. The event benefited P.S. Arts, which helps bring arts into the public schools. Sisters Hilary and Haley Duff told us why they were there.
HILARY DUFF, "LIZZIE MCGUIRE": I really think it`s so important for kids, you know, to experience art and have that for, like, all different types of kids. And I think we`re just excited to be a part of it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Karyn and A.J., as you mentioned before, Oscar night is only four days away, and tomorrow, seven-and-a-half-foot replicas of Oscar will be brought out to line the streets around the Kodak Theater. Quite a sight. Everyone is making their last-minute plans. And on Friday, we`ll give you a tick-tock countdown on what`s going to happen from Friday to Monday. So as always, stay tuned.
BRYANT: All right, Brooke. Thanks a lot for that report. Over to you, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, as Brooke mentioned, the other hot party that everyone went to was the one thrown by "L.A. Confidential" magazine. That was one that they threw to honor its cover boy, none other than Jamie Foxx. The swank events in the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel included "American Idol`s" Randy Jackson and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Joey Fatone, and my good friend, Deborah Gibson, who, indeed, decided to give me a call right there on the spot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBORAH GIBSON, FRIEND OF A.J.: Guess where I am right now. I am at the "L.A. Confidential" party for Jamie Foxx, and I am talking to you on the phone on the air for your show. Well, they can`t hear you, but I have the phone to my ear, and I`m on camera for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, calling you to say hello in front of your audience. Oh, it`s just like a who`s who of -- yes, it`s, like, six degrees -- it`s, like, six degrees of A.J. Hammer.
Oh, you know what? I`m going to call you later, when all the hoopla dies down. But I wanted to congratulate you on the show and say hi to you on the air. Hi!
All right. What? Yes, I was there. I don`t know how we missed each other. I`m going to call you later because it`s nuts, but I wanted to say hi. OK, love you. Bye.
Oh, my God! That is really funny. That is really funny! OK. Great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I don`t know if it was funny or just a little strange. And the reason she looked so frightened is because I was asking her about that 20 bucks that she never showed up to pay me back. Apparently, she still doesn`t have it for me.
BRYANT: Yikes! Thanks, A.J.
Well, today we also learned that Prince and Sean Penn will be presenting at the Oscars this Sunday. They will each hand out awards separately. It is their first time doing so, but there are no strangers to the Oscars. Of course, Penn won as lead actor in "Mystic River" -- he was fantastic -- and Prince from his score for "Purple Rain," also incredible.
So now, will purple be the big color on the red carpet? Find out on "HOLLYWOOD GOLD RUSH" this Sunday. Along with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas, I will be co-hosting CNN`s pre-Oscar coverage live. CNN`s "HOLLYWOOD GOLD RUSH" kicks off this Sunday at 7:00 PM Eastern.
HAMMER: Well, tonight we have big developments in two Hollywood trials. The first one, Robert Blake. The defense rested its case this afternoon. And Michael Jackson -- today the jury was at long last picked. Four men and eight women will decide the fate of the "King of Pop." These are pictures of Jackson coming into court today. He has some serious child molestation charges against him.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is getting you the very latest on both cases. "Celebrity Justice" reporter Jane Velez-Mitchell joins us from the courthouse where the Jackson jury will be deciding. Now, Jane, we`ve been hearing that some very big names will be testifying.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Oh, yes. It`s a star- studded list -- Smokey Robinson, Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Kobe Bryant. The list goes on and on. As to how many of them will actually show up here, we don`t know. And of course, all the jurors say, Oh, I won`t be influenced by that at all. Well, you tell me that when Elizabeth Taylor -- the Elizabeth Taylor -- takes the stand. And if anybody knows how to sway a group of strangers, it`s her. So they can say all they want, but let`s see what actually happens.
HAMMER: And you have some other developments to tell us about tonight?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s right. "Celebrity Justice" has broken a huge story about a problem with the prosecution timeline. We`ve all heard by now this family was interviewed by social workers, and they told them, Nothing happened, nothing happened. And the prosecution says, Well, they said that because they were under duress, they were being threatened, they were being coerced.
Well, the social workers, we`re told, don`t believe that. They say they didn`t show any signs of being under duress. And in fact, one social worker testified before the grand jury, and she was apparently so convincing that the prosecution changed the date of when these alleged molestations began until after that interview, February 20. So the defense is going to use that to say, Wait a second, you`re changing your story after Michael Jackson was arrested. That`s a problem.
HAMMER: Well, it`s going to be interesting to see how that all plays out. And the defense rested, of course, as we mentioned earlier. What happens now?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, the defense rested in the Robert Blake case back in Los Angeles. And Robert Blake might have been a little bit upset because the Michael Jackson case kind of stole his thunder today, since the jury was picked here in Santa Maria for the Jackson case. And Robert Blake -- the defense rested in his case. What`s going to happen after that? Well, there`s going to be a rebuttal case put on by the prosecution in the Robert Blake case.
Robert Blake, by the way, never took the stand, but they did play that famous interview he did with Barbara Walters, where he was very dramatic in professing his love for Rosie.
HAMMER: Well, thanks very much, Jane. Obviously, two stories we`ll keeping a close watch on. Jane Velez-Mitchell of "Celebrity Justice."
BRYANT: Early ratings out today show that CBS`s "One Day at a Time" reunion special did well. It was No. 2 in its time slot. Viewers watched as Ann Romano daughters Julie and Barbara and handyman Schneider from the `70s sitcom chatted. Now, this is just the latest in a slew of recent reunion shows, including "Dallas" and "Happy Days." But for every person who loves to see what happened to the cast, there are others who find these reunions utterly painful to watch. Now, that is the focus of tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Showdown." TV reunion specials, do you love them or hate them? And we kick off our debate at 15 past the hour.
And of course, we want to know what you think. Take our poll at cnn.com/showbiztonight or e-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: It is time now for "SHOWBIZ Shorts," a look at more stories making news tonight. Separate lives for Slater. We learned today that Christian Slater filed for divorce from his wife of five years. The actor`s publicist says that the decision is both mutual and amicable.
BRYANT: Will Cartman become Cartwoman? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT confirmed today that someone on "South Park" is getting a sex change. We don`t know who it is, but the ninth season of South Park starts March 9.
More "SHOWBIZ Shorts" coming up throughout the show.
Well, they are on the most talked about new show on TV. They have roughly 23 million viewers, and their show is getting showered with awards.
HAMMER: The "Desperate Housewives" have been delighted housewives lately. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with them in Los Angeles as they gathered to talk about their show and take a few bows.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(voice-over): At a panel discussion for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the cast talked some more about the show`s success.
TERI HATCHER, "SUSAN MAYER": We`ve just been all received so well by, you know, the country and the press. It`s so great to have such a great job.
HAMMER: Eva Longoria tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT how her show gets the viewers.
EVA LONGORIA, "GABRIELLE SOLIS": There`s nothing deleted that`s too racy. We pretty much push the envelope on every episode.
HAMMER: And what about plot twists?
FELICITY HUFFMAN, "LYNETTE SCAVO": I don`t know any plot twists. I barely know next week`s script. So I think it`s going to be Marc Cherry that`s doing that.
HAMMER: Creator Marc Cherry did reveal how he will write an upcoming scene involving Marcia Cross`s sexually confused son.
MARC CHERRY, CREATOR, "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES": Let`s just say that somewhere in my past, there is a scene in my life with my mother and a Christian counselor telling me he could cure me.
(LAUGHTER)
CHERRY: I`m going to be able to write this just fine.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the people behind "Desperate Housewives" must be flattered to death over one of the pilots that ABC is considering.
BRYANT: It`s a show about a pair of suburban private eyes called "Soccer Moms."
Well, will we soon hear the pitter patter of little J-Lo feet? Maybe. We`ll tell you what she said.
HAMMER: Plus, there`s a party going on right now in New York City for Sidney Lumet. He directed a ton of movies, including, of course, "12 Angry Men," and he`s going to get a special Oscar on Sunday. We`ll go to his party live coming up.
BRYANT: Now, tonight the "Entertainment Weekly" "Great American Oscar Quiz." What year marks the first time all five Best Picture nominees were shot in color? Is it A, 1949, B, 1952, C, 1956, or D, 1958? We`ll be right back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back. So once again, today`s "Entertainment Weekly" "Great American Oscar Quiz." What year marked the very first time all five Best Picture nominees were shot in color, 1949, 1952, 1956 or 1958? The answer is C, 1956.
It is 15 past the hour, time now for the "SHOWBIZ Showdown." Earlier, we told you that CBS aired a "One Day at a Time" reunion special last night. Recently, casts also got back together for some "Happy Days" and "Dallas" reminiscing. But while some just love the nostalgia, others are cringing.
So that brings us to tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Showdown" question. TV reunion specials, do you love them or hate them? Joining us live, Michael Davis, senior editor for "TV Guide," who says, yes, he loves TV reunion specials, and Jeremy Helligar, senior editor for "Entertainment Weekly," who says, no, he hates TV reunion specials.
Now, Jeremy, saying no, you hate them, that`s an understatement, isn`t it?
JEREMY HELLIGAR, SR. EDITOR, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Oh, my God. When I think of "Dallas," I want to think of Charlene Tilton as Lucy Ewing in the hayloft, looking all sexy and young. I don`t want to think of her middle-aged, middle-age spread. It`s so depressing! It`s so depressing.
BRYANT: OK. And Michael, what`s your take on it? Because you seem to like reunion specials. State your case.
MIKE DAVIS, SR. EDITOR, "TV GUIDE": Oh, man. You know, "TV Guide`s" a populist medium, and I`m a populist guy. You know, last night, "One Day at a Time" had a reunion special. Not my cup of tea, but 10 million people watched it. Why? They enjoyed the show when it was on, and they want to, you know, check back in with the characters and the actors who played them.
BRYANT: But Jeremy, I want to talk to you about this. I mean, do you really think people are watching because they want to relive the glory, or do you think they`re watching because they want to see how funny people look, now that they`ve aged 10 years?
HELLIGAR: They want to laugh because these people, some of them age so poorly. But it`s not only that. On "One Day at a Time," you have the guy who played Alex, who was such a minor character. He`s talking about character development in one specific episode. And I`m thinking, Character development on "One Day at a Time"? What are you talking about?
(LAUGHTER)
DAVIS: You know, there have been some very good examples, Jeremy, though. How about the "Seinfeld" reunion earlier this season? Didn`t you enjoy that?
HELLIGAR: You know what, though? It`s depressing because all I can think about is, OK, Jerry Seinfeld has more money than God, but you`ve all -- the rest of you have had failed sitcoms. What are you doing now? Where are you now? It`s so depressing!
DAVIS: How about the "Happy Days" reunion special? You didn`t enjoy that?
(CROSSTALK)
HELLIGAR: You know what? All I could think about was the character - - the actress who played Joanie, and a few years ago, when she had all of her problems, talking about how she wouldn`t get back with the rest of the cast, how she wanted nothing to do with reunion specials. And you just look at that and think, OK, these people are pretending to be the best of friends, to love each other. But I don`t think that`s the case.
BRYANT: Well, what about this idea, that TV reunion specials are just cheap and easy television for the networks? Michael?
DAVIS: They are cheap and easy television. What are you -- you can`t argue any way against it. But you know, what do you want to see, "CSI Potsdam"? I mean, every once in a while, it`s kind of fun to revisit a part of your past. And I believe that television is a very intimate medium. We watch it in our bedrooms and in our family rooms.
BRYANT: OK. Now, last question. Jeremy, do you think there are any shows that you`ll see 10 years from now, any shows that either of you, actually, would like to see a reunion late in the years?
HELLIGAR: You know what? I`m sure that in 10, 20 years, we`ll have a "Desperate Housewives" reunion, we`ll have a "Lost," reunion, we`ll even have and"O.C." reunion because, God knows, those kids are not necessarily going to be the biggest stars for that much longer.
BRYANT: Right. Michael?
DAVIS: I want to see a "Pee-wee`s Playhouse" reunion and a "30- Something" reunion."
BRYANT: Absolutely!
DAVIS: I`d pay for it.
BRYANT: All right. Well, there you go. There -- maybe it`ll be on pay TV. If not, we`ll see what we can do right here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Well, Michael Davis, senior editor of "TV Guide," I thank you. And Jeremy Helligar, senior editor of "Entertainment Weekly," I thank you, as well.
Now, we want to know your thoughts at home. TV reunion specials, do you love them or do you hate them? You can vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight or if you want to tell us more, send an e-mail to showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`ll share some of what you had to say later in the show.
HAMMER: You know there`s going to be a "Good Life (ph)" reunion.
And speaking of which Paris Hilton shared her personal phone book with the world, but she didn`t mean to. Tonight, her very first comments on the Sidekick swiping. We`ve got that coming up.
BRYANT: Plus, it seems like Catherine Zeta-Jones can do it all. But it turns out there are things she loves that she`s not allowed to do at work. We`ll get the scoop from "People Hollywood Daily."
HAMMER: It is time now for your Oscar smart test, and we`re going to check out your fashion savvy, as well, in tonight`s "In Style Oscar Fashion Challenge." This picture is a close-up of which Oscar-winning actress? Is it Gwyneth Paltrow, Juliette Binoche or Julia Roberts? Think you got the answer? We`re going to tell you who it is a bit later in the show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Omarion solo. After four records under the P. Diddy umbrella, he is out with his own songs, and we`re there as he meets his fans, coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BRYANT: It is 22 past the hour, time for more "SHOWBIZ Shorts." Smits returns to the 15th Precinct tonight. Jimmy Smits, who played Detective Bobby Simone on "NYPD Blue," will host a one-hour look back on the show`s 12 seasons. It is scheduled to air March 1, right before the series finale.
Jerry`s good-bye. We learned today that NBC`s new spin-off, "Law and Order: Trial by Jury," will likely mention Jerry Orbach`s death in the fourth or fifth episode. Of course, Orbach played Detective Lennie Briscoe brilliantly for 12 years. The new show launches on March 3.
Well, every night leading up to the Oscars, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be bringing you an inside look at "People Hollywood Daily."
HAMMER: And now it`s -- this is a magazine that`s not coming with your "People" subscription. It`s not on the newsstands anywhere. This is only for the Hollywood insiders. But of course, here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, we have got you covered. And joining us live from Los Angeles is the L.A. associate bureau chief for "People" magazine, Michael Fleeman.
So Mike, there`s all sorts of chaos in Hollywood right now, at least for anyone who was listed in Paris Hilton`s Sidekick, which someone hacked into, as we`ve been reporting, and then distributed all the phone numbers that were in it. But it`s not just the A-listers who are being harassed by callers who found out all these numbers. Now, what did "People Hollywood Daily" find out?
MICHAEL FLEEMAN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Well, you know what we found out was that there are a lot of people in her life who are not famous -- agents, publicists, promoters. And they work in offices, and they cannot change their phone numbers. And they are being inundated with crank phone calls this week.
HAMMER: All right, Mike, another thing you guys were talking about -- we all know stars get plenty of perks, but sometimes actors have contractual obligations not to do certain things. Tell me what "People Hollywood Daily" learned about Catherine Zeta-Jones in this case.
FLEEMAN: Well, she`s very athletic. She plays golf. She`s a dancer. And one of the things a lot of people don`t know she does is ice skate. And producers insists in her contract that she not ice skate while she`s making a movie. You know, one mixed axel, and it will cost the film millions of dollars.
HAMMER: Yes, and the insurance companies don`t want to get involved with that. Another star you reported on, Emmy Rossum, who we know from "Phantom of the Opera" and "Mystic River."
FLEEMAN: Yes. She is an outdoorswoman. She likes to fish, hike, and she also likes to ride horses. Producers say, No horseback riding while filming a movie.
HAMMER: Tell me what you guys found out about Kate Bosworth, who, of course, we know from "Blue Crush."
FLEEMAN: Yes, and it`s ironic. She got famous by riding a surfboard. But now, when she is making any other kind of movie, they say she`s got to stay out of the water. They don`t want any wipeouts wiping out the production. Don`t want to ruin the whole thing because of one little fun incident.
HAMMER: All right, Mike. Thanks so much. Mike Fleeman, the L.A. associate bureau chief for "People magazine." We`re going to be checking in with "People Hollywood Daily" once again tomorrow and get some more Oscar scoops.
BRYANT: Is it a royal dis? The queen isn`t going to Prince Charles`s wedding. What is up with that? We are going to take you to the "Buzz Bench" coming up.
HAMMER: Plus, J-Lo has it all, but is she planning on adding a baby to the mix? Her first comments on having kids with Marc Anthony coming up, as well.
BRYANT: And now tonight`s "Birthday Shout-Out." "Sex and the City" girl Kristin Davis turns 40 today. The shout-out is from her former HBO "Sopranos" buddies Jamie-Lynn DiScala and Drea De Matteo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy birthday, Kristin. You`re beautiful and...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy birthday, Kristin.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... wonderful. Have a good night.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWS BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Director Sidney Lumet locked in on Oscar night. A tribute going on right now in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is there live.
BRYANT (voice-over): Omarion goes it alone, taking it to the people. We`re right there with him.
OMARION, SINGER: Hey, what`s going on, everybody? This is Omarion. And if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, for real.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRYANT: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. And I am Karyn Bryant.
HAMMER: And I`m A.J. Hammer. And here are tonight`s hot headlines.
Judging Michael Jackson. Just a few hours ago the jury was chosen in Jackson`s molestation trial. The jury is made up or four men and eight women. The youngest is 20. The oldest 79.
BRYANT: The envelope, please. Sean Penn and Prince are on Sunday`s list of Oscar presenters. The academy announced that today. And they are, of course, both former Oscar winners.
Well, Oscar comes to New York City tonight for Sidney Lumet. The director whose career spans more than 40 feature films is being recognized tonight.
HAMMER: Just days, of course, before he receives an honorary Oscar at the Academy Awards. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s David Haffenreffer joins us live from the Plaza Athenee.
I understand you have the man of the hour with you.
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN HEADLINE NEWS CORRESPONDENT: We do have the man of the hour, A.J. and Karyn. But get a load of some of these names: Al Pacino, Katharine Hepburn, Richard Burton, Paul Newman, Ingrid Bergman. Seventeen actors under the tutelage of this particular director went on to receive Oscar nominations. We caught up with some of Sidney Lumet`s fans on the red carpet tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNN REDGRAVE, ACTRESS: I worked for Sidney twice, and I actually was married in his living room. So I go back a very long way with him, to 1967.
PETER DINKLAGE, ACTOR: He is brilliant. The man is the most prepared person I`ve ever worked with. He works rapid pace, and his energy is outstanding.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAFFENREFFER: And joining us now is Sidney Lumet, the man of the hour.
Thank you for speaking with us tonight.
SIDNEY LUMENT, DIRECTOR: My pleasure.
HAFFENREFFER: Tell me a little bit about what it`s like to be honored by the academy.
LUMET: It`s sensational. You know, anybody who says they`re blase about it or it doesn`t matter, or tries to be cool, it`s silly. It`s a terrific, terrific feeling. And I`m very grateful.
HAFFENREFFER: I want to take you back to 1957, your first feature film, "12 Angry Men." Tell me a little bit about how that job came to be. We understand that Henry Fonda had something to do with you getting that first job.
LUMET: You know, anybody who`s had any kind of a career, the first thing we all acknowledge is the luck involved. And it was sheer luck.
I had worked with Reggie Rose, who wrote it in live television. He wanted me to do it. And I was running a workshop down in the village, and one of the actors in it was in "Mr. Roberts," that Henry Fonda was in.
He spoke to Fonda. Fonda came down, saw some of the work we did at the workshop. And when Reggie said, "What about Sidney?" Fonda said, "Great." That simple.
HAFFENREFFER: Let`s fast forward to 1973, "Serpico," of course. New York City very much almost a character in this particular film. So many of your films have been shot in New York. How important is the city to you?
LUMET: It`s critical because it`s maybe -- you know, I`ve shot all over the world, but I don`t know of any city that`s capable of having so many different moods as New York. There`s no kind of movie that you would want to do where you couldn`t find the streets, the buildings, the skyline, the light to tell that story.
HAFFENREFFER: Sidney Lumet, thank you so much for speaking with us tonight. Congratulations on receiving that honorary Academy Award. It`s good to see you.
LUMET: Thank, you, David.
HAFFENREFFER: Back to you.
BRYANT: Well, thanks a lot, David. Please thank him for directing "Network" and "Dog Day Afternoon." My god, that man is brilliant.
Of course, remember, you can chime in on the Oscars at cnn.com. Click on "Inside the Envelope" and make your Oscar predictions. The grand prize winner will receive a 32-inch LCD HDTV, and $1,000 cash.
HAMMER: Well, we`ve been asking you to vote on tonight`s "Showbiz Showdown Question of the Day." TV reunion specials do, you love them or do you hate them?
Well, so far, it`s a landslide. Just 29 percent of you say, yes, you do love TV reunion specials. But a whopping 71 percent of you say, no, you do not love TV reunion specials.
And you can keep on voting by going to cnn.com/showbusinesstonight. You`ve got more to say? Well, send us an e-mail. ShowbizToday@CNN.com is the address. We`re going to have what you had to say coming up at 55 past the hour.
BRYANT: Well, while it may seem silly given that she`s been married for more than six months, only now is Jennifer Lopez publicly acknowledging for the first time that, yes, she and Marc Anthony did exchange wedding vous. In an interview in the upcoming issue of "PEOPLE" Magazine, Lopez says, "Yes, we`re married. I mean, come on, everyone knows. It`s not a secret."
Well, maybe it`s not a secret, but this is first time J.Lo has publicly said that. Now, when asked whether she wants to have kids, J.Lo tells "PEOPLE," "One healthy baby would be enough for me."
Now, J.Lo also talking about her diet, her new album and much more in the new issue of "PEOPLE." That hits newsstands on Friday.
HAMMER: Well, I guess now it`s OK to call Jennifer Lopez a newlywed. And she`s a busy one at that. I actually had a chance to hang out with her and learned that J.Lo is one woman who really handles her business.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Let`s get right to the point. This isn`t about J.Lo being a music star or a movie star. And it`s definitely not about her love life.
I`m talking about a side of Jennifer Lopez you don`t hear as much about, J.Lo the fashion mogul, J.Lo the restaurateur, J.Lo the merchandising machine. Yes, whether you knew it or not, J.Lo is an empire.
JENNIFER LOPEZ, SINGER: I don`t think of it as an empire.
HAMMER: OK. So Lopez didn`t quite see it that way when I caught up with her in New York City right as she was about to launch yet another venture.
LOPEZ: I think of them as creative passion projects.
HAMMER: Well, then, let`s take a look at J.Lo`s creative passion projects.
The first passion is fashion. Lopez co-founded Sweetface Fashions, which sells the J.Lo line of urban wear and lingerie, and the more upscale Sweetface line she just unveiled at fashion week. There`s also a line of J.Lo fragrances, J.Lo Glow, Still and Miami Glow. And the beauty products, jewelry and accessories.
All together, this particular creative passion project does an estimated $325 million in sales. Sure sounds like an empire.
(on camera): What do you think of this whole J.Lo empire? It`s building and building and building.
DAMON DASH, CO-FOUNDER, ROCK-A-FELLA ROCAWEAR: Well, from one empire builder to another, I can admire it. And I have admiration for it. And I think it`s a beautiful thing, especially when a beautiful woman does it.
HAMMER: J.Lo also has a restaurant on her crowded plate, Madre`s, her Cuban-style eatery in Pasadena, California. And she`s an investor in the Conga Room, a Latin hotspot in L.A..
(on camera): Yes, of course, J.Lo`s projects keep her extremely busy, but you know what else? They also make her extremely rich.
She made "Fortune" magazine`s list of the richest people under 40. Her estimated worth is $255 million. Not bad for a former fly girl.
(voice-over): With so much going on, how does she find the time to do it all?
LOPEZ: You have to love what you do to put so many hours in and to put so much energy into things. And I think I just love what I do.
HAMMER (on camera): Is there one part of it that you love more than the other?
LOPEZ: I love music and I love being an actress. I think for me that will always come first.
HAMMER (voice-over): Still, J.Lo`s business savvy is earning her props from other entrepreneurs who`ve branched out from the music world.
RUSSELL SIMMONS, FOUNDER, DEF JAM PHAT FARM: That`s what we do in hip-hop. I mean, that`s the kind of energy. When you come out on the street and you`ve got a great imagination, and nobody`s afraid to like chase their dreams...
HAMMER: And what should J.Lo work on next? This "Queer Eye" guy has a suggestion.
CARSON KRESSLEY, "QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY": I think she should design a car, like the J.Lo mobile.
HAMMER: You know what, Carson? That`s not a bad idea.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Jennifer did tell me she`s a micromanager, but she let`s the family pitch in and help, too. And her multitasking will continue. MTV is airing a special documentary that shows Lopez during those hectic run-up hours to the big show at fashion week. "Jennifer Lopez: Beyond the Runway" is the name of it. And it airs tomorrow night.
BRYANT: Well, Paris Hilton is ticked off about her Sidekick getting hacked. Her famous friends aren`t too pleased, either. We`ll see what the "Buzz Bench" has to say about it coming up.
HAMMER: Plus, Omarion`s record is hot off the presses. And we`re along for the ride.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: More now on Paris Hilton. Tonight, is there ever enough?
Paris says her Sidekick-swiping has been a "nightmare." Last night we told you how her phone and e-mail gizmo was hacked and its contents leaked out on to the Internet. And stars like Lindsay Lohan and Ashley Olsen and Lil` John got hundreds of messages.
Well, in this week`s "US Weekly" magazine, Paris says she feels horrible. And adds, "I don`t know why this stuff always happens to me, but I wish it wouldn`t happen anymore."
Paris`s publicist confirmed to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that is what she told "US Weekly," but she`s not ready to release an official statement yet.
BRYANT: Well, it is time now for our "Buzz Bench." Of course Paris Hilton is just one of the things that we`ll be talking about with our "Buzz Bench" crew.
HAMMER: And joining us on the "Buzz Bench," please welcome "The New York Times" Lola Ogunnaike; "Rolling Stones" Joe Levy; and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Amy Kean.
So the queen says she won`t be at Prince Charles and Camilla`s wedding because they want to keep it low key. That`s absolutely true, right?
AMY KEAN, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: There is no way this is going to be low key, regardless of whether or not she shows up. But I think what people need to remember is these two met in 1970. OK? And their affair, they became really good friends, and an affair happened -- it`s unclear exactly when it happened.
But, you know, they did a recent poll in the, you know, British "PEOPLE." Half of them are still -- they still hate Camilla Parker Bowles.
JOE LEVY, "ROLLING STONE": They`re still upset.
KEAN: Right. So I think that in a way -- in a way, the queen is smart to do that.
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, "NEW YORK TIMES": I think she`s a home wrecker. I think she`s a complete home wrecker. And I`ll never forgive her.
BRYANT: But isn`t that -- I mean, so how do you feel about the fact that the queen mum is not going to the wedding?
OGUNNAIKE: I think she shouldn`t go.
KEAN: I think in a way she`s kind of making a stand, and that`s her style. And I think it`s good.
LEVY: And I kind of feel as though we had the American revolution so we could not care. And I don`t care.
BRYANT: OK, Joe.
HAMMER: Is this clearly an excuse, which is what everybody`s saying?
LEVY: It`s clearly an excuse. She clearly...
KEAN: Of course. Of course. Of course.
LEVY: ... disapproves. And it`s not because they want to keep it low key.
OGUNNAIKE: But she disapproved of her over 30-something years ago. That`s why she wouldn`t let him marry her in the first place. And now that he`s finally got a backbone...
KEAN: I mean, for her to say -- for her to day, I`m not going to go because I want to keep it low key...
(CROSSTALK)
BRYANT: Well, she`s also, I think, referring to the fact that it`s a civil ceremony and she is going to be doing -- taking part in the religious element of the wedding. And she`ll be throwing the party as well.
LEVY: It`s her son, and when you approve of your son`s marriage, you show up. That`s what you do.
KEAN: You would think.
BRYANT: Well, let`s move on to the Miss America contest. Now, you know, ratings have been falling in the past few years. Last year it was only about nine million people watching.
Miss America has signed on with a big agency and they are now shopping a reality show that would feature the behind-the-scenes -- you know, the back stabbing and the eliminating, the cattiness.
What do you think about this, Lola?
OGUNNAIKE: I think it`s genius. And I cannot wait to watch it.
BRYANT: Really?
OGUNNAIKE: Yes. You`ve got these girls going at it. You get to watch them like barf up their salads, sleep with the judges, steal each other`s eyelashes.
BRYANT: Oh! Oh! You really think that`s what happens?
(CROSSTALK)
KEAN: Lola`s right. Because of like, you know, shows like "The Swan" and "America`s Next Top Model," they really had to do something, because nobody cares about Miss America. The only Miss America anyone remembers was Vanessa Williams.
OGUNNAIKE: Vanessa Williams, and we know what happened there.
LEVY: But this is -- yes, exactly. But this is Miss America. And remember that the ratings dropped because Miss America was virginal. They don`t allow a lot of sleeping with the judges and a lot of...
BRYANT: Firsthand info or...
LEVY: Yes. It`s all research.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: It`s the original talent contest on TV. So it seems to make perfect sense. They`ve got to try something.
KEAN: Right, they have to do something.
OGUNNAIKE: Right. We want to see what happens in the background. We want to see...
LEVY: I really don`t.
KEAN: Yes, we want to see the fighting, the crying. All the drama.
BRYANT: But then doesn`t that take way from the whole idea of Miss America? I mean, do you really -- is it -- are we now going for miss cat fight? I just think it -- doesn`t it...
(CROSSTALK)
OGUNNAIKE: Miss America is about competition. We want to see the struggle to get to the top.
LEVY: And the whole idea of Miss America fizzled years ago.
KEAN: Yes, it`s so dated.
LEVY: The Miss America idea, it fizzled. So they`ve got to do something.
HAMMER: OK. Well, Miss America reality show, Paris Hilton`s got her reality show. And now there`s probably going to be a reality show about her Sidekick. Books and movies are sure to follow. As we`ve been talking about, the numbers, the pictures, all the addresses got out on to the Internet.
Joe, was yours in there?
LEVY: Mine was not. There was the number of somebody in my office, Austin S. Don`t dial the number, kids. The phone went off hundreds of times yesterday in about a half-hour.
HAMMER: And that`s the interesting point that we made earlier tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, was the fact that it`s not just the stars, but, you know, she has a lot of publicists and office workers who can`t change their phone workers.
KEAN: It`s terrible publicity for T-Mobile, that`s for sure.
BRYANT: Isn`t it? And ironic, of course, because she does the advertisements for the very device that was hacked.
HAMMER: No chance this was a set-up?
LEVY: I know that people are saying now, look, you know, she`s got a movie coming out soon, maybe this is more publicity. But who in their right mind actually puts out a pornographic tape or their address book, with, let`s say, some...
OGUNNAIKE: But it always seems so strategic, Joe, like there`s -- she`s got a new project and a scandal erupts. It`s sort of like -- it`s always so well-timed.
KEAN: Very well timed. But remember, this is a woman who -- remember, not too long ago she lost her dog Tinkerbell, and then also she and her sister left their home unlocked and it was burglarized.
LEVY: And I think the funny thing is nobody can call each other to give them the new numbers because...
(CROSSTALK)
BRYANT: OK. Well, ladies, gentlemen, the "Buzz Bench" for tonight, we`ve got to go home.
Lola, well, we`re going to send you home. We`re staying.
Lola Ogunnaike, of course, from "The New York Times."
OGUNNAIKE: Thank you.
BRYANT: Joe Levy from "Rolling Stone." And Amy Kean of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for joining us on the "Buzz Bench," and I`m sure, of course, you`ll be back.
HAMMER: Wait until you guys see what`s coming up next. A guy swallows a billiard ball, then he brings it back up once again. Now that`s what I`m talking about, entertainment.
BRYANT: Oh, come on.
HAMMER: You`re not going to believe this. The clip is coming up in "Laughter Dark."
BRYANT: Plus, Omarion on stage. He has a new record out, and he gave a knockout performance this afternoon. We were there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well, just two years ago, he was topping the charts as the lead singer in the P. Diddy-produced boy band B2K. And now, at 20, Omarion`s stepping out, going it alone. His very first solo album, called "O," hit stores yesterday.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was with him today as he hit a New York mall, giving his fans a taste of the first hit single.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: For his solo debut, Omarion stepped into the booth with some heavy-hitting producers, including Pharrell Williams and The Underdogs. The album comes with a behind-the-scenes DVD, something Omarion wanted to give his fans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OMARION: It is, you know, a personal side and a professional side. Don`t get me wrong. But, you know, you like to tease the fans a little bit about your personal life. I think it`s cool.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Omarion doesn`t just sing. He`s been in the movies as well. He was in "You Got Served" and "Fat Albert." He also has a two-picture deal with Paramount and Sony. He begins shooting the first one, a horror movie, in April.
BRYANT: Time now for more "Showbiz Shorts."
Change for 50 Cent. 50`s new album, "Massacre," will drop early, on March 3. It was supposed to come out on the 8th, but because it was leaked to the Internet this week, Interscope, the label, moved the date up.
HAMMER: "Idol" on the road. Kelly Clarkson is hitting the road for her first headlining solo tour. The tour starts on March 30 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
BRYANT: And branching out. "PEOPLE" Magazine says singer Michelle Branch is pregnant with her first child
HAMMER: Well, one late-night host didn`t make the cut in Paris` Sidekick, and he`s actually kind of bummed out about it. We`ve got that in our "Laughter Dark."
BRYANT: And there`s still time for you to sound off in tonight`s "Showbiz Showdown Question of the Day." TV reunion specials do, you love them or hate them?
You can vote at CNN cnn.com/showbiztonight. Or e-mail us what`s on your mind at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`ll read some of your thoughts live next.
HAMMER: It is time once again for the "InStyle" Oscar fashion question. Tonight`s question, this is a close-up of which Oscar winning actress, Gwyneth Paltrow, Juliette Binoche or Julia Roberts?
Got any ideas? The answer is Julia Roberts. You win nothing, Karyn. She won a leading actress Oscar in 2000 for "Erin Brockovich."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRYANT: Beautiful shot of the Empire State Building from, of course, the camera atop the Headline Prime studios in New York City. Sidney Lumet loves to film here in New York City. It`s a great place to work.
I tell you, it is time to get your laugh on right now, though, in "Laughter Dark." As we do every night, we bring you the lagt-night laughs you may have missed.
He swallowed everything from live fish to an eight ball, and they all came back up. It is the great regurgitator on "The Tonight Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, TALK SHOW HOST: Now, is this a real -- that`s a real billiard`s ball, right? It doesn`t collapse. I looked at this I get (UNINTELLIGIBLE). This doesn`t collapse.
Go ahead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ball goes down, the money comes up, the ball comes back. Want to try it?
LENO: No, no, thanks.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Do not try this at home. I know what I`m having for dinner tonight.
BRYANT: Possibly -- that is one of the gnarliest thing I`ve ever seen.
Well, as we mentioned earlier -- I don`t know if I`ll be able to shake that. That`s really wrong.
As we mentioned earlier, Paris Hilton`s Sidekick was hacked and phone numbers were leaked. Jon Stewart`s number wasn`t one of them, and he was a little hurt. And he explains why on "The Daily Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON STEWART, TALK SHOW HOST: I apologize if I`m a little off my game tonight. I`m a little upset.
As you may have heard, Paris Hilton`s Blackberry was hacked with all of her personal phone numbers and such. And as you can imagine, it`s been kind of a rough ride for me because my number wasn`t in there. I have absolutely no connection to the story at all, but I have seen her sex tape.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I don`t know why he was upset.
Well, throughout the show we`ve been asking you to vote online on our "Showbiz Showdown Question of the Day." TV reunion specials do, you love them or do you hate them?
Let`s take a look at how the voting is going so far. Twenty-nine percent of you said yes. Seventy-one percent said no. And we`ve been getting your e-mails, too, on the question.
We heard from Greg from -- is this Terre Haute, Indiana? He e-mailed us on this one, saying, "What would be scary is having a 30-year reunion of `Desperate Housewives.` Would they call it the new `Golden Girls?`"
And we heard from Chuck, from South Carolina. He says he didn`t mind "Laverne and Shirley" or the upcoming "Knots Landing" reunion, but he says, "BJ and the Bear," that`s where I would have to draw the line."
We`ve got one more to read for you from Samantha in Omaha. "Stop the reunion shows. There`s a reason these people haven`t been acting."
Remember, we still want to hear what you have to say. You can vote by going to cnn.com/showbiztonight. And e-mail us as well if you`ve got more to say. ShowbizTonigth@CNN.com is the address.
And now it`s time to see what`s playing for the rest of the week here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BRYANT: Let`s take a look at the SHOWBIZ marquee.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
ANNOUNCER: And it looks like we made it halfway through the week.
BARRY MANILOW, SINGER: This is the biggest show I`ve ever done.
ANNOUNCER: Are you a fanilow? Because we`re backstage with the B.Lo -- OK, Barry Manilow. Satisfied? Tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The envelope, please. And the Oscar goes to the bathroom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of people store their Oscars in the bathroom.
ANNOUNCER: Yep, she just said the bathroom. Where the stars keep their Oscars, tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Hey, look, everybody. It`s Karyn on the red carpet. Karyn Bryant gets all glammy on us to host our Oscar preview special. It`s Friday on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BRYANT: Headline Prime continues next with Nancy Grace.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN HEADLINES NEWS ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I`m Sophia Choi with your Headline Prime News Break.
Terri Schiavo will remain alive at least for two more days. A Florida judge extended an emergency stay keeping her feeding tubes in place at least until Friday. He wants more time to consider arguments from the brain-damaged woman`s parents. They want her to receive new medical treatment and want her husband removed as her legal guardian.
On Wall Street, a boost in stock numbers is soothing investors` fears of inflation. The jump came from tame January consumer pricing figures. Both the Dow and the S&P 500 saw gains, but the Nasdaq struggled to stay just above breaking (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Apple will soon unveil four new versions of its iPod. Two new iPod Mini models boast more storage and increased battery live. The 4 gigabyte model will sell for $199. A new photo-capable iPod features a high resolution screen and can hold up to 25,000 digital pictures.
That`s the news for now. I`m Sophia Choi. Nancy Grace starts right now.
END
Aired February 23, 2005 - 19:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: We are taking you to the hottest pre-Oscar parties.
KARYN BRYANT, CO-HOST: And big, late-breaking news in the Michael Jackson and Robert Blake trials.
I`m Karyn Bryant.
HAMMER: And I`m A.J. Hammer. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BRYANT: Party hopping in Hollywood, two big pre-Oscar bashes. Jamie Foxx hit them both. So did we.
HAMMER: The stars were out, including Deborah Gibson. Why did she stop the schmoozing long enough to call me on her cell?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBORAH GIBSON, FRIEND OF A.J.: Let`s try to get A.J. on the phone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRYANT: Sidney Lumet, the director of "Dog Day Afternoon" -- a live tribute tonight for his special Oscar. We`re there live, exclusively.
HAMMER: "One Day at a Time" one time too many? Tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Showdown," TV reunion specials, love them or hate them?
BRYANT: Inside J-Lo`s empire. Jenny leaves the block and takes over the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER LOPEZ: Hey, I`m Jennifer Lopez. And if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, and you`re at the top of the show.
BRYANT: I`m Karyn Bryant. We are live with you from Headline Prime studios in New York City for the next hour.
HAMMER: Let the partying begin! Tonight, we`re just four days away from the Oscars, but we`re oh so on top of the pre-Oscar celebrations.
BRYANT: That`s right. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is RSVP central for the best of the bunch. Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson is live in Hollywood right now. Brooke, please do tell us about all the fun (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BROOKE ANDERSON, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Well, Karyn, A.J., a whole lot of partying going on here. There were two big events last night on opposite sides of town. One was "L.A. Confidential" magazine`s party for cover boy Jamie Foxx. We`ll get to that in a moment. But first, the biggest and flashiest? Well, that would be the fourth annual General Motors runway show, cars, stars and fashion, which took over a full city block in the heart of Hollywood. Now, Jamie Foxx was at both, and we just couldn`t help but follow him from one to the next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): In the house, Demi and Ashton hand in hand. John Stamos, Dean Caine, stars from "The O.C.," Amanda Peet, Allison Janney, but everyone was keeping one eye out for Jamie Foxx, who worked the cameras.
JAMIE FOXX, OSCAR NOMINEE: Hey, hey, hey! On the other side of town, brother. Look out! Hey, I`ve got it all.
ANDERSON: "The Fast and the Furious" star Michelle Rodriguez told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT there`s a reason why cars and fashion go together.
MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, "BLUE CRUSH": To have a nice car and to match it with a nice outfit means you`re getting [deleted] tonight.
ANDERSON: The torrential rain didn`t keep people home. The turn-out was nothing less than A-list. Kanye West warmed up the crowd with a live concert. Strutting their stuff, not only Foxx, but fellow Oscar nominee Catalina Sandino-Moreno, Regina King, Vivica Fox, Anthony (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and even "Napoleon Dynamite" star Jon Heder, who got funky on the runway. The event benefited P.S. Arts, which helps bring arts into the public schools. Sisters Hilary and Haley Duff told us why they were there.
HILARY DUFF, "LIZZIE MCGUIRE": I really think it`s so important for kids, you know, to experience art and have that for, like, all different types of kids. And I think we`re just excited to be a part of it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Karyn and A.J., as you mentioned before, Oscar night is only four days away, and tomorrow, seven-and-a-half-foot replicas of Oscar will be brought out to line the streets around the Kodak Theater. Quite a sight. Everyone is making their last-minute plans. And on Friday, we`ll give you a tick-tock countdown on what`s going to happen from Friday to Monday. So as always, stay tuned.
BRYANT: All right, Brooke. Thanks a lot for that report. Over to you, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, as Brooke mentioned, the other hot party that everyone went to was the one thrown by "L.A. Confidential" magazine. That was one that they threw to honor its cover boy, none other than Jamie Foxx. The swank events in the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel included "American Idol`s" Randy Jackson and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Joey Fatone, and my good friend, Deborah Gibson, who, indeed, decided to give me a call right there on the spot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBORAH GIBSON, FRIEND OF A.J.: Guess where I am right now. I am at the "L.A. Confidential" party for Jamie Foxx, and I am talking to you on the phone on the air for your show. Well, they can`t hear you, but I have the phone to my ear, and I`m on camera for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, calling you to say hello in front of your audience. Oh, it`s just like a who`s who of -- yes, it`s, like, six degrees -- it`s, like, six degrees of A.J. Hammer.
Oh, you know what? I`m going to call you later, when all the hoopla dies down. But I wanted to congratulate you on the show and say hi to you on the air. Hi!
All right. What? Yes, I was there. I don`t know how we missed each other. I`m going to call you later because it`s nuts, but I wanted to say hi. OK, love you. Bye.
Oh, my God! That is really funny. That is really funny! OK. Great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I don`t know if it was funny or just a little strange. And the reason she looked so frightened is because I was asking her about that 20 bucks that she never showed up to pay me back. Apparently, she still doesn`t have it for me.
BRYANT: Yikes! Thanks, A.J.
Well, today we also learned that Prince and Sean Penn will be presenting at the Oscars this Sunday. They will each hand out awards separately. It is their first time doing so, but there are no strangers to the Oscars. Of course, Penn won as lead actor in "Mystic River" -- he was fantastic -- and Prince from his score for "Purple Rain," also incredible.
So now, will purple be the big color on the red carpet? Find out on "HOLLYWOOD GOLD RUSH" this Sunday. Along with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas, I will be co-hosting CNN`s pre-Oscar coverage live. CNN`s "HOLLYWOOD GOLD RUSH" kicks off this Sunday at 7:00 PM Eastern.
HAMMER: Well, tonight we have big developments in two Hollywood trials. The first one, Robert Blake. The defense rested its case this afternoon. And Michael Jackson -- today the jury was at long last picked. Four men and eight women will decide the fate of the "King of Pop." These are pictures of Jackson coming into court today. He has some serious child molestation charges against him.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is getting you the very latest on both cases. "Celebrity Justice" reporter Jane Velez-Mitchell joins us from the courthouse where the Jackson jury will be deciding. Now, Jane, we`ve been hearing that some very big names will be testifying.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Oh, yes. It`s a star- studded list -- Smokey Robinson, Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Kobe Bryant. The list goes on and on. As to how many of them will actually show up here, we don`t know. And of course, all the jurors say, Oh, I won`t be influenced by that at all. Well, you tell me that when Elizabeth Taylor -- the Elizabeth Taylor -- takes the stand. And if anybody knows how to sway a group of strangers, it`s her. So they can say all they want, but let`s see what actually happens.
HAMMER: And you have some other developments to tell us about tonight?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s right. "Celebrity Justice" has broken a huge story about a problem with the prosecution timeline. We`ve all heard by now this family was interviewed by social workers, and they told them, Nothing happened, nothing happened. And the prosecution says, Well, they said that because they were under duress, they were being threatened, they were being coerced.
Well, the social workers, we`re told, don`t believe that. They say they didn`t show any signs of being under duress. And in fact, one social worker testified before the grand jury, and she was apparently so convincing that the prosecution changed the date of when these alleged molestations began until after that interview, February 20. So the defense is going to use that to say, Wait a second, you`re changing your story after Michael Jackson was arrested. That`s a problem.
HAMMER: Well, it`s going to be interesting to see how that all plays out. And the defense rested, of course, as we mentioned earlier. What happens now?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, the defense rested in the Robert Blake case back in Los Angeles. And Robert Blake might have been a little bit upset because the Michael Jackson case kind of stole his thunder today, since the jury was picked here in Santa Maria for the Jackson case. And Robert Blake -- the defense rested in his case. What`s going to happen after that? Well, there`s going to be a rebuttal case put on by the prosecution in the Robert Blake case.
Robert Blake, by the way, never took the stand, but they did play that famous interview he did with Barbara Walters, where he was very dramatic in professing his love for Rosie.
HAMMER: Well, thanks very much, Jane. Obviously, two stories we`ll keeping a close watch on. Jane Velez-Mitchell of "Celebrity Justice."
BRYANT: Early ratings out today show that CBS`s "One Day at a Time" reunion special did well. It was No. 2 in its time slot. Viewers watched as Ann Romano daughters Julie and Barbara and handyman Schneider from the `70s sitcom chatted. Now, this is just the latest in a slew of recent reunion shows, including "Dallas" and "Happy Days." But for every person who loves to see what happened to the cast, there are others who find these reunions utterly painful to watch. Now, that is the focus of tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Showdown." TV reunion specials, do you love them or hate them? And we kick off our debate at 15 past the hour.
And of course, we want to know what you think. Take our poll at cnn.com/showbiztonight or e-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: It is time now for "SHOWBIZ Shorts," a look at more stories making news tonight. Separate lives for Slater. We learned today that Christian Slater filed for divorce from his wife of five years. The actor`s publicist says that the decision is both mutual and amicable.
BRYANT: Will Cartman become Cartwoman? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT confirmed today that someone on "South Park" is getting a sex change. We don`t know who it is, but the ninth season of South Park starts March 9.
More "SHOWBIZ Shorts" coming up throughout the show.
Well, they are on the most talked about new show on TV. They have roughly 23 million viewers, and their show is getting showered with awards.
HAMMER: The "Desperate Housewives" have been delighted housewives lately. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with them in Los Angeles as they gathered to talk about their show and take a few bows.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(voice-over): At a panel discussion for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the cast talked some more about the show`s success.
TERI HATCHER, "SUSAN MAYER": We`ve just been all received so well by, you know, the country and the press. It`s so great to have such a great job.
HAMMER: Eva Longoria tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT how her show gets the viewers.
EVA LONGORIA, "GABRIELLE SOLIS": There`s nothing deleted that`s too racy. We pretty much push the envelope on every episode.
HAMMER: And what about plot twists?
FELICITY HUFFMAN, "LYNETTE SCAVO": I don`t know any plot twists. I barely know next week`s script. So I think it`s going to be Marc Cherry that`s doing that.
HAMMER: Creator Marc Cherry did reveal how he will write an upcoming scene involving Marcia Cross`s sexually confused son.
MARC CHERRY, CREATOR, "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES": Let`s just say that somewhere in my past, there is a scene in my life with my mother and a Christian counselor telling me he could cure me.
(LAUGHTER)
CHERRY: I`m going to be able to write this just fine.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the people behind "Desperate Housewives" must be flattered to death over one of the pilots that ABC is considering.
BRYANT: It`s a show about a pair of suburban private eyes called "Soccer Moms."
Well, will we soon hear the pitter patter of little J-Lo feet? Maybe. We`ll tell you what she said.
HAMMER: Plus, there`s a party going on right now in New York City for Sidney Lumet. He directed a ton of movies, including, of course, "12 Angry Men," and he`s going to get a special Oscar on Sunday. We`ll go to his party live coming up.
BRYANT: Now, tonight the "Entertainment Weekly" "Great American Oscar Quiz." What year marks the first time all five Best Picture nominees were shot in color? Is it A, 1949, B, 1952, C, 1956, or D, 1958? We`ll be right back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back. So once again, today`s "Entertainment Weekly" "Great American Oscar Quiz." What year marked the very first time all five Best Picture nominees were shot in color, 1949, 1952, 1956 or 1958? The answer is C, 1956.
It is 15 past the hour, time now for the "SHOWBIZ Showdown." Earlier, we told you that CBS aired a "One Day at a Time" reunion special last night. Recently, casts also got back together for some "Happy Days" and "Dallas" reminiscing. But while some just love the nostalgia, others are cringing.
So that brings us to tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Showdown" question. TV reunion specials, do you love them or hate them? Joining us live, Michael Davis, senior editor for "TV Guide," who says, yes, he loves TV reunion specials, and Jeremy Helligar, senior editor for "Entertainment Weekly," who says, no, he hates TV reunion specials.
Now, Jeremy, saying no, you hate them, that`s an understatement, isn`t it?
JEREMY HELLIGAR, SR. EDITOR, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Oh, my God. When I think of "Dallas," I want to think of Charlene Tilton as Lucy Ewing in the hayloft, looking all sexy and young. I don`t want to think of her middle-aged, middle-age spread. It`s so depressing! It`s so depressing.
BRYANT: OK. And Michael, what`s your take on it? Because you seem to like reunion specials. State your case.
MIKE DAVIS, SR. EDITOR, "TV GUIDE": Oh, man. You know, "TV Guide`s" a populist medium, and I`m a populist guy. You know, last night, "One Day at a Time" had a reunion special. Not my cup of tea, but 10 million people watched it. Why? They enjoyed the show when it was on, and they want to, you know, check back in with the characters and the actors who played them.
BRYANT: But Jeremy, I want to talk to you about this. I mean, do you really think people are watching because they want to relive the glory, or do you think they`re watching because they want to see how funny people look, now that they`ve aged 10 years?
HELLIGAR: They want to laugh because these people, some of them age so poorly. But it`s not only that. On "One Day at a Time," you have the guy who played Alex, who was such a minor character. He`s talking about character development in one specific episode. And I`m thinking, Character development on "One Day at a Time"? What are you talking about?
(LAUGHTER)
DAVIS: You know, there have been some very good examples, Jeremy, though. How about the "Seinfeld" reunion earlier this season? Didn`t you enjoy that?
HELLIGAR: You know what, though? It`s depressing because all I can think about is, OK, Jerry Seinfeld has more money than God, but you`ve all -- the rest of you have had failed sitcoms. What are you doing now? Where are you now? It`s so depressing!
DAVIS: How about the "Happy Days" reunion special? You didn`t enjoy that?
(CROSSTALK)
HELLIGAR: You know what? All I could think about was the character - - the actress who played Joanie, and a few years ago, when she had all of her problems, talking about how she wouldn`t get back with the rest of the cast, how she wanted nothing to do with reunion specials. And you just look at that and think, OK, these people are pretending to be the best of friends, to love each other. But I don`t think that`s the case.
BRYANT: Well, what about this idea, that TV reunion specials are just cheap and easy television for the networks? Michael?
DAVIS: They are cheap and easy television. What are you -- you can`t argue any way against it. But you know, what do you want to see, "CSI Potsdam"? I mean, every once in a while, it`s kind of fun to revisit a part of your past. And I believe that television is a very intimate medium. We watch it in our bedrooms and in our family rooms.
BRYANT: OK. Now, last question. Jeremy, do you think there are any shows that you`ll see 10 years from now, any shows that either of you, actually, would like to see a reunion late in the years?
HELLIGAR: You know what? I`m sure that in 10, 20 years, we`ll have a "Desperate Housewives" reunion, we`ll have a "Lost," reunion, we`ll even have and"O.C." reunion because, God knows, those kids are not necessarily going to be the biggest stars for that much longer.
BRYANT: Right. Michael?
DAVIS: I want to see a "Pee-wee`s Playhouse" reunion and a "30- Something" reunion."
BRYANT: Absolutely!
DAVIS: I`d pay for it.
BRYANT: All right. Well, there you go. There -- maybe it`ll be on pay TV. If not, we`ll see what we can do right here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Well, Michael Davis, senior editor of "TV Guide," I thank you. And Jeremy Helligar, senior editor of "Entertainment Weekly," I thank you, as well.
Now, we want to know your thoughts at home. TV reunion specials, do you love them or do you hate them? You can vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight or if you want to tell us more, send an e-mail to showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`ll share some of what you had to say later in the show.
HAMMER: You know there`s going to be a "Good Life (ph)" reunion.
And speaking of which Paris Hilton shared her personal phone book with the world, but she didn`t mean to. Tonight, her very first comments on the Sidekick swiping. We`ve got that coming up.
BRYANT: Plus, it seems like Catherine Zeta-Jones can do it all. But it turns out there are things she loves that she`s not allowed to do at work. We`ll get the scoop from "People Hollywood Daily."
HAMMER: It is time now for your Oscar smart test, and we`re going to check out your fashion savvy, as well, in tonight`s "In Style Oscar Fashion Challenge." This picture is a close-up of which Oscar-winning actress? Is it Gwyneth Paltrow, Juliette Binoche or Julia Roberts? Think you got the answer? We`re going to tell you who it is a bit later in the show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Omarion solo. After four records under the P. Diddy umbrella, he is out with his own songs, and we`re there as he meets his fans, coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BRYANT: It is 22 past the hour, time for more "SHOWBIZ Shorts." Smits returns to the 15th Precinct tonight. Jimmy Smits, who played Detective Bobby Simone on "NYPD Blue," will host a one-hour look back on the show`s 12 seasons. It is scheduled to air March 1, right before the series finale.
Jerry`s good-bye. We learned today that NBC`s new spin-off, "Law and Order: Trial by Jury," will likely mention Jerry Orbach`s death in the fourth or fifth episode. Of course, Orbach played Detective Lennie Briscoe brilliantly for 12 years. The new show launches on March 3.
Well, every night leading up to the Oscars, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be bringing you an inside look at "People Hollywood Daily."
HAMMER: And now it`s -- this is a magazine that`s not coming with your "People" subscription. It`s not on the newsstands anywhere. This is only for the Hollywood insiders. But of course, here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, we have got you covered. And joining us live from Los Angeles is the L.A. associate bureau chief for "People" magazine, Michael Fleeman.
So Mike, there`s all sorts of chaos in Hollywood right now, at least for anyone who was listed in Paris Hilton`s Sidekick, which someone hacked into, as we`ve been reporting, and then distributed all the phone numbers that were in it. But it`s not just the A-listers who are being harassed by callers who found out all these numbers. Now, what did "People Hollywood Daily" find out?
MICHAEL FLEEMAN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Well, you know what we found out was that there are a lot of people in her life who are not famous -- agents, publicists, promoters. And they work in offices, and they cannot change their phone numbers. And they are being inundated with crank phone calls this week.
HAMMER: All right, Mike, another thing you guys were talking about -- we all know stars get plenty of perks, but sometimes actors have contractual obligations not to do certain things. Tell me what "People Hollywood Daily" learned about Catherine Zeta-Jones in this case.
FLEEMAN: Well, she`s very athletic. She plays golf. She`s a dancer. And one of the things a lot of people don`t know she does is ice skate. And producers insists in her contract that she not ice skate while she`s making a movie. You know, one mixed axel, and it will cost the film millions of dollars.
HAMMER: Yes, and the insurance companies don`t want to get involved with that. Another star you reported on, Emmy Rossum, who we know from "Phantom of the Opera" and "Mystic River."
FLEEMAN: Yes. She is an outdoorswoman. She likes to fish, hike, and she also likes to ride horses. Producers say, No horseback riding while filming a movie.
HAMMER: Tell me what you guys found out about Kate Bosworth, who, of course, we know from "Blue Crush."
FLEEMAN: Yes, and it`s ironic. She got famous by riding a surfboard. But now, when she is making any other kind of movie, they say she`s got to stay out of the water. They don`t want any wipeouts wiping out the production. Don`t want to ruin the whole thing because of one little fun incident.
HAMMER: All right, Mike. Thanks so much. Mike Fleeman, the L.A. associate bureau chief for "People magazine." We`re going to be checking in with "People Hollywood Daily" once again tomorrow and get some more Oscar scoops.
BRYANT: Is it a royal dis? The queen isn`t going to Prince Charles`s wedding. What is up with that? We are going to take you to the "Buzz Bench" coming up.
HAMMER: Plus, J-Lo has it all, but is she planning on adding a baby to the mix? Her first comments on having kids with Marc Anthony coming up, as well.
BRYANT: And now tonight`s "Birthday Shout-Out." "Sex and the City" girl Kristin Davis turns 40 today. The shout-out is from her former HBO "Sopranos" buddies Jamie-Lynn DiScala and Drea De Matteo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy birthday, Kristin. You`re beautiful and...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy birthday, Kristin.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... wonderful. Have a good night.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWS BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Director Sidney Lumet locked in on Oscar night. A tribute going on right now in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is there live.
BRYANT (voice-over): Omarion goes it alone, taking it to the people. We`re right there with him.
OMARION, SINGER: Hey, what`s going on, everybody? This is Omarion. And if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, for real.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRYANT: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. And I am Karyn Bryant.
HAMMER: And I`m A.J. Hammer. And here are tonight`s hot headlines.
Judging Michael Jackson. Just a few hours ago the jury was chosen in Jackson`s molestation trial. The jury is made up or four men and eight women. The youngest is 20. The oldest 79.
BRYANT: The envelope, please. Sean Penn and Prince are on Sunday`s list of Oscar presenters. The academy announced that today. And they are, of course, both former Oscar winners.
Well, Oscar comes to New York City tonight for Sidney Lumet. The director whose career spans more than 40 feature films is being recognized tonight.
HAMMER: Just days, of course, before he receives an honorary Oscar at the Academy Awards. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s David Haffenreffer joins us live from the Plaza Athenee.
I understand you have the man of the hour with you.
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN HEADLINE NEWS CORRESPONDENT: We do have the man of the hour, A.J. and Karyn. But get a load of some of these names: Al Pacino, Katharine Hepburn, Richard Burton, Paul Newman, Ingrid Bergman. Seventeen actors under the tutelage of this particular director went on to receive Oscar nominations. We caught up with some of Sidney Lumet`s fans on the red carpet tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNN REDGRAVE, ACTRESS: I worked for Sidney twice, and I actually was married in his living room. So I go back a very long way with him, to 1967.
PETER DINKLAGE, ACTOR: He is brilliant. The man is the most prepared person I`ve ever worked with. He works rapid pace, and his energy is outstanding.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAFFENREFFER: And joining us now is Sidney Lumet, the man of the hour.
Thank you for speaking with us tonight.
SIDNEY LUMENT, DIRECTOR: My pleasure.
HAFFENREFFER: Tell me a little bit about what it`s like to be honored by the academy.
LUMET: It`s sensational. You know, anybody who says they`re blase about it or it doesn`t matter, or tries to be cool, it`s silly. It`s a terrific, terrific feeling. And I`m very grateful.
HAFFENREFFER: I want to take you back to 1957, your first feature film, "12 Angry Men." Tell me a little bit about how that job came to be. We understand that Henry Fonda had something to do with you getting that first job.
LUMET: You know, anybody who`s had any kind of a career, the first thing we all acknowledge is the luck involved. And it was sheer luck.
I had worked with Reggie Rose, who wrote it in live television. He wanted me to do it. And I was running a workshop down in the village, and one of the actors in it was in "Mr. Roberts," that Henry Fonda was in.
He spoke to Fonda. Fonda came down, saw some of the work we did at the workshop. And when Reggie said, "What about Sidney?" Fonda said, "Great." That simple.
HAFFENREFFER: Let`s fast forward to 1973, "Serpico," of course. New York City very much almost a character in this particular film. So many of your films have been shot in New York. How important is the city to you?
LUMET: It`s critical because it`s maybe -- you know, I`ve shot all over the world, but I don`t know of any city that`s capable of having so many different moods as New York. There`s no kind of movie that you would want to do where you couldn`t find the streets, the buildings, the skyline, the light to tell that story.
HAFFENREFFER: Sidney Lumet, thank you so much for speaking with us tonight. Congratulations on receiving that honorary Academy Award. It`s good to see you.
LUMET: Thank, you, David.
HAFFENREFFER: Back to you.
BRYANT: Well, thanks a lot, David. Please thank him for directing "Network" and "Dog Day Afternoon." My god, that man is brilliant.
Of course, remember, you can chime in on the Oscars at cnn.com. Click on "Inside the Envelope" and make your Oscar predictions. The grand prize winner will receive a 32-inch LCD HDTV, and $1,000 cash.
HAMMER: Well, we`ve been asking you to vote on tonight`s "Showbiz Showdown Question of the Day." TV reunion specials do, you love them or do you hate them?
Well, so far, it`s a landslide. Just 29 percent of you say, yes, you do love TV reunion specials. But a whopping 71 percent of you say, no, you do not love TV reunion specials.
And you can keep on voting by going to cnn.com/showbusinesstonight. You`ve got more to say? Well, send us an e-mail. ShowbizToday@CNN.com is the address. We`re going to have what you had to say coming up at 55 past the hour.
BRYANT: Well, while it may seem silly given that she`s been married for more than six months, only now is Jennifer Lopez publicly acknowledging for the first time that, yes, she and Marc Anthony did exchange wedding vous. In an interview in the upcoming issue of "PEOPLE" Magazine, Lopez says, "Yes, we`re married. I mean, come on, everyone knows. It`s not a secret."
Well, maybe it`s not a secret, but this is first time J.Lo has publicly said that. Now, when asked whether she wants to have kids, J.Lo tells "PEOPLE," "One healthy baby would be enough for me."
Now, J.Lo also talking about her diet, her new album and much more in the new issue of "PEOPLE." That hits newsstands on Friday.
HAMMER: Well, I guess now it`s OK to call Jennifer Lopez a newlywed. And she`s a busy one at that. I actually had a chance to hang out with her and learned that J.Lo is one woman who really handles her business.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Let`s get right to the point. This isn`t about J.Lo being a music star or a movie star. And it`s definitely not about her love life.
I`m talking about a side of Jennifer Lopez you don`t hear as much about, J.Lo the fashion mogul, J.Lo the restaurateur, J.Lo the merchandising machine. Yes, whether you knew it or not, J.Lo is an empire.
JENNIFER LOPEZ, SINGER: I don`t think of it as an empire.
HAMMER: OK. So Lopez didn`t quite see it that way when I caught up with her in New York City right as she was about to launch yet another venture.
LOPEZ: I think of them as creative passion projects.
HAMMER: Well, then, let`s take a look at J.Lo`s creative passion projects.
The first passion is fashion. Lopez co-founded Sweetface Fashions, which sells the J.Lo line of urban wear and lingerie, and the more upscale Sweetface line she just unveiled at fashion week. There`s also a line of J.Lo fragrances, J.Lo Glow, Still and Miami Glow. And the beauty products, jewelry and accessories.
All together, this particular creative passion project does an estimated $325 million in sales. Sure sounds like an empire.
(on camera): What do you think of this whole J.Lo empire? It`s building and building and building.
DAMON DASH, CO-FOUNDER, ROCK-A-FELLA ROCAWEAR: Well, from one empire builder to another, I can admire it. And I have admiration for it. And I think it`s a beautiful thing, especially when a beautiful woman does it.
HAMMER: J.Lo also has a restaurant on her crowded plate, Madre`s, her Cuban-style eatery in Pasadena, California. And she`s an investor in the Conga Room, a Latin hotspot in L.A..
(on camera): Yes, of course, J.Lo`s projects keep her extremely busy, but you know what else? They also make her extremely rich.
She made "Fortune" magazine`s list of the richest people under 40. Her estimated worth is $255 million. Not bad for a former fly girl.
(voice-over): With so much going on, how does she find the time to do it all?
LOPEZ: You have to love what you do to put so many hours in and to put so much energy into things. And I think I just love what I do.
HAMMER (on camera): Is there one part of it that you love more than the other?
LOPEZ: I love music and I love being an actress. I think for me that will always come first.
HAMMER (voice-over): Still, J.Lo`s business savvy is earning her props from other entrepreneurs who`ve branched out from the music world.
RUSSELL SIMMONS, FOUNDER, DEF JAM PHAT FARM: That`s what we do in hip-hop. I mean, that`s the kind of energy. When you come out on the street and you`ve got a great imagination, and nobody`s afraid to like chase their dreams...
HAMMER: And what should J.Lo work on next? This "Queer Eye" guy has a suggestion.
CARSON KRESSLEY, "QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY": I think she should design a car, like the J.Lo mobile.
HAMMER: You know what, Carson? That`s not a bad idea.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Jennifer did tell me she`s a micromanager, but she let`s the family pitch in and help, too. And her multitasking will continue. MTV is airing a special documentary that shows Lopez during those hectic run-up hours to the big show at fashion week. "Jennifer Lopez: Beyond the Runway" is the name of it. And it airs tomorrow night.
BRYANT: Well, Paris Hilton is ticked off about her Sidekick getting hacked. Her famous friends aren`t too pleased, either. We`ll see what the "Buzz Bench" has to say about it coming up.
HAMMER: Plus, Omarion`s record is hot off the presses. And we`re along for the ride.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: More now on Paris Hilton. Tonight, is there ever enough?
Paris says her Sidekick-swiping has been a "nightmare." Last night we told you how her phone and e-mail gizmo was hacked and its contents leaked out on to the Internet. And stars like Lindsay Lohan and Ashley Olsen and Lil` John got hundreds of messages.
Well, in this week`s "US Weekly" magazine, Paris says she feels horrible. And adds, "I don`t know why this stuff always happens to me, but I wish it wouldn`t happen anymore."
Paris`s publicist confirmed to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that is what she told "US Weekly," but she`s not ready to release an official statement yet.
BRYANT: Well, it is time now for our "Buzz Bench." Of course Paris Hilton is just one of the things that we`ll be talking about with our "Buzz Bench" crew.
HAMMER: And joining us on the "Buzz Bench," please welcome "The New York Times" Lola Ogunnaike; "Rolling Stones" Joe Levy; and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Amy Kean.
So the queen says she won`t be at Prince Charles and Camilla`s wedding because they want to keep it low key. That`s absolutely true, right?
AMY KEAN, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: There is no way this is going to be low key, regardless of whether or not she shows up. But I think what people need to remember is these two met in 1970. OK? And their affair, they became really good friends, and an affair happened -- it`s unclear exactly when it happened.
But, you know, they did a recent poll in the, you know, British "PEOPLE." Half of them are still -- they still hate Camilla Parker Bowles.
JOE LEVY, "ROLLING STONE": They`re still upset.
KEAN: Right. So I think that in a way -- in a way, the queen is smart to do that.
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, "NEW YORK TIMES": I think she`s a home wrecker. I think she`s a complete home wrecker. And I`ll never forgive her.
BRYANT: But isn`t that -- I mean, so how do you feel about the fact that the queen mum is not going to the wedding?
OGUNNAIKE: I think she shouldn`t go.
KEAN: I think in a way she`s kind of making a stand, and that`s her style. And I think it`s good.
LEVY: And I kind of feel as though we had the American revolution so we could not care. And I don`t care.
BRYANT: OK, Joe.
HAMMER: Is this clearly an excuse, which is what everybody`s saying?
LEVY: It`s clearly an excuse. She clearly...
KEAN: Of course. Of course. Of course.
LEVY: ... disapproves. And it`s not because they want to keep it low key.
OGUNNAIKE: But she disapproved of her over 30-something years ago. That`s why she wouldn`t let him marry her in the first place. And now that he`s finally got a backbone...
KEAN: I mean, for her to say -- for her to day, I`m not going to go because I want to keep it low key...
(CROSSTALK)
BRYANT: Well, she`s also, I think, referring to the fact that it`s a civil ceremony and she is going to be doing -- taking part in the religious element of the wedding. And she`ll be throwing the party as well.
LEVY: It`s her son, and when you approve of your son`s marriage, you show up. That`s what you do.
KEAN: You would think.
BRYANT: Well, let`s move on to the Miss America contest. Now, you know, ratings have been falling in the past few years. Last year it was only about nine million people watching.
Miss America has signed on with a big agency and they are now shopping a reality show that would feature the behind-the-scenes -- you know, the back stabbing and the eliminating, the cattiness.
What do you think about this, Lola?
OGUNNAIKE: I think it`s genius. And I cannot wait to watch it.
BRYANT: Really?
OGUNNAIKE: Yes. You`ve got these girls going at it. You get to watch them like barf up their salads, sleep with the judges, steal each other`s eyelashes.
BRYANT: Oh! Oh! You really think that`s what happens?
(CROSSTALK)
KEAN: Lola`s right. Because of like, you know, shows like "The Swan" and "America`s Next Top Model," they really had to do something, because nobody cares about Miss America. The only Miss America anyone remembers was Vanessa Williams.
OGUNNAIKE: Vanessa Williams, and we know what happened there.
LEVY: But this is -- yes, exactly. But this is Miss America. And remember that the ratings dropped because Miss America was virginal. They don`t allow a lot of sleeping with the judges and a lot of...
BRYANT: Firsthand info or...
LEVY: Yes. It`s all research.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: It`s the original talent contest on TV. So it seems to make perfect sense. They`ve got to try something.
KEAN: Right, they have to do something.
OGUNNAIKE: Right. We want to see what happens in the background. We want to see...
LEVY: I really don`t.
KEAN: Yes, we want to see the fighting, the crying. All the drama.
BRYANT: But then doesn`t that take way from the whole idea of Miss America? I mean, do you really -- is it -- are we now going for miss cat fight? I just think it -- doesn`t it...
(CROSSTALK)
OGUNNAIKE: Miss America is about competition. We want to see the struggle to get to the top.
LEVY: And the whole idea of Miss America fizzled years ago.
KEAN: Yes, it`s so dated.
LEVY: The Miss America idea, it fizzled. So they`ve got to do something.
HAMMER: OK. Well, Miss America reality show, Paris Hilton`s got her reality show. And now there`s probably going to be a reality show about her Sidekick. Books and movies are sure to follow. As we`ve been talking about, the numbers, the pictures, all the addresses got out on to the Internet.
Joe, was yours in there?
LEVY: Mine was not. There was the number of somebody in my office, Austin S. Don`t dial the number, kids. The phone went off hundreds of times yesterday in about a half-hour.
HAMMER: And that`s the interesting point that we made earlier tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, was the fact that it`s not just the stars, but, you know, she has a lot of publicists and office workers who can`t change their phone workers.
KEAN: It`s terrible publicity for T-Mobile, that`s for sure.
BRYANT: Isn`t it? And ironic, of course, because she does the advertisements for the very device that was hacked.
HAMMER: No chance this was a set-up?
LEVY: I know that people are saying now, look, you know, she`s got a movie coming out soon, maybe this is more publicity. But who in their right mind actually puts out a pornographic tape or their address book, with, let`s say, some...
OGUNNAIKE: But it always seems so strategic, Joe, like there`s -- she`s got a new project and a scandal erupts. It`s sort of like -- it`s always so well-timed.
KEAN: Very well timed. But remember, this is a woman who -- remember, not too long ago she lost her dog Tinkerbell, and then also she and her sister left their home unlocked and it was burglarized.
LEVY: And I think the funny thing is nobody can call each other to give them the new numbers because...
(CROSSTALK)
BRYANT: OK. Well, ladies, gentlemen, the "Buzz Bench" for tonight, we`ve got to go home.
Lola, well, we`re going to send you home. We`re staying.
Lola Ogunnaike, of course, from "The New York Times."
OGUNNAIKE: Thank you.
BRYANT: Joe Levy from "Rolling Stone." And Amy Kean of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for joining us on the "Buzz Bench," and I`m sure, of course, you`ll be back.
HAMMER: Wait until you guys see what`s coming up next. A guy swallows a billiard ball, then he brings it back up once again. Now that`s what I`m talking about, entertainment.
BRYANT: Oh, come on.
HAMMER: You`re not going to believe this. The clip is coming up in "Laughter Dark."
BRYANT: Plus, Omarion on stage. He has a new record out, and he gave a knockout performance this afternoon. We were there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well, just two years ago, he was topping the charts as the lead singer in the P. Diddy-produced boy band B2K. And now, at 20, Omarion`s stepping out, going it alone. His very first solo album, called "O," hit stores yesterday.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was with him today as he hit a New York mall, giving his fans a taste of the first hit single.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: For his solo debut, Omarion stepped into the booth with some heavy-hitting producers, including Pharrell Williams and The Underdogs. The album comes with a behind-the-scenes DVD, something Omarion wanted to give his fans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OMARION: It is, you know, a personal side and a professional side. Don`t get me wrong. But, you know, you like to tease the fans a little bit about your personal life. I think it`s cool.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Omarion doesn`t just sing. He`s been in the movies as well. He was in "You Got Served" and "Fat Albert." He also has a two-picture deal with Paramount and Sony. He begins shooting the first one, a horror movie, in April.
BRYANT: Time now for more "Showbiz Shorts."
Change for 50 Cent. 50`s new album, "Massacre," will drop early, on March 3. It was supposed to come out on the 8th, but because it was leaked to the Internet this week, Interscope, the label, moved the date up.
HAMMER: "Idol" on the road. Kelly Clarkson is hitting the road for her first headlining solo tour. The tour starts on March 30 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
BRYANT: And branching out. "PEOPLE" Magazine says singer Michelle Branch is pregnant with her first child
HAMMER: Well, one late-night host didn`t make the cut in Paris` Sidekick, and he`s actually kind of bummed out about it. We`ve got that in our "Laughter Dark."
BRYANT: And there`s still time for you to sound off in tonight`s "Showbiz Showdown Question of the Day." TV reunion specials do, you love them or hate them?
You can vote at CNN cnn.com/showbiztonight. Or e-mail us what`s on your mind at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`ll read some of your thoughts live next.
HAMMER: It is time once again for the "InStyle" Oscar fashion question. Tonight`s question, this is a close-up of which Oscar winning actress, Gwyneth Paltrow, Juliette Binoche or Julia Roberts?
Got any ideas? The answer is Julia Roberts. You win nothing, Karyn. She won a leading actress Oscar in 2000 for "Erin Brockovich."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRYANT: Beautiful shot of the Empire State Building from, of course, the camera atop the Headline Prime studios in New York City. Sidney Lumet loves to film here in New York City. It`s a great place to work.
I tell you, it is time to get your laugh on right now, though, in "Laughter Dark." As we do every night, we bring you the lagt-night laughs you may have missed.
He swallowed everything from live fish to an eight ball, and they all came back up. It is the great regurgitator on "The Tonight Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, TALK SHOW HOST: Now, is this a real -- that`s a real billiard`s ball, right? It doesn`t collapse. I looked at this I get (UNINTELLIGIBLE). This doesn`t collapse.
Go ahead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ball goes down, the money comes up, the ball comes back. Want to try it?
LENO: No, no, thanks.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Do not try this at home. I know what I`m having for dinner tonight.
BRYANT: Possibly -- that is one of the gnarliest thing I`ve ever seen.
Well, as we mentioned earlier -- I don`t know if I`ll be able to shake that. That`s really wrong.
As we mentioned earlier, Paris Hilton`s Sidekick was hacked and phone numbers were leaked. Jon Stewart`s number wasn`t one of them, and he was a little hurt. And he explains why on "The Daily Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON STEWART, TALK SHOW HOST: I apologize if I`m a little off my game tonight. I`m a little upset.
As you may have heard, Paris Hilton`s Blackberry was hacked with all of her personal phone numbers and such. And as you can imagine, it`s been kind of a rough ride for me because my number wasn`t in there. I have absolutely no connection to the story at all, but I have seen her sex tape.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I don`t know why he was upset.
Well, throughout the show we`ve been asking you to vote online on our "Showbiz Showdown Question of the Day." TV reunion specials do, you love them or do you hate them?
Let`s take a look at how the voting is going so far. Twenty-nine percent of you said yes. Seventy-one percent said no. And we`ve been getting your e-mails, too, on the question.
We heard from Greg from -- is this Terre Haute, Indiana? He e-mailed us on this one, saying, "What would be scary is having a 30-year reunion of `Desperate Housewives.` Would they call it the new `Golden Girls?`"
And we heard from Chuck, from South Carolina. He says he didn`t mind "Laverne and Shirley" or the upcoming "Knots Landing" reunion, but he says, "BJ and the Bear," that`s where I would have to draw the line."
We`ve got one more to read for you from Samantha in Omaha. "Stop the reunion shows. There`s a reason these people haven`t been acting."
Remember, we still want to hear what you have to say. You can vote by going to cnn.com/showbiztonight. And e-mail us as well if you`ve got more to say. ShowbizTonigth@CNN.com is the address.
And now it`s time to see what`s playing for the rest of the week here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BRYANT: Let`s take a look at the SHOWBIZ marquee.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
ANNOUNCER: And it looks like we made it halfway through the week.
BARRY MANILOW, SINGER: This is the biggest show I`ve ever done.
ANNOUNCER: Are you a fanilow? Because we`re backstage with the B.Lo -- OK, Barry Manilow. Satisfied? Tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The envelope, please. And the Oscar goes to the bathroom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of people store their Oscars in the bathroom.
ANNOUNCER: Yep, she just said the bathroom. Where the stars keep their Oscars, tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Hey, look, everybody. It`s Karyn on the red carpet. Karyn Bryant gets all glammy on us to host our Oscar preview special. It`s Friday on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BRYANT: Headline Prime continues next with Nancy Grace.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN HEADLINES NEWS ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I`m Sophia Choi with your Headline Prime News Break.
Terri Schiavo will remain alive at least for two more days. A Florida judge extended an emergency stay keeping her feeding tubes in place at least until Friday. He wants more time to consider arguments from the brain-damaged woman`s parents. They want her to receive new medical treatment and want her husband removed as her legal guardian.
On Wall Street, a boost in stock numbers is soothing investors` fears of inflation. The jump came from tame January consumer pricing figures. Both the Dow and the S&P 500 saw gains, but the Nasdaq struggled to stay just above breaking (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Apple will soon unveil four new versions of its iPod. Two new iPod Mini models boast more storage and increased battery live. The 4 gigabyte model will sell for $199. A new photo-capable iPod features a high resolution screen and can hold up to 25,000 digital pictures.
That`s the news for now. I`m Sophia Choi. Nancy Grace starts right now.
END
