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Showbiz Tonight

Michael Jackson Awaits Verdict; Brad, Angelina Featured in Photo Shoot About Marriage; New Coldplay Album Called Best Yet; Guide to New DVD`s; Monique Plans Big and Beautiful Pageant

Aired June 07, 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.


KARYN BRYANT, CO-HOST: Talking with Coldplay about their hot new album.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: And your guide to what`s new on DVD this week.

I`m A.J. Hammer.

BRYANT: I`m Karyn Bryant. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER (voice-over): Michael Jackson waiting for a jury to decided his future. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live at Neverland and beyond, asking can Michael ever bounce back and be the King of Pop again?

BRYANT (voice-over): Brad and Angelina, playing Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the movie and Mr. and Mrs. in the hottest photo shoot in town. Tonight we`ll show you the pictures.

HAMMER: Peggy Lipton live. The "it" girl of the `60s has had quite a ride since "The Mod Squad." Tonight, her new tell-all book with steamy details about Paul McCartney, Elvis and more.

CHRISTINA APPLEGATE, ACTRESS: I`m Christina Applegate. And if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRYANT: Hello, I`m Karyn Bryant. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, and you`re at the top of the show.

HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer. You`re watching TV`s only live nightly entertainment news program.

BRYANT: We`re going to get to the latest on the Michael Jackson file in just a moment.

HAMMER: First we have some sad news to report. We just got word that Academy Award winning actress Anne Bancroft has died. A spokesman for her husband, Mel Brooks, says Bancroft died of cancer yesterday in New York.

She was probably best known for her role as Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate" with Dustin Hoffman and for her Oscar-winning role in "The Miracle Worker" in 1962.

She won two Tonys for her work on Broadway, and her film career spanned more than 50 years. Anne Bancroft was 73 years old.

BRYANT: New day, no verdict in the Michael Jackson trial. The jury went home just a short time ago. But today we found out a little bit more about that jury. And Jackson`s well known spiritual advisor revealed some new details today about Michael`s state of mind.

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson is live at Jackson`s Neverland Ranch with the very latest -- Brooke.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Karyn.

The jury of eight women and four men completed the second full day of deliberations today in the child molestation trial of Michael Jackson. They deliberated until 8:30 this morning until about 2:30 this afternoon.

Meanwhile, more details out now about the jury foreman. He`s 63 years old. He`s retired. He and his wife have two adult children in their 30s.

Now, this man, very serious throughout the trial. He`s said to be one of the few who is said to have taken a lot of notes on a consistent basis every day throughout the trial. Of course, the jury will resume those deliberations tomorrow morning.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson was at the Santa Maria courthouse for the second day in a row today. Jesse Jackson describes himself as a friend and spiritual advisor to Michael Jackson. He said that Michael is cautiously optimistic while awaiting a verdict here at Neverland Ranch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. JESSE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S SPIRITUAL ADVISOR: His plans are for acquittal. There`s a choice between fear and hope. Michael chooses hope. No doubt, he`s internalized some fears because of the gravity of the situation. But he`s driven forward by hope. He`s not paralyzed by fear. And that maybe is the basis for his kind of Reagan (ph) optimism, though cautious throughout this whole process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Meanwhile, here at Neverland Ranch, where Jackson is said to be staying while he waits for that verdict, fans are out to show their love and support. We`ve got more posters. We`ve got more flowers. Earlier today I also saw balloons outside those front gates of Neverland.

Also earlier today, the man who describes himself as the head of security made his way through those front gates, as he periodically does, and he took cards and packages from fans, presumably to give to Michael Jackson. And Karyn, while he was out here he said that Michael is doing just fine.

Back to you.

BRYANT: Brooke Anderson, thanks very much.

One big question tonight: can Jackson`s career ever be saved? And what would it take to make that happen? That is our "Showbiz In Depth" tonight, and we`ll have that for you a little later in the show.

Now, we want to know your thoughts on Michael Jackson. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Michael Jackson, will you still buy his music? You can let us know by voting at CNN.com/SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Or if you want to tell us more, e-mail us at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`ll air some of your thoughts later in the show.

HAMMER: Well, tonight Brad Pitt is speaking out about all those rumors about him, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie. In an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC`s "Primetime Live," Pitt says all the speculation that his marriage to Aniston broke up because she didn`t want kids just isn`t true.

He also talked about Jolie, his "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" co-star, and about the paparazzi pictures of them walking on a beach, taken this past April while he was on a humanitarian mission in Africa.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANE SAWYER, "PRIMETIME LIVE": Did you know there would be cameras everywhere? Did you know there would be cameras in Kenya?

BRAD PITT, ACTOR: Well, obviously not. Obviously not. It`s an amazing fact. The bounty that`s on my head and the lengths these people go to to get these shots and the amount of money they`re paying for these shots. I think that something like half a million dollars, three quarters of a million dollars for the shot.

And as we talk about what we`re talking about today, I can`t help to think what that -- you know, what that money could have gone to. I would have sent the damn pictures myself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: He also takes a swipe at the paparazzi, saying, quote, "I abhor what they do." The "Primetime Live" special with Pitt airs tonight on ABC.

BRYANT: Tonight some hot shots of Brad and Angelina are raising eyebrows. The photos were snapped by photographer Steven Klein for a spread in "W" magazine`s new issue. The 60-page photo essay depicts a perfect marriage on the verge of collapse.

Joining us live tonight is "W" magazine`s creative director, Dennis Freedman.

Dennis, thanks for joining us. Sixty pages? How did this happen.

DENNIS FREEDMAN, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, "W" MAGAZINE: Well, actually the story idea came from Brad. He first approached us in March and proposed to do a series of photographs exploring a kind of idealized American family. And he wanted to show both the dark and slight side of this family. And we set the story in the 1960s, the years that Brad was born.

BRYANT: And with the 1960s, Bill, what lengths did you go to? I notice there is something with JFK in there, as well.

FREEDMAN: Yes. I think Brad certainly grew up at a time when our country was going through radical changes, so it was an era that really influenced his life. And he wanted us to explore the kind of myths and illusions that we all had in those years and how, in fact, the veneer cracked as the 60s proceeded.

BRYANT: We just heard a little clip of Brad Pitt talking about how, you know, the paparazzi follows him endlessly. How was it possible that you were able to keep this 60-page photo shoot a secret?

FREEDMAN: Well, that wasn`t hard. I mean, this was a project that was close to all of our hearts. It wasn`t a sensational story. It was a story that we all believed in doing. So it wasn`t about Brad and Angelina. It was about making a kind of small film. And that film was something that we all believed in.

BRYANT: Talk to me about the photo shoot itself. Did they show up with an entourage? What was the whole process like?

FREEDMAN: Well, I can`t tell you how courageous these two actors are. They both showed up alone with no media handlers. There was not one publicist on the set. They did what they wanted to do, and they did what they believed in doing. So this was an extremely professional set without any advisors.

BRYANT: And do you have one favorite shot that you think captures this the most?

FREEDMAN: Well, I think for me there`s a shot people will see, and it`s in a bedroom. And on the television is the moment when John Kennedy was assassinated.

And in this picture, Brad, playing the husband, is actually asleep in his chair. And Angelina, who plays the wife, is holding her child`s clothing right to her breast, and the look on her face is the look of a woman whose hopes and dreams are practically fading from her as the hopes and dreams of the country.

BRYANT: OK. Great. Well, thank you, Dennis Freedman, for joining us.

FREEDMAN: You`re welcome.

BRYANT: For the complete photo spread, you can pick up a copy of "W" magazine, which is on news stands here in New York this Friday and everywhere else June 24.

HAMMER: Well, one Hollywood couple unafraid of publicity: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Tom stole the show last night at the "Batman Begins" premier in Hollywood, and he isn`t even in the movie. He arrived on Katie`s arms. She plays Batman`s love interest. And she was clearly -- he was clearly the star of the evening, as was she.

The A-list cast, Christian Bale, who plays Batman, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman all took a back seat. Katie told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that she couldn`t be happier about her new love.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATIE HOLMES, ACTRESS: He is, he is. And I mean, I`m so lucky. He`s signing autographs right now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How does it feel to have Tom here tonight?

HOLMES: Incredible. I feel so lucky. I`m honored.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you getting married? Have you made plans?

HOLMES: Well, you know, we have to talk about that together first. But thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: "Batman Begins" explores the origins of the Dark Knight. The film explains how Bruce Wayne became Batman, why he wears the bat suit and where he got the cool car. And it lays the groundwork for more Bat flicks down the line. "Batman Begins" will hit theaters on June 15.

BRYANT: The new Coldplay album hit stores today. And an unofficial survey in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff says "X and Y" is A No. 1.

Coming up, the band weighs in on the album, fame and life on the road.

HAMMER: Also another season of "The Sopranos" is now out on DVD. Should you pick it up or forget about it? We`ll find out, coming up on the "Showbiz Guide to New DVDs."

BRYANT: Plus, beyond "The Mod Squad," Peggy Lipton turns another page and puts out a tell-all book. Elvis is in there. So is Paul McCartney. The list does go on. Peggy Lipton is live on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That`s coming up.

HAMMER: Now tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Including "Arrested Development," how many TV series does Jason Bateman have to his credit? Good question. Three, five, eight or 10? What`s the answer? We`re coming straight back to give it to you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Once again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Including "Arrested Development," how many TV series does Jason Bateman have to his credit? Three, five, eight or 10? The answer, D, 10.

BRYANT: It is time for the "Showbiz Guide," where throughout the week we help you decide where to spend your dollars on movies, music, DVD`s and more.

We`re going to check out what`s new on DVD in just a few minutes, but first it`s "New Music Tuesday." The White Stripes drop "Get Behind Me Satan." It`s the Detroit duo`s fifth album, and many critics say it`s also their best.

Shakira is out with a sexy new video, and a Spanish-language album called "Fijacion Oral," which means oral fixation. An English version will be released later this year.

Now, the Black Eyed Peas are back in business with "Monkey Business." The first single, called "Don`t Mess with my Heart," is already No. 5 on the charts.

And Coldplay drops "X and Y." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sat down with front man Chris Martin and lead guitarist Johnny Buckland for a revealing look at the making of the new album.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRYANT (voice-over): They`ve won four Grammys and sold 20 million albums around the world. They`ve been called one of the greatest bands in the world. But the guys in Coldplay have a confidence problem.

CHRIS MARTIN, FRONTMAN: I had a guy stop me on the street purely to tell me how much he hated our band. That`s all he wanted to tell me. Actually, we bought him some champagne, which is a joke.

BRYANT: The band`s third album, "X and Y," hit stores today. It`s one of the most anticipated releases of the year.

JOHNNY BUCKLAND, GUITARIST: It`s about the kind of unquantifiable things in life, you know, the things that you can`t work out what they are, things that you can`t predict.

MARTIN: Things you can`t understand.

BRYANT: "Speed of Sound" is the first single. The band performed it recently at a special concert for AOL Music. Choosing the first single is no easy task.

BUCKLAND: The hardest single to choose is the first one. Because you have to try and -- because it comes out before the album, normally, so you have to try and represent what you`re doing on the album, or think you have to do. You think you have to try and represent what you do.

MARTIN: It can`t possibly represent your -- it`s like -- it`s like on a dating web site, just showing someone your elbow or just your nose, you know.

BRYANT: The band spent a painful 18 months on "X and Y." The guys traveled around writing songs in London, Liverpool, Chicago and New York.

BUCKLAND: We like to move around a little bit, after a few, six weeks or so, we`d get a bit bored of a place and move somewhere else.

BRYANT: Martin is the face of the band. Even more so since he married actress Gwyneth Paltrow in 2003 and had a daughter, Apple, shortly after. There have been paparazzi following their every move, something he wishes he could stop.

MARTIN: I think people`s private lives should just be private. Other people think differently, and they camp outside your house.

The fame thing has gone a bit crazy around the world, and when you`re in the middle of it, also live on the fringe of the middle of it, you understand that it doesn`t really exist. It`s extraordinary. It`s an extraordinary thing. And I`m not sure -- I don`t think it helps us musically.

BRYANT: But these days, Coldplay is using its fame to draw attention to the impact of globalization on developing countries.

MARTIN: This is an equal sign and this is our new way of saying keep going with the fair trade thing. And soon, this will be very famous for being the symbol of fair trade.

BRYANT: Martin may wish he could have an on/off swish for the spotlight. But there are worse things in life than supporting causes, marrying movie stars, and oh, yes, singing in one of the world`s most popular bands.

MARTIN: We have the greatest life in history now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRYANT: If you want to see Coldplay in concert, and I highly recommend that you do, sit tight, because they kick off an extensive U.S. tour in August.

HAMMER: Well, now it`s time for the "Showbiz Guide" on what`s new in DVDs. Joining us live in New York, Neil Rosen, who`s the entertainment critic for the cable news channel, New York One.

Always nice to see you, Neil.

NEIL ROSEN, ENTERTAINMENT CRITIC, NEW YORK ONE: Great to he see you, A.J.

HAMMER: All right. So "The Sopranos" next season, season six. I think it`s going to be four or five years or something like that before...

ROSEN: It`s in March 2006 or something like that.

HAMMER: I know. It`s crazy. And we`re all waiting for it. But season five finally out on DVD, and this had some great episodes in it.

ROSEN: Yes, there really were some great episodes in this season. My -- Adrianna gets whacked, and she won -- Drea de Matteo won an Emmy for that. So did Michael Imperioli. That`s in season five.

They introduced the Steve Buscemi character in that season, and that`s an arc that goes throughout the entire season. That`s pretty good.

Plus there`s another terrific episode where Meadow has a boyfriend, gets a cushy summer job on a construction site and discovers that on the mobsters on the construction site is gay. The guy invites him to a Yankee game. It`s a tremendous episode.

So there`s some highlights of that particular box set. And it`s great. If you`re a fan of the show, it`s great to watch it completely through in a couple days. I like to watch it that way, as opposed to one installment weekly.

HAMMER: Right.

ROSEN: And if you`ve never seen -- if you don`t get HBO, it`s a great collector`s item. I highly recommend that.

HAMMER: Terrific. Well, let`s move on to a movie that`s out on DVD, "Be Cool," of course, which was the sequel to "Get Shorty." Not such a great flick. Didn`t do so well at the box office.

ROSEN: No, that -- I don`t recommend this film to buy it on DVD, to rent it on DVD. It`s terrible. I think "Get Shorty," which, as you said, it`s the sequel to, I think "Get Shorty" is an overrated film. "Be Cool" is even worse than that.

Chili Palmer, the John Travolta character, leaves the music -- leaves the movie business, goes into the music business. And it`s like "American Idol" meets the mob. It`s just horrible.

Uma Thurman is thrown into the movie. She`s kind of lost in that. She did such a great job in the "Kill Bill" movies. Here she`s just kid of wasted. Travolta`s walking through his scenes. Don`t recommend this one at all. Pass on that all across.

HAMMER: OK. Let`s do 10 seconds, then, on "Beyond the Sea," Kevin Spacey`s pet project that didn`t do so well at the box office either, real quickly.

ROSEN: Vanity project from Kevin Spacey. He wrote it. He directed it. He stars it in. Do not recommend this film. To see it in the movie theater, if you`re a fan of Bobby Darrin or if you`re a fan of Kevin Spacey, you might find it interesting. It`s a misguided project, but there are some interesting musical dance numbers. The characters burst into dance numbers, ala 1940s movies, out of nowhere.

HAMMER: Right.

ROSEN: It`s kind of interesting for a $3.50, $2.50 rental.

HAMMER: OK.

ROSEN: But not worth buying.

HAMMER: We`ve got to wrap it up. Neil Rosen from New York One, appreciate you joining us tonight.

BRYANT: Actress, comedian, TV host. Monique has a lot going on. But she`s making time to help cast a new reality show. Monique joins us live to tell us all about it, coming up.

HAMMER: Plus, is Michael Jackson finished? Or is it even possible for him to one day again become the King of Pop? What`s the verdict? We`re going to find out in "Showbiz In Depth," coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRYANT: Tonight, a "Showbiz Sitdown" with Monique. She is the first female host of the syndicated TV show, "Showtime at the Apollo," which is in its 17th year. And she is now working on a new show, as well. Monique is here with us, live in New York.

Thank you and welcome to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

MONIQUE, HOST, "SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO": Thank you, Karyn.

BRYANT: So tell me about this new project that you have. Because we had Kirstie Ally with "Fat Actress." And now you`ve got Monique, "Fat Chance." Is it time for larger women to come into their own?

MONIQUE: It`s so time. It`s -- it`s been long overdue.

You know, and even with "Fat Actress," she`s trying to lose weight.

BRYANT: Right.

MONIQUE: And a lot of times, people may say, "Oh, here we go again."

You know, for me, I teamed up with Just My Size and Oxygen to do the first full figured reality beauty pageant, where we`re saying, you know what? Be big, be beautiful. You are, you can, you will, you should. If you are 220, be 220. If you`re a size 26, be a size 26.

So today was our first day in New York. We did the first casting call. And it was so overwhelming. If you could have seen all of those big pretty women, lined up around Park Avenue, saying, "You know what? It`s our time."

BRYANT: See, now there -- there is something to be said for confidence. And that`s a great thing. But critics might say, you know, Monique, you`re promoting an unhealthy lifestyle, though.

MONIQUE: And you know what I would say with critics -- to critics? Stop it. Because for some reason they believe all big people are unhealthy people. That is so not true. We work out. We exercise. We`re just big people.

If everyone was meant to be a size zero, could you imagine how boring life would be?

BRYANT: Oh, no, certainly. But it`s also, too, when you`re talking about younger kids. I mean, diabetes does come into play. And it`s hard, because it`s a fine line between telling somebody to be happy in their skin and, you know, just wanting to look out for them on the whole, as well.

MONIQUE: Even -- during the show we do a beauty boot camp, where we exercise and we work out. So I don`t promote just be big. Don`t exercise. Just eat, be fat, whatever.

BRYANT: Right.

MONIQUE: No. I work out every day. I tell women, you know what? Be healthy, but love you. Don`t exercise and diet to say, "I want to be a size 2." Exercise, just be healthy. That`s it. I`m a size 22. I`m so OK with that. And I work out every single day.

BRYANT: Well, good. Now what do you think about the Michael Jackson trial? This is certainly, obviously, the buzz story going around. What`s your take on that?

MONIQUE: I hope in my heart that he`s innocent. And I really hope that they acquit him, because the mother`s story goes too many different ways. It goes too many different ways. So I really hope and pray that he is innocent and that they acquit him.

BRYANT: And last question, "Showtime at the Apollo" has been on for 17 years. "American Idol" has been on for four now. Do you think it could last as long? Why is "Showtime" so popular?

MONIQUE: Because of history. "Showtime at the Apollo" is a part of history. That`s it. It`s historic. Every great entertainer has graced that stage, has rubbed that log. And when the producers called me and said, "Monique, I have a short list of one. Would you do it?"

I said, "Baby, I`m here forever. I`ll be there from the next 17 years."

BRYANT: Congratulations.

MONIQUE: Thank you, Karyn.

BRYANT: And casting calls for Monique`s "Fat Chance" are being held in New York City, Atlanta and Los Angeles throughout June 10 to select ten finalists to appear on the show.

HAMMER: Coming up next, can Michael Jackson ever become the King of Pop again?

Plus, you remember her from "The Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks." But, Peggy Lipton`s off-screen life has been just as dramatic. Peggy Lipton`s going to join us live for a "Showbiz Sitdown," coming up.

And, it`s the Oscars of the fashion world. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT puts you on the red carpet and in the front row, on the way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOPHIA CHOI, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, there. I`m Sophia Choi. And here is your "Headline Prime Newsbreak."

A seven-hour freeway chase and standoff in California ended late today with a suspect in custody. Police threw a flash-bang grenade into the suspect`s minivan. When he opened the door, a police dog attacked. The man eventually tumbled out of the van and was arrested. The pursuit began, actually, this morning when the suspect allegedly posed as a delivery man and tried to kidnap a woman.

President Bush is joining British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a plan to eliminate the debt of developing African countries deemed to be on a path to reform. That doesn`t go as for as Blair had hoped. He`s called for the cancellation of all debt in the poor nations of Africa.

Well, the world`s largest auto maker it slashing 25,000 manufacturing jobs in the U.S. by 2008. General Motors says it also will close some plants. It hopes the moves will save $2.5 billion a year.

That`s the news for now. I`m Sophia Choi. Now back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

BRYANT: Tonight, the jury still out on Michael`s future and his music. Can Michael Jackson save his career? We go in-depth with one of the biggest names in the music biz.

HAMMER: And Lipton tees off. She`s got stories about Elvis, Paul McCartney, Frank Sinatra and more. Peggy Lipton, from the `60s show "The Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks," joins us live.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN LITHGOW, ACTOR: Hi, I`m John Lithgow. If it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer.

And as we told you a short time ago, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has confirmed that Anne Bancroft, best known for her starring role in "The Miracle Worker" and Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate" died yesterday of cancer. The Oscar-winning actress who was married to Mel Brooks was 73-years-old.

Joining us on the phone now, Patty Duke, the legendary actress who co- starred with Anne Bancroft in "The Miracle Worker."

Patty, thanks for taking time out with us. And I`m sorry it`s on this occasion.

PATTY DUKE, ACTRESS: Thank you for including me, and I welcome the opportunity to once again let folks know what a magnificent woman this is. Annie and I met 46 years ago when she played Annie Sullivan and I played Helen Keller on stage, on Broadway. And for me, it was a moment in time that was utterly magical and has lasted forever.

HAMMER: What do you remember most about her from back at that time, Patty?

DUKE: Most? You know, it`s funny, because we all think of Anne as the great dramatic actress, the great dame of the theater. But she had a sense of humor that just took you along with her wherever she wanted to go. And I can hear her laughter now as we talk. I was thinking about it while I was waiting for you to come on the line. And I do, I hear her laughter and see that gorgeous smile.

HAMMER: So many people know her and remember her from her role in "The Graduate," yet she always said that she wishes she was better known for her role in "The Miracle Worker." What do you think the legacy Anne Bancroft leaves behind as far as her acting roles really is?

DUKE: I think Annie`s legacy isn`t tied up in any one role. I think it is a legacy that breathes life into the theater and, certainly, into the movies, and that basically speaks to the love in each of us.

HAMMER: Well, Patty, we really appreciate you joining us on this sad occasion tonight. Patty Duke joining us live on the telephone. And once again, Anne Bancroft dead at the age of 73.

BRYANT: As we reported, the jury in the Michael Jackson trial went home for the night just a short time ago. Deliberations will continue again tomorrow, through thick and thin, Jackson has remained an international superstar. Guilty or not guilty, this child molestation trial may end up doing fatal damage to Jackson`s music career.

CNN`s pop culture correspondent Toure talked to one big-time music executive who thinks that, if Jackson were to follow his advice, the King of Pop could be on top again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): His album, "Thriller," is still the planet`s best-selling record ever, even though it`s more than 20 years old. He was the first black artist played on MTV. Can Michael Jackson get back to being a mega-icon, or has he left his career on the courthouse steps?

Some in the record business believe M.J. can be reinvented. Among them, the chairman of Island Def Jam music, L.A. Reid.

L.A. REID, ISLAND DEF JAM MUSIC GROUP CHAIRMAN: I believe Michael can absolutely come back. He can absolutely come back and be phenomenal.

TOURE (voice-over): Reid crafted Mariah Carey`s recent come back. And last year, he helped Outkast and Usher reach new career highs. Reid gave us the strategy he`d employ if Jackson was his artist.

REID: There has been some damage done. That`s the reality of it, you know. I hated saying it. That was painful, but I had to say it.

TOURE (on-screen): So where to begin? Some say he should leave the country. How about that?

REID: Sounds like he`s running and he doesn`t have to. You are Michael Jackson. But understand what that means. That means that you`re a superstar, you`re a legend. I would honestly start with him touring, and getting out, and performing for people, and really reminding people that he`s one of the greats.

TOURE (on-screen): Big arenas or intimate venues?

REID: No, intimate. Keep it small.

TOURE (voice-over): After Jackson finishes his reach-out-to-the- people tour, Reid advises he change his address.

REID: Absolutely move out of Neverland and move to New York City, you know? And start to really feel some of the concrete, feel some of the grind, you know. And I`m not saying become regular, because it`s impossible, and it`s a pipe dream to ever see Michael Jackson just walking up and down the street, but feel it.

Go out to the restaurants, go out and hang, you know? Go to the club and listen to some music. Guess what? Michael is bordering on normal, you know?

TOURE (on-screen): That has to be the headline, "Oh, my God, He`s so Normal."

REID: He`s normal.

TOURE (voice-over): And if Jackson makes a comeback album, this image-maker wants it to be very personal.

REID: I would go emotional. I would not go dancy, dancy, try to be too cool, try to be too young, try to be too hip. I would go emotional and try to touch the heart with music.

TOURE (voice-over): And if Jackson likes Reid`s plan, he`s free to take him up on it.

(on-screen): If he sees this piece, and calls you, "Let`s do a deal," would you sign him?

REID: I would absolutely sign Michael. Every great artist is one great song away from being back.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: A true statement indeed from L.A. Reid. So we may as well talk about. In tonight`s "SHOWBIZ In-Depth" we are talking about Michael Jackson`s career and how or if it can actually be saved.

Joining us here in the studio live, the man who just brought us that report that we all just watched, CNN`s pop culture correspondent Toure. Also joining us, Jenny Eliscu from "Rolling Stone" magazine, and Craig Marks. He`s the editor-in-chief of "Blender" magazine.

And guys, before we get started here, I want to take stock of Michael Jackson`s music career. He is still selling quite a few albums. So let`s take a look at those numbers. He has sold more than 257,000 albums so far this year, according to recent figures from Nielsen Soundscan. Well, last year, Michael Jackson sold more than 911,000 records, down slightly from the previous year, which is when Michael Jackson moved more than a million units.

All told, since 1991, the King of Pop has sold more than 17 million albums, not to mention another 6 million videos and singles. Well, let`s talk about it. Let`s just send it around the room. Can he possibly stage a comeback?

Craig, what do you think?

CRAIG MARKS, "BLENDER" MAGAZINE: Well, he has to be acquitted, obviously. But yes, I think it`s possible. I think the odds are slim, but I think he can do it.

HAMMER: OK.

Jenny, what`s your take?

JENNY ELISCU, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE: I would say no way, Jose.

HAMMER: No matter what the verdict?

ELISCU: I think no matter what the verdict. Unless he waits a good long time for us all to forget and for the specter of the accusations against him to kind of clear, I think, for now, you know, this situation he has found himself in is going to overshadow everything he does.

TOURE: In the center of the record business is people who are under 22, right, like teenagers, college students, maybe even under 25. That group is too young to even remember "Thriller" when Michael Jackson was big. So they never even drank the Kool-Aid of when he was the biggest artist in the world. Now, there is no chance. You`re too far removed.

MARKS: Well, I would argue that, you know, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley were in somewhat similar circumstances. They had no hits. Their careers were over. Both staged comebacks.

Presley did it with a live special on network television that was unprecedented then. Sinatra did it, as the piece before us showed, with a song. He did it first with "My Way," which was written for him by Paul Anka, and then later on with "New York, New York."

And so it is somewhat true, that if you have a song -- I think that Jackson would need a song that would somewhat be autobiographical, that would kind of admit to mistakes in some vague way, but would show that he`s a survivor.

And if he didn`t have a persecution complex, and he aimed not for a teen market -- because I agree that`s impossible -- but for a slightly more sophisticated adult market, with the right producer, and if he was able to kind of humble himself in front of America, I think it`s possible.

HAMMER: Well, let me ask you, Toure, because one of the problems is, regardless of what the verdict is here, there will be a stigma attached. There are people who are going to think he`s a child molester regardless of the outcome.

TOURE: Chris Rock has the perfect line. We love Michael Jackson so much, we forgave the first kid. You know, now here`s another one. And in this trial, you may have learned that there have been several other kids who have had something to say -- whether or not it`s true -- they`ve said, alleged something. I think most Americans believe there is something. So yes, that taint will never go away.

ELISCU: I don`t even think -- it`s not even necessarily that people will view him as a child molester, acquitted or convicted. I think that just he`s at a -- he`s reached a point where his persona is so much larger than any musical contribution he could possible make.

I don`t think it`s conceivable for him to be relevant as an artist, simply as an artist, at this point in his career, because he`s just -- everyone thinks he`s such a freak. Even if you don`t think he`s a bad guy who has done bad things, you think he`s a freak and his music is no longer relevant.

HAMMER: OK. Well, I`ve got to wrap it up with that. But thank you very much, Craig, Jenny, and Toure for chiming in tonight for "SHOWBIZ In- Depth."

And Michael Jackson is the subject of our "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" question of the day. Michael Jackson: Will you still buy his music? You can continue to vote by going to the Web site, CNN.com/SHOWBIZTONIGHT. Got an e-mail to send us? Do it. Showbiztonight@cnn.com is the address. We`re going to share some of what you had to say in about 13 minutes.

BRYANT: From one of today`s it girls to a `60s icon, we`re getting groovy, baby, with "Mod Squad" groovy chick Peggy Lipton. She is live in the "SHOWBIZ Sitdown."

And Madonna`s captivating crowds again, not with her sounds, but with her stories. It`s story-time with Madonna, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: It is time now for another "SHOWBIZ Sitdown," this time with Peggy Lipton. You may know her for her stint on the early-`90s cult favorite "Twin Peaks." But it was during the late 1960s when she rose to it girl superstardom. There`s that music.

She was the undercover cop, Julie Barnes, on "The Mod Squad." And fame led to personal relationships with people like Paul McCartney, Elvis, music producer Quincy Jones, whom she married and was married to for 17 years, I believe that was.

Peggy tells all, the good and the bad, in her brand-new book, "Breathing Out." And she joins us live her on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

Peggy Lipton, it`s nice to see you.

PEGGY LIPTON, ACTRESS: It`s nice to see you, too. Thank you.

HAMMER: And just to give people a little bit of context, because maybe they weren`t around for the "Mod Squad" or paying attention, it was like, in terms of massive success, the "Desperate Housewives" of its day. You know, you were the it girl that keeps popping up of the moment. You were the Lindsay Lohan, the Britney Spears, the Jessica Simpson of the moment. Does that pretty capture the world that was surrounding you?

LIPTON: I think so. Though I wasn`t aware of it as I think these women are now, because they`re constantly seeing themselves, whether it`s magazine or media. I mean, I worked five days a week for five years from morning `til night. So we never really had that outside exposure.

And plus, I never went out, because I was either working or too paranoid to go out. So I just kind of lived, like, a smaller life than, you know, these women live now when they`re so exposed.

HAMMER: Do you see a bit of yourself in them, though, when you`re seeing them in the tabloids? Yes?

LIPTON: Absolutely.

HAMMER: You talk about in the book how the power -- you use the power of your sexuality and beauty to sort of mask whatever insecurities you might have been dealing with. Is that basically true, do you think, of a lot of Hollywood starlets?

LIPTON: I think it`s -- yes, I think it`s harder to not do that, to be really conscious of not doing that as you become, you know, more sort of infamous and you start to grow into your womanhood. I think you have to be very conscientious to not let that happen.

But also, this was the `60s. It was so totally different.

HAMMER: Yes. And you name a lot of names of people who you were involved with in the `60s. So let`s get right to that. Paul McCartney, one of the biggest superstars on the planet at the moment, there were women who would have given their left arm just to meet him. And you were with him in a slightly more intimate way. What was your relationship with Paul McCartney?

LIPTON: Well, I had the hugest crush on him. I was 17-years-old, as did, you know, millions and millions of women, of girls, let`s call ourselves girls.

So I had a crush on him. And I just thought, you know, maybe there is a chance, if I can plot and plan for a couple of years, that I could meet him. And that`s what I did. I hooked with a girlfriend, and we sat, and we plotted it for year of how to meet him. And it happened. And then, over the course of about two or three years, I would see him when he was here for his tours and things like that.

HAMMER: So you dated Paul McCartney?

LIPTON: I dated Paul McCartney.

HAMMER: Right. And did you ever tell him this whole plan that you had, or is he going to read about it in this book?

LIPTON: He`s going to read about it in the book.

(LAUGHTER)

HAMMER: OK, so a few other people get -- well, Elvis, unfortunately can`t read about it. But unlike you pursuing Paul, Elvis was actually pursuing you. Do I have that right?

LIPTON: Yes, a little bit. He got my number from a mutual friend. And he started calling, and I kept saying no, because it was scary. I mean, Elvis was a larger-than-life character.

And I thought, "Oh, we have nothing in common. There`s just no way I could ever even meet him." But he was so persistent, and that voice, and the whole thing. So I finally said yes. And he flew down on his plane, came and picked me up, and we got along right away.

He was a very humorous character. He was a funny guy, yes. He had a great sense of humor.

HAMMER: Well, another guy with a great sense of humor whose name comes up, Sammy Davis, Jr. What happened with him?

LIPTON: Oh, he was one day, and then I realized that it was a bad choice. And I went off with an old boyfriend. But the reason why it was so great when I went away with him for the one day was that`s where I met my future husband.

HAMMER: Well, it`s a fascinating read. And I encourage people to check it out. And we appreciate you coming by SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to talk about it.

LIPTON: Thank you.

HAMMER: Peggy Lipton, thank you very much.

The book, Peggy`s "Breathing Out" is in bookstores now -- Karyn?

Oh, it`s still me. It`s time now to get your laugh on in "Laughter Dark." As we do every night, we bring you the late-night laughs you may have missed. Well, a few days before actor Russell Crowe got himself into a little bit of trouble at a New York City hotel, he appealed on "The Daily Show."

Well, last night, "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart reflected on Russell`s visit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": And we had Russell Crowe on the show Thursday night, as you see here on the picture here.

(LAUGHTER)

He seemed so nice. As you see in the picture, he is very virile. And he wanted to make a phone call and when they wouldn`t let him (INAUDIBLE). You know, I don`t how the Aussies beat up hotel employers for not providing telecommunication service where they`re from, but here in the Big Apple, it`s a knee to the groin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Well, tonight on "The Daily Show," the author of "Everything Bad is Good for You," Steven Johnson.

BRYANT: All right. Well, we mentioned earlier that Madonna has got a book signing going on. And we have got David Haffenreffer live where all action is -- David?

DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN HEADLINE NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Karyn, thank you very much.

And this is Madonna`s fifth book in the child book series that she released. And it`s great to see you tonight. Thanks for being with us.

MADONNA, SINGER: Thank you very much.

HAFFENREFFER: You were over signing and handing out books over at Borders today reading to a bunch of kids. What was that like for you?

MADONNA: It was a challenge, a challenge keeping about 30 8-year-olds transfixed and paying attention. But it was good. It was fun.

HAFFENREFFER: That is your fifth book in this series. And earlier you had said that you had turned to your daughter for some assistance. Did you turn to her for this book, as well, trying out some of the material?

MADONNA: Absolutely. I`ve read all of my books to her while I`ve been writing them. And I continue to write them. And she continues to be my writing partner.

HAFFENREFFER: With the fifth book now out of the way, what is next for you? Back into the studio?

MADONNA: I have a record that I`m almost done with that hopefully will come out before the end of the year. I have a documentary that I made while I was on tour that hopefully will come out soon. And I`ve written more books, a sequel to "The English Roses."

HAFFENREFFER: I heard there is a sequel coming out this next fall, 2006. Is that right?

MADONNA: Yes, absolutely.

HAFFENREFFER: Well, best of luck. And thank you for being with us. Any other feature films, I should ask before I let you go?

MADONNA: No.

HAFFENREFFER: None in the works right now?

MADONNA: No.

HAFFENREFFER: Thank you for being with us. Congratulations.

And that is Madonna for us on the red carpet here as she goes in.

Rosie O`Donnell, right down here to the right, as well, as the fans continue to stream in. Fans of all sorts coming out, Matt Lauer and his wife, Annette, here tonight, as well. Elizabeth Vargas from ABC here, as well.

And we will go now back to you in the studio -- Karyn?

BRYANT: All right. Thanks, very much, David Haffenreffer at Bergdorf Goodman`s in New York City.

Well, there is still time for you to sound off in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Michael Jackson: Will you still buy his music? You can vote at CNN.com/showbiztonight or write us at showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`ll read some of your e-mails next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: From floor 284 of the "Headline Prime" studios in New York City, a beautiful look at a Tuesday night sunset as we get set to wind down the day. You`ve been tuning into all kinds of television programs over the past week, and it is time to find out exactly what you`ve been watching with the final Nielsen ratings just out today for last week`s shows.

So as we do every Tuesday, let`s take a look at the networks` top five, your first look. "CSI" at the top of the list. It was the top-rated show for the week, followed by the new show, "Dancing with the Stars." Very well. "CSI: Miami" in third place. "Without a Trace" was number four. And it was followed by "Two-and-a-Half Men" at five.

BRYANT: Throughout the show, we`ve been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. And it is, Michael Jackson: Will you still buy his music?

Let`s take a look at how the vote is going so far. Twenty-four percent of you say yes, you will still buy his music, 76 percent of you say you will not. And you`ve also been sending e-mails our way.

Deedee from Indiana writes, "Of course, I`ll buy his music. I`ve been supporting him for a lifetime. And now that we`re in verdict watch, even more so."

But Nathaniel from Kentucky writes, "I never did buy Michael Jackson`s music. He was always too strange."

Now, remember, you can continue to vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight.

HAMMER: We`ve got a jam-packed show tomorrow. Time to find out what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Wednesday night.

BRYANT: Of course, that means we must invoke the great Marquee Guy.

MARQUEE GUY: Tomorrow, we`re getting ourselves into a "Harry situation," Harry Connick, Jr., the "Will and Grace" divorcee has got himself a graceful new album with Branford Marsalis. Harry Connick, Jr., tickling the ivories on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

Also tomorrow, it`s fashion`s biggest night of the year. And we`re checking in with a Czech beauty, "Czech mate," supermodel Karolina Kurkova. Danger curves ahead with Kurkova, tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

This is the Marquee Guy, and Karolina, I`ve got "Carolina on my Mind."

HAMMER: Thanks very much, Marquee Guy. The check`s in the mail.

BRYANT: Incredible. Incredible. You get your Coldplay record today?

HAMMER: Got it today.

BRYANT: All right. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Karyn Bryant.

HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN HEADLINE NEWS.

END


Aired June 7, 2005 - 19:00:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KARYN BRYANT, CO-HOST: Talking with Coldplay about their hot new album.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: And your guide to what`s new on DVD this week.

I`m A.J. Hammer.

BRYANT: I`m Karyn Bryant. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER (voice-over): Michael Jackson waiting for a jury to decided his future. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live at Neverland and beyond, asking can Michael ever bounce back and be the King of Pop again?

BRYANT (voice-over): Brad and Angelina, playing Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the movie and Mr. and Mrs. in the hottest photo shoot in town. Tonight we`ll show you the pictures.

HAMMER: Peggy Lipton live. The "it" girl of the `60s has had quite a ride since "The Mod Squad." Tonight, her new tell-all book with steamy details about Paul McCartney, Elvis and more.

CHRISTINA APPLEGATE, ACTRESS: I`m Christina Applegate. And if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRYANT: Hello, I`m Karyn Bryant. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, and you`re at the top of the show.

HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer. You`re watching TV`s only live nightly entertainment news program.

BRYANT: We`re going to get to the latest on the Michael Jackson file in just a moment.

HAMMER: First we have some sad news to report. We just got word that Academy Award winning actress Anne Bancroft has died. A spokesman for her husband, Mel Brooks, says Bancroft died of cancer yesterday in New York.

She was probably best known for her role as Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate" with Dustin Hoffman and for her Oscar-winning role in "The Miracle Worker" in 1962.

She won two Tonys for her work on Broadway, and her film career spanned more than 50 years. Anne Bancroft was 73 years old.

BRYANT: New day, no verdict in the Michael Jackson trial. The jury went home just a short time ago. But today we found out a little bit more about that jury. And Jackson`s well known spiritual advisor revealed some new details today about Michael`s state of mind.

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson is live at Jackson`s Neverland Ranch with the very latest -- Brooke.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Karyn.

The jury of eight women and four men completed the second full day of deliberations today in the child molestation trial of Michael Jackson. They deliberated until 8:30 this morning until about 2:30 this afternoon.

Meanwhile, more details out now about the jury foreman. He`s 63 years old. He`s retired. He and his wife have two adult children in their 30s.

Now, this man, very serious throughout the trial. He`s said to be one of the few who is said to have taken a lot of notes on a consistent basis every day throughout the trial. Of course, the jury will resume those deliberations tomorrow morning.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson was at the Santa Maria courthouse for the second day in a row today. Jesse Jackson describes himself as a friend and spiritual advisor to Michael Jackson. He said that Michael is cautiously optimistic while awaiting a verdict here at Neverland Ranch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. JESSE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S SPIRITUAL ADVISOR: His plans are for acquittal. There`s a choice between fear and hope. Michael chooses hope. No doubt, he`s internalized some fears because of the gravity of the situation. But he`s driven forward by hope. He`s not paralyzed by fear. And that maybe is the basis for his kind of Reagan (ph) optimism, though cautious throughout this whole process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Meanwhile, here at Neverland Ranch, where Jackson is said to be staying while he waits for that verdict, fans are out to show their love and support. We`ve got more posters. We`ve got more flowers. Earlier today I also saw balloons outside those front gates of Neverland.

Also earlier today, the man who describes himself as the head of security made his way through those front gates, as he periodically does, and he took cards and packages from fans, presumably to give to Michael Jackson. And Karyn, while he was out here he said that Michael is doing just fine.

Back to you.

BRYANT: Brooke Anderson, thanks very much.

One big question tonight: can Jackson`s career ever be saved? And what would it take to make that happen? That is our "Showbiz In Depth" tonight, and we`ll have that for you a little later in the show.

Now, we want to know your thoughts on Michael Jackson. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Michael Jackson, will you still buy his music? You can let us know by voting at CNN.com/SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Or if you want to tell us more, e-mail us at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`ll air some of your thoughts later in the show.

HAMMER: Well, tonight Brad Pitt is speaking out about all those rumors about him, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie. In an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC`s "Primetime Live," Pitt says all the speculation that his marriage to Aniston broke up because she didn`t want kids just isn`t true.

He also talked about Jolie, his "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" co-star, and about the paparazzi pictures of them walking on a beach, taken this past April while he was on a humanitarian mission in Africa.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANE SAWYER, "PRIMETIME LIVE": Did you know there would be cameras everywhere? Did you know there would be cameras in Kenya?

BRAD PITT, ACTOR: Well, obviously not. Obviously not. It`s an amazing fact. The bounty that`s on my head and the lengths these people go to to get these shots and the amount of money they`re paying for these shots. I think that something like half a million dollars, three quarters of a million dollars for the shot.

And as we talk about what we`re talking about today, I can`t help to think what that -- you know, what that money could have gone to. I would have sent the damn pictures myself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: He also takes a swipe at the paparazzi, saying, quote, "I abhor what they do." The "Primetime Live" special with Pitt airs tonight on ABC.

BRYANT: Tonight some hot shots of Brad and Angelina are raising eyebrows. The photos were snapped by photographer Steven Klein for a spread in "W" magazine`s new issue. The 60-page photo essay depicts a perfect marriage on the verge of collapse.

Joining us live tonight is "W" magazine`s creative director, Dennis Freedman.

Dennis, thanks for joining us. Sixty pages? How did this happen.

DENNIS FREEDMAN, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, "W" MAGAZINE: Well, actually the story idea came from Brad. He first approached us in March and proposed to do a series of photographs exploring a kind of idealized American family. And he wanted to show both the dark and slight side of this family. And we set the story in the 1960s, the years that Brad was born.

BRYANT: And with the 1960s, Bill, what lengths did you go to? I notice there is something with JFK in there, as well.

FREEDMAN: Yes. I think Brad certainly grew up at a time when our country was going through radical changes, so it was an era that really influenced his life. And he wanted us to explore the kind of myths and illusions that we all had in those years and how, in fact, the veneer cracked as the 60s proceeded.

BRYANT: We just heard a little clip of Brad Pitt talking about how, you know, the paparazzi follows him endlessly. How was it possible that you were able to keep this 60-page photo shoot a secret?

FREEDMAN: Well, that wasn`t hard. I mean, this was a project that was close to all of our hearts. It wasn`t a sensational story. It was a story that we all believed in doing. So it wasn`t about Brad and Angelina. It was about making a kind of small film. And that film was something that we all believed in.

BRYANT: Talk to me about the photo shoot itself. Did they show up with an entourage? What was the whole process like?

FREEDMAN: Well, I can`t tell you how courageous these two actors are. They both showed up alone with no media handlers. There was not one publicist on the set. They did what they wanted to do, and they did what they believed in doing. So this was an extremely professional set without any advisors.

BRYANT: And do you have one favorite shot that you think captures this the most?

FREEDMAN: Well, I think for me there`s a shot people will see, and it`s in a bedroom. And on the television is the moment when John Kennedy was assassinated.

And in this picture, Brad, playing the husband, is actually asleep in his chair. And Angelina, who plays the wife, is holding her child`s clothing right to her breast, and the look on her face is the look of a woman whose hopes and dreams are practically fading from her as the hopes and dreams of the country.

BRYANT: OK. Great. Well, thank you, Dennis Freedman, for joining us.

FREEDMAN: You`re welcome.

BRYANT: For the complete photo spread, you can pick up a copy of "W" magazine, which is on news stands here in New York this Friday and everywhere else June 24.

HAMMER: Well, one Hollywood couple unafraid of publicity: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Tom stole the show last night at the "Batman Begins" premier in Hollywood, and he isn`t even in the movie. He arrived on Katie`s arms. She plays Batman`s love interest. And she was clearly -- he was clearly the star of the evening, as was she.

The A-list cast, Christian Bale, who plays Batman, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman all took a back seat. Katie told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that she couldn`t be happier about her new love.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATIE HOLMES, ACTRESS: He is, he is. And I mean, I`m so lucky. He`s signing autographs right now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How does it feel to have Tom here tonight?

HOLMES: Incredible. I feel so lucky. I`m honored.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you getting married? Have you made plans?

HOLMES: Well, you know, we have to talk about that together first. But thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: "Batman Begins" explores the origins of the Dark Knight. The film explains how Bruce Wayne became Batman, why he wears the bat suit and where he got the cool car. And it lays the groundwork for more Bat flicks down the line. "Batman Begins" will hit theaters on June 15.

BRYANT: The new Coldplay album hit stores today. And an unofficial survey in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff says "X and Y" is A No. 1.

Coming up, the band weighs in on the album, fame and life on the road.

HAMMER: Also another season of "The Sopranos" is now out on DVD. Should you pick it up or forget about it? We`ll find out, coming up on the "Showbiz Guide to New DVDs."

BRYANT: Plus, beyond "The Mod Squad," Peggy Lipton turns another page and puts out a tell-all book. Elvis is in there. So is Paul McCartney. The list does go on. Peggy Lipton is live on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That`s coming up.

HAMMER: Now tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Including "Arrested Development," how many TV series does Jason Bateman have to his credit? Good question. Three, five, eight or 10? What`s the answer? We`re coming straight back to give it to you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Once again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Including "Arrested Development," how many TV series does Jason Bateman have to his credit? Three, five, eight or 10? The answer, D, 10.

BRYANT: It is time for the "Showbiz Guide," where throughout the week we help you decide where to spend your dollars on movies, music, DVD`s and more.

We`re going to check out what`s new on DVD in just a few minutes, but first it`s "New Music Tuesday." The White Stripes drop "Get Behind Me Satan." It`s the Detroit duo`s fifth album, and many critics say it`s also their best.

Shakira is out with a sexy new video, and a Spanish-language album called "Fijacion Oral," which means oral fixation. An English version will be released later this year.

Now, the Black Eyed Peas are back in business with "Monkey Business." The first single, called "Don`t Mess with my Heart," is already No. 5 on the charts.

And Coldplay drops "X and Y." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sat down with front man Chris Martin and lead guitarist Johnny Buckland for a revealing look at the making of the new album.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRYANT (voice-over): They`ve won four Grammys and sold 20 million albums around the world. They`ve been called one of the greatest bands in the world. But the guys in Coldplay have a confidence problem.

CHRIS MARTIN, FRONTMAN: I had a guy stop me on the street purely to tell me how much he hated our band. That`s all he wanted to tell me. Actually, we bought him some champagne, which is a joke.

BRYANT: The band`s third album, "X and Y," hit stores today. It`s one of the most anticipated releases of the year.

JOHNNY BUCKLAND, GUITARIST: It`s about the kind of unquantifiable things in life, you know, the things that you can`t work out what they are, things that you can`t predict.

MARTIN: Things you can`t understand.

BRYANT: "Speed of Sound" is the first single. The band performed it recently at a special concert for AOL Music. Choosing the first single is no easy task.

BUCKLAND: The hardest single to choose is the first one. Because you have to try and -- because it comes out before the album, normally, so you have to try and represent what you`re doing on the album, or think you have to do. You think you have to try and represent what you do.

MARTIN: It can`t possibly represent your -- it`s like -- it`s like on a dating web site, just showing someone your elbow or just your nose, you know.

BRYANT: The band spent a painful 18 months on "X and Y." The guys traveled around writing songs in London, Liverpool, Chicago and New York.

BUCKLAND: We like to move around a little bit, after a few, six weeks or so, we`d get a bit bored of a place and move somewhere else.

BRYANT: Martin is the face of the band. Even more so since he married actress Gwyneth Paltrow in 2003 and had a daughter, Apple, shortly after. There have been paparazzi following their every move, something he wishes he could stop.

MARTIN: I think people`s private lives should just be private. Other people think differently, and they camp outside your house.

The fame thing has gone a bit crazy around the world, and when you`re in the middle of it, also live on the fringe of the middle of it, you understand that it doesn`t really exist. It`s extraordinary. It`s an extraordinary thing. And I`m not sure -- I don`t think it helps us musically.

BRYANT: But these days, Coldplay is using its fame to draw attention to the impact of globalization on developing countries.

MARTIN: This is an equal sign and this is our new way of saying keep going with the fair trade thing. And soon, this will be very famous for being the symbol of fair trade.

BRYANT: Martin may wish he could have an on/off swish for the spotlight. But there are worse things in life than supporting causes, marrying movie stars, and oh, yes, singing in one of the world`s most popular bands.

MARTIN: We have the greatest life in history now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRYANT: If you want to see Coldplay in concert, and I highly recommend that you do, sit tight, because they kick off an extensive U.S. tour in August.

HAMMER: Well, now it`s time for the "Showbiz Guide" on what`s new in DVDs. Joining us live in New York, Neil Rosen, who`s the entertainment critic for the cable news channel, New York One.

Always nice to see you, Neil.

NEIL ROSEN, ENTERTAINMENT CRITIC, NEW YORK ONE: Great to he see you, A.J.

HAMMER: All right. So "The Sopranos" next season, season six. I think it`s going to be four or five years or something like that before...

ROSEN: It`s in March 2006 or something like that.

HAMMER: I know. It`s crazy. And we`re all waiting for it. But season five finally out on DVD, and this had some great episodes in it.

ROSEN: Yes, there really were some great episodes in this season. My -- Adrianna gets whacked, and she won -- Drea de Matteo won an Emmy for that. So did Michael Imperioli. That`s in season five.

They introduced the Steve Buscemi character in that season, and that`s an arc that goes throughout the entire season. That`s pretty good.

Plus there`s another terrific episode where Meadow has a boyfriend, gets a cushy summer job on a construction site and discovers that on the mobsters on the construction site is gay. The guy invites him to a Yankee game. It`s a tremendous episode.

So there`s some highlights of that particular box set. And it`s great. If you`re a fan of the show, it`s great to watch it completely through in a couple days. I like to watch it that way, as opposed to one installment weekly.

HAMMER: Right.

ROSEN: And if you`ve never seen -- if you don`t get HBO, it`s a great collector`s item. I highly recommend that.

HAMMER: Terrific. Well, let`s move on to a movie that`s out on DVD, "Be Cool," of course, which was the sequel to "Get Shorty." Not such a great flick. Didn`t do so well at the box office.

ROSEN: No, that -- I don`t recommend this film to buy it on DVD, to rent it on DVD. It`s terrible. I think "Get Shorty," which, as you said, it`s the sequel to, I think "Get Shorty" is an overrated film. "Be Cool" is even worse than that.

Chili Palmer, the John Travolta character, leaves the music -- leaves the movie business, goes into the music business. And it`s like "American Idol" meets the mob. It`s just horrible.

Uma Thurman is thrown into the movie. She`s kind of lost in that. She did such a great job in the "Kill Bill" movies. Here she`s just kid of wasted. Travolta`s walking through his scenes. Don`t recommend this one at all. Pass on that all across.

HAMMER: OK. Let`s do 10 seconds, then, on "Beyond the Sea," Kevin Spacey`s pet project that didn`t do so well at the box office either, real quickly.

ROSEN: Vanity project from Kevin Spacey. He wrote it. He directed it. He stars it in. Do not recommend this film. To see it in the movie theater, if you`re a fan of Bobby Darrin or if you`re a fan of Kevin Spacey, you might find it interesting. It`s a misguided project, but there are some interesting musical dance numbers. The characters burst into dance numbers, ala 1940s movies, out of nowhere.

HAMMER: Right.

ROSEN: It`s kind of interesting for a $3.50, $2.50 rental.

HAMMER: OK.

ROSEN: But not worth buying.

HAMMER: We`ve got to wrap it up. Neil Rosen from New York One, appreciate you joining us tonight.

BRYANT: Actress, comedian, TV host. Monique has a lot going on. But she`s making time to help cast a new reality show. Monique joins us live to tell us all about it, coming up.

HAMMER: Plus, is Michael Jackson finished? Or is it even possible for him to one day again become the King of Pop? What`s the verdict? We`re going to find out in "Showbiz In Depth," coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRYANT: Tonight, a "Showbiz Sitdown" with Monique. She is the first female host of the syndicated TV show, "Showtime at the Apollo," which is in its 17th year. And she is now working on a new show, as well. Monique is here with us, live in New York.

Thank you and welcome to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

MONIQUE, HOST, "SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO": Thank you, Karyn.

BRYANT: So tell me about this new project that you have. Because we had Kirstie Ally with "Fat Actress." And now you`ve got Monique, "Fat Chance." Is it time for larger women to come into their own?

MONIQUE: It`s so time. It`s -- it`s been long overdue.

You know, and even with "Fat Actress," she`s trying to lose weight.

BRYANT: Right.

MONIQUE: And a lot of times, people may say, "Oh, here we go again."

You know, for me, I teamed up with Just My Size and Oxygen to do the first full figured reality beauty pageant, where we`re saying, you know what? Be big, be beautiful. You are, you can, you will, you should. If you are 220, be 220. If you`re a size 26, be a size 26.

So today was our first day in New York. We did the first casting call. And it was so overwhelming. If you could have seen all of those big pretty women, lined up around Park Avenue, saying, "You know what? It`s our time."

BRYANT: See, now there -- there is something to be said for confidence. And that`s a great thing. But critics might say, you know, Monique, you`re promoting an unhealthy lifestyle, though.

MONIQUE: And you know what I would say with critics -- to critics? Stop it. Because for some reason they believe all big people are unhealthy people. That is so not true. We work out. We exercise. We`re just big people.

If everyone was meant to be a size zero, could you imagine how boring life would be?

BRYANT: Oh, no, certainly. But it`s also, too, when you`re talking about younger kids. I mean, diabetes does come into play. And it`s hard, because it`s a fine line between telling somebody to be happy in their skin and, you know, just wanting to look out for them on the whole, as well.

MONIQUE: Even -- during the show we do a beauty boot camp, where we exercise and we work out. So I don`t promote just be big. Don`t exercise. Just eat, be fat, whatever.

BRYANT: Right.

MONIQUE: No. I work out every day. I tell women, you know what? Be healthy, but love you. Don`t exercise and diet to say, "I want to be a size 2." Exercise, just be healthy. That`s it. I`m a size 22. I`m so OK with that. And I work out every single day.

BRYANT: Well, good. Now what do you think about the Michael Jackson trial? This is certainly, obviously, the buzz story going around. What`s your take on that?

MONIQUE: I hope in my heart that he`s innocent. And I really hope that they acquit him, because the mother`s story goes too many different ways. It goes too many different ways. So I really hope and pray that he is innocent and that they acquit him.

BRYANT: And last question, "Showtime at the Apollo" has been on for 17 years. "American Idol" has been on for four now. Do you think it could last as long? Why is "Showtime" so popular?

MONIQUE: Because of history. "Showtime at the Apollo" is a part of history. That`s it. It`s historic. Every great entertainer has graced that stage, has rubbed that log. And when the producers called me and said, "Monique, I have a short list of one. Would you do it?"

I said, "Baby, I`m here forever. I`ll be there from the next 17 years."

BRYANT: Congratulations.

MONIQUE: Thank you, Karyn.

BRYANT: And casting calls for Monique`s "Fat Chance" are being held in New York City, Atlanta and Los Angeles throughout June 10 to select ten finalists to appear on the show.

HAMMER: Coming up next, can Michael Jackson ever become the King of Pop again?

Plus, you remember her from "The Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks." But, Peggy Lipton`s off-screen life has been just as dramatic. Peggy Lipton`s going to join us live for a "Showbiz Sitdown," coming up.

And, it`s the Oscars of the fashion world. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT puts you on the red carpet and in the front row, on the way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOPHIA CHOI, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, there. I`m Sophia Choi. And here is your "Headline Prime Newsbreak."

A seven-hour freeway chase and standoff in California ended late today with a suspect in custody. Police threw a flash-bang grenade into the suspect`s minivan. When he opened the door, a police dog attacked. The man eventually tumbled out of the van and was arrested. The pursuit began, actually, this morning when the suspect allegedly posed as a delivery man and tried to kidnap a woman.

President Bush is joining British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a plan to eliminate the debt of developing African countries deemed to be on a path to reform. That doesn`t go as for as Blair had hoped. He`s called for the cancellation of all debt in the poor nations of Africa.

Well, the world`s largest auto maker it slashing 25,000 manufacturing jobs in the U.S. by 2008. General Motors says it also will close some plants. It hopes the moves will save $2.5 billion a year.

That`s the news for now. I`m Sophia Choi. Now back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

BRYANT: Tonight, the jury still out on Michael`s future and his music. Can Michael Jackson save his career? We go in-depth with one of the biggest names in the music biz.

HAMMER: And Lipton tees off. She`s got stories about Elvis, Paul McCartney, Frank Sinatra and more. Peggy Lipton, from the `60s show "The Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks," joins us live.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN LITHGOW, ACTOR: Hi, I`m John Lithgow. If it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer.

And as we told you a short time ago, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has confirmed that Anne Bancroft, best known for her starring role in "The Miracle Worker" and Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate" died yesterday of cancer. The Oscar-winning actress who was married to Mel Brooks was 73-years-old.

Joining us on the phone now, Patty Duke, the legendary actress who co- starred with Anne Bancroft in "The Miracle Worker."

Patty, thanks for taking time out with us. And I`m sorry it`s on this occasion.

PATTY DUKE, ACTRESS: Thank you for including me, and I welcome the opportunity to once again let folks know what a magnificent woman this is. Annie and I met 46 years ago when she played Annie Sullivan and I played Helen Keller on stage, on Broadway. And for me, it was a moment in time that was utterly magical and has lasted forever.

HAMMER: What do you remember most about her from back at that time, Patty?

DUKE: Most? You know, it`s funny, because we all think of Anne as the great dramatic actress, the great dame of the theater. But she had a sense of humor that just took you along with her wherever she wanted to go. And I can hear her laughter now as we talk. I was thinking about it while I was waiting for you to come on the line. And I do, I hear her laughter and see that gorgeous smile.

HAMMER: So many people know her and remember her from her role in "The Graduate," yet she always said that she wishes she was better known for her role in "The Miracle Worker." What do you think the legacy Anne Bancroft leaves behind as far as her acting roles really is?

DUKE: I think Annie`s legacy isn`t tied up in any one role. I think it is a legacy that breathes life into the theater and, certainly, into the movies, and that basically speaks to the love in each of us.

HAMMER: Well, Patty, we really appreciate you joining us on this sad occasion tonight. Patty Duke joining us live on the telephone. And once again, Anne Bancroft dead at the age of 73.

BRYANT: As we reported, the jury in the Michael Jackson trial went home for the night just a short time ago. Deliberations will continue again tomorrow, through thick and thin, Jackson has remained an international superstar. Guilty or not guilty, this child molestation trial may end up doing fatal damage to Jackson`s music career.

CNN`s pop culture correspondent Toure talked to one big-time music executive who thinks that, if Jackson were to follow his advice, the King of Pop could be on top again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): His album, "Thriller," is still the planet`s best-selling record ever, even though it`s more than 20 years old. He was the first black artist played on MTV. Can Michael Jackson get back to being a mega-icon, or has he left his career on the courthouse steps?

Some in the record business believe M.J. can be reinvented. Among them, the chairman of Island Def Jam music, L.A. Reid.

L.A. REID, ISLAND DEF JAM MUSIC GROUP CHAIRMAN: I believe Michael can absolutely come back. He can absolutely come back and be phenomenal.

TOURE (voice-over): Reid crafted Mariah Carey`s recent come back. And last year, he helped Outkast and Usher reach new career highs. Reid gave us the strategy he`d employ if Jackson was his artist.

REID: There has been some damage done. That`s the reality of it, you know. I hated saying it. That was painful, but I had to say it.

TOURE (on-screen): So where to begin? Some say he should leave the country. How about that?

REID: Sounds like he`s running and he doesn`t have to. You are Michael Jackson. But understand what that means. That means that you`re a superstar, you`re a legend. I would honestly start with him touring, and getting out, and performing for people, and really reminding people that he`s one of the greats.

TOURE (on-screen): Big arenas or intimate venues?

REID: No, intimate. Keep it small.

TOURE (voice-over): After Jackson finishes his reach-out-to-the- people tour, Reid advises he change his address.

REID: Absolutely move out of Neverland and move to New York City, you know? And start to really feel some of the concrete, feel some of the grind, you know. And I`m not saying become regular, because it`s impossible, and it`s a pipe dream to ever see Michael Jackson just walking up and down the street, but feel it.

Go out to the restaurants, go out and hang, you know? Go to the club and listen to some music. Guess what? Michael is bordering on normal, you know?

TOURE (on-screen): That has to be the headline, "Oh, my God, He`s so Normal."

REID: He`s normal.

TOURE (voice-over): And if Jackson makes a comeback album, this image-maker wants it to be very personal.

REID: I would go emotional. I would not go dancy, dancy, try to be too cool, try to be too young, try to be too hip. I would go emotional and try to touch the heart with music.

TOURE (voice-over): And if Jackson likes Reid`s plan, he`s free to take him up on it.

(on-screen): If he sees this piece, and calls you, "Let`s do a deal," would you sign him?

REID: I would absolutely sign Michael. Every great artist is one great song away from being back.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: A true statement indeed from L.A. Reid. So we may as well talk about. In tonight`s "SHOWBIZ In-Depth" we are talking about Michael Jackson`s career and how or if it can actually be saved.

Joining us here in the studio live, the man who just brought us that report that we all just watched, CNN`s pop culture correspondent Toure. Also joining us, Jenny Eliscu from "Rolling Stone" magazine, and Craig Marks. He`s the editor-in-chief of "Blender" magazine.

And guys, before we get started here, I want to take stock of Michael Jackson`s music career. He is still selling quite a few albums. So let`s take a look at those numbers. He has sold more than 257,000 albums so far this year, according to recent figures from Nielsen Soundscan. Well, last year, Michael Jackson sold more than 911,000 records, down slightly from the previous year, which is when Michael Jackson moved more than a million units.

All told, since 1991, the King of Pop has sold more than 17 million albums, not to mention another 6 million videos and singles. Well, let`s talk about it. Let`s just send it around the room. Can he possibly stage a comeback?

Craig, what do you think?

CRAIG MARKS, "BLENDER" MAGAZINE: Well, he has to be acquitted, obviously. But yes, I think it`s possible. I think the odds are slim, but I think he can do it.

HAMMER: OK.

Jenny, what`s your take?

JENNY ELISCU, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE: I would say no way, Jose.

HAMMER: No matter what the verdict?

ELISCU: I think no matter what the verdict. Unless he waits a good long time for us all to forget and for the specter of the accusations against him to kind of clear, I think, for now, you know, this situation he has found himself in is going to overshadow everything he does.

TOURE: In the center of the record business is people who are under 22, right, like teenagers, college students, maybe even under 25. That group is too young to even remember "Thriller" when Michael Jackson was big. So they never even drank the Kool-Aid of when he was the biggest artist in the world. Now, there is no chance. You`re too far removed.

MARKS: Well, I would argue that, you know, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley were in somewhat similar circumstances. They had no hits. Their careers were over. Both staged comebacks.

Presley did it with a live special on network television that was unprecedented then. Sinatra did it, as the piece before us showed, with a song. He did it first with "My Way," which was written for him by Paul Anka, and then later on with "New York, New York."

And so it is somewhat true, that if you have a song -- I think that Jackson would need a song that would somewhat be autobiographical, that would kind of admit to mistakes in some vague way, but would show that he`s a survivor.

And if he didn`t have a persecution complex, and he aimed not for a teen market -- because I agree that`s impossible -- but for a slightly more sophisticated adult market, with the right producer, and if he was able to kind of humble himself in front of America, I think it`s possible.

HAMMER: Well, let me ask you, Toure, because one of the problems is, regardless of what the verdict is here, there will be a stigma attached. There are people who are going to think he`s a child molester regardless of the outcome.

TOURE: Chris Rock has the perfect line. We love Michael Jackson so much, we forgave the first kid. You know, now here`s another one. And in this trial, you may have learned that there have been several other kids who have had something to say -- whether or not it`s true -- they`ve said, alleged something. I think most Americans believe there is something. So yes, that taint will never go away.

ELISCU: I don`t even think -- it`s not even necessarily that people will view him as a child molester, acquitted or convicted. I think that just he`s at a -- he`s reached a point where his persona is so much larger than any musical contribution he could possible make.

I don`t think it`s conceivable for him to be relevant as an artist, simply as an artist, at this point in his career, because he`s just -- everyone thinks he`s such a freak. Even if you don`t think he`s a bad guy who has done bad things, you think he`s a freak and his music is no longer relevant.

HAMMER: OK. Well, I`ve got to wrap it up with that. But thank you very much, Craig, Jenny, and Toure for chiming in tonight for "SHOWBIZ In- Depth."

And Michael Jackson is the subject of our "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" question of the day. Michael Jackson: Will you still buy his music? You can continue to vote by going to the Web site, CNN.com/SHOWBIZTONIGHT. Got an e-mail to send us? Do it. Showbiztonight@cnn.com is the address. We`re going to share some of what you had to say in about 13 minutes.

BRYANT: From one of today`s it girls to a `60s icon, we`re getting groovy, baby, with "Mod Squad" groovy chick Peggy Lipton. She is live in the "SHOWBIZ Sitdown."

And Madonna`s captivating crowds again, not with her sounds, but with her stories. It`s story-time with Madonna, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: It is time now for another "SHOWBIZ Sitdown," this time with Peggy Lipton. You may know her for her stint on the early-`90s cult favorite "Twin Peaks." But it was during the late 1960s when she rose to it girl superstardom. There`s that music.

She was the undercover cop, Julie Barnes, on "The Mod Squad." And fame led to personal relationships with people like Paul McCartney, Elvis, music producer Quincy Jones, whom she married and was married to for 17 years, I believe that was.

Peggy tells all, the good and the bad, in her brand-new book, "Breathing Out." And she joins us live her on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

Peggy Lipton, it`s nice to see you.

PEGGY LIPTON, ACTRESS: It`s nice to see you, too. Thank you.

HAMMER: And just to give people a little bit of context, because maybe they weren`t around for the "Mod Squad" or paying attention, it was like, in terms of massive success, the "Desperate Housewives" of its day. You know, you were the it girl that keeps popping up of the moment. You were the Lindsay Lohan, the Britney Spears, the Jessica Simpson of the moment. Does that pretty capture the world that was surrounding you?

LIPTON: I think so. Though I wasn`t aware of it as I think these women are now, because they`re constantly seeing themselves, whether it`s magazine or media. I mean, I worked five days a week for five years from morning `til night. So we never really had that outside exposure.

And plus, I never went out, because I was either working or too paranoid to go out. So I just kind of lived, like, a smaller life than, you know, these women live now when they`re so exposed.

HAMMER: Do you see a bit of yourself in them, though, when you`re seeing them in the tabloids? Yes?

LIPTON: Absolutely.

HAMMER: You talk about in the book how the power -- you use the power of your sexuality and beauty to sort of mask whatever insecurities you might have been dealing with. Is that basically true, do you think, of a lot of Hollywood starlets?

LIPTON: I think it`s -- yes, I think it`s harder to not do that, to be really conscious of not doing that as you become, you know, more sort of infamous and you start to grow into your womanhood. I think you have to be very conscientious to not let that happen.

But also, this was the `60s. It was so totally different.

HAMMER: Yes. And you name a lot of names of people who you were involved with in the `60s. So let`s get right to that. Paul McCartney, one of the biggest superstars on the planet at the moment, there were women who would have given their left arm just to meet him. And you were with him in a slightly more intimate way. What was your relationship with Paul McCartney?

LIPTON: Well, I had the hugest crush on him. I was 17-years-old, as did, you know, millions and millions of women, of girls, let`s call ourselves girls.

So I had a crush on him. And I just thought, you know, maybe there is a chance, if I can plot and plan for a couple of years, that I could meet him. And that`s what I did. I hooked with a girlfriend, and we sat, and we plotted it for year of how to meet him. And it happened. And then, over the course of about two or three years, I would see him when he was here for his tours and things like that.

HAMMER: So you dated Paul McCartney?

LIPTON: I dated Paul McCartney.

HAMMER: Right. And did you ever tell him this whole plan that you had, or is he going to read about it in this book?

LIPTON: He`s going to read about it in the book.

(LAUGHTER)

HAMMER: OK, so a few other people get -- well, Elvis, unfortunately can`t read about it. But unlike you pursuing Paul, Elvis was actually pursuing you. Do I have that right?

LIPTON: Yes, a little bit. He got my number from a mutual friend. And he started calling, and I kept saying no, because it was scary. I mean, Elvis was a larger-than-life character.

And I thought, "Oh, we have nothing in common. There`s just no way I could ever even meet him." But he was so persistent, and that voice, and the whole thing. So I finally said yes. And he flew down on his plane, came and picked me up, and we got along right away.

He was a very humorous character. He was a funny guy, yes. He had a great sense of humor.

HAMMER: Well, another guy with a great sense of humor whose name comes up, Sammy Davis, Jr. What happened with him?

LIPTON: Oh, he was one day, and then I realized that it was a bad choice. And I went off with an old boyfriend. But the reason why it was so great when I went away with him for the one day was that`s where I met my future husband.

HAMMER: Well, it`s a fascinating read. And I encourage people to check it out. And we appreciate you coming by SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to talk about it.

LIPTON: Thank you.

HAMMER: Peggy Lipton, thank you very much.

The book, Peggy`s "Breathing Out" is in bookstores now -- Karyn?

Oh, it`s still me. It`s time now to get your laugh on in "Laughter Dark." As we do every night, we bring you the late-night laughs you may have missed. Well, a few days before actor Russell Crowe got himself into a little bit of trouble at a New York City hotel, he appealed on "The Daily Show."

Well, last night, "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart reflected on Russell`s visit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": And we had Russell Crowe on the show Thursday night, as you see here on the picture here.

(LAUGHTER)

He seemed so nice. As you see in the picture, he is very virile. And he wanted to make a phone call and when they wouldn`t let him (INAUDIBLE). You know, I don`t how the Aussies beat up hotel employers for not providing telecommunication service where they`re from, but here in the Big Apple, it`s a knee to the groin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Well, tonight on "The Daily Show," the author of "Everything Bad is Good for You," Steven Johnson.

BRYANT: All right. Well, we mentioned earlier that Madonna has got a book signing going on. And we have got David Haffenreffer live where all action is -- David?

DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN HEADLINE NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Karyn, thank you very much.

And this is Madonna`s fifth book in the child book series that she released. And it`s great to see you tonight. Thanks for being with us.

MADONNA, SINGER: Thank you very much.

HAFFENREFFER: You were over signing and handing out books over at Borders today reading to a bunch of kids. What was that like for you?

MADONNA: It was a challenge, a challenge keeping about 30 8-year-olds transfixed and paying attention. But it was good. It was fun.

HAFFENREFFER: That is your fifth book in this series. And earlier you had said that you had turned to your daughter for some assistance. Did you turn to her for this book, as well, trying out some of the material?

MADONNA: Absolutely. I`ve read all of my books to her while I`ve been writing them. And I continue to write them. And she continues to be my writing partner.

HAFFENREFFER: With the fifth book now out of the way, what is next for you? Back into the studio?

MADONNA: I have a record that I`m almost done with that hopefully will come out before the end of the year. I have a documentary that I made while I was on tour that hopefully will come out soon. And I`ve written more books, a sequel to "The English Roses."

HAFFENREFFER: I heard there is a sequel coming out this next fall, 2006. Is that right?

MADONNA: Yes, absolutely.

HAFFENREFFER: Well, best of luck. And thank you for being with us. Any other feature films, I should ask before I let you go?

MADONNA: No.

HAFFENREFFER: None in the works right now?

MADONNA: No.

HAFFENREFFER: Thank you for being with us. Congratulations.

And that is Madonna for us on the red carpet here as she goes in.

Rosie O`Donnell, right down here to the right, as well, as the fans continue to stream in. Fans of all sorts coming out, Matt Lauer and his wife, Annette, here tonight, as well. Elizabeth Vargas from ABC here, as well.

And we will go now back to you in the studio -- Karyn?

BRYANT: All right. Thanks, very much, David Haffenreffer at Bergdorf Goodman`s in New York City.

Well, there is still time for you to sound off in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Michael Jackson: Will you still buy his music? You can vote at CNN.com/showbiztonight or write us at showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`ll read some of your e-mails next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: From floor 284 of the "Headline Prime" studios in New York City, a beautiful look at a Tuesday night sunset as we get set to wind down the day. You`ve been tuning into all kinds of television programs over the past week, and it is time to find out exactly what you`ve been watching with the final Nielsen ratings just out today for last week`s shows.

So as we do every Tuesday, let`s take a look at the networks` top five, your first look. "CSI" at the top of the list. It was the top-rated show for the week, followed by the new show, "Dancing with the Stars." Very well. "CSI: Miami" in third place. "Without a Trace" was number four. And it was followed by "Two-and-a-Half Men" at five.

BRYANT: Throughout the show, we`ve been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. And it is, Michael Jackson: Will you still buy his music?

Let`s take a look at how the vote is going so far. Twenty-four percent of you say yes, you will still buy his music, 76 percent of you say you will not. And you`ve also been sending e-mails our way.

Deedee from Indiana writes, "Of course, I`ll buy his music. I`ve been supporting him for a lifetime. And now that we`re in verdict watch, even more so."

But Nathaniel from Kentucky writes, "I never did buy Michael Jackson`s music. He was always too strange."

Now, remember, you can continue to vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight.

HAMMER: We`ve got a jam-packed show tomorrow. Time to find out what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Wednesday night.

BRYANT: Of course, that means we must invoke the great Marquee Guy.

MARQUEE GUY: Tomorrow, we`re getting ourselves into a "Harry situation," Harry Connick, Jr., the "Will and Grace" divorcee has got himself a graceful new album with Branford Marsalis. Harry Connick, Jr., tickling the ivories on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

Also tomorrow, it`s fashion`s biggest night of the year. And we`re checking in with a Czech beauty, "Czech mate," supermodel Karolina Kurkova. Danger curves ahead with Kurkova, tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

This is the Marquee Guy, and Karolina, I`ve got "Carolina on my Mind."

HAMMER: Thanks very much, Marquee Guy. The check`s in the mail.

BRYANT: Incredible. Incredible. You get your Coldplay record today?

HAMMER: Got it today.

BRYANT: All right. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Karyn Bryant.

HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN HEADLINE NEWS.

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