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Showbiz Tonight
Tom Cruise Squirted by Prankster; Box Office Numbers Low Compared to Year Ago; Patti LaBelle Dishes on Her New CD; A Law Regulating the Paparazzi?; Interview with First Female Winner of "The Apprentice";
Aired June 20, 2005 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KARYN BRYANT, CO-HOST: A record at the box office, so why is no one celebrating?
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: And Kyra Sedgwick seals the deal. I`m A.J. Hammer.
BRYANT: And I`m Karyn Bryant. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Tonight, war of the words.
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: You`re a jerk. You`re a jerk. A jerk.
HAMMER: Tom Cruise got so upset at the "War of the Worlds" premiere, that he had to throw in the towel. What happened? We`ll show you.
BRYANT: Also, "Inside the Paparazzi," our special weeklong series. Who they are, what they do, why stars can`t live with them, or without them. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the only ones allowed to see their inner workings.
Tonight, have they gone too far? Should they be behind bars?
HAMMER: And LaBelle`s still ringing up hits. Patti LaBelle, the lady behind Lady Marmalade, joins us live. A new album, this time with Elton John.
JOHN LEGEND, MUSICIAN: Hey, I`m John Legend, and if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, and you`re at the top of the show.
BRYANT: I`m Karyn Bryant. You`re watching TV`s only live nightly entertainment news program.
HAMMER: Well, it`s being called the squirt heard `round the world. Tonight, everyone`s talking about the wet welcome Tom Cruise got in London as he was greeting fans.
BRYANT: Well, it is a wild story. For Cruise, it`s actually now even a publicity crisis. It`s even a police matter.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s David Haffenreffer is here with more -- David.
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Everybody`s talking about this today. Tom Cruise`s wild European vacation continued with a squirt gun incident in London. His on-camera run-in with a prankster has put Cruise back in a familiar spot, the international headlines.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAFFENREFFER (voice-over): One minute, Tom Cruise is happily posing for pictures with fans at the London premiere of "War of the Worlds," his upcoming movie about an alien attack. But one squirt gun attack later, a different Tom Cruise is unleashed.
CRUISE: You`re a jerk.
HAFFENREFFER: Tom Cruise went off on a fake reporter for a new British prank show, after the reporter allegedly doused the movie star with a squirt gun disguised as a microphone. The dripping wet Cruise was steaming mad.
CRUISE: What`s so funny about that? That`s ridiculous. Do you like making less of people, is that it? Hey, hey, no, no, no, don`t run away. That is incredibly rude. I`m here giving you an interview, and answering your questions and you do something really nasty. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
HAFFENREFFER: The fake reporter and his three camera crew members didn`t leave laughing. They were arrested and may be charged with assault.
It turns out a crew for the same show pulled the same stunt on Sharon Osbourne last month. She responded by grabbing a bucket of water and going after the squirters.
Today, Osbourne gave Cruise props for his more measured response.
SHARON OSBOURNE, "THE OSBOURNES": When I saw Tom Cruise last night, who took it in such a dignified manner, but he was very strong with the way he dealt with him, and I thought "You go, Tom!"
HAFFENREFFER: And today, the ladies on "The View" gave Cruise some cool points for keeping his cool.
STAR JONES, "THE VIEW": If it had been Russell Crowe, he would have punched him in the face.
HAFFENREFFER: Even though Cruise was calm under fire, his promotional tour for "War of the Worlds" has been anything but. Whether he was jumping on the sofa on "The Oprah Winfrey Show", or announcing his engagement to Katie Holmes in Paris...
CRUISE: Yes, I proposed to Kate last night.
HAFFENREFFER: Cruise, his antics and his new lady have been getting more attention than the movie he`s promoting. And how`s that sitting with "War of the Worlds" director Steven Spielberg?
This week`s "Newsweek magazine" features an interview with Spielberg, who talked about Cruise`s exuberant appearance on "Oprah."
SEAN SMITH, "NEWSWEEK": He wasn`t upset at Tom. He was upset the way the media had sort of taken off with the story, and taking something that was basically from his standpoint, from Spielberg`s standpoint, Tom just being his usual happy self and making it into a big deal.
HAFFENREFFER: If Cruise and company are worried that extra-curricular publicity will hurt their movie, Cruise`s fiancee may give them some reassurance.
"Batman Begins," which co-stars Katie Holmes, has grossed more than $70 million in the U.S., after less than a week in theaters. And there`s already talk of a sequel.
So maybe the "Cruise versus the aliens" movie won`t be diminished by the "Cruise versus the squirt gunner" story. Still, "War of the Worlds" doesn`t open in the U.S. until June 29th and who knows what else Cruise will get into before then.
CRUISE: You`re a jerk.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAFFENREFFER: We`ll just keep waiting.
The British TV show the pranksters were working for is not on the air yet. And the channel that will air the show says now it has not yet decided whether the Cruise prank will run. The channel has apologized to Cruise. It says the stunt was, quote, "intended to be light-hearted rather than malicious."
Karyn, back to you.
BRYANT: Thank you, David.
Another star run-in. But this one was definitely no joke. It sent Leonardo DiCaprio to the hospital.
"The Aviator" star was leaving a party at the Hollywood home of Rick Salomon Friday morning when a woman attacked him with a glass object. According to DiCaprio`s publicist, the woman was trespassing and was looking for an ex-boyfriend.
People.com says that the object was a beer bottle and that DiCaprio required 12 stitches near his ear.
You may remember the party host, Rick Salomon. He is Paris Hilton`s ex, the one you may have seen in her notorious sex video.
HAMMER: Tonight, photographers under fire. A SHOWBIZ TONIGHT week- long series begins tonight: "Inside the Paparazzi." And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is the only place you`ll find an in-depth look at the story the whole celebrity world is talking about.
It`s a big-bucks, high stakes business, one that has the photographers in a love-hate relationship with the stars. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson is live from Hollywood to kick it off -- Brooke.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A.J., there`s a huge cloud of controversy surrounding the paparazzi and how they go about getting all of those celebrity photos you see in the magazines.
In part one of our "Inside the Paparazzi" series, we see why their sometimes aggressive ways are causing celebrities and California law enforcement official to ask, "Should there be a law?"
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s good for 20 years.
ANDERSON (voice-over): It`s just another night for paparazzo E.L. Woody. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT rode along with him on the hunt, searching for the most important thing in his world: that one snapshot of a celebrity that will command big bucks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lindsay!
E.L. WOODY, PAPARAZZI PHOTOGRAPHER: We`re the most efficient advertising tool for celebrities in the world. We get to a thousand magazines instantly. Overnight you can be a star. We can make someone a totally recognizable person in one night.
ANDERSON: But Lindsay Lohan has a different take on paparazzi. She said one rammed his van into her Mercedes last month. Other paparazzi were on the scene immediately to snap photos of a visibly upset Lohan.
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: It sounds bad, and I hope it doesn`t happen again. But I feel good that it happened to me when I wasn`t with my family, and I`m thankful that my friend is OK. And I can now make a stand, and I can say something for any other actors who might have their kids in the car.
ANDERSON: It`s the latest incident with Lohan that has police thinking hard about cracking down on the paparazzi by slapping them with a conspiracy charge. Conspiracy, because as the LAPD tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, they`re noticing a new trend with paparazzi: traveling in a group and working with agencies.
LT. PAUL VERNON, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT: Anytime someone runs -- rams somebody with a car, that is an overt act. If that overt act was preceded by planning, by two or more people, there`s actually a conspiracy involved in committing that act.
ANDERSON: A conspiracy charge could put the paparazzi and the agencies they work for behind bars. But not everyone agrees. Celebrity attorney Harlan Braun told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT a conspiracy charge is a bad idea.
HARLAN BRAUN, CELEBRITY ATTORNEY: Celebrities make millions of dollars becoming famous and being of interest to the public, and for them to go out in the public, they should expect the people to be interested in this. And paparazzi are just making a living by taking people -- pictures of people in the public.
ANDERSON: Braun says you don`t need conspiracy charges, because if a paparazzo breaks the law, they`re charged anyway.
It happened when Nicole Kidman pressed charges against one paparazzo after finding an electronic bug in her Australia home. It`s just one incident in what appears to be Nicole`s growing annoyance with the paparazzi.
NICOLE KIDMAN, ACTRESS: I`m sorry, they`re so distracting me. Shush! Too loud!
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there when she shushed paparazzi while trying to talk to one of our producers. And at last week`s "Bewitched" premiere in New York, she had words with a photographer after he allegedly heckled her.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has been asking the stars themselves what they think of the paparazzi. The results were mixed.
RICHARD BELZER, ACTOR: I`ve been very lucky. The press has been very good to me, so I`ve -- I`ve never had a bad experience.
COLIN QUINN, COMEDIAN: I`m sick of this paparazzi nonsense. They ignore me. I`m like one of them.
MARIO VAZQUEZ, FORMER "AMERICAN IDOL" CONTESTANT: There`s good paparazzi and I think there`s some, you know, some, like, cut throat. You`ve got to be careful. That`s the chance -- the chance you take in being in the limelight.
BAM MARGERA, MTV`S "VIVA LA BAM" ACTOR: I had my roommate in the Dream Cellar (ph) throw rocks at "Star" magazine out of my house because they`re beeping at 8:00 in the morning. Like, "Beep, beep, beep."
ANDERSON: And E.L. Woody says celebrities wouldn`t be anywhere without the paparazzi.
WOODY: We think they protest too much. You know, "No, no photos. No photos." Give me a break. If it wasn`t for us, they would be back home selling stuff at McDonald`s.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And A.J., tomorrow we`ll ride along with paparazzo E.L. Woody. We`ll hang out with him as he stakes out Lindsay Lohan, Kirsten Dunst and Ashleigh Simpson in Hollywood. It`s part two of our "Inside the Paparazzi" series: "A Night in the Life," tomorrow.
Back to you.
HAMMER: All right. It`s going to be interesting to go behind the scenes, Brooke. Thanks very much, live in Hollywood.
And coming up in our "Showbiz Showdown," we`re going to debate part one of our series. Should there be a conspiracy law against the aggressive paparazzi? That`s going to happen tonight at 32 minutes past the hour.
BRYANT: The paparazzi are no strangers to the Jackson family. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is the only place where you`ll see Michael Jackson`s sister speaking out for the very first time since her brother`s acquittal.
Saturday night, while accepting a humanitarian award at the Human Rights Campaign in Beverly Hills, Janet talked about the last few weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANET JACKSON, MUSICIAN: What I`ve learned in this recent -- these recent months is that there is life at the end of the tunnel. And it`s real. It`s a beautiful light that both comforts our minds and strengthens our souls. Tonight my heart is filled with gratitude for that light. I`m so grateful that prayers are answered, that faith is rewarded and that tolerance is celebrated as a virtue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRYANT: Janet added her family was exhausted from the trial, and wouldn`t take part in the ribbing aimed at her family by the emcee of the event, Alan Cumming, saying she`ll leave all the joking to the late-night comedians.
This was some weekend for the Jackson family. On Friday on the Chumash Casino, near Michael`s Neverland, Casino -- Neverland, California, home, some of the Jackson family turned out for a celebration party. Now, Michael was not there, but one juror was, and that raised some eyebrows.
HAMMER: No party at the box office, even though it was a record weekend. We`re going to tell you why there`s no joy in Hollywood, coming up.
BRYANT: Also, she`s been doing fine on her own, but she`s got Mary J. Blige and Elton John helping her out on her new CD. Patti LaBelle joins us live.
HAMMER: And, why don`t Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon find themselves all over the tabloids? We`ll ask her.
BRYANT: Now, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Which show has "Late Night" host Conan O`Brien not written for? "Saturday Night Live," "Not Necessarily the News," "The Simpsons" or "Futurama"? We`ll be right back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRYANT: Welcome back. Once again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Which show has "Late Night" host Conan O`Brien not written for? "Saturday Night Live," "Not Necessarily the News," "The Simpsons" or "Futurama"? Well, Conan wrote for Matt Groening`s "The Simpsons" but not his other animated series, so the answer is D, "Futurama."
HAMMER: From the future to a beginning, and a pretty good one at that. Final weekend box office numbers just out this afternoon. And it was "Batman Begins" coming out on top, pulling in more than $48.5 million. The caped crusader batted Brad and Angelina, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," down to second place. "Madagascar" came in third. "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" still hanging in there, but slipped to No. 4. And "The Longest Yard" rounds out the top five.
BRYANT: "Batman" may have topped the weekend`s box office, but Hollywood needs more than a superhero to come to its rescue. Tonight in "The Show`s Biz," why the box office blahs just won`t go away.
This weekend, the top 12 films grossed $129.5 million, but overall this is behind last year`s pace for the 17th straight weekend. This ties the record set in 1985.
Now joining us live from Hollywood to talk about the box office blahs, Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, which tracks these figures.
Paul, thanks for joining us.
PAUL DERGARABEDIAN, PRESIDENT, EXHIBITOR RELATIONS: Great to be here.
BRYANT: Great. Now in U.S. -- there was a "USA Today"/CNN/Gallup poll that we did, and 33 percent of the people polled say the main reason they do not go to the movies is because they prefer to watch DVDs at home. What do you think about that?
DERGARABEDIAN: Well, I think that`s a very interesting result of that poll. I mean, I think people have become so accustomed to getting their entertainment on demand when they want it, where they want it, and it`s becoming increasingly challenging to get people out of their homes and into the movie theaters.
However, I would argue that they want those DVDs, I think, because those films have played in a movie theater. If those films go straight to DVD, I don`t think they have the same prestige or the same want-to-see factor as films that have already played in a movie theater. But it is very interesting that people feel that way.
BRYANT: Well, you know, there is talk, too, of releasing films on DVD and in the theaters at the same time. Do you think this would ever happen?
DERGARABEDIAN: I don`t know. I think, obviously, exhibitors and theater owners would not like that idea. They`re already, you know, not happy with the shrinking video window, meaning the time from when a film is in the theaters to the time you can get it on DVD.
And again, it`s really up to the consumer as to how they choose to get their entertainment. And again, with the choices that people have -- DVD, video on demand, satellite -- we have just become a culture where the technology and the culture have converged in such a way that people want things now. They want it when they want it.
BRYANT: What...
DERGARABEDIAN: But again, there`s still no substitute for seeing a movie on the big screen, I think.
BRYANT: Well, what about this, though, Paul? For $15, the price of basically one and a half tickets here in New York City, I can buy the movie, you know?
DERGARABEDIAN: Yes.
BRYANT: The rest of the CNN/Gallup poll, the "USA Today" poll, if you -- the question is, "Would you be more likely to go to the movie theaters if it cost less? Forty-three percent said, "Yes, I`d be much more likely to go." So obviously, ticket price has a lot to do with the slump.
DERGARABEDIAN: I think you`re right. I think ticket price is an issue. And of course, if people are not satisfied with the movie, then of course, they always feel that they paid too much. If you love the movie, ten bucks is not that bad.
But I think we have to realize that these are complementary technologies. I would argue, too, that people who love going to the movies are also big DVD buyers, and people who buy DVDs also like to go to the movies. So I think these are just options that people have.
BRYANT: OK.
DERGARABEDIAN: And I think people always go to the movies.
BRYANT: All right. Well, thanks for your insight, Paul. Paul Dergarabedian of Exhibitor Relations, live in Hollywood. Thanks for joining us.
And now we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Going to the movies, is it worth the money? You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or if you want to tell us more, e-mail us at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`ll share some of what you had to say later in the show.
HAMMER: Tonight in our first "Showbiz Sitdown," Grammy Award winner Patti LaBelle is here. She has been singing her heart out for more than 40 years, bringing us hit songs like, of course, "Lady Marmalade" and "On My Own."
And now, she`s out with a brand new album. This is it. It`s called "Patti LaBelle: Classic Moments." It hits stores tomorrow. Patti LaBelle joining us live here in New York City at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
It`s so good to see you.
PATTI LABELLE, SINGER: Thank you. Nice seeing you.
HAMMER: You always look amazing.
LABELLE: I try. Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: You have been turning out the hits now for -- well, since 1962 when your very first song hit the charts on the pop charts.
LABELLE: Yes.
HAMMER: And it was so great cranking up this album today. And a lot of people don`t realize that you had a very famous piano player working with you in the very early days.
LABELLE: I`m trying to remember how many years ago. His name was -- well, Reginald Dwight.
HAMMER: Yes.
LABELLE: Elton John was my piano player many, many, many years ago. And we got together for this, my new CD.
And he was playing "Your Song" with me. That`s the song we did on my new CD. And I was crying. And he ended up giving me the diamond ring, because he said that I taught him so much. Not this one.
HAMMER: I was going to say. Is it one of these pieces?
LABELLE: No, I left it -- it`s at my home. Because he said that he learned so much from me as being my backup piano man.
HAMMER: So it`s like a real, full circle? The circle of life, I suppose.
LABELLE: Oh, honey, we cried so much on that recording.
HAMMER: That`s so sweet.
LABELLE: It was like the circle of life. He was meant to come back to Patti.
HAMMER: And it`s a terrific version of the song that appears on the album.
LABELLE: Well, thank you.
HAMMER: And from songs you covered of other people`s to people have been covering your songs for your entire career.
LABELLE: I know. That`s such a blessing. I was hoping that everybody who listens to this CD and hear, maybe, "Ain`t No Way," or Earth, Wind and Fire remakes, I`m not trying to sound like them.
HAMMER: Right. You`re doing -- it`s your own take.
LABELLE: I`m just trying to do a Patti LaBelle spin on these songs that I`ve loved for so many years.
HAMMER: If you ask any young artist today in the R&B world or in various genres throughout music, you know, who their inspirations are, almost without fail your name comes up.
LABELLE: Really?
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, we`ve talked to them all, and they always say it was Patti LaBelle.
LABELLE: I am not mad at that.
HAMMER: No, not at all.
LABELLE: That`s a blessing.
HAMMER: What`s your take on the state of the pop world? Because from your very earliest beginnings, you were always the real deal. You sang and worked your heart out. And sometimes these young artists, the biggest complaints is they`re having careers handed to them. And...
LABELLE: They`re having careers handed to them, and backstage they have tapes playing for them as they lip sync.
You know, you have to come out real and live and for the people. I mean, who wants to buy a ticket to somebody up there miming?
HAMMER: Yes.
LABELLE: I sure don`t.
HAMMER: We`ve seen that happen.
LABELLE: We`ve seen it happen and fail. And so many of these young artists, God bless them, you know, I pray that they will all change their minds and try to do it the right way. The right way is standing up there with the microphone, with an eight-piece band and four background singers and singing, or a capella.
HAMMER: Yes.
LABELLE: No music. Sing.
HAMMER: If you can do it a capella, that proves to the world.
LABELLE: Girl, sing. That`s just it. Then you can be called a diva.
HAMMER: I want to ask you about your empire. Because I think a lot of people don`t realize there`s this whole Patti LaBelle empire out there. Let`s run it down. We`ve got the TV show. We`ve got the music, of course; books, jewelry, perfume, clothing, recipes.
LABELLE: We have so many things. And everything that I have is a blessing.
HAMMER: And I talked to J. Lo recently about her. She said the most important thing about having so many things going on is paying close attention to every one. If you could just have one of the jobs, which would it be? Running one of those organizations?
LABELLE: I wouldn`t be in a business organization. It`s being a mother. That`s the best thing in my life, being the mother to my five children. I have four adopted and one natural son. That`s the best job ever.
But the second thing is the singing. The other things, they`re like icing on the cake. They`re wonderful. And at 61, I`m blessed to have an album coming out tomorrow. You understand what I`m saying?
HAMMER: Yes, I do. I do.
LABELLE: So, thank you for the music.
HAMMER: And looking as good as you are. And thank you so much for the music...
LABELLE: Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: ... and everything you`ve done over the years. Patti LaBelle, always a pleasure to see you.
LABELLE: Thank you. Well, thank you.
HAMMER: Your CD, as we talked about, is in stores tomorrow. It`s called "Classic Moments" -- Karyn.
BRYANT: Still to come, our weeklong series, "Inside the Paparazzi." Tonight, only SHOWBIZ TONIGHT shows you how these photographers could soon land behind bars.
HAMMER: Plus, she heard, "You`re hired," and now we hear how the Donald`s newest apprentice is doing. It`s Kendra`s very first day on the job, and she`s going to stop by for a little after-work chat, coming up live.
BRYANT: And we parked ourselves in New York for a "Legendary" concert, and that`s next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRYANT: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there Saturday night as R&B singer John Legend gave a free concert in New York`s Central Park. It was part of the summer stage series that`s been bringing New Yorkers free music for the past 20 years.
John played nearly all the songs off his platinum selling album "Get Lifted," a must-have, as far as I`m concerned. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with him right before he hit the stage and told us how excited he was to be here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEGEND: I feel like I finally made it. This is like the concert, the park to do it in, the city to do it in. It just feels good to be here. I`m excited. I know there`s so much energy in this place today. I know so many people are crammed in here. And I get excited. It`s like, hey, let`s do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRYANT: About 5,000 people packed Central Park for the show.
HAMMER: Well, do the White Stripes earn their stripes? Is Backstreet back all right? And if a member of Skynyrd and 38 Special get together, is it special? It`s the "Showbiz Guide to New Music," coming up.
And "Inside the Paparazzi," our special SHOWBIZ TONIGHT series that takes you inside the lives of these celebrity photographers. Tonight we`ll see why they might be behind bars.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Hello. I`m Sophia Choi, and here is your Headline Prime News break.
Well it seems Americans are beginning to stray when it comes to staying the course with the war in Iraq. A new CNN/USA Today Gallup poll finds nearly 6 in 10 Americans now oppose the war why Iraq. That`s up from 47 percent in March.
The Democratic filibuster on John Bolton continues. Senate Republicans fell six votes short in their effort to move forward to vote on President Bush`s U.N. ambassador nominee. This leaves the door open for the president to give Bolton a temporary recess appointment.
Mississippi jurors deciding the fate of 80-year-old Edgar Ray Killen say they`re deadlocked. Deliberations just began today in the former Klansman murder trial. Killen is charged in the 1964 killing of three civil rights workers. The judge ordered the jury to continue deliberations tomorrow, the 41st anniversary of the killings.
Well that`s the news for now. I`m Sophia Choi. Now back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BRYANT: In focus with celebrity photographers, the stakeouts, the chases, the close calls. Tonight in our inside the paparazzi series, should there be a law to control their behavior.
HAMMER: Plus, opening up with the star of the closer. Kyra Sedgwick joins us in another SHOWBIZ hit down.
ARTHUR KANDELL (ph): Hi I`m Arthur Kandell (INAUDIBLE) if it happened today, it will be on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer.
BRYANT: I`m Karyn Bryant. Here tonight hot headlines.
HAMMER: A man pretending to be a reporter could be charged with assault, after he squirted water in Tom Cruise`s face at the wonder premiere of "War of the World." The fake reporter was arrested. He works for a British comedy show. Cruise was visibly annoyed and told him, "you`re a jerk."
BRYANT: Cruise`s new fianc'e Katie Holmes` new movie came in first at the weekend box office. "Batman Begins" earned nearly $47 million over the weekend. But that wasn`t enough to pull the box office out of its slump. Overall, movie revenues were down for the 17th week in a row.
And that brings us to the SHOWBIZ question of the day. Going to the movies, is it worth the money? You can keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight and send your emails to us at SHOWBIZTONIGHT@cnn.com. We`ll put some of those e-mails on the air at 54 past the hour.
HAMMER: Well it is time now for the SHOWBIZ showdown. All this week SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is taking you inside the paparazzi. Tonight we`re asking should there be a law to control them. Now you may remember just a few weeks ago teen star Lindsay Lohan called police after a photographer allegedly crashed into her car. Well, now some lawmakers and celebrities are calling for a law to rein in the paparazzi. Joining us live from Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Lenny Levine and from Burbank, California, celebrity justices Pat Lalama. Pat, I want to start with you. Why should this law exist?
PAT LALAMA, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE:" Well, you know, that`s the question everyone`s debating. I`m not ever an apologist for celebrities. Being in court all the time, I see that they can sometimes be coddled. But I have to tell you some of the behavior that I`ve witnessed in the last year or so it`s practically terrorist tactics. I can understand where a lot of these people are not just bellyaching. They`re afraid for their life and perhaps something needs to be done. I`m sure Lenny will say that there are already laws on the books that address that.
HAMMER: It`s getting scary out there, Lenny. Why isn`t this a good idea putting this law into effect?
LENNY LEVINE, ATTORNEY: Well exactly what Pat said, there are plenty of laws in the books already that deal with individuals that commit assault, assault with a vehicle, child endangering, blocking someone egress or access. And the last thing we need is more law that treats victims differently. Right now if you`re the victim is black or white or Christian or Jew or gay or straight, the penalty is different depending on their sexual orientation or religion or color, even though the assault may be exactly the same.
Now you want to treat celebrities different and make them a protected class? The next thing you`ll find out is that everybody will be part of a protected class, except, attorneys, of course, because nobody wants to protect us.
HAMMER: What about that Pat? The idea that this is really giving special privileges and protection.
LALAMA: Well, you know, I can see it both ways. Gee, I can`t come up with an argument. That`s very rare, I know. I`m just inclined to believe that I do think that they belly ache. When you choose to be a celebrity, it`s tough. What I don`t like is the following. It seems to me that no longer are the paparazzi happy with the red carpet shot, or the -- they come out of a Hollywood party and say their hellos and they get their shot. Now they want the celebrity doing something illicit.
They jump out of the bushes, they want them looking awful, acting awful. I know of one case where a supermodel got into her building in New York into the elevator with her infant child, only to have a paparazzi ambush her in the elevator, start screaming profanities at her presumably to unravel her to get her picture. Lenny, come on, is that right?
LEVINE: Look, what they want to do by the new laws is not punish the paparazzi, they can be punished right now. They want to go after producers of TV shows like "Access Hollywood" and "Entertainment Tonight" or magazines such as "Us" or "People." That`s what they want with these new laws, as if they are encouraging the paparazzi. The next thing you know, Pat, they`ll be coming after you because "Celebrity Justice" encourages celebrities to break the law.
HAMMER: What about that, Pat? Because certainly the magazines are really, and some shows are what`s primarily fostering the market, which is putting this premium on these pictures that people are going crazy to get.
LALAMA: All right. Well, look, you can dissect this any way you`d like, the bottom line is, there are ethics and there are not ethics. One of the things we`re forgetting is that in this day in age a lot of so-called stringer photographers will knock on the door of, let`s say magazine exhibition and say, I`ve got a camera and I`m willing to do just about anything to get you this picture. That magazine will give them a credential and send them out to a location where they will be among the pack, presumably legit, and they`re not. They haven`t got a single concern with following any kind of sense of order.
LEVINE: Then you know what? Then go after them with the laws we have today. The problem is celebrities depend in large part on the same paparazzi to give them fame. To get their names or pictures in magazines, or on television. So you can`t have it both ways. If you violate the law, personal responsibility, go after the paparazzi. Don`t go after the people who publish their photographs. And that`s what they`re talking about with these new laws.
HAMMER: All right Lenny, thank you very much. I`m going to have to wrap it up with that. Lenny Levine and Pat Lalama, thank you both for joining us.
LALAMA: Your welcome.
HAMMER: We`ll continue to unfold and we`ll watch more throughout the week in our special series. Tomorrow night, our series inside the paparazzi does continue. It`s going to be a really interesting ride. We`ll ride along with the self-proclaimed king of the paparazzi, E.L. Woody. His images of stars like Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and Angelina Jolie appear in 100`s of magazines around the world every single day. And he shared some of his secrets with SHOWBIX TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
E.L. WOODY, STAR PHOTOGRAPHER: You really have to be economical in how you use your time in this business. You can waste four or five hours a day easily doing any number of things and not get a picture. The real secret is to go out for 20 minutes and get the right picture, an exclusive photograph of a desirable star doing something that will sell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Fasten your seat belts, more secrets and more stories from E.L. Woody tomorrow night in our series "Inside the Paparazzi."
BRYANT: Time now for another SHOWBIZ sit down. This time with Kyra Sedgwick. I sat down with Kyra to talk to her about starring in the new TV show "The Closer." It is a hit and she is playing a CIA trained police detective in Los Angeles.
Thank you for joining us.
KYRA SEDGWICK, ACTRESS: Thank you.
BRYANT: You know you have done everything from as you mentioned, independent films, but you`ve also been in blockbusters, a huge hit. Talk to me about this transition into a weekly television series.
SEDGWICK: You know, I wasn`t looking to do a television series, but it was a really amazing character. I loved; she is this CIA trained integrator from Atlanta, Georgia. So I mean already, there`s something interesting going on there, and she`s put into this high-powered job with the LAPD, stepping on a lot of guys` toes. She`s very much a fish out of water and she`s trying to manage a personal life as well as be good at her job. But there are a lot of people, you know, setting up roadblocks for her.
BRYANT: Were you one of those people who were fascinated by crime shows yourself, too?
SEDGWICK: You know, no. That`s crazy, isn`t it? Honestly, what always interested me in any kind of cop show, or thriller, or mystery that I watched on TV, or on film, is the character. That`s always been what`s drawn me in. I`m not a detail-oriented person. And I`m not really that bright. And, you know --
BRYANT: So it`s not about the plotting of the case for you necessarily.
SEDGWICK: It`s not. To me, it`s about seeing her in all these situations. And also, you go home with her, you see her at home, you see her you know, indulging in, you know a lot of things that maybe she shouldn`t be indulging in. You know, she`s struggling. She`s like a struggling woman, a human being, and I can relate to that.
BRYANT: Now speaking of going home, everybody knows you`re married to Kevin Bacon. And I have to say Kyra you have been disappointing us because all of us who love those dishy gossip stories every now and then that we usually don`t admit to, you guys never give us anything. You and Kevin are normal --
SEDGWICK: Boring. Boring.
BRYANT: What`s the deal with that? And what is your take on, you know, the Tom Cruise`s of the world who are dancing on couches declaring their love.
SEDGWICK: You know I tell you; I`ve been working so hard, that I have been completely out of the media blitz of everything.
BRYANT: Right.
SEDGWICK: So I`m just sort of getting a taste of it as I come back. Honestly, I don`t know. We`ve been married a long time. We`re kind of low and steady. It`s kind of boring, you know. There`s just not that interest. It`s more intriguing to see, you know, to see mystery and, you know, upset and, you know, not steady waters. It`s just less interesting.
BRYANT: The debut of "The Closer" last week drew in more than 7 million viewers, making it one of the most watched cable telecast of the year. You can catch Kyra in action in "The Closer" tonight on TNT.
HAMMER: Well the White Stripes are back with a brand new record. Are the fans getting behind them? We`ll find out coming up in "People" magazine`s pick and pans.
BRYANT: Plus Donald Trump`s newly hired apprentice is here live to tell us about her first day on the job. Kendra Todd in a SHOWBIZ sit down coming up.
RICHARD BELZER, "LAW & ORDER:" Tom Park (INAUDIBLE) because it is irreverent and brilliant and much needed raunchiness in our culture. Jon Stewart because it is just a brilliant takes on the news that we need. And Russell Beltman, because the best-written sitcom on TV right now.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Time for the SHOWBIZ guide where throughout the week we help you decide where to spend your dollars on movies, music, DVDs and more and tonight it is "People" picks and pans for new music. Joining us from "People" magazine, senior editor Julie Dan live in New York City. Ok Julie let`s get right into this White Stripe CD. Jack and Meg are back. Jack of course now a married man. Not one person I know who has listened to this CD doesn`t love it.
JULIE DAN, SENIOR EDITOR, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: It`s great. Two years ago when they came out with their big album, it totally got them into the mainstream. They had a hit song. They had -- they won a Grammy. The album went platinum. This album they wanted to go back to their Indy roots. I mean it totally sounds like an album that they could have made in their garage. It`s a little bit of Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin; it is a little bit of county and blue grass. It`s a really great album. It`s "People`s" the pick this week.
HAMMER: All right well, then let`s move on to something completely different. Backstreet Boys, they are back this is their first new studio album in just about five years. And I know, of course, they`re trying to shed that boy band image.
DAN: And you know they`re men now. Most of them are in their 30s. And some of the pop, you know, doesn`t really work for them. It`s almost like they should have saved that for Jesse McCartney`s of the world. They`ve really grown up. And there`s not really an edge. The best thing you can say about this album is their first single incomplete was sang by Anthony Federoff on "American Idol." which isn`t saying much, unfortunately.
HAMMER: Let`s move on to our third pick for tonight, which is Van Zandt. Anybody who knows southern rock knows the Van Zandt name. Of course, Johnny and Donny Johnny from 38 Special. Donny from Lynyrd Skynyd. And this is a country album that went to number two on the country chart.
DAN: Yes, you know great southern rock. They totally bring the best of Leonard Skinned and 38 Special to this album, it is almost like there is Everly brothers of southern rock with you know a little bit more edge then the Everly brothers, obviously. But they have a romantic side. They have a song called Plain Jane, which is a tribute to women who are less than gorgeous.
HAMMER: And you like this one, too?
DAN: Yes.
HAMMER: Great, thanks very much. Julie Dan for your insight and of course for more picks and pans, you can always pick up the latest copy of "People" magazine. You`ll find it on newsstands now.
Well tonight in the show`s biz, get ready for the online version of "American Idol" it was bound to happen someday. We learned today that the shows producer is launching an Internet radio station called "American Idol Underground." It`s going to happen in the fall. Contestants will pay $50 bucks to upload their music, including hip-hop, country, Christian and pop. And then listeners get to rate the songs and celebrity judges will pick the winner in each category.
BRYANT: Time for another Showbiz sit down this time with Kendra Todd. She is the first woman to make it through an entire season of "The Apprentice" without hearing the famous catch phrase "you`re fired." Today is day one on job with Donald Trump and Kendra joins us live to dish about it. Thanks for coming. Was it a bit of a reality check today? Did you get the corner office with the window or a dungeon down in the basement?
KENDRA TODD, "THE APPRENTICE" WINNER" No, I got a beautiful office and it got lots of bay windows, I have a big desk and I`m looking out over Trump National Golf Club in West Chester. No complaints.
BRYANT: Not bad. So what is that you will be doing?
TODD: Well for the next four months I`m actually working with Carolyn Capture (ph) and Ashley Cooper. And Trump Golf management they are using my real estate background and I`m acting as their liaison, basically, to filter through international, national properties for potential golf club expansions. So that`s very exciting. The West Chester Golf Club is almost complete. Just like with the mansion in a couple of months, I`m going to be helping them with the renovations and finishing up that particular golf club.
BRYANT: Before you head down to Florida?
TODD: That`s right.
BRYANT: I have to think, though, that on the job, the first day, you definitely got what I like to call the hairy eyeball from people who figured you`re just a reality show winner. How could you actually know anything about business? Did that happen at all? What kind of reaction did you get?
TODD: Well I definitely had that in the back of my mind. I went in there just an open book. And I`m just willing to jump into anything. So everybody really received me well. It`s a great group of people. I think it`s going to be a really fun four months.
BRYANT: I have to think that there are some people there who have been in the organization a long time who may have wanted your job that just maybe resent that?
TODD: Well, not really. Because they created a job for me. I really feel like I have two apprenticeships in one. I mean who gets to work with Carolyn Thatcher (ph) she is fantastic. And also to be mentored by Donald Trump himself. I feel like I did win two jobs. They created this position for me in Trump Golf Management because it`s only a 6-month-old management company. I really am helping them, I`m actually providing services for a need that they have. And so I`m helping take everyone`s workload off. Who doesn`t want that?
BRYANT: What is it like without the cameras rolling? Are the relationships different between you and Donald and you and Carolyn?
TODD: I think we`re more relaxed when there are not cameras on you all the time. I know that certainly I am. Mr. Trump, he`s tough, but he`s fair. He just wants the highest standard of quality. I, quite frankly, don`t blame him. He`s putting his name all over it.
BRYANT: And certainly he must have a decent amount of trust in you, because with Bill and with Kelly, we still see a lot of them which does lead some people to think, you know did Bill get a job as a pr person for Trump or did he get a job really working for him in another capacity? Because he seems to really be ever-present as a celebrity.
TODD: Well the thing I think is the misnomer is people have to remember that it is a television show about business. There`s a certain amount of pr that comes along with the territory. But Bill and Kelly and myself certainly empowered, and we are working for Mr. Trump and we`re certainly working very, very hard.
BRYANT: Would you do a reality show again?
TODD: I would do this experience with "The Apprentice" in a heartbeat. Because I came face to face with my own limitations and I pushed beyond them. It was really challenging. I grew as a woman and as a person and as a businessperson. It was great.
BRYANT: And you got a gorgeous office out of it.
TODD: That is true. I got a fantastic job.
BRYANT: Congratulations to you. And thank you for joining us. Kendra Todd.
HAMMER: Still some time for you to sound off in our SHOWBIX TONIGHT question of the day. Going to the movies, is it worth the money? You can still vote by going to the Web, CNN.com/showbiztonight is the address. Or you can write to us at SHOWBIZTONIGHTt@cnn.com. If you have more to say we are going to read some of your e-mails live coming up next.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Hollywood Boulevard was transformed into a racetrack red carpet for the premiere of "Herbie: Fully Loaded." There were racecars, bleachers and a start and finish line. Lindsay Lohan attended yesterday`s premiere with her mother. And she shared the spotlight with her co-stars, Michael Keaton and Matt Dillon. "Herbie: Fully Loaded" opens in theaters on Wednesday.
BRYANT: It is time to get you laugh on in "Laughter Dark" as we do every night; we bring you the late night laughs you may have missed. "Hurly Burly" stared Ethan Hawks started his Father`s Day weekend stopping by "Late Night" with Conan O`Brien.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONAN O`BRIEN: Father`s Day is this Sunday.
ETHAN HAWKS: Yes.
O`BRIEN: You have two kids, is that right?
HAWKS: Yes, six and three.
O`BRIEN: Any special plans for Father`s Day?
HAWKS: I want my kids to leave me alone. No. I don`t.
O`BRIEN: What a warm thing to say. Just leave me alone! Daddy`s rehearsing with his bong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRYANT: Tonight on "Late Night" super model Dezel Benson.
HAMMER: Well throughout the show we have been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Going to the movies, is it worth the money? Here`s how the vote`s been going so far. Eighteen percent of you say yes, it is worth the money. Eighty two percent of you say no, it isn`t. Maybe why the box office is in a slump. Some of the e- mails we have gotten on the subject include one from Mike in Texas who writes, "Families can wait a month or so, purchase the movie on DVD and have full access to snacks.
Also heard from Donald in Pennsylvania, he says, "The price of movie tickets are high but tolerable. It is the food in theaters that makes the experience costly."
Also heard from Jan in California who adds, "Why should anyone pay so much money to go to a movie, have someone behind you talk, snack on popcorn and kick your seat?"
Remember you can continue to vote by going to CNN.com/showbiztonight.
BRYANT: It`s time now to see what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow. So let`s take a look at the showbiz marquee.
HAMMER: Now the marquee guy off again tonight, so back by popular demand, we give you the concession guy. Take it away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the sea of flashing cameras, he`s a real hot shot. E.L. Woody calls him the king of the paparazzi. And he`s taking SHOWBIZ TONIGHT along for the ride.
A day in the life of the paparazzi, tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, we`re checking in with Kathy Hilton. Paris` mom is throwing her hat into the reality TV ring. She joins us live on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It also happens on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow, the marquee guy returns.
BRYANT: Yes, he does. I`m happy for the concession stand guy. He makes the best popcorn.
HAMMER: Good job once again to the concession stand guy. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
BRYANT: I`m Karyn Bryant. Stay tuned for the latest from "CNN Headline News."
CHOI: I`m Sophia Choi. Let`s get to your "Headline Prime News" newsbreak.
The Democratic filibuster on John Bolton continues. The Republicans fell six votes short in their effort to move forward. The vote on President Bush`s U.N. Ambassador nominee, this leaves the door open for the president to give Bolton to get a temporary recess appointment.
Corporate scandal has yielded another stiff prison sentence today, Adelphia Communications founder John Rigas was sentenced to 15 years behind bars for his role in the looting of the bankrupt cable company. The federal judge said he would have imposed a much harsher sentence but Riga`s his age and poor health made him rule otherwise. Rigas is 80 years old and suffering from bladder cancer.
And rescuers and thousands of volunteers are still searching the mountains of Utah for a lost cub scout, 11-year-old Brennen Hawkins disappeared on Friday from a scouting camp 80 miles east of Salt Lake City.
And that`s the news for now. I`m Sophia Choi.
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