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Showbiz Tonight
Showbiz Tonight for July 29, 2005, CNNHN
Aired July 29, 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: I`m Karyn Bryant.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: And I`m A.J. Hammer. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "American" justice. Major new developments in the question of whether "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul had an affair with former contestant Corey Clark. Tonight, Corey joins us live.
BRYANT (voice-over): New reports that a disturbing trend involving women may be shaping up for the new fall TV lineup.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tell me about the first time your husband abused you.
BRYANT: Tonight, is there too much violence against women on TV?
HAMMER: Carly Simon says. Tonight, Simon opens up about stage fright, divorce, her struggle with depression, and how, after all these years, she keeps coming around again. It`s a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, the real Carly Simon.
CARLY SIMON, SINGER: Hi, it`s Carly Simon here. If it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRYANT: Hello, I`m Karyn Bryant.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, the controversy that won`t go away for "American Idol" and star judge Paula Abdul.
BRYANT: FOX has just revealed it is launching an all-out investigation into former contestant Corey Clark`s claims that he had a hot affair with Abdul while he was on the show.
HAMMER: Now in just a moment, Corey Clark`s going to join us live here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. But first, our own Sibila Vargas is live in Hollywood to bring you up to speed on all the latest developments.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Karyn and A.J., Corey Clark not only claims he and Paula had an affair, but that she privately coached him while he was on the show. Serious allegations, and FOX plans to get to the bottom of it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS (voice-over): Forget Nibble-gate (ph). The latest scandal to rock TV is being aptly called Abdulgate.
PAULA ABDUL, JUDGE, "AMERICAN IDOL": Be a lot more sexier so that contestants will be willing to sleep with you.
VARGAS: She may have made light of the rumors about her affair with Corey Clark on "Saturday Night Live," but FOX is taking the accusations seriously. They`re launching their own investigation into Clark`s claims.
MARC PEYSER, "NEWSWEEK": They say they`ve hired an independent counsel, which sounds like Ken Starr and a really big deal and kind of scary. So it means they`re obviously taking this very, very seriously, as they should.
VARGAS: And now the countdown is on. Will Abdul keep her gig as judge on "American Idol"?
ABDUL: This was probably your best week.
VARGAS: FOX`s hired investigator has until August 18 to get to the bottom of the scandal. But if they don`t find anything by then, Abdul can take her rightful seat between Randy and Simon and start auditions for "Idol`s" fifth season.
(MUSIC)
VARGAS: And as painful as this may sound, FOX says if the accusations are true, Abdul could be fired. But that doesn`t mean you won`t see Paula on FOX. She`s set to star in another talent competition: "So You Think You Can Dance."
PEYSER: Paula is the one who`s on the side of the contestants, which is where the audience really is, so we in a sense sort of see the show and feel the show through Paula. And in that sense, she`s something of the mom of the show, which makes her very appealing.
VARGAS: There is certainly something about Paula that keeps fans glued to the tube. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asked "Idol" fans if Paula should lose her job.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I personally don`t believe that Paula did anything wrong, but if they have to investigate it, so be it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just think it`s not that big of a deal. I don`t know. I mean, they have to decide what to do about it. I`ve always enjoyed Paula on the show.
VARGAS: Corey Clark himself told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT a few months ago that he doesn`t think she should lose her job, either.
HAMMER: Why should she keep her job?
COREY CLARK, FORMER "AMERICAN IDOL" CONTESTANT: I mean, at the end of the day, that show lives on controversy, you know? I`m sure they`re over there at FOX and "American Idol" just loving it.
They`re standing behind convicted criminals, convicted felons. You know, it`s like why not? She just had sex with somebody. You know, everybody that` on the planet has had sex can get here, so it`s not against the law.
VARGAS: It`s not against the law, and as "Idol" has found out in the past, a little controversy never hurt the show.
PEYSER: Every season, there has been an "American Idol" controversy. You do wonder to what degree FOX is really unhappy about this, because every time it happens, they get more and more viewers. That being said, it`s a real controversy for them. It`s a real concern.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: And Abdul was tapped as roving correspondent for FOX`s new series, "So You Think You Can Dance," which debuted last week and drew an "Idol" like ratings, more than 10 million viewers, A.J.
HAMMER: Sibila Vargas, live in Hollywood. Thank you very much.
So right now, let`s go right to the guy who made all of these charges against Paula. Corey Clark joining us live tonight from Baltimore.
So Corey, has this so-called independent counsel gotten in touch with you yet?
COREY: Man, you know, we -- we did an investigation. We provided information to FOX`s counsel, yes.
We definitely -- we were told not to say anything about this investigation, which is funny to me, why FOX is blasting it all over the news right now. But I`m going to -- I`m going to honor my agreement that I made with them, you know, because I`m really more in a positive place in my life now, you know. Besides all this controversy, I`m trying to move on with my music career.
And you know, I`m not really going to, I guess, delve too much into the investigation itself, because you know, I told them the same thing I told everybody else, you know.
My only question is why aren`t they investigating -- they`re just investigating me and Paula. They need to be investigating Kim Locke and Simon Lythgoe (sic), you know?
I don`t understand what all this mishap is about, but at the end of the day, I`m just trying to move on and do my record.
HAMMER: Well, how long ago did the counsel get in touch with you?
CLARK: We were -- we did a meeting on June 30. We did a meeting June 30.
HAMMER: OK. So this is not that long ago that this happened. Did you add anything to the allegations that were already on the table, the ones that we were all aware of already? Was anything else added to what you said to them?
CLARK: No, I mean, I told them the truth, like I told everybody the truth. The story that everybody`s aware of in the media is really only half the story. You know, you guys are only getting the little bit of condensed, sensationalized version of what I`m saying, you know?
HAMMER: Can you give us a little piece of what you were able to tell them?
CLARK: I did when I sat down with you guys.
HAMMER: OK, but there`s nothing further that came to light in the course of the investigation that you want to share with us now?
CLARK: No. I mean, there`s other things, like I`ve always said, there`s other things that ABC never ended up airing, you know, and there`s -- those are some things that, you know, that we brought to the attention of FOX. And hopefully -- I mean, obviously, it`s serious, you know?
HAMMER: It is serious. Have you been in touch with Paula Abdul at all?
CLARK: I haven`t been in touch with her.
HAMMER: When`s the last time you spoke with Paula?
CLARK: When she left me the message asking me not to reveal...
HAMMER: What we all heard in the primetime live special. Quickly, Corey, you had mentioned the last time we got together that you didn`t think that Paula should be fired from "American Idol."
CLARK: Of course not.
HAMMER: Of course, FOX has not said what they will do if they find any merit to your allegations. Do you still have the same stance on that?
CLARK: But you know why I said that, is because I`ve never been going after, you know, Paula Abdul whatsoever. This has always been about, you know, the way that "American Idol" exploited my career and exploited my name.
HAMMER: OK. All right.
CLARK: And that`s the only thing I`ve ever been going off of.
HAMMER: So still in the same place with Paula?
CLARK: Yes. This is not about Paula Abdul. This is about the blackballing that "American Idol" and FOX have been doing to Corey Clark`s career for two years because of that relationship.
HAMMER: We have to bring it to a close there, Corey, but thank you for chiming in and shedding some light on what`s been going on with that investigation. We appreciate that.
CLARK: No problem.
HAMMER: There is more "American Idol" to come here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Later, just a day after he kicked off his fifth concert tour, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT visited with Clay Aiken in the heart of New York City. We`re going to show you that a little later on in the show.
BRYANT: It is time now for the "Legal Lowdown." We have new developments tonight in the revenge of the stars: celebrities fighting back against false stories. This is something SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has been all over this week.
Tonight, another victory for Cameron Diaz. Diaz`s attorney says she has won an undisclosed amount of money from a British tabloid. The paper implied Diaz cheated on her boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, with the married producer of her MTV show, "Trippin.`" The newspaper is also apologizing and admitting that the story wasn`t true.
On Monday, a photographer was convicted of forging her name on a release so that he could sell nude photos of Diaz that were taken before she got famous.
Also fighting back tonight, cycling great Lance Armstrong. Today we learned that his libel case against "The London Sunday Times" will go to trial this November. Armstrong is suing the newspaper for printing a review of a book that claims he took performance-enhancing drugs. The cycling great, who just won his seventh straight Tour de France, says that`s simply not true.
Up next, it could be a disturbing new trend in television: graphic violence against women. We`ll go in depth coming up.
HAMMER: Plus a new project for Julia Roberts. Let`s just say there`s some neon lights in her future. That`s just ahead.
BRYANT: Plus, what does going to the dentist have to do with showbiz? Well, we wondered that, too. Don`t worry; we`ll give you the answers to all those crazy questions, coming up.
HAMMER: Here comes tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Before she danced and sang her way to pop queendom, Madonna attended which university? NYU, U. Michigan, Harvard or Rhode Island School of Design? Which was it? We`re coming back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Before she danced and sang her way to pop queendom, Madonna attended which university? The answer B, University of Michigan.
BRYANT: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Karyn Bryant.
We have got a disturbing trend on television to tell you about in tonight`s "SHOWBIZ In-Depth," violence against women as entertainment.
One example, a wife kept in the basement, collared like a wild dog. You`ll be seeing a lot of that kind of thing in the fall.
Joining us live in New York is Dade Hayes, senior editor "Entertainment Weekly." The magazine takes a look at the trend in this week`s issue. And live in Los Angeles, Chris Lisotta, senior reporter for "Television Week."
Thanks for joining me today, gentlemen.
Dad, I`m going to start with you. We`re talking about a few new shows: "Criminal Minds", "Close to Home" -- those are both on CBS -- and a new show called "Killer Instinct" on FOX.
They`re procedural shows, self-contained episodes like "Law & Order," like "CSI."
DAD HAYES, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Right.
BRYANT: But they seem to be getting more violent.
HAYES: Yes. They`re really ratcheting up the violence factor, and they`re taking a cue from, you know, films like "Silence of the Lambs" and all those sort of slasher movies that have been so popular in the last couple years. The only big difference there is an "R" rating keeps a certain audience from seeing the movies. On television, everybody gets it.
BRYANT: And can you give us a couple more examples? We mentioned the woman in the basement.
HAYES: Well, "Criminal Minds" is definitely the worst offender. I mean, there`s a scene with a woman in a cage with a lingering shot of her bloody fingernails being clipped by this demented serial killer. I man, it`s straight out of the sort of annals of Ed Gein and, you know, Jeffrey Dahmer. It`s pretty intense stuff.
And they say they`re creating these vivid, you know, lurid scenes to try to make a point about just how twisted these criminals are, but you`ve got to wonder where to draw the line.
BRYANT: Now, Chris, you`ve seen a couple of these programs. What`s your take?
CHRIS LISOTTA, "TELEVISION WEEK": Well, I`ve seen all three. I think ultimately a pilot, first of all, is designed to be a sales tool, so I think they`ll probably be -- they are very -- just very shocking in terms of making it an effective tool for the networks to see if they want to put the show on the air. There`s that side to it, first. That it`s designed to help get the pilot sold back in May.
Second of all, I think that it`s sort of the natural progression. There`s a lot of procedurals on the air. People feel they have to do things that are going to be -- that are going to distinguish themselves from all the others.
But I mean, think about it this way. If we had had the same conversation two years ago, it would have been about how reality was getting out of control and how it was going for the worst common denominator, how horrible it was. And yet the marketplace sort of dictated some changes. Audiences stopped watching those shows.
And what do we have now? We have -- you know, we have much more feel- good. Look at "Brat Camp." Look at "Extreme Makeover: Home Editions."
BRYANT: So you say people are asking for this extreme direction?
LISOTTA: Well, what the networks say, and I think this is true, is they say as far as they`re concerned, their viewers keep telling them -- or not telling them, "Look, this is too much."
So when the viewers start turning off, when they really start hearing from people that it`s offensive, they`ll start making changes. There`s not some overarching censor out there that is going to watch this. It really is the power of the marketplace that`s going to change things.
BRYANT: OK. Now, Dade, what about the idea, though, that two thirds of CBS` audience is women, watching things like "CSI." What`s the appeal of watching an extreme program?
HAYES: That`s the thing. It`s hard to ever know for sure, but you can really theorize that it`s sort of this vicarious jolt that the female viewers are getting. This could be me in the basement. This could be me in a dark parking garage.
I mean, it`s kind of terrible to consider, but I think there is a kind of thrill factor there that women are getting. The only interesting thing is that teenage girls are some of the biggest, most loyal viewers of shows like this.
BRYANT: Right. Now Chris, there is the notion that -- and this is mentioned in "Entertainment Weekly," but Chris, I want to ask you about this, that because there`s been more of a crackdown on sex on television and exposure of body parts, that this is almost a back-door way of sneaking more sexually explicit materials into programs? Do you agree with that?
LISOTTA: Well, I think that`s way too academic for anybody in Hollywood to sort of get their head around. I mean, honestly, I really think it comes down to the fact that the people who are writing these shows feel that these elements are going to help them tell a story and get their story sold and get people to watch.
And I think if people don`t watch and people are not engaged, and the networks are getting all this bad press from viewers, saying you`ve gone too far, they`ll make a change.
You know, I think ultimately it`s open to the power of the marketplace, and that is a very powerful -- you know, sort of force in terms of network programming. But until they hear that, they`ll take it as far as they can go. Because as Nina Tasser (ph) said last week at the Television Critics` Association, this big press junket with all these television writers, she said, "We`re not hearing from our viewers that we`ve gone too far." You know, they say they...
BRYANT: And until we do?
LISOTTA: Until we do, they`re not going to -- they feel that this is, you know, going to be OK on the air.
BRYANT: All right. Well, we`ll just have to see what happens in the fall. Dade Hayes of "Entertainment Weekly," Chris Lisotta of "Television Week," thanks for joining us.
Now for more on television`s fall lineup, pick up a copy of "Entertainment Weekly." It`s on newsstands now.
And we want to hear from you. We want to hear what you think. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Violence against women: is there too much of it on TV? You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. And you can send e-mails to SHOWBIZTONIGHT@CNN.com.
HAMMER: It is time now for "SHOWBIZ Shorts," a look at more stories that are making news tonight.
Well, they may not be talking to each other these days, but for Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, "The Simple Life" goes on. The two former friends are stuck with each other for yet another season of their reality show.
Today, we learned that FOX has picked up options on their contracts, meaning there will be a "Simple Life 4." Back in April, Hilton issued a statement that said it was no big secret that they were no longer friends and that, quote, "Nicole knows what she did, and that`s all I`m ever going to say about it."
Julia Roberts is coming to Broadway. We learned today that she`ll make her Broadway debut next spring in a revival of the family drama "Three Days of Rain." The other cast members haven`t yet been announced.
BRYANT: Julia Roberts is one of many stars with a famous grin. And now you can kind of have it yourself. Forget wanting a famous face. Snapping in a famous smile is the next big thing.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dentures are dated. The latest thing is the snap-on smile. Not just anybody`s smiles.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Gwyneth.
MOOS: Gwyneth as in Paltrow. Can you see the toothy resemblance?
Or maybe you`d prefer the Sarah Jessica, as in Sarah Jessica Parker, or the Julia, as in Julia Roberts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They`re like horse teeth almost on me.
MOOS: Danielle King`s own teeth are smallish. The snap-ons can be made to fit almost anybody. Check out the before and afters.
(on camera) Did you say she`s missing three teeth?
MARC LIECHTUNG, DENTIST: She has three teeth.
MOOS (voice-over): New York dentist Dr. Marc Liechtung doesn`t just make snap-on teeth: he wears them to get the feel of the device he patented. A set like this might set you back over $1,000. They`re for people who don`t want to spend, say, $20,000 on venires, or maybe they want them for a special occasion.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was definitely a financial thing. I`m getting married.
MOOS: There`s her ring. Jan Vasquez (ph) will have the snap-ons for the perfect smile in her wedding pictures. So when she reveals her actual teeth...
(on camera) They look good without them.
(voice-over) It takes just two appointments to get snap-ons. They make a mold. The snap-ons cling to the tiny bulges in your teeth.
(on camera) Wow.
LIECHTUNG: And it doesn`t move. I`ve never had a case where it moved or fell out. Never. Never.
MOOS (voice-over): Jen can eat soft food and chew gum. The latest design, made out of a more flexible resin with cut-out windows, enables you to eat regular food. You just take them out when you sleep, like contact lenses.
(on camera) You can`t exchange them? Like I couldn`t put on your teeth or anything like that?
LIECHTUNG: No. You couldn`t put on my teeth.
MOOS (voice-over): At the New York Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Jeff Golub-Evans concentrate on replicating celebrity smiles.
JEFF GOLUB-EVANS, COSMETIC DENTIST: A good smile has become a fashion accessory. And a great smile has become a fashion statement.
MOOS: Though the Sarah Jessicas and the Julias and the Gwyneths are easy to mix up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are Mischa (ph). I wondered why I didn`t like the way these looked on me.
MOOS: Dr. Golub-Evans even made snap-ons for a woman in her 80s who asked for Kim Cattrall`s smile.
GOLUB-EVANS: Bless her heart. What she wants is to have nice teeth on Sunday when she goes to church.
MOOS: But be prepared to lisp until your tongue adapts.
Dr. Golub-Evans used to make snap-ons for actors when they needed bad teeth. The snap-on smile reminds us of Halloween: Billy Bob teeth and even Billy Bob gums.
Whitney Casey (ph) never leaves home without a set of bad teeth in her makeup kit.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No guy is going to date you with these in.
MOOS: When overly aggressive guys hit on her, she puts them in. We both did.
(on camera) We should try walking down the street.
(voice-over) Prepare for sneak peeps. If you want to wipe the smile off a guy`s face, try this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello, lover.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Got my Jeanne Moos snap-ons on right now.
Well, still ahead, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT floors it over the premiere of the new "Dukes of Hazzard" movie. We`re going to catch up with Jessica "Daisy Duke" Simpson.
BRYANT: Plus, Ludacris. When the hip-hop sensation isn`t scoring big on the charts, he`s scoring big on the video games. The rapper from the dirty south invites SHOWBIZ TONIGHT over for some good, clean fun.
HAMMER: Plus, you can just feel the anticipation building. Tonight, pop icon Carly Simon opens up about the good times and some very bad times. It`s a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report on the way.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
Tonight we are taking you into the "SHOWBIZ Game Room" with Ludacris. The hip-hop megastar returned home to the south for a very special video gaming session. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT got invited along for the ride.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
HAMMER (voice-over): We know hip-hop superstar Ludacris has skills on the mic, but how is he with the videogame controller? Luda invited SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to his home base in Atlanta to find out.
Luda showed SHOWBIZ TONIGHT some southern hospitality when he took us to an event sponsored by Xbox Live, a Microsoft service where three million gamers play and chat with each other online.
LUDACRIS, RAP ARTIST: Where`s everybody from?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Atlanta.
HAMMER: And on this day, a few lucky gamers were squaring off against Ludacris in the racing game, Forza Motor Sport. It wasn`t long before the trash talking began.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Luda, just for you, I put my details on the back of the car so you could read them.
LUDACRIS: Prepare to (expletive deleted), all of you.
HAMMER: But once the trash talk was over, it was time to play.
LUDACRIS: All right. Let`s do it.
HAMMER: When it was all over, Ludacris still seemed happy, and he sang the praises of online gaming.
LUDACRIS: I think that`s great, especially for a person like myself. I have fans all across the world, so being able to play with them is definitely -- I mean, it`s exciting.
HAMMER: Of course, life isn`t all fun and game for Luda. He tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he`s working on his fifth album and he plans to do more movies following his performance in the critically acclaimed movie, "Crash."
LUDACRIS: She got colder as soon as she saw us.
I learned a lot doing that movie. I was in there with some A-list actors and actresses. I mean, it was phenomenal.
HAMMER: Rapper, actor, gamer, Ludacris has it all going on and he has some advice for other multitasking gamers.
LUDACRIS: All those kids at home, as long as you do your best in school and in life, then you are a winner.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Takes his own advice.
Ludacris and his racing opponents are far from the only online gamers out there. Juniper Research says that in the next few years, the number of people playing video games online is going to reach about 28 million.
BRYANT: Up next, Clay Aiken is on tour, to the delight of Claymates everywhere. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT takes you down to Claytown, coming up.
HAMMER: Plus, an original American songwriting idol. Carly Simon, the life of an icon as Carly opens up about everything from divorce to her battle with breast cancer. Our special report on Carly Simon, still ahead.
BRYANT: And "Must Love Dogs" is in theaters today. Should you sit through it or stay home? What movies you might want to see this weekend, ahead in "People" magazine`s "Picks and Pans."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
BRYANT: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Carly Simon sheds light on the dark days that nearly killed her career. A special report.
HAMMER: Plus, Clay Aiken, launching his tour. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is right there, coming back for more.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s only live entertainment news show. It`s 31 minutes past the hour as we launch into the weekend. I`m A.J. Hammer.
BRYANT: And I`m Karyn Bryant. Here are tonight`s "Hot Headlines."
"World News Tonight" anchor Peter Jennings may be ailing, but his friends sent him a birthday ribbon in the sky for their love. Actually, it was a plane with a birthday banner that buzzed his home outside New York City. He turns 67 today.
P.J., as he`s known in the office, sent his staff ice cream as a thank-you. Jennings has been off the air since April as he battles lung cancer.
HAMMER: Cameron Diaz conquers again, this time with the British tabloid "The Sun," who insinuated she was cheating on her pop idol beau, Justin Timberlake. "The Sun" admitted the story was false. She got an apology and an undisclosed amount of money.
BRYANT: Tonight, major new developments in the "American Idol" Paula Abdul scandal. It sounds like something out of Washington, but FOX and the producers of "American Idol" have hired an independent counsel to determine whether judge Paula Abdul had an affair with former contestant Corey Clark.
HAMMER: Another former contestant, Clay Aiken, has become one of the biggest stars to emerge from "American Idol."
BRYANT: Aiken has just launched his fifth tour -- five, A.J. And everywhere he goes, his so-called Claymates follow.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas is back with us, live in Hollywood with Clay-mania.
SIBILA VARGAS: Clay-mania. He`s singing covers. He`s got a new magazine cover, and he`s gotten himself covered in the wake of some questions about his charity.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT got up close and personal with southern sensation Clay Aiken, and only we`ve got the inside scoop.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS (voice-over): "Coming Back for More" is Clay Aiken`s brand new song. He debuted it in New York this morning as part of "Good Morning America`s" summer concert series.
Fans came from all over, and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there with them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He`s just wonderful. I mean, he really is.
VARGAS: Clay fans -- they call themselves Claymates, if you haven`t heard -- are crazy for the former "American Idol" runner-up. Some are disillusioned.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, he won.
VARGAS: Wait, come again? Didn`t Ruben win?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, he won.
VARGAS: Second place doesn`t seem to matter. He`s No. 1 to millions. This fan carries around a life-size cutout of Clay everywhere she goes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`d like to introduce you all to flat Clay. He`s the mascot of the Claydelphians, Philly area fan club.
VARGAS: Check out this fan. She`s collected 170 Clay Aiken pins.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He represents a perfect person that this world - - everybody should try to be in this world.
VARGAS: And Clay fans know no generational boundaries.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In Clayland there is no age. We`re ageless.
(MUSIC)
VARGAS: Just last night, Clay Aiken kicked off his jukebox summer tour in New Jersey. We caught up with him. Here he is practicing, just days before he hit the road.
CLAY AIKEN, SINGER: I want people to call me Clay Aiken instead of "`American Idol` runner-up Clay Aiken." If I can have that, I`ll be happy.
VARGAS: You`ve arrived. "Saturday Night Live`s" making fun of you, and you made the cover of "TV Guide."
AIKEN: I don`t understand it. I ask my publicist all the time why the heck they want me on the cover.
VARGAS: His tour features some 70-odd songs from five decades, everything from Sam Cooke to Barry Manilow to the Bee Gees and the Goo Goo Dolls.
All this fanfare comes on the heels of scandalous reports that Clay`s kids charity is not so charitable. Clay cleared that up for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, telling us that an independent accountant said all was on the up and up.
AIKEN: You hope that people would get the entire story and people would want the entire story, but it`s been a -- it`s been a disappointing thing. And I`ve learned in the past that people are more interested in sensationalism than they are with getting the facts.
VARGAS: Fans didn`t flinch. Clay said donations went up after the air was cleared, and now he`s just riding the wave.
AIKEN: It`s really surprising to me. I mean, it`s hard, after -- even after three years to think that for years people didn`t want to talk to me at all, and now people are so interested.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: And Clay`s "Jukebox" tour hits 25 cities and includes about 70 songs. That`s a lot of singing. The tour wraps September 1.
And Karyn, I need to ask you, are you a Claymate?
BRYANT: Well, you know, Sibila, he wasn`t my pick that season. I`m just going to leave it at that.
VARGAS: OK.
BRYANT: Thanks very much. Sibila Vargas, live in Hollywood.
As we reported earlier, "Entertainment Weekly" says there is a disturbing trend toward more violence against women in the new fall TV shows. We`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Violence against women: is there too much of it on TV? You can keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can write to us at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. Your e-mails are coming up at 54 past the hour.
HAMMER: It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ Guide," where throughout the week, we help you decide where to best spend your dollars on movies, music, DVDs and more.
Tonight, as we launch into the weekend, "People" magazine`s "Picks and Pans," new movies. We`re talking about "Must Love Dogs," "Stealth," and "Sky High," which are all out for the weekend.
And joining us here in New York, "People" magazine movie critic, Leah Rozen.
Let`s start off with "Must Love Dogs." I saw it a couple weeks ago. It`s light enough summer fare, isn`t it, Leah?
LEAH ROZEN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: This is an unadulterated chick flick. I mean, there is no way, with the exception of you, you`re going to get men into this movie, and deservedly.
I`m a sucker for romantic comedies, but I`ve got to say, I found this one grating. That said, Diane Lane is luminescent. She`s a terrific actress. But boy, this plays like a "Lifetime" movie with a superior cast.
HAMMER: OK, but John Cusack, also one of my personal favorite actors. I thought he did, you know, his usually good job.
ROZEN: He`s played this role before.
HAMMER: He has. He was very Lloyd Dobler.
ROZEN: Yes.
HAMMER: All right. Well, then let`s move on to "Stealth." It looks like a big summer action flick, but I have a feeling you think it kind of falls flat?
ROZEN: It`s a big-summer action film, but it is silly and preposterous. I mean, you`re sort of looking at "Top Gun" crossed with "Robot."
It`s a bunch of fliers. They have to use a drone with them, and the drone starts having a mind of its own. It becomes increasingly silly.
Jamie Foxx, they`re selling the movie as a Jamie Foxx movie. He has a supporting role. Jeff Lucas, who is a good looking guy, is really the star -- Josh Lucas, but you know, this one goes nowhere.
HAMMER: Well, it`s a shame about Jamie Foxx. Because when you see the trailer, he`s featured all over the trailer. But not featured all that much in the movie?
ROZEN: Oh, no, it is a supporting role.
HAMMER: What about family fare for the weekend, in "Sky High"?
ROZEN: That is a fun movie for kids. It`s got a great little premise, which is that the children of superheroes go to a special secret high school, where they learn to be either a superhero or a sidekick.
Kids are going to like it. It starts off very clever and then sort of devolves into a teenage romantic triangle. But as kids` movies go, it`s fine.
HAMMER: I understand a one-time superhero, Lynda Carter, one-time "Wonder Woman" is in the movie.
ROZEN: She has a -- she`s very funny. She plays the principal of the school. And she`s got a great little line where she goes, "What do you think I am, Wonder Woman?"
HAMMER: Excellent. Good to see her back.
Leah Rozen, enjoy your weekend. Thanks for joining us.
And as always, for more "Picks and Pans," just grab your copy of the new issue of "People" magazine, which is on newsstands now.
BRYANT: Coming, Carly Simon comes forward with the secret that could have ended her career. We`ve got a special report next.
HAMMER: Plus -- oh, I`ve got to do this on camera? Yee-haw! Thank you very much. As long as you can`t see me when I`m doing that. "The Dukes of Hazzard" goes Hollywood. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is right there are Jessica Simpson, Johnny Knoxville and the General Lee hit Hollywood Boulevard.
BRYANT: Plus, the secret that could have saved Burt Reynolds millions -- millions, rather. The "Evening Shade" star sheds light on a love that dare not speak its name. Not that there`s anything wrong with that. We`ll explain.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES DENTON, ACTOR: I`m James Denton from "Desperate Housewives." And I`m wearing Wrangler and Target, basically because I`m cheap and don`t know any better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRYANT: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Karyn Bryant.
Tonight, "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS," Carly Simon. She`ll unwittingly admit she`s a music icon with hits like "Anticipation" and "You`re So Vain." But with her success came many years of pain.
With an inside look at Carly Simon, here is CNN`s Paula Zahn for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA ZAHN, HOST, "PAULA ZAHN NOW" (voice-over): On March 7, 1964, 18-year-old Carly Simon and her sister Lucy appeared on the absence variety hour, "Hootenanny."
(MUSIC)
ZAHN: It had been just four years since the death of their father Richard Simon. Immersing themselves in music, the siblings were now a duo, and Carly was splitting her time between Sarah Lawrence and the stage.
But in 1968, with guitar in hand, Carly set out on her own. New York secretary by day, sexy songbird by night. For four years she shopped her music and searched for the perfect song.
CARLY SIMON (singing): My father sits at night with no lights on.
(speaking) I wrote the melody to "that`s the way I`ve always heard it should be" and that was kind of where I started writing and taking my compositions more seriously, and I started collaborating with Jake Brackman, who wrote the lyric.
(SINGING) But you say it`s time we moved in together.
ZAHN: In "Season of Change," Carly Simon had found her voice. Released in March 1971, that haunting ballad would become the breakthrough single on her self-titled debut.
Eight months and a million albums later, album No. 2.
(MUSIC)
ZAHN (on camera): You created "Anticipation" in 15 minutes?
C. SIMON: Maybe an hour, but that`s at the very outside. I was waiting for Cat Stevens to come over, who was my date. And I wrote I mustn`t focus on 15 minutes from now. I must focus on right now. These are the good old days.
ZAHN (voice-over): But Cat Stevens wasn`t the only man catching her eye. There was another guy, and his name was James. Their romance would be one of the most photographed couplings in music history.
And when singer-songwriter James Taylor married Carly Simon on November 2, 1972, they were instantly proclaimed rock`s first royal family.
(on camera) What do you remember about the good old days with James Taylor?
C. SIMON: Gosh, we had some fine, fine moments.
ZAHN (voice-over): Days after the wedding, the mania went into overdrive. Carly`s latest, "No Secrets," had just hit the shelves. On it a mysterious single about "oh so vain" suitor. Who could it be? Three decades later, we are still scratching our heads.
But as the hits rolled in and the decade rolled on, cracks began to appear in the marriage. Dueling careers fuel battling egos, and there was the matter of Taylor`s drug use.
BEN TAYLOR, SON: I was never the kind of kid who wished every night or prayed that his parents would get back together. That didn`t seem like -- it seemed logical to me, even at a very young age, that they were splitting apart.
JACOB BRACKMAN, LYRICIST: And the punch line was that he cleaned up within months of their separation and has been clean to this day. It`s a mystery. But that made it even harder in a way.
ZAHN: Adrift, Carly`s anxieties fueled her lifelong battle with stage fright. An early `80s concert tour was suddenly canceled when the pop star collapsed backstage.
But Carly Simon was far from over. She would soon come around again. She married poet Jim Hart in 1987. She went home with an Oscar for best song in 1989.
And on the highest of highs, she sailed into the `90s. But in 1997, a devastating discovery would send her once again into the darkness.
LUCY SIMON, SISTER: Carly`s breast cancer was obviously terribly traumatic.
C. SIMON: I heard about it over the phone. And I went into swift denial. And I put my head down on the table, still with the phone in my hand saying, "This can`t be. This just can`t be true. It`s impossible."
ZAHN: Family and friends rallied. Eight long months of chemotherapy followed.
(on camera) Were you afraid of dying?
C. SIMON: Yes, but no more so than I usually am.
ZAHN: How`s your health now?
C. SIMON: I think it`s good. I still -- I`ll still knock on wood.
ZAHN (voice-over): Now, after more than three decades in the spotlight, the legendary singer/songwriter returns.
C. SIMON (singing): I`ve got you under my skin...
ZAHN: And with this resurgence comes that question, a secret that still gets under our skin.
C. SIMON (sing): You walked into the party...
ZAHN (on camera): You once admitted that it could potentially be a composite of a number of men who were dear to you in your life. Whether it was Mick Jagger, Warren Beatty.
C. SIMON: Well, I guess, you know, I mean, those who are interested in clues, the name of the person that it was about had an "e" into it.
ZAHN: Oh, well thank you. That`s very helpful, Carly.
C. SIMON: Maybe I could disclose another letter. Let`s see. It also has an "a."
ZAHN: All right. We`ll be asking you about this for the next 30 years.
SIMON: Well, listen, two vowels ain`t bad.
L. SIMON: She speaks from her heart. It is all genuine. There`s nothing phony about her. So what you see is who she is.
ZAHN (voice-over): At 60 years old, Carly Simon remains a musical legend, an unwitting icon whose soundtrack we know by heart.
C. SIMON: I hope that people will be subtly changed by what I`ve said or written or composed.
ZAHN (on camera): You really want to touch people.
C. SIMON: I really do.
ZAHN: That`s important to you.
C. SIMON: I really need to touch people. I don`t want to be alone here in this universe.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRYANT: That was CNN`s Paula Zahn reporting for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" airs Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. Eastern on CNN. And you can pick up a copy of "People" magazine on newsstands now.
HAMMER: Well, we are now just one week away from one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there as the Dukes go Hollywood.
The General Lee and the rest of the cast of "The Dukes of Hazzard" hit Hollywood Boulevard last night for the movie premiere. Jessica Simpson, Johnny Knoxville, Seann Williams Scott and friends greeted hundreds of fans at Grauman`s Chinese Theater.
The stars of the film came straight to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, and they talked about what they loved about doing this film.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA SIMPSON, SINGER/ACTRESS: You know, I really, stepping into those shorts was a dream come true.
SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT, ACTOR: I don`t know, it was so much fun. You see a lot of comedies, a lot of movies that try to be something more than they are, and this movie is just supposed to be fun.
JOHNNY KNOXVILLE, ACTOR: I didn`t get to drive the General Lee. No, I sat bench and talked on the C.B. Sean got the car. I got the girls. And I love the General Lee, but not too bad a trade-off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, even though he never got to drive the General Lee, Knoxville wasn`t all bitter towards his co-stars. In fact, Knoxville thought that Simpson looked quite lovely in her Daisy Dukes. "The Dukes of Hazzard" will open up nationwide next Friday.
BRYANT: It`s time to get your laugh on in "Laughter Dark." As we do every night, we bring you the late-night laughs you might have missed.
On "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Dukes of Hazzard" star Burt Reynolds talks about loneliness, love, all the girls he`s loved before, and the men that could be in his life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BURT REYNOLDS, ACTOR: Well, the last act of my life I just don`t want to be, you know, in my little house looking at old films of myself alone, like "Sunset Boulevard," you know?
JAY LENO, HOST, NBC`s "THE TONIGHT SHOW": I want to be with a partner.
REYNOLDS: Well, I like Kevin a lot.
LENO: Kevin a lot. OK. So you prove people can change as they get older.
REYNOLDS: Absolutely.
When I worked with Willie Nelson, who is just about the nicest man I`ve ever worked with...
LENO: Yes, very nice.
REYNOLDS: ... in my life the sweetest, kindest man, I thought if I had been gay it would have saved me millions.
LENO: Really?
REYNOLDS: Just because we`d still be happily married.
LENO: You`d still be together.
REYNOLDS: And he`s always happy.
LENO: Yes.
REYNOLDS: Have you ever gone on his bus?
LENO: It`s a happy bus.
REYNOLDS: You bet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRYANT: Tonight, Jessica Simpson is Jay`s guest.
Well, there is still time for you to sound off on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Violence against women: is there too much of it on TV? You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also write to us. Our address is ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We will read some of your e-mails live next.
HAMMER: But first, as we get set for a summer weekend, time for the "Entertainment Weekly Must List." These are five things that "EW" says you`ve got to do over the next week.
Check out Billy Bob Thornton while he hits a hilarious home run in the "Bad News Bears."
So you think you can dance? "EW" says it doesn`t matter. Just be sure you can watch this new "Idol"-esque show.
Next, make the weekend a little magical by grabbing your copy of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" if you haven`t done so already.
And hats off to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." The first two seasons are out on DVD.
Finally, make sure you check out Gwen Stefani`s new video, and try to stay "Cool" as it flashes you back to your first love.
For most of "EW Must List" items, just grab your copy of "Entertainment Weekly." It`s on newsstands now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRYANT: Throughout the show we`ve asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Violence against women: is there too much of it on TV?
Let`s take a look at how the vote is going so far: 74 percent of you say yes, there is too much violence against women on TV. That means 26 percent of you say there is not.
We`ve gotten some e-mails on the issue.
Mary from Alabama writes, "I will not watch a TV show where women are being mistreated. It makes misfits more willing to kill, rape and torture women."
And Livonia from Michigan writes, "I think there`s too much violence against both men and women on TV."
You can keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: We`ve arrived at that time where we find out what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT next week.
HAMMER: Let`s take a look at the "SHOWBIZ Marquee." Marquee Guy, take it away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Gisele, ma belle, these are words that go together well. And we`re together with Gisele Bundchen as she reveals her newest Victoria`s Secret line, but we`ll keep that secret until she`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Monday.
Also Monday, reality check please. Aisle four. Thank you. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s special series looking at the latest crop of reality shows, from "Hijinks" to "Mr. Mom" to "The Dirtiest Job."
Summer`s heating up Monday. This is the Marquee Guy, and if you think this job is easy, you try it sometime. I`m exhausted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: He may be tired, but I think we have time for one quick question for the Marquee Guy. Marquee Guy, can you tell us, when is Saturday?
ANNOUNCER: It is tomorrow!
BRYANT: That`s right. We tried to get one of those in.
Well, that will do it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Karyn Bryant.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer. Have a nice weekend. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN Headline News.
(NEWSBREAK)
END
