Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes Expecting; Lindsay Lohan in Accident; "Extreme Makeover" Faces Major Lawsuit
Aired October 06, 2005 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: I`m A.J. Hammer.
BROOKS ANDERSON, CO-HOST: And I`m Brooke Anderson. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the inside story of Lindsay Lohan`s latest car accident being blamed on the paparazzi. Live tonight, an eyewitness who was on the scene. And we ask the hard question: do stars have a right to privacy in public places?
HAMMER (voice-over): Kate Moss`s cocaine scandal. Tonight, why one of the most famous faces in fashion is rushing to Kate`s defense. Get ready to hear for yourself, only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Wynonna Judd`s most personal struggles. Tonight, Wynonna opens up about her turbulent relationship with her famous family, and how she almost lost it all. It`s the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
JOHN LEGEND, MUSICIAN: This is John Legend. And if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson.
Tonight a startling analysis from one of the most scrutinized couples in Hollywood.
HAMMER: That`s right. Late today, Katie and Tom Cruise revealed they`re expecting a baby. It`s the latest shocker in a whirlwind romance that has been kind of hard to keep up with.
David Haffenreffer in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom right now with the latest on this still developing story.
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, A.J.
"People" magazine first broke this story today. And just a short time ago, Tom Cruise`s production company confirmed to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that Katie Holmes is pregnant with Cruise`s child.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Something happened to you. Something happened to you.
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: I`m in love.
HAFFENREFFER (voice-over): If you thought Tom Cruise was excited to tell Oprah about his new love, Katie Holmes, imagine how happy he must have been to say he and Katie are about to become parents.
"People" magazine quote`s Tom Cruise`s spokesperson as saying, quote, "Tom and Katie are very excited, and the entire family is very excited."
It`s the latest shocker in a romance that was full of surprises right from the start. The world gasped when Cruise, who`s 43, announced in April that he was dating Holmes, who`s 26.
We all know the story from there: frequent declarations of love.
CRUISE: Yes, I proposed to Kate last night.
HAFFENREFFER: Frequent smooching, and of course, the infamous Oprah couch jumping.
WINFREY: Have you ever felt this way before?
HAFFENREFFER: And Tom made news again on "The Today Show" with his passionate criticism of Brooke shields for using antidepressants to treat her postpartum depression.
CRUISE: You`ve got to understand, I really care about Brooke Shields. I think here`s a wonderful and talented woman. And I want to see her do well. And I know that psychiatry is a pseudoscience.
HAFFENREFFER: Now the talk is no longer postpartum depression but Tom and Katie`s prenatal happiness. Tom already has two adopted children with ex-wife Nicole Kidman.
There`s no word on the new baby`s gender, how far along the pregnancy is or when Cruise and Katie, who are engaged, plan to tie the knot. But it may not be any time soon, because Cruise is busy filming "Mission: Impossible 3" in Los Angeles. That movie is due next year, and as we heard today, that`s also when we`ll likely see Tom and Katie`s newest production.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAFFENREFFER: That would be baby Cruise, of course. Even though Cruise`s camp isn`t saying a whole lot about the pregnancy, his spokesperson would allow that Katie Holmes, quote, has never felt better -- A.J.
HAMMER: And the baby name guessing game is already under way. David Haffenreffer, thank you very much.
Right now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes to "People" magazine, which first broke the story. Live tonight from Hollywood, Julie Jordan, the associate bureau chief of "People`s" L.A. bureau.
All right. Here we go, Julie. We`ve been wondering what happened to these guys. It`s been pretty quiet on the Tom and Katie scene for awhile. You guys broke the story today. How do you get a scoop like this?
JULIE JORDAN, ASSOCIATE BUREAU CHIEF, "PEOPLE": You know, we have a good relationship with Tom and with Katie, you know. Our readers, of course, are extremely interested to see what these guys are, you know, going to do in terms of their relationship and their, you know, impending relationship and now with this baby on the way. You know, it was really exciting to get the call that they wanted -- they were ready to share this news with the world.
HAMMER: Well, we know that Tom has been busy filming "Mission: Impossible 3." Do you have any sense when you spoke to their people today of how Katie is feeling, what she`s been up to lately?
JORDAN: Well, you know, they were really out there, as you know, with their relationship and their love and their affection. And after he started filming "Mission: Impossible 3," they kind of went under the radar, you know? We haven`t seen them for awhile, especially in comparison to what they were doing, you know, in terms of the first stages of their relationship.
But we know now that Katie has been kind of just really getting used to being pregnant. She`s been feeling great. They`ve been spending quality time on the weekends, you know, and going biking and, you know, hiking. And so she`s very much staying active, at least thus far in her pregnancy.
HAMMER: Are we wrong to refer to her as Katie, by the way? Because I hear Tom always refer to her as Kate. I want to make sure I get it right.
JORDAN: We`ve been -- Kate. Yes, I think she`d answer to either, but maybe they want to get Kate going, you know, at least for the future.
HAMMER: Well, as we just reminded people a moment ago in our piece, Tom was really critical, Tom Cruise really critical of Brooke Shields` admission that she had taken drugs for her postpartum depression. So I imagine watching Katie`s pregnancy is really going to be quite the spectator sport, isn`t it?
JORDAN: Of course. Well, again, this relationship is something that kind of caught everyone off guard, and then of course, with the engagement so soon after they first started dating and now the pregnancy, everyone is going to be watching to see, you know, what comes next.
And you know there`s going to be some developments in the future and they`re going to have to address things that, you know, people are going to be curious about. It`s definitely going to be interesting.
HAMMER: Now, you said you guys have a good relationship with Tom and Kate. You said we don`t know when the wedding is taking place. But did you get any hint when you spoke with them today as to when wedding plans may be unveiled, when we might start to hear more details?
JORDAN: Not really. They`ve got -- you could say they`ve got a lot on their plate right now. I would assume that, you know, they`re enjoying all of this. And who knows? Maybe they will incorporate everything and it will be one big celebration.
You know, but you can`t -- you can`t say nothing`s impossible with these two. It`s always going to be fun to see what they`re going to do next.
HAMMER: and there will be no shortage of coverage.
JORDAN: Absolutely.
HAMMER: Julie Jordan from "People" magazine. Thank you very much.
JORDAN: Thanks.
ANDERSON: Tonight, late breaking developments in the Lindsay Lohan car crash story. Lohan crashed into a van yesterday in West Hollywood, and the early word was it might have happened because she was being chased by the paparazzi. But late today, police said the crash had nothing to do with the paparazzi.
Let`s get straight to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas. She`s live in Hollywood tonight with the very latest.
Hi, Sibila.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Brooke. Well, initially, many were pointing fingers at the paparazzi as the reason for Lohan`s car crash, and there were certainly many photographers around.
The West Hollywood neighborhood where the incident took place is a favorite location of celebrities and the paparazzi. If a star goes there they can pretty much can guarantee that they`ll get their photo snapped. But again, the police say photographers did not cause this Lohan car accident.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS (voice-over): Another celebrity car crash, the same celebrity driver. These are the pictures of Lindsay Lohan`s black Mercedes Benz after she crashed into a delivery van in West Hollywood just yesterday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The impact was like a bomb going off, it was so bad.
VARGAS: Eyewitnesses say the teen queen was driving at a high speed and that she ducked into this store, yes, Hideaway House Antiques, immediately after the run in.
KRISTEN HEIB, WITNESS: All the sudden I look, I`m like, "Oh my, God, that`s Lindsay Lohan," and I see her take her shopping bags and run into the antique store.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After the crash, she grabbed her shopping bag?
HEIB: And ran in and left the scene.
VARGAS: Later, Lohan and the woman in the car with her and the driver of the van all went to the hospital, but none of the injuries were serious.
There were conflicting reports as to whether camera-wielding paparazzi were chasing Lohan during the time of the accident. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has obtained a copy of the Lohan accident police report which states "alcohol does not appear to be involved."
In Lohan`s song, "Rumors," the teen queen, a favorite subject of the paparazzi, pleads for privacy, but this incident took place in a very public area. She had reportedly just eaten at the celeb and paparazzi hangout, The Ivy, on popular Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood.
HEIB: They know the paparazzi are here; they`re always here. Most of the girls that are famous.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So they`re aware.
HEIB: Yes, they know.
VARGAS: This is the second crash for Lohan. Earlier this year her car was allegedly struck by a member of the paparazzi. That photographer has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.
We spoke with Lohan soon after that incident.
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: I can now make a stand and I can say something for any other actors who might have their kids in the car.
VARGAS: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to give stars like Lohan more protection. He just signed a law that triples fines for paparazzi if an assault takes during a shoot. And they would be barred from selling any pictures taken. That law takes effect January 1, 2006.
It came on the heels of recent altercations not only with Lohan but also with actresses Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson.
Celebrity publicist Ken Sunshine, who represents big names like Ben Affleck and Leonardo DiCaprio, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he`s encouraged by the new law.
KEN SUNSHINE, CELEBRITY PUBLICIST: Celebrities have rights, too. They have the right to go to such places. If they`re going to be photographed, that`s different than having their life threatened by some lunatic car chase or innocent pedestrians on Robertson, where The Ivy is, being bowled over by some 300-pound slob who`s putting a camera two inches away from a celebrity`s face while they walk down Robertson.
VARGAS: But self-proclaimed king of the paparazzi E.L. Woody tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT don`t blame them; they`re just doing their jobs.
E.L. WOODY, PAPARAZZO: All the stars know that there`s a price to pay for fame. And part of the price they pay for fame is being famous. Everybody in the world wants to see what you`re doing, where you`re shopping, where you`re eating, who you`re out with, what you`re doing. And if you`re not and the people don`t want to see you doing that, they`re certainly not going to buy tickets to your movies.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: So what about all the fingers being pointed at the paparazzi as a cause of this accident? Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT called Lohan`s rep for further comment. She told us that Lohan is not blaming anyone. But then added that moments before Lohan got into her car she was being harassed by the paparazzi. When we asked her to elaborate, she wouldn`t comment further.
Brooke, back to you.
ANDERSON: All right. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`S Sibila Vargas, thank you.
And coming up a little later in tonight`s show, Harvey Levin joins us live. He was actually right on the scene of the accident shortly thereafter.
And now we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. The paparazzi: do stars deserve privacy in public places? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Send us an e-mail at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`ll read some of your thoughts later on in the show.
HAMMER: A heartbreaking story of appearance, suicide, and reality television. Now, "Extreme Makeover" is facing a major lawsuit. A live "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview is coming up.
ANDERSON: Plus, Kate Moss has friends in high places. Seriously, no pun intended here.
HAMMER: Nice.
ANDERSON: We`ll tell you which fashion icon is rushing to her defense, coming up.
HAMMER: And the tabloid rumors about Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson reach a fever pitch. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sets the record straight. That`s on the way.
ANDERSON: But first, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Name the first No. 1 hit by blue-eyed soul band the Young Rascals in 1966, which was a cover of an R&B tune by the Olympics. Got that straight? Is it "How Can I Be Sure," "Good Lovin`," "People Got to Be Free" or "A Beautiful Morning"? We`ll be right back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: So again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Name the first No. 1 hit by blue-eyed soul band the Young Rascals in 1966, which was a cover of an R&B tune by the Olympics. "How Can I Be Sure," "Good Lovin`," "People Got to Be Free" or "A Beautiful Morning"? Well, the answer is B, "Good Lovin`."
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
So have Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson finally called it quits? Well, their rep says no, but several tabloids are reporting yes. On the cover of "Us Weekly`s" latest issue, a photo of the "Newlyweds" stars with the words "split" in huge letters.
The article blames Jessica`s partying, her ego and her dad for the breakup. Several other tabloids are reporting the same thing, including "Life and Style" magazine.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT talked to Nick and Jessica`s reps. It`s just not true. "Us Weekly" says it stands by its report.
ANDERSON: Tonight, a lawsuit against ABC is claiming the reality TV show "Extreme Makeover" led to a woman`s suicide. Deleese Williams was due to appear on the show and have major plastic surgery, including rebuilding her jaw line. You see Deleese there. But the night before the surgery, ABC pulled out, saying it would take too long for her to heal.
Williams claims that as part of the show, ABC manipulated her family members, including her sister into making cruel comments about her looks. Williams says her sister, unable to forgive herself, killed herself with drugs and alcohol.
Joining us live tonight in Houston for a "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview is Williams` lawyer, Wesley Cordova.
Wesley, thank you so much for being here.
WESLEY CORDOVA, DELEESE WILLIAMS` LAWYER: Thank you.
ANDERSON: First, clarify this lawsuit for us. What exactly is Deleese claiming?
CORDOVA: She`s claiming that -- well, first, breach of contract, because ABC and the makers of "Extreme Makeover" breached the contract to have her on the show and give her the makeover; and secondly, wrongful death on behalf of the children of the deceased, Kelly.
ANDERSON: Well, referring back to that breach of contract claim, ABC says that Deleese knew -- was well aware that her makeover might not happen. Wesley, many people that participate in reality shows have to sign waivers, a contract a mile long. Does ABC have any liability here?
CORDOVA: Well, you`re right. The contract is a mile long. The problem with that is that she had no opportunity to negotiate any of the terms of that contract. And therefore, it`s a contract of adhesion. It`s 19 pages long and handed to a high school dropout just before she got on a plane. And they told her, do not have lawyer look at this because he`ll tell you not to sign it. And therefore, I believe that that contract will be found to be void.
ANDERSON: But she did sign the contract?
CORDOVA: That`s exactly right.
ANDERSON: All right. Wesley, tell us a little bit more about her sister.
CORDOVA: Kelly suffered from ADHD and possibly bipolar disorder. And after she was manipulated into saying the things that she did, she withdrew from the family and eventually committed suicide.
ANDERSON: And Deleese says she would not have -- she believes she would not have committed suicide were it not for this experience with ABC. Is that correct?
CORDOVA: That`s correct.
ANDERSON: Very, very sad. And our sympathies go out to Deleese and her family. How is Deleese doing now?
CORDOVA: Deleese is a strong woman. She`s built up a wall around herself before and after this event, although the wall -- the bricks to that wall are doubly thick now.
ANDERSON: Is she going through therapy? Is she seeking help from others?
CORDOVA: She`s not. She`s trying to handle this on her own.
ANDERSON: So is she going out in public? Is she talking about this much?
CORDOVA: No. She won`t talk to anybody. In fact, she won`t go out in public at all. The only time she`ll go out in public is -- she told me recently that she`ll go out in public if she needs to take her children to the doctor and her husband can`t do it.
But as far as her married life, for example, any -- we all have events that we might go through that are husband and wife socially acceptable events, and she won`t go. Her husband goes alone. She won`t -- if she shops for groceries, she goes at midnight.
ANDERSON: Wesley, there are reports that she`s seeking more than $1 million in this lawsuit. Is that true? What does she hope the outcome is of this?
CORDOVA: Well, those reports are based on the fact that the complaint asks for damages in excess of $1 million, and I would expect that most of those damages will go to the children, although that`s for a jury to decide.
ANDERSON: The children of the sister, correct?
CORDOVA: That`s correct. Yes.
ANDERSON: All right. Wesley, we are out of time, but thank you so much for being here. And we wish Deleese well, no matter what the outcome of this lawsuit.
CORDOVA: Thank you for having me, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Of course.
HAMMER: Well, Kate Moss may be in hot water over accusations of her cocaine addiction, but it didn`t stop her from making the cover of November`s "W" magazine.
"W" magazine said the spread was planned before a British tabloid published photos of Moss allegedly snorting cocaine. But "W" decided to go through with the spread anyway, because they say the photos are, quote, "absolutely beautiful." They said Kate was one of the world`s great models and a fashion icon.
Well, who better to ask about Kate Moss and her latest troubles than some of the people who have worked with her in the past? In an interview with international freelance journalist Daphne Barak, fashion designer Donatella Versace commented on the model`s latest troubles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONATELLA VERSACE, FASHION DESIGNER: It`s terrible what the press did to her. Nobody has the right to invade the privacy of a person like it`s been done to Kate. Obviously, she has a problem. But she`s a very intelligent girl and she will figure it out. It`s so private for each person, so different for each person. Kate doesn`t need my advice. She will do it her own way. Everybody has their own way to do it.
DAPHNE BARAK, INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST: But you need very strong willpower?
VERSACE: You need very strong will power.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Joining me live on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the journalist who spoke with Versace, Daphne Barak. Thank you for being here with us.
And you spoke with them, various designers and people at Fashion Week in Milan. As we heard Donatella there, first of all, she has been very public about some of her own drug problems in the past. She certainly seemed to be standing by Kate`s side, as far the need for privacy but didn`t really have much advice for her other than saying this is something she has to do on her own.
Kate Moss has lost a lot of gigs over this. And are you getting the impression that the fashion industry is not standing behind her right now?
BARAK: I don`t really cover fashion. I`m not a freelancer. I`m syndicated in 28 markets. I went there for a political interview, and I interviewed Natala (ph) and Cavalli.
Funny, Kate was not there but she was everywhere. Everybody was just talking about her. And they felt like a bit guilty. Donatella, naturally, because she went public with her drug problem. She felt very defensive when I asked.
Cavalli was much more emotional. Dolce Gabbana, during the famous 20th anniversary party, spoke only about that.
And it goes both ways. On a personal level, they feel very upset about the invasion of her privacy.
HAMMER: Right.
BARAK: But on a business level, don`t forgot, Cavalli dropped her. I asked Donatella Versace, are you going to rehire her when she`s out of the rehab? And she was very noncommittal.
HAMMER: And of course, you`re talking about Roberto Cavalli, the designer who Kate has worked with in the past. And I believe Roberto told you that this -- Kate`s incident here with the alleged cocaine use is a drop in the bucket in the fashion industry.
Did you get the sense that that`s true? Was he referring to the fact that that this is a rampant problem.
BARAK: And he was very truthful. I interviewed him right after his show, so you know the adrenaline was going on. And he didn`t want to talk about it and then talked about it for 20 minutes.
HAMMER: Right.
BARAK: And he said, look, most of the fashion designers here, you know, that you met are doing it. I`m not going to name people. But they`re doing it. Most of the models. He said, actually, who is Kate Moss? She`s a very small drop. We have a big problem in the fashion industry, and let`s fight it.
HAMMER: Did Cavalli give you any sense of why he is reluctant to work with Kate?
BARAK: He actually said, "Kate, I love you. I mean, I`m your friend. Call me. I can help you to figure it out." I mean, he basically says if she just goes -- that`s probably the best reason, actually. If she just goes to the rehab for three months and comes back, nothing will happen. I mean, she will just fall off the wagon again. She has to figure it out.
HAMMER: OK. Interesting insight. Daphne Barak, thank you very much for joining us on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BARAK: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Well, pro wrestling is popular, but no one was expecting the kind of ratings "WWE Raw" just got. That`s next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Plus, Wynonna Judd. She has sold millions of records and concert tickets. So how in the world did she almost go bankrupt? Wynonna Judd`s confession, coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Also, the Lindsay Lohan car crash. Coming up, the inside story from someone who was on the scene, live.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: World wrestling`s ratings smackdown. Today we learned six million viewers tuned into World Wrestling Entertainment`s "Monday Night Raw" debut at its new home on the USA Network after moving over from Spike TV. Now that`s the largest audience in three years, and this comes just a week after leaving Spike TV, its home of five years.
When WWE president Vince McMahon stopped by SHOWBIZ TONIGHT before the big debut, we asked him if he was worried about losing viewers to Spike TV`s unscripted "Ultimate Fighting Championship."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VINCE MCMAHON, PRESIDENT, WWE: I`m a fan of "UFC." But to put it up against this juggernaut, to put it up against, you know, what I consider to be America`s greatest export, not only the greatest cable cast in the world, WWE on a premier night, when we have this homecoming, all these superstars coming back, is sheer utter stupidity.
(END VIDEO CLIP0
ANDERSON: Doesn`t mince words. Now Spike TV`s "Ultimate Fighting Championship" programming earned a fraction of the WWE`s audience, but still did well at a healthy two million viewers. Not bad, huh, A.J.?
HAMMER: Not bad at all.
Now if you`ve got a dirty little secret that you`re just dying to tell, but you don`t quite have the right confidant, we`re going to tell you the perfect solution, coming up.
ANDERSON: And country singer Wynonna Judd reveals some secrets of her own to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, including how she overcame bankruptcy at the height of her career. We`ve got the story, coming up next.
HAMMER: And teen idol Lindsay Lohan says it was the paparazzi who caused her latest car crash. The police say otherwise. We speak with someone who was on the scene in the "Legal Lowdown."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continuing in just a minute. Hello, I`m Sophia Choi with your "Headline Prime Newsbreak."
A terror threat against the New York City transit system has the city on edge tonight. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says it is the most specific threat they`ve received. He`s asking people to be vigilant and to look out for suspicious briefcases and baby strollers.
President Bush says terrorists are using Iraq as a base for their war on humanity. In what the White House billed as a major speech, the president also said 10 Al Qaeda plots have been foiled since 9/11. Democrats are blasting the speech, saying it failed to detail a strategy to bring U.S. troops home.
And Canadian health officials say that mysterious illness that killed 16 people this week is likely legionnaire`s disease. So far, the disease has affected at least 70 people. The SARS epidemic killed 44 people in Toronto in 2003.
That`s the news for now. I`m Sophia Choi. Now back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson. You`re watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Well, were he alive, John Lennon would be turning 65 this Sunday. His first wife, Cynthia Lennon, has penned this memoir. Now, of course, they were together before all the fame and fortune, so she has some particularly fascinating insight. We`ll get it from Cynthia live in the interview you`ll see only here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT in just a few moments.
ANDERSON: Can`t wait for that. Yes, just a few minutes.
And coming up in the "Legal Lowdown" tonight, we`re going to go back to Lindsay Lohan and her most recent car accident and the latest. You know, police are saying the paparazzi not involved. She claims they harassed her and then she got in the accident. Some people are speculating she could face charges, speeding, leaving the scene of the accident, reckless driving. So we`re going to find out from Harvey Levin.
All that and more is coming up. But first, why don`t we get tonight`s "Hot Headlines?" And to do that, we go to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas. She joins us live again from Hollywood.
Hi there, Sibila.
VARGAS: Hey, Brooke.
Well, Harry Connick, Jr., took to the mike, but it was to jostle senators on Capitol Hill. The singer testified in front of the Senate Finance Committee looking into the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He said he visited the people stranded at the Astrodome and that they felt abandoned by their government.
Another celebrity`s gesture of help for victims of Katrina is becoming more controversial by the hour. Britney Spears` bra and jeweled lingerie is once again up for bid on eBay. The bra was pulled from the auction site before, because eBay doesn`t allow the sale of used underwear. Now they`ve decided to allow it as a collectible.
And the end of an era for all you Batman fans. The original bat cave is just a pile of charred ruins tonight. A fire ripped through the mansion in Pasadena that was used for exterior scenes on the old TV series. No word yet on what sparked the fire.
Also tonight, a warm welcome for the latest little Bratt in Hollywood. We`re talking about a new-born baby boy for Benjamin Bratt and his wife, Talisa Soto. His name is Mateo Bravery Bratt, born today in Los Angeles.
Congratulations to the parents.
And those are tonight`s "Hot Headlines." Brooke, back to you in New York.
ANDERSON: Sibila, I`m sure he`s one of the sweetest little "brats" ever, right?
(LAUGHTER)
VARGAS: Sure.
ANDERSON: All right. Well, we`ve been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes: Is too much being made of their connection to scientology?
Keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight and write us at showbiztonight@CNN.com. Your e-mails coming up at 55 past the hour.
HAMMER: John Lennon would have turned 65 this week. And now, his first wife, Cynthia Lennon, has written a new book called, "John." Now, she knew him before he reached the astronomical fame with the Beatles. The new book is full of new details about their marriage and their divorce, giving insight into one of the most famous entertainers of our time.
With an interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Cynthia Lennon joining us live. It`s a pleasure to meet you and have you with us.
CYNTHIA LENNON, FIRST WIFE OF JOHN LENNON: It`s a pleasure to be here. Thank you for inviting me.
HAMMER: It`s really interesting insight. As I`ve been pointing out, the fact that you did know him so early on. When the two of you met at art school way back in 1958, the first time you saw him, you knew he wasn`t like the other guys, didn`t you?
LENNON: Absolutely. I mean, he was totally opposite to anything that I`d ever known, ever been out with, ever been around, actually, because he was so opposite to me, and he was so rebellious, so outrageous. He was always surrounded by people.
He used to make people laugh. He was a joker, but he didn`t take anything serious. And, of course, I was the one that was taking life very serious. And I wanted to be a teacher. And I wanted to go through college and, you know, prove that I could pass all the exams.
John got into college without any qualifications at all, just on pure merit. He took in a folder of his work. They gave him an interview, and they accepted him. You know? He got away with murder at that time.
HAMMER: So being so opposite from you, is that what drew you to him?
LENNON: I think it was a lot of things. On the surface, yes, we looked opposites, but inside we were very much alike. And I think, as we got to know each other, and we grew closer together, and realized how much we had in common, the fact he just lost his mother in a tragic accident, and I just lost my father from cancer, that we both had art in common and music in common, not that I was a musician, but my family were very musical.
HAMMER: And, of course, the John we got to know was after all the fame and fortune, unimaginable fame. But was the John you got to know a lot alike the John we got to know later?
LENNON: Not at all. To start off with, no, we were students. We were penniless students. And we were in a situation where I used to get a grant for college, and I used to pay for his ciggies -- cigarettes, sorry.
HAMMER: Ciggies is OK.
LENNON: I didn`t smoke at the time. And I virtually kept him during college years when we were together. But then, of course, the tables were turned, and the fame became -- well, the meeting of Brian, of course...
HAMMER: Right. Brian Epstein, of course, who was their manager.
LENNON: ... which catapulted them into the fame.
HAMMER: And the fame is something you speak of as one of the reasons that led to you guys eventually divorcing. The fame, you mentioned, the drug use, and, of course, Yoko Ono. And in the book, you talk about the first time you ran into Yoko. You had returned from a trip in 1968, I believe it was, and she was wearing your bathrobe on the living room floor. Tell me that scene.
LENNON: Yes, well, I had been to Greece on holiday for a few days at John`s suggestion, because he said he was going to work. When I was coming back, we stopped in Rome for lunch, and we were coming back, and phoned John, and said, "How about dinner in London?"
And we arrived back at the house. These were the friends of ours, Donovan and Patty`s sister, Jenny. And the lights were on. The curtains were drawn. This was about 4:00 in the afternoon.
Walked in, the door was open. I shouted, and I wondered where Julian was. And I heard John. And I went into the sunroom. And they were sitting cross-legged on the floor, totally -- well, they were dressed in our toweling robes.
HAMMER: She was wearing your robe. That must have been shocking.
LENNON: Yes. The whole thing was too shocking. It was too surreal to really believe or to even be able to say anything worthwhile. I said the most stupid thing.
HAMMER: Which was?
LENNON: You know, "We`ve had breakfast in Greece. We`ve had lunch in Rome. How about dinner in London?" And John just looked at me, with the coldest expression, and said, "No, thanks."
HAMMER: You mentioned Julian, Julian Lennon, of course, your son, and John`s first son. And Julian`s relationship with John notoriously rocky. And he wrote the foreword to your book, mentioning that John really let him down. What was the story there?
LENNON: Well, I think the mere fact that he`d been neglected. When he went off with Yoko and they left for America, there was very little contact at all, when it was four years before he saw his father again.
And he used to see him on the television. And he`d say, "That`s my daddy. And where is he?" And then, when they were doing the baggings (ph) on the stage, he said, "Why is Daddy in a black plastic bag?"
And I just didn`t know how to express or explain to him. And he got very little contact from his father. And that was like history repeating itself, because John had so little contact with his father.
HAMMER: With his father, as well.
LENNON: And he lost his mother. So he`d been abandoned himself at the same age, more or less.
HAMMER: And it`s said because, of course, John and Julian were starting to repair their relationship a bit before John died.
I have just a moment here, but I want to take a look -- you brought in a great treat for us, some great artifacts, these rarely seen postcards that were locked away in a safe for a long time. Here they are up on the screen right now. Tell me the significance here.
LENNON: Well, they were from different parts of the world. We were on holiday with Victor Spinetti, the actor, and we were in Morocco. They were just cards from John and Yoko.
HAMMER: And this was one where John had actually scribbled -- that`s John with some artwork that he send to Julian?
LENNON: Yes, and the mind is a muscle. And if you don`t work it, it doesn`t grow. So...
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: This is what John sent.
LENNON: Yes, I can`t see it very well from here without my glasses.
HAMMER: We`ve got to wrap it up, but just knowing -- if you had known what path this was all going to take you on, would you have taken that path with John Lennon?
LENNON: Yes. Well, I did.
HAMMER: You would?
LENNON: I did. I know I put in the book, but that was two reasons why I said that. One, that, if I had known I`d lost so many people, I wouldn`t have taken it. But because I have the best thing out of it is my son, then of course.
HAMMER: And some rich experience.
(CROSSTALK)
LENNON: Wonderful experiences.
HAMMER: Cynthia Lennon, it`s a pleasure. Thank you so much for joining us.
LENNON: Thank you. Thank you very much.
HAMMER: The book, simply called "John," is in newsstands now, news stores now.
ANDERSON: Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Naomi Campbell weighs in on the drug troubles of her supermodel friend Kate Moss. Whose side is she on?
HAMMER: And what`s the story with Lindsay Lohan and that car accident? If it wasn`t about the paparazzi, what`s it all about? We`re going to check it out in the "Legal Lowdown."
ANDERSON: Also, a vocabulary list for all of us. Which newfangled words made it into the dictionary? That`s still ahead on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
One of Kate Moss`s supermodel friends is saying give her a break. Naomi Campbell with some words of support for her troubled friend. She says the world has been too hard on Moss since she admitted to having a drug problem.
Moss lost three modeling contracts and is being investigated for cocaine use after pictures were published that appeared to show her taking drugs. Campbell says the reaction has been too harsh.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAOMI CAMPBELL, SUPERMODEL: Kate Moss is my friend, and I stand behind her. It`s not the first time this has happened in the world. I think everyone is, like, badgering her. And it`s too much.
It`s, like, she hasn`t killed anybody. She`s a human being, and I think it`s really like a vendetta. And as my friend -- and she`s still my friend -- I stand behind her and support her in her recovery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Moss has said she is dealing with her problems and is reportedly at a rehab clinic in Arizona.
HAMMER: Time now for the "Legal Lowdown," a look at what`s going on in the world of entertainment legal news. On our docket tonight, Lindsay Lohan in her most recent wreck. Police are now saying that there is nothing to indicate that the paparazzi were involved in this particular accident. So could Lohan herself face charges?
Also, a paternity suit against actor Wesley Snipes was dismissed today after DNA tests determined Snipes was not the father.
Here to give us all of the latest on all of this, Harvey Levin, managing editor of the soon-to-be launched entertainment news site TMZ.com. Harvey joins us in eye-popping yellow from Glendale, California, live.
So, Harvey, the police in fact confident now that the paparazzi were not a part of this crash?
HARVEY LEVIN, MANAGING EDITOR, TMZ.COM: They were pretty confident yesterday, A.J. They told us that they were not part of the investigation. And it seems to be that -- well, two things going. One is that this driver of a van may have made a illegal u-turn. And she may have just crashed into them.
There`s some dispute over speed. The cops are telling us they don`t think she was speeding, but there are people at the scene who said they thought she may have been going 15 miles an hour or more over the speed limit.
HAMMER: Now, you were on the scene yourself shortly after the crash had happened. And you mentioned just now and last night as well, when we spoke to you about this, that you felt she must have been going pretty fast or somehow recklessly, based on the area that it was.
So could she, in fact, be facing some charges here?
LEVIN: Well, you know, I don`t know that she was going recklessly. It seemed like an awfully bad crash to me, looking at her car. And there were witnesses who felt she was going 50 or higher.
But, again, the cops are saying that isn`t the case. If she wasn`t speeding, I mean, she can`t really be cited for anything. If she was speeding, she could, but it sounds to me like the cops are not going in that direction.
HAMMER: Well, I`m sure they`re talking to this van driver. What`s he saying?
LEVIN: He told an entertainment show that, if her car had wings it could fly, that he felt she was going 75 miles an hour. There was no way on that street -- I mean, I know that street well -- that you could go 75. I mean, it would have been doomsday if that happened.
But, you know, I`m not sure how much he saw because, again, he was making this illegal turn. So, you know, I think he`s probably covering his you-know-what, because he knows he made an illegal turn. I have a feeling he`s not necessarily the best witness in this one.
HAMMER: Hey, stars like to pimp out their rides. Maybe it did have wings.
(LAUGHTER)
All right, let`s move on to Wesley Snipes now. A woman claims that he fathered her child after they had sex in a Chicago crack house. This was back in 2002. Was there ever anything, Harvey, that linked Snipes to this particular woman?
LEVIN: Not that I know of. He says this was just completely invented, that he says she`s mentally ill, and he`s so angry he counter- sued her. And that counter-suit is still going forward. So he`s saying it`s utterly baseless and he`s done it before.
HAMMER: But with the counter...
LEVIN: Or she`s done it before.
HAMMER: Despite the fact that he`s counter-suing, you know, the story`s been out there. Has the damage not already been done?
LEVIN: Yes. And that`s what`s so bad about this stuff, is that, you know, true, he`s counter-sued, and maybe he`ll get a judgment against her. And I`m sure she`s not going to have any money to pay him, even if he gets a judgment.
But of course. I mean, the big headline is when some woman says, "Wesley Snipes fathered my child. I met him at a crack house." And everybody publishes it. So you can`t really unscramble that egg just because the case is dismissed. We`re talking about it today, but it`s not going to get the same publicity that it got when the damage was created, and that`s just something that stars have to live with. It`s a fact of life.
HAMMER: Yes, it`s really -- that`s an unfortunate piece of the puzzle there. Well, Harvey Levin, thanks, as always, for joining us tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
LEVIN: See you, A.J.
ANDERSON: Question for you: When was the last time you used the word "snollygoster."
HAMMER: Yesterday.
ANDERSON: Yesterday? Hi, A.J. All right.
Well, by the way, it means a shrewd, unprincipled person. If you can`t remember when you last said it, don`t worry, because you won`t be using it anytime soon. The word has gotten the boot from Merriam-Webster dictionary to make room for new ones like bikini wax, and brain freeze, you know, important ones like that.
So here is CNN`s Heidi Collins reporting for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Wordsmiths of the world rejoice. Just when you thought you were out of words, the folks at Merriam-Webster`s have added 18 more for you to wrap your thoughts around. Words like "hazmat," "civil union" -- OK, technically that`s two words, but who`s counting?
"Brain freeze," "bikini wax," and, right, right, there are a few two- word phrases. And you`ve heard it all before. But I`ll bet you didn`t know when you were calling "Bridget Jones` Diary" a chick flick, you were using an unsanctioned, unofficial, possibly punishable by the word police, word, until now.
RENEE ZELLWEGER, ACTRESS: I can`t wear that.
COLLINS: No, there`s not much new about a lot of the new words. You`ve been using them for years, but now these terms have taken their place among the 6,064 pages with the words deemed dictionary-worthy by Merriam-Webster`s lexicologist.
JOHN MOORE, PRES./PUBLISHER, MERRIAM-WEBSTER: The dictionary really ought to have the words that are going to stay in the language and be of interest to a lot of people.
COLLINS: There are medical words like "hospitalist," a physician who specializes in treating hospitalized patients of other physicians in order to minimize the number of hospital visits by other physicians. Hmm.
There is techie words, too, like "Wi-Fi," used to certify the interoperability of wireless computer networking devises. Right. And "metadata," data that provide information about other data. OK.
Then there are words that are just apparently impossible to say.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wi-Fi?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, subuto (ph)?
COLLINS: But let`s be real. Can you truly describe a brain freeze?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For me, that means dumb, when your brain doesn`t work, but that makes you dumb.
COLLINS: Maybe not. But trust me, any woman who`s had a bikini wax doesn`t need a dictionary to find the right words to describe one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No comment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: No comment from me, either. That was CNN`s Heidi Collins reporting for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Well, then, no comment from me, either.
It is time now to take a look at the best in late night laughs, in "Laughter Dark." Is Tom really the father of Katie`s baby? Well, Jimmy Kimmel decided to find out, and what better way to do that than through the daytime talk shows? That`s on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE": There`s a new trend in daytime television. You can see this almost every day on some show somewhere. It`s the on-air paternity test. Have you seen this?
They bring people on the show. Usually, the woman says she`s carrying the man`s baby, or she had the man`s baby, and the man says, "It`s not baby." Whatever. Then they do a paternity test and, inevitably, all hell breaks loose. Look at this.
MAURY POVICH, TELEVISION HOST: When it comes to Baby Louie, Freddy, you are not the father!
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I wonder if he`ll teach the baby the fist pump and the couch jump.
Oh, well. Still ahead tonight, it`s time for Thursday "In-Style." What stars like Scarlett Johansson are wearing, and how you can get the very same look. It`s Thursday "In-Style." Stay with us on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Time now for Thursday "In-Style." Tonight, it`s "The Look," with fashion director Hal Rubenstein. He tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT what fashion trends are hot right now and why he can`t get enough of it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAL RUBENSTEIN, FASHION DIRECTOR, "INSTYLE": The tux jacket is a great way to dress up anything, but the problem is you don`t want to dress anything up too much, which is why the marriage of...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, if you want to read more on the hottest styles, you can pick up a copy of "In-Style" magazine, which is on newsstands now.
Why don`t we get to the "Question of the Day"?
ANDERSON: Let`s do that.
HAMMER: A little technical issue there.
Throughout the show, we have been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes: Is too much being made of their connection to scientology?
Here`s how the vote`s been going so far tonight. I`ll tell you. Sixty-two percent of you say, yes, too much is being made of their connection to scientology; 38 percent of you say, no, it`s not.
Some e-mails on the subject, too. We heard from Bob in Michigan, who simply writes, "Scientology is misunderstood."
We also heard from Norma in Nevada, who writes that "Tom and Katie are entitled to practice any philosophy they choose, and we, the public, need not be involved."
Keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight.
ANDERSON: Time to take a look at the best of the day`s talk in "Talk of the Day." Cameron Diaz is a klutz. Well, that`s according to Ellen DeGeneres. So today, on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show," Ellen put Diaz through an obstacle course. And if you ask me, you wouldn`t want to be in her shoes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": All right. You`re an outdoorsy girl. Why don`t you rake some leaves up?
CAMERON DIAZ, ACTRESS: I mean, seriously.
(LAUGHTER)
DEGENERES: Just relax. Nothing can happen now.
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
DEGENERES: It`s just a nicely set dinner table.
DIAZ: I`m not getting anywhere near this.
DEGENERES: What`s the worst...
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Needed some protective gear, elbow pads. All right.
And that`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN Headline News.
END
