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Showbiz Tonight
Paris, Boyfriend Involved in Accident; Keira Knightley Dishes on "Pride and Prejudice"
Aired November 09, 2005 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: I`m Brooke Anderson.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: I`m A.J. Hammer. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, sex.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We found some condoms.
HAMMER: Sex. And more sex.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cialis is here. Are you ready?
HAMMER: Tonight, the naked truth. A startling new report reveals just how much sex is out there on television. But what`s the real story? And are kids now having more sex because of what they watch? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates.
Plus, Paris`s car crash. Tonight, Paris Hilton and some very famous friends caught on tape in a Hollywood bang-up.
PARIS HILTON, HOTEL HEIRESS: We love the police.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s got your first look at what happened to the hotel heiress.
And get ready for a night to remember with Keira Knightly. We`ll join her in 18th century England for an exciting new look at an old classic. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star live in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
CYNTHIA NIXON, ACTRESS: Hi, I`m Cynthia Nixon. If it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Hi there. I`m Brooke Anderson live in Hollywood.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer live in New York.
Tonight, do celebrities get special treatment from the law? This is a long, heated question that has come up once again. This time the heat is on the LAPD because of Paris Hilton.
This morning the hotel heiress and "Simple Life" star, along with her new boyfriend, were caught on tape nearly mowing down a group of people in her flashy new car -- in his flashy new car. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the video. You`re about to see it.
Let`s go straight to Sibila Vargas. She`s live in Hollywood with the very latest -- Sibila.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, A.J.
Well, the Paris bang-up was indeed an incident that has made many question the LAPD here in Hollywood. The LAPD told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they`ve gotten hundreds of calls about the episode, and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has all the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS (voice-over): The time, 2:30 a.m. this morning. Location, outside Hollywood hot spot Element. Players: Paris Hilton, her new boyfriend, Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos. Don`t be confused, he is the second big Greek shipping heir she`s dated.
Also in tow, reality start Talan Torriero from MTV`s hit, "Laguna Beach," and Kimberly Stewart, daughter of Rod Stewart. They were all trying to get away from the paparazzi that swarmed them.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has obtained this video from TMZ.com. In it we see clearly rattled Stavros rammed his Bentley into a truck. Watch as he changes gears and nearly mows down the people surrounding the car and speeds away. Minutes later the cameras see the car again, and hear the panicked Greek heir shout...
STAVROS NIARCHOS, GREEK SHIPPING HEIR: I`m (expletive deleted) scaring myself.
VARGAS: What happens next? LAPD patrol cars stop the group. But from this video they to appear never conduct a sobriety test, never ask for a breathalyzer, never hold them for questioning, and Paris calls to the cops...
HILTON: Thank you, officer. We love the police.
VARGAS: Yes. "Thanks, officers." Calling into question whether or not Paris got special treatment.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT went straight to the LAPD for comment. They said in regards to this incident, quote, "We can`t comment about it. The officers were not summoned, nor were there police reports filed. There was no police involvement as far as we know."
But wait a minute. Look at this tape again. On the tape Talan Torriero says...
TALAN TORRIERO, REALITY SHOW STAR: I`m the only sober one.
VARGAS: Stop right there. "I`m the only sober one." So SHOWBIZ TONIGHT demanded an answer from the LAPD. We asked when are officers trained to use breathalyzer tests?
The response, quote, "They can certainly issue a secondary sobriety test upon their own discretion. There is no standard time to issue it. Many officers often travel without breathalyzer test equipment on them. Oftentimes breathalyzers aren`t issued until people are brought back to a police department. Officers are trained to issue breathalyzers when they feel a driver may be drunk, but there is no standard for doing so."
The question is whether or not celebrities are held to the same standards as you and me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: And Stavros Niarchos, the driver of the car, is 19 years old. And by the way, we looked up the price for a similar Bentley. The 2005 model retails for at least $160,000. So the repairs won`t be cheap. That`s nothing for the Greek heir, whose family is worth billions.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has called a representative for Paris Hilton, but no word back.
Back to you, A.J.
HAMMER: Amazingly caught on tape. Sibila Vargas live in Hollywood. Thanks very much.
And of course that video of Paris and Hilton -- Paris Hilton and her boyfriend speeding off was an exclusive by TMZ.com. Joining us live tonight from Glendale, California, Harvey Levin. He`s the managing editor of the soon to be launched entertainment news site known as TMZ.com, the ones to break the story.
Nice going there, Harvey. Clearly, this video shows Paris`s boyfriend hitting the truck. We see it. It`s right there. You caught it. Looks like people had to jump out of the way for it. And he appeared to be speeding off, which would apparently mean leaving the scene of an accident. Have you shown the LAPD your video of this?
HARVEY LEVIN, MANAGING EDITOR, TMZ.COM: Well, I know the LAPD has seen portions of the video, and I`ve been in contact with various LAPD officials today. I can tell you that they have told me they have now opened an official investigation into the matter.
The LAPD didn`t know anything, A.J., about the crash, I believe. I think that the cops happened on this car as it was speeding down the street, not knowing that it had crashed earlier. Although there were fresh marks on the car, showing that there was something that happened to it.
But I`ve got to tell you, this guy is in some trouble here, because in addition to whether he was or wasn`t drinking, you know, he fled from the scene of a crime, which is called hit and run, and that`s a crime.
HAMMER: Well, let`s get to the drinking part of it that you mentioned. Here we are. It`s late at night. A lot of clubs in this part of Hollywood. A car full of young people. The LAPD made the statement that we just showed you a moment ago, saying there is no standard for issuing breathalyzer treatments.
But seriously, under these circumstances isn`t it kind of unusual, Harvey, for the police not to do some kind of a field sobriety test?
LEVIN: Yes, I mean, you can make people do all sorts of things, short of doing a breathalyzer test. You can make somebody walk a line. I mean, cops do that. And it really will show you something.
But you know, when you add it all together, you`re right. You`ve got a group of kids driving recklessly down a street at 2:30 in the morning, and one of these people in the car says, and not the driver, one of the passengers, his name is Talan from the TV show "Laguna Beach" says, "I`m the only one sober."
Well, OK. When you start adding all those things up and you kind of look at the way everybody is acting, it`s kind of a situation where you might want -- you might want to do a reality check on whether they`ve been drinking.
Now, we have -- there`s about a two-minute gap where they took off the second time, and when we got to them, when the cops had stopped them. But other than that two-minute gap, there`s no evidence there was any kind of a field sobriety test. And then the injury just kept mounting and mounting and mounting until this Talan guy finally said, "Hey, I`m the only one sober," but the cops never did anything about that.
HAMMER: Well, as you mentioned, as you mentioned, an investigation has been opened into this. So we`ll be sure to be hearing more about this in the days to come. Harvey Levin, managing editor for the entertainment news site TMZ.com. Thanks a lot for joining us.
LEVIN: Good seeing you, A.J.
ANDERSON: Tonight, could TV itself be getting too hot for TV? Well, you might be able to guess that sex on TV is on the rise. But a shocking report just out today shows just how steamy the tube is getting. And people are pretty steamed about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): A new study shows there`s more hot sex on TV than ever.
VICKY RIDEOUT, KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION: The proportion of shows with sex has increased.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there in Washington, D.C., as the Kaiser Family Foundation released its study of nearly 1,100 shows on broadcast and cable networks. What Kaiser found was staggering.
RIDEOUT: Over the past seven years there`s been a steady and consistent increase in the amount of sexual content on television.
ANDERSON: The Kaiser study found nearly 3,800 scenes with sexual content, double the number of scenes in 1998. Seventy percent of all shows on TV included some form of sexual content.
RIDEOUT: Within those shows that have sexual content, the number of scenes with sex, either talk about sex or sexual behavior, has also increased steadily, from about three scenes to an average of five scenes an hour.
ANDERSON: Wait a minute. Just after Janet Jackson`s boobgate 2004 at the Super Bowl, we heard a lot about a crackdown on racy TV. So what happened?
MARC PEYSER, "NEWSWEEK": Short memories, right? And bigger ratings. Obviously, the shows that have a higher sexual content do very well in the ratings. Obviously, they`re being careful not to do a Janet Jackson kind of thing. But people watch sex. Sexual content gets viewers. So they put it on the air.
ANDERSON: Sex may sell, but the Kaiser study had a very broad definition of sexual content on TV. A frank mother-daughter sex talk on "Gilmore Girls," a passionate kiss on "Joey," sex scenes on "The O.C." and a sex crime investigation on "Law & Order SVU" were all labeled sexual content in the study. But "SVU`s" executive producer showed up at the Kaiser event to defend his show.
NEAL BAER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "LAW & ORDER: SVU": I`m alarmed that when I look at the ratings for my show and I see 2- to 11-year-olds watching "SVU," it`s completely inappropriate. My show is for adults.
ANDERSON: Media watchdog groups have long complained that there`s too much sex on TV during hours that young people might be watching. And that, they say, could have a dangerous effect on teens.
MELISSA CALDWELL, PARENTS TELEVISION COUNCIL: The social science indicates that kids who are exposed to high levels of sexual content in the media are likely to become sexually active earlier in life than they otherwise might. They`re more likely to engage in riskier behaviors or more sophisticated sexual activities than they otherwise might.
ANDERSON: But is it really true that watching sex on TV makes young viewers more likely to have sex? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asked Dr. Drew who speaks frankly about sex education issues on TV, for answers.
DR. DREW PINSKY, TV RELATIONSHIP EXPERT: It has not been proven that there`s a causative link. In other words, those kids who are already drawn to sexual activity may be the ones that are watching the sexual content material. We don`t know.
ANDERSON: Kaiser says TV shows like the canceled "Joan of Arcadia" and "Summerland" were among the few shows on TV that included messages about the risks and responsibilities of sex. Still, some TV experts are saying don`t expect a big crackdown on risque TV sex.
PEYSER: They can keep complaining, but it`s not going to make a difference. As long as people tune in with shows with sexual content, the networks and cable operators will continue to put it on.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And we will have more on this hot topic in just a moment with a very special guest. U.S. Senator Barack Obama is a passionate opponent of the increasing amount of sex on TV. And he`ll join us for a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsmaker interview in just a few minutes. You don`t want to miss that one.
But first, we do want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Sex on TV: is it out of control? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight and send us an e-mail at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`ll read some of your thoughts later on in the show.
HAMMER: Well, for the very first time Kenny Chesney finally speaks out about the rumors. Is he gay, and did that break up his marriage to Renee Zellweger? The revealing interview`s coming up next.
ANDERSON: And a same-sex showdown. Remember when the husband of the "Stella Got Her Groove Back" author told her he was gay? Well, the two of them faced each other on "Oprah" today, and the sparks flew. That`s next.
HAMMER: Also, from the 17th Century Caribbean to 18th Century England, "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Keira Knightley in Jane Austin`s "Pride and Prejudice." Keira Knightley is live on an interview you`ll only see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: But first tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Which singer`s real name was Herbert Khaury? Elton John, Tiny Tim, Freddie Mercury, or Kinky Friedman? Think about it, and we`ll be right back with your answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: So again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." Which singer`s real name was Herbert Khaury? Elton John, Tiny Tim, Freddie Mercury, or Kinky Friedman? Well, we tiptoed through the tulips with him and watched as he married Miss Vicki on "The Tonight Show" in 1969. The answer is "B," Tiny Tim.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
Tonight, Kenny Chesney emphatically says, "I`m not gay." For the first time the country star is speaking out about rumors that he`s gay and that was the reason that his marriage to Renee Zellweger failed.
In a revealing issue in the upcoming issue of "People" magazine, Chesney talks about the relentless press accusations since Zellweger filed for an annulment on September 14.
He says, quote, "They`ve done nothing short of calling me gay and her a whore. None of those things are true. I`m pretty firm in my sexuality and my love for women."
Chesney says he has no regrets about his four-month marriage to Zellweger but adds, "I`m sad, I`m angry, and I`m hurt and confused. This is not what I envisioned my life to be six months ago."
In a statement, Zellweger says of her decision to ask for an annulment, quote, "It was sad to see the decision result in his enduring a fairly brutal public beating of damaging speculations about his sexuality and character."
You can read more of Kenny Chesney`s emotional interview in this week`s "People" magazine, which is on newsstands Friday.
ANDERSON: Tonight, a bombshell. After a very nasty divorce, author Terry McMillan and her ex-husband, Jonathan Plummer, faced each other today on the Oprah Winfrey show. You may remember the public battle during the divorce.
After 6 1/2 years of marriage Jonathan, who is 23 years younger than Terry, told her he is gay. Things got even uglier when Jonathan tried to get money from Terry in the divorce settlement.
On "Oprah" it was apparent that all of the disagreements haven`t been ironed out yet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHAN PLUMMER, EX-HUSBAND OF TERRY MCMILLAN: When I told her, she said she knew that I was gay.
TERRY MCMILLAN, AUTHOR: No, I didn`t say that.
PLUMMER: Yes, you did.
MCMILLAN: I didn`t say I knew.
PLUMMER: You told me that yes, you did. And then you said you wanted to throw that thing at me...
MCMILLAN: The lamp.
PLUMMER: Right.
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Because you had suspected?
MCMILLAN: Well, yes. Only in the past few months, though. But I didn`t know that he was cheating.
WINFREY: Cheating. So were you more upset by the fact that he was gay or the fact that he was cheating on you?
MCMILLAN: Probably both. Both.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: In happier times McMillan turned the experience of meeting Jonathan into the best-selling novel and movie "How Stella Got Her Groove Back."
HAMMER: Tonight, in a "SHOWBIZ Sitdown," Keira Knightley. She captured everyone`s attention playing Juliette in the comedy "Bend it Like Beckham," and most recently she charmed audiences playing the heroine Elizabeth Swann alongside Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean."
Well, this weekend, audiences will get to see Keira, complete with an 18th century corset, playing Lizzie, one of the famous five Bennet sisters in an adaptation of Jane Austen`s "Pride and Prejudice."
Keira Knightley joining us live here in New York.
Nice to see you.
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, ACTRESS: Thank you very much.
HAMMER: Taking a little break from your filming of the "Pirates of Caribbean," which is going on forever...
KNIGHTLEY: It is.
HAMMER: ... so you`re here to talk about your movie, which is opening this weekend.
KNIGHTLEY: Exactly.
HAMMER: And you`re shooting that down in the Bahamas, the next two installments.
KNIGHTLEY: Yes. Yes.
HAMMER: Did anybody tell you guys it`s hurricane season and it would be kind of a big deal this year?
KNIGHTLEY: Yes, we found out. We got evacuated a couple of weeks ago for Hurricane Wilma, so we had to leave for about a week, because it did hit the island. We were quite lucky because none of the sets were destroyed. But I think there was a bit of damage on the other side.
HAMMER: You and Johnny and Orlando had to...
KNIGHTLEY: We had to leave, yes.
HAMMER: ... make your way out of there?
KNIGHTLEY: We did.
HAMMER: But you`re having a good time, looking forward to the films through completion?
KNIGHTLEY: It`s good, yes. Absolutely. I think, you know, they`re just bigger and better. I`m not giving anything away.
HAMMER: OK.
KNIGHTLEY: Nothing.
HAMMER: Then I won`t...
KNIGHTLEY: You`ll have to wait and see.
HAMMER: Then let`s talk about "Pride and Prejudice." And I`m not going to lie to you, Keira. Typically I`m not a fan of the period pieces. That`s just me.
KNIGHTLEY: Really?
HAMMER: This is the kind of movie I went into it, and I`m not ashamed to say it feels like it just wraps your arms around you. And I understand this is a film that you -- or a role, certainly, you that originally resisted taking on?
KNIGHTLEY: Yes, I was terrified. Completely terrified.
HAMMER: Why is that?
KNIGHTLEY: I thought I wasn`t good enough. I`d never done a lead character before. I didn`t think I was ready. And I thought to take on a character like Elizabeth Bennet that is so well loved, I was kind of setting myself up to be shot down. So I begged my agents not to put me up for it and they told me not to be stupid, and I`m quite glad that they did.
HAMMER: You made the right decision. But a character you were familiar with and a story you`ve familiar with from the time you were a child.
KNIGHTLEY: Yes, I know. I`ve been obsessed with it since I was about 7. I had it on book tape. And used to listen to it all the time. And then the miniseries came out when I was about 10. And then I read the book. And I mean, she is my favorite character in English literature. So yes, I was very lucky.
HAMMER: So life has kind of come around full circle for you?
KNIGHTLEY: It has, yes.
HAMMER: And as far as making the movie and actually being in those fairy tale situations, I mean, the visuals are stunning, the outfits, the balls. Was that a dream come true for you? But what about wearing those corsets?
KNIGHTLEY: Well, the corsets weren`t as bad, because they were awful in "Pirates of the Caribbean," because I was stupid enough to kind of go, "No, make it tighter, make it tighter, make it tighter." Whereas these were kind of, you know, they were all right. They were fine. I had a nice time in my corset this time.
HAMMER: And the stunning locations.
KNIGHTLEY: Yes.
HAMMER: Especially coming from the U.K. I imagine that has to have been a treat.
KNIGHTLEY: No, it was amazing. I`m a London girl, so I`d never really done the whole countryside in the summer in England before. And it is magical in the extreme. So all the locations for "Pride and Prejudice" were actually done on location. They weren`t sets. So we didn`t build anything. They were all actual houses. So it was really great.
HAMMER: Are you kind of sad to have to give it all up? "Oh, this isn`t really my life?"
KNIGHTLEY: Yes, I know, it was awful.
HAMMER: You`ve been at this acting gig, despite your very young age, for a long time. How old were you when you got your first agent?
KNIGHTLEY: I was 6 when I got my first agent, but I was 3 when I first asked for one.
HAMMER: Now what is that about?
KNIGHTLEY: I don`t know.
HAMMER: You said, "Mom, Dad, I want an agent?" You`re 3 years old.
KNIGHTLEY: Yes.
HAMMER: Most kids are asking for, you know, their body...
KNIGHTLEY: Body?
HAMMER: Body? I don`t think that`s what I meant to say.
KNIGHTLEY: Maybe. Something like that.
HAMMER: Their baba.
KNIGHTLEY: Yes, well, I don`t know. I was a precocious brat, really.
HAMMER: No, I don`t believe it for a second.
KNIGHTLEY: And my mom had one and my dad had one and I thought it was unfair that I didn`t have one.
HAMMER: Got to have an agent.
KNIGHTLEY: Got to have an agent, yes.
HAMMER: All right. Well, it`s led you to where you are now. Here in the United States, as you may have noticed when you go through the airports, our tabloids are a bit obsessed with Celebrities. You know, they`re on the covers there. But over there in the U.K. it`s nuts.
KNIGHTLEY: Mm.
HAMMER: It`s out of control, it would seem, and some have said it is.
KNIGHTLEY: Yes.
HAMMER: Do you read any of that stuff yourself?
KNIGHTLEY: No.
HAMMER: Do you avoid it? You`re of the mind let me just not participate in that at all?
KNIGHTLEY: I`d probably say 99 percent of it`s completely false. And I don`t mind fiction when you`re being honest about fiction. But I mind it when you`re being dishonest about it being fictitious.
HAMMER: Strangest thing you`ve ever heard about yourself or read abut yourself?
KNIGHTLEY: I was recently meant to be going out with somebody that I`ve never even met. I had no idea who he was, and apparently we were going through this entire big relationship. I`d never met him. Isn`t that weird?
HAMMER: And maybe it`s someone you would have liked, had you gotten to know them.
KNIGHTLEY: Well, maybe, but I don`t know.
HAMMER: Best of luck with the movie. I really appreciate you stopping by and chatting with us tonight.
KNIGHTLEY: Thank you.
HAMMER: Keira Knightley. Of course "Pride and Prejudice" will be theaters this weekend.
ANDERSON: The results of a stunning new TV sex survey has one of the best-known politicians up in arms. Senator Barack Obama in a "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview coming up.
HAMMER: Plus, how California voters terminated the Terminator. Tonight, why Arnold Schwarzenegger may be angry and why that means Warren Beatty is smiling. That`s coming up next.
ANDERSON: And Dennis Rodman live. They called him "The Worm" on the basketball court, but he sometimes dug himself a hole in his personal life. His wacky behavior and his battle with the bottle. It`s the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
Tonight, late-breaking news from the "New York Times." The paper announced this afternoon that reporter Judith Miller is retiring, effective immediately.
Miller, a 28-year veteran of the "Times," spent nearly three months in jail for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating the 2003 exposure of CIA operative Valerie Plame. She was released in September after receiving a waiver from her source, allowing her to testify.
No word from Miller herself yet, but in a letter to be published tomorrow in the paper, she says she was quitting because, quote, "I have become the news."
HAMMER: Tonight, Schwarzenegger gets stung while Beatty beams. California voters rejected all of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger`s ballot proposals in a special election held last night. This is a brutal blow to Arnold which could hurt his chances for a second term.
Actor Warren Beatty, who had been mentioned as a possible person to run against Schwarzenegger, has campaigned heavily against Arnold and his ideas. And he was very naturally pleased with the outcome.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WARREN BEATTY, ACTOR: You have, I believe, made this scam of an extra election, this abuse of the initiative process, backfire on the people who had the power to call it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The defeated measures would have changed California`s budget process and would have made minors -- have made minors notify their parents before getting an abortion.
Well, we told you earlier about a stunning TV sex survey. Coming up next, now hear what one of the most influential politicians wants networks to do. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsmaker Illinois Senator Barack Obama is live.
ANDERSON: Plus, Dennis Rodman has never been shy, whether it`s wearing a wedding dress or having a blink and you`ll miss it marriage to Carmen Electra. Well, he`s actually got some more secrets. Find out what they are, live in the interview we`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: And Jessica Simpson heads to Africa for a very good cause. She just came back, and we have your first look at the pictures of her trip, coming up next. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues in a minute. I`m Sophia Choi, and here`s your "Headline Prime Newsbreak."
A developing story we`re following now. U.S. intelligence officials say terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is likely behind today`s suicide bomb attacks in Amman, Jordan. Sixty-seven people have been killed, more than 150 wounded. Zarqawi has long threatened to expand his bombing campaign into Jordan, his homeland.
And in Texas, an appeals court has cleared the way for convicted killer Andrea Yates to get a new trial. Yates was convicted of drowning her children in a bathtub in 2001. Another court overturned her convictions, though, because an expert prosecution witness gave false testimony.
And during Senate hearings today, CEOs from the nation`s biggest oil companies defended their record-breaking profit. Lawmakers may impose a windfall profits tax on them to help lower-income consumers pay their heating bills.
That`s the news for now. I`m Sophia Choi.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. You are watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Well, I got my copy of Dennis Rodman`s new book. It`s right here. And it`s called "I Should be Dead by Now."
ANDERSON: What a title.
HAMMER: Dennis just puts it all out there. He`s talking about life since he left the NBA. It has not been an easy ride. He`s had battles with alcoholism, a lot of other issues to deal with. And Dennis is going to join us to talk about it in just moments in the interview you`ll see only here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: He`s certainly led a fascinating, interesting life.
And another person who`s had a full life, Elton John. A.J., he`s been in the music business for more than three decades. Never been afraid to take chances.
And now he`s pursuing some business ventures that many would have thought improbable in the past. Think coffee shops, think country music, think TV producer. Elton himself will tell us all about it in just a moment.
HAMMER: And he does so much work for charity, too.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. That`s near and dear to his heart. Very important to him, in fact.
But first, we`re going to get tonight`s "Hot Headlines." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas is joining us live from Hollywood.
Sibila, what do you have?
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well tonight, a car full of socialites, including Paris Hilton, pulled over by police, then let go. TMZ.com took the video as Paris and her boyfriend, Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos, left an L.A. hot spot, Element, early this morning.
Kimberly Stewart and Talan Torriero of MTV`s "Laguna Beach" were also in the car. The video shows Stavros hitting a truck and narrowly missing bystanders.
The car is pulled over by police. And Talan is heard saying, quote, "I`m the only sober one. Let`s just go." Paris blows a kiss and says, "We love the police." After, the group is released with no breathalyzer tests.
Well, L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant is going to be a dad again. Today we learned Vanessa Bryant is pregnant and due in May. The Bryants have a daughter, Natalia, who will be 3 years old in January.
Now, if you don`t want your kids to see a lot of sex, you probably shouldn`t let them watch too much TV. A study released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation said 70 percent of TV shows include sexual content, an average of five sex scenes per hour.
The study found that "Desperate Housewives," "The O.C.," and other shows popular with teenagers generally have more sex than other shows.
And those are tonight`s "Hot Headlines." No pun intended, Brooke.
ANDERSON: They are hot. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas, thanks so much.
HAMMER: Well, as we just reported, the amounts of sex on TV has increased, in fact doubled since 1998. These findings were announced today at the Kaiser Family Foundation`s Sex on TV event, which was held in Washington, D.C.
And the keynote speaker of that event, joining us now from Washington, D.C., for a "Showbiz Newsmaker Interview," Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
Thanks for being with us, Senator.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), ILLINOIS: Absolutely, A.J. Appreciate it.
HAMMER: Now, one of the things that you pointed out in your address today that`s of concern to you is the fact that you`ll be sitting at home with your 4- and 7-year-old daughters, you`re watching some fine family programming, and all of a sudden a Cialis commercial comes on television. Can you share that concern with us?
OBAMA: Well, yes. I think it`s an experience that a lot of fathers and mothers have probably had, where you suddenly have to explain a medical condition that you`d probably not want to introduce to your children that early in life.
And it raises a broader point, which is that, not only do we see an increase in sex and violence, but it becomes more and more difficult for parents to control what their children see.
And part of, I think, the message that needs to be sent to industry is that parents need more tools, whether it`s warnings, technology that allows them to control the flow of information into their television screens.
Parents have to take responsibility, but they need industry to be a partner. And right now, industry has not been willing to do that.
HAMMER: And on the notion of more sex being on television, because industry may be not doing their part, one of the things that groups like the Parent and Television Council have argued is that, when kids watch too much sex on television, they have more sex at an earlier age. Do you share in that belief?
OBAMA: Well, you know, one of the wonderful things about the Kaiser study and the work that they`ve done is that some very hard, non-partisan data has been developed.
And what appears to be the case is that, when children see casual sexual activity on television, it increases their sense that casual sex is all right.
And, you know, what we want to make certain of -- I think all of us as parents -- is that our children understand sex in a context of love, relationships, marriage, child-bearing, you know, a sense of sacredness about it and intimacy. And that`s generally just not communicated on the screen.
HAMMER: So do you agree with the notion, though, that seeing more sex on the screen leads to kids having sex at a younger age?
OBAMA: Well, what it does contribute to is a casualness and callousness in the attitudes of youth.
We`ve made some progress. It appears that part of what the study indicates is, is that when sexual choices about safe sex and other issues are depicted on television that has a positive impact on children, that when they see young women or young men refraining from casual sexual activity that that, in fact, will reinforce hopefully the messages that they`re getting from home.
And so we need more of those messages on television, less of the sorts of stuff that all too often dominates not just adult programming but programs like MTV that appeal greatly to youth.
HAMMER: Senator Barack Obama, we appreciate you joining us on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
OBAMA: Thank you so much.
ANDERSON: And that`s going to lead us again to the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Sex on TV: Is it out of control? Keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight and write us at showbiztonight@CNN.com. Your e- mails are coming up at 55 past the hour.
HAMMER: Well, the United Nations looked more like the red carpet at a big movie premiere. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there as celebrities, including Walter Cronkite, Tim Robbins, and Jennifer Lopez, attended an event honoring unsung heroes who are fighting poverty.
The honorees were people who used small loans to set up businesses in Afghanistan, Africa, India, and other countries. Lopez says she can identify with the struggle. And Robbins, who emceed the event, says everyone who is able to help should do what they can.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM ROBBINS, ACTOR-ACTIVIST: If you`re comfortable with it, if you happen to have access to the media, if you`re comfortable with it, and you feel like you can do something, then you should. If it`s not something you`re not comfortable with, you shouldn`t do it.
JENNIFER LOPEZ, SINGER: I understand what it is to be from, you know, a background that is a tough background. And you have to kind of find the strength to rise above. And for me to meet other people from other backgrounds who`ve had it even so much harder, you know, it`s important for me to be involved with things like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: At the event, Walter Cronkite read a message from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan who is traveling in the Mideast.
ANDERSON: Jessica Simpson says she needed a break so she went a long way from home. We`ll tell you where she went, next.
HAMMER: Plus, from a quickie marriage to his unique fashion sense, Dennis Rodman certainly knows how to get attention. And now he`s getting quite candid about something you might not know about him. Dennis Rodman joins us live, next.
ANDERSON: Plus, Elton John is showing up at some unlikely places lately, everywhere from Starbucks to the country music scene. Sir Elton is coming up in the interview you`re going to see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
Jessica Simpson says she needed to escape, so she went to Africa. Simpson just got back from a 10-day trip to Kenya, where she worked as a goodwill ambassador for Operation Smile. It`s an international charity that gives free surgery to kids born with facial deformities.
Simpson told "People" magazine that it was refreshing to be there because no one knew who she was for a change and that the trip was rewarding and she felt very blessed by the experience.
For more about Jessica`s journey to Africa, pick up a copy of "People" magazine on newsstands Friday.
HAMMER: Tonight, in another "Showbiz Sitdown," Dennis Rodman, the former NBA star, has certainly made front-page news over the years for his action off the basketball court as well as on.
In his new book, "Dennis Rodman: I Should Be Dead by Now," Dennis opens up about his struggles after his basketball career ended, the break- up of his marriage to Carmen Electra, and his problems with alcohol.
Dennis Rodman, it`s a pleasure to have you here live with us.
DENNIS RODMAN, FORMER NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER: How are you doing?
HAMMER: I`m well. I`m looking at the cover of this book. It`s a great cover. And quite a title, "I Should be Dead by Now."
RODMAN: Yes.
HAMMER: Do you really feel really feel that way?
RODMAN: Oh, hell yes, man. I mean, some of the things I`ve done in the last seven years after basketball has gave me a lot of scares over the last seven years. But it doesn`t point out that in the book.
I`m just saying, as far as I should be dead, it`s to give you a take on how my life is. You know, the first one, "Bad as I Want to Be," it`s a good book. I think this is better. This is better.
HAMMER: OK. Well, a big part of the reasons you write about why you should be dead right now, your battle with alcohol. You`re not shy about writing about that in there.
RODMAN: Oh, hell, no.
HAMMER: One of your best friends for a couple of years, as you put it, "Air Jager," Air Jagermeister.
RODMAN: Right.
HAMMER: So you`re sober now, two years in October, is that right?
RODMAN: Yes, two years. And I`ve always said (INAUDIBLE) I had to stop for a while to get my life together. And structurally, I had to get things in order. So I had to keep my family life in order, and I had to keep my money in order. And if I wouldn`t have stopped then, that would be true right there.
HAMMER: Or you wouldn`t have been around to...
RODMAN: I wouldn`t have been around to do that.
HAMMER: ... to write the book, "I Should be Dead By Now."
RODMAN: Oh, yes. Right.
HAMMER: So how`s it going with the alcohol?
RODMAN: Oh, it`s cool. I mean, you know, if I can do it in moderation. If I can do it in moderation, it`s cool. If I can`t, that means I need to stop completely. So, you know, 18 months. I had my first drink a couple of months ago. But I`ve been doing it, you know, like I said, in moderation.
HAMMER: Were all the people around you kind of freaked out when you took your first drink? Or were you by yourself? I mean...
RODMAN: No. People say, "Oh, that`s just Dennis. That`s just Dennis, you know?" Let`s go over there, have a good time with Dennis. And, you know, all the camaraderies and things like that, so everybody come over and have a couple drinks. But right now, it`s just more controlled now.
HAMMER: OK. Well, another thing that was perhaps viewed as a bit out of control at the time -- and you write about it a lot in the book -- your marriage to the lovely Carmen Electra, which lasted, what, six months, if memory serves me correctly?
RODMAN: Well, you know, we was together for two years, on and off for two years. And I think that Carmen is a beautiful girl. And I love her to death. She`s got a great marriage with Dave Navarro. And things seem to be working out well for her.
But for me, I think it was at the right time at the wrong time, you know? And it`s too bad it didn`t work out. But like I said, I`m very happy for her.
HAMMER: Well, you`ve always been known for your different looks, your many looks. You`ve certainly got a cool one going tonight. We actually have a little Dennis Rodman look book. If you`ll take a turn with me, and maybe we can talk about a couple of these pictures, in the Dennis Rodman photo album that we`re wheeling out.
RODMAN: That was the first one when I first went to Chicago, the first day when I signed with the Chicago Bulls.
HAMMER: So what year would that be?
RODMAN: That was 1996.
HAMMER: And the first thing that comes to mind when you see that photo?
RODMAN: The first thing, "Damn, I`m glad I`m not in San Antonio."
HAMMER: All right.
(LAUGHTER)
Let`s flip the page then and take a look at this next picture. Oh, remember that. That was your book signing.
RODMAN: That was the best -- that was one of the things right there that no one thought I could pull off. And that was the spur of the moment, and it just happened like hours.
So I said, "Let me do something for this book signing." So OK, great. So I got this guy from London to fly in that day to do the makeup. It cost me $10,000 for the makeup. And it still didn`t do no good, but at least he tried, you know?
HAMMER: Oh, you looked beautiful.
RODMAN: At least he tried.
(LAUGHTER)
Whatever.
HAMMER: The lips, I mean, they`re very full and lovely.
RODMAN: They`re very full.
HAMMER: And I would like to point out, while we have the wedding dress picture up, that so many people knew back then, you mentioned to me off air before we started talking, you`re looking to top that tomorrow?
RODMAN: I`m looking to top that tomorrow.
HAMMER: Can you give me a little insight as to what we might see?
RODMAN: Well, not really.
(CROSSTALK)
RODMAN: I think I can -- I think I can match that tomorrow.
HAMMER: We`ll see it in the newspapers. Let`s flip the page. I believe we have another photo here to take a look at.
RODMAN: That`s the PETA ad.
HAMMER: So this is something that`s done more recently. And you`re saying now -- and you were somebody who used to wear fur.
RODMAN: Oh, yes.
HAMMER: So you`re saying now, "Wear ink, not fur."
RODMAN: You know, if you look at that, I got more tattoos than -- that was done six months ago, whatever, eight months ago. I got more tattoos. I`m pretty much covered now.
I never wear any animal skin at all. And, really, I`ve got a thing. I`ve said, "Wait a minute, I`ve never worn an animal skin. Wait a minute. OK, great." And then (INAUDIBLE) came to me and said, "You know, let`s do this." And we did. I`ve been doing it ever since.
HAMMER: All right. Let`s flip the page. I believe we have one more photo to take a look at. Look at that, man. What the heck is going on there?
RODMAN: Hey, I just threw something together. They wanted me to come down the red carpet for "Maxim" magazine. And they asked me, "Come on, Dennis, come on down and walk on the red carpet."
HAMMER: I mean, do you do that yourself? Do you going into your closet, or are you working with a stylist?
RODMAN: It`s like this. I go in my closet and just do this. I just go and put anything on and hope it works. And I think I`m the only guy that can get away with that kind of crap.
HAMMER: Dennis, what`s your biggest regret?
RODMAN: My biggest regret -- I really don`t have any.
HAMMER: I`m going to save you from that, then, and ask you what`s your biggest life lesson learned?
RODMAN: Learned how to be a father.
HAMMER: And that`s going well?
RODMAN: That`s going well now. My kids...
HAMMER: Was it always going well?
RODMAN: Well, (INAUDIBLE) going well, because of, like I said, the partying, the drinking, the women, and stuff like that. But I have a beautiful wife, Michelle, Trinity, D.J., all my kids.
HAMMER: Keep moving forward with them.
RODMAN: Oh, yes, baby.
HAMMER: And congratulations on the book.
RODMAN: Thank you, brother.
HAMMER: Dennis Rodman, thanks for being here.
All right. The book, called, once again, "Dennis Rodman: I Should be Dead by Now," in bookstores everywhere.
ANDERSON: Superstar Elton John has been in the spotlight for more than 30 years. But that doesn`t mean he`s slowing down anytime soon. He`s still working tirelessly with his AIDS foundation, which has raised more than $60 million for research and patient care. He`s also releasing a new album and getting started as a TV producer.
We caught up with Elton John and got the scoop.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there as superstar Elton John performed "Bennie and the Jets" at a benefit in New York City. He was raising money for his charity, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, something near and dear to his heart. Elton established the foundation 13 years ago, and he tells us he regrets not getting involved in AIDS work sooner.
SIR ELTON JOHN, MUSICIAN: It`s something that I thought I didn`t get involved with enough in the 1980s when I needed to, and I`m trying to make up for lost time. It is a huge pandemic that`s affecting the whole world. And unless it`s stemmed in some way or other, it`s going to have catastrophic consequences for the economy of the world.
ANDERSON: Elton keeps very busy with his fundraising and his music, but that doesn`t mean he`s stopping there. Elton tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he`s branching out to television.
He`s already starting work on a TV show for ABC, a comedy with the writer from "Sex and the City" about a big music star and his entourage.
JOHN: It`s not entirely based on me. We have such a laugh on the road. And being British, we`re fairly lethal. And we thought it would be a great idea to do a show on the people that follow the star. There`s a show called "Entourage," which is very successful on HBO. This would be straight-out comedy.
ANDERSON: Elton`s TV connection doesn`t stop there. He`s teaming up with one of the hottest stars in primetime for his new music video.
TERI HATCHER, ACTRESS: Well, I mean, I work at home.
ANDERSON: He cast desperate housewife Teri Hatcher in the video for his latest single, "Turn the Lights Out When You Leave," a song he`ll perform next week in an unlikely venue, the Country Music Awards.
JOHN: I`m very excited about it, because I`ve never really done the country music scene at all. And I love country music.
ANDERSON: "Turn the Lights Out When You Leave" is Elton`s newest single. He`s also out with a brand-new Christmas album. "Elton John`s Christmas Party" is a collection of the Grammy award-winner`s favorite holiday songs from artists like John Mayer, Joss Stone, and U2.
JOHN: It`s got so many great tracks on it. And it`s the sort of record I would play at home on Christmas Day if everything was on one record.
ANDERSON: The album will be sold exclusively at Starbucks. Elton tells us $2 from each sale will go directly to his HIV and AIDS charity.
Selling CDs at Starbucks, not a bad business move. The coffee chain estimates that 33 million people visit their stores each week. Elton`s hoping those caffeinated customers will also pick up copies of his CD.
JOHN: Any way that artists like myself who are older, like McCartney, like the Stones, like Bob Dylan, who don`t get played on the radio so much, we have to look at alternative ways of marketing our product.
ANDERSON: Bruce Springsteen has also gone the Starbucks route. So has Alanis Morisette, even the late, great Ray Charles.
An estimated 25 percent of all "Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company" CDs sold were bought at Starbucks. That album went on to win eight Grammy awards.
JOHN: Well, you know, the Ray Charles record, "Genius Loves Company," was the real breakthrough moment for that. It seems to me that that`s -- if people are buying at Starbucks that`s a good way of looking at it. And, from a business point of view, it seems to work.
ANDERSON: Plus, his AIDS charity will benefit from it. From fundraising to performing, even to TV, Elton tells us he loves being involved in several different things.
JOHN: When you have other things (INAUDIBLE) it makes your life so much more interesting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Elton John`s Christmas album went on sale today at Starbucks. And, as for that TV show on ABC, he says he has not yet cast it.
HAMMER: Still some time for you to sound off in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." We`re asking, sex on TV: Is it out of control? You can vote at CNN.com/showbiztonight. You can write to us, as well. Showbiztonight@CNN.com is our e-mail address. We`re going to read some of your e-mails live, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We`ve been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Sex on TV: Is it out of control?
Let`s take a look at how the vote is going so far: 63 percent of you say yes; 37 percent of you say no.
Here are some of the e-mails we`ve received. Debbie from Florida writes, "It disturbs me how much sex is on TV. I start watching a show with my daughter and change the channel because of the sex scenes."
Barbara from Tennessee writes, "Sex on TV, both in programs and advertising, has gotten completely out of control."
Shannon from Texas says, "Why is it that people are so sexually repressed? If you look at TV in European countries, you see nudity all the time."
You can keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight. We appreciate your e- mails.
HAMMER: It`s time now to see what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow. Now, to do this, we use our "Showbiz Marquee." And to give you that, it`s our showbiz Marquee Guy.
MARQUEE GUY: Tomorrow, Penn and Teller make a submarine disappear. It`s a magic show performed entirely underwater. They sure went deep for that one. But Penn and Teller come up for air and are live. Where? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. When? Tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT backstage at the Victoria`s Secret fashion show. And Heidi Klum tells us how she got back in shape after -- you know what? It`s supermodels in underwear. What else do you need to know? We`ll see you when? Tomorrow.
This is the Marquee Guy. And don`t you worry. Victoria`s Secret is safe with me.
HAMMER: See, now this is a good thing. Backstage at the Victoria`s Secret fashion show tomorrow. I know my crew is going to show up.
ANDERSON: They are going to love that. And, you know, Heidi Klum looks fantastic, just had her second child, what, a couple of months ago?
HAMMER: A couple of months ago. And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Please stay tuned for the latest from CNN Headline News.
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