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Showbiz Tonight
"The Color Purple" Opens on Broadway; Tom Cruise Stirs Controversy with Sonogram Machine; "King Kong" to Boast Great Special Effects
Aired December 01, 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 in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it`s Oprah`s big night and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is there, live. Tonight, her landmark film, "The Color Purple," hits the Great White Way. The stars come out on Broadway to celebrate this powerful and groundbreaking story. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is the only entertainment news show there live.
Plus, Tom Cruise`s baby blowup. Tonight, why the actor has got people outraged, again.
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: I actually bought a sonogram machine.
HAMMER: Could he be harming his unborn child? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is all over the controversy and asking, "Is Tom Cruise being irresponsible?"
And Paula Abdul, live.
PAULA ABDUL, JUDGE, "AMERICAN IDOL": I really don`t know what to say.
HAMMER: Come along with the "American Idol" judge for an inside look at the best and the worst of the hit show. And Paula`s candid thoughts about her emotional battle with her eating disorder. It`s the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
KIMBERLEY LOCKE, SINGER: Hi, I`m Kimberley Locke and 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 City.
Tonight, Oprah takes Manhattan. The curtain has just gone up for the Broadway premiere of "Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Color Purple." And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is the only entertainment news show bringing you live coverage of this massive event.
Our David Haffenreffer is live in the Broadway theatre where the play has just begun.
Very exciting out there tonight, David.
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of excitement here, A.J., tonight. And we certainly did have an opportunity to speak with Oprah Winfrey just a short time ago, which we`ll show you that interview in just a moment.
But first, Oprah really did take Broadway tonight in a big way as she brought the show, "The Color Purple," to the stage here on the Great White Way tonight. Lots of celebrities out tonight.
Just by way of background, this is the story of Celie. She was a poor black child being brought up, and she wrote letters to God over the course of a 20-year period or so. And those letters tell the story about the abuse and rape she suffered at the hand of her own father and subsequently, as she went into marriage.
This a movie that Oprah Winfrey starred in back in 1985, helped to get her film career off the ground and also no doubt help her own television career, as well, in the process. So she really said it was a life dream to bring this show to Broadway.
As I mentioned, we got a chance to catch up with her to talk her about the big night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAFFENREFFER: Every project you undertake helps people to raise awareness about something. Why is it important to bring this play?
OPRAH WINFREY, PRODUCER, "THE COLOR PURPLE": Because I set in previews about a week and a half ago, and I got chills. I was watching with my, you know, little notepad, taking notes. And at the end I heard to the right of me, some woman who was sobbing, and I thought, "Oh, my God. This going to hit a nerve in a way that nothing I can say, write about in a magazine, speak about on the show or do is going to hit a nerve."
It -- there`s the velocity of the power of all of those people on stage that makes people feel like they can do better. It`s more than a play because, as Alice Walker said -- we had this little private party last night -- it is the continuation of the ancestors. It is keeping the spirit of that alive in a way that nothing else can.
And Alice said something else last night. I know her, and she said, "This is the current incarnation here on Broadway, but it will go on. It will go on and on and on and on." And that`s what`s so magical to me about.
You know, "The Color Purple" changed my life in ways that, you know, we cannot go into on CNN right now. But it was the beginning of everything for me. It happened a year -- I was shooting "The Color Purple" when I had to break to go sign my contract for syndication. I couldn`t get my name on the poster. I said to them, "I think I`m going to be known."
And they said, "We can`t put your name on the poster." Ta-da! Ta-da! That`s why this is such a big night.
And then I learned from that experience. When I was shooting "The Color Purple" I had to give up every single week of vacation I had in my contract, because management said, "You`ve got to get back here now. You only have two weeks." I gave up everything in my contract, and that then made me decide I`m going to own my own show, because I never want to be in that position again.
HAFFENREFFER: Does this show need to be a commercial success in order for it to be a success for you?
WINFREY: No, it`s already a success with me. Not just because it`s opened I know how people feel when they come out. You know, this show for me, just like everything in my life, my show is not just a show and this not just a play on Broadway.
This is a revival; it`s a movement; it`s a spirited empowerment session. People come out of here and they feel like, yes! In every part of their life. And that`s what I think great theater does. You know, when I hear a great musician, I hear -- see a great artist paint a painting, it makes you feel like you can enhance your own life and do better, that`s what this is going to do.
HAFFENREFFER: Thank you very much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAFFENREFFER: And she has touched the lives of so many people and empowered so many people over the course of her lengthy career in the business, and you can see it based on some of the guests who have been showing up here tonight. ABC`s Diane Sawyer, of course, Oscar winner Jamie Foxx here tonight. Diddy rolled in just a short time ago. Angela Bassett, the list goes on and on. Tina Turner even here tonight, as well. So a big turnout for their friend and mentor in many cases, Oprah.
A.J., back to you.
HAMMER: David, not a small amount of passion That Oprah Winfrey was showing you for "The Color Purple." Thanks very much for that. We`re going to check back in with you.
A little later on, live on the program and also coming up, a "SHOWBIZ Sitdown" with Lachanze. She`s one of the stars of the musical, "The Color Purple."
ANDERSON: Tonight, another big Tom Cruise controversy and doctors are saying it`s "Risky Business."
Cruise is now under fire for buying a sonogram machine to view his unborn child. Tom and fiancee Katie Holmes are expecting their first child together this spring, and the sonogram they got has ignited a storm involving one of the most respected medical institutions in the country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CRUISE: I actually bought a sonogram machine.
ANDERSON (voice-over): The revelation in an interview with Barbara Walters that he had purchased a sonogram machine has thrust Tom Cruise into the center of another big-time controversy
BARBARA WALTERS, ABC NEWS: And?
CRUISE: I`m going to donate to it to a hospital when we`re done.
WALTERS: You`re going to your own sonograms?
CRUISE: Yes. That`s right.
ANDERSON: This time he`s being slammed by the American College of Radiology, which says Cruise is risking his unborn baby`s health by using a sonogram at home and could be breaking the law.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT went straight to the chairman of the ACR.
JAMES P. BORGSTEDE, M.D., CHAIRMAN, ACR: I was shocked when I heard, No. 1, that he had been sold this type of equipment. And No. 2, that he would even consider using ultrasound this way. It`s my feeling that perhaps Mr. Cruise has been misinformed as to the safety and the skill that is required in interpreting these examinations.
ANDERSON: This just the latest in a string of controversies surrounding Tom Cruise. The American Psychiatric Association lashed out at the star after he referred to psychiatry as pseudoscience in an interview with Matt Lauer on "The Today Show."
CRUISE: See, here`s the problem. You don`t know the history of psychiatry. I do.
ANDERSON: The APA called Cruise`s comments irresponsible, and Cruise didn`t stop there. He then took on Brooke Shields for taking anti- depressant medication for postpartum depression after the birth of her first baby. But Shields told me it brought much need attention to the issue.
BROOKE SHIELDS, ACTRESS: I really didn`t think too much about any of it. I was in London. But I -- what I`ve been sort of shocked by, to be honest, is how my one little story, although very big to me, has become this sort of -- the sort of -- provided this template for so many different stories to come to light.
ANDERSON: And who could forget Cruise`s headline drawing couch jumping escapade on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" as he giddily declared his love for now fiance Holmes? Cruise told Walters he doesn`t regret a thing.
CRUISE: When you find that woman, you should absolutely be unabashed about it. That`s how I feel about it. I will forever be jumping on couches. Now we`re going to have, you know, children. It`s beautiful.
ANDERSON: As entertaining as all that couch jumping may be, the ACR wants to make it clear that sonograms aren`t entertainment
BORGSTEDE: There is that concern that ultrasound could now be viewed as home entertainment, and we have to make a clear distinction between a medical test and -- and home video. This is not home video.
I think there is the potential for other people to try and mimic this behavior. And this is not the appropriate behavior. And it`s really, in many cases, this not legal either.
ANDERSON: The Cruise camp had no comment on the sonogram controversy, but SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned they are getting a lot of calls on the topic.
CRUISE: I told Katie, I said look, "I promise you. It`s never going to be boring, girl."
ANDERSON: Not boring. Barbara Walters agreed in an interview with CNN`s Larry King.
WALTERS: He is right now, whether you agree or disagree, fascinating.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Thomas Cruise is currently filming "Mission: Impossible III." He told Walters he doesn`t have a film scheduled after that and that he plans to marry Holmes next summer or early next fall.
Now we want to hear from you. That`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Tom Cruise`s sonogram machine: is he being irresponsible? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. And send us e-mail at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`re going to read some of your thoughts later on in the show.
HAMMER: Coming up, Jennifer Aniston gets "Derailed." A drive with Vince Vaughn ends up in a run-in with police. That`s coming up in our "Legal Lowdown."
ANDERSON: And long live the king. "King Kong" is screened for the first time and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is there. Our producer, Jenny D`Attoma was among the first journalists in the nation to see it. And her encounter will keep you on the edge of your seat. Coming up.
HAMMER: Also the purple heart beats on Broadway. It`s curtain up for "The Color Purple." We`re going to meet the show`s star, Lachanze, coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: You are looking live at the Broadway Theater in New York City where just a short time ago the curtain finally went up for the premiere of "Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Color Purple."
I`m A.J. Hammer. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
We`re the only entertainment news show bringing you live coverage of this very big night. And now a "SHOWBIZ Sitdown" with Lachanze, one of the stars of the musical. She plays the role of Celie. Now Celie`s character was made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie version of "The Color Purple."
I asked Lachanze about Whoopi, Oprah and what it is about "The Color Purple" that makes it such an iconic story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LACHANZE, ACTRESS: It`s a human story of love and redemption, and it`s timeless. It`s a story of survival told through the eyes of a young 14-year-old girl in her letters to God. And every one relates to her desire for love, her desire for healing, her desire for just her understanding, just to understand her existence here.
HAMMER: Another icon, a woman by the name of Oprah Winfrey, has a strong connection...
LACHANZE: Yes.
HAMMER: ... strong connection to this story. Of course, she appeared in the movie as Sophia. The book is one of her favorite things. And her name is all over this production as executive producer.
I know you appeared on her program recently, but tell me how much interaction you actually had with her as it pertains to the musical?
LACHANZE: She -- she`s not around much in rehearsal, but she did surprise us. The very first day that we found out that she was going to be one of our producers, none of us had any clue. She walked into rehearsal and literally brought the cast to our knees. Everyone was in tears and just so excited to know that she`s on the project.
HAMMER: When she came in and surprised you guys did she get up and make a speech or one of her -- I could see her kind of like the coach at a football game.
LACHANZE: Well, she definitely told us how important it was, the show, what we`re doing in the show, the meaning of the show, how not only entertaining it is but how life changing and transforming it`s been for people.
HAMMER: The image that a lot of people have in their mind of the character Celie is that of Whoopi Goldberg, who of course, played it in the film.
LACHANZE: Yes.
HAMMER: Did you draw on that at all? I mean, obviously you`re making it your own. But did you draw on Whoopi`s performance in the film for what you`re doing?
LACHANZE: Absolutely. Absolutely. And not only was it my favorite movie of all time, which is just so ironic that I`m playing this character, her portrayal of this character was just inspirational to me. And as an actor, I just was so impressed by her skill at communicating her depth of emotion without saying a word. And I tried to find my own way of researching that through her. And learning my own way of exposing that in the character.
HAMMER: You have a story that inspires people, as well.
LACHANZE: Yes.
HAMMER: You lost your husband in the September 11 attacks.
LACHANZE: Yes.
HAMMER: And that was while you were pregnant?
LACHANZE: Yes.
HAMMER: A lot of people who went through what you went through are still -- everybody`s still dealing with it but have not found the ability to go on. It`s a major thing to overcome. I can`t even begin to speak for someone who`s gone through it.
Where have you found your strength? I mean look at you. You`re doing great.
LACHANZE: I tell you, I was pregnant. And this where you know God definitely has -- I know that God has been present in my life. Being pregnant, I had to force myself to take care of a new life. And that -- that urgency, the fact that this child was there and needed to be fed every day, forced me to deal with the child own personal grief or wallow in my own fears and sadness.
And in the just putting my steps ahead of each other, I was -- I looked back and I had gone a month, five months, six months, a year, and it was sort of how I was able to survive this, just by keeping, just by keeping my steps. I just had to keep going. And that`s what kept me moving forward.
And I looked up and she`s 4 years old, and I`m remarried. And I`m doing this amazing job -- this amazing job. And I`m just really blessed. And I`m sure that has to do with the fact that God gave me something to deal with. He gave me something to do.
And if I had anything to say to anyone out there who is still dealing with this, I would say just get back in life, just get back in the water. It is fine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Whatever that thing is, that star quality, Lachanze has it. Right now, she is on stage at this theatre, the Broadway Theater in New York City as "Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple" opens tonight. We`re going to take you back live to the red carpet a little later on here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT so we can hear what Oprah and other stars have to say about this big night.
ANDERSON: Tonight, a group of castaways has become head of the family. "Lost" was crowned best drama by the seventh annual Family Television Awards. The honors, which are chosen by a group of advertisers, celebrate outstanding family fare in prime time.
"The King of Queens" won for best comedy, and "Everybody Hates Chris" was tapped as best new series. The event will air on the WB on December 11.
HAMMER: Time now for a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive. Director Peter Jackson`s "King Kong" is going to be released in theaters on December 14, but SHOWBIZ TONIGHT producer Jenny D`Attoma has already seen it. She was at the very first screening. She`s joining me live to give us a little sneak peek.
All right, Jenny, you get all the good perks with this job, don`t you?
JENNY D`ATTOMA, PRODUCER, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: I certainly do.
HAMMER: This has been in the works for nine years. Millions, literally tens of millions of people can`t wait to see this movie. What is your initial reaction to having seen it?
D`ATTOMA: My initial reaction is that Kong will be king at the box office. It really will. I mean, Peter Jackson did an amazing job in this movie. The effects, it just kept you at the edge of your seat for three hours
HAMMER: And is that what we`re going to be hearing people buzzing about? Because obviously, people are going to start writing about it over the course of the next week in the newspapers. What will be the biggest things that, you know, are going written about and buzzed about about this movie?
D`ATTOMA: I would say all the special effects, the scenery. He grew trees for Skull Island. I mean it was just unbelievable to see how much detail. The New York City streets in 1933, vintage cars, it was just -- it`s just extreme.
HAMMER: And certainly there are some surprise that, you know, I don`t want you to reveal because I don`t want any spoilers here, but let me in on something else, you know, since you got the inside track here?
D`ATTOMA: I just think seeing the enormity of "King Kong" on the screen and the way he looked so realistic and his empathy. And you see the way he plays off with Naomi Watts, you feel like he`s a person almost. You forget that he is this giant gorilla on screen.
HAMMER: And a lot of that comes down to special effects. As you said, those are spectacular. And Peter Jackson certainly was on the cutting edge of that with "The Lord of the Rings." He`s responsible for "The Lord of the Rings" movies, but he really even raised the bar with this film?
D`ATTOMA: Yes. He raised the bar, because he created New York City. He created Skull Island. He didn`t come to New York to do this. He did this in New Zealand on his own property, on his own lot. So it`s just amazing to me that all that was done on a stage.
HAMMER: All right. The original movie was done in 1933. The last remake was done in the 1970s. It was universally panned. This one will not be is what I`m sensing here.
D`ATTOMA: I don`t think so.
HAMMER: All right, Jenny. Well, good for you for having seen it. I look forward to it, as well. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT producer Jenny D`Attoma, thank you for joining us.
D`ATTOMA: Thank you.
HAMMER: And "King Kong" will arrive in theaters on December 14.
ANDERSON: Jimmy Kimmel goes to extremes to protect Regis Philbin. That`s coming up in "Laughter Dark."
HAMMER: And a straight-up -- sorry about that -- a straight up talk with Paula Abdul -- judge Paula Abdul, of course, from "American Idol." Saying that opposites attract, but what`s it really like for this former cheerleader to work with insult king Simon Cowell? She`ll join us, live, in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And a bad trip for "the good girl." Jennifer Aniston is pulled over by the cops, and guess who`s in the driver`s seat? Vince Vaughn. We`ll have the details in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Legal Lowdown."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Time now for "Thursday InStyle." Sheryl Crow is everywhere these day, but she still finds time to indulge some of her guilty pleasures. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the December issue, we feature Sheryl Crow, who is one of the most respected singer/songwriters of her generation. So it`s really interesting to learn that she has so many guilty pleasures.
Sheryl Crowe`s karaoke song is "I Can`t Get No Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones. She says there`s no way to sing it well, so you`re pretty much off the hook.
Sheryl Crowe`s favorite touristy trip is Miami. She says when you go down there you know it`s going to be all about the sun and cocktails.
She tells "InStyle" her favorite late night TV is "I Love Lucy." When she was a kid, it was always on when her family just sat down to dinner, so she felt that Lucy was practically a member of her household.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I, too, am a fan of "I Love Lucy."
And to read more about Sheryl`s guilty pleasures, check out this month`s "InStyle" magazine. It`s on newsstands now.
HAMMER: Time now for "Talk of the Day." Well, since the theft of Gregory Peck`s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, comedian Jimmy Kimmel promised Regis on "Live with Regis and Kelly" that he would keep an eye on Regis`s star.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY KIMMEL, COMEDIAN: Hi, Regis, hi, Kelly. Regis, I know you`re worried about somebody trying to steal your star, and I told you I would take care of it. It`s right outside our building here at "Jimmy Kimmel Live." You have nothing to worry about. In fact, I`ve taken some extra precautions to make sure your star is the safest on Hollywood Boulevard.
We`ve secured it with an electric fence. We have razor sharp barbed wire, a trained attack dog, a trained attack dog`s friend. We have a trained attack security guard named Guillermo, who is here from Mexico. That`s on the ground.
On the roof, my Uncle Frank, a 20-year veteran of the NYPD, has a sniper rifle, and he is ready to shoot anyone who so much even reaches their hand underneath...
(GUN FIRE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Always good to have people looking out for you.
Well, coming up, the Great White Way goes ultra violet. "The Color Purple" makes its eagerly awaited debut. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT heads back to the red carpet live for Oprah`s brand new musical.
ANDERSON: And "Idol" chatter with Paula Abdul. The "American Idol" hosts dishes about Simon and shares her emotional struggle with an eating disorder.
HAMMER: And it is World AIDS Day, and on this day, Alicia Keys lends her voice in the fight against the disease, one of many stars sounding the call for a cure. We`ve got our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues in one minute. Hi, everybody. I`m Thomas Roberts with your "Headline Prime Newsbreak."
Life in prison or death? A Florida jury is deliberating the fate of Joseph Smith. He`s convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing 11-year-old Carlie Brucia nearly two years ago in Sarasota. Her abduction made national news after it was captured on a car wash surveillance camera. The judge will make the final decision in Smith`s sentencing.
The lower Ninth Ward is open again in New Orleans. The section was the worst hit from Hurricane Katrina more than three months ago. Residents are only allowed in for the day to collect anything that they can salvage. Police and fire officials say there`s still dangerous debris and some of the buildings could collapse at any time.
And the national Christmas tree is all aglow. President Bush flipped the switch at this year`s Pageant of Peace on the Ellipse near the White House. The tradition dates back to 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge lit the first tree in the president`s park. Looking pretty good.
That`s the news for now. I`m Thomas Roberts. We return you to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, live in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson, live in Hollywood. And you are watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.
Well, coming up, judge Paula Abdul`s live and she`s got something new she says you`re going to love.
HAMMER: But first, our continuing live coverage of the biggest night on Broadway this year, for certain, the premiere "Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Color Purple." Let`s get right back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s David Haffenreffer. He`s live outside the Broadway Theatre in Manhattan.
HAFFENREFFER: You know, A.J., this is no small feat to get a show onto Broadway. And this is yet another crowning achievement for the queen of daytime talk, that of course being Oprah Winfrey, who had an opportunity to catch up with a lot of old friends on the red carpet tonight, big names like Chris Rock, and Tina Turner, and a whole long list of others all here tonight. She`s greeted them graciously on the red carpet.
The musical is something that is very near and dear to Oprah Winfrey`s heart. She, of course, was in the film back in 1985. So she told me earlier that this was a big deal for her to bring this particular story to Broadway, as it is a very poignant story about the life of an abused young, poor, black woman.
So we caught up with a bunch of the VIPs on the red carpet tonight to talk to them about why it was important that this show make it to Broadway.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAFFENREFFER: Why is it important that Oprah get this show to Broadway?
DONALD TRUMP, HOST, "THE APPRENTICE": Well, I mean, she`s the Broadway person. Let`s face it. Everything she does is first-class. And I`m sure the show is going to be great. I haven`t seen it. I`ve heard great things, but I`m sure the show is going to be terrific
ASHANTI, R&B ARTIST: Oprah can basically accomplish anything. I`m not surprised.
(LAUGHTER)
I just like seeing Oprah be Oprah. You know, you`re never, never surprised by what she does because it`s like -- thank you. She`s like unstoppable.
COURTNEY B. VANCE, ACTOR, "LAW AND ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT": It would not be as large as it was. I think the combination of everyone knowing "The Color Purple" with Oprah producing it, it`s a blockbuster now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAFFENREFFER: Just about everything she touches seems to turn to gold. And we did catch up with Oprah Winfrey on the red carpet earlier, asked her if she had any pre-show jitters. And she said absolutely not. She`d already seen the show four or five times, and said she was very emotional watching them. We also talked to her about other things, as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: You know, "The Color Purple" changed my life in ways that we cannot go into on CNN right now. But it was the beginning of everything for me. It happened a year -- I was shooting "The Color Purple" when I had the break to go sign my contract for syndication.
I couldn`t get my name on the poster. I said to me, "I think I`m going to be known," and they said, "We can`t put your name on the poster." Ta-da, ta-da. That`s why this is such a big night.
And then I learned from that experience, when I was shooting "The Color Purple," I had to give up every single week of vacation I had in my contract because management said, "You got to get back here now. You only have two weeks." But I gave up everything in my contract, and that then made me decide I`m going to own my own show, because I never want to be in that position again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAFFENREFFER: You know, when Oprah talked about whether or not she want to be and get on stage and play the role that she played in the film back in 1985, but she said the woman who`s playing her in the play, in the theater behind us tonight, has got such a beautiful voice, she says she`s going to stick this one out and let the professionals deal with it -- A.J.?
HAMMER: In a life of amazing accomplishments, yet another one to be extremely proud of for Oprah Winfrey. Congratulations to her. And David Haffenreffer, thank you very much, joining us live at the Broadway Theater in New York.
ANDERSON: Tonight, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report: World AIDS day and the remarkable ways some of Hollywood`s biggest stars are working to rid the planet of one of the worst epidemics ever. Leaders, activists, victims and celebrities are uniting around the globe today to get the message out that far stronger action is needed to fight the battle against AIDS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELTON JOHN, MUSICIAN: It is a huge pandemic that`s affecting the whole world. We have to do something.
CYNTHIA NIXON, ACTRESS: Only 1 percent of people affected in Africa are getting any medical treatment.
ANDERSON (voice-over): It`s one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history, HIV-AIDS. It will kill 3 million people worldwide by the end of this year.
ALICIA KEYS, MUSICIAN: When you`re in an impoverished country where you just cannot afford that medication, your only other option is to die.
ANDERSON: That includes more than half a million children under 15 and 14 million children -- 14 million orphans -- because their parents have died of AIDS.
ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: And they`re trying to raise themselves. They`re trying to feed themselves.
ANDERSON: Angelina Jolie is just one of the many celebrities using her fame to help the millions of victims of AIDS.
JOLIE: Every 14 seconds, a child becomes orphaned.
ANDERSON: Jolie recently joined several senators and religious leaders asking for full funding of a new law that helps children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. It`s an issue close to Jolie`s heart.
JOLIE: Recently, this issue became very personal to me. My daughter, Zahara, was orphaned because of AIDS. She`s one of one million children in Ethiopia that are orphaned by AIDS.
ANDERSON: Musician Alicia Keys is also doing her part to help orphans and children who have AIDS. She tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it`s about getting these children medicine.
KEYS: If you can afford that medication, or if you can be provided that medication through Keep a Child Alive, then you can live, you can watch the children grow, you can watch the children play, you can become grandmothers, and that`s what it`s about.
ANDERSON: Keys has teamed up with the AIDS organization Keep a Child Alive to help raise money. Today, she and U2 front-man Bono released a song called "Don`t Give Up, Africa." Download it on iTunes starting December 6th; all proceeds go to Keep a Child Alive.
SUSAN SARANDON, ACTRESS: Children are missing medicines that prevent transmission from mother to child.
ANDERSON: Also doing their part to raise awareness, Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, Ralph Fiennes, and Jessica Lange, all starring in PSAs for Unicef.
The statistics are staggering and heart-breaking. Today, the World Bank said more people will become infected with AIDS and die in 2005 than in any previous year. Celebrities like Pam Anderson, Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera are doing what they can, partnering, working with MAC Cosmetics and their AIDS fund.
PETER LICHTENTHAL, GENERAL MANAGER, MAC COSMETICS: By buying this VIVA GLAM lipstick, you are directly helping people living with AIDS.
ANDERSON: One hundred percent of the proceeds go to fight AIDS. And with the help of Pam Anderson and the other celebrities, so far the MAC AIDS Fund has raised $55 million.
But despite all the money raised, 8,000 people die of AIDS every day around the world, many living in areas where it`s impossible to get the right medicine to treat it.
Elton John tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he is trying to change that.
ELTON JOHN, MUSICIAN: We`ve put the infrastructure in so that people can actually get the medicine.
ANDERSON: He set up a foundation in 1992 to get to the people the relief they need.
JOHN: I knew that, with my celebrity, I could pull favors from people. I`m basically what I call a whore of the foundation. I go out and talk to you people and try and get attention. And people in the offices in the United Kingdom and in America do the ground work every day.
KENNETH COLE, FASHION DESIGNER: Elton has been really extraordinary on a lot of levels. He`s been very out front. He`s used his celebrity. He`s used his resources to talk about this long before most people were.
ANDERSON: Designer Kenneth Cole has also done his part in the fight against HIV-AIDS. Today, he unveiled a new ad campaign called "We All Have AIDS." On buses and billboards, the ad features such celebrities as Will Smith, Sharon Stone, and Tom Hanks, with the tag line, "We all have AIDS if one of us does."
Cole told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT being a celebrity helps get that message out there.
COLE: I think it`s an extraordinary resource, and it`s very powerful. And people listen, and they pay attention.
ANDERSON: And today, the world is paying attention. Images like these in cities around the globe as people, not just celebrities, united to raise that awareness and money, united in the fight to wipe out HIV and AIDS for good.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: MTV has also joined the fight. Today, they released a film about the AIDS epidemic free to broadcasters. The story talks about the dangers of contracting HIV. MTV says more than half of all HIV infections occur in people younger than 25, the age of their target audience.
HAMMER: Important work that every single one of those organizations is doing.
Well, as we reported earlier, Tom Cruise is in the middle of another controversy. Cruise told Barbara Walters that he bought a sonogram machine to use at home with his pregnant fiancee, Katie Holmes.
Today, the American College of Radiology says Tom Cruise is risking his unborn baby`s health by using a sonogram at home and could actually be breaking the law. That is tonight`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Tom Cruise`s sonogram machine: Is he being irresponsible?
You can vote by going to CNN.com/showbiztonight. Or send us more of your thoughts at showbiztonight@CNN.com. We`ll read your e-mails at 55 past the hour.
ANDERSON: Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, stopped by the police in a car together. We`ll tell you what happened, coming up next in the "Legal Lowdown."
HAMMER: Plus, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul is here live. We`re going to ask her about Simon, of course. Plus, the issue that`s very close to her heart that affects scores of young girls. Paula Abdul, coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
It is time now for a look at what`s new at the movies this weekend. "Aeon Flux" opens tomorrow. The science-fiction film is set 400 years in the future. It stars Charlize Theron. The comedy, "The Kid and I," also opens tomorrow. Tom Arnold wrote the screenplay and also stars in the movie. And the transgender drama "Transamerica," starring Felicity Huffman, opens in New York and L.A. tomorrow and other cities December 23rd.
HAMMER: It is time now for another "Showbiz Sitdown," this time with Paula Abdul. She sits alongside Randy and Simon, of course. And to put it politely, well, let`s just say they don`t always see eye to eye as they judge the wannabe stars on FOX`s super successful reality singing show, "American Idol."
Paula is dropping by to chat about "The Best and Worst of American Idol: Seasons One through Four." It`s out on DVD.
Paula, it`s lovely to have you back here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
PAULA ABDUL, HOST, "AMERICAN IDOL": Thank you.
HAMMER: And I`m sorry that you dropped your cell phone in the toilet.
ANDERSON: Brooke, I`m sorry.
HAMMER: Brooke Anderson, out in Hollywood, she just wants you to know she needs your phone number again because she dropped her cell phone in the toilet.
ABDUL: Thanks. That was a private moment between...
ANDERSON: Yes, we had a bad connection, Paula. We did.
HAMMER: OK. Enough about that. We`ll deal with that later on.
ABDUL: OK, OK.
HAMMER: Season five, heavy into production already. It`s going to launch again, making its debut in January. How`s that all going for you?
ABDUL: It`s going pretty incredible. In every single season, we come off a great finale and we say, "How we going to do it again?" And then we hit these unbelievable cities, like Greensboro, and they`re so gracious that we`re -- like, "You came to see us," and we find amazing talent.
HAMMER: So is what you`re saying, Paula Abdul, this is going to be the best season of "American Idol" ever?
ABDUL: OK, now, I`m telling you it`s a different season.
HAMMER: OK.
ABDUL: Different being great, because I think this probably the season where we`re going to have the most unique voices.
HAMMER: Is there a different way you`re approaching the production of the show or is it pretty much what we`ve come to know?
ABDUL: Yes, I`ve put a muzzle on Simon Cowell.
HAMMER: Oh, really?
ABDUL: Yes, no. We`ve actually -- when we go to these incredible cities, where -- you know, of course, outside of Los Angeles and New York, there are kids who just can`t make it to these cities, so they -- we go out there and we`re finding the talent.
HAMMER: Right.
ABDUL: And there are a lot of young ones this season, too.
HAMMER: Well, you`re finding the good talent. And I`m sure you`re finding some of the ugliness, as well. And all of that is on this new DVD set of season one through four, the best and the worst, as you mentioned. Of course, we all know the ugliness is much more fun to watch. So let`s take a little look at some ugliness right here, shall we?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): Crazy...
RANDY JACKSON, HOST, "AMERICAN IDOL": OK. Paula?
ABDUL: I`m speechless. I really...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s the stuff that just gets you through the day, isn`t it?
ABDUL: I`m telling you, this is the best stocking stuffer because there are laughs -- well, you know, I pee in my pants when I laugh. I don`t recommend that to anyone, but this will make do you that.
HAMMER: All right. You dropped your phone in the toilet...
ABDUL: OK. Enough potty humor.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: ... and you`re talking about peeing in your pants. Let`s move for that.
On the DVD, as well, we see more, of course, of the little banter or fighting that goes on between you and Simon. It`s just a part of the program. As you know, Simon Cowell making the news earlier this week for announcing he`s on board for five more seasons of "American Idol."
ABDUL: What?
HAMMER: Oh, you know what I`m talking about. So the question I have for you: What about you? Can you break some news for us? What`s your deal with "American Idol"? How much longer are you signed up for?
ABDUL: If he`s on for five more seasons, who is going to be there to fight for these kids?
HAMMER: Are you saying here now you`re on for five more seasons?
ABDUL: I don`t know where I am tomorrow, but I`m going to say that I`m going to have to sit next to Simon Cowell as long as I can handle it and fight for those contestants, because you know what? Somebody`s got to help them leave that stage with grace and dignity. And it`s going to be me.
HAMMER: OK. All right.
ABDUL: It`s going to be me.
HAMMER: You`re out there fighting for the contestants and you`re out there fighting for people in a cause that`s very near and dear to your heart.
You`ve been very public and candid about your battle with an eating disorder. And you were recently honored at the -- it`s the National Eating Disorders Association. We were there with you when you got that honor. Why was that such a big day for you, because you were overwhelmed with that?
ABDUL: Because people don`t really speak out truthfully about how hard it is to get over an eating disorder. And that`s a constant struggle. And it`s a very shameful one for a lot of people, and it takes an entire family to engage in getting help.
It`s the one disorder that you can`t do it on your own. Fighting anorexia, fighting bulimia, fighting body image distortion, you need help. And it`s my proudest, you know, achievement.
I mean, I can sell 50 million albums and sit next to Simon Cowell -- that`s an achievement -- but doing my recovery has been the biggest and helping millions and millions of people. And being an ambassador to NEDA, which the National Eating Disorders Association, is something that I`m extremely proud of.
HAMMER: And you should be. And I can tell how important it is for you, just by your body language. Give out that phone number before we go here.
ABDUL: Give out the phone number? OK. 1-888...
HAMMER: Read it off the paper.
ABDUL: And I didn`t write it, OK? You did.
HAMMER: Try to read my handwriting.
ABDUL: 1-800-931-2237. It is extremely important. Get help. I urge you.
HAMMER: Paula Abdul, it`s a pleasure to have you here. Thanks for dropping by.
ABDUL: Thank you.
HAMMER: And the fifth season of "American Idol" will get under way on January 17th. You can grab your own copy of the "Best and Worst of American Idol: Seasons One through Four" on DVD in stores now.
ANDERSON: It is time now for the "Legal Lowdown." This is a look at what`s going on in the world of legal entertainment news. On the docket tonight, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn pulled over by the police in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Joining us live from the TMZ studios in Glendale, California, Harvey Levin, who is the managing editor of TMZ.com.
Hey, Harvey.
HARVEY LEVIN, MANAGING EDITOR, TMZ.COM: Hey, Brooke.
ANDERSON: All right, let`s start with this. Of course, Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn, they were in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Tuesday, pulled over by the police. What happened?
LEVIN: It was a minor traffic violation. When the cop actually approached the car, we are told from somebody in the department that the cop smelled alcohol. And they actually gave Vince Vaughn, who was driving the car, a blood alcohol test at the scene with one of these portable kits.
We don`t know what the result of the test was. What we`re told by somebody inside the department is that they did not cite Vince Vaughn. They let them go, however they told him not to drive the car. And ultimately, some friends picked Vince and Jennifer up and drove them away, and they actually left the car on the road.
ANDERSON: OK, let me get this straight: warned not to drive, but left, wasn`t cited. Do you think this is preferential celebrity treatment, Harvey? You know all too well, recently Paris Hilton, her boyfriend, pulled over in L.A. A blood alcohol test wasn`t even administered in that case, let off the hook, people think maybe because they were high profile.
What do you think in this case?
LEVIN: Well, just real quickly on the Paris Hilton one, what the cops are saying is, look, everybody was out of the car by the time we got there and we didn`t know who was driving. You know, you can argue that one, one way or the other.
In this case, I don`t know enough about it. It seems kind of odd to me that you say to somebody, you know, "Don`t drive the car," because you say that to somebody if there`s a problem.
ANDERSON: Right.
LEVIN: And if there`s a problem, you know, what`s the deal with the person having driven with the smell of alcohol in the car? So it certainly raises questions.
ANDERSON: It definitely does. And, Harvey, I want to say congratulations to you. It`s a big day for you. The first day TMZ.com has launched. I was on the Web site earlier today. It looks great. How`s the first day been?
LEVIN: It`s really been great. It`s so much fun to be able to do entertainment news in real-time. I mean, you folks do a great job doing it live, you know, an hour a day. We`re up 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
And it`s just a really interesting experience to try to chase all the stories, and chase down leads, and break stories, and get video. It`s really kind of an amazing experience. It`s been great.
ANDERSON: Well, congratulations to you on that. And thank you, as always, for coming on and sharing your insight with us. Harvey Levin from TMZ.com.
LEVIN: See you, Brooke.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We`ve been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Tom Cruise`s sonogram machine: Is he being irresponsible? The vote so far: 79 percent of you say yes; 21 percent of you say no.
Some of the e-mails we`ve received. Laura from California writes, "It just goes to show you that money can buy you a sonogram machine but it cannot buy you common sense."
Joel from New York writes, "While it is a bit eccentric, it is not irresponsible. Give the guy a break."
HAMMER: What is happening tomorrow night on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT? Let`s find out right now with the "Showbiz Marquee."
Marquee Guy, all yours.
MARQUEE GUY: Tomorrow, Jon Voight as John Paul. Jon Voight sits down with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to talk about playing the pope and about his uber- famous daughter -- you know who she is -- Angelina Jolie. Jon Voight, live tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, you ought to know that Alanis Morissette is live on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Ten years after the album that took the world by storm, Alanis is here for a jagged little "Showbiz Sitdown." And, A.J., amazingly, she has done it all with one hand in her pocket.
This is the Marquee Guy. Hey, look, a free ride. Oh, but I`ve already paid. Isn`t it ironic?
Oh, the things they make me say.
HAMMER: We didn`t make him say that. He made that up on his own.
ANDERSON: No, we didn`t. And has it really been 10 years since a "Jagged Little Pill"? I can`t believe it.
HAMMER: Ten years in June. It has.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN Headline News.
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