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Showbiz Tonight
Whitney & Bobby Split; `Dog` Collared; Best Dressed Stars
Aired September 14, 2006 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: The bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman arrested. And the teacher who had an affair with her 14-year-old student speaks out.
I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Whitney Houston`s startling divorce move.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has got the revealing divorce documents. Why her turbulent, sometimes jaw-dropping marriage to Bobby Brown is over.
And what comes next? Can Whitney make a comeback?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates whether we should be saying, "Houston, we`ve still got a problem."
Breaking the rules.
Tonight, the full-figured model who is the face and body of one of the world`s biggest mainstream fashion houses. The same woman who once starved herself to a dangerously small size.
Tonight, Crystal Renn reveals how she overcame a scary eating disorder and shares her courageous story of health and success in the interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer New York. And what a shock we got today.
Dog the bounty hunter under arrest. Duane "Dog" Chapman, you know him as the star of the A&E reality series "Dog The Bounty Hunter," was arrested in Hawaii today. Get this, Dog`s arrest is related to an arrest he made of a now infamous rape suspect.
We are sorting out all the details. We`re going to have the very latest for you in just a few minutes on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
But first, the Whitney Houston divorce bombshell.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has been working all day just to get you the inside story on exactly why she is divorcing Bobby Brown, including getting the papers Whitney filed in court.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITNEY HOUSTON, SINGER (SINGING): I have nothing...
HAMMER (voice over): And it looks like Whitney Houston no longer has Bobby Brown. Houston has filed for separation from her husband of 14 years, ending one of the most unlikely, volatile and, we have to admit, interesting celebrity marriages ever.
ANGELA SHELTON, "FRANGELA": If Bobby and Whitney can`t keep it together, who can?
FRANCES CALLIER, "FRANGELA": Who can?
HAMMER: Angela Shelton and Frances Callier, who make up the comedy duo "Frangela," tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they were surprised that Whitney and Bobby split. But just a little bit surprised.
SHELTON: You just grow apart.
CALLIER: YES.
SHELTON: You know, one of you wants to use crack, one of you doesn`t.
CALLIER: One of you wants to go to rehab, one of you don`t.
SHELTON: It`s those kind of things that can just tear apart a relationship if you don`t work on it...
CALLIER: Yes.
SHELTON: And compromise.
CALLIER: Yes.
HAMMER: And now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT answers the tough questions. Will this be a nasty divorce? What will Whitney do now? And most important of all, how in the world did this marriage survive the turmoil for as long as it did?
HARVEY LEVIN, TMZ.COM: What`s really notable about the marriage is that it survived this long.
HAMMER: And now SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has obtained the separation papers Houston filed in Orange County, California, where she reportedly now lives with her and Brown`s 13-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
TMZ`s Harvey Levin has studied the documents.
LEVIN: All the court documents really show is that Whitney Houston is going to separate, but it`s very clear to us she wants a divorce from Bobby Brown. And that probably will begin running its course.
What I find interesting is that Whitney Houston hired a Pit Bull of a divorce lawyer. It makes me think that Whitney might draw the line when it comes to property settlement. But, again, the jury is out on that.
HOUSTON (SINGING): Oh, I want to dance with somebody.
HAMMER: All through the 1980s, Whitney Houston was the multimillion- selling good girl superstar.
CALLIER: I remember Whitney when she was America`s sweetheart, just singing her little heart out.
SHELTON: Oh, it was beautiful.
CALLIER: Beautiful.
SHELTON: Beautiful thoughts.
CALLIER: Then she met Bobby Brown.
HAMMER: And when she married R&B bad boy Bobby Brown in 1992, people couldn`t believe it. And soon after, her good girl image took a hit.
SHELTON: Sort of like they took this left turn...
CALLIER: Yes.
SHELTON: ... to a very different place reminiscent of good times, if you will.
HAMMER: Allegations of drug abuse dogged her marriage, which she memorably addressed in a 2002 interview with ABC`s Diane Sawyer when she admitted to having used drugs in the past but selectively.
HOUSTON: I don`t do crack. I don`t do that. Crack is whack.
CALLIER: Cocaine was OK, but crack is whack.
SHELTON: Well, you know, I mean, you can`t really rhyme cocaine. Cocaine is dane (ph), maybe? I don`t know.
HAMMER: Whitney followed that up with two stints in rehab in 2004 and 2005.
As for Bobby Brown, he spent years in and out of court and sometimes jail on a variety of charges. His wife was right there by his side every little step of the way
SHELTON: So many women today after that, like, third or fourth arraignment would be, like, "Forget it."
CALLIER: You know what? I`m done.
SHELTON: You know.
CALLIER: But not Whitney. No. Whitney was, like, no, no, no, I`m going to be there.
SHELTON: Yes, I`m in for the long haul.
CALLIER: Yes. I`m showing up with a limousine for my Bobby.
SHELTON: That`s right.
HOUSTON: I really love you.
BOBBY BROWN, SINGER: I love you, too.
HAMMER: Just last year on Bobby Brown`s reality show "Being Bobby Brown," the two actually looked like a loving couple. Bobby Brown, a guest on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, told us they were going strong.
BROWN: We`re doing even better together. Just because people don`t see it, that doesn`t mean that we`re not -- we`re not good for each other.
HAMMER: Now that Whitney and Bobby have split, everybody is wondering if Whitney can regain the top-charting status she enjoyed when she shattered records with hits like "I Will Always Love You."
HOUSTON (SINGING): And I will always love you.
HAMMER: Signs are she aims to do just that. The day before she announced her separation, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT cameras caught her at a musical event with her musical mentor, Clive Davis. And we hear Whitney is working on her first album in four years. Whitney and Bobby may be over, but we may soon see a new Whitney.
CALLIER: Now, Whitney is not tethered to Bobby Brown anymore.
SHELTON: That`s right. That`s right.
CALLIER: Her spirit and artistry can fly free.
SHELTON: Right, free.
Or, that`s one path.
CALLIER: Yes.
SHELTON: Or she can descend into madness and drug addiction.
CALLIER: Either one. Either one.
SHELTON: Either way.
And we`re going to be here and watch and talk about it.
HAMMER: And so will we.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Whitney Houston`s publicist tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that it was Houston`s intent to file divorce, but the legal separation is a "legal technicality." So now it`s going to be a long road back for Whitney Houston, but can she become the superstar she once was?
Joining me in New York, Danyel Smith, editor-in-chief of "Vibe" magazine. Also tonight, Mikki Taylor is with us, cover editor of "Essence" magazine.
Ladies, thank you both for being here.
MIKKI TAYLOR, COVE EDITOR, "ESSENCE" MAGAZINE: Thank you.
DANYEL SMITH, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "VIBE" MAGAZINE: Thank you.
HAMMER: So, what do you think, Danielle? Were you surprised when you heard this news that Whitney had filed for divorce, or do you think it was a long time coming?
SMITH: I was a little surprised. They`ve had a roller-coaster ride of a relationship, obviously. I did not think that they were ever going to divorce. And I don`t know yet if I believe in the divorce.
HAMMER: It`s interesting to hear you say that you were surprised, though, because honestly, most people I`ve spoken to said they weren`t shocked at all and that they have seen this thing coming. Because they certainly had their ups and downs, as you mentioned, over the years, but way back when, when they first got married, a lot of people were saying, huh?
What do you think, Mikki? Is this more than about just the divorce? As one of our comediennes said, now that she is untethered from Bobby, she can fly free artistically.
TAYLOR: I think America has had a placeholder for Whitney, if you will, and have been waiting for her to come back. They are waiting on her, they`re waiting on the music.
They`ve had all kinds of speculation in their hearts, if you will. Was it Bobby? What kept her from all of us, if you will. And so for those that believed it was Bobby, they`re like, yeah, you know.
They`re ready for her to come back. They`re really ready for the music.
HAMMER: Yes, because we`ve missed her, as you say.
TAYLOR: A long time.
HAMMER: As you say, you know, what`s the deal been? And what do you think went wrong with them? Do you think it was Whitney? Do you think it was Bobby? Was it a little bit of both?
SMITH: I think it was a little bit of both. I think some people are good together for certain reasons. Other people aren`t good together for other reasons. But one thing I think that people shouldn`t forget is that though Whitney Houston is, like, the most wonderful and beautiful pop star with this great voice, it`s not like Bobby Brown hasn`t sold 10, 12, 15 million albums also himself. And so I think...
HAMMER: Not recently. Not anytime recently.
SMITH: Not Whitney recently either. But she...
HAMMER: True.
SMITH: They both just -- I think they might have also had a sense of competition between them, too, that I think doesn`t often get talked about.
TAYLOR: I agree.
HAMMER: Which is something that we often see throughout Hollywood. We saw it happen this summer -- you know, a lot of people were pointing to that in Chad Lowe and Hilary Swank`s splitting up.
What do you think, though? Is it about that? Is there something else that we`re not maybe necessarily getting on the surface here?
TAYLOR: Two very electric personalities. And I think they continue to just, like, shock and then love, and shock again and love, and shock again. And, you know, I`m like Danyel, I`m not convinced that this is the final. We`ll wait and see. But what we`re really waiting on the most is the music.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, what about that? If you were her advisor right now, I mean, clearly, she`s going to be in full publicity spin mode. What would you tell Whitney Houston she has to do? Because it seems that she has a real opportunity and a real platform here from which to jump.
SMITH: If I had my dream for Whitney -- and I`ve been saying this to myself and to people for many years -- I so want her to come back with a huge and beautiful gospel album. I want her to come back, like, with these most beautiful songs, hear her voice.
I just think that it`s something that she hasn`t done. She`s done soul, she`s done R&B, she`s done pop. I`m, like, give me some big, beautiful gospel.
HAMMER: I`ve seen her do gospel live. It is like nothing else.
So what do you think? Real quickly, do you think she can ever come back and be the superstar that she once was? Because she was on top of the world.
Yes or no?
TAYLOR: Oh, I absolutely think she can come back and be more than the superstar than she once was. She`s going to bring the voice, Clive`s going to bring the music. It`s going to be phenomenal.
HAMMER: Danyel Smith, Mikki Taylor, I appreciate you joining us here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you very much for your insight on this.
You can pick up the latest issue of "Vibe" magazine. It features their interview with Bobby Brown. That`s the cover, and you`ll find it on newsstands on September 19th.
Well, just ahead, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT examines the nastiest divorces in Hollywood. That`s coming up at 31 past the hour.
And now we`re going to turn it over to you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day."
This is what we`re asking tonight: Whitney Houston, can she make a comeback? We know we want her to, but can she?
You can vote at CNN.com/showbiztonight or you can e-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, the Florida teacher who at age 23 began an affair with a 14- year-old student is speaking out. Debra Lafave says she was raped when she was just 13 years old. This morning on the "Today" show, Matt Lauer asked her about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT LAUER, "TODAY": So, how is what happened to you different than what you did to this 14-year-old boy?
DEBRA LAFAVE, SCHOOL TEACHER WHO HAD AFFAIR WITH 14-YEAR-OLD STUDENT: I think first my rape was a violent rape.
LAUER: So because yours was not a violent rape of this student, you think that`s a big difference?
LAFAVE: Well, it`s a difference. I don`t know if it`s a big difference. You know, a 14-year-old 10 years ago is different than a 14- year-old today.
LAUER: Not in the eyes of the law.
LAFAVE: Right. Not in the eyes of the law. He consented, but I should have been the one to say, look, you are a kid, and that this is not a good idea, whether you want it or not.
LAUER: So what is the one thing you want people to know about you?
LAFAVE: That I committed a sex offense, but I`m not a sex offender. Even though I`m labeled as that. I made a really, really, really bad choice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Lafave also says that she is sorry, and that even though she feels she should have -- she does feel that she should have gotten jail time as well. She actually feels that way. Her sentence was three years of house arrest, seven years of probation.
Well, the hunter becomes the hunted. Bounty hunter Dog Chapman arrested. We`re going to tell you exactly what happened coming up.
Also, Jennifer Aniston is on the list. So is Paris Hilton. But for very different reasons. We are going to tell you where they figure into "People" magazine`s star fashion list. That`s coming up next.
And in the fashion world, where super skinny is the norm, full-figured model Crystal Renn is breaking new grounds. She`s going to tell us about the eating disorder she battled to get there. That`s coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Are you ready guys? It`s time now for a story that made us say, "That`s ridiculous!"
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: "That`s ridiculous!"
HAMMER: Just when you thought that ring tones couldn`t possibly get anymore annoying, enter Paris Hilton. Paris Hilton and annoying in the same sentence. Go figure. At least someone who sounds like Paris in this case.
A company has come up with a new ring tone dramatizing Paris Hilton`s arrest on suspicion of DUI. So, if you want to hear a Paris impersonator saying, "Handcuffs are hot" every time you get a call, this is the ring tone for you. It`s the second in a series of scandal tones from this particular company.
After Mel Gibson`s arrest, they had a ring tone with a Gibson impersonator yelling, "I own Malibu!"
Scandal ring tones, now, "That`s ridiculous!"
Now on to the big story that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is all over, another reality star is in trouble. This one is truly a shocker.
Bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman behind doors. Of course, Dog is used to busting down doors and getting the bad guy. After all, he`s made a living as "the" bounty hunter. But this time around, the cops came to his door, and you`re not going to believe what for.
CNN`s Deborah Feyerick all over this story for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, joining us with the very latest from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom.
What`s the deal here, Deborah? It sounds like something right out of Dog`s own show.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, and it`s definitely something out of Dog`s own show, because he`s the one who goes arrive bail jumpers and fugitives. But it appears that`s exactly what he did, and that`s why he`s wanted by Mexican authorities.
He was supposed to show up to answer charges of illegal detention and conspiracy down in Mexico, but he never showed. And it appears that`s why Mexican authorities are coming to him -- A.J.
HAMMER: And this is all related to a case that he was involved with, a big case in Mexico years ago, really the one that put him on the map.
FEYERICK: It was a huge case, actually. He went down to Mexico to bring back Andrew Luster, the Max Factor heir who had fled there during his rape trial. Well, Dog found him and brought him to Mexican authorities.
Mexican authorities shipped him back to the U.S., where he`s now serving a 124-year sentence. But rather than give Dog a pat on the back, instead they threw him in jail. They said you basically can`t hold somebody against their will. It`s against Mexican law.
So they gave him bail. He returned to the United States, Dog, Duane Chapman, and never went back to answer those bail charges, making him a bail jumper.
HAMMER: Well, Deb, Dog was a guest here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT back in March and he told us that he gets his whole family involved. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DUANE "DOG" CHAPMAN, BOUNTY HUNTER: I`ve done it for almost 30 years. We`ve arrested almost 6,000 fugitives. And, I mean, it`s a good living.
The children do it. The wife does it. We`ve made a living at it. And it`s rewarding inside also to bring some of these guys in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And his wife really upset, Deborah, about this happening, and she says it was totally unfair.
CNN`s Deborah Feyerick, thank you for joining us from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom tonight.
Now it`s time for the list that we wait for every year, because, what can I say, it`s just a lot of fun.
Talking about "People" magazine`s best and worst dressed for 2006. Some of the stars, of course, familiar faces. Others newcomers to the list. And a few who might not want to be included at all if they had their choice.
Joining us from Hollywood tonight, "People" magazine`s Julie Jordan.
Hi, Julie.
JULIE JORDAN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Hey, A.J.
HAMMER: So, the fans actually voted on the list and they chose Jennifer Aniston as numero uno best dressed.
Why is that?
JORDAN: OK, by a landslide, 54 percent. Jennifer Aniston is absolutely the one they want to emulate.
She`s so approachable. She`s so relatable. You know, whether it`s her hair, her clothes, she doesn`t try to pretend to be anybody, you know, that she`s not.
As a result, she looks fabulous no matter if she`s out, you know, going to the store or on the red carpet. Definitely the one you want to emulate.
HAMMER: We love the approachable stars.
Let`s move on to Halle Berry. She is at number two. There`s obvious appeal there, but what else that stuck out to your readers?
JORDAN: Well, I think it`s more along the lines of she knows what looks really good on her. She never leaves the house unless she`s comfortable. She wears form-fitting clothes. And, you know, she`s got a body that she can pretty much wear anything she wants. Really sensational.
HAMMER: You have a newcomer on your list this year, Jessica Alba.
JORDAN: Right.
HAMMER: Not a big shock to me that she`s on there. She`s in at number three. And she`s got a great deal of fashion sense, doesn`t she?
JORDAN: Well, she said she`s kind of classic but a little funky. You know, she definitely, like, tries out the trends, but only the ones that work really well for her. And she`s young, she`s hip, and, you know, you definitely want to see what she`s wearing next.
HAMMER: And she is just so beautiful.
JORDAN: That doesn`t hurt either.
HAMMER: Beyonce is on the list. She`s in at number four. A real fashion icon.
JORDAN: Right. OK. Well, and here`s a diva who we let be a diva.
We love the fact that she loves to be glamorous. She embraces her curves. This is not a size zero woman. And for a lot of us out there that`s really good news to see a woman, a celebrity feeling good in her skin and loving a few, you know, pounds and curves on her body.
HAMMER: Well, let`s move on to the flip side of this list, because everybody loves talk about fashion mistakes.
JORDAN: Right.
HAMMER: Paris Hilton on this list. How about that? What`s her faux pas?
JORDAN: OK, but you know what? You`ve got to give it to her because the girl is, what, in front of how many cameras at every single event? That`s a lot of clothes. So you know at some point she`s going to have a few missteps.
There was one or two times she was doing the pajama look, which, of course, a lot of celebs, they get up, they just run out to the store. But she accessorizes. You know, she tries. Every outfit is meticulously put together for her. So there`s a few things that she definitely needs to kind of pull back a little on.
HAMMER: Yes, like maybe how much she shows up at these appearances.
All right. Real quickly, tell me why Teri Hatcher is on this list, because she`s one of my favorite personalities out there.
JORDAN: Right. Well, every celebrity, even though most of the time they`re glamorous, are going to have a few missteps. And one time she wore something, you know, a little see-through. She did the kind of boy shorts underwear, which you could just see full view.
So, you know, you don`t have to try hard when you`re these women. They are already beautiful. They already look incredible. You know, just do what feels good and we`re going to respect you for that.
HAMMER: I do want to ask you about Sharon Stone, though, because in the issue -- I had a chance to flip through it -- you`ve got a whole page in there devoted to her missteps. What`s wrong? What`s wrong with Sharon?
JORDAN: Well, you know what? Nothing`s wrong with her. And that`s just it.
She`s a beautiful woman, but she doesn`t have to try so hard. She puts together too many outfits, you know, too many different accessories. You know, different kind of prints and big hats and see-through. And she should just stick to what works for her, classic, beautiful. She doesn`t have to go there.
HAMMER: As I said, this issue`s always a lot of fun, Julie. I appreciate you joining us tonight.
"People" magazine`s Julie Jordan in Hollywood.
JORDAN: Thanks, A.J.
HAMMER: "People`s" best and worst dressed issue will be on newsstands tomorrow.
Well, it certainly has been a long, hot summer, filled with a lot of heated divorces, hasn`t it? I mean, Christy Brinkley, Travis Barker.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going to take a look at Hollywood`s nastiest divorces, and that is coming up.
Plus, the all-time longest-running "Jeopardy" champion, Ken Jennings, is going to be joining us. We`ll have some questions and answers for him coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And the full-figured model who is now the face of one of the world`s biggest mainstream fashion houses but once starved herself to a dangerously small size to fit in. Crystal Renn coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tomorrow, Matthew Perry is back on the small screen. The former "Friends" star is back in one of the most buzzed about new shows of the fall season, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." He`ll tell us all about it tomorrow in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, George Clooney at the United Nations in New York today. He was there to plead for more help to end the conflict in the Sudan. The civil war in that African country has killed more than 200,000 people since 2003 and has left millions homeless. Clooney used some pretty strong words to describe what`s going on there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: It is the first genocide of the 21st century, and if it continues unchecked it will not be the last. Now, my job is to come here today and to beg you on behalf of the millions of people who will die -- and make no mistake, they will die -- for you to take real and effective measures to put an end to this. Of course it`s complex, but when you see entire villages raped and killed, wells poisoned and then filled with the bodies of its villagers, then all complexities disappear and it comes down to simply right and wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is something that needs much attention as possible. Clooney also recently went to the Sudan with his dad to film a documentary about the terrible things that are happening there.
Well, they`re the biggest breakups in Hollywood, from Christie Brinkley to Travis Barker. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT takes a look at Hollywood`s nastiest divorces. And that`s coming up.
Plus, the all-time longest-running "Jeopardy" champion Ken Jennings is here. We`re going to have questions and answers for him. That`s in the interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And the full-figured model who is now the face of one of the world`s biggest mainstream fashions houses but once starved herself to a dangerously small size just to fit in. Her name is Crystal Renn, and she is here in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
We`ll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Thursday night. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You are watching TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
Still to come tonight, while skinny models are being banned as we speak from Madrid runways for being too skinny, right here in the United States, there`s one full-figured model who is breaking new ground. It is very heartwarming and good to see. She`s now the face of a major campaign for a mainstream fashion house. It was a long road for her to get there; she was dangerously in trouble with an eating disorder. We`re going to talk to her coming up in just a few moments.
Also, I`m looking forward to speaking with the longest-running "Jeopardy!" champion of all time. He`s going to be right here. He`s going to tell us how he did it. I want to find out how the heck he spent his prize money. And we`re going to find out all about his new book about - what else? - trivia.
But first tonight, we`re moving on to Hollywood`s nastiest divorces. And when I say nasty, I mean nasty.
As we told you, Whitney Houston has just filed for divorce from Bobby Brown. This basically caps off a long summer of splits that truly has been amazing, even by Hollywood standards.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: The summer break-ups all started when Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe announced they were splitting up after nearly 10 years of marriage.
Then came supermodel Christie Brinkley. She filed for divorce from her fourth husband, Peter Cook, after he admitted to having an affair with a 19-year-old employee.
Infidelity is also an issue with these two. Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler starred in an MTV reality show about their marriage. Good thing it only lasted two seasons; Travis filed for divorce last month, and aired their dirty laundry all over the Internet, using his MySpace to slam Shanna, claiming she was unfaithful and neglected their children.
(SINGING)
HAMMER: He sang "We Can Work It Out," but when it came to his near- four-year marriage to Heather Mills, Paul McCartney just couldn`t make it work.
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Neither could these rock stars, and their actress wives: Chris Robin and Kate Hudson announced their separation just a week or so after Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra said they were splitting up, but remaining close friends.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: It`s all so sad to me. Why can`t they all just get along? That`s a lot of divorce action.
But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right here to tell you right now that three of those splits really stand out as truly being the nastiest.
Joining me tonight here in New York, "New York Daily News" columnist Lloyd Grove.
In Hollywood, investigative journalist Pat Lalama.
Lloyd, Pat, hello. Nice to see you both.
PAT LALAMA, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: Hey. How you doing?
HAMMER: All right, Pat. Start us off here.
Let`s talk about Christie Brinkley. She`s now officially filed divorce - for divorce from Peter Cook. Now this guy admits to having an affair with a teenager.
Is there any way to not have a dirty divorce after this information gets out? He wanted them to stay together, which, you know, just wasn`t going to happen.
LALAMA: The only way you can stop a nasty divorce is you put masking divorce over on both their mouths, and keep them in a locked closet.
You know, I told your producers earlier today, these people can really keep it quiet if they want to. But I just have this little itty bitty feeling that they don`t mind airing their dirty laundry. I - I mean, come on. And this guy doing his mea culpas - Oh, it was just a little mistake. Oh, I love Christie. Oh!
You know what? I hope she just smears him publicly, and I`m ready to lick it right up.
HAMMER: Are you, Pat? Well.
LALAMA: Yes, I am.
HAMMER: You know, the thing is though, as much as it may seem that they want to air the dirty laundry, Peter had said that if there is in fact a divorce - there`s going to be - he had wished that it wouldn`t get so nasty.
Lloyd, a little late for that, isn`t it?
LLOYD GROVE, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": It`s a little late for that. But you have to think that Peter wants to behave himself, because not only is there the court of public opinion, but there`s the real court, where money is going to apportioned out. And obviously Christie is the big income earner. She has a fortune that`s been estimated at - at around $60 million.
And Peter not only wants as much of that as he can possibly get by behaving himself, but also there`s two children involved. And - so there`s serious issues beyond the - the public back and forth.
HAMMER: Well, if we`re going to mention money, we got to mention one of - what is sure to be one of the nastiest divorce battles.
Pat, let`s talk about Paul McCartney and Heather Mills. This has been very public. It has been very nasty. We have things like Paul locking her out of the estate. We have people writing truly nasty things, leaking out pictures of Heather naked to the British papers.
How in the world did this onetime seemingly happy marriage like we`re seeing in this video here, get to this point?
LALAMA: Well, they really should have a chorus of "Baby, You`re a Rich Man." Remember that song?
HAMMER: Uh huh.
LALAMA: OK. Or, "Will You Still Need Me When I`m 64?"
Look, I mean, clearly there`s a lot Paul seems to have overlooked because of love. Even Donald Trump`s weighing in now, saying, Paul was an idiot. Well, you know, that`s a little harsh. I mean, Paul was always the loverboy of the - of the band.
And this is just ugly. And there is no way this is going to be hidden. There`s too much trash.
Now what I understand though, A.J., is that the latest offer is he`ll give her 60 -- $72 million, but she`s got to shut up.
HAMMER: Yes.
LALAMA: Paul does not want this stuff out in the press. He`s not that kind of a guy. He doesn`t like to play this game. Him I truly - I truly believe he would like it to stay quiet.
HAMMER: Yes. He wants to give her the money so she can shut up and go away.
Now she said that she`s not interested in Paul`s money. Lloyd, is that even possible?
LALAMA: (INAUDIBLE)
GROVE: Well, if you mind if I don`t sing, it`s - but.
HAMMER: Please don`t.
GROVE: But, you know, I - I think clearly she wants Paul`s money, and I think this has gotten to be the nastiest of the three we`re talking about, because each side has an army of - of not only lawyers, but of spin doctors and, you know, a posse of people who want to maybe make some money themselves off of this.
So there`s no way this is not going to be nasty, in my opinion.
HAMMER: Pat, I got 30 seconds for you to do Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler, and then we got to go.
This couple, they had the reality show on MTV. It was called "Meet the Barkers." There they are now.
Now Travis files for divorce. He heads to MySpace, and basically trashes his wife on the Internet.
Why did he possibly have to go this direction?
LALAMA: Oh, boy, I`m telling you: MySpace - he`s complaining now because he says he found condoms in the house; she was cheating, but he still loves her.
You know what I got to say? I find dirty socks in my house. So I don`t care about those two.
HAMMER: Pat Lalama, Lloyd Grove, thank you as always.
And - and Pat, thank you singing for us tonight. I appreciate it.
LALAMA: My pleasure. Anytime.
HAMMER: All right. Let`s move on.
Time to test your trivia skills. Answer: he won $2.5 million - just saying that number as a prize is crazy to me - he won $2.5 million on the wildly popular game show "Jeopardy!," becoming the greatest champion in the show`s history. Question: Who is Ken Jennings?
If you didn`t get that correct, sorry. Sorry.
His new book is called "Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs."
Ken Jennings, it`s a pleasure to have you here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
KEN JENNINGS, AUTHOR, "BRAINIAC": Thanks, A.J.
HAMMER: We have to get goofy when you introduce you, and I`m sure it`s going to happen throughout your talking about this book.
So talk to me about what you`ve been doing. Because you`ve sort of been laying low. We haven`t seen a lot of you since you went on this massive winning streak and won $2.5 million. Everybody really wants to know: What did you do with the money?
JENNINGS: I didn`t do anything crazy with the money. People always get disappointed that I didn`t go out and buy, like, a jaguar the next day. (INAUDIBLE)
HAMMER: Not one big indulgence, though? Not one single thing where you said, Oh, I`ve always wanted that.
JENNINGS: I got a widescreen TV, but that`s not that great, you know?
HAMMER: Oh, big get, $2.5 million bucks.
JENNINGS: Yes, there`s (INAUDIBLE) left over, it turns out.
HAMMER: I think there is.
So - so - so, OK. No - no major indulgences. You have some kids, so you`re - you`re putting it away in the college fund, I guess.
JENNINGS: Right. You got to put a couple kids through college. That`ll probably be, you know, $2.5 million in 20 years, so.
HAMMER: Now you grew up watching "Jeopardy!" for you entire life. You were obsessed with the show. You finally get on it, and you go through this amazing winning streak.
JENNINGS: Right.
HAMMER: Are you still able to watch the show?
JENNINGS: I actually find that when "Jeopardy!"`s on - you know, I hear the music and the sound effects, and I`d like to relax and watch it, but I can`t. I just tense up like I`m still on the show. I.
HAMMER: Really? Do you get sweaty and everything?
JENNINGS: Yes, I got like post-traumatic game show stress disorder or something.
HAMMER: PTGS - yes, I don`t know .
JENNINGS: Right.
HAMMER: .what that is. That`s funny. So - but you - you will still actually put on the program and - and - and check it out from time to time.
And do you answer every question?
JENNINGS: No, I - I wish I could. But not quite -- not quite there yet.
HAMMER: I have to ask you what the deal is with your blog. You know, this is something that you put out there on the Internet; we were talking about it when you first wrote this. It seemed to be - you - you had written something on your personal blog that appeared as if you were criticizing "Jeopardy!," the show that basically made you all this money, that you were on for all this time, criticizing Alex Trebek, criticizing the format of the show, which would have appeared to a lot of people as if you were biting the hand that feeds you. And we`re looking at your blog right here.
What was the real deal? Can you just set the record straight as to - to why this was on there, and - and what.
JENNINGS: Sure. Sure.
HAMMER: ..we should take this to mean?
JENNINGS: It was - it was widely reported that I was bashing "Jeopardy!" and Alex, and that couldn`t be further from the truth. I`ve loved "Jeopardy!" since I was 10 years old.
You know, the book "Brainiac," it`s basically a love letter to - to "Jeopardy!" and the kind of intelligence it tries to foster in - in popular culture. What I posted to the blog was sort of a list of silly suggestions - you know, "Jeopardy!" should add killer bees to their format. They should have ventriloquists` dummies.
HAMMER: You were having some fun.
JENNINGS: It was tongue in cheek.
(HAMMER)
JENNINGS: It`s impossible to read it without taking it seriously.
HAMMER: Easy - easy to take out of context, though, as you know.
So the book is called "Brainiac." And - and - among other things, there`s some great trivia there. You talk about how obsessed you were with "Jeopardy!"
What kind of things would you do preparing to be on the show? Because I imagine you ran through quite a few.
JENNINGS: There`s a whole chapter of my weird, obsessive preparation for the show.
HAMMER: Give me the biggest - the biggest, strangest things.
JENNINGS: I used to watch "Jeopardy!" twice a day, standing behind my recliner at home, you know, as if it were a contestant podium, jamming my thumb and down on 1-year-old son`s Fisher Price rings-backing (ph) toy, in hopes it would prepare me for the "Jeopardy!" buzzer.
HAMMER: And apparently it did.
JENNINGS: It seemed to have worked.
HAMMER: Ken Jennings, thanks for joining us. And I have some suggestions for where you can put that money, coming up after the program.
JENNINGS: Thanks, A.J.
HAMMER: It may involve my bank account.
Once again, the book is called "Brainiac" - there it is - "Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs." It`s in bookstores right now.
Harry Potter, whose no stranger to flying, almost gets grounded courtesy of airport security. "That`s Ridiculous!" and that`s coming up next.
And we have the emotional story of a famous plus-sized model who almost starved herself to death. You`re going to meet Crystal Renn. She struggled with her body image, and she`s coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dissolve. Master, stand by to your break. And roll your break, effect black (INAUDIBLE).
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
It`s time now for another little story that just made us say, "That`s Ridiculous!"
Holy Hogwarts! We think security went a little too far when J.K. Rowling wasn`t allowed on a plane with a manuscript of her final Harry Potter book. How dare they? Rowling was flying back from the U.S. to the U.K. She argued and actually convinced the TSA to let her on. Actually, we kind of think both Rowling and airport officials were out of line. Late today, the TSA told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - quote - "We have no idea why a manuscript would be an issue with screeners. It`s far from being a prohibited item."
But J.K., couldn`t you have just packed Potter up, or maybe taken a private plane with all your money? "That`s Ridiculous!"
Well, there`s some stunning news tonight that`s rocking the fashion world around the globe, and it`s causing a bit of controversy. A major fashion show in Madrid, Spain, has completely banned skinny models from its runways for being too skinny. They`re making the move basically because the organizers think it will help women with their body image.
And that`s something that Crystal Renn has struggled with. She is the full-figured model who`s headlining the Dolce and Gabanna 2006 ad campaign. But Crystal had to overcome a scary eating disorder where she almost starved herself to death.
Crystal, I really appreciate you joining us here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
CRYSTAL RENN, MODEL: Thank you for having me.
HAMMER: What do you make of this news out of Spain where they`re basically saying if the models are too skinny, they`re not walking down our runway?
RENN: I`m really torn on this issue, because as much as I think it`s great that they`re promoting good habits, I think that they`re almost discriminating against thinner models as well. I think it would almost be better if they had all different-sized models, as opposed to saying, Well, we can`t have thin models in our shows. Because that`s saying that being thin - naturally thin women is not healthy, and that - that`s the cause of anorexia, which I don`t think is.
HAMMER: And there certainly is a difference between the naturally thin models.
RENN: Right.
HAMMER: And the models who really work to look that way. And I think - I think that`s what`s a little scary. And that - and your story is a - a bit of that.
RENN: There definitely is.
There`s been models who eat - who have to eat macaroni and cheese just to fit this Size 2, because they`re so thin that they have to gain weight for it. So I definitely don`t think that every model has an eating disorder. So I think that some girls - most girls actually are just naturally this way.
HAMMER: Well, last night I had the chance to speak about this with the - one of the heads of the Elite (INAUDIBLE) - Model Management. And - and I asked her if she felt that the industry, the modeling industry, has a responsibility in terms of the images that are being put out there.
Because obviously, young women, girls are going to look at these images and want to attain impossibly thin status. I was a little surprised by what she told about this.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CATHY GOULD, ELITE MODEL MANAGEMENT: We have an issue where this is happening in one country. It`s not really happening here that I`m aware of in the United States.
HAMMER: Well, we see these images here in the United States though.
GOULD: Well, you see them, but you don`t really have an uproar here in the United States. And to blame a disease like anorexia and bulimia on the modeling industry is really not fair.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What do you make of that? Maybe, as you said, not to blame the industry for those diseases, but it certainly is something that needs to be dealt with.
RENN: I don`t think you can blame the industry as a whole and say, Oh, well, that`s the whole reason of anorexia. Because anorexia comes from so many different reasons - family issues - there`s so much that goes into it.
But I would say that the fashion industry does have a responsibility to use all different types of women. Because that`s who they`re ultimately selling to.
HAMMER: Sure.
RENN: .all different types of women, not just one type. And I think that they`re doing that in a big way. John Paul Gautier using me in his show, he`s showing that`s OK. Dolce and Gabanna, saying it`s OK. And I think that they`re going in that direction.
HAMMER: I think it - it will be really refreshing to see that continue to happen. Because I think that most women and even men want to see people that more represent what they look like than anything else. And they`ll spend the money.
Let`s talk about your story, because it is - it is so inspirational.
I want to go back to before you went through your issues with the eating disorder, and got to where you are now. You were 14 years old. A model scout picks you out, and had their eye on you, but said, You got to take - what? - 10 inches off.
RENN: Ten inches off my hips.
HAMMER: .off of your - off of your side.
Well, what did you say when they said that?
RENN: Well, I had a completely different career path than in the beginning. I was like, I wanted to be a lawyer; I wanted to go to Yale. So he showed me pictures out of American "Vogue" of Steven Meisel - that Steven Meisel took. And that`s when I knew I wanted to do it.
So I had such a goal that when he told me to lose that weight, it didn`t seem, like, crazy. I just though, Oh, OK. Because I wanted it so badly at the time.
HAMMER: But you realized that that was unobtainable.
RENN: Later on, yes.
HAMMER: And - and you couldn`t actually take that amount of weight off. So you went to extremes in order to attempt to do so.
What types of things would you do to - in those extremes?
RENN: I would exercise no less than two hours a day, average of three seven days a week. One day of that week I would exercise for eight hours. And I would eat no more than 1,000 calories. That was unheard of for me.
I was eating lettuce for lunch. Dinner was steamed vegetables, and Fiber One for breakfast. And I pretty much survived on that for three years.
HAMMER: Not a healthy lifestyle.
RENN: Definitely not. I was a very unhappy person.
HAMMER: And - and you mentioned the eight-hour workout day.
RENN: Yes.
HAMMER: After you`d worked that eight-hour workout day, when you were in that kind of a cycle, what kind of a weight did you get down to?
RENN: I got down to my smallest, which was 95 pounds.
HAMMER: Ninety-five pounds, but you went into your agency, and they said what?
RENN: Well, I - at 95 pounds, they said, This is fine. This weight is fine. Just don`t go any lower; just say, or - I had a little bit of room to gain.
HAMMER: But there was a point when you were doing those eight-hour workouts, where they said, Not enough.
RENN: Later on, towards the end of my straight-size modeling career, I started to gain weight. But - naturally, my body was rebelling. So I got up to about 135 pounds. My agency, not knowing what was going on at the time, said that, You know - you know, you need to lose some weight, maybe go on a diet. They didn`t know what was going on.
I said, Listen, this is - I exercised eight hours yesterday and couldn`t get three blocks. It`s like, we need to fit - figure out a different way. And they said, Well, there`s plus-sized models. So I set up an appointment with Ford, and completely changed that day. I changed that day. I started eating again, quit my gym membership for awhile, and did plus-sized modeling. And it was the best decision I ever did.
HAMMER: So basically, you had the wherewithal to say, I`m done. I`m not going to put myself through this; I`m not going to put my body through this anymore.
RENN: I was done completely that day.
HAMMER: Because it sounds like you got to a really scary place.
RENN: I was. And I think because I got to that scary place, I could appreciate what I have now so much more. And I was done so quick, because I realized.
HAMMER: And by saying you were done, as you mentioned, and - and - and moving into the plus-sized category I guess they call it, it just has done nothing but open doors for you. Isn`t that right?
RENN: Right. I have to say, because I`m happier - I`m a - I`m a very happy person. I have a social life now, which when you`re asking for three, four hours a day, you don`t have a social life. I`m able to go out. I`m able to be who I am. And I have to say, I`m just a really happy person. And it`s made such a difference in my career, because I -- I think people can see that.
HAMMER: And look at you now. As I mentioned, you`re the face of this Dolce and Gabanna campaign, not as a plus-sized model - you`re just the face of this campaign, correct?
RENN: I was very honored to get this job.
HAMMER: I - I mean, that is - that is a huge accomplishment.
RENN: I was very happy about it. I was very, very excited. And it was such a fun shoot to do.
HAMMER: And you`re walking the runway in John Paul Gautier clothing. Man.
RENN: It`s very exciting. I - the dress was beautiful. All of these experiences - I - I love fashion. I love my job as a model. (INAUDIBLE)
HAMMER: But it - but it certainly - it really, I think, should open a lot of people`s eyes to the fact that, No, you don`t have to be that rail thin. You don`t have to go after that.
RENN: Right. I think all different types of women bring a certain thing, a special something to clothes and fashion. And I think that designers are really starting to open up and realize that all different types of beauty is OK.
HAMMER: And when women are hearing your story - because it truly - it`s - it`s inspiration, and, you know, I`m sitting here with you, thinking, I`m just so thankful that it didn`t go the wrong way. Because people die from this.
RENN: Right.
HAMMER: And - and that could have happened to you.
So what kinds of things are you hearing from women about the struggle that you`ve been through, and where you`re at?
RENN: I get a lot of really positive comments from people. Other models, people, friends, family, they just - they`re very supportive of the decision that I made for health. And I - I think even a lot of models are following suit. How do I get into the plus-sized industry and chance, because maybe this isn`t who I am? Or, just very supportive people. I have a lot of good people around.
HAMMER: Well hopefully this is a - a good sign, and a lot of people will take notice of your story and say, Hey, you know what? We don`t necessarily have to look for people who look like sticks. Because that`s - that`s how I feel, and I think a lot of people would agree.
Crystal Renn, thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
RENN: Thank you very much.
HAMMER: .on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
RENN: Thank you.
HAMMER: Appreciate it.
Well, last night we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." We were talking about the new season of CBS` reality show "Survivor" splitting up the tribes by race. Here was the question: "Segregated `Survivor`: Is it offensive to divide teams by race?" The vote, not how I though it would go: 44 percent of you say "yes, it is offensive"; 56 percent of you, the majority, saying, "No, it`s not."
Some of the e-mails we received include one from Varissam in Virginia who thinks, "Encouraging people to make any kind of choice based solely on race is irresponsible, inexcusable and damaging."
We also heard from Vicky in New Mexico. Vicky writes, "I don`t believe it is anymore prejudiced to segregate the `Survivor` teams by race than it is to divide them by gender or age. It just isn`t as politically correct."
Thank you very much for voting and for signing on.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Camera 3, fade up music under. Stand by, A.J. Dissolve 2. Go.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And we`ve been asking you to vote on tonight`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day," asking: "Whitney Houston Files for Divorce: Can she make a comeback?" Get online to vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight, or write to us at showbiztonight@cnn.com. We appreciate your e-mails. We`ll read some of them tomorrow.
And it`s time now to see what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow with your "SHOWBIZ Marquee."
And tomorrow, Matthew Perry back on TV. The former "Friends" star is taking over a late-night comedy sketch. It`s kind of like "Saturday Night Live." Certainly one of the most talked-about shows of the fall season. Matthew Perry talking about "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" tomorrow.
Also, segregated "Survivor." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with your first reaction to the season premiere, which has the teams split up by race, the decision that caused a ton of controversy. We`ll get into that tomorrow.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Glenn Beck is next, right after the latest from CNN Headline News.
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