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Showbiz Tonight
Super-Thin Models Return; Birth Certificate `Daddy`; Swearing by Streisand
Aired October 11, 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 birth certificate of Anna Nicole Smith`s baby is made public, but who`s listed as the father?
I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: And new details about the cancer battle Farrah Fawcett is facing.
I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, skin and bones on the runway. The uproar over the unbelievably skinny model at a major Paris fashion show. So skinny, you will not belief your eyes.
Tonight, super models, super skinny, super scary. What in the world is going on here?
Time to play celebrity feud. In this corner, Paris Hilton. In that corner, Nicole Richie. And they are not the only star-studded showdowns. Tom versus Brooke, Denise versus Heather.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the biggest and best celebrity feuds ever.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And if you think you`ve seen skinny models, well, I`m here to tell you that you ain`t seen nothing yet. Just weeks after super-skinny models were banned from the runway in Madrid, an outrageously skinny model strutted her stuff at a major fashion show in Paris, and it really sent shock waves through the fashion industry and beyond.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. Nobody has been covering the outrage over the pressure to be thin more extensively than SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And we can tell you this tonight, the uproar has just begun.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice over): These fashion photos have everyone talking, but not about the fashion. Fashion model Nataliya Gotsii looking downright skeletal as she models at a fashion show in Paris. Many models are thin, but this is just scary.
At a size 2, the 5`11" Gotsii she appears so distressingly skinny, her dress barely hangs off her rail-thin frame. And you can see her ribs.
Actress Suzanne Somers couldn`t believe her eyes when she stopped by SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and we showed her the photos.
SUZANNE SOMERS, ACTRESS: I`m glad I don`t have daughters. And I`m glad that -- if I did, I wouldn`t want them to be that skinny.
SUSAN SCHULZ, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "COSMOGIRL": When I saw these photos, I was pretty shocked.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT showed these photos to "CosmoGIRL" editor in chief Susan Schulz, and she was as shocked as we were.
SCHULZ: This model`s bones are showing both on the front and the back, so that`s pretty extreme. They are definitely shocking pictures.
ANDERSON: It was just in September when Madrid, Spain, banned super- sinny models from its fashion show. Organizers feared all these bone-thin models on runways were influencing young girls worldwide to starve themselves to look like the models they admire. The Madrid rule touched off major debate in the fashion world.
CUCA SOLANA, MADRID CATWALK DIRECTOR: I certainly wish and hope that for the good of all these youngsters the step that (INAUDIBLE) has taken will be followed by others.
CLARA MAS, SPANISH MODEL (through translator): It`s like a broken record. The media has forgotten about fashion and the people have got (ph) questions about what you`re wearing for the next season.
ANDERSON: But many were hoping that Madrid was a sign that maybe, just maybe, things have changed and we`d start to see healthy looking women on the runways.
Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she was all in favor of that.
JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT, ACTRESS: I hope people follow suit. I think there is a place in the world for both. I think there is room for really, really skinny beautiful people, and really beautiful people who have a little bit of a butt.
ANDERSON (on camera): But that was then. Now with super-skinny models once again on runways, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has to ask: has anything really changed? Are super-skinny models here to stay?
SCHULZ: What happens in Madrid maybe is going to stay in Madrid.
ANDERSON (voice over): "CosmoGIRL" Susan Schulz believes the fashion world isn`t about to abandon thin models.
SCHULZ: Obviously Paris is different, and France doesn`t have to do what Spain does. So, you know, who knows if the fashion industry is really just going to change just because of the Madrid ruling.
ANDERSON: Not if many in the fashion world have their say.
CATHY GOULD, ELITE MODEL MANAGEMENT: I think it`s a bad thing because it`s discrimination against models that are naturally thin and gazelle-like and really don`t have an eating disorder.
ANDERSON: of Elite Model Management tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it`s unfair to blame eating disorders on the fashion industry and that thin models are a good thing.
GOULD: The designers are artists. They want you to fantasize and dream. And, you know, women look at these younger women and they are tall and beautiful, and somewhere they want to wear the clothes and feel beautiful and fantasize.
SCHULZ: To be that skinny is not a fantasy. And I have to say, even though people are worried about the message that this sends to girls, girls are smart enough to know that that`s not the ideal. And there is one thing to be thin and there`s another thing to be sickly. And I do think girls can tell the difference, and they do not want to look like that.
ANDERSON: So it appears that despite what happened in Madrid, super- thin models like Gotsii are not going anywhere. But don`t think for a second that nothing has changed.
SCHULZ: The great thing is that people are talking about it more, they are talking about the problems with models being to skinny. So I think what really has happened is that people are just more aware and they are starting to address it.
ANDERSON: And addressing the issue may be the first step in solving it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Even though a skinny model ban hasn`t caught on yet, there is growing support for one. Supporters are talking of bringing such a ban to Paris, London and Israel.
HAMMER: Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is not going to let up on the outrage over the message that these skinny models send.
Joining us tonight from Hollywood, Jessica Weiner. She`s an advice columnist and the author of "Do I Look Fat in This?"
Here with me in New York, Gwen DeVoe, CEO of DeVoe Signature Events. It`s a production company that specializes in events for plus-size women.
Ladies, thanks for being with me tonight.
JESSICA WEINER, ADVICE COLUMNIST & AUTHOR: Good to be here.
HAMMER: So, Jessica, you know, I look at these pictures -- and Charles, can we -- can we throw one of those particular stills up of the super, super-skinny model that we were just showing?
I mean, I look at that, I`m not seeing anything right at all about it.
What do you think?
WEINER: Well, I invite every fashion designer, fashion magazine editor and fashionista out there to go visit the wards of hospitals across this country who specialize in eating disorders, A.J. And you are looking at the skeletal frames that occupy hundreds and hundreds of hospitals across this country with girls who struggle with eating disorders.
Now, I`m not saying that particular woman has an eating disorder, but that image cannot become normalized to us. We have to stand up and raise our voices right now. That is not healthy by any stretch.
HAMMER: Yes.
No kidding, Gwen. I mean, what possible good message could that be sending? I`m not -- I`m not thinking of one.
GWEN DEVOE, CEO, DEVOE SIGNATURE EVENTS: Absolutely. Well, I think that it doesn`t anger me so much as that I`m saddened by the fact that -- what this woman must be going through to continue to look like this. I`m not saying she has an eating disorder, I`m not saying that she`s ill, but just look at what she must go through to maintain this unrealistic image.
It`s sending a bad message.
HAMMER: Yes, it is. She`s being put out there in a very public way...
DEVOE: Absolutely.
HAMMER: ... and inevitably there are young women who are looking at that and saying, well, gee, I want to look like that.
And, you know, Jessica, there are some designers who will look at that image and say, well, you know what? That`s what we want. Skinny models project a certain look, our clothes drape nicely on them. It`s an artistic decision.
WEINER: I know. I`ve gotten into arguments since this conversation has been in the media lately with models and designers who say, well, this is -- this is our art form, this is what we want to see walking down the runway. But A.J., we don`t have the luxury right now of having this be an art form.
There are 70 million women worldwide who struggle with eating disorders. And seven million of those women and girls are here in the United States.
This is something much bigger than just somebody`s art form. This is a message. As fashion has always sent a message about the placement of women in the world, this is a message for us to look at and say, how are we valuing beauty and bodies right now? And how old is this model?
We`re talking about an industry-wide image of young, young girls, incredibly emaciated. That to me is a business conversation that needs to be happening.
HAMMER: There has to be some responsibility and accountability, doesn`t there? You can`t just say, well, you know what, it`s art and you have to deal with it.
DEVOE: Absolutely. And I also feel that, as retail consumers, people need to be a little bit more proactive in their voicing -- voicing their concerns about this -- this -- this madness. You know?
I mean, the average woman, if I can quote statistics, there are 75 percent of us who already wear a size 12. You know? So for designers to promote products, fashion or whatever, that appeal to this particular body image is just wrong.
HAMMER: Jessica, what`s it going to take? I mean, are women going to actually have to walk into stores and boutiques with their outrage, whether it`s, you know, in small town USA or Rodeo Drive and say, "I`m not going to stand up for this anymore, I`m not going to buy your clothes"?
I don`t, quite frankly, see that as being very realistic, but is that something that has to be done?
WEINER: I mean, I think in our fantasy world, A.J., that`s what we want to see happen. But the truth is women are incredibly conflicted about how they feel about their bodies.
I mean, look at how much this has been in the media lately. We are constantly talking about it because we need to. And women are torn.
Is this beauty? Is what I`ve seen for years and years and years telling me that this is what a body should like? Is that what my body should look like?
Women have those internal conversations all the time. Before we can mobilize a group of women to get out there and say we want more and we want better, women have to continue to have this conversation with themselves and say, you know what, I`ve got love the skin that I`m in.
And for a daughter in the modeling industry, a sister, or a friend in the modeling industry, we have to ask that industry to have better standards, better guilds, better unions to protect our young children, not just, you know, the images that we`re seeing, but the models who are participating.
HAMMER: And to be clear, Gwen, there is no question that this is sending a bad message to young women, right? I mean, I`m not missing anything here, am I?
DEVOE: Absolutely. From -- you know, we`re talking now about the images that we`re seeing currently on the runway. But when you look at just videos, everything is -- everyone is so thin-obsessed.
And I`m not saying, you know, I`m all about being exclusive. But we need to be inclusive. That`s what I`m about.
If you`re thin, you`re thin. If you`re plus size, you`re a plus size. The bottom line is, everything relates to health and being health conscious. But I think that these images that are being portrayed to our young women today are dangerous, and it`s time that we take a little bit of action.
HAMMER: I couldn`t agree with you more. And let`s keep the dialogue alive.
Gwen DeVoe and Jessica Weiner, thanks for joining us tonight. Appreciate it.
WEINER: Thanks so much.
HAMMER: Now we want to hear from you on the topic for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Sound off, won`t you?
Eating disorders: Is the fashion industry to blame? You can let us know how you think at cnn.com/showbiztonight. You can e-mail us if you have more to say at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: From Paris and Nicole to Madonna and Elton John, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the most outrageous celebrity feuds ever. What started them and why can`t stars just get along?
The biggest and best celebrity feuds coming up.
HAMMER: Plus, tonight we are getting the specific about the cancer battle that Farrah Fawcett is facing. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the details on the way.
We`ll also have this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s going to help me lose weight. I mean, I`ll be forced to lose weight. I`ll be forced to get out there and run each day. I mean, what more motivation could you ask for?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Can you imagine joining the military just to lose weight? Coming up, an amazing story. It isn`t just Hollywood where weight is an issue. The problem of eating disorders is also in the armed services.
Stay with us. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Time now for a story that made us say, "That`s ridiculous!"
OK. You may have heard about the promotion Six Flags amusement parks are running leading up to Halloween. At some of the parks, you can get in free or get ahead in line if you eat a live cockroach. Yes, you heard me.
And this Friday, a Six Flags park in Illinois is going to hold a competition, an actual competition to beat the world cockroach eating record.
But wait, that`s not even the most ridiculous part. Now we hear there are some people really upset for the cockroaches. That`s right.
The animal rights group PETA says the bugs don`t deserve to be eaten alive, and they want the whole thing stopped.
Come on, are you kidding me? They are sticking up for cockroaches, and we think... "That`s ridiculous!"
HAMMER: Well, tonight yet another twist in the Anna Nicole Smith saga, which I guess isn`t really all that surprising anymore.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now confirm that the birth certificate of the baby she had days before her son Daniel died in her hospital room lists Howard K. Stern as the father right there on the birth certificate. Now, Stern, of course, is her attorney, her lover, and is in a paternity battle with another man, Larry Birkhead, over the baby.
We also have other late-breaking news tonight to get from Ashleigh Banfield, Court TV anchor joining us once again.
Nice to see you.
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, COURT TV ANCHOR: Nice to see you.
HAMMER: All right. So Howard K. Stern`s name on the birth certificate. Of course, there is this big contest over who`s actually the father.
Does this mean he will have a better chance to actually be named the father or that the paternity suit will not move forward because of it at all?
BANFIELD: It makes for a great TV story, it makes for great chitchat, but it doesn`t give him a leg up in any kind of paternity battle. And that`s just as simple as that.
Anybody can name anybody else as the daddy. It`s the only the mom who is the sure thing on a birth certificate.
HAMMER: OK. So wait a second -- so wait -- back up a second. So Anna Nicole could have said A.J. Hammer, father of my baby?
BANFIELD: Are you breaking news?
HAMMER: I am not breaking news but to drive home the point that...
BANFIELD: Absolutely.
HAMMER: ... it just doesn`t matter?
BANFIELD: It doesn`t matter.
HAMMER: And of course there doesn`t need to be any legal follow-up to prove that he is the father just to be on the birth certificate, like a DNA test or anything.
BANFIELD: Not unless somebody contests it. Bing -- we have Larry Birkhead contesting it in, you know, a jurisdiction that`s not the Bahamas.
HAMMER: Right.
BANFIELD: And they do respect one another`s jurisdictions. So, yes, if something goes ahead and a judge orders a paternity test in California, that could very well be respected by a Bahamian jurisdiction as well.
HAMMER: So, putting -- putting his name on there could also be seen as just piling on yet another element to make everybody believe Howard K. Stern is the father, if, in fact, it is contested, which it is being...
BANFIELD: Maybe in TV land, but in a court, no. What it does do, though, if for some bizarre reason -- and this is a bizarre case -- down the road he decides, I`m not so interested in this deal anymore, I want out, I`m not the daddy, it gets a lot more difficult then because he`s agreed to a legal document that names himself as the father. That`s where it gets sticky.
But so far I don`t -- I don`t think that`s something we`re going to see down the road. He has fought long and hard to try to convince us all, especially on "LARRY KING LIVE," that he`s the daddy. I can`t see him turning in a few months or years and deciding against that.
HAMMER: Yes, I would guess you`re right.
All right. Let`s talk about Michael Scott. This is the attorney who`s representing Anna Nicole Smith in this paternity issue here.
What`s the story with him? Some late-breaking news today?
BANFIELD: Not only is he representing her, but he is also representing her son, Daniel, the dead son, Daniel, and his estate. He`s dropped off the case. He wants out now, and he is citing the inappropriate nature of that commitment ceremony.
And so much has been made of the photographs and the unusual nature of it, the -- sort of the upbeat attitudes on the faces of both Stern and Anna Nicole Smith. I think he thinks the whole thing is inappropriate and he has asked to be let go of this case. He just doesn`t want anything to do with it anymore because of the inappropriate nature of the commitment ceremony.
HAMMER: This story will be in the news every single day. A twist and turn every step of the way.
BANFIELD: I guarantee it.
HAMMER: Ashleigh Banfield, thanks, as always, for joining us from Court TV.
BANFIELD: Good to see you.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has been telling you all about Barbra Streisand`s concert tour, including a political skit featuring a President Bush impersonator. At a concert in New York, the skit got some heckles and Babs dropped the "F" bomb.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Here are two people who tend not to share anything, let alone a stage.
STEVE BRIDGES, GEORGE BUSH IMPERSONATOR: I am your biggest fan.
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS: Actually, the real President Bush would probably rather hang out with the Dixie Chicks than Barbra Streisand, the liberals` diva.
BARBRA STREISAND, SINGER (SINGING): Hey, look at me.
MOOS: Hey, it`s not how you look. It`s what you said that had tongues wagging.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, "THE VIEW": I heard that Streisand let him have it.
ROSIE O`DONNELL, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": She sure did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
MOOS: It happened at a star-studded live concert Streisand gave at Madison Square Garden. There`s Oprah. There`s Rosie. There`s Tony Bennett. There`s George Bush impersonator Steve Bridges.
STREISAND AND BRIDGES (SINGING): Happy days are here again.
MOOS: It was some time during that time that routine that a heckler shouted out.
(on camera): Now, we don`t have any footage of the actual incident, but we understand the heckler was yelling things like: "I didn`t come to a political fund-raiser. Shut up and sing."
(voice-over): Which made Oprah`s comments before the show seem clairvoyant.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": I think it`s going to be an experience, because that is the voice.
MOOS: And what did the voice say in response to the heckler?
"Shut the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) up. Shut up," if you can`t take a joke, Streisand said, to wild applause, even though the jokes were somewhat lame.
STREISAND: Can you believe it? For a second, we were in harmony.
MOOS: Before the concert ended, Streisand apologized for her F- word outburst, where she told the audience the artist`s role is to disturb.
Hey, it could have been a lot more disturbing. Look at George Michael. On his recent tour, he has featured a giant Bush balloon, with an inflatable bulldog performing unnatural acts on it.
In his anti-war video, "Shoot the Dog," Tony Blair is portrayed as President Bush`s puppy. By the way, Streisand got Bab-elicious, rave reviews on her performance, except for the Bush spoof.
STREISAND: You OK?
BRIDGES: My heart is pounding.
(LAUGHTER)
STREISAND: You`re so good, you could give up your day job.
MOOS: Talk about an impeachable offense.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And high fives all around with them.
That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Well, tonight we`re getting the specifics about the cancer battle that Farrah Fawcett is facing. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has those details coming up.
ANDERSON: Plus, from Paris and Nicole to Madonna and Elton John, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the most outrageous celebrity feuds ever, what started them, and why can`t stars just get along. The biggest and best celebrity feuds coming up.
We`ll also have this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s going to help me lose weight. I mean, I`ll be forced to lose weight. I`ll be forced to get out there and run each day. I mean, what more motivation could you ask for?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Can you imagine joining the military just to lose weight? Coming up, an amazing story. It isn`t just Hollywood where weight`s an issue. The problem of eating disorders is also in the armed services.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tomorrow, Mel Gibson speaking out for the very first time about his anti-Semitic rant and drunk driving arrest. What made Mel do it? His struggle with alcohol and what`s going to happen to his career, you`ll find out tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: If Rod Stewart has his way, we may see him again on "American Idol". The rock legend was on the show last season coaching the contestants as they sang hits from his vast catalog of songs. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sat down with Stewart and he said all in all it was a lot of fun, but he did have one regret.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROD STEWART, SINGER: It was fantastic, I must admit. I treated it lightheartedly. I didn`t take it too seriously. I think that came across. You know, although I do have tremendous respect for the kids on it.
But it was -- it was a bit of glorious fun. I enjoyed it. I`d love to do it again.
I don`t think any of them took any notice of my advice, quite honestly. And the one that did, I think the girl that sung, the blonde girl, I told her to relax her phrasing a little bit, and she relaxed it so much that she was off beat and got kicked off.
So, sorry, darling. I forgot her name. I think her name was Kelly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes, it was, Rod. Of course it was Kelly Pickler he was referring to.
Rod Stewart`s new album, "Still the Same: Great Rock Classics of Our Time," is in stores now.
HAMMER: Well now we are learning for the very first time about exactly what kind of cancer Farrah Fawcett has. And we`re going to have those details for you coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Plus, from Paris and Nicole to Madonna and Elton John, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the most outrageous celebrity feuds ever. What started them and why can`t the stars just all get along? That`s coming up.
We`re also going to have this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDRA BULLOCK, ACTRESS: You spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to protect it if it`s valuable to you. And it`s really valuable to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The lovely Sandra Bullock talking about the secrets of her success, how she stays grounded, how she stays married -- and we know how tough that can be in Hollywood, particularly when you`re married to a high- profile individual.
Sandra Bullock is coming up in the interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Wednesday night, coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, we talk about it all the time: how difficult it is to be married in Hollywood. Seems like it`s never easy, particularly when both spouses are in the spotlight, as is the case in Sandra Bullock`s marriage. But she`s figured it out; she knows how to make it work. We`re going to let everybody in on our secrets, coming up in just a few.
ANDERSON: Good for Sandra. And - and (INAUDIBLE) celebrity marriages, A.J., to explosive, bitter celebrity feuds. I`m talking Paris versus Nicole, Tom versus Brooke and numerous others. Coming up, we have the biggest and the best celebrity feuds ever.
HAMMER: Of which there have been quite a few.
ANDERSON: Yes, there have.
HAMMER: But first tonight, for the very first time since we got the news that Farrah Fawcett has cancer, we`re now learning what kind of cancer she has and the dramatic, behind-the-scenes story of her brave battle. The startling details are in this, the new issue of "People" magazine, which will hit newsstands on Friday.
Joining me tonight in New York, "People" magazine`s J.D. Heyman.
Nice to see you, J.D.
J.D. HEYMAN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Nice to see you.
HAMMER: So you guys at "People" have learned after a lot of speculation that`s been out there specifically what type of cancer Farrah`s detailing with.
HEYMAN: That`s right.
HAMMER: What - what did you learn?
HEYMAN: Farrah Fawcett has anal cancer. She`s been upfront about what it is. She gave a statement to that effect, and she`s fighting it tooth and nail.
So it`s a very, very traumatic time for her, and for people around her, who are rallying around her. But she`s determined to fight this.
HAMMER: And this is a fairly rare kind of cancer, if I understand correctly. Less than 5,000 people a year are diagnosed with it.
HEYMAN: Right. It - it`s not the most common form of cancer. It is a cancer that, if it`s caught, early can be - can be treated and can be dealt with. And she`s very optimistic about - about her outcomes. And we certainly that that, you know, is the case.
HAMMER: You know, one of the last times we saw Farrah out in public was at the end of August, when she was appearing at the Emmy Awards. She was reunited with her "Charlie`s Angels" co-stars, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. And everybody said how terrific she looked, appearing on stage.
It was shortly after that that she actually was diagnosed. Isn`t that right?
HEYMAN: Well, that`s absolutely right. I mean, she appeared at this "Angel`s" reunion to sort of pay respect to Aaron Spelling. And then right after that, within days, she was complaining about feeling sore. She`s a very athletic person; she`s always been very active. And she certainly felt she was - she was not at - at her best. And she went to a doctor. And after many tests, she find out this diagnosis, and was completely, you know, undone by it for a little bit, and then rallied.
But it was very sudden, as many cancer diagnoses are. She was not, you know, suffering or feeling ill for a long period before she got this diagnosis.
HAMMER: Well, she clearly has a tremendous support system around her, as is well-needed in any situation like this.
And I understand it was shortly after her diagnosis that she called Ryan O`Neal. Of course, she and Ryan had a relationship for 17 years.
HEYMAN: Right.
HAMMER: They were together until 1997. But he`s not just back hanging out; he`s firmly back in her life now.
HEYMAN: Well, that`s exactly right. And a lot of people maybe not remember this, but Ryan O`Neal battled cancer. And - and this was after he and - and Farrah had - had split. And she had come back and helped him through his treatments for a form of leukemia that he was diagnosed with.
So Ryan did the same thing for Farrah. He, you know, basically moved her back into his home. She`s been dividing her time between his home and her home. He`s been really looking after her and has - you know, he told "People" this week, you know, he - he loves her. He`s profoundly, you know, distressed about what`s going on. But he`s standing by her.
This is a real love affair between these two people.
HAMMER: Yes.
HEYMAN: I mean.
HAMMER: It`s obviously a bond that - that they`ll have for the rest of - of their lives.
HEYMAN: Sure.
HAMMER: And a bond that she remains to have to this day with Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, who I mentioned that she reunited with at the Emmy Awards. And this has really brought all of them closer, and not just in some superficial way.
HEYMAN: Right. I mean - well, you know, all three of these women, amazingly - I mean, have had cancer.
HAMMER: Wow.
HEYMAN: Kate Jackson had cancer - breast cancer. Jaclyn Smith also battled cancer. So they know firsthand what - what Farrah`s going through. And Kate Jackson and Farrah has spent some time together since this diagnosis. Kate told "People" that, you know, this - this is a woman that people shouldn`t think is lying in bed and, you know, wallowing in her misery. She`s determined to fight this. The two of them went out together incognito and went for a brisk walk together.
So they`ve really rallied to her side. And she - Kate has also offered (ph) to pray for Farrah if - you know, if they do pray, to put her in their prayers.
So this is an amazing, you know, show of strength by these three women.
HAMMER: Well, Farrah is truly an iconic woman, and I know she has a tremendous of support, and we all wish her the best.
J.D., I appreciate you joining us tonight.
HEYMAN: Thanks for having me.
HAMMER: And you can read the full story on Farrah`s cancer battle in the latest issue of "People" magazine. You`ll find it on newsstands this Friday.
ANDERSON: For the first time, Mel Gibson is speaking out about his anti-Semitic rant and drunk-driving arrest this past July. In an interview with ABC`s Diane Sawyer, Gibson says it was - quote - "the stupid ramblings of a drunkard."
We got a preview on today`s "GMA." In his own words, Mel talks about his battle with alcoholism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEL GIBSON, ACTOR: You live in fear (ph) - the risk of everything: life, limb, family is not enough to keep you from it. That`s the - that`s the hell of it. You are indefensible against it.
(CROSSTALK)
DIANE SAWYER, ABC ANCHOR.you will sacrifice.
GIBSON: Anything. So you must keep that under arrest, in a sense. But you cannot do it of yourself.
And people can help, yes. But it`s God. You got to go there. You got to do it, and - or you won`t survive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You can catch more of Gibson`s interview with Diane Sawyer tomorrow and Friday on "Good Morning America."
HAMMER: Well, when you think about marriages in Hollywood, "long lasting" are probably not the first words that come to mind.
But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going to tell you the secrets to a happy Hollywood marriage, courtesy of Sandra Bullock. Her husband is "Monster Garage" TV host Jesse James. Sandra is currently starring as author Harper Lee in "Infamous." It`s a movie about the life of Truman Capote.
And Truman revealed the secret to a successful marriage to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT producer Jenny D`attoma.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENNY D`ATTOMA, CNN SHOWBIZ TONIGHT PRODUCER: When you first started off with this role, did you just think, Oh, this is a plum role for me?
SANDRA BULLOCK, ACTRESS: Well, I questioned Doug, why he wanted me to do it.
D`ATTOMA: Really?
BULLOCK: I didn`t - I - I wanted to make sure that - because I knew how hard it was going to be me for me, the work that was required for me. I wanted to make sure that he wasn`t - I was like, Do you need financing for this? What`s the reason?
And we had long talks. And finding out that he spent, you know, a good four years of his life researching and writing this. You know, this is an actor - I think most actors will tell you, if you get this chance just once in a lifetime, it`s - it`s a blessing. And if you get it more than once, you just - it`s pretty great.
D`ATTOMA: As big of a star as you are, you maintain a privacy that few celebrities do.
How do you do that?
BULLOCK: The key is just don`t go where the cameras going. It`s not that hard to figure out.
D`ATTOMA: Really?
BULLOCK: And I`m sure there`s a - a level of interest that is really low in my life. Because, you know, if I`m going to get in trouble, I`m certainly not going to do it in area where someone`s going to tell someone else to call a camera.
But you know what? You just get as far away from it as possible. You just - you spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to protect it, if it`s valuable to you. And it`s really valuable to me.
You know, when I go home at the end of the day, I don`t go to them. I go home to my life, and - and if - if it`s not solid, it`s - I have - you know, I`m at fault for that, so.
D`ATTOMA: What is the secret ingredient to a successful marriage, as far as.
BULLOCK: I have no idea.
D`ATTOMA: No?
BULLOCK: No clue. And anyone who talks about is shooting themselves in the foot.
D`ATTOMA: Marital foot.
BULLOCK: I have no idea. And what`s good for one is definitely not the same recipe for someone else.
Just do your life. Don`t do what, you know, magazine, you know, with the - those - what are they like, the page - you know, the three-page tests on how - you know, (INAUDIBLE) you know what. It`s just - just do what feels right. If you go with your own rhythm; I think once you try to make it look like something that it`s not, and you try to be the perfect couple - no one`s the perfect couple. The world isn`t perfect. Don`t - don`t - it`s not going to work. You know, just - I think people forget that we`re supposed to enjoy this lifetime.
D`ATTOMA: I know.
BULLOCK: You know, and that seems the last on your list. I don`t want to be 80, going, If I only had just relaxed and had more fun, you know? Life is hard enough. You know, it`s going to get bad when it gets bad. Did you enjoy the moments when things were calm? And a lot of us say no, you know, because you just stress out.
I think in the end, when you really look at it, people`s aspirations for money and fame and - and success are all to be - to feel loved and to feel validated and to feel a sense of accomplishment. And I think that if someone can say, I had - I loved, and I loved good - you know, and it`s politically correct, you can`t any more pure than that. That is the ultimate accomplishment in life.
And it`s the hardest thing to do, because there`s no rote system, you know? You - you can figure out to get through business school, study, you know? And - and be diligent, and hopefully, you pay your tuition and you can get your business degree. It doesn`t work that way in life (INAUDIBLE).
D`ATTOMA: Yes. You`re on - on your own.
BULLOCK: Yes. I - I think that`s what - what is hard to allow yourself to do, because you have society and people just saying, This is the way to do it. This is the way to (INAUDIBLE) (ph), you know?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I love a star with their feet firmly planted in the ground. Sandra Bullock there.
That is - the film "Infamous" is her new movie, and it`s opening in theaters this weekend.
ANDERSON: Well, if you can`t stand those long waits in the ER, you may want to head the hospital during big sporting events. We`re going to tell you why "That`s Ridiculous!" next.
HAMMER: Also, from Paris to Nicole to Madonna and Elton John, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the most outrageous, nastiest celebrity feuds ever. Why can`t stars just get along and play nice?
We`ve also got this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALISA FLISS, JOINED MILITARY TO LOSE WEIGHT: It`s going to help me lose weight. I`ll be forced to lose weight. I`ll be forced to get out there and run each day. What more motivation could you ask for?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: People do all kinds of extreme things to lose weight. Tonight, the shocking choice one woman made in her struggle to shed pounds: she signed up for the military. That amazing story, coming up next.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A.J.`s going to desk with tracking (ph) for the next block.
Effect black.
(COMMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: .music under, stand by, A.J. Open his mike, dissolve 1, Go.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Wednesday night. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
It`s time now for another story that made us say "That`s Ridiculous!"
Now, we know a lot of guys love the sports, right? During Sunday football, you can`t get the guys away from the TV set, right, ladies? Well, there`s a new study out there from the University of Maryland that says there`s a drop in the number of men heading to the emergency room when sports are on. That`s right. When the game`s over, then there`s a surge in "ER" visits. So apparently guys who are hurting, in pain and not feeling so good, and they wait until the game is done to get checked out.
It would seem to me, Brooke - it would be most prudent - if you have chest pains, if you are bleeding profusely, you should not wait until the game is over. Maybe have the ambulance turn on the radio and the sports score will come up.
ANDERSON: Yes, have them turn on the radio.
You know, some of these fans might not be watching too many more football games or sporting events if they ignore these serious ailments. It`s ridiculous.
HAMMER: But even stranger is that somebody went out and did a study about this.
Still, we have to say, hitting the "ER" after that last whistle, "That`s Ridiculous!"
ANDERSON: "That`s Ridiculous!"
OK, now SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the greatest celebrity feuds ever, with the drag-out - knockdown, drag-out, nastiest celebrity feuds. I`m sure we`re all resting a little easier now that Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are friends again. The two had been in a big fight since last year, but have decided to bury the hatchet.
But Paris and Nicole aren`t the only ones to duke it out publicly.
With us tonight, investigative journalist Pat Lalama.
Hey, Pat.
PAT LALAMA, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: All is well with the world now that we know they`re OK, huh?
ANDERSON: We all feel much better.
But to give a little bit of perspective here, Paris and Nicole were childhood friends, teenaged friends. And then about a year ago, suddenly they became bitter enemies. TMZ.com`s cameras actually caught them the other night having dinner together at a very popular restaurant here in L.A.
But Pat, what caused this whole feud in the first place?
LALAMA: Well, that`s the big secret. I mean, I am telling you, what is the nuclear code is is only - is second only to, you know, what is the secret between the two.
But you know what? I mean, the bottom line is, as I`ve mentioned on a couple of occasions, relationships in Hollywood, particularly with the young, spoiled crowd, are very fleeting. They love you one day, hate you the next. But I also think, in this case, they might have been forced to get along because they`ve got a new season of television coming up.
So let`s just bury the hatchet, make some money and still be Hollywood stars.
ANDERSON: So maybe not a genuine friendship. We`ll just have to see how that one plays out.
But next I want to talk about Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. An interesting duo. These guys were good friends at one point; they made hit songs together: "The Girl Is Mine"; "Say Say Say."
But then, Pat, a feud begins over a Beatles catalogue of music.
LALAMA: Well, how would you feel if you sat down with Michael Jackson and wrote beautiful music, and then he outbid you on your own catalogue, which of course is probably, you know, a gold mine. And we know it`s a gold mine.
And I think it caused a bitter dispute. And as far as I know, the two have not come together to the negotiation table to talk.
ANDERSON: Yes, I wouldn`t feel too good about that. So they may keep their friendship estranged, you think? No - no chance of mending her?
LALAMA: I`m going to go out on a limb here and say that Paul probably wants to pick his friends quite carefully. And given the allegations that have been thrust upon Michael Jackson, maybe it`s just best to, you know, wave and keep it at there.
ANDERSON: Keep your distance. Keep your distance.
LALAMA: Exactly.
ANDERSON: All right. Tom Cruise and Brooke Shields; we all know what happened with this one.
LALAMA: Oh yes.
ANDERSON: .when Tom erupted on national television during the now- infamous interview on the "Today" show, basically attacking Brooke Shields.
LALAMA: Right.
ANDERSON: .for her use of antidepressants for postpartum depression, to treat it.
Why is this one of the greatest celebrity feuds ever? And you know it is.
LALAMA: Well, the reason why is because these are two big stars; these are two relatively respected people.
But you have to add that Scientology element. I mean, Tom is so strong in his convictions that a lot of people have said he`s kind of gone off the deep end in terms of keep perspective about other people`s feelings.
Now we do understand that he has gone and apologized. I`m not going to accuse him of being insincere, but I will say now that he`s dumped his sister as is - you know, his PR guru and had someone else, that someone else probably said, Listen, Tom, if you want to start cleaning - cleaning up a little bit of a mess that`s been made, go knock on some doors and say you`re sorry and let`s move on.
So, you know, maybe there`s a little sincerity in there. I`m not so sure, because he does believe very strongly in what he says. But he just may have had some second thoughts about how he said it, and how he made her feel and his audience.
ANDERSON: Great. My mother always told me, If you can`t say something nice, don`t say anything at all.
LALAMA: That never stopped me though.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: Denise - let`s go to Denise Richards and Heather Locklear. They`re definitely not friends anymore. Things got very hectic when a man became involved her - Richie Sambora got between these two, right?
LALAMA: Well, this is what I have to say about that: (INAUDIBLE). You know, I mean what.
ANDERSON: The claws came out, Pat.
LALAMA: You know, I mean, seriously, this is so insane. And this as a - you know, the raging feminist I like to say that I am - I mean, you know who to me is the real dog in all this is Richie Sambora. I mean, Oh, I got to trade my wife in for the younger model and all that junk.
But, I mean, really, where is the loyalty? I thought these two were really good friends. And you know what? That is just forbidden fruit. I - you know, come on, Brooke, I`m sure this kind of classy woman, too. You don`t - you just stay away from another man`s wife - you know, another woman`s - ah!
ANDERSON: I agree.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: And that is why these are the best and biggest celebrity feuds ever.
LALAMA: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: Pat Lalama, as always, great talking to you.
LALAMA: My pleasure.
ANDERSON: Thanks so much.
LALAMA: Bye bye.
ANDERSON: Bye.
HAMMER: And now more on "The Hollywood Weight Watch," SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s ongoing coverage of celebrities and their struggle to stay thin.
Now we`ve been showing you these absolutely disturbing pictures of skinny model on the catwalk at Paris` Fashion Week. Whether or not this woman from an eating disorder, images like this definitely give off a terrible message.
Tonight, there are brand-new, star-studded public service announcements to raise awareness about dangerous eating disorders. Celebrities like Paula Abdul sharing their battles with bulimia and anorexia.
Listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
PAULA ABDUL, "AMERICAN IDOL": Hi, this is Paula Abdul. And before I was a judge on "American Idol," and before I was a singer, even before I was a dancer, before I was ever famous, I was just a girl with a secret. I had an eating disorder.
Recovering from an eating disorder is possible. I`m living proof. But you need to take the first step. Go visit nationaleatingdisorders.org.
I`ve shared my secret. It`s time to share yours. Visit nationaleatingdisorders.org.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Other stars doing the National Eating Disorders Association radio spots: country stars Wynonna Judd and Sarah Evans. Also actress Scarlett Palmers (ph).
Well, the struggle with weight is a scary and often dangerous battle. And some people will do almost anything to keep the pounds off: binging, purging - and now, here`s the story of a woman who joined the military to lose weight. Incredibly, she`s not alone.
Here`s CNN`s Alina Cho for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING (voice-over): Alisa Fliss is a 32-year-old mother of two, currently healthy and fit.
But for most of her life, she battled eating disorders. At age 18, she surprised everyone. Instead of going to college, she joined the military, enlisted in the Air Force.
FLISS: It`s going to help me lose weight. I`ll be forced to lose weight. I`ll be forced to get out there and run each day. What more motivation could you ask for?
CHO (on camera): It seems so extreme.
FLISS: It does, but I think I had tried everything else.
CHO (voice-over): The rigorous exercise, the routine weigh-ins, she believes all of it would help her stay slim. It wasn`t enough. So Alisa when a step further.
FLISS: Just a lot of overexercising, a lot of dieting, restricting what I ate and purging whatever I did eat.
CHO: Alisa is not alone. At least two government studies say women in the military are three times more likely to suffer eating disorders than female civilians.
DR. JILL HRANICKA, RENFEW CLINIC: Any time you have an environment that emphasizes that much focus on weight and appearance and physical fitness, just like elite athletes, you`re going to see a higher incidence of eating disorders.
CHO: The military does not disclose how many women are actually affected. Major Stewart Upton, a U.S. military spokesman says he`s aware that some join just to lose weight, and that eating disorders exist in the military.
But he says the military offers counseling programming for these disorders in every division.
At first ,Alisa found success in the military. She excelled in the classroom, held leadership positions, and she lost so much weight she was kicked out.
FLISS: My job in the military was a police officer. I don`t think that anybody in that frame of mind should be carrying a weapon or guarding nuclear missiles.
CHO: Alisa has recovered now, but still thinks about her weight every day and still wonders whether she would have enlisted, had it not been for the lure of losing weight.
FLISS: I think the difference is that the eating disorder, it was a loud voice before. And I never talked back. And now I do every single day.
CHO: A battle she may be fighting for the rest of her life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That is stunning. That was CNN`s Alina Cho for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Alina also tells us that Alisa wanted to be sent into a war zone where she actually wouldn`t have any access to food. But she is doing better now, and she has put on 45 pounds.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You`ve just got to take a look at these pictures that we`ve been showing you throughout the show: an outrageously, super-skinny model that strutted her stuff at a major Paris fashion show, sparking outrage. Take a look at it.
So we`ve been asking you to vote on tonight`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." And it is this: "Eating Disorders: Is the fashion industry to blame?"
We appreciate your e-mails. Keep on sending them, showbiztonight@cnn.com. And keep voting, cnn.com/showbiztonight.
HAMMER: And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Time to find out what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Tomorrow, Mel Gibson speaking out for the very time about the disgusting, anti-Semitic rant he went on, and his drunk-driving arrest. What made Mel do it? His struggle with alcohol --what`s going to happen to his career? You`ll find out all about tomorrow, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Also tomorrow, Jesus and jokes. Tomorrow, you`ll meet someone who`s becoming one of the biggest stars out there doing it religious comedy. She`s also not shy about talking about the controversy of mixing religion and controversy. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s ongoing coverage of "Holy Hollywood," tomorrow.
That`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Have a great night, everyone.
Glenn Beck is coming up next. Stay tuned. That`s right after the latest headlines from CNN Headline News.
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