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Showbiz Tonight
The Madonna Baby Battle; Arianna Huffington Discusses Her New Book
Aired October 16, 2006 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CO-HOST: Another shocking dangerous run-in with the paparazzi related to Angelina Jolie. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
JASON CARROLL, CNN GUEST-HOST: One of TV`s biggest stars is claiming to have found a fountain of youth. I`m Jason Carroll in New York. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
ANDERSON: On "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," the Madonna baby battle. Tonight the worldwide outrage over Madonna`s adoption of an African boy and the extraordinary steps to try and stop it. Tonight why are so many so mad at Madonna? "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" asks the tough question -- do celebrities who adopt children get special treatment?
All aboard for "Celebrity Train Wrecks." Tonight, stars we just can`t take our eyes off of because, you know at any moment, they are going to do something that`s totally ridiculous. Paris, Tara, Whitney and Bobby -- come hop aboard the "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Celebrity Train Wreck" express.
CARROLL: Hello, I`m Jason Carroll, in for A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: Nice to have you, Jason.
I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight it seems like half the world is mad at Madonna. What did she really do anything wrong?
CARROLL: What Madonna did was fly halfway around the world to adopt a child. But tonight, there is outrage over how she got him and some adoption groups are furious. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" with the latest developments from Africa and around the world.
Remember when Madonna drew controversy for provocative dance moves and smooching younger pop stars on national TV? Now it`s the 48-year-old superstar`s efforts to keep the Malawian baby she wants to adopt that`s igniting her latest worldwide controversy.
JULIE DAM, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: It`s become this really crazy event.
CARROLL: Now "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" has the latest on Madonna`s adoption angst and asks the question -- What is it that has people so upset?
CHERYL CARTER-SHOOTS, AMERICANS FOR AFRICAN ADOPTION: Investing in the country is one thing. Tying it into the adoption of a child is totally beyond anything that I would ever accept.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: The story begins here, in the African nation of Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. Madonna recently visited an orphanage in this country of 12 million people. It was here that Madonna met little David, who`s desperate father had just given him up for adoption.
DAM: The boy, David, is a year old, and his mother died shortly after his birth. And he was being taken care of by his father, who is a farmer. And the father took him to the orphanage because he really couldn`t take care of the boy.
CARROLL: Madonna applied for and won an interim adoption. In a statement, her publicist tells "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "This interim adoption gives David`s new parents temporary custody for 18 months, during which time they will be evaluated by the courts of Malawi per the tribal customs of the country."
David`s father has met Madonna and her husband, filmmaker Guy Ritchie.
And get this, the father is telling the media that he didn`t even know who Madonna was.
YOHAME BANDA, FATHER OF LITTLE DAVID (through interpreter): I don`t know who she is. All I know is that she will give my son a good life.
CARROLL: But not everyone is so supportive. Human rights groups in Malawi are going to court to stop their country from allowing this adoption.
DAM: This human rights organization say that, according to Malawi law, adoptive parents are required to foster the children for either 18 to 24 months inside the country. And these human rights organizations say that the rules were bent for Madonna. And that it shouldn`t happen.
CARROLL: Of course, celebrities other than Madonna have adopted kids from abroad, a difficult and expensive process. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have adopted two. Meg Ryan adopted a girl from China this year. And Mia Farrow has adopted ten children.
The children`s rights groups argue that allowing rich and famous stars like Madonna to leap frog international adoption rules could end up doing more harm than good.
DANIELA REALE, SAVE THE CHILDREN: Those procedures are there to protect children. Not doing that, we risk really fueling illegal channels for the adoption of children and potentially even trafficking of children.
CARROLL: So what happens now? It looks like little David may go from a life of desperation here in Malawi to a life of luxury and opportunity in the U.K. with Madonna.
The superstar is also donating $3 million toward an orphanage and other efforts to help Malawi`s children. But it`s her efforts to help this one particular child that`s going to get a lot of attention and scrutiny in the near future.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: And we have this new video just in to "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." In a South African airport, the media got a brief glimpse of little David as he and a woman boarded a flight bound for England where Madonna lives.
The baby was flown out of Malawi earlier that day. Madonna`s publicist had said, quote, "The family will be reunited in the coming days."
ANDERSON: So Madonna`s controversial quest to adopt a child from Malawi has caused outrage and anger across the globe.
Joining us in New York is Village Voice columnist and author of the upcoming book, "La Dolce Musto," Michael Musto. He has written a lot about celebs in Africa.
And with us from Indianapolis, is Cheryl Carter-Shotts from the group Americans for African Adoption.
Welcome to you both. Thanks for being here.
MICHAEL MUSTA, VILLAGE VOICE COLUMNIST & AUTHOR OF "LA DOLCE MUSTA": Hi, Brooke.
CARTER-SHOTTS: Thanks for inviting us.
ANDERSON: Cheryl, I want to begin with you. You say Madonna started out with the right idea, but it`s been a fiasco ever since. Why do you say that?
CARTER-SHOTTS: It appears, from what I`m reading in the news media, it`s definitely a fiasco. She chose a country that doesn`t truly allow adoption by people who are outside the country. And it looks as if some special exceptions are being made for her. I really believe that if I were to contact the government of Malawi tomorrow and ask if we could start doing adoptions there, that we would be told no.
And I just don`t think it`s right for a celebrity to have all kinds of concessions made when they are just an average person.
ANDERSON: As we heard in the piece, some rules are being bent for Madonna apparently.
Michael, you`re not even sure about Madonna`s intentions. You`ve said that Africa is all the rage right now, that it is like a trendy restaurant for celebs.
But, Michael, she is adopting a child here. She is not going out to eat. Is it really fair to call this a publicity stunt? Does she even need publicity?
MUSTO: I don`t know why Madonna won`t accept her as the new Mother Teresa.
(LAUGHTER)
No. Madonna at least -- let`s give her this much. She is highlighting issues that she cares about. She is drawing a spotlight on Africa, which she knows is a problem area.
On the other side, Madonna has always done trendy things and superficial things that have advanced her own career. She is brilliant and she has done things very artfully, but she has always thought the next new hot thing to promote and to make into a mainstream phenomenon.
So that`s why people -- the people who applauded Angelina Jolie are now looking askance at Madonna and going, what are her motives?
ANDERSON: Like you say, a lot of cynicism out there. Let`s say she did get a lot of special treatment. Let`s look at the net results here. You`ve got a young baby boy, who was destined to live the rest of the life in poverty. And now he`s going to have a life with people with means to provide him with medical care, education, a great life really.
What`s wrong with that, Cheryl? Are we getting too caught up in the red tape?
CARTER-SHOTTS: You have to get caught up in the red tape. You have to follow the cultural norms, the religious norms, the laws of the foreign country, everyone involved. There are rules and regulations. They should apply to everyone.
And it seems as if a concession has been made for Madonna. If Madonna really wanted to help that particular child, then why isn`t she sponsoring the father, providing him with an income, helping him get a job, decent little house, the food that the child needs, the inoculations he needs, the education he needs?
I`m totally against what she had done...
ANDERSON: You`ve even gone on to say that she is being disrespectful to the entire country of Malawi in this process? That`s pretty strong.
CARTER-SHOTTS: I feel that she is disregarding the culture and the rules and regulations of the government of Malawi. They have rules. They are entitled to establish their own culture, their own rules and regulations. And they are being bent for one particular person.
I suspect that if I were to walk in with a family comes next week, that the adopting family that I would bring to them would be rejected, but they wouldn`t be bringing in $3 million to assist. They need to be separated out.
ANDERSON: Well, this is Madonna.
Michael, let`s talk hypothetically. If this weren`t Madonna and it were some millionaire or billionaire doing this, would it be getting the same sort of attention, do you think? Or is it because it is Madonna? And she is a celebrity? Is there a little bit of Madonna bashing going on around the world now?
MUSTO: There is. And it`s because everything that Madonna does is huge and controversial. But people are wondering, is she just going after this kid as the latest accessory, they way she went after a Chihuahua or a British husband or a Golden Globe award?
ANDERSON: Oh, no.
MUSTO: But I will give her this much credit. No matter what child she would had chosen, there would have been complaints, because it`s Madonna. People are saying, oh, this kid should have been more under privileged. She should have done more to give the family money.
She is adopting a kid who is going to live an incredibly luxurious life. So I`m sure he`s writing a tell-all book already, as we speak.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: But comparing it to a handbag -- I don`t know.
MUSTO: Well, I know Madonna.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: Michael Musto from the Village Voice. Cheryl Carter-Shotts from the group Americans for African Adoptions.
We are going to have to leave it there. But I appreciate both your insights. Thanks so much.
MUSTO: Thank you.
CARTER-SHOTTS: You`re welcome.
CARROLL: All right. Now we want to hear from you. It`s our "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" "question of the day." Adopting children -- do celebrities get preferential treatment? Vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight. And send us your e-mails at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: Imagine how the invites for this wedding reads -- a boy marries a hill? Yes, like a mini mountain. One of the most bizarre and most ridiculous things we`ve ever heard of. And that`s coming up next.
CARROLL: Also, the shocking things Boy George says about Madonna and Elton John.
Plus, other stars we just can`t take our eyes off because, you know, at any moment, they are going to do something that`s totally ridiculous. All aboard the "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Celebrity Train Wreck" express.
Plus, we`ve also got this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUZANNE SOMERS, ACTRESS, BUSINESSWOMAN: I`m going to be 60. And it seemed like it would never come. It seems so unbelievably old. But when you get here, you don`t feel old. You feel young.
ANDERSON: Suzanne Somers claims she has found a fountain of youth. And tonight, she`s sharing her secrets with us. Coming up, in the interview you will see only on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CARROLL: Welcome back to "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Jason Carroll in New York, in for A.J. Hammer.
Time now for a story that made us say "that`s ridiculous."
You know the Beatles song, "The Fool on the Hill?" That could have been the wedding song for a teenage boy who got married to a hill, no, not on a hill, to a hill.
An India newspaper reports that he got married to the hill in eastern India so he could break a curse that a goddess had put on his mom. This is no joke.
The boy is quoted as saying, "I have accepted the hill as my wife. I have no remorse." Now, of course, we could toss a thousand puns your way, like one day, this boy will be over the hill. But for now, we`ll just say, a boy marrying a hill -- well, "that is ridiculous."
ANDERSON: Another shocking battle between the paparazzi and security people close to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. An Associated Press photographer says he was punched and threatened at gunpoint on the set of Jolie`s film "A Mighty Heart in India."
The photographer claims one of the guards verbally abused him and punched him in the face. Then, he says another pulled a gun and threatened to shoot him if he didn`t leave.
Over the past week or so, there have been quite a few incidents between the paparazzi and Brangelina in India. You just saw one photog there was choked by a security guard.
Brad, Angelina and her son, Maddox, were swarmed while taking a ride around town in this rickshaw. And then, Jolie`s car convoy hit a motorcycle in an effort to avoid the paparazzi.
We caught up with George Clooney and asked him what he thinks about all these scary security run-ins.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: It`s hard sometimes because people will assign people to protect you. And suddenly, they will do something dumb and it looks like it was your entire plan. It has very little to do with you. You don`t even really realize it`s going on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: By the way, the film that Angelina is shooting in India is about the horrific murder of "Wall Street Journal" reporter Daniel Pearl at the hands of Muslim terrorists.
CARROLL: No matter what the controversy, from the paparazzi, to Mel Gibson, to politics, you can be sure someone has something to say about it on one of the best read and controversial blogs out there. Today, it`s huffingtonpost.com. It was the brainchild of the always outspoken Ms. Arianna Huffington, who, it seems, knows no fear.
Arianna takes on the art of dealing with fear in Hollywood and beyond in her new book "On Becoming Fearless."
With me tonight, of course, in New York, is the always elegant Arianna Huffington.
I want to get straight to the news of this. And Mel Gibson made some news again last week when he interviewed Diane Sawyer, as you`ll remember.
And on your website, huffingtonpost.com, that was one of the first sites that really challenged Hollywood to speak up and do something about what had happened during that controversial DUI arrest, when he made some controversial ant anti-Semitic comments.
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, AUTHOR OF "ON BECOMING FEARLESS": What happened was that Ariel (inaudible) and one of the big...
CARROLL: Most people don`t know who he is, so...
HUFFINGTON: Yes, one of the Big Hollywood agents, and one of the huffingtonpost bloggers, blogged about it very soon after the incident. And challenged the Hollywood community to basically hold Mel Gibson accountable.
And that one blog had an impact. Others followed. And, basically, things happened, you know. They may cancel his project on the Holocaust. And in the end, as we saw with his the interview with Diane Sawyer, Mel Gibson basically apologized, was very contrite for what he did.
And I believe in redemption. So let`s see what happens. Let`s give him the benefit of the doubt.
CARROLL: So is that where you are at this point? Do you think there should be any more punishment other than him having to come forward and apologize? What else should Hollywood have done in this circumstance?
HUFFINGTON: Well, I think the Holocaust was absolutely crucial. And beyond that, it will all depend on his behavior and what he says and he does going forward.
CARROLL: Hollywood, I think, takes a lot of criticism for a lot of things, including body image. You talk about this and refer to this in your book. I`m wondering, at this point, what sort of blame do you think Hollywood has for portraying body image in society today?
HUFFINGTON: It`s really the media generally. I have an entire chapter in my book.
CARROLL: So it`s not just Hollywood. It`s us too, then?
HUFFINGTON: It is not just Hollywood. It`s everyone. And I have two teenage daughters, Jason, who are 17 and 15. And I write in the book about my youngest daughter`s struggle with anorexia. And she asked me to write about that because she is, thankfully, over it now. But she wanted other young girls to be helped from her experience.
What is the cultural stereotype that we are accepting about thinness being the only way to be beautiful? I don`t mean just taking care of yourself, exercising, eating well, but this obsession with being skinny.
CARROLL: How much do you think Hollywood is to blame? Let`s look at your daughter`s case, for example. Where was she getting the images from?
HUFFINGTON: Everywhere. It`s not just Hollywood. It`s women`s magazines. It`s her peers. It`s the whole media culture.
But what I`m saying in the book is it doesn`t matter what`s happening in the culture. We can personally, every day, choose to love our bodies the way they are, to take care of ourselves, but not to constantly compare ourselves to some possible model on the cover of a magazine.
CARROLL: Now, I know that you were on "The View" last week in terms of talking about being fearless. And you said, if there were ever women who embodied fearlessness, it`s them. How so?
HUFFINGTON: Yes. It`s amazing. If you look at them now, you think how successful, how strong. But every one of them has been through rejection, through situations which would have been making other women full of fear.
Rosie and her struggle with her publisher of "Rosie" magazine, remember the lawsuit, which made her the butt of so many jokes.
Barbara Walters being told by CBS producers you should do something other than television.
And remember, even Joy Barehar (ph), she was in her 30s when she abandoned a career as a schoolteacher to become a comedian.
These are the kind of risks that when we take them, even while we`re afraid, we can actually change our lives.
CARROLL: But very quickly, when I look at you, you look like someone who seems fearless in her own way. You`re successful. You`re beautiful. When you were researching this book, what did you find that you feared most?
HUFFINGTON: I wrote about all my struggles with fear, from the time I was a Greek immigrant girl in England, having to deal with my accent, and beginning to speak and being ridiculed, learning to deal with criticism, with humiliation, with rejection. We all go through that.
And my help was to help other women realize that we don`t have to be afraid of failure. We don`t have to be afraid of risks. We need to just do what we dream of doing, even while you are afraid. And, in the process, change ourselves and our lives.
CARROLL: I think it was FDR who once said we have nothing to fear but fear itself. And I`m wondering, at this point, after going through so much and researching this book, what did you find that women fear the most?
HUFFTINGTON: Well, the greatest fears have to do with the voices in our heads, what I call the obnoxious roommate living in our head, putting us down every day. And in the book I have many of the women from Hollywood, including Diane Keaton and Sherry Lansing and Mariska Hargitay (ph), and a lot of women talking about their own struggles with fear, to show other women who are reading the book that it is not just them. It`s everybody, however successful or famous who deals with that.
CARROLL: Arianna Huffington, something to learn there. The book, once again, is called "On Becoming Fearless," and it is in stores now.
ANDERSON: All aboard for "Celebrity Train Wreck." Tonight`s stars we just can`t take our eyes off. At any moment, they are going to do something that`s totally ridiculous.
CARROLL: And M-I-C-K-E-Y and sex? A new celeb sex tape featuring Mickey Mouse? What is the world coming to? "That`s ridiculous." and that`s still to come.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOMERS: I like this time in life where I`m the teacher. I like being the sexy teacher.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Suzanne Somers claims she`s found a fountain of youth. And she is sharing her secrets with us. Coming up, in the interview you will see only on right here on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Vince Vaughn is saying he never cheated on Jennifer Aniston. And he`s so furious about it, he`s suing newspapers which said he did.
In a complaint filed by Vince`s attorneys in England, Vaughn says articles in The Sun, The Daily Mirror and The New York Post said he was caught making out with a, quote, "mystery blonde," and that she had broken up with Jen.
Vince says, no way, they are still together and he has never cheated. So he is taking the papers to court.
By the way, what a coincidence, Aniston was on Oprah today also denying the two had split up.
CARROLL: The stars come out to play tribute to George Clooney. And "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" is right there. That`s coming up.
ANDERSON: Also, the shocking things Boy George says about Madonna and Elton John.
Plus, other stars we just can`t take our eyes off of because, you know, at any moment, they are going to do something that`s "Totally Ridiculous." All aboard the "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Celebrity Train Wreck" express.
Plus, we`ve also got this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOMERS: I`m going to be 60. And it seemed like it would never come. It seemed so unbelievably old. But when you get here, you don`t feel old. You feel young.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Suzanne Somers claims she has found a fountain of youth. And tonight, she`s sharing her secrets with us. Coming up, in the interview you will see only on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT".
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VIRGINIA CHA, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, I`m Virginia Cha. Here`s your "Headline Prime" news break.
Public opposition to the war in Iraq may have reached new high just weeks before the midterm congressional elections. A new CNN poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation found 64 percent of those questioned opposed the war. That is the highest number in CNN`s polling since the U.S.-led invasion began.
The FBI raided the home of Pennsylvania Representative Kurt Weldon`s daughter and a close friend, as well as the offices of their lobbying business. They`re investigating whether the Republican went too far to help the pair win contracts. Weldon denies any wrongdoing.
Hawaii`s governor has issued a disaster declaration following Sunday`s strong earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey now says it was a 6.7 -- not a 6.6. Power has been restored to most of the affected areas on the island.
That`s the news for now. Thanks for tuning in. I`m Virginia Cha.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CARROLL: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Jason Carroll in New York. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
CARROLL: Brooke, let`s get straight to this story: Boy George, the former frontman of the group Culture Club, is tearing into Madonna and Elton John. In a graphic documentary for Britain`s Channel 4, called "The Madness of Boy George," he talks about using gay prostitutes, and tears into both Elton John and Madonna.
Talking about Madonna now, he says - quote - "I just think she`s a vile, hideous, horrible human being. There`s nothing nice about her. I`ve never heard anyone say anything nice about her."
Ouch.
When asked if Elton John is a good gay role model, he says - quote - "If you`re a common or garden homosexual, then maybe. But not if you`re a fag like I am."
And about sex, Boy George admits to pay for it, looking for prostitutes online, saying, "Straight people have been doing it for years. I don`t think there`s anything wrong with it."
Strangely enough, George also says he liked his recent community service: sweeping streets in New York City for a drug bust last year. He says he enjoyed it in a "bizarre, perverse sort of way."
ANDERSON: Hmm. Boy George bad-mouthing other celebrities, Tara Reid talking all about her botched boob job - what is it about some celebrities that makes them the train wrecks that we love to watch and see crash?
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you our picks of the best celebrity train wrecks ever.
With me tonight in Hollywood, investigative reporter Pat Lalama.
Hey, Pat.
PAT LALAMA, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: I love that delivery. I loved it.
ANDERSON: Oh, well I`m going to love what you`ve got to say. I know I am.
Let`s start with Tara Reid. She`s on the cover of "Us Weekly" this week talking about, Pat, her botched plastic surgery, and defending herself against all the rumors that she`s always drunk. She just puts it all out there.
Now what is it about someone like Tara Reid, who really has no hot career to speak of right now, that we just can`t help reading about her, picking up that magazine?
LALAMA: I know you don`t want me to hold back, right?
ANDERSON: Don`t hold back ever, please.
LALAMA: All right. What else has she got to talk about? I mean, you know, it - it`s really interesting, because talking to Jenny (ph), one of your producers earlier, she said something brilliant. I said, to these people it`s like a Harlequin romance. And she said, Yes, she`s easy read.
I mean, if you don`t have anything else of substance, and you`re clinging with little finger or (INAUDIBLE) to hang on for some celebrity, then you`re going to talk about whatever will get attention. There`s my Tara Reid dissertation.
ANDERSON: Well, speaking of someone who does things to get attention, Paris Hilton, another one of our picks for celebrity train wrecks.
She`s always getting into trouble, it seems. She just never stays home.
Pat, is it that she just thrives on the drama, and that people love to ready her - about her, and hear about her latest shenanigans?
LALAMA: Honey, I`m so glad that on the way here today I took Sunset Strip, because I saw a new billboard being put up that said the following: "I create drama for fun." I thought, Oh my God; she has.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Did it have her picture on it?
LALAMA: It did not have her picture, but the Web site was something like, amiordinary.com. But I thought, That`s it, as I`m stopped at the red light in the L.A. traffic - was, That`s it!
I mean, if you don`t - look, you know, a lot of guys think she`s a babe. All right. Whatever. She`s a rich, spoiled brat. She likes to start fights. It`s all about who does she hate, who does she love. And there`s really no substance there.
Creating drama is fun, and there`s a whole core of people who really don`t have anything else to do themselves, who are interested in it. So God love them, let them - as long as it`s going to last until that hourglass runs out - and sweetie, it will - let her have some fun.
ANDERSON: I mean, the 15 minutes though - you say the hourglass is going to run out, but the 15 minutes just keep stretching on and on and on, Pat.
LALAMA: Well, you know what? I mean, I got to tell you, back in the good old days of my former show, "Celebrity Justice," before the plug was pulled, you know, we used to say, How long can this last? I mean, this has got to fade away. And it hasn`t yet, which to me basically says something about our culture, that this is what we find interesting. Boo hoo.
ANDERSON: Well, here we are talking about it.
And I want to move now to Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown. Whitney recently gave Bobby Brown the boot, of course, getting a divorce. She`s going to try to get her act together, after years of stories about her using drugs. You know, they had train wreck reality TV series, "Being Bobby Brown."
What is it about this couple that just fascinates people? You just can`t stop watching. It is a train wreck.
LALAMA: I think it`s more about - and I really believe this, because I have felt this myself - this is one situation I really paid attention to. Why? Whitney was beautiful, immensely talented, seemingly a good person from a gospel family. She had all these wonderful things. I saw her career going on and on.
And then, woah! Not only is - does she get on the train, she gets on the caboose, as far as I`m concerned, and gets - you know - you know, she looked like a toothless, homeless woman for awhile, hanging around with this guy. I`m not going to blame him entirely; she made the choice.
I`m hoping - I am hoping that she can do it. The fact that she gave him the boot I think is the right measure. And I think she`s still got a lot of talent in there, and I am pulling for her.
ANDERSON: I do, too.
LALAMA: .because I think she is a woman of substance.
ANDERSON: I hope she can do it as well.
Moving to another singer who hasn`t been doing much singing recently: Boy George. This is a guy, Pat, who called the cops to his apartment because he needed help with something. Well, they get there; it turns out they found he didn`t really need any help. But he did have cocaine in his apartment.
Is this guy just a whack job?
LALAMA: (SINGING)
OK, now I have.
(LAUGHTER)
LALAMA: I mean, he`s so pathetic. You know, it is so unclassy to talk about others the way he has. I mean, yes - all right, people can be a little snooty here and there. He has reached the base level. And it has because his day is over. He`s done. He`s a freak. I enjoyed him then. It`s over now.
He`s - this docket - look, let`s put it this way: if someone said, Oh, tonight on Channel X, there`s going to be a documentary about Boy George, you`d probably go - But, if you hear he`s going to say all these amazing things about buying gay sex online, then he might get a few ratings. Probably that production company said, Boy George, do whatever you can to get people watching it. And this is what he`s doing, and it`s (GAGGING NOISE). That`s what I got to say about that one.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: Pat, always a pleasure to speak with you. Always a lot of fun.
LALAMA: Tell Jason Carroll I miss him and I love him.
ANDERSON: Jason, I hope you got that message.
Pat Lalama in Hollywood, thanks so much for joining us.
CARROLL: Heard it loud and clear. Right back at you, Pat.
In tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Showcase," "Shut Up and Sing." It`s the documentary about the longtime controversy surrounding the Dixie Chicks. The group was booed, banned and even got death threats after singer Natalie Maines told a 2003 concert audience that she was ashamed that President Bush was from Texas.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has your first look at "Shut Up and Sing."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(SINGING)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States and our allies are authorized to use force in ridding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Behind the growing buildup to war, there`s also a growing anti-war movement.
NATALIE MAINES, SINGER: And we`re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.
(CHEERING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move to France, Dixie Chicks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Try not to be judgmental of the president. I`ll tell you why: he`s got sky-approval. The war couldn`t be going better.
MAINES: The people who got it all started was a right-wing group called the Free Republic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) send (INAUDIBLE) to Iraq, strap her to a bomb, and just drop her over Baghdad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re attempting to manipulate the American media, and the American media is for this war.
MAINES: The Red Cross wouldn`t take a million dollars from us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well you do know that George W. Bush is the honorary chairman.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The radio station set up these garbage cans for people to throw out their CDs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They had the hottest song in the country, and it died.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All these radio stations, they won`t play them. We call and ask, and they won`t.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are a confederation of 270 individual stations.
JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: We made a decision from corporate headquarters that was binding on your DJs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Chairman.
MCCAIN: And just prior to that, you say that you`re an independent radio station. That`s a total contradiction.
(LAUGHTER)
MAINES: This says, "Natalie Maines will be shot dead Sunday, July 6."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) is working with police to provide extra security surrounding the Dixie Chicks` concert.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s easy for people to - to write ugly things and hateful things. But when somebody hates you so much for what you say, that they want to kill you.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`re a sisterhood. We go through the good, the bad and the ugly, all together.
(SINGING)
ANNOUNCER: From the two-time Academy Award-winning director Barbara Koppel, and Cecelia Beck.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom of speech is fine. But by God, you don`t do it in (INAUDIBLE)
ANNOUNCER: "Shut Up and Singer."
BUSH: They shouldn`t have their feelings hurt just because some people don`t want to buy their records.
MAINES: They shouldn`t have their feelings hurt? What (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: "Shut Up and Sing" hates theaters nationwide November 10.
Well, the stars come out to honor George Clooney - big names he has worked with in the past, present and future. They`ll tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT what makes George so well-liked, coming up.
ANDERSON: Plus, a new celebrity sex tape. Would you believe Mickey Mouse is in it? That`s coming up.
We`ll also have this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUZANNE SOMERS, ACTRESS: I like this time in life where I`m the teacher. I like being the - the sexy teacher.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Suzanne Somers talks about how she manages to feel so young. It`s a treatment that some are calling the Fountain of Youth. But there is some pretty strong controversy surrounding it.
Suzanne Somers coming up, in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CARROLL: And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
Time now for a story that made us say, "That`s Ridiculous!"
First, Paris Hilton and Screech. Now there`s a new sex tape in town: Mickey Mouse. That`s right. A video clip has surfaced from behind the scenes at Disneyland in Paris. It`s Mickey, Minnie, Goofy - a bunch of costumed characters simulating sex. Looks like a bunch of teenaged employees goofing around. Disney says actions has been taken to prevent this kind of thing from happening again, although we can`t imagine what that might be.
Still, a Mickey Mouse sex tape? "That`s Ridiculous!"
ANDERSON: Suzanne Somers is here to tell the world 60 is the new 30. The "Three`s Company" star turns 60 today. She says she`s cancer-free, and has more energy than she ever did before. And Suzanne says it`s all thanks to a controversial alternative to hormone therapy.
It`s something she`s written all about in her new book, called "Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones."
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s A.J. Hammer sat down with Suzanne, and learned about all this nontraditional treatment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
A.J. HAMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Happy 60th birthday.
SOMERS: Well, thank you. And happy 60th to you, too.
HAMMER: Well, thank you very much.
Now I know Suzanne - I know that you are at this place in your life where you do not define age by numbers.
SOMERS: Nope.
HAMMER: But certainly 60 is a milestone.
SOMERS: It is.
HAMMER: ...for a lot of people.
SOMERS: It is, and I - I used to think - I said, on my 50th birthday, Wow, in 10 years, I`m going to be 60. And it seemed like it would never come. And it seemed so unbelievably old.
But when you get here, you don`t feel old. You feel young.
HAMMER: You look great. And - and you seem to feel as good as you look.
SOMERS: I do.
HAMMER: Am I jumping to conclusions here?
SOMERS: No, I do. I - you know, I - I - it - I got into this hormone thing. I - who knew I would - this would be my thing?
HAMMER: Suzanne Somers: hormone expert.
SOMERS: I remember when I as Chrissy Snow, somebody asked me, you know, you - when you grow up, what do you want to be? And I jokingly said, A brain surgeon.
HAMMER: Yes.
SOMERS: I`m actually now thinking, That`d be interesting. That`d be kind of interesting.
I love physiology. Who knew?
HAMMER: You draw the comparison with Chrissy Snow; it really is playing against type for this - this.
SOMERS: Oh, it`s a.
HAMMER: I hate to call it the dumb-blonde character they said that she was that.
SOMERS: I`m climbing uphill all the time. With every book I have - I mean, every interview starts with, Why should we listen to you? That`s why I get all these doctors. I spent the last two years gathering the most incredible doctors in the country. And one of the great things about Chrissy Snow is she gave me a - a name that has endured. And so when I call up, you know, the head of Johns Hopkins, he goes, Oh, yes, I`ll talk to her.
Anyway, I found these doctors that are looking at the way patients are being treated, men and women, and realizing, it`s not working. We`re not feeling well, when we get to the middle years. We`re just not feeling well. Women are not feeling well; they`re not sleeping at all. They have no sex drives. And who - who knew that when you lose your sex hormones, you lose your sex drive?
It`s all putting back the hormones that you lost in the aging process.
HAMMER: And what you write about in your book, and - and I don`t want to scare anybody by the big scientific term - but it`s bioidentical hormone replacement.
SOMERS: Right.
HAMMER: More simply, it is organic. It is - it is.
SOMERS: Natural.
HAMMER: .not - not synthetic.
SOMERS: Real. Biologically identical to the human hormone. An exact replica of what our bodies our used to make or make. You make real hormones; I don`t anymore. So I put the real ones back in.
HAMMER: And what helped you learn all about this, partially, was your battle with cancer a few years ago. And also controversial, you are actually saying that people who apply this kind of hormone therapy beat cancer.
SOMERS: I - I never tell anybody what to do. It`s just what I did for myself.
When - when I was diagnosed, it`s so daunting. You look around the room, like, Who are you talking to.
HAMMER: Yes.
SOMERS: .when you - when they say you have cancer. And I knew so much about hormones at that point. And the first thing they say, You got to give your hormones. And then you - we`ve got to do surgery, and then we`ve got to do chemotherapy and radiation and Tamoxifen. And, oh, by the way, that`s Tamoxifen`s going to make you feel pretty bad. Kind of - you`ll be gaining a lot of weight, and you`ll be depressed for the next five years.
And I thought, Wow, is this the best you have to offer? So I right away said, Well, I won`t give up my hormones. And I won`t - I don`t want to poison. It doesn`t - it doesn`t make sense. I`d been writing books about, you know, eliminating toxic chemicals from my body. Why would I want to put them in? Why would we poison ourself?
I`m alive at six years. I feel great. I find the blessings in cancer. I really look at every day differently.
HAMMER: As you mentioned, you know, getting that diagnosis - I`m sure you`ve heard Farrah Fawcett, recently diagnosed.
SOMERS: Yes.
HAMMER: .or at least has gone public with her diagnosis.
SOMERS: Right.
HAMMER: What kind of advice would you give Farrah?
SOMERS: You got to do what resonates within.
For Farrah, I think that it takes a lot of focus to become Farrah Fawcett. It`s not an accident when you become that famous. You may be in the right place at the right time, but it`s not an accident if you have longevity these days (ph). She`s been iconic for a long time. That takes focus.
I think she`ll take that same focus, and she`ll use it to heal herself.
HAMMER: Another element of - of dealing with cancer for you, and for someone like Farrah, which ordinary people don`t have to deal with, is going through it in the public eye.
And - and I can see that as sort of as a double-edged sword. Because obviously, that can pile on the stress. But on the other hand, it can increase the level of support.
Was that sort of your experience?
SOMERS: I really, really didn`t want it to be public. I didn`t want to be defined by cancer. So it just got into the tabloids, and then there you are. You can`t - you have to come out and say something about it.
I think it makes it harder. Because you know what happens? For the whole - for a year after that goes public, people say, How are you? And they look at you, and it`s - it`s so well meaning. And you`re trying to be strong and upbeat, and - and you don`t want anybody to feel sorry for you.
So that - my personal choice would have been that it came and it went and nobody ever knew. But...
HAMMER: See I.
SOMERS: Yes (INAUDIBLE).
HAMMER: No - no, that - that makes me angry, though. Because we just saw Farrah go through exactly the same thing, where people were reporting this story.
SOMERS: Yes.
HAMMER: .before she had come forward.
SOMERS: Right. Yes.
HAMMER: .with it. And I have to imagine you - now hearing you say that, you know, you were outed, it`s a reminder that..
SOMERS: Right.
HAMMER: That you basically were outed with.
SOMERS: Right.
HAMMER: With your cancer.
SOMERS: Right.
HAMMER: It has to make you very angry.
SOMERS: It didn`t make me angry. It just wasn`t what I wanted to be in front of all of you. And so - so I decided I`d turn it around and make it a positive.
HAMMER: One of the stresses that I know a lot of women deal with, and particularly coming out of Hollywood, is that pressure to be beautiful, or - or perhaps stay thin. I mean, you - you know, we`re talking about Farrah - the two of you were icons of beauty when you were on television.
But look at things now. I mean, do you think it`s just out of control with the amount of pressure to look a certain way?
SOMERS: I mean, we all want to look as good as we can look without it being nuts.
There`s something nice about a woman`s face as she gets wiser. It`s kind of - I think kind of sexy. I do.
HAMMER: Absolutely.
May I say you look better now?
SOMERS: You know what? I - well, I take that compliment, because I`m actually more comfortable in my skin. I finally - I - I - I`m finally confident. It took me all of this time to become confident. Isn`t that weird? I had all this success, and I never felt really deserving of it.
And at this point in my life, I think, I work hard. I`ve worked hard for a long time, and - and I`m - I - I didn`t have a - a - a major education. And I self-educated. And I find that it`s inspiring to other people who didn`t have that shot in life. And I like this time in life where I`m the teacher. I like being the - the sexy teacher.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Suzanne Somers has written 13 books, seven of which are bestsellers. The latest one, "Ageless" is on sale now.
CARROLL: A who`s who of Hollywood came out to sing the praises of George Clooney, as he accepted the 21st annual American Cinemateque Award. Julia Roberts presented the award.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIA ROBERTS, ACTRESS: Before I met my husband, you were just about the best man I thought I ever knew.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with Clooney, and he told us that he really never intended to be a writer and director. In the beginning, he just wanted acting parts, but came to realize that it was good to be involved in al aspects. And he said beyond that, he had good teachers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: I think I got lucky. I got around some - you know, I partnered up with Stephen Soderbergh and I learned a lot from working with him, and working with the Cohen Brothers. I`ve worked with some really talented, smart people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: The red carpet with stars who have worked with Clooney. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with them to get their thoughts, including Paul Haggis, the "Crash" writer-director who worked with Clooney on "The Facts of Life," back in the day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL HAGGIS, WORKED WITH CLOONEY ON "THE FACTS OF LIFE": And he was always in trouble.
No, he was great. He was a professional; he was there. Even - even when he was young. I mean, he was like a -- 22, and I was like 27 or something at the time. And it was just a great experience, because we were both kids and - and - and earning a living in Hollywood. It was great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN BARKIN, WORKING WITH CLOONEY ON "OCEAN`S 13": He`s the greatest man in Hollywood. And - so why not? And he`s my dear friend, and he`s good and kind to everybody he says hello to. And he`s extraordinary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANNY DEVITO, WORKED WITH CLOONEY ON "OUT OF SIGHT": (INAUDIBLE) just a great stand-up guy, 100 percent, all the time, being there for you. You know, always there. And a great friend. And I cherish my relationship with him. He`s just the best.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: The American Cinemateque, which gave Clooney the award, is a group dedicated to film history and preservation.
ANDERSON: Yes. A very prestigious award. Well-deserved, from (ph) Clooney.
On Friday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day": "Mel Gibson: Do you believe he is an anti-Semite?" Look at this: right down the middle - 49 percent of you say yes he is; 51 percent of you say no he isn`t.
Here`s some of the e-mails we received.
Jeannette from Virginia writes, "Mel Gibson is a good man and a good actor. We all make mistakes, so leave him alone and go on with your lives."
Michael says, "When you look up anti-Semite in the dictionary, you should see Mel Gibson`s mugshot."
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CARROLL: We`ve been asking you to vote on tonight`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day": "Adopting Children: Do celebrities get preferential treatment?" Keep voting at cnn.com/showbiztonight. And write us at showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`ll read some of your e-mails tomorrow.
ANDERSON: It is time to see what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Here`s the "SHOWBIZ Marquee":
Tomorrow, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT begins our special series "Prescription for Rehab." We`re taking a look at the stars who have one thing in common: fighting substance abuse in the public eye. Our special series "Prescription for Rehab" starts tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, Meg Tilly is here. She has an amazing story to tell: unspeakable abuse she suffered as a child, unimaginable poverty - a history she get secret for years and years, even as she became a movie star. Now she has a new book out that draws from her horrifying childhood. Meg Tilly tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
CARROLL: And I`m Jason Carroll in New York, in for A.J. Hammer.
Glenn Beck is next, right after the latest headlines from CNN Headline News.
END
