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Showbiz Tonight
Gunshots at Ryan O`Neal`s House; Does Paris Have Way Too Much Influence on Children?
Aired February 05, 2007 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT ANCHOR: Smoky Robinson really fired up over "Dreamgirls," and its stars, Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy. And Jennifer Hudson on "American Idol." Did she really trash the show that helped to make her what she is today, an Oscar nominee? I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, peeved at Paris. Tonight, the growing outrage over Paris Hilton`s startling video dissing blacks and gays. Plus the shocking influence young Hollywood stars like her have over young girls. Their sexed up antics, the pantiless partying. Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks the controversial question -- are these slaezy star lots turning our kids into prostitots?
Raging Ryan, tonight startling scuffle between actor Ryan O`Neal and his son that sends a pregnant woman to the hospital and erupted in gunshots. what happened? Who is facing serious charges? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates this frightening family fight.
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And tonight the startling story of Ryan O`Neal, coming home with Farrah Fawcett, taking out his gun, shooting it, and getting arrested. The latest breaking developments are coming up in just a few minutes.
But first tonight, peeved at Paris. Tonight, what Paris Hilton said at a party several years ago has come back to haunt her in a way she could never have imagined. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first told you about the ugly, disgusting racial and gay slurs Paris got caught saying on camera and we showed you the tape. Well, tonight the party girl gone wild is under fire like never before.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Paris Hilton, America`s sweetheart. Well, she was never quite that, but with her little catch phrases, her red carpet ready fashion, and her soap opera of a personal life --
PARIS HILTON, "THE SIMPLE LIFE": When people say that, they don`t know me. I`m a far out lush.
HAMMER: Paris was an occasionally annoying, always entertaining, train wreck of a celebrity that was, we admit, fun to watch. Well, now SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, the fun is over.
We see the ugly side of Paris in this video, one of several of her personal items taken from a storage space and now placed online. We also see her hurl a slur found offensive by blacks. And another slur found offensive by gays. The gay rights group GLAD quickly issued a statement slamming Paris, saying, quote, these are not frivolous words and to use them as if they are gives tacit sanction to the racism and homophobia they engender.
Paris` new rants come at the beginning of an anti Paris backlash as America wakes up to a shocking fact, our girls are actually looking up to Paris?
COOPER LAWRENCE, DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Our teenagers are looking to her as a role model. We`re not making this up. They are buying the magazines with her on the cover. They are buying anything to do with her. They are watching her reality show. Young girls are interested in her.
HAMMER: And it`s not just this shocking video, which was part of a treasure trove of Paris-analia sold by a website which got a hold of Paris` possessions when she failed to pay a storage bill. Paris-analia that includes naked pictures of her and other outrageous party photos. A "Newsweek" cover story looks at the effect the exploits of Paris and her crew are having on America`s girls. The magazines poll finds 77 percent of respondents -- 77 percent -- think Paris, Britney and Lindsay have too much influence on people.
KATHLEEN DEVENY "NEWSWEEK": I think parents are definitely concerned about it. As a parent, I am.
HAMMER: Kathleen Deviney co-wrote the "Newsweek" cover story. She tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, you won`t believe how young girls are when they start their Paris worship.
DEVENY: Fifth graders who are carrying tiny purses with little tiny stuffed dogs inside them. And first graders, who use words like sexy and talk about sexy song lyrics, in a lot of ways are really appealing to young girls. They are completely uninhibited by parents and curfews and school. They do whatever they want. They are beautiful. They wear fabulous clothes. They often have boyfriends, nice cars, and great cell phones. So, you can see why they would be appealing to girls.
LAWRENCE: I think Paris Hilton, while she has potential to be a fabulous human being, as we all do, is a horrible role model.
HAMMER: Which is just what we heard from SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers, who swamped us with angry e-mails, many echoing Ricardo Kater (ph) from Lakeworth, Florida. He writes, "is there any way you can make Paris and her sister go away? If there is a petition or something, I am ready to sign it, because she is a disgrace to us."
Developmental psychologist Cooper Lawrence tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT there is a danger to the Paris effect.
LAWRENCE: The danger in following somebody like Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan and using them as your role model is that they are not going down a very good path. These are ages when girls are forming their identity. So where they look to decide who they are, where they look to the socio-cultural environment. They look in the social environment and they say, OK, this is who I am. This is who they are. How do I measure up? And that`s not a good yardstick.
HAMMER: So while Paris is left to wonder if this new video will harm her career, a nation of parents is wondering if Paris and her never-ending string of seedy exploits will harm the development of America`s girls.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Yes, it remains an open question whether that video of Paris hurling racial and gay slurs will actually impact her career in any way. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did contact E Entertainment Television, to see if Hilton`s exploits will effect the upcoming season of her reality show, "The Simple Life." E didn`t get back to us in time for our show tonight.
So, just how bad an influences are the Paris, the Britneys, the Lindsays, and the Nicole Richies? Joining me in New York, Liz Perle, editor in chief of Common Sense Media. That`s a group that keeps an eye on the media for kids and families. And in Hollywood, celebrity journalist Pat Lalama. Good to see you both.
Pat let me start with you. I`ve been trying to make Paris Hilton go away. I`ve been unsuccessful at for some time now. But maybe I have some stats that can help back me up here. That "Newsweek" poll we mentioned that has 77 percent of Americans. That is astounding to go me. That is nearly eight in ten of every American polled believing that Paris, Lindsay and Britney have way too much influence on young girls.
It`s a huge number. It can`t be ignored. And it can`t be a good thing. So why do they have so much influence?
PAT LALAMA, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: You know what A.J. here`s the answer to that. The answer is, it doesn`t happen in a vacuum. It`s one thread in what I call the immorality quilt. First of all, you have to understand that parents -- it starts with parents. My kids, who are teenagers, have absolutely no interest in these women. They find them yucky, uncool. They don`t care.
Number two, I remember recently there was a book signing, a Paris Hilton book signing, where many in the crowd were the parents of these young girls themselves.
Number three, you have paparazzi who live and breathe for that expensive photo shot of Britney without her underwear. I mean come on, this all happens together. It`s our fault -- let me also keep in mind, the whole attitude of the whole Girls Gone Wild thing, the fact that young women want to be Girls Gone Wild more than they want to be doctors. A British poll says ask young people what`s the most important thing to you today? Number one, being famous. There is no substance, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, that is exactly why "Newsweek" is raising this question saying, are we raising a generation of young girls --
LALAMA: Yes, the answer is yes.
HAMMER: Liz, and, you know, they`re talking about these girls who aspire to nothing more than to dress and act like sex objects. Now, as Pat mentioned, the media has a lot to do with this. Is it really as bad as we`re talking about here, this influence?
LIZ PERLE, COMMON SENSE MEDIA: No. Pat`s own kids say, oh, later for this. However, if you don`t think this matter is -- take two aspirin and call me in the morning. These girls are everywhere and they are the wallpaper in our children`s lives. After a certain point, we all sort of break down and say, all right, it`s the norm, you know. It`s not the norm, but kids need help to learn how to think about this and realize that these people are just kind of nuts, and in their own movie, and that that movie is selling something, and that their lives are not the same as these celebrities.
HAMMER: And as I`m sure you would agree, and as Pat said, the parents need to get involved. I don`t quite know what it`s going to take to get this all to go away, because, you know, we see these pictures of Britney without panties, we see Paris, naked and then with clothes on, in all certain circumstances, and arrested for DUI, Lindsay Lohan in and out of rehab, Nicole Richie arrested for DUI. Yet these guys continue to party; they continue to have a good time. So what do they need, Pat, some kind of a big smack down from the law to get this message out? The parents aren`t doing it.
LALAMA: Absolutely. It`s a zero tolerance attitude. I mean, I watched younger parents, people much younger than me, who sort of have this, "oh, we don`t want to yell and scream and make them too upset" kind of attitude about child rearing. And I am telling you, it may be wallpaper, but it is up to the parent. For instance, I like to say that -- I`m not making this up about my kids -- I`m just saying it`s the influence that you instill upon your kids. If you teach them about good role models, that`s who they will seek out. Even if they do see these creepy women all over the screen every single day, there will be kids who say, I`m not interested.
The problem is not many parents are doing that. A.J., look at all the parents who wanted to go to Neverland with their kids, mostly so the parents could see O.J. The parallel I`m making is that the parents seem as immature about it as the children.
HAMMER: I agree with you, however, Liz, there are those who say these are just young girls who want to go out and have a good time, and the media is who is exclusively to blame, because we`re making such a big deal out of all of this.
PERLE: No, the media, as much as I would love to blame somebody, the media is not to blame. The media is a huge part of this, but Pat`s right, in your home you sort of have to make the distinction between what`s fantasy and what`s reality. There are consequences to certain behaviors, that this is just -- if you use your common sense, you know that these girls are out there as entertainers. But we have to teach -- they are not going away.
You said, what makes them go away. They are not going away. And if they are not here today, someone will come tomorrow.
HAMMER: They just need proper perspective on what life should be about. Liz Perle, I appreciate you being with me here in New York. Pat Lalama, always good to have you join us.
LALAMA: Thanks A.J.
HAMMER: Now, would you believe Miss "I`m going to rehab to chill-out" Lindsay Lohan is out partying again with, guess who -- Paris Hilton. Seriously, what`s wrong with this woman? That`s going to come up at 31 past the hour. We got to get in to that.
And now we want to hear from you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Question of the Day. Here`s what we`re asking: Paris Hilton, does she have too much influence on America`s young girls? What do you think? Let us know at CNN.com/SHOWBIZTONIGHT. The e-mail address: SHOWBIZTONIGHT@CNN.com.
If you have more to say, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the only entertainment news show letting you express your opinion on video. It`s easy to do. If you want to send us a video e-mail, get the instructions by going to CNN.com/SHOWBIZTONIGHT.
The startling scuffle between actor Ryan O`Neal and his son that erupted in gun shots. What happened? Who is facing serious charges? And why was Farrah Fawcett there when it happened? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates this frightening family fight coming up.
We`ve also got this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where do you think you`re going?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You watch your mouth.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re sleeping with here and everyone knows.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The legendary Smoky Robinson all fired up, why he is so angry with "Dreamgirls" and stars Beyonce, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx.
And tattooed fish? Yes, they could be coming to an aquarium near you. But to me it just sounds plain cruel. That is coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Monday night. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. It`s time now for a story that made us say, that`s ridiculous!
Yes, something is really fishy around here. That`s because a Buffalo, New York pet store is selling fish with tattoos! That`s right. Steve`s Wonderful World of Pets imported the fish from Singapore. He thinks they have been restrained and then tattooed with a tattoo gun, which sounds just terrible and painful to me. We don`t think branding our fine finned friends with ink is a good idea, and that`s why we say, that`s ridiculous!
Some pretty funny commercials during Sunday`s Super Bowl, of course. My personal favorite moment was a blink and you missed it one with Dave Letterman and Oprah Winfrey. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": You want the Bears and I want the Colts, but we both win because we`re in love.
OPRAH WINFREY, "OPRAH": Honey, don`t talk with your full.
LETTERMAN: Sorry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was actually my favorite moment of the night. Oprah, of course, lives in Chicago; Dave originally from Indianapolis. The back story, in case you don`t remember, after a couple of appearances in the 1980s, Oprah vowed to never appear on Letterman`s show again because she felt that she was the butt of too many of his jokes. Well Letterman tried and tried for 16 years, and finally they made nice when she came on the show about a year ago.
Well, there was certainly no love story going on at the home of actor Ryan O`Neal. Tonight we are learning startling new details about what led him to getting arrested over the weekend. Turns out he was with his long- time girlfriend Farrah Fawcett when his son came at him, so he fired his gun. Joining me tonight from Court TV`s New York studios, Court TV anchor Lisa Bloom. Hello Lisa.
LISA BLOOM, COURT TV ANCHOR: Hi, A.J. How are you?
HAMMER: I`m good. So this was supposed to be a happy day. It was a celebration of Ryan`s long time, on and off girlfriend Farrah Fawcett`s birthday, and the fact that she is now cancer free, which is just tremendously terrific. And then something went horribly wrong. What happened?
BLOOM: Well, it depends on who you believe. According to Ryan O`Neal`s management, what happened was that Griffin O`Neill, age 42, Ryan`s son from a first marriage, came at him with a fireplace poker, was threatening and violent towards him. So Ryan went upstairs, got a gun, fired it into the banister, and scared him off. It was all done in self- defense.
Griffin claims that his father came at him, that his father was not acting in self-defense, and it was Ryan O`Neal who was the aggressive violent one in the situation.
HAMMER: And Griffin`s pregnant girlfriend got injured as well, didn`t she?
BLOOM: Yes, apparently she was injured, unintentionally, according to everyone. Ryan O`Neal says that was done by Griffin. It`s not clear what Griffin is claiming on that point.
HAMMER: Well, we do have Ryan`s side of the statement -- or side of the story, as you said. And he did put a statement through his spokesperson. I want to read some of what that statement says: "It is unfortunate that what should have been an internal family disagreement was escalated to the point that Ryan felt he had to defend himself from Griffin`s aggressive, extremely menacing physical behavior in the way that he did."
So Lisa, if Ryan was being attacked, why wasn`t Griffin charged as well? Presumably the police did due diligence on the scene and asked lots of questions.
BLOOM: Well, and that is the 64,000 dollar question, A.J.. You`ve really hit the nail on the head there. Why wasn`t Griffin charged? Now look, this all happened just on Saturday. Griffin, of course, still could be charged, but it does sounds like in this situation, at least for now, the police are going with Griffin`s version of events.
HAMMER: And this is a father-son duo who have each individually had troubles of their own in the past. Haven`t they?
BLOOM: They have, well specially Griffin has. Griffin, in the past, has been charged with firing a gun into the unoccupied car of an estranged girlfriend. He said that he had substance abuse problems, checked himself into rehab for a year. And so he`s had a number of problems. He also failed to do community service on a reckless boating incident, which landed him in jail for over 18 days.
So he has certainly had a troubled past. I think that lends credibility to Ryan`s story. It sounds like the type of person who might have started, who might have been the instigator in this situation.
HAMMER: So bottom line it for me, Lisa, how much trouble could Ryan really be in? Is this going to wind up just being some kind of a family spat, and unfortunately shot up a gun? But, I mean, could he be facing jail time or anything like that here?
BLOOM: Well, he certainly could be facing jail time. The top charge, assault with a deadly weapon. That`s a very serious felony charge in California and in every state. And the lesser charge, negligent firing of a weapon, that`s under one year penalty for that. But certainly if convicted of the top charge, he could be facing years in prison.
HAMMER: And, as I said, just sad because really it should have been a tremendous celebration with the good news from Farrah Fawcett, that she is cancer free. So, it`s too bad when we hear stuff like this. Court TV`s Lisa Bloom, thanks so much.
BLOOM: Thanks A.J.
HAMMER: Well, tonight more startling confessions from Miss USA Tara Conner. She says her problems with alcohol actually started way before winning the title. And get this -- she says she still, quote, has cravings for drinks and drugs. In a revealing interview with CNN`s Larry King, Tara talks about her booze battle as a young girl, years before she moved to New York City and got caught up with the wild party scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, CNN ANCHOR: By the way, were you having problems before Miss USA?
TARA CONNER, MISS USA: Yes, I would never say that it happened while in New York. I would say I started having dependency issues with alcohol and addiction when I was 14 years old.
KING: In Kentucky?
CONNER: In Kentucky.
KING: Going to high school?
CONNER: Yes, so when I came into New York, you know, I was on a temporary high, because I just won Miss USA, and my biggest dream, you know, came true. So, after that high went down, I started working. You know, I felt very lonely, I never opened up to anyone. And when I was exhausted I would never ask for help. Or when I just couldn`t seem to be on track and I knew something wasn`t right with me, I never reached out. Instead I would fill my void with drugs and alcohol.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And even though Tara just got out of a month of rehab, she tells the "New York Daily News" that she is still tempted to drink and do drugs. She says, quote, "If I were to say I never have cravings, then I would be lying. I realize that if I put any chemical in my body, it is going to take me back and I don`t want to go back."
I just can`t believe this, after going into rehab, Lindsay Lohan was saying that she was just going to cut down on all the partying. That`s how I remember it. Well, coming up at 31 past the hour, now we find she is running around with Paris Hilton. We`ve also got this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She can`t sing like I can.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She`s right Cotis (ph), I can`t. I don`t want to.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You all are going to do what I tell you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Smoky Robinson is all fired up. Why is he so angry with "Dreamgirls" and stars Beyonce, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx? He`ll tell us coming up.
And they said "oink do" instead of "I do." Get it? Two pigs getting married. Their honeymoon in Mudville. Who is writing this stuff today? That`s coming up when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Monday night returns in just a minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: It`s time now for the SHOWBIZ Weight Watch. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT covers Hollywood`s obsession with body image like no other entertainment news show. Tonight, with New York Fashion Week under way and no ban on super-skinny models anywhere in sight, leading eating disorder groups are outraged. The National Eating Disorders Association, the Academy for Eating Disorders, and the Eating Disorders Coalition wants Fashion Week organizers to require an annual physical exam for models to certify that they are healthy enough to walk the runway. And if the designers don`t do it on their own, they might ask the government to step in and force them to.
Well, Kate Winslet is angry over these scary messages that are being put out there by some in the fashion world that super skinny is OK and healthy. While she does watch her weight, she doesn`t obsess over it. She tells "Good Housekeeping Magazine," "when it comes to dieting I just don`t care. I watch myself as much as any average woman. I don`t avoid anything and I`m not a fanatic. I think that`s a miserable, terrible way to live your life."
And Kate tells us she is so upset by these rail-thin models that she doesn`t allow any fashion magazines into her house, so that way she can protect her young daughter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE WINSLET, ACTRESS: I think it has a lot to do with the way the media obsess over this, and keep talking about it, and keep putting it in magazines. You know that`s the thing that young girls look at. I mean, we do not have magazines in our house, because, you know, this is the stuff that children are being exposed to. Kids should be just kids and allowed to be kids for as long as they have the right to be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You can pick up that "Good Housekeeping Magazine" on February 13th. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson, right there at the annual Oscar lunches. She`s getting to the bottom whether Jennifer Hudson really trashed "American Idol," the show that helped make her an Oscar nominee, after all. And more "Dreamgirls" controversy coming up.
Smokey Robinson is all fired up, why he is so angry at the movie and stars Beyonce, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx. I`ll ask him.
And can you believe this? Lindsay Lohan checks into rehab. She says she`s going to cut down on the wild nights. But she is back on the town partying with Paris Hilton. What is wrong with that girl? We`re coming right back.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
Still to come tonight, one of my favorite singer-songwriters of all time, great Motown legend Smokey Robinson, is outraged over the hit film "Dreamgirls." Now Smokey`s going to join me to tell me exactly why he is so fired up in just a few minutes.
Also ahead, Oscar nominee and "Dreamgirls" Jennifer Hudson cutting through all the rumors and setting the record straight about how she really feels about "American Idol." There have been rumors that she was bashing "AI," the - the show that really gave her her start, even though she didn`t succeed with that. We will hear from Jennifer coming up in just a few minutes.
But first tonight, Lindsay Lohan at it again. Lohan entered rehab last month, but she`s had some trouble staying there. While she was in rehab, she went out to lunch, she went out to get her car fixed, she worked on a movie for a little while. And now that she`s out of rehab, get a load of this: Lindsay was spotted out with none other than Paris Hilton over the weekend. There she is in the back seat. Just like the old days. Good times.
Lohan was spotted going to two separate clubs this past weekend. And even though we don`t see a drink in her hand, old habits could very well die hard, especially if you`re hanging out with fellow party girl Paris.
Joining me tonight from San Francisco, Dr. Tara Fields, from the A&E show "Intervention." Tara is also a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Good to have you back on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Tara.
DR. TARA FIELDS, "INTERVENTION": Thanks, A.J.
HAMMER: So everybody has told me, along the way, when Paris entered rehab, that when she got out of rehab, the last thing she should be doing is hanging out with the old crowd, hanging out with people like Paris Hilton, who can nothing but a bad influence on her. This is exactly what she ended up doing.
Is this just a huge mistake?
FIELDS: Well, absolutely. And we still have to establish, Was she in treatment? Was that even treatment? What was that? A - 48 hours of her mother holding press conferences saying, `Look, my daughter`s in treatment, and here`s the name of the treatment center.`
Absolutely, she should not be going to clubs. Whether you see her with liquor or not, if someone was a compulsive gambler, would you say 48 hours later, `Let`s go to Las Vegas. And let`s go and meet my bookie there. But we didn`t see him with any money.`
You know, this is why I also say, sometimes it - the easiest part of an intervention is getting the addict to say yes. But you need to get their supporting case and every addict, alcoholic, whether they`re famous or not, has a supporting cast. They`re the ones that have got to change their ways in order for the alcoholic and the addict to really get clean and sober, and stay that way.
HAMMER: And it - it`s not, you know, brain surgery, trying to figure that out. It - it just seems to make perfect sense to me. So she`s just not getting the right advice. And - and it would seem to me, that`s exactly what they would tell you in a treatment program.
FIELDS: Oh, absolutely. And again, if she was in treatment - and for someone like Lindsay Lohan - and I`m really developing more and more compassion for her as we do these segments together - the absolute best thing would be for to get into an in-patient treatment program for as long as it takes. Thirty days is butkiss (ph). We`re talking 60, 90 days, no contact with outside influences, including family members. And no one should know where she is.
And it`s - you know, short-term discomfort, longterm pleasure. So she says no to a couple of movie projects. But if she comes out with those real tools and those people in her life make some changes, then you and I aren`t going to be talking about her so much.
HAMMER: So - so based on the fact that she hasn`t gotten all of that, which you suggest that she does get - you know, we know this is not the first time her devotion to rehab has come into question. Because over the course of a year, she said she was going to AA meetings, but she was still spotted out in bars and clubs all the time.
So I - I have to wonder, based on the fact that she`s not getting the right advice, she hasn`t been in the right kind of a program, is she just a failure waiting to happen, based on what you`ve seen and what you know?
FIELDS: You know, I - I can be very hopeful. And again, we`ve got to remember how young she is. If she had one of her parents and the people that are close to her - if they genuinely love her - because often the people that allow the alcoholic to keep drinking - you know, they may say they love them, but they`re not willing to do what they need to do. And it`s their behavior that allows their loved ones to continue.
If we don`t hear from her mother anymore, and Lindsay sort of disappears for 30, 60, 90 days, then we know she`s really getting the treatment that she needs. And that would be a treatment center that has the integrity to not let anybody know where she is. Because helping her get clean and sober, even if it means they don`t get publicity, is really the right thing to do.
She`s young; she needs a lot of support. And, you know, right now, I`d like to challenge the people that really love her to make sure she gets it.
HAMMER: Yes, I would like to see that happen, too. Because we all - always here so often that it takes hitting rock bottom before they get that proper direction. And - and let`s hope it doesn`t come to that.
FIELDS: Yes.
HAMMER: Dr. Tara Fields, from A&E`s "Intervention," I really appreciate you joining us tonight.
FIELDS: My pleasure.
HAMMER: Well besides partying with Lindsay, Paris Hilton is now battling her own PR war. She`s embroiled in a lawsuit over the sale of some very personal items from a storage unit that was seized because the bills weren`t paid. Now included in that lot: a video of a younger Paris using racist and homophobic words.
From this latest video to her sex tape to her outrageously barely there clothes, critics are saying that this is just the last straw, and that Paris is a terrible influence on young girls.
I agree. But I want to know what you think. Let us know. Vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day": "Paris Hilton: Does she have too much influence on America`s young girls?"
Get to the Web site, cnn.com./showbiztonight. Or write to us at showbiztonight@cnn.com. I`ll be reading some of your e-mails tomorrow.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is the only entertainment news show letting you express your opinion on video. You want to do it? You want to send us a video e-mail? Go to the Web site, cnn.com/showbiztonight.
Well, there`s one red carpet where Paris Hilton won`t show up, and that is thankfully the Oscar red carpet. Just not going to be there.
The Oscar nominees, will, however, and so will we. The nominees held their annual luncheon, and right there, talking to all the big stars, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s own Brooke Anderson. She`s in Beverly Hills - Brooke.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It`s an Oscar tradition, A.J.
The Academy Award nominees were here at the Beverly Hilton hotel today to break bread together and celebrate their nominations. They even took what is called a class photo together. It`s really a thrilling day for all of them.
And Will Smith, nominee for the Best Actor category, really got everybody going today with his enthusiasm and also his stories about his young co-star and son, Jaden.
Listen to this.
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WILL SMITH, ENTERTAINER: Yes! Yes! Woo!
This is such a high point in - in my career. And to have - to have done it with my son and that he`s - he`s so doesn`t want to do anything but play PS3 right now. Like, he`s so - he`s like not into it, he`s not - he has no idea.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This is actually the second Oscar nomination for Will Smith. He was also recognized for his work in "Ali."
Mark Wahlberg nominated for his very first Academy Award for his supporting role in "The Departed." Now here`s a guy who has really turned his life around. Because he spoke about how years ago, he was arrested more than 20 times by the Boston police, and that now he can finally make his parents proud.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK WAHLBERG, ACTOR: The amazing thing was when I - when I got the call that I was nominated, I was able to call my parents and tell them good news that made them proud for the first time in my life. I called them, you know, the 20, 25 times that I had been arrested. And one of them had to get on a train or a bus and come and bail me out and spend the money that they were going to use for food to feed their nine kids.
And so to be able to make them proud and to use all that experience and put it to good use was definitely a blessing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Wahlberg told us he didn`t sleep for about two days after the nominations were announced.
Now from "American Idol" contestant to Oscar nominee - you know who I`m talking about, Jennifer Hudson. She recently won the SAG award as well as the Golden Globe award for her role in "Dreamgirls." She talked about "American Idol" and how it has really enabled her to land other opportunities, like "Dreamgirls."
Listen to what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER HUDSON, ENTERTAINER: (INAUDIBLE)
I do believe in giving them credit, because "American Idol" was the platform and the vehicle for me to be seen. Had it not been for "Idol," they would never have known of a Jennifer Hudson to pick up the phone and call.
So it won`t be Simon alone, because he didn`t do that much by his self. I mean, to be honest. But "American Idol" as a whole - you know, I - I definitely would have to say "thank you."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now this year`s Oscars really being celebrated for their diversity. Hudson is just one of a number of black actors who are nominated, including Forest Whitaker, who is up for Best Actor for his role in "The Last King of Scotland."
I asked Whitaker about the "Black Oscars," an event that has been held in years past independent of the Academy Awards by a private group. And Whitaker said they`re not held in protest of any sort of lack of diversity, but rather to encourage and motivate one another.
Listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FOREST WHITAKER, ACTOR: They`re not - it`s not even necessarily - it`s people who get nominated that are being celebrated by the community. It`s about a celebration of community, and how people, like - you know, are telling people that they love them and that they care about them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Whitaker says there probably won`t be a "Black Oscars" event this year.
Jackie Earle Haley, nominated for his supporting role in "Little Children" was here today. He`s been out of the Hollywood spotlight for years, living in Texas, not acting. And he said that since we saw him last, life hasn`t been easy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKIE EARLE HALEY, ACTOR: You know, there was definitely some emotional havoc and financial havoc that needed to be reconciled from being a child actor. But I chose to - to look forward, and I chose to work on that, and to try to grow from it and to get into a better place, and to get comfortable in my skin, and to just get on with life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You probably remember Haley from "Bad News Bears."
Lastly, Helen Mirren, a favorite to win Best Actress this year, let us in on a little secret. She said that as an Oscar voter, she is faced with a dilemma every time she is nominated, whether to vote for herself or not. She said that she thinks it`s horrible, it`s awful when people vote for themselves. But then she thinks, `Well, maybe it`s going to be the only vote I get.` And she proceeded to put her fingers on her head like the horns of the devil. So basically she admitted, she does vote for herself.
But I don`t think she has anything to worry about, with or without that vote.
A.J., all of this in anticipation of the Academy Awards, which happen later this month. Back to you.
HAMMER: She`s no devil.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson in Beverly Hills, thanks so much.
And you will not want to miss SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s live coverage of the Academy Awards, on Oscar Sunday, February 23. Brooke Anderson, Sibila Vargas and I will be right there on the red carpet with all the A-listers, for Hollywood`s biggest night, live.
Well, fans everywhere are waiting with bated breath for the answer to this movie mystery: will there be a third "Ghostbusters" film? The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Truth Squad" on that case. We`ll have the answer coming up.
We`ll also have this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HUDSON: She can`t sing like I can.
BEYONCE, ENTERTAINER: She`s right, Curtis. I can`t. I don`t want to.
JAMIE FOXX, ACTOR: Ya`ll are going to what I tell you to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The outrage over "Dreamgirls." Why is Motown legend Smokey Robinson fired up over the hit film? He`ll join me to tell us what happens him so upset.
And you won`t believe this one: a wacky wedding during which the bride and groom literally squealed their way to the altar. The story that made us say, "That`s Ridiculous." That`s next.
First, tonight`s "`Entertainment Weekly` Great American Pop Culture Quiz": "What is Neil Young`s filmmaking alias?" Bernard Fripp, Bernard Shakey, Bernard Charles or Alan Smithee?
I`m coming right back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: So again, tonight`s "`Entertainment Weekly` Great American Pop Culture Quiz": "What is Neil Young`s filmmaking alias?" Is it Bernard Fripp, Bernard Shakey, Bernard Charles or Alan Smithee?
The singer-songwriter has directed films under the name, B, "Bernard Shakey."
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
It`s time now for another story that made us say "That`s Ridiculous!"
Talk about being happier than a pig - oh, you know. These pigs were so happy that they took the plunge, got hinged, tied the knot - really. Two pigs wearing tailor-made wedding outfits got married in front of 400 well- wishers in Taiwan. It sounds ridiculous, but it was all for a good cause. Each well-wisher had to bring cash gifts so they could raise money for a home for disabled children.
So we here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT are all for a good cause, of course. Still, a wedding for two pigs? Now "That`s Ridiculous!"
Tonight, Grammy-nominated singer Smokey Robinson is steaming mad about the Oscar-nominated movie "Dreamgirls." The Motown legend is not at all happy at the way his good friend Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, is portrayed in the movie by Jamie Foxx. And he`s pretty peeved at all the film`s big stars: Foxx, Beyonce, Eddie Murphy.
Smokey has a great new CD out called "Timeless Love."
Smokey Robinson joining us tonight from Hollywood.
It is good to see you, Smokey.
SMOKEY ROBINSON, SINGER: It`s good to see you, A.J. How you doing?
HAMMER: I`m doing well.
I want to talk specifically about the big stars in this movie and - and get to the bottom of - of what`s rubbing you the wrong way.
Tell me specifically in terms of Jamie Foxx`s portrayal of that Berry Gordy-like character in - in "Dreamgirls," and what upsets you so much about it.
ROBINSON: Well, you know what, A.J.? I want to clear up something before we even get started on that.
HAMMER: Please. Please do.
ROBINSON: You said I`m peeved at the artists in the movie. I am not peeved with the artists whatsoever. I love all of them. I love Beyonce; I love Jamie; I love Eddie; I love Jennifer. I love these people. And I`m not peeved at them whatsoever. They have - I - I have nothing, no qualms or anything like that with them.
My thing is with the - with the creators of the film, with the filmmakers. And, you know, the way that they decided that they were going to depict Motown and Berry Gordy and - and the Supremes and what happened there.
I brought the Supremes to Motown, A.J. Diana Ross and I have been friends since she was 11 years old. She called me; I auditioned them, OK? And never ever was Florence Ballard the lead singer of the Supremes. Not from the moment I first heard them, or any time after that was she the lead singer for the Supremes.
And we all loved Florence very, very, very much. You know, God rest her soul. And she`s a part of the Motown family. And we do have a family at Motown, which still exists today. And we`ve always had that atmosphere. And Berry Gordy built Motown on integrity, on honest, on honor. And that`s why it has stood so tall for 50 years, you know? And for it to be depicted in any other form or any other manner just upsets me.
HAMMER: So the character that Jamie Foxx portrays, which is based on Berry Gordy, you feel mischaracterized the kind of a man Berry is?
ROBINSON: Absolutely, and that`s how it was written. Jamie didn`t write that; that`s how it was written for him, you know?
So I - I`m - that - I`m - I`m just upset with the people who - who are the creators of this film.
HAMMER: And a lot of people, are you saying, would - would look at the "Dreamgirls" story - because they keep hearing it`s based on - on the story of the Supremes, and actually believe it to be history. I imagine that must be what`s troubling you.
Because the - the truth is, it is - it is not a historical movie; it is not based in - in fact. It`s not a documentary or anything like that.
ROBINSON: Well, absolutely. I mean, and - and - what - like you said, people go into a theater, they come out, they think, `Well, this is what it was, so this is how it was.` When that`s totally erroneous. I mean, it was nothing like that.
Like I said, we at Motown, we`re - we`re a family man. We love each other. You know, we see each right today, those of us who are still alive. We see each other right today. And we are still a family, man.
HAMMER: Were you concerned when - when "Dreamgirls" hit the Broadway stage? Did you have the same concern?
ROBINSON: Oh, no. They play was totally different than the movie, man. The play had nothing to do with Detroit or - there was no record company in the play. And the - and there was no depiction of a group like the Jackson 5 and the - and the record company releasing Dr. Martin Luther King`s album. And all that stuff like that, none of that was in the play, man.
The play is about some girls from Chicago who went to New York and got some fame. So it had nothing to do with Detroit.
HAMMER: All right.
ROBINSON: The film is totally different than the play.
HAMMER: Well, thank you for setting the record straight on all of that.
Hey, I want to get to your CD, because it`s really cool. It`s called "Timeless Love." Great standards on here. We got "Fly Me to the Moon"; we`ve got "I`m in the Mood for Love." Even a Cyndi Lauper tune on there, which was so - so cool to - to hear.
Now of course Valentine`s Day is coming up. And I - I want to know what your - pick for the all-time greatest love song is. Because for me, I`d have to go back to 1981 and a little song called "Being With You" by a guy named Smokey Robinson.
But why - why do you tell me yours?
ROBINSON: I love you, A.J.
You know what, man? I am such a song lover, which is the reason I recorded this particular CD. Because I have been a song lover all of my life. These songs are songs that I heard when I was 2 years old. You know, so I would have no idea how to even begin to tell you what my favorite song is.
But I can tell you my favorite album, if you want to know that.
HAMMER: I`d love to hear it.
ROBINSON: My favorite album of all times is "What`s Goin On" by Marvin Gaye.
HAMMER: Marvin Gaye. Everybody goes back to the Marvin Gaye, and particular when - when - you know, Valentine`s Day, that song "Let`s Get It On" is going to be getting quite a lot of play.
ROBINSON: Well, I - yes, I - well, I hope so. Because Marvin is a - he was my brother, and he will always be in my heart.
HAMMER: Smokey Robinson, it`s always good to see you. I appreciate it.
ROBINSON: Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: And you can get your copy of Smokey`s new CD, "Timeless Love," in stores now.
And now, it is time to call in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Truth Squad." This is where our crack team of celebrity investigators sets the record straight on Hollywood`s rumor mill.
"Ghostbusters" fans getting ready, because rumor has it there might be a third installment of the funny ghost-fighting films. In fact, Dan Aykroyd, who has starred in both "Ghostbusters" film, reportedly said that the ghost-fighting team would reunite for a third time.
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just had to find out for sure and stop teasing "Ghostbusters" fans.
So we asked Dan Aykroyd`s publicist directly, "Will there really be a `Ghostbusters 3`?" And here`s what we found out: she said, "It has been on the radar for quite awhile, and discussions continue. Until I am told there is a deal, there isn`t one."
So no "Ghostbusters 3" for now. But it at least sounds like there is still hope.
Well, Jennifer Lopez is back on the music scene, and she is hotter than ever. Coming up, she`s got a new album, and we have your first look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fade up, go Camera 3. Stand by A.J. Pre-set 2. Open his mike. Dissolve. Hit it.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I am A.J. Hammer. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
Well, Jennifer Lopez has proven once again that she is worth the wait. Now, JLo hasn`t released an album in more than two years. But now she is out with her first full-length Spanish album. And the first music video from this album will certainly turn heads.
It`s Jennifer Lopez singing "Que Hiciste," meaning, "What Did You Do." And here`s your first look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(SINGING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Hello, JLo. Her new album, "Como Ama Una Mujer," is available in stores everywhere. Her producer is none other than her husband, singer Marc Anthony.
Well yesterday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Here`s the question we put out there on Friday actually: "Instant Fame: Are there too many bogus celebrities?"
Look at this - I don`t think this has ever happened: 99 percent of you said yes; 1 percent said no.
Among the e-mails we received, one from Jennifer in New Jersey, who writes: "Too many people get famous for acting stupid and being irresponsible. They have no real negative consequences, either."
And Rafael from Missouri writes, "They`re all bogus. I fail to see the difference between a Madonna or a Paris Hilton. Both are flakes with too much money."
It is time now to see what is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Tomorrow, shake off your inhibitions. You are not going to believe the outrageous stories from one of the porn industry`s most recognizable actors. Ron Jeremy is going to be right here to scare his scandalous secrets from the porn world.
Also tomorrow, a powerful story of the very real effects of Hollywood`s pressure to be thin. A famed designer known for celebrating Hollywood`s most curvaceous stars founds out a scary secret: his own daughter was battling an eating disorder. Bradley and Alexis Ballou (ph) joining us to share their emotional story.
Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks a lot for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
"GLENN BECK" coming up next, right after the very latest from CNN Headline News.
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