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Showbiz Tonight
Anna Nicole Autopsy Results Delayed; Questions of Foul Play
Aired March 08, 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: Could it be, is Paris Hilton going to jail? I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT ANCHOR: And are Paris, Britney and Lindsay a bad influence on their little sisters? I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the death of Anna Nicole Smith. Tonight, startling and new mysterious developments. A bombshell from the bodyguard who was with Anna Nicole when she died. Plus, a shocker from the medical examiner on the autopsy.
Tonight, the surprising reason we are going to have to wait even longer to find out what killed Anna Nicole. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with late- breaking developments.
Rosie`s depression confession. Rosie O`Donnell opens up like never before about her emotional struggle with depression, how bad it got and why she now hangs upside down every day. Tonight, from Rosie to Jim Carey to Brooke Shields, only SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals how the depression confessions of other stars could help you or someone you love.
I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: Hi there, I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Coming up, we have right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the attorney for Anna Nicole Smith`s estate. And A.J. I have to say, what a day to have him here.
HAMMER: This really has been an unbelievable day of developments in a story that seems to have no end. What killed Anna Nicole Smith? Just when we thought we were about to learn how she died, a shocker from the coroner, there`s going to be a long delay because of new developments in the police investigation. I got to tell you this thing came out of nowhere. The big mystery tonight is what in the world is going on now?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Anna Nicole Smith`s shocking death.
HOWARD K. STERN, LAWYER FOR ANNA NICOLE SMITH: Anna in a lot of ways thought she would die young.
STERN: We come to Nassau in the Bahamas, a beautiful lush setting that was chosen by Vicky Lynn Marshall, known as Anna Nicole Smith.
HAMMER: In the wild month since the death of Anna Nicole Smith, each day has been more shocking than the last. Through it all, one mystery has lingered, what killed Anna Nicole.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why did she die and what`s the cause of death?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m curious as to what caused her death?
HAMMER: It turns out, we`ll be curious even longer than we thought. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that there`s new evidence in the mysterious death of Anna Nicole.
DR JOSHUA PERPER, FLORIDA MEDICAL EXAMINER: This will have to be delayed one or two weeks.
HAMMER: And the result of her autopsy, which we were all expecting within days, we`ll now be getting in weeks. What is this new evidence? What does a member of Anna Nicole`s inner circle reportedly saying about strange behavior of Howard K. Stern on the day of her death?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you after a month, the Anna Nicole mystery is as baffling as ever. In the weeks after Anna Nicole died after collapsing in her room at this Florida hotel, police and medical examiners have been pouring over every last detail of her death, with nothing to show for it.
Days ago, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson personally asked Broward County medical examiner Josh Perper what the holdup was.
ANDERSON: Why did you take so long?
PERPER: There were findings which have to be analyzed. There was an extensive toxicology, serology, microscopics, a variety of tests.
HAMMER: Sounded logical at the time. Still, he told us we could expect the results this week or early next. But now the doctor is changing his tune.
PERPER: New evidence which has to be obtained and evaluated.
HAMMER: Dr. Perper says he wants to see if this mysterious new evidence affects his findings. Meanwhile, Anna Nicole Smith`s bodyguard, known as Big Mo, has reportedly been talking to Seminole Tribal Police about the day Anna Nicole died. Big Mo had unsuccessfully tried to revive Anna Nicole after finding her unconscious in her hotel room. He described the scene to Larry King.
LARRY KING, CNN ANCHOR: Would you say, Big Mo, that she was dead there in the room?
BIG MO, ANNA NICOLE`S BODY GUARD: More than likely, yes, she had passed on.
HAMMER: Now, according to the celebrity website TMZ.com, Big Mo is saying that Anna Nicole`s companion, Howard K. Stern, strangely went missing just minutes before her death. Big Mo also talked about her heavy drug use, which became an issue in her recent court case.
STERN: Is this a mushroom trip?
HAMMER: It gets more disturbing each time you see it, a tape of a very pregnant Anna Nicole in clown makeup, looking and sounding completely out of it. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asked Dr. Perper about the possibility that Anna Nicole died of drug use?
PERPER: Before we say that she died of necessary drug abuse, you have to have some basis.
HAMMER: But Anna Nicole`s mother, Virgie Arthur, told "Good Morning America" what she thinks killed her daughter.
VIRGIE ARTHUR, MOTHER OF ANNA NICOLE: I think she had too many drugs, just like Danny.
HAMMER: And that`s another mystery. It`s been six months since Daniel Smith died suddenly in this Nassau hospital while visiting his mom. While a private autopsy blames a combination of Methadone and anti- depressants, there`s still no official cause of death. But in an eerie coincidence, at the same time Dr. Perper plans to release his autopsy report on Anna Nicole later this month, authorities in the Bahamas plan to begin an inquest into the mysterious death of her son.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s unusual for someone to die suddenly like that. So we want to find out exactly why.
HAMMER: Jurors in this month`s Daniel Smith inquest could recommend criminal charges. And TMZ.com`s Harvey Levin says they`re going to hear a bombshell.
HARVEY LEVIN, TMZ.COM: One witness is going to testify that Howard K. Stern gave this kid Methadone.
HAMMER: So now you have mother and son buried side by side. Twin deaths that remain unsolved and twin mysteries that promise to get explosive in the weeks to come.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, there you go. So as you see, a new day and new big mysteries. The question, will it ever end? With me tonight from New York, Ashleigh Banfield, host of Court TV`s "Hollywood Heat." Also in New York, investigative journalist Jane Velez-Mitchell. Ladies, good to see you both.
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, COURT TV ANCHOR: Hi A.J.
HAMMER: BY the way, Jane, I never want to forget to mention this. Also the author of the soon-to-be-released book "Secrets Can Be Murder." I got to get that in there. Now we got to get to it. Ashleigh, we were told right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT by the medical examiner who`s in charge of this whole thing, Joshua Perper, that we would know in all likelihood by Monday what killed Anna Nicole Smith. Now that there`s this new evidence in the police investigation that`s hanging everything up.
Is it fair to say, for that to have happened, it has to be a pretty significant development for the M.E. to do such an about-face?
BANFIELD: I think the answer to that one might be yes and no. I think Dr. Perper is probably trying to be very, very cautious, considering all eyes of the world seem to be on this case. And if anything in this investigation ends up changing what he needs to have in his report, he doesn`t want to have to go back and redo all the paperwork and re-interview with all of us.
That said, the cause of death shouldn`t necessarily change, but the manner of death might. And of course we all know the difference. The manner of death is usually natural, accidental, suicide or homicide. That might be something that could change in his report. But I think we should all not jump to conclusions and just assume that Dr. Perper`s trying to be thorough.
HAMMER: I appreciate the fact that he should be cautious. I think everybody is looking so closely at this, it would seem wise. Let`s, perhaps not jump to a conclusion, but let`s look at what this could mean, Jane. Could you possibly read into this that because it is a part of the police investigation that`s holding up finding out how she died, that we might be looking at a criminal investigation into Anna Nicole`s death here?
JANE VELEZ MITCHELL, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: Yes, we can`t jump the gun and say, they think it`s a criminal investigation, but obviously, they are looking into the possibility, the possibility of foul play. There are so many questions here A.J., was she on drugs at the time of her death? If so, were they connected to her legitimate illnesses, or was she taking these drugs recreationally? If so, who supplied the drugs to her?
And then was she left alone after being given drugs? I hope the local police there look at all of this in the big picture, in the context of all of the things that we have seen go down, the paternity battle, the battle over the mansion, everything that we have seen fits into this puzzle of why Anna Nicole Smith died.
HAMMER: And, of course, new characters keep getting introduced. We got to introduce the latest wild card and talk some Big Mo here. TMZ.com, Ashleigh, reporting that Anna Nicole`s bodyguard, Big Mo, is raising some questions about Howard K. Stern and what his actions were in the hours before Anna Nicole died. Could it be that Big Mo is the big smoking gun here?
BANFIELD: Possibly. The reporting suggest that he`s interviewed with the Seminole Police Department. He`s told them about strange conduct, patterns that Howard K. Smith changed in the hours before Anna Nicole Smith`s death. So yes, he might have some additional information. Smoking gun, I`m not sure, not unless he witnessed -- and this is conjecture, not unless he witnessed Howard K. Stern giving some kind of lethal drug dosage to Anna Nicole Smith. It is all about the witnessing, the puzzles and the evidence could all fall together, but at this point we just know that they talked to him.
HAMMER: Jane, you saw Big Mo right there on "LARRY KING LIVE." What do you make about what he`s bringing forward in all this?
MITCHELL: I think he`s a very credible guy. Obviously, he cared very deeply about Anna Nicole Smith. Their friendship dated back to 2003. He was hired to protect her. He`s one of the few men who`s come up in this sage who has not claimed to have any kind of sexual relationship with her. He said she was like a sister. He saved her life once before when she waded into the pool and almost drowned. So I think he is on her side. I think he`s a relatively good guy in this crazy saga, although I don`t think you can take anything that that anybody says in this strange case just at face value.
HAMMER: And another strange little thing that developed today that we reported minutes ago, it would truly be an eerie coincidence, but we just might find out how Anna Nicole died just at the same time that the Bohemian authorities will be beginning their inquest into the mysterious death of her son Daniel, which is six months ago at this point. Ashleigh, anything to suggest here that there might be similarities in the two deaths?
BANFIELD: Other than I think the obvious, they were both young, they were both vibrant. They both were surrounded with drug filled lives. But I think, apart from that, I don`t think that we can draw any coincidence in the timing, other than the fact that Dr. Perper is going to release the findings when he feels as though he`s got all the information. And whether that just happens to coincide with some of the testimony that must be given at the inquest. That could just be a coincidental timing.
He`s not beholden to the Bohemians in any way. It is not like he`s following orders from them, shall we say.
HAMMER: Yes, but once again tonight we can say more questions than answers at the end of the day. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Ashleigh Banfield, thank you both.
We`re not done with the Anna Nicole story in the show tonight. Coming up at 31 minutes past the hour, attorney Ron Rale is going to join us. He is, of course, an insider in the case. He will weigh in on all of the troubling new issues and mysteries.
ANDERSON: Now we want to hear from you about this. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day: Anna Nicole Smith`s death, do you think foul play was involved? Vote at CNN.com/SHOWBIZTONIGHT. Send us an e-mail, SHOWBIZTONIGHT@CNN.com. You can also vote on the question of the day by sending a text to 45688. To vote yes, write SHOWBIZ Yes, to vote no, write SHOWBIZ No. Once again, send that to 45688.
HAMMER: Brooke, it`s a shocking admission from Rosie O`Donnell. She`s opening up about her struggle with depression and why she hangs upside down every day. And of course, she`s not the only star who has come forward about depression. We`re looking into stars and depression, coming up next.
ANDERSON: Also, A.J. picture this. Paris Hilton in an orange jumpsuit. Could it be that Paris may actually be spending some time behind bars rather than dancing on them? That`s coming up.
HAMMER: And are Paris, Lindsey and Britney a bad influence on their own little sisters? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigate older stars, younger sisters. That`s still ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, a startling admission from Rosie O`Donnell. In an episode of "The View" that`s set to air tomorrow, Rosie is opening up like never before about her struggle with depression. She says that to treat it, she does yoga and something called inversion therapy. This is where she hangs upside down for up to a half hour a day.
Rosie says medication saved her life when her depression kicked in after the Columbine school shootings back in 1999. She says, I couldn`t stop crying. I stayed in my room. The lights were off. I couldn`t get out of bed, and that`s when I started taking medication.
ANDERSON: Rosie O`Donnell is just the latest of the celebrities who have revealed that they suffer from depression. Stars from Jim Carey to Brooke Shields have been very open about their struggles, which all goes to show that stars, yes, they are just like us.
With me tonight in New York, clinical psychologist Dr. Judy Kuriansky. Welcome Dr. Judy. Good to see you.
DR. JUDY KURIANSKY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Hi Brooke, and you`re so right, celebrities as well as so many millions of Americans, men and women, suffer from depression.
ANDERSON: A lot of people suffer from it. I want to start it off with Rosie and her revelation. She said her depression kicked in because she was devastated by the Columbine shootings in 1999. Dr. Judy, I would imagine that a lot of people who went through something similar after 9/11 are able to identify with this.
Sadly, it`s pretty common to go through this, isn`t it?
KURIANSKY: Exactly. And 9/11, as you said, for millions of people was what we call a trigger event. For Rosie, it was Columbine, partly because partly she`s worried then about her kids. Also, another event like that trigger event was the massacre of those Amish adorable little girls.
So parents worry about their kids. Rosie is another good example of depression, in the sense that some people cover their depression, especially celebrities with humor. Her humor is very acerbic and can be biting. So that covers some of her pain. My advice to everybody, if they feel that way, is if you`re sad, get mad. It really helps release the feelings and, conversely, if you`re mad, get sad. Because they go together.
ANDERSON: Well speaking of sense of humor there and dealing with it maybe in that way, we`ve also got Jim Carey. He recently revealed that he suffers from depression, that he`s taken anti-depressants. Now he`s saying, Dr. Judy, that he uses spirituality to heal. How is what he`s doing with spirituality, how effective can that be in helping him?
KURIANSKY: Well, I`m glad he`s doing that. And that`s helpful for a lot of people. We heard Rosie took medication when she was in a serious situation. She`s doing yoga now which is good for meditation. Hanging upside down, I`m not so sure about that. That`s a little out there. But all these things are meant to change the brain chemistry.
Obviously, drugs do a stronger, more effective and immediate job. But spirituality that Jim`s doing is great, because it gets you in touch more with your soul, with your sense that you`re OK, life is OK, there`s a purpose to life. What I think Jim Carey has going for him, too, is the fact that he and Jenny McCarthy had that love thrill. And when have you a support system that is probably the most important thing in getting over depression or anxiety, when you know you`re loved and when you can express your love.
ANDERSON: And then, of course, we have Anna Nicole Smith, Dr. Judy. You know, just about everybody has talked about how she became incredibly depressed after her son Daniel died and basically that she never recovered. Is what she went through something that so many others experienced, too, that loss?
KURIANSKY: Well, people should really pay attention to the fact that if they did lose a loved one, certainly like Anna Nicole did, for Daniel was her life. And so, anything that`s important to your self-esteem and your life, like an important person, a loved person, a husband, a son, whoever that important critical human being is, it could be also loss of a job, loss of a home, even joyful things, because anything that sets you in an emotional high or an emotional low of a loss can trigger an underlying depression.
It could last a short time or it could be something that`s chronic that lasts a long time.
ANDERSON: You know, let`s talk about post partum depression a bit. Very quickly Brooke Shields, I mentioned her. She suffered from it, wrote a book about it. A lot of people say Britney may be suffering the same thing. How can Britney and all women who might be facing this learn from Brooke`s experiences? Very quickly.
KURIANSKY: I`m so glad that Brooke wrote that book because it just shows that even after a baby, when you have a joyful event, people know this from post holiday depression, after Christmas, after Thanksgiving, after your birthday, after any anniversary, it can set you off into hormonal imbalances for women, very common, and also emotional disappointment. Just notice that.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. It`s a serious illness that a lot of people face, unfortunately. Dr. Judy Kuriansky, thank you very much for joining us with your insight.
KURIANSKY: You`re welcome.
HAMMER: So what would Paris Hilton do without her big sunglasses and all those expensive outfits? She may find out if she goes to the big house, and no, that`s not the name of some trendy new club. Miss Paris Hilton might actually have to don the jail jumpsuit. You see, she was on probation after an alcohol-related reckless driving arrest back in September.
And just last week, she was ticketed for driving with a suspended license. That would be a violation of her probation, and the L.A. city attorney`s office is looking into revoking her probation. She could face up to 90 days in jail, and if a judge finds that she did in fact violate her probation, that`s exactly what would happen.
So Brooke, we often ask on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT whether Paris Hilton is a bad example for young girls, but is she a bad example for her own younger sister? We`re looking into famous women and their younger sisters, coming up.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. Plus troubling new questions in the Anna Nicole Smith saga. An insider in the case is here with his take on the delay in autopsy results, how Dannielynn is doing and the latest in the paternity battle. Also this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAR JONES REYNOLD`S, TALK SHOW HOST: I don`t think that there`s anything positive in dwelling on anything in the past that might have caused you hurt feelings.
(END VIDEO CLIP):
HAMMER: My revealing talk with Star Jones Reynolds, how she feels about "The View" and her surprising opinions about Britney Spears. All that just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight we`re going on tour with Christina Aguilera. And it is going to be fun. As a matter of fact, Christina tells "People Magazine" it`s the, quote, funnest show she has ever put on. Her word, not mine. People got a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put together Christina`s tour. It`s quite a spectacle, including ten costume changes, eight dancers and get this, 820 pounds of confetti.
The 41-city tour started last month, and Christina has developed an after-show routine. Even though the tour bus is stocked with booze and food, that`s not what she has on her mind. She likes to unwind by playing the game Brick-Breaker on her blackberry. For more behind the scenes on tour with Christina Aguilera, pick up a copy of "People Magazine." It is on newsstands tomorrow.
HAMMER: Last night we told you about Angelina Jolie planning on adopting another child, a young boy from Vietnam. And we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, asking Angelina Jolie adopting again, is it time for her to marry Brad Pitt? Split right down the middle; 52 percent of you say yes; 48 percent of you say no.
Among the e-mails, one from Lori in Georgia, who writes, "it is time for Brad and Angelina to get married. They already have a family and need to teach the children good morals."
Deb from New York writes, "Angie and Brad have a committed life together and a bond with their children. If it`s not broken, why bother fixing it?"
And Brooke, as far as I`m concerned, they can adopt 20 kids if they want and never get married if they don`t want to, as long as they have a good home for their kids and love everybody and love each other.
ANDERSON: Devoted to their family. They seem to really love those children. That`s what is important.
Coming up, a.j., we`re talking about South Park. You know, it`s known for pushing the envelope, but the latest episode uses the N word, not once, but over and over again. Is it too much? We`ll look into that.
HAMMER: Also, does young Hollywood send a bad message to their own little sisters? From Paris to Britney to Lindsay, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates influence of stars on their younger sisters.
ANDERSON: Plus, troubling new questions in the Anna Nicole Smith saga. An insider in the case is here with his take on the delay in autopsy results, how Dannielynn is doing and the latest in the paternity battle. Stay with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Thursday night. We`re coming right back after this.
(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.
ANDERSON: And I am Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
A.J., you know, we see Britney, we see Paris, we see Lindsay publicly acting out and making mistake after mistake. And you worry about what kind of example they`re setting, not only to their fans, but for their own little sisters. Are there - are they being a bad influence on them? We take a close look at that coming up.
HAMMER: Can`t be good.
Also coming up, get ready for Star Jones unplugged. Stare Jones Reynolds, the former "View" co-host back on television. And wait till you hear what she has to say to me about her not-so-nice departure from "The View" and how she`s feeling about these days. And believe it or not, she has a shocking view of Kevin Federline, the soon-to-be-ex perhaps of Britney Spears. Wait till you see Star, coming up in just a few minutes.
But first tonight, there are new mysteries in - that are surrounding the death of Anna Nicole Smith. Today, we got the startling news that the announcement about what killed Anna Nicole is now going to be put off for at least a couple of weeks. We were expecting to know by Monday. And this is because of an ongoing investigation by police in Florida.
And TMZ.com is reporting that Smith`s bodyguard, known as Big Mo, suggested to police that Howard K. Stern`s activity in the hours before Anna Nicole`s death was highly strange.
Joining me tonight from Los Angeles, Ron Rale, Anna Nicole Smith`s attorney, and successor executor of her will.
Ron, I appreciate you joining us tonight.
RON RALE, ANNA NICOLE SMITH`S ATTORNEY: Thanks, A.J.
HAMMER: So let`s talk about the fact that the coroner has found the cause of death. We spoke to him right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, and he was prepared to release that information on what happened to Anna Nicole. But now he`s saying he`s not going to release it with this new piece of evidence because he doesn`t want to influence the police investigation.
Does this delay surprise you, Ron?
RALE: Not really, A.J. I mean, we`ve been - there`s been several delays along the way, and I think that this is typical, and I wouldn`t read anything into it. I think there`s been talks of a police investigation ongoing, really, since the day that Anna died.
HAMMER: And - and nobody knows for sure, and nobody will know for sure until that report is released by the ME.
But Ron, would it surprise you if it turned out that Anna Nicole did not die of natural causes.
RALE: No, I mean, I don`t want to speculate about anything. And, you know, I just want to say, You know, we`re hearing rumors again. I think you just cited in your introduction something from TMZ.
You know what? My own opinion is, you know, we - we got to look at the source. They`re not quoting reports, as far as I know. They`re just circulating rumors. And, so you know, I`ve seen this go on, even - even during the trial, so many different rumors that don`t end up being verified at all.
So really, I wouldn`t read in anything into anything, and just wait and see what happens.
HAMMER: OK, but you`re one of the guys who - who is involved intimately with everything that`s going on, so I do have to ask you about a couple of things, including those reports about Anna Nicole`s bodyguard, and that he spoke with the police about the day of her death, and that may have raised some questions about Howard K. Stern`s behavior.
What do you know about how Howard acted in the hours before her death, which is what`s being speculated about her?
RALE: You know, actually, I don`t know a whole lot. I wasn`t there. And again, you know, I - I really think that you`ve got to - I - I don`t think we have an accurate report at all what, if anything, Mo said to anybody.
So really, I`m not going to comment, and I really don`t think that we`re able to comment at all.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: But - but Ron, have you yourself spoken to Howard about what he was doing in those hours prior to Anna`s death?
RALE: You know, sure, I know, probably a lot of things, and I`m not going to really share that right now. But I can tell you that, you know, anything that you might hear in regards to Howard would be just sensationalism. I - I know Howard personally; I - I knew Anna personally. And it`s nothing but a genuine relationship. And if we`re talking about anything improper, I won`t go there, and I`m not going to even give any kind of information about that.
HAMMER: OK. I - I can appreciate that from - from the position you`re sitting, and I got to ask.
And I would imagine, Ron, you have to be as frustrated as so many other people about how long this investigation is going on.
RALE: You know, not really. I mean, you know, it`s - sometimes these things, as I understand, take a long time, and - and it seems like an eternity because we had a proceeding there in Florida that to me at least seemed like an eternity. So in the scheme of things, it hasn`t been that long.
And I understand that this kind of a case, a celebrity case, people are going to dot their I`s and cross their T`s, and so, you know, whatever they want to do, they want to do.
But, you know, I know in my heart of hearts that - that this should be over with, and that we should be beyond it soon. And that`s what I`m optimistic about.
HAMMER: Yes, I think a lot of people are looking forward to that. And, of course, everybody is concerned, at this point, for the welfare of baby Dannielynn. And people have been saying, Ron, for the sake of the baby, let`s get the paternity battle settled. Get the DNA test taken, put the whole thing to rest once and for all.
What can you tell us that is happening right now, and when will that be resolved?
RALE: OK, well, I - I could actually talk a lot about that issue, and - but I - I guess I`ve got to cool my heels a little bit, because I`m trying to take a nice, peaceful approach.
We`re hopeful that - that the parties can - can get together and settle it. You know, I`ve - I`m hopeful that the attorneys can step aside and let them talk. I mean, we have I guess a hearing coming up in the Bahamas next week over the paternity issue. And, you know, really - you know, we`ve been through two different jurisdictions, and now we`re in the Bahamas. And it`s unfortunate if we have to keep proceeding through the courts. If that`s what we`re relegated to do, that`s what we`ll do.
But, really, it would be nothing, I - I just like what the public wants, is just, you know, get - get this out of court, and get it over with as soon as possible. And I`m hopeful that the parties will be able to talk.
HAMMER: Yes, I can echo that sentiment.
Real quickly - I only have a few seconds - but I understand that some things were stolen from Anna Nicole`s estate. Can you tell us what the latest are on those developments?
RALE: Yes, A.J. I mean, you know, you`ve been seeing probably on the news and different shows, different videos and pictures that were taken. I - I can tell you - I mean, for example, the - the clown video that was played at the trial, and there`s been - we saw the - the wedding, the purported wedding video, or it was from somebody`s cell phone.
You know, those pictures, I would submit, were - were stolen from Anna Nicole`s house after she died. It`s nothing less than grave robbing.
And we`re going to be policing it. I haven`t had time personally. But in my role as an executor of her estate, I`m going to go after people who - who air that kind of material without our consent. It`s unfortunate that we have to go there. It is sad that we didn`t have to think of this instead of grieving for Anna Nicole.
I feel sorry for Howard, that he has to deal with this. But, you know, it`s - it`s something that is an injustice, and we`re going to follow up. And I will personally, also.
HAMMER: Ron Rale, thank you so much for joining us with all the information tonight from Los Angeles, I appreciate it.
RALE: Thanks - thanks A.J.
ANDERSON: Tonight, big stars, little sisters.
It`s more than fair to say Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan have not exactly been the best role models to their fans. But tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking, `What about the message they are sending their younger sisters?`
Here with us tonight from San Francisco, family therapist and interventionist Dr. Tara Fields.
Hi, Dr. Tara.
DR. TARA FIELDS, FAMILY THERAPIST AND INTERVENTIONIST: Hi, how are you?
ANDERSON: Doing well, thank you.
I want to start tonight with Britney Spears and her soon-to-be 16- year-old little sister, Jamie Lynn. You know, Jamie Lynn a star in her own right, has the Nickelodeon show, "Zoey 111." (sic)
But she sees her sister partying without her panties, shaving her head, going to rehab.
Is Jamie Lynn in danger of making the same mistakes as Britney?
FIELDS: Well, possibly, because research shows that if a younger sibling has an older, female sibling that`s involved with drugs and alcohol, they are twice as likely to have the same kind of problems.
But having said that, she can actually - Britney can actually be a good role model of what not to do. In the same way that Britney sort of forged the path for her younger sister to have a career, and Britney did all the work - well, in the same way, she may say, `Be really careful.` Because if Britney has a predisposition to bipolar, as we`ve talked about, or postpartum or being really impulsive, her sister may say, `You know, it`s been sad that I haven`t been able to control her choice, but I can control mine, and I`m going to act differently.`
ANDERSON: OK, and I want to correct myself really quickly. I said, "Zoey 111," and it is actually her show, "Zoey 101."
But I want now to move to Lindsay Lohan, Dr. Tara. You know, just out of rehab. Her little sister, Ali Lohan, has embarked on her own singing career, and she was right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And I asked her what it`s like being a little sister to a big star.
And listen to what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: What is it like being the little sister of Lindsay Lohan, one of the biggest stars out there?
ALI LOHAN, SINGER: It`s really cool. All my friends - like, sometimes it`s difficult, because kids and - well, (INAUDIBLE), like, the tabloids and stuff, and they`ll come up to me in school and ask me some, like, bad questions. And the best thing to do is just to ignore it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Dr. Tara, how long can a 13-year-old just ignore it before it starts to affect her?
FIELDS: Yes, absolutely. And I think she`s a perfect example of the kind of passionate loyalty that two siblings can have, especially if they grew up in a not-so-healthy household. You know, their father`s an alcohol; the mother - well, I`ll let Danny Bonaduce talk about the mother.
So, you know, if their environment is kind of crazy, they really can forge a - a kind of relationship that`s so much stronger and more protective and more loyal than other siblings. And you really heard it in that sound byte, where she really wants to be protective.
So, you know, again, she may say, `I really don`t want to follow in her footsteps in that way.`
What I`m also hearing is - and this is very typical of younger siblings who have older siblings that have alcohol or substance abuse problems - is a lot of compassion. You know, and.
ANDERSON: Yes.
FIELDS: . and -- and one thing to be a little positive about is that no matter who the sibling is, if that role has been taken, they have to carve out their own identity. So hopefully, it`s a - as a younger sibling, she`s going to say, `Well, the acting out, the alcoholic, the running around, that`s been taken in my family, so maybe I`ll be the calmer one, and the more sedate, healthier one.`
ANDERSON: Yes, hopefully, they can learn from their mistakes, and the older sister can start to turn their lives around, and - and really be a good influence.
OK, Dr. Tara Fields, thanks so much for joining us.
FIELDS: My pleasure.
ANDERSON: .from San Francisco tonight. We appreciate it.
All right, A.J. Are you a fan of "South Park"?
HAMMER: If I have a son, I will name him Cartman.
ANDERSON: Please don`t do that.
HAMMER: (INAUDIBLE)
ANDERSON: Coming up, why the Comedy Central cartoon found it necessary to drop the n-word into the cartoons dozens of times. It`s a controversy that`s taken offensive up a notch.
Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAR JONES REYNOLDS, TV PERSONALITY: I don`t think that there`s anything positive in dwelling on anything in the past that might have caused you hurt feelings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: My one-on-one with Star Jones Reynolds: how she feels about the ladies at "The View" - and you won`t believe her view of the Britney-K- Fed divorce battle. That`s ahead.
ANDERSON: And get a load of this: why get off the couch for a can of beer, when the can of beer can come to you? The amazing contraption that`s making some say, "That`s Ridiculous!" And that`s coming up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Hammer going to desk with tracking for the E-block.
Master, roll your break, and effect black.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: .3, pre-set 1. Stand by, A.J. Open his mike. Dissolve 1. Go.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
It is time now for yet another story that made us say, "That`s Ridiculous!"
Hey, those kids coming out of college are quite inventive. Check this out - are you ready? - here comes the beer. Boom! Yes, when 22-year- old John Cornwell (ph) landed a job as a software engineer in Atlanta, he just couldn`t get away from the feeling of college life. So he built this - and man, I got to get me one of these. Took him about 150 hours and 400 bucks in parts to modify in a mini fridge. He`s dented a few walls, and came close to throwing a can through the TV by accident.
You know, it`s tough enough to get people off their butts and off the couch. So we say: a remote-control contraption that catapults beer cans to the couch? Now, "That`s Ridiculous!" that I don`t think of that first.
Tonight, Star Jones Reynolds is back. And true to form, Star is not holding back. It`s been about nine months now since she left "The View" in a blaze of controversy over whether she was fired, or whether she quit the show.
Well, tonight, Star is finally opening up about that troubled time on "The View." Right in time, of course, to plug her brand-new gig - and we congratulate her on that. She`s the host of a new daytime talk show coming to Court TV.
And if you know Star, you know she`s got something to stay about just - just about everything. You`re not going to believe what she had to say about Britney Spears and her impending divorce from K-Fed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REYNOLDS: Well, something tells me that these two young people might be able to work out what`s going on.
It`s one of the things that if you want to know what sticks in my craw, as my grandmother would say - it`s a Southern saying that`s, like, annoys me - is, this young girl is obviously facing a tough time. She`s trying to get herself together. Get the heck out of her way and let her do it.
HAMMER: Oh, I couldn`t agree with you more.
REYNOLDS: And, you know, I feel that very strongly. Get the heck out of her way. Let her try to deal with whatever it is. And together she and her husband, who is still her husband and the father of her children, will work out what works best for their children.
And I think if we approach it that way, as the public that is hungry for everything, then we actually might learn a little something about our own lives.
People go through divorces everyday. Child-custody battles are some of the most vicious. It`s like, you know, that scene from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," where someone sticks their hand in your chest and pulls your heart right out. That`s exactly what happens in a child-custody battle.
Let`s hope that that`s not where it`s going. And the behavior of Kevin has indicated that that`s not who he is.
HAMMER: Well, isn`t that interesting? Isn`t it interesting that, here is a guy who was so vilified by the public, by Britney fans when they first got married, and they were so thrilled that when she finally dumped him - and now all of a sudden, he does seem to be stepping up to the plate.
A lot of people are wondering if it is.
REYNOLDS: Oh.
HAMMER: A lot of people are wondering if - if maybe it is just for his image.
REYNOLDS: Oh, no. Oh.
How about a lot of people didn`t know what the heck they were talking about, and were running their mouths about a relationship that they really didn`t know? Maybe Britney actually saw something in Kevin that was positive. Maybe they did actually have a wonderful relationship. Maybe their marriage was private, and she got him and he got her and it worked for them.
HAMMER: I like how upbeat you are, Star Jones.
(CROSSTALK)
REYNOLDS: And maybe we should have minded our own business. (INAUDIBLE)
HAMMER: Let me ask you this, and this is coming from a legal perspective: should there be a custody fight that could potentially harm her chances, and - and perhaps Kevin would wind up getting the kids?
REYNOLDS: Of course, they`re going to look at everything in their relationship. Trust - the - the issue in any child custody case in the United States of America is one, and it`s paramount: best interest of the child. That is all that a court will look at.
HAMMER: I think a lot of people are going to be thrilled to be able to see you on daytime TV every single day.
Of course, you became well-known to the world from a particular daytime TV show that you did for a long time. You were on "The View" for - for what was it? - nine years.
REYNOLDS: Nine years, absolutely.
HAMMER: Yes, that`s not - no short term.
Do you - do you watch the show, or there are - are there residual bad feelings? Because - because we saw - we saw it play out very publicly when that all ended.
REYNOLDS: I - I do admit, I haven`t watched the show, but I do keep, obviously. It was a part of my life for nine years, and it`s become a part of pop culture, and I`d probably be irresponsible as a journalist and a lawyer about to do her own show not to keep up.
But I can honestly say that my take away from the last nine years was that I got to work with some of the most incredible people in the business, and everybody knows that. And it was magic television during that time.
They have a very different show now. And I wish them the best. I hope they feel the same way about me.
And I choose, as I turn that chapter - to turn that chapter. It`s a new page.
HAMMER: So I`m - I`m - I think I know the answer to my next question; I`ll ask it anyway. Because you had said that after that whole experience, you felt "suckerpunched." That was the - the adjective that you used to sort of describe what you were going through.
REYNOLDS: That`s the word? OK.
HAMMER: You used the word "suckerpunched."
REYNOLDS: I chose to.
HAMMER: Yes, pulled it right off the transcript.
REYNOLDS: Uh-huh.
HAMMER: I`m taking it you don`t feel that way anymore.
REYNOLDS: You know what? I - my feelings are still my feelings. However, they`re not paramount. It`s so not an issue for me anymore.
This is a very good opportunity for me to do the thing that I love the most: to talk about the law. And I think everybody knows that about me. I could talk about the law all day. You and I could sit here and do every case that`s out there, and I would have some fun talking to you about it.
So I don`t think that there`s anything positive in dwelling on anything in the past that might have caused you hurt feelings. I know that the ladies have moved on; I`m glad for them and whatever success that they`re having in their different careers. I hope they feel the same way about me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I got to say, good to have Star back.
Her now show launches in the fall on Court TV. She`s also appearing on an upcoming episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," with Headline Prime`s very own Nancy Grace. That episode airs on May 21.
ANDERSON: A bomb is dropped on "South Park" - well, several of them. Coming up, the offensive way the Comedy Central cartoon unleashed a controversy by using the n-word over and over and over again. Are they just trying to shock, or are they proving a point? That`s straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand by, A.J. Pre-set Camera 2. Open his mike. Dissolve. Go.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And, you know, when it comes to controversy, nobody goes for the guttural better than the folks over at "South Park." Their 11th season premiere was certainly no different.
Now this time around, the Comedy Central cartoon went after the use of the n-word. They called the episode, "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson." Great title.
In it, one of the South Park kid`s dads unleashed a torrent of n- word bombs unedited.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED VOICE ACTOR: Venom. Words that bind. Word used like weapons to cloud my mind. I`m a person. I`m a man. But no matter how hard I try, people just say, `Hey, there goes that (BLEEP) guy.` Everyone I go, it`s always the same. I can`t get away from that terrible name. `Hey, (BLEEP) guy, (BLEEP) guy, (BLEEP) guy` - stop.
Now go. Call me (BLEEP). Fill me with your hate. Try to bring me down. Oh bop, you`re too late.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK, I think that`s about enough.
Of course, we - you had to bleep it. Our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT intern Aneesa (ph) given the unenviable task of counting exactly how many times they used the offensive word in the course of the program. The n-word used 42 times.
But get this: critics who want to abolish the n-word say the show was actually, in its comedic way, quite educational about the hateful power of that word. Jesse Jackson is currently in Ghana and didn`t see the show.
Comedy Central and the creators of the show, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, had no comment.
ANDERSON: All right. We`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." It is this: "Anna Nicole Smith`s Death: Do you think foul play was involved?"
Vote at cnn.com/showbiztonight. You can send us an e-mail at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
And you can also vote on the "Question of the Day" by sending a text to 45688. To vote yes, write "SHOWBIZ Yes." To vote no, write "SHOWBIZ No." Once again, send that text to 45688.
HAMMER: Hey, check your calendar; tomorrow`s Friday everybody. Very excited.
And here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow:
Forget 40 is the new 30; 60 is the new - six-sexy. That`s how it`s going. Who needs Paris when you have Catherine Deneuve, Helen Mirren - hot! - Diane Keaton - divine! Forget the tarts of the tabloids; SHOWBIZ TONIGHT shows you the hottest color in Hollywood is gray.
Also tomorrow, heartbreak in Hollywood. Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman: they have endured some pretty awful public breakups. What`s the secret recipe that Hollywood`s biggest stars are using to overcome their heartaches? How are they making it work? Find out tomorrow.
That`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Have a great night, everyone.
"GLENN BECK" is next, right after the latest headlines from CNN Headline News.
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