Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
New Shocking Britney Photos; Battle Over OJ`s Book
Aired August 15, 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: More problems for Lindsay Lohan. Why someone is slapping her with a staggering lawsuit. And first comes love, then comes marriage. Then the cameras start rolling and everything goes to hell. Tonight, is there a reality TV couples cures? I`m AJ Hammer in New York. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Maybe a little too much fun. Tonight, another Britney Spears bombshell; startling new pictures of Britney in a pool topless with a woman. Tonight stunning new questions. What in the world was she thinking? Will this shocking behavior be another major blow in her nasty child custody fight with Kevin Federline? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Britney`s latest bizarre behavior.
New OJ Simpson outrage. Tonight, the explosive war of words over whether OJ`s disgusting book about how he might have killed his ex wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ron Goldman, if he had done it, should be published.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENISE BROWN, SISTER OF NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON: Why would you bring this nightmare back to these children?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A dramatic showdown on the "Today Show" between Denise Brown and the man who is now publishing the book. And we`ve got him one-on-one right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Hello. I`m AJ Hammer in New York. So if you want to virtually guarantee your marriage will break up, go do a reality show. A special report, is there a reality TV couple`s curse? That`s coming up.
First, tonight a new Britney Spears topless shocker. Yes, here we go again. Just one day after Britney`s ability to be a good mother was questioned in court comes this. A picture on the cover of "OK! Magazine" of Britney topless in a pool, holding a drink and being kissed by another topless woman.
And if you are asking what the heck is going on here, well, let me tell you, we`re asking the same thing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Remember all those photos of bottomless Britney? Now Britney Spears is appearing on newsstands topless.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The girl just can`t seem to keep her clothes on.
HAMMER: Yes, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you just as her child custody battle with Kevin Federline is heating up, Britney Spears is taking yet another badly timed walk on the wild side. The new cover of "OK! Magazine" shows a topless Britney Spears at a late night pool party.
COURTNEY HAZLETT, "OK! MAGAZINE": Britney spears in various states of undress has become such a common sight.
HAMMER: Courtney Hazlett of "OK! Magazine" gives SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the juicy details of Britney`s eye-catching cover photo.
HAZLETT: On the cover photo of "OK! Magazine," you are seeing Britney in a swimming pool with her former assistant, Shannon Funk. The two of them are topless, and Shannon is giving Britney a big smooch on the cheek.
HAMMER: We also see the freshly out of rehab Britney holding a drink, while her assistant is holding Britney.
HAZLETT: I think people are going to be really shocked by the photo, but at the same time not all that surprising. With Britney Spears, we`ve gotten used to seeing her do things we never thought she would have done three or four years ago.
REGIS PHILBON, MORNING SHOW HOST: They say it`s just recreational.
HAMMER: Even morning show hosts Regis and Kelli couldn`t stop giggling about Britney`s idea of employee relations.
KELLI RIPA, MORNING SHOW HOST: My assistants think I ask a lot. In the pool, come on.
HAMMER: And that`s not the only pool picture. "US Weekly" features photos of Britney on a late night swim that same night. This time with an extra she had just met on the set of her upcoming music video. These dueling covers don`t exactly come at a good time for Britney.
HAZLETT: The story is very interesting because a lot of it is very high school drama, but it`s being applied to a very adult situation, and that is we`ve got kids here at stake.
HAMMER: Britney`s ex-husband Kevin Federline, who has joint custody of their two small children, is dragging Britney to court to fight for sole custody. K-Fed`s attorney is being somewhat diplomatic about it all.
MARK VINCENT KAPLAN, FEDERLINE`S ATTORNEY: Kevin is concerned that the more time that the children are with him, he feels they are more insulated they are from risks that would otherwise be possibly visited upon them.
HAMMER: But make no mistake about it, K-Fed is going to make an issue of Britney`s constant partying, her questionable mothering choices and her late night outings with their children for all the paparazzi to see. Dinner at 10:00, anyone? And this new photo, while not exactly x-rated, may give Federline some ammunition.
JO PIAZZA, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": It`s not shocking, but it`s just another piece in the puzzle, and it`s something that Federline`s attorneys are absolutely going to use in the case against Britney to try to get custody.
HAMMER: Magazine reports aren`t exactly admissible in court, so SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you K-Fed`s attorneys are going after everyone in Britney`s circle to get them to testify about their wild Britney stories.
HAZLETT: At this point if you work with Britney, if you have partied with Britney, if you breathe the same oxygen as Britney Spears, it`s beginning to look like you could have a subpoena come your way.
HAMMER: TMZ.com captured this mob scene at Long Beach Airport, as Shannon Funk, Britney`s former assistant and swimming partner, was subpoenaed by Federline`s attorneys to testify in the custody case. Also getting served, Britney`s pal Allie Simms and one of Britney`s bodyguards.
PIAZZA: K-Fed just wants people to attest to Britney`s hard-partying lifestyle.
HAMMER: So, as Britney frolics under water, her crew will find themselves under oath, and Britney finds her mothering skills under fire.
PIAZZA: I don`t think Britney knows what she`s doing right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: You can say that again. So just how much more of a mess is this new topless photo going to make? With me tonight in Hollywood, investigative journalist Pat Lalama. In New York tonight, entertainment attorney and BET host Ryan Smith. Pat, Ryan, let me begin by stating the obvious tonight. And this, of course, is in my humble opinion, but it is not a good idea for a woman who is fighting for custody of her kids and trying to prove she`s a better parent than the father to be posing for topless pictures in the swimming pool in a provocative position.
Pat, do you think Britney Spears is simply oblivious to that and doesn`t really care what people think of her?
PAT LALAMA, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: I think there`s something wrong with her. I really do. I said yesterday I am starting to wonder about a possible mental illness here. How can her judgment be that bad? I`m ready to say -- call me a fascist -- I`m ready to say she`s the poster child for forced sterilization.
However, I will tell you this, having covered the California courts for 20 years, it is not easy to take children away from their mother. AJ, let`s face it. I am in court all the time listening to stories about violence and pedophilia and all kinds of horrific things that happen inside the home. None of this looks good. It doesn`t weigh beautifully on her side, but it`s a long haul to take children away. So let`s not jump the gun. We just don`t know.
HAMMER: Ryan, let me go to you. You are not a member of Britney`s inner circle, are you?
RYAN SMITH, BET: No.
HAMMER: You probably won`t get a subpoena. The woman that we see with Britney in the "OK! Magazine" picture, her former assistant Shannon Funk, has become the latest person in Britney`s inner circle to be served with papers to testify. Ryan, these people really do hold the key, quite possibly, to Britney`s possible dirty secrets, don`t they?
SMITH: I think they absolutely do. They know everything that`s been going on over the past couple of months, for years. So he can really dig into them and find out so much information about her day to day activities. You know, all we see are the extraordinary pictures and all that, but there`s so much more.
What he wants to try to show is a pattern. He`s trying to show a pattern of possibly alcohol abuse. This sort of out of control behavior. I think it`s kind of missed. It`s not so much that she`s with another woman in the pool. It`s the care free out of control attitude that is really in question here.
HAMMER: I agree with that. I bet Pat Lalama has something to say, because clearly, while it`s not the best decision to take your shirt of for the cameras when you are in a fight like this. Who are we to stand in judgment of Britney Spears? It`s not illegal to take your top off at all. It`s not illegal to be with another woman. You know, it certainly doesn`t make you a bad mom, does it, Pat?
LALAMA: No, absolutely not. And, again, I said yesterday she doesn`t have the kids seven days a week, so she can party if she wants to party. But the issue is appearances. What do they say, nine-tenths of reality is something about how you -- how you are perceived. Perception is nine- tenths of reality.
And here`s the thing. Why isn`t she -- you know, this will be a time where I can have a lot of money taken away. Forget my kids. That can be a problem. That`s the number one problem. But I`m going to have to give K- Fed tons of dough if I get my kids taken away. I`m at least going to make it look like I care. And, you know what, AJ? To me, the real straw for me that makes me almost want to leave this business, because I can`t believe it, is that the VH1 Music Awards are actually talking about her being a performer on the show.
Why? Why? It just shows -- it shows me that you get rewarded for bad behavior.
HAMMER: It`s feeding the monster.
SMITH: Pat, why not? She is the most popular thing going right now. You know what this makes me think, AJ? She wants this attention. I`m really starting to believe that despite --
LALAMA: They want to watch a train wreck, Ryan. They want to watch a train wreck.
HAMMER: I think we all know why VH1 would make a move like that. The publicity, you can`t ignore it at all.
SMITH: Exactly. You know what, at this point, you know, we`ve been saying over and over again, you know, she`s just trying to have fun. At this point I have to believe this is what she wants. She needs -- her friends and all the reports we`ve heard -- we`ve heard a lot of reports about her saying she likes attention. She likes to be told she`s pretty, talented, all that kind of stuff. That is what she wants, and that`s what she`s getting.
HAMMER: To be clear, I think -- hold on one second, Pat. I want to be clear about something. You said we`re talking about the MTV Music Awards here, right? OK, that is correct. Let me move on to another point here, while I have a little time left. I also feel like the scales are way off balance in how this battle is playing out.
I would have to think if you were Britney`s A-list lawyer, Laura Wasser, you would feel like you are absolutely under siege. You got the subpoenas flying around. You have these pictures showing up on the cover of magazines. Pat, does Wasser really need a smoking gun, or do you think she`s going to try to make excuses for all the wackiness going on?
LALAMA: Let me tell you something, Laura Wasser is savvy, one of the best -- I mean, I could never afford her, but if I were ever in this situation, I would want someone like Laura. She knows what she`s doing. But I have to tell you, this is one of those situations, much like we saw with Blair Birk (ph) and Lindsay, where if you can`t control your client, you are you in trouble.
HAMMER: She better have something really ready to go here. I got to wrap it up there. Pat Lalama, Ryan Smith, thank you very much.
Now over to you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Here`s what we want to know. Britney`s kids, should K-Fed get full custody? Let me know what you think at CNN.com/SHOWBIZTONIGHT. The email address, SHOWBIZTONIGHT@CNN.com
Well, it never seems to end with Britney, and, you know, things just keep getting worse for Lindsay Lohan, too. I wish all of this would stop, but really, is it ever going to? Well, coming up at 30 past the hour, a startling new lawsuit naming Lindsay that could really cost her.
Also tonight the explosive war of words between Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown`s families over OJ Simpson`s disgusting book about how OJ might have killed his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ron Goldman, if he had done it. It is so upsetting to watch these families, who have been through so much together, now fighting. Well, tonight I go one-on-one with the guy who is publishing the controversial book. Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excuse me. That was my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) ID.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Coffee, tea or whisky, the absolutely mind-blowing story of a flight attendant allegedly drunk on the job. A total mess. Please fasten your seat belts. It`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
BROWN Everybody knows that OJ Simpson Is guilty. A lot of people do, and I just want to know what about Sydney and Justin? What about them reliving the past? Why would you bring this nightmare back to these children?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was Denise Brown`s angry and emotional plea on NBC`s "Today Show" questioning publisher Eric Kampmann`s controversial decision to release OJ Simpson`s book about how he might have killed his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, if he did it. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m AJ Hammer in New York.
Now, Denise Brown calls this book, "If I Did It," a manual for murder. A judge recently cleared the way for the book to be released with the profits mostly going to the family of Ron Goldman. With us tonight in New York Eric Kampmann, the president of Beaufort Books and the publisher of OJ`s book. I appreciate you being with us, Eric.
ERIC KAMPMANN, PRESIDENT, BEAUFORT BOOKS: Nice to be here.
HAMMER: So Eric, Denise Brown begged you to think of Nicole Simpson`s children this morning when you spoke with her on "The Today Show." Did you take into account the children when you made the decision to release this book?
KAMPMANN: It was very hard for me to talk about the Brown family since I have entered into the arrangement with the Goldman family, and she -- Denise made a plea, but then I read back to her, I think, the heart- rending account that Kim and Fred put together, which will be in the book about the death of their son, and how their son had tried to protect Nicole in the last minutes of his life.
And quite frankly, that`s what I have been looking at, and the Goldmans want this book to be seen by the American people. I have learned a lot today, as somebody that`s not in the limelight, because I have gotten all kinds of calls and all kinds of comments from both sides of this.
HAMMER: I imagine you have, because a lot of people in the discussions I have had today say, you know, nobody should be putting this book out. On the other hand, it`s something that the Goldmans are pushing forward, and they have their reasons. I`m curious, because I mentioned the profits are going to go to both families, mostly the Goldman family and then to the Brown estate for the kids.
Is Beaufort Books going to be making any money from any of this, or can you tell me that ever penny of the profits that you guys will get will also go to the families?
KAMPMANN: Well, the publishing business, as you probably know, it`s like the movie business. I have pledged, and so has the agent, five percent of the profits to the Ron Goldman Foundation for Justice, and I know that they`re pledging money to it too.
HAMMER: But what do you say to the notion that Denise Brown has raised, calling this commercialized blood money, in effect? A lot of people are saying, gosh, nobody should make any money from this, and if there is money being made, it should al go to the family.
KAMPMANN: I totally reject it. One of her pals called me up today and told me exactly the same thing. In the same breath, she said she was Christian. Yet, she was condemning me for making a decision based on at least part of the story. I know there are so many passions here, but when I entered into this, I entered into something that Harper Collins, one of the biggest publishers in the United States, decided to do last year.
And until the public raised their voice as one and said this book should not come out, because it`s profiting OJ Simpson, which I think is the biggest single issue. That`s no longer an issue. He is never going to get another dime, and the money he owes the Goldmans and the Browns is going to be whatever is made on this book. And we have no idea how this book is going to be responded to.
I think that, you know, it changes the whole landscape with the Goldmans and the -- particularly the Goldmans being the people who have the rights to this book. They have decided to bring this book to the public. I have agreed with them. I have listened to them. I understand the pain they`ve gone through for 13 years.
HAMMER: Let me just sort of reach you on one point, because I think - - I certainly was among many people who felt pretty bad for Denise Brown this morning watching her on "The Today Show." It was obvious that it`s still very painful for her. Let`s watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Do you know that every year we hold a candlelight vigil in the memory of Nicole and Ron? And do you know that every time I speak, I speak out on behalf of Ron and Nicole, because we both lost loved ones? I lost a sister. Kim lost a brother. My mother lost a daughter. Fred lost a son.
But there are two children that are still alive today that have to relive all of this.
(END VIDEO CLIP
HAMMER: You know, I`m out of time here, unfortunately, Eric, but certainly you can understand the families -- at least her family -- just wants to move on.
KAMPMANN: I understand her point, and I understand the Goldman`s point.
HAMMER: Eric Kampmann, I do appreciate you being with us on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
KAMPMANN: Thank you.
HAMMER: Well, flying clearly not what it used to be. I mean, sometimes you need a drink, of course, before cramming yourself into that steel tube and getting to 30,000 feet. OK if you are a passenger. Not really a good idea if you are part of the crew.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excuse me. That was my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) ID.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s a flight attendant reportedly drunk on the job, and it`s all caught on tape. You`ve got to see this shocking video. Tipsy before takeoff. That`s coming up next.
And, unfortunately, Lindsay Lohan has been flying high. Actually, she`s been caught allegedly driving high. Tonight an explosive new lawsuit naming Lindsay relating to last month`s bizarre and dangerous high speed car chase she was arrested for. The suit could really cause some serious problems for her. That`s coming up.
First comes love, then marriage, then the cameras roll, and all hell breaks loose. Is there a reality TV couples curse? A SHOWBIZ special report coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: We`ve all heard about airline passengers getting a little out of control. But tonight you have got to take a look at this shocking SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video of the day. It`s a flight attendant allegedly drunk on the job, totally out of control. And it`s all caught on tape. Twenty six-year-old Sarah Mills admitted having a drink while on duty, so the pilot turned the Atlantic Southeast Flight bound from Lexington, Kentucky, to Atlanta back to the terminal.
Then the police were called in, and flew her right into jail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excuse me. That was my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) ID.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I think I`ve had her before. Not exactly the friendly skies. Cops threw her into a holding cell. Apparently she started crawling around on her hands and knees, maybe looking for a bag of peanuts or pretzel. Her blood alcohol content under the legal limit for flying, but I don`t know. Sure looks like she was flying high to me. Sarah hasn`t lost her wings yet. Atlantic Southeast has not said bye-bye to her for now.
Well, Lindsay Lohan has been grounded by her reported substance abuse issues. And tonight yet another startling twist. I got to tell you, this could cause major problems for her. The explosive details surrounding a lawsuit filed against Lindsay relating to the night she was in a dangerous high speed car chase and got arrested again for DUI, next.
And, you know the Geico insurance commercials with the cavemen. They`re getting their own sitcom. You have to love Hollywood, right? Tonight, there`s already a racial controversy surrounding that show. It hasn`t even aired yet. Come on, is it legit, or have the PC police run amok? That`s coming up. Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that if someone is going to put themselves on camera 24-7, and in particular putting their relationship on camera 24-7, that it says a lot about them as people, in terms of the kind of attention they need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: After the love and the marriage, the cameras roll and all hell breaks loose. Is there a reality TV couple`s curse. A SHOWBIZ special report coming up.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN HENSON, TV GUIDE CHANNEL: Reality giveth and reality taketh away. There`s a sort of MTV curse that`s destroyed a variety of marriages.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "The Curse of Reality TV". The television landscape is littered with the failed relationships of celebrity couples who decided to invite cameras into their lives. Are marriages that are played out on TV doomed? And the ones who do make it work, how did they do it? Tonight a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, "The Reality TV Curse".
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Wednesday night. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight just when I thought Lindsay Lohan couldn`t possibly get into any more trouble, she`s being sued. Now, this is all stemming from that night that she got into trouble in the first place. That was the night that she was arrested for a second time for DUI, and also charged with cocaine possession. With us tonight, in New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell, investigative journalist, and the author of this book, "Secrets Can Be Murder." Also with us tonight from Hollywood, trial attorney Donald Schweitzer.
Donald, Jane, I appreciate you both being with us now. Who could possibly forget that night? Lindsay allegedly driving like a maniac in an SUV, chasing after a cab driven by a woman by the name of Michelle Peck, her former assistant`s mother, along with another woman, Tracie Rice. I want you to listen to this dramatic 911 call we obtained made by Michelle Peck.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now we`re on Seventh and Wiltshire.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, what`s going on there?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were just about to park our car. We were coming home, and out of nowhere a huge white GMC came up. We`re being followed by a GMC. The gentleman jumped out of the car. Oh, my God, sir, they`re following us. We need help!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Tracie Rice`s lawsuit is a civil one. She wants damages. Jane Velez-Mitchell, I have to think she could also be a very damaging witness if and when Lindsay ever goes on trial for the criminal charges, right?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, AUTHOR, "SECRETS CAN BE MURDER": A.J., absolutely. So could a lot of other people. So could the assistant, the former assistant, her mom, and three other young men who claim they were terrorized by Lindsay Lohan that night. I mean, this is a horror story.
Those three young men went on TMZ and said she commandeered one of their cars, the SUV, drove over one of the young men`s foot, took the two others on a high-speed chase, terrorized the assistant, then went to the assistant mother`s home, terrorized her and her friend, the one who is suing. And then when they finally ended up at the police station, they claim that Lindsay Lohan tried to blame it all on the African-American young man who she had commandeered, allegedly, and kidnapped. She could be facing other criminal charges, and she could be facing five other lawsuits.
HAMMER: You know, there are lot of people when say we have frivolous lawsuits in this country and maybe we do, but if all of this really happened, I think this person has something here. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did obtain a copy of the lawsuit. I want to read to you what Rice said in it.
Quote, "She was convinced that their lives were in danger and that they had to outrun the pursuing car or they might be killed."
Donald Schweitzer, let me go to you. You are a trial attorney. Does she have a good case here?
DONALD SCHWEITZER, TRIAL ATTORNEY: She`s got a great case. And it`s one of these cases that we don`t see enough. We love it when victims sue the perpetrators when they haven`t actually been hurt. In this case Lindsay Lohan could have hurt this victim, or hurt countless other people. Santa Monica is an extremely congested area during the summer months. And this is just a wonderful opportunity to actually curb her behavior.
I think they`ve got a great case. She`s looking at possibly paying out a huge punitive damages, to be engaged in a deposition, and frankly, she doesn`t have a case because she`s going to end up probably pleading guilty to the DUI, which will be used against her in the civil lawsuit.
HAMMER: I have to tell you, to keep track of everything that`s going on, I have charts and graphs up in my office. I even got the abacas out, Lindsay could be facing a criminal trial, as we said. She could face the civil trial. She`s in rehab in Utah. She`s become un-hirable in Hollywood.
Jane, can it really get any worse for this young woman?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, sadly, A.J., it can, because so far she hasn`t killed anybody yet. And that`s precisely what could have happened if everything that all these people are saying is true; going at 100 miles per hour on PCH, doing circles around another car, going through red lights, terrorizing this other car, chasing this car right into the police station. The woman was so afraid she literally went through the barricade.
I happen to ride my bicycle through those very streets all the time, and I`m always afraid of some SUV hitting me. So now I can obviously say my fears are very, very real. This is a very congested area, as your other guest said. This is a horror story.
And you know the scariest thing of all, A.J., is that these young men claim that she told them, I can`t get in trouble, because I am a celebrity. If she hasn`t lost that attitude, she has not hit bottom yet.
HAMMER: If she said that, that is unbelievable to me. Of course, Donald, if she just pleads guilty, then things will change. But let`s say, miracle of miracles, Lindsay actually beats the rap and isn`t convicted. Would that take the steam out of this latest civil lawsuit, or does it really matter?
SCHWEITZER: Not necessarily. The civil lawsuit has a standard of preponderance by the evidence. It`s a whole different trial. The jury trial in a criminal case is proved beyond a reasonable doubt. It doesn`t really affect it, but if she`s either plead or found guilty it will be much easier for these people that are suing her to get the damages.
Let me say this, in California we have so many celebrities running around driving under the influence of alcohol that it`s very dangerous. I don`t care if it`s a celebrity or not that hits me, or somebody that I care about. I`m going sue them. I`m glad for these people doing what they`re doing.
HAMMER: There`s no excuse no matter who the heck you are. I think that`s pretty darn obvious. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Donald Schweitzer, I thank you both for being with us tonight.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Thank you.
SCHWEITZER: Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: You know those insurance commercials with the cavemen? Well, someone in Hollywood, who apparently couldn`t think of an original idea so, he saw the commercial and said, hey, let`s make a TV show about the cavemen. I actually thought it was kind of clever, but tonight there`s already controversy surrounding this show because there are some people who are saying all you have to do is change the word cavemen to African- American. It is a shocking, shocking revelation. Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It is one of the most memorable ad campaigns of the past few years. The cavemen constantly insulted by life in the modern world. The ads became so popular ABC decided to turn these 30 second spots --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mother is calling. I`ll put it on speaker.
ANDERSON: Into a 30-minute show called "Cavemen." a show that some critics say is insulting to more than just cavemen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Cavemen", a new comedy.
ERIC DEGGANS, "ST. PETERSBURG TIMES": They were parodying specifically African-American stereotypes.
ANDERSON: The pilot episode was shown to critics when ABC unveiled its new fall line-up, and early clips have leaked on to YouTube.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like big backs and I cannot lie.
DEGGANS: They show a cavemen who is really good at dancing. They show another caveman who is really athletic and good at athletic activity. They show that some of the stereotypes seem to have some sort of basis in fact.
ANDERSON: Eric Deggans of "The St. Petersburg Times" leads a chorus of critics who have skewered the sit-com. "Depictions of racial stereotypes have a clumsy and overly obvious feel to them," wrote one. Another said it is, quote, "Loaded with references to caveman stereotypes, all of them seemingly drawn from stereotypes long held about blacks."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cro-Magnon!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please don`t use that word.
ANDERSON: After the cold critical reaction, producers and the network did decide to rework the pilot. While acknowledging concerns of African-American stereotyping, saying, "We are aware that the pilot used to lean a little bit more in that direction, but in the episodes that we`re sort of coming up with now, we never saw them as, again, a stand in for one group."
Deggans thinks "Cavemen" could benefit by adding people of color to the cast and creative team.
DEGGANS: There really aren`t any major characters of color actually in the show.
ANDERSON: Producers say they`re already trying to fix that, so perhaps when it finally hits the air, "Cavemen" will have evolved.
DEGGANS: Look, I don`t want to see it go away. I just want to see it get better.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That song`s stuck my head. That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson.
Here`s the crazy part, a little weird justification. The producers of the show say it`s OK to do this because -- and this is what they told "The Hartford Current" -- we have an African-American man, and an Indian- American guy and we have Asian-American, and another woman. Actor Nick Krol (ph) trying to make a joke, added that he was a cross-dresser. Not funny. ABC says it`s planning on airing the revised "Caveman" show beginning on October 2.
We, here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, have asked this time and time again. What is wrong with the young Hollywood party girls? Why can`t they get it together? Well, tonight we have some great advice coming up from an Oscar- nominated actress who makes a whole lot of sense on the subject. We`ll also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think if someone is going to put themselves on camera 24/7, and in particular, putting their relationship on camera 24/7, that it says a lot about them as people, in terms of the kind of attention they need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yeah, this has always baffled me. I can`t imagine why anyone would decide to let cameras into their marriage. Plenty of star couples found that out the hard way. Definitely a recipe for disaster in a lot of Hollywood marriages. The ones that made it work, how exactly did they pull that off? Coming up in a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, is there a "Reality TV Curse"?
And Dustin Hoffman is back as you have never seen him before. Dustin as the eccentric owner of a toy store, where everything comes to life. I know it`s only August, but this definitely looks like it could be the holiday hit of the year. Your "First Look" is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, a SHOWBIZ special report: Does the reality TV curse really exist? I got to tell you, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline just one couple whose marriage hit the skids after their lovey-dovey reality show wrapped? There`s also, of course, Nick Leche and Jessica Simpson, and Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown. With all of these relationships gone bust, I just got to ask, is reality TV bad for marriage? Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nick?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are dumplings gooey, a little?
ANDERSON (voice over): The good, the bad, and the ugly, courtesy of relationship reality TV.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`ve had sex three times today.
ANDERSON: Whether it`s Brittany Spears and Kevin Federline in "Chaotic" or Whitney and Bobby in "Being Bobby Brown".
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
ANDERSON: Millions of us watched cutesy celebrity couples make their marriage into a hit TV show. And then we all watched as reality single life bit back, hard.
JOHN HENSON, TV GUIDE CHANNEL, "WATCH THIS": Reality giveth and reality taketh away. There`s sort of an MTV curse that`s destroyed a variety of marriages. You`re talking about Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro, Shannon Moakler and Travis Barker.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you mad?
HENSON: Most famously, Nick Leche and Jessica Simpson. Ironically, the only marriage to survive the MTV curse is the couple who began the whole genre, Sharon and Ozzy Ozbourne. That`s mainly because nobody can understand a word that Ozzy says.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You (BLEEP, BLEEP, BLEEP).
ANDERSON: Relationship expert Doctor Laura Berman tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she doesn`t buy into the reality show curse, but she says couple who`s decide to do reality TV may simply be predisposed to breaking up.
LAURA BERMAN, AUTHOR, "THE PASSION PRESCRIPTION" : I think that if someone is going to put themselves on camera 24/7 and, in particular, putting their relationship on camera 24/7, that it says a lot about them as people, in terms of the kind of attention they need, in terms of the kind of feedback they need.
BRITNEY SPEARS: Hi, everyone. I`m Britney.
ANDERSON: Brit and K-Fed grossed us all out with their in-your-face UPN reality show, highlighting the best of their home video collection. Look what happened to them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Huh?
ANDERSON: Surprisingly, K-Fed told me he didn`t regret the reality show. He says he and Brit were just having fun, and wanted the world to see how real they were.
KEVIN FEDERLINE: We had this footage, and we used it to give people a better idea that we fell in love. We wanted to show people the real, real side of it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m ugly!
HENSON: "Chaotic" was arguably the worst reality show in history, but on the bright side, they did make up with it with lots and lots of headlines about their divorce.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jessica, shut up!
ANDERSON: Nick Leche blames a big part of his real life break-up on his reality show "Newlyweds." He says the lines between what`s real and reality become blurred once the cameras start rolling. Telling "Rolling Stone" magazine, quote, "When you are on a reality show, your life ceases to be reality. It becomes TV."
BERMAN: I`m sure that for many of these couples when the cameras turn off, they are still sort of on, and it`s hard for them to really tone it down, be genuine with each other, be vulnerable with each other, and be honest with each other.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Damn! Damn! Lord, I just want to be a real person.
BERMAN: They feel like there`s always a third witness there, which is millions of Americans, watching their every move, and their every mistake, or every complication in their relationship.
ANDERSON: Not all reality relationships turn into reality wrecks. Rob and Amber, the couple that met on CBS`s "Survivor" are still going strong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`re in the reality TV show business, if you will, and our life together is the most important thing to us.
HENSON: Rob and Amber, Ro-mber, I think they are going to go public soon. You can trade these guys on the Nasdaq. They`re like pork bellies. They`re reality royalty.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson reporting.
Well, there is a new-ish couple on the reality TV scene. Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott. They started off their second season of their reality show, "Tori & Dean, In Love." These guys got married in May of 2006, the reality TV show cameras started rolling not too long thereafter. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson sat down with Tori and Dean and asked if they were at all worried about the so-called, "Reality TV Curse". Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEAN MCDERMOTT, ACTOR: I didn`t know about it.
TORI SPELLING, ACTRESS: Yeah. I knew about it.
MCDERMOTT: It was actually T that brought it to my attention. Yes, after we signed on to do the show, I told him about it, because it was too late to back out.
MCDERMOTT: The ink wasn`t even dry yet, on the contract. She`s like, by the way.
SPELLING: FYI. And my theory on it, is these couples, they don`t spend that much time together, and then all of a sudden they`re thrown together on this reality show, and they`re together 24 hours a day. And, they`re like, oh, I can stand you that much. Too much time with you.
Our thing is we spend 24 hours a day together anyway. We do everything together.
MCDERMOTT: We can`t stand to be apart. Even an hour apart we get all -- discombobulated.
SPELLING: So just filming us together all the time, we`re always together all the time, so it`s no different for us. It`s a bonus time for me, especially, because I get to work with my husband. I get to work with my son. I don`t have to leave home.
ANDERSON: In the first season, you know, we watched you buy the bed and breakfast. You renovated it, got it up and running, off the ground. And now we get to see you with your new son, four-month-old, adorable little Liam.
Has the baby changed the way you look at things?
SPELLING: Yes. The baby really changes your perspective on life. I think. You stress about all the little things. You spend so much time. They`re so useless. You have this baby, and that`s all matters.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And you can catch season two of "Tori & Dean In Love" on the Oxygen network.
Well in tonight`s SHOWBIZ "First Look", it`s Dustin Hoffman, as you have never seen him before, as the proprietor of a magical toy store. This one looks like it could be a huge holiday hit. Mr. Magoruim`s Wonder Emporium" also starts Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman. Here now, your "First Look".
(BEGIN MOVIE TRAILER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let`s open the store.
ANNOUNCER: Welcome to "Mr. Magorium`s Wonder Emporium".
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How much for that fish mobile, right there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s $50.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don`t you think that`s a little high?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you notice, they are fresh fish.
ANNOUNCER: Where the store is alive and wonders never cease.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s magic.
ANNOUNCER: `Til now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s not real nice to stare at people. I`m Henry Weston, the accountant.
We have some serious problems. You`ve had several fictional characters on the books.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like whom?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The king of planet Yaway (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, he is not fictional.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sir, why do we need an accountant?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m leaving.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re leaving?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m giving you the store.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re giving me the store?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Surprise!
The store is upset as indicated by temper tantrum.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Temper tantrum?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would like a lollypop.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s a magical toy store. It can do all sorts of things.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There`s no such thing as a magical toy store.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course, there is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you say magical, do you mean special?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Magical.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How about really, really cool.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Magical.
MALE SINGER: Oh, it`s magic --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.
MALE SINGER: You know never believe it`s not so --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Catch.
Stupid, zebra.
MALE SINGER: It`s magic, you know --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are we going on an adventure?
MALE SINGER: Never believe it`s not so --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Find yourself somewhere you have never imagined.
ANNOUNCER: "Mr. Magorium`s Wonder Emporium".
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on. Get out of there. Bouncy balls, always trying to escape.
(END MOVIE TRAILER)
HAMMER: "Mr. Magorium`s Wonder Emporium" will be in theaters on November 16th.
Well, we`ve asked this time and time again here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. What is wrong with the young Hollywood party girls? Why can`t they seem to get it together? Tonight we have some great advice coming up from a highly respected Oscar-nominated actress. Listen up, young Hollywood. Words of wisdom for you. Coming up next. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT comes right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, advice for out of control young Hollywood from one of the most highly respected young actresses on the scene reason. Two-time Oscar nominee, Laura Linney stars in the new movie, "The Nanny Diaries."
And when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sat down with her, she had absolutely glowing things to say about her young co-star Scarlet Johann. Scarlet really has her act together, as far as staying focused on her career, and that is something Laura has always done as well. Laura told us that for her it has always been about the work and what she can learn.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURA LINNEY, ACTRES: There are a lot of people who choose another path, and that`s fine. You know, they`re a little, you knowing excited about the power and the glamour and the excitement and that`s a whole other skill. That`s almost a whole other career.
You know, there`s it is work, and then there`s the other stuff. And that`s just as time consuming, sometimes even more so than the work. I think everybody goes into it for different reasons, and sometimes -- sometimes it works out. And sometimes if you done have a foundation and you don`t really know what you are after, you`ll make bad decisions.
And -- or other people will make bad decisions for you, and that`s when I think a lot of the younger crowd gets into trouble. They get a little beyond themselves, and they buy into something that doesn`t exist.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There`s no question about that. Can you catch Laura Linney in "The Nanny Diaries" which is in theaters next Friday.
We`ve been asking you to vote our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Here`s what we want to know from you: Britney`s kids, should Kevin Federline get full custody? Here`s how the vote`s going so far, pretty close, 43 percent of you say yes; 57 percent of you say no.
Among the emails we`ve received, we heard from Ivy in California. She writes, "Rather than snatching away her kids, she should be enlisted with mandatory help or supervision for the time being."
And Pete from Washington writes something I found rather interesting. "K-Fed has two other kids, why is he not trying to get custody of those children?"
Time now to found out what is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Tomorrow it is a SHOWBIZ special event. Inside plastic surgery in Hollywood. We are getting confessions from the biggest celebrities in Hollywood about why -- why -- why they went under the knife. Are they glad they did it? Also, when plastic surgery goes wrong. Oh, yeah. We`ve got the good, we`ve got the bad, and the down right -- ugly. That is tomorrow in a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event, "Inside Plastic Surgery In Hollywood".
Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. This is a guy who is coming up next. That`s after the latest from CNN "Headline News." Have a great night.
END
