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Showbiz Tonight
Stars, Bars, And Cars: Celebrity DUI Seems Out of Control In Hollywood; Tougher Jail Sentences Might Drive Home the Life & Death Seriousness of the Crime
Aired October 10, 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 CO-HOST: A big star who had been on the road to recovery for his alcohol problems has suffered a dramatic relapse.
I`m A.J. Hammer, in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CO-HOST: And a stunning ruling in the Britney Spears hit-and-run case, plus a big change in her upcoming album.
I`m Brooke Anderson, in Hollywood.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, another big star going to jail for drinking and driving. "24`s" Kiefer Sutherland`s heading to the slammer for 48 days. Tonight, the startling story behind his sentence.
Plus a SHOWBIZ special report: Stars, Bars & Cars. From Kiefer to Paris to Nicole. Why can`t some stars get it through their thick heads? Don`t drink and drive or you go to jail. Shouldn`t they know better?
You will not want to miss this revealing and provocative SHOWBIZ special report.
The Clooney crash controversy. Tonight, dozens of hospital workers suspended for invading George Clooney`s privacy. But wait, why in the world is George coming to their defense?
George Clooney, back to the ER please.
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight, and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
And I have to tell you, it is absolutely remarkable, A.J., how many stars, this year alone, have either gone to jail or are facing jail because of doing something stupid while driving.
Our special report, Stars, Bars & Cars is coming up.
HAMMER: But first, tonight we begin with the latest member of the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Stars, Bars & Cars hall of shame, Kiefer Sutherland.
Let me tell you, Kiefer is cooked. The star of "24" is headed to jail for not only drinking and driving, but for getting caught doing it while on probation for, yes, you guessed it, drinking and driving.
ANDERSON: So yes, we must ask the question we have asked so many times before, what the heck was he thinking?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): First, we had Paris Hilton go to jail for a DUI- related beef. Then Nicole Richie. And Lindsay Lohan is probably on her way to the slammer for her DUIs, as well. And now, "24" star, Kiefer Sutherland has learned his fate for his DUI arrest last month.
Forty-eight days in jail is what Kiefer Sutherland has agreed to serve in a plea agreement for his DUI arrest.
MIKE FLEEMAN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: That`s a very, very stiff sentence.
ANDERSON: None of those wimpy Paris Hilton sentences for Jack Bauer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "24")
KIEFER SUTHERLAND, AS JACK BAUER, "24": Screw you!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, in a town with where stars routinely get slapped on the wrist for DUI, Kiefer`s unique sentence for his fourth -- yes, fourth -- DUI arrest is raising eyebrows in Hollywood.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you this video. It`s of a relaxed Kiefer Sutherland at a Fox party, just hours before his DUI arrest on this L.A. street corner. "People" magazine`s Mike Fleeman explains Kiefer`s unique sentence.
FLEEMAN: The 48-day sentence breaks down this way. He gets 30 days on his DUI arrest. He gets another 18 days for violating the probation on yet another DUI arrest that he already had.
ANDERSON: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Kiefer`s jail sentence has been remarkably well-tailored to "24`s" production schedule.
FLEEMAN: He`s going to serve those 18 days right when the winter break begins for shooting. And then he can also serve that 30 days at some point between then and the summer and not interrupt any of the shooting for the TV show.
ANDERSON: So Kiefer`s upcoming schedule looks like this: This December 21st, which happens to be Kiefer`s birthday, he starts an 18-day jail sentence. Happy birthday! Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year, Kiefer! January through spring he resumes shooting terrorists, torturing people...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIEFER SUTHERLAND, STAR, 24: Start talking, Grey!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: ... and saving the world.
And after he`s done with that unpleasantness, it`s back to the clink for Kiefer. As part of his sentence, Kiefer also faces some driving restrictions. Oh, well. There`s always the subway. On second thought, that could get messy.
But even though SHOWBIZ TONIGHT would never question Jack Bauer`s wisdom because we were a little afraid of him too, we still have to ask, is it fair for a star, accused of a crime as serious as DUI, to be able to tailor his jail sentence to fit his television show?
AMY ARGETSINGER, "WASHINGTON POST": You`ve got to admire the guy`s work ethic. It`s really an inspiration for a nation of high-functioning alcoholics.
ANDERSON: "The Washington Post`s" Amy Argetsinger tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Kiefer had no choice because there is no "24" without Jack.
ARGETSINGER: This is a show that is all about Kiefer. He is the star. He is the producer. He is in every single episode. This show cannot exist without him.
ANDERSON: And "People" magazine`s Mike Fleeman points out this deal means that Kiefer may even spend more time in jail than he otherwise would have.
FLEEMAN: I don`t think this is another instance of special treatment. We`re not looking at a Paris Hilton situation.
ANDERSON: Fox, which airs "24," is praising its secret agent man for taking one for the "24" team. In a statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it says - quote -- "He told us that even if had he to sacrifice more time in custody in order to protect the show and the jobs of those who work with him, he would do so. From what occurred today, it is evident he is a man of his word. We wish him well and look forward to a long relationship with him."
So it looks like Kiefer is going to jail, but his show will go on.
And Amy Argetsinger, from "The Washington Post," is hoping that Kiefer will find one more way to help out his network with his prison sentence.
ARGETSINGER: I`m still hoping that they will arrange some kind of tie-in with "Prison Break."
ANDERSON: A Jack Bauer prison break -- we`d watch that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: As part of his plea deal, Sutherland will be on probation for five years.
And now we want to hear from you. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Stars and DUI: Should They Get Harsher Sentences?
Vote, cnn.com/showbiz tonight, and send us an email at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: And tonight, yet another star is back in trouble for drinking, but in this particular case, there was no arrest.
David Hasselhoff has had a dramatic relapse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "EXTRA")
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: Tell me you`re going to stop drinking. Tell me right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: We all remember the last time it happened.
This video, given to a TV show "Extra," of Hasselhoff, stone cold drunk in a Vegas hotel room. This is a video shot by his daughter. Hasselhoff would later go on to say -- quote -- "Unfortunately, one evening I did have a brief relapse, but part of recovery is relapse."
Well, now, it has happened again.
With us tonight, in Hollywood, Kim Serafin, senior editor of "In Touch Weekly" and Ken Seeley , interventionist from the A&E show, "Intervention."
Kim and Ken, I appreciate you being with us.
And let`s start with what we know tonight.
His publicist has released a statement confirming that Hasselhoff has, in fact -- did, in fact, check himself into Cedar Sinai Medical Center on Tuesday night because of a relapse. Kim, TMZ is reporting that he actually had alcohol poisoning.
So, Ken, should we at all be surprised that "The Hoff" has relapsed so badly?
KEN SEELEY, INTERVENTIONIST, A&E`S INTERVENTION: You know, A.J., this is really devastating because he said he was handling it appropriately last time, and look what happened. If you don`t go in and get medical attention when you have this disease, addiction, then this is what happens. And when he says, you know, relapse is a part of the disease of addiction, it just sickens me because he is using that as an excuse that it`s OK for him to relapse, and that`s not acceptable. And I believe that his kids do not belong with him in those circumstances, at all.
HAMMER: Well, that`s something I want to get to in just a moment.
And, it really is a shame, particularly on the heels of that video and the whole drama that played out after that video came out, because we were all pulling for him. We all wanted to see him recover. I think that`s what happens when these things play out so publicly. And he seemed to be on a roll. He was working as a judge on that hit TV show "America`s Got Talent," working on a new TV show loosely based on his life.
And, in fact, Kim, I wanted to go to you on that. What do we know about that show? Does any of this play out in that show, any of this part of Hasselhoff`s life?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, IN TOUCH WEEKLY: Well, as far as we know, not yet, but the show, as you mentioned, is for the E! Channel. It`s called "Tales of The Hoff," and it`s sort of like a "Curb Your Enthusiasm." So, it`s a scripted show, but based loosely on his own life. So it will involve him sort of navigating Hollywood. It will involve him, you know, approaching the dating world, things that happen in his life. You have to wonder if he`ll incorporate some of this. It`s a very widely known thing about his addiction issues. So, I wonder if he`ll incorporate any of this.
Also, you know, you don`t know the status of the project. Right now it`s still ongoing, but we`ll see what happens, if he has to go back into rehab or if he gets himself on track. I think that`s probably one of the reasons he did check himself into the hospital because he has all these issues he`s dealing with -- his work, his family, the custody battle. That`s probably one reason he wanted to address this right away.
HAMMER: It is great to see that he has been working, but, of course, that can add a lot of pressure to your life when you`re dealing with other things, including, on top of all the work, this bitter child custody battle that continues to play out with his ex-wife, Pamela Bach. The kids, as we know, were taken away from her and given to him.
Ken, that is a lot of pressure. I mean is this typical of the kind of stuff that can cause an alcoholic to relapse?
SEELEY: No, not at all, A.J. When you get recovery and you really work a strong program, that`s when anything could happen to you and you don`t relapse. But when you`re working a weak program and you`re not doing what you need to do to stay sober, that`s when you relapse, and that`s where he`s at right now. So I would suggest to him to get into treatment and get the help that he really needs and commit to 30 days minimum.
HAMMER: Well, Ken, you said pretty powerfully, a moment ago, that you think the kids should be taken away from him. I would have to imagine that, him now, having this relapse could actually change the playing field in the custody battle, but then I think to myself, well, will it actually play into it, because despite that videotape that came out with Hasselhoff drunk on the floor, the judge saw it fit to take the kids away from Pamela anyway and give them to Hasselhoff.
Kim, what do you think? Do you possibly see it going the other way now?
SERAFIN: I don`t know. I sort of agree with you. I mean, we saw this very public videotape of him having this relapse. She was initially awarded custody, but then it went back and he got primary physical custody. So, as long as he does look like he`s addressing these problems, it seems like he still has the custody.
Also, you know, he hasn`t had custody of the kids for the past, I think, seven weeks to two months because he`s been off filming a film in Europe. So, these kids have actually been living with Pamela for this -- for the time being.
HAMMER: Well, I`m sure certain that Ken will agree with me that hopefully this relapse from Hasselhoff will serve as a warning sign to others, including Lindsay Lohan, who just got out of rehab, that, you know, it is an everyday struggle.
Kim Serafin and Ken Seeley, I appreciate you both being with us tonight.
SEELEY: Thanks, A.J.
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., tell Ken to stick around. I`m going need him for something coming up, because I just don`t get it. Kiefer, Paris, Nicole -- why can`t stars get it through their thick heads? Don`t drink and drive.
I`ve got a fired-up SHOWBIZ special report: Stars, Bars & Cars, 30 past the hour.
HAMMER: And the Clooney crash controversy. Tonight, dozens of hospital workers suspended for invading George Clooney`s privacy, but wait a second, why in the world is Clooney now coming to their defense?
Well, I personally think it`s a really classy move.
We`ll get into that. Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIA ROBERTS, STAR, CHARLIE WILSON`S WAR: Why is Congress saying one thing and doing nothing?
TOM HANKS, STAR, CHARLIE WILSON`S WAR: Well, it`s tradition, mostly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks. I think I`m definitely going to see this one. An incredible true story about a super-secret mission that helped to bring down the Soviet Union. Great cast.
Your first look at "Charlie Wilson`s War," straight ahead.
HAMMER: All right. So, George Clooney has had such a great career, so many great movies, TV roles. So that`s what we`re going to be testing you on tonight.
And our question is, which 1980s sitcom did George Clooney star in? Was it "The Facts of Life," "Cheers," "Bosom Buddies," or "The Cosby Show?" I want you to put on your legwarmers and maybe pop in a little Huey Lewis & The News and fire up the old Atari 2600. You`re not going to want to miss the answer. Coming up, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Once again, here`s tonight`s SHOWBIZ news quiz. Which 1980s sitcom did George Clooney star in? Was it (a) "The Facts of Life," (b) "Cheers," (c) "Bosom Buddies," or (d) "The Cosby Show?"
"Well, George joined Joe, Trudy, Blair, Natalie, and Mrs. Garrett on (a) "The Facts of Life." He played George, the good-looking carpenter with the mallet, for two whole seasons.
And it`s like two for one around here. Even more fun trivia tonight. Alan Thicke of "Growing Pains" fame co-wrote the "Facts of Life" theme.
That`s what you are hearing right now.
ANDERSON: Oh, that takes me back.
OK. From the facts of life to the pitfalls of fame for George Clooney.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
I`m Brooke Anderson.
Tonight, dozens of medical workers are suspended from their jobs for looking at Clooney`s private medical records and allegedly leaking them to the press. This all happened after Clooney and his girlfriend got into a motorcycle accident in New Jersey last month. But get this, George is sticking up for the workers, saying they should not have been suspended. What a guy.
With me tonight, in New York, Alex Wagner, editor-in-chief of "Fader Magazine," in Hollywood, Ken Baker, managing editor of "usmagazine.com."
Welcome to you both. Good to see you.
Now, we know that the media found out about the motorcycle accident before an official statement was released from Clooney`s camp.
Ken, this was a small hospital in New Jersey. Was this just a case of some of the medical staff maybe being star struck?
KEN BAKER, MANAGING EDITOR, USMAGAZINE.COM: Yes. Well, actually, I`m kind of jealous that, you know, the people could get that information out of Palisades Medical Center, because we`re always trying to get information out of, like, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, and it`s like Fort Knox.
ANDERSON: Right.
BAKER: I mean they locked it down because they`re very celebrity savvy. I`m sure that what happened here was they`ve never had a celebrity come through that place. Everyone was star struck, and they forgot. Wait! There`s laws. There`s privacy laws. We`re not allowed to do this. And they messed up. It doesn`t happen in places like L.A., where there`s always a lot of celebrities coming through. So this was a unique circumstance, and it seems like George is willing to let them off the hook.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. And I want to read you the statement that George Clooney issued about letting them off the hook to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. George said this -- quote -- "This is the first I`ve heard of it. And while I very much believe in a patient`s right to privacy, I would hope that this could be settled without suspending medical workers."
I got to tell you, though, this is kind of surprising because Clooney is fanatical about doing everything to protect his privacy.
Alex, why do you think he`s coming to their defense? I mean, I know he is a nice guy.
ALEX WAGNER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, FADER MAGAZINE: Well, you know, I think it`s beyond just being a nice guy. Historically, Clooney`s kind of been a champion for the little guy, whether it`s human rights stuff in Darfur or whether it`s his father`s legacy. I mean, his dad was a hardcore kind of news reporter.
And I think, you know, not being precious about being a star has always been in Clooney`s blood. He`s very much a champion of those who can`t speak up for themselves. And here, you have a group of medical workers, who are sensibly doing a lot of good for society, and he`s just trying to protect them.
ANDERSON: You`re right about that. Great point. He seems to be such a class act in Hollywood. And everybody was talking about this today, including the ladies of "The View."
Listen to what Joy Behar said about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE VIEW")
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": He was very nice about it. But you know, it`s one thing to have records released if you have restless leg syndrome or something. But what if you have, like, testicular erosion? OK. Then I don`t think you want it out there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Joy is so funny.
Ken, does she have a good point there?
BAKER: The only thing I disagree with is I don`t think there`s really a diagnosis called testicular erosion, but that being said, I totally agree with Joy. It`s not as if the medical personnel called up the tabloids and said, George Clooney has herpes. It was basically, hey, this really sexy guy was on his sexy motorcycle and he cracked a sexy rib. You know? I mean -- so, it wasn`t something that was...
ANDERSON: And he was on a sexy motorcycle, yes.
BAKER: Yes.
ANDERSON: The whole thing was sexy.
BAKER: This wasn`t something that was embarrassing. So, George is a nice guy. I don`t think George wants anyone to suffer from this. He`s probably really grateful that they were there for him and there for his girlfriend, Sarah Larson, but at the end of the day, you do have to put into context. I think that if they were revealing something a little more embarrassing, he probably wouldn`t be so forgiving.
ANDERSON: Right, nothing for him to be ashamed of.
Well, you know, Clooney, saying leave these medical workers alone, is really just another example of why he is seen as Hollywood`s good guy. I mean, you know, just a couple of days after the accident he was a stand-up guy, showed up at the premiere for his new film, "Michael Clayton," with his girlfriend on the crutches.
And listen to why he said he wanted to be there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE CLOONEY, STAR, MICHAEL CLAYTON: We`re not invalids on this. We didn`t get really -- you know, I broke a rib and she broke her toes, but, you know, I still had to go to work today. You know, you got to work, you got to show up. This is -- I`m part of the film. I wanted to be here for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Got to show up if you want to work.
Alex, it seems that a lot of stuck-up Hollywood stars could learn a thing or two from George.
WAGNER: I mean, yes, they could learn a lot from him on, like, a PR level and an acting level. I mean the dude really is a class act, and I think he really believes in the pictures that he`s a part of, whether it`s something hard-hitting like "Syriana" or a Coen brothers movie. I mean this is a guy that hasn`t -- he believes in what he does, and is he`s very (inaudible) about it and, you know, he`s down for the count. If he is in a movie, he`s going to there, he`s going to on time and he`s going to do the work.
ANDERSON: And do a great job, usually.
Alex Wagner, Kim Baker, we will leave it there.
Thank you both. We appreciate it.
Well, George Clooney, very lucky that he did not get injured badly. And sadly, that`s not always the case, especially when stars drink and drive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANE GARRISON, STAR, PRISON BREAK: All I can say to you is I am so sorry that you lost someone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: "Prison Break" star Lane Garrison drove drunk and killed a teenager in his car.
Lindsay, Nicole and Paris all caught driving under the influence. I don`t understand why stars keep doing this.
A revealing, provocative SHOWBIZ special report: Stars, Bars & Cars coming up in a bit.
HAMMER: Really, it`s so sad, Brooke.
Well, we do have happy stuff coming up tonight. I went one-on-one with the great Halle Berry, truly one of my favorite actresses. And she really opened up to me about being pregnant and how she really feels about the baby`s daddy. You`ll want to hear what she has to say about that , coming up.
And it just wouldn`t be a day in Hollywood without some big Britney Spears news, right? Tonight a stunning ruling in her hit-and-run case. Plus, there`s a big change for her upcoming album.
We`ll tell you all about it. Coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tomorrow, moms who rock. From Gwen Stefani to Sheryl Crow to Madonna. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT takes a look at how these moms balance work and family, when a day at work means rocking out on stage. Moms who rock, tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Some really scary news for Bobby Brown. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that he had a mild heart attack Tuesday night in Los Angeles. His brother, Tommy, tells us he was having chest pains. He was admitted to a nearby hospital, stayed overnight, and was released today. He`s back home now. Tommy also adds that his family has a history of heart disease and that Bobby suffers from inflammation around his heart. Bobby was married to Whitney Houston and is currently battling her for custody of their teenage daughter.
We do wish him a very speedy recovery.
HAMMER: Yes, we do.
More big Britney news tonight. Let`s see, we`ve had the Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan mug shots, and tonight we could be adding Britney to that bunch very, very soon. Yes, boom.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that the judge in Brit`s hit-and-run car accident has ordered her to be booked at the police station before her October 25th court date. Now, Spears, as you see, smashed her car into another one, in a parking lot, back in August.
And Britney`s label, Jive Records, has decided to release her album called "Black Out," a couple of weeks early on October 30th. They`re moving it up because some songs leaked out onto the internet.
HAMMER: Well, Britney may be a bad driver, but I really hope she never gets behind the wheel drunk. Sadly, though, I cannot say that for so many other big stars. Why do they drive drunk?
Coming up next, a revealing, provocative SHOWBIZ special report that you don`t want to miss: Stars, Bars & Cars.
HAMMER: And police didn`t go after Danny Bonaduce when he tossed survivor star Johnny Fairplay on his face.
Here we go again. He didn`t think that was fair -- Johnny, anyway. Tonight he`s fighting back in a big way. That`s coming up.
Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Why is Congress saying one thing and doing nothing?
HANKS: Well, it`s tradition mostly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Look at them -- Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks. Yes, I think I`m definitely going to see this one. It`s an incredible true story about a super-secret mission that helped to bring down the Soviet Union, and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has your very first look at "Charlie Wilson`s War," straight ahead.
Stay with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for this Wednesday night.
RICHELLE CAREY, HEADLINE PRIME NEWSBREAK: I`m Richelle Carey.
This is your Headline Prime newsbreak.
A 14-year-old student shot four people in a Cleveland high school, Wednesday, then killed himself. One victim is already out of the hospital. The other three are expected to be OK. The shooter walked in with a gun in each hand, started firing, apparently furious, because he`s been suspended for fighting.
A truck went up in a ball of flames in Cary, North Carolina after a contractor drilled into a gas line Wednesday. It took six hours to get that fire out.
And cops say a Georgia man locked his 14-year-old daughter on his apartment balcony, then left for most of the weekend. He now faces child cruelty charges. Police say he left no food or water, and he was out partying.
I`m Richelle Carey.
Why are more Hollywood stars on the wrong side of the law? Another Hollywood star heads to jail for a DUI offense.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues with a special report: Stars, Bars & Cars.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Stars, Bars, and Cars". Why are so many stars getting behind the wheel when they`re drunk with disastrous consequences?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANE GARRISON, ACTOR: All I can say to you is I am so sorry that you lost somebody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And it isn`t just "Prison Break" star Lane Garrison. So many stars have been arrested and even sent to jail, in just the past few months for DUI. What is going on in Hollywood? Why don`t they just hire drivers? Tonight, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, "Stars, Bars, and Cars."
One of my favorite people in Hollywood, Halle Berry. I sat down with this hot Hollywood mom to be for a revealing one-on-one chat about the love in her life, what she`s looking forward to about motherhood, and her powerful new movie role. Halle Berry tonight in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer broadcasting tonight, and every night, from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood. You`re watching TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
Tonight we have a SHOWBIZ special report: "Stars, Bars, and Cars". As we`ve told you, Kiefer Sutherland will be the latest star who will go to jail for drinking and driving, facing 48 days in the slammer. And that had us shaking our heads and asking what will it take for stars to learn a lesson? Take a look at this because it`s going to blow your mind.
In just this year alone these stars have either been arrested or served time for DUI-related charges. Get a load of this list: Sutherland, the most recent. There`s also Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, Lane Garrison, Vivica Fox, Ray Liotta, Eve, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Hamilton.
Joining me tonight, from Hollywood, interventionist Ken Seeley, from A&E`s "Intervention", from New York, Court TV anchor Lisa Bloom and also from New York, VH1 news correspondent Janel Snowden.
Ken, Lisa, Janel, I feel like this is deja vu all over again. Tonight it`s Kiefer Sutherland taking a plea deal for DUI. But I have to wonder, after Paris, after Nicole, after Lindsay, all the drama that followed their arrest arrests. Ken, you would think this would be a wake-up call for other stars, right?
KEN SEELEY, INTERVENTIONIST: Brooke, what`s happening here is when there`s an addiction problem and people are addicted, you know, they`re in denial. So they don`t think that when they go out for a drink or two that they`re going to drink to the limits that they`re going to get arrested. They just think that, well, I`ll have one and let enough time go by, and then they get to the party, and they can`t have that one.
So, yes, I understand where they`re sitting, but the law needs to be stronger and more aggressive on the people because this is why people are dying. You know, that guy ended up killing somebody. He is spending a long time in jail that`s not necessary. If the law would have is a little more aggressive to help save people`s lives, we would be able to do that. By doing, like, maybe a two-year follow-up plan; if they want to keep driving, you have to stay in a program for two years. I would love to see something like that happen in the future.
ANDERSON: You`re referring, of course, to Lane Garrison.
SEELEY: Yes.
ANDERSON: Also "30 Rock" star Tracy Morgan says he learned his lesson. He was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, and he promised his sons that his most recent DUI, last year, was his last. Listen to what he said on "The View."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRACY MORGAN, ACTOR: I`m glad that they don`t really follow the press because of this culture that`s being created out here now. It seems like a witch hunt. You know, the bracelet helped me with my treatment. You know what I`m saying? It helped me with my treatment, so instead of let`s breaking them down, let`s help them with their treatment. Lindsay needs help. You know what I`m saying?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at Kiefer, too. Look at Kiefer Sutherland.
MORGAN: You need help. You need treatment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Lisa Bloom, what do you think? Do you think, like Tracy says, the press is on a witch hunt, or is that just an excuse for bad behavior?
LISA BLOOM, ANCHOR, COURT TV: What Tracy doesn`t get is it`s not just about you. It`s not just about the celebrities, Paris, Nicole, Britney. It`s about the public and protecting the public. That`s why we have laws against drunk driving. So with all due respect, Tracy, it`s not just about getting treatment for you. It`s about getting you off the road so you don`t harm any of my loved ones.
ANDERSON: Very good point. I have to ask, it sounds cliche, I know, people saying over and over again that these people get drunk, they have a lot of money, why don`t they call a driver, call a cab? But, Janel, it really could be that simple, couldn`t it?
JANEL SNOWDEN, VH1 CORRESPONDENT: It absolutely could be that simple. I mean, we certainly know they can afford drivers, but there seems to be sort of like a cool kid syndrome. You know how you are in high school. And you are, like, but, mom, all the cool kids are doing it. If all the cool kids seem like they`re safe enough to get on the road after having had drinks, then there`s sort of a sense of invincibility.
And maybe they just feel like they`re to cool for drivers because, like I said, they can definitely afford them. It`s like there`s no excuse. You have all the money in the world. Why not just make your life simple, make everyone else`s life safer, and hire someone?
ANDERSON: Yeah. High-powered publicist right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT said that they like that sense of control. They like the car. They like to be able to drive themselves around when and where they want to.
But, Ken, are we expecting stars, what do you think, to behave if I differently than anybody else or is there a higher standard here because of their fame, because of their wealth? You know, unfortunately, driving drunk is something that many people do. I think the high standards should be upheld for everyone.
SEELEY: Absolutely, Brooke. You are absolutely right. I think everybody should have to stand up to the same letter of the law. And if you look at the court systems right now, there`s a lot of people dying every day from drinking and driving. So it`s not only them. That`s just the percentage. If you look at all the celebrities out there, this is a small percentage.
There`s a percentage of people that are out there dying every day, so I believe it`s the law. The law is the one, like I keep saying, has to step up and make their consequences a lot more aggressive and make them feel that pain, so they hit a bottom and they go into treatment, and get the real help that they need.
ANDERSON: And perhaps the most tragic case is the one you referred to a minute ago, Ken. "Prison Break" actor Lane Garrison, his DUI crash resulted in the death of a California high school student. Listen to his tearful words during his trial.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANE GARRISON, ACTOR, CONVICTED OF DUI: I have relived that night every day, and I think about the bad decisions I made that evening. And -- all I can say to you is I am so sorry that you lost someone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Somebody died here. Lisa, does the real danger associated with drunk driving get lost as most of the focus is on, oh, look, another star has been arrested?
LISA BLOOM, ANCHOR, COURT TV: Absolutely. I mean, have we forgotten that we should have zero tolerance for drunk drivers? I have interviewed victims` family members who are just anguished, and will be for the rest of their lives, after they lose a family member to drunk driving. We all know how serious it is. I don`t know why the stars don`t get drivers, except maybe they don`t want a witness to testify against them as happened in the Phil Spector trial, if they`re engaging in other kinds of bad behavior.
ANDERSON: Well, you also have Nicole Richie. You know, she certainly was lucky that she did not hurt anybody when she was caught driving the wrong way down a freeway. This was her second DUI conviction. Yet, she only spent 82 minutes in jail. I want to listen to what -- want you to listen to when she told me before she was sentenced.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLE RICHIE: Everything is a possibility at this point. And so I`m not really sure what`s going to happen, but, you know, I`m prepared to face whatever consequences come my way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: She never even saw the inside of a jail cell. Janel, should celebrities like Nicole Richie get harsher sentences, what do you think, and maybe held up maybe as an example?
SNOWDEN: Well, I think that we have seen a little bit of that in the case of Paris Hilton. Granted, it was her first offense, but she did do nearly a month in jail. And, you know, by no means am I a legal expert, but apparently the judges are following the orders. And if these people are first-time offenders, then they`re doing the maximum sentence.
In the case of Nicole, I think she caught a lucky break. There`s been a lot of talk about the prisons being overcrowded. But I think, yeah, because so many people do look up to these starlets, we do need to make some examples of them and let everyone know this really is a problem. They can`t be treated as a trend. And it`s like there`s comfort in shared mistakes. How many court appearances and how many crashes do we have to have before someone says, hello, Houston, we have a problem?
ANDERSON: Right. This is what not to do. Court TV anchor Lisa Bloom, interventionist Ken Seeley from A&E`s "Intervention" and VH1 news correspondent Janel Snowden. Thank you all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
HAMMER: We`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day". Stars and DUI, should they get harsher sentences? Let us know what you think at cnn.com/showbiz tonight. You can also write to us at showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`ll be reading some of your e-mails tomorrow.
ANDERSON: Police decided not to charge Danny Bonaduce for tossing former "Survivor" contestant Jonny Fairplay over his head at an awards show. That`s not the end of the story. We`ll tell you how Fairplay is fighting back, next. Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HALLE BERRY, ACTRESS, MOTHER-TO-BE: If I get to raise a man, to raise a decent man in the world. Like that would really be a full circle moment for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Halle Berry opens up to me about being pregnant, what she`s looking forward to the most about being a mom, the man in her life, and her powerful new movie. You`ll see my revealing chat with Halle coming up.
ANDERSON: And speaking of Hollywood moms, it seems like so long, right, since we`ve seen Julia Roberts on the big screen. Well, she is back in a big way starring with Tom Hanks. We have your "First Look" at her new film coming up.
First, it is time for the SHOWBIZ "News Quiz". Take a look at this video.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD, CHEERING, SCREAMING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK, that was 1,000-pound pumpkin being dropped on to a bus in Oregon. Why, you ask? Well, what do you think? Was it a stunt for David Letterman`s show, a protest by a bus driver`s union, a scene for a spoof of the "Great Pumpkin", or just because? We`ll be right back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hey, it is time now for the answer to the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "News Quiz". Let`s take another look at that video.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD CHEERING, SCREAMING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was 1,000-pound pumpkin being dropped on to a bus in Oregon. And we ask why? Was it a stunt for David letterman`s show, a protest by a bus driver`s union, a scene for a spoof of the "Great Pumpkin", or just because? The answer is D, just because. After all, who wouldn`t want to watch 1,000 pound pumpkin being dropped on to a bus?
HAMMER: I certainly enjoyed that.
Well, Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry may be playing a mom in her new movie, but in real life she is getting ready for the real thing. Halle is pregnant with her first child with her boyfriend, model Gabriel Aubrey. And in the movie, "Things We Lost in the Fire", Halle`s character is struggling raising two kids alone after her husband is killed.
When I sat down with Halle, she talked about how her mothering instincts kicked in while shooting, and what she`s looking forward to the most about becoming a mom for the very first time.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BERRY: Experiencing what motherhood is all about, unconditional love, in my life, to raising a human being that I hope will be someone who will add something wonderful to this world in which we live in. And that`s like the biggest challenge I can think of in life right now is raising another - - and if I get to raise a man, to raise a decent man in the world, like that would really be a full circle moment for me. As I was telling Oprah, that would be my full circle moment.
HAMMER: I have to say, watching it I was hyper-aware of your maternal instincts to these amazing kids. I mean, these two were terrific, the kids who played your son and your daughter. Did you feel perhaps because somewhere in your head you had that impending motherhood? Did you feel that along the way, whether on the set, on screen, off screen?
BERRY: Yeah. I believe that`s one of the reasons I gravitated towards this material, and this script, is because being a mother was the thought that I had foremost on my mind most of the time. How would I make motherhood manifest? I had someone wonderful in my life, and we were talking about it all the time. And just waiting and hoping it would happen. So when I got this movie, I knew that I was needing to play a mother.
And it just validated through playing this character that I was meant to be a mother, because I did feel a natural ease with these children, and they with me. And it just let me know this is the next act in my life, for sure.
HAMMER: Yeah, because you watch it, and you get that connection. You actually see it. Obviously, a great actor is going to bring that to the role, whether or not you have any interest in being a mom, but it was great to see.
BERRY: Right, right.
HAMMER: And I was speaking with the director of "Things We Lost in the Fire" and she said they were calling you mommy on set. Truth to that?
BERRY: Yes.
HAMMER: Really?
BERRY: It was so sweet. It was -- yeah. We were tight. We were tight.
HAMMER: I have been fascinated also to see how open you have been about your relationship with Gabriel. I mean, it`s sort of unusual in this day and age in Hollywood. There are a lot of stars who really keep that to themselves. You went on "Oprah" and put it all out there.
BERRY: Did I put it all out there?
HAMMER: Well, maybe there`s things --
BERRY: Hopefully, there`s more to us than what I said on "Oprah."
HAMMER: But you know what I`m saying. There are a lot of people just stay so hush-hush about it. Was it even a conscious decision that you want everybody to know, hey, I`m in love. This is what I`m doing?
BERRY: I think people know that. I`m having a baby with this man. I must be in love. It must be what I`m doing. I don`t think I said anything that people don`t already seem to know. You know? So, to deny it, or ignore it, I think, wouldn`t be doing justice to my relationship.
There are some things that we do try to keep personal. You know, we do try to live a very normal life that`s away from all the lights, camera, action. And we try to find some sense of normalcy while realizing that part of this life that I`ve chosen, to be an actor, and him, doing what he does, brings a certain amount of spotlight to our every day life. And so we try to find a way to juggle it and not fight against it, because it is what it is. But we do try to find a way to, you know, have our personal life and we try to protect that the best way we can.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, I also had to ask Halle about something that I found quite surprising to learn, the fact that she still has to fight for good roles in Hollywood. You wouldn`t think that. You know, she`s an Oscar- winning actress, after all. Watch what she told me about that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BERRY: The reality is it`s not just my story. It`s every woman`s story in Hollywood, most actors` story. This is a really competitive business that we`re in. The great roles are only a few every year or two. And so you really have to fight for them. I always throw my hat in the ring, and I always fight. Sometimes I win out and get the role. Sometimes I don`t. I`m always up for the fight. That`s for sure.
HAMMER: It`s interesting because you do seem genuinely surprised by it a bit. I don`t know. Was there that piece of you? We talked about this before, but when you won the Oscar, where you thought, now I can just sit back and chill?
BERRY: No.
HAMMER: Or, well, you`ve always been very aggressive about what you want.
BERRY: I knew that Oscar would be a great night, but I also had the innate knowing that three months from now my life would go back to as it was before. I just sort of knew that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: You can catch Halle in "Things We Lost in the Fire", a truly powerful film. It lands in theaters October 19th.
ANDERSON: Can`t wait to see that one, or this one. Tonight in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first look, Julia Roberts back on the big screen. She is starring along side Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymour Hoffman`s "Charlie Wilson`s War." It`s a true story about how a playboy Congressman, a renegade CIA agent and a beautiful Texan socialite join forces for the most successful covert operation in history. Here`s your "First Look".
(BEGIN MOVIE TRAILER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Congressman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, no. You get to call me Charlie. Can we get you a drink?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s 10:00 in the morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fair enough, I guess.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m just wondering what you do for a living?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m Charlie Wilson. I represent the Texas second congression -- (blowing bubbles in hot tub) --
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m standing on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghans are now ready to fight a war against the Soviets. If they get weapons, they say, they will win.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the sixth wealthiest woman in Texas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joanne?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I had been passionately involved with the cause of the Afghans since the day the Communists marched in. Why is Congress saying one thing and doing nothing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, tradition, mostly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You sit at the intersection of the State Department, the Pentagon, and the CIA. The three agencies you would need to conduct a covert war.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah?
I want the CIA in my office at 10:00.
What is U.S. strategy in Afghanistan?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, strictly speaking, we don`t have one, but we are working hard on that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who is we?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Me and three other guys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I need an airplanes, guns, and money.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A sudden influx of modern weaponry would draw attention.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Draw attention? This is a cold war. Everybody knows about it.
JIMMY HENDRIX, SINGING: There must be some kind of way out of here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re going to Israel next week, I want you to attack Pakistan on the end of your trip.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This meeting is going to be run professional.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A friend of mine is a belly dancer, while she is dancing for the defense minister, we`ll be talking to his deputy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my, God.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ah, she`s supposed to be good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This thing is going to get done by the CIA and it`s going to get done quietly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have any authority to do this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: None, whatsoever.
DON MCLEAN, SINGING: So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How is it possible that this congressman, of no particular importance, is doing this by himself?
MCLEAN (SINGING): Them good ol` boys were drinking whiskey and rye singing this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where does this rank relative to other covert wars?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There`s never been anything else like it, Jo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I get you a drink.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`d love any kind of whisky.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don`t have any alcohol in the presidential residence.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I bet a lot of people make that mistake.
(CHUCKLING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Oh, that looks terrific. "Charlie Wilson`s War" will be in theaters on Christmas day.
HAMMER: Moving on to Jonny Fairplay`s war. Can we roll this one more time because I can`t get enough of it? You know the one.
Yeah, Danny Bonaduce there on stage, grabbing -- well, getting jumped on by Jonny Fairplay. And then, whoo, there he goes. Jonny getting tossed over Danny`s head. Police are not pressing charges. Jonny says this ain`t over yet. There is a battle going on. We`ll tell you how Jonny is seeking revenge. That`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Jonny Fairplay is suing Danny Bonaduce for an incident during the FOX Reality Awards. Let`s take another look at what went down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANNY BONADUCE, ACTOR: They`re booing because they hate you.
(CHEERING, BOOING)
JONNY FAIRPLAY: That`s a good thing, right?
Danny. Danny.
(CROWD, JEERING, CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yeah. Well, when the dust cleared, some of Johnny`s teeth were knocked out and broken. And now he is suing Bonaduce, the FOX Reality Channel and the venue where this took place. Jonny says the incident has caused him great mental, physical, and nervous pain and suffering.
Police already investigated this. They decided not to press criminal charges. They say that Danny acted in self-defense, and when Danny joined me earlier this week on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, he pretty much agreed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANNY BONDADUCE: I`ll tell you, I`ll be honest with you, I am not sorry for a moment that I did it. I am sorry he got hurt. There`s no reason for anybody to get hurt. But he took a shot, and it was a mistake. Nobody - - you know, you don`t jump on grown men and do what he calls a "monkey hump" on me. That`s what he called it. If you want to hump me, you should probably ask my permission.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Gotta ask permission to do the monkey hump, I guess. Jonny is suing for an undisclosed amount.
ANDERSON: OK, yesterday we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "question of the Day". Britney Spears, is she addicted fame? 89 percent of you say yes; Only 11 percent say no. Here are some of the e-mails we received.
Laure from Wisconsin writes, "She seems like she cares more about the fame and cameras following her all over, than she does about her two little boys."
Alex from California thinks, "She`s been in the spotlight for so long that she probably feels weird when cameras aren`t following her."
HAMMER: Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow. It`s "Moms Who Rock". From Gwen Stefani to Madonna, Gloria Estefan. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is taking a look at how these hot moms balance work and family when a day at work means rocking out on stage. It`s "Moms Who Rock," tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, Howard K. Stern`s first interview since the startling claims about his personal relationship with Larry Birkhead, in the Anna Nicole Smith saga. Will people believe what he says? Howard K. Stern`s stunning interview. That`s tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
That is it for tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: Thanks so much for watching. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. "Glenn Beck" coming up next after the latest headlines from CNN "Headline News." Have a great night.
END
