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Showbiz Tonight
Are Britney Spears and Kevin Federline Back Together?; Oprah Flies to South Africa to Take Care of Problems Plaguing her School
Aired October 24, 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, CO-HOST: Could it really be Britney Spears and Kevin Federline back together? I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: I`m absolutely shocked with what Nicole Kidman said when asked if she`s happy with her marriage. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, an Oprah school shocker. Startling claims of physical and sexual abuse at the school Oprah Winfrey created for girls. Tonight, what really happened. Who was allegedly involved? And the drastic action Oprah is taking to save her school. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates, Oprah Winfrey`s stunning school crisis.
(MUSIC)
From wild boys to responsible men. Tonight the Hollywood stars who went from being out of control bad to great dad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN AFFLECK, ACTOR: It changed my whole life. It changed my perspective on everything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: How they traded pushing the envelope for pushing strollers, partying for potty training. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going gaga with an eye-opening special report, "Stars Who Have Gone from Bad to Dad."
(MUSIC)
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. For crying out loud, what the heck is going on with all these stars lately, crying out loud in public? Get out the Kleenex because we`ve got that coming up.
HAMMER: But first, tonight, Oprah`s crisis. Tonight, there is a startling investigation surrounding the school that Oprah built, a school that Oprah Winfrey created specifically to help young girls who seemed doomed to a difficult life. But tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that even Oprah has got to be distressed about what she`s hearing about what may have happened there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Whether it`s her smash hit talk show -
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Hi, everybody. Hi.
HAMMER: Her massive media empire, or her status as one of the richest women in the world, it seems that Oprah Winfrey can handle just about anything.
WINFREY: This is the show to get you motivated.
HAMMER: But now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Oprah is urgently dealing with a serious crisis that`s threatening her passion project, her beloved school for underprivileged girls in South Africa.
HAMMER: You will be part of the very first class of Oprah Winfrey -
JO PIAZZA, STAFF WRITER, "THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": The school is her baby, and it means a lot it her.
HAMMER: Jo Piazza of the "New York Daily News" tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Oprah is dealing with the shocking allegation that one of the adults she`s entrusted with looking after the school`s students may have abused them.
PIAZZA: Some of the reports say that one of the dorm matrons grabbed a girl by the throat and slammed her up against a wall. Other reports say that one of the dorm matrons was fondling one of the young girls.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT takes you all the way to South Africa where the campus of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is understandably tense. CNN`s Johannesburg correspondent Robin Kerno tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Oprah has dropped everything to repeatedly fly to and from South Africa to personally find out what`s going on in her school.
ROBIN KERNO, CNN`s JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT: She appointed some private investigators and, in fact, flew over an investigator from the States to help the South African private investigator.
WINFREY: Hi, everybody. These are my girls.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there when Oprah opened the school with great fanfare earlier this year. She hand picked the staff and is financing the school herself at a cost of $40 million and counting. But Oprah says it isn`t about money. It`s about her own personal crusade.
WINFREY: The drums of Africa still beat in my heart. They will not let me rest until every black boy and every black girl has had a chance to prove their worth.
HAMMER: Jo Piazza of the "New York Daily News" tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the school is Oprah`s crowning achievement.
PIAZZA: Oprah has been working on this project for years. It takes 150 girls from all over the country, girls who most likely wouldn`t get this kind of education - bright, talented young girls. And they don`t pay for anything while they`re at this school.
HAMMER: But CNN`s Johannesburg correspondent Robin Kerno tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, since its opening, Oprah`s school has faced criticism from everything from the beautiful campus to the nutritious meals the girls are served.
KERNO: The priests(ph) here have been reporting that many parents and daughters at the school have been critical of the school, particularly saying it is too strict, that it`s a bit like a reformatory.
HAMMER: Oprah says she couldn`t care less about the criticism.
WINFREY: I`m not bothered by the complaints because the number one priority for me is the safety and well being of the children.
HAMMER: But with the special bond Oprah says she has with her students -
WINFREY: I look in their faces and I see my own, the girls who came from a background just like my own.
HAMMER: It`s easy to see how this abuse scandal can be especially painful and deeply personal for Oprah.
PIAZZA: Allegations of abuse of any kind really touch close to home for Oprah. She was abused as a child, so when she hears things like this, of course she`s going to fly out there and be really hands-on about finding out what`s going on.
HAMMER: In her only statement about the abuse scandal, Oprah says, quote, "Nothing is more serious or devastating to me than an allegation of misconduct by an adult against any girl at the Academy. I will do everything within my power to ensure their safety and well being."
And now it`s clear that Oprah is determined to make sure that this disturbing case doesn`t threaten her mission to improve the lives of young girls who are depending on her right now.
WINFREY: I feel like it`s what I was really born to do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: The accused staffer at Oprah`s school reportedly has been fired. No criminal charges have been filed in this case so far.
ANDERSON: Tonight, shocking Britney Spears news. Brit and her ex, Kevin Federline, are back together again. Well, sort of, and, all right, it`s just for a few hours. Britney and K-Fed reportedly met up at a parenting class together today just as Britney is facing two huge court dates.
Here`s the latest tonight. A court-ordered parenting coach has just filed her report reportedly saying that Britney refused to listen to anything she said and even ignored her two young boys. And the custody battle isn`t the only thing on Brit`s plate. She was also - she will face two misdemeanor charges for a hit-and-run car accident. That`s tomorrow. And that could even land her in jail. All of this just days before her new album "Blackout" goes on sale.
With me tonight in Hollywood, Ken Baker, editorial director of "UsMagazine.com." Also with us tonight in New York, Court TV" anchor Lisa Bloom. Ken, Lisa, great to see you both. First, the big news tonight, Britney reportedly now taking part in the co-parenting classes with ex- husband Kevin Federline.
You know, Friday, a tremendously important day for Britney. She has to appear in front of that judge to fight for those kids. Ken, is it any coincidence that they`re doing this co-parenting just two days before the custody hearing?
KEN BAKER, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, "USMAGAZINE.COM.": Well, yes. In fact, this afternoon they did meet at the Beverly Hills hotel. But bear in mind, this was a court-ordered co-parenting class that came across from the judge over a month ago.
ANDERSON: Yes.
BAKER: These two were both mandated to do this. Now, it`s not just Britney who needs to make sure she shows the judge that she`s complying with the order, but Kevin was also told he needed comply with the order.
But I have to point out the irony of them meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel. When these two fell in love about three years ago, their first romantic tryst over a weekend was at the Bungalows at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
ANDERSON: Oh, boy.
BAKER: This is not - this is not a romantic meeting that took place today. This was court-ordered, and I don`t think they were probably having a lot of fun with it.
ANDERSON: No. I doubt it. But how sweet is that? Thank you for that, Ken. And you know, as I mentioned, the report by the parenting coach, whom the judge said that Britney must meet with, reportedly said that Britney not only wouldn`t listen, but also ignored the kids. Sometimes wasn`t even around the kids. Now, Lisa, Britney lost total visitation rights with the kids before when she didn`t comply with the court`s orders. I would have to imagine that when the judge looks at this he is going to be livid.
LISA BLOOM, "COURT TV" ANCHOR: Absolutely. That`s very scary information to me. Think about it. You`ve lost custody of your kids. The parenting coach comes over. You know that`s the parenting coach. You ignore the kids. You don`t listen to what the parenting coach is telling you. You don`t even pretend to put up a brave front. That`s to me is much more significant than showing up to the parenting class with K-Fed.
You know, you can lead a girl to the parenting class, but you can`t make her listen. Will there be a test at the end? Will she have to check the boxes to show that she was paying attention, or is she just spacing out like she was with the parenting coach?
ANDERSON: Yes. It seems like she not making any effort whatsoever. And the custody battle, not the only thing she`s dealing with this week. Tomorrow she`s got that hit-and-run arraignment for hitting somebody`s car back in August. Ken, Britney - it`s two misdemeanors. She faces up to a year in jail if convicted, but what do you think? Will that happen? Is this a big deal for her?
BAKER: Well, the sources we talked to say that she`s already made a deal. She`s copped a plea. The city attorney is going to basically let her go with the deal, and it`s going to involve a fine. She`s going to have to pay some money to this woman whose car she hit. And there might be some other elements there that have to do with probationary issues, but she`s not going to go to jail, according to all sources we talked to. And tomorrow is probably going to be a good day in court for her. The jury is still out on Friday`s custody hearing.
ANDERSON: OK. So the hit-and-run possibly just a slap on the wrist. However, Lisa, what do you think? Is that just another case of Britney in trouble, and if she doesn`t do right by that, could the judge in the custody case say, you know what, this girl can`t get it together to get anything right?
BLOOM: Yes. I don`t think it`s all that related. And by the way, roll tape back to where I said on the show a few days ago. My prediction was that she would just get a fine and she would not do any jail time. And I think that`s exactly what`s going to happen, because that`s what would ordinarily happen to somebody if you just bumped into a car and you failed to leave a note. You shouldn`t do that. It`s a no-no. But thank goodness, nobody was hurt.
And so the courts aren`t going to want to clog up the jails and prisons when nobody was hurt, and it`s her first offense, or in this case, first and second offense. So, I think that`s sensible. I don`t know how it bears upon the kids. What really bears upon the kids is how she deals with those parenting classes and the drug tests. Is she showing up? Is she reachable so that the drug tester can come and get her and take a drug sample? That`s much more significant to the judge.
ANDERSON: Yes, I`m sure the judge wants to know, hey, that she is not a danger to these children. And there`s that old adage, you know, there`s no such thing as bad publicity. If that`s true, Britney has got to be smiling - hit-and-run court day tomorrow, custody on Friday. Wouldn`t you know it, just in time for the release of her new album next week. Ken, is Britney saying give me more, give me more?
BAKER: Well, it`s a double-edged sword because right when a record is about to be released is when an artist is focused 100 percent or supposed to be focused 100 percent on the promotion, focusing on the next single, focusing on a possible tour. She`s extremely distracted right now. And while she may be getting some residual publicity benefits, I think that internally, her dealings with the label and her being able to focus on promoting the album are suffering.
ANDERSON: Well, I think that`s the last thing she needs to be worried about right now. Kids are the priority. Lisa Bloom, Ken Baker. Thank you both so much. I appreciate it.
BLOOM: Thank you.
BAKER: Thanks.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke. You remember when Britney Spears completely broke down when she did that interview with Matt Lauer a couple of years ago?
ANDERSON: Oh, yes. How could I forget? You know, she seemed to be in some very real pain there and very emotional. I felt sorry for her.
HAMMER: Yes. Some people had the sympathy. Some people didn`t. But the question is why do so many people feel connected to stars when they cry on TV? You know, look at the whole Ellen dog thing. Coming up next I`m taking a revealing look at what happens to us when celebrities cry. Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN AFFLECK, ACTOR: It changed my whole life. It changed my perspective on everything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ben Affleck. You know I remember when he was a pretty wild guy a real skirt chaser. But now he and a bunch of other bad boys have turned into terrific fathers. So how did they do it? I`ve got a showbiz special report, "Stars Who Have Gone From Bad to Devoted Dads." Straight ahead.
HAMMER: All right. What is going on here? Why is this horse, a Clydesdale, dressed up as a dog? That`s a poodle, if you`re keeping score at home. This is not a new Budweiser ad. Hold your horses. That is coming up in just a bit.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": What I`ve learned - this is my most recent lesson - is that apparently, if you cry on television, people will talk about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. They sure will. That was Ellen DeGeneres talking about how people reacted to her crying on her show last week about a little dog named Iggy. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Of course, Ellen broke down in a doggy adoption drama that unbelievably became this coast-to-coast controversy. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Ellen is not the only star to come undone before millions of viewers, so what happens when a star actually crumbles like that? Is it something we should be crying over?
Joining us tonight from Miami, Steve Santagati(ph) author of "The Manual."
STEVE SANTAGATI, AUTHOR, "THE MANUAL": Hey, A.J.
HAMMER: And in New York, clinical psychologist Dr. Judy Kuriansky. Hey, Steve. Hey, Judy. It`s good to see you both. Before we can let you guys fire away at what we`re talking about here, we need to take one more time, another look back at Ellen and the cry heard round the world. Watch.
DEGENERES: Because I did it wrong those people went and dock that dog out of their home and took it away from those kids, and I feel totally responsible for it. I`m so sorry.
HAMMER: After that happened, people were talking about it and talking about it and talking about it, seemingly everywhere. Dr. Judy, what was it about Ellen crying that got everybody so worked up?
JUDY KURIANSKY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Well, Ellen is so real anyway that people relate to her. And when she is crying, it helps us all to cry, and crying is healthy. So it was good. It was purging for everybody to watch her cry, and feel even more like, "Oh, Ellen is my friend. She`s just like me," and give everybody permission to cry too. Especially over dogs.
HAMMER: Yes. See, I think a lot of people were saying, well, maybe Ellen got a little wacky on us. Steve, were you reaching for the Puffs Plus(ph) with Ellen?
SANTAGATI: If Judy believes that, I`m down here in Florida. I`ve got some swamp property for her.
KURIANSKY: Oh.
SANTAGATI: A.J., Judy - Dr. Judy, with all respect, I`ve taken acting class. Probably the easiest emotion to drum up is crying. Everybody knows that crying gets a reaction. This is no news to Ellen that people crying on television gets a response.
Bottom line is celebrities overuse it. They know that putting on the tears, putting on the water works is going to get a reaction out of this. And I felt like I smelled a rat when this whole thing happened. I couldn`t understand Ellen, like you said, is a talented, strong person. Like why is she crying at this? Because she was guilty, and tears cloud the issue. Girls do it in relationships. Celebrities do it when they need a little sympathy.
HAMMER: All right. Well, that clearly was a cathartic reaction, though, Judy. Right?
KURIANSKY: It`s a good thing. Yes. Steve, come on. It`s a good thing.
SANTAGATI: Oh, come on, Judy. She overreacted. Yes, if she ran over the dog, but she has done this several times, rumors have it now. Come on.
KURIANSKY: She`s crying because she feels guilty. That`s OK. You don`t take away the right for women to cry and to get whatever they get out of it.
SANTAGATI: Judy, stop picking on me. I`m going to cry. Judy it was ridiculous. Come on.
KURIANSKY: Good, I hope you do. (CROSS TALK) Really, that would be good. That would be good symbol. That was like when Rudy Giuliani cried and he got a lot of sympathy from people too. Go ahead and cry, Steve.
HAMMER: Before this becomes Steve Santagati therapy which, I believe, maybe he needs, let`s talk about another cry that we all remember. Britney Spears breaking down during that interview. We have some footage of her with Matt Lauer, because she was being besieged by the paparazzi.
Now, Dr. Judy, do you think in terms of her crying, perhaps Britney has alienated so many people that maybe her tears don`t get anyone worked up. And I don`t think she was putting it on here, but, you know, I think that there was not a lot of sympathy in this case.
KURIANSKY: Not as much sympathy as Ellen because we`ve already seen that Britney is too much of a drama queen. But I have to say I have to disagree, I`m sure with Steve here, that it`s a real cry too. And, A.J., actually, her crying - it`s about time we have some sympathy for Britney and let her cry. She`s got so much to cry about that it is honest, even though it`s a drug-induced crying. It`s a lot of reasons why. But even so, let the girl cry, and let`s feel something for her. Come on, Steve.
HAMMER: All right, I want to make sure, Steve. I`m going to have you react to this next clip because I have to play Judge Seidlin(ph). Do you remember the great Judge Larry Seidlin in the Anna Nicole Smith body battle after she died? Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE LARRY SEIDLIN, PRESIDING JUDGE IN ANNA NICOLE SMITH BODY BATTLE: And I hope to God you guys give the kid the right shot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Steve, I got 20 seconds here. Not a lot of sympathy after Seidlin cried.
SANTAGATI: No.
ANDERSON: Is there some kind of gender gap going on to the crying here?
SANTAGATI: Side show Seidlin. He was auditioning for every TV producer that was watching to get his own show. That`s pathetic. The gender thing is that - normally, guys like Tom Brokaw or Walter Cronkite, that`s genuine because it takes a lot. Because we don`t - men don`t cry, that`s the rule.
HAMMER: Steve, I`m out of time.
KURIANSKY: We need more men to cry, please.
HAMMER: We`ll come back to this. Steve Santagati, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, thanks.
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., there are a lot of big male stars surrounded by a lot of crying these days, and that`s because they`re dads.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN FEDERLINE, DANCER: It`s all a part of being a father. I love every aspect of it.
ANDERSON: Yes, I mean, who would have thought I would be - ever be saying that Kevin Federline and good father related or in the same sentence. My revealing look at bad guys turn to devoted dads. Coming up.
HAMMER: All right. Imagine you`re in one of the biggest boy bands of all time, girls screaming for you everywhere you go, but you are hiding a secret that you are gay. That`s exactly what in Sync`s Lance Bass went through, absolutely unbelievable. You do not want to miss my one-on-one with Lance, why he decided finally to come out. That`s coming up.
ANDERSON: And I was totally stunned to hear what Nicole Kidman said when asked if she`s happy with her marriage. You know she`s hitched the country star Keith Urban. You`ve got to hear this, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tomorrow, they`re curvy and they`re darn proud of it. Stars like Tyra Banks, Scarlett Johansson, Catherine Zeta Jones. Shouting it from the top of Hollywood sign, "Love your curves! Embrace them! Because super skinny is super out." I think this is great. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the revealing look at celebrities who love their curves, tomorrow.
ANDERSON: Tonight, Nicole Kidman opening up about her marriage to country star Keith Urban, and unless I`m missing something, she doesn`t seem overly optimistic about it. And that`s pretty shocking.
Now, you might remember Kidman completely stood by her husband when he checked into rehab again last October. Urban had previously been battling a drug addiction. He and Nicole had gotten married a few months before his latest stint in rehab.
In an interview with "Interview Magazine" when Kidman was asked if they were currently happy, she gave this kind of troubling answer, "I don`t ever say that. Partly because interviews are done in advance, and you never know where something`s going. People`s lives together are complicated and beautiful, and that`s what they should stay. They`re very quiet. Complicatedly quiet. They don`t need to be broadcast. My husband and I are committed to each other and deeply in love. That`s how I would put it. We`re working on staying in that place, and hopefully we will for the rest of our lives."
And I do hope it works for them. But I have to say that`s less than a rousing response. Read more of Nicole Kidman`s interview in the November issue of "Interview Magazine." It`s on newsstands now.
ANDERSON: It has been absolutely heart breaking to watch the devastating California fires. Tonight the stars are speaking out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT why some people are saying that people are to blame. Their controversial heated words about the fires coming up. Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AFFLECK: It changed my whole life. It changed my perspective on everything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ben Affleck, I remember when this guy was wild, but now he and a whole bunch of others have turned into terrific fathers, so how did they do it? We`ve got a showbiz special report, "Stars Who Have Gone from Bad to Devoted Dad." You don`t want to miss that. That`s coming up next.
And why is this horse, a Clydesdale, dressed up as a dog, a poodle, if you are keeping score at home? No, it`s not a new Budweiser ad. Hold your horses. I`ve got that story coming up in just a bit. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for this Wednesday night is coming right back.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, from bad to dad. Kevin Federline goes from backup dancing to diaper duty.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FEDERLINE: It`s all part of being a father. I love every aspect of it.
HAMMER (voice over): And K-Fed is not the only one. Some of the biggest names in Hollywood are reformed bad boys, transformed by fatherhood. How did that happen? Tonight, a showbiz special report - from really bad to devoted dad.
Also, my revealing chat with Lance Bass. Imagine being in the biggest boy band on the planet, adored by legions of young girls and harboring a secret the whole time. Lance tells me what that was like and why he finally decided to announce that he is gay. Tonight, Lance Bass in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: 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`ve got a showbiz special report, "Stars Who Have Gone from Bad to Devoted Dad." You know them. They were once the bad boys of Hollywood, and now they`ve transformed themselves into candidate for Father of the Year. Think about it. There`s Russell Crow, Collin Ferrell, Ben Affleck, and even Britney Spears`s ex, Kevin Federline. Here`s our special report from bad to dad.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood Kim Serafin, senior editor for "In Touch Weekly" which covers this topic, "From Bad to Dad" in their new issue. From New York clinical psychologist Dr. Judy Kuriansky, author of "The Complete Idiot`s Guide To A Healthy Relationship," and from Miami, Steve Santagati, author of "The Manual." Sorry about that Steve, "The Manual."
(CROSS TALK)
SANTAGATI: Whatever.
ANDERSON: OK, I - Welcome to all of you. I want to kick this off with Ben Affleck, you know, once the ultimate Hollywood bachelor and partier and went to rehab. But now he is married to actress Jennifer Garner. They`ve got a beautiful 2-year-old daughter Violet. Ben has a great new film out now called "Gone Baby Gone." I want you to listen to what he told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AFFLECK: I wasn`t a father before I started making this movie. My - I had a family. Obviously, when I did have a family, as I was about to make the movie, "Haydn"(ph) it changed my whole life, changed my perspective on everything.
ANDERSON: Dr. Judy, what do you think? Can fatherhood really change a person or is the bad boy always somewhere beneath the surface?
KURIANSKY: Well, you know the phrase, Brooke, that a leopard doesn`t change its spots. So in fact, lurking underneath there can always be that urge to party and to wild if the circumstances allow it.
But the positive news here for Ben who`s got a beautiful wife and an adorable little girl, Violet, is that there are psychological changes that happen. The joy of being the dad, the pleasure of the smile the baby puts on your face and even physiologically - there is a chemical called oxytocin that is the "cuddle chemical." Women get it, and that`s why they bond with the baby when they get pregnant. And men get it too, and some men have said to me, "Where can I get more of that oxytocin?"
ANDERSON: The "cuddle chemical?" Steve, do you have that? What`s your take? Once a bad boy, always a bad boy?
SANTAGATI: I don`t - I don`t have the cuddle chemical. I think - two things. Well, first of all, Dr. Judy is actually right on the leopard and spots idea. But here`s the thing. It`s a big misconception that bad boys actually aren`t good guys.
And I think that true bad boys are responsible people at heart. And when they have a child, yes, it`s going to change your life because you are going to do the right thing. You`re going to be a good parent and you`re going to raise that child. It`s a big responsibility.
You`ll always have that edge. They will always be bad boys. They`ll just be responsible guys to the child.
ANDERSON: True bad boys, not the posers, all right? That`s one down. OK. I want to talk about another former bad boy, Russell Crowe. He has got two sons now, and he has said that fatherhood has made him more emotionally available. Kim, what do you think? Is the devoted dad image good for his career? Because he hasn`t had a hit lately. He`s known for his temper. This is the gladiator we`re talking about.
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": That is true. And I think a lot of the roles that he took on certainly played into that bad boy image that he had.
You know, it`s a little different than it is with Ben. You know, Ben sort of had that little lapse in his career that he talked about pretty openly recently when he was talking about "Gone Baby Gone," when he dated Jennifer Lopez and they became known as "Bennifer." And he that really took a toll on his career.
I don`t think you really ever saw any of Russell Crowe`s actions really take a toll on his career. I mean, he was nominated for Oscars and was winning an Oscar. But he definitely does seem to have calmed down now. You don`t see him in the news quite as much, throwing telephones at hotel clerks, for example, now that he has got two kids. And definitely it seems like it`s called him down.
ANDERSON: And that is a good thing. A lot of hotel clerks, I`m sure, are very appreciative of that fact. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sat down with Russell and Denzel Washington who co-starred together in the upcoming film "American Gangster." And we asked him how he is dealing with fatherhood and fame. Funny enough, Denzel jumped in to offer Russell some advice. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENZEL WASHINGTON, ACTOR: Be who you are and raise your kids. You know, instill in them the values that you believe in, and who knows what normal is anyway? You know, my father worked three jobs. He was never home because he was working all the time anyway.
You know, so sometimes - you know, I just - we lead a normal life. You know, I go to their games. I cheer them on. I make sure that, you know, they`re doing well in school. My wife gets up in the morning. She makes breakfast. We - you know, and then they say yes, sir, no, sir, yes, ma`am, no, ma`am. I put my foot in their behind if they act wrong and they know it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Dr. Judy, good advice?
KURIANSKY: Denzel, bless you. I`m going to give you an honorary Ph.D in psychology there. Very good advice. And Denzel`s got a head on his shoulders, and he`s got it on straight. He has got his values on straight about being a family man and disciplining his kids, and leading a normal and average life, and staying away from the temptations.
ANDERSON: Not afraid to teach the kids what`s right from wrong. Steve, what do you think? You`re laughing. Do you think Russell will stick with this newfound devotion to being a patient and an all-around great guy?
SANTAGATI: Yes. I`m just glad that Dr. Judy agreed with putting the foot in the behind. That will come back to haunt you.
I think that - I want to address actually the question you asked Kim about the effect on their career. Don`t forget that all of these guys - the reason they became such stars is because women and the audience loved the bad boy edge. It will affect their careers if they get - if they`re looked at as too much of a nice guy, because they`ll get stuck in that other category of romantic comedy.
I have never seen one, but I hear they`re out there. So I think will affect -
ANDERSON: OK, so you`re saying don`t soften up too much.
SANTAGATI: They won`t. They`ll have a relapse. They`ll have - these guys - well, all of a sudden, the kids will grow up, the wife won`t need them as much, and idle hands, devil`s workshop.
ANDERSON: Oh no. Well now, I do want to move now to Kevin Federline. You know his claim to fame really was that he married Britney Spears. And now with all of her drama, whoever thought that he would be the one who looks like the responsible parent. And I want you to listen to what Kevin once told me about doing the dirty work that comes with being a dad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEDERLINE: It`s all part of being a father. I love every aspect of it. I mean, I`m not going to sit here and jump for joy that I change diapers, but, you know, it comes with it, and I accept that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. He is an aspiring rapper. His first CD didn`t do well. But Kim, do you really think his new role as doting dad will change his image in Hollywood and give him credibility? Because let`s not forget, this is the guy who left his girlfriend, Shar Jackson while she was pregnant, to be with Britney.
SERAFIN: Exactly. I was just going to say that. I mean, that`s really how we got to initially know Kevin Federline. But in the past, what, month, more even, Kevin Federline has really come across as the responsible one. He seems to be the one paying attention to the kids, taking care of the kids, not needing a parenting coach.
So I think it`s still the jury is still out because I think it will depend on what happens with Britney, if she gets her custody back. I mean, he might wind up being the one with full custody. So it does seem like, right now, he is really responsible, and he is also acting. He has a little TV show role now. So he is trying to expand his career so he is not just known as ex-backup dancer with a failed album married to Britney Spears. He`s trying branch out on his own. He does seem to be getting a lot of points from people.
ANDERSON: Steve, what do you think? Has Kevin turned it around for good?
SANTAGATI: I`m just laughing because if he wasn`t thought about like that, now he will be.
ANDERSON: No, no. I meant that in a nice way. I meant that in a good way.
SANTAGATI: Sure, Kim. Whatever. I think -
KURIANSKY: Stepping up to the plate, but he is milking it for all it`s worth really.
SANTAGATI: Right. She`s - listen, Dr. Judy and Kim - Kim is right. The jury is still out. Kevin has a great opportunity now because he has been such a flake and such - like Britney`s boyfriend. He can all of a sudden create his own identity, forget about the bad album and everything else and actually have a career now if he is really smart and takes care of those children. But he`s going to have to do the homework. He`s going to have to actually do the work and change those rotten diapers. Better him than me.
ANDERSON: It certainly is. Oh, gosh. I don`t know what to say about that. Steve Santagati, Kim Serafin and Dr. Judy Kuriansky, thank you. You never know what Steve is going to say.
OK. And you just heard a bit from Ben Affleck, and for more, you need to tune into "LARRY KING LIVE" tomorrow night because Ben sits down for a one-on-one interview with Larry. That`s Thursday night 9:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN.
All right, the devastating wildfires continue to burn here in California. And with so many stars in the line of fire, we`re talking to some of the biggest names in Hollywood to find out their startling personal connections to the destruction. That`s coming up. Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANCE BASS, FORMER `N SYNC MEMBER: As I was with ``N Sync I knew I had this huge secret that I only - you know, I kept to myself. I told no one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Imagine being in the biggest boy band on the planet. You are adored by young girls everywhere. But the whole time you are carrying around this secret. Coming up, it`s my revealing chat with `N Sync`s Lance Bass about his secret. You`d be crazy to tune out. You`re going to hear why he decided to finally announce he`s gay.
And here`s something I never thought I`d have the occasion to say. Take a look at this horse. It`s dressed up like a poodle, and it scared that other little dog there. We`re horsing around for Halloween. That`s next in the "Showbiz Video of the Day."
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ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Hey, it`s time now for the "Showbiz Video of the Day." And you know, all the Halloween costume parties are starting, and have we got one for you tonight. This will put your office party to shame.
It`s a costume party at a pet store in Erie, Pennsylvania, where a woman, take a look at this, brought a 2,000 pound Clydesdale dressed as a poodle. This costume giant towered over the little dogs. Scared one right there. The little dogs dressed as cows and ghosts. I don`t think it`s too convincing as a poodle, but, hey, when was the last time you saw a Clydesdale in a pet store, right? Trick or treat? That`s the Showbiz Video Of The Day.
HAMMER: And now, the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Lance Bass tells all. Bass was a teen heart throb in the late `90s with ``N Sync. But he held a shocking secret from the rest of the group, the fact he is gay. It was one of the many struggles for Bass while at the height of fame. And he writes all about it in his new book, "Out of Sync." And in a revealing interview, Bass told me how betrayed he felt when Justin Timberlake decided to leave `N Sync and how hard it was for him to hide his sexuality from the rest of the group.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: You grew up basically being this heartthrob to millions of people around the world. As we all know, Lance, being a heartthrob, or at least part of it, is based in sexuality. And as we know, you revealed last year to the world that you are gay.
BASS: Right.
HAMMER: I have to imagine that has to be a very difficult thing to have sort of kept inside you and kept a secret knowing that if it had gotten out while in Sync was at its height, it could have been devastating for you. How hard was it?
BASS: Yes. I mean, that`s all I had in my head, you know, as I was with in Sync. I knew I had this huge secret that I only - I kept to myself. I told no one. And I knew that eventually it would come out, you know, in my life, but as long as I was with these guys and singing with ``N Sync, I knew I could never tell anyone because I had my best friends` careers in my hands, as I felt. And I thought, you know, if I ever were found out, that would be the end of our careers.
HAMMER: And as you said, you anticipated one day that eventually it`s going to get out one way or the other.
BASS: Right.
HAMMER: But when it finally did happen, how was it as opposed to your expectation? Was it harder or was it easier?
BASS: It went a lot better than I expected. The week where it all just kind of came out - it was very nerve wracking. It was only just a few hours where I had to decide, OK, am I going to tell my story? Who am I going to tell it with?
The story was getting around. People were really gossiping a lot. And to me, I didn`t think it was a big deal. I didn`t think people would care because I was very relaxed. I was in a relationship at that time. My friends knew so I was out to myself and my friends.
HAMMER: That is why I`ve heard you say that before. You didn`t think it would be a big deal and you didn`t think people would care. Really?
BASS: Well, you know, it`s true. It`s ignorance. You know, but it was scary because I didn`t know who would support it. I didn`t know if I was going to get, you know, people making fun of me.
My biggest concern was for the gay community. I didn`t want another person to come out and people just bash and be like, oh, look at this queen and, you know, just really get the stereotypical bashing going. It was completely opposite. My friends, my family, the press, everyone was just so nice and positive and really took this story and made it, you know, relatable to a lot of people out there.
HAMMER: As successful as `N Sync was, we all know you guys broke up back in 2002. You talk like candidly in the book about the betrayal that you felt by Justin Timberlake breaking out on his own. And more in terms of the fact that it came as a shock to you guys that he was actually launching a solo career. I want to read something that I found particularly interesting in the book about how shocked you guys were when he went solo.
You write, quote, "I felt completely betrayed. All of us had been strung along to believe that just beyond the horizon, we were going to go back into the studio to make a new album, until someone finally had the guts to tell us it wasn`t going to happen. It pissed me off that Justin`s life got all set up perfectly before he came back to the rest of us." Tell me a little bit more about the betrayal you felt because it has to be pretty intense.
BASS: Of course. You know, when I wrote this book every feeling that I went through is what I wrote about. You know, at the time when I`m going through these emotions and these experiences, that`s how I felt. You know, now, 2007, I`m definitely, you know, a lot happier with the decision.
I don`t regret things, but it was mainly the betrayal of management, people that were around us kind of controlling our careers and guiding our careers. And I felt like we were guided - we were misguided. You know, we were always told, oh, you know, in three months we`re doing this. We`re getting back in the studio in four months.
HAMMER: Did any of that affect your relationship with Justin at that time. I mean, do you argue?
BASS: No, I mean, we`re all friends, all the guys. You know, we`re like brothers. We`re always going to be like family.
HAMMER: So you`re at ease with him?
BASS: Oh, of course. We talk. It definitely has affected our relationship in the last few years. I think - I don`t know if it`s an embarrassment from his part, you know, or his camp because it`s the same management, all that. So I don`t know how he truly feels about the whole how it all went down. I personally think he didn`t know what was going on. I think he was kept so busy that other people really controlled what`s going on.
HAMMER: But one of ``N Sync`s early opening acts, a young lady by the name of Britney Spears. You knew Britney Spears long before her train fell off the tracks, essentially. I can`t think of a nicer way to put it, but things have gone terribly wrong for her. What do you think happened?
BASS: You know, that`s what happens to some people when you have - you grow up in this business at such a young age. We were lucky enough to have, you know - I had my four best friends around me at all times to knock me down back to earth if, you know, I ever started get my head into the clouds.
When you are a solo artist, especially a female solo artist, it`s really difficult when you have no one around telling, you know - telling you the truth. And every day you pick up a magazine and people are nitpicking your body weight and what your hair was like today. You know, it`s crazy. We never got that. No one cares, you know, if I gain ten pounds this week.
HAMMER: Everybody says it comes down to the support system around you, and the fact that even if she does have people giving her advice now she`s clearly not listening. You got to listen.
BASS: You do. But things will change. You know, she`ll get back, and she`ll be fine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: We certainly hope you are right about that, Lance. Aside from his book, Lance also has a successful career on Broadway playing Corny Collins(ph) in "Hairspray."
ANDERSON: Yesterday we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Hollywood and body image: do you think stars influence eating disorders? Ninety-two percent of you say yes. Only eight percent of you say no.
And here`s some of the e-mails that we received. Kellum from Georgia writes, "We should want our girls to be healthy, not destroy their bodies by being skinny and getting breast implants." Tammy from Texas says, "Yes, Hollywood is very influential, but only to those weak-minded enough to be so strongly influenced." We do appreciate your emails.
All right, what`s on everyone`s minds here in Hollywood right now? The devastating wildfires.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMRYN MANHEIM(ph), ACTRESS: Homes are tangible. They can be rebuilt, but it is just, you know - there`s nothing to be done. Everybody wants to help, and there`s nothing we can do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So many stars have personal connections to the fires. We`ll have that next. Plus, why some stars say that people are to blame for the destruction that`s going on right now. A very controversial view , straight ahead.
That is coming up. But you can get SHOWBIZ TONIGHT any time at all. All you have to do is download our podcast. It is absolutely free. You can find the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast right there on our home page which, of course, is CNN.com/showbiz tonight. And you can also get it by going on iTunes. If you type "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" in the search box, well, bam! It will be right there for you. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
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ANDERSON: Everyone here in Hollywood has been closely following the coverage of the devastating wildfires. Many stars` homes have been affected. But the show must go on, as they say. Last night, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was at the Los Angeles premier of "Rails and Ties" starring Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden. And the fires were on everybody`s minds. Camryn Manheim(ph) was there, and she said her family was among those evacuated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANHEIM: Any time a huge disaster like that occurs and nobody has been harmed physically or emotionally, we`re - you`re fine. You count your blessings, for sure. You know, homes are tangible. They can be rebuilt, but it is just, you know - there`s nothing to be done. Everybody wants to help, and there`s nothing we can do.
MARCIA GAY HARDEN, ACTRESS: We live in New York, but I know people here who have been affected by it. And I know many people who have been affected by fire in general. And so, you know, very much a part of trying to have people observe fire safety during the holiday season. And my heart goes out to all these families and people who are dealing with their loss. Hopefully it`s material loss and not, you know, lives that are lost.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now, fire issues really hit close to home for Marcia Gay Harden. Her niece and nephew died in an apartment fire in New York, and she has been working to raise awareness about fire safety. The California wildfires also came up on "The View" this morning in a provocative interview with comedian George Carlin. He said the fires shouldn`t come as a surprise given the way people overbuild, and the same time they say they care about the environment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE CARLIN, COMEDIAN: Everybody is driving around trying to save the planet. The planet doesn`t need that. The planet will take care of itself. People are selfish. That`s what they`re doing - is trying to save the planet for themselves, to have a nicer place to live.
They don`t care about the planet in theory. They just care about having a comfortable place. And these people with the fires and the floods and everything, they overbuild. They put nature to the test and they get what`s coming to them. That`s what I say?
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE VIEW": That`s real harsh.
CARLIN: That`s what`s happening.
ANDERSON: Actress Jamie Lee Curtis has a similar opinion of the situation. She told "Entertainment Tonight" that people are in ultimate denial about what they`re doing to the environment, combined with people building houses where they shouldn`t be. She said, quote, "This isn`t an act of God. This is an act of man."
HAMMER: Certainly a lot to think about there. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. thank you very much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: Have a great night, everybody. Take care of yourselves. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Glenn Beck coming up next. That`s right after the latest headlines from CNN HEADLINE NEWS.
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