Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Katie Holmes` Relationship With Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman`s Kids; Is Britney to Blame for Her Sister Jamie Lynn`s Pregnancy?; Eva Longoria and Tony Parker`s Cheating Scandal
Aired December 20, 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: A bombshell from Katie Holmes about her relationship with Tom Cruise`s kids from his marriage to Nicole Kidman. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: And Showbiz Celebrity Court is in session. When it comes to Paris Hilton, Isaiah Washington, and Dog Chapman, did the punishment fit the crime? I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts now.
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Jamie Lynn Spears` pregnancy outrage. Why parents everywhere are freaking out. How in the world do they tell their kids that their 16-year-old idol, the sister of Britney, is pregnant?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MONICA HESSE, "THE WASHINGTON POST": I think that there is a little bit of fear that a baby could become the new teenage accessory in Hollywood.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, should Jamie Lynn`s hit show, "Zoey 101" be pulled off the air immediately? And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT debates the provocative question - does Britney share the blame for her sister getting pregnant?
The Eva Longoria cheating scandal. Tonight, the husband of the "Desperate Housewives" star takes dramatic action to try to prove he did not cheat on Eva with a French model. Why the delay in the denial? And why is he so fighting mad now? Could there be more to the story? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the late breaking developments in the Tony and Eva cheating scandal.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I am A.J. Hammer broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, we will be calling the Showbiz Celebrity Court into session. So many stars got into trouble this year including Paris Hilton. But who deserved the punishment they got and who did not? You be the judge, coming up.
HAMMER: But first, the startling pregnancy of Britney Spears` 16-year-old sister, Jamie Lynn. Tonight, there are heated and emotional debates about everything from whether Britney bears some of the blame to whether Nickelodeon should pull Jamie Lynn`s hit TV off the air immediately. Right now, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show brings you the explosive new developments on one of the most provocative stories of the year.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): "Time" magazine has just announced Russian President Vladimir Putin is the new Man of the Year. Yes, keep your shirt on Vlad. Our attention right now is on Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney`s younger sister and star of the hit kid show "Zoey 101," who just announced she is pregnant. The father, her teenage boyfriend, Casey Aldridge. Jamie Lynn and her mom announced the pregnancy in "OK!" magazine. But what about Casey`s family?
ODUS JACKSON, UNCLE OF JAMIE LYNN`S BOYFRIEND: They`re not happy about it.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you this interview with Casey`s uncle in Spears` home town of Kentwood, Louisiana. He says his family was knocked for a loop too.
JACKSON: I sure would have liked to become a grandparent in a different mode. But, I think ultimately they`ll - they will accept it.
HAMMER: But right now, the country is still reeling with shock.
KRISTEN FYFE, MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER: My 13-year-old daughter`s reaction was oh, snap.
ALICIA QUARLES, CORRESPONDENT, ASSOCIATED PRESS: She has always been the good sister who stayed out of trouble, who laid low. It`s shocking that she is the one that comes up pregnant.
HAMMER: Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, parents around the country are having an even more extreme reaction to Jamie Lynn`s pregnancy.
(SCREAMS)
HAMMER: They`re screaming in anger. How could one of America`s most popular teen role models let them down like this? They`re screaming in protest, saying Nickelodeon should permanently dismiss class on "Zoey 101." "The View`s" Sherri Shepherd falls into that group.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I think they that they really should take it off the air. I think it is giving a mad message to young girls if they continue to keep it on the air with her being pregnant. It doesn`t seem like there is any consequence.
HAMMER: But mostly, parents are screaming in confusion. What the heck do I tell my kids?
FYFE: My gut reaction was, oh, please, no. A pregnant 16-year-old is not what my kids need to see as a role model.
JAMIE LYNN SPEARS: I`m Zoey.
HAMMER: Nickelodeon says "Zoey 101" is its most popular show among kids nine to 14 with more than three million viewers each week. So this isn`t just your normal Hollywood pregnancy.
HESSE: Single moms in Hollywood are nothing new. In fact, Jessica Alba announced her pregnancy a few weeks ago. And we were all just excited for another Prada-filled baby shower. But I think that a 16-year-old on the red carpet enormously pregnant is sort of a new experience for all of us.
HAMMER: Monica Hesse(ph) of "The Washington Post" tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a pregnant Hollywood teen is a touchy issue. Especially when you consider what`s happening in real life.
HESSE: This is the first news that the teenage pregnancy rate has risen in the past decade. One in seven girls under 15 has been sexually active.
ELLEN PAGE, ACTRESS: There it is. That little pink plus sign is so unholy.
HAMMER: And then, you have movies like the critically acclaimed "Juno" whose main character is like Jamie Lynn Spears, a pregnant 16 year old. It begs the question - are we seeing a trend here?
HESSE: It sort of seems like it`s the latest thing in Hollywood. I mean, everyone is talking about Juno deciding to keep her baby in that indy darling movie of the year. And I think that there is a little bit of fear that a baby could become the new teenage accessory in Hollywood.
HAMMER: But some say, one way to keep teens from wanting to accessorize with babies is for Zoey to goey.
JO PIAZZA, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": I think that Nickelodeon absolutely can`t keep her show on the air.
FYFE: There are folks that may be fearful of the fact that their kids are going to be looking at her going, "Well, she doesn`t look pregnant, so maybe she is not really pregnant. And maybe sex isn`t so bad."
HAMMER: Nickelodeon hasn`t decided if it will ever air fourth season of "Zoey 101" that has already been shot. But some say Jamie Lynn`s pregnancy could provide a way for parents to teach their kids a valuable lesson.
LIZ PERLE, COMMON SENSE MEDIA: This is a great time to talk about the consequences of sexual activity. It`s an uncomfortable conversation but best it`s had when it`s not about your kid.
HAMMER: So instead of screaming about the Jamie Lynn Spears situation, (SCREAM) maybe more good can come from talking about it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(on camera): I`ve got to tell you, the buzz that I am hearing on the story is louder than anything I have watched in a long time. It`s raised all kinds of concerns. And I`ve got to tell you, all eyes are truly on Nickelodeon right now. A lot of people asking, should they pull the plug on Jamie Lynn`s show, "Zoey 101."
Joining me tonight in New York, Maggie Gallant, founder of Spotlight Communications. In Hollywood tonight, investigative journalist and author of this - the fine book "Secrets Can Be Murder," Jane Velez-Mitchell. So, there are a lot of parents out there who are outraged over the fact that Nickelodeon hasn`t immediately yanked the show that is not right for their kids to even be watching her anymore with this news having broken. Jane Velez-Mitchell, does Zoey need to goey?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: I think Zoey needs to goey, A.J. And it`s sad because the show didn`t get anybody pregnant. And yet, the producers and the entire staff are going to have to suffer the consequences and pay the price because we have to send an unequivocal message that this behavior is simply unacceptable. Otherwise, you are going to see an acceleration of this frightening trend of teenage pregnancy.
And it`s not just the show. We have to look at society. It`s not just Juno. I saw "Knocked Up" last night. Very funny movie but sends a horrifying message - go out, get drunk, have sex with a guy who`s a stoner and has no job, get pregnant. Keep the child and live happily ever after. What kind of message is that to send in today`s world?
HAMMER: Well, and I think the interesting point that was made, Jane, in our piece, the idea that, you know, it would be a terrible thing obviously if a baby became the new accessory in Hollywood or as a result from what`s going on in Hollywood. What do you think, Maggie? Does Nickelodeon have a responsibility now to yank Zoey?
MAGGIE GALLANT, FOUNDER, SPOTLIGHT COMMUNICATIONS: I think that saying children are going to be the next accessory in Hollywood makes a great headline. But let`s be honest here, we are talking about a human being. And I don`t think if parents are talking to their children about what is going on with Jamie Lynn Spears - they may idolize what she is wearing. They may idolize her lifestyle. They may love her on the show, but I don`t think that children all over America are going to be thinking, "I want to hop into bed with my boyfriend. I would love to be talked about the way Jamie Lynn Spears is right about now."
HAMMER: Well, I think it`s important to talk about what parents are being forced into doing. And I`ve got to tell you, Whoopi Goldberg made this great point on "The View" today about parents and the fact that they now need to step in and explain to their kids there is a difference between the character Jamie Lynn plays versus the real person. Let`s watch what Whoopi said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": It`s clear to me what these parents need to say to their children about this is, "You know what, this girl, Jamie Lynn Spears, who has this TV show. She has made a mistake she is now going to have to think about." And that`s the discussion. Real people make real mistakes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Obviously, there are a lot of parents being forced into having a discussion that maybe they weren`t planning on because of what`s going on in the news, because of these circumstances. But, what do you think there, Jane? Are parents going to be further forced into this conversation if Nickelodeon continues to keep this show on the air? And is that the wrong thing to do?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: A.J., I think what parents are most frightened of is having that birds-and-the-bees conversation, that icky conversation that everybody wants to avoid. There are plenty of other conversations though, that they can have with their kids about this issue that doesn`t have to involve the details of sexuality.
Just talk about overpopulation. Just tell your kid, "You know what? Overpopulation is responsible for most of the problems on this planet. Whether it is world hunger, or global warming, it simply is too many people. Not enough resources." So we have to redefine what it means to be a parent. We have to redefine what maternal and paternal instincts are. This is an opportunity to really redefine parenting in the 21st century.
HAMMER: Well, and if you look at who Nickelodeon is saying who their audience is for Jamie Lynn`s show nine to 14-year-olds. It`s their number one show. Maggie? What do you -
GALLANT: Well, I think what people are forgetting and what people want to forget is that celebrities are people too. I mean, what I am saying isn`t that shocking.
When we choose or our children choose to have role models, we have to remind them that these are human beings. And just because someone is your role model doesn`t mean that you should idolize every single thing they do. I mean, decades ago, we had Hollywood stars who were our role models. We didn`t have the media scrutiny that we have now. So we didn`t see as many mistakes as these people are making.
HAMMER: No, I agree. That was a great point also made by Whoopi Goldberg today on "The View." She said no celebrity should serve as a role model to their kids because of this very situation. Jane, you agree with that?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely. And this is the chickens coming home to roost. Why are we so obsessed with the Spears` family? And they kind of epitomize our worst habits and impulses, complete superficiality combined with total self-indulgence.
HAMMER: The chickens have come home to roost literally in this situation. Maggie Gallant, Jane Velez-Mitchell, I appreciate you being with us tonight.
GALLANT: Thank you, A.J.
ANDERSON: And now we want to hear from you about this. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, "Jamie Lynn Spears pregnant: Should Nickelodeon cancel her show?" Vote at CNN.com/showbiz tonight. E-mail us, the address is showbiztonight@CNN.com. Do it from your desktop, your laptop, even your Blackberry or cell phone. Just tell us what`s on your mind.
HAMMER: Obviously, there is so much to talk about here. We are just getting fired up. And here`s what I want to know - could it actually be as some people are suggesting that Britney is partly to blame for Jamie Lynn getting pregnant so young? Is Jamie Lynn just a product of the sexualization of very young girls? Something Britney has helped take mainstream, obviously. And what about her role, Britney`s role, as a big sister. Some tough questions. We do have a fired up debate. You won`t want to miss this at 30 minutes past the hour.
ANDERSON: Also, Tony Parker and Eva Longoria`s cheating scandal. Tony Parker is denying, denying, denying. And he wants revenge. We`re going to tell you how Tony is going after the people who said he cheated on his wife. Next.
HAMMER: Now wait till you hear this - Katie Holmes drops a bombshell about her relationship with Tom Cruise` kids. I`m not talking about Suri here. I`m talking his kids from his marriage to Nicole Kidman. I`ve got to tell you I was surprised at what Katie said. I think you`re definitely going to be as well. That is coming up. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson. Tonight, the husband of "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria is striking back big time against a French model`s claim that he cheated on Eva. Now, this all began when the celebrity Web site, "X17online.com" reported the model`s claimed that she had an affair with Eva`s hubby Tony Parker.
Now Parker is suing "X17online.com" for $40 million in damages and is denying he has ever even met the model. The report first came out a week ago. So what the heck took him so long to flat out deny it? That`s what I want to know.
With us tonight from Hollywood, Howard Bragman, publicist and founder of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations. And in New York, Kim Serafin, senior editor at "In Touch Weekly."
Kim, Howard, when the story first broke, Tony Parker and Eva Longoria both came out with their own statements. And I want to read to you what Tony said, quote, "I love my wife. She is the best thing in my life and I have never been happier." OK, that is all great, but at the same time he never said, "I have never met this woman. I didn`t have the affair." He didn`t flat out deny it. Howard, shouldn`t he have given a direct denial from the very beginning?
HOWARD BRAGMAN, CELEBRITY PUBLICIST: You know, in all fairness, their publicist did give a very aggressive and direct denial. But you know how the media takes denials by publicists. We take them with a grain of salt. But this was -
ANDERSON: But Howard, he didn`t flat out deny it in that statement.
BRAGMAN: But the publicist did. And the truth is, when you have a lawsuit planned, you already have lawyers on retainer. Really the moment this comes out, you start getting angry and you go, I`m going to hire my lawyer and I`m going to go after them because this isn`t true. So Tony had a one- two punch in mind.
And I think the first thing to do was announce that he and his wife are in love, and plan two was to come out aggressively with the lawsuit. So a one-two punch they worked. The statement alone, not so strong, but now I think he is in the stronger position. And he`s pretty clear where he stands.
ANDERSON: So you`re saying that he`s taking the right approach and the right steps to resolving this.
BRAGMAN: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: Well, "X17" was also hinting that the model had text messages proving her claims. The Web site posted a flight itinerary for her that backed her claim of visiting Parker in San Antonio. That document could of course be faked. But Kim, tell me this - now that Tony is willing to take this to court, is it fair to assume that he feels absolutely confident about this? Or could there be something more here?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": It does sort of seem like a very strong, very bold move to take if you`re not pretty certain that these allegations are false. And you know one other thing you have to point out is that Tony and Eva did just get married. They`re a new couple. Maybe they`re also trying to send a message that, "Look this is how we are going to deal with things like this. We know we are a high profile couple. We know that people are going to come out and say things about us." Even Eva`s spokesperson said, "Look, this happens to every high profile couple, but this is how we`re going to deal with that. We`re going to deal with this aggressively. This is the precedent we are going to set." And you know, you have to wonder if that sort of has played into this as well, the way they reacted so strongly.
ANDERSON: Yes, I think it is horrible. They are newly married and already having to deal with these claims especially if they`re untrue. Howard, what is your take on this? Is the fact that Tony is going to court further proof that maybe her claims are made up?
BRAGMAN: You know as I`ve said often from this very chair, Brooke, there is no wall between public and private. This is a very public man. He could not walk through a hotel lobby with a beautiful French model without somebody recognizing him. There are text messages that are on computers all over the world. There is, records of your phone calls, of your credit card receipts.
If you are going to file a court suit, you better be pretty confident that you`re telling the truth, because if you`re not, it`s going to bite you in the butt. And I think he`s pretty confident of this. And it`s -
ANDERSON: And the alleged mistress - Sorry, go ahead.
BRAGMAN: Right - no. Please finish.
ANDERSON: OK. Well, the alleged mistress - she`s a French model. The name is Alexandra Paressant. You know, it`s been reported that she`s made public accusations of this nature before against other people including a Brazilian soccer star. He denied that. Kim, what is your take? Very quickly, is this woman credible or not?
SERAFIN: Yes, you have to wonder. Apparently she has done this before. That`s what - there are reports that there was a Brazilian soccer star she was apparently involved with or said she was. And he said no, just a passing acquaintance. She also said she was at the wedding with a French soccer star. She has a thing for soccer stars apparently.
And you know, in the lawsuit, it`s said had they consulted the soccer star, he would have denied that. So they seem to be finding a lot of holes. And I`m sure that more information will come out with her and her past, of course, too, if she`s going to make this kind of bold move.
ANDERSON: Howard, a lot of the details she claims to be true are so incredibly graphic. I was uncomfortable just reading it. This could all be a figment of her imagination, couldn`t it?
BRAGMAN: You know what? I was trying to think if this woman is really a serial marriage breaker-upper then she is pretty repugnant, right? If this woman is not a marriage breaker-upper making up lies about breaking up a marriage, she is probably equally repugnant. So I think this woman is something like you wipe of the bottom of your shoe. I am not a big fan right now and I think she should -
ANDERSON: Well, it certainly -
BRAGMAN: She should go to a different place right now because she`s not a quality person like we like, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Well, it certainly is a predicament for all involved. I will say that. Howard Bragman, Kim Serafin, thank you both.
HAMMER: Do you remember when Britney Spears was Jamie Lynn`s age? You look back at some of the interviews, it almost seemed as though Britney was warning people not to follow her example.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRITNEY SPEARS, POP STAR: I`m human and I make mistakes, you know, like everybody else. And I can just try and be a good person for me and for all of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What I want to know, is Britney to blame for her little sister`s getting pregnant so young. Some really fired-up opinions on this topic and the debate is coming up.
ANDERSON: And all rise because Showbiz Celebrity Court in session, from Paris Hilton, to Isaiah Washington, to Dog Chapman. There were plenty of misdeeds in Hollywood this year. But did the punishment fit the crimes. Still ahead.
HAMMER: And Katie Holmes drops a bombshell about her relationship with Tom Cruise`s kids. And I`m not talking about Suri. I`m talking about his kids from his marriage to Nicole Kidman. I`ve got to tell you, I was surprised by what Katie said. You will be too. That is next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Friday, you are going to want to break out the Kleenex. We have the best crying stories ever. Is it just me or are the tears flowing a little more freely in Hollywood these days? What is all the crying about? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT plays the crying game. That`s Friday.
ANDERSON: Katie Holmes has dropped a bombshell about her relationship with Tom Cruise`s two children from his marriage to Nicole Kidman. It came out when Katie talked to "Parade" magazine about her plans for the holidays. Katie says her family and Tom`s family will spend the holiday in Telluride where they`ll do a lot of skiing and a lot of cooking. She says they always make a lot of cookies and that Suri will be in the dough everywhere.
Katie says Tom has a special insight into women because of his own family history. She says, quote, "My husband has three sisters. He was raised by a single mother and has two daughters. And he is a great father and husband. His first two children are incredible, really smart and kind. They call me mom. So Tom understands the female bond and he loves it."
That`s right. They call her mom. Hope they don`t call their mother Nicole. All right, for more with Katie, pick up Sunday`s "Parade" magazine. She`s on the cover with Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton, her co- stars in the upcoming film, "Mad Money."
HAMMER: Well, Hollywood is just reeling from the news that Britney Spears`s sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, is pregnant at just 16 years old. But could it be that Britney is partly to blame? People are really, really fired up about this. And we have a debate you will not want to miss, coming up next. Also this -
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DUANE "DOG" CHAPMAN, BOUNTY HUNTER: I`m not going to take a chance ever in life of losing everything I have worked for for 30 years because some (EXPLETIVE DELETED), heard us saying (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Oh, yes. We all remember Dog Chapman`s racist rant on a phone call to his son. But did he deserve to lose his television show? And what about Paris Hilton, and Isaiah Washington, did their punishments fit the crimes. Showbiz Celebrity Court in session. Straight ahead.
HAMMER: And a break in the case of Miss Puerto Rico, and the pepper spray. You remember that. Question is, was she sabotaged in the pageant? I`ve got to tell you, I personally believe Miss Puerto Rico when she told me on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she wasn`t making the whole thing up. But the question is, was she telling the truth? Well, we now know because the results are in. And they are coming up.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the controversial question - is Britney Spears to blame for her 16-year-old sister getting pregnant?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
B. SPEARS: I am human and I make mistakes like everybody else. And I can just try to be a good person for me and for all of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Did Britney`s super-sexuality set the stage for all this? Did her parents drop the ball? Or does this whole mess rest on Jamie Lynn`s shoulders? Let the fired-up finger pointing begin. Tonight, the Jamie Lynn Spears` blame game.
The Showbiz Celebrity Court. Paris serves 23 days in jail. Isaiah Washington gets fired for a shocking gay slur. Dog Chapman`s show shelved for his disgusting racial rant. But tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks - did these punishments fit the crime? Get ready because the Showbiz Celebrity Court is in session.
(MUSIC)
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 from Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Tonight, a special report, blaming Britney Spears. Now that Britney`s baby sister, Jamie Lynn, is expecting a baby of her own at just 16 years old, here`s what SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants to know - is Britney to blame for her kid sister`s mess? When you think about it, Britney has made a career out of selling a sexy image. So should it really be any surprise that her teenage sister caught it?
Joining us tonight from Hollywood, investigative journalist, Jane Velez Mitchell. Good to have you back, Jane. "Extra" correspondent Carlos Diaz is with us tonight. And back with us from New York, founder of Spotlight Communications, Maggie Gallant. Gang, I appreciate you all being here.
Let`s put this into perspective. Now think about this for just a moment. Jamie Lynn Spears was just 7 years old when her big sister, Britney, became this international pop sensation with "Baby One More Time." That very same year, Britney shocked the world by posing in underwear right there on the cover of "Rolling Stone" magazine as you`re seeing.
Well, since then Britney has certainly pushed the sexual envelope more and more. Let`s face it. Britney has had more influence over millions of young girls than so many stars out there. So Carlos, is it fair to assume that she also influenced her kid sister?
CARLOS DIAZ, "EXTRA" CORRESPONDENT: You can`t say no to that. Of course, she`s influenced her kid sister. And recently, you make points with, you know, her sexuality at a young age, influencing Jamie Lynn Spears. But recently, her downward spiral and there not being any repercussions to the spiral can`t help but also affect Jamie Lynn in a negative way.
I equate it to somebody having an older brother who, say, is on Wall Street. And he`s trading and doing a great job and he`s hooked on cocaine. Things are going great for him. His younger brother who is also trading says, "Well, you know what? He is on cocaine. Nothing bad has happened to him. Maybe I can do the same thing." It`s the same thing in this situation with Britney and Jamie Lynn.
HAMMER: Yes. I`d be very quick to out obviously, Britney is not the one who got pregnant. She didn`t get Jamie Lynn pregnant. Duh? Except it would be impossible, I think, to deny the impact that she`s had on her. And a lot of people have been sounding off in articles I`ve been reading about the idea that, well, you know, the spotlight is always Britney, Britney, Britney. And Jamie Lynn, whether consciously or unconsciously, got pregnant because of that. I don`t want to really presuppose that. What do you think, Maggie?
GALLANT: Well, you know, one thing that I think nobody seems to be talking about with all this who`s-to-blame business is what is this child going to think when it`s old enough - after it`s been born, is old enough to be reading all of this press where everybody is talking about who`s to blame for this big problem. And that`s what I keep thinking about. But I`d also like to point out in all of that footage you were showing from Britney, how great was that to see the glory days of Britney back again. It`s been a long time since we`ve seen her looking that good.
HAMMER: Yes, and more of that to come. We know Jamie Lynn announced her pregnancy to "OK!" magazine on the big cover story saying, "I`m pregnant." Right there, yes. There`s the cover that revealed all this to the world, and the world will never be the same again.
Let`s look at a very different cover with Britney pregnant, and by the way, naked on the cover of "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine. Obviously, Britney was older when she did the picture we`re looking at here, but she`s always been pushing the envelope. So Jane, do you blame Britney at all for being a bad influence on her sister?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I blame Britney, but more than I blame, A.J., the role Britney has been assigned to play in our society. She was a child star. She didn`t choose that role. Then she was fast tracked to become a sex symbol.
Next thing you know, she`s doing these incredibly sexually provocative videos, like "I`m A Slave for You," dripping with sexuality. Of course, that`s going to have an impact on her sister and other teens and tweens out there. Sexuality is a means to an end. You`re sending a clear-cut message to kids.
You want to get attention? You want to be popular? You want to be liked? Be dripping with sexuality. We know where that leads. That leads to sex and in this case, it led to pregnancy.
HAMMER: Yes. And like it or not, you know, who wants to go around saying, "I blame you. I blame you." But like it or not, that`s what people are talking about. And a lot of people are blaming Britney and Jamie Lynn`s mother, of course; Lynn Spears, who thrust them into the spotlight. Let`s listen to what the ladies of "The View" think. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I think to just lay it on this mother is, in my opinion, unfair.
(CROSS TALK)
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Where`s the father by the way? Why don`t we blame him?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Well, let`s face it. Britney`s mother has been criticized before for Britney`s behavior. So what do you think? In this case, Carlos, does she deserve a bit of the blame as well?
DIAZ: I believe she deserves a lot more blame than the father. How do I say it? Because of this - I`m not saying because she`s a woman or he is a man or whatever. It`s all the Hollywood machine. She`s been in the Hollywood machine. She`s the one who was always there with Britney, who was always with Jamie Lynn.
The father takes a much lower profile. The guy is a cook. I mean, he`s not Mr. Vegas. He`s not Mr. Hollywood. He`s not this guy who`s always out there in the public image like Lynn is. And Lynn is out there and I believe she takes a huge blame with this. I mean, she was trying to sell a book, you know, for god sake, about how to be a great mother. I am not buying that book now.
HAMMER: No. Do you think they are actually going to release that book?
DIAZ: No.
HAMMER: Maybe I should point out they have suspended indefinitely -
DIAZ: Indefinitely.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Thank god.
HAMMER: It is kind of a bad joke.
DIAZ: The book should be called "Don`t Do This by Lynn Spears."
HAMMER: What do you think, Maggie? Would that be a little more appropriate?
GALLANT: Well, it certainly going to get headlines; that`s for sure, you know. But I think that one thing that is really important here is that Britney and her sister both chose to be in the spotlight.
What makes her different from the father of this baby is that she is on a TV show. Her job doesn`t end when the cameras cut at the end of the day. She is still a role model out there for young girls. And that`s why everyone is talking about it and doing this big blame game because it makes us feel better about ourselves. We think this couldn`t happen to me.
HAMMER: Well, I think that`s an important point in terms of the role model idea. And as long as we are enjoying flashing back, Britney gave this very revealing interview to ABC for a special dated back in 2003 where she actually talked about her baby sister following in her footsteps. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
B. SPEARS: I think it`s really important for her right now to stick to being a kid. I want her to stay in that world for a while before she (UNINTELLIGIBLE) see me and what I go through. I think it`s going to help her a lot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, it doesn`t seem to have helped her a lot. A lot of people fear this is just actually the beginning of perhaps a downward spiral for Jamie Lynn. Certainly hope not. Jane Velez-Mitchell, should we be worried?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, first off all, I want to say that neither of these two, I believe, chose the spotlight. They had a stage mother and they were put into showbiz at a very early age and essentially, that`s commoditizing your children. And there`s a price you pay for that and we`re starting to see the repercussions now. I certainly hope that this is not some beginning of a downward spiral. These are probably, in their very core, good people who are trying to do the best they can, given the fact that these horrible spotlights are on them. And I certainly just hope they grow up into responsible adults and parents.
HAMMER: Jane, I`m with you on that. I`d like to be an optimist about these things. Carlos, what do you think?
DIAZ: I think Britney that said being, instead of having a child. See, that was the whole thing there. I disagree with Jane. I think that they have a choice here to be in the spotlight. Jamie Lynn didn`t have to follow in her sister`s footsteps. There`s a lot of young Hollywood stars who have siblings who are not in the spotlight. Jamie Lynn chose this. The mom is a small part of this.
But it is Britney and Jamie Lynn that are going to bear a lot of the blame with this. The mom can push them down a certain path. But certain decisions like, do I want to have sex with this guy right now, that is all on Jamie Lynn Spears.
HAMMER: The mom facilitated the career, the sex probably not so much. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Carlos Diaz, Maggie Gallant. I appreciate it.
DIAZ: If she did - If she did that`s scary. That`s very scary.
HAMMER: Indeed. Thanks guys.
ANDERSON: We`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, "Jamie Lynn Spears pregnant: Should Nickelodeon cancel her show?" Keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com. Do it from your desktop, your laptop, even your Blackberry or cellphone. Just tell us what`s on your mind.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, what I want to tell you is when Miss Puerto Rico claimed that her clothes were sabotaged, sprayed with pepper spray right in the middle of a pageant, a lot of people wondered if she was making it up. And when I interviewed her right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, I`ve got to tell you, I believed her story. Well tonight, though, there has been a huge break in the case. So was she really telling the truth? I have got the startling answer you won`t want to miss, coming up. Also this -
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CHAPMAN: I am not going to take a chance ever in life of losing everything I have worked for for 30 years because some (EXPLETIVE DELETED) heard us say (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Oh, that was Dog the Bounty Hunter`s awful racist rant. His show was shelved after that happened. And hey, what about Paris Hilton, 23 days in jail. Isaiah Washington fired. What I`ve got to ask, did the punishments fit the crimes? Tonight, Showbiz Celebrity Court is in session, next.
HAMMER: And Brooke, I am so psyched for this. I might just jump out of my chair and perhaps do a little dancing around the studio. Probably not, but it`s possible. "Abba" heading to the big screen, and I`ve got your first look at "Mamma Mia," coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hey, welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson. And let`s get out the gavel - because I am declaring the Showbiz Celebrity Court is now in session. So many stars did so many things wrong this year. And many of them paid the price for messing up so badly. But who deserved the punishment and who did not?
Let`s call in the judges. In Boston tonight is Judge Maria Lopez of TV`s wildly successful "Judge Maria Lopez Show." And in Hollywood tonight, Michael Yo from E! Radio and host of the show "Yo on E!." So Yo, Maria, let`s get going. Court is in session.
MICHAEL YO, HOST "YO ON E!": Yes, good evening.
ANDERSON: And you guys, I want to start with bad girl Paris Hilton. She really got punished this year. Paris caught driving with a suspended license several times after her DUI arrest. She wound up spending 23 days in jail for her terrible deeds. OK, Judge Maria Lopez, did the punishment fit the crime or was it severe?
JUDGE MARIA LOPEZ, HOST "THE JUDGE MARIA LOPEZ SHOW": OK. Well, you know what? You`ve got to understand that Paris went in on a violation of probation. So when you compare her situation to that of Lindsay Lohan`s and Nicole Ritchie`s, remember, those were original sentences.
Paris had been sentenced for the drunk-driving. She was not supposed to be driving. If you recall the court hearing, she came up with some stupid reason. I mean it was just not credible as to how she didn`t know or was confused about whether she could be driving. Everybody knows if you get caught drunk driving and you are on probation, you are not supposed to drive, right?
And I think that`s why the judge sentenced her to that kind of a sentence. She was making a mockery of the system. She thought she could get by, making up her story and then because she is Paris Hilton, she would get a slap on the wrist. Well, no, she told a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) story to the court. And she was - violated on her probation. So, I`m not sure it was so harsh.
ANDERSON: Yes. It was a very serious offense and then her excuses didn`t really make much sense. And I want to move now from Paris Hilton on to our next case for Showbiz Celebrity Court, and that is Isaiah Washington and what he did, you know. When he was starring as Dr. Preston Burke on "Grey`s Anatomy," he allegedly used a gay slur referring to co-star T.R. Knight who later came out of the closet really just after that. Isaiah then made matters worse backstage at the Golden Globes. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISAIAH WASHINGTON, FORMER "GREY`S ANATOMY" STAR: No, I did not call T.R. a (EXPLETIVE DELETED). It never happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So yes. He repeated the word again, and then after that, he was fired. Michael Yo, that was the sentence. Did the punishment fit the crime?
YO: Absolutely. ABC did the right thing. They didn`t fire him. They just didn`t renew for the next year. I think any time you say a gay slur and drop the "F" word as a gay slur is no different than dropping the "N" word around black people. If Patrick Dempsey or Knight would have dropped the "N" word on the set of "Grey`s Anatomy," guess what? They would be fired as well.
Yes, Isaiah Washington did go out there, make a public apology, he met with GLAD, did a PSA. And I love him as an actor and I think they miss him on the show this year. But ABC definitely made the right move by getting him out of there.
ANDERSON: They didn`t renew him.
LOPEZ: I agree with him.
ANDERSON: A lot of people would say that that was being fired. Judge Maria Lopez?
YO: Yes. True.
LOPEZ: Yes. I mean I agree with what was said about Isaiah Washington. Because if the studio didn`t take a position, it would look like they were condoning that kind of behavior.
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, next up on the docket for Showbiz Celebrity Court. I want to get your thoughts on another racial slur case. Duane "Dog" Chapman, star of the hit TV show "The Bounty Hunter." He got himself into trouble when a taped conversation with his son was leaked to the "National Enquirer," Dog using a racial slur to describe his son`s girlfriend who is black. Listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CHAPMAN: It`s not because she is black. It`s because we use the word (EXPLETIVE DELETED) sometimes here. I am not going to take a chance ever in life of losing everything I have worked for, for 30 years because some (EXPLETIVE DELETED) heard us say (EXPLETIVE DELETED) and turned us into the "Enquirer" magazine. Our career is over. I am not taking that chance at all.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So, Dog apologized like crazy, but it was too late. A & E shelved his show. Michael Yo, what`s your verdict? Did the punishment fit the crime?
YO: Absolutely. How bad does your son have to hate you to sell you out for $15,000? Seriously, does he hate you that much? OK, no. I mean, - What I enjoyed listening to the conversation was he tried to explain the different definitions of the "N" word. I was like, oh my god. Dog the Bounty Hunter, you need to shut up and stop going on TV because you`re making yourself look worse and worse and worse. Yes. Yes, he did get the right punishment. I`m glad A & E pulled the show.
ANDERSON: Well, we appreciate both of you here tonight sharing your thoughts with our court. Michael Yo and Judge Maria Lopez. Thanks.
HAMMER: Another shocking celebrity story where a crime might have been committed, the Miss Puerto Rico pepper spray scandal. Now, even though a lot of people questioned her and thought that she might have staged the whole thing, tonight I can tell you police now believe Miss Puerto Rico`s shocking pepper spray story and they even have a suspect.
Ingrid Marie Rivera insisted that someone sabotaged her clothes, dousing them in pepper spray right in the middle of the Miss Puerto Rico- Universe pageant last month. But police said they didn`t find any traces of pepper spray during the first investigation. And of course, that got people wondering if Rivera was lying.
Well tonight, they have changed their tune and think a pageant volunteer did it. When Ingrid was right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just after all this went down, I thought she was telling the truth.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Are you completely confident that when the results come back it will show that your possessions were sabotaged?
INGRID MARIE RIVERA, MISS PUERTO RICO 2007: Well they were. They were. How other reason would you put -
HAMMER: What if they don`t come back that way?
RIVERA: Then I can`t explain how it was. There`s proof. You know, my face changed. There is a videotape. There are pictures. People noticed I couldn`t use my jewelry. The supervisor noticed. The staff noticed. The security noticed. So it`s not something I just made up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: By the way, despite blowing up in splotchy patches, Rivera went on to win the pageant. She will be competing in the Miss Universe Pageant in July.
ANDERSON: OK, A.J. I want you to take a look at this picture. What do you think these two things have in common?
HAMMER: I have no idea. I don`t know. They`re all fun to party with.
ANDERSON: Yes. They look like they`re fun to party with. And you know what? They are both Swedish. The Muppets Swedish chef and "Abba" who`s got a connection to this. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIERCE BROSNAN, ACTOR: You are expecting us?
AMANDA SEYFRIED: Oh, my god, yes.
(voice over): OK, get ready. Your first look at "Mamma Mia, The Movie" next.
HAMMER: It`s very exciting. But Brooke, before we do a little time warp back to the `70s. Let us now take a look at what`s new at the movies this week, brought to you by Pillsbury Crescent Rolls.
Hillary Swank is a young widow who discovers that her late husband has somehow left her ten things to do designed to help her overcome grief. Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon also in this one.
One of my favorite actors on the planet, Johnny Depp in a dark role this time around. He`s a barber who slices up his clients. This one has been a Broadway musical. Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen, "Borat" star along with Depp in "Sweeney Todd."
Also, opening this week, superstar power in "Charlie Wilson`s War." Mike Nichols directs. Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman star in the true story of a U.S. Congressman who helped to end the cold war with a secret operation. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT coming right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: All right. We all know Sweden is a beautiful country. It has given us Ikea. It`s given us one of my favorite Muppets, the Swedish chef. And it`s given us a band that I just love, "Abba.". And you know what "Abba" spelled backwards is "Abba". The husband and wife team times two were huge in the 70s, arguably the biggest band at the time.
And they certainly have lived on since they hung up their sequins and platform shoes with a blockbuster Broadway show that is now being made into a movie. And tonight - I`ve got your very first look at "Mamma Mia."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We`re here for the wedding.
BROSNAN: You are expecting us.
SEYFRIED: Oh, my god, yes. Yes.
(MUSIC)
BROSNAN: Is your father here?
SEYFRIEND: You tell me.
MERYL STREEP, ACTRESS: You sound like you are having fun already.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Everybody, sing along. Great cast here - Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan. And if you feel like taking a chance on "Mamma Mia," check it out when it opens in the summer of 2008.
ANDERSON: And on Wednesday we asked you to vote on our question of the day. We`ve got a tremendous response. Jamie Lynn Spears pregnant? Are you shocked? Only 30 percent of you say, yes you are shocked. Seventy percent of you of you say, no you aren`t.
Here are some of the e-mails we received. Donna from Alabama writes, "I`m not surprised. She has not had anyone to be a positive role model in her life to teach her right from wrong."
And Rachel from Kentucky says, "I`m 13 years old. I am very disappointed in Jamie Lynn. I`m going to start watching `Hannah Montana` again."
A lot of people having a lot of conversations about this one tonight. Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks a lot for watching. A special thanks to you, the great Tammy Ruiz(ph). I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: Yes. We`re going to miss you, Tammy. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is coming up next. Stay with us. Take care.
END
