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Showbiz Tonight
Barbara Walters Reveals What Sam Lutfi Told Her About Britney Spears` Mental State; Mary-Kate Olsen Called After Masseuse Found Heath Ledger`s Body; Is Angelina Jolie Pregnant?
Aired January 28, 2008 - 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: Sylvester Stallone says, yes, he takes growth hormones and he thinks you should, too. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And a red carpet full of stars for the SAG Awards but will the show go on for the Oscars? I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a Britney bombshell. Britney Spears` manager drops a shocker on Barbara Walters. The shocking things he`s staying about what`s wrong with Britney and what she`s doing about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATIE DARYL, TMZ.TV: Who is looking out for Britney`s mental health? This is her manager. Is he doing what`s best for her?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the Britney bombshell you have to hear to believe.
The mysterious Mary-Kate Olsen connection to Heath Ledger. Brand new details about the calls made to Mary-Kate when his body was found and the raging controversy over why police say they have no interest in talking to her. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the late-breaking developments in the Heath Ledger-Mary-Kate mystery.
HAMMER: Plus, is Angelina Jolie pregnant? The jaw-dropping red carpet appearance that has everyone talking.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming you from Hollywood. And we will be getting the big developments in the mysterious death of Heath Ledger coming up.
HAMMER: But first tonight, Barbara`s Britney bombshell. Barbara Walters dropped a shocker today revealing that Britney Spears` so-called manager contacted her out of the blue with startling claims about Britney`s state of mind, her mental health and what Britney is doing about it. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the big surprise from Barbara that no one saw coming.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": He says that she has been to a psychiatrist and that she, I assume, is starting some kind of treatment.
HAMMER (voice over): It`s the news that had everybody saying, "It`s about time." Barbara Walters opened "The View" with the unexpected word that Britney Spears is getting help. Barbara`s source? Britney`s so-called manager and right hand man Sam Lutfi who contacted Barbara.
WALTERS: He said that Britney is suffering from what he describes as mental issues which are treatable. She`s been mood swings. She`s been having trouble sleeping.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that Barbara seemed as surprised as anyone that Lutfi contacted her. And Barbara says he revealed that Britney has re-established ties with her mother after some tension in the past few months.
WALTERS: Also, she is in touch with her mother, because we had heard she wasn`t and her mother has been very supportive of whatever it is that Britney is going to do.
HAMMER: Not only is mom supportive, Sam tells Barbara, he is, too. She buys it.
WALTERS: He seems to be enormously supportive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Britney.
HAMMER: In fact, this "Hollywood.tv" video shows Britney visiting the home of a psychiatrist. So, maybe what Sam Lutfi told Barbara Walters is true. Is Britney finally getting help?
WLATER: The fact that she is going to a psychiatrist and that as Sam Lutfi described, it is something that`s treatable - that`s very good news.
HAMMER: It`s good do hear that Sam Lutfi is on the case. Just a second. Sam Lutfi? Who the heck is he? If you`re asking who is Sam Lutfi, join the club. You`re not alone. He`s the latest in a long line of mysterious men in Britney`s life. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, Lutfi, Britney`s co-called friend/manager, is now facing questions about his past and his motives.
DARYL: There`s a lot of question around Sam Lutfi and his relationship with Britney Spears and some of the other people involved in Britney Spears` life.
HAMMER: Sam Lutfi has been Britney`s faithful side kick at many of the wild nights out. In this new TMZ.com video, we see Britney and Sam on a little shopping spree in the Hustler`s sex shop and, oh, yes, the dog tagged along, too.
DARYL: And as of recently, he`s been calling himself her manager.
HAMMER: Katie Daryl of TMZ.tv tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Lutfi has been raising eyebrows from the time we first saw him by Britney`s side a few months ago.
DARYL: Some of the concerns that people have with Britney Spears and Sam Lutfi is, you know, one, what are the credentials for being a manager? What else has he been done before?
HAMMER: What Sam`s allegedly done before has led to several reported restraining orders against him, including a civil harassment charge, the L.A. Superior Court confirmed for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That charge filed by a former associate of Lutfi`s was dismissed due to lack of prosecution. But it hasn`t dismissed concerns about Lutfi.
DAYRL: When you look at the colorful past, the fact that there are restraining orders in his history. So what does that mean, and what does that mean to Britney?
HAMMER: Now, Lutfi has become a figure in Britney`s custody battle for her two small boys. The lawyer for Britney`s ex-husband, Kevin Federline, has deposed Lutfi about Britney`s private life. And TMZ`s Katie Daryl tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Lutfi was also asked if he`s profiting from his relationship with Spears.
DARYL: Questions came up as to was Sam getting money from X-17, the paparazzi photo agency for giving them access to Britney Spears and pictures of her, her life and her children. The Sam you know is pretty much standing by, you know, his thing of saying, "I didn`t get any money. I`m not making any money off of Britney. I`m actually here just supporting Britney as her manager and as her friend." That`s Sam`s story.
HAMMER: So, the Britney trend continues with her surrounding herself with one guy after another with questions about their past and questions about their motives.
DARYL: Seems like it`s a revolving door, that same question. What is she doing with K-Fed? What is she doing with Sam? What is she doing with Adnan? What is Britney doing?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So exactly what should we make of this run of mystery men in Britney Spears` life? Joining me tonight in New York, psychology expert Cooper Lawrence, the author of "The Cult of Perfection." In Hollywood tonight, entertainment journalist Ken Baker.
Ken and Cooper, it`s always lovely to see you both. Here`s what I`m trying to understand. I think a lot of people are trying to understand why in the world would Sam Lutfi suddenly get in touch with Barbara Walters, of all people, out of the blue, to say, hey, Britney has mental issues? Ken Baker?
KEN BAKER, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Well, the thing is before everyone jumps down Sam Lutfi`s throat for calling Barbara Walters, we don`t know why he called. Maybe Britney said call Barbara Walters. We don`t know. And also, Sam Lutfi has been described as a manager/publicist and that`s very common for publicists to reach out to the media, to give them messages that their client wants out. And I think if he did that, and the news was, look, I`m seeking help and getting medical attention, then good for her. Good for Britney.
And I think that one thing has to be clear. This guy has been described as "creepy" and "shady," you know, a lot of these adjectives , and his past certainly would support those kinds of adjectives. But what I`m saying is I`ve seen this guy out in public. I`ve seen him in front of throngs of paparazzi. Guess what? He`s never freaked out. He`s always been level headed. He`s always been the one short of shielding her and taking care of her.
Now, of course, we don`t know what kind of deal they have monetarily, how he`s getting his money compensated. But what is clear is that there are lots of nights when Britney Spears could have been alone and that would have been more dangerous than Sam Lutfi being there by her side.
HAMMER: All right. And this is all good, Ken because we are trying to get to the bottom of who this guy is. Is he a good person to be around Britney? But even accepting all this - and Cooper, as a psychology expert, let me throw this one to you. If Britney is indeed seeing a psychiatrist, didn`t Sam just betray that trust by telling Barbara?
COOPER LAWRENCE, PSYCHOLOGY EXPERT: I think Ken is right. We don`t know why Sam called Barbara, but it`s not like Britney is an actress and he`s calling to say, "She`s in a new movie. Listen to the deal she inked." The thing about psychology and psychiatry or anything is if she decides to go to a psychiatrist, confidentiality is of the utmost important importance. And he just blew that for her.
Now, I realize she`s a public figure, so there are things about her that we know and we feel entitled to know. But when it comes to mental health, I think this is an area that needs to stay personal and needs to stay private. And quite frankly, it`s not even Sam Lutfi`s business if she`s going to see a therapist.
HAMMER: And all that said, yes, if she is getting that kind of help, man, are we all pretty happy about that. Now, it seems, though, that Britney is intent on surrounding herself with men who arguably can leave the impression, at least, that they`re selling her out. And that happens to a lot of big stars, but in Britney`s case, you know, we have her paparazzi boyfriend, Adnan Ghalib, who went on "Entertainment Tonight." He spoke about their private life together. And now Sam Lutfi. Let`s listen to more of Barbara`s account of what Sam told her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: He said that Britney is suffering from what he describes as mental issues which are treatable. He said that she has been to a psychiatrist and that she, I assume, is starting some kind of treatment. She has been having mood swings. She`s been having trouble sleeping and also, she is in touch with her mother. Of course, we had heard she wasn`t. And her mother has been very supportive of whatever it is that Britney`s going to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So look at us. I think we have good news to report tonight - Britney now possibly reconciling with her mother. So back to your point, Ken, is it possible that Sam Lutfi is actually a good person to be around Britney and having a good influence on her?
BAKER: Well, I think that, you know, Sam is someone who`s in her life right now. And a lot of people in Britney`s life have been, sort of, right-now people. In other words, temporary, transient types. And I think there`s been a lot worse people who have come through her life. You have to really step back and look, OK?
Britney - how did she spend the last few days? She went to a dance studio. She went to a gym. She went to a psychiatrist. And she`s reportedly meeting up with her mom. These are all really positive things.
We`ve been sitting here for the last two months, really shouting for her to get help. It has been so difficult to see. This is an extraordinary change of - change or turn in events I should say, and a change in Britney that we should all be applauding before we`re ready to beat down Sam Lutfi about it.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, I think we are definitely applauding the positive aspects and the good things that are happening. And I think we are just trying to really understand the situation. Ken Baker, Cooper Lawrence, thanks for helping us get to the bottom of all of this.
Now, moving on, there are still so many lingering and disturbing questions about the death of Heath Ledger. Coming up, we`re looking into the Mary-Kate connection. Why Mary-Kate Olsen got called before 911? And the really big question, why police have no plans to talk to her about it.
ANDERSON: Plus, the new Miss America on a crusade. Shocking revelations from the newly crowned Miss America about her struggle with an eating disorder. How she got better and why she is on a mission, coming up.
HAMMER: All right. It is the red carpet appearance that has everybody wondering, myself included - is Angelina pregnant? Could there actually be another addition to the Brangelina bunch on the way? And you know, while we are on the topic, I want to know - why is it that we are so obsessed with celebrity babies anyway? We will get into that. Coming up.
HAMMER: But now, you know, the countdown is on to Super Tuesday and the presidential primaries next week. But also, I would like you to get ready for the other Super Tuesday. It is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s "Superstar Tuesday."
CREW: Yes.
HAMMER: Everybody is very excited about this. We are going to be asking you to vote online with a different question about Hollywood`s biggest stars every single day. We want to hear what you have to say because we are going to reveal and debate the results on the special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT next Tuesday, February 5th. It is our "Superstar Tuesday." So excited.
Here`s what we`re asking you to vote on right now - which celebrity would you vote for, for president? George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey. I`d like you to vote by going to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. No hanging chads involved here. The polls opened right now. The results revealed on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s "Superstar Tuesday," next Tuesday, February 5th.
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ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, three big stories, new right now that we just have to talk about. First, Sly Stallone reveals to the world that he got more than a little help getting back into fighting shape for the new "Rambo" movie that just opened.
He is using hormones and he`s not apologizing for it. Also tonight, a bombshell revelation from the new Miss America just crowned over the weekend. She`s confessed that she used to be anorexic.
And they`re back. Hollywood`s biggest stars finally got to walk the red carpet Sunday night at the SAG Awards. But hold on just a second. Take it all in because you may not be seeing that again.
With us tonight from New York, Carolina Bermudez, senior editor at "In Touch Weekly." Also in New York, Daily News columnist Ben Widdicombe. Carolina, Ben, great to see you both.
And hey, over the weekend, 61-year-old Sly Stallone`s new "Rambo" film opened up, and in it, boy, he looked pumped. And now he`s admitting in the new issue of "Time" magazine that he`s taking prescription testosterone, quote, "HGH is nothing. Anyone who calls it a steroid is grossly misinformed. Everyone over 40 years old would be wise to investigate it because it increases the quality of your life."
All right. So Sly thinks everybody over 40 should be taking these hormones. Ben, are people going to be slamming Sly or are they going to be saying, "Right on! I agree"?
BEN WIDDICOMBE, COLUMNIST, "DAILY NEWS": Well, it`s a bit of a mixed message because we are hearing right now about how dangerous for professional athletes to take this kind of supplement. And you may remember Sylvester Stallone himself was detained by Australian authorities last year because he tried to bring some of this stuff into that country. That`s not allowed in Australia. So he was briefly detained by authorities. So I think it`s a mixed message. And for regular people, probably no, you shouldn`t be taking this stuff.
ANDERSON: Right. And you know, as Ben just mentioned, he was arrested for trying to bring banned growth hormones into Australia. Given that, Carolina, is it a good idea for Sly to be advocating the use of these drugs?
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": You know, I really don`t think so. When did Mr. Stallone get his medical degree or when did he get the license? Whenever that happens, I`m going to start taking advice from him. Just because he can find somebody to administer it does not mean that it`s right. It is an illegal substance.
WIDDICOMBE: And I think that we should probably keep out of Sly`s way today because he was beaten at the box office by a very lightweight comedy spoof meaning "The Spartans."
BERMUDEZ: Exactly.
WIDDICOMBE: So he`s not going to be in a good mood today.
ANDERSON: You are right. Well, that being said, we`ll move on from that topic, OK? Now I want to talk about Kirsten Haglund, Miss Michigan. She was named the new Miss America over the weekend. She actually confesses that she`s battled anorexia and her mission this year is to get the word out about eating disorders. And that`s got to be brave of her, don`t you think, to come out like that?
WIDDICOMBE: Well, I think it is and it`s nice to hear her talk about it and how she is in a well place now. And she went through this that a lot of young women are going through. She said that she had to give up her goal to be a professional ballerina because the pressure to be thin was too much. But I enjoyed that she said she did eat chocolates that were on her pillow at her hotel and she said, "Chocolates are a girl`s best friend."
ANDERSON: Well, to that end, you know, when she was asked if she ate the chocolates left on the pillow in the hotel, she said, quote, "Yes, oh my gosh, yes, I love chocolates. Chocolates are a girl`s best friend," like you said, Ben. Carolina, she`s sending a message, right, to girls who have eating disorders saying, "You know what? You can eat this stuff and you will be OK.
BERMUDEZ: Absolutely. I think Miss America - obviously it`s a huge responsibility but I think that something that she has in her corner is that she is young, she`s relevant. People will listen to her. She`s 19 years old. She overcame the struggle, this battle. And now, she can be the figurehead for this. And I think that a lot of young women are going to look at her and really admire her courage for coming out and talking about this so openly.
ANDERSON: Yes, probably a better role model than a lot of the young Hollywood stars out there today. All right, well, the night after the Miss America competition, I was right there at the SAG Awards where "No Country for Old Men" and "The Sopranos" swept the awards show. By the way, a reminder, you can see a list of the night`s big winners at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. But this was the first time, because of the writers` strike that we saw a hot red carpet. Ben, is it going to be the last time? What is your prediction? Will the Oscars show go on?
WIDDICOMBE: Well, the Oscars are they`re insisting that they will go ahead whether or not they`re picketed by the Writers` Guild. What that means is that the Screen Actors Guild doesn`t let its members cross the picket line. So some people might choose to go to the Oscars in defiance of the union. They are not legally obliged to stay away. Or others won`t. And it is, let`s face it, a guilty pleasure for us to see all these beautiful people. I mean, when was the last time we saw Tom Cruise and Brad and Angie in the same place? People enjoy the pageantry and the beautiful gowns. And it`s a lot of fun.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. Well, let me ask you this, because if the Oscars don`t go on because of the writers` strike, a lot of people are going to be very upset with the Writers` Guild. Carolina, they have to settle this, don`t they?
BERMUDEZ: They do. I think that it`s about time. We have been dealing with this for about three months. Something has to come out of this. If the DGA has already come to an agreement, why can`t the Writers` Guild come to one? But we`re also seeing some solidarity. You saw some of the actors last night in their acceptance speeches that have said they really want this to come to a head. So I think within next couple of weeks, we`ll see a resolution, hopefully, just in time for the Oscars so we can enjoy all of that fun stuff.
ANDERSON: Hopefully a quick resolution and the show will go on as it has traditionally. Let`s hope. Carolina Bermudez, Ben Widdicombe, thank you both. Good to see you.
BERMUDEZ: Thanks.
HAMMER: Well, there`s still so many lingering and disturbing questions about the death of Heath Ledger. Coming up, we`re looking into the Mary- Kate connection. Why Mary-Kate Olsen got called before 911 and of course the big question, why police have no plans to talk to her about it?
ANDERSON: Plus, Hulk Hogan`s divorce could be getting ugly. Just wait until you hear what Hulk`s wife is accusing him of. That`s next.
HAMMER: And it is the red carpet appearance that has everybody wondering, is Angelina pregnant? I mean, look at that. Could there actually be another addition to the Brangelina bunch on the way?
And while we`re on the topic, here`s something I want to know, and I`ve been wondering this for sometime now. Why is it that we`re so obsessed with celebrity babies anyway? You see them on the papers, you see them on the magazines every single day. That is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Three big stories making headlines in Hollywood right now. First up, in Hollywood divorce court, Hulk Hogan`s wife accusing him of legal shenanigans including trying to trick her into signing a post nuptial agreement. That`s according to the "St. Petersburg Times." Linda Bollea filed for divorce a few months ago after more than 20 years of marriage to the hulkster. She is seeking half of the couples` assets.
Well, get ready for a whole new round of teenage squealing. Yes, NKOTB, New Kids On The Block, getting back together. The band`s website is up and running and "People" says an official announcement will come in the next few weeks. The New Kids sold more than 50 million albums before they called it quits back in 1994.
And Scarlett Johansson is really throwing her support behind one candidate in the presidential election. She told the Associated Press that her heart belongs to Barack Obama and that she`s engaged to him. OK. So she was basically just deflecting a question about rumors that she may be engaged to her boyfriend, Ryan Reynolds, but wouldn`t that be an interesting twist in this campaign?
ANDERSON: Well, there are still so many lingering and disturbing questions about the death of Heath Ledger. Coming up, we are looking into the Mary- Kate connection. Why Mary-Kate Olsen got called before 911 and the big question - why police have no plans to talk to her about it.
HAMMER: Plus, it`s a red carpet appearance that has everyone wondering is Angelina pregnant? Could there be another addition to the Brangelina bunch on the way?
And while we`re on the topic, I want to know why are we so obsessed with celebrity babies anyway? That is coming up.
But first, you can stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news with our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter, and you can get it every single day. All you have to do is go to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Click on the "Sign up for newsletter" link right there on the bottom of the page, and it`s going to show up in your E-mail box every single day. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT coming right back.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the mysterious Mary-Kate Olsen connection to Heath Ledger. Brand new details about the calls made to Mary-Kate before 911. Plus, controversy erupts over why police say they have no interest in talking to her. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the late-breaking developments in the Heath Ledger/Mary-Kate mystery.
Is there a baby Brangelina on the way? It is the red carpet appearance that has everyone wondering, is Angelina Jolie pregnant? And why are we so obsessed with celebrity babies anyway? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Hollywood`s baby boom.
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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. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. OK. Tonight, there`s a big controversy raging over what happened when Heath Ledger`s body was found and Mary-Kate Olsen was called.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the very latest on Heath`s tragic death. New York City`s police commissioner insists there is no need to talk to Mary-Kate even as new details surface about the phone calls made to her when Ledger`s body was found.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has also just learned that the results of the autopsy on Ledger won`t be known until at least next Tuesday. What`s taking so long? Also tonight, the movie studio that made "The Dark Knight," in which Ledger plays The Joker, has done something dramatic and moving on the Web site promoting the film.
HAMMER: Joining us tonight in New York, host of Tru TV`s "Hollywood Heat," Ashleigh Banfield. And joining us in Hollywood tonight, entertainment journalist Ken Baker. Ashleigh, Ken, good to have you both here.
Brett, I want you to throw up the picture we have of the front page of Saturday`s "The New York Post." I want you guys to take a look at this. On it, the paper`s basically demanding that police question Mary-Kate about those panicked phone calls that she got from the masseuse that found Heath Ledger`s body. Ashleigh, let me toss this to you. The cops say there is no need to talk to her. A lot of people just don`t get that.
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, HOST, TRU TV`S "HOLLYWOOD HEAT": Yes. I mean, it does seem weird, doesn`t it? Although if you think about it, A.J., this is not a suspicious death. This is not a murder. This is not foul play. This could be nothing more than an accident or a suicide. And to assume that someone who`s 3,000 miles away could shed a lot of light on what happened in that apartment is to make a you-know-what out of you and me. So I don`t know that we should jump to judgment. Although, if this does change once results come in, maybe the police will change their tune.
HAMMER: Yes. A lot of it comes from the public and media`s desire to have answers to every single question that`s involved this case.
BANFIELD: Right.
HAMMER: We have been hearing that Mary-Kate got three calls by the time - I`m sorry - After the masseuse got there, called Mary-Kate three times before calling 911. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has now learned that the masseuse actually only connected and spoke with Mary-Kate just once. So, Ken Baker, kind of takes the steam out of the whole mystery of why so many calls thing, doesn`t it?
BAKER: Well, I look at it this way. Mary-Kate was reportedly secretly dating Heath Ledger for the last three months. She gets a phone call, like Ashleigh said, 3,000 miles away and she finds out that something`s wrong, that you know, he`s not responding.
Now, I don`t know if people are necessarily prepared to deal with that, especially when it`s a 28-year-old actor who`s seemingly in good health. And I think that for all this sort of noise and people yelling at the police, "Oh, you`ve got to bring her in, bring her down to the station." I think it`s all very premature and I think it takes away the human element here is that Mary-Kate Olsen must be very distraught right now.
HAMMER: Oh my. Yes.
BAKER: And I think a lot of sympathy goes out to her. And now you have media attacking her saying, "You need to go and be interrogated." I just don`t see the evidence. I agree with Ashleigh. It doesn`t seem like there`s anything there, any foul play or suspicious death. I mean, Mary- Kate Olsen is not Drew Peterson. I mean, come on.
BANFIELD: Right.
HAMMER: And Ken, can you imagine getting that phone call, whether or not they were dating - we do know that they were at least friends - can you just imagine being at the other end of that phone? Now, she has spoken out albeit in a very brief way by releasing a statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Here`s what she said last week, quote, "Heath was a friend. His death is a tragic loss. My thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time." And we do recognize that it is a very difficult time for Ashley and anybody that knew Heath Ledger. Ashleigh Banfield, this is a pretty generic statement that she put out. Mary-Kate`s name is already mixed up in this whole thing. So really, despite the difficult time, wouldn`t it, at some point, if not later rather than sooner, wouldn`t it be in her best interest to go on the record and set the record straight?
BANFIELD: I don`t know about that. Again, she isn`t mixed up in this other than what "The Post" is reporting. The police certainly kind of mitigate that somewhat. And I do know that she has had her attorneys send out some communiqu's and those have been none too kind. And I think they`re more like cease and desist letters than anything else that`s informative. I think at this point, Mary-Kate is probably doing herself a great service by keeping mum.
HAMMER: Well Ashleigh, here`s something else you can sound off on because in another new development, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned that the toxicology results that now reveal exactly why Heath Ledger died won`t actually be ready until next Tuesday at the earliest. So what is taking so long? Is it normal if the preliminary tests didn`t show any foul play that they`re saying it is still going to be yet another week?
BANFIELD: No. It`s not unusual at all. In fact, I did a little research for you to come up with as many syllables as I could. Apparently, when you have forensics, not all labs accept forensics. Certainly not hospitals which do a lot of lab work. So you`re limited in the number of labs that can do the testing. The testing on this kind of material is also very specialized. Are you ready? It`s called gas chromatography mass spectrometry. And that`s also very limited. So now you have fewer labs that can do this stuff.
Now, add on the fact that he`s a celebrity. He doesn`t get to jump the line. There are hundreds of samples into these places. And now add on, A.J. the whole world is watching super-scrutinizing. They want to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: You want to get it right.
BANFIELD: That`s right. Yes.
HAMMER: You want to get it right. And the truth is, you know, we are all just awaiting information. I think this is good for people to know that it is not abnormal so they`re not saying, "Oh! Something must be terribly wrong."
Now, the studio that`s set to release Heath`s last completed film, "The Dark Knight," paying tribute in their own way on their official website. Normally, "The Dark Knight" trailers and pictures were showing. Now, they`ve been replaced by this. I believe we have a picture, a touching tribute, "We mourn the loss of a remarkable talent gone too soon and the passing of an extraordinary man who will be greatly missed."
Ken Baker, really shows what a pickle Warner Brothers is in, doesn`t it, in terms of the sensitivity they need to employ and the way they handle the promotion of the film.
BAKER: That would be sort of damned if you do, damned if you don`t. But I think, ultimately, the studio made the right decision. Look, later this year, they`re going to have to market this movie. And I`m not going to speak for Heath Ledger.
But let me just tell you who Heath Ledger was as an actor. He worked hard to not only act in his movies but to promote his movies. And I can`t imagine that he wouldn`t want Warner Brothers to promote his movie eventually. And I think Warner Brothers is basically saying, "Look, we`re going to take a break from it. We`re going to acknowledge him and memorialize him." And the fact is, there is a movie and they`re going to have to market it. And I think they are in a pickle, but they made the right choice and it seemed like the sensible, sensitive thing to do.
HAMMER: Does seem like a good game plan to me. Ashleigh Banfield, Ken Baker, I thank you as always.
BAKER: Thanks.
ANDERSON: I have to tell you that I was at the Screen Actors Guild awards in Hollywood Sunday night and what happened to Heath seemed to be on just everybody`s mind. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there speaking with the stars about Heath`s death and his legacy. Take a look.
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CHANDRA WILSON, STAR OF "GREY`S ANATOMY": We have to mention him. This is the 75th anniversary of the Screen Actors Guild and we are talking about actors and he`s one of ours. And he`s going to be thoroughly missed. The potential was right there and we don`t get to have it.
TONY SHALOUB, ACTOR: I think he was really admired and thought of as, you know, a real talent who had just an enormous future.
HOLLY HUNTER, ACTRESS: A wonderful, wonderful actor. Very exciting and very unpredictable.
SALLY FIELD, ACTRESSL It`s tragic that when any young talented person dies so very young.
ELLEN BURSTYN, ACTRESS: He was the exciting, young talent. You know, a beautiful soul.
JOHN KRASINSKI, ACTOR: I don`t know that I have ever been so affected in such a way to hear about somebody passing on. Without even knowing him, he was about to be a trail blazer. He did such incredible work and got to a place where he was going to set the tone for everybody else.
EDIE FALCO, ACTRESS: I didn`t know him but I have been somehow sickened by this thing. He was a tremendous talent and the whole thing is beyond heartbreaking.
EVA LONGORIA-PARKER, ACTRESS: Besides his acting abilities, I think from what I gather - I didn`t know him but that he was an amazing human being.
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, ACTOR: There are many actors in this room tonight, including my fellow nominees who have given me that sense of regeneration. Heath Ledger gave it to me. And I`d like to dedicate this to Heath Ledger. Thanks very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Daniel Day-Lewis` tribute came as he was accepting a SAG award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for the amazing film "There Will Be Blood." A reminder - you can see a complete list of the winners of the SAG awards on our website, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: Can you feel the unbelievable political heat that`s going on these days? Well, the countdown is on Super Tuesday, of course, and the next presidential primaries next week. But also, get ready for the other Super Tuesday. Yes, it is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s "Superstar Tuesday." You won`t want to miss this.
We are going to be asking you to vote online with a different question about Hollywood`s biggest stars every single day. And then, we will reveal and debate results in a very special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s going to be a lot of fun, next Tuesday, February 5th. It`s our own "Superstar Tuesday." Now, here`s what we`d like you to vote on right now - which celebrity would you vote for, for president, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Will Smith or Oprah Winfrey?
To cast your vote, go to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Polls are open, and the results are going to be revealed on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s "Superstar Tuesday," that is next Tuesday, February 5th.
Well, you know, if Angelina Jolie ever did become president, I can tell you, there will certainly be a lot of kids running around in that White House. But are there even more on the way? You know, I wasn`t the only one who saw Angelina showing up with Brad Pitt at the SAG Awards Sunday night and thought, is she pregnant again? And Angelina is not the only star making Hollywood take a pregnant pause. That coming up next.
ANDERSON: And here`s somebody, A.J. I love to see perform. The fabulous Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana. Yes, me and millions of others. And you just had to see the Hannah Montana miracle that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT pulled off. It was huge. Don`t move. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
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ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. You`re watching TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. Tonight, a showbiz special report, "Who`s pregnant now?" Move over baseball. America`s new favorite past time is obsessing about celebrity pregnancies, from J. Lo to Halle Berry, even Matthew McConaughey and his girlfriend.
Hollywood`s on a big-time baby boom and now new speculation that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are pregnant with their fifth child. It`s a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, "Who`s Pregnant Now?"
Joining me tonight in New York, psychology expert and author of "The Cult of Perfection," Cooper Lawrence. Also tonight in New York, founder of Spotlight Communications and publicity expert, Maggie Gallant. Maggie, Cooper, we`ve got to start with the biggest buzz out there right now - is Angelina pregnant?
I was right there last night at the SAG Awards downtown Los Angeles. She arrives at the red carpet with Brad Pitt looking beautiful but in a very flowy dress. And now, this appearance comes after a report last week from the X-17 Photo Agency that she was pregnant. Cooper, the way she was dressed kind of fuelled the fire, didn`t it?
LAWRENCE: It sure did. And you know - but she`s a great example of a reflection of the cultural debate going on in society now about what motherhood is. She and Brad are happily unmarried. You can be that or an older mom like Marcia Cross or you can be an unmarried mom like Sheryl Crow. So it really is a good reflection of what motherhood is about now in society.
ANDERSON: So do you think she`s redefining for everyone out there what motherhood in America is today, or can be?
LAWRENCE: Absolutely. And I think - I wonder which comes first. I wonder if this is just what`s going on in society and they`re reflecting us. Or if we see them and we think, you know, well I love them and if they can do it, obviously it`s OK because they`ve been great parents. They`ve successful at it, so it gives me strength to think, you know, I think I`m going to do the same thing here.
ANDERSON: You know, I want to let you all know that the reason this is getting so much attention, Brad and Angelina and the questions of whether they`re pregnant or not is because, as I mentioned, there were reports last week that she was pregnant. In fact, there were reports she was pregnant with twins.
Well, the spokesperson for Angelina shot back saying this, quote, "From X-17? I`m not commenting on an unsubstantiated rumor from a tabloid photo agency." Maggie, what struck me is she`s not denying it. Can you please put on the decoder here and translate this talk?
MAGGIE GALLANT, PUBLICITY EXPERT: Well, Brooke, what she`s responding to is picture yourself or your aunt or your friend, they`re pregnant - many women aren`t ready even before the first trimester to announce that they`re pregnant. And, what she`s responding to is the fact that magazines, both mainstream and tabloid media, because this is the biggest story of year, they`re analyzing and scrutinizing everything they`re wearing from their boob size to find out if they can actually leak the story.
ANDERSON: Right. Exactly. And you know what? Flowy dresses are in style. I`m the first to say they`re very, very comfortable. So maybe that`s the reason she wore it. Who knows?
(CROSS TALK)
GALLANT: Or you are pregnant, Brooke?
ANDERSON: I`m not. I can go ahead and reveal that to you. I`m not that I know of. It seems like almost everybody in Hollywood is pregnant right now. Take a look at Jennifer Lopez heading into a baby shower in the full bloom of pregnancy reportedly with twins. And we`ve also got Halle Berry pregnant and adorable while she shops in Hollywood. Cooper, why do you think there is such an obsession with celebrities and pregnancies?
LAWRENCE: Well, it`s not all celebrities. It`s the ones we perceive as being beautiful and known for their bodies how hot they are. And now look, not only are they not, you know, skinny anymore, they`re just like us. They`re pregnant. So they`re not concerned with their size anymore.
I mean, look. We found Nicole Richie because she was known for being extra, extra thin and the next thing we knew she was pregnant. So it`s a very interesting story because it flies in the face of her image to now be like the rest of us.
GALLANT: Well, Hollywood celebrities - they dictate the trends. We look to them to tell us what is OK and what`s cool. And what`s so very cool is that now in conjunction with fashion designers who are now saying that being pregnant is not only beautiful but it`s really sexy and not meant to be covered up with an muumuu. It`s something to be celebrated. I mean, we can look back to Demi Moore who posed on the cover.
ANDERSON: Right, of "Vanity Fair." Yes, be proud of your pregnancy. And another star who is pregnant is Jessica Alba expecting her first child. She`s starring in the new film "The Eye," and she told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that she cannot wait to be a mom. Listen to the.
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JESSICA ALBA, ACTRESS: It`s something I dreamt about and wanted. And, I don`t know - I feel so blessed that this is happening in my life right now. So I think just the whole thing, just loving somebody unconditionally. It`s just kind of thrilling.
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ANDERSON: And you know, as we said, it is interesting because we are seeing a woman here who built her career on being a sex symbol. And now her image changing before our eyes to loving mother. Maggie, do women like Jessica Alba prove to other women you can be both?
GALLANT: Absolutely. Not just by talking about it, but as we mentioned before, in these gorgeous photos that I`m sure Jessica Alba`s going to be participating as she gets closer to her due date that really sexiness doesn`t end when you have children. It`s only just beginning. I mean there`s nothing sexier now than having the baby bump. That`s why we`re all tuning in to see who`s next.
ANDERSON: Cooper, what are your thoughts on that?
LAWRENCE: I think she is a good example of what we`re talking about with the changing view of motherhood in society, because she`s never played the role of a mother. We don`t look at her like Susan Sarandon or somebody who`s very motherly or mothering. Yet, she`s going to be a mother, so it flies in the face of the definition of what a mother is.
GALLANT: She`s having her baby and her family on her own time.
ANDERSON: That`s right.
GALLANT: She is not following old traditions exactly.
ANDERSON: And it`s not just celebrity motherhood. It`s fatherhood, too. Matthew McConaughey and his girlfriend expecting a baby, too. Congratulations to them as well. We do have to leave it there, though. Cooper Lawrence, Maggie Gallant, thank you both.
GALLANT: Thanks, Brooke.
LAWRENCE: Thanks.
ANDERSON: All right. Somebody who is also the object of America`s obsession, Hannah Montana - actually, Miley Cyrus. I was so glad to hear how she`s speaking out about an outrageous scam to get tickets to one of her concerts. And you just have to see the Hannah Montana miracle that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT pulled off. It was huge and it`s next.
HAMMER: But first, because of the Hollywood writers` strike, the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony was the first glamorous event of the awards season. The big winner, "No Country For Old Men," an Oscar favorite, won for overall cast. The other winners were Daniel Day-Lewis taking home best actor honors for "There Will Be Blood." He dedicated the win to the late Heath Ledger. Julie Christie won for best actress for her role in "Away From Her." Javier Bardem took home the best supporting actor prize in "No Country For Old Men." And Ruby Dee won for her supporting role in "American Gangster." Hang around. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: REPORTER: The fake essay - what was your reaction when you heard about this?
MILEY CYRUS, STAR OF "HANNAH MONTANA": I was really kind of upset. It definitely was upsetting because, I mean, as just not a cool scenario but it was like, you know, it`s just showing what people would do for a ticket.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was Miley Cyrus on "Good Morning, America" talking for the first time about when a six-year-old won Hannah Montana concert tickets by writing a fake essay that said her father had died in Iraq. And I can tell you that growing up under the spotlight has not gone to Miley`s head at all. She`s on tour right now and in just a second, Brooke is going to give you another example of why we know Miley`s so level headed. But let me play for you what she told "Good Morning America" about the incredible amount of manic attention she gets and some of it not always good.
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CYRUS: I`m pretty sure I`ve been called every name in the book and still it keeps me going strong. I try not to analyze it over and over. My mom says that, too, like for every, you know, 10,000 people that love you, there`s going to be another handful of 10,000 people that don`t. And it`s like there`s nothing that you can change and so that`s all right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I remember when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was Miley Cyrus` very first national TV interview. And at 15 she has become a lovely young woman and she has such a good head on her shoulders. In fact, she told me way back when that it has a lot to do with how her parents keep a close eye on her.
ANDERSON: A.J., let me give you another reason why she is great and it`s story you followed here only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Five-year-old Jada Carlson who was all set to see Hannah Montana in concert, gave away her tickets - sold-out tickets that so are hard to get, selling for thousands, to a sick classmate named Gabby. Absolutely amazing.
So SHOWBIZ TONIGHT surprised her by getting Jada and her friend Gabby not only tickets to the show but a meet and greet with Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, herself. Jada asked her to sign something. No, not a poster, but her head. Miley very reluctantly did. Faith, Jada`s mom, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it was a Hannah Montana miracle.
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FAITH CARLSON, JADA CARLSON`S MOTHER: We weren`t expecting any of this. We were just expecting just to have somebody smile, you know, make their year a little better. And it`s returned so much more and it`s an experience I have grown up knowing and expecting, you know, to help people out.
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ANDERSON: Yes. The magic marker is still there as you saw and there`s so much more to this amazing story. Tuesday on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive, you will see the Miley Cyrus miracle up close when we take you backstage at this amazing event.
HAMMER: I, for one, cannot wait to see that. Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks a lot for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is coming up next. Take care.
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