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Showbiz Tonight
Court Fight Over Death of John Ritter; Why are Celebrities Turning to Performance-Enhancing Drugs?
Aired February 14, 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, CNN HN HOST: A court fight over the death of John Ritter. Should two doctors have to pay $67 million? I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN HN HOST: And it isn`t just a baseball scandal. Why Hollywood stars may be turning the steroids and growth hormones. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, what the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) is going on? Jane Fonda curses on "The Today Show" big time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANE FONDA, ACTRESS: I live in Georgia, OK? I was asked to do a monologue called (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Jane, wash your mouth out with soap. But wait. Not just Jane. Diane Keaton dropping the F-bomb, even SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson gets hit with verbal shrapnel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN FARRELL, ACTOR: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Come on. Do they kiss their mothers with those mouths? Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking why do all these (EXPLETIVE DELETED) say (EXPLETIVE DELETED) and (EXPLETIVE DELETED) and worst of all (EXPLETIVE DELETED)?
Leave the kids alone. Brand new scathing attacks by Hollywood`s biggest stars on the paparazzi. Are the children of stars fair game for the paparazzi or should the kids be totally off limits? Tonight, a showbiz special report -- leave the kids alone.
And Mel Gibson`s staying dry. Hey, young Hollywood. You could learn a thing or two of sobriety from Mad Max.
Hello, 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 and there`s big news over the battle to control Britney Spears` fate and fortune. Should her parents remain in control? A dramatic show down in court today and the late-breaking details coming up.
HAMMER: But first, call in the censors. Well, I had no idea that Jane was so fond of cursing. But Jane, please. Did you have to do it on live TV today? We could not believe what came out of Jane Fonda`s mouth and I am betting neither could the millions of people watching at the time. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you there seems to be an epidemic of this stuff out there right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MEREDITH VIEIRA, NBC NEWS: We would do nothing to offend the audience.
HAMMER (voice-over): A mortified Meredith apologizes for the events that rocked nation. Minutes earlier within these hallowed walls of 30 Rockefeller Center, a "Today Show" guest uttered the most shocking, most provocative, most offensive thing one can say on live TV.
JO PIAZZA, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": This is the one word that you absolutely can`t say not only on TV but, you know, any time at all.
HAMMER: The potty mouth in question? Seventy-year-old screen icon Jane Fonda.
VIEIRA: Jane, you at first were not a big fan of the play. So what turned you around?
HAMMER: On "The Today Show," Meredith was asking Jane Fonda about her initial reluctance to participate in the well-known play "The Vagina Monologues."
FONDA: It wasn`t that I wasn`t a big fan. I hadn`t seen the big play.
HAMMER: All right. Cover your ears. The offensive term is coming up.
FONDA: I live in Georgia I was asked to do a monologue called (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
HAMMER: We, of course, had to bleep Jane`s comments but it was not bleeped when it was airing live on the East Coast. We won`t tell you exactly what she said but use your imagination.
ALICIA QUARLES, ASSOCIATED PRESS: She dropped the "C" word.
HAMMER: Yes, the big queen grandmother of words you can`t on TV uttered live on the most watched news show on television as millions of viewers sipped their morning coffee.
QUARLES: I was like, did Jane Fonda just say that? Yes, she did.
PIAZZA: Picture moms all over America boxing the kids` ears saying you didn`t see that. No, no. She said hunt.
HAMMER: After a commercial break, Meredith Vieira apologized for Fonda.
VIEIRA: It was a slip and obviously she apologizes and so do we.
HAMMER: Jane`s slip comes just weeks after another iconic actress, Diane Keaton dropped the F bomb on another morning show, "Good Morning American."
KEATON: I would like to have lips like that. Then I wouldn`t have to work on my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) personality. Or my -- excuse me. My personality.
HAMMER: What is it with these two grand dames of Hollywood? They`ve both earned Oscars but now they`ve earned something else. Their mouths scrubbed out with soap.
QUARLES: Paris and Britney might show their uh-huh for the paparazzi but they don`t say it when they are on TV.
Young Hollywood gets a bad rap but old Hollywood is not behaving themselves.
HAMMER (on camera): Hey, it is an occupational hazard of doing live TV. C bombs, F bombs, S bombs, heck, an entire alphabet of bombs has been dropped on live TV but, I`ve got to say, in recent weeks, it seems like it`s become some kind of epidemic. In fact, it even hit my friend and colleague Brooke Anderson a few woks back.
(voice-over): During a live CNN interview from the Sundance Film Festival, movie star Colin Farrell unleashed a couple of naughties on poor, unsuspecting Brooke.
FARRELL: This was your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Irish. Oh (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
ANDERSON: Sorry about that. Oh. I hope we caught that in time.
HAMMER: These TV slips can be funny but they can also be serious. Especially when the FCC gets involved as it did when U2`s Bono let one fly at the 2003 Golden Globes.
BONO, SINGER: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) it.
HAMMER: Bono got more than a bar of soap in the mouth. With the threat of hefty fines, the FCC started cracking down on televised slips of the tongue. So far, there hasn`t been any action against "Good Morning America" for Diane`s F bomb. These two Hollywood icons may have earned the right to be a tad outspoken.
PIAZZA: I guess they`re women of a certain age and they just don`t care anymore. I think that once you reach the level of a Diane Keaton or a Jane Fonda, you can drop whatever bombs you want on morning television.
HAMMER: So drop your F bombs, Diane. Credit the C bombs fly, Jane. We still love you but keeping the soap ready.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Would it surprise you to learn that some people aren`t amused by Jane Fonda`s little gaffe? The conservative watchdog group, the Parents` Television Council is blasting NBC for, quote, "airing one of the most patently offensive words in the English language on broadcast television. The group wants NBC to change its broadcasting practices and implement a time delay for "The Today Show."
ANDERSON: Tonight, I have big, breaking Britney news to tell you about. A new showdown over Britney Spears` Fate and fortune is over and guess who`s still in charge? Britney`s father. A judge today said Britney`s father Jamie Spears should retain control over the estate until March 10th and hold on. There`s more. The judge also ordered Britney to be evaluated again before even concerning whether to get her kids back. Joining me tonight from New York, legal analyst for CNN`s AMERICAN MORNING Sunny Hostin and in Hollywood, executive news editor for E!, Ken Baker. All right, guys. Britney`s been out of the hospital for a week. And I have to say, with the exception of shopping with her mom, teaching a dance class for kids, she has been flying under the radar. Sunny, why wasn`t that enough to convince the court today that she`s getting her life back on track and she deserves to regain control?
SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, you know, a judge not only looks at that couple of days, a judge has to look at the totality of the circumstances and we no that that commissioner ordered a court-ordered physician to look at her, to evaluate her and to determine her competence and that report was due on February 13th. What I think happened is the judge looked a the that report and everything that had happened before, the fact kept three days and asked for another hold for 14 days and decided, you know what? She needs more time to get it together.
ANDERSON: More time to keep that low profile. Good point. You know, while controlling her money, Britney`s father has kept a tight leash on just about every aspect of her life. "People" magazine reports Jamie Spears had the right to do everything from hiring bodyguards, restricting visitors and it even seems that pink wig is retired. So Ken, it would seem on the surface at least this whole conservatorship has been working out and the judge agreed.
KEN BAKER, E! TELEVISION: As Sunny said, though, yesterday a progress report was due to the court. A progress report. And I think she has made progress by all appearances. And I think that all the judge was saying today is probably keep it up. We`re also going to do a 730 evaluation which is sort of analyzing the impact of family and custody issues and how this will play into the conservatorship and so there is a lot more progress that she is going to have to make before she gets control of her affairs.
Now of course, the question is would this happen to anyone? I mean, could this happen to anyone who`s put in the hospital and then gets out and all their affairs are taken away from them? I think obviously what`s happened here and has been widely reported is that Britney is suffering from a mental illness and I think that the court wants to make sure she`s being treated, she is making progress and that when she does get control of her financial, legal, personal affairs back that she is prepared to do that so they don`t have to be dragged back into court and reinstate the conservatorship.
ANDERSON: And as you mentioned, she does have to undergo that 730 evaluation, what that is is a study of the family for child custody purposes. She hasn`t seen her kids in over a month. And I want to say this. Britney`s so-called manager Sam Lutzi (ph) has also been out of sight since Britney`s parents got a restraining order against him. As we know, Britney`s mother has accused Sam of drugging Britney, controlling her every move. Sunny Hostin, assuming that Britney can regain total control of her life at some point, does this also mean that she can let Sam Lutzi back into her life?
HOSTIN: I don`t think so. What`s interesting is that there`s a restraining order that`s been put in place and that restraining order is going to expire and typically is what happens is there has to be another hearing to extend it if at all possible and we know that her family`s going to try to do that but what I think is fascinating is they have tried - at least the lawyers represented in court, they have tried to serve those papers and they have tried for 200 hours successfully. He`s hiding out, he`s dodging. Wants to be in her life by all accounts but I think definitely we`re going to hear more about it and her family will try to keep him away from her.
ANDERSON: Lawyers said that he feels he`s been intentionally hiding out to avoid being served. As you said. And of course, besides regaining control of her life, you know, and her finances, Britney would also in theory love to be able to see her kids again. Sunny, can a decision on would manage her affairs greatly impact possibly whether she could see her kids, whether it be Sam Lutzi, whether it be her dad. Could that have an effect?
HOSTIN: I think there`s no question that that will have an effect. This 730 evaluation is a very big deal. What the evaluator is going to determine is what family or which family structure in the best interest of those children and typically it is in the best interest of the child to have a relationship with both a mother and a father. This is a best case scenario for her. If she can show to that evaluator that the best interest of her children is served by having her as part of their lives, that is going to be a great, great thing for Britney and I think, I think the fact that she is getting sort of mental help, that she has her father in her life now, bodes well for her. I`m going to predict that if she does well during this 730 evaluation, she will get at least some sort of visitation with her children.
ANDERSON: OK. All right. She does have that evaluation she has to face. Sunny Hostin, Ken Baker, thank you both for your insight. We appreciate it.
HOSTIN: Thank you.
HAMMER: This may be hard to believe but young Hollywood could actually learn a thing or two about sobriety from Mel Gibson. Yeah. Mel seems to be doing a great job staying sober since his DUI arrest. I can think of a few stars who should follow in his example about that. That`s coming up.
Also this .
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REESE WITHERSPOON, ACTRESS: I wish they`d leave my kids alone. I`m fine with me but kids aren`t really a part of the deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right. I happen to agree with Reese but not everyone does. Should the children of stars be off limits to the paparazzi when they are out in public? Well that`s a heated debate here. We`re getting into that coming up.
HAMMER: And I got to tell you. I`m excited about this. The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT crew is excited about this.
CREW: Yeah!
HAMMER: Indiana Jones is back. Your very first look at the new Indiana Jones movie is still to come in the "Showbiz Showcase." I guarantee you do not want to miss it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, the tragic death of John Ritter. A dramatic trial over a lawsuit that claims his death could have been prevented. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And tonight, we have two big stories that are new right now. We`ve just got to tell you about them as we battle over who`s responsible for Ritter`s death continues, tonight, we are now learning more about the day he suddenly and unexpectedly died.
Also new tonight, Mel Gibson staying dry. Big news about his court-ordered alcohol rehabilitation following his notorious DUI arrest and anti-Semitic rant.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, Laura Saltman, correspondent for accesshollywood.com and joining from New York tonight, Ben Widdicombe who writes the "Gatecrasher" column for the "New York Daily News."
Laura, Ben, it is good to see you both. And I want to start off with John Ritter. He died more than four years ago from a tear in his aorta. It was just such a heart breaking loss. His widow, actress Amy Asbeck (ph), is suing for $67 million claiming that he was wrongly diagnosed. Laura, let me throw this out to you. What exactly is Amy Asbeck claiming went wrong that day?
LAURA SALTMAN, ACCESSHOLLYWOOD.COM: Well, Amy is claiming that he had died of an aortic dissection. What happened was as he was taken to the hospital, he was diagnosed as he was having a heart attack so when they took him in, rather than a chest X-ray, they didn`t do that. Because they thought he was having a heart attack and a major claim here the doctors did not perform a chest X-ray which normally, 60 to 90 percent of the time that would have shown that his aorta was enlarged.
HAMMER: One thing that is confusing me about this trial. Now, on the day of his death, John Ritter`s friend, Henry Winkler, the Fonz was shooting a guest starring role in Ritter`s sitcom at the time, "Eight Simple Rules" and Winkler just took the stand and it was a very emotional testimony and he talked about the last conversation he had with John Ritter saying, "We were talking in the middle of the soundstage. He was sweating and told me, you know, I really need to get some water. I went one direction and he went the other and that was the last time I ever saw him."
Ben Widdicombe, you would think this trial would be just about doctors and specialists. I`m really little confused why Henry Winkler would be taking the stand as emotional as his testimony was.
BEN WIDDICOMBE, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": This is a Hollywood trial. There is a lot of money at stake, $67 million. So you want some star power and who has more moral authority, frankly, than the Fonz? And he was a material witness. He was there that day. He did see Ritter, unfortunately, take ill and leave to get some water and he can testify he was sweating. So he does have something to add.
HAMMER: I should point out, by the way, that Ritter`s family already received $14 million from previous settlements but now they are suing as I said for $67 million. This from the doctors. Laura, I understand if Ritter`s family wins this time around, they`re hoping to use it for a good cause, aren`t they?
SALTMAN: Yeah. Amy Asbeck, she has said on "The Today Show" if she gets any of the 67 million she`s going to start a John Ritter Foundation and let me tell you, A.J., about why that 67 million figure has come about. That`s what they`re claiming that had John lived and done the show "Eight Simple Rules" and sitcom kept going, that`s what they are claiming he would have gotten because he would have gotten increases in salary had he resigned the contract and they expected the show the go seven years and where the number is coming from. I don`t think the show -- I don`t know what you think, but I don`t think that show would have lived on seven years so I think that number is probably a little bit inflated.
HAMMER: Maybe so but it was probably destined for syndication. In any event, as I said, a heartbreaking story. I had the opportunity to spend some time with Amy and John years back. Just lovely, lovely people.
I want to move on to this other story that`s new right now. Believe it or not, it looks like Mel Gibson has turned into the poster boy for how to behave after you get arrested for a DUI. This is a little unbelievable but it`s true.
A judge just declared that Mel has finished the alcohol rehab program and the court is satisfied that he`s staying out of trouble. Ben, hard to believe I`m saying this but it looks like some of Hollywood`s young party girls, Lindsay and Paris, could actually learn a thing of two from Mel, couldn`t they.
WIDDICOMBE: Certainly. What Mel is doing exactly right is he knows when you mess up in the public eye, you have to apologize. He`s been in hot water before. He made allegedly anti-gay remarks. He apologized. He met the appropriate groups. He apologized again which is what some of the younger ones don`t understand. You remember when Paris got in trouble, she refused to apologized, was criticized hugely and then did a 180 degree turn around. So he is doing that exactly right.
HAMMER: The judge said, quote, "you`re on your own now with the self-help group and the most difficult for you. Good luck to you as you continue your rehabilitation."
Laura, he may be over the alcohol but people are still scrutinizing his every move. What do you think, are you hopeful his whole image will turn around?
SALTMAN: I really am. He`s 52 years old. I hope that a father who has seven children, his kids range in age from 26 on down, I would hope that as a father he wants to set a good example for his children and that he would try to really make a difference, clean up his act. What`s great about him, though .
HAMMER: I have to cut you of there. I know you have a great point to make but I`m out of time. Let`s hope he can continue to turn it around. Ben Witticombe, Laura Saltman, I do appreciate you being with us.
SALTMAN: Thanks, A.J.
ANDERSON: OK. So we all know the paparazzi situation has gotten out of control. There`s even a leave Britney alone law in the works but I`ve got to ask, what about the kids? Are the children of stars fair game when they`re out in public or should they be off limits? That is coming up.
Also this .
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH FERGUSON, DUCHESS OF YORK: I`m still going to go on reaching out to Britney. I like her. I think she is a really -- she is a good person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I like Sarah Ferguson. She, of course, the Duchess of York, is reaching out to Britney Spears. I sat down with Sarah and she told me why she feels sorry for Britney and what she thinks could help her. You won`t want to miss it. Just ahead in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And steroid use isn`t just a baseball scandal. Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood have admitted using human growth hormone. Why are celebrities turning to performance-enhancing drugs and do they work? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates straight ahead.
HAMMER: Now, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT any time you`d like. All you have to do is download our podcast. It won`t cost you anything because it`s free. You`ll find the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast on our website cnn.com/showbiztonight and you can also download our podcast on iTunes. Just type "Showbiz Tonight" into that search box.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Charles. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Here`s some more stories that are new right now. George Clooney`s trying to prevent an actors` strike that would shut down Hollywood like the writers` strike did. Clooney took out an ad in "Variety" and "The Hollywood Reporter" along with Robert DeNiro, Tom, Hanks and Meryl Streep asking fellow Screen Actors` Guild members to start negotiations with studios and producers early. Their contract deadline is June 30th.
Madonna unveiling her directorial debut at the Berlin Film Festival. Her movie, "Filth and Wisdom" is about struggling to finance your dreams while working in unfulfilling jobs. Something Madonna says she can remember like it was yesterday.
Billy Ray Cyrus says he is sorry he didn`t buckle up in his daughter`s hit movie. In the Hannah Montana movie Billy and Miley Cyrus are filmed riding in a car while not wearing seat belts. "Consumer Reports" magazine blasted them for it. Billy says they just got caught up in the moment of filming and forgot to buckle up and that seatbelt safety is extremely important. I think we can all sleep easier now.
ANDERSON: Paparazzi situation has clearly gotten out of control. There`s a mob scene around Britney Spears everywhere she goes. But I want to know, what about kids? Are the children of stars fair game when they are out in public? That`s coming up.
Also this .
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERGUSON: I`m still going to go on reaching out to Britney. I like her. I think she is a really - she is a good person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sarah Ferguson, the duchess of York, reaching out to Britney Spears. Now I sat down with Sarah. She told me why she feels sorry for Britney and what she thinks could really help her. You`ll definitely want to stick around for that coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And steroid use isn`t just a baseball scandal. Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood have admitted using human growth hormone. Why are celebrities turning to performance-enhancing drugs and do they work? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates straight ahead.
HAMMER: But first, make sure you stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news with our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT news letter. Just head on over to our Web site, cnn.com/showbiztonight. Click on the "sign up for newsletter" link. It`s right there on the bottom of the page. We`ll e- mail it to you every single day.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, leave stars` kids alone. Tonight, some of the biggest names in Hollywood like Reese Witherspoon are just fed up. They have had it with the paparazzi chasing them to get pictures of their children.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WITHERSPOON: I wish they`d leave my kids alone. I`m fine with, you know, me but kids aren`t really a part of the deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A lot of people really fired up about this. Should stars` kids be off limits to the paparazzi? Tonight, a showbiz special report "Leave the Kids Alone."
Showbiz investigates, stars and steroids. Tonight, as the absolutely unbelievable battle over sports stars allegedly using performance enhancers rages on, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT uncovers startling information. Some of the biggest Hollywood stars are openly using human growth hormone. Tonight, the blockbuster controversy over stars and steroids.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 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.
Tonight, a showbiz special report "Leave the Kids Alone."
From Reese Witherspoon to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, celebrity parents have had enough. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants to know -- are these kids of stars fair game for the limelight or should the paparazzi just back off? Joining me tonight in New York, Cooper Lawrence, psychology expert and author of this book, "The Cult of Perfection."
And in Hollywood, executive news editor of E, Ken Baker and also in New York, anchor of TruTV`s "Hollywood Heat", Ashleigh Banfield. Cooper, Ken, Ashleigh.
We are talking here about the privacy of little kids. And just to give you an idea of how crazy a paparazzi swarm can be, take a look at this video here. Sure it is Britney Spears but a day in the life of any celebrity. Paparazzi are everywhere. It`s hard enough for the celebrity themselves to actually handle this but imagine what it must be like for a young child. Ken Baker, are the kids fair game out in public with their famous parents?
BAKER: Well, you know, I saw something really disturbing the other day, I saw some video of Jennifer Garner coming out after a kids` place with her young child and one of the photographers got really close and basically she freaked out on them saying, look, I have a child with me. That`s when it`s disturbing. Here`s the thing. There`s the old adage that there`s a high price of fame and unfortunately if you`re the offspring of someone famous, there`s a high price that you pay as far as not having privacy and I think that`s the name of the game particularly out here.
Now, there`s a big difference. The you`re walking down Rodeo Drive or you`re taking a stroll on the beach in a public place, it`s hard to expect that there`s not going to be shots taken of you and in California there`s a law. If you are an individual and you have a quote "reasonable expectation of privacy," then you have the right not to be photographed but if you are in a public place, you are going to be photographed and if that includes your kids holding your hands, it just is part of the game.
ANDERSON: Well, think about a huge powerful couple like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt who has we have seen before are swarmed whenever they`re out in public with their kids. Cooper Lawrence, Ken talks about a law but should there be a law specifically to protect the kids to keep them safe?
COOPER LAWRENCE, PSYCHOLOGIST: What`s interesting about these kids, you are not just talking about children in general. You are talking about children that are growing up in a very unusual environment and when we go back to psychology, we look at the nature/nurture argument. The personality versus the environment. Well, the environment here is not only terrible to be growing up in but it is affecting their development. How could it not be?
So I think, you know, everything we do in the law is in the best interest of the child. Well, these children, nothing is in their best interest if they`re going to be scrutinized with every move. They don`t get to have a normal childhood. That`s not fair because they didn`t ask to be born into this family.
ANDERSON: Exactly. And Brad Pitt has talked about his children thinking it`s normal to walk out of their front door and be faced with a wall of flashbulbs. That`s abnormal. What a strange aspect of the celebrity child`s life. And I can tell you that Reese Witherspoon who has two young children on the warpath about this. And she told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that she has had enough. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WITHERSPOON: Yeah, I wish they`d leave my kids alone. I`m fine with, you know, me. But kids aren`t really part of the deal so that gets really kind of irritating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ashleigh Banfield, let me ask you this. Ken Baker kind of said it goes with the territory. If a celebrity chooses that career and chooses to be in the spotlight, then the children will be photographed, as well. Do you think that`s true?
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, TRU TV: I think it`s unfortunate. That it`s true. But it isn`t right. The children aren`t choosing it therefore, they should be off limits. And I have to be honest with you. There are a lot of paparazzi out there who will respect that and they do listen when they`re chastised by someone like Julia Roberts who says you`re in a school and taking pictures of kids. That`s embarrassing. They will listen. Not all of them will but you know what? We also have rights, too, you can get a restraining order. It is a little hard for Britney Spears to face down 100 people and figure out all of their names, all of their addresses and a hearing on every single one to get a restraining order for them not to take pictures of your kids but you do have some rights. As far as the law goes, though, look. First amendment versus right to privacy has always been a big debate and it will continue to be that.
ANDERSON: Well, what`s really sad to me and Cooper mentioned this is it does take a toll on the kids. Reese Witherspoon`s ex-husband Ryan Phillipe tells "W" magazine that he`s actually thinking about leaving Los Angeles because it has gotten so bad. Listen to this. Quote, "It`s really scarring. It definitely does a number on my eight year old daughter. To hear her say that she worries about what she`s wearing when she leaves the house because she knows her picture will be taking, it`s a really disturbing environment."
Ken Baker, that is very scary to hear. I don`t care if you think it goes with the territory.
BAKER: Well, no. That`s not a new issue either. Bruce Willis and Demi Moore left Los Angeles at the height of their movie careers in the ninenties and moved where? To Idaho. To the mountains of Idaho. And guess what? They limited by a thousand percent the amount of exposure that their kids got and they were allowed to have a relatively normal childhood without the paparazzi on them.
But even celebrities who stay in town, they do have an element of control. We rarely see Tom Cruise and his children out. Why? Because he has a whole security team. He is very strategic about how he goes out.
Look at Kevin Federline. He has had those two young boys for the last six weeks in his custody. We have not seen a single picture of him with those kids. If it was Britney, we would have seen them every day. So the celebrities are not just victims in here. Their lives are complicated and they do have to take more measures to protect their children but they can take those measures and some of them chose to and some of them don`t.
ANDERSON: Well, speaking about those sorts of extreme measures to prevent their kids from being in the limelight, Julia Roberts moved to New Mexico as Ashleigh mentioned and faced down the paparazzi at the school. Who can forget Michael Jackson`s ingenius tactic of dressing the kids up in masks?
Cooper, do you agree that may be the answer for celebrity parents? Extreme measures?
LAWRENCE: Well, the extreme measures as Ken was saying would be to move away from the paparazzi. Move out of Hollywood. Move out of New York. Because you as a parent -- forget about the celebrity angle. You as a parent in charge of the kids, you are in charge of the development. Everything that happens to them is their responsibility. So what`s more important to you? Your career or your children? So it almost feels like if you value your children and value their development, value their lives, you will always do something that -- like move away from paparazzi. To make -- to ensure their development is not harmed.
ANDERSON: Well, on the opposite end of that, some celebrities every now and then take their children to red carpet premieres like Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith and also Demi Moore sometimes her kids are exposed.
Ashleigh Banfield, what do you think? Is that a good strategy? Appease the paparazzi so they don`t harass you?
BANFIELD: I don`t know about that because I think some of the picture that really sell are the ones you are not expecting. Red carpet pictures, you expect. Stuff around the pool or out on the beach with your kids you don`t expect and they have a higher price. And I think that parents who decide to trot their kids out are running a huge risk. Kathie Lee Gifford used to do that and I think she got a lot of heat for that.
Then again, look at Rumer Willis, she has got a budding career because of having walked on the red carpet.
ANDERSON: She is going into acting now. I am going to have to step in there. We are out of time unfortunately. But Ashleigh Banfield, Cooper Lawrence, Ken Baker, thank you all. We appreciate it.
BAKER: Thanks.
HAMMER: So Brooke, I sat down with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, she is totally fired up about how the media scrutinized her daughter about her weight but Sarah also has a lot to say about Britney Spears` fight with the tabloids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERGUSON: I`m still going to go on reaching out to Britney. I like her. I think she is a really -- she is a good person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sarah so fired up. You won`t want to miss this. Coming up.
ANDERSON: Stars and steroids. You know, I`ve been watching the dramatic testimony of baseball great Roger Clemens. He is accused of steroids, human growth hormone. But tonight, I can tell you this is not just about sports. Some of the biggest Hollywood stars are openly admitting to using HGH. We have got that explosive story next.
HAMMER: And if you could see me you`d see I`m jumping out of my seat for this. Your first look at the new Indiana Jones movie. It`s been about 20 years since the last one. You definitely don`t want to miss this. Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROGER CLEMENS, BASEBALL PLAYER: I am saying Brian Macnamey`s (ph) statements about me are wrong. Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This is an absolutely incredible story that everybody`s talking about. One of the best pitchers of all time, Roger Clemens, testifying before Congress. His ex-trainer Brian Macnamey claims he injected Clemens with steroids and other performance enhancers but tonight, I can tell you this is not just about sports stars. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson.
Well, you will be shocked to learn that some of the biggest names in Hollywood are using human growth hormone doing whatever it takes to look and feel young, spending thousands trying to find that fountain of youth. So what kind of message does that send to fans?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates and here`s CNN`s David Mattingly for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Hollywood, it`s all about image, and relatively young stars could be the latest wave of customers turning to performance enhancing substances.
When people come to you, what are they looking for?
DR. ANDRE BERGER, PRESCRIBES HGH: Well, they come for generally two reasons. They want to feel better and they want to look better.
MATTINGLY: At the Rejuv-Life Vitality Institute in Beverly Hills, Dr. Andre Berger sees a growing number of stars spending up to $15,000 a year on HGH, an injectable human growth hormone that some patients and doctors claim can reduce fat, build muscle and boost energy. But where he used to see middle-aged patients, Berger is now getting calls from Hollywood 30 something`s wanting HGH and rap artists inquiring about illegal steroids.
BERGER: If they feel that part of being a rap star is looking buff and having big muscles et cetera, so anything they can do to kind of bring themselves to look like that is just going to enhance the whole image.
MATTINGLY: So could some performers be going the way of baseball? Citing unnamed sources the Albany Time`s Union reported that a New York probe named singer Mary J. Blige and rapper 50 Cent along celebrity customers sent shipments of HGH and steroids. Neither is accused of any crime and Blige denied taking any performance enhancing drugs.
Fans could be taking note. Markers for HGH therapy say it`s become more than a billion dollar a year business, thanks in part to aging baby boomers who are willing to spend big bucks and emulate the stars whose looks never seem to fade. Some critics say HGH is nothing more than a dangerous placebo, elevating risks of cancer and diabetes. The FDA says HGH should only be prescribed for adults with a rare hormone growth deficiency or muscle loss from AIDS.
But older Hollywood has its own ideas. Suzanne Sommers says HGH helped her make 60 the new 40. Sylvester Stallone at 61 defends HGH as a way to reduce physical wear and tear.
DENNIS PELINO, USES HGH: You see the Hollywood side from here. Reminds me where I am.
MATTINGLY: Dennis Pelino is not a movie star but he lives like one. After taking HGH for five years, this businessman doesn`t look or feel like he`s 60.
PELINO: The only competitive advantage, I can keep up with people a lot younger than me. I`m not trying to set records. I`m just trying to stay in the game.
MATTINGLY: Pelino says he`s been diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Dr. Berger says one in four of his patients has a deficiency and is prescribed HGH for limited periods of time. He says many seeking a shot from a fountain of youth are turned down and surprised to learn that all of those Hollywood hard bodies still demand good diets and lots of work.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s David Mattingly for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Tonight, the Duchess of York is reaching out to Britney Spears and has a fired-up message for the press. Back off. Sarah Ferguson who herself was chased and scrutinized for years in England by the British tabloids is outraged over the abuse Britney`s gotten here in the States. Fergie has got this new book with WeightWatchers. It`s called "Start Living, Start Losing" and when she stopped by the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT studios, she was all fired up about Britney not only because she`s been there but now her 18-year-old daughter Beatrice is coming under fire for her weight. Fergie told me that she blames the press for the pressure put on both her and her daughter and Britney.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: As people are struggling to lose weight, do you still feel the pressures that those images that are constantly coming out of Hollywood, for instance, really add to the difficulty and trying to do the deed of shedding the pounds?
FERGUSON: Well, can we just take that point and I`m going to make a really big point on that point?
HAMMER: I`d love you to.
FERGUSON: I`m really glad you gave me that chance. My daughter is an eight to 10. She is a beautiful girl. She went through the whole of the school singled out because she is a princess and then because was single out because she had dyslexia. She is a size eight to 10 and then the newspaper in Britain in five lines called her pampered Miss Piggy princess, said that she needed protection from a cake of crispy doughnuts. Krispy Kreme doughnuts and the girl so entitled. This girl turned to me in floods of tears and said do they want me to be anorexic, a size zero, in order for them to realize for them that it -- what do they want from me? This mother had had the Duchess of Pork title for ten years so I was able to say, don`t do what I did and for 10 years you believed that the entire country thought you were fat and frumpy. If it was not for WeightWatchers, I would think I was this demonic, fat blob of doughnut.
HAMMER: Knowing what you know about living under that media scrutiny and now seeing what your daughter has had to endure, I need to get your take on somebody who we are seeing endure a lot of that right now. Obviously Britney Spears who everyday her every move is being covered. And you have been there. You know what that`s like. What is it like living with that pressure knowing everything you do is number one, going to be reported. And number two, it`s often going to be distorted.
FERGUSON: I -- I`m still going to go on reaching out to Britney. I like her. I think she is a really -- she is a good person. And I think she -- you know, we all get lost. I got terribly lost, I made endless mistakes the press said and in fact, I`ve written a book of "Mistakes I Learned the Hard Way." I really would love to help her. She keeps being lambasted and told it`s all negative and look at her behavior. When are they going to stop and say it`s OK, we`re here to support you? The American people gave me my second chance. Why don`t they calm down and give her a second chance? Let her heal herself.
And I feel very strongly that we need to support her. She is in real trouble. What, are we all happy if something horrendous happens to her? Is that what is going to make us happy? The journalists have to take some responsibility. Stop chasing her. Let her get her life back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Important lessons for the paparazzi and for Britney. Fergie`s new book with Weight Watchers is called "Start Living, Start Losing," it is available right now.
ANDERSON: Well, A.J., I know you are really looking forward to this and I am, too. It`s been nearly 20 years in the making but tonight we`ve got your first look at the new Indiana Jones movie. You know, Harrison Ford is 65 but he is still kicking butt, battling Nazis, snakes, all kinds of things. Stick around to see what else he`s up against, next.
HAMMER: Brooke, you have no idea how much I can`t wait to see that. But first, here`s a look at the new movies opening this week brought to you by Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. "Definitely, Maybe." It stars Ryan Reynolds and Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin. Breslin plays the daughter who wants to know about his life before getting married.
Hayden Christensen is a guy who can teleport himself anywhere in "Jumper." I wonder if he is going to run into "Hero" from NBC`s "Heroes." He can do that, too. Also "The Spiderwick Chronicles," no relation to "Spiderman," Mary Louise Parker and Nick Nolte star in this one based on the kids` fantasy book series.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT coming right back.
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HAMMER: I am totally psyched for this. My crew is totally psyched for this.
CREW: Yeah!
HAMMER: And tonight, it`s your very first look at the new Indiana Jones movie, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Starring, of course, Harrison Ford. Hard to believe it but the first Indy film came out in 1981. It has been nearly 20 years since the last one and let me tell you this one definitely looks worth the wait.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you saying it won`t be easy?
HARRISON FORD, ACTOR: Not as easy as it used to be.
(MUSIC)
FORD: Damn, I thought that was closer.
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Faster!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re a teacher?
FORD: Part time.
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I cannot wait to see this. My cameraman Mike DaSilva (ph) will be the first in line to see it when it comes out. That is going to be happening on May 22nd and Brooke, did you pay attention to the music there. Guys, can we hear the music?
CREW: Duh-duh-duh-da duh-duh-duh.
HAMMER: The famous John Williams` music done better than that?
ANDERSON: Oscar-winning composer. That`s right.
HAMMER: Not an Oscar-winning crew singing. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. 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.
END
