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Showbiz Tonight
Jamie Lee Baring Her Top; Stars Famous For Nothing; Paris in Africa; Sarah Jessica Parker Fights Back; Stars Peddling Weight Loss Programs; Heather Mills, the Judge
Aired March 21, 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, HOST: Jamie Lee Curtis poses topless. You are not going to believe for which magazine. And does health guru Jack LaLanne have the answers to Britney Spears` problems? I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, so what the heck are they famous for anyway? Paris Hilton. Kim Kardashian. Lauren Conrad. Lauren who? Can someone please remind me, so, why are they famous? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the burning question - famous for what?
Are you kidding me? Paris Hilton cancels her charity trip to Rwanda but goes to South Africa for her boyfriend`s rock concert? Are you kidding me?
Plus, Heather Mills isn`t exactly Miss Congeniality so why is she going to be judging the Miss U.S.A. pageant? Are you kidding me?
And don`t you dare say Sarah Jessica Parker isn`t sexy. Tonight, how SJP is fighting back big-time for being named the un-sexiest woman alive.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City. And tonight, are you ready for the oddest couple of all? How`s about Britney Spears and legendary 93-year-old exercise guru Jack LaLanne? Yes, Britney and Jack. I am not kidding. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is revealing their surprising connection. That`s coming up.
But first tonight, something that I honestly have been trying to wrap my head around now for the longest time. Why in the world are people like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian famous? They`re famous for - what?
And you know, they`re not alone. Remember when being famous used to actually mean something? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is here to tell you, not anymore, and it`s gotten absolutely ridiculous.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): SHOWBIZ TONIGHT takes you back to a time in Hollywood where you actually had to do something to be famous. Sing, act, model. OK, flash back over. Because in 2008, it`s becoming clear you don`t have to be anything in order to be famous.
JULIA ALLISON, "STAR" MAGAZINE: This is the devolution of celebrity. It just is; I mean there`s nowhere to go but down.
HAMMER: Look at a reality star like Kim Kardashian who launched into fame with a sex tap, or the likes of MTV stars Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag. They`re all the buzz in the tabloids and online gossip sites. And they have the entire country asking one resounding question -
ALLISON: Who are these people?
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, it`s the rise of the famous-for- nothing star, the talent-less celebrity or the mostly talent-less celebrities.
ALLISON: Kim Kardashian and Heidi Montag are extremely good at makeup, at wearing dresses and at posing. Kim Kardashian is primarily famous for her rear end.
HAMMER: It`s gotten to the point where all you have to do is marry and divorce a Beatle, like Paul McCartney`s ex Heather Mills and you, too, can get a spot on "Dancing With The Stars."
And even Ashley Dupree, the prostitute who helped bring down New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, can have her old pics featured in an exclusive "Us Magazine" photo spread while getting a ton of lucrative offers. Again, not one identifiable talent in the punch.
ALLISON: We know exactly what Ashley Dupree is famous for.
HAMMER: You mean singing, right? Anyway, the "Wall Street Journal" has now examined how one of these stars, Lauren Conrad, seen in MTV`s "Laguna Beach,"is trying to turn her ridiculous fame into a fashion designing career.
Oh, and yes, you heard me right. Lauren Conrad is an in "The Wall Street Journal."
KATHERINE ROSMAN, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL": Now the reality television stars are stepping into the mix to turn their on-air appeal into something bigger that earns them more money.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you we can probably thank one person for this new breed of celebrity. The patron saint of famous-for-nothing - Saint Hilton. And here`s the funny part. Launching a whole new generation of famous-for-nothing stars could become the one legitimate accomplishment Paris Hilton gets known for.
ALLISON: She sets this example for everyone. And now, we have all these little baby Paris Hiltons.
HAMMER: It just goes to show you that if you hang around long enough, famous-for-nothings can amount to a little bit of something.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Yes. So what`s the deal? Why does this keep happening? Make it stop, please.
Joining me tonight in New York, Maggie Gallant, the founder of Spotlight Communications. And executive news editor for "E!", Ken Baker.
Ken, Maggie, we both know - we all know, the three of us, or the both of us, however you want put it on - I`m just a little confused. It used to be that fame actually had something to do with talent. We just showed you. We now got the likes of the Paris Hilton, the Kim Kardashian, the Lauren Conrad. Maggie, I have to believe that Cary Grant, right about now, is just spinning in his grave.
MAGGIE GALLANT, FOUNDER, SPOTLIGHT COMMUNICATIONS: Absolutely, A.J. Back in Hollywood, in the Golden Era, celebrities knew that they should be famous for what they were actually good at which was acting, performing. They knew that less was more.
And when it came to their private lives, they only gave us a little bit of a glimpse so they remained mysterious and they became icons. I don`t think we`re going to be looking at Cary Grant and Paris Hilton in the same way as generations to come.
HAMMER: And we just showed you Paris Hilton is, indeed, aptly named the patron saint of being famous-for-nothing.
Now, just today we learned that she is in South Africa and while in South Africa, everybody knew who she was. Ken, this is a global nightmare, isn`t it.
KEN BAKER, EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR, "E!": I don`t think it`s a nightmare. It is just - look. It`s a sign of the times. A lot of it is because of technology, the proliferation of media and the 500 cable channels. And look, here`s the thing is that used to be, yes, more talent-driven celebrity. Now we`re more personality-driven celebrity. But at the same time, what it is, is people are - what is the root word of celebrity? Celebrate. We`re celebrating highs and lows of humanity, OK?
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Yes, but wait a second, Ken. But by personality, you don`t mean they have to actually have a personality?
BAKER: Well, really, you know, to be fair, actually, the talent they bring is the talent of making themselves interesting, and that is a talent. Let`s face it. If you put a reality show crew in my house, it wouldn`t be that interesting. I wouldn`t be talented at reality TV. But again -
HAMMER: Not to argue with you here, Ken, but, you know, you say interesting, you know - are people like Paris Hilton interesting or interesting because they`re such a train wreck? I mean that`s the deal. I guess there`s some interest in that. I don`t know.
BAKER: I think that - Look, if Paris Hilton just did a sex tape or Kim Kardashian just did a sex tape and did nothing after that, their celebrity would fade away. But what they have done is they`ve gotten reality shows. They`ve started perfume lines, handbag lines. They`ve made themselves relevant by making public appearances and getting out there in the media and they become a new school celebrity.
HAMMER: All right.
BAKER: It`s not the old school celebrity, but it`s celebrity nonetheless.
HAMMER: Relevant because you made a public appearance. And of course, it`s bad enough that we have the meaningless reality show stars we`ve been telling you about.
Then we have those who marry into fame. You know, you`ve got your Federlines. You got your Heather Mills. Maggie, perish the thought but are we just stuck with them?
GALLANT: Well, you know, they are in a very good position to get lots of deals. Everyone`s looking at them but that`s just the beginning for them. If they can`t step up to the plate and perform, if they can`t create a brand like Ken was talking about, they are going to fade away.
But if they continue to do a good job, they do have a good opportunity. Marrying a celebrity is a good thing to do for your career. That`s for darn sure.
HAMMER: But moving forward, I mean, is this it, Ken? Are we going to get to the point where fame, once again, you know, becomes what it used to be, something that you earn and deserve because you have talent or basically is there no going back and the apocalypse is upon us?
BAKER: Look, I think there`s just more definitions of what a celebrity is. And there was in the past - there was a very narrow definition. You starred in a movie or you had a hit record and people got to know you through whatever performing you did and they became interested in you.
And now we see the inverse. There`s a lot of people who`d just become interesting for their own personal lives and then they extend that into a brand that basically becomes a commodity. And I think there`s no turning back.
HAMMER: Maggie, what do you think? Is this big, dark cloud just going to continue to hover from here on out?
GALLANT: I don`t think there`s any way we could possibly go back, A.J. And it`s up to each individual celebrity to get out of the spotlight every so often.
HAMMER: Yes. Or make those appearances to stay relevant. Maggie Gallant, Ken Baker, I do appreciate you being here.
And we want you now to know that you can watch video reports from SHOWBIZ TONIGHT any time you`d like, right there on our Web site. New ones going up all the time at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
And now I want to hear from you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Famous for What? Does talent even matter in Hollywood anymore.
Please let us know what you think at CCN.com/ShowbizTonight is where you`ve got to vote. You can also E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
All right. You remember when Paris Hilton was supposed to go on a charity mission to Rwanda? Yes, that didn`t end up happening. But she has made it to South Africa for her boyfriend`s rock concert. Are you kidding me?
Plus, Heather Mills is judging a beauty pageant. You heard me right. Miss Congeniality herself. That`s coming up.
Plus SJP fighting back. A magazine called Sarah Jessica Parker the un-sexiest woman alive. I think that`s ridiculous. She gives them a piece of her mind.
And when you see stars like Valerie Bertinelli losing weight on Jenny Craig, does it inspire you to get with the program? That great weight debate is still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
We have two stories that are new right now. I`ve just got to tell you about them. First up, Sarah Jessica Parker furious and fighting back against a magazine that called her the un-sexiest woman alive. Sarah Jessica un-sexy? I mean, come on.
Another Hollywood celebrity is taking it all off for her 50th birthday. Yes, it`s her. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal Jamie Lee Curtis is getting bare naked for a magazine cover. Wait until you hear which magazine.
Joining me from Hollywood, self-esteem expert and author of "Do I Look Fat in This?" Jessica Weiner. In New York tonight, Janelle Snowden, the red carpet correspondent for VH1 news. Ladies, good to have you here.
Let`s start it off with the beloved - I should really point out everybody loves "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker. We know that "Maxim" magazine did this ungodly thing and recently named her the un-sexiest woman alive.
Now, Sarah Jessica Parker gave an interview to "Grazia" magazine. And in it, Sarah confesses she was terribly hurt by this and is outraged saying, quote, "It`s kind of shocking. It`s condemnation. It`s insane. What can I do? I guess you can`t please all people."
Jessica Weiner, it`s crazy to me that Sarah Jessica Parker would even have to respond to this.
JESSICA WEINER, SELF-ESTEEM EXPERT: It`s so random and ridiculous, this survey. It`s just - it means nothing, truly, except for that we`re talking about "Maxim" magazine and they`ve gotten the press that they wanted.
But what I love about Sarah Jessica`s response is that it speaks for all women which is just like don`t condemn me; don`t judge me. She has certainly a beauty and a pizzazz that we know women around the world love because we`re all "Sex and the City" fans.
And most of all, she is a unique woman and she`s a real woman and that`s what women really respond to. And I think more men than who read "Maxim" magazine respond to that as well.
HAMMER: I`m right there with you. Janelle Snowden, just nuts that she even has to comment on stuff like this.
JANELLE SNOWDEN, RED CARPET CORRESPONDENT, VH1 NEWS: It`s so sad, and you know what? I just applaud Sarah because it`s so often that we hear stars getting trashed in the papers or the magazines. And then they just decide to let it blow over and they don`t say anything and they don`t defend themselves. So good for her for speaking up for herself and speaking for, like Jessica just said, all women. I mean, come on. As a fashionista and a New York woman myself, it`s like sacrilegious to talk about Sarah Jessica Parker like that. Are you crazy?
WEINER: Yes, give us a break.
SNOWDEN: Exactly.
HAMMER: Well, Sarah Jessica Parker also reveals in this brand new interview that even her husband, Matthew Broderick, was bothered by the "Maxim" choice - duh. She also says, quote, "Do I have big fake boobs, Botox and big lips? No. Do I fit some ideals and standards of some men writing in men`s magazine? Maybe not."
You know, Jessica Weiner, it seems to me that Sarah Jessica Parker real comfortable with who she is. If somebody doesn`t like it, hey tough noogies.
WEINER: And I love that. You know what? We need more of that. I think we`re seeing this trend of celebrity women actually speaking out against these ridiculous tabloid or magazine articles about their beauty. This is one version of beauty in Hollywood. The Botox, the boobs and some people find that beautiful. And Sarah Jessica Parker represents, again, a real woman, a sassy woman -
HAMMER: Yes.
WEINER: A fabulous woman. And there`s more to it than what the guys at "Maxim" think so there.
HAMMER: Yes, so there. We`re also sending a great message as we move on to Jamie Lee Curtis. She`s in the upcoming issue "AARP" posing gray haired and topless. And listen to what she says, quote, "I think I have finally found what I hope beauty is, or at least, beauty as it applies to me."
Janelle Snowden, am I just hearing right about now applause from women all across the land?
SNOWDEN: Hooray! Hooray! Absolutely. Yes. Applause, applause. Good for Jamie. You know what? Just like Sarah Jessica, I just think that it`s wonderful that women that are so-called imperfect by these ridiculous Hollywood standards are saying, "You know what? Let me show you what real beauty is." Like, who are these beauty judges anyway? Who what do they do they look like? Seriously
WEINER: Yes, right.
SNOWDEN: I`d like to see them.
HAMMER: Jessica, go ahead quickly.
WEINER: I just want to do - I want to like bow down - I want to bow down to Jamie Lee Curtis. She rocked it in 2002 when she was on "More" magazine, being real, being out there.
And I think for any woman who`s 50 or any age, the fact that she`s beginning to accept her real beauty - and mind you, she was very outspoken that she had plastic surgery and she had Botox. But now, she`s at the point of accepting who she really is -
HAMMER: Doing a great thing.
WEINER: And that`s the message Hollywood needs to hear.
HAMMER: We`re going to have to leave it there. Janelle Snowden, Jessica Weiner, thank you both. Now, here`s a crazy question for you. Could the answer to Britney Spears` problems actually come from Jack LaLanne? Yes, the godfather of physical fitness. Well, he says he knows what Britney needs to get her life back on track. I actually think he makes a lot of sense. We`ll get into that next.
And could it be true? I know this would make a lot of people happy. Could there be a "Friends" reunion in the works? One of the cast members setting the record straight, coming up.
And when you see stars like Valerie Bertinelli losing weight on Jenny Craig, does it inspire you to get with the program? I`ve seen Valerie in person. She looks terrific, but there are some who are saying stars who are hawking weight loss products, not such a great idea. The great weight debate, still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Ted Mosby(ph) for Dr. Simmon(ph).
BRITNEY SPEARS, POP STAR: Oh hi, Ted. Love the sash. You look like a young Tom Selleck, only a million times handsomer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, that is Britney Spears. I`ve got to say looking great and really looking like the old Britney. That`s in an upcoming episode of the hit CBS sitcom, "How I Met Your Mother."
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, Britney is getting some valuable advice. You`re not going to believe who it`s coming from - 93-year-old legendary fitness guru Jack LaLanne. I am not fit about this.
With me again tonight from Hollywood, self-esteem expert, Jessica Weiner. In New York, Janelle Snowden, the red carpet correspondent with VH1 News.
Ladies, I want you to get a load of what Jack LaLanne told "People" magazine about Britney Spears. This is a little surreal, but here`s what he said, quote, "I feel sorry for her. She has to develop pride and discipline in herself. No wonder she feels the way she does. Look at what she is putting into herself."
Jessica Weiner, what do you think? Should Britney listen to Jack because from where I`m sitting, here`s a guy who obviously knows what he`s talking about. He`s freaking 93 years old.
WEINER: Seriously. He actually kicked off the whole celebrity trainer movement, right? I mean he got famous in the fitness world. He was kind of our first celebrity.
Listen, I love Jack LaLanne. He`s got a book coming out. He`s a smart business guy. He`s hooking on to our big celebrity tabloid gossip queen. But I think what he is saying has some merit. So certainly she should be watching what she puts into her body.
But clearly, we`ve been spending a lot of time in this show talking about her mental health. And I think it`s just part of the picture that Jack is bringing up. I think Britney has a lot of healing to do overall. When she`s feeling mentally healthy, then she`s going to be able to address what she is physically up against.
HAMMER: Janelle, what do you think? Because there`s a good chance that, well, Britney or certainly a lot of Britney fans despite what a legend Jack LaLanne is, probably had no idea who Jack LaLanne is. But I think it`s terrific.
SNOWDEN: Absolutely. I mean, like Jessica said, he is definitely a smart man. He`s got a book coming out, so good for him for attaching himself to somebody that`s current and relevant.
But at the same time, you know, Britney`s fans are very young and they can`t even relate to a 93-year-old. But he does have valid points. I mean, you know, I don`t know what to say about it except to say good for you, Jack LaLanne, you know, for remaining - for hanging in there and getting your point across. Will Britney even hear it is the question.
HAMMER: Yes. He`s also sounding off on the Hollywood party girls. He says these kids can`t stand success. They have lost their pride. Jessica, I`m thinking it`s time for Jack to ride into Hollywood on a horse or an exercise bike or something and kick some butt.
WEINER: I think we have to have like a town hall forum with Jack LaLanne and all of our young starlets and get down to business.
HAMMER: I think so. As long as we don`t all have to wear the spandex he was well-known for wearing all the time.
WEINER: OK. Oh, please not.
HAMMER: It`s just, you know - I think we`ve moved past that. But Jack LaLanne, nice going. Janelle Snowden, Jessica Weiner, thank you guys for being here tonight.
SNOWDEN: Thank you.
HAMMER: And for the latest breaking Britney news, and latest video, you can always go to all the Britney Drama. It`s on the Britney Drama section of our Web site and it`s there all the time. So do it at your pleasure. Find it at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
So do you remember when Paris Hilton was supposed to go on a charity mission to Rwanda? Yes, that didn`t end up happening. Big surprise. But you know, she has made it to South Africa for her boyfriend`s rock concert. Are you kidding me?
Plus, Heather Mills is judging a beauty pageant. Yes. That`s Miss Congeniality herself right there. The stories that made me say, are you kidding me, coming up.
Plus, when you see stars like Valerie Bertinelli losing weight on Jenny Craig, does it inspire you to get with the program? Because not everybody thinks this is such a great idea - stars selling weight loss products. The great weight debate is still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Also, could this be true? We were talking about this in the hallway today. And I found that it would make a lot of people happy. I know it would make me happy. Could there possibly be a "Friends" reunion in the works? Well, one of cast members is setting the record straight on that rumor that`s been floating around. Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Here are some more stories that are new right now. Well, the hospital where Dennis Quaid`s newborn twins were given an overdose of a blood thinning drug has been fined $25,000.
Now, the mistake happened because a pharmacy technician stored the drug in the wrong place and the nurse gave it to the babies before checking the dosage. The Quaids have also sued the drug maker for packaging different doses in similar vials.
Angela Bassett has received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And at the ceremony, Bassett, who starred in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" among other films, "What`s Love Got to Do With It," one of them. She said through tears that the day was very special to her.
(MUSIC)
Yes, there you go - a little bit of "Chocolate Rain," the winner of best music video in the YouTube Video Awards. Yes, YouTube users voted on six nominees in 12 categories. Now, other nominees included Chris Crocker; he`s the, "Leave Britney alone!" guy and the Obama girl video. They did not win.
So you remember when Paris Hilton was supposed to go on her little charity mission to Rwanda? Yes, that didn`t end up happening. But she has made it to South Africa for her boyfriend`s rock concert. Are you kidding me?
Plus Heather Mills is judging a beauty pageant. Yes, Miss Congeniality herself. Are you kidding me? That`s coming up.
Plus when you see stars like Valerie Bertinelli lose weight on Jenny Craig, does it inspire you to get with the program? I can tell you, I`ve seen Valerie in person. She looks terrific. But, you know, not everyone thinks this is such a fabulous idea. We have the great weight debate still ahead.
And could it be true? I know this would make a lot of people awfully happy. Will there possibly be a "Friends" reunion? One of cast members setting the record straight. That is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
But first, stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. Head on over to our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Click on the "sign up for newsletter link" at the bottom of the page so we can send it to you every day. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT coming back after this.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, are you kidding me? Paris Hilton cancels her charity trip to Rwanda but goes to South Africa for her boyfriend`s rock concert instead. And explain this one to me. Why is Heather Mills going to be judging the Miss U.S.A. pageant? Are you kidding me?
HAMMER: And when you see stars like Valerie Bertinelli lose weight on Jenny Craig, does it do more harm than good? A fired up heavyweight debate.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And tonight, I bring you two shocking stories that made me say, are you kidding me? So, do you remember after Paris Hilton got out of jail, she promised to go to Rwanda on a goodwill mission? Well, she finally made it to Africa - South Africa, to be exact. May I have a drum roll please?
She went there for her boyfriend`s concert. Yes. Are you kidding me?
Also, Heather Mills-McCartney - she acted of course, as her own lawyer in her nasty divorce case. And she is now about to become a judge. Not in a court of law but she is going to be back on TV as one of the judges for the Miss U.S.A. pageant. Are you kidding me?
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, entertainment reporter Shira Lazar; founder of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations, Howard Bragman and executive news editor for "E!", Ken Baker.
Gang, let`s dig right into this. We`ve got to talk about Paris Hilton. Now post-jail, Paris Hilton promised us - she promised us on "LARRY KING LIVE," she said it. She was going to go to war-torn Rwanda. Her trip, of course, got postponed last November. She promised to reschedule.
But look at this. At least she is on the continent and it looks like she is not that far if you really pay attention to the map I dug out for you. Howard, she can go that far for her boyfriend`s concert but can`t do the same to keep a charity promise. Are you kidding me?
HOWARD BRAGMAN, FOUNDER, FIFTEEN MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: A.J., why do you always have to be so negative about Paris? She`s got a boyfriend in a boy band and boy bands need groupies. So what if there`s famine and war in Africa? She`s got a job to do, OK, A.J? And she seems to be doing it well because Benji hasn`t kicked her out yet.
HAMMER: All right.
BRAGMAN: So let Paris be Paris.
HAMMER: Charles, can you take a shot of my hand. I`m sorry, Howard. I apologize for all of that. Now, in case - look. I`m working for Paris and I want to get a little credit here, because in case she wanted to get to Rwanda, I looked up some of the fares here, if she wanted to go. It`s about $700. That would get her to Kigali, which is the capital of Rwanda.
The downside that I found here, and Shira, maybe you can sound off on this, there is no first class to Kigali. Maybe that`s why Paris didn`t go.
SHIRA LAZAR, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: That or there`s no makeup artists in Rwanda. So you know, you can expect her to do a photo op au naturale. And I also hear that she couldn`t find a BFF in Rwanda so she just decided to ditch it.
HAMMER: Well, you know, maybe she should do a new show for cable in Rwanda and find a Rwandan BFF.
That`s a good idea.
HAMMER: I don`t know.
LAZAR: And a perfume with it.
HAMMER: Now, to be fair, while in South Africa, Paris did visit an orphanage. I need to point out, again, she didn`t go to South Africa to visit the orphanage. She went there to see her boyfriend`s concert. And she happened to squeeze in this visit to the orphanage.
Ken, here is the really scary part and I want your take on this. When she went to the orphanage in South Africa, the kids recognized her. This is a worldwide problem. Isn`t it?
BAKER: All right. I never thought I would say this, A.J., back off Paris Hilton. Leave her alone.
HAMMER: Hey.
BAKER: OK? Everyone look in the mirror. How many of us have gone to an orphanage today and done a charitable work at all today? Have you done it? Probably not.
LAZAR: We`re here. We should do.
BAKER: Well, at least she did something, OK? And I say, hats off. Let`s just encourage her. Look, she is our Hollywood problem child and how do you deal with problem children? I have two children of my own. This is how you deal with a child who`s a problem for you. You encourage the positive. So Paris, hats off. You`re doing a good thing. Let`s see more of it.
HAMMER: All right, Ken. I`ll allow it tonight. But if you start to say, "Leave Paris alone," you`re off. You`re out of here."
All right. We need to move on to another story that has us saying - are you kidding me? Heather Mills, fresh off her bitter divorce from Paul McCartney heading back to the U.S. to be a judge for the Donald Trump Miss U.S.A. pageant next month.
All right. Howard Bragman, maybe you can help me out because this has been boggling my mind all day. The woman who`s been almost universally condemned for poor judgment is going to be a Miss U.S.A. judge. Are you kidding me?
BRAGMAN: A.J., did you hear what the judge said about her after her case in London? She just wants to exact a little revenge on these poor girls. And, boy, is she going to have her day in court.
I don`t think it`s going to be pretty. If she`s half as mean as the judge was to her, it`s going to be an ugly Miss U.S.A. pageant. That`s all I`m saying.
HAMMER: So you think she is going to let loose on the ladies?
BRAGMAN: Why not? After she`s - look, she already poured water on the opposing attorney`s head. You can imagine what she`s going to do to these poor girls.
HAMMER: That`s called deflecting. Not only, by the way is Ms. Poor Judgment becoming a judge, but Donald Trump, by doing this is now bringing somebody who`s British to tell us what makes a good Miss U.S.A. Shira, I`m having a lot of trouble with this one.
LAZAR: Yes, isn`t there immigration control on bringing annoying celebrities into the U.S.? She can`t even get her own image under control and she`s going to be judging the Miss U.S.A. contestants? It is ridiculous.
Plus, though, I think with Paul McCartney paying for two years of security, she might as well take advantage of being the most annoying celebrity now before she has no security behind her.
HAMMER: Now, Ken Baker, I want to throw this one over to you. But if you say, "Back off of Heather Mills," you are off the program.
BAKER: Well, I`m not going to say that but what I will say is that Heather Mills - the biggest mistake is not that she`s been put on to be a judge on Miss U.S.A. I thought it`s really smart casting on Donald Trump`s part. You know? It`s kind of like bringing a Simon Cowell kind of figure onto the show.
The problem with that is from Heather Mills` perspective, if she`s looking to soften her image, becoming Simon Cowell is not the way to do it. That`s as harsh as you get. That is hard. That is not a soft image to portray, and I think it`s just a mistake on her part.
HAMMER: Yes, we`ll have to wait and see with that. But I just had the thought that maybe we get Paris, we get Heather, we put them on a plane together and send them off to somewhere and maybe forget where they went.
BAKER: Rwanda?
HAMMER: Shira Lazar, Howard Bragman, Ken Baker, thank you all for being here tonight.
And now I need to hear what you have to say about all this. This is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Famous for what? Does talent in Hollywood anymore?" Let us know at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or you can E- mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
All right. Here`s a question for you. Are you one of the millions of people who swear, I mean, absolutely swear that you are finally going to lose those extra pounds? And when you see stars like Valerie Bertinelli pitching programs like Jenny Craig, do they actually inspire you?
A lot of people think they`re just frustrating us even more. I am now referring to a great heavy weight debate. We`ll get into that next.
And breaking "Friends" news. Tonight, could it possibly be a "Friends" movie? I wish. Phoebe, I miss you. One of the stars of "Friends" finally setting the record straight. And then there`s this controversial movie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR., ACTOR: I know who I am! I`m a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What is the deal with Robert Downey, Jr. playing a black man in the movie that Owen Wilson dropped out of after Owen`s reported suicide attempt? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has your very first look at "Tropic Thunder," coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIE OSMOND, POP STAR: In just 90 seconds, you can have a healthy, great tasting meal that will help you lose weight. Look at me. I have a waistline again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s a slim and trim Marie Osmond, now the spokesperson for the Nutrisystem diet. But is it really that easy?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, a showbiz special report, the heavy weight debate. Marie Osmond, Kirstie Alley, Valerie Bertinelli - you know, the list goes on and on - stars pitching diet programs. But are they creating false expectations? And do they get help that the rest of us do not?
Joining me once again tonight in New York, Maggie Gallant, the founder of Spotlight Communications. Also tonight from Hollywood, Jessica Weiner, self-esteem expert and author of the book, "Do I Look Fat in This?"
So it is clear that all of these ladies lost a lot of weight. I mean, you have Kirstie Alley who lost 75 pounds. You have Valerie Bertinelli losing 40 pounds. They both did it with Jenny Craig.
But a lot of people are going to say, you know, that`s easy for them. They have trainers. They`ve got the chefs. They`ve got the nutritionists. Jessica, am I missing something here? Are there tiny little words in these ads that say this diet doesn`t apply unless you have a personal trainer?
WEINER: No. You are not missing anything, A.J. Look, the point is they do have extra help that the average housewife out there doesn`t have. They`re on programs that cost money, by the way, that most people can`t afford to do pre-paid meal programs. And certainly, they`ve got the big spotlight and the bank account of losing weight for, let`s say, $1 million. And again, that`s not the normal incentive most people have.
The good news of the story is that these are women who are taking control of their bodies by trying to lose weight by trying to be healthy.
The bad news of this story is that they`re once again sending us the message that the way that they do it in Hollywood is the way that the rest of the country can do it. And that`s just false and it sends the wrong message to women that, first of all, their size and shape is what`s most important. And second of all, that they can do if these celebrities have done it, as well.
HAMMER: Yes, I`m with you on all that and I do not want to minimize their accomplishment or the accomplishment of any women or anybody who follows these diet programs that these celebrities are schilling for. What do you think, Maggie? I mean do the stars make it seem way too easy?
GALLANT: Well, I think that the diet brands that are selecting these women as spokespeople know that these are women that don`t make it look too easy. They would be doing themselves a disservice picking a celebrity that`s always been thin or that makes being thin look very easy.
These are women that are pretty open and honest about their guilty pleasures and the battles that they have had with their weight. They have had their pictures flashed across tabloids. They haven`t had it so easy.
It`s a particular thing that celebrities have to deal with that we don`t. And when they have a heavy day, it`s splashed across all of the tabloids. They`ve really struggled.
HAMMER: Yes. So I guess there`s also a relatability factor there. I don`t want to be Debbie Downer about the idea but, I mean, really - you look at Kirstie, Valerie, Marie, all women that I like. I`ve met them all. I respect them all. But their careers - and I`m just trying to put this in a polite way - were in a bit of a lull.
Then they lose all this weight publicly. Then the offers come in for the talk shows and the dancing shows and the books and more. All these things start coming in. So Jessica, back to your point, does it send a disturbing message that say, "Hey, you`ve got to lose weight if you`re going to be successful again in life?
WEINER: Well, yes. It sure does. And I think when have this conversation, A.J., we can be appropriately critical, not of these women, but of the industry and the society that we`re all setting up right now which rewards women on their shape and size of their body.
And these women are just merely following a financial formula in Hollywood that says if you`ve been the fodder in tabloids about your weight, you can go ahead and lose it in this public realm, get a lot of money, get a lot of acclaim and have a rebirth in your career.
My bigger challenge is out there in the rest of the country and around the world, we`re still telling women they`re not worth being successful or worth, you know, having happiness until they lose weight. And I think that is really the damaging message that even these celebrities fall prey to.
HAMMER: Yes, and I don`t have a lot of time here. But I want to point out what I think what I think might be a little bit of a double standard. Because, of course, it`s not just women who are overweight in America. And now Larry The Cable Guy has just become the first male celebrity spokesperson for Nutrisystem. I really haven`t seen any other guys out there.
Maggie, what do you think? Is that sending the message, "If you`re a man, OK to be fat. If you`re a woman, stop eating so much"?
GALLANT: Well, I think a lot of women out there would say that women that are a bit larger are judged a lot more harshly than men are. But I think the fact that there are more women spokespeople out there for diet brands really speaks more to the fact that women are very vocal and honest about their relationship with their weight and with their bodies.
And because of that, they are judged so much harsher. Having these women as spokespeople can be something that other women can look to, to say, maybe I do have a chance of getting this under control and taking charge of my life which is the core message that these celebrities are out there trying to say.
HAMMER: Absolutely.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Maggie - I`m sorry, Jessica. You know what? I`m out of time there. But I think it`s a good thing that Larry is doing something with that. Maggie Gallant, Jessica Weiner, I appreciate you being here.
You can now watch video reports from SHOWBIZ TONIGHT any time on our Web site. They`re going up all the time at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
I`m going to show you something that I just love to watch on video, any episode of "Friends." I`ve always loved the show. I always watch it when I can. Could it be a "Friends" movie coming our way? Breaking "Friends" news tonight, right from one of the stars of the show. And then the movie everyone is already talking about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOWNEY: I know who I am! I`m a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What`s the deal with Robert Downey, Jr. playing a black man in the movie that Owen Wilson dropped out of after Owen`s reported suicide attempt? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT giving you your first look at "Tropic Thunder." Next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Can`t believe it, but it`s already been four years, almost to the day, since "Friends" went off the air after its 10-year run. Well, Ross - David Schwimmer was on "The View" today. Barbara Walters asked him, point blank, something I`ve always wondered, if "Sex and the City" can have a reunion movie, why the heck can`t "Friends" have a reunion?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID SCHWIMMER, ROSS ON "FRIENDS": I think the honest reason is that we all feel really good about how it ended.
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Oh, yes. It moved on.
SCHWIMMER: And it feels like it would be - like taking advantage or messing with something you`re not supposed to mess with in a way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CO-HOST: Leave it alone.
SCHWIMMER: Yes, that`s what I think.
WALTERS: Leave well enough alone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s just too bad. I miss the monkey. Schwimmer, by the way, has become a director. His new movie is "Run, Fat Boy, Run." And as for the rest of the "Friends" gang, well, you can have your own personal reunion every night on TBS.
HAMMER: Ben Stiller was on one episode of "Friends." You remember that one, the one with the screamer? Well, his movie is quickly becoming very controversial because in it Robert Downey, Jr. plays an actor who undergoes - get this - a skin darkening procedure to play an African-American sergeant. It`s a satire called "Tropic Thunder" and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has your first look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I`m covered, man.
DOWNEY: Don`t you die on me, Pauley(ph)!
BEN STILLER, ACTOR: I`m sorry. Could we cut?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What is going on here?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I`m about to jump off of it.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I`m doing the scene right now. I mean it.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: The scene is about emotionality. Where is it?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Oh cut. I`m dealing with bunch of prima donnas.
VOICE OVER: The action guy.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Who left the fridge open?
VOICE OVER: The award winner.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Critically acclaimed Australian actor Kirk Lazarus underwent a controversial procedure in order to play the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) African-American sergeant.
DOWNEY: I know who I am! I`m a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude.
VOICE OVER: The comedian.
JACK BLACK, ACTOR: You think you can do what I do? Take a picture of this.
VOICE OVER: This summer -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Want to make this movie right? You take those boys up there and put them in the trees.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You ship the whole thing and (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
VOICE OVER: The movie they think they`re making.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: It`s dust, got to a point in the jungle.
VOICE OVER: Isn`t a movie anymore.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: This feels very real.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Exactly. Let`s use it.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Some of us might not make it back.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What do you mean? Like not on the same flight?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Who sent you here?
STILLER: Hey, dude. Are you right? Totally lean into that, bro. You want to do one more?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I`m with you people.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What do you mean, you people?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What do you mean, you people?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Huh?
VOICE OVER: "Tropic Thunder."
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: No, we show up in the big leagues.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: That`s the theme song for "The Jeffersons."
DOWNEY: Ain`t nothing wrong there.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Are you out of your mind? You really need help.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Just because it`s a theme song doesn`t make it not true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. That was the movie that Owen Wilson dropped out of, by the way, while he was sorting out his life. As you saw, "Tropic Thunder will be opening up in August.
And now I would like to show you an endangered species in Hollywood. Are you ready? Because here they are. It`s a couple that has managed to stay married a long time. Jon Bon Jovi and his wife married nearly 19 years. What`s Bon Jovi`s secret to making it work? He reveals it to me next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s continuing coverage of couples who are making their relationships work in Hollywood and beyond.
And perhaps there is no better example than Jon Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea. Jon and Dorothea are a month away from celebrating their 19th anniversary.
They got married at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Vegas. They actually met in a history class when he was just 17 years old.
Now, when I spoke with Jon, I just had to ask him how do they make it work and defy the odds?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON BON JOVI, ROCK STAR: I don`t know other than, you know, it`s something that you have to work on. I think that there`s a mutual respect. There`s also an independence.
And we`re not reliant on celebrity to fuel our next move. You know? I mean, that`s just what I do for a living. There`s not a platinum record hanging in my house. It is just my job.
You don`t see my kids at premiers and getting in magazines and playing that whole game. It`s shallow pool to swim in and when it`s new, it`s fun for a lot of people. When you`ve been at it for this long, you just think that`s cute but I have no interest in it.
HAMMER (on camera): Well, one thing that you mentioned that I think applies to people, famous or not - the independence thing. And particularly because so many couples live in a relationship where one spouse is perhaps out on the road quite a bit as a business traveler, whatever. You sort of - you spend a lot of time out on the road and I`m sure at the beginning, that was pretty daunting for your wife as you headed out.
BON JOVI: You know, you could sit here down some time and talk to her about it but it`s just always what I`ve done and I have done it for a long, long time. So it is what it is and, you know, to me, the other thing just doesn`t really have any appeal. It just - it never did. So fortunately for me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Jon Bon Jovi, one of my favorite dudes, and truly a guy who has figured it out. He and his wife, Dorothea, have four kids. They have a daughter and three sons.
And the band, Bon Jovi, is traveling across the United States and Europe this spring. They`re on tour with Daughtry.
Well, Thursday we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "The Eliot Spitzer Hooker: Does she deserve to get rich from her scandal?" I wasn`t really surprised by this - 24 percent of you said yes; 76 percent of you said no.
Some of the E-mails that flooded our inbox included one from Summer in California, "She`s a hooker/call girl (same thing). Do we suddenly expect her to have morals?"
We also from Allan in Ohio who wrote, "None of you really know what this girl actually went through in her life before now. Ashley deserves everything she can get out of this. Get off of her!"
I cannot make the joke I was thinking of just now.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I appreciate you watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is coming up next.
END
