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Showbiz Tonight

Is George Clooney Starting His Own Clothing Line?; The Hogan Family Meltdown; Sex Scandal Casting Call; Heath Ledger`s Will

Aired March 25, 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 ANCHOR: Why Dina Lohan has to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to one of Lindsay`s former bodyguards. And is George Clooney really starting his own clothing line? The showbiz truth squad is on the case. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Hogan family meltdown. A family in crisis. A bitter and nasty divorce. Now, tonight, a dramatic new development. A remarkable attack on Hulk Hogan and his wife because of their son Nick`s terrible car crash that nearly killed his friend. Tonight, how much more can the Hogan family take? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the tragedy that the Hogan family has become and why the worst may be yet to come.

Tonight, a sex scandal casting call. What if the biggest sex scandals in the country became a blockbuster Hollywood movie? Withhold play the governor and the hooker? The gay politician and the wife? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" sounds the alarm. It`s a sex scandal casting call.

Plus, Heath Ledger`s will. Brand new accusations that could lead to a very nasty battle.

Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has now obtained the video that Tom Cruise might not want you to see. This is a video of what appears to be Tom going off on, well, just about everything. But wait a second. Is that really Tom Cruise or an impostor? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the video everyone`s going to be talking about, coming up.

But first, the Hogans slammed. I would guess that no body slam hulk Hogan ever received in the wrestling ring can come close to matching the pain he is feeling right about now. Tonight, there is a dramatic new attack on the Hulk and his wife because of the terrible car accident they son got into that nearly killed someone. This is just the latest body blow to the Hogans as they also struggle with a very troubling divorce.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER (voice-over): Once upon a time, the family of wrestling star Hulk Hogan was a cute, supportive clan who starred in one of VH1`s most popular reality shows, "Hogan Knows Best."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When will the house be done?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t know and I don`t care.

HAMMER: But tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that the Hogan family`s life looks less like that reality show and more like a horror show. Not only are Hulk and his wife of 23 years Linda in the middle of a divorce that`s bloodier than anything Hulk ever faced in the ring the family now has to teal did a potentially multimillion dollar lawsuit from this devastating car accident that has their son Nick facing criminal charges.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything just seemed to start to unravel. And the family just is being torn apart.

HAMMER: It all stems from this horrific car crash in Florida last August. Police say sonic was racing another car and lost control and hit a tree. Nick who was wearing a seat belt wasn`t seriously hurt. But his passenger, Iraq War veteran, John Graziano was not wearing a seat belt. He was critically injured.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is still hospitalized and this guy is never going to have the same life he used to have.

HAMMER: Attorneys for Graziano filed this lawsuit against Hulk Hogan, his estranged wife Linda and Nick.

KATIE DARYL, TMZ TV: Talks about the Hogan parents knew that Nick liked to race cars and encouraging him to race cars and both vehicles in this crash were owned by the Hogan family.

HAMMER: Hulk himself told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about his son`s love of cars.

HULK HOGAN, PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER: My son has always messed with cars and motors and wanted to start driving.

HAMMER: But now, Hulk denying he bought his son booze the day of the crash. Nick suspect charged with DUI but he is charged with reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. Just two weeks after Nick`s arrest last November, Linda filed for divorce from Hulk Hogan saying their marriage was irretrievably broken. Their legal battle has not been pretty.

DARYL: There`s a lot of mud being slung around here. There`s about $10 million that the couple is fighting over.

HAMMER: And now this, family that once lived in the public eye is in danger of being torn apart in the public guy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER (on camera): I got to say it really blows our mind to think how far and fast the Hogan family has fallen. Joining us from Hollywood, Jane Velez-Mitchell, journalist and author of the book "Secrets Can Be Murder."

Joining us in New York tonight Howard Bragman, founder of 15 Minutes Public Relations and Howard, I want to start out with you. You have the brand new lawsuit if the car crash. You have the Hogans getting divorced. You have their children in the middle of the nasty night fight. Are you like me? Do you find it amazing how the Hogans turned into the tragic family?

HOWARD BRAGMAN, 15 MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: You know, these things don`t happen overnight. All of a sudden it made the news overnight and when the crack in the dam went, the whole thing exploded but these are problems that have probably been going on a long time and we didn`t know about it and the way the celebrity world is today, there`s an avalanche now and you`ve got to feel bad for them because these are really, really sad things. Almost everybody in America has gone through a divorce. Either themselves or in their families and we`ve all had kids do things we`re probably not proud of them. So this is a painful time and my heart goes out to them.

HAMMER: Me too. I don`t know the other members of the family. I have met hulk a few times. Man, what a nice guy. Hate watching him go through this. The Hogans are not taking the lawsuit over their son`s car crash lying down and Hulk`s wife Linda released this statement from her divorce attorney. That`s who put the statement out, saying, quote, "Linda Bollea has great compassion for t he Graziano family. During this time of crisis she has provided emotional, physical and financial support to the family. She has visited with John Graziano on a regular basis. The future record will reveal she has no business being named in this lawsuit."

Jane Velez-Mitchell, help me out here. Do you find it all strange that it was Linda`s divorce attorney issued the statement regarding a lawsuit having nothing to do with the divorce? Is it really just -- I don`t know, symbolic of how Linda continues to distance herself from Hulk?

JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, REPORTER: It is totally symbolic of the rift and the fact that she wants to distance herself. They`re at war over the millions that are stake in this divorce. They`re at war over the lawsuit and I think what Linda is trying to say my parenting is not Hulk Hogan`s parenting. I`m not involved in the car father/son stuff. The lawsuit makes allegation that is Hulk Hogan knew of his son`s propensity to speed and allowed and encouraged it and allowed him to drive a souped up car and allegation of allowing him to drink on the day of the crash. And what Linda`s saying is I`m not involved with any of that stuff. That`s father/son stuff. Leave me out of that.

HAMMER: Of course, image everything to a guy like Hulk. We know him as a processional wrestler. Star of the family`s reality show "Hogan Knows Best." Most recently he was hosting the popular show, "American Gladiators." Howard, what do you think, as a P.R. guy particularly, are people starting to think differently of Hulk? Could it hurt his career?

BRAGMAN: No. His career`s in fine shape. I mean, the guy`s not the governor of a state, for example. He`s not the host of MEET THE PRESS. We like Hulk Hogan because he`s a big, physical guy. And his career`s going to be fine and the world we live in celebrities can have transgressions. And get over them. And we have a whole show about that, don`t we, almost every day here and the celebrities seem to get almost bigger after they get over a tough time in their lives so I`ve known terry a long time and he`s going to come out just fine.

HAMMER: Nice to hear you say that. Obviously, he is such an icon. I think he will transcend this. Last week Hogan daughter Brooke talking about, she is writing on the MySpace page about the obvious emotional toll of her parents and nick is caught up in it. Jane, just another classic story of kids being devastated by divorce.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, absolutely. I think it is healthy to processing this by talking about it. Kind of the talking cure. Even if it is on a blog. And I have a lot of compassion for this family but I will say that I think that the kids are mostly the victim of the parent`s mentality. It takes a certain type of mentality to put your family on a reality TV show. Family is supposed to be sacred and when you commoditize it this is the kind of blow back you`re likely to get.

HAMMER: Yeah. These never seem to work out putting your family on TV. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Howard Bragman, I thank you both and want to let you know to watch video reports of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT any time on our Web site. New ones going up all the time at cnn.com/showbiztonight.

We have big news about Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney`s little sister, barely old enough for a driver`s license. Now she is getting a marriage license. Yeah. What do you think? Just a terrible idea?

Plus, is Britney back? The reviews are in for the guest starring sitcom role. That is next.

Also, what if the biggest sex scandals in the country became a blockbuster Hollywood movie? Take a look at this. Who should play Ashley Dupre? Britney, Lindsay or Kim Kardashian. We`re casting the sex scandal movie coming up.

Also this ...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tom?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah! I`m OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Had to watch it a few times. I couldn`t believe that`s not Tom Cruise. One of the best impressions I have ever seen of him, though. The spoof that`s got everybody talking but is it unfair to Tom? That is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. I stopped for coffee and I thought I`d grab you something.

BRITNEY SPEARS, CELEBRITY: Oh, wow. Thank you. That`s so nice. You`re like a knight. I should call you Sir Ted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: There you go. That was Britney Spears on Monday night`s "How I Met Your Mother." Is this finally the big comeback we`re waiting for Britney? Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. We`ve got breaking Britney news for you tonight. The ratings and the reviews are in for Britney`s star turn. It seems everyone is saying give me more. Give me more. We`ll get to that in just a minute. Big news tonight from Brit`s pregnant little sister Jamie Lynn Spears. She is reportedly engaged. People.com saying the 16-year-old mom to be now proudly sporting a brand new rock courtesy of the 18-year-old father of her soon to be born child, Casey Aldritch (ph). Joining us tonight from Hollywood, Extra correspondent Carlos Diaz and also in Hollywood tonight, Kareen Wynter, CNN entertainment correspondent.

All right. Kareen and Carlos, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears and boyfriend getting engaged, getting married. Carlos Diaz, what do you think? Bad move here?

CARLOS DIAZ, EXTRA CORRESPONDENT: I mean, bad move, A.J.? It was a bad move getting pregnant. We have to deal with when`s going on here: look at the alternative. He doesn`t marry her. He doesn`t ask her to marry him. She has to bring up the baby herself. I mean, I think it is a short- term good move. Do I think they`ll be married until 85 years old? Probably not. It`s good short term.

HAMMER: You are such a cynic there, Carlos. The baby is due this summer. Kareen, I don`t want to deny the love of these two young people.

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Of course not.

HAMMER: I can`t do that. I don`t want to diminish it anyway but does it at all seem that this could possibly be, I don`t know, a planned publicist contrived shotgun wedding to save face for everybody?

WYNTER: Gosh, that was so beautifully put, A.J., I couldn`t have said it better myself. Of course it is. Look. She`s 16. It is a beautiful thing having a baby, first of all. It`s wonderful getting married but when you throw the fact that she`s 16 into the equation, it really complicates things there and it was damage control maybe. They are trying to clean up the image. Definitely a strategic move from her camp. And let`s just hope things work from this point on.

HAMMER: I had trouble managing my cactus when I was 16. All right. So much for 16-year-old Jamie Lynn. Let`s move on to the elder Spears, of course, I`m talking about Britney. She did the guest stint on "How I Met Your Mother." Looking like her old self. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ted Moseby (ph) for Dr. Zimmer (ph).

SPEARS: Love the stache. You look like a young Tom Selleck only a million times more handsome. Doctor, my love is here to see you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: All right. Well, guess what, guys? Brit worked. We learned late today that "How I Met Your Mother" got the highest ratings ever. Carlos, what did you think? Did Britney knock it out of the park?

DIAZ: A.J. settle down. It`s not like she got the highest ratings ever for the show. Oh, wait. She did. Come on. Yes, she knocked it out of the park. The highest ratings the show has ever gotten or the highest rating the show is going to get unless Lindsay Lohan wants to play a receptionist in the show. Britney absolutely knocked it out of the park and proves this people don`t want to see Britney Spears the train wreck. They want to root for her. They want her to succeed and she did. It was a great job.

HAMMER: And great reviews. The associated press saying Britney the train wreck showed how she can be Britney the performer. Is Britney a train wreck the thing of the past, Kareen?

WYNTER: I hear something off in the into the distance. It is the Britney train coming and full speed. You know, America, I think she is on the way back. Can we say she`s fully there yet? Maybe not. But she was definitely impressive. This was not a breakout blockbuster role. This was not a deep portrayal here but she pulled something off.

HAMMER: I have to say for time, let`s hope she stays on track. Carlos Diaz, Kareen Wynter, I thank you both and as always for the latest break Britney news and latest video, go to the Britney drama section of our Web site any time. Cnn.com/showbiztonight is where you need to go. And now we want you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, Britney Spears. Has she turned her life around? Let us know?

Cnn.com/showbiztonight. The e-mail address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.

A battle brewing over Heath Ledger`s will. And tonight, there are brand new accusations about how Heath`s dad is handling the estate. I`m going to tell you where they`re coming from, that`s coming up.

Also, what if the biggest sex scandals in the country became a blockbuster Hollywood movie? Take a look at this. Who do you think should play Eliot Spitzer? Tom Hanks, Ben Stiller, E.T.? Casting the sex scandal movie coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Also, this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a super hero. OK? I am.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: I had to watch that a couple of times. I couldn`t believe not really Tom Cruise. Really? The best impersonation I have seen. It is the spoof that`s got everybody talking but is it unfair to Tom Cruise? That is coming up. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, a brand new development in the nasty battle over Heath Ledger`s will. First, Heath`s dad accused by his brothers of mishandling family estates in the past and now Michelle Williams` dad is adding fuel to the fire. He wants to know what happened to all of Geath`s money. Joining me once again from Hollywood, Extra correspondent Carlos Diaz. Also in Hollywood tonight, Kareen Wynter. CNN entertainment correspondent. Gang, Heath`s will only listed $145,000 in assets. Didn`t name either Michelle or their baby daughter Matilda. What do you think, Carlos? Does Michelle`s dad have a point? Something doesn`t seem quite right. A hundred forty-five grand.

DIAZ: He does have a point. Heath ledger made 14 films since the big Hollywood debut in 2000`s THE PATRIOT. Fourteen films and $145,000 to show for it. He should have millions in the bank. If I`m anyone in the Williams` family, I`m saying -- all they`re saying is, you know what? Let`s open the books and see what you have here. If there`s nothing to hide, no reason not to open the books for everyone to see but $145,000 is way too low a figure.

HAMMER: This is a guy from everything I learned about him since covering the passing not a guy that lived extravagantly. He had an expensive loft downtown but that was kind of it. And even though Heath`s will was not updated recently to include Michelle and their daughter Matilda, there was a statement released by Heath`s dad Kim saying, quote, "Matilda is our absolute priority, Michelle is an integral part of our family. They will be taken care of and that`s how Heath would want it to be."

So what do you think, Kareen? Heath`s dad saying to Michelle, don`t worry. We got you covered. Should Larry Williams, Michelle`s dad, who admittedly is not close with his daughter, just keep his nose out of this?

DIAZ: You know, I don`t care what argument Mr. Williams is trying to make. He clearly is not a part of this equation here. My goodness. You don`t get along with your own daughter. You have no business butting into the affair. Simply put he needs to just stay out of this. This is a tragic story, A.J., and he is really making things a lot worse.

HAMMER: It does seem that way. Carlos, you are covering Heath and Michelle really through the years. Do you think she should have any cause for concern here?

DIAZ: She has cause for concern looking at Heath`s father who basically according to his own brothers messed up a will in the past which was his father`s will and cause for concern there but keep in mind, Michelle Williams is not a hanger on. She is a very successful actress with a thriving career of her own and so you know, let`s hope that Michelle`s career can take off and make enough money to not worry about any of Heath`s money and she can support Matilda on her own without worrying about Heath at all.

HAMMER: From everything we knew of them as a couple, I can`t imagine Heath wanted her cut off at all.

DIAZ: Not at all.

HAMMER: Carlos Diaz, Kareen Wynter, I thank you both.

All right. What if the biggest sex scandals in the country became a blockbuster Hollywood movie? Think about it. Take a look at this. Who do you think should play Ashley Dupre? Britney, Lindsay or maybe that Kim Kardashian? Well, I got my picks. We are getting extra help casting the sex scandal movie. That`s coming up.

We`ll also have this ...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CRUISE: There was a farmer`s dog and Bingo was his name-o. Yeah.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: I am here to tell you that is not the real Tom Cruise, believe it or not. This is the spoof that has everybody talking. Easy to understand why. But the question is, is it kind of unfair to Tom? I`ll be asking that question coming up.

Also, you probably heard about how Dina Lohan is doing a new reality show. I personally think it`s a terrible idea. Well, it turns out some of the money making from that show could be garnished because of a lawsuit of one of Lindsay`s former bodyguards. I`ll fill you in on what`s coming up next coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Here are some more story that is are new right now. One of Lindsay Lohan`s former bodyguards has won a $300,000 court ruling against Lindsay`s mom, Dina Lohan. The bodyguard said they loaned Dina money to help kickstart Lindsay`s career back in 2003 and well, she never paid them back. TMZ says the court said they could end up garnishing the money from Dina`s upcoming reality show.

Denise Richards has officially lost her Sheen. She`s won a judgment to legally change her last name back to Richards after her bitter divorce from Charlie Sheen. They split up in 2006. And have been fighting over their children ever since.

Well, country star Sarah Evans has a brand new dance partner. The "Dancing with the Stars" alum is now planning to marry a new guy after she underwent a very public divorce battle. People.com reporting Evans` new love is a guy named Jay Barker. A former quarterback at the University of Alabama and they have not set a date just yet.

OK. So what if the biggest sex scandal in the country became a blockbuster Hollywood movie? I want you take a look at this. Who do you think should play Eliot Spitzer? Tom Hanks, Ben Stiller, what about E.T.? I like E.T. in the role. We are casting the sex scandal movie coming up.

We`ll also have this ....

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CRUISE: ... not a superhero, OK? I am.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: I had to watch that a few times. I couldn`t believe it`s not Tom Cruise. It is the best impersonations I have ever seen of him and the spoof that has everybody talking but is it unfair to Tom? That is coming up.

Also, another viral video involving a big, big star. Miley Cyrus. Coming up, why Miley is professing her love for Jesus and she wants everybody to know about it. You don`t want to miss that. That is still to come here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

First, you need to know you can stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. All you have to do to get it is head on over to cnn.com/showbiztonight. Click on "Sign up for newsletter" and we`ll send it to you. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT coming right back.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the sex scandals casting call. Yes, tonight, we`re make ago movie and we are choosing the stars to play the disgraced governor and his hooker. The gay politician and his shocked wife. It is lights, camera and plenty of action. For the sex scandals casting call. Also this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tom?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a farmer had a dog and Bing was his name OH. Yeah! I`m OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Uh-huh. What is wrong with Tom Cruise? That is not really Tom Cruise but spot on. Coming up, I have your first look at a hysterical new movie. It makes fun of Tom but I have to ask, is it fair?

Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. Is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City. Tonight, it`s showbiz special report. We are casting the best political sex scandal movie ever. It is hard to believe that the recent political sex scandals weren`t written in Hollywood from sex for hire to sex with threesomes, you just can`t make this stuff up. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is now casting the most outrageous Hollywood sex scandal movie ever. To help me along, joining me tonight in New York, assistant professor at Temple University, Mark Lamont Hill and also founder of 15 Minutes Public Relations, Howard Bragman and joining me from Washington, DC, "Washington Post" columnist Amy Argensinger.

Gang, we`ve got quite a task ahead of us so let`s get right to it. Obviously we have to kick it off with one of the most recent shocking sex scandals in the nation. New York`s former hooker fighting Governor Eliot Spitzer. Allegedly hiring prostitutes for himself including, of course, the now infamous Ashley Dupre.

So here is the question I am putting to you guys. Who should play Eliot Spitzer in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sex scandal movie? Should it be Tom Hanks, Ben Stiller or E.T., the Extra Terrestrial? And we think there`s somewhat of a resemblance there. Mark Lamont Hill, let`s start it off with you.

MARK LAMONT HILL, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY: You can`t go with Tom Hanks. He`s too high brow an actor. You`ve got to go with Ben Stiller. If you look at Ben`s movies, always he plays a guy that`s dim witted, good natured but a little bit slow. Eliot Spitzer has sex with a prostitute across the street in ABC News. You can`t get any dumber than that. I`m going with Ben.

HAMMER: I think there`s some resemblance in the forehead, too. Can we put that picture up there again, Charles, as we take a lock at it, and Howard Bragman, I need your casting call.

BRAGMAN: I`m going for E.T. It`s all about the ears with Eliot Spitzer. The cute, hairy ears. That is Eliot and, Eliot phone home.

HAMMER: Amy, is Howard on to something?

AMY ARGETSINGER, "WASHINGTON POST": disagree. I have a write-in vote. I vote for Matt Damon. Stay with me here. The golden boy thing and can play dark side as in "The Talented Mr. Ripley." He`s got the jaw, the square head. If you shave his hairline a little bit, put a little mascara on him. He is such a good actor I don`t think he needs the ears.

HAMMER: Good choice. Are we allowing write-in votes tonight? I`m not sure, Amy. Next up, of course, we have to cast Spitzer`s partner in crime, allegedly, the hooker herself, Ashley Dupre. The casting call for Ashley, Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian or Britney Spears? Howard, I want to start it off with you. Britney as we all know did make her big acting comeback on Monday night`s "How I Met Your Mother."

BRAGMAN: But this is Kim Kardashian`s part and she is the only one of the three, this is really a step up for her to play a hooker. This is going to elevate her acting career so I think Kim has got the lock on this one. She`s not afraid to do nudity as we know. So I think she`s there.

ARGETSINGER: She has the dimensions for the role and I think this is her Oscar role. This is her big moment.

HAMMER: Well, Amy, so that`s going to be your vote there? No write- in this time around?

ARGETSINGER: No write-in. Kim Kardashian, yes.

HAMMER: I wasn`t going to let you have that. Kardashian herself is talking about whether she should play or whether she wants to play Dupre should the chance arise from our casting call. Here`s what Kim had to say. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIM KARDASHIAN, CELEBRITY: I don`t want to rule anything out. And I have to read the script and see who`s in it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: So she`s keeping the options open should it come to pass. Mark Lamont Hill, is Kim just the right Ashley?

HILL: She`s perfect. She was born to play this role. And having seen her sex tape four times for ...

HAMMER: For research purposes only.

HILL: I watch it so you don`t have to, A.J. She is built for the role. What lines is she connecting to see in the movie? The only line I can imagine is here`s the confirmation on the visa, Mr. Spitzer. It`s all sex and I think she is built for it.

HAMMER: Well, we`re making some progress here. Now that we have gotten New York taken care of. Let`s cross the river. Let`s head over the bridge or through the tunnel to New Jersey. Now we all know the very married governor there suddenly resigned after revealing he was gay and having an affair with a male aide. The question is, who among these three should play Jim McGreevy in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sex scandal movie. Jake Gyllenhall, George Clooney, Charlie Sheen? Amy Argetsinger?

ARGETSINGER: I think these are awfully flattering casting choices. I`ve got another write in if you can take it.

HAMMER: Oh, here she goes.

ARGETSINGER: This is where Tom Hanks belongs. He has got the boyish thing but the seedy thing. He played a gay man in "Philadelphia," won an Oscar for it and I would also like to see Timothy Hutton in the role. He can do the boyish yet haunted thing.

HAMMER: Mark?

HILL: She is close. I agree with the write-in. I was going to write-in Tom Cruise. He has a lot in common with McGreevey. They`re both Democrats. But I think George Clooney`s actually a close second in that regard. I think they`re both very Democratic in that way and would be a good fit.

HAMMER: Governor McCreevey, played by whom, please, Howard? Don`t write in a vote.

BRAGMAN: Charlie Sheen. Another part he was made for. Comfortable with just about anything sexually we got to believe at this point and I think he can do this. It`s not a big stretch for him.

HAMMER: Maybe Denise Richards could do a reality show and bring the kids in. Oh, wait. Oh wait. That`s something else entirely. Well finally now, we need to know who Dina McGreevey should be played by. I`m thinking here not just because of the name but Dina Lohan, Lindsay`s mom might be a good casting. Then again Tori Spelling as you see there in the middle and we are also selecting "Saturday Night Live`s" Amy Poehler who certainly I think could pull this role off. Howard Bragman, let me go right back to you, what is your casting call on this one?

BRAGMAN: Tori Spelling. She was in a bad marriage. She knows what it`s like. She got out. She is going to bring a lot of empathy to the film and what a deep, wonderful actress she is. She is there.

HAMMER: Wait a second. I think you`re not being entirely serious with me, Howard. I`m not sure.

BRAGMAN: Stop it. She lives near me.

HAMMER: Oh, all right. Amy, what do you think?

ARGETSINGER: If you are not going to permit any more write-ins, I have to go with Amy Poehler. She is compact, blond, she know how to play angry and she can put on the crazy eyes.

HAMMER: All right. We have to move on now before we cut this off to the mother of all political sex scandals, former President Bill Clinton, former intern Monica Lewinsky. Nominees for Bill in the sex scandal movie. Hugh grant, Will Ferrell? What do you think, Mark Lamont Hill?

HILL: Easy choice. Hugh Grant. He played the prime minister of England in "Love Actually" she he has experience playing the cool president. And Bill Clinton is nothing but cool. So I go with him.

HAMMER: All right. Howard Bragman?

BRAGMAN: I know you like write-ins and "SNL`s" Darrel Hammond was the best Bill ever. And that`s his part.

HAMMER: No question.

All right. Mark Lamont Hill, Howard Bragman, Amy Argetsinger. We set out with a huge task tonight and I think we did a great job casting the sex scandal movie. Thanks for help with that. And remember you can watch our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video reports any time right there on the Web site. New ones posted all the time. Cnn.com/showbiztonight is where you surf your Web browser over to.

Well, this video that`s floating around the Internet has everybody talking and laughing, quite frankly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Captain Flash is not a super hero. OK? I am.

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HAMMER: Yeah. That`s no super hero. It`s cruise. Tom cruise. Well, it`s not actually tom cruise. Somebody playing tom. Very funny stuff. A spot-on impersonation. Coming up your first look at a new movie that just rips into him and Scientology. But come on, is it really fair? That`s next.

Also, there is another very talked about video making the rounds these days. "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus, she loves Jesus and she wants everybody to know about it. You have got to see this. It is a side of Miley you have not seen before.

Also, I am sending the SHOWBIZ truth squad out to check this out. George Clooney starting up a clothing line? Yeah, I`m talking men`s clothing, women`s, accessories, everything. Come on. Is this for real? We`ll get into that coming up.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... is not a super hero. OK? I am.

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HAMMER: So is that really Tom Cruise going off on another rant or is it a Tom Cruise impostor? Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York and tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT bringing you two viral videos involving two huge stars including this one of Miley Cyrus. Now, take a look. It`s no Hannah Montana video but Mylie and her friends singing the praises of Jesus. You will see why they`re doing that in just a moment.

Back with us tonight in Hollywood, Jane Velez-Mitchell. Investigative journalist and author of "Secrets Can Be Murder." In New York tonight, Mark Lamont Hill is back with us. Assistant professor at Temple University. So guys here`s the deal with the Tom Cruise movie. This is out of a new movie called "Superhero Movie" and I want you to take a very close look.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This hero, this -- this Dragonfly, he`s not the answer. OK? I`m the answer. I got -- I`m just -- whew. You know? Hah. I`m -- I`m the way to happiness. OK? I`m the way to peace. I can -- I can unite cultures. I can eat planets. I mean, I just -- I mean ...

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HAMMER: I love that line. I can eat planets. That is not Tom Cruise. A great impression and of course he is spoofing Tom`s now infamous Church of Scientology tape. Jane Velez-Mitchell, what do you think? Funny as it is, should Tom be a little ticked off at this given that Tom is working really hard to change his image over the past couple of years?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, first of all, let me say who needs Tom Cruise when you have this guy? He is brilliant. This is a genius interpretation. I had to put my glasses on literally to make sure it wasn`t Tom Cruise. He has him down. But, yeah, I can understand why Tom Cruise might be upset. Obviously, he is a follower of Scientology and now it seems it`s open season on Scientology these days after many years where people were intimidated and afraid to say anything negative about this religion. The flood gates have opened and not the same thing with another religion such as Catholicism. So that`s not fair but it is fair to criticize Tom Cruise. He has opened the door with his wildly inappropriately behavior and his commentary and that`s the other side of the fame. You don`t just get the jets and the beautiful women and people kowtowing. You also are held to a higher standard. Almost like politician.

HAMMER: It is part of the price of fame. Mark Lamont Hill, let me go to you, as a great defender of celebrities everywhere, what do you think? Is this just something that comes with the territory?

HILL: You know, normally I`m on board of defending celebrities but there is no defending Tom Cruise. The reason he had to repair his image is he`s making Scientology look like a cult. I`m not saying it is a cult. Telling people how to handle the pregnancy and acting as if he has all the answers to the universe, he makes Scientology look crazy so I have absolutely no sympathy to them. He looks like a "Saturday Night Live" skit when he acts himself.

HAMMER: How would you like to see some more? Roll it, Charles. Let`s see.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He sees an accident. He`s just going to run on by. I`m going to stop. Because I`m a hero. Now today, there aren`t a lot of accidents. You have to make accidents. I like to throw little nails in the street. An accident happened. I`m the only one who can run up there to stop it.

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HAMMER: Now Jane, Tom is good at staying low lately. Even though it`s obviously a spoof, a joke, do you think that this is going to get people thinking that over the top Tom Cruise`s back once again? Should he be concerned? Ten seconds for you.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yeah. He should be concerned. Again, suspension of disbelief is what we seek in the movies and we can`t get Tom Cruise out of our heads. The real Tom Cruise and get into his characters in film anymore making a spectacle of himself as a human being.

HAMMER: It is something funny to watch, though. Mark Lamont Hill. Jane Velez-Mitchell. I thank you both for being with us tonight. There`s another video that`s making the rounds on the Web and everybody is talking about it. You`ll want to see this. Hannah Montana`s Mylie Cyrus, she loves Jesus and wants everyone to know about it. You`ve got to see it. A side of Miley you haven`t seen before.

That`s coming up.

And you know, George Clooney, an snazzy dresser and talk that George wants to make everyone look sharp. Is George really coming out with a clothing line? Men`s and women`s clothing. I`m unleashing the showbiz truth squad on this coming up.

Also Clooney`s "Leatherheads" co-star Renee Zellweger going off on the paparazzi and she has got some surprising things to say about John Travolta. Don`t go anywhere.

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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, Miley Cyrus singing the praises of Jesus Christ. A video that has gone completely viral. You just have to see this. Back with us tonight, in Hollywood, investigative journalist Jane Velez-Mitchell and in New York, Mark Lamont Hill, assistant professor at Temple University. All right, guys, Miley Cyrus and best friend Mandy have this little show that continues, it`s an ongoing thing called the Miley and Mandy show up on YouTube. In the latest just released installment they answer questions from fans and look at what they said when a fan asked if they were Christian. Watch this.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are we Christian?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. We are.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love Jesus. Happy Easter by the way. He died for our sins. That is how great he is. That`s why we do what we do. I sing and act Jesus. Not the acting but I sing and dance for Jesus. Actually, I act for Jesus, too. And now that I think about it, I do everything for Jesus.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, we are. For Jesus.

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HAMMER: You can`t deny their enthusiasm. Jane, let me start with you. We all know religion can be very, very polarizing. Is that something that she should be considering making these types of videos or does it really matter?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I think, A.J., what takes the edge off it all is she said this in answer to a question. She didn`t wake up and say I`m going to proselytize today. Someone asked her and she answered it. And I think it is good for a teenager to be thinking about things that don`t involve just materialism and she is thinking of something of a spiritual nature and actually positive. Now if she turns around and starts becoming a preacher, that is a problem but she hasn`t done that yet.

HAMMER: This is something we`re not used to seeing from stars her age as huge as she is and let`s not forget. Lindsay Lohan, obviously, was once 15 and innocent. Britney Spears, as well. Mark Lamont Hill, a lot of people very worried for Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana worried because she is so young and so famous. Are you concerned at all.

HILL: Exactly. I man, this video freaks me out. I wasn`t inspired when I saw it. No 15-year-old loves Jesus that much. Either she`s heavily calculated or a weird kid and either way, seems like she`s hurdling towards Lindsay Lohan/Britney Spears territory. These were both really good girls who were completely obsessed and a few years later they are hanging off of bar tops. That`s a dangerous thing.

HAMMER: You see, I don`t think she`s heavily calculated. I don`t think she`s weird. What do you think, Jane? Are you worried for her? I think she seems to be maintaining a solid path. I don`t think the video strikes me as, oh my God, she`s gone off the deep end.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I`m not so worried about the Miley. The fact she grew up in a showbiz family, her father famous in his own right, not just some manager trying to capitalize off his kid but been down the road of fame and knows the pitfalls and he has said publicly, if my daughter starts getting into weird behavior, I`m pulling her off the stage.

HAMMER: Oh, yeah.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think that`s a great message. I think she`s going to do so well.

HAMMER: I hope she will. I`ve seen the ups and downs of Billy Ray and he`s a good guy.

Thank you very much for joining us tonight. Mark Lamont Hill. Jane Velez Mitchell. I appreciate it.

All right. There`s actually talk that George Clooney is coming out with a clothing line for men and women. I`m thinking maybe he can make Britney some underwear. I`m calling out the SHOWBIZ Truth squad to check this out. Stick around. Find out if there`s truth to this, George actually spoke with us himself. That`s next.

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HAMMER: And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. As Charles said, it is time to call in the showbiz truth squad. This is where we get to the bottom of Hollywood`s biggest rumors. By George, is Clooney going all Gucci on us and getting a clothing line? There`s an e-mail floating around out there saying Clooney starting a company called G.C. Exclusive in Milan to make men`s, women`s and accessories. It didn`t sound very Clooney-ish to us. So we did a little digging around. Here`s what George toll us. Quote, "This is a hoax. I have no connection with any clothing line bearing my name and more specifically G.C. Exclusive by George Clooney. So case close and this clothes case.

Well, George Clooney`s "Leatherheads" costar Renee Zellweger going off on the paparazzi big time. This is a hot button issue for her and in a revealing interview with "In Style" magazine, Renee who was a target herself since her marriage to Kenny Chesney and disgusted by the lack of politeness in Hollywood nowadays saying, quote, "People have a misconception about the paparazzi saying, oh, they just ran into Reese Witherspoon. No, they followed her all day. As a teenager I wouldn`t dream of seeing John Travolta say, just walking up to his table with my camera and holding it into his face, taking away his privacy, dehumanizing him. And now society doesn`t frown on it. They applaud it. It makes me sad."

So true, Renee. You can read more in the April issue of "In Style" magazine which happens to be on news stands right now.

On Monday we asked you to vote on the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Stars like Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Kevin Federline, famous for what? Does talent even matter in Hollywood anymore?

Totally lopsided response. Ninety-one percent saying no, only nine percent of you said yes. Among the e-mails, one from Q-Fortune in Florida who thinks there still is hope. "We still have golden age stars, just very few of them. Just look at George Clooney."

But Pam from Louisiana, "I see very stars that actually are worthy of being idols but I do not see that I would want my children to idolize."

Well, that`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks a lot for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Remember you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s. 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific and in the morning at 11:00 Eastern. The latest from CNN HEADLINE NEWS coming up next.

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