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Showbiz Tonight
Graziano Family`s Outrage; A One-On-One with Kim Cattrall; Is Tyra the New Oprah?; Behind the Scenes Look at "The View"
Aired May 30, 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: The "Sex and the City" movie is here tonight. Kim Cattrall opens up to me about rumors of fighting on the set. And four months after her stay in the psych ward, is Britney Spears making any progress? I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, outrage over the Hogan family and the taped jailhouse conversations between Hulk Hogan and his son talking about getting Nick a reality show when he gets out of jail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK BOLLEA, HULK HOGAN`S SON: I want to do it where I`ll make the most money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the victim`s family fights back, reaching out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to say what they really think about this reality show idea. Plus, the family`s attorneys are right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Is Tyra Banks the new Oprah? Could it be true? Could there be a big time talk show smackdown on the horizon? Tonight, showbiz investigates whether Tyra can knock Queen Oprah off her throne.
And is Clay Aiken really going to be a daddy? Wait until you hear this one.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City. Tonight, the Hulk Hogan family backlash. The scandal over the Hogan jailhouse tapes has taken a new, even more dramatic turn. Hulk`s son in jail, heard talking about doing a reality show while his friend lies in the hospital critically injured.
Well, in just a bit, I`ll be speaking with the attorneys who represent John Graziano. He`s the man who`s gravely hurt in that speed-racing crash that sent Nick to jail.
But first, the war over the tapes. Hulk, his ex Linda and son Nick were recorded in jailhouse phone calls making truly troubling statements, bashing the Grazianos and even their injured son, John. Well, now, the Graziano family is fighting back and reaching out directly to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to tell us what they really think of the Hogan family. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has to ask, are these tapes just the tip of a titanic ice berg for the Hogan family.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Here`s a tip for the family of Hulk Hogan. When you visit Nick in jail, perhaps you should start speaking in sign language, because the family is facing a full-blown backlash over those disturbing jailhouse tapes of Hulk Hogan discussing a future reality show deal with his jailed son Nick.
N. BOLLEA: Will you work on that reality deal.
HULK HOGAN, WRESTLER AND REALITY SHOW STAR: Yes.
HAMMER: Nick is serving an eight-month sentence for this street-racing accident that left his friend, John Graziano, in a semi-conscious state.
Now Graziano`s family is coming to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to express disgust at the Hogans. In an exclusive E-mail to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Graziano`s mother Debra writes, quote, "I am physically ill at the thought how low human beings can descend!"
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Nick`s out there planning how he`s going to make money off of the tragedy. I think it strikes a really bad chord with a lot of people who found it just very disturbing.
HAMMER: On the tapes, Nick and his famous father brazenly discuss how they can cash in with a reality show the second Nick gets out of jail.
N. BOLLEA: I want to do it where I`ll make the most money.
HOGAN: You know, if I`m producing the show, I won`t screw you. You know that?
N. BOLLEA: Yes, of course.
HOGAN: I`ll get you everything. I`ll make you an owner.
N. BOLLEA: Yes.
HOGAN: You`d own the show.
N. BOLLEA: Yes.
HOGAN: We can call it "The New Nick" or something.
N. BOLLEA: "New Nick."
HOGAN: Or something. We`ll have to come up with a good name. Think of a good name.
N. BOLLEA: I`ll be thinking of a good name. It would be reality. How I`m getting back on my feet, and how I`m recovering after this. Celebrity out of jail.
HAMMER: And in another conversation, we hear Nick`s mom, Linda, going after Graziano`s mother.
LINDA BOLLEA, NICK BOLLEA`S MOTHER: She`s not sad. She`s just acting angry, like she just wants the money. John never meant anything to her or Ed.
HAMMER: In Nick`s sentencing hearing, Graziano`s mother, Debra, made no secret of the pain Nick`s reckless driving accident caused her family and her son.
DEBRA GRAZIANO, JOHN GRAZIANO`S MOTHER: I don`t know how I`m going to live through this emotionally, missing my son. It`s excruciating. I`m not seeking revenge, only justice.
HAMMER: Now, after hearing the Hogans talk about making money off the tragic incident, Graziano is really on the warpath.
In her E-mail to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, she says, "The Hogans disrespect my child personally with lies while planning to benefit from his suffering by using this tragedy as an intro for the new `Nick Show!`"
SERAFIN: Here they are, suffering, not knowing what will happen with their son, knowing probably that he is never going to lead a life like he used lead again. But yet, Nick`s out there planning how he`s going to make money off of the tragedy.
HOGAN: Hogan knows best!
HAMMER: The Hogan family earned fame with their reality show, VH1`s "Hogan Knows Best." Hulk`s daughter, Brooke, is already at work on her own reality show, also set to air on VH1 this summer.
But the jailhouse tape could end up costing more than Nick`s TV career. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, the Graziano family plans to put the tapes front and center, when they sue the Hogans in civil court.
SERAFIN: If Nick`s reality show, "The New Nick," as he`s thinking it would be called, ever does get off the ground, he can certainly expect that any money he`d make off of it will go right to the Graziano family, which it should.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: There is just so much pain and agony on both sides of this tragic story. And tonight, as you`ve heard, the Graziano family is firing back against the Hogans whose jailhouse calls began this full blown firestorm.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, TMZ reporter, Katie Daryl. And here in New York, Maggie Gallant, the founder of Spotlight Communications.
Katie, Maggie, I want to take one more look at this very passionate E- mail that John Graziano`s mother, Debra, sent us here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
This is just unbelievable, what she writes, "They disrespect my child personally with lies while planning to benefit from his suffering by using this tragedy as an intro for the new Nick show. I am physically ill at the thought of how long human beings can descend and actually believe their own fantasies about my son`s reality!"
The pain - it is almost palpable in this E-mail. Katie, let me start with you, the Grazianos are more than just justified in their outrage, aren`t they?
KATIE DARYL, TMZ REPORTER: Oh, most definitely. They should be outraged because here`s the thing. A lot of us have said things behind closed doors, statements that we would maybe be embarrassed about or ashamed of. But this wasn`t a single statement. These are multiple conversations over multiple days with multiple family members.
So it just goes to show that he`s not remorseful. He`s not sitting there thinking about, you know, "How did I wind up in this jail cell?" He`s really is just thinking about himself. He is selfish.
HAMMER: Maggie, I`ve got to tell you. I was a little surprised when we first got that E-mail from John Graziano`s mother. But man, I totally feel her pain and I can completely understand why she`s even reaching out to us, because we are shedding a light on how outrageous this all is.
MAGGIE GALLANT, FOUNDER, SPOTLIGHT COMMUNICATIONS: Of course, you can, A.J. And what`s really wonderful about this statement is it is so eloquent and that our responses to all of this go beyond emotional. It`s a physical response. It is nauseating to hear the concept of someone being able to benefit from such amazing suffering that none of us could possibly imagine. This is every parent`s worst nightmare.
But what parent could possibly imagine that beyond this nightmare, that it would become a pop culture phenomenon and a TV show? I mean it`s really nauseating.
HAMMER: Well, I think you hit the nail on the head there because everybody, too, at least to a certain extent, has personalized this and tries to put themselves in the Graziano shoes here. And they are not the only ones expressing their outrage over this Hogan jailhouse tapes. We have just been overwhelmed with E-mail here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT from our viewers who are seeing both sides in this case. I am seeing a lot more outrage though.
I want to read a couple of these for you. One from Melissa in California, who writes, "Let`s say Nick does get his own reality show. I think all of the revenue should go to Nick`s best friend and his recovery."
Now, Joe in California is firmly supporting the Grazianos here, saying, "I am totally sickened and stunned by the way the Hogan family is treating this tragic accident. They want to make money from this. Hulk and Nick are truly sick."
Had the Hogans gotten so famous that they are not even sure what real reality is? Katie, is that a huge part of the problem here?
DARYL: Famous or delusional, right? You know, this is a family that is used to having their life taped and making them famous for it. You know, first we had "Hogan Knows Best." Now, we have "Brooke Hogan Knows Best," coming up this summer on VH1. So certainly, you know, Nick is going to think that it`s his turn to have a piece of the pie.
This is a family that is used to hearing, "Action, redo. Let`s take that for a second. Try and re-shoot." So clearly, they really are a little delusional and think that this is just a new story line.
HAMMER: Maggie, what do you think? Are the Hogans out of touch or I`m trying to see the flip side here. So let`s play devil`s advocate for a moment. Are they just perhaps trying to do what`s best for their family, when Nick gets out of jail, getting in some work, letting him readjust to society, just like so may people do once they get out of jail?
GALLANT: No, this is not the best thing for either family and also this isn`t the best thing for the American public. We don`t need to see a reality show like this. There are other celebrities out there, Dina Lohan, Denise Richards. They`re doing these reality shows to get sympathy. After we hear these tapes, there - it`s never going to happen that were going to feel sympathy for the Hogans. It`s not going to happen.
HAMMER: No. It is less than zero at this point. That`s to be sure. Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has repeatedly reached out to the Hogans since these jailhouse tapes were released. We wanted an official comment from the Hogans. We still haven`t received anything as of show time.
Maggie, I want to go back to you from a PR standpoint since that`s what you do. These guys, the Hogans, they`re in a huge hole right now. Should they be responding to these tapes?
GALLANT: No, they shouldn`t. He should be in jail and thinking about what he`s done and the impact of what his actions had upon the rest of all of these lives. A reality show? The idea shouldn`t even have come up. And in terms of a PR strategy, a principle that I have abided by in my career is I never take on a client when I don`t believe in what they are saying. When you`re talking to the press, you need to believe in it. I can`t imagine who`s going to sign up to handle this PR crisis.
HAMMER: Katie Daryl, give me a quick yes or no. We`ve seen celebrities bounce back before. Any way the Hogans can dig themselves out of this hole?
DARYL: Listen, if they can spin this, I want their PR rep to work for me one day.
HAMMER: Yes, no kidding. And I misspoke. This isn`t a hole; this is a major crater. Katie Daryl, Maggie Gallant, I thank you both.
And coming up later on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the lawyers for the Graziano family, they are going to be right here reacting for the very first time to the explosive Hogan jailhouse phone calls. You will definitely want to stick around.
Well, coming up, in this corner, Tyra Banks. In that corner, Oprah Winfrey. Yes. Is there a big smackdown brewing in the battle of talk show royalty? I want to know, can Tyra possibly knock Queen Oprah off her throne? We`re asking, is Tyra the new Oprah? That is coming up in our showbiz special report.
Also, is Clay Aiken really going to be a daddy with a 50-year-old woman? I have the story that everybody is talking about and I`ve got the surprising details that you haven`t heard before. That is still ahead. We will also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM CATTRALL, "SEX AND THE CITY" STAR: I think it made us mad at beginning and then we just kind of went - it`s the nature of the beast.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, the "Sex and the City" movie is finally here, everybody is excited about it. Tonight, I`m going one-on-one with Kim Cattrall like you have never heard before. She is setting the record straight about the rumors of the fighting on the set. Kim Cattrall is coming up, and that`s in the interview you`ll see only here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And remember, you can always watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video any time you`d like. We are posting new stuff for you to check out all the time. Just surf on over to our Web site - that is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Set a bookmark for it. Among the videos playing right now, my one-on- one with the leading ladies of the "Sex and the City" movie. We are coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYNTHIA NIXON, "SEX AND THE CITY" STAR: How often do you guys -
SARAH JESSICA PARKER, "SEX AND THE CITY" STAR: Color?
NIXON: Thank you.
CATTRALL: Well, I can`t color enough. I could color all day every day if I had my way. I would use every crayon in my box.
PARKER: We get it. You love to color.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, she does. The character, the character. That was Kim Cattrall, otherwise known as sexed-up Samantha from "Sex and the City" in one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. It is "Sex and the City" week here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. The film finally in theaters. And tonight, Kim Cattrall tells me her sex secrets. I went one-on-one with Kim who is lovely I might add, and she set the record straight on all those rumors that were flying around on the cast feud, all those reports about her cooking in the buff with her much younger boyfriend and what it was really like to finally get this movie made.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CATTRALL: I think it`s taken what we did in half an hour and just kind of exploded in such a wonderful way. And it was a little nerve-racking, especially the first couple of days of shooting because - the anticipation. And I don`t know if the anticipation would have been there if we had gone directly from a TV show to a movie. So I think things happen for a reason.
HAMMER (on camera): Take me back to the table read, which was, from my understanding, the first time the cast, even though you may have been in touch over the past few years, were actually together in one room. What was racing through your mind then?
CATTRALL: Oh, it was so - first of all, it`s like family. You know, you have like your family-family and then you have like your friend-family. And then you have your work family.
So it was like we were all going on some kind of retreat for the afternoon and there was this great script that we were going to read. And there was lunch in the other room and chocolates. So it was very celebratory. It was like all fun week, you know. It was really very supportive and wonderful. And people laughed and people cried. And it was a great day.
HAMMER: I don`t have to tell you the press always looking for a story, making up drama along the way. Whether there was drama or not, I don`t know. So you guys got to appear on "Oprah," which, by the way, was terrific.
CATTRALL: Oh, thank you.
HAMMER: It just looked like you guys had the time of your life. But I have to tell you, one of my producers said - she was sitting there, wondering, "Are they going to stay close to each other. Oh, look they`re putting Chris Noth in the middle of everybody." When you hear stuff like that, does it make you mad? I mean, what do you think?
CATTRALL: Yes. You know, I think it made us mad at the beginning. And then we just kind of went, "It`s the nature of the beast." You know, if there`s no news, people want to make news. And in some way, that`s kind of a backhanded compliment. They just can`t get enough. So we`ll just keep making movies.
HAMMER: Well, I have to say I hear from a lot of actresses I sit down with that there are not a lot of great juicy, sexy roles as you get older in Hollywood. Look at you, you`re defying that notion and you have been with this particular character. Do you feel kind of a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) about that?
CATTRALL: I totally do. And I want to kick as much (EXPLETIVE DELETED) as I can for as long as I can. It`s really wonderful to not just play this character but to have a character that exists at this age, who`s not lying about her age, who still looks great, feels great and is sexy as hell. I`m not talking about me. I`m talking about Samantha.
HAMMER: No, no. But the truth is, you know, as someone who gets cast in those roles, it is, we know, a little unusual. And I think there`s a double standard in Hollywood as far as it applies to women getting older and men getting older?
CATTRALL: I think there`s always been that. I mean you see a man in his 60s and his leading lady is, you know, in her middle 20s. And you say, well, you know, fine. But I think that that`s changing. And I think that in "Sex and the City," we`ve been part of that change and I`m very proud of that.
HAMMER: Well, I have to say, Kim, I did not walk in here with a single cooking naked question, not going to talk about that. But -
CATTRALL: I don`t know where that came from.
HAMMER: I love that.
CATTRALL: I mean can you imagine cooking in the nude? I mean the hot oil from the pan would just kill you. You know, that`s not sexy.
HAMMER: But obviously, you know, a lot of people buzzing about the fact you`re dating this guy who`s 23 years your junior. And I guess he`s a chef and I guess that`s where the hot oil comes in and the cooking naked. But seriously, when you step back from it, do you wonder what all the fuss is about or do you love all the fuss?
CATTRALL: I think a little bit of both. I think it`s funny and it`s titillating to me to read stuff about yourself that`s so completely off the mark. But you have to have a sense of humor about it. I mean you look at the world and how complicated it is and you look at that as a piece of fluff.
HAMMER: Is this the end of "Sex and the City"?
CATTRALL: Well, never say never. That`s what I`ve learned about this show. I remember when we did the pilot and we had to wait six months to get picked up. And then, when the show got picked up again, it was only for 12 episodes and then it was sort of 18 episodes. And then it was 90 and then 22 and then nothing, and then the movie.
So you know, if this follows us for the rest of our lives, for the rest of our careers, hey, that`s great. I have no complaints. Great roles, great writing, wonderful fashion. You just get to be a girl. You get to have fun. And girls, they want to have fun.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: They certainly do in this film. Well, the wait is over. You can finally catch "Sex and the City" because it`s in theaters now.
CREW: Yes!
HAMMER: Calm down, guys. Now, we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. I know our crew is excited - "`Sex and the City`: Are you excited to see it?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, coming up, the family of Nick Hogan`s injured friend strikes back.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
N. BOLLEA: Will you work on that reality deal?
HOGAN: Yes.
N. BOLLEA: For me. Get that thing lined up so the minute I walk out of wherever I walk out of, it`s there, boom.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is just so hard to listen to that. Nick actually plotting about his future on reality TV when his friend that he nearly killed is lying in a hospital bed. Outrageous. Well, now, his friend`s family is fighting back. We have the attorneys right here. That`s coming up in the interview you see here only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Plus, in this corner, Tyra Banks; in that corner, Oprah Winfrey. Is there a smackdown brewing in the battle of talk show royalty? I want to know, can Tyra knock Queen Oprah off her throne? We are asking, is Tyra the new Oprah? That is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT in a special report.
And is Clay Aiken really going to be a daddy with a 50-year-old woman? Huh? I`ve got the story everybody is talking about and the surprising details you haven`t heard before. That`s next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And now you can watch any time. Download our free podcast by heading to the Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also get it on iTunes. We are coming right back.
(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.
Clay Aiken is going to "Spam A Lot" to sperm a lot. Yes, I had to say it. Clay is going to be a dad. "People" magazine reports Clay made a donation so his friend, the 50-year-old sister of music mogul David Foster could be artificially inseminated. She is due in August. TMZ says Clay plans to take an active role in raising the child.
Well, Britney Spears still is unable to participate in any meaningful in legal proceedings. That is according to a court commissioner who is in charge of Britney`s conservatorship. Now, the commissioner said, four months after Britney got out of the psych ward, she`s still may need some more tests.
And 50 Cent`s house on Long Island has been destroyed by a fire. Officials are calling this thing suspicious. Now, the rapper and his former girlfriend are fighting over the house. She says he promised she could have it, but since they broke up, he now wants to evict her and their 10-year-old son. The girlfriend and the son were inside the house at the time and were treated for smoke inhalation. 50 Cent was not there.
Well, coming up, the family of Nick Hogan`s injured friend strikes back.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
N. BOLLEA: Will you work on that reality deal?
HOGAN: Yes.
N. BOLLEA: For me. Get that thing lined up so the minute I walk out of wherever I walk out of, it`s there, boom.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is just still so hard to listen to that. Hulk Hogan and his son, Nick actually planning Nick`s future on reality TV - or "real-ality" TV - when the friend he nearly killed is lying in a hospital bed. Now, that friend`s family is fighting back and we have their attorneys right here, coming up in the interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Plus, could there be a major battle brewing among talk show royalty? I`ve got to know. Can Tyra Banks possibly knock Queen Oprah off her throne? We are asking, is Tyra the new Oprah? That is coming up in a showbiz special report.
Also we are going behind the scenes at "The View." Hey, I`ve got some hot topics for you. What`s Joy wearing? What`s Whoopi eating? It`s the kind of wacky stuff we usually don`t get to see when we tune into "The View," and that is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We are coming right back.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
N. BOLLEA: Will you work on that reality deal?
HOGAN: Yes.
N. BOLLEA: For me and get that thing lined up so the minute I walk out of wherever I walk out of, it`s there, boom.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, outrage over the Hulk Hogan-Nick Hogan jailhouse confessions and a shocking new legal twist. Tonight, the mother of the man nearly killed by Hulk`s son in a car crash, speaks out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Plus, the family`s fired up attorneys are right here in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Is Tyra the new Oprah? Tonight, startling new evidence that Oprah Winfrey`s empire may be showing some cracks. And there is a daytime smackdown brewing. Can Tyra Banks knock Oprah off her throne? It`s an explosive showbiz special report.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: 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.
Tonight, the Hogan family backlash. The family of the Iraq war veteran, John Graziano, nearly killed by Hulk Hogan`s son in a car crash is outraged and speaking out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. A shocking jailhouse conversation was recorded between Nick Hogan and his dad Hulk, slamming the Graziano family, including John who still lies in a semi-comatose state.
Well, tonight, in the interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, John Graziano`s attorneys are speaking out about these outrageous conversations.
Joining me from Tampa tonight, it`s George Tragos, and from Miami, Kimberly Khan. I`ll be speaking with you, guys, in a second. I appreciate you being here.
But first, the very latest. On the jailhouse tapes, Nick and Hulk are heard trashing the victim John Graziano. We also hear the ridiculous plan to create a reality show when Nick gets sprung from jail, and the tapes could become part of a new civil suit that the Graziano family has filed. And now John Graziano`s attorney, George, Kim, again, I appreciate you being here tonight.
KIMBERLY KHAN, GRAZIANO FAMILY ATTORNEY: Thanks for having us.
HAMMER: My pleasure. I would like to play for you a bit of this conversation that was caught on tape between Hulk Hogan and his jailed son Nick about your client, John Graziano. Let`s listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
HOGAN: Well, I don`t know what type of person John was or what he did to get himself in this situation, I know he was pretty aggressive and used to yell at people and used to do stuff, but for some reason, man, god laid some heavy (EXPLETIVE DELETED) on that kid, man. I don`t know what he was into.
N. BOLLEA: John was a negative person.
HOGAN: He was what?
N. BOLLEA: He was a negative person.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, this floors me every time I hear it. Your client is lying in a hospital bed in a semi-comatose state as a result of Nick Hogan`s high-speed alcohol fueled car crash that landed him in jail. George, let me start with you. When the Graziano family heard this, they must have been stunned.
GEORGE TRAGOS, GRAZIANO FAMILY ATTORNEY: They were more than stunned. They were downright angry. I`ve heard it many, many times. I listened to it over and over again. Every time I listen to it, I am shocked at how callus, how ridiculous they sound. And they must live in some kind of dream world to believe - they believe that God caused this, that John did something, that God is punishing him for this? How outrageous is that?
Nick`s driving the car. He`s racing from light to light. He`s driving on a wet road. He`s spins out on a 500-horse power car that is modified in every possible way, slams into a tree and it`s got to be John`s fault.
HAMMER: I don`t need to tell you these taped conversations are packed with outrage, and so much of the outrage has centered on this one particular jailhouse conversation between Hulk Hogan and his son, Nick. They are planning Nick`s get-out-of-jail reality show. It still blows my mind. Let`s listen to that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
N. BOLLEA: Will you work on that reality deal?
HOGAN: Yes.
N. BOLLEA: For me. Get that thing lined up so the minute I walk out of wherever I walk out of, it`s there, boom.
HOGAN: Can you do it while you are on probation?
N. BOLLEA: Yes, of course. I want to do it where I`ll make the most money.
HOGAN: So dude, if we can get that pulled off, dude.
N. BOLLEA: Reality.
HOGAN: "The New Nick." We can call it "The New Nick" or something.
N. BOLLEA: "The New Nick."
HOGAN: Or something. We`ll have to come up with a good name. Think of a good name.
N. BOLLEA: I`ll be thinking of a good name.
HOGAN: The - the -
N. BOLLEA: It will be reality, how I`m getting back on my feet, and how I am recovering after this, celebrity out of jail.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is unconscionable to me that the Hogans would even talk about this while Nick is still in jail. Kim, what was the Graziano`s reaction to the Hogans possibly cashing in on their son`s tragedy?
KHAN: They are sick to their stomach. It`s absolutely outrageous that while Nick Bollea is sitting in jail, what he`s supposed to be doing, what the judge wanted him to do was to think about what he did to John Graziano and think about the consequences of his actions and to not let this happen again. And all he`s thinking about is, "Oh, poor woe is me. Look at the bad conditions I`m in and hey, by the way, Dad, how can I make a quick buck when I get out?" It`s disgusting.
HAMMER: Yes. And I should remind everybody, Bollea, of course, the legal name of the Hogan family as we more commonly know them. Now, as disgusting, of course, as the idea of a reality show is too obviously to the Grazianos, to me and to so many people, including so many SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers who have written in almost angry letters about the whole idea. The Hogans are a reality show family. It is their livelihood. It certainly has to be. So George, let me ask you this. Some people do say it is their right to do this. What do you think? Can they, in any way, be justified in going through with the plan to do a reality show?
TRAGOS: You had an earlier guest that said something as to - I think you asked the question, what can the Hogans do to put a spin on this? What they can do is they can take that show, take the money from the show and give it to John Graziano so he can be taken care of the rest of his life. Step up to the plate, take care of John Graziano. He`s going to need care 24/7 maybe the rest of his life and they don`t even care. They`re going to try to pocket that money. Hopefully, they won`t. The spin could be, write the check to John and take care of John.
HAMMER: Would your clients be OK - would the Grazianos be OK with them doing a reality show if that, in fact, was the deal if the money was going to go to John?
TRAGOS: If it was respectful to John, yes. And if all the money - if they wanted to take care of John, the key is take care of John. He needs to be taken care of because of what you did. Right now, they don`t - they can care less about John. It`s all about them.
HAMMER: Now, money may come in another way. You filed a civil suit on behalf of the Graziano family. So Kim, how will you use these tapes in that lawsuit?
KHAN: There is two ways that George and I want to use the tapes potentially. One is, again, to show the negligent parenting of Linda and Terry Bollea. Instead of making sure when they knew how bad of a driver, and a reckless driver, their son was, they allowed him to continue to drive. They allowed access to modified souped-up cars. Instead of stopping him, they promoted it.
And the same thing here. Instead of sitting there and talking to him, "Nick, you know, you`re in jail. Think about what you did to John." No, we`re focusing on it`s all John`s fault and we could make money by a reality series. So that`s one way to talk about it. The other way is punitive damages about the outrageous conduct of Linda, Terry and Nick and that they haven`t learned from their mistakes. All they care about is themselves. All they care about when they stood in front of that judge is making self-serving hypocritical statements, and it goes to the credibility.
HAMMER: So you`re looking for essentially cash settlement, punitive damages in the form of cash?
KHAN: Well, ultimately, in Florida, we have to file a separate motion requesting the court to allow us to seek punitive damages, but that would be something that we would be asking the jury absolutely for punitive damages to punish them for their outrageous, reckless conduct.
HAMMER: OK. And as by way of a reminder, Terry Bollea, of course, Hulk Hogan as we know him. And there`s been a lot of animosity that we`ve seen between the Hogans and the Graziano families now. But before jail, Nick said that John was his best friend, like a brother. The Hogans said John was like another son to them. George, what happened?
TRAGOS: Well, what happened was the Grazianos learned that John wasn`t that close, that the Hogans didn`t love him like they thought they did. We told the judge that at the sentencing. We told the judge, these people are not remorseful. They don`t care. This is an act. It`s a big show. They are coming before you and it`s an Academy Award performance what they were doing. And sure enough, these tapes show we were right. And the whole country knows we were right, that they are willing to put on a show at John Graziano`s expense to save their son.
HAMMER: Well, guys, I know you know that our hearts go out to the Graziano family and to John. And we wish them the best in getting through this very tragic and difficult situation. George Tragos, Kimberly Khan, attorneys for the family. I appreciate you being with us.
TRAGOS: Thank you very much.
KHAN: Thank you very much, A.J.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out to reps for the Hogans and as of show time, they did not issue an official comment.
Well, moving on now, the daytime talk show wars - they are heating up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYRA BANKS, TV TALK SHOW HOST: It`s my responsibility to show myself un- retouched, to come out on my talk show with my face washed, to show my cellulite, to show the back fat on my the bra.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. That`s Tyra Banks, and she is ready to take on Oprah Winfrey. You know, I`m a big fan of both Tyra and Oprah. But now with cold hard proof that Oprah`s mega empire is showing signs it might be in trouble, is Tyra the next Oprah? A showbiz special report you don`t want to miss, coming up next.
And just what really happens behind the scenes of a huge daytime talk show? Well, you have got to see this, a never before revealed look at "The View" when the cameras are not rolling. What does Joy really wear and the wacky thing that Whoopi eats. That`s coming up next.
I`ve got to tell you, I think Will Smith and his lovely wife Jada are a great Hollywood couple. And coming up, we`ll reveal one of his secrets to making his relationship work. I`ve got to say it is rocking Hollywood.
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HAMMER: 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, is Tyra the new Oprah? There is startling new evidence out showing Oprah Winfrey`s ratings are down seven percent and this after her reality show "Oprah`s Big Give" was cancelled.
And take a look at this. This latest "New York Times" magazine shows a photo of Tyra Banks with the names Martha, Oprah and Tyra all around her. She has got a media empire that could rival Oprah`s and all signs indicate that she may be ready for a royal coup. So I`ve got to ask, is an Oprah- Tyra smackdown juts around the corner?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BANKS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
HAMMER (voice over): Watching former supermodel Tyra Banks whipping the audience into a frenzy on her hit daytime talk show, "The Tyra Banks Show." The scene seems vaguely familiar. Remember this?
WINFREY: Everybody gets a car!
HAMMER: OK. So Oprah gives away cars and Tyra gives away Vaseline. But you have to admit, the parallels between Oprah and Tyra are heir apparent.
BANKS: Hi. I didn`t want to interrupt you.
HAMMER: It took ten years but Tyra Banks has transformed herself from top model to top mogul. Whether it`s her hit reality show, her production company or her Oprah-esque daytime talk show, Tyra is definitely making her mark. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has to ask, is Tyra the new Oprah?
TIM STACK, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Comparisons between Tyra and Oprah inevitable. They both believe in philanthropy. They`re huge philanthropists and also very, you know, involved in issues with young women. And then they also both have very public battles with their weight.
SAMUELS: Oprah likes to have control over every aspect of her business. Tyra supposedly is the very same way.
HAMMER: Tyra Banks tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she loves her some Oprah.
BANKS: I think she probably sees herself as a vessel to communicate beautiful things and to change - I think there`s no ego. It`s not about fulfilling herself. And I think that`s what makes her so special.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, Tyra`s transition plan to go from model to mogul wasn`t easy, but it certainly helped that it started with Oprah herself.
STACK: Tyra got her start as a youth correspondent on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" in the late `90s and like early 2000.
SAMUELS: I think that that was something Oprah had in her mind that maybe Tyra would be able to sort of do her own show.
HAMMER: Tyra has certainly come a long way since those days. But is she ready to oust Oprah from her media mogul throne? Well, according to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s O-ccomplishment chart, Tyra has made impressive strides.
BANKS: Take them off. Take them off.
HAMMER: Oh, yes. That would be O-ccomplishment number one, get your own talk show. Oprah`s got the "Oprah Winfrey Show" going on its 22nd year. But the Tyra Banks show has got something Oprah might want - a fast- growing, much younger audience.
STACK: It is not, you know, a blockbuster by any name but it reaches a very, you know, targeted demo of women 18 to 34 which is what advertisers love because those are the women who are out shopping.
HAMMER: Two different audiences but Tyra and Oprah share one common quality that make them both successful at daytime talk.
BANKS: Well, it`s my responsibility to show myself un-retouched, to come out of my talk show with my face washed, to show my cellulite and the back fat on my bra.
HAMMER: When SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sat down with Tyra, it was clear she completed accomplishment number two, be relatable.
SAMUELS: Oprah certainly has made that very clear in her struggles with weight. And I think Tyra, who, as I said, told me that`s one reason she wanted to get out of the modeling business because she did not want to worry constantly about her weight.
HAMMER: But like Oprah, Tyra became the target of tabloid scrutiny when the former "Sports Illustrated" cover girl was caught by the paparazzi looking heavier than ever in a swim suit.
STACK: And she went on her talk show and appeared in the same swim suit, and basically gave this whole long speech about how offensive it is that, you know, the media`s so mean towards women that have, you know, fuller figures.
BANKS: I have one thing to say to you. Kiss my fat ass!
STACK: She was, you know, teary-eyed and very real. And I think that really kind of solidified her as Tyra the girlfriend, the one that we want to like have coffee with.
HAMMER: A girlfriend whose blossoming empire wouldn`t be complete without O-ccomplishment number three - create your own production company. That way, you own the show.
STACK: They both have their own production companies. Tyra has Bankable, Oprah has Harpo.
BANKS: And you`re running towards becoming America`s next top model.
HAMMER: That`s Tyra`s longest running gig yet. "America`s Next Top Model brings us to Tyra`s fourth big O-ccomplishment - use that production company to create a popular reality show. And when it comes to reality, Tyra may have a fashionable edge over her mentor.
STACK: She, you know, created "Top Model" which is hugely successful. And, you know, it is in like over 100 countries and, you know, it is all over the world. And, you know, franchise and it`s the CW`s, you know, most popular show at the moment.
HAMMER: So in the end, Tyra charted really well on our O-ccomplishment chart. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking, is Tyra Banks the new Oprah?
SAMUELS: I hate to compare her to Oprah exactly because I think Oprah`s world and Oprah`s sort of, you know, the way that she became famous is so vastly different from Tyra`s that I can`t say that I think that she`s exactly like Oprah. But I do think that she has the opportunity.
STACK: I mean Oprah, you know, is a phenomenon and icon. You know, I don`t know - I don`t know if we`ll see someone that can kind of reach everyone the same way that Oprah did.
HAMMER: The moment of truth is almost here, Tyra. So no need to be jealous of Oprah, right?
MARK L. WAHLBERG, HOST, "MOMENT OF TRUTH": Tyra, are you jealous of Oprah Winfrey?
BANKS: My answer is, no. I`m not jealous of Oprah Winfrey.
WAHLBERG: Of course not.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That answer is false.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I`ve got to tell you that just after Tyra admitted that she was jealous, she clarified saying she was mainly jealous of Oprah`s money. Who is it? Forbes says that she is worth an estimated $1.5 billion.
Well, tonight I have got a revealing look at what goes on behind the scenes of another big time talk show, "The View." I love it when the shows take us back stage and they did Friday`s show as an inside look at what happens before the cameras start rolling at "The View."
Now, of course we hear at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, you know, first hand, what it takes to put on a daily hour-long show. There`s all kinds of craziness, running around, interns getting coffee. The interns get coffee? How do I get to know that deal? Anyway, a couple of shocking things that I`ve learned from this blockbuster look at "The View," the ladies don`t hold back at all, even when they are on the couch. And you know that Whoopi Goldberg - she`s got some pretty strange eating habits.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`re about an hour from show time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fifty-five minutes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fifty-five minutes and Jim, just over here, Whoopi`s having a burger and fries (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": This is a fashion tip to people. These are actually - you put them here, sort of smooth out. I wear them as shoulder pads a lot. But also as monster to my bosom. Huh? Is that great?
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HAMMER: And just in case you didn`t get the whole Joy ears thing, well, the view is on ABC which is owned by Disney. What was outrageous about Whoopi eating that burger was she was about to do a segment on her trying to lose some weight.
Well, you have got to hear what`s on Will Smith`s menu for making his 10-year marriage with wife Jada work. It`s very controversial. It`s rocking Hollywood, although I think a lot of stars can actually learn from it. How Will makes his marriage work. Coming up next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. It is time now for "Making It Work" where we take a look at couple who are making their Hollywood relationships work, which is as we all know, it isn`t easy. Tonight, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith - I think they are a great example for couples and I`m not just talking in Hollywood, I mean everywhere.
These guys first met in 1990 on the set of his TV show, "The Fresh Prince." Then they actually became good friends helping each other with their failed relationships. You know, they were there for each other. Well, they got married 10 years ago, had two kids and one of the most solid marriages. You have got to hear Will`s blockbuster advice to other couples on how to make their marriages work. Listen to what he tells Ellen.
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WILL SMITH, ACTOR: Just divorce can`t be an option. It`s really that simple. If you just remove the option because if you have the option, one day that person is going to make you want a divorce. You absolutely get to the point that you`re done and the only thing that keeps you continuing is that there is no other option.
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HAMMER: Well, Will, that is definitely an interesting way to look at it, although I really do think for some couples, splitting up really would be the best way to go when it just doesn`t work. Who wants to live in hell anyway?
We have been asking to you vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day about the movie that everybody is talking about, everybody is excited about, "`Sex and the City`: Are you excited to see it?" I`ve got to tell you, I was surprised by how the vote went. Thirty-eight percent of you said yes; 62 percent of you shockingly have said no.
Your love-hate E-mails are just pouring in, including one from Ashlee in Tennessee who writes, "`Sex and the City` is amazing. And anyone who says differently is just jealous. I am super excited to know that Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte have not lost their pizzazz. I can`t wait to see it."
But Jim from Hawaii - well, Jim is swearing off "Sex," saying, "What a bunk of uninteresting, over-pampered and creatively bankrupt people. Why all the hype? Disgusting."
I`ve got to tell you, I kind of like the movie. Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks a lot for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" coming up next.
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