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Showbiz Tonight
Alec Baldwin, From Agony to Ecstasy; Brand-New Palin SNL Outrage; Tina Fey on Her Impersonation of Sarah Palin; Does Miley Cyrus Want Out of Hannah Montana?; Jamie Lynn`s Stolen Pictures
Aired September 22, 2008 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Alec Baldwin, from agony to ecstasy. Tonight, Alec`s bombshell TV interview revealing that he seriously thought about committing suicide. And then days later, Alec`s big win at the Emmys. Tonight, how did Alec go from wanting to kill himself to living life large? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the remarkable story - a Baldwin`s big around.
Brand-new Sarah Palin "Saturday Night Live" outrage. The fury over a skit about Palin`s husband and incest. Plus, Tina Fey strikes back over claims her Palin impression was sexist.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TINA FEY, ACTRESS: It`s not sexist. We goof on everybody on "SNL."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Tina talks to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about the dramatic and fired-up debate over the Sarah Palin "SNL" factor.
And is Miley Cyrus trying to get fired from "Hannah Montana?" Tonight, the startling report that Miley wants out.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood with the remarkable story of Alec Baldwin`s agony and ecstasy. I was right there at the Emmys in downtown Los Angeles last night as Baldwin was named best actor in a comedy. But what is really remarkable is what Baldwin was saying on TV just a couple of days before.
HAMMER: That`s right. Baldwin`s Emmy win came some 48 hours after we first heard his shocking confession on TV to Diane Sawyer that he seriously thought about committing suicide. Baldwin startling revelation came as he detailed his agonizing and brutal child custody battle with his ex-wife, Kim Basinger, and of course, the phone call heard around the world. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT bringing you the latest developments making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Emmy goes to Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock."
HAMMER (voice over): Nothing like winning an Emmy to put a spring in your step. Alec Baldwin is on top of the world after being named best comedy actor for his role on "30 Rock."
ALEC BALDWIN, ACTOR: Tracy, just because I stopped loving your dad, doesn`t mean we stopped loving you. Stop putting words into my mouth, woman.
HAMMER: And after the win, a happy Baldwin told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he wasn`t expecting it.
A. BALDWIN: Me winning - it was a total miracle. That`s a miracle.
HAMMER: It`s definitely a miracle when you consider where he was just over a year ago, in the midst of a bitter and public custody battle with his ex- wife, Kim Basinger, and publicly humiliated by that shocking voicemail he left his then 11-year-old daughter Ireland.
A. BALDWIN: I remember that there was a lot of time I was very depressed on purpose.
HAMMER: Just days before the Emmys in an interview with "20/20`s" Diane Sawyer to promote his new book, Baldwin made a shocking revelation - that the voicemail flap nearly drove him to suicide.
A. BALDWIN: And I said, "Please don`t let me wake up in the morning."
MICHAEL COHEN, MIAMI EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Everybody should be happy for him, that he was able to get out of that very ugly, dark place he was in.
HAMMER: Many call Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger`s divorce and custody battle one of the nastiest in Hollywood history. You probably won`t get much of an argument from Baldwin.
DIANE SAWYER, HOST, "20/20": You have said it`s like being tied to the back of a pick-up truck and being down a gravel road late at night.
A. BALDWIN: I was being kind. I didn`t see my daughter for two years except for this silly arrangement. And I had done nothing - nothing that I deserve that.
COHEN: I think what was so hard for him was that it was so public. And what was even more embarrassing was that voicemail.
HAMMER: An angry voicemail Baldwin left for his daughter, Ireland, was released to TMZ.com. During their "20/20" interview, Diane Sawyer recounted some of the highlights to Baldwin.
SAWYER: What a rude little pig you are. You are a rude, thoughtless little pig.
HAMMER: Baldwin says at that time, he was frustrated that Ireland missed another of their court-ordered conversations.
A. BALDWIN: I think after everything I`ve been through and this happened again, I snapped.
HAMMER: Still when the voicemail went public, Baldwin was demonized.
COHEN: A lot of people in Hollywood were like, "Is this guy crazy?" And the American public, too, was like, "This guy`s not fit to be a dad."
HAMMER: It was then Baldwin says he began fantasizing about suicide.
SAWYER: "I began to think about what little town I would repair to in order to commit the suicide."
A. BALDWIN: I used to pray to God every night. I would get in bed and I would say, "Please don`t let me wake up in the morning." I thought, "I just can`t do it anymore. I can`t."
Well, as you know I`ve been studying comedy, really what`s funny. I`m watching "Friends" right now. What happens with the awesome Rachel?
HAMMER: Along with losing the will to live, Baldwin even lost interest in his successful new show. Days after the voicemail was released, he publicly asked NBC to let him leave "30 Rock."
A. BALDWIN: I completely lost interest in my own life, truly, as a result of all this.
COHEN: You can only imagine what he was going through. When the whole world around you hates you, it`s not surprising he was thinking like that.
HAMMER: Baldwin says it was daughter, Ireland, that shook him out of his suicidal depression.
A. BALDWIN: I thought, you know, what would I do to my child if I killed myself? Yes, I really did care about that.
HAMMER: Now Baldwin says he`s patched things up with Ireland and is devoting a lot of his time to push for father`s rights in custody cases. But even with his now Emmy-winning success on "30 Rock," Baldwin still says he wants out of showbiz.
A. BALDWIN: I can`t wait to get out of this business. I pray every day for that time when I`m done.
HAMMER: At least if Baldwin does leave acting, he`ll now be able to say he went out on top.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So why is the notoriously private Alec Baldwin opening up so publicly?
Well, joining me tonight, somebody who`s certainly set up a lot of the biggest celebrity interviews, Howard Bragman, founder of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations. And in New York, it`s "VH1 News" host, Janelle Snowden. So guys, we know Alec Baldwin has a book to sell here. But that said, he is revealing some really incredibly intimate and painful details about himself. Janelle, what do you think he has to gain by telling the world he wanted to kill himself?
JANELLE SNOWDEN, HOST, "VH1 NEWS": Sympathy. I think after those tapes that were released where he was calling his then 11-year-old daughter a little pig, everyone thought he was a big you-know-what.
And I think that, you know, by saying this, it makes him a little bit more human, a little bit more relatable. It`s his admission that he had done something gravely wrong and he`s saying he`s sorry for it. So yes, he has a book to sell. But I think there probably is some sincerity in what he was saying. I mean, people did demonize him and he was deemed the lowest of the low.
HAMMER: Yes. For a long time. Sympathy, maybe some closure. Howard Bragman, I`m guessing the publicist in you is saying, "Yes, he`s doing this to sell books." But you know, so often when I sit down with stars, they tell me that writing books like this is really cathartic for them and helps them move with their lives from seriously troubled times. Do you think that has to do with what is going on here for Alec Baldwin?
HOWARD BRAGMAN, FOUNDER FIFTEEN MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: Yes, I think it`s certainly part of it, A.J. But I think he`s a man on a mission. He feels like most of the divorce books, most of the writing about divorce and the talking about divorce is really from the mother`s point of view and how horrible it is for the mothers. And he`s giving us a different perspective and I think he speaks for a lot of people out there.
I`m not taking sides whether mothers or fathers are the ones mistreated in divorce. But he certainly has a point of view. And his point of view is fathers are the neglected ones in the divorce. There`s a lot of pain they go through. And they need to band together. If he can use his pain to help other people, then he`s doing something really good and I applaud that.
HAMMER: Got it. And his pain went so deep. I`ve got to play for you one more time Alec Baldwin`s stunning admission to Diane Sawyer that he actually thought about suicide after that phone call to his daughter, Ireland, was released. Let`s roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
A. BALDWIN: I used to pray to God every night. I would get in bed and I would say, "Please don`t let me wake up in the morning. I thought, "I can`t do it anymore. I completely lost interest in my own life, truly, as a result of all this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. And right after that voicemail incident, Baldwin said he wanted off "30 Rock." And now, he tells Diane Sawyer, he can`t wait to get out of showbiz as you heard, so he can finally get out of the public eye. And then bam, all of a sudden, he`s winning an Emmy for his role on "30 Rock" just days later.
Janelle, this really puts Alec in a strange situation, doesn`t it?
SNOWDEN: It does. Strange, indeed, and I`m surprised to hear him say that he wants to get out the public eye. Because I remember interviewing one of his brothers a while ago and he joked to me that Alec wanted to run for public office. And then, there were some speculation that that might not have been a joke. So, you know, in addition to gaining sympathy, maybe his way of saying - maybe him saying that he wanted to kill himself again is him sort of like trying to put himself in good graces of people. Because maybe there is sort of a hidden desire there. We`ll see. I guess time will only tell.
HAMMER: Certainly. And after the Emmy Awards on Sunday night, Alec Baldwin did speak with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about his big Emmy win. As he was walking down the red carpet - this was at the HBO Emmy after party. And listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
A. BALDWIN: It was a total shock to me. I`m really glad the show won and me winning. It was a total miracle. That`s a miracle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A miracle. Howard Bragman, do you think "30 Rock" is really a miracle for Alec Baldwin? Is his success in addition to his daughter, Ireland, might have been a part of what actually saved the guy?
BRAGMAN: I think if you look at where the guy was a year ago and he`s back to work. He`s winning an Emmy award. It`s absolutely a miracle. And it`s a miracle a show with ratings like this still stays on the air. I give our friend Ben Silverman a lot of credit and NBC for keeping the show on the air.
It`s an awesomely good show and I hope this is the vehicle that lets more people really experience the show and give it a chance. Because it`s one of the best things on TV. And I`m glad they got so acknowledged last night.
HAMMER: Yes, it was really nice seeing the acknowledgment the show got. And particularly, Alec Baldwin, because we`re seeing him really in a way that we`ve not seen him before in any role. So hopefully, it`s all good news for Alec Baldwin from here on in. Howard Bragman, Janelle Snowden, we thank you both for being here.
BRAGMAN: Thanks, A.J.
HAMMER: All right. Brooke, I can tell you, there were plenty of other controversies at the Emmys, as you well know.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. I was backstage and watched the show. Things were kind of tame on air. But I know a lot went on behind the scenes.
HAMMER: Yes. We even got Tina Fey to finally speak out about her controversial "SNL" Sarah Palin skit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEY: It was "SNL`s" idea. And I was like, "No." And they said, "Yes." And when it started to shape up that it would be me and Amy, I was like, "OK."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tina`s strikes back over claims that her Palin sketch was sexist. Plus, brand-new, Palin "SNL" outrage over another skit about Palin`s husband and incest. I`ve got coming up.
ANDERSON: Also, Britney Spears` teen sister Jamie Lynn has some photos stolen. And get this, these stolen pictures have sparked a startling investigation. Even the feds are reportedly getting involved. That is straight ahead.
Also new right now, is Miley Cyrus trying to get fired from "Hannah Montana"? The startling report that Miley wants out. Coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JERRY BRUCKHEIMER, "AMAZING RACE" EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: She`s a real go- getter. And she`s done a lot for the State of Alaska. And she`s a fresh face, and so we need fresh faces.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: "Amazing Race" executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer publicly saying he supports candidate Sarah Palin. That was after his big Emmy win. Finally, we found one of the few Palin supporters in Hollywood willing to speak out about it.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. I was right there at the Emmys last night when Bruckheimer spoke out in favor of Palin. But I can tell you, while you didn`t hear too much political opinion during the broadcast of the Emmys, the Palin factor was the talk of the Emmys behind the scenes. And boy, did I get an earful from the stars.
Some of the women at the show couldn`t disagree more with Bruckheimer`s view on Palin. Wait until you hear how they went off on her.
Also new right now, the episode we`ve all been waiting for. Today, we finally saw John McCain`s appearance on the "Rachael Ray Show" - grilling ribs? What the heck are they doing on a cooking show.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra." And tonight, in our nation`s capital, Washington, D.C., Amy Holmes, who is a political analyst for CNN.
Amy, Carlos, to me, it was really surprising how little the presidential race came up during the actual show. But behind the scenes, boy, was it a different story. It seemed that everybody was talking about Sarah Palin. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLLAND TAYLOR, ACTRESS: I think she`s kind of ridiculous. I mean, I`m sorry, but if anything happens to John McCain, she`s madam president?
JEAN SMART, ACTRESS: Sen. McCain says, "Well, she started with PTA." Well, I directed four plays at my son`s school. I mean, should I run for vice president? I mean, what does that mean?
KATHY GRIFFIN, COMEDIAN: I don`t think people really Sarah Palin. I mean, she`s a funny character. And as a comedian, believe me, I should send her a muffin basket.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Harsh words there. Amy, why do you suppose all the snarky comments came behind the scenes, and not on TV where they could have had a huge forum?
AMY HOLMES, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, maybe they were trying to protect their careers because when you throw out those kinds of political hand grenades, you know, half the country isn`t going to agree with you. But you know what, Brooke? Liberals in Hollywood - this is nothing new. I`m not surprised remotely that you`re hearing about that.
You know, I happen to know a lot of conservatives in Hollywood. And part of the reason that they`re not more vocal about their politics is because of the liberalism that is just everywhere in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: Yes. I`m sure it`s very different for the conservatives out here. And Carlos, you know, during the telecast, the comments that were made about the presidential race were very mild. So they were showing a lot of restraint. What do you make of it?
CARLOS DIAZ, "EXTRA" CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, there are several factors that went into this. A, the opening monologue from the five hosts took forever, so there couldn`t be a lot of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the rest of the show. That`s a big thing. B, you know -
ANDERSON: And they had nothing, Carlos. They had nothing.
DIAZ: They had nothing. They wasted all of our time with nothing. B, it`s really tough to adlib. Take it from me. I`m an expert. And C, you know, Brooke, when people talk to you on the red carpet, you bring the most out of them, OK? So maybe they didn`t want to talk as much as they did. But you being the excellent reporter that you are, you brought out those comments in them. Brooke, give yourself some credit, girl, all right?
ANDERSON: I don`t know about that, Carlos. They were willing to talk about it when they didn`t have that big stage, possibly. Who knows? And also, you guys -
DIAZ: It was all you.
ANDERSON: On this day after the Emmys, we finally got a see a TV show we were all waiting for - John McCain`s much-hyped appearance on the "Rachael Ray" show cooking up some of his famous ribs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Why do we use lemon? Because if you squeeze lemon on it while you`re cooking it, it takes some of the little bit of the taste out it that sometimes you know you get. The lemon takes the taste out, but it also keeps it moist. You don`t want your ribs to dry as you cook them for a long period of time.
RACHEL RAY, HOST, "THE RACHEL RAY SHOW": Especially the rump.
MCCAIN: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Oh, my goodness. And did you notice he was even wearing a "Kiss the candidate" apron? Amy, smart move? Is this the kind of appearance that gets votes or does it move the meter at all?
HOLMES: I don`t know if it moves the meter at all. But it was certainly fascinating to see a presidential candidate with such detailed knowledge of barbecuing ribs. As someone who doesn`t cook at all, I was taking notes.
ANDERSON: Me, too. Carlos, you look like a griller yourself. Does this new meatier side of McCain appeal to your inner manly man?
DIAZ: There are so many things wrong with what you just said, Brooke. But I -
ANDERSON: I know. I`m sorry.
DIAZ: It`s OK. Now, I can tell you that if this was Barack Obama doing this, McCain`s camp would have gone nuts, saying ...
ANDERSON: Oh, no.
DIAZ: "Oh, look. Barry`s cooking on TV."
ANDERSON: No, no.
DIAZ: I mean, McCain has now finally become the celebrity that he accuses Barack of officially being. So -
ANDERSON: Amy, 10 seconds - what do you say to Carlos thinking that it brings in the whole celebrity factor here with him appearing on this type of show?
HOLMES: Well, you know, that`s an interesting angle. But I think really it`s a way to soften John McCain`s public persona to connect with voters, to show he`s normal, real guy. He`s just a guy`s guy.
DIAZ: It`s not softened. I`m sorry. It`s not softened. It`s tenderized, OK? It`s tenderized.
(CROSS TALK)
ANDERSON: We`re going to leave it there for now.
HOLMES: And who doesn`t need a good barbecue recipe?
ANDERSON: Good way to end it. Carlos Diaz, Amy Holmes, thank you both.
Well, we have been getting lots of calls coming into the "Showbiz On Call" voice mailbox about stars getting involved in politics, especially the celebrities who are bashing Sarah Palin.
Here`s an anonymous caller who says stars that keep criticizing Sarah Palin have swayed her vote for McCain and Palin.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ANONYMOUS CALLER: The more Hollywood throws out their views, the less fans that they have. And I was undecided. I was kind of going back and forth. But the more people bash and say things in regard to Palin and McCain, the more that my family and my friends and my town want to got and push for McCain.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So there definitely does seem to be some kind of backlash, A.J., against the stars who are slamming Palin.
HAMMER: Yes, it`s true, Brooke. And remember, we want you to speak out as well. Give us a call for "Showbiz On Call." Let us know what`s on your mind by calling 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail and we`re going to play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, tonight, Tina Fey is finally speaking out about her "SNL" Sarah Palin skit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEY: It was "SNL`s" idea. And I was like, "No." And then they said, "Yes." And then when it started to shape up that it would be me and Amy, I was like, "OK."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You`ve got to hear Tina going off about the accusations that the sketch was sexist. Plus, the outrage over another "SNL" sketch about Palin`s husband and incest. We`ve got a fired-up debate, coming up.
ANDERSON: And a very private picture of Jamie Lynn Spears stolen and that`s reportedly launched a federal investigation. Wow! That is coming up.
And a shocking and deadly plane crash. Amazingly, two big stars survived. Tonight, an eyewitness speaks out about seeing them running from the plane on fire. Coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
Tonight, doctors say that both Travis Barker and Adam "DJ A.M." Goldstein will make a full recovery from their injuries suffered in a horrific plane crash which killed four people.
Barker is the former drummer of Blink-182. He also did a reality show with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler called "Meet the Barkers." DJ A.M. is a well-known celebrity in circles in Hollywood. He is Nicole Richie`s ex- fiance. Barker and Goldstein just finished playing a concert Friday night in Columbia, South Carolina and were taking a private jet back to California.
While taking off, the plane skidded off the runway, crossed a highway and crashed. Four people, the pilot and co-pilot and Barker`s assistant and security guard were killed. Miraculously, Barker and A.M. were able to get out of the burning plane. An eyewitness says they were on fire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM OWENS, SAW BARKER AND DJ A.M. ON FIRE: I saw a ball of fire go across the highway. I wasn`t sure what I had just seen. These two were like running in circles. One of them was on fire. The other was trying to assist him. He managed to get out of his clothes and was standing there naked when I approached.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Both Barker and Goldstein received second and third-degree burns and could be hospitalized for weeks, but are expected to make a full recovery.
HAMMER: All right. Moving on now, tonight, brand-new Sarah Palin "SNL" battles. Tina Fey finally speaks out about her controversial "Saturday Night Live" skit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEY: It was "SNL`s" idea. And I was like, "No." And they said, "Yes." And then when it started to shape up that it would be me and Amy, I was like, "OK."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Plus Tina is finally responding to all of those claims that the skit was sexist. And "SNL" under fire for a new sketch all about Sarah Palin`s husband and incest.
ANDERSON: And is Miley Cyrus purposely trying to get fired from the show that has made her a household name? Why would Miley want out of "Hannah Montana"? You`ve got to stick around for this, straight ahead.
Also, Britney Spears` teen sister, Jamie Lynn, had some photos stolen. And get this, those stolen pictures have sparked a startling investigation. Even the feds are reportedly getting involved. That`s coming up. .
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEY: It was "SNL`s" idea. And I was like, "No." And they said, "Yes.: And then when it started to shape up that it would be me and Amy, I was like, "OK."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Tina Fey speaks out about playing Sarah Palin. Wait until you hear what Tina told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about claims the skit was sexist.
Plus, brand-new "SNL" outrage over a new skit involving Palin`s husband and incest. Believe me, not everyone is laughing.
It`s a Jamie Lynn Spears shocker. Tonight, why Britney`s little sister`s stolen private photos have led to a startling investigation.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, brand-new Sarah Palin "Saturday Night Live" outrage. The explosive developments making news right now.
Only a week after Tina Fey`s now infamous spoof of Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin, "Saturday Night Live" is getting slammed for a skit that suggests an incestuous link between Palin`s husband and her daughters.
Also making news right now, Tina Fey speaking out for the very first time since her spot-on impersonation of Palin and telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT what she thinks about the claims her "SNL" skit was sexist.
With me tonight from Washington, D.C., Amy Holmes, who is a political analyst for CNN. And in Hollywood tonight, Carlos Diaz, a correspondent for "Extra."
All right, guys. "Saturday Night Live," we know, is known for pushing the envelope. That`s what they did again this past weekend in a skit really about clueless reporters for the "The New York Times" suggesting there might be an incestuous link between Sarah Palin`s husband, Todd, and his daughters. Watch this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Yes, Steven(ph).
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR:: What about the husband? You know he`s doing those daughters. Come on, it`s Alaska.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: He very well could be. Admittedly, there is no evidence of that. But on the other hand, there is no convincing evidence to the contrary. And these are just some of the lingering questions about Gov. Palin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Did you notice the uncomfortable laughter from the audience there? Amy, I want to start with you. Do you think "SNL" went too far with this?
HOLMES: I don`t know if they went too far. But I mean, maybe Carlos can back me up on this. I think the first rule of comedy is to be funny and they didn`t serve up entertainment for their audience. So you know, from that joke, it was hard to tell if it was making fun of "The New York Times" or of Alaska and Alaskan family mores. I just think it flat out bombed.
HAMMER: Yes. I don`t even think it was "The New York Times" specifically. But to the point of the skit, I think "SNL" would argue the skit was poking fun at how out of touch some of the so-called elite journalists can be.
But Carlos, are you with Amy. Did that point kind of get lost there?
DIAZ: Yes. We have a saying here at "Extra," "I like my funny to be funny and that wasn`t funny." You know, so I back Amy up on that one.
But here`s the thing, a few years ago, they did a really funny skit called "Canteen Boy," you know, that had Adam Sandler and Alec Baldwin in it. And that was very uncomfortable and people lost their minds over that. And it was actually really funny.
So this one - they should have known going in, they were hitting a taboo. If there`s any doubt, if it`s kind of funny, don`t do it. It has to be really, really funny, and it wasn`t either. It wasn`t tasteful or funny.
HAMMER: Yes. My sister has a saying, "Funny`s cousin - not funny." Amy, moving on, I know you used to be a political speechwriter. So I`m wondering how you think the Palin camp should respond to this skit if at all?
HOLMES: Oh, I don`t think they should respond to this at all. I don`t think it`s worth their time and attention. Sarah Palin has much bigger fish to fry than the writers of "Saturday Night Live." You know, I think "Saturday Night Live" needs to look at, you know, when it comes to child molestation, that`s kind of a tough area to crack jokes about. So as far as the Palin camp goes, I think they just let it go.
HAMMER: Yes. I think after the McCain camp has released a statement about Lindsay Lohan, maybe they`ve learned their lesson. Stop dealing with the small stuff. Stay with the issues.
Of course, it`s just a week before that Tina Fey did her dead-on impersonation of Sarah Palin on "SNL," and that was called sexist.
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with Tina right there at the Emmys last night, where her show, "30 Rock," obviously was a huge winner. Tina revealed to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that she almost didn`t take the role that obviously became an overnight phenomenon. Listen to what she had to say when "SNL" pitched her the idea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEY: I was like, "No." And then they said, "Yes." And then when it started to shape up that it would be me and Amy, I was like, "OK." And then I started watching her, and I thought, "Well, she has a really crazy voice. I was thinking (UNINTELLIGIBLE) there`s going to be such an impression that every person could possibly do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Carlos Diaz, are you a little surprised here that Tina almost actually turned down the opportunity to play her on "SNL?" You think that would be kind of a no-brainer?
DIAZ: Not surprised at all. If we learned one thing last night at the Emmys, it`s that, you know, Tina Fey is the best writer on TV. She won the award for that last night. So here we have the best writer on TV. We also just learned just a few seconds ago that "SNL" writers are not at their peak right now. So they might have come to her with a skit where she was like, "This is Bush league. I`m not going to do this."
And as she said in her sound bite, "Well, when I found out that I would be doing it with Amy Poehler - maybe we can adlib a bit. We can write some of our own stuff in there." And it began to take shape. But in its initial form, maybe she didn`t like it as much as she did later on.
HAMMER: Yes. But wow, what a good decision, did her star power rise ...
DIAZ: Yes.
HAMMER: ... even more by doing that skit. I`ve got to tell you, I thought the spoof was hilarious. It was spot-on. But as we have mentioned, critics actually found the skit to be sexist. Well, listen to what Tina told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about that claim.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEY: I think the McCain staffer who tried to formulate a thing about it being sexist - I was like, "No, lady, nice try. It`s not sexist." We goof on everybody on "SNL." It`s pretty mild goofing, as goofing goes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, that`s what they do with all their goofing, "SNL" pretty much an equal opportunity offender or goofer, however you want to put it.
What do you think, Amy? Is Tina dead-on with that explanation or what she thinks about the sexist claims?
HOLMES: You know, I think she is dead on. I mean, I remember when Eddie Murphy spoofed as Stevie Wonder - remember those skits? I remember when Dana Carvey spoofed Arnold Schwarzenegger with, "I will pump you up."
I mean, this wasn`t sexist. It wasn`t racist. It was humor and humor has to push the envelope. As we know, humor is the great smuggler of truth and a reflection of our culture reflecting back to us. So, I agree with Tina Fey. It was funny and Sarah Palin thought it was funny. And by the way, Sarah Palin - she impersonates Tina Fey at parties, she says.
HAMMER: Yes, we have heard that. Carlos, we`ve only got 10 seconds for you there. But Tina Fey`s explanation about the sexist claims - do you think she got it?
DIAZ: Yes. Tina was so dead on with the impersonation that the staffers for McCain were like, "Well, it was funny, so we can`t say it was funny. She was really good, so we can`t say that she was - how about, she was sexist? That`s it. We`ll say she`s sexist. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
HAMMER: Let`s leave it there. Carlos Diaz, Amy Holmes, I thank you both.
HOLMES: Thank you.
DIAZ: Thank you.
ANDERSON: On Friday, you may remember we told you about "People" magazine naming Michelle Obama one of its 10 best dressed celebrities and we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Michelle Obama Named Best Dressed: Is she a style icon?"
Let`s take a look at the results. Thirty-six percent of you say yes; 64 percent of you say, no. Our "Showbiz On Call" phone lines have been buzzing with reaction to Michelle Obama being named best dressed. Let`s listen to a few of the voicemails we have received from our viewers.
First up, Jan from Arizona says in the Michelle Obama- Sarah Palin smackdown, they both have a lot going for them.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JAN, CALLER FROM ARIZONA: Sarah Palin dresses properly. And she is beautiful, Just as Michelle Obama is. They have distinct styles of their own and Sarah dresses the way a governor should.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And we also heard from Sue. She says in the style wars, Michelle Obama comes out on top.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SUE, CALLER: I do believe Mrs. Obama out-dresses Palin by a mile. I think that if she were to be in the White House that she would be a fashion icon. She`s a classy lady.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And keep those calls coming. Remember you can leave us a voicemail anytime at "Showbiz On Call." Let us know what you think about anything that`s on your mind. Call us -SBT-BUZZ. That`s 1-888-728-2899. Leave A.J. and me a voicemail. And then we will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Hey, A.J., it is a brand-new shocker for the Spears family.
HAMMER: Yes, shocker is right, Brooke. And this one really out there. This time, it`s a scandal over private photos stolen from Britney`s little sister, Jamie Lynn Spears. And wait until you hear the rest of the story - a shocking investigation is under way. You definitely don`t want to miss it, coming up.
ANDERSON: Also, is Miley Cyrus trying to get out of the show that put her on the map? There are all sorts of reports that Miley has had it with "Hannah Montana." But is it true? I have the real story, coming up.
HAMMER: And you know, when it comes to the Emmys, the winners are only half the story. We want to see what everyone was wearing. Well, stay right where you are because we`ve got your red carpet look at Emmy fashions. That is still to come right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And make sure you check out the free, ever-changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast. It`s right there on our Web site. Just surf on over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. If you use iTunes, you can download it there. Just do a little search for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It will show up. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MILEY CYRUS, STAR OF "HANNAH MONTANA": Lily alert - 19 seconds.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She`s your best friend, Miley. Sooner or later you`re going to have to tell her you`re Hannah Montana.
CYRUS: I pick later.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That`s a very happy Miley Cyrus as her alter ego Hannah Montana on the show that made her a huge star. But tonight, new reports say Miley wants out.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, could Miley Cyrus be leaving "Hannah Montana?" Say it isn`t so.
And is Britney Spears` kid sister, Jamie Lynn, about to become caught in the middle of a child porn investigation? Those are just two stories new right now.
Tonight, a startling new report that Miley Cyrus and her dad, Billy Ray, may be trying to get fired from "Hannah Montana." But why, and is it true?
And new photos of 17-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears breastfeeding reportedly have the feds on alert. But how did the photos get out in the first place?
In Hollywood tonight, our good buddy, Harvey Levin, executive producer of TMZ. Harvey, great to see you.
HARVEY LEVIN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, TMZ: Hey, Brooke. How are you?
ANDERSON: Doing well, thank you. Hey, we all know Miley Cyrus became a superstar with her TV show "Hannah Montana," which is now in its third season. And now, her music career has taken off. But TMZ is reporting that she and her dad are trying to get fired, get off the show.
Harvey, how do you say she`s trying to get yourself fired and why?
LEVIN: Well, we know she has said this on the set, "I`m trying to get fired." She has said this to people on the set. But they are showing up, we are told, insanely late for shoots. It has become disruptive. It`s like a war. That`s the way it was described to me.
There are people who are on the set, some of her co-stars, who are really angry. In particular Emily, who was a friend of hers, who literally after a take will turn away from Miley and just walk away from her without saying anything. They don`t want to be on the show.
We are told that Billy Ray has said, "12 episodes and I`m out." And that Disney went to his agent and Miley`s agent as well and said, "Not only are you going to do all 24 episodes, but we`re going to add another six." So there is a lot of unhappiness and uneasiness. But the word is she wants to sing and it`s more lucrative getting money singing than it is doing the Disney show.
ANDERSON: Oh, well, it doesn`t sound like from what you say that people are having fun on a Disney show. And you would imagine that that`s what it should be - fun.
And late today, Harvey, after the TMZ report, Miley actually released a statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT saying, quote, "I am fully committed to `Hannah Montana.` It`s what gave me this amazing opportunity to reach to so many people. I`m really excited about our new season. We are making great new episodes that I can`t wait for our fans to see and I`m looking forward to the `Hannah Montana` movie."
There she is flat-out denying that she`s trying to get out of the show. And also, Disney denied any trouble, telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "The story of friction or onset squabbles among teenagers is just gossip."
Harvey, everybody is saying things are peachy. What do you make of those responses?
LEVIN: I`m just telling you that the people who are right there on the front lines on the set are not saying that at all. And again, you know, specifically, they`re showing up late - I mean, it`s what we said. But it`s happening there on the set - it is.
ANDERSON: Well, you know, even if things were a little tough on the set, hopefully all is peaceful now. Let`s hope so.
And another story new right now, TMZ reporting that some pictures of Jamie Lynn Spears breastfeeding her baby may have been stolen from a camera that was taken into Wal-Mart to get the photos developed.
A Spears spokesperson confirmed to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT today that it was Jamie Lynn`s camera. Jamie Lynn took the pictures to Wal-Mart and that, yes, photos are missing. Harvey, there is talk that this could become child pornography charges. Why?
LEVIN: Well, here`s what we know. There were 12 photographs - we were actually told it was Casey`s camera and that the pictures were taken to Wal-Mart. He took pictures of Britney holding the baby. There`s a group photo.
But in particular, there is one photo of Jamie Lynn nursing the baby and her left breast is exposed. Under the federal child pornography laws, since Jamie is a minor, if somebody attempts to sell these photos or if somebody buys these photos and it`s for even what you can consider a lurid purpose, it`s not, you know, just selling them because, "Oh, breastfeeding is beautiful." But if it`s being done for any kind of a lurid purpose, you could federally prosecute these people.
We are told the FBI is investigating right now. Local officials are investigating. And they`re trying to figure out how there was some kind of a security breach when the card went in for copies.
ANDERSON: Harvey Levin, thank you so much for joining us with your insight. And by the way, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT contacted the FBI and they said it is against their policy to confirm or deny an investigation.
And now we want to hear from you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Miley Cyrus: Is it time for her to leave "Hannah Montana"? Vote, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us, the address, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: Well, moving on, it was a big night for "Mad Men" and "30 Rock" at the Emmy awards. But, of course, the winners are just half the story when it comes to any award show. Come on, you know you want it, right? A look at what the stars were wearing. Have no fear, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there getting the pictures of al your favorite stars on the red carpet. Here now, a look at the fashion on Emmy night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LLOYD BOSTON, STYLIST: The trend this year was style diversity, so you saw bold color.
Black and white is a timeless statement.
CHERYL HINES, ACTRESS: Inna Sutane(ph) designed this. She`s an up and coming designer, and she did a beautiful job.
I can`t hear you, I`m wearing a 15-carat diamond ring.
SEAN DIDDY COMBS, MUSIC MOGUL: She`s wearing Donna Karan and I`m wearing vintage Giorgio Armani.
JEFF PROBST, HOST, "SURVIVOR": Armani - you know, how can you go wrong?
JOSH GROBAN, SINGER: I am wearing a tuxedo by Dior L`Homme.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: The stars looked glamorous, looked so great, didn`t they? And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there at the Emmy after parties as well and that`s where we caught up with one of the new stars of the new "90210" and asked about all those rumors of anorexia on the set.
The young women on the show are getting so much attention for being so skinny. But is there any truth to the rumors they`re just not eating? Find out what one star told us next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. You don`t want to miss that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Did you see this? It`s the running of the wieners. More than 60 dachshunds ran their little buns off in Cincinnati. But they couldn`t catch up to the wiener - I mean the winner, a 4-year-old dog adopted from a dachshund rescue group named Top Dog. The winner won a $50 gift certificate to a pet store and a case of beer.
ANDERSON: And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Tonight, one of the stars of the new "90210" is speaking out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about all the attention the show is getting for how skinny the female stars are.
The tabloids are going wild over the women on this show. There are rumors of anorexia and some people are saying that some of the young stars are just scary skinny. There have even been some reports that the girls just don`t eat, period.
But some of their co-stars are coming to their defense. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with "90210" star Tristan Wilds after the Emmys and he said there`s simply no truth to the rumors of eating disorders on the set. Listen to what he told us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRISTAN WILDS, ACTOR: My take, honestly - you know, like I said to everybody, different people have different metabolisms, you know. So those - honestly I can tell you straight up and you heard this from me and I`m on the set with them every day. I`m chilling with them every day. They do not have any eating disorders or anything. Those girls can eat me under a table seriously. So honestly, you know, all that is just gossip."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now, another "90210" star says pretty much the same thing. Lori Loughlin plays a mom on the show. And she`s defending her young cast mates.
She tells "In Touch" magazine that the girls are thin but they`ve been thin since the day she met them. Lori says she sees the girls eating lunch, even candy, that they`re just young and can eat whatever they want.
HAMMER: Well, let`s chew on this. Friday, we told you about "People" magazine naming Michelle Obama one of its 10 best dressed celebrities and we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, which was - "Michelle Obama Named Best Dressed: Is she a style icon?"
Here`s how the voting went. Only 36 percent of you said yes; 64 percent of you say no.
We`ve got a lot of E-mail on the subject, too, including one from Elaine in Louisiana. Elaine writes, "She looks fine, but so do McCain, Palin and Clinton. None of them exude the taste and elegance of Jackie Kennedy."
And Jackie from Ohio writes, "When is the last time we heard discussion on what male political figures were wearing? Women have more to offer than style." Well said.
ANDERSON: Good point.
HAMMER: Yes. That`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is next.
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