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Showbiz Tonight
Startling Showdown on "The View" Over Sarah Palin; Paris` New Reality Show Debuts; The 911 Tapes on the Heather Locklear Case; The Battle Over Heath Ledger`s Estate; Woman In a Cow Suit Arrested
Aired October 01, 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, the ladies of "The View" go to war over Sarah Palin. Tonight, the extraordinary, brand-new battle over Palin as Barbara, Elisabeth, Sherri, Joy and Whoopi take off the gloves. Why were they so enraged and what set them off? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the startling showdown on "The View."
Heather Locklear`s DUI bust; just released, the disturbing 911 call.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: 911 emergency. What are you reporting?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Could the 911 call hurt or help hurt Heather? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the tape you have got to hear.
Plus, the brand-new, ugly battle over Heath Ledger`s estate. Why is an insurance company raising disturbing questions about whether Heath`s death was an accident. And will it mean Mary-Kate Olsen will finally have to testify?
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. And tonight, here we go again. The ladies of "The View" at war over Sarah Palin.
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. A brand-new and quite remarkable war of words exploded on "The View" today, so fierce, so intense you`ve got to see it to believe it. Barbara Walters really went at it with Elisabeth Hasselbeck as did the other ladies. And Elisabeth really took the brunt of it in a big, big way. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you what happened today on "The View" is making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): They started here -
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": She really looks good this morning.
HAMMER: And ended here -
(CROSS TALK)
FRANCES CALLIER, "FRANGELA": I love when they jump off on "The View."
ANGELA SHELTON, "FRANGELA": We call each other.
HAMMER: It was on, all right. An all-out battle broke out on "The View" over the upcoming election and the Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
The latest "View" war erupted when the hosts aired a clip of CBS anchor Katie Couric asking the Alaska governor about a dig she took at Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden.
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I`ve been hearing about his Senate speeches since I was in like second grade.
KATIE COURIC, NEWS ANCHOR, "CBS EVENING NEWS": When you have a 72-year-old running mate, isn`t that a risky thing to say?
PALIN: Oh, no. It`s nothing negative at all. He`s got a lot of experience. Just stating the fact there that we`ve been hearing his speeches for all these years.
HAMMER: "View" co-host Joy Behar didn`t mince words in her reaction.
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": The fact that she`s so dumb as to say -
ELIZABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Oh!
BEHAR: Politically not astute, let`s put it that way. Politically un- astute enough to make a joke about age when she is running with the oldest man that`s ever run before.
HAMMER: Barbara Walters followed up with a comment about all the prepping Palin`s doing for her debate with Biden.
BARBARA WALTERS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": It bothers me that one has to be prepped so much for a debate and filled - crammed full of material.
HAMMER: It was then that Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the show`s only Republican and die-hard McCain-Palin supporter, had to step in.
HASSELBECK: I don`t think all the prepping to just pass the debate like a pop quiz like you`re in fourth grade and high school. I think to say that to reduce her to that level of mind is, I think, unfair.
WALTERS: She doesn`t have the experience.
HASSELBECK: Wait. If you want to talk about experience, the person with the least amount of experience on both sides of the ticket is at the top of the ticket on Democratic side, Barack Obama.
HAMMER: Then Elisabeth and Barbara got into it.
WALTERS: A year and a half of running -
(CROSS TALK)
HASSELBECK: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) running for the president -
GOLDBERG: Excuse me -
SHELTON: Elisabeth got a little smarty.
CALLIER: Oh, yes.
SHELTON: You better watch out, if you want to keep your job, girl.
CALLIER: This is Bab`s show, OK? We might come back from commercial and see Kathy Griffin in that show.
SHELTON: OK. Don`t be the twister.
HAMMER: But Hasselbeck didn`t back down from her opinion of Palin, and neither did anyone else.
GOLDBERG: She is a heartbeat away from being the president of the United States, and that`s why people are asking -
HASSELBECK: Why is it that?
GOLDBERG: Because she doesn`t know anything about it. Come on.
HASSELBECK: Wait a minute, wait a minute.
HAMMER: And Elisabeth and Barbara went at it again.
HASSELBECK: In 2004 -
WALTER: Tell us now - because I`m trying so hard to be - tell us now why you think that Sarah Palin would make a very good president?
HASSELBECK: Well, since I`ve been studying for this pop quiz forever, I - tell me why Barack Obama is qualified?
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Hasselbeck did list Palin`s qualifications.
HASSELBECK: She has been running the State of Alaska -
WALTERS: OK.
HASSELBECK: She is an expert in terms of energy. She has been in charge of the National Guard during a time of war.
HAMMER: L.A. comedy duo, Frangela, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that Hasselbeck`s die-hard defense of Palin is sort of admirable.
CALLIER: She is just going to stick in there no matter what. If we then say, you know, "Sarah Palin can`t read." Elisabeth will be like, "So what, you don`t need to have those skills to be vice president."
SHELTON: "We`ll have somebody read to her."
HAMMER: Some say the conflict we`re seeing on "The View" is similar to the conflict we`re seeing all over the country in this divisive election year.
ALICIA QUARLES, ASSOCIATED PRESS: I think a lot of women are conflicted about how they feel about Sarah Palin. On the one hand, it`s excellent to see this woman running for the second highest office in the country. On the other hand, you hear her in these interviews that she`s saying some things that a lot of people consider questionable. And a lot of women are walking the line. They just don`t know where to stand.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And you could almost see the flames shooting out of the screen on "The View" today, as if I did see some flames.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood is Tanika Ray. She`s a correspondent for "Extra." And here in New York, Carolina Bermudez. She`s the senior editor for "In Touch Weekly."
So we just hear it. Joy Behar called Sarah Palin dumb. Whoopi Goldberg called her unqualified. Barbara Walters, got in the game and called her inexperienced. And Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who is of course the panel`s vocal Republican, looked like her head was about to explode. Tanika Ray, was this a fair fight?
TANIKA RAY, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Yes, because I think when you dish it, you have to take it. I was screaming at my television myself. I was like, "Answer the question, Elisabeth?" She`s very good. She`s almost Palin- like in that way. When you ask her a question, she kind of turns it back in a circle exactly the question that Barbara asked her about what are her qualifications. She turned it right back on Barack.
So I do think it`s fair, but Elisabeth`s got to, you know, prepare herself a little bit better. She`s in the minority on that stage at "The View." And, you know, she`s a ride-or-die chick for the Republican team, it seems to be. No matter what they do, she`s going to support them. So, prepare yourself.
HAMMER: Yes. Whether you`re a TV host or a politician, you`ll never win an argument by answering a question with a question. That`s one thing I know that for sure.
RAY: No.
HAMMER: That`s what she was doing today.
RAY: What did you say?
HAMMER: I want to take a look - wait, wait. Let`s take a look at more of this, because it was so heated, you just couldn`t take your eyes off the screen.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: Barbara took on Elisabeth about Sarah Palin`s qualifications. You`ve got to watch this.
WALTERS: Tell us now why you think that Sarah Palin would make a very good president.
HASSELBECK: Well, since I`ve been studying for this pop quiz forever ...
WALTERS: OK.
HASSELBECK: ... tell me why Barack Obama is qualified.
(CROSS TALK)
She`s running the state of Alaska.
WALTERS: OK.
HASSELBECK: She`s an expert in terms of energy. She`s been has been in charge of the National Guard in a time of war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Did you see that? Did you see the look on Barbara`s face?
RAY: That`s the exact -
HAMMER: The little hand gesture there? Carolina, did you get the sense that perhaps Barbara has kind of had it with Elisabeth and her view, pun intended there?
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Yes. Oh, definitely. I mean, here`s the problem with Elisabeth. It`s that her reaction mitigates her response. If she were just stronger in her convictions - I mean, listen, she`s a very loyal person. But the fact that she gets so emotional and she gets so defensive, it really takes away from her argument. If she would be clear-cut and answer the questions, maybe they would give her a little bit more leeway. But I think Barbara was like, "Talk to the hand, girl." You know, I mean, when did you ever see her do that?
HAMMER: Maybe let`s do that again. Come on, Charles. Take my shot, would you? There you go.
(LAUGHTER)
I mean, there`s no question - also, Elisabeth, very strong in her convictions. The words just don`t always come out the way I think she wants them to. And we know, you know, "The View," a huge show with millions of women watching it every day.
We did here a lot from our viewers. Kathy in Alabama, for one, said she is not going to be a "View" viewer for a while. Right after "The View" aired today, Kathy got right on the phone, dialed at "Showbiz On Call," 1- 888-SBT-BUZZ. And she gave the ladies a piece of her mind. Listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KATHY, CALLER FROM ALABAMA: This is the last day that I will watch "The View" until after the election. And I may not watch it then because I am so sick of Whoopi and Joy and the older lady, Barbara, bashing the Republicans, bashing Elisabeth.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Tanika, I`m sure Kathy is not alone here. But do you think she`s in the minority among the people watching "The View"?
RAY: You know, that remains to be seen. Here`s the thing, Elisabeth has supported everything that the Republicans have done carte blanche. Not even admitting when there`s been a mistake that has happened in the party, in the candidacy, and that`s the problem. I think people who are tunnel- visioned and only one-dimensional in their thinking will agree with Elisabeth and may boycott.
But people who see the full spectrum of the issues might be able to say, "OK. I`d (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that opinion of Elisabeth on that point. And maybe Barbara was right," two minutes later. So as long as you`re open to all discussion, I think you`re going to continue to watch "The View" because it`s so dang good. Come on.
HAMMER: Yes. Talk about must-see TV. Carolina, what do you think? Which has been harder for Elisabeth, her stint on "Survivor" or the current election season on "The View"?
BERMUDEZ: Oh, forget it. I mean, being trapped on a deserted island is nothing compared to what she`s going through with Whoopi and Joy and everybody else, you know, just piling on. It`s been difficult for Elisabeth and it`s hard to be the only person that stands for something on that show that other people don`t believe in. But they need that point of view. That`s the bottom line. That`s the reason why it`s called "The View."
HAMMER: And to Barbara`s credit, Barbara said today on the show she`s trying to keep it balanced. But obviously, it can be a little tough when you have, you know, so many people on one side more so than the other.
Tanika Ray, Carolina Bermudez, thank you both.
Well, in other explosive TV news, Brooke Anderson, you know, Paris Hilton`s new TV show, thank goodness, it`s on the air.
ANDERSON: That`s right. Move over "Masterpiece Theater." Paris` search for a new best friend is on the air. We`re going to take a look at how it went, next.
And also this - .
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CALLER: She`s now pulled over and she wandered up and down the street, but now she`s back in the driver`s seat.
911 OPERATOR: All righty. So you said she`s pulled to the right or the left?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Heather Locklear`s shocking DUI bust. We have the just-released 91 call. I`ve got to tell you, pretty disturbing. But will it help or hurt Heather`s case? That`s coming up.
ANDERSON: And we`re counting down to the big vice presidential debate, the first chance Sarah Palin has to show people who she is since the Katie Couric interview. Katie`s ratings haven`t been that great. So I want to know, will that interview help Katie and hurt Palin? That`s coming up. .
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PARIS HILTON, REALITY SHOW STAR: I`m really sorry, Michelle, but, our friendship is finished. TTYN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right. Who gave Paris Hilton another TV show? It`s true, Paris` new reality show where people are battling to be her new best friend has just debuted. But why, oh, why?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, train wreck TV. Paris Hilton back with a new show. I`ve seen it, and tonight, my head still hurts. The show is called "Paris Hilton`s My New BFF."
As far as we know, it`s the first time in recorded human history that somebody had to create a TV show to find a new best friend.
And in other breaking train wreck TV news tonight, Kim Kardashian has been kicked off "Dancing With The Stars." The 27-year-old sex tape participant losing out to 82-year-old TV legend Cloris Leachman. That`s got to hurt.
Joining me in Hollywood tonight, John Fugelsang. He`s a comedian and host of "Water Cooler" on the TV Guide Network. Also in Hollywood tonight, Kristin Dos Santos. She`s the "E! Online" columnist for "Watch With Kristin."
John, Kristin, I admit it, I watched Paris Hilton`s new show on MTV, "Paris Hilton`s My New BFF," because I figured I would have to talk about it for work. And it is beyond bad, in my opinion. Sixteen people competing to be near Paris Hilton.
Take a look at Paris` requirements here. The person must prove they can party, have taste, class and business savvy, show her that they`re real. Oh, yes, and they have to be hot.
Now, John, I would think this does absolutely nothing to change Paris` party girl image that she`s had for so long.
JOHN FUGELSANG, COMEDIAN AND HOST OF "WATER COOLER": I would say you`re right, Brooke, although this show does function as an excellent recruiting video for Al-Qaeda. This show hates women so much they should call it "Ike Turner`s BFF," because I`ve never seen women so willing to degrade themselves.
These are women with too low self-esteem for Flavor Flav, I guess, who go on to this show. And really, it was an hour of my life that I`ll never get back. I want my bailout.
ANDERSON: Yes, you and me (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It was so incredibly superficial. And you know that Donald Trump has the "you`re fired" catch phrase. Well, Paris has her own, TTYN, meaning, "talk to you never." Well, when I heard that, I thought to myself, "WYSN - watch your show never."
Kristin, who in the world does this show appeal to, and who are these people who have signed up to be hopefully Paris` new best friend?
KRISTIN DOS SANTOS, COLUMNIST, "WATCH WITH KRISTIN": Well, I have to tell you, Brooke, maybe I just went in with very low expectations. But I really wasn`t that offended by it. And this is because it actually is the most honest reality show I think we`ve ever had.
The contestants say the reason, "I`m on this show is because I want to be `celebritized.` And I`m already a celebrity in my own head." So they`re not pretending that call it because they`re looking for true or any other of these bogus things. This really is the reason that people go on reality shows. So to me, I guess that`s the most honest reality show we have ever seen.
ANDERSON: Yes, they were pretty open about that. But to me, a part of Paris, just a little part of her, has to be embarrassed. She`s got to be putting on an act because it is just too much.
FUGELSANG: Yes. Calling the show a train wreck, Brooke, is an insult to actual train wrecks, you know? I mean -
ANDERSON: You`re right. You`re right. I shouldn`t have - you`re right, John.
FUGELSANG: We all owe Heidi and Spencer an apology.
ANDERSON: True. Well, from one reality star known for her sex tape to another, Kim Kardashian. She became the third star booted from "Dancing With The Stars." And there`s one report that she was inconsolable after the show.
John, did Kim even have a chance against 82-year-old Cloris Leachman? Because I think Cloris is just so darn entertaining.
FUGELSANG: Well, you know, Brooke, Thomas Jefferson said that Americans get the leaders they deserve. I fear we get the reality TV celebrities we deserve. I think little Kimmy should be happy. She did outlast two other contestants, Jeffrey Ross and Ted McGinley who have what we in the industry call talent. So she did pretty well - all things considered, lasted quite a while.
ANDERSON: Yes. She wasn`t the first kicked off. And just the other day on CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE," Chris Rock, while criticizing Sarah Palin, in the same breath, also slammed Kim Kardashian and how she was doing on "Dancing With The Stars." Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS ROCK, COMEDIAN: And every time they let her talk for more than four minutes, you actually start feeling sorry for her. It`s kind of like Kim Kardashian on "Dancing With The Stars," like, all that ass and can`t shake it. It`s like, what? So sad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right, just couldn`t shake it. Kristin, is that why you think she got the boot or is there something else going on?
DOS SANTOS: Well, actually, I think a lot of people were surprised because they were expecting Cloris Leachman to go. She had the lowest score with 15. And if Sanjaya for "American Idol" has ever taught us anything other than how not to do our hair, it`s that when you`re slammed on TV and people think you`re going to be booted off, they will vote for you.
Kim was just sort of under the radar. She didn`t make a big splash either way. So I think if you felt like you liked Cloris and you thought she was going to go, you would phone in and that`s why she was saved. So that`s the reason she won.
ANDERSON: Yes. Cloris` personality I think will keep her hanging on for a little while longer.
DOS SANTOS: We have to watch her.
ANDERSON: We do. We do. John Fugelsang, Kristin Dos Santos, good to see you. Thank you both.
DOS SANTOS: Thank you very much.
HAMMER: Well, moving on, last night, we told you about reports that Miley Cyrus could play a young Carrie Bradshaw in the "Sex and the City" prequel. Well, we got some voice mails at "Showbiz On Call" about this topic including one from Amya in Florida who has a great idea for who should play the young Miranda Hobbes.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
AMYA: We always forget about Abigail Breslin. She was nominated for an Oscar. She is Miranda. She could play Miranda. She can act circles around everybody else. And when I think of Miranda younger, I think of Abigail Breslin.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Excellent idea. And we want you to call us at "Showbiz On Call" and let us know what you think about this or really anything else that`s on your mind.
ANDERSON: That`s right. The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines, always open. Call us 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Just leave a voicemail. We`ll play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Tonight, there is brand-new information about Heather Locklear`s DUI bust. The 911 call has just been released.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CALLER: She`s now pulled over and she wandered up and down the street. But now she`s back in the driver`s seat.
911 OPERATOR: All righty. So you said she`s pulled over to the right or the left?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s a pretty disturbing call. But will it help or hurt Heather`s case? Well, that`s coming up.
ANDERSON: OK. The countdown to the big vice presidential debate. The first big chance Sarah Palin has to show people who she is since the Katie Couric interview. Now, Katie`s ratings haven`t been so great. So we want to know, will that interview help Katie and hurt Palin? That`s coming up.
HAMMER: And remember how this guy got his start? You know, once upon a time, Danny Bonaduce was just a cute, freckled-face little kid on "The Partridge Family." Well, guess what? The show is coming back but with a major new twist. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson with some more stories that are making news right now.
There are some absolutely bizarre details coming out of Sharon Stone`s custody case. The judge says stone has suggested her 8-year-old son get Botox because his feet smell. We can`t make this stuff up. Stone has visitation rights with her son, but he lives with her ex-husband.
HAMMER: And big news. "The Partridge Family" is coming back. NBC has picked up a new version of the classic `70s sitcom. The new show`s writers say it`s going to be different. Instead of the mom fronting the family band, the new version will have a mom pimping out her kids to create a cash cow. Sounds familiar.
ANDERSON: And Janet Jackson has postponed two concert dates this week because of an undisclosed illness. She won`t make her shows in Boston or Philadelphia, but plans to resume the tour Saturday. This is after she suddenly got sick during sound check in Montreal and was in the hospital for a few hours. Her reps aren`t saying what`s wrong with her.
HAMMER: Brooke, can you feel the tension? Can you feel the excitement? The Palin-Biden debate, almost here.
ANDERSON: I can feel it and I can`t wait to see it. It will be the first time, A.J. that we`re going to get a chance to hear what Sarah Palin has to say since the Katie Couric interview. And it got me thinking. When all is said and done, will that interview help Katie who`s been struggling for viewers, and hurt Palin? That`s still to come.
And also this -
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CALLER: She`s now pulled over and she wandered up and down the street, but now she`s back in the driver`s seat.
911 OPERATOR: All righty. So you said she`s pulled over to the right or the left?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Heather Locklear`s shocking DUI bust. We have the just-released 911 call. And I`ve got to tell you, it`s pretty disturbing. But will it help or hurt Heather`s case? That`s straight ahead.
HAMMER: And what happens when a woman dressed in a cow suit runs out into traffic? Well, for one thing, it makes it really started to steer, huh? You`ve got stick around for really one of the strangest arrests I`ve ever heard. That`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Now, keep in mind, you can always stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news by being a subscriber to our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. Plus, it just makes you cool. Go to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight and click on the "sign up for newsletter" link at the bottom of the page. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Sarah Palin and Katie Couric, the staggering reactions to Couric`s interview with the GOP star. Why people just can`t stop talking about and why Couric may need to send Palin a special "thank you."
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CALLER: She`s now pulled over and she wandered up and down the street, but now she`s back in the driver`s seat.
911 OPERATOR: All righty. So you said she`s pulled over to the right or the left?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: The Heather Locklear 911 tape revealed. What really went down the day Heather Locklear was arrested, accused of DUI? Could the tape help or hurt Locklear`s case?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood.
HAMMER: Tonight, Hollywood`s vote and what is shaping up to be the presidential election for the ages. There are big, new developments tonight, including the overwhelming reaction to Katie Couric`s tough-as- nails ongoing interview with Sarah Palin and its dramatic impacts on Couric.
Well, Thursday, of course, is the big showdown between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden when they face off in their highly anticipated televised debate. But I`ve got to tell you, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers have just been burning up the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines about it.
And two music legends, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel just announced they`re going to be doing a concert together to raise money for Barack Obama.
All fired up tonight and ready have at it, joining me in Hollywood is Tanika Ray who is a correspondent for "Extra." And in New York, Carolina Bermudez. She`s a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly."
So ladies, we have all watched as Katie Couric basically has been hammered ever since she took over the anchor chair of the "CBS Evening News" back in September of `06. But now, everybody is all smiles about Katie talking about her interview with Sarah Palin. I want to watch as Couric asks Sarah about referring to Joe Biden`s age at a rally. Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PALIN: I`ve been hearing about his Senate speeches since I was in like second grade.
COURIC: When you have a 72-year-old running mate, is that kind of a risky thing to say, insinuating that Joe Biden`s been around a while?
PALIN: Oh, no, it`s nothing negative at all. He`s got a lot of experience and I`m just stating the fact here that we`ve been hearing his speeches for all these years. So he`s got a tremendous amount of experience and you know, I`m the new energy, the new face, with new ideas and he`s got the experience.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Carolina, over to you first. Does Couric just knocked it out of the park here? And does she really have Sarah Palin to thank for it?
BERMUDEZ: She does, definitely. I think she did a phenomenal job. Here`s the thing, people don`t look at Katie Couric as this hardnosed reporter. And she kind of fell into that role with Sarah. She asked her a question and she got the answer she wanted out of her. And you know what? It seemed like they were two girlfriends like chatting together.
But I`m sorry, every time I see Sarah Palin, all I can think of is Tina Fey right now. So I`m like -
HAMMER: Not necessarily a good thing. And to Katie`s credit, when she wasn`t getting the answer to the question she was asking, she would ask her again and she would ask her again. She was doing her job.
Well, Katie obviously broke through her own glass ceiling when she got the job as the first network solo anchor who`s a female. Sarah Palin obviously has broken through a different sort of glass ceiling.
Tanika, that kind of just added to the fascination of these two getting together for this interview?
RAY: Yes. You know what? We haven`t heard Sarah Palin in such a predicament since she was announced as the running mate to John McCain. So it was really great to see Katie go straight at it and not give her any sort of leeway. That was what was most fascinating.
Yes, they both broke glass ceilings in a way. But I don`t think that`s the biggest deal. I think the biggest point here is that Katie somewhat wiped off the polish that was on Sarah Palin and really made her - exposed her, really what she was about. I think People had been dying to see that. It was the first time we`ve seen it and wow, she`s got some making up to do. That`s for sure.
HAMMER: Yes. And it definitely reminded all of us that, hey, Katie Couric obviously has the interview chops. This got a lot of attention obviously ...
RAY: Absolutely.
HAMMER: ... because Sarah Palin`s getting so much attention.
And Barbara Walters herself - did you see this? You know, Barbara obviously made history when she became the first female co-anchor of a network newscast. Well, she threw Katie a nice little compliment on "The View" today. I want you to watch that -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: Katie is sort of - "redeeming herself" is not the right word. But coming into her own by doing interviews. And I`m very fond of Katie, so I`m very pleased. And I would just like to say that she`s done a terrific job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. And this is a big deal. What do you think, Carolina? Can Katie`s interview with Sarah Palin is probably going to have a lasting impact on people`s perception of Katie?
BERMUDEZ: Definitely. I mean, Barbara Walters said it herself, not to say that she redeemed herself but she was looked at before as kind of a fluffy reporter. This was where she really got to show people that she knows how to report. She got the answers that she wanted. And whenever Barbara Walters gives you a compliment - I mean, who isn`t going to feel good about themselves?
HAMMER: No question about it. Well, no question about the fact that shaping up to be must-see TV right now, the big Sarah Palin-Joe Biden debate happening on Thursday.
And I`ve got to tell you, in our question of the day, we asked this to our viewers, "Are you more excited to watch it than the Super Bowl?" A little surprised at the results. Only 42 percent said yes, 58 percent said no. So Tanika, maybe not as exciting as the Super Bowl, but what do you think? This is must-see TV. I mean, come on.
RAY: Yes. There`s a lot of hype surrounding it. But I think people are starting to make up their opinion especially after Katie Couric`s interview. And let`s not forget, the reason why we all think that she`s fluffy these days - I mean, because gazillion years that she was working on the "Today" show. She`s a hardnosed reporter and she will take down her prisoners, honey. She does not play. So I kind of want Katie Couric to moderate the debate on Thursday. Is that impossible to happen?
HAMMER: We`ll have to see what unfolds in the next bit of time. I don`t know. Well, I don`t know. We`ll make a call on your behalf, Tanika. How about that?
RAY: But you know what? Don`t believe the hype. Everybody`s going to be watching this debate no matter what they`re saying in the polls. The whole world is going to be tuning in.
HAMMER: Yes. A lot of people are, as you said, looking to make up their minds.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: And I think there`s going to be huge viewership which is not ordinary for a vice presidential debate. And I`ve got to tell you, our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers have just been burning up the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines about the debate.
We heard from Jane in California. Now, Jane says she will be watching.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JANE, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: I can hardly wait for the vice presidential debate. I`m a woman, so of course I`m more excited about it than the Super Bowl. I think it`s going to be absolutely hysterical. I can hardly wait to see it.
After seeing her other interviews and "Saturday Night Live" take off on it, it`s just going to be too good to miss.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: I don`t if that`s the answer that Sarah Palin is looking for. But Jane does make a great point about "SNL." And in fact - I don`t know if you guys heard this. NBC has just announced plans for three new live primetime half-hour "SNL" specials that are going to begin next week. Tina Fey`s already, you know, skewered Palin with her amazing impersonations.
Tanika, back at you. Should Sarah Palin be worried that "SNL" has really only begun to go after her?
RAY: I think that she`s not worried about anything, which is probably not a good idea. She`s very confident, on the verge of maybe arrogant right now because she really doesn`t have the experience. And she`s going to be exposed on Thursday in front of the world`s eyes. So she should be worried about a lot of things. "SNL" is just one of those things on the list.
HAMMER: You mentioned earlier, Carolina, that you`ll be thinking of Tina Fey`s impersonation. That`s not such a good thing for Sarah Palin here, that to some people, she`s almost become a caricature of herself.
BERMUDEZ: That`s true. And you know what? The people at "SNL" are geniuses for coming up with this. Because all that they`re going to do is - people`s perceptions - they`re going to go right to Tina Fey because that`s who they identify with. So hopefully, she`s going to see what the public is thinking about her and she`s going to take maybe a stronger, more confident role when she comes out in these debates. Because right now, everybody`s laughing, you know ...
HAMMER: Yes.
BERMUDEZ: ... for lack of a better, you know, term. So -
RAY: Yes. But, A.J., don`t forget, there was a lot of, you know, Bush impersonators, too, before he was running the first time and it helped his candidacy. So I don`t know if it`s necessarily going to work against her or for her. We`ll have to wait and see.
HAMMER: I don`t recall and I could be wrong - I don`t recall the Bush impersonators using Bush`s own words as the joke ...
RAY: Right.
HAMMER: ... as the punch line which is what they`re doing ...
RAY: That`s true.
HAMMER: ... with Sarah Palin. I want to make sure we get to another one of our viewers here. We also heard from Donna in Wisconsin calling in to "Showbiz On Call." Here`s what Donna has to say about the debate.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DONNA, CALLER FROM WISCONSIN: I think this is definitely going to be more exciting than the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl has gone on for years and years. One wins, one loses. This is one unique moment in history. And I think it`s going to be great, whatever way it turns out.
HAMMER: Historical - no doubt. Carolina, Donna says the Super Bowl has a winner, it has a loser. What do you think - get a little political with me here. Do you think there will be a clear winner and a clear loser on Thursday night?
BERMUDEZ: Well, I think according to the parties, there`s going to be a clear winner and a clear loser. But you never know. I mean, I`m going to definitely watch it and make my own decision.
There has to be something that comes up a little bit stronger on their issues. There has to be somebody that addresses the hard-hitting topics. And that person is going to be the winner. I think that`s the only way that we can define that. So unless Sarah Palin`s ready to come in fighting, she better get ready because it`s going to be tough.
HAMMER: Well, she certainly is being prepped. Carolina Bermudez, Tanika Ray, thank you both for being here tonight.
ANDERSON: And don`t forget, you can call us at "Showbiz On Call" and let us know what you think about Sarah Palin or anything else.
HAMMER: The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines are always open, so call 1-888- SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail. And as you hear, we`re playing your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
We also would like to hear from you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It is this - "Campaign 2008: Is this the funniest election ever?" You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or also E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Tonight, the dramatic 911 call that led to Heather Locklear`s arrest.
HAMMER: Yes, what actually happened the day Heather Locklear got busted.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CALLER: She`s not pulled over and she wandered up and down the street, but now she`s back in the driver`s seat.
911 OPERATOR: All righty. So you said she`s pulled over to the right or the left?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The tale of the tape. New details revealed in Heather Locklear`s DUI bust. Could 911 call help or hurt Heather`s case? That`s next.
HAMMER: Plus, the battle over Heath reopens. Why an insurance company is asking the question, was Heath`s death really an accident? The new developments are still ahead.
ANDERSON: And did you see this? It`s an utterly ridiculous story. A woman arrested while wearing a cow costume. Need I say more? Stick around. That`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JILL: She was drunk at the - we were at the market. She was drunk at the market and she got in the car and then we saw her pulled over. She`s now pulled over and she wandered up and down the street. But now she`s back in the driver`s seat.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight, for the very first time, the urgent 911 call to police leading up to Heather Locklear`s DUI arrest. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is revealing just how it all went down.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Heather Locklear, 911. It`s just one of two dramas unfolding that`s new right now. You are about to hear the 911 tape that reveals dramatic new details about when Heather Locklear got busted for DUI.
Also new right now, a brand-new Heath Ledger mystery. Why is an insurance company questioning how he really died and could his young daughter be out $10 million because of it?
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Darren Kavinoky from the Kavinoky Law Firm.
Darren, I want to begin with the Heather Locklear 911 tape. A woman named Jill called the Santa Barbara police and let`s listen to what happened.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JILL: She was drunk at the - we were at the market. She was drunk at the market and she got in the car and then we saw her pulled over. She`s now pulled over and she wandered up and down the street. But now she`s back in the driver`s seat.
911 OPERATOR: All righty. So you said she`s pulled over to the right or the left.
JILL: She`s on the right side.
911 OPERATOR: OK. Hang on.
JILL: Oh, she`s revving her engine. What is she doing?
(CROSS TALK)
911 OPERATOR: What is your name, Ma`am?
JILL: My name is Jill.
911 OPERATOR: OK, Jill. We`ll notify officers in the area and we`ll put a broadcast out for the vehicle. I need you to maintain a safe distance away. Are you following the car?
JILL: We`re following it. It looks like she`s just revving her engine as she -
(CROSS TALK)
911 OPERATOR: OK, I need to ask you to stop following the car. We know where they are. We now have a license plate. OK, we ...
(CROSS TALK)
JILL: What`s that?
911 OPERATOR: We know where they are and we have a license plate, so you guys need to stop following. Because the minute she thinks that you are following, it`s - you`ll be a danger to her. If she thinks you are following, she might run into something.
JILL: OK. Thank you.
911 OPERATOR: All righty. Thanks a lot. Bye.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I want to point out now that Heather was charged with suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Alcohol not suspected. That said, Darren, you are the expert here, having been involved in countless DUI cases. How incriminating could this be?
DARREN KAVINOKY, KAVINOKY LAW FIRM: Well, these kinds of 911 calls from bystanders can be very incriminating, Brooke. But I`m not turning in my T.J. Hooker Fan Club membership just yet. We don`t know what this caller`s training and experience and background is. And this is one of those cases where Heather wasn`t observed driving by law enforcement. This is a good Samaritan who`s making the phone call.
So there`s an awful lot that we don`t know about what was observed. And of course, if I`m Heather`s defense lawyer, that`s certainly something I`m going to exploit to her advantage at every opportunity.
ANDERSON: Yes, of course, the chemical test was obtained. It will take a while, though, for those results to come in. And as I mentioned, she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and on suspicion of driving under the influence - two charges. There are reports it was prescription drugs. Darren, if convicted, could Locklear be looking at jail time?
KAVINOKY: Well, the maximum punishment for a first offense, driving under the influence charge is up to six months in jail. So, yes, this is a very, very serious case. And for legal purposes, it doesn`t matter whether somebody`s under the influence of legal or illegal drugs, whether they`re prescribed or not. If she`s impaired for purposes of driving, then she`s perhaps broken the law. And of course, all of this must be subject to vigorous cross-examination by her defense team.
ANDERSON: Yes, like you say, very, very serious.
I want to move now to Heath Ledger, his estate locked in a nasty legal battle over his $10 million insurance policy. Back in January, coroners said Ledger`s death was an accidental overdose. But now, Ledger`s insurance company wants to investigate the possibility that maybe he committed suicide. Now, that could make the $10 million life insurance policy null and void.
And now Ledger`s former attorney is suing the insurance company. Darren, is his daughter in danger of losing the $10 million here?
KAVINOKY: Well, no news flash here, Brooke. Insurance companies are not known for their overwhelming generosity. So, of course, they`re going to do everything they can to find a reason not to pay. And that means looking at the application to see if there`s any lies or omissions or certainly investigating to see whether it`s a suicide, which would void the policy.
But I must say, I`m not aware that handsome movie stars who are very well-to-do and about to release a block-buster film are in a high-risk group. So I think at the end of the day, the final score will be - Heath`s estate, $10 million, and the insurance company, nothing.
ANDERSON: OK. Well, I want to ask you this. In January, actress Mary- Kate Olsen was one of the first people called when Ledger`s body was found. Police never questioned her. But if this life insurance battle went to court - Darren, 10 seconds - could Mary-Kate be forced to testify?
KAVINOKY: Oh, she absolutely could. She could be called to the witness stand, although depending on her involvement is. The only thing we may hear from her is, "Sorry, got to take the Fifth."
ANDERSON: We will be following it and we`ll keep you updated. Darren Kavinoky, thank you so much for your insight.
And we did reach out to Heather Locklear`s spokesperson who declined to comment on her case.
HAMMER: Moving on now, did you see this? A woman in Ohio was arrested while wearing a cow costume.
Yes, Michelle Allen is charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly getting in the way of traffic and chasing children while wearing a cow suit. Sad part is, that`s just the beginning of this "udderly" outrageous story. Here`s our reporter Jackie Sprague from affiliate WXIX in Cincinnati, Ohio for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJOR MARK HOFFMAN, MIDDLETOWN POLICE: I`ve been here for 30 years and this is the first bovine arrest that we`ve made here in Middletown.
JACKIE SPRAGUE, CORRESPONDENT, WXIX-MIDDLETOWN, OHIO (on camera): Middletown police say they received numerous calls about a cow stampeding through this city intersection and when they arrived, they say were utterly shocked at what they found.
(voice over): Police say they found this woman, Michelle Allen, dressed in a cow suit. Reports say she was chasing children, threatening police and even urinated on a nearby porch before being arrested. She was booked for disorderly conduct and police say her erratic behavior didn`t stop there.
HOFFMAN: She got up to the court, still in her cow suit, was challenging people to suck her udders.
SPRAGUE: Police had been tipped off as to why she was in the costume.
HOFFMAN: We think that she was probably engaged in some promotional activities for a local haunted trail. There was another employee there. They came over and repossessed her cow mask.
SPRAGUE: Hoffman says, Allen is no stranger to Middletown Police.
HOFFMAN: She has been arrested more than 50 times by this department and probably by some other (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as well.
(COW MOOING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And that was Jackie Sprague reporting from affiliate WXIX in Cincinnati, Ohio for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, you were right. There is the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT morning meeting. You heard what was going on. Some really bad puns flying around for this particular story. More than I could count.
So, we took a little vote. I want to bring you the top five. Can we show these, please - number five: The cops asked the woman, "What`s your beef? Number four: When her family found out what she had done, they had a cow. Number three was: There`s a lot at steak here. And number two: This is a powerful story that will really moooove people. Number one pun: This story is "udderly" ridiculous. Yes, we were taking care of business.
ANDERSON: That was spot on, A.J.
All right. Wait until you see a hilarious new video from comedienne Sarah Silverman. Why she says the whole presidential election hinges on Jewish voters going to visit elderly relatives in Florida. We`ve got it next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, comedienne Sarah Silverman tries to rally Jewish voters in a hilarious new video. And in this thing, she tells Jews to visit their elderly relatives in Florida and convince them to vote for Barack Obama. You got to watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARAH SILVERMAN, COMEDIENNE: I`m making this video to urge you, all of you, to schlep over to Florida and convince your grandparents to vote Obama. It can make the difference.
Explain to them that we`re all the same inside. You know, you could compare an elderly Jewish woman, like Nana to a young black man. They may seem totally different, but on paper, they`re the same.
I mean think about it - track suits. Let`s start there. They both love track suits. They can`t get enough of them.
Do you know why your grandparents don`t like Barack Obama? Because his name sounds scary. It sounds Muslim which he is obviously not. Yes, Barack Hussein Obama - it`s a super (EXPLETIVE DELETED) name, but you`d think somebody named Manishevitz Gooberman(ph) might understand that.
There are some fun facts. Barack Obama`s foreign policy is much more stabilizing than John McCain`s and much better for Israel. He wants to protect social security. His brisket is beyond - it`s beyond.
You don`t have to use facts, use threats. There is nobody more important or influential over your grandparents than their grand kids - you. If they vote for Barack Obama, they`re going to get another visit this year. If not - let`s just hope they stay healthy until next year.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That`s one way to get people to vote. I didn`t know he made a lovely brisket. And you can watch the video on the "GreatSchlep.com."
ANDERSON: On Tuesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Sarah Palin-Joe Biden debate: Are you more excited to watch it than the Super Bowl?" Forty-two percent say yes; 58 percent of you say, "No way."
Here are some of the E-mails you sent. T. from Washington writes, "How could Palin possibly be more exciting than Eli Manning and the New York Giants taking on Tom Brady and The Patriots?"
Lincoln from Florida says, "The Super Bowl is not a game, it is an American way of life. It transcends any debate. That being said, I`m getting a six-pack and gluing my eyes to the set for the debate."
HAMMER: Well, I`m having some Barack Obama brisket right now, Brooke. I believe that`s all we can do for tonight. So that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Don`t forget you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and 11:00 p.m. Pacific. And in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is next.
END
