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Showbiz Tonight
Paris for Fake President; Dancing With the Stars Curse; Christie Brinkley Strikes Back; Should Sarah Palin Go to "SNL"?; The Maverick Family on McCain
Aired October 09, 2008 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Paris for president? Paris Hilton`s brand-new wacky campaign video. P. Diddy`s brand-new wild anti-McCain video? Jessica Alba`s "Hannibal, the Cannibal" Get Out the Vote campaign. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, do all these star videos just turn you off?
Tonight, the cheating game. Christie Brinkley`s ex sparks a nationwide debate over cheating after his brand-new unbelievable claim about why he cheated on Christie with a teenager. But did speak for a lot of men? And are there any women willing to defend him? Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the fired-up cheating debate.
Plus, another star off "Dancing With The Stars" because of an injury. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates, is there a curse on "Dancing With The Stars?"
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m Jane Velez Mitchell, broadcasting tonight from Hollywood. A.J. and Brooke have the night off. Tonight, campaign `08 and the Paris Hilton factor. Imagine this, Paris for president? That`s right. Leave it up to Paris to shake up this already wild campaign with an absurd, over- the-top, downright ridiculous campaign ad featuring her potential running mate, Martin Sheen. Yes, that Martin Sheen, a.k.a. "West Wing" President Bartlett.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you this serves as a perfect example of why we have officially named the most absurd campaign ever in history and why it`s making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(voice over): Obama -
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We need a president we can trust in times of crisis.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: McCain -
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That`s what I`m going as president of the United States - fight for you.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Paris -
PARIS HILTON, ACTRESS: I want America to know that I`m like, totally ready to lead.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Wait? Paris? Yes, Paris Hilton is getting al kinds of press for her fake run for the presidency.
JODI MILLER, COMEDIENNE: I don`t know if I would consider voting for her, although yes, the after party would probably be, you know, historic.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Paris launched her presidential campaign on FunnyOrDie.com after John McCain used her image in a campaign ad slamming Barack Obama.
HILTON: That wrinkly, white-haired guy used me in his campaign ad, which I guess means I`m running for president.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And in her latest "Funny or Die" video, she gets advice on her faux presidential run from a fake president, Martin Sheen, who of course was a fake president on "The West Wing."
HILTON: Running for fake president is a little daunting.
MARTIN SHEEN, ACTOR: I`ve got to tell you, little Paris. You know, being a fake president is a lot harder today than it was when I was a fake president.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Those "Funny or Die" videos have now been viewed more than eight million times. Look out, Barack and John. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you a woman whose idea of political parties used to look like this ...
(VIDEO OF PARIS IN LAS VEGAS)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: ... is now becoming a real political force.
MILLER: She`s not a dumb girl. She saw an opportunity to get more P.R. for herself, and she took it.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Comedian Jodi Miller tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she`s not surprised Paris is so popular with potential voters.
MILLER: Everybody is her BFF. John McCain only refers to people as, you know, his friends.
MCCAIN: My friends, my friends, my friends.
MILLER: She`s at least got best friends. We`re best friends.
HILTON: My new BFF.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, Paris Hilton`s campaign is fake, and maybe a little silly.
HILTON: This is the biggest depression since "The Notebook."
HILTON: But is there more to this fake campaign than meets the eye?
MILLER: The fact that she`s, you know, fake running is outlandish, but she actually does have some really valid points.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Like Obama and McCain, Paris is tackling the big issues, like the Iraq War.
HILTON: It seems we`ve done our job and we should bring the troops home safely.
MILLER: You`re right. Bring the troops home. Paris knows when to leave a party, people.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: There`s her economic policy.
HILTON: Lower the inflated interest rates so it`s not impossible for them to pay their mortgage.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And her energy policy.
HILTON: We can do limited offshore drilling with strict environmental oversight while creating tax incentives to get Detroit making hybrid electric cars.
MILLER: She should talk a little bit more about global warming because with her hotness, I`m sure she`s contributing to it.
HILTON: I`m just hot.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And while McCain and Obama are trying to avoid saying anything too controversial on the campaign trail, Paris is letting it rip. In "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine she`s promising to name Tinker Bell to her cabinet.
MILLER: It is Tinker Bell, the dog, and not the fairy, correct?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, the dog, not the fairy. And Paris even dispensing advice to that other woman on the campaign trail, Sarah Palin. Hilton tells "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine, quote, "My advice to Sarah Palin is you`ve got a hot bod. Don`t keep it to yourself. Why wear a pantsuit when you can wear a swimsuit? Welcome to the Lower 48, girlfriend."
MILLER: That`s really what counts, isn`t it? Looking good while you`re declaring bankruptcy?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Of course, Paris can`t really be president. The constitution says the president has to be at least 35. Paris is just 27. But the year she turns 35, 2016, just happens to be an election year.
MILLER: I think she should make a video now, starting right now and make a new one every month and get people excited. The kids that are toddlers now will be able to vote by then, and they will love her.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: An eight-year campaign for president? If anyone could pull it off, it`s Paris.
HILTON: See you at the fake inauguration, (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: As the evidence of prosecution rests, it is truly shaping up to the most absurd campaign ever in history and Paris Hilton isn`t the only celebrity to blame.
Joining me to hash this all out, from New York, Lauren Lake, criminal defense attorney and TV host. And in Hollywood Michael Yo, who is the host of "Yo on E!" heard on XM and Sirius Satellite Radio.
All right. Let`s dive straight into this kooky faux campaign. I want show you, once again, Paris making her point in her new video posted on "FunnyOrDie.com" on how we can fix the economy. This is unbelievable. Watch it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILTON: How about helping the people who are losing their homes, maybe lower the inflated interest rates so it`s not impossible to pay for them to their mortgage. I know it`s not as much money for the banks, but it`s better than no money at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Scary thing is Paris makes perfect sense here. Lauren, could Paris Hilton actually influence somebody out there?
LAUREN LAKE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, you know what`s important? I think she`s doing something finally that`s age appropriate, and I`m happy for Paris. After all this time of us bashing her and her making some bad decisions, this was just a funny decision.
She`s making a little - you know, some thoughtful comments. And in her generation I think they`re enjoying the fact that they`re watching someone that they admire, someone they like, but they can think about the campaign issues. You can`t go wrong there. I think it`s funny, and I`m glad she`s doing it.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think you`re right. It`s sophisticated and it`s clever. Our "Showbiz On Call" phone lines have been ringing off the hook over this new video from Paris. I want you to listen to what Jeff from Tennessee has to say about "Paris for Fake President." You`ve got to listen to this one.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JEFF, CALLER FROM TENNESSEE: I would vote for her. She`d make the best fake president we`ve ever had. And she definitely has good policies. I agree with her first video and agree with this one even more. I never really have liked the girl and she actually earned a lot of respect seeing her do these little things.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. I want to let you know we got so many calls into "Showbiz On Call" about this. We`re going to be playing more of your calls later in the show. But Michael, as crazy, as wild and absurd as it is, does it talk - does Paris talk in this video about real issues? Does it even matter that it`s done in an absurd way?
MICHAEL YO, HOST, "YO ON E!": No, I don`t think it does. I mean, it`s almost kind of scary where it seems like if you have a good writer, you can be president almost. That`s what is scary in that. You know, everybody`s reading these speeches. Even Paris can pull one off, you know.
So that`s the deal on that. And one thing I really love Paris about - remember, John McCain brought her into this. And on this show, I remember saying she`s going to take advantage of all the media attention she can get with this and she did. She would never have done this if John McCain wouldn`t have brought her into the mix on that commercial against Obama. So I think she took advantage and she`s scoring big time. So you go, Paris Hilton.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Now, we`re going to go from the curious to truly bizarre. Jessica Alba and "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere have also made a political video, this one for "Declare Yourself."
In this video, the ladies are selling - are you sitting down? A Hannibal Lecter-type muzzle on a fake shopping network to get people to vote. Watch this one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA ALBA, ACTRESS: Having a hard time imagining what this mask will look like on you? Well, imagine no further. We have Hayden here today to show it off. And here`s the kicker. Hayden likes hers so much she actually had it customized and surgically implanted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I`m almost speechless. Lauren some people may look at this and say, "This is so weird, using a Hannibal Lecter muzzle to get your message across." Others will say, "Absolutely brilliant?" Lauren, what do you think?
LAKE: You know, maybe I`m just crazy or in need of a laugh right now, but I think that`s hilarious too, Jane. I think they`ve taken a movie that many people have seen. They`ve taken it. They`ve spoofed it and they`ve given a message to the kids, you can either have a voice or you can be muzzled. It`s up to you.
And remember, we have a generation of kids now that are used to in- your-face commentary and in-your-face TV. So this speaks to that and I`m glad they did it.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And P. Diddy just posted a new video blog of his own, reaction to the presidential debate on Tuesday night. And John McCain referring to Barack Obama as "that one." Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
P. DIDDY COMBS, RAP MUSICIAN: You are trying to be the president of the United States, and you`re referring to another man as "that one?" Now, these blogs are dangerous. You know, I could something really crazy about the "that one" right now, but I`m not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Michael, is P. Diddy doing his side more harm than good?
YO: You know, I`ve got to make a mention about the Jessica Alba clip first. I will take three of those masks because she says she will come over personally and slap it on my face. So I will take three of those right now.
Now, the P. Diddy thing, I don`t have a problem with anyone doing campaign videos. And Diddy is a very nice person. I hung out with him several times. But I just think he goes overboard with this, and it doesn`t come out intelligent at all.
Diddy, I love you, but you need to stop with your videos. The other ones are creative, fun, and his are just over the top and don`t make any sense.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I agree with you. You know, stick to showbiz.
YO: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s what I have to say for P. Diddy. Thank you both. Lauren Lake, Michael Yo, love talking to you.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Christie Brinkley striking back. Coming up, how Christie is fighting back after her ex gives an absolutely, truly unbelievable reason for why he cheated on her with a teenager.
Plus, how Peter Cook has set off a fiery debate on cheating between men and women.
Also is there a "Dancing With The Stars" curse? Yes, another star is out because of an injury. That is coming up.
We will also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Members of the Maverick family say hearing John McCain, the Maverick, makes them want to shoot the TV. It`s like hearing fingernails on a chalkboard times 10.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: The original Mavericks speak out about the buzzword, a really family named Maverick that dates back to the 1800s says they don`t want to hear McCain calling himself a maverick. We`ll tell you why.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(VIDEO OF MARIE OSMOND COLLAPSING ON "DANCING WITH THE STARS")
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Marie Osmond`s collapse on Dancing With The Stars - who can forget it? And tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants to know, was this the beginning of a "Dancing" curse?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell in for A.J. Hammer and Brooke Anderson. Tonight, is there a "Dancing With The Stars" curse?
Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor is just the latest "Dancing" star to be injured and she`s off the show for good. And there have been so many other incidents that people are starting to wonder if the name of the show should be "Waltz of The Wounded."
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Laura Saltman who is a correspondent for "Access Hollywood.com." Laura has just written a fascinating piece on the "Access" Web site about this "Dancing" curse. Also in Hollywood, Kim Serafin who is senior editor for "In Touch Weekly."
All right, ladies. It seems totally kooky, but there`s actually evidence here. You will get a sense of what we mean as we roll off the SHOWBIZ newsline.
October 2007, Marie Osmond faints on live TV after her performance. This past September, professional dancer Karina Smirnoff sprains her ankle on the morning of the show`s premiere.
Just this week, soap opera star, Susan Lucci twists her ankle in rehearsals. And now Misty May-Treanor dropping out of the competition after tearing her Achilles tendon.
Yikes. Laura Saltman, you investigated this, so give us the verdict, curse or no curse?
LAURA SALTMAN, CORRESPONDENT, "ACCESSHOLLYWOOD.COM": OK. I`m not going to say if I believe in this either way, Jane, because I don`t want to get E- mails. But here`s what I found. The stage where this is set - it`s at CBS Television City here in Los Angeles. It used to be a place called Gilmore Stadium which was a football field and a racetrack.
And in it`s 18-year history, five men have lost their lives, all racecar drivers on that track. And season five, when Helio Castroneves, a race car driver won, is where the curse first started.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, you know, Now, you`re giving us the history of this, and we want to stick with the superstition. On the show, they went as far as to point out the dreaded spot on the dance floor where most of the injuries happen. Take a look at this fascinating stuff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM BERGERON, CO-HOST, "DANCING WITH THE STARS": Through the seasons, the ballroom has seen more than its share of paramedic activity.
SAMANTHA HARRIS, CO-HOST, "DANCING WITH THE STARS": Yes.
BERGERON: In fact, Derek(ph) has pointed out there`s an area here he calls the "Bermuda Triangle." It`s where Misty was injured. It`s where he got injured the other day, and where Susan twisted her ankle.
HARRIS: Twisted her ankle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: So Kim, what do you think? I love this concept of a dance floor with a "Bermuda Triangle" in it. At least they didn`t disappear, right? A curse, or should we just get a new dance floor. Or maybe it`s just too slippery or something simple like that.
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Yes. You know, I was thinking about it. And I thought, if it was called "Pottery With The Stars" and people were tearing tendons, then maybe there would be a curse. But it`s called "Dancing With The Stars," and they`re exercising. They`re doing crazy dance moves there, you know, throwing people over their heads. They`re twisting and turning. And these are not professional dancers. These are stars. These are TV personalities.
So it kind of makes sense there have been some injuries. Plus, if you`re working for ABC and you`re working with "Dancing With The Stars," it doesn`t hurt to perpetuate the rumor that there`s a curse. Because what does that turn into? Ratings. So I think -
(CROSS TALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: You`re right. We`re all talking about it right now. We`re talking about this second. Listen, anybody who has ever done disco as I have knows dancing is dangerous.
Now, Laura, in your piece on "AccessHollywood.com," you say the curse has been a hot topic among the dancers. Rocco Di Spirito even suggested exorcism could solve this problem. Dancers are a superstitious lot. Are some of these dancers actually taking the idea of this curse seriously?
SALTMAN: Yes, they really are. I mean, I don`t if they know the whole like, are there racecar-driving ghosts that wanted Helio to win. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But I think they definitely think something is wrong. Lance Bass said that there`s definitely something going on in that one area by the judges` stage. Karina wants to bring in a priest and have it blessed. I actually talked to a psychic on the stage who happened to be in the audience. And she said there is definitely negative energy in that stage.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Well, you know, it`s a dangerous business - dancing, and that`s why those of us who don`t should stay off the dance floor and never say when it comes to "Dancing With The Stars," break a leg. That`s the one thing you should never say.
Laura Saltman and Kim Serafin, thank you so much. Great guests.
We have been getting a ton of calls on "Showbiz On Call" about Paris Hilton`s new campaign spoof video where she`s running for fake president. That`s right.
Here`s one from Nancy in Maryland. She`s ready to cast her vote.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
NANCY, CALLER FROM MARYLAND: I would vote for Paris Hilton for president and Britney Spears for vice president. They`d be a perfect pair.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Call us at "Showbiz On Call" and let us know what you think about this or anything else that`s on your mind - anything at all. The phone lines are always open for you, so give us a holler. 1-888-SBT- BUZZ. That`s 1-888-728-2899. Just leave us a voicemail, and we will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And get this, your calls on "Showbiz On Call" are also now online on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well, Christie Brinkley is striking back. Coming up, how Christie is fighting back after her ex-husband gives an absolutely unbelievable reason for why he cheated on her with a teenager. Plus, how Peter Cook has set off a fiery debate on cheating between men and women.
Also, it is an all-out diva war, girlfriend. Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin face off in a war of words. Aretha wants a little respect. Tina is rolling on the river of insults. And I have the story for you next.
And our continuing coverage of the absolutely most absurd campaign ever. Coming up, the Tina Fey factor. Should Sarah Palin go on "Saturday Night Live? " We asked and you answered. I have your calls to "Showbiz On Call," still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Be sure to check the free, ever-changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast. You can find it on our Web site at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight, or download it on iTunes by typing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT in the search box. We`ll be right back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell with another story that is making news right now. It is a battle of the divas. Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner are having a major war of the words. This all started back in February when Beyonce referred to Tina as the queen of the Grammys. Well, that got queen of soul Aretha all riled up. At that time, she called Beyonce`s remark a cheap shot for controversy.
Tina said nothing at the time. But "USA Today" dredged the whole thing up again and asked her about it. And this is what Tina said, quote, "She`s the queen of soul and I`m the queen of rock and roll. There were so many kings and queens there that night her ego must be so big to think she was the only one."
Aretha is not amused. In a statement today to "USA Today" Aretha said, quote, "I never figured her to resort to tacky press just to sell a few tickets. I really had put her in a different class higher than that." Aretha says she and Tina have never met. Maybe that`s a good thing.
Christie Brinkley is striking back. Coming up, how Christie is fighting back after her ex gives an absolutely unbelievable reason for why he cheated on her with a teenager. Plus, how Peter Cook has set off a fiery debate on cheating between men and women.
Also, our continuing coverage of the most absurd campaign ever in history. Coming up, the Tina Fey factor. Should Sarah Palin go on "Saturday Night Live?" We asked and you answered. I have your calls to "Showbiz On Call," still to come.
And we will also have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Members of the Maverick family say hearing John McCain is a maverick makes them want to shoot the TV. It`s like hearing fingernails on the chalkboard times 10.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: The original Mavericks speak out about McCain`s campaign buzzword. Yes, there`s a real family named Maverick that dates back to the 1800s and they don`t like hearing McCain being called a maverick.
But first, stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. Just head over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight and click on the "sign up for newsletter" link at the bottom of the page. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is back right after this.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Brinkley backlash. Christie Brinkley files for a restraining order against her ex right after his explosive new interview with Barbara Walters. What the heck happened?
Plus, the cheating game. Christie`s ex really hit a chord with his excuse for stepping out on her. But are some people actually defending this guy? The fiery debate tonight.
And the Tina Fey factor. Has Tina Fey`s impersonations of Sarah Palin elevated Fey to a new star status? Should Sarah Palin just go and head straight to "Saturday Night Live?" And will she be laughing all the way to the White House?
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 Jane Velez Mitchell, coming to you tonight from Hollywood. A.J. and Brooke have the night off.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s continuing coverage of what might be the most absurd presidential campaign ever. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers are burning up our "Showbiz On Call" phone lines over this hot button issue. We are hearing from you tonight.
Tina Fey`s impression of Sarah Palin has gone from hilarious to truly historic. Those sketches on "Saturday Night Live" have made her as much a part of the presidential campaign as the real candidates. And Tina is making history by single-handedly doubling "SNL`s" ratings. But is this a good thing, or is it all just totally absurd?
With me tonight in New York, Lauren Lake. She`s an attorney and a TV host. And in Hollywood tonight, Michael Yo. He is the host of "Yo on E!" which can be heard on XM and Sirius Satellite Radio.
It`s a wild, kooky, crazy, absurd campaign. Let`s begin by taking a look at some of Tina Fey`s greatest hits from the past three weeks. Brilliant stuff. Sometimes I can`t even tell who the real Palin is and who Tina Fey is. She`s playing Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live." Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMY POEHLER, ACTRESS: I believe that diplomacy should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy.
TINA FEY, ACTRESS: And I can see Russia from my house.
POEHLER: How did the world leaders you met with react with you?
FEY: They embraced me, Katie, both figuratively and a couple of them Pakistani guys, literally.
Can I call you Joe?
JASON SUDEIKIS, ACTOR: Of course.
FEY: OK. Because I practiced a couple zingers where I call you Joe.
SUDEIKIS: OK, good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Keep in mind, these sketches are only slight exaggerations of things Sarah Palin has actually said. Lauren, is that what makes it so wild and absurd, that the truth is almost stranger and funnier than Tina Fey`s fiction?
LAKE: Jane, isn`t it always? The truth here is absolutely hilarious. And the fact that the sketches are based, you know, largely on part of exactly what was said is even more hilarious. If you watch them back to back, you can even get a laugh that extends beyond the airing of "Saturday Night Live." You can sit in your living room and watch them back to back on YouTube and crack up. It`s amazing.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, the buzz among people who want to see the real Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live" is growing and growing. The show`s executive producer, who`s famous in his only right, would only say, quote, "All in good time," when asked about a Palin walk-in.
But we asked viewers on air and online - "Sarah Palin: Would going on `Saturday Night Live` be a good idea?" Get this, 44 percent of you voted yes, 56 percent voted no. It is almost split down the middle.
Michael, why do you think people are so divided about this, basically showbiz or political issues, depending?
YO: Well, I think it`s very simple. It`s the economy. And here`s the thing. Nobody wants to see a future vice president possibly on "Saturday Night Live" in this type of times. Now, the only way Sarah Palin is going to go on "Saturday Night Live" is if they lose the election or after the election. That`s when she will go on that show. But right now is not the time to do it. Tina Fey is doing a good job, anyway.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: You`re right. I mean, it really depends day to day when you have a stock market crashing, whatever, it might seem inappropriate to go and do comedy when you`re running for vice president.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers are having their say about Sarah Palin on "SNL." The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines lit up like a Christmas tree with calls like this one from Jeff in Tennessee who thinks "SNL" could improve Sarah Palin`s image. Listen to this one.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JEFF, CALLER FROM TENNESSEE: About Palin going on "Saturday Night Live," I think it would be a brilliant idea. I mean, those people actually being able to laugh at themselves and make fun of themselves, it shows that they`ve got a little bit of humanity in them. It might make everybody not perceive her as such of an ice queen cometh kind of person, you know.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, it could be a brilliant move. McCain and Palin are behind in the polls. So do you think our caller Jeff could really be onto something here, especially with her campaign wanting to connect with those regular folks, you know, the Joe Six Packs? Regular folks watch "SNL," right, Lauren?
LAKE: They do. Regular people watch it all the time. And this may be the last ditch effort that she needs or they need as a team. I think it is important for a politician to be able to laugh at themselves.
So I`m not quite sure if I agree with Michael. Maybe if she went on "Saturday Night Live" she could just get the laugh out of the way and laugh at herself and then move on trying to finish up this campaign.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: You know, it`s kind of an unknown. It could go either way depending on the jokes, depending on the reaction to jokes. I mean, really, it`s a step into the unknown for her to do that at this critical juncture in the campaign.
Harvey from Ohio rang up our "Showbiz On Call" phone line with this strategy for Palin. Listen to this one.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
HARVEY, CALLER FROM OHIO: I think she needs to be on "Meet The Press" like you guys said at Sunday morning, live, before "Saturday Night Live."
(END AUDIO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: You know, Michael, that is a really good point. Should Sarah Palin leave the jokes to Tina Fey, or is all exposure good exposure as they say in showbiz. Saturday night, Sunday morning, or any day of the week.
YO: Well, here`s the deal. Sarah Palin has only done real three official interviews that talked about issues. If she did "Saturday Night Live," she`s already known the Average Joe. She doesn`t benefit at all if she`s on that show. The only thing Tina Fey will do is just make fun of her in front of her.
She does the other show the gentleman was talking about, then she has to talk about issues and McCain campaign doesn`t want her doing that because she says crazy things. So she`s stuck in a position where she shouldn`t do television at all. She should just show up, say the little things she wants to say and get off the stage.
LAKE: That was hilarious.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Either that or do everything, right?
LAKE: That was hilarious.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Go ahead, Lauren.
LAKE: I just think it`s funny and I love your take on that. But you`re right, "Meet The Press" would be the main show she would need to do in addition to "Saturday Night Live" for sure, but she`s avoiding that.
And let`s be honest. This whole thing with her avoiding interviews is so transparent. The American people are not that dumb. So if "Saturday Night Live" is all you can handle, go for it, Sarah.
YO: Exactly.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: A caller from California even came up with a sketch suggestion for Sarah Palin`s "SNL" debut. Listen to this one. This is pretty fascinating.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: I was calling to see if "SNL" could do a sketch with Sarah Palin and Cheney out shooting together. That would be really funny.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Lauren, OK. That was a good idea. Any sketch suggestions of your own, my dear?
LAKE: Yes. I have one where she goes on "Saturday Night Live" and they reenact the debate and she actually answers the questions. I would love that one.
YO: That would be good.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Michael, I`m sure you`ve got a couple of sketch ideas.
YO: Well, you know, I think just Sarah Palin answering any questions would be good. And Sarah Palin - like maybe put her in a school atmosphere where she`s teaching like a third grade class because she says such random things. I think you could put Sarah Palin basically in any kind of sketch and it would be hilarious. Or bring Amy Poehler in where Sarah Palin is talking to Hillary Clinton again in that aspect because that was hilarious when they did it as well.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. All right. There is no doubt that "Saturday Night Live" has had a tremendous impact on this campaign. I`ll throw this out quickly to both of you, perhaps starting with Lauren. Are you shocked by this? I mean, did anybody see this coming that "SNL" is a huge force in a political election that is considered the most crucial election of our times?
LAKE: I`ve loved "SNL" since Eddie Murphy days. And the fact they`re so funny now, just infusing humor in such a dog-race, dogfight that we`re in terms of this political campaign, I think they`re doing exactly what their job is. It`s just to bring humor back to America during a very trying time with the economy and everything else. So I`m not surprised and I`m really happy about it.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Michael, just a few seconds. Are you shocked?
YO: No. I mean, with the economy in the crapper, we need a release and this is one, to watch "Saturday Night Live." And I think Tina Fey is doing a great, great job. I`ll be watching this Saturday to see what she`s going to do.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. I just love her. You`re right, comedy - it`s a balm. It makes us feel better.
Lauren Lake, Michael Yo, thank you so much.
And we also want you to call us at "Showbiz On Call" and let us know what you think about Tina Fey, Sarah Palin or anything else on your mind. The SHOWBIZ phone lines are always open. Call us at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. That is 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail, won`t you? And we`re going to play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Your calls to "Showbiz On Call" are also now online on our home page, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
So speaking of showbiz, you know that old saying, "Hell have no fury like a woman scorned"? Well, hello, Christie Brinkley. Wait until you hear how Christie is striking back against her ex for yapping to Barbara Walters about why he cheated on Christie with an 18-year-old assistant. What Peter Cook said has triggered a nationwide debate over men cheating on their wives. That is next.
And we will also have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Members of the Maverick family say hearing John McCain is a maverick makes them want to shoot the TV. It`s like hearing fingernails on a chalk board times 10.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. I kid you not, there`s a Maverick family that considers themselves the original Mavericks going back to the 1800s. They want McCain to quit using their name as he runs for president.
And then, there`s Paris Hilton is running for president. Her new campaign ad got SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers all riled up. More calls from the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines, next right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. So much going on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-ANCHOR, "20/20": What did you want?
PETER COOK, CHRISTIE BRINKLEY`S HUSBAND: I wanted a little acknowledgment, a little attention, a little thank you every now and then for my efforts for the amount of time I took to care for her and my family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight, Peter Cook`s controversial explanation to Barbara Walters about why he cheated on his now ex-wife Christie Brinkley. It is sparking a nationwide debate on cheating, and tonight Christie striking back.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell in for A.J. Hammer and Brooke Anderson.
Tonight, the cheating game. Peter Cook may wind up regretting what he said because he has sparked the wrath of Christie Brinkley. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learned today that Brinkley filed for a restraining order against her ex, and the judge denied her. She is not happy at all.
Brinkley had asked for the restraining order the day after Barbara Walters gave "The View" a sneak peek at the Cook`s shocking interview where he explained why he cheated on Brinkley with an 18-year-old girl.
Tonight, joining me in Hollywood, Laura Saltman, correspondent for "AccessHollywood.com." Also in Hollywood, Darren Kavinoky, attorney at the fabulous Kavinoky Law Firm.
All right. This is wild. It is ugly. This whole Barbara Walters interview is exploding in Peter Cook`s face in a very bizarre twist. Brinkley asked the court to, get this, mandate Cook, keep the kids away from the TV this weekend when he has them so they don`t see this interview. And now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned the judge said, "Denied!" Darren Kavinoky, why do you think the judge denied it?
DARREN KAVINOKY, ATTORNEY, KAVINOKY LAW FIRM: Jane, I`m so angry at Peter Cook. He had finally faded into obscurity and my wife was just letting me surf the Internet again without supervision, and now this. It`s just blowing up in my face, too.
Of course, the judge in these kinds of cases, has a massive amount of discretion to order whatever is going to be in the kids` best interests. And frankly, that may be ordering Peter Cook to relocate to an Amish community to protect them from himself.
But frankly, I`m very, very surprised that the judge would order anything less than keeping the kids away from that "20/20" broadcast.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, you know, we`re kidding around, but this is serious stuff because it does concern kids. Let me read to you the exact statement that Brinkley gave SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "The court order mandates that since Peter Cook has the children this weekend, his parenting has to be away from his home and he can`t expose them to the "20/20" broadcast. Christie Brinkley`s sole concern is to protect her children."
Darren, I`m going to go back to you on this one. "People.com" reports Brinkley was concerned over some "20/20" footage that showed her children, actually showed pictures of her kid. If they have joint custody, does she have a total say?
KAVINOKY: Well, of course, and again, as you point out, Jane, what we`re dealing with is what`s in the best interest of those children. And there was a lot of concern during the pendency of their divorce proceedings that what was going on was really going to harm them.
Obviously, whatever is contained in that "20/20" broadcast, number one, is in violation of the divorce agreement which provided that nobody was going to speak publicly about this. But most importantly, number two, may contain some really explicit and salacious details that you don`t want to expose those kids to.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, listen. We`ve got it right here. Let`s take a look at the Barbara Walters interview with Cook that she played on "The View." Let`s watch how he justified - yes, justified cheating on Christie Brinkley with an 18-year-old assistant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOK: I was seeking a connection I could not find in my own marriage.
WALTERS: What did you want?
COOK: I wanted a little acknowledgment, a little attention, a little thank you every now and then for my efforts, for the amount of time I took to care for her and my family, for the wealth I was building. Just a tremendous amount of work I was putting into my family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: He just wants a little attention, Laura. Women everyone are livid that he is blaming Christie Brinkley for his affair. Why has this struck such a chord?
SALTMAN: Oh, my god. And I`ve got a pit in my stomach. I want to throw something at the TV when I hear somebody say that. It`s like, "Hi. How about a little communication? Why didn`t you talk to your wife, maybe go to counseling and tell her how you`re feeling." And that`s why women are so upset. It`s like he`s just - just like you said, he`s justifying his behavior instead of having dealt with the issues and it`s disgusting.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: He`s more than justifying. He`s blaming her.
SALTMAN: Right, absolutely. It`s sad. It really is. I don`t know any woman really who can`t watch this and just want to wring his neck.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Well, let`s get the dude`s viewpoint here. Darren, from a dude`s point of view, there are probably a lot of guys out there who at one point or another have felt the same way as Peter. Let`s be honest.
DARREN: Well, everybody, Jane, man or woman, wants to feel appreciated and wants to be recognized for what they do. But if you think I`m going to publicly align myself with Peter Cook, you definitely had two full scoops of crazy in your breakfast cereal today. Were you not listening? My wife is finally letting me surf the Internet without supervision.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Really? She`s making a big mistake.
KAVINOKY: It`s just insane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Laura, 10 seconds - do any women sympathize with Cook? Any.
SALTMAN: If they do, they should call me because I think my phone hasn`t rung in a while. So -
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. All right. Thank you, guys, Laura Saltman, Darren Kavinoky.
The Christie Brinkley story definitely struck a chord. But right now SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers are sounding off on Paris Hilton`s latest campaign video. That`s right. Remember, Paris is running for president.
Her latest "Funny or Die" campaign ad has been all the talk on the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines. Looks like Paris may have found some supporters.
Mark in New Mexico and Gary in Wyoming say Paris is their candidate. Here`s what they had to say to "Showbiz On Call."
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GARY, CALLER FROM WYOMING: I would vote for Paris Hilton, because the other two fools aren`t doing anything, and she`ll probably do just as good, or just as bad.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MARC, CALLER FROM NEW MEXICO: An old wise man once told me that if voting actually changed anything, they would make it illegal, too. And so, I just though I would vote for Paris Hilton, because, I mean, for one, she could probably do as good of a job as either of the other two jokers.
And for two, she`s hot. I mean, seriously. She may not be qualified, but I hope a lot of people will vote for Paris Hilton this year.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I love America, what a country. Our thanks to Marc and Gary. Remember, the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines are always open for you. So give us a call at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that`s 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail and we`re going to play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And guess what? Your calls to "Showbiz On Call" are also now online on our home page, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Wow, Paris Hilton`s campaign buzzword might be "That`s hot." As we know the McCain campaign latched on to the word "maverick." And the Maverick family is not very happy about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Members of the Maverick family say hearing John McCain is a maverick makes them want to shoot the TV. It`s like hearing fingernails on the chalkboard times 10.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Up next, the real mavericks, the 100 percent original mavericks and why they want John McCain to stop saying their name.
Be sure to check out the free, ever-changing, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast. You can find it on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or download it on iTunes in the search box by typing "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." We`re back right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And now, the maverick - No, not the TV show or Mel Gibson movie remake. John McCain, the maverick, and that`s become buzz kill for the real Maverick family. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice over): He has branded himself "the maverick."
MCCAIN: A maverick of the Senate.
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The maverick from the Senate.
JOE BIDEN (D-DE), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Maverick, he is not.
PALIN: We`re a couple of mavericks. A team that is a team of mavericks.
MCCAIN: The original mavericks.
MOOS: Hold your horses.
FONTAINE MAVERICK, DEMOCRAT: It`s very irritating, because he is not a maverick.
MOOS: Fontaine Maverick says her family is the real, original maverick. The Web site seeks to take back the family name. It spawned the word we`ve come to know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maverick.
MOOS: Back in the 1800s, Samuel Maverick didn`t brand his cattle and they became known as "mavericks." The word came to mean an independent individual who doesn`t go along with the group.
OBAMA: Pretty soon I`m going to start saying I`m a maverick.
JAY LENO, COMEDIAN: What should you call you?
PALIN: Maverick.
LENO: What should I call Sen. McCain?
PALIN: Maverick.
LENO: How much do I have to pay you not to ever say "maverick" again?
PALIN: $700 billion a year.
LENO: I don`t have that kind of money.
PALIN: Maverick.
MOOS: But guess who is not laughing? Members of the Maverick family say hearing John McCain is a maverick makes them want to shoot the TV. It`s like hearing fingernails on the chalkboard times 10.
After all, they`re liberal Democrats. Some family members have held office in Texas. They have nothing against the old TV show.
TV VOICE OVER: Maverick.
MOOS: Nothing against "Top Gun."
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: I`m Maverick.
KELLY MCGILLIS, ACTRESS: Maverick?
MOOS: But when they hear the music from "Top Gun" at McCain rallies, it must irk them. They know the McCain folks are free to use the word "maverick," but -
MAVERICK: I`m free to be annoyed by it.
MOOS: Maybe all the mockery helps.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD ACTOR: Sarah Palin is a maverick.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD ACTOR: Only a real maverick would wear these.
MOOS: From Swift Kids for Truth to this Obama spoof of a McCain strategy session.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: One word. Maverick.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: He wants to overturn Roe versus Wade?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Maverick.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: He doesn`t know how many houses he owns?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Maverick.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Maverick. We just keep saying maverick, maverick, maverick, until that`s all they hear.
FEY: We are not afraid to get mavericky in there.
MOOS: Sometimes, getting branded hurts.
BIDEN: You can`t call yourself a maverick when all you have ever been is a sidekick.
MOOS: But maybe it is only true.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maverick.
MOOS: When inadvertently referred to his fellow citizens this way.
MCCAIN: This is the agenda I have set before my fellow prisoners -
MOOS: Coming from a maverick, no one even blinked.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, that is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is next.
END
