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Showbiz Tonight
Oprah`s Mystery Man Found; The Obama Star Kids; Who Gets Sarah Palin`s Post-Election Interview?; Will Tina Fey Play Palin Again?; Britney Spears-Madonna Onstage Reunion; The Hologram Mania
Aired November 07, 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, brand-new Oprah and Obama bombshells. Tonight, Oprah`s mystery man found. Oprah Winfrey reveals to the world the guy whose shoulder she cried on during Barack Obama`s victory party.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Something big just happened. It feels like anything is now possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Plus, what role might Oprah play in an Obama White House? And will he even hire her? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the Oprah-Obama connection.
Tonight, the brand-new ferocious fight for the first interview with Sarah Palin after the election. Will Barbara Walters get it? Larry King? Or will Palin finally go on Oprah?
Plus, Tina Fey on "Oprah" revealing if she`ll ever play Sarah Palin again. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Fey`s final answer.
Tonight, Britney Spears` mind-blowing reunion with Madonna, on stage at Madonna`s concert. Wait until you se this. But did they kiss again?
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, Oprah`s mystery man revealed.
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. He`s the guy whose shoulder Oprah Winfrey cried on when she was overwhelmed by the news that Barack Obama had been elected America`s first black president. And now tonight, we finally know who he is and what really happened.
ANDERSON: Yes, Oprah introduced the mystery man to the world on her show today. It was absolutely fascinating and it`s making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): There was history on election night, but there was also mystery. Would Barack Obama win the presidency? Which states would he carry? And really, what`s the deal with those CNN holograms?
WILL.I.AM, MEMBER, BLACK-EYED PEAS: I`m being beamed to you like it`s "Star Wars" or stuff.
ANDERSON: But as Barack Obama became President-elect Barack Obama, one mystery stood out above all others - just who the heck was that guy`s shoulder Oprah Winfrey was crying on during Obama`s victory speech in Chicago.
WINFREY: Sam Perry, mystery man, please stand up.
ANDERSON: Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, the mystery is solved.
WINFREY: Mr. Man!
ANDERSON: The anonymous man who gave Oprah a shoulder to cry on finally reveals himself to the world on, of all places, "The Oprah Winfrey Show." His name is Sam Perry who, like Oprah, was an Obama supporter.
SAM PERRY, GAVE OPRAH A SHOULDER TO CRY ON: It was very good actually that the cameras were there because a lot these are going home to my wife and I could say it really was Oprah.
ANDERSON: Thus ends a round of speculation that began the moment TV cameras shot Oprah crying on Perry`s shoulder at Chicago`s Grant Park.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who was that man Oprah Winfrey was crying on?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who was Oprah leaning on?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whose shoulder was she caught crying on?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who is Mr. Man?
WINFREY: I don`t know him.
ANDERSON: The fire was fueled even further when, the day after the election, Oprah revealed on her show that even she had no idea who her mystery man was.
WINFREY: Thank you, Mr. Man, for letting me cry on your shoulder.
ANDERSON: But now, Oprah got a chance to thank Mr. Man in front of millions of people.
WINFREY: I apologize for not asking your name.
PERRY: No, not at all. You know, you mentioned - you were kind to express concern over my jacket. But this is the jacket and you`ll see there`s no mascara.
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": What`s he going to say, "No, no, you can`t use my shoulder?" Of course, he`s going to say, "Yes, you can use my shoulder."
ANDERSON: And in an election that saw Joe the Plumber go from obscurity to national superstardom, we`re seeing the same thing with this new celebrity, Sam, the Shoulder.
PERRY: My cell phone, right from the very beginning, was vibrating with calls that is came in from South Africa, from Australia, Pakistan, India, all over the world, to tell me that I was standing with you, standing for change with you. As if I didn`t know it.
ANDERSON: Oprah`s meeting with Sam the shoulder was another highlight of this week`s "Oprah Winfrey Show" which has been the site of a nonstop victory party since Obama`s election night win.
SERAFIN: She`s really been there from the beginning. She had seen it through. She`s close with him and Michelle. It was something that she felt so strongly about and so passionate that she wanted to do it.
WINFREY: Take it away, Will.
ANDERSON: The victory part continued with the Black Eyed Peas` Will.I.am who created the star-studded "Yes, We Can" Obama tribute that became an Internet smash.
We last saw Will.I.am beamed into CNN`s New York studio from Chicago via hologram. This time, he appeared in the flesh on Oprah`s show to debut his new Obama victory song, "It`s a New Day."
WILL.I.AM: I woke up this morning feeling brand new
ANDERSON: It even had Oprah singing.
WINFREY (singing): It`s a new day. It`s a new day.
ANDERSON: Another example that Oprah, who had staked so much on Obama, has won more than a new friend. She now has earned vindication.
SERAFIN: Anyone who doubted that she should have put her name out there endorsing a candidate really has to watch this and say, this is not about politics. This is not about power for her in any way. This is really about something that she felt so passionate about.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Now, Sam Perry a.k.a. Sam the shoulder, is a Silicon Valley businessman. He also worked for the group Silicon Valley for Obama.
HAMMER: I love that we`re calling him Sam the shoulder. So is Sam the shoulder the new Joe the plumber? And is the guy who will be the most powerful man in the world thinking about hiring one of the most powerful women in the world? And, yes, I am talking about Oprah.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood is Michael Yo, who is a celebrity correspondent for "E!" And in New York is Ashleigh Banfield who is the anchor of "Banfield and Ford: In Session."
So as we`ve just heard, the mystery finally revealed, we now know Mr. Man is a guy named Sam Perry, an Obama campaign worker in Silicon Valley.
Ashleigh, what do you think? Is it time for Sam the shoulder to get a team of publicists?
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, ANCHOR, "BANFIELD AND FORD: IN SESSION": No, I really don`t think so, and I have three reasons for that. Number one, election exhaustion. We`re done with it. Number two, I think we`re all focusing on Obama now. We want to see what`s going on there. And number three, maybe most importantly, I think we`re all really tired of 15th century Middle English titles like Sam the Bootblack or Henry the Stable Hand. I think we just want to move on.
HAMMER: All right. So I guess we`re not going to any Sam the shoulder action figures anytime soon. Let`s watch again what Sam the shoulder told Oprah about what happened as soon as everyone saw that image of her crying on his shoulder as it was beamed around the world. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PERRY: My cell phone right from the very beginning was vibrating with calls that came in from South Africa, came in from Australia, Pakistan, India, all over the world, Denmark, London. Actually 1,500 people in Silicon Valley in my home office were calling to tell me that I was standing with you, standing for change as if I didn`t know it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Excellent. All right. So Michael Yo, can you imagine Oprah Winfrey crying on your shoulder, man?
MICHAEL YO, CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT, "E!": Oh, my god. I would pray for Oprah to cry on my shoulder. This would be absolutely amazing. I mean, really, it`s the closest to holy water you can get to without going to church. I really is. It really is.
The one thing I`m worried about the guy because everybody does what Oprah does - I`m sure that random people are walking up to him starting to cry on his shoulder. Because Oprah did, I`ve got to it, too.
HAMMER: I just don`t want to see that jacket winding up on eBay. I think that would be a travesty. I think he needs to save the jacket and put in his closet, frame it, whatever. Don`t sell it, Sam. Not suggesting that he is planning on it. I just don`t want to see it.
All right. And all of this going on amid wild speculation that Oprah could even have a role in the Obama administration, even perhaps being named to an ambassadorship. Well, we asked her about that at the Obama victory rally. Of course, this was after she had taken her head off Sam`s shoulder. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: Would I consider an ambassadorship? Not as I have the Oprah show. I can honestly say this. I had no agenda. I had no agenda.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK, so I was listening very closely there. Ashleigh, I hope you were, too. She said, "I had no agenda. I had no agenda." But I didn`t hear "no."
BANFIELD: No, we didn`t hear "no." And here`s the reality. Oprah makes about $260 million plus per year and an ambassadorship might bring her in about $150,000 to $200,000 a year. So if it`s not about money, then great, she`d be terrific.
But she`s also under contract and that contract doesn`t have an exit clause until 2010. But that`s only a little over a year away. So I wouldn`t be so surprised. Actually, she`s amazing.
HAMMER: Yes. But we have not seen - we haven`t seen the fine print on the contract. We don`t know if there`s a non-compete with being an ambassador for Barack Obama.
BANFIELD: I don`t think they were thinking in advance like that, do you?
HAMMER: All right. Well, let`s think it out, then. Let`s think it out. If it is possible, let`s say contractual obligations don`t interfere with her doing something like that. If Obama is considering Oprah for a role in the administration, Michael, what do you see that role being?
YO: OK. I got it. A.J., I`ve been thinking about this. Oprah president of the Barack Obama Book Club. Barack Obama gives the U.S. a book to read every month. We read the book and the whole country is reading the same book. This is unity, people. And then Oprah talks about the book on her show, sells millions of copies. So Oprah will be the president of the Barack Obama Book Club. It`s huge. I like this.
HAMMER: Yes. And it sounds completely nonpartisan. It`s perfect. Ashleigh, you`ve got any thoughts?
BANFIELD: I thought president of the council on bipartisanship would be nice because she really transcends race, class, culture, politics - everything. She reaches everybody. And I think, right at this moment, this is where we`re heading as a country.
HAMMER: Yes. And I do know some people, Republicans and Democrats alike, who have enjoyed Oprah`s favorite things on both sides of the aisle. Now, even if there`s not a formal role for Oprah in the administration, Michael, don`t you think - if you`re with me, do you think it`s a good idea for Obama to keep Oprah pretty close, maybe bring her by the White House once in a while, keep her around?
YO: No, she should be at the White House every single day. She`s bigger than the president. I hate to say that. Barack Obama, I love you. But Oprah is just Oprah. I mean, seriously she`s on a whole other level than anybody else.
Yes, she should be in every car ride with Obama - every speech, she should be in the audience. Oprah is just the goddess of the world right now.
HAMMER: All right. Well, maybe that will happen. In fact, maybe "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will no longer come from Chicago. Maybe it will come from Washington, D.C. on Pennsylvania Avenue. Who knows?
Michael Yo, Ashleigh Banfield, I thank you both.
BANFIELD: Thanks, A.J.
YO: Thanks.
HAMMER: Well, now, we`d love to hear from you. This is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Sarah Palin: Is it time for her to go on `Oprah?`" You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or you can E-mail us your thoughts at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: A.J., you know, even though the election is over, this frenzy over Sarah Palin show no signs of dying down.
HAMMER: Absolutely right, Brooke. And tonight, there is a brand-new fierce fight over who`s going to get the first post-election interview with Sarah Palin. Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned some big news about Palin possibly appearing on "Oprah." If not "Oprah," though, will it be Barbara Walters, CNN`s own Larry King? Also, Tina Fey revealing if she`ll ever do her Palin shtick again.
ANDERSON: New right now, the jaw-dropping Britney Spears- Madonna onstage reunion. You have got to see what happened when Brit joined idol at one of Madonna`s concerts. But did they kiss again? Stick around to find out.
And also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There`s something Sasha will say and something Malia will say or do and they`ll be remembered for the rest of their life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A revealing look at the brand-new, biggest child stars out there. I`m talking about the Obama kids, Sasha and Malia. What will life be for them like growing up in the White House, in spotlight? That is coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT-ELECT: This is a major issue. I think it`s generated more interest on our Web site than just about anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: President-elect Barack Obama holding his first press conference Friday after winning the election and that major issue he`s talking about? Which dog the first family is going to get.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Well, yes, a lot of people are focused on the dog thing. But Obama did address the economy and foreign policy in that press conference. Obama`s daughters will get their dog, though. But how will Sasha and Malia, now the biggest star kids in the country, deal with living in the spotlight, once the family moves into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?
Here`s CNN`s Randi Kaye for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Talk about an extreme home makeover. The Obamas are moving into a new house, the White House.
DOUG WEAD, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: One of the negatives of the White House is that it`s very much a fishbowl.
KAYE: A fishbowl presidential historian Doug Wead says that can feel like a trap for the president`s children. For the most part, Sasha and Malia, seven and 10, have been shielded from the public, limited appearances and one interview which their dad says he regrets.
SASHA OBAMA, BARACK OBAMA`S DAUGHTER: When you come home, you have your big, gigantic bag and you leave it in the bedroom, sometimes I trip over it.
KAYE: The Obamas` daughters will have round-the-clock secret service protection. But not even that can fend off unwanted attention.
WEAD: There`s something that Sasha will say and something Malia will say or do and they`ll be remembered for the rest of their life.
KAYE: Wead says the Roosevelt kids were famous for dropping water balloons onto foreign dignitaries and unleashing their pet snake in the dining room. John F. Kennedy, Jr. was known for hiding under his father`s desk. The Bush twins, Wead says, will be remembered for underage drinking. Thirteen- year-old Noah McCollough interviewed dozens of first kids for his book by the same name.
NOAH MCCOLLOUGH, AUTHOR, "FIRST KIDS": If you flunk that huge math test, then it`s on the front page of the newspaper the next day.
KAYE: One of the first big decisions - will it be public or private school?
WEAD: If they send their child to a private school, they`ll be called elitists and hypocritical for betraying the public school system.
KAYE (on camera): There are advantages to living in the White House, too. It has a bowling alley, a swimming pool and its own movie theater. World leaders and celebrities stop by all the time. And biggest Easter egg hunt in the country takes place right on the front lawn. What child wouldn`t love that?
(voice over): But like those before them, Sasha and Malia will have to endure their father`s critics. And there may be pressure as they grow up, to do something as important as their father did.
MCCOLLOUGH: John Quincy Adams` kids - most of them went through alcoholism and addictions to different things to kind of soothe the pain of not being able to live up to their father`s expectations.
My best advice to Sasha and Malia Obama, you just have fun and be a kid.
KAYE: Michelle Obama is determined to keep things real for her daughters.
MICHELLE OBAMA, WIFE OF BARACK OBAMA: I`m a mother first and I`m going to be at parent-teacher conferences. And I`m going to be at the things they want me to attend. I`m not going to miss their ballet recitals.
KAYE: So much attention when all Sasha and Malia wanted out of this election was a new puppy promised to them, win or lose.
B. OBAMA: You have earned the new puppy that`s coming with us to the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Randi Kaye for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, we`ve just been getting lots and lots of calls into "Showbiz On Call" all about the election and whether Hollywood really had any influence on the vote.
ANDERSON: We have, A.J. People really passionate about this. Take a listen to Jennifer calling from Colorado.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JENNIFER, CALLER FROM COLORADO: I think the influence that Hollywood has had on these elections has been just outrageous. People have been influenced by what Hollywood says rather than what they have personally gone and looked at the candidates and researched it out themselves. And they`re basically voting blind, not knowing what they really stand for.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Here`s Georgia - now, she didn`t tell us where she was calling from but she did tell us that she didn`t need any celebrity, especially Oprah, to help her make up her mind.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GEORGIA, CALLER: I didn`t need Oprah or anyone else to ask me to vote for Obama. I did it on my own because of my opinion of him. He`s a great family man and a good man.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, thank you, Georgia. What did you think about the election and Hollywood? Well, call us, let us know what you think about this or anything else that`s on your mind.
ANDERSON: We want you to do that. The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines are always open. Call us - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voicemail. We will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And listen to this, your calls to "Showbiz On Call" are also now online on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, you know, even though the McCain-Palin ticket didn`t win, Sarah Palin is still a huge celebrity.
ANDERSON: She is, A.J., very high profile. And tonight, we`ve got big breaking news about whether Palin may appear on "Oprah" or will she do her own talk show?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMRYN MANHEIM, ACTRESS: She would be a fantastic talk show host. I will come to Alaska and be on her show. That would make me so happy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A fierce fight over the first Palin post-election interview. Will it be Oprah, Barbara Walters, Larry King? Coming up.
HAMMER: Wow. You have got to see this - a totally surprising Britney Spears-Madonna onstage reunion. Man, we`ve been waiting for this for a long time. The question is, did they kiss this time around? Well, if you stick around, you`re going to find out.
ANDERSON: And Melissa Etheridge is so mad about the California vote banning gay marriage. She says she`s not going to pay her taxes. I`m wondering though if it`s a good idea to tell Uncle Sam he`s not getting a check.
HAMMER: And you can check out the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast which is absolutely free simply by going to our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also download it on iTunes by typing "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" into the search box. And playing right now, which was more influential in this presidential election, "The View" or "Saturday Night Live?" We are coming right back.
(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.
HAMMER: Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there at the 17th annual L.A. BAFTA awards in Los Angeles on Thursday night. The stars were doing, of course, plenty of talking about the election. I want you to listen to "Ghost Whisper`s" Camryn Manheim.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANHEIM: He`s inherited a mess. So we have to give him a little bit of a break. We can`t expect it to all turn around in six months, in a year like he said in the speech. But I think he`s going to start leading us up the mountain instead of down into a ditch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The stars were also speaking out about who Barack Obama is going to be hiring. Take a listen to this fired-up "Jaws" analogy from "Jaws" star Richard Dreyfuss who talks about Obama`s chief-of-staff pick as Rahm Emanuel and Rahm`s brother Ari, who is the inspiration behind Jeremy Piven`s tough-as-nails Ari Gold on HBO`s "Entourage."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD DREYFUSS, ACTOR: They`re lean, mean, very much like great white sharks. You know? They give birth to people who eat Republicans and they are very efficient at that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And Paris Hilton who shocked everybody with her funny campaign ads is also happy with the outcome of the election. She tells "People" magazine, the best man won and that the world is definitely a better place now.
Well, A.J. I hear that we`ve got big news about Sarah Palin.
HAMMER: Yes, we did. Just because the elections are over doesn`t mean that we won`t, Brooke. Could she possibly be doing "Oprah?" But maybe if not "Oprah," maybe she`ll get her own talk show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANHEIM: She would be a fantastic talk show host. I will come to Alaska and be on her show. That would make me so happy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, there is a fierce fight over who`s going to get the first post-election Palin interview. Will it Oprah, maybe Barbara Walters or CNN`s own Larry King? That`s next.
ANDERSON: And A.J., it was a big night out here in Los Angeles. Britney Spears and Madonna surprised everybody with an onstage reunion. But did they kiss again?
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, that CNN election night hologram was just unbelievable, everybody`s talking about it. And tonight, we`ve got a guy who definitely knows a thing or two about holograms, "Star Trek`s" Mr. Sulu. Yes, George Takei himself telling us what he thinks about CNN`s funky new technology. We`re going to beam him in, coming up.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the brand-new fight over Sarah Palin. Tonight, who will get the first post-election interview with her? Barbara Walters, Larry King or will Palin finally go on "Oprah"?
Plus, Tina Fey reveals to Oprah if she`ll ever play Sarah Palin again.
A shocking Britney Spears-Madonna reunion at Madonna`s concert. You have got to see this. But was there any kissing involved this time?
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: I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
HAMMER: Tonight, the passion for Palin. Well, Sarah Palin maybe cooling her heels in Alaska right about now, but there is brand-new proof that she remains a hot ticket. Tonight, there is a ferocious, behind-the-scenes, knock-down, drag-out battle to get the very first interview with Palin since the election. And there is breaking information about whether Palin could do "Oprah."
And Tina Fey just spilled the beans to Oprah about impersonating Palin and meeting her for the first time. And wait until you hear the results of our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll on air and online asking if you`re going to miss Tina Fey`s impersonations of Sarah Palin?
Joining me in New York is Ashleigh Banfield who is an anchor for "In Session." And from Hollywood, Michael Yo who is a celebrity correspondent for "E!"
All right, guys. Are you ready? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has now confirmed Oprah has, in fact, extended an invitation to Sarah Palin to appear on her show.
Now, apparently, Palin will first sit down with FOX`s Greta Van Susteren. As we know, however, Oprah got a lot of heat during the campaign when she said she wouldn`t have Palin on until after the elections. So what do you think, Michael? Is it now time for Palin to do "Oprah?"
YO: Oh, yes. Absolutely. If she`s going to do any talk show, she has to do "Oprah." I mean, that would be ratings success right there because everybody knows Oprah backed Obama and wasn`t a huge Palin fan and actually told Palin she couldn`t be on the show until after the election. So it is after the election. I think this would work out great.
HAMMER: And it could be a great opportunity to repair what some say is a very damaged image. Oprah, obviously, has plenty of competition, though. Some of the biggest names in the business have been chasing after Sarah Palin so she would do their show first. Ashleigh, what do you think? Oprah Winfrey, the best way to go?
BANFIELD: No, Ashleigh Banfield. That would be the best way to go.
HAMMER: Well, separate of that show and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
BANFIELD: You know, let me be honest with you. I actually don`t think Oprah Winfrey would be her best choice. I don`t think she has a lot of choices. I`ll be honest with you, A.J.
If he went on "Oprah," Oprah would be tough on her. If she went with Barbara Walters, Barbara would excoriate her. I don`t think Matt Lauer would give her an easy ride, nor Larry King. I think her best bet, if it`s all about her and her choice might be actually Sean Hannity or maybe Bill O`Reilly. I think she`d get a better, warmer reception there. But I don`t think the others would really give her much.
HAMMER: Interesting. And it would be interesting to see what kind of range of topics would get covered. Of course, there were wild reports out there during the campaign about Sarah Palin, everything from her wardrobe to her behavior, going rogue during the election.
Michael, what do you think? Whatever show she goes on, is this the kind of stuff that she really still needs to talk about to set the record straight once and for all so she can move on?
YO: Yes. She does need to set the record straight because right now, all the Republican Party - they`re pretty much going after her saying probably some untrue things because there`s always got to be a fall-out person. And right now, she`s that fall-out person so she should go on "Oprah" and I think "Oprah" is the best platform set the record straight, get it all out there and move on.
HAMMER: All right. Well, while Oprah pursues Palin, she did manage to get Tina Fey on her show. Tina really opening up to Oprah, too, about what it was like to impersonate Palin on "Saturday Night Live" all those weeks and why she was even reluctant to do it in the first place. You`ve got to watch what Fey said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TINA FEY, ACTRESS: I didn`t know if I could do a good job. And also, I felt like - it`s such a tricky thing because you want the pieces. You want the skits to be funny but you don`t want to feel like you`re being mean to anybody. And it`s tough. You know, it`s just a hard thing to do because it`s a woman. You don`t want to feel like it`s a woman just going after another woman.
But Seth Meyers, you know, I thought, really did a good job writing the sketches that we did. And I think they were kind of funny without crossing a line.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So there was real trepidation there. Ashleigh, when we look back at it now, doesn`t it kind of seem amazing to you that Tina Fey had any doubt whatsoever that she could pull it off? Because it was just uncanny.
BANFIELD: You know what? Yes, it is amazing. She was a head writer, let`s not forget, when she was at "SNL." And she only did weekend update - very rarely did sketches. So I can understand her trepidation. She`s also very humble and that humility makes her very successful. And her magnanimous approach to Seth Meyers giving him the credit, too. It just shows you she`s just that kind of person who`s giving enough to be able to receive enough. And I think she received enough information to pull this thing off and pull off perfectly.
HAMMER: And everybody is still wondering if we`re ever going to see Tina Fey playing Sarah Palin again. Well, Tina Fey did tell Oprah she is done playing Palin for good.
An look at what we asked on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Tina Fey: Will you miss her Sarah Palin impersonation?" Check out the results here - 70 percent of you - that`s pretty overwhelming - 70 percent of you said, yes, you`ll miss them; 30 percent said, no.
Michael, what do you think? Given our poll and how people are reacting so strongly to this, do you think Fey should reconsider?
YO: Oh, absolutely. She will do Sarah Palin again. As soon as Sarah Palin does this Oprah or Barbara Walters interview, that`s going to be on "Saturday Night Live" that week. If Sarah Palin slips up and does anything that`s out of the ordinary, guess what? It`s going to be on "Saturday Night Live" and Tina Fey is going to pull it off.
HAMMER: Yes?
YO: Absolutely.
HAMMER: You sound very confident about that. But she was pretty adamant and she said it also weeks before the election, too, that she`d be done. It`s going to be interesting to wait and see what happens there.
We know that Tina Fey finally, of course, got to meet Palin when she did "Saturday Night Live" just as the campaign was winding down. You`ve got to watch what Tina told Oprah about that meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEY: I did meet her a little bit and we chatted a little bit. And she was a very good sport about it. Usually, you know, once people have agreed to show up at "SNL," you know that they kind of know it`s going to be - they`re already agreeing to be a good sport just by showing up.
And I told her she should come back and host sometime in the future because I think she`s got a real future in TV, that one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That one, funny. Made a little reference there, of course, to John McCain calling President-elect Obama "that one" during their final debate.
Ashleigh, what do you think? Tina Fey seems to think Sarah Palin has a strong future in television. Do you agree?
BANFIELD: Well, here`s the reality. If she wants to stay governor of her state, the constitution in Alaska says, no, you cannot do other jobs. If she wants to give up that job, I actually think she could have an enormous career on FOX NEWS Channel. She`s got a very welcome home there.
She already has proven to be an amazing populist with a lot of popularity among Americans. So yes, she could have a very successful television career. And I think FOX NEWS Channel would be her venue.
HAMMER: So better than filling in for Vanna White on "Wheel Of Fortune" as some have suggested. I`m not saying that myself. I`ve just heard that bandied around.
Somebody else though does think that Sarah Palin would just make a terrific TV host and that`s actress Camryn Manheim. I love Camryn Manheim. And you`ve got to watch what she told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We caught up with her at the BAFTA Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday night. Let`s roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANHEIM: She would be a fantastic talk show host. I will come to Alaska and be on her show. That would make me so happy. Or put her back in the race so Democrats will continue to hold the highest offices in the land.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. She`s got a big smile on her face while she`s saying that. Michael, you know, what do you think? You know, we have Camryn Manheim, we`ve got Tina Fey and several others that think Sarah Palin would be terrific as a future TV host. What say you, Michael Yo?
YO: If the host is like for a hunting or fishing show or something like that, like on "Discover Channel," I think that would be great for Sarah Palin. She could go hunt moose in Alaska. I think this would be a great thing for her. But a talk show host, absolutely not. No, no, no. Stay away, please.
HAMMER: OK. SO perhaps like - I don`t know - "Discovery Channel" field and stream type of thing is what you`re saying.
YO: Yes.
HAMMER: All right.
YO: We are on the same page here.
HAMMER: All right, Michael. It`s good to end it up that way then. Michael Yo, Ashleigh Banfield, thanks for being here, guys.
BANFIELD: Thanks, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, which is - "Sarah Palin: Is it time for her to go on `Oprah?`" Please sound off by voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., a star-studded audience got a huge surprise at Madonna`s concert in Los Angeles last night.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. The crowd just went nuts. They went wild when Britney Spears hit the stage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MADONNA: Hey, Britney.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Coming up, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has your front-row seat as Britney and Madonna team up for another legendary performance, something you definitely will not want to miss.
ANDERSON: Also ahead, Melissa Etheridge is outraged by the decision to ban gay marriage in California. And you won`t believe the extreme way she`s choosing to express her disgust. It could get her thrown in jail.
HAMMER: And CNN taking a page from "Star Trek" on election night and sets off hologram mania. The video is all over the Internet and even Ellen DeGeneres wants her very own hologram.
Plus, wait until you hear how George Takei, Mr. Sulu from the original "Star Trek,: thinks our technology stacks up against his. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRITNEY SPEARS, POP STAR: It`s Britney, (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Britney Spears makes a surprise appearance at Madonna`s concert in Los Angeles Thursday night and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`S got the guy who was right there when it all went down.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, Britney Spears` concert surprise, just one of three top stories making news right now.
The first time since Britney and Madonna shared that infamous kiss on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards. The two of them reunite and we`ve got a firsthand account.
Also tonight, Melissa Etheridge outraged. She cannot believe Californians have voted to deny gays the right to marry. You won`t believe how she`s decided today strike back.
And Nicole Kidman speaks out for the first time with shocking details about her marriage to Tom Cruise, why she says she cowered in their marriage. Cowered?
With me tonight in Hollywood, Russell Wetanson who`s with "PopSquire.com" and was right there at the Madonna concert. And tonight in New York, April Woodard who is a senior correspondent for "Inside Edition." Russell, April, good to see you both.
And first, I want everybody to take a look at this video. Britney Spears walking out on stage to perform with Madonna at Dodger Stadium Thursday. She looks phenomenal.
Russell, you were there at the concert. Even Justin Timberlake, Britney`s ex, joined Madonna onstage at one point. What was it like? It must have been electric.
RUSSELL WETANSON, POP CULTURE EXPERT, "POP SQUIRE.COM": Brooke, it was a circus, in a good way, of course. You know, throughout her tour, Madonna plays human nature. And in the background, Britney appears in an elevator trapped on a big video screen.
But last night, she came onstage. She walked down the stage. She sang and she danced with Madonna. And the crowd, which included the likes of Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Seacrest, went crazy. And so did I, of course.
ANDERSON: Yes, A-list audience. Did you have a good seat, Russell?
WETANSON: I can`t really disclose that. But no, they were great. I got to see this up close and personal. Madonna put on an amazing concert. Britney added to it and then Justin Timberlake came on later. Amazing.
ANDERSON: Excellent. Very nice. Nobody will deny that Britney looked fantastic. She was literally buttoned up. Have we ever seen her so covered up?
April, I have never seen Britney look like that. What do you think that super conservative look is all about? Is she changing her image?
APRIL WOODARD, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": Absolutely. I mean, she had no cleavage. She had no midriff. I think she`s going through this transformation. She`s trying to be, you know, a serious artist here. She`s trying to be a mother. Remember, she`s got to get custody of those kids also. And she`s trying to take control of her life and, you know, do the re-launch of Britney Spears.
And I thought she looked amazing. No kisses, on camera, at least. But you know, I understand, too, that there were reports that A-Rod was there in addition to Justin. So it was a majesty love-fest.
ANDERSON: Yes. Big night. And I loved her look as well. She means business now.
All right. I want to move now to Melissa Etheridge. The long-time openly gay singer is spitting mad over California passing the proposition denying gays the right to marry.
In a brand-new blog on "TheDailyBeast.com," she writes, quote, "So I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean, that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights."
Russell, I`m going to be blunt here. We love Melissa, we do. But a lot of people are saying, "Really? Not pay your taxes?"
WETANSON: Right, Melissa Etheridge is not the only one who`s upset about Proposition 8 in Hollywood. But she does seem to be the only one threatening not to pay taxes. There`s no real legal basis for this position.
But we certainly can understand her anger and her position. She`s been very vocal in the gay community and on social issues in general. So it`s good for her to get out there and rant and rave and give her opinion. But we wonder whether she`s going to take that kind of action.
ANDERSON: Yes, I don`t know if she`s serious. You know, some say she probably shouldn`t have made this kind of threat, especially - you know, I`ve got to point out, because if she does follow through, she could end up in jail. You know, give Wesley Snipes a call. He could tell you.
April, should Melissa maybe be expecting a knock on her door from the auditors from the IRS?
WOODARD: Well, she just said, "Hey, guys, I`m over here. I`m not going to be paying my taxes. I think it`s a bold statement that she`s making. It will be interesting to see if any other celebrities from the gay community come forward as well. But she also has to be very careful because celebrities not paying their taxes doesn`t bode well here in the United States.
ANDERSON: It certainly does and I agree, very bold statement.
All right. Moving now to something I think is truly shocking. In a brand-new interview, Nicole Kidman tells "Glamour" magazine some really startling new things about her marriage to Tom Cruise. Kidman reveals she felt she only became a star because she was married to him saying, quote, "I didn`t think the early movies were very good, which is why I would always cower in the background. I thought, I don`t deserve to be here."
Russell, this is a very personal revelation. Why would she make it now seven years after they`ve been divorced?
WETANSON: I have two words for you, Brooke - motherhood and a movie. You know, motherhood has changed a lot of celebrities. We`ve seen a lot of women open up after having a baby and it forces them in many ways to reflect upon and spend time on someone else.
And then, of course, she does have a movie that is coming out soon. So it could be a combination of the two or she`s just finally able to really talk about the experiences she had in that marriage.
ANDERSON: Yes. And April, 10 seconds - do you see parallels here with Nicole and now Tom`s marriage to Katie?
WOODARD: Oh, absolutely. I mean, they both were under Cruise control. So I definitely see that and I think that she`s reflecting back now and she`s a stronger person now that she can be confident in who she is as a mother and as an actress.
ANDERSON: Yes. Glad Nicole is now happy with Keith Urban and her new baby, Sunday Rose. Russell Wetanson, April Woodard, thank you both. Good to see you.
HAMMER: Well, her husband is making history as the nation`s first African- American president. But Michelle Obama is making history of her own. From her smarts to her personal style, she`s also been a trailblazer. Most importantly, she`s first mom to two young children.
And if that`s not enough, Michelle will also take on another title when she moves into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - role model to millions of people.
Here`s CNN`s Erica Hill for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
B. OBAMA: I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation`s next first lady, Michelle Obama.
ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She may be the rock behind the man, but Michelle Obama has never stayed in the shadows. On the campaign trail, Mrs. Obama drew crowds in the thousands.
CARL ANTHONY, HISTORIAN, NATIONAL FIRST LADIES` LIBRARY: I think her greatest asset is her natural charisma. Unlike most first ladies, she seems comfortable being in public.
HILL: Passionate, intelligent, independent - this Harvard-educated lawyer says her most important title is mom.
MICHELLE OBAMA: I`m a mother first and I`m going to be at parent-teacher conferences and I`m going to be at the things they want me to attend. I`m not going to miss a ballet recital.
HILL: Michelle Obama knows the challenges of working parents and has pledged to make their needs and those of military families a priority.
MICHELLE: You`re just asking for a Washington that understands what`s happening to our military families.
HILL: Raised in a tight-knit middle class family in Chicago`s south side, she was taught to believe anything is possible if you work for it.
MICHELLE OBAMA`S BROTHER: It is surreal to think of my sister as being the first lady. You know, astronaut maybe, or, first woman to swim around the world, or something, but first lady? That would have been at the bottom of my list.
HILL: It is impossible not to mention the historic nature of the election and of this first lady. But not for the reasons you might expect.
ANTHONY: I do not think that Michelle Obama will be held to different standards because she is a black woman. I think that she can`t help but be a role model.
HILL: Michelle Obama will likely be calling on her role models - her parents who started her on this path.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Erica Hill for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Well, CNN`s spectacular special effects straight out of "Star Trek" on election night has set off hologram mania. Coming up, we speak with George Takei who played Mr. Sulu on the original "Star Trek" TV and in the films. You won`t want to miss his take on the CNN`s hologram.
But instead of beaming, you can download the free, ever-changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast right there on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or you can download it on iTunes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Everybody, of course, is still talking about the utter excitement of election night. But the part of CNN`s coverage that`s getting the biggest buzz and has really become a global sensation is CNN`s extraordinary hologram technology.
Here now is another look at Black Eyed Peas` Will.I.Am being beamed in from Chicago to CNN`s New York studio.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER 360": We`re joined via hologram by Will.I.am who is live in Grant Park. Let`s see if you can beam him in now. Here we go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well SHOWBIZ TONIGHT spoke with someone who knows a thing or two about holograms, George Takei who played Mr. Sulu on "Star Trek." And we just had to ask him what he thought of CNN bringing sci-fi to real life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE TAKEI, ACTOR: Well, actually, to me it looked rather antique, you know, the kind of wavy, glow around the body. "Star Trek" was from the 23rd century and we knew how to do it. We were sharp and clear and sparkly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, did George Takei, just diss our hologram. What just happened there? Well, we`re going to let you be the judge of what`s really more mind-blowing, the Hollywood magic of the 1960s or CNN`s stunning, real-life version.
And somebody else who was totally blown away by CNN`s hologram is Ellen DeGeneres. Now, she has some hilarious ideas of her own on how to use it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": Holograms actually - it makes life so much easier because you can do everything that, like, I`m busy. I`m here all the time. I don`t get to do certain things.
So today, this is what I have already done with my hologram. I got my driver`s license renewed. I did a guest spot on "2 1/2 men." They didn`t even know I was there. And I got my day rate. So, get a little extra money. I got my teeth cleaned which I hate to do, but I went. And my hologram got a mammogram, but I can`t show you that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I think Ellen is on to something. And we here at CNN are proud to have been the inspiration to make Ellen`s life a little easier.
ANDERSON: Yes. I like her idea. She is on to something.
All right. On Thursday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Tina Fey: Will you miss her Sarah Palin impersonations." Seventy percent of you say, yes, you will; 30 percent of you say no.
Here are some of the E-mails we received. Cindy from Iowa writes, "Tina Fey is going to stop doing Sarah Palin skits? Say it ain`t so, Joe."
And Ed from Pennsylvania writes, "It was boring after the first time she did it. I guess Tina Fey got her 15 minutes of fame. Now go away already." Ooh.
HAMMER: That`s it. And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is coming up next. Take care.
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