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Showbiz Tonight
The First Family of Cool; Is "Oprah" Really Ending?; Are the Obamas the New Fashion Icons?; The Hottest Ticket; Lindsay Lohan Opens Up About Her Sexuality
Aired November 10, 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 first family of cool. Tonight, how the Obamas are dramatically changing everything including the pop culture quotient on Pennsylvania Avenue. From their brand-new sense of style, to their iPods.
Plus, are Barack and Michelle Obama now the ultimate new fashion icons? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT ups the cool factor with the first family of cool.
Tonight, big Oprah news. Is Oprah Winfrey`s show really ending? And what is Oprah saying? Tonight, the SHOWBIZ truth squad gets to the bottom of all the rumors.
Plus, is it time for Sarah Palin to go on "Oprah"? Your overwhelming response from your fired-up E-mails to your calls to "Showbiz On Call" on call."
Plus, dramatic new developments in the tragic killings of Jennifer Hudson`s family. Is someone finally being charged? The late-breaking news on today`s big court showdown.
(MUSIC)
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: 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, the first family of cool.
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. I want you to forget everything you know about what`s in and what`s out at the White House because the Obamas are getting ready to move in and what`s hip is what`s new again. Barack and Michelle Obama got the very first chance today to check out the home that they`ll be living in for at least the next four years, coming to the White House to meet the current first family, George and Laura Bush, of course.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that it is not far-fetched to say that from the sounds of Hannah Montana to Will.I.am, the White House is bracing itself for culture shock, and it`s all making big news right now.
(MUSIC)
(voice over): It was the Bush and Obama show at the White House. And as the president and first lady hosted the President-elect and his wife, one thing became absolutely clear - the Obamas are not your typical first family.
ALBERT LEE, "U.S. WEEKLY MAGAZINE": When the people think of the president, they think of some, you know, really old white guy in the `60s or `70s with graying hair. This is a real generational shift going on here.
HAMMER: Forget the formal and stodgy image of the first family that we`re used to seeing. This first family bumps fists, sports Blackberrys, graces the cover of fashion magazines and even listens to hip-hop.
LEE: What other presidents have we had, like, referencing hip-hop before? I mean, Jimmy Carter? No, I don`t think so.
HAMMER: The "New York Post" calls the Obamas, quote, "the first couple of cool." "Ebony" magazine ranks the President-elect as one of the coolest brothers of all time. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you while Obama is all about bringing change to Washington, many also expect him to deliver a side order of cool.
ALICIA QUARLES, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: Obama listens to rap and hip-hop. Michelle goes to see "Sex and the City." The girls are into the Jonas Brothers. I mean, the Obamas are definitely the first family of cool.
HAMMER: The Obamas are already making a big fashion splash.
QUARLES: Barack is Mr. Cool. He`s got on his shades. And you see pictures of him coming out of the gym. You see photos of him playing basketball. He wears these very tailored suits.
HAMMER: But Alicia Quarles of the Associated Press tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it`s clear that his wife, Michelle, is the one who`s becoming a fashion trendsetter.
QUARLES: You see Michelle and she`s not all covered up like most first women. She`s got those buff arms and she`s not afraid to show them off. Michelle is her own lady. She wears Narciso Rodriguez. She wears these A- line skirts. She dresses at J. Crew, at The Gap, at H & M, Banana Republic. It keeps her very current.
HAMMER: And while President Bush reportedly has old-school artists like John Fogerty and George Jones on his iPod, Barack Obama is a fan of Jay-Z.
So much so, he even referenced the rapper`s song "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" when he described how he brushes off political mudslinging.
OBAMA: You`ve just got to kind of have to let it -
LEE: This is a guy who can reference Jay-Z at political rallies and then go sit down and have an economic meeting with Warren Buffett. I mean, these are sort of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) he straddles.
HAMMER: But as many parents would say, nothing keeps you young like having kids around. The Obamas have two - 10-year-old Malia, and seven-year-old Sasha.
LEE: The kids are fanatical about the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana. In fact, one of their friends was telling us in an interview that, you know, the second they move into the White House, the first thing that they want to do is put up a poster of the Jonas Brothers. So I think over the next four years, you`re going to be seeing, you know, sort of like - it kind brings this youthful energy and vigor into the White House.
HAMMER: Of course, when President-elect Obama becomes President Obama, he`ll have problems like war and the economic crisis to deal with. But it looks like he and his family will look cool while doing so.
LEE: It`s almost like it`s cool to be president again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So this is definitely not your father`s administration, which is why SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking if the Obamas are ushering in a new era of cool in the White House.
Joining me tonight in New York, the very cool Lisa Bloom, who`s the host of "Lisa Bloom: Open Court" and an anchor for "In Session." Also tonight in Hollywood, the cool Carlos Diaz, a correspondent for "Extra."
OK, guys, so the man America elected president got voters by reaching out to them online. He listens to Jay-Z and Ludacris on his iPod. Will.I.am has made two influential videos about him.
Carlos, I`m starting with you. Is Barack Obama going to be the coolest president ever?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": He will be the coolest president ever until the Hammer-Diaz ticket of 2012. What I can confirm though is that the day before he was elected, Barack Obama was on radio stations across the country, not AM stations and not hot air - not adult contemporary FM stations. He was on hip-hop stations across the country because that`s the people that he was wanting to relate to. And he did a great job during these interviews. The guy can think on his feet. And anyone who gives you this has got to be cool.
HAMMER: Yes. There have been so many of those cool moments for the Obamas. If you saw over the weekend, they went out on a romantic date in Chicago. They were dressed to the nines, looking good.
What about you, Lisa Bloom? As we`ve gotten to know the Obamas, is there one ultimate cool moment that kind of stands out in your mind?
BLOOM: Yes. And first, Carlos, I notice I was excluded from that ticket, and I`m not going to forget that. The moment that stands out ...
DIAZ: Exactly.
BLOOM: The moment that stands out for me was when Michelle Obama went on "The View." Remember that? In a $148 dress from a store appropriately enough called White House/Black Market.
And you know, we can relate to her. She looks good in normal clothes that we can afford ourselves at a time of economic crisis. She`s not wearing ridiculously expensive things. And though she and Barack are so tall and elegant and stay in shape that clothes just simply seem to drape over them in a way that they don`t for the rest of us. They just look good in anything.
HAMMER: Yes. Or for other first ladies that we`ve seen in recent years. I`m just saying. We`ve seen Barack and Michelle Obama do that fist-bump thing. They did that at the Democratic National Convention before Obama made his big acceptance speech. There were some bloggers out there calling it the fist bump of hope.
Carlos, do you think a lot of young people, perhaps who were watching television, saw them doing that and said, "You know what? This guy`s one of us, I`m going to vote for him?"
DIAZ: Remember, like a few Democratic conventions ago where Al and Tipper Gore made out and every young person went, "Oh, god!" I mean, that - you juxtapose that with the fist bump and yes, you`re exactly right. Young people all over the country are like, "Hey, I do that. This guy`s cool." And that was one of those moments where everyone could relate to him and it was kind of a fist bump rallying point, if you will.
HAMMER: Yes. And also one of the reasons I would think that the Obamas are so cool is because, well, in a way they kind of have to be. They have a 10-year-old and a seven-year-old daughter.
Lisa, just think about this for a moment. Put this picture in your mind. Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers are going to be playing on the televisions, the sound systems, the iPods in the White House. Who would have thought that would ever happen?
BLOOM: Yes. That is amazing and it`s true, having kids does keep you young, though not necessarily cool as a lot of us with young kids will tell you. You know, what I like about the Obamas is, especially Michelle Obama - is I think she tries to set her own trend. She doesn`t follow what everybody else does. She doesn`t wear those prissy, old lady matched suits and matched pumps. She dresses in her own way.
I think she`s really going to be a trendsetter. And as for those kids, I think they will, too, wittingly or unwittingly, depending on what they wear, who they listen to, where they go to school. We`re all going to be watching that very closely.
HAMMER: Yes, and I should point out that later on in the show, we`re going to have much more on the Obama style. Carlos, I want to get back to a point you were making about Al and Tipper Gore being affectionate. I have to say that the Obamas without a doubt are the most openly affectionate first family-to-be than we`ve all seen in quite some time - a lot of hugging, a lot of kissing on the campaign trail. What do you think? Are they making PDAs cool again?
DIAZ: And that`s what this country needs right now. We need a president that`s going to be like, you know, hugging and kissing and pulling everybody tight. But you`re right, they do it in a cool way where it`s not awkward. I mean, I still - to this day, I still think of that Al and Tipper Gore kiss and it just freaks me out, you know. So I mean, Michelle and Barack, they`re cool with it, you know.
HAMMER: Yes, we see the Obamas hugging or perhaps a little kiss. It`s not a scary moment. Not at all.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Lisa Bloom, Carlos Diaz, thanks for being here. And Lisa, you`re in on that administration if we get into office.
BLOOM: Thank you.
HAMMER: Now, we want to turn it over to you. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We want to know - "Sarah Palin: Is it time for her to go on `Oprah`?" You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or you can E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
All right, Brooke. Speaking of Oprah, we have some really big news about Oprah Winfrey tonight.
ANDERSON: We do, A.J. Remember the rumors that she might be part of the Obama administration?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Would I consider an ambassadorship? That is - I have the "Oprah" show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. That may be the case but there is big news about her show tonight, something that could change it forever. There`s even a rumor that the show is ending. Could that be true? I`ve got the late-breaking news, straight ahead.
HAMMER: Also brand-new developments in the tragic killings of Jennifer Hudson`s family members. Is someone finally going to be charged in the shootings and will the so-called person of interest in this case be getting out of prison? A lot of rumors flying around about that. We get the answers for you, coming up.
ANDERSON: And Lindsay Lohan speaks out about her love life. She answers some very personal questions about whether she`s a lesbian or bisexual. Just wait until you hear what Lindsay reveals, still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Keep it here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Did you see this? The truck that Shia Labeouf crashed over the summer is up for sale on eBay. Now, TMZ says that the guy who bought the truck in an insurance auction didn`t know it was Shia`s truck when he got it. But now, he wants to cash in. The opening bid is $7,000. And the auction is going on for 10 days.
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, a dramatic new development in the killings of Jennifer Hudson`s mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew. Hudson`s brother-in- law who was arrested on a parole violation shortly after the killings had a court date today and officials revealed a bombshell.
With us tonight in New York is Sunny Hostin who is a legal analyst for CNN`s "American Morning." Also in New York, Ben Widdicombe who is the editor-at-large for "Star" magazine. Sunny, welcome. Ben, welcome to you as well.
William Balfour has been behind bars, as we know, for two weeks now and it was suspected he might have been freed after this court hearing. But now a witness claims that she saw him with a gun, that that gun matched the description of the weapon used in the killings. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there today outside the Illinois prison where Balfour is being held. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JORGE MONTES, CHAIRMAN, ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD: The former or current girlfriend of Mr. Balfour, a Ms. Crisanta(ph) has indicated that she had seen Mr. Balfour with a gun that matches the identity of the gun that was found by the Chicago police and other investigators.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Sunny Hostin, how serious is this gun claim?
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL ANALYST: It is a bombshell. It`s very serious. We already know that the police say that the gun that was found certainly is the gun that was involved in the shootings and in the murders.
Now, you have a witness saying, "I saw him with that same gun." And we also know that he has indicated that he was at the home that day. The police officers obviously at this point have linked everything together. And although they`re calling him their, you know, person of interest, I think there`s no question that they think they have their guy.
The fact that they have eyewitness testimony, not to the murders, Brooke, but to the actual murder weapon, that`s it, that`s a bombshell, bombshell piece of evidence.
ANDERSON: I want to say that Balfour did deny those gun allegations. And also, you know, it`s been more than two weeks since Hudson learned of these awful killings. Ben, I would have to imagine this lack of closure with nobody being charged yet has just got to add to her anguish.
BEN WIDDICOMBE, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "STAR" MAGAZINE: Brooke, it`s just heartbreaking that police haven`t been able to push forward this case even to the point of being able to charge someone with a triple homicide. Obviously William Balfour is innocent until proven guilty.
But it`s hard to imagine who new evidence could emerge in this case that would exonerate him from suspicion. Now that the smoking gun has almost been literally been found, I`m sure Jennifer is praying that this will be the information that breaks the case wide open.
ANDERSON: Now, Sunny, you have seen these kinds of cases play out before. With this new witness and the fact that they have linked a gun to the killings, it sounds to me like you kind of sense that police are close to solving this case, even though, as I want to reiterate, Balfour has been questioned but still not charged with anything in terms of the killings.
HOSTIN: Sure. And you know, police officers obviously are being very careful in this investigation. And they have to be. This is a serious murder case. You typically see one murder, two murders - we`re talking about a triple homicide and a young child that was murdered. So they are being very careful. But I would imagine at this point, an indictment is certainly forthcoming. They really probably think that they have their guy.
ANDERSON: Maybe closing in on it. All right. Well, ever since this tragedy happened, other than a few statements from Jennifer Hudson, we haven`t seen nor heard from her. Ben, do we know anything more about where she is or how she`s dealing with all of this?
WIDDICOMBE: Jennifer has been mourning in Chicago with her sister, Julia. Her last appearance was a week ago at a private memorial for her family members in Chicago. She has said very little since the body of her nephew was found. She had been appealing for information about his whereabouts.
Since then, she was only seen publicly to thank her fans for their support and also to found a charitable foundation, the Hudson-King Foundation, to benefit the families of murder victims which is being administrated out of New York. So she`s appealing for funds for that.
ANDERSON: You know, Sunny, this may sound redundant, but we can`t stress it enough given that police have not charged anybody, although they do have the evidence, the .45 caliber gun used in the killings. What does that say to you?
HOSTIN: To me, again, I was a former federal prosecutor. I`ve tried murder cases. I`ve dealt with investigators, law enforcement officers that are investigating this type of case.
Typically, in a murder case, Brooke, this is what you want. You want an eyewitness. You want a statement from the alleged killer. You also want the smoking gun. You want the murder weapon and certainly you want people placing the person there. And you want some sort of forensics and they seem to have most of that. At this point, I think we`re going to see an indictment.
ANDERSON: Maybe they are on their way to solve it, giving the family some closure. Sunny Hostin, thank you so much. Ben Widdicombe, thank you as well. Good to see you.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, we`ve gotten a ton of calls to "Showbiz On Call," a lot of people still very fired up about the election.
ANDERSON: They are, A.J. Plenty of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers sounding off about whether shows like "The View" and "Saturday Night Live" influenced their vote. Here`s a call from Sally in Indiana.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SALLY, CALLER FROM INDIANA: As far as "The View" and "Saturday Night Live," I thought they were just purely entertainment and a lot of fun to watch. But I used my gut, my brain and my heart over a long period of time. And they did not influence my decision to elect Sen. Barack Obama.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: We`d like you to call us at "Showbiz On Call" to let us know what you think about this or anything else that`s on your mind.
ANDERSON: "Showbiz On Call" phone lines always open. Give us a ring, 1- 888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Leave a voicemail. We`ll play some of your calls here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And those calls are also now online on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
A.J., there`s big Oprah news tonight.
HAMMER: That`s right, even bigger than the rumor that she may be part of the Obama administration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: Would I consider an ambassadorship? That is - I have the "Oprah" show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sounds reasonable to me, but there`s other big news about her show tonight, something that could change it forever. A rumor even flying around that the show is ending. Could it be true? The late-breaking news, coming up.
ANDERSON: Plus, you may want to put this one in the "too much information" file. Mariah Carey is opening up when she and husband Nick Cannon first had sex. Do you want to know? I`ve got more, next.
And are Barack and Michelle Obama the new style icons? From Michelle`s dresses to what the couple wore at the White House today, well, we are talking first family fashion. And that is still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, which is coming straight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson with some more stories making news right now.
First, it was Vanessa Hudgens from "High School Musical." Now there`s another Disney nude photo scandal. This time, it`s one of the Cheetah Girls. Nude photos of Adrienne Bailon, have shown up on the Internet. Bailon`s spokesman tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that the photos were taken in private and that they surfaced after her laptop was stolen. He says Adrienne will be pursuing legal action, and also apologizes to her fans.
HAMMER: Mariah Carey told a London tabloid that she and Nick Cannon waited until after they got married to have sex. OK. They only dated for two months. But still, on "The View" today, Sherri Shepherd said that she understands because before she got married, she wanted to stay celibate for the last few months.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": What I did feel was really bad and it was wrong what I did. It was really wrong, because you can`t, at the last minute go, "We can`t have sex because it`s wrong. We shouldn`t have been doing it the whole time."
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I love this (INAUDIBLE) to marry him. And then they say, "OK, that`s it. Don`t touch me."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, the ladies also asked Elisabeth about her pre-marriage policy. Brooke, I should point out, Elisabeth just didn`t feel like sharing that information.
ANDERSON: Well, you know, A.J., Lindsay Lohan is speaking out about her love life.
HAMMER: That`s right. She is answering some very personal questions about whether she`s a lesbian, maybe bisexual. Now, she hasn`t really talked about this before. Wait until you hear what Lindsay had to say. That is coming up.
Also this -
WINFREY: Would I consider an ambassadorship? That is - I have the "Oprah" show.
ANDERSON: But what about the "Oprah" show? There is big news tonight that could change it forever. There`s even a rumor that the show is ending. Could that be true? I`ve got the late-breaking news straight ahead.
HAMMER: Also, are Barack and Michelle Obama the new style icons? Think about it. From Michelle`s dresses to what the couple wore at the White House today, well, we`re going to be talking first family fashion. And that is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news, and you can do that with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. Just head on over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight, click on the "sign up for newsletter" link - it`s at the bottom of the page. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is back after this.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: Would I consider an ambassadorship? That is - I have the "Oprah" show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So Oprah isn`t going to work for Barack Obama, but will she take her own show off the air? Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, big Oprah news. Will Oprah cancel herself? Will she get Sarah Palin to come sit on her couch? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the brand-new blockbuster Oprah Winfrey news is everybody`s talking about.
The Obama style. Tonight, are Barack Obama and his family the hottest fashion icons out there? Will Hollywood now turn to the president-elect and his wife for the must-have red carpet wear?
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 tonight from Hollywood.
HAMMER: Tonight, we have big Oprah Winfrey news. Is Oprah going to end her show or at least end it the way we know it? You know, there`s some wild stories flying around that Oprah could actually be moving on and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is getting to the bottom of this.
Oprah`s contract for her syndicated show is up in 2011 - that`s the same year she marks 25 years of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." But it also may mark the end of a TV era. For now, Oprah still gets the biggest stars to sit on her couch. But tonight, the big questions - will she actually snag the biggest star of the election, Sarah Palin?
Joining us tonight in New York is Lisa Bloom, host of "Lisa Bloom: Open Court." And she also anchors for "In Session." In Hollywood tonight, Carlos Diaz, who is a correspondent for "Extra."
OK, guys. So the "Oprah" show we now watch currently set to run syndication until the year 2011, but Oprah is going to be launching her very own cable TV network, that`s OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network. Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned Oprah may be planning to take her show to her new cable network.
Lisa Bloom, let me start with you. You think that would be a good move?
Well, you know, Oprah Winfrey makes over $250 million a year, so she`s probably not looking to me for financial advice. I think every move she makes tends to be a very smart move, whether it`s supporting Barack Obama early to starting her own magazine to starting her own cable network. And it makes a lot sense to take her show off network onto her cable network to be the anchor for that network. Won`t we all find the network on our dial so that we can watch Oprah there? I think we will.
HAMMER: Yes. Carlos, what do you think? Is it a smart move for Oprah Winfrey who can basically do whatever the heck she wants, right?
DIAZ: Yes. I hope she has enough cash to start this new network. I mean, come on. I think it`s a great move for her because - I mean, you know, if you`re going to have your own network, you`ve got to have the show that basically everyone wants to watch on that network. It`s a great move for her as well because her scope of influence will be so much bigger because she`s not just influencing on her show. Now, she`s got different shows all throughout the day on that network. But she`s got to move her show to that network for it to succeed.
HAMMER: As you point out all this talk got started after comments by a guy named David Zaslav - he`s the head of the cable network that`s going to turn into the Oprah Network. Well, here`s what Oprah`s folks told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "While David Zalslav`s comments are true that Oprah`s current contract to produce "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will expire in 2011, she has not made a final decision as to whether she will continue her show in syndication beyond that."
Now, Lisa, if she does go to cable, on a brand-new network, and granted, we will find it, but could it really have an impact on the power of Oprah because perhaps she won`t get as many eyeballs there?
BLOOM: Well, sure, she`s never going to get as many eyeballs on cable as she would on ABC. Everybody has ABC and not everybody has cable. And you know, there`s a big power in being on network. And a lot of advertising dollars flow to her there that aren`t going to flow to her on cable.
But Oprah makes smart moves as a rule. I think she knows what she`s doing. But also there may be a lot of jockeying right now as you saw with David Letterman when his contract was coming to an end. Was he going to change networks or not? There may be a certain amount of bluff going on here.
HAMMER: Yes. And the interesting thing is, it gets to a point where I`m sure the money is important, but it`s no longer really about the money. And the power of Oprah certainly has not diminished. For now, Oprah`s couch, still the place to be for every big star.
Everybody continues to buzz about when or if Oprah`s going to meet Sarah Palin and have her on the show. And we got an overwhelming response to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We were asking online and on air this - "Sarah Palin: Is it time for her to go on Oprah?"
Look at the results here. I`m surprised by this - 28 percent said yes; 72 percent said no. Carlos, are you surprised? I mean, this has gotten so much curiosity and so much buzz around Sarah Palin and the idea of these two getting together. Seemed like a perfect meeting.
DIAZ: Yes. Usually, the people are right on, and this time, they`re wrong. This is the exact time Sarah Palin needs to go on "Oprah Winfrey" because it`s kind of like Oprah can be gracious, you know, because Oprah`s president is now president, you know. So it`s one of those things where she can go on, be herself.
And it`s a way for Sarah Palin to show us Sarah Palin - a more relaxed version of Sarah Palin. They both need each other.
HAMMER: Yes. And she`s starting to do that now, not at the level of Oprah Winfrey, but she`s making her first round of post-election interviews. Oprah has said she wants Sarah on her couch for the record. She told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that.
But our viewers have been lighting up the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines with some ideas of their own. Let me play from Jessica in Iowa. Roll this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JESSICA, CALLER FROM IOWA: I think that Sarah Palin should go on a show like Barbara Walters because of the simple fact Oprah Winfrey didn`t want her during the election. So I feel she should go where she`s wanted.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s interesting perspective. Lisa, do you agree with Jessica? Should Sarah Palin say, "Thanks, but no thanks" to Oprah?
BLOOM: Well, I think she should go on Oprah if Oprah would have her. Because, look, when you go on Oprah, and I`ve been on the show, you really have a chance to talk. Nobody`s going to shout you down. It`s not a "gotcha" kind of experience.
And I think it would be very healthy for both of them, for Oprah, who supported a different candidate, yes, but who`s willing to hear out Sarah Palin. And for Sarah Palin to have a big national audience where she can say whatever it is she had to say.
I mean, keep in mind during the election, she was very careful as to which interviews she gave. She only gave a small number of interviews. And so we`re all still very interested in hearing what she has to say. I think it will be a ratings grabber.
HAMMER: Yes. And if you`ve been paying attention to some of the minor interviews that she`s done so far since the election, you know, on a smaller scale, she is letting loose a little bit. And I think there`s a lot that Oprah would get out of her in terms of an interview.
Oprah, of course, took a lot of flak for not having Sarah Palin on her show before the election which is probably part of the reason this one particular caller dialed up the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines and gave her thoughts on an Oprah-Sarah interview. Let`s listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ANONYMOUS CALLER: Sarah Palin doesn`t need Oprah. Oprah needs Sarah Palin at this point. So, no, she doesn`t need to go on that show.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Interesting point. Now, Carlos, a few moments ago, you said they really need each other. But you know, think of it in that context. Does the caller have a point that Oprah needs Sarah Palin more than Sarah Palin needs Oprah? Is that even possible?
DIAZ: No, it`s not possible. Oprah doesn`t need anybody. Oprah doesn`t any - Oprah needs Lisa Bloom because Lisa has been on the show. But still, I honestly think that Sarah Palin needs Oprah a lot more than Oprah needs Sarah Palin. I mean, Sarah needs - if she`s going to go and become the white Oprah or become a TV personality which I think is what she needs to do ...
BLOOM: Good luck.
DIAZ: ... she needs to go on "Oprah Winfrey."
BLOOM: No way is she going to be the white Oprah. Give me a break. You know, it`s a little bit harder being a talk show host. Everybody thinks just because Sarah Palin is pretty, that she`s got a career as a TV talk show host. I mean, take it from me, A.J., take it from A.J. - any of us. There`s a little bit more to it and I don`t think Sarah Palin`s up to it.
HAMMER: Well - go ahead. Go ahead, Carlos.
DIAZ: All I am is pretty and that`s the reason I`ve worked in TV so long. I have nothing else.
BLOOM: And a smooth talker.
HAMMER: But Lisa, what about the point, Lisa, that maybe Oprah does need Sarah Palin as much as Sarah Palin needs Oprah at this time to just sort of, you know, clear the air on Sarah Palin`s part and for Oprah to show that she still can get anybody on that couch?
BLOOM: I don`t get "need." I don`t get how Oprah needs Sarah Palin. Oprah`s doing pretty darn good as it is. She`s making $265 million a year. She got the president that she selected to actually be elected president.
HAMMER: Yes.
BLOOM: I think she`s doing OK without Sarah Palin.
HAMMER: Carlos, one of my producers just whispered to my ear, you`re more than just pretty, OK? I`m just passing that along.
Carlos Diaz, Lisa Bloom, thanks for being here, guys.
We`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It is this - "Sarah Palin: Is it time for her to go on Oprah?" Keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Got more to say? We want to hear it. E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: A.J. as you said, we have been getting a lot of calls into our "Showbiz On Call" phone lines about this. And I want our viewers to keep on calling and let us know if they think Sarah Palin should do "Oprah" or tell us anything else that is on their minds.
HAMMER: And Brooke, I should point out the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines - they`re always open. So you can call us at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that is 1-888- 728-2899 even in the middle of the night. You leave us a voicemail right there, so we can play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And your calls to "Showbiz On Call" are also now online right there on our homepage CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
All right. Brooke, I know there was so much talk about Sarah Palin`s style during the election.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. But now, with the campaign over, everybody is talking about the Obamas - Barack and Michelle and their style. Are Barack and Michelle the John and Jackie Kennedy for a whole new generation? Will the Obamas become the brand-new fashion icons? You don`t want to miss this, next.
A.J., something else not to be missed, Lindsay Lohan`s finally speaking out about her love life. She is setting the record straight on whether she`s straight, bisexual, lesbian and who she`s dating. That`s coming up.
And also new right now, breaking news, Britney Spears` youngest son rushed to the hospital. What is going on there? Well, we will have the very latest on exactly what`s wrong and we`ll fill you in on how he`s doing. That is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight, are Michelle and Barack Obama the new JFK and Jackie O. of fashion? We`re talking style and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going to finally settle whether Michelle Obama`s election night dress was way fab or a big faux pas.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, the Obama look. Michelle and Barack Obama aren`t even in the White House yet. And already, they`re turning into big-time fashion icons. But is their style the right style for the White House?
Joining me tonight in New York, we`ve got the fabulous Katrina Szish, who is the national correspondent for "In Style" magazine. Katrina, always a pleasure having you on the show.
And first, I want to take a look at this video, the Obamas and the Bushes together today as Barack and Michelle scope out their new digs at the White House. When Barack and Michelle take a stage together, they certainly make a striking couple.
Katrina, how was their look for their big date with the Bushes?
KATRINA SZISH, NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, "IN STYLE" MAGAZINE: I think both Michelle and President-elect Obama looked striking and fabulous. They were elegant. They were modern. It didn`t look like they were trying too hard but they definitely did look extremely polished, extremely elegant.
And I love the fact that Michelle went with a simple red dress. It was, again, one of her favorite designers, Maria Pinto, from Chicago. And I think that actually the four of them - seeing them all stand there, they really did look kind of presidential as a group. And I think both the new White House people-to-be will certainly be looking fantastic. And they looked great today.
ANDERSON: Yes. They certainly did look presidential.
SZISH: Yes.
ANDERSON: I want to single out Michelle Obama for a second, because there`s no doubt she will bring new style to the White House. And she`s already being compared to Jackie Kennedy. Katrina, is that a fair comparison?
SZISH: Well, I think it is a fair comparison when you talk about a first lady who will definitely have an impact on fashion. And Michelle Obama surely will as she already has.
However, I don`t think that the comparison of them having similar style is adequate. When we first met Michelle on the campaign trail, she did often borrow some of Jackie Kennedy`s look, the big pearls, the sheath dress. But now that she`s sort of gotten into her own style, she no longer borrows these things from Jackie Kennedy and she really now has her own style and it`s thoroughly modern. She`s certainly not retro nor is she a Jackie clone.
ANDERSON: And no pill box hats yet either.
SZISH: No. I wouldn`t expect to see them.
ANDERSON: Right. And she is very modern. Do you think it is possible that she will have similar influence over fashion? After all, when she wore that black and white dress on "The View," the store that carries it could not keep it in stock.
SZISH: You`re right. And she`s already proven that people are watching her, wanting to know what she wears and wanting to mimic her in many ways. And I think even the fact that people are so interested in what she`s wearing, even if they have something not positive to say, shows that she will definitely have an influence.
People are watching. They`re going to want to imitate and they`re going to want to have a say in what the first lady is wearing and whether or not they like it.
ANDERSON: Yes. And to me, she dresses with understated elegance. And I want to be fair now and give some time to her husband, Barack Obama, the soon-to-be man in charge. One newspaper calls him part JFK, part Don Draper from "Mad Men."
Katrina, he`s been on the cover of "Men`s Vogue" twice. What sets him apart from other politicians when it comes to his style?
SZISH: Well, the subtleties, I think of Obama`s dress and his suits are what make him different. The lapels on his suits are a little bit narrower, the collar, a little bit narrower, the knot is even a little bit smaller than the traditional knot we`re seeing. The suits are not as oversized and boxy as we`ve tended to see in the past.
ANDERSON: Right.
SZISH: Plus, he is such an elegant, graceful figure. The clothes fall on him in a very elegant way. And I thin we might see men being inspired by Barack Obama`s sort of return to elegance.
ANDERSON: Yes. And there`s things you may not notice at first glance.
SZISH: Yes.
ANDERSON: But if you notice closely, he does have his own sense of style. I want to talk now about the dress that Michelle Obama wore the night of the election. You know, women across the nation are divided over this dress. You either love it or you hate it.
And you know, even on "The View," Joy said that someone said she looked like a lava lamp. Katrina, what did you think of the controversial dress? It`s Narciso Rodriguez, right?
SZISH: Narciso Rodriguez, yes. What I love about this dress is that it`s completely unexpected and it does have people talking. And I think that`s the most exciting part about it. People really want to weigh in on whether or not they love it or hate it.
ANDERSON: It`s true.
SZISH: And I think it`s great because it`s not the typical dress you would expect a first lady to wear or a typical suit or typical color or pattern or shape or anything.
ANDERSON: Yes.
SZISH: This is showing us that Michelle Obama is going to be taking risks. And that`s why I loved her selection because she`s going to push the envelope a little bit.
ANDERSON: Yes.
SZISH: She`s not going to play it safe. And I think that`s fantastic.
ANDERSON: She`s certainly not. Yes. She took a chance. You`ve got to hand it to her.
SZISH: Yes.
ANDERSON: Katrina Szish, we`ll leave it there. Good to see you. Thanks.
SZISH: Thank you.
ANDERSON: And you check out all the latest fashion in this month`s "In Style" magazine on newsstands now.
HAMMER: Well, you can bet that everybody`s going to be talking about what the Obamas will wear to the presidential inauguration on January 20th, 2009.
Let me tell you, this thing is shaping up to be huge. Forget the Super Bowl, even Madonna`s concerts. The D.C. inauguration is the hottest ticket going. 250,000 tickets have already been printed and get this, the scalpers, of course, already out in full force. Here`s CNN`s Brianna Keilar for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It`s the hottest ticket in town, the 2009 presidential inauguration, and it`s free. At least it`s supposed to be.
(on camera): How much would one of the VIP seats be? $13,000?
(voice-over): Huge demand has turned what`s traditionally a giveaway into a thriving online marketplace. Our quick search of the Internet found site after site, many of them legitimate ticket brokers promising a view of Barack Obama being sworn in as the next president for a precious price.
(on camera): I`m looking at reserved VIP, $20,377?
(voice-over): Howard Gantman is the Senate staffer tasked with pulling off Washington`s biggest event.
(on camera): Isn`t it against the spirit of the event for these tickets to be sold?
HOWARD GANTMAN, JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON INAUGURAL CEREMONIES: Well, we think it`s absolutely insane to be selling those tickets. We understand some people want to try to make a buck. But for those people thinking of buying tickets, buyer beware.
KEILAR (voice-over): Ticket brokers are middle men, selling tickets they say they buy from Hill staffers or people who get them free of charge through their members of Congress. But because those tickets are only given out at the last minute, Gantman says brokers can`t be sure they will get as many as they`ve sold.
(on camera): You can end up in a hotel room with nothing more than a refund.
GANTMAN: Quite possibly. There won`t - there are no tickets available now. The tickets will be distributed less than a week before the event.
KEILAR (voice-over): Congressional staffers caught selling theirs could be fired.
GANTMAN: We are going to be alerting all members of Congress that it is against the code of ethics for staff or for members to sell these tickets to the public.
KEILAR: But ultimately, Gantman says, it`s inevitable some will be sold and some people will pay cut-throat prices to witness history.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Brianna Keilar for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And if you want a shot at free tickets to the inauguration, you should check out "Inaugural.Senate.gov."
ANDERSON: Wonder if Lindsay Lohan will get tickets to the inauguration. She`s a big Obama fan. And if she does, she may get tickets for two, one for her and one for her girlfriend. Tonight Lindsay opening up about her sexuality, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
HAMMER: And I`m A.J. Hammer. Here are some more stories that are new right now. Well, Lindsay Lohan is finally speaking out about her sexuality. In a very revealing interview with "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine, Lindsay says she`s maybe bisexual but says she isn`t a lesbian.
And about who she is dating, Lindsay says, quote, "I think it`s pretty obvious who I`m seeing. I think it`s no shock to anyone that it`s been going on for quite some time. She`s a wonderful person, and I love her very much."
Now, Lindsay wouldn`t name DJ Samantha Ronson as her girlfriend, but they`ve been pretty much attached at the hip for a while. So I think it`s safe to assume she`s talking about Samro, as they call her.
Lindsay adds that with the exception of her dad, who is not happy about the relationship, her family is being very supportive. Lindsay also says she sees herself getting married someday, but whether to a man or a woman, she doesn`t know.
You can read more on the December issue of "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine. It will be on newsstands November 18th.
Also new right now, Britney Spears youngest son, Jayden James was rushed to a Mississippi hospital on Sunday. Jayden had a reaction to something he ate. He is expected to be released on Tuesday. Brit was visiting her family at the time.
ANDERSON: In another Britney news, maybe that career comeback thing will work this time around. Tonight, I can tell you that Britney has been nominated for a People`s Choice Award for her role as a silly receptionist on CBS` "How I Met Your Mother." The category is favorite scene-stealing star.
HAMMER: Well, we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of day - "Sarah Palin: Is it time for her to go on Oprah?" I`ve got to say I am surprised by these results, with only 28 percent of you saying yes, 72 percent of you said no.
I thought everybody wanted to see Palin on "Oprah." We heard from Jesse in Uganda. Thanks for writing in, Jesse. Jesse writes, "If Sarah Palin wants to polish her name and get some respect, she ought to go on the Oprah show."
But Gary from Connecticut thinks, quote, "Sarah Palin should not even think about showing up on "Oprah." Oprah didn`t want anything to do with her during the election, so why the heck would Sarah want to put more money in Oprah`s pocket?"
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. Don`t forget you can always watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and in the morning, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is next. Take care.
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