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Showbiz Tonight
The Coolest First Couple; Should Britney Spears go on "American Idol"?; Paula Abdul Coping with Fan Suicide Near Home; A Different Kind of Anti-Spokesperson for Religious Channel
Aired December 08, 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, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Oprah`s obsession with Obama. Tonight, Oprah Winfrey`s brand-new revelation. Will she play a role in the Obama White House and the unusual way Oprah tells us she wished the Obama`s into the White House while in her bathtub.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Every morning in the tub, because I`m a bather, not a showerer, I would really visualize that moment of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, it`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT one-on-one with Oprah about her Obama obsession.
Tonight, talk about awkward. George Bush giving Barbra Streisand a kiss? Tonight, why Bush planted a kiss on the star who has ripped him apart.
Plus, Randy Jackson`s brand-new emotional revelations about Paula Abdul. Tonight, Randy reveals how Abdul is coping with the suicide of an obsessed fan right near her house.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY JACKSON, ENTERTAINER: She`s saddened by it and you know, very troubled by it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s Randy Jackson in the headline-making view you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts, right now.
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson. And tonight, did O.J. Simpson blow it big-time? Tonight, the startling news that O.J. was offered a deal to avoid the long-term prison term he wound up getting and turned it down. That remarkable story coming up.
HAMMER: But first, Oprah`s Obama obsession. Tonight, for the very first time, Oprah Winfrey is opening up to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT one-on-one and we are setting the record straight on everything. We got Oprah on camera in her words. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the brand-new Oprah revelations. Will Barack Obama be offering Oprah Winfrey a position in his administration? And if he does, will she take it? Oprah`s extraordinary personal revelation to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about how she wished the Obama`s into the White House from the comfort of her bathtub.
And what`s the real story behind whether Sarah Palin might still go one-on-one with Oprah? And what Oprah tells us she really plans to do the week Obama is inaugurated as the next president of the United States.
Tonight, in New York, is Jami Floyd who`s an "In Session" anchor. In Washington, D.C., it`s Amy Holmes, who`s a CNN political contributor and political analyst. Also in New York tonight, Janell Snowden, ha host for VH1 News.
So, let`s start off with Oprah`s possible role in the Obama administration. There`s been so much buzz about whether or not Oprah would actually ditch her show so she could join her dream president. Well, tonight Oprah sets the record straight. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: I have a few full-time jobs already and a few full-time commitments, you know, contractual commitments that say I have to be where I am. So, it never even occurred to me, not even occurred to me. Even if I was offered, I still have contractual commitments and what could I do? I kind of do what I do best on TV every day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, so were you listening to what she was repeating, there? Jami Floyd, I`ll start with you. Do you get the feeling from Oprah, you know, if she didn`t have these contractual commitments and agreements with her show, you know, maybe she`d be on the next flight to Washington, D.C. to work with Mr. Obama?
JAMI FLOYD, ANCHOR IN SESSION: She`d be one heck of a press secretary, wouldn`t she? I think there are those contractual commitments. And look, Oprah knows her talents and her talents are well-utilized under her current contractual situation. She can still be a tremendous asset to President-elect Obama as he goes into the White House.
Remember public opinion, managing expectations all of that is going to be a big part of the change and challenge we have ahead. And she can be very helpful from where she is, especially with that new network she`s talking about launching. So, I think most useful, but probably not taking a big pay cut she would have to take to actually join the administration.
HAMMER: Amy Holmes, politics is your life. Would it be a politically savvy move to get Oprah on team Obama?
AMY HOLMES, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Oh boy, it would make quite a splash. But you know what, I have to agree with Jami. And remember, she also has "Oprah" magazine, and she appears on the cover of it every month. That magazine would go out of business, a lot of people would lose their job if she wasn`t do that and promoting all the work the work she does at Harpo.
Another thing that I would say, you know, I used to work for a Senate majority leader and one chiefs of -- my of staff said, the most unhappy people in the Senate and often government, are former executives, CEOs, people who have been in charge and been able to dream big, as Oprah obviously has, and get things done and when they come into government, it`s a lot of wheeling and dealing and negotiating with all of these egos and powers that are co-equal to you, I`m not sure if she`d like to do that.
HAMMER: No, I think Oprah`s probably most productive when she is a happy person. Let`s move on to the next Oprah revelation in her Obama obsession. Oprah`s extraordinary Obama wish. I love this. At a Hollywood event naming Oprah as the most powerful woman in show business, Oprah said she wanted Obama to win the presidency so badly that she made a vision board and she took it into her bathroom. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: So, I did cut out the pictures of Barack Obama myself and I had Barack Obama, president. I found the words, you find the "P" and "R" and the "S" and you put that all together. And then I -- for I while I realized it only said "President Barack Obama" and it didn`t say `08. So, I didn`t know if the universe would understand that I meant `08.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, now. We want it now.
WINFREY: I want it now. So then, I put that on the vision board. And with the picture of the family and every morning in the tub, because I`m a bather, not a showerer, I would really visualize that moment of them and hoping for the change that has come.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, so for anybody who questioned the impact that Oprah had on getting Obama into the White House, I`m glad you got to see that. Now, we knew Oprah was a big-time fan of Barack Obama. But, Janell, are you surprised by just how far she went in her support for him?
JANELL SNOWDEN, HOST, VH1 NEWS: I`m really not, actually. I think is shows the power of visualization. Oprah has long preached that on her show. If that`s not the biggest advertisement for "The Secret," which she has also promoted on her show, I don`t know what it is.
My cousin, Reverend Dr. Michael -- I can`t even say his name. Ooops. Reverend Dr. Michael Beck, was one of the visionaries. I know that they are good friends and know that that is one of the principles that it teaches, that you`ve really got to visualize something and be able to look at it and see it clearly every morning, if you want it to happen. So, I mean, I`d like to see what the sales of "The secret" do after having heard this, now.
HAMMER: Yeah, exactly. All right, well, let`s talk next about Oprah Winfrey`s interview with Sarah Palin -- or should I say, the fact that there is not one, at least not right now. Even though, Sarah Palin has sat down for a lot of other interviews since the campaign ended. So, what`s the back story with all this, what is actually going on now? Was Oprah snubbed? Well Oprah`s BFF Gayle King, told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about the whole deal, here. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GAYLE KING, OPRAH`S BFF: Well, I did think it was interesting because, you know, the "Oprah Show" extended the offer and she said no. So, you know, that is certainly her decision, she decides what she thinks - - I do know that when it comes time to sell a book, getting on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" has never been a bad thing to any author. So, we`ll see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, so Sarah Palin`s spokesperson told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, late today, that Palin did turn down Oprah`s invitation, but also passed on most of the 250 requests she has received and, "it`s nothing personal about Oprah."
Amy, over to you, that said, do you think that when her eventual book deal rolls around, talking about Sarah Palin, here, it would be a smart thing for Sarah Palin to do the "Oprah Show?"
HOLMES: It would certainly be a smart thing for her publisher to get in touch with the "Oprah Show" and try to get Sarah Palin on. But, I think we almost heard sort of like a veiled -- maybe not so fast, you snubbed me before and I`m a powerful person, will she be cross that couch, you know, that`s up to Oprah.
But, I think when Sarah Palin was selling herself as a politician and the host is someone who has, as we just heard, been so over the top in visualizing on a board in her bathtub for your opponent to win, that doesn`t seem like that`s going to necessarily be a friendly venue, a friendly interview. But now that if she were selling a book and she can talk about the book, then it might make sense.
HAMMER: I`m going to go home and do some visualizing...
HOLMES: Can I do that to my boyfriend. I can visualize...
HAMMER: I need to talk about Oprah`s inauguration plans. What is she actually doing? Well, here`s the deal. She`s taking her show to D.C. for the inauguration and she told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she`s doing it because it`s the biggest party of the year. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: I know people who are going to D.C. who don`t even know where they`re going to stay, they`re just going on a hope and a prayer and hoping that they`ll find a place to be and sleep and stand and whatever because you just want to be there and be a part of it. So, I felt that no better place to have your show, because that is the show, and so we`ll be there. We`ll just be there celebrating, just celebrating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is a yes or no, Janell? The Obama`s should absolutely do the "Oprah Winfrey Show" when they come to town, shouldn`t they?
SHOWDEN: Yes. Are you kidding me? Unlike Sarah Palin, they should definitely do Oprah.
HAMMER: All right, Jami Floyd, Amy Holmes, Janell Snowden, I thank you all.
And we have much more on the SHOWBIZ Obama watch. The first couple of cool. You know, so many stars think Barack and Michelle Obama are so cool, but will they be the coolest first couple ever? We have that on the way.
And now we want to know what you think. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day": Barack Obama, will he be the coolest president ever? You can vote at CNN.com/showbiztonight. You can also e-mail us at showbiztonight@CNN.com.
ANDERSON: All right, now, I want to tell you about a SHOWBIZ special event. It is that time of year, again. We`re one day, one day away from naming our most controversial celebrity of the year. Now, for the last two years, it`s been Britney Spears. So, will she pull off a three-peat? You`ve got to tune in Tuesday as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most controversial celebrity of 2008, Tuesday on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Well Brooke, I think it`s safe to say if we were giving out on award for the most controversial celebrity ever, O.J. Simpson would be at the top or near the top of that list.
ANDERSON: Yeah, definitely true, A.J. Listen to this, O.J. was just sentenced to what could be life behind bars. Here`s the shocking thing, he could have gotten a much lighter sentence, but he passed on the chance. The explosive details, next.
Also, my revealing one-on-one with "American Idol`s" Randy Jackson. What does Randy think about Britney Spears going on "American Idol"? And how is his fellow "Idol" judge, Paula Abdul, dealing with the death of an obsessed fan who committed suicide near Paula`s house?
And also this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Did God approve this message?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What in the devil is the devil doing promoting a new church TV network? You have got to see this coming up.
Now the SHOWBIZ "News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news, right now.
(BEGIN GRAPHIC)
SHOWBIZ NEWS TICKER.
Australian Film Institute posthumously honors Heath Ledger with best actor Award.
John Rich, of "Big & Rich" country duo, marries longtime girlfriend in Nashville.
(END GRAPHIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hey, welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in New York. Tonight, target O.J., right now. We have the explosive new details about a plea deal that O.J. Simpson could have gotten so he would not have to sit in a 7x14 foot jail cell for the next 15 years of his life.
Simpson was sentenced on Friday for his role in the robbery of memorabilia dealers and tonight we`re learning he was offered a plea deal which could have gotten him only three years, but wait till you hear why he turned it down. I`m sorry, talk about a bonehead move.
Also new right now, in their first interview since the sentencing, the family of Ron Goldman is speaking out about seeing O.J. finally go to jail and how they are still battling him for the money he owes them.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Darren Kavinoky, who`s an attorney for the Kavinoky Law Firm.
Darren, we begin with the plea that O.J. turned down. In a bombshell revelation, Darren, prosecutors tell the "Associated Press" that O.J. would have taken the plea deal if the district attorney had apologized to Simpson. Darren, prosecutors didn`t say what kind of apology, but what do you think Simpson wanted an "I`m sorry" for?
DARREN KAVINOKY, ATTORNEY, KAVINOKY LAW FIRM: You know, Brooke, if we`ve learned anything from watching O.J. Simpson`s legal battles over the years, it`s that peering into the mind of O.J. Simpson to figure out what he might have been thinking is a very dangerous proposition. Who knows? Maybe he wanted an apology for denying him access to a Ouija board so he could have channeled Johnny Cochran to get him out of this one just more time.
Certainly in 20/20 hindsight though, whatever it was, I`m sure he`s now wishing that he would have backed off that one little contingency so he could have taken a three-year deal instead of a much lengthier term .
BROOKE: Yeah, I`m just incredulous by the mere thought, there. And you are a long-time attorney, have you ever heard of a case in which a defendant pleads guilty in a plea deal and prosecutors apologize? I mean, this would have been historic. Was it just ridiculous?
KAVINOKY: Yeah, it certainly would have been highly unusual. By definition, when you`re taking a plea deal, you`re admitting that you did something wrong. So, when you`re looking for more mercy and less justice, typically you`re not trying to get the other side to apologize to you. This one backfired in a big way.
ANDERSON: Right. You`re not trying to be the victim. I did something wrong, but, yes, you should apologize to me. Oh my goodness, it`s just crazy.
All right, but O.J. delivered a rambling, really, three-minute plea to the judge before she sentenced him. Watch just how emotional he became.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O.J. SIMPSON, FORMER ATHLETE: I wasn`t there to hurt anybody, I just wanted my personal things and I realize now it was stupid and I am sorry. I didn`t mean to steal anything from anybody and I didn`t know I was doing anything illegal. I thought I was confronting friends and retrieving my property. So, I`m sorry, I`m sorry for all of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Confronting friends. OK, knowing what we now know about Simpson turning down a plea deal, Darren, do you think that O.J. really believed that his last-minute tears would do the trick with the judge?
KAVINOKY: Well, it`s clear that all the time that he spent on the "Naked Gun" movie sense has served him well, you know, it was really an authentic performance, there. But, if that`s how he confronts his friends, well, I have grave concerns about how he deals with his enemies. And who knows? When that judge took the bench and started delivering her sentence after the first few words left her mouth, he had to know that he was really in trouble on this one.
ANDERSON: Yeah, no kidding. Well, in their first interview since the sentencing, the Goldman family today spoke to Meredith Vieira on the "Today Show" and they said that they had a hand in pushing him over the edge. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM GOLDMAN, RON GOLDMAN`S SISTER: I feel like our pursuit of him for the last, you know, better part of a decade, having to force him to live his life in the shadows, to live a very deceitful, deceptive existence, I think pushed him to this.
FRED GOLDMAN, RON GOLDMAN`S FATHER: The judge actually made a comment during her sentencing that -- she said that in one of the tapes that was in evidence, he was actually heard saying, we got to get this stuff so the Goldman`s don`t get it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Very quickly, Darren, 10 seconds, do you think the Goldman`s have a better chance now of getting that $33.5 million that Simpson owes them? He was found guilty in the civil trial.
KAVINOKY: It`s a great question, Brooke, one of the hurdles that they`ve had is that O.J.`s been living primarily in Florida, which is a very favorable place to be if you`re a debtor. And now he`ll have a primary residence of a different variety in Nevada. So, that could make a big difference for them.
ANDERSON: Could make a difference. Darren Kavinoky, always a pleasure, thanks.
KAVINOKY: Thanks, Brooke.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke, so the SHOWBIZ "On Call" phone lines have been ringing and ringing about O.J. Simpson getting what could be a life sentence.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. and we got a call from Red from North Carolina who thinks that O.J. got a raw deal.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
RED, CALLER FROM NORTH CAROLINA: I think that O.J. fid not get a fair trial. I think they`re judging him by his past and I really dislike the way they ripped his name and talked about him very negatively and I think that he need to have an appeal.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And thank you for that, Red. The SHOWBIZ "On Call" phone lines are always open, 24/7, the number, 1-888-SBT-BUZZ, 1-888-728-2899. Leave a message, we will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And your calls to SHOWBIZ "On Call" are also now online, CNN.com/showbiztonight.
Hey A.J., would you like to see Britney Spears on "American Idol"?
HAMMER: Yeah, I think that would actually be pretty amazing.
ANDERSON: Well, it might happen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKSON: Britney, call the dog, call the dog, Britney. Britney, call the dog. Come on down, baby, party with us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight, I`m going one-on-one with "Idol" judge, Randy Jackson. Does he think Britney should go on "idol?" Plus, Randy also reveals to me just how Paula Abdul is dealing with the death of an obsessed fan who killed herself outside Paula`s house. It`s the headline-making interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Also, the first couple of cool, Barack and Michelle Obama. The brand-new ways "SNL" and stars like Jennifer Aniston and Oprah are gushing over Barack and Michelle. But ,will they be the coolest first couple ever, or will this whole cool thing fade once they get into the White House?
ANDERSON: And the current president, George Bush, kisses Barbra Streisand who diss him all the time. Can you say awkward? That`s straight ahead.
HAMMER: And now, the SHOWBIZ "News Ticker," it is more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, making news right now.
(BEGIN GRAPHIC)
NBC News names David Gregory host of "Meet the Press."
Gregory replaces Tim Russert, who died of a heart attack in June.
(END GRAPHIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson.
And A.J. did you see this? Just over a month of giving birth, "Saturday Night Live`s" Amy Poehler was back on the show this weekend playing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- secretary of state nominee , rather, Hillary Clinton and she brought along a surprise, too, in case you missed it, take a look. Very funny stuff.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMY POEHLER, COMEDIAN: The question is, is my new job better than being governor of Alaska?
(LAUGHING)
And the answer is, yes. Yes, it is. But I do want to take a moment to reflect on Sarah Palin and her historic campaign. Mum (ph) it up. Best of luck to you.
It has been just an honor to serve you, the citizens of my home state of New York.
(LAUGHING)
Who am I kidding? This is not my home state. It never was my home state. Pack up the house in Chappaqua, bill. What`s that, we never unpacked? Even better.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just want to say how happy we are to be back in your lives, America. You voted for change, but you ain`t never going to change this.
(LAUGHING)
POEHLER: We Clintons are here to stay. You may think we`re down, but like the south, vampires and Britney Spears, we will rise again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Amy Poehler, she is too much.
And new right now, Madonna may be divorcing Guy Ritchie, but she just won a big court battle related to her wedding to him.
Madonna accused a British paper, "Mail on Sunday," of breaching her privacy by publishing pictures of her 2000 wedding. She says the pictures were stolen from her Beverly Hills home. No word yet on how much cash Madonna will get for this, but she`s asking for more than $7 million.
HAMMER: And Janet Jackson is not pregnant, or so says her boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri. Now, Janet canceled a bunch of tour dates due to a mystery illness back in October. Of course, that got the rumors going the illness was really a pregnancy, but her Jermaine says, no baby.
ANDERSON: Oh, A.J., I think would it would be pretty cool if Janet Jackson had a baby.
HAMMER: I think it would exceptionally cool. But I don`t think anyone can come as close to how cool Hollywood thinks the Obama`s are, Brooke.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: Our favorite thing to talk about all the time -- isn`t everybody? Everybody tries to figure out a way to get Obama in their conversations, no matter what.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oprah, thinks Barack an Michelle Obama are totally cool, but will Barack and Obama be the coolest first couple ever? Or will this whole cool thing just kind of fade out once they get into the White House? That is next.
And George Bush kisses Barbra Streisand? Yeah, the same Barbra that has voiced her disdain for him nonstop since he got into office. Can you say awkward? You got to see this, coming up.
ANDERSON: Also, I go one-on-one with "American Idol" judge, Randy Jackson. Does he think Britney spears should go on "Idol"? Plus how Paula Abdul is doing after that obsessed fan killed herself outside Paula`s house, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the first couple of cool. The brand-new ways "Saturday Night Live" and stars like Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Aniston think Barack and Michelle Obama are so cool. But will they be the coolest first couple ever?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY JACKSON, "AMERICAN IDOL": Britney, call the dog, call the dog, Britney! Britney, call the dog. Come on down, baby. Party with us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: We are one-on-one with "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson. Should Britney Spears go on "Idol"? Plus his revelations on how fellow "Idol" judge Paula Abdul is dealing with the suicide of an obsessed fan. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: And I`m Brooke Anderson.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, the first couple of cool. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking what a lot of people are asking -- are the Obamas going to be the coolest first couple ever? "Saturday Night Live" is leading the cool charge for the Obamas showing exactly how cool Barack Obama really is. You have got to see this.
And Hollywood is just over the moon about the Obamas moving into the White House. Everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Jennifer Aniston went on and on to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT all about the Obamas.
Wait till you hear what they told us.
Also new right now, talk about awkward. President Bush kissing one of his most outspoken critics, the legendary Barbra Streisand. Papa did you see this?
Joining me tonight in New York, Jami Floyd who is an anchor for "In Session". Also tonight in Washington, DC, Amy Holmes who is a CNN contributor and political analyst.
All right, guys, got to begin with the first couple of cool. A lot of people thought it would be hard to make fun of Barack Obama if he won the White House. Wrong! This past weekend, "Saturday Night Live" showed us why revealing just how cool Obama is. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let`s take Hillary Clinton, you remember her. She ran against me in the Democratic primary, told superdelegates I couldn`t win in a general election. She brought up William Ayers before anyone. Did I exact political revenge? Nope. I brought her in. Why? Because I keep it cool.
I take my kids to school, I don`t lose my temper. It`s my only rule, I keep cool.
And then there`s John McCain. Would have been easy to turn my back on John McCain. But I didn`t. I sat down with him and we announced we were going to work together to take on the critical challenges facing this nation. So why did I do it? I think you know the answer to that.
I keep it cool.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You have to love the stringed bass in the background. Jami Floyd, what do you think? Is Barack Obama going to be the coolest president ever?
JAMI FLOYD, "IN SESSION": First of all, you have to love the cool jazz underneath, I agree A.J. It just drives the point home and adds to the humor of it all. He may be the coolest president ever. I think cool goes with the job description. We`ve had a lot of very cool presidents in our history though we may not have used that word exactly.
I do also think, though, in all seriousness, that a lot of this is going to be about managing expectations. He is a cool cucumber, one cool dude, but he`s also the president of the United States. And we have some tremendous challenges that he`s going to have to work with others to face. And I think the American people will have to be realistic about what can be accomplished after the last eight years.
HAMMER: I think there`s no question about that.
Amy, what do you think? Do you play into the "Saturday Night Live" thing? Is he going to be the coolest cucumber president ever?
AMY HOLMES, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I thought it was a fun skit. Really cute. But you know what I did notice about it, A.J.? It didn`t actually make fun of a foible. This is something you could consider an asset. Whereas when they do skits about say Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin or George Bush or Bill Clinton, these are about what are their weaknesses, their Achilles` heel. Whereas Barack Obama, I still think they`re giving him a pretty easy ride on this.
And what they didn`t show Mr. Cool doing? Smoking a cigarette, which we know he does. I have no particular moral thing against it ...
HAMMER: You just want to bring it up. You want to make sure everyone knows, Amy?
HOLMES: Isn`t that a whole part of that whole jazzy martini scene. "Saturday Night Live" didn`t go there.
HAMMER: I suppose if they had the whole smoky jazz club thing going, too, that - I don`t know.
Let`s talk about the fact that it`s not just "Saturday Night Live" dealing with the cool factor for Obama. Everybody from Jennifer Aniston to Oprah Winfrey all talking to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about the Obamas. And you`ve got to see what Oprah told us about the other half of the cool couple, Michelle Obama. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Just true brilliance. Smart, not just intelligent smart, but smart from the heart and wisdom and spiritual and connected and a mother. She is -- you know what`s so fantastic about her, is she is a completely, 100 percent authentic woman. What you see is really herself. There`s no pretense there. She is the real, real, real deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That is what you call raw enthusiasm. Oprah 100 percent happy with Michelle Obama. Jamie, how do you think Michelle is going to bring the cool factor into the White House?
FLOYD: First of all, I think in the modern presidential context, the first lady is key to the president`s image. And I guess if it`s going to be cool for this couple, then Michelle bema is half of that equation. But if you look back over our history, first ladies have been incredibly important. Going back to Martha Washington and Abigail Adams. We`re more public about it and women are more permitted to show their intellectual side, to have their policy commitments, even Laura Bush has had policy concerns she`s pursued as first lady. I think Michelle Obama is going to turn out to be a tremendous asset to Barack Obama and to our country.
HAMMER: I think she`s going to make an indelible impact. And the celebrities are feeling it, too.
We also caught up with Jennifer Aniston. Jennifer of course stars in the upcoming film, "Marley and Me." She told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she`s rooting for Barack Obama. Watch what Jen said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER ANISTON, ACTRESS: I just root for him. I just hope that -- it`s a lot -- there`s a lot we have to get out from under. And I just have faith in him and his attitude and what he has behind him and that I think we`re all rooting for him. It`s not an easy task he has ahead of him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So Jennifer Aniston can`t wait. But Amy, we know how politics works. Do you think it`s only going to be a matter of time before that cool factor fades?
HOLMES: Well, I think we are all rooting for Barack Obama because he`s our commander in chief and he`s the leader of our country and we want our country to succeed. So I definitely respect and appreciate Jennifer Aniston`s sentiment about that. But you know what? It is Washington and you`re not going to necessarily like watching how the sausage is made.
And already Barack Obama is already getting criticism from the left wing of his flank, which actually politically is kind of good for him.
But he`s already getting criticism based on his Cabinet picks. People are saying, "You`re keeping George Bush`s defense secretary? I thought we voted for change."
So he`s not even been sworn in. We`re not even at inauguration yet and he`s getting criticism.
HAMMER: You make the point, we`re not at inauguration yet. George Bush is still in the White House and something happened over the weekend involving that man leaving the White House, President Bush. You know the expression that that`s going to happen when pigs fly? I have breaking news for you tonight, pigs flew this weekend in the nation`s capital. Look at this. President Bush planting a big wet one on Barbra Streisand at the Kennedy Center Honors. If you remember, Brbra has been blogging about Bush for the last eight years. Streisand has written that President Bush stole the 2000 and 2004 elections. She says she finds George Bush frightening and she called for Bush`s impeachment.
Jami, I can only imagine what Streisand was thinking at that very moment that kiss was being planted.
FLOYD: I`ve - Look, I don`t think President Bush has been reading Barbra`s blogs or he might not have planted the kiss. But look, the setting was the Kennedy Center Honors. I was in a room with Condoleezza Rice and soon to be Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently. Everything was cordial. Everything was above board.
We`re talking about people at a level where they`re not going to be petty. What`s she going to do? Recoil when President Bush comes at her? He is the president of the United States and our democracy allowed for her dissent and she`s been very vocal in that. She was a big supporters of the Clintons. Even saw her perform at the inaugural way back when.
But I think this was appropriate in that social setting. It`s like going to a wedding and having to see the relative that you may not like. That`s not the setting to have a big debate.
HAMMER: Even Barbra herself said that for one night art trumps politics. I do have my own theory. I brought along a fancy graphic to further emphasize it.
Bush singing in his head "Memories, in the corners of my mind." And Barbara just thinking, "Awkward."
Jami Floyd, Amy Holmes, I thank you both for being here tonight.
HOLMES: Thank you.
FLOYD: Thank you, A.J.
ANDERSON: All right. I can guarantee you will want to be with us Tuesday night because SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming the most controversial celebrity of the year. So who will it be? Find out Tuesday on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: It`s been Brit year after year. Will it be Brit this year? I can`t wait to find out. But you talked to Randy Jackson today.
I want to know, is Brit at the top of his holiday list?
ANDERSON: She might be, A.J. I did speak with the "American Idol" judge today and he has a message for Britney. Plus Randy opens up about fellow "Idol" judge Paula Abdul is coping with the death of a fan right outside her house.
You`ll want to stick around for that.
HAMMER: Also ahead, did Tom jump on Oprah`s couch cause his career to jump the shark? We have your fired-up phone calls to our "Showbiz On Call" phone lines.
And we`ve also got this ...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Did God approve this message?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: What the devil is this? It`s actually the devil himself shilling for a brand-new church network. I wonder if he makes scale or did they work out a deal with the devil. The story is next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And now the "Showbiz News Ticker", stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAULA ABDUL, "AMERICAN IDOL": She has been a stalker fan for about 17 years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A startling revelation from Paula Abdul on "The View" today about the fan and "American Idol" contestant who committed suicide near her home last month. And tonight, fellow "Idol" judge, Randy Jackson, is telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT how this tragedy has really affected Paula. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
I`m Brooke Anderson in New York. Tonight, Randy Jackson`s revelations and what he told me today about Paula, Britney spears and a whole lot more. Randy is promoting his new book, "Body with Soul" and is gearing up to kick off the eighth season of "American Idol." For the first time, "American Idol" will be adding a fourth judge, Cara Diaguardi (ph). I asked Randy if adding another judge has changed the dynamic between him, Paula and Simon Cowell.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JACKSON: I don`t know if it`s really changed the dynamic. I think Cara has added a little more spice to the judging panel. You have the two girls versus the two boys. So it`s a very nice rock `em, sock `em. Who`s going to win this round? The girls or the boys?
But it`s been fun. We just finished the auditions for season eight. The talent is unbelievable again. I`m so in awe and so amazed at what happens with the talent in America. I think this is the most talented country in the world.
ANDERSON: Good to hear you`ve got a great group this year. Is there any downside to a fourth judge? You say boys versus girl sometimes. You could split down the middle on a contestant. Who`s the tiebreaker?
JACKSON: This season the tiebreaker is a very interesting Brit named Simon Cowell. He gets the tiebreaker vote. But we don`t get in those many of tie kind of situations. You know what I mean? And I think we all call it as we see it. There`s been a couple of times. But you`ll see when you watch.
You`ll see.
ANDERSON: I`m looking forward to it, Randy. As we know, not to be a downer, but as we know, just last month a terrible tragedy happened near the house of Paula Abdul, a former "Idol" contestant obsessed with Paula killed herself. How has this affected Paula?
JACKSON: I don`t know, per se, but I think she`s very saddened and very troubled by it. And I think we were all very sad about it and just couldn`t believe that it was happening. It`s been a very interesting year in those regards, close to the "Idol" family because the Jennifer Hudson tragedies and now the tragedy with this former contestant and Paula fan. So it`s been really tough, tough times.
ANDERSON: She was a former contestant and when she auditioned herself for "Idol" two times, you guys, as you are with a lot of contestants, you were harsh on her. Has that weighed on your mind when being tough on other contestants for the next season?
JACKSON: I never look at it as being harsh. I just look at it as really being honest. Listen, this is a serious, serious business. So if you`re not going to make it in this industry, someone should tell you that pretty soon on so maybe you don`t waste your time, your money, your energy and get your hopes up too high.
ANDERSON: Now I want to ask you briefly, Randy, about Britney Spears because after she appeared on Simon Cowell`s "X Factor" in Britain the other week, he couldn`t stop gushing about her, said he wanted Britney to come on "American Idol." What do you think? Good idea? Would you love to see Britney on "American Idol"?
JACKSON: I`d love to see her on "American Idol." We wanted to see her last year on "American Idol" so we`d love to have her on the show. I think she`s the bomb. I think she`s made a great record and she`s on a great comeback.
ANDERSON: And maybe now that she`s got that new record, that new album out, she will appear on "American Idol" this season.
Fingers crossed for that.
JACKSON: Britney, call the dog, call the dog, Britney! Britney, call the dog. Come on down, baby, party with us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: The invitation has been extended and as we mentioned, Randy is out with a new book called "Body with Soul." This book was inspired by Randy`s own struggle with weight loss. And I just had to know if Randy`s book offered a magic formula for losing weight.
Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKSON: What happens in this book, as I talk about -- I talk about the truth of it all. The truth of it all is you`re never going to not want the things that you love to eat. Maybe there`s healthier versions of them you can have so we have recipes in the book. I also have a psychologist talking in the book about behavioral modification we need to know why we eat what we eat when because it`s all about emotion, right. In every range of emotion, emotions you didn`t even think you had while reaching for the candy bar, the whatever, whatever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You can read all about Randy`s plan to staying healthy in his book, "Body with Soul," it`s in bookstores now.
HAMMER: With so many channels on the TV cable universe these days, what the devil is couch potato to do? Divine intervention, perhaps? Well, a new religious TV network is raising some hell with his brand-new sales pitch. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Greetings, my minions.
MOOS: What the devil? A religious TV channel is teaming up with, guess who.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You and I have toiled together to create filthy television. Now a new network is threatening our wonderful world of eviltainment.
MOOS: And this one really is a little devil, 4`5 ".
MICHAEL MIGLIOZZI, CESARIO MIGLIOZZI AGENCY: Having a little person was something that added to the comedy visually.
MOOS: How did the Catholic Archdiocese of Brooklyn get mixed up with him?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will not tune in to Net TV on December 8th at 8:00 p.m. I will go to stopgoodtv.com.
MOOS: He`s the anti-spokesperson created by a Los Angeles ad agency to relaunch a New York-based religious channel.
ANNOUNCER: New Evangelization Television.
MOOS: Programming will include a Catholic newscast, a restaurant review show called "Breaking Bread" and good, clean cartoons. For instance, "Bullio the Bubble" who is best friends with Jesus.
So why enlist the help of the devil?
MIGLIOZZI: We could have preached to the converted but we wanted to widen the audience.
MOOS: And it`s not exactly new for the church to use the devil as a recruiting tool, says ad agency partner Enzo Cesario.
ENZO CESARIO, CESARIO MIGLIOZZI AGENCY: Good and evil have been around for centuries.
MOOS: In the computer age, the devil gets his own Web site, stopgoodtv.com where you can type in questions.
(on camera): Does the devil really wear Prada?
UNIDENTIFIE MALE: What kind of question is that? Do I look like a Google?
MOOS (voice-over): No, you look like actor Jimmy Briscone (ph), dressed in a costume and horns purchased at Target seen here devilishly looking down the makeup woman`s top. His puns can be hellish.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have something in my tooth. Fillet of soul for lunch.
MOOS: That`s soul, S-O-U-L, the devil appears in viral and TV ads as well as on buses. Judging from some of the language used by viewers commenting on the ads, looks like they are reaching beyond the religious audience. Who ever thought you`d see the Catholic Church using a pitch man with a pitchfork?
(on camera): Did God approve this message?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Is it getting hot in here or is it just me? That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: It`s almost hard to believe but it`s been more than three years since we all watched Tom Cruise jump for joy on Oprah`s couch. Coming up, did Cruise`s couch jumping cause his career to jump the shark, or is Tom on the verge of a major comeback? We`ve got your fired-up phone calls to "Showbiz on Call" next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Hey, on Friday we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Tom Cruise back on screen. Has he improved his image since the couch-jumping incident? Well, 32 percent of you say yes. But 68 percent of you say no. Viewers have been jumping on the phone and dialing up the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines to tell us what think about Tom`s behavior.
Paula from North Carolina says it wasn`t the couch jumping that pushed her over the limit with Tom Cruise. It was his shocking behavior on "The Today Show." Listen to this.
CALLER: Regarding Tom Cruise, it wasn`t just the fact that he was jumping on couches. I think he really, really showed his personality and lack of respect when he was on Matt Lauer. That`s what turned me against him. I had always been a fan of his, but I`m no longer a fan of his. People don`t change overnight, and I don`t think he`s changed.
HAMMER: Well, Paula, we appreciate you calling. We also heard from Marvin who called in from California. Marvin disagrees. He told "Showbiz On Call" that Tom was just expressing himself like any one of us.
CALLER: Yeah, I think they`re making too big of a deal about Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah`s couch. He was in love after all these years, even after failed marriages, he finally found someone to fall in love with and now has a kid by. So they need to lay off Tom and quit making such a big deal. When we get excited, we jump up and down. Give him the freedom.
HAMMER: All right, Marvin. I get what he`s saying. We appreciate you calling. Remember, you, too, can call to "Showbiz On Call," let us know what you think about Tom Cruise or anything else that happens to be on your mind.
ANDERSON: Please do. The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines are never closed. 1-888-SBT-BUZZ 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a message. We`ll play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And those calls are also online on our home page, that`s cnn.com/showbiztonight. Check them out.
And speak of Tom Cruise, he and Katie Holmes dropped major cash at famed New York city toy store FAO Schwarz buying up a boat did load of toys, books and games. But none of it was for little Suri. Get this, Tom and Katie shopped till they dropped for kids they don`t even know. That`s right, the superstar couple donated hundreds of dollars to Stockings with Care. Stockings with Care donates gifts to homeless children and their families in New York City during the holiday season. What a nice gesture.
HAMMER: It is a really nice thing to do.
ANDERSON: It is.
HAMMER: And he`s got the money to spend. So what the heck.
ANDERSON: Why not?
HAMMER: Brooke, it`s terrific having you in New York.
ANDERSON: Good to be here.
HAMMER: Thank you so much for joining us. I`ll give you a Christmas gift in person. And thank you for watching SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That`s it, I`m A.J. Hammer.
And I`m Brooke Anderson in New York tonight.
Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11s. 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific and in the mornings, 11:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific.
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