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Showbiz Tonight

Palin Fights Back Against the Media. Inauguration Fashion. Tom Cruise Speaks About Jett Travolta`s Death. President-Elect Obama Makes A 3- legged Dog a Star.

Aired January 09, 2009 - 23:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNNHN ANCHOR: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she`s back. Tonight a furious Sarah Palin is speaking out and naming names. Look out Tina Fey and Katie Couric. A mama grizzly rises up in me hearing things like that. Tonight Sarah Palin`s remarkable, brand new slams caught on camera. As SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask was Palin exploited by Fey and Couric?
Tonight, Tom Cruise`s powerful, tear-filled, emotional words about John Travolta`s tragedy. What Tom is saying about his friend and fellow scientologist after the death of John`s teenage son. And why Priscilla Presley is now getting in the middle of the Travolta scientology controversy.

Plus, how President-elect Barack Obama has turned a three-legged dog into a big star. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.

Hi there everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, the big news about Sarah`s slam. Yes, that Sarah, Sarah Palin. And her targets? Tina Fey and Katie Couric. Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal a remarkable, brand new interview with Palin that can best be summed up by saying, hey, Sarah, tell us how you really feel. From Tina Fey`s dead-on spoofs of Palin on "Saturday Night Live" to Katie Couric`s headline making interview with Palin during the presidential campaign, Sarah Palin is now telling all and what Sarah is saying is making big news right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ANDERSON (voice over): Did you think that defeated vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was going to fade into the background to run Alaska and hunt moose? Forget about it. As her alter ego said on "Saturday Night Live".

GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN, (R) ALASKA: You guys, I am not going anywhere.

ANDERSON: Because the real Sarah Palin has some scores to settle.

KIM SERAFIN, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Days away from the inauguration of Obama and we`re still talking about Sarah Palin.

ANDERSON: The Alaska governor is going after the two women many say are big reasons why Palin`s not moving to Washington. Tina Fey and Katie Couric.

BRETT ERLICH, "CURRENT TV" HOST: The things that people remember most about the election in regards to Sarah Palin are, one, the Katie Couric interview and the "Saturday Night Live" impressions of her by Tina Fey.

ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the woman who called herself a pit bull with lip stick now says,

PALIN: A mama grizzly rises up in me hearing things like that.

ANDERSON: In an interview with conservative documentary film maker, John Zigler portions of which he posted online Palin goes after Tina Fey who memorably skewered Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live.

TINA FEY, ACTRESS/COMEDIENNE: I believe marriage is meant to be a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers.

ANDERSON: That`s a reference to Palin`s teenage daughter Bristol who plans to marry the father of her new baby. When Zigler showed the real Palin Tina Fey`s joke, Palin roared and not with laughter.

PALIN: The mama grizzly rises up in me hearing things like that. You know, here again, cool, fine, come attack me, but when you make a suggestion like that, that certainly attacks a kid, that kills me. It kills me.

ANDERSON: Palin says she didn`t even know about Fey`s joke about her daughter when she later made her own "Saturday Night Live" appearance with Fey.

JOHN ZIGLER, FILMMAKER: Would you have gone to "Saturday Night Live" if you knew about that?

PALIN: I still would have gone on SNL because, you know, you`ve got to show that, one, you have to be able to laugh at yourself.

ANDERSON: Palin also takes a shot at "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric for those now infamous interviews with Palin.

PALIN: I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news.

ANDERSON: Even Palin herself now admits those interviews didn`t go well for her but Palin really went off when she watched a comment Couric made about her on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

KATIE COURIC, "CBS EVENING NEWS" ANCHOR: Even in the post election interviews, Dave, that she`s done, nobody has really asked her why didn`t you answer that question?

DAVID LETTERMAN, TALK SHOW HOST: Right.

PALIN: Because, Katie, you`re not the center of everybody`s universe. Maybe that`s why they didn`t think to ask that question when there are so many other things to be asked.

ANDERSON: Palin also suggests that Fey and Couric may have exploited her for their own benefit.

PALINE: I did see that Tina Fey was named entertainer of the year and Katie Couric`s ratings have risen. And I know a lot of people are capitalizing , I don`t know, I think perhaps some exploiting that was done via me, my family, my administration. That`s a little bit perplexing. It also says a great deal, though, about our society.

ANDERSON: Even if Palin is not the one being sworn in this month some say interviews like these are a good idea.

SERAFIN: The fact is, a lot of polls keep saying that people think of Sarah Palin as a contender for presidency in 2012. So I think it kind of makes sense for her to stay on the radar.

ANDERSON: So maybe this isn`t the last we`ll hear from Sarah Palin. And this self-described mama grizzly will roar again soon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON (on camera): So is Sarah Palin`s slam of Katie Couric and Tina Fey fair? Joining me now in New York, Jami Floyd who`s an anchor for "In Session" and Hollywood Carlos Diaz who`s a correspondent for "Extra". Jami, Carlos, great to see you both. And I want to take a look back at the moment Sarah Palin says she was offended by beginning with Tina Fey on SNL impersonate her. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDIO CLIP)

QUEEN LATIFA, ACTRESS/COMIDENNE: Governor Palin would you extend same sex rights to the entire country?

FEY: I believe marriage is meant to be a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Funny and obviously a reference to Palin`s then pregnant 18-year-old daughter and her boyfriend, Levi Johnson. Carlos, in retrospect, did Sarah Palin have reason to be offended?

CARLOS DIAZ, "EXTRA" CORRESPONDENT: No. No. Because they were right there at the Republican National Convention. They were right there in the spotlight. No, she doesn`t. Sarah, when you say, yes, I`ll become the vice president. I`ll try to go for vice president of this country, then your entire life, including your family, is put under the microscope. And, no. In retrospect you have no rights to be offended by that. This is actually kind of a witty joke. It`s a witty joke.

ANDERSON: You`re right. You do have to have a really thick skin when you put yourself out there like that. Jami Floyd, what do you think?

JAMI FLOYD, "IN SESSION" ANCHOR: I think you`ve got to have a thick skin and a pretty clean record. And that`s not just you. That`s your family and your associates. And look, it`s a shame. I think there are some really wonderful people who don`t get involved in politics because of the level of scrutiny but this story was out there. It wasn`t something that "Saturday Night Live" discovered or made up. They just took advantage of it and comedy is always irreverent and it can be somewhat cruel but once you put yourself out there as a public figure running for public office all bets are off.

ANDERSON: Yes, and that`s what "SNL" does. You`re right. And you know it is really interesting to hear Palin say this now because when she appeared on "SNL" herself everybody was being so pleasant, so cordial to one another but Sarah says in this new documentary interview that she did not know about that skit before she appeared on "SNL." watch what she said when asked if she would have still done "SNL" knowing about that particular skit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PALIN: I still would have gone on "SNL" because, you know, you`ve got to show that, one, you have to be able to laugh at yourself, also.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Carlos, why do you think she`s not laughing now? Has everything that happened during the campaign, you know, a little time has passed, let her think about it, maybe?

DIAZ: I truly feel sorry for Sarah Palin. I really do. I really do. Because here is a person, she`s literally a woman without a country because, you know, in this documentary if you watch the whole thing she talks about how the campaign wanted her to go back on with Katie Couric and she didn`t want to but the campaign made her. So obviously she was at odds with her own campaign and then of course she was at odds with the main stream media and everyone involved with the main stream media. And she was at odds with her family at times.

The thing is when you watch this, I feel sorry for her because basically there were so many people against her.

ANDERSON: Yes, you`re right. She was kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place many times. We all remember another low light of the campaign for Palin when she struggled to answer Katie Couric`s question about what newspapers she reads. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COURIC: Tell me specifically, I`m curious.

PALIN: All of them. Any of them that have been in front of me over all these years.

COURIC: Can you name them?

PALIN: I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news. Alaska isn`t a foreign country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: OK, now Palin admits in this new documentary interview that her answer was flippant, maybe too flippant, but, Jami, she took a beating for this. Was it the time to do damage control, back then, not now? Why didn`t she come out then?

FLOYD: Because she`s not telling the truth now. She wasn`t flippant. She doesn`t read the newspaper. That`s the bottom line. She didn`t have an answer because she doesn`t read a regular newspaper. If she did, she would have said what she reads, her hometown paper or a great national paper. Most of our leaders read several papers a day not to mention all of the online sources. I hate to say it but I don`t think she`s being genuine. Flippant is not the word. The answer was ignorant and it continues to be ignorant and she`s bringing it up all over again. Let people forget about it. Stop talking about it and maybe you`ll have a political future.

ANDERSON: Tough crowd.

FLOYD: Yes.

ANDERSON: Jami Floyd, Carlos Diaz, thank you both. See you later.

And now we want to hear from you. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Sarah Palin`s new interview. Did Tina Fey and Katie Couric exploit her? Vote CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Email us, the address Showbiztonight@CNN.com

Straight ahead Tom Cruise is speaking out about how his friend and fellow scientologist John Travolta is dealing with the tragedy of the death of his son. Wait until you hear Tom`s powerful and very emotional response to that and what he has to say about all the rumors about scientology. That`s still ahead.

Also, what should Michelle Obama wear on inauguration day?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have to look chic. You have to be representative of not only your husband`s administration but of the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Whatever the new first lady chooses to wear you can be sure people will be talking about it for weeks. We are looking into the ins and outs of first lady fashion. Plus, more in the showbiz Obama watch. How President-elect Barack Obama has made a three-legged dog a big star. You don`t want to miss that.

Hollywood`s getting ready for the Golden Globes this Sunday. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has been talking to the big stars about the big night. Here`s director Ron Howard. His movie "Frost Nixon" is up for five golden globes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON HOWARD, DIRECTOR: It`s not my favorite thing to put on the monkey suit and get out there but it`s a really, a joy to have that reason to set aside some time and get out there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERICAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER ANISTON, ACTRESS: There`s a lot we have to get out from under and I just have faith in him and in his attitude and what he has behind him and that-I think we just are all rooting for him. It`s not an easy task that he has ahead of him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: That was Jennifer Aniston talking about her hopes for President-elect Obama and his new administration. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Tonight the showbiz Obama watch is going full steam ahead to the inauguration. Tonight we are on a mission to answer the burning question that`s being asked around the country. What is Michelle Obama going to wear to the inauguration?

Michelle Obama has become an overnight fashion icon and while we`re sure that whatever she chooses will be spectacular, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going shopping for some suggestions. Here`s CNN`s Lola Oganifey for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(BEGIIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIDGET FOLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, and "WOMENS WEAR DAILY": You have to look chic, you have to be representative of not only your husband`s administration but of the country.

She`s already established an interest in and love for color so she has the luxury of being a little more flamboyant in her color choice.

TODD OKERSTROM, DIR. PERSONAL SHOPPING BERGDORF GOODMAN: I`ve got this vibe on red for this inauguration. I know it`s sort of republican.

LOLA OGANIFEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Even though it`s blue we may see a lot of red.

OKERSTROM: I think you`re going to see a lot of red.

FOLEY: This is a very interesting day because there are two brides. And during the afternoon, Barack Obama is the bride and it`s really all about him. People of course will pay attention to what Michelle Obama and her daughters are wearing but then come evening she`s the bride.

OGANIFEY: If you have to give a woman advice for this inauguration in particular given what`s going on in the economy, you would say, bring it down a thousand?

OKERSTROM: Yes, maybe 500. Let me indulge you.

OGANIFEY: Indulge me, indulge me.

OKERSTROM: Do you ever want to take it off?

OGANIFEY: No. Put it on me, honey.

OKERSTROM: I will. Let me get this buttoned.

OGANIFEY: Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up.

OKERSTROM: And It`s just like this little bit.

OGANIFEY: OK, see you later. Nice meeting you.

OGANIFEY: You don`t want to look like va va va voom. This is the inauguration.

OKERSTROM: So Beyonce`s worn these? What is underneath here? I`m lost! You could wear this to Al Gore`s green ball. So you just sit down, cross your leg and you`re like - Looks like candy, like I want to eat it, like a Skittle. Wow, I want to try this baby on.

OKERSTROM: All Right.

OGANIFEY: That looks like a good time.

OKERSTROM: I think that this should be a joyous celebration and the dressing should reflect that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Lola Oganifey for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and you know, all of those dresses were beautiful on Lola but my favorite, the last one, the black dress; so elegant and sophisticated. Woo, gorgeous.

All right, up next on the SHOWBIZ Obama watch. Barack Obama has been called a hero by many people but is he secretly a comic book super hero? The soon to be commander-in-chief joins forces with the amazing Spiderman to foil an inauguration day caper in a brand new comic book storyline. We won`t give the entire plot away but once the drama is all over, Spidey and Obama share a fist bump. Do you think they came up with a plan to save the economy? That would really make Obama a super hero.

I also want to let you know SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be right there in Washington for Barack Obama`s presidential inauguration. It is expected to be the most star studded one ever. SHOWBIZ at the inauguration right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

OK, the Atlanta students whose song "Dear Obama" even made Oprah take notice are now bona fide recording stars. A radio station in Atlanta set up students from the Ron Clark Academy with some free studio time to record the song. It`s great. Let`s listen to part of it.

(singing)

ANDERSON: Students hope radio stations will play the song and maybe they`ll even get to perform it for Obama. Last week Oprah sent a check for $365,000 for the great work being done by the school.

All right, the SHOWBIZ on call phone lines have been ringing off the hook with people calling about Patrick Swayze`s interview with Barbara Walters about his battle with pancreatic cancer.

We got a call from Pamela in Florida who says she can really relate to Patrick`s struggle.

PAMELA, CALLER FROM FLORIDA: Patrick, you are an inspiration to me. I`m battling cancer also. Inoperable. And I`ve watched the movie "Ghost." I cry every time at the end. You go boy. You`ve got it beat. I could tell the determination in your voice and you are an inspiration to me.

ANDERSON: Thank you, Pamela. Good luck to you. We also heard from Tammy in Texas who, like so many of our callers wanted to wish Patrick well.

TAMMY, CALLER FROM TEXAS: I`m 70 years old. And I hope in about five years that Patrick Swayze can give me "Dirty Dancing" lessons. God bless you, our prayers are with you, Patrick. Thank you so much for that, Tammy. Hey, give us a call at SHOWBIZ on call with your messages for Patrick Swayze or let us know anything else that is on your mind. The showbiz on call phone lines are open all the time 24/7. Give us a ring. 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. That`s 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voicemail. We will play some of your calls here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And listen to this, your calls to SHOWBIZ on call are also now on line. That`s on our home page CNN.com/Showbiztonight.

Straight ahead Tom Cruise is speaking out about his friend and fellow scientologist John Travolta`s tragedy. Wait until you hear tom`s powerful and very emotional response to the death of John`s son and what he`s got to say about all the rumors about scientology. That is still ahead.

Also, they`re back. Sarah Palin and Joe the plumber back in the spotlight. Is it November again?

Sarah`s brand new blockbuster interview, plus Joe the plumber`s new gig as a war correspondent. And also this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: From behind she looks a-okay. But this is a story that has legs -- three of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Tonight in the showbiz Obama watch how President-elect Barack Obama has turned a cute three-legged dog into a huge star. You will not want to miss this.

And now the SHOWBIZ news ticker. More stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROSARIO DAWSON, ACTRESS: The eyes of history are on us. We have done something very significant by electing this man. Now it`s time to really do something really significant and show that we`re all in it together.

ANDERSON: And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. It is time now for the showbiz Obama watch. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there at the Critics` Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California Thursday night. Take a look. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie among the big stars showing up. We just had to ask Angelina about her hopes for Barack Obama ahead of his presidential inauguration. Angelina as you know is very involved in foreign relations as a U.N. Good Will Ambassador. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: There are so many big things he has to tackle that it`s hard to, you know, I mean, I think the American economy, you know, just somehow help it recover. But I don`t know if there are any answers and I don`t know if it`s going to slide much further worse before it gets better. I`m certainly not an economist but I think, you know, that, I don`t --I have many, many thoughts, on Afghanistan, you know, Gaza strip, you know, just the hope that he keeps a level head because he has a lot to do and gets the right people around him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Angelina tells us that she, Brad, and their family won`t be at Barack`s inauguration. They will be watching though on television. I can tell you that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be there in Washington. It`s expected to be the most star-studded inauguration ever. SHOWBIZ at the inauguration right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

Right now here are more stories new right now. Ryan O`Neal has pleaded guilty to a felony drug possession charge. He`s agreed to enter an 18-month drug deferment program. If he successfully completes counseling, the case against him will be dismissed. His lawyer has said that drugs found in O`Neal`s house belonged to his son, Redmond, who has battled drug addiction for years. The case against 23-year-old Redmond will take place at a later date.

Former "Sopranos" actor Lelo Broncato Jr. has been sentenced to ten years in prison for an alleged botched burglary. During the crime an accomplice killed an off-duty police officer. Broncato was acquitted in the death but convicted of attempted burglary. Prosecutors say they broke into an apartment in the Bronx. The officer lived next door and went to investigate.

Coming up, Tom Cruise is speaking out about his friend and fellow scientologist, John Travolta`s tragedy. Wait until you hear tom`s powerful and very emotional response to the death of john`s son and what he`s got to say about all the rumors about scientology. Still ahead.

Also, they`re back. Sarah Palin and Joe the plumber are back in the spotlight. Is it November again? Sarah`s brand new blockbuster interview, plus Joe the plumber`s new gig as a war correspondent. Huh? Also this.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: From behind she looks a-okay. But this is a story that has legs. Three of them.

ANDERSON: Tonight in the showbiz Obama watch how President-elect Barack Obama has turned a three-legged dog into a big star. You will not want to miss it. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Tom Cruise on the Travolta tragedy. Tonight Tom speaks out in an emotional, brand new interview about the death of John Travolta`s 16-year-old son, Jett. Plus Tom defends his and Travolta`s religion, scientology.

And, first, it was Lisa Marie Presley getting angry. Now Lisa`s mom Priscilla is in the middle of a scientology controversy.

The presidential election cast of characters returns. Tonight Sarah Palin is back slamming Tina Fey and Katie Couric. Joe the plumber, now a war correspondent? What is going on here? TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.

Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood. Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s continuing coverage of the Travolta tragedy. Tom cruise`s emotional interview about the Travoltas is making big news right now. In a brand new interview with the ladies of "The View" an emotional Cruise talks lovingly about his dear friend and clears the air about the church of scientology`s medical practices.

Also new right now, Priscilla Presley speaks out in defense of the Travolta`s and backs her daughter Lisa Marie`s angry online plea against scientology bashing.

Joining me tonight in New York, Katrina Szish who is a celebrity journalist and in Hollywood, Janelle Snowden who is a host for VH1 news. Welcome Katrina, welcome Janelle. I want to begin with Tom Cruise, who is, perhaps, the best known scientologist in Hollywood. In a brand new interview, Tom got extremely emotional talking about the Travolta`s. He even cleared the air about the wild speculation that scientology practices may have affected how the Travolta`s cared for their son. Listen to what he said on "The View" when Barbara Walters asked him if scientologists don`t believe in medical care when people get sick.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: No. That`s not true. It`s actually just not true. It`s actually the opposite where you, you know, they say, look. Get your physical -- get medication. Get your physical illnesses handled. It`s actually the exact opposite.

BARBARA WALTERS, ANCHOR "THE VIEW": Go to a doctor if you need to.

CRUISE: Look and these people are - I have to you. You all know him and you see him and Kelly and they`re -- no one -- no one, you know. It`s just horrible. They`re people that they -- I remember Jett when he was born and, you know, I saw him when he was a few months old and John just adored him and he-- both of his children, and Kelly. So it`s something that, you know, I don`t have the words for it.

WALTERS: Well, you know, we appreciate what you`re saying to us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: So eloquently said. But at times have really changed for Tom. Used to be when he talked about scientology it was controversial. Now it`s informative. Janelle, this is just another example of the new Tom Cruise, isn`t it?

JANELLE SNOWDEN, HOST VH1 NEWS: I think it is. I think Tom`s in a tough place. We know obviously know he`s a passionate guy. Anything that he loves he likes to defend and protect and really discuss. I mean, of course, we all know about the couch jumping incident but I think it`s in keeping with his character. Naturally scientology is something he obviously feels deeply about but I think he`s getting back on top. There was a time I remember talking about a poll here on CNN as to whether or not people would want to go and see his next movie and most said no but here he has a hit with "Valkyrie" and I think he`s trying to keep up the momentum and not be the poster boy for scientology anymore.

ANDERSON: Katrina, what do you think? We really are seeing the new and improved, gentler Tom Cruise aren`t we?

KATRINA SZISH, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: Absolutely. Even by just by listening to the tone of his voice, the way he`s speaking, he`s calm. He`s confident with the information that he`s sharing with the audience, with the hosts of "The View" and I think that really shows a confidence in his own image and his image has definitely returned to sort of the old Tom Cruise that we knew in the past, the old Tom Cruise that we love. And this kinder, gentler Tom Cruise is definitely one who will rise to the top of everyone`s fan list and also the top of the box office as we`ve seen.

ANDERSON: All right. Well, you know, the scientology discussion has been shadowing the Travolta tragedy from the very beginning. Earlier this week, Lisa Marie Presley went on an online rant defending the Travolta`s and telling people really, to focus on the grieving family rather than on their beliefs in scientology. Well, Lisa Marie`s mother Priscilla Presley just went on "Larry King Live" on CNN and said she read the blog and agreed 100 percent and she defended the Travolta`s as well. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRISCILLA PRESLEY: I don`t feel, first of all, that we should all, you know -- let them be together. And let them, you know, be supported by their family and friends. That`s how you cope. Everyone is on them and trying to get feedback when they should just be left alone and let them decide when they want to come out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Priscilla obviously very protective of the Travolta`s. Is it fair to say that the majority have been respectful during this really awful time?

SNOWDEN: I guess it`s fair to say. I think everyone has a natural curiosity with how they`re doing. It`s one of the most horrific tragedies you can imagine and because John Travolta has been such a mainstay on the big screen for so many years for those of us that have grown up watching him we sort of feel like he`s part of our family. And so you want to know how he`s doing but at the same time people have been sort of respectful enough to let him grieve. Everybody deals with it differently. And now is not the time for him to come forth and let everybody know he`s okay. He`s not okay.

ANDERSON: No, no one could be in that situation. Katrina, would you agree that for the most part the Travolta`s have been treated maybe properly and with sensitivity and respect?

SZISH: I think for the most part they have. I mean, of course, there are always those people who are always looking to turn a tragedy, especially with celebrities into a full blown scandal. But I think for the most part both the fans and the peers of the Travolta family respect them so very much and probably think a little bit about how they would feel if their family was going through a similar tragedy and, really, the love that has been showed to them really has been positive and those negative people should just be quiet for a while and go away. But there have only been a few.

ANDERSON: Hopefully, yes, hopefully they will go away. Katrina Szish, Janelle Snowden. Thank you both. Good to see you.

SZISH: You, too.

ANDERSON: You know, it seems like ages ago that just about every day we were talking about Sarah Palin. Well, it`s actually only been a couple of months since the big vote but tonight I can tell you these election cast of characters are back in full force. You`ve got Palin in a brand new interview slamming Tina Fey and Katie Couric. You`ve even got Joe the plumber now a war correspondent. Are you kidding me? That`s next. And also this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: From behind she looks a-okay. But this is a story that has legs -- three of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: This is really incredible. Tonight, I`ve got the story of how President-elect Barack Obama helped make this cute, three-legged dog a big star. This dog even has its own book and song. Incredible.

Hey, let`s throw a dancing wolf into this dog mix shall we? I`m talking about CNN`s Wolf Blitzer. You have to see this. Wolf busts a move and gets a very important gift from Ellen DeGeneres that will help him as he covers Barack Obama`s inauguration.

It`s time for the SHOWBIZ news ticker. More stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PALIN: I know that a lot of people are capitalizing on, I don`t know, I think perhaps exploiting that was done via me, my family, my administration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Tonight Sarah Palin returns in a brand new interview, Palin speaks out about how she really feels about Tina Fey and Katie Couric. And let me tell you, she does not hold back one bit. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight they`re back. I`m talking about Sarah Palin and Joe the plumber. Both are back in the news and stirring up some major controversy.

First, Sarah slammed. Sarah Palin says Katie Couric and Tina Fey have been exploiting her and now she`s getting feisty. Why Palin says Tina Fey brought out the mama grizzly in her.

Also tonight, Joe the plumber gets a new gig. He`s putting down the plunger and picking up a reporter`s notebook and heading to a war zone. Just wait until you hear those details. Joining me tonight in New York, Jami Floyd who`s an anchor for "In Session" and in Hollywood Carlos Diaz who`s a correspondent for "Extra." Jami, Carlos, welcome to you both. And we start tonight with Sarah Palin. She gave a very candid, very feisty interview with conservative radio talk show host and film maker John Zigler. She spoke out some of her headline making beefs during her run for vice president including those with Katie Couric, Tina Fey, and what she says is the liberal media. Carlos, were you surprised to hear what she really thinks?

DIAZ: Yeah I do, and I`m not -- listen, if you`re a big Sarah Palin supporter I`m sorry for what I`m about to say, OK? But I thought it was completely off base. She seemed angry and, you know what? You have to lose graciously. I mean, John McCain, you know, he lost the election. You don`t see him pointing fingers and yelling and screaming and this and that. She`s out there blaming the liberal media, blaming Katie Couric, telling the world that the universe doesn`t revolve around Katie Couric when the bottom line is Katie Couric asked a simple question, what newspapers do you read? What do you read? And she didn`t answer it. She didn`t answer that question. And now after she`s lost she`s wanting to, like, point fingers at everybody.

ANDERSON: Well, I want to talk specifically about her botched interview with Katie Couric. We all remember one particularly uncomfortable moment when Palin did stammer through that question that you mentioned, Carlos, about what newspaper she reads. Well, you`ve got to hear Palin`s reaction after she watched Couric`s snarky comments to David Letterman about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COURIC: Even in the post election interviews, Dave, that she`s done, nobody has really asked her, why didn`t you answer that question?

LETTERMAN: Right.

PALIN: Because, Katie, you`re not the center of everybody`s universe. Maybe that`s why they didn`t think to ask that question when there are so many other things to be asked. To me, he question to me was more along the lines of do you read? What do you guys do up there? What is it that you read? And perhaps I was just too flippant in my answer back to her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Jami, does it sound to you as if Sarah Palin has regrets or is she still just spitting mad over the whole ordeal?

FLOYD: I think she has regrets and she`s spitting mad over the whole ordeal. And I have a comeback to that. The world doesn`t revolve around Sarah Palin either especially now that she`s lost so I think it`s time as Carlos suggests, grow up and shut up. The election is over. John McCain has been gracious. In fact he`s been appropriately absent except when called upon to serve by our President-elect and that`s what Sarah Palin needs to do. This just reinforces what I think voters knew. She`s just not ready for primetime.

ANDERSON: Well, you know, Sarah was also insulted when she watched this next clip of Tina Fey on "Saturday Night Live." take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FEY: I believe marriage is meant to be a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZIGLER: How does that make you feel?

PALIN: A mama grizzly rises up in me hearing things like that. You know, here again, cool, fine. Come attack me. But when you make a suggestion like that, that certainly attacks a kid. That kills me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: OK, she`s a protective mother and she did go on to say that even in light of that clip she is glad that she went on "Saturday Night Live" because it`s important to poke fun at yourself. Carlos, still, it does sound like she`s having a hard time seeing the humor this time around. And I also want to say isn`t that the difference? You and Jami both say that, you know, John McCain has handled things a little bit differently but Sarah Palin`s family was brought into the whole mix there.

DIAZ: But that`s not the first time that`s happened. Remember when Madonna went on "SNL" and sang happy birthday to Phil Hartman as Bill Clinton? The skit ended with Madonna hitting on Chelsea Clinton. I mean, the family is always brought into it in some way or another. I honestly think Sarah`s just got sour grapes in this situation and she does need to go away and stop talking about this. And a very interesting point in that conversation that she had in this recent interview. She said that she didn`t know they made fun of the teenagers in this situation. So she didn`t know that before she went on "SNL." She didn`t know that. How can you not know that? How do you not know that?

ANDERSON: Well, she had other things to do. She was busy and I think now that the whirl wind is over, a little time has passed it is sinking in bit by bit. But you guys; we can talk about this all day but I want to move to our next story. Joe the plumber back in the news with a brand spanking new job, new year, new profession, from plumber or whatever he used to be, to war reporter. Everybody`s talking about it including the ladies of "The View." take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHOOPIE GOLDBERG, ANCHOR "THE VIEW": So you don`t really need experience to go be a journalist.

JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Look, it doesn`t take a genius to start a war. So it doesn`t take a genius to cover a war.

ELISABETH HASSELBACK: People truly related to him, I think, during this election. I think he`ll actually offer something . And the guys` there who are giving their life so that we can even talk about it will feel comfortable talking to him and they`ll be able to transfer their words back to us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Jami, very quickly, who`s team are you on? Team Joy or team Elisabeth.

FLOYD: I`m on the team that says Joe the plumber or whatever he is needs to go away. Is this guy kidding? Reporters can`t even get into this war zone. How does he think he`s getting in there? Is he going to crawl through the pipes? I don`t get.

ANDERSON: I want to see what his reports are like. It will be interesting to say the least. Jami Floyd, Carlos Diaz, we`ll leave it there. Thank you both.

We`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ question of the day. Sarah Palin`s new interview; did Tina Fey and Katie Couric exploit her? Keep voting at CNN.com/Showbiztonight. Send us an email, there`s the address. Showbiztonight@CNN.com.

Well, the jury is still out on Sarah Palin being exploited but nobody seems to be making a fuss about all the people cashing in on Barack Obama. From commemorative plates to books and don`t forget those countless magazine covers. But did you see this? The President-elect posing on a magazine with a three-legged poster child? Well, I guess poster dog might be more like it. It`s a remarkable story. You`ve just got to see to believe it. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: From behind she looks a-okay. This is a story that has legs; three of them. Her name is Baby.

JANE KOHL, AUTHOR: I swear to you that Baby`s toes smell like fresh, hot popcorn.

MOOS: But that`s not her latest claim to fame. This is, the cover of "The American Dog" magazine in the arms of Barack obama.

KOHL: They bonded, yes. They definitely bonded.

MOOS: Now, Baby is not destined to become the first three-legged first dog. The Obama`s have expressed a preference for a shelter dog.

PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA: A lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me.

MOOS: Animal activists like Baby`s owner are thrilled. Baby, tattoo number 94 was rescued from a so-called puppy mill where dogs are sometimes caged 24 hours a day for breeding. She was debarked.

KOHL: They stuck a scissors down baby`s throat and they cut out her vocal cords. So they wouldn`t have to be annoyed listening to the dogs barking.

MOOS: And lost her leg from being caged and constantly bred. But the poodle has become a star. With her own book and her own theme song.

She had her own bus tour, did talk shows, posed with celebs ranging from Jane Fonda to Patti Labelle.

KOHL: We have a plush toy in Baby`s likeness.

MOOS: With three legs, sure, there are more famous dogs with even fewer limbs. For instance Faith whose owners trained her to walk like this by holding peanut butter above her. Another two legged rescue dog`s (inaudible) have been set to music on the web. And Dominic here does stairs. Something Baby is only now starting to master. But baby has legislation named after her, introduced in congress aimed at puppy mill.

KOHL: They let them out of their cages for 16 minutes of exercise a day which is in mind, a baby step.

MOOS: Well, the anti puppy mill folks do have a bone to pick with Vice-President Elect Joe Biden.

KOHL: We were upset.

MOOS: Upset that he recently got a German shepherd pup from a breeder rather than a shelter. But Biden`s spokesperson says he`s got a 100 percent rating from the humane society and plans on getting his next dog from a shelter. Baby will be panting down the administration`s neck and be sure they walk the walk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Well, even if Barack Obama doesn`t know which dog he will pick yet, he can always hang with a wolf. I`m talking about CNN`s own Wolf Blitzer; you have got to see this. What Ellen DeGeneres is giving Wolf to help him cover Barack`s inauguration. Wolf busts out some pretty funky dance moves too.

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back. Hang tight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. It is time now for making it work. This is our ongoing look about secrets of how Hollywood couples make their relationships work, which as we know doesn`t seem to be easy. Tonight actor Liev Schereiber. He and Naomi Watts have been together since 2005. Just welcomed their second child; another baby boy. So when we spoke with Liev while he was promoting his new film "Defiance" we had to ask, how do he and Naomi juggle their kids and their careers?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIEV SCHREIBER, ACTOR: Fortunately, Naomi and I are both show people so we have no hesitancy about traveling with our child. So he`s going to get that circus life with us. Some people don`t like it, but I was really proud of the fact that, you know, by the time Sasha was eight months old, had he already been to ten countries. You know when you play that game at school when you are a little kid, what countries have you been to? My kid is going to be on top of the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And it sounds like their new child, Samuel, will do pretty well with that game as well. By the way, "Defiance" opens everywhere next Friday.

Well, CNN`s own Wolf Blitzer is a guy who has visited many countries but tonight Ellen DeGeneres is making sure that Wolf is prepared for a big event here in the U.S. Did you see this?

Woo, he`s got the moves. Let`s call that the Wolf waltz. Wolf Blitzer doing a little dancing on Ellen. Now Ellen also had some very useful gifts for him. In case things get cold while Wolf covers Barack Obama`s inauguration in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": I just want to make sure that you`re taken care of because I care for you.

WOLF BLITZTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you.

DEGENERES: So we want to give you some Ellen ear muffs.

BLITZER: Thank you.

DEGENERES: One of a kind.

BLITZER: Can I keep this?

DEGENERES: Of course. Ellen mittens.

BLITZER: Good, perfect.

DEGENERES: This is my personal - I`m giving you mine. This is an Ellen flask.

BLITZER: Very nice.

DEGENERES: And then of course, the Ellen color, the muffler. You can put it around.

BLITZER: Very nice. I`m not sharing this with Anderson Cooper.

DEGENERES: No, no. You don`t need to. He can get his own stuff.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Oh, sorry about that Anderson. Maybe next time. By the way, Wolf also tells Ellen that since he`s from Buffalo, New York, he`s not worried about the cold. You can see the rest of Wolf Blitzer on Ellen on Monday. Check those local listings. And that`s a wrap for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN on the 11th. 11 pm Eastern and Pacific and in the morning 11 am Eastern. Take care.

END