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Showbiz Tonight
The Octomom`s Remarkable Turnabout; The Octomom Sets the Record Straight; Chris Brown-Rihanna Deal?; The Disturbing Backlash Against Rihanna; Dennis Quaid`s Heartbreaking Revelations on "Oprah"
Aired March 10, 2009 - 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 incredible deal to rescue the octomom and her eight babies. Brand new octomom drama after an explosive appearance today on "Dr. Phil." Tonight, the octomom`s remarkable about-face.
Plus an exclusive look inside her new home and what neighbors are saying about her. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, with the late-breaking, octodrama developments.
A blockbuster in the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama. Wait until you hear what Brown`s camp is now saying about a reported $10 million deal between him and Rihanna. Plus, the disturbing backlash against Rihanna. Parents ripping down Rihanna posters. Young fans getting rid of her music.
But tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask - is the backlash against Rihanna fair?
Plus, Dennis Quaid`s heartbreaking revelations to Oprah about his emotional return to the hospital where his babies almost died.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, Dr. Phil`s octomom rescue.
HAMMER: Yes. Call it the octodeal. In an unbelievable hour of television seen nationwide today, the octomom told all on "Dr. Phil`s" show and she did a complete about-face and finally agreed to accept an offer to provide around-the-clock care of her eight babies.
But wait, there`s more. The octomom took on every rumor about her, from the reported offer she got to star in a porn movie to whether she is planning to do a reality show. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the late breaking developments making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL MCGRAW, HOST, "DR. PHIL SHOW": Nadya is accepting a generous offer from Angels in Waiting.
HAMMER (voice-over): On his talk show, Dr. Phil, joined by octomom Nadya Suleman revealed to the world that after a lot of back-and-forth and controversy, she is finally accepting some super-sized child care help from a nonprofit group, Angels in Waiting.
MCGRAW: A new offer from Angels in Waiting to provide 24/7 professional wrap-around care for not just the eight, but all 14 of Nadya`s children. How do you feel about all this?
NADYA SULEMAN, OCTUPLET MOTHER: Extremely excited and relieved. A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
HAMMER: A dramatic turnabout from just a few weeks ago when the octomom turned down the help as everyone wondered, what could this unemployed mother of 14 possibly be thinking? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT now brings you the story behind the story and the octomom`s about-face.
The nonprofit group Angels in Waiting tells "People" magazine they will provide Nadya Suleman, free of charge, with 14 nurses a day, working four to five hours at a time to care for Suleman`s kids. Including the octuplets whom we see Nadya visiting at the hospital in this brand-new video from "Radar Online."
But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, Dr. Phil says this super-sized new child care arrangement didn`t come without some arm-twisting.
MCGRAW: I felt like somebody had to step up, provide some leadership here.
HAMMER: Guess who that somebody was? The good doctor says he stepped in after Nadya turned down Angels in Waiting`s initial offer and the group`s attorney celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred responded by complaining to Child Welfare officials.
MCGRAW: There was a lot of mistrust among the parties and it was time to overcome the misunderstandings.
HAMMER: So Phil talked to both sides while guest-hosting CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE." And behind closed doors at CNN`s own offices, he got everybody to agree to talk to each other later at his house. Phil showed video of that meeting on his show.
MCGRAW: This is a generous and relevant offer. And as a fiduciary, you have to put your ego aside, your turf considerations aside, how you are perceived aside and say, "What`s the best thing I can do for my children?"
N. SULEMAN: Right. The only concern I have, one concern, is the upbringing of my kids.
HAMMER: So now, the deal is sealed. And Nadya will get the help she needs. She tells Phil she is grateful.
N. SULEMAN: This makes me feel like everything is falling into place.
HAMMER: And not only is Suleman getting help caring for her kids, she is getting a new home in which to raise them. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you this video of Nadya and the kids` new crib. The four-bedroom home will replace the smaller three-bedroom home owned by Nadya`s mother where they currently live.
And if you are wondering how an unemployed single mother of 14 can afford this $500,000 dollar house.
HARVEY LEVIN, TMZ: Who says being an octomom doesn`t pay?
HAMMER: TMZ`s Harvey Levin tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT even though Nadya`s dad reportedly is listed as the official buyer, Nadya is footing the bill, thanks to her new found fame.
LEVIN: As it was put to me, she is putting a substantial amount down. She has been raking in a lot of dough and that`s how she is paying for this.
HAMMER: In fact, on the Dr. Phil show, Nadya, for the first, time admits that she has been making money off the octuplet-mania by licensing pictures of the kids.
N. SULEMAN: There are a certain couple little opportunities to earn some fund for my children, to put in escrow for the house. We`re going to put it in their trust fund and to pay for nannies. That was my ultimate goal.
(to her child): I love you. Bye-bye.
HAMMER: So with at least some of the octuplets set to come home from the hospital any day now, Nadya`s new house and her new helpers might be enough to convince people that the octomom might be able to pull this off after all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So, it`s Dr. Phil to the octomom`s rescue. But does this mean the octomom got the wake-up call she needed.
Joining me tonight in New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL." You can watch that show weekday nights, 7:00 p.m. right here on HLN, that`s Eastern Time. And tonight in Atlanta, Judge Penny Brown Reynolds from the TV show, "Family Court with Judge Penny."
Jane Velez-Mitchell, my good friend, I`m off to you first on this because this is the first time I am feeling hopeful about the situation. Why do you think the change of heart now? Did Dr. Phil really give her the wake-up call that the octomom needed?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": A.J., I am starting to think octomom Nadya Suleman is a lot smarter and more sophisticated than any of us gave her credit for.
Let`s face it, she has gotten everything she`s wanted. She has the 14 babies. It looks like they will probably be able to come home with her now.
She has got this spanking brand-new house worth more than $500,000. She is world famous. And she has even got Dr. Phil working for her, arranging this deal with Angels in Waiting that`s worth estimated $135,000 a month. So, some have called her crazy. I think she`s crazy like a fox.
HAMMER: Yes. You look at the big picture. It`s kind of wild. As you said, Dr. Phil is working for her now. A little bit strange to hear that, but hey, it`s for the good of the kids and I`m all for that.
As you mentioned, not only has the octomom accepted the help, she told Dr. Phil about this house you mention. She bought it. She is closing on it. She hopes to have it set up in a few days. So the hospital will be able to release her eight newborns. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCGRAW: Are any of the children ready to be released from the hospital?
N. SULEMAN: Four are ready. But they never send more than two at a time home.
MCGRAW: So four are ready.
N. SULEMAN: Are ready.
MCGRAW: But will they release them?
N. SULEMAN: They will in a few days when it is completely ready. And they`re going to have the social worker and inspector come out from the hospital to make sure everything is prepared and safe.
MCGRAW: OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Prepared and safe. About time. Judge Penny, of to you. Are you with me? Kind of seems like the octomom may have turned a corner here.
JUDGE PENNY BROWN-REYNOLDS, HOST, "FAMILY COURT WITH JUDGE PENNY": Yes, I think she has taken a good first step. But there is a whole lot more that she is going to have to do. The number one thing that any parent has to do is to provide a safe environment.
But she is still responsible for raising 14 children. And the Department of Agriculture says it takes about $200,000 to raise a child to age 17. She is going to need about $2.9 million. So she has a long way to go. But the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. I think she`s made a first good step.
HAMMER: And as she mentioned to Dr. Phil, she has, at least, taken in some money because of the kids. We mention that the octomom`s new house is in her dad`s name but she says what she has done is taken a few opportunities, sold a couple photos of the kids to raise some money to pay for the house, even set up a trust fund for the kids. I think that is a pretty good sign.
What do you think, Jane? In that case, is it OK for her to pay for the house and take care of a few bills by, you know, selling a few photos?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, A.J., OK is a relative term. The 14 babies are here. They have to be fed. They have to live somewhere. So this mom, at this point, has got to do what she has got to do.
And I guess, selling some photos of her infants is the least pernicious alternative. What I was really worried about was a reality show that would subject these kids to exploitation for many, many years. Angels in Waiting reportedly was very adamantly against participating in any of that.
HAMMER: Right.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That may have been a sticking issue. And let`s hope it`s been resolved where there is no reality show.
HAMMER: Well, it looks like she actually may be living in reality even if there is no show. Because the question that everybody wanted answered - and I think this was very telling. Everybody is asking, if she had to do it all over again, would she have chose to have all those kids with the six at home. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
N. SULEMAN: My heart was in it, not my head. I wasn`t thinking as rationally. YOU KNOW, in retrospect, would I have done that again? I don`t know.
MCGRAW: So you get that that is not - it was not a prudent thing to do?
N. SULEMAN: No. It wasn`t a realistic thing to do. It was irrational at the time, looking back. But then, I was really reluctant to state that because I didn`t want people to think, "You don`t want the babies. You don`t love them. That`s not true."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. I think that`s incredible. Judge Penny, 10 seconds, little late to have the revelation now, but you see where she is coming from?
REYNOLDS: I absolutely see where she is coming from. And I am happy to hear that she finally got it. At 33 years old, it is good to know that she really realized that having 14 babies and you have to take care of them for the rest of your life was maybe not the best choice.
HAMMER: Yes. Let`s hope now that she keeps her feet firmly planted on the ground. Judge Penny Reynolds and Jane Velez-Mitchell, I thank you both.
And don`t go anywhere because coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - the "Octomom Rumor Patrol." We are separating fact from fiction about the octomom`s million-dollar porn offer and whether or not a reality show is in the works. More on that. It is not to be missed.
ANDERSON: A.J., there are explosive new developments tonight in the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama.
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. Wait until you hear what Brown`s camp is now saying about a reported $10 million deal with Rihanna.
Plus, parents. Man, they`re just outraged saying Rihanna is just sending a terrible message by staying with Chris. Coming up, we`re asking, is the backlash against Rihanna unfair?
ANDERSON: Also Dennis Quaid opens up to Oprah Winfrey about his emotional return to the hospital where his newborn babies almost died. His heartbreaking revelations, coming up.
And we`ll also have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My personal favorite, I think, is the hotdog encased in French fries. I have fantasies about that one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Ah, yes. The old French fry-encrusted hotdog. And that, my friend, just the beginning. Wait until we take you on an artery-clogging tour of a deliciously disgusting Web site that features adventures in food. You`ve got to see the chocolate covered bacon. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
ANDERSON: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Anne Heche`s divorce settlement finalized; Heche will pay ex $515,000. Rebecca Romijn joins cast of ABC`s "Eastwick.")
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RACHEL RAY, TV PERSONALITY: We need how to go back to the way our grandparents prepared food instead of buying pieces of chicken, buy a whole chicken. You make that on Sunday. Take the leftovers. Roll that into fajitas, soups, stews, make your own stock. You`ve got to start thinking in bigger increments.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That`s Rachel Ray on CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE" with a great tip on how to feed your family on a budget.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, did you see this? People eat that? Rachel Ray has the goods on how to feed your family in a bad economy.
But I can tell you, there is a food Web site where money is no object. And come to think of it, health isn`t really much of a consideration either. Chocolate-covered bacon, anyone?
Here is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): If you`re eating, stop. Instead, feast your eye on a sloppy Joe on a glazed Krispy Kreme. Gravy pizza.
JESSICA AMISON, "THIS IS WHY YOU`RE FAT": My personal favorite, I think, is the hot dog encased in French fries. I have fantasies about that.
RICHARD BLAKELY, "THIS IS WHY YOU`RE FAT": This one is brilliant. It`s a pizza and the crust is made out of hamburger meat. Is that not genius?
MOOS: These are the two geniuses that dreamed up the new Web site, "This is Why You`re Fat."
AMISON: Where dreams become heart attacks.
MOOS: Chocolate-covered bacon, anyone? Or maybe you prefer a pink sandwich.
AMISON: Four packages of cream cheese, strawberry cream cheese around a loaf of bread.
MOOS: The Manhattan couple, Jessica Amison and Richard Blakely are asking for your deliciously gross submissions.
AMISON: If it doesn`t make us go "ugh" in the first five seconds, there`s some cheese on it.
BLAKELY: The epitome of this Web site, I think, can be summed up in the pizza burger.
MOOS: A bacon cheeseburger slapped between two pizzas. Connoisseurs even put it to music.
MOOS: Fried stuff on a stick is popular from deep fried Tootsie Rolls to deep fried white castle cheeseburgers. And bacon is big.
AMISON: Bacon, meat loaf, mac and cheese.
MOOS: Bacon donut, bacon ice cream, bacon chocolate chip cookies. Bacon- flavored spread called "Baconnaise" that Jon Stewart recently used as a dip for pancake and sausage on a stick.
JON STEWART, COMEDIAN: That`s what I like to do.
MOOS: When "Saturday Night Live" did a bit making fun of Ever More layered tacos wrapped in pizza.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it`s not a taco town taco until we roll it up in a blueberry pancake. Dip it in batter and deep fry it until it`s golden brown.
MOOS: Somebody took SNL`s recipe and actually made it. And then, there was the delicacy copied from "Weird Al" Yankovic.
"WEIRD AL" YANKOVIC, COMEDIAN: A Twinkie wiener sandwich. Your favorite.
MOOS: Even we are capable of using a Twinkie as a bun for a wiener and drizzling it with Cheese Whiz.
(on camera): Cheers.
AMISON: All right. Cheers!
BLAKELY: I can`t eat this!
MOOS (voice over): He`s a vegetarian. The Twinkie wiener sandwich wasn`t so bad. Is this story making you hungry?
BLAKELY: Yes. That`s a fair favorite.
AMISON: There it is.
MOOS (on camera): I hear your stomach growling. I heard that.
(voice over): One man`s groan is another man`s growl.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke. Moving on now, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have just been lit up with a lot of people calling in about all the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama.
That`s right, A.J.. We got a call to "Showbiz on Call" from Reece who takes issue with the fact that so many people are defending Chris Brown. Listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
REECE, CALLER: My comment is in response to several comments that I have heard about Rihanna and Chris Brown to the effect of, "They`re young. They`re human. They need to live their lives."
And I just think that comments like this are condoning this type of action. You know, having been a victim of verbal and physical abuse myself, the fact is that abusers continue to abuse. And this type of thing affects generations.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Reece, thank you for that. We also heard from Julius calling in to "Showbiz on Call" from Ohio.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JULIUS, CALLER FROM OHIO: I believe that there needs to be a supportive voice for Chris - Chris Brown that is. I believe that he is in the prime, early time of his life being 19 years old. Mistakes can be made.
He needs to be taught that this is not the proper way to act. But it needs to be support there to show him this is not a way a man should treat a lady. This is the time that he needs support.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thanks, Julius. And give us a call at "Showbiz on Call." And let us know what you think or anything else that is on your mind.
HAMMER: The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open all the time. Here is the number - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail when you give us a call. We`ll play your call right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And we`ll also post your call right there on our homepage CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Brooke, the octomom setting the record straight.
ANDERSON: She certainly is, A.J.. Just today, Nadya Suleman talked about whether she is going to do a reality show and that offer for her to be in a porn movie. Hear from octomom herself, coming up, as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes on "Rumor Patrol."
HAMMER: Also, explosive brand new developments in the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama. Wait until you hear what Brown`s camp is saying about a reported $10 million deal with Rihanna.
Plus, parents are just outraged. They`re ripping down posters of Rihanna, taking her music away from their kids. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, is the backlash against Rihanna totally unfair?
ANDERSON: Plus Julia Roberts` fantasy involving President Barack Obama. You have got to hear what she told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Showbiz ratings news: Second episode of "Celebrity Apprentice" drops 21 percent from debut. "Desperate Housewives" matches all-time season low.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. It is time now for the SHOWBIZ interview with Julia Roberts. OK. If Julia has her way, she is going to have quite a dinner party at her house one day.
Julia says she wants to have President Barack Obama over. Julia sat down with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT producer Jenny D`Attoma. And Jenny asked Julia if she had extended the invitation yet. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIA ROBERTS, ACTRESS: I haven`t. I think he`s busy. But when things settle down, I will - I will happily have Mr. and Mrs. Obama over to the house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now, that would be some dinner party. Julia is arguably one of the biggest movie stars in the world. But she told us that at home, she is just mom. She says her children aren`t aware that she is uber-famous. But her daughter Hazel did catch a glimpse of her on TV one time. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Actually, there was a commercial, or something at the Oscars. There was some little clip of me. And Hazel saw it and said, "Mommy, I`m sure that I just saw you." And I said, "Oh, you know because I went to that party one time."
And then, my girlfriend who was there with her daughter. Her daughter said, "Mommy will we see you?" She said, "No, I have never been to that party."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You can see Julia Roberts starring alongside Clive Owen in the new film, "Duplicity." It will be in theaters March 20th.
HAMMER: Tonight, a startling confession from Kelly Clarkson. Kelly says she has never been in love. Kelly says she is a hopeless romantic and wants to be in love but hasn`t yet.
Kelly tells British "Cosmopolitan" magazine that her parents` divorce when she was six helped shape her attitude about love. She says that she is also cynical about romance because her fame has really made it hard to date.
Kelly says one of her exes was actually only with her because he wanted to be famous, and he had another girlfriend the whole time they were together. And now, she says, quote, "I love my career and being independent. I find dating awkward. It`s like a question and answer session. But the guy has an unfair advantage because he has probably read about me."
Kelly`s brand-new album is called, "All I Ever Wanted." It`s in stores today.
ANDERSON: And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Dramatic new developments in the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama. What Brown`s camp is saying about a reported $10 million deal with Rihanna. Plus, is the backlash against Rihanna totally unfair?
And get ready for "Octomom Rumor Patrol." Will she do a reality show? What about the offer to do porn? The octomom herself sets the record straight.
And Dennis Quaid opens up to Oprah Winfrey about his emotional return to the hospital where his babies almost died. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Anna Nicole Smith`s lawyers seek Supreme Court help in case of dead husband`s estate. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens pose as Prince Charming and Sleeping Beauty.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - brand-new explosive developments in the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama. Wait until you hear what Brown`s camp is saying about a reported $10 million deal with Rihanna. Plus, is the backlash against Rihanna totally unfair?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCGRAW: Every day it is a different buzz on Nadya Suleman and her now- famous octuplets. From offers to do porn, to the frantic 911 calls, to the controversy over her spokespeople, who keep seemingly dropping like flies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: "Octomom Rumor Patrol." The octomom went on the "Dr. Phil Show" to set the record straight about whether she will do a reality show. And what about that offer to do porn? The octomom speaks out.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 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: Right now, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s" continuing coverage of the never- ending, brand-new, dramatic developments in the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama.
Tonight, the growing and disturbing backlash against Rihanna weeks after Chris Brown allegedly beat her to a pulp. Why Rihanna fans and their parents are furious at Rihanna saying if she doesn`t dump Chris they`re dumping her.
HAMMER: Also, brand-new tonight, the growing pressure on Nickelodeon to kick Chris Brown off the ballot at Nickelodeon`s Kids` Choice Awards.
And today, for the very first time, Chris Brown`s camp fired back in great detail over the report he and Rihanna will do an apology tour together. And $10 million is on the line.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood is Tanika Ray, who is a correspondent for "Extra." Also joining me tonight from Hollywood, Ken Baker, who is the executive news editor for "E!"
I`ve got to tell you, guys, it is just astonishing to me how many people are saying they`re through with Rihanna for going back to Chris Brown. They won`t buy her records. Parents are saying they don`t let their kids listen to her music. Posters are being torn down. Tanika Ray do you get it?
TANIKA RAY, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Yes, I do. You know, we loved both of them so evenly before this incident happened. And we want to be mad at somebody. First, we were mad at Chris, the alleged abuser. But now that Rihanna is going back for more, now, we are putting our anger on her.
And I totally understand it. Because before it was just Chris we were angry at. We were like, "OK. Poor Rihanna." She`s the victim. She`s got to get rid of him. We`ll all be on board and she`ll be a hero.
But her going back now, it`s like, "Oh, she is asking for more."
HAMMER: Yes.
T. RAY: I don`t even know where to put my heart anymore. I`m so confused. I think America is confused right now.
HAMMER: Yes. America and that`s reflected in our "Showbiz on Call" phone calls that we have been getting. The phone calls just keep coming in with people really upset about this. And here is one that really got our attention. It`s Steph calling and listen to what she had to say.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
STEPH, CALLER: I have a daughter, a 13-year-old. And before I could delete all of and any of Rihanna`s music off of her mp3 player, the media player on her phone, in her computer, my daughter just expressed how disappointed she was and how as a black female how she is not the role model for us.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Steph. Ken, what do you think? You know, Rihanna is the alleged victim here. Is this fair?
KEN BAKER, EXECUTIVE NEWS DIRECTOR, "E!": You know, it is not really fair. But to take it a step further, not only have Chris and Rihanna reunited romantically, but we just heard last night that they`re together recording a duet. They`re professionally collaborating. So it`s not only a personal thing. They`re professionally enmeshing their lives once again.
But what`s interesting here is this. I think it is completely twisted how we are all saying, "Oh this makes us not like her more." Maybe we should feel sympathy for her, because frankly, I feel like we should have more sympathy, more empathy for her for the fact that she is going back to someone who allegedly beat her than sort of say, "Oh, we`re turned off by her."
What is interesting also is that Chris Brown - his record sales have been consistent ever since this happened. He sold about 3,000 copies of his album last week. He sold the same the week before that.
And this is a month into this whole thing. So it really hasn`t seemed to affect him at least sales-wise. And of course, PR-wise, it really has hurt him. But at the end of the day, Rihanna is still there by his side. That only helps him and it seems to be hurting her.
HAMMER: But you bring up an interesting point, Ken. And this is something that I`ve noticed and quite frankly think is a little strange.
We heard a lot of outrage at the beginning. But I don`t seem to be hearing the continuing outrage from Chris Brown fans. Tanika, what do you think is going on here?
T. RAY: Well, the anger is now displaced to Rihanna. I mean, she`s the latest person that did something wrong in this situation. It is just so interesting to hear how it is playing out.
You know, P-Diddy, Diddy Puffy Daddy was on "Ellen." And he actually confirmed that Chris and Rihanna were at his house trying to figure it out. He says, no judgment. He just wanted to give them a place to sort things out, non-biased and to be able to talk things through.
The problem is that we saw Chris on jet skis and smiling and having a great time.
HAMMER: Yes.
T. RAY: This is not the time for that.
HAMMER: No, not this -
T. RAY: I would like for them, yes, collaborate on an album. I want them to sit down in a one-on-one interview. Even Oprah is talking to the camera saying, "Once they beat, they will beat you again."
So I want them both to sit down and maybe publicly have therapy. I don`t know what needs to be done for us to forgive both of them.
HAMMER: Yes.
T. RAY: But it`s not going to be settled any time soon if they keep quiet.
HAMMER: I`ve got to tell you, I don`t know what radio station is playing that song if they do record something.
T. RAY: No.
HAMMER: Rihanna getting pressure from everywhere, it seems, to leave Chris Brown. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers sending her a message loud and clear. Let me put up the results for the question of the day. Here`s what we asked on air and online, "Rihanna: Is it time for her to dump Chris Brown?" 94 percent are telling Rihanna to dump Chris. Only six percent said she shouldn`t dump him.
Everybody has something to say, even Donald Trump. You talk about, you know, P-Diddy with no judgment. Trump is piling on her. Watch what the Donald told "Inside Edition" about Rihanna.
T. RAY: Lots of judgment.
HAMMER: Yes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, BUSINESS TYCOON: If she goes back to him, she is a loser and does not deserve success. You know, I looked at a picture, and if that`s her picture, she has got to be crazy to go back to him.
But they say beaters you can`t change. He is a beater. And if he is a beater, she`d better get the hell out of there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Trump calls it like he sees it. Ken Baker, you know, Trump really echoing what so many are saying. We heard Oprah saying pretty much the same thing. Do you think at some point Rihanna is going to have to give in?
BAKER: Well, it would seem that if public opinion could sway her, she would have dumped him yesterday. But the fact is that she is still with him. And this is going to be something that she has to - this is a conclusion she has to come to on her own.
No matter how much we all in the media want her to make a different choice, she has made this choice. And this is a really interesting moment as a culture. People are asking me all the time, "Why do we care so much about this?"
Well, it is interesting to play out if you look at Chris Brown. Are we a redemptive, forgiving society? Do we believe in redemption? Do we believe that someone can be forgiven?
Now, if you look at careers of certain celebrities like Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson - their careers died after having different issues in court and they couldn`t come back. Can Chris Brown? We still have to see.
HAMMER: Yes. Not just backlash, by the way, against Chris Brown and Rihanna. This backlash against Nickelodeon, I think, is pretty remarkable. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was the first to break the news that Nickelodeon is refusing to eliminate Chris Brown as a nominee for their Kids` Choice Awards saying, you know, it`s up to the kids to vote here.
Well, this afternoon, Nickelodeon told us they`re standing by their statement. And on their Web site, as you see, as of tonight anyway, he is a favorite male singer nominee.
Tanika, I`ve got to ask you this - what is going to happen if Chris Brown does win this award? Because I`m thinking Nickelodeon would have to be crazy to show kids in the audience standing up and cheering for Chris Brown.
T. RAY: You know, I equate this to when Amy Winehouse was up for Grammies. And a lot of stars came out and said that is wrong she has a drug addiction and she shouldn`t be honored for her art when her life is so screwed up. It`s very similar to that for me.
And I feel like as much as parents are trying to protect the kids and maybe not give them all the details. And maybe the kids haven`t seen these pictures on Nickelodeon and it`s not in their visual, maybe they`re doing them a disservice. Because they`re not seeing the reality of what is really going on.
You know, kids know we are at war. They learned so much more on the playground than they used to 20 years ago.
HAMMER: Yes.
T. RAY: I think maybe a time for parents to be really honest about what happened. And if he does win, maybe it should be a moment of silence and really be honest about what is going on and not celebrate him for his art when he is going through such a horrible, horrible ordeal right now.
HAMMER: You know, they`re sitting around somewhere, making a plan right now. They better be, anyway.
T. RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: Let me get to this other brand-new development today, Chris Brown`s camp responding to a report in "The Chicago-Sun Times" that Brown and Rihanna would be doing a "Project Mae Culpa" tour. Brown would have to pay Rihanna $10 million if he ever hurt hear gen.
Well, tonight, Brown`s camps is telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the report contained some inaccuracies, pretty light.
Ken, only a few moments. Really - 10 seconds for you to answer this. But I`m wondering why they didn`t just flat out deny it. They were a little vague there.
BAKER: Well, I think because - look, we learned that they are working together. They`re working on a duet. Clearly, there is some sort of partnering that they are doing. So they didn`t want to blanket tonight because that wouldn`t be true.
HAMMER: It will be interesting to see how much though of what "The Chicago-Sun Times" revealed actually plays out and is true. Tanika Ray, Ken Baker, thanks, guys.
Well, I`ve got to say, there have been more out-of-this-world rumors about the octomom than she has kids, Brooke. I mean, we`ve heard the one about her possibly doing a reality show.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. But did you hear the totally off-the-wall rumor about her starring in porn? Well, tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going on "Rumor Patrol" with the octomom herself in her own words. And the truth may be stranger than fiction.
Dennis Quaid opens up to Oprah Winfrey about his heartbreaking return to the hospital where his babies almost died. Dennis makes the emotional visit with Oprah`s cameras rolling and we have got the video.
ANDERSON: Plus, Jennifer Aniston`s shocking new revelation about her love life. Is she ruling out a walk down the aisle with John Mayer? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Rapper Coolio charged with cocaine possession and battery. Coolio arrested at L.A. Airport March 6; cops say Coolio grabbed TSA agent. "Law & Order" to be first network show to tape at the United Nations.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCGRAW: Every day, it`s a different buzz on Nadya Suleman and her now- famous octuplets. From offers to do porn, to the frantic 911 calls to the controversy over her spokespeople who keep seemingly dropping like flies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight the octomom tells all to Dr. Phil on all those wild rumors about her. The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Octomom Rumor Patrol" is all gassed up and ready to roll.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And tonight, the "Octomom Rumor Patrol" as we bring you brand-new octomom drama.
The octomom, Nadya Suleman, made an explosive appearance today on Dr. Phil to set the record straight about all the controversies that have been dogging her.
In her brand-new interview, seen nationwide today, Nadya sounds off about that $1 million porn offer. She also goes into detail about her reported plans to sell the video of her giving birth to the octuplets. Wait until you hear her real plans.
And get a load of what she has to say about doing a reality show with all her children. We have octomom`s brand new revelations to Dr. Phil right now.
Joining me tonight in New York, Ashleigh Banfield, anchor for the legal network "In Session. And in Atlanta, Judge Penny Brown Reynolds from the hit TV show, "Family Court with Judge Penny."
OK. I want to begin with octomom, setting the record straight on Dr. Phil`s show about the million-dollar offer that she was offered basically to do a porn movie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
N. SULEMAN: I take it with a grain of salt. I think it is hilarious. But I`m going to frame the offer. I was thinking that`s kind of funny. For memories. It`s not even real.
MCGRAW: So there`s no porn career in your future?
N. SULEMAN: I don`t think it`s even real. I mean, if I had no children and was offered $100 million, that`s not part of who I am. Of course not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Judge Penny, do you get what she just said. She is going to frame it. What?
REYNOLDS: That is so wonderful that you caught that. Frame it for what?
ANDERSON: Yes.
REYNOLDS: What decent woman would want to even do porn, particularly one who has 14 children? She needs to get and get it immediately that it is not about her. And it is everything has to be about the best interest of the children. That`s what she needs to frame.
ANDERSON: Yes. And hopefully, that was just her sense of humor and she wasn`t being serious. My goodness.
There is a lot of speculation about whether the octomom has been selling pictures of her kids. I want you to watch what Nadya had to say about that rumor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
N. SULEMAN: Because the story is - there is such an interest in the story. And I have been, you know, offered so many different opportunities. I figure, well, I don`t - my goal is never to be a burden on any taxpayer. And there are certain little couple opportunities to earn some funds for my children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ashleigh, she seems to be saying, yes, she has sold pictures and will continue to do so to take care of herself and her kids. What do you think? Is that harmless enough?
BANFIELD: I think the reality is the pictures are going to be taken whether the kids are out on the front lawn or not. So the kids are already out there, so why not make the money? For god`s sake, she needs it desperately.
My problem with her is that she is disingenuous and she`s cagey. I really don`t respect the fact that she kind of mitigates how much she has been selling or what kind of money she`s been making.
All the while, she is moving in apparently to a very expensive new home. So if she would just come out with it and say, "Yes, I am selling the pictures because I need the money, I`m desperate." It wouldn`t be that bad.
ANDERSON: Yes. Be forthcoming about it. And you know, it is important not to turn those children into commodities. But she does need the money, the resources and the kids do deserve the care. It`s a tough one.
OK, guys. The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Rumor Patrol" rolls on with all the questions about a birth video that octomom arranged to have shot during the delivery of her eight babies and whether or not she would sell that.
Well, today, she set the record straight to Dr. Phil on that, too. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
N. SULEMAN: The goal of that was to have it for memories forever so that my older kids could see it. They have seen it. They said it was boring. But it is just memories for everybody. And one of my closest friends, you know, family friend, took the tape - took the video in the room. And it`s very personal. So I don`t know. I don`t know.
MCGRAW: OK. So you haven`t made up your mind whether you`re going to let that video out or not?
N. SULEMAN: No, I have not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Judge penny? A nickel for your thoughts on that one.
REYNOLDS: Well, I would be willing to bet my last dollar she is going to sell it. Because if she wasn`t, she would have said emphatically that she didn`t plan to do so. And really, like your other guest says, it is almost like she doesn`t have much choice.
But she is almost talking out of two sides of her mouth. One moment she says, "Oh, I don`t plan to do so." And the next minute she does. But I can`t speak into the future. But my bet is that she is likely to sell it.
ANDERSON: You know, you are right. Her answers don`t seem to be consistent. And speaking of that, in this brand-new interview, octomom also set the record straight about doing a reality show. Or maybe she didn`t. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
N. SULEMAN: I don`t want anything invasive. A reality show? No way. No way. That`s another misconception.
MCGRAW: So you are not interested in doing a reality show?
N. SULEMAN: No. It depends how it is done. But when they`re much older - and that`s not up to me. It`s up to the kids. I wouldn`t choose that for them.
A medical documentary, that`s an hour special, that`s very appropriately and ethically conducted. That is possibly -
MCGRAW: You would consider that?
N. SULEMAN: Yes, I would consider that. And I would talk with my older children about how they feel about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. Maybe not a reality show as we know it. But Ashleigh, it sure sounds like she might do something down the road. Quickly.
BANFIELD: Forgive me for sounding (EXPLETIVE DELETED), but she has no idea how television works. Oftentimes, you can control more about a reality show than you can about a documentary by a big network who gives you no editorial input. So clearly, she doesn`t get it. And I don`t think she gets how tough it is to raise 14 kids.
ANDERSON: Oh, I know. She certainly does sound like she is keeping her options open, whatever they may be. Ashleigh Banfield, Judge Penny Brown. Thank you both. Good to see you.
And for a complete coverage of all the octomom drama, you can head to our Web site - CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, now that Jennifer Aniston has finally gone public with her relationship with John Mayer, is she now saying their love won`t last?
Well, in a revealing new interview, Aniston gets real about marriage and motherhood. Aniston tells the U.K.`s "Mail" on Sunday she is living in the moment and doesn`t get hung up on finding the one. She says, quote, "Whoever said that every relationship has to last forever? That`s hoping for too much. I think every relationship is a world unto itself."
Aniston also confesses that she wants to be a mom, but for now, she`s going with the flow. Aniston says this, "I`d like to be a mother someday and I love children. But you start life with expectations and dreams. Then life unfolds and it doesn`t always turn out the way you`d imagined. Life is what it is. I don`t think we have any idea what the future holds for us."
Well, for now, as far as we know, that future does include John Mayer. And although Aniston mentioned him by name in the interview, she did admit that being in love makes her very happy.
ANDERSON: Dennis Quaid makes an emotional return to the hospital where his newborn twins nearly died. And he`s taking Oprah`s cameras along. You cannot miss this heartbreaking visit.
Plus, Dennis reveals to Oprah how his life has been changed forever by this dramatic deal. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Michael J. Fox returns to TV in ABC special on optimism airing May 7th. Earth, Wind and Fire and Chicago to go on 30 city tour (sic) together this summer.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, Oprah`s cameras were rolling during Dennis Quaid`s heartbreaking visit to the hospital when his twins nearly died.
Twelve days after Quaid`s twins were born, they were given 1,000 times the normal dose of a blood thinner. Now, luckily, the twins did recover, and the Quaids ended up settling with Cedars-Sinai Hospital for $750,000.
But now, for the very first time, the actor has gone back to the hospital for an emotional visit. Quaid reveals exactly what it felt like walking through the hospital doors more than a year later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENNIS QUAID, ACTOR: Being here brings back a lot of memories, not all of them good. All of those feelings of fear that I had back then, my wife and I went through and what the kids went through. But today is - I feel like the day to really forward at the same time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is hard to imagine. Quaid says one-year-old Thomas and Zoe are now thriving, healthy and happy. But he nearly breaks down when talking about how he hopes his nightmare will help others.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUAID: I remember after that 40 hours and they pulled through and they were sleeping comfortably, they were at the hospital. I just remember thinking that, you know, this did happen for a reason. These two little kids, 12 days old, they are going to change the world in some way.
And I think that their reason is to raise public awareness and to get something done about computerized record keeping and bar-coding in the hospitals. That is going to save lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: They have got something done since Quaid`s ordeal. Cedar-Sinai Hospital has invested more than $100 million in new technology to make sure this kind of mistake never happens again.
ANDERSON: On Monday, we asked to you vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Rihanna: Is it time for her to dump Chris Brown?" A whopping 94 percent of you say yes, it is. Only six percent of you say no.
Here are some of the E-mails we received. John from Georgia writes, "I can`t believe that Rihanna is back with Chris Brown. She made a poor choice and it sends the wrong message to fans."
Gail from the Bahamas says, "Why should she dump him? She is not perfect. They had a fight and now she has forgiven him and they are trying to work things out."
We do appreciate your E-mails. Keep them coming.
HAMMER: And we appreciate your watching. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 Pacific, and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN. Take care.
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