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Showbiz Tonight
Star War Against Domestic Violence; Breaking News About Chris Brown`s Nomination at the Nickelodeon Kids` Choice Awards; The Octomom`s About-Face About Getting Help for Her Kids; Lynda Carter on Recovering from Alcoholism
Aired March 11, 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 remarkable, all- out, star war against domestic violence sparked by the alleged beating of Rihanna by Chris Brown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As difficult as all of this is, she does not have to answer to the - it to the media.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the burning question - why does Rihanna apparently want no part of this? Plus, the big breaking news about Chris Brown`s nomination at the Nickelodeon Kids` Choice Awards.
Tonight, the dramatic brand-new details about the Octomom`s startling about-face to get help for her kids. The story you haven`t heard about how Dr. Phil got the octuplet mother to change her mind.
Tonight the powerful star attorney who brokered the deal, Gloria Allred, is right here for the headline-making interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And look up in the sky! It is a bird! It`s a plane! It`s Hillary, Sarah and Michelle! The brand-new comic book superheroes?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, there is big, breaking news involving the outrage over Nickelodeon`s refusal to dump Chris Brown from the Kids` Choice Awards. That is coming up.
HAMMER: But first, tough love for Rihanna from Hollywood to the heartland. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal that an absolutely remarkable war on domestic violence has been triggered by Brown`s alleged severe beating of Rihanna.
But tonight - the big question, why does Rihanna want no part of it? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is all over the debate, the emotions, and the brand-new developments in the Rihanna drama - all making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): A rare, Rihanna sighting. In this brand-new video from "Hollywood.tv," we see Rihanna triggering a paparazzi stampede Tuesday night when she emerged from hiding to go clubbing in L.A.
Driving away, face covered in shades, Rihanna didn`t have much to say. But there is plenty to say about her alleged beating at the hands of boyfriend Chris Brown and her mind-blowing reported decision to go back to him.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Love doesn`t hurt.
HAMMER: From Oprah`s dramatic warning to Rihanna.
WINFREY: If a man hits you once, he will hit you again.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s right.
HAMMER: To Ellen DeGeneres, grilling the sense of Sean P. Diddy Combs for letting Brown and Rihanna work things out at his Miami mansion.
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": I don`t want any girl out there thinking it is OK to go back to a guy who hit her. I don`t want anybody to think that.
P. DIDDY COMBS, RAP ARTIST: You wasn`t in that car. I wasn`t in that car. It isn`t right for him to put his hand on her, or her to put her hands on him. We don`t know what the problem is, but we need to pray for them.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the Rihanna-Chris Brown saga ignited has an explosive war on domestic violence. And Rihanna is nowhere near the battlefield.
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": She really hasn`t been in this discussion in the war against domestic violence.
ROBIN GIVENS, ACTRESS: I was hit for the first time before I was married.
HAMMER: Robin Givens just opened up to guest host Joy Behar on CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE" about the horrific abuse she says she faced during her marriage to then-heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in the 1980s.
Givens says the cycle of abuse and reconciliation, which we appear to be seeing with Brown and Rihanna, is something she knows all too well.
JOY BEHAR, GUEST HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Why did you say with him?
GIVENS: Well, he had said he was going to get help. And we were - I loved him. I wanted to make it work. I wanted to make it work. You just want to fix it, you know? You just want to fix it. I wanted to not let him down. And I was going to be there for him and it`s hard to do that and save yourself.
HAMMER: Joining Robin Givens, Denise Brown, sister of Nicole Brown- Simpson who allegedly suffered years of domestic abuse at the hands of her ex-husband O.J. Simpson before her murder in 1994. Denise says watching the Chris Brown-Rihanna situation is bringing back a flood of bad memories.
DENISE BROWN, SISTER OF NICOLE BROWN-SIMPSON: The ultimate form of domestic violence is somebody being murdered, which my sister was. And you know, we didn`t learn from that.
HAMMER: But as TV show after TV show.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is an epidemic that as a nation we need to take greater responsibility for saying, it`s unacceptable.
HAMMER: . and activists after activist fight this new war against domestic violence, Rihanna at this moment seems to be more concerned with other things.
SERAFIN: At this point, it really seems that she`s more focused on supporting Chris Brown.
HAMMER: Since the alleged beating by Brown last month, Rihanna has said nothing publicly. What she has done is apparently reconciled with Brown, and sent her attorney to reassure Brown at his court hearing.
RIHANNA`S ATTORNEY: I think that Rihanna would like this over as quickly as possible as well.
HAMMER: And most shocking of all, there are several reports that Rihanna is now actually recording a duet with Chris Brown. Some say it is all hurting Rihanna`s popularity.
SERAFIN: Because she really hasn`t come forward, she hasn`t released a statement, she hasn`t been very vocal about domestic violence, there has been a little bit of a backlash against her.
HAMMER: Still, Robin Givens says Rihanna doesn`t owe anyone, especially the media, anything.
GIVENS: As difficult as all this, she does not have to answer to the - it to the media. She doesn`t have to explain it. She has to take care of herself.
HAMMER: So even if Rihanna is not participating in this new war on domestic violence, whether she likes it or not, she is its symbol.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So is it a good thing or is it a bad thing that Rihanna is staying out of this war that is swirling around her? Or by staying out of it, will that just add to the backlash against her?
Joining me tonight from Chicago, Attorney Tamara Holder. In New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell host of the fabulous show, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ- MITCHELL" seen weekday nights 7:00 p.m. Eastern right here on HLN.
So here is the thing. I cannot imagine that the backlash against Rihanna for not speaking out and for being back with Chris Brown is helping her at all through what has to be the most difficult time in her life.
Jane, what is the deal? Does everybody just kind of need to back off and let Rihanna figure out her life in private?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": Not necessarily, A.J. This is the other side of fame. This is the side where everybody feels entitled to weigh in on your personal life and they know all the details and you don`t have any privacy and everybody has got an opinion.
And it`s not just the Oprahs of the world. According to published reports, her own friends and professional colleagues are urging her to cut this guy out of her life. Apparently, she is not listening.
But there is an old saying, "When one person criticizes you, they could very well be wrong. But when 10 or 15 people give you the same criticism, they are probably right." She should listen.
HAMMER: Well, the Oprahs of the world are speaking. We heard Oprah`s words of warning to Rihanna. Ellen echoed a similar sentiment today on her show when she was grilling P. Diddy about lending his Miami mansion to Rihanna and Chris Brown. And I`ve got to tell you, if you watch closely, you will see Ellen did not at all hide her displeasure that Brown and Rihanna are back together.
Let`s watch that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEGENERES: I think you are coming from a place of a friendship and of kindness and support. And you know, it`s just - it`s hard for me and I don`t believe in judgment either. But I don`t want any girl out there thinking it is OK to go back to a guy who hit her.
(APPLAUSE)
COMBS: I don`t.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tamara, let me get your take on this because - is Rihanna, whether her intention or not, and I don`t imagine it is her intention. But are her actions reinforcing for young women out there it is OK to go back to an abusive relationship?
TAMARA JONES, ATTORNEY: Absolutely not. We are talking about a young girl here. We`re forcing her to be a role model in a situation where she maybe doesn`t have everything figured out just yet.
She is in a process right now of healing. And I see this every day in the courts. I don`t know if you know this, A.J., but one in three kids in her age group are in abusive relationships.
So, just because she is an a period where she is quiet and not talking to the media, that doesn`t necessarily mean that she is reinforcing a position of abuse or domestic violence. We need to give her some time to heal and to figure out what she is doing and step back for a minute and just let it all calm down.
HAMMER: Yes. I agree with you on that, Tamara. But I do think that by being back with him - and again she is not intending to send this message. But that is how it is being read.
JONES: Absolutely. But remember, she is 21 years old. And she is a young girl. And we don`t know what her background is. We know that violence perpetuates itself and it`s a cycle that we see in generation after generation.
And so it is important that she gets the help that she needs, not in the media, not through Oprah, and not through Ellen and P. Diddy, but actual psychological help. Let`s figure out what is going on first.
HAMMER: Let`s hope that is happening.
JONES: And then we can make our opinion.
HAMMER: Let`s hope that is happening. We are also hearing from Denise Brown. Denise, of course, the sister of Nicole Brown-Simpson. Denise was on "LARRY KING LIVE" last night and she offered a startling reminder of how Rihanna is not the first person to be in the limelight and in a violent relationship. Denise spoke with guest host Joy Behar. Let`s watch that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: You know, 15 years ago, Denise, people hoped a photo of your sister would stop this in a way. And yet, here we are again.
D. BROWN: Well, yes. Yes.
BEHAR: Here we are again. How do you respond to the fact it doesn`t seem to be improving?
D. BROWN: Well, see, my whole thing - when this first started. My whole thought right away initially was, "Oh, my god. We didn`t learn 15 years ago."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Jane, what do you think? Is Denise right? Is the Rihanna- Chris Brown mess just showing, hey, we haven`t learned a thing in the last 15 years. And does Rihanna have the power to change that?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, sometimes, A.J., I think we are going backwards. And that`s because - look at the society around us. There is violence everywhere - in the movies, on television, video games, the Internet. It is getting more and more violent. So how can we expect young people, who are constantly being conditioned by all this violence, to behave differently?
Remember, Chris Brown is a teenager. He is 19 years old. But I will say something very positive has come out of this. Women are speaking out, whether it`s Joy Behar, or Oprah, or Ellen - all women standing up and saying, "Enough. We`re not going to take this as business as usual. We`re not going to take this sitting down. We are going to demand that this mentality of domestic violence as business as usual end."
HAMMER: Yes, it`s certainly shining the spotlight in the right place. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Tamara Holder, I thank you both.
And now, let me turn this over to you. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Rihanna Drama: Is the backlash against her unfair?"
What do you think? Let us know at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or e-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
And Brooke, we have been getting a ton of E-mails and a ton of phone calls coming into "Showbiz on Call" on all of this. Does Rihanna deserve, in any way, all this backlash she is getting for reportedly getting back with the guy who allegedly beat her up?
Yes, A.J. We are going to have the fired-up phone calls coming into the "Showbiz on Call" phone line coming up.
Also, big breaking news about the Chris Brown-Nickelodeon scandal. Brown has been nominated for a couple Kids` Choice awards. Will Chris show up? Will Nickelodeon dump him? The latest, coming up.
HAMMER: Also tonight, the dramatic, brand-new details about the Octomom`s startling about-face in the deal to help her kids. The powerful star attorney who brokered the deal - this woman, Gloria Allred, right here in the headline-making interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are very strong, independent women that people want to know more about. And what better to teach younger kids about these role models than through comic books.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It`s a bird. It`s a plane. It`s the brand-new comic heroes, Hillary, Sarah, Michelle? 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: Hulk Hogan asks court to unfreeze $300,000 in funds so he can pay his bills. "RadarOnline.com": Paula Abdul moves back into home where obsessed fan died outside.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hey, did you see this? On you mark, get set, crawl. It`s the baby races in Milwaukee. Now, they`re supposed to crawl to the other side where a parent awaits them, although there is not much actual racing going on. That is OK though. In my opinion, you can never show enough baby video. I could watch that over and over. Too cute.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Tonight, did you see this? Up in the sky, it`s a bird! No, it`s a plane! Actually it`s super-Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Michelle Obama. Watch out, Spiderman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, because these super ladies are the brand-new comic book superheroes. Hillary, Sarah and Michelle are part of a Female Force series designed to give kids strong female role models. And who knows? Maybe it will inspire some to get into politics.
Here is CNN`s Jason Carroll for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Supermodels cried foul when celebrities took over their coveted fashion covers. Now, superheroes are taking a back seat as two new comic books are released featuring Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Alaska`s Governor Sarah Palin.
DARREN DAVIS, BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS: It`s kind of insane, because right now the Hillary Clinton comic and the Sarah Palin comic have sold out to our distributor.
CARROL: Darren Davis and Jason Shultz are masterminds behind the new comic books. Both represent Bluewater Productions, the company publishing the creations. They say it is all part of their "Female Force" series.
JASON SHULTZ, BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS: These are very strong independent women that people want to more about. And what better to teach younger kids about these role models than through comic books.
CARROLL: Bluewater Productions hopes their comics will rival others put out by another company featuring President Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain. Today is the first day that "Female Force" comics hit stores.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It shows comics isn`t just about guys in tights beating each other up. It is about information. It`s about understanding people a little better.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it just says women are important. It shows people what they`re all about.
CARROLL: It is no secret many comic book readers are young men and much of the imagery in comics of women glorifies the female form. Bluewater Production`s first cover version featuring Secretary of State Clinton was deemed inappropriate by some who saw a preview.
DAVIS: We did an early rendition of the cover for Hillary Clinton that just really didn`t - it was almost too comical. And so we ended up changing it.
CARROLL: But will these new comics change readership by bringing in more young women?
LATOYA PETERSON, EDITOR, "RACIALICIOUS.COM": Say there is a young student not really motivated by reading a biography of Hillary Clinton. They would definitely be motivated by reading the comic book version or graphic novel version of that.
CARROLL: Bluewater Productions is banking on that. They`re rolling out a comic for First Lady Michelle Obama and Caroline Kennedy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, this is America. If it sells, it will do really well. If not, it will always be thought of as a classic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jason Carroll for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And get this, Jason tells us there will be a "Female Force Media Series" with Barbara Walters and Oprah Winfrey.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, we are still getting a ton of calls into "Showbiz on Call" about all the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama.
ANDERSON: We are, A.J. We`re even getting a bunch of callers opening up about their own very personal experiences with domestic violence. Listen to this call into "Showbiz on Call" from Michelle in Missouri.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHELLE, CALLER FROM MISSOURI: I think it is really sad I haven`t heard one person call and say that they were themselves a victim of domestic violence. I myself was in a horrible relationship. I was beat many, many times, with the promise it would never happen.
Fortunately, I did walk away with the help of my family. And I think that everybody needs to stick by Rihanna right now.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: I appreciate you sharing that with us, Michelle. We also heard from Christie calling into "Showbiz on Call" in from Utah.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CHRISTIE, CALLER FROM UTAH: I think it is just horrible that people are defending Chris Brown. It is never OK for a man to hit a woman. It is never OK for a woman to hit a man either.
And he needs to be punished. The best way of learning a lesson is having to pay for your consequences. And I think a lot of people are trying to let him skate on this simply because he is a celebrity.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you for that, Christie. Call us at "Showbiz on Call." Let us know what you think about this or anything else that is on your mind.
HAMMER: We keep the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines open all the time at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that`s 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail. We are playing your calls here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and posting them too. Your calls to "Showbiz on Call" now also online right there at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., I know that we have got more "Showbiz on Calls" on this.
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. And I think it is kind of surprising that so many people are telling us here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that the backlash against Rihanna is fair.
Also, tonight, the Chris Brown-Nickelodeon scandal. Big breaking news on this. Brown has been nominated for a Kids` Choice Awards that`s got a lot of people outraged. Will Chris show up? Will Nick dump him from the show? We`ve got the latest, coming up.
ANDERSON: Also tonight, the dramatic brand-new details about the Octomom`s startling about-face in the deal to help her kids. The powerful star attorney who brokered the deal, Gloria Allred, is right here for the headline-making interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And we`ve also got this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNDA CARTER, ACTRESS: I felt hopeless. I drank against my will. It was against my will.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: My dramatic interview with "Wonder Woman" star Lynda Carter who really opens up to me about her battle with alcohol. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Paul McCartney breaks world record by selling out Las Vegas show in seven seconds. "Angel" star David Boreanaz and wife expecting a second child.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How is he doing so far?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is going to try to hold the right-wing up as long as he can. But eventually, it is going to catch here and then it is going to turn to the right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Wow, did you see this? A dramatic emergency landing of a plane in Detroit this afternoon on live TV. The pilot walked away unhurt from the single-engine piper after he flew around the airport for an hour. He was having problems with the landing gear.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson with more stories that are making news right now.
The woman who got dumped on "The Bachelor" is back and I have got to say kicking butt. Melissa Rycroft was proposed to on the ABC show only to have the guy, Jason Mesnick, break up with her just weeks later and get together with the runner up. That set off coast-to-coast outrage that really struck a chord.
Well, tonight I can tell you Melissa totally blew the judges away on "Dancing with the Stars" in her first night out. She got one of the highest scores on the show. And get this, she only had about 48 hours to prepare.
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MELISSA RYCROFT, DUMPED BY "THE BACHELOR": I`m overwhelmed with everything. I`m relieved that, you know, the two days that we put in - it feels like it paid off. I feel good about that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And obviously, you had some great comments from the judges. Len said that he saw some sort of ballet training. Tell me - you pulled it off. So what is your background?
RYCROFT: Well, most recently, it`s with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. And when I was younger, I did do ballet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s exactly what I did. I took all the ballet moves that I could take and put some waltz around it and here you go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Melissa was a last-second, fill-in for injured "Access Hollywood" host Nancy O`Dell.
HAMMER: Well, you know, sometimes, you want to go where everybody knows your name. But for the famous bartender at the Boston pub, Cheers, that may now be the unemployment line.
You see, Eddie Doyle has tended bar for 35 years at the famous Boston bar that the hit TV show "Cheers" was based on. But now, he is being laid off because of the bad economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDDIE DOYLE, BARTENDER: They said that because business is so bad, they`re going to lay me off. I was stunned. I couldn`t believe it. Just like the "Cheers" song, you want to forget about your worries. It was a bad, bad year, bad season.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Actually kind of like Cliff, doesn`t he? The "Boston Globe" says many public figures are shocked by the news that Doyle is being laid off. In fact, a former Boston mayor says the city has lost an institution.
ANDERSON: And now the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Why so many people are telling us the backlash against Rihanna for reportedly getting back together with Chris Brown, the guy that allegedly beat her up, is fair.
Also the Octomom`s dramatic about-face. Why she is now accepting a deal to help her kids.
Plus, the woman that brokered that deal, Gloria Allred is right here.
And "Wonder Woman" star Lynda Carter opens up about her dramatic struggle with alcohol. You don`t want to miss that. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Promoter adds more dates to Michael Jackson`s concert run due to strong sales. MTV developing spoof of "High School Musical" called "Private High Musical."
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HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - big breaking news about Chris Brown and the Nickelodeon Kids` Choice Awards. Will Nickelodeon keep him on the ballot? Will Chris Brown show up? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has late- breaking bombshell.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. PHIL MCGRAW, HOST, "THE DR. PHIL SHOW": Jaleena Smith is in the audience today. And she has generously offered to create a brand-new nursery for the octuplets, OK?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Helping the Octomom. Tonight, Dr. Phil`s surprise, and the inside story on the Octomom`s about-face on a deal to get help for her kids.
Plus, the powerful attorney who brokered the deal, Gloria Allred, right here in the headline-making interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
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: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, big breaking developments on the huge story SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first broke, the tremendous outrage over Nickelodeon refusing to remove Chris Brown`s name from the Kids` Choice Award nominations.
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal that late today, Chris Brown let Nickelodeon off the hook. Brown buckled under the pressure and pulled his name from consideration.
This breaking news comes on the same day that the number of people signing an online petition to remove Brown and Rihanna from the Kids` Choice Awards show grew to more than 10,000. Unbelievable.
So, while Brown says he is staying away from the show, Rihanna is still up for favorite song. But will she drop out too? Or will she make her first public appearance and finally say something to all of her young fans?
And you have been sounding off about the latest twist in the Chris Brown and Rihanna drama. So we are taking much more of your fired-up phone calls to "Showbiz on Call." And we will be looking into your e-mails as well.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, Tanika Ray, correspondent for "Extra" and Shannon Fox, who is an author and psychotherapist.
All right, guys. Ever since SHOWBIZ TONIGHT broke this story, there has been absolute outrage at Nickelodeon. I want to look at the statement that a spokesperson for Chris Brown released late today about him pulling out from the Kids` Choice Awards show.
This says, quote, "Chris very much appreciates the support of his fans and the honor they have paid him in the way of nominations for Favorite Male Singer and Favorite Song. Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding the incident last month has shifted the focus from the music to whether he should be allowed to be among those nominated."
Tanika, off to you. Did Chris Brown really even have any choice here?
TANIKA RAY, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": No, he had absolutely no choice. And I`ve got to tell you, it is the best decision he has made in over three months to drop out of this nomination. Because, when it came down to it, Nickelodeon couldn`t do it because they don`t want to lose favor with Chris. He`s a huge star in Nickelodeon.
It really had no other way that it could go outside of Chris. Being a man, even though he is 19, and sort of dropping out and saying, "You know what? I`m out of it. The circumstances lately kind of overshadow. And I need to bow out like a gentleman."
HAMMER: Yes. Noble.
RAY: And Rihanna? I don`t think she is going to bow out. I don`t. I think she won`t show up, but.
HAMMER: Yes. We`ll get into that in a moment because I think everybody`s sort of hanging on now that Chris has done this to see what happens. I really think - I don`t know. You know, it`s hard to say why Chris did it. But there was a lot of pressure coming his way.
And Nickelodeon issued its own statement late today saying that it respected Chris Brown`s decision. Now, Shannon, clearly Nickelodeon has been let off the hook here. But are you with me? Should they not have dropped him even before these protests began?
SHANNON FOX, AUTHOR AND PSYCHOTHERAPIST: I think they should have. And you know, you probably could have heard a big cheer go up from Nickelodeon when they got off the hook. They had to be grateful to Chris Brown for taking responsibility.
I just hope that this is actually the first step toward him taking responsibility for all of his actions.
HAMMER: You see, Shannon, I am with you there. I think that there was probably this collective sigh of relief over there, "Oh, good we don`t have to deal with this now."
But what do you think, Tanika? Should they not have made the first step and knocked him off this particular awards show?
RAY: You know, there were a lot of "should haves" that should have happened. But like I said, Nickelodeon - he`s a huge star with their fans and with people that watch Nickelodeon. And I just think they were a little scared to pull that trigger.
But it worked out in the best way that it could have for Nickelodeon. They didn`t have to take the step and sort of like alienate Chris. And now, you know what? The kids can vote for other people that didn`t have these horrible circumstances on their record this past year.
HAMMER: You`re exactly right. I mentioned that online petition - it is now up to a whopping 11,000 signatures as of show time today, which is unbelievable.
It is also calling on Rihanna. This was not just about getting Chris Brown out of this. They`re also asking for Rihanna to be dropped. Again, 11,000 signatures.
Shannon, do you think that she needs to make some, at least, sort of public statement and potentially pull out as well?
FOX: Well, A.J., having worked with a lot of battered women over the years in therapy, I have a really hard time villainizing a victim. And Rihanna really was a victim. I just don`t want to see her punished for having gone out with an abusive man.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, that`s the thing that a lot of people have been talking about. Is she now a double victim in terms of all that has happened as a result of this and as a result of her making the decision to be back with him? I think this is just what makes it all the more complicated.
But for a lot of people, at least in terms of their support of Chris or Rihanna, the damage - it is done. I want to read to you one particular e-mail that stuck out to me. It`s Darla, in Texas. And Darla wrote into SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the dilemma so many people are dealing with right now.
Listen to this, "I have a granddaughter who watches Nickelodeon religiously and she is seven years old. Now, should she be subjected to this ordeal between Chris Brown and Rihanna? How do you explain that it`s OK for a man to hit a woman and then the woman forgives him and returns?"
Tanika, this is all very confusing for kids to wrap their minds around. And parents really are left holding the bag, aren`t they?
RAY: Absolutely. But you know what? If there is any time to speak on this matter, this would be the time for parents. There is a way to do it. I`m sure Shannon can talk about this more with a lot more experience. But there is a way to talk to kids about serious matters like this, whether it`s war, whether it`s abuse, in a way that they can accept it and they can hear it without going into all the dirty details.
And I think that`s what parent are going to be challenged with. So people like Shannon really do need to help parents get over this bridge. But it definitely needs to happen. To ignore this situation is not going to be a good thing for these kids.
HAMMER: Shannon?
FOX: I agree. Thank you for sending people my way, Tanika. As a parent myself, it is really our responsibility to try to connect consequences with bad behavior.
And if anything can come - good out of this situation, it`s that it raises the issue. And it allows parents to say, regardless of what happens to Chris, this should never ever happen. Regardless of what Rihanna chooses to do, you should never, as a woman or a man, put up with violence in a relationship.
HAMMER: I cannot overstate how this has ticked off so many parents about the fact that they have to deal with all his fallout from the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama, however it being a good thing it is opening up dialogue.
But I want you to listen to what Jennifer from Tennessee said when she called into the "Showbiz on Call" phone line. Charles, roll that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JENNIFER, CALLER FROM TENNESSEE: I have five teenagers. This is no example for either a boy or a girl to look up to either part of these two individuals.
We have other people in the industries of music that are so much more outstanding than to watch two young people beat each other up. It`s unbelievable. Unbelievable. All her records, iPods, iTunes, phones are gone off of my computers.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks for that call, Jennifer.
Tanika, I mean, really. Look at what is going on here. You`ve got parents furious. You`ve got kids clearing their iPods. Jennifer clearing her computer. You know, think back to when the story first broke. This is so much bigger than anyone could have imagined isn`t it?
RAY: No. I knew it was going to be huge. I was on the Grammy red carpet when it broke. And I - my heart literally fell to my heels. My Lucca 10s at that. I lost it. I really could not believe that it actually happened. And I knew it was not going to go away.
And the fact they haven`t said anything publicly is even worse. Yes, I know that his people have released statements. But you can tell that they aren`t from Chris` mouth. They seem really manufactured. And until they sit down together and we hear what they have to say, we are not going to get over this. We`re just not.
HAMMER: I agree with you.
RAY: It is too big.
HAMMER: Let me throw up quickly our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We asked on air and online - "Rihanna Drama: Is the backlash against her unfair?" Look at these results. I was a bit surprised - 31 percent voted yes, it is unfair. That means 69 percent said no, it`s not.
Shannon, off to you - are you surprised by this? Because this goes back to what we were talking about before being the double victim.
FOX: Right. I am kind of surprised because our society still will understand that a woman who is abused is a victim. But again, it takes a really long time for a woman who is a victim of abuse to actually leave her abuser for good.
HAMMER: Yes.
FOX: But I think people are really sick of it. I think people are saying, "Rihanna you are a role model for my daughter. And I don`t want to have any - I don`t want you to be a role model by going back to this guy."
HAMMER: Yes, I guess it is a bit understandable. I`ve got to end it there. Tanika Ray, Shannon Fox, thank you both.
And we have been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Rihanna Drama: Is the backlash against her unfair?" Now is your chance to sound off at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or e-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Brooke, moving on, the Octomom has made a deal finally to help her kids.
ANDERSON: She has, A.J. It`s a stunning about-face for the Octomom. And tonight, we`ve got the attorney who brokered the deal, Gloria Allred, right here in the headline-making interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That is coming up.
And we`ll also have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARTER: I felt hopeless. I drank against my will. It was against my will.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter, opening up to me about her battle with alcohol. Wait until you hear what she told me about how felt going into rehab. It is a remarkable story.
ANDERSON: And are Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban expecting another baby? Keith sets the record straight. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Mandy Moore marries singer Ryan Adams. Parents Television Council files indecency complaint against "Family Guy.")
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MCGRAW: Jaleena Smith is in the audience today. And she has generously offered to create a brand-new nursery for the octuplets, OK?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Dr. Phil is like Santa Claus today in his brand-new interview with Octomom Nadya Suleman. The gifts for Octomom are just pouring in.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, saving the Octomom. The dramatic brand-new details behind Octomom Nadya Suleman`s startling last-minute decision to get help for her kids.
In her brand-new interview seen nationwide today, Nadya gives Dr. Phil some exclusive one-on-one time with her octuplets in the hospital. And get this, the donations are pouring in for all 14 of Octomom`s kids. Nursery for the babies, check, bunk beds for the older kids. Check, check.
But right now, the story you haven`t heard about how Dr. Phil got Octomom to reverse course and take the offer from Angels in Waiting. The powerful star attorney who brokered the deal, Gloria Allred, joins me right now in Hollywood.
Gloria, great to have you with us. And I want to ask you this. When you first teamed up with Angels in Waiting and made the offer to provide around-the-clock care to the Octomom`s 14 kids, you were basically told to take a hike. What made Nadya Suleman have a change of heart on national TV on the "Dr. Phil Show?"
GLORIA ALLRED, ATTORNEY WHO BROKERED THE DEAL FOR THE OCTOMOM: Actually, we weren`t told to take a hike. But we were - but the offer was not accepted and she had it for weeks before her. And so, we withdrew the offer because we wanted to be sure that if the babies were coming out of the hospital that we would have had time to prepare adequately to make sure they were received in the most appropriate way, in the highest quality way.
So then I went on "LARRY KING" and Dr. Phil happened to be guest hosting. He also had a representative of Nadya`s on who had canceled the meeting that he was supposed to have with Angels in Waiting and myself with Nadya.
And at that point, Dr. Phil, got us altogether in a room and we agreed to meet at his home the following week with Nadya and with Angels in Waiting to see if we can work out an agreement, which we did. And we appeared on "The Dr. Phil Show" yesterday and today to talk about that agreement which is a declaration of principles and we`re excited about that.
ANDERSON: Yes. But what made her change her mind, Gloria? What do you think it was? And what was the moment when you sealed the deal with Nadya there, with Dr. Phil there? What was that like? What happened?
ALLRED: Well, I think meeting in person was very important. And we wanted to meet the needs of the babies. And my sense of it is that she understood that she could not take care of these 14 children, eight babies among the 14, all by herself.
I know that I wouldn`t be able to take care of 14 all by myself and that Angels in Waiting is a wonderful organization. The trained pediatric, neonatal nurses and others who specialize in early intervention for premature infants and that she and her children would benefit from having their support and their guidance.
ANDERSON: Right. Yes they`re going to help her transition in terms of bringing the babies home and also help train all the caregivers to care for the children properly.
And now, Nadya will be moving into a $500,000 home. And also, thanks to her appearance over the past two days on Dr. Phil`s show - I want you to listen to some of what is already pouring in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JALEENA SMITH, PLEDGES TO CREATE A NURSERY FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE OCTOMOM: My goal is just to bless these babies` lives and make their environment safe and furnish it so they have cribs to come home to. And hopefully we can do that in enough time for them to come home.
MCGRAW: They`re going to come in with cribs and dressers, change tables, all of these things. So this thing will be pristine ready for the babies.
SMITH: Yes. Rocking chairs for nursing, and changing stations, armoires for extra diapers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Wow. Who needs the extreme makeover home edition when you`ve got Dr. Phil? Gloria, between this and Angels in Waiting, should we all just stop worrying about the Octomom and her kids?
ALLRED: Well, I think what is important is that there be transparency in the future. And while furniture is certainly important, we think that the kind of support and training and monitoring that these nurses can provide is frankly the most important. Because, for example, these octuplets are going to need 64 feedings a day. They and all the caregivers, the nannies as well as the nurses and others are going to need to be trained in the special needs of premature infants, like there has to be - also Nadya is going to get this training.
So that everyone is engaging in the same consistent care for these premature infants so that they will learn to bond and to trust and will have the opportunity for the best possible future with this early intervention. Everyone is going to have to do it the same way.
ANDERSON: And provide, yes, that consistency for them. Well, Gloria, this is going to be expensive. What, approximately $135,000 a month. So I want to ask you - there have been reports that Angels in Waiting could be in financial trouble in terms of this. Do they have the resources? Is that a problem?
ALLRED: We have said from day one, when we made this offer, that Angels in Waiting would only be able to do it if the public supported it by going to "AngelsInWaitingUSA.org" and making a donation. Because otherwise - no, they went be able to do it and they won`t be able to continue to do it.
But we hope that if the public understands that all donations which go to Angels in Waiting for this purpose will be used only to help the professional services of these caregivers and not one cent will go to Nadya or any member of her family, will be only used 100 percent for the care of her children ...
ANDERSON: For the babies.
ALLRED: ... that They will have confidence. We have a retired superior court judge who will oversee the use of these funds to make sure that it only goes for professional services for the babies.
ANDERSON: Well, it is a wonderful service that you, this organization, and Dr. Phil have provided. Gloria Allred, thanks so much. We appreciate it.
ALLRED: Thank you. Sure.
ANDERSON: And for complete coverage of all the Octomom drama, you can head to our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, Keith Urban is setting the record straight about whether his wife, Nicole Kidman, is pregnant. Now, a lot of people have been whispering, is Nicole hiding a baby bump?
Well, in a brand-new interview with "Country Music Television" insider, Keith answered the question in what I think is a pretty funny way. Here`s what he said, quote, "I`m not pregnant. No, definitely not. Clear that one up right now. I haven`t had any checkups recently, but it`s just going out on a limb here."
Glad we`ve cleared that up. Urban also says being a dad is excellent. He and Nicole have an 8-month-old daughter together.
Well, coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter, speaking out about her painful battle with alcohol.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARTER: I felt hopeless. I drank against my will. It was against my will.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Lynda has been sober for 12 years but still remembers going to rehab like it was yesterday. What she told me about that dark time coming up next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
ANDERSON: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Jonas Brothers announce world tour with Jordin Sparks. Tom Brokaw doing a show for USA network about economic crisis and Obama`s first year.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, my one-on-one with Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter. Lynda`s got a new album coming out. She is also out on the road touring. She is an amazing singer but, of course, we all know and love her from her iconic TV character.
Well, I spoke with Lynda today and she told me she doesn`t at all shy away from the fact that to many people, she will always be Wonder Woman.
Lynda also doesn`t shy away from her past. She spoke very openly about her battle with alcohol. Lynda has been sober for 12 years now, but she still vividly remembers when she first went to rehab.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARTER: I was terrified when I went in, terrified, terrified. And I realized that everyone that worked there and everyone - everyone from all these walks of life stared into the same abyss that I had stared into, had been on the precipice of this dark hole.
And I didn`t know anything about my disease, and that`s what recovery really does. It`s so shameful. You feel so ugly because I can say with complete honesty that 11 or 12 years ago, when I first got into recovery, that I felt - I felt hopeless. I drank against my will. It was against my will and a compulsion.
So once I learned about the disease, I could understand that, you know, there were certain things that I needed to do to help myself and to help others.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Lynda`s new album is called "Lynda Carter at Last." It`s going to be in stores in June. But if you pre-order the CD on her Web site "LyndaCarterSings.com," she`ll even sign it for you.
ANDERSON: We have been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Rihanna Drama: Is the backlash against her unfair?" Take a look at this vote so far - only 31 percent of you say yes, but 69 percent of you say no.
And here are some of the E-mails we received. Abby from Arizona, "I was hoping to see a strong, independent woman emerge, but unfortunately, she has disappointed her fans."
Jenny from Massachusetts writes, "Abuse is never the victim`s fault. This victim blaming is shameful and unacceptable."
HAMMER: Well, thank you very much for watching. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember, can you catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN. Take care.
END
