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Showbiz Tonight
"American Idol" Texting Conspiracy?; Former Child Star Supports "Jon & Kate" Children; Celebrities Offer Star Power for RFK Center Auction; Will Susan Boyle Walk Away?; Rihanna to be Subpoenaed in Chris Brown Trial; Tori, Candy Spelling at Odds Again
Aired May 28, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
A.J. HAMMER, HOST (voice-over): Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Idol outrage over textgate. Kris Allen, Adam Lambert -- tonight, for the very first time, the "American Idol" stars speak out about the sensational voting scandal that has "Idol" fans crying foul. Was there a conspiracy against Kris? Will Adam demand a recount, or will "American Idol" get burned?
KATE GOSSELIN, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": Cameras come in and film us, and that to the world -- to the public makes us celebrities.
HAMMER: "Jon & Kate" plus exploitation?
Tonight: Jon and Kate`s eight kids on the line in the biggest cheating scandal on reality TV. Now, fans are sparking an all-out war against Kate Gosselin. Is Kate using her reality show to exploit her kids? Could the kids be in danger? And is it time to pull the plug on "Jon & Kate Plus 8"?
Has Boyle reached her boiling point? Susan Boyle in tears? Will she walk away from the show that made her a worldwide star?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show stars right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And tonight, brand new "American Idol" outrage. Tonight, the idols themselves are speaking out for the very first time about the major firestorm over the voting scandal and startling accusations that the vote that put Kris Allen over the top may have been rigged. Tonight, "Idol" winner Kris Allen and runner-up Adam Lambert are facing the press and giving us their no holds barred reaction to all this "Idol" outrage.
But, will their comments calm the controversy or just fuel the furry? There is no question tonight, the "Idol" fallout is making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): And you thought that the 2000 presidential election was a big voting scandal. Now instead of Bush versus Gore -- we have Allen versus Lambert in the great "American Idol" texting scandal of 2009 -- or as some people are calling it, "textgate."
KIM SERAFIN, "INTOUCH WEEKLY": It`s sort of like in politics, whenever there`s an election and the person that you like doesn`t win, you immediately think that there was some voter fraud. And, of course, with "American Idol," it`s no different, except that it`s much more important than politics.
HAMMER: Yes, it`s the biggest conspiracy theory going right now. Did text messaging shenanigans allow one-time "American Idol" underdog Kris Allen -- to defeat favored Adam Lambert?
Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that the two former rivals are joining forces to tell America, "Cool it."
ADAM LAMBERT, "AMERICAN IDOL" RUNNER-UP: There`s not a conspiracy, people. Relax.
HAMMER: On the "Today Show," "American Idol" winner Allen and runner-up Lambert spoke out for the first time to say there is no conspiracy.
KRIS ALLEN, "AMERICAN IDOL" WINNER: I didn`t call AT&T and say, "Hey, I need some more votes."
LAMBERT: I really think people need to relax. And just accept that this is the way the vote went.
HAMMER: The whole textgate scandal started on the night of Lambert and Allen`s last "American Idol" performances before the final vote.
That night, a few employees of AT&T, an "American Idol" sponsor, reportedly brought demo cell phones to "American Idol" viewing parties in Arkansas, Allen`s home state, where there were plenty of Allen fans in the house.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m here for Kris Allen. He`s awesome and he deserves to win.
SERAFIN: These local AT&T employees went to these viewing parties in Arkansas, they thought people how to text and they brought some phones. So, potentially, Arkansas could have contributed a lot of text votes to the finale winner.
RYAN SEACREST, "AMERICAN IDOL" HOST: Kris Allen!
(CHEERS)
HAMMER: And after Allen was named the "American Idol," people started asking -- did that AT&T-assisted power texting in Allen`s home state give him enough votes to push him over the top?
SERAFIN: Would two parties of people texting really make a difference when 100 million votes were cast? That`s really the question.
HAMMER: On the "Today Show," Allen says he doesn`t think his win is tainted.
ALLEN: "American Idol" kind of gets you ready for all this stuff. You know -- you know, people are going to criticize you no matter what. And I had nothing to do with this. You know, I just got up there to sing.
HAMMER: And Lambert went further, suggesting this textgate stuff is all silly.
LAMBERT: I rolled my eyes actually when I heard about it. I think people are just looking for something to be dramatic about.
HAMMER: The producers of "American Idol" and AT&T are taking this voting scandal as seriously as Bush and Gore took theirs. AT&T tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, some of its employees simply got excited about their hometown hero Allen. The company adds, quote, "It`s quite a leap to suggest that a few individuals could have impacted the final results."
And the people behind "American Idol" tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "In no way did any individuals unfairly influence the outcome of the competition. Kris Allen is, without a doubt, the `American Idol.`"
SERAFIN: This has become a pretty big controversy. I think people have looking for that reason -- how did Kris win when Adam was kind of the pre-ordained winner.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: As for Allen and Lambert, they tell the "Today Show," they`ve already put textgate behind them.
LAMBERT: We`re really excited.
ALLEN: We never thought about it.
(CROSSTALK)
LAMBERT: Move forward. And we get to make albums now.
ALLEN: Yes.
LAMBERT: And we get to tour all summer.
HAMMER: So, we`ll see if America listens to Allen and Lambert, and puts this voting scandal to rest -- or if we`ll need the Supreme Court to clear this one up as well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert say that justice has already been served, but will their comments calm the fury over textgate 2009?
Joining me tonight: from Hollywood, June Sarpong is a British TV personality and founder of PoliticsInTheCity.com; in New York tonight is CNN legal analyst and "IN SESSION" anchor, Lisa Bloom.
So, you heard it, Kris and Adam, they`re completely dismissive of the whole thing, saying the voting was not rigged. They`re completely happy with the results.
Lisa, I got to tell you, I think the smartest thing that "American Idol" could have done is exactly what they did do -- put these guys out talking about this, because after all, this vote affects no one more than them. But do you think by them speaking out, it is now calmed this firestorm that erupted over the scandal or fuel the fire even more?
LISA BLOOM, ANCHOR, IN SESSION & CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Oh, please. Can we get real here for a minute? "American Idol," a show that I adore, is a gigantic corporate machine that owns these two young men, all right? I`m sure they signed an agreement that said they cannot disparage the show in any way, at least for a long period of time, probably for years and years, certainly in the weeks after the competition.
There is no way that they could take to the airwaves and say, "You know what? I`m concerned about these questions. How were there 38 million votes from Alabama, a state with a population of 2.8 million? How did this vote go down? How close was it exactly?"
HAMMER: Yes, but Lisa, I look at them.
BLOOM: They can`t do that.
HAMMER: I know they can`t do that, but I look at them and I got to tell you, I don`t think they were putting on a show there.
BLOOM: Well, OK, but they can`t ask any hard questions. They just cannot do that. I mean, they`re adorable young musicians, but they`re not attorneys, they`re not put in a position where they can question. So, the fact that they come out and say, "We`re happy, we`re going to go on, we don`t question the winner," that`s exactly what you would expect them to do. They can`t do anything else.
HAMMER: OK. And not that I`m in the business of correcting, but it`s Arkansas, not Alabama.
BLOOM: Oh, thank you for that.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Adam Lambert, of course, was the runner-up, but he couldn`t have made his feelings over the whole voting controversy anymore clear when he was on the "Today" show this morning. Take a look at why he thinks the whole controversy took off like wildfire.
Let`s roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAMBERT: It`s a conspiracy theory. People are just looking for something to get crazy about. I think that people need to realize that it`s a couple employees from AT&T that were at a party, handed out a couple phones. It`s not a big deal. Calm down, people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So, Adam say, it`s all got out of hand because, you know, basically, people were looking for some kind of a conspiracy theory. June Sarpong, do you agree?
JUNE SARPONG, BRITISH TV PERSONALITY: I do agree. And I think actually that the organizers of the show are very happy, because, you know, it`s all we were talking before, before they weren`t getting any press at all. Nobody really cared about "American Idol." And now, this is continuing. And so, you know, for next year, "American Idol" will matter again.
So, I think, actually, this is great for the organizers. They`re very happy that this controversy is going on.
I don`t think there was a conspiracy. I think Kris Allen did win. I think people wanted an underdog and actually, it doesn`t really matter because Adam will be the eventual star of the show. You know, he will be the one with the career. So, I think it`s working out for everyone.
HAMMER: And these guys, again, they claim that they don`t care. They both say, Kris and Adam, that there`s no reason for a recount. FOX has said that they are absolutely certain Kris Allen is the "American Idol."
But still, there are a lot of "American Idol" fans out there who are saying, "Hey, give me a recount." In fact, our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines, they have been flooded with plenty of fired up calls, including this one from Faith in North Carolina who says, "Do over."
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: Yes, I think they should redo the votes because I really truly believe in my heart that Adam Lambert won that competition. If he didn`t, he should have because he does sing better than Kris. So I think they should recount the votes. Yes, I do.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Faith, thank you so much.
Lisa, a lot of people are right there with Faith. They`re still shocked that Adam Lambert lost. Do you think -- are they just looking for some thing to hang on, to some concrete reason for the big upset?
BLOOM: Well, I`m with Faith. I mean, here`s the question: If the AT&T employees are teaching people how to do 10 votes with one press of a button, then how many votes can you do in a minute? How many votes can you do in an hour? What if you teach all your friends to do that? How are there 38 million votes from the state?
Now, these are questions that don`t get answered. So, it leads to these kinds of suspicions. And I`m with her. I think Adam was clearly the dazzling talent. Kris is cute, but, I mean, there`s no comparison. So, it does leave a question.
HAMMER: OK. It does, but let`s not forget, "American Idol," you know, it is the biggest television show on the planet.
BLOOM: Oh, sure.
HAMMER: You know, I have to imagine -- and, June, what do you think? They`ve got to do everything in their power to protect their brand, to protect the validity of the results and not take any chances. We`re talking, literally, hundreds of millions of dollars at stake here.
SARPONG: Yes, for sure. And, you know, the producers of the show are 19, a British company who`ve had a lot of trouble with this sort of thing in the U.K. So, they are extra-vigilant and extra careful when it comes to voting and possible voter-rigging.
I really don`t think there`s a controversy. I think Kris did win. But we all agree, Adam is the more talented one and Adam will be the one with the career.
HAMMER: All right. Fair enough.
SARPONG: I think this is great for the show.
HAMMER: Lisa, yes or no -- you want to see a recount?
BLOOM: Yes, absolutely.
HAMMER: OK. And I want to see people .
BLOOM: No multiple votes.
HAMMER: I want to see people stop adding "gate" to everything. It`s not textgate, OK?
BLOOM: You`re the one that said that.
HAMMER: Thank you. I`ve said it. I didn`t make it up, though.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: June Sarpong and Lisa Bloom -- thanks, guys.
Now, over to you. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. "American Idol" voting scandal. Do you think there should be a recount? Are you with Lisa Bloom? You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or email ShowbizTonight@CNN.com.
Well, Jon and Kate are telling all about the alleged cheating controversy on their reality show. But I got to wonder, are they really looking out for their eight kids?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K. GOSSELIN: I`m here. I`m here every minute that working doesn`t require me to be away. So, I can`t speak for anyone but myself.
JON GOSSELIN, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": And I`m here for my kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Jon & Kate`s eight are on the line in the biggest cheating scandal on reality TV. But are Jon and Kate using the reality show to exploit their kids? And are the kids in danger?
The startling results of what you think in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll.
Also, brand-new Chris Brown and Rihanna developments to talk about tonight. Will Rihanna be forced to testify against Chris Brown?
And, wait until you get a lot of this. Has Susan Boyle reached her boiling point? The YouTube sensation reportedly breaks down in tears, but will she quit the show that made her a worldwide superstar?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, it`s time for the "Showbiz News Ticker" -- here come more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(SHOWBIZ NEWS TICKER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Hey, did you see this? A new fat cat. This adorably flabby feline is a whopping 31 pounds. I think it`s cute. The tubby tabby was dropped off at the Humane Society in Washington State. He`s nameless, homeless and so big it can`t fit in the kennel. So, if he`s not claimed soon, all 31 pounds of him will be put up for adoption.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
All right. Have you ever wanted to meet Oprah Winfrey, maybe go to a baseball game with Ben Affleck? How about going for a little swim with Michael Phelps? Well, now, you can. And it`s all for a good cause.
Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and CNN entertainment producer, JD Cargill.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KERRY KENNEDY, ROBERT F. KENNEDY CENTER: There`s a swimming lesson with Michael Phelps or a tennis lesson with Andre Agassi or a voice lessons with Aretha Franklin. What people say to me is that when if Kennedy (ph) calls, you answer.
JD CARGILL, CNN ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCER (voice-over): Robert F. Kennedy`s daughter gives, Kerry Kennedy, gives her mom the credit for booking major star power for annual RFK Center online auctions.
KENNEDY: My father was very serious about human rights issues and social justice issues, but he always had a great sense of humor and a love of life. So this auction is really also reflective of his vision and values and that we all should have some fun.
CARGILL: Oprah, Robert De Niro, Cher, the Jonas Brothers -- an impressive list of stars have donated nit and grit to the cause, human rights work around the world.
KENNEDY: We`ve done it for the last three years. And, you know, people have a great time with it.
CARGILL: For a more intimate affair, there`s lunch with Hugh Jackman or Warren Beatty, dinner with Bill Cosby, even a Red Sox game with Ben Affleck.
KENNEDY: Personally, I would have Gloria Reuben come and sing at my birthday party and get her to sing happy birthday, because there is no one with a more lovely demeanor and a more beautiful voice.
CARGILL: The "ER" star Gloria Reuben is not only part of the celebrity auction, she has also traveled the globe with the center, contributing to its mission.
GLORIA REUBEN, SINGER/ACTRESS: Everybody has a gift. Everybody has one way that they can give back, whether it would be to go to the auction for the RFK Center, just to find out how to get involved. Everybody can do something.
CARGILL (on camera): I would be remiss not to give the potentially bidding audience out there a little taste of what they have in store if they were to win the auction item, Gloria Reuben singing at your cocktail party. So, why don`t you give them a little taste?
(GLORIA REUBEN SINGING)
(CHEERS)
CARGILL: That`s right. You know where to do it. CharityBuzz.com.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was the lovely Gloria Reuben with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and CNN entertainment JD Cargill.
All right. I got to tell you, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines, they keep ringing and ringing. So many people have been calling in saying Jon and Kate really need to give up their reality show.
Now, I got to tell you. And take a look at this, the "Showbiz on Call" operators, man, they could have their own reality show. Don`t you think? Look at the craziness, the wackiness. It`s all going on all the time.
Well, we got a call on the "Showbiz on Call" from Fay from Texas. Fay says Jon and Kate should pull the plug on their show.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I believe that they are in this for the money and they need to give it up to save their children, as they say they want to do, because they`re looking like idiots on TV.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Fay, we appreciate your call and your opinion.
We also heard from Mary. Mary is calling in from Ohio, in the "Showbiz on Call" and thinks it is about time that Jon and Kate get their priorities straight.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I`ve watched their show off and on since it came on, and I really think that Kate needs to stay home more, and Jon needs to go back to work. It`s very sad that they`re in the position that they`re in. But I think they need to get back to being a family.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: That is something we`re hearing from so many people. Mary, we thank you for your call as well.
If you got something to say, by all means, give us a ring at "Showbiz on Call." Let us know what you think about this and really anything at all. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open all the time, and this is the number: 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. Numerically speaking, that`s 1- 888-728-2899.
Leave us a voice mail and we`ll play some of your calls here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And listen to this, your calls to "Showbiz on Call" now also online, on our home page: CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well, tonight, Jon and Kate`s eight are just stuck in the middle of the biggest cheating scandal on reality TV. But are Jon and Kate using the reality show to exploit their kids, and are the kids in danger?
I will show you what I think are startling results of what you think in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll. Plus, brand new details about whether or not Jon and Kate will be pulling the plug on "Jon & Kate Plus 8."
OK. So, is Susan Boyle at her boiling point? The YouTube sensation reportedly breaks down in tears, but will she actually walk away from the show that made her a worldwide phenomenon?
Also, big news: Is Rihanna going to be testifying against Chris Brown? There are dramatic new developments in the alleged beating case that would have and could have Brown in a lot more hot water.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the SHOWBIZ news ticker -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(SHOWBIZ NEWS TICKER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
Tonight, "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle is pledging new homes to the film`s youngest stars. Now, Boyle flew to Mumbai, India to meet the families of "Slumdog" star Azharuddin Ismail, who played young Salim in the film, and 9-year-old Rubina Ali, who played young Latika.
Now, the homes of these young stars were deemed to be illegal and they were flattened by local authorities. Well, Boyle has gotten a lot of heat for not coming to the aid of the young stars sooner. But, in a brand new interview, Boyle and producer Christian Colson say they have been hard at work building a trust fund for these new homes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANNY BOYLE, DIRECTOR, "SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE": We`re trying for a long time to move them into legal accommodations, but initially rented and eventually bought by the trust and held by the trust, so that it`s perfectly safe in long-term accommodation for them. And how could you say progress is being made on that? We`re here for lots of reason, I should say. We`re here to see the kids.
CHRISTIAN COLSON, FILM PRODUCER: Education, and their welfare and, you know, that`s the main plan of -- since we`ve began just to make plans of what we were trying to do, it`s really to ensure that our involvement and the film that we all made together is, at the end of the road, a positive thing in their lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Keep going, guys. The filmmakers have reportedly pledged $100,000 towards the trust fund.
Well, tonight, David Hyde Pierce`s new revelation: He`s married. Yes, the guy you know as Dr. Niles Crane from the sitcom "Frasier" revealed today that he and his partner, TV producer Brian Hargrove, got married in October. Hyde Pierce told the ladies of "The View" this morning that he tried to keep his marriage low profile but he was forced to go public after the California ban against gay marriage was passed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID HYDE PIERCE, ACTOR: I had the experience of, like I said, having this private thing suddenly dragged out into the public and have people I don`t know take a vote. I mean, can you imagine if you`re married, the people in your state getting together and saying, "Well, you know what, you`re not"? It`s a very odd thing.
And I understand all the religious and emotional issues that are involved. But I don`t -- it was a very angry-making feeling, both in November when it was taken away from me and also this past Tuesday, sitting in front of the television wondering, "Gee, I hope the Supreme Court thinks it`s OK to be married." Excuse me, it`s none of your business.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Hyde Pierce says he and his partner have been together for 25 years.
Now, it`s time for the SHOWBIZ line -- here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Tonight -- the dramatic new revelation that Jon and Kate could end their controversial show if they wanted to. Are Jon and Kate`s kids being exploited?
Is Boyle boiling over? Superstar Susan Boyle in tears -- reportedly, cursing at strangers. Is she cracking under pressure? Will she quit the show that made her a huge star?
Plus, dramatic new developments in the Chris Brown/Rihanna alleged beating case. Will Rihanna testify?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the SHOWBIZ news ticker -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(SHOWBIZ NEWS TICKER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN: I`m here. I`m here every minute that working doesn`t require me to be away. So, I can`t speak for anyone but myself.
JON GOSSELIN: And I`m here for my kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Saving Jon and Kate`s kids. Tonight, the explosive brand-new revelation that Jon and Kate can walk away from their reality show any time they want. Plus, a former child star says the show is hurting their kids. It`s the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Has Susan Boyle reached her boiling point? Reports that she`s in tears, swearing at strangers. Will she quit the show that made her a YouTube star?
And new developments in the Chris Brown/Rihanna drama. Will Rihanna testify?
Plus, more stories breaking from the SHOWBIZ news ticker.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues -- right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: 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.
Tonight, the brand-new Jon and Kate debate. The Jon and Kate cheating scandal is making their reality show a bigger hit. But new tonight, the outrage -- it is just exploding over whether or not Jon and Kate`s eight kids are suffering for their success.
In the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a former child star is fired up about the chaos surrounding the show -- why he says the show should be pulled for the sake of the eight young children.
Joining me tonight: right now from Hollywood, Paul Petersen. Paul played Jeff on the 1950s classic "The Donna Reed Show." He`s the president of the child advocacy group, A Minor Consideration.
It is always good to se you, Paul. Now, "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" is a run away hit. We all know that. But a lot of people, obviously, up in arms, saying this is very unhealthy for the kids.
Now, TLC, that`s the network that runs the show, they say the taping schedule is not harmful. They say that crews shoot two hours a day. They shoot two days a week. And if a child doesn`t want to be filmed, they don`t film. And crews no longer shoot in their bedrooms as well.
Paul, your business, all about protecting the rights of kids in entertainment. Do you think that the well being of Jon and Kate`s kids is in jeopardy here?
PAUL PETERSEN, PRESIDENT, A MINOR CONSIDERATION: Well, first of all, I don`t believe a thing that TLC is saying. There are videos on the Internet of these children potty-training, in tears, scrawling signs that say, "Cameras, stay out," spelled O-W-T. It is a fiction that these children are oblivious to their surroundings, that they`re like little meercats or something.
Do you think they don`t go through the supermarket check-out lines and see those tabloids? We are looking at damage being done to children in our living rooms.
HAMMER: And let`s not forget, these kids -- now the twins are eight, the sextuplets are five. They don`t know a life without cameras in their home. This has been their life. They don`t get to go home from the set at all.
Paul, how dangerous is it when everything about their home life is the basis for a television show?
PETERSEN: Look, family members, blood family members have been displaced by a production crew. Permanent lights and cameras -- excuse me, we don`t know the details of their employment practices. We don`t know the truth.
What are the children being paid? What are the provisions for their future? Do you think it`s going to be fun, especially for the twins in about five years` time at age 14 when they`re trying to figure out who they are and where they fit? That people are going to bring this up to them, do you think that`s going to be fun?
The title of the show says it all, it`s "Jon & Kate Plus Eight."
HAMMER: Yes. I think they`re going to be facing a lot in the future. These tapes of these shows are going to be around forever. This is basically going to serve as a picture book for what happened in their childhood and not all of it, quite frankly, is very flattering.
Now, a lot of people are outraged, Paul, saying that Jon and Kate themselves are exploiting their eight kids. This is something they have both denied. Now, Paul, you work with child actors, you work with the stage parents all the time -- how do you see it?
PETERSEN: I have heard every excuse a stage parent can possibly make.
Here`s the deal. When Jon and Kate talk about their show, they seldom reference the children. It astonishes me. These children are there, they are present. They are going to have to live with all these consequences. And I am uncertain that the network or the production company or even Jon and Kate, who have clearly fallen off the rails, are going to be prepared for what comes next.
It`s not our job to raise famous children. Our job is to raise successful adults. And I don`t know that there`s enough money in the world to protect these children from what`s coming.
HAMMER: Well, Paul Petersen, you`ve been there. You, certainly, have unique perspective and we appreciate you bringing it to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much.
PETERSEN: Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: Moving on -- wait, there`s more on this explosive Jon and Kate debate. Tonight, we`ve got the shocking results of a brand-new poll asking if the eight Gosselin kids are in fact being exploited. And wait until you hear what TLC has to say about pulling the plug on the wildly popular show.
With me now: From Hollywood, Carlos Diaz, a correspondent for "Extra"; here in New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL." You can see her wonderful show every single night of the week, 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time here on HLN.
So, guys, you got to see the results of the poll. We asked our viewers, online and on air, "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" -- are the kids being exploited? Really pretty clear what people are thinking here, with a whopping 84 percent saying "yes," 16 percent "no."
Carlos, are you onboard with the viewers?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": You know what? Those are some big-time numbers and you cannot argue with those numbers. And as we`re going to talk about in a second, the girls from "The View" made some very good points today. I`m beginning to lean a little bit where, you know, we need to start thinking more and more about these kids.
But let me throw out another number to you, OK?
HAMMER: OK.
DIAZ: Seventy-five thousand -- $75,000 an episode is what Jon and Kate are making. Jon didn`t have a job before this whole thing, OK? He said it himself. When they met, he had no job. He was just backpacking across Europe.
Kate, I mean, her job is to take care of the kids. If you`re talking about quitting the show, you`re giving up $75,000 an episode that can go to these kids and their future.
HAMMER: Jane, should that make any difference at all?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": I think the people have spoken, and they are right. This is exploitation, A.J., no question about it. And a growing number of psychiatric experts are even going so far as to say this could be child abuse. It completely distorts their upbringing during crucial developmental phases. It turns them from kids just being the kids doing a performance 24/7, and that is exploitive.
And it also distorts the relationship with their parents. I mean, this is serious stuff. These kids are going to have a long-term psychological and emotional impact from this.
HAMMER: Go ahead, Carlos.
DIAZ: I was just going to say what -- I have one real quick thing though. Here`s the solution to everyone`s problem -- just take the kids out of it, because we`re not watching --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: There`s no show without them. Who cares about Jon and Kate without eight?
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: I see your point, Carlos.
DIAZ: I could care less about the kids.
HAMMER: It`s true.
DIAZ: I want to see Jon and Kate fight all the time.
(CROSSTALK)
DIAZ: For her to yell at him and for him to do things that, you know, because she yells at him. I just want to watch them, I don`t watch because of the kids.
(CROSSTALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Do you really think they`d be show called "Jon & Kate without eight"? No way.
HAMMER: Now, there could be.
DIAZ: You needed the kids -- you needed the kids, but you don`t need them anymore.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: I think we need to keep in mind that "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" is going into its fifth season. The show has been beloved by viewers until the whole cheating scandal just exploded. And today, on "The View," co-host Sherri Shepherd wondered why the issue of exploiting the children never came up before.
Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": The reality show is about these kids, and everything seems to be going well, we don`t say anything, we don`t sound an alarm, because before, it looked like everybody was having a great time. Now, we`re hearing about, you know, the marriage is breaking up, alleged affair and then we go, whoa.
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What do you think, do you think all of this exploitation talk really has only come up because Jon and Kate are going through this incredibly difficult time?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I think the damage to the kids is cumulative. Every year that passes, it`s worse and worse psychologically. I liken it to animals in a zoo being kept on display. The first couple of months, it might not be a trauma. But year after year, day in and day out, eventually those animals go psychotic.
I`m against zoos, and I`m against kids being on these reality shows.
HAMMER: See, I think Carlos had a point, that there probably could be a show with just Jon and Kate because everybody really did tune in to see what was going on with the scandal. We saw the numbers from the season premier, nearly 10 million people tuned in, record-breaking numbers. TLC says they`re planning 40 episodes this season. That is double the usual amount.
And in a brand-new interview with "E! Online," listen to what TLC is saying, quote, "The show`s ratings have grown consistently, as there has been interest in these real-life issues of this real-life family. We will continue to air as the interest continues, and the family wants to do it."
Carlos, sounds to me like TLC is giving them an out. Is that how you see that?
DIAZ: By saying if they want to do it. But here`s the analogy that I can give you. If you are a psychologist or a psychiatrist, and your job is to talk to people about their problems, and you`re having problems at home, should you quit your job as a psychiatrist? No. It`s all hand in hand.
Just because these two are having problems doesn`t mean they need to quit their job. And this is their job. This is the only way they can make money, and it`s very, very good money. I don`t think they should quit at all.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: A.J.
DIAZ: They need to keep the show going.
HAMMER: Jane, I got to end it there. But I think what they need to do: number one, protect the kids. And if that means taking the kids out of it and doing the show themselves and see if that works, I`m all for it.
Carlos Diaz.
DIAZ: Yes.
HAMMER: . and Jane Velez-Mitchell, thanks, guys.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Thank you.
HAMMER: Tonight: Brand new Chris Brown/Rihanna developments. We have got to talk about a major court decision for Brown today. Plus, will Rihanna now be forced to testify? I`ve got all the latest developments -- coming up next.
Also, new right now: Has Susan Boyle reached her boiling point?
(VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Dramatic reports that the YouTube singing star is in tears, that she is going off and swearing at strangers. What is going on with her? And will she actually quit the show that made her a worldwide star?
Plus, wait until you hear this -- Candy Spelling dropping a bombshell. Her shocking new claims about her daughter Tori and what may have killed her husband, legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling. It is caught on tape and I`ve got it.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the SHOWBIZ news ticker -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, making news right now.
(SHOWBIZ NEWS TICKER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, is Susan Boyle quitting "Britain`s Got Talent" right before the big final competition? It`s new, it`s shocking and it`s making big news right now.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight: Susan Boyle`s got a great set of vocal cords, but will her temper get in the way of her winning "Britain`s Got Talent"?
Also, will Rihanna be forced to testify against Chris Brown in court over the alleged beating incident?
They are two big stories that are new right now.
New tonight: The case against Chris Brown back in court today and a hearing about the alleged Rihanna beating. Tonight, brand new question: Is Rihanna going to be forced to testify against Brown?
Also, is Susan Boyle boiling over? Reports that Boyle is crying nonstop and cursing out tourists. Are the judges of "Britain`s Got Talent" wondering -- can she take the pressure?
Joining me tonight: From Hollywood is June Sarpong. She`s a British TV personality and founder of PoliticsInTheCity.com. Also tonight, in New York: Lisa Bloom, anchor for "IN SESSION" and a CNN legal analyst.
Let`s begin with Chris Brown. His attorney is back in court again today for a hearing involving the alleged Rihanna beating. He wanted to get his hands on this photo. Can we put that up?
This is the photo. We`ve seen it before -- apparently showing Rihanna after the alleged attack. It was allegedly leaked by police to TMZ.
But a judge actually denied the request to give him the photo -- and tonight, in an interesting new twist, Rihanna`s attorney says that she will be subpoenaed to testify against Brown.
Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD ETRA, RIHANNA`S ATTORNEY: This morning, the district attorney did advise me that they will be seeking to subpoena Rihanna. I will accept the subpoena on her behalf and she will appear as required by that subpoena.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So, you know, Rihanna has not been eager to speak out against Chris Brown. But she`s also said she`d cooperate.
Lisa, it sounds like she`s going to testify. How big a deal is this?
BLOOM: It`s very big deal and the L.A. D.A.`s office is treating this exactly the same way they treat every other domestic violent case, with the reluctant witness -- which is most of them. So, she only has two choices. She come and testifies or she goes to jail. This isn`t a big gift by Rihanna and her attorney, it`s what she has to do to comply with the law.
HAMMER: And it goes beyond the legal ramifications here -- I would think -- because Rihanna could be cross-examined by Chris Brown`s attorney. She maybe forced to relive some of those gruesome details of that night all over again.
June, as I mentioned, we`ve been told all along that Rihanna could cooperate in any way if she was asked to. But I got to imagine, she`s not looking forward to this hearing.
SARPONG: No, not at all. I think Rihanna wants to put the whole sorry episode behind her. And if you look at what she`s doing, she`s, you know, trying her best to move on with her life. And I think -- to have to go and then testify is probably not what she was hoping for at all. I think she just wishes she could just be done with the whole situation.
HAMMER: Yes, no question about that.
All right. Moving on to another big story that is new right now. Is Susan Boyle having a nervous breakdown?
Boyle`s reps say that she was harassed by two journalists at her hotel and that she totally lost her cool. But the tabloids are reporting that Boyle cursed them out. Who knows what they claim is true -- but one thing is for sure: Boyle is stressed out and that`s what "Britain`s Got Talent" judge Piers Morgan is telling the CBS "Early Show" today.
Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIERS MORGAN, JUDGE, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT": From what I hear, she`s been in tears the last two days. She even threatened to leave the show yesterday at one stage, because of the sheer amount of pressure on her. You have to remember with Susan, she`s a 48-year-old lady from a tiny village in Scotland who has never been exposed to anything like this kind of attention. And I think she`s really feeling the heat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So, Morgan says, "Hey, the pressure is on." You know, Saturday night, she`s got to give the best two-minute performance of her lifetime. That is going to decide her career.
Lisa, let me ask you this all-important question: Is Susan cracking under all this pressure? Is SuBo going loco?
(LAUGHTER)
BLOOM: Well, you know, she`s been living this quiet chaste life with her cat, and now she`s being hounded by the tabloid media. And in Britain, the tabloid media is really something.
And you know what? Some of them deserve to be cursed out at. I mean, we`re not hearing her side of this thing. But they may have been hounding her, I`m sure they`ve been putting unflattering pictures of her in the paper saying all kinds of nasty things about her because that`s what they do. And frankly, probably they got some of this coming.
HAMMER: Yes. And let me just say this. If the woman we`re looking at right now indeed dropped the F-bomb, went on a wild cursing tirade, I love her all that much more.
BLOOM: That`s what journalists do, too.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: The only thing I wish if it happened we actually got it on tape. Listen to what Piers Morgan had to say about the whole messy affair we`re talking about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: The hotel she`s in is crawling in tourists, crawling in the media. And I think she -- you know, maybe she reacted. I don`t know what happened. She denies apparently some of the things that have been reported. But either way, I know she`s feeling a lot of pressure, and I think that most people watching this show and hearing about this will feel natural sympathy towards her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, you know, you go on the show like "Britain`s Got Talent" because you want to be a big worldwide star.
So, June, I got to ask you: Do you have sympathy for Susan Boyle since she`s under so much pressure?
SARPONG: I really do. And you know, A.J., I`m Susan`s biggest fan. And I think she`s desperately cracking under the pressure. I hear she even cursed out Pierce probably because she hasn`t actually taken her on that date. And .
(LAUGHTER)
SARPONG: I think with Susan, the problem is, you know, she`s from a tiny village.
HAMMER: Yes.
SARPONG: This is a lot of pressure. And so, I think it`s inevitable that she`s going to have a bit of a meltdown. And you know what? We want that for our superstars. It`s good enough for Britney, good enough for Rihanna, it`s good enough for Susan.
HAMMER: The pressure is on me right now to jump and say, thank you very much. June Sarpong and Lisa Bloom, I appreciate it.
BLOOM: Thank you.
SARPONG: Thank you.
HAMMER: All right. Tonight, as we move on, will Cameron Diaz ever have kids? Cameron looks amazing. She`s got this great career. A lot of people wonder: Will she ever settle down and raise a family? And her answer is: Not right now.
In a revealing new interview in "Parade" magazine, Cameron says, "I have no idea. I`m still young, I have an unbelievable life. In some ways, I have the life that I have because I don`t have children. I don`t think it`s a compromise to have children. I don`t think it`s a compromise not to."
You can read more in this Sunday`s "Parade" magazine and newspapers everywhere.
Well, the nasty feud between Tori Spelling and her mom has taken a brand new explosive turn. Tonight, Candy is talking about her daughter Tori and what may have killed her husband, legendary TV producer, Aaron Spelling. It is caught on tape -- and yes, I`ve got it.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the SHOWBIZ news ticker -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(SHOWBIZ NEWS TICKER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALAN RUCK, ACTOR, AS CAMERON FREY: I can`t wait to see the look on the bastard`s face.
(CAR CRASHES)
RUCK: What did I do?
MATTHEW BRODERICK, ACTOR, AS FERRIS BUELLER: You killed the car.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, it made me a little sad. That is one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies of all time, of course, "Ferris Bueller`s Day Off." And did you see this? Tonight, you can actually own that home. I`m pretty sure they fixed the glass and the garage, though.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
And tonight, yes, you can own the home of Ferris` best friend Cameron Frey. The Chicago-area house was featured in the John Hughes film and is on the market for $2.3 million.
Remember how this went? In "Ferris Bueller`s Day Off," Bueller, Matthew Broderick, his girlfriend and Cameron, played by Alan Ruck. They skipped school. They swiped Cameron`s dad`s Ferrari. Now, they tried to roll back the odometer but the car goes crashing through the garage. It wouldn`t work anyway. Oops.
The 5,000 square-foot home is four bedrooms and four baths. More in economics, teacher saying, "Bueller, Bueller?" Not included.
Well, tonight, there is a jaw-dropping new attack in the nasty ongoing feud between Candy Spelling and her daughter Tori. In a brand new radio interview with WMAS in Springfield, Massachusetts, Candy drops a bombshell. She pretty much blames Tori`s feud with their family for the death of her husband and Tori`s dad, legendary TV producer, Aaron Spelling.
Listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CANDY SPELLING, TORI SPELLING`S MOTHER: I`ve always been trying to work on the relationship. I don`t know what the anger is. My daughter, one day, decided that she wasn`t speaking to my husband, myself, and my son. And that`s how it`s continued for the last -- oh, gosh, four, five years.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel for you, it`s a sad situation. Because I know I would want my mom -- I mean, she is part of my kids` lives and I would love to see that for you because you`ve got two beautiful grandchildren.
SPELLING: Yes, and you know what? And it was sad because that`s what killed my husband actually. He just didn`t want to live after that. You know, he had done everything, you know, he could possibly do for his daughter, and then she wanted no part of him once he couldn`t do anything for her.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s amazing she said that. Aaron, of course, died in 2006.
Well, on Wednesday, we asked you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. "Jon & Kate Plus 8": Are the kids being exploited? Big one-sided vote here, with 84 percent of you saying "yes," 16 percent "no."
A lot of e-mails though supporting Jon and Kate, including Dawn, who said, "I don`t believe their children will resent them doing the show. The show gave them opportunities and experiences they would never have been able to afford."
Jennifer from Oklahoma, "Most of us could never understand what it means to support financially eight kids. I say back off."
And I say, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11s -- 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
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