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Showbiz Tonight
Adam Lambert Comes Out; Claims About Carradine`s Bizarre Sex Habits; Jon Versus Kate: Who`s Side Are You On?; Melissa Gilbert`s Confessions
Aired June 09, 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, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Adam Lambert comes out. Tonight, the "American Idol" runner up reveals he`s gay. But why did Adam come out now? And is this the right move at the right time? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask in the great gay debate, would Adam have made it so far on "Idol" if he admitted he was gay during the show?
Brand-new shocking revelations in David Carradine`s mysterious death. Tonight, two of Carradine`s ex-wives speak out. Claims about his bizarre sex habits. Plus, why a mysterious second autopsy on Carradine`s body is being done. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the late-breaking developments.
And, tonight - duck, it`s duck love.
(MUSIC)
The over-the-top brand-new song that`s causing a splash in the battle over same-sex marriage.
TV`s most-provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And tonight, Adam comes out. "American Idol" runner-up, Adam Lambert, today silenced all those whispers about his sexuality, revealing that he is, in fact, gay. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that is only part of the story because as we like to say around here - but wait, there`s more.
Lambert also dropped some bombshells about using drugs. But why is he making all these revelations now, just weeks after coming in second on "American Idol" and just before he heads out on tour with other "Idol" contestants? Well, the answer to those questions and more - all making big news right now.
(MUSIC)
(voice-over): It`s the most earth-shattering news to come out of Hollywood in ages.
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Adam Lambert, "American Idol`s" flashy runner-up confirms in the new issue "Rolling Stone" magazine that yes, he`s gay. And people everywhere are expressing their shock. .
OK, maybe people weren`t exactly surprised by the news. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, in his new interview, which includes frank sex talk and details about his drug use, Lambert is sending a clear message. Carrie Underwood, he isn`t.
JO PIAZZA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: He is not this boiler plate "Idol," lovey-dovey all-American guy. He`s kind of alternative.
HAMMER: Lambert tackles his sexuality head-on in the brand-new interview in "Rolling Stone" saying, quote, "I don`t think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I`m gay."
PIAZZA: During the show`s run, everyone wondered whether or not Adam was gay.
HAMMER: Entertainment journalist Jo Piazza tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT people started speculating about Lambert`s sexuality almost since he began his run on "American Idol."
PIAZZA: That he was wearing copious amounts of eyeliner and makeup. But even more so, around March, when there were pictures released of him kissing his boyfriend - he never denied it. He never admitted it. He never denied it. He was very careful until now.
HAMMER: About that time, Lambert tells "Rolling Stone," quote, "I was worried that coming out would be so sensationalized that it would overshadow what I was there to do, which was sing. I`m an entertainer, and who I am and what I do in my personal life is a separate thing. It shouldn`t matter. Except it does. It`s really confusing.
RYAN SEACREST, HOST, "AMERICAN IDOL": Kris Allen -
HAMMER: Some say Lambert`s sexuality did matter when he lost "American Idol" to his friend, Kris Allen.
PIAZZA: There was a huge uproar and a lot of people thought that maybe he had lost because of these gay rumors.
HAMMER: Still, unlike his fellow "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken, who denied his sexuality for years and came out in "People" magazine well after his star had faded, Lambert is coming out near the height of his popularity.
Lambert tells "Rolling Stone," quote, "I didn`t want the Clay Aiken think and the celebrity-magazine (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I need to be able to explain myself in context."
PIAZZA: It took place so long to come out that he eventually became a punch line. I think Adam wanted to avoid that.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Lambert reveals much, much more in his interview. Yes, he`s gay, and he also gets high.
PIAZZA: We learned that he decided to be on "American Idol" after doing `shrooms at "The Burning Man" concert out in the desert, which I feel like that`s how everyone decides to go on a reality television show these days.
HAMMER: But now, the big question is, will Lambert`s revelation that he`s gay affect his promising music career before it really starts. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Lambert`s record company just announced that his first album will be released this fall.
PIAZZA: "Idol`s" fan base is mainly in Middle America, and mainly teenage girls. We don`t know how teenage girls are going to embrace Adam now that he`s come out of the closet.
HAMMER: Still, Lambert insists he`s all about the music, telling "Rolling Stone," quote, "I`m trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader."
PIAZZA: He doesn`t necessarily want to be a gay advocate, but he wants to be a rock `n roll star who happens to be gay.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So Adam Lambert`s coming out obviously brings up all kinds of provocative questions. Here are the biggies - would Adam have done as well in "American Idol" if he had come out during the show. And what about the timing of his coming out? It is a fired-up debate - right move at the right time? That`s coming up.
Now, over to you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Adam Lambert`s Says He`s Gay: Will it affect his career?" What do you think? You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail us more of your thoughts at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Tonight, the David Carradine death mystery. There are explosive new claims about the secret sexual life of Carradine that are raising new questions about his death. Tonight, brand-new, bizarre revelations by two of Carradine`s ex-wives may provide insight into his death. And why is a mysterious second autopsy being performed?
Also tonight, Hollywood is rallying around Lisa Ling`s sister. We have got the very latest as she is about to begin a 12-year hard-labor sentence in a North Korean prison.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Leslie Marshall who is the host of radio`s "The Leslie Marshall Show." In New York, it`s Lisa Bloom, who is a CNN legal analyst.
And we`ve got to start with these brand-new claims that just may provide some insight into David Carradine`s death. Carradine`s naked body was found at a Thailand hotel with rope around his wrists, neck and genitals. Now, the suspected cause of death is suicide or auto-erotic asphyxiation.
But in a brand-new interview released today, Carradine`s third wife, a woman named Gail Jensen, is insisting to "Radar Online" that Carradine was never into that. She did say, however, that he loved to tie himself up. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was this sexual self-gratification?
GAIL JENSEN, DAVID CARRADINE`S THIRD WIFE: Probably, but I`m not sure of that either. I mean, but yes, OK. You want the honest truth? Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would he ever try to asphyxiate?
JENSEN: Never, never, never, never, never.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would he be naked when he would do this?
JENSEN: Always in his swimming trunks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really?
JENSEN: Oh, he loved Speedos.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Lisa Bloom, what do you think? Could this kind of bizarre information actually be used in the investigation.
LISA BLOOM, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Absolutely. I mean, the question is, was this a suicide? And I understand that the hotel surveillance tape doesn`t show any other people coming or going from his room.
Nevertheless, I find it hard to believe how you can be hanged with your feet on the ground, how you can tie yourself up, including tying up your own wrists. So there`s a lot of mystery to this case. A lot of questions still unanswered.
HAMMER: Yes, and that`s not the only big revelation. Carradine`s fourth wife, a woman named Marina Anderson - she came out with her own doozy of a claim about Carradine in her divorce papers. She claimed that Carradine had an incestuous with a very close family member and accused him of deviant sexual behavior that was, quote, "potentially deadly."
But in a brand-new interview on CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE," she tells Joy Behar, who was guest-hosting, that she really doesn`t think he committed suicide. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOY BEHAR, GUEST HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Did David like to tie himself up? Was he into some kind of S & M thing or what?
MARINA ANDERSON, FOURTH WIFE OF DAVID CARRADINE: I can`t say that I`m really surprised at the scenario. But whether it is foul play, whether it is accidental - who knows until they get all this information in? I definitely do not believe he committed suicide.
BEHAR: You don`t?
M. ANDERSON: That I`m really sure of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Leslie Marshall, what do you think? This is a lot of stuff being put out there by people who knew him well. Investigators just can`t ignore this stuff, can they?
LESLIE MARSHALL, HOST, "THE LESLIE MARSHALL SHOW": No, I agree. And I do agree with what Lisa says - how you tie up your own wrists. And if you`re going to hang yourself, why are you naked? Why are your feet on the floor, and why is your genitalia being tied?
Both wife 3 - ex-wife 3 and 4 of Mr. Carradine have admitted he was into some kinky stuff. And if you remember wife 4 specifically said she wouldn`t get into the specifics, but that there is a lot of documentation on what he has done and what he`s been into.
And both don`t feel and no family member feels that he would have committed suicide. Let`s not forget he had dinner reservations for a group of friends the next night.
HAMMER: Yes.
MARSHALL: You know, I`m not a suicide expert, but it just doesn`t add up.
HAMMER: That`s what everybody has been saying. But then, you sort of also have to wonder why these ex-wives are speaking out in such detail so soon after Carradine`s death.
And Joy Behar, for one, did not mince words when it comes to what she thinks about what Carradine`s fourth wife told her. On "The View" this morning, Behar said it`s all very fishy. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: And then, you know, she didn`t want to give details. She was acting -
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": You acted (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BEHAR: She was being coy about it. And she`s got a book coming up. But then, she says, "Oh, he was a great man. I don`t want to defame him." Meanwhile, the body is not even cold. She`s out there talking about the guy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What do you think, Lisa Bloom? Strike you as odd the ex-wives are being so vocal so soon?
BLOOM: It is odd. I mean, keep in mind they`re ex-wives. They weren`t married to him at the time of his death. There was probably bad blood that went on between them. But look, this could have been an accidental suicide.
It could have been that he certainly didn`t intend to take his own life, but he`s engaged in this kinky, auto-erotic act, and it just went wrong, and he choked. He got himself tied up into a position he couldn`t get out of. That`s a possible explanation, too.
HAMMER: And quickly, Lisa, there`s word of the second autopsy. The family has hired someone to do this privately. Why would they do that?
BLOOM: Yes. Dr. Michael Baden - he`s very well-respected. They probably don`t trust the Thai authorities to do a proper autopsy. They want to have toxicology. They want to examine any bruises. Internal examination and all of that is going to be very important to them.
HAMMER: You can certainly understand why they would want to do that. All right. Another story that`s making big news right now - the battle to free Lisa Ling`s sister in North Korea. The dramatic new steps some of Hollywood`s biggest stars are taking to help Laura Ling get out of the 12- year prison sentence in a North Korean labor camp. Lisa Bloom, Leslie Marshall, I`d like you to stay right where you are. That is next.
There is also big Jon and Kate news tonight. The 100th episode of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" just aired. And tonight, we`ve got brand-new controversy to talk about. Are Jon and Kate moving further apart than ever?
And the hysterical, over-the-top wild new song that`s making a splash in the same-sex marriage debate. It`s all about sex with ducks.
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You heard right. We`re talking duck love. 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: Madonna`s rep denies that adoption of Malawian child has been approved. Kirsten Dunst returning for "Spiderman 4," producers still picking a bad guy.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And tonight, Lisa Ling`s unbelievable battle to free her sister Laura in North Korea. The sister of the former "View" co-host and another reporter for Current TV have now been sentenced to 12 years hard labor in a North Korean prison for allegedly being until the country illegally.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you the brand-new outpouring of support from Hollywood. And back with us from Hollywood, Leslie Marshall, host of the nationally syndicated radio show, "The Leslie Marshall Show." And in New York, it`s CNN legal analyst Lisa Bloom.
So Hollywood`s biggest stars now weighing in, including Ashton Kutcher who`s rarely silent. He said on a tweet on Twitter - and this is what he`s saying, quote, "This should be a national crisis. We have to demand that something be done. This is our country. It`s our military. I say it`s special ops time. If we can save that captain from pirates, we can save these journalists."
All right, Lisa Bloom. I like Ashton a whole lot, but it`s not that simple here, is it?
BLOOM: No, because we`re talking about a ruthless dictator, Kim Jong-Il, who`s got nuclear weapons. So unfortunately, a lot of diplomacy is called for. We don`t have diplomatic relations with North Korea so this is a very dicey situation. Frankly, I`m going to put my faith in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton though and not Ashton.
HAMMER: Yes. Me, too. Ashton Kutcher not alone - everybody`s been talking about this including everyone out in Hollywood. We were at the Hollywood premiere of Woody Allen`s new movie. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right there as "Whatever Works" was being rolled out. And Hollywood stars we spoke to urged the U.S. government to end this nonsense. Watch what they said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ED BEGLEY, JR. ACTOR: I think the State Department will, you know, do everything in their power to get them back. You know, they`re not spies. They`re simply reporters. And we have to do what we can and let`s see what that is.
PATRICIA CLARKSON, ACTRESS: I hope that every diplomat we have, you know, is trying to resolve this situation and trying to free them. They have to use everything possible to free these women. Twelve years in a labor camp?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: As I mentioned, everybody`s talking about it. Leslie, why do you think it has struck such a chord in Hollywood and beyond? I know you`re talking about it on your radio show.
MARSHALL: Certainly. I think there are a few reasons. One, these women are so young and the punishment doesn`t fit the crime especially when it may not have been a crime at all if they actually had no knowledge that they were in North Korean territory.
Secondly, we have a mother of a 4-year-old, Ms. Lee. Miss Ling has an ulcer. And of course, Miss Ling`s sister is known, Lisa Ling, to people throughout the country. So they`re one of our own as Americans.
I think a lot of people empathize with them as being so young and being women, and also one of our own as a journalist, you know, a part of the media. So that`s why I think so many people are involved. I think it`s outrageous.
But I do agree with Lisa. We have to let the State Department do this. Remember, the word is diplomacy. And anything that is done wrongly here could backfire for these two women.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, I think we`re going to hold out hope here with the families, everybody obviously sending their best thoughts and prayers and our hope that the U.S. Government is able to do what they need to do here. Leslie Marshall, Lisa Bloom, thank you so much.
All right. As we move on tonight, we`re getting a ton of calls into our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines all about "Jon and Kate Plus 8."
Deleah called into "Showbiz on Call." She was calling from Texas and she thinks Kate just treats Jon really badly.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DELEAH, CALLER FROM TEXAS: I`m just calling to say that Kate is selfish. She`s controlling. She`s bossy. She treats Jon like a child instead of her husband. If I was him, I would just completely disappear, you know, until she got her act together. Good luck to him.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
Good luck indeed. Thank you, Deleah. Judy from South Carolina, however, disagrees. She called in to "Showbiz on Call" to say it`s Jon that`s the problem.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JUDY, CALLER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA: I have enormous buzz for Kate. I think Jon is too complacent. He definitely does not get that much around. And with that many children, she needs all the help she can get. I vote unanimously for Kate. But the children are the ones that are going to suffer if they don`t get counseling.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: We appreciate your call, Judy. We would like you to call us at "Showbiz on Call." That way, you can let us know what you think about this, or anything at all that`s on your mind. That`s why we keep the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines open all the time at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888- 728-2899.
OK, so Adam Lambert admits he`s gay in a brand-new interview. And to a lot of people, that`s no big surprise. But what is surprising to a lot of people is the timing of this.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, in the great gay debate, would Adam have made it so far on "Idol" if he admitted he was gay during the show? That is coming up.
Also, wow, wait until you hear this, Jon Voight`s explosive attack on Barack Obama. Angelina Jolie`s estranged dad goes off.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON VOIGHT, ACTOR: We and we alone are the right frame of minds to free this nation from this Obama oppression. Let`s give thanks to them for not giving up and staying the course to bring an end to this false prophet Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. You have got to hear what else he says about our president. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - here come more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Natalie Cole announces first post-kidney transplant show to be on September 9th. "My Name is Earl" may end up on TBS after being cancelled after four years on NBC.)
It is time now for "Hollywood at Home." This is where we get stars to reveal their secrets for balancing their busy careers with their home life.
Tonight, Natasha Henstridge. The "Species" star is engaged to her fiance, Scottish singer Darius Danesh. She also has two kids from a previous relationship. And Natasha does a great job balancing it all. But she confesses to slipping out sometimes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NATASHA HENSTRIDGE, ACTRESS: You have a lot of little meltdowns like I did in the car on the way over, taking nail polish off, trying to get the kids settled and make sure they`re OK and they`re happy.
You do the best you can. You keep your priorities straight - what is the most important. But I would be absolutely lying if I said, you know, you don`t get flustered sometimes - of course.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Natasha tells "In Style" magazine that she`s leaning towards a small wedding on a beach with family and friends. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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HAMMER: All right. Who didn`t love waking up to that on Saturday mornings in the early `90s? "Saved by the Bell." Good times. Well, not good times. It was "Saved by the Bell."
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. OK. Did you see this? This was something that was pulled off so well on "Jimmy Fallon." Mark Paul Gosselaar who, of course, played Zach Morris on "Saved by the Bell" did this entire interview as Zach Morris. We`re talking about the hair, the clothes, even those famous Zach "time-outs." Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY FALLON, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON": There`s only one way that you could prove you really are Zach Morris. Something only Zach could do -
MARK PAUL GOSSELAAR, ACTOR: Time-out. That never gets old.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: No it doesn`t. That was fantastic. Jimmy is actually working on reuniting the entire "Saved by the Bell" cast. Only two more to see if they`ll join in. Hopefully, they`ll be able to pull that off.
All right, imagine what the Bayside high gang could have done if they just had Facebook back in the day. Well, I will let you that we have now launched our Facebook page at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Tons of stuff is up there.
Right now, I`m posting stuff all day long. You can write to me on the page. We`ve also included exclusive video. You`re not going to see it anywhere else - like this. I want you to check out fabulous SHOWBIZ TONIGHT producer Sandy Lee giving us a little behind-the-scenes look at what happens on an award show red carpet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDY LEE, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT PRODUCER: Everybody is standing with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT here on the red carpet at the Tony Awards. We`re going to take you through how the red carpet works.
Basically, celebrities are going to come through down the street here in New York. And then, they`re going to head over here and take a look at this.
They`re going to walk up to the red carpet. Through all these people. Excuse me. Excuse me. Then you`re going to see all the press screaming at them. They`re going to keep walking down the red carpet.
You see Radio City Music Hall ahead. Hello, everybody. I`ll take you down this way. Here is where I end up asking them all the provocative questions that you can see on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
So to see what they say, you`ve got to tune in. And if you have any comments, leave them right here and I`ll try to answer them on Facebook. Talk to you soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Sandy, nice job. Get that woman a steady cam. It`s pretty cool, though, isn`t it? We`re adding things all the time. You just got to sign up. How do you do that? It`s simple, go to our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Click on the Facebook logo and tell your friends, too.
Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup. This is what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The great gay debate. "American Idol" runner-up, Adam Lambert, admits he`s gay. So would he have made it so far on "Idol" if he had come out during the show?
The 100th episode of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" airs tonight. Brand-new controversy. Are Jon and Kate even further apart?
Plus, my explosive one-on-one with "Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert who opens up 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.
(CAPTION READS: Twitter wins Webby Award for breakout Web site of the year. Live-action film version of "The Jetsons" to start shooting next year.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Adam Lambert comes out. Tonight, the great gay debate. Will that affect his career? And would Adam have made it so far on "Idol" if he had come out during the show?
New signs of strain for Jon and Kate. How their marriage meltdown has changed one of the most important parts their reality show forever.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Yes. That`s right. Sex with ducks. It`s the absolutely wild "can`t get out of your head" song about ducks and sex that`s ruffling feathers in the gay marriage debate.
Plus, more stories breaking in the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most-provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, Adam Lambert reveals he`s gay in the brand-new issue of "Rolling Stone" magazine about to hit newsstands. This is one of two big stories, brand-new, making big news right now.
The "American Idol" runner-up is making some big revelations in this brand- new interview including confessions about drug use, why he waited until now to come out, and why he doesn`t want to become the poster child for gay rights.
Also make big news right now, "Jon and Kate Plus 8." are Jon and Kate even further apart than ever? Their 100th episode just aired. And Kate spills the beans on why we still aren`t seeing them together in their regular interview chair.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood is Tanika Ray, who is correspondent for "Extra." Also in Hollywood, Michael Yo, who is celebrity correspondent for "E!"
Let us begin with the brand-new revelations that came out today that "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert is gay. He`s made it official.
In the new issue of "Rolling Stone" magazine that will be on newsstands on Friday, Lambert said he did toy with revealing the news that he`s gay right after the whole "American Idol" finale. But he ended up changing his mind.
Listen to what he says about that, quote, "Right after the finale, I almost started talking about it to reporters, but I thought, I`m going to wait for `Rolling stone.` That will be cooler. I didn`t want the Clay Aiken thing and the celebrity magazine (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I need to be able to explain myself in context. I find it very important to be in control of this situation. I feel like everyone has an opinion of me and I want a chance to say, `Well, do you want to hear how I really feel about all this?`"
Tanika, I don`t know about you. I think it was a smart move on Adam Lambert`s part to wait until "Idol" was over and to do this on his own terms in his own time. What do you think?
TANIKA RAY, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Yes, things seem to be going his way. I mean, if you`re an up-and-coming artist, what better place to have your admission than in "Rolling Stone" magazine? So score for him.
And I want to say revelation - "revelation." Come on, I`m a single girl living in west Hollywood. We all knew what was going on with Adam Lambert. But I`m really proud that he felt this is the perfect medium for him to come out. And now all of America knows what was super-obvious to us back in the day.
HAMMER: Yes. And he made it very clear. He made it completely clear until the interview that everybody at "Idol" knew and he`s been living his life as a gay man in Los Angeles for eight years.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: But he chose to come out officially, publicly in this way. Also, in the interview, Adam revealed that he didn`t want to come out during the competition for what seems like a proper reason. He didn`t want it to overshadow his singing.
But what do you think, Michael? If he had come out during the competition, do you think he would have made it as far as he did all the way to the finals and a runner-up?
MICHAEL YO, ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT, "E!": You know what? I hate to say it, but absolutely not. I think it would have hurt him during the competition. And I think that`s the main reason he didn`t win the show, because people were figuring it out.
He wore a little too much eye makeup for the normal public. And that`s what I honestly think and I hate to say that. But what I loved about the "Rolling Stone" article is that he had a crush on Kris and they were roommates. That is awesome.
HAMMER: Yes. Yes. He did say, you know, it was almost a little awkward for him that he was put in the same room with the only guy that he found attractive. He did fess up to that. I don`t know if he said it was a full-on crush.
RAY: And so unavailable -
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: So unavailable.
HAMMER: He also said, you know, Kris is a progressive liberal guy but 100 percent straight and married.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: Adam also reveals in the startling new interview, and it`s really a terrific read - he said that even though he`s out, he does not want to become the poster child for gay rights which often happens in these cases.
He says, quote, "I`m trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader. Middle America may think that what I am is gay, but here in Hollywood, gay guys are all about trying to fit in. They`re obsessed with looking and acting hetero. Clay Aiken`s gay and I`m gay, and we couldn`t be more different. The only thing that`s the same about everyone in the gay community is that we`re gay."
Tanika, really, he is sending a terrific message there. Why does everyone need to be labeled?
RAY: Because that`s the world we live in. It makes people feel more comfortable when they can say, "Oh, Adam. He`s in this box. Now, I`m comfortable with buying his album," or not.
It`s just unfortunate in 2009 we`re living that sort of life. But I think it is changing. You know, Freddie Mercury was gay and nobody ever knew until the end of his career - well, nobody in Middle America.
And I just feel like we do want to put the emphasis on his singing. And by doing it this way, he got it out at the end of "AI." Now, move on, people.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: And listen to his amazing performances. I think it`s just the way we are in America these days. But I think we`re getting over it. I think we`re coming close to the end.
HAMMER: Well, despite what Adam Lambert would like to do voluntarily, this morning, just hours after the story broke, GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Anti- Defamation group told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "`American Idol` has become iconic in our culture. And as Adam continues to share his story during his post-`Idol` career, we hope his decision to live openly and honestly inspires gay people and opens the hearts and minds of his fans and others he will continue to entertain."
All right, I want to move on to the brand-new "Jon and Kate Plus 8" controversy. The 100th episode just aired. Wow. It is still on the air, ladies and gentlemen. And in the brand-new episode, Kate did address the big elephant in the room so to speak, which is why she and Jon are still not sitting together in the chair doing interviews. Take a look at what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": At this point, whoever lands in the interview chair does the interview, it looks like. Don`t ask any questions, it`s just - it`s called "rolling with life."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s called "rolling with life." All right. Michael, Kate sounds like she has been through the ringer. But what do you think? Is anybody going to stop caring about their relationship? Isn`t this after all what drove the ratings up for the show in the first place?
YO: Oh, absolutely. People are eating this up. If I were them, I would keep it going on. Like, I - in the back of my mind, I know Hollywood`s fake. This seems like a great story line to keep ratings up. You know, I hope it`s fake. I hope this is made up. I hope this say great publicity stunt -
RAY: No, Michael -
YO: Because the kids - I know, I hope it is, because the people are feeding into this. They`re eating it up.
HAMMER: Go ahead, Tanika.
RAY: No, I was just going to say it would be great if it was fake. This is the sad part. I`ve been watching "Jon and Kate Plus 8" forever. It was my little guilty pleasure. It was the little television show I think that anybody else watched. I just love seeing them with their eight kids. Now that they`re on every single tabloid, it`s kind of turning me off.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: It`s turning Tori Spelling, who, we just interviewed about that. A lot of celebrities are like, "Whoa, it`s kind of - it`s a whole other show now." So either they can move the show to a relationship show and the demise of a relationship between Jon and Kate, which could be interesting for some people. Or go off the air and figure out your relationship. It`s just gotten ugly now.
(CROSS TALK)
YO: You got to realize -
HAMMER: Certainly something you don`t want to sit down and watch with the family necessarily. Hang on to that thought one second, Michael. Because since the two have gone public with the strained relationship, fans have been taking sides, too.
I want to point this out. We asked our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day on air and online, "Jon Gosselin versus Kate Gosselin: Whose side are you on?" Look at this, 74 percent siding with Jon; 26 percent taking Kate`s side.
And remember, the alleged cheating scandals began with Jon, not Kate. Yet, Jon has more people on his side. Michael, does that make any sense to you?
YO: Well, the guy is miserable. Yes, it makes total sense. Anytime you see him on the TV show, the guy is miserable. Kate`s just yapping away. He`s just like, "Oh, my god, I can`t believe I`m here." Yes, he`s going crazy on that show right now.
HAMMER: Tanika -
RAY: We watched him be mentally abused for three years. I kept thinking as a single woman, "Wow, he`s putting up with that. How cool," not realizing behind the cameras, there was a real problem going on. So we`ve actually watched Kate push him to cheating in a weird way so we kind of support him.
HAMMER: Well, the look on his face really does say it all.
RAY: Nagging wife -
HAMMER: He`s got that fixed look of just dismay and despair. Tanika Ray, Michael Yo, thanks, guys, I appreciate it.
We`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Tonight, "Adam Lambert Says He`s Gay: Will it affect his career?" What do you think? CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, tonight, Jon Voight`s brand-new Barack Obama smack down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOIGHT: We and we alone are the right frame of mind to free this nation from this Obama oppression. Let`s give thanks to them for not giving up and staying the course to bring an end to this false prophet, Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Are you kidding me, Jon Voight? Wow. Angelina Jolie`s dad caught up in an all-out verbal attack on our president. Coming up, where this happened and why Sarah Palin was there for the entire thing.
And wait until you see this - Melissa Gilbert`s true confessions to me. How the "Little House on the Prairie" star battled booze and the heartbreaking way her relationship with Rob Lowe ended. It is the explosive interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Here is something I know you don`t want to miss. The totally over- the-top song about ducks and sex that dives head first into the gay marriage debate.
(MUSIC)
I guarantee you won`t be able to get the song out of your head. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories Leonardo DiCaprio splits from swimsuit model girlfriend Bar Rafaeli. Liam Neeson in talks to star in big screen version of "The A-Team.")
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Wait, Nelly. It`s yours. I took it. I`m sorry. I was trying to fix it. I was going to give it back.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: That`s a lie. I`m telling your mother.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Please don`t tell, please.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Melissa Gilbert warmed our hearts for years as Laura Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie." She was a good girl with no secrets.
But in real life, Melissa had plenty of skeletons in her closet. And now, she is telling all in a brand-new memoir. I`m talking about being an alcoholic, her relationship with Rob Lowe and the devastating way that ended. Coming up in moments, Melissa Gilbert`s true confessions to me.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
OK, did you se this? It`s duck love. Yes, I said "duck love." It`s the over-the-top, brand-new song that`s making a huge splash in the battle over same-sex marriage. And the catchy tune has even become an absolute sensation on YouTube. But why the heck are ducks wading into the gay marriage debate?
Well, here is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to explain.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When televangelist Pat Robertson brings up a duck`s love life during a discussion of sexual orientation -
PAT ROBERTSON, TELEVANGELIST: He`d like to have sex with ducks.
MOOS: Well, he`d better be prepared to duck.
(MUSIC)
Prepare for the parody.
RIKI "GARFUNKEL" LINDHOME, ACTRESS: The first thing my mom said is, "Riki, what if they don`t know you`re not kidding? People think we really want to have sex with ducks, you know. But that would be weird.
MOOS: They call themselves "Garfunkel and Oates," two straight actresses who happened to be pro-same-sex marriage.
(MUSIC)
LINDHOME: Last night, we played it at a lesbian baby shower and they loved it.
(MUSIC)
MOOS (on camera): The famed duo didn`t quite have all their ducks in a row. Pat Robertson wasn`t really talking about legalizing gay marriage when he made the duck remark. He was referring to a hate crimes bill, arguing that protection based on the term "sexual orientation" could cover way too much.
ROBERTSON: He likes to have sex with ducks. Is he protected under hate crimes?
LINDHOME: That`s ridiculous. Sexual orientation does not cover sex with ducks. I`m sorry, that`s ridiculous.
MOOS (voice-over): But after viewing the parody, Pat Robertson`s spokesman told CNN, "This video is an obvious deceptive attempt to create offense where no offense exists." Garfunkel and Oates say they`re just doing a parody on an argument against same-sex marriage they hear all the time. For instance, from Bill O`Reilly -
BILL O`REILLY, HOST, "THE O`REILLY FACTOR": You can marry 18 people. You can marry a duck. I mean - yes. But why? And you know what? If you`re in love with a duck -
MOOS (on camera): And since we`re on the subject of ducks and sex, did you hear about the gay penguins?
(voice-over): Two apparently gay male penguins at a German zoo were given an egg abandoned by its parents. They sat on it until it hatched and are now caring for the baby. But penguin or duck, there`s nothing like a steamy bird bath to ruffle feathers.
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That`s just ducky. Now, I`ve got the song stuck in my head. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, tonight, Melissa Gilbert tells all to me about alcoholism and how Rob Lowe once broke her heart. Melissa played the adorable little Laura Ingalls on the classic TV show, "Little House on the Prairie." In her brand-new book out today called "Prairie Tale, A Memoir," Gilbert reveals everything from her battle with alcohol to a painful break-up with Rob Lowe when she became pregnant with his baby.
Well, I sat down with Gilbert this afternoon. And she told me about that and hiding her alcoholism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELISSA GILBERT, ACTRESS: I had this system where my wine glass would start to get low and I would fill it back up so it looked like I wasn`t drinking. And everyone else would think that I wasn`t drinking. And ultimately, I even believed that. So that`s how damaged and that`s how sick addiction can be.
HAMMER (on camera): What was the wake-up call for you? Was there a rock bottom?
GILBERT: The wake-up call for me was rather humiliating - my now 13-year- old son, Michael. I was at the refrigerator making dinner and I was pouring some wine in my glass. And I closed the fridge and he was standing there just looking at me with this plaintive expression.
And I said, "What is it?" And he said, "Mom, you`re not going to drink more wine tonight, are you?" And it humiliated me that he knew. And I felt that it was then compromising my ability to parent him the way I wanted to.
HAMMER: Let`s move on to few of the other things you talk about. You talk very candidly about your relationship with Rob Lowe. When you got together, you`re 17 years old. You actually met when you were 14, but you hooked up when you were 17. At one point, you were engaged.
But you say he broke up with you when he found out that you were pregnant with his child. And I just found this to be a gripping and remarkable part of the book. Was Rob there for you at that time?
GILBERT: From a distance, he was. "I can`t be a father" was followed by "I can`t be a husband," because we were planning a wedding. And that was followed by "I can`t be a boyfriend." So I was sort of on my own and left with a really horrendous decision.
You know, do I become a single mother at 23 - single recognizable mother at 23 who is a role model and still feeling all the pressure from "Little House on the Prairie," to be a role model to these young women. Do I have a child and give it up for adoption which was not an option because I understood the ramifications of that and I vowed I would never do such a thing.
And the third option was abortion which I struggled with. But ultimately, a decision was made for me that I could not make for myself and I miscarried. And I was left very much alone. But the upshot is that all of those very painful and difficult experiences led to the most growth in my life.
HAMMER: You say he reacted by saying, "I don`t want to be a father and I don`t want to be a husband." Did he say that because here he was at the precipice of this incredible career, things were just starting to take off for him?
GILBERT: No, they were taking off. They had taken off. I mean we broke up and got back together. We broke up and got back together. Ultimately, we were 17 years old when we met. The relationship ended when we were 23. We were young. We were babies.
So I would marry about a year later. It just wasn`t meant to be. And I don`t think that Rob and I were ever meant to be together in the long term. I think we`re meant to be together for the time that we were in, and that`s it. We`re always in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Just an amazing life story. You can pick up a copy of Melissa` new book "Prairie Tale: A Memoir" in stores and on sale online right now.
Jon Voight`s Barack Obama smack down -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOIGHT: We and we alone are the right frame of minds to free this nation from this Obama oppression. Let`s give thanks to them for not giving up and staying the course to bring an end to this false prophet, Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the absolutely unreal name-calling by Angelina Jolie`s dad. What`s it all about? And why was Sarah Palin front and center for the whole thing? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: "I`m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here" ratings about 20 percent from premiere. "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson becomes the new face of Burberry.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, Jon Voight slams President Barack Obama right in front of Sarah Palin. The incredible attack happened last night in Washington. It was at a Republican fundraiser. Voight, who is of course Angelina Jolie`s dad, goes after the president`s foreign policy big time and even calls him a false prophet. Look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOIGHT: Obama really thinks he is a soft-spoken Julius Caesar. He thinks he`s going to conquer the world with his soft-spoken sweet talk and really thinks he`s going to bring all the enemies of the world into a little playground where they`ll swing each other back and forth.
We and we alone are the right frame of mind to free this nation from this Obama oppression. Let`s give thanks to them for not giving up and staying the course to bring an end to this false prophet, Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, a high-ranking Republican joked that he hoped Voight would be able to find work in Hollywood after that speech.
All right. Moving on to someone who can always get a job in Hollywood, the lovely Kathy Griffin. Tonight, Kathy reveals how much she loves SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. When she stopped by to talk about her brand-new season of her Bravo show, "My Life on the D-List," Kathy told me she checks out this program every night. And she came up with her own big stories for our "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Would you like to start writing the ticker for us?
KATHY LEE GRIFFIN, REALITY TV STAR, "MY LIFE ON THE D-LIST": Yes, I would. Can I do some tickers?
HAMMER: Yes. Go ahead. And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
GRIFFIN: Jon and Kate, clubbing again, this time outside Redding, Pennsylvania. Paula Abdul stands up straight. New season of "The Cougar: Younger and More Pliable." Susan Boyle found in love nest with Prince Harry.
HAMMER: That`s one.
GRIFFIN: Octo-Mom sews it up.
HAMMER: OK.
GRIFFIN: Just leave it there. Octo-Mom sews it up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There you go. You know, Kathy can`t sew it up when it comes to Hollywood`s biggest stars. You`ve got to check out more of my interview with Kathy Griffin, Wednesday night right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, former President George H.W. Bush turns 85 on Friday. And he`s celebrating in a big way. He`s skydiving with the Army`s Golden Knights. This is how he celebrated his 75th and 80th birthdays.
And this time, our very own HLN`s own Robin Meade, who hosts "Morning Express," of course, is interviewing and then sky diving with the former president. You will see the actual jump on Friday on HLN`s "Morning Express." And then, the lovely Robin will be right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to tell us all about it.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And you can always 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.
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