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Showbiz Tonight
Brand-New Bombshells about Drugs and Michael Jackson; Was Michael Jackson`s Brain Saved?; Did Michael Try to Save Lisa Ling`s Sister?; The Battle over Michael Jackson in Congress; Sarah Palin`s New Battle with Levi Johnston; Sacha Baron Cohen Risks Life and Limb for "Bruno"
Aired July 10, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, brand-new bombshells about drugs and Michael Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jackson was doing better because he was down from 30 to 40 Xanax pills a night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the almost unbelievable news that Jackson would take up to 40 Xanax pills a night. And a shocker from the Los Angeles police chief, why he`s saying Michael Jackson`s death could be a homicide.
Tonight, stranger than fiction, unbelievably bizarre stories after Michael Jackson`s death. Are they really saving Michael Jackson`s brain? Did Jackson really try to rescue Lisa Ling`s sister from North Korea? The truth behind the Jackson stories that are stranger than fiction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Use an alleged terrorist as a comedic foil? That`s dicey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the untold story of Bruno and the terrorists.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And tonight, another pile of brand-new Michael Jackson bombshells, each more remarkable than the next. I can tell you that the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom was intense today as we raced to keep up with every breaking development including truly startling news about Michael Jackson`s alleged drug use.
CNN breaking big news today that among other things, Michael Jackson, at one point, was taking as many as 40 Xanax pills at a time. Yes, I said 40. That story breaking today as the top cop in Los Angeles dropped a bombshell of his own. Police Chief William Bratton saying that Jackson`s death could turn into a homicide investigation.
And then Michael Jackson`s father, Joe Jackson, dropped his own bombshell in a brand-new interview today just revealed. He made a startling prediction about the future of Michael Jackson`s three kids and what he predicted may infuriate a lot of people.
Joining me tonight in Los Angeles, Jim Moret, who is chief correspondent for "Inside Edition." Also tonight in Hollywood is Leslie Marshall, host of "The Leslie Marshall Show."
Tonight, I want to start off with the first of these Michael Jackson brand-new bombshells. CNN has learned that Jackson at one time would pop 30 to 40 of the anti-anxiety pill Xanax a night. CNN obtained a confidential 2004 report that reveals a very dark picture of Jackson`s intense drug habit.
In the report, two of Jackson`s former security guards say the pop star eventually reduced his Xanax intake to just 10 a night. But CNN correspondent Randi Kaye explains the depth of Jackson`s addiction. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I have right here a confidential document from 2004 from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff`s Department here in California. And it contains confidential interviews that were done with two of Michael Jackson`s former security guards.
One of the guards told investigators that he would get the Xanax prescriptions at pharmacies for Jackson under a, quote, "fictitious name," including the security guard`s own name. And the other security guard actually backs that up. He said he was doing the same thing.
And in fact, they named at least three other employees that were doing this as well. One of the security guards, we could tell you, did name five doctors who he said were writing prescriptions for Michael Jackson, not all of them, again, in his name.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Jim Moret, let me begin with you. You have been covering Michael Jackson for many years now. We`ve long heard the name Michael Jackson associated with the word "addiction." But, wow, when you hear the extent to which Jackson sought out these drugs, driving state to state to get more drugs, does it just blow your mind, the apparent level of his addiction?
JIM MORET, CHIEF CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": It does. It`s sad, frankly. And this information came out in connection with the allegations of molestation. But they were not admitted into court because they weren`t relevant to the charges of molestation.
But still, you can see the Santa Barbara Sheriff`s Department accumulated a large number - they secured a large number of pill, IVs, different IV medications. And this picture is startling because we see that it was chronic over such a long period of time. And it all makes sense when you listen to some of the allegations being made with respect to how Michael Jackson may have died.
HAMMER: Leslie Marshall, how do you think this brand-new information is going to impact the investigation into his death?
LESLIE MARSHALL, HOST, "THE LESLIE MARSHALL SHOW": Actually, I think it has a strong impact because you have the legality issues here with so many individuals. To ask someone to fill a prescription for you in another name, illegal. To have someone give their name of their free will and know what is going to take place, illegal. To have a doctor prescribe drugs to an individual they know is not going to be taking that medication, illegal.
So I think all of these elements are essential. Also when it goes to, was he self-medicating to the point of an overdose? Was somebody else medicating him to the point of homicide? Or is it a bit of both?
And certainly - I have a friend who went through N.A. and said this is beyond an addiction. These were so many pills. Even an addict would say that`s way more than an addict could handle.
HAMMER: Yes -
MORET: And A.J., picking up on what Leslie said, you really have two investigations in a sense. You`re looking into how Michael Jackson died. But this other investigation is looking into years of chronic drug abuse and perhaps abuse by doctors, by pharmacy, enablers, people picking up drugs for him. Really, almost two separate tracks.
HAMMER: Well, on to which path this is all going to take, let`s move on to the next brand-new Michael Jackson bombshell, the new report out today that Jackson`s death could be a homicide. The police chief of Los Angeles, Bill Bratton, telling CNN in a brand-new interview that investigators are not ruling out that this could be homicide. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM BRATTON, LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF: Well, the inquiry into the death of Mr. Jackson is continuing. We will still await corroboration from the coroner`s office as to the cause of death.
That is going to be very dependent on the toxicology reports that are due to come back. And based on those, we`ll have an idea of what it is that we`re dealing with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So Jim, as this is rapidly unfolding, how serious should we take this? Could it be homicide?
MORET: Yes, I think it could be. Listen to the police chief`s words, "We`re awaiting corroboration as to the cause of death." That means they have a strong suspicion already. They`re lit waiting for the tox reports to corroborate what they already believe. And you could definitely see criminal charges coming out of this.
HAMMER: All right. I want to move now on to another Michael Jackson brand-new bombshell. Also, this one is coming from Michael Jackson`s father, Joe Jackson, who says he thinks Michael`s three kids could get into show business and be performers. You`ve got to see what he said on "Good Morning America."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does your eye see any possibility for their growing into performers someday?
JOE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S FATHER: I keep watching Paris. She really wants to do something, you know. Blanket - he can really dance. That`s what they`re saying. He can really dance - Blanket.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. So Joe Jackson, we know, is of course, the man - and really the creative mind behind the Jackson 5. He made that happen. He`s also known, as we have heard the story, for being incredibly hard on his kids, Michael included, during that time Michael had spoken of abuse, spoken of the way that Joe would berate them if they weren`t performing properly.
Leslie Marshall, do you think that Joe Jackson here is being exploitative in even bringing this possibility up of Michael`s three kids becoming performers? Isn`t this a bad, bad idea?
MARSHALL: It`s a bad, bad idea from someone that was allegedly a bad, bad daddy to Michael. I mean, Michael allegedly did not leave anything to his father and specified that in his will.
Michael, as you said, A.J., has made claims of abuse and a lot of that abuse stemmed from pushing a child in the entertainment field as he did, Michael, specifically within the Jackson 5.
To talk about this before your son is buried, to talk about his children - this is a man who didn`t want his children to look at themselves, never mind beyond stage to the world. I think this is just more greed with a capital G for Mr. Jackson.
HAMMER: Yes. It`s really interesting when we look, you know, at what`s transpired in the last week with the Jackson kids really coming front and center, being in the spotlight for the first time in their lives after being shielded from the public for so, so long.
And Jim Moret, again, I go back to you for context here because of the extent to which you`ve been covering Michael and his life for years. When you hear Joe Jackson talking about this, does that just worry you sick?
MORET: Well, I`ll tell you something. It`s interesting because the custody hearing is coming up on Monday. You know, Katherine Jackson distanced herself from Joe Jackson in asking that she be the sole guardian, not with Joe, who she does not live with.
But Joe`s clearly been out here in the midst of all this tragedy. And I think this could hurt her bid to be the guardian of these children. You know that Debbie Rowe sought a restraining order, or at least suggested she would seek one, against Joe Jackson, specifically because of statements that - we haven`t heard these statements yet.
But because of the allegations and claims of abuse in the past, she wanted Joe Jackson to stay away from these kids. Yes, you know what? It`s so distasteful that it`s frightening.
HAMMER: I have to say you bring up a very good point. It could wind up being hurtful in the whole custody situation for Katherine. And I said it long ago, Joe Jackson shouldn`t be allowed in front of a camera or in front of a microphone right now. I just think it`s a bad idea. He`s having a hard time getting the right words out there.
Jim Moret, Leslie Marshall, I really appreciate you being here tonight.
All right. Now, over to you. This is what we want to know for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Michael Jackson`s Death: Do you think foul play was involved?" You can vote by going to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can always E-mail us, the address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.
I`ve got to say, if you thought Michael Jackson`s life was strange, you have got to hear the outrageous stories that are coming out after his death.
Tonight, is Michael Jackson`s brain being saved? Did Jackson really try to rescue Lisa Ling`s sister from North Korea? They are the unbelievable stories after Michael Jackson`s death that are just stranger than fiction.
Also, Michael Jackson`s siblings - what their lives are like now - Jermaine, Marlon, Tito, Randy, Janet. We all, of course, watched them mourn their brother on the world stage. But where have they all been for all of these years? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT catches up with Michael`s famous brothers and sisters.
We`ve also got this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Paparazzi-style journalism is not exactly a surprise among Britain`s notoriously aggressive tabloids. But what is surprising here is the sheer scale of the allegations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Elle McPherson - their cell phones hacked, but who did it? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - here come more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Jackson family viewed Michael`s body in open casket the night before memorial. Commercials featuring pitchman Billy Mays will continue to air after his death.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LA TOYA JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S SISTER: We`re extremely grateful for all the support. We love you all. As you well know, Michael loved his fans more than anybody else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Michael Jackson`s sisters, Rebbie, La Toya and Janet thanked a big crowd at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles at the memorial for their brother. But it has been years since we`ve seen some of Michael`s siblings. Could it be - we haven`t seen Rebbie since the `80s? And La Toya did give up on her pop music career. So what has she been doing since?
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT finds out what Michael`s famous brothers and sisters are up to now.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, Michael Jackson`s siblings, what are they doing now? With Michael Jackson`s untimely death, suddenly Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, La Toya and all of Michael Jackson`s brothers and sisters are back in the spotlight. And for many of the brothers, life after the Jackson 5, I don`t think it turned out as they probably expected it would. And each sibling has a surprising story of where they are now.
Here`s CNN`s Erica Hill for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They started this journey together. And now, the Jackson family grieves together mourning the brother whose star shined the brightest.
MARLON JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S BROTHER: I would like for you to give our brother, my twin brother, Brandon, a hug for me. I love you both, and I`ll miss you.
HILL: Marlon Jackson, barely a year and a half older than Michael, speaking of his twin who died at birth. The closeness of this family has been well-documented and increasingly public, speaking at the BET Awards, Janet spoke of their Michael.
JANET JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S SISTER: To you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts.
HILL: While the Jacksons may be the most famous family in music history, only a few of the nine children raised by Joe and Katherine Jackson managed to make a career of their talents.
HILL: 43-year-old Janet is perhaps the most well-known after Michael. The actress and singer was on a film set when she learned about her brother`s death. 59-year-old Rebbie Jackson is the oldest of the siblings. She had a hit single in the mid-`80s, is married with three children and calls Las Vegas home.
La Toya, 53, made headlines when she posed for "Playboy" and again, for a tell-all book. She is now divorced, living in Beverly Hills.
Shortly after the memorial, the three sisters addressed their brother`s fans -
L. JACKSON: I just want to thank you all for being there for him. He loves you very, very much. Thank you.
HILL: As for the surviving members of the Jackson 5, Jackie is a divorced 58-year-old dad of two who promotes his son`s music career. 55-year-old Tito, the guitarist for the group, is also divorced. He was recently a celebrity judge on a British reality show.
Marlon is married with three children. There were reports the 52- year-old was working at a San Diego department store last year.
Perhaps, not the life their parents imagined, but the lesser known siblings may have been the lucky ones.
M. JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S BROTHER: We would never, never understand what he endured, not being able to walk across the street without a crowd gathering around him. Being judged, ridiculed, how much pain can one take?
HILL: 54-year-old Jermaine, the original lead singer of the group, has been married and divorced three times.
JERMAINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S BROTHER: I said, Michael, why did you go? Why did you leave? Why did you leave me? What was going through my mind, Larry, I wish it was me there instead of him.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Really quite a family. That was CNN`s Erica Hill for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, people are absolutely fired-up about the mystery of who`s the real father of Michael Jackson`s kids and the kids` future. I know that because of the flurry of calls coming into our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines. Like this call from Rebecca in West Virginia who called in to "Showbiz on Call" to say, who`s the daddy? Well, it`s none of your business.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
REBECCA, CALLER FROM WEST VIRGINIA: I think that it is none of our business who the biological father is of Michael Jackson`s children. You could clearly see that they loved their daddy so much and that`s the only father they have ever known.
And I think that if they want to find out who their biological father is, it should be done in private and not all over the TV. I think these children have been through enough. I think it`s just wrong. It`s none of our business who their father is.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: We appreciate your call, Rebecca. We also heard from Tamie calling into "Showbiz on Call" to say, leave the Jackson family alone.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
TAMIE, CALLER: I think that the children should remain with the family because you can see that they`re very close. And also to just let Michael Jackson just rest in peace because even though he was famous, he wasn`t really given the chance to live his life the way he wanted to. On stage, he was at his happiest or when he was with those kids. And we should just let him rest in peace.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Tamie. Call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about Michael Jackson, his kids and their future or anything else. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines, always open at 1-888- SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. That`s where you can leave us a voicemail so we can play your call here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And your calls to "Showbiz on Call" are also now online, right there on our homepage. Surf on over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well, there were certainly pretty outrageous stories out there when Michael Jackson was still alive, like Michael buying the bones of the elephant man or sleeping in that hyperbaric chamber to stay young.
Well, now, there are some outrageous stories coming out after his death. Is Michael Jackson`s brain being saved? What is the deal with that? You couldn`t write this stuff if you wanted to.
And what about Michael Jackson`s nose? Was it a fake? I am telling you, these stories we are going to tell you about are just mind- boggling. So coming up, we will separate fact from the outrageous Jackson stories that are stranger than fiction. That`s coming up next.
Plus, who`s been hacking Gwyneth Paltrow`s cell phone? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Justin Timberlake in the running to be cast as the Green Lantern in new movie. Lindsay Lohan starts new production company called "Unforgettable.")
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, an explosive investigation after a tabloid allegedly hacked cell phones of stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law. But how the heck did this happen?
Here`s CNN`s Atika Shubert for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It reads like a who`s who on the red carpet - Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, supermodel Elle McPherson. Just some of the thousands of public figures whose private phone messages were allegedly hacked by British tabloid "News of the World."
(on camera): Now, paparazzi-style journalism is not exactly a surprise among Britain`s notoriously aggressive tabloids. But what is surprising here is the sheer scale of the allegations.
(voice-over): In 2007, a "News of the World" reporter was jailed for illegally breaking into the voice messages of members of the royal household. But British newspaper, "The Guardian," now says "News of the World" authorized the hacking of thousands of personal messages of public figures that was not investigated by police.
NICK DAVIES, "THE GUARDIAN": You`ve got a very, very worrying picture here and an unanswered question about why this police inquiry starts, and then appears to stop short of its goal. And I don`t know what the answer to that because I`m not saying the officers who were running the inquiry did something bad.
But it worries me that somebody very senior may have said, "Let`s not get into a fight with this very powerful newspaper group. Will you please stop your inquiry?"
SHUBERT: That powerful media group is News Group, owned by Rupert Murdoch`s News Corp. News Group maintains that it had no knowledge of any alleged phone hacking. "News of the World" has refused to comment on the latest allegations.
Britain`s metropolitan police has said it would review the case. Reopening a police investigation may have a serious impact, not just on "News of the World" but on other papers as well, says Andrew Neil, former editor of "The Sunday Times," also owned by News Group.
ANDREW NEIL, FORMER EDITOR, "THE SUNDAY TIMES": I think it`s one of the most significant media stories of modern times because it suggests that a whole newsroom was corrupted by the use of private investigators.
It suggests that there was widespread illegal activity and it suggests that the whole journalistic effort was dominated by trying to break into people`s voicemails and use of other private data in order to get stories.
SHUBERT: "News of the World," used to dishing the dirt on public figures, now finds itself under scrutiny.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Atika Shubert for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Now the SHOWBIZ lineup - this is what we`ve got coming up at the bottom of the hour.
Outrageous Michael Jackson stories that are just stranger than fiction. Is Michael Jackson`s brain being saved? Did he try to save Lisa Ling`s sister from North Korea? And what about Michael Jackson`s nose? Was it a fake?
And Levi Johnston says he knows why Sarah Palin resigned. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: George Clooney to shoot new film in earthquake ravaged L`Aquila, Italy. Mel Gibson to star in "The Beaver" directed by Jodie Foster.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, stranger than fiction - the bizarre stories after Michael Jackson`s death. Are they really saving Michael Jackson`s brain? Did Jackson really try to rescue Lisa Ling`s sister from North Korea? The truth behind the Jackson stories that are stranger than fiction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D-TX): We have introduced into the House of Representatives this Resolution 600 that claims Michael Jackson as an American legend and musical icon, a world humanitarian -
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: I don`t think it`s necessary for us to have a resolution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The battle over Michael hits Congress? Why politicians are waging war over Michael.
Bruno and the terrorist. Why a comedy star risked life and limb for his new film.
Plus, more stories breaking from the SHOWBIZ news ticker.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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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, the brand-new Michael Jackson developments that are stranger than fiction. Yes, because in life, we are once again learning things about Michael that are so strange they seem almost unreal.
Tonight, did they save Michael`s brain? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is learning brand-new details about why part of his brain is missing from his body more than two weeks after his death.
Also tonight, Michael Jackson`s nose - did he really have a fake nose, his real nose just too damaged from years of plastic surgery? Well, now, for the very first time, his longtime doctor is setting the record straight.
Plus, the startling news breaking today that Jackson may have tried to save Lisa Ling`s sister from hard labor in a prison in North Korea because North Korea`s dictator might have been a Michael Jackson fan.
With us tonight from Los Angeles is Jim Moret, who is the chief correspondent for "Inside Edition." Also in Hollywood tonight is Leslie Marshall, who is the host of the nationally syndicated, fine radio show, "The Leslie Marshall Show."
And let me begin by just saying the obvious here, you can`t make this stuff up. I want to start with this question about something that really seems like the title of a 1950s science fiction B movie. They saved Michael`s brain.
Yes, the Los Angeles County Coroner`s Office has now confirmed they do have Michael`s brain, or at least a part of it, as part of their investigation into his death. Jim Moret, let me begin with you. Why the brain? What are they looking for?
MORET: Well, it`s part of the toxicology tests. And in order to be certain of the tests, they need to remove some brain or brain tissue. And that has to actually harden before they can conduct the proper tests to see what drug, if any, were in Michael Jackson`s system, for how long he had been using them.
And that may be why Michael Jackson hasn`t found his final resting place. It`s certainly logical that the family wants everything intact, so to speak, for Michael Jackson before they put him in the ground.
HAMMER: OK, got it. But it still sounds very strange and creepy, doesn`t it, Leslie Marshall?
MARSHALL: Yes, but you know, they lost JFK`s brain and saved Marilyn Monroe`s stomach. So when it comes to celebrities, anything goes.
But I would agree with Jim that certainly, many families would want their loved ones completely intact before being buried and certainly, in order to determine whether this was an overdose or whether this was homicide. They`re going to need to do a full toxicology report and have a full forensic panel. And they need the brain to do that.
HAMMER: OK. So not a sci-fi B-movie. It`s a little strange sounding. It`s all for the investigation.
Let`s move on. The next breaking development we have to talk about tonight that seems stranger than fiction - did Michael Jackson have a fake removable nose?
Well, Jackson himself had confirmed that he had plastic surgery on his nose. And the proof is in the picture. Let`s put this up, shall we, Charles?
Now, you see on the left, there`s Michael as he once appeared. On the right, Michael, well, in his later years. But there has been speculation for a long time that because of repeated surgeries on his nose, it fell apart and fell off.
Well, Jackson`s long-time dermatologist and friend, Arnold Klein, the doctor, tried to set the record straight on CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE" about this. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ARNOLD KLEIN, MICHAEL JACKSON`S DERMATOLOGIST: Contrary to what people said, he could not take off his nose. His nose was attached. But it looked too small. And I was trying to get him ready to do the concert because the way he looked in his face, he wanted to be absolutely as perfect as it could be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Not a fake nose, not a replaceable nose. I never really bought that anyway. But Jim Moret, isn`t it just outrageous that it would actually get to that point, that doctor after doctor would keep on operating on Michael and operating on his nose? It seems like nobody had the guts to say, "Hey, I don`t want any more of your money. Enough`s enough already"?
MORET: Yes. It`s a shame, to be quite honest with you. I mean, he clearly - he had some problem with his body image. He kept changing his nose. I remember seeing him at trial. We sat 10 feet away and you`d often look at his nose and it did look unusual. There`s no question about it.
He obviously had repeated surgeries. And I`ve read different reports of doctors having examined photos. And some people suggest there`s actually cartilage or tissue that was actually sticking through the tip of his nose, and some suggest he might need a prosthetic tip at one point.
But Dr. Klein seemed to indicate that wasn`t the case, that he was just using fillers. The problem is there was just nothing left to fill. That`s what a lot of doctors are suggesting. And you know what? You have to know when to stop. And clearly he didn`t.
HAMMER: Well, he didn`t. And Leslie, he really had more of these enablers in his life in terms of these people that would continue to do surgery where they probably should not have.
MARSHALL: Absolutely. I think I`ve mentioned before and I think you know, my husband`s a physician. And physicians in this country take a Hippocratic Oath. And they are to heal. And if you continually operate on an individual who doesn`t need it - I mean, this is cosmetic surgery. This is irresponsible. Perhaps this will even be illegal. We will see what happens in the future.
But certainly, I`ve also read, like Jim, there was cartilage allegedly sticking through. And it`s because of so many procedures that he basically had nothing left to his nose, no skin. And quite frankly, we all know cartilage can`t grow back. You can`t replace that.
So he did himself damage. But certainly, medical professionals - somebody should have had, not just the guts, but the lack of greed to say, "Michael, that`s enough. I`m not going to cut into you."
HAMMER: Yes. Just really another sad aspect to his story. All right. I do want to move on to another breaking development that seems stranger than fiction. Did Michael Jackson really try to rescue Lisa Ling`s sister from a prison in North Korea?
I know this sounds crazy, but in a brand-new blog today, Deepak Chopra`s son, Gotham, who was a friend of Michael Jackson`s, reveals Michael did actually want to help Ling`s sister, Laura.
Of course, Laura was sentenced with another TV reporter to 12 years hard labor for being in North Korea illegally. Here`s what Chopra says that Michael asked him, "Do you think that the leader of North Korea could be a fan of mine? Because maybe if he was a fan, I could help get those girls home."
HAMMER: Jim, as crazy as it seems, is it far-fetched to think that given Michael`s worldwide appeal, North Korea`s leader, Kim Jong-Il, could actually have been a fan? And hey, maybe it could have worked. There could have been something there.
MORET: It`s certainly believable. I think Michael Jackson - in that blog, Michael Jackson reportedly said, "Well, he wears military jackets like mine. Maybe he`s a fan. Wouldn`t it be great if I could help them out?"
And I think he was particularly touched by Euna Lee`s - the fact that she has a 4-year-old daughter. And he was touched by that. Yes, is it believable? Given Michael Jackson`s personality, it`s absolutely believable.
HAMMER: And as odd as it sounds, we know that Kim Jong-Il has had a fascination with all things Hollywood for a long time. Leslie, what do you think? Does this sound too far-fetched that Jackson`s influence actually could have worked here?
MARSHALL: Well, if we think years back to "We Are The World," certainly, Michael Jackson has shown his care for the world and his philanthropy. So I don`t think it`s that far-fetched especially because it`s so many quotes verbatim.
It would have been interesting, you know, certainly if he had lived to see what would have happened. Because Kim Jong-Il is fascinated with a lot of things in the western world, Hollywood celebrities. I`m sure he was fascinated with Michael Jackson, clothing styles alike or not. I`m not sure how much influence a celebrity could have.
HAMMER: Does it make perfect sense that in death as in life, Michael Jackson`s death is stranger than fiction?
MORET: Well, I think he`s going to - look at his album sales, A.J. He sold 800,000 albums in just the last week.
HAMMER: Wow.
MORET: He has the top 10 spots on the Billboard album charts, one through 10. He`s as relevant, if not more relevant, today than he was at his height. And I think all of these stories and combine that with the drug abuse allegations, you have a renewed sympathy for Michael Jackson.
HAMMER: Yes.
MORET: I think this story will continue to grow and so will the myth and legend around Michael Jackson.
HAMMER: I`m right there with you. Jim Moret and Leslie Marshall, I thank you both.
So we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Michael Jackson`s Death: Do you think foul play was involved?" Keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
I can`t believe this, but the battle over Michael Jackson`s even reached Congress. Why are a couple of Congress people actually arguing over the King of Pop? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the real story behind the battle in the House of Representatives over Michael Jackson. Wow.
Sarah Palin has a battle of her own heating up. Her daughter`s ex claims he knows the real reason Palin is stepping down as the governor of Alaska. His controversial comments straight ahead.
And this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: It`s one thing for Bruno to make a fool out of, say, a talent contest judge or a politician. But to use an alleged terrorist as a comedic foil? That`s dicey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Talk about playing with fire. Why did "Bruno" star Sacha Baron Cohen risk life and limb? The untold story about what happened when Bruno met the terrorist. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Patricia Arquette calls off divorce from husband Thomas Jane. Jim Carrey to become a grandfather, his 21-year-old daughter is expecting.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, the already strange turn of events after the death of Michael Jackson has reached Congress and Capitol Hill. Tonight, no less than the speaker of the House of Representatives is getting into the middle of the great debate. Should Congress honor Michael Jackson?
Well, this all began at Michael`s memorial when a Texas congresswoman got up and said congress should honor Michael Jackson. But hold on just a second. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that that has not gone over real big with the superpowers-that-be in Washington. And the latest developments are making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(voice-over): Michael Jackson`s death has unleashed an outpouring of love, unity and bonding, just about everywhere - everywhere, that is, except for Washington.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Michael Jackson has powerful members of the United States Congress in an all-out brawl. OK, maybe not quite like that gang brawl in Michael Jackson`s "Beat It" video, but it`s pretty bad with some lawmakers praising Jackson -
LEE: Michael Jackson, I salute you -
HAMMER: And others - well, not.
PETER KING (R-NY): This low life, Michael Jackson -
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Congress is going crazy over how or whether to honor the King of Pop.
JO PIAZZA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Everyone has something very strong to say about Michael Jackson and it`s turning into a big fight.
HAMMER: The big congressional fight over Michael Jackson began with this proposed House resolution to honor his life and work. Texas Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee sponsored the resolution. And at Jackson`s memorial Tuesday, she said the House would be debating it.
LEE: That claims Michael Jackson as an American legend and musical icon, a world humanitarian.
HAMMER: Not so fast, congresswoman.
PELOSI: I don`t think it`s necessary for us to have a resolution.
HAMMER: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now, not only closing the door on her fellow Democrat`s resolution to honor Michael, she`s slamming it, locking it and boarding it shut.
PELOSI: A resolution I think would open up to contrary views that are not necessary at this time.
HAMMER: Too late, madam speaker. Those contrary views about Michael Jackson are already being expressed.
P. KING: No one wants to stand up and say, "We don`t need Michael Jackson."
HAMMER: New York Republican Congressman Peter King is leading the anti- Michael Jackson contingent with this YouTube video -
P. KING: Let`s knock out the psychobabble. This guy was a pervert. He was a child molester. He was a pedophile.
HAMMER: At the Michael Jackson memorial, Congresswoman Lee fired back at Congressman King.
LEE: And we know that people are innocent until proven otherwise.
HAMMER: The nastiness has even made its way inside the Capitol. When some lawmakers tried to hold a moment of silence in the House after Jackson`s death, some of their colleagues moonwalked right out of the chambers.
PIAZZA: Some members of Congress see him as a pedophile. But others see him as a humanitarian, an American legend. Politicians feel like they have to make some sort of comment on it. But they don`t know exactly how to tread the line.
HAMMER: Even President Obama has tried to walk that fine line.
ED HENRY CNN CORRESPONDENT: What do you think his legacy is going to be?
HAMMER: When CNN`s Ed Henry asked him about Michael Jackson, the president looked like he wished Ed asked him something easier, like what to do about Iran or North Korea.
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: His extraordinary talent and his music was matched with, I think, a big dose of tragedy.
HAMMER: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee refuses to let up on a possible Michael Jackson resolution. She issued a brand-new statement saying, quote, "We will work with this legislation as long as necessary." In other words -
PIAZZA: Sheila Jackson lee just won`t beat it.
HAMMER: So as this big Michael Jackson fight shows no signs of ending soon, the question would becomes, would Michael Jackson, the guy who co- wrote the ultimate kumbaya song, "We Are The World" actually want people, especially our leaders, fighting over him like this?
PIAZZA: Michael Jackson was a humanitarian. I don`t think he would necessarily approve of this political rancor being stirred up.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: As we saw in his video, Michael Jackson was, above all else, a peacemaker. So maybe Speaker Pelosi, Congresswoman Lee and Congressman King can agree to honor Jackson by squashing their beat and dancing their differences away because that`s the way Michael would have wanted it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So it seems Congress has bigger fish to fry. Several lawmakers are telling media outlets with stuff like health care, the environment and other divisive issues to fight over, no one has the stomach for a fight over Michael Jackson.
Well, Sarah Palin has got a battle of her own brewing. This time, Levi Johnston, the father of Palin`s grandson, is stoking the flames of the Palin family feud. He says he knows the real reason Palin decided to step down as governor of Alaska.
Johnston who, of course, was once engaged to Palin`s teenage daughter, Bristol, claims Palin jumped ship for money. He told reporters at a press conference on Thursday that he heard Palin talking about cashing in on lucrative book and TV deals.
He says, quote, "she had talked about how nice it would be to take some of this money people had been offering us and, you know, just run with it, say, `forget everything else.`"
HAMMER: Well, Palin`s rep responded to Johnston`s comments telling the Associated Press, "It is interesting to learn Levi is working on a piece of fiction while he`s honing his acting skills." And interestingly enough, Levi says he is working on getting a book and TV deal of his own.
Well, who says comedy wasn`t dangerous? "Bruno" star Sacha Baron Cohen put his life on the line all for laughs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: It`s one thing for Bruno to make a fool out of, say, a talent contest judge or a politician. But to use an alleged terrorist as a comedic foil? That`s dicey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Coming up, when Bruno met a terrorist. The real story behind a life-threatening scene in Cohen`s brand-new comedy. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Ryan Seacrest signs new deal to remain the host of "American Idol." Led Zeppelin`s Robert Plant named Commander of British Empire by Prince Charles.)
It is time now for making it work where we take a look at strong relationships in Hollywood. Tonight, Isla Fisher - she and "Bruno" star, Sacha Baron Cohen, have been together for more than seven years. They are engaged and have a daughter named Olive.
Well, Isla told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that it was actually Sacha who encouraged her to do comedy and that led to her roles in "Wedding Crashers" and "Confessions of a Shopaholic." Isla sat down with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and we asked her how she manages to stay so private with such a high-profile relationship.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISLA FISHER, ACTRESS: My personal life is just so important to me. And I think the only way that I do it is by not answering questions about my family. And I try to kind of dance around it or make a funny anecdote or give away a tiny bit, but without having to, you know, share that because it`s so important to me to have something for myself.
Even though I`m already starting out as such, you know, you know, it`s still - you know, it`s my heart. It`s my family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You can see Isla Fisher`s main squeeze, Sacha Baron Cohen, in "Bruno" in theaters today. And we will be back with the inside story of "Bruno" and the terrorist.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, Bruno versus the terrorist. Sacha Baron Cohen`s new movie is out today. And one scene with a terrorist is getting a whole lot of buzz.
Here is CNN`s Jeanne for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the true story of Bruno and the terrorist.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): As gay fashionista, Bruno, we have seen him dressed in silver, in leopard and wings and hot pants, in nothing at all. To see him walk out on Letterman as himself was a shock, almost more shocking to see Matt Lauer kiss his hand, and end up in the lap of Conan O`Brien.
But in trying to come up with the oddest couple of all for his movie, Sacha Baron Cohen hit on this.
SACHA BARON COHEN, COMEDIAN: A comedian interviewing a terrorist.
MOOS (on camera): Even if his character doesn`t know the difference between hummus and Hamas, it`s one thing for Bruno to make a fool out of say, a talent contest judge or a politician. But to use an alleged terrorist as a comedic foil, that`s dicey.
COHEN: It`s not that easy to find an actual terrorist. In fact, your government has been looking for one for about nine years.
MOOS (voice-over) : Cohen says his team looked for a few months before finding someone in the occupied west bank who said -
COHEN: There is a terrorist who lives in my town.
MOOS (on camera): And then what Bruno needed was to find someone to protect him, a job nobody wanted. So Cohen says he settled for a guy who once did security for Enrique Iglesias.
COHEN: His main job had been protecting Enrique from flying underwear. You know, I knew if it came to it, this guy would take a bra for me.
MOOS (voice-over): Cohen`s cup runneth over when he finally sat down with the man associated with the al-Aqsa Martyrs` Brigade.
COHEN: I want to be famous and I want the best guy from the business to kidnap me, al-Qaeda of fall 2001.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don`t like -
MOOS: But, that wasn`t the most awkward part.
COHEN: Can I give you guys a word of advice? Lose the beds because your king, Osama, looks like a kind of dirty wizard or a homeless Santa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (translation): What exactly did he just say?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (translation): He says that your king Osama looks like a dirty wizard or a homeless Santa Claus.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out. Get out now.
MOOS: Who is terrorizing who in that interview?
COHEN: Had a happy ending. Al-Qaeda of fall 2001.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Unbelievable. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
END
