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Showbiz Tonight
The Other Woman in the McSteamy Nude Video; Dr. Murray`s Exclusive First Interview; Jon Gosselin to Be Fired?; Outrage over Michelle Obama`s Shorts; Is Rosie O`Donnell Getting a Divorce?
Aired August 19, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARLOS DIAZ, GUEST HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, brand-new revelations about the McSteamy nude romp video. "Grey`s Anatomy" star Eric Dane, nude with his wife and another woman. Tonight, the explosive story behind the other woman, naked, caught on tape. And the startling news today from the police there may be an investigation.
Will Jon Gosselin be fired? Tonight, brand-new signs that Jon`s wild ways may end his days with Kate and their eight on TV. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with new details today about Jon`s possible new reality show. Tonight, the great debate, should Jon be fired from his "Jon & Kate Plus 8" show?
Plus, absolute outrage over Michelle Obama`s shorts. Yes, we said shorts. It`s the SHOWBIZ Obama watch.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Hello. I`m Carlos Diaz in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
And tonight, the very unexpected and startling developments in the McSteamy nude tape drama. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learned today there may be a police investigation after a video surfaced of "Grey`s Anatomy" star Eric Dane butt-naked with his wife and another woman.
There are also brand-new revelations tonight about that other woman from her own mother, which is why SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you without a doubt the McSteamy nude tape is making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): It`s the nudity tape that`s McSteaming up the Internet.
ERIC DANE, ACTOR: Hi, girls.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, boy.
DIAZ: Eric Dane, known as McSteamy on "Grey`s Anatomy," and his actress wife, Rebecca Gayheart, in a nude, splashy party with former Playboy playmate Kari Ann Peniche.
DANE: You`ve got to be two of the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) hottest girls this side of Mulholland. And I`ve seen some hot girls before.
DIAZ: And now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned the tape and Peniche could be part of a Los Angeles Police Department investigation.
DANE: Hi, baby.
DIAZ: The video was shot in Peniche`s apartment. And after it was leaked to the public, she talked to TMZ about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: There was no sexual encounters, right? I mean.
KARI ANN PENICHE, FORMER MISS UNITED STATES TEEN: We were just having fun.
DIAZ: Now, for some reason, the police will not reveal the LAPD is involved. After reports surfaced about Kari Ann Peniche`s past, news organizations began asking police if they`re involved in any investigation connected to her.
Here`s the statement police released today, quote, "On July 30th, 2009, an unnamed source provided the LAPD Detective and Vice Division with a copy of a DVD." The LAPD goes on to say, quote, "The LAPD was in the process of reviewing the voluminous files contained on the DVD when the story was leaked to the media. No determination has been made as to whether or not the DVD contained any information that could be used for a criminal investigation. The LAPD will continue to review the DVD for potential evidence."
PENICHE: We were just having fun.
DIAZ: This all comes as we`re learning much more about Peniche from her own mother who gave an opportunity with "E! News Online." Peniche`s mom tells "E!," quote, "We are disappointed. She`s 25 years old and she has made some poor choices."
"E`s" Marc Malkin tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Kari Ann`s mom says this isn`t the daughter she remembers.
MARK MALKIN, "E! NEWS": Kari Ann`s mom says that she grew up very nicely. She had a great life. She was a good kid, played soccer, went to a Lutheran school.
DIAZ: But things changed after Kari Ann won a teen beauty contest.
MALKIN: She had that crown stripped from her because she went ahead and posed for "Playboy." After that, she sort of became this party girl around Hollywood and actually ended up on "Celebrity Rehab" where she was battling a substance abuse problem.
DIAZ: In fact, it was during the filming of the upcoming season of the VH1 reality show, "Celebrity Rehab," that Peniche met country music star Mindy McCready, who Peniche suggests took the hard drive that contained the video with Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart. McCready has yet to respond to that allegation.
And now the video is out for everyone to see. And how is Kari Ann taking it? Her mother tells "E!," quote, "She`s upset. I am certain she is being coached to keep her chin up."
MALKIN: Her mom is hoping she comes home to Oregon. Her mom does not want her in L.A. anymore. She thinks L.A. has been a really bad influence on her.
DIAZ: So what appears to be another steamy celebrity romp also appears to be part of another troubled Hollywood story.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
With the LAPD`s involvement, the story behind the McSteamy nude video just got a lot more interesting. And now, we have a lot more questions. Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, McSteamy`s nude tape police investigation.
Tonight, a brand-new doctor shocker in the Michael Jackson death mystery. Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with Michael when he died, breaks his silence, giving his very first intensive sit-down interview.
And here are today`s big breaking developments. The revealing Dr. Murray interview was posted just hours ago on TheDailyBeast.com. And this comes just one day after Dr. Murray posted an emotional personal video message to his supporters on YouTube.
Gerald Posner did the blockbuster interview. He`s the chief investigative reporter for TheDailyBeast.com. Gerald joins me now from Miami with the inside details of his remarkable meeting.
Now, Gerald, from the moment the world found out that Dr. Murray was the last person to see Michael Jackson alive and that he admitted to investigators that he gave Michael the powerful anesthetic Propofol, everyone wanted to talk to Dr. Murray and find out what really happened. Why did he decide to break his silence with you?
GERALD POSNER, CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, THEDAILYBEAST.COM: Well, you know, Carlos, I was lucky. I was doing the same thing that 100 other journalists out there were doing. We were being persistent. We were calling the lawyers, calling Dr. Murray`s press contacts.
But what happened for me that I didn`t know was my lucky break, one of the chief attorneys who`s going to be defending him, had read one of my books called "Why America Slept" a couple of years ago and liked it a lot.
And another one of his partners knew an attorney in Texas who had been involved when I had done a book on Ross Perot back in the `90s and said, "That guy, Posner - he`s a trustworthy good guy. He puts his nose to the grindstone and he works hard." That was the door-opener that got me through the door that I never thought could happen. And after a few weeks, they finally said, "We`ll arrange the meeting the next day."
DIAZ: Well, police have made it clear Dr. Murray is being investigated in connection with Jackson`s death. Gerald, you spent two hours with him. Did he defend himself and say, "Hey, I had nothing to do with Jackson`s death"?
POSNER: Here`s how he defended himself. It was very interesting. He wouldn`t talk about the details and that was clear. You know, I figured any of us would know - it`s not going to take a rocket scientist to realize you`re not going to sit down with a man who`s about to possibly have either a manslaughter or murder indictment issued against him. And he`s going to talk about the details of the case to you after he`s talked to the police for six hours.
But he clearly believes - and I must say whether you want to say it`s denial or whether it`s just because he believes those are the facts - he is sincere when he thinks he`s going to walk out of a courtroom, if he`s indicted, a free man, and not only be found not guilty, but exonerated.
And the story that the lawyers say is that what he told the police within hours of Jackson`s death, he has stuck to that story. He hasn`t changed. And although they won`t disclose what those facts are, that`s what he`s sticking to as the reason that he thinks he`s not guilty of any crime.
DIAZ: Yes, that`s going to be a plus in his corner, because investigators have raided Dr. Murray`s home and offices. He has talked to them extensively twice and he could be charged with manslaughter very soon.
But Dr. Murray told you this in your interview for "The Daily Beast," quote, "I have always believed that if I simply tell the truth, I will be exonerated."
Gerald, do you get the sense that Dr. Murray is angry or frightened or maybe both about possible criminal charges since he truly feels he will be exonerated?
POSNER: I think that - look, there`s no question, no matter how strong you think you`re going to be found not guilty, Carlos, there`s a tremendous pressure of burden. I asked him what it felt like from the time Jackson had died. And he referred to Jackson, by the way - he interrupted me at one point and called Jackson "my friend." He made a point of that and indicated that this wasn`t just the death of a patient in that way.
But he also said that that period since Jackson`s death had been for him terrible. He told me that he was using a bodyguard. That was clear. He had received death threats. This was a life-changing experience.
And it wasn`t that he was angry but it was that he was frustrated by the fact that 20 years of his medical practice had been completely forgotten in one moment because, as he put it, he was the last man standing when Jackson died. So that`s all the people are remembering him for. That`s not what he wants to be remembered for.
DIAZ: When he interrupted and called Michael Jackson his friend, did that startle you at all?
POSNER: Yes, it did as a matter of fact, because I`m going to tell you I never thought of Conrad Murray and Michael Jackson as anything other than a doctor-patient relationship. I thought here`s the professional person and here`s the patient and that`s it.
But in fact, once you put yourself and say "a friend," you know, this is something you can`t just say because Michael Jackson, if nothing else, was always surrounded by people. He had employees. He had security staff. He had a cook. And he was never alone.
So you can go back to these people day by day over a period of the last few years and say, "By the way, did you see Conrad Murray at his house? Did Michael go over to his house and visit him? Did you ever see them associate or spend time together?"
So somebody can`t just throw the phrase out. And he said it with some meaning to it. You know, I don`t think he interrupted and stepped over my sentence. So I had the feeling that this is something they intend to establish.
DIAZ: Your interview that was released today came one day after Dr. Murray made his very first statement and posted a passionate and personal message to his supporters on YouTube. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. CONRAD MURRAY, MICHAEL JACKSON`S FORMER PERSONAL PHYSICIAN: I want to thank all of my patients and friends who have sent such kind E-mails, letters and messages to let me know of your support and prayers for me and my family. Because of all that is going on, I`m afraid to return phone calls or use my E-mail. Therefore, I recorded this video to let all of you know that I have been receiving your messages.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: We`ve got about 20 seconds left. Gerald, is he trying to kind of garner public favor with this YouTube video?
POSNER: Oh, I think no question. I mean, you know, if you talk to the attorneys, the attorneys will tell you that they think they have been murdered in the press by leaks from the Los Angeles Police Department. They pull no punches. They say the L.A. Police have broken every rule. They`ve just been leaking.
As far as they`re concerned, Dr. Murray wears a black hat in the public eye. The jury pool is just poisoned, so they do want to try to make him a bit more human. I must tell you, I went in there. I thought he was seedy or somehow shady. I would be talking to you Carlos and saying, "I didn`t get a good feeling from him." But he is warm and personable. However the facts come out may be different. But he`s going to be a good witness on a witness stand.
DIAZ: Well, Gerald Posner, chief investigative reporter for TheDailyBeast.com, great job, my friend. Thank you.
POSNER: Thank you.
DIAZ: I`ve got to tell you, Jon Gosselin is really rolling the dice lately, running around with other women, partying it up in the Hamptons. Well, now he could be paying the price. And today, new information on Jon`s new reality show. Tonight, it`s the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT great debate, should Jon Gosselin get fired from "Jon & Kate Plus 8?"
And is Rosie O`Donnell getting a divorce? Tonight, Rosie`s brand-new outrageous remarks fueling speculation that she and her wife are no more.
Plus, you know that squirrel that popped up in a couple`s vacation photo?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is a squirrel you`ll find yourself face to face with all over the Web. You`ll find him in the arms of Vladimir Putin, in Sarah Palin`s sight, mugging in Nick Nolte`s mug shot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: He`s the crasher squirrel and you never know where he`s going to turn up next. I just saw him. Wait a minute. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Andy Warhol`s Michael Jackson portrait sells for over $1 million at auction. Joe Jonas latest to sign on to be a guest judge on "American Idol."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DIAZ: Looks like Sean Penn and his wife, Robin Wright Penn, are really going through with their divorce this time. It`s only been a week since Robin filed for divorce from Sean.
And according to court document, they`ve already agreed on how they`re splitting up their stuff. The couple has tried to divorce twice before. They`ve been married since 1996.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Carlos Diaz. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
Tonight, did you see the "it" squirrel? Yes - OK, great. He`s right there on my screen, isn`t he? Yes. See, this world-famous squirrel - he first made his debut when he weaseled his way into the couple`s vacation photo.
Well, now, squirrel mania has spread and the fury and the furry creature is now posing with world leaders, celebrities and even making a cameo as Michael Jackson`s nose. He`s distracting me, I tell you.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): Most squirrels remain anonymous, especially one that gets a yogurt container stuck on his head so you can`t see his face. But this is a squirrel you`ll find yourself face to face with all over the Web, the crasher squirrel crashed a photo being snapped by this couple vacationing in Canada.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`re going to talk to them.
MOOS: Got them an exclusive on the "Today" show explaining how they were using a timer and remote to take pictures of themselves when the squirrel stepped in.
MELISSA BRANDT, WOMAN IN THE PICTURE: Heard the shuttle releasing and became interested, thought perhaps it was going to give him some food.
MOOS: Now that squirrel is climbing the branches of the Internet. You`ll find him in the arms of Vladimir Putin, in Sarah Palin`s sights, mugging in Nick Nolte`s mug shot, posing with everyone from Ahmadinejad to North Korea`s dear leader and Bill Clinton. Even nosing in on Michael Jackson whose music had already inspired a video of dancing squirrels.
The crasher squirrel is now crashing town hall meetings on health care and even the recent beer summit at the White House. He`s gone back in history to Nixon`s resignation. He`s even scampered on the moon.
NEIL ARMSTRONG, ASTRONAUT: That`s one small step for man.
MOOS: One giant leap for squirrelkind. He`s become a tourism mascot for Banff, British Columbia. Their Web ad ends with the tagline, "Bring your camera to Banff. I`ll be waiting."
The squirrel, that squirrel, is even responsible for the introduction of a new word into the English language, "squirrelizer," a Web tool that allows you to take any photo and add the squirrel. Web sites like "Buzzfeed" feature the squirrel on hand for an ultrasound, present at the Hindenburg disaster, hanging out with President Obama as The Joker, sharing the picture frame with another favorite Web rodent, Dramatic Prairie Dog. From Mt. Rushmore to the last supper, other squirrels may try to avoid humans. This one, toast of the past. Who needs "Esquire" when there`s "Esquirrel"?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DIAZ: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. So wait a minute. Is he - no, he`s back. Would you get out - get out of here! Please, scram, please! Thank you.
I`ve got to tell you our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been absolutely nuts with calls about that McSteamy nude romp caught on tape. If only our operators had - wait a minute. Look, there`s the squirrel crasher right there answering the phones. And from what I hear, he works for peanuts.
We`ve got a call into our "Showbiz on Call" from Daniella who says, what`s the big deal about the McSteamy tape anyway?
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DANIELLA, CALLER: Personally - everybody`s making a sex tape now. He`s hot. Who wouldn`t want to see it? I don`t see any big deal about it. They`re just hanging out and they`re naked. What is he going to do? He was half-naked on "Grey`s Anatomy." Who wouldn`t want to see his butt?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
DIAZ: Thank you, Daniella. Scott in New York also called into "Showbiz on Call" and he says this is all just publicity.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I think it`s more hype and just some way for a celebrity to draw attention to himself. And to the lawyer that said it was not a porno, well, it`s not a Catholic schoolgirl tape either, OK?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
Thanks, Scott. Call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about this or anything else that`s on your mind. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open. Call us at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that`s 1- 888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail and we`ll play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
We all had a good laugh over the "Grey`s Anatomy" star getting his naked on-air wife with another woman. But now, things are getting kind of serious. Tonight, late-breaking developments on the brand-new police investigation that could involve Eric Dane`s sexy home movie. Why the police may be looking into the McSteamy video. This is no joke.
And absolute bare-legged outrage over Michelle Obama`s shorts. Were they inappropriate or does the first lady have the right to bare legs? The SHOWBIZ Obama watch takes a closer look.
And a breakout Internet sensation, the piano-playing cat comes clean. This piano-playing cat really has taken off on the Internet, nut is she for real? The SHOWBIZ truth squad investigates. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Time Warner signs deal to feature clips from its cable networks on YouTube. Oliver Stone doing 10-part documentary: "Secret History of America."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE CROFT, "60 MINUTES" CORRESPONDENT: I`m Steve Kroft.
LESLIE STAHL, "60 MINUTES" CORRESPONDENT: I`m Lesley Stahl.
BOB SIMON, "60 MINUTES" CORRESPONDENT: I`m Bob Simon.
MORLEY SAFER, "60 MINUTES" CORRESPONDENT: I`m Morley Safer.
LARA LOGAN, "60 MINUTES" CORRESPONDENT: I`m Lara Logan.
SCOTT, "60 MINUTES" CORRESPONDENT: I`m Scott Pelley. Those stories and Andy Rooney tonight on "60 Minutes."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: Can you even imagine the world of television without "60 Minutes?" Well, if it weren`t for legendary newsman Don Hewitt the show and the whole concept of TV news magazines may not have ever existed. Sadly today, Don lost his battle with cancer at the age of 86.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Carlos Diaz in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
Tonight, the world has lost a true television legend. CBS newsman Don Hewitt tragically lost his battle with pancreatic cancer today. Hewitt was a TV news pioneer in every way. I mean, this is the man who invented "60 Minutes" and was its executive producer for 36 years.
Hewitt produced the first famous televised presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. And I`m telling you, this guy created so much of how we watch the news today.
But he`s probably best known for transforming hard-hitting news into stories that everyday people could relate to. Take a look at Don Hewitt on CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON HEWITT, LEGENDARY NEWSMAN: I go to every screening as a viewer. And I sit there and I say to myself, if I were a guy sitting home 7:00 Sunday, would I look at this? Does this interest me? Can this be told better?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: Someone who worked closely with Hewitt over the years is CNN U.S. president Jon Klein. In an interview today on CNN, Klein told the story of his first encounter with Hewitt when Klein became his young boss.
JON KLEIN, U.S. PRESIDENT, CNN: Don Hewitt didn`t need a boss. What he needed was somebody to bounce ideas off on the very first day on the job. So here I was, 37 years old, supposedly on paper overseeing a legend like Don Hewitt.
And he took me to lunch. He said, "Listen, kid, it`s simple, I have 10 ideas a day, nine of them are terrible. Your job is to tell me which one is great." And that was pretty much the relationship. He stuck to that. I`d say he had more than 10 ideas a day. He was bursting with passion for what we do, telling stories. That was it in a nutshell for Don.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: Don Hewitt, dead at 86, a true legend.
And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
"Grey`s Anatomy" star, McSteamy, you know, Eric Dane - he`s got a nude romp with his wife and another woman. Are the police now investigating? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the latest breaking developments.
Also tonight, is Rosie O`Donnell getting a divorce? Rosie`s brand-new outrageous remarks fueling speculation that she and her wife are no more.
And controversy over Michelle Obama`s shorts. Yes, I said shorts. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: J-Lo, Marc Anthony host dinner for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Sony to cut price of PlayStation 3 by $100, will cost $299.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DIAZ: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the McSteamy tape under investigation. Today, the police say they`re investigating the tape of a butt-naked Eric Dane, his wife and another woman. What are they looking for? Belly hotness? The brand-new bare facts.
Is Jon Gosselin getting the boot from "Jon & Kate Plus 8"? Tonight, there are new reports that his wild ways may get him kicked off the show.
And First Lady Michelle Obama dares to leave the house wearing shorts. Egad! What is this world coming to? Tonight, the brand-new outrage, talk about short tempers.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Carlos Diaz. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
Tonight, the McSteamy nude tape drama. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned that there is a police investigation going on that could also involve that tape. You know the tape showing Eric Dane romping naked with his famous wife and another woman?
Seems like just a funny celebrity scandal. But things are getting serious tonight. Why might the LAPD be involved?
Also tonight, should Jon Gosselin be fired? He`s really doing his best to tick off TLC, you know, the network that airs his hit show, "Jon & Kate Plus 8." But could his shenanigans actually get him fired? And is it true he`s in talks for his own reality show about divorced dads?
Plus, the octomom - the octomom is back. Her brand-new behind-the- scene documentary just aired nationwide tonight, and it is outrageous. Why she actually says she regrets having all those kids.
Joining me tonight in New York, Carolina Bermudez, who is a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." And tonight in Hollywood, Leslie Marshall, who is the host of "The Leslie Marshall Show."
All right, guys. Let`s start first with the news of the McSteamy nude video with "Grey`s Anatomy" star Eric Dane. His wife`s in it, Rebecca Gayheart. And then there`s that other woman, Kari Ann Peniche.
Reporters asked police if they are looking into Peniche`s troubled past. And the LAPD released a statement today saying, quote, "On July 30th, 2009, an unnamed source provided the LAPD`s Detective Support and Vice Division with a copy of a DVD. The LAPD was in the process of review the voluminous files contained on the DVD when the story was leaked to the media."
Leslie Marshall, the police say they are not sure they will formally launch a criminal investigation. And when we asked them to clarify their statement, they said, no. Isn`t that kind of weird?
LESLIE MARSHALL, HOST, "THE LESLIE MARSHALL SHOW": Yes, it is kind of weird, especially because this is Los Angeles and these are stars. And this is happening more and more. As you know, everybody seems to have a camera and everybody seems to have their hand out when it comes to money.
And then, it seems like the cops are somewhere always questionably, possibly looking into a criminal investigation. I find it odd that the police can`t be definitive as to whether there will be a criminal investigation or not. And I think stars better watch out when they take their clothes off because the cameras are rolling.
DIAZ: Well, I want to move on to now another truly outrageous story, this whole thing with Jon Gosselin. Should he be fired or not? You see, he`s ticking off TLC not only because of his nonstop appearance in tabloids and his string of young girlfriends, but because he seems to be making deals on the side.
When word got out that Jon may have been getting paid to wear those Ed Hardy T-shirts on the show, TLC started blurring the logos. Carolina, should Jon be fired for this behavior?
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": I don`t know if he should be fired for his behavior, but he may be acting out in order to get fired. He may be looking at other opportunities and may think his contract with TLC is a little bit too strict.
Now, here`s the thing. Be careful what you wish for. This divorce dad show sounds like a train wreck to begin with. And I don`t think many people will want to watch it after they`ve seen him kind of neglect his family in order to seek out fame on his own. So he should be very, very careful. He`s walking a fine line right now.
DIAZ: Well, our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page has been flooded with comments on this. Elizabeth S. says Jon absolutely should not get fired. She says, quote, "What do people expect him to do? Stay inside 24/7? Just because he is a divorced father of eight, instead of two or three kids, doesn`t entitle him to be any worse of a father just because he goes out every now and then. As long as he pays his dues, he is doing his job as a father."
Carolina, does Elizabeth have a point? Is Jon handling all this divorce drama A-OK?
BERMUDEZ: I don`t think so, to be honest with you. I have to disagree with her. I mean, TLC went after Jon and Kate for the family aspect. And now, there`s all of these scandals involved with this girl and the other girl and whether or not he`s having people over when the children are there. I think he`s strayed from the path of what they originally wanted him for.
DIAZ: Well, Amy T. writes on the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook wall that she thinks Jon needs to get the boot from his show. She writes, "Yes. When the show started, he wanted nothing but to support his family. Now, all he cares about is his Ed Hardy T-shirts, Michael Lohan and his flavor of the week. This was a wholesome show for the entire family and now, Jon has ruined that image. "Kate Plus 8!"
And now, in a brand-new twist, it turns out Jon didn`t actually have that deal with Ed Hardy. But get this - it turns out he did have the audacity to ask the designer of the Ed Hardy T-shirt line for a job. Watch this explosive interview with "E! News."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTIAN AUDIGIER, ED HARDY DESIGNER: He was asking for a job. So I was curious to see what he was asking - which kind of job. So he came in Saint Tropez, south of France. So we spent two days together and talked about different things. No, it`s not going to be a collaboration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: I don`t get this. I mean, he`s getting paid to be on TV. Why does he want a job to not be on TV? Leslie, why do you suppose Jon is actually job hunting?
MARSHALL: I think with the Ed Hardy T-shirts - really digs the clothes and doesn`t want to be anywhere near Kate and wants to look cool and get paid for it and have to work very little.
DIAZ: Yes.
MARSHALL: But you know, there`s something called product placement, OK? And if the Jon and Kate - if TLC wanted and needed Ed Hardy or Ed Hardy need that, that would be done, as you know.
This is crazy. I mean, don`t know if he`s just so greedy, has to support all these children, ex-wife and ex-girlfriends at this point, or he`s just trying to really eat up that 15 seconds of fame and make it just go on as long as he can.
Because obviously, he has a show. He has another show in the works. He doesn`t need a deal with Ed Hardy. And what would he do? I mean is he a clothing designer all of a sudden? And what about - hey, how about the novel concept of spending time with your eight children? Whoo!
DIAZ: I agree. I`m completely against product placement. That`s me and my Hugo Boss suit that I`m wearing right now. Jon Gosselin is also reportedly in talks for his own reality TV show. Brace yourself, girls - it`s called "The Divorce Dads Club."
I`m not making this up and I`m not going to be part of the show either. Maybe he and his new pen pal, Michael Lohan - they could co-star. Carolina, what is Jon thinking? Is this really the best career move for him?
BERMUDEZ: No. There`s like a star-studded cast. If Michael Lohan is involved and reportedly Dennis Rodman and some other guys, I mean, that`s not exactly the company that you want to keep, especially after you`ve established this image of being a family guy and having these children.
I think that what he`s doing right now is he`s being very, very greedy and he`s not thinking about the benefit of his family. He`s thinking about himself.
DIAZ: Speaking of reality show stars looking for fame, it`s time to move on to our next big story. The octomom is back. Her brand-new documentary called "Octomom: The Incredible Unseen Footage," aired nationwide tonight. And seriously, it`s totally incredible. Watch this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADYA SULEMAN, OCTUMOM: I screwed up my life. I screwed up my life. I screwed up my kids` lives. What the heck am I going to do? I have to put on this strong facade, and I have to pretend like, "I don`t regret it." I can`t regret it now because I love them. They`re here. What was I thinking?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: Leslie, 20 seconds - can you believe she`s talking about regrets and her kids?
MARSHALL: Sorry. I`m telling you, this is killing me, OK? After I`ve had all these children, I realize that maybe a man should be present to help me raise them, to be a father figure, to help pay these bills. I`ve screwed up my life. I`ve screwed up my kids` lives. Carlos, will you hold her while I slap her?
(CROSS TALK)
DIAZ: Hey, easy, easy. You`re getting too emotional now. Let`s get Leslie a tissue. Leslie, Carolina, you guys are awesome. Thank you so much.
Now, we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Jon Gosselin: Should he be fired from `Jon & Kate Plus 8?`" Keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or you can E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Could Rosie O`Donnell and her wife be cruising toward Jon and Kate- land, a.k.a. Splitsville, USA? There is news that Rosie and Kelli, together for 12 years, may be breaking up. I`ll tell you what Rosie herself has to say about it.
Also, I hope you`re sitting down because First Lady Michelle Obama actually dared to leave the house wearing shorts. What the heck? First, everyone freaked out about her right to bare arms. Now, today there`s absolute outrage over her knees. Talk about short tempers.
And while we`re on that topic, how about a cat that plays the piano? That`s Nora, Internet sensation, clawing away at the ivories. That`s right. But can this cat really play or is it just another Milli Vanilli moment? I promise you, the SHOWBIZ truth squad will not rest until we get to the bottom of this. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Miley Cyrus`s alleged stalker makes court appearance; hearing delayed until next week. "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch re-arrested hours after interview on "Today" show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DIAZ: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Carlos Diaz. A.J. has the night off.
Tonight, two brand-new stories making big news, including, has Rosie O`Donnell`s 12-year marriage to wife Kelli Carpenter gone kaput? The comedienne is not making any jokes about it in her brand-new blog posted on her Web site. In fact, Rosie sounds downright serious about the whole thing and we`ve got it for you.
Also brand new right now, serious flak over Michelle Obama wearing shorts. Yes, the first lady`s doing it and we`re talking about it while visiting the Grand Canyon. And now it`s become a bare-legged debate. Does the president`s wife has right to bare her legs?
Joining me tonight in New York, Carolina Bermudez who is a senior editor with "In Touch Weekly." Also in New York, April Woodard, who is an entertainment journalist.
I want to begin with Rosie O`Donnell`s shocking new marriage confession. There have been reports that Rosie and her partner and legal wife, Kelli Carpenter, could be splitting.
On her blog posted on Rosie.com, Rosie writes about a conversation she had with a member of the paparazzi who asked her about her marriage to Kelli. Rosie writes, quote, "Marriage is hard, I told him. When you are married 12 years, let me know how it goes. It ain`t easy, and that`s my comment. That`s all I`ve got for you. It`s not a movie or a sound bite for TV. It`s real life just like yours, a family figuring it out, and on we go."
Rosie and Kelli have been the symbol of stable gay marriages. She`s not saying she and Kelli are getting a divorce but she`s not exactly saying they are fine either. Carolina, do you think that there`s something going on here?
BERMUDEZ: Oh, absolutely, there`s something going on. And Rosie does go to her blog to let her fans know just exactly what is going on in her life. And just as she said, they`ve been married for 12 years. It is hard work. And sometimes you hit those road bumps, but this is definitely a sign that things aren`t as kosher and as good as they used to be.
DIAZ: Well, Rosie and Kelli went to great lengths to make their union official. In February of 2004, they went to San Francisco to get married after the mayor of the city authorized marriage licenses to same-sex couples. April, does it surprise you to hear that they may be having problems given they, you know, had to go that far and they`ve always pictured themselves as a stable couple?
APRIL WOODARD, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: I think every person who gets married, whether they`re gay or straight, thinks that they`re going to be married forever and those are your vows.
But I think realistically, you have to - you know, marriage is hard. I`ve been married for 12 years. And let me tell you, it is hard. It is work, every day working at it. And add children to the mix and it can be very, very difficult.
And then, of course, the things that Rosie has been going through from losing her show to being on "The View," to her fight with Donald Trump. And Kelli has been there for her through all of this and her mood swings.
You know, there are a lot of allegations that she has some mental health issues. So going through all of that - it`s very difficult for even the best person, the best couple in the world.
DIAZ: Well, let`s move on to the bare-legged outrage that is growing over First Lady Michelle Obama and her shorts. Take a look at this picture of Michelle who was visiting the Grand Canyon with her family on vacation. Carolina, some people are up in arms over this. The first lady should never wear shorts. Do you agree?
BERMUDEZ: OK. Where is that written in the Constitution that the first lady is not allowed to do this? I mean, come on, guys, she was at the Grand Canyon with her daughters. They`re on a family vacation.
You know, maybe she could have worn Capri or something. But how are you going to tell somebody what to wear? Unfortunately for her, I think that people need to focus on the bigger issues that her husband is dealing with and not her shorts.
DIAZ: April, you`ve got 10 seconds to comment on this breaking story.
WOODARD: She is the leader we follow, so she wears shorts, we get to wear shorts. I think she`s fabulous. I think she`s wonderful. And there`s nothing wrong with wearing shorts in Arizona where it`s 90-something degrees.
DIAZ: All right. April, you got me because I`m going to put shorts on right now.
WOODARD: OK. Me, too.
BERMUDEZ: Me, too.
DIAZ: Carolina, April, thank you guys so much. I can tell you the wives of some politicians wish the biggest scandal in their lives was over a pair of shorts. Tonight, a look at how a new TV show called "The Good Wife" gets its material from some of the biggest sex scandals to rock the political world.
Here`s CNN`s Carol Costello for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The betrayed wife as empowered role model. It`s the picture September`s "Vogue" paints of Jenny Sanford whose cheating husband is fighting to hold on to his governor`s seat in South Carolina.
And she`s not the only wronged woman to hold our attention. These ladies have inspired a new CBS drama. It`s called "The Good Wife."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have never traded lighter sentences for financial or sexual favors.
COSTELLO: That scene was inspired by former New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who resigned after he was caught in a call girl scandal, his good wife by his side.
MICHELLE KING, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/CREATOR, "THE GOOD WIFE": So many of these women are so accomplished and so high-powered and intelligent.
ROBERT KING, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/CREATOR, "THE GOOD WIFE": So we just kind of like the idea of what would happen to that woman, a minute later, six months later, seven months later and throughout the rest of her life.
COSTELLO: Bits and pieces from the real life Sanford soap opera will figure into "The Good Wife," too. Mrs. Sanford is appealing because she didn`t stand by her man as he told the nation he cheated.
She took the kids and moved out of the governor`s mansion, telling "Vogue" she`s forgiven her husband, that they weren`t madly in love when they met but were good friends, that he became obsessed with going to see the other woman. It was like an addiction to alcohol or pornography for him. For many, her candor is refreshing.
DR. JERI CABAT, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: What`s interesting is that every time she speaks, people seem to understand and kind of support her words. Every time Mark Sanford speaks, people are left with more questions and are wondering how did this man get so far in his political career.
COSTELLO: It`s the kind of thing that fits perfectly into a TV drama. In "The Good Wife," the political spouse uses a sort of Sanford power to return to work as a lawyer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not only are you coming back to the workplace. But you`ve got some very permanent baggage. But hey, if she can do it, so can you.
COSTELLO: Mrs. Sanford isn`t going back to work, but some in South Carolina are urging her to run for political office. Maybe even for governor.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DIAZ: That was CNN`s Carol Costello for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Let us not forget that Mrs. Sanford did run her husband`s campaign and many consider her the brains behind the man. Carol told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that she talked to Mrs. Sanford`s press person about the possibility.
She told Carol, quote, "For the time being, she`s totally focused on getting her boys started in their new school and settling into the new home. I don`t think she has any political ambitions, but I will pass along your compliment."
And now, ladies and gentlemen - can we take a moment and behold the wonder of a piano-playing cat? That`s Nora, the piano playing cat that has become an Internet star. Thanks YouTube. But wait, is Nora a true feline phenomenon or a total fraud? The SHOWBIZ truth squad has its paws all over this one. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: President Obama and LeBron James to appear in back-to-school special September 8. Filming has begun on the new "Twilight" movie.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DIAZ: Did you see this? Can you dig it? This cat can really play. You know, her two loves, to tune her piano and tuna fish. But is this Internet star the real deal? Or should we pause to wonder if her paws are really up to scratch musically.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Carlos Diaz in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer is off so they brought me in to investigate this story.
Is Nora the cat just stringing us along? Should we whisk her off to the cabaret lounge? Or do her piano stylings fall flat? The SHOWBIZ truth squad is on the case.
This morning, on the "Today" show, Nora made her live television debut with her owner, a Philadelphia piano teacher, standing by. So without further ado, here is Nora`s meow mix. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There we go. Go ahead, Norah. Oh. Are you going to play?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Too much pressure, live television.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What exactly is she playing there, Betsy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) interpretation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A stage mother here. Yes, I`m feeling greatly relieved because I really didn`t know. This is her own thing. It`s not a trick. It`s not something we taught her. She plays when we`re not in the room. She plays when we`re in the room.
Sometimes she plays when we don`t want her to play. I can be teaching a child or an adult who is trying to concentrate and then Nora hops on the bench.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we see her, she seems to love the ivories there. I`ve got to ask you, some people may be cynics and may say do you put any catnip or anything to entice her on the keys?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my god.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because she likes - it seems she rubs her face on the keys.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Look, if I put catnip on those keys, Nora would be rolling her entire body on the keys because she`s like a total catnip addict.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: In Nora`s defense, she`s not the first famous musician to have substance abuse problems. I just want to point that out right now.
On Tuesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "McSteamy`s Nude Tape: Will it make you want to watch `Grey`s Anatomy?`" Fourteen percent of you said yes; 86 percent of you said no.
Here`s some of the E-mails we got. Stephanie from Illinois writes, "I already watch `Grey`s" religiously. Eric Dane is hot for sure, but I never knew he was into method acting." Nice.
Barbara from Arizona writes, "It certainly will not make me want to watch the show. I have never considered sex a spectator sport."
That`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Carlos Diaz. Remember, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
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