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Showbiz Tonight
The Jon and Kate Birthday War; Kate Gosselin Making Fun of Herself; Why Letterman May Not Want His Case to Go to Court; Harry Connick, Jr. Outraged; Levi Johnston`s Nude Photo Shoot?
Aired October 08, 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: Right now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Jon and Kate birthday war. Tonight, a brand-new battle between Jon and Kate erupts on their twins` birthday. Why is Jon reading very personal E-mails from Kate from on camera?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": I just got an E-mail from saying she doesn`t want to see me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Why is Kate going on Leno making fun of herself?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": You`re on time out, Mister. Go to your room.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, who is handling their divorce mess better?
Dave`s dilemma. Why Dave Letterman may not want his extortion case to go to trial. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with brand-new revelations about Letterman`s alleged affairs. Will all the new alleged creepy details come out in court? And will all his fans turn on him?
And the outrageous new SHOWBIZ shocker. Harry Connick, Jr. outraged. Why he just walked off a TV show.
And jaw-dropping, new details about Levi Johnston`s nude "Playgirl" photo shoot?
TV`s first most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And tonight, I have got to be wondering whether the 9-year-old twins of Jon and Kate got sung this song today, "Unhappy birthday to you." Because today, on the birthday of their twins, Jon and Kate acted like stubborn children themselves.
And what Jon did was caught on tape. We are going show it to you. And frankly, if I was Jon`s parent, here`s what I`d be telling him, "Jon, go to your room. No reality TV for you for a month." Because today, the big question is how low can Jon and Kate go? And it made for big news breaking.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Let`s face it. Jon and Kate enjoy a good public fight.
J. GOSSELIN: OK.
K. GOSSELIN: OK is what you say every time I confront you about it.
HAMMER: Heck, they did it for four years on their TLC show, "Jon & Kate Plus 8."
K. GOSSELIN: It will fit on the ceiling. I want it up on the ceiling.
J. GOSSELIN: Yes, so will this.
HAMMER: And now, they are fighting on TV pretty much any chance they get about financial woes -
K. GOSSELIN: I have a stack of bills in my purse I can`t drop in the mail.
HAMMER: About whether their show on TLC should go on -
J. GOSSELIN: I don`t want them to film anymore. I don`t think it`s healthy for them.
HAMMER: And tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you they`ve reached a brand- new low - fighting over custody of their kids today on their twins` birthday.
J. GOSSELIN: That`s ridiculous.
HAMMER: TMZ has this brand-new video of Jon reading a private E-mail from Kate. In the E-mail, Kate demands a last minute change in the custody agreement.
J. GOSSELIN: She wants a change in custody. It was supposed to be a joint custody day and we are both home. We signed off on it.
JOE PIAZZA, WRITER, "AOL POPEATER": Their kids` birthday that should be the one thing left that`s sacred to their family. But Jon and Kate have reached so low at this point that they are using that to exploit each other.
HAMMER: And Jon and Kate are both to blame for this brand-new low.
J. PIAZZA: I think Kate hit a new low trying to manipulate Jon through the twins` birthday party. But then, Jon came back with yet another low by reading a personal E-mail to TMZ.
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you there are almost too many lows to count. First, there`s that E-mail. Why would Jon even think it was a good idea to reveal all the intimate details of his custody to the public?
J. GOSSELIN: I just got an E-mail from Kate saying she doesn`t want to see me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She says she doesn`t want to see you? Can I see it?
HAMMER: Second low? Jon actually let them see it.
J. GOSSELIN: She said, "Due to recent events, it will be too stressful for the kids." OK.
HAMMER: OK? The third low? The fact that he read a private E-mail, knowingly launching what`s sure to be a full-scale, all out war with Kate on his twin girls` birthday.
PIAZZA: I think at this point, Jon and Kate will use any ammunition that they can to manipulate each other. And it`s sad that this one has come down to their children`s birthday party.
HAMMER: Jon goes on to read the intimate details of Kate`s E-mail about their custody agreement.
J. GOSSELIN: I would like to split the evening so they can see us both. I would appreciate if you would pick them up at the bus stop tomorrow at 4:00 and stay until 6:00. That`s ridiculous. I`m going to stay longer than that.
HAMMER: But on the other side, you`ve got to admit Jon only spending two hours with his kids on their birthday is kind of ridiculous. And that brings us to a record-breaking fourth low of the day for Jon and Kate. But this time, Kate, it`s on you. Changing your custody agreement last minute with your ex on your kid`s birthday? Not cool.
PIAZZA: I think that Kate, at this point, will do anything to get back at Jon. And she has control over this birthday party. So this is an obvious power play for Kate to be like, "OK, you can only stay for this amount of time."
HAMMER: And Jon didn`t hide the fact that he was totally frustrated.
J. GOSSELIN: It`s ridiculous for me to drive home from New York and see them for two hours and then drive back to New York. I don`t think so. I`m staying and I`ll stay my apartment if I have to.
HAMMER: It`s another nasty battle in an all-out war. Can it get any lower?
PIAZZA: Frankly, I don`t think this is as low as either of them are going to go. I think we`re going to keep seeing them going lower and lower until finally there`s going to be a rock bottom. But this isn`t it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And I can tell you that Jon Gosselin is not the only one caught on tape tonight. Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Kate is caught on tape. Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K. GOSSELIN: Hey! What did mommy just say?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
K. GOSSELIN: I asked you to stop taking pictures and you continued.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. We are not your kids, ma`am.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Kate Gosselin poking fun at her very scary situation. So who is caught-on-tape moment is worse - Jon or Kate? That is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Now, let me turn it over to you. Here is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Jon and Kate`s Messy Divorce: Is Jon more to blame for their drama?" You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or you can E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Tonight, explosive new developments in the David Letterman sex scandal. Here`s the big news that was breaking today.
There`s a brand-new report today that the man accused of extorting Letterman, Joe Halderman, saw Letterman with Stephanie Birkitt just two months ago. And CNN has confirmed that Birkitt was, in fact, one of the female staffers sexually involved with David Letterman.
And Halderman had just broken up with her after living together for years. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT also learned today that Birkitt is now on paid leave from Worldwide Pants - that`s the company owns Letterman`s "The Late Show."
And in more big news breaking, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals why Letterman may never want his extortion case to actually go to trial.
Joining me tonight in Atlanta is B.J. Bernstein, who is a defense attorney and former prosecutor. In New York tonight, Vinnie Politan, who is a radio host for Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
I want to begin with this new report that says, Halderman may have been prompted to blackmail Letterman after he saw Letterman with his former live-in girlfriend just two months ago.
B.J., I want to start with you. Is there any way that information like this could impact the case in any way?
B.J. BERNSTEIN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND FORMER PROSECUTOR: Well, in terms of the case itself, the criminal case - it really shouldn`t because the issue in the criminal case is what did Halderman do? It`s not what Birkitt did because this is not an instance where Halderman should be the one to be able to get money from Dave. If anybody has a basis for it, it would be the women who work for him.
HAMMER: Just so I understand correctly, they wouldn`t look at that in any way as being a motive perhaps to point a finger at Halderman saying why he would want to blackmail Dave?
BERNSTEIN: It potentially could be, but not a good reason why because he is just the third party to it. He is not part of the relationship. And that`s the flaw with what the defense attorney has been going around on all the morning shows and putting out there.
HAMMER: Got it. Well, the same day this report comes out, more big news breaking today. Dave getting support from - I find this wild - of all people, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.
You remember him? Of course, he`s the governor who shamefully admitted to having that affair with a woman in Argentina back in June, of course, who Dave Letterman, as he is wont to do, made fun of relentlessly.
Now, he issued this statement today. He said, "I feel sorry for Dave. I take no glee. Both my thoughts and my prayers are with him." Again, that is coming from the South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. Vinnie, are you with me that this is probably the last person Dave needs speaking out in sympathy?
VINNIE POLITAN, RADIO HOST, SIRIUS XM SATELLITE RADIO: He does. It`s incredible. It`s absolutely incredible. Here`s the problem though for Dave Letterman. You know, if in fact this extortion case, this blackmail case goes forward, A.J., you are going to hear more and more about Dave`s life.
Because as you`ve seen this defense attorney go around, making the rounds talking about what he wants to do, it`s clear what he wants to do and just about any criminal defense attorney wants to do - find another villain.
And the case for this Halderman guy is to make David Letterman look worse than he is. And that`s what`s going to happen.
HAMMER: And sadly, he`s already gotten that job accomplished just by all of this coming out in public. You know, in a way, he sort of won.
But let`s talk about that for a moment because the attorney for the suspect is ready to force Letterman to stand trial. A lot of people have been saying, you know, Letterman just needs to keep this thing from ever landing in a court.
In fact, I want you to take a look at what Judge Jeanine Pirro said this morning on the "Today" show about exactly why Letterman should back a plea deal. It`s a lot of what you said, Vinnie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANINE PIRRO, TV JUDGE: Here`s the bottom line. You know, they`ve got the case. If they get an admission and a plea, and if David Letterman is behind it 100 percent, it ends it. It`s over and it`s yesterday`s news.
But every day, we are going to learn drips and drabs of different women, different scenarios, different quotes from diary that Stephanie Birkitt kept. It doesn`t help Letterman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, B.J., should Letterman really be pushing pretty hard to stop this trial before any more dirty laundry gets out there?
BERNSTEIN: Well, I mean, Letterman had to know it was in consultation with his attorney that he approached law enforcement. So they had to have some discussions to begin with, that this was going to potentially go to trial.
Judge Pirro is correct that if it could get over and enter a plea, then it`s a done deal for him. But the reality is that Halderman seems to be kicking back pretty darn hard.
And remember, his career is over if he is convicted of this, potentially going to prison. So to say that he`ll easily accept a plea for probation is not something that Letterman should rely on.
HAMMER: Yes. Vinnie, help me understand exactly how much control does Dave even have at this point of whether or not this thing goes to trial? Isn`t it a federal case?
POLITAN: Well, a victim never has control. You know, it`s the people versus the defendant. It`s not the victim versus the defendant. The victim versus the defendant would be some sort of civil case. This is a criminal case so it`s the people of the state of New York against this defendant.
So he really has no actual control. He can have some influence. He can say, "Please, try to wrap this thing up now as I don`t want to go through all this." And a prosecutor might look at the case and say, "You know what? If Dave Letterman has to get up on that stand and talk about all this stuff, I could lose the case.
HAMMER: It will be amazing to see what actually ends up happening. B.J. Bernstein, Vinnie Politan, thanks, guys. I appreciate it.
Well, right now, there are brand-new, shocking stories that are so outrageous, so provocative, we have to call them SHOWBIZ shockers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMAN POLANSKI, OSCAR-WINNING DIRECTOR: I went to prison and I suffered enough.
CHRIS HANSEN, HOST, "TO CATCH A PREDATOR": So that makes it OK.
POLANSKI: I know now it was not right.
HANSEN: You think this is funny?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You have got to see this. It is an unbelievable new spoof. What would have happened if Chris Hansen, of course the guy from NBC`s "To Catch a Predator" went face-to-face with Roman Polanski.
Another SHOWBIZ shocker - a nude shocker. Jaw-dropping new details about Levi Johnston posing naked. You know, Levi, the father of Sarah Palin`s grandson. I kind of wonder what Sarah thinks about this.
And this SHOWBIZ shocker - Harry Connick, Jr.`s new racial outrage. Why he just walked off the set of a major TV show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRY CONNICK, JR., ACTOR: We spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons that when we see something like that, we take it really to heart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The startling connection Harry`s anger has to Michael Jackson. 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 deletes her Twitter page, fans rallying to get her back on. Jennifer Hudson introduces her new son, David, in new issue of "People" magazine.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. So are we off our rockets? It`s the lunar technician to bomb the moon. And it`s enough to wipe the smile off the face of the man on the moon.
Here`s exactly what I`m talking about. NASA has a plan to shoot a rocket at the moon on Friday and that has got some going just lunar loony.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It gives a whole new meaning to shoot the moon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: NASA wants to bomb the moon on October 9.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bombing the moon, what are they thinking? They should bomb Mars.
MOOS: No, the target is definitely the moon - a crater on the South Pole. A rocket the size of a school bus will be sent crashing into the moon. The impact will kick up a huge cloud of debris that will be scanned by a second spacecraft looking for water.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our stupid (EXPLETIVE DELETED) government and NASA is going to bomb the moon.
MOOS: Actually, no explosives will be involved, but the moon`s defenders have launched their own counterattack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These lunatics, NASA, will send a missile to blast the moon to bits.
MOOS: Some are joking, but others are serious. Take this online petition with 560 signatures and comments like, "Heavenly bodies should not be disturbed." This spoof from the late `90s was prophetic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: America, can, should, must, and will blow up the moon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we`ll be doing it during a full moon so we make sure we get it all.
MOOS: Come to think of it, the first science fiction movie ever from 1902 foreshadowed the present.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Suddenly the shell kisses the eye of the moon.
MOOS: Or less poetically -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): NASA bombed the moon
MOOS: Some are worried about the effect on the tides.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the next day, New York had been swallowed and biding their time at the east coast that followed.
MOOS: But NASA says forget the disaster film scenario because the moon gets hit by things like meteorites with the same impact several times a month.
(on camera): NASA`s purpose is to look for signs of water in the debris which is already giving people money-making ideas - bottled moon water, posted someone on "Wonkette." Forget Poland Spring - make it Spring of Tranquility. It`s enough to make the moon blue.
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I guess we`ll see what happens. Hold on.
MOOS (voice-over): Leave to Letterman to come up with unintended consequences.
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW": This is something they weren`t counting on. Oh, no.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May the moon stand strong. God bless America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Can you imagine if someone shot back? That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Now, this whole thing is all set to happen at 7:31 a.m. That`s Eastern time, Friday. Grab your telescope and get in on the big fun.
And the calls that we are still getting in about Jon and Kate are sending our "Showbiz on Call" operators into orbit, I tell you. But these ladies do a great job. They`re simply out of this world.
We`ve got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Janet in Tennessee. Janet says, "Stop the show!"
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I would hate for a camera to follow anyone in their mid-life crisis like Jon or in their divorce phase like Kate. People are watching this and saying, "Oh, gosh. At least I didn`t do that." Don`t you remember it`s a known thing what people do when they get older or get divorced? That`s all they`re doing. Take the cameras down.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you, Janet. We also heard Michelle calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Oregon and she does not understand how Kate can cry poverty and just look amazing at the same time.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: We`re all tired of it. But Kate whines about not having any money. Yet, how does she pay for all her maintenance, the beautiful hairdo, the makeup, the nails, the tan? You know, I`d love to know where that money is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Janet (sic). Thanks for your call. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call" to let us know what you think about these guys or anything else. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open all the time. The number is 1-888-SBT BUZZ. Just leave us a voicemail so we can play your call on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and post it, too, online on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
All right. I would think that to celebrate the birthday of two of their eight kids, Jon and Kate would actually stop doing ridiculous things. I would be wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K. GOSSELIN: That is it. You are on time out, Mister. Go to your room.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go to my room? We`re in the middle of a parking lot.
K. GOSSELIN: Then go to your car.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Kate appears on "The Jay Leno Show" and makes fun of her divorce mess. Jon reads very personal E-mails from Kate on camera. How come these two just don`t get it? Tonight, the brand-new Jon and Kate birthday war.
And you betcha. This is big news. Remember how funny Tina Fey was playing Sarah Palin on "SNL?" Well, tonight, is Tina actually getting set to play Sarah again? It`s Tina in her own words.
And caught on tape. The amazing, the marvelous, the spectacular potty trained cat. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Paula Abdul and "Idol`s" Adam Lambert to reveal American Music Award nominees, Tuesday. Just days after Kanye West cancels his tour, Taylor Swift extends hers in 2010.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were looking at ways to be maybe try to decrease the amount of litter that he would kick around and just kind of surf the Web.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Now, I think I have seen everything. Caught on tape, the potty trained cat. And don`t worry, cat lovers, you, too, can train your tabby to use the toilet.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. All right. Here is this outrageous story behind this feline flusher.
The St. Petersburg guy who owns the cat, who`s named Hogan, found a video online showing him how to teach the cat to use the toilet. Well, it took a couple of months to get it together. But now, Hogan uses a baby seat on top of the toilet to do his business.
One thing, though, if you do teach a cat like Hogan to flush, it won`t stop pushing the handle, so your water bill probably is going to go through the roof. Hey, nobody said this would be perfect.
Moving on, Vince Vaughn says everything is perfect when it comes to his love life. Vince is engaged, but just this morning on "Live with Regis and Kelly," Vince revealed that he was gun-shy about meeting his fiancee.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VINCE VAUGHN, ACTOR: Because she lived far away, at first, I was nervous to date her because it`s one of my best friend`s wife`s best friends from childhood.
(CROSS TALK)
If it goes wrong, you talk about awkward. So it was easy. We started with E-mails and calling each other. So that was nice, and we became friends.
REGIS PHILBIN, CO-HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": Is she an actress?
VAUGHN: No, she is a civilian which is good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That whole actor-actress thing doesn`t always work out. You remember Vince with Jen Aniston. Well, Vince`s fiancee happens to be a real estate broker, far away from the entertainment industry.
Just this afternoon I asked you on our Facebook wall, "Who do you think is handling the Jon and Kate divorce mess better?" A lot of you on team Jon. Lots of you on Team Kate, and a lot of you just hating on both of them.
Let me read a few. De W. writing, "They are both terrible. They are both hurting the kids and it is damage that may not be able to be repaired. It is just sick to me."
Tina C. adding, "Who are Kate and Jon`s lawyers? Wouldn`t you think they would tell their clients to shut their pie holes?"
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staffer (INAUDIBLE) would like to say, "Shut your face."
Write to me on Facebook or sign up for our Twitter page for breaking news alerts. Do it all at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. This is what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Tonight, the brand-new Jon and Kate war - it`s all caught on tape.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K. GOSSELIN: Hey, what did Mommy just say?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
K. GOSSELIN: I asked to you stop taking pictures and you continued.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are not your kids, ma`am.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Kate goes on "The Jay Leno Show." Jon reads Kate`s personal E- mails on camera. Oh, and all this - it`s happening as their twins have their birthday - seriously. What are these two doing?
And this unbelievable SHOWBIZ shocker. Convicted dog killer Michael Vick getting a reality show? Disgusting.
And not disgusting, but beautiful. Serena Williams posing nude. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Here comes the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Beastie Boys` Adam Yauch is "healthy, strong and hopeful." He has beaten cancer. Amazon lowers the price of its electronic book reader, Kindle, from $299 to $259.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K. GOSSELIN: That is it. You are on time out, Mister. Go to your room.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What, go to my room? We are in the middle of a parking lot.
K. GOSSELIN: Then go to your car!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the brand-new Jon and Kate birthday war. Kate goes on Leno and makes fun of herself. Jon reads very personal E- mails from Kate on camera. And they do it as their twins celebrate their birthday. Could these two get any lower?
Tonight, the outrageous SHOWBIZ shockers. Harry Connick, Jr. storming off a show in protest to stand up for his country, and the startling connection to Michael Jackson.
You have got to see this shocking mash-up of Chris Hansen from NBC`s "To Catch a Predator" confronting Roman Polanski.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POLANSKI: I went to prison and I suffered enough.
HANSEN: So that makes it OK.
POLANSKI: I know now it was not right.
HANSEN: You think this is funny?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s the fake face-off that`s raising new questions about Roman`s arrest.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s first most provocative news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And tonight, I`ve got to ask, have Jon and Kate just hit rock bottom? As if things couldn`t get any worse for their poor kids, on the very day Jon and Kate were supposed to be hunkering down for a happy occasion, celebrating their twins, Cara and Mady`s ninth birthday, the warring couple are involved in a brand-new battle. It`s all caught on tape. We are going to show it to you.
First up, caught on tape, Jon`s bombshell E-mail from Kate. Jon reads the explosive E-mail to the paparazzi on camera.
Next up, we`re going to show you Kate`s brand-new skit with the paparazzi. Kate caught on tape poking a little fun at herself in her crazy situation.
Joining me tonight in New York is Cooper Lawrence who is a psychologist and author of this fine book, "The Cult of Celebrity." Also in New York, Vinnie Politan who has a fine radio show for Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
I must begin with Jon`s brand-new bombshell E-mail from Kate. This just blows my mind. So Jon is approached by a swarm of paparazzi on a New York City street. And for some reason, that continues to baffle me as I continue to think about it.
Jon decides, "Hey, it would be OK to read this aloud - this very private and personal E-mail from Kate. Let me just read it for everybody." He launches into it right after talking about his plans for his twins` birthday today. You`ve got to see this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. GOSSELIN: I have to pick all of them up tomorrow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Big plans for the birthday?
J. GOSSELIN: I want to get them a cake and stuff like that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What kind of cake?
J. GOSSELIN: I just got an E-mail from Kate saying she doesn`t want to see me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She doesn`t want to see you?
J. GOSSELIN: Hold on one second.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you tell us what it says?
J. GOSSELIN: Yes, hold on. She wants to change custody. It was supposed to be a joint custody day which means we are both home. We both signed off on it. We both would be home. We do our custody schedule at the beginning of every month.
And now she says, "Due to recent events it will be too stressful for the kids to have both of us here as we had originally planned. I would like to split the evening so they can see us both. I would appreciate if you would pick them up at the bus stop tomorrow 4:00 and stay until 6:00."
That`s ridiculous. I`m going to stay longer than that. I don`t care. It`s joint shared.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So it`s supposed to be a joint day because it`s a birthday?
J. GOSSELIN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that`s for all -
J. GOSSELIN: All holidays, birthdays, whatever. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do you end up dealing with this (INAUDIBLE)?
J. GOSSELIN: It doesn`t matter. It`s joint shared. And it`s a sign off day. I can stay as long as I want and I will. You know, it`s ridiculous for me to drive home from New York and see them for two hours and then drive back to New York. I don`t think so. I am staying and renting. I will stay in my apartment if I have to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Holy molly. All right. Let me just run this down. I can`t believe that A, he would divulge what time his kids get off the bus. Hello. Nice way to sort of clue in the whole world as to what time your kids are getting off their bus. B, read aloud a private E-mail from Kate about the kids` birthday.
Cooper, is it not just shameful that Jon and Kate just couldn`t declare a truce for even 24 hours for the sake of the twins` birthday? I don`t get it.
COOPER LAWRENCE, PSYCHOLOGIST AND AUTHOR: Yes, A.J. I don`t get it either. It is really shameful. He`s obviously very, very angry at Kate, but he doesn`t know how to rein in his anger and deal with just Kate.
He has to be angry and let the paparazzi know. And it has to be a reflection on how he treats his kids. And this is the one thing that psychologists will tell couples that are splitting up. Make sure you keep it between the two of you.
Don`t let the whole world know. Don`t let the kids know. Keep it private. The kids shouldn`t know any of this. And of course, if we know the kids are going to find out later on. There is no forethought here. He`s like a little child.
HAMMER: I mean, how do you just not know to keep it to yourself? These are private personal things.
LAWRENCE: He doesn`t care. He`s angry. He does not care, A.J.
HAMMER: But it`s common sense. Vinnie, let me ask you. I mean, these twins turned nine today. Could you imagine anything worse for these kids than having your own father airing the family`s dirty laundry like this? It`s terrible.
POLITAN: Well, A.J., now you know when I became a lawyer, why I chose criminal law instead of matrimonial. It`s just less (INAUDIBLE) than this. The emotions that are put into cases like this, people act so out of control when you`re talking about divorce. And it`s always about me, me, me. And they forget about the kids, the kids, the kids.
And you could see it acting now. Cases like this and things like this happen across this country every day. But now, we are getting to see it because of all the attention and the cameras.
HAMMER: I just would have had to believe he`d be a little smarter than to do something like read a private E-mail.
POLITAN: He`s wearing sunglasses. I didn`t see any sunshine.
HAMMER: He`s a big star, though, Vinnie. Now, Jon not the only one caught on tape. Kate making brand-new headlines today after she appeared on the skit on "The Jay Leno Show." Now, in this skit, Kate has a little run in with the paparazzi. Watch what happens.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s Kate Gosselin. Go, go, go, go, go! Hey, Kate. How was grocery shopping? What did you buy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where`s your posse, Kate?
K. GOSSELIN: Seriously, I`m exhausted. Leave me alone and stop taking pictures.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just a couple more, Kate. Just a couple more.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just a couple more.
K. GOSSELIN: Hey, what did Mommy just say?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
K. GOSSELIN: I asked you to stop taking pictures and you continued.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. We are not your kids, ma`am.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we`re not part of your posse.
K. GOSSELIN: Don`t talk back to your mother.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. You`re not our mom, all right?
K. GOSSELIN: That is it. You are on time out, Mister. Go to your room.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go to my room? We are in the middle of a parking lot.
K. GOSSELIN: Then go to your car. No radio, no cell phone. Sit there and think about what you just did. March.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When can I come out?
K. GOSSELIN: When you`re ready to behave.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are you doing what she says?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She reminds me of my mom. She`s got weird mom powers. I feel obligated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guys! Guys!
K. GOSSELIN: Will you help Mommy with these groceries?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
K. GOSSELIN: What did you have for breakfast?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don`t know. A cinnamon roll. Whatever. You know -
K. GOSSELIN: Come here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. You know what? Don`t -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you just spit? That`s gross. That`s gross. I am a grown man. All right. What`s happening? I`m out. I`m out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where are you going?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She`s freaking me out. She thinks that I`m her kid. She thinks that everybody is her kid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kate, just a few more. Just a few more.
K. GOSSELIN: Come on. Let`s go. Time to go. Get in the car.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are you putting me in this car?
K. GOSSELIN: We have to go and get your sisters from school.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, we do not. I am not one of your children. This car seat hurts. I should have gone. Why am I here?
K. GOSSELIN: There. Do you want to hug your doggie now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I do not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing? Help me!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s actually pretty funny. But at the same time, I find myself sad watching that. I do need to point out, the skit was actually shot back in August. But Cooper, let me ask you, isn`t it scary how it`s even more relevant today - Jon and Kate`s whole mess?
LAWRENCE: Yes. It`s relevant because, you know, she is on the "Today" show more than Matt Lauer is. This is somebody who wants publicity as much as she possibly can. You know, she is very poor right now, A.J., you realize. She has no money.
HAMMER: That`s right.
LAWRENCE: So it`s just so interesting how, again, she is putting herself out there. And I have to ask, so who is taking care of the children and what about the children? And nobody seems to care about the children. It`s all about them. It`s all about him. It`s all about her. And I`ve got to tell you, if I was Child Services, I would be in there investigating this whole thing.
HAMMER: Yes. You have to wonder, how long before that`s going to happen? Well, we`ve shown you both Jon and Kate caught on tape. Here`s what we are asking in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Jon and Kate`s Messy Divorce: Is Jon more to blame for their drama?" I am starting to feel that way. Vinnie what is your take on that?
POLITAN: You know, I think I`m with you. The tide is starting to turn. The more I see, you know, what Jon is doing and how he is acting and how childish he is being, it might be more of his fault.
But the bottom line is, when it comes to a couple, you decide to bring children into the world, a whole bunch of children in the world. You`ve got to put the stuff aside and focus on what`s in the best interest of these kids.
And it`s obvious to you, it`s obvious to me, it`s obvious to Cooper and to everyone that they`re just not acting that way. And sooner or later something is going to snap here.
HAMMER: Cooper, who are you voting for on the SHOWBIZ question of the day, is it Jon more to blame for all the drama right now?
LAWRENCE: I vote for Vinnie. I`m with him 100 percent. I think Jon is definitely more to blame. I think they are both to blame because, again, they`re both interested in their own publicity and their own celebrity. And they`re not thinking about - really, (INAUDIBLE) seriously is how it`s coming across.
HAMMER: What I would like to see is a judge step in right away either to force some kind of mediation, but certainly put a gag order on these two.
LAWRENCE: Please.
HAMMER: Cooper Lawrence, Vinnie Politan, thank you very much.
Well, tonight it`s SHOWBIZ shockers. News today from some of the world`s biggest stars so shocking, I actually feel like my head is going to explode.
Harry Connick shock over a black-faced performance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONNICK: We have spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons that when we see something like that, we take it really to heart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What happened that made Harry storm off stage at an Australian talent show and the wild connection to Michael Jackson. Tonight, I`ve got the international fallout.
Plus, the jaw dropping or perhaps I should say, pants dropping new details today about Levi Johnston`s nude "Playgirl" photo shoot. Really, dude? The father of Sarah Palin`s grandson never ceases to shock me.
Tonight, it`s the fake face-off that is raising new questions about Roman`s arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POLANSKI: I went to prison and I suffered enough.
HANSEN: So that makes it OK?
POLANSKI: I know now it was not right.
HANSEN: So you think this is funny?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And you have got to see this. It`s an outrageous spoof of what would have happened if Chris Hansen from NBC`s "To Catch a Predator" actually confronted Roman Polanski. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Here`s comes the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Barbra Streisand is first artist to have number one albums for five consecutive decades. Study finds "whatever" most annoying word; "you know" most annoying phrase.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, a night of SHOWBIZ shockers, the absolutely mind-blowing news that convicted dog-killer and NFL star Michael Vick is getting his very own reality show.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT confirmed today that the show will be on BET and will focus on the football star`s life now fresh out of jail for torturing dogs and forcing them to fight to the death. All of this is part of his plan to repair his image as he hits the gridiron once again with the Philadelphia Eagles.
But wait, there is more. Vick`s new gig is just one of tonight`s SHOWBIZ shockers that are almost too wild to be true.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And joining me now for more of the SHOWBIZ shockers from Hollywood is Hyla who is an entertainment journalist from "5DollarPrep.com." Also in Hollywood tonight, Rachel Zalis who is a contributing editor for "Life and Style."
All right. Let`s get right to it. We all knew Chris Hansen from the NBC show "Dateline: To Catch a Predator." That`s where alleged pedophiles are caught on camera.
So what would happen if Chris Hansen had confronted Roman Polanski about his raping of a 13-year-old girl? You have got to see this mash-up video which was put together by TheNoseOnYourFace.com. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANSEN: What was your plan here tonight? It sounds like what you are trying to see is if you could score with a 13-year-old girl.
POLANSKI: I need a second. She was young, you know, and we had a love affair.
HANSEN: You knew she was 13. She told you.
POLANSKI: Nobody was hurt and I don`t understand why should I be - why should I be punished for that penchant that I had for young women?
HANSEN: Now, you say that you like to pleasure people and be pleasured.
POLANSKI: I think both, actually.
HANSEN: There is something I`ve got to tell you. I`m Chris Hansen with "Dateline" NBC.
POLANSKI: Can we start it again?
HANSEN: Did you plead guilty or no?
POLANSKI: I pleaded guilty and I paid for it, you know. I paid my price. I went to prison and I suffered enough.
HANSEN: So that makes it OK?
POLANSKI: I know now it was not right.
HANSEN: You think this is funny?
POLANSKI: But there was no premeditation, you know. It was something that just happened.
HANSEN: I`m Chris Hansen. You want to explain yourself?
POLANSKI: I would rather blow my brains.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. You know, some people might look at this video and find it funny. I get that. But Rachel, let me ask you first, I can`t help but wonder if this was an actual episode of "To Catch a Predator. I think a lot less people in Hollywood would be defending Polanski as he sits in the Swiss jail right now.
RACHEL ZALIS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "LIFE AND STYLE": I`m actually astounded, I have to tell you. First of all, I think it`s really important this video came out because he is a predator and Hollywood heavyweights such as Scorsese, Mike Nichols, Sam Mendes are rallying around this man.
And I don`t understand that. I mean, I don`t care how many movies he`s made. He took advantage of a 13-year-old girl, drugged her and had sex with her. And the only person who signed that petition demanding his release that actually made sense was Woody Allen.
HAMMER: Yes. That`s true for sure. Hyla, what do you think? Seeing this video, does it put what happened with Roman Polanski and that 13-year-old girl in a totally different light?
HYLA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: I think it does. I think these clips that you are seeing from this interview - I don`t think the media is playing that enough. It`s good that a viral YouTube video is going to help bring this to light.
HAMMER: Yes.
HYLA: Maybe some of those people who signed the petition should take a look at this and it might change their minds a little bit.
HAMMER: Yes, I agree with you. These are not clips that are being shown widely at this time.
All right. Well we`re not done with Showbiz shockers because wait, there is more. There was absolute outrage today after a clip service of Harry Connick, Jr. as a guest on an Australian variety show.
Now, Harry was just shocked when a group came out imitating the Jackson 5 in black face. Take a look at what happened after their performance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONNICK: Man, you know, if you take the Jackson 5 and subtract this 5 - whoa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there any redeeming - would you give them, just for turning up, perhaps a two or three or four?
CONNICK: Man, if they turned up looking like that in the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I deeply apologize on behalf of all of us because I know that, you know, your countrymen - that`s an insult to, you know, have a black face routine.
CONNICK: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And so I do apologize to you.
CONNICK: Thanks. And I just wanted to say on behalf of, you know, my country, I know it was done humorously. But you know, we spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons that when we see something like that, we take it really to heart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I say good for Harry for the way he handled it. Rachel, are you with me? I mean, this was just outrageous.
ZALIS: I am so with you. I mean, I don`t know anyone in this day and age, this 2009, who thinks it`s OK to perform in black face. And on top of that, they were terrible.
HAMMER: Yes, yes. Harry is speaking out a little bit more about that. I want to read to you what he told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT when we reached to him today.
He said, "Perhaps this is different in other parts of the world. But in the American culture, the blackface image is steeped in a negative history and considered offensive. The blackface skit was a surprise to me and I was simply shocked to see this on TV. I do not believe that the performers intended any harm."
Let`s move on because our next SHOWBIZ shocker tonight, Levi Johnston. He could be posing for "Playgirl." Oh, goody. The father of Sarah Palin`s grandson getting ready to get naked.
Now, his attorney says that Levi is ready to do "Playgirl." "Playgirl," for their part, not confirming this yet.
Hyla, do you think that women all over the world are really dying to see Levi naked or just dying to see him go away?
HYLA: You know, this whole situation makes me want to go back and change my vote for president. Because think about it, if he was running around in the White House, these pictures could be done in the Rose Garden or the West Lawn. They could really make this really nice. I know, A.J. you are excited to get your advanced copy of this.
HAMMER: I mean, give us the female perspective on this. Would you please, Rachel?
ZALIS: I don`t know. I mean, I`ve got to admit, he is kind of cute. But "Playgirl"? What is he thinking?
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: On the other hand - Hyla, tell me if you agree with me. I am almost thinking at this point - you know what? Good for him. I know he said he didn`t want any part of the public eye. But obviously, he is getting a good payday if this doing this. So what the - you know, I don`t care.
HYLA: I agree 100 percent. Cash in. Anyone in this position would do the same thing. It`s an easy check. He did the peanut commercial - the pistachio one. That is really funny and then the "Playgirl." Hey, if you`ve got a nice body - I wish I could, too.
HAMMER: As if Sarah Palin didn`t have enough to worry about with Levi Johnston, there is also this - could Tina Fey once again be firing up her Sarah Palin "SNL" impression? Tina has dropped a bombshell about that. We are getting to that in just a moment.
Hyla, Rachel Zalis, I thank you both.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Christie Brinkley and ex-hubby battling in court again over custody issues. CBS to pick up popular new shows "NCIS: L.A." and "The Good Wife" for entire season.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TINA FEY, ACTRESS (as Sarah Palin): Well, you have states like Ohio and Pennsylvania and Florida which could be real, real anti-American or real, real pro-American. It`s up to them. And now, I would like to entertain everybody with some fancy pageant walking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tina Fey`s dead-on impression of Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live" still cracks me up. But when President Obama was elected and the real Sarah Palin went back to Alaska, Tina vowed to hang up her wig and glasses forever.
Well, tonight, Tina reveals she may be willing to change her mind and skewer Sarah Palin yet again.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Tonight, Tina`s Sarah Palin comeback. It is almost hard to believe it has been a year since Tina Fey first saw Russia from her house in those hysterical sketches targeting Republican vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin.
Tina`s brutal sketches really became must-see TV during the entire election. Well, even though the election season ended, Sarah, of course, did not go away quietly. So tonight, Tina says she is going rogue and she is ready to play Sarah Palin again.
Here is what Tina tells "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine, "I feel like I`ve probably not worn that wig for the last time. At some point, it will come out of the closet."
Tina says that she got the bug to play Palin again after hearing about Palin`s new book called, "Going Rogue" which is due out next month. And it`s already a bestseller.
Well, making eye-popping news right now, Serena Williams in the buff. Yes, the tennis superstar has taken it all off for the cover of "ESPN Magazine." I think amazing is a bit of an understatement in describing this picture.
Serena poses in her birthday suit. It`s all a part of ESPN`s November body issue. Her super-sexy shot is one of six naked covers. One features Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and mixed martial artist Gina Carano. "ESPN Magazine" goes on sale Friday and you can now pick your jaw up from the floor.
On Wednesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Moments ago, we received the final results just tabulated - "David Letterman Sex Scandal: Are you surprised so many women are supporting him?" Only 31 percent of you said yes, you are surprised. Sixty-nine percent no.
Among the E-mails, we heard from Gary in Arkansas who writes, "The fact that Letterman came out and admitted this is why women are supporting him. Though what he did was wrong, it was consensual."
Naomi from Maryland, very upset that Barbara Walters is supporting Dave, "Men do it (sleep with their subordinates) because of people like Letterman and Walters."
Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern here on HLN.
END
