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Showbiz Tonight
Balloon Boy Uproar; TLC sues Jon Gosselin; Megan McCain`s Twit Pic Controversy; Gosselin Babysitter Claims Jon Said He Stole Money from Kate; Lindsay Lohan Back in Court
Aired October 16, 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, CO-HOST: Right now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the shocking brand- new balloon boy uproar. Tonight, the family of the boy thought to be on a runaway balloon all over TV today - the "Today" show, GMA, CNN. But should they be dragging their young kids in front of the cameras?
Plus, the explosive revelation from the balloon boy himself. Was all this just a reality show stunt?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FALCON HEENE, "BALLOON BOY": We did this for a show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates the Heene family`s puzzling reality TV connection.
The brand-new Jon and Kate war. Today, TLC sues Jon. Why is the network that airs "Jon & Kate Plus 8" going after him? Plus, the Jon and Kate hack attack? Startling new claims that Jon hacked into Kate`s personal computer files.
And Jon Gosselin, Jessica Simpson, the balloon boy. Who is the most outrageous, most controversial, most provocative celebrity of the week?
TV`s first most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
And A.J., I`ve got tell you, I couldn`t tear my eyes away from the TV when that runaway balloon flew through the sky with what we thought was a little boy on board.
HAMMER: What a wild ride. You definitely were not alone, Brooke. And tonight, there is a brand-new uproar over the family behind the big balloon drama. As we now know, the little boy, who everyone was searching for, turned out to be safe and hiding out in his home.
But today, there are explosive new questions bubbling over. Why did the 6-year-old say it was all for a show? Was it some sort of high altitude stunt?
And tonight, we are getting brand-new details about this family`s reality show ties. What`s the real story behind their path to fame? There is no doubt this balloon uproar has made for big news breaking today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This thing is moving very fast velocity.
HAMMER (voice-over): We were all at the edges of our seats when we believed that a 6-year-old boy was swept up in a balloon, careening out of control over Colorado.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`s going down. He`s at 100 feet. This is ending.
HAMMER: We all breathed a sigh of relief when we learned the boy, Falcon Heene, was hiding safely at home the whole time. But now, everyone is just scratching their heads, asking nagging questions about the miraculous balloon boy story. What did little Falcon mean when he said on "LARRY KING LIVE" it was all for a show?
F. HEENE: They said that we did this for a show.
HAMMER: What`s with Falcon`s family of scientists, storm chasers and reality show veterans?
ROBERT HEENE, FATHER OF FALCON HEENE: I was in contact with aliens and this is just about identical to what I have seen.
HAMMER: And the most unthinkable question of all - could it be that some or all of this amazing balloon story was a hoax?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": There a lot of people now questioning how this happened and whether this possibly could have been some sort of publicity stunt.
HAMMER: This new video shows the moment the infamous balloon was prematurely set aloft yesterday.
RICHARD HEENE, FATHER OF FALCON HEENE: Get out! (UNINTELLIGIBLE) get out!
MAYUMI HEENE, MOTHER OF FALCON HEENE: Falcon!
HAMMER: The father, scientist Richard Heene now says he was upset because he thought his invention was ruined. And he had no idea at the time that little Falcon may have been inside until his older son told him.
We hear the parents` frantic 911 call in this recording SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained earlier today.
M. HEENE: We looked everywhere and then my son just said - he`s terrified - he said, yes he went inside just before it went off. Because we have it tethered, it wasn`t supposed to take off.
HAMMER: Hours after he was found alive and well, Falcon and his family went on "LARRY KING LIVE" where the boy who caused all these chaos was about to cause even more.
R. HEENE: Why didn`t you come out?
F. HEENE: They said we did this for a show.
HAMMER: Richard Heene says his son misspoke.
SERAFIN: Now, of course, he is six, so you can`t take everything he says exactly at face value. But when you hear a little boy say something like that, of course, people have to wonder.
F. HEENE: I feel like I want to vomit.
HAMMER: This morning on "Good Morning America," young Falcon got sick when Diane Sawyer asked him about this "we did this for a show" comment. And when the subject was broached on the "Today" show this morning, little Falcon actually got sick on the air.
The Heene family is no stranger to the spotlight. They posted rap videos on YouTube.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE HEENE CHILD: We are in the middle of Hurricane Gustav.
HAMMER: They`re eager storm chasers who frequently contribute to CNN`s iReport. The whole family was featured on the ABC reality show, "Wife Swap."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The incredible storm-chasing Heenes of Colorado.
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, TLC, the network that airs "Jon & Kate Plus 8," tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the Heenes pitched a show to them but the network passed.
On "Good Morning America" this morning, Heene lashed out at suggestions this may all be a hoax.
R. HEENE: To have people say that I think is extremely pathetic.
HAMMER: And even though the police plan to re-interview the family, they, too, believe the balloon story is on the up and up.
SHERIFF JIM ALDERDEN, LARIMER COUNTY: We believe at this time that it`s a real event.
HAMMER: One thing everyone can agree on, this unconventional family has now earned instant fame and the heavy scrutiny that comes with it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Yes. No matter what they say or how they try, the runaway balloon family has not been able to shake all the scrutiny today. So did the Heene family really try and pull one over on America? Or do we need to cut them some slack?
Joining me tonight in New York, Ben Widdicombe who is the celebrity editor for "StyleList.com." Also in New York, Megan Alexander who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition."
So the father of the balloon boy denies that the whole thing was a hoax. Late today, the Fort Collins sheriff held a press conference. And he said based on the family`s reaction when the little boy was found, he seriously doesn`t think the whole thing was a big stunt. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALDERDEN: When he came out yesterday, you know, he immediately - the family went nuts, hugging and kissing and yelling and crying. And immediately, our investigators asked for permission to take the boy upstairs and interview him, gave the parents the opportunity to be present and they said, "No, fine. Go ahead and do it."
HAMMER: Yes. See, for me, that sort of what I`ve been thinking. It doesn`t really sound like a family trying to cover their tracks when you hear that account. Ben, what do you think? A hoax or some legitimate albeit bizarre incident?
WIDDICOMBE: I think Jon and Kate are thanking their lucky stars because America has new villains as of today, and it`s the Heene family. I don`t buy this story for a second.
And with great respect to the Fort Collins law enforcement, I kind of think they pulled one over on the sheriff. We know that they have taken acting lessons. We know that they`ve been desperate to get a reality show of their own. They`ve been trying reality television.
Look, most sane people don`t put their family relationships behind fame and fortune on reality TV. We know this is a family that wants the spotlight. I think this screams set up.
HAMMER: Yes. I hear you, Ben. But I`ve got to tell you when I heard the call to 911 from Falcon`s mom, Mayumi, she called 911 and she sounded like, I think, any other terrified mother out there would be. Let`s listen to that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: So it was an experimental plane?
M. HEENE: Yes, it was a flying saucer.
911 OPERATOR: It`s a flying saucer?
M. HEENE: Yes.
911 OPERATOR: And that`s gone, too, right?
M. HEENE: I`m sorry?
911 OPERATOR: Hello. Is the flying saucer gone as well?
M. HEENE: Yes. About 20 minutes, I think.
911 OPERATOR: So they`ve both been missing for about 20 minutes.
M. HEENE: Yes.
911 OPERATOR: OK.
M. HEENE: I need to get my son.
911 OPERATOR: OK.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. I realize it`s hard to get past a 911 operator saying, "It`s a flying saucer?" But Megan - I might not be able to get that one now. Let me ask you this, Megan. You hear the terror in her voice. And I heard what Ben said about the acting lessons, which I don`t have any (UNINTELLIGIBLE) confirmation of, but does it pretty much dump out any accusations of hoax in your mind? Or are you on Ben`s side here?
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "THE INSIDE EDITION": Well, I`ve got to tell you, A.J., it seems that all the signs point that this is some type of a hoax. I hope it isn`t because whenever there are children involved - I think we all feel pretty bad for the little boy when he got sick. It`s obvious it`s taking a toll on them.
The bigger picture, too, here, A.J. is what about the whole concept of boy who cried wolf? Think of all of these thousands of missing children`s cases that would love to have had the three hours of media coverage that this family got. If it was indeed a hoax, I hope that they would come out and say it, because otherwise, it just doesn`t seem fair.
HAMMER: Yes. No kidding. And you know, I have to say maybe it is a mix of a few things going on here. There is evidence out there to support the whole idea of hoax or publicity stunt. You know, a lot of people are saying this family just wants fame.
And apparently, the Heene family was not only on "Wife Swap" twice, but they actually pitched a reality show about themselves to TLC. Take a look at this outrageous interview with the Heene family when they were on "Wife Swap." This is wild.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
M. HEENE: We actually believe we, ourselves, are descendants of aliens.
R. HEENE: Many years ago, I passed out in a fashion restaurant, hit my head on the tiled floor. And the experience I went through - I felt as though I was in contact with aliens and this is just about identical to what I have seen. I had asked who they were and they said, "We are your parents."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Ben, I mean, you can`t make this stuff up. Very quickly, you know, beyond all of this, the idea that they are trotting these kids out in front of the national media right now, I`m feeling pretty bad for the 6-year-old.
WIDDICOMBE: Oh, sure. And I think it`s very telling that the father, when we was talking to Wolf Blitzer on "LARRY KING LIVE" - when Wolf wanted to clarify the son`s remarks, he said, "Look, we were promised this would be the last interview so don`t badger us." Of course, the next morning, he was on both "GMA" and the "Today" show.
HAMMER: Yes.
WIDDICOMBE: So these guys are just in it for the publicity.
HAMMER: No, their credibility is definitely in question because of that. Ben Widdicombe, Megan Alexander, thank you, guys.
Let me now turn it over to you. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. What do you think? "Balloon family: Do they deserve their own reality show?" You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: Well, let me tell you, I don`t think Jon and Kate deserve a reality show or any show for that matter. And tonight, there is a brand- new war between Jon and the reality show that made him famous. Today, TLC is suing Jon. Why are they going after him?
Plus, the Jon and Kate hack attack? Startling new claims that Jon hacked into Kate`s personal computer files. So is Jon the most provocative celebrity of the week? Could it be Jessica Simpson with the Fox video controversy over her weight? Or maybe Falcon "balloon boy" Heene? Tonight, it`s our weekly showdown as we name the most provocative celebrity of the week.
And the unbelievable runaway stroller with a baby in it caught on tape. This is so frightening. But I can tell you, there is a good out come here. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: It is now time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom that are making news right now.
TEXT: Court documents: Dave Letterman felt "threatened, alarmed" by alleged blackmail attempt. Defense rests in John Travolta Bahamas extortion trial.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson.
HAMMER: Tonight, caught on tape, the runaway stroller. Now, I need to warn you, this video is absolutely unbelievable. It is a little difficult to watch.
A mother waiting on a train platform in Australia got distracted for a second and a baby in that stroller fell on to the tracks. A train hit it and dragged the stroller more than 100 feet. Now, miraculously, the baby survived with only a minor bump on the head. Wow.
ANDERSON: Miraculous. From some remarkable video to a picture of Megan McCain that has everybody talking. Did you see this? Megan McCain sexy photo flap. A little extra cleavage gives has Web atwitter over a photo posted by Megan McCain. The daughter of Sen. John McCain is raising eyebrows with her lower neckline.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Normally, John McCain`s 24- year-old daughter Megan ...
MEGAN MCCAIN, DAUGHTER OF SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: That`s what I feel like right now. I`m like, kiss my fat ass.
MOOS: ... is known for getting things off her chest. But now, her chest itself is making news, thanks to this Twit Pic she posted.
(on camera): Megan McCain was spending a quiet night in, reading, when she let her Twitter forward in on what she was doing.
(voice-over): It wasn`t the biography of Andy Warhol that caught everyone`s eye. It was the pictures she took of herself in the mirror. "Holy boobs" pretty much sums it up. In addition to inspiring puns, McCain`s Twit Pic prompted some downright mean responses.
Now, this is a woman who is no prude. Talk about being pro-sex.
M. MCCAIN: My father is going to watch that.
MOOS: Now, she found herself defending her revealing outfit. "When I`m alone in my apartment, I wear tank tops and sweat pants. I had no idea that makes me a slut. I can`t even tell you how hurt I am."
(on camera): McCain got so upset that before her night in was over, she was threatening to dropout of Twitter.
(voice-over): "Considering deleting my Twitter account." Sound familiar?
MILEY CYRUS, POP STAR: Yes, the humors are true. I deleted my Twitter.
MOOS: Pop star Miley Cyrus rapped her explanation.
CYRUS: And the reasons are simple. I started tweeting about pimples. I stopped living for moments and started living for people.
MOOS: People were split on McCain`s Twit Pic. Comments range from, "All I know is I suddenly want to vote for Megan McCain," to "Oh, please, girl. Those puppies are pushed up. Love the porn smirk, too."
The photo was so racy that one Web advertiser paired it up with an ad for Pamela Anderson`s extreme sex video. Not since Arnold Schwarzenegger waved a knife to illustrate budget cutting has a Twitter image caused such a stir.
Megan McCain apologized saying she made a huge mistake. She decided not to delete her Twitter account, but said she would be more careful in the future.
(on camera): And while we hate to nitpick, it`s easy to look like a nit wit when you post a Twit Pic.
(voice-over): Post on, celebs. The glitter is off Twitter.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And just today, in a new column on the Website, "The Daily Beast," Megan McCain had this to say about the response to her Twitter Pic. She writes, "To be honest, I don`t feel that I have anything to feel ashamed of. I`ve always embraced my curves and will continue to do so."
HAMMER: Well, good for her. Brooke, I know for a fact that our "Showbiz on Call" operators have no provocative pictures of themselves on the Web. As a matter of fact, the on-call department not really so high tech, so I don`t think they`re snapping any of that.
ANDERSON: No, it`s not, A.J. But I can tell you we are getting tons of calls, E-mails and Facebook comments about the Jessica Simpson weight debate and that awful Fox video making fun of her, though Josh thinks targeting Jessica`s looks is not off limits.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JOSH, CALLER: I think she is fair game and she is fodder for, you know, tabloids. And to kind of be made fun of because she is in the spotlight, she famous, she did get famous by being a sex symbol. But that doesn`t mean we have to necessarily like the people that make fun of her or the people that sponsor people that make fun of her.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Josh.
HAMMER: But Jaime called into "Showbiz on Call" from Ohio and says Jessica is beautiful.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JAIME, CALLER FROM OHIO: It`s really ticking me off that anybody could even think she is even overweight. I believe she should be applauded for being at a healthy weight and even in most American standards probably still underweight.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Jamie, thanks for your call. Here`s what I`d like you to do - call us at "Showbiz on Call" to sound off on this or anything else that`s on your mind.
ANDERSON: Please do. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open. Give us a ring - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that`s 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voicemail. We will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And your calls to "Showbiz on Call" are also now online at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: Well, Jessica Simpson certainly has had a controversial few days. But is she the most provocative celebrity of the week? Jon Gosselin, Jessica Simpson and her weight controversy, even Falcon Heene, the balloon boy. We`re the only entertainment news show doing this tonight. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week.
And speaking of Jon Gosselin, tonight - wow. He is in a brand-new war with the show that made him a big star. Why in the world is TLC suing Jon?
Plus, startling new accusations today. Did Jon really break into Kate`s personal computer?
And big news, is one of Hollywood`s hottest bachelors ready to settle down, have a couple of kids? I am talking about Clooney here. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Toby Keith`s "American Ride" debuts at number one on Billboard Country Album chart. Sarah Jessica Parker to launch a "Sex and the City" inspired perfume, called "SJP NYC."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, "THE JAY LENO SHOW": Hey, Matt. Have you ever had sex in a car?
MATT LAUER, CO-HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: Never. No, Jay.
LENO: Well, try it after this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I don`t know how that would work out. Looks like a pretty small car. But hey, did you see this? Matt Lauer hits the road and he has another run in with a deer and it happens right in the middle of "The Jay Leno Show."
Now, Brooke, of course, you remember when Matt Lauer had his deer accident, right?
ANDERSON: I do, A.J. He was riding his bicycle when the deer jumped out in front of them and sent him flying right off the bike.
HAMMER: That`s right. And he actually separated his shoulder. He had to have surgery. Fortunately, matt did pull through that OK. But he just seems to keep bumping into Bambi. You`ve got to see what happened when Matt popped by "The Jay Leno Show" for the celebrity green card challenge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LENO: Oh, went wide. Went wide. But he can make up the time. He can make up the time. Going through the streamers. Watch out for the deer! Watch out for the deer! Oh!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now, Jay penalized Matt for hitting the deer, but Matt tried to buttering Jay up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LENO: 56-88.
LAUER: I`m sorry. Look, I`m just -
LENO: Look, you are not good with animals.
LAUER: Can I just say it would have been faster - I would have taken that second off. What`s that? But you know, I stopped. I stopped.
LENO: I`m sorry. Skim latte?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Now, here`s our obligatory deer joke. Brooke, you know what kind of coffee deer like to drink?
ANDERSON: I don`t know. What kind, A.J.?
HAMMER: Deer caf. Thank you.
ANDERSON: Very good. Let me tell you our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook fans are definitely not downing decaf. They are all riled up about the Jessica Simpson weight debate and that awful Fox cartoon making fun of Jessica`s weight.
Misty W. is disgusted, "What is wrong with society? She is one of the healthiest women in Hollywood. She is normal. People need to leave her alone. She doesn`t even come close to being fat."
But Monica O. says, "This is just the price of fame. When you are famous, you are going to get made fun of. I don`t feel sorry for her one bit. It comes with the territory."
Now, I want to hear from you on Facebook and also follow us on Twitter for breaking entertainment news alert. Sign up for Facebook and Twitter pages at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Jon and Kate plus a lawsuit. Tonight, why the network that put "Jon & Kate Plus 8" on the air is suing Jon.
Also, did Jon break into Kate`s personal computer files? Is Jon the most provocative celebrity of the week? Or could it be Jessica Simpson? How about balloon boy, Falcon Heene? Well, to find out, Stay tuned. It`s coming up.
And uh-oh. Lindsay Lohan back in court. Is she going to be tossed in jail? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom and they are making news right now.
TEXT: "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch out of jail after 51-month tax evasion sentence. Former "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft diagnosed with swine flu.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Jon Gosselin plus lawsuit. What Jon is saying about being sued by the network that airs "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Plus, some shocking claims from the former babysitter about Jon allegedly stealing money from Kate.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week. Will Jon take the prize How about Jessica Simpson? Or what about Falcon Heene, the balloon boy?
And is George Clooney ready for kids? Wait until you hear what Hollywood`s famous bachelor is saying now about starting a family.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s first most provocative entertainment 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.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
Tonight, Jon and Kate plus lawsuit. Jon Gosselin is now fighting a brand-new bombshell battle today. And this time, it`s not with his estranged wife, Kate. TLC, the network that made Jon and his family famous is now suing Jon for a breach of contract after Jon pulled the plug on the family reality show.
Remember when Jon claimed to CNN`s Larry King he had an epiphany about all of this?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": I had an epiphany one day. I just looked in the mirror and I said I don`t want to be this person anymore. I made mistakes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, apparently that may not be the only mistake Jon made. In a brand-new interview today, Jon`s former babysitter, Stephanie Santoro, is claiming Jon bragged to her about taking $100,000 from Kate.
A.J., this girl is even claiming Jon joked about going after Kate for alimony.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, the truth is, nothing really surprises me about Jon or Kate. And that has been that way for a while.
With me tonight from Hollywood, Carlos Diaz, a correspondent for "Extra." In New York, Megan Alexander who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition."
All right. Put it up on blue paper. I have right here in my hands the lawsuit. I want to share with you some of the bombshells that are in here.
Now, TLC claims that Jon breached his contract. They are citing some specific examples. Here`s some of what they say, "Defendant Gosselin set about to capitalize on his rising notoriety by selling his services to other media, in violation of his contractual exclusivity, entered a lucrative arrangement to appear regularly on other TV shows to discuss his family and the problems he was having with Mrs. Gosselin. And he routinely sold photographic rights to various media outlets."
Carlos, my friend, I begin with you. Given the path that we are on, are you at all surprised that TLC, which of course is the network that made Jon famous, is now actually suing him.
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": It is the definition of biting the hand that feeds you. I mean, these guys, like you said, made him famous. And he`s going for table scraps when he was making $75,000 a week.
I mean, listen, if you`re going to get divorced, get divorced. That`s great. If you guys can`t get along, you can`t get along. But find a way to continue to make money off of that with TLC because obviously there is an insatiable first for you and Kate.
So maybe, like I`ve said like a thousand times before on this show, you get counseling on TLC and you turn that into a show. But obviously, Jon has done everything wrong.
HAMMER: Everything wrong. Yes. Biting the hand that feeds you - exactly what we were saying a few weeks ago when he started speaking out against them. Now, TLC is also alleging that Jon threatened them.
The network claims that Jon and his attorney said either let Jon out of his exclusive contract or he`s going to start saying the show is not good for his kids. Well, TLC also claiming that Jon and his attorney gave them a deadline to put out a press release letting Jon go.
They described how all this went down in the lawsuit. Here`s what they say and it`s a little bit of legalese here, but - "If this release was not forthcoming within one hour`s time, Defendant Gosselin would reverse his often-repeated public comments to the contrary and publicly object to further filming of the program on the grounds that it is purportedly detrimental to his children."
Wow. Megan, it really seems like TLC is trying to blow the lid off of Jon`s whole "I want my kids off TV" story that he`s been telling the media. Because you remember, there was a time when he said, "I want my kids on TV."
ALEXANDER: Right. A.J., it just doesn`t seem like either situation is good for Jon. I really think he should be off TV completely right now. But this is his business, a deal is a deal. And I think this is showing the public that reality television is a lot more scripted when the cameras are on or off.
A deal was in place. He needs to honor those commitments that he made and then, really get it together with his family. Again, I don`t think it would be a good thing for him to continue anyway. But this shows you business is business. Is he going to follow through? And what type of businessman is he?
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, the stakes are very high here. And nobody in the media business is afraid of lawsuits if somebody breaches a contract. We`ve seen that before very clearly.
And Jon has never shied away from saying that he never really had a good relationship with TLC at all. I want you to watch what he told CNN`s Larry King about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. GOSSELIN: I don`t get along with the people at TLC.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": You didn`t get along?
J. GOSSELIN: Not all along. Since January, I started getting calls from the executives which is so rare. You don`t really hear from them.
KING: What were they saying?
J. GOSSELIN: Basically that I`m in breach of contract and, you know, I can`t go out. They put me on house arrest. They give me a bodyguard for three weeks.
KING: House arrest?
J. GOSSELIN: Yes, house arrest. I had a 24/7 bodyguard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. So even if that`s true, I mean, it sounds like TLC warned Jon more than once that he would be in breach of contract with them. Carlos, I hear that and I`m thinking he doesn`t have a leg to stand on in this lawsuit with them.
DIAZ: He doesn`t, man. I mean, house arrest? Jon, really, are you serious, dude? Come on. I mean, it`s so like farfetched. I mean, they gave you a bodyguard. Well, that`s not a bad thing.
You know, I mean, you are ripping on TLC when they were providing you with all this money. And see, here`s the thing. Jon is getting all these promises from different people. You know, "Hey, come with us. We`ll take care of you. We`ll take care of you."
But you know what? It`s the grass is always greener on the other side and Jon is not going to know what he had until it`s gone. And it is this close - this close to being adios.
HAMMER: Yes. So you`ve got to wonder how Jon is feeling about getting sued by TLC, again, the network that made him famous at this point.
Well, late today, we heard from Jon Gosselin`s attorney, Mark J. Heller who responded to the lawsuit in this E-mail to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT where he says, "TLC has treated Jon Gosselin like a dog by attempting to keep him on a leash and muzzle him and deny the father of eight opportunity to earn a livelihood to support his family."
And they go on to say this, "Clearly this litigation is heralded in the battle of David against Goliath. And Jon Gosselin fully intends to stand firm, protect his family and defend against TLC."
Brooke Anderson, let me bring you back in here. I`ve got to get your take on this. You have been watching from the sidelines while you had been out. But it seems to me they are certainly entitled to uphold his contract.
TLC, you know, even though they want to sue him, they probably could have avoided this whole mess if they just let him out of this deal and said, "You know what? We`ll let you out, just don`t talk about us." And that would have been that.
ANDERSON: You know, A.J., I don`t know if it would have been that easy because, as we know, and by hearing Jon`s most recent statement, his middle name right now is drama. So whether he is locked into a contract or not, I don`t think he is going to make things smooth or easy. Would it make things a little less difficult maybe if he could make a clean break? Possibly.
HAMMER: I`m still waiting for somebody to say contractually, you need to shut up now. But I guess they have done that and it`s not working anyway.
Let`s move on to the brand-new explosive claims that Jon`s former babysitter, a woman named Stephanie Santoro, is making today in a brand-new interview with "Radar Online." Now, Santoro claims that Jon told her that he took $100,000 from a family account. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHANIE SANTORO, FORMER GOSSELIN FAMILY BABYSITTER: He told me that he took $100,000. It was either out of Kate`s account or the kids` account to open his children`s foundation and that she did not know about it. He said he was going to do - he said that he was going to do anything he could to make sure he made her life a living hell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. I need to point out that Jon says that this woman, the babysitter, made these claims for - you know, money, for a little payday. But the truth is, let`s face it. His credibility has long been in the toilet. So Megan, what do you think? Would you be at all surprised if this does prove to be true?
ALEXANDER: Gosh, unfortunately, I would not. This man got quite a bit of money - both him and Kate - very quickly, A.J. And I think this shows you that when you get that much money that quickly, if you don`t have people around you that really help you manage it, obviously, psychologically, they haven`t been able their problems. It`s just how important a support system is.
And really, how sad this has become. America loved this family when they started out. I mean, this is just so sad that we`ve gotten to this point now where he is stealing from his ex-wife and you wonder where are the kids in all this? Are they getting money for their school supplies, for their health? What`s going on here?
HAMMER: Got to end it there. Megan Alexander, Carlos Diaz, thanks, guys. I appreciate it.
ANDERSON: It`s that time. As we do every Friday, tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming the most provocative celebrity of the week. Plenty to choose from this week. Will it be Jon Gosselin, Jessica Simpson - or how about Falcon Heene, the balloon kid?
Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield together again for the first time since the infamous ear-biting. Tyson and Holyfield sat down together at length today on "Oprah." Did they pull any punches? Any biting remarks?
And is George Clooney ready to have kids? Wait until you hear what Hollywood`s most famous bachelor is saying about whether he`s ready to start a family. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "Glee" cast will sing national anthem during game three of the World Series. Leona Lewis says punching incident at U.K. record signing was "a horrible shock."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLY RIPA, CO-HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": After many years, I decided to go back to my roots, my acting roots. That`s right. I`m returning to the role as Hayley Vaughan Santos in "All My Children."
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A big announcement on "Regis and Kelly" today with CNN`s own Anderson Cooper right by her side filling in for Reg. Kelly Ripa announced, as you heard, she is returning to "All My Children" temporarily for the show`s 40th anniversary.
Kelly`s husband Mark Consuelos is also returning. And that`s all going to happen in January. This book, by the way, the first time they have been back to the soap since they left back in 2002.
And Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson. Tonight, who will SHOWBIZ TONIGHT name as the most provocative celebrity of the week? Will it be Jon Gosselin? This guy can`t get out of his way. And he has been a nominee three weeks in a row.
Then there`s Jessica Simpson`s new weight outrage. A downright mean skit on Fox`s NFL Sunday pokes fun at Jessica`s weight and she slams them right back.
Or balloon boy, the little boy at the center of the runway balloon drama that still has the nation buzzing. Today, there all kinds of questions about his family`s ties to reality TV and who this family really is.
It`s a tough choice, but we will make that call when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week.
Joining me now from New York tonight is Ben Widdicombe. He is the celebrity editor for "StyleList.com." Here in Hollywood is Rachel Zalis - she is a contributing editor for "Life and Style Weekly."
OK, Ben and Rachel, some pretty provocative contenders this week. So Ben, who do you think should be named the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT most provocative celebrity of the week?
WIDDICOMBE: I think the biggest star of the week, hands down, is balloon boy, little Falcon. He is star quality. The story has incredible legs. It`s going to divide the country. Some people believe the family and some people don`t believe the family. I think this story is going to run and run. And I think the kid`s a star.
ANDERSON: You know, and this poor child didn`t ask for all of this. And it is making him sick today. Or maybe he did, because this balloon boy story has exploded into something that we never imagined today with brand- new controversial questions about whether the incident was actually a stunt.
But let`s be real here. Jessica`s weight slam has been sparking debate all week long and a day has not gone by without Jon Gosselin creating some kind of scandal. So Rachel, your vote for the most provocative celebrity of the week.
RACHEL ZALIS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "LIFE AND STYLE WEEKLY": I have to agree with Ben. I mean, any other week, Jon Gosselin would be my MVP of provocative. But I`ve got to go with balloon boy. I mean, the dad - he is trying to teach kids science fiction. Well, he certainly got the fiction part true. I mean, that story is about as real as, say, a flying saucer. So come on.
ANDERSON: So you are not buying their story. OK, well, before we reveal the winner of the most provocative celebrity of the week, I want to show you a few write-in nominees from our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook wall.
Stacy O. writes, "I`m voting for Jessica Simpson." Then there`s Tauzetti T. who writes, "Britney with the threesome song. She`s so funny," referring to Britney`s new hit song, "3."
Amanda C. writes, "Jon and Kate. I absolutely love a celebrity scandal and rarely get annoyed by them. But this is ridiculous." So Britney the wildcard in there. Rachel, you`ve got a wildcard of your own?
ALEXANDER: Absolutely. Hands down - Megan McCain. I mean, did you see that saucy snapshot she put on Twitter? I think she forgot she`s writing for "The Daily Beast," not "The Daily Breast." You know, I think John McCain -
(CROSS TALK)
ANDERSON: Oh, once again, maybe she should start a Web site of her own that you just talked about there, Rachel. And I`ve got to tell you, there really was a fired-up debate in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom about all of this.
But the moment is here. Who is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week? The nominees - Jon Gosselin, Jessica Simpson or balloon boy.
And the winner in a very close vote - Jessica Simpson. Jessica - yes, caught up in the scandal about her weight. I know you two don`t agree. But she hasn`t even been seen in public in quite a while. And here, the scandal erupts.
And now, she did not even hesitate to stand up for herself and women everywhere cheered when she did that. Ben, we know you love your balloon boy. But come on, you`ve got to give Jessica some credit for being pretty provocative.
WIDDICOMBE: Oh, I think it`s outrageous. We shouldn`t mock Jessica Simpson because of her weight. We should mock her because she is stupid and sucks as a singer.
ANDERSON: Oh, that`s so mean. Oh, she is trying to overcome that perspective that people have on her, Ben. You are a mess.
Well, today, our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines were jammed up with callers furious over the video calling Jessica fat.
Becky from Georgia says enough with the double standard.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BECKY, CALLER FROM GEORGIA: People are so critical. Men are so critical over how a woman looks. But we are supposed to be so perfect and look like we just stepped out of a magazine. Meanwhile, it`s OK for them to look like crap - big old potbellies and hair thinning up all over their heads. We can look that kind of way, but we have to be so perfect. That makes me sick.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Becky, could not agree with you more. Thank you for your call. She is really standing up for Jessica here and so many women out there.
So Rachel, do you think that people will ever stop taking the cheap shots at Jessica or other stars especially when it comes to their weight?
ZALIS: I wish they would stop. I mean, the press is just crazy about this. She is not fat. The average woman in America is about a size 12, 14. So let`s get real. You know, leave her alone.
And she didn`t dignify it at all. She said everyone should own their own beauty. So I applaud Jessica for giving that kind of comment.
ANDERSON: Ben, very quickly. From a man`s perspective, do you think people will ever stop and this double standard will go away?
WIDDICOMBE: No, never, especially for stars like Jessica Simpson whose look is her whole career. So people are going to scrutinize her until the day she dies.
ANDERSON: Good point. Ben Widdicombe, Rachel Zalis, thanks. Good to see you both.
HAMMER: All right. So today, a judge warned Lindsay Lohan that she is going to go to jail if she doesn`t go to her alcohol counseling program. Lindsay was in court today where she got another year to complete the program which is part of her probation for a drunk-driving conviction two years ago.
Lindsay`s lawyers said that she made it to about half the sessions, but her career made her miss the rest. Now, the judge said she wants Lindsay to have a career, but she can`t thumb her nose at the court.
Well, could it be true? Is George Clooney ready for kids? Just wait until you hear what Hollywood`s most famous bachelor is saying now about whether he actually wants to start a family.
It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Larry Birkhead testifies in Anna Nicole Smith`s drug overdose case. Ohio police chiefs face trial in Sarah Jessica Parker`s surrogate snooping case.
HAMMER: It is time now for "Making it Work." I love this part of the program, because this is where we take a look at how famous couples make their relationship work in Hollywood and beyond.
Tonight, a couple of my favorite indie film royalty, Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Now, Peter and Maggie have been together for about seven years. They have been married since May and they have a beautiful daughter, Ramona, together.
Both Peter and Maggie are in such high demand as actors. So obviously, we had to ask them how they make their family work with such busy careers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER SARSGAARD, ACTOR: You know, it is just all compromise, right? It is a balance. And you - I have had to pass on movies that - recently, I passed on a movie that I`ve fought to get. I had been fighting to get this part. I got the part. And I had to tell them I couldn`t do it because it didn`t work out with my personal life. But you know, next time, it will work out the other way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Peter Sarsgaard`s new movie, "An Education" is getting rave reviews. It`s in theaters now. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: So could there be kids in George Clooney`s future? Well, the subject did come up at the Atlanta premiere for new family, "Fantastic Mr. Fox." Clooney voices the role of the father to the character played by Jason Schwartzman.
And a reporter asked him if that gave him any ideas about becoming a father himself. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: That is a word that Americans don`t understand. "Broody?" "Broody" means do you want to have kids? It is. I`m learning all of these phrases this week. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Just having Jason here next to me, I feel like a father. And he just got married, by the way. So I feel like I`m almost a grandfather. Yes, I am jumping right into it. Exactly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Clooney also joked that he is going to adopt some of Brad Pitt`s kids. "Fantastic Mr. Fox" opens up on November 25th.
ANDERSON: Tonight Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield face to face again today for the first time in 12 years. For the first time since the infamous boxing match in 1997 when Tyson bit off part of Holyfield`s ear, the two sat down today for an interview together.
On Monday, Oprah interviewed Tyson alone and he said that when he apologized back in the day, he wasn`t sincere. Today, when Oprah asked Tyson what he wanted to express to Holyfield about the incident, he stopped short of apologizing, but had this to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE TYSON, FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD: I want the world to know that, you know, people who love me, they think Evander is this guy. This is a beautiful guy. Me and this guy both come basically from the sewage and we watched each other grow to become established and esteemed fighters, you know what I mean? And I want him to know that it has been a pleasure passing through life and being acquainted with you.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Hollyfield said he had already forgiven Tyson and has always had a lot of respect for him. He said wanted to appear with Tyson to show young people who are caught up in violence that there`s conflict in life, but reconciliation is always possible.
HAMMER: All right. So on Thursday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. As a matter of fact, I was just handed these final results. I will now read them to you - "Jessica Simpson Fat Jokes: Is making fun of her weight fair game?" Twenty-four percent of you said yes, but 76 percent of you agree with me and say no.
Here are a couple of the E-mails we received. One from Mark in New Jersey who writes, "She looks better and healthier than she ever has in her career. Anyone critical of this woman is purely jealous."
We also got an E-mail from Liz who writes, "I think Jessica Simpson`s weight gain is fair game. She made herself a sex idol for years. Now, she has to deal with it."
Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And might I say one more time, Brooke Anderson, it is so good to have you back.
ANDERSON: Oh, thank you. It`s good to be back. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Good to see all of you. Remember, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
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