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Showbiz Tonight
Rosie`s Confessions; Kate Gosselin`s New Confessions; Cashing in on Dead Celebrities
Aired October 27, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST: Right now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, brand new explosive star confessions.
Tonight, Rosie O`Donnell`s shocking confessions caught on tape. Rosie`s dramatic revelations about Oprah; Rosie`s startling claims of childhood abuse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSIE O`DONNELL, ACTRESS: Whenever I would go to the doctor, the doctor would look and say to me, "Do you touch yourself?"
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, it`s Rosie totally unplugged.
Hulk Hogan`s brand-new suicide confessions. Today, for the very first time on camera, Hulk`s emotional revelations about how and why he almost killed himself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HULK HOGAN, WRESTLER: You`re sick and tired of being sick and tired.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hulk`s emotional words today and why his marriage failed.
Kate Gosselin`s brand new confessions about why she says no one may ever want to marry her again. And her unbelievable claim that she could see herself as a movie star?
Tonight a blockbuster night of explosive star confessions as TV`s first, most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, Rosie`s shocking confessions: Rosie O`Donnell is certainly never one to hold back. And tonight, I can tell you she`s revealing explosive new details about her life that we have never heard before.
Tonight Rosie is sharing the horrifying details of abuse that she allegedly suffered as a child. Details that are so tough to hear she avoided talking about it until now. And that`s just the start of her truly amazing new tell-all interview.
Rosie gets real about her split from her wife, Kelley. And a Rosie confession wouldn`t be complete without a brand new blockbuster against her nemesis, Donald Trump. Wait until you hear this one.
I can tell you that without a doubt, Rosie`s shocking revelations are making for big news breaking today.
Rosie O`Donnell makes shocking confessions about molestation in her family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: There were varying levels of abuse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: She`s setting the record straight about her troubled relationships.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: Kelley and I have a lot of issues and sex wasn`t one of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And best of all, she`s settling old scores.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: I think you`re an (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Rosie O`Donnell was absolutely unplugged in her interview on Howard Stern`s show on Sirius XM satellite radio.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM SERAFIN, "INTOUCH WEEKLEY": We haven`t heard from Rosie in a while but now she`s coming back with a vengeance and being so revealing...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Rosie`s most shocking revelations were about childhood abuse which she`s only hinted about in the past.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERAFIN: She alluded to something in a book she had written but this is the first time we`ve heard her be very open about abuse that was going on in her own family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Rosie`s speaking out like never before about abuse even though she`s still somewhat vague about it.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
HOWARD STERN, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: You`ve alluded to molestation. But it wasn`t between you and your dad, though, was it?
O`DONNELL: There were some serious issues going on in the house at that point, and there were five children, and there were varying levels of abuse.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Rosie tells Howard Stern she wasn`t able to talk about the abuse when she was a child but she describes some suspicious infections in graphic detail.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: I was like 6, 7, 8, kindergarten, first or second grade. Whenever I would go to the doctor the doctor would look, you know, and say to me, "Do you touch yourself?" And I don`t know if you know, you know, you have children, but that doesn`t start for a child of that age. You know that some thing has been introduced to a child if that`s happening at that age and it was not me that was causing the infections so it`s a very heavy thing.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERAFIN: She`s being so incredibly opened about these things that happened to her as a child, but on the other hand, you still kind of have questions about exactly what happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Rosie also addresses tabloid headlines that she and her long-time partner, Kelley Carpenter are splitting up.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: We`ve been together for 12 years. We are a family, and a family is a family is a family. We will stay a family, you know. And Kelley and I are working through a lot of the stuff that we have and the children are the priority.
I don`t know that we`re going to be together. I think we`re working through what`s going to work best.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: But Rosie being Rosie, couldn`t help but take a few shots at her sparring partners, like her former boss on "The View," Barbara Walters.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: I assumed that because she was the first woman to break all these barriers that she was very supportive of other women. That she was very much a sister, right. And I got on that show only to realize, oh, my God, that`s not the case.
I did find her to be inaccessible in a way that startled me, and I did find her to be sort of non-supportive in another way with the Trump thing.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh, "the Trump thing." Remember Rosie`s on-air feud with Donald Trump where the two of them spent almost a year trading public insults? Yes. Rosie is not over that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: I simply said the truth about him, and he went ballistic. What he did to me, personally, is just an example of how he feels about all women.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: And don`t count on the Donald ever appearing on Rosie`s upcoming radio show.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: Donald Trump doesn`t interest me in any capacity so I don`t know what I would ever say to him besides, "I think you`re an (EXPLETIVE DELETED)."
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERAFIN: It all seems like she holds grudges. It seems like she hasn`t let a lot of these feuds go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: But once again, Rosie`s willingness to bare all is showing us that she`s still one of the most fascinating celebrities out there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERAFIN: One thing that you take from this interview is that Rosie is definitely a complicated person. And just when you think you know her, you realize you don`t know anything about her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There was so much more to Rosie`s interview including her account of an emotional phone call that she placed to Oprah Winfrey, of all people. Why was she calling Oprah? Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, we will have the dramatic details of Rosie`s frantic call to Oprah. That`s a little later in the show.
Tonight brand new bombshell Kate Gosselin confessions: Kate answered all the burning questions from her fans in a very special episode of "Jon & Kate plus 8" on Monday night.
Here are the breaking developments. Kate reveals whether or not she`ll ever get married again. This answer may surprise you.
And in more big news breaking, Kate admits her kids are having trouble understanding why she and Jon renewed their vows just last year, but now they`re getting divorced. You have to hear what she said.
Plus Kate`s future in Hollywood. Is Kate really setting her sights on a movie career? Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Leslie Marshall, who`s a radio talk show host for the "Leslie Marshall Show." Also in Hollywood, Ken Baker, the executive news editor for E!
Let`s begin with Kate`s first bombshell confession. Now a viewer wrote in and asked Kate what she wants to do once "Jon & Kate plus 8" goes kaput. Listen to what Kate said here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": My career goals, believe it or not, somewhere in here I discovered that I`ve done enough years of TV that I feel like it`s a normal, comfortable, natural place for me to be. I would love to be in a movie at some point. I would love to be the voice of a cartoon character in a movie for my kids. I think that would be fun.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Ok. Fun. So I heard that correctly. Kate said she wants to be in the movies.
Ken Baker, let me begin with you. Are you with me that perhaps those goals are just a bit lofty for Kate Gosselin?
KEN BAKER, EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR, E!: well, she said she wanted to be a cartoon character. Well, she is already a cartoon character, let`s face it. And you know, the other thing is I jotted this down because I thought it was really poignant. She said that -- she thinks being on TV is a normal, comfortable, natural place to be.
I`m on TV right now. It`s fun. It`s cool. This is not natural. It`s not even comfortable, to be honest with you.
HAMMER: Yes, you look a little uncomfortable Ken.
BAKER: Right, you know what I mean. It`s like TV -- if I had my kids on here that`s really uncomfortable. I think she`s clearly a really magnetic TV personality and that`s great. Clearly "Jon and Kate plus 8" and now what might be "Kate plus 8" has not turned into what it was meant to be at the beginning.
HAMMER: Oh, no.
BAKER: And that`s the sad part.
HAMMER: No, particularly why she got into it. I mean, when you think about it, she said the whole Jon and Kate thing actually started because -- and she even pointed this out, she just wanted to capture memories on tape for the kids.
I`m thinking she should have bought a camcorder.
But Leslie, don`t you think this new movie career goal she has proves she got a little taste of fame. She saw, "Hey, I can make money just being on camera." And she liked it perhaps a little too much -- not that there`s anything wrong with that.
LESLIE MARSHALL, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Absolutely A.J. She`s like, "Tasted the appetizer and now give me the meat and potatoes, please."
But what I`m seeing around Kate when she`s talking is cha-ching. Cha- ching. It`s all for her. It would be so much for her kids for her to be on the cartoon but they`re not on it, she`s on it.
And when she talks about it being a part of her life, of course it`s a part of her life. That`s the big idea, they put cameras in on her life. Her marriage is falling apart. Her kids are all messed up. This is not just lofty; this just shows, in my opinion, how she`s not caring about the kids in putting them first and how shallow she is and how greedy she is.
HAMMER: Oh, but Leslie, she`ll make money and she`ll be able to support the kids which is all she ever says that she wants to do. That is goal number 1 for Kate.
I do want to move on to this next -- brand new bombshell from Kate Gosselin. A "Jon and Kate" viewer wrote in and asked Kate if she would ever get married again and here`s what Kate said about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOSSELIN: I really don`t want to get married again. Can you blame me? But I don`t want to be alone. I just know it`s going to have to be someone with a lot of patience, character, strength -- and, wow, wisdom to take us on. I don`t know if that`s possible. We shall see; maybe when I`m 73 and a half.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was actually kind of refreshing to hear. Ken, can you blame her from thinking that way coming off all the drama?
BAKER: Well, I mean, she comes off really in that clip because she seems like just a single mom with a lot of kids. You have to look at it and say what guy is going to go into that?
But I can`t help because of what has transpired over (INAUDIBLE) how nasty this divorce battle has been. I can`t help but think that that`s just a veiled attack on Jon. That she needs someone with courage, patience, all that kind of stuff. All that stuff that Jon didn`t have.
So I think that this nastiness continues but in that clip, she was very relatable.
HAMMER: Another brand new bombshell confession Kate made was about the show where she and Jon renewed their wedding vows for the world to see. Remember that.
Let`s not forget, it was just a year ago. And now Kate`s having a tough time making sense of this to the kids.
Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOSSELIN: My kids will say to me, "When we were at your wedding" -- meaning this wedding -- "you said you would be married forever." And those are one of the hard -- that`s a really hard one. That`s hard thing to have to answer because you can`t quite explain it to kids. I have trouble explaining it to myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And even though she maintains the vows being renewed wasn`t staged, I think that just plays into the public`s perception that the show, perhaps not really reality.
We got to end it there. Leslie Marshall, Ken Baker, I do appreciate you both being here tonight.
Kate Gosselin is not the only star with shocking new confessions. Tonight, Hulk Hogan`s unbelievable brand new suicide confessions and how Muhammad Ali`s daughter saved him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think if she hadn`t, you would have pulled that trigger?
HOGAN: I don`t know. In a way, it snapped me out of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Today, for the very first time on camera, Hulk`s emotional revelations object how and why he almost killed himself.
Also, a stunning development in the Steve Phillip`s sex scandal -- you have to hear about this. Tonight, the fired ESPN anchor who slept with a younger co-worker says he needs to go to sex addiction rehab? We have to ask, sex rehab -- is it a legit excuse or it`s an excuse to behave badly.
And Jay Leno is taking on us. Why Jay has a problem with something we did. In fact, he has such a beef he even talked about it on his show.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Time now for the Showbiz News Ticker; more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, making news right now.
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(VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The wait is over. Tonight, Michael Jackson`s "This Is It" movie hits theaters worldwide.
But right now there`s a brand new controversy and it involves Michael`s dad, Joe. Is he trying to cash in on the movie?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, the great debate over making money off dead celebrities and it`s not just for Joe Jackson who made for big news breaking today.
The Michael Jackson documentary, "This Is It" is expected to be a huge hit in its limited two-week run that begins tonight. Joe Jackson is reportedly set to make as much as -- are you ready for this -- $250,000 per appearance just to introduce the film at certain locations in England. But is there anything wrong with that?
And tonight: Chris Farley back from the dead in a new DirecTV commercial. David Spade stars with his late friend but a lot of people were saying today, is this tasteless or what?
Joining me tonight in New York, Marvet Britto, who is a celebrity publicist and a founder of the Britto Agency. From Hollywood is Hyla, who`s an entertainment journalist from fivedollarprep.com.
We begin with Joe Jackson. He`s reportedly getting this six-figure dollar amount to introduce "This Is It" and tell stories about Michael. Now, we all know that Joe has taken a lot of heat before for trying to cash in on Michael so soon after his death.
Let me ask you something. Is there anything wrong with him making a few bucks off of his late son`s legacy?
MARVET BRITTO, PUBLICIST AND BRAND STRATEGIST: Undoubtedly people grieve differently, A.J. but I think the biggest issue with Joe Jackson is his decisions, his choices. You know, a lot of folks look at Joe Jackson`s behavior and they think he`s a bit opportunistic.
His character and the way from which he`s going about what he`s doing is the biggest issue. So no, I don`t think we`re upset that he`s cashing in. I think it`s the manner from which he`s doing it that is raising eyebrows.
HAMMER: And a lot of celebrities obviously make public appearances all the time and can get paid gobs and gobs of money for it. Hyla, how would Joe Jackson showing up at these screenings be any different than that in your mind?
HYLA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: There`s a huge difference. It`s because you have to look at the relationship that Joe Jackson had with Michael Jackson. If Michael Jackson left anything for his dad in the will, his dad wouldn`t have to be doing these appearances.
Obviously there was a non-relationship there. And for his dad to go in and cash in on his death behind his back is absolutely wrong. He should not be doing this. He could have been rich if he had a good relationship with his son.
HAMMER: Yes, no question about that.
Let`s move on now from Joe Jackson to David Spade. There was this raging debate today over whether Spade is helping to exploit his late friend, comedian Chris Farley. And now a brand new DirecTV commercial shows them together using footage from their cult hit movie "Tommy Boy." Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS FARLEY, COMEDIAN: Richard, is this your coat?
Don`t do it. Bad guy in a little coat.
DAVID SPADE, COMEDIAN: Great with tons of fun when I could be home watching DirecTV. No matter what I want to watch it`s in sweet, beautiful HD. But, no, I`m stuck with either cable or that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What`s happening.
SPADE: It never gets old.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out to Spade today. He tells us the commercial should be seen as a tribute to his friend saying, "When DirecTV came to me and the Farley family with this idea about "Tommy Boy" we talked and thought it would be a cool way to remind people just how funny Chris was. It is a clever homage to my friend and a move that we loved doing."
Quickly, Marvet, if David Spade and Farley`s family were okay with the making of this commercial, should we be okay with it?
BRITTO: I think we should. I think clearly David Spade was doing this commercial as a reminder to the legacy, the brilliance and the clever comedic timing of his friend. So I think that we should be ok with it if his family is ok with it.
HAMMER: And I think it`s important they`re getting these statements out there.
Marvet, Hyla, thank you.
Late today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did receive this statement from DirecTV about the Farley commercial. Here is what a representative said.
"We should look to Chris` family and friends for the ultimate opinion on the subject. They were on board with the concept from the very beginning and throughout the entire process and felt the spot was a great tribute to Chris."
Tonight, Rosie O`Donnell dropping bombshell new confessions: you won`t believe what she`s saying about Oprah.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: I called Oprah Winfrey one night, which was an error in judgment, and I don`t know that I was even coherent.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, Rosie has got this brand-new radio show she`s about to roll out. Is she really going after Oprah Winfrey? You`ll hear this coming up.
Also a stunning development in the Steve Phillips sex scandal tonight: the fired ESPN anchor who slept with a younger co-worker says he needs sex addiction rehab. We have to ask, is it a legit excuse or just an excuse to behave badly.
And would you watch a Jennifer Aniston talk show? Your unbelievable response to that question -- do you think Jen has what it takes to host her own show?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Time now for the SHOWBIZ news ticker; more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: The entire SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom was buzzing big-time when we saw the report that Jennifer Aniston might be doing a talk show for Oprah`s new cable channel. Some of our staff thought "Hey, great move Jen." Others, well, they weren`t so hot on the idea. They said Jen wouldn`t be able to pull it off.
That`s what most of our viewers think too. We asked this in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Jennifer Aniston: if she hosted a talk show, would you watch? And look at this: only 31 percent of you said yes; 69 percent said no.
Aniston`s publicist told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT all this Oprah talk show stuff, it was nonsense. He said the show and the reports of the show completely false.
But, that did not stop a fired up debate on the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page. A lot of our friends started battling it out over the "Friends" star.
Alex T writing this: "Watching Jennifer Aniston talk is like watching paint dry. The woman has absolutely nothing interesting about her."
Wow.
We heard this from Jacob S. Jacob would watch; "If Ellen DeGeneres can have a talk show, Jen should too."
What do you think? You can tell us by signing up for our Facebook page and our Twitter alerts by going to cnn.com/showbiztonight.
No talk show for Jon or Kate yet but I can tell you there`s a lot of talking going on about the new Jon and Kate episode which just aired. It`s the one where Kate took questions from viewers.
Our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Showbiz on Call" phone lines ringing nonstop about this. We heard from an anonymous caller who went off on Kate.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: She`s the most selfish person I`ve ever seen. Those poor little kids going through this on TV and everything, divorcing and she gave the dogs back. They had two dogs that the kids really loved.
She wants to be in movies. Has she had any training as an actress? This girl is an idiot.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you for your call Anonymous.
We also heard from Michelle in Michigan who went off on Jon for ripping Kate at a court battle over their money on Monday.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I think he`s regretting everything that he`s done because now he has no way to make money and Kate`s making all the money. So now he wants to be friends. I think Kate`s doing the right thing by staying away and Jon just continues to look like an idiot.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you, Michelle. Remember, the showbiz on call phone lines, they are open all the time.
This is the number: 1-888-SBT-BUZZ, 1-888-728-2899.
Here`s the showbiz lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is Showbiz True Confessions, not to be missed.
Rosie O`Donnell`s explosive claims about Oprah.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: I called Oprah Winfrey one night, which was an error in judgment. And I don`t know that I was even coherent.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, is Rosie going after Oprah? You have got to hear her incredible revelations.
Also Hulk Hogan`s startling suicide confession: today the very first time on camera, Hulk`s emotional revelations about how and why he almost killed himself.
And why the victim of the Roman Polanski sex assault is fighting his extradition back to the U.S.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the Showbiz news ticker; more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now on "Showbiz Tonight", Hulk Hogan suicide confessions. Hulk talks about Mohammad Ali`s daughter calling him while he was holding a gun thinking about taking his own life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think if she hadn`t do it, you pulled that trigger?
HOGAN: I don`t know, you know, in a way it snapped me out of it.
HAMMER: For the first time today, Hulk opens up on camera about why he seriously considered killing himself and what changed his mind.
Rosie O`Donnell`s explosive confessions from her painful childhood abuse claims to a shocking revelation about Oprah. Rosie isn`t pulling any punches.
On Steve Phillips (ph). The sportscaster fired from ESPN for having an affair with a much younger co-worker heads to rehab. Is he really a sex addict? The great debate plus more stories breaking from the "Showbiz News Ticker."
TV`s first most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minute past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, Hulk`s confession. The brand new explosive details today about Hulk Hogan almost tried to kill himself. For the very first time on camera today, Hulk opened up about how Laila Ali, the daughter of Mohammad Ali actually saved him from committing suicide. And, you are not going to believe what Hulk has to say about his ex-wife, Linda, and why he says their marriage ended in divorce.
A brand new bombshell confession from Rosie O`Donnell caught on tape. Rosie`s brand new revelation about being sexually abused and just wait until you hear about Rosie`s frantic phone call to Oprah Winfrey.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, Leslie Marshall, host of "The Leslie Marshall Radio Show". Also, from Hollywood, Ken Baker who`s the Executive News Editor for E.
Let`s begin with Hulk Hogan`s brand new interview on the today`s show this morning. He was on to promote his brand new book. It`s called "My Life Outside The Ring."
Hulk really opened up about just how close he was to killing himself after his long marriage to ex-wife, Linda (ph) unravelled. Now, Hulk describes a dramatic moment. He had a bottle of Xanax and a bottle of rum, and he was holding a gun but then the phone rang. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOGAN: The phone rang and it was Laila. She called with no agenda and she called just to say hi and check on me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think if she hadn`t do it, you pulled that trigger?
HOGAN: I don`t know, you know, in a way, it snapped me out of it. Just to hear her voice and in that moment, I switched ears, I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. She kind (INAUDIBLE) her voice say (INAUDIBLE) it really did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So, there you have it. Hulk says Laila Ali`s voice saved his life can make her (INAUDIBLE) first. Obviously, this is very shocking considering Hulk never really lead them on exactly how bad things have gotten for him personally. We knew they got bad, but wow, not like that.
BAKER: I mean, we all know that divorce is (INAUDIBLE). I mean, around that time, his son was serving time in jail. He was facing all these serious charges then it was very public, messy divorce.
It must have been really hard for him, but at the same time, I got to say here, just a little warning, I`m going to be a little bit cynical. Hulk is the ultimate showman, he`s promoting a book, and it seems like when celebrities have this sort of I reach the bottom and I climbed my way back to the top to happiness, there`s always a gun and some sort of alcohol and pills above.
I am not saying he`s making it up.
HAMMER: Right.
BAKER: I am just saying it`s very conveniently dramatic and sort of fits that formula.
HAMMER: Yes.
BAKER: And look, I love Hulk Hogan. He`s a great performer, but at the same time, he says this book is called "My Life Outside The Ring", we saw that. It was Hogan knows best, we saw that.
HAMMER: Yes.
BAKER: It was a great reality show.
HAMMER: And you make a great point, Ken, and I have to say, I have actually become scenical. I always liked Hulk Hogan and watching all the drama that unfolds over the last couple of years. When I see him now on the "Today`s Show" when he starts getting emotional, I sit back and wonder like I never did before. Is it for real or not?
Now, in this bombshell interview today, Hulk also claims his ex-wife, Linda`s alcoholism and abuse of language were the main reasons the marriage ended. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOGAN: It was tough. It was constant chaos. I was madly in love with Linda, you know, old school married to her for life, no matter what happen, for better or worse. Doing everything I could to keep the family together.
I used to brag that I was the only world`s champion that never was divorced. And, you know, I just figured no matter how bad it got, we`ll get through it, but it got to the point where everything was so negative. You know, we could not be friends with the neighbors. I could not have people over.
It got to the point where I just get sick and tired being sick and tired, and a few years before the divorce, I started praying to be happy, you know, and it got to the point where it could not go on anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I mean, Hulk sounds like he still heart broken over this.
Leslie, there hasn`t been a whole lot of sympathy form. Are you having any form right about now?
MARSHALL: Oh, I don`t know guys. I went from being cynical to feeling sappy because yes, I do feel for him. I really do.
Marriage is a lot of work especially if you have cameras in your household and especially if you`re celebrity. You know, I think the neat thing about Hogan being so open, and yes, the book deal does coincide the book selling with this, is that he`s a big tough guy. He`s a big strong guy, and even, you know, rich people, celebrities have their problems in their relationships.
The same problems that we, non-celeb and average people do, and that big, strong guy can feel like not lions, but like little mice emotionally and be made to feel that way women. I think a lot of men might identify with this.
HAMMER: Yes, but how do you feel, let me ask you this, Ken. Do you think that the sympathy factor which as I mentioned is really wane for Hulk Hogan with all the drama between his wife and his son, and all of that.
Do you think speaking out like this, he`s going to get people back?
BAKER: Yes, I think Hulk has been in the public eye for about 30 years now. He`s actually extremely popular. He has very loyal fans and I think, he`s just playing to that fan based with this book, with this interview. He`s a very emotional guy, but I am just saying, he`s an excellent showman and he really knows how to sell product, and he`s doing it now.
HAMMER: Yes, well, I want to move on now to Rosie O`Donnell and her bombshell confessions in a brand new brilliant interview with Howard Stern on his "SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio Show".
Rosie confessed that her own mother didn`t believe that her father was molesting her from the age of 6. Now, in the interview, Rosie says, "She had proof even back then," and it`s really painful to listen and hear Rosie admitting this stuff. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: Well, although I had a tremendous amount of urinary tract infections, I constantly needed to be on sulfur medication as a child. I smell like rotten eggs and whenever I would go to the doctor, the doctor would look in and say to me, "Do you touch yourself?" and I don`t know if you know, you know you have children but that doesn`t start for a child at that age.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, she has told Howard that she never into much detail before because it was always very painful for her siblings to hear this stuff.
Now, Leslie, as a fellow radio host, you know how brilliant Howard is. You know that he creates the safe space for celebrities to say things they might not otherwise say when they`re in his studio. But, separate from all that, why do you think she is saying all these right now?
MARSHALL: I think she feels safe to say it not just with Howard. She has had a point in her life where she can talk about it and I think she realizes as a parent herself and as she ages as a woman, that`s something she has to do.
There are so many children that are abused and molested by family members, and you know it`s so sad, AJ, how many parents they go to don`t believe them when the perpetrator is within the family.
I hear from people like this on my radio show all the time, and one parent won`t believe them.
HAMMER: Yes, and I always say, you know, hearing people like Rosie speaking out can certainly help other people who maybe dealing with it and don`t want to confront it. So, hopefully, it will do some good as well. I`m sure she`ll do that with her radio show.
She also confessed to calling up Oprah Winfrey in a panic after the whole tragic scene happened at Columbine High School. You got to listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: At the height of my Columbine insanity, I called Oprah Winfrey one night.
STERN: All right.
O`DONNELL: Which was an error in judgment, Howard.
STERN: Why?
O`DONNELL: First of all..
STERN: Does she not accept it?
O`DONNELL: No, she was very kind, I`ll give you that, and I don`t know that I was even coherent.
STERN: Right.
O`DONNELL: And, I was just saying you know, we could together, we could do it.
STERN: We could change the world.
O`DONNELL: Right, and she is at home in Chicago going who is this girl? And why the hell did she get and how did she get my number?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I love her for being so candid and let`s not forget, at the time, Rosie had her own talk show. She and Oprah easily two of the most influential women on TV. But, again, we hear Rosie admitting, she does always have it together.
Ken, is that really why people still continue to love Rosie because she shows you Rosie worse and all, the whole deal.
BAKER: Yes, I think it`s always an attraction to her. You know, her blog is always found one of the most read celebrity blogs because she still on us.
But, I think at the end of the day, what we`re seeing is Rosie O`Donnell, she`s 47 years old. She has children. She has gone through what she calls a crossroad with her relationship with Kelly Carpenter, and I think that she`s just sort of saying, you know what? I`m just going to be myself. I am sick of hiding. I am sick of trying to be perfect for everyone.
And, she`s just letting all hang out and it`s very refreshing actually.
HAMMER: She`s going to make her great radio when her show begins.
Leslie Marshall, I thank you, and Ken Baker, thanks as well.
All right, as we move on tonight, is Steve Phillips a sex addict?
Now, the sportscaster was fired from ESPN for having an affair with a much younger co-worker, and now, he`s headed off to rehab.
But, is he really a sex addict or he is just hiding out from all the bad publicity? Well, I had a great debate.
Also, why Jay Leno has a bone to pick with "Showbiz Tonight?" Why Jay talked about us on his show? Also, this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dead celebrities making a living on their iconic images. There`s a market worth hundreds of millions a year.
HAMMER: A SHOWBIZ special report. "Showbiz Tonight" is uncovering how much money dead celebrities are making. Michael Jackson is the latest celebrity to be profitable after his death is a big business.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN. Here comes the SHOWBIZ News Ticker. More stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom. Making news right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I am A.J. Hammer.
Tonight, guess who`s watching our show, Jay Leno.
Yes, Jay was interviewing Dr. Filder (ph). They`re talking about the balloon boy dad, Richard Heene, and Jay talked about how on Friday, we named Heene the most provocative celebrity of the week.
Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, "THE JAY LENO SHOW": You know what bothered me, I was watching, I think it was "Showbiz Today" and it says (INAUDIBLE) who`s the new, whatever, notorious celebrity of the week? Is it Hulk Hogan for his break up with the family and they had rated this guy as a celebrity, and he`s not a celebrity. He`s the guy who broke the law, why did he - he is not even (INAUDIBLE). You don`t have to be on (INAUDIBLE) you only have to think about a reality show, you could be a celebrity now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, thanks a lot, Jay. We appreciate you`re watching. One little thing it`s obviously called "Showbiz Tonight."
Provocative celebrity too, Jay.
All right, tonight, Steve Phillips confesses that he is a sex addict. He was the fired ESPN sportscaster also now heading to rehab for his sex addiction.
This latest bombshell came today just one day after we learned ESPN fired Phillips for scandalous affair with a 22-year-old co-worker and his wife has also given him the boot, but does Steve Phillips really need a trip to sex rehab or is this just the latest celebrity excuse to behave badly?
With me here in New York, Marvet Britto. She`s a celebrity publicist and brand strategist. Also, in New York is Hyla. He`s an entertainment journalist with fivedollarprep.com.
So, Today, Steve Phillips`s agent confirmed that Phillips is in rehab for sex addiction. Here`s what his agent tells the New York Post today. He said, It got to the point where he really needs help and this was the best way to do it."
He also says this to the Associated Press, "Steve Phillips is not a sleaze bag. He`s a good guy who just fell off the wagon."
All right, plenty of people cheat. They get caught, they face the music. It happens all the time, I get that. But, when a celebrity somebody like Steve Phillips cheats and more and more celebrities do it, and they blame it on sex addiction, you know, David (INAUDIBLE) anyone.
Marvet, am I missing something here or Steve part of some new celebrity sex addiction excuse epidemic?
BRITTO: Sex rehab is a PR strategy that only works if you check yourself in before you get caught. So, no, this is not a strategy that we`re going to buy.
He got caught having sex with someone other than his wife, that doesn`t make him a sex addict, it makes him a cheater.
HAMMER: Now, this may surprise you, but I`m no medical expert. However, Dr. Reef Karim is, and you got to hear what he said on CNN "AC360" about Steve Phillips making the sex addiction claim.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. REEF KARIM, PSYCHIATRIST: One of the big questions here is someone a womanizer and when is someone a sex addict. And, I don`t think we should trivialize sex addiction, I mean, I get ask almost everyday in my practice. Hey, doc, am I a sex addict? Most of the time, I say no, you`re just a jerk.
You know, you`re just a guy who`s acting out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Dr. Reef also says, "Sex addiction, it`s pretty rare." Steve Phillips, of course, could be one of those rare cases. I wish him luck in treatment if that`s the deal.
But Hyla, let me ask you from what I`ve seen. I have to wonder if Steve might suffer from being both a jerk and an addict.
HYLA: He could possibly be afflicted with both of those situations. I mean, he has a history so maybe it`s a chronic problem that he has, I don`t know. I mean, if you`re an addict, the first thing any doctor will tell you is stay away from temptation.
He obviously didn`t make an effort if you know the PA that he has to work with everyday is a hot little chick like that. So, I am not giving him any credit yet.
HAMMER: Well, back at Marvet`s theory about the whole PR strategy. My good friends over at "The View" did have plenty to say about Steve`s sex addiction claim. This morning would be asked a question that I`ve been wondering about is this more about saving his soul or saving his butt?
Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let me ask you, do you think he`d be going in there if he hadn`t been fired?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, not at all. (INAUDIBLE) nobody goes into anything unless they have to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Marvet, do you agree with Joyce? Celebrities really don`t go to rehab unless they have to go because it is part of the formula to rehab not only themselves but their careers.
BRITTO: I agree if he was taking a proactive approach and decided to check in before he got caught, and this became an explosive story, we might buy it. But, he`s doing it as a reactive act to try to save his marriage, and to save his job, and his reputation.
HAMMER: Well, he didn`t save the job, but I guess, he`s looking out for the next situation to come along.
Let`s move on now to another startling news story tonight.
The victim of the Roman Polanski`s sex assault says leave him alone and leave her alone.
It`s Samantha Geimer who was 13 when Roman Polanski dragged her and had sex with her. That was 31 years ago. Well now, she`s actually got ahead and filed some legal papers to try to stop Polanski from being extradited from Switzerland and wants the whole thing dropped.
Now, in the legal filing, she says that having to re-live this nightmare is making her physically ill and she could actually lose her job because of all the attention that she`s getting.
HYLA, don`t you think that what she wants should carry some here?
HYLA: I think that she carry most of the weight. (INAUDIBLE) in place to protect victims and right now, she`s not being protective. She wants it to go away. This seems like more of an ego thing for the authorities to try and get this guy after 30 somewhat years.
HAMMER: What do you think, Marvet? I mean, really it`s almost as if she`s being victimized twice here if they do go ahead and against her wishes.
BRITTO: I agree. She wants to not open old wounds. She wants to move pass this. You know, she wants - no one wants their past to hunt their future and that`s clearly what this is doing. She is the victim so I think her voice should be heard.
HAMMER: It will (INAUDIBLE) sensitive to that because - and I know legal expert either, but the legal experts will say this is a federal situation and it `s not really up to her.
Marvet Brito and Hyla, thank you, guys. I appreciate it.
Well, it looks like, there are going to be plenty of Kates for this Halloween.
Yes, I`m sorry to report the Kate Gosselin wig is a huge seller. Kate herself that she even thinks it`s funny even though she`s not going to see any money from it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN: COC PR e-mailed me, yes, that there was one of the hottest wigs of the Halloween season was going to be the Kate wig. But, they don`t call it the Kate wig because then of course, they have to give me some of the proceeds. So, there`s nowhere on the packaging that says my name, which I find very interesting, and no, I do not benefit from the proceeds.
I hear it`s back ordered now till the end of time, but somehow I managed to get my hands on one of them just hanging onto it for the - I don`t know, my reaction? I laughed my head off. I was like that is just plain ridiculous and I hear everywhere that there`s going to be all these (INAUDIBLE) Kates for Halloween this year. And, there had been in the past, but now there`s a wig for the one like that they line up their eight kids in strollers and whatever.
So, I think it`s funny, you know it`s humorous. I think that it`s great that people can laugh at us and with us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, back ordered till the end of time. I`m laughing right now. You better get your Kate wig or at least order it while it`s hot because Kate already says she`s thinking about what her next hairstyle should be.
So, Michael Jackson`s movie "This Is It", it`s about to open. It looks like it`s going to rake in some big, big bucks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dead celebrities making a living on their iconic images. There`s a market worth hundreds of millions a year.
HAMMER: It is a SHOWBIZ special report not to be missed. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT uncovers how much money the dead celebrities are making. Michael Jackson just the latest celebrity to be profitable after his death. This is a huge business.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN. Time now for the SHOWBIZ news ticker. More stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom. Making news right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Michael Jackson`s movie "This Is It" is already on track to make some big bucks with some showing starting at midnight tonight. Presale estimate show this thing could rake in more than $40 million through the weekend.
Well, Michael Jackson might be the latest celebrity to be profitable after his death, but he`s certainly not the only one.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is uncovering just how much money dead celebrities are making. It almost makes you want to be dead.
Your SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter with the "SHOWBIZ Special Report."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE MCQUEEN, LATE SCREEN LIVING LEGEND: You`re in my movie and on my track.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: He`s been dead for decades, but late screen legend, Steve McQueen, still finds work beyond the grave.
Inserted into ad campaigns like this one.
MCQUEEN: Good luck.
WYNTER: Dead celebrities making a living on their iconic images. There`s a market worth hundreds of millions a year says David Reader of Greenlight. His company advises heirs of celebrity estates on licensing and marketing opportunities.
DAVID READER, GREEN LIGHT: This is one we just finished last month, which is using Andy Warhol`s personality for Citibank.
WYNTER: Green Light has broker deals for clients like Andy Warhol, Steve McQueen, and Albert Einstein. Their latest addition...
READER: Bruce Lee, who we`re excited to take to market globally.
WYNTER: A concept can start with something as simple as a classic photo, like this one of McQueen from a 1960s movie set. If I wanted to license something like, how much would it cost?
READER: You know, it would cost you something in the six figures, certainly.
WYNTER: Green light`s not the only company in the business. From art work to alcohol even figurines. CMG Corporation has negotiated lucrative contracts for the estates of Marilyn Monroe, Betty Paige -
We`re talking big numbers.
WYNTER: And the legendary rebel, James Dean.
He`s one of our top clients.
WYNTER: But when it comes to the king of posthumous celebrity earners, that crown belongs to Elvis, who dominates "Forbes" annual list of top earning dead celebrities.
ROBERT SILLERMAN, CEO, CKX: Elvis will generate in 2009 between $50 million and $60 million.
WYNTER: Numbers that could easily triple next year, with the upcoming launch of an Elvis Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas, says billionaire entrepreneur, Robert Sillerman. His company, CKX, owns 85 percent of the rights to Elvis. But Sillerman says Elvis could be dethroned with the late Michael Jackson`s huge earning potential.
SILLERMAN: 2010 is going to be interesting. It`s going to be the first time that there really is a horse race with Elvis.
WYNTER: But green light`s David reader says an estate`s true test lies in a star`s staying power, how bankable their image remains over time, like this 20th century pioneer whose persona still resonates with consumers, from coffee lovers to Kobe Einstein.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, can Michael Jackson clinch the top spot from Elvis? Well, the Forbes list of top earning dead celebrities comes out on Wednesday and we will all find out with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
And, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11s, 11:00 P.M. Eastern and Pacific, and we`re on in the morning at 11:00 A.M. Eastern on HLN.
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