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Showbiz Tonight
Adam Lambert Strikes Back; The Diet Secret of the Stars; Lady Gaga Writes a Song to Save Dad`s Life
Aired November 25, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST: Right now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Adam Lambert strikes back. Tonight, Adam`s brand-new explosive claims about his sex- filled performance at the American Music Awards. Adam goes on national TV this morning and suggests he is being singled out because he`s gay. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is right there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADAM LAMBERT, "AMERICAN IDOL" RUNNER-UP: They probably just got nervous because it`s not very common to see that kind of thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And did Adam today really blame parents for letting their kids watch his raunchy performance?
Tonight, star diet secrets, just in time for Thanksgiving - Marie Osmond, Valerie Bertinelli, Sherri Shepherd. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals how they dropped so much weight. It`s a must-see SHOWBIZ special report, "The Diet Secrets of the Stars."
Talking turkey. The outrageous new controversy today over an ad featuring a little girl saying grace at the Thanksgiving dinner table.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: And when the turkey gets killed by people who think it`s fun to stomp on their little turkey heads.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the outrageous ad that is really ruffling feathers.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, Adam strikes back. Adam Lambert went on national television first thing today and made explosive new claims about his outrageous sex-filled performance at the American Music Awards.
Fresh from ABC canceling his planned performance today on "Good Morning America," Adam went right over to the competition this morning. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there at the CBS "Early Show" as Lambert claimed he`s getting heat in part because he`s gay.
He also suggested today that parents bear some of the blame for their kids seeing his sexually-suggestive act. But that was just the start of it, and it made for big news breaking today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAMBERT: I`m not a baby-sitter. I`m a performer.
ANDERSON (voice-over): An unapologetic Adam Lambert appeared on CBS` "The Early Show" this morning to answer the red-hot controversy over his red-hot performance at the American Music Awards.
(MUSIC)
Things got rough for Adam Lambert after he kissed one guy and simulated oral sex with another during his live TV performance. And this morning, not only did Lambert not apologize...
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ, CBS "THE EARLY SHOW" CO-ANCHOR: If you had a do- over, would you do anything differently?
LAMBERT: I would sing it a little bit better.
ANDERSON (voice-over): He bashed the backlash against him saying he is being held to a double standard because he`s a gay man.
LAMBERT: I think if it had been a female pop performer doing the moves that were on the stage, I don`t think there would be nearly as much of an outrage at all.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there at CBS "Early Show" studio in New York for Lambert`s big interview where some of the die-hard Lambert fans told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that, controversy or not, they are with Adam all the way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t think people are treating him fair about it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s Adam. You know, he is not for everybody, but he`s for me.
BRITTANY KAPLAN, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT PRODUCER: People came from Japan, from Pakistan, from Florida, from Philadelphia and from Long Island. People were cutting school and everything. And they were there just to see him and to support him.
ANDERSON: After this interview, Lambert gave SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brittany Kaplan his take on the uproar he caused.
LAMBERT: You know, for me, it has something to do with the fact that I`m a guy and there was some guy-on-guy action. They probably just got nervous because it`s not very common to see that kind of thing.
ANDERSON: ABC says Lambert`s risque performance the American Music Awards drew an estimated 1,500 complaints. Lambert is now being slammed by parents` groups. The whole uproar led ABC`s "Good Morning America" to cancel this morning`s interview with Lambert.
LAMBERT: I do see how people got offended and that was not my intention.
ANDERSON: "The Early Show" on CBS quickly snapped him up. And Lambert told Maggie Rodriguez this morning that many of his provocative moves Sunday night were not rehearsed. He says he just got carried away.
LAMBERT: I was look out in the crowd and saw some of my favorite pop stars and thought, "I want to let loose." And it just kind of got the best of me."
ANDERSON: And for those who are upset because kids may have been watching his racy performance, Lambert sang a tune in the key of "not my problem."
LAMBERT: I think it`s up to a parent to watch the television. It was almost 11:00 at night. If they are concerned with certain material, maybe TiVo it and preview it before your small child is watching.
RODRIGUEZ: I think that`s it`s a no-brainer to have him come on and answer the criticism against him.
ANDERSON: "The Early Show`s" Maggie Rodriguez tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that her show was happy to have Lambert after "Good Morning America" bailed on him.
As for Lambert`s contention that he is being singled out for criticism because he is gay, Rodriguez says the controversy might be broader than that.
RODRIGUEZ: The criticism that I have heard leveled against Adam has more to do with the venue, the fact that he did that on broadcast television where families and young kids were potentially watching...
ANDERSON: Whether this new controversy ends up doing any damage to Lambert`s image and career is still up in the air. But one thing is for certain about this unapologetically provocative new star, no one is calling him soft and sweet now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: So did Adam Lambert do himself any favors today and will it help him win back anyone he offended with his raunchy performance?
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Tanika Ray, who is an entertainment journalist. And from Chicago, Hyla who is an entertainment journalist with "5DollarPrep.com."
Tanika, Hyla, I have been one of the most vocal critics of the disgusting performance Adam did at the American Music Awards. I just thought it was trash and I`m really disgusted that he did not apologize today. Tanika, your thoughts? What do you think? TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: As an artist, you never apologize for what you do in your performance. So I agree with him on that note. However, I do think he`s deflecting the blame a little bit and he was saying all the right things.
If you recall back a couple of years when Janet accidentally exposed her boobs, it was the same thing, "It was an accident. I don`t know how it happened." And I think him saying it was impromptu - it`s just not a cool thing to start off the gate saying things like that.
HYLA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST, "5DOLLARPREP.COM": But was he supposed to apologize for? His job...
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Are you kidding me, Hyla? What is he supposed to apologize for? Did you see it on Sunday night?
RAY: It`s a little much. It`s a little much. I love him...
(CROSSTALK)
HYLA: Listen, the performance itself was horrible, but it turns up being offended - that`s his job. He has to sell records.
RAY: Absolutely.
HYLA: Kanye West offends every single day and he is one of the biggest artists on the planet.
(CROSSTALK)
RAY: Absolutely. ANDERSON: But it was the AMAs when kids were watching, Hyla.
HYLA: Eminem, too, is another good example.
ANDERSON: And it was over the top. Do you not think he needs to apologize for that?
RAY: No.
HYLA: I really don`t. It`s his job. His job is to put on a show and if that offends people...
ANDERSON: All right. Congratulations. Hyla, congratulations. This is moral degradation at its finest.
RAY: You`re fired tonight.
ANDERSON: Call me what you will, but it`s shameful. You don`t agree?
(CROSSTALK)
Hyla, go. You go, Hyla.
HYLA: Eva Longoria was naked on "Desperate Housewives" every Sunday night. "NYPD Blue" had Andy Sipowicz` bum on the TV at the exact same time slot on the same network. There was a lot of things that happened that could be called controversial or it could be called inappropriate. But why - because of him, all of a sudden we`re getting all loud about it.
ANDERSON: Well, because he`s from "American Idol" and kids loved him. Parents let them watch him on "American Idol."
RAY: That`s it.
ANDERSON: It was unexpected. Tanika?
RAY: Yes. That`s the biggest component here is that he came from "American Idol," the sweet little show where you had these kids competing to be stars. And that`s the shocking thing.
Now, there`s a little something called "mystery" that goes a long way in this industry. And he knocked mystery out the water. There was nothing left. There was no place for him to go because he put all his chips right there on the table. And I just feel like...
HYLA: Is he not allowed to grow outside of "Idol?" Or does he always have to stay within that box? Let`s be real.
RAY: No, he can grow...
ANDERSON: Grow in this way? Please.
RAY: There`s no place to grow.
ANDERSON: And it didn`t cross his mind - he also said that it didn`t cross his mind that children would be watching. Give me a break.
(CROSSTALK)
And you know what? Part of the interview that absolutely blew me away today was when Adam took some of the parents who were offended by his performance to task for keeping their kids up late.
So wait a minute. Is he saying that parents are to blame? Stay right where you are. We will be back in just 30 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We`re back now with Adam Lambert`s brand-new interview this morning on the CBS "Early Show." I`ve got to tell you, I was a little perplexed by Adam placing some of the blame on parents for allowing their kids to watch his raunchy act on the AMAs. Watch what he said when he was asked if he felt he needed to apologize.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAMBERT: It`s up to the parents to discern what the child is watching on television.
RODRIGUEZ: Well, but they had no idea they were about to see something like that on TV.
LAMBERT: And you know, just to play devil`s advocate with you, Lady Gaga, smashing whiskey bottles, Janet Jackson grabbing male dancer`s crotch. Eminem talked about how Slim Shady has 17 rapes under his belt.
There is a lot of very adult material on the AMAs this year. And I know I was not the only one.
RODRIGUEZ: So you don`t feel that it`s your responsibility...
LAMBERT: I`m not a babysitter.
RODRIGUEZ: ... to issue an apology.
LAMBERT: I`m not a babysitter. I`m a performer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Wait a second. I don`t get that. He`s saying that the parents are to blame. Yes, I do agree that parents are ultimately responsible for monitoring what their kids watch. But the AMAs - yes, they are edgy, but they`re not known for this sort of filth, this sort of raunch.
Hyla, how could parents have known he was going to do what he did? That`s a ridiculous argument to me.
HYLA: First of all, the guy on guy kiss shouldn`t be an issue. That`s a non-issue. The oral sex simulation...
ANDERSON: I agree with you.
HYLA: A kid is not going to know what that is.
ANDERSON: It`s not about the kiss. It`s about the performance as a whole. I agree with you. Go ahead.
HYLA: The oral sex thing - only the parents can understand what`s happening at that moment. So who are we really offending? Who is being affected by this? Not the kids. They don`t understand what that is.
RAY: True.
ANDERSON: Yes, they do. Some of them do, Hyla. I don`t think that makes sense. And to have them exposed to this or going to start asking questions - it`s just terrible. I really wish he would have apologized today.
OK. Tanika Ray, Hyla, thanks, guys. Happy Thanksgiving.
Yes. And now, we want to hear from you. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Adam Lambert`s Racy Performance: Best career move ever?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Now, Adam says that a lot of this controversy boils down to one thing - his sexuality.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RODRIGUEZ: Do you think it`s because you are male or do you think it`s because you are gay?
LAMBERT: Both. I think it`s a double whammy, because I`m a gay male. I think that people haven`t seen that before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So is Adam taking the heat because he`s gay? Could there be some truth to that? Tonight, we`ve got the fired-up debate.
Diet secrets of the stars. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals how these stars drop the pounds and just in time for Thanksgiving, too. It`s a SHOWBIZ special report.
We`ll also have this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: Dear God, thank you for the turkey we are about to eat and for the turkey farms where they pack them into dark, tiny little sheds for their whole lives. Thank you for when they burn their feathers off while they are still alive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Major controversy today over a shocking PETA ad that features a little girl who is talking turkey. That`s pretty brutal. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Nicole Kidman`s rep says pregnancy rumors are "not true." Roman Polanski wins bail in Switzerland but is still in jail for now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
And tonight, tough turkey talk. Did you see this? The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has a startling message for you before you carve up your holiday bird.
It`s a disturbing new ad featuring a young girl describing horrible abuse against turkeys. It`s enough to make your head spin.
And if that`s not enough, one restaurant in New York is serving up drunken turkey. Forget grandma`s bread crumb stuffing. This bird is huffed up on 100-proof vodka.
This is Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT talking turkey.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What do you get when you shoot up a turkey with injections of vodka?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, that`s roughly called eating and drinking at the same time.
MOOS: But before we talk turkey laced with vodka, talk about the PETA ad you will not see on NBC on the Thanksgiving Day parade.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: Dear God, thank you for the turkey we are about to eat and for the turkey farms where they pack them into dark, tiny little sheds for their whole lives. Thank you for when they burn their feathers off while they`re still alive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So anti-Thanksgiving. You know what I mean?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: And for when the turkey gets killed by people who think it`s fun to stomp on their little turkey heads.
MOOS (on camera): Honestly, you thought that NBC might actually put this on in the middle of a Thanksgiving parade?
MICHAEL MCGRAW, DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS, PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS: Absolutely.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: And especially for all the chemicals and dirt and poop that`s in the turkey we`re about to eat.
MOOS (voice-over): You`re calling that dirty? NBC says it didn`t reject the ad, but it would consider airing it in certain time periods, but evidently not Thanksgiving morning. Other networks have refused it, though two local stations in Virginia and Arkansas are airing it.
MCGRAW: This ad was specifically designed with kids in mind to give them a little bit of courage on Thanksgiving to say, "You know what? I would rather not have the turkey."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: Oh, and thank you for rainbows. Amen.
MOOS: We`ll drink to that with turkeys injected with 100-proof vodka.
(on camera): I feel like I`m impregnating the turkey.
(voice-over): It`s become a tradition at O`Casey`s Irish restaurant in midtown Manhattan to marinate the turkey for three days in flavored vodkas, injecting vodka and herbs into the bird about three times a day.
(on camera): The geyser. That would be the equivalent of having of how much - like a couple of drinks?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it wasn`t really - unless you`re going to devour the whole turkey.
MOOS: But what`s the point?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it`s just something different.
MOOS (voice-over): And it`s supposed to taste sweeter.
(on camera): It`s just moist and good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
MOOS: But I mean, I don`t taste (UNINTELLIGIBLE). At least they had a good drink before they eat them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a smile on their face.
MOOS: Where is their face, though?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would have to go to the kitchen...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And I can tell you that tipsy turkey is going to have plenty of company. The New York restaurant that is serving it up is booked solid for Thanksgiving; 125 people expected for dinner. And the chef recommends one drink with the big meal - vodka martinis, of course.
OK. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines ringing off the hook with people calling in about Adam Lambert`s racy performance on the AMAs. People are really fired up over this controversy today.
We got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Chris in Georgia who says that all the uproar is because Adam is gay.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CHRIS, CALLER FROM GEORGIA: I am not really offended by his performance. I`m a gay guy. I think there is a double standard. And seeing another guy kiss a man on stage to me is no different than seeing half naked women perform in the same way. So yes, there is a double standard.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thanks, Chris. We also heard from Mimi calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Canada. Mimi says Adam has lost her as a fan.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MIMI, CALLER FROM CANADA: I used to watch "American Idol" and I really liked that guy. But since I saw this on TV, I will never buy the CD from this man. Never.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Mimi. Call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about this or anything else that is on your mind. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines, open 24/7 - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
Tonight, Adam Lambert strikes back. In a brand-new interview today, Adam suggested that all the uproar over his racy performance is just because he`s gay. Is there any truth to that? Or is Adam just making excuses for a performance that so many parents say was just too over the top? The great debate.
First, she announced that she is ending her show. And now, another bombshell from Oprah. And let me tell you, this latest bombshell is going to devastate her fans. And wait until you hear this.
Plus get ready for one of the coolest videos you have ever seen, The Muppets do Queen.
(MUSIC)
I cannot wait to show you the rest of this. The Muppets take on "The Bohemian Rhapsody." Mama mia. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
The "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: FX acquires basic cable rights to "Twilight" series after its first run on Showtime. "Twilight" star Taylor Lautner is on the cover of "Rolling Stone" magazine.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you the can`t-miss, must-see holiday films everybody is going to be talking about. We`ve got the movies that you may want to put on your Thanksgiving to-do list.
Joining me tonight with her holiday picks and pans is "People" magazine`s film critic, Leah Rozen.
Hey, Leah, let`s kick this thing off with "Old Dogs." Not only a family film, a family affair. It stars John Travolta, wife Kelly Preston and their daughter, Ella Bleu. Now, should people flock to see this? Or is "Old Dogs" a dog of a movie?
LEAH ROZEN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE FILM CRITIC: This is one is a huge dog of a movie. This one stinks worse than a basset hound that has been rolling around in pig manure for a week.
ANDERSON: Oh, no!
ROZEN: I mean, Brooke - totally skippable. This is falsely sentimental filled with pratt falls, filled with poop jokes. And it`s - you know, with Travolta and Robin Williams, it`s like "The Three Stooges" minus one. I should say, though, a young boy sitting directly in front of me was laughing so hard his chair rocked.
ANDERSON: Well, then, there is your audience. OK. Next up, let`s move to "The Road." Certainly, on the opposite end of the family fun spectrum. Even though it`s dark, post-apocalyptic saga, you`ve got to think it`s a pretty darn good choice for folks this holiday. Why?
ROZEN: This is, you know, one of your quality films that`s based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Cormac McCarthy friends that I think was also an Oprah Book Club selection. But it`s a pretty dark, grim vision as a father and son ...
ANDERSON: Yes.
ROZEN: ... after some sort of apocalypse are sort of trudging along, trying to survive. The father trying to teach the son, you know, important life lessons. Viggo Mortensen is very good in it. The film, indeed, has its glimpse of humor and humanity. But this is not a cheerful little holiday film.
ANDERSON: Yes. I read the book and it is very dismal and hopeless. But compelling as well. Lea Rozen, thank you so much. Always goes to see you.
ROZEN: You`re welcome.
ANDERSON: And for more "Picks and Pans," you can pick up a copy of "People" magazine on newsstands now.
And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Adam Lambert says a lot of this controversy over his racy performance is because of his sexuality.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RODRIGUEZ: Do you think it`s because you are male? Or do you think it`s because you`re gay?
LAMBERT: Both. I think it`s a double whammy. I think it`s because I`m a gay male. And I think people haven`t seen that before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So is Adam taking the heat because he`s gay? Could there be some truth to that? We`ve got the fired-up debate.
And diet secrets of the stars. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals how these stars drop the pounds - just in time for Thanksgiving, too. It`s a SHOWBIZ special report.
And Lady Gaga speaks out about her father`s open heart surgery, how Gaga convinced him to get the surgery with one of her songs. You won`t want to miss this. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now...
TEXT: Jennifer Hudson performs at President Obama`s first state dinner. France`s first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy to appear in next Woody Allen film.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RODRIGUEZ: Do you think it`s because you are male? Or do you think it`s because you`re gay?
LAMBERT: Both. I think it`s a double whammy. Frankly, it`s because I`m a gay male. And I think people haven`t seen that before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Right now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Adam Lambert`s suggestion today that he is being slammed for a shocking AMA performance, his same-sex kiss and because he`s gay. Tonight, it`s the all out debate over smooch- gate.
Shocking star diet secrets just in time for Thanksgiving. Marie Osmond, Valerie Bertinelli and Sherri Shepherd. How did they lose all those pounds? It`s a not-to-be-missed SHOWBIZ special report.
And it`s time to raise the curtain on the Muppets doing Queen tonight.
(MUSIC)
Did you can see this? The unbelievably awesome brand-new video of the Muppets singing "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now. .
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
And tonight, it`s the Adam Lambert smooch-gate debate. Adam Lambert kissed a man and so much more in his sexually-charged performance at the American Music Awards. And it`s sparking a fired-up debate that made for big news breaking today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RODRIGUEZ: Do you think it`s because you are male? Or do you think it`s because you`re gay?
LAMBERT: Both. I think it`s a double whammy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: In a brand-new interview today, Adam Lambert tells the CBS "Early Show" he is being blasted for his shocking sex performance because he`s gay. Is that a fair claim or does Lambert need to clean up his act?
Lambert also made some lammy claims saying the provocative parts of his sex-laden performance were impromptu and gave no apology for his bombastic behavior.
Well, his fans are speaking out tonight. Wait until you hear the explosive response to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day when we asked, "Was Lambert`s same-sex Kiss too hot for TV?"
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Tanika Ray who is an entertainment journalist. And tonight in Chicago, Hyla who is an entertainment journalist from "5DollarPrep.com."
Tanika, Hyla, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there this morning as Lambert gave his controversial interview with the CBS "Early Show." We caught up with him behind the scenes where he told us that being gay has everything to do with the backlash from his AMA performance. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAMBERT: Well, you know, it probably has something to do with the fact that I`m a guy and the fact that there`s some guy-on-guy action. They probably just got nervous because it`s not very common to see that kind of thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Hyla, do you think that`s a fair statement for Lambert to make? I saw his performance. I don`t think it had anything to do with him being gay. To me, it was just plain inappropriate.
HYLA: I`ve got to disagree with you, Brooke. I think a lot of it has to do with that he`s a male and that he`s gay. Because when Madonna and Britney and Christina did this at the VMAs - yes, we buzzed about it, but there wasn`t a controversy about it.
For some reason, when he kisses another guy, everyone goes up in arms. And you see that in the question that Maggie asked on CBS which I thought was inappropriate, saying, "What if parents tuned in and they didn`t know this was going to happen." She shouldn`t even be perpetuating this idea.
ANDERSON: Christina, Britney and Madonna did not put other people`s heads in their crotches and did not do all these other raunchy moves, Hyla. It`s different.
HYLA: That`s a fair question to pose. Was that inappropriate? The guy-on-guy kissing, absolutely not - there shouldn`t be a controversy about that.
But with the oral sex stimulation - listen, if you are 11 years old, you don`t even know what`s going on right there. It`s not until someone makes a big deal about it that it`s brought to your face.
RAY: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: You shouldn`t have to be exposed to that.
HYLA: So who are we really offending here?
ANDERSON: Tanika, what do you think about all of this?
RAY: Well, I do. I think that Adam might be a little off base thinking it`s just because he`s gay. I think it is compound...
ANDERSON: A little?
RAY: Yes. I think it`s the whole package. It`s the simulated oral sex. It`s the leashes. It`s the girl dragging her across the stage. It`s grabbing the crotch. It`s sort of the whole equation.
And I think he just kind of got himself a little too deep in this water. I understand he is so excited to make his debut. He`s been trying for so long to be a celebrity and be a star and be an artist. And I think he just kind of went a little too far into the deep end a little too soon.
ANDERSON: You think? Yes, the overall performance was just gross. And it`s about decency. It`s not about whether he is gay, straight, or bisexual. And we asked...
HYLA: I do agree with you.
RAY: Yes, those parents loved him on "American Idol."
HYLA: I do agree that the performance sucked.
ANDERSON: And the performance was terrible. And we`ll get to that in just a second. We did ask about the great gay smooch-gate debate in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. "Adam Lambert: Was his same-sex kiss too hot for TV?" The poll results came in late today. Fifty-nine percent said yes; 41 percent said no.
And there was a raging debate on our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines. Kelly from Wisconsin says it was no big whoop.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KELLY, CALLER FROM WISCONSIN: I don`t see what the difference is. I mean, Madonna and Britney Spears did it. And honestly, it doesn`t matter what he does. He is who he is. I mean, people need to realize that people need to be who they are.
ANDERSON: Thank you, Kelly. But Toni from Alabama doesn`t agree. He says Lambert stepped way over the line.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
TONI, CALLER FROM ALABAMA: I feel like Lambert dropped the ball on this one. It was a disappointment. He is such a talented singer. He focused more on promoting homosexuality than his music and that`s how I was looking to hear. I think he really, really disappointed a lot of fans. I`m one of them.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Toni. Hyla, to Toni`s point, is Adam making a huge mistake focusing on the gay issue? Because it really wasn`t about the kiss.
HYLA: I don`t think he is. You know, controversy sells records. You can go as far back as Elvis or the Beatles or talk about present day Kanye West and Britney Spears.
At the end of the day, this is going to help him sell records. The people that are fans of his are going to go out and buy two of them just to make up for anyone who doesn`t like him anymore. So I think he`s going to be OK.
ANDERSON: I think he probably alienated more people than he attracted, but maybe that`s just me. In his brand-new interview today on the CBS "Early Show," Lambert basically stood up to all of his critics out there and said, "Hey, back off." He said he wasn`t the only who did something provocative on stage at the AMAs. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAMBERT: Just to play devil`s advocate with you - Lady Gaga, smashing whiskey bottles, Janet Jackson grabbed a male dancer`s crotch. Eminem talked about how Slim Shady has 17 rapes under his belt. There was a lot of very adult material on the AMAs this year. And know I wasn`t the only one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I think Adam really comparing apples and oranges here. His performance to me was so much worse than what the others did. Adam is a rookie fresh off second place on "American Idol," completely inexperienced.
RAY: Yes.
ANDERSON: And it shows. Tanika, I really think Adam is trying to deflect criticism here. What do you think?
RAY: He did. I mean - and that`s the main issue. These other artists rose up in the ranks of stardom the real way. They really earned their stripes. Whereas Adam was on sort of a Disney-esque pop show that was somewhat G-rated.
And so for him to think that he has the same rights as artists that have paved the way, that have earned their stripes, it`s just not true. He`s got to really earn America`s and the world`s trust as an artist, and then, maybe four albums down the road, be super outrageous.
But to come up the gate first this way - crazy. Everything on line - I just think it`s a little too much for people to handle. It`s in the fire. Way too much.
(CROSSTALK)
HYLA: As an artist, he has the right to do that.
RAY: And I appreciate - I love - look, I would be the first person to say an artist has the right to do whatever they want. But then, after seeing the entire show, after hearing him say that everything was impromptu on stage which we know is not the case ...
HYLA: I agree with you there.
RAY: ... I just feel like he`s ruined it for the people that really were rooting for him.
ANDERSON: Yes, how do you explain that, Tanika? He said it was the adrenaline. It was all unplanned.
RAY: Let me tell you something, Brooke.
ANDERSON: I`m not buying that.
RAY: Brooke, I used to be a dancer with artist from Diddy to Aaliyah to the Backstreet Boys. Nothing that happens on stage is by accident. Not one sound of their voice, not one look to the left. Everything is planned out to a tee.
This is live television and it`s his debut. Trust me, it was all well-planned out. So I`m a little bummed that he is taking that position.
ANDERSON: Yes. So basically, you are saying he was lying there?
RAY: Fibbing? All celebrities fib. Trust me. I`ve been on the other side of that microphone. They all fib. They all do.
ANDERSON: He is stretching the truth a little bit maybe.
RAY: Yes. Yes.
HYLA: It`s showbiz.
ANDERSON: You know, if he wants this racy, edgy thing to be part of his M.O., I say that`s fine. Just maybe save it for your private concert, not the AMAs for crying out loud.
RAY: Yes.
ANDERSON: Tanika Ray, Hyla, good to see you. Thank you both so much.
And now, we want to hear from you. We have been asking to you vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. "Adam Lambert`s Racy Performance: Best career move ever?" Keep voting, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, with Thanksgiving here, you definitely don`t want to miss this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIE OSMOND, SINGER AND ACTRESS: I can climb stairs and run and do things I thought I would never do at age 50. I am 50. I am the female F- word, 50.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Shocking star diet secrets revealed today. Marie Osmond, Valerie Bertinelli, Sherri Shepherd - how did they lose all those pounds? It`s a not-to-be-missed SHOWBIZ special report.
Also making news right now, just after Oprah shocked us all by revealing she is ending her show, another big Oprah bombshell. This one is going to devastate her fans again.
And I think this may get you off the sofa and dancing. Check it out.
(MUSIC)
Did you see this? It`s the Muppets doing an amazing version of the Queen`s classic, "Bohemian Rhapsody." Whether you are young or old, I guarantee, this will have you smiling. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Miley Cyrus says "Twilight" is no "Party in the USA!" Miley Cyrus says "Twilight" is "like a cult" and people get "too into it." He gets the cheesy trophy! Donny Osmond wins "Dancing with the Stars."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: Hey, that`s not Freddie Mercury. That`s Freddie Muppet. Did you see this? I cannot wait to play this for you. The Muppets do the Queen classic, "Bohemian Rhapsody" in just a minute.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Tonight, star diet secrets. Thanksgiving is here so let the binging begin. But wait, not everyone is taking part in the feeding frenzy. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and "More" magazine have teamed up to bring you the top women over 40 who have dropped the pounds and kept them off.
From Valerie Bertinelli to Sherri Shepherd, these women are showing the world that you can take control of your weight and keep it off. So how did they do it? It`s our "More" magazine SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): They`re gorgeous, over 40 and they`ve all struggled with their weight and lost the pounds.
SUSAN SWIMMER, "MORE" MAGAZINE: These are very strong women. Sherri Shepherd, Marie Osmond, Valerie Bertinelli. I mean, they are sticking to it. They have the gumption to get there.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has teamed up with "More" magazine to bring you some of the most celebrated women over 40 who are conquering their weight loss battles one day at a time.
America`s sweetheart, Valerie Bertinelli, is inspiring women around the world with her amazing weight loss story.
SWIMMER: Valerie Bertinelli hit mid-life and a little bell went off in her head. And she said, "You know what? I love a slice of pizza, but I love myself more." And it really got her going.
ANDERSON: She stunned the world when she revealed this bikini body after losing a whopping 47 pounds on Jenny Craig.
VALERIE BERTINELLI, ACTRESS: I haven`t worn one of these in almost 30 years.
ANDERSON: But Valerie tells Oprah after losing all that weight, it`s still hard for her to believe she actually did it.
BERTINELLI: I`m still kind of wow, is this really happening? Am I going to be able to do this? I really think I got it conquered this time. But I won`t know if I conquered maintenance until the day I die.
ANDERSON: Susan Swimmer from "More" magazine tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Valerie`s story is powerful because so many women can relate.
SWIMMER: I think it ignites a passion in real women to maybe do the same. But also, I think it shows their human side. I mean, there is nothing more universal than the struggle with the weight.
ANDERSON: Marie Osmond struggled with her weight for years. And when she signed up for "Dancing with the Stars," lost the weight before our eyes. That`s why she is making SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and "More" Magazine`s list of women over 40 dropping the pounds.
SWIMMER: Marie Osmond said that she realized she`s been carrying 45 extra pounds on her frame for years. Her knees were starting to ache. She wanted to make a change.
ANDERSON: So Marie joined the Nutri System program, became a spokesperson and lost an incredible 50 pounds. She tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she`s never felt better.
OSMOND: I can climb stairs and run and do things I thought I would never do at age 50. I`m 50. The female F-word, 50. And so, you know, I feel fantastic. I feel better now than I did in my 30s.
ANDERSON: Talk show host and rocker wife Sharon Osbourne says the same. She lost 125 pounds, adding her to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and "More" magazine`s list.
SWIMMER: Sharon Osbourne has admitted to having gastric bypass surgery as well as having a number of plastic surgery procedures. But she looks great. And she says she still struggles with it.
ANDERSON: New to the weight loss club is "View" co-host, Sherri Shepherd who, in August, revealed her brand-new bathing suit body on "The View."
SWIMMER: Sherri Shepherd says she sort of backed into that, that she had been, you know, wanting to lose weight for a long time. And she sort of accidentally blurted it out to her producer that she could go on air in a bathing suit. It was a do-or-die moment for her.
(APPLAUSE)
ANDERSON: Sherry said she decided to lose the weight to show women anyone can do it even if you don`t have the flock of trainers and nutritionists most celebrities have.
SHEPHERD: I just wanted to show people that you didn`t have to do anything crazy. You just have to make some choices and exercise and, you know, weight would drop off.
SWIMMER: When you get 40, it`s the time you say, "This is about me. I am taking myself back. I am the only who is looking out for me. And so I`m going to make it happen. I think all of these women have done that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Also on "More" magazine`s list of fat women over 40 dropping the pounds, Star Jones who lost 160 pounds with gastric bypass, comedienne Mo`Nique who exercised away 40 pounds, the Brady Bunch`s Marcia Brady - Maureen McCormick - who lost 34 pounds on "Celebrity Fit Club" and Cosby mom Phylicia Rashad who lost 35 pounds on Jenny Craig.
You can read more about star weight loss secrets in the latest copy of "More" magazine. It`s on newsstands now.
OK. What I`m about to show you is so much fun. Did you see this? The Muppets sing the classic Queen song, "Bohemian Rhapsody." So it`s time to play the music. It`s time to light the lights. It`s time to watch this fun, brand-new video that everybody is talking about today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: Fun, right? All right. Tonight Lady Gaga is revealing startling new information about her sick father. You`ve got to hear what she just told Ellen and the dramatic step Gaga took to save her dad`s life. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "Curb Your Enthusiasm" finale with "Seinfeld" cast best-rated episode in five years. "American Idol" returns to Fox on January 12th, "24" is back on January 17th.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Because of everything that you did, obviously, nobody can repay you. But I wanted to at least try with a few of my favorite things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This was one of my favorite things, Oprah`s "Favorite Things" show. But oh no, is Oprah`s "Favorite Things" show now a thing of the past? You know, Oprah usually does a "Favorite Things" show around this time of year. She would surprise her audiences with all kinds of things - electronics, appliances - you name it. And of course, everybody would go nuts.
Well, tonight, I can tell you that Oprah is not doing a "Favorite Things" show this year. An "Oprah" employee tells the "Huffington Post" that there are no plans to do the show this season. Bummer. But Oprah`s still got time to do a "Favorite Things" show one more time next year before she signs off in 2011.
ANDERSON: Tonight, Lady Gaga`s shocking confessions about her sick father. Gaga is going to be on "Ellen" this Friday. But we got a look at her brand-new interview today. And she really opens up about how her new song, "Speechless," was her dramatic plea to her dad to save his own life. Take a listen to what she tells Ellen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": Your dad just had open heart surgery, right?
LADY GAGA, SINGER: He had open heart surgery. He had an aortic valve transplant. And I was on the road and I was having a lot of trouble missing my parents and wanted to be with my dad. So I wrote this song, "Speechless," for him to sort of to beg him to get this surgery and it worked.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Gaga says that her dad has had a heart condition for 15 years and that he`s been very stubborn, hasn`t wanted to get surgery. Well, she wrote "Speechless" to convince him to get the heart surgery, and as Gaga says, it worked.
You can see more of Lady Gaga`s interview with Ellen this Friday. As they say, check your local listings.
OK. I just checked the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page. And boy, by far, this Adam Lambert controversy has gotten the most posts on our Facebook wall than any topic ever.
Blaire B. writes, "Parents should know about who their kids are listening to. Give me a break! Definitely a double standard."
But Melissa P. fires back, "It`s stupid to say that it`s the parents` fault because they didn`t know how Adam Lambert was going to perform that night. He is just starting in the biz and he is from `American Idol` which a lot of kids love to watch, so he should have been more careful."
And finally, Marie W. adds that Adam`s singing is the thing she`s most fired-up about, "His performance was horrible and his voice sounded like nails on a chalkboard. He uses being gay as the issue when his performance is the issue. Horrible is horrible! He did what he did for the attention and now, doesn`t like the comments or the attention that he`s getting. He can`t have his cake and eat it, too."
Sign up for our Facebook fan page and Twitter breaking entertainment news alerts at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. We want to hear from you.
And that is a wrap for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for spending a little bit of time with us. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, also in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern right here on HLN. Take care.
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