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Showbiz Tonight
Brand-New Makeover Madness; Beyonce Fires Back; Sharon Stone`s Unthinkable Attack on Meryl Streep; Richard Heene Blames the Police; Mariah Carey Explains Her Drunken Award Speech; The Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week
Aired January 08, 2010 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Right now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, brand-new Kate Gosselin makeover madness. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the shocking secrets of Kate`s dramatic new look and the incredible amount of money it took to get that daring do.
Plus, disturbing new claims about Kate and her kids as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, did Kate do the right thing?
Beyonce strikes back. Beyonce fires back today after getting bashed for performing for the son of a terror-backing dictator. Beyonce`s remarkable, unbelievable response.
Sharon Stone`s unthinkable attack on Meryl Streep. Why Sharon says she looks like an unmade bed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night in New York City.
And tonight, Kate`s shocking makeover secrets, we learned today just how much it cost to get the shocking makeover that many are calling the ultimate revenge against Jon. And all I can say is, wow, glad I didn`t get that bill.
But wait, there`s more. More incredible secrets about Kate`s do-over surfaced today as well as disturbing claims about the nanny who insists that she and Jon were hot-tub buddies, and it all made for big news breaking today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): You know, a new makeover is a big deal when it gets you on the cover of celebrity magazines, makes TV news -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you seen Kate Gosselin`s makeover?
HAMMER: And even sparks a major online debate. Such is life in the aftermath of Kate Gosselin`s new do.
DAPHNE BROGDON, TV GUIDE CHANNEL HOST: Of course, it`s going to get a lot of attention. This is the biggest hair change since Felicity. I mean, clearly, she`s just trying to milk it up now that she`s single.
But now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, we`re hearing some new secrets today about Kate Gosselin`s sexy new makeover. In an interview with "Radar Online," hairstylist Ted Gibson spills the beans on Kate`s new do, saying it`s worth almost $6,500. That`s one expensive makeover.
BROGDON: I wouldn`t spend $6500 on a hairdo. I think my husband would probably leave me if I did.
HAMMER: It breaks down like this. The stylist tells "Radar," hair cuts like the one he gave Kate normally go for $950. The color? About $500. And the extensions? Hang on to your hairspray, $5,000 for a grand total of roughly $6,450.
BROGDON: You got it for free, I hope. She is giving that guy a ton of advertising.
HAMMER: The hairstylist tells "Radar" he spent 20 hours with Kate and that she spent much of the time talking on the phone to her eight kids.
BROGDON: Even though she was in the chair taking care of mommy, still taking care of the kids. That`s all right. Mommy is just washing dad out of her hair.
HAMMER: But as Kate`s makeover is making headlines, the dark side of her troubled family life is also making news today. Ex-Gosselin nanny Stephanie Santoro, who earlier claimed in "In Touch" magazine to have had sex with Jon Gosselin in the family hot tub, tells "Life and Style" magazine the eight Gosselin kids are traumatized by their parents` break-up and by the end of their reality show.
CHILDREN: Of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" -
HAMMER: The ex-nanny says one of 9-year-old twins, quote, "used to cry to me that she didn`t understand the breakup and thought it was her fault." Santoro adds, quote, "Some of the younger children once asked me, `Are you going to be our new mommy?` They don`t know better."
BROGDON: I would kind of think she should keep her mouth shut about the kids.
HAMMER: But Daphne Brogdon of TV Guide Channel and "CoolMom.com" tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, maybe this particular nanny isn`t the best advocate for the Gosselin kids.
BROGDON: If you`re so concerned about the Gosselin children, maybe you shouldn`t be talking about having sex with their father.
HAMMER: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you with news about the kids` difficulties making headlines, Kate`s new makeover isn`t go over well with many SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers who have been swamping our Facebook page.
One called Kate`s makeover, quote, "Just another example of Kate `me philosophy.` She spent two years away from her kids on her book tour. Her marriage fell apart because she is a control freak. And now, she spends a fortune and many hours away from her kids again for hair extensions/makeover. Kate, be a mother to your kids and stop putting yourself ahead of your family."
But some are defending Kate`s new do.
BROGDON: Of course, moms still need to take care of themselves. Every once in a while, you`ve got to go get a color, get a mani and pedi. It`s just normal mom maintenance.
HAMMER: But TV Guide Channel`s Daphne Brogdon tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, she hopes this isn`t the last Gosselin makeover we hear about.
BROGDON: I hope the next makeover is Jon Gosselin dropping about 20, 25 - I`m not talking about the ages of the girlfriends.
HAMMER: So Kate`s look may change, but the Gosselins` ability to get people talking remains very much the same.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So will 20 hours in the stylist`s chair plus the $6,000 plus makeover add up to one big fat mess for Kate?
Joining me tonight in Hollywood is Carlos Diaz, a correspondent for "Extra." Also in Hollywood tonight, Tanika Ray who is an entertainment journalist.
And let me begin with you, Tanika. You heard what we learned today about this do. And some people are actually calling it a "don`t." Regardless of what you think, I mean, do you think it was worth the time and the money for what she got in the end here?
TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Yes. No, unfortunately, I don`t. And I don`t - Ted Gibson is a genius. He`s done Angelina Jolie`s hair and he`s a friend of mine on Facebook. Love him. But 20 hours in the hair chair?
I know it`s the recession, but it looked like she grabbed Britney Spears old tracks from her comeback at the MTV Music Awards and plopped them in her hair. Maybe it was just a bad angle on the cover of the magazine.
I understand that inside, the pictures are a little bit better. But from the cover, it just looks really cheap. It looks trashy and it just doesn`t do anything for her image.
HAMMER: Wow. Well, you tell us how you really feel. And by the way, none of us actually believe she spent that money on this, right? Let`s be clear about that.
RAY: No. I hope not.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: That`s what maybe it would cost if you went out and did it. But I don`t see her scratching that check.
RAY: No.
HAMMER: Now, let`s look at a little picture I dug up today of Kate. I had to go back in time. This is before the reality show days. Let`s compare this if we can now to Kate makeover on the cover of "People" magazine this week. Look at that - I mean, really almost unrecognizable from that first shot. Carlos, what do you think? Was the big change worth the time and perhaps the money?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": You guys are really going to Tanika Ray for hair advice?
RAY: You wish, baby.
(CROSSTALK)
DIAZ: I`m very jealous. I`m sorry.
RAY: I know.
HAMMER: That`s not the jealousy coming out there. It`s envy. The thing is on this - that`s her whole persona is her hair, her look. And she`s no longer, you know, that mom, that nurse, that wife that we once knew. She is a TV person, a TV persona. And she has to reinvent herself like everyone else on TV.
HAMMER: Look at that though.
RAY: It`s not going to happen with that hair, Carlos. She needs to stay short. She looks good with short hair. She just needs to make it modern, not like it`s from the trailer park.
DIAZ: Tanika, a lot of my very single, very straight, very sane friends think she looks very hot right now.
HAMMER: There you go.
RAY: You know, what do people do with blond hair? I got it. Yes, yes, yes.
HAMMER: Kate`s new do is not the only hair-raising new drama tonight. She`s also getting slammed by her former nanny. This is in an explosive new interview that was out today with "Life and Style" magazine.
Stephanie Santoro claims that the eight Gosselin kids are devastated and traumatized by the parents` bitter break-up. And she says Cara, who is one of the 9-year-old twins of the couple says, quote, "She used to sit and cry to me that she didn`t understand and thought it was her fault," referring to the break-up.
Now, this may not be fair, but Kate is getting some heat from people who say that she should be devoting all of her time to her kids right now, not to getting on the cover of "People" magazine, not to doing a makeover like this.
Now, Tanika, I feel as long as there is no harm to the kids, that she has every right to do this. She does have to carve out a career and make some money. Do you think people should cut her a break?
RAY: Yes. In this circumstance, this is her livelihood now. And apparently, she`s got a couple of things in the works as far as a talk show, et cetera. She`s been on book tours forever.
So this is the way she does make money so people need to get off of her back for that. I just think that maybe a little bit more time off after the holidays before she made her come back would have been a little bit more appropriate. But I do think she`s getting a lot of extra heat now.
HAMMER: Unbelievable. Every time we put the split screen up, I think we`re looking at two different people. And I`ve got to tell you, people coast to coast have been dialing into the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines, really fired up about this.
We heard from Clarke in Georgia. And Clarke called in today. She`s squarely on Kate`s side.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CLARKE, CALLER FROM GEORGIA: Kate`s hair is great. She could do her own thing and she should just be happy, being divorced and single and worry about the kids and still be a good mother. She can do both.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Carlos, are you with Clarke that Kate - you know, maybe she can do it all? Maybe the new self-proclaimed clean slate Kate could even start dating again and it sounds like you may have some candidates waiting for her.
DIAZ: I`m hoping - I`m hoping -
RAY: Carlos -
DIAZ: No -
RAY: Carlos is single.
DIAZ: The world could be a better place with Kate and I together. But no - what do you expect her to do? You want her to stay the same and, you know, I mean, stay in the house.
She needs to reinvent herself which she`s done. And I agree with Tanika. She should have waited longer but she needs to get out now and start rediscovering life. And yes, she does have the right to date again.
HAMMER: Gee, Jon is certainly taking that -
RAY: Right, Carlos, but she is the new and improved Mother Goose and that is her audience, women with kids.
HAMMER: Mother Goose -
RAY: For her to look like a Playboy bunny doesn`t do much for her image. She`s still in the wrong direction.
HAMMER: All right -
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Guys, as we move on tonight, another big story that`s breaking - Beyonce`s Gadhafi outrage. For the very first time, Beyonce is responding to all the heat that she`s been getting for performing for the son of Libya`s terror-backing dictator, Muammar Gadhafi. I`ve got to say her logic boggles my mind. Tanika, Carlos, I want you to stay right where you are.
All right. I`m thinking that Sharon Stone definitely did not do the right thing with what she just said about Meryl Streep. The outrage over Sharon`s attack on Meryl, why she says Meryl looks like an unmade bed. I mean, are you kidding me here?
And it`s Friday. You know what that means. It is time for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to name the most provocative celebrity of the week. Who`s it going to be? Perhaps Beyonce for performing for the son of terror-backing Libyan dictator, Muammar Gadhafi. Perhaps, Charlie Sheen for his domestic violence drama all week long and allegedly holding a knife to his wife`s throat. Or will the honor go to reality show train wreck, Tila Tequila for the really unbelievable way that she`s handling the death of her alleged fiancee, Hollywood heiress Casey Johnson. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Charlie Sheen ordered to appear in court next Thursday for his domestic violence arrest. Bill Paxton is considering doing a "Twister" sequel.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, "THE JAY LENO SHOW": If we did that, that would give us time to maybe do some traveling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That would be wonderful.
LENO: I understand Fox is beautiful this time of year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It really is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Certainly good to see Jay Leno with a sense of humor about his show during his show. But you know, this is serious business here. He could actually be fired.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, the Leno lunacy. While the fate of "The Jay Leno Show" remains in limbo, there are reports out there today that Leno could actually be moving to a later timeslot. Now, if this happens, Leno`s show would become a half hour and it would be followed by Conan O`Brien to round out the hour. Check out what Jay had to say about all of the speculation that his show could actually be canceled.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LENO: I don`t think there`s truth to the rumor. See, it`s always in my experience. NBC only cancels you when you`re in first place, so we`re fine. Hey, Jeff(ph), what does NBC stand for? Never believe your contract, but you know -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There was actually a time that Jay was ratings gold for NBC. And now, not so much. So how did Jay Leno go from the top dog of late night with the "Tonight Show" to being on the brink of cancellation with his new earlier show? Here`s CNN`s Tom Foreman for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the rise and fall of Jay Leno.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leno`s September move was nothing short of seismic for network TV. In an instant, he was moved from his proven base of power - five million viewers in late night - to turn NBC`s final hour of prime time every evening to talk.
LENO: I am thrilled to have you as my very first guest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, thank you.
FOREMAN: NBC thought it might reap a windfall. Talk shows are cheaper to produce than dramas. Leno could and did draw a steady stream of big names and with a large audience at that hour, big profits could follow. "L.A. Times" TV critic Mary McNamara says after a huge debut, Leno nose dived to last place.
MARY MCNAMARA, "L.A. TIMES" TV CRITIC: Yes. I mean, what did he fall from? Eighteen million tuned in for the first and then I think he dropped to what - I don`t know - seven or something within a couple of weeks. It was pretty staggering.
FOREMAN: Other networks smelled blood as popular shows and newer rivals surpassed Leno`s ratings. Soon, local TV stations across the country were nervously suggesting Leno was not leading enough viewers into their late newscast, hurting their ratings and profits.
MCNAMARA: Every single network has had one or two like really solid shows emerge and there`s, you know, NBC with egg on its face.
FOREMAN: If that were not bad enough -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s "The Tonight Show" with Conan O`Brien!
FOREMAN: Leno`s replacement, Conan O`Brien was supposed to lead the legendary "Tonight Show" into a new decade of glory, but instead, he stumbled, losing half of Leno`s former audience.
CONAN O`BRIEN, HOST, "TONIGHT SHOW": I hit my head so hard that for five seconds, I actually understood the plot of "Lost."
FOREMAN (on camera): And in almost Shakespearean twist, the late night entertainment winner has become a man who was passed over for "The Tonight Show" job years ago, David Letterman on CBS.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s "The Late Show with David Letterman!"
FOREMAN (voice-over): Letterman used to chase Leno in the ratings, but now, despite even a sex scandal, he`s pulling up to two million more viewers than Conan on any given night.
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": Now, my response to that is, yes, I have.
FOREMAN: So for NBC, the expected win-win-win - could become a lose-lose- lose. And in the high stakes world of television, that usually means call the moving van.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Tom Foreman for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. So what does NBC have to say about the possibility of Jay moving back to his late night spot?
Well, today, they released this statement, "We have the best comedy team in the business. We remain committed to keeping Conan O`Brien on NBC. He`s a valued part of our late night lineup as he has been for more than 16 years and is one of the most respected entertainers on television."
Well, as soon as I put this up on our Facebook page, our fans immediately drew lines in the late night sand. Yes, I`m talking major Leno fans, Conan fans and even some surprising suggestion of what to do with these two.
Carmen H. writing this, thinking the whole Leno at 10:00 p.m. thing was a bad idea from day one, "It was a mistake from the get-go. I love Jay but I think a lot of people just couldn`t get used to him at 10:00 p.m. I know I couldn`t."
Ryan E. is on team Jay, "Conan is the most unfunny person on TV and they should have never put Jay in prime time. That kind of show doesn`t belong in prime time. Move him back to the 11:30 spot."
But Lacey M. is on team Conan, "Jay had his run. It`s time to call it quits. How many times can we possibly watch `jaywalking?` Conan is hilarious and original."
And finally Leann R. offering up this little suggestion, "I think they should take a break from both and bring back Johnny, do re-runs of the original `Tonight Show.`" I`ve got to tell you, our Facebook fans have some very interesting ideas. Are you listening, NBC?
All right. Moving on tonight, big stars doing some big time explaining today. Beyonce, striking back after getting bashed for performing for the son of terror-backing dictator, Muammar Gadhafi. You are not going to believe her response.
And Mariah Carey doing some explaining about her drunken award speech. She was really very out of character for me.
Hey, speaking of out of line, am I hearing things here? Sharon Stone actually thinks that Meryl Streep looks like an unmade bed. And she actually said this - really, she said it. Are you kidding me?
All right. It`s Friday. That means it`s time for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to name the most provocative celebrity of the week. Who is it going to be? Maybe Beyonce for performing for the son of Muammar Gadhafi. Perhaps it will be Charlie Sheen for allegedly holding a knife to his wife`s throat. Or total mess Tila Tequila because of the way she`s been handling the death of her fiancee, Hollywood heiress, Casey Johnson. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Husband of "Real Housewives of Orange County" star Tamara Barney files for divorce. Fifty-eight-year-old "Samantha Who" star Jean Smart adopts baby girl from China.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, see if Clare(ph) left your house this morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What`s going on here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whatever. Just get back inside and wait.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get back inside!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Some "Lost" fans wanted President Obama to well - get lost. And they won. You see, the long-awaited final season premiere of the ABC show was scheduled for February 2nd. And that was one of the days that the president was considering giving his state of the union address.
Fans were scared that the show would get bumped. There was even a Facebook group, "Americans Against the State of the Union on the Same Day as `Lost.`" Well, late today, White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs said the president will not give his state of the union address on February 2nd. So "Lost" has found itself a winner and I count myself among the "Lost" fans.
Moving on, no more nude Natalie. In a revealing brand-new interview, Natalie Portman tells "Elle U.K." magazine she`s not going to take any more movie roles that would require her to be naked.
Sorry. Listen to what she says, "I`m definitely not a prude about sex or nudity. I just don`t want to do something that will end up as screen grab on a porn site."
And that`s not the only thing that Natalie says she`s given up. This is actually pretty surprising to me. Portman adds that even though she`s Jewish, she doesn`t want any more Jewish roles, "I`ve always tried to stay away from playing Jews. I get my 20 holocaust scripts a month. But I hate the genre."
Well, we`ve been getting so many posts on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page about "V" magazine`s upcoming spread featuring plus-sized models are just not done. Mostly you seem to like this idea.
Let me get to a couple of your posts. Bonnie H. writing, "I`m tired of seeing nothing about pointy, bony chins and jaw lines and bony arms and stick legs."
Crystal R. agrees, "These women are average, not plus-sized. But they are beautiful in my opinion, more beautiful than super skinny models."
Angela E. thinks this spread is a bad idea, "One of the photos is super unflattering and it only feeds into the unhealthy image America is slowly moving toward. I`m not in favor of these images."
You can join us Facebook and on Twitter for breaking entertainment news alerts. Sign up at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup. This is what we have lined up for you at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, Beyonce has got some serious explaining to do. She is firing back today after getting a lot of heat for performing for the son of terror-backing Libyan dictator, Muammar Gadhafi.
Ellen slams Simon. Yes, Ellen DeGeneres is going after her "American Idol" judge buddy and the new season of the show has not even started yet.
And the balloon boy dad causes some major fireworks today. Not only is he denying that the whole balloon thing was a hoax, he`s actually blaming the police. You`ve got to see Matt Lauer totally lose it with this guy. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Elvis fans mark what would have been his 75th birthday today. Jennifer Garner, Kate Winslet will be presenters at the Golden Globe Awards.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, everybody is explaining. Beyonce explains her controversial new year`s performance. So why did she perform at a party hosted by a member of the Gadhafi family? Wait until you hear the reason.
Plus, Mariah Carey explains her loopy, tipsy acceptance speech at an awards show.
Sharon Stone versus Meryl Streep. Tonight, why Sharon says Meryl looks like an unmade bed. Are you kidding me?
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week. Will it be Beyonce for her controversial performance? Perhaps Charlie Sheen in the wake of his domestic violence drama. Or Tila Tequila for the way she handled the death of Hollywood heiress, Casey Johnson.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT declares, explain yourself. Beyonce on Gadhafi`s payroll, Mariah tipsy and the balloon dad`s bizarre new interview. All here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT demanding, explain yourself.
OK. The Beyonce-Gadhafi concert controversy is blowing up tonight after Beyonce`s feeble attempt today to explain why she performed for the son of Libya`s dictator Muammar Gadhafi. She says, hey, you know, everyone in Hollywood is doing it. Good excuse? Beyonce, explain yourself.
Now, that was better. Mariah Carey is also stumbling over herself to explain away her tipsy acceptance speech at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Why is she talking about it so much, though? She was tipsy - big (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Let`s try it again, guys, Mariah, explain yourself.
OK. That will be it. The balloon dad, Richard Heene, has some serious explaining to do today after a bizarre, disjointed interview on NBC`s "Today" show this morning saying, "Wait a second, I`m innocent. I didn`t hoax America. The sheriff did."
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra." Also tonight, from Hollywood, Tanika Ray, who is an entertainment journalist.
OK, guys. Time for Beyonce to explain herself. There was sheer outrage when reports spread that Beyonce performed for at least $1 million on New Year`s Eve for who? Muammar Gadhafi`s son.
Now, Beyonce today explains herself for the very first time. Here`s what she said, "Hey, you know, everyone does it." This is exactly what she was saying, "Past performance in St. Barts have included Timbaland, Enrique Iglesias and Mariah Carey. Guests at this year`s party included Usher, Lindsay Lohan and Russell Simmons.
Carlos, I`m looking at that thinking - and as much as I love Beyonce, this is no explanation. This is an excuse.
DIAZ: This is brilliant on Beyonce`s part. It`s the but-mom excuse, "But mom, Usher was there, and Mariah has done it. Come on."
I give her credit because very few things rhyme with Muammar Gadhafi. So if you`re going to work him into a song, it`s a challenge right there. But still, not a very good excuse on her part.
HAMMER: Yes. You have to call him Gadhafi and say, "Wacky Gadhafi." That`s pretty much the only way to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the rhyming issue there.
Well, the first report said Beyonce performed for Gadhafi`s son, Hannibal. Now, Beyonce raced to clarify that. Today, she said, "No, no, no. It was one of his other sons, you know, the one who isn`t a violent criminal." Oh, OK. Tanika, now I get it. Actually -
RAY: I get it.
HAMMER: No, I don`t get it at all. It`s still the son of Muammar Gadhafi. Do you think we should let her off the hook?
RAY: Yes. Come on, she made a grip of money to perform on New Year`s Eve. She`s a musical artist, a superstar, an international superstar at that. She`s not going to discriminate against everybody enjoying a little bit of her bootyliciousness.
She`s what everybody loves. They want to see her. She`s a big star. I don`t think it really matters. She`s not a political person. She`s completely an artiste and the people loved it. So let`s get over it. Next.
HAMMER: I don`t know - I really - I`ve got to tell you, I think, you know, and again, against the backdrop of "I love you Beyonce," but I think you can pick and choose much more carefully, particularly when you are Beyonce and you certainly are not doing it for the money.
As I mentioned, Beyonce said Mariah Carey was among those who have also performed for Gadhafi`s son. That was part of that explaining.
RAY: Right.
HAMMER: Mariah did that in the past. But you know, Mariah`s got her own headache right now. And I may mean that literally. Mariah needs to explain herself as well.
And she is trying to explain that tipsy - and I have to say pretty funny - acceptance speech at the Palm Springs International Film Festival after winning an award for her amazing performance in the movie, "Precious." And her speech - it was precious. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIAH CAREY, SINGER AND ACTRESS: Please forgive me because I`m a little bit - yes. Oh, my goodness.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Now, she`s trying to explain her way out of it saying she had too much champagne and people need to understand that she`s got a sense of humor. And I`m thinking, you know what? Mariah, it was funny, don`t worry about it. Carlos, are you with me?
RAY: Yes.
DIAZ: The response that I have of that, Mariah, is, "Oh, my goodness." No, here`s the thing. Mariah, you didn`t have a splash of champagne. You had a little too much champagne. But you know what, that`s not illegal. That`s not illegal. You can come out and go, "Yes. You know what? I was tipsy. I was a little drunk. I was a lot drunk." None of that is illegal. You`re an adult. You can do that. But to say you had chemistry problems -
RAY: Hey, Carlos, don`t forget -
DIAZ: Yes, go ahead. Go ahead, Tanika.
RAY: This is really important that people now think of her as an actress in "Precious," an Oscar-worthy film, versus "Glitter."
DIAZ: Yes. That`s good -
RAY: That`s a lot of reasons to celebrate with lots of bottles of champagne.
HAMMER: Anything to put "Glitter" behind her is reason to have a bottle bubba gas me.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: Mariah did go on to say that she was in a celebrating mood because she won the award. Listen to what she said, "We were really just celebrating the movie. There`s a time for celebration, and a time for not." OK, excusing the grammar there - "But it`s kind of like a party atmosphere," is what she goes on to say, "but they trick you."
Now, Tanika, I think you have to agree that Mariah doesn`t really have to explain what happened here. I think she`s making a big deal out of something that she should probably let go. And again, against the backdrop of "I love you Mariah" and this is why I`m saying this.
RAY: Yes. You have to understand, Mariah used to be so careful about her image and mostly before she went crazy a couple of years ago. But she`s very careful about what side you see her on and how she speaks.
And I think with Lee Daniels help in doing this role in "Precious," she`s really let go of all of that. She`s in love and she`s not fearful of anything except for maybe she`s having some issues about her own issues with kind of being out there and exposing herself.
So you know what, Mariah, just go for it. Get over it. Nobody is talking about it except for you. So celebrate and have a good time.
HAMMER: I have a feeling at the Golden Globes, which is notorious for acceptance speeches ...
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: ... especially like that - I have a feeling she actually will probably be kind of reserved. All right. Let`s move on because ...
RAY: I hope not.
HAMMER: ... Richard Heene has some big explaining to do as well. The balloon dad will go to jail on Monday. Can we applaud, by the way? For hoaxing American into thinking that his son was trapped in that runaway balloon. He actually admitted to the whole thing as we all know.
Now, he`s saying, "Oh, no. Wait a second. I didn`t do it." Hello. Heene says it`s the police who have lied. And in an interview this morning on the "Today" show, Matt Lauer - good for him - he wasn`t buying it. Roll that, Charles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT LAUER, CO-HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: Do you think there`s nothing you did to deserve this jail sentence you`re going to start serving on Monday?
RICHARD HEENE, FATHER OF THE "BALLOON BOY": I have done absolutely nothing wrong to deserve this. I`m being persecuted I think for the benefit of Alderden. His term runs out in 2011. He`s probably going to run for governor. Who knows? But not off my back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Can we applaud one more time that he`s going to jail on Monday? Carlos, off to you. Richard Heene has got to be the lamest explainer of them all. Do I have that right?
DIAZ: That guy makes - he makes my blood boil. And you know what? I want to applaud Matt Lauer, too, by the way. Brilliant job in this interview ...
RAY: Yes.
DIAZ: ... for not losing his cool. I`ve watched the whole thing and Matt was as fair as you can be in this interview. And Richard Heene just comes off looking like a jackass for lack of a better word.
But here`s my thing - if everyone is against you, what about the thousands of dollars and man hours that you put that entire police force up against. And if everyone`s against you, why did you, in an emotional plea in court, say that you were guilty and apologize to everyone involved in court in a very emotional way. That was an act? This guy - you know what? He needs to be in jail longer than 30 to 90 days.
HAMMER: Yes. Tanika, it sounds like you`re in agreement with that.
RAY: I just think we should stop talking about him, because I think he just flips his opinion according to what`s going to get him camera time. And he`s really still working for that reality show. Go away. Go to jail.
DIAZ: Tanika, that is brilliant, because if we stop talking about it, that is the worst punishment he can get, if we stop talking about this guy.
RAY: Stop.
HAMMER: I wonder if they send balloons into jail, you know, as a -out-soon gift or something like that. Carlos Diaz, Tanika Ray, thank you very much. I`ll have to look into that.
All right. Moving on, I could not believe my ears when I hear this, Sharon Stone going after one of the greatest actresses ever to live. Sharon actually said that Meryl Streep looks like an unmade bed. Her words, not mind, and I`m saying, are you kidding me? What on earth would make her say something like that?
Also Ellen DeGeneres versus Simon Cowell. Hey, it was bound to happen. Ellen`s "Idol" season hasn`t even started yet. Already, the name calling has begun. I`m going to tell you what Ellen said about Simon.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week. Are you ready? Will it be Beyonce for her controversial New Year`s Eve performance at a party hosted by a member of the Gadhafi family. Maybe Charlie Sheen in the wake of his domestic violence drama. Or perhaps Tila Tequila, the train wreck, for the way that she handled the death of Hollywood heiress, Casey Johnson. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Here comes the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker." These are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: FX strikes a deal to get basic cable rights for "Avatar." Tobey Maguire psyched for "Spiderman 4" despite production delay.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Take a look at Amanda Bynes. Look, she`s all grown up. Amanda was the child star of the Nickelodeon show, "All That." But get a load of this. Now, she`s on the cover of the February issue of "Maxim" magazine. She certainly has grown up.
Amanda says she knows that some people will still see her as a kid. But she is 23 now and she has had the best time during the photo shoot which is obviously very sexy. The issue of "Maxim" magazine will be on sale January 11th.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, it is smack down city and all of the name-calling is just brutal from Sharon Stone versus Meryl Streep to Ellen DeGeneres versus Simon Cowell. And it`s all in the buzz today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: It`s the Ellen-Simon smackdown. Ellen DeGeneres is calling Simon Cowell mean in a brand-new interview with the "Wall Street Journal." The newest "American Idol" judge accuses Simon of saying things in an insensitive way on "Idol."
Ellen also warns that she`s not going to be as positive or warm and fuzzy as Paula Abdul was, saying, quote, "I don`t think it helps anybody to be encouraged and not told the truth." The new season of "Idol" starts next week.
The Sharon Stone-Meryl Streep smackdown. In a startling interview with "Tattler" magazine, the 51-year-old Stone says the 60-year-old Streep looks like, quote, an unmade bed. Stone says that`s why Streep gets so much work because people can relate to her.
Stone doesn`t mention that perhaps Streep`s 15 Oscar nominations have something to do with her getting so much work. Stone has been nominated once.
Bye-bye Hannah Montana -
MILEY CYRUS, ACTRESS AND SINGER: I was afraid -
HAMMER: Disney has reportedly just revealed that Miley Cyrus will walk away from the TV show that made her a teenage superstar after the upcoming fourth season so she can move on beyond her teen-bopper image.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So many celebrity feuds in the buzz today. Let`s kick it off with Sharon Stone smackdown of Meryl Streep. Joining me tonight in New York is Ben Widdicombe who is an entertainment journalist. Also tonight in New York is Rachel Zalis, who is a contributing editor for "Life and Style Weekly."
All right. I want to read to you exactly what Sharon Stone said about Meryl Streep to the U.K. magazine, "Tattler." She said, "I think that`s why Meryl Streep is working so much, because she looks like a woman we can all relate to. Meryl looks like an unmade bed."
Now, Sharon doesn`t say that maybe the reason Meryl Streep works so much is because she`s a great actress with a record 15 Oscar nominations. What do you think, Ben? Did Sharon Stone just stick her foot in her mouth here?
BEN WIDDICOMBE, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Well, you know, we all love interviewing Sharon Stone because she really is crazy. She looks like the most ridiculous thing.
HAMMER: That`s true.
WIDDICOMBE: But you know, to unpick her argument, she seems to be saying, "I was too beautiful to get `Sophie`s Choice.` I was too beautiful to get `Mamma Mia.` It`s because I don`t look like an unmade bed. I don`t get this fantastic roles." Face it, Sharon. Meryl gets the roles because she`s a better actress than you are.
HAMMER: Yes. And also just wasn`t a wise choice of words, I think. "Unmade bed" - it`s a little harsh. Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did reach out to Meryl Streep to see what she had to say about Stone`s slam. We haven`t heard back as of show time. Rachel, doesn`t Sharon`s comment just show a lack of - oh, I don`t know - basic instinct?
RACHEL ZALIS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "LIFE AND STYLE WEEKLY": Oh, absolutely. I mean, I think we can rename her Sharon Stone-cold. I mean, that was a back-handed compliment, if I ever heard one.
And it`s so true. I mean, Meryl is not successful because of that. It is because she is the best actress we have today. She can act her socks off and, you know, there is obviously a little bitterness there.
HAMMER: Well, no question about it - one of the finest actresses on the planet. Let`s move on to another big buzzed-about story today - Ellen DeGeneres slamming Simon Cowell before they get to sit down together at the judges` table on "American Idol."
Now, in a new interview just out today in the "Wall Street Journal," here`s what Ellen says, "I think he`s mean and I think he says things in an insensitive way and I don`t think that`s the way to get the point across. I`ve called him on it to his face. I`ll do the same thing to him on "Idol."
What do you think, Ben? The new season of "Idol" is about to fire up next week. Do you think Ellen has kind of lit the fuse here?
WIDDICOMBE: I think everyone is going to watch it. They want to see what Ellen`s going to be like and how she interacts with Simon. But the thing about Simon is that he`s always right.
It`s his show. He brought the concept over from the U.K. And if he was just mean, if he was gratuitously nice, no one would watch. Whenever he has an opinion, even when he`s harsh, he`s right.
HAMMER: And the show has got to love this. I mean, Rachel, are you with me that, you know, Simon is sitting there saying, "Wow, this is terrific"? Or do you think possibly maybe he`s already missing Paula Abdul.
ZALIS: Well, I mean, I think we`re all going to miss Paula because her feuds with him were sort of nonsensical and incoherent. That`s what made it so fun. Ellen actually makes sense.
He is mean and insensitive and Simon takes it as a compliment. Where would that show be without him being that way? I mean, he`s worth hundreds of millions of dollars because that`s his persona and he`s giving Ellen a chance to actually be a judge on that show.
HAMMER: Do you think it`s really calculated, Ben, that she`s out there poking at him?
WIDDICOMBE: No.
HAMMER: Because - I don`t know. Ellen doesn`t seem like she would even play that game.
WIDDICOMBE: Oh, absolutely. She wants to generate buzz for her debut on the show. I mean, she gave this interview to the "Wall Street Journal," for heaven`s sake. I mean, everyone wants to know, from the tabloids to the "Wall Street Journal," what`s going to happen next week on "Idol." And Ellen is just stoking these flames.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, here`s one thing. I`ll be watching. I know you will, too. All right. Another big buzzed-about story today - goodbye, Hannah Montana. The Disney Channel did confirm today for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Miley Cyrus will begin taping her last episodes of "Hannah Montana" in 10 days.
Now, the episodes are going to air through next spring. Ben, back to you. It is time for Miley to move on from this. I mean, it`s been a great run, but she does need to grow up and allow herself to grow up.
WIDDICOMBE: Well, I hope it`s the right move for her. I`m reminded when Hillary Duff left "Lizzie McGuire," she left every contract negotiations. She said they weren`t paying her enough. Then she kind of regretted it.
So I hope Miley doesn`t fall into that trap. Having said that, this show has made Miley a global superstar, one of biggest acts in the world. So I think it is time for her to mature and maybe, you know, she`ll have that career in her 20s that she has in her teens.
HAMMER: Perhaps, she will. What do you think, Rachel? I mean, look, this has been a long time coming. She`s been trying to bust out of her shell for really what feels like more than a year at this point. Do you think this is a good move?
ZALIS: Absolutely. I mean, I think that every, you know, young girl`s career or point in her career, she has to make that move. And Miley has sort of been working on that over the course of the year with the "Vanity Fair" spread, you know, the pole-dancing at the music awards, dressing a little sexier.
She`s actually just finished a role in Nicholas Sparks` film. So I think she`s really trying to make that, you know, graduation to the next level.
HAMMER: Well, I hope it goes smoothly for her. We know sometimes this can be a very bumpy road. All right. Right now, I have to move on to what everybody is waiting for. We have the nominees for the most provocative celebrity of the week for you to ponder.
Who could it be? Will it be Beyonce for performing for Muammar Gadhafi`s son? Is it perhaps Charlie Sheen for the domestic violence drama with his wife? Or perhaps the train wreck known as Tila Tequila on the way that she`s been acting since the death of her fiancee, Casey Johnson. Ben Widdicombe, Rachel Zalis, stay right there.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Directors Guild nominations for best feature: "The Hurt Locker," "Up in the Air." Nods also go to "Precious," "Avatar" and "Inglorious Basterds."
HAMMER: It is time now for "Making It Work." This is where take at Hollywood couples in the spotlight. Now, tonight, Jennifer Lopez waxes poetic on marriage. In a brand-new interview with "Latina" magazine, J. Lo says after two failed marriages, she thinks she now knows what it takes to make it work.
Lopez has been married to Marc Anthony since 2004. They have twins who turn two next month. Two already - hard to believe.
She said this, "You have to put as much work into your relationships as you do into anything else. We put so much into our careers, but there`s also a lot of work that goes into making a successful partnership and marriage. It`s not easy."
For more with J. Lo, pick up the February issue of "Latina" magazine.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week. Who will it be - Beyonce for performing on New Year`s Ever for the son of Libyan dictator, Muammar Gadhafi? Maybe Charlie Sheen for the fallout this week from his arrest on domestic violence charges? Or perhaps, Tila Tequila for her bizarre behavior following the death of her fiancee, Hollywood heiress Casey Johnson?
Well, the first week of 2010 certainly has been very provocative. But of course, only one celebrity will be given the honor, if you will, of being named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week.
So let`s get right to it. Drum, roll, please. Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to name Charlie Sheen the most provocative celebrity of the week.
Actually, I don`t know if we should be applauding for him. Back with me tonight in New York, Ben Widdicombe, who is an entertainment journalist. Rachel Zalis, who is a contributing editor for "Life and Style Weekly."
Ben, it was a pretty tough call this week. What do you think? Did we get it right?
WIDDICOMBE: You know what? I don`t think the Charlie Sheen story is that fascinating. I think it`s very cut-and-dry. I think Brooke needs to get out of that marriage. She`s got two kids. If he did what she accused him of doing, of holding a knife to her throat, she just has to go.
I`m fascinated, however, by the Tila Tequila story. I think it`s very fresh. It`s very modern. You have a collusion of Internet celebrity with old-line east coast money.
We have a huge amount at stake. Somebody actually died here, remember? And we have this bit players like Nikki Hilton and Bijou Phillips coming to collect the dogs in the middle of the day. Now, believe me, when Bijou Phillips is running an intervention, you`re in trouble.
HAMMER: Yes.
WIDDICOMBE: So I`m fascinated by Tequila.
HAMMER: But just the fact that we even can call Tila Tequila celebrity - actually, that`s pretty upsetting to me. What do you think, Rachel? I mean, listen, Charlie Sheen certainly a provocative celebrity - he has been for a long time.
ZALIS: I totally disagree. We expect bad behavior from both Charlie and Tila. But Beyonce? I mean, this woman is always pitch-perfect. And boy, did she hit a wrong note. She has more money than anything.
Why does she need $2 million to be associated with a family like the Gadhafis? The dad, a cruel dictator. The son has a history of violent incidents and abuse. I just - it`s unthinkable to me that she would want to be associated with that.
HAMMER: Well, as Rachel mentions, Ben, you know, Charlie Sheen certainly has been a provocative celebrity for a long time. He`s been a bad boy for a long time. In terms of this, in terms of what he`s going through now, dealing with the domestic violence, do you think this is the last of this controversial fallout, or do you think there`s a lot more to come and he`s got a pretty dark road ahead?
WIDDICOMBE: Well, as you know in Hollywood, the proof is in the pudding, and those are ratings. So it remains to be seen whether the audience will stick by him or that they`ll leave his show. We know that Hanes dropped the ads that they were using with him in.
It comes down to the ratings. If the audience stays with the show, then he will surf past this. If they leave the show, then this will be blamed for his downfall.
HAMMER: Rachel, what do you think about that? Ben makes a good point. You know, Charlie still hanging in there even though Hanes has dropped him. He has sort of had this coating of Teflon on him before.
ZALIS: Yes.
HAMMER: But it`s all going to be up to the audience, isn`t it?
ZALIS: I don`t know. I mean, with Tiger Woods and that story out there, Charlie looks like chump change. But he survived so many things in his life - you know, drug abuse, hiring hookers, you know, all those explosive allegations between him and Denise Richards.
HAMMER: Yes.
ZALIS: So I think he`s sort of a lovable guy in a weird way and people want to forgive him.
HAMMER: Very weird and always has been. All right. We`re going to end it there. Rachel Zalis, Ben Widdicombe, thank you both for being here tonight.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
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