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Showbiz Tonight
Casey Anthony Soap Opera; Jackson Family Revelations
Aired June 22, 2011 - 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: Tonight, the disturbing changing phases of Casey Anthony.
Plus, the stunning split for George Clooney.
I`m A.J. Hammer. This SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): More big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. The unbelievable Casey Anthony soap opera. The shocking new wave in trial is playing out like a daytime drama. The startling claim that Casey stole the story of her defense from another inmate and a puzzling mystery of who Little Caylee`s father is.
La Toya Jackson on the two-year anniversary of her brother, Michael`s death. Her bombshell revelations about him and her own abusive marriage. Latoya right here in a revealing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Newsmaker Interview.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks brilliance or bananas?
Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo will televise their wedding.
Brad Pitt takes Angelina Jolie to the same restaurant he took Jennifer Aniston. So, now, we want to know. Is it brilliant or bananas?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (on-camera): Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking. Tonight, the Casey Anthony soap opera. The trial of the young mom accused of killing her adorable two-year-old daughter abruptly came to a halt today, but not before explosive new twists and turns were revealed that seriously have taken this legal battle into new territory.
Report of a mistress. A fellow inmate with an eerily similar story, and the mystery of her Little Caylee`s real dad. All mind boggling developments on their own all added ingredients too and already put in mix of tragedy and spectacle. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Casey Anthony, the stranger than fiction daytime drama.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): TV`s soap operas are getting cancelled left and right these days, but now, TV viewers looking for twists, turns, and out of the blue surprises are tuning in to the murder trial of Casey Anthony, who`s accused of killing her two-year-old daughter, Caylee.
SUNNY HOSTIN, TRUTV LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION": I`ve been surprised by every single day of this trial.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, today, the Casey Anthony trial is seeing more dramatic revelations in one day than Susan Lucci has seen in 20 years. There`s a surprise figure who may blow a big hole in the defense. There`s bombshell potential testimony from a woman who allegedly had an affair with Casey`s dad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that fair to say, you had an affair with George Anthony?
KRYSTAL HOLLOWAY, CLAIMS SHE HAD AFFAIR WITH GEORGE ANTHONY: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An intimate affair?
HOLLOWAY: An intimate affair.
HAMMER: And there`s that lingering paternity cliffhanger, who is Little Caylee`s father? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, the soap opera that is Casey Anthony trial continues to shock.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was telling the judge they`re investigating a woman who spent time in jail with the defendant.
HAMMER: Today, trial watchers are buzzing about a new character to emerge in this Casey Anthony drama. April Waylen spent some time in the same Florida jail that housed Casey Anthony. An attorney say, she has an interesting story.
HOSTIN: Apparently, her little boy did drown in a pool, and her father found the little boy. So, that sounds very familiar.
HAMMER: Sounds familiar because Casey`s defense is claiming that Little Caylee drowned in the family pool and was found by Casey`s father. Now, the April Waylen development has everyone is asking, could Casey have heard about what happened to her jail mate`s child and is now trying to pass off that story as her own?
HOSTIN: We know that she does this. She gets little pieces of information and then fabricates these huge stories. So many people are saying is this another one of Casey`s fabrications?
HAMMER: The new inmate development is definitely worthy of a soap opera, and what`s a soap opera without a mistress?
HOSTIN: I was waiting for a mistress to be part of this story, right, like everyone else and low and behold, the mistress is part of the story.
HAMMER: The alleged mistress in question, Krystal Holloway, who depending on the day, claims she had an affair with Casey`s father, George.
HOSTIN: At one point, she said that they didn`t have a relationship. And then, she sold her story and now is saying they did have a relationship. So, who knows?
HAMMER: Casey`s attorneys have subpoenaed Holloway to testify about something she claimed George told her about Caylee`s death. Holloway shared that claim with a local affiliate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did George tell you about that?
HOLLOWAY: That it was an accident. That snowballed out of control.
HAMMER: If true, that would appear jibe with the whole swimming pool drowning scenario the defense has been spinning since literally day one of the trial.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said it was an accident. That snowballed out of control.
HAMMER: And then, there`s the one mystery in this trial that may never get solved. Who is Caylee`s father?
HOSTIN: No one really knows who Caylee`s father is. At one point, Casey Anthony said her father died. No one really knows what that is about.
HAMMER: With Casey, herself, not exactly providing many answers to the fatherhood question, we`re seeing a lot of online traffic devoted to speculation about Caylee`s mystery dad. One of the many puzzles we`ve seen in this trial.
HOSTIN: It`s just such a murder mystery that I think people want to know all the little pieces.
HAMMER: Unsolvable mysteries and ever expanding cast of characters, and always another surprise around the corner. These are just some of the things that make this real life soap opera impossible to turn away from.
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HAMMER (on-camera): And no one is turning away from this real-life soap opera. The obsession with the story just keeps on growing stronger. You cannot turn the channel, you can`t go online without seeing the very latest on this case. Joining me now, "People" magazine`s, Steve Helling who`s in Orlando covering the trial. With me in New York, it`s Midwin Charles who`s an attorney with Midwin Charles and Associates.
All right. I want to get right to the exploding fascination with Casey Anthony trial with so many people are saying has more twists and turns than a real life soap opera. Steve, we`re looking at the cover of the brand-new issue of "People" magazine. There she is right there on the cover of your issue. Now, "People" has always had its finger on the pulse of everything in pop culture. I got to know what are the elements of this murder case that make it into such a huge cover story for you, guys?
STEVE HELLING, WRITER, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: Well, you know, this is one of those mysteries that we would normally see on TV, but this is happening in real life. There`s life and death here. There`s a girl who was a cute party girl who has maybe killed an adorable child. It doesn`t get any more dramatic than that, and, believe me, our readers are eating it up. They`re buying the magazine. They`re fascinated by everything that happened.
HAMMER: And they`re talking about it so much online. There`s a big debate tonight all about whether or not Casey Anthony has actually become a celebrity. Let`s face it. She`s on camera eight hours a day. Millions of people are watching her on TV and online. Steve, obviously, this is a very touchy area, but do you think Casey is, in fact, a celebrity?
HELLING: Yes. Casey Anthony is a celebrity. We`re not saying she`s a role model. We`re not saying you want your daughter to grow up to be like her, but she`s a celebrity. She gets more air time than Kim Kardashian. And, you know, when we`re watching her, you know, we wonder what`s going through her mind.
And celebrity in crime is nothing new. There`s a reason why you know who Lorena Bobbitt is or who the Menendez Brothers are or who Lizzie Borden was a hundred years ago, because crime makes celebrity.
HAMMER: Yes, you`re right, and it`s nothing new. We`ve seen this before. Midwin, you certainly know all about how high profile trials draw the spotlight to accuse -- criminals like Casey, like Steve was just mentioning. As turmoil (ph) the notion is, can we deny that this case is, in fact, making her a celebrity?
MIDWIN CHARLES, MIDWIN CHARLES & ASSOCIATES: I don`t know if it`s making her a celebrity. That is not a term that I throw around as loosely as some people do. Is she widely recognized? Yes. Do people know who she is? Yes. Celebrity, not so much. Only because it`s a term that I ascribe to someone who has a talent or a skill that makes --
HAMMER: Certainly. And I think that is really the greater debate, the definition of celebrity. And quite frankly, if you look in Merriam Webster`s, it says someone who is well known, but it also says as a separate decision, someone who is celebrated. So, I think there`s a fine line here.
CHARLES: Right. I mean, think of Andrea Yates who killed five of her children. She drowned them. We all know who she is. We were all horrified by that crime. A celebrity? I don`t think so, but widely recognized for what she did, yes.
HAMMER: And let me make it perfectly clear, neither I nor my show has any interest in casting anything positive in terms of the word celebrity on somebody like Casey Anthony. One thing that is very disturbing to me is the way Casey seems to be carrying herself as she stands trial. It seems like every day, we`re seeing a new side of her, a new face from her.
We`ve seen her crying, we`ve seen her laughing, we`ve seen her angry. Today, she even looked bored. Steve, what are the many faces of Casey revealing about herself to the jury and to the world in your mind?
HELLING: Well, you know, the jury, I`m sitting close to the jury and I`m watching their faces, and they`re looking over at Casey Anthony trying to figure out what`s going on in her head. And, you know, when she looks bored, sometimes, she looks like this isn`t happening to her. This is happening to someone else, and the jury notices it. You know, we`ve seen her cry, but mostly, we`re just seeing a stone face that just isn`t interested in the proceedings, and that`s fascinating to people.
HAMMER: Well, today, we`re also hearing about some potentially explosive testimony from a woman who allegedly had an affair with Casey`s dad. The alleged mistress is expected to take the stand as soon as tomorrow. And now, Midwin, a lot of people are saying the whole thing could blow up and maybe, just maybe, Casey could wind up being acquitted. Based on what we know so far, what are your thoughts on the chances of that actually taking place?
CHARLES: Well, being acquitted for first degree murder, which is one of the most serious charges she`s facing, remember, she`s facing several others as well, I think it`s likely -- remember, the prosecution came into this trial never having a slam dunk, right? No eyewitness, no confession. I mean, there were so many things that were missing. It was never a slam dunk for them. And I don`t know right now whether they have proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
HAMMER: Boy, will there be outrage, though. All right. Steve, Midwin, thank you very much. Make sure you pick up the brand new copy of "People" magazine which is on newsstands this Friday and make sure you stay with HLN for continuing coverage of the latest developments in the Casey Anthony murder trial.
All right. We got to move on tonight. We have outrages new star stories ahead and asking (ph), brilliance or bananas?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): Brad Pitt reportedly takes Angelina Jolie on a hot date to the same place he used to romance Jennifer Aniston. Is it brilliant or bananas?
Nick Lachey, Vanessa Minnillo, they`re televising their wedding? You do remember what happened with Nick and his ex, Jessica Simpson, when they decided to film their marriage. Yes, now, they`re exes. Is it brilliant or bananas?
And a shocking split for George Clooney. This surprises me. Why he`s single again, coming up.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
Time now for the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
BLAKE SHELTON, SINGER: I just want to be the one that gets in the best jabs on my coaches, you know? It has nothing to do with the artist. I just want to make fun of, you know, Cee Lo dressing like a peacock, you know, and Adam`s hair looks like max head room and Christina`s boobs being all over the map, you know? If i can get those kind of jabs in, I`m a happy man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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HAMMER: That is the one and only La Toya Jackson right there in the recording studio with her brand new song "Starting Over." The song accompanies her new tell-all book all about her life and her very famous family.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, remembering Michael. This Saturday marks two years since the tragic death of the singing legend, Michael Jackson. Tonight, we`re finding out how Michael`s sister, La Toya, is holding up as we get close to this emotional anniversary. With me in New York tonight for a "Showbiz Newsmaker Interview," La Toya Jackson. It`s terrific to have you here in person.
LA TOYA JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S SISTER: Well, thank you.
HAMMER: Unbelievable. Hard to imagine that it`s two years already. And your book, La Toya, is so incredible with so many ups and downs that you`ve gone through in your life. You speak very candidly. And you dedicate the book to Michael. I want to read the dedication. "I dedicate this book to my brother, Michael. I love you with all my heart. I felt your pain, and I lived your pain." That stuck out to me. What did you mean by you lives his pain?
JACKSON: I lived his pain by meaning what I lived through in my marriage for nearly ten years, the abuse, and people taking control of your life and things of that nature. Basically, that`s what happened to him, as well.
HAMMER: Yes.
JACKSON: So, I lived his pain, I understood that.
HAMMER: The amount we saw him he talked about, people trying to control him --
JACKSON: Yes.
HAMMER: And also watching it happen, which was a very difficult thing for us as fans so I can only imagine as his sister.
JACKSON: Absolutely. Knowing that they were doing this.
HAMMER: And obviously, Michael`s passing was extraordinarily difficult for you. Are you doing anything special to commemorate his passing?
JACKSON: Yes. It`s very private what the family is doing, and we want to keep it that way. Yes, but we are, yes.
HAMMER: How are you doing?
JACKSON: Everybody`s holding up pretty well, which is really amazing. It`s great, but it`s so sad. And like you said, it`s two years, and it doesn`t seem like two years. It comes around so fast. And gees, I just wish he was still here with us.
HAMMER: Yes. I do, too. And it`s funny -- not funny, just strangely odd that I remember it like it was yesterday.
JACKSON: Yes.
HAMMER: It`s actually, you know, somebody who covered it and was right there on the front lines of the story.
JACKSON: Oh, yes.
HAMMER: It`s just amazing to me. That`s two years. You talk a lot about Michael and how he confided in you that he feared assassination by people who wanted to steal from his estate. Let me read something that you say Michael told you. "La Toya, they want my catalogue. They want my publishing. They`ll do whatever it takes to get it. They`re going to kill me."
And you also said these revelations caused you to be paranoid and actually dreaded the sight of seeing breaking news on TV because you feared it could actually be news about Michael. It sounded like you actually believed that he truly thought he was going to be murdered.
JACKSON: Oh, no, I did. When he first told me, A.J., I -- to be honest, I didn`t believe it. I said, Michael, come on. You`re Michael Jackson. Who in the world would do this? Nobody would try to kill you. I mean, it would be world news, and everybody would know about it. They`re not going to do it, but he was so passionate, adamant about it and said, you don`t understand. It`s all about my catalogue. This is what they want, and this is what they`re going to do, and he was terrified.
He was a very happy, go lucky person. He loved music, parks and the whole (ph), but I saw him just get withdrawn and nervous all the time. He said you don`t understand. This is very serious. This is a very serious matter, and it was. And the more he spoke about it, the more I began to believe him. The more I saw that it was true when he started discussing (ph) how and when it was going to -- the things that they were doing, yes, of course.
HAMMER: It must have been so difficult to watch it unfold right before your eyes.
JACKSON: And like you said, every time there was breaking news on TV, you run to it and go, oh, my God.
HAMMER: And then you want to turn away.
JACKSON: Yes.
HAMMER: I do want to ask you about another controversial story that you write about in your book, because this, I think, struck a lot of people. There was a press conference back in 1993. And at that conference, you said you believe the sexual abuse allegations against Michael were true. I`m going to have you tell us the story behind those controversial remarks. So, just stay right where you are. We`ll get to that in just a second.
JACKSON: Absolutely.
HAMMER: But right now, we have to move on tonight. There are outrageous star stories. They`re having me asking tonight, brilliance or bananas?
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HAMMER (voice-over): Hugh Hefner gets dumped by his fiancee just days before their wedding, and now, he wants to do a TV specials out his runaway bride. Brilliant or bananas?
Cee Lo`s gay controversy tonight. Outrage over "The Voice" judges seemingly anti-gay Twitter rant.
And an explosion new report tonight that claims Jen Aniston stopped at nothing to snag her new boyfriend even if it meant destroying his other relationship.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Now, the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What? Am I grounded? Do I got to go to prison?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What am I going to do with you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three years ago, (INAUDIBLE) died in the car crash, turn my home from advance (ph), and that`s when the whole town went crazy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to go out and get some cheap thrills, you do it outside of Beaumont.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well, a lot of people saw it as the ultimate betrayal when La Toya Jackson had a press conference announced that she believed the sexual abuse charges against her brother, Michael, were true. La Toya tells the whole story and then some in a great new book called. It was a compelling read. It`s called "Starting Over." La Toya Jackson is back with me in New York for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsmaker interview.
And I appreciate you sounding off on this. It was great to read about this in the book. You talk about this abusive relationship that you had with your ex-husband, Jack Gordon. You say, he was the one who forced you to come forward and speak out against Michael back in 1993.
JACKSON: Yes.
HAMMER: When he was facing those child sex abuse allegations. What was the real story there?
JACKSON: That`s what it was. When this first happened, I came out and said my brother would never do anything like this. There`s so much love in him. He would never do anything evil. Gordon didn`t like it. He didn`t like that. He was controlling everything. I wasn`t allowed to watch television. I wasn`t allowed to read books. I wasn`t allowed to have friends or anything like that. You do what I say, and if you don`t do it, I`m going to kill your brother, Michael.
And I believed him because I knew the people that he associated with, and I knew that they were capable of doing that. So, it`s sort of like a Catch- 22. And if I didn`t, he would beat me. And I was constantly being beaten by him, but I knew the same time after that happened, it`s the worst day, A.J., I got to tell you, of my life. I could not stand the fact that he made me do that, made me say that. I was so -- I hated myself more than anything.
And I couldn`t even look at myself after that, but I knew that I had to do that at that time, and I knew it would be rectified. So, when I got the chance, I spoke to Michael about it, and he and I talked about it. And I said Michael -- he goes, I know what you`re going to say. And he said, you don`t have to say anything, La Toya. He said, I know you. I love you. You`re my sister. I know your heart, and I know he made you do it.
And Michael would call me and say, you got to get away from him. He`s going to kill you. And I didn`t want to say, well, he`s told me he`s going to kill you if I don`t do what he says.
HAMMER: Unbelievable.
JACKSON: But he said to me, I love you. I know you would never do that. Your heart is so pure. And it was one of those things where I said I love you more. We hugged and we embraced and we rocked each other and we just cried.
HAMMER: So, you were able to work it out. That must have been so difficult --
JACKSON: Oh, yes, but he knew.
HAMMER: Well, I`m glad you`re able to set the record straight for the world to hear. I`m loving your new song, as well. It`s so great to have you here with us.
JACKSON: Thank you.
HAMMER: La Toya Jackson, thank you so much for being with us.
JACKSON: Thank you.
HAMMER: Pick up a copy of La Toya`s book "Starting Over" in bookstores now, and look out for the song "Starting Over," brilliant as well.
Got to move on now to the showbiz line-up. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Outrageous new star stories tonight that have us asking, brilliant or bananas?
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Nick Lachey, Vanessa Minnillo, they`re getting married, but now, they want to televise it.
Hugh Hefner and his 25-year-old playmate not getting married. Heff actually wants to do a TV special about his runaway bride. What do you think, brilliant or bananas?
Also tonight, George Clooney single again.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): It is time for the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. The stunning star stories tonight that have us asking, brilliance or bananas?
Brad Pitt romances Angelina Jolie at the same restaurant where he took Jennifer Aniston. Brilliant or bananas?
Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo are putting their wedding on TV. Now, Nick did that with Jessica Simpson, and look how that turned out. Brilliant or bananas?
George Clooney, a bachelor again. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes inside George`s sudden split from Elisabetta Canalis.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking tonight. Brilliant or bananas?
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie`s romantic night is making big headlines tonight, but they`re not the only ones whose love lives are raising eyebrows today. First up, we`ve got a couple of star wedding shockers.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo just announced that they are putting their wedding on television.
Oh, and the reports that Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries will be doing the same, but Hugh Hefner and his ex-fiancee, Crystal Harris, they are letting split play out on TV, and if that`s not enough love shenanigans to make your head spin, well today, we also want to know what you think of this whopper.
Brad Pitt reportedly takes Angelina Jolie on a hot date to the place where he used to woo Jen Aniston. So many stories today. So, now, we want to know, is it brilliant or bananas?
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HAMMER (on-camera): And right now in New York is Nia Vardalos who is a brilliant actress and writer. Nia wrote the screenplay for the new Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts movie, "Larry Crown" and also just signed on to star in a new American girl movie. Also right now in New York is Ben Widdicombe who`s an editor at cityunlisted.com.
All right. Guys, it`s brilliant or bananas time at the wall of brilliance and bananas, and I want to start off tonight with Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo. As we all know, Nick was one half of the infamous newlyweds with Jessica Simpson. Yes, we all know how that turned out. And today, Nick and his bride-to-be announced that they`re going to be showing their love adventure with a TLC special called "Nick and Vanessa`s Dream Wedding."
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HAMMER (voice-over): So, now we want to know, is it brilliant or bananas?
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HAMMER (on-camera): Nia Vardalos chopping at the bit to sound off on this. What do you think?
NIA VARDALOS, ACTRESS AND WRITER: I think it`s brilliant, actually. I think it`s brilliant because Nielsen Ratings have shown that people will tune in for a repeat.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: And I got the light bulb up here just in time. Did it work? All right. you know, we have the brilliance, the bananas. It`s all crazy. Ben, what do you think? Are you with me here? Because with Nick`s track record, I actually think this is bananas. You know, he should probably keep his matrimonial endeavors under wraps, so it doesn`t happen again, but what`s your take?
BEN WIDDICOMBE, EDITOR, CITYUNLISTED.COM: I do think it`s bananas. I mean, I think the incredible media pressure is part of what destroyed his first marriage to Jessica Simpson. That newlyweds with the cameras out there every moment. Every little slipped of the tongue because an instant pop culture joke. I mean, I understand why he`s doing it, because, you know, you don`t really hear he`s working so much. So, he needs to monetize his private life. So, I think, unfortunately, he`s making the same mistake twice probably because he needs the money.
HAMMER: Yes. See, in my mind, that`s the only reason why I can see them doing it. It must have been an offer they couldn`t refuse. But right now, let`s move on to somebody that I can`t imagine would be doing it for the money. We got to talk about Kim Kardashian. Now, there are reports out there today that she and her NBA star fianc,, Kris Humphries, are in talk with Ryan Seacrest Production Company to do a two-hour wedding special.
Now, remember, when her sister, Khloe and Lamar Odom, they got married back in 2009, that show had ratings that went through the roof.
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HAMMER (voice-over): So, now we want to know, is it brilliant or bananas?
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HAMMER (on-camera): I`m ready to say, yes, we have no bananas. In just a moment, I`ll start singing that. Listen, I think Kim is so used to having cameras around her, right? So, this really wouldn`t be such a big deal and certainly not unexpected for them to do. Nia, what do you think?
VARDALOS: I actually just think it`s sort of a 50/50 for me, because I think it`s brilliant because she`s used to having cameras around, but I think it`s bananas because nobody wants to be watched into their spanks getting into that wedding dress.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Yes, no kidding. And just so you know, I had the technological wherewithal to put both brilliant and bananas on the screen for you. You know, it`s not often that we get you here, Nia. I appreciate it. What do you think, Ben Widdicombe? I think it`s brilliant, actually.
WIDDICOMBE: I`m going to make it easy in just say brilliant. You know, Kim Kardashian is working out that she has to give the people what they want, and you know, whatever your opinion of that family is, the American public wants the Kardashians. Anything they do on television rates through the roof. And of course, Kim is the queen bee. People want to see her get married. They want to follow her daily story, so it`s brilliant.
HAMMER: It could be the massive television event of the century, perhaps, eclipsing the royal wedding, there I say.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: All right. Now, let`s move on because we certainly have to talk about Hugh Hefner. This is amazing to me. Now, Hugh and Crystal, as we all know, are not getting married. Their wedding was supposed to be televised, but then, Crystal, as we all know by now, dumped Heff just days before the ceremony, and today, Heff is tweeting, you know what, he doesn`t care. It`s not bothering him. He`s going to run a big special on the split instead.
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HAMMER (voice-over): So, now we want to know, is it brilliant or bananas?
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HAMMER (on-camera): Now, Nia, personally, I think this is brilliant. Here`s a guy who`s, you know, he`s 85 years old. He`s got to move on with his life, and he`s turning lemons into lemonade. What do you think?
VARDALOS: I think it`s brilliant as well. I think Heff needs to get some self-confidence and get out there.
(LAUGHTER)
VARDALOS: I think, Heff, you are a very good-looking guy. There are a lot of young PAs and interns who would be willing to date you on that show. Keep your eyes open, my friend. Keep your fingers tweeting. You never know who`s going to come your way. You go, Heff.
HAMMER: Yes. You know, maybe he`ll start sending pictures of himself as well on the twitter. Let`s actually hope not. Ben, skeptics are actually out there with many conspiracy theories saying this whole thing is stage. You got the age difference. The fact that Hugh had other women him the very next day, which, you know, that`s Hugh Heffner, though.
And of course, Crystal was seen partying in Vegas when they were supposed to be getting married. And that all proves in some people`s mind that the whole thing is bunk, but do you think the runaway bride special is brilliant or bananas?
WIDDICOMBE: B-A-N-A-N-A-S. I cannot tell Heff`s blonds apart. I don`t want any of those shows. I don`t care. I wish him well. I wish him them all well, but I don`t care. Get married, don`t get married. I don`t think it`s going to television. I`m sorry. I don`t care.
HAMMER: Wow. What a curmudgeon you`ve become, Ben Widdicombe. I`m so surprised about this.
All right. Well, let`s move on to this next story and you`d be the judge. Brilliant or bananas? We have to talk about Brangelina. "Us Weekly" reporting that Brad took Angelina to a romantic dinner for two in the ancient walled city of Medina. Now, this, apparently, is the same place that he took Jen Aniston when he was wooing her back in 2003.
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HAMMER (voice-over): So, now we want to know, is it brilliant or bananas?
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HAMMER (on-camera): Now, Nia, in my mind, he wouldn`t have taken her there if she wasn`t OK with it. It`s probably a spectacular place. What`s the big deal? But I got to get your brilliant or banana opinion on this.
VARDALOS: I`m feeling it`s a little bananas. I mean, unless, he had a coupon, --
(LAUGHTER)
VARDALOS: I would not go back to the same place. I think it`s a little -- it`s lacking in good taste, in my opinion.
HAMMER: Lacking in good taste. OK. Well, that`s fair enough. That is bananas in her mind. Ben Widdicombe?
WIDDICOMBE: I think it`s brilliant. It gets them more publicity. I don`t know how many nice restaurants there are. Maybe, they`re not that many. Maybe, you have to go back to the same place. I don`t know.
HAMMER: There you go. All right. I actually have time to move on to this next story. It`s a little bit creepy. So, we`re just all going to have to stay together and hold hands through this whole thing.
VARDALOS: Yes. OK.
HAMMER: "Lost" star, Doug Hutchison, he marries a 16-year-old model and singer. He`s 51 years old. I mean, marrying a 16-year-old in any event is creepy. Obviously, it`s a very icky story, but there are actually some people out there, and I don`t exactly know who they are, but I was reading online today, some people are saying, this is a win-win for the couple because they`re getting publicity.
Let`s face it. This guy`s been in a lot of shows. I don`t recall his name, and I was a huge "Lost" fan. She is trying to get her music career off the ground. So, what do you think?
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HAMMER (voice-over): So, now we want to know, is it brilliant or bananas?
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HAMMER (on-camera): Nia, can I blow up the banana and just move it right out here for you?
VARDALOS: Yes, it`s a brilliant icky publicity move on both their parts. We now know who they are. We know their names. We know that he`s working through something, she`s working through some daddy issues. Let`s just be here for her on the other side of it.
HAMMER: Yes, thank you very much. That`s well said. Ben Widdicombe, can I just leave the big bananas up here?
WIDDICOMBE: Bananas. Listen, I want to see her long form birth certificate. Have you seen her? Her parents said that she`s 16-year-old, but they released a statement saying that she was a proud virgin when she got married. She looks like she`s been around the block a couple of times. The pictures they released, good Lord!
VARDALOS: Oh, my God, I dated her, you`re right.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: She`s really been around the block, then. All right. You know, I got to say, I don`t care if this is good publicity for them. I think the bad side of the publicity certainly outweighs any possible good side of the publicity. Nia Vardalos, Ben Widdicombe, thank you so much for being with us --
VARDALOS: Thank you.
HAMMER: For this brilliant or bananas experiment tonight.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Moving on now to Jennifer Ashton, could she be a man stealer? Well, tonight, there`s a startling new claim that Jen did everything she could to get her new boyfriend even if it meant stealing him from his girlfriend. That`s next.
Cee Lo`s shocking anti-gay rant. Tonight, plenty of outrage over "The Voice" judges apparent rant on Twitter. Watch this.
(SPEAKING IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGE)
HAMMER: Could be my favorite forecast of the week. Who knew Tom Hanks could dance? You got to see this hysterical weather report delivered by dancing tom on a Spanish language TV show.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
It is time now for the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
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JENNIFER ANISTON, ACTRESS: This little sweetheart right here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My fiancee.
ANISTON: Going to get pick and then photo out (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You had photo (ph) when I was unconscious?
ANISTON: That`s my favorite.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m in. Let kill this bitch!
HAMMER: I like what I`m seeing here. That`s Jennifer Aniston in the new movie "Horrible Bosses." But tonight, there`s a big question that`s got a lot of people buzzing. Is she a horrible girlfriend?
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HAMMER (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. We`re going to get to Jen`s new drama in just a minute, but first, Clooney`s heart break? Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, George Clooney is back on the market tonight after splitting up with his girlfriend, Elisabetta Canalis. And we can also tell you that there may have been a shocking clue behind this split.
With me in New York tonight, TV journalist, Taryn Winter Brill and Cathy Areu who`s publisher of Catalina magazine. I got to tell you, there were cheers of joy from the women in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff when we heard the George Clooney news today. But here`s the thing, now, just three weeks ago, Elisabetta told an Italian magazine she wanted to get married someday.
I am not sure it`s a coincidence, but Taryn, I`m now wondering, even though, we don`t know the full story here if, perhaps, Elisabetta somehow shot herself in the foot by saying something like that so publicly.
TARYN WINTER BRILL, TV JOURNALIST: A.J., I don`t think so. I think they broke up weeks ago. That comment was just a part of the spin, the publicity campaign, but I think if you are a single woman and George Clooney asks you out, do not expect ever to get married, expect to hang out for a couple years, ride on his motor bike, hang out on a couple of yachts, and live happily ever after until the end (ph), but for the record, A.J., I am available.
(CROSSTALK)
WINTER BRILL: I love yachts and I love motorbikes.
HAMMER: I`ll call if the man -- and we`ll get your name to him right now.
HAMMER: Now, I did a little digging today, and it seems like, you know, to do the math, the shelf life, if you will, of a George Clooney girlfriend is about two years max. Cathy, do you even think, perhaps, if Elisabetta hadn`t been talking about marriage, if that even had anything to do with this, that, perhaps, you know, it was George`s time, the cycle had gone through, on to his next beautiful, amazingly spectacular woman?
CATHY AREU, PUBLISHER, CATALINA MAGAZINE: Right on schedule, two years, three years. He`s looking at his watch. He said, oh, it`s time to break up. She said the M word, he got nervous, he looked at the time. He ran.
HAMMER: Can I tell you something? You know, we`ve all dealt with George in the past, and as we all will say, he`s the nicest guy in television, in movies, in the whole deal to deal with. Even having this discussion right now is a little --
AREU: A little bananas.
HAMMER: It`s a little bananas, and we wish you the best, George. And again, you know -- All right. Let me move on right now to reports in the latest issue of "US Weekly." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just obtained the cover today if we can put that up. Check out this headline, "How Jen Stole Her Man?" Now, Aniston met her new man, Justin Theroux while they were filming a movie together. Sound familiar? Sound like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie? "Mr. and Mrs. Smith?" OK?
He was apparently coming out of a 14-year relationship at the time. Now, personally, I find it very hard to believe that Jen is a man stealer. Honestly, I can`t imagine she would do something like that. Are you buying any of this, Taryn?
WINTER BRILL: I mean, with her squeaky clean image, it is hard to believe that, but before she was a victim, now, she could be the predator? We don`t know. I`m a good believer of, "you don`t know what goes on behind closed doors." However, if you are dating someone a big celebrity like Jennifer Aniston, asks your guy out, watch out. All bets are off. I mean, you just don`t know.
HAMMER: Do you really think that goes on?
WINTER BRILL: I do.
HAMMER: Do you think it comes down to that?
WINTER BRILL: I really do. I mean, if someone famous asks you out, it`s sort of like, so you`re boyfriend or girlfriend (ph), what was her name again?
HAMMER: Well, if you say so. Listen, Jennifer has not been seen this public in a relationship in a long time. So, I truly believe there is something going on here. Do we have this photograph from last night In New York City? There they are --
WINTER BRILL: Wow.
HAMMER: So, they`re out and about on the town. Now, just on the devil`s advocate side, Cathy, if this is true and Jen actually pulled an Angeline, this really won`t do anything to help Jen`s girl next door image.
AREU: Right. She`s gone from victim girl next door to vixen next door. And no, we all love her. We all think Jennifer is great, and she was a victim. So, now, it`s very scary to think that she is stealing boyfriends. Are our husbands and boyfriends next? I don`t want Jennifer around.
HAMMER: Scary to think that she might be. And again, I would like to say for the record, I don`t actually think that that`s going on here. However, for her image to have been shaken from that girl next door thing, she`s probably actually even OK with that. I`m just guessing, because that label has been sticking to her for a long time and doing all those romantic comedies, and obviously, this new movie is a far cry from that as well.
WINTER BRILL: I think she`ll be fine when it comes to the box office. I don`t think it`s going to affect her, but remember Julia Roberts. Didn`t she sort of do the same thing with Danny Moder? There were the rumors that she stole him from his wife, and she`s doing just fine.
HAMMER: We`ll leave it there. Taryn Winter Brill, Cathy Areu, thank you both.
Big brand-new reaction to Tracy Morgan`s public apology for his anti-gay rant. So, should Tracy be forgiven? Well, the stars of "True Blood" is speaking out in SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And Carson Daly is breaking news to us about reports of an on-set feud on "The Voice."
And could it be Pippa Middleton falling in love with Prince Harry? All that making big news in the buzz today.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Pippa and the Prince? Have Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton just become a hot new royal couple? London`s daily mail reports that the two have met up five times since the world watch Harry`s brother, Prince William married Pippa`s sister, Kate. The two are newly single. Pippa recently split Alex Loudon and Prince Harry is apparently off again with Chelsy Davy.
Showbiz breaks news. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was backstage at "The Voice" as one feuding judges, Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine debuted their new song "Moves Like Jagger" together. Plus, Carson Daly squashed reports to us about any on-set (INAUDIBLE).
CARSON DALY, HOST: They`re all good. I mean, listen, we`ve all had our come to Jesus meeting on the show. All four coaches, myself, Mark Burnett, we all set out to raise the bar of music competition at a network level.
HAMMER: "true blood" talks Tracy. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there at premier party for season 4 "True Blood" where Tracy Morgan`s big public apology for his homophobic rant was a hot topic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I really admire and respect him for so quickly admitting, OK, I see how that was bad. I see how that was wrong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do think a public apology is enough. I think if the apology is genuine, then let the man go on with his life.
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HAMMER (on-camera): All right. I got to show you this, Tom Hanks salsa dancing.
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(SPEAKING IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGE)
HAMMER (voice-over): I love this, but you got to see what happened when Tom popped up on a Spanish language TV show and shook what his mama gave him. The weather`s never been this funny.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Here`s the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`ve been sworn to secrecy more so than any other season. So, our disclosure contracts are getting, you know, ridiculously big now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m not going to tell you anything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`ll give you everything you want. Yes.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SPEAKING IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Fantastic. Did you see this? Tom Hanks is doing the weather there and a little salsa at the same time. Hank stopped by the Univision show, "Despierta America" to talk about his new movie "Larry Crowne," and he ended up dancing. I got to tell you, Tom Hanks actually makes the weather incredibly entertaining to watch. Muy bien, Tom. Muy bien.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Now, we are right here with someone who certainly knows all about Tom`s funny side. The very funny, very talented, Nia Vardalos. You probably know her best from the 2002 blockbuster, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". You may not know is she co-wrote with Tom Hanks the new movie, "Larry Crowne." Great to have you here.
VARDALOS: Thanks. Nice to be here.
HAMMER: It, obviously, looks like a very, very funny movie, but some serious subject matter here drift from the headline. This guy has to down size his life because of the economy and has to sort of rethink everything that`s going on. Something Tom Hanks has really never had to deal with. Were you at all concerned taking something that is, obviously, so hot button right now and making it so funny?
VARDALOS: Actually, I got to tell you, he had the idea about five, six years ago, and he thought what would it be like if all this went away? I mean, it was so interesting how responsible and respectful he was of the economic situation going on in our country right now. He said, what would you do? And I said hey, hey, hey, you`re scaring me.
HAMMER: Yes, yes.
VARDALOS: And I would drive home thinking about it what would I do? And then, it was so interesting that he is an empathetic man. That`s what it is. He is able to think what would I do if it all went away, and we were able, I hope in directing the movie the way Tom did it, he was able to make it uplifting and optimistic. It`s not a downer, it`s not a documentary.
HAMMER: Yes. And I would expect that especially from Tom. And from you, the comedy -- but Tom always has seemed like this empathetic, a sympathetic guy --
VARDALOS: Yes.
HAMMER: Who really doesn`t have a bad thing to say about anybody in his head at all.
VARDALOS: He`s a very, very good guy.
HAMMER: And if he were tweeting, I imagine, if he was out there on the Twitter, it would be -- and I`ve seen some of things that he`s written, but he`s responsible. You`re on the Twitter, I imagine you think before you tweet, correct?
VARDALOS: I do. I`ve made some mistakes. Yes, but you know, yes.
HAMMER: OK. Let me read to you very quickly something that singer, Cee Lo Green recently tweeted. He got a bad review from a music critic, and we`re putting them now what he wrote. "I respect your criticism, but be fair. People enjoyed last night. I`m guessing you`re gay? And my masculinity offended you. Well, F you." What a dumb move? Do you think social media makes stars look stupid or just, in my opinion, expose their stupidity?
VARDALOS: It`s possible -- yes. I think that we have to be a little more careful. You know, there are usually an entourage of handlers around people going "don`t press send." And unfortunately, something like that will reveal something. I think, sometimes, when someone reveals their inner angst about gay people, maybe it`s good. Let`s open the dialogue. Maybe Cee Lo, hey, let`s go into some classes and talk about, guess what, gay people are our friends.
HAMMER: I agree with you. He did apologize, but you know, really, people need to remember if they tweet about, it it`s going to be out there just as if they were on stage.
VARDALOS: It`s out there forever.
HAMMER: Great to see you, Nia Vardalos. Thank you so much. "Larry Crowne" opens next Friday. And I want to everybody look out for Nia`s return on the big screen. She`s the star of the next "American Girl" movie.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Remember, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT now seen exclusively Monday to Friday at 11:00 p.m. eastern and pacific.
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