Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Larry King Live
Interview With Pamela Anderson
Aired August 22, 2005 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, Pamela Anderson, Playboy cover girl, red-hot tabloid queen, abuse survivor. Is she getting back together with her wild ex, Tommy Lee? How's her battle with a potentially deadly disease going? She's bared all and now she tells all. She's Pamela Anderson for the hour, next on LARRY KING LIVE.
Good evening. Been too long since she's been with us, but it's always great to see her: Pamela Anderson, the actress, the star of "Stacked," on Fox, the international sex symbol, tabloid target, "New York Times" best-selling author.
Her first one was a best seller and now, the new one is, "Star Struck." A novel and we have it in our hands and there you see it's cover. And before we ask about novels and everything, let's deal with first things first.
PAMELA ANDERSON, MODEL/ACTRESS: OK.
KING: There seems to be misconnections. Are you going back with Tommy?
ANDERSON: No.
KING: I like Tommy.
ANDERSON: I like Tommy, too. He's a great friend.
KING: Tommy's been on this show. He's a nice guy.
ANDERSON: He's a very nice guy
KING: A little tattooed, but he's a nice guy.
ANDERSON: He's a nice guy and the tattoos are nice, too.
KING: But?
ANDERSON: But, you know, I'd rather be friends. You know? You don't want to make the same mistakes twice. He's terrific.
KING: Then why did he say that he told "People" magazine that both of you are crazy in love and are going to get remarried.
ANDERSON: Well, I love Tommy. I love Tommy. He's the father of my kids. What's not to love? You know, he's a good person and -- but we just get along better this way. There was never an intention of getting back together. It's just, you know, we love each other.
KING: Did you ask him why he said that?
ANDERSON: I don't know if he really said that. I think he was just -- maybe it was taken out of context or something. You know, it happens.
KING: In other words, he hasn't said to you, "let's get married again?"
ANDERSON: He asks me every day. I'm kidding. No.
KING: No, would you like to get married again?
ANDERSON: I might get married again, but at this point, you know, I'm just happy the way things are and things are going well.
KING: But not to him?
ANDERSON: Well, you know, we go way back.
KING: Maybe?
ANDERSON: There's a lot of things that people don't know and that people, you know, wouldn't understand. So, on the surface it would be really easy to say let's get married and be a happy family, but there's a lot of past and things to think about and I'm a mother and you know, I've learned from my mistakes.
KING: Do you think there's a chance some day? Do you think he'll change? Do you think?
ANDERSON: Yes. I don't know. I don't know if people really change that much. So, I just wish him well. You know, I'm his biggest fan and I'm his biggest supporter and I just think at this point, especially -- you know, I just like it the way it is.
KING: What do you think his TV idea of going to college?
ANDERSON: I haven't seen it, but I hope he learns something.
KING: Is that a signature on your arm or is that symbol or what is that?
ANDERSON: No, that's a tattoo. It's barbed wire. I got that before I did that, you know, amazing movie that I did.
KING: Why barbed wire?
ANDERSON: Well, the movie was called "Barbed Wire."
KING: I didn't see it.
ANDERSON: Good. But no, I did it just -- I wanted an arm band. If I was going to do a tattoo, I thought I would do an arm band and I forget it's even there. I don't really notice it. KING: You're an incredible story, you know? You really are.
ANDERSON: You think so?
KING: Yes, there aren't many people like you.
ANDERSON: Really? Why thank you.
KING: Yes, do you know anybody like you?
ANDERSON: No.
KING: OK. In March of 2002, you announced that you had been diagnosed with hepatitis C, a liver disease caused by a viral infection. How are you doing?
ANDERSON: Good. I'm really good. I get tested once a year and my liver's healthier and healthier. The liver is a regenerative organ and it's a fairly new disease. So, I think we're still learning about it and my doctors have both advised me not to go on any of the drugs for hepatitis C yet, because I'm feeling so good. You know, I'm a single mom and we obviously will cross that bridge when we come to it. I may have to one day go on some kind of treatment, but as of now, they say just do what you're doing.
KING: How does it manifest itself? In other words, how does someone know they have it?
ANDERSON: There's not a lot of side effects, so it's hard to tell. It's just, you have to go get your blood tested. You know, and I'm a big advocate for that with -- I was working with MAC for AIDS as well and that's my platform for them, too. When you know your health, you know your status, you can make, you know, informed decisions.
KING: So, this was picked up on a simple blood test?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: You went for a physical and they said you have hepatitiss C?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: Isn't there a chance that it could kill you?
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, it's fatal for a lot of people. I mean, you only have one liver. So, you have to take care of it and you know, I remember when he told me, he said, "You have a little glitch in your blood work. You have hepatitis C." And I said, "OK. How do I get rid of it?" And he said, "you can't. You know, you're probably going to end up dying from this." It wasn't good bedside manner, but -- so I was a little panicked and then I realized people live their whole lives with this disease. And you just have to look after your liver. You have to look after yourself and see what happens.
KING: Are there daily side effects that you experience from it? ANDERSON: Well, I'm exhausted all the time, but I think that's because I'm a single mother, you know, with two wild little boys. I don't think it has anything to do with the hepatitis C.
KING: And there's no drug you take for it?
ANDERSON: There are different drugs and there's are new ones all the time. So, I -- there's Interferon, there's new drugs beyond that and it's something that you have to...
KING: But if you're doing well, they don't try the new ones on you?
ANDERSON: Well, for me, my viral load is low and I'm in a very early stage and it may stay that way. So, they said really a barometer -- the way you feel is how you're doing.
KING: Now, one would think -- I don't know if this is true -- that you can't drink if you have this.
ANDERSON: You're not supposed to drink if you have hepatitis C.
KING: Because alcohol affects the liver. Do you drink?
ANDERSON: I do drink occasionally and...
KING: Why?
ANDERSON: I -- you know, I just feel like, you know, I don't know what it is. If -- you know, when someone tells you not to do something, you want to do it more. It's not a destructive thing, I don't think. I think it's just I casually drink and...
KING: Well, I mean, you want to live? You have two kids.
ANDERSON: I do want to live and I do have two beautiful kids and I've definitely made a big turnaround in my lifestyle since I've found I have hepatitis C, but I don't drink as much as I used to.
But occasionally a glass of wine and even my doctor said, as your doctor, I'm telling you don't drink. As your friend, I'm telling you moderation. You know, you can have a glass of wine here and there. I've gone through phases where I don't drink for months. I've gone through phases where I don't drink for years, even before I found out that I have hepatitis C. It's not...
KING: You were never a drinker?
ANDERSON: I was never really a drinker -- like a heavy drinker. So, I think I'm doing OK, I obviously keep in mind I have two beautiful children. I want to live and as I've learned more and more about the disease and I've gotten healthier...
KING: How old are they?
ANDERSON: They're seven and nine. KING: That's a load. I know, having two little boys myself.
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: Nothing like them, though.
ANDERSON: Nothing like them. They're playing football right now. I mean, they surf all day and they play football.
KING: Where is home? Where do you live.
ANDERSON: I can't give you my address.
KING: I'm not asking for your address.
ANDERSON: I live by the beach.
KING: In California?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: Where did you grow up?
ANDERSON: On Vancouver Island, by the beach.
KING: Not bad.
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, I mean -- Similar life. Similar -- I miss Vancouver. I have property on Vancouver Island as well. I miss it.
KING: Why do you think people or printed materials are so obsessed with your sex or love life? Why do you think? I mean, you're very beautiful, but there are other beautiful women.
ANDERSON: I have no idea. You tell me. You tell me.
KING: Why do you think?
ANDERSON: I don't know. Well, maybe the tape had something to do with it. I don't know. The videotape that was stolen. I really don't know. I mean, tabloids have gotten out of control
KING: That was you and Tommy?
ANDERSON: Yes. I think just tabloids and paparazzi are just at their all time worst and I think it's just nothing else -- I don't know what it is, really.
KING: Have you adjusted to it? Do you accept it?
ANDERSON: I've accepted it
KING: I mean, you're in the tabloids every week almost, right? There's something about you.
ANDERSON: You know, but I don't read them. I don't look at them and my kids, they can't the paparazzi. They ask them to stop, a lot. I'll be at a skateboard park and there will be, you know, 10 cameras glued to a fence, long lenses and you know, Ben is -- will throw a skateboard at them. You know, it's like he's getting angry and I don't want them to have to go through that and they're horrible. It's just -- it just seems like useless journalism.
KING: All stemming from the sex tape with Tommy Lee. How'd that tape get out?
ANDERSON: It was stolen from our house. An entire gun safe was stolen from our house.
KING: You did it for your own pleasure?
ANDERSON: The tape?
KING: Yes.
ANDERSON: Well, we did a combination of tapes. We had a lot of videotapes and running around the house. It was never a honeymoon tape. It was just video of when we were first married and running around the world and a little bit of nudity here and there and they spliced it all together and made it look like had we'd created some kind of pornography.
KING: Do they know who stole it?
ANDERSON: I think there's a few -- there's definitely some people that know who -- it's just in the pornography business. I don't know what I can say and what I can't. But you know, we never made a dime off that tape, though. It had nothing to do with us.
KING: We'll be right back with Pamela Anderson. We'll talk about her new book and lots of other things. Pamela Anderson, the star of "Stacked" on Fox. The best titled film on television. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You be Eddie, OK? And I'll be you.
ANDERSON: OK. Well, I'll give it a try. Skyler, baby, I missed you so much. I love you. I was an idiot to let you get away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eddie, I mean, Eddie, save your lies.
ANDERSON: Was that supposed to be me? Do I sound like a Muppet?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eddie, I want a different kind of man. Someone who is with brains and with substance, and who is still very attractive, but not in that, you know, "I work out" sort of way.
ANDERSON: Oh, come on, baby, what we had was so special. The way we made love, every nerve on fire. Our bodies fitting together like an oily jigsaw puzzle. You want that, don't you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do want that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: welcome back to LARRY KING LIVE. Go ahead, admit it, you're in love with me.
ANDERSON: I'm in love with you, Larry. Yes.
KING: It's been a passion for a long time.
ANDERSON: I still have your suspenders from last time.
KING: You cuddle with them?
ANDERSON: No, I think I lost them. No, I'm kidding. I didn't, I didn't.
KING: That's...
ANDERSON: I sold them on eBay.
KING: You broke -- build it up and break the heart. They all do it. They're all the same. All the same.
You read other tabloids about other people?
ANDERSON: If there's a tabloid around, you can't help but pick it up and look through it. And if you see something on yourself, you say, God, that's awful, and then you turn the page and you're like, oh, I can't believe they're doing that. It's just human nature to believe what you read. Unfortunately, you know, but I'm not a big fan.
KING: Take me back. How did you get to be famous? What was your -- well, how did the public get to know you first?
ANDERSON: "Playboy," I think. "Playboy."
KING: First was in "Playboy." Were you a playmate?
ANDERSON: I was a playmate.
KING: So many "Playboy" and so many playmates. Not many get to be internationally famous. So what happened after "Playboy?"
ANDERSON: "Baywatch." "Home Improvement," then "Baywatch." And "Baywatch," you know, it was in 150 countries, it was a pretty popular show all around the world. You watch it with the sound off, I think that's pretty much what sold that show.
KING: Was that fun to do?
ANDERSON: Oh, it was great. I mean, the reason I took that job was, like, to bring my dog to the beach. You know, I thought what a great job. I'm getting paid for this? I remember I wasn't making very much money the first episode -- the first season. I just really wanted to be on the beach.
KING: What did you do on "Home Improvement?"
ANDERSON: I had one line a show. It was "Here you go, Tim," "here you go, Tim," "here you go, Tim." Every time I -- every episode was a different "here you go, Tim."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tim, all loaded.
TIM ALLEN, ACTOR: Thank you, Lisa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Did you want to be an actress?
ANDERSON: Not really, no. I still don't know if I want to be one.
KING: Were you the beauty queen in high school?
ANDERSON: Oh, God, no. No.
KING: Don't tell me you were an ugly duckling.
ANDERSON: I was one of those girls with really big (ph) personality. Well, I think I was all right. I don't think I -- I didn't wear a stitch of makeup until I came to Los Angeles. And I was an athlete, you know, I was really into sports. I am and I have.
KING: Did you have a lot of boyfriends?
ANDERSON: A lot of boyfriends. Well, not a lot of boyfriends. I had a boyfriend at all times, but...
KING: You went from one to the other?
ANDERSON: I just had one in high school, and then one after, and then I was engaged. And had a few engagements.
KING: But Tommy's the only marriage?
ANDERSON: Tommy is my only marriage. I married him four times. Thank Gosh you don't have to get divorced four times.
KING: Why did you marry him four times?
ANDERSON: Just for fun. Just for fun. We were married in spacesuits, we were married in a holding of lettuce. (INAUDIBLE). Where else did I get married? Married in the -- he came in as a knight in shining armor, full armor once. You'd like that story.
KING: How did you meet him? ANDERSON: I met him at a club one time. He came up to me. I bought a shot for everybody, it was New Year's Eve, and he thought I'd only had bought it for him, but I'd bought it for everybody.
KING: A shot of whiskey?
ANDERSON: A shot of goldschlager, I think. And he came just bouncing over and licked the side of my face and threw his shot glass, and said, you know, I'm happy, I'm Greek. And I don't know how that got my attention. And then he followed me down to a photo shoot in Cancun, and I married him within four days. Romantic, right?
KING: Yeah. Now, he is a...
ANDERSON: Have two beautiful kids. So that's it.
KING: And he's not the handsomest guy in the world.
ANDERSON: He's very handsome.
KING: There's something about him, though.
ANDERSON: He's kind of like you. Very similar facial. Tommy, he is, no, I'm serious. I bet he's going to look like you in a couple years.
KING: Me and Tommy Lee, OK.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
KING: In a couple of years he'll look like me?
ANDERSON: Yeah, just a couple of years.
KING: Don't throw this -- have you ever thought of suing tabloids when they print something that's wrong?
ANDERSON: I sued them once and won. I sued...
KING: Who did you sue?
ANDERSON: "The Globe..."
KING: "The Globe?"
ANDERSON: ... a long time ago, yes, for calling me a heroin addict. And that was 10 years ago. And I remember driving in my car and hearing Howard Stern going, well, if she's on heroin, she's the heroin poster girl, because she's the healthiest girl I know. And I was like, oh, poor girl. And then he said, Pamela Anderson. I almost ran my car off the road. And so they had to retract it.
KING: So you began to be famous for being famous?
ANDERSON: Yeah.
KING: You became the classic celebrity. You are admitting you weren't an actress yet?
ANDERSON: Right.
KING: Right? Did you learn that? Did you take lessons?
ANDERSON: No. You know, I really -- I enjoyed being in "Playboy," and I enjoyed the opportunities of, you know, different television shows asking me to be on their show. And then when I was on "Baywatch," I really was focused on, you know, being on the beach and being with my dog. And I thought, you know, this is kind of fun. It just evolved into then when I was pregnant with Brandon, I was still doing "Baywatch," and then I was pregnant with Dylan, I thought, you know, I'm going to create my own show, and David Hasselhoff was -- said, you know, next show, own it. So I did. I produced "VIP" and created it from scratch. And it was -- we wrote it and ad-libbed it, and it was a lot of fun.
And then after that, I thought, you know, I'm going to take a long break. My kids -- I want to take them to school every day, I want to be in their lives, I want to be at all the sports programs. And then, you know, my agent convinced me to finally take meetings with Steve Levitan, and he had created a show for me, "Stacked," and he said, yeah, this is a great opportunity for you -- a sitcom, you're a single mom, it's a great schedule.
KING: Did you like, enjoy early on, fame?
ANDERSON: It slowly crept up on me. I think it's just -- I remember going...
KING: Do you like being recognized?
ANDERSON: I remember going to the ATM machine after "Home Improvement" and someone going "Lisa!" And I was like, wow, someone recognized me, and then I looked down, and I was wearing the full, you know, "Home Improvement" outfit, I had cut-off shorts and the tool belt on, and my shoes -- I was wearing the outfit that I wear on the show. And that was one of the first times I was recognized. But...
KING: Did you get to like it?
ANDERSON: ... I didn't realize I went out in my "Tool Time" outfit. I, you know, at the beginning, you think, wow, this is what it's about. Like, my dad even said, you know, when you're in a tabloid, you've made it. You know, he thinks that's what it was. And my grandma would say, you know, I don't buy the crap, I just get "The Enquirer" and "The Star," Pamela. So it was -- I don't know...
KING: Must have felt very good to...
ANDERSON: It's a very small town, and they were excited for me.
KING: Must have felt very good to win a lawsuit, though?
ANDERSON: Yes, that was good.
KING: Prove your mettle.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
KING: That's a bad thing to print about someone.
ANDERSON: But they print horrible things all the time. And at some point, you have to pick your battles. And I have two kids, and we have battles every day, just having great days, and you know, being a parent. And that's a lot of energy. And the last thing I want to do is be in lawsuits, even though I'm an easy target, and I get sued all the time. And I just say, take a number. It's not going to ruin me.
KING: Is there anything cursed about having a body like you have and a face like you have? No, but is there a downside to it?
ANDERSON: Oh, I don't know what to say about that.
KING: You know, you intimidate men. You must intimidate men. I bet men are afraid to approach you.
ANDERSON: No.
KING: You don't think so?
ANDERSON: No. Well, not the men that have approached me, obviously. They've been very persistent. But right now, I'm single and...
KING: Not dating anyone?
ANDERSON: ... waiting. No, I'm not dating anybody. No.
KING: We'll be right back with Pamela Anderson. She's available. Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HUGH HEFNER, "PLAYBOY": Pamela has been on more covers than any other model or any other playmate, because she's been the most popular. And I think that we all kind of grew up with Pamela.
ANDERSON: I'd like to say that I'm an adventurous person, but I haven't had the opportunity to express myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are you making over there, Skyler?
ANDERSON: Well, I'm trying to make myself a tube top. I'm almost done.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would kill for a figure like that.
ANDERSON: Hey, I can hear you. It's not like I bought the last pair.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We're back with Pamela Anderson. Tell me about "Stacked."
ANDERSON: My new TV show?
KING: Yes. How do they title it?
ANDERSON: Well, yes. I guess it's supposed to be a double entendre.
KING: Double? It's a single, double, triple.
ANDERSON: Yes. A double-D entendre. I don't know. It's about -- it's a sitcom. It's kind of a throwback to good old-fashioned television, which is why I wanted to do it, because I'm really sick of these reality shows.
KING: Who do you play?
ANDERSON: My name is Skyler on the show and Christopher Lloyd is on the show. Marissa. Christopher Lloyd is fantastic. He's genius. So is Marissa and so are the comics, you know, Elan Gold and Brian. And it's a fun cast.
KING: And who are you? What's...
ANDERSON: Skyler. I play a similar character to myself. It's not that much of a stretch. She's -- has a hard time with men and she's,you know, misunderstood and you know -- and I think that...
KING: Is she divorced?
ANDERSON: No, she's not divorced and she has no kids. See, there's a difference.
KING: There is a difference.
ANDERSON: There is a difference. I am acting.
KING: Since it's called "Stacked," have you had -- obviously, you're have -- you're amply endowed. Were you always such? Did you have any work done?
ANDERSON: No.
KING: Never touched? Never?
ANDERSON: No.
KING: So, this was just the breaks of life?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: I mean -- there -- was it tough for you? I mean, when someone is that way -- I'm trying to think that this is all a blessing.
ANDERSON: I don't think I'm that well endowed.
KING: You don't think so?
ANDERSON: No. I think they expand on camera, because in person, it's...
KING: They expand on camera?
ANDERSON: They do. I mean, I've watched Jay Leno, I've watched your show and I'm like, "where'd those come from?" Really, when you're in person, you saw, they just -- I think it's the lights.
KING: So, you think you're average?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: What size?
ANDERSON: I guess D.
KING: D is not average.
ANDERSON: No?
KING: No. Have you ever had work done?
ANDERSON: Why, yes, these are implants, Larry.
KING: They are? No, do -- are they are or aren't they?
ANDERSON: Yes, they are.
KING: You just said...
ANDERSON: It's no secret. That was my biggest thing. You said be honest.
KING: Have you had any problems with the implants?
ANDERSON: No, no problems.
KING: Because some people have, you know?
ANDERSON: I got a divorce, I cut my hair, I took my implants out because I was having an emotional meltdown.
KING: You took them out?
ANDERSON: Yes, because of my divorce. And then I put them back in and my hair grew. KING: You know, there's a screwball quality to you. It's kind of funny. You know, you're like -- You must be a fun date, huh?
ANDERSON: I hope so.
KING: I'll bet you're a load of laughs, right?
ANDERSON: Yes. I hope so.
KING: Isn't -- don't you miss being in love?
ANDERSON: I do. I do. I am a romantic. I am a romantic, but you know -- again, you know, I just -- it'll happen, eventually, right? Are you still with your wife?
KING: Yes.
KING: I'm just going to let silence reign through the studio. But you wouldn't go out with older men.
ANDERSON: I need to. I need to.
KING: This will be shown in court. Pamela?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: "Stacked" is on every week?
ANDERSON: It will in November -- starting in November...
KING: That's the premiere?
ANDERSON: the new -- yes.
KING: The new Fox season?
ANDERSON: Yes. The new Fox season in November.
KING: Where are they angling you? What time? What night?
ANDERSON: After "That '70s Show." It's always a boob joke
KING: No. I didn't mean anything by that. Angling you -- it's a term.
ANDERSON: OK.
ANDERSON: It's a TV term us oldsters (SIC) use.
ANDERSON: Well, now I know it. So, yes, after "That'70s Show" on Fox -- 8:30-ish, I hope.
KING: When did you become a novelist?
ANDERSON: Well, everyone has asked -- a lot of publishers have asked me to do my autobiography and I though, you know, those are basically fiction anyway, so I might as well just write fiction. You know, and I thought it'd be kind of a fun, clever, silly way to tell my little bit of a story and some of my experiences in a novel. And I said, "I want to do two, I don't want to just do on." I want to do two and have them continue.
KING: So this "Star Struck" is the continuation of "The Adventures of Star."
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: Was it difficult to write sex scenes?
ANDERSON: Yes. Yes.
KING: Did you work with a writer who helped you?
ANDERSON: I had a writer. He's not a ghost writer. Eric Shaw Quinn. He's fantastic and he is a co-writer. And we just came up with stories and he's a wonderful writer. I would come up with scenarios and I'd write some things and he would put it into this format.
And when it came to the sex scenes, though, we were just rolling around laughing. We thought it was hysterical, but then when it was printed, I remember reading this and my mom was reading it. She was like, "You know, you need to be spanked and not in a good way and not in a good way. Your father can't read this." It's pretty graphic.
KING: But what -- well, wasn't it difficult to even say this to Eric? I mean, you're describing this scene.
ANDERSON: A gay man -- So, sorry...
KING: He's gay and your...
ANDERSON: Some of these sex scenes are written by a gay man. Hate to burst your bubble.
KING: And your describe -- would you describe the act or he described it or --
ANDERSON: Well, we started describing it and we described it together and he just put it all together and he goes, "Read it. It's done. No comments, please."
KING: Who is Star? What's the angle of the book?
ANDERSON: The angle is -- well, she's a girl -- a small-town girl who moves to Los Angeles and kind of the adventures of posing for a magazine, nude; meeting different people, celebrities; marrying a rock star; working on a television show.
KING: It sounds like you.
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, all the obvious things, yes. We thought we'd just mess with people. KING: How about in book two? Is book two obvious, too?
ANDERSON: Yes it's a continuation, yes, except for people die in this book. It's funny.
KING: Are you going to write more? Your first one was a big seller.
ANDERSON: Yes, I hope this will do well, too. I don't know. I like doing things that are just different, you know, unexpected. I just recorded a song.
KING: Whoa! We'll get to that in a minute.
ANDERSON: It's not in the cards.
KING: Pamela Anderson. I'll look it up, OK?
ANDERSON: You don't know anything about this.
KING: No. And I forgot about the implants too. We'll be right back with Pamela who's crazy about me. Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOMMY LEE, MUSICIAN: Now, for the real reason I came here tonight: To honor my beautiful, talented, compassionate, blond ex- wife. Unfortunately, Heather Locklear couldn't be here tonight. So, let's make fun of Pamela instead, OK?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: "Star Struck" is the new novel from Pamela Anderson. Her first, "Star," was a "New York Times" best seller. She's soon to be seen on "Stacked," she is the star of "Stacked," coming on FOX in November. She's also now a recording artist, and she's been roasted as well. We'll get to that.
Tell me about music.
ANDERSON: Well, you know, I just did a song with Bryan Adams. We recorded a song that is going to be out in October, just for fun.
KING: He's a great guy.
ANDERSON: He's a fantastic guy. And, you know...
KING: What's the song?
ANDERSON: It's called -- oh, God. "When You're Gone." It's going to be out in October. It's for his anthology. He just called me out of the blue. I've known him for years, and he said, Pam, can you sing? I said, are you kidding? I can't sing a note. Forget it. He said, I'm coming to L.A., we are going to see. And we just went to the Chateau Marmont for a couple of hours, and I just sang my heart out in this little microphone, and I harmonized with him. And actually, I heard it today for the first time. It's actually surprisingly tolerable.
KING: You had never sung?
ANDERSON: No. Well, I sang in school. You know, then I had the bad boyfriend in school, who said, you can't sing, you can't dance, you know. Words are powerful. I never sang again. So now, this was just really fun for me to do. So we'll see what happens.
KING: And it's going to be part of his anthology he's putting together?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: Why did he think you could sing?
ANDERSON: I don't know. He's a friend. He just called and said, you know, this would be really fun. I'd love for you to do this with me. And I said, OK, we'll give it a shot. And I better not be being punk'd. That's what I thought it was. I thought it was a joke. And then I went there and did it, and there were no hidden cameras. It actually was for real.
KING: Are you on the Elton John thing, are you in the video or something?
ANDERSON: Yeah.
KING: Tell me about that.
ANDERSON: I dance in a segment that he shows on the screen, in his live show in Vegas. Is -- they have -- to "The Bitch Is Back," I dance, pole dance.
KING: "The Bitch is Back?"
ANDERSON: Yeah.
KING: That song, and you dance to it?
ANDERSON: Yeah, I dance. Well, we recorded it, and there is 12 or I don't know how many images, 40 feet high of me, synchronized pole dancing in a showgirl outfit.
KING: Have you gone and seen the show at Caesar's?
ANDERSON: I've seen it. Yeah, I've seen it. Did you see it?
KING: No, I saw Celine, but I have not seen his.
ANDERSON: You've got to see him.
KING: Great stage.
ANDERSON: Great stage. David LaChappelle (ph).
KING: Did you have any qualms about posing nude?
ANDERSON: I was horrified, yeah. No, I was really scared to do that.
KING: Why did you do it?
ANDERSON: Well, I came here to do a cover for "Playboy," in which from -- where I lived, I never thought, you know, it was just kind of a unique opportunity, and my mom said, go ahead and do it. And then when they asked me to be a playmate...
KING: You thought it wouldn't be nude?
ANDERSON: Well, it wasn't nude.
KING: It's going to be a cover.
ANDERSON: They slowly start taking pictures in lingerie, they you take the lingerie off, and then pretty soon you're walking out the door without your clothes on, and they have to stop you, pull you back in, because it just becomes really natural and fun. It was great, because it really -- I was actually very shy, growing up, very modest and shy, and I wanted to get over being so shy. That helped.
KING: So how many people are in the room when they're shooting you?
ANDERSON: Not many. Not many. Just the photographer, probably -- an assistant and a makeup artist, and a stylist. Not much to style, but, you know, put lotion on. Whatever.
KING: Wasn't it tough the first time?
ANDERSON: It was. Yeah. When I shot my first cover, I was horrified, just because my jacket was open, and I thought someone could see in. Then I just realized after a while, that nobody really cares if you're sitting there naked. It's just -- just a different frame of mind.
KING: How did you your mother feel when it came out?
ANDERSON: She just thought it was great experience for me, to come to California and to be able to be here and do these kinds of things. It was just really outrageous for all of us, because it wasn't something that any of us would consider or even think could happen, you know, coming from a small town. You just didn't think that you'd be given these opportunities.
KING: What did your dad think?
ANDERSON: And I was making -- it was money too, you know. I came from not a very, you know, wealthy family. And it was a lot of money. It was like, wow, OK, I'll do it.
KING: And your dad?
ANDERSON: Fine. Kind of one of those things you don't really ask. I didn't really ask my dad's opinion about that. You know, we didn't really talk about it.
KING: How did "Playboy" find you?
ANDERSON: Just because I did this -- the football game, I had a poster...
KING: You were sitting at a game?
ANDERSON: Yes...
KING: Just sitting at a game?
ANDERSON: Just sitting at a game. And I had a beer t-shirt on.
KING: Up in Vancouver?
ANDERSON: Yes. For the BC Lions. And they put me up on the big screen, and I just went looking up going oh, God, I look old. That was my first reaction. Then I realized I was up on this screen, and then they called me down to the 50-yard line. I did this commercial, and I did these things for Labatt's beer, and "Playboy" contacted me through them. And that's how that happened.
KING: Did you have dreams of stardom?
ANDERSON: No, no.
KING: What, you thought you'd work at the gym, meet somebody, get married, have kids, live in Vancouver?
ANDERSON: Yeah, yeah. My mom was a waitress. My dad was a chimney sweep. And I thought that, you know, I could always waitress. I had no, you know, just -- I didn't really know what was going to happen. I knew -- it just kind of -- I knew at a young age that, you know, something that I -- you know, I had these feelings about doing something interesting. I really didn't, you know, I was 5 years old thinking I'll have 12 years of school and then I'm out of here. And I don't know. I guess everybody feels that way.
KING: Do you have brothers and sisters?
ANDERSON: I have one younger brother.
KING: Are they all proud of you now?
ANDERSON: Yeah. I mean, he lives -- he lives close to me too. He has a daughter, he's married. And I'm proud of him. He's married with a daughter and a wonderful relationship, and I think that's the ultimate success.
KING: So what's it like when you date now?
ANDERSON: I don't know. Get me a date.
KING: Are you saying that you don't meet people?
ANDERSON: I haven't been asked on a date in a long time. No. No, I don't even -- yeah -- no.
KING: Is it that you don't meet people? You have to meet people. You go to the set every day. You do...
ANDERSON: I meet people, but I haven't -- right now, I just, you know, right now, it's just, you know, I'm just being mom and running around after my kids and...
KING: You miss it? Do you miss dating?
ANDERSON: Yeah, I do, yeah. I'm ready to find somebody and meet somebody. I need a crush.
KING: You're ready for somebody to pull up in a car and say hi?
ANDERSON: I'd love a little bit of a crush right now, but I don't...
KING: Oh, really? On who?
ANDERSON: I can't tell you. I don't know. You! It's good for you to have a crush, it's healthy.
KING: It's good to have a crush.
ANDERSON: It is.
KING: But if it's unfulfilled?
ANDERSON: Well, love is always tragic.
KING: It is, isn't it?
ANDERSON: It is.
KING: It's funny or it's sad, or it's quiet or it's mad.
ANDERSON: Are we on camera?
KING: I'm digging a hole. I'm digging a hole. We'll be right back with Pamela Anderson. Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, let's get back to Gavin's sex dream.
ANDERSON: You had a sex dream?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. You see, this is a workplace, and we are not going to talk about my sex dream.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's because you feel guilty, which you should!
ANDERSON: Gosh, you're just so uptight. What's the big deal? It's just a sex dream. I had a sex dream about one of you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOMMY LEE, PAMELA ANDERSON'S EX-HUSBAND: OK, Pam, before I leave, I just wanted to say, you've always been there for me, and your spirit and kindness is an inspiration to me. Like I said 500,000 times on that damn sex tape, I (EXPLETIVE DELETED) love you, baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We're back with Pamela Anderson. The new book is "Star Struck." The follow-up to her successful "Star." She's the star of "Stacked" on FOX. She was the subject of a roast recently, and I'll get to that.
But you were saying during the break -- that you -- by the way, you can tell me, without giving his name, when you got a crush on this guy, is it someone that he would have an inkling of, that he would know you have a crush on him?
ANDERSON: Maybe, yeah.
KING: So you think it's close that he might ask you out?
ANDERSON: No.
KING: No?
ANDERSON: No. It's sad, Larry. It's really sad.
KING: He's married?
ANDERSON: No!
KING: Then he's...
ANDERSON: And he's not gay either. I asked.
KING: Not married, not gay, why wouldn't he ask you out?
ANDERSON: You never know. You never know.
KING: You don't like reality TV because?
ANDERSON: Because I just miss old-fashioned television. I loved TV and scripted shows and fantasy, and I think it's just -- humiliation isn't funny. I don't think going into people's homes and seeing how they really love, and cursing and just the parenting -- just, you know, it drives me crazy. I think it's just -- it's not interesting. Not interesting.
KING: You think it's a fad?
ANDERSON: Hopefully. I hope it's a fad. I mean, I've been offered a reality show...
KING: I'll bet you have.
ANDERSON: ... and I said, just no, forget it. I'm going to stay home with my kids.
KING: I bet people would want to see Pamela Anderson at home.
ANDERSON: You know, and they'd be bored, compared to the shows that are out there of people at home. I -- you know, how you're surprised those people live that way, you'd be surprised I probably live the way that I do, in the opposite way. It's fairly normal.
KING: It would be boring to see you?
ANDERSON: It would be boring, yeah. Yeah.
KING: Do you take the kids to school?
ANDERSON: All the time. All the time.
KING: Go out to McDonald's?
ANDERSON: No. Not McDonald's. But I, you know, I take them around. They've been to McDonald's, you know, but I take them to school, I take them to their sporting events.
KING: Tell me why you agreed to be roasted.
ANDERSON: Well, for PETA. I agreed to do -- they gave $200,000 to PETA, which is a great donation.
KING: Are you a vegetarian?
ANDERSON: I'm vegetarian. And it -- you know, it was an incredible offer of them. So I said, you know, roast me, boil me, poach me. Do what you've got to do. Just send the check. Send the check to PETA. And it turned out to be interesting. Very interesting.
KING: Dirty?
ANDERSON: Dirty, really dirty, like how do they air these things? I don't know. I saw the old roasts. They were bad too.
KING: Did you do it at Comedy Central?
ANDERSON: Comedy Central.
KING: They did it already (INAUDIBLE).
ANDERSON: Yeah, Comedy Central. Yes.
KING: Who was the roast master?
ANDERSON: Jimmy Kimmel. He did a great job. Really fantastic. And Courtney Love, Tommy Lee.
KING: Did he roast you too?
ANDERSON: Yeah, he did. Yeah, he did.
KING: Did you get up for rebuttal?
ANDERSON: I had a rebuttal and a half.
KING: You did pretty good?
ANDERSON: Yeah, I did. It was fun. I mean, it was silly. It's kind of an honor, you know. They were really wonderful and sweet and dirty and nasty, and there's a lot of jokes in there that -- I'll probably never get another date again after that. But...
KING: Were you embarrassed?
ANDERSON: I just thought it was funny. I just thought it was funny. They went far. I mean, I want to see the uncut version.
KING: They went into your sex life?
ANDERSON: Oh, there was nothing but -- that's where they started. That's where they started. There was no -- they, yeah, they weren't walking on eggshells at all. They went right for it.
KING: Don't you see a dichotomy here between your openness and your privacy? And that you -- you are available, but not available? You have two children and you're a mother. You're a sex symbol. You write books that contain graphic sex.
ANDERSON: I've never read a book.
KING: You don't read?
ANDERSON: I'm kidding. I wrote a book, but I haven't read a book.
KING: You're getting roasted, right?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: You're like (INAUDIBLE).
ANDERSON: Right.
KING: How do you view yourself? How old are you, if that...
ANDERSON: Thirty-eight.
KING: All right. Where are you going with all this? What's Pamela Anderson going to be doing at 50?
ANDERSON: I don't know, probably looking back and laughing. You know? It's been fun. It's been fun. Even at my age, I look back -- you can tell when you get to a certain age and you start looking back going, wow, I'm glad I did it, but I wouldn't want to do it again. But it's been fun. And I'm glad I've been able to be honest about my life all the way through. Because it's too much work to try and manipulate an audience or try and portray someone you're not. So I feel very blessed that I've been able to have a career and have a sense of humor, and you know.
KING: How about the rough times you had in your marriage?
ANDERSON: They were really rough times. And that's what I'm remembering. And I (INAUDIBLE)...
KING: And they were well publicized, right?
ANDERSON: Yes. Yeah. And that's difficult. I mean, it's always difficult going through a divorce or personal problems, you know, amongst your friends. And you know, I have my best friend works, you know, at the DMV in Canada, a small office. And when something is going on with her, she's horrified if anybody knows about it. It's the same feeling. You know, same feeling, people know about your personal life. And wherever you are, it makes it harder.
But we came through it, and my kids are healthy and happy and well adjusted and doing well in school and doing well in sports, and that's my biggest goal, and it's -- that's great. So everything else is just, you know...
KING: Nothing more important than that.
ANDERSON: Nothing more important than that, right.
KING: Right back with Pamela Anderson. The new book is "Star Struck." Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tommy, you and I were together for three years, and through it all, I can honestly say those were the happiest years of your life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL MCCARTNEY: When giving the Linda McCartney Memorial Award, I had to look around for someone who exhibited such similar courage. And we found lots of people, but the winner of this particular award for the first time is going to be Pamela Anderson Lee, for her great work in the field. Pammy, baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We're back with Pamela Anderson. By the way, "Star Struck" will be in all stores tomorrow, the 23rd. And "Stacked" airs Wednesday nights at 8:30.
Pamela Anderson has -- is, as they say, on a roll. You've gotten involved in Campaign Against Domestic Violence. Right?
ANDERSON: Yes, well, no, I have always been involved. That's part of my foundation.
KING: Were you the victim of it?
ANDERSON: Yes, as a child and as an adult, you know, witnessing it and seeing a lot of people go through it.
KING: You witnessed it at home?
ANDERSON: Yes, when I was growing up, yes. So -- it's just -- I don't know, I'm sure it has --
KING: Do you ever get used to it?
ANDERSON: No, but it becomes a role model for you and I think that was part of the reason why I'm single with my children and trying to create different role models for them. And I think -- you know, I don't know if -- I wouldn't say, you know, that -- I don't want to say anything too negative about Tommy, that's for sure, but at that time, it was a different time in our lives, a different time in his life. And you know, I think, you know, alcohol and that lifestyle -- a lot of it has to do with it. But whatever it was, the damage was done and we've moved on from that.
KING: Why do -- this is maybe an unanswerable question -- Why do women who are abused stay?
ANDERSON: I think at some point, you really lose all your self- esteem and it gets scary to think you're going to be on your own, because a lot of the abuse, I think, stems from them trying to control you and be the powerful person and you feel weak and it's scary. I mean, the hardest thing I ever did in my life was to leave Tommy in that situation.
And I think it had to do with my -- the way I was raised and everything, as well, in that kind of environment. It's hard to be alone. It was the hardest thing ever, to get out of that relationship. It was probably the bravest thing that I've done and courageous women -- that it's difficult. It's really very scary and you know, once you have kids, some things you won't do for yourself, you'll do for your kids.
KING: The first time it happened, was it shocking?
ANDERSON: In my personal relationship?
KING: Yes. ANDERSON: I mean, I don't want to dredge up old things, because I think we've moved past that. And I'm, you know, I'm proud of Tommy and what he's doing now and he's --
KING: Has he changed?
ANDERSON: He's doing good. Well, we're -- I don't of know how much he's changed as a person, but that part of our lives has definitely changed, because we're no longer together. So --
KING: What you what got you involved in AIDS?
ANDERSON: With AIDS? I did a -- I was a Viva Glam Girl for MAC this year because I just wanted get everyone to get everybody. I think that getting tested and knowing your health status is responsible and having hepatitis C, I just felt that, you don't have to be ashamed of it.
I'm trying to remove the stigma attached to AIDS and hepatitis C was important to me. It's not just a gay man's disease and it's not just junkies living in alleys that have hepatitis C. It's nondiscriminatory and I thought that if you get tested -- people are afraid to get tested because they're just afraid to know they have it, because it's so discriminated against and I just feel like, you know, I have hepatitis C.
It doesn't make me less of a person. You know, I'm a human being. We all have something to deal with. We all have obstacles and we need to support each other. So, I just loved -- you know, MAC was wonderful, because all their money is donated to people living with AIDS. It doesn't go into testing. It goes into people...
KING: You didn't do anything to get hepatitis C?
ANDERSON: Well, I shared a needle. I shared a tattoo needle, which is you know -- you don't do that with your best friend. Don't do that with anybody. It's just common sense, nowadays. You just don't do it.
KING: That's how you got it?
ANDERSON: Yes. That's what my doctors told me, it was through a tattoo needle.
KING: Were you ever an addict?
ANDERSON: No, no. I faint with needles. I can't believe I even have a tattoo, but...
KING: We'll be back with our remaining moments with Miss Perfect.
ANDERSON: Shut up!
KING: Pamela Anderson. The book "Star Struck," is out tomorrow. Don't go away. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with our remaining moments with Pamela Anderson, who by the way early in August helped boost Navy morale, appearing in San Diego presented a $150,000 check from Fox Home Entertainment to the USO. Boy, those Navy guys -- then visited with the sailors?
ANDERSON: Yes. It's sad.
KING: What was that like?
ANDERSON: Well, it's emotional going on those boats and meeting all the sailors, so young. You know, and they're -- it's just this whole just this whole sad situation. But it really -- you really feel it when you're on the boat and you're with everybody and you realize what's going on. I think it's easy to kind of -- not easy to push aside, but you don't -- we don't have to deal with it day to day and they do. It was really emotional, but great guys. I enlisted some guys.
KING: You what?
ANDERSON: I enlisted them. You know, I...
KING: Swore them in you mean?
ANDERSON: Yes, swore them in. Yes. Brave boys. Brave men and women.
KING: Do you ever get involved in politics?
ANDERSON: No. No.
KING: Never supported candidates or go out -- I mean, you have causes.
ANDERSON: Not yet. Yes. I have causes, but I've never really support a cause. I don't -- you know, know enough about it and I'm Canadian and I came here and I've, you know...
KING: You have dual citizenship?
ANDERSON: I have dual citizenship. Yes, now. So, Now I can vote. I can't wait.
KING: Why?
ANDERSON: Why?
KING: No, I'm getting to another question. This is called a pause after the 'why.'
ANDERSON: OK.
KING: Why are you a vegetarian? ANDERSON: I don't like meat. I don't like, you know, I don't like meat. I don't like the texture of meat. I don't like where it comes from. I don't like the cruelty that's involved. And being involved with PETA so long, you get to know a lot about how meat is prepared and slaughtering and all that stuff. So, I've chosen, after I've kind of educated myself, you know, through PETA, that I don't want to eat it.
KING: No fur coats?
ANDERSON: No.
KING: Leather soles?
ANDERSON: Sometimes -- I have a lot of leather shoes actually -- a lot of -- but I've tried to actually create a clothing line -- a shoe line that is non-leather and I have a lot of great shoes, too, from Stella McCartney that are non-leather as well.
But that's the hardest thing is the leather part of it. A lot of things are leather. Even your car interior. I just ordered a car and I'm getting all, you know, pleather interiors. There's no leather interior in the car that I'm getting, but the car that I have has a leather interior.
KING: Are you against vivisection, the treatment of animals to detect disease?
ANDERSON: I don't know much about that part. Sorry.
KING: But you're certainly against the killing and slaughter of the animal?
ANDERSON: Yes and the slaughtering. You know, PETA is -- they really -- they just want people to be humane about killing animals, too, when it comes to fast food restaurants like KFC. And it's just so inhumane, how they handle their animals and that's the first step.
KING: Good luck in all you do, Pam.
ANDERSON: Thank you.
KING: Great seeing you again.
ANDERSON: Thank you. Vivisection. I thought you meant vasectomy.
KING: No.
ANDERSON: I'm against those, too. No.
KING: Thank you Mrs. Simpson. Nice having you with us. Pamela Anderson -- a little joke there, folks. "Star Struck" will be out tomorrow and look for on "Stacked," on Fox. "NEWSNIGHT" with Aaron Brown is next. Good night.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
