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Showbiz Tonight
Celebs Take Aim at Vice President; "Brokeback" Reigns Supreme at British Film Awards; Serena Williams Dishes on New Fashion Line; Couples Say "Wife Swap" Saved Their Marriages
Aired February 20, 2006 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SIBILA VARGAS, CO-HOST: I`m Sibila Vargas in Hollywood.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: And I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Dick Cheney, a terrorist? Tonight, a big Hollywood star`s shocking shot at the vice president. And wait till you hear else was said. Plus SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, "Should the media leave Cheney alone?"
Nick and Jessica go to war. Startling new developments in the Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey divorce battle. Tonight, Nick says, "Show me the money." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live with the newlyweds` knockdown.
And, the "Brokeback" battle in Britain. Did the gay cowboy movie win them over across the pond?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL, ACTOR: I`ve been graced in Britain, before I was in the states.
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is with the stars in London for the British Oscars. And we reveal whose chances to win academy gold just got union jacked up.
TERENCE HOWARD, ACTOR: Hey, you guys, this is Terence Howard. And if it happened today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer live in New York City.
VARGAS: And I`m Sibila Vargas live in Hollywood.
A.J., just when you thought the whole Dick Cheney shooting mess had come and gone, along comes a big Hollywood star to take his own shot at Cheney, calling the vice president a terrorist.
HAMMER: That`s right, Sibila, and there`s plenty more. Cheney`s on the cover of every major newsmagazines out today. Comedians still taking their potshots over that hunting accident. And it`s got some people asking, "Should the media just leave the guy alone already?"
CNN correspondent Sumi Das is live for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT in Washington.
This is not going away, is it, Sumi?
SUMI DAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not any time soon, A.J. Vice President Cheney has called the Texas hunting accident, where he accidentally shot his friend while quail hunting, the worst day of his life.
And even though the accident victim is out of the hospital, the day is being relived over and over again in the media and on comedy shows. It all has some wondering is the shooting and aftermath still a legitimate story, or is this a case of the media overdoing it?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did the vice president cover up? Did the press overreact?
DAVID GREGORY, NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT: It made the president look bad.
DAS (voice-over): Vice President Cheney`s hunting mishap was still the top story on the Sunday talk shows. And it`s now making the front covers of both "TIME" and "Newsweek."
More than a week after the incident, it`s clear that Vice President Cheney`s accidental shooting of his hunting partner, Harry Whittington, is the story that will not go away, according to Frank Sesno, former CNN Washington bureau chief and a professor at George Mason university.
FRANK SESNO, FORMER CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF: This is an enduring story because it involves the vice president, a gun and the national press corps.
DAS: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can report Hollywood celebrities are taking aim at the vice president. Actor Alec Baldwin writes on HuffingtonPost.com, quote, "Cheney is a terrorist. He terrorizes our enemies abroad and innocent citizens here at home indiscriminately."
And while late night comedy shows continue to get laughs at the vice president`s expense, "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart is also taking issue with the media`s rabid obsession with the story.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Question: if Harry Whittington was only hit by a single bullet, how come over 50 pellets were removed from him?
JON STEWART, HOST, THE COMEDY CENTRAL`S "THE DAILY SHOW": It`s bird shot. It sprays when you shoot it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does it? Or could 49 other gunmen each have shot one tiny pellet?
DAS: In fact, the media are focusing less on the shooting itself and more on the aftermath. Vice President Cheney`s office didn`t confirm the accident until almost 24 hours after it happened. And Cheney himself didn`t speak about it until he did a cable TV interview four days later.
SESNO: When you try to suppress a story, it almost always bites you in the backside.
DAS: Frank Sesno tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that Cheney`s relatively slow response may be the reason why the story is still generating heat.
SESNO: He`s not the first vice president, president to discover that when you try to manage the story, you try to tamp things down, you know, it`s like a pressure cooker and the top is going to blow. And the top finally blew on this.
DAS: But some critics say the major national media may be suffering a collective case of sour grapes. Cheney`s camp let a local Texas newspaper break the news of the shooting, and former Bush White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer suggests that left the big boys with a big ax to grind.
ARI FLEISCHER, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think that there is an element here of the press going bonkers, because they didn`t get the story; somebody else did. And they wish it had been them.
DAS: Of course, the news story, like all others, will some day reach its expiration date.
But the jokes may be another matter. Way back in 1804, Vice President Alan Burr shot Alexander Hamilton in a duel. But it still found its way into this popular recent "Saturday Night Live" skit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aaron Burr, and the way for dropping Hamilton.
DAS: It`s all proved that stories about vice presidential mishaps may fade away but they never die.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAS: Towards the end of that piece, you may have noticed a shot of former Vice President Dan Quayle`s famous potato misspelling incident from back in the `90s. Former CNN bureau chief tells -- Frank Sesno tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that Cheney`s accident could have the same staying power as Quayle`s gaff -- A.J.
HAMMER: I am certain that he is right, Sumi. Thanks very much. CNN correspondent Sumi Das, joining us live from Washington for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
VARGAS: Now we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Dick Cheney: should the media leave him alone? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. And send us your e-mail at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`ll read some of your thoughts later in the show.
HAMMER: Well, the 24 "American Idol" semi-finalists got to have a little fun over the weekend before the work really begins this week. A party was held in their honor in Hollywood. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, of course, right there.
Last season "Idol" finalist Constantine Maroulis sang. Twelve men and 12 woman are going to battle it out to become the fifth "American Idol." Now, it all gets under way tomorrow. That`s when the women will perform, followed by the men on Wednesday.
VARGAS: So you want to know who`s got a pretty good shot of winning, and winning big, at Oscars? Well, take a look at this. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT gives you -- takes you to London with the biggest stars for the British version of the Oscars. Here`s your VIP pass to the big event.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS (voice-over): SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes around the world to London to bring you all the screaming for the hottest stores in Hollywood. Top celebs flew half way around the world for Sunday`s British Academy Film Awards. Because some say the BAFTAs are a precursor to the Oscars. The Oscars with umbrellas.
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: It`s a little chilly out. I`m surprised. They can take the cold around here. You do this in L.A., there`d be nobody here.
VARGAS: But everybody was there for one of the biggest and most important award shows.
GYLLENHAAL: The Oscars with an accent? To me it feels really special, because I feel like I`ve been embraced in Britain, like, before I was in the states. And so to me it feels almost even more important, because it was, you know, I just feel encouraged always here. So it`s nice.
VARGAS: Nice for "Brokeback Mountain"...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the BAFTA goes to "Brokeback Mountain."
VARGAS: ... taking home four awards, including best picture.
PIERCE BROSNAN, ACTOR: And the BAFTA is presented to Ang Lee.
VARGAS: "Brokeback`s" Ang Lee won best director. He was overwhelmed. He tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT his goals were small.
ANG LEE, DIRECTOR: I thought it was a small film, not even so much for award, let alone box office. I just tried to make our money back, if we`re lucky.
VARGAS: Other big winners, "Walk the Line`s" Reese Witherspoon won for best actress, and "Capote`s" Philip Seymour Hoffman took home the best actor trophy. And Hollywood insiders tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that makes him the odds on favorite to win the Oscar.
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, ACTOR: At late, late, late in the game, we thought we might have something that`s not bad.
VARGAS: "Crash`s" Matt Dillon, who was beat out by "Brokeback`s" Jake Gyllenhaal for best actor in a supporting role, told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he`s just proud of the controversial film.
MATT DILLON, ACTOR: It feels great. I mean, I`m happy that the film has been recognized, and it`s nice to be -- have my performance recognized.
VARGAS: Matt lost, but "Crash`s" Thandie Newton took the prize for best in a supporting role.
THANDIE NEWTON, ACTRESS: It`s fantastic. I think one of the most important things about gaining awards like this is that you take people with you. It`s not just about me. And it`s -- "Crash" doesn`t need to be taken anywhere. It`s just shooting down the highway as fast as it can go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: Now there certainly was no favoritism at the BAFTAs. Local British favorite "The Constant Gardener" had an amazing 10 nominations but only took home one award for editing.
But industry insiders are saying this is big news for "Brokeback Mountain." Big wins at BAFTA quite often mean big wins at the Oscars. It`s not a rule, though. Last year "The Aviator" won the BAFTA best film award. The best pic Oscar went to "Million Dollar Baby."
But I`m just -- I`m still amazed, A.J., at how incredible "Brokeback Mountain" has been doing with all these award shows. I`d be surprised if it doesn`t get the Oscar.
HAMMER: I would, as well. And these award shows go on all over the world, but for this particular show, it`s interesting to see all the big stars show up at this one. It`s very important.
VARGAS: Yes. Absolutely. Going across the pond.
HAMMER: That they are there across the pond.
Well, Sibila, the VIPs were there in London, and there were a lot of VIPs among the more than a million people that showed up in Brazil for a free concert by the Rolling Stones.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The fans were camped out for days just to get the free tickets for the concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro over the weekend. Now, this is the third time that the Stones have played in Brazil, but it`s the first time it was free.
The Stones played for two hours. They opened up with "Jumping Jack Flash." And coming up in our "SHOWBIZ Showcase," we`re going to show you the performance of that song.
VARGAS: Well, can switching spouses actually save your marriage? Coming up, we meet a pair of couples who actually say the TV show "Wife Swap" stopped them from splitting up.
Plus, we`ll also have this.
HAMMER: Why in the world is this kid so upset? Find out what all the fuss is about. He might be screaming right into your e-mail inbox box. Viral video still to come.
VARGAS: And, tennis star Serena Williams, she tells us how Oprah inspired her with an "off the court" idea that you can wear. It`s the interview you`ll only see on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That`s next.
HAMMER: First, here comes tonight`s "`Entertainment Weekly` Great American Pop Culture Quiz." What was the name of that Don Johnson classic, his No. 5 hit from 1986? Was it "Heartbeat," "Heartbreaker," "Heart Lights" or "Heart O` My Heart"? We`re coming straight right back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VARGAS: ... tonight`s "Entertainment" -- so again, tonight`s "`Entertainment Weekly` Great American Pop Culture Quiz." What was Don Johnson`s No. 1 -- 5 hit in 1986? The "Miami Vice" star scored with "Heartbeat." Remember that one? The answer is "A."
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. This is TV`s only live entertainment news show.
It`s time now for a "SHOWBIZ Sitdown" with Serena Williams. With seven grand slam tennis tournament wins, 11 doubles championships with her sister Venus and countless other titles, Serena has certainly solidified her spot atop the tennis world.
Well, now she has got her sights set on a different kind of game, the game of fashion. I had the chance to sit down with Serena, and she told me that her love of the fashion game is right up there with her love of the game that made her a star.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SERENA WILLIAMS, WORLD RANKED TENNIS STAR: I love fashion. I actually went to school for two and a half years at Art Institute. I love fashion; I love designing. I`ve already started the process of my line, which is Aneres, which is my name spelled backwards.
HAMMER: You know what?
WILLIAMS: Isn`t that cool?
HAMMER: It is cool. Did you come up with that?
WILLIAMS: I did come up with that. And I think it`s a great idea.
HAMMER: It`s a great name. And I said, "That`s a really nice name." I didn`t know what it means. I was going to ask you about it, and I appreciate you filling me in on that.
WILLIAMS: It`s spelled backwards. I was a little inspired by Oprah, because she has "Oprah" and then...
HAMMER: Harpo.
WILLIAMS: ... she has her production company is Harpo. So I was a little inspired by that. So yes.
HAMMER: So as a tennis player, just for the fun of it. I know the answer to this question for myself. But which is the most difficult part of the game for you. Is it the psychological part or is it the physical part?
WILLIAMS: The most difficult part of the game is definitely probably the physical part, because I psych anyone out. I`ll psych you out if necessary
HAMMER: I`m psyched out right now, quite frankly.
WILLIAMS: I`ll psyche you out. But yes, but I mean, physically, I`m always having a good time. And I mean, I`m pretty strong.
HAMMER: I know another one of your passions is acting.
WILLIAMS: I love acting, yes.
HAMMER: You did that episode of "E.R."
WILLIAMS: I did.
HAMMER: The one with the big plane crash.
WILLIAMS: Yes. That was the biggest set of "E.R." So I was really excited to be on that site. I actually passed on the show. So I always wanted to die when I was acting, because I`ve been acting, actually, since I was 16.
HAMMER: So this was your first on-screen death.
WILLIAMS: This was my first on-screen death.
HAMMER: OK.
WILLIAMS: And I was pretty excited when I first saw the script. I was like, "Oh, cool, I get to die. I always wanted to die." But I decided that I don`t want to die anymore. I want to -- I want to stay on throughout.
HAMMER: It was very powerful. I happened to be watching that, and I didn`t even know -- oh, my God. In fact, I didn`t know it was you at first.
WILLIAMS: Yes, that`s great.
HAMMER: Yes.
WILLIAMS: And so I really, really enjoy acting. I really, really love it. I`ve always loved it.
HAMMER: So you got acting. You got the fashion. You got the tennis. Of course, some of the other things. Of those three, though, if you could do just one, I imagine you`d say it would be tennis, right?
WILLIAMS: No, right now I have to say tennis, because I really like it. And like I said, today I was thinking, "Oh, I need to go practice today." I want to. It`s something that I want to do. So I definitely think tennis is first. But I can`t play tennis for 30 years. So I have to go with acting next.
HAMMER: I know your sister, a big music fan. And she`s talked about what she has on her iPod. I`m sure you have an iPod that you travel with. Give me some nuggets on there that we wouldn`t expect.
WILLIAMS: Venus loves 311. So you...
HAMMER: What about you?
WILLIAMS: Me, I love -- I`m Green Day`s No. 1 fan, actually.
HAMMER: Really? I might not have picked you for an "American Idiot."
WILLIAMS: I am. I am an American idiot. As a matter of fact, a funny story, long time ago, in `94, when they -- `93, `94 when they first came out, with that album called "Dookie," they had this Idiot Club, and so...
HAMMER: You`re a card carrying member of the Idiot Club?
WILLIAMS: I joined the Idiot Club.
HAMMER: I think we`re breaking news here, folks.
WILLIAMS: It`s so funny, because then they shut down the Idiot Club and I was sad. I stopped receiving mail.
HAMMER: Oh, no.
WILLIAMS: So just now with the new success of the album, they reopened the Idiot Club. And then I always joke, I was an original idiot. It`s so funny.
HAMMER: Would you have any idea if their lead singer, Billy Joe Armstrong, is a card carrying member of your fan club?
WILLIAMS: I doubt it. But you know, I met them. And honestly, it was -- I don`t even want to talk about them. I`ll go for hours.
HAMMER: You`re getting a little shaky talking about them. Wow.
WILLIAMS: Yes, so I`m really their No. 1 fan from day one.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Very excited about that band.
Serena also told me that besides being a designer, actor, tennis superstar and "original idiot," she has also developed a line of wearable lipstick pendants.
VARGAS: Tonight, it`s Martha Stewart versus "The Donald." In an issue of "Newsweek" on newsstands today, Martha Stewart says her version of "The Apprentice" was a flop because Trump`s version was on the air, too.
Stewart says her show was supposed to be the only one and that she was supposed to start out by firing Trump on the air, but, quote, "Donald really wanted to stay on."
Well, Trump isn`t having any of it. He told the Associated Press, quote, "I wish she would be able to take responsibility for her failure." Trump says Stewart`s show didn`t have the right tone or demeanor. So there.
HAMMER: So can swapping spouses actually save your marriage? Well, tonight, you`re about to meet two couples who say pairing up with others actually stopped them from splitting up.
The amazing experience was all part of a special edition of the ABC reality show, "Wife Swap," where two families swap wives for two weeks. And it`s all caught on tape.
Let me sort it all out for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): The Smoak family, headed up by Aletha and Glenn, pictured here, swapped with the Beaver family, headed up by Amy and Jeff, here. Then there`s the Policchio, headed up by Don and Caprice. They swapped with the Pitts family, headed up by Bambi and Ken.
The Smoak and Policchio families stopped by the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT studios to talk with me about their whacky experiences and how it changed their marriages.
(on camera) Thank you very much for being a part of this here today. And you obviously had a lot of experiences to share. You all had very different lives than the people with whom you swapped. So why don`t I start with you two? What was the biggest adjustment, the hardest adjustment that you had to make when you did the swap?
ALETHA SMOAK, APPEARED ON "WIFE SWAP": The hardest adjustment I had to get used to, I guess, was the fact that her house was not clean. And it wasn`t going to be clean unless I did it. It was totally different from mine.
Look at the cigarette butts, would you? There`s hundreds.
HAMMER: And Caprice, what about for you?
CAPRICE POLICCHIO, APPEARED ON "WIFE SWAP": When they chose us, she and I were exact opposites. So I had to get used to everything.
That`s cat doo-doo. Or dog doo-doo.
There were 25 pets running loose. The house was filthy. There were no rules. That`s just not me. Everything was opposite. So I had to get used to everything.
HAMMER: And Aletha, for you, card carrying member of the NRA, you know, you`re now living with a family that is very much against guns and hunting. And there was also a bit of a cleaning issue, because you`re a clean person.
A. SMOAK: I`ve got a list of little chore charts here. Jeff, this one`s yours. Emily...
HAMMER: Can you believe that people are actually living like this?
SMOAK: I actually cannot imagine. It was like they were stuck in the `60s or something. Also, Jeff had dreadlocks and he wore, like, tie-dyed shirts. And it was freaky to me. And I thought I was like the normal, and of course, they thought they were the normal. So you know, who`s to say what`s normal, you know? You have to, I guess, accept everybody for what they are and what they believe in.
HAMMER: And Glenn, with your temporary wife what was the biggest adjustment?
GLENN SMOAK, APPEARED ON "WIFE SWAP": She didn`t know how to cook. And she took all my animals, my mounts and my guns.
HAMMER: Wasn`t real happy with that?
G. SMOAK: No.
HAMMER: What about you, Don?
DON POLICCHIO, APPEARED ON "WIFE SWAP": I think the hard part for me was just the lack of orderly structure that Bambi brought to our house. I mean, as Caprice said, we were very, very structured. Or at least we were. We`ve relaxed a bit since then. But she was completely disordered.
We`re off a bit here. There we go.
HAMMER: And all of this, the entire experience, wound up actually saving your marriage?
C. POLICCHIO: It really did. We love each other. We thought we were content and happily married but we knew we were very bored. You know, every day was the same. Each day we got up, we knew what to expect. And I think the show, it held a mirror in front of us and showed us that, wait a minute, five years down the road you`re going to be in trouble.
HAMMER: So what would you tell people out there who may be struggling right now, who may be, you know, having a really hard time with their spouse in terms of...?
G. SMOAK: The grass isn`t always greener on the other side, one thing.
A. SMOAK: Be willing to take a chance.
HAMMER: From what it sounds like, being open to change is a big part of it.
C. POLICCHIO: You have to be open to change. This show, the idea behind it, every family has something they can teach another family, and every family has something they can learn. And I think we definitely benefited from the show.
HAMMER: Everybody is smiling.
C. POLICCHIO: Uh-huh.
A. SMOAK: I would do it again.
HAMMER: Thank you all for joining us. I appreciate it.
C. POLICCHIO: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: "Wife Swap Saved my Marriage" airs tonight on ABC.
VARGAS: Coming up, more late night funnies about the Dick Cheney hunting accident.
HAMMER: Also, startling new developments more in the Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey divorce battle. Tonight, Nick says, "Show me the money." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live with the newlyweds` knockdown.
Plus we`ll have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, kick it hard. Kick it hard. Good kick. One more time. Good kick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: The chimp doing karate. You see it there. Still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Some videos you`ll really get a kick out of. Viral videos that have traveled to e-mail inboxes all over the world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VARGAS: Well, as we`ve been reporting, it seems that the late night comedians, well, they just can`t get enough of Dick Cheney`s hunting accident. Even as gunshot victim Harry Whittington left the hospital Friday, the jokes, well, they just kept on coming. Take a look at tonight`s "Laughter Dark."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAY LENO, HOST, NBC`S "THE TONIGHT SHOW": There`s so much speculation about what happened, you know, where was Cheney? We have footage. Let me show you this.
KEVIN EUBANKS, BAND LEADER: Really?
LENO: We have an exclusive. Yes. This is security footage from the ranch. This was taken by someone who was there moments after Cheney shot Harry. I apologize for the quality of the -- it sounds like a movie, "When Cheney Shot Harry." But no. We`re going to show you security footage. I`m going to apologize for the quality, but you`ll see Dick Cheney clearly. Let`s take a look.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on out, come on out here. Drop the -- drop the shotgun, sir. Sir, have you been drinking?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`s intoxicated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (expletive deleted) you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (expletive deleted) you; (expletive deleted) the state of Texas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Heart attack, heart attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Call a paramedic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The guy`s in a white tank top. There was going to be a camera caption, but I don`t think that was Cheney.
Well, that leads us to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We`re asking, Dick Cheney: should the media leave him alone? Keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also write to us at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com.
Coming up, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is at the British Oscars. We`ve got more star-studded reaction.
VARGAS: And the Nick Lachey and Jessica -- Jessica Simpson divorce is getting pretty ugly. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live with the latest on the newlyweds` knockdown and why it could cost Jessica millions.
Plus we`ll also have this.
HAMMER: Why in the world is this kid throwing such a big and loud tantrum? Well, there`s actually a pretty funny story here. It actually could be coming to an e-mail inbox near you. The wild world of viral videos, still to come. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
VARGAS: And I`m Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. You`re watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.
A.J., got to ask you a question. Have you ever seen "War of the Roses"?
HAMMER: I have seen "War of the Roses," as a matter of fact.
VARGAS: Great movie. Well, tonight it could be in Hollywood, more of the not-so-newlyweds. Nick and Jessica making news once again. Their divorce definitely heating up. Nick wants spousal support. Jess is saying, "No way, Jose." We`ll have the details. That`s coming up.
HAMMER: And a lot of money involved here.
All right, Sibila, I know they show up in your e-mail inbox every day, a little e-mail that says "FWD: You got to see this," or something like that.
VARGAS: Absolutely. I get a lot of those.
HAMMER: Well, for me, I have to hit that delete button or occasionally I`ll watch them. A lot of these videos that are being sent around, they`re being pulled down from the Internet, forwarded all around, have developed somewhat of a cult following. They`re called viral videos. They`ve actually got their own name. One TV network has decided we`re going to put on a show and show you these viral videos. This is must-see video clips, and we have a few of them coming up in just a few minutes.
VARGAS: I`m guilty. I love to see them.
But first, here are tonight`s "Hot Headlines."
It`s another sad moment for the Cowsill family. The lead singer of the Cowsills, William Cowsill, has died after a battle with emphysema, osteoporosis and other health problems. He was 58 years old. In December, Barry Cowsill`s body was discovered. He was missing since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.
More sad news to report tonight. Legendary TV sportscaster Curt Gowdy is dead after a long battle with leukemia. Sports fans know him as the longtime voice of the Boston Red Sox. And during the 1960s and `70s, he was the voice of the baseball on NBC. Curt Gowdy was 86 years old.
"Brokeback Mountain" was the big winner at the BAFTAs. It won best picture and best director at the British Academy Film Awards, Britain`s version of the Oscars. Philip Seymour Hoffman won best actor for his role in "Capote." And Reese Witherspoon walked away with the best actress for "Walk the Line."
A.J., it was rainy out there, but, my gosh, the stars definitely showed up. And of course, we were there to get a lot of the interviews.
HAMMER: It was definitely Hollywood in London. Yes, we were backstage. We were hanging out on the red carpet, talking to all the big stars before and after they won.
One star in particular we spoke with, George Clooney, who, of course, is the big star of our Academy Awards coming up in just two weeks, told us basically that, you know, tell him where to show up, and he`ll be there. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: I`ve never been here. I`ve never been to the Oscars, so I don`t know either of those. This is all very new to me. So I just show up when they tell me to show up.
JAKE GYLLENHAAL, ACTOR: I think probably what I enjoyed the most was the relationships that have come out of it, you know, with Heath, and Michelle, and with Ang. I think we`re all genuinely friends. And to me, that`s a wonderful thing.
ANG LEE, DIRECTOR: What else can I say? Great. You know, when we started making the movie, I think it`s true -- I speak for all of us -- that we thought of this as a small, precious film, not as a big, precious film.
THANDIE NEWTON, ACTRESS: The best of the British industry is here tonight, those who could make it who aren`t working. And it`s also being - - it attracts filmmakers from all over the world. And also, because it`s got such a high profile now.
I mean, look at this, the people that turn up to see it in the rain, and the spectacle, and the gowns. And yes, it is. It`s very much the British Oscars.
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, ACTOR: I actually love London. I`ve been here often. I`ve worked here, and I feel very comfortable here. So it`s kind of great -- it`s a great honor. And it feels right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Were I a betting man, I would say that Philip Seymour Hoffman is going to walk away with the best actor Oscar, as well...
VARGAS: I`m with you on that one.
HAMMER: ... on Oscar night.
VARGAS: I`m with you on that one.
Well, tonight, a potential "War of the Roses" is building up in the divorce drama of Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. And it`s shaping up to be a $100 million battle.
Joining us live from Glendale, California, is Harvey Levin, the managing editor of the entertainment news site TMZ.com. Harvey, TMZ was the first to break the news about Lachey`s response to Simpson`s divorce petition. And already this is looking pretty ugly. I mean, these were America`s sweethearts, the lovable couple, the newlyweds. What is going on here?
HARVEY LEVIN, MANAGING EDITOR, TMZ.COM: Well, it happens, Sibila. And what happened here is that they are in a dispute right now over when they separated. Legally, it makes a huge difference.
She`s saying they separated on November 23rd. He`s saying they separated on December 13th. Now, once they separate, what`s hers is hers, what`s his is his. But until they separate, it`s community property, it`s 50/50.
In between those two dates, Jessica Simpson raked in $850,000 for a single performance in Cincinnati. If Nick`s right about the separation date, he gets half of that. And that`s just one of the items that they could be disputing, in terms of who owns what when it comes to the money that they raked in.
VARGAS: OK. So he wants the right to seek spousal support. Now, he`s a millionaire in his own right though. I mean, is he serious about having her support him?
LEVIN: Well, first of all, he may be entitled to spousal support if she was making significantly more than him, which she was, she during the marriage. Secondly, that doesn`t mean he`s going to ask the judge for spousal support. When you fill out these documents, you have to reserve your right and check the proper box, which is what he did. It doesn`t mean that he`s going to ask for it.
But really the stage is set here for, you know, a high-stakes legal battle over money. And there are two titan lawyers on either side here that are not afraid of a fight. So, you know, this really could develop into something if they can`t settle.
VARGAS: Interesting, though, when they first got married, that he was the powerhouse. And now she`s turned out to be the powerhouse. And she`s worth about $100 million. In the state of California, he could walk away with half, right? I mean, that`s a cool $50 million?
LEVIN: And the irony to all of this is that Nick wanted a pre-nup, not only wanted one, but they agreed to it. He had a lawyer draft it, presented it to her. And what I`m told is Jessica`s dad said, "Don`t sign that pre-nup." And she said, "OK, I won`t sign it." Had she signed the pre-nup, all of that money that she earned could have ended up being hers. She didn`t do it; he`s now entitled to half.
VARGAS: So it come back to haunt her in a way?
LEVIN: In a big way. In a big way.
VARGAS: But, you know, she`s being very smart about this in her own way. I mean, you know, what happened to the girl who thought, you know, Chicken of the Sea was chicken and not tuna?
LEVIN: Smartest thing she ever said. It made her a star. You know, I don`t know how much Jessica Simpson is making these decisions on her own and how much they`re being made by her dad, but I can tell you, again, you know, these are two huge lawyers in town.
Bob Kaufman, who has represented so many stars, is representing Jessica. Laura Wasser is representing Nick. These are big, big lawyers. And they are staking their ground right now.
So I`m telling you, if this is not settled, this could really end up being a huge fight in court, because, like you say, millions and millions of dollars are on the line.
VARGAS: It`s really getting ugly. I mean, what went wrong? I mean, we were rooting for them. What went wrong?
LEVIN: Well, you know, I mean, I`m not a psychologist, but, you know, they were awfully young when they got married. And, you know, they`re not unlike a lot of other people. They were young people that were kind of finding their way.
Look at what happened to both of them once they got married. They both became huge stars. They basically created this marriage under a magnifying glass, and it just didn`t work. And you know what? That happens in a lot of marriages where it`s less difficult to sustain it than it was for them.
VARGAS: Absolutely, and a lot in Hollywood, absolutely. So thanks a lot, TMZ.com`s Harvey Levin, thank you so much, live in Glendale, California.
LEVIN: See you.
HAMMER: Well, "Eight Below" came out on top at the weekend box office. The film is based on a true story, a survival tale about sled dogs that are abandoned in Antarctica. Final figures out today show it made about $25 million in its debut weekend. The romance spoof, "Date Movie," opened up in second place, followed by "Pink Panther," starring Steve Martin, of course. The animated "Curious George" came in fourth. And the horror film, "Final Destination 3," was in fifth place.
VARGAS: Is the new album from Rosanne Cash worth your hard-earned cash? We`ll find out, coming up in the "Showbiz Guide" to new music.
HAMMER: Plus, a chimp doing karate. Need we say more? Well, let`s show you what it looks like. I mean, check it out. That chimp really knows his stuff. We`re going to show you some videos you`ll really get a kick out of, coming up next.
VARGAS: And how do you sing "Jumpin` Jack Flash" in Portuguese? The Rolling Stones show more than a million Brazilians that rock and roll is an international language. Hear for yourself, ahead in the "Showbiz Showcase."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
It`s the new frontier of the entertainment world: your inbox. That`s right. It happens all the time. You know, somebody e-mails you a video clip, you watch it, you laugh. And of course, you forward it to everybody you know, everybody on your address book.
Well, they`re calling these viral videos. They actually came up with a name for them. Tonight, we`re going to show you some of the best of the best.
And joining me live here in New York, Andrew Cohen, the vice president of programming and production for the Bravo Network, where tonight a brand- new show called "Outrageous and Contagious Viral Videos" premieres.
And it was only a matter of time before this was going to happen, wasn`t it?
ANDREW COHEN, "VIRAL VIDEOS": Absolutely. It`s the new frontier.
HAMMER: Now, set this straight, though. People might be hearing something about their computer and viral videos. This will not infect your computer. That is not what this means.
COHEN: No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No infection. No pills for viral videos. These are the videos that are just the funniest, smartest and most curious videos that wind up in your inbox. When Al Roker fell down on the "Today Show" that day, hours later everyone was e-mailing each other the clip.
HAMMER: They`re like cult favorites. They`re like cult movies that everybody loves.
COHEN: Exactly.
HAMMER: Well, let`s get into the clips, because that`s what this is all about. A lot of the viral videos are actually advertisements that people otherwise might not have seen, maybe just a little local ad somewhere. The first one we`re going to show is something that actually showed up in my inbox about a year ago. I`ve watched it two dozen times, because anything that has a monkey in it, I`m interested. I don`t know why that is.
Check out the trunk monkey.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who do you think you`re honking at, huh? What, you don`t like the way I drive?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn`t know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want a piece of me? Why don`t you go out and get you some, huh? Where are you going to go now? Well, you can`t speed off by anybody now. You think you`re better than me? What do you think? Well, I don`t like the way you drive. What, you got a fancy new...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The trunk monkey, a revolutionary idea you`ll only find at Suburban Auto Group, pending approval...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: It`s a classic. And you put your finger on the pulse of the viral video movement, which is, if there`s a monkey involved, it`s a classic and you have to send it to everyone else. And that`s the rule.
HAMMER: And that`s just an ad for a local car dealer somewhere in America.
COHEN: Exactly, in Oregon.
HAMMER: Getting an awful lot of play because of this video circulating around the Internet.
COHEN: For sure. For sure.
HAMMER: Well, if it`s got a monkey involved or, perhaps, a politician involved, our president no shortage of material. Let`s take a look at a viral video featuring President George W. Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Third, this bill meets our commitment to America`s Armed Forces by preparing them to meet the threats of tomorrow. Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. We must never stop thinking about how best to defend our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, sadly...
VARGAS: Again, I mean, this is one of those things that you kind of do have to see to believe, because you might read it in the newspaper and think, "OK, well, this reads one way," but when you see it, that`s why you have to send it to 10 friends. And politicians flubbing up or screwing up always make a classic viral video.
HAMMER: Politicians, people we know, but also a lot of people that we don`t know. You know, we saw the guy in the trunk monkey commercial.
COHEN: Yes.
HAMMER: There are several others out there, big cult hits. Do you see a new breed of celebrities coming out of these?
COHEN: You know, I do. The Chinese architects that lip sync to the "Backstreet Boys" -- I don`t know if you remember that classic -- those guys became stars overnight. They were all over the place. People were trying to book them. They were on Leno.
So these people are becoming celebrities, absolutely. One thing that I worry about is, there are a lot of kind of "Jackass"-type stunts that people do, and then e-mail their friends, and kind of try to become viral video stars. And you just hope that someone doesn`t kill themselves trying to be a viral video star.
HAMMER: Well, let`s get into another one. And, actually, I don`t wan to reveal what it is. It`s another advertisement.
COHEN: Yes.
HAMMER: We don`t want to say what this ad is for...
COHEN: Right. You have to guess.
HAMMER: ... but it`s an unconventional way of selling this particular product. Why don`t we roll this, Ellie?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHILDREN SCREAMING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, you guys had no idea that was a condom ad.
COHEN: Right. Right.
HAMMER: All right. I want to quickly get to this next one, because we can`t do this without featuring Charlie the Karate Chimp, one of the viral videos on your show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Spin and kick. Spin and kick. Spin and kick. Come on. Get them up there. Ready? Jump roundhouse. Good kick. Up, come on, kick it. One more, ready? Right heel, kick it hard, kick it hard. Good kick. One more time. Good kick. Up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, there you go.
COHEN: If it`s a monkey, it`s a classic.
HAMMER: You got to put the chimp who knows how to do karate on television.
COHEN: You have to.
HAMMER: Andrew, thanks very much for joining us, Andrew Cohen from Bravo.
And for more viral videos, you can catch the show. It`s called "Outrageous and Contagious Viral Videos." It`s on Bravo tonight.
VARGAS: Well, as we reported earlier, more than a million people showed up for a free Rolling Stones concert in Brazil over the weekend. The band opened up with "Jumpin` Jack Flash." Here`s a look in the "Showbiz Showcase."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICK JAGGER, LEAD SINGER, THE ROLLING STONES: (singing)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: Wow, A.J., I`ve never seen anything like that. That`s a million people.
HAMMER: Well, you always get your money`s worth at a Stones show. When it`s for free, even better. I spoke with somebody who was there. They said it as much part concert, rock concert, as it was carnival, which is appropriate for Rio de Janeiro.
VARGAS: Of course.
HAMMER: All right, well, Sibila, right now we`re going to get into the "Showbiz Guide." Throughout the week, of course, we help you decide where to spend your dollars on movies, music, DVDs and more. Tonight, it`s "People`s" picks and pans for what`s new in music.
We`re talking about new releases tonight from Rosanne Cash, Andrea Bocelli, and the Australian twins known as the Veronicas.
Joining me live in New York to tell me about them and you, "People" magazine senior writer Anne Marie Cruz.
Anne Marie, I want to start out with this album from Rosanne Cash -- it`s in stores now -- called "Black Cadillac." And we`re going to play the title track.
There`s a lot of emotion on this album. When she was working on this, her dad, Johnny, her stepmom, June Carter, and her mom all passed away. It`s got to be pretty heavy duty, and it`s your critic`s pick, right?
ANNE MARIE CRUZ, SENIOR WRITER, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE": Yes. It`s our critic`s choice. And if there`s any justice in the world, this won`t get overshadowed by "Walk the Line," that people will see this as sort of a companion piece to it, because of all the rich material that she has, the grief and the loss that she was dealing with the time.
And all 12 songs are such a poignant study on how it is to go through that kind of loss, from "God is in the Roses" to "I Was Watching You," which is this really sweet song about how she was up in heaven watching her parents when she was a baby. And it comes full circle to them watching her now that she`s still here and they`re up there.
HAMMER: I`ve listened to this front to end, and it is a powerful album, indeed.
Let`s move on to Andrea Bocelli. He was here recently talking to us about his album, "Amore." Let`s give a quick listen to "Somos Novios."
He`s covering love songs on this album. He says it`s one of his proudest achievements.
CRUZ: It`s such a beautiful album. I mean, as much as Il Divo wants to accomplish the same thing, Andrea does it with just one person instead of four. And he`s, like, a nice, rich Barolo; once you take a sip, it warms you and it makes your blood that much redder.
HAMMER: All right. And some stars we know on the album, from Stevie Wonder to Christina Aguilera.
CRUZ: Yes, Christina, I`m not the biggest fan of her being on it with him, because it`s sort of like putting butter cream frosting on steak, because he can stand on his own. You don`t need the extra sugar.
HAMMER: Well, quickly, the Veronicas, big stars already in their native Australia. What about this album?
CRUZ: Yes, this is total "TRL" fodder. It`s just like Hilary, Avril and Ashlee. You know, how you get the same outfit in five different colors, she`s a different color of the same -- you know, if you like Hilary and Avril, get this.
HAMMER: Go for this one. And it`s called "The Secret Life Of," and it available in stores now.
Anne Marie Cruz, thank you very much for joining us. And for more picks and pans, you can always grab your copy of "People" magazine. You will find it on newsstands now.
Well, there`s still some time for you to sound off in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day," if you haven`t gotten to the computer already. Dick Cheney: Should the media leave him alone?
You can vote online at CNN.com/showbiztonight. You can also write to us at showbiztonight@CNN.com. Your e-mails live, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Throughout the show, we`ve been asking you to vote online in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Asking Dick Cheney: Should the media leave him alone?
Well, so far in the vote, with our plus or minus 3 percent margin of error, pretty straight down the middle. Forty-seven percent of you say yes; 53 percent of you say no.
Among the e-mails we received, we heard from Jim who`s in Florida and writes, "We should leave Dick Cheney alone. Are you perfect? I, for one, am not."
We also got an e-mail from Linda who lives in Georgia. She writes, "This incident is hardly worth the time the media is still focusing on it."
You can continue to vote by going to CNN.com/showbiztonight.
And, Sibila, I think this is going to be, as we mentioned in our report, just like the Dan Quayle misspelling potato thing. It`s not going to go away.
VARGAS: It`s not going to go. It`s just going to continue, and continue, and continue, and I`m still going to hate it.
Well, that`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Sibila Vargas live in Hollywood.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN Headline News.
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