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Showbiz Tonight
Barbara Walters Enters Feud Between Trump and Rosie; Advice For Britney Spears
Aired January 03, 2007 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT ANCHOR: Should Oprah Winfrey run for president with George Clooney as her running mate? I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT ANCHOR: And some words of wisdom for Lindsay Lohan from Drew Barrymore. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. You`re watching TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. It starts right now.
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Donald gets a talking to from the Barbara. Tonight Barbara Walters startling and unexpected shot at Donald Trump in his war of words with Rosie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, "THE VIEW": Donald Trump also said that I am not happy with my decision to bring Rosie O`Donnell to this table. Nothing could be further from the truth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wait a second, is Barbara Walters calling Donald a liar? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents Barbara Walters` trump card. Tonight, inside Britney`s new years eve party. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the dramatic video of Britney Spears` party in Vegas just moments before she either passed out or fell asleep. Tonight, is Britney unraveling? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT calls in a doctor to write Britney a prescription for life.
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight we are calling in a doctor to help cure Britney Spears of her wild ways. That`s coming up.
HAMMER: But first tonight the war of the Rosie. Just when we thought the war of words between Donald Trump and Rosie O`Donnell was over, oh, no. Barbara Walters has stepped up to the plate on "The View" and knocked the ball right into the Donald`s court. I spoke to Trump today for quite a while, and the only place you will get to hear that explosive interview is right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Because now Donald has to respond to the woman he calls his friend, Barbara Walters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALTERS: Donald Trump also said that I am not happy with my decision to bring Rosie O`Donnell to this table. Nothing could be further from the truth.
HAMMER (voice-over): Barbara Walters spent her first day back on "The View" trying to clean up one big mess. Namely, the feud between "View" co- host Rosie O`Donnell and Donald Trump that erupted while Walters was on vacation. Walters tried to counter a statement that Donald Trump made to me right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, that Walters regrets bringing Rosie to "The View."
WALTERS: I have never regretted, nor do I now, the hiring of Rosie O`Donnell.
HAMMER: Now, in a phone call to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Donald himself tells me he is standing by his words.
(on camera): You were very clear and emphatic when you told me that Barbara Walters is not thrilled with Rosie. Donald, is she calling you a liar?
DONALD TRUMP, "THE APPRENTICE": Barbara knows what she said.
HAMMER (voice-over): He said, she said, and she said. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking -- who are we supposed to believe?
MARC PEYSER, "NEWSWEEK": It`s hilarious the way these two are going after each other.
JO PIAZZA, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": I think that if we could send Barbara Walters to the Middle East, she would be able to solve all our problems.
HAMMER: Let`s turn the calendar all the way back to last year when the feud started. Donald Trump, co-owner of the Miss USA Pageant, publicly forgave current Miss USA Tara Conner for reportedly going a bit wild on the New York City party scene. That caused Rosie to say this.
ROSIE O`DONNELL, "THE VIEW": He annoys me on a multitude of levels. He is the moral authority? Left the first wife, had an affair. Left the second wife, had an affair. Had kids both times. But he is the moral compass for 20 year-olds in America.
HAMMER: And when I talked to him in his office the next day, the Donald fired back.
(on camera): So you think your friend Barbara didn`t make a good choice in hiring her for that program.
TRUMP: Well Barbara Walters called me yesterday. She is a friend of mine and she is not a big fan of Rosie.
WALTERS: We are now going to move on.
HAMMER (voice-over): Now, as we saw on "The View" today, Barbara is saying that`s simply not the case. But Trump tells me he is sticking to his guns.
TRUMP: Let me explain it to you. Barbara called me. Barbara knows what she said. Barbara is not a fan of Rosie. That`s number one. Listen to me. That`s number one. Number two, I fully understand what she is doing. What is she going to say? She has got to work with the slob. What the hell is she going to say, that Rosie is this or that?
(CROSS TALK)
TRUMP: I fully understand what Barbara is saying.
HAMMER: Right. But they will hear you saying this and essentially --
TRUMP: Barbara knows what she said. Barbara knows what she said.
HAMMER: On "The View," Barbara tried to extend Trump an olive branch, clarifying an earlier statement by Rosie that Trump had gone bankrupt in the past.
WALTERS: ABC has asked me to say this, just to clarify things and I will quote, Donald Trump has never filed for personal bankruptcy. Several of his casino companies have filed for business bankruptcies, they are out of bankruptcy now.
HAMMER: Initially Trump told me in a rather colorful way that he may sue Rosie.
TRUMP: Taking money out of her big fat ass would be probably something that`s very easy.
HAMMER: And now that Barbara has cleared that up, I asked Donald if anything has changed.
(on camera): Now that Barbara has gone on "The View" and made that statement, will you still go forward with your threat to sue?
TRUMP: Well, we`re looking at it. The lawyers are very, very -- there are many other things that were said that were very wrong and very inaccurate by Rosie, because Rosie lied.
HAMMER (voice-over): Well, one thing is certainly true -- the Donald versus Rosie feud is making for great TV.
PIAZZA: The "Apprentice L.A." starts soon. "The View`s" ratings are going up. If we can continue this feud through January, I think it is good for both Donald and Rosie.
HAMMER: But Trump tells me this isn`t about ratings.
(on camera): With "The Apprentice" about to launch, I can`t imagine that you`re hating all the press that`s coming out of this.
TRUMP: I don`t like the press. I don`t like having to waste my time having to fight some low life like Rosie. I don`t really have to do that, but what I don`t like doing is I don`t like seeing somebody lie.
HAMMER (voice-over): But we do love seeing people fight.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Trump had lots more to say when we talked today. He really went off. The name-calling just kept on coming. I have to play the whole thing for you. So stay right where you are. My complete interview with Donald Trump is on the way at 30 minutes past the hour.
But no matter how much we enjoy these celebrity feuds, there has got to be an end to it. Please let there be an end to it. This one, of course, has seemed to have taken on a life of its own. What is it going to take to squash it, put an end to it once and for all? Joining me tonight from Los Angeles "TV Guide`s" Mary Murphy, from New York Court TV anchor Ashleigh Banfield. Ladies, hang on, bear with me one second.
I thought my head was going to explode. OK, perhaps a little bit later on. This is unbelievable that it continues. Hey Mary, Donald Trump, you just heard him tell me directly -- well, he told me directly. You didn`t here it. I was on the phone with him and he said that there is no chance he will ever go on "The View," and call a truce to this thing, put it all to rest, put it behind them. What is it going to take for this to end once and for all?
MARY MURPHY, "TV GUIDE": Well, the first thing is that Donald is not in a war are Rosie. He is now in a war with Barbara. And Barbara is going to win this war. Barbara absolutely, I promise you, will get Donald Trump on "The View" at some point this year, and then we can all go to sleep and rest.
HAMMER: Now Mary, I asked him if he would ever go on. He was pretty clear about how he felt about that. So that`s kind of a wait and see situation. I am kind of shocked about the things that he was saying about Barbara, because he is making her out to be a liar now. Ashleigh, I understand you talked to Trump today.
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, COURT TV ANCHOR: I just got off the phone with both sides, in fact. Rosie is on vacation, so her publicist Cindy Berger (ph) spoke on her behalf. But as far as Donald is concerned, no concessions, no how, no time. So I don`t know that that means no concessions towards Rosie or to Barbara. But he did say I don`t blame Barbara for what she said, because she has to, quote, live with this animal. He is stepping it up a bit. But Cindy had something very different to say. She said he is desperate for ratings. They have buried his show on Sunday night and this is just his ploy.
HAMMER: Well, that`s certainly an interesting perspective. Now, here`s the thing though. Rosie stopped talking about this before she went on break. She kind of put an end to it. Barbara had no choice but to address it today. Mary, what`s going on here? Does Donald Trump just feel the need, kind of like a kid in a fight, to have the last word, because that`s sure what it feels like to me?
MURPHY: Yes, I think Barbara lit the fire again and he is like a kid in a fight. But the problem is that Rosie is not in the ring with him anymore and Barbara is in the ring with him. And it`s true, "The Apprentice" comes back Sunday night. The ratings have been terrible. He is bringing his children on. I wouldn`t want to be a critic attacking him this week. He is a tough guy. And I`m sure it works in business, but I`m not sure it works in the media.
HAMMER: Why is he being so tough though Ashleigh? I mean he has hurled insult after insult at Rosie O`Donnell. And Boy, let me tell you, when you hear the phone call I had with him, which is coming up at 30 past the hour, they just keep on coming. Why is he being so venomous? Why is it getting so personal?
BANFIELD: Well, on either side, I think, no one is mincing words and the language is pretty vitriolic. But I`ll tell you this A.J., this is a TV era and these people are television savvy. They work in an industry where it is increasingly more difficult to get press. This is a very good way of getting press. I know both of these people. I have worked with Rosie. I have covered her cases. And I know Donald and I like both of them very much. I think they are both real smart in terms of getting themselves headlines, because they sell a product.
HAMMER: But isn`t it embarrassing after a while to see this kind of behavior play out? Mary, I mean, who is going to win and who is going to lose when this is all over? Because I understand, good, take advantage of the press and the publicity, but I have a feeling there are a lot of people out there, and I`ve certainly read it out on the blogs and on the Internet, a lot of people are fed up with the whole thing on both sides, and now Donald is coming back at it.
MURPHY: Well, absolutely. And I think that Donald has always known where the line is and hasn`t crossed it. He is very savvy. But when you attack a woman and when you attack what she looks like and when you attack her so personally, I think a lot of women will be upset by these attacks.
HAMMER: Yes, if I have to hear Donald Trump saying one more time, I just want to get some more money out of big fat ass, you know, it`s pretty upsetting to me, as a man. So, Ashleigh, what do you think? Is anybody going to win here?
BANFIELD: Well, I`m increasingly getting fatter because I`m pregnant, and so I`m a little offended by it, too. But you know what A.J., Rosie did it too. She slapped her hair over to the side and made fun of his looks too. So I don`t think that`s a one-sided fight when it comes to the ad hominum attacks. I will say this though, neither one of them seems to be willing to back down on this and here`s the other thing, people in TV land have short memories for what battles were all about. They just remember the branding. This is what, I think, what`s most important in this fight, both of them are getting their brands out there constantly.
HAMMER: I would like to see this one end soon. "TV Guide`s" Mary Murphy, Court TV anchor Ashleigh Banfield, I appreciate you joining us tonight.
ANDERSON: Question for you. Should Oprah Winfrey run for president with George Clooney as her running mate? Coming up SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s top seven wishes for 2007. We`re also going to have this.
HAMMER: We`ve got a dramatic video of Britney`s new year`s eve party just moments before she either passed out or fell asleep, depending on who you ask. But is it all one big cry for help? We`re calling in the doctor. That`s coming up.
ANDERSON: Here comes the doctor. Listen up, Lindsay Lohan. Some words of wisdom tonight for Lindsay from Drew Barrymore. Drew`s advice straight ahead.
First tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly" great American pop culture quiz. Here it comes. Who sings back up on Carly Simon`s, "You`re So vain?" James Taylor, Kenny Rogers, Mick Jagger or Johnny Cash? Think about it. We`re coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: So again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly" great American pop culture quiz. Who sings back up on Carly Simon`s, "You`re So vain?" James Taylor, Kenny Rogers, Mick Jagger or Johnny Cash? Well, Carly still won`t admit who the song is about, but Mick Jagger sings backup. The answer is C.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Time now for a story that made us say, that`s ridiculous. Lots of artists work in all sorts of medium like oils and water colors, but there are some guys in New York who have found a completely different medium -- dog poop.
That`s right, a renegade group of artists is actually going around New York City making some really stinky art. They are decorating dog poop with rainbow sprinkles, spray paint, even plastic horses. One of the guys says they just try to be inspirational, like Rembrandt. I wonder if Rembrandt had to use hand sanitizer when he was done making his masterpieces. Decorating dog poop, now that`s ridiculous.
ANDERSON: Oh, and just disgusting, and just wrong. I could go on and on, but I won`t. Also ridiculous though, Britney Spears -- her nasty divorce, her pantiless partying until all hours of the night. It is so bad we here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT named her the most controversial celebrity of 2006. And now we have the tape of Brit`s latest boo-boo just before passing out at a new year`s eve party in Las Vegas.
Maybe Britney was counting down to falling down. Because just a short time after the clock struck midnight, Brit was on the floor. Her publicist says she was simply tired and fell. Others insist she was stinking drunk.
HAMMER: Well, the question is, if this string of incidents and outrageous headlines and oopses (sic) that has Brit in need of some serious help, we`re thinking maybe. That`s why we`re calling in the doctor tonight. Joining me in New York, clinical psychologist Dr. Judy Kuriansky, good to see you Dr. Judy.
DR. JUDY KURIANSKY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Good to see you.
HAMMER: What`s going on here? We`re coming off this big last month she had of major partying, making all the headlines. It`s new year`s eve and she passes out or whatever it is, falls asleep in a nightclub. A lot of people are shaking their heads. Does Britney need intervention? By that I don`t mean like a big drug of alcohol intervention, but a life intervention.
KURIANSKY: Well, an intervention is when family members and friends get together, sit around, and say, look, you are messing up and we are worried and something has to be done about it. That`s the technical phrase of intervention. That`s what she needs, because she needs a total life rehaul. I`m concerned, as a psychologist, what`s going on with her. I don`t consider these things just frivolous. They are serious. They are cries for help, in my view, a cry for help, which is, somebody pay attention to me, see that things are falling apart.
HAMMER: Well, speaking of cries and calls for attention, I mean, she knows, if she goes out on the town, particularly now with all that`s been going on with her, it`s going to make the news. We`re going to take talk about it on TV; it`s going to be in the papers. Is she craving attention? It certainly feels that way.
KURIANSKY: Yes, and I think it is a double-edged sword. Everything, A.J., is going wrong in this poor girl`s life, really. First of all, I`m sure for herself, this is my analysis, she would say she has lost her body, in her view, she has had two babies, one after the other really, and she used to be known for her body. And now she has to deal with the fact that she was heavy then, she has probably got some residue feelings. She may have some post-partum depression. That leads to this kind of behavior of the drinking, which I suppose it is, even though they deny it, and then you take a look at the marriage is a mess.
Anybody could have predicted that. She married a real loser, I have to say. And this has come true. What kind of father -- and now to the ex- husband, he is a mess. And on top of that, I`ll tell you something else people haven`t really thought about, the family`s attention is shifting to the younger sister now, and her career, and that creates sibling rivalry and a real sense that, where is she? She needs to know who is Britney now? And I bet she is having some trouble in her career. It is very hard to make a comeback after that. And what`s going on with her recording? I suspect, on every level, career-wise, family wise, and as a mom and as a soon to be ex-wife, it`s trouble. And, I`ll tell you, it`s going to be hard to say who is the best person to take care of these kids.
HAMMER: Well how about some quick advice from Judy Kuriansky. We have 30 seconds. If she were a patient of yours, what are you telling her.
KURIANSKY: I would say, Britney, you need to take a look at who you are. You need to change your friends, take some other role models. Look at Julia Roberts as a role model instead of hanging around with who you are. You need to take a time out and rebuild your self-esteem, as an OK person without this kind of behavior.
HAMMER: In the event she is not watching, I hope she has somebody close to her, giving her that same advice. Dr Judy, I thank you as always.
KURIANSKY: Good to see you.
ANDERSON: Drew Barrymore knows all about growing up in the spotlight, and she has some advice for the Lindsay Lohans of the world. In an interview with "Harper`s Bazaar Magazine," Drew, now 31, says it was different when she was a famous teenager because there wasn`t quite the tabloid frenzy that we see now adays. Drew says she knows Lindsay and likes here very much at that, quote, she just has to try to be as graceful as you can. You know, you flub, you flub, and that`s life. I think, do what you want, but just be professional. For more with Drew Barrymore, pick up a copy of "Harper`s Bazaar," on news stands January 16th.
HAMMER: You know Brooke, Drew looks great. She says that her weight is a constant battle however. And as we know, that is certainly not unusual in Hollywood. But coming up, Demi Moore is now speaking out on what helped her overcome the body image issue she was dealing with. We`re also going to have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: When somebody lies about me, I attack back. But Rosie is a woman of not great intelligence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The war of words continues. You`re not going to believe what else Donald Trump had to say about Rosie O`Donnell. It is truly jaw- dropping.
HAMMER: I`m still shaking a little bit from that phone call. Also, should Oprah Winfrey run for president with George Clooney as her running mate? What do you think about that? Well, continue to think about it. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s top seven wishes for 2007 coming up.
But first we want to hear from you on the subject for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Here`s what we`re asking, Oprah Winfrey, should she run for president? You can get online to vote, CNN.com/SHOWBIZTONIGHT is where you go on the world wide web. Our e-mail address is SHOWBIZTONIGHT@CNN.com.
And do remember, we are the only entertainment news show letting you express your opinion on video. Use your video camera, your web cam, your i-Check cam, whatever you got, give us a piece of your mind via video e- mail. Go to our website at CNN.com/SHOWBIZTONIGHT. We`ll tell you how to do it. Look for your video e-mails only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight, in the SHOWBIZ Weight Watch, where we cover issues of body image in Hollywood like nobody else, Demi Moore. Demi is looking stunning in the new issue of "Vanity Fair Magazine," but she says it has been a long struggle. She says spending time away from Hollywood let her confront body image issues and get over feeling that thinner was better.
And she said she has tried to teach her daughters that, quote, being thin does not equate to happiness. It`s the same as if I were trying to hold on to myself at 20 or 30 years old, as if that`s better than seeing what I am now. We live in misery whenever we try to hold on to that which we are not. We`re stuck in a place that can only feel unfulfilled. When SHOWBIZ TONIGHT talked to Demi, she told us that the pressure to be thin is there, but that she does see a bright side as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEMI MOORE, ACTRESS: There is a huge externalized pressure, but at the same time, we have more access and greater tools to turning that around to something that allows us to go, wait a second, I can also stop and really look at who I am right now, and find the beauty in that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And for more with Demi Moore, you can pick up a copy of "Vanity Fair." It is on news stands everywhere January 9th.
HAMMER: Should Oprah Winfrey run for president with George Clooney as her running mate? Sounds crazy? Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has got our top seven wishes for 2007 coming up.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. Plus SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates the controversy behind Oprah Winfrey`s 40 million dollar school in South Africa. That`s straight ahead. And we`re also going to have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Rosie is a very mean person, and Rosie is a bully. And the only -- I learned this in high school -- the only way you beat a bully is to hit them right between the eyes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It keeps going and going. That war of words continues. The truly unbelievable things Donald Trump told me about Rosie O`Donnell in my full explosive interview with Donald Trump, coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I am Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Brooke, you ready?
ANDERSON: I`m ready.
HAMMER: All right.
ANDERSON: Give it to me.
HAMMER: We`re winding up. Time for the explosive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT interview with Donald Trump. It`s going to be making headlines everywhere.
Here we are, three days into the New Year, and the "War of the Rosie" has exploded once again - Donald Trump vs. Rosie O`Donnell.
Now Barbara Walters went on "The View" today, and she said, that despite what Trump claimed to me, she never told him that she regretted her decision to hire Rosie O`Donnell. So the question is, Is Barbara Walters calling Donald a liar?
Here`s tonight`s shocker you won`t see anywhere else. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT simply cannot let this one go by without talking to Trump himself. Wait till you hear what he had to say to me today, and let me tell you, the hits just kept on coming.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: You got to clear a couple of things up to me that have come up since we last spoke, before the holidays, Donald. A little he said, she said is going on once again.
You were very clear and emphatic when you told me that Barbara Walters is not thrilled with Rosie. Now Barbara said on "The View" - and this is her quote - "Nothing could be further from the truth. I have never regretted nor do I now the hiring of Rosie O`Donnell."
Donald, is she calling you a liar?
DONALD TRUMP, ENTREPRENEUR: Barbara knows what she said. Barbara called me. Barbara`s a friend of mine, and she called me. Barbara knows what she`s going - what she said, A.J.
What she can say? Is she going to get on and say that I hate - can`t stand Rosie, and then she has to work - she has to work with her. But Barbara knows what she said to me, and if I really tell you what she said, it just creates havoc.
I like Barbara. Barbara`s a friend of mine. Barbara knows what she said.
HAMMER: Now that - that surprises me though, Donald, and it struck me when we were speaking face to face a couple of weeks ago that you would say these things, because now, essentially, what you`re saying is that by necessity, she`s lying to her audience.
TRUMP: Barbara has no choice but to say what she`s going to say, because it`s very unfortunate.
But let me tell you: Barbara is not a fan of Rosie. And as far as the second point, they found Rosie lied, they cleared up the lie.
HAMMER: Now about the lie, you`re talking about the bankruptcy.
TRUMP: Absolutely.
HAMMER: OK.
TRUMP: Hey, I`m on the cover of "Forbes" magazine. Now she was talking about a long time ago, but I never did file for personal bankruptcy. And they cleared up the lie, and I think that`s very nice.
HAMMER: They did clear that up, and then she made a statement on "The View" saying that it was not you who had personal bankruptcy. Some of your casino companies had filed for bankruptcy. And it`s all.
TRUMP: Every businessman.
HAMMER: .cleared up.
TRUMP: Every dealmaker, every businessman, if he`s running companies, they use the bankruptcy as a tool for clearing things up. And every one of us do that. And it`s routine, and you just do it. And those are the best in the world I`m talking about, the best dealmakers in the world. You use it as a tool.
Now Rosie knew that. But she didn`t say that. Rosie said it was me. There`s a big difference between me and a company.
HAMMER: I don`t think there`s anybody who will disagree with you on that. And - and now that Barbara has gone on "The View" and made that statement, will you still go forward with your threat to sue?
TRUMP: Well, we`re looking at it. The lawyers are very, very - there are many other things that were said that were very wrong and very inaccurate by Rosie. Because Rosie lied.
Now ABC said they had to clear up the one lie, so they did a retraction, and I appreciate that. But there were many other lies that she said over the course. So we`re - we`re going to make a determination.
HAMMER: Well here`s another think that Barbara Walters said on - on - on "The View" this morning.
First, what you told me was that "The View" will be very badly hurt by Rosie, and that Rosie will destroy "The View." Now Barbara said this morning - Barbara said on the show that Rosie has - quote - "brought a new vitality to the show, and the ratings prove it."
The critics are agreeing with her. Can you really argue with that?
TRUMP: The critics aren`t agreeing with her, and the plash (ph) of "The View" is way down. And frankly, the reason she`s getting good ratings are because of people like me. She attacks people, and unfortunately, I`m the only one that fought back and showed people what Rosie is really like.
Rosie`s a low form. She`s a low life. And ultimately, she`s going to be very bad for the review - for "The View." But "The View" is only up -- and last year was the "The View"`s worst year. So "The View" is up a little bit from its worst year ever, and it`s only up because of people like me.
HAMMER: So you say that - that pointing at Rosie as the savior of "The View" is - is not an accurate way to.
TRUMP: Rosie is going to destroy "The View." Or she certainly is going to de plasse (ph) "The View."
HAMMER: I`m - I still have - I want to go back to one point, Donald, what we were talking about at the beginning. Because you said Barbara had to go on air and say what she had to say for the sake of her show.
TRUMP: A.J. - A.J., let me explain it to you.
Barbara called me. Barbara knows what she said. Barbara`s not a fan of Rosie. That`s number one. Listen to me. That`s number one.
Number two, I fully understand what she`s doing. What is she going to say? She`s got to work with this slob. What the hell is she going to say? That Rosie is this and that? I fully understand what Barbara is saying.
HAMMER: Right, but they`ll hear you saying this, and essentially.
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: Barbara knows what she said. Barbara knows what she said.
At the same time, A.J., what is she going to do?
HAMMER: The one other point that I - I want to talk about here - you`ve been relentless in your insults.
TRUMP: No, not relentless. In the meantime, I`m building buildings all over the place.
But I don`t like it when people lie about me. And the problem with Rosie is she lies about other people, and she says things about other people, but nobody fights back. I mean, I saw her with Tom Selleck. I saw with her - you know, with Kelly Ripa. I saw her with many other people. I saw her with Danny DeVito, a friend of mine. Danny DeVito wasn`t drunk. Danny DeVito was funny. And they made him look very bad.
The difference is, I fight back.
HAMMER: But Donald, I hear some of the words you`ve been using in the course of our conversation, when I sat in your office in the course of this phone call, and you`ve been hurling insults at her. You`re making it very personal.
TRUMP: At Rosie?
HAMMER: Yes.
TRUMP: At Rosie?
HAMMER: You`re making it very personal.
TRUMP: Look, Rosie`s a low life. No, I understand.
You have to understand: I know Rosie. Not just from this little incident.
HAMMER: Of course.
TRUMP: .where they`ve done a retraction. I know Rosie, and Rosie is a low life.
HAMMER: Why make it so personal?
TRUMP: Because Rosie lied about me. Now she`s withdrawn the lie. When somebody lies about me - you don`t do that perhaps. But when somebody lies about me, I attack back.
But Rosie is a woman of not great intelligence. Rosie is a woman who I know. Rosie is ultimately going to be a loser. She lost on her show. She lost on - her Broadway show was a total failure, as you know. Her magazine was one of the worst catastrophes ever in publishing.
Rosie will ultimately hurt "The View." The only reason "The View"`s being helped is because people like me - I mean, I make it good. But ultimately, people don`t like her, and they`re going to turn off to "The View."
HAMMER: Now Donald, you told me that you`re not taking advantage of all this as a publicity stunt. But with "The Apprentice" about to launch, I can`t imagine that you`re hating all the press that`s coming out of this.
TRUMP: I don`t like the press. I don`t like having to waste my time fighting some low life like Rosie. I don`t really have to do that.
But what I don`t like doing is I don`t like seeing somebody lie. I mean, here I am one of the most successful businessmen in the world, and I have her saying that I declared personal bankruptcy. I mean, give me a break. And it turned out that I didn`t, and ABC made Barbara Walters read that statement.
HAMMER: Are you at all concerned thought, with the language that you`re using and the things that you`re saying about Rosie, that people could see it as being really mean? Because it`s playing out in public, and it could backfire on you.
TRUMP: No. No. Rosie is a very mean person. And Rosie is a bully. And the only way - I learned this in high school - the only way you beat a bully is to hit them right between the eyes. You got to hit them hard, and hit them fast and hit them right between the eyes.
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: Rosie has disappeared from Earth. Rosie didn`t show up this week. All of a sudden, miraculously, she was on vacation.
You know why? Because she`s a bully, and bullies are the most frightened people.
Rosie thought - in my opinion - in my opinion, this was an unscheduled vacation. That`s what it is. But Rosie - all of a sudden she happened to take a vacation this week?
Rosie`s a bully, and you hit a bully between the eyes.
HAMMER: But again - you know, in high school, it didn`t play out on television, and - and my concern or - or question for you is, Do you think at all that this could backfire?
TRUMP: I`m very satisfied with having exposed Rosie for what she is.
HAMMER: Do - do you think there`s any chance that you could see yourselves maybe not kissing and making up, but making up with Rosie somehow? Maybe appearing on - on "The View" one day and putting this all behind you? Would you like to do that?
TRUMP: Zero chance.
HAMMER: No chance that will happen.
TRUMP: I say zero chance.
HAMMER: And what about your friendship with Barbara Walters?
TRUMP: I love Barbara. Have a good time.
HAMMER: All right, Donald. Thanks so much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: We weren`t going to get the sound of the phone hanging up, because it was priceless. My head hurts.
Doesn`t look like this celebrity feud`s going away anytime soon.
Rosie O`Donnell is due back from her vacation next week. I guess we`re just going to have to wait and see if there`s yet another chapter in this rather unbelievable war of words.
ANDERSON: Oh, when is it going to end?
HAMMER: Please, soon.
ANDERSON: Wow. I know. All right.
Well, Oprah Winfrey - let`s move on to her, A.J. She`s done a lot of good with her money, right?
HAMMER: She has. And I think however she chooses to be charitable, I think it should be all right with everybody.
ANDERSON: Well, tonight, A.J., there are actually some out there attacking her brand-new $40 million school for poor girls in Africa. We`re going to have that story for you straight ahead.
HAMMER: And to take on Oprah, you got to have guts to do that.
And we`ve got a question for Oprah: would she ever consider running for president, with perhaps George Clooney as VP? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s seven celebrity wishes for 2007 on the way.
ANDERSON: And the exclusive Britney Spears controversy that you`re going to see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Your outrage over the closing of her No. 1 fan site. What gives? Coming up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A.J. to desk with tracking for the E-Block.
Master, roll your break. And effect black.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fade up. Go 3 music under. Stand by, Brooke. Pre-set 7. Dissolve L.A. Go.
ANDERSON: Thank you, Charles.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Well, it is a New Year, and that means putting controversy and scandal behind for some celebrities. So we here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT are wishing upon a star - actually, many stars - to come up with our top things we`d love to see this year.
Our "Seven Wishes for `07."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Their first names rhyme: Britney and Whitney. Both dumped their deadbeat hubbys in 2006. Britney dropkicked K- Fed, and Whitney blasted Bobby.
It`s a new year, and ladies, that means a new you in `07. Which brings us to our first wish: want to see Whitney and Britney as the comeback kids of the year. No more partying, no more gross guys.
(SINGING)
ANDERSON: All we want to see from you in `07 is what you do best: making great music - the kind we once loved to hear.
Next up: they`re gorgeous, they`re talented - and they`re still unmarried. But why? In `07, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s asking that our two favorite couples, Beyonce and Jay-Z, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, just tie the knot already. You love each, we love you - so why not just bring the love fest down the aisle?
Next up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s "Seven for `07" wish list: Jennifer Hudson.
(SINGING)
ANDERSON: She`s blowing people away with her performance in "Dreamgirls." So in `07, we at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just think it would be an utter travesty if she didn`t walk away with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
In `07, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is also wishing that HBO comes through with a good - and we mean good - ending to "The Sopranos" in its final season.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will you stop with that?
ANDERSON: We`re still getting over last year`s big bore. We`ve invested so much time waiting for "The Sopranos" to wrap up that we just won`t be able to handle it if the finale is a stinker, too.
Next for `07: No more super-skinny models.
(BUZZER RINGING)
ANDERSON: Madrid and Milan are banning them. It`s time for New York to follow suit, and keep pin-thin models off the runway for Fashion Week.
(SINGING)
ANDERSON: And Anna Nicole Smith, please say bye bye bye to Howard K. Stern in `07. He`s claiming to be the father of your baby. He`s your attorney, your lover and he`s just a bit creepy. Let`s face it, Anna: it`s time to put Stern and your drama in the Bahamas behind you and get back to the United States.
And how about the next president of the United States being Oprah Winfrey?
PATRICK CROWE, AUTHOR, "OPRAH FOR PRESIDENT": She would be a superb president.
ANDERSON: Patrick Crowe got a grassroots campaign going to put O in office in 2008.
CROWE: She has the qualifications. She is more business successful than Ross Perot was. Her name is better recognized than Arnold Schwarzenegger.
ANDERSON: But who should be her vice presidential running mate? Our wish: "The Sexiest Man Alive," George Clooney. Talk about a dream ticket. And isn`t dreaming what wishes are really all about?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So what do you think? Pretty good idea, right?
Well, we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Let us know how you feel: "Oprah Winfrey: Should she run for president?"
Keep voting at cnn.com/showbiztonight. Or write to us at showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`ll get into some of your e-mails tomorrow.
ANDERSON: Well, Oprah has done a lot for charity. But tonight, her generosity is causing controversy. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there when Winfrey opened a $40 million school for girls living in poverty in South Africa.
But some are wondering why she made it so fancy. There is a yoga studio and a beauty salon. And others even questioned why she isn`t doing more here in the United States, where she lives.
With me tonight from Philadelphia, Marc Lamont Hill, assistant professor of urban education at Temple University.
And in Hollywood, "Newsweek" national correspondent Alison Samuels, who - who spent time with Oprah Winfrey at the Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.
Marc, Allison, welcome.
MARC LAMONT HILL, ASST. PROFESSOR, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY: Thanks. Welcome.
ANDERSON: All right.
Mark, I`m going to begin with you. What is wrong with this? Because here she is helping these impoverished girls. What does it matter if it`s here or in South Africa? I mean, these are still young, disadvantaged girls who need help.
HILL: Absolutely, and I want to be clear: I am happy that Oprah is over in Africa building a school. There is nothing wrong with that. She should be applauded for her - for her humanitarian efforts.
The issue though here is twofold. On the one hand, in Africa, you build a school that can only ultimately accommodate 400 or 500 young girls. You install indoor and outdoor theaters, yoga studios, fireplaces and things like that, when in fact you could have made a school that could - that could accommodate 10,000 - 20,000 - 50,000 people if we had been a bit more frugal.
And then on the other side of the fence, you - you say that the reason that you went and - and built a school in Africa isn`t just because Africans need a school, but because kids in the U.S. don`t appreciate education, that they don`t value education, and that it would - essentially, it would be a waste to build a school here in the United States. That is a terrible comment.
ANDERSON: Well, to the end - Allison, I want - I want to bring that up to you, because something Oprah said to you in your interview that`s in "Newsweek" about inner-city school kids in America has really raised eyebrows. And this is what Marc is talking about , I believe.
I want to take a look at that now. She said, "I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn`t there. If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will ay an iPod or some sneakers.
"In South Africa, they don`t ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school."
Allison, does she have a point?
ALLISON SAMUELS, NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, "NEWSWEEK": She has a point, but I think the more important point that - that she really was making is that in Africa - and I think everyone has to realize this - in Africa, you have to pay to go to school. Girls and boys, elementary and high school, you have to pay to go to school. You have to pay tuition, and you also have to pay for uniforms.
Her point was that in the United States, you do not have to pay to go to school, Give it - be it bad or good, the educational system in the United States, it is free. If you want to go and get your high school diploma, you can go without paying a cost.
I don`t think she thought it would have been a waste to do it here. I just think she thought that there was a greater need in Africa, in South Africa, right at this point. And I think people are getting a little confused about that.
She gives tons of money to Morehouse College to send African- American men to college. She gives to schools in this area.
ANDERSON: Yes.
SAMUELS: .and in the United States.
ANDERSON: She has donated millions for education in the United States.
And Marc, you know, you have accused Oprah of being hypocritical, because on one hand, she condemns kids for wanting iPods and wanting the sneakers. But on the other hand, these are the same sort of things that we`ve all seen at times Oprah promotes and gives away on her show.
Do you think she is being a .
HILL: And in Africa.
ANDERSON: .hypocrite in a way?
HILL: Right, and in Africa. I mean, that`s the ironic. This is the same woman who will have a studio full of women and men and say, "You get a car. You get a car. You get a car." And give every one cars. Hawk books, hawk movies, hawk CDs and albums and things like that. And then accuse people of conspicuous consumption.
And then on the other hand, you decide to build a school that is filled with all types of luxuries like saunas, indoor - indoor and outdoor theaters, et cetera. And - and then you accuse people of being consumers.
If you build those things in Africa, those students are going to develop the same type of American conspicuous consumption activities as well, because that`s what you`re giving them.
ANDERSON: Good point, Marc. Some of it does seem a little bit extravagant.
Allison, do you agree with that? That her statements are hypocritical? Because she`s never made it a secret that she does enjoy really nice things.
SAMUELS: Right. I don`t think it`s hypocritical.
I think her point is to get those really nice things, to be able to afford those really nice things, young kids have to learn that you have to work for those things, to go to school, to learn, to get an education.
In Africa, I think one of the main reasons why she built the school was to also have a learning situation around the beauty of the school. Yes, there`s a sauna; yes, there`s a beauty salon; yes, there`s yoga. But there are - it all is in the compliance of the school. So the girls will go there (INAUDIBLE) money. She was very clear with me: nothing is for free. And when kids get things for free, they don`t learn a valuable lesson.
So there is going to be a system there with those girls work for things that they receive.
Also - I mean, yes, we all want nice things.
ANDERSON: Right.
SAMUELS: But how do these kids get those nice things if they don`t go to school and get a good job?
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Great points by you both. We do have to wrap it up there. Bottom line: we all root for underprivileged youth everywhere.
Thanks for your insight, Allison Samuels, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill.
SAMUELS: Thank you.
HAMMER: So our e-mail inbox has been overflowing with some angry letters about our exclusive interview with the creator of one of the biggest Britney Spears` fan Web sites. We`re going to find out once and for all: is the site really being shut down because of Britney`s bad behavior? That`s next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: And now the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Truth Squad. We are getting to the bottom of a stunning Hollywood controversy that you told us you wanted solved.
Now last night, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT spoke exclusively with Ruben Garay. He`s the guy who runs worldofbritney.com, reportedly the most popular Britney Spears fan Web site out there. Ruben says he`s so disgusted with Brit`s wild antics, her partying - or, pantyless partying, that he is shutting down the site.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUBEN GARAY, CREATOR, WORLDOFBRITNEY.COM: And I think it - it has more to do with - with the credibility that Britney has lost, not just now - right now, like in the past few months, but over the years, with fans and industry people. It`s more about, you know, not being able to believe in her as much as I used to do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, we`ve been flooded with angry e-mails. We do read these things. The e-mails have been saying the real reason that Ruben was closing up shop was simply money, that Ruben couldn`t afford to run the site anymore. And for - for whoever suggested I use Botox, I don`t.
We did hear you. So we went back to Ruben to ask him point blank: what`s the real reason for shutting down worldofbritney.com? He`s strongly sticking to his story.
In the statement SHOWBIZ TONIGHT got today, Ruben is saying - quote - "I can assure you that I am fully sticking behind the genuine motives . as someone that has supported Britney Spears unconditionally."
So there you have it. It`s Britney acting like trash, not cash, that`s causing worldofbritney to go bye bye.
ANDERSON: Well, yesterday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." And we got a tremendous response.
"Britney`s New Year: Is she blowing any chance for a comeback?"
Look at this: 32 percent of you say yes; 68 percent of you say no, Britney`s not blowing her chance for a comeback with her antics.
Here`s some of the e-mails we received:
Reggie from Virginia writes, "She is doing what every other single mother is doing every day, except she`s in the public eye."
Hmm.
And Walter really let Brit have it: "If Britney wants to salvage her rep and career, she needs to stop acting like a white trash tramp."
Ouch, Walter.
HAMMER: Let`s find out what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Tomorrow, they know the price of fame, but do stars deserve their own type of privacy? I mean, it`s probably just a matter of time until somebody gets really hurt over a paparazzi picture. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks: should every one just back off?
Also tomorrow, the movie based on the true story of a girl who put on a fat suit and experienced the non-stop teasing for being overweight - not only from her classmates, but shockingly, from her own family. "To Be Fat Like Me" - that`s tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks a lot for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: Have a great night, every one. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Keep it right here, because "GLENN BECK" is coming up next, right after the latest headlines from CNN Headline News.
END
