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Showbiz Tonight
Lindsay Lohan Talks About Turning 21; Dannielynn Goes Home With Larry Birkhead
Aired May 01, 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: How did Brad Pitt`s phone number get posted in an online chat room? I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT ANCHOR: And the new Hollywood trend, becoming a mommy before you get married. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT -- catching suspected online sex predators on TV. "Dateline NBC" has a whole series that hunts down sickos online. Even Miss America got involved with "America`s Most Wanted" to catch predators. But does it really work, or is it just a ratings grabber? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates catching sex predator suspects as entertainment.
Dannielynn goes home with daddy. Larry Birkhead leaves the Bahamas to bring his baby home, but what now? The battle over Anna Nicole Smith`s baby and her late husband`s money is far from over. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the inside story of what happens next.
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT cameras are there as Anna Nicole Smith`s daughter Dannielynn comes home with her daddy. Now, there are strong concerns for the health of Howard K. Stern. We`ll have more in just moments.
HAMMER: But first tonight, a real shocker. Millions of Americans watched as Miss America took part in a TV sting to nab online sex predators, which sound like a pretty good thing, right? The problem is, a D.A. is saying those cases could be thrown out. The accused predators could be back on the streets. Why? Well, there is word that Miss America was refusing to testify. And a firestorm then erupted.
ANDERSON: Now SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking the tough questions -- do these TV predator stings do any good, or are they just rating grabbers?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on in. My phone is ringing. I have to grab my phone.
ANDERSON: It was riveting television. Miss America, Lauren Nelson, on "America`s Most Wanted," posing as a 13-year-old girl to lure suspected Internet child predators for what they think is a sex encounter with a child they met online. But what they encounter is "America`s Most Wanted" host John Walsh, along with a camera crew and local police officers who arrest the suspects and cart them away.
JOHN WALSH, "AMERICA`S MOST WANTED": You`re the father of three kids. What the hell are you doing here?
ANDERSON: Eleven alleged predators, in all, nabbed in what turned out to be a ratings bonanza for "America`s Most Wanted."
WALSH: You just showed up to have sex with a 14-year-old girl.
ANDERSON: But following the sting, it`s Miss America who`s getting stung in the press. The local prosecutor is fuming that her participation may have endangered the case against the suspects she helped bust.
WALSH Here he comes.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT sorts it all out. And we ask the tough question. No matter how disgusting the crime of soliciting children online is, should luring and busting them be left to the cops instead of the stars?
It all went down in Suffolk County, New York.
LAUREN NELSON, MISS AMERICA: Hi, it`s Jen.
ANDERSON: For the "America`s Most Wanted" segment, Miss America, Lauren Nelson, posed as a teen and chatted with the suspects online and arranged meetings over the phone.
NELSON: OK, great. I`m really excited.
ANDERSON: Nelson, who herself, was once solicited online as a teen, told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s A.J. Hammer how creepy it was to face it again for the show.
NELSON: It`s so sexually explicit you can`t even say it on TV. It surprised me how quickly the conversation turned to sex.
ANDERSON: But the experience is getting even more difficult for Miss America. In a story in the Long Island paper "Newsday," entitled Mess America, Suffolk County D.A. Thomas Fota (ph) claims that Nelson is refusing to come back to testify against the people busted in the case. He blasted the sting as, quote, nothing more than a publicity stunt, saying that at least one of the cases may be compromised by her refusal to testify.
NELSON: Glad another one is behind bars.
ANDERSON: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that Miss America may do her part after all. We reached out to the Miss America organization, who told us, quote "Lauren plans to and has always planned to fully cooperate with the Suffolk County Police Department and will continue to champion here cause." In response to that, the Suffolk County D.A. tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "we have yet to hear from her. However, based on the Miss America statement, we are pleased that she will cooperate and make herself available as these cases move forward."
Of course, "America`s Most Wanted" is not the first show to learn that busting child predators for the camera can be big ratings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You talk about having sex with her.
ANDERSON: "Dateline NBC`s" To Catch a Predator series draws millions of viewers and claims to have nabbed 250 suspects. But as shows like "Dateline" and now "America`s Most Wanted" get into the predator-busting business, some are wondering if law enforcement is a proper place for a TV star or beauty queen.
ROBERT ZELNICK, BOSTON UNIV. JOURNALISM PROFESSOR: You complicate what`s already a very tricky business by going the celebrity route. And I think at sometimes to the detriment of effective law enforcement.
ANDERSON: Still, the shocking fact is that one out of every five children are said to be solicited online. As "America`s Most Wanted" host John Walsh tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, high profile TV shows like his can alert parents to the danger.
WALSH: I say to parents all the time, come on, saddle up. Keep that computer out of the bedroom. Talk to your kids about personal websites. Talk to them about information. Open those lines of communication.
ANDERSON: And child safety advocate Mark Klaas, who like Walsh, has lost a child to violence, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT --
MARK KLAAS, CHILD SAFETY ADVOCATE: I think the awareness that`s been raised and the education that`s been heaped upon the American public far outweighs any criticism whatsoever.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: If Nelson agrees to cooperate in these cases, as we heard in the Miss America statement, she may end up spending quite a bit of time on Long Island. Attorneys representing some of the men arrested in the sting tell "Newsday" they plan to subpoena her.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, finally Anna Nicole Smith`s baby daughter Dannielynn is home with her father, Larry Birkhead. Now early this morning, father and daughter boarded a private plane bound for Louisville, Kentucky. Birkhead is a Kentucky native and he does have family there. So they`re home. You think this story is over? Think again.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, investigative journalist Jane Velez-Mitchell. And from New York, Ashleigh Banfield. She is the host of Court TV`s "Hollywood Heat."
Ladies, it`s good to see you both. This is truly the never ending story. I feel like a broken record, but it`s true. Larry and Dannielynn are finally on American soil for the first time as father and daughter. But nobody should kid themselves, right, Ashleigh? I mean, Anna Nicole`s mother, Virgie Arthur, has been causing all kinds of problems in the Bahamas, may still very well make a legal move here in the U.S. Right?
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, COURT TV ANCHOR: In fact, I think it was a Bohemian judge who said so, that this would likely continue on American soil. They still have to deal with some custody issues back in the Bahamas. But given the way the last maneuver didn`t go so well for Virgie, in fact she was slapped with a fine in the Bahamas for messing with the court system there, I`m not so sure she`s going to do well in early June when they`re due back for that date.
HAMMER: But, you know, it wouldn`t surprise anybody if she causes problems here in the United States. Jane, you always said that we should watch out for Virgie Arthur, because with all the money that Dannielynn stands to inherit and all the people who are saying that Virgie`s got these big fat dollar signs in her eyes, do you think Larry Birkhead should be ramping up for another fight here?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: absolutely. I fear this will go on and on, possibly for years. If we learned anything from looking at the Alec Baldwin/Kim Basinger custody battle, that`s gone on for at least five years, despite numerous court orders. So the courts can`t necessarily stop a battle when one person, a stubborn person like Virgie Arthur, is determined to do battle. I think that he has got to be really prepared for an extended fight.
HAMMER: Yes, and there is a lot of money involved here to motivate that fight. We`ll get into those funds and what`s going on with those in just a moment. Ashleigh, you alluded to this June 8th hearing in the Bahamas. Larry Birkhead has to go back there with Dannielynn. It`s still related to custody. Clear that up for me, because I thought that was all resolved, done with, over, and that`s why they were able to come home today.
BANFIELD: No, what was resolved was just Virgie Arthur`s attempt to block little Dannielynn leaving the Bahamas with her new daddy pending this hearing, because Virgie Arthur was concerned that perhaps Larry Birkhead wouldn`t come back to face the courts there. For his purposes he has said he will indeed come back. But, you know, it`s not the end of the story.
HAMMER: What do you think there is any chance that this is going to cause any problem for Larry Birkhead when he returns to the Bahamas?
BANFIELD: You know, I`m not there, but given the way things have gone so far, I don`t think so. I don`t think it is going to be an issue. It looks like he crossed all the t`s, dotted the i`s. He`s even got a nanny named Roxy. He`s got a family set up in Kentucky. And the Bahamas officials like to see the family network, things like that, that are in the best interest of the child. It looks as though he`s set up a pretty good deal for little Dannielynn, so there`s really no reason for the Bohemian officials to think that the little girl is any danger if she gets to live her life with daddy.
HAMMER: And when you have a nanny named Roxy, how could anything go wrong. Let`s talk about the money, Jane. You know, when Anna Nicole was alive, she took her fight for her share of her late husband J. Howard Marshall`s fortune -- we`re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars here. She took that fight all the way to the Supreme Court. What happens to that money remains unresolved. Ultimately, this fight will involve Dannielynn. Bring me up to speed on where that fight stands right now. And if I`m Larry Birkhead and I`m now at home with the baby, am I fighting for this money?
MITCHELL: Here`s the irony. All these people battling over all this money, which has been estimated anywhere from 89 million to half a billion dollars -- I just read an extended legal analysis of this battle that says, guess what, the chances of Anna Nicole Smith`s estate winning that battle ultimately are very, very slim. So the irony of all of this is while they`re all battling for millions they expect to see, if they really look at the details of the court cases that they face, they would realize that the chances are they might be left with a lot of legal bills instead of millions and millions of dollars.
HAMMER: So Ashleigh, this money has been at the center of Anna Nicole`s life for so long. Do you think it`s all for naught? Do you think everybody`s been making too much of it?
BANFIELD: I don`t know. I kind of differ with Jane on this one. I think that the ninth circuit has a very big issue in front of them and they`re going to have to face this music. E. Pierce Marshall`s wife is now taking on the battle and it`s likely that Dannielynn will be named as the successor to this fight. It`s a real fight. And it has to do with real issues that are being handled in bankruptcy and probate court every day in America.
I think, you know, it could go either way. And actually, when Jane says half a billion, with interest, I think we`re up to three quarters of a billion now.
HAMMER: And the never ending story continues, and the dollar signs mount. Ashleigh Banfield, Jane Velez-Mitchell, thank you both as always.
Now we want to hear from you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Here`s what we`re asking you tonight; Dannielynn goes home with daddy -- do you feel sorry for Howard K. Stern? Let us know by voting at CNN.com/SHOWBIZTONIGHT or e-mailing us at SHOWBIZTONIGHT@CNN.com.
ANDERSON: A.J., speaking of concern for Stern, I really do have to wonder how he`s doing these days, because listen, he has lost a lot of people very important to him, Anna Nicole, Daniel, now Dannielynn. Should we be worried? We`ll look into it at 31 minutes past the hour.
HAMMER: Definitely something to think about with everything that`s been said about him. Also, something else I`m a little worried about. I want you to hang on to your wigs and keys, because Lindsay Lohan is about to turn 21. Lindsay talks about her big plans, coming up. We`ll also have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it`s actually pretty sweet to have your baby at a wedding. It`s almost like a little new romantic thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Motherhood before marriage. And it isn`t just Tom and Katie, either. Coming up, a look at the new Hollywood trend of having a baby before saying "I Do."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. It is time now for the SHOWBIZ Snapshot. And tonight we bring you babies and Sumo wrestlers. Take a look at this. It`s coming from an annual event in Tokyo, where Sumo wrestlers take part in a baby crying contest. The winner is the baby who cries the loudest. But make no mistake, this is not just a scream-fest.
All right, that`s enough. Apparently, the event is supposed to help the babies grow up healthy and strong, although I think traumatized might be a better word for it. And that`s tonight`s SHOWBIZ Snapshot.
ANDERSON: Those babies are so cute, especially the one in the Superman outfit. OK, snapshots of celebrity are also in high demand. You could say that Hollywood has gone baby bump crazy. We`ve noticed yet another tiny tot trend, it`s the pitter patter of little feet before mommy and daddy ever make it down the aisle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: In "Fools Rush In" Salma Hayek plays a woman who after one night of passion find herself with child. Chaos ensues.
SALMA HAYEK, ACTRESS: When, after the baby was born?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn`t want to do it over the phone.
HAYEK: My father won`t even speak to me.
ANDERSON: In real life Salma Hayek is the 40 something Oscar nominated actress who just added mommy-to-be to her impressive resume, but, like her character in "Fools Rush In," it looks like baby will come before bells, wedding bells.
DAPHNE BROGDON, TV GUIDE NETWORK: I love Salma Hayek`s situation. She waited to have her baby and what`s so great is that she didn`t end up doing it with the pool boy. She`s now engaged to Mr. Big, Rich, European guy, which good for you girl.
ANDERSON: Another Hollywood hottie sporting the before I do bump, "My Name Is Earl`s" Jaime Presley. It seems the famous rhyme, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage, may have to be updated to first comes love, then comes baby, and then a wedding, maybe, as some of Hollywood`s most respected and loved celebs take to motherhood before marriage.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT went strayed to "Brides Magazine`s" editor in chief Millie Martini Bratten to ask why brides with bellies are no longer taboo.
MILLIE MARTINI BRATTEN, "BRIDES MAGAZINE": Couples are marrying older. They`re living together. They`re paying for their weddings. And often they`re doing everything at once. So it`s no longer taboo for the bride to be pregnant at the altar.
ANDERSON: Case in point, TV Guide Network`s Daphne Brogdon. She announced she was going to have a baby at her engagement party and was six months pregnant when she walked down the aisle.
BROGDON: I think it`s actually now almost a new romantic thing to have your baby at your wedding. I think it`s really sweet.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you babies before marriage has become a huge part of real life Hollywood stories. Number one example, Suri Cruise. Seven-month-old Suri actually attended the extravagant wedding of her famous parents, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.
And Angelina Jolie carried one of her multicultural clan the natural way. But she and papa Pitt have made it clear they have no plans to marry. But where there is a Hollywood trend, there must be a trend-setter.
BRATTEN: Gwyneth Paltrow kind of started the trend. She was pregnant shortly before she got married to Chris Martin of Coldplay. They had a hush, hush ceremony shortly after the announcement of the baby.
BROGDON: I think that what happens with a lot of couples is they`re already thinking that they`re in a long term commitment. Suddenly there`s a baby and it just pushes you down the aisle. So you figure, all right, let`s just all go for it at the same time. We can register for the china and the crib.
ANDERSON: Other stars on this baby/bride registry include actress Naomi Watts. Watts was sporting a very noticeable bump at this year`s Oscars. A few weeks later, her fiance, Leef Schriber, confirmed the pregnancy when he told Conan O`Brien he was very excited that he was going to be a dad.
Heath Ledger played a gay cowboy in the critically acclaimed "Brokeback Mountain." But behind the scenes, it was Heath and co-star Michelle Williams who were falling madly in love. And then, poof, forget a marriage or even an engagement, baby girl Matilda graced mom and dad with her presence before "Brokeback" even hit theaters.
BROGDON: I think Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams are a super sweet couple. At the Oscars a year before last, you could tell that they had a real bond and a real bond over their little baby girl.
ANDERSON: Oscar winner Rachel Weiss proudly announced she and her fiancee were expecting on the "Tonight Show With Jay Leno." And then sported her bump and bundle during the 2006 award season. Baby Henry arrived just a few months later. Ask any Hollywood star, dressing for an event while pregnant can be a daunting task. But Jen Garner did it well.
BRATTEN: When Jennifer Garner married Ben Affleck, she was about four months pregnant. For her destination wedding on a beach, she had a beautiful empire waist dress, very soft and flowing and comfortable for that day.
ANDERSON: These free flowing, hide a bump dresses are all the rage on Brides.com. So SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is calling all you ready to be mamas out there, if you`re thinking of taking the leap into motherhood before or after you say I do, this might be the season to do it.
BRATTEN: This season the empire dress is very much in style. There would be no clue that a woman or wasn`t pregnant.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Other stars known for sporting bumps before marriage, Maggie Gyllenhal (ph) and Carrie Russell. You can up an issue of "Bride`s Magazine" on news stands now.
HAMMER: Brooke, great story coming up. Brad Pitt`s phone number winds up in an Internet chat room. Of course, a lot of people picked up the phone and called him. We`re going to tell you what happened, coming up.
ANDERSON: Also, A.J., I have to say I`m a little bit scared about what may happen on July 2nd. That`s the day Lindsay Lohan turns 21, is finally legally allowed to go to all the clubs she`s been hitting for years now. Lindsay talks about her plans next.
Also this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would be on a serious suicide watch with Howard K. Stern at this point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, it has finally happened. Dannielynn has left with her dad, Larry Birkhead. And now Howard K. Stern is home alone in the Bahamas. Should we be concerned for Stern? That is coming up. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Tuesday night coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: There`s a big day coming up, one for the history books. In just two months, Lindsay Lohan will legally be allowed to drink. That`s right, one of Hollywood`s most notorious club hoppers turns 21 on July 2nd. Now, we all know that being underage hasn`t stopped Lindsay from running the party circuit ragged. In fact, she went to rehab and to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings even before turning 21, but she also said recently that she isn`t sure if she`s an addict. And Lindsay told Ellen Degeneres that she`s really looking forward to her 21st birthday. Take a look at what she said on Ellen`s show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: I`m going to milk it because it`s a big birthday and I think it`s been a long time coming for some of my friends that have clubs out in L.A. They don`t have to worry about getting into trouble because I`m underage. I`m going to go -- I think I`m doing a party in Vegas, which makes sense, because I`ve never been able to go out there. I really just haven`t gambled there. I`ve hung out with friends.
ELLEN DEGENERES, TALK SHOW HOST: They don`t let you in, right?
LOHAN: No, it`s completely illegal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Party in Vegas, interesting. Stay out of trouble, Lindsay. By the way, Ellen hurt her back, which is why she`s hosting the show from bed. She joked that it wasn`t a ratings stunt like Regis Philbin`s heart bypass surgery. And you can see that episode of Ellen with Lindsay Lohan tomorrow.
Tonight, A.J., we also have a word of caution for Lindsay from someone who knows all about being young and famous. I spoke with Donny Osmund. He`s the original teen idol, and he had some words of advice. That`s still ahead.
HAMMER: Also, I have to tell you, if I saw Brad Pitt`s phone number in an online chat room, which I probably wouldn`t be in to begin with, I don`t think I`d call the number. But plenty of people did. We`ll tell you what happened coming up.
Also, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would be on a serious suicide watch with Howard K. Stern at this point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now that Dannielynn has left with her dad, Larry Birkhead, Howard K. Stern has pretty much lost everything. Should we be concerned for Stern? That`s the question we`re asking straight ahead.
(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, and you are watching TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Now Brooke Anderson, I know you are a fan of Brad Pitt`s. But I got to ask: if you found his number - if you`re trolling around there online - do you think it actually.
ANDERSON: Trolling around online?
HAMMER: Well, I don`t know what you do there. But would you actually call the number and see if it picked up?
ANDERSON: Maybe. Strictly for work purposes only, A.J.
You know, my husband might be watching. We got to be careful.
HAMMER: Truth. And you`re not trolling, I`m sure.
Some people actually did think they found his number. When they dialed him up - well, they were a bit shocked at who picked up the phone. Stick around for that, coming up.
ANDERSON: I bet they were.
Also, A.J., Donny Osmond. You know, he was one of the biggest child stars. He grew up in the spotlight with his sister, his brothers. Well, now he`s got some really powerful advice for today`s young stars. We`re talking about you, Britney, Lindsay and Paris.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONNY OSMOND, ENTERTAINER: I think everybody goes up - after the shock value. You know, if you can get something controversial out there, you`re going to get the headlines. You know, there`s a difference between being a star and being popular.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: My revealing interview with Donny Osmond in a bit.
HAMMER: But first tonight, as I told you earlier, Larry Birkhead is back home in Kentucky with his daughter, Dannielynn. The battle for Anna Nicole`s daughter has been certainly one of the nastiest, most emotional things I have ever seen played out on the public TV and airwaves. And there`s no denying that Howard K. Stern, Anna`s companion, her lawyer and of course the guy that insisted he was Dannielynn`s dad, has suffered tremendous losses. Anna`s son, Daniel, Anna herself, and now of course, custody of Dannielynn.
So tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking: should we be concerned for Stern?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOWARD K. STERN, ANNA NICOLE SMITH`S FORMER COMPANION: I`m obviously very disappointed. But my feelings for Dannielynn have not changed. I am not going to fight Larry Birkhead on custody.
HAMMER (voice-over): That was a beat-up looking Howard Stern, a man who has lost everything. First, Daniel Smith back in September.
STERN: Daniel to me was a great friend, a brother. I was probably the man around him the most in -- in recent years. And I loved Daniel.
HAMMER: Then his lover and life partner Anna Nicole Smith this past February.
STERN: She was my best friend, my lover, the mother of my daughter. She was everything to me. I mean, literally everything. My whole world.
HAMMER: And now Dannielynn. Stern was legally tied to her -- his name appeared on her first birth certificate - but we now know the 7-month- old girl is not biologically his.
DR. MICHAEL BAIRD, ANALYZED RESULTS OF THE DNA TEST: Larry was determined to be the biological father based on the DNA testing. He had a combined paternity index of over 11, 515,000, for a probability of paternity of 99.99999 percent.
HAMMER: You can`t deny numbers like that. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, experts are worried this new development could trigger something more troubling.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Judy Kuriansky.
DR. JUDY KURIANSKY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Losing the baby is the absolute last straw of it all. He`s lost everything in the public`s eyes, in his own his eyes, and in his life that built him up, that gave him some kind of ego strength. All of that is gone. And I worry for him. And that can lead to total disaster -- emotional breakdown for sure.
HAMMER: The same type of breakdown we saw when Anna Nicole lost her son, the rock in her life, Daniel. The similarity is hard to miss. Howard even mentioned it in his eulogy to Anna Nicole, saying -- quote - "I understand how you felt when Daniel died, because you were my rock. And now my heart is empty. I wish God took me instead. When my work is done, I promise you, I will come to you again -- both you and Daniel. I love you."
So should those around Howard be worried that these tragic, life- altering, emotional losses may be too much for him to bear?
KURIANSKY: I would be on a serious suicide watch with Howard K. Stern at this point. And the fact is, he`s lost everything. His fantasy of some life that was going to be charming and exciting and wealthy and filled with the thrill of Anna Nicole is coming to an end like a house of cards. And what that does is start to unravel in his mind.
I don`t think he`s strong enough at all to hold up under all of this.
STERN: The way that the media has treated everything I think has been beyond irresponsible, at times malicious.
HAMMER: Howard`s fight doesn`t end with the loss of Dannielynn. He hired attorneys to fight what he calls "malicious attacks" thrown his way in the wake of Anna and Daniel`s death. Two deaths both caused by drug overdoes -- one accidental, the other in question.
One common link: Howard K. Stern. The court of public opinion has not been pretty.
KURIANSKY: He`s in the thick of such trauma right now over the fact that he`s being blamed for everything.
HAMMER: So SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking the question: now that Dannielynn has left the Bahamas for her new life, should Howard just start worrying about his life and his own mental health?
KURIANSKY: If I were Howard K. Stern`s family, I would be very concerned about what he might do. I would keep my eyes on him 24/7, never let him out of my sight. And he should be nurtured and kept in a quiet environment and start to build up that somebody cares about him, and how is he going to live his life.
HAMMER: An increasingly difficult challenge for a man whose dreams of a storybook life have turned into a Hollywood drama, with an uncertain ending
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And on that note, we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day": "Dannielynn Goes Home With Daddy: Do you feel sorry for Howard K. Stern?
Let us know at cnn.com/showbiztonight. You can also write to us. Showbiztonight@cnn.com is our e-mail address. We`ll read some of your e- mails tomorrow.
ANDERSON: Calling all Britneys, Lindsays, Parises - listen up, because I`ve got some advice from one of the biggest child stars ever that could help save your careers.
Donny Osmond and his family were huge in the `70s. He`s got another album out now. Donny was also recently on "The View" the day Rosie O`Donnell announced she was leaving.
When I recently sat down with Donny, I told him something that really surprised him about this appearance on that show. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: You were actually on "The View" the day Rosie made her big announcement.
OSMOND: I was. It was a little tense backstage, let me tell you.
ANDERSON: Did you know beforehand? Were you surprised?
OSMOND: Barbara Walters walked into my dressing room. Just as he walked in, I - I guess I was one of the first ones that she told. And she said, `Did you hear?` And I said, `Hear what?` She said, `Rosie`s going. She`s leaving. She`s out.` I said, `Man, this is news.`
And I was one of the first ones to hear it.
ANDERSON: Yes.
OSMOND: So it was a little tense. But I thought she handled it very well. I thought Barbara handled it well. The other women handled it very, very well.
ANDERSON: Well.
OSMOND: But it`ll be interesting to see how she lands on her feet.
ANDERSON: Exactly. It certainly will.
And I have a funny story about that. Because, you know, the day - big news was Rosie, but you overshadowed Rosie. Because I was there interviewing audience members as they left the show, and - and so many women told me, `I wasn`t here to see Rosie. I was here to see Donny Osmond.`
OSMOND: Come on.
ANDERSON: I`m serious. No lie.
OSMOND: Yeah?
ANDERSON: No lie.
OSMOND: Well, there`s a rumor that Rosie and I are going to do something together. And I don`t know what it might be.
ANDERSON: But it has to make you feel good to - to be so loved.
OSMOND: Well, you know, first of all, thank you for the compliment. I - I`m amazed sometimes that I`m still doing this after 45 years of being in show business.
If you have a five-year career - a three-year career in show business, you`re lucky. And I`m on my 55th album, 45 years in. And I still have an audience out there.
ANDERSON: You`ve had tough times over the years.
OSMOND: Oh yeah.
ANDERSON: And you`ve been open about struggling with anxiety.
OSMOND: Oh yeah.
ANDERSON: .too.
OSMOND: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: You know, a lot of people speak about these things - a lot of celebrities, Rosie O`Donnell for one.
OSMOND: That`s right.
ANDERSON: Brooke Shields. Is there something about fame that - that brings that on, or maybe exacerbates it? Or is it just something that, `Hey, it`s inevitable. It could happen to anyone.`
OSMOND: Brooke, it`s life.
ANDERSON: Anyone`s susceptible.
OSMOND: Anyone. Anyone can get it. We`re only human. You know - yeah, we - we`re put on these platforms as star, but we`re human beings, you know?
ANDERSON: You put your pants on one leg at a time.
(CROSSTALK)
OSMOND: No actually, both at the same time.
ANDERSON: You just jump right in.
OSMOND: I just elevate in the air, and they - they automatically ..
ANDERSON: Now that`s talent right there, Donny.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: But do you think there`s something about people of your stature, high-profile people, talking and being honest about these things that could help others?
OSMOND: I think honesty is the best medicine. I think if you can get out there and just say, `Look, this is me.` You know, granted, if you put in a platform - if you`re put on a stage, people like to see a celebrity. They like to go to a concert.
You know, I learned something very interesting from Elvis Presley. I was about 14 years old when I went to go see him in Vegas. We were opening the night after his closing. He stayed after because he wanted to come to our opening show.
But the night before, when I was watching the King - he had the audience right in the palm of his hand, and he was working that room. And I thought, `Man, this is a masterful entertainer.` And the next night, I`m in the dressing room, and he walks in the room, and he really talks like that, `Hello everybody, how are you doing? Nice to see you.`
And I was taken back by the fact that he was just a person. He just came in and talked to us as a normal guy.
ANDERSON: You and your sister Marie.
OSMOND: Yes.
ANDERSON: .you were the idols back in the `70s for teenagers. And now, looking at the idols out there for teenagers today, it`s changed. You`ve got Lindsay Lohan; you`ve got Britney Spears.
What do you think has changed?
OSMOND: Well, I think everybody goes after the shock value. You know, if you can get something controversial out there, you`re going to get the headlines. You know, there`s a difference between being a star and being popular.
ANDERSON: With the benefit of age and wisdom, what advice would - would you give these young Hollywood starlets who`ve gone off track a little bit?
OSMOND: Yes.
Get back on track! Come on! It`s just show business!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Such a great guy.
And Donny Osmond`s new CD, "Love Songs of the `70s" is in stores now.
Hey, A.J., I know you remember when Danny DeVito was on "The View" a few months back.
HAMMER: Yes.
ANDERSON: Really weird appearance.
HAMMER: Yes, a lot of people thought he had a little too much (INAUDIBLE)
ANDERSON: Yes.
Well, A.J., now he`s going to cash in on that (INAUDIBLE) wacky interview. And I`ve got that straight ahead.
HAMMER: Well, good for Danny.
Also, Brooke, I`ve got the wild story of Brad Pitt`s phone number winding up posted online.
Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, ACTRESS: Well, honey, he is Larry King. I mean, you know, he`s been around since the year 1.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, maybe not year 1, but our very own Larry King has been around awhile. Coming up, I`ve got a very special look at Larry`s 50 years of getting the biggest names to spill their secrets. Next.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: .with tracking. Nice (ph) go 3. Master, roll your break and effect black.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And fade up, go 3 music under. Stand by, A.J. Pre- set Camera 1. Open his mike. And dissolve. Go.
HAMMER: Director Gnarls Wegmann (ph), I thank you.
And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
It`s time now for another story that made us say, "That`s Ridiculous!"
Well, hundreds of Brad Pitt fans thought they hit the jackpot. And that`s because somebody posted a phone number in an online chat room and claimed it was Brad Pitt`s. So of course they all reached out and tried to touch him, so to speak.
But much to their disappointment, the number belonged to 77-year-old New Hampshire grandpa Dick Perkins (ph). And his phone hasn`t stopped ringing.,
But get this: Dick does not want to change his number because - and this is kind of sweet - he`s afraid he`ll forget his new one. Either way, I am not getting hung up on this story. "That`s Ridiculous!"
Well, this week, we here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and all over CNN are celebrity Larry King`s 50 years in broadcasting. I mean, Larry has pretty much interviewed every big name in news, entertainment, politics.
As part of the celebration, we`re taking a look at some of Larry`s most memorable moments. Tonight, come with me, for a leap back to the time of big hair and big interviews - the `80s. Here`s CNN`s Anderson Cooper with Larry King for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The `80s. Michael moonwalked. Reagan ruled.
RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.
COOPER: And the Cold War cooled.
It was a time of terror.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The United States strongly condemns the hijacking.
COOPER: And a time of tragedy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obviously, a major malfunction. The vehicle has exploded.
COOPER: It was a time of fear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: AIDS is a killer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, America. You did it.
COOPER: But also of hope.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Live Aid to our brothers and sisters all around the world.
COOPER: On the big screen, Tom Cruise.
(SINGING)
COOPER: . "Batman: began.
MICHAEL KEATON, ACTOR: I`m Batman.
COOPER: .and Hanks made a splash.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is (INAUDIBLE)
COOPER: But it was big hair and big hits that truly defined the decade.
(SINGING)
JON BON JOVI, SINGER: We put our fingerprint on pop culture with that record.
(SINGING)
BON JOVI: We looked like the garage band next door that you could be, too.
(SINGING)
COOPER: From metal.
(SINGING)
COOPER: .to Madonna.
(SINGING)
COOPER: And everything in between. Sweeping anthems.
(SINGING)
COOPER: .and surprising crossovers.
(SINGING)
DOLLY PARTON, SINGER: I think probably if I had a favorite decade, that would probably be the `80s.
(SINGING)
PARTON: I had gotten into the `80s.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "9 TO 5")
PARTON: No, I don`t want you to call for help! You won`t listen, but you`ll shut up and stay there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PARTON: And I was beginning to be, like, popular all over the world.
(SINGING)
COOPER: The queen of country wasn`t the only one making a big crossover in the `80s. By 1985, CNN`s maverick owner, Ted Turner, had set his sights on the king of talk radio.
TED TURNER, CNN FOUNDER: Well, we really needed a new primetime talk show host. And I - I knew Larry. I had gone on his radio show.
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: As we live from Washington.
TURNER: He was god. He was - he was - he was the best interviewer available, and I thought he`d be interested in a proposition of putting him - putting him in primetime.
COOPER: Ted got his man. Larry was ready for CNN. But was CNN ready for Larry?
RANDY DOUTHIT, FMR. EXEC. PRODUCER, "LARRY KING LIVE": We actually got that show on - "LARRY KING LIVE" on in about two weeks. And the time he signed his contract to the time that we actually went on with our first guest, Mario Cuomo, we had two weeks.
COOPER: In June of 1985, "LARRY KING LIVE."
KING: Good evening. My name is Larry King, and this is the premiere edition of "LARRY KING LIVE."
COOPER (on camera): Your first broadcast. Were you nervous?
KING: I - I - I didn`t know whether I was going to like it or not. And I didn`t know CNN. But five minutes in, I said, `It`s going to make it.` There was an electricity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: CNN was my favorite.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love CNN!
KING: Our first guest tonight is Oprah Winfrey. She`s nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "The Color Purple." Let`s watching.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE COLOR PURPLE")
OPRAH WINFREY, ENTERTAINER: And like I said, `Fine with me.`
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Did she hit you?
WINFREY: Yeah. You know, the thing about it is, Stephen let her hit me, but I wasn`t allowed to hit her.
COOPER: In 1986, you had a young talk show host on your program, Oprah Winfrey. Did you know that she would become Oprah?
KING: Did I know she`d get this enormous? No one could have predicted that. Did I know she`d be successful? Absolutely.
COOPER (voice-over): "LARRY KING LIVE" was quickly embraced for its fascinating guests.
JANE FONDA, ACTRESS: I feel (INAUDIBLE)
(MUSIC)
DON RICKLES, COMEDIAN: Larry is an investigator. And he - and he probes and does it pretty good.
KING: I`ve had a fantasy wish about you.
RICKLES: And he has fun, and he`s great with entertainers because he knows the business so well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I deny that.
GOLDBERG: Well, honey, he is Larry King. I mean, you know, he`s been around since the year 1.
COOPER: The must-stop spot on TV, where viewers can talk directly to some of the world`s most famous pop culture icons.
KING: Do you ever get sick?
GEORGE BURNS, ENTERTAINER: Well, once in awhile. Every three months I cough a little.
COOPER: Laughs.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: Leaders.
KING: We don`t want any - any more Vietnams.
COOPER: Larger-than-life personalities.
KING: Have you ever had a face-lift?
BOB HOPE, ENTERTAINER: Oh God no. If I had a face-lift, would I be stick with this?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Oh, a lot of great memories there.
And tomorrow, right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Larry King will be with us. You can bet he`s got some great stories to share.
And on Thursday, check out CNN for a very special edition of "LARRY KING LIVE": 50 years of pop culture with Anderson Cooper and Ryan Seacrest.
A.J., how could we forget Danny DeVito on "The View" a few months back? People thought he was totally wasted.
HAMMER: Oh, yes. Totally out of control on that appearance on that show.
ANDERSON: That`s right. And believe it or not, A.J., Danny`s actually going to cash in from that wild and wacky interview, if you can believe it. I`ve got that coming up next.
HAMMER: I hope he does well with that.
Also, I`ve got your first look at "People En Espanol"`s "Most Beautiful Hispanic Stars." This year, there`s a very special surprise about one of them. I can`t tell you about it right now, but I will, coming up next.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for Tuesday night will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: So how does that saying go? "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
Well, Danny DeVito is taking his lemons and making limoncello.
Now you might remember when Danny was on "The View" a few months back. Pretty much everybody thought he had hit the bottle a little too hard the night before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANNY DEVITO, ACTOR: (INAUDIBLE)
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Danny said his odd behavior was due to late-night partying with his buddy George Clooney. They were downing limoncello.
Well, Danny squeezing some cash out of this. He`s out with his own brand of the citrus liqueur: Danny DeVito`s premium limoncello. I guess that "View" interview - I guess it didn`t leave a sour taste in his mouth after all.
HAMMER: All right.
"People En Espanol" out now with their annual "50 Most Beautiful Hispanic" celebrities issue. A big twist this time around: they`ve come up with an honorary "Most Beautiful" choice: Beyonce.
Yes, the sexy singer-actress is the first non-Hispanic to make the cut. "People" says it`s because her new album includes a duet with Shakira, and several Spanish-language songs.
Others on the list this year: Jennifer Lopez, just killed-off "Heroes" star Santiago Cabrera - he played Isaac on the show - and "Ugly Betty"`s America Ferrera made the cut.
You can pick up your copy of "People En Espanol" on newsstands now.
ANDERSON: Well, as we told you earlier, Larry Birkhead back in Kentucky with his daughter, Dannielynn. Yesterday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." It was this: "Virgie`s Arthur Fight for Dannielynn: Is it all about the money?"
An overwhelming response - almost all of you - 96 percent, say, "Yes, Anna Nicole`s mom is in it for the money."
Stephanie from Georgia says, "Anna Nicole`s mother is only after Dannielynn`s money. That`s the only way she can pay her legal bills."
But J.C. from Texas doesn`t think so: "I think Virgie wants to be assured that Howard Stern can never get custody. That is my idea of what is behind her not letting up."
HAMMER: Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT:
Tomorrow, we get into the nastiest star custody battles of all time. Of course, the Kim Basinger-Alec Baldwin fight for their daughter does make the cut. What does all this courtroom chaos, though, do to the kids?
The craziest, the meanest child-custody battles tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, the king of talk, Larry King, right here. We are going one-on-one with Larry as he celebrates 50 incredible years in the business. Of course, he`s interviewed everyone, so we`re going to interview Larry, the king, tomorrow.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks a lot for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I am Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
"GLENN BECK" is coming up next, right after the latest headlines from CNN Headline News.
He shoots, he scores.
END
