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Showbiz Tonight
Is Larry Birkhead Shopping a Reality TV show?; Leave Britney Alone
Aired September 13, 2007 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST: Is Larry Birkhead really shopping a reality TV show? The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Truth Squad" is on the case. And a police officer caught in an on-camera meltdown, but there`s much more than meets the eye.
I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show stats right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Leave Britney alone. Tonight, the growing outcry to stop the insults, stop the jokes, and for goodness sakes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Leave me alone!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Why are some people now saying they feel sorry for Britney?
Plus, startling new details on what really lead Brit`s disastrous performance on MTV. It`s a SHOWBIZ special report.
Tonight, the power of Oprah. Will Oprah make Obama the next president of the United States? Plus George Clooney telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT who may get his vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: I think you either are a leader or not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the biggest stars about Hollywood, the race for the White House, and the power of Oprah.
Hi there, I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. A.J. is off tonight. And I have to tell you that when we asked, our friends at home, whether you feel sorry for Britney Spears, we could never have imagined the response that we received? More on that coming up.
But first, it`s Britney`s new song were called "Leave Me Alone" I can tell you that it would probably be a huge hit. Tonight there is a growing cry in cyberspace to cut the girl a break over her disastrous performance at the MTV Video Music Awards and to just leave her alone. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that you have to see it to believe it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): It only lasted three minutes and 25 seconds, but Britney Spears` underwhelming performance at the MTV Video Music Awards is generating a lifetime`s worth of headlines and a lot of criticism.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this the beginning of the end for Britney?
ANDERSON: But amid all the Britney bashing and career obituaries, a movement is growing in this nation. From coast to coast, more and more people are rallying around one sad, but defiant sentiment.
CHRIS CROCKER, ASPIRING COMEDIAN/ACTOR: Let me alone!
ANDERSON: In this over the top video on YouTube by aspiring comedian and actor, Chris Crocker, he pleads for people to stop the Britney bashing.
CROCKER: All you people care about is, readers, and making money often her! She`s a human!
ANDERSON: But while some are questioning whether this is a genuine plea or online performance art, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal that the "Leave Britney Alone sentiment" is spreading like a bad rash, as imitators post their own "Leave Britney Alone" messages.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`ve got to leave Britney spears alone. OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I Love her and I really want to see her win and come out on top.
JULIA ALISON, STAR MAGAZINE: Why? Why do you have to treat Britney like this? Why?
ANDERSON: OK, maybe "Star" magazine`s Julia Alison isn`t really as upset about the Britney`s situation as the YouTube guy appears to be, but she is able to tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT what`s behind the "Leave Britney Alone" phenomenon.
ALISON: I think people start to really think that Britney`s their friend and they`re defending their friend.
ANDERSON: But, the "Leave Britney Alone" crusade is not limited to Britney fans who are tired of people bashing her MTV performance. Britney`s sympathy seems to be spreading to the general public, as well. You hear it on "The View."
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, THE VIEW: I`m concerned, because I actually think she doesn`t want to do this any more. I just have a funny feeling that if you...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Then why do it?
GOLDBERG: Because I think she doesn`t know how to stop.
ANDERSON: And when asked in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day: Do you feel sorry for Britney? The surprising percentage of our viewers, 40 percent, actually said, yes. "Star" magazine`s Julia Alison is one of them.
ALISON: I totally feel sorry for Britney. I think, to have this demand, to have the pressure, to have the criticism that she has had to endure, it`s enough to drive anyone a little bit psycho.
CROCKER: Leave me alone!
ANDERSON: But as cries to Leave Britney Alone echo throughout cyberspace, a dissenting voice is heard from those who feel that Britney had all this coming.
PEREZ HILTON, CELEBRITY BLOGGER: Britney -- leave me alone, Britney.
ANDERSON: Celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton, posted his own less sympathetic response to the "Leave Britney Alone" video.
HILTON: Britney, you`re so (INAUDIBLE), you were good once in the day, but now you just fell back of being covers.
ANDERSON: And rocker Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he`s not losing any sleep over the Britney bashing.
DAVE GROHL, FOO FIGHTERS: I don`t sit around with my Britney Spears CDs going, why, Britney, why? No. I don`t give a (Bleep) (Bleep).
ANDERSON: And we must point out, even though 40 percent of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers said they feel sorry for Britney in our recent poll, a solid majority. 60 percent, appear to share Dave Grohl`s opinion on the matter.
GROHL: I don`t give a (Bleep) (Bleep).
ANDERSON: But the fact both Britney bashers and Britney lover are going at it shows we may be witnessing one of the most riveting celebrity comedowns, or possible comebacks, ever.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is uncovering dramatic new details about what really happened before Britney got onstage at the VAMs before her shocking performance. Here with us tonight, with me in Hollywood, Ken Baker, editorial director of UsMagazine,com. The story of Britney`s disaster is on the cover of the new issue of "Us" weekly. And also in Hollywood, Jane Velez-Mitchell, investigative journalist and author of "Secrets can be Murder."
Welcome, Jane and Ken. Good to see you both.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: Hi, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Hi there. As we all know, you know, Britney blew it onstage. but not only that, we are learning she blew an even bigger opportunity, possibly. One of the most powerful producers in the business, Timberland, told MTV, that Britney dissed a collaboration at the VMAs with himself and as her ex, Justin Timberlake. Timberland said, quote, listen to this:
"She should, humble herself and make a phone call and say, `I`m sorry.` She knows what`s she`s sorry about." He continued, "She needs to say, `I was wrong.` And it`ll definitely move forward. That`s all she has to say."
Ah, it seems to me that getting one of the most successful producer`s peeps in the music industry would have been a great move, even if it did include her ex. Ken, should she be kicking herself even harder right now? She blew it!
KEN BAKER, EDITORIAL DIR, USMAGAZINE.COM: I am not sure that Britney Spears really wants to have her career back, because if you just judge her by her actions, she`s done almost everything in her, within her power, in order to self-sabotage her career. Not only that performance the other night. What that was, was everyone just being what ended up being a long string of self-sabotaging events going back to firing her manager, Larry Rudolph.
Larry Rudolph, here manager -- one-time manager, was considered the mastermind behind Britney Spears. The girl with "Hit me Baby, One More Time," "Oops I did it Again," that was Larry Rudolph. And she was a great performer, but she was marketed, packaged, and managed very well.
She has been turning off a lot of people and not only that, that song that we heard the other night, "Gimme More," which, of course, we all are saying give me less of "Give me More" -- she did a video for that just a few weeks ago. I am told that the record label, Jive Records, saw a rough cut of that video and said, no way. We are not putting that on MTV. That does not sell this song and they are currently re-doing that video right now. Luckily, there are people still there trying to save her from herself.
ANDERSON: Cool. Luckily. So, you know, you make a good point. Consistently she has been behaving in a self-destructive way. You know, and if all of that is not bad enough, "People" magazine is now reporting that superstar hair-stylist Ken Paves was all set to do her hair at the VMAs, but that when he arrived, she only wanted two of his female assistants working on her hair. So, you know, what she did? What he did, actually, people said that he quit, he walked off.
Jane, do you think that Britney has any idea how many people she`s ticked off? Or is she just apathetic? Does she even care anymore?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Brooke, I think she rationalizes her behavior as self-justified. You know, whenever I see this kind of demanding diva attitude, I know behind it is massive, massive insecurity and fear. And when you no longer trust your core abilities, what do you is you engage in magical thinking and superstition.
So, in her head, oh, I had a performance of the past, and I had female hairdressers when I had that performance and that turned out OK, so maybe if I have female hairdressers this time around I`ll have a good performance. And that happens when you become insecure.
ANDERSON: Athletes wearing the same pair of socks without washing them or something. I mean, it`s crazy.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Exactly.
ANDERSON: OK, you know, "People" magazine also reporting that MTV chose a corset for Britney to wear, cover up a little more skin, but she didn`t like it and instead chose that sparkly underwear and bra getup that has gotten her crucified, really. Ken, when is she going to do what you and I and every other star out there does, what you and I know every other star out there does and the gets good advisers starting with a stylist?
BAKER: I was going to say, you might have a stylist. I don`t, obviously.
ANDERSON: No, I misspoke, there. I certainly don`t. I need help myself.
BAKER: No, obviously, Britney -- the good news in al this is that Britney, we`re told by our sources, is totally aware that she looked horrible, that she was just a disaster. In fact, sadly enough, when she got off the stage, she was able to see herself on the big screens in that auditorium and we`re told when she got offstage she said, and I quote, "I looked like a fat pig."
Now, that is very sad. Now, because it`s one thing for other people to say that, but the fact that she`s internalizing that and seeing that, it`s just very sad. I think that Britney obviously is deaaling with a lot of issues principally, she just had a very secret meeting, not so secret now that I`m talking about it, with Kevin Federline, her ex, at an attorney`s office yesterday, and we`re told by our sources, that what they`re trying to do is come to some settlement agreement, because she doesn`t want this thing to go to court and for all of her dirty laundry to be aired. Britney is just, I think, on the verge of a complete and utter total meltdown.
ANDERSON: Hopefully she were get her life and her family under control. Ken Baker of UsMagazine.com and Jane Velez-Mitchell, investigative journalist and author of "Secrets can be Murder" thank you both.
And now we want to hear from you. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Britney Spears, do you feel sorry for her? Vote, cnn.com/showbiztonight and write to us, Showbiztonight@cnn.com. You can also vote on the question of the day sending a cell phone text message to 45688. To vote yes "Showbiz Yes," to vote no write, "Showbiz No." Once again, 45688.
All right, I cannot believe the sheer number of e-mails we received over Britney and your overwhelming response. Now to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, "Sympathy for Britney." There`s a growing outcry calling on people to stop the jokes, but why are people feeling sorry for her? Our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report coming up at 30 past the hour.
Plus, he`s the father of Anna Nicole Smith`s baby daughter, but is Larry Birkhead the next reality TV star? The SHOWBIZ "Truth Squad" is on the case, investigating this Hollywood rumor. Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLOONEY: They walk in the room and you think, wow, I would follow that guy whatever he says and I believe in him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: George Clooney tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT who may get his vote for president of the United States. Straight ahead, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT talks to the biggest stars about Hollywood, the race for the White House and the power of Oprah. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: I think that my value to him, my support of him, is, is probably worth more than, than any check that I could write.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was Oprah Winfrey on CNN`s LARRY KING LIVE talking about support of presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood and you are watching TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
Tonight, the power of Oprah and whether she may help elect the first Black president of the United States. Everybody is still buzzing about the over the top fund-raiser Oprah held for Barack Obama last weekend in her California estate and, boy, did it help. She helped raise more than $3 million for the Obama campaign.
You know, I got to tell you, this woman has tremendous influence, but is it enough to get Obama into office? Joining me tonight from Saint Louis, radio talk show host, Dave Glover and from Washington, D.C., Amy Argetsinger and a columnist for the "Washington Post`s" the "Reliable Source."
Dave, Amy, welcome.
DAVE GLOVER, RADIO TALKS SHOW HOST: Thank you.
AMY ARGETSINGER, WASHINGTON POST: Thank you.
ANDERSON: All right Dave, I want to begin with you. Everybody knows that when Oprah speaks the world does listen. Her endorsement on anything has a huge impact. You know, when she suggests a book, it goes straight to No. 1. Do you think her influence will it send Obama straight to the White House?
GLOVER: You know, Brooke, I don`t think you can underestimate the Oprah effect. We`ve never seen anything like this in entertainment, in the history of entertainment. You go to any baby shower tonight in America, you`ll get more traction arguing that Hitler was misguided than the fact Oprah is overrated. My own lovely wife, who is otherwise intelligent, and opinionated, a free spirited and a free thinker. If Oprah loses 10 pounds on the acorn diet, she`s in the woods the next day. What she says carries a tremendous amount of weight.
ANDERSON: Amy, do you agree? Weigh in on this.
ARGETSINGER: I do agree in some ways. But I think 2008 is going to be as much a test for Oprah as it is for Obama. She`s been hugely influential in certain things, in you know, what bed sheets people buy and what books they buy and what brand of cookie they like, but the difference is that Oprah has previously been calling people`s attention to obscure products. Telling you about authors you don`t know about, and this is to an American public by and large might only read one book a year. If Oprah tells them what to do they`ll probably take that book. It`s different with politics. People are going to have a lot other opportunities besides just Oprah to find out about Barack Obama.
Certainly there is a big balance, thought, when someone goes on her show you do see an uptick sometimes in the poll. That happened for George Bush in 2000.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Go ahead, Dave.
GLOVER: I would love to think that it`s different for politics than it is cookies but in today`s society, I`m just not so sure. I mean, Hillary -- how is -- Hillary Clinton told me about this -- she would rather Bill be managing the Hooter`s than have Obama going on "Oprah" once a week. I`m telling you, that there are 100 people who subscribed to "Us," "Star" or "People" for every one that subscribed to the "Economist," this could be the election that we see Hollywood elect the next president.
ARGETSINGER: Yeah, but...
ANDERSON: Fascinating analogies you bother are throwing out there. But I do want to point out here that, you know, Oprah has never endorsed any other political candidate before, let alone a Black presidential candidate, and take a look at what she said when Larry King asked her whether she think as Black man can be elected president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, LARRY KING LIVE: Can a Black man be elected president of the United States?
WINFREY: I believe he can. I believe a Black man can and I believe he can.
KING: You think he`s going to win the nomination?
WINFREY: I`m not here to say whether he will win or not. But I believe you asked do I believe he can? I believe that he can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Dave, do you agree with Oprah that America is ready, now, whether it`s Barack Obama or somebody else, America is ready to accept a Black president?
GLOVER: I think so. I think it`s all about the right Black president or the right female president. But Oprah herself, I`m not an Oprah fan, mostly fueled my own jealousy and resentment, but you know, you look what she has done.
ANDERSON: Tell us how you really feel.
GLOVER: Coming from dirt poor, to be the most rich, most powerful woman, if she can do that, we can have a Black president in Obama.
ANDERSON: You know, over the past week, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has been speaking to the biggest stars in Hollywood about where they stand. And George Clooney told our A.J. Hammer that he has a few favorites and that he could see himself voting for Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLOONEY: I spent a lot of time with him. I spent a lot time with him as a senator, before he was, you know, on the ballot. I spent time with someone who walks in a room and I believe is a leader, and I don`t think can you teach that. I think you either are leader or not. I have spent a lot of time with him and I`m a big fan of his.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Amy, you`ve covered the political scene extensively. Got to ask you, when candidates get support from the stars does it help, do you think, or do the candidates think, hey, who the heck are they to be talking about this?
ARGETSINGER: The candidates are always happy if Hollywood people are speaking about them; however, it`s not a reason Hollywood celebrities would liking to think. Hollywood celebrities would like to think that their great words of wisdom are going to sway the American public in picking a candidate. In truth, they`re most valuable to the candidates in terms of the money they bring to the campaigns. And this is why those are the very tricky tightrope walk for candidates dealing with Hollywood because the Hollywood people really, really want to be involved, they want to do more than just money, they want to be out there. But you have to be careful, sometimes the Hollywood endorsement can be a bit of a liability. People have very conflicted emotions about some of these characters. I know a lot of candidates are talking to Angelina Jolie and whether her endorsement is going to be good for someone or bad for someone. We have to see.
ANDERSON: We are yet to see. You`re right, Amy Argetsinger, Dave Glover. Thank you both for your insight. Appreciate it.
OK, Britney Spears, certainly could use Oprah`s endorsement these days. But even without it, I can tell you there is a growing number of people coming to Britney`s defense. Straight ahead is our SHOWBIZ special report "Sympathy for Britney." What`s making people stand up and shout, "Leave Britney Alone!" Why do people feel sorry for her coming up at 30 past the hour.
Also ahead, Larry Birkhead has had more time in the spotlight than most. But, is the father of Anna Nicole Smith`s baby girl actually getting ready for a reality TV show? The SHOWBIZ "Truth Squad" gets to the bottom of that story next. Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFFICER: Do you want to try me tonight, young boy? Do you want to go to jail for some (Bleep) reason I come up with?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A cop caught on camera having a meltdown, but did he cross the line? There is much more to this story, and we will have it for you just ahead on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tomorrow the verdict is in. Judge shows are hotter than ever and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants you to know why. Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Alex, there are 10 nationally syndicated court shows in all, but what is it about these shows that has America so obsessed with them? It is judgment day, tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT
It`s time now to call in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Truth Squad," and this is where our crack team of celebrity investigators set the record straight on the Hollywood rumor mill.
All right, tonight is the father of Anna Nicole Smith`s daughter really developing a new reality show? Tabloid reports say that Larry Birkhead is shopping a new reality TV show that will focus on his life with baby Dannielynn. A deal is said to be all but signed. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out to Birkhead to find out if any of this report is true.
He said, "I am not shopping any projects. I have been presented with many offers from various networks and publishing companies including reality show, television, book deals, et cetera. I have turned numerous things down and have accepted none of the offers."
Another SHOWBIZ TONIGHT mystery is solved.
You know, I really cannot believe the number of e-mails we`ve received over Britney Spears and your overwhelming response. That led to tonight`s SHOWBIZ special report, "Sympathy for Britney."
There`s really a growing outcry calling on people to stop the insults and stop the jokes, but why are people feeling sorry for Britney? Our SHOWBIZ special report is coming up next.
Also ahead, George Clooney unplugged. He goes off to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about Hollywood, politics and the advice from his father that changed the course of his career. It`s the interview you`ll see only right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFFICER: Do want to try me tonight, young boy? Do you want to go to jail for some (Bleep) reason I come up with?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Talk about getting reamed? This cop sounds like he`s going over the deep end. But why did the driver of the car have the cameras rolling? That`s next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
ANDERSON: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Should we feel sorry for Britney Spears?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don`t sit around with my Britney Spears` CDs going, why, Britney, why?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. So the Fu Fighters might not feel sorry for Britney, as it turns out, plenty of other people do. But why? Tonight a SHOWBIZ special report, "Sympathy For Britney."
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood. A.J. Hammer is off. You`re watching TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is daring to ask, should we feel sorry for Britney Spears? By now we`ve all seen Britney`s abysmal performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Does Britney only have herself to blame for not being better prepared? I mean, she couldn`t even get the lip-synching right! Or are we being way too hard on her? One guy who definitely won`t send Britney sympathy cards, Fu Fighters lead singer Dave Grohl. He told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that he finds it offensive that she even performed at the awards since she`s not even a musician. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVE GROHL, FU FIGHTERS: It really bums me out that -- that, you know, that someone with a back tracking tape thing, and a bikini can be considered an artist. I don`t sit around with my Britney Spears` CDs going, why, Britney, why? I don`t give a (BLEEP, BLEEP).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So Dave Grohl clearly doesn`t feel sorry for Britney, but apparently some of you do. Since yesterday we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, "Britney Spears, do you feel sorry for her?" Take a look at this. So far, 40 percent of you say, yes. And 60 percent of you say, no.
But here`s what we want to know. Why do so many people feel sorry for Britney? That`s what`s we`re asking in tonight`s SHOWBIZ special report with our fired up coast-to-coast panel. With me tonight in Hollywood, Jane Velez-Mitchell, journalist and author of this book, "Secrets Can Be Murder." With us tonight in New York, Steve Santagati, author of "The Manual". Also in New York, psychology expert Cooper Lawrence.
Guys, the response to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day has been really overwhelming. I want to take a look now at an e-mail from Caroline from Canada. She writes, "I feel sad for Britney Spears. I feel she is not herself. And is going through a hard time."
Jane, does this really say it all? That part of the sympathy is that Britney may have much more serious issues, and problems, that she`s dealing with?
JANE VALEZ-MITCHELL, AUTHOR, "SECRETS CAN BE MURDER": You think? This is the same young lady who shaved her hair off just a few short months ago and went in to rehab. And she`s going through a custody battle. She`s got two kids.
Of course, she`s got underlying problems. She`s been performing since she was 11. She needs to take care of herself. She needs to see a psychiatrist. She needs to work on her family and stay off stage. The best and most famous performers have always known when to stay offstage. She should pull a Greta Garbo and say, "I`ve got to be alone."
ANDERSON: Take a step back, just take a breath. I want to take a look now at what Laurie from Wisconsin, wrote, "No, I do not feel sorry for Britney Spears at all. How can you feel sorry for someone who keeps messing everything up all by herself? There is nothing to feel sorry for. You know she not a dumb blond, but she sure is acting like one."
Steve, we`ve heard a lot about this, too. Does Laurie have a point there? We shouldn`t have sympathy, because she just needs to get her act together.
STEVE SANTAGATI, AUTHOR, "THE MANUEL": Look, the point here is that Britney Spears is an entertainer. I disagree with Dave Grohl, because, listen, since the `70s, what a musician is has changed a lot. So, Dave, rethink that.
But I will say this, that, look. She puts herself onstage. Her sycophants, her publicist, agents, producers, puts herself out there. She`s in a business where she`s going to be criticized. Of course, we shouldn`t feel bad for her.
As human being, we should think, you know what, get your act together. There`s no mystery there. The bottom line is, no, we don`t have to feel bad for her. She needs to get it together, she`s a performer. We`re paying her to perform for us. We are paying to listen to her music. If she`s not doing that, she`ll be criticized accordingly. End of story.
ANDERSON: End of story. All right. Cooper, developmental psychologist, what do you think. Is it the end of story? Because you can see both sides, I would imagine. It seems to me, to a lot people, Britney is just self-destructive?
COOPER LAWRENCE, DEVELOPMENTAL PYSCHOLOGIST: Yeah, Brooke. You make a good point. There are two sides to it. One side is, she does put herself out there. As an adult, she could choose to not do that. She knows how not to work -- did that for long enough.
(LAUGHTER)
But also, on the other side of it, she`s also somebody -- Steve -- she`s also somebody who -- you know, she really could be suffering, because when you look at people that are functional alcoholics, functional drug addicts, this is what it looks like. It looks like somebody trying to do their job, and they think they`re doing it well, but you can see in her eyes -- that dead look. So there could be something -- like what Jane said. There could be something really psychological going on behind all this.
ANDERSON: Yeah. There certainly was a vacant look to her at the VMAs. And a lot people say, that hey, you know, it`s really hard to feel sorry for her, because information recently came out from her custody court battle that she makes -- this is truly unbelievable -- she currently makes more tan $737,000 a month.
Jane I would have to think that when people hear that, they`d say, what the heck is she complaining about? You`ve got the money. Get some help.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, for all those poor people out there, including myself, it just shows you money doesn`t buy happiness. Happiness is an inside job.
ANDERSON: You`re right about that.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And I do feel sorry for Britney, because we`re so cruel and mean as a society. For Sarah Silverman to get up there and call her kids mistakes. I just think that`s abominable.
SANTAGATI: Oh, all you have to do it get out of the business!
(CROSS TALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Save that outrage for people who mess up Katrina, and people who are messing up international events, instead of attacking this young woman.
ANDERSON: Steve, you can`t sit still. What do you want to say?
SANTAGATI: No one`s putting a gun to Britney`s head, or anybody. This is a free country. We live in America. No one`s forcing her to be a performer and a singer. She has enough money to retire. Right now she could get out of the business and not be in it. There`s a lot of celebrities go out of there, that go to work, do their job, go home and spend time with their families. You feeling bad for her is foolish.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Everybody make as fool of themselves every so often.
SANTAGATI: Yeah?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I do it just about every day. The whole world isn`t watching. I think we should have some more compassion, because when you`ve been onstage for as long as she has, you`re going to goof up.
SANTAGATI: Right.
LAWRENCE: It`s a bigger issue than that.
SANTAGATI: Compassion is -- I agree with you, in the sense that, look, we shouldn`t have another Marilyn Monroe here or Anna Nicole. We shouldn`t kick her while she`s down and drive her over the edge into a suicide.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s what we`re doing!
SANTAGATI: We aren`t. You and I aren`t. But there are people that do. But Britney is also culpable. Right now we`re in a society where people are not taking responsibility for their actions. Get offstage, get help, and come back. We`d love to see you.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: We`re in a disposable society, no matter how times she got it right, all she has to do is get wrong once or twice, and we throw her away like a plastic bottle. That`s not fair.
ANDERSON: Cooper, what`s take, Cooper?
LAWRENCE: Thank you, Brooke.
It`s way bigger than that. The reason we feel sorry for her, is because she`s a mother. We feel sorry vicariously for those children. So we`re not looking at her like every other pop star. We`re not looking at her and saying, well, like Lindsay or like Paris. We`re saying she is the mother of two young children, and they`re the ones that will bear the scars of this sort of behavior for the rest of their lives.
ANDERSON: Exactly. And you know a lot of people were rooting for her. She`s got these kids. She`s got so many other issues that she`s dealing with. A lot of people wanted her to step up and just knock it out of the park. But now they feel so disappointed, so let down. And you know, also there were reports that she has, like, $100 million tucked away in the bank.
Jane, a lot of people do have a hard time feeling compassionate.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Of course, they do, because she`s so wealthy, because she`s so famous. But I think there`s a sexist element to this. Yeah, she gained a couple pounds. Guess what? She had two kids. When it`s men, they get fat, gray haired, nobody says anything. So it`s sexism on top of everything else.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: I agree with you, there`s a double standard, Steve
(CROSS TALK)
SANTAGATI: Since when is Hollywood fair? I mean, of course -- first of all, she wasn`t fat. For all the women out there that watched Britney, men don`t think she`s fat. She looked amazing. If you do think that`s fat, you have some serious problems. OK?
(CROSS TALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I don`t think so, but the world is saying she looks fat.
ANDERSON: No. I just think it was a really poor choice of wardrobe, guys. And very quickly, Cooper, I want to bring you in here quickly.
SANTAGATI: I don`t agree.
ANDERSON: She`s got an album coming out early November. If she can turn it around, if it`s a smash, do you think that she can win people over? Will she make a comeback because everybody loves a comeback?
LAWRENCE: Well, no. This is beyond everybody loves a comeback. This was her comeback. She`s had several comebacks. Her real fan base will of course buy her CD. But I`ve seen it, her record sales, they`re not going well. For the most part, people who are on the fringe with her are done with her. There`s too much competition. She`ll be replaced by the next pop starlet. I don`t see why we`re gong to stick around for this.
SANTAGATI: No.
ANDERSON: She`s having a tough time. We have to end it there. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Cooper Lawrence and Bad Boy Steve Santagati. Thank you all.
(LAUGHTER)
All right. Remember to keep voting on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Britney Spears, do you feel sorry for her? Vote cnn.com/showbiztonight. Write to us, showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`re going to read some of your thoughts tomorrow.
It is a huge anniversary for "Live With Regis & Kelly" and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there on the set as the show celebrated two decades on the air. We asked Regis and Kelly how they keep the show fresh day after day? What they told us, coming up next.
Also, George Clooney, unplugged. George sits down with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s A.J. Hammer and talks whom he would like to see become the next president. Plus his startling comments about whether a woman or black man could ever run the country together. That`s ahead in the interview you`ll see only right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to try me tonight, young boy? Do you want to go to jail for some (BLEEP) reason I come up with?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A police officer berates a young man, and it`s all caught on tape. Tonight we have the inside story of the video that`s all over the Internet. But there`s more to this story than meets the eye. Keep it right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
Tonight, George Clooney speaking out about whom he`s rooting for, for president and we have his startling comments whether he thinks an African- American man, or a woman could ever run the country. Clooney was at the Toronto International Film Festival for his new film, "Michael Clayton". In that movie he plays a fixer in law firm. His character begins to question what he does for a living when asked to clean up a mess created by one of the firm`s biggest attorneys after he suffers a mental breakdown.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s A.J. Hammer sat down with Clooney at the festival and A.J. asked him if he thinks the film is a knock on lawyers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: People have always been suspicious of big corporate America. I think that we`ve done films forever about that, and certainly films about lawyers, that we`re suspicious of. I don`t think it`s a knock on lawyers. It`s a knock on some lawyers.
A.J. HAMMER, CNN ANCHOR, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Also what does go on behind the scenes in corporate America. A lot of things, I think, people have no idea this stuff is going on.
CLOONEY: You know, there`s some truth in the idea that we have always been suspicious of corporate America. And with good reason, if you look at Enron, or we have plenty of issues -- or certainly, you know, the General Motors issues. You can go down the list, there`s a lot of them that have gone on. So we`re suspicious of it anyway. So it`s good you know -- there`s a good basis for it.
HAMMER: And we should be suspicious. And we should demand answers.
CLOONEY: I think we should be.
HAMMER: Which you`ve always done.
CLOONEY: I think you have to be. Because the truth of the matter is, if you don`t, things go unchecked. Unchecked is always dangerous.
HAMMER: Always. One of the things that happens with your character, Michael Clayton, is he really gets a hard look what his reality has become, and the path he went down.
CLOONEY: Right.
HAMMER: I think a lot of people looking at your life, would say, hey, who wouldn`t want to be in his shoes. Who wouldn`t want that life? But did you ever have a moment where you sort of second guessed the path you`re on and say, am I doing what I`m supposed to be doing?
CLOONEY: I would say there was one moment, during the lead up to the war when I was going at the Bush administration pretty hard, and I was put on the cover of a magazine and called a traitor and Bill O`Reilly did a half an hour show on why my career was over because of my political views. All these things kept going on. There were all these lists, picketing a movie I had coming out.
There was a moment I called up my dad up and I said, am I in a little trouble here? My dad`s like, are you crazy? There are people who risk going to jail. He goes, you`ve got money? I go, yeah. He goes, shut up. You`re a grown boy. You can take this. Don`t whine. So he was right, of course, but there is that moment where you start to doubt sort of where you -- the decisions you`re making.
HAMMER: But you got past that. Clearly, your career has been ruined.
CLOONEY: It`s over for me. You know, I`m going to be now -- yeah, going into interpretive dance.
HAMMER: I was hoping you would do that.
Even when you`re in interpretive dance, I would hope you would remain as vocal as you are about things you feel strongly about. You`ve always been very candid with me about where you stand politically, and who you like. You said recently that you really like Barack Obama. What`s the main thing about this guy for you?
CLOONEY: I`ve spent a lot of time with him. I spent a lot of time with him as a senator, before he was, you know, on the ballot. I have spent time with someone who walks in to a room and I believe is a leader, and I don`t think you can teach that. You either are a leader or not. I felt that way when I met Mario Cuomo. They walk into a room and you think, wow, I would follow that guy, whatever he says. I believe in him.
He also had the courage in 2003, when you were being called a traitor to your country, to write a piece that basically outlined exactly what would happen, which is exactly what has happened. That was political suicide in state politics at the time. I am -- a fan of his. Listen, I`m friends with Hillary. I`ve met John Edwards, like him very much. I`m a Democrat. I think that`s important place for us to look this election cycle. But I`ve spent a lot of time with him, and I am a big fan of his.
HAMMER: Would you like an Obama/Clinton ticket?
CLOONEY: Listen, I don`t think you could pull that off. It would be a very tough one to sell. You know. I don`t know that the world is ready for an African-American and a woman on the same ticket. I think maybe --
HAMMER: Which is to bad, but hopefully --
CLOONEY: It is too bad, but, you know.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That George never disappoints, whether in a film or in an interview. He`s a great conversationalist. OK, you can catch George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" in theaters October 12th.
All right, there is a video, making the round on the Internet, of a police officer berating a young man not knowing the whole thing was being videotaped. The tape itself is shocking, but there could be more to this story than meets the eye. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): You`re driving along, music`s playing, and then -- uh-oh -- police lights in your rearview mirror. Only this driver happens to have a camera in his car, which records this police rant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you want to try me, young boy? Do you want to try me tonight, young boy? Do you want to go to jail for some (BLEEP) reason I come up with?
MOOS: The driver getting yelled at in a commuter parking lot outside St. Louis is Brett Darrow who has installed a camera in his car.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The camera runs all the time?
BRETT DARROW, FILMED POLICE RANT: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, boy. Come on, boy, give me some more lip!
MOOS: But the lip came from Sergeant James Kenline (ph), his rant sent by Darrow to friends and ended up all over the Internet. "Cop Gone Wild" reads one title. The officer has been put on unpaid administrative leave.
DARROW: I`d like to see the officer fired. I thought his conduct was ridiculous.
MOOS: But some online posters say Darrow baited, entrapped the cop, ever since he was cleared of assaulting an off-duty officer, he`s been having little run-ins with police. Which is he says he installed the camera. Here he is driving up to a police, drunken driving checkpoint.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where you heading tonight?
DARROW: I don`t wish to discuss my personal life with you, officer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Come on up here.
MOOS: He`s always taping them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again and again!
MOOS: And when he drove into that commuter parking lot at 2:00 a.m. Here`s how the confrontation started.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are you parking here?
DARROW: Can`t I park here? It`s a commuter lot, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, but we have problems at nighttime.
DARROW: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People break into cars.
DARROW: Did I do something wrong?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re a suspicious vehicle right now.
DARROW: I`m what?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are a suspicious vehicle right now.
MOOS: Darrow is ordered out of the car and the yelling began.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Try to talk back, talk back to me again. I`d be (INAUDIBLE) for resisting arrest, or something. You want to come up with something? I can come up with nine things. Do you want to try something?
DARROW: No, I don`t.
MOOS: Notice something annoying? What`s that horrible, incessant clicking?
DARROW: That`s actually my radar detector.
MOOS: The St. George police chief says he`s very displeased with the officer and is investigating.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don`t treat citizens like that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ever get smart mouthed with a cop again, I show what you what a cop does.
MOOS: After realizing he was caught on camera, the officer simmered down an eventually let Darrow go. Too late to recapture those words that escape onto the Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to try me tonight, young boy?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
It is a big anniversary for "Live With Regis & Kelly" and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there on the set as the show celebrated 20 years on the air. Look at that! There`s Kathy Lee. We asked Regis and Kelly how they keep the show fresh day after day. What they told us coming up. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for a Thursday night is headed straight back. Don`t go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
A big anniversary over at "Live With Regis & Kelly". They are celebrating 20 years on the air. Tomorrow, Regis and Kelly will wrap up their two-week celebration with a full hour showcasing "Live`s" most memorable moments.
And Regis` former co-host -- there she is -- Kathy Lee Gifford, is a special guest. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there on set as they taped that episode. Regis and Kelly told us it was quite a special day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REGIS PHILBIN, CO-HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS & KELLY": I thought it was a pretty good show. It was fun to see all the memories that came out of all of those taped pieces that we did years ago. It was great. And Kathie Lee looked greatened we all got along.
KELLY RIPPA, CO-HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": He keeps it fresh every day. He`s got the gift of storytelling, of things that happened to him that would be boring coming out of my mouth, or anybody else`s mouth.
He`s got a knack for telling a story that engages you, brings you in, takes you on a journey. It`s usually a very funny journey and I`m very much just along for the ride. I really am.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And you can watch the special "Live With Regis & Kelly" anniversary episode, tomorrow.
We`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It is this: Britney Spears, do you feel sorry for her? Here`s the votes so far, 40 percent of you say yes; 60 percent of you say no. We have received a tremendous amount of e-mails already, and here are a few of them.
Kitty from Texas writes: "She`s brought all this on herself. I, for one, am sick and tired of her going around looking like a hooker."
Katherine from Florida thinks, "I do feel sorry for Britney. She just went through a divorce and had a very public mental breakdown."
It`s time to see what is coming up now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Tomorrow, the verdict is in. Judge shows are hotter than ever, and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants you to know why. Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Alex, you know, there are 10 nationally syndicated court shows in all. But what is it about these shows that have Americans so obsessed with them? It is judgment day, tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Also tomorrow, you don`t want to miss this. My interview with Kevin Bacon. He is such a great guy, such a talented actor. He told me he and his wife Kyra Sedgwick, really put their family before their careers. But what else is the secret to the success of what looks like one of the most solid marriages in Hollywood? Kevin Bacon clues us in tomorrow, in the interview you will only see only right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
That is a wrap for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks so much for watching. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. "Glenn Beck" coming up next after the latest headlines from CNN "Headline News." Take care.
END
