Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Britney`s Bodyguard`s Shocking Allegations; Top Celebrity TV Earners
Aired September 28, 2007 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT ANCHOR: The surprising new connection between O.J. Simpson, the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman, and former President Bill Clinton. And did Michael Jackson get married to his nanny? I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, new Britney Spears, shocker. Tonight, her former bodyguard speaking out like never before. Explosive, never before heard allegations about drugs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BARRETTO, FORMER BODYGUARD FOR BRITNEY SPEARS: It was clear that she was under the influence to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And why he fears for her and her kids` lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRETTO: Her behavior is just so strange unpredictable that we don`t ever know what is going to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Plus, a SHOWBIZ special report, is Britney a prisoner of her own fame?
Not for nothing, these people are rich, rich, rich. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the highest paid TV celebrities. So who makes more? Simon or Ryan? Katie or Rachel? And who`s the surprising celebrity at the top of the list? Tonight, the stars who earn the most on TV. And you will definitely be surprised.
Hi there. Happy Friday to you. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. A.j. is off tonight. Hey, I know this sounds a little crazy, but could it really be that Michael Jackson has married his nanny? Hey, with Michael, you never know, which is why we put the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad on the case. That`s coming up.
But first tonight, just when we thought we`d heard it all from Britney Spears` former bodyguard comes a whole new pile of shocking claims that will make your hair stand on end. And I am not kidding. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you the latest developments. And if what we are hearing can be proven, Britney is in even bigger trouble than we thought.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARRETTO: Her behavior is just so strange and unpredictable that we don`t ever know what`s going to happen.
ANDERSON: Just when you think we`ve heard everything about Britney Spears` wild and possibly dangerous behavior, we get shocked again.
TONY POTTS, "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD": Did you ever fear at any time that were you with her that she may -- may die? She could possibly die?
BARRETTO: We had some concerns.
ANDERSON: Brit`s former bodyguard appeared on "LARRY KING LIVE," where he told "Access Hollywood`s" Tony Potts the disturbing thing he says he witnessed during the two months he worked for the troubled pop star.
POTTS: Any instances where you were with her that she put her life in danger, her kids` life in danger?
BARRETTO: I think she does that daily. I think that`s apparent.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings to you the new Barretto tales of alleged drug use and eratic behavior he claims endangered Britney`s life and the lives of her two small boys, and led a court, based on the bodyguard`s sworn declaration, to slam her for habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol.
JULIA ALLISON, "STAR MAGAZINE": This is the first time that someone from inside her camp has come out and spoken publicly.
ANDERSON: Barretto signed on with Britney soon after she left rehab. With his attorney, Gloria Allred, by his side, Barretto described the unbelievable scene he claims he encountered when he went to retrieve Britney from a hotel room before a show in Anaheim, California.
BARRETTO: The room was completely a mess. It looked like it had been partied in all night. there was food, clothing, alcohol throughout the room. That`s where I observed some substance on the table next to the bed.
POTTS: What substance?
BARRETTO: It was a white powdery substance. It had a straw next to it. In my professional training, it appeared to be a narcotic.
ANDERSON: That`s not all he found.
BARRETTO: I saw a pipe on the other night stand.
POTTS: A crack pipe?
BARRETTO: It was a pipe. I don`t believe it was a crack pipe. I don`t know. It could have been marijuana, perhaps, a methamphetamine pipe. It was a pipe. It was clearly a smoking device. She looked like -- she appeared to be under the influence. Her pupils were dilated. She didn`t conversate well, sweating, acting nervously.
ANDERSON: Barretto claim he`s actually seen Britney use controlled substances. "Star Magazine`s" Julia Allison tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, she`s not surprised.
ALLISON: I think this is just confirmation of what everyone in America has been thinking for the last two years.
ANDERSON: Britney`s former bodyguard also tells a horrifying story about the time he claims he saw Britney driving wildly with her two small boys in the car.
BARRETTO: She just drove aimlessly through town on the wrong side of the road, doing illegal u-turns, and ultimately came back home and didn`t accomplish anything, but endanger herself and her kids.
ANDERSON: Barretto was fired by Britney after he claims he was too slow to pick up a hat she left behind. One of the few things he did say that Britney did not do was use drugs in front of her kids.
BARRETTO: Not everything`s bad. Britney clearly showed her want and will to be with the kids and to love her kids.
ANDERSON: Still, his words aren`t doing much to calm worries about her children.
ALLISON: No one is questioning whether Britney loves her kids or not. Everyone agrees that she does. The question is, does she really know how to raise them in a secure and safe environment? And pretty much everyone agrees that she doesn`t.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out to Britney`s attorney. Sorrell Trope told us, quote, "I consider it highly inappropriate for someone who wants to be a witness to make public statements about what`s going on in a case. If this witness has something that either lawyer wants revealed in court, then that witness gets called before the court and testifies. Only experts can give competent opinions in court, not a lay person. Under the circumstances, I find it inappropriate that he is trying to voluntarily and gratuitously involve himself."
So is the bodyguard, Tony Barretto, speaking out about Britney for the right or the wrong reasons? With us tonight in Los Angeles is Barretto`s attorney, Gloria Allred. Also joining us tonight from Los Angeles, Ruth Hilton, who is the deputy editor of "OK! Magazine." You will recall Britney`s startling meltdown during a recent photo shoot with "OK!."
All right, so Gloria, you just heard what Britney`s attorney is saying, that he finds it inappropriate that the bodyguard is trying to voluntarily, as he calls it, and gratuitously involve himself. I`m guessing you don`t see it this way at all?
GLORIA ALLRED, TONY BARRETTO`S ATTORNEY: No. By the way, this is the third attorney just since the hearing about a week to two weeks ago that she`s had. And the attorney that she had at the time of the hearing had an opportunity to have Mr. Barretto, my client, take the witness stand, cross- examine him under oath, and attempt to discredit him. He declined to do so. That`s reflected in the court`s order.
But the court did receive his declaration into evidence. And I`m so glad that the court did, because I think it meant that the court then found that she is a habitual, frequent and continuous user of alcohol and controlled substances, and based on that, ordered her to take drug testing, ordered her to give the results to the court, and ordered her not to take controlled substances or alcohol within 12 hours of having custody of the children or while she has them.
So my client, Tony, has really accomplished something very important for these children.
ANDERSON: Right. And the court ordered the parenting classes. So the court really slammed Britney. Ruth, the out of control Britney that we are hearing about was exactly that when she melted down and walked out of that photo shoot with your magazine, "OK!." So does any of what you are hearing surprise you?
RUTH HILTON, "OK! MAGAZINE": Sadly it doesn`t. I wish I could say it did, but, you know, every week she keeps reiterating the fact that she is really very erratic. She`s not fully in control of herself or of her life. It`s deeply sad, actually, the whole situation, especially for those kids.
ANDERSON: Yes, I really feel for Britney, and nothing that she does - - she ceases to amaze me. And one of the more disturbing things that we heard from Britney`s former bodyguard was when he was asked if he thinks Britney is actually endangering her kids with her behavior. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
BARRETTO: I think she does that daily. I think that`s apparent to the media, to the public, hopefully to the court as well. I mean, her behavior is just so strange and unpredictable that we don`t ever know what`s going to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Gloria, it`s easy to get the impression from this interview and others that Barretto has done, you know, that he won`t sleep at night until Britney loses her kids. Is that what Tony Barretto really wants?
ALLRED: Well, I think he wants the kids to be safe. He wants the kids to have their mother, but he wants to be sure that these kids are safe. And I think, frankly, that the court`s decision to allow her to continue to have custody 50/50, as she has had before, is inconsistent with the court`s finding that she`s a user of controlled substances and alcohol.
I think, Brooke, that the court, under the circumstances, should have removed the children from Britney until such time as she could demonstrate to the court that she`s no longer a user of alcohol and controlled substances. Then she could have the children back. That would have given her an incentive to really get the help she needs. And I am concerned about the safety of these children.
ANDERSON: Yes, interesting point. It seems the court is trying to give her another chance to prove herself. You know, it`s not only the kids. Tony Barretto stunned us all when he said that he and his partner were concerned Britney was putting her own life in danger with her behavior, that she could wind up killing herself. Ruth, do you believe -- that would be so disturbing, but do you believe that is the path Britney is heading down?
HILTON: Well I mean, it`s sad to say, but it`s -- you know, the court can feel she`s using substances of this nature and, you know, they believe what Tony`s saying, then who is to say what can happen next? I mean, her behavior has been incredibly erratic, whether in her car, with the hit-and- run -- (INAUDIBLE). She drives erratically. She behaves erratically.
Who knows if this is another Anna Nicole situation waiting to happen. It`s very sad and we all hope, I think, that she will go and get the help she needs for herself and for those two little boys. Really that`s -- they should be the heart of this whole equation.
ANDERSON: Certainly we do all hope she can get the help she needs. As I said, she never ceases to amaze me, unfortunately. Gloria Allred, Ruth Hilton, thank you both.
And, you know, I`m not making any excuses for Britney`s bad behavior, but with all the cameras in her face, could a major reason why Britney is such a mess be because she`s a prisoner of her own fame? I`ve got that controversial special report at 30 past the hour.
Now we want to hear what you think about this. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Britney Spears, is fame to blame for her problems. Vote at CNN.com/SHOWBIZTONIGHT. Send an e-mail, SHOWBIZTONIGHT@CNN.com.
I don`t blame fame for Michael Jackson`s problems. He`s a great pop singer. But, boy, has he done some bizarre things. Get this, tonight there is talk the gloved wonder has gotten married. I hope Lisa Marie Presley isn`t jealous. the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Truth Squad checks that out. That`s coming up. Also this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYDEN PANETTIERE, "HEROES": My mom always said you are the books you read and the people you surround yourself with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: "Heroes" star Hayden Panettier, a Hollywood good girl, getting some good advice from her parents. But Lindsay Lohan, a mess. Britney Spears, a mess. So what`s the real reason so many stars are out of control? Some like to point the finger at mommy and daddy. Tonight I`m asking the controversial question, are parents to blame for their star kids` bad behavior?
And take a look at these amazing pictures. Why is this bear hanging over a bridge? That looks pretty dangerous. We`ve got the shocking reason, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
If were you stunned by Simon Cowell`s massive paycheck, you will not believe who earns more than whom on Forbes.com`s list of TV`s top earners. With me tonight in New York, "Forbes`" senior editor Leah Goldman. Leah, great to see you.
Hey there, OK, we know what Simon makes. So let`s say it was between Simon and Donald Trump. Who makes more from their TV work? Take a look at this. Simon Cowell 45 million, Donald`s at 32 million. Leah, how did Simon trump him, so to speak?
LEAH GOLDMAN, "FORBES.COM": Everyone`s always surprised, because technically speaking, the Donald is worth more. He`s a billionaire, worth almost three billion. But in television, Simon makes more and that`s because Simon presides over a reality show empire. He`s got half a dozen hit shows between the U.S. and the U.K. And the Donald has the pageant and "The Apprentice." And "The Apprentice" is a very, very rich show for him. But Simon has more.
So what the Donald is to real estate, Simon is to reality television.
ANDERSON: Right, and this is just considering the TV earnings, not Donald`s real estate empire and the other things he`s involved in.
GOLDMAN: Exactly.
ANDERSON: And our quiz does continue here, Leah. Judge Judy versus comedian George Lopez. Who gets paid more? It turns out that Judge Judy makes 30 million, compared to George Lopez`s 26 million. Leah, I can understand Judge Judy. She`s the most successful TV judge in history. But I don`t understand George. His sitcom just got canceled, right? Where does he get the money from?
GOLDMAN: Two things to remember about George Lopez. The first is he`s one of the hottest comics in America. If he is performing at show, those tickets are going to sell out in minutes. Second thing is "The George Lopez Show" was on air for five years. That`s the magic number when it comes to syndication. So the show, right before it was canceled, inked a very lucrative syndication deal, and that`s going to keep the money coming in for George probably for years to come.
ANDERSON: Syndication is oh, so sweet for these stars. OK, let`s put up kitchen whiz Rachel Ray, whose syndicated show is a tremendous hit, against "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric. Look at this, Rachel makes just a bit more than Katie, 16 million versus 15. Given that Katie`s ratings have really been in the toilet, is it time for Katie to get a cooking show?
GOLDMAN: I think Katie would need an iron chef with some seriously sharp Ginsu knives to save those ratings, because cooking show ain`t going to do it. But the thing with Rachel Ray that you`re got to remember, she`s following her mentor "Oprah Winfrey`s" motto, which is broaden your horizons, try to get involved in as much media as possible. So we know Rachel`s got a pretty significant TV portfolio now. She`s moving into magazine, the syndicated show. Things are only looking up for Rachel ray. Can`t say the same for Katie.
ANDERSON: Let`s move now to talk about Katie Couric`s former morning show rival, Diane Sawyer of "Good Morning America." Let`s put her up against her longtime competitor at ABC, TV icon Barbara Walters. They both make 12 million dollars. Leah, explain this to me. Barbara has the Oscar specials, "The View," so many things. Diane does GMA, some other jobs for ABC. How could they possibly have the same paycheck?
GOLDMAN: Here`s what you have to remember about Diane Sawyer, before she came on to ABC, to "The Morning Show," she had a successful prime time gig at ABC. So to bring her back, ABC knew she was the only person who could go up against Katie. There really was no one else who they knew could go toe-to-toe against Katie Couric. It was Diane Sawyer. To do that they had to pay her.
Keep in mind, those morning show hours are brutal. They had to compensate Diane for that, and that`s how they did it, with a very, very rich paycheck.
ANDERSON: Yes, Diane a great talent. And her current rival, Matt Lauer of "The Today Show," let`s put him against Ryan Seacrest. Look at this, Ryan makes a little more than Matt Lauer. He`s got a lot more irons on the fire, doesn`t he? Quickly.
GOLDMAN: Absolutely does. He`s the Dick Clark. He`s got hosting gigs, TV shows, radio, he`s producing. He`s going up, nowhere but up.
ANDERSON: All right, Leah Goldman, thank you so much for joining us. I do want to mention the highest paid TV celebrity is, no surprise, Oprah Winfrey, with 260 million dollars in just one year. For the entire list of TV`s top earners check out Forbes.com.
OK, well, O.J. Simpson has been living large, even though he still hasn`t paid the 30 million dollar wrongful death judgment against him. Pretty disgusting, right? Now it looks like the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown are finally getting something. Tonight, I can tell you that "If I Did It," where O.J. describes how he would have killed his ex- wife and her friend, if he did it, is number two on the "New York Times" best seller book list. Listen to this, beating out former President Clinton`s "Giving."
Now the Goldman family sued to get the rights to the book after outrage broke out when O.J. struck a reported one million dollar deal to publish it. They even changed the title -- here it is -- to "I Did It." You know, they`ve been criticized for this, but at least are getting some justice by publishing it.
OK, you know, I like Michael Jackson`s music, but he`s done a lot of bizarre things, the sleeping in bed with kids, hanging his child out the window. I wasn`t surprised to hear he may have gotten married to his nanny. You heard right. The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT truth squad is checking that out coming up. Also this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRETTO: She wanted a big, scary looking guy and I filled that role. Again, my job was to protect her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Britney Spears` bodyguard speaks out like never before. Explosive allegations about drugs and the paparazzi swarming Britney more than ever. But, hey, could a reason Britney`s having so many problems be because people just won`t leave her alone? We`ve got a special report; is Britney a prisoner of her own fame? Straight ahead.
Or should Britney`s parents be blamed for her being a mess? Tonight, the controversial question, should stars parents` be held responsible for their kids` bad behavior? That is coming up at 45 past the hour. Keep it right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight, Ben Stiller is speaking out about his friend Owen Wilson, who is recovering from a shocking suicide attempt. And I`m happy to report it sounds like things are looking up. In an interview on today`s "Ellen," Stiller says Wilson, his friend and co-star in movies like "Meet the Parents" and "Starsky and Hutch," is doing better after trying to take -- after trying to take his own life last month.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN STILLER, ACTOR: He`s doing really well. I sort of like to protect his privacy. I feel like its his own thing. But he`s a really good friend of mine, an incredible guy. And I wish him, as everybody does, all the best.
ELLEN DEGENERES, "ELLEN": We all do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Wilson was supposed to star with Stiller in a new film, "Tropic Thunder," but dropped out of the movie. Matthew McConaughey that stepped into that role. Owen if you`re watching, we certainly do wish you the best.
All right Owen Wilson is doing what it takes to get well. Sadly, I can`t say the same thing about Britney Spears. Day after day, it seems like it`s something else with her. So here`s a controversial question, are the parents of stars like Britney, like Lindsay to blame for their bad behavior? We`ve got a heated debate coming up at 45 past the hour. You don`t want to miss that. Also this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRETTO: She wanted a big, scary-looking guy, and I filled that role. Again, my job was to protect her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Britney Spears` bodyguard speaks out. Shocking new allegations about drugs, whether her kids are in danger, the paparazzi following her every move, as you see here. But I also have to ask -- could that be why Britney Spears is such a mess, because she`s never left alone? We`ve got a SHOWBIZ special report; is Britney a prisoner of her own fame? That`s coming up next.
Another guy who has made plenty of headlines for his wild behavior, this guy, Michael Jackson. Now there are reports that he married his nanny? Oh, I really miss the days when Michael made music!
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is Britney Spears a prisoner of her own fame? Her former bodyguard speaks out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BARRETTO, FMR. BODYGUARD: I`m a big, scary-looking guy and I filled that role. Again, my job was to protect her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: His job may have been to protect her, but now he`s trashing her very publicly. And everywhere she goes, Britney is swarmed by the paparazzi. Could it be that part of the reason she`s losing it is because she can`t trust anyone, can`t go anywhere and be left alone. Tonight, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, "Britney, Prisoner of Fame?"
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood with TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. A.J. is off tonight.
OK, tonight our SHOWBIZ special report, is Britney Spears a prisoner of her own fame? I want you to take a look at this video of Britney trying to go into a Quizno`s sandwich shop just to use the bathroom. She walks in, she`s bombarded by the paparazzi. And as she`s leaving, she`s completely surrounded by photographers as if she were prey. So is Britney Spears a prisoner of her own fame? And is that why she`s so messed up right now?
Our coast-to-coast panel is fired up about this tonight. In Los Angeles tonight, Gloria Allred, the attorney for Britney Spears` former bodyguard, Tony Barretto, in Hollywood, Ruth Hilson, the deputy editor of "OK" magazine, and in New York tonight, editor-in-chief for "Fader" magazine, Alex Wagner.
Good to see you all. Welcome.
All right. That video we just showed you, you know, every time I look at it, I mean, poor girl. Britney can`t even go to the bathroom without dozens of paparazzi swarming her.
Alex, is there any better example that she is a prisoner of her own fame?
ALEX WAGNER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "FADER": You know, I think prisoner implies that she has no agency in all of this. You know, she chose to go to the bathroom at Quizno`s, which you know. I don`t even deal with Starbucks sometimes because it`s too much drama.
You know, this is a woman that has been feeding the beast of celebrity through music, through dancing, and now through, you know, sort of personal crisis. It`s her choice in all of this. Now, granted, there is sort of an insatiable paparazzi apparatus around her, but I don`t know that I`d say she`s a prisoner.
ANDERSON: Ruth, what do you think? Is she courting the paparazzi or, is she just trying to have a normal life? And in the end, becoming a prisoner of her own fame?
RUTH HILSON, DEPUTY EDITOR, OKAY MAGAZINE: Well, I tell what you, you know, the paparazzi may have followed her to the Quizno`s. She invited one into the bathroom stall with her. I`m baffled by this. But you know, the bottom line is she has got an absolute part in this. You don`t want the paparazzi, don`t be in L.A., move out. Don`t go to Winston`s every night. Don`t try and go to Hyde`s with no underwear on. I mean this all stuff that fuels this whole thing.
People like Russell Crowe don`t live in L.A. anymore. Sandra Bullock, these people all have private lives. It`s a choice. Every week, there`s more. And OK this week we have, you know, all this stuff about the court papers. How she`s hurt her kids, how she`s not hurt her kids. I mean there`s never-ending stuff on her
ANDERSON: Gloria, you know, last night were you on "Larry King Live" with her former body guard Tony Barretto. As he questioned, actually, with Tony Potz, from "Access Hollywood" as he questioned your client, former bodyguard, Tony Barretto, who`s made some explosive claims about Britney`s behavior, including that she took drugs and that she endangers her own kids. I want to listen now to what he said when he was asked about the role he played in Britney`s life when he was hired.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRETTO: My role was the big guy, and that`s why she hired me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You sewed that one up pretty well.
BARRETO: Thank you.
You know, she hired me for that purpose. She wanted a big, scary- looking guy, and I filled that role. Again my job was to protect her. Mainly just watch over her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSOM: Gloria what do you think? Could it be that part of the reason that she`s losing it is because she can`t trust anybody, she can`t go anywhere. She can`t be left alone. That she is, in a sense, a prisoner?
GLORIA ALLRED, CELBRITY ATTORNEY: Well, I`m a big believer, Brooke, in personal responsibility. And I wonder, what role, by the way, her intake of controlled substances and alcohol, which is what the court found, plays in her choices every day? In her decisions? Where she goes, and how she conducts herself, where she is.
You know, if in fact, the court is right. And I believe the court is right about her, then maybe she`s not really making the kinds of decisions she would make if she were not using controlled substances and alcohol.
ANDERSON: Well, besides what we heard the bodyguard say last night, I want you to you listen to something that Will Smith told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT when we caught up with him at the red carpet premiere for the new movie "The Kingdom". Lets take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL SMITH, ACTOR: I just think that there are people who are young, who are making mistakes right now, who absolutely will be different people 10 years from now. And every tiny little microscopic mistake they make goes around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Alex, is that what`s really going on here? Because everything she does, including going to the bathroom at Quizno`s, is captured on camera, makes her a prisoner. And makes her kind of live in a bubble, basically, giving her a distorted view of the world.
WAGNER: You know, I mean, yes, it`s true. The paparazzi, the tabloid media is at a level that it never has been before. But at the same time, this is someone that`s grown up in the spotlight. In fact, I would bet she knows the paparazzi and the flashes of a camera better than she knows the inside of her own bedroom.
I mean, this is someone that has known what it`s like to be the center of attention for a very long time. And, honestly, she didn`t get to the spotlight by having kind of a reckless behavior and kind of a questionable family life. She got there because she was an amazing pop star. And if anybody lost the thread, it`s Britney herself. I mean, there is a root to get back to stability, and it involves, I think, counseling and rehab. But also going back into the studio and really focusing on music.
ANDERSON: And taking some personal responsibility, as Gloria said. And I can`t help but notice and it wasn`t just me, a lot the staff here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT made the same comments when we saw this video.
I want you to look at Britney`s face as this is all happening. You know, if I were coming out of the bathroom, having to face this sort of thing I would be horrified, but look at her. She smiling. And, Ruth, you know, this is kind of what you were talking about earlier. She`s in a prison-like environment, but it seems to be a prison she might actually love.
HILSON: Well I think she does love it. I don`t think she would know what a day felt like without a flash bulb, I think to a degree her life is validated by how many pictures she sees of herself, you know out there, in the magazines, on you know, in papers and on shows like this.
I don`t -- she really should just leave. Take six to twelve months out. Get a great manager. She should get back into the studio. Everything we can all see, but why can`t Britney see it? We`re not even musicians and we can see it. It`s mind-boggling.
ANDERSON: It is. It really is baffling. To a certain extent, Britney you know, loves the paparazzi as much as the paparazzi loves her. But what`s really sad, is that it has gotten to the point that for a lot of them they just look at her as an object. Listen to what British singer Joss Stone told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSS STONE, SINGER: They don`t look at Britney Spears as a human being. They look at her as a tourist attraction. And the fact is that they feel like she can -- if she walked into a room, looking for the cameras, they have every single right to take pictures of her and post it wherever they want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Gloria, when your client, her former bodyguard was with her he saw this firsthand. He witnessed it. Does Britney ever stand a chance of having a normal life? And not being this so-called prisoner?
ALLRED: Well, I`m not sure, Brooke, that she wants a normal life. And maybe she views the paparazzi as her family? She appears to be alienated from some members of her family. And maybe she`s lonely and the paparazzi provides her sort of a kind of family, people that she recognizes, some of whom she knows, every day.
She doesn`t seem to be very disturbed by it. I mean, she knows. She has experience that they`re going to be following her, yet she goes out and she goes into public places where they can go, and where they can film her. So, I have to think there`s kind of a symbiotic relationship there.
ANDERSON: You know, Ruth talked about this. Alex, what do you think? Is the only way for Britney to ever escape this prison, is to just disappear. Move out of Hollywood? Go back home to Louisiana, just like other stars who say, hey, the way they keep a normal life. They come to Hollywood to work, but they go home to play and be normal?
WAGNER: Definitely. I think boundaries are the first things she needs to erect. She has -- I mean, every move that she makes, from dropping her child on the street to their dental habits, is front-page news. She needs to go back home, and reinstate her position as a woman, as an artist, as professional, as mother.
Like right now, she is a theme park attraction, and she needs to make decisions for herself.
ANDERSON: All right. We will end it there. Hopefully Britney Spears can get the help she needs, and surround herself with good people, giving her good advice. Gloria Allred, Alex Wagner and also Ruth Hilton, thank you all for being with us tonight. Appreciate it.
OK. Now we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day". It is this, Britney Spears, is fame to blame for her problems? Keep voting. CNN.com/showbiztonight. We want you to write an e-mail to us, showbiztonight@cnn.com. We`ll read some of your thoughts on Monday.
All right. Speaking of really famous people with lots of problems, let`s talk about Michael Jackson for a moment. Could it be true? Has he gotten married? The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT truth squad is on the case coming up. Also this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYDEN PANETTIERE, ACTRESS: My mom always said to me, when I was younger, she said, you are the books you read and the people you surround yourself with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Sounds like Hayden Panetierre`s family has the right idea. But what about the rest of young Hollywood? Are Britney, Lindsay and Paris out of control because of bad parenting? We`re investigating the parent trap, still ahead.
And someone who`s got a great -- who is a great parent is Gloria Estefan. This lady, says she puts her husband and kids first, and she`s been married for 29 years, so I guess it`s working. Gloria tells me how she and her husband make it work, straight ahead.
First, time for the SHOWBIZ "News Quiz". I want you to take a look at this. This is definitely not something you see every day. In Northern California, a bear hanging from a bridge. Poor thing. Here`s the question. Why was the bear hanging from that bridge? A, for a scene in a movie; B, to get attention; C, it got scared by some cars; or, D, to get a better view of the woods. Think about it. We`ll be right back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Charles.
And now for the answer to the SHOWBIZ "News Quiz". It`s all about a bear hanging from a bridge in Northern California. We asked, why was the bear hanging from that bridge? A, for a scene in a movie; B, to get attention; C, it got scared by some cars; or, D, to get a better view of the woods.
Well, the bear was walking on the bridge when it got scared by some cars and jumped out on to the ledge. The answer is C. Now, once rescuers got the bear down with a net it walked right on back into the mountains, safely.
OK, time now for call in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT truth squad. This is where our crack team of investigators gets to the bottom of the biggest Hollywood rumors and mysteries. Tonight, we are opening the file on Michael Jackson. There are rumors all over the internet that Michael has married his children`s nanny. So is it true? Is Michael a married man? Nope. We can set the record straight on this one.
Michael`s spokesperson tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "Wide-spreading reports regarding Michael Jackson being married are not true." So there you have it, ladies, Michael Jackson, still on the market.
Well, Michael Jackson is one of many celebrities who became famous at a young age. Some young stars can handle it, others go wild. From Britney Spears to Lindsay Lohan, it`s getting ridiculous. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants to know, are the parents to blame here? Is there really a Hollywood parent trap?
Joining me tonight in New York, clinical psychologist Doctor Judy Kuriansky, and in Miami tonight, Steve Santagati, author of this book, "The Manual."
Good to see you both, Steve, Doctor Judy.
So what do you think? Can we blame the wild-child behavior of young Hollywood on the parents? Steve, I mean, can we fix this epidemic way good spankin` and a time-out?
STEVE SANTAGATI, AUTHOR, "THE MANUAL": I`d like to see Michael Jackson spanked right about now!
(LAUGHTER)
SANTAGATI: That would be funny. No --
ANDERSON: That`s a bad visual. OK, moving on.
SANTAGATI: Not for him. Listen -- OK.
ANDERSON: You are terrible! OK.
SANTAGATI: Well --
ANDERSON: Focus, focus.
SANTAGATI: Here`s the deal. You are responsible, as parents, to raise your kids the best you can. But, if you didn`t do a good job, as an adult, and I say the adult, about 16, 17 years old, you have to take a look what your parents did to you, what you don`t like, what`s not working and take the bull by the horns and become an adult.
You`re responsible. I think a lot of times especially now, people are saying, no, it`s my parents` fault. And they cry and moan about everything their parents did instead of moving on, and making a life for themselves.
ANDERSON: Doctor Judy, what do you think? Have at it. I know you want to weigh in.
DR. JUDY KURIANSKY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Yes, sad to say, Steve, that 17 is the new 13.
SANTAGATI: Oh, you`re crazy!
KURIANSKY: And -- that they really haven`t been growing up, well. And so it`s not just a matter of taking the bull by the horns, and living your own life. You need have people around you who really are helping you, and directing you in a proper way. And on top of that, it`s not just the parents. Some of it is nurture. There are two ends at the --
SANTAGATI: Nature, nurture?
KURIANSKY: OK, good for you --
SANTAGATI: That`s Discovery Channel talk. Look --
ANDERSON: I want to say, somebody who agrees with Doctor Judy, but not with you, Steve, is "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere, who just turned 18. She`s been a good girl focused and her work. Had I spoke with her she told me her mother is her biggest source of strength. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PANETTIERE: She`s there to help. She`s -- she`s normally, 99.9 percent of the time there to protect me. To be the bad guy for me, as she always says. And I think she gets a lot of, you know, a little bit of a bad rep because of the fact that she has to be the bad guy for me. That she has to fight for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And Doctor Judy what would Hollywood be like if every young star had a mom like Hayden?
KURIANSKY: Well, the moms, really, Brooke, have to do two things. They have to be unconditionally loving on one hand, and the tough love, as you said on the other hand, the disciplinarian. Those two things are difficult to balance, as every mom knows, but essential, if you`re going to instill good values in the daughter.
ANDERSON: You know --
SANTAGATI: Yes, but you can`t be with them 24/7.
I`m sorry, Brooke.
You can`t be with kids 24/7. Hayden`s young, so we don`t know what`s going to happen. And the bottom line is once you get out there in the real world, you have to make decisions. And a lot of that has to do with who you decide hang around with and what you decide to do.
It`s not that, look, the parents -- especially we`re talking about stars here. Let`s keep that focus. We`re talking about star kids. All of a sudden, these kids, especially people that are the kids that are being managed by their parents, they are looked at as not only a cash cow, but a kid. And I`m going to tell you something. Money changes people and money makes parents, and other people, relatives, do funny things.
So I can`t agree. I don`t think 17 is the new 13. If anything, 13 is the new 17. Watch MTV for two seconds.
KURIANKSKY: Well.
ANDERSON: Oh, boy, you two clearly disagree on most every point. One mother who has been roundly criticized is Lindsay Lohan`s mom, Dina. She`s been seen out partying with Lindsay, walking the red carpet with Lindsay. Steve, what do you think? Are the cards stacked against Lindsay from the beginning?
SANTAGATI: Well, obviously her mother`s not setting a great example. We don`t know what goes on in the kitchen, and in the living room, and in the car, when they`re talking. Maybe saying, by the way, don`t be like this all the time. But the thing is, like, she`s not setting a good example. Yes, parents should set a good example, not do as I say, but do as I do. They should set the example, but at the end of the day, the kids are -- they`re adults now. They`re out in the real world. They have to --
KURIANSKY: Adults? You`ve got to be kidding?
SANTAGATI: Yeah, they`re adults!
KURIANSKY: You have to be kidding me? Adults? You think 17 is an adult?
SANTAGATI: 18 years old. We`re sending kids off to Iraq at 18. Those kids are adults.
KURIANSKY: Well, that --
ANDERSON: Oh, boy. It still seems very young to me for a lot of things. And you know, Dr. Judy, Steve mentioned this. Talking about, it might be difficult to be a parent in Hollywood when your a kid, is seen as a cash cow, a famous multi-millionaire, basically supporting the parent. Parents living the good life because of all the money the kid makes. What do you think? Does it sort of distract how the parents act, and the decisions they make? And the values that they try to instill, or not instill, in the kids?
KURIANSKY: Well, that`s why the parents really have to have their own solid sense of self without the flashbulbs. Unfortunately, Lindsay Lohan`s mother is not like that. She is living, in my view, psychologically, projecting herself into her daughter`s life, living through her daughter.
SANTAGATI: Vicariously.
KURIANSKY: But you have someone, for example, like Emma Roberts, who is the niece of Julia Roberts.
ANDERSON: Julia.
KURIANSKY: Right. And daughter of Eric Roberts, who has had his own problems, and yet she`s got a balance there. Because here`s her aunt, who is really acting like a very good role model, and wanting to put her in roles that present her as the good girl in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: True.
KURIANSKY: The solid, strong girls. So there are some positive examples.
ANDERSON: There are some hopeful stories out there and Doctor Judy Kuriansky and bad boy Steve Santagati.
SANTAGATI: All right.
ANDERSON: We have to leave it there.
SANTAGATI: Oye.
ANDERSON: Thank you both, we appreciate it. Look at your shirt!
OK, one Hollywood parent who is getting it right, Gloria Estefan. Says she puts family first, and is always with her kids. Get this, she and her husband, Emilio, have been married for 29 years. How did they make it work?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLORIA ESTEFAN, SINGER: We`re very much in love and we make our own rules pretty much. We don`t listen to what anybody else says.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Gloria reveals her secrets to marriage success next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We`re coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Time now for "Making It Work". This is where we take a look at stars who find a way to build a strong relationship in Hollywood. Gloria Estefan, and her husband Emilio, certainly fit the bill. They`ve been married for 29 years. I sat down with Gloria and asked her, what their secret is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ESTEFAN: We`re very different. We`re polar, but at the same time, we love the same things. We have the same value systems, the same things are important. Family`s number one, same priorities. We rarely differ on music or business. So there`s not much room for argument there. We`re very, very lucky. We were very much in love and we make our own rules pretty much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I like to hear that. Gloria has a new CD out, called "90 Millas". It`s her first Spanish album in seven years. It`s in s stores now. Check it out.
Yesterday we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day". It was this, Lindsay Lohan in rehab. Do you think she will she succeed this time? Only 20 percent of you say yes. That means 80 percent of you say no. Here are some of e-mails that we received.
Cecilia from Texas writes, "She`s young, but if she doesn`t stop now it will be too late for her. If she wants to stay pretty, she`ll stop now."
Mindy from Iowa thinks, "She has to want it for herself. She has to be willing to let go of the people in her life, who cater to her every whim."
We do appreciate your e-mails. Please, keep them coming.
It is time now to see what it coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT this weekend, older women rule. Hollywood`s hottest, most talented older actresses are leaving the movie industry behind, and making a new mark on television. I`m talking Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Sally Field, they are over 40 and they are hotter than ever. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates female stars who are turning age into an asset. That`s tomorrow and Sunday.
And coming up Monday, a SHOWBIZ special report, "Addicted To Fame" Britney, Lindsay, Paris. You know, they can`t seem to get enough of the spotlight. Even when it`s self-destructive, and we can`t seem to stop watching, for some reason, even when it`s a train wreck. What is behind the addiction to fame? We`re going to investigate that Monday on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. You don`t want to miss it.
That`s a wrap for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks so much for watching. Have a great night, everybody. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. "Glenn Beck" coming up next, right after the latest headlines from CNN Headline News. Take care.
END
