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Showbiz Tonight
Are TV Shows Influencing People to Undergo Plastic Surgery?; Matt Damon Hailed by `People` Magazine as Sexiest Man Alive
Aired November 14, 2007 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Marie Osmond breaks down over her teenage son who`s in rehab. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON: And a stunning, some say, surprising choice for this year`s "Sexiest Man Alive." I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, extreme make-over madness. Tonight, are the TV shows that show plastic surgery after surgery after surgery downright dangerous? Is the obsession with looks in Hollywood and beyond out of control? Is it time to stop the madness? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks the provocative questions about extreme make-over madness.
When stars get suicidal. Owen Wilson`s reported suicide attempt. Halle Berry admitting she thought about killing herself. Heather Mills` suicidal thoughts.
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HEATHER MILLS, EX-WIFE OF PAUL MCCARTNEY: I`ve been close to suicide, so upset about this.
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HAMMER: Tonight, the shocking reasons stars who seem to have it all consider ending their own lives. It`s a gripping and unsettling showbiz special report, "When Stars Get Suicidal."
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HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi, there everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, we are getting to the bottom of a really wild story that Paris Hilton has a new crusade on behalf of drunken elephants. I`m not kidding. The Showbiz Truth Squad on the case, coming up.
HAMMER: But first, extreme make-over madness. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is demanding to know whether all of those plastic surgery shows on TV are actually driving people to do stupid, dangerous things. Now, it`s still unknown for sure whether the death of Kanye West`s mother was related to the plastic surgery she had. .
ANDERSON: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal that her death is raising new and disturbing questions about whether TV and Hollywood stars who go under the knife are a terrible influence.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The death of Dr. West was reported to the coroner`s office on November 12th as resulting from possible complications from cosmetic surgery.
ANDERSON (voice over): The death of Kanye West`s mother, Donda West, is more than a deep personal tragedy for one of music`s biggest stars.
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Donda West`s death following a reported tummy tuck and breast reduction is shining a light on the risks of cosmetic surgery.
ALICIA QUARLES, CORRESPONDENT, ASSOCIATED PRESS: It`s not like she went in for a triple bypass surgery. She just went in for a cosmetic surgery.
ANDERSON: And as more people go under the knife in hopes of achieving movie star good looks, some say the risks of plastic surgery are something Hollywood has glossed over for way too long.
QUARLES: With shows like "Dr. 90120" and "Nip Tuck," it seems that cosmetic surgery is glamorized.
ANDERSON: Even a plastic surgeon, who appeared on another popular TV show, "Extreme Makeover," tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he agrees.
JON PERLMAN, PLASTIC SURGEON: There`s a problem that Hollywood aggrandizes surgery, glorifies it and makes it seem simple and risk free.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE PLASTIC SURGERY PATIENT: I`ve a had little bit of lipo. I`ve had a little bit of breast augmentation.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT talked to one frequent cosmetic surgery patient who says procedures she saw on TV are what got her into the operating room.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE PLASTIC SURGERY PATIENT: My boyfriend says that I`m not allowed to watch "Dr. 90120" because it becomes a shopping list.
ANDERSON: In fact, a study in the academic journal "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery" sampled people seeking cosmetic surgery. It`s found four out of five say they were directly influenced by procedures they have seen on TV shows.
QUARLES: It never shows the downside of plastic surgery.
ANDERSON: Alicia Quarles of the Associated Press tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that Hollywood often downplays the less glamorous side of cosmetic surgery.
QUARLES: What Americans are saying is, "Oh, plastic surgery is great."
HAMMER: Also ahead, new details in the death Of Kanye West`s mother.
ANDERSON: But the highly publicized death of Donda West is changing all that. The 58-year-old woman died a day after reportedly undergoing a tummy tuck and breast augmentation performed by Dr. Jan Adams, a celebrity plastic surgeon who has appeared on "Discovery Health" and "Oprah."
DR. JAN ADAMS, PLASTIC SURGEON: What you really want to do is pull from the hairline so you hide the incisions.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Oh, never mind that. ANDERSON: "TMZ.com`s" Harvey Levin talked to Dr. Adams after the tragedy.
HARVEY LEVIN, MANAGING EDITOR, "TMZ.COM": He says he did nothing wrong. Concedes, though, that she could have died from a heart attack or from vomiting or some kind of infection.
ANDERSON: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Dr. Adam`s troubling track record tells a rarely seen story of the ugly side of plastic surgery.
QUARLES: He`s been sued for malpractice. He`s paid out nearly half a million dollars in civil suits. A woman in Orange County is suing Dr. Adams alleging that she had serious complications after having surgery with him. She said she had fluid in her left breast, that she had scarring. She said she was really hurt and this case is still pending.
ANDERSON: Even one of Dr. Adam`s defenders is saying pointblank that Hollywood needs to start telling the real story about cosmetic surgery.
DR. PEARLMAN HICKS, PLASTIC SURGEON: These shows never show the real complications. They never show the agony sometimes that the patients have to go through.
ANDERSON: Dr. Pearlman Hicks is a board-certified plastic surgeon who operates out of Long Beach. He also happens to be the uncle of Donda West`s surgeon, Jan Adams. He tells Larry King TV needs to start getting it right.
HICKS: The public is being given a disservice by some of these shows which are purely entertainment. They should be more educational and they are not.
ANDERSON: But as one plastic surgeon tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, there`s no reason for Hollywood to turn plastic surgery into a horror show.
PERLMAN: When a board-certified plastic surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery works in an accredited facility, the risks are extremely small. One in fewer than 50,000 people will die under elective cosmetic surgery.
ANDERSON: Still, the death of Kanye West`s beloved mother and confidant shows us all that despite what we may see on TV, cosmetic surgery doesn`t always have a happy ending.
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ANDERSON: Right now, no one can say for sure whether Donda West`s death was related to her cosmetic surgery. An autopsy was performed Tuesday, but results won`t be known for another six to eight weeks.
HAMMER: So does Hollywood sugarcoat the dangers of plastic surgery? Joining me tonight from Hollywood, investigative journalist Pat Lalama. Also tonight in Hollywood, Dr. Jon Perlman. You just saw him in our report. He`s a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. He`s also been featured on ABC`s "Extreme Make-Over." Appreciate you both being here tonight.
Pat, let me get right to you because you`re out there in Hollywood. You`re in the thick it.. What goes on out there? Do you hear people in the store saying, "Oh, you know, I`ll go buy some eggs, maybe pick up some milk. And while I`m at it, a little lipo, a little face lift." Do you think plastic surgery on TV makes people think it`s just that easy?
PAT LALAMA, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: Well, A.J., I live right across the street - a little down the street from Beverly Hills High School where I watch really young women who appear like they`ve already gotten liposuction and, you know, tummy tucks.
I think that television is part of the problem, but maybe more of a by-product. It`s reflective of this whole idea in society that beauty and perfection is a must. You have to look at magazines. You have to look at all other avenues, not just television. I watch "Nip Tuck." I think "Nip Tuck" gladly shows the ups and downs of plastic surgery. I don`t think you can necessarily just blame television. You have to look at all mass media and the way we are as a society that we hate ourselves that we`ve got a freaking crooked tooth. It`s wrong.
HAMMER: Yes. I`ve got to agree. It definitely all feeds on itself. But Dr. Perlman, you know, you`ve been on the "Extreme Make-Over" show. We see shows like "Dr. 90210" or, as Pat mentioned, "Nip Tuck" all the time. And we know - we`re smart enough to know it not quite as simple as it looks. But do you think what we see on these reality TV shows actually distorts what the real reality is?
PERLMAN: Well, A.J., in reality, somebody`s six or eight-week experience is being condensed into perhaps three or four minutes. How realistic and representative could that really be? But it`s the doctor`s responsibility and the doctor`s role to make sure that our patients understand what the risks are that are involved in a procedure, what the recovery is like, and what reasonable expectations are. We have to provide safety in dealing with our patients, but we also have to make sure they are well informed and realistic.
Plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery has some wonderful things to offer patients to help their self-esteem, to make them feel better about themselves. It should be available to people, but it`s the doctor`s role to make sure people are well informed. And it`s the patient`s responsibility to be cautious in choosing a doctor, looking for a board- certified plastic surgeon, looking into the accreditation of the surgical facility and making sure they are not making a hasty, unwise decision.
It`s potentially life threatening. It has to be done properly. I would not choose a physician to treat myself or my family based on somebody that I`ve seen on television. I would look for somebody who achieved success the old-fashioned way through dedication, hard work, and just good results. That`s what people should be seeking.
HAMMER: No question about it. That`s the reasonable way of thinking. But as we said in our report, the studies have shown that people are led down that road because of what they have seen on TV. Dr. Jan Adams, the surgeon who operated on Kanye West`s mother, Donda West, has been on TV. He`s been on "Oprah" and "Discovery Health."
Pat, do you think people are too trustworthy of these doctors that they see on TV?
LALAMA: I think somewhat. Yes, I think the same goes for lawyers. People choose lawyers because they do a TV show every night. I mean I once asked famed attorney Robert Shapiro, you know, how do people pick their lawyers? He said you`d be shocked. He`s on TV. She`s on TV. Therefore that must be a good one. That is a shame.
I spoke to the medical board today and they begged me to say to your audience tonight please, please, please, check for board certification. Don`t just look at the TV credentials. There`s so much more as we are now seeing in the alleged case of Jan Adams.
PERLMAN: I like to add something. And the fact of the matter is so many of the physicians, lawyers, dermatologists that you see on television got there through hiring public relations people. That is not the person I necessarily want to be treating my friends or my family.
HAMMER: No question about that. And of course, it`s not just the doctors we are seeing on TV. But we see all kind of stars being very open about the plastic surgery procedures that they are having. I want to you watch what the comedian Kathy Griffin told CNN`s Larry King about what type of plastic surgery that she`s had done. Watch this.
KATHY GRIFFIN: I have had a brow lift which is where they take your eyebrows and put them on a completely different part of your head and you look months younger. And I had a lower face lift where they only do it to here. I don`t know why.
HAMMER: It`s Kathy Griffin. We know she`s goofing around, she`s joking around. But she did make it sound pretty simple and carefree. What do you think, Dr. Perlman? Does that also make people think, "Hey, you know what? That`s pretty easy. I should do that."
PERLMAN: Well, people should remember that the media is entertainment. It`s not necessarily primarily informative. You have to do your own leg work, your own research. You have to talk to people and consult with several doctors. Call the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Get a referral in your area to a few board certified plastic surgeons. Do the legwork, find out. Do the research, so you`re making sure you`re making the right decisions.
HAMMER: There`s no question about that. Just because you see it on TV - we thought we would have learned our lesson by now - that doesn`t mean it`s OK to do. Pat Lalama, Dr. Jon Perlman, I appreciate you both being here tonight.
PERLMAN: Thanks for having me tonight.
LALAMA: Thanks A.J.
HAMMER: All right. Plastic surgery, obviously nothing new in Hollywood. But even before all these TV shows, stars were getting nipped and tucked all over the place. Quite frankly, hasn`t always gone well. From Jessica Simpson to Axl Rose. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates, "Stars Under the Knife." Coming up.
ANDERSON: And "People" magazine`s "Sexiest Man Alive." So who got the honors this year, and did they get it right? That`s next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We`ll also have this.
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MILLS: I`ve been close to suicide, so upset about this. I`ve had worse press than a pedophile or a murderer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So disturbing. Heather Mills not the only celebrity that says she`s been on the verge of suicide. So I have to wonder, why do stars who really seem to have it all when you think about it, even consider ending it all? That is just ahead in a showbiz special report "When Stars Get Suicidal."
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. It`s time now to call in the Showbiz Truth Squad. This is where our crack team of celebrity investigators sets the record straight on Hollywood`s biggest mysteries and biggest rumors. And tonight, we`re opening the case file on the lovely Paris Hilton.
Well, there`s a story out there that Paris is on some kind of a crusade to save drunk elephants in India.
TV CREW: What?
HAMMER: Yes, the story is all over the place. It says that Paris is upset because elephants seem to help themselves to the local home brewed rice beer. And then they get drunk and go on wild rampages, sometimes with dangerous consequences.
So is it true? Is Paris sticking up for drunken elephants? No. Her publicist tells us this story, totally made up. And there you have it. The Showbiz Truth Squad setting the record straight once again.
ANDERSON: OK. Drum roll, please. Who is the sexiest man alive? Another - (DRUM ROLL)
Thank you, Charles. Another year has passed and tonight, "People" magazine has chosen its sexiest man alive for 2007, Matt Damon. And get this, he doesn`t even want the honor. With is tonight from New York is "People" magazine`s special correspondent Julie Jordan. Julie, nice to see you.
JULIE JORDAN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE`S SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Nice to be here, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Great to have you. Well, I want to talk about this list. And you know, it`s the very first time Matt Damon has received the title of Sexiest Man Alive. And I have to say, he seemed a little bit reluctant, Julie, to accept this honor.
I want to read part of a letter he wrote to "People" magazine explaining that he`s not worthy. Here it is, quote, "You gave an aging suburban dad the ego boost of a lifetime. My 9-year-old stepdaughter now thinks I`m cool - well, cooler." Julie, isn`t this why he is so sexy because he`s so humble?
JORDAN: Of course, and that`s why we told him, "You know what? You`re not getting out of this." It is all about looking at - you know, he is a family man. He`s so in love with his wife and his children. He`s absolutely the guy that you just want to take home with you. He`s the complete package. And I love that even though he didn`t want to do it himself, George, Ben, they were all too quick to give us some input as to what makes Matt the sexiest guy alive.
ANDERSON: Yes. They have been promoting him, campaigning him for years. JORDAN: They campaign, yes.
ANDERSON: Matt talked about - Exactly. He talked about fatherhood and being a doting dad. But you know, he`s not the only sexy father here. Two previous winners, Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck, as well as Patrick Dempsey made this list. So Julie, is being a devoted family man the new sexy?
JORDAN: I don`t think it hurts, that`s for sure. Patrick Dempsey, of course, with his twins and his older daughter, Brad with his four children, and Ben Affleck. You know, with Violet, he says all he needs is to come home to her at the end of a long day. A guy who really loves his children like that is so sexy, so appealing. And you know, we`re all just going to swoon.
ANDERSON: Yes, and so, so sweet. And Patrick Dempsey. It doesn`t hurt that he has great hair as well. And I want to ask you something, Julie. Is it a prerequisite for this award that you have to be part of the Oceans 11, 12, 13 Club? Last year it was George Clooney. It has been Brad Pitt in the past. Seems that if you are in the cast, you`re golden.
JORDAN: You might think so, right? George even admits he and Brad helped Matt with his walk and his posture. And that`s what really over the edge this year. It`s all just you`ve got to look at these guys.
You know, they`re kind of the new "Brat Pack" of the next century. They definitely have fun with each other. You know there`s going to be a lot of kidding and teasing once this issue hits stands, but we`re along for the ride.
ANDERSON: Always joking, those guys, and so self-deprecating. I think that`s why we love them even more. And one of my favorite categories is the sexy nerds. On this list you have "Heroes" star, Masi Oka. What makes him so sexy, Julie? Is it that he can travel through time and space? I mean it is pretty impressive.
JORDAN: Sure. Well, we love him on "Heroes," of course. But Masi himself - You know, he likes - He`s enjoying his fame. He`s really comfortable in his own skin. He says that the perks of being famous are that girls come up and want to lay a big fat one on him. He`s not worried about being too extended. He`s just having fun with it.
ANDERSON: So he is having a good time with his newfound fame. Good for him. Also on this list, Justin Timberlake. Not newfound fame.
JORDAN: He`s still sexy.
ANDERSON: He`s been famous since the Mickey Mouse Club. But, Julie, is he on the list because he brought sexy back?
JORDAN: Well, he brought sexy back last year. And I`d say he`s still kind of bringing the sexy around this year as well. Justin is the kind of guy who doesn`t let fame and fortune get to his head. And he credits family with that, and says that a part of the reason he`s still out there doing what he does and still being quite sexy.
ANDERSON: Yes. Only 26 years old, already such a huge success and now on "People" magazine`s sexy list. Julie Jordan always a pleasure. This is so much fun to talk about this list. Thanks for being here.
JORDAN: Thanks. Absolutely.
ANDERSON: And you can get your copy of "People`s" "Sexiest Man Alive" issue on newsstands Friday.
ANDERSON: And now we want to hear from you about this. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Matt Damon: Is he the sexiest man alive? Vote CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Send us an e-mail at showbiztonight@CNN.com. Do it from your desktop, laptop, even your Blackberry or cellphone. Whatever you want to tell us.
HAMMER: You know, it seems like a lot of stars think they can get sexier by getting tons of surgery. But you know, it doesn`t always go so well. So why do they do it? Showbiz investigates "Stars Under The Knife." That`s coming up. Also this -
ANDERSON: So disturbing. And Halle Berry isn`t the only celebrity who says she has been on the verge of suicide. I have to wonder why do stars who seem to have it all even consider ending it all? That`s ahead in a showbiz special report when "Stars Get Suicidal."
HAMMER: And speaking of having it all, all right, did Brad and Angelina really buy their own island?
TV CREW: What?
HAMMER: Brangelina Island. Sounds like a great place to go on vacation. Well, we`re going to get to the bottom of that. I`ll give you the scoop. Coming up in just a bit.
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ANDERSON: Marie Osmond is opening up and breaking down about her teenage son who is in rehab. It`s been such a tough time for the Osmond family. Just last week, Marie lost her father, George, who died at the age of 90. And Wednesday on "LARRY KING LIVE," Marie was somewhat caught off guard when Larry asked about her son. Take a look.
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LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": I know that you have many children.
MARIE OSMOND, ACTRESS AND SINGER: I do.
KING: And I know that Michael is in rehab, right?
OSMOND: Yes. How did you know that?
KING: I was told.
OSMOND: This last week, with my dad passing, was hard for many reasons. That was one of them. My son was put into a rehab. It`s really hard. But it`s a reality, Larry. Seventy-five percent, like you said, of kids under age 18 are dealing with it.
It`s affecting every single family in our country. I don`t know that I feel comfortable talking for him. I think he will have to deal with that, but I will say this. My son is amazing. He`s dealing with a lot. He is one of my kids, he`s dealing with adoption issues, all kinds of things right now.
KING: He was adopted?
OSMOND: Yes. I think he was. He is the most amazing kid, and -
KING: How are you dealing with it?
OSMOND: It`s been a hard week.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Marie said that she is relying on God and her brothers to get her through this tough time.
HAMMER: From Ryan Philippe to Halle Berry, why do stars who seem to have it all say they actually thought about ending it all? Really disturbing. That`s coming up on a showbiz special report, "When Stars Get Suicidal." We also have this.
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DAVID CAPLAN, STAFF EDITOR, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: It looks like he had a chemical peel, that he had cheek implants. His whole face looks completely restructured.
ANDERSON: And Axl Rose isn`t the only star with a freaky new face. I have to wonder why are so many celebrities deciding to get carved up, injected and Botoxed. That`s ahead as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates "Stars Under The Knife."
HAMMER: I have to tell you, I think there actually may be a Tom Cruise hit on the way, finally. He may have tanked in "Lions for Lambs." but this one looks like it could be a winner. Tom starring as the leader of a plot to assassinate Hitler. We`re going to give you a sneak peek at "Valkyrie." That`s just ahead in the showbiz first look.
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HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "When Stars Get Suicidal." Owen Wilson reportedly tried to take his own life. Halle Berry thought about it too. And on live TV, Heather Mills talked about ending her life. They seem to have it all, so why do these big stars want to kill themselves? It`s a dramatic and emotional showbiz special report, "When Stars Get Suicidal."
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CAPLAN: It looked like he had a chemical peel, check implants. His whole face was completely restructured.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s Guns and Roses` Axl rose? Wow, I can barely recognize the guy. Tonight, plastic surgery successes and nightmares. Why do stars try to deny, deny, deny their nips and tucks when it`s pretty obvious? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates "Stars Under the Knife."
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. Tonight, we`ve got a showbiz special report, "When Stars Get Suicidal."
In a startling confession, actor Ryan Philippe has become the latest big star to speak out about thoughts of suicide. He tells U.K. magazine "Mad About Town" that after he split up with his ex, Reese Witherspoon, quote, "After the divorce, I was a physical wreck. I wanted to die. I was ready to kill myself. I was not taking care of myself at all. I would wake up and cry and vomit." Ryan is with a long list of big stars who have recently talked about suicide - Halle Berry, Heather Mills.
Here with me tonight from Hollywood, Howard Bragman, founder of 15 Minutes Public Relations. In New York, clinical psychologist and author of the book, "The Complete Idiot`s Guide to a Healthy Relationship," Dr. Judy Kuriansky. And syndicated radio host and psychology expert, Cooper Lawrence. Welcome to you all.
And I do want to start with Ryan Philippe, one of the biggest actors in Hollywood. Is the fact that he seemed to be handling the split so well, at least publicly for so long, the reason why we are so shocked, Dr. Judy, to hear him say this?
JUDY KURIANSKY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Well, indeed, it`s because of that contrast. A lot of people who want to kill themselves do feel that way because they feel nobody understands them. No one would accept them. You are afraid to be judged. And that can lead to that sense. "I`m all alone. No one can understand me."
And therefore you feel there`s no way out except that. It`s very interesting too that Ryan is a male because men don`t usually talk about it. They usually, unfortunately, do it. Women talk about it and guys, when they feel that way, they do it. So this is very healthy for Ryan. He`s saved himself.
ANDERSON: All right. Well, speaking of a woman who talked about it, another high profile celebrity divorce, Heather Mills. She recently talk about her thoughts of suicide after her split from Beatle Paul McCartney due to all the media attention. Listen to what she told U.K. talk show, "Good Morning, Television."
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MILLS: I`ve been close to suicide, so upset about this. I`ve had worse press than a pedophile or a murderer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Cooper, what do you think, isn`t this about more than just media pressure here? I mean, because she was basically royalty, married to a Beatle. Now she`s scorned, not just by her husband, but by the public.
COOPER LAWRENCE, PSYCHOLOGY EXPERT: Here`s the problem. There are people that truly are suicidal, that really have depression going on. They really have some underpinnings to these feelings.
Then there are people - a research shows a lot of these stars are very narcissistic, so get into the media. They get into the public and they say, "Oh, woe is me! Can you believe this is happening to me?" And it dissipates what somebody who`s truly suicidal is going through.
And we look at somebody like Heather Mills, and we`re not quite sure. Is she a woman who is suffering or is she somebody looking for attention? We don`t know enough about her and pathology, but the truth is it`s for people that really are suffering. Someone like her coming out and doing the "Woe is me!" speech really undermines people truly in pain.
ANDERSON: Yes, I`m wondering if it`s really genuine. Well, then you have another high profile celebrity divorce that led to a star having suicidal thoughts. And as much as I still find it hard to believe, we are talking about Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry. She told Larry King that she considered killing herself after her painful divorce from Atlanta Braves baseball star, David Justice. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: What was the situation?
HALLE BERRY, ACTRESS: Divorce.
KING: What snapped you out of it?
BERRY: The thought of my mother when I was in that moment and sitting in the car. I was going to asphyxiate myself in a garage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Howard, are celebrities more fragile than other people?
HOWARD BRAGMAN, FOUNDER, 15 MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: You know, I have a third, a third, a third rule, Brooke. A third of celebrities are lovely, lovely people. A third, it sort of depends which way the wind is blowing that day and a third are certifiable loony. As one of my actor friends said to me, "Howard, you have to understand there`s pathology. We get up in front of people and become someone else every day as our job."
So there is a lot of pathology there. More than the regular person. Maybe a little. Maybe a little more than the regular person, but regular people have a lot of troubles too. So I don`t want to discount that.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. You`re not specifically saying Halle Berry is loony. You`re just saying in general.
BRAGMAN: No. I didn`t pick on Halle Berry. I`m just saying that when you have feelings, people go, "Oh, my god! That`s horrible," as opposed to you`re a normal person and you say, "I have this and i go snap out of it." You have wonderful things in your life. People like to kowtow to celebrities and if they have a bad day, then the whole world is going to have a bad day too.
ANDERSON: Go ahead, Dr. Judy.
KURIANSKY: Well, I actually was on Larry King`s show with Halle when she was talking about her depression. She is very sensitive. As we know, she is the way she looks - sensitive, sweet, kind and has a delicate personality and a lot of strength because she recognized that she was massively depressed about this, and then had the strength to do something about it by getting some help by going to get some therapy and by leaning on her family. So she`s a really good example of being open and being able to say, even to the public that it`s a healthy thing to admit it, like going to confession.
ANDERSON: Well we know that a lot of people are watching this right now and they`re identifying with it. They can relate. They understand the pain. But Cooper, don`t you think that - I`m not trying to be insensitive here- but don`t you think a lot of people maybe look at celebrities and say, "What are they complaining about?" They have fame. They have money. What`s the problem here?
LAWRENCE: Well, the problem is exactly what I was saying earlier, that people that really are in pain tend to be ignored. And they assume because somebody is a celebrity and because they have fame and because they have money, that has anything to do with their personality or upbringing or anything else other than their state of being right now. So there are people that could be very famous and very rich, but incredibly depressed and incredibly unhappy.
ANDERSON: Yes. They can feel helpless and sad just like the rest of us. You have these stars who have talked openly about it. Then you have Owen Wilson who actually reportedly attempted suicide. He hasn`t spoken publicly. Howard, you`re the PR guy. When a celebrity goes through it something like this, should they speak out? Is that helpful or hurtful?
BRAGMAN: You know, it`s such a personal decision. I`ve seen a lot of celebrities that do interviews and they say, "I feel better afterwards." And I have to tell you, I don`t confuse media relations with therapy. I think there are things you handle in a therapist`s office and things you handle in the press. And frankly, if he doesn`t want to talk about it in the press, more power to the guy. It`s nobody`s business. It`s a personal thing. He`s allowed to own that, and there`s no rule that says you have to discuss that.
ANDERSON: I`m sorry, but we do have to end it there. Great discussion. Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Howard Bragman, Cooper Lawrence, thanks.
LAWRENCE: Thank you.
HAMMER: That is so sad. Another thing that is very shocking that stars sometimes try to hide. And if you ask me, well, I don`t think they do such a good job at it - their plastic surgery secrets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPLAN: It looked like he had a chemical peel, that he had cheek implants. His whole face looked completely restructured.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s Guns and Roses star Axl Rose? No. Really? Hard to recognize the guy. Tonight, plastic surgery successes and nightmares. Why do stars try to deny, deny, deny their nips and tucks when it`s so obvious they are doing it. Tonight, showbiz investigates, "Stars Under the Knife." That`s next.
ANDERSON: And I`ve got your first look at a shocking true story that not a lot of people know about. The secret plot to assassinate Hitler by his own army. We are looking forward to this Tom Cruise thriller, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates "Stars Under the Knife," from good to bad to sometimes very ugly. I`ve got to say, it seems that more and more stars seem to be getting nipped and tucked and injected these days.
They don`t always like to brag about the body work they are getting, though. But tonight, I am uncovering the shocking plastic surgery secrets of stars under the knife.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): From Jessica Simpson`s super sized lips to Axl Rose and Mickey Rourke`s freaky new faces, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Hollywood is full of plastic surgery success stories and nightmares.
CAPLAN: One of the worst Hollywood plastic surgery offenders is Axl Rose.
HAMMER: Axl Rose rose to fame in the 1980s as the lead singer of the widely popular rock group, Guns N` Roses.
(MUSIC)
Women loved him. Men wanted to be him. But by the late 1990s, Axl had become increasingly reclusive.
AXL ROSE, ROCK STAR: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
HAMMER: He decided to disappear from the spotlight. In 2006, he reemerged looking like this.
CAPLAN: It looked like he had had a chemical peel, that he had cheek implants. His whole face looked completely restructured.
HAMMER: Even his hair looked different.
MOLLY GOODSON, BLOGGER, "POPSUGAR.COM": I was incredibly shocked to see Axl Rose when he came out of the woodwork, it seemed, and just sort of reestablished himself with these corn rows and this whole new appearance. I think a lot of his fans are shocked.
CAPLAN: Axl Rose used to be this really studly, hunky guy. But when he reemerged, he looked so artificial, so plastic it was scary, almost, for people to look at him.
HAMMER: If you are hoping to get an admission out of Axl, it`s not going to happen. He`s never said a word about his transformation, but Jessica Simpson has. After much speculation about her noticeably fuller lips, Jessica is finally acknowledging she`s had injections in her lips, admitting to "Glamour" magazine, that, quote, "I had that Restylane stuff. It looked fake to me and I didn`t like that."
CAPLAN: When Jessica Simpson first landed on our radar, she was very au naturale girl next door. Then all of a sudden we saw Jessica with these bigger lips and even nicknamed trout pout.
HAMMER: Well, Jessica is saying so long to the trout pout. She says she`s stopped with the filler. But that admission got people asking, what else?
CAPLAN: When Jessica admitted she had Restylane, that opened the floodgates for people wondering, "OK. Is she going to admit some other plastic surgery she had. A lot of people were wondering had Jessica had breast implants.
HAMMER: Speculate all you want, but Jessica wants everyone to know, unlike her lips, those are real. But she tells "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine that she`s not ruling out plastic surgery in the future, because you never know what`s going to happen, saying, "Maybe after having kids, if my boobs dropped down to my belly button, I would get them lifted."
Patricia Heaton knows all about that. The "Everybody Loves Raymond" star says having four kids and four C-sections changed her body in ways she never imagined. So she went for a tummy tuck and a breast lift.
PATRICIA HEATON, ACTRESS: I nursed four very thirsty boys in such succession. I`m 44 and my body was looking about 64, so I wanted to sort of have them meet.
HAMMER: Just like Cher, Sharon Osbourne and Joan Rivers, Patricia Heaton isn`t shy when it comes to talking about her surgeries.
HEATON: I`ve seen enough actresses in magazines who in Hollywood are known to have had surgeries say that they haven`t had it or they are afraid of the surgery. And I kind of think it`s unfair because I have so many moms that come up to me and said "Oh, my gosh I`ve had four C-sections also and I don`t look like you." And, you know, to tell them, "Well, it`s just natural." I think that`s unfair.
HAMMER: Star Jones waited four years before telling the world that she had something done to her body. She went from 307 pound to her new stick thin figure because of gastric bypass surgery. She says she waited so long because she didn`t know how people would react. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT found out her then-co-hosts on "The View" knew about it all along.
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I`m very happy that Star has talked about her gastric bypass. We had all known about it when it happened. She asked us not to tell. She was our colleague and we didn`t.
HAMMER: Star may have hid her surgery, but SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you there are plenty of other celebrities who have come right out to say surgery helped them slim down. "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and weather man Al Roker(ph) each lost more than 100 pounds, thanks to gastric bypass surgery. So did Roseanne Barr. For Blues Traveler front man John Popper, the weight loss was more extreme.
JOHN POPPER, FRONT MAN, BLUES TRAVELER: I used to step on the gas station. Those little hoses go ding! Ding! I can make them go ding just by stepping on them.
HAMMER: Popper used to weigh over 400 pounds. But in 2000, he went under the knife and reemerged half his size.
POPPER: It saved my life. It was absolutely that simple.
HAMMER: But not every surgery is a success. Enter actor Mickey Rourke. You remember him from his leading man days. Well, have a look at him now. Rourke`s surgery started when he decided to fix his nose after a boxing injury. The nose job, though, was just the tip of the iceberg.
CAPLAN: His face looks completely different. It looks like he`s had some sort of face lift, chemical peel, definitely some surgery around his eyes. He just went full on with all the surgery.
HAMMER: Whether it`s the good, the bad, or the just plain ugly, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is here to tell you, it looks like plastic surgery is one of the few things in Hollywood that will never go out of style.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can also tell that you there are stars out there who say they will never go under the knife. Actress Diane Lane happens to be one of them. Lane, who is in her 40s, told "More" magazine that getting older is simply a part of life. Aging, she says, offers great lessons in dignity.
ANDERSON: Now, I`ve got your first look at a Tom Cruise movie that I know will have everybody talking. It`s a true story. Cruise leads a shocking plot to kill Adolf Hitler from within Hitler`s very own German army. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: God promised Abraham that he would not destroy Sodom if he could find just ten righteous men. I have a feeling that with Germany it may come down to one.
TOM CRUISE, "COL. CLAUS VON STAUFFENBERG": I`m involved in high treason with all means available to me. Can I count you in?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: For anything, sir. Anything at all.
CRUISE: "Anything" is a very dangerous word, Lieutenant. We have to show the world that not all of us are like him. Otherwise , this will always be Hitler`s (UNINTELLIGIBLE). We have to kill Hitler.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Men of your background would suggest a more honorable approach.
CRUISE: Action is inevitable, as are the consequences.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: It`s not enough to kill Hitler.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) madman just have a lunatic take his place.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We have to isolate his chain of command and cut them off from the outside world.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We swore an oath. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Then find a way.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What are you suggesting?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Operation Valkyrie is Hitler`s contingency plan in a national emergency. It was only (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Using Hitler`s own plan, we`ll think they are fighting for Hitler`s government. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: When the SS catch you, they will pull you apart like blown bread.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: This is going to happen. Only God can judge us now.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I say do it. Let`s begin.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Initiate Operation Valkyrie.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: This is the most important day of your lives. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) We can save Europe from total destruction.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You`re under arrest for crimes against the state.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We have been discovered.
CRUISE: If you want to live through the night, you will do exactly as I say.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: They will come for you. They will come for all of you.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I know.
CRUISE: You scared me half to death. I`ll be crossing that before I finish.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: "Valkyrie" is based on a true story. Too bad they didn`t succeed. The film hits theaters in June 2008.
All right. We have been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. "People" magazine picking Matt Damon as this year`s "Sexiest Man Alive." So what do you think - Matt Damon: Is he the sexiest man alive? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Send us an e-mail at showbiztonight@CNN.com. Do it from your desktop, laptop, even your Blackberry or cell phone. Whatever you want to tell us.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, you know that Brad Pitt won the sexiest man alive twice, right?
ANDERSON: That`s right. He`s been on the list countless times. No surprise.
HAMMER: I want you to listen to what I`m hearing. There`s some pretty big news here about Brad and Angelina. They might actually be making another addition, yet one more addition to their clan. Oh, yes. I`m having the Showbiz Truth Squad check it out, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well, it`s time once again to call out the Showbiz Truth Squad. This is where we get to the bottom of Hollywood`s biggest mysteries and juiciest rumors. Tonight, did Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt buy an island? And has "Grey`s Anatomy" star secretly gotten hitched?
All right. First, let`s check out this Brad and Angelina stuff. There`s this report in "Emirates Today" newspaper - no relation to "U.S.A. Today" - that they bought a man made island in the shape of Ethiopia right off the coast of Dubai. Now why would they do such a thing?
Well, rumor has it that they want to use the land to highlight environmental issues and encourage people to lead a greener lifestyle. So we had to check with Brad`s publicist who simply told us this story is, quote, "completely made up."
OK. One down, one to go. Did Ellen Pompeo get married? I mean, nobody really heard about this one. But tonight, I can tell you that yes, the "Grey`s Anatomy" star did, in fact, tie the knot. Now, it was super secret. Super hush hush, but Pompeo was married at New York City`s City Hall on Friday.
Get this, New York City`s own Mayor Bloomberg was a witness. Now, Ellen and her groom, record producer Chris Ivory, didn`t want a big wedding. I think that they got their wish with this. They got engaged last November and had been dating for three years. So we say congratulations to the two of them, and that closes out this edition of the Showbiz Truth Squad.
ANDERSON: Congrats to them. On Tuesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Lindsay Lohan started serving her sentence for two DUIs at a blood bank. So community service for Lindsay: Did she get off to easy? Eighty-eight percent of you say yes she did. Twelve percent of you say no.
Here`s some of the e-mails we received. Natasha from Illinois writes, "For what Lindsay did a few months ago, she should be in jail by now, just like any other human being in this planet."
Barbara, also from Illinois, thinks, "Of course she got off too easy. All the Hollywood celebrities get special treatment." HAMMER: It is time now to see what is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thursday, obsessed with pregnant stars. Celebs like Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, they do everything to keep their baby news hush-hush. So why do we care so much?
And by trying to hide it, are stars feeding the frenzy? It`s a revealing showbiz special report Thursday. Also Thursday, explosive one on one with one of my favorite stars, the lovely Nicole Kidman. She`s really opening up about young, out of control Hollywood. Plus, what she really thinks about the tabloids and trying to keep her private life private. Nicole Kidman, Thursday.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks a lot for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
HAMMER: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is coming up next. Keep it here. Take care.
END
