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Showbiz Tonight
Thanksgiving with the Stars; Quaid Twins Update; Adams/King Show
Aired November 21, 2007 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Dennis Quaid`s newborn twins fighting for their lives. The hospital that could be the blame speaks out. And why Miley Cyrus says she has, believe it or not, less freedom than other 14-year-olds. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the doctor is out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Don`t you want to speak out?
DR. JAN ADAMS, DONDA WEST`S PLASTIC SURGEON: No.
KING: You don`t want to?
ADAMS: No.
HAMMER: Why did the doctor in the Kanye West mom tragedy walk off Larry King`s show? Tonight the dramatic video and the insiders who were right there. Plus, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asking the provocative questions. Is the doctor hiding something? And should he even be speaking out at all?
Presenting, the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Turkey Awards." Tonight, the stories, the stars, the events and missteps this year that made everyone say, "What a turkey!"
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAITLIN UPTON, MISS SOUTH CAROLINA TEEN USA, 2007: I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and -
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT serves up a feast of outrageous, ridiculous celebrity foul-ups with all the trimmings.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City. And there is now an intense investigation looking into how in the world actor Dennis Quaid`s newborn twins were almost accidentally killed in a hospital. We`ve got that disturbing story coming up.
But first, the doctor is out. Yes, tonight`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you the inside, behind the scenes story of the dramatic confrontation on CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE." The startling walk-out, on live TV, of the controversial doctor in the Kanye West mom tragedy. Jan Adams is the doctor who performed cosmetic surgery on Kanye West`s mother before she died. Now, Dr. Adams was supposed to go on Larry King`s show to explain himself, but instead, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you he now has a lot more explaining to do.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Don`t you want to speak out?
ADAMS: No.
HAMMER (voice over): The doctor is out.
KING: But you came here to speak out?
ADAMS: That`s correct.
KING: Dr. Jan Adams, the troubled plastic surgeon, facing all kinds of questions about the death of Kanye West`s mother, Donda, walked in for a live telecast of "LARRY KING LIVE" to clear his name.
KING: Dr. Jan Adams, the plastic surgeon who performed plastic surgery on the late Donda West.
HAMMER: And then after barely after clearing his throat, just a minute and 11 seconds later, he dramatically got up and walked out.
KING: OK. We`ll bring our panel back and take a break. And we`ll be right back.
HAMMER: Later, talking to John King on CNN`s "ANDERSON COOPER 360," Larry King was still shocked.
KING: I have had everything happen to me in 50 years, except that.
HAMMER: The fireworks happened just hours after the grief-stricken rap superstar, Kanye West, buried his mother in Oklahoma.
KANYE WEST, RAP SUPERSTAR: Come on, Mama. Just dance with me
HAMMER: And now, nearly two weeks after Donda West died following a tummy tuck and breast reduction, suspicions about her celebrity doctor loomed larger than ever.
KATIE DARYL, CORRESPONDENT, TMZ TV: When Dr. Jan Adams walked off the set with Larry King, it just threw up many more red flags.
KING: I want to thank you for this opportunity.
HAMMER: From the very beginning of the doomed interview, Adams was discussing his exit.
ADAMS: I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for the West family, and they`ve asked me not to go on. So I`m going to respect their wishes, and I`m going to apologize to you because I think I`m taking up your air time. But I will not be on the show, and I will not discuss any of that. I`m going to honor their wishes, OK?
KING: Meaning you won`t answer any questions about anything?
ADAMS: None.
HAMMER: Afterward Larry King explained to CNN`s John King, that trouble was brewing even before the interview.
KING: I knew there was trouble, John, because about eight minutes before the show, he called me aside. I got off the set. He said, "Listen, I got this letter from the family. I`m here with my lawyer, and we`re deciding what to do."
HAMMER: In that letter, the West family apparently asked Adams to not go on with the show. King found that baffling.
KING: It`s not against the law for a doctor to talk about a patient. It`s - it may be against the common practice. Not against the law.
HAMMER: But even if Dr. Adams felt a bit tongue-tied on "LARRY KING," SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you he suffered no such problems in the days after Donda West`s death. He gave interviews to "People" magazine, "The Los Angeles Times" and "TMZ.com."
DARYL: He told TMZ that this is not his fault. He is a good doctor, he said.
HAMMER: TMZ TV`s Katie Daryl tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Dr. Adams has been everywhere, sharing his theories on what may have caused Donda West`s death a day after he operated on her.
DARYL: He brought up vomiting, heart attack. And so he is speculating on things. He is even speculating about overdosing on painkillers.
HAMMER: In better times, Dr. Adams appeared on "Discovery Health" and even "Oprah" to tout his plastic surgery expertise.
ADAMS: You`ve gotten rid of that excess skin.
HAMMER: But lately, he has been spending almost as much time in the courtroom as he has in the operating room, thanks to a laundry list of serious allegations against him.
DARYL: Three DUIs, multiple malpractice suits.
HAMMER: California State Medical Board is even trying to have his medical license suspended or revoked, saying Dr. Adams, quote, "has used alcohol to the extent or in such a manner as to be dangerous or injurious to himself and others."
DARYL: Everyone used to see Dr. Adams as this glamorous TV doctor. This guy has a shady past.
HAMMER: And Larry King says Dr. Adams gave up a prime opportunity to clear his name.
KING: I don`t know why he wouldn`t talk about things other than Donda West. He could have talked about the DUIs and the accusations in malpractice suits, which to me would have resolved a lot of things.
HAMMER: But now, Dr. Adams has literally walked away from his chance, and the lingering questions about him and the death of Donda West will linger a while longer.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Let me tell you, I just sat there in front of my TV shaking my head. It was such a dramatic night. And tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing back together three of the entertainment correspondents who were right there on the show as it happened. They`re going to give us the inside story.
Joining us in New York Lola Ogunnaike, entertainment correspondent for "CNN American Morning." In Hollywood tonight, Carlos Diaz entertainment correspondent for "Extra." Also in Hollywood, "Access Hollywood" Shaun Robinson. Gang, I appreciate you all being here. Shaun, let me start off with you. You`re sitting there about to participate in the program. Could you actually believe what was happening? Were you just shocked?
SHAUN ROBINSON, CORRESPONDENT, "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD": Yes, "shock" is the term, A.J. I`ve got to tell you, we were told in the beginning that we were part of a contingency panel because Dr. Adams was supposed to be on the show the entire hour. So we knew, going in, that we may only be on the show for part of it or maybe even all. We didn`t know because his plane was late, and he was delayed getting to the studio.
But then, when we were actually sitting there and he was on the show, we were thinking, OK, we`re kind of free after that, and, boom. He gets up and walks out. And I remember looking at Carlos and thinking, "Is he getting up and leaving? Is he about to walk out of here?" We were totally shocked.
HAMMER: Yes. Carlos Diaz, what was going through your head at that moment? Because, as Shaun said, you guys were, you know, maybe going to be a part of the show just a little bit and then you had to be the show.
CARLOS DIAZ, ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Yes. Let me reenact last night. It was one of those when I said, "OK, we`re out of here, right? Oh, he is getting up? I better sit back down." I mean, it was one of those things. When he walked out on the set, I was glued. I was watching intently.
And when he leaned back in that chair and said, "No, I`m not talking," I said, "Oh, my gosh, he is taking that microphone off. He is going to walk off that set." And I honestly can`t believe it`s the first time it`s happened to Larry. I mean, Larry has asked tough questions in the past. I can`t believe he is the first guy in 50 years to walk away from an interview.
But it was one of those things where - Shaun and I talked about this last night and Shaun brought this point up. It`s a really good point. You know, did we need the theatrics? Did he need to come out on the set? Did he really need to come out there and rip the ear piece out and rip the microphone off? I honestly believe, and Shaun said this is a great point, this is really a lot of theatrics to let the West family know that, "Hey, you know what? Dr. Jan Adams is on your side."
ROBINSON: Yes. He could have told - he could have told his attorney to come out and speak for him or just said to Larry King back stage that, "Hey, I just can`t do this."
HAMMER: Yes. I want to talk a little bit more about that drama in a moment, but Lola I`ve got to get your take on it because you were right here at our New York headquarters when this was going down.
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT, "CNN AMERICAN MORNING": Yes, I was right on set when this was happening, actually. And I was with Galina Espinoza from "People" magazine and we had an equal reaction to Shaun. We were thinking this cannot be happening.
And then we started taking bets about how quickly it would appear on YouTube later that evening. And so it made for great television. But I agree it was completely theatrical. He could have sent someone out there. I don`t know. I think it was generated so that he would still be talking about him today. And he got exactly what he wanted.
HAMMER: Yes. I don`t know that the point was to make great television that way, though. You know, it seems a little backwards to me. But let`s listen again now to what Dr. Jan Adams said about wanting to speak out before he actually walked out on "LARRY KING LIVE." Let`s watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Don`t you want to speak out?
ADAMS: No.
KING: You don`t want to?
ADAMS: No. I do not.
KING: All right. But you came here to speak out?
ADAMS: That`s correct, but I`m going to honor their wishes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Now, here`s what I don`t get. I mentioned in our story that Dr. Adams has done a bunch of interviews. He has already spoken out. Shaun, back to the point, didn`t it seem a little disingenuous that all of a sudden the guy is clamming up?
ROBINSON: Well, I`ve got to tell you, A.J., Dr. Adams said that the West family asked him not to go on the show. I think they kind of demanded that he not go on the show. Because from what we understand in that letter that was faxed to his office, it said that if he did go on and say anything about Donda West that they would ask or try to ask the California Medical Board to revoke his license. So, I think the West family is feeling now that this guy has gotten just way too much publicity and what`s being lost is the death of their loved one.
HAMMER: Lola, I know you talked to Dr. Adams afterwards, being right there. What did he say to you?
OGUNNAIKE: I spoke with him after the show because interestingly enough, he left the stage, but he stayed the entire time. He sat in the wings and watched the entire show. And he spoke to me back stage, and I said, "You know, you wasted a prime opportunity." And he said, "That was not a perfect opportunity. I`ve got the Medical Board all over me now. I`ve got two sets of lawyers all over me. That was not the perfect opportunity."
He took a phone call from his mother. And then later in the conversation, he said, "But that was great television." And that`s a quote.
HAMMER: That`s just really weird to me. Larry appeared on "ANDERSON COOPER" as we saw during our story, just after the show, and he said he was puzzled that Dr. Adams decided not to stay. Let`s watch this clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: I don`t know why he wouldn`t talk about things other than Donda West. In other words, he could have talked about the DUIs and the accusations of malpractice suits, which to me would have resolved a lot of things as he said. So in honoring their wishes, I`m not sure that their wishes were to not talk about anything. It was kind of weird.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. And as Lola just alluded to, he was all concerned about those things. But he had those DUIs, and the reported 11 malpractice suits, and "Discovery Health" doesn`t want anything to do with him. So what do you think, Carlos? Was Larry right? Was it just a weird thing to do, or does it kind of make sense in - when you put it in perspective like that?
DIAZ: Well, A.J., let`s not forget Larry King is Larry King. So he can be kind of intimidating sitting across the table. You know what I mean. It`s different than the many other interviews that he did.
But what we learned was, when he did the "L.A. Times" interview, he gave three reasons why - he hypothesized three reasons why Donda West could have died. And he then called the "L.A. Times" back and said, "I want to reiterate that`s not how I think she may have died. That`s just me hypothesizing how a patient could die after surgery." So, I mean - you know, when you`re live on TV, you can`t go back and say, "Well, you know, I didn`t really mean that." I think he was intimidated by the live aspect of it. But, when he was out there for the 60 seconds that he was out there, he seemed pretty calm, cool, and collected.
HAMMER: I`ve got to say, you know, maybe it was a no-win situation for the doctor because he is not looking any better today than he did yesterday, and I don`t know. I don`t think he could have done anything to change that. Lola Ogunnaike, Carlos Diaz, Shaun Robinson, I appreciate you all being with us tonight.
ROBINSON: Thank you.
OGUNNAIKE: Thank you.
DIAZ: Thank you.
HAMMER: Well, Dennis Quaid`s newborn twins are fighting for their lives. This is such an incredibly sad story. Now, the hospital where they were given an accidental drug overdose has issued a statement. Dennis and his wife have done the same thing. We`ve got that coming up next. And we`ve also got this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEATHER MILLS, PAUL MCCARTNEY`S EX-WIFE: I`ve had worse threats than a pedophile or a murderer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. There`s Heather Mills, just one of the many celebrity quotes that made us say, "What a turkey!" And that`s just the beginning, obviously. We`ve got the very best of the very worst star moments of the year. We are serving up a massive feast of outrageous, ridiculous celebrity foul-ups with all the trimmings. You won`t want to miss that coming up.
And I`ve got to give Miley Cyrus a whole lot of credit. You know what? She`s just 14 years old, and she really seems to have such a good head on her shoulders. Maybe one of the reasons is because she says she has an earlier curfew than most of her friends. It`s Miley in her own words. Coming up. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, dramatic new developments in the tragic story involving Dennis Quaid`s twin babies. Now "TMZ.com" first reported that Quaid`s newborn twins were accidentally given megadoses of an anti-clotting medication in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills.
Well now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, that the hospital is admitting the terrible mistake and it says that as many as three or more patients also got the overdose. Joining us tonight from Hollywood CNN entertainment correspondent Corrine Winter and investigative journalist Pat Lalama. Ladies, I appreciate you being here. Corrine, let me go right to you. What do we know so far here?
CORRINE WINTER: Well, A.J., first off, this story has just absolutely me blown away that something like this could have happened. What we know is that these twins got a thousand times more than they should have of the anti-clotting drug heparin. A thousand times more. You know, you wonder how could this have happened. We`re not talking kids who are a year old or two. These babies were just days old. They were brought in to Cedars on November 18, just ten days old.
Now, there are conflicting reports out there. While the hospital won`t directly confirm with us, A.J., exactly how something like this could have happened, there are media outlets out there and even TMZ reporting that this happened at the hands of pharmacy technicians. That`s right. This drug is stored in vials. It`s carried either in 1,000 units or ten units and that the vials were incorrectly placed in a drawer in the babies` room. Just absolutely -
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: It`s terrible, and it`s tragic, and hospital doing what they can to stay ahead of the story. I want to read the statement Cedars-Sinai issued.
They said, quote, "This was a preventible error, involving a failure to follow our standard policies and procedures, and there is no excuse for that to occur at Cedars-Sinai. Although it appears at this point that there was no harm to any patient, we take the situation very seriously. We are conducting a comprehensive investigation, cooperating fully with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and we`ll take all necessary steps to insure that this never happens again."
Pat, the hospital taking the blame, but they really didn`t have any choice here. But isn`t it kind of unusual for a hospital to take the blame so quickly when a story like this is unfolding? I mean this really is a malpractice nightmare.
PAT LALAMA, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: Well, my first thought is how do they know so soon that there`s no harm done? Let`s hope there isn`t. Number two, I bet you someone is without a job. But number three, I actually commend Cedars-Sinai. This is a reputable institution, A.J. I can`t tell you how many celebrity-related stories I`ve covered - some sad, some happy - that come out of Cedars-Sinai.
I think, from a PR standpoint, they are doing absolutely the right thing. Admit the mistake. Come forward. Move on. Get it behind you, which I wish more people and more institutions would take. You know, this kind of tact rather than the denials, denials, denials.
HAMMER: No kidding, and Cedars-Sinai, yes, the hospital we`re always talking about when celebrity births are happening and celebrities are going in for some kind of a treatment. They`re not the only ones speaking out.
Dennis` publicist has released a statement on behalf of Dennis and his wife, Kimberly Buffington, to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Here`s what they say, "Dennis and Kimberly appreciate everyone`s thoughts and prayers and hope they can maintain their privacy during this difficult time."
Now, Dennis and his wife are two very private people. Corinne, I have to imagine this has been so devastating, not just because of what happened to their kids, but to have such a private matter go so public.
WINTER: It`s beyond frightening, and, you know, it`s not like they can deal with this in privacy, behind the curtains, so to speak. The whole world knows about this, and we`re talking about this. But, A.J., I want to throw in there.
And this is probably the one upside to having fame. You have that voice. You know, that`s what separates the celebs from average people. Dennis Quaid - I wouldn`t be surprised if he used this as a learning experience for educating maybe other parents out there, other families who may be going through this or perhaps could prevent this from happening in the future.
I mean, for example, Dennis Quaid spoke out last year on anorexia, something he battled in the mid 1990s. He said while he doesn`t have bulimia, it`s something he can relate to for those struggling with that disease out there. So you know what? Don`t be surprised if the family comes forward in the future just to talk about what happened.
HAMMER: Yes, I imagine they`ll be speaking out real quickly. Pat, back to what we were talking about Cedars-Sinai. What are you hearing in the community? I imagine this has shaken the hospital to its core. About ten seconds here.
LALAMA: I think they`re concerned, but I think they`ll get over it, and I think people will still have faith in Cedars-Sinai. Look, it`s like flying a plane, an airline that just had a crash. You know everything is going to be really good right after that, and they`re going to be on their toes.
HAMMER: That is an excellent point. Pat Lalama, Corinne Winter, I appreciate you joining us for really what is such a tragic and terrible story.
LALAMA: Thanks.
WINTER: Sure. Yes.
HAMMER: Well, "Hannah Montana" star, Miley Cyrus is just 14 years old. Already, she is one of the richest, most successful, most popular stars in the world right now. So why do you think it is that she says she has less freedom than most kids her age? We will tell you next. We will also have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: What`s your favorite bible passage?
PARIS HILTON: I don`t have a favorite.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Stumped you, Paris. That is just one of my many celebrity quotes that made me say "What a turkey!" In fact, everybody here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is saying that exact same thing. In honor of turkey day, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is picking the very best of the very worst star moments of the year, serving up a massive feast of outrageous, ridiculous celebrity foul- ups with all the trimmings. That`s coming up.
And the four most provocative movies in theaters right now. I`ll tell you what. If you see a movie one day over this holiday weekend, these are the films you can`t miss. "Lars and the Real Girl" is just one of them. We`ll tell you what else made the list of must-see movies, still ahead on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Thursday is special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Showbiz investigates star plastic surgery dreams and nightmares. You know, more and more stars are going under the knife it seems like every day, but why? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates, star plastic surgeries - the good, the bad, and the ugly, Thursday.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Well, she is the most popular young star out there, but 14-year-old "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus says it`s easy to stay grounded because of her parents. That, of course, includes her dad, country star Billy Ray Cyrus.
On "Oprah," Wednesday, Miley said she actually has less freedom than many of her friends.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MILEY CYRUS, "HANNAH MONTANA" STAR: I`ve got an earlier curfew than anyone just because I can`t be out too late. My mom wants to keep me really safe, and my dad is not overly protective, but he is a dad no matter what, so he is, like, stay home.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Are you allowed to date?
CYRUS: To - OK. I am, but my dad is, like, weird. And the other day I had one of my guy friends over, and he was hiding in the kitchen. We were outside just like hanging out, and I look over and I`m, like, why are the lights on? They were not on, and my dad was in there like this. He is sitting there with his german shepherd watching us, and I`m, like, "Oh, my god, Dad. You are going to, like, scare him. I`m not going to have any more friends." I am - but he like watches move.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, Billy, that is a little weird. Well, Miley`s career shows no signs of slowing down. She`s in the middle of a sold out tour. She`s got a new album. There`s even a movie in the works.
Well, I thought this was kind of strange. There were reports that Miley invited Britney to have Thanksgiving with her family. Talk about polar opposites. Anyway, we`re not sure if that`s actually going to happen, but we do know how some other stars are celebrating Thanksgiving. Guess which star is all about the canned cranberry sauce. That`s coming up. Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MILLS: I`ve had worse press than a pedophile or a murderer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT turkey awards. Heather Mills` quote just the beginning. Coming up, we`ve got the top celebrity messes of 2007 that made us cry foul, "What a turkey!" Next.
And the four most provocative movies out there. Right now, "Lars and the Real Girl" just one. We`ll tell you which other movies made the list and why you don`t want to miss them. That is still ahead. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, let`s take a walk down memory lane and look back on the celebrity moments that made us say "What a turkey!"
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: What`s your bible passage?
HILTON: I don`t have a favorite.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh, Paris. You had me at hello. But, wait, Paris is just the beginning. We have a veritable feast of celebrity moments that made us say "What a turkey!"
The four most provocative movies in theaters right now. If you need some help sifting through all the holiday fare out there, well, have no fear. We have your list of the movies that you have to see. And we`re going to tell you why. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents the four movies you just can`t miss.
(MUSIC)
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. You are in for a treat. Tonight, the showbiz turkey awards. The most ridiculous celebrities in Hollywood who did something that we saw that just made us say "What a turkey!" Get used to that sound effect.
So, who made our list this year? Well, we are going tell you and to do that we`ve got a fired up panel to help us along. Joining me tonight in Hollywood investigative journalist Pat Lalama; founder of 15 Minutes PR Howard Bragman; and senior editor at "In Touch Weekly," Kim Serafin.
All right. I am ready, gang. I hope you have your appetite. We have some great show biz turkey awards going out tonight. So the question you may be asking yourself right about now, who did we choose as our first showbiz turkey award winner.
Britney Spears, the reason - her cringe-worthy performance on the MTV Video Music Awards that made us say "What a turkey!" Who can forget the bad dancing, the blank look in her eyes, and well, let`s not even start with the outfit. Kim Serafin, let me start with you. Will she ever live this down?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": I don`t think so. I think this is a really bad move for her because, remember, she has always made a big splash at the VMAs. This is where she performed with the snake. This is where she kissed Madonna. And everyone was looking forward to this performance, thinking this was going to be her big comeback. She was going to make it big. She was there among her peers, among people who really wanted her to succeed. And she really failed.
And, remember, throughout this whole saga with the family drama and the kids and Kevin Federline, people keep bringing up that MTV performance. They keep showing those pictures like they`re doing now. They keep referring to it as sort of saying she can`t come back. She can`t make it back. Look how bad she did in this situation. So I don`t think she is going to live this down. At least not for a while.
HAMMER: You know what I`m thinking? She should have come out on stage in a bathtub full of cranberry sauce. Howard Bragman?
HOWARD BRAGMAN, FOUNDER, 15 MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: You know, A.J., there are lots of moments we could have picked for her turkey moment. And I`m thinking we should have given this girl an award when she had a normal day and didn`t make the news for something crazy. So, I think we`re looking at this backwards with Britney. She kind of sets the standards for turkeys.
HAMMER: All right, Howard. I`m sorry. Thank you so much for ruining my segment right off the top here. Moving on now, another important turkey award to dole out. Oh, this is one of my favorites of the year, Miss Teen South Carolina, Caitlin(ph) Upton. Now, when we watched her answer and question about geography, we said "What a turkey!" (TURKEY SOUND EFFECT) And such as. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UPTON: I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, uh, people out there in our nation don`t have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And over and over. You know, maybe she had a point. We`re too hard on her. Some people don`t have maps. Seriously, she the stereotype for a bad answer at beauty pageant. Pat Lalama, could you believe this when you saw it?
LALAMA: But, wait a minute. Poor girl. I kind of feel sorry for her. I know we`re picking on her. But then she gets to go on the "Today" show and try it again. And I want to say, "Me thinks thou dost protest too much." But I don`t think she would understand what that means.
But what I can guarantee you is that she wants to be an anchor woman. And I`ll make another guarantee, she`ll get a job, but that`s going to be after they find out she posed naked for "Playboy." So this is - talk about stereotypes. She`s right there going down that right avenue, baby.
HAMMER: Yes. Kim Serafin, do you agree on such as?
SERAFIN: Yes. I would have to say either she is a turkey or she is smarter than the rest of us -
HAMMER: Oh, Kim!
SERAFIN: And she`s figured out that we live in a society that doesn`t value really smart people, and because - Pat is right. She was on the "Today" show. I don`t know who was Miss Teen U.S.A. I don`t know who that was.
But she was on the "Today" show. She was on the MTV VMA awards.
LALAMA: Unbelievable.
SERAFIN: I think she got some big modelling contract. Everyone knows her name. Nobody here knows who really won the pageant. So, I say, she made the right decision, either really smart or it was dumb luck.
HAMMER: Well, I will tell you one thing for certain, I for one will never forget her. Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has several turkey awards to dole out tonight. I don`t want to waste any more time.
The next turkey award is going out to, how could we leave out Paris Hilton. Of course, when she told Larry King that she read the bible in jail, she wasn`t really able to tell him a favorite passage, so we thought what - (TURKEY SOUND EFFECT) Thank you. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Are you a religious person?
HILTON: I`ve always been religious. I went to a catholic school as a child. And I`ve always had a sense of spirituality, but even more so now after being in jail.
KING: Did you read the bible in jail?
HILTON: Yes.
KING: What`s your favorite bible passage?
HILTON: I don`t have a favorite.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Howard Bragman, I want to go to you. I have a favorite question I want to ask you. I just have to check my notes which Paris seems to do. Could you believe she was actually looking through her notes to try to answer Larry and it didn`t quite work out?
BRAGMAN: When I media-train clients, I try and get them to look like they`re looking into their soul and not their notes. It`s a little better outcome. And you know, I want to clear something up. While Paris does not have a favorite bible passage, she does have a favorite passage, and let`s not forget that, OK? Oh, that`s hot.
HAMMER: Thank you very much. Have a good night. Pat Lalama.
LALAMA: Yes. Yes?
HAMMER: Whatever you have to add to that. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) right now.
LALAMA: What I have to add - and I`m blushing. Me? What I have to add is that the same bible that said "Go to Rwanda, then don`t go to Rwanda, but go on a stripper pole at a party last week. I want to read that bible. That`s the bible she was reading.
HAMMER: All right. I need to get to this next one for the showbiz turkey awards, because, quite honestly, somebody is about to pull the plug on Howard Bragman. Heather Mills - Howard is going to have an award next year. When we saw her making the rounds and she`s ranting about what`s going on with her divorce from Paul McCartney, well, we all said "What a turkey!"
(TURKEY SOUND EFFECT)
We`re not paying for that every time we use it, are we? Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
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: Or a murderer. Kim Serafin, doesn`t there have to be a time when there`s a celebrity you know it`s just time to shut up?
SERAFIN: Yes. Obviously, she didn`t take any of Howard`s advice, any PR advice from anyone who would have told her just stop talking. Don`t compare yourself to Princess Di. Don`t compare yourself to a family that had their child kidnapped. This was a little excessive.
And for people here in America who kind of know her from "Dancing With The Stars," this is not the way to really introduce yourself to people that potentially could be on your side. But, yes, it didn`t work out too well from her. She needed to stop talking.
HAMMER: Howard Bragman, do you want to get yourself into trouble on this one?
BRAGMAN: No, I`m fine. I think I`m going to hold it here. But I think I`m just going to wait, A.J. You know, I don`t want to step in anymore.
HAMMER: All right. That`s probably wise. And I wish you all a very happy holiday. Pat Lalama, Kim Serafin, and Howard Bragman, thank you for joining us for the turkey awards. Paul, can we hear it one more time?
(TURKEY SOUND EFFECT)
Here we go. Thank you. All right.
HAMMER: Moving on now. On Tuesday, we told you about a controversial prayer group that has been praying for stars like Britney Spears. And we were asking you to sound off on our question of the day. Saving Britney Spears: Can the power of prayer make a difference? It`s pretty much split here. Forty-five percent of you said yes. Fifty five percent said no.
A bunch of e-mails came in. Some very passionate e-mails, too. We heard from Suzie in Texas. Suzy writes, "It will take a lot more than prayer to whip Britney into shape. The way she is raising her kids is inexcusable."
Tara from New York writes, "What in the world is wrong with spending one`s time praying for someone, whether they are rich or poor, famous or unknown?"
Well, Britney Spears may actually be spending Thanksgiving with "Hannah Montana" star, Miley Cyrus. You got to wonder what that would be like at that Thanksgiving dinner table, right? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with your favorite stars because we wanted to get a glimpse into their Thanksgiving celebrations. You`ll find out the holiday secrets of the stars. What are they doing? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has it next. Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Who is this guy supposed to be, the ultimate bad ass?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Compared to what? The bubonic plague?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The drama, the intrigue, the suspense, coming up. It is the most provocative must-see movies of the holiday weekend. I am not kidding. I cannot wait to see some of these films, but why are they sparking controversy? You`ll find out just ahead.
Also, what drove Ellen DeGeneres and Mariah Carey into a frenzy? And why did Ellen say Mariah smells? You definitely will not want to miss this strange story. It`s next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Now you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT any time at all. To that, all you have to do is download our podcast, which is absolutely free. And you can find the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast on our web site which is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. If you`d like to download it on I tunes, you can do that too. All you have to do is type "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" into the search box. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight fame stinks. Not exactly. If you ask Ellen DeGeneres, she will say every fan wonders what their favorite stars smell like. And when singer Mariah Carey appeared on Ellen`s talk show, well, let`s just say both of them got into a little bit of a sniffing frenzy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": You smell really good.
MARIAH CAREY, SINGER: Thank you.
DEGENERES: You smell a little like smores. And now, tell me what - this is your new perfume. It smells - it`s like sweet, right?
CAREY: It`s got a sweetness to it, but it also has a little sensual moment. Yes. We have to -
DEGENERES: Oh.
MARIAH: What are you doing with the face like that?
DEGENERES: My eyes! Wait, don`t sue me.
DEGENERES: Mine, of course, is gin and Marlboro. If you can smell -
CAREY: You know what, while you are messing around, this is a hot idea. We need to do this. You know, this could be -
DEGENERES: And you can get away with a lot, too.
CAREY: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) gin and Marlboro.
DEGENERES: When you come home, you`re like, you smell like you have been out. No I just had Ellen`s perfume on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Although I really probably shouldn`t worry about competing with Ellen in the celebrity perfume wars. I`m thinking people really won`t rush off to pick up Ellen`s gin and Marlboro fragrance. Maybe that`s just me.
OK. If you are planning to see the movies over the holiday weekend, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show has some advice, the four most provocative movies you can see. Joining me tonight in New York, "People" magazine film critic, Lee Rosen. Lee, it`s always good to see you. Happy holidays.
Let`s fire it up with the Russell Crowe-Denzel Washington movie, "American Gangster." A lot of buzz about this movie, but then, this is a very violent movie. It is not for the squeamish. What is it about it that makes it so provocative and a must-see?
LEE ROSEN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE FILM CRITIC: Well, I think what`s fascinating about this film is it has Denzel Washington as this drug dealer who doesn`t think twice about killing people. Russell Crowe is the cop-lawyer- prosecutor who`s chasing him.
But you`re really sort of going who is actually the better guy? Russell Crowe`s character is divorced, a womanizer, possibly drinks too much. Denzel Washington loves his wife, loves his mama, employs all his brothers and sisters. Who is really the good guy?
HAMMER: Yes. Because it sounds like a guy you could love, but Denzel Washington. This, for him is sort of a little change of pace. This is a bad, bad guy he is playing, this drug lord.
ROSEN: This is a bad guy. He doesn`t think twice about shooting someone through the head, and he is making all his money off heroin. But Denzel Washington said he really thought about playing this character before he did it. He wasn`t sure he wanted to, but he decided to because in the end - and I don`t want to give away the end, but when you see the end of the movie you`ll understand why Denzel felt he could do it.
HAMMER: Provocative, indeed. Well, another film that happens to be very violent and that`s not what necessarily makes it provocative, but the Coen brothers` "No Country for Old Men," such a great cast. Of course, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem. Let`s take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You can`t stop the gunman.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What`s this guy supposed to be, the ultimate bad ass?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Compared to what? The bubonic plague?
TOMMY LEE JONES, ACTOR: These people are killing Carla Jean. They won`t quit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: No surprise. Serious Oscar buzz for this film. But why is this one so provocative, and why do we have to run out and see it over the holiday weekend?
ROSEN: Because I think - it`s been the Coen brothers, and what they can do so brilliantly is make something that is so scary and yet at the same time funny. And you know, you are not sure whether you are supposed to be clutching your seat or laughing. And the film manages to do both. It is gorgeously shot. But it also asks the question why is crime so violent now and can anything be done about it?
HAMMER: It just sounds like it kind of gets in your head.
ROSEN: Absolutely.
HAMMER: "Lars and the Real Girl." Now, this one, we`ve talked about this before. It`s a young guy played by Ryan Gosling, who falls in love with a blow-up doll. It sounds pretty way out there and pretty provocative if you ask me.
ROSEN: Well, he`s sort of a troubled young man. It`s a life-sized doll, not a blow-up one. Life-sized one. And he starts dating her and everyone goes along with this and just sort of plays along because they like him so much.
It`s provocative because - I love this film. I think it`s incredibly sweet and has a whole lot of heart. But an equal number of critics are going, "Excuse me, it`s a doll." I think it`s one of those movies - for me, the term "provocative" also means, can you talk about it afterwards? They`re plenty to discuss, and there`s plenty to discuss.
HAMMER: So this is one - people are filtering out the aisles. Yes, there`s going to be lot of conversation about what we just on that. I kind of like that.
OK. "The Devil Knows You`re Dead." Ethan Hawke, and one of my favorite actors on the planet, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. This sounds like something we`ve seen before because it`s about these guys, two brothers, who plan a robbery. But something makes it provocative here.
ROSEN: It`s a crime movie. What makes it provocative is the way the script is set up. And it sort of goes back and forth in time. And you`re kind of following each actor`s version, almost like a Russian mono effect.
You are seeing each character`s version of what happened., so your sympathies keep alternating as you are finally putting all the pieces together. It`s almost a psychological puzzle. Again, I mean, all of these films, after you see them, you will not be at a loss for conversation over dinner.
HAMMER: And see, that`s what I love about going to movies and part of the experience for me. And what I don`t get is, you know, the movies that everybody thought that were going to be the provocative ones, the ones we would be talking about over the holidays, all of the war themed movies and all of the terror themed movies "Rendition" with Reese Witherspoon, "In the Valley of Elah," Tommy Lee Jones, and the biggest flop "Lions for Lambs" the Tom Cruise film (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the plague. Just a few seconds.
ROSEN: I think it`s because it`s on your TV everyday. You know, I get that when I watch the news. The movies I want something else. I think you have to put some distance. I mean, all the Vietnam films, we think about "Apocalypse Now" and "Platoon." They all came out after Vietnam.
HAMMER: Right. Very well. You can grab your copy of "People" magazine. It will be on newsstands everywhere this Friday.
Well, if you would rather stick to the classics, of course, "The Wizard of Oz" is timeless. And now, the little people who helped make it a legendary film are finally getting their due honors.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: I love that song. Do you remember the munchkins? They sang and danced after the wicked witch got crushed by Dorothy`s house. They were the ones who showed Dorothy the way down the yellow brick road.
Well, nearly 70 years after the movie came out, the actors who created those characters were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Seven of the original members all well into their 80s and 90s, of course, were there at the Grauman`s Chinese Theater in Hollywood where the star was unveiled. And I`ve got to say, "It`s about time." And, of course, there`s no place like home.
HAMMER: Well, home is where the heart is, even for Hollywood`s biggest stars. Admit it. There is definitely a part of you that would love to be a fly on the wall at your favorite celebrity`s Thanksgiving dinner. Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALICIA KEYS, SINGER: I love cranberries more than anything on the planet. Canned cranberry sauce and stovetop stuffing. That`s me all day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, from Alicia Keys to Carrie Underwood to Kid Rock, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT finds out the holiday secrets of your favorite stars. Coming up next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. OK. Admit it. There`s a little part of you, or at least a lot of people that wonders what it`s really like at the Thanksgiving tables of Hollywood`s biggest stars. Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with some of them and we asked them to give us a little glimpse into their Thanksgiving festivities. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARRIE UNDERWOOD, SINGER: I`m hanging out with family, actually, flying to meet up with them tomorrow. And I`m not really sure what we`re doing exactly, but - or where we`re going to be, but we`ll be together.
MARY J. BLIGE, R & B SINGER: I`m going to spend Thanksgiving with my husband and my children. We got a chef. We don`t do that. We don`t cook unless we really have to.
FERGIE, SINGER: The family is coming over. Josh and I are hosting Thanksgiving. I`m not cooking, fortunately. We`re having Chef Felix come over and cook. And we`re all going to enjoy each other`s company.
KID ROCK: Usually, I deep fry a turkey every year. But I set my mom into tears one year so I stopped doing it. Because she slaved all day and al night and this turkey in the oven and the whole nine. And then I dropped one in the deep fryer for 45 minutes, filled it up with Sprite and Cajun sauce and she was almost in tears because everyone liked mine better. I`m going to let her do her thing.
ALICIA KEYS, SINGER: I`m going to have some family over and make dinner. I love canned cranberry sauce. It`s like my favorite thing on the planet. Canned cranberry sauce and stovetop stuffing. That`s me all day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`ve got to tell you I`m looking forward to seeing my family for the holiday, but I would love to have Thanksgiving dinner with Alicia Keys. And besides the cranberry sauce, Alicia told us, one of the things that she enjoys most about Thanksgiving is spending time with all the kids in her family.
Well, we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Kanye West mom tragedy: Should the doctor be speaking out at all? You can keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or e-mail us at showbiztonight@CNN.com. And as always, you can do it from your desktop or your laptop, your trio, your Blackberry, your cellphone. Whatever you got and whatever you want to tell us.
Here is what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thursday, on a special SHOWBIZ TONIGHT showbiz investigates, star plastic surgery dreams and nightmares. More and more stars are going under the knife, but why? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates the star plastic surgeries, the good, the bad, the ugly.
Also Thursday, young stars under the knife. An alarming trend in Hollywood. Woman, talking barely out of their teens, going under the knife for nose jobs, breast implants, and even Botox. Why in the world are young and beautiful stars getting plastic surgery? That`s Thursday on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. From all of us at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, happy Thanksgiving. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is coming up next.
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