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Showbiz Tonight
Several Celebrities Weighing in on Politics with Campaign Ads; Fans of Soap Opera `As the World Turns` Run a Letter-Writing Campaign for Gay Couple on Show to Kiss
Aired March 03, 2008 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: A shocking plot to kill Mick Jagger. I`m Brooke Anderson in New York.
KAREEN WYNTER, CO-HOST: And which big star`s giving away a million bucks on Oprah? Who could that be?
I`m Kareen Wynter in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, live from New York, it`s Hollywood at war.
AMY POEHLER, CAST MEMBER, NBC`S "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": With me, the overall tone is more hostile.
ANDERSON: Tonight, as Barack and Hillary slug it out, Hollywood`s biggest stars watch extraordinary brand new attacks of their own, including a Jack attack.
JACK NICHOLSON, ACTOR: I`m Jack Nicholson, and I approved this message.
ANDERSON: Jack`s not joking, and neither are these stars.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals how the Barack/Hillary battle is tearing Hollywood apart. But does anyone really care who these stars support?
The outrageous stories that have got us saying, are you kidding me? Tonight, Paris with yogi? No. Not that yogi. A real live spiritual yogi.
Also an "American Idol" sex shocker. Will Simon Cowell be the new face of Viagra?
Plus, "As the World Turns," an explosive soap opera controversy over a gay kiss. No, people aren`t protesting the kiss. They actually want to see the guys kiss.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I am Brooke Anderson in New York. A.J. is off tonight.
WYNTER: And I`m Kareen Wynter in Hollywood.
OK, Brooke. Can someone explain this to me, how in the world stars like Michael Jackson, they can make hundreds of millions of dollars and still can`t pay their bills? And it`s not just him. A special SHOWBIZ report, from "Riches to Rags," is coming up.
Looking forward to that but first tonight, Hollywood at war over Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Even Jack Nicholson is now taking sides, doing something so out of character that you just have to see it to believe it.
With Tuesday being Hillary`s potential do or die today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal the wild ways Hollywood`s biggest stars are going wild, online and on TV.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): We interrupt this program to bring you this important political commentary from the latest celebrity endorser in the 2008 presidential race.
NICHOLSON: And now, folks, it`s time for who do you trust?
ANDERSON: Wait a second. What`s the Joker doing in a campaign ad? Or that creepy guy from "The Shining"?
NICHOLSON: Things could be a whole lot better.
ANDERSON: And is this "Chinatown"?
NICHOLSON: What can I tell you, kid? You`re right.
I`m Jack Nicholson, and I approved this message.
ANDERSON: Jack Nicholson using some of his most popular film characters for the brand new YouTube video to express his support for Hillary Clinton.
NICHOLSON: There is nothing on this earth sexier, believe me gentlemen, than a woman you have to salute in the morning.
AMY ARGETSINGER, "WASHINGTON POST": The biggest feeling I had seeing the Jack Nicholson video, as well put together as that was, was not, "I`m going to vote for Hillary," but rather, "I`m going to order up `The Shining` and `Five Easy Pieces` on Netflix."
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, as the campaign for the Democratic president nomination gets more heated, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are breaking out the big guns and the big stars to up their coolness factor among young voters.
ARGETSINGER: There seems to be some battle going on about coolness.
ANDERSON: Will.i.am of the Black-Eyed Peas has just YouTubed his second celebrity-filled musical tribute to Obama.
JESSICA ALBA, ACTRESS: I would like to see a cleaner earth for my child.
ANDERSON: "We Are the Ones" features stars such as Jessica Alba, Ryan Phillippe and George Lopez, singing about why they support Obama.
It follows Will.i.am`s earlier video tribute, "Yes, We Can," which got five million hits on YouTube. The song takes Obama`s voice from a speech and sets it to music and voiceovers from stars like John Legend and Scarlett Johansson.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, we can strive for opportunity and prosperity.
Yes we can strive for opportunity and prosperity.
ARGETSINGER: I know a lot of people that saw the Obama, ad and some people were just moved to tears by it. They got goose bumps. Other people kind of were a little creeped out by it.
ANDERSON: Amy Argetsinger of the "Washington Post" tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT things like the Will.i.am video are good for Internet buzz but not much else.
ARGETSINGER: It depends on -- it`s the feelings about Scarlett Johansson. It depends on your feelings about Will.i.am, who`s written a very good song, but who also wrote the song "My Humps," which I think we can all agree is the worst song ever written.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Live from New York, it is Saturday night.
ANDERSON: Over the weekend, Clinton tried to up her coolness quotient with a "Saturday Night Live" appearance with Amy Poehler, who plays the senator in sketches.
AMY POEHLER, CAST MEMBER, NBC`S "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": I love your outfit.
CLINTON: Well, I love your outfit but...
POEHLER: Thank you.
CLINTON: ... I do want the earrings back.
POEHLER: Oh, OK.
ANDERSON: Maybe it was all to show that Clinton could take a joke, since the proceeding skit wasn`t exactly nice to her.
WILL FORTE, CAST MEMBER, NBC`S "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": When this one here gets to talking about it, it`s all a person can do to keep the mind alive.
POEHLER: Brian, could I say something here?
FORTE: Is it about health care? Because if it is, I swear I`m going to lose it.
POEHLER: Never mind.
ANDERSON: Did the appearance help Hillary?
ARGETSINGER: "Saturday Night Live" doesn`t have the hipness factor that it did 25 years ago.
ANDERSON: Maybe Hillary should have been an "SNL" digital short with Justin Timberlake.
ARGETSINGER: That would go viral, yes.
ANDERSON: So for now, expect to see everyone from Will.i.am, one or more Boleyn girls, and gosh knows who else make their pitches in the presidential race. Who knows?
NICHOLSON: And now, folks, it`s time for who do you trust?
ANDERSON: Now that the Joker`s weighed in, could a Batman endorsement be far behind?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the elections are playing out like a Hollywood drama, especially with all the added star power. Instead of "Dancing with the Stars," how about voting with the stars? OK. Maybe not.
Joining me tonight here in New York, CNN contributor Roland Martin and investigative journalist and author of "Secrets Can Be Murder," Jane Velez- Mitchell.
Jane, Roland, here`s Jack Nicholson, a guy who never really gets involved in anything, doesn`t even like to give interviews, putting himself on the line for Hillary Clinton, using movie clips, no less.
Jane, does that mean I should say to myself, "Hey, you know, if the Joker likes Hillary, he must be onto something here"?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, AUTHOR, "SECRETS CAN BE MURDER": Well, possibly, Brooke. It`s very cleaver. It weaves in the old clips with the serious messages about the Iraq war, health care and Hillary`s experience. It comes at a crucial time. It`s been viewed many, many times. Maybe some of people viewing it on YouTube are voters in Ohio or Texas.
We know celebrities count. Look at what happened to Obama when Oprah endorsed him. Of course, it always depends on the celebrity.
ANDERSON: That`s right.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Imagine Britney Spears were to endorse something. That would be a nightmare.
So, Jack Nicholson`s likable. He`s not an Oprah, but he`s not a Britney. I think he hits you on the gut level.
ANDERSON: I`m sure it depends on the credibility of the star endorsing you.
Roland, you have been following the election very closely for CNN, but I want to know. Come on. Are Americans really going to base their vote on the fact that Jack Nicholson used clips of "Batman" and "The Shining"? Are they going to vote for Hillary because of it?
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN ANALYST: The point is not will they base their votes upon a particular commercial or a song. It`s a matter of how are they becoming aware of the candidates?
This is about advertising. If you asked any advertising executive, they`ll tell you they don`t mind touch-points. They don`t mind when their particular ad or product is being seen in different places by different people. That might spur them to say, "Hey, let me actually think about that for a second."
And so, if all of a sudden you`re seeing Jack Nicholson -- let`s think about it. We`re talking about the contests of the presidential race on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. People who ordinarily would be watching this show may not be watching "ELECTION CENTER." And so, that`s how it plays in the minds.
The same thing, if you watch "Saturday Night Live." Sure, they have several million people who watch that show. That`s not "Meet the Press." And so it`s the opportunity to reach and touch people who ordinarily would not be sought out.
ANDERSON: Very good point. More exposure for the candidates.
MARTIN: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: It`s important. And you know, it`s not just Jack. As we`ve seen, Will.i.am has not one but two star-studded musical video tributes to Barack Obama. Let`s take another look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALBA: I would like to see a cleaner earth for my child that I`m bringing into the world very soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Like this on YouTube does get millions of hits, but personally I think this really plays to emotion, not so much intellect or even the issues. But Jane, is that necessarily a bad thing?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I don`t think so. Jack Nicholson might hit you in the gut. These kinds of videos hit you in the heart. And it`s good to use your heart when making important decisions about politics.
I think music and other manipulative techniques are dangerous when they`re combined with hateful messages or distorted information. I don`t think that`s the case here. This is beautifully done. It has a beautiful message, and I think it`s just fine and dandy. And it reaches young people.
MARTIN: Right. Hey, Brooke, I`ve got a great example. Clarence B. Jones was a personal attorney of Martin Luther King Jr. Talked to his former worker. This woman is from South Carolina. She has a confederate flag decal. Shotguns on the rack of her truck. And called him, and she said, "Who are you voting for, Clarence?"
And he said, "Well, I`m leaning to Obama."
She said, "Well, you know what? Me and my girlfriends, we love Oprah." She said, "We love Oprah, but we can`t vote for Oprah. We`re going to vote for Obama."
The reality is, there are people who all of a sudden become aware of a candidate based upon their celebrity or who they like, saying, "Hey, take a look at them."
The job of a candidate is to close. The job of the celebrity is to bring people to the table. So if you have any bets, you have a rally, you might have 300 people who show up. But if Oprah is there, 40,000 show up. If George Clooney shows up, 10,000 show up. That`s the advantage of having a celebrity. They`re able to bring people in, and your job is to finish off the sell.
ANDERSON: And it helps when the celebrity is smart and knows what they are talking about.
MARTIN: Does help, yes.
ANDERSON: And you know, it`s not just candidates playing for emotions but also for laughs. So take a look again at Hillary Clinton, going for laughs on "SNL."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: Do I really laugh like that?
POEHLER: Oh.
CLINTON: Well, well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Jane, very quickly, do voters like it when a candidate can hit a punch line?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I have to say, I thought the "Saturday Night Live" skit was brilliant, because it exposed something that`s really the big elephant in the room in this entire campaign and that is, the criticism that it`s been very, very sexist in terms of the media coverage.
In fact, National Organization for Women on their home page has a petition...
ANDERSON: Right.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: ... complaining about the media`s sexist coverage. So sometimes humor is the way to get a message out that the establishment really doesn`t want to look at.
ANDERSON: ... said it best.
MARTIN: We like -- we like people who poke fun at themselves and we don`t like these serious candidates all day every day. So it`s great when they can laugh at themselves.
ANDERSON: Hillary loosened up for that.
Roland Martin, Jane Velez-Mitchell, we will leave it there. Thank you both.
MARTIN: Thank you.
ANDERSON: And now you are going to want to stick around for this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLSON: I`m Jack Nicholson, and I approved this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You`ve got to see this. I`m going to play Jack Nicholson`s entire explosive Hillary Clinton ad, straight ahead. And I`ve got to say, Jack Nicholson speaking out like that, wow. He can be pretty reclusive.
And you know what else has gotten totally floored? Tonight, there`s an "American Idol" sex shocker. Will judge Simon Cowell become the new face of Viagra?
Paris Hilton has a new best friend, a Buddhist monk? What? Everybody saying are you kidding me?
WYNTER: Hey, Brooke. This one sounds like something straight out of a soap opera, right? Speaking of which, there`s a stunning soap-opera controversy tonight over a gay kiss. But here`s the thing. People aren`t protesting a kiss. They actually want to see two guys kiss, coming up.
And the outrageous way some stars handle their money. Look at Michael Jackson. He`s this close to losing his Neverland Ranch. And then there`s stars like MC Hammer, big bucks to broke. Should Britney and Lindsay be careful how they spend all their millions? The SHOWBIZ special report, "From Riches to Rags."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I realized in high school, I was into sports but not girls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: OK. This is causing quite a buzz. Tonight, an explosive soap-opera controversy over two gay characters on "As the World Turns," but it`s not what you think. Soap fans actually want them to kiss.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Kareen Wynter in Hollywood.
Tonight, a love affair between two young men on "As the World Turns" has sparks flying off-screen, folks. Fans of the show, they want to know why the gay couple haven`t locked lips in six months.
With us tonight in Hollywood, Howard Bragman, founder of 15 Minutes Public Relations. Also with me tonight from Memphis, Tennessee, conservative talk show radio host Ben Ferguson.
Gentlemen, thank you so much for joining us.
Now, fans of this soap, they started a letter-writing campaign. But get this. They posted an online petition. They`ve even gone as far as having a Web site that counts down the days, the hours, the minutes -- oh, and let`s not forget the seconds -- since Luke and Noah last locked lips.
Ben, let`s start with you. You know, to me it seems as if the soap, they don`t want to offend anyone here, the producers. But is there anything wrong with two guys kissing on a soap opera? Come on. What`s the big deal here?
BEN FERGUSON, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, I think obviously, you look at this countdown clock, and it sounds to me like it`s not that -- it`s not the mainstream fans. Because if it was, then the show would have them locking lips.
The reality is -- here is I think you have people that are saying, "Why aren`t you showing this lifestyle that we want you to support?" You know, it`s one thing to just have them be gay and everybody know it. Now they`re trying to push the issue and the envelope, and that`s why they have this Web site set up.
I mean, to me, I think it`s pretty much laughable. We`ve never accused soap operas of being ones that aren`t willing to push the issue. But obviously, I think the majority of their fans don`t really want them to lock lips. And obviously, these are people that are trying to push an agenda on the viewers. And the reality is, I think most people really don`t want it.
WYNTER: That`s pretty interesting.
Howard, what do you think? Do you think that, for example, "As the World Turns," are they afraid of scaring off advertisers? Is there really anything wrong here? You`re showing two guys kissing on a soap.
HOWARD BRAG, 15 MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: First of all, it`s not a lifestyle. I call it a life, in my case. So I want to clear that up. I don`t think heterosexuality is a lifestyle. I live -- I`m living my life.
The second thing is I think it`s ironic that here`s this passionate conservative complaining about two people -- two men kissing or not kissing on a soap opera when we have rape, murder, pedophilia...
FERGUSON: I`m not -- I didn`t complain about it. What I said was, I said that the reality is, is that a lot of people don`t want something like this on their TV screen.
And soap operas have never, ever been accused of being one to put a moral standard or agenda out there. The reality is, is the majority, probably, probably of the people watching don`t really want it in their face. And that`s why it`s six-plus months.
BRAGMAN: You know, Ben, that`s why -- Ben, that`s we have this beautiful machine, and at my house, we call it a remote control. There`s plenty of stuff on TV I don`t like and I don`t want to look at. If you don`t want to watch, change the channel.
I think people are into this story line. I think it reflects what`s going on in pop culture and in real life, that gays are more visible than ever, making greater strides than ever.
And I think people want to realize that gays do meet, fall in love, kiss and even more, in some cases. And I think people want this relationship to develop.
FERGUSON: You honestly -- you honestly believe that this Web site was set up, not to push the gay lifestyle on other people in other people`s faces, honestly put up, genuinely, because of viewers want to see two guys kiss on the TV? You really believe that?
BRAGMAN: You know, the good news is we have lots of places to see two guys kiss on TV. We have our own networks now.
FERGUSON: Absolutely. And that`s great.
BRAGMAN: We have "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." Everything is not a political agenda. Sometimes fans just want to -- want to -- fans of soap operas are very passionate people.
FERGUSON: So you want to...
WYNTER: OK, guys. The gloves are off. We`re going to have to move onto the next question. All right? OK. So this isn`t the first time, right, that we`ve seen two guys kiss on TV.
Ben, let`s pick it up there. Why is everyone being so darn gun-shy here?
FERGUSON: Well, I don`t think they`re being gun-shy. I just think they know that the reality is, is people want to see a soap opera. And they don`t want to see, like I said, an agenda being pushed, per se. And I think that`s what it really boils down to.
If I think the producers of soap operas, if they thought the ratings would go up if two guys kissed on TV, they would do it, and they would do it every single day, because soap operas are there to get people to watch them. And that`s how they make their money. And if they thought it was going to be good for TV and ratings, they would probably do it.
The reality is, is I think they know what you and I probably -- what I know, at least, is if you do this, a lot of people are going to say, "Why did you have to put that on TV? Why can`t they just have a relationship and not have to push the agenda?"
WYNTER: And Ben, by the way, I want to get to this. The producers of the show, they issued a statement -- let`s get it out there -- saying, "Since Luke and Noah became an on-screen couple several months ago, we`ve heard from numerous loyal viewers of the show, many of whom supported the story line and some who didn`t. We`re telling Luke and Noah`s story in the most authentic way we can, being respectful of all the people who watch the show."
Howard, jump in there, Howard. Let me ask you something. If they introduced a gay storyline, don`t you kind of think they have the responsibility here to show the story realistically? Come on.
BRAGMAN: I do think they have the right to tell the story in their own words, and for a soap opera to do this, it is courageous. And I applaud them for that.
And I think they`ll be kissing. This is a soap opera. What I want to say is, though, every time gay couples have kissed on TV, it has been a ratings bonanza. If you look historically to "Melrose Place," to "Roseanne."
FERGUSON: Sure. It`s shock value.
BRAGMAN: I think people...
FERGUSON: I mean, it is shock value.
BRAGMAN: Initially, it started out -- can I finish?
WYNTER: All right, Howard and Ben, we have to jump in there. We`ll continue this at a later time. Thanks so much for joining us.
FERGUSON: Thanks for having us.
BRAGMAN: Thanks, Kareen.
WYNTER: All right, Brooke, I`ve got to tell you, you have to listen to this. Did you hear about the stunning, the wild plot to kill Mick Jagger? I`m absolutely serious here. Who would want to do such a thing? I`ve actually got the shocking story coming up.
ANDERSON: Kareen, that is unbelievable. And you know what else? An "American Idol" sex shocker. Will judge Simon Cowell become the new face of Viagra?
And Paris Hilton has a new best friend: a Buddhist monk? Straight ahead, the stories that have everybody saying, "Are you kidding me?"
WYNTER: Brooke, you know what else has got me saying, "Are you kidding me?" The way some of Hollywood`s biggest stars flow through their money. Look at Michael Jackson. He might lose his Neverland Ranch. MC Hammer. Tonight, I`ve got a revealing SHOWBIZ special report, "From Riches to Rags," coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go to three music. And stand by Kareen in Hollywood. Open her mike. And zabala (ph), go.
WYNTER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Kareen Wynter, and here are some more stories that are new right now.
Wow. This is an absolutely wild story, folks. Mick Jagger, he narrowly escaped an assassination plot. That`s right. A new BBC documentary, it claims the Hell`s agents -- Angels tried to kill the Rolling Stones singer over a dispute over concert security.
Back in 1969, Jagger said he wouldn`t use the motorcycle gang as bouncers any more, this after the shocking death of a fan at the Altamont, California, concert.
Now, the Angels, they were so angry that they plotted to kill Jagger at a vacation home in Long Island, New York. They actually tried to get close to him by boat, but it capsized and never tried again.
And Drew Barrymore is doing something fabulous. Quite amazing. Check out what happened on Monday`s Oprah.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DREW BARRYMORE, ACTRESS: This is for Josette and the World Food Program.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Come on up.
One, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: That`s just fantastic. Drew`s giving $1 million to the United Nations` World Food Program`s Fill the Cup campaign to feed school children in Kenya.
You know, Drew is one of the best-paid stars in Hollywood, and I think it`s great what she`s doing with all of her money. Other stars, not so good.
Michael Jackson, for example. You know, he made hundreds of millions and now could lose his Neverland Ranch. And look at MC Hammer. How did they end up broke? Tonight, I`ve got a shocking SHOWBIZ special report, "From Riches to Rags."
ANDERSON: Kareen, Paris Hilton is filthy rich, but tonight, I can tell you, she may be trading all that money for some meditation. Paris has a new BFF, a Buddhist monk. And that`s got me saying, are you kidding me?
Also, Mike Myers is meditating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE MYERS, COMEDIAN: My goal is to get you to say, "Gee, you are you, TM."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I`ve got your first look at "The Love Guru."
But first, stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. You won`t be disappointed. Just head over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Click on the "sign up for newsletter" link at the bottom of the page.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is back after this.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Paris Hilton has a new man in her life. And no, it`s not some rock star or Beverly Hills bad boy. It`s a spiritual guru. Could it be too much to hope for? Has Paris really changed her ways?
Tonight the Paris story that made us say, "Are You Kidding Me?"
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK NICHOLSON, ACTOR: I`m Jack Nicholson and I approve this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Jack Nicholson with a campaign ad? It`s true. Jack is using scenes from his movies to show his support for Hillary Clinton. It is a very cool video, really clever, and then it`s taken the Internet by storm.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents "Jack and Hill."
Hey, welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Brooke Anderson in New York.
WYNTER: And I`m Kareen Wynter in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Kareen. A.J. Hammer is off tonight.
And Kareen, tonight, the outrageous stories out there that are making us say, "Are You Kidding Me?"
First, Paris "I haven`t kept any of my post-jail promises" Hilton has a spiritual adviser and her new yogi has already convinced her to give away some of her bling.
"Are You Kidding Me?"
Also, Paris`s "Simple Life" co-star Nicole Richie may be the next Roxy Hart on Broadway. I know her acting was so compelling on "The Simple Life" that producers of the award-winning musical are thinking her dancing is just as great. Huh?
"Are You Kidding Me?"
And Simon Cowell admits he uses Botox, wears platform shoes, but he absolutely, positively draws the line when it comes to Viagra. He will not be their pitchman.
"Are You Kidding Me?"
We`ve got an amazing panel all fired up and they love to talk some smack. Joining me in Hollywood, founder of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations Howard Bragman, also in Hollywood, Michael Yo, host on E! Entertainment Radio on XM and Sirius, and in New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell, investigative journalist and author of this book, "Secrets Can Be Murder."
Hey, gang.
I want to start with the Paris Hilton news. She was out at the Earth Cafe in West Hollywood with her spiritual adviser. At one point the yogi lay his hands on her and blessed her. The two went to a spiritual bookstore and when Paris walked out, listen to this, she handed over her diamond heart necklace to an innocent bystander.
Are you kidding me here, Howard? What could this spiritual adviser possibly said to Paris that she would hand over a diamond necklace? Because hey, she can`t even donate her time to any of the charities she mentioned in her famous post-jail interview with Larry King.
HOWARD BRAGMAN, FOUNDER, FIFTEEN MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: He said two words that made all the difference, Brooke. Cubic zirconium. Get rid of those fake rocks and get some real bling, girlfriend. That`s what he said to her.
ANDERSON: You calling Paris cheap, Howard?
BRAGMAN: I didn`t say that. I just said -- you know, this is a spiritual adviser. She`s treating him like a prop in her life story. OK?
ANDERSON: Jane, what do you...
BRAGMAN: That`s all I`m going to say here.
ANDERSON: What do you think? Publicity stunt?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST, AUTHOR OF "SECRETS CAN BE MURDER": I second Howard, absolutely.
You know, Brooke, that Earth cafe is one of the trendiest places in West Hollywood where people go to see and be seen and they wear their sunglasses and they eavesdrop on the next conversation while they`re sipping their soy lattes. You don`t go there to have a spiritual convergence. Usually you do that in private.
ANDERSON: Right.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: The idea that she would reach enlightenment at Earth Cafe is one of the most bizarre...
ANDERSON: It is.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: ...examples of a bizarre life.
ANDERSON: It is laughable.
Michael, it`s like going to the Ivy.
MICHAEL YO, HOST, E! RADIO ON XM & SIRIUS: Yes. I mean this is absolutely ridiculous. You know the only thing Paris Hilton did say that`s good is gold -- silence is golden. So that means we`ll never have to hear another record from her. And that`s a very, very good thing. I`m excited about that.
But yes, Paris Hilton is brilliant at marketing herself and this is just another move. So good for Paris getting all the attention she could have because she has no talent.
ANDERSON: Well, harsh as always, Michael Yo.
Well, as Paris was driving away, there was an exchange between Paris, the paparazzi and her yogi.
By the way, this is the first time on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT I`ve ever used the words Paris, paparazzi and yogi. It is a good night.
Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED SPIRITUAL ADVISER: That`s a gift you give. It`s true. It will remain true. Give of yourself and time. It`s from within. You grow from within.
UNIDENTIFIED PAPARAZZI: Time and yourself? Paris is a blessed woman.
PARIS HILTON, SOCIALITE: Thank you. Bye, guys. Take care.
UNIDENTIFIED PAPARAZZI: She blesses us all.
UNIDENTIFIED PAPARAZZI: Thank God.
UNIDENTIFIED PAPARAZZI: Absolutely.
HILTON: It is amazing.
UNIDENTIFIED PAPARAZZI: I can feel the energy.
HILTON: Really changed my life.
UNIDENTIFIED PAPARAZZI: Hey, Paris, he asked you to give that away but for whatever reason?
UNIDENTIFIED PAPARAZZI: Hold on, hold on. Hold on.
HILTON: Because the greatest gift is a gift.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. The whole experience, five minutes of it, has changed her life, say, you know, that sounds kind of familiar.
Michael, do you really think that Paris is going to say goodbye to her clubbing days any time soon?
YO: Paris without a club is like David Hasselhoff without a hamburger. It`s just not going to happen. You know? I mean, seriously. Paris Hilton is known for going to the clubs and that`s a place she needs to be at because that`s how she gets all her publicity. She`s come out with movies, they bombed. She`s come out with records, they bombed.
Now, Paris Hilton does have a talent. Her talent is getting attention and working the media and that`s why we`re talking about her right now.
ANDERSON: You`re right.
YO: So she has to stay in the clubs to keep that going.
ANDERSON: And the poor Hoff will never leave that hamburger-eating episode down. Poor guy.
BRAGMAN: It`s a mess.
ANDERSON: I know.
All right. Let`s move now to another story that also had us saying, "Are You Kidding Me?"
Nicole Richie is entertaining an offer to play Roxy Hart in the award- winning smash hit musical "Chicago" on Broadway.
Jane, help me out here. As the robot used to say on "Lost in Space," this does not compute.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I cannot help you out because it makes no sense. I mean I love her. I wish her the best. But the last I checked she has demonstrated no ability to either dance, sing or act, so I personally want to be front row and center when she walks on the stage and faces all these people who have paid all of their big money for tickets and tries to do one of the toughest, most coveted roles in all of Broadway.
This is a role that -- you saw "Chorus Line" people worked years for. They sweat and they dance and they train. They don`t do reality shows to train for Broadway.
ANDERSON: Yes. Definitely not an easy role to play. Maybe she`s got the moves and the pipes. We`ll see.
All right. Now I want to move on to another story that has us saying, "Are You Kidding Me?"
All right. In an interview with a UK version of "Glamour" magazine, Simon Cowell says he turned down a deal to be the spokesperson for Viagra. But he did admit to using Botox and wearing platform shoes or, dare I say, high heels.
Simon, how could you?
Michael, what does the last spokesperson for Viagra? Senator Bob Dole?
YO: Yes, I mean, it is a slap in the face when Bob Dole is before you. You know, hi, I`m Bob Dole. Hi, I`m Simon Cowell, and I love Viagra.
I mean, no, you don`t want to do it. Simon Cowell makes $47 million a year and an extra $2 million will do nothing for him. Yes, it`s a slap in the face. But everything in Hollywood is fake so the Botox, the high heels he wears, that`s normal in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: Howard, what do you think? It wasn`t enough money for Simon Cowell?
BARGMAN: I think that`s absolutely right. If he would have come up - - Viagra would have come up with enough money, Simon Cowell would have been wearing a blue shirt on the next "American Idol," I promise you. And he may not have needed the high heels if he had -- you know, never mind. We won`t go there. But...
YO: Yes.
ANDERSON: Wearing the blue shirt and drinking the soda, just a walking advertisement. And saying -- you know, go ahead, Howard? What, really quickly?
BRAGMAN: No, I just want to say that, you know, Viagra and Simon Cowell, they all know the value of an offer that not even accepted. The publicity is just that they made him that offer and that he wouldn`t do it. I mean, for Viagra, this is a day in the sunshine for them.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Howard, I just want to say I`m so glad that he turned down this offer. I don`t want to think of Simon in that way. You know? Every time I watch those commercials I wonder, are they actors or do they really have erectile dysfunction? I don`t want to think about that with Simon.
ANDERSON: Nor do I, and we will leave it there. Can`t top that.
Howard Bragman, Michael Yo, Jane Velez-Mitchell, thank you all for joining us tonight.
YO: Thank you.
WYNTER: OK, Brooke.
Prince Harry is back in London and he says he`s disappointed. The prince`s military service in Afghanistan was cut short after the Drudge Report Web site broke a news blackout and revealed he was there.
Now Harry says he wasn`t too surprised that the foreign media messed things up for him but that he isn`t exactly angry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRY, PRINCE OF WALES: It is a shame and as I said, angry is a pretty wrong word to use but I`m just disappointed. I thought I could stay through to the end and come back with them, the guys and the colonel himself, but yes, I`m back here now and I suppose deep down inside (INAUDIBLE) -- I think it`s nice to be back early but, no. I`d like to still be out with the guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: And you`ve also been weighing in on this. On Friday we asked you to vote on the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day:" Prince Harry, was it wrong to reveal that he was in Afghanistan?
Now big majority, 93 percent of you say yes, 7 percent of you said no.
Here are some of the e-mails we also got.
Scott from Idaho writes, "Not only did the media put Harry`s life in grave danger, but everyone else serving with him." And Pamela from Florida writes, "Prince Harry was only there long enough for a photo shoot. So don`t go claiming he`s a hero."
And the stars are coming out like never before to get their voices heard on the presidential election, even Jack Nicholson couldn`t resist.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLSON: I`m Jack Nicholson and I approve this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: Jack is pulling out all the stops to support Hillary Clinton. He made a video that has taken the online world by storm. You don`t want to miss that coming up.
ANDERSON: No, you don`t. Also we`ve got a SHOWBIZ special report from "Riches to Rags."
You hear this story time and time again. Big-time stars on top of the world making more money in a year than most of us will see in a lifetime and then they go broke.
I wanted to know how in the world does this happen? That is still to come.
WYNTER: And Brooke, how funny does this movie look? It makes Mike Myers in his first original character since Austin Powers. I have to say it looks like it was worth the wait.
Your first look at Mike Myers in "The Love Guru." It`s ahead. You don`t want to miss this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLSON: OK. I`ll make it as easy for you as I can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That`s just a bit of Jack Nicholson`s Internet video endorsing Hillary Clinton for president. It has been viewed more than a million times online and we will show you more of it in just a bit.
WYNTER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Kareen Wynter in Hollywood.
Tonight, a SHOWBIZ special report from "Riches to Rags"? It`s hard to believe but the king of pop is now the king of debt. Michael Jackson`s failure to pay the mortgage on a family home and could lose so much, his Neverland ranch, unless he comes up with about $25 million by March 19th.
But what I want to know, and probably many of you, is: how do stars like Michael Jackson, they make so much money, and lose it all? And are stars like Britney Spears on their way to the poor house?
With me tonight from the TruTV studios in New York, Ashleigh Banfield, host of TruTV`s "Hollywood Heat. Also tonight in Bandera, Texas, CNN`s senior business correspondent Ali Velshi.
You know, it`s almost incomprehensible that someone who once earned $50 million a year and was -- once worth hundreds of millions could wind up broke.
Ashleigh, is it stupidity, negligence? Help us understand this.
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, HOST, TRUTV`S "HOLLYWOOD HEAT": "The New York Times" put it best when they said that it kind of follows the story arch of a typical entertainment story. You start with a child star who`s beholden to those who runs his bank accounts, he graduates to a mature adult, who loses a bit of touch with his skills disciplinary spending skills, and then ends up a bit of a caricature in his later life, who literally is living in a financial and emotional fantasyland.
And I think that`s what you see with Michael Jackson, as he spends $9,000 a night in Dubai on a hotel suite and spends $6 million in a matter of minutes in a spreading spree caught on tape back a couple of years ago in Vegas.
It`s just a classic sad story.
WYNTER: Fantasyland indeed, an underestimate.
Now the average person won`t make what Michael used to make in a year. OK, in 10 lives -- lifetimes.
Ali, weigh in on this. It really boggles the mind. Is there any rhyme or reason to this?
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Kareen, the average American is not going to earn $50,000 a year this year. So as a result we see what happens. When you get access to credit or you get more of a mortgage than you thought you can get, we very easily get carried away.
What if you never learn those habits? What if you never learned budgeting? What if you never had any sense of the value of a dollar because you earned so much of them that they sort of seem like confetti to you?
That`s the problem. A lot of these people we`re talking about who blow their whole fortune started off very young, made more money probably before the age of 15 than many people will make an entire lifetime. They never learned those habits and then when they get this much money, they hand a lot of that responsibility over to money managers and they don`t really ever have a sense of how much they`re making versus how much they`re paying and that`s how it gets out of control.
WYNTER: Hmm. Fascinating. Getting too much too soon.
Now another star who lost his millions is MC Hammer. We remember him. In the `90s, he rocketed to fame with his single "You Can`t Touch This." He earned something like $33 million, then went bankrupt.
Ashleigh, come on. This is another example of a star who got drunk with his money and started seeing cross eyed, right?
BANFIELD: Well, I think you can touch this. Apparently, a lot of creditors did touch this and took everything he had. But I think -- more important story here is that some of these folks don`t understand that having a 40-person entourage is very expensive. This guy had an action figure that was modeled after him at one time, he made $33 million off that single, and the problem is I think they think they`re invincible. I think they think their talent is going to carry them forever.
And there are one-hit wonders out there. It`s the reality. It`s just that I think sometimes these folks can`t see the realities down the road.
WYNTER: I have to agree with that.
Now, Ali, take us into the mind of a celebrity. When they earn unbelievable fortunes, what we`ve been talking about here, do they suddenly think that they`re invulnerable?
VELSHI: Yes. They`re absolutely risk -- they take risks that the rest of us wouldn`t take. The rest of us say, I could lose my job, or I`m only going to make that much more next year. I might even take a pay cut. So I can`t involve myself in these investments that will suck me dry in terms of the money that I have to spend to keep them up.
You take Michael Jackson`s Neverland ranch. Just the upkeep on that is more money than most people will ever spend on anything in their lives. That`s part of it. You don`t have that sense of reality. You`ve got that disconnect and you don`t develop the expertise.
Now a lot of these people could take the money they earn in one year, put them into some sort of an investment that pays them off a certain set interest rate, and still live better than most of humanity. But that`s not what happened. They get into risky things because you`re exactly right and Ashleigh`s exactly right. There`s a sense of invincibility and that`s what makes their decisions not very good.
WYNTER: Ashleigh, you want to respond to that?
BANFIELD: Well, I know I`ll never face that problem.
WYNTER: Neither will I?
BANFIELD: I think we all live in the reality of TV. We don`t get into this business for the job security. So, yes, I totally see it as a fantasyland that is big celebrity.
But you know what? The public is just not committed to celebrities the way celebrities are committed to celebrities and that`s why the money goes poof.
WYNTER: Poof and it`s gone.
All right. Ashleigh Banfield, Ali Velshi, thank you so much for joining us.
BANFIELD: Thanks.
ANDERSON: All right. The race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is at a fever pitch and stars are coming out like never before to show their support. Even Jack Nicholson is throwing his hat in the ring with a video on the Internet that uses scenes from his films to back Hillary Clinton.
Take a look at this.
NICHOLSON: And now, folks, it`s time for who do you trust? Hubba hubba hubba. Money, money, money. Who do you trust?
Things could be better, Lloyd. Things could be a whole lot better.
Maybe we as officers have a responsibility to this country to see that the men and women charged with its security are trained professionals. Yes, I`m certain that I read that somewhere once.
What can I tell you, kid? You`re right. When you`re right, you`re right and you`re right.
OK. I`ll make it as easy for you as I can.
There`s nothing on this earth sexier, believe me, gentlemen, than a woman that you have to salute in the morning.
I`m Jack Nicholson and I approve this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And the "Jack and Hill" video has already been viewed well over a million times on YouTube.
WYNTER: And we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day:" Hillary Vs. Barack: do celebrity endorsements even matter?
Keep voting at CNN.com/Showbiztonight, e-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: Coming up next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, your very first look at Mike Myers as "The Love Guru."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE LOVE GURU")
MIKE MYERS, ACTOR: My goal is to get you to say gee, you are you. TM.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It`s Mike Myers in his first original character since Austin Powers. I got to say it looks like it was worth the wait. Your first look at Mike Myers in "The Love Guru" is next. You do not want to miss it. Stay with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We`re coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in New York. And it is time now for the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "First Look."
Tonight`s Mike Myers in "The Love Guru." Now this is Myers`s first original character since Austin Powers. Here`s your "First Look."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED VOICEOVER: In a time when the world is searching for enlightenment, one man...
MYERS: I am his holiness. The guru Pitka. My goal is to get you to say gee, you are you. TM.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICEOVER: He`s in a position to help.
MYERS: It`s my time to shine.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICEOVER: On June 20th.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Take a look at this. The Toronto Maple Leafs will pay you $2 million if you can get Darren Roanoke back with his wife in time to win the Stanley Cup.
MYERS: Give me a pound. Lock it down. Break the pickle. Tickle, tickle.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICEOVER: The second best guru in India is coming to America.
MYERS: How do you do? Shrimp?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What did you call me?
MYERS: I`m sorry. I didn`t catch your gnome -- name. You are a midget.
ROMANY MALCO, ACTOR: Ain`t no connecting between my hockey and my love life.
MYERS: You are not allowed to fight anyone for any reason.
MALCO: What the hell are you doing?
MYERS: Was that upsetting?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Looks like I`m going to have to shove these love beads some place special.
MYERS: Nice hat. I had a hat like that once then my mom got a job.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICEOVER: From Paramount Pictures...
MYERS: Rajneesh, I`d like an alligator soup and make it snappy, because alligators are snappy and at the same time I want it prompt.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICEOVER: Mike Myers.
MYERS: (Singing) Saying I love you.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICEOVER: Jessica Alba.
MYERS: (INAUDIBLE) Boyfriend?
JESSICA ALBA, ACTRESS: Nope.
MYERS: Girlfriend?
ALBA: Well, I mean there was one time in college.
MYERS: Really?
ALBA: What was that?
MYERS: I didn`t hear anything.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICEOVER: Justin Timberlake.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, ACTOR: Someone ordered the special Quebec pizza, huh? You know? Like in the porno.
MYERS: Looks like he`s smuggling a Schnauzer.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICEOVER: "The Love Guru."
MYERS: I`d like to thank the Academy. Wow, these things are heavy. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Put me down, jackass.
MYERS: OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Oh my goodness. And Justin Timberlake taking some risks there.
"The Love Guru" will be in theaters June 20th.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks so much for watching. I`m Brooke Anderson in New York.
WYNTER: And I`m Kareen Wynter in Hollywood.
The latest from CNN Headline News is next.
END
