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Showbiz Tonight
Is There a `Sopranos` Movie or a New Seinfeld Sitcom?; Jamie Spears and K-Fed, Friends?; Paris` Pathetic Prank; Lisa Marie Forced to Reveal Her Pregnancy; Sanjaya Performing at Bat Mitzvah; The Transformation of Katie Holmes
Aired March 10, 2008 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: Will there be a "Sopranos" movie or should we just say, "Hey, forget about it?" And what about a new Seinfeld sitcom? We are setting the record straight. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: And big developments in two of the nastiest divorce battles in Hollywood, including Britney Spears. And shocking news about Britney on a sitcom. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Paris` pathetic prank. Paris Hilton gloating that she punked the paparazzi with a fake guru. But wait just a spiritual minute. Tonight, why Paris` shaman sham was not that hard to buy after her sex tape, her jail time, her burlesque act and all those empty promises to work for charity and stop going out. Would you put anything past Paris?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WIDDECOMBE, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": It turns out that she`s having to resort to even more wild stunts to keep herself in the public eye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT calls (EXPLETIVE DELETED) on Paris` pathetic prank.
Lisa Marie Presley`s outrage. Lisa Marie blows her stack after the tabloids call her fat. Whoops. Turns out, she`s pregnant. Oh baby! Just wait until you hear what Lisa Marie has to say. And why she`s calling in the lawyers.
And Sanjay performs at a bat mitzvah? Oy vey. Are you kidding me?
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi there. I`m Brooke Anderson coming you from Hollywood. And big news breaking today about two of Hollywood`s nastiest splits. Britney Spears and Kevin Federline and Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards. The late-breaking details coming up.
HAMMER: But first, Paris Hilton`s pathetic prank. Yes, leave it to Paris to hook up with a long bearded so-called spiritual guru and try to make us all believe she was finally getting in touch with her inner self.
Well, it turns out that this was all for a TV show trying to punk the paparazzi. But here`s the thing. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that the sad part is this, the way Paris normally behaves, not even this seemed out of the ordinary.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Poor Paris Hilton. She`s constantly being slammed in the press and stalked by the paparazzi. But now, it`s time for Paris payback. Yes, the woman whose catch phrase is -
PARIS HILTON, ACTRESS: That`s hot.
HAMMER: Is that learning that revenge is a dish best served cold and on TV.
HILTON: I feel like they make up so many stories on their own. I think it is a funny idea to actually spoof them into believing all the silly things.
HAMMER: On a news show, "Pop Fiction," executive produced by former "Punked" star, Ashton Kutcher, we see how Paris punked the paparazzi by parading in front of cameras with a fake spiritual guru.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE PAPARAZZO: Who`s the guy you`re with, Paris?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE PAPARAZZO: You`re a little embarrassed. What`s going on?
WIDDECOMBE: He was complete with the long, flowing gray beard. He had a saffron robe. He was even holding a spiritual book.
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": People were kind of talking about this, wondering what is Paris up to. Is this a new spiritual awakening for her? Turns out the guru is not actually a guru. He was an actor. They were putting on a show to see how far they could get the story to go. It seems like the story kind of got around.
HAMMER: Yes. Paris and her new friend even ended up on this show.
ANDERSON (on camera): First, Paris and the yogi.
HAMMER: And after turning the tables on the media, Paris couldn`t have been happier.
HILTON: Next time you read the tabloids, you have to wonder, is it real or is it "Pop Fiction?"
HAMMER: OK, Paris. Maybe you got us, but we must take exception to something you said on the show.
HILTON: I`ve been linked to people I`ve never met, places I`ve never been, things I`ve never done. So I`d tell you, 90 percent of the time, they`re just making stories up.
HAMMER: Paris, this story may have been bogus but by our count most, if not 90 percent of the most outlandish stories told about you, actually did turn out to be true. The one about the sex tape.
RICK SALOMON, PARIS HILTON`S EX-BOYFRIEND: You`re so (EXPLETIVE DELETED) gorgeous?
HAMMER: That one was true. And Paris, the one about you being caught on tape hurling racial slurs.
HILTON: We`re like two (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
HAMMER: True, too. Or doing a strip show in Vegas for her own birthday party, that one was true, too, unfortunately.
WIDDECOMBE: Paris Hilton seems to be doing something crazy every week.
HILTON: The greatest gift is to give.
And when you think about it, at least Paris being friends with a spiritual guru seemed a bit plausible. After all, on "LARRY KING LIVE," she talked about how her jail experience made her more spiritual.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Did you read the Bible in jail?
HILTON: Yes.
HAMMER: Just don`t ask her to name any verses.
KING: What is your favorite Bible passage?
HILTON: Hmm. I don`t have a favorite.
HAMMER: Hmm. And avid Bible reader who can`t name a single verse. Paris must have been punking us then, too. On "Pop Fiction," after their hoax caused a paparazzi panic, we see Paris confiding in her yogi about how hard her life is.
HILTON: Welcome to my world. Would you take this every day?
MAXIE SANTILLAN, ACTOR HIRED BY PARIS HILTON TO PLAY HER GURU: No.
HAMMER: Not to interrupt the Paris pity party but the same hyperactive media that Paris is punking is also the media that made her a household name.
SERAFIN: Without the paparazzi, it`s harder for her to have a career. I mean they really are the ones that made her who she is.
HAMMER: So, in a way, Paris is biting the hand that created her. And that is the funniest joke of all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(on camera): But it looks like "Pop Fiction" may be in for some legal friction. TMZ now reporting that the show appears to be similar to a series another celebrity pitched to "E!" a few years ago. That celebrity, the late Anna Nicole Smith. TMZ is reporting that Anna Nicole`s companion, Howard K. Stern, has noticed the similarity and is considering a lawsuit.
ANDERSON: Tonight, Lisa Marie Presley is livid and on a tirade and for good reason. Elvis` daughter was forced to reveal her pregnancy to the world after tabloids published pictures of her saying she had gotten fat.
Joining me now from Hollywood, Ashlan Gorse, host of "E! News Now." Also in Hollywood, Jessica Weiner, self esteem expert and author of this book, "Do I Look Fat in This?" OK. Ashlan, Jessica, great to see you both.
JESSICA WEINER, SELF ESTEEM EXPERT: Hi.
ANDERSON: I want to read to you some of what Lisa Marie Presley wrote on blog and she titled it "Confirmation Under The Gun."
Here it is, quote, "After being the target all week of slanderous and degrading stories, horribly manipulated pictures and articles in the media, I have had to show my cards and announce under the gun and under vicious personal attack that I am, in fact, pregnant. Once they got a glimpse of my expanding physique a few days ago, they have been like a pack of coyotes circling their prey whilst eerily howling with delight."
Ashlan, can you blame her for being so furious?
ASHLAN GORSE, HOST, "E! NEWS NOW": Not at all. When you think of celebrities, you have to realize a lot of celebrities make money off of their bodies. And so, then if they`re held to a higher esteem than the rest of us, mere mortals, that`s fine.
Lisa Marie Presley, on the other hand, she doesn`t make money off of her body. So when they`re kind of making fun of her body and they`re stalking what size she is, that`s bad and I feel like that`s something she shouldn`t be held up to par for.
ANDERSON: You know, I can imagine I would want to react this strongly or even stronger if I were in the same situation. Jessica, what do you think of her response?
WEINER: Well, I think there are two things going on here. I think, once again, we`re seeing this deliberate attack on women in Hollywood who happen to gain some amount of weight. It`s like being fat in Hollywood is like a mortal sin. You can go to jail or you can go to rehab but god forbid you`re a woman with an expanding waistline. And I think that`s sending a really incredulous story.
But I think what Lisa Marie is responding to is that her pregnancy is her business. It is her private business with her husband and I think, right now, this is a big invasion of privacy. And I don`t care whether she is celebrity or not. She was born into a famous family. I think these are things - illness, pregnancy - those are things that should be kept private and really are none of our business until they choose to announce them.
ANDERSON: Exactly. A line that should not be crossed and it didn`t stop with what I just read. Listen to what else she wrote, quote, "They couldn`t wait to find out if my weight gain was because I was just overeating, in which case it would be open season and they can do the old following in her father`s sad and unfortunate demise story again, or less interesting for them and probably much to their dismay, I could just be pregnant, and therefore have a legitimate reason for weight gain at which point they should probably wipe the saliva off their fangs and put them back in their mouths or they may expose the black little souls that they are."
ANDERSON: Jessica -
WEINER: You have to give her credit. She is creative in how she is responding. You`ve got to give her that.
ANDERSON: She certainly is. And Ashlan, you know, as angry as she is and as horrible as the tabloid criticism has been, some do say, "Hey, this comes with the territory. She is a celebrity." Others say, "Nothing can justify this."
GORSE: Well, it`s really hard. When you look at some of the tabloid headlines, they called her unhealthy, bloated, twice the side of her dad Elvis at his heaviest. I mean these were not nice tabloids. They took a big, hard hit to her. And yes, she is a celebrity and when you are a celebrity, you do kind of give up some sort of yourself, when you put yourself out there. But in this case with her pregnancy, you know, it was really just a shame for her personally to not be able to enjoy her announcement and to be able to enjoy being pregnant. She felt like she was under the gun and she had to forced to come out with her pregnancy and that is a shame.
ANDERSON: It certainly is. There are reports the pictures are extremely unflattering, very unkind. And Jessica, she is not, of course, the first celebrity to have come under fire, her response, almost unheard of. Why do you think she took it so personally and felt compelled to strike back in this way?
WEINER: Well, I think it is personal and I personally applaud her for striking back in that way. This reminds me of Jennifer Love Hewitt, remember?
ANDERSON: Right.
WEINER: She was on the beach enjoying, just getting engaged. And here we are having to pick apart her cellulite or what the photographers thought was cellulite. And I think her response also is indicative of the outrage. I mean, listen. We are definitely blurring the line between truth and fiction, reality and paparazzi here. And I think this is something - again, it`s private.
And I`m more concerned as a self esteem expert with the message that it sends that we have to be monitoring all of our celebrities` weight as though their lives depend upon it. I think Ashlan referred to the fact that Lisa Marie`s big meal ticket is not her weight or her body and if this is about her performing and her appearance on stage and in events, maybe that`s one thing. But this is her personal life and we need to butt out.
ANDERSON: Yes. She is irate, understandably so. I applaud her, as well, for speaking out. Ashlan Gorse, Jessica Weiner, thank you both for joining us.
And we want you to know that you can now watch video reports from SHOWBIZ TONIGHT any time on our Web site. You`ll find it at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
All right. Is the world ready for another show about nothing? You probably heard the rumors that Jerry Seinfeld is thinking about doing a new sitcom. I know; I`d watch it. But is it true? That`s coming up.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. JUDY KURIANSKY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Tom Cruise picked very attractive, very strong women. And Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes have similar kinds of personalities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I want you to think about this. There`s one thing both Nicole and Katie got when they married Tom Cruise - a free pass to the top of the A-list. That`s right. But, you know, there`s so much more to say about Katie`s massive journey from "Dawson`s Creek" cutie to A-list wife and mom. That`s ahead in the showbiz special report, "The Transformation of Katie Holmes."
ANDERSON: And remember Sanjaya? I know you do. He`s the "American Idol" finalist with the hair. Well, he`s still making the 13-year-old girls swoon but now instead of on TV, he is on the bat mitzvah circuit. Are you kidding me? That`s coming up. You don`t want to miss it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Thank you, Charles "Liquid Lips" Whitman. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And tonight, big news about two of Hollywood`s nastiest custody fights. First off, Britney`s custody battle with Kevin Federline back in court today. Everybody`s talking about the new BFF`s on the scene, K-Fed and Britney`s dad. What is up with that?
Also tonight, well, the mud slinging Between Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen, a major new development that could finally end this thing once and for all.
With me tonight in Hollywood, Tanika Ray, correspondent for "Extra." Also tonight in Hollywood, Jane Velez-Mitchell, investigative journalist and author of "Secrets Can Be Murder."
All right, ladies, I want to start off with Britney Spears, all sides back in court today. Britney herself did not have to be there. They`re battling over legal fees and visitation. What everybody is talking about here is K-Fed and Britney`s dad, Jamie, seen golfing together over the weekend. They were all chummy in court today. Tanika, what is going on? Is he sleeping with the enemy here?
TANIKA RAY, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Which one are you saying?
HAMMER: Either way. It is very strange.
RAY: Yes, it is. But at first, we all thought K-Fed was the enemy, and now we realize maybe Britney`s the enemy. So here, what comes down to is that Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith taught us a really good lesson. You`ve got to be friends with the exes. And in order to make anything seem fair, in order to see the kids, just - let`s all get along, shall we?
And I think that`s the attempt that Jamie Spears is making right now. There`s no reason to fight with K-Fed. If he wants to see the kids as grandpa and he wants Britney to see the kids down the road, they`ve all got to get along. And there`s really no reason to fight about it these days. It`s getting old. Let`s mend ways.
HAMMER: Yes. I`ve just been sitting here wondering how much is for real and how much for appearances because this has been a bitter battle.
RAY: Absolutely.
HAMMER: I`m wondering, Jane - what do you think? Do you think Britney is steaming mad that her dad is hanging out with her ex-hubby or do you think it is truly a sign of things are stabilizing here?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: A.J., I think it could be a little bit of both. When I first saw that picture of them playing golf together, Papa Spears and K-Fed, I thought, "Oh, what a horrible betrayal to Britney Spears."
I mean, this is the ex who has become her nemesis. This is the one who`s dragged her to court, who`s trying to hit her with almost $500,000 in legal fees, who`s really been a part and parcel of her public downfall.
And dad, who she already resents for coming in to her life and controlling her life through the conservatorship, is now playing golf with him? Is he emotionally tone deaf?
But then a second later I thought, hah, maybe as Tanika said, he is just trying to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. And if becomes buds with K-Fed, they might settle it.
HAMMER: And I do want to be optimistic. I don`t want to be so cynical to think that this is just photo op, but who knows? I have to add this other twist to Britney`s bizarre situation. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has now confirmed, Britney`s going to be making a guest appearance on the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother." That`s going to happen later this month. Tanika, do you think that`s a good idea? Do you think that`s what Britney needs to be doing right now, a sitcom?
RAY: We don`t know what Britney needs to be doing but the sitcom probably needs Britney for ratings. I know that`s probably for sure. But, you know, Britney - I think anything that she can do to sort of seem "normal again," quote, unquote, is probably a good thing and what she`s great at is performing. So I think they`re trying to throw her back into that realm and see if they can click her back into her normal state, which I think is good. And A.J., how could she possibly be incompetent if she`s on a sitcom? I doesn`t make any sense.
HAMMER: Oh, I`ve seen some pretty bad sitcoms, Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: There you go.
HAMMER: I don`t know. Let`s move on because there is another huge Hollywood custody battle that is new right now - Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen. They have settled their long-time custody battle over their two young kids. Very optimistic news tonight, because until recently, Denise was trying to stop overnight stays with their dad. Charlie tried to stop them from getting on this reality show that she is doing. Tanika, do you think they`re just tired of fighting -
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: Or do you suspect maybe there`s more to it here?
RAY: Here`s what`s really become very obvious. Divorce battles have jumped the shark. Nobody cares. We`ve all sort of turned our eye and been like, "All right, they`re fighting over custody three years later."
It`s boring. I think they have to just get along these days and I think they`re going to be a lot more profitable financially, and as a family. They`re going to gain so much. So I think people are realizing that the fighting could go on and on and on. But really, they`re just going to lose out on more and more jobs. And with Denise having this reality show, yikes! I think Charlie`s only choice is to get along with them.
HAMMER: Yes. And as things move on, the reality show is going to happen. The kids, Sam and Lola, who are what, three and two, are supposed to be on it. But Jane, you know, I don`t know about you, but I think that after all the kids have been through and I`ve said this all along, it would be a pretty good idea to keep them out of the spotlight and not put them on TV for all the world to see.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, you`re absolutely right. This idea of a reality show is a terrible idea. They`re grappling with the emotional fallout of a very bitter divorce and they`ve got to be trotted out to some reality show. We`ve seen what happens with children who are part of their parents` reality show. Anna Nicole Smith` son who died. Hulk Hogan`s son who was in a terrible car crash. How many more kids do we have to destroy with these reality shows? Kids and reality mix. Kids and reality shows don`t mix.
HAMMER: Not at all. Tanika Ray, Jane Velez-Mitchell, I thank you for being with me tonight. And for the latest breaking Britney news and the latest video, you can always turn to the "Britney Drama Section" of our Web site any time. You`ll find it at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well, coming up, we have the "Transformation of Katie Holmes."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KURIANSKY: From the sweet, young, innocent-looking, very na
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Think about this. It`s amazing after she hooked up with Tom, Katie went from "Dawson`s Creek" darling to A-list wife and mother and fashion trend setter. Coming up, you won`t want to miss a showbiz special report, "The Transformation of Katie Holmes."
ANDERSON: Also, have you heard the rumors? Jerry Seinfeld starring in a new sitcom ala "Curb Your Enthusiasm?" I think it sounds like a terrific idea. But will it really happen? That`s coming up.
HAMMER: Oh, Paris Hilton, why have you forsaken us? We stayed with you through the sex tape. Your time in jail. Your quote, unquote "album" and now you try to sell us this whole spiritual guru prank. I have one thing to say to you, Paris. Are you kidding me?
And then we have Sanjaya. The 15 minutes of "American Idol" fame may be over, but he is still a big hit on a bat mitzvah circuit. You heard me right - playing bat mitzvahs. The stories that made me say, are you kidding me? Still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Which you can watch any time at all by downloading our free podcast which you will find on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also download the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast on iTunes. Type "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" into the search box. We are coming straight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Here are some more stories that are new right now. Now, this sounded like a great idea to me. Jerry Seinfeld starring as himself in a sitcom very similar to "Curb Your Enthusiasm." There have been these rumors floating around that Seinfeld and NBC were talking about putting that whole thing together. There`s just one problem. Yes, not true, according to both Seinfeld and NBC. No.
Also, not coming soon to a theater near you, a "Sopranos" movie. Yes, the latest round of this rumor got started when the owner of the strip club that doubled for the dabadabing(ph) said he got a tip that a movie was in the works. HBO said forget about it.
Gee, usually strip clubs are such reliable sources of information. Also, it seems like Matt Damon may be trying to make as many babies as "Bourne" movies. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has confirmed the "People.com" report that Damon`s wife, Luciana, is pregnant again.
His rep tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the couple is very excited. They already have a two-year-old daughter and Damon`s wife has another daughter from a previous marriage and we say congratulations.
ANDERSON: Yes, great news for them.
All right. Coming up, "The Transformation of Katie Holmes," courtesy of Tom Cruise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KURIANSKY: Tom Cruise picked very attractive, very strong women. And Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes have similar kinds of personalities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I think this is pretty remarkable. After she hooked up with Tom, Katie went from "Dawson`s Creek" darling to A-list wife and mother and fashion trend setter. Straight ahead, a showbiz special report, "The Transformation of Katie Holmes."
HAMMER: You know, I`ve got to say, even when I`ve been away for a week, sometimes a story will cross my desk and I have one thing to say, are you kidding me? Take for instance, Sanjaya. He has parlayed his 15 minutes of "American Idol" fame into performing for 13-year-old girls. Yes, that`s right. Sanjaya now doing bat mitzvahs. Oy, vey. Are you kidding me?
Then, we have Paris` pathetic prank. All right. She may have punked the media by saying she found the spiritual guru who is actually an actor. But come on. Would anything from Paris surprise us at this point? We`re talking the stories that made me say, are you kidding me? Coming your way on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, are you kidding me? "American Idol" phenomenon, Sanjaya Malakar, is taking his singing career to a whole new level. The big leagues. He`s taking his big hair and big smile straight to the bat mitzvah circuit. Oy vey. Just one of the several jaw-dropping stories that made us say, are you kidding me?
We`ll also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KURIANSKY: From the sweet, young, innocent-looking, very naive even, young girl to a very sophisticated, young woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
A showbiz special report, "The Big Transformation of Katie Holmes."
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming you from Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: I hope you`re ready. Tonight, outrageous Hollywood stories that are making us say, are you kidding me? Paris punks the media. You know, Paris is just loving the fact she tried to sucker everyone into believing she found religion with a yogi.
Wait just a second, Paris. The reason people believed you is because of all the outrageous things you really ordinarily do. Are you kidding me?
Also, our favorite former "American Idol" contestant Sanjaya is back, ladies and gentlemen. This time at a bat mitzvah. The singer - I`m using that term loosely - performed for free on Long Island. Are you kidding me?
And you know that now-infamous "3:00 a.m." attack ad put out by the Hillary Clinton campaign? Well, get this, the kid featured in that commercial is actually all grown up and is supporting Barack Obama. Are you kidding me?
I`ve got a fired-up panel ready to have at it. Tonight, joining me here in New York, entertainment correspondent for the "Village Voice," Michael Musto. In Hollywood tonight, investigative journalist and author, Jane Velez-Mitchell. And from Hollywood, as well, "Extra" correspondent, Tanika Ray. Gang, it`s good to see you all. Let`s get right into it here.
Paris Hilton was seen last week with that yogi, and she told everyone she was trying to turn over this new leaf. In the end, well, it turned out to be a big prank for a reality show. Michael Musto, let me start with you. You know, when you think about all the outlandish stuff that Paris is known for, making the sex tape, racial slur tape, going to jail, I could go on and on. Her being with the yogi really isn`t so surprising, is it?
MICHAEL MUSTO, CORRESPONDENT, "VILLAGE VOICE": Well, I think she meant Yogi Bear, A.J. But you know, look. Let me get this straight. So her intended trip for charity to Rwanda was actually for real. Her saying she embraces the Bible instead of open bar parties was not a prank? This is absurd. I mean to really con the media, Paris should either become a nun or actually read a book or not vomit after a cheeseburger deluxe.
HAMMER: That would be the biggest challenge of all. Jane, I mean what would really make her think that we wouldn`t believe this yogi story?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, I don`t think she gives a hoot, A.J., what we believe as long as she gets her mug on camera. The attention is what she desperately craves because without it she has no sense of identity; no sense of who she is as a human being. The sad part is this could have been an interesting performance piece; a comment on spiritual materialism. A so-called spiritual people who run around using their spirituality at a commodity. Unfortunately, I don`t think she is thinking at that level. Again, all she wants is a primal thing, more attention.
HAMMER: Well, to your point, Jane, I love the fact you always just have such high hopes. But to your point, I think I have a great idea and this is to add to Michael Musto`s great lists of things Paris can do. She can punk the media by not going out for a month. What do you think, Tanika? That would be a pretty good trick.
RAY: I would applaud that. I mean, first of all, Jane, you said "thinking." I don`t think Paris thinks that much. Let`s be real. And before when she said she found religion, Larry King asked her one simple question, "What`s your favorite passage? Blank stare.
So the religious thing, that`s always going to be a little iffy in Paris` life. It`s true. I just want her to go away. That would be interesting.
HAMMER: That would be interesting.
RAY: A whole month without Paris, yes.
HAMMER: Interesting and just fantastic. All right. Let`s move on to another story, ladies and gentlemen. This one also having us say, are you kidding me? Sanjaya, which is really just fun to say, and he of course, is one of the most infamous former "American Idol" contestants. Well, yes, he`s now on the bat mitzvah circuit.
Sanjaya performing for free at a bat mitzvah for a Long Island girl over the weekend. that particular times on the bat mitzvah. No truth to the rumor that he had a lovely brisket along the way. Michael Musto, what do you think is next? William Hung doing weddings?
MUSTO: I actually think next for Sanjaya is breezes(ph), baby breezes(ph) and he`ll probably get 50 percent off for that. This is really sad, A.J. I mean Carrie Underwood is playing huge arenas. Sanjaya`s playing private parties in Long Island. And actually, the sad thing is, you mentioned William Hung. I heard he actually catered and waited at the same affair. And Ruben Stoddard was hawking cologne in the bathroom for tips. Really.
HAMMER: I see. I did not have that information. Thank you, Michael, for breaking news for us tonight. Tanika, here`s a trick question for you - who has more talent Paris or Sanjaya?
RAY: Is that a serious question? Sanjaya, of course. Come on. And the other thing is - this is the most shocking thing. Not that he actually performed for a bat mitzvah, but that he did it for free. Come on. Juice the "American Idol" vehicle a little bit more and at least make $1,000 for it or something. That was a little shocking. He is actually still on the street corner practically singing for attention. I think that is sad.
HAMMER: What I thought was sort of shocking was the fact that there`s a crew from MTV that happened to be following Sanjaya around for this special on what he`s been doing one year after "Idol." Jane -
RAY: Come on. You know you want to know.
HAMMER: No, that`s my question to Jane. You`ve been just chomping at the bits to know what he`s up to.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I have, A.J. Just the other day, I was sitting there, thinking, what happened to Sanjaya? He was my favorite "American Idol" contestant ever, because he made that little girl cry and because he was in the moment. And you know, we don`t look for the best singer. We look for the best entertainment experience when we`re watching that show and he gave it to us.
Because he wasn`t really trying. He is just experiencing "American Idol." And now, he`s just experiencing bat mitzvahs, having a good time. It seems like he doesn`t really want money and I admire him for that.
HAMMER: I would love to hear - I`ve heard some of the conversations at this bat mitzvah. The mother of the daughter coming up to Sanjaya and saying, "Oh, Sanjay, did you try the kugel? It`s lovely."
All right. Let`s move on to another story that had us saying, are you kidding me? It turns out the sleeping girl who appears in the Hillary Clinton ad which asks, "Who would you call at 3:00 a.m.," is now all grown up and not supporting Hillary. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOICE OVER: It`s 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. But there`s a phone in the White House and it`s ringing. Something`s happening in the world. Your vote will decide who answers that call.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So you see, that sleeping girl in the video? That footage actually shot ten years ago. That stock footage which they happen to use in the ad, the girl is now 17 years old actively campaigning for Barack Obama. I don`t know. Michael Musto, I`m thinking that somebody at Hillary`s campaign should be getting very yelled at over this.
MUSTO: Talk about a wake-up call, A.J. I actually think it`s Hillary`s campaign that`s asleep, not this girl. Look, if Hillary gets a call now at 3:00 a.m., it is going to be from the girl`s lawyer. Or actually, it`s a girl calling. It is going to be for Bill Clinton. But, oh, this is a terrible, terrible, terrible, embarrassing turn of events. This is why Hillary lost 11 states.
HAMMER: Oh, I don`t know if that`s the entire reason. But, Jane, what do you think? I mean, how can they not check that everything gets noticed in political campaigns?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: You know, this is just so embarrassing but who knew? I mean , who knew this little girl was going to grow up and become a 17- year-old? You know, this is stock footage. We all in the news business use this stock footage all the time. And somebody should have thought about that but they didn`t.
And, it`s just showing how unpredictable everything in this campaign is. There are pitfalls and land mines everywhere. And the devil is in the details. And we just don`t know where this is going to go.
HAMMER: Tanika, do you think the campaign would have gotten less flak for using Sanjaya in the ad?
RAY: Absolutely. Sanjaya would be a lot more - And come on, how hard is it to find maybe Hillary`s niece or nephew, have them fall asleep and film it? That`s ridiculous. And on top of that, this girl actually called the Obama camp and said she wanted to do a commercial with him. With him, with the same sort of premise(ph). I thought that was brilliant.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: But you know what?
HAMMER: Guys, I`ve got to wrap it there because I`m out time. Sorry about that. But I appreciate you being here tonight. Michael Musto, Jane Velez-Mitchell, Tanika Ray, I thank you all.
Now we want you to know you can also watch video from SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the video reports any time at all. They`re right there on the Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. That is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
ANDERSON: And now we want the hear from you. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Sanjaya performs at bat mitzvah: Would you invite him to perform at your affair?"
Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us at showbiztonight@CNN.com.
HAMMER: I am inviting him to my daughter`s bat mitzvah. Brooke, you saw the Hillary Clinton commercial, "It`s 3:00 a.m. and your children are asleep." "Saturday Night Live" did a hilarious political spoof on the ad. No one spared in it. Not Barack, not Hillary. You have got to see it. We`ll show it to you, coming up.
We`ll also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KURIANSKY: From the sweet, young, innocent-looking, very naive even, young girl to a very sophisticated, young woman.
The "Big Transformation of Katie Holmes." She used to be that sweet, fresh-faced teen on "Dawson`s Creek," and has come so far. The incredible transformation, next.
Also, A.J., our inbox has been flooded with well wishers offering the very best to Patrick Swayze as he battles pancreatic cancer. Stay with us for that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Ah, memories. Look at that. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes back in 2005, all revved up and decked out in leather. That was the very beginning of their very public courtship. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. You are watching TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. So how exactly did Katie Holmes go from a little starry-eyed girl from Toledo, Ohio, to TV star and to movie star and wife of Hollywood icon Tom Cruise?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is about to show you that even though Katie may have started out very small, she always dreamed very, very big. And it was all her dreams along the way that helped propel her in to a high-flying romance with Tom Cruise and made her a style and Hollywood icon in her own right. It`s our showbiz special report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Katie Holmes scored the first movie role in Ang Lee`s "The Ice Storm."
KATIE HOLMES, ACTRESS: To be a Christian is to choose, because you have to choose of your own choice.
MIKE FLEEMAN, WEST COAST EDITOR, "PEOPLE.COM": Katie Holmes was plucked out of nowhere basically for the "The Ice Storm," and she was a very, very young person at the time. And she pulled it off brilliantly.
ANDERSON: From that role, Katie was cast in the iconic TV teen series "Dawson`s Creek" playing tomboy Joey Potter, her character quickly adored by her millions of fans.
HOLMES: Look around you, Pacey. I mean look at what my life is.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has uncovered this 1997 interview Katie did with CNN. Listen to how hard she worked in the basement of her childhood home in Toledo, Ohio, to land the part of Joey.
HOLMES: I`ve been auditioning on videotape from my basement video.
ANDERSON: Katie may have started out small but she always dreamed big. Very, very big. Even back in 1997, she talked of how she could make the journey from small town girl to big Hollywood star.
HOLMES: Yes. I always, you know, was intrigued by acting and everything. But, again, I`m from a small town so I thought I don`t want to be one of those people. I`m going to be an actress. You know? It just kind of happened and I`m really excited.
ANDERSON: And Katie was having fun dating other teen heart throbs. First, her "Dawson`s Creek" costar Joshua Jackson and then, "American Pie" star, Chris Klein.
FLEEMAN: This looked like it might be headed to marriage.
ANDERSON: But wedding bells would have to wait because Katie`s movie career was taking off in a big way. First, with the teenage drama "Teaching Mrs. Tingle."
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What`s wrong with you?
ANDERSON: There were other breakthrough roles in "Disturbing Behavior," "Wonder Boy," "Abandoned," "Pieces of April."
HOLMES: I don`t know how to ask this.
FLEEMAN: She played a family dark sheep and very much went against that wholesome tomboy image that she had in "Dawson`s Creek."
ANDERSON: Katie had now transformed from TV star to movie star. And when she landed a role in the blockbuster film, "Batman Begins," playing Batman`s love interest, she was suddenly getting all the movie star attention she once dreamed of back in Ohio.
FLEEMAN: She did have what is usually the thankless girlfriend role. But this was a big movie, huge Hollywood blockbuster level movie.
ANDERSON: A superhero`s girlfriend onscreen and off-screen, Katie a superstar`s girlfriend. His name - Tom Cruise.
FLEEMAN: It came out of nowhere. It happened so fast and Tom was so exuberant and enthusiastic about it. People were saying, "What is going on here?"
ANDERSON: We`ll tell you. The instant relationship that had everyone talking was another big step towards Katie`s transformation into a Hollywood icon. She was now dating the biggest star in the world. And Tom romanced Katie like only Tom Cruise could, in a very big and very, very public way.
There was the couch jumping incident on "Oprah." And who would have thought, Katie, the star from TV`s "Dawson`s Creek," that once shy and star-struck girl from Toledo, Ohio would be sought out by the biggest star in Hollywood? What did Tom Cruise see in Katie Holmes that he liked so much?
KURIANSKY: Tom Cruise picked very attractive women. He picked Nicole Kidman, and Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes have similar kinds of personalities. They can be sweet and darling in one way. But they are powerful and strong inside.
ANDERSON: You can say that again. Katie may have appeared naive and quite shy when she first stepped out with Tom on all those red carpets. But Tom`s close friend, Jada Pinkett-Smith saw a different side to Katie, a stronger one.
In an interview with "People" magazine, Smith said, quote, "Tom don`t run nothing in that house. It is Katie`s house. It`s her world."
And even more proof, Dr. Judy Kuriansky tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT there`s no way Katie could transform into Mrs. Tom Cruise without being a strong woman on the inside.
KURIANSKY: You can`t make that strong a transition, that drastic a transition unless it`s inside you. She had the guts inside her in order to make this transition.
ANDERSON: Guts that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Katie had from the word "go." Just listen to her in this interview with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for the movie "Batman Begins." It was still early in their relationship but it seemed Katie was ready to take on even the toughest questions about their sudden courtship.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Are you surprised, though, at the scrutiny you have experienced?
HOLMES: I don`t really care. I mean, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. I`m happy.
ANDERSON: Katie was happy to be Tom`s girlfriend, but she was also happy to learn about Tom`s religion, Scientology. Critics persisted, saying that while Katie`s smile is endless, it masked a relationship that was suspect and too sudden.
FLEEMAN: There were fear that this giant entity that is Tom Cruise and the Church of Scientology was just going to swallow her up. But there is a strength there with Katie Holmes.
ANDERSON: Strength that turned in to confidence. A confidence that grew after giving birth to their daughter Suri. And when that continued to build when the two married in a fairytale wedding in an Italian castle.
KURIANSKY: There`s definitely been a transformation from the sweet, young, innocent-looking, very naive even, young girl from "Dawson`s Creek" to a very sophisticated young woman who wears designer clothes and carries huge bags and sets style, haircuts even.
ANDERSON: And behind that new haircut and underneath all those designer clothes, Katie has remained steadfast in her devotion to her new life and family. That devotion was put to the test when Katie was forced to publicize a movie role in "Mad Money" just as a scathing, unauthorized biography on Tom was released. Katie never wavered. Just listen to her tell me how she deals with all the scrutiny.
HOLMES: You focus on creating and you focus on, you know - Tom and I both love making movies. We love our family, and that`s when`s important to us. And any time that is taken away from that is not OK. So, you know, I`m here to make movies and to make the best of life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And Katie seems to be keeping her promise to living the best of life with Tom Cruise. According to "People" magazine, she and Tom recently dined with "Seinfeld" star, Jerry Seinfeld and his wife Jessica. And just last week she and Tom dined with Oscar-winning actor, Forest Whitaker and his wife, Keisha.
HAMMER: All right. Did you see "Saturday Night Live`s" big political spoof over the weekend? I`ve got to say this was pretty hilarious. Nobody was safe from ribbing on Saturday. Not Hillary Clinton, not Barack Obama. Absolutely great. If you missed it, hey, don`t panic. I`m going to show it to you, coming up next. I promise you will love it. Really, I make a promise and I don`t do it lightly.
And now you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT any time you`d like by downloading our podcast. It`s totally free. You`ll find our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast on the Web site at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or go to iTunes and type "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" into the search box.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You are watching TV`s most provocative entertainment show. OK. Did you see "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend? There was one spoof in particular that had me sitting there all alone just laughing out loud. No, it was funny.
A political commercial spoof based on that Hillary Clinton ad that`s now on the air. You know, "It`s 3:00 a.m." And Hillary gets a call from President Barack Obama. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOICE OVER: Somewhere in the nation`s capital, a phone is ringing. Your vote will decide who answers that call.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Hello? Senator Clinton. I have President Obama on the line.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`ll take it.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Uh, Hillary, I`m sorry to call this late again, but I need your help.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Mr. President, what can I do?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: The CIA just confirmed that Iran has completed a nuclear device. It looks like the Russians, the North Koreans and Hugo Chavez have been helping them.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I was afraid of that. When did this start?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Apparently, the day I was sworn in. Those (EXPLETIVE DELETED)! Those (EXPLETIVE DELETED)! I trusted them. I gave them my complete, total trust. And they (EXPLETIVE DELETED) lied to me.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Mr. President -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Oh my god. I am so (EXPLETIVE DELETED)! What do I do, Hillary? What do I do?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Mr. President, you can start by getting a hold of yourself.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I can`t! Don`t you see that I`m in a panic? A blind unreasoning and inexperienced panic?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Not surprisingly, reporters on the campaign trail ribbed both candidates today on that parody.
ANDERSON: Tonight, E-mails have been flooding our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT inbox with good thoughts and well wishes for Patrick Swayze who is battling pancreatic cancer. Virginia in Kentucky writes this, "I wish to send my best wishes to Patrick Swayze as he face the toughest battle of his life."
Anne in West Virginia writes, "My thoughts are with Patrick Swayze and his family. He`s tough and I`m sure he`ll beat this one. Be strong and persevere."
And Alicia in South Carolina writes, "My prayers go out to Patrick Swayze. I hope everything goes well for him and he can beat the battle."
As we all do. Thank you for your E-mails.
HAMMER: Yes, it`s a tough, tough thing and we wish him the best, as well. One of the good guys in Hollywood.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11`s, 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and in the morning, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN Headline News" is coming up next.
END
