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Showbiz Tonight
Is Hollywood Glamorizing Prostitution?; Homicide Ruled Out in the Death of Anna Nicole`s Son; Danny Bonaduce on Jamie Spears; Stop-Loss, the Movie
Aired March 20, 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: Mel Gibson speaks out about the shocking news that someone committed suicide at a property he owns. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: And big news at the inquest over the death of Anna Nicole Smith` son Daniel. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the hooker and 15 minutes of fame. Tonight, outrageous and exclusive new "Us Weekly" pictures of the call girl in the Gov. Spitzer scandal. Big offers coming in. But does this send a terrible message or what?
Tonight, Danny Bonaduce, one on one and totally unplugged. Tonight, why Danny is telling Lindsay Lohan`s mom, you did the wrong thing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANNY BONADUCE, FORMER CHILD STAR: You do not live vicariously through your children. There`s a line that shouldn`t be crossed and you are way over it.
HAMMER: Plus, Danny`s surprising revelation about his connection to Britney Spears.
And, an unbelievable day for Martha Stewart. What the former inmate did today that many thought she would never be able to pull off.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood. And tonight, how Danny Bonaduce is trying to prevent other child stars from having the same train wreck of a life that he`s had. Our headline-making interview with Danny is coming up.
HAMMER: But first tonight, call girl gone wild. And not just any girl - the call girl who brought down the governor of New York. Tonight, there are startling new pictures of Ashlee Dupre as everyone, including her, scrambles to cash in on her 15-plus minutes of fame.
ANDERSON: And A.J., tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask is there really anything wrong with that?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): She may be the most talked about woman in America, who`s not running for president. She`s all over the newsstands. She is at the center of one of the juiciest stories of the year. Songs she`s posted on MySpace have been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times. And she may soon appear on one of the biggest video series in the country.
ALICIA QUARLES, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: She`s everywhere. Americans want to know about this girl.
ANDERSON: She`s America`s newest "it" girl. Oh, and did we mention that she`s a prostitute? "Us Weekly" has just revealed exclusive photos of Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the call girl who`s the reason why New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is now former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.
Sure, we may not see this new "it" girl throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game or hosting "Saturday Night Live." But "Us Weekly`s" Ian Drew tells Nancy Grace now is the time for Ashley Dupre to cash in.
IAN DREW: She could make anything, but she has to strike right now.
ANDERSON: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you how is it that a prostitute can get such instant fame?
QUARLES: You cannot get away from Ashley Alexandra Dupre.
ANDERSON: Alicia Quarles of the Associated Press tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT authors are lining up for Dupre.
QUARLES: She`s been offered spreads in "Hustler," in "Penthouse," reportedly offered Vodka contract. Another amazing offer that Ashley Dupre got was from Joe Francis of "Girls Gone Wild."
ANDERSON: The founder "Girls Gone Wild," Joe Francis, also made Ashley an offer although his turned out to be a bit premature.
QUARLES: He initially offered her a million dollars to do one of his tapes. Lo and behold he said, "Wait a minute. I renege on the offer," because he`s got plenty of footage of this girl.
ANDERSON: Apparently, in 2003, Ashley Dupre spent a week going wild on the "Girls Gone Wild" bus. After the Spitzer scandal broke, the "Girls Gone Wild" Web site started promoting the steamy video. But questions about whether Ashley was 17 when the video was shot have delayed its release. Ashley Dupre laid low after the Spitzer scandal but some are troubled by her instant fame.
QUARLES: What kind of message are we sending to our youth saying that this girl who dropped out of high school, who went on the "Girls Gone Wild" bus, who slept with the governor of New York, who was paid for it, is now as a superstar? This is kind of ridiculous.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Ashley Dupre`s photos in "Us Weekly" were taken before the Spitzer scandal began. As far as the "Girls Gone Wild" videos go, the company said that it didn`t do anything illegal.
HAMMER: All right. So everyone is cashing in on Ashley Dupre, including her. But I`ve got to ask, is there anything really wrong with that? Everybody`s got to make a buck, right?
Joining us tonight in New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell, investigative journalist and author of the fine book, "Secrets Can Be Murder." In Hollywood tonight, Howard Bragman, the founder of 15 Minutes PR.
Howard, Jane, we just saw Ashley Dupre. She is everywhere, including those exclusive photos in "Us Weekly." A lot of people just shaking their head, really not feeling good about the fact that, you know, she`s getting all this money. And she could actually become a multimillionaire from all of this and probably will. Jane, what do you think? Is there anything wrong with her making a buck off all this?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: Well, I feel very bad for Mrs. Spitzer and their three teenage daughters who are old enough to know what`s going on. Because this controversy and this tension that`s given to Ashley is just putting the scandal in their face over and over again.
But I certainly don`t blame Ashley. I blame Eliot Spitzer. He`s the one who broke his marital vows. He`s the one who hired a prostitute and at the same as he was crusading against prostitution and busting prostitution rings. What a hypocrite.
This woman, on the other hand, was a struggling woman and says, at one point, she was homeless and that`s part of the exploitation of prostitution. So good for her that she turns a negative into a positive. I think she has a legitimate story to tell. I hope she gets a book deal.
I think she should have a reality show and I think that she is not to be blamed in this situation. She is part of the entire exploitation of prostitution. And it`s the john who`s at fault.
HAMMER: And speaking of the alleged john, I`m just going to throw the "alleged" word in there for everything you said about our former governor.
Now Howard, you are the genius publicist that we brought along to the program tonight. What do you think? I mean it just feels like America. Would you tell her as her publicist if you ever had that job, strike while the iron is hot, Ashley. You know, grab a million here or there while you`ve got your 15 minutes.
HOWARD BRAGMAN, FOUNDER, 15 MINUTES PR: A.J., I`ve got tuna salad in my refrigerator that`s got a longer shelf life than Ashley does, OK? She does not - this girl is not a superstar. This girl is a sad girl who`s been put in a horrible position. She can`t get another job. She can`t go back to the old job and she needs to make as much as she can and then go away, ride into the sunset and shut up.
And you feel bad for everybody. Most of all, I think Mrs. Spitzer. I feel bad for Ashley. The governor? No, he has to sleep in his own bed, so to speak. But it`s a sad situation. But she - this is not 15 minutes of fun. I assure you.
HAMMER: So what you are saying, even for alleged hooker, lemonade out of lemons?
BRAGMAN: Exactly. It`s not a happy time. This is not what little girls should be aspiring to.
HAMMER: No. I think we can all agree on that, Howard. And we`ve heard another new developments that Dupre may actually be seen in this "Girls Gone Wild" video that was shot several years ago, possibly when she was underage.
Now Jane, even though it may be technically legal to sell the video, when the dust settles here, does it bother you that "Girls Gone Wild" could actually make a buck off of this in a way?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, it totally bothers me. I`m no fan of Joe Francis. He`s done jail time. He`s faced a slew of civil, criminal and tax problems and there`s a reason for that. It`s the way he conducts business.
This man essentially takes advantage of very naive, very young women who are at a state of euphoria and their guard is down because they`re on spring break and they`re partying sometimes. They`re intoxicated and then uses their bodies as commodities by selling images of their private parts and their breasts. I mean, how reprehensible and yet, another woman, Ashley, caught in that web.
HAMMER: But there`s like the supply and demand thing going on. Because if you take a step back in a strange way, America`s sort of embraced her, sad as the story is. They`re clicking on her Web site, buying her song. You can bet they`re going to buy the magazines. And if the "Girls Gone Wild" video comes out, they`ll by that, too. Howard, is the public just as guilty here?
BRAGMAN: You know what? The public is guilty of bad taste. Have you listened to her music? I mean, the public - there`s an appetite for this, A.J. That`s why people buy the tabloids. That`s why people buy the salacious magazines and go to the Web sites. It is supply and demand.
And yes, the public has to take a little responsibility for this, but morally, questionable. Not illegal and it`s certainly not going to go away.
HAMMER: All right. Howard, go throw out that expired tuna salad. Jane Velez-Mitchell, I appreciate you joining us, as well.
And I need for you to know that you can now watch video reports from SHOWBIZ TONIGHT any time on our Web site. New ones going up all the time at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
ANDERSON: And now we want to hear from you. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. What do you think - "The Eliot Spitzer Hooker: Does she deserve to get rich from her scandal?"
Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us - the address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.
And here`s another question I have. Does Hollywood promote quick fame via sex? I mean, just look at how Paris Hilton got famous. So does Hollywood glamorize sex tapes, hookers and all sorts of sleaze? We`re investigating Hollywood`s X factor. That`s ahead in a showbiz special report.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BONADUCE: When you`ve got a family that`s already crumbling and you decide, "I know what I`m going to do. I`m going to document the destruction of my own family." That is, I think, a terrible mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The always fired up Danny Bonaduce goes off on Lohan. You`ve got to stick around for this. This guy doesn`t mince any words. I sit down with Danny and that is coming up in the interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And an incredible day for Martha Stewart. I got to hand it to her. She pulled off something a lot of people thought would never happen. We`ve got it straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Can you believe that it`s been almost four years since Martha Stewart walked out of jail? Unbelievable. And, can you believe how far she`s come since then?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
When Martha was released, if you would have predicted what we are about to tell you, some people might have thought you were nuts. Today, Martha Stewart broadcast the 500th episode of her daily "Martha Stewart Show" which was launched post prison.
With us tonight in Hollywood, "Extra" correspondent Tanika Ray. Also in Hollywood tonight, Ashlan Gorse, host of "E! News Now." Ashlan and Tanika, good to see you both.
And listen, after Martha Stewart was convicted of insider trading four years ago, a lot of people were saying her empire was done - kaput. But here we are today 500 shows later. Tanika, back then, did you think she was done for good, that after cooking one too many geese that her goose was cooked?
TANIKA RAY, "EXTRA" CORRESPONDENT: You know what? I didn`t think her goose was cooked. I was there at the entrance to the jail when she was let out and, you know what? That woman accomplished amazing things in her lifetime. And to accomplish what he has, she has to be made out of steel.
America loves a good comeback story. America loves a good underdog story. She was both and I knew that she was bound to make a comeback like this. And I used to interview Trump about this all the time. He says, "Just watch. She`s going to make a huge comeback." And that`s exactly what she did.
ANDERSON: She certainly did. A very ambitious woman. Ashlan, I want to get your take. Are you surprised where we are today?
ASHLAN GORSE, HOST OF "E! NEWS NOW": You know, it is interesting because when you think of Martha Stewart, she went in to jail with a sort of idea that everybody kind of thought that she was just really proper and that she, you know, need to go in. She got caught. Everybody was rooting for her to fail.
But then when she came out, it was amazing. Her whole persona had changed. She was more humble. And before she went to jail, you always heard about people saying how mean Martha was to her employees and all this other stuff.
When she came out of jail, nobody really talks about that anymore. It`s like she`s a whole changed woman. She really, you know, just was able to take this bad situation and turn it into a good thing. It`s something that a lot of the other celebrities could learn from.
ANDERSON: Oh, I agree with that. And you know, how appropriate that on her 500th show today, Martha would have on former president Bill Clinton who knows a thing or two about being caught up in scandals. The symbolism did not escape me.
Tanika, isn`t it amazing, whether it`s Bill Clinton or Martha Stewart, how easy it is to leave those scandals behind?
RAY: Well, I don`t know how easy it is, but it`s definitely possible. And that`s why Britney Spears is always in the news these days. We`re waiting for that comeback for her to happen. It is not an easy thing to do.
But if you`re in Hollywood at all, you know how tough it is to survive here and I think she`s got all that it takes in order for her to make it to that next level. So yes, it`s something that you can do. But trust me, Martha wasn`t sitting at home eating bonbons doing it. She`s been busting her butt.
ANDERSON: Yes. She`s a hard worker. Ashlan, very quickly, is all forgiven with Martha or is there still an "I Hate Martha" club out there?
GORSE: No. Honestly, with Martha Stewart, all is forgiven because she wasn`t a young tart that was running around town. She was, you know, a lady that was a little older and more established in her life. And so people were glad that she turned it around and she`s really come back stronger than ever.
ANDERSON: Yes, I like the cooking tips. All right. Tanika Ray, Ashlan Gorse, thank you both.
And next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Britney`s dad to the rescue. We`re going to tell you what Jamie Spears is doing to get his daughter`s life back on track.
HAMMER: And guess who has a personal connection to both Britney and her dad?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BONADUCE: He does not aspire in any way to be famous. He does not aspire in any way to get money from his daughter`s fame and wealth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Wait until you hear this. I sat down with Danny and it`s a startling revelation about how he`s connected to Britney and Jamie. You won`t want to miss it, just ahead in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And the Spitzer hooker scandal got me wondering. Does Hollywood promote quick fame via sex? Just look at how Paris Hilton got famous. Is Hollywood glamorizing sex tapes, hookers, all sorts of sleaze? We`re investigating Hollywood`s X factor. That`s ahead in a showbiz special report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Hey, Britney loses the keys to her cars. Like a teenager being punished, Britney`s dad Jamie telling Britney that some of the cars have got to go.
With us again, "Extra" correspondent Tanika Ray and Ashlan Gorse, host of "E! News Now."
Guys, Britney`s dad who was managing her estate has just gotten permission from a court to sell off several of her seven expensive cars which include two Mercedes. Ashlan, is this just symbolic of Britney`s life of excess that has gotten out of control? Seven cars. I mean -
GORSE: Seven cars.
ANDERSON: I don`t think she`s a collector the vintage variety.
GORSE: No, no. Seven cars in one location - that`s a lot. I mean you have to dodge the paparazzi, so you have to have a different car every day, right?
You know, but the thing is it`s actually kind of good that her dad has stepped up to the plate. Because the one thing in Britney`s life that she never really had was anybody to tell her no. Everybody around her was a yes person. And this happens to pretty much all celebrities once they get up to a certain level.
If you tell them no, they`ll fire you. So everybody ends up just kind of kissing up to them the whole time. So now that her dad is being able to kind of take over, get rid of some of this excess that I guess - I`m assuming she doesn`t really need seven cars right now. And you know, just kind of cut the fat so to say, and he`s actually doing a pretty good job while she is getting better.
ANDERSON: Yes, seems to be. And you know, you know, as you say, sometimes it takes a family member to get in there and really stand up to a celebrity. And given how it seemed that all of the car wreck aspects of her life before in cars and car wrecks, Tanika, it`s almost like a good cleansing, isn`t it?
RAY: Absolutely. I can smell the Pine-sol from here. This is the deal. Her dad really didn`t get a chance to be the father when she was famous at the age of 14. So now it`s almost like she is reverting back to her childhood. Her dad`s punishing her basically and taking her cars away. Who needs seven cars anyway?
When it comes down to it, we only see her in the white Mercedes. So, get rid of those cars. Cars depreciate as they soon off the lot anyway, Britney.
It`s time to purge. Clean your life out. Get down to the things that really, really matter - your kids, your career - and get things back on track. So I think it`s a great step in the right direction.
ANDERSON: As do I. Let`s put all of those car incidents behind and move forward.
RAY: I`ll take one of them.
ANDERSON: Yes, I know, right. Seven. She`s got plenty to go around. You know, Ashlan -
GORSE: You and me.
ANDERSON: Yes, I do want to talk about her finances now because we`re always hearing about how she still makes $700,000 a month, reportedly worth up to $100 million. Is there anything to indicate that her finances are not what we think they are and she could be in trouble because there`s been some talk of that, as well?
GORSE: Well, you know, one thing that`s interesting about Britney when you think about it, as of right now, you know, she hasn`t really come out with anything new. So people are shocked when they find out how much money she is making. But you have to remember she does have all - you know, the perfume line. She has her music and she gets, you know, sales from it all the time still.
ANDERSON: True.
GORSE: Everything on iTunes. So she is still bringing in money. As much as she was when she was, you know, running the pop world? No.
ANDERSON: No.
GORSE: But she is still getting residuals and royalties, so that is one thing. And yes, they`re saying that she is kind of on an allowance now that her dad has taken over the conservatorship. But that is because he is keeping everything in which -
ANDERSON: Right. I do have to jump in there. Sorry, Ashlan. But she does seem to be making great strides. Ashlan Gorse, Tanika Ray, thank you both for your insight.
And hey, for the latest breaking Britney news and latest video, you can always go to the Britney Drama section of our Web site any time, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: The always fired-up Danny Bonaduce going off on stage moms, particularly Lindsay Lohan`s mom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BONADUCE: When you`ve got a family that`s already crumbling and you decide, "I know what I`m going to do. I`m going to document the destruction of my own family." That is, I think, a terrible mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BONADUCE: He never minces words. I sit down with Danny, coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Also the Spitzer hooker scandal got me wondering - does Hollywood promote down and dirty, quick and easy fame? I mean just look at how Paris Hilton got famous. Is Hollywood glamorizing sex tapes, hookers, all sorts of sleaze? Hollywood`s X factor ahead in a showbiz special report.
HAMMER: And Mel Gibson speaking out about the shocking news someone committed suicide at a property he owns. Coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Here are some more stories that are new right now.
Big news in the case over the death of Anna Nicole Smith`s son, Daniel. A magistrate in the Bahamas is taking homicide off the table. At an inquest in the Bahamas, the jury will only be able to decide on four other causes of death including accident and drug use. TMZ reports the magistrate will tell the jury its options in just a few weeks.
Well, Mel Gibson is speaking out about the news that someone committed suicide on a property he owns in California. The construction worker`s body was found hanging from a rafter on the construction site. Now, a rep tells TMZ that Gibson feels terrible even though he had no connection to the man. Gibson has never lived at that property.
And a bench warrant against "Transformer" star Shia Labeouf has been dismissed. His lawyer has pleaded not guilty on his behalf for lighting up on a sidewalk in California where a smoking ban is in place. Now, that cigarette could cost Labeouf $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail if he`s convicted.
ANDERSON: New pictures of the hooker in the Eliot Spitzer scandal are everywhere and the offers are pouring in. So that`s got me wondering. Does Hollywood promote quick fame via sex? I mean, just look at how Paris Hilton got famous. Is Hollywood glamorizing sex tapes, hookers and all sorts of sleaze? Hollywood`s X factor, that`s ahead in a showbiz special report.
We`ve also got this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BONADUCE: He does not aspire in any way to be famous. He does not aspire in any way to get money from his daughter`s fame and wealth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wait until you hear this Danny Bonaduce`s startling revelation about his personal connection to Britney Spears and her dad. You won`t want to miss that coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And I just cannot imagine this, being sent back to Iraq against your will. It`s the topic of Ryan Phillippe`s new movie and something thousands of troops can relate to. One soldier`s amazing story, that`s straight ahead.
HAMMER: You can always stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. I get it every day. You should too. To sign up for the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter, go to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Click on the link and we`ll send it to you every day.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Danny Bonaduce unplugged.
BONADUCE: You cannot live vicariously through your children. If you wanted to be in show business when you were younger and missed your shot, that moment in time is gone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Tell it like it is, Danny. Danny Bonaduce is not mincing any words. He`s got something to say to stage "mama-ger" Dina Lohan and it`s not nice. Tonight, Danny Bonaduce unplugged.
Sex tapes. Hookers and all sorts of sleaze. Is Paris Hilton showing us the only way to get famous is to be disgustingly infamous? The X factor, a showbiz special report.
(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: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, Danny Bonaduce is back and man, he is not pulling any punches especially when it comes to young Hollywood stars and their bad behavior. Danny has this new reality show; it`s called "I Know My Kid`s A Star." I`ve got to tell you, there`s this crazy obsession here in America with parents everywhere wanting their kids to be superstars.
In fact, even Lindsay Lohan`s 14-year-old sister, Ali, is being pushed into the spotlight by their mom. So, I had to ask Danny, is this really normal? Wind Danny up and watch him go.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BONADUCE: Well, I certainly hope that a lot of parents watch this and think that this behavior is not normal. The unfortunate truth is, though, in show business, that behavior is considered semi-normal.
HAMMER: And the scary thing is, we see it going on a lot these days. You obviously speak from experience. Child star on "The Partridge Family." You`ve certainly been around it a lot.
And Danny, we know all the drama that you`ve been through in your own life. You and I have talked about it right here between the rehab and the arrests. Are you kind of telling people, "Don`t let your kids get screwed up like what happened to me?"
BONADUCE: You know, you`re the first one to have said that before I did. That`s - you know, everybody wants to be polite and be well-mannered so they`re always using Lindsay Lohan.
HAMMER: No, we have too long a history, Danny. I`ve got to get right to it.
BONADUCE: They say, you know, we don`t want these kids to grow up and be like - you know, like Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears. The whole point, I think, of the show, "I Know My Kid`s A Star" is to make sure they don`t grow up and be like Danny Bonaduce.
HAMMER: Yes, that could be the slug line right there. Perfect. But you mentioned Lindsay Lohan. And of course her mother Dina, you know, who`s really the ultimate stage mom these days and getting a lot of heat not just for what has happened in Lindsay`s life, but for putting Lindsay`s 14-year-old sister Ali in this upcoming reality show. Now, Danny, given how unstable Lindsay`s life has been, what do you think? Is this just a bad idea for her to do that?
BONADUCE: Yes, I think it`s a terrible idea. I think when you`re - at least appear sane and you sell a reality show and then fall apart on it, then you don`t know who is to blame. But when you`ve got a family that`s already crumbling, and you decide, "I know what I`m going to do. I`m going to document the destruction of my own family," that is I think a terrible mistake. And just such either greed for money, fame or power that it is beyond even more scope and my scope is pretty far.
HAMMER: Yes. You raised the bar in that area, didn`t you, Danny? You`re the first to admit it. And that sort of raises a good point. Ali Lohan herself, Lindsay`s younger sister, has said how bad she wants fame. How could she not with her sister`s fame and watching what she has been going through.
But Ali has said herself that she is not even sure she`s that talented. So do you see a lot of parents who are basically delusional about how talented their kids are?
BONADUCE: Well, it`s - well, it is delusional. I ask this question once on my radio show. I do a show in L.A. on 97.1. And asked this question, does any mother know their baby`s ugly? Does any mom ever look at the baby and go, "Wow, you`re an ugly one?" The answer`s no.
Yes.
BONADUCE: All mothers think their children are beautiful. In this show, "I Know My Kid`s A Star," all these parents truly believe that their child is incredibly talented and in some cases they couldn`t be further off the mark.
HAMMER: Well, we can`t talk about child stars these days without talking about Britney Spears` family. I mean look at what`s going there. Brit, of course, was a child star. So is her 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn. Jamie Lynn happens to be pregnant right now.
A lot of people have said the kids were so screwed up because of the parents. Do you think that`s a fair thing to say?
BONADUCE: I think - well, I happen to know Britney`s father, and he`s actually a very nice gentleman. I do not know the mother but I do say this, that there`s never been a movie or television show that I have seen that didn`t have children in it.
And 20 years ago, Todd Bridges and I got the blame for ruining an entire industry that it must be terrible for children. And now the - what I like to call the four horse women of the apocalypse - Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton - are bringing down an entire industry as if it is a carcinogenic.
And everybody forgets, you know, that Jodie Foster, who played my girlfriend on "The Partridge Family" has won an Academy Award, that Ron Howard, who played Opie Taylor, has won an Academy Award. That Brooke Shields is a fantastic mother and actress. You forget the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
What is there? Eight bad apples in the whole bunch of a Screen Actor`s Guild that has 100,000 minor performers in it? It`s too much to soon.
HAMMER: Yes, that`s the good point. It`s all been lost on us. Danny, obviously, not shy about what saying what he really thinks but the one thing I did not expect is when he opened up about Britney Spears and her dad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BONADUCE: He does not aspire in any way to be famous. He does not aspire in any way to get money from his daughter`s fame and wealth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Danny really dropped a bombshell on me about Britney`s dad Jamie when he revealed a very personal and direct connection. You have definitely got to hear what he told me. That is coming up in just a bit.
ANDERSON: Something else we didn`t expect to see, A.J., these brand new, exclusive "Us Weekly" pictures of the Spitzer`s call girl. Here`s what I want to know, is Hollywood`s obsession with the X factor glamorizing sleaze and getting young girls to act really nasty? My provocative showbiz special report is next.
That leads me to something we want to ask you to vote on. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the today - "The Eliot Spitzer Hooker: Does she deserve to get rich from her scandal?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail us. That address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.
And the controversy doesn`t stop there. I cannot wait to show you how superstar actor Ryan Phillippe is taking on the war in Iraq and exposing something that is making a lot of people absolutely furious. Hollywood at war, when we return.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The happy hooker. Tonight, brand new exclusive "Us Weekly" pictures of Ashley Dupre, the call girl who brought down New York`s governor.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood, and this is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
Tonight, a showbiz special report, Hollywood`s X factor. In an "Us Weekly" exclusive, shocking new pictures of Dupre in her early modeling days appear in all their glossy glory. She`s also talking to magazines about possibly getting paid millions to pose nude, and her music is selling online.
And hey, this is not the first time we have seen the glamorization of prostitution especially in Hollywood which got us here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asking, is this driving young girls who have big dreams to say, "Hey, that could be a pretty cool way to make a lot of money"?
Joining me tonight in New York is clinical psychologist, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, and in Miami, Michael Cohen, Miami editor for "In Touch Weekly."
Dr. Judy, Michael, it`s not just Ashley Dupre. For example, I think about Julia Roberts` character at "Pretty Woman" as well. In fact, Diane Sawyer on "The View" today talked about how all of this could drive young girls to think prostitution is a glamorous profession. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIANE SAWYER, GUEST ON "THE VIEW": You don`t think that`s what you`re choosing. You think you`re choosing "Pretty Woman."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CO-HOST: The ideal version.
SAWYER: Even your choosing the call girl with the escort service and the high end and the governor. And then you get there and you realize what you are going to be doing every day. And then you`re in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Dr. Judy, did Diane Sawyer get it exactly right? Do positive images of hookers in Hollywood like Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" give girls the wrong idea about the reality most prostitutes face?
DR. JUDY KURIANSKY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Exactly. Diane was right and this is awful. I didn`t like the message of "Pretty Woman" to young girls. When I was on the radio talking to so many young girls when that movie came out. I don`t like now when I`m talking to young girls, because they`re thinking, "What`s wrong with this? They could be making $4,000? What? What`s the big deal about sex?"
And as a sex therapist, I`m thinking, "Oh, this is awful for young women. So it`s up to actually mothers now to be able to train their daughters and talk to them about this. Use this as a teachable moment to discuss with the daughters, this is not the way to treat your body. It is not the way to treat your self esteem, and that what you should look for is love and intimacy in a relationship, not something where you`re earning money.
MICHAEL COHEN, MIAMI EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": That`s a fairytale life.
KURIANSKY: Oh, come on.
COHEN: People will do whatever they want to do.
KURIANSKY: What?
COHEN: Listen, moms can tell their kids whatever. Don`t do drugs. Don`t be an escort. Whatever. But kids find their way into what they want to do. Hopefully some of them have a moral compass, but a lot of times they don`t, and it`s a glamorized field.
ANDERSON: But Dr. Judy is saying -
(CROSS TALK)
Dr. Judy is saying parents can take this opportunity to really -
COHEN: It`s reality. I know it`s awful but -
ANDERSON: To really drive that point home. And Michael, when you do see a call girl like Ashley Dupre come out of a major scandal, not only unscathed but on the verge of making millions of dollars -
COHEN: Well, definitely -
ANDERSON: Becoming famous overnight. Doesn`t that reinforce the notion that prostitution could actually be a good, easy way to fame and fortune?
COHEN: I mean it`s always been an easy way to fame and fortune. You go back over the decades. I mean prostitutes have always been glamorized in their own way, and they`re glamorized today. And yes, it is an easy way to fame and fortune, but it is like do you want to choose that path? It is up to you. I mean -
KURIANSKY: What?
COHEN: Many people do, many people don`t. No, for real.
KURIANSKY: I can`t believe you`re actually saying that.
(CROSS TALK)
KURIANSKY: Choose to - let a young girl, let a woman even choose to sell their body? Where do you get - Come on.
COHEN: Like you never heard of that before. It`s not just young women. Guys do it also. I mean -
ANDERSON: But do you believe that, Michael, to be right even if it is a quick and easy way to a buck?
COHEN: Listen, whom am I to judge? I don`t think it`s right -
KURIANSKY: This is not about judging.
COHEN: But it is a reality. No. I mean, you know, hey.
KURIANSKY: This is about ruining the core of relationships.
COHEN: OK. It is. But I mean, people aren`t thinking that when it happens. People do it. I don`t know. Maybe they bring themselves through med school. What have you?
KURIANSKY: Well -
COHEN: I mean it happens.
ANDERSON: Let me bring up another Hollywood connection. Let`s not forget Hollywood madame Heidi Fleiss. If you hooked up with her, you had access to famous men like client Charlie Sheen and their money. Dr. Judy, there are girls out there who may say, "Hey, I could have worse jobs than this."
KURIANSKY: Exactly. And they would say that, given what they have heard lately and seeing that movie. And my advice about that is first of all, become like that man you think you want to hook up with to get what you want, which is you get a job where you can make that money and be wealthy yourself. And that will give you higher self esteem and that`s the answer to doing that.
ANDERSON: Michael -
COHEN: Sure, but this is - Yes?
ANDERSON: Go ahead - Well, I want to ask you, you know, we`ve also got the likes of Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian. Sex tapes, then reality shows, then fame. What kind of message, very quickly, is something like that -
COHEN: First of all, I don`t see the big deal in sex tapes. I mean people have been doing sex tapes. They always take pictures of themselves. You know, you look at somebody`s iPhone and you just think there`s summer vacations on their iPhones? Give me a break.
ANDERSON: But is it right for people to profit off that sort of thing even if it has been happening for years that people have been making these tapes?
COHEN: There is no right - I don`t think it`s right.
ANDERSON: There is a right and wrong.
COHEN: But it happens. You know?
ANDERSON: All right.
COHEN: You`re like in this idealistic shell. But this stuff goes down all the time.
ANDERSON: No.
KURIANSKY: It is not -
ANDERSON: All right.
KURIANSKY: It`s not a matter of being -
ANDERSON: Yes, we will have to continue this at some other time, unfortunately. We are running short on time. Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Michael Cohen, thank you both.
And we do 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.
HAMMER: You think you heard everything about Britney Spears` father? I can tell you, you haven`t. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BONADUCE: He does not aspire in any way to be famous. He does not aspire in any way to get money from his daughter`s fame and wealth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Danny Bonaduce reveals to me his personal connection to Britney Spears` father. You won`t want to miss it. It caught me off guard. That`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Wait until I show you how superstar actor Ryan Phillippe is taking on the war in Iraq and exposing something that`s making a lot of people furious. Hollywood at war - That`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Danny Bonaduce - never one to mince words. You heard him go off on Lindsay Lohan`s mom and out of control stage parents everywhere. Well, now Danny is coming clean about his surprising link to perhaps the most out of control star, Britney Spears.
Now believe it or not, Danny`s actually friends with her dad, Jamie. I asked Danny what he thinks of Jamie helping his daughter to turn her life around and how Danny is starting to turn around his own life these days.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BONADUCE: I know him as guy to guy. And that`s my favorite thing about him is he seems completely unaffected by the mania - I mean he can`t be affected by the physical mania. He has to protect his daughter.
It is not something - and this is where I think most parents go wrong. He does not aspire in any way to be famous. He does not aspire in any way to get money from his daughter`s fame and wealth.
Jamie Spears is a chef. Jamie Spears is a cook. And he`s a good cook and he`s proud of being a good cook and that`s enough for him. And I think that`s where other parents go wrong. I`m good at what I do. I`m a good schoolteacher. I`m a good seamstress - whatever it is I do.
But then all of a sudden it`s not enough that they were good at their own occupation. Now, they have to live vicariously through their famous children. And I think being skilled and being excellent at whatever you do should be enough.
HAMMER: So do you think Britney`s better off for having Jamie in charge of her affairs right now?
BONADUCE: Oh my god, yes. Absolutely. You couldn`t get a more resounding yes from me.
HAMMER: So Danny, you`ve got the show on the air. You`ve got your radio show on the air. We`ve seen you in the good times. We`ve seen you in the tough times. Life pretty good right now?
BONADUCE: Life is very good right now. Life is very nice. The reason I think I picked out a job I could be proud of is I`m dating a schoolteacher. My life could not be more on track. I`ve got the new show, the radio show. I`m in love with a girl who wants nothing to do with television or show business, could not shy away from cameras fast enough.
She just wants to be the best schoolteacher she can be and she is. That`s - that`s the kind of life I want. I mean I do what I want to do. You do what you do to the best of your ability. And let`s not try to compete and see who can get the most and get the richest. Let`s just try to be good at what we do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Our thanks once again to Danny Bonaduce. You can always catch Danny`s new show "I Think My Kid`s A Star" if you want to see more of him. It`s Thursday nights on VH1.
ANDERSON: It truly is unbelievable. The war in Iraq just entered the sixth year. Six years. So what does that have to do with Hollywood? I cannot wait to show you how superstar actor Ryan Phillippe is taking on the war by exposing something that`s making a lot of people absolutely furious. Hollywood at war, next.
HAMMER: First, here`s a look at what`s new at the movies. It`s brought to you by Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. Opening Friday, Owen Wilson comes back to the screen, playing a bodyguard hired by kids in the comedy "Drillbit Taylor."
Also on Friday, Angela Bassett stars in Tyler Perry`s film. "Meet the Browns." Basset plays a single mom who heads to small town Georgia for her father`s funeral.
And finally, Woody Harrelson headlines an all-star cast in "The Grand." And that`s what`s new at the movies, brought to you by Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back. Don`t go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
It`s hard to believe that America marked the beginning of the sixth year of the war in Iraq. And I can tell you that Hollywood has taken note of one very controversial part of the war that`s making a lot of people furious. A new provocative film starring Ryan Phillippe has received a ton of attention and here`s CNN`s Kareen Wynter reporting for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: By the authority of the president, you have been stop-lossed.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The movie, "Stop-Loss" gets at the core of what many consider a controversial military practice, when a soldier`s contract is involuntarily extended.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: How can they do this?
RYAN PHILLIPPE, ACTOR: They`re doing whatever they want to do. With a shortage of guys no draft, they`re shipping back soldiers who`s supposed to be getting out. It`s a back door draft is what it is.
WYNTER: Actor Ryan Phillippe leads the film`s young cast.
PHILLIPPE: You live every day over there, hoping to get home alive and to be forced back against your will is really - I can`t imagine it.
WYNTER: Currently, some 7,500 active service soldiers are subject to stop loss. And since 2001, the policy has affected more than 100,000. For Stuart McKenzie, the consequences were devastating.
STUART MCKENZIE, STOP-LOSSED SOLDIER: I think it`s dishonest. I really don`t feel - because nobody`s to be at war. And if somebody wants to go, then let him go. But if they`ve done the full year, they go like, "I`ve signed a contract for four years. I`m done."
WYNTER: Like the characters in the film, McKenzie was 18 when he enlisted in the army. He was eager to serve his country, but now questions the explanation his recruiter offered about the stop-loss policy.
MCKENZIE: First, he made it sound like World War III (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and it would be activated but he said, "There`s no chance. Don`t worry about it. Sign right here."
ANDERSON: The army stop-loss is necessary to sustain a cohesive force and is used sparingly. McKenzie was stop-lossed while still stationed in Iraq. Seven months after he was scheduled to finish the four-year contract, a roadside bomb severed his left hand and blew of part of his leg.
MCKENZIE: You go over there, I mean, you`re always just dodging bullets.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Just waiting around to get blown up, huh?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Cool.
WYNTER: Now discharged on medical retirement, McKenzie`s hope for "Stop-Loss," the movie is that it helps people understand stop-loss the reality.
MCKENZIE: Just open everyone`s eyes and let the people judge if they think it`s right or wrong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Kareen Wynter for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And "Stop-Loss" opens on March 28.
HAMMER: And that is it for "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." I 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 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is next.
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