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Showbiz Tonight
The `Hannah Montana` Blame Game; Angry Wife to Shut Up?; Dancing Badly with the Stars; Gary Coleman`s Marital Blues
Aired April 29, 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: Cher opens up about her shocking fling with Tom Cruise. Yes, you heard me right. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: And why Eliot Spitzer`s hooker is suing the "Girls Gone Wild" guy. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
HAMMER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Miley Cyrus half-nude photo scandal. Let`s play the "Hannah Montana" blame game. Tonight, who should get yelled at for letting the 15-year-old Miley embarrass herself with that revealing photo in "Vanity Fair?" Should her parents get yelled out? What about Disney? And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks the burning question - should we actually feel sorry for Miley?
Tonight, bad "Dancing With The Stars." No, I mean really bad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Paris Hilton dances like my dad dances. My dad is a 59-year-old Jewish guy with no sense of rhythm.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the worst two left feet, the most awkward, the downright clumsy. The stars who shouldn`t be caught dancing with anyone, all caught on tape.
Plus, say it is so. Please. Is the YouTube divorce lady about to be silenced?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRICIA WALSH-SMITH, ANGRY WIFE: The only cruel behavior I`ve ever done to that man is make him have skim milk in his cappuccino.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the dramatic court ruling in the YouTube divorce.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood with the burning question - should we be feeling sorry for Miley Cyrus?
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, Miley Cyrus was nowhere to be seen today the day after we got to see, well, too much of Miley. I can tell you that, if anything, the finger-pointing, blame game and controversy over the 15-year- old "Hannah Montana" star, posing half nude for "Vanity Fair" got even more intense today.
And now, even Rosie O`Donnell is coming to Miley`s defense. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is now bringing you the late-breaking details, including that controversial question, should we feel sorry for Cyrus?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENDA LEE (sung): I`m sorry, so sorry
HAMMER: Brenda Lee`s hit 1960s song is right now a popular line in the Hannah Montana-Miley Cyrus photo flap with Miley herself saying she`s sorry.
JESSICA WEINER, AUTHOR AND SELF ESTEEM EXPERT: I feel very much for Miley right now because I think she`s just like every other 14, 15-year-old out there who`s trying to be more grown up than she is. But this is definitely something that I think could have been avoided.
HAMMER: Even "Vanity Fair`s" most famous photographer, Annie Liebovitz, issued her sorry regarding Miley`s photo flap, saying, quote, "I`m sorry that my portrait of Miley has been misinterpreted."
MIKE FLEEMAN, WEST COAST EDITOR, "PEOPLE.COM": I think everybody in the cold light of morning is realizing that they pushed it just a little too far.
HAMMER: And still the debate about the picture of an exposed Miley, draped in just a sheet, rages on. It was the talk of "Regis and Kelly".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REGIS PHILBIN, CO-HOST, "REGIS AND KELLY": Looking at those pictures ...
KELLY RIPA, CO-HOST, "REGIS AND KELLY": What I`m saying is ...
PHILBIN: ... I don`t see what the big deal is.
RIPA: Exactly. That is nothing new. I think teenagers have always wanted to try to push the envelope.
HAMMER: Teens pushing the sexuality envelope is nothing new. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that when a tween role model like Miley Cyrus suddenly appears to be sexing things up, it can lead to a whole host of problems for such a wholesome TV and movie image, one whose billion-dollar empire is at stake.
FLEEMAN: This is not a good thing for Disney. Disney does not want this to continue anymore. They want to keep it under wraps. They want to see the old, wholesome "Hannah Montana" back.
HAMMER: But let`s back things up for a minute, to the "I`m sorry" part of this whole mess. Because Miley actually said "I`m sorry and embarrassed." And heck, even Annie Liebovitz said, "I`m sorry" for doing what she does, taking provocative and dramatic pictures for "Vanity Fair."
But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking the tough questions. Where are the two people who have yet to say one "sorry" between them? Miley`s mom and famous dad, Billy Ray Cyrus.
WEINER: It would behoove, I think, her parents to come out and talk about why they made the decision they made and why they supported that, because clearly they did. She wasn`t making those decisions on her own. And I think, right now, she`s being a little thrown to the wolves and I worry about that.
HAMMER: Even Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis is worried about Miley. Fresh off her own photo flap for this controversial topless photo on the cover of "AARP" magazine, the star blogged about Miley`s provocative pose on "HuffingtonPost.com."
And on it, she writes, quote, "I know how Miley feels. I, too, was a little embarrassed by my recent topless scandal, but I`m adult woman. I protected myself during the shoot and I can take the heat. I only wish that her guardians had protected her."
WEINER: This is a nasty and can be negative business. And she needs somebody helping to guide her and protect her.
HAMMER: And Miley`s whole photo flap leaves a whole lot of lingering questions about the people making decisions in this tween star`s life.
FLEEMAN: What did Disney know and when did Disney know it? What did Miley`s parents know and when did they know it? Clearly, you go into a photo shoot with "Vanity Fair," Annie Liebovitz, this is not going to be your normal photo shoot. She doesn`t take normal pictures. You can go to anybody else.
So everybody had to have known this was going to be a little edgy, a little different, something to talk about and that`s what happened.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Yes. We do have to remember we`re not talking about "Teen Beat" here. And of course, caught in the middle of all the adults doing all the finger-pointing at this point, 15-year-old Miley Cyrus.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, investigative journalist Jane Velez-Mitchell, who`s the author of this fine book, "Secrets Can Be Murder." Joining me from New York, Maggie Gallant, the founder of Spotlight Communications.
Let me ask you first, Jane. Do you feel sorry for Miley in all this?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: Well, A.J., actually I do because she is a real-life flesh-and-blood young lady. And you know, she is being treated like a commodity, like a product by these corporate interests. And I really don`t think these corporate interests have any real loyalty to her as an individual.
In fact, if she stumbles, word is there are other tween stars in the wings ready to take her place. Selena Gomez has been mentioned as a possibility. So I believe - this is just a theory, but I sense that Miley Cyrus is at the center of this huge tug-war between corporate interest, on the one hand, who will benefit if she remains a child. They will make millions if she remains a child. And on the other hand, forces who will benefit if she makes that leap to sexy adult.
So I think it was no accident that Disney was caught asleep at the wheel on this photo shoot because, obviously, they profit if she remains a kid. Who`s going to profit if she becomes the sexy adult super star?
I think the idea that there`s all this intrigue and this tug of war around this child is obscene. I say, if you want to know what`s really going on in Hollywood and in this case, follow the money. That will always lead you to the truth.
HAMMER: And that, Jane, is why it is called show business. What about you, Maggie Gallant? Do you think she`s getting a raw deal in all this?
MAGGIE GALLANT, FOUNDER, SPOTLIGHT COMMUNICATIONS: Well, she may be a megastar, A.J., and she may be performing for millions of people but she was clearly a girl who was intimidated in her situation. She said in her statement that nobody says "no" to this famed photographer, Annie.
And nobody should say no. But she could have said, "Not yet. I`m not ready to take these kinds of pictures." Her career isn`t going anywhere. She`s here to stay. These pictures should have been taken when she was a little bit older.
HAMMER: We are clearly not the only ones talking about this. And let me tell you that Rosie O`Donnell is definitely feeling sorry for Miley right about now. Rosie posted a brand new video on our blog. And her message is clear and simple. She`s staying, leave Miley alone. And I want you to look at what she said about the photo itself. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSIE O`DONNELL, BLOGGER: I also didn`t think it was a pornographic photo in any capacity. I thought it was sort of a beautiful portrait, you know. I like the one of her and her dad, too. I don`t know. It`s Annie Liebovitz, people. You know, leave Miley Cyrus alone. Disney making her apologize. Ay yi yi yi yi.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Rosie, back off the camera a little bit. Besides demanding Miley be left alone here, Rosie is slamming Disney, as we just heard, for making Miley apologize. Jane, was having Miley apologize just the wrong thing to do?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think it was the wrong thing to do because she`s the victim in all this. She is the child. It was the adults who dropped the ball. There are some very serious issues surrounding this whole scandal and that`s one of the reasons why it`s touched such a nerve. And the big issue is the sexualization of children, which is a huge problem in this country.
And at the periphery of that is the whole controversy of pedophilia which, again, is a huge controversy in this country. So the reason why this has really struck a nerve is that there are very serious issues and the adults involved in this didn`t think it through to all the way to the end. What kind of an impact would that come-hither photo have on the public when that photo involved a child?
HAMMER: Yes, and not to diminish the importance of all that, because I`m right on board with you, Jane. And I want to throw it to you, Maggie, because you`re a PR expert. Did Disney have any other choice but to get Miley to apologize? They may have done too little too late. But this is a business. They have to protect their billion-dollar franchise.
GALLANT: Of course she has to speak to her fans. I mean this one has been hanging her out to dry. She`s going to be asked about this in interviews so she might as well stop this before it starts by issuing a statement. I mean she`s going to have to continue answering this. But she speaks to her fans. That`s one of the things she`s proudest of.
HAMMER: What do you think, Jane? Is this just pushing the limits of what`s acceptable for a 15-year-old in any case, even though there are those, Rosie O`Donnell included, saying beautiful photo?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, it`s a beautiful photo, but it`s in the wrong context, with the person who is the wrong age. You know, this is a controversy that is really as old as time. And in the `50s, a very famous novel was written about it called, "Lolita," about a man who had a sexual obsession with a 12-year-old girl.
And there`s even a name for that kind of girl, a nymphet, who is a young girl who is sexualized beyond her years. So it`s not cute. It`s not funny. It`s a serious problem. Unfortunately, there are men who are sexually aroused by this kind of thing. So we`re not talking about a beautiful picture. It may be beautiful technically. But it`s very serious and disturbing in another sense.
HAMMER: I`m wrapping it there. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Maggie Gallant, I thank you both. And now we want to hear from you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Miley Cyrus Photo Scandal: Do you feel sorry for her?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. The E-mail address, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
And Brooke, I`ve got to ask you, who do you think is to blame for this whole mess Miley is in right now?
ANDERSON: You know, I don`t want to point fingers. I think there`s plenty of blame to go around.
HAMMER: No question. She`s only 15 years old. Some of the blame, you know, has got to go her parents. But then there`s the magazine and there`s company that put her on the map, Disney. Well, we have a fired-up panel. They`re ready to play the blame game. That is coming up.
ANDERSON: Also, could it be true? Could the YouTube divorce lady be forced to take her video-making show on the road? There`s a dramatic ruling in the case. That`s coming up. And also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, America. Welcome back to the "Paris Hilton Dance Show," where you`ll learn how to be a really (EXPLETIVE DELETED) dancer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, I`m guessing Paris Hilton not getting on invitation to be on "Dancing With The Stars" anytime soon. Talk about two left feet. And she`s not alone. Coming up, a look at stars caught on tape dancing really, really badly.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: The only cruel behavior I`ve ever done to that man is make him have skim milk in his cappuccino. And I did sneak wheatgrass once into his freshly made vegetable juice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight, big news about the famously scorned YouTube wife who just won`t shut up. A judge says she has to take her show on the road.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show, I`m Brooke Anderson.
Tonight, two wars in the courts, new right now. First a victory for the husband in the YouTube divorce. A judge in the case is now telling Tricia Walsh-Smith to take her Web show and hit the road, Jack.
Also new right now, Eliot Spitzer`s call girl in $10 million smackdown. Ashley Dupre is suing now Joe Francis, the founder of the racy video series "Girls Gone Wild," claiming he exploited her image.
With us tonight in New York, Carolina Bermudez, senior editor at "In Touch Weekly." Also tonight, from the Tru TV studios in New York, Ashleigh Banfield, host of Tru TV`s "Hollywood Heat." Ashleigh, Carolina, just after Tricia Walsh-Smith released her second YouTube video rant, she faced off in court with her husband, powerful Broadway mogul Philip Smith. And on the courthouse steps, she was furious that people were suggesting, "Hey, lady, get a job." Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: As to comments as to "get a job," is there something wrong with being a homemaker in America? Does this mean that every woman in America who does not have a job and relies on her husband can be tossed out like a dirty rag after nine years?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Nothing wrong with being a homemaker. But Carolina, I`m incredulous this woman is still talking. It seems that the more she talks, the less sympathy she gets. What do you think?
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": It`s true. I think that people are sick of hearing her talk. It`s hard to feel sorry for someone when they`re talking to you, ranting and raving from posh Park Avenue apartment. It doesn`t look like she is being neglected or that she`s really missing out on anything. I think a lot of people are saying that she looks like a scorned trophy wife and it`s no wonder that her husband wants to leave her.
ANDERSON: It may be more and more difficult for people to identify with her. And, you know, she films her two YouTube video rants in their, as you say, swanky Park Avenue apartment. But the judge just ruled, hey, you can say whatever you want, but no more videotaping these messages in that apartment like this rant where she says her husband`s press employees slandered her name.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Shame on you! How dare you! If this was the 16th century, what would you have done? Put me in the stocks and thrown rotten tomatoes at me? I am speaking my truth. But I did my cards today and look what I pulled - courage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So no more videos from that apartment. But Ashleigh, would you be surprised if she pops up with another video from yet another location?
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, HOST, "HOLLYWOOD HEAT": Depends what her cards tell her today.
ANDERSON: Right.
BANFIELD: You know, honestly? No. Here`s what I think, for what it`s worth. Maybe she`s trying to pressure him into a settlement, because all of this is terribly embarrassing. And we know he`s made an effort to stop her from doing it. He doesn`t like it. He doesn`t like the publicity and it`s getting a lot of it. So she keeps on doing it. It may be an impetus for him to say, enough already, here`s your cash.
ANDERSON: Yes, and her husband has said through his attorney that he will not respond to her in a public forum. He`s trying to keep his dignity in this whole mess.
OK. Moving now to our other story new right now, Eliot Spitzer`s famous call girl Ashley Dupre, who we last saw in photos exclusively obtained by "Us Weekly," has just sued Joe Francis and his "Girls Gone Wild" franchise for $10 million saying that he exploited her name and image for profit. Ashleigh, does she have a case here?
BANFIELD: I don`t think so. I`ll be honest with you. She gave consent and, you know, whether she was underage or not, if she held out legitimately that she was of age, there`s no case against him. And all he needed to do and his employees was to make sure that whatever she was providing to them was bona fide. And I`ve seen a copy of their video showing the driver`s license and it looks pretty good. I`m not going to say whether it`s right or wrong. But it looked pretty legitimate. So on their end, they were protected.
ANDERSON: Well, they say they were legitimate as well, that they were taken in a public place and that he hasn`t released any of them because she was 17 at the time of the filming.
And Joe Francis told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT this, quote, "We have nothing to worry about , but I think it`s ironic that she charged Gov. Spitzer $2,000 for sex and she wants to charge me $10 million for taking some naked pictures of her. I feel like I`m getting a raw deal."
Joe Francis joking there. But, Carolina, should he be worried?
BERMUDEZ: No. He has nothing to worry about. You know, that Joe Francis - he`s a class act, you know. He wants to get the most for his money. This is one time where I think that Joe can really relax and sit back and watch all the fun. I agree with Ashleigh, I don`t think that Ashley Dupre has a case. And also, it`s not like she has some impeccable reputation where people would say, hey, you know what? "Girls Gone Wild" and Joe Francis have exploited this young woman. That`s not the case here.
ANDERSON: All right. Carolina Bermudez and Ashleigh Banfield, we`ll leave it there for now. Thank you both.
BANFIELD: Thanks.
HAMMER: Moving now to Miley Cyrus` photo scandal, let`s play the blame game. What do you say, Brooke, who`s to blame here?
ANDERSON: It think there`s plenty of blame to go around, A.J. She`s only 15. People should be looking out for her best interest.
HAMMER: Yes, no question about that. Her parents, the magazine, Disney. Seems like somebody should have stepped in and seen that you know, maybe a racy photo not the greatest idea in the world. But who is the most to blame? A fired-up panel is ready to point fingers, coming up.
We`ll also have this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Paris Hilton dances like my dad dances. My dad is a 59-year-old Jewish guy with no sense or rhythm.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes, Paris Hilton`s dancing, not so hot. But at least she`s in good company. Let`s call this "Dancing Badly With The Stars." Straight ahead, celebrities caught on tape with the most awkward dancing styles I`ve ever seen. You do not want to miss this.
HAMMER: Wow, that scared me a little bit. Also, Cher speaking out about her fling with Tom Cruise. Yes, you heard me right. Before Nicole, before Katie, Tom reportedly spent some quality time with Cher. We`re going to turn back time and hear all about it, coming up next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Did you know that you can now watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT anytime you like at your own convenience simply by downloading our totally free podcast. It`s true. I wouldn`t lie. You`ll find the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast right there at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also download it on iTunes by typing "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" in that little search box. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. And here are some more stories that are new right now.
You`re not going to believe this. Guess who Cher used to date? Tom Cruise. According to Britain`s "Daily Mail," Cher spilled the beans about her romance with Tom Cruise on an upcoming episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Cher was 39; Tom was 23. And Cher reportedly told Oprah that she was crazy about him when they had a brief fling in the `80s. Who knew?
ANDERSON: Mel Gibson is set to star in his first movie in six years. "Daily Variety" reports Gibson will star in a thriller called "Edge of Darkness." His last roles were in "Signs" and "We Were Soldiers." That was back in 2002. Then he directed "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto." And Gibson has been laying low since his drunken anti- Semitic rant in 2006.
ANDERSON: And domestic battery charges have reportedly been dropped against rapper Vanilla Ice. He was arrested a few weeks ago. His lawyer tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the case has been tossed because his wife recanted her statement.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke. Who do you think is to blame for the whole mess Miley Cyrus is in right now?
ANDERSON: You know, I think there is plenty of blame to go all around, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes, I mean she`s 15 years old. Her parents definitely should have stepped in. But people are asking, what about the magazine? What about Disney? Well, we are ready to play the blame game and that is coming up.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, America, welcome back to the "Paris Hilton Dance Show," where you`ll learn how to be a really (EXPLETIVE DELETED) dancer.
(EXPLETIVE DELETED)
ANDERSON: Yes, I`m thinking Paris won`t be on "Dancing With The Stars" anytime soon. But she`s not the only one. Straight ahead, we have a look at stars caught on tape dancing really, really badly.
HAMMER: Yikes. Also, Gary Coleman heads to "Divorce Court." Yes, I`m talking about the one on TV. Now, Gary was here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT not that long ago. I got the feeling he was pretty happy in his marriage. So why are he and his wife paying a visit to Judge Toler? That is still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
You can always stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. Head on over to our Web site, that is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Click on the "sign up for newsletter" link at the bottom of the page. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Miley Cyrus blame game. Tonight, as the shock and outrage builds over "Hannah Montana`s" controversial half- nude "Vanity Fair" photo, everyone is asking, who should get yelled at? Miley`s parents, "Vanity Fair," Disney? And should we feel sorry for Miley?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, America, welcome back to the "Paris Hilton Dance Show" where you`ll learn how to be a really (EXPLETIVE DELETED) dancer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. That Paris Hilton, not really all that good at anything, is she? Well, she`s in some good - I mean bad company when it comes to dancing. You`ll want to get on your boogie shoes because tonight, I`ve got a rip-roaring look at the worst celebrity dancers caught on tape.
(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: All right, Brooke. Here we go. Tonight, it is the Miley Cyrus blame game. Who should get the blame for letting the 15-year-old "Hannah Montana" star pose for a seductive and seminude photo in "Vanity Fair" magazine? You know, a photo may be worth a thousand words. But this shocking photo has launched a million words of downright outrage.
Well, here`s what we can tell you tonight. Miley`s parents remain silent. I think this is kind of strange. We`ve heard from Disney, "Vanity Fair" and even from Miley about the pictures. No word yet from her parents who say they left the shoot before the picture causing the uproar was even shot.
Our brand new SHOWBIZ TONIGHT polls shows viewers are split over the Miley photo - 58 percent of you believe it was a mistake. And should we feel sorry for Miley? After all, you know, she`s a 15-year-old girl who is caught in the middle of what`s become this worldwide controversy.
Back with us again tonight from Hollywood, investigative journalist and author, Jane Velez-Mitchell. Also in Hollywood tonight, from "MomLogic.com," Shannon Fox. And here in New York, back with us again, founder of Spotlight Communications, Maggie Gallant.
All right. I`ll start with Miley and then we`ll talk to Maggie. Miley is said to be back at home in Nashville this time. She`s apparently working on her next "Hannah Montana" movie. The rest of the world is currently debating who`s to blame here.
Jane, let me start with you. Are her parents, including, of course, her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, who was right there as a part of the photo shoot - are they to blame for not protecting their daughter?
VELEZ MITCHELL: I would have to say yes. Where were they going that was so important that they had to leave their minor child in a photo shoot with Annie Liebovitz for "Vanity Fair," a magazine that`s known to be provocative. And on top of that, where was the entourage? You know, that`s not just a TV show. Anybody who`s ever dealt with celebrities know these entourages do exist for celebrities.
The lawyer, the accountant, the manager, the agents, the publicist - where were all these people and why weren`t they looking at the photos to make sure that they got a photo they want? I think they did look at the photos. I think the only thing that caught them off guard was the outrage. And perhaps, even that is something that, well, they anticipated. But this will get her name in the papers and then we can say, oops, we made a mistake, we didn`t know.
HAMMER: Yes, I don`t know if they anticipated this size of an uproar. But I want to stay focused on the parents. I should also point out, however, "Vanity Fair" did state in their statement to the public that, you know what? This was a digital photo shoot and the parents and everybody were looking at the photos, apparently not too closely at that last one, if all that`s to be believed.
So what do you think about the parents, Shannon? Do you think that they failed her in terms of what they should have been doing, whether or not they were actually present when that controversial shot was taken?
SHANNON FOX, "MOMLOGIC.COM": Absolutely. And at "MomLogic.com," we`re always encouraging parents, take responsibility for your children. You are the parent; it`s your job to parent. Any parent of a 15-year-old child is responsible for what happens to them. They`re responsible for, you know, naked or semi-naked pictures of them showing up on the Internet, or in this case "Vanity Fair."
And where are the parents? They haven`t said anything about it. Any normal parent would look at a picture of their child like this and be outraged.
HAMMER: You know, isn`t it kind of odd that we haven`t heard anything from them? And I mentioned that Miley`s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, a star in his own right, was not only there, but he posed with her. And I hate to say this, but it`s been wearing on my mind and I`m going to say it because a lot of people are saying this.
I`ve talked to a lot of people in the course of the last couple of days. Their picture together - Miley and Billy Ray - more creepy than Miley`s shirtless shot? What do you think, Maggie? Which was worse, the father-daughter picture or the picture of Miley wrapped in a satin sheet there.
GALLANT: Well, I think with the one of her in the sheet, we all want to think our cute little Hannah Montana sleeps in PJ`s and she cuddles up to her teddy bear and not waking up without a shirt on with the sheet, with all that messy hair. I think that was really provocative for all of us.
But the one thing I do want to say, A.J., is about the parents issuing a statement. There`s a lot of statements already out there. It`s time for her to move past it. "Vanity Fair" has a statement. Annie has a statement and Hannah Montana herself - she also has a statement. It`s enough with the statements. It`s not going to help the situation.
HAMMER: But is she the one who should have been releasing the statement? I guess that`s already happened, so what`s the point in questioning it? I`m not sure.
Let`s talk about one of the statements. Annie Liebovitz, the famed photographer - she took the pictures for the "Vanity Fair," and she said in her statement, among other things, quote, "I`m sorry that my portrait of Miley has been misinterpreted. The photograph is a simple, classic portrait and I think it is very beautiful."
All right. Jane, she`s sorry but she`s clearly not apologizing. Does Annie deserve any of the blame here?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I am a huge fan of Annie Liebovitz. She is a genius. But in this case, I`d have to say, hey, millions and millions of people are misinterpreting this photo the exact same way for a reason because of the expression on Miley`s face. It is a come-hither look and because of the little nuances. Her lipstick seems a little bit smudged and her hair is a little but amuck.
And I hate to say it, but the obvious insinuation is that she`s either just done or is about to do something that 15-year-old girls are supposed to be doing.
HEMMER: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And that is why there`s an uproar. The insinuation is very clear. That`s why they picked the photo. And, you know, sometimes the best photo isn`t the best photo.
HAMMER: Yes, I`m with you on that. You`re making an excellent point that I don`t think a lot of people are processing. It`s not just the skin. You know, we see a lot of skin on TV and in pictures like this all the time. It`s the look.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely. The look says it all. And that`s why for Miley and her team to say, "Well, we didn`t know." Well, that look is there for a reason. She`s a very sophisticated young lady and she doesn`t deliver that look unless she knows what she`s doing. We`ve seen that look before with Britney Spears.
HAMMER: Yes, we have. But is there a bigger picture to all this? Because you`ve heard the rumblings. There are some people who actually think these pictures were part of a master plan to help Miley now transition from the tween star that she currently is to the adult star he hopes to become.
Maggie, PR is your life. Do you think it`s way too early to already try to change Miley`s image? Because when you think about it, she is still at the center of this billion-dollar industry. And if this is an image move, don`t you think her handlers maybe should have waited a couple of more years perhaps until she`s - I don`t know - 18 to tart her up?
GALLANT: Well, A.J., I think Britney Spears sang it best when she said, "I`m just a girl, not yet a woman." And I think that`s what we have here. These pictures would have been great if it was fast-forwarded maybe three years from now when she`s actually of legal age.
I think these pictures are beautiful. But when you think about the fact that she`s 15, it was just too soon. She`s like any other young teenage girl. She wants to do things before maybe she should, and someone needs to say, not yet.
HAMMER: Yes. I think the age goes hand-in-hand with the creepy factor that exists in the case here. As the blame game continues, we`ve got to talk about Disney. Of course, Disney owns the "Hannah Montana" franchise. They released a statement. They pointed the finger squarely at "Vanity Fair," accusing the magazine of manipulating 15-year-old Miley.
I`m sorry. And Jane alluded to this earlier. Disney is the keeper of this billion-dollar franchise. Shannon, let me go to you on this. Shouldn`t somebody have been keeping an eye on a major photo shoot with "Vanity Fair" and one of the most renowned photographers in the world who happens to be known for taking provocative pictures? Come on.
FOX: Absolutely. Everybody has seen Annie Liebovitz`s pictures. Beautiful, certainly, but a bit Freudian in their sexual content. Annie Liebovitz can turn anything into a beautifully sexual picture. And that`s exactly what happened with Miley Cyrus. Everybody needed to be on their guard against Annie Liebovitz turning Miley into a sexual object.
HAMMER: Yes. Here`s something that scares me as the fallout from this just begins to unfold. The paparazzi - they, I am afraid, are going to make Miley some intense target now. Because they were going to do that and then they realized she was a goody-two-shoes so they sort of backed off. But now, scandal in place, Jane, do you fear that they`re going to put that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) press on and follow her every move like they did to Britney?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think they`re going to try. But the word is that Disney, in the wake of this uproar, is going to try to keep Miley under wraps and laying low. You`re not going to see her out for a while.
But the irony of this whole thing is that in one sense, it has worked for her team in the sense that it has catapulted her from a goody-two-shoes into somebody who`s on everybody`s lips and who`s really gotten to a new level of fame. And in our upside-down world, that is the definition of success.
HAMMER: Yes, laying low maybe the smartest move they`ve made in a while. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Shannon Fox, Maggie Gallant, I thank you all for joining us.
And we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Miley Cyrus Photo Scandal: Do you feel sorry for her?" Keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: I don`t know, A.J. I do kind of feel sorry for Miley.
HAMMER: Yes, I do a bit. But you know what? She`s smart. Her dad`s smart. I think they underestimated just how angry this would make people.
ANDERSON: Probably did, A.J. And you know what else? I do feel a teensy, tiny bit sorry for Paris Hilton.
HAMMER: What?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Paris Hilton dances like my dad dances. My Dad`s a 59-year-old Jewish guy with no sense of rhythm.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. OK. I take it back. I don`t really feel sorry for her or her bad dancing. Straight ahead, you`ve got to see this hysterical look at the worst celebrity dancers all caught on tape.
HAMMER: Got me worried, Brooke. All right. I think this is a great story. For the first time ever, a plus-size model is a finalist in the Miss England Pageant. Coming up next, let me tell you. You definitely want to hear why she`s doing this and the very special message for all women out there.
ANDERSON: Uh-oh. "Different Strokes" star Gary Coleman is having marriage problems already. I thought he and his wife were in good shape, but I guess not. Because they`re going on national TV to try and work some very personal problems out - sex, fighting, whether to have kids. Your first look at how it all plays out. That is straight ahead.
And remember, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime. We`re always posting new stuff for you to watch. That`s at our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, America, welcome back to the "Paris Hilton Dance Show," where you`ll learn how to be a really (EXPLETIVE DELETED) dancer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes. I cannot believe that Paris gets paid big bucks to show up to clubs and dance. If you call what she does dancing. Hey, girl, you`ve got cash. Can`t you spring for some lessons? So not hot.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And tonight, a showbiz special report, the worst celebrity dancing ever.
Forget about "Dancing with the Stars" because we are bringing you "Dancing With The Stars Who Dance Badly," really badly. And as our friends at the "HEADLINE NEWS" show "NOT JUST ANOTHER CABLE NEWS SHOW" revealed, from Britney Spears to Paris Hilton, sometimes it is better to just stay off your feet.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER, HEADLINE NEWS: Who didn`t shed a tear watching Paris Hilton`s return to jail? Oh, it`s even too painful to look at now. Those who say this was the lowest point in her life have obviously never seen this - Paris Hilton dancing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The girl cannot dance. I mean, please.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Paris Hilton dances like my dad dances. My dad`s a 59-year-old Jewish guy with no sense of rhythm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Watch her closely. She gets paid tens of thousands of dollars to show up at clubs and bust these moves?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She shows up at these parties and she dances like this. Would you pay someone to dance like this at your party?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s almost like she`s pointing but she gives up. She was just like -
MICHAEL YO, HOST, "YO ON E!": Paris, what are you doing up there? Stop embarrassing - get down now, Paris.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She looks like one of the dancers in the "Charlie Brown Christmas Special."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, you`ve got the girl who`s like - and then you`ve got that one over here. Now you can add Paris doing her horrible, horrible dance.
JULIA ALLISON, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "STAR" MAGAZINE: I don`t think that she`ll be on "Dancing With The Stars" anytime soon, although, you know, if Heather Mills can do it with one leg, maybe Paris Hilton can do it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, America, welcome back to the Paris Hilton dance show, where you`ll learn how to be a really (EXPLETIVE DELETED) dancer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bust it!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m touching my head. Oh, I`m Paris Hilton.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dude, that`s Paris Hilton. She`s a worse dancer than your mom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: But is she a worse dancer than this mom? Who can forget Britney Spears in her now legendary "MTV Music Awards" comeback?
MARC LAMONT HILL, POP CULTURE BLOGGER: I think it may have been the worst performance in video music history. And that`s saying something. Vanilla Ice has performed at the VMA. .
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was Britney`s chance to show, like, "OK. I`m back. I`m the pop star you love and remember.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She kind of skipped all the rehearsals. She fired her stylist.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She brought her own outfit.
YO: She wouldn`t even come out in that clothing. It`s like, Britney, you know, cover up a little bit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She owns that outfit. She brought it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, she brought that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was hers. I have this swarovski bra that I have at home. I think I`m just going to use that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. But I also have some underpants that were too big for Cher when she decided to wear a stripper`s outfit to Oscars nine times in a row, so I might wear that one, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m going to keep my tights on.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oops. I`ve got to wear my tights.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m a lady.
KEN BAKER, EXECUTIVE NEWS DIRECTOR FOR "E!": A lot of people said she looked chunky. She looked too big for Britney. But you know what? I actually thought she looked pretty good, at least her body. It was just the wrong outfit.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, just looking at that dead, vapid, like nothing going on back there look in her eyes. It was just so sad.
STEVE SANTAGATI, "ASKSTEVESANTAGATI.COM": Her back-up dancers looked more like pall bearers.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that Janet Jackson from "Rhythm Nation" should call the police.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, because her bra is missing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And that`s a rude theft, because that is piece of history.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: But Paris and Britney are just part of a long, rich tradition of celebrities willing to risk humiliation in the name of dance. Like Ashlee Simpson, her appearance on "Saturday Night Live" proved to the world that she could dance a jig almost as well as he could lip sync.
And M.C. Hammer - this dude hit the pinnacle of bad dancing in his 1990 music video "You Can`t Touch This" proving that dance moves like these are really, yes, untouchable. Oh no, M.C. Don`t worry, dude, we will not touch that.
And let`s not forget to include the brat pack. Their acting skills in "The Breakfast Club" were actually overshadowed by their dancing. Hey, looks like Paris wasn`t the only one to steal moves from the "Charlie Brown Christmas Special."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: OK, yes. I have to say, that was some of the worst dancing I`ve ever seen. That report from the brand new HEADLINE NEWS program "NOT JUST ANOTHER CABLE NEWS SHOW" which can be seen every Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern. This weekend, "The Worst Political Blunders Ever."
HAMMER: Well, moving on now. This year`s Miss England pageant is not just another beauty pageant. I`ve got to tell you, I think this is terrific. For the first time ever, a plus-sized model is a finalist. That`s right - 17-year-old Chloe Marshall is a size 16. Chloe weighs in at 176 pounds and Chloe is hoping her competing is going to give other girls hope and promote a realistic and healthy body image.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHLOE MARSHALL, FINALIST, MISS ENGLAND: I want to show that you know (UNINTELLIGIBLE). You never hear of a size 16 plus-sized girl going into a competition. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) It needs to change for the better, not for the worse. I think they`re happy they`ve got someone in the competition that is really confident and has a different look to any of the other girls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well said, Chloe. Now, of course, there is some controversy because there are some people who think Chloe is promoting an unhealthy image. I think that`s ridiculous and I`m rooting for her. I think she`s got a real shot too, because the public actually gets to help choose the winner. The Miss England finals are in July and we`re rooting for you, Chloe.
HAMMER: Well, Gary Coleman is having some plus-sized problems with his marriage. You won`t believe the way he`s going about trying to solve them. I`m talking really personal stuff - sex, fighting, whether or not to have kids. He and his wife are going on TV`s divorce court. Different strokes for different folks, right? Some people making YouTube videos out their about their spouse. Some going on TV. You won`t want to miss this, coming up next.
You can now watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT anytime. Just download our podcast. It`s free. You`ll find the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast right there at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or you can go to iTunes and type "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" into the search box. We are coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Thanks so much, Charles. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Tonight, Gary Coleman is taking dramatic steps to save his marriage. And I`ve got your first look at just how he`s planning to do it. The "Different Strokes" star got married in August but the honeymoon is definitely over.
The couple is going on TV`s "Divorce Court" to try and sort out their sex and anger issues. And some of the anger apparently stems from Gary`s wife wanting to have kids even though she knew Gary didn`t. Judge Toler isn`t having any of it. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JUDGE LYNN TOLER: But you understood he didn`t want children when you married him.
SHANNON PRICE, GARY COLEMAN`S WIFE: Yes, right.
TOLER: What did you think was going to happen?
PRICE: Probably -
TOLER: Once you got married, what - did you think you could convince him? You could talk him into it? You can oops it?
PRICE: No.
TOLER: And just accidentally have one?
PRICE: No. He`s hard convincing.
GARY COLEMAN, "DIFFERENCE STROKES" STAR: Yes, that`s look the look I had on my face every day.
PRICE: He`s hard convincing. He`s hard to convince.
COLEMAN: That look.
ANDERSON: You can bet there will be many "what you talking about" moments during this show. And get this, right here on Wednesday, Judge Toler will be right here with the inside story of what happened and how she ruled.
HAMMER: There`s something very strange about that to me.
All right. Monday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. The startling Annie Liebovitz "Vanity Fair" magazine photo of 15-year-old "Hannah Montana" star, Miley Cyrus, causing coast-to- coast outrage. "Miley Cyrus` Racy Photo Scandal: Was it a mistake to pose for `Vanity Fair`?
Look at how the voting went - 58 percent of you said yes; 42 percent of you said no. So almost a bit of an even split there. Here`s some of the E-mails we got.
We heard from Diane in Michigan. Diane thinks, "I am a grandmother of a 15-year-old. I am not a prude. However, someone has lost their mind."
Barbara from Ohio doesn`t understand what all the fuss is about. Barbara said, "You are likely to see more skin from a 15-year-old watching high school cheerleaders or walking on a local beach."
You know, Brooke, I`ve got to say she makes an excellent point, and if you look at what`s on TV. But it`s that "come hither" look.
ANDERSON: Yes, it is. And I love Diane`s E-mail. Somebody has lost their minds.
HAMMER: Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We`ve got to go. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: 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 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is next.
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