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Showbiz Tonight
Another Word War on the View; Britney Gives Up Custody; Denise and Charlie are Going Back to Court; Selling The Joker
Aired July 18, 2008 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST: Another feud on "The View." Whoopi and Elisabeth go at it over the N word, ending with one of them in tears.
And Denise Richards goes back to court to keep Charlie Sheen from seeing their kids. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a Britney Spears bombshell. Britney reportedly gives up custody of her two kids. Kevin Federline gets sole custody. What is the reason for her startling about face after nearly two years of fighting? And what does this mean for Britney, for K-Fed and for the kids? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the custody shocker that changes everything.
Tonight, selling the Joker. The fascinating inside story of the tough sell for "The Dark Knight" after Heath Ledger`s sudden death.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE ZEITCHIK, SENIOR WRITER, "HOLLYWOOD REPORTER": Warner Brothers and Christopher Nolan, the director, were in a very interesting position and in any ways, a difficult position with how to exit the story of the Joker.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight, we`re going behind the scenes to find out how they pulled it off. Plus, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is one-on-one with the star who replaced Katie Holmes, Maggie Gyllenhaal.
And Rainn`s reign on CNN.
RAINN WILSON, STAR OF "THE OFFICE": Let`s move people. In with the graphics.
ANDERSON: You have got to see what happened when "The Office" star Rainn Wilson stepped in to do the weather on CNN.
(MUSIC)
Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, broadcasting tonight from Hollywood. And tonight, the fallout from the unbelievable face-off between Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Whoopi Goldberg on "The View" about the use of the N word. That is coming up.
But first, tonight, a Britney bombshell nobody saw coming. After two years of nasty fighting, Britney Spears has settled her battle with ex- hubby, Kevin Federline, over custody of their two children. This startling agreement was hashed out just weeks before the two were headed to trial. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with all the late-breaking details and here`s what`s making news right now.
In a stunning move, Britney Spears has suddenly agreed to stop fighting K-Fed and let him keep sole custody of their two young boys. The agreement right now is a private one, both sides asking court to make it final. As part of the deal, Britney will be getting more visitation rights to see her kids. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there outside the courtroom in Los Angeles today when K-Fed`s attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, spoke with reporters and confirmed the end of the Britney-K-Fed battle is near. Take a look at what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK VINCENT KAPLAN, ATTORNEY FOR KEVIN FEDERLINE: The agreement will be converted into a legal document with the court sometime in the very near future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So what does this all mean? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coast-to-coast tonight with the best team of Britney experts to figure it all out.
Joining me tonight from New York, Lisa Bloom, host of "In Session." Lisa Bloom, "Open Court." Also in New York, David Caplan, staff editor for "People" magazine. And coming to us tonight from Boston, Darren Kavinoky, attorney for the California-based Kavinoky Law Firm. Lisa, David, Darren, welcome. Thanks for being here.
Darren, I`ll begin with you. Are you surprised by this because it seemed to come out of nowhere?
DARREN KAVINOKY, ATTORNEY, KAVINOKY LAW FIRM: It did. And it`s surprising that Britney Spears and Kevin Federline are now the standard-bearers when it comes to high-profile celebrity divorces. But it really was an incredibly loving move on Britney`s part, really an acknowledgment that this is what`s in the best interest of those kids right now. And I think to her credit, she deserves some kudos and our applause at this point.
ANDERSON: Lisa, first of all, did it catch you off guard and do you agree with Darren that they are the standard bearers for high-profile celebrity divorces?
LISA BLOOM, HOST, "IN SESSION": Well, I`m sure that is the case. But you know, this seemingly sudden agreement is really two years in the making. She`s been battling and battling and losing and losing in court. And probably, the real unsung hero of this agreement is one of her attorneys who finally got her to see the light, that she can keep throwing money at those attorneys and they can keep going into court and fighting.
But really, this judge who makes probably 1/1,000 of what Britney makes, has the power to say, "No. Girl, you are just not ready to be a parent. K-Fed is a better parent. He gets the kids." If she`s lucky, she gets visitation. That`s what she`s had over the last few months. She may as well accept that and get on with her life and prove herself, put herself in a better position. She can always go back and ask for more time with the kids.
ANDERSON: David, what do you think? Can she always go back? And are you stunned by this turn, by this change in the development?
DAVID CAPLAN, STAFF EDITOR, "PEOPLE MAGAZINE": Completely shocked because Britney - you know, custody has been the center of this debate. She`s been so feisty about wanting to see her kids. So all of a sudden, even with "People.com," we have the headline, "It`s Over." It`s like your jaw drops. It`s like the end of this little miniseries with Britney.
ANDERSON: The end of a little miniseries. Oh, well, as we mentioned, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there outside the court today when Kevin Federline`s attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told reporters how Kevin is feeling about the settlement. Watch what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
M. KAPLAN: This has been a long ordeal, and to have that over is something that makes him extremely happy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Darren, there was one report today that said that even K-Fed was taken by surprise. Nonetheless, do you suspect that he is OK with this?
KAVINOKY: Oh, I`m sure he was taken by surprise. And I`m sure he`s more than OK with this because each and every month, he receives a check for $20,000 to take care of those kids, and he gets to spend that money however he likes. And I`m sure daddy`s going to get a little bling because of that extra source of income. And you remember, these are small kids.
ANDERSON: Well, I don`t think his motivation is financial, though, Darren. Is that really fair?
KAVINOKY: No.
ANDERSON: He loves the kids.
KAVINOKY: It`s just -
BLOOM: Why not? I`m with Darren.
KAVINOKY: I`m sure he loves the kids, but it`s icing on the cake for him. And when you look at the age of these kids, they`re young kids. This means multimillions of dollars until they reach the age of 18. So he`s got a strong financial incentive to be delighted at the way this turned out.
ANDERSON: Well, speaking of that financial incentive, Lisa, until now ...
BLOOM: Yes.
ANDERSON: He has been getting up to about $15,000 per month in child support. That is a hefty sum. Now that he has sole custody, is it fair to say he may be eligible for more financial support from Britney?
BLOOM: Yes, it`s fair to say it and it`s fair to raise it and I applaud Darren for raising it. Look, if a woman gets pregnant from a rich guy and sits at home and collects child support, people call her a gold digger. Nobody ever says that about K-Fed even though he`s had a job - when? When was the last job he`s ever had? What has he done to support himself?
Whereas Britney has been working throughout all of this and bringing in all the money and gets no love from anybody except me for doing that. So I say, yes, of course he`s entitled to the kids.
KAVINOKY: Hey, I`ve got love for her, too.
BLOOM: If he`s a better parent, good for him. He should have the kids. He should get child support. And by the way, she`s been paying both sets of lawyers for the last two years. Every time he goes to court to fight her, she pays her lawyers and she pays his lawyers. So she`s going to end up keeping a lot more of her own money by resolving this.
ANDERSON: Yes, she does deserve some respect for that. And Lisa, to answer your question, I think he had a couple of club appearances that he was paid for.
BLOOM: Oh, so that was casting.
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, here is something that is really interesting as well. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT talked to Britney`s attorney, Laura Wasser, and she said this deal does not mean permanent custody for K-Fed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURA WASSER, ATTORNEY FOR BRITNEY SPEARS: I don`t think there is such thing as permanent custody when you have minor children. Everything is impermanent, if you will. There`s no such thing as a permanent custody order.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK, David, how do you interpret that?
CAPLAN: I mean, I can interpret it that the ruling, it`s fine for now. But Britney - they will be back and they`re going to want more custody later on in the year or maybe at the beginning of next year since she`s supposed to get this extra night by the end of the year. Britney`s going to be back and she wants more time with her kids. That`s exactly how I see that.
ANDERSON: Yes. Maybe renegotiate the terms at some point. Darren, her lawyer does seem to be leaving the door open for something, doesn`t she?
KAVINOKY: Well, she does except in order to make any changes, there have to be changed circumstances. So she really does have the burden of coming up with something that`s new and different and that`s manifestly in the best interest of those kids if there are going to be any changed circumstances. So she`s got the burden to go forward and show some good reasons why.
ANDERSON: Well, her attorney got specific talking about those circumstances. And you know, while Britney has agreed that K-Fed have sole custody now, Britney`s attorney did tell "Access Hollywood" that Britney will get more custodial time by the end of the year.
Lisa, do you see that happening?
BLOOM: I think it`s very optimistic. And by the way, I love the way L.A. attorneys dress. My goodness. She looks terrific ...
ANDERSON: She looks sharp, doesn`t she?
BLOOM: ... in that flowery thing, and that`s how she goes to court. I mean, this is a very optimistic woman.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: David, do you think Britney is ready for more visitation with the kids?
CAPLAN: Yes, absolutely. She`s shown it. She`s ready for an extra night. Not too much more but she`s completely ready. She`s really shown that.
ANDERSON: And Darren, you know - do you think they will ever be able to get that 50-50 custody arrangement like they had before? She`s been through a lot.
KAVINOKY: Well, she has been through a lot, and it`s certainly possible. I`m certainly one of Britney`s fans in this respect - I applaud a comeback story. I think this is a great opportunity for her ...
ANDERSON: Yes.
KAVINOKY: ... to allow what is the seemingly worst event in her life - and she`s had a tough, tough span of years here. But she could allow this to be the catalyst for some deep and meaningful change.
ANDERSON: Yes.
KAVINOKY: That`s why I`m rooting for her in that respect.
ANDERSON: As we all are. Turn it around -
KAVINOKY: But just in case, her mode of transportation -
ANDERSON: Right, was not the appropriate way to travel. Yes. Maybe she can turn it around and be an inspiration. Lisa Bloom, David Caplan, Darren Kavinoky, thank you all.
BLOOM: Thanks.
ANDERSON: And we want to hear from you on this. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Britney Gives Up Custody of Her Kids: Did she make the right decision?" Vote CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Britney and K-Fed have been fighting in court for a while over their kids but they`ve got nothing on these two. That`s right - I hate to tell you this, but Charlie and Denise, at it again. Denise has gone back to court trying to keep their kids away from Charlie. Will this ever stop? That is coming up.
Also another feud on "The View." Whoopi and Elisabeth go at it over the use of the N word and one of them ends up in tears. I`ve never seen anything like this from "The View." But who came out on top? Coming up.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILSON: There`s a big storm. But don`t worry, it`s out in the ocean and no one`s fishing there right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: No, you`re not seeing things. That is, indeed, Rainn Wilson from "The Office" doing the weather on CNN. It`s absolutely hysterical. You don`t want to miss it as Rainn reigns on CNN, still to come right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Remember, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime you want. We are always posting new stuff for you to watch at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": When we live in a world with pop culture that uses that term, and we try to get to a place where we feel like we`re in the same place, where we feel like we`re in the same world, how are we supposed to then move forward if we keep using terms that bring back that pain?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Is there a brand-new feud on "The View?" Elisabeth Hasselbeck breaking down in tears during a passionate debate with Whoopi Goldberg over the use of the N word.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, the fallout from the unbelievable fiery debate on "The View." Elisabeth Hasselbeck and co-host Whoopi Goldberg went at each other while talking about a video that caught Jesse Jackson saying the N word. It`s the most dramatic war of words that we have seen since Elisabeth faced off with Rosie O`Donnell over a year ago which ended with Rosie leaving the show.
With me tonight from Hollywood, Kim Serafin, senior editor of "In Touch Weekly." Also tonight in Hollywood, Shawn Robinson, correspondent and weekend co-anchor for "Access Hollywood." Ladies, welcome.
And we did just show you a snippet of what happened on "The View," but I want you absorb the entire thing. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": It isn`t balanced, and we would like it to be. But you have to understand. You have to listen to the fact we`re telling you, there are issues. There are huge problems that still affect us. And you`ve got to know this if you want to know us.
HASSELBECK: I`m not trying to - I understand that. I`m not trying to -
GOLDBERG: It didn`t sound like it.
HASSELBECK: I`m not trying to take that away from you. When we are living in this world - and when we`re living in a world where there is - in the pop culture when that word is used - this is upsetting to me. Because -
GOLDBERG: Oh, baby.
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": OK. Just take a breath and let someone else talk.
HASSELBECK: I am. Because this is a conversation that is hard. We`re going to have it and we have it here, well, because we love each other. When we live in a world with pop culture that uses that term, and we try to get to a place where we feel like we`re in the same place, where we feel like we`re in the same world, how are we supposed to then move forward if we keep using terms that bring back that pain?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right. We heard Elisabeth say, "Hey, we all love each other." And I believe that. But Shawn, I`ve got to say that at times, this got downright nasty. Do you think there`s any bad blood between them or is this just one of those topics that provokes a heated discussion?
SHAWN ROBINSON, CORRESPONDENT, "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD": Well, Brooke, first of all when you hire Whoopi Goldberg, you know what you`re getting. I mean, she`s always been very, very outspoken. But you know, I think they truly do like each other. There are, though, fundamental differences between these two women. During that conversation Elisabeth said, "We live in the same world." And to many people, that means we have the same experiences.
Whoopi Goldberg felt, "No, that is not true." And she really believes that that type of thinking is very naive. So these fundamental differences certainly come to light when you`re discussing something like race.
ANDERSON: Kim, do you agree that they truly like each other, it`s just the fundamental differences that cause these sorts of flare-ups?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Yes, I definitely think they do really respect each other and they do get along. But obviously, this is definitely a heated issue. I also think, you know, when you watch that clip and when you see the show, that Elisabeth knows when she`s getting into fights. She knows when it`s a John McCain-Barack Obama fight, she`s ready fight.
I think she was genuinely surprised that this sort of brought out all these issues and that people didn`t agree with her. I think she thought, "Well, I`m going to say" - which she truly believes that this is a hateful word, that, you know, it promotes stereotypes and everyone`s going to agree with this. So I think those are tears - those were real truthful tears. I think she didn`t expect it to get so heated.
ANDERSON: Yes. Maybe not just tears of emotion, but tears of frustration, too, as well, because it was maybe unexpected. And what we didn`t show you was leading up to that moment, Whoopi actually used the N word over and over again. Shawn, do you think she was intentionally trying to push Elisabeth`s buttons?
ROBINSON: Well, you know, once again, Whoopi has always been one to say what is on her mind. And when she`s using this word over and over and over again, I believe what she`s doing is trying to make a point. And making that point means, you know, when you`re actually saying the word - and it evokes so many different emotions.
And I`ve got to tell you, I was a co-host on "The View," a guest co- host on "The View" about a year and a half ago. And I`ve got to tell you, that Elisabeth is probably one of the most welcoming people on that staff, with all due respect to the other women. But she`s a very warm and genuine and nice person. But you can see how she does wear her emotions on her sleeve and this is something that is very, very difficult for her to discuss.
ANDERSON: Yes, very hard for her. I remember when you were on "The View," Shawn, you did an excellent job.
ROBINSON: Thank you.
ANDERSON: When I was watching this debate between these two - I don`t know about you, ladies, but I couldn`t help but remember that famous feud on "The View" between Elisabeth and Rosie O`Donnell. Remember, this was when Rosie accused Elisabeth of not defending her against conservative critics when Rosie talked about the troops fighting the war in Iraq. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSIE O`DONNELL, FORMER CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I wanted to know what people like you - but you are my friend ...
HASSELBECK: Yes.
O`DONNELL: ... since September. Do you believe that I think our troops are terrorists? And you would not even look me in the face, Elisabeth ...
HASSELBECK: What are you talking about?
O`DONNELL: And say, "No, Rosie, I can understand how people might have thought that. Why don`t you take this opportunity?" like I`m six -
HASSELBECK: Because you are an adult,
O`DONNELL: And so are you.
HASSELBECK: And I am certainly not going to be the person for you to explain your thoughts. They`re your thoughts. Defend your own insinuations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Kim, very, very quickly. The common denominator is Elisabeth. Do you think that she`s become a liability to the show or that this is exactly what they need and love? Controversy brings ratings.
SERAFIN: Sure. Well, first of all, she probably does represent the opinion of a lot of people that watch that show. You know, probably half are right-leaning, half are left-leaning. But also, I think this is probably the kind of controversy that "The View" would prefer over Star Jones, you know, talking about sponsors for her wedding, you know. At least this one ends up on the news, talking about social issues. It makes "The View" more relevant.
ANDERSON: Good point.
SERAFIN: So, I think - and they`re able to get to bring points of view on the show because they know there is a differing point of you among the hosts.
ANDERSON: And that`s the point of the show. You`re right. By the way, the spokesman for "The View" declined to comment. Kim Serafin, thank you, and Shawn Robinson, thanks. Hey Shawn, congratulations on your appearance Sunday, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent".
ROBINSON: Oh, I love the show and I was shooting in Houdini`s cemetery. So it was so awesome to be there. So thank you very much. It was very fun.
ANDERSON: How thrilling for you. Thanks, guys.
All right. The big news right now, Britney`s custody bombshell. I still cannot believe that after all this time fighting in court, Britney has given up custody of her kids to Kevin Federline. What`s behind the decision and what will this mean for Britney, K-Fed and the kids? Coming up, our continuing coverage of Britney`s custody shocker.
Other star custody news, these two at it again. Denise Richards has gone back to court trying to keep Charlie Sheen from seeing their kids. I think these two have to come to some kind of understanding, but will they? That`s coming up.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILSON: There`s a big storm. But don`t worry, it`s out in the ocean and there`s no one fishing there right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: No, you`re not seeing things. That is, indeed, Rainn Wilson from "The Office" doing the weather on CNN. This is absolutely hysterical. You don`t want to miss it as Rainn reigns on CNN, still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. .
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Well, you`d never know it by looking at her now, but Rihanna says her looks used to be a problem for her. Rihanna grew up in Barbados and she says she stood out because of her light complexion and had trouble sitting in at school.
Rihanna tells "In Style" magazine that it made her angry and wanted to fight when she was younger. She says having lighter skin wasn`t a problem at home so it really confused her when it became an issue when she went to school.
Rihanna says, quote, "For the first six years of school, I would go home traumatized. The harassment continued to my very last day of elementary school. High school was better."
For exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of "In Style`s" August cover shoot, go to InStyle.com/Rihanna. And the new issue of "In Style" is on newsstands right now. She is a beauty.
OK. Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards - can you believe this? They`re at it again. I wonder if these two will ever get their act together for the sake of their kids. Denise went back to court trying to keep the kids away from Charlie. But will it work? And why doesn`t she want the children to be around their father? That`s coming up.
Also, I`ve got to say, I am absolutely shocked by Britney Spears` stunning decision to give up custody of her kids. What will this mean for Britney, for K-Fed and for their two young boys? Straight ahead, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s continuing coverage of Britney`s custody bombshell.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, ACTRESS: He did something really remarkable in this movie. I think he found a way to be so free.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: "The Dark Knight" is finally here. Straight ahead, we are going one-on-one with Maggie Gyllenhaal talking about Heath Ledger`s remarkable performance. Plus, I`ve got an inside look at selling the Joker after Heath`s tragic death. Quite a challenge there.
But first, stay on top of most provocative entertainment news and you can do this with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. Just head on over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight and click on the "sign up for the newsletter" link, it`s at the bottom of the page. It`s super easy. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming back right after this.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Britney`s bombshell. Britney Spears` surprising agreement to give up custody of her kids. Why would she make that choice? What does this mean for K-Fed and their two little boys? And was it the right decision? A showbiz special report, coming up.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILSON: There`s a big storm, but don`t worry. It`s out in the ocean and there`s no one fishing there right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Did you see this? It`s an office affair caught on tape. Did Rainn Wilson give up Emmy-nominated role on "The Office" to work at CNN? Well, maybe not. But won`t want to miss his unorthodox visit to the newsroom.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood. This is TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
Tonight, breaking news in two of Hollywood`s biggest child custody battles. In a surprise and dramatic move, Britney Spears has agreed to let her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, keep sole custody of their two young sons.
In a brand-new deal reached by their lawyers, Britney will get visitation with two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James. But has Britney given up on being a mom?
And Denise Richards hauling her ex, Charlie Sheen, back into court in their nasty custody battle. Denise is once again reportedly calling Charlie a bad dad and called an emergency hearing to change visitation that`s for their two daughters, Sam and Lola. We`ve got a fired-up panel ready to go tonight.
With me from Boston, Attorney Darren Kavinoky. In New York, host of "In Session," Lisa Bloom. Also in New York, "People" magazine`s staff editor David Caplan. Gang, thanks for being here.
And I want to start right now with this unexpected development today involving Britney Spears. After two years of really fighting tooth and nail with K-Fed over custody, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now tell you that Britney Spears has handed over all full-time parental duties of her two sons.
Darren, were you as surprised as everybody when Britney just seemed to - I don`t know - raise the white flag?
KAVINOKY: Brooke, the thing that`s absolutely shocking is that with all of these high-profile celebrity splits, we see right now that Britney Spears and K-Fed are setting the standard for decorum and civility, and, yes, even acting in the best interest of the child. So that part was absolutely surprising to me.
What wasn`t so surprising is that Britney would play the walk-away card. And anybody who`s got kids, that have ever had pets will understand what I`m talking about. You know, when your five-year-old wants a pet Chihuahua because they seem so cute and then all of a sudden, they realize that pets need to be fed and they need to be walked and they make lots of noise and they bark and they poop, then they don`t want the pet anymore. So I think -
ANDERSON: But to make the comparison to pets - I don`t know, Darren. Lisa, I`m talking - you know, most moms are mama bears. Were you surprised by this, giving up on the fighting for them?
BLOOM: I was surprised and I think a healthy dose of reality has hit Britney somewhere along the way. Her latest hit might be "Give Me More," but this family court judge has been giving her less and less. Every time she goes before the court - I mean the court has said, "No way, you`re not getting custody." She didn`t even have visitation for a period of time. She gets monitored visitation now.
So I think she did a smart thing. I`m sure her attorneys beat her into this agreement where essentially she`s just agreeing to the status quo. He gets custody. She gets visitation. No custody order is ever final. She can always go back and get it modified if she can clean up her act in the future.
ANDERSON: Well, her attorney did say that, that this isn`t something that`s permanent. Her attorney, Laura Wasser, also told "Access Hollywood" that this day`s ruling was a victory for the entire family. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there outside the court today where Kevin`s attorney said he and Kevin were also pleased with the new deal. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
M. KAPLAN: This has been a long ordeal and to have that over is something that makes him extremely happy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. There is some finality to this. But David, do you think that Kevin was just as stunned as everybody that Britney said, "You know what? I`m done fighting, take the kids."
CAPLAN: Absolutely. I mean the children`s custody hearing has been central to the battle between Britney and Kevin. And honestly, you know, getting an additional night is not that much. There`s, of course, the potential for a lot more time. So I think he was completely surprised and it did take him and his camp definitely by shock.
ANDERSON: You do talk about increased visitation. Part of the agreement is that she will get some more visitation with those two young boys. But Darren, let me ask you. In less than two weeks, the conservatorship which has Britney`s father controlling her estate is set to run out. Once that happens, do you think Britney is going to go back in there and fight to reverse the ruling?
KAVINOKY: Well, it`s legally possible for her to do so. But presumably, if that was her intention, she would have made that known and they wouldn`t have gone down the path that they did. Although if she does pursue the increased visitation or even full custody, we can expect K-Fed to fight mightily. Because, of course, as long as he`s got the sole legal custody of those kids, he`s got a several million-dollar incentive to keep that up. So remember, he does get a healthy, healthy child support check every month. So he`ll definitely be digging in his heels on that.
ANDERSON: He does get financial support, you`re right about that. And we cannot forget, guys, it was only six months ago when Britney was hauled off to the UCLA psych ward. And we all remember that later when she showed up to the court, it was in the midst of a scary mob scene. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, you guys. Let`s do it this way.
BRITNEY SPEARS, POP STAR: I want to get in the car. I want to get in the car.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was then. Fortunately, things have calmed down. Now, Britney is able to make a new album. She`s working on that. She recorded a music video from Madonna`s tour. Lisa, do you think Britney - giving up the kids maybe, as a conscious sign, that she`s taking some time to get her life back together before has the huge responsibility of caring for those children?
BLOOM: I do think so. And remember, this judge said that she was a habitual and frequent substance abuser. So I hope she`s getting some treatment for that and I hope that part of her recovery is recognizing her limitations. One of those limitations is she`s not ready to be a full-time mom.
Being rich and famous doesn`t mean you`re going to be a good parent and Britney Spears is the best example of that. So she`s continuing to work. She`s continuing to financially support those children. I applaud her for that. I don`t think she gets enough credit for that. But I think emotionally, psychologically, she`s not ready to take on the responsibility of one-on-one parenting.
ANDERSON: Well - and fortunately, we haven`t seen that the public erratic behavior from her - so maybe she is making the appropriate steps. David, there are two kids involved here, two-year-old Sean, one-year-old Jayden. Does it seem to you that this is the best deal for them?
CAPLAN: Yes. It`s definitely the best deal for them, because Britney isn`t ready yet to have more time with her kids. So I think if she had more time, it wouldn`t be in the best interest of the children because they need a mother who can handle caring for them. Right now, Britney is not quite there yet.
ANDERSON: OK. While K-Fed and Britney seem to have settled their differences for now, at least, Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards are at it again. Denise has gone back to court for what her lawyer calls serious issues regarding Charlie and his behavior with his and Denise`s two young daughters. But her lawyer wouldn`t say what those issues were.
Darren, how serious would it have to be for the court to change visitation? I mean, this is pretty strong language being thrown around here.
KAVINOKY: Yes, it is. And legally, there need to be significant changes such that it`s manifestly in the kids` best interest to modify the existing order. But put aside the legal blah, blah, blah, I think the most interesting thing is the incredibly fun guessing game that we all get to have right now. What is it that he could have done this time? You know, these people have such an incredible background of one kooky story after another. I`ve got a very fertile imagination so I`m coming up with great scenarios. I`m sure everybody else is, too.
BLOOM: I hope it doesn`t involve Chihuahuas.
ANDERSON: I hope not either, Lisa. And I want to mention this - Charlie has denied most of the allegations that Denise has made over the past couple of years. And they are due back in court on Monday.
I want you to listen to what Charlie`s lawyer said about being back in court, quote, "It`s most unfortunate that Denise Richards and her attorney are desperately trying to deprive Charlie Sheen of visitation with his children and at the same time obviously trying to create a media circus designed to help publicize her reality show."
ANDERSON: Lisa.
KAVINOKY: Oh!
ANDERSON: I know. I can be a little cynical at times. But come on, do you really think that Denise Richards went back to court to promote her reality show?
BLOOM: Oh, Brooke, I hope not. I hope not. I hope not. I mean, look, to be fair to her and Charlie Sheen, they`re both very active, high visibility kind of people. They`re always doing something. So whenever she goes to court, somebody could say, "Well, she`s trying to kill his show or she`s trying to promote her show." I hope that`s not the case. It`s possible, but please tell me that`s not the case.
ANDERSON: I know - tell us it`s not true. And everybody was also noting that Denise happened to go back to court on the same day Charlie received his third Emmy nomination for "Two-and-a-Half Men." David Caplan, 10 seconds - coincidence or conspiracy?
CAPLAN: I think it`s conspiracy, I`ve got to tell you. It`s a little too weird there. There are five days to a week; why choose that one day when he`s getting an Emmy nomination?
ANDERSON: I will add, Denise`s attorney said that it was simply a coincidence. We will leave it there for now, guys. Darren Kavinoky, Lisa Bloom, David Caplan, thank you all.
BLOOM: Thank you.
ANDERSON: And now, we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It is this - "Britney Gives Up Custody of Her Kids: Did she make the right decision?" Vote, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Did you see this? It looks like at least one of the stars of the hit show, "The Office" may be trying out for a new job. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILSON: There`s a big storm, but don`t worry. It`s out in the ocean and there`s no one fishing there right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I think Rainn Wilson may want to keep his day job as the Emmy- nominated Dwight on "The Office." You won`t want to miss his hilarious appearance on CNN. That is coming up.
Also tonight, "The Dark Knight" challenge. The Batman sequel lost its biggest star tragically. How did the studio waltz the line between promoting the film without being insensitive? The dramatic details behind "The Dark Knight`s" tight rope to the big screen.
And is the road coming to an end for the ladies of Wisteria Lane? The creator of "Desperate Housewives" makes a surprising announcement about the fate of the hit show. That story just ahead right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Hey, now you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT anytime you want. All you have to do is download our podcast. It`s totally free. You can find the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight, or just download it on iTunes. Type "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" in the search box. We are coming back right after this. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Charles. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, did you see this? Emmy-nominated actor Rainn Wilson from "The Office" stirs things up in the CNN newsroom in Atlanta. As you might expect, it wasn`t your ordinary interview. Rainn started by doing the weather forecast. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILSON: I`m filling in for Chad today. Hi, it`s Rainn Wilson.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: It`s the guy from "The Office."
WILSON: Yes, that`s me. I`ve always wanted to give the weather on CNN. And so I`m going to give you the rundown, OK?
LEMON: OK. Go ahead.
WILSON: There`s a big storm. But don`t worry, it`s out in the ocean. And there`s no one fishing there right now.
LEMON: Wait, do you know anything about the weather?
WILSON: Yes, I do. Hold on. Hailstorms - these are very bad hailstorms in South America, OK? Let`s move - move, people, with the graphics! OK, we`ve got a little bit of slight - there`s a gale off of the coast of Florida.
LEMON: OK.
WILSON: And it`s moving all the shellfish inland. So get your (UNINTELLIGIBLE) mailed out.
LEMON: Let`s people why you`re really here. You`ve got a new movie coming out.
WILSON: Wait, that`s Bermuda again. Yes, I`ve got a movie, "The Rocker." I was just doing an interview at "CNN.com" and I got my fantasy come true. I got to do the weather. There`s buttons on here.
LEMON: So your wish came true. It comes out on August 20th.
WILSON: Yes.
LEMON: And you`re a former, what, heavy metal drummer, right, who gets a second chance at the movie?
WILSON: Yes. The movie is "The Rocker," yes.
LEMON: August 20th. And we have to say, though, because this is very appropriate and timely, you`re just nominated for an Emmy today for best actor in a comedy role, right?
WILSON: A supporting actor in a comedy role. Yes, the best actor is Steve Carell. That`s his territory. But very, very excited and that was a good day today. I got to do the weather. I got nominated for an Emmy.
LEMON: You got to meet -
WILSON: And I`m here in the CNN Newsroom.
LEMON: You are with - there it is with Don Lemon and Kyra Phillips. Hey, you have hit the big-time, buddy.
WILSON: I have, indeed.
LEMON: Congratulations on that Emmy nomination. We wish you the best. OK. Rainn, you`re a good sport.
WILSON: Thanks for having me.
LEMON: All right. You`re a good sport. Kyra -
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Is that Rainn without his shirt on?
LEMON: I think it is.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Rainn, I never thought you`d be so sexy.
LEMON: Rainn doing the rain forecast.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And if you want to see more of Rainn without his shirt on, check out "The Rocker" in theaters next month.
But long before Batman sequel, "The Dark Knight," hit theaters, it was billed as the most anticipated movie of the summer. Now, with the tragic and untimely death of its biggest star, Heath Ledger, the movie studio found itself walking a tight rope. How to sell the film and still be sensitive to Ledger`s family, friends and fans. Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEATH LEDGER, ACTOR: This town deserves a higher class of criminal.
KAREEN WYNTER (voice over): His performance as the maniacal Joker in "The Dark Knight" has already earned Heath Ledger rave reviews from critics and co-stars alike.
GARY OLDMAN, PLAYS LIEUTENANT JAMES GORDON: It wouldn`t surprise if he does sort of get some kind of nod or nomination - posthumous, sort of, Oscar nomination.
WYNTER: For those behind the scenes finishing and promoting the late actor`s last film was no easy trick.
STEVE ZEITCHIK, "THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER": Warner Brothers and Christopher Nolan, the director were in a very interesting position and in many ways, a difficult position with how to exit the story of the Joker.
WYNTER: Steve Zeitchik is a senior writer for "The Hollywood Reporter."
ZEITCHIK: Walking that line between - you know, leaving the door too wide open on the one hand, but being, on the other hand, too explicit about what happens to him at the end of the film. So I think there was really some tricky production and post-production issues that, you know, both the director and the studio faced.
LEDGER: And here we go.
WYNTER: Once completed, deciding how to use Ledger`s image and performance to market the film came with its own set of challenges.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out to Warner Brothers which, like CNN, is owned by Time Warner and they declined our request for a statement.
Maggie Gyllenhaal - we had a chance to sit down with her. She also stars in "The Dark Knight." She plays Rachel Dawes, Batman`s crush. Gyllenhaal opened up to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter about what it was like working alongside Heath Ledger and how it felt to be a part of motion picture history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEDGER: Now there`s Batman.
WYNTER: Now, at one point did you realize you were part of something special, some historic here?
MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, ACTRESS: Well, I mean, you know, you can tell when you`re working on something if it`s working or not. I knew the movie was - felt good, you know. And acting with all these people - I have a great scene with Michael Caine and Heath and I loved acting with Aaron and Christian. So that all felt good, and I had the feeling that it was going to turn into something interesting.
But I only recently saw the movie. I saw the movie last week - two weeks ago. And I was shocked by how good it was. I mean I`ve also been hearing how it`s really, really good. But I didn`t know it would be this good. And I`m like, I`m so proud to be a part of it at all, you know. It is really unusually good, I think.
WYNTER: Such an exciting time but also a bittersweet one. It must be pretty difficult promoting this movie without Heath Ledger.
GYLLENHAAL: I think it is. You know, I think Heath did something really remarkable in this movie. I think he found a way to be so free that nothing he does as an actor here is wrong.
LEDGER: Hello, beautiful. You look nervous.
GYLLENHAAL: He`s just absolutely free and so everything is right. You know, there`s no way to judge it because it`s just so open and free. And I think, you know, that happens every once in a while to the best actors. But even for them, it`s unusual. And it`s really difficult to do that in a movie that`s this big.
WYNTER: And the role that he played is so convincing. It wasn`t overdone in any way. He really sold it.
GYLLENHAAL: Yes, he is really remarkable.
WYNTER: What was it like working with him?
GYLLENHAAL: It was exciting, you know. I mean, when you are working with someone who is that free, it inspires you to just roll with it, you know, take anything that`s given to you. And anything I would give him, he would eat right up. It was great to work with him.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: "The Dark Knight" is now playing in theaters nationwide.
All right. You are not going to believe this. Is it really the end of the rope for the ladies of Wisteria Lane? Say it isn`t so. Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the surprising comments from the creator of "Desperate Housewives."
Plus, Eva Longoria opens up to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about how she keeps her relationship strong despite the glare of the Hollywood spotlight. That`s coming up next right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Remember, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video any time you want to. We are always posting new stuff for you to watch - that`s at our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Among the videos now playing, the Brangelina hospital fury, why protesters are demonstrating outside the hospital in France where Angelina Jolie gave birth.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. It is time for "Making It Work." Now, this is where we take a look at couples who manage build strong relationships in Hollywood.
Tonight, Tony Parker and Eva Longoria-Parker. He`s an NBA star. She`s an award-winning TV star. They just celebrated their first anniversary as a married couple. And even though their relationship is very young, they have already had to deal with more than their fair share of negative press.
Early on, there were false reports of cheating that became so widely spread that Eva and Tony were forced to defend their relationship publicly. Now, they are past all that drama and Eva says their marriage is stronger than ever. I sat down with Eva and got the secret to their success.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, how do you guys make it work? Because you do have to deal with the constant glare of the spotlight and the paparazzi hounding you go everywhere you go. How do you make it work?
LONGORIA-PARKER: Well, we live in San Antonio, so that helps. There`s no paparazzi there. But when Tony`s here in L.A., he hates it. He`s like, why do they want all these pictures? You know, we`re both really grounded in who we are and that`s just what we do. And that`s just part of the job, you know. But who we are and who we are as a couple is really what defines us.
ANDERSON: Do you want to start a family soon?
LONGORIA-PARKER: Oh, yes, yes. We want to start a family and, you know, stay in San Antonio and just live a normal life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, it can`t be easy for couples like that in the spotlight. Of course, Eva is best known as Gabrielle Solis on the hit ABC show "Desperate Housewives."
Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you there is big news about the show`s fate. "Desperate Housewives" creator and executive producer Marc Cherry announced the ABC series will end after its seventh season. The ladies at Wisteria Lane have plenty of time, though, to wrap up their drama. The show begins its fifth season this fall.
Thursday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Madonna`s Brother`s Tell-All: Did he betray his sister?" Seventy percent of you say yes; 30 percent of you say no.
Here are some of the E-mails. Carmen from Texas writes, "You should never do that to a sibling because that is family. I don`t care if they are famous or not."
Pam from New Mexico says, "I am a huge Madonna fan and I feel that Christopher`s book is in no way harmful to her. I am actually looking forward to reading it."
We do appreciate your E-mails so keep them coming.
That`s a wrap for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching. 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 coming up next. Take care.
END
