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Showbiz Tonight
Paris Responds to McCain Ad; Sex on TV; Mocking the Vote; Hollywood "It" Girl Smackdown; Teri Garr`s Battle with MS
Aired August 06, 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: An update on how Morgan Freeman is doing after his car accident. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: And Teri Garr opens up about why she kept her battle with multiple sclerosis a secret for so long. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
HAMMER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now. On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Paris strikes back. Paris Hilton responds to John McCain`s ad that compared Barack Obama to Paris herself. You don`t want to miss this. A bikini-clad Paris speaks out. And wait until you hear her energy policy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WIDDICOMBE, "STAR" MAGAZINE: It`s suddenly the first smart thing that Paris Hilton has ever done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has Paris` response you just have to see for yourself.
Hollywood`s "it" girls. Look out A-listers. Hollywood`s young "it" girls are hot on your heels. Angelina versus Megan, Britney versus Miley, Courtney versus Amy. Tonight, showbiz special report, "The `It` Girl Smackdown."
And parents outraged. Is there too much sex and too little marriage on some of your favorite TV shows?
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
And tonight, sex on TV. New outrage over your favorite TV shows. Are they pushing the limits of sexual content on primetime and are these shows actually casting a bad light on marriage? Tonight, we`re asking the controversial question, should something be done to limit sex on TV?
HAMMER: But first, Paris Hilton gets even. Everybody is talking about Paris` outrageous new video. Now, this is her counterattack to presidential candidate John McCain`s controversial ad that portrayed her as an empty celebrity. Well, we all knew that Paris wasn`t going to take that lying down. But we had no idea that this is what she`d come out with. Paris` unbelievable campaign video is making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PARIS HILTON, CELEBRITY: Hey, America. I`m Paris Hilton and I`m a celebrity, too.
HAMMER (voice over): It`s beginning to look a lot like Hollywood on Capitol Hill.
WIDDICOMBE: I think anytime you use Paris Hilton or Britney Spears in your campaign literature, you`re playing with fire.
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, this fire is burning hot now that Paris Hilton has joined the political fray that first began when Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain released his new campaign ad comparing Sen. Barack Obama to celebrities like Britney Spears and Paris. Well, Paris fired back in a parody on the Website "FunnyOrDie."
HILTON: I`m not from the olden days, and I`m not promising change like that other guy. I`m just hot. But then, that wrinkly white-haired guy used me in his campaign ad, which I guess, means I`m running for president. So thanks for the endorsement, white-haired dude.
HAMMER: The creators of the parody, Chris Henchy and Adam McKay say they`re not the ones who put Paris in politics. They blame it on McCain.
ADAM MCKAY, CREATOR OF THE PARODY: John came into Paris` house. Her house is pop culture and she`s going to come in there. If he`s going to come into her house, she`s going to give him a little bite.
WIDDICOMBE: It`s suddenly the first smart thing that Paris Hilton has ever done.
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, Paris` outrageous parody is what everyone is talking about from the "Today" show -
MEREDITH VIEIRA, HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: Meanwhile, who could ever imagine Paris Hilton would become a key player in the race for president?
HAMMER: To "Good Morning America" -.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE HOST: Paris Hilton is retaliating. She even has her own energy plan.
HAMMER: And who could have imagined this. In the parody, Paris Hilton posted on "FunnyOrDie," Paris Hilton who`s famous for - well, nothing, actually comes up with a provocative plan to solve the energy crisis. This is all while she sits poolside in a next-to-nothing bathing suit.
HILTON: Why don`t we do a hybrid of both candidates` ideas? We can do limited offshore drilling with strict environmental oversight while creating tax incentives to get Detroit making hybrid and electric cars. That way, the offshore drilling carries us until the new technologies kick in, which will then create new jobs and energy independence. Energy crisis solved.
WIDDICOMBE: One of the funniest things about the spot is that Paris actually articulates a very reasonable plan to solve the energy crisis. But it`s less provocative than the bathing suit she wears.
HAMMER: Speaking of that bathing suit, the guys who make the parody got pretty creative with that, too.
MCKAY: It`s actually Chris` suit. He wears it only when he`s in Europe.
CHRIS HENCHY, CREATOR OF THE PARODY: That`s my Hamptons or Europe outfit.
HAMMER: And Sen. McCain seems to think that Paris` parody is a plug for his energy plan. His camp released a statement saying, quote, "It sounds like Paris Hilton supports John McCain `all of the above` approach to America`s energy crisis."
WIDDECOMBE: I don`t think anyone is going to vote for or not vote for John McCain based on Paris` opinion.
HAMMER: We can only hope, Ben. But Paris does seem to be the political punch line for this campaign. Even Sen. Obama weighed in on all this wackiness.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you think we can create a brighter future and we can have a more serious politics than we have right now, one that focuses on solving our problems instead of on Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.
WIDDICOMBE: The Paris Hilton-ization of America is complete.
HAMMER: Oh, boy. That`s a scary thought. Paris Hilton and politics.
HILTON: I`ll see you the debates (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Now, if you`ll excuse me, I have to go pick out a vice president. I`m thinking Rihanna. I`ll see you at the White House. Oh, and I might paint it pink. I hope that`s cool with you, guys. Bye.
I`m Paris Hilton and I approve this message. I think it`s totally hot.
HAMMER: Thank goodness it`s just a funny parody.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
All right. So has Paris been able to convince America that she`s ready to lead the nation and become a surprise presidential nominee?
Joining me tonight in New York, host of "In Session" Lisa Bloom. In Hollywood, Ken Baker, executive news editor for "E!". And I must just start off by saying this, guys - never in my wildest celebrity-laden dreams would I have guessed that Paris "That`s Hot" Hilton - she of the great sex tape of 2004, would be playing a part in at presidential campaign. But here we are; it`s actually happened. Lisa Bloom, please tell me this is a true sign of the apocalypse.
LISA BLOOM, HOST, "IN SESSION": Yes, yes. I think so. Look for the four horsemen riding over the horizon. Look for plagues and pestilence that sweep the land. I myself am going to sleep with a clove of garlic around my neck tonight. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
HAMMER: Yes. I think a lot of people are a little scared tonight. But we`re having a good time. You know, when this McCain ad first came out that mentioned not just Paris but also Britney Spears, I`m thinking, you know, particularly for Paris Hilton, this is a publicity dream come true. So, Ken, I`m thinking, further injecting herself into this story with this very clever spoof, quite possibly the smartest thing Paris Hilton has ever done?
KEN BAKER, EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR, "E!": It was very smart. It`s really popular. People are laughing and they`re not being critical of her and they`re not making fun of her for once. And that`s a victory for her. But I`ve always thought the Hollywood studio-marketing machine isn`t really that much different than the presidential politics machine that gets presidents elected.
You look, Hollywood, they want to get grassroots support. They want to market their celebrities. They want to get it in front of people. They want to create controversy, get people talking about it. It`s the same thing on some level with politics. And it`s interesting that the two have intersected to such a high degree now. You have magazines putting people in fashion police who are running for president. You know, you have a lot of things that are happening in this cycle that haven`t happened before.
But of course, it`s all inevitable. I mean, look at, we`re on showbiz every day for an hour, you know what I mean? So this is something people want to hear about. They care about it. And by the way, since when was Paris Hilton and Britney Spears not really relevant politically? When you think about it, look at all the debate and conversation that we`ve had as a country about whether it`s DUI, about the state of prisons in California to the state of -
HAMMER: All right. Ken, you`re going into a bit of a stretch here. I`m going to have to cut you off.
BAKER: I`m just kidding.
HAMMER: I`m sorry. I`m sorry.
BAKER: They have been a lightning rod for discussion in a political setting.
HAMMER: All right. I`ll accept that. Lisa, you know, you have to admit for Paris though - this is making Paris looking pretty good. And as Ken may have pointed out, we`re used to being on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, not really saying the nicest things about Paris, I might say.
BLOOM: Yes, look, for a drunk-driving airhead, she reads a good script. I give her credit. Somebody who had a funny thing - they got her to sit there in the bathing suit. She looks nice and she read it well. Good for her.
HAMMER: Now, we even mentioned Paris had come up with her own energy plan. I`ve got to see that again. Charles, do we have that clip to roll?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILTON: We can do limited offshore drilling with strict environmental oversight while creating tax incentives to get Detroit making hybrid and electric cars. Energy crisis solved. I`ll see you at the debate (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, if only the solution was that easy. But, you know, Ken, it`s funny, you watch that, but for the fact we know she didn`t write that, it actually sounds like she knows what she`s talking about. Do you think Paris saw this as an opportunity to perhaps try and show people she`s not the - well, idiot that a lot of people think she is?
BAKER: Well, before this, the only energy plan that I knew that she had was Red Bull. So I think -
HAMMER: Usually mixed with something, I`m sure.
BAKER: I`ll let you figure that out. But the fact is that, you know, I don`t think anyone believes that she actually really knows what she`s talking about. But of course, the writers were brilliant in doing it. And she did do a good job of executing it.
But you know what? It actually does make sense. It`s the most clear, articulate expression of an energy policy that I`ve heard from any of the candidates so far.
HAMMER: Lisa Bloom, what do you think? Perhaps, not for her energy plan, but maybe for her PR, and I`ve got 10 seconds for you, should politicians be taking notes from Paris Hilton? Did I just ask you that?
BLOOM: Oh, good grief, I hope not. All I can say is I`m sure a lot of men were energized after watching this video of Paris looking very nice in that bikini.
HAMMER: Yes, until we learned -
BLOOM: Please, let`s not take her political advice.
HAMMER: Until we learned that the bikini actually owned by one of the male creators of that parody. Lisa Bloom, Ken Baker, thank you for being here tonight.
BLOOM: Thank you.
BAKER: And now, we want to hear from you. The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day is this - "Paris Responds to McCain Ad: Does she have any place in politics? Let us know what you think at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: I just can`t believe we`re talking about Paris Hilton in the same sentence as the presidential elections.
HAMMER: Yes. Very goofy. Talking about mock the vote, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Yes. And Paris, A.J., is just one of the people bringing Hollywood to the Hill. Tyra Banks dressing up like Barack Obama`s wife, Scarlet Johansson talking about being E-mail buddies with Obama. What in the world is going on here? Coming up.
HAMMER: Also, something that has parents are just outraged. There`s a new study that says there`s a lot of sex on TV and not a whole lot of marriage. We`ve got that fired-up debate coming up.
And we will also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To be an "it" girl, you have to be somebody that women want to be like and men want to be with. And when that starts to diminish, that`s when you need to go and find another profession.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The Hollywood "it" girls. Look out A-listers. The "it" girls are hot on your heels. So, what does it take to be an "it" girl and can they become Hollywood`s elite? That`s coming up in a showbiz special report.
HAMMER: And when you need your fix, please keep in mind, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime. We`re always posting new stuff for you to check out right there on our Web site which is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. And among the videos now playing, "Brangelina Baby Frenzy." We are coming right back.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`m thirsty. Anyone else? Carry on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That`s a clip from "Swing Town," just one of the provocative primetime shows that`s pushing the boundaries of how sex is portrayed on TV.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Sex on TV, from "Grey`s Anatomy" to "Desperate Housewives," a brand-new study says there`s too much out-of-wedlock sex seen on primetime, and too few portrayals of married couples who live happily ever after. Is Hollywood sending the wrong message to kids by painting marriage in a negative light, or is TV just reflecting a shift in reality?
With me tonight from Washington, D.C., Melissa Henson, director of communications and public education for the Parents` Television Council, the group that conducted this study. And in Hollywood, pop culture and legal expert, Russell Wetanson of "PopSquire.com."
Now, the PTC found, among other things, that out-of-wedlock sex scenes outnumbered marital sex scenes by, listen to this, a ratio of four to one. That shouldn`t come as too much of a shock to anyone who watches primetime TV. A show like "Grey`s Anatomy" features a lot of sex outside of marriage and it`s one of the top-rated shows on television. So Melissa, people obviously eat this stuff up. So, excuse the pun, but what`s the big whoopee?
MELISSA HENSON, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, PARENTS` TELEVISION COUNCIL: I`m not sure if that`s what`s drawing people to these shows. I mean, certainly, you can look back over the history of broadcast TV and look at a number of really outstanding shows that had a certain amount of sexual attention. You know, "Moonlighting" is a perfect example. And you know, they didn`t necessarily have casual hook-ups but they were able to build in that tension.
These days, it seems like scriptwriters go right to the room scenes right at the beginning of the show. And so, the only recourse they have is to have the characters engaging in serious one-night stands or short-term relationships. But you never see committed, married couples, happy couples on TV these days. Or if you do, they`re very rare and very few and far between.
ANDERSON: Yes. You know, we certainly don`t live in "I Love Lucy" times anymore when Ricky and Lucy slept in separate beds and you hardly saw sex on TV at all. Now, you have shows like "Desperate Housewives" with Eva Longoria`s character swinging from the chandeliers, having affairs, blah, blah, blah. Russell, is a show like this one painting marriage in a negative light or is it just reflecting reality?
RUSSELL WETANSON, POP CULTURE AND LEGAL EXPERT, "POPSQUIRE.COM": You know, Brooke, gone are the days of the Cleavers and the Cosbys. America looks different today. And in fact, even on TV, we saw many years ago with the introduction of "The Roseanne Barr Show" that the American family started to be portrayed differently.
And that`s not just on TV in the scripted primetime way. You look - you go into any bookstore, in the self-help (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you go into any talk show and you see evidence of marriage in trouble, extramarital affairs, people trying to figure out how to keep their marriages together. So what we`re seeing on TV really isn`t that different from what we`re seeing in real life.
ANDERSON: So you`re saying it`s not so much life being influenced by art, but it is art imitating life?
WETANSON: That`s what - I think that`s absolutely the case. And there are several examples of different types of shows and the PTC will certainly tell you that there are different types of shows. But even the shows that they don`t like - you know, if you look at it just not in the terms of whether there is a reference to sex but look at the context of the sexual references, that`s what`s important.
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, let me talk about some of that content because now, there are shows like "Boston Legal," for example, that push the limits of sexual content with story lines about prostitution for example. But these shows don`t necessarily target kids.
So Melissa, shouldn`t parents take the responsibility here and change that channel?
HENSON: Well, ultimately - obviously, parents do have the final responsibility and need to control what their kids are seeing. But if you put this in the larger context, you know, our research found that the largest disparity between portrayals of married sex and non-married sex happen during the family hour, that first hour of primetime that traditionally was set aside for programming that the family could safely watch together.
So you can`t even watch TV together as a family unit during the family hour without being caught off guard by, you know, messages promoting adultery, promiscuity, casual sex, consequence-free, risk-free - all of these having negative messages that kids are picking up.
ANDERSON: Yes.
HENSON: You can even get that during the family hour. So where can`t you find it? What choice do you have?
ANDERSON: I know. That`s a rough one, Melissa. Parents have to be vigilant, very watchful. Russell, very quickly, the CW`s "Gossip Girl" has sparked a lot of controversy with its suggestive content. It`s popular with young girls 12 to 17. Very quickly, do shows have a moral responsibility here to keep themselves in check or are kids more sophisticated than we give them credit for? Ten seconds.
WETANSON: Kids a definitely more sophisticated. And what`s important is that we open up a dialogue. Even shows like "Gossip Girl" show consequences. You cheat on your boyfriend or girlfriend, you lose them. Then you do drugs, there are consequences. These shows definitely show that.
ANDERSON: Again, I just say, parents, no laziness. Watch over your kids. Melissa Henson, Russell Wetanson, we will leave it there. Thank you both so much.
HAMMER: All right. Brooke who would have thought that one day Paris Hilton would do a political ad, huh?
ANDERSON: I don`t know. You know that, spoof or not, it`s so crazy, A.J.
HAMMER: Something to see - Paris in a swimsuit talking about her energy plan. Has the world gone mad?
ANDERSON: And how about Tyra Banks dressing up like Barack Obama`s wife? Hollywood and the Hill are colliding in a way that`s downright bizarre. That`s straight ahead as we take a look at how celebrities are launching a campaign we`re calling "Mock the Vote."
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTIN DOS SANTOS, "E! ONLINE" COLUMNIST: I think everyone is saying that Miley is the new Britney. She started out so young, she`s so big. Everyone knows her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Could it be? Is Miley the new Britney? She`s not the only "it" girl giving the A-listers a run for their money. That is coming up in a showbiz special report, "Hollywood `It` Girls."
Now, be sure to check out the free, ever-changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast which you`ll find it at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or you can download it on iTunes. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Here are some more stories that are new right now. An update now on Morgan Freeman. Freeman is still listed in serious condition in the hospital, this after his car accident in Mississippi, Sunday night. Freeman suffered a broken arm and elbow and shoulder injuries, but is said to be in good spirits.
Eva Mendes says the reasons behind her trip to rehab aren`t anyone`s business but her own. In an interview with "Parade" magazine, Eva says people can speculate all they want but she`s not going to clear up any of the misconceptions. She says she has to think of the pain it might cause her mother. Eva is starring alongside Meg Ryan and Annette Benning in a new movie, "The Women." It`s out next month. But for more with all three, check out "Parade" magazine and newspapers this Sunday.
And Lisa Marie Presley is pregnant with twins. Her rep confirms the double good news to "People" magazine. Lisa Marie is expected to give birth in the fall.
A.J., I never thought we would be talking about Paris Hilton`s energy policy.
HAMMER: Yes, I`m right there with you. It`s very, very odd, isn`t it, Brooke?
ANDERSON: Yes, it is. Everybody is talking about Paris` response to the John McCain ad. And it got us thinking, in a world where Paris and politics are in the same sentence, should we be ready for the apocalypse?
HAMMER: How about Tyra Banks dressing up like Barack Obama`s wife? Hollywood and Capitol Hill are colliding in a way that I`ve got to say is downright bizarre. We`re taking a look at how celebrities are launching a campaign that we`re calling "Mock the Vote." That is coming up.
We will also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAPHNE BROGDON, TV HOST AND STANDUP COMIC: To be an "it" girl, you have to be somebody that women want to be like and men want to be with. And when that starts to diminish, that`s when you need to go and find another profession.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The Hollywood "it" girls. Look out, A-listers. The "it" girls are hot on your heels. So what does it take to be an "it" girl. And can they become Hollywood`s elite? That`s coming up in a showbiz special report.
HAMMER: But first, you can always stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news by subscribing to the daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. To that, just head on over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. There`s a little link that says, "sign up for newsletter." that`s what you click on at the bottom of the page. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, do stars mock the vote? Paris Hilton takes on John McCain. Tyra Banks poses as Barack Obama`s wife and Scarlett Johansson backtracks over those E-mails she supposedly sent Barack. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, should stars stay out of presidential politics?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROGDON: To be an "it" girl, you have to be somebody that women want to be like and men want to be with. And when that starts to diminish, that`s when you need to go and find another profession.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s the Hollywood "it" girl smackdown. Megan versus Angelina, Miley versus Britney, Rihanna versus Janet. Can these up-and-comers knocked the established ladies off the A-list throne? It`s a showbiz special report.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 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. You are watching TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, Hollywood collides with the race for the White House and this crash is setting off one controversy after another.
Paris Hilton is throwing her hat into the ring for president with a brand-new campaign ad. You heard right. Paris is taking on John McCain and Barack Obama and, get this, she`s even proposing an energy plan. Wait until you see this shocking ad.
Tyra Banks is positioning herself as America`s next first lady, posing as Michelle Obama, in a provocative spread for "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine.
And Scarlett Johansson is slamming the press for mocking her when she exaggerated about E-mailing her BFF, Barack Obama. Now, Scarlett says the media attacked her because she`s a woman. Oh, boy.
With me tonight in New York, host of "In Session," Lisa Bloom. Also in New York, senior correspondent for "Inside Edition," Les Trent. And from Hollywood tonight, executive news editor for "E!", Ken Baker.
We`ve got to start off with this Paris Hilton ad. This is fantastic. Now, Paris is fighting back after Sen. John McCain used her image in his attack ad on Sen. Obama. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEMALE VOICE OVER: He`s the biggest celebrity in the world. But is he ready to lead?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So after that McCain ad came out, Paris was actually uncharacteristically quiet about the whole thing until now. Paris` brand- new ad takes on both candidates on the FunnyOrDie website. Check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALE VOICE OVER: He`s the oldest celebrity in the world, like super old. Old enough to remember when dancing was a sin and beer was served in a bucket. But is he ready to lead?
HILTON: Hey, America, I`m Paris Hilton and I`m a celebrity, too. Only, I`m not from the olden days and I`m not promising change like that other guy. I`m just hot. But then, that wrinkly, white-haired guy used me in his campaign ad, which I guess means that I`m running for president. So, thanks for the endorsement, white-haired dude. And I want America to know that I`m like, totally ready to lead.
And now, I want to present my energy policy for America. OK, so here`s my energy policy. Barack wants to focus on new technologies to cut foreign oil dependency, and McCain wants offshore drilling. Well, why don`t we do a hybrid of both candidates` ideas? We can do limited offshore drilling with strict environmental oversight, while creating tax incentives to get Detroit making hybrid and electric cars. That way, the offshore drilling carries us until the new technologies kick in, which will then create new jobs and energy independence. Energy crisis solved. I`ll see you at the debate, (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There you have it, classic Paris doing what she does best. I`ve got to say, it`s very funny although I took exception to the reference to Larry King in there. But Lisa Bloom, let me start with you. Are you like me? Because, really, all I can say is, well done, Paris, well done?
BLOOM: Well, what amazes me is how they can get Paris Hilton to speak intelligently. Did they use animatronics, like they do with talking animals on the commercials?
HAMMER: Yes. Well, she clearly had no idea what she was talking about. Yes.
BLOOM: How did they do that? Computers, Photoshop? That`s what really amazes me. I wouldn`t say it`s brilliant. She didn`t write it. She`s just reading it. She does a good job reading that prompter, though, in a nice-looking bathing suit.
HAMMER: I don`t think it was on the first take, though. They put that thing in the can. And as surreal as this may sound, just stay with me on this, John McCain fired first. And now, Paris Hilton has fired back. And now, that she does, Les, does this round clearly go to Paris Hilton?
LES TRENT, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": The round - first of all, I think she wins, hands down. The producer says that she memorized that 30-second ad, for one. And imagine this, she gets three million hits. John McCain would kill to memorize something that long and to get three million hits. And you`ve got to admit, guys - I mean, listen to the energy plan that she puts forward. It`s actually kind of credible.
HAMMER: Yes, yes. It`s just so creepy, though. Let`s take a look at another part of this ad. This is where she actually tosses her hat in the ring. She`s running.
HILTON: But then that wrinkly, white-haired guy used me in his campaign ad, which I guess means I`m running for president. So thanks for the endorsement, white-haired dude. I want America to know that I`m like, totally ready to lead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Wait one second. Let`s just have this sink in for a moment and imagine the future together. Paris gets elected. She paints the White House pink, gives tiny dogs to everyone in her constituency.
Ken, do you think Paris is totally ready to lead anything other than a conga line at a hot night spot?
BAKER: Well, I don`t want to burst her bubble, but I think the only thing that she could be president of would be maybe Cartoon Network, and that would be a real stretch. So I don`t think that this is really possible. But I do think that everyone I`ve talked to - I was just - before I came on, I just asked a group of women. I said, "Did you see the video?" "Yes." I was like, "Do you think it funny?" And they`re like, "Totally, it was great."
So it`s probably one of the first things that Paris has done, I would say, since she got out of jail last year where people are actually laughing with her, not at her. And for that, it`s a big PR victory.
HAMMER: Huge PR victory for her.
All right. Let`s move on because Tyra Banks is the next star to mock the vote. She moved past the campaign and she went right into the White House. Now, in the latest issue of "Harper`s Bazaar," Tyra poses as Michelle Obama with a fake President Obama in the White House. And, in one of the pictures, we even see the fake Obamas in bed. Look at that. Lisa, is this going over the line here and mocking what would truly be a historic event if the real Obamas wind up on Pennsylvania Avenue?
BLOOM: It is, but why not? Why can`t we make fun of the Obamas? You know, it`s so hard to make jokes about them. Late night comedians are at their wits. And I say good for Tyra. She`s a little edgy. She`s taking some risks. I`m become ago fan of Tyra`s for doing things like this. I think it`s creative.
HAMMER: It`s creative, but I`ve had a hard time wrapping my head exactly why she did it. It seems like kind of a strange statement. And in fact, "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the whole point of this spread was to, as they put it, show Tyra`s prominence in society.
Les, do you think that perhaps Tyra should stick to "America`s Next Top Model" and perhaps not to "America`s Top Job?"
TRENT: Yes, She probably should. First of all, she doesn`t look anything like Michelle Obama, although she does make a fairly hot first lady, I have to admit that. I think one of the things that this does, though is it gives fodder to the bloggers out there and some of the editorial page writers who have been saying for quite sometime that Barack Obama is acting as though he is already president. I think, you know, for those who oppose him, they might look at that and go, "well, there`s the proof right there."
HAMMER: That`s a good point. Next stop on the "Mock the Vote" express, Scarlett Johansson. Scarlett joked in recent interview that she was engaged to the obviously already married Barack Obama. That, of course, is not true. But Scarlett also stretched the truth when she said she exchanges E-mails with the senator all the time. And now, she says the whole thing was totally blown out of proportion. And if she was anyone else, the whole thing would have blown over.
Let me read that quote, "It seemed to me to be like a product of extreme sexism, and I kept thinking to myself, god, if this was just, like, Kal Penn or George Clooney or any of the other Obama surrogates or supporters, there wouldn`t be any question about it. Nobody would even talk about it."
Extreme sexism - you know, we were all talking about these E-mails because we couldn`t believe that a presidential candidate had time to E- mail a Hollywood star. Ken Baker, is Scarlett totally off the mark here? I`ve got about 20 seconds for you.
BAKER: Well, Obama came out and said that he wasn`t E-mailing. It was just a staffer and she`s admitted to it. So the whole sexism thing - it doesn`t really hold up to the light because the fact is that she made up the whole story. So we weren`t - no one was being sexist about it. We were just saying, you know, hey, this isn`t even true.
HAMMER: Yes.
BAKER: So I think she should maybe get her facts straight before she starts calling people sexist or anything else.
HAMMER: Lesson learned today, let rock the vote, not mock the vote. Lisa Bloom, Les Trent, Ken Baker, thank you all.
And we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Paris Responds to McCain Ad: Does she have any place in politics?" I think I know how this is going to go. Let us know what you think at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: A.J., I`ve got to say, even when Paris Hilton isn`t doing much, she is able to get into the headlines.
HAMMER: Yes. She does a good thing with that. And I think John McCain clearly did her a favor in this whole thing. That`s one of the most important things, Brooke. To be a Hollywood "it" girl, you`ve got to stay relevant.
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DOS SANTOS: I think everyone is saying that Miley is the new Britney. She started out so young, she`s so big. Everyone knows her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes. Miley is taking on Britney Spears. You`ve got Megan Fox taking on Angelina Jolie. Even Rihanna is going after Janet Jackson. Can the new-comers knock these A-listers right off the A-list? It`s my showbiz special report, "The `It` Girl Smackdown." Coming up.
And I just love Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. They seem so real. Tonight I get Mark to open up about the paparazzi following his family around.
HAMMER: Also actress Teri Garr opens up about a frightening secret about her health, a secret she kept for 20 years. That`s coming up.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILTON: Then that wrinkly, white-haired guy used me in his campaign ad, which I guess means I`m running for president. So thanks for the endorsement, white-haired dude. And I want America to know I`m like, totally ready to lead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That`s Paris Hilton`s very funny, brand-new video. She`s firing back at John McCain`s ad which compares Barack Obama to her.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Well, say what you want about Paris, but she sure knows how to keep her name out there which is very important to being a Hollywood "it" girl.
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(voice over): In hot, young Hollywood, there always seems to be a pretty new face or an up-and-coming talent poised to become the latest "it" girl.
HILTON: That`s hot.
ANDERSON: But for all their hype, can this new generation of stars really unseat the old the guard of tried-and-true favorites.
RIHANNA: I hope so. I`m going to try my best.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is rating the contenders in a Hollywood "it" girl smackdown. Kicking off the competition is a mega match-up between Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus. It`s the original pop star tease versus Disney`s squeaky clean singing sensation.
DOS SANTOS: I think everyone is saying that Miley is the new Britney. She started out so young. She`s so big, everyone knows her.
ANDERSON: But there`s one major difference -
BRITNEY SPEARS, POP STAR (sung): I`m not that innocent
ANDERSON: One has bounced back from the brink of self-destruction while the other has stayed on the straight and narrow, avoiding drugs and all the drama.
MILEY CYRUS, STAR OF "HANNAH MONTANA": There`s nothing to quit if you never get started. So I think, you know, you have surround yourself with good people that can keep you away from that.
BROGDON: Miley Cyrus is the "it" girl. Her star is on the rise. She hasn`t crashed and burned like Britney has.
ANDERSON: Looks like Miley scores the knockout blow.
Next up, it`s a below-the-belt battle between action hero sex kitten. Angelina Jolie kicked some major butt in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" with Megan Fox following suit in "Transformers."
MEGAN FOX, ACTRESS: It was phenomenal. It blew me away.
ANDERSON: And with their bee-stung lips and tattoo fetish, these look- alikes could be sisters. But that`s where the similarities end.
BROGDON: In the Angelina Jolie-Megan Fox match-up, it`s no contest. It has to go to Angelina Jolie. Now, Megan Fox is a stunningly beautiful girl. But number one, who is she hanging out with? Brian Austin Green of "90210." Not exactly Brad Pitt.
ANDERSON: There is one move Megan could take from Angie`s repertoire to up her "it" girl quotient.
DOS SANTOS: Two words for Megan Fox - "African baby." Until you get one of those, you`re really not going to be any match for Angelina.
ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: What we need to be reminded of is to know what is possible and what are the beautiful things that can be formed through our diversity.
ANDERSON: With her copy-cat down for the count, humanitarian globe trotter Angelina Jolie emerges as the clear winner in this sexy showdown.
Round three of our Hollywood "it" girl smackdown features a hot mess match-up between two no-holds-barred rocker girls. The always unpredictable Courtney Love finds a fierce competitor in Amy Winehouse.
AMY WINEHOUSE, MUSICIAN: Yes, I guess so. I will.
ANDERSON: Whether it`s Courtney blogging on MySpace about her botched plastic surgery, or Amy allegedly doing drugs on videotape, there`s always something about these two tortured musicians that has us saying oh, no, no, no.
BROGDON: In that smackdown, I`d totally give it to Amy Winehouse. Her troubles with drugs and her husband - you know, if you`re 22 or 20, people kind of expect it. But when you`re a middle-aged woman, you have a teenaged daughter, if you`ve got the age-factor, you`re not the "it" girl.
ANDERSON: And the "it" girl title goes to Amy Winehouse, whether she wants it or not.
WINEHOUSE: I don`t really care enough about what people think of me to conform to anything.
ANDERSON: In what SHOWBIZ TONIGHT could call Hollywood`s own battle of the bulges, round four is old-school "Bay Watch" babe Pam Anderson versus the voluptuous socialite Kim Kardashian.
DOS SANTOS: Pam Anderson has a very big, big advantage on Kim Kardashian. She obviously is very well-endowed with a scripted television career, which I`m sure everyone was thinking of.
ANDERSON: Our thoughts, exactly. And the beautiful bombshells have more than curves in common. Both have had sex tape scandals and now "E!" reality shows.
KIM KARDASHIAN, SOCIALITE: One of the reasons I was so excited to do a reality show is there are so many stereotypes of what Hollywood kids are like. I don`t want stay in a piece (EXPLETIVE DELETED) of hotel, like everything that you booked me in Miami has been the worst hotel ever.
ANDERSON: Thank goodness. Kim laid those tired, old cliches to rest. But Pam still wins the "it" girl breast - I mean, best in show.
And now, the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT grand throw-down between trendsetting R & B divas. Are we still living in Janet Jackson`s "Rhythm Nation," or are we standing under Rihanna`s umbrella, ella, ella, ella.
DOS SANTOS: I have to go with Janet Jackson. I mean she`s got the Jackson name going for her. Rihanna doesn`t even have a last name.
ANDERSON: But being cutting edge is an important trait in an "it" girl, and Barbados-born Rihanna definitely works that angle to her advantage.
RIHANNA, SINGER: I just felt a little rebellious. I wanted to do what I wanted to do, do something different and do something a little more daring and risky.
ANDERSON: Ms. Jackson could have been a contender, but the "it" girl crown in this final round has to go to Rihanna. And now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the secret "it" factor to becoming an "it" girl.
BROGDON: To be an "it" girl, you have to be somebody that women want to be like and men want to be with. And when that starts to diminish, that`s when you need to go and find another profession.
ANDERSON: So ladies and gentlemen, there you have it - the reigning "it" girl champs better stay on their toes. Because at least some of their challengers are gaining ground and Hollywood may not be big enough for them all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Well, Britney may not have to watch her back for long. She`s on the road to getting her "it" girl status back. Britney`s people tell us she`s hard at work on her next album.
And you know, those Hollywood "it" girls don`t usually shy away from the paparazzi, do they? I mean, if people stop taking their pictures, they wouldn`t be "it" girls, right? But when you`ve got a family, the rules change.
Look at Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. They`ve got three adorable kids and the paparazzi are always following them around. When I sat down with Mark and he says as long as his family isn`t harassed, he understands it`s all part of being a star.
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MARK CONSUELOS, ACTOR: Look, it`s part of this deal that you sign, I think, this fictional deal that you sign that you know, it`s part of the price you pay, you know. Everybody usually understands that, you know, they`re doing a job and - when we are not working, and we understand that. But when we are parents, we are trying to do our job, as parents, and try to keep our life with our kids as normal as possible.
And you know, we do and we benefit from a lot of advantages. So I`m not going to say it`s a horrible existence, but like I said before, you know, most of the time people come in and take a photo and say thank you and go on with their way and we have a pretty good relationship with those people. Yes, as long as there are other people like Brad and Angelina, I think we`re pretty safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: By the way, catch Mark`s new film "For the Love of Grace," August 30th on the Hallmark Channel and don`t miss my full interview with Mark Consuelos. He`s a lot more to say about the paparazzi Thursday right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: I`m not just saying this - Kelly and Mark, two of my favorite celebrities. She and he both have huge careers.
Coming up next, the painful story of a star struggling to get work.
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TERI GARR, ACTRESS: I was trying to work, but I noticed that people - if they have any inkling of the idea that I was sick, they would shun me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oscar nominated actress Teri Garr opening up like never before about a battle with MS, next.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, actress Teri Garr who was nominated for an Oscar for "Tootsie" is opening up about her emotional battle with multiple sclerosis and her fight for work in Hollywood. Here`s CNN`s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Look at these.
GARR: Who is this?
GUPTA (voice over): Actress Teri Garr may be best known for her iconic roles in 1980s films like "Mr. Mom."
GARR: Tell him I will be right down.
GUPTA: Here`s something you may not have known. During all those movie premieres and awards shows when she was on top of the world, she began to notice something strange happening to her body.
(on camera): Remember the first time you ever felt the first signs?
GARR: It was around the time I did "Tootsie" when I used to jog in Central Park. And when I finished jogging, I would limp.
GUPTA (voice over): That limp would send her to the hospital from the set of 1982`s "Tootsie." Her role would later be nominated for an Academy Award.
GARR: I was trying to work, but I noticed that people - if they had any inkling of the idea that I was sick, they would shun me.
GUPTA: A tingling, a buzzing in her foot. It would come and go. She went to dozens of doctors around the country for answers. And Hollywood rumors starred to swirl.
GARR: No, no. It wasn`t like that.
GUPTA: In this 1997 clip from NBC`s "Friends," she holds a hanger and is sometimes seated. Fans had speculated on multiple sclerosis.
GARR: I would just deny it. Nothing`s wrong. Always.
GUPTA (on camera): So it`s denial more than covering it up or lying. But you did it for a reason. Because -
GARR: I wanted to work, yes.
GUPTA (voice over): Garr officially came out with her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2002 - that was 20 years after she first started feeling symptoms. At times, she is wheelchair-bound nowadays. She`s been an MS advocate and has written an autobiography on her experiences.
GARR: So there you go.
GUPTA: Today, she`s in better health, walking and exercising and back to work in two new independent films -
GARR: Your mother was crazy!
GUPTA: "Expired" and "Kabluey," released this summer.
(on camera): Will you describe MS to people now. How do describe what you are experiencing?
GARR: I call it the scum sucking pig of a disease, because it`s so erratic and it treats everyone in a different way. Some people don`t get any symptoms, and I wasn`t one of them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Good to see her. I`m a huge fan of Teri Garr. That was CNN`s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. 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 and Pacific, and in the morning, 11:00 Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is next.
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