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Showbiz Tonight
Lindsay Lohan Goes Ballistic; Elizabeth Edwards` Battle to Survive; Madonna Turning 50; McCain and Obama Flip-Flops; What Could Be America`s Next Transgender Model; Plastic Surgery Taking a Nose Dive in Hollywood
Aired August 14, 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: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Lindsay Lohan`s rage and rant. Lindsay goes absolutely ballistic after being grilled about whether her 14-year-old kid sister got breast implants. And wait until you hear what she says.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JO PIAZZA, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": For once, Lindsay does have a point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Lindsay`s unbelievable counterattack. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, does this just show Lindsay`s mom should have never put Ali out there in their reality show?
Tonight, Elizabeth Edwards a tragic and anguishing ordeal. How in the world can Elizabeth possibly cope with her husband John`s confession that he had an affair while fighting cancer? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates Elizabeth Edwards` battle to survive.
Plus, could it be? Madonna really turning 50 years old? Tonight, how Madonna is dealing with hitting the big 5-0. Here we go. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood. And now, for something completely different. Will Tyra Banks be choosing a man who turned into a woman as America`s next top model? What could be America`s next transgender model, coming up.
HAMMER: But first, Lindsay`s outrage. Lindsay Lohan has gone absolutely ballistic over suggestions that her kid sister had work done on her breasts. Lindsay let loose online and on camera in a furious response to being asked about whether her 14-year-old sister got breast implants. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the Lohan breast battle that`s making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Last time Lindsay Lohan got mad, she got busted for a drunken car chase. Now, Lohan`s lost it again, but thankfully, this time she`s sober and no cops got involved. In this new video from "X-17 Online," Lindsay goes off on a paparazzo who asks her about her famous baby sister`s development.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE PAPARAZZO: So, what`s up with Ali`s boob job?
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: That`s (EXPLETIVE DELETED). It`s disgusting that you would even ask that. She`s 15 years old. Not even yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE PAPARAZZO: Well, there are rumors about it, so -
L. LOHAN: You shouldn`t act like a pedophile and be concerned about a 14- year-old`s fake boob job.
HAMMER: Indeed, celebrity Web sites like "Us" Magazine and "X-17 Online" have recently started dishing about Ali`s apparent growth spurt, and Lindsay is definitely not happy about the chatter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE PAPARAZZO: Lindsay, do you want to squash the rumors about your sister having a breast implant?
L. LOHAN: Ask him. I already did.
HAMMER: Lindsay wasn`t finished. On a MySpace celebrity page, a livid Lindsay lashed out some more writing, quote, "My mother taught us to appreciate what we have been given. Nor would she ever encourage, or allow a 14-year-old child to alter her body."
Lindsay goes on to write, quote, "It is hard enough being 14 years old and you have enough insecurities to begin with, then add being in the public eye."
PIAZZA: For once, Lindsay does have a point. Ali has it hard enough as it is without people staring at her boobs and thinking she had breast implants.
L. LOHAN: It`s disgusting that you would even ask that. She`s 15 years old. Not even yet.
HAMMER: So now, Lindsay Lohan is coming to little sis` defense. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has to ask, if the limelight is to rough a place for young Ali, why is her family encouraging her to seek it as we see now in their reality show, "Living Lohan."
ALI LOHAN, ACTRESS: Hi, Linds.
L. LOHAN: Hi, Ali.
A. LOHAN: I`ve got a movie.
It`s always wanted to do and I have such a passion for it.
HAMMER: When I spoke with Ali and their mother Dina about their reality show, they seemed to pay more attention to getting famous than the potential downside.
A. LOHAN: Being with my sister, I definitely learned a lot, and she definitely gives me an advantage because now, I know what to do and what not to do. That definitely helps me a lot.
DINA LOHAN, MOTHER OF LINDSAY AND ALI LOHAN: God willing, you instill moral correction and have her do the right thing. You know, we`ll see where it goes.
HAMMER: But truth be told, Ali`s new life in the spotlight hasn`t always gone smoothly.
A. LOHAN: The director wants me to go by the green screen.
HAMMER: Ali dealt with her first real public controversy when the producer of a fantasy film Ali auditioned for in her show`s season finale turned out to have a past in adult films.
PIAZZA: Both Ali and Dina really want Ali to be famous, so I don`t think that they can say, "Oh, this is such an invasion of privacy." They wanted this invasion of privacy.
L. LOHAN: You shouldn`t act like a pedophile and be concerned about a 14- year-old`s fake boob job.
HAMMER: So Lindsay can rant all she wants about the rough treatment Ali`s getting in the spotlight. But judging by the rough times Lindsay, Britney Spears and now Miley Cyrus have had in Hollywood, Ali Lohan hasn`t seen anything yet.
PIAZZA: Oh, my gosh. It`s really starting to get worse for Ali Lohan - this speculation over breast implants and meeting with this porn director. And these are all small potatoes compared to what`s in store for her as a teen star.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Good point. Are there more tough times to come for Ali Lohan and would the best thing to be staying out of the spotlight?
Joining me tonight in New York, VH1 host Janelle Snowden. Also in New York tonight, "Life and Style" editor-at-large Dawn Yanek.
All right. Guys, not often that we see Lindsay Lohan just blowing her stack in public. It is clear and for good reason, I think, this just touched a nerve with Lindsay. I want to look once again at what happened when a paparazzi confronted Lindsay Lohan about the speculation that Ali has had breast implants.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE PAPARAZZO: So, what`s up with Ali`s boob job?
L. LOHAN: That`s (EXPLETIVE DELETED). It`s disgusting that you would even ask that. She`s 15 years old.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE PAPARAZZO: Well, there are rumors about it, so -
L. LOHAN: you should act like a pedophile and be concerned about a 14- year-old -
HAMMER: I`m quoting the guy here, "What`s up with Ali`s boob job?" I mean, talk about a paparazzi crossing the line from where I sit anyway. I`ve got to say, Lindsay`s got every right to just be outraged here. Janelle, I`m assuming you agree with me.
JANELLE SNOWDEN, VH1 HOST: I totally agree. Why do we care? Like Lindsay said, she`s a teenage girl. You know, everybody takes a growth spurt at a different rate. And even if she did have them, honestly, there are far more things to be concerned with. So I don`t blame Lindsay for taking up for her sister. But at the same time, she gave the guy exactly what he was looking for. He wanted the shock and awe so he asked her a shocking question. She responded, you know, as she should have, and this is what we have. So, I mean, there has been to be some decency.
HAMMER: Yes. That`s not coming anytime soon. I`ll tell you right now. And you`re right. He did get that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) out of Lindsay that I guess he was after. It`s a shame how this all works out. Dawn, what do you think? I mean, this guy clearly crossed the line and Lindsay has every right to be outraged.
DAWN YANEK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "LIFE AND STYLE": Oh, absolutely. There has to be a line that paparazzi do not cross. I mean, it`s really creepy when you think about it. I mean, despite her raspy voice, despite the mature way that she presents herself, despite her ambitions and her mother`s ambitions, she is only 14. There has to be a line there. And Lindsay was well within her rights. She`s being an overprotective big sister.
HAMMER: Yes. And it didn`t stop with her little tirade against the paparazzi. I want to take a look one more time at what she wrote on her MySpace celebrity page. She obviously went home and had this thing up. She was not happy, quote, "My mother taught us to appreciate what we have been given. Nor would she ever encourage, or allow a 14-year-old child to alter her body. It is hard enough being 14 years old and you have enough insecurities to begin with, then add being in the public eye."
HAMMER: I get - I think we all get what Lindsay is saying here. But it also sounds to me like Lindsay is saying that being in the public eye is not a good thing for Ali. And let`s not forget, Ali herself has said - in fact, she told me she`d do anything to be famous. Her mother is trying to make her a star with the reality show. Janelle, she can`t have it both ways?
SNOWDEN: No, you definitely can`t have it both ways. You have to understand that when you put yourself in the public eye, you are going to have to answer to things that normal people won`t have to. But at the same time, like I said, she`s 14, 15 years old, however old - because Lindsay said both ages. We just need to set in place some boundaries.
There`s a time and place to ask questions like that if you`re going to ask them. And while you catch Lindsay walking down the street in L.A., it`s really not the place to do it. If she`s doing a sit-down interview and the subject of plastic surgery comes up, then OK. And if not, there is even a more graceful way to go about it. Just to yell it out to someone on the street, it`s like come on, guys. Come on.
HAMMER: I agree with you on that. But the whole point of, you know, such a young person being put out there to begin with, especially against the backdrop of what we`ve seen Lindsay Lohan go through. And as we mentioned, it was just a couple of weeks ago, Ali had to deal with some pretty big controversy that was floating around over the fact she accidentally auditioned for this guy who had a huge career as a porn director.
And now, this breast implant ordeal, it seems to really just show what we`re talking about. That once again, Dina Lohan made a huge mistake by exposing Ali like this with this reality show. Dawn?
YANEK: Well, that`s a very good point. I mean, making this decision seems like it`s something that just invites criticism. I mean, it certainly invites attention. And Dina`s certainly not alone in this. She is, you know, a parent of a young celebrity. And you know, this line between being a parent and being a manager gets very, very blurry. You have to wonder who is paying attention and who is making these decisions. You have to be a parent first, not be obsessed with the oodles of money that are being dangled in front of you sometimes. And remember that the well-being of your child comes first, and that gets a little bit lost sometimes in the whole Hollywood mix.
HAMMER: Fifteen seconds for you, Janelle. I mean, Dina has to the culpable here, and I feel especially when I see something so terrible being asked about Ali.
SNOWDEN: Yes. I mean, absolutely. It`s kind of like, you know, you get what you ask for. They wanted her to be famous; they have to know that these are the things that come with the territory. And they should know better than anyone. I mean, Lindsay has been dragged through the mud ...
HAMMER: No kidding.
SNOWDEN: ... and she`s been through so much. So why put another one through this? I guess they think that it`s worth it.
HAMMER: Yes, I guess so. Janelle Snowden, Dawn Yanek, thank you very much for being here tonight. I appreciate it.
SNOWDEN: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., I think everybody is still reeling from John Edwards` confession that cheated on his wife.
HAMMER: Yes. And clearly, Brooke, the most heart-breaking part of the story is his wife Elizabeth`s struggle here.
ANDERSON: Yes, definitely. She`s been through so much, fighting cancer and now her husband`s terrible confession. I`ve got to wonder, how is she coping? That`s coming up.
HAMMER: And can you believe it? Madonna is actually about to turn 50. How will she dial with the big 5-0? And we want to know, is she better than ever? That is coming up next.
We also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAMELA RAE CHAVEZ, PATIENT: My whole idea was to get - pull some equity out of my home, and I had it all planned. But now, I was so afraid to spend any money right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Who would have thought that the economy would actually affect how many people are getting plastic surgery? I guess when it comes down to paying your mortgage or getting a new nose, it`s not that much of a decision. That`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And remember, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime you want. We are always posting new stuff for you to watch. That`s at our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Among the videos now playing, Britney`s mom tells all, the controversial new tell-all book by Britney`s mother.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Did you se this? It`s a beltless bandit in Oklahoma. A guy`s pants fell down as he was robbing a convenience store, and it was caught on tape. Police are hoping someone recognizes the butt in question from the surveillance videos.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, don`t look now because Madonna is turning 50. Yes, 50. It`s true. Remember this?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MADONNA, POP STAR (sung): Like a virgin, touched for the very first time
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes, if you`re wondering, "Like a Virgin" was released 24 years ago. It kind of makes me feel old, but not Madonna. In a brand-new interview, Madonna says 50 is fabulous. And why not? She`s got a new album, a new tour and survived over 20 years of controversy. But I`ve got to ask, at 50, is she better than ever, or does Madonna need another reinvention?
Joining me tonight in New York, Carolina Bermudez, senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." Also joining me tonight from Hollywood, Michael Yo, host of "Yo on E!" which can be heard on Sirius and XM Radio.
Carolina, Michael, full disclosure here first, guys. When I was a kid one of my favorite songs was "Like a Virgin," not that I knew what that meant at the time. And boy would my mom cringe when I would sing it. And that feels like so long ago. So now, I`m really in shock that Madonna is turning 50 this Saturday. She`s actually taking it better than I am, I think.
Carolina, does it just blow your mind that she is 50 years old?
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": It does, Brooke. And you know what? We`re two peas in a pod, because when I was six years old I wanted to perform "Like a Virgin" at my Catholic school talent show. So that just tells you how much of a Madonna fan I was. Too bad, the nuns got to me and they wouldn`t let me perform it. I had to do "Borderline."
ANDERSON: I was going to say the nuns wouldn`t like that, Carolina.
BERMUDEZ: They didn`t like it at all. But Madonna at 50 - she looks fabulous. I`m so, so happy to see her doing well. And, like you said, she`s at the top of her game.
ANDERSON: And Carolina, I actually performed to Janet Jackson`s "Nasty Boys" in my school talent show.
BERMUDEZ: I feel a dance-off coming on. I will dance-off with you.
ANDERSON: Let`s do that one. It was actually a very tame, G-rated dance.
BERMUDEZ: OK.
ANDERSON: My parents said they were proud, at least. So how does Madonna feel about turning 50? Take a look at what she recently said about hitting the big 5-0, quote, "The number 50 is not a bad word. I feel fine, and I`m not sensitive about anyone talking about it. I see it as another excuse to have a party. I`m enjoying life as much as ever, and as well as all the different things I do - directing, making music, having a family."
Michael - all right. She says that now, but do you think when she wakes up Saturday morning and realizes she is 50 years old, because I feel this way on milestone birthdays. Do you think that she will she think, "Oh, my gosh! 50"?
MICHAEL YO, HOST, "YO ON E!": Not at all. It`s Madonna. I mean, she just signed a $120 million deal with Live Nation. She`s selling out concerts all over. She has this big tour coming out and has three beautiful kids - Lourdes, Rocco and David. She keeps herself busy, and she knows how to reinvent herself. That`s why Madonna is always hot and she`s always so just - always on top of her game. And she never falls back because she`s working with new artists like Justin Timberlake in Timberland on the CD, so she`s always relevant.
ANDERSON: She`s always changing things up - you`re right, keeping people guessing. And she`s built an entire career on controversy and sexual imagery, whether it was burning crosses in the "Like A Prayer" music video, or showing everything in her book called "Sex." Carolina, will the sex still sell for Madonna or does she need to seriously consider a major reinvention here?
BERMUDEZ: I don`t think she needs a major reinvention. I think that Madonna can just relax now. You know, she`s made her mark. She`s 50. I don`t think the crotch shots are going to be hot at 60 or 65. So you know, sex selling for her has worked in the past. Maybe she needs to reinvent herself in another way. You know, maybe taking a back seat a little bit and relaxing a little bit more. You know, she doesn`t have to be the frontrunner all the time.
ANDERSON: Yes. Maybe she doesn`t have to push herself quite so hard. Well, and if Madonna turning 50 doesn`t make you feel old, guess who else is 50? Prince turned 50 this year. And both he and Madonna, you know, are the last big icons, it seems, of the `80s era who still look great, still going strong.
Michael, do you see anyone out there young right now who will still be going strong at 50? Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera - anybody?
YO: No. I think Britney Spears is trying make it through this year. But there are two artists, I think, that could be around when they`re 50. Alicia Keys - phenomenal artist, so amazing live, and Christina Aguilera - two ladies with amazing voices that will never leave them. I would suggest they`re going to be around when they`re 50 as well and we`ll be talking about them.
ANDERSON: Yes, they`re pretty talented. Hey, Carolina, is there anything that Madonna can do that will shock us anymore? I don`t know. It would have to be something like taking up bingo or knitting at this point.
BERMUDEZ: Oh, yes. I mean, at this point, yes, bingo, knitting, maybe some parchesse(ph) - I don`t think so. I think Madonna is going to be very surprising as a grandmother. Don`t sleep. Little Lourdes has got that little streak in her, and I predict that she`s going to take over where her mother left off. So, that`s the only thing that`s going to be surprising about Madonna.
ANDERSON: Madonna may have her hands full. Well, happy 50th birthday to Madonna. Carolina Bermudez, Michael Yo, thank you both.
And now, we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day: "Madonna Turns 50: Is she better than ever?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, moving on, I think everybody was obviously just stunned by the news that John Edwards had an affair.
ANDERSON: Yes. So you can just imagine how Elizabeth Edwards must feel.
HAMMER: Just so heart-breaking. She`s battling cancer. Now, she`s got to deal with this on top it. I`ve got to wonder, how is she coping? That is coming up.
ANDERSON: Also, it`s a first for "America`s Next Top Model." A contestant on the new season of Tyra Banks` show was actually born a man. Will this be a positive message for the transgender community? I`m looking into that, coming up.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, this is worse than a flip-flopper. It`s the Obama flopper, and the McCain flop - the latest in political footwear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, are you tired like so many people of the candidates flip- flopping on the issues? Well, now, you can flip-flop on the candidates. That`s right. You can now show your support for your favorite candidate from head to toe. I know you`re going to want to run out and get your political flip-flops. That`s coming up.
First, be sure to check out the free, ever-changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast which you will find on our Web site at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also download it on iTunes by typing "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" into the search box. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Here are some stories that are new right now. Well, "Dark Knight" star Christian Bale will not face any charges on the alleged assault on his mother and sister. Bale`s mother and sister told police that he assaulted them at a hotel, which Bale denies. And officials say there`s not enough evidence to charge him with anything.
And Hulk Hogan and his estranged wife were back in court in Florida for hearing in their divorce. Now, local news in Florida says a judge has ruled that Hulk does not have to go through with buying a condo in Las Vegas that the couple put a down payment on years ago. Linda Bollea, Hulk`s wife, wanted to go ahead with the purchase.
And there`s going to be a "Dallas" reunion. J.R., Sue Ellen, and other members of the Ewing family from the popular primetime soap are getting back together for the 30th anniversary party happening in Texas in November. Larry Hagman, Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy all say they will be there. This reunion happens to be open to the public. Tickets are going to cost between $100 and $1,000. Brooke?
ANDERSON: You know, A.J., I think everybody is still reeling from John Edwards` confession that he cheated on his wife.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. Clearly, the most heartbreaking part of the whole story is his wife Elizabeth`s struggle.
ANDERSON: Yes, definitely. She`s been through so much, fighting cancer and now, her husband`s terrible confession. I`ve got to wonder how she`s coping. That`s coming up.
HAMMER: Also, listen to this, it`s a first for "America`s Next Top Model," a contestant on the new season was actually born a man. That is still ahead.
We will also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAVEZ: My whole idea was to get - pull some equity out of my home, and I had it all planned. But now, I was so afraid to spend any money right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Who would have thought that the economy would actually affect how many people are getting plastic surgery? I guess when it comes down to paying your mortgage or getting a new nose, it`s not much of a decision. That`s coming up.
But first, stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news. And you can do that with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. Just head on over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight, click on the "sign up for newsletter" link at the bottom of the page. It`s really simple. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is back after this.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Elizabeth Edwards` amazing courage. Tonight, the dramatic story of how John Edwards` wife is dealing with her cancer battle and her husband`s shocking affair admission. Just how is she able to handle both? Tonight, the revealing inside story on Elizabeth Edwards` fight to survive.
Plastic surgery and the economy. Paying through the nose for a nose job. Taking a loan for lipo. Tonight, why nips and tucks are taking a beating even in Hollywood. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates the plastic surgery slowdown. T TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. Tonight, the John Edwards sex scandal. How in the world is his wife Elizabeth coping with not only his shocking affair, but also dealing with her terminal cancer?
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. Tonight`s Elizabeth`s anguish. We all just learned of her husband`s betrayal, but Elizabeth has been living with this for more than two years now.
Let`s roll out the showbiz" news line. October 2006 - that`s when John Edwards says he first told his wife for the very first time about his affair with Rielle Hunter. December 2006 - just months after learning of her husband`s affair, Elizabeth puts on a brave face and stumped for her husband after he announces his bid for the White House. And then on March 22nd, 2007, the Edwards tell the world that Elizabeth`s cancer has returned, but John will continue his campaign. And then just last Friday, August 8th, the Edwards sex scandal becomes public with John confessing in TV interview.
With me tonight in New York, Robi Ludwig, psychotherapist and contributing editor for "Cookie" magazine. And in Hollywood tonight, Lillian Glass, psychologist and communications expert.
So there`s no question Elizabeth Edwards has just been a pillar of strength for her family. And in fact, before this affair story even broke, Elizabeth told "Good Morning, America`s" Robin Roberts how she teaches her young children to cope with her illness and with all of life`s adversities. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, JOHN EDWARDS` WIFE: That`s what happened to me. The wind has blown me off course, and I`m kind of thinking this must be it. But in bad times, you still keep your eye on what it was that was important to you and you press forward with that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. She`s an amazing woman. Dr. Robi Ludwig, how much does what Elizabeth said then show us how she`s coping now with her husband`s affair?
DR. ROBI LUDWIG, PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND CONTRIBUTING EDITOR FOR "COOKIE" MAGAZINE: Well, it certainly shows us that she`s a very pragmatic woman, and she`s a woman who is very loyal to her commitments. And she doesn`t let her emotions get the better of her. So she`s not cutting her nails to spite her face. She obviously has made a decision. It`s in her best interest and in the family`s best interest to stay together, and that`s what she`s sticking with right now.
HAMMER: And again, I go with the word "admirable," all admirable things to able to do when you`re facing such adversity. In a brand-new "People" magazine interview, Elizabeth`s friends and family also really gave us a lot of insight into how she`s dealing with all this.
In fact, her brother told "People" that on the day after John Edwards went public with his affair, he called Elizabeth. And she said - this is referring to her young son - quote, "I can`t talk right now. Jack is reading to me." Her brother says he thought to himself the world is whizzing around her, and she`s cool as a cucumber.
Dr. Glass, I have to wonder if this is among the many reasons that people are really feeling so much compassion for Elizabeth Edwards because she`s just really being a mom and coping the best way she can.
DR. LILLIAN GLASS, PSYCHOLOGIST AND COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT: Absolutely. And you know, the face that she may be showing the public may be a lot different than the face she`s showing at home and what she`s feeling inside. And when you see and hear that she is putting her priorities first, which are her children, it really makes you feel great. And it gives you some hope for her. But she must be just devastated based on what happened to her.
HAMMER: And you say the face may be different at home than in public. But you know, we look at her, and whatever is behind that face - it doesn`t feel like she`s faking it. You know what I`m saying? It seems like it`s coming from a very genuine place. This is a woman who has dealt with some real adversity in the past, too. She had her son die when he was 16 years old. He died in a car crash. Now, of course, she`s living with terminal cancer.
Robi, I`m thinking she really had to develop a don`t-sweat-the-small- stuff attitude long before her husband`s affair.
LUDWIG: It may be her personality style, and that might be why John Edwards was drawn to his wife. He knew that she would be a stable figure in his life, and that`s making her so likeable. She seems to really have her heart in the right place, that she has been through tough times, but she doesn`t let that get in the way of doing the right thing. And that is certainly admirable in a woman to look up to these days.
HAMMER: Yes. I was going to say likeable and a real source of inspiration for other women ...
LUDWIG: Yes.
HAMMER: ... who may be dealing with similar issues. And also hanging over her head, is really a question, I think, that so many people are asking. Has her husband told the truth and the whole story here? Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did ask online and on the air in our question of the day, "John Edwards Affair Confession: Do you think he told the whole truth. Let`s show those whole results. Look at this - eight percent said yes; a whopping 92 percent said no.
Dr. Glass, with still so many unanswered questions, obviously, do you get the sense that Elizabeth is really dealing with so much more than we can possibly imagine, really going back to what you said before about perhaps a different face at home?
GLASS: She definitely is dealing with so much because he definitely lied. And being a body language expert as well, I looked at the tape, and I saw so much deception take place during the interview. And it`s continuing to take place, because we`re finding out new information each day in terms of deception.
And when he did the tape, you see him contradict himself. One of the things he says is that, no, he told her everything. She knows everything, and then at the end, we find out that she didn`t know everything. And so she`s dealing with this constantly, and it must be devastating for her. And I wouldn`t be surprised if he`s responsible for putting those nails in her coffin.
HAMMER: Well, and I should point out that we don`t know that he lied in that television interview that he gave, despite whatever body language you may have seen. I have 10 seconds for you, Dr. Ludwig. Clearly, she`s got a whole lot more on her plate than we`re seeing.
LUDWIG: She does and she`s going to need that strength of character and some good supportive friends and family to get her through this difficult time.
HAMMER: Dr. Robi Ludwig, Dr. Lillian Glass, I do appreciate you both being here tonight. Thanks so much.
LUDWIG: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Now, some big Hollywood political news. Oprah Winfrey is heading to the Democratic National Convention. Oprah, who has campaigned for Barack Obama, is making the trip to Denver later this month where Obama will be formally nominated. However, her reps say she won`t be on the stage and making any speeches.
Now, both Barack Obama and Republican rival John McCain have been accused of flip-flopping, changing their opinions about key issues just to line up votes. So someone has decided to make money off politicians who put their foot in their mouth by putting something on other people`s feet. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Oh, for the days when fish were what flip flopped.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He`s now flip-flopped.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Talking about flip-flops.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Flip-floppers all over the world.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL): The only person who`s flip-flopped on this issue is John McCain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John McCain has flip flopped.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the ultimate flip-flop.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Worse than a flip-flopper.
MOOS: No, this is worse than a flip-flopper. It`s the Obama flop and the McCain flop, the latest in political footwear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where do I wear them? I wear them in the shower.
MOOS: Nine of your favorite or least favorite candidates` heads on a flip flop.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s almost like you`re stepping on a candidate that you are for, though.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m not sure McCain would me want wear it.
MOOS: The once-lowly flip flop has been upgraded in recent years with everything from a hidden flask, to (UNINTELLIGIBLE), to a bottle opener. Flip-flop peaked as a political weapon when Republicans shook them and tried to stigmatize John Kerry. And this campaign -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Barack Obama flip-flops.
MOOS: Flip-flops have been drilled into us. The time was right for politicizing right and left feet.
LINDA SPANN, CREATOR OF THE FLIP-FLOPS: How many products do you know that instantly makes you smile when you wear them?
MOOS: That`s the creator Linda Spann. She patented the one-piece mold that`s featured everything from grapes to foot balls, and now heads.
SPANN: You can squeeze the head. They`re light. They`re hollow, and they look so real.
MOOS: Don`t tell the candidates their heads are hollow.
(on camera): Voting is under way on the Hot Flops Web site. You can vote with your feet, but who is winning so far?
(voice over): Obama is leading in sales two to one, which is fitting since he`s a guy who seems to wear flip flops, but is wearing these flip flops an insult or a compliment? Listen to the president of Hot Flops and their creator, flip-flopping.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are they supporting him or are they saying he`s flip- flopping on some issues.
SPANN: I think everybody - you wear these because you support your candidate.
MOOS: Or you could mix and match.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, very bipartisan. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
MOOS: Online is where you can buy them for 30 bucks a pair.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn`t pay $30. $9.95.
MOOS: Or better yet, try to get them free by modeling for a news crew desperate for footage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you`re not going to get fired, we`re going to keep them.
MOOS: Go ahead. All hail to the chief.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And that was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: I`m going to get me a pair of them.
All right, Brooke. I can tell you a lot of people in Hollywood are flip-flopping about their decision to have plastic surgery.
ANDERSON: Yes. And you know, it`s a little surprising, A.J., because plastic surgery is big business.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAVEZ: My whole idea was to get - pull some equity out of my home, and I had it all planned. But now, I was so afraid to spend any money right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Paying through the nose for a nose job. Taking a loan for lipo. Tonight, why nips and tucks are taking a beating even in Hollywood.
And I`ve got to hand it to Tyra Banks. She`s great at getting people`s attention. This time, she`s got a real surprise for the new season of "America`s Next Top Model," a contestant, a she who used to be a he. That`s next.
HAMMER: And did you see this? Kathy Griffin walked off on buddy Anderson Cooper`s set. Look at that. What in the world was going on there when that went down? I`ve got that coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR., ACTOR: I know who I am. I`m a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight Robert Downey, Jr. defends his controversial role playing a black man in the brand-new movie "Tropic Thunder."
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Tonight, two big controversies new right now in the movies and on television.
Robert Downey, Jr. has just made a startling admission about his role in "Tropic Thunder." In that movie, he plays a white man who has had a surgical procedure to darken his skin so he can play a black man in a Vietnam War movie.
And will Tyra Banks be choosing a man to be America`s Next Top Model? Well, at least someone who used to be a man. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal that one of the contestants on the new season of "America`s Next Top Model" is transgender, a woman who was born physically a male.
With me tonight from New York, Janelle Snowden, "VH1 News" host; and senior editor of "In Touch Weekly," Carolina Bermudez.
All right, ladies, once upon a time, a long time ago in Hollywood, white actors would put on the so-called black face until changing attitudes about racism basically put an end to that practice.
Now Robert Downey, Jr. is admitting that he was really nervous about playing a black man in "Tropic Thunder" wondering whether people would find it offensive. Take a look at what he said today on "Good Morning, America."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOWNEY: I thought this could be a really bad idea. As I read my - I thought it was an opportunity to kind of do something to show that we`ve progressed to a point where what used to be so hurtful and offensive can be used in a self-deprecating way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. Janelle, should Downey have been concerned or at we at the point that most people won`t be insulted here?
SNOWDEN: I think I`m a little bit comforted that at least he was concerned. Had he not been, I might have thought, "Oh, really?" But I have to admit that when I first saw the previews for this movie, I thought, "Oh, this should be interesting." And I thought that surely that the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons of the world may come out and say something.
But I think the difference here is that back in the days when black face was employed, it was because black actors could not get roles. And then it was also used in minstrel shows where black people were made to be buffoonish. And I think Robert is right in that this cast does feature a black guy, and I think he sort of serves to help balance the tone of it all.
And I think at the end of the day, people realize it`s a Ben Stiller movie and it`s meant to be funny. And it probably would not have been as funny if a black man were playing himself. I think that definitely lends to the comedy of it. So I say this having not seen the film. After I see it this weekend, I`m going to come back and tell you whether or not I thought it was offensive.
ANDERSON: You may have a different judgment. Well, given how beloved Downey has again become in Hollywood as he has put his drug and arrest past behind him, Carolina, does he have anything to worry about here?
BERMUDEZ: You know, I don`t think so. I think Hollywood is a town of second chances. And just as Janelle said, if he wasn`t concerned, I would have been concerned. But he is very vocal about that. This is a satire about Hollywood. And something that I thought of just yesterday when I was hearing everybody talking about this is, you know, when people have a problem with a black actor putting on white face, I mean, this is something that Ben Stiller himself had thought of while he was doing the script for the show.
So I think by him coming out and saying that he was very concerned about how people were going to look at him -
ANDERSON: Yes.
BERMUDEZ: I mean, he`s doing his part. He`s playing a role and that`s it.
ANDERSON: Makes him seem more sensitive. And as you say, it is a satire about Hollywood. It`s actually targeting Hollywood actors, brokers and filmmakers. So that`s the joke it`s trying to make.
OK. Moving on now from Downey`s risky role to Tyra`s risky move. Could America`s next top model be a woman who used to be a man? We just learned that a 22-year-old woman who goes by the name of Isis will be competing in the next season of Tyra Banks` "America`s Next Top Model." Isis tells "Us" magazine, quote, "My cards were dealt differently. I like to help people but I`m here to follow my dreams."
Janelle, should Tyra Banks be applauded for this really bold move?
SNOWDEN: I think we`ll have to wait and see. I think this could definitely open the floodgates, and at that could indeed change the tone of the show. And some people might say that that could have it spiral out of control. But it will definitely have people watching and I think there`s something to be said for being able to identify with yourself on screen.
Obviously, transgendered people are a minority and so are a lot of the other people that are represented on the show and have been from, you know, the different races. And everybody has had an interesting story. So this definitely is par for the course, and I, for one, will be watching.
ANDERSON: How about you, Carolina? Will you be watching? And do you think this is a good move by Tyra to open it up and make it more diverse?
BERMUDEZ: Absolutely 100 percent. As long as they don`t exploit this person, I am all for it. It`s been way too long, and why should transgendered people not be allowed to participate in reality shows, in any type of TV series or film? I think that this is taking a step forward for them and saying, "Hey, look. We can be on a hit TV show and we can be successful." And it takes away that stigma of ...
ANDERSON: Yes.
BERMUDEZ: ... "Gosh, you know what? I don`t think I want to go for this because maybe they won`t accept me." Well, right here, A perfect example of acceptance.
ANDERSON: That`s right. Maybe Isis is paving the way here.
BERMUDEZ: Yes.
ANDERSON: Janelle Snowden, Carolina Bermudez, we`ll leave it there. Thank you both.
HAMMER: Did you see this? Kathy Griffin popped into CNN`s AC 360 and got into it with Anderson Cooper over their Emmy wins. Now, Kathy has a reality show on Bravo she took a statue home for last near. But Anderson showed her up and you won`t believe what happened. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER 360": We have a shot of something. Oh, look, there`s one of our Emmys. Is there one there? Is that just one?
KATHY GRIFFIN, COMEDIAN: So annoying.
COOPER: Oh, look, our interns have Emmys. Those are two interns with Emmys and there`s a third Emmy there. Wow, that`s like four Emmys just laying around there. That`s interesting. Wow. Did she leave? Is she not talking to us?
GRIFFIN: Am I the first person to ever walk off AC 360?
COOPER: I think you are. I think you are.
GRIFFIN: Yes, yes. Yes.
COOPER: If Dina Lohan was here, she would have walked off, too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Nice move, Kathy. By the way, Kathy is up for another Emmy next month, so she could start to catch up with Anderson. Well, that whole Dina Lohan thing - you might have heard that Anderson and Dina had some words after Anderson made fun of Dina`s daughter, Ali, on "Live with Regis and Kelly." And then, Dina fired back and said that was bad karma for Anderson to be dissing her daughter.
ANDERSON: Well, Kathy Griffin hasn`t been shy about admitting she`s had plastic surgery, but I know those nips and tucks have to cost a ton of money.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAVEZ: My whole idea was to get - pull some equity out of my home, and I had it all planned. But now, I was so afraid to spend any money right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight, the surprising story of how the economy is taking a toll on Hollywood nose jobs, lipo and tummy tucks, next.
HAMMER: But first, a look at what`s new at the movies this week, brought to you by Multigrain Cheerios. Multigrain Cheerios cereal - because it tastes good.
Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey, Jr. set out to make the most expensive war film ever in "Tropic Thunder."
Woody Allen teams up once again with Scarlett Johansson in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."
And Luke Wilson is guy who only has six weeks to live. But then a miracle changes everything in "Henry Poole is Here."
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Charles. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
Well, for many in Hollywood, plastic surgery is just as important as, well, air, water and food. But now, with today`s economy, even nips and tucks are getting cut out. Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We often think of plastic surgery as something for only the very rich, something that`s recession proof. But plastic surgery reality TV shows have helped popularize procedures like liposuction and tummy tucks with people you won`t find splashed over the fashion magazines.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pamela.
WYNTER: Like 53-year-old Pamela Rae Chavez who had lost 70 pounds and considered going in to debt to remove saggy skin.
PAMELA RAE CHAVEZ, PATIENT: My whole idea was to get - pull some equity out of my home, and I had it all planned. But now, I was so afraid to spend any money right now.
DR. LINDA LI, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON: People are scared and they`re watching their pennies.
WYNTER: Dr. Linda Li, a renowned Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and reality TV star says the mortgage crisis is causing people who weren`t afraid to pay through the nose for good looks to take a second look.
LI: People were using their home equity to help refinance and use it for plastic surgery. Now that the housing industry has taken a downturn, they can`t pull equity out of their homes.
WYNTER: The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery says business among its members is down by more than 50 percent. And it`s not just the price tag that`s giving people pause.
DR. ALAN GOLD, PRESIDENT, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY: They don`t find themselves able to take that kind of recovery period that they would have been able to take before from work, fearful that the job may not be there when they come back.
WYNTER: Pamela Rae Chavez has put her procedure on hold, waiting for the economy to rebound. But in a town where beauty is often skin deep, even a few months can feel like an eternity.
CHAVEZ: I just have to wait and see. Hopefully, things look up.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. And one thing Pamela Rae Chavez adds is that this surgery is something she could have easily financed a year ago.
HAMMER: I`m going to tell you something right now, Brooke Anderson. I`m going into my budget and I`m taking line out in for plastic surgery. Ouch! It`s coming out.
ANDERSON: Cut it out, A.J. You don`t need surgery.
HAMMER: 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 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is next.
END
