Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Star Wars: The Election Edition; Overpaid Stars; Oprah Boycott; Paris` Search for a New BFF; Virginity for Sale
Aired September 11, 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, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Star Wars: The Election Edition." Tonight, new celebrity battles over the Obama-McCain race for the White House. Chuck Norris drop kicks Barack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHUCK NORRIS, ACTOR: That`s not the man to lead our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Matt Damon disses Sarah Palin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT DAMON, ACTOR: There`s a really good chance that Sarah Palin could be president, and I think that`s really scary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
And why is Jessica Alba naked and covered with tape? Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the brand-new superstar presidential smackdown. It`s "Star Wars: The Election Edition."
The Oprah boycott? Tonight, the call to boycott Oprah`s show because she refuses to have Republican VP pick Sarah Palin on until the election. Who`s behind this stunning protest? Will it work? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates the Oprah Winfrey boycott.
And the most overpaid celebrities. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the stars who may not be worth the big bucks they make. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City. And I have to tell you that the call for an Oprah boycott over Sarah Palin has exploded. That is coming up. And it`s all part of "Star Wars: The Election Edition."
Tonight it`s Matt Damon versus Palin. Matt Damon is taking dead aim at Sarah Palin. I can tell you he is not being polite about it. The "Bourne Identity" star has come out swinging at Sarah, yet one more star who has triggered another explosive Hollywood war of words in the battle for the White House. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT bringing you the latest making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): In a world where two would-be tough guys duke it out for the presidency, two even tougher guys are now entering the political fray. On the left, the "Bourne Identity" man himself, Matt Damon. And on the right, Walker Texas Ranger, also known as Chuck Norris.
KIM SERAFIN, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Two action heroes going at it.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you both of these Hollywood tough guys are throwing some hard-hitting punches at the candidates. Damon`s aiming at John McCain for choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate.
DAMON: I think there`s a really good chance that Sarah Palin could be president. And I think that`s a really scary thing.
HAMMER: And Norris is hitting hard at Barack Obama.
NORRIS: That`s not the man to lead our country.
HAMMER: Now, this is what you call a hard-hitting political smackdown. Bourne, Walker in campaign 2008. This time it`s political.
DAMON: I think that`s a really scary thing, because I don`t know anything about her.
HAMMER: In an interview with the Associated Press, Matt Damon expressed some doubts about Palin.
DAX HOLT, TMZ: He`s saying, hey, she`s been a mayor of a small, small town, but can she actually lead the country if anything would happen to McCain.
HAMMER: And Damon wondered what kind of Mickey Mouse operation would pick her as a running mate.
DAMON: It`s like a really bad Disney movie. You know, the hockey mom, you know, "I`m just a hockey mom from Alaska," and she`s the president. And it`s like she`s facing down Vladimir Putin and, you know, using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. It`s absurd.
HAMMER: This anonymous spokesperson had no comment on Damon`s Disney diss.
HYLA, CO-HOST, E! RADIO ON XM AND SIRIUS: Matt Damon, he`s a movie expert. I didn`t know he saw Disney movies, but I`m excited to see "Mighty Ducks IV."
HAMMER: We`re excited, too, and the hockey moms will love it.
NORRIS: I`m a conservative and I believe John McCain is the better man for the job.
HAMMER: On "LARRY KING LIVE" Chuck Norris who says he`s leaning towards voting for McCain-Palin knocked Obama.
NORRIS: He`s not our leader. You can know that, and I think the majority of the people will realize that when the time comes to vote, I think people will decide and know that that`s not the man to lead our country.
SERAFIN: It kind of makes sense that Walker Texas Ranger is supporting John McCain.
HAMMER: "In Touch Weekly`s" Kim Serafin says she`s not surprised that Norris is leaning towards McCain.
SERAFIN: Just go back to watching "Walker Texas Ranger." He`s the guy that goes out and gets the bad guys and gets things done. And I think a lot of people think that about John McCain.
HAMMER: But Serafin points out Damon`s political comments are unique.
SERAFIN: Up until this point, we`ve seen our action stars more associated with the Republicans. We`ve seen Bruce Willis. We`ve seen Sylvester Stallone. And of course Chuck Norris. It was about time the Democrats got their own action hero to support them.
HAMMER: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking with Walker and Bourne both throwing their fists into the campaign, who will the voters find most persuasive? Hyla from E-radio says it`s Norris.
HYLA: Be afraid to vote against Chuck Norris. A guy who makes onions cry is not someone I want to mess with.
HAMMER: While "In Touch`s" Kim Serafin is an undecided voter.
SERAFIN: I think it`s an even fight at this point. Let`s see who gets Spiderman in his corner, because that will win it for me.
HAMMER: Now that they`re into politics, maybe Walker and Bourne should face each other in the 2012 presidential race. You`d better believe they`d put the pain back in campaign.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And Matt Damon and Chuck Norris are not the only stars sounding out. "Star Wars: The Election Edition" continues.
And get a load of this. Wow. Why in the name of politics is Jessica Alba naked and tied up as if she`s in some kind of an S & M scene? You can`t tell that she`s naked under that tape, but she is. What is that all about?
Joining me tonight in New York Lauren Lake who`s a criminal defense attorney. And with us in Hollywood tonight, Carlos Diaz, correspondent for "Extra."
Hello, Lauren and Carlos. This ad - can we put that up again, Charles? We see her bound, gagged, black tape over her mouth and body parts, totally an S & M inspired ad. This is for Declare Yourself, which is a non-profit group to try to get young people out to vote. It certainly a great cause.
Let me read what Alba said about doing this, quote, "I think it is important for young people to beware of the need we have in this country to get them more active politically. People respond to things that are shocking."
Well, Carlos, Jessica Alba, you know, bound and gagged in an ad - is that really going to help young people to be convinced to vote?
CARLOS DIAZ, "EXTRA" CORRESPONDENT: Oh, I`m sorry. I was looking at this picture. I was kind of doing that. No, you know what? It actually is effective, because we`re talking about it. In any way we can get young people to talk about voting, I mean, it`s got to be somewhat effective. I`m just kind of upset because when I interviewed Jessica Alba at the Democratic National Convention, I asked her about Barack Obama`s politics and, you know, foreign policies when I should have been asking about what kind of duct tape she likes to use.
HAMMER: I`m imagining she wasn`t wearing that particular outfit.
DIAZ: No, no. She was fully clothed. Yes.
HAMMER: She now shops for her wardrobe now at Home Depot.
Lauren Lake, you know, I hear what Carlos is saying. And yes, it`s good that we`re talking about it. The "get out to vote" campaign is really important. But is it insulting to young people that Jessica Alba would have to pose practically naked to get their attention or is it effective?
LAUREN LAKE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, I can say this. It`s effective in the sense that, you know, we`re always competing with videos and our culture and the way that we just love like the in-your-face concepts all the time. But my concern is you do underestimate our youth. You underestimate the power of just talking to them and encouraging them and showing them the history why it`s so important.
You know, I want them to come out and vote, but not just because Jessica looks so sexy in this ad, but because they understand the power of what their vote and their voice means.
HAMMER: I agree with you. It would be nice to be able to boil it down and keep it simple. But, yes, there`s a lot of competition out there for people`s attention these days.
Just as hot, what we heard Matt Damon saying about Sarah Palin. This is unbelievable. Let`s roll that again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAMON: It`s like a really bad Disney movie. You know, the hockey mom, you know, "I`m just a hockey mom from Alaska," and she`s the president. And it`s like she`s facing down Vladimir Putin and, you know, using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. It`s absurd.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I don`t know how Snow White feels about all that, but Carlos is what Matt Damon said going to strike a chord with a lot of voters?
DIAZ: I think anyone who would - I think anyone who would appreciate hockey would be the Russian premiere. But the thing is Matt, what do you say? Are you saying that we should have more experience in the White House? Because then, you should actually vote for John McCain, because he`s got more experience than Barack Obama. So it`s kind of a slippery slope he`s playing here. You want more experience and you`re a Democrat. Well, John McCain`s got more experience than Barack Obama in the political arena. So -
HAMMER: What do you think, Lauren? Because I do give Matt a lot of credit for the fact that I`ve always found him to be very well-read. He does not just speak out of his behind. He actually knows what he`s talking about. What do you think?
LAKE: Well, if you really want to keep it real, a lot of Americans are out there feeling just like Matt Damon. Not because of just the experience issue, but just because right now, they don`t know much about this woman. They`re not sure exactly what her views are. All we have is that she delivered a speech that someone wrote for her. You know, and now, she`s just now getting out there and starting to talk herself, and that`s what we need to see. So his view at this point is exactly what a lot of people are thinking.
HAMMER: Well, speaking of "The View," part of our "Star Wars: The Election Edition." You have the show "The View." The McCains are going to be on the show Friday still back-lashed tonight over the story that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first broke about Elisabeth Hasselbeck slamming Michelle Obama in public claiming that she came to the show with her list of diva demands, what questions she wouldn`t answer.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s "Showbiz On Call" phone lines lighting up. Listen to Renee in Texas.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
RENEE, CALLER FROM TEXAS: Regardless as to whether she had a list or not, that`s not anyone`s business. And to me, a thing like that would make people not want to come on "The View" for fear that if she doesn`t agree with their opinions, she may decide to discuss what`s going on behind the stage, which I think is totally wrong and totally out of place.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Carlos, what do you think? I`ve got 20 seconds for you. But, you know, everybody is very passionate about politics. Do you think this will make some guests think twice about going on "The View"?
DIAZ: No. No, because people are passionate about politics. And let`s face it, actors tend to lean to the left a little bit. You know, Hollywood is a blue state. So of course, actors are going to want to come on and challenge Elisabeth Hasselbeck in this arena.
HAMMER: Yes. It will be interesting to see if that actually happens. Lauren Lake, Carlos Diaz, got to end it there. I do appreciate you being here tonight.
Well, it is just unbelievable to me how each day more and more celebrities are getting caught up in the middle of this whole presidential race. Tonight, I can tell you there is now a push to boycott "Oprah." That`s right, because she wasn`t have VP pick Sarah Palin on her show until after the election is over. Some people are just furious about that. But who`s behind this boycott, and the question is, will something like this actually work? Well, I`ll be investigating that, coming up.
Also coming up, the woman who is auctioning off her virginity. This just blows my mind. You know, just days after The Jonas Brothers were attacked for keeping their virginity, you have a young woman selling her virginity to pay for college. The heated debate is on the way.
And I`m revealing the most overpaid stars in the Hollywood. I`m talking about the stars who make outrageous money for making flop after flop. Wait until you hear who they are. You will, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLE KIDMAN, ACTRESS: Something`s happened. I don`t know what it is, but I can feel it. Have you noticed anything?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, with movie flops like "Invasion," is Nicole Kidman really the most overpaid celebrity in Hollywood?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, the most overpaid celebrities in Hollywood, and Nicole Kidman is right there at the top of the list. Now, "Forbes" magazine crunched the numbers and they figured out which stars get paid the most for delivering the least. And it really makes you wonder why they get paid so many millions of dollars.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, it`s Shira Lazar. She`s the host of "LXTV." And in New York tonight, it`s Janelle Snowden. Janelle - a host for "VH1 NEWS."
So, let me explain exactly what "Forbes" did here. They took a look at stars and their last three movies. They added up how much they were paid for these movies and then they divided that by how much money their movies grossed. Pretty simple formula.
The worst of the worst, as I said, Nicole Kidman. She`s made flops like "Invasion," a couple others. Janelle, are you surprised that Nicole was number one? And I`ve got to say that`s, you know, not an honor being at the top of this list.
JANELLE SNOWDEN, HOST, "VH1 NEWS": I mean, I can`t be all that surprised because, like you said, those movies haven`t grossed much. But I think at the end of the day, if the studios can afford to pay them their asking prices, then who are we to complain? It`s certainly not a list you want to be on the top of, but I can think of far greater problems than being one of the most overpaid celebrities.
HAMMER: Yes, I guess I`m not complaining about it, and I don`t think that`s what`s going on here. But certainly trying to understand -
SHIRA LAZAR, HOST, "LXTV": We`re judging.
HAMMER: Where the cause is for all of this.
SNOWDEN: We`re just hating. That`s all. We`re just all hating.
HAMMER: No. It`s not hate. It`s not hate.
LAZAR: It`s not hate. We`re analyzing it.
HAMMER: "Forbes" made the list. We`re talking about it.
Not that far behind Kidman, look at this at number three - it`s her ex-husband Tom Cruise. Of course, Tom was once the biggest box office draw on the planet, but he was number three on this list largely because of the big flop "Lions for Lambs." And now, there is all this terrible buzz about "Valkyrie" his next big film.
What do you think, Shira? I mean, are things going to shift? Are Tom`s days of a $20-million-a-movie paycheck over?
LAZAR: Yes. I mean, come on. It doesn`t come as a big surprise, I think, to any of us that Tom Cruise is kind of going down these days. He needs a major PR overhaul. Besides, his movies not being that good at all, all I remember right now is Tom from "Risky Business" and I don`t remember the Tom that, you know, who he is right now these days.
"Lions for Lambs" made $1.88 for every dollar he made. So he`s going to definitely have to choose some better movies, do some better PR, to get back to where he used to be. The fact that, you know, "Tropic Thunder" was his best recent movie - that`s what we saw and we really liked him in that. That was a cameo.
HAMMER: Yes.
LAZAR: He definitely didn`t make $20 million from that.
HAMMER: You know - and the truth is, you know, obviously, there`s a lot of buzz when you put a name like Tom Cruise and attach it to a movie. But if it`s not earning that kind of money, then what`s the point?
Right behind Tom Cruise, another one on "Forbes`" list of the most overpaid celebrities - Jen Garner. Her recent movies have included the flops like "The Kingdom," "Catch and Release," and the other one.
So Janelle, besides seeing, you know, cute pictures of her and Ben Affleck`s baby why somebody like Jen Garner still get paid so much for making movies that really aren`t hits?
SNOWDEN: One is everybody gets paid what they get paid because somebody somewhere thinks that they`re worth it and can afford to pay them, I guess. You know, maybe after this "Forbes" hoopla, I`m sure people are going to stir. Things will be reconsidered. I mean, we are in a recession.
But it doesn`t seem that things are really going to change all that much. I mean, she still commands a lot of attention ...
HAMMER: Yes.
SNOWDEN: ... maybe just for her personal life. But for whatever reason people like to see her in some way or form.
LAZAR: Actually, those dimples are insured, I heard.
HAMMER: Well, if they got insured - dimples, well then, yes, give them $15 million, $20 million.
Before we go, I need to point out that you have, you know, one-time huge stars Cameron Diaz, Jim Carrey, Nick Cage, Drew Barrymore, Will Ferrell, Cate Blanchett - all there on the top 10 of this list. It is pretty amazing and it will be interesting to see if they continue to garner - no pun intended - those huge checks.
Shira Lazar, Janelle Snowden, thank you for being here.
Well, on Wednesday we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of day. It was this - VP pick Sarah Palin with her designer glasses, her up-do hairdo, her overall look, "Sarah Palin: Is she becoming a fashion icon?"
This is how it went - only 20 percent of you think so; 80 percent of you said no, no fashion icon here. So only a few of you think Sarah is actually making a name for herself in the fashion world. But I did check our "Showbiz On-Call" voicemail box. There are those going ga-ga over Palin`s glasses.
Here, for one, is Ruth, calling from Illinois.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
RUTH, CALLER FROM ILLINOIS: Regarding Sarah Palin being a fashion icon - I was on a mission to get those glasses the moment she accepted the VP nomination and I found them. I will have them by next Wednesday. Pretty cool.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Congratulations, Ruth. Well, you can give me a call and let me know what you think about Sarah Palin`s style or really anything else that may be on your mind. It`s your big chance to be on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just like Ruth with "Showbiz On Call." Call 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that is 1-888-728- 2899. You leave your voicemail; we`ll play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, I can tell you, we`ve been receiving so many calls and E-mails about the whole Oprah Winfrey-Sarah Palin controversy. You know, Oprah won`t have Sarah on until after the presidential election is over, no matter how it goes, and that`s got a lot of people hopping mad. Women feeling betrayed. And now there`s a whole push to boycott "Oprah." But will it actually work? Who is behind this whole boycott? I`m going to get to the bottom of that, coming up.
And I know you`ve been waiting for it, so I do feel it is my civic duty or duty as host of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to present to you the cast of Paris Hilton`s new reality show. Yes, I will be revealing to you the guys and the girls who want to be her new best friend forever. I`ve got to say they pretty much all look like Paris clones.
And from Paris "I don`t mind running around nearly naked" Hilton to a woman who is selling her virginity online to pay for school. I kid you not. I`ll tell you exactly what we`re talking about, coming up.
Now, keep in mind you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime. We are always posting new stuff for you to check out right there on our Web site which you should visit daily. It is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. On the menu right now, among the videos playing, talk show battlegrounds - how the daytime talk shows are playing a huge role in the battle for the White House. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And I was there at a very special event to mark the seventh anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attack. About 150 volunteers and stars showed up at local schools in the New York City area.
The organization My Good Deed put this together. This is a great non- profit group. It was created by 9/11 families and friends. And its long- term goal is to make 9/11 into a national day of voluntary service. I think this is a perfect idea, you know, given how everyone came together to help one another in the days, the weeks and the months after the 9/11 attack. "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks really enjoyed working with the kids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JORDIN SPARKS, "AMERICAN IDOL" WINNER: I think it`s really awesome for people to come together on 9/11 so people don`t just remember this day as such a tragedy but in ways that we can move forward. So coming to this school and seeing how kids are doing and just seeing how much they`re getting educated, and they look so excited in there with their little diorama learning about clouds. And it was the cutest thing. They`re our future. And so, I mean, it`s a great thing to be able to come to the school and to see how the teachers and the volunteers are helping teach the kids that are going to one day be leading this world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. You should see the diorama that I made. It`s pretty cool. But I also had the opportunity to spend some time with former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel who`s a great guy. He was helping out as well. And if you want more information, I urge you to check out "MyGoodDeed.org."
HAMMER: Well, I`ve got to say this whole Oprah Winfrey-Sarah Palin controversy - it shows no sign of slowing down. There are really some people who are very upset with Oprah for not having Palin on her show until after the election. Now, they`re actually calling for a boycott. Could this thing really work? I mean, we`re talking about Oprah Winfrey here. Who is behind the protest anyway? I`ll be investigating, coming up.
And I`ll also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Pit bulls for Palin.
(DOGS BARKING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How did she get the name "Barracuda Sarah?
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You can put lipstick on a pig.
MCCAIN: But it`s still a pig.
(PIG SQUEALING)
HAMMER: Pit bulls, barracudas and pigs - oh my. This race for the White House is really beginning to look more and more like animal house. What`s with all this talk about animals anyway? It`s becoming pork-isan politics. Shouldn`t the candidates just leave the animals out of it? That is on the way.
And I bet Paris Hilton`s new reality show is going to be a zoo. Tonight, your very first look at the men and women who will do anything to be her best friend. That is coming up.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Oprah boycott. Tonight, the call to boycott Oprah`s show because she won`t put Republican VP pick Sarah Palin on until after the election. Who is behind this? Will the protest work? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates the Oprah Winfrey boycott.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: Pit bulls for Palin.
(DOGS BARKING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How did she get the name "Barracuda Sarah?"
OBAMA: You can put lipstick on a pig.
MCCAIN: But it`s still a pig.
(PIG SQUEALING)
HAMMER: This presidential race is really becoming a zoo. Tonight, how the animal house is the new star in the race for the White House. But should the candidates just leave the dogs, the pigs, and the moose alone? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT 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.
Tonight, making news right now, Oprah Winfrey`s boycott drama. It is the growing and explosive call to boycott Oprah Winfrey for a controversial decision not to have Sarah Palin on her show before Election Day. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you a Florida Republican women`s group is leading the charge asking women to turn off Oprah and cancel their subscriptions to "O" magazine.
And Oprah`s also feeling the heat on her very own Web site. More than 6,000 comments are now right there on the "Oprah.com" Web site blasting the daytime diva`s decision.
With me in New York, Lauren Lake. She`s a host on television and an attorney. And in Hollywood tonight, Carlos Diaz, correspondent for "Extra."
This whole boycott thing is centered around a south Florida group. It`s called the Broward Women`s Republican Club. Now, Oprah has endorsed Barack Obama. She`s made no bones about that, but she has also stated in no uncertain terms that she`s not using her television show as a political platform. Nonetheless, this boycott threat exists. I think the entire thing is insane. Lauren?
LAKE: I`m with you. I don`t understand what people are trying to accomplish here. The woman has made a statement, "My show is not going to be a political platform. I may endorse a candidate, but that doesn`t mean I`m having a full political fight on my show."
If she has Sarah on, then she`s got to have Barack on again. And then, "Oh, well, I`d better put on Joe Biden." This is too much, people. This woman has been a wonderful television host for America for years and years and years. If she makes a decision, let`s just trust the fact that she`s being fair, which she has exhibited over the years anyway.
HAMMER: Yes. And staying true to what she said she would do or wouldn`t do.
LAKE: Right.
HAMMER: Carlos Diaz, I think you agree with me - this hole thing is absurd. Will the idea of a boycott against Oprah, people not watching her show and canceling their subscriptions to "O" - could that actually even work?
DIAZ: A.J., I agree with you a ton of times in the past. I disagree with both of you, guys on this one. I think it could work. And a lot of Oprah`s viewers, as we know, are women, and women are interested in Sarah Palin.
God bless, Oprah. I don`t want to go against her here. I think she`s making a mistake here, because even though she`s backing Barack, she has to not, you know, say goodbye to one party altogether just because she doesn`t believe in what they believe in.
HAMMER: But Carlos, it`s "The Oprah Winfrey Show." She said what she`s going to do.
DIAZ: Exactly.
HAMMER: She set the plate and she`s sticking with that. So I don`t really get what the problem is.
DIAZ: No. And I agree, I agree. But my point is, it`s tough to back one candidate and then completely ignore the Republican Party. I know she`s sticking to her guns, but still -
HAMMER: So because she`s Oprah Winfrey, it`s almost like a different set of rules apply?
LAKE: No. It shouldn`t be that. It shouldn`t be that. Come on, Carlos. Once the woman makes a statement. Now, she can`t have them. She can`t let them back her into a corner of, you know, going against her word. She`s just saying, "Look, me, personally. I`m separate from my show."
HAMMER: Yes.
LAKE: And that`s what people don`t understand.
DIAZ: I understand, but this is kind of muddy water here because she`s really backing Barack Obama. But isn`t she supposed to like -
LAKE: But she`s not saying that on her show every day, Carlos.
DIAZ: No, it`s true, but she`s saying, "I`m not having Sarah Palin on this show."
LAKE: She`s not. She`s not using her show. But she`s not using her show as a political platform.
DIAZ: She`s (UNINTELLIGIBLE) though by not having Sarah Palin on.
LAKE: But if she were drinking out a Barack Obama coffee cup on her show, I would say, "Maybe, Oprah, you need to have Sarah on."
DIAZ: Where do you buy those mugs, by the way?
HAMMER: You know, I have to tell you, we`re not the only ones getting a little heated about this. An overwhelming number of calls have come in on the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines about this whole Oprah-Palin controversy. I want to play one here. It`s Cathy in Oklahoma, and she thinks that the Oprah bashers have got it all wrong. Let`s listen to Cathy.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CATHY, CALLER FROM OKLAHOMA: I feel like Palin should not - there should not be an interest in her going on Oprah. She should be talking to CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, and CBS and "HEADLINE NEWS." That`s who she should be talking to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And I appreciate you getting "HEADLINE NEWS" in there, Cathy. Now, Sarah Palin`s first interview did air tonight on ABC. That`s nearly two weeks after she was chosen as McCain`s running mate. What do you think, Carlos, is Cathy may be right? You know, I know you think that Palin should go on "Oprah." But maybe this is something for the traditional news shows and not the place for Oprah according to our viewer.
DIAZ: Now, agree with that. I think we need to have Sarah Palin on the traditional news shows because I want to know what she stands for politically. I`m tired of hearing about all the things going on in her personal life, you know, that she was a basketball player, that she has a pregnant daughter. I want to know what her political stances are right now. So yes, I agree. She should be doing "CNN HEADLINE NEWS," you know, venues like that.
HAMMER: What do you think Lauren Lake?
LAKE: Now, I agree with you Carlos.
DIAZ: Thank you.
LAKE: Now, Sarah needs to take a page from Oprah`s book and start getting out there and being authentic. We do need to know who she is. I don`t know anything about this woman pretty much except that she wears cute glasses and everyone thinks she`s so pretty. I want her to start talking and connecting to women. She doesn`t get a pass just because she`s a girl. We want to know who she is.
HAMMER: Well, let me read the statement that Oprah released when the story first broke about Oprah`s decision not to have Palin on specifically. Here`s what she said, quote, "There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show. I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over."
Carlos, what do you think? Moving forward, looking ahead a few months, if Oprah does have Sarah Palin on after the election, after everything is settled no matter which way it turns out, do you think perhaps that will then be enough to satisfy ...
DIAZ: No.
HAMMER: ... all of these fans who really seem to have turned against her who think she would be fighting for a woman?
DIAZ: Let`s look at the two scenarios here, OK? Sarah Palin and John McCain lose the election and Oprah says, "And now, the loser, Sarah Palin." Or they win the election and there is Oprah interviewing the person that beat her Barack Obama. Either way, having her on after the election, I don`t think, is feasibly possible at all.
HAMMER: That will be interesting to see. That will be interesting to see. What do you think, Lauren Lake? I mean, you know, a lot of people, as I said, perhaps who were big-time Oprah devotes and we know she`s got many millions of them, are kind of unhappy with her for saying that she`s not going to have Sarah Palin on. We`ve established that. Let`s say she does it after the fact. Anything gained by that?
LAKE: Sure. I think at that point, she`s done exactly what she said she`s going to do, "I`m not going to make my show is not a political platform, but after the election, after the campaigns are over, then if she`d like to come on, I`d love to interview her and find out about this fascinating woman or this woman everyone is so fascinated with." That`s yet to be seen.
HAMMER: Here`s the thing that sort of baffled me. When somebody who shall remain nameless mentioned that Oprah wasn`t planning Sarah Palin on the show, you know, people picked it up really only because Oprah responded to it. Carlos, should Oprah - you know, forget what she`s already done. OK, she`s spoken about it, but moving forward should she just kind of no longer address the situation?
DIAZ: Yes, you`re right. That`s a great point. She should not address it. I mean, it`s her show. She makes the decision on her show and she needs to move on. And you`re right - her responding to it, that`s adding a little layer to the story. So she needs to move on and be done with from here on out.
HAMMER: I think Oprah should do whatever Oprah wants to do. Lauren Lake, Carlos Diaz, thank you for being on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tonight.
Well, if you have something to say about Oprah or really anything else, you can call us, too. It`s "Showbiz On Call." Just dial 1-888-SBT- BUZZ. That`s 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail. We`re going to play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Now, my guess is people are going to have a lot to say about this. Actress Gina Gershon took on the role of Sarah Palin in a very funny parody from FunnyOrDie.com. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GINA GERSHON, ACTRESS (AS SARAH PALIN): Hello, America. I`m Gov. Sarah Palin. Lately, there have been a lot of wild rumors about me, and I`d like to set the record straight. He met with me for only 15 minutes and then spent another two hours with me and that was it. I was his choice. That`s exactly the kind he of decision-making we need in the White House. Now, if you`ll excuse me - I`ve got some hunting to do.
VOICE OVER: Sarah Palin, if she shoots you in the face, it`s because she was aiming for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I don`t think John McCain approved that message. Again, this video made by the folks over at FunnyOrDie.com. Gina Gershon doing a nice job there. The site, FunnyOrDie.com is created by Will Ferrell and his writing partners.
Well, you know, Paris Hilton is looking for a new partner. Yes, the hunt for Paris` best friend revealed. We`re getting our very first look, thank goodness, at the people competing to be Paris Hilton`s BFF. Who are these people? Coming up, the attack of the Paris clones.
Plus, a woman who`s auctioning off her virginity. What is the world is going on here? The controversial details are still ahead.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: Pit bulls for Palin.
(DOGS BARKING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How did she get the name "Barracuda Sarah?"
OBAMA: You can put lipstick on a pig.
MCCAIN: But it`s still a pig.
(PIG SQUEALING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Moose and pigs and bears, oh, my! Please leave the animals alone. It`s official - the presidential campaign has tuned into a zoo. But why, oh why, won`t they leave the animals out of it? The politics of animals - that`s coming up.
And make sure you check out the free, ever-changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast. You`ll find it on our Web site - it`s CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also download it by going to iTunes and doing a little search on their little search box for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help me. Help me.
KANYE WEST, HIP HOP STAR: I said stop.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: let me get that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Whoa, hip hop star Kanye West was arrested after this dramatic confrontation with paparazzi.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, Kanye West under arrest. The hip-hop star and his manager/bodyguard tangled with the paparazzi Thursday at Los Angeles International Airport. The whole altercation that you saw caught on tape.
According to police, West and his road manager, a guy named Don Crowley, were inside the airport. They were getting set to depart on a plane to Honolulu. Well, the two wound up in this confrontation with two paparazzi who were taking their photos. West and Crowley are each charged with felony vandalism.
Tonight, something Paris Hilton knows nothing about these days - virginity. But it is something one young woman does have and is now trying to sell. These are two outrageous competitions that are new right now.
Listen up. First off, the Paris clones. Yes, let the games begin. We`re now getting our very first look at the people who have been picked to compete to be Paris Hilton`s best friend forever. This is for her new MTV reality show.
And just days after MTV VMA host Russell Brand ignited a firestorm for poking fun at The Jonas Brothers` virginity, a 22-year-old college student is auctioning off her virginity to the highest and nicest bidder. Going once.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, LXTV host Shira Lazar. In New York tonight, VH1 host Janelle Snowden.
So "In Touch" magazine has the very first look at the cast of the brand-new MTV show "Paris Hilton`s My New BFF." Look at this. I`ve got to tell you, really no major shock, not a lot of diversity when you look at this picture that they all kind of look like they rolled off some kind of Paris Hilton wanna-be assembly line.
Janelle, I`m going to begin with you. I`d have to think this is because - well, Paris Hilton probably thinks imitation is the highest form of flattery.
SNOWDEN: I`m sure she does. I`m sure she thinks, "That`s hot." But I think - you know, I`m the biggest champion of diversity in television. I think there definitely needs to be more of it. But in the case of this show, I mean, let`s just be real. The show is defined Paris Hilton`s new best friend. And while I`m sure Paris has friends of all races and all backgrounds, she`s probably going to end up spending most of her time - the majority of her time with people that probably look and sound and act most like she does.
So, I mean, I think there`s that to take into account. But I also think that you have to look at the pool of people that probably applied. Maybe people that don`t look and act and sound like Paris didn`t really want to be her best friend. So I think reality, you know, or diversity rather in this case might have seemed a bit forced.
HAMMER: Yes. I`m sure she pored over all the applications herself. Can we bring up the photo one more time, Charles? Because something that struck me about this cast photo, if you look carefully when we get it up here, there are two guys in this competition.
Shira, I`m wondering, you know, if you`re like me, I`m thinking MTV perhaps found the only two men on earth other than her boyfriend willing to deal with Paris on a daily basis.
LAZAR: Yes. I agree with you, A.J. They`re also the only two guys that would probably live in a house with 14 other Paris wanna-bes. Now, that really takes some reality show talent.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, you know, we`ve seen what has happened with her friends in the past. Like tissues, they`re gone. Janelle, this is a question for the ages. We`ve asked it before. One of the great mysteries of the universe - why do you think anybody would really want to be Paris` BFF?
SNOWDEN: Oh, what`s not to love about Paris? I mean, you could just live in a sea of pink. You could have all the animals that you could possibly want at your disposal. You`d have hotels that you could stay at for free, I`m sure. I mean, come on. Being Paris Hilton`s BFF, I`m sure, comes with lots of benefits these days.
HAMMER: The whole thing makes me very uncomfortable, that`s why I`m going to move on.
While Paris Hilton certainly can buy almost anything she wants, one thing that at least she`ll never be able to buy back - her virginity, right?
LAZAR: Ouch.
HAMMER: I don`t think that`s going to happen, and that`s been well- documented, by the way. All of that said, there`s now this 22-year-old San Diego student. She`s using the pseudonym Natalie Dillon. She`s actually putting her virginity up on the auction block because, well, she wants to pay back those college loans.
Shira, it`s all legal. It`s all above board. So is there ever anything wrong with it?
LAZAR: Well, when it comes down to the morals and values we establish as a society. I mean, everyone has their own decision as to what they want to do. She`s decided this. Whatever floats her boat - obviously, there`s many people in this world that would not do that. But what scares me the most, A.J., is that she wants to get a degree in marriage counseling and psychology. How ironic, right?
HAMMER: Yes. Maybe she`ll have a class on what she did at some point or, you know, if she ever teaches. Oh. It`s frightening to me. But actually, the scary thing is how much money this is going to fetch. Bids floating up to the $250,000 mark right now. Let`s keep in mind, folks, tough times are upon us. The price of gas is very high.
Janelle, do you think this could possibly inspire other women to do the same thing? Because there`s a lot of debt out there. There`s a whole mortgage crisis to contend with for goodness sake.
SNOWDEN: Yes. God, I hope not. I think this just proves more than maybe anything else we`ve seen recently that sex will always sell no matter the recession. No matter how tough times are, sex is always a good pick-me-up. I don`t recommend this for any other young women. But I mean, it`s just a sign of the times, sadly so. I can only imagine how far the bid is going to get. But I do wonder who drove the bid up so far.
HAMMER: Yes. I wonder if we`re actually going to find that information out because - well, it would make quite a reality show in its own, wouldn`t it? It would have to show so many things that we maybe don`t want to see.
Shira Lazar, Janelle Snowden, thank you for being here tonight.
And now, I`d like to hear from you on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Here is what we`re asking tonight - "Britney Spears` Mother: Was it wrong for her to write a tell-all book?" You can keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail us if you have more to say showbiztonight@cnn.com.
We all know this race for the White House has gotten pretty dirty, but it does seem like the mudslinging is taken down by some innocent bystanders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: Pit bulls for Palin.
(DOGS BARKING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How did she get the name "Barracuda Sarah?"
OBAMA: You can put lipstick on a pig.
MCCAIN: But it`s still a pig.
(PIG SQUEALING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This election has totally gone to the dogs and the moose and the pigs. Tonight, a plea to keep the animals out of the campaign. Please. That`s still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
But first, here`s a look at what is new at the movies brought to you by Multigrain Cherrios Cereal - because it tastes good.
George Clooney and Brad Pitt team up for some laughs in the Cohen Brothers` comedy - looks like a lot of fun - called "Burn After Reading."
Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are back together again. This time, the two legends are working as veteran New York city detectives in "Righteous Kill."
And a wealthy New Yorker leaves her cheating husband behind, in "The Women." The all-star cast is all-women, including Meg Ryan, Annette Benning and the great Debra Messing. Hang around because SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. And tonight, the race for the White House - it is getting ugly. And now, even animals are being dragged through the mudslinging. But we`ve just got to ask, could you please leave the animals alone? Please. Here is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Can`t they just leave the animals alone?
MCCAIN: Pit bulls for Palin.
(DOGS BARKING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How did she get the name "Barracuda Sarah?"
OBAMA: You can put lipstick on a pig.
MCCAIN: But it is still a pig.
(PIG SQUEALING)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Poor pig.
MOOS: You think you`re tired of hearing this joke.
PALIN: The difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull - lipstick.
MOOS: Imagine how he feels.
(DOG BARKING)
(on camera): As someone with the last name "Moos," way too often mispronounced "moose," I think I have the right to speak for the animals. They should call this campaign, "Moose Hunt `08." There are moose ornaments and moose t-shirts. Bullwinkles beware.
CARTOON CHARACTER: Sorry, Bullwinkle. Why are you crying?
MOOS: You`d cry if you saw pictures like this of Sarah Palin circulating on the Web.
FRED THOMPSON (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She`s the only nominee in the history of either party who knows how to properly field dress a moose.
VOICE OVER: Mother, moose hunter, maverick.
OBAMA: Mother, governor, moose shooter.
VOICE OVER: She loves integrity, frugality and moose soup.
MOOS (voice over): Uh-oh. He`s right. Moose, run for your life! Even goats are being scapegoated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Staffer in the blue-striped shirt I am going to make you the goat. You pick out somebody to ask me a question.
MOOS (on camera): And look at this, the Obama llama, being sold by a supporter of Barack Obama. Sure, it makes Obama seem all soft and cuddly. But what`s in it for the llamas?
And even when Conan sends a canine correspondent to the Republican convention, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) dog is loaded for bear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the air. Her name is Sarah and she once killed a bear
MOOS (voice over): Maybe that`s it, draped over the couch in Sarah Palin`s office. But holy sow! It`s the pig that is really getting verbally abused.
MCCAIN: I am going to veto every single pork barrel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roll the barrel. Roll the barrel.
MOOS: From the pig`s point of view, it served Sen. McCain right that he bumped his head during a photo-op with a giant boar at the Iowa state fair.
MCCAIN: Putting lipstick on a pig.
OBAMA: Is still a pig.
MOOS: But at least, it`s a glamorous pig.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos, not moose, for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS," coming up next.
END
