Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Peter Cook Calls Himself an Idiot; Tina Fey-"SNL" Effect; Angelina Jolie`s Powerful Words on Obama; Jon Voight Fired Up About McCain and Palin; Simon Cowell Cashes in on "Idol"; Britney Debuts New Video on "20/20"; James T. Harris Slammed
Aired October 13, 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, explosive new twists in Christie Brinkley`s battle with her ex-husband. Why Peter Cook is now calling himself an idiot. And why Christie is now threatening to sue. Tonight, Cook`s brand-new revelations to Barbara Walters about his affair with a teenage. But should we feel sorry for him?
The Tina Fey-"Saturday Night Live" effect. Tonight, Tina Fey reveals what she really thinks about Sarah Palin and is her impersonation of Palin hurting the McCain-Palin ticket?
Plus, Angelina Jolie`s powerful words about Barack Obama, while her dad, Jon Voight, gets all fired up about McCain-Palin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON VOIGHT, ACTOR: I will suggest that all of this attack on Sarah is because they know that she`s the real thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Jon Voight in the headline-making interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And "American Idol" salary shocker. Now revealed, the mind-boggling amount Simon Cowell makes for doing "Idol." Will Paula and Randy now demand a huge raise?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi, there. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, true confessions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER COOK, CHRISTIE BRINKLEY`S EX-HUSBAND: Christie is mad at me. She`s entitled to be mad at me. I`m an idiot. I made a mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The apologetic words of Peter Cook, Christie Brinkley`s ex-husband about his cheating on Christie with a teenager. But tonight, it`s added only more fuel to the fiery fight with Brinkley, and it`s opened up a whole new battle. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now tell you we now know exactly what Cook told Barbara Walters in a televised confessional that bordered on bizarre. And now Christie is firing back in the divorce and custody war that just won`t end. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the latest breaking developments making news right now. H
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): He`s the poster boy for cheating husbands -
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL (voice over): Christie Brinkley`s ex sparked the nationwide debate over cheating.
HAMMER: Cradle-robbers -
JO PIAZZA, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": The girl that he started sleeping with - she was 18 at the time.
HAMMER: And self-made Web video stars -
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I`ve had my low points, although I`ve never been on the Internet with them.
HAMMER: Christie Brinkley`s ex-husband, Peter Cook, sparked one of the nastiest celebrity divorces ever by cheating on the gorgeous cover girl with his 18-year-old employee. Now, Cook is doing what many scandal-ridden figures before him have done, cry in front of Barbara Walters on "20/20."
COOK: I`m an idiot. I made a mistake.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Christie Brinkley`s ex is proving that nothing says "sorry" like sharing every icky detail about your illicit affair and online porn habit in front of millions of people.
BARBARA WALTERS, "20/20": How often did you have sex and where?
COOK: In the course of a year, I don`t think she and I had been together more than a dozen times.
PIAZZA: It just made me feel icky and wrong inside. I had to take a shower after I watched the interview.
HAMMER: Jo Piazza of the "New York Daily News" has interviewed both Cook and Brinkley. She tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT theirs was a storybook marriage.
PIAZZA: He adopted her son, Jack, from a previous marriage when Jack was very young. They later had a daughter named Sailor.
HAMMER: In the "20/20" interview, Cook explained what led him to begin the affair with 18-year-old Diana Bianchi whom he met in a toy store and later hired to work for him.
COOK: I was seeking a connection I could not find in my own marriage. I wanted a little acknowledgment, a little attention, a little thank you every now and then for my efforts.
HAMMER: And how did Brinkley react when she found out about the affair from Bianchi`s stepfather?
COOK: From the day she found out, I was dead to her.
HAMMER: Well, not quite dead. Brinkley took Cook to court for a very public divorce trial where an even juicier detail came out - Cook alleged porn habit and his interesting use of his Web cam.
PIAZZA: Videotaping himself and broadcasting it onto the Web site doing very explicit sexual things.
HAMMER: Cook tells Walters that reports of his porn habit have been gravely exaggerated.
WALTERS: $3,000 a month.
COOK: That`s untrue. I did not have a pornography habit. I just want someone to look at me and go, "Yes, you`re cool. You`re OK. You`re attractive. You`re sexy. I was missing that in my relationship.
HAMMER: Brinkley ended up getting custody of their two children. But Cook, who won visitation rights, says it was all worth it.
COOK: I`ll always be able to turn to my children and say, I did everything. I spent every penny I had. I sacrificed my reputation. I took beatings I didn`t need to take.
PIAZZA: He was trying to characterize what he did by saying, "Look, I`m a bad husband. I`m an idiot, but I was a pretty good father."
HAMMER: Christie Brinkley might disagree on the good father thing, her attorneys blasting Cook for doing the interview, telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "This is a tragedy. Mr. Cook has proven once again that the court- appointed psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Herman was right when he testified that Peter Cook has an insatiable ego and needs constant reassurance. Mr. Cook continues to put himself first, ultimately hurting the children."
And now, Brinkley`s side is dropping hints that they may go after Cook for violating their confidentiality agreement.
PIAZZA: This absolutely could add another chapter to this very bitter argument.
HAMMER: So maybe Cook`s primetime interview will lead to a reunion for this ex-couple in court.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I`m sorry. Cry me a river. What do you think? Feeling a bit more sympathy for Peter Cook now, or should Christie Brinkley be even more outraged?
In New York tonight, Carolina Bermudez who`s a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." And with me in Hollywood, Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra."
Carolina, Carlos, before the interview aired, the preview sound bite heard over and over was Cook lamely explaining he cheated on Christie with a teenager because their relationship had turned icy and he wasn`t getting the credit he deserved for improving their lives.
Carolina, now that you`ve seen the whole interview, are you feeling sorry for Cook?
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Not one bit, Brooke. I am totally with you. Cry me a freaking river, OK, Buddy?
ANDERSON: Yes.
BERMUDEZ: You made a mistake. Yes, you did. You made a huge mistake. In the interview, he said he was a great father and a great husband. Well, here`s a newsflash for you. A great husband doesn`t seduce a teenager while his wife is away with her kids - with your kids, actually. And he doesn`t spend hours on end on the Internet surfing Internet porn.
I was disgusted by this interview and actually - I postponed a date for this guy, OK? After, I was so disappointed that I had wasted that 20 minutes of my life watching this guy because, you know what? It was an act. I don`t believe him one bit.
ANDERSON: You know, I agree. It made me sick, really, Carolina, to watch. And you can`t argue that he seemed to be doing everything possible in the "20/20" interview with Barbara Walters to make it clear that, yes, he knows he screwed up. Take another look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOK: Christie is mad at me. She`s entitled to be mad at me. I`m an idiot. I made a mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right. Carlos Diaz, last week on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, your sympathy level for Cook registered below zero. And I have to tell you, that`s still what my sympathy level is registering. But now after his interview, has yours gone up at least maybe one little notch?
CARLOS DIAZ, "EXTRA" CORRESPONDENT: Totally, I love the guy. I think he`s awesome. It`s like I want to set him up with my sister. I want to welcome him into my family. Peter - The guy`s -
Peter, listen to me, if you`re watching right now, you will always be the guy who cheated on Christie Brinkley.
ANDERSON: Yes.
DIAZ: You`re an idiot. I mean, that`s the - you are a bar joke for the rest of your life. The only thing I can say about this is I feel a little bit bad for him because they promo`d all week him trying to have that lame excuse when he did fake cry. I mean, he could have put the fake cry in the promo. That could have been a little better, I guess.
ANDERSON: Yes, but they didn`t do that. You`re right. And I do realize that Peter Cook says he was just getting out his frustrations by having this affair with an 18-year-old. And he admits it was all about the sex and the sex and the sex. Take a look at where he told Barbara Walters where he and Diana Bianchi messed around.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOK: In the course of a year, I don`t think she and I had been together more than a dozen times in the homes that my wife and I owned - vacant homes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. Vacant homes that they owned. Carolina, when you hear that, do you think maybe that there was a vacancy in his head?
(CROSS TALK)
BERMUDEZ: Yes!
ANDERSON: I`m sorry. It`s hard to feel sorry for him.
BERMUDEZ: It`s extremely hard to feel sorry for him. You know what? This guy was sneaky. He went to his vacant houses. He was seducing an 18-year- old girl. And how skeevy is that. And to feel any type of sympathy for someone who (UNINTELLIGIBLE). If he loved his children, he could have been spending time with him.
If he was a man, he could have told Christie, "Look. I`m not getting what I want out of this relationship." He could have cut off there. But he was sneaky, he was slimy, and I`m sorry.
ANDERSON: After his interview aired, Christie Brinkley put out a statement through her attorney saying, quote, "Mr. Cook continues to put himself first, ultimately hurting the children. Ms. Brinkley plans to explore her legal options."
ANDERSON: Carlos, question here, though. Why take legal action? Why prolong this? As we mentioned, there are their 13-year-old and 10-year-old kids to consider here. Should everybody just give it a rest or does she have every right to do this.
DIAZ: She has every right to do this, because if she doesn`t, he`s going to keep talking. I mean, there was a confidentiality agreement. Obviously, he didn`t pay too much heed to that. And she says, you know, in that statement that he has an insatiable ego that needs constant reassurance. So you know, if she doesn`t take action, he`s going to keep speaking out. She`s got to muzzle him.
And you`re right, if she tries to muzzle him and they go back to court, well, you`ll have that attention there. So there`s no real clear- cut solution to this whole thing.
ANDERSON: Yes. What an awkward position for everybody to be in. Carolina, do you agree with Carlos that, yes, Christie should explore her legal options here?
BERMUDEZ: Absolutely. There is no win-win in this situation. And Christie is acting as a mother. As long as they keep on going out and fighting this battle in the press, ultimately, the kids are going to feel this. And I think that`s what her main concern is right now. And that`s the reason why she didn`t want him to do the "20/20" interview. I agree with Christie 100 percent. She`s taking her life into her own hands now. And kudos to her.
ANDERSON: Yes, and I agree with you. I really feel for the kids here. All right. Carolina Bermudez, Carlos Diaz, we will leave it there. Thank you both.
DIAZ: Thank you.
ANDERSON: OK, A.J., switching gears here, people are really fired up about this Tina Fey-"Saturday Night Live" effect.
HAMMER: Yes, that`s something everybody`s talking about it, Brooke. Tina Fey`s Palin impersonation and is it actually hurting the McCain-Palin ticket? We`ve been getting a ton of calls into our "Showbiz On Call" phone lines. Is "SNL" treating the candidates unfairly? We`re going to be playing your calls, coming up.
Also, Angelina Jolie`s dad doesn`t hold back about Sarah Palin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOIGHT: If you met Sarah Palin as I did, and you watched her speak as I did in person, you would see this person is the real deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, I sat down with Jon Voight and let me tell you, he is not shy about being a Republican in Hollywood.
Plus, you don`t want to miss his daughter. Angelina`s powerful words about Barack Obama. Coming up next, Jon Voight in the headline-making interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And Britney Spears debuts her brand-new video - not on MTV, not even online - on "20/20." Huh? I`m looking into this, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, we`re getting a first look at the controversial new cover of Angelina Jolie on "W" magazine.
Take a look at this. It`s Angelina apparently breastfeeding one of her three-month old twins. Angelina also gets very personal. She tells "W" that she actually never intended to get pregnant but because she was in love with Brad Pitt and saw how good a dad he was to their adopted children, she changed her mind.
HAMMER: And in another magazine interview, Angelina Jolie appears to be supporting Barack Obama but she is clearly at odds with her estranged father, Jon Voight, who`s openly endorsing John McCain.
Voight is starring in a new film called "Pride and Glory." He plays a police who encounters a corruption scandal involving his own police officer`s sons, who are played by Ed Norton and Colin Farrell.
Well, I spent some time speaking with Voight today about his movie and about Angelina`s most powerful comments yet that she thinks Obama should be president. We also talked about Tina Fey`s impersonation of Sarah Palin and I had to ask Voight who reaction he`s gotten in Hollywood to being a McCain supporter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VOIGHT: I had an op ed in the "The Washington Times." It was very strong. And there was a fellow who came out and suggested that if they were in the business and they were a producer, they wouldn`t hire me. Now, that`s, of course, attacking my workplace and a very, very dangerous statement to make. But this kind of intimidation is - you know, we must not stand for that. And yet, that`s always the point of this guy. He was scaring people off from standing up and expressing their support of John McCain.
HAMMER (on camera): Yes. I mean, obviously there is a real fear probably among those who are less established in Hollywood, "Hey, I support John McCain but I`m not going to speak out, because if I speak out, it may affect my future work."
VOIGHT: Well, that`s what they`re trying to do. But you know, we can`t let that stand, of course.
HAMMER: Does it frustrate you, Jon, that, you know, there may be many more celebrity McCain supporters out there who just aren`t speaking out for whatever reason?
VOIGHT: Well, we`ll let it be. Whatever it is, we`ll let it be.
HAMMER: A lot of people are having fun at Sarah Palin`s expense. And for better or worse, and I would say probably it`s for worse -
(CROSS TALK)
A lot of people know what they know about Sarah Palin because of perhaps Tina Fey`s impersonations which have been , you know, pretty devastating. I would say a lot of the public image that many Americans have of Palin is because of that.
VOIGHT: Well, I would say that Sarah`s response to Tina Fey - and by the way, she got dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween a couple of years ago. She knows there`s a similarity between the two of them, physically. And she said, "Anybody who can make a little living off of me, I give some credit. So she`s not overwhelmed by this kind of thing or looking at it - she`s not terribly shocked or looking at it in a terribly negative light.
HAMMER: But in the big picture, Jon, the fact that a lot of people are seeing Sarah Palin as Tina Fey`s Sarah Palin, what kind of effect do you think that`s having?
VOIGHT: Look, if you met Sarah Palin as I did and you watched her speak as I did in person, you would see this person is the real deal.
HAMMER: The fun that people are having at Sarah`s expense, which is what a lot of people are seeing, and that`s how they`re getting to know her. Do you think it`s having any impact on people`s perception of her, regardless of what kind of a person she is?
VOIGHT: Well, look, people are programmed to think one thing or another in an election campaign and there`s nothing you can do to sway them. There are people who are going to take a negative view of the other candidacy regardless of the sanity of it. And that`s what`s going on.
I can`t worry about that. I know that there are plenty of people who know who Sarah Palin is and I will suggest that all of this attack on Sarah is because they know that she`s the real thing and that she`s capable of pulling off this election because of her strength.
HAMMER: Well, Jon, your political position really seems to be at odds with your daughter, Angelina Jolie. I want to read something that -
VOIGHT: Oh, have you talked to Angie?
HAMMER: Well, I`d like to read for you a quote that she gave to German edition of "Vanity Fair" where she said, quote, "Obama is fighting for international justice, he wants to intervene militarily in genocides abroad, and he wants to close down Guantanamo Bay. They are things which could move me to vote for him, not his roots. Of course, an American president like Barack Obama would be great for my family."
VOIGHT: Look, A.J. -
HAMMER: My question is, how do you respond to what Angelina says?
VOIGHT: Look, she`s also said great things about David Petraeus and John McCain. Let`s let that be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And there you have it. Voight chose not to elaborate on what his daughter, Angelina Jolie, had to say, although clearly, they do disagree when it comes to politics. But Jon did make it clear, his new movie is definitely something you`ll want to see. It`s called "Pride and Glory." It will be in theaters on October 24.
Well, the great "Saturday Night Live" Sarah Palin debate shows no signs of slowing down. We got one particular, fired-up anonymous call that I`ve got to play from the "Showbiz On Call" phone line.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ANONYMOUS CALLER: If she has the courage - Sarah Palin -to go to "SNL," she should go first to "The View." If she actually passes those ladies on "The View," then she can go to "SNL." If she can`t, forget about it. Then she can`t.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: I think she should do "The View," too. Remember, you can call us at "Showbiz On Call" and let us know what you think about this or anything else that`s on your mind.
ANDERSON: That`s right. The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines, open 24/7. Give us a ring at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. And your calls to "Showbiz On Call" are also now online, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well, A.J., tonight, a lot of people are asking, are Tina Fey`s "SNL" Sarah Palin impersonations actually costing the McCain-Palin ticket votes?
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. I`ve got to say SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers are sounding off about "Saturday Night Live." Is the show treating the candidates unfairly?
You know, our "Showbiz On Call" phone lines have been ringing nonstop on this. We hired an air traffic controller to handle all these extra traffic. It`s crazy. You don`t want to miss this, Fey-"SNL" factor, coming up.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES T. HARRIS, TALK RADIO HOST: Most of the stuff I got in E-mail - how can a black man stand up and say - you know what? You know, I happen to be an American of African descent but I am a conservative.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Shocking. A black talk radio host getting slammed for supporting John McCain. Stick around for this.
ANDERSON: And Eva Longoria finally sets the record straight about all the talk that her marriage is a mess, that she is pregnant - oh, and that people are calling her fat, too. Stick around for that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson with some more stories that are making news right now.
HAMMER: Well, don`t expect to see a reunion with Star Jones on "The View" anytime soon. In the November issue of "Essence" magazine Star is ripping into her former co-hosts saying, quote, "Those girls were hateful."
Star also says she fell into depression after her Court TV show was cancelled earlier this year.
ANDERSON: Eva Longoria is setting the record straight about her marriage to NBA star Tony Parker, rumors that she`s pregnant and putting on weight. In the November issue of "Allure" magazine, the "Desperate Housewives" star says, quote, "I know I`m not pregnant. I know Tony and I aren`t breaking up. I know we`re not cheating."
And about her recent weight gain, "Every magazine is tearing me apart. I never went up a size. I just got rounder. I`m still a size 0."
HAMMER: And Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony renewed their vows in a surprise ceremony in Las Vegas early Sunday morning. "People" magazine reports it was a totally spur-of-the-moment thing. They even did a double ceremony with New York Mets star Carlos Beltran and his wife. It was a big night all around for J-Lo and Marc. They had a really good streak at the craps table as well. These guys first got married four years ago and they had twins last February.
Well, I think "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell must have taken some kind of vow to make some serious cash. You have got to hear the absolutely mind-boggling amount of money this guy is making. But will Paula and Randy be demanding a raise?
And whatever "SNL" is paying Tina Fey to do those Sarah Palin impersonations, they should double it. She has boosted their ratings big time. Next, the Tina Fey-"Saturday Night Live" effect. Tonight, Tina reveals what she really thinks about Sarah Palin. But is her impersonation of Palin hurting the McCain-Palin ticket?
Also this election controversy -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Most of the stuff I got in E-mail - how can a black man stand up and say - you know what? You know, I happen to be an American of African descent but I am a conservative.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This is unbelievable. A very popular black talk radio host getting threats for supporting John McCain and telling him to go after Barack Obama, coming up.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Tina Fey factor. Tina speaks out about how she really feels about Sarah Palin. Plus, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, could Tina be hurting the McCain-Palin ticket?
Simon Cowell cashes in. Wait until you hear how much money "American Idol`s" snarkiest (ph) judge is raking in. Plus, is there really a feud at the "Idol" judges` table? TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
HAMMER: Tonight, the Tina Fey effect. In our continuing coverage of what is the most absurd campaign ever, who could ever have imagined the star of "30 Rock" would rock the presidential elections? Well, tonight, Tina Fey speaking out for the very first time about what she really thinks about Sarah Palin. And wait until you hear what she`s saying.
And is Tina Fey`s impersonation of Palin hurting or is it helping? Well, there`s brand-new speculation tonight that Fey`s spoofs on "Saturday Night Live" could actually be hurting the McCain ticket.
Joining me tonight in New York, Carolina Bermudez. She`s a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." In Hollywood tonight, it`s Carlos Diaz who`s a correspondent for Extra. And in New York, Janell Snowden who is a host for "VH1 News."
All right. So this is pretty cool. For the very first time Tina Fey actually revealing what she really thinks about the woman she`s been spoofing, Sarah Palin. She gave an interview to the brand-new issue of "TV Guide." And in it, Tina says, quote, "That lady is a media star. She is a fascinating person, she`s very likeable. She`s fun to play."
Well, when Fey was asked about her own plans to play Sarah Palin on "SNL" in the future, listen to what she said here, quote, "We`re going to take it week by week. If she wins, I`m done. I can`t do that for four years. And by `I`m done` I mean I`m leaving planet earth."
All right, Carlos. Now that we know all of this, it`s pretty clear when you`re watching Tina Fey spoofing Sarah Palin, this is a woman who doesn`t want Palin in the White House.
DIAZ: It`s very clear because of her quote that if Palin wins, she won`t do her anymore. If she was a huge Palin fan, she`d say, "You know what? If you vote for her, you`ve got four more years of me making fun of her." Then people would vote for Sarah Palin. But it`s obvious that you can`t make fun of someone as drastically as Tina Fey does of Sarah Palin and still be a fan of her.
HAMMER: Yes. Carolina Bermudez, would you agree with that? Tina Fey not a big Sarah Palin fan other than somebody who`s fun to spoof?
BERMUDEZ: No, I would agree with that. I think, personally, Tina Fey has her own ideas of who she wants to see in the White House. But as a comedian and as an actress, this is gold for her. This is material that she can really sink her teeth into.
And by going out, by saying that she wouldn`t do it for four more years, I think it`s best for Tina Fey to just go out on top. She`s made her impression and her impression of Sarah Palin is going to be remembered for years and years beyond. So I think it`s smart for her to say, "You know what? After this, I`m done."
HAMMER: Yes. But here`s the thing that a lot of people are talking about, and not that "SNL" has any great responsibility of balance. But is "Saturday Night Live" being harsher on Palin than the other candidates?
Well, in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, we asked on air and online, "`Saturday Night Live`: Are they treating the candidates fairly?" Well, 68 percent said yes; 32 percent said no. So from this, our viewers seem to think "SNL" actually is treating Palin fairly. Janell, what do you think?
JANELL SNOWDEN, HOST, "VH1 NEWS": I definitely think they`re equal opportunity offenders. I mean, I think it is obvious that Tina Fey is not a huge Palin supporter. But at the same time, she`s only taking exact quotes for the most part. I mean, of course, there is some satire. But a lot of the funny stuff has been excerpted exactly from Sarah`s speeches. So, I mean, I can`t really say that they`re going overboard in their portrayal of her. I think she`s just giving them great fun to work with.
HAMMER: And it has really sparked a lot of conversations. I mean, I`m sure if you guys go out or you`re talking to your colleagues, they`re talking about it. We`re hearing both sides of it. "Showbiz On Call" phone lines have been ringing literally off the hook. Our phone lines have a hook. We heard from Buford from the mighty swing state of Ohio who wonders why we`re worrying about how this impacts Palin when we didn`t for any other candidates who were spoofed by "SNL." Let`s listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BUFORD, CALLER FROM OHIO: All of a sudden, they`re spoofing a Republican female. And everyone is up in arms about this. You know what? They`re for the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). They`re comedians. It`s not going to hurt her. It`s not going to make people like her more. It`s just for comedy. It is for people that laugh. Guys, you know what? We can`t take things too seriously.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Carlos, let`s dig into this a little bit. Help me out here. He says the spoofs aren`t going to hurt Palin and we all just need to chill out and laugh a little. What do you think?
DIAZ: I think we need to chill out and laugh, but I do think that this could hurt Palin. In fact, we`ve interviewed people at "Extra." Some political analysts have said it could cost her up to a million votes. It`s just - it`s the age-old thing. If you don`t know who the person is and you watch Tina Fey, you`re going to think that`s Sarah Palin. And I, for one - I think I`ve actually seen more of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin than Sarah Palin as Sarah Palin.
HAMMER: Yes. That`s absolutely true, giving more interviews probably. And you talk about the politicos saying this could have a real impact. You know, you only have to look to history to see what it has done before. President Gerald Ford really never lived down his very klutzy reputation which primarily was latched on to because of Chevy Chase`s relentless impersonation on "Saturday Night Live." And I`ve dug up a clip for you. Charles, let`s roll it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome to the first of three televised presidential debates between the Republican nominee, President Gerald R. Ford and his challenger, Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia, the Democratic nominee for president. This first debate will be limited to a discussion of domestic issues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, you know, Chevy Chase didn`t even look a thing like Ford but, man, he never lived that down. Carolina, do you think perhaps Palin should be worried that she`ll go down in infamy as the ditziest(ph) candidate ever because of what Tina Fey is doing with her send-ups?
BERMUDEZ: No, not because of Tina Fey but because of her own actions and because of what is coming out of her own mouth, unfortunately. You know, the one thing about the American public is that they love to be entertained. And when they`re seeing it on "SNL," unfortunately, that`s a lasting impression that they have.
So for Sarah Palin, she really needs to come out a lot stronger in her interviews if she wants people to take her seriously.
HAMMER: Well, Carlos related to something that I want to elaborate on. It`s gotten to the point that when you look at Palin you can`t help think of Fey. And really, it`s the other way around. If you`re flipping through the newspapers at all today, you saw political pundits speculating about the Tina Fey factor that we`re talking about right here.
What do you think, Janell Snowden, is Tina Fey single-handedly hurting the McCain ticket?
SNOWDEN: I think the jokes and impersonations only really damage the candidate if the voter has some - if what they`re saying resonates with the voter. In other words, I think Republicans have already made up their minds that Tina - excuse me, Sarah Palin is good for the job and she`s a maverick and everything else that they want her to be. And I think Democrats have obviously made up their minds that she`s a consummate dropper and that she`s ill-equipped. So for the undecided, I would hope they don`t rely on programs like "SNL" to make their decision.
HAMMER: Yes.
SNOWDEN: But for those who do, Sarah Palin just has to step up her game.
HAMMER: And you kind of have to wonder through all this, what does Palin think of Fey? Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wanted to get the point of view of a real-live Hollywood Republican. There are a couple out there. I dug one up.
Jon Voight - I asked him to weigh in. He`s openly supporting the McCain ticket. I spoke with Voight earlier today and he told me that Palin herself is cool with Tina. Roll Jon Voight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOIGHT: She got dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween a couple of years ago. She knows there`s a similarity between the two of them, physically. And she said, "Anybody who can make a little living off of me, I give some credit to. So she`s not overwhelmed by this kind of thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So Carlos, let`s bend this around the other way. Do you think that perhaps Palin thinks that Tina Fey is actually helping the campaign?
DIAZ: No, she dressed up like Tina Fey when she was beneath Tina Fey. Now she`s the vice presidential candidate, she`s above Tina Fey as far as power or potential power goes. So now, Tina Fey`s got to bring her back down. No, I completely disagree with Jon Voight on that one.
HAMMER: Well, I think it`s having a bigger impact than any of us can imagine. But we really not going to know until people pull that lever on Election Day. Carolina Bermudez, Carlos Diaz, Janell Snowden, thanks for being here.
How about we turn it over to you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Here`s what we want to know, "Tina Fey as Sarah Palin: Is she hurting the McCain-Palin ticket?"
You can cast your vote by going to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. If you have more to say, we want to hear it, E-mail us, showbiztonight@cnn.com. And we also would like for you to call us at "Showbiz On Call." That way, in your own voice, you can let us know what you think about this or anything else that may be on your mind.
ANDERSON: You certainly can. The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines always open. Give us a buzz at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that`s 1-888-728-2899. Leave a voicemail and we will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And your calls to "Showbiz On Call" are also now online on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Check them out.
A.J. , we all know that "American Idol" is a big business.
HAMMER: Huge phenomenon, absolutely. But you know who`s really cashing in on all of this? Simon Cowell. Wow! Wait until you hear how much money Simon is making. And I don`t even think they`re paying him on a per-insult basis. Plus, is there really a feud at the "Idol" judges` table? The inside story is coming up.
ANDERSON: Plus, Britney`s strange debut. It looks like Britney Spears is really back with a brand-new video and she looks great. But why in the world did she debut the video on "20/20?" That`s coming up.
And also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Most of the stuff I got in E-mail - how can a black man stand up and say - you know what? You know, I happen to be an American of African descent but I am a conservative.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A talk radio host is getting hate mail after he stood up and told John McCain to really go after Obama in the last debate. Well, coming up, you don`t want to miss a startling story of race, politics and how one radio host has become a lightning rod for controversy.
ANDERSON: And don`t forget, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime you want. We`re always posting new stuff for you to watch at our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Among the videos now playing, who was the "SNL" debate winner? Who came out looking worse on "Saturday Night Live," Barack Obama or John McCain?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMON COWELL, JUDGE, "AMERICAN IDOL": I don`t think you had a really memorable second song like some of the others tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes? We`ll see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight, for the first time, we are finding out what the brutally honest Simon Cowell makes for judging "American Idol." And all I`ve got to say is wow!
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Simon Cowell`s salary shocker is one of two big stories new right now. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that Simon Cowell makes a reported $36 million a year for his role on "American Idol."
Also new right now, Britney`s strange music video debut. Britney`s new video for "Womanizer" made its world debut in the most unlikely place. What is going on here?
Joining me in Hollywood is Rachel Zalis who`s the senior editor for "Life and Style" magazine. Also in Hollywood, Ken Baker, who is the executive editor for "E!"
Rachel, Ken, I want to begin with Simon`s big bucks - or should I say huge, tremendous, unfathomable bucks. "American Idol`s" former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is quoted as saying that Simon Cowell makes an estimated $36 million a year for being a judge on FOX`s "American Idol." And he says that breaks down to $22,000 a minute.
Rachel, sure, this is a crazy amount of money. But Simon is the star of "American Idol" which remains the biggest show on television. What do you think? Is he worth it?
RACHEL ZALIS, SENIOR EDITOR, "LIFE AND STYLE" MAGAZINE: You know, I think this is going to be really hard for people to swallow right now considering what`s going on in the economy. But the truth is, it`s all relative. I mean, FOX makes a fortune on this show. And Simon wants his piece of the pie. And clearly he is the star of the show. He is the guy that gets people watching, gets people talking about it. So if FOX is paying it, I have a feeling he`s worth it.
ANDERSON: Yes, you know, the show wouldn`t be the same without him, with his acidic tongue, his sharp wit. Ken Baker, what do you think? Worth $36 million a year?
KEN BAKER, EXECUTIVE NEWS DIRECTOR, "E!": Well, I agree with Rachel that he is the star of the show but I have to say that that is a lot of money. But if you do break down the mathematics, which we have done - we`ve crunched it. If you look at it, it`s $22,000 a minute. So that`s $22,000 a minute for every time he appears on the show.
But if you look at it and you look at what FOX makes per minute on advertising, it`s close to $2 million a minute. So $22,000 a minute for the star of the show, $2 million they`re getting per minute to sell advertising. When you break it down the financials, there`s still a big gap there.
ANDERSON: Ken, you`re right. It`s a fraction, you`re right. And I`m wondering here, what does Simon`s fellow judges, Paula and Randy, think of his hefty paycheck? Lythgoe claims that there is some envy there, quote, "There`s always jealousy in every job. Why is he getting more than the other two judges? Because it is believed that he brings more to the table."
Rachel, while that may be true, what do you think? Should Randy and Paula be demanding a huge raise here?
ZALIS: Only if they are willing to walk. You know what I mean? Simon has the clout to go to them every single year and say, "You have to renegotiate a new contract for me." And they know - you know, he is one of the most successful men in the entertainment industry right now. He can walk like that.
You know, Randy and Paula - I mean, Paula got this job when she was, you know, fledgling in her career. Randy - we really didn`t know much about. So I know -
ANDERSON: You`re right. It would be a big risk for them to take. You`re right. Simon obviously, a brilliant negotiator.
We do have to move right now to another story new right now. Britney Spears` brand-new video for her new single "Womanizer." So where did it have its world debut? MTV? VH1? E!? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT?
No. The ABC News magazine, "20/20." On a Friday, at around 10:50 p.m. - that`s when it debuted. Ken Baker, executive news editor for "E!" we were both shut out. Explain this to me.
BAKER: Well, I`m not surprised that MTV didn`t get it because MTV has apparently all but abandoned music. So that makes sense to me. But to go, like you said, to ABC, to "20/20" - let`s break it down here. "20/20" - look, the people who watch "20/20" generally speaking that are home on a Friday night aren`t the people who are going to go buy Britney Spears` album. Those people are out having fun. They`re partying. They`re listening to Britney`s music in a club. So it`s very strange from a demographic perspective.
ANDERSON: Yes.
BAKER: So I`ve got to say, I smell some bigger, broader, business deal going on here, perhaps with an ABC special, something along those lines because it just doesn`t make sense that they would choose that show.
ANDERSON: Maybe an interview agreement for later down the line. Good point. Ken Baker, Rachel Zalis, thank you both. Good to see you.
HAMMER: Well, it`s time now for the SHOWBIZ first look. Tonight, it`s "Defiance," starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber. Now, this movie is based on a remarkable true story set in World War II. And here now is your first look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I can still see their faces. My dad`s. All the others.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: They killed them - Alfred and Mama.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We`re family. We have to stick together.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You have a plan?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Only four words. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to make them count.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: For my brothers. For my parents and for all the others.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We know these woods. They`ll never find us in here.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Three days. More people are killed.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We will send for everyone who is with life.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: The old, the sick, there are thousands. How will we leave?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We will protect you.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We will start rebuilding the lives that you have all lost. Everyone will work. There are no exceptions.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We will become warriors.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Our revenge is to live.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: To save a life, you must take responsibility for it.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We may be hunted like animals but we will not become animals.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: It is impossible.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Nothing is impossible
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: But what we have done is impossible.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I almost lost my faith, but you were sent by God to save us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Very intense. "Defiance" will be in theaters this fall.
ANDERSON: A talk radio host is getting hate mail after he stood up and told John McCain to really go after Obama in the last debate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Most of the stuff I got in E-mail - how can a black man stand up and say - you know what? You know, I happen to be an American of African descent but I am a conservative.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Coming up next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a startling story of race, politics and how one talk radio host has become a lightning rod for controversy. You don`t want to miss that.
HAMMER: Have you done it yet? Have you checked out the free, ever- changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast? It`s easy to do. Surf on over to our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also download a podcast on iTunes. Just do a search for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Well, a talk radio host is getting hate mail because of his support for John McCain. His name is James T. Harris. He`s African-American. He`s conservative, and he`s taking a lot of heat after he gave McCain some advice in a very public way. Here`s Shelley Walcott from CNN affiliate WTMJ for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMES T. HARRIS, TALK RADIO HOST: Hey, Sambo, maybe master McCain will let you shine his shoes since you did such a good job licking his boots, boy.
SHELLEY WALCOTT, REPORTER, WTMJ: The hate mail started pouring in almost immediately after WTMJ radio host James T. Harris addressed Sen. John McCain at this Republican rally in Waukesha.
HARRIS: In the next coming debate, it is absolutely vital that you take it to the Obama. That you hit him where it hurts. I am begging you, sir. I am begging you. Take it to him.
WALCOTT: The national media pounced.
HARRIS: I knew something was up when the "New York Times" and "The Washington Post" started asking me questions, and then CNN and then FOX. I`m like, "Oh, lord."
WALCOTT: The clip made heavy rotation on national talk shows. And Harris says he`s heard from African-Americans across the country calling him an Uncle Tom, a sellout.
HARRIS: Most of the stuff I got in E-mail - how can a black man stand up and say - you know what? You know, I happen to be an American of African descent but I am a conservative.
WALCOTT: And he says he has no regrets.
HARRIS: I`ve realized I`m speaking for millions of people. It just so happens in this racially, emotionally election, the people who look like me happen to be on the other side of the aisle.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Everywhere you look, there is heat. That was Shelley Walcott from CNN affiliate, WTMJ for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Last week, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of day. "`Saturday Night Live:` Are they treating the candidates fairly?" Sixty-eight percent of you say yes; 32 percent of you say no, they`re not.
Here are some of the E-mails we received. Jonathan from Connecticut writes, "I think `SNL` is poking fun at both candidates pretty evenly, but you can tell they have a soft spot for Hillary."
Tiffany from Wisconsin says, "You never hear them talk about Obama like they do John McCain or Sarah Palin."
HAMMER: Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Don`t forget, 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
