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Showbiz Tonight
Jennifer Garner`s Nightmare; Obama`s new life at the White House; Stars Who Should Bury the Hatchet; Faux Pas or Fabulous?
Aired November 20, 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, Jennifer Garner`s nightmare. Tonight, the frightening and explosive story of the man Garner says has been stalking her for years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE WALTERS, "TMZ": This case is creepy, it`s disturbing, it`s outright scary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the horrifying things Garner says the alleged stalker has been doing. and the dramatic steps the pregnant star is taking to keep him away from her husband, Ben Affleck, and their 2-year-old daughter. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the brand-new breaking developments.
Stars who should kiss and make up. Barack Obama and John McCain did it, so why can`t Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie? Rosie O`Donnell and Barbara Walters? Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the amazing lessons stars can learn from Obama and McCain by burying the hatchet.
Plus, Brad`s mustache, Beyonce is robo-glove. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask faux pas or fabulous?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, the brand-new and very frightening story behind Jennifer Garner`s stalking scare.
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has now learned the unbelievable details on how a man has allegedly been stalking one of Hollywood`s biggest stars for years. Well, today, lawyers for the pregnant Garner and her husband, Ben Affleck, went to court to shield them from the madness they say has gone on for too long, threatening not only them, but their young daughter as well. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you the late- breaking developments making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): It`s one of the most frightening experiences a star like Jennifer Garner could face, An alleged stalker who says threatens the safety of her, her famous husband Ben Affleck, their 2-1/2-year-old daughter and their unborn child.
M. WALTERS: This tape is creepy, it`s disturbing, it`s outright scary.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, Garner, who is pregnant, turned to a Los Angeles court where she won a permanent restraining order against a Pennsylvania man she says has been tormenting for six long years.
M. WALTERS: It started back in 2002.
HAMMER: Mike Walters of "TMZ" tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Garner says this man started contacting her back while she was starring in the ABC spy drama, "Alias."
M. WALTERS: In the beginning, the ones that were from 2002 to 2003 are very like, lovey-dovey, and "we need to be together," "I want to meet you," "I love you."
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has obtained papers that Garner filed with the L.A. court. They include the shocking writings Garner says she received from this man over the years. Letters signed "love forever," roses with cards saying, "Jennifer, I love you forever" and a series of birthday card one of which reads - you guessed it - "Jennifer, I love you."
M. WALTERS: There`s a really creepy part of this where he sends all these birthday cards for all the birthdays that they had missed together. She says that he followed her around the country. He would show up at some of her press events, stuff like that.
HAMMER: Garner says things cooled down for a while after 2003, but just this year, she says the man surfaced in Los Angeles and started showing up at her workplace and even her home. That`s when things went from disturbing to downright chilling.
M. WALTERS: Now if he feels that he`s been told by God to do certain things.
HAMMER: In this letter addressed to Garner obtained by SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the writer talks of receiving a, quote, "vision from God" and that Garner is, quote, "in danger of being persecuted for being a believer at some time in the future."
M. WALTERS: He talks about human sacrifice. And so, all of a sudden from "I love you and I`m a big fan and we should meet" to these very dark, creepy, you know, disturbing thoughts. That`s when I think the pattern changes and where maybe Jen decided she needed help.
HAMMER: Now, Garner has gotten that help. The alleged stalker is under temporary custody, and Thursday`s restraining order bans him from having any contact with Garner or her family for three years.
M. WALTERS: What we`re told by LAPD is that he`s actually in a 5150 hold right now which is, you know, good because at this point, if he`s locked up with a mental evaluation, then she doesn`t have to be afraid at least until they figure this out.
HAMMER: Meanwhile, Garner and her family are going on with their lives. Ben Affleck is touring war-torn eastern Congo to raise awareness of the conflict there. And back in the U.S., Garner is preparing to give birth. But you can bet this frightening stalking situation will never be far from their minds.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT contacted Jennifer Garner`s people to get a comment, but they did not respond to us before show time.
Well, tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you brand-new details about Britney Spears` big tell-all. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there today at the very first screening of MTV`s upcoming documentary called "Britney for the Record." We could not believe what we saw captured on camera.
I`m talking nothing, nothing in Britney`s life was off limits in this thing. She`s talking openly about her love life, her bouts of loneliness and why she feels like a prisoner of her own success.
Joining me tonight in New York is Jo Piazza who`s a reporter for the "New York Daily News." And she also got a first look at the documentary. And in Hollywood is Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra."
All right. No kidding here. From the first minute to the last, it was hard to take your eyes off this Britney documentary that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT got to see today. There`s one moment where Britney is describing how she`s trying to pull her life together after her major breakdown last year. You`ve got to watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRITNEY SPEARS, POP STAR: If I have a lot of nervous energy, you know, when I start dancing, it all goes away and I just feel emotion. It`s like a roller coaster, you know. People think that you go through something in your life and you need to go to therapy. For me, art is therapy because it`s like you`re expressing yourself in such a spiritual way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Britney describes her life as lonely. And with a lot of tears, she declares that she`s really, really sad. Jo Piazza, you were right there. You saw it. Did you find it just heartbreaking, seeing the life of Britney Spears and how she now leads it?
JO PIAZZA, REPORTER, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": It really was heartbreaking, A.J. She just seems like she`s so alone. She was crying for a lot of the interview. And it just seems like she doesn`t have anyone around her except for the people that work for her who she is paying to be her friends.
HAMMER: Yes. And her love life got a lot of attention, and not really good attention. It wasn`t good stuff that we were hearing about at this particular screening that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT saw today, fascinating hearing her speak so candidly and how she feels like she handled her breakup with Justin Timberlake in a good way. But when she divorced Kevin Federline, who of course is the father of her kids, it was just devastating for her. Look at how she describes that marriage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPEARS: I think I married for the wrong reasons. Instead of following my heart and like doing something that made me really happy, I just did it for the sake of the idea of everything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Britney also says that when her marriage ended, she felt really alone but never really took the time she should have to heal. What do you think, Carlos? Is that something that very well could have played into her very public meltdown?
DIAZ: I completely think that played into her very public meltdown. You`ve got to look at her life. She, you know, basically was taken by the hand at a very young age and controlled by her parents throughout the beginning part of her career in a good way. And then when she split from them, she went right to Kevin Federline, so she had a controlled atmosphere there as well with her husband and kids and this and that.
And then when she finally broke it off with him, suddenly, she was all alone. And she says in the documentary - other quotes. She said, "I had certain people in my life that were just bad people. I let them into my life. I have to pay for it for a very long time. What the hell was I thinking?"
So obviously, she admits she made mistakes having those negative influences in her life.
HAMMER: Yes. And you talk about control and the current lack of control that she has over her own, you know, affairs in her life right now, plays a lot into what we got to see today in this very first viewing of her documentary.
It really became clear that her father controls just every aspect of her life. And there was one telling moment that we saw, and in it, she says that if she didn`t have all the lawyers and all the doctors that she always has around her, she feels so much more liberated. And she describes her life as being kind of boring in the fact she`s stuck.
Jo, what do you think? Do you get the feeling that maybe Britney is just a little numb right now and kind of going through the motions? It kind of felt that way.
PIAZZA: I think she is a little bit numb right now. She says at one point she doesn`t let herself be truly happy, because she`s afraid that happiness is going to be taken away from her again. And I don`t think she knows what exactly what she wants to do with her life at this point.
She says the paparazzi have taken away her cool factor, that she can`t go out, she can`t have fun. She used to be this party girl, and now she`s forced to "not be cool," in her words.
HAMMER: Yes. And heavy certainly may have outweighed the light in the documentary, at least what we`re able to see in the first viewing today. But there were some silly times that we got to take a look at. I`m going to show you now Britney - she`s just decked to the nines in this. She`s making a music video, and she`s on a break totally making fun of her dad here. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPEARS: This is my dad. Where`s D.W.? Where`s D.W.? Huh? Where are the kids, Lulu? Where`s Jayden? Britney Spears, Britney Jean, sit down there, right there.
I scream at her, and she gets (UNINTELLIGIBLE) scream at her. But I can`t do anything. You`re just going to have to talk sense into her. Hold on a second. That`s it.
HAMMER: Well, when Britney wasn`t sad or quiet in the documentary, she was performing or she was joking or dancing around, kind of, you know, playing the fool.
Jo, back to you because you saw this thing. Did you get the impression that Britney is either really on or totally shut down and there`s no real, you know, middle ground there?
PIAZZA: There is definitely kind of a bipolarity to it. I don`t think Britney knows how to behave when she`s not performing. She`s been performing since she was 16, and I don`t think she knows how to act if she`s not on stage, if she`s not getting constant attention from people. I think that`s why she`s constantly putting on a kind of act even in her private life.
HAMMER: Yes. It`s really interesting to see that. And it was hard to not think about the fact that she never had the opportunity to grow up like a normal kid. I mean think that was just present right there.
Sorry. Here`s the deal. This documentary is being released as part of her big quote, unquote "comeback" which includes her new album.
What do you think, Carlos? I`m having a little trouble understanding why you would release a film that paints really such a tragic picture and included as part of this triumphant comeback?
DIAZ: Well, usually, I`m cynical about these things, you know. But I actually think it`s a very, very wise move on Britney`s part. Because you have to kind of cleanse yourself of all the mistakes that you`ve made in the past. And we`ve said all along, "You know what, Britney? Just admit that you made mistakes and we`ll forgive and move on."
This Britney`s way to admit, "You know what? I made mistakes in the past. Here`s a look in my life, you know, beyond walking on the street with the paparazzi. Here`s an honest look in my life. Please forgive me. Let`s buy my album two days later on December 2nd.
HAMMER: Yes.
DIAZ: Let`s move on to more positive things.
HAMMER: Yes. I guess people perhaps looking for a little more of the setting-the-record straight kind of a thing. We`ll see what happens when we get to see it in its entirety. Jo Piazza, Carlos Diaz, I appreciate it. Spears documentary, by the way, for you to see in its entirety. "Britney for the Record" will be on November 30th on MTV.
HAMMER: All right. You know, Brooke, Britney Spears has been through a lot, obviously, but it seems that she at least is in good terms with her ex, Kevin Federline.
ANDERSON: You know, that`s true, A.J. And some stars just seem better at mending fences than others.
HAMMER: That`s right. Just take a look at John McCain and Barack Obama. I mean, these two have kissed and made up, so why can`t Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie? How about Rosie O`Donnell and Barbara Walters, Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards? Well, tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals what they need to do to bury the hatchet.
ANDERSON: And Brad`s mustache, Beyonce`s robo-glove - what`s going on here? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, faux pas or fabulous?
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama is a guy who likes his freedom and, you know, likes to do what he wants. His secret service team calls him "Renegade" for a reason.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. He`s probably going to have to give up that Blackberry and privacy in the bathroom. Tonight, we`ve got a revealing look at just how much life is changing for Obama right now.
ANDERSON: And now, the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Book highlighting Michelle Obama`s style due out. Harrison Ford to MTV News: Fifth "Indiana Jones" in "primary stages.")
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hey, welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Now, it`s time for the SHOWBIZ Obama watch. And we`ve got the brand- new latest stories about President-elect Barack Obama. Tonight, Pam Anderson`s advice for Obama. That`s right. I said Pam Anderson. On her Web site, Pam`s got a pretty big platform of issues she wants Obama to tackle in order to create jobs and get the economy going, Pam thinks we should legalize and tax marijuana, have the government take over health insurance and give it to anyone, and promote vegetarianism.
Pam also thinks the U.S. should close down Guantanamo Bay where suspected terrorists are being held, which is something that actually might happen. Well, that is one big change for Barack Obama, right? Getting advice from stars like Pam Anderson, but there`s plenty more.
The secret service is now his new BFF. Trips to his favorite barber have been clipped and that Blackberry will probably bite the dust once the Obamas move into the White House. Here`s CNN`s Alina Cho for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with a look at Obama`s new life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Barack Obama is about to trade this house for this one, part palace, part prison.
JAMES CARVILLE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I thought the crown jewel of the federal penal system. You know, you don`t think about it, but you`re really going to jail.
CHO: 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 412 doors.
CARVILLE: Literally, you can hear the door lock because you`re in there now. That`s it. Clink.
CHO: Obama will be the most powerful man in the world, yet he`ll have little control over his day-to-day life. He`ll never be alone. When he heads to the bathroom, secret service will follow him. He can`t drive his car. He can`t take a walk, can`t even take a trip to the barber.
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT-ELECT: I`ve got to have my barber come to some undisclosed location to cut my hair. You know, the small routines of life that keep you connected, I think - some of those are being lost.
CHO: His biographer says the president-elect hates living in a cocoon.
DAVID MENDELL, OBAMA BIOGRAPHER: He likes his freedom and likes to do what he wants. You know, his secret service team calls him "Renegade" for a reason.
CHO: Once he moves to Washington, he`ll have decoys in his motorcade. He`d likely have to ditch his Blackberry, too. Policy may take priority, but exercise is not far behind.
MENDELL: He loves to get his workouts. I mean, he could be with a cranky guy. If events overtake him, if events overtake the White House, that could be problematic.
CHO: Most agree a small price to pay to hold the highest office in the land.
MENDELL: He`s walked with a swagger for a very long time, but this may humble him a little bit.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Alina Cho for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke. I don`t think our "Showbiz On Call" phone lines have stopped ringing since this whole Jennifer Aniston calling Angelina Jolie un-cool thing broke, right?
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. Our viewers are pretty outspoken and split on this. Take a listen to these calls. Here`s Holly from California.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
HOLLY, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: I think Angelina Jolie is a wonderful actress and a wonderful parent.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, get this. Jennifer from Ohio says Jennifer Aniston held her tongue a lot more than she would have.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JENNIFER, CALLER FROM OHIO: I am definitely on team Aniston side, because she has proven herself as a classy woman. And if the only thing she can say about Angelina that what she said is un-cool, then she`s a better woman than me because I would have said a lot more in the last few years than that.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And remember, you can call us at "Showbiz On Call" and let us know what you think about this Aniston-Jolie thing or anything else that you`re thinking about. The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines are always open: 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voicemail. We will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke. I know that people really get fired up whenever we mention the words Aniston and Jolie, right?
ANDERSON: no kidding. People definitely take sides.
HAMMER: But Brooke, why can`t these two just kiss and make up? I mean, look at John McCain and Barack Obama - they were going at it. And then they got together to patch things up. So why not Jen and Angelina? How about Charlie and Denise? Even Rosie and Barbara? Coming up, how these stars with bury the hatchet.
ANDERSON: Also big Madonna divorce news tonight. Have she and Guy Ritchie cut a deal? We`ve got that, next.
And Brad Pitt`s mustache, Beyonce`s robo-gloves and then there`s Justin Timberlake imitating Beyonce leotard and all. What gives? Coming up, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, faux pas or fabulous?
Hey, remember, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime you want. We`re always posting new stuff at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Among the videos now playing, "I Quit!" Why some of Hollywood`s biggest stars are saying they may quit acting. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is back after this.
(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. The legal edition.
HAMMER: All right. Here we go, Brooke. Madonna and Guy Ritchie will take a major step in making their divorce official on Friday. A London court will issue one ruling. Then exactly six weeks and one day later, their divorce will be final.
British newspapers are reporting Madonna and Guy have reached a settlement over the money. They say Madonna will keep most of her $500 million fortune. One paper even says Guy has agreed to take none of her cash in return for joint custody of their kids.
ANDERSON: Michael Jackson will take the stand in the trial where he`s been sued for $7 million by a Bahraini sheik. Jackson`s lawyer had asked that he be allowed to testify by video from the U.S. because he was sick, but apparently, now, he`s been cleared to travel.
Jackson is scheduled to testify on Monday. The sheik says he gave Michael the millions to produce an album and autobiography and even a play which he hasn`t done. Michael says the money was just a gift.
HAMMER: OK. So remember when Heather Mills gave this shocking interview to U.K.`s GM-TV?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEATHER MILLS, PAUL MCCARTNEY`S EX-WIFE: I`ve had worse press than a pedophile or a murderer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: How can you possibly forget? Well now, Paul McCartney`s ex is going after the press. She`s filed complaints with Britain`s Press Complaints Commission against four British newspapers, "The Sun," "The Daily Mail," "The Daily Express" and "London Lights" saying they violated her privacy and were inaccurate during her brutal divorce from Paul.
All right, Brooke. I think Heather Mills complaining about the press may be a big faux pas.
ANDERSON: You know, you may be right, A.J. Maybe she should just take the money she got from Paul McCartney. What was it - like, 50 million bucks and just move on.
HAMMER: Perhaps that is exactly what she should do, Brooke. Well, tonight we`ve got to ask what about what these stars are doing, faux pas or fabulous? Talking about Brad Pitt`s mustache, Beyonce`s bizarre robo-hand, even Justin Timberlake doing Beyonce`s dance number with his very own leotard. That`s all coming up.
ANDERSON: And look at John McCain and Barack Obama. They kissed and made up. So why can`t Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston? Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards? Even Rosie O`Donnell and Barbara Walters? Tonight, we`ve got some must-hear advice for these stars on how to bury the hatchet.
HAMMER: And has Jennifer Aniston finally found Mr. Right in Alec Baldwin? Tonight, why Alec says kissing Jennifer was the greatest day of his life. I`m serious. Stick around for the scoop on their smooch.
ANDERSON: But first, stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. Just head to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight, click on the "sign up for newsletter" link - it`s at the bottom of the page. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back after this. Keep it here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, stars who`ve just got to kiss and make up? Barack Obama and John McCain - they did it. So why not Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie, Rosie O`Donnell and Barbara Walters? How about Charlie and Denise? Well tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the amazing lessons stars can learn from Obama and McCain by burying the hatchet.
Brad`s mustache, Beyonce`s robo-glove, Justine doing the Beyonce dance in a leotard? Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, are these brand-new star-studded moves that everyone is talking about faux pas or fabulous?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
HAMMER: All right. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is calling together a summit, so some of Hollywood`s biggest stars can finally end their feuds and bury the hatchet.
Come on, President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain just did it when Obama asked McCain for his help. So I`m thinking, if they can do it, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has got to ask, can it be done in Hollywood with some of those notorious feuds? Oh, I can hear the peace doves circling right now.
Joining me tonight in New York, Lisa Bloom, who is an "In Session" anchor and host of "Lisa Bloom: Open Court." In Hollywood tonight is Carlos Diaz; he`s a correspondent for "Extra."
OK. Let`s begin with the one that`s getting a lot of attention right now, guys. Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie. We may have our work cut out for us here. Aniston, of course, recently called out Jolie for saying she had the hots for Brad while they were shooting "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and while Brad was still married to Jen. Jennifer called Angelina un-cool for what happened. Well, watch what Aniston told Oprah about all this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Is this out of context? You did say, "What Angelina did was very un-cool?" You did say that. You just didn`t expect it to be on the cover.
JENNIFER ANISTON, ACTRESS: Well, no. You don`t expect - he asked me a question and I basically just answered it as honestly as I could. You know, I don`t go there, you know what I mean?
WINFREY: Yes, yes.
ANISTON: It`s 100 years old.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. It seems like she`s put it behind her. Jennifer Aniston has mentioned that she`s moving on with her love life. In fact, she told Oprah Winfrey that she`s now dating singer John Mayer.
So Lisa, what does she and Angelina need to do to bury the hatchet once and for all?
LISA BLOOM, HOST, "LISA BLOOM: OPEN COURT": Well, it sounds like she`s buried the hatchet but in a very shallow grave and it pops right up again as soon as somebody asks her a question.
I`m surprised that a big star like Jennifer Aniston would say, "Well, yes, I said that in an interview, but I didn`t expect them to put it in print." I mean, come on.
HAMMER: Yes. I guess that is a realistic way of looking at it. What do you think, Carlos? You know, Barack Obama and John McCain can bury the hatchet after all that fighting that went on during the campaign. Why can`t Jen and Angie? What`s it going to take, Carlos? What?
DIAZ: I think it`s going to take a nice bubble bath, maybe a sleepover.
HAMMER: Excuse me?
DIAZ: I`m sorry.
HAMMER: I`m not talking about your dreams from last night, Carlos.
DIAZ: Oh, I`m sorry. Because I was also thinking of the fighting, and you know, maybe like a pillow fight. But no, you know, these guys - they just need to kind of move on, and I mean - because, you know, once you give people a taste, you`re going to want more and more of this fighting. So until they make up, that`s going to be the question du jour everyone`s going to be asking them about. What do you think of this person? What do you think of Angelina? What do you think of Jen? Just get done with it so we can move on with all of our lives.
HAMMER: And we can live as one happy for the rest of eternity. OK. Now, let`s move on to two people. I don`t think a sleep over and a bubble bath would solve this. We`re talking Barbara Walters and Rosie O`Donnell. Oh, why did I even have to make that visual reference?
BLOOM: No one wants to go there.
DIAZ: No, no, no.
HAMMER: OK, here`s what happened. Rosie O`Donnell was giving a press conference to reporters on Wednesday all about her new NBC variety show. And she opened up the old wounds again. She said that she hasn`t watched "The View" since she left as a co-host because, quote, "I had so many mixed emotions. It would almost be like post-traumatic stress disorder. The fact is, there wasn`t a lot of camaraderie off camera there."
All right, Lisa. What is it going to take for Rosie to bury the hatchet with Barbara Walters?
BLOOM: Yes. Rosie seems to not understand the general view that when you leave a show, you don`t want to burn a bridge. You don`t say anything mean about your co-workers.
And P.S., I`m watching "The View" this morning and they made a reference to it. I didn`t know what they were talking about which just goes to show if you let these things die, people don`t know. If you keep responding and responding, it just brings it back up into public consciousness.
They hired Rosie because she`s a gadfly. She says and does everything she wants to do. That was great when she was on the show, not so good post-"View."
HAMMER: Yes. We were paying attention as well this morning when Barbara Walters clearly showed her annoyance by what Rosie said, Lisa. And you`ve got to see how she seems to reference Rosie`s comments from that press conference on "The View" today. We have that clip for you. Roll it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-HOST AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "THE VIEW": There are some people who have done the show and then for years feel they have to dump on it, maybe for their own publicity. And that not only hurts me, but I resent it. So if the shoe fits, ladies, get on, ladies. Get on with your lives. We are not perfect. We are not always happy but we`re pretty good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A little slip there. She said, "Get on with it lady - I mean ladies." Carlos, seems to me, though, that mother hen Barbara Walters really does want to get past everything that has happened ...
DIAZ: No.
HAMMER: Let bygones be bygones.
DIAZ: No.
HAMMER: No, no, no?
DIAZ: No, she doesn`t. No, she doesn`t. She loves this.
HAMMER: OK.
DIAZ: She didn`t have to comment today on "The View." She could have let bygones be bygones. She commented because she knew we`d be talking about it on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. All right. She knew - Rosie knew the only way to drum up publicity for her variety show on NBC was to talk smack about "The View." And then, Barbara turned on it and did the same thing and talked smack about Rosie. That`s why we`re talking about it. Everyone gets free press.
HAMMER: So she really got it figured out - Barbara.
DIAZ: They do.
HAMMER: OK. All right. Let`s move on to the mother of all feuds in Hollywood. We`ve got to talk about this if we`re talking about trying to bury the hatchet or if it`s even possible. We`re talking a bitter custody battle here between Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen.
You know, these two were married for four years. They had two adorable little girls. When I sat down with Denise Richards, she talked to me about their never-ending battles. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENISE RICHARDS, ACTRESS: I don`t hate Charlie. He gave me the two greatest gifts anyone could ever give me, and they are my girls. And you know, it`s very unfortunate our situation and very sad. And I hope one day, things can be pushed aside and we can focus on the most important thing, and that is our girls. We`re divorced. We are done. This isn`t about us anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, this battle does continue. It`s been ongoing and it`s been bitter for years now. Lisa, do you think it`s even possible for these two to bury the hatchet?
BLOOM: Well, that was a very nice statement that you just got out of Denise Richards, and I hope we continue to see that. The problem is in the past, it`s been tit for tat, one after the other. Easy, Carlos, by the way, on that one.
And so it just keeps exacerbating. Somebody has got to say stop. Somebody`s got to bite their tongue when something bad happens and not respond. It looks like that`s the way it`s going now. We can only hope that continues.
HAMMER: All right. Carlos, do you hear harps or do you see hatchets? And is everything OK there in the "Extra" newsroom?
DIAZ: Yes. They`re going crazy back here from Lisa`s commentary back there.
(CROSS TALK)
But here`s the thing. No, I don`t think that Denise Richards will ever make up because forgive me for saying this - if she does make up, I don`t believe she`ll have a career because there will be nothing to talk about.
HAMMER: Yes.
DIAZ: All she talks about is her breakup with Charlie Sheen.
BLOOM: Oh, you cynic.
DIAZ: So she`s like if they get back together it`s, like -
BLOOM: You`re so cynical, Carlos.
HAMMER: Truth is, though, Lisa - truth is she never says, "Oh, please stop asking me about that."
All right. Very quickly now, very quickly. We just mentioned some of the greatest feuds going on. We`ve got Jolie. We have Rosie versus Barbara. Charlie versus Denise. Lisa, if any of those hatchets can be buried, which stands the best chance do you think?
BLOOM: Hmm. That`s a good one. I`m rooting for Charlie and Denise. I really am because as she says, they have two very good reasons to just stop this nonsense and that`s the children.
You know, Barbara and Rosie O`Donnell don`t have any children together that I`m aware of. So that will probably just keep on going.
HAMMER: Carlos, five seconds for your vote.
DIAZ: Angelina says she wants to be a grandmother. Everybody loves grandmothers. I think Angelina and Jennifer can bury their hatchet.
HAMMER: You just opened it up for me to say, again, "Grangelina." All right. Lisa Bloom, Carlos Diaz, thanks for voting and joining us, guys.
We`ve been asking you to vote. This is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of day - "Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie: Is it time for them to bury the hatchet?" Let us know CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail us showbiztonight@cnn.com.
All right, Brooke. We`re going to have to wait and see what our viewers have to say about these ladies burying the hatchet. But in the meantime, you know, the people calling into "Showbiz On Call" are still choosing sides here.
ANDERSON: They are, A.J., like Lee, for instance, from Tennessee who is 100 percent team Aniston.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
LEE, CALLER FROM TENNESSEE: Angelina basically stole Brad from Jen with Brad`s willingness. But I think now, they`re converted to an authentic family. I`m proud of them on the works they`ve done. But I also think that Jen is coming to her own, and she is a great lady.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: I think Jen`s a great lady, too. But Regina who called in from Illinois has nothing but love for Angelina and Brad.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
REGINA, CALLER FROM ILLINOIS: I think Angelina Jolie is a better actress and I think her and Brad is the best couple in the world. And I pray for them all the time.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: We encourage all of your opinions, and we`d like to hear from you about Jen, Brad, Angelina or anything else we may be talking about tonight.
ANDERSON: That`s right. The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines are open 24/7. The number is 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voicemail. We will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And listen to this. Your calls to "Showbiz On Call" are also now online on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Hey, A.J., these days, it seems that everybody seems to be talking about Jennifer Aniston.
HAMMER: That is the truth, Brooke Anderson. Even Alec Baldwin is getting in on that, talking about Aniston action. Coming up, it`s time for kiss and tell. Alec dishes about his onscreen smooch with Jen. You have got to hear him just gushing about Jennifer. And I`ve got to tell you about it, and it gets a little weird. That`s coming up.
ANDERSON: Plus, Brad Pitt, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake are usually trendsetters. These days, they`re all sporting some unique new looks though, but did they go too far? Tonight, we`re putting them to the test - fashion faux pas or fabulous?
HAMMER: Plus, the SHOWBIZ Obama watch goes on a mission to check out the unbelievable connection between Barack Obama and the hit show "The West Wing." You`ve got to hear what one of the former stars of the show told Regis this morning. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT coming right back.
And now, the SHOWBIZ news ticker - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Paris Hilton and Benji Madden split after nine months. Ben Affleck in Congo to raise awareness and aid for refugees.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(VIDEO OF "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" SPOOF OF BEYONCE`S "SINGLE LADIES" VIDEO)
ANDERSON: Check out those tights. That`s Justin Timberlake flaunting his moves with Beyonce on "Saturday Night Live." But was it a faux pas or was it fabulous?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Tonight, faux pas or fabulous? In the past week, we have seen Justin Timberlake in tights, Brad Pitt`s new mustache, Beyonce`s robo-hand. So fashion`s finest want to know, did these stars make a major faux pas or are they simply fabulous?
Joining me tonight in New York is the fabulous Ben Widdicombe who is editor-at-large for "Star" magazine. Also tonight in New York, the always fabulous Janell Snowden who is a host for "VH1 NEWS." Ben, Janell, good to see you.
And I want to start off with the mystical metallic glove that Beyonce has been wearing around town. If you haven`t seen it, she`s wearing it in her new video, "Single Ladies." Watch this.
(BEYONCE`S "SINGLE LADIES" VIDEO)
ANDERSON: Great video off her new album, "I am Sasha Fierce." And Beyonce is introducing Sasha Fierce as her alter ego. But Janell, the custom-made robo-glove, faux pas or fabulous, and why?
JANELL SNOWDEN, HOST, "VH1 NEWS": Fabulous. I love it. Because who else but Beyonce could pull that off? Maybe even Michael Jackson, but we`re talking like a modern version of it.
Michael had a glove that you can easily put on and off. I`m sure this one is - it`s like a contraption, and only Beyonce could get away with it. I mean, when I interviewed her for the last album, she had started wearing gloves, but they were like lace and very girly. And so with this, she`s like, "Oh, it`s my new thing." She`s all about starting trends and I can guarantee you that if people can afford that glove, you`ll be seeing lots more of them.
ANDERSON: It does look like a contraption. It just looks so darn uncomfortable. Ben, speaking of Michael Jackson, do you love the glove, or should she leave the glove wearing to Michael? Faux pas or fabulous?
BEN WIDDICOMBE, "EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "STAR" MAGAZINE: No. That thing is a total disaster. And ironically, the song is complaining about some dude who won`t propose to her. She`s saying, "If you like it then you should put a ring on it." And then, she produces this Freddie Kruger-like talon that no one would want to go near, let alone put a ring on. Of course, she`s not a single lady in real life. But if she were, that glove would be the reason.
SNOWDEN: Oh, Ben, that`s like sacrilegious to talk about Beyonce that way. How dare you?
ANDERSON: He`s not afraid, Janell.
WIDDICOMBE: I`m afraid of that glove.
ANDERSON: What we women sometimes will do to make a fashion statement, right?
OK. Up next on our faux pas or fabulous list, Justin Timberlake`s spoof of Beyonce`s music video. As we`ve seen, Justin wore a skin-tight leotard on "SNL" last weekend in his spoof of "Single Ladies."
Already people are spoofing the spoof. Watch what one North Carolina radio personality did in his video, now on YouTube.
(VIDEO OF "SINGLE LADIES" SPOOF ON YOUTUBE)
ANDERSON: Just make it stop. And no offense, Cubby - that`s his name - but Janell, I think we can agree. We do not have to debate. That guy definitely not fabulous but a 100 percent certifiable faux pas and I really think that may have been what Cubby was going for.
But back to Justin Timberlake in the tights, faux pas or fabulous, Janell?
SNOWDEN: Fabulously funny. That was hilarious. I mean, again, like Beyonce, not many people could pull that off. But Justin`s comedic timing was perfect. I mean, it takes a big man to pull off a little leotard like that. So I`ve got to give it to Justin. He deserves his own show just for that.
ANDERSON: Yes. He`s hysterical. He doesn`t mind looking foolish to, you know, make people laugh. Ben, do you think Beyonce should take Justin on tour in the tights in those high heels? Is he, dare I say, just fabulous?
WIDDICOMBE: Brooke, tell that Mouseketeer to it away. We don`t want to see it. And this comes straight off as he rocked a Speedo in "The Love Guru" earlier this year. Brooke, sometimes, it`s just better to leave the sexy where it is. And I`m calling faux pas on that one.
ANDERSON: Oh, Ben. You`re rough today.
SNOWDEN: I have to disagree.
ANDERSON: I know. I have to disagree, though. Justin unafraid.
All right. Up next, as we make the big decision, faux pas or fabulous - Brad Pitt. This week, he put his best face forward when he appeared on "Oprah Winfrey Show." But he had a little something on his lip. Everybody could not stop staring at this, and I`m talking about his mustache. He`s growing it out for a new Quentin Tarantino film. Definitely a different look for Brad. Janelle, faux pas, fabulous or the pits?
SNOWDEN: Oh, this is a tough one, because usually, Brad Pitt can do no wrong in the looks department. I`m not talking about in the behavior in private, but in the looks department. Because it`s for a role, I`m going to give him a pass and just say fabulous. But I want it to be a temporary thing. I like my Brad clean-shaven.
ANDERSON: Yes. Maybe he`ll do that soon after his role is over. Ben, do you think Brad`s mustache gave him a Tom Selleck kind of je ne sais quoi, or should he eventually stash the `tache?
WIDDICOMBE: Actually, I kind of like the mustache. I think it looks good with his short hair. It`s not too `70s. And also it distracts attention away from what some of us in gossip-land are surmising may have been some recent work done on his face.
SNOWDEN: Oh, you`re such a hater. He`s a hater.
WIDDICOMBE: So I like the mustache, but I think that it`s a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) procedure.
ANDERSON: You are. I do have to say that. I think Brad can rock the `stache, and you`re rocking that bow tie tonight.
JANELL: You do.
ANDERSON: Good to see you both. Ben Widdicombe, Janell Snowden, thanks.
HAMMER: All right. Here`s another big story that`s making news right now. It is sounding like Alec Baldwin has a big-time crush on Jennifer Aniston.
Now, Aniston recently guest starred with Baldwin on "30 Rock" and they shared this big, onscreen kiss. Now, Baldwin is calling the day he kissed Aniston, quote, "the greatest day of my life." At least that`s what he told "People.com."
But wait, there`s more of Alec going ga-ga for Jennifer. Aleck telling "People," quote, "Jennifer is obviously someone who has a lot of things she could be doing with her time. She could be making films, she could be shopping, she could be buying a private island somewhere. She could be doing virtually anything she wants to do. And for her to take time and to come be with us, I`m very, very grateful."
Now, we don`t know exactly what has gotten into Alec Baldwin lately. But he is also gushing about the next "30 Rock" guest star, Salma Hayek, calling her, quote, "Literally, the most fabulous woman I`ve ever worked with." Alec clearly getting an A for enthusiasm today.
ANDERSON: Yes he does get an A.
All right. The showbiz Obama watch goes on a mission to check out unbelievable connection between Barack Obama and the hit show "The West Wing." You have got to hear what one of the former stars of the show told Regis Philbin that might finally put all the conspiracy theories to rest. Stick around for that, coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
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HAMMER: Thanks, Charles. That`s right. It is the F block. And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
On the SHOWBIZ Obama watch, the downright, eerie connection between Barack Obama and the hit show ,"The West Wing." The similarities between show`s election in its final season and the real-life 2008 election are just remarkable.
And now, we`re finding out the inside details about how strong the connection really is. Believe it or not, the entire thing was developed out of a single event back in 2004.
Well, today, Regis Philbin asked Jimmy Smits, who of course play the young Democrat-elected president on the "West Wing," about how it all happened. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REGIS PHILBIN, CO-HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": Jimmy, you know, there has been a lot of talk about the similarities of the character you played on the "West Wing" with Barack Obama. Are you aware of all of these?
JIMMY SMITS, ACTOR: But did you notice in the papers what they are saying. Jimmy played a Hispanic congressional newcomer, telegenic ad popular, 40- something with two young kids. They talking about doing that whole character arc.
The president-elect had just made that wonderful speech during the Democratic convention and they had talked to David Axelrod about just his background and they kind of used with many other people who were in the Democratic race, as a template.
PHILBIN: Sure.
SMITS: And that`s how it worked out. It`s eerie how a lot of other things like, you know, the centrist republican that Alan Alda played.
PHILBIN: Yes. Yes, absolutely. Right to the tee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: By the way, David Axelrod has been a close adviser to Barack Obama since his days in Chicago. And he`s just been added to Obama`s quickly forming White House staff. I guess Axelrod`s day of moonlighting in Hollywood are officially over.
ANDERSON: I hope so. On Wednesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It was this - "Hugh Jackman: Is he the sexiest man alive?" Thirty-seven percent of you say yes; 63 percent say no.
Some of the E-mails we received - Carol from New Jersey writes, "Hugh Jackman is surely the sexiest man alive. He`s gorgeous, extraordinarily nice, a wonderful father. I could go on and on."
And Sharon from Texas says, "Not only is Hugh Jackman the sexiest, but by far, the most talented. He has won a Tony and an Emmy, factor in his 12-year marriage. He is as close to perfect a man can get." Does have a lot of great qualities.
HAMMER: Brooke, I`m going to put you on the spot. Very quickly, aside from your husband, does he get your vote?
ANDERSON: Sure. Why not? Like I said, a lot of great qualities.
HAMMER: OK. 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.
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