Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Britney Spears: Too Much, Too Soon?; William Balfour Arrested; Brad Pitt Fired-Up; Sarah Palin, The Rock Star; Hillary Clinton Impersonators
Aired December 02, 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, Britney`s three-ring circus. And on the same day as her birthday, Britney Spears releases her album, performs live on morning television and then announces a major concert tour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALICIA QUARLES, ASSOCIATED PRESS: It has been five years since we have seen Britney on tours. This is a big deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, given how fragile Britney still may be, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, is all this too much too soon?
Brad Pitt explodes. Tonight, what got him so fired-up he went on a rant on national TV about the people he hates. Tonight, who does Brad hate so much? It`s Brad in his own words and his personal connection to Britney Spears.
Plus, she is back. Sarah Palin returns to the spotlight. But has her star power faded? TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello, I am A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everybody. I`m Brooke Anderson coming from Hollywood. And boy, what an amazing day this has been, or I should say, what an amazing morning it was, A.J. Brad Pitt and Britney Spears in a virtual for viewers on national TV.
HAMMER: And Brooke, we begin with Britney`s birthday circus. Britney Spears turned 27 years old today - happy birthday, Britney. And there were so many Britney headlines coming into the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT news room fast and furious it was a mad scramble, I tell you, just to keep up.
Britney performing live on "Good Morning, America." Britney`s new album released. Britney announcing a concert tour. But tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has got to ask, is all of this too much too soon for a possibly still fragile Britney? That`s the big question making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice over): The Britney Spears "Circus" has officially gone big time. Today, in New York, within the big top of the Big Apple circus, Britney rocked "Good Morning, America" to promote her new album, "Circus" which released Tuesday.
QUARLES: Her kids were with her at "Good Morning, America. Her mother was back with her, so she has the support of her family once again. And Britney Spears is looking good again. She`s back on stage. She`s back doing what she does best.
HAMMER: Not only was Britney on "Good Morning, America," not only did her new album hit stores, it was also her 27th birthday.
DIANE SAWYER, HOST, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": What is a birthday without a birthday cake.
HAMMER: "Good Morning, America" celebrated it with a cake, and Britney Spears got taped birthday greetings from John Travolta -
JOHN TRAVOLTA, ACTOR: Happy birthday, Britney.
HAMMER: Reese Witherspoon -
REESE WITHERSPOON, ACTRESS: Happy 27. You look great.
HAMMER: And even a serenade from the reigning sexiest man alive, Hugh Jackman.
HUGH JACKMAN, ACTOR (singing): Happy birthday, dear Britney. Happy birthday to you.
HAMMER: The day got even bigger. Britney Spears also unveiled a new tour.
QUARLES: It`s been five years since we have seen Britney on tour. This is a big deal.
HAMMER: So to tally everything up, Britney has a nationally-televised birthday celebration, a new album, a concert tour, a weekend spent appearing on TV shows in Europe, the cover of numerous magazines, and - hold on a minute. Is Britney ready for all this?
QUARLES: Musically, Britney Spears seems to be back on top. But personally, she doesn`t seem to be doing that well at all.
HAMMER: We all remember Britney`s year and a half of bad decisions, questionable associations, wild partying, and meltdowns that landed her in a hospital for psychiatric evaluations. She remains under a court-ordered conservatorship headed by her dad who makes most, if not all, the decisions about her life.
In the documentary, "Britney Spears for the Record," which debuted on MTV on Sunday, it`s clear that being under all this control is taking a toll on Britney.
BRITNEY SPEARS, POP STAR: If I was not under the restraint that I`m under with right now, you know, with all the lawyers and doctors and people analyzing me every day, and all that kind of stuff like, if that was not there, I would be feel so liberated, and feel like myself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Do you feel out of control in your life?
SPEARS: No, I don`t feel like it`s out of control. I think it`s too in control. There is no excitement. There is no passion. There is no, like - it`s just like Groundhog Day every day, you know. Really boring.
HAMMER: So as Britney Spears, the singer, successfully revives her career on morning TV, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking, how much progress has Britney Spears, the person, made?
(on camera): Has Britney grown up big time.
COOPER LAWRENCE, CELEBRITY FAME EXPERT: No, no. Not even a little, A.J.
HAMMER (voice over): Celebrity fame expert, Cooper Lawrence, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT life under a conservatorship may have made Britney calmer, but it hasn`t exactly made her all better?
LAWRENCE: To have no control over your life in any way, shape or form, is not growing up. If anything, these people make her more and more like an infant every day.
HAMMER: And some wonder if Britney should have spent more time working on herself before returning to the hectic, high-profile life of a music superstar.
Ready or not, Britney`s "Good Morning, America" appearance makes it clear that she has earned her way back into music big league. As for her personal happiness, it appears that may have to wait.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And here`s what we`re waiting for. So will Britney`s comeback be the greatest show on earth, or is it another three-ring circus just waiting to happen? Joining me tonight in New York, Joe Levy, who is the editor-in- chief of "Blender" magazine. And in Hollywood tonight, Tanika Ray, who is a correspondent for "Extra."
OK. We all saw it. Britney returned to the stage in a big way this morning on "Good Morning, America." Tanika, over to you first. How do you think she did?
TANIKA RAY, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Well, OK. I`m not going to be too harsh here. I do - I love Britney. I am so excited for her come back. She wasn`t as bad as in 2007 at the MTV Music Awards, the train wreck, and she wasn`t as great as she was with the snake a couple years ago. She was sort of in the middle. It was like a B-minus, C-plus. I feel like, in some of the parts, she was marking. She looked like she was in rehearsal. I wanted her to give it full out, man. And she just didn`t deliver as much as she could.
HAMMER: All right. Tanika, with a little mince-a-mince(ph). What do you think, Joe? You`ve been watching the ups and downs of Britney just like the rest of us for years now, waiting for the big comeback performance. Was this the Britney that you have been waiting to see?
JOE LEVY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "BLENDER" MAGAZINE: This was good. It wasn`t great. Let`s face it. She was doing a lot of dancing with her hands.
RAY: Yes.
LEVY: And through the rest of it, she seemed to be walking.
RAY: Yes.
LEVY: But you know, compared to the MTV Video Music Awards a little more than a year ago, at least this time, she was definitely awake and knew where she was. That`s a step forward.
HAMMER: I just figured something out. The reason she did so poorly on the VMAs a year ago was to set the bar really low. Is that possible, no?
RAY: Baked perfect.
HAMMER: It just popped into my head.
RAY: You figured it out.
HAMMER: Now, keep in mind what she`s got going on. And I want to run it down for you once again. All in one day, Britney performs live on "GMA." She released her new album, "Circus." She announced her 2009 worldwide tour, and on top of that, all this is going down on her 27th birthday. Now, Tanika, there are some people who, I believe, rightly are saying too much, too soon. What do you think?
RAY: No, she built a career on too much, too soon. She was very young. Her normal pace is go, go, go, go, go from one country to the next, promoting movies, promoting her album. That is her normal state of mind, her normal pace. So no I don`t think it`s too much. I think she is happiest when she`s performing, when she`s on stage, when she can feel the love from the audience. So, it`s the perfect place for her to find herself again, so I do not think it`s too much, too soon.
HAMMER: All right. A lot of people are saying, "You know what? It`s still a fragile time for her."
RAY: She just needs to wake up. She needs to wake up and really be committed to the moment. If she is performing on "GMA," perform, girl. We want to see what you have.
HAMMER: Yes, we`d like to see her a bit more engaged. It think everybody will agree on that.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: Pretty clear from the MTV documentary on Britney that aired the other day that she is still fragile, as I was saying. So what do you think, Joe? I mean, too much too soon as some are saying, or are you kind of with Tanika - this is what her career has always been about?
RAY: You know, it is what her career has always been about, but that is not necessarily a good thing. What we saw today was the return of Britney Spears, the entertainment robot.
Look, she has got a great single out one right now. It`s a number one. She`s back. The comeback is in full-swing. Does that make her happy? Is that where she is happiest? We have no way of knowing. We don`t know which one is the real and happy Britney Spears. Britney Spears hitting a car with an umbrella and a shaved head. Or Britney Spears on stage in some low-cut, leather pants, turning it out, being the entertainer she`s been trying to be since she was a very little girl.
HAMMER: True, true. Well, Britney`s whirlwind day follows - was really a whirlwind trip to Europe over the weekend. Now, when she was there, she performed on what is the British equivalent of "American Idol." It`s the Simon Cowell show, "X-Factor." And Simon could not stop raving about Britney when he talked with Ryan Seacrest on Ryan`s "KIIS FM radio show. Listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SIMON COWELL, JUDGE, "AMERICAN IDOL": I`ve got to tell you, of all the artists I have ever had on any of these shows, there was more buzz, more excitement for this girl. Literally, it was as if the president was on the show. I would literally have her on my show every week for the next 10 years.
RYAN SEACREST, HOST, "ON-AIR WITH RYAN SEACREST": Will you have her on "American Idol?"
COWELL: Yes, are you crazy? Of course.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Now, Tanika, we know Simon Cowell all too well to think that he might be making it up. So do you think that Britney should do "American Idol" and that would be a good move for her?
RAY: Sure, why not? But you know, Simon is a businessman, let`s not forget that. When he has Britney on the show, his ratings go through the roof. Of course, he would like Britney "American Idol" new season. The ratings have been slipping over the last couple of years. It will bring the ratings back up. So he knows what he is doing. And she is an "American Idol" of some sort. She was idolized by all of us for so long and the world. And she`ll win that throne back. But she`s got to come to the table.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: How many times can I repeat myself? Represent Britney.
HAMMER: Got it. Got it. It will be interesting to see if she does AI. All right. Here`s what I want to know - and quickly, Joe - this is going to you. You know, Britney`s big tour was announced today. It`s going to get under way in March. Will people go because they love Britney`s music, or will they go for the train wreck factor, or maybe a little of both?
LEVY: A.J. we`re in a recession right now. People are not going to pay good money for the train wreck factor. They can get that for free on TMZ. In fact, they can get some of it here. You report on it when it happens. If they`re going to pay money to see Britney Spears in concert, they`re going to go because they want to see a spectacle. They want to be entertained. And they`re going to need more than they saw on "GMA" tonight.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: Yes.
LEVY: She may have to break out the python.
HAMMER: And just like us, you at "Blender" magazine will be watching to see how this album, "Circus," does as it begins selling today. Joe Levy, Tanika Ray, thanks for joining us.
Now, we`d like to hear from you. Here is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Britney Spears Going on Tour: Too much too soon?" What do you think? You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
All right, Brooke. So while Britney was busy performing this morning, Brad Pitt was going on a rant.
ANDERSON: Yes, it`s true, A.J. He actually went off on some people he says that he hates. So what got Brad so riled up? And what is the connection to Britney Spears? That`s straight ahead.
HAMMER: Also, finally an arrest in the tragic killings of Jennifer Hudson`s family members. Someone`s finally been charged, but what took them so long? What`s next and where is Jennifer? That`s coming up.
Also, Sarah Palin, back in the spotlight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn`t matter if you`re pro or con. It`s really just she is doing a great job keeping herself in the limelight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Sarah Palin is extending her fame way past the election. But is her star power fading? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is investigating, still to come. You don`t want to miss it.
HAMMER: And now, the SHOWBIZ news ticker as more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Ivana Trump separates from her fourth husband after eight months of marriage. Kirsten Dunst`s assistant makes citizen`s arrest of alleged stalker at Dunst`s home.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Tonight, at long last, the moment Jennifer Hudson has been waiting for - an arrest in the shooting deaths of her mother, brother, and 7-year-old nephew. Late today, police charged her brother-in-law with three counts of first-degree murder.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Darren Kavinoky, lawyer with the Kavinoky Law Firm. And in New York tonight, Dawn Yanek, who is the editor- at-large for "Life and Style Weekly."
Darren, Dawn, as we know, this has been a terrible ordeal for Hudson. I want to roll out the SHOWBIZ news line for this one. On October 24th, Hudson`s mother and brother are found shot to death in their Chicago home. The same day, her brother-in-law, William Balfour is taken in for questioning and held on a parole violation.
Three days later, the body of Jennifer Hudson`s 7-year-old nephew was found in an abandoned SUV. On October 29, police say they found the gun used in the murders. And today, William Balfour is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
Darren, this has been an agonizing five weeks for Hudson, for her family. Are you surprised that it has taken this long to make an arrest?
DARREN KAVINOKY, LAWYER, DARREN KAVINOKY LAW FIRM: In this case, Brooke, I am not. In law enforcement, it`s certainly better that the job get done right rather than it just get done quickly. But in this particular case, law enforcement had one important advantage and that is the target in the investigation was cooling his heels behind bars. They knew he wasn`t going anywhere, so they had the luxury of being able to take their time and presumably avoid any mistakes.
And as we have seen from high-profile trials of the century before, when law enforcement rushes to judgment, it can certainly result in critical errors.
ANDERSON: Yes, sometimes, it can backfire. Good point. Well, William Balfour`s mother, Michelle Davis-Balfour, spoke to reporters Monday night outside the prison where her son is being held. She claims there is no evidence linking him to the Hudson murders. Watch this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE DAVIS-BALFOUR, MOTHER OF WILLIAM BALFOUR: My son did not do this. I am sick of this. They need to focus on somebody else. Where is your evidence? Because a crack-head, a drug person, is telling you that my son did this?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes, most mothers will defend their children to the end, no matter what. And we don`t know who his mother is referring to there. But Darren, I would have to think, murder charges could not be filed from one person`s testimony, could they? And especially if that person is not credible.
KAVINOKY: Well, not without some corroborating evidence. But really, the point that she is making is a good one, and one that I expect the defense attorney to make. And that is that law enforcement can investigate a case in one of two ways. They either begin with the end in mind, or they investigate and let the chips fall where they may.
And what she is saying here is that they began with the end in mind, that they had the conclusion fixed when they started. And really, they should have been looking at some other suspects, too.
ANDERSON: Well, this is obviously an incredibly difficult time for Jennifer Hudson. Dawn, do you think that she`s feeling a sense of relief now that an arrest has made? Or is there a new nightmare about to begin if and when her brother-in-law goes to trial?
DAWN YANEK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "LIFE AND STYLE WEEKLY": Well, on one hand, I`m sure there`s a modicum of relief because there is progress in this case. And hopefully, they are getting closer to getting justice for her family members.
On the other hand, she`s going to have to relive the horror of this horrible tragedy, relive it in the courtroom as well as in the press, because this is going to be an incredibly closely-watched story. And it`s going to be highly commentated on. And it might end up feeling like a waking nightmare for her, and I think she knows that.
ANDERSON: Oh, brother. Well, hopefully in the end, justice will be served and the family can find some closure. Darren Kavinoky, Dawn Yanek, thank you both. Good to see you.
YANEK: Thank you.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke. Moving on, the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines have literally been ringing nonstop. A lot of people calling in to give their thoughts on Britney Spears` big comeback. We got a call from Rony who says that Britney is going to be bigger than ever.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
RONY CALLER: I think Britney will be back on top better than ever. She is America`s sweetheart. She`s talented. Everybody is wishing her well and really pulling for her.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you very much, Rony.
ANDERSON: And we also heard from Melissa in Connecticut who has a different opinion. Listen to Melissa`s message at "Showbiz On Call."
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MELISSA, CALLER FROM CONNECTICUT: Britney Spears was a strong performer. But let`s face it, never really had a voice. Most of who she was, was her image, and she destroyed it.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you for that, Melissa. And call us at "Showbiz On Call" and let us know what you think about comeback or anything else that you`re thinking about.
HAMMER: And "Showbiz On Call" phone lines open all the time at 1-888-SBT- BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail. We`re playing your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And your calls to "Showbiz On Call" now also online right there on our homepage, that is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
ANDERSON: A.J., you know what? No matter who you talk to, it seems everybody has strong opinions about Britney Spears.
HAMMER: You got it, Brooke. Nobody can deny that Britney is on her road to a comeback one way or another. You know, between her new album just out today, her live performance on "Good Morning, America" this morning, and her just-announced world tour. Britney in overdrive. But is it too much too soon? A heated debate about that is coming up.
ANDERSON: Plus, what do Britney Spears and Brad Pitt have in common? We`ll tell you just ahead as Brad Pitt opens up about his family and the one thing he really hates.
HAMMER: And get ready this - Lindsay Lohan setting the record straight on reports that are flying around that she and Samantha Ronson have split up. You`ll hear from Lindsay in her own words, and that is coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I am A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson with some more stories making news right now. It`s another major honor for Olympic swimming champion, Michael Phelps. Phelps has been named the 2008 "Sports Illustrated" Sportsman of the Year. "Sports Illustrated" editor says after Phelps` performance in Beijing last summer, it was the easiest choice he has made.
Phelps joins other world class athletes who have received the award, including Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. In an interview with CNN`s Richard Roth, Phelps said it means a lot to him to be in such company.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL PHELPS OLYMPIC SWIMMING CHAMPION: Yes, I saw - when I first found out, I kind of really didn`t know what to say. You know, winning an award like this, and being in sort of the same category as the past winners, I mean, it`s - those are the best athletes in the world.
And being able to given this award is a tremendous honor. And you know, it`s something that I am very proud of and, you know, something that`s definitely going to mean a lot to me throughout my whole career.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Phelps is the first swimmer to ever receive the "Sports Illustrated" Sportsman of the Year award.
HAMMER: While Michael Phelps is training for the next Olympics, Lance Armstrong is getting ready for the Tour de France. Armstrong said today that he will be competing in the 2009 Tour de France.
Now, three months ago, Armstrong announced he was ending three-year retirement. He`s dedicated his comeback to raising awareness for his global fight against cancer.
ANDERSON: Patrick Swayze speaking out about his own cancer battle. Swayze has been undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, and he is striking back at the tabloids that say he is on his last leg and saying goodbye to his family.
Not true at all, he says. In a statement to "People" magazine, Swayze says he is winning the fight. He says, quote, "It`s upsetting that the shoddy and reckless reporting from these publications cast a negative shadow on the positive and good fight I`m fighting. For me, my family, and those close to me, it amounts to downright emotional cruelty. That makes me angry when hope is so precious."
HAMMER: Good for him for speaking out. And Brooke, now we have Brad Pitt going ballistic.
ANDERSON: Yes, it`s true. Brad lashing out at people he says he hates. So who got Brad so riled up? Stick around to find out, straight ahead.
HAMMER: And while Brad was going bonkers, Britney was staging a comeback. Huge day for Britney Spears. Her new album`s out. She performed live on television, and she announced a big tour. But we are asking, is it all too much too soon? And is that coming up.
Also, a Hillary Clinton impersonator.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): Barack, I`m coming for you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, now that Obama`s formal rival is a pick for his cabinet, let the games begin. Coming up, look at how Hillary Clinton`s new post could turn into comedy gold. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
Keep in mind you can stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news by subscribing to the daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. Do that by heading to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it`s Brad versus Britney. Tonight, Brad Pitt and Britney Spears go head-to-head in a blockbuster TV match up. Brad opens up about his family life and then explodes about the people he hates.
Britney Spears gives a kick-butt live performance, but has she really gotten her act together?
Plus, the remarkable connection between Brad and Britney.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn`t matter if you are pro or con. It`s really just - she`s doing a good job keeping herself in the limelight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sarah Palin, the rock star. Tonight, a brand new revealing look at how Palin is trying to keep herself in the limelight. But has her star power faded?
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 am Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, Brad Pitt and Britney Spears go head-to-head with two explosive television appearances on one big day.
Brad got really personal this morning about his family on the today show. Now, the normally tight-lipped Brad went on and on about his six children with Angelina Jolie. Then, Brad goes all warm and fuzzy to nearly exploding when talking about the paparazzi. Brad gets totally fired up about how the paparazzi dramatically affect his life. I mean, there was steam coming out of his ears.
Well, one person who can definitely relate to that drama would be Britney Spears. Britney performed live on "Good Morning, America" today, her birthday, just days after we heard her explode all about how the paparazzi has taken away a part of her life she may never get back.
With me tonight in New York is Ben Widdicombe, who is the editor-at- large for "Star" magazine. And in Hollywood tonight, Tanika Ray, who is a correspondent for "Extra."
All right, Tanika, Ben, let us start off with Brad Pitt on the "Today" show with Ann Curry who asked Brad if he wanted to talk about his personal life. Now, at first, Brad said no way, not going to go there. But then, seconds later, he sounded really emotional and quite personal about his six kids and how they changed his life. Watch this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD PITT, ACTOR: I look at my sons and my daughters, and one is from Vietnam, and one is from Cambodia, and one is from Ethiopia. And then there this kid that was born in Namibia- you know, they are brothers and sisters, man. And they are fighting and laughing and going into hysterics and staying up late. And they mess with their parents and driving me crazy. Truly, I feel rich. I feel rich being around them. It`s a rich home, and each one of them offers so much to the mix.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Ben, I`m going to start off with you. Were you like me? Were you a bit struck by the raw emotion coming from Brad here?
BEN WIDDICOMBE, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "STAR" MAGAZINE: Well, Brad normally says absolutely nothing about his family life. I am not sure whether I would regard what he said in the "Today" as particularly raw. I mean, to me, it just sounded like one of those photocopied letters you get on a Christmas card.
But normally, he says absolutely zero. And I think that`s because he has been through it before. He - with Jennifer Aniston, he is used to having his life examined. He has been one-half of the most famous couple in the world twice. So I can understand why this time around he just wants to keep it all in and not reveal every detail about his family life.
HAMMER: Yes, you know, I have to say something. Now, Tanika may agree with me here. If you watch Brad closely - and Tanika, you and I have interviewed so many big-time stars in the past.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: You can see a little glimmer go into their eye when they start to talk about something that means so much to them. And I think I saw that glimmer there. And as Ben pointed out, you know, Brad can also be very tightlipped. So why do you think, Tanika, Brad is feeling so free to share all this now?
RAY: You know, it`s an old-time media trick. It`s a little tit-for-tat. It`s a little bartering system. You know, Ann conducted that interview in New Orleans, on the land that he`s going to be rebuilding homes. So he was in a good, yummy space. And when you are in that good, yummy space, you share a little bit more.
It would have been different if it was a movie junket. He probably wouldn`t have shared as much, but it was a good tactic. You know, he really promoted his organization that`s raising money to rebuild these homes. So Brad is a little bit more open. Not a shocker.
HAMMER: Yes. It`s kind of like, "You know, I have to give them something here. And well, I love my kids and I love talking about my kids, so why not that?"
RAY: It did make me weep. It was adorable.
HAMMER: Here`s the thing, Ben, Tanika, everybody - don`t make Brad Pitt angry. You won`t like him when he is angry. Did you see Brad just explode this morning when he was talking about the paparazzi, and how angry he got about this, including the photographer in camouflage, the one who jumped the fence of his French estate over the summer who was, you know, trying in any way possible to get pictures of his newborn twins. Watch what happened here -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PITT: Let me be very blunt. I hate them. I hate these people. I don`t understand why they do that for a living. We`ve got to make a distinction between people who photograph celebrities at events and people who climb over your walls or wearing camouflage and calling out your kids` names as you try to take them to school so they`ll look that way. And you know, I have no respect for these people. I do not like them. I don`t understand how they live their lives that way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Man, you`ve got to appreciate his candor there. Ben, have you ever seen Brad get so angry on camera?
WIDDICOMBE: No, he is so fired up about that. And you know what? I can understand that, too, because there is a distinction between, as he said. You know, celebrities are a commodity. They understand when they are out at a red carpet that they ought to be photographed and that it`s helps them. But it`s a different kettle of fish if someone is sneaking into your backyard, especially when you have vulnerable young children. So I completely understand why he would draw that line.
HAMMER: Well, I can tell you Brad Pitt and Britney Spears really have this personal connection when it comes to the paparazzi. We all saw in the MTV documentary that just aired Britney talking about how being hounded by the paparazzi has really just changed her life. Watch Brit -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPEARS: I used to be a cool chick, you know. And I feel the paparazzi has taken my whole cool swing away from me, like going out and doing stuff and like, seeing a guy, and hanging out. The way I used to live, I was a pretty cool chick, you know. And I`m not really that way anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Well, when you hear Britney or Brad talk how their lives changed so dramatically because of the paparazzi, Tanika, are you like Ben? Do you feel sympathy for them?
RAY: You know, it`s really interesting, because earlier, you were talking about Brad and how raw he is emotionally. He is raising kids. Diplomacy has gone out the window.
And I do feel a little sorry for them in a weird way. You know, it`s only been recently that when you`re really good at acting or a really good singer and dancer, you lose all your privacy. I just think it`s gone a little too far. And I don`t know when it`s going to stop.
Something really horrible, unfortunately, is going to happen before the laws are changed. But people are buying the magazines. There is no end in sight. It`s unfortunate because all they want to do is lead normal lives, and they are not being able to - even Brit here.
HAMMER: The price you pay. I mean, we saw those photography flashes going off a moment ago in that shot of Britney Spears. It`s just bedlam all the time.
Now, as Brad was appearing on the "Today" show, Britney was there celebrating, Britney was there celebrating her birthday with a big live performance on "Good Morning, America" under the big top.
And then, she announced she is going on tour in March. Now, we have been asking online and on air the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Britney Spears: Has she gotten her act together?" Look at this, a very rare tie on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - 50 percent voted yes, 50 percent voted no.
And the calls - I`ve got to tell you. They keep coming in. We heard from Chris in Maine. Chris rang up the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines. And Chris had a comment that I think just really sums up what we`re all hoping for. Listen to Chris -
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CHRIS, CALLER FROM MAINE: I think Britney Spears has started on the right track with her album, "Circus." I do think that it will be her best album yet. And I do think as long as she focuses on her children and loves her job, I think it`s definitely a positive step in the right direction.
I do think she has grown up in a lot of areas in her life, and she seemed more like the old Britney that we all fell in love with. I do think that the media should be rooting for her continued success and not be so eager to jump on her forever little thing that she does.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Chris, I appreciate your call. What do you think, Ben? Does Chris Britney have it right. You know, Britney has said her piece indeed in her documentary, that you know, she is making music again as well. So do we all just kind of need to back off and see how she does?
WIDDICOMBE: Well, it`s so interesting that the poll was 50/50, because it really does capture that kind of dichotomy of Britney. She`s half train wreck and half superstar. I mean, she is like the Liza Minelli of her generation, a bit better at picking the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in "The Chorus Line" maybe.
But basically, she has the cycle of crash-and-burn and then reinvention, which is why we love her, which is why she is so watchable. And which is why - if you say that she was the top Yahoo search term four years in a row because something is always happening and people want to know. People love her.
HAMMER: You mention the tie being 50/50. I think I can only remember one other time in the history of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that has been a 50/50 split right down the middle. Again, we`re asking viewers whether or not they thought Britney has gotten her act together.
So Tanika, a rare opportunity to break the tie here and cast your vote.
RAY: Well, I hope so. Look, I am part of the media that actually is rooting for her, I love an underdog story. I love a comeback story. So she right now has nothing to lose and everything to gain. So let`s hope that she keeps going up and up.
And the place she is most comfortable is performing, so we`re rooting for you, Britney. Just represent and really go out and commit to it. And I don`t know if she is doing that yet. So hopefully, in the future, we`ll see that.
HAMMER: Well, I have to say look at where she`s been in the last year. I don`t think there`s anyone among us not rooting for her. Ben Widdicombe, Tanika Ray, thank you both.
And we`ve been asking you to vote on this SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - Britney Spears Going on Tour - what do you think? Too much too soon? We`d like you to keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail us if you`ve got more to say. The address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., Britney also says she`s looking for a new husband. So guys, if you think you`ve got what it takes, step on up. But first, you might want to check out this book written by a 9-year-old. Yes, I said nine. It`s called "How to Talk to Girls."
Did you see this? Alec Greven is just a fourth grader in Colorado. But he`s dishing out some great advice way beyond his years. His book came out last week. Some of Alec`s tips - comb your hair, don`t act desperate and don`t wear sweats.
Alec is popping up all over Hollywood. So when he sat down with Ellen DeGeneres, she just had to ask if any of Alec`s advice is working for him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": So you don`t have a girlfriend? You`re still -
ALEC GREVES, AUTHOR, "HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS": No.
DEGENERES: No? Are you looking for a girlfriend?
GREVES: Not really. I think I`m a little too young ...
DEGENERES: Yes.
GREVES: ... for a girl.
DEGENERES: Not really. I mean -
GREVES: And I haven`t really found the right girl yet.
DEGENERES: Yes - not yet?
GREVES: Not yet.
DEGENERES: Oh, that`s a shame. You are getting up there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Very wise for a 9-year-old. And A.J., do you think the 9-year- old Alec may be trying to steal the spotlight from Sarah Palin?
HAMMER: Well, you never know, Brooke. Excellent question, but there`s some sort of poll that says that Alaska has one of the highest numbers of the single men in the country. So, you know, maybe Alec`s book will be a big sellout in Alaska. What do I know?
But what about Sarah Palin? Now that you bring her up, is she still the rock star she was just a few weeks ago?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn`t matter if you are pro or con. It`s really just - she is doing a good job keeping herself in the limelight.
HAMMER: Well, so far, maybe. But tonight, we`re investigating, has Palin`s star faded? We`ve got that c coming up, next.
ANDERSON: Also, Lindsay Lohan is setting the record straight about reports that she is splitting up with Samantha Ronson. Lindsay`s armed with keyboard and she`s opening up, straight ahead.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke I can tell you that Julia Roberts and Clive Owen are hooking up in a movie, again. We`ve got your SHOWBIZ first look at "Duplicity." That is coming up.
ANDERSON: And now, the SHOWBIZ news ticker. More stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Britney Spears is the most popular search term in Yahoo for the fourth year in a row. UCLA hospital worker pleads guilty to selling information from stars` medical records.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT: Governor Palin, I want to thank you particularly. I might point out as I told you, we walked in, since the race is over, and no one pays attention to me at all. So maybe you will walk outside with me or something later and say hello to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is Vice President to-be Joe Biden at the National Governors` Association meeting on Tuesday. Even though he is heading to the White House with Barack Obama, Biden is still blown away by Sarah Palin`s star power. But has Palin`s star faded?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Right now, the SHOWBIZ Obama watch. Now, also at that governors` meeting was President- elect Obama who came face-to-face with Palin for the first time since the presidential election, the election that made Sarah Palin a rock star.
Even after she lost, there was big talk about Palin`s Hollywood future - TV shows and books, you name it. But tonight, we`ve got to ask, has Palin`s Hollywood star finally faded? Here`s CNN`s
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, Britney Spears, they`ve got nothing on Sarah Palin.
TINA FEY, ACTRESS (as Sarah Palin): Good evening, my fellow Americans.
FEYERICK: The former VP pick topped the Lycos Internet search engine for 12 straight weeks.
KATHY O`REILLY, LYCOS: Her search popularity is record breaking.
FEYERICK: It started the moment John McCain nominated her as his running mate. Millions and millions of Internet searches. Everything from the CBS interview with Katie Couric to the live demise of the turkey behind the governor as she answered questions.
AMY POEHLER, ACTRESS: All the mavericks in the house, put your hands up...
FEYERICK: Not to mention all those "Saturday Night Live" parodies.
O`REILLY: It doesn`t matter if you are pro or con, it is really just - she is doing a great job keeping herself in the limelight.
FEYERICK: But is that a good thing? Especially some of the most popular videos are not flattering.
FEY: Available now. We`ve got a bunch of these.
LESLIE SANCHEZ, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: The best advice to give to Gov. Palin right now is to stand down. She needs to go back to Alaska, establish credentials. Establish a platform to run on should she choose to in 2012.
FEYERICK: A recent Gallup poll of Republicans and Republican-leaning independent put Governor Palin ahead of Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee as a favorite candidate in 2012. But former GOP heavyweight Newt Gingrich was more skeptical, describing her only as, quote, "one of 20 or 30 significant players." Still Palin`s online popularity has not gone unnoticed by book publishers and Hollywood agents, some of them mulling a possible talk show for her.
KEN WHEATON, EDITOR, AD AGE: I`m sure the ratings would be strong for the first week or two. Sort of like that turkey video. A lot of people would tune in to see what sort of train wreck. Hoping for a train wreck on one side and hoping for salvation on the other side.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Deborah Feyerick for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. By the way, Paris Hilton rallied and knocked Gov. Palin off the top of the Lycos search list. Palin now ranks behind Barack Obama, too.
HAMMER: Ah, good old Paris. Well, Brooke, Sarah Palin had her impersonators, of course, Tina Fey, queen among them.
Now, Tina, we know, is hung up her Palin glasses, but what`s going to happen to all those Hillary Clinton copycats? Now that President-elect Obama has nominated his formal rival for secretary of state, what are the Hillary impersonators going to do next? The Clinton-Obama certainly gave us lots of material, but these days, the two of them are singing a different tune. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Everybody keeps calling them team of rivals. Yes, well, their first rival was the microphone -
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), BARACK OBAMA`S NOMINEE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE: It confirmed -
MOOS: It kept overshadowing -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m deeply honored.
MOOS: The shorter nominees -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With the American people.
MOOS: But nothing could overshadow the that-was-then -
H. CLINTON: So shame on you, Barack Obama -
MOOS: This-is-now angle.
H. CLINTON: Mr. President-elect, I am proud to join you.
MOOS: That was then -
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT: She is talking like she`s Annie Oakley.
MOOS: This is now -
OBAMA: My dear friend, Hillary Clinton.
MOOS: Then -
OBAMA: She has, supposedly, all this past foreign policy experience.
MOOS: Now -
OBAMA: I am proud that she will be our next secretary of state.
MOOS: No more elephant rides as a mere tourist, and all of the naysayers from months back -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I dreamed of - yes, I dreamed of this. Are you kidding? If I ever had a dream like this, I would run to a psychiatrist and say, "Quick, something has got to be done because I am hallucinating."
MOOS: Well, hallucinate this -
ROSEMARY WATSON, HILLARY CLINTON IMPERSONATOR: You can call me Madam Secretary.
MOOS: Wait a minute - that`s an impostor.
WATSON: Hi, Jane, this is Hillary.
MOOS: Drinking wine and filing her feet in the tub, praying for God to please make Barack go away.
WATSON: Too young, barely out of juice boxes.
MOOS: Hillary impersonators are the beneficiaries of Mrs. Clinton becoming secretary of state.
WATSON: Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir.
MOOS: It means another few years of potential gigs for Rosemary Watson, a struggling San Diego performer who discovered Hillary`s voice.
WATSON: I had no idea she was living in me.
MOOS (on camera): And then what happened? The floodgates opened.
H. CLINTON: The sky will open -
MOOS: Just like the real Hillary, Rosemary will have to change her tune about Barack Obama.
WATSON: Barack I`m coming for you
MOOS: Impersonators like Rosemary will have to learn a strange new language.
WATSON: Mocca chocolata ya, ya.
MOOS: Diplomatese.
WATSON: I have no idea where that came from.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Ah, yes. Let the fun begin. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Tonight, Lindsay Lohan is fired up and setting the record straight about reports that she and Samantha Ronson are splitting up. On her MySpace page, Lindsay taps into her inner Yiddish.
"Oy vey. Rumors. Just to clear this up because I have been getting a lot of E-mails asking me this question. Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan, me, are not breaking up."
Now, keep in mind, Lindsay has never 100 percent admitted to dating Sam. So I don`t know. Does this denial of a breakup mean that she is confirming they`re dating?
All right. Moving on, tonight I can tell you that Julia Roberts and Clive Owen are back together - in a movie, that is. Things do get pretty steamy though. And you`ve got to see what happens when they team up to do some good old-fashioned spying. Your showbiz first look at "Duplicity" coming up next. Keep it here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Time now for your SHOWBIZ first look at "Duplicity." Julia Roberts and Clive Owen, who of course starred in 2004`s "Closer" team up again as lovers who work as spies at competing companies.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLIVE OWEN, ACTOR: Remember me? This wasn`t an accident, wasn`t it? Being here, meeting like this?
JULIA ROBERTS, ACTRESS: Can you imagine living like this? How much do you think you would need?
OWEN: $20 million.
ROBERTS: I was thinking $40 million.
OWEN: So what do you have to do to get $40 million?
ROBERTS: I took a job in counterintelligence for (UNINTELLIGIBLE). We are about to make a move. Some new product. Something big.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The very existence of this product must be carefully protected.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My god, he is going to crush me.
ROBERTS: It is a total corporate death match. The competition will do anything to get their hands on this.
OWEN: Guess who they like for director of intel operations?
ROBERTS: You on one side. Me on the other. It`s perfect.
OWEN: You know what I think?
ROBERTS: I think you like the idea. Now, all we have to do is find that product. We get there first. We`ll make a fortune.
OWEN: Bingo. I think I found a way in. Excuse me. What was it before I got here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Appletini.
OWEN: Well, that sounds good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who is this guy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`re not sure.
ROBERTS: You are unbelievable.
OWEN: It`s an assignment. It was nothing.
ROBERTS: You should see the pictures.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, geez. Is that the one where they`re on the desk?
OWEN: We don`t have time for this. I mean, we are here trying to run a triple game with some very smart, very motivated players. To you have any idea how far my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) was hanging out because of you?
ROBERTS: If I told you I loved you, would it make any difference?
OWEN: If you told me, I would probably believe you.
ROBERTS: This is way over your head.
OWEN: Over my head? It was supposed to be on the same side.
ROBERTS: Were these hers?
OWEN: What is that?
ROBERTS: It is a thong. It was in your closet.
OWEN: That`s not possible.
ROBERTS: Well, in that case, I`ll put them back on.
OWEN: You`re gaming me.
ROBERTS: Admit it. You don`t trust me either.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And "Duplicity" hits theaters in March of 2009. Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks 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 Eastern and Pacific. And in the morning, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Take care.
END
