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Showbiz Tonight
O.J. Simpson Sentenced; Kate Winslet on Reuniting With Leonardo DiCaprio; TomKat Confessions; Barbara Walters` 10 Most Fascinating People; Oprah Winfrey on Michelle Obama
Aired December 05, 2008 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, O.J. Simpson sentenced. Tonight, dramatic moments in the courtroom as O.J. Simpson is sentenced for a botched attempt to recover sports memorabilia. O.J. speaks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O.J. SIMPSON, NFL HALL OF FAMER: I`m sorry. I didn`t mean to steal anything from anybody. And I didn`t know I was doing anything illegal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with O.J.`s final plea in his own words and how much time he`ll spend in prison.
SHOWBIZ Obama watch, is President-elect Barack Obama the most fascinating person of the year? He tops Barbara Walters` big list, but did she get it right? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with our own most fascinating picks.
Plus, blockbuster interviews with Obama and the other fascinating people who made Barbara`s list.
Kate Winslet speaks out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about reuniting with Leonardo DiCaprio on screen for the first time since "Titanic."
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.
Tonight, TomKat`s confessions. Tom Cruise gets candid talking about changing his image and having more kids. At the same time, his wife, Katie Holmes, is also speaking out, going on the defensive about her image. The revealing confessions of one of Hollywood`s biggest power couples, coming up.
But first, O.J.`s final plea. O.J. Simpson spilled his guts in a rare and emotional plea during a sentencing hearing today. But the judge in his kidnapping and robbery case was not at all moved by Simpson`s tearful words. Instead, she handed down a minimum 15-year sentence over that dramatic hotel robbery. It`s a case that reopened the controversy over Simpson`s past and the double murder scandal that he could never escape. O.J.`s dramatic new courtroom drama is making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): He says he`s sorry.
SIMPSON: In no way did I mean to hurt anybody.
HAMMER: That`s O.J. Simpson in a Las Vegas courtroom Friday literally fighting for his freedom and his life.
SIMPSON: I didn`t ask anybody to do anything but just stand behind me, allow me to yell at these guys and then help me remove those things. And if they wouldn`t let me remove them, we would call the cops on them.
HAMMER: But the judge sentenced the former football great to at least 15 years in prison for his role in a confrontation in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2007.
JUDGE JACKIE GLASS, CLARK COUNTY DISTRICT COURT: In addition to the $25 administrative assessment and the $150 DNA fee, I`m going to sentence you as follows -
HAMMER: And it was the tale of this tape obtained by TMZ that sent O.J. Simpson on this path to prison -
SIMPSON: Don`t let anybody out of here, man. And you. I trusted you man.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bag this (EXPLETIVE DELETED) up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bag this (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
HAMMER: O.J. called it one big misunderstanding. In 2007, Simpson rounded up some of his buddies and stormed a Vegas hotel room to retrieve sports memorabilia Simpson says belonged to him. But Simpson`s friends later told their own tales of what went down in that hotel room from his friend memorabilia dealer Bruce Fromong -
BRUCE FROMONG, MEMORABILIA DEALER: Just like a home in Vegas -
HAMMER: To his alleged accomplice, Walter Alexander.
WALTER ALEXANDER, O.J. SIMPSON`S ALLEGED ACCOMPLICE: I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. I believe he was set up.
HAMMER: Alfred Beardsley, an alleged victim that day, went on "LARRY KING LIVE" to detail how he says he was roughed up by Simpson`s buddies.
ALFRED BEARDSLEY, ALLEGED VICTIM OF SIMPSON: This guy came over and ordered me at gunpoint to pack the items up in the boxes we brought them in. I refused. I was sitting in a chair and I was told to get the F up, get the F up and I did get up.
HAMMER: But it was O.J. himself who pleaded with the judge for his own freedom.
SIMPSON: As I spoke to Bruce before I left the room. He told me what was his and I called him. And I got to the car and I said, "Exactly what you have, I want to send it back to you." I talked to police officers. I volunteered immediately to come back and show them what was taken and tell them what took place before anybody talked to the police.
I was the first guy that volunteered to do it and I heard on the tapes that they thought I was stupid for doing it. I didn`t want to steal anything from anybody. I don`t think anybody could say I wanted anybody else`s stuff, just my own.
HAMMER: Hoping to tug at the judge`s heartstrings with his family watching.
SIMPSON: I wanted my daughter, Ms. Brown, gave her, her mother`s wedding ring, stolen. You know, my kids who have pictures - my oldest son has his own family now. He wanted a picture in Oval Office with Gerald Ford when he was five years old - stolen. All of these things are gone. My family knew what we were doing.
And I don`t want to hurt Bruce. I don`t want to hurt any of these guys. These guys have eaten in my home. I`ve done book reports with their kids. I`ve sung to their mothers when they were sick. I wasn`t there to hurt anybody. I just wanted my personal things.
I realize I`m stupid. I`m sorry. I didn`t mean to steal anything from anybody and I didn`t know I was doing anything illegal.
HAMMER: But unfortunately for O.J. Simpson, the judge just didn`t see it that way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So the juice got squeezed, but did O.J. get what he deserved? And did his emotional plea gain any sympathy at all?
Joining me tonight in New York is Lisa Bloom who is the host of "Lisa Bloom: Open Court" and an anchor for "In Session." And in Hollywood tonight, Carlos Diaz who`s a correspondent for "Extra."
Guys, you`ve got to admit, it was riveting. I mean, just fascinating to watch O.J. essentially breaking down and pleading for his life there.
Lisa, off to you first. I know you`re covering this all day. Were you stunned by how vulnerable O.J. seemed here?
LISA BLOOM, HOST, "LISA BLOOM: OPEN COURT": No, he doesn`t seem vulnerable to me at all. Let`s remember the Goldmans are sitting in the courtroom. A civil jury found him guilty killing two people. So anything this guy says, you have to take not with a grain of salt, but an entire box of salt.
I didn`t know it was against the law to bring a bunch of thugs into a room with guns and take stuff that didn`t belong to him including a cell phone of one of these guys - give me a break! Don`t be swept away by the O.J. charm. It fools some people. I doesn`t fool not me.
HAMMER: What about you, Carlos? I guess some could also argue that maybe he was naturally just so shaken and emotional there because he realized, "You know what? I`m potentially facing spending the rest of my life in prison."
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Yeah, and it he realized that and it was a little too late. I mean, come on. I agree with Lisa. How can you say, "I didn`t know I was doing anything wrong?" When you carry a gun into a room, you`re doing something wrong.
And he said, "If they didn`t give it back to us, we were going to call the cops." Why not call the cops and walk in with the cops to begin with? There were so many little holes in his story along the way that I couldn`t feel sorry for him.
HAMMER: We have to take a look at where he`s talking about exactly what you`re speaking of now, one of the things that he spoke about very emotionally - this long history that he had with the guys that he was convicted of robbing. And watch what he says here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: I know these guys. These guys have eaten in my home. I`ve done book reports with their kids. I sung to their mothers when they were sick. I wasn`t there to hurt anybody. I just wanted my personal things. And I realize it was stupid of me. I`m sorry. I didn`t mean to steal anything from anybody and I didn`t know I was doing anything illegal. I thought I was confronting friends and retrieving my property. So I`m sorry. I`m sorry for all of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Back to your point, Lisa. I mean, O.J. says, you know, "I just wanted my stuff back and I didn`t realize I was doing anything wrong." Lisa, do you think that really just opens up another window into the mind of O.J. Simpson?
BLOOM: This friends thing is ridiculous. His friends were the ones that he committed the armed robbery against. And here`s a shout-out to O.J. - Guess what? It`s the same armed robbery and kidnapping under the law if you do it to your friends or if you do it to a stranger.
And many of his friends testified against him at this trial, A.J. I mean, they were very distraught at the way he treated them. O.J. just doesn`t get it. I think he truly doesn`t get it today. I think he probably never will get it.
HAMMER: Lisa Bloom, with the big shout-out to O.J. on the program today. All right. I need to play for you some more of this fascinating O.J. in the courtroom scene, him continuing to explain his intentions the day of the raid. Let`s roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: I didn`t want to steal anything from anybody. I don`t think anybody said I wanted anybody else`s stuff, just my own. I wanted - my daughter, Ms. Brown gave her her mother`s wedding ring, stolen. You know, my kids who have pictures - my oldest son has his own family now. He wanted the picture in the Oval Office with Gerald Ford when he was five years old - stolen. All of these things were gone. My family knew what we were doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. So if you didn`t know a thing about O.J.`s past, you`d look at that and say, "Wow, here`s a humble, contrite, apologetic guy."
Carlos, obviously, O.J. Simpson looking for sympathy from the judge. I`m thinking it sounded like he didn`t get any sympathy from you whatsoever?
DIAZ: No. And the thing is - I`m amazed, why not put him on the stand during the trial? I know that if you put him on the stand that he`s up for cross-examination as well. But the judge made it perfectly clear today that she wasn`t going to look at, you know, his past and the past trial.
So you put him on the stand, even if he`s cross-examined, she wouldn`t allow any questions about his past. And maybe, maybe he can sway a jury with his emotional plea like he tried today with the judge.
BLOOM: And A.J., how dare he bring Nicole`s name into this today. He said the item is from the mother to the children -
HAMMER: Well, Let me ask you this, Lisa, because, you know, Carlos just mentioned that the judge said this is not about what happened in the past. Now, here`s a man who a lot of people believe was just running around scot- free for a double murder since the 1995 murders of O.J.`s wife and her friend.
Lisa, he was acquitted after those crimes, of course, but do you really believe that his history didn`t play into what happened today?
BLOOM: I know it didn`t because he got the low-end of the sentencing range. He could have gotten life in prison. Instead, he`s parole-eligible in nine years. So though Judge Glass had some tough talk for him in the courtroom, ultimately, what she sentenced him to was almost the lowest possible end of the range. I don`t think it came into play. I think in terms of what happened, karma`s a (EXPLETIVE DELETED). His life caught up with him and he`s his own downfall.
HAMMER: There you have it. Lisa Bloom, Carlos Diaz, thanks for being here, guys. There you go.
All right. Now, I`ve got to tell you about a SHOWBIZ special event, because it is that time of year again as the year winds down. We are about to name our pick for the most controversial celebrity of the year.
Now, for the last two years - and I know you`ve been watching so you know it has been Britney Spears. Can she pull it off for the third time in a row?
Well, you have to tune in this coming Tuesday as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most controversial celebrity of 2008. That goes down Tuesday right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Going down right here tonight, TomKat`s confessions. Katie Holmes speaking out about whether she just a wallflower who isn`t in control of her own life. And then Tom Cruise speaking out about what he regrets and whether he and Katie are planning to have more kids.
Also Oprah speaks out about Michelle Obama -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": You know what`s so fantastic about her? She is a completely, 100 percent authentic woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oprah has big plans for Obama`s inauguration. She`s even moving her show to Washington, D.C. for that entire week. And she has plenty to say about the new first lady. That`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Also, I`m going one-on-one with the lovely Kate Winslet. Now, Kate is reuniting on screen with Leonardo DiCaprio for the very first time since "Titanic." It was 11 years ago. So what was it like working together this time around? Kate tells me in her own words, coming up in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And now, the SHOWBIZ news ticker. More stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: "The Dark Knight" out on DVD Tuesday and back in theaters January 23, a day after the Oscar nominations. Anne Heche and her boyfriend James Tupper are expecting their first child together.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE WINSLET, ACTRESS: Look at us. We`re just like everyone else. We bought into the same ridiculous delusion, this idea that you have to settle down, resign from life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Leo and Kate are back together on the big screen. Tonight, Kate Winslet tells me what it was like working with Leonardo DiCaprio again in their new film, "Revolutionary Road."
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, Kate Winslet`s "Titanic" reunion. It`s hard to believe, but it`s been more than a decade now since Kate and Leo co-starred in the blockbuster, "Titanic."
And now, they`re in the new film, "Revolutionary Road." You`ve got to hear what Kate told me about the emotional reunion, her onscreen chemistry with Leo and what it was like with her husband directing the film right down to those steamy love scenes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINSLET: It really means a lot to me to have been a part of this film and to have worked with my husband, Sam, who I`d never worked with before and to be teamed up again with Leo. You know, it`s been an emotional and moving experience for me to, you know, see new sides of both of these men.
You know, my husband, Sam - I could guess at what kind of a director he was going to be like. And I imagined he was going to be wonderful but I hadn`t actually experienced being under his guidance. And it was so revealing to me in a really great way.
Don`t come any closer. I`ll let go.
LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ACTOR: No, you won`t.
WINSLET: With Leo, you know, we`re the same people but we are also very different now. You know, it`s 12 years on. We`re both older, a lot older. And we`ve both changed and changed as people and changed as actors. And to have the chemistry that we have and the history that we share was really beneficial to us in portraying Frank and April and the onscreen chemistry we had to have in these new roles.
Would you still be wasting away your life in a job you find ridiculous?
DICAPRIO: Maybe you let that be my business, all right?
WINSLET: Your business?
HAMMER (on camera): Among the things that we see take place in "Revolutionary Road," your characters seem sort of trapped by the American dream. Your husband`s got the job. You`ve got the great house in the suburbs. You`ve got the kids. But it`s not exactly the way both of you saw life planning it out.
Are you like me? Do you feel like some people are going to walk out of this film, maybe do a little soul-searching about their own lives?
WINSLET: I would hope so I think is the answer. Because, as you know, being a part of making movies is such an honor and a privilege. But one of the most exciting things is when it does make an audience go home and think. Even if it`s five minutes, you know, that really means a lot because at least you know that you managed to connect with an audience in some emotional way.
I mean, I think it`s a portrait of a marriage. It`s a study of a marriage and it`s very honest and it`s very brutal in its honesty sometimes. And you don`t always see that on film.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Just great performances from both Kate and Leo. "Revolutionary Road" lands in theaters the day after Christmas.
Well, calls just keep on coming in to the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines about everything from Britney Spears` comeback to Tom Cruise`s new image makeover. We`ve got one call I`ve got to play for you. It`s from Michael in Michigan. He says Britney`s new tour is exactly what the doctor ordered.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHAEL, CALLER FROM MICHIGAN: I believe in Britney. I`m a really big fan of hers. And I think that all that she needs to do is focus on her kids and her career, and I think she`ll be fine. I think she`s doing what she loves to do and that`s to perform and sing, you know. So I think it`s not too much too soon.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, thank you for your call, Michael. Another story that people have been calling in to "Showbiz On Call" about, Tom Cruise`s interview with Barbara Walters where he said he has changed a lot since he jumped on Oprah`s couch so famously.
We heard from Sam. Now, Sam says all that bad press Tom got for the couch-jumping, much ado about nothing.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SAM, CALLER: I think it`s really awful that people want to criticize him for jumping up and down on the sofa. He was happy. He was excited. It`s not as though that was the first time anyone ever was excited about being in love. And I don`t think that that was crazy.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sam, we thank you for calling in to "Showbiz On Call." You, too, can give us a buzz to let us know what`s on your mind. Of course, the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines always open and available to you - 1-888-SBT- BUZZ. Put it on your speed dial, number one please - 1-888-728-2899. Leave the voicemail. We`ll play your call right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And your calls to "Showbiz On Call" also now online on our homepage - that is, www.CNN.com/ShowbizTonight
Well, now we`d like to hear from you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. This is what we`re asking - "Tom Cruise Back on Screen: Has he improved his image since the couch-jumping?"
You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Our E-mail dress address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, speaking of Tom Cruise, wait until you hear the TomKat confessions coming up. Katie Holmes speaking out about whether she`s a wallflower who`s lost control of her life while Tom speaks out about everything about the couch-jumping to whether he and Katie are going to have more kids. TomKat confessions on the way.
And Oprah speaking out on Michelle Obama -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: She is really herself. There`s no pretense there. She is the real, real, real deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oprah with big plans for Obama`s inauguration, even planning to move her show to D.C. for the whole week and plenty to say about the new first lady. What Oprah told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, coming up.
And look out, the YouTube divorce lady is back with another video but this time a music video. The song "I`m Going Bonkers." And you`ve just got to see it for yourself coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Well, Boy George has been convicted of falsely imprisoning a male escort. The escort said Boy George handcuffed him to a wall in his London apartment last April.
Now, George admitted to restraining the escort with handcuffs while he tried to figure out if he had tampered with his computer. George was released on bail after today`s verdict. He`s scheduled to be sentenced on January 16th. Now, he could get life in prison - that`s the maximum sentence for false imprisonment, but that would be a big prize in this particular case. The judge has said that he`ll probably get some jail time.
All right. Give me a moment to compose myself. My excitement is just overwhelming. The YouTube divorce lady is back. And wait until you see what she`s up to this time.
Yes. Good news. You remember Tricia Walsh-Smith. She was the one who took her divorce battle to YouTube with a string of bizarre videos. Well, now, be thankful that just in time for Christmas, she has a new song out. It`s called "I`m Going Bonkers." And she even has a video for it which she posted on her Web site. Watch.
(MUSIC VIDEO OF "I`M GOING BONKERS")
HAMMER: Wow, life just gets better and better, doesn`t it? That is just a little taste of the musical magic that is "I`m Going Bonkers." If you want more, and I know you do, go to TriciaWalshSmith.com. You can also get the song on iTunes and even on CD Baby.
All right. Coming up, TomKat`s confessions. Katie Holmes speaking out about whether she`s just a wallflower who`s not in control of her life. Tom Cruise also speaking out about what he regrets and whether he and Katie are planning to have more kids. They are the TomKat confessions you have to hear for yourself. And you will, coming up.
Also Oprah speaks out about Michelle Obama -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: What`s so fantastic about her is she is a completely, 100 percent authentic woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oprah has big plans for Obama`s inauguration. Do you know that she`s even moving her show to D.C. for that whole week? And she has plenty to say about our next first lady. What Oprah told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming up.
Also, you`ve been waiting for this and we`ve got it for you. A-Rod setting the record straight about all of those rumors about a romance with Madonna. So what is the deal here? Are they really a couple or are they just friends? Alex Rodriguez answers once and for all. That`s still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Now, you can always stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news with our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. Get it by heading over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. If you click on the "sign up for newsletter" at the bottom of the page, you can tell us where to send it to you every day. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TomKat`s shocking brand-new confessions. Tonight, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are striking back. Katie reveals the one big thing she thinks everyone has totally wrong about her. And Tom opens up about his biggest regret. Tonight, TomKat`s dramatic moves to repair their images.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: She is really herself. There is no pretense there. She is the real, real, real deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The SHOWBIZ Obama watch. Oprah gets passionate about first lady- to-be, Michelle Obama. Oprah Winfrey talks to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and she is beaming big-time. It`s Oprah in her own words on Michelle Obama.
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.
And tonight, we`ve got several major stories making news right now.
TomKat`s confessions. Katie Holmes sets the record straight. She`s no wallflower. She`s clearing the air about what she says is a misperception about her. Plus, Tom Cruise opens up about changing his image and the possibility of having more kids.
Tom is just one of Barbara Walters` picks in her 10 most fascinating people list. She named Barack Obama the most fascinating person of the year. Did Barbara get it right?
Plus, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names our top picks for the most fascinating people. Who did we choose? We`re giving Barbara a little run for her money.
Joining me tonight in New York to help in that endeavor is Lisa Bloom who is the host of "Lisa Bloom: Open Court" and an "In Session" anchor. And tonight, in Hollywood, Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra."
So Katie Holmes wants to set the record straight about how she thinks some people perceive her. Now, she told Lynn Hirschberg the "New York Times Style" magazine, quote, "There`s a misperception about me that I just became this wallflower, this woman who doesn`t have any control of her life. That I just became a wife. And that`s pretty wrong. From the very beginning, I`ve made choices in my life that have been very strong."
Carlos, does it surprise you at all that Katie decided to defend herself in this way?
DIAZ: No, it doesn`t surprise me. But let`s get one thing straight. You can`t be a wallflower and be the successful actress she`s been both on the screen and on the stage. It`s impossible to be a wallflower and, you know, to be that successful.
But she is a lot more quiet than Tom Cruise who is one of the most charismatic, intense guys in Hollywood. So comparatively speaking, yes, she is kind of a wallflower. But anyone would be to Tom. So she had to come out and say, "Hey, you know what? I`m not this way."
HAMMER: Yes. And she chose her words carefully and she was strong and she came out swinging. Lisa, are you at all surprised?
BLOOM: Well, she doesn`t give any specifics as to how she is more than a wife. Clearly, she has a career. She`s making films and that`s terrific. And she`s also a mom. But we don`t see her, for example, out there championing causes, doing things where she could use her celebrity name to assert some good in the world like Angelina Jolie does, for example.
So, you know, this is a start, giving this little print interview where she makes this comment. But I think she has some ways to go on the subject.
HAMMER: So you`re saying that some of the perception is perhaps deserved, only based by her action or inaction in this case?
BLOOM: Yes. We just don`t see a lot of her. We don`t hear a lot about her. We don`t know what`s going on behind closed doors. And so I think we do get a little suspicious that she`s just become this wife and really very little else.
HAMMER: Yes. And Carlos makes a great point that, of course, it`s hard to not be compared to that big, charismatic character that is Tom Cruise. And while Katie is busy getting candid with the "New York Times," husband Tom Cruise had a lot to say to Barbara Walters after being chosen as one of her 10 most fascinating people.
And among his revelations he and Katie definitely want to have more kids in the future. I think a lot of people are going to be excited about that. But looking to Tom`s past, he said if he had to do it all other again, there are a few things he would do differently. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, TV HOST: What did you do that you regret?
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: Do you have a list?
WALTERS: No! I mean, I can think of some, but you can bring up some.
CRUISE: You bring them up.
WALTERS: All right. Jumping over couches?
CRUISE: You know, there`s things I could have handled better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And he also told Barbara Walters he`s not going to be talking about Scientology publicly anymore. I think that`s fascinating. I think there are some people who may be relieved by that.
Carlos, what`s your take here though? Is Tom Cruise a changed man or is he really trying very hard right now to change his image?
DIAZ: I could sum it up like this. Back when "Top Gun" came out, he did an interview with "Rolling Stone" magazine that I read and this is so many years ago where the interviewer said, "Do you have any regrets?" He said, "Not a one."
When I read that, I`m like, "Oh, yes. That`s great. See, he has no regrets. I`m going to live my life that way, with no regrets."
And last night, he said, where does the list begin? So obviously, it`s not that he`s calculating a change, but after all these years, you`re going to say, "You know what? I messed up there," and he`s being honest about it.
HAMMER: Yes. I think a lot of people will appreciate the honesty. I think it`s good to see.
I`ve got to take a look at some of the other Barbara Walters picks for her 10 most fascinating list. Now, she chose Will Smith - I think that was a great choice. And she calls Will one of the most bankable stars in the world understandably. Smith really opened up to Barbara about how divorce is simply not an option for him and his wife of 12 years - almost 12 years - Jada Pinkett-Smith. And he also gave some insight into his willpower, so to speak. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: You`re very close to Barack Obama. Barack Obama has said that if there`s ever a movie about him, he would like you to play him.
SMITH: Yes.
WALTERS: Would you like to do that?
SMITH: I`m in.
WALTERS: Did you ever really say this quote, "I truly, honestly believe that if I chose to be the president of the United States, I could?"
SMITH: Yes, absolutely.
WALTERS: Could you?
SMITH: If I chose to, absolutely, with no question.
WALTERS: Are you going to choose to?
SMITH: I`m never, ever going to choose to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. But he said if he chose to, he`d be in office. You know, some people say, "Will, you know, that`s just a little cocky." But Lisa, truthfully, doesn`t that really just speak to how incredibly self- confident the guy is?
BLOOM: Yes. And my heart is still beating from seeing Barack Obama and Will Smith on the same. It was - oh my goodness! They are both so handsome and so confident and so smart. And you know, I think what he`s saying - it`s not ego. It`s confidence.
This is a man who started with nothing - Will Smith - who set certain goals, who chose his movies very carefully and became the top star in the world. If he could do that, why couldn`t he be president? I suspect that he could.
HAMMER: Yes. I`m right there with you. I`ve got to show you one particular pick that I thought was rather surprising for Barbara Walters` 10 most fascinating list - conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh. Now, even more surprising, Barbara kind of laid into him in the interview. Look at this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: We`re in an economic slowdown and you`re making more money. You`re one of these people that, you know, we talk about and gets richer and richer while everybody else gets poorer and poorer, right?
RUSH LIMBAUGH, CONSERVATIVE RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: No, no, no. Don`t lump this - my wealth, if you want to describe it that way, is a result of work. The audience is large. They`re loyal. What recession?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Carlos, are you surprised Rush Limbaugh landed on this thing?
DIAZ: I`m not a big fan of Rush Limbaugh, but I thought that was the most interesting part of the show last night, because you have two legends in broadcasting going at each other. Last time I checked, Barbara, you`re not scratching - you`re making some serious cash. She`s doing OK. Don`t talk about contracts, Barbara, all right. Come on.
HAMMER: All right. Well, you know, we saw that Barbara didn`t only choose celebrities for her 10 most fascinating. She also chose politicians - Sarah Palin on the list. And, of course, the man at the top of her list, Barack Obama. Lisa, do you think that she got that right?
BLOOM: Oh, absolutely. You know, it`s not just the U.S., it`s the entire world that`s enamored of Barack Obama. I walk down the street, people are selling commemorative coins, these weird gold plates, rings, calendars and he hasn`t even been president yet. So I think that`s unquestionably the top choice.
HAMMER: Not everybody agrees, though, with Barack at the top of this list. I want to play a call that came into "Showbiz On Call." This is Anna in Virginia. Listen to what Anna said.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ANNA, CALLER FROM VIRGINIA: No, I don`t think Obama is the most fascinating person. I am so tired of the two Os, Obama and Oprah. And I - whenever I hear his name, I just have to put it on mute. I`m so sick of hearing that Obama and Oprah at this point.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: But you know what? Obama is everywhere and a for very good reason right now. And we do appreciate your call.
Before we go, let me just read to you a couple names that we have on our top picks. Some of them shared with Barbara Walters for most fascinating. We added "The View`s" Elisabeth Hasselbeck. We also have Sarah Palin, Britney Spears. We have Tom Cruise on ours. And we believe Oprah Winfrey deserves a place on it.
And I believe Lisa Bloom and Carlos Diaz, you deserve my thanks for joining us tonight.
BLOOM: And A.J., of course.
DIAZ: Yes. There we go. Thanks.
BLOOM: Thank you.
HAMMER: All right. Moving on, I want to tell you about a SHOWBIZ special event. It is that time of year again - we have to name the most controversial celebrity of the year. Now, for the last two years, it has been Britney Spears. But will it be a three-peat?
Well, we`re going to show you when we do our list of the most controversial celebrity of the year. And we will be naming that person on Tuesday night, only here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. You don`t want to miss it.
The question is, is Madonna going to make our most controversial list? You know, she has just been stirring things up over the past year from her divorce, to hanging around with Alex Rodriguez.
Well, tonight the New York Yankees star himself is finally speaking out. A-Rod sets the record straight in a brand-new interview. Is he dating Madonna? Are they a couple? Are they just friends? Wait until you hear what A-Rod reveals, all coming up. Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: You know what`s so fantastic about her? She is a completely, 100 percent authentic woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Oprah speaks out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Her blockbuster new words about Michelle Obama. Oprah gets pretty emotional in this thing. You definitely don`t want to miss what she says. I`ve got that`s coming up next.
And in the SHOWBIZ Obama watch, what`s cooking in the White House? We`ve got the inside story on what the Obamas like and don`t like to eat and the coast-to-coast search for the next White House chef.
And now, the SHOWBIZ news ticker. These are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Oprah Winfrey named most influential woman in entertainment by "The Hollywood Reporter." America Ferrera to host even to help Hillary Clinton pay off campaign debt.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And now, the SHOWBIZ Obama watch. Tonight, in a brand-new interview, Oprah Winfrey speaks out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about Michelle Obama. Oprah is really gearing up for the presidential inauguration. She`s actually going to be bringing her daytime talk show to Washington, D.C. for the whole week of the inauguration in January.
And there`s more big Oprah news. She has just been named the most influential woman in entertainment by "The Hollywood Reporter." But when it comes to a personal "it" list, Oprah tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT there`s only one person that comes to mind - Michelle Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: What is going to happen when she is in the White House? I cannot even tell you. The house - she represents, just true brilliance. You know, smart, not just intelligent smart, but smart from the heart and wisdom and spiritual and connected and a mother and a friend and a great - she is everything.
She is the icon. She is number one on my Hollywood list. You know what`s so fantastic about her? She is a completely, 100 percent authentic woman. So what you see is really herself. There`s no pretense there. She is the real, real, real deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Isn`t that passion? Oprah also admits to the "Los Angeles Times" she was so confident about Barack Obama`s victory, she actually bought her inauguration dress before Election Day. Wow.
Well, long before many of us even knew who Barack Obama was, the message of change had already come to the White House, at least on TV`s "The West Wing," on of my favorite shows of all time. The parallels between Obama`s campaign and what played out on the now canceled show are almost spooky.
And as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson found out, it`s even freaky for the guy who wrote the scripts for the TV drama.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST (voice over): A new president offering his rival the position of secretary of state -
JIMMY SMITS, ACTOR (as Matt Santos): How about secretary of state?
ALAN ALDA, ACTOR (as Arnold Vinick): Secretary of state?
ANDERSON: In the final season of "The West Wing," imaginary President- elect Matt Santos offered his defeated rival, Arnold Vinick, the job of secretary of state. A show off the air for almost four years but seemingly able to predict the 2008 presidential campaign and transition.
Eli Attie was the writer on the show who scripted the fictional run to the White House which was started by casting Jimmy Smits as Santos.
ELI ATTIE, WRITER: The funny thing was, at that time, four years ago, there was just no precedent for a Latino candidate or any kind of minority candidate. And the closest I could find was then state Senator Barack Obama. And so the character wasn`t really created to be Barack Obama. But as I started to fill in those first big episodes and to find who he was, that was the first place I really looked for inspiration.
ANDERSON: And so "The West Wing" wound up a young minority candidate who would defeat a favored Democratic rival in the primary and a moderate Republican maverick in the general election. But Attie, who worked in the Clinton-Gore administration said it didn`t exactly take a psychic to see the scenes that would dominate the 2008 campaign.
ATTIE: I actually think a lot of that was coincidence. Both of them gave speeches where they talked about hope and the promise of the future. And politicians have been doing that for a long time, maybe not always as eloquently as a carefully scripted actor on a TV show or Barack Obama.
ANDERSON: Not that he isn`t surprised to see the future unfold along the lines of his creation.
ATTIE: The interesting thing is something like having Matt Santos choose his rival for a powerful cabinet post was for us wish fulfillment, you know, saying what if he had a candidate who didn`t hold grudges and really wanted to bring the best people. It`s amazing to write your sort of gauzy flag blowing in the wind fancy version and then watch it unfold on CNN before you. And that is what`s happening.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Just amazing. That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson.
Well, I`m not sure exactly how many stars back the presidents on "The West Wing." But during the real campaign, we all saw Hollywood come out in full force for Barack Obama. And one of those stars was the lovely Rosario Dawson who was a vocal supporter of Obama.
Dawson`s out promoting her brand-new movie, "Seven Pounds" and she says although the election is over, she thinks the hard work for all Americans has just begun.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSARIO DAWSON, ACTRESS: We`re going to show the rest of the world that this young country really has something to it. That`s where we`re at right now. And I think we can all appreciate that. The eyes of history are on us. We have done something very significant by electing this man. Now, it`s time to do something significant and show that we`re all in it together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Rosario Dawson has been very active in getting young people out to vote. And she even went to the summer`s Democratic convention in Denver. So is she actually ready to ditch Beverly Hills for Capitol Hill?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAWSON: I think not. You know, it`s very different to be telling people to go and vote for themselves and another thing to go vote for you. So I think I`m very happy to be an activist and an advocate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Rosario`s new movie is called "Seven Pounds." And it also stars Will Smith. It will be in theaters on December 19th.
And the SHOWBIZ Obama watch rolls on right now with a look at one presidential appointment that doesn`t affect the average American but could be one of the most important decisions the president-elect will make. Now, this person won`t have to woo heads of states but will have to impress a much tougher group - the Obamas themselves. Here`s CNN`s Samantha Hayes for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the search for the next White House chef.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAMANTHA HAYES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They like everything, from the local deli -
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT-ELECT: I ordered him his corned beef.
HAYES: To pie and Mexican food. Their favorite restaurant is itself a mouthful - Chicago`s Topolobampo. And for the big post-election date, it was the four-star Siaja. The Obama`s taste in food ranges from tacos to tilapia. The kids - mac and cheese, please. So their chef better have a big menu.
Former White House chef Walter Scheib who cooked for Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush says the key to pleasing presidential palates is get to know the family.
WALTER SCHEIB, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHEF: Well, first and foremost is to really get a great relationship with the first lady and the first family to understand what they`re looking for, how you can make their dreams in terms of the entertaining style, come true, almost to know what they want before they know it themselves.
HAYES: Tip two - lose the prima donna attitude chefs are so famous for.
SCHEIB: It`s a job that is low key. You check your ego when you work for the White House. It isn`t about you. It is about the family. You ought to be discreet. Don`t talk about your job too much.
HAYES: For now, the first kitchen is in the hands of the Cris Comerford, the first female top chef. Whether she stays or goes is up to the Obamas.
SCHEIB: Mrs. Obama will be the one who will set the tone for the house. It really is Mrs. Obama letting the chef and letting the resident staff know what she wants. It is their job to make that happen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Do not underestimate the importance of that gig. That was CNN`s Samantha Hayes for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And I can tell you, one thing that should absolutely never, ever be on the White House menu - beets. Yes, President-elect Obama hates them.
All right. You`ve got to listen to what I`ve got cooking. Coming up next, New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez finally speaking out about Madonna. Are they a couple? How much time do they really spend together? Are they just friends? Are they getting a place together? What`s the deal? You don`t want to miss A-Rod`s explosive interview. And it is coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Well, Yankees slugger, Alex Rodriguez, is finally setting the record straight about his rumored romance with Madonna.
Now, the two have been linked in the tabloids for months with Madonna getting the blame for A-Rod`s split from his wife.
But tonight A-Rod tells "People" magazine he and Madonna are, quote, "just friends." He insists all the rumors are just plain wrong saying, quote, "I`ve been to two of her concerts, yet I`ve read that I went to 20. I`ve also read that we were buying an apartment together. That is absolutely ridiculous and not true. We`re friends. That`s it."
All right. So he says they`re not romantically linked but they do share one great passion and that is helping children in need. Rodriguez also tells "People" magazine that he was so moved by Madonna`s documentary about Malawi and her commitment to the African nation that he now supports her charity.
Mad-Rod may not be an item. Ellen DeGeneres is not at all shy about her undying love for George Clooney. If you are a fan of Ellen`s talk show, well, you know she`s made it her mission to have George on as a guest. She has been totally obsessed because her studio is right next door to George`s office.
Ellen has done everything from sending Dolly Parton over to sing to personally cleaning Clooney`s parking spot. So today, at the suggestion of George`s good friend and prankster, Brad Pitt, Ellen lined up a little midday entertainment courtesy of the Chippendale dancers. Watch this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP OF CHIPPENDALE DANCERS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ready for this, guys?
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": Go ahead. Do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So the dancers did as they were instructed. There is good news and bad news. The bad news is, well, George wasn`t there. But the good news, his female staff got quite an eyeful.
All right. So treat for the ladies, but still no George. It looks like Ellen`s mission must go on. Ellen, I do know that George likes motorcycles. Just a little suggestion from SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. I thank you for watching. Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - one at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. And we`re on in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
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