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Showbiz Tonight
Oprah`s Weight Confessions; The Most Controversial Celebrity of the Year; Paula Abdul "Idol" Claim; Did Oprah Diss Sarah Palin?
Aired December 09, 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, Oprah`s bombshell weight confessions. Tonight, Oprah Winfrey`s private pain over how much weight she`s gained, why Oprah`s revealing she`s up to 200 pounds, why she says she`s embarrassed and her rock-bottom moment when she wanted to disappear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JO PIAZZA, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": Oprah proves that no matter how much money and power you have, you can still have a personal issue like weight loss.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Oprah`s remarkable weight revelation.
It`s the headline-making SHOWBIZ special event. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most controversial celebrity of the year. Who were the final contenders? And will you agree with our pick? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to name the most controversial celebrity of the year.
Plus, Paula Abdul`s remarkable claim about her obsessed fan who committed suicide. Did "American Idol" producers really ignore Paula`s warning about her?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson. And tonight, a SHOWBIZ special event. We are revealing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most controversial celebrity of the year. That is coming up.
HAMMER: It is exciting. But first tonight, Oprah`s incredible weight confessions. Tonight, Oprah Winfrey is pouring her heart out and telling the world an intimate, painful detail that she is a failure when it comes to controlling her weight. This is truly remarkable, Oprah revealing that she`s hit 200 pounds, that she`s embarrassed and saying that she actually hit rock bottom. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with what she said, why she said it and why it`s making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": I have lost, as of this morning - as of this morning, 67 pounds.
HAMMER (voice over): From her talk show to countless inspirational home videos -
WINFREY: Because of the weight, I am really - I`m not all that people say that I am.
HAMMER: We`ve watched Oprah Winfrey struggle with weight.
PIAZZA: Oprah`s battle with weight loss has always been dramatic.
HAMMER: Now, in the latest issue of "O" magazine, Oprah Winfrey is talking in shockingly blunt and personal terms about what she considers a major setback.
PIAZZA: She`s written this article in "O" magazine where she says she hit 200 pounds again.
HAMMER: Oprah says she`s fallen off the weight loss wagon, writing in "O" magazine quote, "I`m embarrassed. I can`t believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I`m still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, `How did I let this happen again?`"
PIAZZA: Oprah proves that no matter how much money and power you have, you can still have a personal issue like weight loss.
HAMMER: Oprah`s issues with weight loss may have been personal, but they were also very public.
WINFREY: This is what 67 pounds of fat looks like.
HAMMER: We all remember that iconic moment in 1988 when a much-thinner Oprah Winfrey wheeled out a wagon loaded with 67 pounds of fat to represent the 67 pounds she just lost on a liquid protein diet.
PIAZZA: Afterwards, so many women wrote in to the show and said, "Oh, my gosh, you inspired me to lose weight, too."
HAMMER: But the slim Oprah didn`t last long. Within two years, she regained the pounds she lost. At one point, she topped 237 pounds.
WINFREY: It does not make sense, any sense at all, having the potential that God gave you and living your life this burdened.
HAMMER: In the mid `90s, Winfrey resumed the fight, telling audiences in this home video that she was renewing her commitment to slimming down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Strong abs.
HAMMER: She hired a personal trainer. In 1994, she even finished the Marine Corps marathon. But this year, Oprah finds herself back at the 200- pound mark. She blames her current problems in part on an out-of-balance thyroid.
PIAZZA: It made her develop this fear of working out so that just compounded the weight gain and made everything worse for her.
HAMMER: Oprah writes, quote, "I was so frustrated I started eating whatever I wanted - and that`s never good."
Things got so bad, Oprah says she almost skipped out on this April interview with Cher and Tina Turner. She writes, quote, "I felt like a fat cow. I wanted to disappear."
PIAZZA: This is a woman who`s probably one of the most powerful women in America. And the fact that this weight gain made her feel so insecure, that really does touch a lot of women`s lives. They realize that Oprah is just like them.
HAMMER: But Oprah isn`t surrendering just yet. She plans to begin the New Year with a new focus on her health, which she`ll talk about on her show in the first week of January. She writes quote, my goal isn`t to be thin. My goal is for my body to be the weight it can hold - to be strong and healthy and fit, to be itself. My goal is to learn to embrace this body and to be grateful every day for what it has given me."
PIAZZA: I think Oprah does feel like she let people down because she did set an example for so many women. But at the end of the day, I think she`s setting an even better example because she`s saying, "We all fall off the wagon. Sometimes, we can`t do it all at once. And sometimes, we have to fall down and try again."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So why is Oprah being so painfully and brutally honest and by confessing so candidly her struggles with weight, is it setting a good example or a bad example for her legion of fans?
Joining me tonight in Washington is Jessica Wiener who is a self- esteem expert and author of "Life Doesn`t Begin Five Pounds from Now." In New York tonight is Katrina Szish who`s a celebrity journalist.
All right. Jessica, let me start with you. Considering that Oprah has confirmed that she has this medical condition, and for her, it`s not just about denying herself what she actually wants to eat. Do you think she`s being a little too hard on herself here?
JESSICA WIENER, SELF-ESTEEM EXPERT: Yes, A.J., I think the language that we`re hearing Oprah talk when she talks about herself, being embarrassed, feeling like a fat cow is language that women with a food addiction and body image issues have. So it`s a familiar language to millions of us out there who`s struggled with our weight or who have body-image issues.
What I think we have to pay attention to is the fact that this is a woman who we admire, who we love, who is a powerhouse and she still battles a very, very fierce battle with her body image. And that is what makes her real because millions of women in this country and seven in 10 girls, according to the new dub(ph) study all feel like they don`t measure up. And so that`s really important for us to remember. This is us. She`s talking about us just as she talks about herself.
HAMMER: Yes. I admire so much how real she`s been throughout this entire article that she wrote. Let me ask you, Katrina, do you think Oprah`s honesty though could possibly backfire with some of her fans who may be thinking, you know, "Why are you being so critical of yourself, Oprah?"
KATRINA SZISH, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: I think that`s really unlikely. I think if anything, she will get more of an outpouring of sympathy, of people saying, "Hey, listen, Oprah, you`re amazing. You`re beautiful. Don`t feel bad."
She`s really going to inspire this legion of fans that she has to rally behind her even more than they already have been if that`s even possible. Oprah has been very honest about her back-and-forth weight issues for about 20 years now. So this isn`t entirely new.
HAMMER: It`s interesting how she really takes issue with herself because she feels like she knows better than for this to happen. I think it pays to take a look again at what Oprah writes in the January issue of her magazine, "O." She says, quote, "I`m mad at myself. I`m embarrassed. I can`t believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I`m still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, `How did I let this happen again?`"
So Jessica, to your point earlier, I`m thinking so many people can relate to what Oprah said there, "How did I let this happen again?"
WIENER: I think any woman who`s been on a diet, A.J., and has watched the weight creep back is saying those exact same words. What my hope is for Oprah as a big role model out there for women and girls everywhere is that she begins to make peace with her body, and as she said, isn`t going to try to become thin but is going to try to become more realistic about what her body can bear.
And at this point, I think this is like her Achilles heel, and that`s again why we love her so much. But this is a common American woman`s issue and a global issue. And this is why we`re relating to it. And I really hope that she is going to make peace so that girls and women watching her show everywhere begin to really accept who they are as they are.
HAMMER: And what a healthy approach, too. And I hope we hear a lot more about this, the fact she is being realistic about, "Hey, this is who I am. Let me work with this."
Of course, the ladies of "The View" among those who were talking about this today. "View" co-host Sherri Shepherd I thought really put Oprah`s confession into great perspective. Take a look at Sherri.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": So many people love Oprah. It just shows she`s a real person. She cannot be secretive about it because she started out big. She slimmed down. She`s had to talk about it. Oprah shows it is really hard trying to keep your weight down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So separate from how inspirational this may be for other people, Katrina, I would imagine that putting all this out there is just a huge relief for Oprah. So basically, people can now really stop speculating about what`s going on with her?
SZISH: Oprah is one of the first people to admit, "Hey, listen, I want to tell you, The Viewers, my fans, the real story. I don`t want the tabloids to tell you a different story." So first of all, she`s embracing that honesty. Second of all, I agree, A.J., that she really finally has gotten something off her chest.
And most importantly, besides just being honest with her fans, it seems like Oprah has finally been honest with herself, realizing that not everybody is meant to be a tiny size. Some people have natural body types that are meant to be a little bigger. So I think that relief is going to relieve the Achilles heel so much for Oprah. And I think it`s fantastic.
HAMMER: Yes. I think I`m just one of many people applauding Oprah today for what she`s done with this particular article. Jessica Wiener, Katrina Szish, thank you both.
Let`s turn it over to you. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Oprah`s Weight Gain Confession: Do you identify with her?" You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You got more to say? Our E-mail address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.
And Brooke, we have more Oprah news on the way tonight.
ANDERSON: We do, A.J. There is a big game of she-said, she-said going on between Oprah and Sarah Palin. Is Sarah snubbing Oprah or is it the other way around? We are sorting it out, coming up.
HAMMER: Also, stunning accusations from Paula Abdul. Paula is making a remarkable claim about her obsessed fan who committed suicide. So did "American Idol" producers really ignore Paula`s warning about her? That is coming up.
Also, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most controversial celebrity of the year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the ladies of "The View," people has the most visceral reaction. Either you love them or you hate them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The co-hosts of "The View" were so controversial in 2008. But will one of them be SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s pick for the most controversial? They had a lot of competition from other celebrities. You just have to stay tuned to find out who we named. It`s a SHOWBIZ special event, straight ahead.
HAMMER: And now, the SHOWBIZ news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Fantasia denies report that her North Carolina house is in foreclosure. "The Dark Knight" is out on DVD!)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAULA ABDUL, JUDGE, "AMERICAN IDOL": She has been a stalker fan for about 17 years. And it wasn`t until "American Idol" that she ever knew how to get to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Paula Abdul speaking out about the obsessed fan who was found dead in front of her home and why she says "Idol" put her in danger for entertainment.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in New York. Tonight, Paula Abdul is making startling claims accusing "American Idol" producers of trying to sabotage her career.
In a brand-new radio interview with Barbara Walters, Abdul reveals that "American Idol" producers ignored her frightening warnings and let her dangerously-obsessed fan audition for the show. That fan was later found dead in a car near Abdul`s home in November, a suspected suicide.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood is Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra." Also tonight, joining us from New York, Dawn Yanek, who is the editor-at-large for "Life & Style Weekly."
Carlos, Dawn, this truly is unbelievable. Paula Abdul blaming "Idol" producers for letting her obsessed fan audition on the show. Paula tells Barbara Walters on her radio show on Sirius that she warned "Idol" producers about this woman. Listen to this -
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ABDUL: First of all, I said, "This girl is a stalker of mine and please do not let her in." Everyone knew. I mean, I was shaking. And they thought - for entertainment value -
BARBARA WALTERS, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Who is "they?"
ABDUL: Producers.
WALTERS: You mean they put you in peril because it would be fun?
ABDUL: Funny. Fun for them to cause me stress.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You`ve got to feel for her. And Carlos, what do you think? Do you find it shocking that Paula would publicly make this accusation?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": I find it completely shocking because I mean, I`ve seen and heard this entire interview. At one point, she says that FOX gave this woman a blueprint to get to her house - directions, if you will, to get to her house. At another point, Paula says that she can`t get into too much because there`s a police investigation.
Well, Paula, if there`s a police investigation, it`s not too smart to accuse FOX of pretty much aiding and abetting in this case.
ANDERSON: Yes. And you know, she did a number of interviews. And as far as we know, this is the only one in which she lashed out in this way. Dawn, what do you make of it?
DAWN YANEK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "LIFE & STYLE WEEKLY": She was obviously very shaken about the death of this woman, and also how things were handled on the show. But by absolving her own guilt or her own responsibility and whatever her part she feels she had played in this, she totally threw Simon and the producers under the bus. And it`s really like declaring all-out war on the show, and a show that`s treated her very well over the years.
I think that this is probably signaling the fact that she is going to leave at some point. It`s kind of setting the stage for her departure.
ANDERSON: Well, speaking of that, you know, she also told Barbara Walters that she believes Simon Cowell and "Idol" producers did this to jeopardize her career. Now, FOX told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that they`re not commenting on Paula`s claim.
That said, Carlos, does it sound to you like maybe Paula does want out of "Idol"?
DIAZ: I don`t know if she really knows what she wants at this point because it doesn`t make too much sense what she was saying. This morning on "The View," Barbara Walters said that she doesn`t think that after Paula`s next year on "American Idol" that she`ll be around. I don`t think Paula specifically said, "I`m going to do this interview to get off of "American Idol." But it was not at all a smart move for her to say the things she said to Barbara.
ANDERSON: Yes, Dawn, do you see her - very quickly, do you see her lasting very long on "Idol" after this? And do you think she even cares at this point? I mean, she has been through a lot.
YANEK: You know, it seems unlikely that she would last. But you never know. This is Hollywood. Shows like "Idol" thrive on controversy. This is not the last we`re going to hear of this. Simon certainly will be chiming in.
ANDERSON: Probably - you`re probably right. Dawn Yanek, Carlos Diaz, we`ll leave it there for now. Thank you both. Good to see you.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke. Moving on, you know, the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines have been ringing nonstop about O.J. Simpson getting the big sentence, nine to 33 years in prison for his confrontation with the sports memorabilia guys.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. And actually, Simpson was transferred to a Nevada State prison to begin that sentence yesterday. We got a call from Lamar in North Carolina who says the punishment fits the crime.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
LAMAR, CALLER FROM NORTH CAROLINA: I think O.J. got exactly what he deserved. How can you go around being so arrogant thinking that you can`t be touched and then go and do the things that you do. I think he got exactly what he deserves. Power to the justice system.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you for that, Lamar.
HAMMER: Well, we also got a call from Terri. She called in from Montreal. And she says O.J.`s sentence is unfair. Listen to this -
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
TERRI, CALLER FROM MONTREAL: I think he got a raw deal. Anybody else would have thought maybe one or two years. The judge was unfair and they should try him again. And he should never have gotten such a long sentence. It`s ridiculous.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you for your call, Terri. You can call us at "Showbiz On Call." That way you can let us know what you think about O.J. or anything else on your mind.
ANDERSON: Anything you`re thinking about. The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines are open 24/7. Give us a ring, 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voicemail. We will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And those calls to "Showbiz On Call" - listen to this - are also now online, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke. So there`s a big game of she said, she said going on.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. And it`s between Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Palin. So who snubbed whom? Is it Sarah Palin`s decision not to be on Oprah`s show or the other way around? We`re looking into it, coming up.
HAMMER: Also a huge series finale for one of my favorite shows, "Boston Legal." William Shatner and James Spader`s characters get married. I got the whole story and what Bill Shatner told me about that blockbuster finale, coming up next.
Also, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most controversial celebrity of the year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIAZZA: She crossed the boundaries of politics and the pop culture. I mean, the influence she had on both of them was so big that, of course, she has to be named one of the most controversial celebrities of 2008.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sarah Palin really caused a stir this year. But, you know, with all the controversial competition out there, will she actually top our list? You will definitely want to stay tuned to find out. It is a SHOWBIZ special event, the most controversial celebrity of 2008. And that is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. It was quite a night on the series finale of one of my favorite shows, "Boston Legal." Last night, the show ended with William Shatner and James Spader`s characters getting married. Shatner`s character, Denny Crane, proposed so he could leave his money to Alan Shore and not worry about the estate tax. Take a look at this scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM SHATNER, ACTOR: Take my hand, Alan. Take my money.
JAMES SPADER, ACTOR: I always thought if I got married again, it would be for love and romance.
SHATNER: You love me. Romance never lasts. Money can.
SPADER: OK, Denny, I will marry you.
SHATNER: Really?
SPADER: Why not? I suppose it had to come to this.
SHATNER: That will be great.
SPADER: Yes, it will.
SHATNER: Like jumping a shark.
SPADER: Hey, how about we do it on the dock of Nemo Bay?
SHATNER: Perfect. Salmon in one hand -
SPADER: Me in the other, let no man tear asunder.
SHATNER: This could be a television series.
SPADER: On a new network.
SHATNER: One that cares.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Doesn`t get more brilliant than that? Well, I spoke with Bill Shatner today. I had to ask him what he thought when he first heard the idea for that finale. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHATNER: I thought, it`s so perfect. I mean, the genius of David Kelly saying - for having the characters say at one point, "You know, I think of my life as a television show and everything I do is so important like it`s being broadcast," which then motivated all the things I`d been saying for four and a half years like, "Cue the music," or "Cut." Or you things - and I`d say to myself, "How do I make that sound right," and I`d have to go through some rationale to make it valid.
And Kelly comes up on the last moment of a whole reasonable - reason for saying these things, which is, my life is like a TV show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I am going to miss that show. Make sure you tune in Thursday for my full one-on-one interview with the one and only William Shatner, this Thursday right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And A.J., there is a big game of she-said, she-said going on right now.
HAMMER: Between Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Palin. Well, it`s crazy. So who snubbed whom? Did Sarah decide not to be on Oprah`s show or was it the other way around? We`re looking into it, coming up.
Also, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most controversial celebrity of 2008.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the ladies of "The View," people had the most visceral reaction. Either you love them or you hate them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The co-hosts of "The View" were so incredibly controversial in 2008. But will one of them be SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s pick for the most controversial? It`s a SHOWBIZ special event, straight ahead.
HAMMER: And Fran Drescher wants to take Hillary Clinton`s Senate seat. Yes, seriously. Why Fran wants to replace Hillary Clinton. That is still to come on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIAZZA: She crossed the boundaries of politics and pop culture. I mean, the influence she had on both of them was so big that of course she has to be named one of the most controversial celebrities of 2008.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it`s the headline-making SHOWBIZ special event. We are naming the most controversial celebrity of the year. So who will it be? And will you be shocked by our pick?
Plus, it`s the brand-new she-said, she-said smack-down between Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Palin. What really went down between these two over Palin appearing on Oprah`s show. Did Oprah diss Sarah or did Sarah snub Oprah?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson. All right. Right now, the annual headline-making moment we have all been waiting for -
HAMMER: Yes.
ANDERSON: Who will be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most controversial celebrity of the year?
HAMMER: Brooke, it is exciting. Now, for the last two years, it`s been Britney Spears. But this year, man, she has got some serious competition. Among the questions we ask before deciding - which celebrity generated the most outrage, who sparked a visceral reaction every single time you heard their name? Who generated the most continuous interest through the year? So who will be named the most controversial celebrity of 2008? That answer in just a moment. But first, the final contenders.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): The Hogans have made the cut. They are among the final contenders to be SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most controversial celebrity of the year.
JASON KENNEDY, CORRESPONDENT, "E! NEWS": I think the Hogan family definitely sparked the most continued shock and outrage. You never knew what they were going to do next.
HAMMER: 2008 was a rough year for this gang.
PIAZZA: You`ve got Nick Hogan almost killing one of his best friends in a car accident, going to prison.
HAMMER: The drama continues between Linda and The Hulk who are still tangled in a messy divorce.
LINDA HOGAN, EX-WIFE OF HULK HOGAN: In case you can`t tell, I`ve had it, OK? I`m spent.
HULK HOGAN, WRESTLER AND REALITY SHOW STAR: I`ve got it. I`ve got it.
HAMMER: Then, there`s Linda`s dramatic 911 call about her hubby -
L. HOGAN: He`s been ordered away because he`s threatened my life before and I don`t want him around. I`m shaking and trembling. I`m following him until he leaves.
HAMMER: Then, Linda started dating a 19-year-old who went to school with her kids. But if we`re talking drama, we`ve got to talk about these guys.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT ranks the ladies of "The View" as final contenders for the most controversial celebrity of the year.
KENNEDY: I think the ladies of "The View" - people had the most visceral reaction. Either you love them or you hate them.
HAMMER: During the political season, these ladies were at each other`s throats.
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Those people gave him that money. Those are taxpayers who gave him that money.
HAMMER: Joy, Elisabeth, Whoopi, Sherri and sometimes even Barbara got into it. Ah, the fireworks.
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": OK, then. Are you looking into Joe Biden`s supposed Botox shots in his forehead?
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: The bickering paid off for "The View" with record ratings.
The next contender to the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most controversial celebrity of the year - Miley Cyrus. Disney star Miley Cyrus is a teen phenomenon with her hit show, "Hannah Montana," and squeaky clean image - almost.
When "Vanity Fair" came out with racy photos of Miley Cyrus looking tres Lolita, people were outraged.
PIAZZA: Disney was upset, how dare she? She`s tarnishing her young girl image. And Miley had to apologize for it.
HAMMER: Well, you won`t hear any apologies coming from the next major contender to be "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s" most controversial celebrity of the year - Sarah Palin, vice presidential candidate and lightning rod for controversy.
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It`s funny that a comment like that was kind of made to - I don`t know - you know.
HAMMER: Sarah Palin`s bumbling interview on CBS with Katie Couric got America talking and debating about this politician turned mega-celebrity.
PIAZZA: She crossed the boundaries of politics and the pop culture. I mean, the influence she had on both of them was so big.
HAMMER: With her you betchas and her snazzy $150,000 wardrobe, plus, her penchant for moose shooting, loving and hating Sarah Palin became a national past time.
TINA FEY, ACTRESS (as Sarah Palin): Alaska and Russia are only separated by a narrow maritime border.
HAMMER: When Tina Fey started spoofing her on "SNL," ratings went through the roof. If Sarah Palin is the mother of controversy, well then, we`d like to introduce you to the daughter of all that is controversial, Britney Spears.
KENNEDY: I think Britney`s actions definitely had the most lasting impact in 2008. Things she did a year ago, she`s still paying the price for right now.
HAMMER: Who can forget last year`s controversy.
BRITNEY SPEARS, ACTRESS: Where is your driver when you need them?
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT named Britney the most controversial celebrity of the year in 2006 and 2007. But will she make the cut this year?
KENNEDY: She`s under that court-ordered conservatorship. She`s still sharing custody of her kids. You probably saw recently in that MTV documentary, she sometimes feels like a caged animal, a prisoner.
HAMMER: Britney, for the record, gave a glimpse into her troubled life.
SPEARS: It`s bad. I`m sad.
PIAZZA: It does look like things are going really good for her in 2009. And I have to say, if Britney Spears can make a comeback like this, I have hope for our country and for the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: All right, so there you have it, the final contenders to be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most controversial celebrity of 2008.
So you`re now wondering what did we decide? I`m going to tell you right now. Charles, may I have the drum roll, please.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming Sarah Palin as the most controversial celebrity of 2008. And the crowd goes wild. But did we get it right?
Joining me tonight in Hollywood is Carlos Diaz who`s a correspondent for "Extra." Also tonight in New York, Dawn Yanek who is the editor-at- large for "Life & Style Weekly."
All right. Carlos, I`m watching you. You`re rubbing your hands. You`re getting excited to react. Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, as you just heard, has named Sarah Palin the most controversial celebrity of the year. In your mind, Carlos, did we get it right?
DIAZ: I think you did. You didn`t mention Madonna at all in that piece. I mean, come on. She broke up with Guy Ritchie. She got with A-Rod. She tried to convince him to go to Kabbalah - the whole thing.
But here`s the thing. Yes, you got it right with Sarah Palin. I`ll give you the one reason why it`s right. We keep forgetting before September 1st, no one knew who Sarah Palin was. She did all that stuff in two months, September and October and the first week of November. That`s it. And it`s a lasting impression for an entire year. She wins.
HAMMER: Yes. That is quite an accomplishment. And we do give Madonna an honorary mention when we whittle down all the votes and everybody from SHOWBIZ TONIGHT participated, didn`t make the cut. Dawn, what do you think? Sarah Palin, most controversial of the year?
YANEK: Absolutely, A.J. I think you guys absolutely chose correctly. There is no middle ground when it comes to Sarah Palin. Either you love her or you hate her. The fascination, the interest around her has just been absolutely massive. It`s not dying down any time soon.
TV shows want her. They want her to make special personal appearances at different events. I mean, it`s absolutely crazy.
HAMMER: Britney Spears earned the title twice. You know, we may see Sarah Palin back in this discussion another time.
Now, we have some other work to get to, some other ground to cover besides naming the most controversial celebrity. We`ve got to talk about who should be named the most controversial celebrity trio of the year.
Think about it, tuff trio of Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie versus the trio of Charlie Sheen, Heather Locklear and Denise Richards. Both trios have divorced. They`ve aired their dirty laundry and they kept making headlines all year long. Carlos, who`s the one (UNINTELLIGIBLE) or both?
DIAZ: Well, you know, early on in the year, you`d have to go Sheen, Richards and Locklear because you also have Richie Sambora ducking his head in that situation. You know, when you have Denise Richards and her show on "E!" and this and that.
But late in the year, it was a late surge by Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and most specifically, Jennifer Aniston calling Angelina Jolie un-cool. That gives them the title.
HAMMER: Dawn Yanek, do you agree?
YANEK: I do agree. The Charlie Sheen-Denise Richards episode was, of course, completely scandalous. But people just seem to care more about the Brangelina trio. And when you have Jennifer Aniston making these interesting comments, you don`t know what to think. Do you side with her? Do you question why she`s saying all these things?
And you know what? Look, Brad and Angelina have done wonderful work around the world with their humanitarian efforts but people have a very strong opinion still about how that relationship started. And that interest isn`t dying down anytime soon.
HAMMER: No. I don`t think it is. All right. Let`s talk about what should be named the most controversial talk show of the year. Now, both "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "The View" were making big headline this is year, mostly thanks to the election. Carlos, who gets the trophy for the most controversial talk show and why?
DIAZ: I give it to "The View" and I`ll tell you why, because "The View" influenced Oprah. Oprah went to a Friday format where she had her friends on and made it look like "The View." So you have to give it to "The View" because every time you turn on that show, somebody was yelling at somebody about something and it was mostly political. And so I give them the kudos and the award for the most controversial group of the year.
HAMMER: Dawn, a lot of yelling going back and forth on "The View" stage this year between all the co-hosts, it got heated. Are you with that?
YANEK: Oh, absolutely, hands down. The award goes to "The View." You know, Oprah`s - while topics may be controversial and she may say some controversial things, you know she`s ultimately a professional. She`s going to stay out of the fray.
The ladies of "The View" on the other hand, they get down and dirty. You never know what they`re going to say on the air, off the air, between Elisabeth Hasselbeck and also political comments. They you had Barbara and Rosie going at it again. These ladies, no-holds-barred.
HAMMER: All right. Very quickly - a family affair on our next category, the most controversial family of the year. How do we not do these two families, the Hogans versus the Lohans, both dysfunctional, plenty of drama, legal and otherwise all around. Carlos, who gets the prize?
DIAZ: At first, I was going with the Lohans. I mean, Lindsay, is she or is she not dating Samantha Ronson? Ali Lohan and Dina having that show that was terrible. Michael Lohan just being Michael Lohan. But after listening to your piece, I`ve got to go with the Hogans, because you`re right. They did so many dysfunctional things from jail time to mom dating young kids and the whole thing - it gets crazy there. So I go with the Hogans. But I would like to see a cage match. I would like to see a cage match - a cage match fight between the Lohans and the Hogans.
HAMMER: And maybe Nick can film that for his real-ality show. Carlos Diaz, Dawn Yanek, I thank you both.
YANEK: Thank you.
DIAZ: Thank you.
ANDERSON: A little bit scary, too, wasn`t it, A.J.?
All right. Oprah did not make our list this year. But could she be a contender maybe for 2009?
HAMMER: You know, Brooke. I don`t know. There is a huge controversy brewing now between Oprah and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
Up next, it`s the she-said, she-said smack down. It`s got people buzzing from Chicago to Anchorage. Did Oprah diss Sarah or did Sarah snub Oprah? A fired-up debate you won`t want to miss.
ANDERSON: Also ahead, it`s a Brangelina family affair. Brad Pitt`s parents worked the red carpet with the golden couple. Grandma and grandpa Pitt open up in a rare interview that you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: And nanny no more. Fran Drescher sets her sights on Hillary Clinton`s senate seat. Huh? Can she pull it off and will anyone take her seriously? The nanny diary, congressional edition, still ahead on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And now the SHOWBIZ news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now -
(CAPTION READS: Coldplay responds to copyright suit over their hit, "Viva La Vida." Band denies they copied another person`s song for "Viva La Vida." Coldplay`s "Viva La Vida" is the best-selling album on iTunes in 2008.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in New York.
Tonight, Oprah versus Sarah. We`ve got a brand-new case of she-said, she-said between Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Palin. Sarah still has not sat down on Oprah`s couch. And tonight, there is brand-new finger-pointing from Oprah`s side and Palin`s side. Palin is now speaking out and we`ve got the back story to Sarah`s perceived snub of Oprah.
Also new right now, Oprah`s bombshell confession about her weight. Oprah reveals in a new interview why she is losing her battle with weigh and why she confesses she only has herself to blame.
Joining me tonight in New York, Ben Widdicombe, who`s the editor-at- large for "Star" magazine. And from Hollywood, Kim Serafin, who`s a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly."
Ben, Kim, great to see you both. And as we know, during the presidential race, Oprah did not ask Sarah Palin to be on her show saying that she did not want to use her show as a platform for any politician. But after the election, Oprah did invite Palin for an interview. So was Oprah snubbed?
Oprah`s BFF, Gayle King, sets the record straight to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Watch what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GAYLE KING, OPRAH`S BEST FRIEND: I did think it was interesting because, you know, "The Oprah Show" extended the offer and she said no. So, you know, that is certainly her decision. She decides what she thinks. I do know that when it comes time to sell a book, getting on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" has never been a bad thing to any author. So we`ll see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. Now, Palin`s spokesperson tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that it`s nothing personal and that Palin passed on most of the 250 interview requests that she has received. Ben, given that Oprah supported Obama, do you think it is personal?
BEN WIDDICOMBE, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "STAR" MAGAZINE: Oh, I`m sure it is personal because Oprah gave Obama such a huge push. I read some with it. She`s credited with getting him up to one million votes.
At the same time, I think the Palin camp is being very strategic in how they roll out Palin over the coming years. Clearly, she wants to stay on the national stage. I don`t think it makes sense for her on air for now. I think that if she went on even in a year from now, I think if she went on, even in a year or two years` time, because I`m sure she`s going run in the Republican primaries for the net presidential election. It would make more sense from Palin`s point of view.
ANDERSON: OK. So give it a little bit of time. Now that Oprah is aware that her request was one of the 250 nearly that Sarah turned down, Kim, do you think that Oprah is now thinking maybe, "Hey, don`t call me when you need to plug that book?"
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": No, I don`t think she is. Look, you know, obviously Sarah Palin is a great get for anyone. So whether Sarah Palin decides to do the interview with Oprah now or in a year when she`s selling or book or she`s running for something, people are going to tune in. At the end of the day, it`s a business. So while they may have personal feelings. They don`t agree on politics obviously. It`s going to be great for them because Sarah Palin is going to get the publicity. Oprah is going to get the publicity. So it would be great for both of them. I think at the end of the day, it will not be personal.
ANDERSON: And they`re all right. If there is a book involved and Oprah supports it, it will sell.
All right. Let`s move now to Oprah`s very candid confession about her battle with weight that we just learned about today. In the new issue of "O" magazine, Oprah reveals that she has gained 40 pounds, that she now weighs 200 pounds.
She writes, quote, "I`m mad at myself. I`m embarrassed. I can`t believe that after all these years, I`m still talking about my weight. When it comes to maintaining my health, I didn`t fall off the wagon. I let the wagon fall on me."
ANDERSON: Ben, why - you`re laughing, Ben. It`s not funny.
WIDDICOMBE: Great line.
ANDERSON: It`s sad. Why do you think Oprah is speaking out about this so candidly?
WIDDICOMBE: You know, Oprah is really one of those rare personalities that whether she`s having success or failure, you just love her all the more. And I think people really identify with what she`s going through. And I think women who watch her show are going through exactly the same thing.
I mean, "I struggle with my weight, so I know (UNINTELLIGIBLE)." Sometimes you`re on the ball, sometimes you let things slide. I think her being so honest in talking about it just makes her more endearing to the audience.
ANDERSON: Yes. And she said, you know, if you`re looking for an excuse to fall off the wagon, the universe will provide one, that she has learned that. And she also says, quote, "My goal isn`t to be thin. My goal is for my body to be the weight it can hold - to be strong and healthy and fin, to be itself. My goal is to learn to embrace this body and to grateful every day for what it has given me."
Kim, that is a really powerful message that Oprah is sending to the legions of fans she has who are going through the same struggles, isn`t it?
SERAFIN: Definitely, very powerful. I mean, very depressing, too, because when you think about someone like Oprah who has access to the best top chefs who can cook her healthy meals and you know, a private gym in her house and counselors to help her lose weight, you know, what is it for the rest of us? I mean, what`s the use of even trying?
I mean, that`s why Oprah is so special. I mean, she can talk about the fact she weighs 200 pounds. Just talking about weight in general is making me embarrassed that I had French fries for breakfast and haven`t been to the gym in four months.
ANDERSON: Oh, stop. Stop.
SERAFIN: But you know, she`s put that out there and it does make people relate to her and that`s why people love her.
ANDERSON: Hopefully she will stop beating herself up about this soon. Ben Widdicombe, Kim Serafin, we`ll leave it there for now. Thank you both.
And we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Oprah`s Weight Gain Confession: Do you identify with her?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: All right. So Brooke, the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines will not stop ringing about O.J. who, of course, just sentenced for that Vegas robbery.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. Simpson has just started his prison term. And Verron from Missouri dialed up "Showbiz On Call" to say Simpson is exactly where he deserves to be. Listen to this -
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
VERRON, CALLER FROM MISSOURI: I would look to make a comment about O.J. He got what he deserved. And I don`t feel sorry for him. And I hope he stays in jail for the rest of his life.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you so much, Verron. And remember, we want you to call us at "Showbiz On Call." Let us know what you think about O.J. Simpson or anything else that`s on your mind.
HAMMER: And the "Showbiz On Call" phone lines always open - 1-888-SBT- BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
Angelina Jolie rocks in the role of daughter-in-law. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with Angelina as she and Brad Pitt`s parents worked the red carpet together. Wait until you hear what Brad`s parents told us. We bring you the family affair in the brand-new interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Making news right now - Fran Drescher of course, starred on TV`s "The Nanny," has the greatest laugh on the planet, says she wants to replace Hillary Clinton as New York`s junior Senator. Drescher, who`s been an outspoken health advocate since battling uterine cancer, says she is serious about taking on Capitol Hill.
Drescher`s spokesperson released this statement to CNN saying quote, "Fran Drescher, actress, women`s health advocate and public diplomacy envoy for the U.S. State Department announced that she is throwing her hat into the ring of contenders for the Senate seat being vacated by Secretary of State Designate Hillary Rodham Clinton." Of course, it is New York`s governor who will decide who is going to take Clinton`s seat.
All right. Brooke, so of course, we are gearing up to welcome a new first family into the White House. But last night, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with the first family of Hollywood, the Jolie-Pitts.
ANDERSON: The Jolie-Pitts of course. It really was remarkable, A.J. Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and his parents hit the red carpet for the premiere of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." That`s Brad`s brand-new movie which opens on Christmas Day.
Now, what was most stunning was Brad`s family really opened up to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about their superstar son in a rare interview. Brad`s mom Jane and dad William gushed about just how proud they both are of Brad`s work on and off the big screen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANE PITT, BRAD PITT`S MOTHER: Not because of what he does for a living, but what kind of a person he is.
WILLIAM PITT, BRAD PITT`S FATHER: I think coming out here and not having any background, and not knowing any one, doing what he has done - pretty amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Angelina just beaming there. Then, it was her turn to go on and on about Brad. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asked her to single out the best part of being with Brad who has been twice named "People`s" sexiest man alive and is considered by many to be simply the perfect man. Angelina`s answer is pretty surprising. Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is it like to be married - or be with the man who is known for being perfect?
ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: You know, he makes beautiful children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Brad`s parents also told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they are really looking forward to spending the holidays with all of their grandchildren, all 14 of them which includes Brad and Angelina`s brood of six, of course.
HAMMER: On Monday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Barack Obama: Will he be the coolest president ever? Sixty-five percent of you said yes; 35 percent no.
We got a lot of E-mail, one from Derrick who writes, "Resounding yes! Obama was the coolest ever presidential candidate. Certainly, he will reign as the coolest president ever. Go Obama!"
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. It`s been great having you here.
ANDERSON: Ah, my pleasure, A.J. I`m Brooke Anderson in New York. Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. And in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
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