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Showbiz Tonight
Outrage over "The Bachelor"; Expensive Octu-Mom Video?; A Frantic Call from the Octu-Mom; The Octu-Ex Talks about the Octu-Mom; Return of the Superstars; Miley Cyrus`s Autobiography
Aired March 04, 2009 - 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 - the big bachelor betrayal. Absolute outrage over the bachelor. He dumps his fiancee on national TV and people are fired up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARC MALKIN, "E! ONLINE": People are outraged. They obviously are hating Jason in such a big way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, brand-new details about the TV breakup heard across the country. What really went down? And why are the show`s producers now defending themselves? Plus, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking - is the bachelor now the most hated man in America?
Brand-new octu-mom drama. Is the octu-mom really trying to sell video of the octuplets being born for seven figures? And the octu-mom`s ex- husband speaks out about how he really feels about her.
Plus, the return of the superstars. Britney is back on stage. And Michael Jackson is getting ready to make a major announcement.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood. And tonight, the bachelor`s big betrayal.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. We are talking betrayal with a capital "B." And tonight one of the most popular bachelors ever is sparking brand-new outrage.
ANDERSON: Whew, you can say that again. "The Bachelor`s" Jason Mesnick went from beloved to enemy number one all in one night. Now, many are wondering what really went down behind the scenes after the bachelor`s scandalous change of heart.
Why did he propose to one woman only to turn around and dump her on national TV. Then, as if that weren`t enough, he turns around and asks yet another woman for a shot at love. Tonight, big bachelor outrage making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Move over, octu-mom. Later, Chris Brown, America is now ticked off at a new celebrity.
ALICIA QUARLES, ASSOCIATED PRESS: It would be accurate to say that Jason right now just might be the most hated man in America.
JASON MESNICK, STAR OF "THE BACHELOR": I am going to be the happiest guy in the entire world.
ANDERSON: That would be Jason Mesnick, the star of this season`s installment of the ABC reality show, "The Bachelor." He is inspiring coast-to-coast anger for proposing to one woman on national TV, then dumping her for someone else, also on national TV.
MALKIN: People are outraged. They obviously are hating Jason in such a big way.
ANDERSON: We are seeing the hate online and on air. "The View`s" Elisabeth Hasselbeck laughed at him.
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I really thought he was a good guy. I am done with "The Bachelor."
ANDERSON: Right now, even this Jason is currently more popular than this Jason.
QUARLES: He`s the guy on TV that just seems to have it all, and you think, there really are good men out there. Then he does this, and it`s like, god, thanks, Jason.
ANDERSON: For those of you not familiar with "The Bachelor," allow SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to give you this Cliff Notes-style recap.
On "The Bachelor," Jason, a handsome single dad from Seattle, was charged with a difficult task to court this group of beautiful women and pick one to be his bride. He eventually whittled the group down to two, Melissa and Molly. In the finale, Jason decided to dump Molly.
MESNICK: I don`t know how I could ever let you go. But I have to.
ANDERSON: And proposed to Melissa.
MESNICK: Will you marry me?
ANDERSON: The happy couple presumably went off to live happily ever after. Or so we thought.
MESNICK: We`re not right for each other.
ANDERSON: In this "Bachelor" reunion special, that was taped six weeks later and aired Monday, Jason changed his mind and dumped Melissa.
MESNICK: I think the worst thing in the world is to live your life with regrets.
ANDERSON: And in that very same special, he successfully asked Molly to take him back.
MOLLY, CONTESTANT, "THE BACHELOR": My feelings never went away. And I think we can see where things go.
ANDERSON: Now, the nationwide Jason hating is in full swing.
QUARLES: Women were walking around just pissed off. They cannot believe that their dream guy, this guy that they thought was so great, turned out to be just like any other jerk they`ve dated.
ANDERSON: Now, weeks into their new relationship, Jason and Molly said on ABC Tuesday they are happy together.
MESNICK: We`re in love. I hope everybody can look and see that we both followed our hearts.
ANDERSON: Still, the outrage continues to fly, not just at Jason, but at the show, "The Bachelor."
QUARLES: There`s a lot of Internet buzz saying this was staged, saying all along he was going to propose to somebody, break up with her on national TV and go for the other person for ratings.
ANDERSON: "E!`s" Marc Malkin tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the folks at "The Bachelor" are fighting back.
MALKIN: The people behind "The Bachelor" are insisting this was all real. There was nothing fake. There was nothing made up about this.
ANDERSON: Still, fans are upset at the harsh ending to what has often been a reliably romantic boy-gets-girl fantasy.
QUARLES: You do not think the bachelor is going to dump his bachelorette on national television and then profess his love for another woman. This is not "Rock of Love."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give a sexy (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
ANDERSON: And as "Rock of Love" star Brett Michaels himself once sang -
BRETT MICHAEL, "ROCK OF LOVE" STAR: Every rose has its thorns -
ANDERSON: As Jason can tell you, falling in love with someone on national TV can be a thorny proposition, but not nearly as thorny as dumping someone on national TV.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: No question, this was the breakup heard across the country. And tonight, there is big bachelor backlash over.
Joining me in Hollywood, Laura Saltman, who is a correspondent for AccessHollywood.com. And in Miami, Steve Santagati who is with Web site BadBoysFinishFirst.com.
Laura, Steve, I`ve got to tell you, this scandalous "Bachelor" finale is really dividing the country, men and women everywhere. Some saying the bachelor`s very public breakup was downright trashy; others saying that he did the right thing.
Steve, why do you think this has sparked extreme outrage?
STEVE SANTAGATI, "BADBOYSFINISHFIRST.COM": I think it is - first of all, I think it`s a good thing that this happened. Because they`re not going to promulgate that whole idea of a perfect marriage and everything, everybody lives happily ever after.
I think that the - good news here is that he did tell the truth. If there was, in fact, any love connection there, at least he told the truth and it didn`t happen so that he waited a while, and then, all of a sudden, he changed his mind. Now is the time to change your mind.
ANDERSON: But people are realistic. People know that everything is not a fairy tale, Steve. But I think the way he did it is what caused so many people to be angry.
SANTAGATI: He is on television. If you and I were to do this in the real world, we would probably pull one person aside. We wouldn`t do it in front of, you know, 30 million viewers whatever the case might be.
ANDERSON: Exactly.
SANTAGATI: But it doesn`t matter. Who cares? We all signed up to watch the show. They signed up to be on the show and that`s how it goes. If you don`t like it, tough, that`s life. No one said it was going to be fair or pretty all the time. There are much bigger problems in the world.
ANDERSON: Now, Laura, you posted the news of the big switcheroo on AccessHollywood.com and it got tons of response. Are people just ticked off at the bachelor or are they standing by him?
LAURA SALTMAN, "ACCESSHOLLYWOOD.COM": On my blog, I have gotten more comments on this story than anything ever in the history of anything I wrote on "AccessHollywood.com" - 80-20.
SANTAGATI: From women or men?
SALTMAN: It`s 80-20.
SANTAGATI: From women or men?
SALTMAN: Mostly women. There are a couple of guys. Mostly women. 80-20 - 80 percent hate his guts; 20 percent think, you know, love is love and you can`t pick who you fall in love with. It just is what it is.
ANDERSON: OK. So Steve, you two are in the minority. Well, I want to say that on the "After the Rose" special, Jason opened up to "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison about what led him to dump Melissa and ask Molly for a second chance. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MESNICK: Things were different. I could not go through with what was going on. And I was in love with somebody else. And how do I sit there and go forward with something? Was it right to lead her on? Was it right to go through and keep on going like that for years or months? No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. So he was in love with somebody else. People do have changes of heart. Steve, does that justify doing this, humiliating Melissa, really, on national TV?
SANTAGATI: Yes, it does. Yes, because -
ANDERSON: You`re cold. You`re cold, Steve. What?
SANTAGATI: No, I`m true - this is life. But hold on. Listen. Here`s the thing, OK? This happens a lot. You know, you don`t know what someone is going to be like until you have spent time and invested time with them. And once you realize, "Well this is not the right person for me. I`m sorry I made you a lot of promises because I thought things were going to be different, but they weren`t." And so he did the right thing.
Here is a guy with morals and ethics and didn`t live like a lot of people do - living the lie. They don`t live a fake relationship.
ANDERSON: Well, nobody`s saying he should have lived a lie. But if you have such indecision to begin with, why did he take it so far? And Laura, what are your thoughts? Does it justify him doing it that way, breaking it off on national TV like this?
SALTMAN: You know, my whole thought on it originally was how dare he do this on national TV. Everybody knows, some of these other bachelors have broken up before the finale aired. And then they do ruse and they break up in a couple months after the final rose.
SANTAGATI: Right.
SALTMAN: I said why did he do it that way? After talking to Chris Harrison this morning and then explaining like, well, we knew halfway through, like a few six weeks into this.
ANDERSON: Yes.
SALTMAN: Jason said he was like - he was falling for Molly and he was confused and he was thinking he made a mistake. So their whole thing is that they felt they had to tell this story. Otherwise, we were going to find out anyway.
ANDERSON: Publicly. Well, I just hope, speaking of Molly, that she is happy and that, you know - that he doesn`t say he is madly in love and have a change of heart with her.
SALTMAN: Well, I hope Melissa is OK.
ANDERSON: Steve Santagati, Laura Saltman, thank you, we`ll leave it there.
SALTMAN: Bye, Brooke.
SANTAGATI: Bye.
ANDERSON: We do have much more on the bachelor betrayal. Straight ahead, we will hear from the host of "The Bachelor." Plus, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks the question - is Jason the most hated man in America?
HAMMER: So, Brooke, no huge surprise here. But there is a brand-new bombshell in the octu-mom drama.
ANDERSON: You are right about that, A.J. Is the octu-mom really trying to sell video of the octuplets being born? Wait until you hear the numbers that are flying around out there.
Plus, a frantic 911 call the octu-mom mom made when she thought one of her kids was missing. Coming up.
HAMMER: Also, is Michael Jackson really returning to the stage? Wait until you hear this, huge news for Jackson fans. Can he still be a thriller after all these years?
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OMAROSA MANIGAULT-STALLWORTH, FORMER CONTESTANT, "THE APPRENTICE": I can relate to, you know, speaking your mind, telling it like it is, and having people respond to it in a very visceral way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Omarosa isn`t the only one. There are plenty of reality TV stars who definitely got more than they bargained for when they went after their 15 minutes of fame. Maybe the bachelor is feeling this now. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Sherri Shepherd to star in Lifetime comedy series loosely based on her life. No Doubt offers premium seat buyers free download of their entire catalog.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, return of the superstars. This is very exciting. The long- awaited return of the reigning king and queen of pop - Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.
Michael Jackson reportedly revealing huge plans to hit the stage for the first time in over a decade. Is this really a good idea?
Britney`s back, selling out the first night of her circus tour. But why were so many of her fans disappointed?
With me tonight in Hollywood is Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra." In New York is Lizzy Goodman who is the editor-at-large for "Blender" magazine.
So listen to this, Michael Jackson is reportedly set to announce that he`s going to perform 30 shows in London this spring.
But here`s what I want to know about all this. After years of erratic behavior, wild health, plastic surgery reports, two high profile accusations of child molestation, and of course, all the big money problems we have been hearing about, Carlos is Michael Jackson really going to be able to fill a 20,000-seat stadium right now?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Yes, he will. Remember back when "Thriller" came out, A.J., how no one ever admitted to actually owning that album.
HAMMER: Yes.
DIAZ: It sold 40 million copes. So somebody had to buy it. And you all had one, like hidden away some place. You just didn`t want like broadcast it to the world. Yes, people will go see - I`ll go see Michael Jackson. I will go see him.
Now, whether Mike shows up or not, that is a whole different story. So if you can get tickets to this show, get them early in the run. Don`t wait for later in the run. Get them - shows one, two or three, not shows 17, 18, 19 or 20, all right?
HAMMER: But you know, what you are saying, Carlos, begs the question, is it all going to be about the nostalgia of Michael Jackson? Because let`s face it, he hasn`t been on tour or had a hit record since, what, 1996.
Lizzy, to you. Do you think people really are going to hand over hard-earned money, especially in these uncertain economic times to somebody who hasn`t had a hit in this millennium?
LIZZY GOODMAN, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "BLENDER" MAGAZINE: I do. And I think it`s kind of the perfect storm of appeal pop-culturally, like either he gets up there and he is a complete disaster or he gets up there and he totally sells it. And either way, it is either novelty or nostalgia or it is both which would be the perfect storm moment.
But even if we get just one or the other, chaos or awesomeness, everybody wins. And we`re talking about somebody who is still one of the most fascinating people in pop culture in addition to being someone whose career accomplishments stand on their own for all times.
So I think the combination of those two things makes him eternally interesting and makes the platform for this super exciting.
HAMMER: Yes. It`s going to be interesting to see. And I have to say we always talk about loving a good comeback. And it would be nice to see some good news for Michael Jackson which we haven`t seen in an awfully long time.
Let`s move on to Britney Spears now. Of course, she kicked off her first tour in five years, Tuesday night. And this, just 13 months after her very public meltdown and two trips to the psych ward.
Now, I was doing a lot of reading on the Internet and some newspapers. People who saw the show are saying she looked great last night but she didn`t sing anything live. She didn`t even talk, Carlos.
I`m thinking that maybe she`s just playing it safe. But don`t fans have a right to expect more?
DIAZ: A.J., come on, brother.
HAMMER: Give me more, Carlos!
DIAZ: When was the last time - I`ll give you more in a second. Here is the thing, A.J. When was the last time you were sitting out there in HEADLINE NEWS with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT people, "Man, did you hear Britney Spears belt out those lyrics last night? She was awesome! Her vocals were amazing."
No, with Britney, it`s all about the show. You see that snake she had around her neck for one MTV Music Awards?
HAMMER: Yes, I hear you, Carlos. But at least, make it personal and say, "Hey, good to be here, everybody. Tell a funny story. There was none of that.
DIAZ: She got the city right. She said, "Hey, good to see you, New Orleans." She got the city right. Let`s give her credit for that. Come on.
HAMMER: But you know that they taped that on the stage. They put that out right where she could see it.
All right. Got to wrap it there. Carlos Diaz, Lizzy Goodman, thank you very much.
So Brooke, moving on now. You know, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been ringing and ringing with people calling in about Chris Brown`s apparent reconciliation with Rihanna. In fact take a look at the "Showbiz on Call" operators, go, go, go - overcaffeinated but never underappreciated, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Never underappreciated. We got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Santana, in Alabama.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SANTANA, CALLER FROM ALABAMA: I think that everyone should just leave Chris Brown and Rihanna alone. They`re a young couple. They are going through things. People just need to stay out of their business.
Yes, he messed up. Yes, going to classes may make him a better man and make him work on his relationship with Rihanna.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Santana. And we also heard from Kimberly calling in to "Showbiz on Call" from Maryland.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KIMBERLY, CALLER FROM MARYLAND: I think if they do stay together, I do believe she should, even if she cares about him, stand up and make him go through the court process to show she will not put up with this. And I think if he cares about her, then he would stand up and say, "Hey, look it was a mistake. And, you know, we are trying to get through this."
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thanks for that, Kimberly.
HAMMER: A lot of E-mail is coming in about this as well, one I want to read to from Natalie in Kentucky. Natalie writes, "If he did this to her, it is unacceptable. But people need to let both of them make their own mistakes and learn from them, just like the rest of us common folk did when we were young, and stop acting as though Chris Brown is the antichrist."
You can call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about Chris Brown and Rihanna and all their drama or anything else that`s on your mind.
ANDERSON: Yes, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open around the clock. Give us a buzz - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voicemail. We will play some of your calls here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And your calls to "Showbiz on Call" are also now online - that`s on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Hey, A.J., brand-new bombshell in the octu-mom drama.
HAMMER: That is absolutely right, Brooke. Is the octu-mom really trying to sell video of the octuplets being born? This is crazy! Wait until you hear the numbers that are flying around out there.
Plus, a frantic 911 call the octu-mom made when she thought one of her kids was missing. We`ve got it, coming up.
ANDERSON: Also, is the bachelor the most hated man in America after dumping his fiancee on TV? We`ve got the fired-up debate. Plus, why the host of the show is on the defensive.
HAMMER: And wait until you hear these explosive comments about Michelle Obama. A big star causing a big stir saying the era of the bimbo is over now that Michelle Obama is the First Lady. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
ANDERSON: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Matt Damon meets with refugees from Zimbabwe. Robin Williams to take week off from show due to shortness of breath.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Thank you so much, director Charles Wagman(ph). And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson with some more stories that are making news right now.
HAMMER: All right. This guy, Laurence Fishburne, is speaking out about his new role on "CSI." Fishburne says he and his new show are a perfect fit. He had never seen the show when he was approached to join the cast of it. But he says he immediately felt in sync with the tone of the series.
Now, some people have made a leap between his casting and the election of President Barack Obama. So, I asked Laurence if he thought the people were over-thinking it. Watch what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURENCE FISHBURNE, ACTOR: Well, I don`t know if it is over-thinking it or any of that. I will say this - I know that the good people at "CSI" hired me because I was their first choice because of my intelligence and my gifts. And I`d like to think the American people chose President Obama because of his intelligence and his gift.
And so that these two things happened at the same time, I think, is a great wonderful thing. That`s really what I would like to say about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It makes perfect sense. You can see Laurence Fishburne on "CSI," Thursdays on CBS.
ANDERSON: Well, there was quite a stir on "The View" this morning over First Lady Michelle Obama. RuPaul was on the show promoting a reality series where drag queens compete with each other.
Then, the talk turned to politics. And that`s when the fireworks started flying. RuPaul said that the era of the bimbo is over now that Michelle Obama is First Lady.
RuPaul said it is OK for women to be smart again and not need a bottle of peroxide and a push-up bra to get their points across.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck took issue with that. She said Laura Bush is a strong woman too. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUPAUL, ACTOR: She was really a very traditional, stand-behind-your-man thing. Michelle has her own standpoint and she is strong. She`s -
HASSELBECK: Laura Bush did a great deal on her own especially for children. I think these women are independent in their own right going down in history.
RUPAUL: Yes. But I think history will show that Michelle Obama is much stronger, much more a force to be reckoned with.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
HASSELBECK: We will see.
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Well, you have the feeling that Michelle will contradict her husband. You didn`t get that with Laura.
RUPAUL: That`s true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: RuPaul`s show is called "RuPaul`s Drag Race" where nine drag queens compete each week to win a shot at stardom.
HAMMER: Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here is what is coming at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Is the bachelor the most hated man in America after dumping his fiancee on national television?
Brand-new octu-mom outrage. Is the octu-mom really trying to sell a video of the octuplets being born with a seven-figure price tag?
Also, Miley Cyrus opens up in her autobiography. Miley dishes about being bullied, her first love, all the ups and downs of her 16 years. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
ANDERSON: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: British university launches masters program devoted to the Beatles. "MTV.com": "Twilight" board game will be available March 15.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the shocking bachelor betrayal. Tonight, people everywhere outraged over the bachelor dumping one girl for another. Is Jason Mesnick now the most hated man in America? Was the whole thing staged? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the fired-up debate.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
NADYA SULEMAN, OCTUPLET MOTHER: Help me! Help me! My son is missing. I`m going crazy.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: The octu-mom`s just discovered frantic 911 call tonight. Tonight, the dramatic phone call Nadya Suleman made when she thought one of her kids went missing. Plus, is the octuplet mom really trying to sell a video of her giving birth for a million dollars?
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
And tonight, is the bachelor the most hated man in America? Jason Mesnick`s controversial TV breakup is making news right now.
First, coast-to-coast fallout from the bachelor. Men and women everywhere are bashing the bachelor and his big breakup. But did he do anything wrong?
Also, new outrage over whether or not the bachelor breakup was staged. You will hear from the angry host of the show who is slamming the speculation. And why are people taking "The Bachelor" so seriously? I mean, isn`t it just a reality show?
Joining me in Hollywood is Kim Serafin, who is a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." And in Miami is Steve Santagati who is with the Web site, "BadBoysFinishFirst.com."
Steve, Kim, needless to say, "Bachelor" fans absolutely furious, myself included, over what happened between these three people.
The bachelor, Jason Mesnick and his two finalists, Melissa there on the left, Molly there on the right. Fans were so happy to see Jason propose to Melissa. But that didn`t last long.
In a taped special that aired right after the finale, Jason had a change of heart, broke it off with Melissa. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MESNICK: I think the worst thing in the world is to live your life with regrets.
MELISSA, JASON MESNICK`S EX-FIANCEE: To me, getting engaged and finding that person was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. And you took that from me. You took it. I wish more than anything that last day, you would have just let me go instead of doing this to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: He broke off his engagement to Melissa on national TV. Kim, is Jason making a case here to be the most hated man in America?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Well, I think that`s why people are so upset, because he wasn`t supposed to be that guy. He was the guy with the kid. The guy that got rejected on "The Bachelorette." He was the nice guy, he guy that was making the ratings so huge this season.
He wasn`t the guy that was supposed to be a coward and kind of use the "Oh, I have a contract" excuse for breaking it off on live TV. So I think that`s what is making people so angry about this. Because he`s not the guy we all thought he was.
ANDERSON: Yes, he did not seem to be an insensitive person. And you know if all that weren`t enough, minutes later, Jason asked the other woman, Molly, for a second shot at love. Steve, classy or trashy?
SANTAGATI: No. First of all, even though it is reality television, who knows if it was really staged or not. That doesn`t really matter. The fact of the matter is these things do happen in the real world. People change their minds. It`s better he did it now than later, number one.
The take home news, ladies, and everybody that`s watching is that don`t become so enamored with the idea of falling in love and getting in a relationship that you overlook your female intuition because you want to be in this marriage. There were all sorts of red flags (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in Jason`s life. It`s no big deal.
ANDERSON: But Steve, if he had doubts, if he had uncertainty, he should not have proposed in the first place.
SANTAGATI: It doesn`t matter. He is on a show. He can propose and change his mind. It`s a free world, definitely a free country.
ANDERSON: Do you think he is the most hated man in America, Steve?
SANTAGATI: No. There`s a lot of people I hate a lot worse. I don`t know - do guys even watch this show? I don`t think so. Who cares? I mean, really. I mean, listen, the thing is the reason it is touching so many nerves - and correct me if I am wrong - is because all of us have been dumped at some point in the our life.
And we want to believe in this fantasy romance, the guy is going to come in, sweep you off your feet and carry you off into the sunset. Ladies, it doesn`t happen. Ladies should take the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(CROSS TALK)
ANDERSON: There is a difference between breaking up and dumping a fiancee. Yes, quickly.
SANTAGATI: Not really.
ANDERSON: Go ahead, Kim.
SERAFIN: Here`s the thing. That is real life. That`s why people watch "The Bachelor" because they want to fall into the fantasy world. I mean, that`s why there was no "Pretty Woman 2" after the boulevard. We don`t want to see what happens at the end.
SANTAGATI: That`s right.
SERAFIN: If they breakup, we`ll hear about it. I mean, it hasn`t really worked out for a lot of bachelors in the past. But we want to see the happy ending.
ANDERSON: That`s right. We do.
SERAFIN: They could have just done that and played the game. He could have left as, like, the most loved man in America. And when they broke up -
ANDERSON: You`re right. We do want to see - we do want to see the fairy tale. And you guys, you know, the bachelor himself is saying that he doesn`t regret a thing. Last night on the second, after the final rose special, he spoke his mind. Steve, watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MESNICK: I think some people might go down that last day and say, "Maybe I made the wrong choice." And I didn`t want to go down that path. I don`t want to live my life with regrets. I did what I felt was right. I stand by that right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANTAGATI: Good. And that`s the guy being honest.
ANDERSON: Steve, you say it`s good he doesn`t have any regrets.
SANTAGATI: That`s a guy - listening to him and watching that clip, that`s a man being honest. Every woman in America, if not the world, should be thankful if they meet a guy that tells them the truth regardless of whether or not it hurts.
ANDERSON: Well, he should have thought of all of that. He should have take a step back and thought it all through ahead of time in my opinion.
But you know, rumors have been flying that the show - that the breakup was actually orchestrated, that it was scripted in some way, and that both bachelorettes were totally in on it.
Host Chris Harrison told Ellen DeGeneres that that is simply not true. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS HARRISON, HOST, "THE BACHELOR": When the rumors went from how this ends to this is completely contrived and scripted, questioning not only the show`s integrity but my integrity and honesty, that`s where I got a little upset. These were rumors started online.
And you know, people will say stuff online, but when it started becoming fact that`s where it crossed the line of decency for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So they did not script the breakup. Steve, you are laughing. Do you think that maybe ABC producers are thinking, "Hey, we could not have scripted it any better. It was pretty dramatic. Big ratings."
SANTAGATI: Listen, Kim. I`ll make this quick. I worked. I hosted reality shows before. Do you know how they cast these women?
The psychologists come in they want to look for the weakest in the flock, the girls that are going to be crazy and broken hearted because it makes for good ratings and it makes for good television.
This could have been orchestrated or they could have just let the cards fall with the way which they cast it. That`s a fact.
SERAFIN: I don`t think -
ANDERSON: Very quickly, Kim - 10 seconds.
SERAFIN: Yes, I don`t think it`s scripted. I don`t think they scripted it. If they did, they would have had Molly on last night`s part two to turn around and be like, "You know what I changed my mind. I am breaking up with you."
ANDERSON: That would have been good, right?
SANTAGATI: I love Kim Serafin.
ANDERSON: OK. We`ll leave it there. Kim Serafin, Steve Santagati, good to see you. Thanks.
HAMMER: Well, you know, the outrage over "The Bachelor" is the latest in a slew of controversies for reality TV stars. It is not at all unusual for the people who get their 15 minutes of fame - well, to find out it isn`t exactly what they expected it to be.
Here is CNN`s Kareen Wynter with the special report, "Reality Show Pitfalls" for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): He nabbed $1 million on the hit reality TV show, "Survivor," but ended up in prison for tax evasion on his winnings.
She found 15 minutes of fame as a former "American Idol" contestant, but went from the stage to rehab after pleading no contest on drug and assault charges.
STEPHEN FOWLER, STAR, "WIFE SWAP": You are undereducated, over-opinionated and you`re overweight.
WYNTER: Now, another reality TV backlash. Steven Fowler is under the spotlight after his recent controversial appearance on the ABC reality show, "Wife Swap," where families swap lives for two weeks.
FOWLER: Here, the two languages appear to be bad English and redneck.
WYNTER: Stephen, an environmental entrepreneur from an affluent San Francisco suburb compared with this rural blue-collar Missouri mom.
GAYLA LONG, CAST MEMBER, WIFE SWAP: I wasn`t going to cry on TV.
WYNTER: Gayla Long, whose modest background becomes the butt of Fowler`s attacks. Fowler`s bad behavior onscreen fueled a backlash of attacks online. Fowler apologized for acting, in his own words, "like a complete jerk." And he said he stepped down from the boards of two nonprofit organizations.
HARRISON: You talk about your 15 minutes of fame. I don`t think this is exactly what he probably wanted out of this.
Reality show host Chris Harrison says Fowler has a thing or two to learn about fame. The camera doesn`t make you a better person. It doesn`t even change the person that you. It just magnifies who you are.
OMAROSA MANIGAULT-STALLWORTH, STAR, "THE APPRENTICE": You don`t realize exactly how your personality will be magnified.
WYNTER (on camera): You came across as a villain sometimes.
STALLWORTH: I can relate to speaking your mind, telling it like it is and having people respond to it in a very visceral way.
WYNTER (voice over): Omarosa, who appeared on NBC`s "The Apprentice" has made a career as reality TV`s most famous bad girl, offered Fowler this advice.
STALLWORTH: I say take your lemons and make a hell of a glass of lemonade. I don`t see reality television as something that is negative.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Kareen Wynter for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And Brooke, I know there has been a lot of talk about an octu-mom reality show.
ANDERSON: Yes. I`m not so sure that would be a smart idea, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, how about this? Is the octuplet mom really shopping a videotape of her giving birth to the eight babies for a million dollars? Who would buy this thing?
Plus, the dramatic, just-released 911 call the octu-mom made when she thought she lost one of her kids.
ANDERSON: And the secrets of Miley Cyrus` brand-new autobiography - yes, I said autobiography. And she is only 16. For real?
And "Braveheart" versus brave buckets, "Lethal Weapon" versus lethal tongs. Tonight, Mel Gibson takes on Kentucky Fried Chicken`s Colonel Sanders in a hysterical new video showdown. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
ANDERSON: Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Report: "Law & Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay hospitalized with chest pains. Judge dismisses felony drug charges against rapper Lil` Wayne.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
N. SULEMAN: Help me! Help me!
911 OPERATOR: Hi. What`s going on? My son is missing. I`m going crazy.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, octu-mom Nadya Suleman`s frantic, heartbreaking 911 call when she thought her son was missing.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And tonight brand-new octu-mom drama. The octu-mom, Nadya Suleman, making big news right now and you are not going to believe this.
Tonight, the octu-mom`s frantic 911 call. We have got more of her emotional plea to police to help her find her son. Plus, the dramatic story of how she finally found him.
Also, new right now, the octu-mom`s ex-husband speaks. He straight up says he didn`t father those kids. You won`t believe his message to the octu-mom.
And tonight, TMZ reports a video of the octu-mom giving birth is being shopped around for seven figures. You cannot make this stuff up. So, who the heck would pay that kind of money?
Joining me in Hollywood, is Harvey Levin who`s the executive producer for TMZ. In New York tonight is Ashleigh Banfield, who is an anchor for the legal network "In Session."
We`ve got to start with the late-breaking news that TMZ just posted on octu-mom on the Web site, octu-mom`s frantic 911 call looking for her missing son. Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you in the last year, there have been eight calls to police involving the octu-mom.
You have got to listen to this call that octu-mom mom made. This was back in October. She is frantically looking for her missing son. Let`s roll that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: 911 emergency.
N. SULEMAN: Help me. Help me. My son is missing. I`m going crazy! I`m going crazy! Where`s my son!
911 OPERATOR: What color pants, Ma`am?
N. SULEMAN: I don`t know. Where`s J.J.?
911 OPERATOR: His name is J.J.?
N. SULEMAN: Please help me! Please help me!
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Understandably frantic there. I get it. You can hear the kids in the background. You can hear the terror in her voice. Now, I have to point out her son was later found with the nanny.
But Harvey, I mean, really, listening to that you can`t really blame her for that kind of dramatic reaction.
HARVEY LEVIN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, TMZ: Well, yes, you can`t, A.J. I see it slightly differently from you. I mean, when you kind of strip away the drama, what you get is a woman just overwhelmed that she is taking care of six kids at the time.
This was in October of 2008 before she had the octuplets. And what it does is it underscores the difficulty of keeping track of eight kids much less 14. And you just hear the panic in this woman`s voice, utterly frazzled.
And now multiply that by close to two - excuse me, by more than two ...
HAMMER: Yes.
LEVIN: ... and you see now what she is up against.
HAMMER: Yes. She is hyperventilating there, it sounds like. But she has already responded to this, Harvey. She gave a brand-new interview to "Radar Online." She says her reaction is just part of how she parents. Let`s take a look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
N. SULEMAN: I am one of those parents. I have to see them at all times and know exactly what they`re doing at all times. And if I don`t, I get a little anxious.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I think she sounded downright frantic in that call. Ashleigh, obviously -
(CROSS TALK)
Go ahead, Harvey.
HARVEY: Look, I`ve got to stop you for a second. I mean, get real, "I just need to know where they are at all times." No, what really happened was the kid was missing.
I mean, there is a big difference between the two. She didn`t know where the kid was. The kid left the house, followed the grandmother down the street. She didn`t know where the kid was. It`s not like, "I need to know where he is." The kid was missing. And that just goes to show the issues here.
HAMMER: Well, I guess then that begs the question. Ashleigh, I will put this one to you. How is she possibly going to possibly do with 14 kids? You know, she might have them disappearing all the time. I don`t know.
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, ANCHOR, "IN SESSION": I am with you. Actually, I want to say something that may not sound really great to a lot of viewers right now. I felt very uncomfortable about that call, because I get it. I would be frantic if my son were missing.
But I would also have to be rational. And I would have to talk to that 911 operator and answer her questions, give my address when asked and not frantically hyperventilate.
HAMMER: Yes.
BANFIELD: She was completely unstable. She never answered the questions. It took three full minutes for this operator to get any information out of her. To me, that`s very, very troubling. If you have a missing child, you have to think. And you have to look out for the child`s best interests. She was just collapsing.
HAMMER: Here`s what I think. And I`m not saying this to make light of it - 14 kids. I`m thinking locator beacons, you know, GPS watches or something like that. I`m not kidding.
Also new right now, got to get to this. The ex-husband of the octu- mom is speaking out for the very first time. He spoke to "Inside Edition," a guy named Marcos Gutierrez, and he says his octu-ex and he separated back in the year 2000 because they couldn`t conceive children.
Here`s what he tells "Inside Edition," quote, "They are not my kids, but I wish her the best. I still want her to be happy. Happiness for her is to have all these kids. Right now, she has to seek a lot of help. This position is going to be hard for her on her own."
Now, Gutierrez goes on to say that in spite of the fact that the octu- mom is being investigated by Family Services, she is a good mom.
Harvey, why do you suppose he wants to speak out now about this?
LEVIN: God, I have no idea why they are all speaking out, A.J. This is just the nuttiest case I have ever seen. And I think, honestly, so much of this has to do with getting on TV. I think it is intoxicating for all of these people.
HAMMER: Well, a lot of outrageous news here on the octu-mom front. I could not believe my ears. I heard this report that the octu-mom birth tape being shopped around. They`re asking big money for it - seven figures. Ashleigh, is it possible that she could actually get $7 million for this? I get the whole miracle of birthing, but who the heck would want to see this thing?
BANFIELD: I think lot. I mean, I think what we have learned from the story is that it is such an incredible circus.
HAMMER: Yes.
BANFIELD: There is just an insatiable appetite for this stuff. I think you could launch an entire Web site based on that particular tape.
HAMMER: I think that may happen.
BANFIELD: The business model might actually support it. I don`t know. It`s sad.
HAMMER: Yes, I`ve got to end it there. Ashleigh Banfield, Harvey Levin, thank you so much, both of you.
BANFIELD: OK.
HAMMER: Now, be sure to check out our complete coverage of the octu-mom on our octu-mom drama section of the Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Now, over to you, our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day is this - "Octu-mom Video Diary: Is she exploiting her kids?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: Tonight, at the ripe old age of 16, Miley Cyrus is out with her autobiography. Yes, really. In the book, "Miles to Go," the "Hannah Montana" star talks about being bullied by some mean girls including getting her books stolen and even locked in a bathroom.
She also talks about her first love, Jonas Brothers star Nick Jonas. Miley calls him "prince charming" in the book but opens up how hurt she was when they broke up. Quoting now, "It felt like the whole world stopped. Nothing else mattered. Deep down, I know we weren`t being our best selves. And that is what I wanted - and thought I deserved in a relationship."
Miley also says her song "Seven Things" is about this relationship that went bad.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, it is on between Mel Gibson and Colonel Sanders. This is a serious game of chicken over chicken. But don`t worry, it`s pretty finger-licking funny. You`ve got to see the hysterical battle between a movie star and the guardian of KFC`s secret recipe. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Phish is asking judge to block sale of bootleg stuff at its reunion concerts. Coachella Valley Music Festival is allowing fans to buy tickets in an installment plan.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hey there. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
And did you see this? Tonight, the very funny response to Mel Gibson`s very funny movie about Kentucky Fried Chicken, "Colonel Sanders." Now, Gibson popped by "Jimmy Live," handlebar mustache and all, to talk about his new movie, the dramatic story of the man behind the secret KFC recipe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOICE OVER: Mel Gibson, Jimmy Kimmel - introducing Captain "Sully" Sullenberger.
CAPT. CHESLEY "SULLY" SULLENBERGER, U.S. AIRWAYS PILOT: Ah! I`ve got to kill all you damn geese!
VOICE OVER: The colonel.
MEL GIBSON, ACTOR: We`re going to need a bigger bucket.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, tonight, KFC is clucking back and taking a few shots at Gibson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOICE OVER: His passion captivated the hungry. His original recipe inspired a nation. This chicken is fit for a king.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go back to Hollywood and tell them Kentucky is free.
VOICE OVER: He is hunger`s worst nightmare. A cook who plays by his own rules.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eeny, meeny, miny, mo.
(CAPTION READS: Lethal Tongs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oscar, I`m not chicken to meet you.
(CAPTION READS: Opens this fry-day at a KFC near you.)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Gibson`s "Braveheart," "Ransom," "Mad Max," "Lethal Weapon" all in there. Pretty funny stuff. But I`m getting kind of hungry.
HAMMER: Oh, get some nuggets, Brooke. Just don`t call 911.
All right. On Tuesday, we asked to you vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, Rihanna and Chris Brown - would it be a bad idea for them to reconcile? Look at this - 86 percent of you say yes. But there are 14 percent of you that say no.
Here`s some of the E-mails that we got. We hear from Kelly in New York who writes, "My grandmother used to tell me that a leopard never changes his spots. So even though he`s saying he`s sorry now, what`s his excuse when he loses his temper again?
But Mika says, "People should mind their business. If they get together, then they do."
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: Thanks for watching. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Don`t forget you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN. Take care.
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