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Showbiz Tonight
Madonna`s Scary Fall; Suddenly Susan; Star Wars on Twitter; Octomom Settles the Stripper Issue
Aired April 20, 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, Madonna`s scary fall. Tonight, Madonna thrown from a horse and rushed to the hospital. How`s she doing? And is a paparazzo to blame?
Plus, Madonna`s devastating adoption rejection. Tonight, brand-new developments in Madonna`s fight to adopt another African child.
Suddenly Susan, the worldwide superstar. Tonight, your very first look at Susan Boyle`s new song.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Also, Susan`s star date. Tonight, which star is asking out the never- been-kissed YouTube sensation? Plus, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks the controversial question, should Susan get a makeover?
And the brand-new star wars. Oprah Winfrey takes on Ashton Kutcher and John Mayer.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
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, Madonna`s frightening fall.
HAMMER: The dramatic and truly scary story of Madonna`s fall from a horse is just another of her mounting troubles. Tonight, there`s a war of words between Madonna and the photographer accused of causing her terrifying tumble.
And wait, there`s more. From Madonna`s heart-wrenching adoption battle to her very high-profile divorce, Madonna has taken one hit after another. And tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Madonna`s unbelievable run of bad luck is making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): A high-profile tumble for wannabe equestrian Madonna.
ALBERT LEE, "US MAGAZINE": Madonna over the weekend was in the Hamptons in Long Island, New York and she was riding a horse and was thrown off. Fortunately, it was only minor injuries and bruises.
HAMMER: And talk about adding insult to injury, people are crying foul on her publicist`s explanation that it was the paparazzi who had scared her horse, causing her to fly off.
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": The photographer, of course, is giving a completely different story. He`s saying that he was not there when the fall happened. He says it was not him that scared her horse.
HAMMER: Not even the police are backing Madonna. A local cop tells TMZ the Madonna camp`s mysterious photographer theory is, quote, "spin control that went out of control." Poor Madonna, she can`t even fall off a horse without causing a stir and getting embarrassing headlines.
LEE: This horse riding accident is just sort of the latest bad thing to happen to Madonna.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking, is it us or is Madonna having one heck of a bad year? Well, let`s tally it up. In the past few months, Madonna split from husband Guy Ritchie. She mocked for her connection to then- married baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez. And she got slammed for her attempt to adopt a little girl from Malawi, an adoption that a Malawian court recently rejected. And now, she`s having horse troubles.
It`s enough to make one feel a little sorry for the Material Girl.
LEE: It`s just sort of like one thing after another with her. You know, your average Joe or Jane on the street is going to look at what`s been happening to Madonna in the past year and say, "God, you know - I mean, it just sort of seems like Madonna`s charmed life has been turned upside down.
HAMMER: But all is not lost for Madonna as far as her adoption plans go. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Malawi`s Supreme Court has now set a May 4th court date to hear Madonna`s appeal of the ruling that barred her from adopting 3-year-old Mercy James.
SERAFIN: She seemed really focused on this and she really does want to adopt this little girl.
HAMMER: And don`t expect Madonna to give up on horses after her bruising weekend accident. She had an even more serious horse accident back in 2005 when she broke a few ribs and her collarbone. And what did she do after that?
SERAFIN: Got back on the horse, started stepping up her riding lessons, and actually became a more experienced rider after that.
HAMMER: "In Touch Weekly`s" Kim Serafin tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT a small run of misfortune isn`t enough to slow Madonna down.
SERAFIN: You see the way Madonna acts with everything that happens in her life. If there is a challenge there, she gets right back on it and does even better than anyone expected.
HAMMER: And "Us Magazine`s" Albert Lee tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, you may think Madonna is having a run of bad luck, but she might see things differently.
LEE: In Madonna`s head, she probably thinks she`s better than ever. I mean, she`s like, I got rid of that old piece of meat, Guy Ritchie. I got this hot 22-year-old boyfriend. So she thinks she`s on top of the world.
And you know what? At the end of the day, her bank account says it all. She`s still doing pretty well.
HAMMER: So maybe Madonna is in a bit of a slump. But if there`s anything we`ve learned from watching her over the last 25 years, it`s that you can throw her off a horse, but this is one woman who knows how to get back on.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
You can bet that Madonna will get back on the horse, both literally and figuratively. But even as tough as she is, this latest string of setbacks has to be pushing even Madonna`s limits. The question is, will she rebound in true Madonna fashion?
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, June Sarpong, British TV personality and founder of PoliticsAndTheCity.com. In New York, it`s Lisa Bloom, an anchor for the legal network, "In Session."
And as we`ve just heard, the past few months really have been tough for Madonna. Of course, starting out with that very public divorce, her heartbreaking adoption rejection in Malawi. And now, of course, she`s nursing these injuries after falling off a horse. Lisa, we have certainly seen Madonna go through a lot of tough times in the past, but is this, in fact, shaping up to be Madonna`s worse year ever?
LISA BLOOM, ANCHOR, "IN SESSION": No, I don`t think so. Yes, she`s had some setbacks. But look, she`s appealing the Malawi decision. She`s only a little banged and scratched up - thank goodness - from that fall off the horse. And you know, a lot of women are happier after they get divorced. I mean, have you seen Jesus De Luz (ph)? Have you seen him? Hello. He`s not so bad to look at.
HAMMER: What do you think, June? Because when you look at all of this on paper, and taking into account the guy that she`s allegedly now dating, you know, a pretty bad year.
JUNE SARPONG, BRITISH TV PERSONALITY: You think that`s bad? I`m with Lisa. I would like to have Madonna`s bad year. She`s got a 21-year-old supermodel after her, a billionaire, one of the hottest baseball players on the planet, a Louis Vuitton commercial, a sold-out tour, and she`s over 50 and she looks like she`s 30. If that`s a bad year, give me that bad year. Thank you very much.
HAMMER: That`s why we ask the question, ladies.
SARPONG: I`m jealous.
HAMMER: But you know, I was thinking about this. After the story broke about her falling off the horse out in the Hamptons over the weekend, only Madonna could have controversy swirling around a fall from a horse.
But TMZ is reporting that Southampton Police Department thinks this whole story is bogus and was just part of Madonna`s people spinning the story. In fact, a Southampton police sergeant tells TMZ, quote, "There is no mention of photographers. It`s a matter of spin control that went out of control. If they felt there was something else, they would have written `paparazzi` in the form if they thought there was a problem."
Lisa, do you have any idea why Madonna`s rep would possibly give a statement blaming the incident on the paparazzi if that is not what happened?
BLOOM: Well, some of the paparazzi have said they were there just before, and they were there just after. So maybe Madonna was confused or maybe she`s right. Look, TMZ is the Web site that sends paparazzi out to stalk celebrities. So it`s not surprising they take the paparazzi`s side. I don`t know what happened, but I think it is a plausible story. Why would the horse be spooked otherwise?
HAMMER: Although there was one photographer who`s been the center of a lot of attention who he says, "You know what? I was the only photographer there, and I wasn`t there when she was thrown of the horse and I wasn`t even on the private property. I was off on the road."
BLOOM: Of course he`s going to say that.
HAMMER: Madonna, though, just looking back on this tough year, it also involves what really was a pretty shocking adoption rejection of that little girl from Malawi.
New right now, Lisa, as you mentioned, a new date has been set for Madonna`s appeal, a panel of three judges convening on May 4th. They`re going to then decide if Madonna should be allowed to move forward and adopt Mercy, the little girl.
Now, we know that Madonna`s initial attempt to adopt Mercy was shut down because she didn`t fulfill all of Malawi`s residency requirements for adoption. So Lisa, can she really expect a victory here? After all, it`s sounds like she`s bought a house, as far as we know, in Malawi.
BLOOM: That`s true. Although she has donated a lot of money to the country and to the orphans there, you know, I don`t know if she can or not. I think the residency requirements are silly. She`s trying to do a beautiful thing and help a child who has very little chance. I think they should wait. But there`s not a long line of people looking to adopt orphans from Malawi. And I think they should let her give little Mercy a chance.
HAMMER: Well, no matter what the outcome of the appeal, the whole process, I`m sure, has been very emotionally draining for Madonna. I`m sure she went to Malawi thinking it was going to go through just as her adoption of David Banda from Malawi went through.
Madonna is somebody who has always stirred the pot in the past 25 years. It`s what she does, and has never really gotten a whole lot of sympathy along the way, especially lately - a lot of controversy over the adoption.
June, what do you think? Given everything that she`s been through, do you see that tide turning?
SARPONG: No, I don`t think Madonna is someone that does warrant sympathy. Also, I don`t think she`s someone that particularly wants it. She`s a strong woman and she wears that strength on her sleeve, you know. That`s what she is. That`s what we know Madonna for.
I think what this year maybe will be for her -even though in my opinion it`s been quite good, by normal standards. Maybe bad by Madonna`s standard, but by normal standards, it`s been pretty all right.
I think what it will be for her is a period of growth. You know, she`s really into her Kabbalah now. And also, I think the divorce with Guy will have made her look at a lot of things.
HAMMER: Yes.
SARPONG: So I think she`s probably learned a lot. And having these children, more children, has definitely softened her somewhat.
HAMMER: And on the positive side of the balance sheet there, her album went number one last year. Her tour grossed around $200 million. So Lisa, is it easy to understand why there may not be a lot of sympathy for Madonna?
BLOOM: She`s richer than god. She doesn`t care what we think of her. A lot of women admire her. I`m among them. She does what she thinks is right. She has a great time. And did I mention Jesus de Luz (ph)? I mean, come on.
HAMMER: You did. You did and we can end it there. June Sarpong, Lisa Bloom, thanks, guys.
ANDERSON: OK. So Madonna may be having a string of bad luck. But I can tell you that Susan Boyle - well, she`s on fire. Susan is the "Britain`s Got Talent" star who shocked everybody with her amazing voice. Her performance on that show has been seen by millions on the Internet. And now, there`s a brand-new controversy over her looks.
So we are asking in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, "Susan Boyle: Should the YouTube singing sensation get a makeover?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us - the address, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
And A.J., Susan really may be the biggest star out there now.
HAMMER: Yes. That`s true, Brooke. I can`t think of any star who`s getting more buzz than her.
ANDERSON: Yes. And tonight I`ve got your very first look at Susan`s new song and the brand-new details of her star date. Which big star is asking Susan out? Will Susan get her first kiss?
HAMMER: Also, the brand-new star wars. Oprah Winfrey is taking on both Ashton Kutcher and John Mayer. Who will come out on top?
Also, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was eye catching, that`s for sure. My husband almost crashed his car. What can you say?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. What do you call a mannequin trying to drum up business for a barbecue restaurant? Barbie Q., of course. You have got to see this. Hey, whatever it takes in this economy, right? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Oprah cancels Columbine anniversary show, says it focuses too much on killers. Zac Efron`s "17 Again" #1 at box office, beats Russell Crowe and Miley Cyrus films.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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BILL MURRAY, ACTOR, IN "CADDYSHACK": I said, "Freeze, gopher!"
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ANDERSON: Did you see this? OK. Bill Murray got really teed off at that gopher in "Caddyshack." But tonight I can tell you that Murray just teed off on a woman at the Outback Pro-Am Golf Tournament in Florida.
All an accident, of course. The woman got plunked in the head by Murray`s golf ball. Murray was cool about it. He came over and didn`t leave the woman`s side. Now, she had to get stitches and asked Murray for a signed copy of "Caddyshack" which I hear he`s going to get her.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Did you see this? Now, we have all heard that sex sells, but can it sell barbecue? The owner of an Ohio barbecue restaurant has put a mannequin outside his restaurant to drum up some more business. But oh no, this is not just any mannequin. This is an attractive woman. But oh no, not just any woman, a really busty one.
Here Cincinnati`s Adam Marshall with WCPO for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAM MARSHALL, WCPO CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She makes drivers do a double take.
KENNY TESSEL (ph), OWNER, KT`S BARBECUE: Barbecue is the new sexy
MARSHALL: She`s bringing in business and well, she`s cheap.
TESSEL (ph): Advertising - sex sells.
MARSHALL: And now, Barbie, last name Q., is gaining fans.
TESSEL (ph): My mail girl - she brought a bikini top and Daisy Duke cutoffs. Barbie will be wearing those next week. What can I get for you?
MARSHALL: Kenny Tessel (ph) owns KT`s Barbecue in Reading. After living in Los Angeles for 25 years and cooking for countless A-list celebrities, Tessel decided to come back home to the tri-state and open a place of his own. When business went down, he knew he had to heat things up.
TESSEL: In these economic times, I need to get these people that are driving by to stop in my store and they have been and it`s thanks to Barbie.
SUSAN DEING, KT`S BARBECUE CUSTOMER: It was eye catching, that`s for sure. My husband almost crashed his car. What can you say?
MARSHALL: While Barbie is not real.
DEING: We noticed lady. We thought, that`s weird.
MARSHALL: She`s a piece of creative advertising that`s working.
DEING: It definitely works. It brought us in.
TESSEL (ph): She`s been outside for three weeks. I`ve had over 70 new customers come in this store just because of her and buy something.
MARSHALL: Yes, you heard him correctly. A mannequin has increased business by 30 percent.
TESSEL (ph): And the fact that she`s bringing in people - it`s a crackup. What can I tell you? It`s a lot of fun.
MARSHALL: And while a well-endowed mannequin does gain attention, Tessel (ph) says he`s had all positive feedback.
TESSEL (ph): Not one person - not one person has been offended by her. So let Barbie bring them in and let my food bring them back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was WCPO`s Adam Marshall for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: You know, Brooke, I can tell you that our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers think YouTube singing star Susan Boyle is no dummy. Take a look at our "Showbiz on Call" operators - no mannequins there. They`re fielding tons of calls about the woman who has wowed everybody around the world.
ANDERSON: She certainly has, A.J . We got a call in to "Showbiz on Call" from Judy in Florida who thinks that Susan is so inspiring.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I would like you all to know that I have put Susan Boyle`s voice on any cell phone to listen to whenever I get sad. She is marvelous. It just makes me cry talking about her.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s cool. Thank you so much, Judy. We also heard from Rose calling into "Showbiz on Call." Rose wants Hollywood to focus more on talent and not looks.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: It goes to show that Hollywood puts a lot of emphasis on good looks and exterior appearances. And it proved once again that someone with a heart is far better, because looks will disappear. But brains, talent, and all of that will stay. Hollywood makes you concentrate on those people instead on exterior appearances.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you for that, Rose. Here`s Donna calling in to "Showbiz on Call" from Pennsylvania. Donna agrees with Rose.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: It really angers me that people judge people for their looks and appearance. Susan, you have great talent. I am a fan of yours and I`m sure many, many more love you. Make an album, because I`ll be the first to buy it.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: And I think everybody`s going to line up too, Donna. Thanks for your call. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about this or anything else at all.
ANDERSON: Yes. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open around the clock. Give us a ring, 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Mark it down. Leave a voicemail. We will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And your calls to "Showbiz on Call" are also now online. That`s at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, Susan really has become a huge overnight star.
ANDERSON: That`s true, A.J., but some people still thinks she needs to change her looks, change her appearance. So tonight we`re asking the controversial question, does Susan need a makeover?
Also, I`ve got your very first listen of Susan`s new song. And her brand-new star date. Which big star is asking Susan out? That`s all coming up.
HAMMER: Tonight, there`s a new star war that`s exploded. I`m talking about some big names, too. Oprah Winfrey taking on Ashton Kutcher and John Mayer. This is one big battle, but who will come out on top?
ANDERSON: And the octomom sets the record straight once and for all. Was she ever a stripper? Nadya Suleman in her own words. You don`t want to miss that. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Beyonce summer U.S. tour will start in NYC in July, end in Vegas in August. VH1 bringing back it`s "VH1 Divas" series with a live show on September 17th.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The new Miss USA 2009 is North Carolina, Kristen Dalton.
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ANDERSON: Tonight, a brand-new Miss USA is crowned, along with a brand-new Miss USA controversy. And it`s over gay marriage.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson. And tonight, the brand-new raging controversy over what happened at Sunday night`s Miss USA pageant. Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton, won, but it was Miss California, Carrie Prejean`s answer to a question from openly gay star blogger, Perez Hilton, that sparked outrage.
PEREZ HILTON, STAR BLOGGER AND MISS USA JUDGE: Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?
CARRIE PREJEAN, MISS USA CONTESTANT: I think it`s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in land that you can choose same- sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what? In my country and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman.
No offense to anybody out there. But that`s how I was raised and that`s how I think that it should be - between a man and a woman. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now, you hear that Miss California got both boos and cheers to that question. She ended up as runner-up. So was her answer out of line or was she unfairly denied the crown because of her beliefs on same-sex marriage?
Perez went off on Miss California immediately after the show, insisting that she didn`t lose because of her beliefs, but the way she answered the question.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEREZ HILTON: She lost, not because she doesn`t believe in gay marriage. Miss California lost because she`s a dumb (EXPLETIVE DELETED). She gave an awful, awful answer, which alienated so many people and Miss California, Miss USA - she doesn`t alienate. She unites. She inspires.
I am so disappointed in Miss California representing my country. Not because she doesn`t believe in gay marriage, but because she doesn`t inspire and she doesn`t unite. And that is what a Miss California and a Miss USA should.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. Now, a lot of people got ticked off at Perez Hilton. Perez has since apologized. He even says he wants to take Miss California out for coffee so they can discuss this. I want to let you know that Miss California, Carrie Prejean, is going to be on CNN`s "NO BIAS, NO BULL" talking about the same-sex marriage controversy. It`s an exclusive interview. It`s going to happen on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.
Now, it`s time for the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Susan Boyle, the amazing YouTube singing sensation. Her brand-new song. The big star who is asking her out. Plus, we`ve got to ask, should Susan get a makeover?
Tonight, the brand-new explosive star wars. Oprah Winfrey takes on both Ashton Kutcher and John Mayer.
And the octomom settles this once and for all - was she ever a stripper? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
ANDERSON: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Dan Brown, author of "The Da Vinci Code," will put out his book on 9/15. Prince Charles signs a book deal, will write about man`s relationship with nature.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, suddenly Susan, the superstar. Should she get a makeover? Who is the mystery man who asked the never-been-kissed spinster on a date? And a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first look at Susan Boyle`s brand-new performance.
Oprah versus Ashton? The stars and their bitter feuds. What are they fighting about and who will win?
Plus, octomom`s stripper confessions. Was she or wasn`t she a stripper? She sets the record straight.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 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, suddenly Susan, the superstar.
HAMMER: Brooke, you can`t deny it, America is in love with the YouTube sensation Susan Boyle and her spectacular performance from "Britain`s Got Talent." But is her second big performance up to snuff? Well, we`re going to play it for you.
New tonight, it`s the great makeover debate. Should Susan Boyle get a Hollywood makeover? Or are her plain-Jane looks a huge part of her appeal?
Also, her YouTube performance - it`s now the most watched clip, 32 million hits and counting. Is Susan Boyle the new queen of media?
Plus, she`s never been kissed, but SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Susan`s got her big first celebrity date. Wait until you hear who it is.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, June Sarpong, British TV personality and founder of "PoliticsAndTheCity.com." Also tonight, in New York, Lisa Bloom, an anchor for the legal network, "In Session."
Susan Boyle blew us away after an unexpected performance for "Britain`s Got Talent." But that`s all we`ve with heard from now until now, because we have her brand-new performance. She`s belting out a Celine Dion song on CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE." Let`s take a look at that.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: It`s pretty good, and hard to do a cappella. Before we talk about it, let`s stack it up to that original mind-blowing performance on "Britain`s Got Talent." Roll that one, Charles.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: All right. June, over to you first. What do you think of this latest performance from Susan? Does she get to keep her superstar status?
SARPONG: Oh, she does. I think Susan`s about to get even bigger, A.J. I mean, she`s such a breath of fresh air. You just can`t help but fall in love with her. I think she`s wonderful. And she`s a really good ambassador for British talent.
HAMMER: And she gets extra points for not beating her hand on her chest like Celine Dion during the performance of that song. Lisa Bloom, over to you, is it safe to say that that first performance was definitely not a fluke?
BLOOM: It clearly was not. The woman can sing. And I don`t know why people are so surprised, just because she`s got gray hair and a few extra pounds. It has nothing to do with singing ability. She just reminds us all that beauty is really what lies within. I`m just expecting her to sing over and over again and knock us out every time.
HAMMER: But nonetheless, despite the fact that it`s not about the beauty, there`s been so much straight-up debate going on now that she`s become the superstar worldwide over whether or not Susan Boyle should get a great big Hollywood makeover. Now, "Britain`s Got Talent" judge Piers Morgan told CNN`s Larry King that he thinks a makeover would be a terrible idea. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIERS MORGAN, JUDGE, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT": The great appeal and charm of Susan is the way she is. You know, she`s unconventional, in the way she performs, the way she looks, the way she acts. She`s her own woman. And I think that is what everyone is falling in love with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And I think Piers has that absolutely right. But June, what do you think? Is it being naive if she wants to have long-term success? A lot of people are debating this.
SARPONG: No, I think, A.J., we mustn`t forget, we`re in the middle of an economic downturn at the moment. I think we want some more substance. And the great thing about Susan is that she`s real. She`s fresh. I`m sick of seeing all these plastic people and I think most people are sick of seeing them, too.
HAMMER: Yes.
SARPONG: And I`m bored of midriffs as well. You know, let`s keep her as she is. I love her. I cried when I saw that woman.
HAMMER: Yes. I think everybody`s getting bored of the midriffs.
SARPONG: Yes, we`re getting bored of the Botox and midriffs. Give me the gray hair!
HAMMER: You know, the truth is, we`ve watched her. We`ve watched what has happened in the mere, what, less than two weeks since the video clip first came out. She is extraordinarily well-loved, just the way she is. She is the most watched YouTube clip out there.
She has eclipsed the Tina Fey`s Sarah Palin impression. She has eclipsed Barack Obama`s acceptance speech when he was elected president, which is unbelievable. Lisa, do you think she could be the next media queen? Or is there a chance that it could be a passing fad, because you know, we`ve seen this before, with people who make that initial huge splash.
BLOOM: Yes, we have. But I think Susan Boyle is different. She stands out for her authenticity. And I second the motion, no makeover. You know, unlike the British judge that we see on the show, Susan Boyle`s face actually moves when she shows some emotion. She looks like she`s actually had a meal in the last 24 hours. And she doesn`t look like everybody else - that`s true. She looks exactly like herself, that`s why we love her.
HAMMER: Well, it`s not just the voice. It`s not just the look. A huge part of what`s touched the world about Susan Boyle is her great story, including the detail often harped on that she has never been kissed. But now, oh yes, she`s about to go out on a pretty amazing first date. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: I have to say, Susan, I was very touched by the very flattering remarks you made about me in the newspapers this weekend which did not go unnoticed. At least, you chose me over Simon as your potential suitor. And I would like to extend an invitation for you to have dinner with me in London, Susan.
SUSAN BOYLE, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT" CONTESTANT: I accept.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: She accepts. A little round of applause for Susan. And let`s give her credit for not choosing Simon Cowell as her potential suitor.
June, I would have to believe men are lining up to give her first kiss.
SARPONG: I`m telling you, I`m jealous! You know, I want to go on TV and say I`ve never been kissed. I mean, she`s going to get so many dates - it`s ridiculous. I think all of these sort of FHM sort of sex symbols - they`re out now. There`s a new hottie in town and her name is Susan Boyle.
HAMMER: Yes. And in such a.
SARPONG: A.J., would you take her out after Piers?
HAMMER: You know, I don`t know -
BLOOM: I`ll kiss her right now.
HAMMER: You know, I don`t know if I can compete with Piers, we`ll have to wait and see on that. June Sarpong and Lisa Bloom - thanks, ladies.
All right. What do you think? Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We`d love to hear your take on this - "Susan Boyle: Should the YouTube singing sensation get a makeover?" CNN.com/ShowbizTonight is where you vote. You can E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: OK, OK. If you were blown away by Susan Boyle, you have got to meet this guy. 12-year-old Shaheen Jafargholi auditioned for "Britain`s Got Talent" which is the same show that made Susan Boyle a worldwide phenomenon on YouTube. So how good is this kid?
Well, judge Simon Cowell didn`t like him at first and even stopped him mid-performance. But you`ve got to see what happens next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
SIMON COWELL, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT" JUDGE: You`ve got this really wrong. What do you sing apart from that?
SHAHEEN JAFARGHOLI, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT" CONTESTANT: "Who`s Loving You" by Michael Jackson.
COWELL: Do you want to give that a go?
JAFARGHOLI: OK.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Wow. Looks like Susan Boyle`s got some stiff competition, A.J.
HAMMER: Unbelievable. Amazing. All right, Brooke, Oprah and Ashton Kutcher apparently are at war.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. The star wars are getting ugly and they`re not alone.
HAMMER: Brooke, Oprah, Ashton, and even John Mayer in a bitter feud, but who will end up on top? We`ll tell you what they`re fighting about and who`s winning, next.
ANDERSON: And octomom the stripper? Octomom speaking out for the first time about reports that she once took it all off on stage. Did she or didn`t she? We`ve got the answer straight from the octomom.
HAMMER: And Kathy Griffin`s brand-new slamming bikini body. Why did she walk out on stage at a big award show in a bikini? It is unbelievable, must-see TV. We`ve got the video. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Tyler Perry`s alleged stalker threatens Perry with murder. "Grey`s Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo pregnant for the first time.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHTON KUTCHER, ACTOR: Yes! Yes!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ashton Kutcher celebrates his big win over CNN. He reached 1 million followers on the online messaging site, Twitter first, and that`s just the start of tonight`s brand-new star wars.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, it`s star wars and a battle of epic proportions is going on right now on the Internet.
Get this. Stars including Oprah Winfrey, John Mayer and Ashton Kutcher are battling it out to get more fans to follow them. And they`re going one on one with their fans to set the record straight about rumors gone wild.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Howard Bragman, who is the founder of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations and author of the fabulous book "Where`s My 15 Minutes." And in New York, Suzanne Rozdeba, who is an entertainment journalist.
OK, Howard, Suzanne, this brand new version all started when Ashton Kutcher challenged CNN to a Twitter battle, betting that he could hit the 1 million mark before CNN. Well, Ashton did win the battle and he did not hold back his reaction. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": You staged a streaming video victory party when you passed the 1 million mark. Let`s look at a little of that celebration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KUTCHER: Yes! Yes!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`ve got to break it loose, baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: He could not contain his excitement. Howard, Ashton won the first battle here. Is he proving that maybe stars have the upper hand in this brand-new war that`s really putting all of the power directly into the stars` hands.
HOWARD BRAGMAN, FOUNDER, FIFTEEN MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: Brooke, I`m not convinced they have the upper hand, but they certainly have a new weapon. And the reason stars love Twitter - it`s immediate. It`s direct to their audience, and it`s unfiltered by any journalists saying, well, the truth is, or we really think this. That`s why stars love it.
When you`re an Ashton Kutcher or a superstar like that, from the moment you live your gated home, there are paparazzi chasing you. There are blogs writing about you, and it`s a little moment to seize some control. And just feeling a little better and like you have a little control is a great thing for somebody who probably didn`t have it six months ago.
ANDERSON: Yes. Controlling how that information about you is put out there. And you know, Ashton, not the only star using Twitter to connect with his fans. Even Oprah Winfrey has joined in on the craze. She`s tweeting on her show for the very first time. Suzanne, she joined on Friday. Should Ashton be worried here? I mean, how long do you think it will take for Oprah to surpass him and his 1 million followers?
SUZANNE ROZDEBA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Are you kidding me? He definitely should be worried. I mean, she is the queen of talk show TV. She`s going to get al of her viewers to get on Twitter. He definitely should be scared. I mean, she`s already got tons of followers after she joined. She is definitely going to be ruling this Twitter craze.
ANDERSON: Yes, she`s a force on reckoned with. And you know, it`s not just a battle between the stars. As, you know, Howard and I mentioned, it`s about all for stars to take back, regain control of their image. And Ashton says that that is the main reason he joined Twitter. Watch what he told Oprah.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KUTCHER: My life is somewhat on display anyway, and not always by choice. Sometimes I walk out of my house and there are video cameras there or photographers there. So instead of them publishing pictures and videos I don`t like, I can publish pictures and videos of myself that have already been pre-approved and that I`m happy with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Howard, he says that he wants to take back control of his image, but could it backfire on him? Maybe magnifying the spotlight on his personal life and possibly making it tougher for him to have a private life.
BRAGMAN: Well, there`s always - already a lot of attention on his personal life, Brooke. But the thing that - if he does something bad or misbehaves and there`s a rumor out there, in the old days, we could get together with our clients and say, "We`re just not going to address it."
If you`re Twittering multiple times a day and you don`t address it, you look like a chicken and you`re going to take grief for not addressing it. That`s one moment it can hurt.
The other thing that can hurt is if you`re boring on Twitter. I get so many requests from people. I don`t care what they have to Twitter about, because most of it is just garbage out there. Say something interesting if you`re going to Twitter, celebrity or civilian.
ANDERSON: Yes. You and I were talking about that before the show. Say something meaningful if you`re going to do it.
BRAGMAN: Exactly.
And Ashton is not alone in his battle to change the way that people see him. John Mayer tells CNN that he likes using Twitter because fans are getting the message straight from the source. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN MAYER, MUSICIAN: I get to have a thought that stems from my brain. And even if you do want to chew it up or whatever, at least it`s an actual thought I that had instead of opening up a magazine and going, I did what?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK, but, fans also do open up those magazines and buy more records or watch their show. Suzanne, is there a danger in cutting out the magazines that keep some of these stars relevant?
ROZDEBA: Absolutely not. I think that they kind of go in a circle together. I mean, people love reading John Mayer`s Twitters, even if it`s the most boring thing in the world. They want to connect with him.
And I think that that will encourage people to buy more magazines and find out what these celebrities are doing. Whether it`s him recording at his house or working on a new relationship, people love it.
ANDERSON: So maybe increase their popularity. OK.
ROZDEBA: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: Howard Bragman, Suzanne Rozdeba, good talking Twitter with you. Thanks.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, I`m very happy about this. Octomom finally setting the record straight. Was she ever a stripper? Yes, in a brand-new video, octomom Nadya Suleman tells RadarOnline.com that about 15 years ago, she did show a little skin, but it was not stripping. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADYA SULEMAN, OCTUPLET MOTHER: I just wanted to prove to myself that I could get out of that shell, my shy shell. And I did and I did a contest. This a little laundry contest at a dumb nightclub and I won. So it`s actually slander to magazines saying I didn`t win. I actually won.
No, I`ve never ever in my life worked as a stripper. I never would. I certainly don`t put any women down who would choose to do that. It`s a choice, but not my choice. That`s it.
HAMMER: OK. Good thing. She`s cleared that up. Everybody`s excited. Hopefully, there won`t be any stripping in the octomom`s reality show. We did hear she`s this close to getting one. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been going gangbusters over this. One call came in to "Showbiz on Call" from Ernatow in Illinois.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I believe she needs the show, because in reality, the lady has quite a few children and who`s going to give her the money? She`s being watched. It`s going to help her. The reality is, the children are here. We can`t wish them away. So unless you got the money to raise them, shut up and let her do her thing.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks, Ernatow. Call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about this or anything else. The phone lines open all the time, 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-727-2899. Leave a voicemail. We`re playing your calls on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and posting them online at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
ANDERSON: Coming up, you have got to see Kathy Griffin`s slamming new bikini body. Yes, I said Kathy Griffin. The D-list star has a brand new A-list body. But I`ve got to ask, why did she show so much skin at an awards show? Stick around and I will show you the video. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Will Smith strikes a deal with the Sci-Fi Channel for new crime drama. Tennis champ Andy Roddick marries "Sports Illustrated" model Brooklyn Decker.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATHY GRIFFIN, ACTRESS: Tonight, I brought my banging bikini body for you guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Kathy Griffin`s bikini stunner. Now, Kathy may be moving up from the D-list after showing off her new slamming bikini body. But why did she show up to an awards show in a bikini in the first place?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Tonight, Kathy Griffin`s slamming new bikini body. Griffin showed some major skin while being honored in the 2009 GLAAD Media Awards held by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Griffin was honored with a Vanguard Award and even in a skimpy outfit, Griffin never skimped on words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: Hello, gays! Hello, gays! How are you? Yes! That`s right. Tonight, I brought my banging bikini body for you gays. Yes. I have no shame - anything for a laugh. Cellulite be damned. (EXPLETIVE DELETED) I`m here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: She looks fantastic. And hey, GLAAD also honored Ellen DeGeneres with an award for an episode on her talk show when she talked about her wedding to Portia De Rossi.
In her acceptance speech, Portia joined Ellen on stage and Ellen talked about sharing their love with the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": I feel very, very fortunate that I - that I have this kind of love and I got to share this with people who may not completely understand this, that it`s still a struggle for people to understand that love comes in lots of different forms. And it`s not necessarily their form.
But I am so happy that I share everything on this show, so it`s not a big deal that I shared my wedding. I don`t know if you saw the show I did it about my colonoscopy. That should have gotten me an award.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Other 2009 GLAAD honorees included ABC`s "Desperate Housewives," Showtime`s "The L Word" and the movie, "Milk."
HAMMER: Well, on Friday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day with this - Hulk Hogan`s Troubles: Do you have sympathy for him? Only 27 percent of you said yes; 73 percent no.
Some of the E-mails we got include one from Kevin in Nebraska. Kevin writes, "It is very obvious that he still love his wife. Love has a way of messing up even the best of people."
But Jan thinks, "I have no sympathy for that family. The word of the day for the Hogans is `karma.`"
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember, 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 right here on HLN. Take care.
END
