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Showbiz Tonight
Hasselhoff Drinking Drama; Reaction to Kirstie Alley`s Apology on "Oprah"; Madonna`s Brand-New Adoption War; Michael Vick: An Animal Rights Spokesman?
Aired May 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, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, is David Hasselhoff drinking again? What the Hoff rushed to the hospital after drinking too much? Did he really almost die? And did his youngest daughter come to the rescue?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARVEY LEVIN, TMZ: We`re told that these reports are greatly exaggerated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the late-breaking developments in the startling Hasselhoff drinking drama. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, should the Hoff be taken off "America`s Got Talent"?
Madonna`s brand-new adoption war. Tonight, a man claims to be the father of the little girl Madonna wants to adopt, and he wants Madonna to back off on the same a court takes on Madonna`s adoption appeal. What did the court decide? And could the alleged daddy hurt Madonna`s chances?
Plus, Michael Vick, an animal rights spokesman? Tonight, is the former football star and convicted dog-fighting felon really teaming up with the animal rights group, PETA? The SHOWBIZ Truth Squad is on the case.
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.
And tonight, the great mystery behind the Hoff`s drinking drama. Tonight, there are absolutely wild and conflicting reports about just what really happened to David Hasselhoff and how far he may have fallen off the wagon.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has been all over the story from the very second it broke. Did the supposedly rehabbed Hasselhoff really get so drunk that he could have died? Did his young daughter come to the rescue in just the nick of time? Was there a mad, life-saving dash to the hospital? And does all of this have a very disturbing connection to Hasselhoff`s divorce.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT pulling out all the stops and bringing you the answers that are making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tell me you`re going to stop.
DAVID HASSELHOFF, ACTOR AND "AMERICA`S GOT TALENT" JUDGE: I`m going to stop.
HAMMER: A dramatic and unforgettable look at David Hasselhoff`s struggle with alcohol. In 2007, "Extra" aired this shocking footage of a drunk Hasselhoff being questioned about his drinking by one of his teenage daughters.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why do you like doing this to yourself?
HASSELHOFF: Because I`m lonely and I have trouble with my life.
HAMMER: Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Hasselhoff is making news with another alcohol-related incident, one so serious it apparently landed him in the hospital. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is tackling all the big questions. Was Hasselhoff`s reported lost weekend as serious as some are making it out to be?
LEVIN: We are told that these reports are greatly exaggerated.
HAMMER: Will it affect his job on "America`s Got Talent"? And will it reignite one of the most bitter divorce battles Hollywood has ever seen? Radar Online quotes an unnamed source who says on Saturday night, Hasselhoff`s 16-year-old daughter Hayley found him unconscious in his home suffering from alcohol poisoning and with a blood alcohol content of .39.
Radar`s source says Hayley called her mother, Hasselhoff`s ex-wife, Pamela Bach, who came over and drove him to the Los Angeles Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
LEVIN: He got drunk on Saturday.
HAMMER: TMZ`s Harvey Levin tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Hasselhoff`s people are telling a far less dramatic story.
LEVIN: At that point, he decided he would go to the hospital, got in the car on his own power and was driven to the hospital where he got out the next morning. It seems odd that you would be able to walk to your car if you were more than four times the legal limit.
HAMMER: Hasselhoff has admitted to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT in the past that he`s a recovering alcoholic and that, quote, "part of recovery is relapse." But was this weekend`s incident a minor relapse or full-on alcohol poisoning as is being reported? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Hasselhoff`s people are blaming his ex-wife, Pamela Bach, for the alcohol poisoning reports.
LEVIN: We`re told that the story she is sending out is grossly exaggerated, the way they`re putting it.
HAMMER: Hasselhoff and Bach were married for 16 years, and they had two daughters before they divorced. This, as divorces go, was a really bad one. And, apparently, still is.
HAMMER: In fact, Hasselhoff initially accused his ex of leaking that famous drunk tape. She denied that.
HASSELHOFF: The judge said today, enough.
HAMMER: Hasselhoff won sole custody of his girls just months after that tape came out. Now, with these new Hasselhoff headlines, his people suggest that Hoff`s ex is lashing out against him.
LEVIN: Hasselhoff`s lawyer is saying that he`s going to go after Pamela Bach in court trying to get some kind of sanction against her for talking about this when she shouldn`t be talking at all.
HAMMER: In a statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Hasselhoff`s attorney says Hasselhoff is fine and was never unconscious on Saturday night. The attorney adds, quote "It`s pretty obvious as has been the case in the past that his ex-wife is putting out false information about him. She is not supposed to be talking to the press about her ex-husband and she continues to do so."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The iconic David Hasselhoff.
HAMMER: Hasselhoff is a judge on "America`s Got Talent."
HASSELHOFF: Even the stuff that`s printed or the stuff that`s negative that is not really true, you know, it teaches me a lesson.
HAMMER: Just days before this latest incident, while promoting the new season of "America`s Got Talent," Hasselhoff told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he`s learned something from all the false headlines.
HASSELHOFF: It teaches me, you know, that it`s not a perfect world, you know? But you can try to make yourself as perfect as you can.
HAMMER: But with no one denying that Hasselhoff experienced at least some kind of alcohol-related issue this weekend, it`s clear that, for Hasselhoff, things are still far from perfect.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Well, representatives for Hasselhoff`s ex, Pamela Bach, did not respond to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s request for comment before show time.
Now, coming up a little later, we`re asking this controversial question - should the Hoff`s reported alcohol problems get him booted from "America`s Got Talent"? Stick around - you definitely don`t want to miss that.
Tonight, there are shocking new developments in the Madonna adoption war. Madonna takes her adoption battle for 3-year-old Mercy James to the highest court in Malawi while a man claiming to be Mercy`s father tries to stop the proceedings altogether.
New right now, a must-see brand-new interview with the man claiming to be the father of 3-year-old Mercy James, why he says Madonna needs to get away with from his daughter. Plus, Madonna dukes it out with the Malawian government and its supreme court. We`ve got the very latest from inside the courtroom.
And joining me tonight from inside New York is Lisa Bloom, an anchor from "In Session" and a CNN legal analyst. In Hollywood tonight, June Sarpong, a British TV personality and founder of PoliticsAndTheCity.com.
So I`m hearing the news roll out and I`m thinking this is almost as if Madonna`s worst nightmare has come true. I want to begin with the Malawi supreme court which adjourned today with absolutely no ruling. And worse, they didn`t even set a court date to announce any kind of a decision. Lisa Bloom, starting off with you, does this mean Madonna really should brace herself for some bad news here?
LISA BLOOM, CNN ANCHOR, "IN SESSION": Not necessarily. Supreme courts don`t usually decide cases right on the spot. They usually take it under advisement, which means they take some time to ponder it, to kick it around with the other justices before they reach the decision. So merely a delay alone does not necessarily translate into bad news for her.
HAMMER: All right. Well, it`s not just because now, we have this brand-new paternity dispute. A brand-new, never-before-seen interview with a 24- year-old man who claims to be the father of Mercy James, the young girl Madonna wants to adopt.
And this guy tells the CBS "Early Show" that even though that he has never actually seen Mercy James in person, he is the father and he doesn`t want her to be adopted by Madonna. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRIYA DAVID, CBS NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Have you ever held Mercy? Have you ever seen her?
JAMES KAMBEWA, ALLEGED FATHER OF MERCY JAMES: In newspapers and TV.
DAVID: But not in real life?
KAMBEWA: Not face to face. I do not want my baby to be adopted. Because I want to take care of her and I am capable to take care of my baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: June, I don`t know about you. I watched this. It`s kind of tough to know what to believe. When you see the interview with this guy, do you think this is really the heartbroken father of Mercy James? Or perhaps, a guy who`s looking to cash in on the world`s biggest pop star, or maybe even both?
JUNE SARPONG, BRITISH TV PERSONALITY: I think I`m going to go with the latter. I mean, goodness. I could be Mercy`s father.
HAMMER: I don`t know about that.
SARPONG: You know, it doesn`t make any - now, I mean, I`m sorry. Where are they getting these people from? If there isn`t actually a paternity test to prove that he is Mercy`s father, I don`t think anyone should be interviewing him. Anyone could come out and say they`re her father.
BLOOM: And A.J., you know, what is the definition of a father?
SARPONG: Yes.
BLOOM: To me, it`s somebody that sticks around and actually raises a child.
SARPONG: Exactly.
BLOOM: I mean, except that he`s a sperm donor who hasn`t the child for three years, hasn`t visited her, has only seen her in the newspaper. He`s not a father. I don`t care if he`s biologically related to her.
SARPONG: At all. At all.
HAMMER: Yes. And that`s exactly the point that we`re hearing from.
SARPONG: And it`s funny he`s only coming out now. Why wasn`t he around three years ago?
HAMMER: Well, exactly, although he claims that he was told before all this publicity came around about Mercy James - he was told she had died during childbirth. But Lisa, you make a terrific point about what qualifies him as a father and that`s the point that we`re hearing from Madonna`s camp.
Just this afternoon, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT heard from Madonna`s spokesperson and this is what she tells us, "I do not know for a fact that he is the biological father of Mercy. What I do know is that she was not visited for the three years she was in the orphanage by anyone claiming to be a parent. And I know that he wasn`t at court or represented regarding the appeal for the adoption."
Now, the alleged father, as I mentioned, told that Mercy died in childbirth, only read that she was alive in the newspaper when Madonna tried to adopt her. So Lisa, is it possible that, in any way, this guy`s claims could ruin or at least, delay Madonna`s chances of adopting Mercy James regardless of how we feel about it?
BLOOM: Yes. Sure, it could delay the claims because the court will have to consider it. There will have to be a paternity test. But by the way, now that he does know that this little girl exists, what`s stopping him right now, in stead of doing an interview, or right before after the interview, from going over there and taking his little girl and taking care of her, or at the very least, visiting her and providing for her?
HAMMER: Yes.
BLOOM: I mean, this is such a sham to me. It`s insulting to Madonna who`s trying to do something positive and help an extremely poor child have a better life.
HAMMER: Yes. And unfortunately, that may delay things. The grandmother now thinks she was bullied into putting Mercy up for adoption. So with all of these people coming out - Madonna is trying to do just a magnanimous thing here and it could be putting the breaks on it all.
Lisa Bloom, June Sarpong, thank you both for being here tonight. I appreciate it.
Now, we want to hear from you. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day in light of all these developments - "Madonna`s Malawi Adoption Battle: Should she give it up?" What do you think? CNN.com/ShowbizTonight is where you go to vote. You can also E-mail us if you have more to say, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, tonight, I can tell you that Oprah Winfrey could be making a big difference in two very big stories right now.
The parents of Madeleine McCann, a little girl who went missing a couple of years ago, go on Oprah`s show and they just poured their hearts out. Will their big TV appearance actually change anyone`s suspicions about them?
Also, we`ve been flooded with e-mails and calls to "Showbiz on Call" all about Kirstie Alley going on Oprah and revealing she put back on all her weight that she lost. Does Kirstie have anything to apologize for? That is coming up.
Is convicted dog-fighting felon Michael Vick really teaming up with the animal rights group, PETA? Huh? Could it be? The SHOWBIZ Truth Squad on the case.
And watch out, Susan Boyle. Tonight, you`ve got brand-new competition.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
We`re going to play this tape for you. You`ve got to see it, a pizza delivery guy who also does "Les Mis." This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Jenny McCarthy inks deal with Oprah Winfrey`s company for her own talk show. Father of Jamie Lynn Spears` baby released from hospital after car crash.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, director Ron Howard is speaking out about taking on the Vatican over his brand-new movie. Howard`s controversial follow-up to "The Da Vinci Code" called "Angels and Demons" which stars Tom Hanks, is coming out next week.
And tonight, he says that the Vatican actually got in his way of shooting it. Howard says he didn`t ask the Vatican for permission to shoot in Rome this time around because of the Catholic outrage over his last movie.
But Howard alleges the Vatican used its influence to block "Angels and Demons`" film permits. Listen to what Howard revealed to CNN`s screening room producer Neil Curry about how he got around that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON HOWARD, PRODUCER, "ANGELS AND DEMONS": It`s pretty easy to look like a tourist here in Rome. We used every device known to cinema, from the latest cutting-edge technology to certain filmmaker illusions that go back a hundred years, literally, to the birth of the medium, to you know, sort of a low-budget street photography where you just pull up in a car or getting out of the van, clearing a little space and shooting a shot. And you know, it - I hope that it does the thing that these kinds of adventures should do which is really transport an audience.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, the Vatican says all this talk about block permits is a publicity stunt by Ron Howard. I`ve got to tell you Ron Howard is not the publicity-stunt kind of guy. And in addition to talking about this Vatican controversy, Ron Howard and the star of "Angels and Demons," Tom Hanks, are also opening up about the H1N1 flu, that, of course, the flu formerly known as the swine flu. Here`s what Tom and Ron are doing and thinking.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOWARD: I`m just trying to stay healthy and take my vitamins and pay attention, and if I start to feel anything, get to a doctor right away. And look, as far as it relates to the film and impact, you know, on our industry, you know, it`s possible.
TOM HANKS, ACTOR: I think common sense will prevail. People who feel as though they have a fever or sore throat - well, they`ll stay at home and they will make themselves better. And everybody has stockpiled and ready to go at it.
But when we were making the "Da Vinci Code," the first film, everybody was afraid of the avian flu that was going to come and make everybody sick. As Mayor Bloomberg of New York City and (INAUDIBLE) people everywhere, you know, the president of the United States has said, just take it easy. There`s no reason for panic. If you`re feeling sick, stay home. Take a few precautions like washing your hands, and everything will be fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Our leader, Tom Hanks. Keep on washing those hands. Thanks, Tom.
I`ve got to tell you, our "Showbiz on Call" operators are really being careful. They`ve wiped down the entire switchboard there with those antiseptic wipes and they`ve been doing that all day long because we`re just getting tons and tons of calls coming in about TLC`s "Jon and Kate Plus Eight." Is Jon cheating on his wife Kate? Is Kate too hard on him? Are their eight kids just getting to be way too much?
Well, we`ve got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Patricia in Ohio. Patricia thinks Kate should back off.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: Good luck to Kate finding another man if her marriage does break up. The show has portrayed her as a wife who emasculated and disrespected her husband by ordering him around and treating him like a child. I don`t know any man who would willingly want to hook up with a tyrant like Kate. And if all that isn`t enough to scare off a man, she`s got eight kids! Good luck, Kate.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Patricia. Thanks for your call. We also heard from Rhonda calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Canada who feels sorry for Kate.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I really feel for Kate right now. Even though she can come across as being very bossy towards Jon, we don`t know if that`s a lot of editing or how Jon really acts when the cameras aren`t around. But he sure showed us what he does when he thought the cameras weren`t around when Kate was away working out of town.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Rhonda. Thank you for your call. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call." Let us know what you think about this or anything else. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open all the time. Here`s the number - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
Well, these new reports about David Hasselhoff being drunk and rushed to the hospital are just so disturbing. Tonight, I`ve got to ask this controversial question - should the Hoff leave his judging job on "America`s Got Talent?" I`ve got the fired-up debate, coming up.
And also, tonight, Oprah making a big difference in two big brand-new stories. The McCann`s whose daughter been missing for two years go on "Oprah." But will that move get people to stop being so suspicious of them?
Also, we`ve been flooded with your calls, E-mails about Kirstie Alley going on Oprah and saying she`s sorry she put on all that weight.
Also this, caught on tape.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Denise Richards there singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." I`m thinking, take me out to get some ear plugs. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Paula Abdul to release first new studio album in over 10 years this fall. Hugh Jackman`s "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" tops box office with $87 million in sales.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID COOK, "AMERICAN IDOL" WINNER: I actually lost my brother yesterday to a brain tumor. And I couldn`t imagine - I couldn`t imagine being anywhere else right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A very emotional David Cook revealing that his brother just died of brain cancer.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer with some more stories that are making news right now. As you saw, "American Idol" winner David Cook at the "Race for Hope" in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, just shocking the crowd with that news that his 37-year-old brother, Adam, died after a 10-year battle with cancer.
Amazingly, Cook still showed up to be the grand marshal and run in the 5K race, which raises money to support finding a cure for brain cancer. Cook says he`s going to keep on doing whatever it takes to wipe out the disease.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOK: Well, actually, I lost my brother yesterday to a brain tumor. And I think it`s a terrible, terrible thing. It`s a terrible disease and it needs to be eradicated. So anything that I can do, whether it`s speak or run or crawl or swim or whatever it is, to help get rid of it, I`m on board with it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And I`m saying, good for him. Cook`s brother did get to see him compete on "Idol" live last year. "Idol" judges Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell both tell "People" magazine that they were extremely saddened to hear the news.
Well, also tonight, Jessica Simpson is revealing brand-new secrets about dating Dallas Cowboys` quarterback Tony Romo and if her reality show, "Newlyweds," helped to break up her marriage to Nick Lachey.
In a new interview with "Vanity Fair" magazine, Jessica said, quote, "I have not spoken to Nick in years. As for the show, in all honesty, I believe it did not affect our marriage. It made me understand what marriage is, what love is, what commitment is."
And what about dating Tony Romo and all that criticism that she`s taken for it? In fact, some fans call her Yoko Romo. You know, just like how some fans still think that Yoko Ono broke up the Beatles, some Cowboys` fans think that Jessica messes up Tony`s playing.
About the criticism, here`s what Jessica says, quote, "We don`t let it affect our relationship. If we did, we wouldn`t be together, because it happened at the very beginning." You can read more in the June issue of "Vanity Fair." It`s on newsstands everywhere, May 12th.
Now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here is what is coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
David Hasselhoff allegedly rushed to the hospital after drinking too much. Should the Hoff leave "America`s Got Talent?"
Oprah making a big difference. Right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, your overwhelming response and your calls to "Showbiz on Call" about Kirstie Alley going on Oprah.
And is convicted dog-fighting felon, Michael Vick, really teaming up with animal rights group, PETA? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Woodstock veterans return for 40th anniversary concert this summer. Yusuf Islam, a.k.a. Cat Stevens, accuses Coldplay of plagiarism.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, David Hasselhoff`s shocking new drinking drama. Did a boozy night land him in the hospital? Is the Hoff`s life in danger? And could his gig on one of TV`s hottest shows be in jeopardy?
The brand-new Michael Vick dog shocker. Is the notorious football star known for horrific dog fighting ring really working with the animal rights group PETA? The SHOWBIZ Truth Squad is on the case.
Plus, move over, Susan Boyle.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Meet the newest international Internet sensation. Get out your tissues. We`ve got the new video that is wowing everyone.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative news entertainment show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And tonight, what you`re about to see is just remarkable. Yes, move over, Susan Boyle. A pizza delivery man may have outdone you. Boyle, of course, is the 47-year-old spinster who became a worldwide phenomenon after her performance on "Britain`s Got Talent."
Well, tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you a guy named Jamie Pugh may have outdone her with a truly emotional, just tear-jerking performance of the song "Bring Him Home" from the musical "Les Miserables." And get this, he said he has never sung in front of an audience before because he has massive stage fright. You have got to watch how this played out on "Britain`s Got Talent."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMIE PUGH, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT" CONTESTANT: I suffered severe stage fright. The thought just crippled me already. And I`ve come today to see if I can get through three minutes.
SIMON COWELL, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT" JUDGE: So your name is?
PUGH: Jamie.
COWELL: Jamie?
PUGH: Pugh.
COWELL: Jamie Pugh. And what do you do for a living?
PUGH: Drive a van by day and deliver pizza by night.
COWELL: OK. And why are you here, Jamie?
PUGH: To see if I can sing in front of this lovely audience.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
COWELL: And you`re terrified, aren`t you?
PUGH: Yes.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
COWELL: People like you are the reason why we come to Wales every year because we like to find special, special talent. You know what? We might have just found one.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. Didn`t see that coming. Joining me tonight in New York, "In Session" anchor and CNN legal analyst Lisa Bloom. From Hollywood tonight, June Sarpong who is the founder of PoliticsInTheCity.com.
Now, keep in mind, this guy, Jamie Pugh, claims that he suffers from massive stage fright. Lisa, to you first. Are you also just blown away? And I almost hate to ask this - is Susan Boyle, perhaps, toast here?
BLOOM: I don`t know about that. They`ve got a real stiff competition. And apparently, everyone in Britain can sing. We`re all put to shame over here. But you know what I`ve learned? You know what I`ve learned? You know what we don`t do on "American Idol" that they do on "Britain`s Got Talent?" They let people over the age of 30 sing. Amazing. They actually have talent, and they can sing.
HAMMER: Yes. And they don`t have to look like some cookie-cutter pop star.
BLOOM: Yes. Imagine.
HAMMER: It`s kind of refreshing, isn`t it?
BLOOM: Yes, exactly.
HAMMER: And we saw how humble he was and really terrified to be up there. This guy is a pizza delivery man. June, he really did deliver, didn`t he?
SARPONG: Well, I think he sort of delivered. I mean, Lisa, can I just tell you not everyone in Britain can sing because I can`t. That`s for sure. And I think he sort of delivered. He`s no Susan Boyle, I`m sorry, A.J. I think Jamie is good and I love the story and I`m really happy for him. But I don`t think it`s quite the same thing.
I think Susan Boyle - what really grabbed people was not just Susan`s talent but the way that she made us all question the way we are to so quick to judge people based on appearance.
HAMMER: Yes.
SARPONG: You know, Jamie was good, but I`ve seen better.
HAMMER: The force and power of her story.
SARPONG: Yes.
HAMMER: . definitely is something that has carried her a long way.
SARPONG: He`s OK.
HAMMER: And June, thanks for letting us in. We will not ask you to sing. I`ve got to move now to another brand-new development tonight in Kirstie Alley`s weight confessions on Oprah.
After she appeared on Oprah to apologize for gaining back 70 plus pounds that she lost while she was a spokesperson for Jenny Craig, we here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asked in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day on air and online, this - "Kirstie Alley`s Weight Gain: Does she have anything to apologize for?"
And take a look at how this went and I`m glad it did. A whopping 92 percent said no; only eight percent said yes. And I`ve got to tell you, we got so many votes, Lisa, a huge land slide here. You think Kirstie needs to relax a little bit, you know, maybe have a piece of chocolate cake if she wants to.
BLOOM: Maybe not the chocolate cake. Maybe she could apologize for that ridiculous hair she`s sporting right now. But no, she doesn`t have to apologize for the weight gain. I think maybe she means to Jenny Craig because she was their spokesperson. And now that she`s gotten very heavy again, it doesn`t look good to them. She certainly is entitled to be whatever weight she wants to be. She`s entitled to have her own problems. She`s a human being and I think we all accept that.
HAMMER: Yes. And when Kirstie appeared on "Oprah," Oprah I think did something in what she said to really capture what we`ve been hearing from a lot of our viewers about Kirstie`s weight confession. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIRSTIE ALLEY, ACTRESS: I really am sorry for the people that I let down. I really want to inspire again.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": No, wait a minute. I don`t think you let people down, because I think the people inspired by you - they`re doing really well. They`re skinny.
ALLEY: I know.
WINFREY: They`re skinny. Now, they want to help you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, I`m hoping that Kirstie watched that show back. I`m hoping she`s seeing shows like ours. And June, do you think maybe in the aftermath of all this, she`s finally going to get the message she has nothing to be sorry about?
SARPONG: Yes. She`s got absolutely nothing to be sorry about. And I do think, you know, people have to understand just how much pressure there is in society to be thin. I think that`s one of the things we really got wrong in the west. You know, my family are from Africa.
In Africa, the bigger you are, the better it is. You know, you`re sexy if you`re curvy. You`ve got food. So I think, you know, it`s kind of like, I think Kirstie should let go. Be who she is. Be comfortable with her new figure and only - and people will accept her for that. Forget about it.
HAMMER: It`s been hard to understand exactly where the apology is coming from. And that brings me back a point Lisa was just making a moment ago, something that I think was really driven home by the ladies of "The View" this morning who also had something to say about Kirstie`s apology.
Co-host Sherri Shepherd - she chimed in and she says she thinks, like Lisa just said, a big part of the reason Kirstie feels badly about gaining weight is because she was paid to lose it. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": When you go public about struggles like that, and you do something like Jenny Craig, people get on board with you. I think it`s a lot of pressure on a person because you`ve got that check. It`s so much pressure on the person to keep the weight off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. So Lisa, do you think that`s a big part of why Kirstie thought she had to apologize in the first place? She feels guilty about, you know, talking the money and then gaining the weight back?
BLOOM: Yes. But she`s already got the money presumably so she doesn`t have to worry. She`s probably not going to get another Jenny Craig contract. And I understand that she says she`s going to start her own weight-loss system.
HAMMER: Yes.
BLOOM: And every system doesn`t work for everybody. I mean, more power to her. Maybe she`ll come up with another system. I hear, by the way, she replaced her exercise room with a dining room. You know, that probably was not a good idea, and started eating a lot again and throwing a lot of dinner parties, having her world center around food again.
HAMMER: Yes.
BLOOM: So, that`s probably where she went wrong.
HAMMER: But to her credit, we saw her on Oprah bringing that equipment back into the house.
BLOOM: Good.
HAMMER: So, hopefully, she`s on the right track now.
BLOOM: Good. Now, she`s got to get on it. Not just get bring it in.
SARPONG: She wants Michelle Obama`s arms.
HAMMER: But I`ve got to tell you she said that, too. And the phone lines here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT have just been ringing. Our "Showbiz on Call" operators have been working overtime on this. We heard from Ann in Canada. Now, Ann says she wants Kirstie to stop putting herself out there. Listen to Ann.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I don`t think she needs to apologize, but I think she should stop putting herself out there about her weight. If she`s not happy about it, fix it. If she`s happy about it, stop talking about it.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Thanks, Ann. What do you think about that, June? Do you think Kirstie talking about this does more harm than good and maybe she should just stop talking about it?
SARPONG: No. I think that`s part of her healing process. I think the reason Kirstie is talking about is I think that`s what makes Kirstie actually do the work to lose the weight. That`s how she did it the first time being so public about it.
And I think that`s why she`s doing it. And I think maybe she does feel she let people down and she just wants to sort of get that message across. But again, like we`ve all been saying today, she needs to just let go and be who she is.
HAMMER: Yes. I want to move on because Oprah is also making big news today on another huge story - the parents of 3-year-old Madeleine McCann who went missing two years ago. The parents appeared on Oprah speaking out about how their life has been since their daughter disappeared from an apartment in Portugal. And Oprah asked them if they`ve kept her bedroom in tact since the little girl`s disappearance. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE MCCANN, MADELEINE MCCANN`S MOTHER: It`s already waiting.
WINFREY: Do you go in the room often?
K. MCCANN: I do, yes. I go in about twice a day.
WINFREY: Do you talk to her?
K. MCCANN: I do, usually. I mean, I open and close the curtains morning and evening and just say hello, really. Tell her we`re still going and you know, we`re (INAUDIBLE) to find her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Kate and Jerry McCann were once under suspicion in their daughter`s disappearance. Lisa, let me ask you. You`ve been following this story nonstop. Do you think by going on "Oprah," they may convince more people they had nothing to do with little Madeleine`s disappearance?
BLOOM: Yes, I do. I`ve always thought that they were blameless in this. They never seem to me like they had anything to do with her disappearance. I mean, they were vilified by the world the press, especially by the British press.
Now, the police seem to understand that there had been an intruder, a third party. And the reason why they want to continue to get out there is to keep Madeleine`s picture out there. You go on "Oprah," you have millions of people around the world watching. Maybe somebody will see their little girl somewhere so they have to stay out in the press to keep her picture so public.
HAMMER: Let`s hope it does do them some good. Lisa Bloom, June Sarpong, thank you both.
All right. "Britain`s Got Talent" has really become a global phenomenon. But a judge on "America`s Got Talent" may actually be in the middle of a major life or death crisis. Tonight, David Hasselhoff allegedly rushed to the hospital after drinking too much. Did he really almost die? And is his judging gig in jeopardy? That`s next.
Michael Vick, certainly public enemy number one in the eyes of many animal lovers. He was sent to prison for setting up brutal dogfights. So is it really true that he`s teaming up with the animal rights group PETA? It`s the brand-new story and the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad getting right to the bottom of it.
And Britney`s on-stage car. You`ve got to see the moment with the fan that forced Britney to stop dead in her tracks in the middle of a concert. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Car crash on Nicolas Cage movie set in NYC injures two. Dennis Rodman in outpatient rehab; still set to be on "Celebrity Apprentice" finale.
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(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Ouch. Some things should be illegal. Did you hear this? It`s Denise Richards`s truly ear-splitting performance of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at a Chicago Cubs game this weekend. The star of "It`s Complicated" belted out the classic baseball song during the seventh inning stretch.
I`m thinking maybe she was just trying to get back at her ex-hubby and huge baseball fan, Charlie Sheen. A choir sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" after they exchanged wedding vows at their 2002 wedding. We know how that turned out.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And right now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s continuing coverage of David Hasselhoff`s drinking drama. Did he nearly kill himself in yet another drinking binge? Well, brand-new reports say Hoff fell off the wagon again and fell hard. But were the reports that he was near death just out of control?
And as Hasselhoff`s show "America`s Got Talent" is building steam for its summer premiere, should the Hoff be taken off the show?
Joining me tonight in New York, Amy Palmer, who is a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." Also tonight, from Hollywood, Carlos Diaz, a correspondent for "Extra."
Now, these initial reports, guys, were just sensational. They said the Hoff was found unconscious, barely breathing, possibly due to alcohol poisoning, that his daughter, reportedly called her mom, Hoff`s ex-wife Pamela Bach, and they both whisked him off to the hospital.
His attorneys are saying, wow, this story is just grossly inaccurate. But the reports say he was drinking again. Now, Carlos, given Hasselhoff`s past public struggles with alcohol, this really is disturbing either way, isn`t it?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Either way. And the one thing that no one is refuting is the fact that he was drinking that night. You know, his lawyers are saying that he wasn`t nearly as drunk as people are saying he was. You know, reports that his blood alcohol level was at .39, nearly five times the legal limit to drive in the state of California.
But here`s the thing. He was drunk and he has been to rehab. And right now, David Hasselhoff doesn`t need managers and lawyers and agents. He needs friends.
HAMMER: Well, we all remember a few years ago, we got to see just how bad David Hasselhoff`s drinking really got when his teenage daughter videotaped him on the floor drunk trying to eat a cheeseburger. The video was obtained by "Extra" back in 2007. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tell me you`re going to stop.
HASSELHOFF: I`m going to stop.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Promise?
HASSELHOFF: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
HASSELHOFF: This is a mess.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, fast forward to later that year, he relapsed and checked into the hospital. Fast forward again to this past weekend, another apparent relapse. Amy, are you troubled by all of this?
AMY PALMER, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": It`s so troubling. David Hasselhoff is a father to two young girls. What example is he setting by being drunk, having a drinking problem, and actually allowing them to see it and videotaping it?
I mean it really is so tragic overall. But the first concern in this situation is his daughters. I mean, he needs to be setting an example and he`s just not stepping up to the plate.
HAMMER: And of course, I have to remind people of that videotape - that`s a couple of years ago back in 2007. But you have to take a look at the statement we got from Hoff`s attorney. They issued this to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT this afternoon.
This really sets a different tone of what may have happened, "Mr. Hasselhoff is both disturbed and saddened by the fact that a certain individual is disseminating grossly inaccurate stories about him to the press for ulterior motives."
All right. Carlos, you know, it doesn`t take a genius to figure out that he seems to be referring to Hasselhoff`s ex-wife Pamela Bach. Because really, this is all against the backdrop of one nasty divorce and custody battle over their kids.
DIAZ: But he`s not helping the situation out by having his daughters continuously find him in this condition.
HAMMER: Yes.
DIAZ: It was his older daughter who found him two years ago. It was Hayley, who is now 16 years old, who found him allegedly this weekend. The reports are that she called Pamela Bach, her mom, his ex-wife, and she took him to the hospital.
So the lawyers can be as ticked-off as they want, but David Hasselhoff got himself into this predicament by drinking again. He needs to stop.
HAMMER: Yes. No question about that. And we did reach out, by the way, to Pamela Bach and have not heard back as of show time. The Hoff`s apparent relapse though couldn`t come at a worse time because his show, "America`s Got Talent" has gotten all these extra hype because of the British show "Britain`s Got Talent" getting all the attention due to Susan Boyle.
Amy, I`ve got to ask you. Should Hasselhoff volunteer to leave the show? They don`t need this kind of publicity.
PALMER: You know, I`ve got to say this. This is a great opportunity for David Hasselhoff to step up and say, "I have a problem. I need to get help." And what he is then saying to America is, "If you have an addiction, if you have a problem, step out of your life, take responsibility and get the help you need." This is a real opportunity for David Hasselhoff to be an example to the rest of America.
HAMMER: Yes. He has told us at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT before that part of recovery is relapse. Wow. Let`s hope for his sake and his kids` sake this is the last time. Amy Palmer, Carlos Diaz, thank you both.
All right, did you se this? A Britney Spears fan get way too close for comfort at her show in Connecticut. Britney was performing "Womanizer" when all of a sudden, a fan jumps out of the audience on to the stage, gets in her face and tries to dance with her. This is really unbelievable.
Now, Britney is stunned and totally shaken up when this guy, who police say has been drinking gets so close that screams, jumps back and stops dancing. Well, security quickly pulled the guy off stage and he was arrested. Now, Britney wasn`t hurt, and after getting her groove back, she continued with the show. Good for you, Brit.
Well, disgraced former football star Michael Vick is looking to make a huge comeback of his own. So is it possible? Is the man whose name is synonymous with dog abuse actually teaming up with the animal rights group, PETA? It is the shocking report that`s got the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad working overtime. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Appeals court to revisit fine from Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction." "Twilight" and "Slumdog Millionaire" lead MTV movie award nominees.
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HAMMER: Thank you, Charles. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
You know, tonight, the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad really in overdrive. We are getting to the bottom of a shocking new report about former football star Michael Vick working with PETA.
Vick is serving time for funding an illegal dog-fighting ring. The one-time Atlanta Falcons` quarterback who has been banned from football is reportedly bankrupt and he`s looking for ways to revamp his severely damaged image.
His plan, doing public service announcements for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. So, is the man who became the face of dog- fighting now really going to become the face of PETA?
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now tell you PETA says, no way. They even call him a psychopath who shouldn`t even play football.
Here`s what they`re telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "PETA had previously been in talks with Vick`s management, public relations, and legal teams about shooting a public service announcement to help combat dog-fighting upon Vick`s release from prison. After consulting with psychiatrists, PETA withdrew the offer. We call on NFL commissioner Goodell to require than Vick undergo a brain scan and full psychological evaluation before any decisions are made about the future of his football career."
Wow. Well, tonight, Eminem`s drug addiction confession. In a revealing new interview, the rap superstar says he was hooked on as many as 20 prescription drugs a day. And telling "Vibe" magazine, he was taking so many Vicodin, Ambien and Valium pills he would sometimes lose count.
Now, he went to rehab in 2005 but relapsed after a knee injury. It was the second trip to rehab that got him clean for good and got him back in the studio. "Rap was my drug. It used to get me high and then it stopped getting me high. Then I had to resort to other things to make me feel that. Now rap`s getting me high again." Eminem says he has been sober for a year. His new album is called "Relapse." It`s going to drop on May 19th.
Well, on Friday, we asked you to vote on our question of the day, it was this - "Kirstie Alley`s Weight Gain: Does she have anything to apologize for?" Really one-sided here. Eight percent of you said yes; 92 percent no.
A couple of E-mails we got including one from Darlene in New York writing, "Kirstie should not apologize to anyone. You just have to keep trying until you get it right and feel comfortable in your own skin and that doesn`t always mean being a size 2!"
And Janet from Kansas writing, "Kirstie Alley should feel bad about her weight gain, again. She misled people. I`m disappointed in Kirstie Alley."
Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - one at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and we`re on in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
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