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Showbiz Tonight
Elizabeth Edwards`s Brand-New Confessions; Miss California`s New Seminude Photo?; Donald Trump Speaks About Miss California; Kate Speaks Out About Jon`s Alleged Affair; Farrah Fawcett`s Last Fight
Aired May 07, 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, the over-the-top brand-new confessions to Oprah by Elizabeth Edwards that will blow you away. Tonight, why she won`t even call her cheating husband`s ex-lover by name. And the real reasons why Elizabeth just won`t leave him.
Plus, will Edwards` mistress force him to take a paternity test?
The Miss California seminude photo shocker. Tonight, another brand- new picture surfaces and now, Donald Trump is speaking to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, OWNER, MISS USA FRANCHISE: I hope that it works out well for her. So, I hope what I see won`t be bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And the startling new interview with the Miss USA judge who ripped Carrie Prejean for being against gay marriage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEREZ HILTON, MISS USA JUDGE: A lot of people caused a stink at the fact I called Miss California a dumb (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Well, you know what? I stand by that statement. She is a dumb (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Plus, Kate`s confessions. Tonight, Kate from "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" speaks out for the first time about Jon`s alleged affair. Does she believe her husband`s denial?
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.
Tonight, true confessions from Elizabeth Edwards to Oprah. Today, for the very first time, we got to see the entire brand-new bombshell interview with Oprah. Elizabeth Edwards speaking out for the very first time about her husband, former presidential candidate John Edwards` affair, and reports that he is the father of his former mistress` baby.
In this brand-new cheating tell all, Elizabeth Edwards really opens up even more about the affair that turned her life upside down. She reveals that finding out for the very first time about the affair left her self- confidence literally shattered into little pieces. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, WIFE OF JOHN EDWARDS: Now, everything I did I thought, you know, do I look awful at home? Is that it? You know, or am I too strident about this?
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Did you blame yourself?
E. EDWARDS: There was a lot of - you know, there was a lot of questioning about what it was - about me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It was just heartbreaking. And there is so much more of what she revealed today to Oprah.
Joining me tonight in New York, Lisa Bloom, a CNN legal analyst and an anchor with the legal network, "In Session." Also in New York, Carolina Bermudez, who`s a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly."
So, Oprah really gets Elizabeth to open up about what she was going through when, as we all remember, The "National Enquirer" reported that her husband, John Edwards, was carrying on an affair with a videographer named Rielle Hunter.
Well, in a bombshell, Elizabeth admits to Oprah that up until that point, John had been telling her it was a one-time thing. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
E. EDWARDS: It felt like a blow to me. That was like starting over from a worst position.
WINFREY: So, he told you before he was discovered by the tabloids?
E. EDWARDS: Right, right. There was still some more details to tell me after, because obviously I wouldn`t have suspected that he would drop by and see her again after we had that conversation. What it meant was that, you know, this trust that we had managed to build - it was just pushed just way back in the process, farther back actually than we had been when we started.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Lisa, I`m going to start with you. I just find it stunning that she`s being so painfully honest about this. She certainly could have left it, "He didn`t tell me everything at once" out of this whole conversation with Oprah.
LISA BLOOM, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes. This book and her media tour are really bringing a Jerry Springerish attitude to what used to be, according to many people, an idealistic campaign about helping the poor. That`s why people stood behind John Edwards.
Now, we have this back-and-forth between Elizabeth Edwards and Rielle Hunter. She won`t even name her. Elizabeth Edwards refers to the baby as "it." I mean, I don`t really see what is in this for Elizabeth Edwards.
I guess she just wants to tell the truth. God bless her. She has cancer - she has terminal cancer. Maybe she just wants to get her story out there. But I don`t think this is helping anyone.
HAMMER: Well, it`s interesting because a lot of people suggested maybe she`s doing this as something that is very cathartic for her, maybe to show her strength in the face of all this adversity.
Carolina, what we see Elizabeth describing here, truly every woman`s nightmare. And as Lisa just reminded us, this is all against the backdrop of the fact that she is dying of cancer.
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": You`re right, A.J. I mean, this is every woman`s nightmare. You`re coupling terminal illness with raising a family and also, not only dealing with infidelity within your marriage, but also having a baby come out of that.
Now, the thing about Elizabeth Edwards, whether it`s cathartic or it`s comfort - it doesn`t matter. It`s about her now. And I think that this woman has been put through so many things that it doesn`t really matter why she`s coming out and speaking about it.
I feel like she doesn`t owe anybody any excuses. And I think she`s handling herself with such grace and poise. And I really, really feel for her after this interview.
HAMMER: And I really do have to remind everybody, John Edwards, for his part, has denied that this baby - this former mistress`- is his.
But now, let`s get on to the answer to the question that really everybody has been asking since this whole thing has been playing out. Why in the world is Elizabeth Edwards still with John Edwards after everything she`s been through? Well, watch what she says about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
E. EDWARDS: This is the life I have put together. It takes a lot of work to put together a marriage, to put together a family and a home. And you spend a lot of time trying to do that. You can`t just say, "I think I like the way that looks," knock on the door and say, "You`re out, I`m in."
You know, you can`t do that. Somebody has worked hard at that. You have to have enough respect for other human beings to leave their lives alone. And if you admire that life, build it for yourself. Build it for yourself. Don`t just try to come in and take somebody else`s life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You see, I watch that, and I`m giving her a lot of credit for saying those things. Pretty tough talk there from Elizabeth. Lisa, don`t you see this as a clear message to Rielle that she`s not going down without a fight here?
BLOOM: Absolutely. And I think that was a very good answer, because I think most people watching these things unfold say, "Why don`t women leave their men when they cheat on them?"
She`s had a long marriage. John and Elizabeth have endured the death of a child. They`ve gone through political campaigns together. They had more children very late in life. And they`ve been through a lot. And I respect her decision to stay with him.
I still don`t understand what this book adds to the equation other than really some poignant details about herself and her personal life. I don`t think it makes her into more of a role model for anyone.
HAMMER: Well, as you mentioned, Lisa, Elizabeth Edwards will not say the name Rielle Hunter, the name of John`s former mistress. And during the interview, Oprah reveals that Elizabeth demanded only one thing in the course of this interview, that Oprah never mention Rielle, the other woman, by name, because she felt the story was about her family and not about her husband`s former mistress.
So, watch what she says about that mystery baby that Rielle delivered and, of course, the speculation that her husband John is the father. Roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
E. EDWARDS: That doesn`t make any difference to me. This is not my life.
WINFREY: Whether that child is or is not.
E. EDWARDS: Yes. You know, if we discover at some point that it was, which is not something we know - if we discover that it was, then, you know, that would be part of John`s life. But it`s not part of mine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Again, everything she`s saying here is blowing me away. She says the baby is not part of her life. But she`s sitting there, Carolina, amazingly cool, calm and collected about the whole thing instead of going nuts like you might expect somebody to do.
BERMUDEZ: Right. You know what, A.J.? The baby doesn`t have to be part of her life. Here`s what she needs to focus on. She needs to focus on getting better. She also needs to focus on her own children and explaining to them everything that`s unraveling on the world stage.
I mean, this is on every blog, every magazine. Everybody is finding out these personal details about their family. And you know, the thing about Elizabeth Edwards is that really, I have never seen another woman in the public handle a cheating scandal the way that she has. It really is commendable.
BLOOM: Can I just say this about not naming Rielle? Elizabeth says she doesn`t want to say her name because Rielle just wants the glare of the media spotlight. Elizabeth is saying this as she writes the book and goes on a media tour.
I mean, I find that to be a little bit odd. Rielle has been giving interviews. She`s been living her life relatively quietly. It`s this book and the media tour that`s raising the whole issue all over again.
HAMMER: But really, I think to Elizabeth Edwards`s credit, she`s saying, Lisa, that it`s about her family and this is the story of her family.
BLOOM: But there is a baby out there and that baby deserves to know who her father is.
BERMUDEZ: Oh, absolutely.
BLOOM: I mean, that`s a human being - that`s an innocent human being here, and John Edwards has not given DNA yet for a paternity test. Doesn`t that child have a right to know who her father is?
HAMMER: Well, let me ask you this because there are now reports that Rielle is demanding John take a DNA test. So Lisa, what I hear you saying is even though Elizabeth doesn`t seem to care at all, John should take the DNA test anyway just for the sake of the child?
BLOOM: Absolutely. That is a completely innocent child in this whole mess. And everybody can run and hide and say, "It`s not about you. It`s about me." How about this innocent baby who deserves to know from the beginning, from her newborn days, who her father is and a sense of bonding with that father, having her father hold her and be a part of her life? Everybody running and hiding and writing books is not helping that baby.
HAMMER: Well, we`re not hearing about the baby from John Edwards but we are hearing a little bit from him. And this was a real surprise move. Oprah also talked to John Edwards in this brand-new show that aired this afternoon. Watch what he said when Oprah asked if he thinks that he and Elizabeth have now gotten to a good place through all this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN EDWARDS, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It`s not over. I don`t think we`re doing too good with this.
WINFREY: It isn`t over.
J. EDWARDS: Yes.
WINFREY: So I have to ask you this - was there a point where you thought that she would leave you?
J. EDWARDS: I didn`t know. I think the honest truth is I didn`t know. I didn`t know what she would do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Keeping in mind again this new report that his former mistress may be asking for this DNA test, Carolina, do you think that - you know, certainly this child deserves to know if he`s the father. But do you think he could be very worried that everything could become undone with what they`re working on? Ten seconds for you.
BERMUDEZ: You know what? I don`t think anything is going to come undone. I think that Elizabeth Edwards has taken a stand. She`s not giving up her family. She`s not going to throw in the towel like many other people do. And I think that we just have to wait and see. And I think he definitely needs to give up that DNA.
HAMMER: I agree with you. If it was going to come undone, that would have happened a long time ago. Lisa Bloom, Carolina Bermudez, thank you both.
Tonight, Farrah`s final fight. For the very first time, Farrah Fawcett`s longtime partner, Ryan O`Neal, speaking out about her battle with cancer. You have got to hear his emotional and heartfelt words about what she`s going through in what could be Farrah`s final days.
Also, tonight, another brand-new seminude picture of Miss California turns up and Miss USA`s pageant co-owner Donald Trump is speaking to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Does he think she`s a victim of a smear campaign because of her opposition to gay marriage? Will he fire her or will he give her a second chance?
Also, the cat that plays piano to Bill O`Reilly`s rant?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This kind of keyboard meets this kind of keyboard to produce the latest Web sensation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: We`ll do it live. You`ll want to stick around to meet "Meowzart." This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Singing sensation Susan Boyle will appear on "Oprah" this Monday. Fox says pirated version of the new "X-Men" movie downloaded four million times.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, breaking news - SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned that Kiefer Sutherland has been charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly head- butting a fashion designer at a New York City night club on Monday night.
Kiefer turned himself in to police today. He is under probation for a DUI arrest. So this could be a big problem for him.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. OK. Did you see this? Tonight, it`s cats incredible. It`s a cat that plays the piano. Yes, the keyboard cat has become an Internet sensation and it`s not just because this feline can tickle the ivories. Oh, did I mention Bill O`Reilly`s famous out-of-control rant is involved with this thing? Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS(voice-over): This kind of keyboard meets this kind of keyboard -
(MUSIC PLAYING)
To produce the latest Web sensation, the keyboard cat has become a recurring theme.
BILL O`REILLY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: We`ll do it live!
MOOS: Tagged on to the end of some of the Web`s classic videos.
O`REILLY: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) sucks!
MOOS: Be it Bill O`Reilly`s rant or a break dancer kicks a kid, or the TV salesman whose ladder collapses.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, gosh! Harold, are you OK?
MOOS: The videos tend to be captioned, "Play Him Off, Keyboard Cat."
(on camera): How is the cat?
CHARLIE SCHMIDT, ARTIST AND INVENTOR: The cat actually, unfortunately, is dead.
MOOS (voice-over): Charlie Schmidt is an artist and inventor from Spokane, Washington. He videotaped his cat, Fatso, 20 years ago. Suddenly, people are taking his cat video and adding it to other videos.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes!
MOOS: Tagging videos with a keyboard cat somehow highlights their absurdity.
GLENN BECK, HOST, "THE GLENN BECK SHOW": You want to sit down?
MOOS: For instance, a guest fainting on the air.
BECK: We`ll be back in just a second.
MOOS: Charlie thinks the Keyboard Cat works especially well with news video.
SCHMIDT: That`s what the news is - it`s sort of a frame for weird behavior.
MOOS: Like a car chase - keyboard cat could replace news anchors.
SCHMIDT: We don`t need these guys necessarily. Don`t tell Wolf I said that, though.
MOOS: He added the cat to this one ourselves.
(on camera): In case you`re wondering how we get it, Charlie dressed his cat Fatso in an infant T-shirt and manipulated the cat`s paws with his own hands under the T-shirt.
Actually, there`s a cat that really does play the piano - sort of. But the Keyboard Cat isn`t really playing. Who says cats and dogs don`t get along? It`s easy to make CNN keyboard cat moments.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, nice melons behind you there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. You`re.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh!
MOOS: We asked Charlie for his favorite Keyboard Cat video.
CAITLIN UPTON, MISS SOUTH CAROLINA TEEN USA 2007: South Africa and Iraq - everywhere, like, such as.
MOOS: Sometimes a cat should get your tongue.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That`s so good. Well, I`m laughing. That was Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
All right, I`ve got to tell you, that piano-playing cat, it`s got nothing on our "Showbiz on Call" operators. I mean, look at them. They can take all the calls we`re getting about the Miss California`s semi-nude photo scandal and play heart and soul at the same time, I tell you.
We`ve got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Jason in Alabama. He thinks Miss Cali should go.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I do think that Carrie Prejean should resign. She lied on the contract and she said that she hasn`t posed nude. So a lie is a lie and the contract is binding. So they should snatch her crown.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Jason, thanks for your call. We also heard from Liz calling in to "Showbiz on Call" from Nevada. Liz says, some skin, so what? Who cares?
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: Give me a break about Miss California, please. She has as much clothing on as she had when she was up there parading around in the beauty contest with a bathing suit on. There`s no difference with what she posed in and what she had on stage. People are just out to get her.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Liz. We appreciate your call as well. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about this. Let us know what you think about anything.
The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines, open all the time - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. Numerically that is 1-888-728-2899. That`s where you can leave us a voicemail. We`d love to play your call on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and post it, too. Your "Showbiz on Call" phone calls are online right there at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well, tonight I can tell you there is another semi-nude photo of Miss California that has surfaced. And also tonight, pageant co-owner Donald Trump speaking out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about the controversy.
Will he fire her? And does he think that Carrie Prejean is a victim of a smear campaign because she`s speaking out against gay marriage?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: She believes a man is going to marry a woman and that`s the way it is. And I don`t think you`re going to change her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That is coming up. Also, Kate`s confessions. Tonight, Kate, from the "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" speaking out for the first time about John`s alleged affair. Does she really believe her husband when he says there is no other woman?
And Farrah`s final fight. For the first time, Farrah Fawcett`s long- time partner Ryan O`Neal speaks out about her battle with cancer. His emotional and heartfelt words about what she`s going through in what could be Farrah`s final days. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Chris Brown`s lawyer wants LAPD records regarding Rihanna photo leak. Study shows kids who watch adult TV shows and movies have sex earlier.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
And now, the SHOWBIZ Buzz List. Here are the top five things that have the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff just buzzing this week. The brand-new "Star Trek" movie. Our executive producer, Dave Levin, just super-excited about this one and the reviews say it is not just for Trekkies.
With all of the alleged affair drama, we cannot wait for the new season of TLC`s "Jon and Kate Plus Eight." It premieres on May 25th.
You know that cat that plays the piano that we just showed you? I mean, what else do we need to say? We are buzzing about it because it`s a cat that plays the piano.
The times, they aren`t changing that much. Bob Dylan still topping the charts. His amazing new album number one.
And bachelor number one, two and three may be back. CBS reportedly thinking of reviving "The Dating Game."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. No money but more problems for Michael Jackson. Tonight, I can tell you he is caught up in two big brand-new lawsuits.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Ah, takes me back. Tonight, I can tell you that Ola Ray, the woman who co-starred in Michael`s 1983 "Thriller" video is, well, less than thrilled with him. She`s suing Michael saying that she never got all her royalties from this video. No word on how much Ola wants.
But Michael`s former publicist, Raymone Bain knows what she`s suing for - $44 million. Bain, who worked for Jackson for five years, released this bizarre video to TMZ explaining why she`s suing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAYMONE BAIN, MICHAEL JACKSON`S FORMER PUBLICIST: Throughout this relationship, I did not look at him as just a client, but a family member. For this reason, many of you will not understand my decision.
Unfortunately, Mr. Jackson has elected not to honor the financial obligations of our relationship despite my numerous attempts to amicably resolve this matter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: No word from whomever is representing Michael now. So here`s what I`ve learned from all the money problems Michael Jackson is allegedly having. If you`re ever going to work with him, it may not be a bad idea to get your money up front and make sure it`s cash.
Also new right now, reports that Oprah Winfrey caused riots at KFC restaurants after giving out coupons for free grilled chicken on her Web site. You know, so many people went to redeem these coupons, some places ran out of chicken.
Well, tonight, I can tell you no riots but on today`s "Gayle King Show" on Sirius Satellite Radio, even Oprah was shocked by how big this has become.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
WINFREY: I heard from one of my folks that think that this is a bigger giveaway than even the cars.
GAYLE KING, HOST, "THE GAYLE KING SHOW": Yes.
WINFREY: You know, one of the things that has really been so moving for me and rewarding, because, you know, I thought it was just a nice gesture. I thought it was a nice thing. And what I realize is, is that people are hurting even more than I recognized.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: You get a leg and you get a leg. Oprah says more than 10 million coupons have been downloaded. KFC says for their part they will accept all of them. So, good for them.
Well, here is the SHOWBIZ lineup. This is what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Farrah`s final fight. For the first time, Farrah Fawcett`s long-time partner Ryan O`Neal speaks out about her battle with cancer.
Miss USA pageant co-owner Donald Trump is speaking out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about the Miss California semi-nude photo scandal. Will he fire her?
And Kate, from "Jon and Kate Plus Eight," opens up for the first time about John`s alleged affair. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Katie Holmes to return to the big screen in "Don`t Be Afraid of the Dark." "Dancing with the Stars" pro Derek Hough confirms he may be in the new "Footloose" movie.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Farrah`s final fight. Tonight, Farrah Fawcett`s longtime love, Ryan O`Neal, reveals heart-wrenching details about Farrah`s cancer battle. We`ve got his heartbreaking brand-new interview.
Kate sets the record straight. The "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" star goes on national TV, for the first time, talking about her husband`s alleged affair. Will her words finally put the rumors to rest?
And Trump sounds off. Miss USA pageant owner Donald Trump talks to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about Miss California`s gay marriage controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: She believes that a man is going to marry a woman and that`s the way it is. And I don`t think you`re going to change her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: But what does he think about the semi-nude photos? Will she get fired by the Donald?
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
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.
Tonight, it`s the beauty`s Trump card. Will the Donald dethrone Miss California over those racy topless photos? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes one on one with Donald Trump and he tells us he`s close to deciding whether he`s going to fire Miss California over those photos.
Plus, take a look at this second brand-new topless photo of Miss California that surfaced today on TheDirty.com. Wait, I thought she said there was only one photo? Or could the photo be electronically altered?
And brand-new outrage tonight from celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, the guy, of course, who got Miss California to say at the Miss USA pageant she is against gay marriage. Perez` latest fired-up remarks to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT are really taking this battle with Miss California to a whole new level.
Joining me tonight in New York, Lisa Bloom, who is an anchor for "In Session" and a CNN legal analyst. Also tonight in New York, Carolina Bermudez, senior editor for "In Touch Weekly."
So, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT finally spoke with Donald Trump, the owner of the Miss USA franchise. And he tells us he hasn`t seen the photos yet, but when he does, he will decide Miss California`s fate. And he`s going to keep an open mind about it. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I`ve met Miss California. I`ve met her family. She`s lovely, they`re lovely. And I really go into this with a very positive message. I hope that it works out well for her. So, I hope what I see won`t be bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. They`re going to be having a big press conference and revealing what`s going to happen at Trump Tower on Tuesday. Donald saying he`s making this big announcement next week.
Lisa Bloom, do you think there is a chance Donald Trump will look at Carrie Prejean and say, "You`re fired"?
BLOOM: I`m sure Donald Trump is going to take many hours looking very, very carefully at those photos from every angle - for legal purposes, of course.
HAMMER: Yes, of course.
BLOOM: You know, I`ve actually looked at the contract. He has two solid grounds to fire her if he wants to. One, because she posed for seminude photos, the other because she lied about it. So, it`s all going to be up to him in his discretion. If he decides he wants to, he`s on solid legal ground to do it.
HAMMER: Well, he`s talking about the photos. And he`s also sounding off about all the controversy that`s already been surrounding Miss California and her controversial answer during the pageant when she said marriage should only be "opposite marriage," between a man and a woman. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: She was really just expressing her belief. Whether you believe it or I believe it, that was her belief. And so she was honest to herself. And she believes a man is going to marry a woman, and that`s the way it is. And I don`t think you`re going to change her.
A lot of other people agree with that. So the fact is that that`s what she stated. That`s what she believes. She was honest to herself. Let`s see what happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`ve gotten to know Donald Trump a bit over the past few years. I`m looking at him saying all of that and thinking he is loving this. He has never shied away from controversy.
And you, of course, remember that he`s had some of the best publicity come out of controversy on the Miss USA pageant. We remember what happened in 2007 when Miss USA went into rehab for drug and alcohol problems. Everybody was suddenly paying attention to Donald and his show "The Apprentice." Carolina, he`s enjoying this, isn`t he?
BERMUDEZ: Oh, A.J., he`s eating it up. Donald Trump loves a scandal especially when his name is attached to it. And he knew what he was doing when he hired Perez Hilton to be a judge on that show.
Now, here`s a little news flash for you, honey. Miss California, you`re representing a state. You probably shouldn`t have given that answer to a gay blogger who is singlehandedly trying to get Proposition 8 passed in your home state.
So, you know, maybe if she would have answered it a little bit differently, there wouldn`t have been this much of a scandal. But Donald Trump - he is loving it.
HAMMER: Yes. And I, for one, think those photos would have showed up no matter what. Also making big news tonight, speaking of the photos, this second racy photo of Miss California surfaced today, this after she promised there was only one topless photo.
But Carrie Prejean`s spokesperson told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT today this photo was electronically altered. Lisa, what do you think is going on here? A little damage control?
BLOOM: What? Parts of Carrie Prejean altered? That`s a shocking revelation. I thought plastic surgery was the only way in which she could be altered. Electronically altered? I mean, what an outrage that would be, right, A.J.?
HAMMER: It`s insane.
BLOOM: Horrifying.
HAMMER: All right. Well, you have to hear Perez Hilton`s brand-new, totally outrageous zinger about Miss California. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with Perez last night and he says she should lose her crown. And frankly, he`s not surprised either that those photos surfaced. Take a look at Perez.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEREZ HILTON: I was not surprised by these pictures in the same way that I wasn`t surprised by Carrie Prejean`s breast implants. People that try to present themselves as holier-than-thou often aren`t.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. There you go. Perez went on to say, he still thinks Miss California is the B-word. Carolina, some people might be saying right now, "OK, isn`t it time for Perez to back off a little bit?"
BERMUDEZ: Yes. You know what? Perez has a little bit of a bully streak in him. We all know that that`s his shtick. But you know what? This is his job. It is his job to report on celebrity gossip. And the fact that he`s taking it a little bit too far, would I do it? No. But that`s just how Perez is.
Now, the fact that these pictures have come out and that she lied about them - I think that is kind of, you know, mitigating her argument that she didn`t take these pictures before. So now, I think that the crown really is going to be - you know, she could be up to lose the title.
HAMMER: And then, the question is, does the whole pageant need to go back and re-evaluate these contracts, Lisa Bloom? Because a lot of people are crying hypocrisy.
Look, we`re seeing her now in a full-on dress walking across the stage. But quite frankly, when she`s walking across the stage wearing a bikini, they`re showing more than she`s showing in that photo.
BLOOM: Yes. She`s semi-nude at the pageant. That`s what they do. They put her in stripper shoes and a little tiny bikini and parade her around. And then when she`s showing exactly the same amount of skin in a photo where she`s shot from behind wearing underwear, they`re shocked and appalled.
I mean, the whole pageant industry, I think, really needs to be rethought. And you put Perez Hilton up there to make the decisions about women - he uses his anti-female language, the B-word and C-word. You know, I think he`s got some issues with sexism. He`s not the right person to be making these calls about women. I don`t like the pageant, but let`s have somebody who has at least a little respect for it making the call.
BERMUDEZ: Right.
HAMMER: You all get ready when I`m reporting gangbuster ratings for the season for the season finale of "The Apprentice" with Donald Trump next week. Lisa Bloom, Carolina Bermudez, thank you.
Well, moving on now, Farrah Fawcett`s final fight. Tonight, for the very first time, an inside look at her battle with cancer through the eyes of her long-time partner, Ryan O`Neal.
Ryan talks about what it`s like to see the love of his life in what may be her final days. It is Ryan`s heartbreaking, brand-new interview.
Jon and Kate plus drama. For the first time, the mom of eight goes on national TV and she`s firing back at all those reports that her husband is cheating.
Plus, Paula Abdul`s secret trip to rehab. Why she`s finally coming clean about taking drugs. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - it`s more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Liam Neeson gets honorary degree from alma mater; his first event since wife`s death. Stanley Tucci`s wife of 14 years dies after cancer battle.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, Farrah`s final fight. Brand-new, heart-wrenching revelations about Farrah Fawcett`s brave battle with cancer.
Tonight, the "Charlie`s Angels" star`s longtime love, actor Ryan O`Neal, is pouring his heart out and sharing just how grave Farrah`s condition really is. Ryan has been by her side since she was first diagnosed with cancer two and a half years ago.
And now, it seems her outlook just is not good. Farrah and her loved ones are preparing for the worst. Farrah`s final fight is making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): The last time we saw Farrah Fawcett, it was in these clips from her upcoming documentary about her battle with cancer.
FARRAH FAWCETT, ACTRESS: Stress is what feeds your cancer. Stress is what gives you cancer.
HAMMER: Now, Fawcett`s longtime partner. Ryan O`Neal, who ironically once starred in the classic, romantic tragedy, "Love Story".
RYAN O`NEAL, ACTOR: Jenny, I`m sorry.
ALI MCGRAW, ACTRESS: Don`t. Love means never having to say you`re sorry.
HAMMER: . is now giving a heartbreaking account of the love story he`s living out with Fawcett in what could be her final days. He tells "People" magazine, quote, "It`s a love story. I just don`t know how to play this one. I won`t know this world without her."
RUSSELL WETANSON, POPSQUIRE.COM: It`s clear from this interview that Ryan O`Neal doesn`t know what he will do without Farrah Fawcett. This is a guy who is preparing for the worst.
HAMMER: In his interview with "People," O`Neal reveals for the first time that Fawcett`s anal cancer has now spread to other parts of her body, including her liver. He says, quote, "The doctors see that she is comfortable. Farrah is on IVs, but some of that is for nourishment. The treatment has pretty much ended."
FAWCETT: I so didn`t want to be, you know, photographed in a wheelchair.
HAMMER: In her two-hour documentary which airs on NBC, May 15th, Fawcett talks about her recent cancer treatments overseas.
WETANSON: Over a two-year period, Farrah Fawcett visited Germany six times. And during that time, there was a lot of optimism. She was even playing tennis. But since then, the bad news has kept rolling in.
HAMMER: About her worsening cancer, O`Neal tells "People" quote, "The hope started to fade. But not for Farrah. She continued fighting. There was always a courage there, and a quiet dignity. Farrah never changed. I fell in love with her all over again because of how she handled this."
WETANSON: He will always, always think of Farrah Fawcett as the love of his life.
HAMMER: But the Ryan O`Neal-Farrah Fawcett love story is definitely among the longest and stormiest Hollywood relationships. Their 15-year romance ended in 1997, but they remained friends and got even closer in recent years.
And since Farrah was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, he`s been by her side. Now he tells "People" that Farrah`s trademark hair is gone, and she sleeps often.
Farrah Fawcett spends her days in bed, but she is getting some visitors from her "Charlie`s Angels" cast members, Jacqueline Smith and Kate Jackson.
HAMMER: And Fawcett recently got an emotional visit from her and Ryan`s 24-year-old son, Redmond. In jail on a drug charge, Redmond was given special permission to leave jail to visit his ailing mother.
WETANSON: Ryan O`Neal seems to want to spare both Farrah and Redmond from pain. He didn`t Farrah that Redmond is in jail, and he also didn`t tell Redmond how bad the situation is.
HAMMER: Ryan O`Neal says, quote, "Farrah doesn`t know Redmond`s in trouble. And Redmond is terrified for his mother. `I don`t want to be in jail and have some guard tell me she is gone,` he said to me. I told him, `She`s rebounding.` I lied to him. I lie to her. It`s the best thing."
WETANSON: We know that that was a very emotional visit, and perhaps the last time that Redmond will see his mother.
HAMMER: O`Neal says Farrah is being strong and philosophical throughout her ordeal. We see that in her documentary.
FAWCETT: I`m holding onto the hope that there is some reason that I got cancer.
HAMMER: O`Neal tells "People," quote, "Farrah has never, ever talked about how unfair it is. But I`ve thought about it." He goes on to say, "I can`t hear a song. I can`t pass places that we were together, without being stabbed in the heart."
WETANSON: He seems to be preparing us for a sad conclusion.
HAMMER: A sad conclusion to a painful Hollywood love story.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
It must be so incredibly difficult. O`Neal tells "People" that Fawcett is holding out hope for a miracle treatment that he calls a last gasp.
Well, tonight, Kate tells all. Kate from "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" is speaking out for the first time about the shocking reports that her husband Jon cheated on her.
In a brand-new interview today, Kate tackled the cheating reports, but did she confirm the affair? And the big question tonight - will the alleged affair become a plot line in the upcoming new season of the "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" reality show?
Joining me tonight, Midwin Charles, attorney for Midwin Charles and Associates. And also in New York, Ben Widdicombe who is the celebrity editor for StyleList.com.
So, as you guys well know, for weeks, we have been hearing the stories that Jon Gosselin was stepping out on Kate with a young school teacher. Now, he has denied to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT flat-out that he cheated.
Well, today, we finally got Kate`s side of the story. I want you to watch what Kate Gosselin said this morning on the "Today" show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON AND KATE PLUS EIGHT": It is so public, and I think it`s one of the things that we did not envision obviously when we started our show. It`s one of the things that comes with it, the tabloid stuff. And to be very honest, I`m very hesitant to believe any of it. It goes with the territory. And you know, we`re dealing with it just like everybody else does.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow, wasn`t she stoic? And she`s saying that she`s hesitant to believe the report. Midwin, are you with me? It doesn`t really sound like she`s totally convinced there.
MIDWIN CHARLES, ATTORNEY, MIDWIN CHARLES AND ASSOCIATES: Of course, she`s not convinced. Hesitant as opposed to an emphatic denial are two completely different things. She clearly, clearly, possibly has doubts here about her husband`s fidelity.
HAMMER: Ben, you`ve been following this thing all along. Isn`t it a bad sign to you that Kate didn`t, you know, just kind of stick a fork in this about all the cheating reports and put an end to it once and for all?
BEN WIDDICOMBE, CELEBRITY EDITOR, STYLELIST.COM: Well, A.J., I was actually relatively impressed by how she articulated what is really an untenable position for her to be in.
I mean, she is kind of backing him up but she`s obviously giving him enough rope that if he does go down, he doesn`t take her credibility with him. Now, of course, he has denied that he`s having an affair. Even if he`s not lying, which a lot of people unfortunately suspect that he might be, he still humiliated her. My question is, is she trying to save the marriage? Or is she trying to save the show?
HAMMER: Yes, yes. It actually could be a little bit of both there. Part of the appeal is we won`t know with "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" is the fact that Jon and Kate don`t just put all the good stuff out there. They put the bad stuff about their marriage out there as well for everybody to see.
So, our big question now is, are they going to be putting their discussions about this alleged affair into the next season of the reality show? Well, here`s exactly what Kate said about this morning on the "Today" show.
K. GOSSELIN: You will see how, you know, different events or different ways that we`re dealing with this. But I don`t know that we`re going to sit down and give, you know, credibility and, you know, lay it out there. You`ll see, you know, what we feel is healthy and comfortable and safe from our children`s perspective.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So, OK, on the one hand, Kate saying that they`re going to deal with this privately. On the other hand, she says it will be tastefully handled on the show in a way that the kids will be safe. I`m happy to hear that. But Midwin, is there anything wrong with this picture?
CHARLES: Yes. It`s called contradiction. You can`t have it both ways. Either you don`t want to discuss it because you think it`s something entirely private and you don`t want it to affect the children. Or you do want to discuss it on the show.
But A.J., look. At the end of the day, she`s trying to sell a book, and she`s trying to make sure people watch this new season. That`s going to start in the next week or so. That`s what this is about, frankly.
HAMMER: Yes. Nobody is crying about all the publicity that TLC is getting over this thing.
BERMUDEZ: Exactly.
HAMMER: And the fact that the show is going to have gang-buster ratings when it hits the air. Now, here, we`ve been asking on air and online in our question of the day this, "`Jon and Kate Plus Eight` Cheating Controversy: Should they end their reality show for the sake of their family?"
And I`ve got to tell you, these results are just wild - 76 percent said yes, end it. Only 24 percent say no.
Also, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines just overrun. People literally up in arms - literally. Sandra from Indiana calling in, saying families and reality shows just do not mix.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: If you think back about Nick and Jessica with the reality show, Whitney and Bobby and Brandy even had - the singer even had a reality show. It really just tears people`s relationships apart in the end and it`s not healthy. It may be OK while the kids are young. But eventually, they will need to put the brakes on this to spend some time to kind of rejuvenate their relationship."
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Thanks a lot for you call, Sandra. Only 10 seconds for you, Ben. What do you think? Should the Gosselins think about shutting this thing down?
WIDDICOMBE: I think the fact that they have agreed to be on this reality show in the first place shows that they`re the kind of personality types that like the attention. My feeling is that they like being on TV and they`ll be in the limelight for as long as they can.
HAMMER: I have a feeling you`re exactly right. Ben Widdicombe, Midwin Charles, thanks for being here. I appreciate it.
So, we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day one more time - "`Jon and Kate Plus Eight` Cheating Controversy: Should they end their reality show for the sake of the family?"
Here`s your chance to sound off, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or you can E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Paula Abdul leaves the "American Idol" judges table. Find out why that move made "Idol" history, next. Plus, Paula`s secret trip to rehab. Why she`s finally coming clean about taking drugs. We`ve got the brand-new details. This SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Bob Dylan`s new album hits number one in both United States and U.K. Blu-Ray disc player sales up 72 percent from last year.
HAMMER: Thank you, Charles. Here comes the Paula story. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Paula Abdul`s brand-new drug confessions. After years of denial, Paula now says, yes, she was hooked on pain pills and went to rehab just last November so she could kick the habit. Rumors have dogged the "American Idol" judge for years. She`s been accused of using drugs and even being drunk on the show.
Well, Abdul now tells "Ladies` Home Journal" she had been addicted to powerful painkillers for 12 years and says she, quote, "could have killed herself." Abdul calls rehab the worst thing saying, quote, "I was freezing cold, then sweating hot, then chattering and in so much pain. It was excruciating. But at my very core, I did not like existing the way I had been."
Abdul confesses she took prescription drugs for years to treat chronic neck pain. And at one point, she was wearing a pain patch that she says was 80 times more potent than morphine.
But now, it seems Paula is back on track. She`s got a brand-new song. It`s called "I`m Just Here for the Music." And she debuted it on Wednesday night`s "American Idol." But there`s one thing that just got people everywhere scratching their heads. Paula`s very first performance on TV`s most popular singing show was lip-synched. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
PAULA ABDUL, SINGER AND "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE: Gentlemen, I`m just here for the music. Good luck.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Nice little thing there at the end, Paula. That, of course, a reference to all the rumors that she`s leaving "American Idol."
Well, we`ve been asking about our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. This is it - "`Jon and Kate Plus Eight Cheating Controversy`: Should they end their reality show for the sake of their family?" So far, 76 percent of you say yes; 24 percent no.
Among the e-mails we have received, one from Deanna in Michigan. Deanna writing, "Jon and Kate Gosselin need to stop their reality show and get real jobs. Those poor children do not have a normal life."
And Jamie from Wisconsin writes, "I think that everyone just needs to leave Jon and Kate alone. They are a real couple, they don`t try to be something that they aren`t."
Thank you for your e-mails and thank you for watching. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. 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 in the morning, we are on at 11:00 a.m. Eastern and that is right here on HLN.
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