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Showbiz Tonight
Ryan O`Neal`s Heartache Over Farrah Fawcett; Jon Minus Kate?; Michelle Obama on "Maxim" Hottest List; Sarah Palin, The Author; Elizabeth Edwards`s Take on John Edwards`s Possible DNA Test
Aired May 13, 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, Ryan`s heartache over Farrah Fawcett. Tonight, Ryan O`Neal`s brand-new painful interview about the love of his life and her battle with cancer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALICIA QUARLES, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Ryan O`Neal`s interview is such a tribute to his love and life with Farrah Fawcett.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Ryan`s emotional revelations of how Farrah thought she would survive, how they`re dealing with their troubled son Redmond, and the ups and downs of their own relationship.
Jon and Kate splitting up? Tonight, Kate`s brand-new explosive interview. Is the reality show couple really breaking up? Plus, Kate`s other bombshell revelations - her sadness, her anger. What will this mean for their eight kids? And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has to ask, will all this drama help their show?
And Megan Fox, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Michelle Obama? Tonight, the controversy over the first lady making "Maxim" magazine`s hottest women list.
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, Ryan`s fight for Farrah. Ryan O`Neal`s remarkably raw, brand-new, heart-wrenching revelations about his long-time love, Farrah Fawcett, and her losing battle with cancer.
O`Neal opens up in an extraordinarily candid interview with the "Today" show`s Meredith Vieira, sharing the extreme ups and downs of Farrah`s brave battle. And I`ve got to tell you, I just couldn`t tear myself away from what was such an emotional interview.
From Ryan`s revelations about their love affair to the heartbreaking details of their son Redmond`s last visit with his mom, it is a Hollywood tragedy that people everywhere are talking about. Tonight, Ryan`s intimate glimpse inside Farrah`s fight is making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN O`NEAL, ACTOR: In the last two years, I love her more than I`ve ever loved her - ever. Powerful, courageous, fearless - and I look at her with awe.
HAMMER (voice-over): Emotional words from a man who`s loved Farrah Fawcett for decades and stands by her side as she battles the end stages of a brutal cancer.
QUARLES: I think Ryan in the interview is such a tribute to his love and his life with Farrah Fawcett.
HAMMER: Tonight in a brand-new raw, emotional interview with NBC`s "Today" show, O`Neal reveals for the very first time what life has been like during Fawcett`s two-and-a-half year struggle with anal cancer.
O`NEAL: I think she may have believed she would survive and have a document. That`s not how it`s going. She`s had a terrible time the last year. Terrible time.
HAMMER: Farrah has boldly documented her excruciating battle with cancer in a remarkable film called "Farrah`s Story" to air Friday on NBC. O`Neal says Farrah was brutally honest in front of the camera and says laid out every aspect of her fight to survive.
QUARLES: It`s her way of taking control and saying, "You know what? I`m going to go out on my own terms."
HAMMER: Fawcett`s battle with cancer has endured for two-and-a-half long years of intense highs and lows. September 2006, she was first diagnosed with cancer. By February 2007, a victorious Fawcett declared she was in remission on her 60th birthday.
MEREDITH VIEIRA, CO-HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: So you were optimistic with that one?
O`NEAL: Very, very. It was a - yes, yes. She was so happy. It`s an insidious cancer. It lets you think you`re ahead.
HAMMER: But just months later, in May of 2007, Fawcett`s cancer returned. O`Neal says he only started to notice how bad the cancer really was about five or six months ago.
O`NEAL: The first time I ever noticed, I walked with her and Redmond on the beach one day. We used to take that walk all the time to the rocks and back. And halfway there, she stopped and said, "Can we go back?"
HAMMER: But perhaps the most heartbreaking of all, Farrah and Ryan`s troubled son, Redmond, is in court-ordered rehab and can`t be his mother in her final days. But in April, a judge granted Redmond three hours to visit his mother for what could be the last time.
VIEIRA: That was just a few weeks ago, Ryan. And the image of him in her home - he`s in chains. He`s shackled.
O`NEAL: Legs, iron restraints, everything. And then they unfastened him and let him go back and see his mother who was in bed. When he went in to her, I said, "Don`t rattle your chains," because he had them on his legs.
VIEIRA: Right. So that she wouldn`t know.
O`NEAL: She doesn`t know. She just holds him.
HAMMER: O`Neal says Fawcett`s cancer rattled their son and he hopes it helps him eventually straighten out his life.
O`NEAL: He has a long ride ahead of him before they`ll let him free. And I don`t think his mother will be here when he gets out. So I said to him, "Live your life in as a tribute to your mother."
HAMMER: But the biggest tribute of all could be O`Neal`s touching and open interview about the life and love of one extraordinary actress.
VIEIRA: Everybody calls you the rock.
O`NEAL: Oh, I`m not.
VIEIRA: Maybe she is the rock.
O`NEAL: She is the rock.
FARRAH FAWCETT, ACTRESS: OK.
O`NEAL: She taught us all how to cope. She`s extraordinary. I don`t know what I`ll do without her.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And tonight, Ryan O`Neal will be joining Melanie Griffith, Antonio Banderas and so many more to honor Fawcett. They`re all part of a very special private viewing of Farrah`s documentary. It`s called "Farrah`s Story" and will air Friday on NBC.
All right. As we move on right now, another big story making news right now - all-out beauty wars. Brand-new outrage tonight over controversial beauty queen Carrie Prejean. Donald Trump who, of course, co-owns the Miss USA pageant said she can keep her Miss California crown.
But some of her beauty queens - they are up in arms, I tell you. New tonight, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler resigns as co-executive director of the Miss California organization just a day after standing behind Trump for the dramatic announcement. This is big.
And now, former 2007 Miss Nevada who lost her crown over some scandalous photos is speaking out against Prejean saying Miss California isn`t any kind of role model.
Joining me tonight from New York, Marvet Britto who is a celebrity publicist with the Britto Agency. From Hollywood tonight, Alicia Jacobs who is a KDBC TV entertainment reporter, former Miss USA. And she was also a judge right there at this year`s scandalous Miss USA pageant.
OK. We have to start with this late-breaking development. Shanna Moakler, the co-executive director of the Miss California Organization quit just hours ago. Moakler telling this to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "I cannot with a clear conscience move forward supporting and promoting the Miss Universe Organization when I no longer believe in it, or the contracts I signed committing myself as a youth. I want to be a role model for young women with high hopes of pageantry, but now, it feels more important to be a role model for my children."
Alicia, let me go to you first. As somebody who`s been a part of this organization, are you shocked by Shanna`s decision?
ALICIA JACOBS, FORMER MISS USA: I am. I`m shocked and I am disappointed because I think she brought a wonderful spirit to the pageant. And just moments ago, I spoke with her partner, Keith Lewis, the co-director of the pageant. He was stunned and he`s very upset and he says he hopes that Shanna will remain a voice within the pageant.
He also commented to me that the events of the past week, now capped off with Shanna`s resignation, make him pummeled and beat up. And he is just beside himself, so the story just doesn`t end.
HAMMER: I`ve got to tell you. It really seemed she was never supportive of Carrie Prejean through this whole thing. And it really seemed that maybe silently - obviously, she wasn`t really happy with Mr. Trump`s decision.
And that is why, you know, one of the reasons people found her decision to be so shocking is because after that press conference, the pageant folks, despite how they may have been feeling inside, certainly on the outside looked like one, big happy family.
And that is something Donald Trump himself confirmed exclusively to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT after the press conference.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, CO-OWNER, MISS USA FRANCHISE: We put them all in a room. We got everybody together. They discussed their issues. And right now, it is a big lovefest and I hope it`s going to stay that way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, obviously, it didn`t stay that way. Marvet, if you kind of read between the lines and you don`t have to do it too deeply, it almost sounds like Shanna Moakler is calling Trump out for giving Miss California a pass by this resignation.
MARVET BRITTO, CELEBRITY PUBLICIST, BRITTO AGENCY: Yes, but it`s too little, too late. She was Trump`s puppet yesterday. And if she really believed in what her beliefs are, which what made her walk away, she should have done it yesterday. That would have sent a much louder message.
But to sit there and go along with everything that Trump represented and the words that he spoke, she, you know, signaled that she was unified with the pageant when really she wasn`t.
So I`m not surprised because they didn`t support Carrie Prejean throughout this whole ordeal. And her resigning today, rather than yesterday, just proves that, all along, she was working against Carrie.
HAMMER: Yes. I think she really feels that this is not setting a good example at all and she wants to be a good example as a role model.
Of course, at the center of the whole scandal, some risque photos of the seminude Carrie Prejean. And these are photos that Donald Trump called - what was his words? Fine, lovely. But former Miss Nevada 2007 Katie Rees begs to differ. Trump fired Rees for some pretty racy photos.
And Rees tells "E! Online" this, quote, "At least when those pictures of me came out, I admitted I was wrong and told young women in America how big of a mistake it was and to be careful because everything can affect your future. That`s more than Carrie has done. She hasn`t acknowledged that she was wrong by breaking the contract. I don`t think that is a good role model and I hope young women recognize that."
Alicia, what do you think? Does she have a point there?
JACOBS: Well, look. What do you think? Does she have a point there? I broke that Katie Rees story. And it is nice that she remembers it that way. That`s not quite how it unfolded.
Katie flat-out denied the photos existed. It`s similar to what we were going through with Carrie. Then it was, "Well, I was only 16 or 15 at the time." And then, of course, the age changed. It was similar in that regard.
However, the photos of Katie Rees were a hundred times more risque and raunchy than the ones we`ve seen of Carrie. They were absolutely degrading.
The ones of Carrie - you know, they`re attractive. They`re not, you know, inappropriate photos. They`re not in accordance with the contract she signed because she is seminude and that`s the problem I have. She is seminude and she said she didn`t have photos like that in existence and she did.
HAMMER: Yes. And she probably should have said she was sorry at some point along the way, which she didn`t. Marvet Britto, Alicia Jacobs, we`re going to end it there. I thank you both.
Well, I`ve got brand-new, startling details tonight about the "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" cheating scandal. Tonight, I can tell you the reality show couple may be splitting up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON AND KATE PLUS EIGHT": We`re dealing with it privately. We are handling it one step at a time. And I think the important thing to remember is that we love our kids to pieces.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is an explosive new interview. If Jon and Kate really do split, what will that mean for their eight kids? And could all of this drama actually help the show? The fired-up debate is coming up.
HAMMER: Well, people are also really fired up about this - Sarah Palin`s brand-new book deal. Yes, the Alaska governor and former VP pick is writing a book. Is this a good idea? Or is it a part of Sarah`s master plan to run for president?
And a new Michelle Obama controversy. "Maxim" magazine names the first lady as one of the hottest women in the world. So here`s what I`m asking - is that totally disrespectful or no big deal? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: New Patrick Swayze biography, "One Last Dance," details his battle with cancer. New "Star Trek" movie breaks Imax record, brings in $8.5 million in first weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: He`s been here looking for you.
SACHA BARON COHEN, ACTOR (as Bruno): Fine, particularly black guys. I`m a chocoholic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Did you see this? That`s Sacha Baron Cohen as his very flamboyantly gay Austrian TV host character, Bruno. There`s much more to this brand-new Web video that we can`t show you. But we can tell you "Bruno, The Movie," Sacha`s follow-up to "Borat" is out this July.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Did you see this? Tonight, the controversy over getting Jesus on your iPhone. Well, actually, it is a lot more than that. There`s a brand-new program that lets you replace the face of various religious figures, like Jesus Christ, nuns - you name it, with your own face.
And that has a lot of people fired-up. Does this thing have a prayer of getting off the ground? Well, here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When it comes to using the image of Jesus, there`s no putting the brakes on it. From wrapping paper to action figures - there`s even the "His Essence" candle. The scent of Jesus, based on ingredients cited in the Bible`s Book of Psalms.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my goodness. They`re putting Jesus everywhere.
MOOS: Everywhere except the iPhone. Apple rejects Jesus Face, so his actual name is "Me So Holy." You can put anyone`s face into a portrait of Jesus or other religious figures.
HEATHER LIPNER, CO-CREATOR, "ME SO HOLY": We asked religious people and, you know, they - you know, a lot of them were like, "Hey, I`m not offended by this. I think this is funny."
MOOS: Heather Lipner and Ben Kahle formed a company to make software applications. The first app was accepted for sale by Apple.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today we`ll choose a sheep.
MOOS: It is called the animal-izer. Choose an animal and insert a face.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Resize it. Shrink it. And fit it right into the animal nicely.
MOOS: But when they tried expanding the concept to "Me So Holy,: letting you put your face in, say, Mary`s image or a nun`s image, adding a caption, E-mailing it to someone, Apple sent a rejection letter.
BEN KAHLE, CO-CREATOR, "ME SO HOLY": I think it said it was offensive or, you know, it could be deemed as offensive.
MOOS: Reaction online was mixed. "`Me So Holy?` How about, `You So Stupid?` Of course, this is going to be offensive to some people." But others criticized the rejection, "Apple seeks to become our iNanny."
Nanny is an interesting choice of words, given that Apple recently pulled an application called "Baby Shaker." You shake a virtual infant. Apple apologized calling it a deeply offensive mistake. As for "Me So Holy".
LIPNER: It is a parody. It was not meant to be offensive in any way.
MOOS: They`re hoping Apple will reconsider, allowing them to sell their application in the company`s app store.
KAHLER: Please, please.
MOOS: Consider prayer - when it comes to messing around with religion, the folks at Apple are having none of it. None of it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I`m happy with my iPhone lighter. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, it wasn`t divine intervention that saved Miss California. It was, of course, Donald Trump. And the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been ringing nonstop since Donald chose not tell Carrie Prejean, "You`re fired" for those seminude photos and for speaking out against gay marriage.
And let me tell you, I for one think our "Showbiz on Call" operators have much better hair than Donald Trump. That`s just me.
We`ve got a call in to "Showbiz on Call" from Kevin in Georgia. Kevin says Carrie should not have gotten a second chance.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I`m really disappointed in the decision Donald Trump made. What message does it show us, show our kids? That if you hold a press conference and cry, you still end up with a tiara. I have no problem with what her answer to the question. What I have a problem with was her breaking her contract.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Kevin. Thanks for your call. We also heard from Sandra calling in to "Showbiz on Call" from Illinois. And she thinks Carrie should be able to say whatever she wants.
CALLER: I`m proud of her for standing up for two very important freedoms in America - freedom of speech and freedom of - religious freedom. I`m proud of her for taking a stand for God and for her Christian values. This is not about judgment against her or the gay community. It`s about standing up for what we believe in and having the right to speak about it without being attacked by others who think otherwise.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: And we forgot about the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) photography. Thank you, Sandra. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open all the time at 1-888- SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
All right. Could this Jon and Kate Plus Eight cheating scandal finally have broken Jon and Kate up? Tonight, Kate`s brand-new, explosive interview where she reveals that they may be splitting up. Kate`s bombshell revelations, her sadness, anger. What is this going to mean for their eight kids? And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has got to ask, could all of this drama help their reality show?
Sarah Palin the author. Tonight, I can tell you Sarah Palin`s getting a book deal. What will be in the book? Is it a good idea or just part of Sarah`s plan to run for president in 2012?
And Lindsay Lohan, the slob? Police rush to Lindsay`s home and find it trashed. Did someone rob her or is Lindsay just a total hot mess? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Nicole Kidman pulls out of Woody Allen`s new movie. Paulina Porizkova says she was fired from "America`s Next Top Model."
HAMMER: Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at Cannes. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right there at the 62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival which kicks off today in France. The stars - they are out in full force. Cannes is one of the oldest and most glamorous of all the film festivals.
We caught up with Cannes veteran Francis Ford Coppola. He`s screening his new film, "Tetro." And so far, Coppola`s having a blast.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, DIRECTOR: Well, I`ve been here maybe five times. And you know, especially in the early days of Cannes, it is always exciting. And you see people walking on the street and you have nice weather. And there`s all the boats and excitement about the movies coming in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Here are some more stories making news tonight.
Tonight, Anna Nicole Smith`s former boyfriend and lawyer has pleaded not guilty to supplying her with the drugs that eventually killed her.
Along with Howard K. Stern, Anna`s former psychiatrist and another doctor entered the plea at an arraignment in L.A. today. Prosecutors claim that the three conspired to prescribe drugs, including methadone and chlorohydrate, to Anna who was addicted to them.
Defense attorneys have filed a motion to have the case thrown out. Now, take a listen to Stern`s lawyer. He maintains his client didn`t do anything wrong but, at the same time, kind of sounds like he`s throwing Anna`s doctors who are also charged under the bus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVEN SADOW, HOWARD K. STERN`S LAWYER: It`s never been applied - the statute we are talking about. It deals with medical practitioners, healthcare providers. It deals with those who are in a position to write or issue prescriptions.
It doesn`t apply to people that are not involved in that practice. They`re trying to use it here. We have already gone through with why Gov. Brown - who I hope to be Gov. Brown has brought this forward. We`re just trying to say, let the law decide and the law doesn`t allow it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Everyone`s going to be back in court on June 8th for preliminary hearings. Smith, of course, died in February of 2007. She was 39 and left behind a daughter, Dannielynn.
And I guess Lindsay Lohan might be taking that hot mess label a bit too far. Listen to this. Police responded to a burglar alarm being tripped at her L.A. home. The place was trashed. The door was busted, so of course, first, they thought somebody broke in.
But now, the cops are changing their story saying the house was just a big old mess and the alarm was accidentally set off. Nothing was stolen. And Lindsay wasn`t home at the time.
Li-Lo. That`s fine. You don`t like to clean. I`m OK with that. But you still have cash left over. Call a house keeper or two.
And Kanye West is going off on Twitter. In a posting on his blog, Kanye goes off on Twitter for allowing people to set up accounts under his name.
Listen to what he says, quote, "I don`t have a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Twitter. I`m actually slow delivering content because I`m too busy being creative most of the time. And if I`m not, and I`m just laying on a beach, I wouldn`t tell the world." Well, Twitter listened to Kanye and took down the fake accounts today.
Now, the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Shocking "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" developments. Kate reveals she and her reality show husband might split. Is the he said/she said cheating scandal to blame?
"Maxim" magazine picks Michelle Obama as one of the hottest women in the world. But is that totally offensive or no big deal?
Also Sarah Palin`s brand-new book deal. What`s going to be in this book? Is this thing really such a good idea? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, it`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker." Here come more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Prince Harry to make first-ever formal visit to U.S. this month for polo match. Kevin Spacey to star as disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff in film.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOSSELIN: We are dealing with it privately. We are handling it one step at a time. And I think the important thing to remember is that we love our kids to pieces.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Jon minus Kate? Kate Gosselin`s shocking new confession that she and her husband might split up. Is it because of Jon`s alleged cheating? Tonight, why Kate says she could raise her eight kids minus Jon.
Sarah Palin`s reported multimillion dollar book deal. Should she pen a book about her life? Or is this tell-all going to ruin all her chances at the White House?
Plus, Michelle Obama makes "Maxim`s" hottest 100 women list. Is this just plain disrespectful, or no big deal?
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`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, Jon minus Kate? Yes. For the first time since the "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" cheating scandal hit headlines, reality star Kate Gosselin is now opening up in a brand-new and explosive interview about the state of her marriage.
"People" magazine blaring this headline, "We might split up." And Kate leaves no stone unturned. In this brand-new interview, she opens up about hearing the other women`s name for the very first time. Why she says she feels like she and Jon are not on the same place anymore, and how prepared she is to move forward with or without him. This is certainly a far cry from nearly a week ago when Kate sat down with CNN`s Larry King.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOSSELIN: You can`t believe everything that you read.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And now, Kate`s also fighting off reports that she cheated on Jon. So how will all of this affect their eight kids? With the season premier just days away, could these cheating scandals actually help their show? Or are parents going to tune them out?
Joining me tonight from Hollywood is Carlos Diaz who`s a correspondent for "Extra." And from New York, Kate Szish, who`s a celebrity journalist.
All right. So in this brand-new interview with "People" magazine, Kate Gosselin really leaves very little to the imagination regarding the state of her marriage and how she felt when she first learned about Jon`s friend, Deanna Hummel, the alleged other woman.
Let me read what she says, quote, "I don`t know that we`re in the same place anymore, that we want the same thing. I remember where I was the first time I heard her name. It`s one of those things where you can try to make it go away, but there`s blaring red flashing lights."
Katrina, did you see this coming? You know, just a week ago, she told Larry King, "Don`t believe everything you read," and now this.
KATRINA SZISH, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: I think it`s hard to see anything coming. I don`t even think that Kate saw this reaction, this feeling coming. I think they`re really taking it on a day-by-day basis. The emotions kind of come as they come.
These aren`t people who are normal, natural celebrities. They`re really people who are participating in a docu-series of their lives. And they`re just trying to figure out as they go along. So I think Kate is just being super-honest about her feelings as they happen.
HAMMER: Yes. Maybe that`s the case. Maybe it`s just her being real. But at the same time, she has seemed so thoughtful about everything she has said in the past. In this interview, Kate also drops also a bombshell about whether or not she actually believes her husband Jon when he says he did not cheat on her.
Listen to this quote, "I don`t think I know if I believe him. I don`t think that I know the whole truth, and to be very honest, I don`t know that I ever will. My gut instinct says he`s mad that he got caught. There wasn`t a whole lot of thought that went into all that behavior."
Wow. I mean, you know, talk about throwing him under the bus here. This, in my mind, a complete 180 for Kate. It seems to be a completely different story from the one she was telling just last week. Carlos, what do you think changed?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Well, I think it`s "Jon and Kate Plus Hate" now. And think about it, what if you got cheated on and then, you had to go to every supermarket in the country and see right there in bold print you were cheated on. And you turn on the TV set, "This guy cheated on you. He cheated on you."
And it just gets to you, and after a while, you kind of start to maybe believe the press and not believe your husband. And I think that`s what finally happened to Kate where she woke and said, "Wow, maybe this really did happen."
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, this is a perfect example of why the more seasoned celebrities don`t read any press and quite frankly don`t go to supermarkets.
DIAZ: Right.
HAMMER: But that`s really because they don`t have to. Now, even before these latest revelations, Kate was talking about all the pressure that her husband felt from the success of the show. Listen to what she told Larry King about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOSSELIN: I feel that Jon is having difficult - is dealing very poorly with it. And I feel like these, you know, things are making him realize, "Oh, my gosh. I cannot go anywhere without everyone knowing who I am."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. So look at everything you have here on the table. You got cheating allegations. Of course, all the pressures of being under the microscope that we`re talking about. And then, of course, this is all against the backdrop of the pressure of raising eight kids.
Katrina, it is hard to see this and not think this family is just in a huge tailspin.
SZISH: I think that`s absolutely true. I mean, just the idea of having eight kids is terrifying enough for me to imagine. Plus being on television. Plus unveiling your life to everybody. Plus then really having these allegations and everybody watching you go through them very, very publicly whether or not they`re even true.
I think this is a very challenging time for them and I think it`s understandable. And it must be very difficult to just see your face on every magazine everywhere.
HAMMER: Yes.
SZISH: . especially if a lot of those things might not be true.
HAMMER: But wait, there`s more. Let`s just pile some more on here because this is what`s going on. Rampant reports floating around that Kate cheated on Jon with her bodyguard.
Now, Kate is blasting that notion in this new "People" interview. Here`s what she says about that, quote, "Already, the allegations they`re making about are disgusting, unthinkable, unfathomable and I am horrified. I have not worked this hard to take myself down."
Carlos, do you kind of feel bad for Jon and Kate here? I mean, this has gone from really happy in terms of how we viewed - you know, everybody liked this family, and then it went bad. And now, it`s just ugly.
DIAZ: No. Your question is do I feel bad about Jon and Kate?
HAMMER: Yes.
DIAZ: No, I don`t. I don`t. I feel bad for their kids. All Jon and Kate had to do was be married. They`ve gotten paid millions of dollars in the last four or five years just to be happily married.
And I know marriage is tough, trust me. Marriage is tough. But all you had to do is be happily married. Now, the kids are going to suffer because they`re going to get older and they`re going to be able to rewind the tape and see the downfall of their parents. It`s tragic.
HAMMER: Yes. And, you know, hopefully - hopefully nobody`s going to keep around a scrapbook of all these headlines because, can you imagine growing up and reliving all of that through all of those headlines?
And this news is all coming just days before the premiere of the fifth season of their family reality show that everybody seems to have loved. They have huge rating success. Kate told Larry King that for better or worse, all of this is part of the story. Take a look.
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GOSSELIN: This is full of life lessons. Life happens. And you know, we`ve all had to react to what happens to us. And I choose happiness and I choose to survive anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. And we`ve seen Kate in action. No doubt, she can survive. But, Katrina, let me ask you this. In my mind, I think this publicity, all of us sitting around talking about all their problems, it is going to bring in blockbuster ratings for the show. Do you agree with that, or do you think - hey, you know what? Families are going to be kind of turned off by this, so maybe they`ll tune out?
SZISH: I think I agree with you A.J. It`s going to bring gang busters` ratings. And I think part of that is because people who have never thought to watch the show, they`re like, "Oh, a happily married couple with all these kids, not really my thing."
But now that you have got some kind of dangerous allegations happening, other people who haven`t tuned in might start tuning in now. So you`ve got a whole other audience potentially prepared to watch the premiere.
HAMMER: What do you think about that, Carlos? I mean, we`re talking after all about a family show on really a family-oriented network here that typically hasn`t done scandal in the past and now, it kind of landed in their lap.
DIAZ: I`m so there. I`m so watching the show. If - no, not for voyeuristic reasons. But if they do it right, if they address the problems and if get them into counseling and try to work through them and see if they can work them out. And if not, then they go their separate ways. And you have Kate dating. Can you imagine Kate on a date? "How many kids do you have?" "Eight."
SZISH: Kate Plus Eight on a Date -
DIAZ: "Oh, look at the time. Yes, I`ve got to go. Listen - some baggage there," you know.
HAMMER: Yes. I have to say, I think it`s still would be a good idea even though Kate says, "You know what? I have to do the show because I have to provide for my family." But at the same time, Kate has seemed to be contradicting herself by saying, "I`m trying to protect my kids from all of this."
I think really they need to take a pass moving forward after this season is fully in the can if it`s not already. Carlos Diaz, Katrina Szish, we will leave it there. I appreciate you both being here.
What do you think? It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "`Jon and Kate Plus Eight` Cheating Scandal: Will their marriage survive?" Let us know at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
She`s back. Sarah Palin signs a deal to write her memoir. But I`ve got to ask, is it a good idea for Palin to pen a book about her life if she plans to be president of these, here United States? Or is this tell-all going to ruin all her chances for getting into the White House? Palin`s reported multimillion dollar gamble is coming up.
And Jennifer Love Hewitt, Megan Fox and Michelle Obama? Yes, the first lady makes the "Maxim" hottest women list. But is this just plain disrespectful, or really, is it no big deal?
And Elizabeth Edwards speaks out. In a brand-new interview, will her husband John take a paternity test to finally prove whether he is or isn`t the father of this mistress` baby?
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LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Is he going to take the test?
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, WIFE OF JOHN EDWARDS: I have no idea. If it never came up, that would be fine with me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: She doesn`t want to know. But should her kids know? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Michael Jackson could take home over $50 million from his 50 London concerts. Brad Pitt plays Mr. Mom, reading to Shiloh`s class at her school in New York.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I now have the privilege of introducing the star of the show, somebody who brings a lot of poetry to my own life, the first lady, Michelle Obama.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was President Obama introducing the first lady at the very first poetry slam at the White House last night. And of course, she is looking pretty great. But is Michelle Obama the hottest first lady ever?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Tonight, two big stories that is are making news right now. The brand-new controversy over Michelle Obama being on "Maxim" magazine`s hot 100 list. Is her debut a compliment, or is it totally offensive?
Also, Sarah Palin`s signs a reported multimillion dollar deal for a tell-all book about her life. Is this part of a big plan to make a solo run for the White House in 2012?
With me here in New York, Marvet Britto. She`s a celebrity publicist and founder of the Britto Agency. In Hollywood tonight, Leslie Marshall, host of her own syndicated radio show, "The Leslie Marshall Show."
And let`s begin with Michelle Obama. She`s been called a role model. She`s been called a fashion icon. Now, ladies, she is being called "hot." She makes the cut at number 93 on Maxim`s hot 100 list. Everybody waits for this all year long.
Here`s why she made the list according to "Maxim," quote, "He may be dealing with two wars, an economic meltdown, and a rapidly graying dome. But at least, our commander-in-chief gets to come to the hottest first lady in the history of these United States."
Marvet, let me begin with you. Should the first lady take this as a big old compliment? Or is "Maxim" crossing a big old line here?
BRITTO: Absolutely. Every mother and wife I know, A.J. Would welcome the title and welcome being added to "Maxim`s" list. And I`m sure Michelle Obama is thrilled. She is now a hot, sexy mama, a beautiful woman.
And I think that "Maxim," actually, is honoring Michelle for the wit, her dignity, her timeless elegance, her grace. And you know, I think that she should be welcoming to the title. I don`t think that it`s offensive in any way.
HAMMER: I mean, she is the first lady in there with bikini babes. Come on.
BRITTO: She is, but she`s a woman and she`s a mother. And this is the 21st century. I think that what Obama brought was change and Michelle Obama is bringing her own change.
HAMMER: Yes, certainly. We`ve never seen this before, "Maxim" magazine. And Michelle Obama, when you look at this issue, in the company of some of Hollywood`s hottest and sexiest stars on this "Maxim" list.
Let`s run some of them down. Number one, actress Olivia Wilde. She`s from the TV show "House," of course. Number two, actress Megan Fox from "Transformers." Number three, "Sports Illustrated" cover model Bar Rafeali.
Again, we`re talking about sexy women who all bare their bodies as part of their work. This is what they do for a living. So Leslie, let me ask you, because it seems to me maybe if we look at it from the other side, this could be inspiring to other women that, "Hey, we have a fully-clothed, Ivy League-educated lawyer and mom of two on this list." Do I have that right?
LESLIE MARSHALL, HOST, "THE LESLIE MARSHALL SHOW": Yes. And on top of that, she doesn`t have breast implants and she`s not anorexic or just getting out of drug rehab. Go, go, go Michelle.
Hey, listen - and over 40, right? As a mother of two, over 40, with a master`s degree - not from Harvard. But I`ve got to say, this rocks. And the reason it does is because I think that young girls everywhere can look up to women like Michelle Obama and they can see that beauty is not just on the outside; it`s on the inside, too.
Having a beautiful brain, you know, pushing for your intelligence and not taking your clothes off, being classy and having a great heart and doing things for other people, being a great humanitarian as she is. This is nothing but a win-win for women in the future. And as a mother of a girl, that`s going to be a woman in the future, I think it`s awesome. It is hot.
HAMMER: All right. Fair enough. And just to let you know, Leslie, Marvet, I campaigned very vigorously for both of you.
Moving on now to another big story new right now, Sarah Palin setting the record straight in a brand-new memoir. Alaska`s governor says she will write about her political and personal and include details about her teenage daughter becoming an unwed mother.
Marvet, what do you think? Will this kind of tell-all help? Or does it stand to hurt Sarah Palin`s political future?
BRITTO: You know, A.J., I think it will actually help Sarah Palin. You know, she won - or actually lost a very, very public race. And in this day and age of salacious media, she wants to set the record straight. And you know, people tend to run towards folks that are a little bit more relatable.
HAMMER: Yes.
BRITTO: So the more we know about Sarah Palin, the more that folks will really love and embrace her. Not that that will make a difference, because for the next eight years, I don`t think we`ll be seeing much of Sarah Palin.
HAMMER: Leslie, very quickly, 10 seconds. Do you think this is part of the master plan to run for White House in `12?
MARSHALL: Absolutely. I think so. And I think it is part of the Republican`s master plan to have somebody who`s younger and to have somebody who`s more identifiable to the younger voters and a female.
HAMMER: Yes. They better have a good copy editor. That`s all I`m saying. Marvet Britto, Leslie Marshall - they want to be very careful about every word that goes in that book. That`s what I mean by that. Thanks for joining us.
As we move on tonight, Elizabeth Edwards` brand-new revelations about the baby that may have resulted from her husband`s affair. In a brand-new interview, Elizabeth speaks out about whether or not her husband John Edwards is going to take a DNA test to find out if he is the father of his mistress Rielle Hunter`s one-year-old baby daughter.
Well, just days ago, Hunter reportedly said that she wanted him to take a test. Elizabeth says she doesn`t want anything to do with this. While promoting her new book, CNN`s Larry King asked Elizabeth if she knows whether John will actually take the test.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Is he going to take the test?
EDWARDS: I have no idea.
KING: Did you ask him?
EDWARDS: Yes.
KING: That would be the first thing I`d ask.
EDWARDS: If it never came up, that would be fine with me. You know? I don`t need to know from my perspective in terms of my relationship with John. It doesn`t - you know, his acts and his not being straightforward with me, those are the things that have to do with him and me.
KING: By not taking it, though, doesn`t that indicate something?
EDWARDS: Yes. By her not asking - you know, for some time. I don`t know. You know, I think that eventually whoever the father is of this child will - you know, will step up and if - once they know that they are the person - will step up and do the right thing, I hope.
KING: If, sadly, it is John -
EDWARDS: Right.
KING: Don`t your kids have to know? They have a half sibling.
EDWARDS: Right. I think whoever the father is, if they have other children, you know, that`s a conversation that needs to occur.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Elizabeth Edwards` new book, "Resilience" is in bookstores right now.
Well, tonight, Kiefer Sutherland himself is speaking out for the very first time since being charged in the alleged head-butting incident. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, of course, right there on the red carpet of the screening for the "24" season finale. Was the alleged head-butting Kiefer`s fault, or was he channeling Jack Bauer? Kiefer in his own words, next.
Now more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom that are new right now. Today, Robin Williams announced he is going back on tour after a successful heart surgery. The 57-year-old says he will resume his "Weapons of Self Destruction" stand-up tour in September. Williams had heart surgery last month after complaining of shortness of breath.
And "The Biggest Loser" named its biggest winner Tuesday night. Forty-eight-year-old Helen Phillips shed a shocking 140 pounds. She even dropped 20 dress sizes. Phillips went from 257 pounds to 117 pounds. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, Kiefer Sutherland is speaking out just days after being charged with assault for allegedly head-butting a fashion designer after the guy apparently bumped into Brook Shields.
Kiefer was all smiles at an exclusive screening of the "24" season finale in Hollywood on Tuesday night. And of course, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there.
Now, Kiefer told us he couldn`t actually talk about the story behind the alleged head-butting for legal reasons. But he did tell us how he manages to switch off and on from being the hard-hitting Jack Bauer character on "24" to being Kiefer in real life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIEFER SUTHERLAND, ACTOR: I think you have to. I think if anyone walked around like Jack Bauer for any long period of time, they would have an unbelievably bad headache and they`d have to sit down and take a nap. So, I think you have to let that go as quickly as possible.
And I think this - I have such a comfort level with this character because I`ve played him for so long. And even though I think he`s evolved greatly over the seven years, I know this character, and what drives him. So that makes it then more inherently easier to kind of step in and out of him.
Although I must say, when we take a break, even if it`s just for three or four weeks between seasons, I get very scared that I have forgotten how to do it when I go back. So it takes me a few weeks to adjust. But once we`re in it day in and day out - yes, I think for me, at least, I have to be able to kind of step in and out of him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, even though Kiefer couldn`t talk specifically about the alleged head-butting story, his "24" co-star, Carlos Bernard, had no trouble speaking out in defense of his friend, Kiefer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARLOS BERNARD, ACTOR: I`ll say this. You know, I`ve known Kiefer for a long time. Obviously, we`re very good friends. We`re like brothers. And I`ve been with him in social situations around the world. And I`ve never seen anything like that happen.
And, you know, he`s always a gentleman to people and bends over backwards to be courteous. And so that`s what I`ll say about that situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`m scared of that guy - his character, anyway. The two-hour season finale of the great "24" airs Monday on Fox.
So, on Tuesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Carrie Prejean: Does she deserve to lose her Miss California crown?" I was surprised by this - 39 percent of you said yes; 61 percent of you said no.
Here are some of the e-mails we got. We heard from Ri-anne in California who writes, "Yes, she should lose her crown. Her opinion on same-sex marriage is irrelevant on the issue. Fact of the matter is that she broke the terms of her contract."
Lynn in Alaska disagrees: "I`m glad that Miss Prejean stood up for what she believes in. It was wrong for those pictures to be shown to the public."
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. And we`re on in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
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