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Showbiz Tonight
Susan Boyle Hospitalized Due to Exhaustion; Octo-Mom Signs a Deal for Reality Show; Eminem Storms Out of MTV Awards; Denzel Washington on Travolta Grieving Over Son`s Death
Aired June 01, 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, Susan Boyle hospitalized. The singing sensation exhausted. Is the YouTube phenomenon buckling under the pressure before her career even begins? What really happened?
Jon and Kate versus the Octo-Mom. Nadya Suleman inks a new octo- reality show deal just as Jon and Kate`s world falls apart.
Octo-Mom`s surprising slam against "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and brand-new details about the octo-reality show. Will you watch?
(MUSIC)
Eminem storms out of the MTV Movie Awards. Was he the butt of a big joke? Inside the award show shocker that left the rapper fuming mad.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, Susan Boyle hospitalized. What a wild rollercoaster ride it has been for our favorite overnight sensation. Susan Boyle has captivated the world with her amazing voice and her heartwarming story. And now, there has been a turn of events so drastic it has our heads spinning.
First, she loses the talent competition with the entire world watching. And then, after what seemed like a gracious defeat, she winds up at a London clinic suffering from exhaustion.
Producers of "Britain`s Got Talent" tell us Susan`s emotionally drained, but what really happened? Was the spotlight too fierce and will Susan rebound? Susan Boyle`s dramatic new meltdown is making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): As it turns out, Susan Boyle`s dream of winning "Britain`s Got Talent" was not to be. And now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the instant worldwide fame appears to have taken an emotional toll on this humble, small town woman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Diversity!
HAMMER: Soon after Boyle, who was favored to win, lost to the energetic dance group Diversity, she reportedly was taken to this clinic to be treated for exhaustion. She`d reportedly not eaten or slept for a week, during which time Boyle was seen freaking out in public, inspiring headlines like "SuBo Goes Loco."
PIERS MORGAN, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT JUDGE": She`s gone from anonymity to global superstar within the space of several weeks.
HAMMER: "Britain`s Got Talent" judge Piers Morgan tells the "Today" show Boyle simply couldn`t take the pressure of the spotlight anymore.
MORGAN: She`s just at the end of her tether. She needs a break. She needs to get away and, you know, be amongst her friends and family and away from the media glare and just chill out a bit.
SIMON COWELL, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT" JUDGE: What`s the dream?
SUSAN BOYLE, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT" FINALIST: I`m trying to be a professional singer.
HAMMER: It`s a sad turn in the dizzying rollercoaster ride that began for Susan when she wowed the world with her first appearance on "Britain`s Got Talent."
KATRINA SZISH, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: She was kind of frumpy and out of her mouth came this amazing voice. She had the amazing talent. And seeing what really seemed to be like a dream come true before everyone`s eyes, it was hard not to fall in love.
HAMMER: The YouTube clip of Boyle`s performance was viewed more than 200 million times and Boyle became a worldwide superstar.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Susan Boyle, hello!
HAMMER: She even appeared on "Oprah."
WINFREY: Are you enjoying the fame?
BOYLE: Really enjoying every second of it. It`s like a dream come true.
HAMMER: But as the finals to "Britain`s Got Talent" approached, Boyle began showing signs of wear.
SZISH: Days before the final show, Susan Boyle had some public outbursts. She was even spoken to by the police and eventually moved to a safe house where she could be alone and secluded just before the big event.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Diversity!
HAMMER: And after the shocking announcement that "Britain`s Got Talent" viewers voted her the runner-up, Boyle was gracious.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do you feel right now?
BOYLE: The best people won. They`re very entertaining. Guys, I wish you all the best.
HAMMER: But the next night, London police tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they were called to a London hotel to assist an ambulance that was taking a woman they wouldn`t identify to a clinic.
British media reports that Boyle checked into this London clinic Sunday. Piers Morgan tells the "Today" show Boyle was spent.
MORGAN: The relentless global media attention just freaked her out a bit. And to be honest with you, I think it would freak any of us out.
HAMMER: The production company that produces "Britain`s Got Talent tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "Following Saturday night`s show, Susan is exhausted and emotionally drained. She has been seen by a private general practitioner who supports her decision to take some time out for rest and recovery. We offer her our ongoing support and wish her a speedy recovery."
SZISH: It`s not surprising at all that Susan Boyle cracked under all of this pressure. All of this scrutiny. All of this publicity. Some of it positive and some of it negative.
HAMMER: But even with her problems, all is not lost for Susan Boyle. She`s considered a shoo-in for some kind of record deal. And she`s already scheduled to record an album with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Her supporters believe she could have an incredible future.
MORGAN: I just feel with a bit of rest and a bit of time to calm things down that hopefully she`ll come out very soon and get to work on an album, which is what she really wants to do. And I think it will be the biggest selling album of the year.
HAMMER: But first, Susan Boyle has to make peace with a lesson she`s learning the hard way, that fame often comes with a price.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So exactly what does all of this drama mean for the world`s biggest singing star?
Joining me tonight from Hollywood is Tanika Ray who is a correspondent for "Extra." In New York tonight, Joe Levy - he is the editor-in-chief at the great "Maxim" magazine.
All right. So guys, we`ve watched Susan Boyle`s amazing rise to fame. And now this - unbelievable. She`s in a clinic. She`s recovering from exhaustion after that crushing loss on "Britain`s Got Talent."
Tanika, I`m starting with you. Were you shocked as so many people were to hear that the whole whirlwind landed Susan in the hospital?
TANIKA RAY, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Not at all. You know, we in the media get to see it from behind the scenes. And once I saw that she was not only playing sort of the mascot of "Britain`s Got Talent" for the world, but also a one-woman publicity stunt. And a lot of that was on her back.
Since when have you seen a star from Britain go across the world so thoroughly and hit every single market? Everybody wanted to get a piece of her. She was on "Extra," Skyping into Mario Lopez, our host. She was on "Oprah." She was on everybody`s show.
The world was grabbing and nitpicking at her and criticizing her. And I just knew the emotional trauma was going to hit at a breaking point at some point.
HAMMER: I don`t think any of us can really picture what it would be like to be in her shoes. I was shocked when I got the news, but I wasn`t entirely surprised to hear that after everything that she`s been through, she is suffering from exhaustion. Joe Levy, what do you think?
JOE LEVY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "MAXIM": I think I was surprised, but not shocked. That`s the difference between you and me. It`s 180 degrees.
HAMMER: OK, Joe.
LEVY: No. I think that - to be perfectly honest, let`s talk about the kind of attention that`s been paid to her. This is a woman from a small town in Scotland who has taken inordinate criticism for getting her eyebrows plucked because there were paparazzi everywhere, because she was going to be on "Oprah."
All of a sudden she wasn`t the small-town girl anymore because she got a new haircut. This is very difficult. This is crushing, crushing attention and crushing criticism. It really isn`t surprising or shocking that she`s knuckled under into this kind of pressure.
In fact, real celebrities who have an army of publicists and managers and handlers protecting them, fold under this kind of pressure all the time.
HAMMER: Yes. That`s a really good point. And it bears repeating, we cannot imagine - we cannot imagine what it must have been like to go through what she has been through over the past couple of months.
RAY: No.
HAMMER: Now, "Britain`s Got Talent" judge Piers Morgan has been a huge supporter of Susan Boyle all along. He was on the "Today" show this morning and he talked about the state of Susan Boyle`s condition right before Susan Boyle checked into the London clinic. Let`s take a look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: She was just, you know, completely exhausted. She`s had one of the most extraordinary rollercoaster rides you could possibly imagine, where she`s gone from anonymity to global superstar within the space of several weeks. And she`s just at the end of her tether. She needs to break. She needs to get away and, you know, be amongst her friends and family and away from the media glare and just chill out a bit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. He said that she needs to chill out a bit, which makes perfect sense. But Tanika, let`s think about this now in terms of the big picture for Susan. The pressure is still going to be there when she gets out of this clinic. Do you think she`ll be able to pull it together for the long haul based on what we`ve seen?
RAY: I think we have to wait and see. You know, it`s really interesting - be careful what you wish for, you know. She`s wanted this for her entire life. She was a simple woman living in a small little town, making it once a week to the karaoke bar in the neighborhood to sing.
And she thought stardom would be the answer to her prayers. And I think she got a little bit of an idea of what it`s like. She might not ever come back and sing again as far as I`m concerned. This has been - hit her really, really hard. And now that she`s seen a glimpse of it, you never know. We`ll have to wait and see.
HAMMER: Well, before Susan made that trip to the clinic, she was already showing signs of strain under the spotlight. She lashed out at some reporters last week. And Simon Cowell took a well-deserved shot at those critics who said Susan couldn`t handle the stress of her new-found fame. Let`s look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COWELL: A lot of people said you shouldn`t even be in this competition, that you`re not equipped to deal with it. For what? For you to sit home with your cat and say, "I`ve missed an opportunity." I completely disagree with that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, you know, Simon, I think, making a really good point. Joe, let me take it a step further. She needs to take break now, obviously. But this is a woman who everybody thinks potentially had a bright future.
Do you think she will still be able to capitalize on everything that she - has happened that was positive? Or do you think taking the break from the spotlight is going to be bad for her future?
LEVY: You know, it`s really a question as to whether she wants to capitalize on what`s happened. If she does, then, no - taking break from the spotlight won`t be that bad. Because - I don`t mean to be cynical, but what we`re not thinking of is the comeback story.
After she has recovered, after she`s put things back together, she can tell the story of the terrible fall, the terrible, crushing pain and what she did to recover from it. And -
HAMMER: Yes. I`ve got end to it there, Joe, but I`m with you, that unfortunately, for better or worse, it does make for a much bigger and bolder story.
RAY: Absolutely.
HAMMER: Tanika Ray and Joe Levy, thank you both. Now, let me turn over to you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Here it is - "Susan Boyle: Will she have a lasting career?" Let us know at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
So with all of the Jon and Kate news, I`m sure you`ve been wondering - where, oh where has Octo-Mom gone? Fear not, she`s back. And now she`s even got her own reality show. And now, it`s Octo-Mom versus "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Will the mother of 14 have the mother of all reality shows? And will you watch?
Also, Eminem walks out of the MTV Movie Awards. The rapper became the butt of a big joke. Eminem is furious. Did the joke go too far?
Also, this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This kind of keyboard meets this kind of keyboard -
(MUSIC)
To produce the latest Web sensation.
HAMMER: It`s the keyboard-playing cat causing a sensation on YouTube. Everywhere you look, there he is, tickling the ivories. I`ll show you the story behind the Keyboard Cat, coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - here come more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Did you see this? Tonight, it`s cat`s incredible. Yes, 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.
Did I mention Bill O`Reilly`s famous out-of-control rant is involved with this thing? Here now is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): This kind of keyboard meets this kind of keyboard -
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 (through telephone): 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: So sad that Fatso`s dead. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, I`ve got to tell you the "Showbiz on Call" phone switchboard has been on fire, literally. People calling in about "Jon & Kate Plus 8." In fact, the "Showbiz on Call" operators are now keeping fire extinguishers right next to all those crazy wires as a precaution.
Oh, look, the Keyboard Cat to the rescue. He`s just everywhere, even helping out with "Showbiz on Call."
OK. We`ve got a call in to "Showbiz on Call" from Laurie in Utah who says, Kate needs some perspective.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
LAURIE, CALLER FROM UTAH: I really think that Kate needs to step back and re-evaluate her priorities. I think she`s gotten caught up in the money and the fame. And I know she cares about her kids. But if she really, truly does, she will do whatever it takes to put that marriage back together and keep her kids on the right path in a good family and not split them all up.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Laurie. We heard from Nelly calling in from Florida saying she has confidence in Jon and Kate as parents.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
NELLY, CALLER FROM FLORIDA: I think Jon and Kate are doing an excellent job with the children. Until now, there have been no problems. And I`m sure that as parents, they`re making arrangements for these children to have a future. And that means psychological, healthy future, and also monetarily.
Everyone should give them a chance, you know? Maybe if people step back, they`ll be able to continue with something normal with their children.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Nelly, we appreciate your call, and we appreciate every call. That`s why you should call us at "Showbiz on Call" to let us know what you think about this or anything at all. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open around the clock at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. That is 1-888- 728-2899. Leave us a voicemail. We`ll play your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And your calls to "Showbiz on Call" now also online on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well, Susan Boyle has been having such a tough time with fame, even getting admitted to a clinic. But you can`t deny she has got some amazing talent.
So can Susan Boyle break through the madness and have the career she`s always dreamed about? Or will the pressure of worldwide fame ruin her future in showbiz?
And Jon and Kate versus the Octo-Mom. Octo-Mom Nadya Suleman inks a deal for a reality show just as Jon and Kate feel the backlash of their fame. Is this a good idea? And why is Octo-Mom slamming Jon and Kate?
And John Travolta`s co-star in his brand-new movie reveals how Travolta is still struggling to cope with the tragic loss of his son six months after his tragic death. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with some more stories that are making news right now.
Is Jennifer Hudson pregnant? Well, according to a new report on the "Chicago Tribune" Web site, the answer is yes. The site reports that the 27-year-old singer attended her baby shower in her hometown of Chicago over the weekend.
The Oscar-winning actress is engaged to former VH1 reality star David Otunga. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out to Hudson`s spokesperson, but as of show time, we did not hear back.
Tonight, are Paris Hilton`s neighbors offering cash to get her to move the heck out of her boyfriend`s neighborhood? Paris lives with her boyfriend, "The Hills" star Doug Reinhardt in a posh community in Hollywood.
Well, Doug`s neighbors reportedly want Paris out. In fact, they want her out so badly, they`re reportedly offering up lots and lots of money. Paris stopped by "The View" this morning and she was asked if all these reports were true.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PARIS HILTON, SINGER/ACTRESS: That`s not even true. We are never in town enough. I think - we usually stay at my house, which is in a gated community. And then, he lives right across the street from my sister. All the neighbors love us. We`ve only spent the night - maybe two nights there and we`ve never had a party.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Is somebody staying there?
HILTON: There`s paparazzi outside, actually.
BARBARA WALTER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I`m glad we can clear it up because this is the kind of thing -
(CROSS TALK)
HILTON: It`s bothering them. There`s literally 20 cars following us home from dinner and they will wait all night. And they`re talking on the street. They`re all friends - all the paparazzi.
WALTERS: Yes, they`d want you to - if you leave, the paparazzi leave?
HILTON: None of the neighbors have said that. That`s just, you know, these Web sites making up gossip.
HAMMER: All right. Thank you, Paris. Well, tonight, Lisa Ling speaks publicly for the first time about her sister, Laura, who`s being held captive in North Korea. Laura Ling is a reporter for Current TV and was taken captive along with fellow reporter Euna Lee by North Koreans in March.
The two were filing reports on North Korean defectors on the borders of North Korea and China in March when they were detained.
Now, this morning on the "Today" show, Lisa Ling revealed what happened when she got a call from her sister.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA LING, SISTER OF LAURA LING: They were visited twice by a Swedish diplomat, the Swedish ambassador. And during the second visit, he was able to bring some letters out from the girls. So we received letters on one occasion.
And last Tuesday, at 11:00, out of the blue, we got a phone call from the girls. I got the first one. And that was the only time that we actually heard from -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was their mood during that call?
LING: They`re very scared. They`re very, very scared. You know, imagine 11:00, phone rings, and I hear this little voice on the other end of the line saying, "Hi, Lee(ph), it`s me." And we haven`t heard their voices in over 2 1/2 months.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. The women will go on trial on Thursday.
Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Susan Boyle hospitalized. Is her career already in danger before it even begins?
Jon and Kate versus the Octo-Mom. Octo-Mom inking a brand-new reality show deal in the middle of the Jon and Kate drama. Why is she slamming Jon and Kate?
Eminem walks out of the MTV Movie Awards. Was he the butt of a joke that went too far? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, is Susan Boyle`s dream now a nightmare? The singing sensation rushed to the hospital. Her career in jeopardy before it even starts. It`s the fallout from Susan`s stunning loss that we never saw coming.
She`s back. The Octo-Mom gets her own reality show. And now, she`s going after "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Why she thinks her brood of 14 will be way better than the Gosselin`s drama. But will anyone watch?
Eminem storms out of the MTV Movie Awards. Was he the butt of a big joke? It`s cringe-worthy and totally hilarious, but everyone is still wondering, was it staged?
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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, where we have three big stories making news right now, including singing sensation Susan Boyle in the hospital for exhaustion.
And guess which mom of multiples is now back in the headlines? Watch out, Jon and Kate.
First up, the world`s most beloved YouTube sensation, Susan Boyle, in a London hospital tonight, after apparently buckling from all of the pressure. Now, that she has lost the competition, where does Susan go from here? And will her devoted fans be waiting for her?
Also new tonight, it`s Jon and Kate versus the Octo-Mom. Brand-new tonight, Nadya Suleman has inked her very own brand-new octo-reality show deal for her octo-brood. We`ve got the brand-new details about the show. And we also have Octo-Mom`s harsh words for Jon and Kate. You will not believe your ears.
And Jon Gosselin has something to say about all those reports that he`s been out partying with women as Kate takes the kids on a beach vacation.
All this and the surprising results to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day asking if Jon and Kate are being unfairly criticized.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood is Sharon Waxman who is the founder and editor-in-chief of "TheWrap.com." Also from Hollywood, Ken Baker, who is the executive news editor for "E!"
And I want to begin with the news that Susan Boyle is being treated at a London clinic for exhaustion, this after not winning "Britain`s Got Talent" over the weekend. Ken, starting off with you - she was showing signs of stress before the final competition. Are you surprised things got this bad? Or does it almost make sense, given how fast things happened to her and how much pressure she was under?
KEN BAKER, EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR, "E!": Well, to see someone handling fame not very well doesn`t surprise me. I mean, we`ve seen this since Greta Garbo, Marilyn Monroe, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears. I mean, hello. People don`t really deal well with fame oftentimes, and I think that definitely happened to Susan Boyle.
I mean, look, she was under so much pressure. And it`s also a good example of how the media - we can kind of build people up and then tear them right back down. And I think she enjoyed the rise and when things started to go bad and people started to criticize her - you know, she couldn`t go outside with a new hairdo without people calling her a fraud and a fake and how she was changing herself.
I think that was really hard on her. And I thought it was really sad to see her, not lose, but to see it really just go down so ugly for her, so personally - it was really difficult for her. And I think it was just really unfortunate.
HAMMER: Yes. And of course, we`re wishing her the best and hoping whatever she`s going through passes quickly. What do you think, Sharon? I mean, given how quickly she went from true obscurity, small town in Scotland, to being this worldwide phenomenon, should we be surprised at what happened to her?
SHARON WAXMAN, FOUNDER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "THEWRAP.COM": I think what`s going on with Susan Boyle brings up a much bigger question about what happens to these contestants on reality shows that are subjected to this worldwide fame, this worldwide attention, the kind of scrutiny that they never asked for.
Somebody like Susan Boyle just wanted to sing. I mean, she didn`t want necessarily to become the object of the entire world`s focus. And here now, she`s checked into a hospital.
I mean, we`ve been doing an investigation into what the fallout of reality shows - we`ve got an investigative series that we`re going to launch on the site tonight about it. And what we found are 14 different suicides related to reality shows.
HAMMER: Wow.
WAXMAN: I`m not suggesting that Susan Boyle is going to do something like that. But I mean, this is - there`s a lot of layers that go with being subject to public adoration and public humiliation.
HAMMER: Yes.
WAXMAN: And we`ve got this - it`s been going on for years now. And there`s starting to be some real statistics that relate to this kind of shows.
HAMMER: Yes. And how ironic, because you go on a show, because you`re seeking all that fame and fortune. But wow, there`s nothing to prepare you for that. So many of us, too, were just pulling for her. And a lot of us, quite frankly, were shocked, being that she was so favored, that Susan didn`t win the competition.
WAXMAN: Right.
HAMMER: However, Simon Cowell, one of the judges on the show, I think, put things in good perspective. Take a look at what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COWELL: Genuinely, I think the right act won on the night. Whoever was the most talented won. I felt disappointed for Susan because she was there, but handled herself very graciously. She`s got a great future ahead of herself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So looking forward then, Ken, does Simon have it exactly right? Is the hospitalization really just now a speed bump on Susan`s way to a pretty bright future?
BAKER: I don`t know because I`m not seeing her medical report. I don`t know what Simon`s definition of gracious is -
HAMMER: I think he was referring to her reaction on stage, Ken.
BAKER: No, I understand. But what I`m saying is that it was really - this is a woman who really went through a personal hell. And I think she was putting on a brave face. He is right with that. And I don`t know if she can really recover and I don`t if she wants to.
There were reports that she didn`t even want to be in the finals, that she was going to walk off the stage last week before the final weekend. I think this woman probably just wants to go away and get out of the limelight for a while. And it will probably be a really good thing for her.
HAMMER: Well, she should be allowed to do whatever she wants to do.
All right. Let`s move on now to the brand-new explosive news. Octo-Mom is back and she`s confirmed she will be starring in her very own reality show with her 14 kids. Oh, goody!
The Octo-Mom is going to be working with a British production company. This is a show that`s initially set to air in Britain. Then she hopes it`s going to wind up here in the United States.
Now, Suleman`s attorney is telling this to "People" magazine, quote, "Nadya knows she has to do something, but she doesn`t want the constant filming because she feels that would be taking advantage of her kids. She`s trying to find the middle ground and feels this approach will work best."
I`m sorry. And Sharon, please help me out here. Tell me if I`m off-base. If you`re taping your kids for TV, it`s a show to make money. Yes, they become a commodity. Yes, you`re then exploiting them, and therefore, aren`t you taking advantage of them?
WAXMAN: Yes, you`re absolutely taking advantage of your kids. Maybe there ought to be some kind of rule that keeps babies or children under the age of 12 off of reality shows, because they have no control over their lives.
And here, you`re basically inviting the world again literally into your living room. And who knows what the consequences are for these kids going on. I mean, we could wonder what the consequences are for these children being raised by Nadya Suleman anyway.
HAMMER: Yes.
WAXMAN: But in addition, place the pressure of public - the public being invited in. I mean, the record is not so great. Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey had a reality show. They ended up in divorce.
We`ve had many, many reality shows that have had detrimental effects on real life, the actual lives of the people who are on them. When it comes to kids, I think there ought to be some real thought put into that by the production companies, because we can`t rely on parents necessarily to be responsible.
HAMMER: Yes. And listen to this. Octo-Mom, get this, slamming "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Her attorney telling "People" magazine that Nadya doesn`t want her show to look anything like "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and that she`s been watching their show lately and thinks that their show is boring.
Ken, given all the controversy and criticism swirling around "Jon & Kate Plus 8," isn`t this a hugely bad move for Octo-Mom? I mean, people are going to be relentless over this.
BAKER: Well, I don`t know if at this point she can actually win in the war of public opinion. People think she`s a joke. They don`t respect her. They think she`s a bad mom. They think she`s a lunatic. And I don`t think that anything she can do is going to change that.
HAMMER: All right. Moving on now to the Jon and Kate alleged cheating controversy. A brand-new statement out today from Jon Gosselin trying to clear up reports that have been flying around since he was photographed drinking beer with two women over the Memorial Day weekend.
Jon telling "People" magazine, quote, "The two women with whom I have been photographed are family friends, Lauren Glassman and Lauren`s daughter, Hailey. Lauren`s husband, Dr. Larry Glassman, performed Kate`s tummy tuck surgery, and since the surgery, we`ve become family with the Glassmans."
Wow. I feel bad for the Glassmans right now being brought into this. Jon knows everything he does, every move he makes, being scrutinized. But Sharon, do you think Jon`s statement will be enough to get people to back off of him and the idea that he`s cheating on Kate?
WAXMAN: Yes. Good luck. I think these people have become the Angelina Jolie and the Jennifer Aniston, you know, stand-ins for our pop culture now. And even, Kate even kind of looks like Victoria Beckham to me, or maybe it`s only me.
But I mean, we`re now feeding off those guys the same way we feed off all those tabloid stars who don`t seem to be, you know - every time they go to the grocery store. Now, we got to know what Jon and Kate do at the grocery store and at the beach and they lay down on the dolls. But all I can say is, they asked for it, but they didn`t ask for what they`re getting.
HAMMER: Well, they`re getting if you put yourself on TV, you`d better be ready for it. I don`t se a light at the end of that tunnel anytime soon.
WAXMAN: Yes.
HAMMER: Sharon Waxman and Ken Baker, thank you both. All right. As we move on tonight, Eminem`s comic karma bites him in the butt, literally. Eminem has no fun making fun of Britney and Jessica and just about everybody else in Hollywood in his brand-new video.
But you have got to see what happens when he is the butt of the joke at this year`s movie awards. It is the hysterical moment. It`s gone viral online. And if you missed it, I`ve got it, coming up next.
Plus, the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad traveling down under to find out if Nicole Kidman is going to hear the pitter patter of little feet for the fourth time.
We will also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENZEL WASHINGTON, ACTOR: I talked to John for about three hours about two weeks ago. And you know, he`s going through it. It`s tears one moment and laughter the next.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Denzel Washington`s revealing new interview about how John Travolta is coping six months after the death of his son. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SACHA BARON COHEN, ACTOR: It`s absolute (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Eminem, nice to meet you.
EMINEM, RAPPER: Are you serious?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Did you see this? It`s the totally outrageous, jaw-dropping moment from the MTV Movie Awards that`s got everybody talking today. Em seemed truly ticked off and he stormed out.
But everybody is still wondering, was he in on it or was he really just the butt of the joke?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
The MTV Movie Awards are the anti-Oscars, to say the least, with categories like best fight and best WTF moment. But it`s not all toilet humor. No, MTV can do highbrow, kind of, handing out its version of a lifetime achievement award, the generation award, this year to Ben Stiller.
The actor and director was honored by the biggest stars in Hollywood, Kiefer Sutherland, Zac Efron, and Triumph, the Comic Dog.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIEFER SUTHERLAND, ACTOR: Ben, I have never had the privilege of working with you. But when I see the remarkable consistency you display in your films, whether you`re portraying a man with his (EXPLETIVE DELETED) caught in his zipper or a man struggling to control his diarrhea on a date, I see a consummate professional who commands the respect of his co-actors.
And I am certain that if one of the many people you`ve actually worked with had agreed to be here tonight, they would confirm that sentiment.
TRIUMPH, THE COMIC DOG: Speaking of torture, congratulations on "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian."
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
It`s no wonder that you keep delighting us with hilarious films. Your parents are the great Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
I guess comedy is in your DNA, along with monkey ears, monkey arms, and monkey forehead. I hope there`s a special place on your mantle reserved for this award, right next to your bananas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Ben seemed really pleased with all that. What`s an award show without musical tributes? This year`s award show host, Andy Samberg, has made some of the raunchiest digital shorts on "Saturday Night Live" including of course "Junk in a Box." And in Andy`s honor, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and LeAnn Rimes and Chris Isaac took "Junk" to a whole new hilarious level.
HAMMER: There you go. Heath Ledger was also posthumously honored as best villain.
Well, tonight, it`s the women over 40 who rock. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has teamed up with "More" magazine to name the top 10 women over 40 who are still kicking butt on-stage. And they don`t just rock because of their chart-topping hits. They inspire us off-stage as well because they`ve been there, done that and they are stronger than ever.
I am talking about Madonna, Tina Turner and Melissa Etheridge, just to name a few. Tonight, it`s our exclusive look at the top ten women over 40 who can still rock out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Legendary singer Tina Turner sings about being simply the best. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Tina is just one of the best rockers over 40 who are fabulous.
LESLEY JANE SEYMOUR, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "MORE" MAGAZINE: Tina Turner is 69. I`m calling her the grandmother of rock.
HAMMER: The grandmother of rock who has plenty of company in the over 40 category. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and "More" magazine are teaming up to reveal the queens of rock over 40 who still keep rolling like Tina.
KATRINA SZISH, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: Those legs, that hair, those miniskirts, that voice - the whole package is incredible.
HAMMER: You can say that again. And Tina even told Oprah being a senior has its fringe benefits.
TINA TURNER, SINGER: My senior life is so much better than when I was young. I am - the wisdom, the way I sing, my attitude towards things.
HAMMER: Hi, attitude. Meet Madonna, our next rocker over 40 who just gets better and better with age. At the age of 50, she`s got "Four Minutes" and Justin Timberlake on her side.
HAMMER: With hits like "Four Minutes," the master of attention-getting still knows how to keep people guessing.
SEYMOUR: She`s going to keep reinventing herself, changing who she is, always having a new boyfriend, always having a new look, always surprising you.
HAMMER: So it`s no surprise her concerts still sell out.
SEYMOUR: This last "Sticky and Sweet" tour actually was the highest grossing tour of 2008, $105 million.
HAMMER: That is a lot of do, re, mi. And also rocking it for millions of fans worldwide is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and "More" magazine`s next woman rocker over 40, Fleetwood Mac front woman, Stevie Nicks, who is 60 and still rocking it by a landslide like she did on "Ellen."
SEYMOUR: I still want to be her. I still want her clothes. I still want her hair. I think we are all like that with her. She`s like a sister.
HAMMER: A sister of rock who has company in this over 40 category of rock `n rollers, like Melissa Etheridge.
SEYMOUR: Still rocking it out. She`s doing a great job. And I think she is actually at her prime right now.
HAMMER: Indeed she is. Etheridge is not just a rocker. She`s a survivor who battled breast cancer and at the 2005 Grammy Awards, shared her message of hope with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
MELISSA ETHERIDGE, SINGER: Chemotherapy is horrible. And I know there should be people out there right now laying in bed on chemotherapy. And I`m just here to tell you, yes, it sucks. But you know what? You get better and the hair grows back.
HAMMER: And stronger than ever, Sheryl Crow still sings the theme song for women of all ages.
SZISH: Sheryl Crow has this amazing sort of bohemian quality that makes you forget that she is actually 47 years old. Her lyrics are always upbeat. They`re always happy. They`re always smart and very insightful. Whatever they are, they really appeal to all age groups.
HAMMER: Kylie Minogue, we are out of our minds at the notion you`ve already turned 40.
SZISH: Kylie Minogue, no matter what her age, will always have this sort of pixie-like sex appeal.
HAMMER: Which is why SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and "More" magazine induct her into our beautiful world of over 40 rockers.
SEYMOUR: Now, I think you will see her keep going for another, you know, 20-something years.
HAMMER: So hear, hear for 20 more years, to all the gals in this fabulous, over 40 set, keep on rocking it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And here is the rest of the list of the top 10 women over 40 who rock - Bonnie Raitt who is 59; Patti Smith, 62; Patti Labelle at 64; and Chrissie Hynde, who is 57.
Tonight, a revealing new interview how John Travolta is coping with the death of his son. John`s co-star in his brand-new movie reveals what John`s life is like now. The heartbreaking interview coming up next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Last survivor of Titanic`s ill-fated voyage in 1912 dies; she was 97 years old. Emmys to air on CBS September 13; nominees to be announced next month.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, Denzel Washington reveals John Travolta`s deep pain six months after the death of John`s son. Denzel and John are starring together in the action-packed thriller, "The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3." This is John`s first movie since his 16-year-old son Jett died in January after suffering seizure in the Bahamas.
Well, Denzel is now promoting "Pelham" without his co-star. And Denzel is a father himself. He got emotional revealing that John is still very distraught and still struggling every single day to cope with the loss of his only son.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WASHINGTON: I talked to John for about three hours two weeks ago, about two weeks ago. And you know, he`s going through it. It`s tears one moment and laughter the next.
And you know, what can you say? You know, I have four children. What can you say other than, you know, I love him and we prayed for him and his family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s the best support you can give.
WASHINGTON: That`s all you can do. You just be there. Just be a good listener.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: "The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3" will be in theaters on June 12th.
All right. Tonight, we are firing up the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad to find out whether or not Nicole Kidman is going to be a mom again.
Now, there are no baby bump sightings, but there are reports floating around that Nicole and Keith Urban are trying to adopt a baby from Vietnam. The story in an Australian magazine even quotes Vietnamese authorities about the pending adoption.
But tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the story is totally false. In fact, Nicole`s rep tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "The story is a complete fabrication. Nothing about it is true."
On Friday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It was this - "`Jon and Kate Plus 8` Controversy: Is it unfair to criticize the reality show stars?" 32 percent of you said yes; 68 percent of you said absolutely not.
Among the E-mails, we heard from Martin in Florida. Martin writing, "We as the public must speak up for these children who have no say whether or not they wish to have millions of people watching their most private moments. They should be stopped."
Erica from Maryland writing, "Had Jon and Kate not begun this series, those children might not have had the experiences the show provided."
Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
You can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
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