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Showbiz Tonight
The Clamor to Pull the Plug on "Jon & Kate Plus 8"; Linda Hogan`s Dramatic Fight Against Her Own Family; The Angelina-Oprah Power Controversy; Brooke Anderson`s Baby Photo Album
Aired June 04, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the dramatic call to cancel "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the startling and very powerful brand-new demand to pull the plug on the controversial reality show. Will Jon and Kate get the ax?
Plus, reality bites. The biggest reality stars right here, all fired up about the biggest reality TV messes.
Tonight, the Angelina Jolie-Oprah Winfrey power smackdown. Angelina Jolie named more powerful than Oprah. Her movies, her kids. Brad Pitt versus Oprah`s talk empire. And tons of money.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the great debate. Is Angelina really more powerful than Oprah?
Plus, Brooke`s baby photo album. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson has a baby. Tonight, your very first look at the amazing pictures of Brooke`s beautiful baby girl.
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, the call to cancel "Jon & Kate." Wow, there is a dramatic and nationwide call tonight to actually pull the plug on "Jon & Kate Plus 8." After months of controversy that began with claims Jon was having an affair and all the fallout that followed, there is a very public and very powerful demand today that TLC cancel the show for the sake of everyone, including, of course, Jon and Kate`s eight kids.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, there have been shock waves from coast to coast, which is why we can now reveal that the call to cancel "Jon & Kate" is making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): A movement is beginning to sweep the nation. As an increasingly angry legion gives voice to a single unifying demand, cancel "Jon & Kate Plus 8."
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": I have a lot of anger.
HAMMER: Jon and Kate Gosselin continue to make headline after headline with their marital problems. And their relationship on their reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" is so incredibly tense right now, you almost want to look away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What`s the status of where you guys are right now?
K. GOSSELIN: I wish I knew.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, some people are now saying, enough is enough. It`s time for "Jon & Kate Plus 8" to go.
L. BRENT BOZELL, PRESIDENT, MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER: If the public cares about this family and cares about these children, maybe the public ought to start suggesting that this show should come to an end.
HAMMER: That sentiment is voiced in a scathing new column for the New York "Daily News" where TV writer Richard Huff writes, "After two disjointed episodes this week, combined with the continuous drumbeat over the family`s serious real-life issues, it is painfully clear this show will never go back to being the sweet, if not occasionally annoying, series it was before. TLC executives should step up and do the right thing, kill `Jon & Kate Plus 8,` the TV series now."
BOZELL: Everyone involved, to one degree or another, kind of disgusts me.
HAMMER: Brent Bozell of the Media Research Center tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the Gosselin`s tabloid-friendly marital troubles have all but destroyed the charming family show that "Jon & Kate Plus 8" once was.
JON GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": It might be a crazy life.
K. GOSSELIN: But it`s our life.
BOZELL: Today, they`re in "People" magazine trash talking each other with allegations of infidelity on both sides, not speaking to each other, showing the world that it`s a train wreck of a marriage.
HAMMER: A train wreck that Bozell says is harmful to Jon and Kate`s eight children.
UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Happy birthday, Mommy!
HAMMER: As well as the kids who may be watching at home.
BOZELL: It`s destructive to the culture. It`s degrading to marriage. It`s harmful to those children.
HAMMER: So, is there a chance that TLC, the network that airs "Jon & Kate Plus 8," will heed public calls to cancel its most popular show in the name of social responsibility?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, you have as much chance seeing Fox cancel "American Idol" or Lindsay Lohan joining a convent. In other words, don`t bet on it.
K. GOSSELIN: Very swiftly, we turned into two different people and it`s just hard.
HAMMER: Nearly 10 million viewers watched the season premiere of "Jon & Kate Plus 8," which aired right during the height of Jon and Kate`s his- and-her cheating scandals. Jon and Kate do acknowledge the toll their popularity is taking on their family.
J. GOSSELIN: We originally did the show to document our kid`s lives and, I mean, it`s become a business, just like anything else.
K. GOSSELIN: He doesn`t like being in the limelight. And I think he`s really just wanting to bust out of here and try to make it all go away. Which, again - news flash, it`s not going to.
HAMMER: But there`s no sign they`re going to pull the plug on their show, for which they reportedly earn millions.
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, TRU TV: 50 percent of the Americans have been there where Jon and Kate are.
HAMMER: Tru TV`s Ashleigh Banfield tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Jon and Kate may be reflecting a sad reality, but it`s still reality, whether people want to watch it or not.
BANFIELD: In scripted television, you typically have a fairy tale ending. In reality, we all know that`s just not the way our lives work out. This is the way it works, folks. For better or for worse, sometimes reality bites.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, it is not just Jon and Kate`s marriage that`s a mess. There are lots of other reality shows that have torn families apart. Coming up, it`s a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event, "Reality Bites."
Right here, I`ve got some of the biggest reality stars who are all fired up about the biggest reality TV messes.
Tonight, the Angelina-Oprah power smackdown. So is it absurd to say that Angelina Jolie is really more powerful than Oprah Winfrey? Well, in a brand-new power list out today, "Forbes" magazine names Angelina the most powerful celebrity in the world, knocking Oprah from the top spot and leaving her behind in second place. Oprah in second place, really?
Joining me tonight in New York, Carolina Bermudez who is a senior editor with "In Touch Weekly." Also in New York, Katrina Szish who is a celebrity journalist.
This really comes as a big birthday gift for Angelina Jolie. She happens to turn 34 today. "Forbes" looked at the fame and fortune factor between Oprah and Angelina.
Here`s how it shakes out. OK. Angelina certainly has massive box office appeal. She and Brad make a glamorous power couple. But Oprah`s got the highly rated talk show. She`s got her magazine, her own network coming in a year and really, more money than she knows what to do with. Carolina, how can Angelina be more powerful than Oprah?
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": A.J., I have no idea. How can anyone be bigger than the mighty Oprah? And how can Angelina be number one and our president at number 49? You know, I don`t know how they came up with this list. But I think an editor over at "Forbes" may have a crush on Angelina Jolie, and that`s the reason why she took the top spot. Because there`s really no rhyme or reason to her being number one.
HAMMER: You never know. It could be crush factor, but they didn`t mention that. "Forbes" did say that Angelina made $27 million last year. That`s not bad, but let`s compared it to Oprah`s $275 million.
Now, their logic for naming her more powerful is the publicity that she generates. They say it`s because her personal life puts her without fail on the cover of tabloid entertainment magazines and a bunch of them every single week.
Now, Katrina, Oprah made 10 times more money than Angelina. Does any of this make sense to you?
KATRINA SZISH, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: Absolutely not. Hey, Angelina is gorgeous. We love to look at her. We know she`s on every cover of every tabloid magazine. But does that really mean you`re powerful?
I think Oprah does things that change people`s lives. She really does lots of things. I mean, Angelina does wonderful things, too. But it`s Oprah. I mean, it just makes no sense.
HAMMER: But it certainly has people talking.
SZISH: Yes, absolutely.
HAMMER: Everybody is buzzing about the whole Angelina-Oprah power smackdown. In fact, this morning on "Live with Regis and Kelly," CNN`s own Anderson Cooper was filling in for Reg. And he and Kelly Ripa decided they wanted to poll the audience to see who they thought was more powerful. Let`s watch what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, GUEST HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": Angelina Jolie - she does great work and she still has movies and stuff. And she seems like a wonderful person. But it seems like Oprah has more of a daily influence.
KELLY RIPA, CO-HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": I don`t know. I mean, I don`t know how they judge this.
COOPER: What do you think? How many people think Oprah is the most powerful?
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
How many people say Angelina Jolie?
RIPA: Oh, no. No, Angelina.
(APPLAUSE)
COOPER: All right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I think I heard like a single clap. One of those people going - now, Carolina, let me ask you, if this list perhaps was voted on by the public, this power list, do you think it would have played out in a very different way?
BERMUDEZ: Oh, come on, A.J. Definitely. That was the sound of one man clapping over there at "Regis and Kelly."
HAMMER: Maybe it was Brad.
BERMUDEZ: I don`t know. It probably was. No, listen. If we did a poll at "In Touch Weekly," we would get completely different results. They would probably think Robert Pattinson or Joe Jonas is the most powerful person in the world.
I think it`s just a matter of opinion. And you know, again, I don`t know how they came up with this list. Yes, she is very influential. She`s done a lot of great humanitarian work. She is a box office babe. But to be more powerful than Oprah, I doubt that.
HAMMER: Well, here`s the thing - when you hear the name Angelina, you know the names Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are sure to follow, and they do on this particular list. Check this out. Jennifer Aniston right there at number eight on the "Forbes" Celebrity 100, topping her ex-husband Brad Pitt. He`s all the way down at number nine. Kind of like the curious case of Brangelina-Aniston triad here.
Katrina, do you buy that Jennifer Aniston is more powerful than Brad Pitt? What about that?
SZISH: Oh, they`re so close there at number nine and 10. I don`t think that Jen`s more powerful than Brad. But I do think that she has been the woman scorned. And so I think that might get her a little bit more of the sympathy vote.
And I think that`s why she might beat out brad just a little bit. Hey, let`s say she raked in $25 million last year for films. But we know that Brad didn`t do too bad either. They`re really neck-in-neck.
HAMMER: Yes. And Brad has an awful lot of influence. He`s done amazing charity work. And using his name and his influence has taken his charities very far.
Carolina, what do you think about that ranking there, Jen more powerful than Brad?
BERMUDEZ: Well, the only reason why I think that Jen would be more powerful is because of endorsements, you know. She has her celebrity endorsements and she`s also been working on movies as well.
Brad has kind of taken a back seat. He`s the daddy of six now, so he`s taking a step back. And you know, he`s working on his various different projects. And I think it`s more - he`s putting his time to things that he really loves now.
HAMMER: Yes. And I don`t think he`s complaining at all.
BERMUDEZ: Yes.
HAMMER: Carolina Bermudez, Katrina Szish, I thank you both.
All right. Let`s turn this over to you. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Angelina Jolie: Is she more powerful than Oprah Winfrey?" You can let us know how you feel at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E- mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, Angelina Jolie has now, what, six kids, right? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson, not quite there yet. She just had her first, we are happy to report. And I`ve got to tell you, her baby is absolutely adorable. I`m not just saying that because I`m biased.
Tonight, I`ve got your very first look at the amazing pictures of Brooke`s beautiful baby girl. Get ready to say, aww. And Brooke`s going to join me right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to tell me how the whole mommy thing is going so far. Can`t wait to speak with her. We will do that, coming up.
Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS: Bo sank his choppers into a foam windscreen on a camera- mounted microphone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The president`s dog has a lot of bark and a lot of bite. It`s biting Bo. Is the first dog declaring war on the White House press corps by chomping away?
And the truth about the tush. Tonight, Eminem revealing if that whole "Sacha Baron Cohen butt in his face" thing at the MTV Movie Awards was staged. The SHOWBIZ Truth Squad getting to the bottom of this. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, it`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: A & E denies reports Patrick Swayze`s show, "The Beast," has been cancelled. Sacha Baron Cohen is being sued by a woman claiming a "Bruno" prank left her disabled.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: All right. Score one for team Aniston. According to AOL`s new pet site, PawNation.com, Jennifer Aniston is the celebrity most people would feel comfortable leaving their pets with.
Here`s some other stuff from the survey. The late Leona Helmsley who left her dog Trouble $12 million - no surprise here - she`s the craziest pet owner ever.
And the favorite celebrity animal of all time - it`s Snoopy edging out Lassie.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. I can also tell you that in that poll, Millie, the first President Bush`s dog was picked as the favorite presidential pet of all time.
Well, I bet President Obama`s dog Bo would have something about that. Tonight, biting Bo - is the first dog declaring war on the White House press corps? He chomped away on a reporter`s microphone and he`s already creating a lot of canine controversy.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What makes the first dog pant? Here`s a hint, White House staffer legs up, assuming a protective position.
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: He loves to chew on people`s feet.
MOOS: But instead of feet, it`s the press that got publicly chewed out. Bo sank his choppers into foam windscreen on a camera mounted microphone. Despite how we slobbered over him, Bo treats the press like this, even when NBC got exclusive access.
When a Web site posed the question who will the Obama`s dog bite first, a microphone wasn`t among the options. By the way, Michelle Obama is ahead in the "who will Bo bite first" poll not counting the 73 percent who said no one. But others are taking a bite out of Bo. He`s been turned into a children`s book, a Beanie Baby.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he`s available at select stores.
MOOS: A cartoon featuring Bo, Vice President Joe Biden and the president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, how about fetching my slippers? No, Bo. I was talking to Joe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here`s your slippers, Mr. President.
MOOS: After President Obama demonstrated Bo`s ability to shake on NBC.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: See, that`s a good dog.
MOOS: Jimmy Kimmel got his paws on the video.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He`s a good guy. He`s got a great temperament.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`s still very much a puppy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good dog.
MOOS (on camera): Cute comedy clip, but no one would really try to actually teach a dog to do a fist bump, would they?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The second step is where we take the treat and we put it in our fist.
MOOS (voice-over): Oh, yes they would. Teach their dog the Bo-Obama first bump.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We put it up to the dog to sniff, and there he goes.
MOOS: But a doggy fist bump is nothing compared to what Bo has inspired a golden doodle by the name of Elton Dog to do. Instead of chewing on microphones, Bo, try tickling the ivories.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well played. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, I can tell you when you call in to "Showbiz on Call," you are definitely not barking up the wrong tree. In fact, right now I`m going to throw our "Showbiz on Call" operators a bone. They`re working so hard, doing overtime. So many calls coming in about "Jon & Kate Plus 8."
We got a call in to "Showbiz on Call" from Erica in Tennessee. She thinks it`s time to back off Jon and Kate.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I think everybody should leave Jon and Kate alone. Jon`s a wonderful father and I sure hope that Jon and Kate can work things out for the sake of those eight beautiful kids.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, thank you, Erica. We also heard from Sandy calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Illinois. And she is on team Jon.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: Your question regarding Jon - I think he is all class, genuine, 100 percent hilarious, great, dry sense of humor, great expressions, phenomenal father. I think that he has the more dignified personality. He never changed.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Sandy. We appreciate your call as well. Please call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about this or anything at all. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open all the time.
The number is 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. All you have to do is leave us a voicemail. That way, we can try to play some of your calls here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We`re posting them, too, on homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well, tonight, I am unleashing the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad to set the record straight on some fully stunning Hollywood reports.
Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie - are they really breaking up? And why is Angelina speaking out about this explosive report in the first place? That is coming up.
Also, the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad is on the trail of the truth about tush. Tonight, Eminem finally setting the record straight. Was that whole "Sacha Baron Cohen butt in his face" at the MTV Movie Awards a staged act or was it the real deal?
And this is great. Brooke`s baby photo album. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson has a baby. Tonight, your very first look at the amazing pictures of Brooke`s beautiful baby girl and Brooke joining me to tell us how mommy-hood is going. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: 4 million people watched Will Ferrell eat reindeer eye-sockets on "Man Versus Wild." "Law & Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay using stunt doubles after on-set injury.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Some sad news to tell about. "Kung Fu" star David Carradine has died. According to officials, Carradine was found hanging by a rope in a hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand where he was shooting a film. Investigators found no sign of forced entry into his room. An autopsy will be done.
Carradine became famous in the `70s starring in the TV series "Kung Fu." More recently, he starred as Bill in Quentin Tarantino`s "Kill Bill" movies. David Carradine is survived by his wife and four children. He was 72.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer with some more stories that are making news right now.
And tonight, I can tell you Whitney Houston is back. Whitney`s brand new album, the first in seven years, came out on September 1st. And here`s a brand-new picture of 45-year-old Whitney.
Look at this. I`ve got to say if her new album sounds as good as she`s looking right now, this is going to be great.
But it looks Whitney`s ex, Bobby Brown, is trying to upstage Whitney`s big announcement. At a performance in Las Vegas, Bobby announced he and his girlfriend had a baby boy named Cassius four days ago. It`s Bobby`s fifth kid.
And tonight, President Obama is revealing what he really thinks about all those "Saturday Night Live" skits.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRED ARMISEN, ACTOR (as Barack Obama): Hello. I`m Barack Obama. I keep it cool. When I accomplish a mission, there isn`t going to a banner. I`m just going to do this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was Fred Armisen as Obama. I think he does a pretty good job. But what does the president think? Well, Obama says so far so good. In fact, here`s what he told NBC`s Brian Williams for his inside the White House special.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN WILLIAMS, NBC NEWS ANCHOR: Fred Armisen of "Saturday Night Live" - what do you think?
B. OBAMA: You know, I don`t watch "Saturday Night Live" that often, but I`ve seen a couple of the skits.
ARMISEN: One thing has become clear. No matter circumstances, I am going to keep it cool.
B. OBAMA: Folks are still working on sort of the rhythm of my voice, which I guess is a little bit unusual. But he seems to be starting to get it down a little bit. The ears aren`t quite as big on the show as they are in person, so they - that`s presumably a makeup situation. They can do something about that.
And every once in a while, you know, you`ll see like an Obama bubblehead or something. And you`ll think, "Huh, never thought I had a bubblehead."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, you know you`ve made it not only when you`re the president, but when you get your own bubblehead.
It is time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup. This is what is coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
An explosive SHOWBIZ special event, "Reality Bites." Tonight, reality stars right here. They are fired up about the biggest reality messes - like "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Should the show be cancelled?
Also, our reality stars go to town on the Hogans. What tore this family apart?
And Eminem sets the record straight. Was that "Sacha Baron Cohen butt in his face" stunt at the MTV Movie Awards staged? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Mary-Kate Olsen and Vanessa Hudgens to star in new "Beauty and the Beast" film. Number 5 is alive! "Short Circuit"," 1986 movie about a life-like robot, to be remade.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K. GOSSELIN: My kids are the reason I have always done everything. My kids were the reason I lay on bed rest for 30 entire weeks. My kids were the reason that I wrote the books.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a SHOWBIZ special event, "Reality Bites." Tonight, TV`s biggest reality TV stars are right here sounding off on Jon and Kate`s family meltdown.
Reality also bites for the Hogans. Our reality stars on Linda Hogan`s dramatic fight against her own family. They claim she`s using drugs and we have the drug test results.
And Brooke Anderson`s baby photo album. Yes, we`ve got your very first look at the amazing pictures of Brooke`s beautiful baby girl. And Brooke joins us to tell us all about mommy-hood.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, it is an explosive SHOWBIZ special event, "Reality Bites." Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the biggest reality stars right here, right now. I`ve got to tell you they are so fired up about the biggest reality TV messes, and they`re going to help us answer the burning questions for each one.
It`s "Reality Bites" for Jon and Kate Gosselin. And tonight, the brand-new, dramatic call to cancel their family reality show is growing. In fact, the heat has been turned up so high on this family, how can they not get burned?
The Hogan family smackdown. Brand-new tonight, Linda Hogan fighting back against her daughter Brooke and soon to be ex-husband Hulk about their claims she`s using drugs. And we have her drug test results.
And wait until you hear the brand-new interview with disgraced ex- Governor Rod Blagojevich. His brand-new startling comments about his wife Patty taking place on a reality show "I`m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here."
Joining me tonight in Hollywood is Gretchen Bonaduce. Gretchen, of course, is the star of the brand-new hit reality show, "Reinventing Bonaduce" on the Fox Reality Channel. And in New York tonight is Jill Zarin, star of "Real Housewives of New York City." I really appreciate you both being here.
And I want to begin with Jon and Kate Gosselin. Now, the tabloids have been on fire. They`ve been reporting about their alleged cheating scandals. And tonight, I can tell you there is growing concern about the kids.
Today, there was actually a call to cancel "Jon & Kate Plus 8." So, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s first burning question, should Jon and Kate end the show?
Gretchen Bonaduce, I want to begin with you. You certainly are no stranger to reality shows. In fact, you`re currently starring in, as I mention, your own show, "Reinventing Bonaduce."
But in your first show, we saw it happen. You starred alongside your ex-husband, Danny Bonaduce, in "Breaking Bonaduce."
GRETCHEN BONADUCE, REALITY TV STAR, "REINVENTING BONADUCE": Yes.
HAMMER: Everything about your life, including the breakdown of your marriage with Danny, was documented front and center. So, as somebody has been in that fire, what do you think? Should Jon and Kate get out of the frying pan before they really get burned?
BONADUCE: Well, what I think is that reality shows don`t ruin marriages - cheating does. I mean, almost every reality show that I`ve seen with married couples, you started reading about this person`s cheating, this person is up to something. That is really what I think is ruining shows.
I really feel like your life is going on, no matter what the cameras are rolling anyway. You know, they`re just documenting what`s happening. So I don`t feel like reality shows are responsible at all.
HAMMER: Well, the pressure certainly has been on Jon and Kate. And we`ve seen the intensity between them throughout the show. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has obtained some brand-new clips. I want to show you one of Jon and Kate from the new episode that`s going to air this coming Monday.
And if you take a look at this, everybody hanging out nicely in the kitchen there, just cooking there with chef Emeril Lagasse. It`s kind of like the old times on the show before the scandal.
Jill Zarin, what do you think? They may look all well and good right now. But for the sake of the kids, I mean, should TLC really think about canceling "Jon & Kate Plus 8?"
JILL ZARIN, REALITY TV STAR, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY": You know, I don`t think TLC should consider canceling it. It`s making tons of money for them. But I think hat Jon and Kate should reconsider whether they should be back on the show again and consider even walking off midseason.
But the truth is, like, it seems that they got married very young. And you know, 50 percent of marriages do end in divorce. I`m divorced. I got married when I was 23. I got divorced 10 years later. We grew apart. We`re different people. And I really clearly - physically, she`s a different person today than she was when he married her.
HAMMER: Well, no surprise here. We have been hearing from a lot of the viewers. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have literally been shorting out electrical panels all over our building today. I mean, we were having problems with the servers and everything.
Joann from Nevada called in and does not mince her words about how she feels about Kate Gosselin. Listen to Joann.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: After her tummy tuck, Kate stated she never wanted to miss a week in her children`s lives again. If their lives are so important to her, why is Kate doing so much traveling with speaking engagements and book signings?
Isn`t the $3 million income a year from the show enough? She needs to reprioritize her life and not put her own celebrity ahead of her children.
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Joann. Joann really bringing up this growing sentiment that`s out there about Jon and Kate that maybe they`re more concerned now about their celebrity, now that they`re in so deep, than the effect that the reality show is having on the kids.
Gretchen, what do you think? You`ve been there. You`ve done that.
BONADUCE: Right.
HAMMER: Is it just crazy to subject kids to the reality show cameras all the time as they`re doing?
BONADUCE: Well, you know what? I didn`t feel like our reality show damaged our children. Because I said, that was our life that was happening. Whether the cameras were rolling or not, that`s the life we lived.
But the one thing that I never factored in was the Internet and the things like that. I had a teenage daughter, and she could read a lot of the things. And people are just so unbelievably vicious. And that`s very hard to protect your children from.
HAMMER: Yes. And that brings us right to our next burning question, involving the family of the one-time hit reality show "Hogan Knows Best." The burning question here is, will the Hogans ever get along?
Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has obtained the brand-new results of a drug test that Linda just took after her soon-to-be ex Hulk Hogan and her daughter Brooke claimed Linda was taking drugs.
And the results are in. Can we put this up here? Everything is good. Linda is clean. Everything came back negative here.
This is just mind-boggling to me, considering especially what a beloved family this was before the reality show started, even for the first, you know, few moments of the reality show. Jill, do you think there`s anything these guys can do to fix this?
ZARIN: You know, it`s disgusting. I`m sorry to tell you. I think that her daughter - I mean, it`s one thing for her ex-husband or, you know exes to go after each other. But the bond between a mother and daughter is supposed to be inseparable.
You saw it with the Spellings and I`m seeing it again. And it`s just very, very sad. I think Brooke, even if she`s got some issues and I`m so happy that the mother is vindicated. I really am.
BONADUCE: Me, too.
ZARIN: Because I think it`s disgusting. Because certainly, if she had a drug problem, it`s something that needs to be dealt with seriously and privately, whether it`s rehab or whatever. And for her daughter to make it a public issue is disgusting.
HAMMER: I want to move on to our next burning question tonight. This has to do with Rod Blagojevich. We are asking, is there a future in Hollywood for Blago?
Now, the disgraced ex-governor of Illinois, as we know, has sent his wife Patty to the jungle so she - I mean, I know. This was so she can take his place on the brand-new season of the NBC reality show, "I`m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here."
Patty took her husband`s place after a judge in his corruption case said he couldn`t leave the country. And in a brand-new interview with CNN`s Larry King, Blago said he had no choice but to be a part of that reality show. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROD BLAGOJEVICH, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS: But it`s a way for us to make a living as we rebuild our lives, keep our kids in the same school that they are in, stay in the same home that they`ve lived in, just try to keep as much of a normal life for our children as possible, even though we have this short period of time in the month of June that their mom is gone and she`s making a sacrifice because she loves her kids. And eating that tarantula like she had to is an act of love. It`s a sign that this is a mother who loves her children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. I never thought I`d hear a former governor say that. Jill, desperate times call for desperate measures there. Mommy ate a tarantula, but is this the way to go for Blago, his wife and kids? I mean, come on.
ZARIN: I`m going to explode. I have so much to say on this subject. He`s pimping his wife out. I am horrified. She should divorce him. How about get a job? How about that? How about get a real job instead of sticking your wife down in South America?
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: And going for the easy money, you know, eating tarantulas. I do have to end it there. But Gretchen Bonaduce, I wish you continued success. Look out for the show "Reinventing Bonaduce."
BONADUCE: Thank you so much.
HAMMER: Jill Zarin, we are looking forward to more "Real Housewives in New York City." Thank you both for being here. We really appreciate it.
OK. So we move now from imploding reality families to the most famous Hollywood couple in the world. Have Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie hit the skids? It`s the brand-new SHOWBIZ Truth Squad investigation nearly five years and six kids later. Say it isn`t so. What`s really going on? Why is Angelina speaking out?
Also, Eminem baring all for the first time, telling the back story behind being the butt of one of the most hysterical MTV pranks of all time.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s own Brooke Anderson and her baby photo album. Tonight, your very first look at these amazing pictures of her beautiful baby girl. And an extra surprise - SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Brooke Anderson is going to be right here talking about being a new mommy. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "Dancing with the Stars" finalist Gilles Marini recovering from shoulder surgery. Hip-hop artist and entrepreneur Jay-Z tops "The Source" magazine`s "Power 30" list.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s beautiful Brooke Anderson with her beautiful newborn baby girl. Brooke`s amazing baby photo album revealed right here, tonight, for the very first time, exclusively, in just a moment.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad has gone into overdrive, digging for the truth behind wild stories involving Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and Eminem.
Brand-new tonight, are Brad and Angelina calling it quits? Angelina Jolie is now responding to the latest reports they are breaking up. And the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad - we`re on the case.
And we`re also getting to the bottom of - so to speak - Sacha Baron Cohen sticking his bottom in Eminem`s face during that outrageous stunt at the MTV Movie Awards. Eminem reveals the truth about whether it was real or a giant prank.
With me in New York tonight, Carolina Bermudez, senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." Also tonight in New York, Katrina Szish who is a celebrity journalist.
So, the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s SHOWBIZ Truth Squad has got to get to the bottom of all of this buzz that`s been swirling around Hollywood`s hottest couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie calling it quits. Well, a rep for the couple tells "People" magazine all of this breakup talk is in fact not true.
Carolina, let me start with you. Here`s what I don`t understand about this. Why would Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt even dignify all these reports with any kind of comment?
BERMUDEZ: Well, A.J., because I think as of recent times, rumors have been growing and growing exponentially. And I think that at some point, you just got to put the rumors to rest.
And they`re damned if they do, and they`re damned if they don`t. If they don`t talk about it, people speculate. They think they really are breaking up. But if they do talk about it, people say, "Well, why are you even paying attention to the rumors?" So, I don`t know. I think this is just their way of kind of quelling the rumors and telling people, "Leave us alone. We`re just doing just fine."
HAMMER: Yes. Maybe kind of a no-win situation. But the truth is these rumors are flying around all of the time. Katrina, why do you think they would respond now?
SZISH: Well, I think Carolina is right when she said that at a certain point, it reaches a fever pitch. And you really have to respond with something, or at least, you want to at least quell the rumors temporarily because you know they`re going to start up again.
And I think now this might - maybe get them a little bit of time off as they start the summer. And so hopefully, and perhaps they`ve got maybe - I don`t know, a couple weeks of free time.
HAMMER: Yes. Have a nice peaceful summer with their beautiful large family.
SZISH: Exactly.
HAMMER: Let`s move on now, because next, the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad getting to the bottom of something people have been talking about for some time now, that Eminem-"Bruno" stunt at the MTV Movie Awards last weekend. Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen`s flamboyant alter-ego, Bruno, just shocked everyone and bared his backside on the show. Let`s watch again what happened. It`s beautiful.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SACHA BARON COHEN, COMEDIAN: Let me down. My (INAUDIBLE) - it`s melting. Eminem, nice to meet you.
EMINEM: Are you serious?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You see that`s no good. You don`t want to have that happen to you. Now, afterwards, we saw what happened. Eminem got up. He stormed out of the awards show. A lot of people were wondering, was Eminem actually in on the MTV stunt? Did it go further than he had hoped?
Well, the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad can tell you this - it is true. He was in on it. And here`s what Eminem is saying, quote, "Sacha called me and he had an idea to do something outrageous at the Movie Awards. I`m a big fan of his work, so I agreed to get involved with the gag. I`m thrilled that we pulled this off better than we rehearsed it. After the ceremony, I went back to my hotel and laughed uncontrollably for three hours."
You know he has been loving the attention he`s been getting all week. Carolina, Eminem just had so many people fooled, didn`t he?
BERMUDEZ: Oh, definitely. You know what? They did that more than once? I don`t know if I`d want that in my face several different times, but he had everybody fooled. And you know, Eminem is known for having an angry, fiery temper. He`s been, you know - he`s had his issues with gay men before.
And you know, Bruno is a gay character. And so I think a lot of people were stunned. But come on, people. He was miked up, and so are his bodyguards. He was definitely in on the stunt. I think he pulled it off really well.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, you bring up a good point because in the past, there was a time when Eminem was accused of being homophobic. So Katrina, what do you think? Does it surprise you that Eminem actually allowed, shall we say, such close contact?
SZISH: Yes. I`ll take close contact - It does not surprise me at all. This was in the name of showbiz. This was in the name of performance. Sasha Baron Cohen certainly isn`t gay. That was really a major publicity stunt, and it is certainly working for Eminem.
HAMMER: Yes. Let`s also keep in mind Sasha Baron Cohen`s got the movie "Bruno" coming out. And Eminem has the biggest album in the country right now. Carolina Bermudez, Katrina Szish, I thank you both.
Well, now the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad is moving on to the truth about SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s own Brooke Anderson. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal Brooke and her husband Jim, the proud parents of a newborn baby girl, Kate. We`re all very excited.
Right now, for the very first time, we have Brooke`s baby photo album and Brooke is with us tonight. Brooke Anderson, how are you doing? Congratulations, Momma.
BROOKE ANDERSON, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CO-HOST (via telephone): Well, thank you, A.J. I`m doing really well, fantastic in fact. I absolutely love and adore this child. She`s just my little sweetie and already bringing us so much joy.
HAMMER: Well, first, I have to thank you for cutting us a break on being able to show these pictures because I know you could have gotten millions more than our budget allowed for it. But tell us about little Kate. She`s beautiful.
ANDERSON: Oh, thank you. Well, I`m not biased or anything, A.J. But of course, I agree that she`s beautiful. I think she`s just perfect, a head full of long, dark hair, big blue eyes. And you know, just recently, she`s really started reacting to me and she`s smiling at me. She just melts my heart.
HAMMER: You should have heard the reactions when these pictures first showed up at the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT office. Everybody going, aww, look at that.
Now let me ask you something, Brooke. How does actually being a mom actually compare to what you thought being a mom would be like? Because so many people, first-time mothers, say, "I never knew I could feel amazing unconditional love." How has that been for you?
ANDERSON: Yes. Exactly the same thing and that`s a great question. I knew it would be wonderful, but I never imagined just how amazing it could be. It really is the most pure, unconditional love I have ever experienced and probably could ever experience.
But I really just feel so, so blessed. And yes, she`s an angel. But I`m going to be honest. She is a full-time job. You know, it`s round the clock. It`s a lot of work. Her schedule has become my schedule. But I would not trade it for anything, even the 2:00 a.m. feedings when it is so still and quiet.
HAMMER: Hold on a second, Brooke. This is not a subtle hint at getting more time off, is it? I mean, I`m happy that you`re taking the time. I think maternity leave is one of the most important things on the planet. But you`re not trying to, you know, stay away for a few extra weeks, are you?
ANDERSON: We`ll see. We`ll see.
HAMMER: Well, we all know what a natural you are when the cameras are on. I`ve got to ask you, as these pictures were being taken - because she just looks so - I don`t know - sweet and contented. Did you get a sense that Kate is as natural on camera as you are?
ANDERSON: Of course, she`s a natural. Of course. And you know, I got really lucky, thought, because the photographer was really gentle and patient with Kate. And Kate, for the most part, fully cooperated.
I, of course, was standing close by to comfort if necessary and also to style all that hair in between shots. But as her mother, of course, I don`t think that Kate could take a bad picture.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, we love you. We miss you. And the only other thing I`ll add is seven more kids. You can get your own reality show.
ANDERSON: I don`t know about that, A.J. Hey, thanks for showing off baby Kate. I appreciate it.
HAMMER: Yes.
ANDERSON: I`m one proud Momma.
HAMMER: And we really do miss you. And I hope to see you very soon. Brooke Anderson, everybody. Congratulations.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
ANDERSON: Thank you. Miss you guys, too.
HAMMER: All right. Moving on, it is a baby bonanza tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. What is going on? You have got to stick around to see by far the second cutest thing you`ll see all day. Of course, Brooke`s baby Kate has the top spot in that category.
Britney Spears`s kids rocking out to mommy`s music. We`ve got the brand-new absolutely adorable video 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.
TEXT: Christina Ricci and Owen Benjamin call off their engagement. "Home" to be first film to debut on YouTube and theaters simultaneously.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: All right. You`ve got to get a load of this. Britney Spears`s kids caught on tape rocking out to mommy`s hit "Toxic."
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Yes. Those super-cute kids are Sean Preston and Jayden James Federline. And my hair was actually that blond when I was that age.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Well, even serious news, guys. We get to have a little bit of fun on occasion.
Did you see this? It was a very special occasion last night on CNN`s "AC 360." It was Anderson Cooper`s birthday. And he got a huge star- studded surprise live during his show. Watch what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And number one, can you please say something to give Anderson a clue?
KATHY GRIFFIN, COMEDIAN: I have helped build your career to where it is today.
COOPER: Well, I have no idea.
HILL: No idea. Let`s see if you can guess friend number two.
SUZE ORMAN, FINANCIAL EXPERT: And the only place high interest really pays off is right here on "AC 360."
COOPER: All right.
HILL: All right, Anderson Cooper, what have you got?
COOPER: Is that Suze Orman and Kathy Griffin?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Could it be? Could it be true? Happy birthday, Anderson Cooper!
COOPER: Oh, no.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy birthday, Anderson!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we got dressed up for you and everything.
COOPER: Whoa, look at this! Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is an awesome party.
COOPER: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy birthday!
COOPER: Thank you. That`s very sweet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Almost looked like Kathy snubbed the kiss there, didn`t it? Now, if you think Anderson went out for a wild night of partying out on the town, well, guess again. He had to get up very early this morning to fill in for Regis Philbin on "Live with Regis and Kelly." So happy birthday, Anderson Cooper. We`re all very happy.
(APPLAUSE)
Wednesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It was this - "Jon Gosselin Defends Himself: Do you feel sorry for him?" Only 38 percent of you do; 62 percent said no, you don`t.
Some of the e-mails included one from Angela. Angela writing in from Alabama, "I feel sorry for Jon. Kate has been completely seduced by fame and money."
We also heard from Barbara, writing from Arizona. Barbara thinks, "I don`t feel sorry for Jon. If he had acted like a man from the beginning, this mess would never have happened."
Tiffany from Nebraska - she adds, "I feel sorry for the family. Everyone makes mistakes, but to have it play out in the public eye has got to be horrible."
Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
END
