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Showbiz Tonight
Dr. Conrad Murray`s Las Vegas Home Searched; Debbie Rowe Visits Dr. Arnold Klein; Michael Jackson`s Hair to be Turned Into Diamonds?; Jon Gosselin to Get His Own Show?; The Hogans` Divorce Finally Settled; YouTube Video Key to Chris Brown`s Comeback?
Aired July 28, 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, big breaking Michael Jackson doctor shockers. Tonight, the bombshell news that Michael`s personal doctor gave Michael the drug that might have killed him. Tonight, are arrests on the way?
Plus, caught on tape, why did Debbie Rowe just visit Michael`s dermatologist who many believe fathered Michael`s kids? And can it get more bizarre? Are pieces of Michael`s burnt hair from his accident really being turned into diamonds for sale?
Tonight, is Jon Gosselin ditching "Jon & Kate" for his own reality show? His public partying, his world of women, his Ed Hardy shirts.
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It`s the YouTube wedding video seen and heard around the world. Tonight, the strange connection to Chris Brown and why this could help Brown more than his public apology for beating Rihanna.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
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Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And when I say brand-new Michael Jackson doctor shockers, I mean Michael Jackson doctor shockers. Right on the heels of Michael Jackson`s personal doctor just being linked to his death came this today.
Take a look at this - a dramatic raid on the doctor`s Las Vegas home. Federal drug agents and police swooped in big-time today. They were armed with search warrants and they were determined to dig up any new information and evidence to help solve the mystery behind Jackson`s death.
The raid came the morning after CNN broke the news that it is believed the doctor, Conrad Murray, gave Michael Jackson the drug that led to his death. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you the breaking developments making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Like a great mystery, the investigation into Michael Jackson`s death keeps taking shocking turns. And now, the very latest developments appear to look very ominous for Jackson`s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.
Today in Las Vegas, a team of Los Angeles police and federal DEA agents carrying search warrants combed through Dr. Murray`s home and office.
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What they`re looking for is document, any documents that might link Dr. Murray to Michael Jackson and possible drug use.
HAMMER: Correspondent Paul Vercammen was on the scene in Las Vegas when federal agents descended on Dr. Murray`s offices. Vercammen tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it looks like the authorities are getting serious.
VERCAMMEN: The fact that the DEA would execute multiple search warrants in multiple areas suggests again that Dr. Murray is very much the bull`s eye of their target and their investigation right now.
HAMMER: This new search comes a day after a major bombshell in the case. A source close to the investigation tells CNN that Dr. Murray gave the pop star the powerful sedative propofol, also known as Diprivan, within 24 hours of Jackson`s death.
It`s the first time Murray has been connected to the drug authorities believe may have killed Jackson. But is this the proverbial smoking gun in this case?
PAUL CALLAN, FMR. NEW YORK CITY HOMICIDE PROSECUTOR: He faces potential manslaughter charges. You know, this is an extremely dangerous drug.
HAMMER: CNN`s "AMERICAN MORNING," even two prominent attorneys couldn`t agree on whether Dr. Murray might face a manslaughter charge if a pending toxicology report concludes that Diprivan caused Jackson`s death.
CALLAN: If he was administering this drug in Michael Jackson`s house to help him sleep, I think it`s clearly gross negligence and probably would constitute a crime under California law.
MICKEY SHERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Maybe it`s unconventional. Maybe it`s bad treatment. But is it a criminal offense? Is there any intent to really hurt Michael Jackson? I mean, I can`t believe that his doctor wants to hurt him.
HAMMER: We`ve known that on the day Jackson died, Dr. Murray tried to revive the pop star after he was found unconscious, as we hear on the 911 call placed from Jackson`s house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a personal doctor here with him, sir.
911 OPERATOR: Oh, you have a doctor there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But he`s not responding to anything. No, he`s not responding to CPR or anything.
HAMMER: Murray`s attorney has previously said the doctor never prescribed or administered anything that could have killed Jackson. In response to the latest Diprivan report, Murray`s attorney said, "We will not be responding to rumor, innuendo or unnamed sources."
But with today`s search of Murray`s Las Vegas home and office and last week`s search of Dr. Murray`s office in Houston, correspondent Paul Vercammen tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it`s clear authorities have their eyes on Dr. Murray.
VERCAMMEN: They`re going to check every single possible site where they could possibly find a shred of evidence that could help them in this investigation which they have suggested could be a manslaughter investigation.
HAMMER: And yet another discovery is raising a disturbing question about the time line of Jackson`s death.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, we have a gentleman here that needs help and he`s not breathing.
HAMMER: That first 911 call came from Jackson`s house at 12:20 in the afternoon, Los Angeles time, on June 25th. But now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, three hours earlier in Houston, Texas, two women were seen hauling items from Dr. Murray`s rented storage unit.
SUE LYON, GENERAL MANAGER, W. 18TH STORAGE: They were putting a few boxes, small boxes, you know, like paper would come in, reams of paper. And they were putting a few of those in the back of a car.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Could this all be a coincidence? Sure.
HAMMER: CNN`s Randi Kaye tells "ANDERSON COOPER 360" the possibility of activity at Dr. Murray`s storage facility so soon before that 911 call raises some disturbing questions.
KAYE: Is it possible Jackson was in trouble, maybe even not breathing anymore long before that 911 call was made?
HAMMER: So far, no charges have been filed against Dr. Murray or anyone else for Jackson`s death. But with each day bringing us shocking new twists, it looks like Michael Jackson`s death is a mystery story with at least several more chapters to go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So, exactly what does this intense investigation mean for Dr. Murray?
Joining me tonight in Hollywood is Leslie Marshall, host of "The Leslie Marshall Show." In New York is Vinnie Politan who is a radio host on Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
Let us begin with a stunning revelation that according to a source close to the investigation, Dr. Conrad Murray gave the powerful anesthetic Diprivan to Michael Jackson within 24 hours of his death. And that is the drug investigators believe killed him.
Here now is CNN`s Randi Kaye with why this news is so big.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: This is incredibly significant because Dr. Conrad Murray`s lawyer has never commented on that drug known by the brand name Diprivan. All the lawyer has told us in the past was, quote, "Dr. Conrad Murray did not prescribe or administer anything that should have killed Michael Jackson."
So this is the very first time Dr. Murray has been connected to propofol. So if this drug was inside Jackson`s home and if Dr. Conrad Murray provided it, this could mean big trouble.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Propofol, of course, the other name for Diprivan. Vinnie Politan, to you first - if this does turn out to be true, what kind of big trouble, as Randi put it, are we talking about here?
VINNIE POLITAN, RADIO HOST, SIRIUS XM SATELLITE RADIO: We`re talking about manslaughter charges. We`re talking about a doctor who has a certain duty to his patient to administer drugs in the appropriate fashion.
Here you`re talking about anesthesia using it off label, using it without the monitoring devices that any other prudent doctor would use, could end up in a criminal court.
Usually we see malpractice cases. It`s about money. It`s a civil suit. No, this goes one step beyond where you`re taking anesthesia out of the surgery room, out of the hospital and bringing it to someone`s house. If he`s the guy doing it and he wasn`t monitoring the patient and he didn`t have everything that he needed, this is going to be a criminal case.
HAMMER: Yes. And bringing it to somebody`s house allegedly, or as it`s looking like here, to be used as a sleep aid. Wow. Investigators truly searching every facet of Dr. Murray`s life. They`re obviously looking for evidence of manslaughter, as you put it there, Vinnie. He`s definitely in the hot seat with what has gone on here.
Dr. Murray`s home was raided today. In fact, you`re looking at footage and investigators are planning on interrogating Dr. Murray for a third time. And that is not to mention the drama last week when investigators raided Murray`s office and one of his storage facilities in Texas.
And when Jackson first died, Murray`s car was impounded by investigators. Dr. Murray says he feels like a scapegoat in all this. Leslie Marshall, is he looking, in any way, like a scapegoat to you?
LESLIE MARSHALL, HOST, "THE LESLIE MARSHALL SHOW": No, he`s not looking like a scapegoat to me at all. He`s looking like someone who`s an irresponsible and negligent physician at this point with these allegations.
You know, we`re talking about a drug used for anesthesia. A, why is it being brought to somebody`s home? Two, why are there no monitoring devices? And three, for sleep? This is not a sleep aid. This is not Ambien. You pop a couple of pills.
And it`s really, really odd that his employees would be working at night in a storage locker removing boxes of what? My husband`s a physician. We own a medical center. We have a shredder. The documents are kept offsite in a locked facility are, by law, required to be kept on every patient.
My guess? Michael Jackson`s medical records were in those boxes and probably hidden, maybe his house. Maybe that`s why cops are looking there.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, let`s talk specifically about that, Leslie because this is really a big-time mystery that we`re just learning about right now. These brand-new revelations that Dr. Murray did have two members of his staff in Houston get rid of documents from one of his storage facilities. This is just hours before Jackson died. That`s really strange.
Let me take you to the SHOWBIZ news line to break it down for you. 12:20 p.m., Pacific, we know from 911 tapes that ambulances were called to Jackson`s home around noon the day of his death.
But three hours earlier, as Leslie was just mentioning, 9:22 a.m., two women, seen clearing out Dr. Murray`s storage unit in Houston, clearing out his papers. Vinnie, let me ask you. This could be a coincidence, but really, now that we know what we know, the timing seems pretty fishy?
POLITAN: It does. Here`s the prop. If it`s anything other than a coincidence, this is big trouble for Dr. Murray because these two women will be found by investigators. These two women will cooperate with investigators.
HAMMER: Yes.
POLITAN: They`ll tell them everything they know. Now, you`ve got two potential witnesses against Dr. Murray. And what is he doing? Is this part of a cover-up? Now, you`ve got additional charges, not just the manslaughter but the cover-up afterwards.
Then, on top of that, you can use this evidence of a cover-up to show consciousness of guilt, that the doctor knew he was doing something wrong and was trying to cover it up.
HAMMER: Yes.
POLITAN: That goes towards the manslaughter charges that could be coming. So this is nothing but bad if it`s anything but a coincidence.
HAMMER: Just keeps stacking up. Vinnie Politan, Leslie Marshall, thank you both.
All right. There are other big breaking Michael Jackson mysteries to deal with tonight, like why did Debbie Rowe, the mom of two of Michael`s kids, just visit Michael`s dermatologist, the guy who many believe is the biological father of M.J.`s kids?
This seems a little strange. Well, we`ve got Debbie caught on tape. And even more bizarre - are pieces of Michael`s burnt hair from his Pepsi commercial accident really being turned into diamonds? Huh?
Also breaking today, Hulk Hogan and his wife finally settle their nasty divorce once and for all. But have they really? You know, the kids have been involved and things got really ugly.
Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Cambridge police acted stupidly - acted stupidly - stupidly - stupidly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Stupidly cashing in tonight, the unbelievable ways people everywhere are making mega-bucks on President Obama`s really lousy choice of words. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Man who was convicted in 1975 of killing Kelsey Grammer`s sister is denied parole. "Rush Hour" star Chris Tucker owes California $3.6 million in back taxes.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. And now, I`ve got your first look at Heath Ledger`s last film. This is called "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus". And in the movie, Ledger plays a mysterious magician named Tony. Take a look.
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HEATH LEDGER, ACTOR: Look right here. Did you not leave outside? We`re here to give, not take, my darling. But nevertheless, I can see from your beautiful eyes that you are a very, very generous lady and I applaud you. The imaginarium does not cost a thing. It will not be of money.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: How long does it take?
LEDGER: Well, that depends, my dear.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`m running late.
LEDGER: Oh, late, late for a very important date. I can`t tell how many times I`ve heard that in my life. Listen, can I ask you a question? Do you dream, or should I say, can you put a price on your dreams?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: (INAUDIBLE), right? At the San Diego Comic-Con Festival, director Terri Gilliam revealed that it was Heath who actually approached him to star in the film.
Well, tonight, stuck on "stupidly." People everywhere just cashing in on President Obama`s poor choice of words regarding the arrest of a black Harvard University professor outside his own home by a white police officer.
Professor Henry Louis Gates had locked himself out and was trying to get back in when somebody called 911. Well, this controversy had led to T- shirts, jokes, cartoons - you name it - all about Obama`s comments.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After being endlessly mocked as perfect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`s Barack Obama, he`s come to save the day
MOOS: Now, he`s got to save himself.
OBAMA: The Cambridge police.
MOOS: From himself.
OBAMA: Acted stupidly - stupidly - stupidly - stupidly.
MOOS: Even after the president admitted he could have recalibrated his words, that one word reoccurs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They acted stupidly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Acted stupidly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They acted stupidly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Cambridge police were acting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stupidly.
MOOS: Or as the English say.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stupidly.
MOOS: Next thing you know, it went from the president`s mouth to T-shirts, "I`m with stupidly," to bumper stickers, "stupid is as stupidly says," to hats, "Who looks stupidly now?"
Even the professor`s words have been featured, the words Professor Gates reportedly said to Officer Crowley, "I`ll speak with your mama outside." The celebrity Web site TMZ chased down the professor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, do you have any good mama jokes?
MOOS: If only President Obama hadn`t commented. Now he`s being portrayed with a foot in his mouth in a teachable moment with Vice President Biden who advises, "I`d like it with salt." Jon Stewart joked about trying to save the president.
JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": What does it say about race relations in America? No, don`t answer!
MOOS: Too late.
OBAMA: Acted stupidly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, the president`s stupid or the cop is stupid or Gates is stupid or we`re all stupid.
MOOS (on camera): Of course, we`ve all said things stupidly. For instance, the time I called former President Nixon, President Reagan.
President Reagan ... sorry. President Nixon.
RICHARD NIXON, FORMER UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: I`ve been called worse than that.
MOOS (voice-over): And President Bush has said worse than that.
GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: Too many OB-GYNs are unable to practice their love with women all across this country.
MOOS: And living forever on the Web, there`s that beauty from that beauty queen.
CAITLIN UPTON, MISS SOUTH CAROLINA 2007: Such as South Africa and the Iraq, everywhere like such as.
MOOS: America`s a free country where everyone`s free to ask.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stupidly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stupidly. Stupidly.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Now, President Obama is scheduled to meet up with Harvard Professor Henry Gates and Police Sergeant Crowley at the White House on Thursday. And they plan on talking all of this out over beer.
Well, our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been ringing nonstop about Jon and Kate. And people are totally split on this. You`ve got team Jon and you`ve got team Kate.
We got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Linda in California. She thinks it is time for Jon to have a little fun.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: About Jon and Kate, I believe he deserves a little happiness. I don`t think they were ever really happy. She didn`t treat him very well as a husband, more like a child. He deserves happiness.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Linda, thanks for your all. We also heard from another Linda, this one in Pennsylvania, who thinks Jon running around with all these women is bad, bad, bad.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I just want to say I think Jon Gosselin is a jerk, looking out for himself, nothing of his family and children. What is he thinking? What a jerk.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Linda, thank you for your call. You call us at "Showbiz on Call." The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open all the time at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
Well, we have two big breaking, puzzling Michael Jackson mysteries tonight, caught on tape. Debbie Rowe, of course, the mother of two of Michael Jackson`s kids, seen visiting Michael`s dermatologist. Now, remember, this is the guy who a lot of people think is the biological dad of Michael`s kids.
And this bizarre mystery - are locks of Michael`s hair, hair that was burnt during his horrific Pepsi commercial accident, being made into diamonds?
Also, I`ve got to wonder, is Jon Gosselin up to something really big? He`s got all these women. He`s partying it up in public. Tonight, I`ve got to ask, is he doing all of this to get his own reality show?
And Madonna`s super-sexy phone messages and her letters to her ex. You can own them if you can cough up the cash, of course. Something really icky about this. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: John Travolta`s rep refutes U.K. paper`s claim that Travolta may leave Scientology. Whitney Houston`s album release date moved up to 8/31; first single "I Look to You" out now.
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HAMMER: The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT control room hard at work there. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Here are some more stories that are making news right now.
The octomom back in the news. Remember her? Well, tonight, a stunning court decision. A California judge has appointed a guardian to keep an eye on the money matters of Nadya Suleman`s octuplets. This sounds like a good thing.
The judge said he wants to make sure the kids are not being exploited by reality shows, tabloid photo coverage, anything that Suleman may use them for. The request for a guardian was actually made by former child actor Paul Petersen. He was a Disney Mousketeer and he founded a group to protect child actors.
Well, on this morning`s "Today" show, Petersen explains his decision to push for a guardian with a dramatic comparison saying animals would be getting more protection than these kids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL PETERSEN, FORMER CHILD ACTOR: I want you to consider these octuplets as a litter of puppies, because if they were a litter of puppies, the American Humane Association would have an animal control officer there in a second, in a second. Our priorities have been flip-flopped somehow. This is such a dangerous undertaking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s an interesting point. Well, over on "The View" this morning, the ladies were split on one hand. They did like the idea of somebody keeping an eye on the octumom. But on the other hand, they realize that she`s got to do something to make ends meet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": At this point, the kids are here, you know. What do you do? When you`ve got 14 kids, you can`t just go work at a grocery store.
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": What about the - we`re talking about before. Then the show`s going to happen, OK? So she has someone in place during these years to make sure their money is OK. What about when the show is over? I hope maybe someone will come in -
SHEPHERD: I think she will keep doing the reality show. You start it. Now, you`ve got to look celebrity.
(CROSSTALK)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Probably, what will happen - the good thing, as you`re pointing out, is someone will be there to monitor what goes on and how the children are treated. That is a great thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, I agree. Nadya Suleman`s attorney says he will appeal the guardian ruling accusing Paul Petersen and his lawyer, Gloria Allred of, as he puts it, grandstanding and being nosey. The octomom`s reality show is scheduled to start filming on September 1st.
It is time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what we`ve got coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Breaking Michael Jackson news, his personal doctor`s office and home searched. Plus, are locks of Michael`s hair, hair that was burnt during his horrific Pepsi commercial accident, really going to be made into diamonds? Huh?
Also, Hulk and Linda Hogan`s nasty divorce finally settled. But is it really over? This thing got really ugly.
Plus this.
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The YouTube wedding video seen around the world. The strange connection to Chris Brown and why this could help Brown more than his public apology for beating Rihanna. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: History Channel to air special on 40th anniversary of Charles Manson murders on 9/7. "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm and Ben Affleck to star in crime thriller, "The Town."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a brand-new Michael Jackson doctor shocker. Tonight, breaking developments as cops raid Dr. Conrad Murray`s home one day after reports revealed he gave Michael the powerful drug that may have killed him.
Michael`s hair to be turned into priceless diamonds? Why his hair? Why diamonds? And who the heck would buy them?
Jon minus Kate equals a brand-new reality show? Their marriage exploded on TV. So is it time for Jon to go solo on reality TV? And would you watch?
Hulk Hogan`s ugly long divorce battle finally ends. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is inside the courtroom but is the drama really done?
Plus more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And tonight, we have brand-new breaking developments in the Michael Jackson death mystery, including bombshells about Jackson`s personal doctor.
The heat is on Dr. Conrad Murray. Federal drug agents and police raided his Las Vegas home today and they spent hours looking for evidence. CNN`s Ted Rowlands was on the scene when the raid went down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are outside Dr. Murray`s home right now. They`ve served a search warrant here, according to a source familiar with the investigation. They are looking for documents and other information pertaining to the ongoing investigation into Michael Jackson`s death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And today`s raid comes a day after a source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed to CNN that Dr. Murray gave Jackson a powerful drug that might have killed him.
Also brand-new tonight, Debbie Rowe, who`s the biological mother of Jackson`s two oldest kids, here she is caught on camera going to visit Jackson`s long-time dermatologist who many believe fathered Michael`s kids.
And you can file this one under "can it get any more bizarre?" Pieces of Michael`s hair from his accident on stage are being turned into diamonds that will be for sale. And I am not kidding.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, Leslie Marshall, host of the "Leslie Marshall Radio Show." In New York is Vinnie Politan who is a radio host with Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
And I do want to begin with the brand-new bombshell about Dr. Conrad Murray. Just this morning, the Los Angeles Police Department and federal drug agents searched the doctor`s Las Vegas home.
Now, last week, you remember, they searched Murray`s Houston medical office and storage unit. They were looking for evidence of manslaughter. Vinnie, to you, first, you have to get the sense with all of this going on, things are coming to a head here.
POLITAN: Oh, they absolutely are. They`re closing in on the doctor. And as we`re hearing, if in fact, you know, he gives the Diprivan or the propofol to Michael Jackson and they already have information saying this is related to his death, this is serious stuff.
And what they`re looking for is any sort of connection, any sort of paper trail, anything that will connect this doctor with the drugs with Michael Jackson. You put those together and you`ve got a cause of death that is related to Diprivan, you`ve got big trouble for this doctor.
HAMMER: Yes. And Vinnie, as you`re alluding to, today`s raid comes one day after CNN reported that authorities believed Dr. Murray gave Jackson that powerful drug that may have killed him, talking about propofol, also known as Diprivan, a very powerful anesthetic.
His attorneys have said in the past that Dr. Murray has done nothing wrong. But Leslie Marshall, does it seem to you there is little doubt that he`s going to be charged with something here?
MARSHALL: Yes, and I have to say just personally, I think it`s unfortunate. Probably the most they`ll get him on here or be able to charge him with is manslaughter. This is a cardiologist. And anyone knows if you`re performing CPR and there`s another person available in the room, as there was, 911 isn`t to be called after your attempts fail.
Also, anyone knows who just Googles - you don`t need to have an M.D. - that drugs such as propofol that are given in a hospital normally with an IV drip, you have to have a person monitor it.
This is a cardiologist. There was no EKG in the room or anywhere on the premises. This doctor`s only been Michael Jackson`s physician since May. Something just isn`t right here. I don`t know if the doctor fell asleep. But certainly, to call 911 after the fact, you know, this doesn`t smell right. And I think the investigation is going to show that and charges will come forth.
HAMMER: Yes, so many things seem so strange or fishy in this whole case. And it`s been so interesting to watch it all unfold. Investigators might not even have known to look for signs that Jackson got Diprivan, had it not been for Jackson`s nurse, Cherilyn Lee. Remember her? She came forward just days after his death to say that Jackson asked her about the drug.
Now, the nurse was on CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE" last night as the news was breaking about Jackson`s doctor. She told guest host Jim Moret how she tried to warn Jackson. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM MORET, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": You showed him the listing for this drug and said, "This is what it can do"?
CHERILYN LEE, MICHAEL JACKSON`S FORMER NURSE: Yes. I actually left his house, drove back to my office and came back with the book. Because I said, he`s not getting it from me.
MORET: You were stunned when you saw?
LEE: I was definitely stunned. That`s why I went.
MORET: What was his reaction?
LEE: His reaction was, "You don`t understand. I`m going to be monitored so I will be safe. I see what the book is saying, but I`ll be monitored. Someone would monitor me and I`ll be safe."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. Well, obviously not what happened here, if indeed this is what killed him. Vinnie Politan, back to you, would you agree with me? It seems as we learn more and more, Nurse Cherilyn Lee is looking more and more like the critical missing link in figuring this whole thing out?
POLITAN: Oh, she`s a great witness. You know, she`s telling what happened, what was Michael Jackson looking for. But you know, I`m looking at this from a defense point of view now. If, in fact, these charges come down, he gets indicted and he`s brought into court for manslaughter, what will he say?
Well, I think they`ll talk about Michael Jackson and what he was doing outside of his care of Dr. Murray. What did Dr. Murray know about other things he may or may not have been taking? And how much of this will they try to blame on Michael Jackson as opposed to the doctor?
HAMMER: Yes. Still so many unsolved mysteries here, but it does feel, as I said, like it`s coming to a head sooner rather than later.
Lets move on to our next breaking development. What was Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of Jackson`s two oldest kids, doing at the office of Jackson`s long-time dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein? Now, remember, that is where Michael met Debbie when she worked there.
Many believed that Dr. Klein actually fathered Michael`s kids. Now, Debbie wouldn`t say why she was there. But Leslie Marshall, given all of the mystery and this wild speculation going on these days, seems to me not the right time to make an appearance at a place like this and stir the pot.
MARSHALL: Certainly. I don`t know if she was visiting old friends or getting a little Botox before all her TV appearances before she may get some more cash allegedly. This is just bizarre. The whole thing is bizarre.
But why she would be going to that office when she`s no longer working there - I don`t know if she`s looking to cover her track, if she had knowledge of anything and everybody`s trying to get their stories straight. We could speculate this for hours and we`d still be here for weeks to come.
It`s very bizarre as to why she`s there. I certainly have my crazy speculations as well. But who knows at this point why she would even show up? And you`re right. I would lay low, if I were Ms. Rowe.
HAMMER: Exactly right. Let me seize that word "bizarre" as we move on to our next breaking development. This truly falls right into the big bizarre category. It`s all about Michael Jackson`s burnt hair.
Now, a Chicago jeweler has revealed that he`s going to make diamonds from locks of Michael Jackson`s burnt hair, this hair retrieved during the 1984 Pepsi commercial when Michael`s hair caught on fire. What do you think, Vinnie? Given that Michael.
(CROSSTALK)
POLITAN: Why do you keep the hair? Why would someone hold on to that hair, A.J.? That`s the person that needs help here, someone that would hold on to the hair from 1984. What was he waiting for?
HAMMER: Yes. Well, apparently, you know, he just thought.
POLITAN: I don`t get it.
HAMMER: And the thing is, Vinnie, it stayed in the Armani jacket that he put the hair in. That jacket was put away and he never took it out again. Let me ask you this, Leslie, the guy who says he`s going to make diamonds from this hair says people will be clamoring to buy these diamonds. Do you see that?
MARSHALL: Yes, unfortunately. I mean, somebody already bought JFK`s hair even though his brain was missing. Marilyn Monroe`s hair - I mean, I don`t know. How much will you give me for my hair, A.J., OK?
HAMMER: Well, it depends on how big the diamonds I can make out of it. Got to end it there. Leslie Marshall, Vinnie Politan, thanks, guys.
All right. We`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It is this - "Michael Jackson Death Mystery: Are you surprised the case remains unsolved?" Keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Here`s something else that I find surprising - Jon Gosselin`s partying and playboy ways. He`s hanging in France with his 22-year-old girlfriend. He`s hobnobbing in the Hamptons with Lindsay Lohan`s dad. This sounds like a plot for a TV show. Wait a minute. Could all the drama actually land Jon his very own reality show? And would you watch?
Hulk Hogan`s nasty two-year divorce battle finally ends - the ugly war over their homes, cash and the alleged stalking. Is it really over? What`s his wife saying now? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is inside the courtroom.
And we will also have this.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
The wild connection between Chris Brown and the feel-good wedding video that has everyone dancing. How it could actually help Chris` career. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "Family Guy" producer believes Fox will block controversial abortion episode. Mischa Barton out of L.A. hospital; rushed there by cops on 7/15 for undisclosed issues.
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HAMMER: Wanted: Somebody to scare the crap out of people in London. Did you see this? These fine folks are trying out to play a zombie at the famed London Bridge and the tombs under it. One lucky member of the undead wins the gig and gets paid the equivalent of $30,000 a year. Sounds like one hell of a job.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, at long last, the nasty, ugly divorce battle between Hulk Hogan and Linda is over. A little round of applause, please, come on.
After a two-year-long divorce smackdown, Hulk and his now ex-wife Linda were in court today and their divorce was made final. But are the Hogans finally done with the drama? Can we believe it?
Also new right now, the divorce drama between another once-loved reality show couple, Jon and Kate. Jon Gosselin reportedly wants his own reality show after "Jon & Kate Plus 8" is over. But is that just a bad idea? And who`s handling their split better, Jon or Kate? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers speak out.
Also new tonight, the startling connection between that crazy YouTube wedding dance watched by millions and Chris Brown.
Joining me tonight in New York, Ben Widdicombe who is the celebrity editor for "StyleList.com." Also tonight in New York, Katrina Szish who is a celebrity journalist.
And let us begin with the Hulk Hogan divorce. Here it is, ladies and gentlemen. I hold in my hands the divorce. This is the judgment made official today. Right here on the pages, it says done and ordered. It`s over.
Now, the court did not release any of the details, none of the finer points of the settlement. But hey, who can forget Linda calling Hulk a stalker, Hulk accusing Linda of using drugs, and of course, all the bickering going on over money and property.
Ben Widdicombe, to you first, what do you think? Is the drama really possibly over between these two?
BEN WIDDICOMBE, CELEBRITY EDITOR, STYLELIST.COM: Well, I think only this chapter is over. Judging from Linda`s Cheshire cat grin today in the court, she got what she wanted from the settlement with her kids and the Hulk and even kisses the Hulk`s girlfriend.
But what remains to be seen is whether her relationship can recover with Brooke and with her son, Nick, who she`s been terribly estranged from. And also, there`s a civil lawsuit heading toward the family from the family of the boy who was very badly hurt with Nick`s car crash. So for the family, there`s still a rocky road ahead.
HAMMER: Well, let`s take a look at what happened in the court now that you mentioned it there, Ben. Because they were both in court, as I mentioned. And when you look at this video, I mean, look at how civil this all is going.
It looks like they buried the hatchet. Linda greeting them both, Hulk and his girlfriend, a little kiss on the cheek there. Oh, how nice!
Well, Linda issued a statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT late this afternoon saying, "My husband took the big step of stopping this escalating war by making the decision to put this behind us. He and I both love our family dearly and look forward to working together to make it stronger than it has ever been."
Well, you know, I`d like to take this as a positive sign. Katrina, what do you think? I mean, it sounds like the Hogan mudslinging war is finally over. What do you think? No Wrestle Mania 57 here? .
KATRINA SZISH, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: I think as Ben said, not for now, anyway, as long as the terms of the settlement, which of course, have not been revealed, are adhered to by both parties.
I think perhaps, at least for now, the mudslinging is over. But I do think it`s interesting in Linda`s statement, she refers to Hulk as her husband and not her ex-husband.
HAMMER: Yes.
SZISH: So I think there`s a little bit of reality check that needs to happen now that they are officially splitsville.
HAMMER: Gosh, it would be a nice thing if this all calmed down. And Hulk Hogan`s attorney also issued a statement this afternoon to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is with the Hulkster saying, "We greatly appreciate Ms. Bollea`s kind words and are very happy to have, after such a long time, achieved a fair settlement."
So, the Hogan reality drama seems to be cooling down, at least for now, as we`ve all decided. But the Jon and Kate drama, not so much. Now, there are reports that Jon is looking to do his own reality show after "Jon & Kate Plus 8" is over. What`s it going to be called?
Now, I came up with an idea. How about "My Two Girlfriends, My Eight Kids plus Michael Lohan?" Huh, kind of catchy? Ben, what do you think? Would this just be a terrible idea for Jon to do something like this?
WIDDICOMBE: It`s really unclear what we`ll be watching if he did have a show. Him hanging out in bars with tabloid magazine reporters? You know, I think there`s such massive public interest in what`s happening with the Gosselins` story that maybe the core TLC show is still viable.
It seems to right now to be basically Kate and eight plus or minus Jon. But if he`s prepared to go forward with that, I think that maybe they could do a new version of the show they have. But not him by himself? No, he`s not a star.
HAMMER: Well, remember, this is also a guy who said he didn`t want any of the attention. So I`m having a hard time reconciling any of that.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT called up TLC. They are the folks that produce "Jon & Kate Plus 8." They don`t have anything to say. But Jon`s publicist told us the same thing today. Kate Gosselin - she has been laying low since the divorce was announced.
So here`s what we had to ask in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, "Jon versus Kate: Who`s handling their split better?" 30 percent of you said Jon. Let`s see on Kate`s side here. A whopping 70 percent said Kate`s doing a better job.
Jon`s been partying in the Hamptons, apparently has two girlfriends and Kate quietly taking care of the kids. Katrina, Jon really seems to be having maybe a better time. But is Kate truly handling all of this better as our viewers think?
SZISH: Well, I think to the public eye, anyone who chooses to sort of lie low after something very public like this definitely appears to be the one who`s doing better.
But then again, Kate is the one who filed for divorce. She is the one who was always the most outspoken voice on the reality show. Jon was a little more in the background. So maybe, finally, he`s thinking, the shackles are off and I`m actually going to show my true personality. And I don`t care what anyone says.
HAMMER: Yes.
SZISH: So he may be being himself. Kate may be just sort of playing the media a little bit.
HAMMER: Well, people do have a lot to say. In fact, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines just flooded with a lot of outraged calls over Jon`s newfound fast life. We heard from Aggie in Louisiana. She called "Showbiz on Call" and said Jon needs to take things down a few notches. Roll that.
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CALLER: I`m calling about Jon Gosselin`s wacky love life. And I just would like to say that he shouldn`t be strutting himself around with all these different women because this is horrible for his reputation and for the sake of his family.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Aggie. And Aggie makes a really interesting point because Jon really is creating this image of this ladies` man. What do you think, Ben? Now, Jon back in Pennsylvania today with his kids. Isn`t that where he should perhaps consider staying for now?
WIDDICOMBE: Well, as your caller and your poll indicates, I think what we`re seeing is the most dramatic reversal of public sympathy since Britney and K-Fed. Remember, in that divorce, he was the bad guy until they split.
Then, he laid low after. Then people came around to him and Britney was the bad guy.
HAMMER: Yes.
WIDDICOMBE: I think we`re seeing the same thing. Kate did the smart thing. She went home with her kids. And now, Jon`s the one getting the flak. He really should just cool it for a bit and go home. Be with your kids. You`ve got eight of them.
HAMMER: You certainly do. Why don`t you enjoy that life for a while? Let`s move on, because this next story is just mind-boggling. Why Chris Brown may have the unbelievably popular YouTube wedding dance video to thank if he has a career comeback. You may not be among the 8 million people who have seen it. But maybe you have. Here`s the video.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Really, the ultimate feel good video. The song in it, Brown`s 2008 hit, "Forever." It`s now the third bestselling song in Amazon.com. Let me remind you, just last week, Brown publicly apologized to Rihanna after his conviction for beating her to a pulp.
Katrina, do you think that Chris should be sending this couple a big old wedding gift?
SZISH: Not just yet. I think the fact goes - I think we`re seeing here that that song is really great. There was a reason it was hit song. But I don`t think it indicates the public sympathy towards Chris Brown has changed at all.
HAMMER: Yes.
SZISH: I think it`s - we`re talking the artist versus the man - very different things.
HAMMER: That would be a very weird turn of events.
SZISH: Very odd.
HAMMER: Ben Widdicombe, Katrina Szish, thanks, guys.
HAMMER: Well, Madonna`s racy love letters are for sale. We`re talking intimate, erotic and revealing personal handwritten love letters from one of the biggest stars in the world going up for auction. Who`s selling them? How much do you think they could go for? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "Titanic" to be re-released and re-mastered in 3D, out in 2011. Backstreet Boys are back. Again `90s boy band release new album in October.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Tonight, you can have your very own sexy love letter from Madonna - yes, 21 of them to be exact if you have enough cash. Madonna`s ex-boyfriend, a guy by the name of James Albright is auctioning off his old love letters.
James and Madonna dated for a couple of years back in the 1990s. She kept their red-hot romance going by sending racy handwritten notes from all over the world while she was out on tour.
The letters also reveal Madonna`s sexy secret code name, Lola Montez. And if it wasn`t enough, Madonna`s former flame is also selling the intimate erotic phone messages that she left for him. And get this, the tapes could fetch $40,000 from the online auction. Is it me or is this whole thing kind of creepy?
Well, tonight, the real dish on what stars eat when nobody`s looking. Sure, they always eat right. They exercise all the time. But stars - they`re just like us. They like the junk food, too.
The new film, "Julie and Julia" is a feast for the eyes. It`s all about legendary chef Julia Childs` fancy French food. But when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with Amy Adams and some of the other stars of the movie, they revealed to us their tastes are more TGI Fridays than fussy four-star cuisine. Watch this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, REPORTER: Guilty pleasure junk food, what is yours?
AMY ADAMS, CO-STAR, "JULIE AND JULIA": Nachos.
CHRIS MESSINA, CO-STAR, "JULIE AND JULIA": I`m a big ice cream guy, you know. I love ice cream late at night, with a chocolate chip cookie in there and some hot fudge, you know what I mean? Maybe some whipped cream. I love ice cream.
JANE LYNCH, CO-STAR, "JULIE AND JULIA": I like chocolate peanut butter Haagen Dazs. I can do it in one sitting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Chocolate and peanut butter really are the perfect food combination. "Julie and Julia," which also stars Meryl Streep, will be in theaters on August 7th.
Well, on Monday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It was this - "Jon versus Kate: Who is handling their split better?" Look at these results - 30 percent of you said Jon; 70 percent of you siding with Kate here. Some E-mails we got include one from Lynne in Ohio.
Lynne writes, and I like this, "It is a shame that for the past five years, they worked together to instill such good values in their children. And now, Jon is acting like he is an 18-year-old frat boy.
Jackie from Florida sees it in another way, saying, "Leave Jon alone. Let him have some fun with some women who will treat him like a man for a change."
Thank you very much for your E-mails and thank you for watching. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A J. Hammer in New York. Remember, You can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s. We`re on at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. We`re also on in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern right here on HLN.
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