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Showbiz Tonight
The Remarkable Brad Pitt Blitz; Breaking Michael Jackson News; La Toya Jackson`s Extraordinary Public Interview; The Great Kelly Clarkson Weight Debate; Miley Cyrus Pole-Dancing Controversy; Murder for Ratings?
Aired August 13, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LISA BLOOM, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the remarkable Brad Pitt blitz. Tonight, yet another brand new Brad Pitt confession. But why is Brad Pitt showing up everywhere, speaking out about gay marriage, his sex life with Angelina Jolie, even about running for mayor? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, could the Brad blitz backfire?
Breaking Michael Jackson news. Tonight, shocking revelations about his money and what happened in Michael`s final moments
Plus, La Toya Jackson`s extraordinary public interview. For the first time since claiming her brother was murdered, tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the brand-new Michael mystery.
The great Kelly Clarkson weight debate. Tonight, the outrage over what a major magazine did to Kelly on its cover. Why did they make Kelly look so much thinner?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
Hello, I`m Lisa Bloom in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
And tonight, the absolutely remarkable Brad blitz. If it seems like you can barely take a step without running into Brad Pitt these days, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that it`s not your imagination.
The normally very private Brad Pitt was out there again today on national TV. And yes, we know, he has a new movie to promote, so he`s playing that Brangelina card and sharing his passion about the whole gay marriage issue.
But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, could all this backfire on Brad? Which is why the big Brad blitz is making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Obviously, being one of the most famous movie stars in the world and one half of the most famous couple in the world isn`t enough for Brad Pitt. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, this week, more than any other, Brad Pitt is everywhere.
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": You haven`t seen a whole lot of Brad and Angelina lately because of all the Michael Jackson coverage and Jon and Kate. But now, Brad is out there, front and center, once again.
BLOOM: Brad Pitt front and center on this morning`s "Today" show talking about his views on love.
BRAD PITT, ACTOR: The greater the love, the greater the loss, I think the saying goes.
BLOOM: Brad Pitt, front and center on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, going off on those who want to ban gay marriage.
PITT: It bugs the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of me to tell you the truth.
BLOOM: And Brad Pitt, front and center, on not one, but two major magazines, spilling intimate details of his home life with Angelina Jolie and their six kids. He`s done everything but host a rowdy town hall meeting.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, Brad Pitt`s on a big Brad blitz. On this morning`s "Today" show, Pitt talked with Ann Curry about efforts to get him to run for mayor of New Orleans, where he and Jolie own a home.
ANN CURRY, CO-HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: If chosen, would you run?
PITT: Yes.
CURRY: Would you serve?
PITT: I`m running on the gay marriage, no religion, legalization and taxation on marijuana platform.
CURRY: OK.
PITT: I don`t have a chance.
BLOOM: Curry also asked Pitt about a very personal quote he gave to "Parade" magazine about his views on love.
CURRY: Do you know how you tell real love? It`s when somebody else`s interests trumps your own, love of someone else, a family, of your kids, becomes the most important, most worthwhile thing in life.
PITT: Yes, I stand by that. And someday, I won`t always be there.
SERAFIN: You normally don`t hear a lot of personal things from Brad Pitt. In fact, he`s very famously private.
BLOOM: "In Touch Weekly`s" Kim Serafin tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it`s rare to see Brad get this personal.
SERAFIN: He really doesn`t open up a lot about his family or kids or his relationship with his kids, his relationship with Angelina. But he`s been very, very open in a lot of these interviews and giving us some insight to what happens in their home lives.
BLOOM: Pitt didn`t stop there. In this week`s cover story on "People" magazine, he opened up about his children, saying, "I couldn`t imagine my life without them." And in a chat with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Brad went off on those who oppose gay marriage.
PITT: I certainly don`t think anyone`s got any right to tell someone else what to do with their lives. It bugs the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of me to tell you the truth.
BLOOM: So why are TV shows and newsstands so Pitt-ful lately? Well, the answer is simple.
SERAFIN: It`s just coincidental, I guess, that he`s giving us all these new revelations just right before his new movie comes out.
BLOOM: That would be "Inglorious Basterds," the new Quentin Tarantino movie where Pitt plays the leader of a group of Nazi hunters in World War II.
PITT: We`re going to kill some Nazis.
BLOOM: And what better way to drum up interest in a movie than to have its world-famous star on a media Brad blitz.
SERAFIN: When you get to that kind of height of fame, he has to give us a little more or else people are not interested. And he has to keep people interested in order to get them to see a movie.
BLOOM: But does Pitt risk actually keeping people away from his new movie by talking about a super-controversial topic like gay marriage?
SERAFIN: There are obviously people who disagree with Brad. So he does run the risk of possibly turning people off.
BLOOM: Still, Brad`s blitz is about more than just his movie. His "Today" show interview took place in one of the New Orleans homes his charitable group rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina. And he wasn`t shy about promoting it.
PITT: (INAUDIBLE) I`ll use it, MakeItRightNola.org.
SERAFIN: He knows how to use his fame for something good and I think you have to give him credit for that.
BLOOM: So like almost anything involving this super-savvy, superstar couple, it`s clear that with his Brad blitz, Pitt knows exactly what he`s doing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLOOM: Is Brad Pitt teetering on the edge of overexposure? And could his outspoken stance on gay marriage backfire on him?
Joining me tonight from New York is Carolina Bermudez who is a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." Also in New York is Lisa Bernhard who is an entertainment journalist.
All right. This new Brad Pitt blitz is really incredible. Carolina, is Brad Pitt in danger of going over the edge? I mean, is there really such a thing as too much Brad Pitt?
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Not for me, Lisa. I don`t know about you, but I can`t get enough of this guy. I mean, look at everything that he`s done, not only for New Orleans. But he`s the family guy. He`s an actor. His stunning good looks - they don`t make me turn away from a TV anytime he`s on.
I mean, I`m really just - everybody is so intrigued by Brad Pitt. Yet, he still maintains this like - this down-to-earth side about - I don`t know. I just think there`s never enough of Brad Pitt and Angelina.
BLOOM: He`s still easy on the eyes.
BERMUDEZ: Oh, yes.
BLOOM: Love him or hate him. Brad is showing us a brand new side of himself. His latest interview with "Parade" magazine really got people buzzing. In it, he confirmed that he and Angelina Jolie won`t get married until gay marriage is legal. And when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asked him about those comments, he got even more fired0up about it. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PITT: Truthfully, I said it kind of as a one off, you know, just off the cuff, taking a dig at people, you know, telling other people how to live their lives. And I got so much - I got so much response from it, positive and negative, which is really interesting to me.
I certainly don`t think anyone`s got any right to tell someone else what to do with their lives. It bugs the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of me to tell you the truth. And there`s no more time for that, no more place for that.
BLOOM: I`m with you, Brad, 100 percent. But the gay marriage issue really fires people up, and opponents of gay marriage can get really fired-up. So Lisa, do you think these comments could backfire on him, maybe keep people away from his movies?
LISA BERNHARD, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: I don`t know, really. Backfire is a strong word - I mean, maybe one or two. But you know, he`s not out there sort of raising his fist. He did say it very off the cuff. And you know, he is very smart about his PR.
And for a guy that`s, you know, speaking about civil rights, trying to eradicate AIDS in Africa, trying to find people homes in New Orleans after the hurricane, of all the things that celebrities could be out there doing and showing of themselves, I don`t think those sorts of issues are so bad.
I think he looks like a pretty standup guy. And he`s in his mid-40s. He`s a little introspective at this point and he gives the viewers a little tidbit of his personal life with Angelina because she`s so mysterious to the public as well. So I think he knows what he`s doing and he`s doing it well.
BLOOM: And even if you agree with Brad`s stance on gay marriage or if you just can`t get enough details about his love life, I`ve to wonder, will all of Brad`s blockbuster revelations actually draw maybe more people to his new movie?
I mean, Carolina, let`s remember, it`s a movie about killing Nazis. It`s not exactly a romantic comedy.
BERMUDEZ: No, it`s not. It`s not your light-and-fluffy date movie that you`re probably going to see on a Saturday night. But you do know that with Brad Pitt, you`re going to get a quality film. And also, Quentin Tarantino is linked into it.
I think that just out of curiosity, people are going to flock to the theaters to see this one. There`s been a lot of hype about it. I`m actually excited to see it, too.
BLOOM: Well, he`s a movie star. He could become a politician, too. He`s helping rebuild the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. So no surprise that a new Brad Pitt for mayor campaign has just started.
And today, for the first time, Brad addressed the question, would he run for mayor of New Orleans? Watch what he said to Ann Curry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: Have you seen the T-shirts?
PITT: Yes, I`ve seen the T-shirts.
CURRY: I`m looking at this here, and it`s pretty good. There`s a nice rendering of you, I think. If chosen, would you run?
PITT: Yes.
CURRY: Would you serve?
PITT: Yes. I`m running on the gay marriage, no religion, legalization and taxation of marijuana platform.
CURRY: OK.
PITT: I don`t have a chance.
CURRY: Would you want to be the guy?
PITT: I don`t have a chance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLOOM: All right. But Lisa, considering all that he`s done for New Orleans and the fact that he is one of the biggest stars on the planet, notwithstanding his political views, could he win?
BERNHARD: You know, stranger things have happened. I thought it was great that he had such a sense of humor about himself. It was a hilarious sort of sound bite there, saying like - look, he`s acknowledging he`s put out some of these issues that are not the most popular. But he`s helped that city a lot. A lot of people that you scratch your heads get elected into office. He`s not necessarily the worst choice.
BLOOM: And maybe some New Orleans residents even agree with those views. You`ll never know. Stay tuned for now. Carolina Bermudez, Lisa Bernhard, thanks.
Now we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: Are they still the hottest couple in Hollywood?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Tonight, there are breaking Michael Jackson death developments. You have got to hear the shocking revelations about Michael`s money. You won`t believe how much Michael has made since he died.
Also tonight, Michael`s sister La Toya makes her first major public appearance since claiming Michael was murdered. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is right there.
Also tonight, a very popular TV host killing people so he can get killer ratings? This is truly an unbelievable disturbing story.
And the raging Miley Cyrus pole-dancing controversy. She`s 16, a Disney star and she danced on a pole at the Teen Choice Awards. So bad or so what? Tonight, why so many people are defending her. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Motown`s Berry Gordy to write updated intro of updated M.J.memoir, "Moonwalk." Emmy Awards changes its mind, will air all award winners during telecast.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLOOM: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Lisa Bloom in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
Tonight, the Woodstock truth squad, the truth about the most legendary rock concert of all-time. This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Everyone from The Doors to Bob Dylan has been reported to have played there. But did they really?
Well, tonight, the SHOWBIZ truth squad gets to the bottom of what really happened on that small farm in upstate New York.
Here`s CNN`s Ted Rowlands for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Woodstock, the most famous music festival of all-time. But it wasn`t even held in the town of Woodstock, New York.
BOBBY COLOMBY, BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS: It could have been called the (INAUDIBLE) of musical festival. I think they started in Woodstock but never - I don`t think they got the approvals, you know, to play there, or permit.
ROWLANDS: Bobby Colomby headlined the closing night at Woodstock with his band, Blood, Sweat and Tears. He says the 500,000 people who attended had a different experience than the actual performers.
COLOMBY: We were impatiently waited to go on stage, but there`s not a - that kind of gathering of how do you feel, yes, peace, man. Isn`t this love, brother?
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ROWLANDS: Grace Slick (ph) played Woodstock with Jefferson Airplane.
GRACE SLICK, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE: We were dropped off to go on stage at 9:00. We didn`t go on stage until 6:00 the next morning.
ROWLANDS: Now a visual artist, she`s painted a picture, literally, of who was there.
SLICK: Janis, Richie Heyman, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Joan Baez. The people who put on the festival contacted everybody they could. Some probably thought all of it - (INAUDIBLE) they don`t know what they`re doing. Or some probably thought, "I can`t be there because I have a commitment for something else."
ROWLANDS: Noticeably absent, Bob Dylan, The Doors, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Joni Mitchell, who a year later wrote a song called "Woodstock" that became a hit for Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joni Mitchell was not there. Joni Mitchell was on Central Park South. I know where she was. She was with David (INAUDIBLE).
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ROWLANDS: The Who made it to the festival, but Roger Daltrey reportedly called it the worst gig they had ever played. Rain and mud were plentiful, but food and facilities were not.
SLICK: I didn`t go to the bathroom all night because there wasn`t a bathroom on stage. That`s OK for guys, they can lean off the side. But a woman - it`s a little tricky.
ROWLANDS: For many of the artists, Woodstock was just another engagement, and in 1969, a decent-paying one at that.
COLOMBY: The top pay, as far as I know, was $15,000.
ROWLANDS: But for 500,000 concert goers, the experience was priceless.
COLOMBY: In retrospect, we had absolutely no idea this was anything but a large festival. There was no clue that it would become a defining moment in our culture. Nothing like that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLOOM: That was CNN`s Ted Rowlands for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thirty-two acts performed over three days in Woodstock in front of nearly 500,000 people.
Paula Abdul wasn`t old enough to be at Woodstock. I don`t think so. I wonder how she would have judged those performances, though. Our "Showbiz on Call" operators have got their tie-dye shirts and their hippie headbands on. And they`re still getting lots of calls, dude, about Paula going bye-bye from "American Idol."
We got a call in to "Showbiz on Call" from Kathy in Michigan. She thinks the show should make love, not war, with Paula.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I think Paula Abdul helped to make "American Idol" number one. She is a very well known singer and dancer, performer. And I think her and Simon Cowell play off one another perfectly. They`re like a duet in and of themselves.
And I think her comments and her feelings help to aid the show and make it what it has become. So I really don`t think it`s a very smart move for "American Idol" producers to get rid of Paula.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLOOM: Thank you, Kathy. We also heard from Tiffany calling in to "Showbiz on Call" from Washington. She, too, is not feeling groovy about all this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: Our whole family is very sad that Paula is not going to be on the show. She`s been there every year and we look forward to her smile, her charm, and everything else. So we will not be watching "American Idol" this year.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
BLOOM: Thanks, Tiffany. Call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about this or anything else that`s on your mind. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open. Call us at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. That`s 1- 888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail and we`ll play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Tonight, we`ve got brand-new breaking Michael Jackson death developments. You have got to hear this new information we just got about Michael`s money. You won`t believe how much he`s made since he died.
Also, Michael`s sister La Toya makes her first major public appearance since claiming her brother was murdered. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is right there.
And remember Omarosa from "The Apprentice." She was such a pain, wasn`t she? Well, words I can`t say on TV about her. Tonight, has Omarosa turned it around? Is she really becoming a minister, really?
BLOOM: And the great Kelly Clarkson weight debate. Tonight, the outrage over what a major magazine did to Kelly on its cover. Why did they make Kelly look so much thinner? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Reality star Kourtney Kardashian pregnant with he first child. Tony Danza to become a teacher in Philadelphia and film it for an A & E reality show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OMAROSA, REALITY TV STAR, "THE APPRENTICE": There you go.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don`t like that behavior.
OMAROSA: Shut up. (EXPLETIVE DELETED) stop turning around and talk to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLOOM: Hey, remember Omarosa from "The Apprentice?" She always causing trouble, such a pain, until the big boss, Donald Trump, had enough and fired her.
Well, tonight I can tell you Omarosa is going to be an apprentice to someone way more powerful than Donald Trump. I`m talking about the Big Guy up there.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Lisa Bloom. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
Well, tonight, Omarosa says she`s found a higher calling. She`s training to become - I`m not kidding - a minister. Omarosa has been accepted to the United Theological Seminary and has received a scholarship to its Baptist House of Studies.
Omarosa says she feels like God has been calling her for the past couple of years. She`ll start her studies this Monday towards a doctorate in ministry.
I want to say a big congrats to my old friend Nancy Grace who, of course, hosts her own show right here on HLN. She`s got her first novel out. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there at her book release party and Nancy got pretty emotional.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY GRACE, HOST, "NANCY GRACE": (INAUDIBLE) and it culminates (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLOOM: Nancy is working on a second book now, loosely based on her life. This one, "The Eleventh Victim," is in stores now.
Let`s see what`s going on over at the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page. Lots of you are still fired up over Paula Abdul leaving "American Idol" and "Jon & Kate Plus 8" drama.
Kaitlin C. writes, "`Idol` is not better off without her. They are American`s most dysfunctional family. Without her, who`s going to make sure the boys are behaving themselves?"
And Elaine B. adds, "I refuse to watch `Jon & Kate Plus 8` because I think Jon and Kate are both trash. It is the children I feel sorry for."
Remember, we want to hear from you on Facebook. Also, you can follow us also on Twitter for breaking entertainment news alerts. Sign up for our Facebook and Twitter pages at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The startling new information about Michael Jackson`s money. Plus, Michael`s sister, La Toya, makes her first public appearance since claiming her brother was murdered.
The outrage over what a major magazine did to Kelly Clarkson on its cover. Why did they make Kelly look so much thinner?
And the Miley Cyrus pole-dancing controversy. Was it really such a big deal? What do you think? Well, this is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "Vibe Magazine" to be re-launched in November or December. Sydney Poitier, Chita Rivera awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLOOM: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, breaking Michael Jackson news. We reveal the astounding amount of money M.J. is expected to rake in - in death? Plus, new dramatic new details about exactly what Michael`s doctor was doing during Michael`s final moments.
And La Toya Jackson`s first major public appearance since her extraordinary claims that her brother was murdered. Tonight, what she`s saying now.
The Kelly Clarkson weight debate. Outrage over what a major magazine did to Kelly Clarkson on its cover.
And standing up for Miley getting down on a pole. Why so many people say it was no big deal.
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 Lisa Bloom. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
Tonight, big Jackson news. Forty-eight days after Michael Jackson mysteriously died, there are still explosive new revelations rolling in. And they`re making big news right now.
Tonight, brand new details about the doctor under investigation, in connection with Michael`s death. We`ve got the chilling details about what happened during Michael`s final hours.
And Michael Jackson`s sister, La Toya, speaks publicly for the first time since his death. She said in the past she thinks her brother was murdered. Well, we`ll tell you what she told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT when we caught up with her today.
Plus, brand-new dramatic details on how much Michael Jackson is actually worth in death. He may have been in debt when he was alive, but wait until you hear the jaw-dropping figures about how much money his death is generating.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Carlos Diaz, who is a correspondent for "Extra." Also tonight in Hollywood, Leslie Marshal, who is the host of "The Leslie Marshall Show."
Well, we start with those truly chilling details about the final hours of Michael Jackson`s death. In a twisted new development, the lawyer for Jackson`s personal physician - there he is - Dr. Conrad Murray, tells "The Los Angeles Times" that just before the doctor found Jackson unconscious in his bedroom, he left the room to talk on the phone.
CNN confirms what the doctor said, what the attorney said about the doctor. And Dr. Murray is under investigation for giving Jackson the powerful anesthetic and dangerous anesthetic propofol to help him sleep. Leslie, if Dr. Murray left the room while giving Jackson this powerful drug, what do you think? Could he be held accountable for Jackson`s death?
LESLIE MARSHALL, HOST, "THE LESLIE MARSHALL SHOW": Oh, absolutely. I mean, first of all, the fact that he`s even giving the drug. Second of all, if the drug is to be administered and in someone`s home, you have to be monitored.
I`m going to bet, Lisa, he was calling his lawyer, and I mean, seriously. This is a big deal. I mean, for any physician - and you guys know my husband is a physician - to lose a patient is a big deal. It`s a huge deal when it`s somebody the caliber of Michael Jackson. Absolutely, this guy - you know, the shovel that he has, he just better dig deeper that ditch I think he`s going to end up falling into.
BLOOM: Yes, bad news for Dr. Murray, this news - this stuff leaking out, closer and closer to a manslaughter indictment in my opinion. And there has been speculation that Michael Jackson was taking a lot of other drugs.
In this brand new interview just out today, Dr. Murray`s lawyer says the doctor was not aware of any precautions that he needed to take. No one gave him a heads up that Michael might have had an addiction.
The lawyer says, quote, "From the beginning, they (meaning the police) leaked that propofol killed him. It has appeared the investigation was designed to support a conclusion they already made with regard to Dr. Murray."
Carlos, that`s a pretty outrageous claim. Does it seem to you the attorney may be laying the groundwork for a possible defense if he`s charged?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Completely. Absolutely. And it`s kind of ironic you`re going to be talking about - you`re going to be accusing the police of negligence when this is a doctor accused of negligence.
But we`ve seen it time and time again in these high profile cases where, you know, all the evidence, you know, supposedly leads to one person and that one person says, "It`s not my fault, it`s the police`s fault. They`re the ones at fault, not me."
So obviously that could be, you know, the groundwork for something that we`ll see in the future. But right now, Dr. Murray is the number one person they`re looking at. But they are also looking at everyone involved in Michael Jackson`s life, don`t forget that.
BLOOM: You are so right. Blame the cops. Defense lawyering 101. Well, let`s move on now to another explosive new development today in the Michael Jackson death mystery. La Toya made her first major public appearance today since the days after Jackson`s death when La Toya told TMZ her brother was murdered. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you still believe in the conspiracy?
LA TOYA JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S SISTER: He was murdered. I think someone did it. That`s my opinion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLOOM: La Toya was out today in support of an AIDS charity that Michael supported. And we asked her what she thought about these new chilling reports about Dr. Murray. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
L. JACKSON: I can`t speak on that, because I`m here for this reason only. And let me try to serve some of the people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLOOM: La Toya isn`t talking now about that murder comment. OK, but Leslie, given all that we know so far, would it be far fetched to think that Michael Jackson`s death could turn into a murder investigation?
MARSHALL: I don`t know about premeditation and certainly, Lisa, you know the law. I don`t know if they`re going to be able to, you know, prove that there was any premeditation here.
So I`m not sure it will be murder, although I do think we`re definitely going to see some manslaughter charges because I definitely feel that this doctor, so far, with the allegations that I`m hearing, and certainly, like Carlos said, the defense that you hear that his lawyer already planning, was negligent with the medication, the way it was administered, not being there. But I don`t think this was planned. I don`t think it was premeditated so I`m sure they`re going to be able to have any murder here.
BLOOM: Yes, I don`t see the (INAUDIBLE) of that either. Yes, no evidence of intent. No evidence of premeditation that we know so far. But La Toya isn`t the only one in the Jackson family saying something is fishy about Michael`s death.
Michael`s father, Joe, was pointing fingers at Dr. Conrad Murray back in July. Watch what he told CNN`s Larry King about Dr. Murray.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S FATHER: You don`t take a doctor and stick him in the room and the doctor give him something to make him rest and then he don`t wake up no more? Something is wrong there. The doctor just - somehow, I understand that he left and went to sleep or something - I don`t know what happened. But he tried to bring -
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Are you implying then the doctor committed foul play?
J. JACKSON: Something went wrong, Larry. Because when they tried to bring Michael back, he was dead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLOOM: Carlos, as the investigation into Michael`s death moves forward and we`re learning more startling details every day, do you think it`s possible that Michael`s death could be ruled a murder or foul play as Joe puts it?
DIAZ: Joe didn`t put it foul play. Joe said that something went wrong. Larry King said, "Was there foul play?" He said, "Well, I think something went wrong." And I honestly believe that the Jackson family are saying things like murder because they want this to be investigated to the fullest extent of the law.
But I honestly believe you`re going to see a manslaughter charge here. You obviously - I mean, what is the motive? Why would this doctor want to kill Michael Jackson when, you know, he`s basically, you know, making his money off Michael Jackson.
So like you guys said, yes, you have to have motive. You have to have intent. With manslaughter, you don`t have to have that and that`s something that they can go for.
BLOOM: All right. Let`s move on to another blockbuster revelation about Michael Jackson. The "New York Times" reported today that since his death, Jackson`s estate has earned more than $100 million.
And in the first interview since Jackson`s death, one of the executors of his estate, John Branca, tells the "Times" he expects Jackson will earn another $100 million by the end of this year. Wow! Leslie, does it surprise you that Jackson is making more money in death than he did in life?
MARSHALL: No. It seems to happen with all the greats, whether they`re great dancers, great composers, the Beethovens, the Mozarts or great entertainers, singers, dancers and lyricists like Michael Jackson, et cetera.
Michael Jackson - I knew this was going to happen. When I heard he was dead, the first thing I thought was wow, cha-ching, cha-ching for the family, cha-ching, cha-ching for the kids. Certainly, this is a guy and many people - Marilyn Monroe - that are worth as much, if not more, dead than they are alive.
BLOOM: Yes. Michael Jackson had that spending problem reportedly in life. Now that he`s not spending anymore, the money is coming in. A lot of money coming in for his estate, for his children, for his mother and for his charities. Carlos Diaz, and Leslie Marshall, thank you both so much.
Miley Cyrus has set off a coast-to-coast debate about her hot pants- clad pole dance. It`s a great Miley pole-dancing debate that just won`t die down. Tonight, why so many are saying, "Hey, there`s nothing wrong with a 16-year-old dancing with a pole." Really? Really there isn`t?
Here`s another thing that`s got people all riled up. Outrage over what a major magazine did to Kelly Clarkson on its cover. Why did they make Kelly look so much thinner? It`s the great Kelly Clarkson weight debate.
Plus, Kate Gosselin in the hot seat with Regis Philbin. Reg grills Kate`s about getting back together with her husband. And Kate`s flippy reaction. How about that? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: The glove Michael Jackson wore when he first did the moonwalk up for auction 11/21. Music innovator and guitar legend Les Paul dies at the age of 94.
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BLOOM: Tonight, the brand-new outrage and great debate over Miley Cyrus and her sexy pole dance at the Teen Choice Awards. But did the 16-year-old "Hannah Montana" star really do anything wrong?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Lisa Bloom in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
That debate in a moment. But first, tonight, the great Kelly Clarkson weight debate. Why were pounds shaved off her body?
Kelly is looking thinner than ever on the cover of the brand-new issue of "Self" magazine, but the problem is, she doesn`t really look like that. As it turns out, "Self" put her on a Photoshop diet and doctored that picture.
Joining me tonight in New York is Carolina Bermudez, senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." Also joining me tonight in New York is Lisa Bernhard, who is an entertainment journalist.
All right, guys. There is an absolute firestorm over this image of Kelly Clarkson on the cover of "Self." And let me show you why. On the left here is the Kelly Clarkson we all know and love. She`s looking healthier, maybe a little curvier than her "American Idol" days.
Check it out on the right, the "Self" cover. "Self" admits to airbrushing Kelly saying it was just to make her look her, quote, "personal best." Carolina, is this really her personal best if Kelly does not look like that and did not make that call?
BERMUDEZ: No, it`s not her personal best because Kelly will tell you herself that she prides herself on being a down home Texas girl. She loves her body. She eats what she wants. She does try to eat in moderation.
And I think that by them doing that, by them Photoshopping that cover, it eliminates or it takes away from her argument that she wants women or she wants the girls that look up to her to realize that she`s out there because of her talent, not because she`s this real thin singer.
BLOOM: Well, you know, what`s frustrating about this is that "Self" is supposed to be a magazine about self-worth. Well, the editor of "Self" says that the cover photo of Kelly is the truest they`ve ever put on the newsstands. What? "Self`s" own readers were absolutely outraged.
One person who calls herself disappointed posted this quote, "Kelly looked beautiful in the video shoot. Why you felt the need to plasticize her other than to give credence to my daughter`s eating disorder, is beyond me. Your magazine should be entitled `Someone Else` instead of `Self.`"
And there were dozens and dozens of comments just like this. I agree with them. Lisa, do you understand why people are so upset?
BERNHARD: Well, I do. But let me just say this. I worked in the magazine business a long time and I`m sure Carolina knows this as well. Every photo gets retouched. Whether it`s.
BLOOM: Does that make it right?
BERNHARD: Well, I don`t know if that makes it right or wrong. But I`m saying when you airbrush out the wrinkles in a Meryl Streep, is that ageist? When you take the pimples out of somebody, a blemish out of Cameron Diaz, is that telling girls out there, "Hey, we don`t all get pimples?"
You know, we have this definition of beauty, right or wrong. The cover is the most important in terms of magazine sales. And I think the editor in chief of "Self" magazine, when she wrote on her blog, "Her Truest Self," she was trying to say that Kelly shows confidence.
Now, right or wrong, this is ingrained in this industry and it`s what it takes these days to sell magazines.
BLOOM: Unfortunately, that is the case. Well, we do want to say we reached out to Kelly and her reps but they had no comment.
BLOOM: Another story we have to get to getting big buzz tonight - Miley Cyrus and that sexy pole dance at the Teen Choice Awards. A lot of people thought it was way too sexy for the 16-year-old superstar.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers are all fired up about this. And today, we had to assign 15 extra interns just to deal with the E-mails.
Kimberly from Ohio writes, "Miley Cyrus` performance was unbelievably distasteful and totally not appropriate. It is disgusting how she and her father keeps pushing the boundaries and having her grow up way too fast."
Tequisa from North Carolina disagrees. She writes, "Take some time out to really view what goes on, on a pole at a strip club. Miley`s performance was really nothing."
Carolina, why do you think the outrage over this is just not dying down?
BERMUDEZ: Well, because, first of all, it wasn`t an appropriate venue for her to even be performing that way. I mean, it is the Teen Choice Awards and you have to think she`s 16, not 26.
That being said, I think that just - I felt a little bit awkward seeing the short shorts and the moving pole and the cleavage and what have you. I think that there`s something to be said about a 16-year-old star that`s out in the entertainment industry. There is the Demi Lovatos and the (INAUDIBLE).
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BLOOM: Yes, we know what a pole dance is.
BERMUDEZ: Yes, we get it.
BLOOM: There`s the pole. There`s the dance. I have to get to this next story about Kate Gosselin being grilled by Regis Philbin today. We flipped on "Live with Regis and Kelly" this morning only to see this - Regis digging into Kate Gosselin on whether or not she`s going to get back together with Jon. Take a look.
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REGIS PHILBIN, CO-HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": I think he`s going to come back and he`s going to say, "Please, marry me again." And I think you`re going to live happily ever after. Now, what do you think of that?
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": Wow. It`s not ideal, and I can`t say that I think you`re right at all.
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BLOOM: Awkward. Kate obviously didn`t expect that from Reg. Kate didn`t answer that and then she went back to saying some of the things about the family that are private. But look, Carolina, look, she`s got a reality show. Should she have expected that that line could have been crossed by Reg?
BERMUDEZ: Absolutely. You know, you`re in reality show, everything is fair game. And Regis is just trying to be the nice guy that he is and maybe was trying to make her feel a little bit better. But there`s too much bad blood there. I think it was an extremely awkward moment for her. But she did play it off pretty well at the end.
BLOOM: Wow. All right. Carolina Bermudez, Lisa Bernhard, thank you so much.
Tonight, a popular TV host killing people in the streets, all for killer ratings? It`s not a story line from the new season of "CSI," but cops believe a murder for ratings plot really happened. It`s the totally unbelievable and disturbing true story that will make your head spin.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd`s new sitcom starts 10/5 on Lifetime. Kim Basinger to play Zac Efron`s mom in drama "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.
Time now for "Making It Work," where we find out how stars make their relationships work.
Tonight, it`s Soleil Moon Frye. The star of the hit `80s TV show, "Punky Brewster" has been married to producer Jason Goldberg for a decade. They have two kids and Soleil runs an eco-chic kids boutique in L.A.
Soleil is also teaming up with her friend Ashton Kutcher to offer free stuff to deserving moms. Soleil runs as household, a business and has time to do good, too. How does she do it? Well, when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with Soleil, we just had to ask her how she makes it all work.
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SOLEIL MOON FRYE, ACTRESS: I think sense of humor and being best friends and going through the good and the bad and realizing that marriage doesn`t happen on a day. It something that happens over time and to not jet when it gets hard to really stick it through and go through the ups and downs together. Never go to sleep without saying, "I love you," and never go to bed angry.
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BLOOM: Nice to hear, isn`t it? Hey, and listen to this, Demi Moore, Soleil`s good friend, helped deliver both of Soleil`s children. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
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BLOOM: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, I`m Lisa Bloom in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer has the night off.
Tonight, real-life murder for blockbuster TV ratings. A TV host is accused of killing bad guys just so he could be the first with a gruesome crime scene video and then get killer ratings. It`s a bizarre and disturbing story that has rocked Brazil. Here`s CNN`s Rosemary Church for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A popular TV crime show, the host denounces criminals while his crew gets to the crime scenes first capturing dramatic footage like this dead drug trafficker. But now, police say the host had a news-gathering edge.
THOMAZ AUGUSTO VASCONCELOS, POLICE CHIEF (through translator): The truth, he went as far as creating facts and ordering that crimes be committed to generate news for the program.
CHURCH: Murder for ratings say police who are investigating TV host Wallace Souza who is also a state lawmaker. They suspect he commissioned at least five murders. And not just to boost his audience - they say he`s also a drug trafficker who was eliminating his rivals. Souza denies all criminal allegations.
FRANCISCO BAIJERO, SOUZA`S LAWYER (through translator): You know, the investigation is made by the public ministry and the police. So far, they have not been able to present any proof of any kind.
CHURCH: Souza says his political opponents and drug dealers are setting him up. He says he gets good footage because crews have resources and listen to the police scanners. He remains free because he has legislative immunity while officials keep investigating.
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BLOOM: Wow. That was CNN`s Rosemary Church for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. By the way, the popular show is now off the air.
Wednesday, we asked you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Paula Abdul: Will `American Idol` be better off without her. Thirty-six percent of you said yes. But the majority, 64 percent of you voting no.
Here are some of the E-mails we got. Katherine from Oklahoma writes, "Losing Paula is like losing a good friend. Paula gave the show class, beauty and great positive, caring comments."
Patty from British Columbia, Canada writes in what has to be a SHOWBIZ E-mail first. A poem - well, kind of, sort of, "Yahoo! Roses are red, violets are blue. I can watch `Idol` again with Paula out of there."
OK. That`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Lisa Bloom here in Hollywood. Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
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