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Showbiz Tonight
Jon Gosselin`s Move to Shut Down "Jon & Kate Plus 8"; Rabbi Shmuley Tells All; Is Michael Vick Going to Endorse Nike?; News About Sarah Palin`s Going Rogue; Heidi Montag`s Sex Secret
Aired October 01, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Right now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it`s war. Jon Gosselin`s incredible move to shut down "Jon & Kate Plus 8" the day after he got fired from the show. Now, Jon is being called erratic, opportunistic. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the Jon Gosselin smackdown.
The rabbi tells all. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s explosive one-on-one with the rabbi who recorded disturbing conversations with Michael Jackson. Tonight, the tough questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera): So how do you convince people now who might be questioning your motives that this is not yet another betrayal of Michael.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
The rabbi tells all in the headline-making interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Plus, SHOWBIZ shockers. Is convicted dog killer Michael Vick really getting a sponsorship deal with Nike? The unbelievable news about Sarah Palin`s new book. And the sex secret Heidi Montag revealed today.
TV`s first, 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.
Wow, what a day it`s been, and tonight, it is war. Jon Gosselin took dramatic action today to try to end "Jon and Kate Plus 8." You heard me right. Just days after being fired by TLC, Jon is now refusing - yes, refusing - to let TLC into the house to shoot the show. These extraordinary developments made for big news breaking.
Listen to this - TLC suspended production on "Jon & Kate Plus 8" today after Jon Gosselin filed a cease and desist order demanding that they stop taping the reality show. He even posted a sign on the front gates of his house telling them, "Hey, get lost."
He says he is doing this to protect the kids. But that`s not what Kate says. She fired back at Jon today, saying that he never had a problem with the kids being on TV until he got fired from the show. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants to know, whose side are you buying?
But wait, there is more. TLC - they`re having none of this. Today, they lashed out at Jon. They called him erratic, self-destructive and unprofessional. I tell you, it`s an all-out battle. Of course, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, is the Gosselin family officially imploding?
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Carlos Diaz, who is a correspondent for "Extra." Tonight, in New York, is Midwin Charles, who is an attorney with Midwin Charles and Associates.
It is official - this is outright war between Jon and Kate. Jon today posted this notice right there on the front gates of the home he and Kate own together banning all TLC cameras from the property.
Jon is saying, basically, he wants to end the show for the good of the kids. He wants to protect them. This is what his lawyer tells "Entertainment Tonight" and astonishing to me, "Jon realized his family was like a train wreck. So he decided to put the brakes on the divorce and on the show, because if he didn`t, the family would be in a mortal accident, the victims of a train wreck."
Carlos, I hear what`s going on. I read that statement and I`m thinking something stinks here, considering that just two days ago, TLC fired him from the show and changed the name, of course, from "Jon & Kate Plus 8" to "Kate Plus 8." Is Jon just acting like a man scorned?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Exactly. That`s what he`s acting like. How many times have we seen one parent say to another parent in divorce, "Oh, if you`re going to act that way, then you can`t see the kid this weekend." Well, now, we`ve got Jon telling TLC, "Well, if you`re going to act that way, you can`t see the kids on TV ever."
I mean, it`s a terrible example of childish behavior from Jon Gosselin. And I`ve said it time and time again, TLC is handling this incredibly wrong. You get the kids out of the equation now and you have Jon and Kate working through to their divorce on camera instead of on ABC, instead of on all these different shows.
Get that on TLC. That`s why your ratings are tanking, because we`re not believing this rosy image that you have of Kate playing with the kids in the front yard. We`re not believing it.
HAMMER: You know, you are talking there, Carlos. And I`m noticing the great irony that Jon, through his behavior, is trying to protect the kids. But this very behavior is setting a terrible example for the kids.
And now, Kate is striking back and she is also suggesting the only reason that he is doing this is because he got fired. You`ve got to hear what Kate told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT late this afternoon.
She said it very clearly, "I`m saddened and confused by Jon`s public media statements. Jon has never expressed any concerns to me about our children being involved in the show and, in fact, is on the record as saying he believes the show benefits our children and was taping on Friday with the kids."
And Kate went on to say, "Jon used to share that belief until as recently as the day the network announced the name change of the show and indicated that Jon would have a lesser role in the show."
Midwin, Kate is clearly upset here. She`s confused here. Whose side of the story are you buying more, Jon or Kate`s?
MIDWIN CHARLES, ATTORNEY, MIDWIN CHARLES AND ASSOCIATES: Well, it`s so obvious that Jon is not trying to do anything here but protect his check, OK? Jon is upset that they pulled the plug on him on the show, and so he`s lashing back in one of the few ways he can.
Look how quickly he did this, too. It almost sounds as though this is something that was potentially brewing over time. I mean, the swiftness and the quickness of how they went into court and got the cease and desist. Oh, my goodness! Very, very quick.
HAMMER: It happened lightning fast. And you know, Kate is not making this stuff up. I can tell you SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has dug up the proof to back up what Kate is saying here. Jon did go on the record about the kids only a few weeks ago. He told ABC`s "Primetime" that they were totally fine taping the show. You`ve got to watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS CUOMO, ABC CORRESPONDENT: Do you ever think about whether the show is the right thing for the kids? If the kids were telling you, "We don`t it anymore," you would stop it?
JON GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": I would stop it and I`m not going to make them film.
CUOMO: That doesn`t wash. It doesn`t wash. You tell them what to do. They`re your kids. They`re five and they`re eight.
J. GOSSELIN: They`re not being forced to film, if that`s what you are getting at.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Carlos, Jon knows that he said that and everybody saw it. It really makes him look like a big old dufus, doesn`t it?
DIAZ: It does. What kind of like, legal advice is he getting when, you know, he says, "Let`s put out a statement." And the lawyer says, Yes, great. We`ll put out the statement, when the lawyer should know your client just said on national TV and in several other instances the kids don`t mind taping. It`s obvious he is just trying to get back at TLC by using his own kids.
HAMMER: And by the way, dufus is the clinical term that I`ve chosen to use tonight. No surprise, TLC was not at all happy with the cease and desist order that Jon put out there demanding the show be shut down.
So TLC responded by suspending production today, but then, they let Jon have it. They just slammed him in the statement. Listen to this, "We are aware of Jon Gosselin`s recent statements and remain deeply disappointed at his continued erratic behavior. His latest comments are grossly inaccurate, without merit and are clearly opportunistic."
I must point out that until now, TLC has always been very publicly supportive of Jon. Now, I hear this real 180. I`m thinking they are sweating bullets that the biggest show has gone down the tubes.
But Midwin, it is Jon`s house. It`s not TLC`s house. So if he was going to get back at TLC for canning him from the show, this really was the way to do it, wasn`t it?
CHARLES: I mean, it really is. It really is. He is the second half of that family and the marriage. And he does have a say in what happens to the children. They are not divorced yet. There is no custody issue yet.
So he does have a say as to whether or not the children can be in the show. Now, that said, not only did he say in the interview that he had no problem with the children being filmed, but his actions also belie that, you know, to support that statement. He has been filmed almost every single day up until this week.
HAMMER: Yes. It just.
CHARLES: It just makes no sense and has no credibility.
HAMMER: An unbelievable contradiction. So what do you think? Did Jon deserve to get fired from the show? This is exactly what we asked in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day.
Late today, the very first wave of results came in. A huge response on this one. We asked on air and online - "Jon Gosselin: Did he deserve to be fired from `Jon & Kate?`" Look at this - 75 percent said yes. It was a good thing; 25 percent said no.
I must point out not everybody is behind Kate here. Our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook wall lit up today. Look at this from Shayleen B., "Kate makes me sick. I hope whatever he is trying to do works and that they cancel the show."
Carlos, it seems to me everybody is going to be a loser in the end here - Jon, Kate, TLC and sadly as we talked about before, the kids.
DIAZ: $75,000 an episode is what they were rumored to be making. $75,000 an episode you are flushing that down the toilet. If I`m the kids - we need to a summit. We need to have the kids get together, "Excuse me, guys. Our college money is going bye-bye. Can you get it together and work something out, please?"
HAMMER: Yes. And let me not be hypocritical here. I`ve said all along, wow, it would be a terrific thing for the kids if the show does get shut down.
But you know, Kate has gone on and on, "This is what we need to do to support the kids." And I think - I don`t know. Midwin, doesn`t it ultimately make sense for them to put a halt to the show?
CHARLES: I think it does. I have always been one to say that I didn`t think the show was a good idea with respect to these children being able to be functioning, normal, contributing members of society as they become adults.
I mean, to see the parents bickering like this on air for everyone to see - I think, it`s detrimental to them. So, yes.
HAMMER: Midwin Charles, Carlos Diaz, I thank you. These are some unbelievable turns in this very ongoing sad saga. I appreciate you being here tonight.
All right. What do you think? As we just said, it`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. You can still sound off - "Jon Gosselin: Did he deserve to be fired from `Jon & Kate Plus 8?`"
You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. If you want to tell us more, please E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Moving on tonight, the rabbi tells all. I`m talking about Michael Jackson`s spiritual adviser. This is the guy who recorded these personal and sometimes very disturbing conversations with Michael. Well, tonight, I ask him the tough questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera): So how do you convince people now who might be questioning your motives that this is not yet another betrayal of Michael?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Some people are slamming the Rabbi Shmuley. So what does he have to say to his critics? Well, tonight, you`ve got to watch this. It is the explosive headline-making interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Also tonight, it`s SHOWBIZ shockers. Hang on just a second. Is this right? Is NFL star Michael Vick, the guy, of course, who was sent to prison for arranging brutal and cruel dogfights? Is he really signing an endorsement deal with Nike?
Also, SHOWBIZ shocker from one of the biggest reality stars out there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEIDI MONTAG, REALITY TV STAR, "THE HILLS": I want to have children and I want to have children sooner than later. And my husband doesn`t want to have children at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Startling sex secrets from "The Hills" star Heidi Montag revealed just today. Trust me, even if you are not a Heidi fan, you will definitely want to hear this. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: According to autopsy report, Michael Jackson was healthy when he died. Oprah Winfrey number 141 on Forbes list of 400 richest people in America.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Did you have an abortion?
MACKENZIE PHILLIPS, ACTRESS: Yes, I did.
KING: Did you tell your father.
M. PHILLIPS: He paid for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The blockbuster confessions from "One Day at a Time" star Mackenzie Phillips that she had a sexual relationship with her dad and that he might have gotten her pregnant. Tonight, Mackenzie`s half sister, Chynna is right here, opening up about the disturbing allegations that have rocked her family and Hollywood.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, Chynna Phillips says, "I believe Mackenzie." Just today, I sat down with the lovely Chynna Phillips - you might remember her from the group Wilson Phillips. She`s also Mackenzie Phillips` half sister.
And I can tell you she is firmly standing by Mack`s side. But some of Mackenzie`s family don`t believe that Mackenzie and her dad, John Phillips, from the Mamas and the Papas, had a longtime sexual relationship.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHYNNA PHILLIPS, MACKENZIE PHILLIPS` SISTER: I do. Everyone is going to have their own personal opinion about the subject. I choose to believe her and others don`t.
HAMMER (on camera): Fair enough. You have said that you wish that she handled this privately.
C. PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. Yes. It`s a huge revelation. It`s something my poor dad is not even here to talk about. And that makes me sad that he can`t defend himself in any way, shape or form or at least come out and talk about it publicly. He doesn`t have a choice and that makes me sad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: She was very open about the very tough topic, but does Chynna have any reservations about defending her sister? You will find out when you watch my full interview with her, Friday, right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Now, did you see this? Conan O`Brien versus the state of New Jersey. Now, we all know the Garden State gets pretty beat up by comedians. They all say the state smells, has too many roads, on and on.
But now, one tough New Jersey mayor is actually fighting back. When Conan O`Brien dissed his town, he dissed back.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): (UNINTELLIGIBLE) dissing match. If you dare diss Newark, New Jersey, prepare to be dissed back. Mayor Cory Booker.
CORY BOOKER, MAYOR OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY: Last week, Conan O`Brien took a swing at our city.
CONAN O`BRIEN, COMEDIAN: The mayor of Newark, New Jersey wants to set up a city-wide program to improve Newark residents` health. Maybe the healthcare program will consist of a bus ticket out of Newark.
MOOS: Newark`s mayor fired back on YouTube.
BOOKER: Conan, I want you to hear directly from the people of Newark.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you hear what Conan O`Brien said about the City of Newark?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did he say?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who is Conan O`Brien?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can eat some health care. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) You don`t mess with Newark like this.
MOOS: And then, the mayor clipped Conan`s wing.
BOOKER: I`m officially putting you on the Newark, New Jersey airport no- fly list. Try JFK, buddy.
MOOS: Some actually thought the mayor was serious, calling it an abuse of power. That was more of an abuse of humor. "Saturday Night Live" also picked at New Jersey with an impersonation of New York`s blind governor, David Paterson.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR (as Gov. David Paterson): By the way, you know how to go to hell, Seth? You take the Holland tunnel straight to New Jersey.
MOOS (on camera): But if you think Newark has an image problem, wait until you hear what have the Wisconsin Tourism Federation going - what the (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(voice-over): The Wisconsin Tourism Federation has been around 30 years. But lately, its initials have taken on new meaning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I decided I`m going to do a quick segment called what the (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
KEITH OLBERMANN, HOST, "COUNTDOWN": WTF moment.
MOOS: Although the dad in the new sitcom "Modern Family" still has not gotten the word -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I surf the web. I text LOL - laugh out loud; OMG - oh my god, WTF - why the face.
MOOS: But when the other WTF - the Wisconsin Tourism Federation - saw their initials mocked on Web sites like "Your Logo Makes Me Barf," it was the final straw. WTF made the switch to TFW - Tourism Federation of Wisconsin. Easy for them to change their name. But what does New Jersey do?
BOOKER: Try JFK, buddy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Well, I must tell you, we are still getting tons of calls into "Showbiz on Call" all about Roman Polanski. In fact, just today, Kirstie Alley went on a rant against stars who are defending him.
We`ve got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Louise in Texas who doesn`t care that it`s been 30 years since Roman had sex with a 13-year-old girl.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I think it`s ridiculous the way people are taking up for him when he has broken the law even though it has been 30 years ago. He has not paid for his crime yet. What are we supposed to do, just bring out a band and have a whole parade for him? I think not.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you, Louise. We also heard from Georgette who called into "Showbiz on Call." Georgette agrees with Kirstie Alley. She doesn`t understand how stars can defend Roman.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: The question needs to be asked Hollywood celebrities. If their 13-year-old child was sexually manipulated at the least by a 40-year-old man, would their reaction be at any part of their lifetime that their child`s rapist serve less than two months in jail and be allowed to continue life as usual?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you, Louise. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call" to chime in on this or anything else that`s on your mind. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open. The number is 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
Tonight, the rabbi speaks. It`s my explosive one-on-one interview with the rabbi who tapes some very personal and sometimes very disturbing conversations with Michael Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RABBI SHMULEY BOTEACH, MICHAEL JACKSON`S SPIRITUAL ADVISER: This is Michael in his own words. The book speaks for itself. The tapes speak for themselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Rabbi Shmuley has been slammed by some who say he has betrayed Michael`s trust by releasing these tapes. Tonight, the tough questions. I`m asking the rabbi what he thinks of his critics. It is the headline- making you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Also SHOWBIZ shockers. More unbelievable news today about Sarah Palin`s brand-new book. This thing isn`t even out yet.
And calling all Joy Behar haters, you`d better watch out, because our new HLN friend is not scared of you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": So Glenn, Rush, Bill, I invite all of you to come on the show and discuss things like rational adults, even if you are a big bunch of doody heads.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You get them, Joy. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Pearl Jams` album "Backspacer" hits number one on Billboard 200 chart, first number one in 13 years. Toby Keith to play at this year`s Nobel Peace Prize concert in Norway on December 11th.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Holy smoke. SHOWBIZ caught on tape - a complete stranger racing up a burning building to save a young boy in New York City. This is incredible. The man ran up the fire escape, pulled the boy from his apartment and gave him CPR.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Wow, I can`t believe what I just saw. And there is more that you`ve got to see. This fire hero followed that up by going on "Good Morning America" this morning. And right there, on live TV, proposed to his girlfriend. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Desiree right here. I have something to tell you. And you know that I`m a handful already. We both know that. And I promise you one thing - there is never going to be a dull moment. So therefore, will you marry me, anyway?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Isn`t he a great guy or what? Bravo to both of you. Very impressive.
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there for the star-filled screening of the "Seinfeld" non-reunion reunion episode of the great show "Curb Your Enthusiasm" that airs this Sunday on HBO.
"Curb`s" Larry David who created "Seinfeld" - and we tried to get Jerry to tell us why, after 11 years, he decided to do this. But of course, in typical Jerry fashion, we were left scratching our heads and laughing, of course.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JERRY SEINFELD, COMEDIAN: When someone gives you an idea and it sounds wrong, that`s right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Something that`s wrong.
SEINFELD: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
SEINFELD: If it sounds right, it`s wrong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are those words (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SEINFELD: Yes. George learned that in the episode.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Jerry, of course, referring to Jason Alexander`s character, George Costanza. Well, tons of you have been writing into our Facebook wall, big news today that Jon is trying to shut down production of "Jon and Kate Plus 8."
Janice T. thinks this is a bad idea, "Seems to me if TLC stops production of the show, no one will have an income. Is that good for them and the kids?"
Robert M. is pitching this, "So here`s my idea. Fire boring Kate and do a show called `The Swinging Life` starring Jon with lots of fancy cars, dark lounges and low-cut dresses.
Sign up for our Facebook and Twitter entertainment news alerts by heading to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
It`s my explosive interview with the rabbi who recorded personal and sometimes disturbing conversations with Michael Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOTEACH: I think that`s why this book has been met with such a jarring response by so many in the public, because we really want to believe this lie, that if you become rich enough and famous enough, you`re going to be happy. And yet, Michael was utterly, utterly miserable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So what does Rabbi Shmuley say to his critics who claim he betrayed Michael by releasing the tapes?
And SHOWBIZ shockers. Is convicted dog killer Michael Vick really signing an endorsement deal with Nike?
Plus, "The Hills" star Heidi Montag reveals shocking, new sex secrets just today. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Will Ferrell and his wife are expecting their third child, a boy. "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi is pregnant with her first child.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on camera): So how do you convince people now who might be questioning your motives that this is not yet another betrayal of Michael?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, brand-new revelations today by the rabbi who recorded intimate conversations with Michael Jackson. Did the rabbi betray his former friend? It`s my explosive new interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
SHOWBIZ shockers. Michael Vick`s new gig. Does the man fresh out of prison for dog-fighting have a money deal with Nike?
And this SHOWBIZ shocker.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MONTAG: I want to have children. And I want to have children sooner than later, and my husband doesn`t want to have children at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Startling news about Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt`s sex life. You won`t believe the drastic move Spencer is threatening to avoid sex.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s first most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, brand-new bombshell revelations from the explosive Michael Jackson tapes today directly from the man who interviewed Jackson for over 30 hours.
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach came to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with big news breaking. In the explosive tapes first heard on NBC`s "Dateline," Michael Jackson goes into graphic detail about claims that his father used to oil him down to beat him. Well, today, I had to ask the rabbi what he was thinking when Michael dropped that bombshell.
Also, brand-new insight of how Michael`s relationship with his father nearly crippled his career. Rabbi Shmuley unveils today, the never-before- heard details.
And in more big news breaking, I asked the rabbi pointblank if he is betraying Michael by releasing these tapes so soon after his death. I am telling you, after this interview, you will never see Michael Jackson the same way again.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I would like to listen to a little bit of what we heard on "Dateline" when they played what I believe was really the most explosive description of Michael Jackson describing the abuse by his father. Let`s listen to that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHAEL JACKSON, POP SUPERSTAR: He would make you strip nude first. He would oil you down. It would be a whole ritual. He would oil you down so when the flip of the ironing cord hit you, it just, you know. And it was just like me dying. And you had whips all over your face, your back, everywhere.
And I always hear my mother in the back, "No, Joe, you`re going to kill him. You`re going to kill him. No." I would give up, like there was nothing I could do, you know? And I hated him for it. Hated him.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. It`s so strong and it`s so powerful and stunning to hear such vivid description of something we`d only heard talked about before. You were sitting right there across from him. How did you react when you hear him describing how he was beat?
BOTEACH: Even when I hear it now, it`s painful, because it shows a side of Michael that is so contradictory to the superstar who played before million of fans.
I don`t think Michael was ever known as a man. I don`t think we understood his brokenness. I think we judged and we rejected him. But even he didn`t reject his father completely after that clip.
Now, the clip ends by saying, "And I love him today, but he was hard." Michael yearned for a relationship with his father. I think it`s what he most wanted.
HAMMER: But so many conflicts. And this was what Michael`s life seemed to be all about - were these great conflicts. On the one hand, he says he hated his father. On the other hand, you say in the book, Michael talks about how he loved his father.
And the tape I want to play right now, a part that we heard on "LARRY KING LIVE," where he talks about how he wanted his father dead and could picture him in a coffin. Let`s listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
M. JACKSON: I never forget this. Janet and myself, we`d say - I would say Janet, shut your eyes. She`d go, "OK. They`re shut." I`d say, "Picture Joseph in a coffin. He`s dead. Do you feel sorry?" She would go, "No."
That`s what we`d do to each other as kids. We`d play games like that. And that`s how hateful we were. I go, "He`s in the coffin. He`s dead and do you - are you - could - would you feel sad? She`d go, No," just like that. That`s how angry we were with him. And I love him today, but he was hard.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Again, there`s that contrast. "I love him. He was hard. And we imagine him dead and didn`t feel anything." I mean, how do you react to that? That`s not something like kids joke around about, it seems to me.
BOTEACH: Well, it`s not just there was what Michael alleges physical violence. More than anything else, it was Michael feeling that his father was making him into a performer. He wanted to be loved unconditionally for who he was and not what he did.
And I think that in his mind, he was being given, not affection, not love, but attention. And attention is for your talents and love is for your being. And that`s why he yearned for his father`s love so much.
Of course, it`s contradictory. Many of us have this love-hate relationship with parents. Michael yearned throughout his life for his father to embrace him in.
One of the most moving parts of the book is where he says that, you know, "We`re going to reconcile one day. I know it`s going to happen, but I have to overcome a lot." And what most undermined his lust for life, in my opinion, is that that reconciliation never took place.
HAMMER: I want to go back to the part where you talk about where he felt so hurt by being treated as a commodity, how his brothers were treated as commodities as well. And in this portion of the tape that we heard on "Dateline," he describes to you exactly how much that troubled him. Let`s listen to that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BOTEACH: Did you begin to feel that you were like a moneymaking machine for him?
M. JACKSON: Yes. I`ll never forget, one day, he said, "If you guys ever stop singing, I`ll drop you like a hot potato." That`s what he said. It hurt me. You don`t say that to children. And I never forgot it.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: So Rabbi Shmuley, do you get the impression or did you, at the time that Michael was more hurt by being treated as a moneymaking machine than he was by the actual beatings that he suffered at his father`s hands as he claims?
SHMULEY: The two are inextricably linked. And the reason he shared these painful memories is he wanted to us extract a lesson and apply to our children, to how we raise our own kids.
This show is called SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. America loves show business. America loves performers and entertainers. But we`ve really overdosed a bit on fame and celebrity.
And for Michael, fame became his drug of choice. On the one hand, he understood the toxic effects on his life. On the other hand, he couldn`t completely relinquish it.
And you`re pointing out very rightly, A.J., that Michael was such contradictory information - what he`s offering, and he understood that contradiction. There were always two Michael Jacksons. There was the soft, shy, soft-spoken boy from Gary, Indiana and there was the King of Pop.
What these tapes unearthed is the real Michael Jackson, the boy, the one who always clung to his innocence. And that`s why so much comes out about his romantic attractions to other women that were not sexual. They were just romantic - holding hands.
But then, you have the other side of it. I say to him pointblank, "Michael, since you yearned so much for the childhood that you really never granted. Since you wanted to be on the monkey bars and the merry go round while you were in the recording studio, would you give it up?"
And he thinks for a moment and he says, "No, I would never give it up." So it did become an addiction after a while. And he understood that and I understood it because it`s what we all think life is about in the United States today. And he was causing us to question our values.
And I think that`s why this book has been met with such a jarring response by so many in the public, because we really want to believe this lie, that if you become rich enough and famous enough, you`re going to be happy. And yet, Michael was utterly, utterly miserable.
HAMMER: Obviously, Rabbi Shmuley, you are not blind to some of the backlash that has been going on over your releasing this book at this time. You have said you feel it is important to teach lessons for Michael`s life to be redemptive to get the book out at this time.
I`m hearing from a lot of people, a lot of fans of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT after we initially played some of the recordings. They`re saying, "You know what? He just died a couple of months ago."
So how do you convince people now who might be questioning your motives that this is not yet another betrayal of Michael because he speaks and we see a lot of this in the book, about how he was betrayed, left and right, by people who was were supposed to be looking after best interests?
SHMULEY: This is not a memoir of my opinion of Michael Jackson. These are not my recollections. This is Michael in his own voice. The tapes speak for themselves.
When a man sits down for 30 hours and he is holding Dictaphone and he wants every word captured because he feels he`s never been understood by the public, obviously, he is saying it because he wants people to take his words to heart.
This is Michael in his own words. The book speaks for itself. Tapes speak for themselves.
HAMMER: So how now that it`s all these years later do you think Michael would feel about the fact that these tapes which, again, were his thoughts of some eight, nine years ago - how would he feel about them being released now?
SHMULEY: I believe that looking down from heaven, if Michael can see that his own voice actually changed so many hearts, I think that`s exactly what Michael wanted. And I`m thrilled that that is the impact the book is having.
Michael deserves to be heard. We deserve to mourn a man. We deserve to understand that his tragedy is not just a personal tragedy, it`s an American tragedy. He was the stuff of the American dream.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, further to those skeptics, the rabbi also said that a substantial portion of proceeds of his new book will go to family charities, including his own called This World: The Jewish Values Network. Rabbi`s book, called "The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation."
So tonight, there is so much shocking star news I, quite frankly, don`t even know where to begin. From Heidi and Spencer`s sex life to Sarah Palin`s huge news. This is making my head spin.
Startling news about Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt`s sex life. Wait until you hear what Heidi reveals to the ladies of "The View" about her intimate bedroom secrets. Plus, you will not believe what Spencer is threatening to do to avoid sex with his wife.
Plus, Michael Vick`s new gig. Does the man sent to the slammer for dog-fighting actually have a big money deal with Nike?
Also, startling news about Sarah Palin`s book. Why it`s already sending shockwaves through the country and it`s not even out yet. SHOWBIZ shockers. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Singer Shakira to play herself in an episode of ABC`s "Ugly Betty." Study finds more gay characters on network TV this season, lower on cable networks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": The only way to 100 percent not to get pregnant is not have sex.
MONTAG: That`s what he says. You`re on the same page.
BEHAR: Or you can do the 99 percent and wear a condom.
MONTAG: Yes.
(CROSS TALK)
GOLDBERG: I guess you haven`t heard there are females that take little pins into those condoms.
(CROSS TALK)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": This is crazy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is not a joke. Tonight, a SHOWBIZ shocker. Why did reality show star, Heidi Montag, talk about her sex life today on "The View?" Seriously, you can`t make this stuff up.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, three big SHOWBIZ shockers that are making news right now. First off, "The Hills" star Spencer Pratt is saying he`s avoiding having sex with his costar wife, Heidi, because he`s afraid she is going to get pregnant.
Another huge SHOWBIZ shocker tonight - does Nike really want to sign an endorsement deal with dog killer Michael Vick? Would Nike even be stupid enough to make a move like this?
Plus, wait until you hear the unbelievable SHOWBIZ shocker about Sarah Palin`s new memoir.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra." With me tonight, in New York, Midwin Charles, attorney with the law firm Midwin Charles and Associates.
Our first SHOWBIZ shocker, guys, comes from the - well, way too much information department, if you ask me. Heidi Montag was filming as a guest co-host on "The View." And the ladies wasted no time in getting to the bottom of why she and her husband are rarely having sex and they are just four months into their marriage. Look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MONTAG: I want to have children.
GOLDBERG: Right.
MONTAG: And I want to have children sooner than later. And my husband doesn`t want to have children at all, he said.
SHEPHERD: Ever?
MONTAG: Yes, ever. He says he wants surgery to make sure we don`t have children.
BEHAR: Surgery on what?
MONTAG: On him, not me.
BEHAR: You want to get snipped? I have a warning for you. Jon Gosselin is available.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Like I said, too much information. Carlos, almost more shocking to me than hearing the intimate details of their sex lives on "The View," I`m just shocked that Heidi Montag was there to co-host "The View."
DIAZ: Yes. They found a blond more annoying than Elizabeth Hasselbeck. No, I`m kidding. I like Heidi. Here`s the thing, though. I actually - this is one of the smartest things Spencer has ever done, not wanting to procreate.
Did you hear the rest of that? You played it earlier - the girls put the pins inside the condoms. Yes, that sounds like a real trustworthy marriage. There`s a lot of trust in that marriage right there. And you know, those two not having sex, I support it. I don`t need to see any more Speidis running around than are already there.
HAMMER: Yes. But Midwin, let me let you chime in here. Are you with me, that hearing about all this on "The View," is that a sure sign that the showbiz apocalypse is surely near?
CHARLES: You know, A.J., I agree with you. I really would put this in the catalog or the column of TMI - too much information. But it`s abundantly clear that there just isn`t much going on with these two. And so this is what is available for them to talk about for the rest of the world to hear. It`s absolutely ridiculous.
HAMMER: Will somebody pass me the Purell, please? I`m feeling a little dirty right now. Let`s move on. I can do that.
So our next SHOWBIZ shocker - this is incredible. Michael Vick`s agent announced that the accused dog killer, Michael Vick, and Nike had signed a new endorsement deal. I was blown away when I heard this.
Well, just today, Nike clarified its relationship with Vick. They`re saying that they`re only supplying the quarterback with some gear as what they do with other players.
Carlos, endorsement deal or not, I`m just shocked that any major brand would possibly want their clothes to be seen on this guy`s back.
DIAZ: Yes. Let me take you back to the late `80s when another star endorsed by Nike in Philadelphia, Charles Barkley, said, "I am not a role model."
Guess what? Michael Vick is definitely not a model. I`m amazed at this. But I do want to remind you that Nike did endorse Kobe Bryant. They did not drop him after the whole allegations of rape went down, you know, in Colorado. So, you know, they have a history of staying with stars. But this is not a smart move.
HAMMER: Yes. And again, here was a guy who was charged, found guilty and all of that. Midwin, I have to imagine that Nike, despite whatever history they may have, had to go into major damage control when word got out and people were thinking they did have this endorsement deal with Michael Vick.
CHARLES: They did have to do damage control. But I`m actually going to take a different position here. I actually am not that incensed by this. I mean, Michael Vick is someone who pled guilty. He did his time. He has shown contrition.
He has done a lot of work in animal rescue and animal rights cases and the like. And so I think for Nike to want to sponsor him or have an endorsement with him, I`m actually OK with that.
DIAZ: Very quickly - very quickly, the reason you sponsor and endorse someone is because you want someone to buy their products because they wear the shoe. Who is going to buy a product that Michael Vick wears? He`s not the kind of person you want to emulate.
CHARLES: I actually disagree with you. I think there are plenty of people who are going to want to buy his shoe. You have to remember, this is someone who has done the time.
HAMMER: Yes, but the association is always going to be there.
CHARLES: Don`t we live in a society where we want people to show contrition for their horrific actions? He has done that.
HAMMER: For better or worse, the association remains. That, I think, is my point that Carlos would agree.
CHARLES: It does remain.
HAMMER: I need to move on to our next SHOWBIZ shocker. I must get to this. Just two days after Sarah Palin announced she was moving up the release date of her new memoir, "Going Rogue," something incredible happened.
I bet the former governor of Alaska is over the moon tonight. Listen to this. Presales of her book went through the roof. Brand-new numbers out just today show it`s number one at Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. And Carlos, we don`t even know what the heck is in this thing yet.
DIAZ: Right. A.J., you said it`s number one at Amazon? You know what? I`ve always said that Sarah Palin is a genius and that she should run for president in 2012. I`ve always said this. I`ve always been a big supporter of her.
And I support this book. And I`m going to read it and I think she has a brilliant mind and has a chance to win the presidency in 2012. I`ve always said that.
HAMMER: Someone cart a lie detector system over to the "Extra" studios, please, and go see Carlos Diaz on the second floor.
Now, I have to ask you, Midwin - I mean, based on these numbers, it`s amazing. The book is not even out yet. Should we brace ourselves for the next great literary work of 2009?
MIDWIN: I`m sorry. I just don`t see this getting - you know, being at the top of the list of the best literature or tell-all book or what have you. But it is testament to the fact that she has a huge following.
HAMMER: Yes.
CHARLES: There are a lot of people out there who support her, such as our friendly guest here today.
HAMMER: Yes. He does today.
CHARLES: And also, there are a lot of women who love her and want to emulate her. And you know, she`s got that whole mommy thing going.
HAMMER: Can`t tonight. I`ve got to end it there. Carlos, go get online for the book. Midwin Charles, I thank you as well.
Well, tonight, we have Joy`s brand-new smackdown. Joy Behar putting critics of her brand-new show here on HLN on notice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: So Glenn, Rush, Bill, I invite all of you to come on the show and discuss things like rational adults even if you are a big bunch doody heads.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You`re not going to believe the wild things those guys are saying about our Joy. Well, now, it`s war. Joy`s no-holds-barred smackdown challenge for all her haters. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Michael Jackson`s brother Jermaine to judge British show, "Move Like Michael Jackson." Paul McCartney to release CD/DVD collection from concerts at N.Y.`s Citi Field.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Tonight, Joy`s brand-new smackdown. Joy Behar`s fabulous new show debuted right here on HLN on Tuesday night. Already, she`s got a laundry list of haters. Can you believe it?
I love joy. Well, Joy, of course, is taking the high road. She`s even inviting the people who are bad mouthing her to be guests on her show. Yes, kill them with kindness, Joy. That`s what I always say.
And if it doesn`t work, well, a few choice words don`t hurt either. Oh, and not for nothing, you know Joy has got plenty to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: You know, not for nothing, but my show has been on the air for what, like, two minutes? And already, I`ve been called every name in the book. I`ve been called "stupid," "pushy," "dumb," a loud mouth and a Marxist.
I take exception, I am not a Marxist. I own property. OK, it`s in foreclosure, but still. This name-calling doesn`t bother me. Do you think it bothers me? I`m used to it.
Bill O`Reilly once called me a pinhead. Yes, he`s mature. And a Christian columnist named Eric Rush actually called me a Fatty Boone Blatty (ph). Which version of the Bible does he read, the King James or the Dr. Seuss?
Let me say something to these nattering, negative nabobs. I am a mature woman, capable of intelligent discourse. I love to engage in cogent debate and partake in well-informed conversation, OK? I relish the thought of sitting down with all of my adversaries.
So Glenn, Rush, Bill, I invite all of you to come on the show and discuss things like rational adults even if you are a big bunch of doody heads.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Good for you, Joy. Please remember to tune in every night at 9:00 p.m. for the incredible "JOY BEHAR SHOW" right here on HLN.
Well, we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It`s this - "Jon Gosselin: Did he deserve to be fired from `Jon & Kate?`" These are results right now, just handed to me. Seventy-five percent say yes; 25 percent no.
Here are a few E-mails we got. We heard from Yvonne in Louisiana who writes, "Jon deserves to be fired from TLC and so does Kate. The show is about a family, the family is broken, and the show needs to be canceled."
We also heard from Andrea writing in from Ohio, "I do not think Jon should have been fired. TLC made so much money off what he was doing. TLC let it get out of hand."
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s. We`re on at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and were on in the morning, too, 11:00 a.m. Eastern here on HLN.
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