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Showbiz Tonight
The Outrage Over Adam Lambert; Kate Gosselin and the Other Woman; Oprah`s First Revealing Interview Since the Big Announcement; Martha Stewart Makes Nice With Rachael Ray
Aired November 24, 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, the Adam outrage. Dramatic new developments today over Adam Lambert`s sexually-charged shocker at the American Music Awards.
ABC strikes back today and takes drastic action.
Plus, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the startling Lambert-Lady Gaga-Jay Leno connection. And the great debate that broke out today - was Adam`s same- sex kiss too hot and too offensive?
Kate Gosselin and the other woman. Tonight, Kate speaks out like never before about Jon`s 22-year-old girlfriend, the daughter of the surgeon who did her tummy tuck.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": I don`t envision a future there involving my kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the brand-new Kate bombshell - what she really thinks of the other woman.
Tonight, Oprah Winfrey`s very first and very eye-opening interview since revealing she`s ending her show. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you the very first look at Oprah`s brand new network.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, the Adam Lambert sex outrage.
HAMMER: Yes. Brooke, there were brand-new revelations today about the openly gay Lambert`s sexually-charged performance at the American Music Awards. And it all made for big news breaking today. Let the fallout begin.
ABC, which got slammed by viewers calling in to complain about Lambert`s S & M same-sex kiss performance, struck back today in a big way. And this afternoon, Adam responded for the first time.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is also revealing a startling new evidence that could support Lambert`s claim that he`s being singled out because he`s a man, that there`s a big double standard when it comes to women. And that evidence is connected to none other than Lady Gaga and Jay Leno. Wait until you see what we uncovered.
Well, Adam might be on fire for being too sexual on stage. But what has really people so fired up in the first place? Was it because Adam kissed another guy? Was it the simulated oral sex? We`ll be getting to the bottom of that hot debate.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood is Carlos Diaz, who is a correspondent for "Extra." Tonight, in Hollywood, we have Jill Simonian who is an entertainment journalist for the ReelzChannel.
There was definitely some big news breaking about this today after ABC got something like 1,500 complaints from viewers who were all upset about Adam`s "outrageous performance" as they called it.
Late today, ABC struck back and they cancelled Lambert`s concert tomorrow. It was supposed to be seen on "Good Morning America." I want to tell you what ABC`s spokesperson told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT this afternoon.
"Given Adam Lambert`s controversial live performance on the AMAs, we were concerned about airing a similar concert so early in the morning."
Well, first of all, Carlos, I don`t think they`re giving Adam a whole lot of credit there for how he would change the performance. But do you think that that was a smart move by ABC? Or are they just overreacting here in a big way?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Well, as I told you yesterday, I didn`t find Adam Lambert`s, you know, performance all that offensive. But I think ABC is actually doing a smart thing right now. And I`ll tell you why.
They don`t need it. They don`t need this kind of controversy. They`ve got a great morning show on "Good Morning America" and they don`t need the extra controversy on their morning show.
And ABC, having the AMAs, can say, "Well, we didn`t really know what he was going to do. It`s kind of unexpected. Well, now, they know what to expect. So if they bring him on again, it can be very negative for ABC.
HAMMER: Yes. I see it the other way because I would think, as I said, Adam would change his ways. He even said he didn`t mean to upset anybody and this was a learning event for him.
So I don`t know. I think it was, perhaps, a chance for them to do some damage control. But I love what happened next. You`ve got to love this. As one door closed with "GMA," another one opened late today when CBS told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they have invited Adam to perform and be interviewed on the CBS "Early Show."
That`s going to happen tomorrow morning. That`s when he was supposed to be on ABC. Jill, why do you think it is Adam Lambert is too outrageous for "Good Morning America" and not too outrageous for the CBS "Early Show?"
JILL SIMONIAN, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST, REELZCHANNEL: Well, you have to remember here, Disney owns ABC. How does that sound?
HAMMER: Good point.
SIMONIAN: Now, as far as Adam Lambert, you know, being provocative and, you know, all of those wonderful things that everyone is, you know, dying to talk about more and more, Adam came out big. Adam Lambert, welcome to the business of show.
That`s what I say. He was controversial on "American Idol." People either loved him or hated him. I`m a Lambert fan, yes. But, Adam Lambert came out big and he`s doing what he`s supposed to do. He wants to sell records. That`s what he`s doing.
HAMMER: Yes. Although I don`t think this was intentional to get all of the attention that he`s getting. Really, from having heard him speak now, I don`t believe it.
SIMONIAN: I don`t know.
HAMMER: Although, let me make a prediction right now. CBS tomorrow - I don`t remember the last time this happened, they`re going to beat "Good Morning America." Just a little prediction here.
The question is, what does Adam think about ABC yanking him? Well, today, we found out. Adam spoke with Ryan Seacrest on Ryan`s radio show today. You`ve got to listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ADAM LAMBERT, "AMERICAN IDOL" FINALIST: Obviously, I respect their decision. They`ve got to do what they`ve got to do. It`s too bad. I think that there were a lot of fans that were excited to come see me here at the Hudson Theater here in New York tomorrow.
RYAN SEACREST, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Yes.
LAMBERT: So I think that`s kind of probably disappointing for them and I feel bad about that. But, you know, I don`t feel like I owe anybody an apology for anything. I performed. It was late-night TV.
I did something that female performers have been doing for years. No different. It`s just the fact that I`m me. And it`s a little different for people. And it`s really not that big of a deal.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. So Adam`s saying right there - not that big of a deal. Brooke Anderson, what do you think? Is this not that big of a deal? Or this is something that`s actually going to hurt Adam Lambert?
ANDERSON: I think it`s going to hurt Adam Lambert. And I may be going out on a limb here. I think nobody else agrees with me. But I applaud ABC for saying, "This is not right and we`re not going to have him open our show."
And I`m talking about the kiss here. First of all, I personally couldn`t tell who was a man or who was a woman. The whole thing was so androgynous. But the kiss and his sexuality are beside the point.
HAMMER: Yes.
ANDERSON: It`s irrelevant. I`m talking about the performance as a whole, the simulate oral sex and the other raunchy moves - it was too much. And I personally think that more and more entertainers are trying to be more and more outrageous just to get attention and it`s inexcusable.
I think entertainment is going down the toilet in many cases. And A.J., I really feel for the younger generation that they`re being exposed to this. I mean, I`m really taking this seriously. It was very offensive. And I just - I hate it for those kids who tuned in to see Adam Lambert from "American Idol" and this is what they got.
HAMMER: Yes. No, and to a really good point that you made there, Brooke, a lot of people were so used to the constraints by which he had to perform on "American Idol," which, as we know, wasn`t the kind of performer he was before he did "American Idol."
So they didn`t expect to see what they saw on the AMAs, whether or not it was a good thing. As a man, he`s a victim here. Today - I`ve got to tell you. I found something that I think may back up this claim.
Lady Gaga, who I adore - she performed on Jay Leno`s show last night. If you thought Adam`s performance was sexually charged, take a look at Lady Gaga.
(MUSIC)
I mean, take a look at that. Carlos, to Adam`s point, if people are going to be complaining about Adam`s performance, should they not be complaining about Lady Gaga`s performance? Perhaps, the thing is that nobody is really watching the "Jay Leno Show?"
DIAZ: Dude, that`s wrong. Those are all coming.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Well, as far as I know they`re not getting complaints. Yes, you know -
DIAZ: They`re not getting comments and complaints because Lady Gaga is not a dude who kissed another dude on national TV. That`s the reason why everyone`s so up-in-arms about the whole thing.
And I`ve said it before and I`ll say it again, the whole thing is - it`s a double standard with female performers and male performers. We saw it with Madonna and Britney Spears. It was more of controversy more than outrage when that happened as opposed to Adam Lambert.
And Lady Gaga last night - I mean, she grabbed her crotch like umpteenth times and we`re not talking about that. We`re still talking about Adam Lambert because a guy kissed another guy on network TV.
HAMMER: No. What you`re saying he was a dude dressed up as a dude, kissing another dude. Right. Brooke, let me get your take on that. When you see the side-by-side - Charles, can we put that up again - Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga next to each other?
When you see this, Brooke, do you think, you know, maybe the double standard thing is at play here?
ANDERSON: Well, A.J., there probably is a bit of a double standard. But come on. Carlos, what Adam Lambert did was so much more over-the-top than what Lady Gaga did. And you mentioned Madonna and Britney Spears.
We knew what we were getting with Madonna when she was going to perform. Kids out there, parents out there did not expect Adam Lambert to perform like he did.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: And I will dispute to challenge that assertion any time of day if you want to, but go ahead.
DIAZ: If you let your kids stay up at 11:00 p.m., then you`re going to have to expect that kind of a thing. It was 11:00 p.m. It was at the end of the AMAs so it was at the end of the night.
ANDERSON: Yes.
DIAZ: If your kids are up at 11:00 p.m., you know, she`s right there in the first place.
ANDERSON: Well, that`s the only thing that gave a little bit of comfort.
DIAZ: It was the end of the show.
ANDERSON: That`s the only thing that gave me a little bit of comfort, Carlos, is that it was late. But I know there were some kids who their parents did allow them to stay up late, to see Adam Lambert from "American Idol."
SIMONIAN: But that`s the parents` responsibility.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Hold on a second, Jill. Let me jump in for a second here. Because you know, we keep going back and forth on what people were actually offended by. We`ve sort of been discussing it here in different ways.
You know, Adam is an openly gay man. He did kiss another guy on stage. And a lot of people out there - a lot of people are wondering, are people so offended because he kissed another guy? Or are people offended by the simulation of oral sex, the whole S & M theme of the show? Or maybe Adam`s singing was offensive?
All right. Jill, I don`t think it was actually the singing at all. I actually think he`s terrific. Quickly, tell me, what do you think? In just a few seconds. What do you think is at the root of this?
SIMONIAN: I think the root of this is that talent and celebrity, unfortunately, in this day in age, are two different things. Adam Lambert in my book has got the talent. He is trying to get that celebrity and this performance was his first break-out performance. He wanted to sell records and he`s going for the celebrity.
HAMMER: All right. It`s fair enough. Our Facebook wall - wow. You should take a look at this because it blew up with a whole bunch of responses on this whole thing more than we`ve ever seen before. Those Facebook comments are coming up. Carlos Diaz, Jill Simonian, thanks for being with us. I appreciate it.
Now to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of day. Ponder this - "Adam Lambert: Was his same-sex kiss too hot for TV?" Was that it? Let us know at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: Tonight, it`s Oprah Winfrey`s first interview since her stunning announcement that she`s ending her show after 25 years. Does she have any regrets? Plus your first look at Oprah`s new network.
Also, Kate Gosselin speaks out about the other woman. What does Kate really think about Jon`s 22-year-old girlfriend, the daughter of the surgeon who did her tummy tuck? You don`t want to miss it.
We`ll also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I see what`s in your mouth real quick, please? Please open your mouth. What is that? What`s in that? Just spit it out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ caught on tape. Sometimes you just don`t have the time to hide the evidence and maybe you missed breakfast or a little bit hungry. Before you know it, you`re eating the evidence. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Regis Philbin taking leave of absence from "Live" to get hip replacement. Mariah Carey gets breakthrough performance award for her role in "Precious."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight, Brangelina`s bucks. Hollywood`s most glamorous couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, have hearts as beautiful as their faces. Today, we learned that Brad and Angie gave more than $6.8 million to charity in 2008.
That`s according to "The Hollywood Reporter" which got its hands on a tax return from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation. The biggest recipients were global health, human rights watch and Brad`s "Make It Right" foundation for rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
We welcome you back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught on tape. An alleged bank robber in Ohio left quite a paper trail that led directly to his stomach. I`m not kidding. He actually ate the evidence.
Here`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It`s no picnic dining on the hood of a police car. If you`ve seen the alleged bank robber eating what police believe a hold up note saying, "Give me the money or I`ll shoot."
You may have seen it. But the Twinsburg, Ohio police checking for weapons, didn`t see it until police from the city where the bank was robbed called.
SGT. GREG FEKETIK, TWINSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT (through telephone): They contacted our department and said, "Hey, by the way, did you guys find a note? And then, that`s when the officers were checking their dash cam video. And whoa, there`s this guy eating a while piece of paper.
MOOS: But eating the evidence is nothing new. Whatever this lady is eating in a Chinese courtroom, at least she had the sense to wash it down. The most common thing suspects eat seems to be pot, as seen on this episode of "Cops."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I see what`s in your mouth again, real quick, please? Please open your mouth. What is that? Can I see that? Just spit it out. It`s OK.
MOOS: And then, there was this North Carolina teenager who, at least, ate appetizing evidence after allegedly trying to rob a store. Police say the suspect used a banana, stuck under his shirt, to simulate a gun.
And then the owner and a customer jumped the suspect, sat him down to hold until police came. But before they arrived -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The boy pulls his banana out and peels it and eats it. He had - eat the evidence.
MOOS (on camera): But not all of it. He couldn`t eat the peel so the police photographed it as evidence.
(voice-over): Sometimes, the evidence eaten isn`t the main course. The police in the bank robbery case say they still have surveillance pictures and money found in the car with an exploded dye pack and a gun.
(on camera): So they don`t have to like sit around and wait for the guy to pass the note.
FEKETIK: No, I don`t think so. And I don`t know if we would get anybody to volunteer for that job.
MOOS (voice-over): At least, a note is low in calories, high in fiber.
(on camera): Maybe he didn`t have my breakfast.
FEKETIK: That could be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: So Brooke, no big surprise here. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been ringing and ringing with so many people calling in all about Adam Lambert`s sexually-charged performance at the American Music Awards the other night.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. People are really fired up about the same-sex kiss, the raunchy moves. We got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Cheryl in Massachusetts who says the whole thing was just too much.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CHERYL, CALLER FROM MASSACHUSETTS: The Lambert show was ridiculous, disgusting. It`s not about the talent. There was no - it just totally, totally disregarded his true talent. And I just thought it was ridiculous. So I`m certainly not going to go buy the album now and I probably would have before.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Cheryl.
HAMMER: Well, we heard from lots of supporters of the Lambert show like Shelly calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Arizona.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SHELLY, CALLER FROM ARIZONA: I think it was great. I thought it was a breakthrough performance. You know, it wasn`t for everyone - that`s for sure, you know. But we don`t live in the `70s or `80s or `90s anymore. Let`s face it.
And as far as kissing a male - well, you know what? You have gay men kissing on "All My Children," you know? This is the world we live in. We have to learn to embrace it. Women have been doing it for a long time.
Britney and Madonna kissed on stage. You know what? He came out with a bang and I think he set a new standard for men in performing. So bravo to you, Adam. Bravo. Good luck.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Appreciate your call, Cheryl. Call us at "Showbiz on Call" to let us know what you think about Adam Lambert`s performance or anything else that`s on your mind. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. That`s where you leave us a voicemail so we can play your call here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Tonight, it`s Oprah Winfrey`s first interview since her stunning announcement that she`s ending her show after 25 years. Does she have any regret? Plus, you first look at Oprah`s new network.
Also Martha Stewart publicly apologizes to Rachael Ray. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the inside story of why Martha is saying she`s sorry. And should Rachael forgive her? We`ve got the great debate.
And Paula Deen gets hit in the head with a ham. A turkey might have been more appropriate given the time of year. But hey, how often do you get to see somebody get hit in a head with a ham? You`re welcome. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Courtney Cox returning to "Cougar Town" next week after "family matter." Tyler Perry donates $1 million to NAACP, largest single donation in its history.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Sarah Palin may not have been successful as a vice- presidential candidate, but she is definitely finding her niche as a bestselling writer. "Going Rogue" has reportedly sold an astounding 700,000 copies in its first week alone.
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with some big stars at Rosie O`Donnell`s Broadway even last night. And we asked what they thought about Palin`s book tour. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LINDA DANO, EMMY-WINNING SOAP OPERA ACTRESS: I think she`s courageous and real. I think she has something to say. And I think she has a right to say it.
ROSIE O`DONNELL, TV PERSONALITY; I don`t think of it ever. I don`t watch it. I don`t read it. I don`t think about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Right. Well, it doesn`t sound like Rosie is going to be buying "Going Rogue" any time soon. But say what you will about Sarah Palin. She sure can sell books.
ANDERSON: I can almost taste the turkey and the pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and that means it`s once again, time for "CNN Heroes."
I was right there at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles over the weekend for the star-studded show. You voted for the everyday people who are changing the people.
Now, tune in to see the big show. I can tell you some big stars were there - Nicole Kidman, Carrie Underwood, Eva Mendes and so many more. Dare to be inspired. Watch "CNN Heroes" Thanksgiving night, 9:00 Eastern and Pacific.
HAMMER: Well, the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page is loaded down with comments about Adam Lambert`s shocking, sexually-charged performance at the American Music Awards. And here now, just a few of the comments we`ve been receiving.
Cathy C. writing, "I loved Adam all through `American Idol.` But his performance was crude, awful and disappointing."
We heard from Greg B. who writes, "It does look like a double standard. We`ve seen Madonna push the envelope for years, and Beyonce practically performs in lingerie."
Gina writing, "It`s not that he is gay. He doesn`t need to perform sex acts onstage on TV where kids could be watching."
Brenda C. writes, "Hopefully, Adam lives and learns. He has a potential for a great career, but not if he continues down the shock road."
We`d love to hear from you on Facebook. Also, follow us on Twitter for breaking entertainment news alerts. Sign up for our Facebook and Twitter pages simply by going to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
ANDERSON: And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Tonight, it`s Oprah Winfrey`s first and very revealing interview since she announced she`s ending her show after 25 years. Plus, your first look at Oprah`s new network.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTHA STEWART, TV HOST: I just want to take this opportunity just to address some comments that are circulating on the Internet regarding me and Rachael Ray.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Martha Stewart does a good thing and says she`s sorry. Tonight, the inside story of why Martha is publicly apologizing to Rachael Ray.
And Kate Gosselin speaks out about the other woman. Kate speaking out like never before saying what she really thinks of Jon`s 22-year-old girlfriend. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Worldwide box office for "New Moon" reaches $275 million. Lindsay Lohan to continue advising role at Ungaro despite bad reviews by critics.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Right now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Oprah`s very first interview since dropping the bombshell that she`s ending her show. Does she have any regrets? Plus, tonight, we`ve got your very first look at Oprah`s next gig, her brand-new network.
HAMMER: Also, just in today, "Jon & Kate Plus 8" comes to an end. And Jon Gosselin reveals brand-new details about his relationship with his 22-year-old girlfriend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": I know what I have to do to continue my relationship with Hailey and move on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Plus, Kate Gosselin opens up like never before about the other woman, the daughter of her plastic surgeon. You`ve got to hear what Kate has to say about Hailey Glassman.
And Martha Stewart`s unbelievable brand-new apology to Rachael Ray. Will Rachael forgive the things Martha said about her?
Plus more stories breaking from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT news ticker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: 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.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood. Tonight, Oprah in her own words. Just in today, we got Oprah Winfrey`s exclusive first interview revealing the remarkable reason that she is quitting her talk show in 2011. And what she didn`t say in her tearful good-bye.
We also got the very first look today at Oprah`s new network, the one she`s leaving her talk show for. You`ve got to see this.
And tonight, Rosie O`Donnell is speaking out for the first time on who might be the next Oprah. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is one-on-one with the former daytime diva to find out who she thinks should replace Lady O.
Here in Hollywood tonight is Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra." And in New York tonight is Marvet Britto. She`s a celebrity publicist and brand strategist.
Carlos, Marvet, for the very first time, Oprah is speaking out about her bombshell decision to end her show. Oprah really made a shocking admission to her best friend, Gayle King on Gayle`s Sirius XM radio show about why she`s ending it after 25 years. Listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": You know, I actually started to feel it when I had option, you know. The question was, do I leave in 2008? You know how I like numbers to even out.
GAYLE KING, RADIO HOST AND OPRAH WINFREY`S BEST FRIEND: I know. I know.
WINFREY: So the question was, do I leave in 2010? That`s an even number. Or do I, you know, try to make the 25th? And also, it just comes to the point of as I do the show every day, how much longer do I think I can be the 100 percent present, still stimulating for the audience?
Do I think I could do that, you know, past 2011? And the answer is no because the show is 100 percent harder to do now than it was when I first started.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Carlos, I really don`t think I`ve heard Oprah be so open about how tough it still is to be Oprah. Are you sensing a little bit of a burnout here?
DIAZ: Maybe. I mean, you know, she`s doing so much and the one thing that we don`t know - we don`t know what Oprah can accomplish without her show. As you said, she didn`t have a multibillion dollar business, you know, when she started her show.
She`s been doing her show all this entire time. So now that the show is not going to be there in a year and a half, it`s going to be interesting to see what Oprah does with all that time.
And for anyone who says, "What if her network fails? What if this fails? What if that fails?" she can always go back to doing a talk show. And she`d be welcomed with open arms.
ANDERSON: You`re right about that. Marvet, what do you think? She says it`s harder now. Do you think she`s a little tired?
MARVET BRITTO, CELEBRITY PUBLICIST AND BRAND STRATEGIST: I think that, you know, Oprah wasn`t a billionaire when she started her show and she has many layers now, many brand extensions.
So it is harder and she said it and she made it clear, "If I can`t give my audience 100 percent, the same quality of show that they`ve grown to know and love, then why do it?"
She doesn`t want to compromise her brand or compromise what she delivered to her audience so she`s wise enough to step away on top.
ANDERSON: Yes. And, heck, the woman is worth more than $2.5 billion ...
BRITTO: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: So she`s earned the right to have a little bit of down time. But you know, I don`t think this is a woman who`s going to sit around eating bonbons for years to come.
She is leaving her show to focus on her brand-new Oprah Winfrey Network or OWN that`s launching in 2011. Until now, OWN has been this giant mystery. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is about to show you something about this network.
We got our hands on the very first promo today. You`ve got to see it. Take a look.
(VIDEO CLIP OF THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK PROMO)
Wow, you look at that and it seems to promise just about everything, short of curing the common cold. Carlos, what do you think?
DIAZ: Oh, they`re going to cure the common cold. You didn`t see that between the ice cream and the `68 Camaro? It was right sandwiched in between them. Now, you know what? Talking about Oprah, she`s brilliant, because you just played that one-minute promo on HEADLINE NEWS - free plug. There you go. It shows that Oprah does know what she`s doing and this network is going to be a success because of that.
ANDERSON: She`s very, very savvy. Marvet, you know publicity and branding inside and out. Does that have your blood pumping?
BRITTO: Absolutely. And Oprah is the most proven brand in the world, the most proven individual brand. Her equity is peerless. So it`s clear that she is going to leverage that equity. She`s a trusted figure. She`s a priceless, you know, figure and a consistent one.
So the fans that have grown to love Oprah over the last 25 years will follow her wherever she goes. She`s a magnet and they`re going to follow her directly to her own network.
ANDERSON: A.J. Hammer, I want to bring you back in because it really makes me excited about what it`s going to offer. How about you?
HAMMER: I`m excited about what it`s going to do for me, Brooke. I feel a new sense of purpose. I feel that I`m going to be able to achieve greatness if I tune into that network.
All right. Maybe not, but that`s sort of the point, because "The Oprah Winfrey Show," as we know for years, is a place, where among other things, people would tune in for self-discovery, for self-improvement.
And it looks like the plan is to essentially funnel all those ideas and that hopefulness to one place, on Oprah`s network. I thought it`s a great promo. And I know - seriously, it made me smile.
ANDERSON: Yes. That promo really inspired me just watching that for like, a little bit over a minute. Well, you know, if there is anybody who knows how to be a successful daytime talk show host, it`s the one time "Queen of Nice," Rosie O`Donnell.
So when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with Rosie last night, we just had to ask who she thinks should actually replace Oprah on her talk show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: No one could ever take over for her. She is, without a doubt, a meteoric once-in-a-lifetime, one-name talent like the Beatles or Madonna. And she`s going to go on to do her own network, OWN.
You know, she should own her own things. She should probably run the world and she could, you know. And to think that somebody, for 25 years, has stayed number one, is fairly unbelievable. I have tremendous respect and admiration for her and always have and always will.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right, Rosie. So you can`t decide. So we let our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers decide for themselves. We asked in our question of the day, "Who is the next Oprah?" Ellen DeGeneres, Tyra Banks or Oprah`s BFF, Gayle King?
Late today, we got the results in. Ellen wins with a landslide, 78 percent of the vote. Tyra, 16 percent. Gayle King, just six percent. Back to you, A.J. Anything about that surprised you?
HAMMER: No. Nothing at all, Brooke. You know, first of all, Ellen`s got a great head start. And I, for one, have never heard anybody say, "I can`t stand that Ellen DeGeneres."
I have heard people say that about Tyra Banks. I mean, she has a huge audience and a lot of people do love her. And I don`t think Gayle King, although she`s, you know, been in the Oprah world as long as the Oprah world had been around, I don`t think she really has the established foundation to step in her shoes.
ANDERSON: Yes. Great point. We`ll see who will reign supreme after Oprah, although, in a way, she is certainly irreplaceable. A.J., Carlos Diaz and Marvet Britto, thanks, guys.
HAMMER: Well, I`ve got to say, speaking of daytime divas, Martha Stewart - she`s been on a tear. She ripped into Sarah Palin in that headline-making exclusive interview with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And she slammed talk show host, Rachael Ray. Tonight, though, I can tell you, Martha is making nice with Rachael. She says she`s sorry. But will and should Rachael forgive and forget? It is a fired-up debate.
And I don`t know about you, but I`m crying in my soup today. "Jon & Kate Plus 8" - the show is over. Jon reveals he`s getting on with his life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. GOSSELIN: I know what I have to do to continue my relationship with Hailey and move on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Good for you. Tonight, you have got to hear Kate`s brand-new attack on Jon`s 22-year-old girlfriend, Hailey Glassman. You know, Hailey`s the daughter of Kate`s plastic surgeon?
And did you see this? The incredible video of big-time celebrity chef, Paula Deen, getting slammed on the face with a ham. Ouch! This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
It`s time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Man who allegedly taped ESPN`s Erin Andrews through hotel door pleads not guilty. Sarah Jessica Parker break-in trial news: Ohio police chief found guilty. Police chief guilty on three counts related to break- in at Parker surrogate house.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Did you see this? Oh, no. It`s the attack of the flying ham. Food Network star, Paula Deen, gets slammed by ham, right in the face. That has got to hurt.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer New York.
Well, Paula Deen, a big-time celebrity chef was just helping out unloading Thanksgiving dinner donations at a food bank in Atlanta. Then, somebody decided to play catch with her. The only problem, they didn`t tell Deen and she got hit square in the face.
And let me tell you, those hams, especially frozen ones, really hurt. But tonight, I`m happy to tell you that Paula Deen is fine. In fact, she`s really hamming it up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAULA DEEN, CELEBRITY CHEF: I just got hit with a hog. So what I can expect? Ran head-on into a hog.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re one of those people that can laugh about anything, I guess.
DEEN: Yes. You have to. You have to be able to laugh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Paula also tweeted, "I haven`t met the ham that could stop me yet."
HAMMER: And we move on now from flying ham to humble pie. Yes, tonight, just in time for Thanksgiving, Martha Stewart is serving up plenty of humble pie and she is sending it special delivery to Rachael Ray.
In a brand-new reversal, Martha Stewart is taking back her slam of the other domestic diva. Stewart`s nasty comments about Ray were made to ABC`s Cynthia McFadden.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: She just did a new cookbook which is a just reedit of a lot of her old recipes and that`s not good enough for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Also new tonight, Kate Gosselin is speaking out like never before about the other woman. Kate comes clean for the very first time on what she really thinks about Jon`s 22-year-old girlfriend, the daughter of the surgeon who did Kate`s tummy tuck.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood is Ken Baker, who is the executive news editor for E! Also from Hollywood, Jill Simonian who is an entertainment journalist with the ReelzChannel.
And let`s begin with Martha Stewart. You just heard part of what Martha Stewart told ABC`s Cynthia McFadden. You`ve got to watch the rest of it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: She`s more of an entertainer than she is with her bubbly personality than she is a teacher like me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Martha got an awful lot of heat for dissing Rachael like that. And now, she`s backtracked in a big way on her own show, "The Martha Stewart Show." Watch what she said as she was doing a cooking segment with celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: I just want to take this opportunity, Emeril, just to address some comments that are circulating on the Internet regarding me and Rachael Ray. And just for the record, there`s no bad feelings between us, nor has there ever been.
I truly believe that Rachael has done a terrific job bringing many people who would have never stepped into the kitchen or made a dish to cook.
EMERIL LAGASSE, CELEBRITY CHEF: A lot of people she`s got cooking and she`s done a great job.
STEWART: Right. Right. So I applaud Rachael for her enthusiastic approach to cooking. And I really had a great time being a guest on her show. And it was a lot of fun to have her on this show making pie with me.
Come on back, Rachael, any time you want. And I hope you have a yummo Thanksgiving.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A yummo Thanksgiving. All right. Now, Jill, clearly, Martha regrets that she put her foot in her mouth in a big way, doesn`t she? I mean, she was feeling some pressure to say something.
SIMONIAN: I`m loving the way she said "yummo Thanksgiving." Is that`s a dig? I don`t know. Should we look into that?
I don`t know if Martha Stewart regrets it. To tell you the truth, I don`t think that anyone can make Martha Stewart doing anything, especially when it comes to, maybe, you know, clearing the air or issuing an apology or however we`re interpreting this.
I think that Martha was very honest from the get go in assessing the difference between her and Rachael days ago. And I think that this was just another way to, maybe, ride the wave.
HAMMER: I don`t know. She was getting slammed by a lot of fans as she mentioned online. She was reading a lot of things. And I think she just felt the need to, you know, say something to sort of nip it in the bud, if you will.
Joy Behar, by the way, spoke with Cynthia McFadden on "The Joy Behar Show" right here on HLN. And Cynthia told Joy that with Martha, what you see is what you get. Take a look at this.
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN, ABC CORRESPONDENT: She does say what she thinks.
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": Yes.
MCFADDEN: I spent a couple of full days with her. You know, we spent a lot of time talking to people who are hiding behind their publicist. That`s not Martha Stewart. She says what she thinks. She says it as she sees it. It gets her in trouble sometimes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Ken Baker, it may be that what you see is what you get with Martha, but do you get the sense that Martha realized this controversy maybe not such a good thing for her?
KEN BAKER, EXECUTIVE NEWS DIRECTOR, E!: Well, Martha Stewart knows publicity better than anyone. She knows PR. She knows how to manipulate her image. She`s a master marketer. That`s really how she`s made her career.
And what was interesting is when we saw that kind of arrogant condescending Martha who spoke to Cynthia McFadden, that was the old Martha.
HAMMER: Yes.
BAKER: Because the new Martha was humble. The post-prison Martha, that is, was very humble and relatable. She wasn`t condescending. So it sort of maybe meant the old Martha is creeping back.
But I beg to differ, A.J. You said that Martha had put her foot in her mouth. I`d say it`s more accurate to say she put her pie in her face.
HAMMER: OK. Very good. I know. Let me move on. We`ve got to get to Kate Gosselin who`s speaking out like never before about Jon`s young girlfriend, Hailey Glassman, who, of course, is the daughter of the plastic surgeon who did Kate`s tummy tuck.
Well, during the last episode ever of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" last night, which, by the way, had a huge audience - 4.3 million viewers tuned in for this thing. Kate addressed the whole girlfriend scenario and how their eight kids fit into the picture. Roll it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K. GOSSELIN: They don`t know about girlfriends at all. That`s just too warped for them. It`s just too unhealthy for them to know. They`re learning at this age what it`s - you know, by watching us, what it`s like to be an adult. And that`s the last thing I want them to know.
But I really just think, you know, that relationship is a situation that`s just a symptom of the real issue. So I don`t envision a future there involving my kids at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Well, I`m even surprised that Kate would bring up the whole girlfriend issue in the season finale, the series finale. Jill, I`ve got to tell you, I think that Kate`s statement about the girlfriend is really a great example of why this show just had to end for the sake of the kids.
SIMONIAN: Absolutely, I couldn`t agree with you more. This show, years ago - it started out as this innocent family show, showing how these parents are going to take care of their kids that showed them taking them to the doctor. And it`s safe to say that TLC never expected the show to morph into what it morphed into. I think it is a blessing that the show is ending for the sake of the kids.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Well, join me now and wave to the cameras as we say, "Jon and Kate Plus 8," bye-bye. Ken Baker, Jill Simonian, thanks, guys.
ANDERSON: A big Rihanna uh-oh today. She`s just about to go live on "Good Morning America." But Ri-Ri nowhere to be found. That`s because she had a wardrobe malfunction. Oh, no. I`ve got all the surprising details. Wait until you see what happened. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Here comes the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker." These are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Simon Cowell to produce one hour documentary on Susan Boyle for TV Guide Network. ABC stops production on "Flashforward," reportedly to work on writing.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The album was rated R. The song is "Wait Your Turn," and it is Rihanna.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Uh-oh. OK -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is here, too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Uh-oh. Rihanna, are you there? Hey, did you see this? Rihanna got the big intro on "Good Morning America" this morning but she went AWOL right before her big performance.
So where did Rihanna go? Well, I can tell you she didn`t go anywhere. It turns out she had a little problem with her outfit. Listen to what she told "GMA`s" Robin Roberts this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBIN ROBERTS, CO-HOST, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": Anyway, you were worth the wait. Let me tell you that you are worth the wait. A little wardrobe malfunction.
RIHANNA, SINGER: Oh my god. Yes. My dress - I`m a little too fat right now. The zipper busted in the back. They`re like a minute to live - I wanted to stitch it up, but I couldn`t.
ROBERTS: No, no. But you wouldn`t know it. You are a true pro.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Too fat? Come on. Seriously, girl, you look awesome. OK. Rihanna also opened up about how working on her new album, "Rated R" helped her recover from the Chris Brown beating.
RIHANNA: It came very natural only because it was my place of peace - in the studio just venting. It was the one place where I didn`t feel judged or criticized. I just wanted to sit and make great music. And you know, every emotion that I was going through at the time while making the record went into that album and you hear it in the songs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Rihanna`s album just came out and I would be surprised if we don`t see it go to number one.
HAMMER: I say the same thing for the new Lady Gaga album. I`m a huge fan of Lady Gaga. Of course, she is known for being totally outrageous, totally out there.
But tonight, when it comes to taking care of her fans, I`ve got say she is so down to earth. Gaga ordered $1,000 worth of pizza from Papa John`s for people lined up outside a Hollywood Best Buy.
The fans were waiting to get Gaga`s autograph and some have been there all night, in fact. So Gaga didn`t want her "little monsters," as she called them, to get hungry. A very lady-like move, Lady Gaga.
ANDERSON: I just checked our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page again. There are still so many of you posting your fired-up comments. There are hundreds and hundreds of posts on our wall about Adam Lambert`s over-the- top, sexually charged AMA performance.
Here now are just a few. Rita N. writes, "Adam has every right to be as sexual and over-the-top as he wants! Women performers have been doing it on award shows for ages."
But Kim M. didn`t like it. Kim writes, "Costumed like a cross between Boy George and Prince. And the vulgarity displayed on stage shadowed what could be a true talent as he does have an awesome voice."
Laura H. adds, "I love that Adam Lambert is so comfortable with his sexuality. And I`m sure there are people that want to complain about how sexual his performance was. Well, if they didn`t like it, they should have changed the channel."
We do appreciate your E-mails and your posts on our Facebook wall. Keep them coming.
HAMMER: And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And we thank you for watching as well. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I am Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. You can watch 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. Take care.
END
