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Showbiz Tonight
Inside Elin`s Heartbreak; One of the Other Tiger Woods Women Speaks Out; Saving David Hasselhoff; Kate Gosselin`s New Gig
Aired December 09, 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, CO-HOST: Right now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, breaking Tiger Woods bombshells. Tonight, inside Elin`s heartbreak. Brand-new details just out today about how Tiger`s wife is dealing with the devastating cheating scandal.
Plus, one of alleged other women speaks out. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, is there anything Tiger could do at this point to rebuild his image? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the brand-new Tiger bombshells you haven`t heard before.
Saving David Hasselhoff. David`s ex-wife makes a desperate public plea to David`s fans to help save his life. Was it wrong for her to go public? Plus, David`s daughter calls 911 -
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: You`re with him right now?
DAVID HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: Yes. He has collapsed.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the desperate plea to save David Hasselhoff`s life.
Kate Gosselin`s new gig. As her marriage and her reality show comes to an end, Kate goes solo with a new job. Is she trying to reinvent herself as a different kind of TV star? And will it work?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood. And tonight, Tiger Woods` shocking cheating scandal has placed a searing spotlight on his wife, Elin.
HAMMER: Yes. And we`re getting brand-new insight into Elin`s nightmare. Just how is she coping with the controversy that has rocked her famous family? Friends of hers now coming out and saying Elin is no fragile flower.
But does she really want Tiger to suffer for his transgressions? Well, that is just one Tiger Woods bombshell that made for big news breaking today.
Also breaking today, the first woman romantically linked to Tiger is on the defensive. Today, Rachel Uchitel speaking out for the very first time since Tiger`s shocking transgression confession which happened to come on the same day Uchitel mysteriously canceled a big press conference with her high-profile attorney. Wait until you hear what Uchitel is saying now.
And just in tonight, a different woman linked to Tiger Woods is now apologizing to Tiger`s wife. Is this just too little, way too late?
Joining me tonight in New York, Megan Alexander, who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition." Also tonight, in Atlanta, Ryan Smith, who is an attorney and host for the legal network, "In Session."
You know, with all these women coming out of the woodwork, Tiger`s wife, Elin, has got to be beyond upset, beyond stressed out at this point. Brooke Anderson, friends of Elin are actually now saying that this woman is tough as nails. I would imagine she would have to be.
ANDERSON: She certainly would. And it`s true, A.J. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained an advanced copy of "People" magazine today. And in it, folks reportedly around Tiger and Elin say he`s feeling low and embarrassed.
And though she is devastated, make no mistake, she`s very tough. "People" magazine sources say that Tiger has now told Elin everything. So all these alleged mistresses coming forward, not news to her. Although before the incident, she reportedly didn`t have a clue he was cheating on her.
"People" also quote sources saying that Elin is a fighter and that because she`s a child of divorce, money would not play a role in whether or not she would fight for this marriage.
A.J., it sounds like Elin is no shrinking violet here. The question is, will she stand by her man?
HAMMER: Yes. And that certainly is something that a lot of people are saying - well, absolutely not. She should get the heck out of there. The decision is pretty clear.
Megan, what do you think? No matter how strong her friends say she is, I`m feeling like this is a woman who would have to have superhuman strength to endure all of this.
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": I completely agree. I don`t care how tough you are. Adultery is difficult enough to deal with in your relationship in private. But to see it played out in this media circus that we`re seeing as woman after woman comes forward now in the double digits - I don`t care how tough she is, A.J. You said it. She is hurting like any other woman would, whose trust in her relationship has been broken.
HAMMER: Well, it sounds like Elin`s friends do think that she is going to fight for this marriage, despite reports she bought a $2.3 million house in Sweden. And people might think she would be crazy to stay with him.
But let`s look at the facts here. You have Tiger`s multimillion dollar fortune. You have two young kids in the mix here. And of course, what could be a really, really messy, very public legal battle. Ryan, can you see why perhaps leaving Tiger may not be that simple?
RYAN SMITH, ATTORNEY AND HOST, "IN SESSION": Yes. It would be a very tough thing. I mean, first of all, you have to ask, is there a prenuptial agreement involved? And if so, that`s going to play into a lot of this.
But the ultimate factor here is whether or not she still wants to stay in this marriage. If they talk about it behind the scenes, remember, we don`t see that part.
If they talked about it behind the scenes and they`ve said, "You know what? We`re going to push through this. We`re going to try to get through this in our relationship and make it work." Then that won`t be a factor and they`re just going to keep pushing through it and try to make it work.
HAMMER: Yes. And of course, from the outside looking in, I mean, it just seems so insurmountable. But a lot of people in Hollywood are speaking their mind about Elin`s predicament here.
In a brand-new interview with HLN`s own Joy Behar of "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW" seen every weekday night here on HLN, the very outspoken Roseanne Barr had her own advice for Tiger`s wife. You`ve got to take a look at Roseanne.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSEANNE BARR, ACTRESS: She should leave him. She has her own money. She doesn`t need anything from him. She should be just like, "I`m not one of whores."
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": I don`t know.
BARR: She has enough money that she doesn`t have to stay with a guy like that who has gone with every waitress he ever met.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. So Roseanne saying what a lot of people are saying - Elin should leave Tiger. But Megan, can you see, Megan, why maybe it`s not all that cut and dry?
ALEXANDER: It`s not cut and dry because of two children. They have two kids together. Elin herself is a child of divorce. She shared that. She says she wants, you know, to be in a good marriage.
I mean, some of these things have come out when they first met, and so forth, that she was hesitant when she finally went out with Tiger Woods. Any time there`s two kids involved, you know, this is the death essentially of a marriage and family breaking up.
I don`t care how much money you have, the fame, the glory. This is a family breaking up. I think it`s got to be hard for anybody. And that`s why it`s a tough decision.
HAMMER: Yes. And everybody is feeling certainly for Elin, but feeling for those kids right about now. There`s another big Tiger bombshell breaking today. I`ve got to get to you.
The first woman who was romantically linked to Tiger - her name, Rachel Uchitel - she is speaking out. Now, Brooke, this is the same woman who mysteriously canceled her press conference last week. What is she saying?
ANDERSON: A.J., Rachel Uchitel is on the cover of the new issue of "OK" magazine. Basically, she`s defending herself. Uchitel tells "OK," quote, "In every story, you need a villain and a hero. I`ve been characterized as a villain. People have called me a home wrecker, gold digger, tramp, whore. I make mistakes, but I`m not those things. I have very good qualities. When you`re judged by the nation, it`s really difficult. It`s horrible."
Remember, this is the woman who initially denied an affair with Tiger. So you have to wonder why she`s talking so much without really saying anything at all. Ryan, she says people are judging her. Do you think anybody is going to have sympathy for this woman?
SMITH: It`s tough to have sympathy for her. I mean, depending on what actually happened here. And again, we don`t know exactly what happened. But if there was some sort of impropriety, I think people are going to look at it and say, "You know what? They have this pristine, perfect image and here you came and disrupted all that."
But the bottom line is, you know, when she canceled the press conference and everything that happened around that, you have to ask yourself, what`s happening there? Why would that happen unless there was some sort of dealing?
A lot of times, when you see press conferences canceled, sometimes it means there`s money involved. Sometimes there`s something - you know, you never really quite know what`s happening.
But I`ll tell you, it`s hard for people to have sympathy if there`s no talking about actually what happened and no ability to really find out the details.
HAMMER: Yes. You hit that on the head, I think, right there, Ryan. The sympathy factor is going to be very low if there`s not a little more transparency about what`s going on.
Let`s move on to yet another big Tiger bombshell today. Get this, Tiger`s alleged mistress Jamie Grubbs is speaking out and apologizing to Tiger`s wife. Take a look at what she told "Extra" today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMIE GRUBBS, ALLEGED MISTRESS OF TIGER WOODS: I have no words to explain, you know, what I have done to her and her family. I guess I would be deeply sorry for her, never considering her during the whole process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, this is the same woman who released that infamous voicemail from an apparently frantic Tiger pleading Jamie to take her name off her outgoing message. Remember that? And same woman who says she had an affair with Tiger for over two years. Megan, if you ask me, this just adds insult to injury for Elin, Tiger`s wife.
ALEXANDER: It is putting salt on the wound, A.J. I agree. Look, an apology, simple apology yes, this is good. Our Jim Moret from "Inside Edition" has actually interviewed Jamie. That interview will be airing tomorrow.
The thing with this is everybody in the world knew that Tiger Woods was married, unless you lived under a rock - the most famous celebrity sports athlete there is. You know, there`s no excuse.
And I hope this shows people that these chain reactions, one little decision you make, it doesn`t affect just that other person. It affects the family. It affects so many people with these decisions that people make.
HAMMER: Yes. This goes way beyond celebrity at this point. I think a lot of people are looking at marriages and their situations, hopefully making better decisions. Ryan, would you agree that, you know, perhaps Elin doesn`t really want to hear this woman`s apology?
SMITH: No. I think in a lot of cases this the last thing people want to hear. I mean, the more people speak out like that in public, the more it becomes an embarrassment to her.
And look, it may not be the case for her. Maybe, in some ways, it`s good to hear this. But when you`ve got to think - you know, the last thing she wants to see is more and more press about these different women.
HAMMER: Yes.
SMITH: She would rather it just goes away.
HAMMER: Ryan Smith, Megan Alexander, thank you both. I appreciate it. Now, over to you. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Saving Tiger Woods: Is his image beyond repair?"
Well, let us know what you think by voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail us, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: Tonight, a desperate plea to save David Hasselhoff.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: What`s the problem? Tell me exactly what happened.
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: My dad - scary.
911 OPERATOR: You`re with him right now?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: Yes, yes. He has collapsed.
911 OPERATOR: How old are you?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: He gets back up but he keeps falling back down.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was his daughter`s emotional 911 call. And today David Hasselhoff`s ex-wife making a public plea to fans, help save David`s life.
Also, Kate Gosselin`s new gig. After her marriage and her reality show come to an end, Kate goes solo with a new job. Can Kate reinvent herself as a different kind of TV star?
Also, Lady Gaga meets the queen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When Lady Gaga meets the queen, what`s a girl to wear?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You`ve got to see what happened when pop royalty met real royalty. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Susan Boyle`s "I Dream a Dream" tops Billboard chart for second week. Tyler Perry`s mom dies - she was one of the inspirations for Madea character.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYLER PERRY, ACTOR: The fact I`m able to take care of my mother - so that is my proudest accomplishment, because to see all that she`s gone through and all that she`s endured and still be - that`s what I`m the most proud of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKIE JACKSON, THE JACKSON 5: For 40 years, we`ve got great, great support from our fans around the world. And I think we should give them a great tour around the world.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": How far off is this?
TITO JACKSON, THE JACKSON 5: Well, I don`t know. We, you know - there`s been some talk about some things. There`s a lot of work that goes into putting the show - the type of show that we want to put on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The Jackson brothers say there may be a tour in their future. On CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE," Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon said they are having a great time with their reality series which premieres Sunday on A & E. But they do want to hit the road and do some shows once again.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: It was a day of pop royalty meeting real royalty. On Monday, Miley Cyrus got to meet the queen of England. But the queen may have seen more of Miley than she bargained for.
Miley, who`s no stranger to controversy ever since her semi-nude "Vanity Nude" photo shoot last year, wore a low-cut dress that left little to the imagination. Yikes.
And if Miley weren`t enough, Lady Gaga was also there. Now, Lady Gaga is known for outrageous fashion choices. But she actually toned it down for the queen, or as toned down as Lady Gaga can be.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS (voice-over): When lady gaga meets the queen, what`s a girl to wear? How about that white latex number from the "Bad Romance" video? I couldn`t even see the queen. Or that red garter-y looking outfit? The queen would see too much of Lady Gaga. Or the revolving thing? But that could bump the queen. Wonder what Madonna wore? Classy black. That settles it.
LADY GAGA, POP STAR: Latex and fishnets.
MOOS: Watch the queen give Lady Gaga the once over. Lady Gaga curtsies. They maintain eye contact, which can be tricky when you`re looking into eyes painted like a panda`s.
But at least, Lady Gaga didn`t get down on the floor and crawl or fall as she did recently, performing in Montreal. To think Michelle Obama got flak. Someone thought she was too casually dressed when she met the queen and for touching Her Royal Highness.
(on camera): Lady Gaga didn`t play it safe. She stuck her neck out literally.
(voice-over): On her Web site, you can see the Elizabethan collar she wore when she performed at the Royal Variety Show benefit, just like the collar Elizabeth I wore.
Queens are nothing new for Lady Gaga. They impersonate her all the time. When she performed at the human rights campaign, she even got a shout out from the president.
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: It is a privilege to be here tonight to open for Lady Gaga.
MOOS: Now, here she is with the queen. "Looks like someone from `Star Wars` meeting someone from earth," read one post. "She looks like a tube of lipstick," said another.
She opted not to wear her famous bird nest and head gear some mocked as alien wear. At least, she didn`t dare to wear her fire shooting bosom that could have left the queen with third degree burns.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: So Brooke, of course, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have just been roaring with a lot of people calling in about Tiger.
ANDERSON: You`re right, A.J. We`ve got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Victoria from Michigan who says Tiger should probably say something, but it`s also time to give him a break.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I`m calling to say that I think Tiger should make some kind of public apology. But it is between him and his wife. And definitely no Oprah. He`s a grown man and he made a mistake. Everybody makes mistakes, and I think he should be forgiven.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Victoria.
HAMMER: We also heard from Kim calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Texas.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: People keep talking about he`s just a golfer and this is not based on his character and that his endorsements are because he`s such a good golfer.
That is not the case. They are based on character. If they weren`t based on character, they wouldn`t be pulling them from television now.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: We appreciate your call, Kim. And we invite you to call us at "Showbiz on Call" to let you know what you think about Tiger or anything else at all.
ANDERSON: We want to hear from you. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. Write it down - 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voicemail. We will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: And of course, a lot more to get to on the Tiger Woods story. Tonight, is there anything that Tiger could say at this point to save his reputation?
Plus, we`re taking a look at how men and women seem to be viewing the situation a whole lot differently. We have the great Tiger debate.
HAMMER: Also, Kate Gosselin`s new gig. As her marriage and her reality show come to an end, Kate goes solo with a new job. Can Kate reinvent herself as a different kind of TV star?
Plus, did "SNL`s" Tiger Woods skit go too far?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming in today, I had an unfortunate incident with my golf clubs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Rihanna was the musical guest that night. A lot of people are saying it is not funny to make fun of domestic violence especially with Rihanna right there.
But wait until you hear what Rihanna herself told us at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about whether or not she was offended. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Let`s roll out the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker." These are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Nicky Hilton`s house in the Hollywood Hills is burglarized. R. Kelly is working on an autobiography due out in 2011.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBIN ROBERTS, CO-ANCHOR, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": Here she comes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here she is.
DIANE SAWYER, CO-ANCHOR, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": Good morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here she is.
SAWYER: I`ve always thought, why can`t we just do it the way we are? All of us?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this is why?
SAWYER: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America" today without makeup, wearing her comfy clothes and her hair is all messed up. This is Diane`s last week on "GMA" before she moves to the anchor chair of "World News."
Diane says she wishes they could do "GMA" without all the hair, the makeup and the wardrobe. So Diane is out of "Good Morning America." Today, we learned who was in it - Jon Gosselin.
Just kidding - it`s this guy, George Stephanopoulos. Stephanopoulos has reportedly been named the new co-anchor of "GMA." ABC is set to formally announce this tomorrow. Stephanopoulos is currently ABC`s chief Washington correspondent and host of "This Week." He has reportedly says he wants to give "GMA" a harder news focus. We will have to wait and see.
ANDERSON: Tonight, two people have been charged in an alleged extortion plot against John Stamos. Prosecutors in Michigan have charged two people with threatening to sell photos of Stamos unless he paid them $680,000.
Now, we haven`t seen the pictures but Stamos` people say there is nothing embarrassing about them. It`s just John posing with fans. How that could be worth $680,000 is a mystery.
The suspects are a man and a woman who were arrested last week when an undercover FBI agent, who was posing as rep for Stamos, arranged a meeting with them. Stamos reportedly met the woman in `04.
HAMMER: The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page is still getting a ton of comments about Tiger Woods. Today, our fans are really fired up about whether people should stop buying products that Tiger endorses.
Look at what Elizabeth W. is writing, "People make mistakes. Celebrity or not, he`s still human. Yes, I would still buy the products that he endorses. What he did doesn`t make the product bad."
But on the other side of this, we have Robin D. who writes, "Tiger is no longer a good role model. To support him or anything that he has endorsed would be saying it`s OK to cheat on your wife and publicly humiliate her and your children."
We`d love to hear from you on Facebook. You can also follow us on Twitter. For breaking entertainment news alerts, sign up for both Facebook and Twitter at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
ANDERSON: And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. The great Tiger debate. Why men and women seem to be looking at this situation very differently.
Also, saving David Hasselhoff.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: What`s the problem? Tell me exactly what happened.
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: My dad - scary.
911 OPERATOR: You`re with him right now?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: Yes, yes. He has collapsed.
911 OPERATOR: How old are you?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: He gets back up but keeps falling back down.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
His daughter`s emotional 911 call. Now, a brand-new plea from David Hasselhoff`s ex-wife today asking his fans to save him.
And Kate Gosselin`s new gig. Is she trying to become a different kind of TV star? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Bruce Springsteen posts statement on his Web site supporting N.J. gay marriage bill. Jude Law to judge Australian actors for scholarship set up in Heath Ledger`s honor.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Right now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, saving Tiger Woods. Tonight, what Tiger needs to say that may save his career. And a revealing look at why men and women are reacting differently to the Tiger cheating scandal.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: What`s the problem? Tell me exactly what happened.
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: My dad - scary.
911 OPERATOR: You`re with him right now?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: Yes, yes. He has collapsed.
911 OPERATOR: How old are you?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: He gets back up but keeps falling back down.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Saving David Hasselhoff. Tonight, as the dramatic 911 call made by David Hasselhoff`s daughter surfaces, the brand-new, stunning move by Hasselhoff`s ex, Pamela today she says it may save David`s life. But is it wrong for Pamela to get involved like this?
And Kate Gosselin`s brand-new job - making pancakes? Huh?
Plus more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
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, saving Tiger Woods?
HAMMER: Yes. Is there anything that Tiger Woods can really do at this point to rebuild his damaged image? While the negative publicity surrounding Tiger`s image has just been growing, in a brand-new bombshell development just today, we`re learning that Tiger`s standing with the public is in a free fall.
This new revelation comes out on the heels of another bombshell about one of Tiger`s big sponsors. I`ve got to tell you, there definitely seems to be a division between men and women when it comes to Tiger and whether or not he should come out and address the scandal once and for all. We have both sides on this tonight.
Joining me tonight from New York, Whitney Casey, who is an entertainment and author of "The Man Plan." From Atlanta tonight, Ryan Smith, who is a host with "In Session."
So in a brand-new bombshell today, "Bloomberg News" is reporting that Tiger Woods` public image has taken a major hit since the news of his scandal broke. This new report out today shows that Tiger`s ranking on the list of celebrity endorses plunged from six to 24.
Whitney, off to you first. Do you think this is just the beginning here?
WHITNEY CASEY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR: I really do, especially as more and more women are coming out. It`s not looking good for Tiger. I wore my Tiger red, but you know what? It`s just not working out.
And you know what? I also think it`s really interesting, but they may be dropping like flies - maybe endorsements are. But I guarantee you, he`ll get just as many.
Because if you see something leave like a Gatorade add, the next thing that you`re going to see is an Axe body spray ad or something. They`ll want to hire him. So it`s like, if he moves from good guy to bad guy image, there are plenty of advertisers who will want him there.
HAMMER: Yes. I have a feeling it will be a while before he embraces that kind of image. What do you think, Ryan? I mean, from six to 24 on a celebrity endorsers - that`s not good.
SMITH: Well, that`s a very big drop in a very short period of time. But I have to tell you, he can absolutely rehab his image, just not in the same way. See, the difference could be, if he came out and spoke publicly about this, it doesn`t mean everything changes overnight.
But over time, people will look more to the sportsmanship side of it. And you know, we`ve got an example of this in Kobe Bryant.
HAMMER: Yes.
SMITH: Something very similar happened. He had the trouble in Eagle Creek. And over time, he didn`t have the same type of support afterwards, but his image has changed. He hasn`t had to endorse Axe body spray in a sense - not that it`s a bad product. But you know, he still is endorsing major brands and moving up that ranking every year.
HAMMER: Well, you make a terrific point because a lot of people are saying, no, he has no obligation to speak out. But you know what? To save his image, he really may have no choice.
Now, Brooke, before this all happened, you remember sponsors just salivated at the very mention of Tiger Woods and the idea of him endorsing their products. And now, not so much.
ANDERSON: No, A.J. He`s definitely feeling the burn from the scandal. And what has made this even more difficult on him is the ultra-perfect image he himself created.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): The hunky superstar golfer was a marketer`s dream. Handsome, wholesome and the best golfer the world had ever seen. He built one of biggest empires ever off his good name, making an estimated $100 million a year in endorsements. One of his first endorsements was with American Express.
TIGER WOODS, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: When you use an American Express card, nothing is out of bounds. I`m using it for golf, not less.
ANDERSON: But Tiger`s lack of boundaries in life is now under major scrutiny as at least nine women have claimed to have been romantically linked to the married golfer.
HOWARD BRAGMAN, CELEBRITY PUBLICIST: Clearly, Tiger`s image has been tarnished to a great extent.
ANDERSON: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that can`t bode well for his family man, good-guy image.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look here, little Tiger. It`s not that easy.
ANDERSON: In this Gatorade commercial, the Tiger family appeal kicks in full force with this kid-friendly cartoon, encouraging his young fans to buy his energy drink.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: New Gatorade Tiger.
ANDERSON: But on Tuesday, Gatorade dropped the Tiger drink, saying it was a planned move well before the scandal. But it`s not out of the question that more sponsors will drop Tiger as the scandal drags on.
One thing is certain, Tiger can no longer play the family man card the way he used to. This commercial Tiger did for a North Carolina golf course and condo property seems almost comical now.
WOODS: With a wife and two kids, your perspective in life changes. I want to have my kids experience something like this. I want to be able to bring them up here and feel safe.
ANDERSON: Over the years, Tiger has broken major records on the green. And in the sponsorship world, he struck record breaking deals with major companies like Nike, Gillette, EA Sports and Buick.
WOODS: Can you do it?
ANDERSON: Since the end of November, when the scandal hit, not one Tiger Woods commercial has been played on TV. His image is tarnished. And whether he can rebuild his brand is anyone`s guess.
BRAGMAN: I`m optimistic that Tiger can be a very major player again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Wow, what a difference a couple of weeks and a giant scandal can make. Whitney, do you agree Tiger can be a major player again?
CASEY: Well, I think he can be a major golfer again. But I mean, we already know he`s a major player -
ANDERSON: I`m not talking "player." I`m talking player.
CASEY: You know what`s interesting, Brooke. I`m on my way here in a cab. You know, when a New York cabbie says something, they`re always the most cynical people. He says, you know - he said, "What do you do?" I said, "I`m an author."
He`s like, "What`s the book about?" I said, "It`s called "The Man Plan." And he said, "What is it about?" And I said, "How to get a man." And he`s like, "How to get a good man?" And I said, "Yes." And he`s like, "How not to get a Tiger Woods man?"
I mean, this is like the general public saying this. It was really powerful to me because the guy has been idolized. And as I said before, it`s like an anagram, you know, for men, he was god and for women, he`s a dog.
HAMMER: And how does he change that? That is what we keep talking about. And I want to get back to something Ryan brought up just a while ago. Because people are very divided about whether or not Tiger should say anything more about the scandal.
I want to read something to you that was in the "New York Times" today that I took note of, publicist Mike Paul. This the guy who specializes in reputation management. I mean, Tiger could use that right now. He says Tiger has to do more than release a statement as he did.
He thinks that Tiger should actually talk about his wife, Elin, and say something along the lines of this, quote, "We`re going through a very difficult time right now. My wife does not want to get a divorce. She isn`t comfortable standing alongside me right now. She`s very upset and rightly so. I`ve breached our marriage in a very significant way, and I had dozens of relationships with women."
I mean, that is a suggestion coming to Tiger Woods and we can`t confirm that there were, in fact, dozens of women here. But Ryan, I mean, this seems to me like a great idea in terms of him beginning the process of turning things around.
SMITH: I think you`re right. And I think there`s a lot of different kinds of statements you can release. Maybe that`s one potential option. But I`ve got to tell you, when you look at this, you have to find a way to bond with the public and let them know that you made a mistake.
You`re not perfect, but you`re trying to change. You`re trying to make it different, and you`re going to do something.
And I always say this - when you do something wrong in public, you then have to show the public that you`re willing to do something equally public that is positive. So he`s got to come back and show in some way that he has changed his image.
HAMMER: Yes.
SMITH: If he doesn`t do that, then what`s going to is, it`s like a cut that keeps bleeding. It`s going to keep bleeding and bleeding and bleeding. And it allows people to just kind of speculate about everything that`s out there, all these rumors and innuendo that may or may not be true.
HAMMER: Well, the public keeps sounding off. Our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines flooded about Tiger`s endorsement deals. We have Barbara calling from Florida saying she`s got a problem with Tiger`s image.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BARBARA, CALLER FROM FLORIDA: I think that Tiger Woods is a fantastic golfer. I don`t really care what he does in his private life. But I am very strongly opposed to him continuing to get so much money for endorsements, especially for products that affect our children and society as a whole.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Barbara. And that`s what I`m hearing from a lot more women where a lot of men are saying, "You know what? It`s all about his golf game." I don`t agree with that. What do you think, Whitney?
CASEY: Well, I think, you know, the fact is if he really does want to improve his image, especially with women, that he - if he`s going to get married, the best way to improve your image is to stay faithful to your wife and stop all of these dalliances and shenanigans.
It really is - you know, they started to - it seemed so narcissistic. Some of these athletes - they get so good that they really lose perspective and they have this grandiosity perspective of life and what they can get by with.
And I think most women would just say, "Look, if you`re going to be faithful to your wife, be real about it, and silence is golden."
HAMMER: Whitney Casey, Ryan Smith, thanks so much.
ANDERSON: It is so tough to listen to this brand-new David Hasselhoff 911 call made by his daughter.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: What`s the problem? Tell me exactly what happened.
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: My dad - scary.
911 OPERATOR: You`re with him right now?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: Yes, yes. He has collapsed.
911 OPERATOR: How old are you?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: He gets back up but keeps falling back down.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The "America`s Got Talent" star rushed to the hospital again. He`s been battling alcoholism. And Hasselhoff`s ex, Pamela, making a dramatic move today that she says may save his life.
Also, just in today, Kate Gosselin`s new gig - making pancakes? Wait until you hear what Kate`s new job is.
Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming here today, I had an unfortunate incident with my golf clubs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Not everybody has been laughing at this "SNL" skit. A lot of people are mad that "Saturday Night Live" made fun of domestic abuse, especially because Rihanna was the musical guest on that show.
Tonight, Rihanna speaking out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about the controversy. You`re going to be very surprised with what she`s got to say. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom - they`re making news right now.
TEXT: This decade`s top sellers: Eminem, bestselling artist; Beatles hits CD, bestselling album. Third "Twilight" film, "Eclipse" will hit theaters in Imax the day film opens on June 30.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: It`s Blago signing his book. Impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signing copies of his book, "The Governor" at the University of Chicago. It was Blago`s first book signing since his memoir came out in September.
Most of the people at the signing were college kids buying the book as a holiday gag gift. Hey, this guy`s got great timing. It`s exactly one year ago that Blago was arrested because of trying to sell Barack Obama`s Senate seat.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, Hasselhoff`s cry for help.
ANDERSON: Just in today, the brand-new desperate public plea from David Hasselhoff`s ex-wife. Her emotional message comes one day after a chilling 911 call was released detailing the panic after David collapsed inside his home.
This was at least David`s fourth trip to the ER in the past two years, allegedly related to his drinking. Tonight, his family is now begging for the public`s help to save the life of the "America`s Got Talent" judge.
With me from New York tonight is Megan Alexander. She`s a correspondent for "Inside Edition." Here in Hollywood is Hyla. He`s an entertainment journalist with "5DollarPrep.com."
OK. Megan, Hyla, David Hasselhoff`s ex-wife, Pamela, really made a heart-wrenching public plea. It`s totally unbelievable. Incredibly sad. We will get to the entire statement in just a second.
But Megan, first, what do you think of the fact that she took this message to the public?
ALEXANDER: Well, you have to wonder, Brooke, are things really so bad that this was her last resort, to release a public statement asking fans to save David Hasselhoff?
We all know he has problems - obviously, a lot of problems with alcoholism. And it does remind us it doesn`t just affect a person. It affects an entire family. She herself had a problem with a DUI a week or two ago.
So what is going on behind the scenes where she felt her final resort was to release this statement? That`s what I want to know.
ANDERSON: Yes. She must be very desperate to reach out in this way. And you know, as we know, David Hasselhoff has been in a very public battle with alcoholism. But it seems like we really haven`t gotten a real sense of just how devastating the problem really is.
I want to read this statement that we did just get today from Pamela, David`s ex-wife, "The despair, feeling hopeless and unable to believe that things can ever change with David`s alcoholism over the years has affected our whole family."
"We want our lives to be different, but nothing we have done has brought about change. We ask David`s fans, supporters and handlers to take swift action to save this wonderful man`s life. We will be forever hurt from this cruel disease. I`m grateful for two daughters who have been incredibly brave, strong and protective souls."
Now, Pamela and David had a nasty divorce battle. But this plea sounds to me like it`s less about saving her ex-husband, more about saving the father of her two kids. But Hyla, is this a good idea, taking it to the public in this way?
HYLA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST, "5DOLLARPREP.COM": I don`t have a problem with taking it to the public. It`s just where the message is coming from. Pamela, unfortunately, is the ex-wife. How often do we listen to our exes? Not very often.
On top of that, she deals with her own alcohol issues. She just had a DUI, so the message can`t come from her. It would be better if it comes from the kids. That has more meaning to it.
But at the end of the day, it doesn`t matter where the message comes from. Does the Hoff want to change? Does he see himself having a problem?
ANDERSON: Yes.
HYLA: It might be even worse. He might realize he has a problem and just doesn`t want to change it. Because you know what? He does function. He`s on a highly-rated television show, I mean, from Germany to "America`s Got Talent." Professionally, he`s fine.
ANDERSON: He`s very.
HYLA: He`s just hurting himself personally.
ANDERSON: Very, very popular guy. She`s certainly opening up the family when they are in a very fragile state. And this public plea for David`s life comes just days after he collapsed in his home. And speaking of the kids, Hyla, his teenage daughter called 911. Listen to this truly frightening call obtained by TMZ.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: What`s the problem? Tell me exactly what happened.
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: My dad - scary.
911 OPERATOR: You`re with him right now?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: Yes, yes. He has collapsed.
911 OPERATOR: How old are you?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: He gets back up but keeps falling back down.
911 OPERATOR: And he`s been doing that for how long? The last hour, two hours?
HASSELHOFF`S DAUGHTER: Since two months ago. Yesterday, he started to go back down, so we took him to the hospital -
911 OPERATOR: OK, Ma`am. It`s OK.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., I want to bring you in here. This 911 call just heart-wrenching, but it`s not the first time the public is getting a glimpse into just how horrible David`s illness has gotten. A.J., do you really think if the public gets involved that they will be able to save David`s life? Is that the answer?
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. I don`t really know what the public can do. We all remember seeing that video that David Hasselhoff`s daughter shot of him on that hotel room floor in Las Vegas, trying to eat a cheeseburger off the floor. It`s really heartbreaking when you see this.
What can the public do, though? I don`t know. But Pamela Hasselhoff - Pamela Bach`s statement uses the word "disease." I think that`s very powerful. I hope that his enablers will take a hint. The people around him in his life most directly will take a hint. It really sounds like he needs a professional intervention at this point.
ANDERSON: It certainly does.
HYLA: I think the problem is with his enablers as well.
ANDERSON: We wish him and his family well. This has certainly gotten very serious from the sound of Pamela Bach`s statement.
OK. I do want to move now to some amazing new video just in today of Kate Gosselin`s new television gig.
Take a look at this. Kate at a North Carolina diner slinging pancakes and grits. TLC tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that it`s full steam ahead for Kate`s new reality show, and this new video is actually for that show.
Megan, do you really think she can attract the cult-like following she had before this with this new Kate-minus-Jon-plus-a-new-life-as-a-single- mom-of-eight show?
ALEXANDER: No. I think the magic is gone. I don`t think she will ever be able to attract that following, Brooke. I find it interesting that with eight kids and still going through a messy divorce, she has time to even be filming another show.
You know, I think the magic of that show was the cute eight kids, the relationship with her and Jon, how the family all functioned. I don`t think she can do it again. Her personality to me is too dry. I don`t think she can carry it.
ANDERSON: But listen - this woman`s got eight mouths to feed. She`s got to do something. Let`s give her a shot. Megan Alexander, Hyla, thank you so much. We appreciate it.
And just moments ago - I want to mention this. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT received this statement from Pamela Bach`s rep, "I want people to know Pam is currently in an alcohol program and not just speaking without taking accountability for her own problems." As of show time, David Hasselhoff`s rep did not return our calls for comment.
HAMMER: All right. So a lot of people saw "Saturday Night Live" Tiger Woods sketch and thought it was pretty funny at first.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming here today, I had an unfortunate incident with my golf clubs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: But not everybody`s been laughing. A lot of outrage over this one, especially because Rihanna was right there as "SNL`s" musical guest. Tonight, Rihanna speaking out to us. You`ll be shocked by what she thinks about this sketch. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - some more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Monday`s "Big Bang Theory" on CBS posts biggest ratings in the series` history. It`s a boy! Giselle Bundchen and hubby NFL QB Tom Brady welcome baby boy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I offer my profound apology for these multiple transgressions.
BLAKE LIVELY, ACTRESS: Multiple? So it happened more than once?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The "SNL" skit is getting a whole lot of laughs but also causing a whole lot of controversy. Tiger Woods getting beaten up by his wife. A lot of people are angry because "SNL" did this on the same show where Rihanna was the musical guest, the same Rihanna who beaten up by Chris Brown.
But tonight, Rihanna is speaking out to us for the very first time about the anger over that "SNL" skit. And I`ve got to say, I`m pretty surprised with her reaction.
You know, some people have said it was funny and that it`s no big deal. Others have said it was in poor taste and even worse. How could "SNL" make fun of domestic abuse especially with Rihanna standing right there?
Well, take a listen to what Rihanna told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the red carpet at the launch event for the Vevo online music service in New York. I`m pretty shocked.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIHANNA, SINGER: Well, that`s the nature of "SNL." They take very serious things and find the humor in it. And I wasn`t offended in any way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Also, Rihanna just got a brand-new tattoo. We just had to ask her about that, too.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIHANNA: It means - it says, "Never a failure, always a lesson." It just means if you make a mistake, just don`t make it twice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Riri got the tattoo in New York this week and got inked backwards so she could read it in the mirror.
HAMMER: It`s a pretty clever idea. Never thought of that - tattoo backwards.
All right. Tonight, Nicolas Cage`s money problems could be getting a whole lot worse. Cage`s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his oldest child, 18-month-old Weston, is suing Cage. Christina Fulton is her name and she claims that Cage`s financial mess has led to her being more than $1 million in debt. She claims total damages of more than $13 million.
Nicolas Cage`s lawyer tells "People" magazine Fulton`s suit is, quote, "ridiculous." Cage owes more than $6 million in back taxes and is suing his former accountant. That guy is countersuing Nicolas. And cage has been holding a fire sale of homes and cars and boats to pay off his debt.
ANDERSON: On Tuesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. And I just got the final results. Here`s what we asked - "Tiger Woods: Would you buy anything that he endorses?"
Here we go. It`s pretty darn close - 47 percent of you say yes, though the majority, 53 percent of you, say no, you wouldn`t buy anything he endorses.
Here are some of the E-mails that we received. Strawberry - yes, Strawberry from Virginia - I bet Strawberry is very sweet. Strawberry writes, "I would still purchase anything that he endorses, and wouldn`t buy products from companies that drop him."
But Cynthia from Minnesota won`t buy any Tiger stuff. She writes, "Tiger is shallow and is disappointing. Not the Paul Newman image we want. Find a new endorser!"
Kitty from Texas says she will continue to buy Tiger products and adds, "The companies that Tiger endorses will use his human weaknesses to promote their product."
HAMMER: And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Take care.
END
