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Showbiz Tonight
The Most Provocative Celebrity of 2009; Oprah`s About Face After Interviewing Mike Tyson; Famous for Nothing; The Ponytail-Grabbing Soccer Player Speaks
Aired December 18, 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 this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of 2009. Will it be Michael Jackson?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PARIS KATHERINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S DAUGHTER: Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Maybe Jon Gosselin -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": I can`t sit on the sofa with that woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: how about Sarah Palin?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FMR. GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK): I don`t blame people for thinking that I was not qualified.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Who was most shocking? Who caused nonstop outrage? Tonight, a headline making special event, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of 2009.
Oprah`s stunning, provocative about face. Tonight, Oprah Winfrey`s unbelievable apology after her explosive interview with Mike Tyson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE TYSON, BOXING CHAMPION: I truly wanted to sock her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What made Oprah say, "I`m sorry?"
And the provocative stars who are famous for doing absolutely nothing. Should Hollywood`s A-listers be scared of these Z-listers?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This special edition of TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
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 in Hollywood. You are watching a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: And tonight`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the year. This is truly a headline-making event. I`m going to be perfectly candid with you about this.
We had a very hard time coming up with this final list of nominees this year because there was certainly no shortage of candidate. So we argued, we debated, but in the end the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff managed to boil the list down to five nominees and the choice that is about to be made, the selection of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT most provocative celebrity of the year made for very big news.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Jon Gosselin used to be the beaten down husband on "Jon and Kate Plus 8". Now, he`s a playboy extraordinaire. That`s why Jon Gosselin could be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of 2009.
No one does midlife crisis better. No sooner did Jon announce his divorce from reality show wife Kate Gosselin in June than he began dating 22-year-old Hailey Glassman. In September, he told ABC`s "Primetime," Hailey was his soul mate.
JON GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": Love her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Love her. Big word.
J. GOSSELIN: Huge word.
HAMMER: A month later, they split with Hailey accusing him of being emotionally abusive. There was also former tabloid reporter Kate Major who came to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and, in an exclusive interview, accused of Jon being a fast-moving womanizer.
KATE MAJOR, FORMER TABLOID REPORTER: We held hands and kissed in the car. And this was all -
HAMMER (on camera): This was on the first night?
MAJOR: Unfortunately, yes.
HAMMER (voice-over): And then it all caught up with him. September 29th, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reported this whopper.
(on camera): Jon Gosselin was fired today from "Jon & Kate Plus 8."
(voice-over): Fired. And just a few weeks later in November, he apologized to Kate for his actions and claimed he was a reformed man. Whatever, Jon.
Chris Brown is another disgraceful bachelor in the running to be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of 2009. In February, Brown brutally beat his then girlfriend, Rihanna, the night before the Grammy Awards. And after months of hiding out and dodging questions about what happened, in June, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT broke this news.
(on camera): Late today, Chris Brown went into a Los Angeles courtroom and pleaded guilty.
(voice-over): That same day, Brown was sentenced to five years probation and more than 1,400 hours of physical labor.
JO PIAZZA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Once we found out these allegations were true, he should have done the right thing, stepped back. But no. Rihanna releases an album. Chris releases an album. Rihanna goes on tour. Chris goes on tour.
HAMMER: One of the most heartbreaking moments of the year puts Michael Jackson`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s list of nominees to be named one of the most provocative celebrities of 2009. It began in June when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reported the sad news.
(on camera): This is a special live edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the shocking death of Michael Jackson.
(voice-over): In July, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reported on how drugs may have factored into his death.
(on camera): A powerful drug that some suspect could have something to do with Jackson`s death was reportedly found in the house where he died.
(voice-over): At the very same time, fans gathered around TVs around the world to mourn Jackson`s sudden death.
PARIS KATHERINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S DAUGHTER: Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine.
HAMMER: The countdown to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of 2009 continues now with Carrie Prejean. And this year, she earned that nomination. It started in April.
PREJEAN: A marriage should be between a man and woman.
HAMMER: In May, explosive nude photos.
(on camera): Talk about explosive, semi-nude photos surfaced today of Miss California. Yes, that Miss California.
(voice-over): In June 10, canned as Miss USA -
(on camera): The startling, just out-of-the-blue news today that late today, Donald Trump fired Carrie Prejean.
(voice-over): And in November, Carrie admits she made a solo sex tape. As if that wasn`t enough, Prejean took on CNN`s Larry King on live TV in a classic diva tantrum when a caller asked her about the gay marriage controversy.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Did you hear the question?
PREJEAN: No, I can`t hear you.
HAMMER: But perhaps Carrie can hear the major competition she`s got going with her conservative role model, Sarah Palin, who is also one of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrities of 2009.
PIAZZA: Sarah Palin is constantly on the defensive.
HAMMER: She sure does get fired up. She waged war in June with David Letterman.
(on camera): Sarah Palin on the warpath after David Letterman made sexually suggestive jokes about her young daughter.
(voice-over): There was no cease fire. It continued straight to October as she duked it out with Levi Johnston.
(on camera): Tonight, Sarah Palin`s unbelievable response to Levi Johnston over his new threats against her and her family.
(voice-over): And in November on Oprah, she invited Levi to Thanksgiving dinner.
FMR. GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Open invitation for Levi to come to Aunt Katie`s house for Thanksgiving dinner in Washington. There.
HAMMER: Sarah Palin sure is a straight shooter, but is she worthy of the title of most provocative celebrity of 2009?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So who will SHOWBIZ TONIGHT name the most provocative celebrity of 2009?
Well, joining me tonight in New York, Carlos Diaz, who is a correspondent for "Extra." Also in New York is Rachel Zalis who is a contributing editor for "Life and Style Weekly."
All right, guys. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is not naming just any celebrity in Hollywood as the most provocative celebrity of 2009. Oh, no. There is an exhaustive list of requirements that a celebrity absolutely needs to meet in order to get this very dubious distinction.
So now without further ado let me reveal to you the super secret details on all of this. Let`s put these up here. For the most provocative celebrity of the year, we look for a celebrity who provoked the most continuous shock, outraged reaction throughout 2009, who generated the most continued interest throughout 2009, and whose very name sparks a visceral reaction.
Let`s go down the list of some of those contenders right now. First, Carlos, we have to talk about Jon Gosselin. No way he could avoid this list.
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": No. I mean, I love the way you said that, A.J. We have to talk about him. That`s all I`ve been doing for the last year. Every other day, we have to talk about Jon Gosselin because he is the true American male, but not in the good way.
You know, he began the year as the loving father who got picked on nonstop by this terrible woman. And at the end of the year he`s the terrible guy for basically being one of the worst TV dads ever.
HAMMER: Yes. Yes. Could he have ever imagined back in the beginning of 2009 that his year would end the way it has?
Let`s move on now to Sarah Palin. She certainly came on to the political scene as an instant superstar, someone who was going to energize the election. And she did, until Katie Couric, of course, asked her about what newspaper she read. Let`s watch that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATIE COURIC, CBS NEWS ANCHOR: What specifically? I`m curious.
PALIN: All of them. Any of them that have been in front of me over all these years.
COURIC: Can you name them?
PALIN: I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news. Alaska isn`t a foreign country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. I can`t get enough of that. Rachel, certainly, a moment like that got her on this list. But I would have to think that Tina Fey`s dead- on impression of Sarah is among what made her the most provocative celebrity of 2009. I mean, come on.
RACHEL ZALIS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "LIFE AND STYLE WEEKLY": Oh, absolutely. I mean, Tina did wonders for Sarah Palin, but it`s amazing. A year ago, she was the vice presidential loser who everyone was saying sunk McCain. And now, this year, she`s being touted as the Republican presidential nominee frontrunner for 2012.
So, I mean, this woman is sort of like that house guest you invite for a few days and then never goes away. She just keeps coming back, you know, with her book and the whole Levi Johnston scandal. I mean, she`s really - did a major turn around.
HAMMER: She did. All right. Michael Jackson, certainly there was no way he would have avoided this list this year. And of course, here`s a guy who was quite provocative before he died with his molestation trial, some pretty bizarre behavior. You remember the dangling of the baby out the window.
But it was not only his death, Carlos. It was all of the circumstances surrounding the death that really cements his place on our list of most provocative nominees.
DIAZ: Yes. And he would be the obvious frontrunner if you`re going to pick the most provocative person of 2009. The only reason I would say that he shouldn`t win it is because we really didn`t hear from Michael Jackson this year.
He was kind of in hiding, you know, preparing for the concert. And then, he passed away so suddenly and so tragically so we didn`t hear from him until his movie came out. And that`s what made the movie so heartbreaking because we hadn`t heard from him in so long. And all of a sudden, you`re seeing how inspired he was to get ready for this concert.
HAMMER: All right. Carlos Diaz, Rachel Zalis, thank you very much. Now, don`t go anywhere because coming up, we will reveal the most provocative celebrity of 2009 right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Tonight, Oprah`s stunning, provocative about face after her explosive interview with Mike Tyson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYSON: I had socked her before, and she socked me before as well. But it was just that kind of relationship.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight, Oprah Winfrey`s unbelievable apology. You have got to hear what made Oprah say, "I`m sorry."
Also tonight, Chaz Bono on becoming a man. He used to be Chastity Bono, the daughter of Sonny and Cher. Chaz is speaking up about his provocative decision to go through a sex change.
And you remember the mean girl - nasty soccer player. The one who pushed, punched and pulled ponytail? I think she could go down as one of the dirtiest, most provocative sports stars of all time.
Tonight, she is speaking out. Is she sorry for what she did? This is a special SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYSON: I truly wanted to sock her. You know, that particular moment, I truly wanted to sock her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was Mike Tyson on "Oprah" talking about wanting to hit Robin Givens. That moment spelled a big-time provocative controversy for Oprah and a big apology.
Welcome back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, Tyson tells all to Oprah.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. This was one of those things on TV that was sometimes really hard to watch. On her show, Oprah Winfrey interviewed former boxing champ Mike Tyson. I`ve got to tell you, Tyson told all from his stormy marriage to Robin Givens to the tragic loss of his little girl.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TYSON: I thought that God never created a man that could beat me in a fair fight.
HAMMER: No pun intended, but "hard-hitting" is the best way to describe former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson`s powerful and emotional interview on today`s "Oprah Winfrey Show."
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Was it an abusive relationship?
TYSON: Oh, definitely.
HAMMER: Today, Tyson revealed shocking details about his violent eight- month marriage to actress Robin Givens in the `80s.
TYSON: Robin is a very tough woman. She`s very tough. And she can be very mean as well.
HAMMER: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, it was far from the only shocker in today`s interview. There was the startling sight of the most feared man in boxing history on the verge of breaking down as he described the recent death of his little daughter.
TYSON: Oh, man. This is my angel right there.
HAMMER: And Tyson explained what the heck he was thinking when he bit off Evander Holyfield`s ear during a bout in 1997.
TYSON: I was just pissed off that he was such a great fighter.
HAMMER: And Tyson reveals why he now says he`s a changed man.
TYSON: I don`t want to go down that road anymore.
HAMMER: In the 1980s, Tyson made history by becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever at age 19. But he made more headlines because of alleged abuse of his then-wife, Robin Givens.
ROBIN GIVENS, ACTRESS: Mike is a manic-depressive.
HAMMER: During a 1988 TV interview with Barbara Walters, Givens described the abuse she suffered at the hands of her then-husband as Tyson silently looked on.
GIVENS: There was a time when he cannot control his temper and that`s frightening to me.
HAMMER: On "Oprah," Tyson remembered what he was thinking during that moment.
TYSON: I truly wanted to sock her. At that particular moment, I truly wanted to sock her. I just didn`t do it. I was young at the time. I was really young.
WINFREY: Did you sock her afterwards?
TYSON: No. No, not afterwards. I didn`t sock her. I wanted to sock her. I had socked her before, and she socked me before as well. But it was just that kind of a relationship.
HAMMER: Tyson`s violent tendencies would get him in trouble again. In 1997, he bit off Evander Holyfield`s ear in a fight.
TYSON: I was angry that he was butting my head. I was just enraged and I wanted to inflict so much pain on him.
HAMMER: But today, even as he tries to turn over a new leaf, Tyson`s life continues to experience tragedy. Last May, his 4-year-old daughter, Exodus, died after her neck apparently got caught in a treadmill cord at the home of her mother, an ex-girlfriend of Tyson.
A still devastated Tyson tells Oprah, he doesn`t know the details of the accident and that`s exactly the way he wants it.
WINFREY: We heard it was a freak accident.
TYSON: Yes, yes. That`s what I heard too.
WINFREY: That twisted the cord -
TYSON: I don`t know.
WINFREY: You don`t know? You still don`t?
TYSON: No. I don`t want to know.
WINFREY: You don`t want to know?
TYSON: I don`t want to - because if I know, then somebody is going to be blamed for it. If somebody is to blame, there will be a problem.
WINFREY: You don`t want to carry that?
TYSON: Yes.
HAMMER: Now, Tyson is married with a new wife and a new baby. Tyson says his children are what keeps him going.
TYSON: I live for my babies. That`s the only thing that matters to me now.
HAMMER: And now, after experiencing enough troubles to last two lifetimes, Tyson now tells Oprah he`s a man desperately trying not to repeat the mistakes of his past.
TYSON: I don`t want to go down that road anymore. I know what it`s like to be on the dark road and meet the devil and hang out with him for a while. I don`t want to do that no more.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, I can tell you that after Oprah`s provocative interview with Mike Tyson, Oprah did a stunning about face and apologized to Robin Givens.
If you noticed, the audience laughed after the first time Mike said he wanted to, quote, "sock" Robin. He and Oprah were talking about when Mike and Robin sat down with Barbara Walters and Mike was upset by the things Robin was saying. Let`s take another look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYSON: I truly wanted to sock her, you know. At that particular moment, I truly wanted to sock her. I just didn`t do it. I was young. I was really -
WINFREY: Did you sock her afterwards?
TYSON: No, no. Not afterwards. I didn`t sock her. I wanted to sock her. I have socked her before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: After that interview, Robin wrote Oprah saying she was deeply disturbed by how Oprah handled some of the interview. So Oprah had Robin on the show and they had a very emotional exchange. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBIN GIVENS, ACTRESS AND EX-WIFE OF MIKE TYSON: I`m a woman very much like all the women in your audience and in the audience out there with love for you, tremendous respect, tremendous admiration.
And I think I wouldn`t be honest if I didn`t - if there wasn`t a part of me that wanted you to go, what he said, "I`ve socked her before," to say, that`s not right. And it wasn`t right. And it was painful.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": I would say to you and to every woman who`s ever been hit, I feel that I did not handle that as well as I should have. And I feel that I could have gone further and should have said more to clarify that what he was doing and what he was saying was wrong. So I -
GIVENS: I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
WINFREY: I apologize to you and I apologize to every woman who has ever been in that situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Oprah also said that she thought the audience laughed after Mike said he wanted to sock Robin because they were uncomfortable. Robin Givens is the spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence hotline.
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming the most provocative celebrity of 2009. And let me tell you, there was a whole lot to choose from.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PREJEAN: Larry, you`re being inappropriate. You really are. So I`m not going to talk about -
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": What? I`m asking a question.
PREJEAN: I`m not going to talk about anything that was discussed in mediation. It`s completely confidential.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Will it be former Miss California Carrie Prejean? Maybe Jon Gosselin? How about Sarah Palin? Who was most shocking? Who caused nonstop outrage? Tonight, it`s a headline-making special event. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of 2009.
And a revealing look at the provocative stars who are famous for absolutely nothing. Why do we care about these people? Should Hollywood`s A-listers be scared of these Z-listers? Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the stars who are famous for nothing?
And wow, Kate Moss being slammed over something she said. Is she really promoting anorexia? This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, the most provocative movies of 2009. You know, every year there are a handful of films that make big headlines. I`m talking about those buzz-worthy jaw droppers.
And tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming the ones that got everybody talking, the most provocative movies of 2009. Here to help us do just that, "People" magazine film critic Leah Rozen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Well, first, let`s get to "Inglourious Basterds." Of course, his was directed by Quentin Tarantino, stars Brad Pitt. Obviously, pretty serious subject matter here. Why does this qualify as one of the most provocative?
LEAH ROZEN "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE FILM CRITIC: Because it`s for this fantasy about World War II. It`s this revenge fantasy. The Jews are going to kill Hitler and that`s kind of the plot of the movie.
And you know, you wish it had been that way but it wasn`t. But it`s sort of the lengths to which Tarantino takes it, the violence that he uses. But I like the film a lot. I think anyone who watches it, it will turn out to be different from what you`re - probably, your preconceptions going in.
HAMMER: All right. Let`s move on to "The Hangover." This had an enormous opening weekend - $44 million. I was surprised to see this one on your list of the most provocative films, Leah. Set this one up for me.
ROZEN: OK. You know, well, yes. I think this is one you don`t want to take your kids to. It`s bachelor party that goes completely wrong in Vegas. It was actually a very funny film in a sort of gross-out comedy kind of way.
But I think what was provocative about it would be, just what was the film`s attitudes on women? You had essentially the harpy wife. You had the prostitute with the heart of gold. And there seemed to be no in between. So I guess that would be what was provocative. That said, it was still funny. Darn funny.
HAMMER: I remember when we sat here doing the review the week that it came out and I wasn`t expecting this from you. You said, "You know what? Go out and see this movie." I was not at all surprised when I saw Sasha Cohen`s latest film on your list of most provocative films of 2009. But lay out the reasons that you feel it belongs on this list.
ROZEN: Well, one, you know, you would just have to say certain scenes, you do not take your grandmother with you to this film because you don`t want to be sitting next to her during certain scenes that are sexually specific or even more.
But what I like about this film and what I think is provocative about it is that people thought it was going to be a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) satire on fashion. But really, it is a stinging satire about our obsession with celebrity-dom ...
HAMMER: Yes.
ROZEN: Our obsession with fame, our obsession with being on TV and screen. And it was cutting about that and that`s what I like.
HAMMER: Leah Rozen, thank you, as always, for those provocative choices.
ROZEN: Thanks, A.J.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: From most provocative films to this headline-making event. You do not want to miss this. We are naming the most provocative celebrity of 2009. Who was most shocking? Who caused nonstop outrage?
Also, a revealing look at the provocative stars who are famous for absolutely nothing. Should Hollywood`s A-listers be scared of these Z- listers?
And you remember the mean girl, nasty soccer player, the one who pushed, punched, pulled ponytails? Tonight, she is speaking out. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of 2009. And what a year. From Jon Gosselin`s high jinks to the shocking death of Michael Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
P. JACKSON: Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: But was Jackson the most provocative celebrity of the year? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of 2009.
Chaz Bono speaks out about becoming a man. Tonight, Chastity Bono, the only daughter of Sonny and Cher, talks about changing a lot more than her name. Chaz` stunning decision to become a man.
Famous for nothing. It`s not just Paris Hilton anymore. Tonight, how everyone from the Kardashians to the cast of "The Hills" got famous for absolutely nothing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: @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. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And we are naming, right here, right now, the most provocative celebrity of 2009.
Was it Sarah Palin, the former vice presidential nominee who went from being a national - becoming a national punchline on "Saturday Night Live" to a bestselling author with her book "Going Rogue?"
Was it conservative beauty queen Carrie Prejean who created a controversy with her views on same sex marriage?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PREJEAN: In my country, and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Or was it Jon Gosselin who famously transformed himself from wholesome father of eight to complete womanizing cad?
Joining me tonight in New York, Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra." Also in New York, Rachel Zalis who is a contributing editor for "Life and Style Weekly."
All right, guys. Let`s begin with Sarah Palin, our first nominee for most provocative celebrity of 2009. Sarah, of course, was repeatedly spoofed by Tina Fey on "Saturday Night Live."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TINA FEY, ACTRESS: I don`t worry about the polls. Polls are just a fancy way of systematically predicting what`s going to happen. The only pole I care about is the North Pole and that is melting. It`s not great. What? The real one? Bye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, a great moment in television history right there. And then, of course, from punch line to byline. This year, Palin famously feuded with both Levi Johnston and David Letterman, just released her very first controversial book.
Rachel, certainly, she became a celebrity in 2009 in a bigger way than ever. And certainly, I would have to say she`s in the running to become SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the year. Wouldn`t you agree?
ZALIS: Absolutely in the running. I mean, this has been a huge year. She steps down as governor. She writes this bestselling book. She`s on a national tour. Thousands of people are showing up everywhere she goes whether it`s for pro-choice rallies or her book or for her book.
You know, she`s had this big feud with Levi Johnston. It`s always in the news, Sarah Palin. And so she definitely is in the running.
HAMMER: And she certainly got a lot of attention for a lot of the things she has said. Speaking of which, let`s move on now to conservative beauty queen, Carrie Prejean, who has pretty much done the same thing.
And if Carrie`s confession on the "Today" show that she made a solo sex tape isn`t provocative, well, heck, I don`t know what is. Let`s look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARRIE PREJEAN, FORMER MISS CALIFORNIA USA: You can call it whatever you want to call it. If you want to call it a sex tape, that`s fine. But -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, what do you call it?
PREJEAN: It was me by myself. There was no one else with me. I was not having sex. I sent it to my boyfriend at the time. I was a teenager. But the main point is that there has been a campaign against me to try and silence me for the past seven months for the answer that I gave at the pageant.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Carlos, clearly, if we had not made her a nominee to be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the year we`d be in serious violation of some law, I think.
DIAZ: Well, A.J., I`m still mad at you for missing that campaign meeting that we had, you know, to silence Carrie Prejean. You weren`t there and I`m disappointed.
HAMMER: Sorry.
DIAZ: But still, you know, you guys have picked such a great list that in order to really be in the running for the most provocative person of 2009, you need to have two acts and she does have two acts.
She was most provocative because of what she said at the pageant. But then, she came back even stronger with the sex tape ordeal. So it`s not just one thing with Carrie Prejean. It`s two things.
HAMMER: Well, two acts. I mean, let`s talk about a guy with perhaps 12 acts this year, Jon Gosselin, of course. You remember at the beginning of the year, he was still a wholesome father of eight, brow beaten. And he moved on to become a complete womanizing cad who then bashed the mother of his eight children in an interview with ABC`s Chris Cuomo. Who can forget that moment in TV history?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. GOSSELIN: I can`t sit on someone right now that I despise.
CHRIS CUOMO, ABC ANCHOR: Despise?
J. GOSSELIN: I despise because she`s not speaking from the heart. Please, the stuff you tell me in private should be the stuff you tell me on TV.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Rachel, off to you. Trashing Kate, divorcing Kate, dating the 22- year-old daughter of Kate`s plastic surgeon, I think Jon Gosselin is certainly going to be one to beat to be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the year.
ZALIS: Absolutely. He is a paparazzi poster child. We had him on the cover of "Life and Style" a record 15 times this year. I mean, for a guy who says he doesn`t want to be in the public eye, this guy has done everything he possibly can to stay in it, whether it`s cheating, you know, hooking up with his wife`s surgeon`s daughter, club-hopping, spiritual advisor, reality shows with Michael Lohan and the octumom. I mean, this guy loves the limelight.
HAMMER: Yes. He`s done it all, hasn`t he? I have to tell you, this wasn`t a huge surprise particularly given all of the drama this year. When we asked our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook fans who they think deserves to be named the most provocative celebrity in 2009, our page literally exploded right there in front of me.
Stacy M. writing this on our wall, "I would say Michael Jackson. First, it was when we heard about the last concerts that he was going to do after so many years. And then, he died just weeks before the first curtain call. I`m still shocked and can`t believe he is gone."
A lot of people really feel that way. I was blown away by how many people said we should name Michael Jackson as the most provocative celebrity of 2009. Carlos, certainly what Stacy said about the concerts and the timing of his death put Michael on the list.
But you think about the circumstances around his death. The doctor, the drugs that were involved. It really is an amazing thing.
DIAZ: I think Michael Jackson is the biggest entertainment story of 2009. But as far as being the most provocative person of 2009 - I mean, like you said, it`s the people surrounding him that provided, you know, these headlines and the scandal.
I mean, it was just a single act - you know, him passing away - that would put him on this list. I don`t think he`s the most provocative person, but definitely the biggest entertainment story of 2009.
HAMMER: Let me read one sort of write-in entry. This is Tina J. who didn`t name any of our five contenders to be picked as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of 2009 writing this, "Lady Gaga`s hats, outfits and videos are definitely a regular shocker. Each get up is more shocking than the last. Untalented people need a gimmick but she has talent so maybe she is just naturally strange. Who knows - but she is both shocking and very talented."
Tina J., we appreciate your Facebook comment. Great point there. Lady Gaga certainly provocative with what she wears, how mysterious she is. But Rachel, do you think she should have been a contender?
ZALIS: I love Lady Gaga and I definitely think she has done everything this year to shake up the music industry and really get people talking again. So I say she`d be great one.
DIAZ: She`s too talented.
ZALIS: And I`d throw in Tiger Woods while we`re at it.
HAMMER: Yes. But you know what? But he doesn`t fit all the criteria. Had he been with us with his story all year long, it would have been different.
All right. I don`t want to wait anymore. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will now name the most provocative celebrity of 2009. Quickly recapping the five nominees. Number one, Chris Brown. At two, Sarah Palin. Three, Jon Gosselin. Four, Carrie Prejean. Five, Michael Jackson.
And I have to tell you, guys, coming up with this winner wasn`t easy. So many nominees to pick from. So much drama. In the end, there can be only one.
Here now the one SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming as the most provocative celebrity of 2009 and it is -
(DRUMROLL)
Jon Gosselin, of course. Yes, Jon now has the dubious distinction of being named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the year. Carlos, are you with me that Jon is indeed the most provocative celebrity of 2009?
DIAZ: I have to agree. And, yes, the voting was very tight. I hear he only won by eight votes. But here`s the thing. He is a guy that started the year as dad of the year, a guy that we all sympathized with.
And he did a complete 180. I have never seen someone spiral out of control like Jon Gosselin. You guys got it completely right. I would say Carrie Prejean a close second. If he cannot fulfill his responsibilities, then, as runner-up, she will be the 2009 most provocative person of the year.
HAMMER: Yes. And Rachel, quickly, you know, I have heard from some people they don`t even consider Jon Gosselin to be a celebrity. But let`s face it. He became a celebrity in a huge way in 2009, like it or not.
ZALIS: Yes, absolutely. Those are the biggest stars right now, the ones that absolutely do nothing to earn celebrity status. So, you know, all those people on all the reality shows are the ones that we`re talking about.
HAMMER: All right. Rachel Zalis, Carlos Diaz, thank you for being part of provocative celebrity history. I appreciate it.
ANDERSON: Chaz Bono speaks out about becoming a man. The daughter of Sonny and Cher - you knew her as Chastity Bono - is now Chaz. He`s changing his sex and speaking out about why.
Also, famous for nothing. I`m not just talking about Paris Hilton. Just look at the stars of "The Hills."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMY ARGETSINGER, "THE WASHINGTON POST": With "The Hills," there is a kind of madness created because we`re pretending that these are ordinary girls in Los Angeles and yet they are getting paid extraordinary amounts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It`s a Hollywood epidemic - people who are famous with no discernable talent. It`s a SHOWBIZ special report "Famous for Nothing."
And remember the mean girl soccer player? This college player was a terror on the field, pulling hair, pushing, shoving. It was outrageous. So what does she have to say for herself? This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT TV`s most provocative entertainment news show on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We welcome you back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, Chaz Bono speaks out about becoming a man. Chaz, formerly Chastity Bono, daughter of Cher and the late Sonny bono, is about a year into what is expected to be a five-year process of gender reassignment surgery.
He says he always felt like a boy from as far back as he can remember. And at 40 years old, he started the process of becoming a man. On "Good Morning America" he talked about how it`s going.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAZ BONO, CHER`S CHILD: I have only been on hormone therapy for about eight months now. So there`s been definite changes and I feel so much more comfortable than I have ever been. But you know - much more to come.
I think probably the first thing that was just an incredible hurdle was the idea that I was not going be able to do this privately like most people can. And that took a really long time to get over.
And then, I think it was about dealing with the people in my life and how it was going affect them. And finally, it came down to, you know, realizing that I got live my life for myself and life is short and life is precious. And you know, this is who I am. I need to finally be who I am.
This was a very difficult decision to make but it is the best decision I have ever made. So I mean, I am happier, more confident. You know, I feel great. I mean, I feel great. And, you know, it would almost be easy to say why did I wait so long to do this?
Except I am a person who believes that things happen when they are supposed to happen. And you know, I was ready when I was ready and life is just great now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Chaz didn`t say anything about how his mother, Cher, is dealing with his decision.
HAMMER: Tonight, famous for nothing. And no, we`re not just talking about Levi Johnstons and the Jon and Kates of the world.
The Kardashian sisters show up at the opening of a cupcake store in Hollywood and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there as absolute bedlam breaks out. And Khloe Kardashian co-hosted "The View," taking her seat at the table with the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd and HLN`s own, Joy Behar.
I am telling you, this is just frightening. And I can tell you, the really scary part here, the worst may be yet to come as we will now reveal in the startling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, "Famous for Nothing."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): It used to be you had to know how to act or sing or have some sort of talent to become famous. Now, you have a lot of stars out there who are famous for, well, nothing at all.
PIAZZA: We have all of these talent-less no names who just go on reality TV. And all of a sudden, bam! They are famous.
HAMMER: Jon and Kate Gosselin dominated the news -
J. GOSSELIN: I can`t sit on someone right now that I despise.
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR, "JON & KATE PLUS 8": I have a stack of bills in my purse I can`t drop in the mail.
HAMMER: But all they really did to get famous was reproduce - a lot, and then break up.
Likewise the Kardashian sisters are big celebrity newsmakers despite the fact that their reality shows aren`t exactly a Hollywood talent showcase.
PIAZZA: They really do absolutely nothing except for show up for events and fight on television.
HAMMER: The Kardashians tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they make no apologies.
KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR, "KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS: We are who we are and if people don`t like it, we are still that way.
HAMMER: Sorry, Hollywood A-listers, all the attention we used to give you, guys, is now being hogged by a core of reality show stars with no real talent.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let`s try to break into his voicemail.
HAMMER: And no shame.
HEIDI MONTAG, REALITY TV STAR, "THE HILLS": Can you just put your own ego aside for a minute ...
SPENCER PRATT, REALITY TV STAR, "THE HILLS": No.
MONTAG: ... and just be the bigger person.
SPENCER: No, because I`m not the bigger person.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Hollywood is under siege from an invasion of the famous-for-nothing stars. There is little doubt who led the invasion of the famous-for-nothing.
PIAZZA: They all started with Paris Hilton.
HAMMER: Paris Hilton showed the world how someone with no noticeable talent can crash Hollywood celebrity clubs and turn it into a lucrative business.
PRATT: Heidi, will you marry me for real? Your dream wedding -
HAMMER: The stars of MTV`s pseudo-reality show, "The Hills," have taken what Paris Hilton did to another level.
ARGETSINGER: With "The Hills," there is a kind of madness created because we`re pretending that these are ordinary girls in Los Angeles and yet they are getting paid extraordinary amounts to be on this show.
HAMMER: Nicole LaPorte of "The Daily Beast" tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she`s found out how much the talent fee stars of "The Hills" are pulling down for their work on the show. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT must warn you, some viewers may find this next part disturbing.
NICOLE LAPORTE, WEST COAST REPORTER, "THEDAILYBEAST.COM": Lauren Conrad was receiving $125,000 per episode. And then, her three close buddies, Audrina Patridge, Lauren Bosworth and Heidi Montag each receive $100,000 per episode.
Spencer does not fare quite as well. He is a little newer to the show so he is at $65,000 an episode.
HAMMER: Heidi Montag had disputed those numbers, but it`s safe to say that the stars of "The Hills," like Paris Hilton, make tons of money outside of their show.
LAPORTE: Lauren Conrad has her own clothing line. There book deals. Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag have a book coming out. They get paid for showing up places, parties in Vegas where it`s, you know, like $25,000 to mill about for two hours and then go home.
HAMMER: And that`s a pattern the Kardashians have started to follow with their constant and lucrative presence on the Hollywood party circuit and their hit reality shows.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You really think you are responsible enough to have a baby.
HAMMER: The season finale of "Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami" averaged more than 2.6 million viewers. Kim Kardashian tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT what she thinks of haters who say she`s famous-for-nothing.
KIM KARDASHIAN: Hate is the new love, honey. That`s all I can say.
HAMMER: But as stars like Jon and Kate have shown us, those who seek fame for nothing are risking their privacy and even their marriages. Plus, entertainment journalist Jo Piazza tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT having fame without the talent to back it up can make your 15 minutes in the spotlight whiz by even faster.
PIAZZA: They are completely replaceable. There are thousands of families that would step in the place of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" if only they could reproduce nearly as much. Or that would step in the place of the Kardashians if only they were willing to make complete jackasses of themselves on television.
HAMMER: But despite the risk and the short shelf life, there is no shortage of stars lining up to join the famous-for-nothing club. So talented Hollywood A-listers, you have been warned. The famous-for- nothings are here to stay.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: There`s something else to scream about. The shelf life for the famous-for-nothing stars of "The Hills" has just been extended. MTV has picked up the show for a sixth season.
ANDERSON: Tonight, Kate Moss slammed by eating disorder activists over something she said. In an interview with the fashion Web site "WWD.com," Moss set that her motto is, quote, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels."
That`s a slogan that`s posted all over pro-anorexia Web sites that encourage girls not to eat. Critics called Moss` comment shocking and irresponsible. Moss` modeling agency said, quote, "This was part of a longer answer Kate gave during a wider ranging interview which has, unfortunately, been taken out of context and completely misrepresented."
HAMMER: Do you remember the mean girl soccer player, the pushing, shoving, ponytail-pulling college soccer player who was a terror on the field? Really got everybody talking. So what does she have to say for herself? The mean girl soccer player speaks. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hey, welcome back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. Tonight, the elbowing, kicking, hair-pulling, mean girl soccer player speaks.
We`ve all seen the video of University of New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert doing some totally nasty things to her Brigham Young opponents during a soccer game, including grabbing a woman by her ponytail and yanking her to the ground.
Well, it took a while, but Elizabeth finally spoke out. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the ponytail pull that floored everybody who saw it. Ponytail pull and punch that became a late night punch line.
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": Watch this. This display of rough action and hair-pulling has caused sports fans across the nation to stand up and say, "Hey, maybe I need to start watching women`s soccer."
MOOS: Elizabeth Lambert was called nasty, dirty and most violent cheap shot. And now, she gets the bully pulpit to say -
JER LONGMAN, "NEW YORK TIMES" SPORTS REPORTER (through telephone): She`s just trying to say that she`s not a monster that she`s being portrayed to be.
MOOS: The University of New Mexico junior gave her side of the story only to the "New York Times." No media circus.
LONGMAN: She came across as very remorseful, I think, and stunned that not only that this happened, but stunned that she was the one who did it.
MOOS: Speaking of the hair yanking, she told "The Times," "I look at it and I`m like, `That is not me.`" She is seeing a psychologist, suspended from soccer. Her roommates try not to let her get near a computer to avoid vicious comments or reenactment or an impersonation of her making a dating video.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m thinking about putting the soccer ball in the shop.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) is this? You think all I do is play soccer? Get back here.
MOOS: But it`s been far from funny for Lambert who says she is stunned and scared by the vehement comments like this.
LONGMAN: "You should be taken to a state prison, raped and left to die on the side of a ditch."
MOOS: She points out that, except for the ponytail yank, the rest of what was condensed into that video was normal jostling that takes place in women`s soccer, that she was elbowed in the ribs before whacking back at her opponent, tugged at her shorts.
(on camera): Elizabeth Lambert says the whole incident got blown out of proportion because it was a woman doing it. If it had been men`s soccer, the guys are expected to be rough.
(voice-over): And then, there are all the catfight comments like this one from Wiener Guy who is appalled the incident has been portrayed in a sexy way.
LONGMAN: She`s got messages from guys saying, "Hey, we have to meet up."
MOOS: She looks like a J Crew model in this picture.
(voice-over): She is also the model of remorse that could take a lifetime to live down this take down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happened to Linda? She was here a second ago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I still wonder where the heck were the refs? How in the world did they miss all of that? That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Yes. It was a little scary to watch her in action there, Brooke. But quite frankly, I was more scared of the guy that Jeanne showed with the ponytail in her piece there. That`s just me.
Well, that is it for the special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, TV`s most provocative news show. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. You can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN. Take care.
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