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Showbiz Tonight
Is There a John Edwards Sex Tape?; Plastic Surgery for Heidi`s Mommy?; Is Brooke Mueller in Rehab?; New Evidence Concerning the Brangelina Split Rumors; The Ellen-Simon Feud; Kara Dioguardi Talks About Katy Perry
Aired January 28, 2010 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Big news breaking right now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - is there a John Edwards` sex tape? Tonight, the explosive claim in a new interview today that there`s a sex tape of Edwards and his pregnant mistress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREW YOUNG, FORMER JOHN EDWARDS AIDE: There was one tape that was marked "special," and we`re just aghast. It`s a sex tape of Rielle and John Edwards.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the guy who covered up Edwards` affair speaks out, as Edwards speaks out today for the very first time since his wife told him to get lost.
Plastic surgery for Heidi`s mommy? Tonight, the brand-new Heidi Montag plastic surgery bombshell. Heidi gets slammed for getting 10 surgeries of her own. Now, the news today, she wants to pay for her mom to have plastic surgery. What?
Disturbing news breaking today about Charlie Sheen`s wife. Is Brooke Mueller resting or in rehab? Tonight, new revelations from her attorney about her previous drug use.
ANNOUNCER: 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, HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, a sex tape shocker that not even the world`s greatest psychic would have dared to predict.
HAMMER: Yes. I can`t believe I`m about to say this all in one sentence, John Edwards` sex tape. Yes, the guy who helped cover up the affair of the one-time squeaky-clean potential future president of the United States was on TV today, dropping the alleged sex tape bombshell.
His secret tell-all book is a secret no more and the new revelations today in an explosive interview on top of everything else we`ve heard will make you cringe even more than you have, which is why SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now tell you that without a doubt, these brand-new developments made for big news breaking today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
YOUNG: It`s a sex tape of Rielle and John Edwards.
HAMMER (voice-over): This morning on ABC`s "Good Morning America," we heard John Edwards` former campaign aide discuss for the first time a sex tape he says he found that features Edwards and his ex-mistress, Rielle Hunter.
BOB WOODRUFF, ABC ANCHOR: Are you absolutely sure that this is John Edwards and Rielle Hunter?
YOUNG: It`s definitely him. You never see her face. It`s a visibly pregnant woman.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, for a trashy affair that`s already been dissected endlessly for the whole world to see, news of a John Edwards sex tape is giving America a serious overdose of TMI.
ALICIA QUARLES, ASSOCIATED PRESS: God, no!
HAMMER: Alicia Quarles of the Associated Press is grossed out, to say the least.
QUARLES: You expect sex tapes from the likes of Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian - I mean, this is a man that was running for the presidency of the United States.
HAMMER: in his tell-all book, "The Politician," former Edwards` aide, Andrew Young, talks about Edwards` attempts to hide both his affair with Rielle Hunter and her subsequent pregnancy.
He tells ABC`s Bob Woodruff he and his wife found a sex tape in July of 2008 while cleaning out Rielle`s old house.
YOUNG: There was one tape that was marked "special." And we`re just aghast. I mean, it`s amazing the tape exists. It`s - that`s unbelievable, but to leave it in a house that`s for sale where realtors are going to be coming through and leave it there for eight months, is unbelievable.
QUARLES: Andrew Young says he kept the tape because people in high power, as we know, oftentimes do bad things. The tape was kind of his insurance. Maybe if Edwards tried to deny this was true, deny the affair ever happened, Andrew could say, "Wait a minute. I`ve got the tape."
HAMMER: The alleged sex tape is far from Young`s only shocking claim about his former boss. Young tells ABC, Edwards was furious when he found out that Rielle was pregnant with his baby in May of 2007.
YOUNG: He was cussing her out, calling her crazy and saying that she had sworn to him that she was physically unable to get pregnant. And he just felt like he had been set up. The senator tried to convince her to have an abortion.
QUARLES: I don`t know if this is like a bad episode of "Desperate Housewives." Andrew Young claims that John Edwards asked him to basically say that he was the father of this child, that he was the one that had been having an affair with Rielle Hunter. The whole thing is extremely tawdry.
HAMMER: Sadly, all of the tawdry details have had their effect on John Edwards` 32-year marriage to his wife Elizabeth Edwards, who suffers from terminal cancer. Yesterday, the two announced their separation.
Now, Elizabeth is lashing out at the tell-all. A statement released by her publisher says Young`s tell-all book contains, quote, "contains many falsehoods and exaggerations."
QUARLES: You`ve got to feel sympathy for Elizabeth Edwards. This is a woman who`s fighting for her life. Not only that, she`s been having to deal with all these tawdry, awful details that keep coming out about her husband.
HAMMER: And John Edwards has just put out a new statement of his own about the separation, saying, quote, "It is an extraordinarily sad moment, but I love my children more than anything and still care deeply about Elizabeth."
But Edwards` recent behavior has some doubting his statement.
QUARLES: In the statement, John Edwards says he loves his kids so much. It makes me wonder, you know, if you do love your kids so much, how could you deny your own child for two years and then finally come out and say, "You know what, she`s mine." So he says one thing, but his actions speak a lot louder than his words.
HAMMER: And this new sex tape accusation is showing us how disgraceful Edwards` actions may have been.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Now, John Edwards has yet to comment on the sex tape allegations. But after all the lies he`s finally admitted to, should we put anything past him?
Joining me tonight in Hollywood is Jess Weiner, who is an author and self-esteem expert. Also in Hollywood tonight is Wendy Walsh, who is a doctor of psychology with "MomLogic.com."
Jessica, Wendy, welcome.
And I know we often talking about shocking revelations here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. But these new sex tape comments today from John Edwards` former aide really take the cake. Andrew Young fessed up to finding this reported sex tape in the home Edwards` former mistress had lived in at one point. Watch what he told ABC`s Bob Woodruff this morning on "Good Morning America."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG: There was one tape that was marked "special," and we`re just aghast that it`s a sex tape of Rielle and John Edwards, made just a couple of months before the Iowa caucuses.
WOODRUFF: Are you absolutely sure that this is John Edwards and Rielle Hunter?
YOUNG: It`s definitely him. You never see her face. It`s a visibly pregnant woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Unbelievable, first, if this tape exists. I`m even more disgusted about the whole thing than I ever thought I could be. But also, I just imagine that John Edwards is sitting somewhere out there, sweating that the tape never sees the light of day.
Wendy, should John Edwards prepare himself for the day that this purported tape eventually goes public?
DR. WENDY WALSH, PSYCHOLOGIST, "MOMLOGIC.COM": Well, I have two things to say. First of all, I have trouble finding my kids` favorite Teletubby tape in the midst of everything we have at home.
The fact that he seemed to have just stumbled upon it and that he just happened to see it and happened to put it in, I feel like John Edwards - I know he`s not the man of the hour right now.
But I really feel like he`s been targeted by Andrew Young, that Andrew searched through tapes, put many, many in until he found the "special" one. And I would worry about Andrew Young right now more than anything.
ANDERSON: He does have a book to sell. But you guys, I`m still trying to figure out the part where John Edwards or any other public figure stops to think, "Wait, I have got a great idea. Let`s make a sex tape." Jess, can you help me understand the logic?
JESSICA WEINER, SELF ESTEEM EXPERT AND AUTHOR: Brooke, I wish I could. But let`s talk about him psychologically for a moment. Right? Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. People in John Edwards` position, men especially, tend to get drunk on their own power. They have narcissistic tendencies.
He tends to think he`s above everybody else, so that`s going to inform his behavior. It`s not rational. It`s not logical. It is as dramatic as a bad episode of a soap opera. I will give him that. But I think - I agree with Wendy. I think we have to keep our eye on Andrew Young here. He`s the Judas in all of this, and not that John Edwards is without fault, I think he`s definitely in the wrong here.
But Andrew Young has a motive. John Edwards clearly had a motive to cover things up. The person I want to focus on is Elizabeth Edwards and the massive rollercoaster of emotions she must be feeling while she`s also trying to maintain her family life.
ANDERSON: No kidding. You know, a politician having an affair is nothing new, but I have to say, John Edwards has sunk to a new low by doing all of this to his cancer-stricken wife.
She is one strong woman and I feel for her that she`s invested so many decades into this scumbag who has treated her so, so terribly. And I wish I could say that was the end of the John Edwards bombshells.
But as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT senior executive producer, Dave Levine, loves to say, but wait, there`s more. Just today, Edwards` former aide, Andrew Young, also reveals how he says John Edwards reacted to the news his mistress was pregnant. Young spared no details today as he spoke to ABC.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG: He was cussing her out, calling her crazy and saying that she had sworn to him that she was physically unable to get pregnant and that he just felt like he had been set up.
The senator tried to convince her to have an abortion. He tried to convince me to convince Rielle to have an abortion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It sounds like John Edwards was about as desperate as you might expect for somebody who was running for president and secretly leading a double life. But, Wendy, at this point, could anything about this story shock you any more or has John Edwards just simply raised the bar for celebrity scandals?
WALSH: Well, nothing can shock me. The main point, as you were talking about earlier with a narcissistic personality disorder, which many people who seek power have little pieces of, is that they don`t think about consequences.
What was he thinking when he made that tape? He wasn`t thinking, what was he thinking when he had sex without a condom? He wasn`t thinking. What was he thinking while his wife with cancer was trying to cope somewhere else? He wasn`t thinking about consequences.
ANDERSON: Moral of the story, Wendy...
WALSH: Exactly.
ANDERSON: ... everybody needs to stop, just think a little bit. And Elizabeth Edwards actually told John that she had had enough of his lies, but it looks like Tiger Woods might be getting a second chance.
Tonight, there`s brand-new fired up reaction to the reports that Tiger`s wife, Elin, has called off the divorce and she`s standing by her man. Is she out of her mind, or is she doing the right thing for her family?
Jess Weiner, Wendy Walsh, stay right there. We`re going to get to that heated debate in just a moment.
HAMMER: All right. So we told you about the nasty fight reportedly going on between Ellen and Simon on "American Idol." Well, today I can tell you that things may have gotten so bad that these two aren`t even talking. But I`ve got to ask, is the whole thing just a big publicity stunt?
Also, does Katy Perry want Simon Cowell`s spot on "American Idol"? Plus, Kara DioGuardi speaks out about Katy dissing her hard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARA DIOGUARDI, "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE: I kissed a dolphin and I liked it.
KATY PERRY, SINGER: Please stop. I`ll have to throw my Coke in your face.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Please stop. You know those reports about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie breaking up. Well, tonight we have got the cold, hard evidence that may prove whether or not they are taking that road to splitsville. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: John Travolta extortion retrial set for September 6th. "Catcher in the Rye" author J.D. Salinger dies of natural causes. He was 91.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMON COWELL, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT" JUDGE: OK. What`s the dream?
SUSAN BOYLE, "BRITAIN`S GOT TALENT" CONTESTANT: I am trying to be a professional singer.
COWELL: And why hasn`t it worked out so far, Susan?
BOYLE: I haven`t been given the chance before, but here`s hoping it will change.
COWELL: OK. And who would you like to be as successful as?
BOYLE: Elaine Paige or something like that.
COWELL: Elaine Paige?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was Susan Boyle on her very first appearance on "Britain`s Got Talent" when she wowed the world with her singing of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables." And that woman she mentioned, Elaine Page - that`s Susan`s idol. But tonight, I can tell you that Paige is busting on Boyle.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. I can`t believe what Susan Boyle`s idol - I mean, the woman who actually inspires her, just said about Susan.
ANDERSON: Me either. A major Susan slam here. Elaine Paige is a world-famous British singer and musical theater star. And when Simon Cowell asked Susan who she wanted to be like during her audition for "Britain`s Got Talent," she said Paige.
Well, tonight, Paige isn`t impressed with Susan, saying Susan is, quote, "a virus, really, that spread across the world in a nanosecond. I don`t particularly feel any pride for her. She is a girl with no experience of anything to do with theatrics, the music business or art in any way."
Well, Elaine, say what you want, but Susan Boyle has sold millions of albums.
HAMMER: All right. That was pretty cold. All right. Putting the president of the United States in an ad - I`m thinking that could really sell your stuff, right?
Well, so did a jacket company, because that`s what they did. The problem is, they didn`t ask the president. Oops. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the brand-new Obama ad outrage.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Obama took it all off.
(on camera): You cannot call this the Obama jacket?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely not. Where`s the black Obama jacket?
MOOS (voice-over): We know where it`s not - not anymore. The Times Square ad showing the president in a weatherproof jacket has hit the dust at the demand of the White House.
FREDDIE STOLLMACK, PRESIDENT, WEATHERPROOF: We didn`t want to, in any way, alienate the White House.
MOOS: The folks at Weatherproof noticed President Obama wearing their jacket on the Great Wall of China.
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: It`s majestic.
MOOS: The president meant the wall, but the coat company thought he looked majestic in their jacket, so they bought rights to an Associated Press photo and slapped it on a billboard.
(on camera): "A leader in style" - bet you say that to everybody.
STOLLMACK: You look great in that, by the way.
MOOS (voice-over): To avoid any kind of legal problem, the company officially refers to the Obama jacket as style 2821. The White House doesn`t want the president`s image to be used to sell any product.
So after milking the controversy for a few weeks, Weatherproof cheerfully took down the billboard and asked Sarah Palin if she would model one of their jackets.
STOLLMACK: Categorically said no.
MOOS: When they spotted Conan O`Brien wearing one the other day on NBC, they asked his folks.
STOLLMACK: They were not interested at this point.
HAMMER: But an Israeli satellite TV company knows the next best thing to having the actual first couple peddling their product...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mister, I`m going to change the world. Maybe you can start with this boring TV.
JOSE WILLIAMS, ACTOR: Yes, I can.
(MUSIC)
MOOS: They hired an Obama look-alike.
WILLIAMS (through telephone): He looks like me, Jose Williams.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: On Jose`s way to shoot the ad in Romania...
WILLIAMS: It was nonstop. When I got on the plane, people thought they were being privileged by the president sitting in economy class.
HAMMER: Jose says he loves the president and when he impersonates him...
WILLIAMS: I`m very careful that it`s going to be, in my mind, good taste.
(MUSIC)
MOOS: Catch you later Obama billboard. It was replaced with Mt. Rushmore, "fit for a president." It`s safer to use a dead president, or...
STOLLMACK: I don`t know if you`re available in terms of modeling, but you look fabulous in the jacket.
MOOS: Forget Weatherproof. Call me weather-beaten.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. All right, Brooke, as soon as we did the story on Tiger Woods` wife, Elin, possibly calling off the divorce and going back to him, I`ve got to tell you, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines lit up.
ANDERSON: You know, A.J., we aren`t in their shoes. But I just don`t see how she can take him back after all those alleged affairs. But Sandy in Michigan thinks Elin should stay with Tiger.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SANDY, CALLER IN MICHIGAN: I think Elin should stay for the children and I think she should stay for financial reasons, take all she can get now for herself and her children. She can bail out later.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Sandy.
HAMMER: We also heard from Anita calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Arizona. And Anita thinks Elin should run.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ANITA, CALLER FROM ARIZONA: I do not think Tiger Woods` wife should stay with him. If he had cheated with maybe one or two women, maybe you can work out the relationship. But after cheating with 14 women or 12 women - no, don`t take him back. That would be totally wrong. And as a woman, she needs to have more self-confidence in herself and say, "Good- bye, Tiger Woods."
HAMMER: Thank you, Anita. We`d love for you to call us at "Showbiz on Call."
ANDERSON: We keep the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines open for you all the time. Give us a ring at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that`s 1-888-728-2899.
HAMMER: Heidi Montag - she had 10, count them, 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day. I just think that`s a terrible message to women everywhere. Well, today, I can tell you that Heidi now wants to pay for her mom to get plastic surgery.
The Ellen-Simon "American Idol" battle is getting even nastier. Tonight, are these two not even talking now?
Also, brand-new tonight, does Katy Perry want to replace Simon? And Kara DioGuardi speaks out about Katy`s big diss of her.
DIOGUARDI: I feel like we should just say yes.
PERRY: Well, I don`t think we should ever just say - I...
DIOGUARDI: Well, I feel bad.
PERRY: Well, don`t ever put someone through because you feel bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Also, jay Leno`s unbelievable new confessions to Oprah. Jay went on Oprah today. And if you thought everything was all kosher between Jay and Conan - no, it`s not. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore in talks to play mother-daughter in new film. Taylor Swift and Kanye West to be part of "We are the World" remake.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight, trading places for the Hasselbecks. Elisabeth co- hosts "The View." Her husband, Tim, is an analyst for ESPN. So they decided to switch jobs for a day. Take a look.
First, Elisabeth stopping by "NFL LIVE" previewing the playoff game between the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts.
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I think, you know, you`d look at the person (INAUDIBLE) corner best in the league. Obviously, a strength for the Jets. Rex Ryan - he`s taking the defensive scheme that he had in Baltimore. Everyone knew that they had the strongest defense, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
E. HASSELBECK: So many years - Rex is now here doing the same thing with the Jets. Strong defense. However, faced up against Peyton Manning, you mentioned him getting a sneak preview. That`s exactly what he had last week when they faced off against the Ravens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.
E. HASSELBECK: So he`s looking at the same defensive scheme two times in a row. I actually think - I don`t know if the Jets can stop him this week. I really don`t. I think Peyton is so strong at the line of scrimmage and is such a seasoned quarterback. I`m not sure even the Jets with their strength can put a stop on them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. She was right on. The Colts beat the Jets 30 to 17. And now, check out Tim live on "The View" today, talking about President Obama`s State of the Union Address.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM HASSELBECK, ESPN SPORTS ANALYST: I thought at the beginning, you know, when he`s coming out, I mean, he walks into the room. He has a ton of confidence. And then he`s greeting people, and you can see his reaction.
But you know, people are talking about, is there a rift between him and Nancy Pelosi? Look at the handshake with Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi? It`s a handshake - a dead-fish handshake, the whole thumb war. Give me my hand back. I`m giving a speech. You definitely can - I mean, look at how happy he is. Big handshake.
(CROSSTALK)
BARBARA WALTERS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": No, I thought he was being polite. He almost looked as if he was going to kiss her hand.
T. HASSELBECK: That man made me feel a little bit awkward. I was like sweating, watching it, thinking there seems to be a risk there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Hey, Tim, a pretty darn interesting point there. Great job to both of you.
HAMMER: So Brooke, whenever we post something on Facebook about Brad Pitt and Angelina, people go nuts, I tell you. Check this out right now. There have been reports that Brad and Angelina are splitting up, of course.
Let`s take a look at what some of you are writing. Kimberly H. writing, "They are a great couple. If they want to address the rumors, I am sure they will issue a statement. I think they have a great family and wish them all the best."
But Marie B. says, these two deserve one another, "For the sake of the children, I hope they stay together, but they lost my respect long ago."
And tonight, I`ve got the brand-new evidence that may put these rumors of a Brangelina split to rest once and for all.
ANDERSON: Also coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Ellen-Simon "American Idol" feud has reportedly gotten even nastier. These two may not even be talking to each other today.
Heidi Montag shocks everyone by getting 10 plastic surgeries in one day. And now, she wants to buy her mommy plastic surgery too? Hey, Heidi, couldn`t you just get her some flowers?
And is Tiger Woods` wife totally out of her mind to consider taking Tiger back? The surprising results today of our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Reports: Elton John to do a duet with Lady Gaga at Grammy Awards this Sunday. Carrie Underwood to sing national anthem at Super Bowl 44 in Miami on February 7th.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, blistering "American Idol" drama. The brand-new Ellen-Simon smackdown. Is Ellen really giving Simon the silent treatment, or is this feud a farce?
Plus, does Katy Perry really want Simon`s job? And Katy`s fired up war of words with Kara. Kara DioGuardi speaks out today about Kara dissing her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIOGUARDI: I feel like we should just say yes.
PERRY: Well, I don`t think that we should ever just say yes.
DIOGUARDI: I feel bad.
PERRY: Well, don`t ever put someone through because you feel bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Heidi Montag`s shocking plastic promise. Heidi gets 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day. Now, outrageous news today that Heidi wants to buy her mom a plastic makeover. Are you kidding me?
And even more evidence today that could settle the Brangelina breakup rumors once and for all.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 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.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, let`s play the "American Idol" family feud - Simon versus Ellen. And disturbing new details today about Charlie Sheen`s wife, all making big news in the "SHOWBIZ Buzz" today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Is it rest or rehab? Charlie Sheen`s wife is now in a North Carolina rehab facility, known for treating drug and alcohol abuse. But her lawyer says she`s not being treated for addiction, just getting some rest after being hospitalized for pneumonia. He tells "People" magazine that Mueller has been drug free for six months.
An explosive drug confession from Michael Douglas` son. Michael`s oldest son, Cameron, has just pleaded guilty to selling large amounts of crystal method, cocaine, and possessing heroin. He faces a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years when sentenced in April.
Are there big feuds on "American Idol"? Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres are reportedly not speaking to each other as they tape new "Idol" shows. Their relationship reportedly started out icy after Simon showed up late to a taping.
And in another face-off -
PERRY: Please stop. I`ll have to throw my coke in your face.
HAMMER: Guest judge Katy Perry and Kara DioGuardi went at each other. And now, Perry says she wants to be an "Idol" judge permanently. The "I Kissed a Girl" pop star tells MTV she`d give up her singing career for a spot on the "Idol" jury.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: So Katy Perry possibly replacing Simon as a judge when he leaves and it looks like Ellen can`t wait for Simon to leave.
Joining me in New York, Steven Smith, who is a music and pop culture expert, and host of MySpace`s "Music Beat." And in New York, Jill Zarin, the star of Bravo`s hit reality show, "Real Housewives of New York City."
Steven, Jill, we`ve already heard that the Simon-Ellen relationship was off to a rocky start, that Ellen was reportedly fuming that Simon showed up late at her first "Idol" taping.
And now today, the reports - they may not even be talking. Oh, Steven Smith, I`ve got a feeling the worst may be yet to come between Simon and Ellen. How nasty do you think it could get?
STEVEN SMITH, MUSIC AND POP CULTURE EXPERT: "I hope it gets as nasty as they want to be," to quote Dennis Rodman. I think it`s going to be awesome. Because she`s claiming she`s really nice, but you`ve got to remember, she`s a stand-up comedian. She`s handled hecklers her entire career.
So whatever you can throw at her, she can throw back tenfold. And Simon? I think he`s going to have a ball basking in the glory of someone he knows doesn`t really know a whole lot about the music industry and really doesn`t know singers.
JILL ZARIN, REALITY TV STAR, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY": Well, I don`t think you have to know about...
ANDERSON: Jill, what do you think? Do you think it could get worse here?
ZARIN: Well, I don`t think you have to know a lot about the music industry to listen to the music and to judge these singers. But you know, I`m on a reality show, so I can really relate to - I think Simon`s instigating. I think he knows it`s going to bring ratings.
I`m not so sure Ellen`s playing along. I think it`s disrespectful to show up late and he pushed her buttons and I think she feels that the fight is real. But I think he likes to instigate people and get them going. So it should be a great season. I`ve been watching every episode.
ANDERSON: And you talk about one instigating this for ratings. Steven, I kind of can`t help but think that maybe we`re getting played just a little bit here, that the "Idol" hype machine is in full gear, because I`ve got to say it would not be the first time.
SMITH: No. Simon is pretty smart. He knows what he`s doing. So if he`s going to start a faux feud with Ellen to get people glued in to watch because he`s jamming out, I wouldn`t put it past him.
ZARIN: But I don`t think it`s a faux feud on her part. I think...
SMITH: No, I don`t think she`s aware.
ZARIN: Yes. I don`t think she`s - I mean, I think she`s smart enough to know now. But she`s definitely playing along.
ANDERSON: Yes. And you know, it`s very insulting if you feel like you`re being taken advantage of or that your time is being wasted, so I can understand that. But you know, neither Simon nor Ellen is part of the other "Idol" feud that just exploded.
Listen to this - Kara DioGuardi spoke out today for the very first time since she got a smackdown by guest judge, Katy Perry. Take a look at that.
ZARIN: She did...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIOGUARDI: I thought it was good.
PERRY: He`s not ready for it.
DIOGUARDI: I feel like we should just say yes.
PERRY: Well, I don`t feel like we should ever just say yes.
DIOGUARDI: I feel bad.
PERRY: Well, don`t ever put someone through because you feel bad.
DIOGUARDI: Oh, she`s so mean. Or are you hot or you cold on John? I kissed a dolphin and I like it.
PERRY: Please stop. I`ll have to throw my coke in your face.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. And this morning on the radio show of "Idol" show host, Ryan Seacrest, Kara claimed that the two were simply joking around.
ZARIN: No, they weren`t.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DIOGUARDI: When I look at it, I think it was really funny. I mean, I think it was really good she disagreed with me. You know, I think it`s important that people have different opinions, or else, who wants to watch the show?
RYAN SEACREST, "AMERICAN IDOL" HOST: Of course...
ANDERSON: OK, Jill, you say they were not playing around here, you know. But a lot of people are actually saying that, you know, the same thing. It did not look like a joke to them.
ZARIN: It was not a joke - absolutely not. You can see it. I mean, I`m on a reality show and I can weed through these things. That was not a joke.
I think Katy Perry should stick to singing, quite frankly. I think it was very disrespectful. It was her first day there. And the idea of this particular round is to give people a pass, get them to Hollywood, let`s see a little bit more of them and let the judges see more to make a decision.
You don`t have to be so hard-line. She should take the energy from the other judges on the panel. And if they think someone should pass through, she should be a little more respectful since they`ve been around longer.
ANDERSON: Yes, it`s a matter of respect. And I do want to say quickly that MTV is reporting that Katy Perry has actually said that she would love to replace Simon at that judge`s table when he leaves.
ZARIN: Oh, my god.
SMITH: That would be great.
ANDERSON: She would give up her singing career for it.
SMITH: She shouldn`t do that.
ANDERSON: She did seem to really enjoy herself. I want to get to our other big story making big news tonight. Charlie Sheen`s wife, Brooke Mueller, has checked into a North Carolina wellness center best known for treating drug and alcohol addiction.
Her attorney, Yale Gallanter, told "People" magazine that, quote, "Brooke did not enter a drug rehab program. She has been drug free for six months."
ZARIN: Well, I don`t if that...
ANDERSON: Six months - because I really find that disturbing, because they have 10-month-old twins. So if she`s been sober for six months, that means that she was abusing something after the twins were born for the first four months of their lives. Steven, that`s pretty troubling, isn`t it?
SMITH: Yes. That`s very troubling. And if it`s true, I hope she just gets the help she needs. And you know, these things are very personal and it`s sad your addictions or problems you have get blown out into the public life.
So I hope she just gets the help she needs sorely so she can get back to her kids and I hope she wasn`t abusing when she did have them. I always hope these things aren`t true.
ANDERSON: Yes. Those kids need a sober, responsible, caring mother that they can depend on. And you know, I really could not help thinking today about Charlie`s bitter divorce from Denise Richards after it happened. He found love with Brooke.
His show, "Two and a Half Men," remained a huge hit. His life was great. But Denise, on the other hand, was in the dumps. Now, it seems - Jill, very, very quickly, it seems the tables have turned.
ZARIN: Well, I don`t know why she was on "Oprah," by the way, the ex- wife. What was she doing there? There was nothing for her to promote, really. I think it`s very sad. I think that it`s personal. I think the family just wants to bunker down and take care of their own and that clearly Charlie has some issues that he has to deal with. I mean, that`s pretty obvious to everybody in America.
ANDERSON: Hopefully, they will deal with them and hopefully, things will improve in the future. Jill Zarin, Steven Smith, we`re going to leave it there for now. Thank you both.
HAMMER: All right. I have got to say, I think Heidi Montag went way too far, getting 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day. But tonight, she`s going even further. Yes, outrageous new reports that Heidi wants to buy her mother a plastic makeover as well.
You`ve got to be kidding me. We`ve got the shocking revelations of Heidi`s plastic promise to her mother.
The Brangelina breakup, a sham? Well, you`ve seen the headlines, Brad and Angelina split. But are they outright lies? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with brand-new evidence that could settle the Brangelina breakup rumors once and for all.
And Jay Leno`s controversial confessions to Oprah on her show today. Jay`s brand-new revelations today about the late-night war with Conan O`Brien. Has Jay completely cut ties with Conan? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Nick Jonas denies reports that the Jonas Brothers are splitting up. Michael Jackson`s kids to accept Lifetime Grammy for father at ceremony Saturday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Did you see this? Now, wait for it. Wait for it. Boom! Whoa! Get a load of this. That truck was driving down a highway with its dumpster up in the air and it totally annihilated that pedestrian walkway. It`s in Istanbul where this happened.
The driver tells police he thinks the dumpster raised all by itself while he was driving. I`m thinking, yes, I guess he would feel that if it happened. Right. Amazingly, there was a person on the bridge who actually survived. That will teach a person not to dump and drive.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: Tonight, Heidi Montag`s plastic surgery obsession and the brand-new reports today that Heidi`s mom may be next to go under the knife.
HAMMER: Yes, the 23-year-old reality star, who has been slammed for her 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day has just dropped the bombshell claim that her own mother will also be getting a little work done.
All of this comes on the heels of Heidi admitting in a brand-new interview just out today on "People.com" that she kept her family in the dark about the surgeries and will now be confronting them with TV cameras. That way, they can record their reaction for her MTV reality show, "The Hills."
And also breaking today, brand-new evidence today that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are not splitting up. And all this is related to reports that Brad Pitt is buying a house in the Hollywood Hills as part of his master plan to split from Angelina.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood is Jess Weiner who is an author and self-esteem expert. Also from Hollywood, Wendy Walsh, who is a TV journalist and doctor of psychology with the great "MomLogic.com."
All right, guys. I`ve got to begin with Heidi Montag`s brand-new revelation today that her own mother, who was reportedly furious about Heidi`s plastic surgeries, may actually want some of that action and get some of her own.
Heidi says, her mom "was excited and she is asking for her own surgery next for Mother`s Day. I have to ask Dr. Frank Ryan if he`ll do a mommy makeover."
All right, Jess, to you first. I hear that and I`m thinking, wow, this is just nuts.
WEINER: I`m thinking this is a double dose of crazy today, A.J. You know, I don`t even know what to say anymore about the whole Heidi and plastic surgery thing. I think the moral lessons we can take from it speak for themselves.
She clearly has some body dysmorphic disorder. She definitely has self-esteem issues. And she is the product of an unrealistic world called reality television. S
HAMMER: Yes.
WEINER: And so everything Heidi says, we end up buying. She knows how to push a news cycle. She knows how to give a sound bite. I think we`ve got to get a little sad here for Heidi, because her worst fear, A.J., is that people will stop looking at her.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, Wendy Walsh, doctor of psychology, I need to ask you this. You know, we hear a lot about parents being a bad influence on their children, talk about a child being a bad influence on their parent, right?
WALSH: I think everyone has forgotten their roles here. Mothers are supposed to be mothers. They shouldn`t compete with their daughters in a beauty pageant. I mean, my two daughters will always be more young and more beautiful than me and I hope it stays that way.
It is crazy to think of this. You know, there`s another piece that no one`s been bringing up is the danger. People die in plastic surgery. There are huge risks. This is major surgery. And 10 in one day? And then your mother? Come on.
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, it`s crazy. You know, I remember one time having an elective procedure of my own and thinking, "Wow, I will never voluntarily get that done" - elective in that it was a health-related, but still, the whole idea of going under, wow.
And all of this, going back to Jess` point was about the fact she lives in her reality TV world, all this comes on the news that Heidi`s making her way back home to Colorado to reveal her brand-new look to her Mom and the rest of her family for the very first time.
And of course, it is a trip that would not be complete without the cameras from her MTV reality show, "The Hills." Brooke Anderson, you know, I`m sure you, like me, are not surprised. I`m thinking that this is the height of shamelessness for Heidi Montag.
ANDERSON: Was there ever any question, A.J., that this girl is shameless? You know, but I am not surprised, because she wrings every ounce of publicity that she can out of every single move that she makes.
I just really kind of feel for her family, that they weren`t able to speak with her in private first about all those plastic surgery procedures she had done. And have you seen her mother in these videos? She`s adorable.
HAMMER: Yes.
ANDERSON: And I really hope she doesn`t take the next step and become obsessed with plastic surgery like her daughter. I just think it`s all getting to the point of madness, because before we know it, everybody`s going to be walking around looking like a wax figure from Madame Tussauds.
HAMMER: No kidding. I mean, we certainly have seen that happen before with Hollywood stars. And looking at those pictures of her mom and Heidi - I mean, both beautiful women.
All right. Let`s move on to the brand-new evidence today that all of the reports of Brad and Angelina breaking up is just nonsense. TMZ is reporting that Brad Pitt bought a house in the Hollywood Hills to expand the family compound, not to have as a little bachelor pad when they break up.
Here are the main points they`re raising, that Brad purchased the home back in August. Now, the place, apparently, is a dump and Brad actually bought several other places to expand the compound. You know, they do have a big family.
Jess, do you agree with me this is more evidence that the split rumors are bogus?
WEINER: I think they`re bogus. I also think that probably these tabloid mags and (INAUDIBLE) - wait a minute, it`s time for us to get some ratings, or we need to sell magazines. And they sell magazines.
The story of Brad and Angelina breaking up is like our prom king and prom queen, you know, breaking up. Everybody`s going to tune in. They`re going to push the news cycle again.
I hope they`re not breaking up. Of course, I don`t know for sure. But I will tell you what - if they do, A.J., those kids are going to need the same kind of counseling that the Gosselin kids are going to need.
HAMMER: Yes, no kidding. What do you think, Wendy Walsh? Because obviously, if he bought the house back in August, I would say that was a better sign that it was, in fact, because the family is growing or has grown beyond what they currently need and they want to accommodate that.
WALSH: A.J., I`m going out on a limb here, but if I had to put my betting money on any celebrity couple for a bit of a long haul, and of course, a long haul in celebrity terms is what, 24 months, this couple is going to make the long haul.
They have combined assets. They have put their children first in their lives. They are raising children together. They came together to help children in Haiti giving a combined $1 million. And yes, they`re building a family compound and trying to stay as private as possible within it all.
HAMMER: Yes.
WALSH: I think this couple, considering the world they`re in, have their values somewhat straight.
HAMMER: Absolutely. I`m going to stay positive with you. I`ve got to get on to these startling results of our new SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll where we asked about Tiger Woods` wife. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first brought you the reports that she no longer wants to divorce him.
We asked in our question of the day, should his wife really give him a second chance despite his cheating ways? The results just in late today, moments ago, just seconds from just when I`m speaking now, they were handed to me.
Sixty-four percent said no; 36 percent said yes, she should. Now, Jess, one out of three people here saying, they should stay together. That actually is a lot more than I imagined.
WEINER: I know, A.J. I think I`m going to shock you with what I`m going to say. I think they actually should have a second chance together. And here`s why. I think he has some pretty big issues.
And like we talked about John Edwards at the beginning and all the crazy stuff that he`s doing and the choices he`s making, I think Tiger has some pretty dark demons. And I know he`s been the butt of a lot of jokes lately.
HAMMER: Yes.
WEINER: But I would like to see this couple get another chance out of the limelight. I don`t know that sex rehab is the answer for him. But I think that they should try to work it out for the sake of the kids.
HAMMER: The only thing that I would say quickly - and I agree as far as the children - but it seems like it was never real. I mean, that`s the whole problem I have. Wendy Walsh, Jess Weiner, we`ve got to leave it there. Thanks, guys.
ANDERSON: Tonight, just when you thought we were out of the NBC late- night wars, Jay Leno drags us back in. Jay Leno`s unbelievable new revelations to Oprah today about Conan O`Brien. Has Jay completely cut ties with him? You`ve got to hear what he`s saying about their relationship now.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "The Bachelor`s Jason Mesnick to marry runner-up Molly Malaney on ABC TV special. Taylor Swift sets digital record for best first week sales of "Today Was a Fairy Tale."
HAMMER: It is time now for "Making it Work" where Hollywood couples reveal how they make their relationships work.
Tonight, it is the great Ringo Starr. The legendary Beatles drummer and his wife Barbara have been married for an astonishing 29 years. So when I sat down with Ringo, I just had to ask him how he has been making it work all these years, even after a hard day`s night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RINGO STARR, FORMER BEATLES MEMBER: We are going to have a row. You know what I mean? We are going to have a hard day. But you get through them. You have to keep remembering, I love this woman. You know, thank god she remembers she loves me.
And I think that`s the only key I know. I just feel blessed. I do. You know, she`s just the most incredible woman. And you know, I`ve said is before, God knows how she puts up with me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: Tonight the "Hope for Haiti Now" album goes number one. The album from the global telethon for Haiti is the first digital album ever to top the Billboard 200 chart. The album features performances from Jay-Z, Madonna, U2, and more. The telethon itself has raised over $66 million.
HAMMER: Tonight, Jay Leno`s shocking, new confession to Oprah. So just when you thought the dust had settled in the NBC late night war, a new bombshell from Leno.
In a brand-new interview today, Jay Leno reveals that he and Conan O`Brien aren`t even speaking. Of course, for weeks, the two of them locked horns on the air over NBC`s decision to cancel "The Jay Leno Show," move the "Tonight Show," and then put Jay back into the late night mix.
Now, as you know, Conan wanted nothing to do with that, so he tapes his last "Tonight Show" on Friday. So are there still hard feelings between Jay and Conan? And is Jay taking any of the blame for the feud? We`ll take a look at what he told Oprah today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Do you feel any personal responsibility for Conan`s disappointment?
JAY LENO, HOST, "THE JAY LENO SHOW": No, it had nothing to do with me. I mean, as I say, there was always someone waiting in the wings in this business to take your job. If you`re not doing the numbers, they move on. It`s pretty simple.
WINFREY: Did you feel bad for Conan at any point?
LENO: I did. I felt really bad for Conan. I think it`s unfair. But TV is not fair. I thought it was unfair for me...
WINFREY: You felt bad for Conan but you didn`t think you caused - you were the reason that he was -
LENO: No, I wasn`t the reason. The reason were the ratings.
WINFREY: You haven`t called him?
LENO: It`s not the right time, because I`m not sure what I would say. Let some time pass and I would hope we can talk again.
WINFREY: Will you have him on your show?
LENO: I would love to. I don`t know whether he would do it or not. I think he will have a successful show on Fox or somewhere else.
WINFREY: Wherever he goes...
LENO: And then, we will all compete again, and may the best man win.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Jay Leno returns as host of the "Tonight Show" in March.
ANDERSON: Wednesday we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Just moments ago, we did get those final results. Here they are - "Tiger Woods` divorce off? Should his wife really give him a second chance?" Thirty-six percent of you say yes. But 64 percent of you say no way.
Here are some of the E-mails we received. Sharon from Maryland writes, "I don`t think Elin should take Tiger back. Divorce is tough, but Elin deserves better."
Bill from Oregon adds, "I am happy about the news Tiger`s wife is staying with him. You know he will be paying for his mistakes for a long time."
Rose from Colorado here, "No, Elin should not take Tiger Woods back. Take the children and the money and run."
Thank you for your E-mails.
HAMMER: Yes. I`ve said this before, Brooke, but you know, I`m all for people working things out. This is sort of beyond that in my mind, at least from what we know.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Don`t forget you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and also in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN. Take care.
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