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Showbiz Tonight
Brangelina at War; Jennifer Aniston on Gerard Butler; Ellen DeGeneres` "Idol" Debut; Should Howard Stern Replace Simon Cowell?; Charlie Sheen Charged with Assault; Anna Nicole Smith Spoke from the Dead?
Aired February 09, 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, HLN HOST: Big news breaking right now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Brangelina at war. Tonight, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie`s brand-new dramatic and remarkable legal counterattack over all of those rumors they are breaking up.
Jennifer Aniston on her love life. Aniston speaks out today for the very first time about jetting off to Mexico with Gerard Butler.
Explosive new SHOWBIZ burning questions erupting today. As Ellen DeGeneres makes her big premiere on "American Idol" tonight, a brand new debate today. Should Howard Stern replace Simon Cowell?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I think if you got Howard Stern on here now it`s like the legitimacy of "American Idol" really, really goes down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ burning questions about Charlie Sheen. Sheen just charged with assaulting his wife. So why in the world won`t she leave him?
Has Anna Nicole really been contacted from the dead? The big news today about a shocking s,ance.
(MUSIC)
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, HLN HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, Brangelina`s war. No, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are not at war with each other but they were at war today over those wild reports that they are done with each other.
Brad and Angelina have just launched an absolutely remarkable and extraordinary legal war with a tabloid. That tabloid set off the latest round of rumors that they`re splitting up.
And it comes today on the very same day that Angelina Jolie again captured the attention of the world with an unexpected trip to see for herself the devastation of the earthquake in Haiti.
The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom is all over these late breaking developments which made for big news breaking today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie may be glamorous A-list stars. They`re also loving parents and selfless humanitarians as we see in this brand-new video of Angelina arriving in Haiti today. She is meeting with earthquake victims in her role as a U.N. goodwill ambassador.
But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you don`t let Brangelina`s nice side fool you. We`re seeing today that if you push this humanitarian couple too far - like their characters in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Brangelina will kick butts and take names.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are suing the British tabloid "News of the World" for reporting that they are splitting up. The couple`s London attorneys called the reports quote, "false, as well as intrusive."
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": They seem to really be taking this "News of the World" story very seriously.
ANDERSON: Ever since they first got together in 2005, tabloids have been reporting in some way, shape or form that Brangelina was either fighting, cheating, or splitting.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": How do you handle tabloids?
ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: I ignore them.
ANDERSON: In this 2006 interview on "LARRY KING LIVE," Angelina said she and Brad don`t pay attention to all the tabloid chatter.
JOLIE: I`ve never been overly interested in those headlines whether it was me or somebody else. But I certainly make more of a point to ignore it now.
SERAFIN: They usually do not respond whenever questions come up about their relationship. They never say anything.
ANDERSON: But apparently, the recent report in "News of the World" was just too much for Angelina and Brad to ignore. It said the couple actually visited a Hollywood divorce lawyer last December to work out the distribution of their tens of millions of dollars in assets and to hash out custody of their six children.
SERAFIN: I think maybe one of the reasons they`re going after this recent report was because this had a lot of specifics in it. And because it had specifics, people seem to really believe it.
ANDERSON: The Brangelina breakup report spread like wildfire. And when they were suddenly missing in action at this year`s early big award shows like the Golden Globes, that only fuelled the rumor fires.
SERAFIN: The fact that they were not at any of these high-profile award shows together made people think, maybe this is true. Maybe they are actually breaking up.
ANDERSON: Now, Brangelina are back out in full force.
SERAFIN: To show people that they`ll really are together, they decided to show up to the Super Bowl, the Super Bowl that turned out to be the most-watched television program in history.
They`re looking like they`re in love. Everyone saw this. I would say this was as big news as the Saints winning the Super Bowl.
ANDERSON: This isn`t the first time "News of the World" has been targeted by celebrities who feel the tabloid plays fast and loose with the truth. In 2006, David and Victoria Beckham also sued the paper for reporting that they were about to break up. The suit was settled and, by the way, they`re still together.
And in 2005, Justin Timberlake sued the tabloid for falsely accusing him of cheating on his then girlfriend, Cameron Diaz. He dropped the suit after the paper apologized and paid a settlement.
But this time it`s clear "News of the World" has messed with the wrong couple.
SERAFIN: It seems like what they`re doing with this British paper is that they`re really trying to send a message.
ANDERSON: And that message is, if you come after Brangelina -
JOLIE: Who`s your daddy now?
ANDERSON: You`d better have your facts straight.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Yes. So why did Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie suddenly decide to sue the pants off "News of the World" after years of silence in the face of rumors?
Joining me tonight from Hollywood is Tanika Ray who is an entertainment journalist. Also in Hollywood tonight Hyla who is an entertainment journalist from "5DollarPrep.com."
I`ve got to tell you I don`t think I`ve ever seen Brad and Angelina go to such an extreme to stop the rumors. This is a big-time lawsuit here they`ve launched today. Big-time consequences come with it.
I mean, look at all these magazine covers. Let`s face it. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie break up rumors have been on the front of magazines for years. All kinds of false stories about them splitting and fighting and cheating. Some pretty outrageous claims among them.
So Tanika, what I`m trying to understand is why Brad and Angelina suddenly decided that now, after all these years, is the right time to sue?
TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Yes. It`s making me a little bit nervous, I have to say. If you read between the tabloid pictures, it`s one of two things. Either it`s a little bit true or their kids are getting old enough that they can read the tabloids and it`s starting to affect their family dynamic.
I don`t know, but if they`ve definitely been historically quiet. But it just really is interesting they decided to sue this one magazine when it`s everywhere. Do they go one by one by one? Or do they think by winning this case everyone else will leave them alone? It`s not going to happen, Brangelina. We love talking about you, unfortunately.
HAMMER: Well, and for some reason, this particular story in "News of the World" had such an impact and got such a massive snowball rolling down the hill. Hyla, I`ve got to tell you I heard a lot of people saying today filing a lawsuit like this really only eggs on the speculation even more. What do you think?
HYLA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST, "5DOLLARPREP.COM": No, I disagree with that. I mean, the speculation has been taking place since the moment they got together. That will never go away.
The reason they`re suing this British tabloid is because the laws in Britain - it`s easier for them to win. That`s why a lot of celebrities don`t go after the U.S. magazines because their chances are a lot lower. And it does bring more attention. But at some point - after five years, at some point you`ve got to say something.
HAMMER: Yes, I guess so. Well, of course we can`t talk about Brangelina unless we talk about Jennifer Aniston. You know, this falls under the FCC`s "Equal Time Requirements." It`s the law, I tell you. It`s the law.
All right. Let`s move on now to a surprising new interview today with Aniston. She has been denying reports that she and Gerard Butler are in a romance. But today, she opened up for the very first time about their relationship. Now, Butler joined Aniston and some other of her friends for her big birthday trip to Mexico for her 41st.
She tells "Access Hollywood" she loves spending time with Gerard Butler and saying, "We just had so much fun together. He`s just fun. Gerry`s the most unpretentious guy."
Tanika, here we have Jennifer gushing over Gerard or Gerry as she likes to call him, not doing a whole lot to quell any speculations.
RAY: Hello? They`re promoting a movie.
HAMMER: Oh, there`s that.
RAY: Come on. You know better than that. But I have to say I`m rooting for them. Regardless of what she says, I think they`re a great couple together. She`s very unpretentious. He`s hilarious. She`s funny. I think they can make a really good match. So whatever you say Jennifer is going on, we`re rooting for you, because I think you guys could work.
HAMMER: Yes. I think a lot of people feel that way. And it`s sort of familiar territory to her. Now, on this big Mexico trip, she had other close friends along - Courtney Cox, Sheryl Crow was there, Jason Bateman - but Gerard Butler was the guy that she was talking about.
Let me tell you a little bit more about how she was gushing about him saying, "He`s a guy`s guy, but he`s absolutely the most lovely and sort of self-deprecating and just what you see is what you get. We always had each other`s back."
You know, I`m listening to my own words and thinking, that sounds a lot like Vince Vaughn or Brad Pitt or John Mayer. I mean, really, Hyla, what do you think? Is Gerard her new Brad, John or Vince?
HYLA: You know what? Maybe they`re just friends with benefits. How about that? Jennifer Aniston has earned the right to be able to do this with whoever she wants and good for her. Enough with the "poor Jennifer Aniston." She`s doing OK.
You just introduced her lineup, A.J. She`s OK and she`s doing fine. And I hope that this is - all this is, is a little Mexican hookup.
HAMMER: Good for you. You said it, not me. But really, who`s saying "poor Jennifer Aniston" anymore? Quite frankly, I`m not hearing a whole lot of people and for a very good reason. It does seem like she`s doing just fine.
But Tanika, do you think - separate from the fact that there`s a movie to promote here, do you think on some level that Jennifer just loves all the speculation about her romantic interests in Butler?
I mean, let`s face it. Her comments about him really leave a lot of gray areas. I think she was very careful with the words she chose.
RAY: Yes. I do think she likes to tease the media just a skosh. But you know what? That is her prerogative and it works every single time. She says one little thing about a guy being kind of cool and it just snowballs, and we can`t stop talking about it.
So you know what? Yes, they`re promoting a movie but whatever it is, she has the right to say whatever she wants. And I think she`s being absolutely honest. Good for them.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: All right. I`m going to stop you there. We fulfilled our equal time requirement there. I`ve got to move on to another big and spooky story breaking today.
Did you hear this? Anna Nicole Smith speaking out from the grave? Yes, the crazy news today that the psychiatrist charged in connection with Anna Nicole`s death tried to contact her in a seance. Tanika Ray, Hyla, don`t go anywhere. We`ll have that in just a moment.
ANDERSON: OK. There are so many explosive SHOWBIZ burning questions today. Hey, can somebody get me a fan? Maybe a block of ice?
Ellen DeGeneres just made her big premiere on "American Idol" tonight. And there`s a brand-new debate today. Should Howard Stern replace Simon Cowell?
Another sizzling burning question today - Charlie Sheen just charged with assaulting his wife. So here`s what I don`t get. Where`s the outrage? There hasn`t been a peep? And how can his wife even stay with him? How come she`s not packing up her bags and running out the door? Tonight, the super-hot SHOWBIZ burning questions. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Fox`s "254" to become a feature film, Kiefer Sutherland to star. Lindsay Lohan`s dad falls behind in his child support payments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York. And tonight, the great debate over Jackson justice.
HAMMER: Yes. Michael Jackson`s doctor, Conrad Murray, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson`s death.
But today, there is new outrage from the Jackson family. They want justice for Michael and they don`t think the manslaughter charge is enough. In fact, Joe Jackson, Michael`s dad, just told CNN`s Larry King that he wants a murder charge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S FATHER: I`m looking for justice for my son. And to me, he`s just a fall-guy. There`s other people I think involved with this whole thing. But I think that if he`s interrogated, he would come clean and tell everything he knows.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Did you want him charged with homicide or murder?
J. JACKSON: I was looking for justice and justice, to me, would be the murder charge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: But should there be a murder charge? Joining me tonight in New York, Ben Widdicombe who is an entertainment journalist. Also in New York, Midwin Charles, legal contributor to "In Session" on our sister network, Tru TV.
Ben, Midwin, you just heard that Joe Jackson does not think that justice was served. Midwin, as the legal expert, I`ve got to ask you whether you think Joe has got a point there that Dr. Murray should be charged with murder.
MIDWIN CHARLES, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION": Well, he does and he doesn`t. I mean, I can certainly understand as a grieving father he would want the maximum charge against Dr. Conrad Murray but unfortunately, the facts aren`t there.
In order to have a murder charge, you have to have premeditation. You just don`t have that here. So the prosecutors went ahead and charged with what they strongly believe that they can prove, which is involuntary manslaughter. No premeditation.
ANDERSON: Yes. And Joe Jackson, obviously, has very strong words about this. But he did lose a loved one so it`s natural for family members to react this way sometimes when they lose a loved one.
But not only does Joe Jackson think that his son`s death was murder, get this - he`s saying it was part of a larger conspiracy and that Dr. Murray is just the fall-guy here.
Ben, I`ve got to say, based on what we know up to now, this all seems a little bit farfetched. What do you think?
BEN WIDDICOMBE, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Joe Jackson is, of course, now in charge of his son`s legacy. So I think he`s come to portray his son as a victim of some huge conspiracy. He doesn`t really want the own up to the fact his son was a drug addict.
If Michael were alive today, he would be involved in a criminal investigation because there are allegations he doctor-shopped. There are allegations that he had his entourage get prescriptions using different names to give him the drugs.
Now, Michael, of course, paid the ultimate price. But I think that, you know, the doctor is now on the hook. But there probably wasn`t a much larger conspiracy.
ANDERSON: Yes. And Joe Jackson obviously doesn`t want the attention on all those allegations that would have been against Michael Jackson. But you guys, if that is not enough, listen to this. Joe Jackson also says that Michael told his mother that he would be murdered in the near future. Watch what Joe told Larry King.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. JACKSON: Michael said to himself that he would be killed and he told his mother that because he`s afraid that - he was afraid that even to do all of these shows because he was afraid that he wouldn`t get a chance to finish all of those because he couldn`t.
You don`t do all those shows back-to-back. Even those kids say that - he had told them he would be murdered.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Joe Jackson, of course, talking about Michael performing in London for his planned "This is It" concert tour. Murder conspiracy - all seems a little far-fetched. We`re going to leave it there for now. Ben Widdicombe, Midwin Charles, thanks.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, as soon as we reported that Michael Jackson`s doctor was charged with involuntarily manslaughter, I`ve got to tell you our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines started lighting up.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. Two very clear sides on this. Some people think Dr. Murray got what he deserved. Others are saying, "no way." Check out this call from Jennifer in Utah.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JENNIFER, CALLER FROM UTAH: I`m calling because everybody is blaming the doctor for Michael Jackson`s death. And nobody is making him take responsibility for wanting the drugs and taking all those other drugs that he did take.
I think someone should take responsibility for that, too. He had a part in his own death.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Jennifer.
HAMMER: We also heard from Jana calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Missouri. And she thinks it is Dr. Murray`s fault that Michael`s dead.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JANA, CALLER FROM MISSOURI: The bottom line is, if it wouldn`t have been for Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson would be alive now. And just because he had insomnia does not mean he was a drug head.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Jana. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call" to let us know what you think about this or anything else at all.
ANDERSON: The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open 24/7. Write this number down - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voicemail. We will, of course, play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: So tonight, has Anna Nicole really been contacted from the dead? Big news today about the shocking Anna Nicole Smith seance that is just so bizarre and even more crazy. The psychiatrist charged in connection with Anna Nicole`s death was right there.
Tiger Woods first alleged mistress, you know, the one who opened up the floodgates for the rest of Tiger`s women. Well, she is speaking out in a brand-new interview today. The very first time Rachel Uchitel is opening up, so you definitely do not want to miss this.
And big, brand-new, explosive SHOWBIZ burning questions today. Charlie Sheen just charged with assaulting his wife. So I don`t get it. Where`s the outrage? Hear that? Yes, nothing. Even more puzzling, why doesn`t Charlie`s wife leave him? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Jeff Probst signs up for another year of hosting "Survivor." Blogger Perez Hilton and Black Eyed Peas manager settle lawsuit over nightclub fight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hey, I think Anne Hathaway is beautiful. But for some reason, Anne has a problem with her looks. Check it out what we just heard from Anne today in "In Style" magazine, "I think I`ve got really weird features. I have very large features on a very small head. But you know, I`m not going to beat myself up. It`s my face. I`m not very pretty, but that`s OK, because I do know that I look like myself. And I think at the end of the day, as nice as pretty is, authenticity is more important."
Read more in the March issue of "In Style" on newsstands on Friday. Anne, you`re stunning.
HAMMER: Making news today, Starr`s star. I`m talking about Beatles great Ringo Starr getting his very own star on the Hollywood walk of fame. As a huge Beatle`s fan, I am really happy for Ringo.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, of course, right there Monday night for the ceremony which also marked the 50th anniversary of the Walk of Fame. Well, I was so thrilled to talk with Ringo just a little while ago. And Ringo told me if he had to do it all over again, he would.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RINGO STARR, EX-BEATLES MEMBER: One certain thing is that you crave when you`re starting out and that`s adoration and people needing you all the time. But after a while, you`d really like some space.
Though we were the biggest band on the land and we didn`t have a lot of peace - people were always need a piece of us. I have a great friend and he used to say, "Oh god, I wish that was me. It was all happening to me."
And then after like a year - after hanging out with us, it was like, "Thank god it`s not happening to me." But it was part of our life and there were four of us to support each other.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ringo is such a nice guy. All right. Our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook fans though aren`t playing nice on our Facebook page. They`re getting fired up right now over reports that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are breaking up.
Consuelo S. writes, "Leave them alone already. It seems every time Jennifer Aniston has a new movie coming out that these rumors surface."
And Amanda R. doesn`t want Charlie Sheen`s show, "Two and a Half Men" cancelled even though Charlie just got charged for allegedly assaulting his wife. Quote, "Although what is happening is horrible, I don`t think the rest of the people involved with the show should pay for Charlie`s problems."
Sign up for our Facebook page and Twitter breaking entertainment news alerts at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: Now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. He`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Brand-new burning questions today. As Ellen DeGeneres makes her big premiere on "American Idol" tonight, a brand-new debate today, should Howard Stern replace Simon Cowell?
And burning questions today about Charlie Sheen. Sheen just charged with assaulting his wife. So why in the world won`t she leave him?
And the crazy news today that the psychiatrist charged in connection with Anna Nicole Smith`s death tried to contact Anna Nicole in a seance. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "Law and Order" series honored with award from the Alliance for Children`s Rights. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to get posthumous stars on Las Vegas Walk of Stars.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, brand-new SHOWBIZ burning questions tonight. As Ellen DeGeneres makes her big "Idol" premiere tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT ignites a new debate today. Should Howard Stern replace Simon Cowell?
Tiger Woods` first alleged mistress speaks. For the very first time, Rachel Uchitel opens up what her life is like now after Tiger`s explosive sex scandal made her infamous.
Anna Nicole Smith sending new messages from the great beyond? Bizarre new details today about why the psychiatrist charged in connection with Anna Nicole`s death is trying to talk to Anna through a seance. Are you kidding me?
Plus more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
ANNOUNCER: 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 from Hollywood with the brand-new burning questions that are just bubbling over tonight.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. Big burning questions today over two very explosive stories. Even as Ellen DeGeneres made her big debut tonight as a judge on "American Idol," a brand-new sizzling debate just exploded today over whether Howard Stern should replace Simon Cowell when Simon leaves the show. This morning, the ladies of "The View" went at each other over Stern.
Big burning questions today about Charlie Sheen`s brand-new criminal charges. Now that Charlie Sheen is faced with a big, fat felony charge for allegedly attacking his wife, Brooke Mueller, why doesn`t his wife just leave Charlie already?
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, Tanika Ray who is an entertainment journalist. Also from Hollywood is Hyla who is an entertainment journalist from "5DollarPrep.com."
OK. Let`s begin with the report that "Idol" wants Howard Stern to replace Simon. It got pretty heated with the ladies of "The View" today over that possibility. Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd really got into it. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEPHERD: I think if you got Howard Stern on here now, it`s like the legitimacy of "American Idol" really, really goes down, because the fact of the matter is Simon was mean - yes and no.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I disagree.
SHEPHERD: Simon was mean but he had a music background and he knew what he was talking about. Randy knew what he was talking about. Paula, as crazy as she could get - Paula was a choreographer and -
(CROSS TALK)
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": You`ve got Kara DioGuardi who knows about music. There`s Randy Jackson. Now, you need someone who`s good in television.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Yes. To Joy`s point I heard something on Howard a show that makes a lot of sense to me. When Simon speaks, people listen. So that is really the element they need to replace when Simon leaves the show.
Tanika, that is another reason I think Howard would be an incredible score for "Idol." So the burning question to you, should Howard replace Simon?
RAY: A.J. Hammer, you`re a full-fledged Howard Stern fan. I think the ladies of "The View" have been listening to the show and what I`ve been saying.
You know what? The legitimacy of the show does go down if it`s Howard Stern. I`m really on the fence though. I`m still mourning the loss of Howard Stern on "E!" because I love his radio show. But he has no musical background.
HAMMER: That`s not true. He`s a program director. He got to introduce bands to his radio show like Bon Jovi to America.
RAY: He`s a fan of music. He`s never once produced anybody or made anybody a star. And I think that`s the position that`s missing. Simon is a guru in this industry. He knows what it takes to make a star and what it is that makes somebody special.
HAMMER: Yes. But nobody knew who he was before he even started. I don`t think, you know, everybody is giving him credit for all these credentials that he allegedly had before. The fact is, he`s good TV.
RAY: Right. That`s true.
HAMMER: Look, everybody has got an opinion on this. Our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been burning up about this idea of Howard replacing Simon. Now, Wendy from South Carolina says she thinks the whole idea is ridiculous. Let`s listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
WENDY, CALLER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA: To put Howard Stern on the "American Idol" show I think would be ridiculous. This is a show the family sits down to watch together. And I just don`t see Howard Stern being a family - not just a very good example for the whole family. He`s a very rude and crude person. And I wouldn`t watch it if he was on it.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. I appreciate your call, Wendy, but here`s something else I need to point out. There`s this mistaken impression of Howard than he`s nothing more than a rude and crude person.
RAY: He`s a great guy.
HAMMER: But the fact is - yes, he`s a smart performer. And I think people need to give him more credit than to think that "Idol" is suddenly going to become an R-rated show if this really does happen. So, Hyla, to you, the burning question - should Howard replace Simon?
HYLA: 100 percent, no. This is a horrible idea. I mean, Howard doesn`t even respect "American Idol," calling it a karaoke show on his radio show. The audience that he`s going to bring is not the audience that Fox wants.
They don`t want a bunch of "To Catch a Predator" watching "American Idol." It`s not a good idea at all. And most importantly, Ryan would not allow it.
RAY: Right.
HYLA: He`s not going to have another high profile radio guy on "American Idol." No way.
HAMMER: That`s why Howard is going to have Ryan kicked off the show when he starts out with it.
HYLA: That`s what he said - yes.
HAMMER: Listen, "Idol" is already branching out into brand-new territory. Just hours ago, Ellen DeGeneres finally made her debut on "Idol." And in a brand-new interview, Ellen confesses something about Simon. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE: I had one idea of Simon when I came in and it`s changed. He`s actually meaner than I thought. He`s - it`s hard to listen to him tell people things and me not to go, "You poor thing," you know?
So I`m getting good at actually delivering bad news myself but I`m trying to do it in a tender way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Ellen sounds genuinely surprised there. So here`s my question - actually, it`s the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Ellen Debuts on `American Idol`: Do you think she can hold her own against Simon?" I do. Brooke, are you with me on that? I mean, I think Ellen has really got what it takes to go up against that guy.
ANDERSON: Yes. I think she will do a great job. She`s smart. And what she`s going to bring to the table is kind of a softness. She`s going to use her comedy in critiquing these contestants. And she, as you saw - she is surprised as how ruthless Simon can be, but that`s where Simon fits in with this judges` table.
She`s going to bring something totally new, and totally, you know, maybe predictable. But I think she`s going to do a great job.
HAMMER: What do you think, Tanika?
RAY: Let`s be straight. This is not "Last Comic Standing." that show is off the air for a reason. This is "American Idol." Let`s put the focus back on the young people that have great voices and who want to fulfill their dreams.
I just feel like it shouldn`t be - the attention should not be put on the judges. So let`s just finish this. Let`s get through the 2010 season.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: We`re not even talking about who`s going to replace Simon for a whole other year.
HAMMER: Listen, the show`s been around a very long time and things do need to freshen up around there if it`s going to be successful as it has been.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: All right. Let`s move on to the next big burning question that we`re asking tonight. It`s about Charlie Sheen. He`s now facing three criminal charges including a felony charge for allegedly attacking his wife, Brooke Mueller during a Christmas Day blow-out.
The burning question on this tonight - should Charlie`s wife leave him? Three criminal charges filed against him. He`s charged with assaulting his wife. Tanika, back to you. Why on earth doesn`t she leave him? I don`t get it.
RAY: You know what? That is the question of the century. She knew about all of his issues in the past and she still wanted to marry him with stars in her eyes. She used to go to the show that I used to work on and have just things to say about him and glowingly talk about how in love she was with Charlie.
I do think that he could do anything to make her go away. She is, unfortunately, in a dysfunctional relationship. They both need to sober up. She needs to sober up and get some counseling. And from there, we`ll see what happens.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, even more confusing to me is the fact that there really hasn`t been any outrage over this whole alleged incident.
RAY: We`re so used to his indiscretions.
HAMMER: Well, but here`s the thing. This is a very serious indiscretion. This is not philandering. This is potentially, allegedly, you know, domestic violence here.
You`d think that nothing happened here if it were not for those court papers. Charlie is still starring in his sitcom.
Let me show you the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day results from Monday. We asked if CBS should take Charlie`s show, "Two and a Half Men," off the air. Look at this. Only 38 percent said yes; 62 percent said no.
In the real world, I think that somebody is getting suspended from their job while these things are being unsettled. Hyla, what do you think? Does this mean that Charlie, even facing a felony, is really just untouchable at this point?
HYLA: It`s because of his history. There`s no shock value like there was with Tiger. And I think a lot of it has to do with - that Brooke`s not famous. My friend Ted Casablanca at "E!" made a great point in his blog the other day.
You know, she doesn`t have that Rihanna fan base that`s standing up and screaming and saying, "This is not acceptable." And unfortunately, because she`s not so high profile, you know, she doesn`t have people screaming on her behalf.
HAMMER: What you do you think, very quickly, Tanika? I mean, I still don`t understand. Regardless of whether or not she`s famous, this is, allegedly, domestic violence and we`re not seeing any outrage, really. I mean, we`re hearing it here and that`s about it.
RAY: Yes. You know what? It`s our society right now. I feel like we`re getting numb these days and it has to be so outrageous for us to take a stand.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: I think Tiger numbed us a little bit. I think, you know, with the whole Sanford situation, we`re numb. Each time there`s some crazy story, we`re like, "Oh, just that? Big deal."
HAMMER: There`s a danger in becoming too comfortably numb.
RAY: Absolutely.
HAMMER: Tanika Ray, Hyla, thanks, guys.
ANDERSON: It`s almost hard for me to believe but it`s been exactly three years this week since Anna Nicole Smith`s tragic death. Three years. And tonight, the shocking new reports that she`s speaking out from beyond the grave.
Bizarre new details about why the psychiatrist charged in connection with Anna Nicole`s death is trying to talk to Anna Nicole through a seance. She may be talking but this leaves me speechless.
Also tonight, a Tiger Woods mistress sounds off. In a new interview out just today, the woman who set Tiger`s sexcapade tailspin in motion reveals what her life is like now.
And Kate Gosselin decides to get personal, very personal. What she`s about to share with the world today. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Ellen DeGeneres` wife, Portia De Rossi, to write a tell-all book. Death of Nancy Kerrigan`s father ruled a homicide.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROOKLYN DECKER, MODEL: OK. I feel like the New Orleans Saints did Sunday night, if that gives it away. You know, it`s the equivalent of a model basically winning the MVP of the Super Bowl.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was Brooklyn Decker this morning on the "Today" show describing how it feels to be picked to grace the cover of the 2010 "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit issue. And she can really relate to being a sports MVP because she lives with a sports superstar. Brooklyn is married to tennis player Andy Roddick.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: A.J., tonight, Gary Coleman`s shocking guilty plea in a domestic violence case.
HAMMER: Also breaking today, Kate Gosselin`s intimate new book. And news that Anna Nicole Smith has been contacted from the dead. It`s all in the showbiz buzz today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Gary Coleman guilty as charged. The former "Diff`rent Strokes" star just pleaded guilty in Utah to a reduced charge related to a domestic violence incident with his wife last April.
Coleman entered the plea on his 42nd birthday. A judge gave him a 30- day suspended sentence, fined him $595 and ordered Coleman to attend a domestic violence course.
Kate Gosselin gets personal. The "Jon & Kate Plus 8" star has just revealed she`s got a new book coming out in April. It`s called "I Just Want You to Know: Letters to My Kids on Love, Faith and Family."
The book will feature excerpts from her personal journal and eight individual letters addressed to her children. This will be Kate`s third book. Her first two were bestsellers.
Anna Nicole Smith from beyond the grave. "People.com" reports a group of Anna Nicole`s friends participated in a psychic-led seance. And at the seance was a psychiatrist, who faces trial on charges of providing the drugs that killed Anna Nicole.
One of Smith`s friends claims the psychic believes they contacted Anna Nicole. And Anna Nicole is happy she`s with her son, Daniel, who died of a drug overdose months before she did. Anna Nicole Smith died three years ago this week.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: So let me get this straight because this is unbelievable. The psychiatrist who is facing criminal charges related to Anna Nicole Smith`s death tried to reach Anna Nicole in the far, far beyond. Does the psychiatrist need to get her head checked?
Joining me in New York tonight is Ben Widdicombe who is a celebrity journalist. Also tonight in New York is Midwin Charles who is a legal contributor for "In Session" on our sister network, Tru TV.
OK, guys. Anna Nicole`s psychiatrist, Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, facing six felony counts related to Anna Nicole`s death. And she tries to contact Anna through a seance.
You know, personally, I think that Dr. Eroshevich should stay far, far away from the circus surrounding Anna Nicole`s death. Ben, how could she not understand how ridiculous this makes her look?
WIDDICOMBE: It`s shocking. I mean, Anna Nicole Smith never said anything coherent in 39 years of her life. So fact that they think that they can get a cogent sentence out of her three years after she died is asking a lot from Ouija board.
ANDERSON: Yes. And you know, to my point, Dr. Eroshevich is facing six felony counts related to her death. So I just think it would be wiser to avoid the spectacle of a seance for heaven`s sake.
And you know, if it`s not bad enough that Dr. Eroshevich was at the seance, Anna`s friend, Patrick Simpson tells "People.com" that the psychic actually made contact.
He says Anna Nicole is, quote, "Happy she`s with her late son Daniel. She`s sad she had to leave her daughter but she really had to be with Daniel."
OK, Midwin, I admit it. I`ve seen "Ghost Whisperer." That stuff can be very believable. But that is fictional scripts in Hollywood. So is this just nuts?
CHARLES: It`s absolutely nuts. And I just can`t believe after Anna Nicole Smith`s death that people are still trying to use her in order to gain whatever it is that they want. What this doctor really ought to be doing, Brooke, is focusing on her defense.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. I naturally fall into the skeptic category when it comes to seances. But we`ll leave that there. I want to move now to the big news just in today about the woman who arguably ruined Tiger Woods` life.
Tiger`s first alleged mistress, Rachel Uchitel speaking out in her very first blockbuster new interview in an exclusive interview that aired on "Extra" today. Rachel talked about where she went to school, what she was like in school, confessed she was a mean girl. Watch what she told "Extra."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RACHEL UCHITEL, ALLEGED MISTRESS OF TIGER WOODS: I attended an all- girls private school called Nightingale-Bamford which the show, I believe, like "Gossip Girls" or also "Mean Girls" was really made from. Because that`s exactly how we grew up.
I was definitely one of the cool, mean girls. And it`s one of those things where, like, even in our clique, we really hated each other.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Oh, boy. To her credit, she does say that she has apologized to some of the people that she was mean to. And clearly, she`s out there trying to get people to stop thinking of her as the Tiger cheater.
But, Ben, if she`s expecting this, her admission that she was a mean girl, if she`s expecting that to make people have more sympathy for her, I think she`s missed the boat big-time.
WIDDICOMBE: I think she`s missing the point. Look, the only thing interesting about Rachel Uchitel is the fact that she slept with Tiger Woods whom she did not mention once in all the excerpts of the "Extra" interview that I saw.
She said she`s really a homebody. But you know, she went on a vacation to Thailand once, which is so boring. I`m sure Tiger didn`t need Ambien when he was with her. She probably bored him to sleep.
ANDERSON: Midwin, what do you think about this? Rachel Uchitel going on TV when people are interested to hear what she`s got to say about Tiger, but she`s talking about high school and being a mean person?
CHARLES: Well, you could tell that she is trying to stretch her 15 seconds of fame. Clear and simple, very clear and simple. She`s got nothing else to say but talk about her days in high school. Come on, keep it moving girl.
ANDERSON: Come on, that`s right. Move on. Move past it. I want to move now to a former NBA star, Charles Barkley, speaking out in defense of Tiger Woods who is a good friend of his.
In a no-holds-barred interview right here on HLN with our own Richelle Carey, Barkley said he thinks Tiger is being he would a double standard. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES BARKLEY, FORMER NBA STAR: He didn`t kill anybody. He didn`t break the law. I always believe people`s personal business is their own personal business. I mean, I always say, people didn`t get mad. We didn`t go crazy.
No disrespect to David Letterman, we didn`t tell him to stay off TV for a year or two. I just hate the double standard. I want him to know he`s got my friendship no matter what and I want him to play golf again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Charles, I love you but I`m not buying this double standard argument. Yes. And David Letterman humiliated himself on national TV. Tiger still hadn`t shown his face and he`s got alleged mistresses into the double digits.
Ben, do you agree with Barkley`s double standard argument though?
WIDDICOMBE: Well, I`m a little confused because Charles is himself a hugely popular personality not only as an athlete but also as a character. And he`s a married man who`s done some naughty things himself which has affected his own popularity or endorsements.
So if he wants to know about double standards, maybe he should look in the mirror, not point a finger at Dave.
ANDERSON: Well, back to Tiger - I think he needs to publicly apologize. These wimpy statements on his Web site are not going to cut it. Man up. Ben Widdicombe, Midwin Charles, thanks. Good to see you.
HAMMER: Tonight, Sarah Palin`s handy new invention?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Asked about the future, Sarah Palin resorted to palm reading.
FMR. GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK): That short list -
MOOS: Her own palm.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s the fallout from Sarah`s handwritten crib notes that`s got everyone up in arms. Tonight, a hilarious look at the former governor`s handiwork. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, it`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker." These are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Drew Barrymore gets into fender bender with paparazzo. Google taking on Facebook and Twitter with new social network, Google Buzz.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, Sarah`s helping hand. It`s the hand gesture seen around the world. No, not that hand gesture. I`m talking about Sarah Palin getting caught red-handed with crib notes in the palm of her hand. You know you`ve done it.
So is there anything wrong with Sarah`s hand jive? Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): Asked about the future, Sarah Palin resorted to palm reading - PALIN: That short list -
MOOS: Her own palm. It was a short list that went a long way. Newspapers and blogs called it her handy helper, hand-jive, hand-gate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, who writes on their hands? I thought that was a childhood thing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cheating?
MOOS: More like reminding. The words on her palm were "energy," "tax cuts," "lift American spirits." She sure lifted the spirits of critics.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you can`t answer the question what are your priorities without reading the palm of your hand, maybe you`re not the best leader to be leading people.
MOOS: When asked to name her top three things to get done, watch her go to the hand to remember energy.
PALIN: We`ve got to start reining in the spending. We have got to jumpstart energy projects.
MOOS: This after she just finished mocking President Obama -
PALIN: A charismatic guy with a teleprompter.
MOOS: Soon, her hand was dubbed the palm prompter and the "telepalmer."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twelve things Sarah Palin wrote on her hand. Number one - left.
MOOS (on camera): This is a case where the right hand didn`t know what the left hand was saying.
(voice-over): The right kind of handy list, pick up eggs, milk, bananas and some lunchmeat.
(on camera): Have you ever written on your hand anything? Like what do you write on your -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not since fifth grade.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Equations - equations like formulas for Math.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, sometimes you forget.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I did that for, one time, a speech. I did it for myself, and everyone -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In second grade?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, like, exactly. I was like for a poem and people thought I was cheating.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It shows to me that she`s really trying.
MOOS (voice-over): Talk about a prophetic impersonation. Almost a year and a half ago, these two played anchor Charles Gibson interviewing Sarah Palin.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Putin is the prime minister of Russia.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Do you have a cheat sheet on your hand?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: This, Charlie, is the hand that`s shaken John McCain`s hand.
MOOS: The real Palin is letting her hand speak for itself.
(on camera): But Sarah Palin didn`t just sanitize the evidence, she rewrote it. She showed up a day later beside the governor of Texas with "Hi, mom" written on her palm, poking at critics.
In the words of one supporter, "I like the way she likes to screw with their stupid heads."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Number three, when in doubt, wink.
MOOS: Now, that`s something the left wing and the right can applaud. Careful, we wouldn`t want this kind of behavior to rub off.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. We don`t want you to forget you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT every night on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, also in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern right here on HLN. Take care.
END