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Showbiz Tonight
Jenny Sanford in Court; Jessica Simpson`s Worldwide Mission; Brand- New Tiger Woods Smackdown; Brand-New Killer Whale Debate; The Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week
Aired February 26, 2010 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST: Big news breaking right now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - brand-new developments today in the Sanford divorce war caught on tape. The cheated-on wife of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford in court today. Her dramatic new revelations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNY SANFORD, WIFE OF GOV. MARK SANFORD: I`ve done my best to do what I can to protect my children and protect my family to the best of my circumstances.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: How she found out about her husband`s cheating, the break-up of her marriage as tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, is Jenny the new star face of cheated-on women?
Jessica Simpson`s brand-new beauty battle. Jessica, fighting back after being slammed for her weight. Tonight, a first look. Jessica`s unbelievable worldwide mission to prove beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA SIMPSON, ACTRESS AND SINGER: This is the complete opposite of everything I`ve ever known.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week. Ellen DeGeneres - is she feuding with Simon? Charlie Sheen checks into rehab. And the octumom says she may want more kids. Come on.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: Hi, there. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood. And tonight, divorce war caught on tape. The final battle in the love gov cheating scandal played out right in front of cameras today.
The main characters in this made-for-TV drama, Jenny Sanford, the scorned wife and her cheating ex, the love gov himself, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.
The explosive thoughts, the Sanfords` final divorce hearing where Jenny Sanford made her case for walking away from her troubled marriage for good. She faced a judge and the TV crews laying out all the dirty details of her husband`s sordid affair. The final straw in a marriage that sparked a tabloid frenzy. No doubt Jenny Sanford`s on-camera confession made for big news breaking today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Here`s a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT public service announcement to cheating husbands everywhere - be careful, because an ill-advised hike on the Appalachian Trail can often lead you here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE JUDGE: I grant her a divorce on the grounds of adultery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This morning, in South Carolina, the wife of cheating love gov Mark Sanford appeared in divorce court where a judge formally granted her request to officially dump her husband of 20 years.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE JUDGE: You allege that your husband had engaged in a sexual relationship with a woman other than yourself, is that correct?
ANDERSON: In today`s quick 22-minute hearing, Jenny Sanford took the stand. And in plain and devastating detail, recounted her husband`s cheating scandal, a scandal that prompted all kinds of jokes when the governor went AWOL to see his mistress.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s Monday night. Do you know where your governor is?
ANDERSON: A scandal that earned national headlines and introduced the term "hiking the Appalachian Trail" as a new euphemism for "cheating on your wife."
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": It really is fitting that we get to see this and on TV as well, like we saw it begin.
ANDERSON: The Sanford` divorce was set in motion last June, when Gov. Mark Sanford, who at the time was considered a possible 2012 presidential candidate, mysteriously vanished without a trace.
SERAFIN: He disappeared for about five days. Nobody knew where he was. His office said that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. It turns out, he returns. He admits that he was having an affair with a woman. He was down in Argentina seeing her. And he called her his soul mate.
GOV. MARK SANFORD (R-SC): I`ve been unfaithful to my wife.
ANDERSON: And Jenny was nowhere in sight during the press conference earning the admiration of cheated-on wives everywhere.
SERAFIN: Jenny Sanford was really the first political wife to really go out there and say she was not sticking by Mark Sanford.
ANDERSON: At today`s hearing, a calm Jenny Sanford revealed she first heard about her husband`s affair a few months earlier and tried to put a stop to it.
J. SANFORD: I confronted him shortly thereafter and he told me he would end it. We worked very diligently to put the marriage back together. First and foremost was that he was not allowed in any way, shape or form to see this woman again.
ANDERSON: After the governor broke his word, saw his mistress again, Jenny packed up her stuff and moved out of the governor`s mansion. Today, in court, she declared she is done with her cheating hubby once and for all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE JUDGE: Mrs. Sanford, is there anything the court can do to reconcile you with your husband?
J. SANFORD: No, ma`am.
ANDERSON: The judge says she`ll grant the divorce but it won`t become official until next month. Afterwards, Jenny talked to reporters.
J. SANFORD: The dissolution of a 20-year marriage is not a cause for celebration.
ANDERSON: As for the love gov, who last June had no problem skipping work for an Argentinean rendezvous - well, he apparently has turned over a diligent new leaf. His office says he skipped today`s divorce hearing because he was reviewing legislation.
SERAFIN: Now, when his divorce proceeding is on, government comes first.
ANDERSON: The outlandish Sanford cheating scandal remains a national punch line. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it is considering including a reference to the governor`s troubles in an upcoming ad, proof that even though the Sanfords` marriage may soon be over, our obsession with this incredible cheating scandal certainly is not.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
There`s no question that the love gov divorce war absolutely captivated the country. But did Gov. Mark Sanford take the easy way out of his own cheating scandal?
Joining me tonight in New York is Midwin Charles, who is a legal contributor for "In Session" on our sister network, Tru TV. Also tonight in Hollywood, Carlos Diaz, who is a correspondent for "Extra."
Midwin, Carlos, I`ve got to say watching Jenny Sanford in court today answering the questions about what she did to try save this marriage had me wondering - what about the love gov? He was supposedly reviewing legislation as South Carolina not required to be there.
But Midwin, are you with me that he should face the music, explain his behavior? I mean, he had time to take days and hike the Appalachian Trail, if you know what I mean. I think he should have made this a priority, spend a couple of hours to be at that hearing.
MIDWIN CHARLES, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION": Absolutely, Brooke. And you know, I said that this morning on "In Session." I can`t believe he wasn`t there. After all, this entire thing is of his own doing. He ought to face the music.
All of a sudden, things get difficult. And now, he wants to tend to his governor duties. It`s absolutely unbelievable. And I think he ought have honored and respected a 20-year marriage, four young boys, all minors. It`s coming to an end and you ought to be there. I really thought he should have done that.
ANDERSON: It was very disrespectful. I agree. And I can picture him telling his assistant, "Please have something for me to do today so that I do not have to go." Gov. Sanford did issue a statement today taking full responsibility for his infidelity.
But why did stay cozy in his office in South Carolina, probably had his feet propped up, thumbing through a proposed bill? His soon-to-be-ex- wife, Jenny Sanford, did ask the court today to seal financial records and separation documents. Take a look at what she said about that.
J. SANFORD: I have done my best to try and keep this endeavor from becoming public. But it did become public in a very, very high media focus type fashion. And since then, I`ve done my best to do what I can to protect my children, to protect my family to the best of my circumstances.
Notwithstanding the fact I wrote a book. I didn`t put anything in the book that my children aren`t already aware of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Jenny Sanford wants privacy. Gov. Sanford also asking for privacy. But here`s the thing. This scandal played out on TV from beginning to the bitter end. She`s got a book. He`s still governor of South Carolina. Carlos, can they have it both ways? Is it possible to have it both ways?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": No, they cannot seal these court records. I`m sorry. And I think that in some cases, you should seal court records, you know, when you have maybe a celebrity and a person in the private sector, you know, who didn`t ask to be brought into the whole celebrity circle.
But you have two people here, she who put out a book and then, he who`s an elected official who asked the people to trust in him. I`m sorry, you cannot have it both ways. This is where the embarrassment needs to be hiked up. And we need to know everything there is to know about this case.
CHARLES: I agree.
ANDERSON: Midwin, Jenny Sanford, obviously a very strong, very bright woman. Do you think that people who watched the proceeding today and thought every scorned wife in America should take a page from Jenny Sanford on how to handle infidelity?
CHARLES: Oh, absolutely. I think she is the poster wife for "The Good Wife." I mean, this woman is stoic and fabulous. She hasn`t stooped down to any level. She`s doing what she can to protect the image of her four sons.
ANDERSON: Yes.
CHARLES: Remember, they are minors. So I think she`s just handling this perfectly. And remember, she used to be an investment banker.
ANDERSON: Right -
CHARLES: This isn`t some woman -
(CROSS TALK)
ANDERSON: Very smart lady. Yes. Exactly. Well, she deserves happiness going forward. We wish her the best.
I do want to move now to another story making big news today. It`s the sad, really tragic death of actor Andrew Koenig. He, of course, starred on the `80s sitcom "Growing Pains." His body was found in a park in Vancouver Thursday after his parents reported him missing last week.
In a brand-new, absolutely heart-wrenching press conference, his father, Walter Koenig, who played Chekov on TV`s "Star Trek," spoke about his son`s death.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTER KOENIG, FATHER OF ANDREW KOENIG: The only thing I want to say is if you`re one of those people who really can`t feel that you can`t handle it anymore - you know, if you can learn anything from this, is that there are people out there who really care.
You may not think so and it may not - ultimately, it may not be enough. But there are people who really, really care.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So hard to watch. Carlos, very quickly. Andrew Koenig, never a household name? So why do you think this story captured the nation`s attention like it has?
DIAZ: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) mentioned that he could have been bipolar. A lot of people, you know, can relate to that and from a star`s standpoint. I mean, I grew up watching him on "Growing Pains." I grew up watching his dad on "Star Trek." So there is that star factor as well there.
ANDERSON: Yes, people can identify. Our condolences go out to his friends and family. Midwin Charles, Carlos Diaz, thank you so much. Good to see you.
Moving on now, it is time for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to name the most provocative celebrity of the week. Here now are the nominees, Ellen DeGeneres for her so-so first live "American Idol" week reviews and for taking on Simon. Charlie Sheen with the shocking return to rehab. Or Nadya Suleman or, as we like to call her, octumom saying she may want more kids.
And the brand-new Angelina Jolie-Jennifer Aniston showdown. I`m sorry, ladies. There can be only one winner. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) who came out on top.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: Being in Uganda, I definitely saw and experienced the concept of beauty that I`d never heard of.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He thinks fat is beautiful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Jessica Simpson`s brand-new beauty battle today. You know how Jessica was slammed for her body. Well, tonight, she is fighting back. Her new mission to prove that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Pepsico/Gatorade cuts ties with Tiger Woods, third sponsor to drop him. U2 is top money-making musical act for 2009, in $108 million from tours, music.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Tonight, Jennifer Aniston comes out on top. Team Aniston fans have a brand-new reason to cheer today. The "USA Today" celebrity heat index just out today says Jennifer Aniston is even hotter than Angelina Jolie, at least for now.
Also, big news in today, Jennifer Aniston`s ex, John Mayer, sparked new buzz with a brand-new apology for his recent controversial comments. And this time, he says he`s a changed man. We`ll see, John.
Joining me tonight in New York is Ben Widdicombe, who is a celebrity journalist. Also from New York, Megan Alexander, who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition."
Guys, I want to begin with Jennifer Aniston beating out Angelina Jolie on the "USA Today" celebrity heat index. That means Jennifer Aniston got more mentions online and in print than Angelina.
But the results - were they close. Look at this. Jennifer won with 615 points and Angelina, 611 points. I think this is kind of surprising because of just how much we`ve been hearing about Angelina Jolie lately.
Megan, I guess Angelina`s break-up rumors, her big family reunion with her dad just weren`t enough to push her over the top. So how do you think Aniston pulled it off?
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": Well, I think press right now is really good for Jennifer Aniston, Brooke. You know, whether she`s renovating her Hollywood Hills home, finding a soothing spa-like setting for herself or she`s dating a Hollywood hunk like Gerry Butler or the fact she just turned 41 and she looks like a 31-year-old, which, if you ask me, is illegal to look that good.
I think the press has been really good to her right now. We want to see her succeed. But I agree with you. It`s so close with Angelina Jolie. It`s only a matter of time before a movie or perhaps a new child comes into her life that she`ll be back on top.
ANDERSON: That puts her back on top. Well, Jennifer Aniston, obviously, still relevant, people still talking about her, like you say, her life, her style, her home, her love life.
But this poll is also about how many times a star`s name is mentioned in the press, including the tabloids. So Ben, I want to ask you this. Maybe Jen won`t be celebrating this victory in terms of that.
BEN WIDDICOMBE, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: Well, you know, of course, it`s a pure numbers game, the "USA Today" heat index. It`s purely, as you say, how many times she`s mentioned in the press.
But she did have a birthday this month. She has this new reputed relationship with Gerard Butler, which keeps her in the news. And let`s not forget, she got a bounce out of the John Mayer interview with "Playboy" magazine, which a lot of people criticize him for doing.
So you know, one negative thing and a couple of positive things. I`m all for team Aniston. I think she`s ripe for a comeback.
ANDERSON: Yes. Not all of it, though, is attention the celebrities court or even want. And speaking of that unwanted attention, you mentioned Jennifer`s ex, John Mayer. He did make headlines when he admitted in an interview with "Playboy" that he`s still in love with her.
Unfortunately, though, he did not stop there. He sparked major controversy after using the N-word. He then went on to compare his other ex, Jessica Simpson, to sexual napalm.
Now, though, John is out on a good will tour. Check out this brand- new video of Mayer apologizing to his fans for being a jerk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN MAYER, SINGER: I never ever in my entire life have I ever thought it would be a good idea to be an (EXPLETIVE DELETED). But you know what? There`s plenty of (EXPLETIVE DELETED) who would say the same thing. So I understand. My heart is bigger than ever. Thank you guys for filling it up. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Megan, do you think anybody else is buying John`s apology other than me? I like to give people the benefit of the doubt here.
ALEXANDER: Sure. Well the damage was pretty hefty, Brooke. You know, the year of 2010, a celebrity can Twitter whatever they want, don`t run it past a publicist and then essentially shoot themselves in the foot, which is what John did. He`ll be apologizing for a while.
ANDERSON: A long time. But it`s a great step, I think, in terms of repairing his image. Ben Widdicombe, Megan Alexander, thank you both.
The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines lighting up all day about the Seaworld trainer killed by a whale. There is a raging debate. Should we keep whales in captivity?
Brenda calling from Kansas doesn`t see any problem with it.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BRENDA, CALLER FROM KANSAS: I do not think it`s wrong to keep the orcas in captivity at Seaworld. They are well-taken care of and it`s a great place to take your family.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thanks, Brenda. We also heard from Jessica calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Louisiana. She hates the idea of places like Seaworld.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JESSICA, CALLER FROM LOUISIANA: I don`t think there`s any scientific value with these animals. I think it`s solely for the purpose of entertainment and for profit. I think that these animals are captured for entertaining purposes only. And I think it`s abusive. They should not be capturing these animals and using them for entertainment value.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Jessica. Call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about this or anything else at all. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open 24/7 - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Leave a voicemail. We`ll play your call here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Hey, I am so impressed by Jessica Simpson, because, you know, she got slammed for her body, which I think was totally ridiculous that she received that criticism. But she`s turned that into a big-time positive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: Being in Uganda, I definitely saw and experienced the concept of beauty that I`d never heard of.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He thinks fat is beautiful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight, Jessica fighting back. Her amazing new worldwide mission to show people everywhere that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Tiger Woods` brand-new attack today. Tiger is furious with PETA for using him as animal birth control. But you won`t believe which big celebrity PETA is going after now.
And tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week. Ellen DeGeneres for her fighting with Simon on her first week live on "American Idol." Charlie Sheen for his shocking decision to go into rehab. Or Nadya "Octumom" Suleman - does she really want more kids? Oy vey. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Clint Eastwood, Bob Dylan among those honored by President Obama with National Arts Award. Fox`s "Family Guy" is the show getting the most FCC indecency complaints.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight, Johnny Depp may be taking a jump back in time to "21 Jump Street." This is such a big show in the `80s. It was Depp`s breakthrough role as one of the undercover baby-faced cop busting the bad guys. It made him an instant hunk.
Now, Johnny may be jumping back to where it all began. "Entertainment Weekly" reports today that Johnny says he would love to play cop Tom Hanson again. We`ll see. A new "21 Jump Street" movie is in the works.
And let me tell you this - there was plenty of jumping going on at "The View" today. Did you see this? Dr. Gadget showing off the hottest gadgets of 2010 on "The View," one of them called "duck hunter." And well, Sherri didn`t do so hot with it. The duck actually hunted her. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GADGET, GUEST: And we`ll throw it up and I`m going to shoot it - yes, shoot it. Shoot it. Yes, yes, yes. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot. Yes, yes, yes, yes.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I got it. I got it. Oh, my gosh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Hey, Sherri, duck? That does look pretty fun though. Nice sound effects. Thank you.
I`ve got to say this killer whale story really has fired up our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook fans.
Melissa M. writing on our wall, "I think it is very sad that this happened and my heart goes out to the family of this beautiful young woman. My family and I were just there a few months ago and I remember her. I have to say we go visit every year and the animals always seemed so happy."
But Barbi C. doesn`t like places like Seaworld, "They are wild animals. And enough is enough for them. They deserve to be free as they were meant to be. How would any of us like it?"
You can connect with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT in so many ways, become our fan on Facebook, join us on Twitter to get breaking entertainment news alerts, call us, "Showbiz on Call," and there`s always E-mail. Showbiz Connects on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Check it out.
And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Tiger Woods brand-new smackdown. Tonight, Tiger scores a big win against people who are using him to promote animal birth control.
And a brand-new debate today over the killer whale. Wow. Wait until we reveal the results of our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll - "Should dangerous animals be used as entertainment?"
And Jessica Simpson`s unbelievable new worldwide mission today to show people that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Holy price tag! 1939 Batman comic sells for more than $1 million at auction. Wayne Newton turns away officials trying to collect $500,000 debt he owes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: Being in Uganda, I definitely saw and experienced a concept of beauty that I`d never heard of.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He thinks fat is beautiful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Jessica Simpson`s brand-new beauty battle. Jessica fighting back today after being slammed for her weight. Her unbelievable new global mission to prove beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Tiger Woods` brand-new smackdown. Tonight, Tiger scores a big win against people who were using him to promote animal birth control.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week. Is it Ellen DeGeneres for her so-so first live week on "Idol" and reported feud with Simon? Charlie Sheen back in rehab? Or the octumom for saying she may want more kids.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood.
And tonight, Jessica Simpson`s beauty battle. She`s taking on the world. Michael Douglas` son won`t be out in the free world any time soon. And Tiger Woods roars at PETA. It`s all making big news in the buzz today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): PETA loses Tiger attack. The People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals tells us it is canceling plans to feature Tiger Woods on a billboard after Woods` reps, quote, "very courteously asked the group to reconsider the concept."
The ad was supposed to be a plea to spay and neuter pets using a photo of Tiger and the tag line, "Too much sex could be a bad thing." Now, PETA says it`s considering replacing Tiger with South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford whose cheating scandal made headlines of its own.
Michael Douglas` troubled son denied bail. Cameron Douglas will have to wait in prison until he is formally sentenced on drug charges after a judge denied his request to be released on bail.
Attorneys for Cameron Douglas tried to convince the judge growing up with a famous dad led to a troubled life. The judge didn`t buy that argument and the younger Douglas will stay locked up for now.
Jessica Simpson`s price of beauty.
SIMPSON: There`s a lot of pressure to feel beautiful.
ANDERSON: You`re getting a first look at Jessica`s Simpson`s provocative new show, "The Price of Beauty." The show follows Simpson and her friends as they travel the world looking at different cultural standards of female beauty. The show debuts on VH1 on March 15th.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So Jessica takes her campaign to redefine beauty around the world with her new reality show, will she finally be able to shut down all of her critics? Or is she giving them even more ammunition to make fun her?
Joining me tonight from New York, Midwin Charles, who is a legal contributor for "In Session" on Tru TV. And from Hollywood, Carlos Diaz, who is a correspondent for "Extra."
Midwin, Carlos, I`ve got your first look at Jessica Simpson in action on "The Price of Beauty" traveling to Uganda to meet women who are getting themselves ready for marriage. And they are doing this by spending a bunch of time in a fattening hut. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: Being in Uganda, I definitely saw and experienced the concept of beauty that I`d never heard of.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He thinks fat is beautiful.
SIMPSON: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is where they prepare her food for marriage. They want you to go to your husband when you`re looking good and beautiful. And beautiful is big.
SIMPSON: How long has she been in here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two months.
SIMPSON: This is the complete opposite of everything I`ve ever known.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Listen, I`ve got to say, I think it`s wonderful that Jessica is showing through her new show that she`s not the superficial person that she`s been made out to be by some. Carlos, is this exactly what she needs to do to silence all of those critics?
DIAZ: Yes, it`s exactly what she needs to do because America`s concept of what is beautiful - thin to win, you know - is terrible. I`ve interviewed Jessica on the red carpet when she`s been terribly thin. And they say, "Oh, look at her mom jeans. She`s so big. She`s so fat."
I think it`s beautiful that she`s gone and experienced other cultures that they`re having it in line, that, you know what? The bigger, the better. And by way, we do have fattening huts here in America. They`re called Pizza Huts, but it`s a whole different subject.
ANDERSON: Ah, yes. Good one. Good one, Carlos. Well, you know, this certainly does the show a different side of Jessica. And in another scene on the show, Jessica struts her stuff down a cat walk at a couture fashion show in Paris right alongside stick thin models. I say go, Jessica. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: I was invited to walk a runway. That is a huge fear of mine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, you`re so authentic. It`s something you`re worried maybe about? Are you afraid to be in the show.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you nervous?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She`s not a model.
SIMPSON: I`m on this journey. Why not face some fears?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. Listen, Jessica, beautiful, not fat by any stretch. But by walking next to waif-like models, you`re going to look like you`ve got meat on your bones as you should. But I think this was really, really courageous of her. Midwin, are you with me?
CHARLES: I do. I think it is courageous of her, and I applaud her. I think this is a brilliant idea. I love the show, love the concept. Love the idea of traveling the world and letting people know, letting the public in America, particularly, know size isn`t everything. And across the globe, it means different things to different cultures.
ANDERSON: Yes. Very starkly different realities in different cultures and she`s discovering that. And I`ve got to tell you, there are, though, a lot of people that are going to have a hard time taking Jessica seriously, really, no matter what she does.
Carlos, do you think some people are going to maybe cringe they thought Jessica Simpson representing Americans around the world?
DIAZ: You know, in all honesty, I don`t know if Americans are any smarter than Jessica Simpson if you really took a poll. You know, but the great thing about Jessica is, she doesn`t pull on the air about her that some stars put on, that they`re better than you.
She is so giving and she is so welcoming of people. I`ve seen it up close and personal. She is a very personable welcoming person. I think she`s a great representation of what America should be.
ANDERSON: And she seems real. She just gives it to you, tells it like it is.
DIAZ: Exactly.
ANDERSON: I think this is a bold move by Jessica. I`m really looking forward to seeing more of the show when it premieres mid-March.
And I want to move now to the Tiger Woods billboard. Guys, you`ve got to listen to this. Animal rights group PETA told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT today that it scrapped plans to use Tiger Woods in a billboard after his reps very courteously asked them not to.
I`ve got to say, I`m glad they`re not moving forward with the billboard, not because it would humiliate Tiger, but because I think Tiger`s wife, Elin, has been through enough. Midwin, do you agree that the more you humiliate Tiger, the more you humiliate his poor wife?
CHARLES: Of course. But even irrespective of that, Brooke, I just think the ad, in and of itself, is in poor taste. Why compare this man to animals, you know, that need to be spayed or neutered. I think it`s really low on PETA`s behalf. I`m sorry.
ANDERSON: Carlos, what do you think about their decision to pull the ad?
DIAZ: I think PETA has got a scent of onions on them that are amazing. Wow. I mean, taking on Tiger Woods? That is unbelievable. And by the way, I love how they say that the lawyers were very nice. How do you say, "We`re going to sue you to Hades," in the nicest way possible? You know, "We`ll see you (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but we`re nice about it. We`re OK with it."
ANDERSON: And what were you referring to when you were talking about onions? No, no, no, no. I don`t want to go there.
DIAZ: That`s what you`re supposed to spay or neuter I think.
(CROSS TALK)
ANDERSON: Yes. I don`t want to know about that. So Midwin, moving forward, what do you think? How should Tiger and his wife deal with this? Because he is a punch line and everybody is getting a joke out of Tiger Woods. Very quickly.
CHARLES: You know, I think it`s time. Time. Time heals all. You know, we live in the United States of amnesia, people tend to forget things as time goes on.
ANDERSON: Yes. Let`s give it a little more time.
CHARLES: And that`s the best way to deal with it.
ANDERSON: Have some patience. Midwin Charles, Carlos Diaz, thank you both.
It is the Friday night showdown that I`ve been waiting all week for. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week.
Will it be Ellen DeGeneres? She has sparked a fiery debate about her job as a judge during her first live week on "American Idol." Or is it Charlie Sheen for his startling return to rehab? Or maybe Nadya Suleman, the octumom`s mind-boggling claim that, hey, she may want another kid.
And breaking Simon Cowell romance news, we find out once and for all today if the "American Idol" judge is getting hitched.
And we`ll also have Paris Hilton`s racy new beer ad.
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ANDERSON: The outrage today because - wait for it - the ad gives blonds a bad name. It`s the brand-new Paris Hilton ad controversy that`s got people in a lather. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Autopsy reveals Brittany Murphy died of pneumonia, severe anemia and cold medication. Whitney Houston`s rep she`s having a "terrific time" on tour despite bad reviews.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Breaking wedding news. After weeks of speculation, it is official - Simon Cowell is engaged. The crotchety, fun, loveable "American Idol" judge has just reportedly popped the question to his girlfriend. She`s a makeup artist on "Idol."
And according to "Radar Online," wedding bells could be ringing very soon although there`s no word yet on a date. Congrats Simon. I always new you are a bit saucy. Simon`s rep tells us, quote, "Simon does not discuss his private life."
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming the most provocative celebrity of the week.
So, who will we name? Will it be this lady, Ellen DeGeneres? She`s sparking controversy on her first live week on "American Idol," even had the guts to take on the mean man himself, Simon Cowell. Or will it be Charlie Sheen for his bold decision to take a break from his hit show, "Two and a Half Men," and preemptively enter a rehab? Or Nadya Suleman, the octumom? She`s got 14 kids, total, as we know. And this week on "The View," she said she might want to have another one. Are you kidding me?
Joining me tonight in New York, Ben Widdicombe, who is a celebrity journalist. Also tonight, in New York, Megan Alexander who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition."
I want to begin with Charlie Sheen. Boy, this is one major nominee. He`s checked into rehab for what he calls, quote, "a preventative measure." That forced his hit show "Two and a Half Men" to go on hiatus. His wife, Brooke, rehabbing, too.
Megan, after so many weeks of truly explosive developments in Sheens` personal life, should he be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week?
ALEXANDER: Well, you know, normally, Brooke, I would say yes. But it seems this is nothing new for him. This will be his third stint in rehab. He`s got to clean up his act. He`s got a lot of work to do. But I don`t think he was the most provocative.
ANDERSON: Well, Sheen`s wife, Brooke Mueller, also in treatment. Her attorney told me that she`s got nannies and relatives taking care of her and Charlie`s young children, those two twin boys, in the meantime.
No doubt this couple is hurting. It`s a tough time for them. And our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page has been blowing up today over this.
Beverly H. thinks he should be the winner today, writing, "I`m thinking it`s Charlie Sheen or his wife or maybe you could do a two-for-one special. Ben, should SHOWBIZ TONIGHT name Charlie Sheen most provocative celebrity of the week?
WIDDICOMBE: You know what? I`m going to name Charlie Sheen a close second because he`s been criticized quite roundly in the media by addiction experts who have implied that there`s really no such thing as pre-hab.
You either need to go in for treatment or you don`t. And it has been suggested this is because of a PR spin on something that wealthy celebrities do that other people can`t do. So, no. I`m going to call him number two this week.
ANDERSON: Ah, I wonder if your number one will be the octumom, because she has definitely sparked outrage this week after dropped a whopper of a bombshell on "The View." She said, "Hey, I`m not ruling out having another baby." Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Is this it for kids for you?
NADYA SULEMAN, OCTUPLET MOTHER: Oh, yes, yes, yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Oh, absolutely. If someday, far, far, far, far in the future when they are older, if, you know, God-willing I meet somebody, I`m not going to say 100 percent no I`m not going to someday far in the future get married in the future and want a baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Say what? Megan, sure, she`s provocative, but do you think she has what it takes to beat Charlie Sheen for the title of most provocative celebrity of the week?
ALEXANDER: Brooke, it`s unbelievable that we are even calling her a celebrity. But it was the most chaotic interview ever seen on "The View." Yes, I give it to octumom. I`ve said it before, if you can`t handle five women in one hour, how can you handle 14 kids every day?
ANDERSON: Exactly. Really a great point. Well, I do want to get to this other major nominee today for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week - Ellen DeGeneres. She made her live debut this week on "American Idol" to really with mixed reviews.
And not only that, but she and Simon Cowell sparked major speculation when, mysteriously, they weren`t sitting next to each other anymore. Some are saying that they are butting heads. Here`s Ellen`s take on this. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE: The problem is, Simon wants me and he - can we just show the tape?
SIMON COWELL, "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE: Yes, let`s roll that tape.
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK, you know, you can`t compare the train wrecks that are Charlie Sheen or the octumom to Ellen`s "Idol" controversy. But at the same time, people cannot stop talking about this. Ben, provocative, but is Ellen provocative enough?
WIDDICOMBE: Well, you know, a lot of people are split down the middle on Ellen as a replacement for Paula Abdul. It just shows how healthy the show is. The people are involved. They`re interested.
A lot of people are still loyal to Paula. I think Ellen`s great. So no, I don`t think it`s that provocative. I think it`s just a sign of a healthy show that people are discussing her replacement on the program.
ANDERSON: Well, now, it is time for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to reveal the most provocative celebrity of the week. Drum roll, please.
We are naming Charlie Sheen, because week after week, Charlie Sheen keeps the shocking and dramatic developments coming. And this week, with the rehab, the putting the hit show on hold - Megan, I know your choice is Nadya Suleman. But quickly, you`ve got to admit it is pretty darn provocative.
ALEXANDER: Oh, no, absolutely. The guy has a lot of serious issues, a lot of very serious issues. He`s in the headlines again. Third stint in rehab. This makes sense. It really does. And we hope the best for him and his family.
ANDERSON: OK. Ben, one word - yes or no. Charlie Sheen?
WIDDICOMBE: No, I`m going for octumom.
ALEXANDER: Me, too.
ANDERSON: Octomum - no. You know, you can`t make up the life of Charlie Sheen. It has been a rollercoaster. Ben Widdicombe, Megan Alexander, thank you both.
So what do you think? It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We`re talking about Ellen DeGeneres on "American Idol." Has she made it a better show? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Tonight, is Paris Hilton bad for blonds? The heiress is starring in a racy new ad for a Brazilian beer. In the ad, Paris is entertaining onlookers as she gets ready to cool down with her beer. Watch.
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Granted I think this is quite tame for Paris who once got really freaky with a hamburger in a Carl`s Jr. ad. Remember that? It was too much.
But a Brazilian official is ticked off saying, quote, "It is an ad that devalues women, in particular, blond women."
Apparently, there are rules in Brazil that say beer commercials can`t treat women as sex objects. So now, officials are demanding Paris` ad get yanked off the air. Outrage over that.
And outrage today about the killer whale that killed its Seaworld trainer. I`ve got to tell you, I`m still recovering from the fireworks last night right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And tonight, brand-new video of the moments leading up to the tragedy. Plus, today we reveal the shocking results of our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day asking whether dangerous animals should be used in entertainment.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Neil Patrick Harris to guest star on the hit series, "Glee." iTunes reaches 10 billionth download; Steve Jobs calls man who bought the song.
ANDERSON: It is now time for "Making It Work." Now, this is where stars reveal how they make their relationship work in Hollywood and beyond.
Tonight it`s singer Jewel. Jewel married radio star Ty Murray in a top-secret ceremony in the Bahamas just over a year ago. They eloped after 10 years together. Talk about low key. And Jewel says that low-key attitude is exactly what helps them make it work.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEWEL, SINGER: You know, Ty and I just really make each other a priority. And we don`t live in Hollywood. We stay away from it. And we just enjoy it because we married our best friends, you know?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is so sweet. And in a recent blog on "TheBoot.com," Jewel revealed that she and her husband exchange love letters every single holiday, not just Valentine`s Day. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You are watching the dramatic brand-new video from amateur photographer Todd Connell as Seaworld trainer, Dawn Brancheau`s final minutes before a killer whale attacked and killed her. It`s ignited a powerful debate tonight -should dangerous animals be used in entertainment?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Tonight, we have the explosive reaction to Brancheau`s tragic death which sparked a controversial debate after we asked in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Killer Whale: Is it wrong to use dangerous animals in entertainment?" A whopping 88 percent of you said yes. Only 12 percent said no.
Back with us tonight, Ben Widdicombe, who is a celebrity journalist. He`s coming from New York. Also in New York, Megan Alexander, who is the correspondent for "Inside Edition."
You just saw it. Eighty-eight percent of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers say it`s wrong to use dangerous animals in entertainment. Ben, are you shocked by those results?
WIDDICOMBE: I`m a bit shocked, you know, Brooke, because I don`t think it`s a black-and-white issue. I think animal parks represent an ethical compromise. In a perfect world, wild animals would be able to have their habitat without any interference from humans at all.
And the fact is we don`t live in that world. And as someone who eats meat myself and who wears leather, I think it`s hypocritical of me to slam a park like Seaworld where we hope the animals are treated well. So I don`t think it`s black and white.
ANDERSON: Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT got some explosive reaction to this hot debate, which - I agree with you - it`s not black and white. But we got some reaction between HLN`s Jane Velez-Mitchell and animal expert Jack Hanna. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": This animal was born in the wild, in the waters off Iceland and was captured in 1983, an incredibly traumatic event. And it has been kept in tiny confinement for the rest of its life, more than a quarter of a century, swimming around in circles. This is unnatural and I don`t think it`s that educational -
JACK HANNA, ANIMAL EXPERT: I see contented animals, number one, that breed well. And when you see that last year, 168 million people visited our zoos and aquariums. Obviously, we`re doing something right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Megan, which side are you siding with, Jack or Jane?
ALEXANDER: You know, I do think in situations like this, Brooke, that are so horrific and your heart goes out to the trainer`s family, you realize the complicated relationship between man and animal.
And I think we do need to look to experts like Jack Hanna who have devoted their life to this study and to the experts at Seaworld, trainers that love their job. And from all accounts we`ve heard, this trainer, Dawn, loved her job. Loved working with this killer whale.
It`s unfortunate. It gets you to explore that relationship, of how it can be better in the future. I think we`ll have to what the studies find about what actually went wrong here. But it`s a complicated one.
ANDERSON: Yes. It is complicated and I see both sides. I believe animal - wild animals are meant to be in the wild. It is their natural habitat.
But I also see where Jack Hanna is coming from, that there are research and educational purposes and benefits behind it. So it is very complicated. Well said.
Megan Alexander, Ben Widdicombe, we`re going to leave it there for now. Thank you both. Good to see you.
And that is a wrap for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s every night - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern here on HLN. Take care.
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