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Showbiz Tonight
Marie Osmond`s Son Commits Suicide; Rihanna`s Explosive New Tell- All; Good Bye "Oprah," Hello "The View?"; Harry Potter Gay Rights Battle
Aired March 01, 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 - Marie Osmond`s shocking suicide tragedy. Brand-new developments today. Why did her teenage son kill himself? And how Marie is coping today with this horrible tragedy.
Rihanna`s explosive new tell-all out today. Rihanna`s brand-new caught on camera revelations about seeing her dad use crack while she was a child.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIHANNA, SINGER: I caught him a few times.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Rihanna`s incredible new confession about watching nonstop coverage of how Chris Brown beat her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIHANNA: I felt like it was a natural disaster that was happening, the amount of attention that it got.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the brand-new, must-see Rihanna blockbuster.
Good-bye "Oprah," hello "The View?" Barbara Walters` brand-new revelations about "The View" possibly replacing "Oprah." But would that be a bad idea?
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, HLN HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, Marie Osmond`s heartbreaking suicide tragedy.
HAMMER: Tonight, Marie Osmond is dealing something that no mother can ever imagine, the death of her child, let alone a child who took his own life.
But that is exactly what Marie Osmond was dealing with today as brand- new details surfaced about the suicide with her teenage son and how Marie is trying to cope with this unbelievable loss. Our heart really goes out to Marie tonight as she struggles with this terrible tragedy which made for big news breaking today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIE OSMOND, SINGER: I`m so proud of him.
HAMMER (voice-over): It was February of 2008 when Marie Osmond sat down with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and told me about the problems faced by her teenage son, Michael, who, at the time, had just recently entered rehab.
M. OSMOND: The way he`s dealing with it, with, you know, the things that he`s been through. I`m just proud of him. I`m there for him. That`s what we have to do - is be positive.
HAMMER: Unfortunately, the struggle of Marie Osmond`s 18-year-old son Michael has ended tragically. This weekend, she got the news that Michael jumped to his death from his L.A. apartment on Friday night. He reportedly left a suicide note for his friend and roommates detailing his struggles with depression.
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Reportedly, Michael sent a text message to one of his friends saying that there was a note that he had left in the apartment.
HAMMER: Several of Michael`s friends have just spoken with "In Touch Weekly." And senior editor Kim Serafin tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Michael`s roommate Sean and Michael`s close friend Ruth Ann talked about the night he took his own life.
SERAFIN: His friend Sean tells "In Touch" that Ruth Ann in screaming, "Where is Michael?" She grabbed the note starting reading then his friend, Sean, started reading it. While he was reading the note, Ruth Anne ran to the window, heard sirens, looked down and that`s what they saw what had happened.
MARY HART, HOST, "ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT": Michael was in great spirits.
HAMMER: This morning, "E.T.`s" Mary Hart, a close friend of Marie Osmond told CBS` "The Early Show" she saw Michael with Marie only days ago.
HART: They were upbeat. He was very happy and seemed to be looking forward to the future. And that`s one of the reasons this is just so shocking.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT received this new statement from a grieving Marie Osmond, saying, quote, "My family and I are devastated and in deep shock by the tragic loss of our dear Michael and ask that everyone respect our privacy during this difficult time."
Marie Osmond adopted five of her eight children, including Michael, who all became part one of the most famous families in all of entertainment.
SERAFIN: They seemed like such a good family, a family that is close together, a family that probably doesn`t have any problems, you`d think.
HAMMER: But the Osmond`s immense fame didn`t insulate Marie`s young son from the depression and substance abuse problems he reportedly faced.
M. OSMOND: He is the most amazing kid.
HAMMER: An emotional Marie confirmed reports that her son had entered rehab when she appeared with her brother Donny on "Larry King Live" in late 2007. At the time, the Osmonds believed their strong support system would help them endure.
DONNY OSMOND, SINGER: As sappy as a lot of people may think this is, we are a close family.
HAMMER: And almost a year later, Donny and Marie appeared again on "LARRY KING LIVE" with a very positive progress report about her teen son.
M. OSMOND: He is doing fantastic.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": That`s amazing. He is?
M. OSMOND: He is.
KING: Do you see him?
D. OSMOND: Yes. I saw him just the other day. He looks great.
KING: He`s how old now?
M. OSMOND: You know, what I love is that he`s 17. We kind of nipped it in the bud before it got into those statistics.
HAMMER: Now, with her son`s apparent suicide, Marie and her brother Donny have indefinitely suspended their Las Vegas show -
(SINGING)
HAMMER: A show that had been one of highs in the roller coaster period in Marie Osmond`s life.
SERAFIN: Her career has actually kind of really blown up in recent years. Everyone knows her from "Dancing with the Stars." She has the commercials on TV.
But on the other hand, she`s had a lot of struggles, including her father passing away, her divorce and then to add this on top of it is just - it`s just horrible. I can`t even imagine. And I think so many people`s hearts really go out to her.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: If ever there was a doubt that Marie Osmond is so beloved, you only have to look at the outpouring of support that she got today.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra." And in New York, Cooper Lawrence, who is a psychologist and author of "The Cult of Celebrity."
Carlos, Cooper, Donny Osmond, Marie`s brother, asking people to pray for his sister and her family. Cooper, we know how extremely close the Osmond family is. And I think that`s going to be crucial to help Marie get through this.
COOPER LAWRENCE, PSYCHOLOGIST AND AUTHOR: It will be. The thing that`s difficult in these situations is parents tend to blame themselves. You know, "What could have done? Could I have seen this coming? What did I do to cause this?"
That`s not always the situation. You can`t always go back and blame the parents. I`ve already heard little pieces of that coming out in the news. But it`s not about that.
Right now, it`s about the family trying to comfort each other. And good thing they are close because she does have that support system.
ANDERSON: Yes. There`s going to be a lot of grieving for a long time to come, I`m sure. Carlos, you`ve been covering the Osmonds for a really long time. Any insight on what kind of support exactly Marie is getting and that she will need?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Yes, the Osmonds put on a show in Vegas before Donny and Marie took over at the Flamingo. You know, it`s one of those things where you grow up with the Osmonds as I did with Donny and Marie.
And you hope that backstage, they are that family that you saw on the screen. They are exactly that way backstage. I was just in awe backstage looking at the Osmonds in their hugging.
They`re all part of the same kind of group and they really do get along. What you see onscreen is what goes on behind the scenes with the Osmonds. That`s a great thing.
ANDERSON: Yes. I`ve interviewed Donny. I`ve interviewed Marie and they really are a tight-knit family. We know they will have to draw upon that in the days, weeks, months and years to come. Well, we just want to say again, our prayers, our thoughts are with you tonight, Marie. A.J.?
HAMMER: So much to bear there. Almost unimaginable, Brooke. I`ve always admired Marie`s strength and her courage and the way she (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in this unimaginable time.
All right. I do want to move on right now to the startling reports today that Denise Richards may testify against her ex-husband, Charlie Sheen, in his domestic violence case for allegedly attacking his current wife, Brooke Mueller.
Let`s bring up the SHOWBIZ news line right now. Let`s go back to March 2005. Denise filed for divorce from Charlie but then reconciled. On December 30th, 2005, Richards asked for a restraining order against Charlie claiming he shoved and pushed her during an argument and claimed that he also threatened her life.
April of 2006, Denise filed again for divorce. TMZ is reporting that Richards will cooperate if served with a subpoena in Sheen`s current court case. Cooper Lawrence, I`m thinking this could be Charlie Sheen`s worst nightmare.
LAWRENCE: Which part is the worst nightmare, the fact that she`s finally stepping forward and saying that she`s going to support him? Because she didn`t do that when they were together.
It`s actually - it`s very benevolent of her to help him in this situation because this is such a great opportunity for her to say, "You know what? You`re on your own. You treated me terribly. We`re divorced. Good-bye." So it says a lot about her character and the fact that she does see a reason - she sees something in him.
HAMMER: Well, it`s going to be interesting to see what happens and if it actually does come to that. And here`s the thing - I couldn`t help but notice. Tonight, Charlie`s hit sitcom "Two and a Half Men" returned to television with a new episode.
Now, the Olympics are over. Carlos, I`m personally having a hard time understanding given how much he`s been in the news, how people are watching him on his sitcom and finding it within themselves to laugh without thinking at all about what`s going on in his personal life. That`s tough for me.
DIAZ: Yes. You know, A.J., you know the old adage in Hollywood, "The show must go on." The only thing I can think of, A.J., in this situation is that he`s not exactly the moral compass of the show. I mean, he is the bad boy of "Two and a Half Men."
And you know, I mean, the audiences have proven in the past they can ignore what a star does by going to rehab and by getting in trouble and root for them on the small screen. And maybe that`s what`s happening here with Charlie Sheen.
But I completely agree with you. How do you laugh at a guy who is having this many problems in his real life?
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, Cooper, we know people that often confuse actors with the characters they play on TV. Now, again, this is a funny show. What`s going on in his life, the furthest thing from funny right now. There has to be a disconnect to people who are sitting there and tuning in that would be really interesting to see.
LAWRENCE: Celebrities want it both ways. They say, "That`s the character I play. This is who I am. You`ve got to separate it."
But really, come on. We can`t do that. It`s really hard to watch somebody that we know beats his wife, has an alcohol problem, whatever the litany of things that a celebrity might have going against them. It`s hard to watch them as a character and not think about who they are as a human being.
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, we certainly have seen this before with other people. Chris Brown immediately comes to mind and who can really listen to his music, at least not a lot of people, without thinking about that. So I think the same thing is in store for Charlie.
LAWRENCE: I agree.
HAMMER: Cooper Lawrence and Carlos Diaz, I thank you both.
ANDERSON: If you think you`ve heard everything Rihanna has got to say about dealing with the beating that she got from Chris Brown, think again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIHANNA: Seeing it blasted all over every news channel. I thought it was a natural disaster that was happening, the amount of attention that it got. I felt, "Wow, is that me they are talking about?"
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It`s Rihanna`s explosive new tell-all out today. Rihanna`s brand-new, caught-on-camera revelations about watching the nonstop coverage of how Chris Brown beat her. Plus, Rihanna`s blistering confessions about seeing her dad use crack while she was a child.
Also, just in today, good-bye Oprah, hello "The View?" Brand-new revelations today about "The View" possibly replacing "Oprah" straight from the mouth of Barbara Walters. It may not be a bad idea.
And more details today on how Marie Osmond may be coping with the death of her teenage son. Her heartbreaking words to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about her troubled son. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: And Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: "Precious" wins six NAACP Awards including awards for stars Mo`Nique and Gabourey Sidibe. Oprah Winfrey`s "OWN" network acquires TV rights to "Precious."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And now, the SHOWBIZ "Road to Gold." I know Brooke, you, like me, are getting psyched for the Oscars. I`ll see you out there later this week.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. I`m really looking forward to seeing you. We`re going to have a great time. And yes, we are less than a week away to the big night. One of the Oscar favorites is Jeff Bridges. He`s up for Best Actor for his role in the movie, "Crazy Heart." I love the film. But get this - Bridges almost didn`t take the part. And that`s just one of the many secrets of "Crazy Heart" that Bridges revealed to me.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF BRIDGES, ACTOR: I`m Bad Blake, darling. I`m the band.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Jeff Bridges is the odds-on favorite to win his first Oscar for playing Bad Blake, a down and out country singer in the movie, "Crazy Heart."
BRIDGES: I`m 57 years old. I`m broke.
ANDERSON: But surprisingly, he nearly passed on the role.
BRIDGES: After I turned it down, I ran into my old buddy, T-Bone. And he asked, "What do you think about this script, `Crazy Heart?`" And I said, "Well, are you interested?" And he said, "Yes. If you`ll do it, I`ll do it." And I said, "Oh, man, let`s go."
ANDERSON: T-Bone Burnett, the musical mastermind of "Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou," signed on as a producer and co-wrote much of the soundtrack.
T-BONE BURNETT, PRODUCER, "CRAZY HEART": This whole movie was all - produced a small circle of friends doing it. It was a movie so much by and about friendship.
ANDERSON: Bridges was already an amateur guitarist, so he concentrated on tailoring his vocals to the role.
(on camera): I heard that you did part of your training with your vocal coach over the phone?
BRIDGES: Roger said, "Oh, we can do it over the phone. You don`t have to come down. I can hear what you`re doing."
ANDERSON: He`s that good, huh?
BRIDGES: If he was that good, he wouldn`t need you (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
I apologize for being less than you probably imagine me to be.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Tapping into Bad Blake`s alcoholic head space was another story.
BRIDGES: I`m not as deep into alcohol as Bad, but I`ve certainly been puke drunk. I`ve been hung over, you know. And actors - we use sense memory where you conjure those things up and you relive them.
ANDERSON: For a scene that required 20,000 screaming fans, "Crazy Heart" borrowed the audience at a real show.
BURNETT: The concert scene was shot and there were two songs shot in 12 minutes or so.
BRIDGES: Oh, yes. Yes.
BURNETT: They`re in the break of a Toby Keith concert
(SINGING)
ANDERSON: But at a recent showcase in Los Angeles, Bridges and Burnett had no trouble drawing an audience of their own. Even Elton John couldn`t resist tickling the ivories in an impromptu "Crazy Heart" jam session.
(on camera): Are you two going to cut an album now?
BURNETT: I think we will. This is just me talking.
BRIDGES: Yes. Yes. It would be wonderful.
ANDERSON: In finding his character, Bridges may have found a second career.
(SINGING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And of course, we`re going to find out if Jeff Bridges wins his first Oscar this Sunday. I`ll be rooting for him. And we`re going to be right there at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards live.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. It is the SHOWBIZ "Road to Gold." Two very special live editions of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, 7:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN, then post-Oscar coverage at 11:00 p.m. Eastern right here on HLN.
HAMMER: As we move on tonight, Brooke, I`m so impressed by Jessica Simpson lately. She`s been fighting back against all of those people who dared to call her fat. Now, she`s on attack in the new issue of "Allure" magazine. I think she looks spectacular in this thing.
ANDERSON: She certainly does. I agree with you, A.J. And our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been lighting up about this. Lana from Kentucky says, amen, sister.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
LANA, CALLER FROM KENTUCKY: I`ve never been a huge fan but I have a whole new admiration for her for not backing down on this weight issue. She`s not overweight. She`s a normal-sized woman. And it`s nice to have somebody to speak out for those of us who are normal size and just a bit curvy.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Amen, Lana. Thanks for your call.
HAMMER: And we also heard from Karen calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Indiana. She is also cheering for Jessica.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KAREN, CALLER FROM INDIANA: I don`t believe that Jessica Simpson has anything to prove to anyone. And she shouldn`t care what anybody thinks. She`s just 25. She`s beautiful. She`s talented and it doesn`t matter what size she has. She has nothing to prove.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you, Karen. We would love for you to call us at "Showbiz on Call" to sound off on this or anything else that`s on your mind.
ANDERSON: The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open. Here`s the number - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voicemail. We will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: OK. This brand-new explosive Rihanna TV tell-all out today. It is just unbelievable. Listen to what Rihanna says about seeing her dad use crack when she was a kid.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIHANNA: Yes, I caught him a few times and, you know, I really didn`t know it was crack. I didn`t know what it was.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. And Rihanna is also confessing about watching the nonstop TV coverage about how Chris Brown beat her. This is a must-see interview and you will see it only here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
OK. I think Ellen DeGeneres has done good job on "American Idol" so far. But wait until you see the results of our brand-new SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll just out today. The question is, "Has Ellen made `Idol` better."
And the dancing baby who took on Prince and won. A big battle over Prince`s "Let`s Go Crazy."
(MUSIC)
The baby fought the law and the baby wins. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Chynna Phillips checks out of facility where she was being treated for anxiety. "Shutter Island" tops box office for second week in a row, pulling in more than $22 million.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: I love this. This video of a baby dancing to Prince`s "Let`s Go Crazy" is great. The folks over Prince`s label - well, they didn`t and they went crazy. Tonight, score one for the baby.
All right. Did you see this? A woman posted this video of her baby on YouTube, the kid dancing around to Prince`s classic hit, "Let`s Go Crazy." And the clip - it totally blew up. Everybody loved this thing except for Universal Music who said, "Hey, that`s our song. Take it down."
Well, the mom and the label got into a legal war. But get this - a California court has just ruled that Universal did not have a right to tell the mom to take down the clip. In fact, they may have to pay the mom`s legal fees. So there.
ANDERSON: He`s harmless. He`s a baby for crying out loud. Good for them. Michael Douglas` unbelievable new confession. Michael Douglas taking some of the blame for his son going to prison. Thirty-one-year-old Cameron Douglas pleaded guilty to dealing meth and cocaine and faces a minimum 10-year prison term.
In revealing "Vanity Fair" magazine interview, Michael Douglas said he put his career ahead of being a father like his own dad, Kirk, did, which may have a drastic effect on his son, "My priorities were similar to my father`s career first. It will ultimately be a painful lesson and very expensive as far as time is concerned. I don`t wish it on anybody. But then, you know, look, everybody has got difficult things in life."
HAMMER: Our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook fans have just been fired up about Jessica Simpson`s new TV show. Now, in it, Jessica goes all over the world to show beauty comes in all shape and sizes. And I can tell you there is a hefty debate on our Facebook page right now.
We`re hearing from Jessica M. writing, "Jessica Simpson can sing but she hasn`t put out anything good since she has been with Nick Lachey. And trust me when I say that the woman cannot act."
But Dina S. says, hey, give Jess a chance, "People forget she`s a real human being with feelings just like the rest of us. I`d say the girl has paid her dues."
You can connect with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT in so many ways. Become our fan on Facebook. Join us on Twitter to get breaking entertainment alert. You can always call us at "Showbiz on Call." There`s also E-mail always available. Showbiz Connects, right there on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
ANDERSON: And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Rihanna`s shocking new TV tell-all out today. Rihanna on seeing her dad use crack while she was just a child.
Barbara Walters says "The View" may replace "Oprah" when "Oprah" goes bye-bye. Good idea?
And brand-new Harry Potter gay rights battle today. The dramatic move by Daniel Radcliffe to save lives all over the world. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Controversial "Bachelor" couple, Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney marry in California. Premiere of Jerry Seinfeld`s new show, "Marriage Ref," draws 15 million viewers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Marie Osmond`s heartbreak New details today about her son`s shocking suicide and how she`s coping right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIHANNA: Seeing it blasted all over every news channel, I felt like it was a natural disaster happening, the amount of attention it got. I felt like, wow, "Is that me they are talking about?"
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Rihanna`s jaw-dropping new confessions about being beaten by Chris Brown. Her explosive new tell-all out today. Plus, Rihanna`s revelations about seeing her dad use crack when she was just a child.
"The View" replacing "Oprah?" Big news from Barbara Walters herself about the ladies possibly replacing Oprah. But would that be a bad idea?
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. And tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you Rihanna`s brand-new explosive new tell-all caught on camera.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. Truly remarkable revelations from Rihanna that you are about to hear about her past and moving on from all the Chris Brown drama. It all made for big news breaking today.
In this brand-new interview with CNN, Rihanna reveals what life was like growing up watching her dad smoke crack. She also makes remarkable revelations about what it was like to see her name splashed across the news after she was beaten by Chris Brown. We will show you this absolutely captivating new interview.
ANDERSON: And in more big news breaking today, Marie Osmond`s heartbreak after the sudden and devastating loss of her 18-year-old son. What does she need to do to get through this? And tonight, Marie`s heartbreaking words to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Joining me in Hollywood is Tanika Ray who is an entertainment journalist. Also tonight in New York is Dr. Judy Kuriansky, who is a clinical psychologist and author of this book, "The Complete Idiot`s Guide to a Healthy Relationship."
Dr. Judy, Tanika, I`ve got to start with the absolutely remarkable interview with Rihanna. She sat down with CNNI`s "TALK ASIA" host, Anjali Rao, and she revealed a great deal. She talked about moving on, how she got past the Chris Brown beating drama. And she talked about what it was like growing up with a dad who was addicted to crack. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANJALI RAO, HOST, "TALK ASIA": He says that the lowest point in his life came when you were nine and he was in the kitchen doing crack and you caught him.
RIHANNA: Wow. I didn`t know he said that. Yes, I caught him a few times. And you know, I didn`t know it was crack. I didn`t know what it was. I just saw something that just - it was happening too often and my mom didn`t like it.
I just remember that. That made me know it was wrong. She just - every time she saw this specific thing, the foil and the ashtray, she just would go off. And they separated several times because of it.
And eventually, it ruined their marriage, you know. She was just like, "You`re going to kick the drug habit and see your kids or you`re not going to see your kids at all, because they can`t see you like that."
RAO: Your personal life has gotten a huge amount of attention and what happened with Chris Brown when he assaulted you. That was massive news at the time. Because people actually really, really cared about you. They didn`t want to see you hurt.
RIHANNA: Right.
RAO: How do you feel about things now?
RIHANNA: I feel like it`s behind me. I think it`s something that - you know, when there`s something exploded in the media in such a big way, it`s hard to ever just completely get rid of, you know, because people always - people want to know. So I know that I`ll be asked about it probably for the next couple of years, unfortunately.
But I`m in a different place now. That was a rough time for me, I`m going to admit. It was tough. And when I think about it, it was a really dark time for me. But I have a good balance in my life now. And I feel like we`ve done a great job at plowing through and moving forward, you know.
There was a lot to get through to get to this point now. And now, the focus is the music. The focus is the passion. The focus is the tour. You know, people aren`t so focused on Chris Brown anymore, you know.
RAO: That was part of your private life but of course it was a massive great splash in the public arena. I imagine that that would have made it doubly difficult to deal with as opposed to handling it behind closed doors.
RIHANNA: Definitely. Absolutely. It would have made a lot different only because, you know, that`s something that no one wants anybody to know that`s happening in a relationship. Even if it just happened one time, nobody wants to talk about that.
That`s just something that is a memory you just want to erase right away. So seeing it plastered all over every news channel like - I felt like it was a natural disaster happening, the amount of attention it got. And every time I tried to watch TV, I mean, it was - if it wasn`t breaking news, it was the line at the bottom going across the screen.
And I just felt like, "Wow, is that me they are talking about?" It was crazy. It was hard for me to deal with that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You know, watching that, I don`t think I`ve ever seen Rihanna so relaxed, so at ease talking about what she went through after being beaten by Chris Brown. Dr. Judy, when you were watching what we just saw, did you get a sense that maybe Rihanna has found peace with all of it?
DR. JUDY KURIANSKY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: For the time being, I would say, Brooke, but I`m a little bit concerned about it because this goes very, very deep when she`s got a dad she grew up with who had a crack cocaine habit. And then, she had this horrific, abusive-many-times-over experience over with Chris.
She may be in a good state now, God bless her. It sounded real, but I worry about her future because she may get involved with some other guy in an effort to reform her dad, because that`s at the core of the little girl inside.
ANDERSON: Hopefully not. Hopefully, that healthy state will continue. And she talked about how she dealt with seeing her name splashed across all of the news channels as if her incident with Chris Brown was covered like a natural disaster. You heard her. That`s what she called it.
Tanika, given all she`s been through, I found it even more impressive that she`s able to talk about it with such ease, with such grace, really.
TANIKA RAY, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": It`s been a year and she`s had time to really process it over the year with the best people around her. And also, don`t forget. That album was incredibly dark.
ANDERSON: Yes.
RAY: She was able - it was like a catharsis for her. She was really able to purge all those demons through her album, which I`ve been very honest about before, was a little too dark for my taste -
ANDERSON: Me, too.
RAY: With pull the trigger and all that stuff. But she`s got it out of her system.
ANDERSON: That`s what she needed to do.
RAY: Exactly. And maybe that`s why she`s in this peaceful place because she was able to purge the demons and move forward.
ANDERSON: Express her problems through her lyrics.
RAY: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: Boy, she is a survivor, having overcome a tough childhood and this incident with Chris Brown.
RAY: Resilient.
ANDERSON: She`s very resilient. I`ve got to move now to the late breaking developments in an absolutely tragic story - Marie Osmond`s son committing suicide. Police say her son, Michael Blosil, was just 18 years old when he fell or leaped from an apartment building in Los Angeles.
Today, Marie spoke out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT saying, "My family and I are devastated and in deep shock by the tragic loss of our dear Michael and ask that everyone respect our privacy during this difficult time."
I know that people often say that the worst possible thing is for a mother to outlive her child. Dr. Judy, how can she possibly cope with this indescribable loss?
KURIANSKY: I think she`s going to have to go through a lot of emotional feelings. There is the tremendous depression about this. And there`s also anger because he left a note not for his mom saying, "I love you," but for a girl who was a friend and saying how lonely he was.
That`s going to make Marie, in my opinion feel, quite guilty about it and angry at herself and at him and really worried, worried about her own workaholism, worried about her other children.
And I think this is going to take a long time for her to really get over and to process through all those emotions.
RAY: And parents feel guilty any way.
ANDERSON: And parents always feel the guilt.
RAY: And you know, she`s somebody who definitely has persevered through some really difficult times. But I cannot imagine what she`s going to have to draw through to get through this. Can she pull on that hope, the positivity that she is still well-known for through this? She`s going to have to.
RAY: It`s amazing how much hope and happiness she gives to her fans. And now, she`s going to rely on her fans giving that back to her. I cannot even imagine going through this.
ANDERSON: No.
RAY: It is like literally the three strikes you`re out. It`s the father passing away. It`s the divorce and now, her son. She`s got to be distraught. She needs to just go away, spend time with her kids -
ANDERSON: Family and friends.
RAY: Be mama bear and heal, because this is so tragic.
ANDERSON: Yes, take some time out.
RAY: Yes, absolutely.
ANDERSON: Tanika Ray, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, thank you both. And I want you to know, you can send your condolences to Marie Osmond right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at Showbiz Connects.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is on Facebook. Send us your messages right there. You can also follow us on Twitter for breaking news on this story, other breaking news alerts as well. You can phone in your condolences for Marie to "Showbiz on Call" or E-mail us. Showbiz Connects on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: Well, there`s big news just in today about my pals over there at "The View." Barbara Walters` new revelations about the ladies possibly taking over Oprah Winfrey`s spot when Oprah says bye-bye.
New details just out today about Barbara Walters` plans and why taking over Oprah`s spot makes sense. Big time, dollars and cents, I`m talking. But is it really a good idea?
Is Ellen DeGeneres bad for "American Idol?" Now, I love Ellen, but a lot of people are now saying she got off to kind of a rocky start on "Idol." Wait until you hear the results of our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll out today. Could this be real trouble for Ellen?
Plus, Harry Potter`s star`s passionate new gay rights fight. Tonight, Daniel Radcliffe`s dramatic mission to end homophobia and save thousands of lives. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: The cast of the hit Fox show "Glee" to go on tour starting in May. Kirstie Alley launches organic weight loss plan; loses 20 pounds on it so far.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, is it good-bye "Oprah" hello "The View?" In a startling new interview out today, Barbara Walters is revealing for the very first time, "The View" could replace Oprah when Winfrey ends her daytime talk show.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, Tanika Ray, who is an entertainment journalist.
All right. Let`s get into it, Tanika. The brand-new revelations from Barbara first revealed today. In an interview with the "New York Post," Walters reveals that she was the one who actually pitched the idea to ABC of "The View" replacing "Oprah" saying this, "We are comfortable and happy at 11:00 a.m., but 4:00 is better, more lucrative."
Yes. Lucrative, meaning "The View" would obviously make a whole lot more money if it were in syndication as opposed to just on a network. So Tanika, what do you think about this? Do you think the idea of "The View" replacing "Oprah" is a good idea?
RAY: Well, I think for ABC, because they have something that`s tried and true to fill that spot, it`s going to be a huge opening for them. And I`m sure they are freaking out about it.
However, like I said many times before, nothing, no one, nowhere, no how, anybody will replace Oprah.
HAMMER: Well, yes.
RAY: She can dream all she wants. It might be a good idea logistically. But as far as filling the hearts of people, I don`t see it happening. They`re a morning show -
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: But they are going to have to wide-open programming slot that could command a lot of dollars.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: But they`re going to have to do something. Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did reach out to "The View" today about Barbara`s new revelations. They would not address them. They just said, "Yes. We`re thrilled "The View" is getting so much attention."
Now, Brooke, I think it actually could certainly work from a business perspective, putting "The View" on in Oprah`s old time slot. But man, we would miss them at 11:00 a.m. here in New York. Do you think this could work?
ANDERSON: It`s true. We would miss them. But listen, I think it could work for sure. Like Tanika said, the gals of "The View" are tested. They`re proven to be popular and successful.
And as Barbara said, this would be huge for them. You know they want this because the money would be bigger. Syndication would be extremely lucrative, the timeslot better. And ABC would be a fantastic idea for them, because can one person replace Oprah? No.
RAY: No.
HAMMER: So you get a panel of women. I get it. But listen, of course, there are other names being bandied about, if you will. Ellen DeGeneres is one that`s been mentioned as an Oprah replacement.
But I now want to move on for what could be an indicator of bad news for Ellen on "American Idol." The brand-new results today of our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll where we asked if Ellen has made "Idol" better since she replaced Paula at the season`s start.
Well, look at this - a whopping 64 percent said no; only 36 percent said yes. Tanika, number one, does this surprise you? And should we look at this as bad news for Ellen?
Ray: What can I say? I was proven right, again, A.J. You know, I like to be proven right. Here`s the thing. When you guys asked this in the summer, when it first started happening, I said there`s no room for a comedian on "American Idol."
HAMMER: OK.
RAY: I love Ellen. She`s hilarious. Her show is primo. But when it comes down to the talents of the young kids, there`s no place for her to be making jokes. She looks uncomfortable. She looks outside of her comfort zone. And I just don`t get it.
HAMMER: All right, Tanika. I`ve got to jump in and end it there. But I guess it`s an "I told you so" from Tanika Ray. Thank you very much.
ANDERSON: Also making news today, Matt Damon gets political for his next role. The Grinch is now a grand dad. And Harry Potter is now taking a stand against homophobia. It is all making big news in the buzz today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Harry Potter and the war on homophobia. Daniel Radcliffe has just taped a public service announcement denouncing homophobia. The PSA is for a group specializing in suicide prevention efforts among gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender youths. Radcliffe says he became aware of the group while starring in "Equus" on Broadway.
Matt Damon as RFK? Damon has just confirmed reports that he is considering playing Robert F. Kennedy and tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he`s been talking to "Seabiscuit" director Gary Ross about doing the film.
MATT DAMON, ACTOR: Gary Ross, who I`ve known for a while and he`s just this great director. He has the rights to this new biography that Evan Thomas did. And so they are putting a script together now and I`m hoping it`s great so we can go do it.
ANDERSON: Damon made the revelations while promoting his upcoming new action thriller, "Green Zone".
Grandpa Jim Carey. Forty-seven-year-old Carey has just introduced his first grandchild to the world on his Twitter page. Carey released a picture and tweeted, "Jackson Riley Santana, my grandson born today. This is what seven pounds, 11 ounces of California dynomite looks like." Carey`s 22-year-old daughter, Jane, gave birth early Friday morning.
HAMMER: Making news today, did you see this? It is the absolutely hysterical send-up of "We Are the World" remake on "Saturday Night Live." The remake to benefit the Haitian earthquake victims has gotten major heat for some of the, quote, unquote, "musical artists" who were asked to participate. You know, the people you saw in the music video that made you say, huh?
Well, leave it to "SNL" to turn our collective head-scratching moment into a totally hysterical sketch. Watch this.
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Did you see Jennifer Lopez? That was her barely recognizable as Rihanna.
ANDERSON: Very funny. OK. Stay right where you are because we are going to reveal one of the biggest secrets of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the people who are the secret force behind TV`s most provocative entertainment news show. 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: Second season of "Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami" on E! this summer. Kenny Chesney is country music`s biggest moneymaker for 2009, earning $26.5 million.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: And now, one of the biggest secrets of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it`s the people behind the scenes. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT celebrating the completion of our fifth year on the air, Brooke.
ANDERSON: So as we celebrate our anniversary and head into year six, we want to reveal to you our brilliant and talented staff who bring you TVs most provocative entertainment news show.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: A.J., we work with a stellar crew, a whole lot of bright people who make it happen every day. Happy five years.
HAMMER: Yes. As far as I`m concerned, they do the really hard work, Brooke, and we just show up. I mean, I`m speaking for myself.
ANDERSON: It`s true.
HAMMER: That`s how I feel around here.
ANDERSON: It`s true. Me, too.
HAMMER: And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you, one and all. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Take care.
END
