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Showbiz Tonight
Jessica Simpson`s Complete Tell-All to Oprah; Naomi Gone Wild Again?; Baby Gaga; Disturbing Jackson Family Stun Gun Attack; Sarah Palin, Stand-Up Comedian?
Aired March 03, 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, CO-HOST: Big news breaking right now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Jessica Simpson`s incredible complete tell-all to Oprah finally revealed today. For the very first time, Jessica Simpson opens up today about John Mayer`s explosive sex-and-tell about her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA SIMPSON, SINGER AND ACTRESS: Absolutely, I felt betrayed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, does Mayer owe Jessica a public apology? But wait, there`s more. Jessica`s brand-new attack on people who called her fat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: I didn`t want to let people know that it was affecting me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Naomi gone wild again? She whacked her housekeeper with a cell phone. She smacked around her assistant. Now, outrage today over the supermodel going super nuts on her driver? Is anyone safe?
The eight-year-old Lady Gaga impersonator. Oh, so cute or so creepy?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
HAMMER: Well, for the very first time today, we finally got to see the whole much-hyped and much-anticipated Jessica Simpson tell-all to Oprah Winfrey. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is here to reveal it lived up to the hype big time. And it made for big news breaking today.
I can tell you nothing in this conversation was off limits. Today, on "Oprah," we heard exactly what Jessica Simpson thinks about John Mayer`s very public and very crude revelations about his sex life with her.
Jessica also made a dramatic confession today about why she thinks she may be to blame for being the butt of jokes for so long, including the now- infamous mom jeans controversy, when the tabloids went to pounce on her and mocked her for gaining just a little bit of weight. What Jessica revealed to Oprah today really was remarkable.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, it`s Tanika Ray who is an entertainment journalist. With me, right here in New York is Megan Alexander who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition."
All right. I know everybody was waiting today to hear exactly what Jessica`s reaction was to her ex, John Mayer, spilling the beans in that "Playboy" magazine interview about what their sex life was like.
Well, I`m here to tell you Jessica Simpson did not hold back one bit. She really laid it all out there to Oprah. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: I couldn`t read the article. I heard about it and I saw some of the clips and stuff. I tried to read the article and I was so disappointed in him. And I was so - it made me so sad and it was really discouraging because that`s not the John that I knew.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I think that Jessica really took the high road with her response to John Mayer`s sex talk. Megan, I think she sent such a strong message, loud and clear, right to John Mayer, "Hey, you screwed up and you screwed up bad."
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": She did and she did it by saying that she was disappointed versus getting very upset and having it via he said, she said. I thought she was very honest in sharing her feelings, which is nice to see from celebrities because sometimes we forget that they`re human as these things do hurt her feelings.
But I thought that she remained very classy in just responding to each question that Oprah shared and not giving much more.
HAMMER: Yes. And you bring up the key point, the use of the word "disappoint." I mean, Tanika, it doesn`t get really worse than that if you want to tell a person how badly they messed things up.
TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Yes. You know what? Go ahead, Jessica.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: I am such a fan. I`m a reborn again fan of Jessica Simpson. You know, this is the thing. She was responsible for her image to a certain extent. She didn`t know that that was the John she was dating, but he surely exposed himself, didn`t he?
And you know what? For her to be able to process it in her own way and in her own time and not respond when everybody wanted her to, but to be able to really internalize it and then come out and say, "You know what? I don`t hate him. I`m just disappointed." And aren`t we all disappointed in John who I called, I believe a douche, a couple of weeks.
HAMMER: Yes. I believe you did. And I think you just implied it once again. And apparently, he tried to apologize or did apologize to Jessica.
Well, Jessica did set the record straight today on "Oprah" about this apology that she got from John Mayer. And when she responded, she got in another great zinger when Oprah asked her if she felt betrayed by John. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: Absolutely, I felt betrayed. And I just - you know, I hope he gets his life together and -
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Did he apologize to you?
SIMPSON: He did apologize to me but -
WINFREY: Did he call you up and apologized or text you and apologized or -
SIMPSON: I haven`t written back. I don`t accept it.
WINFREY: You don`t accept it?
SIMPSON: No. It`s kind of one of those things like I`m not going to - I don`t resent him. I`m just going to let that go and that part of my life is over.
WINFREY: Let that go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. She said, "That part of my life is over." She didn`t accept his apology, basically, shutting down for good. And I love that little zinger, "I hope he gets his life together."
And Megan, a moment ago, we heard Tanika applauding. I have to believe women everywhere today are applauding and saying, "Right on, Jess. You`re doing this really well."
ALEXANDER: Sure. And who hasn`t made a wrong decision (UNINTELLIGIBLE) when they dated but ultimately care for that person. And her saying, "I hope he gets his life together," I took that a little more sincerely as maybe she really hopes he gets it together.
I mean, I think a lot of people are feeling like John Mayer needs somebody on his team that will help him out with where`s he`s at.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, I have to tell you, there were some things about this interview that did surprise me. Not all the answers we heard were what I expected to hear.
One of the things was when Jessica opened up to Oprah about a very public weight battle. And it all began, of course, when Jessica was photographed wearing these jeans that, by the way, she confirmed today, was just only a size four. But of course, we remember the tabloids went crazy making fun of what they called mommy jeans. Here`s how Jessica responded to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: I was performing at a chili cook off.
WINFREY: Yes.
SIMPSON: And I was - made the headlines even more extravagant.
WINFREY: Right. Like you ate a bowl of chili?
SIMPSON: Well, I actually did eat a big old corn dog before.
WINFREY: Does the conversation about your weight - does it bother you?
SIMPSON: Of course, it does. It would bother any woman, I would think. The fact that I was famous last year for gaining 10 pounds is ridiculous and it`s really sad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I think it`s really sad too. Brooke Anderson, again, I say, hey, bravo to Jessica for admitting that the trash talk bothered her.
ANDERSON: Yes. Bravo. Amen. Hallelujah, sister.
RAY: Yes. Whoo!
ANDERSON: There was such openness, such an honesty about this interview with Oprah. And you really don`t get that a lot with celebrities, because many times, they seem overly guarded, very, very scripted.
This was refreshing and not many times are you going to get a female celebrity admit that yes, this sort of criticism really got to her. I think that Jessica has found a new perspective on beauty and she`s probably gained a whole lot of fans in the process.
RAY: She`s grown up.
ANDERSON: Yes.
HAMMER: Yes, yes. Tanika, to that point, I mean, when do we see celebrities saying, "Hey, yes. The ridicule - that really bothers me, you know. All the tabloid fire bothers me." Usually, they sort of hide and put a facade about this stuff.
RAY: You know what? When you hit rock bottom in a way, the whole world was laughing at her which forced her to really go inward and analyze her life and knock out all the toxic people in her life and really get down to what`s important.
And when you do that, you become a better person. I`m so proud of the evolved Jessica Simpson that is on the stage with Oprah today. All those people that I say, every show - I`m like, "Go away and find yourself."
I literally mean go away, find yourself, get away from the cameras and you`ll be a better person. And she did exactly that. I`m very, very happy that she`s the person she is today. I`m such a fan.
HAMMER: Well, we are, too. Let me get to another thing that shocked me today a little bit, when she said that she thinks her reality show with her husband, Nick Lachey - that`s what opened the door to all the criticism that she received over the years. Jessica told Oprah she thinks that she has no one to blame but herself. And I thought that was interesting. Roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMPSON: I didn`t know what I was signing up for, but I do think I opened myself up to the world of, you know, judgment and of people`s opinions. And in a lot of ways, it is my fault. And I shouldn`t expect people not to -
WINFREY: Don`t call it "fault." I would say "responsibility."
SIMPSON: Yes.
WINFREY: You own it.
SIMPSON: I just didn`t know it would end up being so harsh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I give her a lot of credit, Megan, for her owning up to the fact maybe it was her fault. But in no way to me does that justify people slamming her for her weight.
ALEXANDER: No, not at all. And that reality show was a huge stepping stone for her and her career. I think I understand what she`s saying that, looking back, she seems she didn`t know the media attention would be as intense. But she`s learned from it and she`s certainly moved on.
HAMMER: Let`s all applaud Jessica Simpson. Everybody here.
RAY: Go J. Simp. Go J. Simp.
HAMMER: Tanika Ray, Megan Alexander and the applauding crew, thank you.
All right. Over to you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We`re asking - "Jessica Simpson Tells All to Oprah: Should John Mayer publicly apologize to her?" I actually think so. You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or email showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: You know what, A.J.? I think Naomi Campbell should apologize to a whole lot of people, especially one particular New York City driver. Because tonight, has Naomi gone wild again?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAOMI CAMPBELL, SUPERMODEL: Everybody has demons and I had to look in the mirror and face mine. And until I did that there was not going to be a change in my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: She whacked her housekeeper with a cell phone. She smacked around her assistant. Now, brand-new outrage today over the supermodel going super nuts on her driver. Who`s next? Is anybody safe?
This is so disturbing. Reports today that Michael Jackson`s youngest son, Blanket, was attacked by his own cousin with a stun gun.
Also this -
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON: Check this out. An eight-year-old Lady Gaga impersonating. Is this really cute? Or what do you think? Do you think it`s really creepy? 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: Burt Reynolds back home recovering from quintuple bypass heart surgery. Woman claiming to be Sean Combs` wife arrested after visiting home she thought was his.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Laying on the charge nice and sweet. I`m coming back.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Twenty five -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Twenty-five meters, roger that.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Butcher shot two o`clock. Dude has a phone.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Why is Eldridge running? Come on, guys. Talk to me.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Shut the fort! Shut the fort!
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I can`t get a shot!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Obviously, a very dramatic scene from the Oscar-nominated movie, "The Hurt Locker." Now, in no way do I want to minimize how serious this film is. But I do want to show you this very funny spoof of this very scene. And we`ll do it "Jersey Shore" style.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: Now, the SHOWBIZ "Road to Gold" - "Jersey Shore" does "The Hurt Locker."
HAMMER: Now, the film, obviously, amazing, Brooke. It is up for a best picture Oscar. "The Hurt Locker" about an elite Army squad with a very scary job of disarming roadside bombs in Iraq.
And of course, we salute these soldiers and the incredible work that they do. But I want you to take a look at this very funny spoof of the scene that I just showed you for TBS` "Lopez Tonight," featuring the cast of the hit MTV reality show, "Jersey Shore." Yes, you`ve got The Situation and Ronnie and Paulie D.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, put your helmet on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m not putting my helmet on. It takes me 25 minutes to do my hair.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes. We got a situation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. You`re standing next to me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you mean I`m the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) situation?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m blowing up that situation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re telling me there`s another "the situation?"
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I`m going to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) kill that guy and crack his (EXPLETIVE DELETED) skull open.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, the situation is the bomb.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, thanks, bro. You`re the bomb, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got an IED here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, I got a GED.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is no time to be looking up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She`s going to blow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Call in the jets. Call in the jets.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) the Jets. The Giants rule.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ronnie, Ronnie - well, if it`s OK with you, I`m going to start smashing Sammy out. Don`t say anything if it`s cool. Thanks, brother.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: All right. Very funny stuff. But again, we do appreciate all the work that the real guys are doing in Iraq, Brooke.
ANDERSON: A.J., I hear you on that. And "The Hurt Locker" a great, great movie. And another fantastic also nominated for Best Picture is "Up in the Air." It stars George Clooney as the guy who travels all over the place hired by companies to fire people.
Clooney is up for a Best Actor Oscar and his co-star, the woman who hooks up with in the film, Vera Farmiga, is up for Best Supporting Actress. Now, Vera is a great actress, but she`s not exactly a household name. So tonight, we`re revealing who is Vera Farmiga.
Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERA FARMIGA, ACTRESS: What`s your title?
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: It`s a personal question.
FARMIGA: Please.
CLOONEY: And we hardly know each other.
FARMIGA: Come on, show some hubris. Come on. Impress me.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Vera Farmiga has certainly impressed the Academy. At 36, the actress has earned her first Oscar nomination for her supporting role as a frequent flying adulteress in Jason Reitman`s "Up in the Air".
CLOONEY: Good call on the towel rack.
FARMIGA: It`s a shame we didn`t make it to the closet.
WYNTER: George Clooney is just one of many leading men for the New Jersey native. She worked with Heath Ledger on the TV show, "Roar," Paul Walker in the psychological thriller, "Running Scared" and Peter Sarsgaard in last summer`s "Orphan."
FARMIGA: I`m done connecting the dots for you. When I read the script, it had me guessing.
WYNTER: Most wouldn`t guess the Ukrainian-American beauty, one of seven children, didn`t learn English until she was six. But that didn`t stop her from starring in Martin Scorsese`s Oscar-winning drama, "The Departed."
FARMIGA: Now that you`re here, what do you want?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I`ll bet Vera wants that Oscar. A.J. and I will be right there at the Academy Awards. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live with two very special Oscar shows this Sunday, March 7th. The SHOWBIZ "Road to Gold," 7:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN; then at 11:00 p.m. Eastern on HLN.
HAMMER: All right. Brooke, as move on tonight, I`ve been meaning to ask what you think of Kate Gosselin joining up with "Dancing with the Stars."
ANDERSON: Well, you know, she wants to be a message to her kids - face your fears, work hard and never give up. And I think it`s terrific. I say, why not. And we`ve got lots of people, A.J., calling in to "Showbiz on Call" about this. Jennifer from South Carolina says she will be watching.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JENNIFER, CALLER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA: I think it is good that she is going to be on the show as a mother. She has to do something to support her kids. I will definitely be watching the show and supporting her. I`m a big Kate Gosselin fan. And I hope she wins it all. Good luck to her.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Jennifer.
ANDERSON: The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open. Give us a ring. Here`s the number - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
HAMMER: All right. I`ve got to hand it to Sarah Palin. She has been the punch line of so many jokes. But tonight, I can tell you Sarah is fighting back and she`s doing stand-up.
Yes, she`s cracking one-liners about herself, really. I`m going to show this thing to you. I really want you to see it. Everybody is talking about it today.
Everybody is also talking about the Octomom app today. Seriously, you can take this thing with you wherever you go. How fun and pretty darn weird, if you ask me.
Thinking of weird, also this -
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: That`s an eight-year-old Lady Gaga impersonator. A big debate on this today - is it cute? Is it creepy or what? 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: Producer of "The Hurt Locker" gets banned from Oscars for bad- mouthing "Avatar." Bon Jovi will promote President Obama`s volunteer initiative during its upcoming tour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Betty, did you change the locks again? Live from New York -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: This isn`t live. This is "FunnyOrDie.com."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Did you see this? It`s a brand-new "FunnyOrDie.com" video featuring former "Saturday Night Live" star Chevy Chase reprising his role as President Gerald Ford.
Now, the spoof is all about financial reform. But you know, with all of the actors who played presidents on "SNL" all coming together, you know that the politics will be anything but boring.
And this new video was directed by none other than the great Ron Howard. Yes. Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton, of course, Will Ferrell as George W. Bush and Dana Carvey as Bush 41. You`ve got Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter. And leave it to the man of a thousand faces and voices, Jim Carey, to play the giffer, Ronald Reagan.
They all came together to give President Obama, played by (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Fred Armisen, some presidential advice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM CAREY, ACTOR (as former President Ronald Reagan): There you go again.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: This can`t be. You`re dead. I saw them lower your coffin in the ground.
CAREY: Well, I am dead but I have come back as a spirit to help Mr. Reach- Across-the-Aisles here -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Really cool seeing them all together. Brooke, you`ve got to admit, that`s pretty funny.
ANDERSON: Very funny. OK. As soon as we told you about Kate Gosselin signing on to do "Dancing with the Stars," our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page just exploded.
Diane L. says that Kate should go for it, "A mother with that many kids needs something she enjoys. Give her a break. Dance as if there is no tomorrow. Go girl."
Martha M. disagrees, "She needs to concentrate on her eight kids and not herself. She also needs to go out and get a real job like the rest of us. I will not watch `Dancing with the Stars` this time around."
Stay connected with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Become our fan on Facebook. Join us on Twitter to get breaking entertainment news alerts. Call us at "Showbiz on Call." And there`s always E-mail. "Showbiz Connects" on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: Let me get into the SHOWBIZ lineup. This is what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMPBELL: And I didn`t want to be the way I was. And I`m a work in progress. Every day is a new day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What is going on, Naomi? Naomi Campbell going on the attack again. Outrage today over the alleged smackdown she gave her limo driver.
HAMMER: Plus, the unbelievable reports out today that Michael Jackson`s youngest son, Blanket, was actually shot by a stun gun from his cousin.
And Sarah Palin, stand-up comedian? Really? Today, everybody is talking about the Palin punch lines. But is she really funny? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: "Miracle on Hudson" pilot Chesley Sullenberger retires. Spidey sacked! Marvel Comics says Spiderman will be fired in upcoming issue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMPBELL: Everybody has demons and I had to look in the mirror and face mine. And until I did that, there was not going to be a change in my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Naomi Campbell strikes again. She went to jail for her super-sized temper. Now, the supermodel has people ducking for cover again, reportedly clocking her driver.
The disturbing Jackson family stun gun attack. Reports today about an unthinkable attack on Jackson`s youngest son by his cousin.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Baby Gaga? The must see video today of an eight-year-old slithering around on TV like Lady Gaga. Real cute or is it wrong?
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood. And there she goes again or did she?
HAMMER: Yes. It seems that Naomi Campbell never met a person she didn`t like to beat up. And tonight, she is suspected of doing it again.
Yes, police today were investigating whether this serial temper- tantrum-throwing supermodel used her driver`s head as a personal punching bag because - well, because she`s Naomi Campbell. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that without a doubt, this all made for big news breaking today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): In New York City, there are certain things you can count on like somewhere a cab driver is going way too fast. Or somewhere, there are a lot of people crowded in too small a space. And somewhere, some time in this great city, Naomi Campbell just might be smacking someone silly.
JO PIAZZA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: If there is anything that Naomi is good at, it`s beating people up.
HAMMER: Yes. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the surly supermodel has allegedly struck again, literally. This time, she is accused of smacking a chauffer and then, running off. Naomi`s alleged hit-and-run inspired today`s "New York Post" headline, "Driving Miss Crazy."
PIAZZA: The driver is saying that Naomi reached over, smacked on the back of the head. He hit his head on the steering wheel. The whole thing was very Jason Bourne. I imagine Naomi`s hand as a claw coming through and bashing the guy`s face into the steering wheel.
HAMMER: The driver says when he pulled over to call police, Naomi cat- walked the heck away from the scene.
PIAZZA: Police say that the driver actually does suffer injuries. They could see that there was bruising and swelling.
HAMMER: After the incident New York City police said they wanted to talk to Naomi. And her spokesman said today she`d cooperate with any investigation, telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "There shouldn`t be a rush to judgment. There is more to the story than meets the eye."
PIAZZA: I think that everyone kind of judged Naomi Campbell in this situation because she has a history of beating the help.
HAMMER: Entertainment journalist, Jo Piazza, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Naomi has been in this position before.
PIAZZA: For years, Naomi had incidents involving her assistants, her maid. I think that the NYPD actually has a dedicated officer. They have a gang unit and they have a Naomi Campbell violence unit.
HAMMER: In fact, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, Naomi has a long rap and slap sheet. In 2000, she pleaded guilty to assaulting an assistant with a cell phone and was ordered to attend anger management classes.
In 2007, she was ordered to do community service after attacking her housekeeper with a jewel-encrusted Blackberry -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ms. Campbell, have you any comment to make?
HAMMER: In 2008, Naomi Campbell pleaded guilty to giving the Naomi treatment to police at London`s Heathrow Airport during an alleged tantrum over some missing luggage. Plus, there are the countless other assault accusations that didn`t result in criminal action.
PIAZZA: She was sentenced to do community service for one of her eruptions. And shows up in these four-inch heels, gorgeous dress that you would normally only see on a red carpet. She eats up the attention.
CAMPBELL: Everybody has demons and I had to look in the mirror and face mine.
HAMMER: But in an interview just two weeks ago on CNN International`s "Connect the World," an earnest-sounding Naomi Campbell said she`s trying to work on her infamous anger issues.
CAMPBELL: I don`t want to be the way I was. And I`m a work-in-progress. Every day is a new day.
HAMMER: But if these latest allegations are true, this work-in-progress still has a lot more work to do.
PIAZZA: I don`t think Naomi that spent enough quality time with her demons. I think maybe she needs to take her demons out for a drink. They have a lot more to talk about.
HAMMER: The NYPD tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the driver who says Naomi assaulted him isn`t pressing charges against her.
PIAZZA: He could just be scared of Naomi.
HAMMER: So it seems Naomi Campbell is free to strike another day. And New York, or any city she happens to be in, will never be safe.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: She is definitely back. But I`ve got to ask, if she did strike again, that`s more than three strikes and she should definitely be out.
Joining me tonight in New York is Sunny Hostin, who is a legal contributor for "In Session" on our sister network, Tru TV. Also joining me tonight in New York is Megan Alexander who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition."
Ladies, I`ve got to say, for me this is the final straw for Naomi Campbell. It`s beyond time for the girl to get much more serious anger management - anger management that she takes seriously.
In fact, I think she should be dubbed Naomi the assaulter. A police source told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT today that the driver not pressing charges though. But Sunny, how many times does she have to use people as her own personal punching bag before she gets some real punishment? This is just ridiculous.
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION": She should have gotten the real punishment this time. I should say, in domestic violence cases, you can prosecute cases without the complaining witness. People do it all the time.
The fact he doesn`t want to press charges, in my view, doesn`t mean anything. The government can still go after her. They should have gone after her. And this would be an assault. It would be up to a year in prison and she obviously needs the time.
She`s got real, real problems. She shouldn`t be allowed to get away with this. What if she hits someone the next time and causes real, real injury? What then?
ANDERSON: Yes. And no kidding - the girl scares me. She definitely needs some help. And reps for Naomi told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT today that people should not jump to conclusions.
But I`ve got to tell you, it`s really hard not to jump to conclusions considering that she`s been arrested three times before, pleaded guilty to assault twice. And this latest incident does come not too long after an interview with CNN`s "Connect the World," an interview in which Naomi insists she`s a reformed woman. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMPBELL: Nobody wants to look in the mirror and face their demons and say, "I want to fix this." Nobody does. It`s a scary thing to do and everybody has demons. And I had to look in the mirror and face mine. And until I did that, there was not going to be a change in my life. And I don`t want to be the way I was. And I`m a work-in-progress.
ANDERSON: You could say that again, Naomi, a work-in-progress. It blows my mind that she said all this just a few weeks before allegedly smacking her driver in the head. He said his head hit the steering wheel. Authorities say that the guy is bruised, got a black eye.
Megan, are you with me that Naomi should be thrown into, if not jail, maybe a juvenile home because she certainly is acting like a child.
ALEXANDER: I don`t care if you`re a supermodel or supermarket worker. Everyone should have held to the same standard. Sonny said it - she could serve up to a year in prison. I think the consequences need to be steep enough for that she will truly examine her actions and be in fear of what those consequences could be.
I think the community service obviously didn`t make enough of an impact on her. And she was violent with this driver. The injury is already there. She`s already hurting people.
HOSTIN: Exactly.
ALEXANDER: What`s going to happen next?
HOSTIN: And she served -
ANDERSON: Enough with the tantrums.
HOSTIN: Yes. She served anger management classes. She`s already done that. She`s done the community service and made a mockery out of it by showing up in a gown.
ANDERSON: Yes, a mockery. She`s got to start taking it seriously. She`s so beautiful, blessed with such beauty on the outside. But she`s hideous on the inside.
All right. I want to move now to another frightening, frightening story breaking today. Brand-new reports say today that kids inside the Jackson home may have gotten their hands on a stun gun, running around the house, chasing Michael Jackson`s youngest son, eight-year-old Blanket.
Well, today the Jackson family told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that the stories are not true. They say Jermaine Jackson`s 13-year-old son did buy a stun gun online, but they`re denying reports that Blanket was somehow in danger. Sonny, is this being blown out of proportion? Child Protective Services did visit the home. What does that say to you?
HOSTIN: It says to me that they are investigating the incident. I mean, a stun gun? Come on. How does a 13-year-old do that without any supervision? Without any parental supervision?
I mean, Katherine Jackson is supposed to be supervising Michael Jackson`s children. If she can`t supervise the stun gun being in her home, how can she be responsible for these children?
ANDERSON: They said as soon as - go ahead. Finish your thought.
HOSTIN: And I think that is why Child Protective Services got involved.
ANDERSON: Yes. They said as soon as they knew about the stun gun, they confiscated it. But it is really scary. Kids are savvy online. You`ve got to supervise their time on the computer. Sunny Hostin, Megan Alexander, thanks, ladies. Good to see you.
HAMMER: As we move on tonight, I know you`ve been sitting at home tonight, thinking, "I can`t get enough of the Octomom," right? I know you have. Well, now, you can have the mom of eight plus six on your iPhone. Yes, an app that mocks the Octomom`s very special baby-making abilities. This is very corny.
Sarah Palin`s shocking new star turn. So she quits as Alaska`s governor. Now, she is now doing stand-up comedy. I`m telling you, this is not a punch line. Sarah Palin really cracking jokes on TV. It`s the video you`ve got to see.
Also this -
(MUSIC PLAYING)
You`re looking at a Baby Gaga. This is the caught-on-tape train wreck TV moment with an eight-year-old singing and slinking like Lady Gaga. I`ve got to tell you, for me, it was a little bit cute, but really creepy all at once. I`m thinking you`ll feel the same way. 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: Heidi Montag`s plastic surgeon says he won`t operate on her again. Twenty-three-year-old Lindsay Lohan to write a memoir about her troubled life as a child star.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: Tonight, is the Octomom about to become an app for the iPhone? Say it ain`t so.
HAMMER: Please. And strap yourself in for another three-hour tour. "Gilligan`s Island" returns and it`s all making for a bumpy ride in the buzz today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): "Gilligan`s Island" returns.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
The iconic `60s sitcom is reportedly being turned into a major motion picture. "Variety" reports the plan is for a contemporary take on the misadventures of the seven island castaways. Original "Gilligan`s Island" producer Sherwood Schwartz and his son are on board for the movie.
Borat`s big Oscar boot. Oscar gatekeepers are reportedly putting the kibosh on a planned skit by Sasha Baron Cohen and Ben Stiller. "New York Magazine" reports the pair planned to lampoon Best Director nominee James Cameron.
The skit was supposed to have Cohen dressed as a pregnant alien from Cameron`s movie, "Avatar," accuse the director of being the father of an alien baby. The producers of the Oscars were reportedly concerned Cameron would be so offended he would walk out on the show.
The Octomom? There could be an app for that. A company is reportedly developing a video game app for the iPhone based on Octomom, Nadya Suleman. In the game, a player would shoot a baby out of a pregnant mother directly into the hands of a waiting woman.
There would be extra points for doing it in front of the paparazzi. The company filed a patent for the Octomom name a month before Suleman did the same thing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Oh, goody. And there is more big buzz just in today including Sarah Palin`s remarkable shot at stand-up comedy on national TV.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, it`s Tanika Ray, who is an entertainment journalist. Joining me tonight in New York is Steven Smith who is the host of the "MySpace Music Feed."
HAMMER: Well, we`ve all seen Sarah Palin become the target for a whole lot of stand-up comedians over the years and, of course, "Saturday Night Live." But now, Sarah is striking back. She`s got her own standup routine. And on "Tonight Show," Sarah tried her hand at comedy. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FMR. GOV. SARAH PALIN: Alaska being so different from Los Angeles - here, when people have a frozen look on their face, I find out it`s Botox.
It is so beautiful here though, so warm and beautiful. Back home, it was freezing. It was five degrees below Congress` approval rating.
And I have been really busy, picked up a gig in Las Vegas at the legend`s show playing Tina Fey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Let`s face it. You know, she had the confidence there to get up and do that. I applaud her for that. Personally, I didn`t think the jokes were all that funny. Tanika Ray, how do you think she did?
RAY: She was hilarious. You know, I`ve got to say, I`ve been laughing at her since she came on the public scene. All this time, I didn`t know she was actually a stand-up comedian.
Now, at least, she`s admitting that she`s supposed to be funny, so good for her. You know what? I just feel like maybe she`s going for a sitcom in the future that would suit her. Stay out of politics, sister, and keep making us laugh, because she`s very comfortable in that position and she`s hilarious.
HAMMER: Yes. And as I said, you know, she feels very comfortable in front of a crowd. Delivering jokes is a whole different thing and she was able to pull that off.
I have to move on to some incredible new video that we got today. It`s a mini Lady Gaga. This is a child acting so provocatively. Well, I`ve got to tell you, as cute as it is, it is also downright creepy.
This is eight-year-old Laura Fontana. She took the stage at a Brazilian talent show called "What`s Your Talent?" Watch how this unfolded. Roll it.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: I think what really scares me is the crowd going nuts. I mean, come on, that`s a little creepy. Look at this side by side - Lady Gaga and her. You`ve got the leotard, the makeup. Yes, she looks the part.
Let`s remember she`s eight years old. She is dressing and acting like a sexually provocative pop star. Steven, are you with me that this is wrong on so many levels?
STEVEN SMITH, HOST, "MYSPACE MUSIC FEED": I really want to. But for those of us who remember when Madonna came out, there were a lot of little girls who didn`t know what "Like a Virgin" was about, who were humming along and dressing with the bangles and wearing big bows and having the little tiny, fingerless lace gloves.
So sadly, I don`t see anything different. I really think that Lady Gaga is still trying to be Madonna. So this is probably the next step in revolution.
HAMMER: Well, Tanika, what do you think? I mean, her parents put her on the stage. And now, it`s been seen around the world. Well, I don`t know. Creepy to you?
RAY: No. You know what, A.J.? I can understand if you`re not familiar with little kids that have taken dance classes. I was in dance class from the age of three years old and we wore leotards and tights. We shook our little butts around because we were performing and we were outgoing. That is typical.
SMITH: Me, too.
HAMMER: Of course you were, Steven. I guess when you see it so sexualized like that - I don`t know - it just creeps me out. I`ve got to wrap it there. Tanika Ray, Steven Smith, thanks, guys.
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., I`m going ga-ga over the Academy Awards. I`m really excited. I`m going to be right there on the red carpet Sunday night.
But tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the remarkable connection between this year`s Oscar nominees. It`s kind of like six degrees of Kevin Bacon, only better. It`s six degrees of Oscar. 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: Viacom pulls Comedy Central Shows off online TV Web site Hulu. Justin Timberlake to star opposite ex-girlfriend, Cameron Diaz, in "Bad Teacher."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Here now, the SHOWBIZ "Road to Gold." Tonight our cracked SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff has gone to the bottom of the mystery that we like to call six degrees of Oscar.
Now, it`s just like the Kevin Bacon game, but wait until you see the mind-blowing connections we just uncovered among this year`s top Academy Award contenders.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERA FARMIGA, ACTRESS: What`s your title?
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: It`s a personal question.
FARMIGA: Please.
CLOONEY: And we hardly know each other.
ANDERSON (voice over): Actually, "Up in the Air" star George Clooney knows his fellow Oscar nominees quite well. He`s worked with more members of this year`s club than just about anyone.
Clooney appeared in "Ocean`s 11" and its sequels with Matt Damon, "Syriana" with Damon and Christopher Plummer, and "Men Who Stare at Goats" with Jeff Bridges.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Bridges, the best actor favorite for "Crazy Heart," crossed paths in a scary way with Best Actress favorite Sandra Bullock 17 years ago.
JEFF BRIDGES, ACTOR: "The Vanishing" - I buried her alive. I could tell she was talented right away. Amazing. Just, you know, the gaminess to jump in and do it.
ANDERSON: Bullock also appeared in "The Lake House" with Plummer. But this year`s connection queen is Meryl Streep.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STANLEY TUCCI, ACTOR (as Paul Child): What is it that you really like to do?
MERYL STREEP, ACTRESS (as Julia Child): Eat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: "Julie and Julia" was Streep`s second pairing with fellow nominee Stanley Tucci after their fashionista flick "The Devil Wears Prada." Streep also appeared in "Mama Mia" with Colin Firth, "Adaptation" with Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Manchurian Candidate" with Vera Farmiga and "A Prairie Home Companion" with Woody Harrelson.
WOODY HARRELSON, ACTOR: She`s really a joy to work with.
ANDERSON: Woody has also shared the screen with Penelope Cruz in "The Hi- Lo Country" and Jeremy Renner from "The Hurt Locker" co-starred with Harrelson in "North Country."
HARRELSON: He played a kind of despicable guy in - man, I tell you what - he was so good.
MORGAN FREEMAN, ACTOR: They`re off to Paris -
ANDERSON: Several nominees have a current Oscar connection. Damon and Morgan Freeman are both nominated for "Invictus," Gabourey Sidibe and Mo`Nique for "Precious," Plummer and Helen Mirren for "The Last Station," and Clooney, Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick for "Up In the Air."
Even young Carrie Mulligan has a connection. She showed up in "When Did You Last See Your Father" starring Colin Firth. In fact, there`s only one nominee this year who doesn`t fit into our game.
CHRISTOPHE WALTZ, ACTOR: Finding people is my specialty.
ANDERSON: Best Supporting Actor favorite Cristophe Waltz has no onscreen connections to any other acting nominee. But his "Inglorious Basterds" director Quentin Tarantino teamed up on "From Dusk Till Dawn" with, yes, George Clooney. This year, all roads lead to George.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
I can`t wait to see George on Sunday. A.J. and I will be right there on the Oscars red carpet. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live with two very special Oscar shows this Sunday, March 7. It`s the SHOWBIZ "Road to Gold." Mark this down, 7:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN, then flip it on over to HLN, 11:00 p.m. Eastern. It`s going to be exciting.
HAMMER: Can`t wait, Brooke. We`re almost there. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Take care.
END
