Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Censoring "South Park"; Lingerie Ad Outrage; Reality Stars` Salary Secrets; Nike Slammed for Standing by Scandalized Sports Stars; A Supermodel Slams Heidi Montag
Aired April 22, 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 today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - censoring "South Park?" The unbelievable outrage today. Did radicals connected to Osama Bin Laden actually get "South Park" censored?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mohammed cannot make public appearances. We simply cannot risk any violence from the Muslim people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Too big for TV? Outrage today over a hot new lingerie ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Beauty is skin deep.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Is the ad too racy? Did TV big-wigs say the plus-sized models are just too big for TV? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the fired-up debate today.
Reality stars` salary secrets. Heidi, Kim, Snooki. They could make millions, but are they really worth it? It`s a not-to-be missed SHOWBIZ special report.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today. Death to "South Park"?
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. I have to say, this is truly remarkable. Possible death threats, supporters of Osama Bin Laden, censorship all tied up today in a mess involving one of the funniest shows on television.
The creators of "South Park" spoke out today after their own network censored their show after threats from radical extremists. This story is so bizarre you would think it was a plot for a "South Park episode." But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you this is very serious and some fear it could literally become deadly serious.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have returned with the holy document of Vatican law, so can we please change it now to say it`s not OK to have sex with boys?
HAMMER (voice-over): In the past "South Park" has taken on the Catholic Church, Scientology and even Tom Cruise.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`ve just been slandered once again in the town of "South Park."
HAMMER: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you an episode featuring the Muslim prophet Mohammed has led to a death warning against the show`s creators from supporters of Osama Bin Laden. And today the heat officially became too much for Comedy Central to handle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Doctor, this is (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
HAMMER: Today, Comedy Central confirmed to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it censored last night`s "South Park" episode which was the conclusion of last week`s 200th episode that involved a group of religious icons including the prophet Mohammed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are supposed to be watching (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
HAMMER: In last night`s censored episode, any image of the Muslim prophet Mohammed was blocked out with a black rectangle labeled "censored."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What the heck are we going to do now? Is it safe here?
HAMMER: And the name Mohammed was bleeped whenever a character mentioned it. Comedy Central`s action comes after the creators of "South Park," Trey Parker and Matt Stone, received a chilling warning from a radical Muslim group for last week`s episode where a character believed to be the prophet Mohammed appeared in a bear suit.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`ve done this town a huge favor, Mohammed.
ALICIA QUARLES, ASSOCIATED PRESS: In the Muslim religion, you don`t depict the prophet Mohammed in any body form, any life form. It`s a big no-no.
HAMMER: After that episode aired, a chilling article appeared on the radical Muslim Web site, "RevolutionMuslim.com." It said, quote, "We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they`re doing is stupid and they`ll probably end up like Theo Van Gogh for airing this show."
Theo Van Gogh was a Dutch filmmaker who was brutally murdered in 2004 by an Islamic extremist angry over a Van Gogh film about Muslim women.
QUARLES: The blog writer spoke with the A.P. And he told us that this is not necessarily a death threat but take it as you will.
HAMMER: Alicia Quarles of the Associated Press tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the writer of the "RevolutionMuslim.com" post denies threatening Parker and Stone.
QUARLES: If I were the "South Park" creators I would absolutely be worried. The writer actually posted where the production offices are for Trey and Matt in L.A., where the Comedy Central offices are in New York. This is scary stuff.
HAMMER: Of course, religious satire isn`t new for "South Park" or other animated comedies for that matter. "Family Guy" repeatedly dances on the line of bad taste with its religious jokes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All this time spent keeping people from having sex. Now, I know how the Catholic Church feels.
HAMMER: "South Park" has been known to push the limits as well.
QUARLES: The thing about "South Park" is that they`re equal opportunity offender. They`ve talked about anyone from Catholics to Scientologists to Baptist.
HAMMER: But things tend to get dicey whenever "South Park" takes aim at Muslim faith. In 2006, Comedy Central banned "South Park" creators Parker and Stone from showing an image of Mohammed on their show. The two men say that controversy was the basis for these current episodes.
TREY PARKER, CO-CREATOR, "SOUTH PARK": We`d be so hypocritical against our own mess, our own thoughts if we said, "OK. Well, let`s not make fun of them because they might hurt us."
HAMMER: In an interview with "BoingBoing.net`s" Xeni Jardin earlier this month before the Mohammed episode aired, Parker and Stone say the whole controversy reeks of hypocrisy.
PARKER: That`s messed up to have that kind of thought process, you know. OK, we`ll rip on the Catholics because they won`t hurt us but we won`t rip on them because they might hurt us.
HAMMER: The creators of "South Park" may be willing to dance with this kind of explosive religious controversy to make a point -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Doctor, this is (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
HAMMER: But it`s clear Comedy Central isn`t willing to take such chances showing that sometimes satire can carry too high a price.
QUARLES: This is definitely a matter of life-and-death.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And now, for the very first time, the creators of "South Park" are speaking out about being censored by their own network.
Here`s what they told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT late today, "In the 14 years we`ve been doing `South Park,` we have never done a show we couldn`t stand behind. We delivered our version of the show to Comedy Central and they made the determination to alter the episode."
"In fact, Kyle`s customary final speech was about intimidation and fear. It didn`t mention Mohammed at all but it got bleeped. We`ll be back next week about a whole new show about something completely different and we`ll see what happens to it."
Right now in Hollywood is Tanika Ray. She is an entertainment journalist. In New York is Carolina Bermudez. She is a senior editor with "In Touch Weekly" and co-host of the fabulous "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show.
All right, guys, I am a huge fan of "South Park." I`m a big opponent of censorship. But as much as I may not like what Comedy Central did, at the end of the day, it`s a business. I can, you know, absolutely see where they need to protect their butts even if it wasn`t the popular thing to do.
Tanika, was Comedy Central out of line for what they bleeping did?
TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: No. I think it`s like the bosses protecting Matt and Trey from themselves in a way. Yes, freedom of speech - we all love that and think that these are allowed to say whatever they want.
Look, they won`t stop until they`ve pissed the entire world off. The problem is when you get death threats and it`s a matter of life and death and you`ve really gone over the boundaries of respect, you`ve got to just suck it up, bring it back.
There`s a lot of other people to make fun of and they found them all over the years. I`m sure they will sustain and they`ll be funny next week. But sometimes, you`ve got to like bounce off wall and be like, "OK, this is inappropriate and this has gone over the line of funny. Let`s just pull it back a bit.
HAMMER: Yes. You make a terrific point. And when you are so vehemently against censorship, that`s a hard thing to say, but really well said, Tanika.
RAY: Yes, absolutely. Thank you.
HAMMER: The "South Park" fury online, by the way - it is growing by the minute. I`m seeing it on all the blogs. And we`re seeing it on the Showbiz iReports. This is where we let you sound off on camera.
And I want you to watch this. It`s Katie in Ohio who thinks that "South Park" should show more respect. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATIE, OHIO: This act is very insulting to the Muslims who receive entirely way too much hatred in this country. This is America for god`s sake. You`re allowed to believe any belief you want. You`re allowed to practice any religion you want and no one will question you about it.
I think it`s time that we learn to respect the Muslims and others and not go to lengths to just insult them, completely insult them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Katie. We`ve got more fired-up SHOWBIZ iReports. You`ve got to see these. They`re coming up in just moments.
But I want to move on right now to shocking new evidence that Jon and Kate Gosselin`s custody war may actually be over. Jon said today that he`s fired the lawyer who just claimed Jon would keep on fighting Kate for custody of their eight kids.
Now, let me flash you back to how SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first broke the news of Jon`s planned custody battle a couple weeks ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera): Jon`s dancing diss. Yes, Jon Gosselin has apparently come to the conclusion his ex-wife Kate dancing with the stars equals bad motherhood. Jon now has some fancy dancing to do himself trying to convince a judge that he can get full custody of their eight kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Carolina, you remember when that happened. This was front- page news, big headlines. Jon now says - and that was only two weeks ago. Now, he`s saying he was never looking for custody. His lawyer made it up. Something smells a little fishy to me.
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Oh, definitely. Two weeks ago, Kate was an absentee mother. Now, she`s OK. Now, he wants to work things out with her. I think that there is a big of discrepancy in what we are hearing and what the truth is with Jon Gosselin.
And I think it all comes down to the child support payments. $20,000 is a lot of money. He doesn`t have a job. He needs to find a way to support himself and his family. And I think by aligning himself with Kate, he`s going to make his life so much easier.
HAMMER: Yes. And he pinned it on the lawyer. He said no.
BERMUDEZ: Yes.
HAMMER: He said it, not me. And now, he`s fired the lawyer. Well, if Jon`s new claims aren`t enough, I want you to take a look at what Jon tweeted today. He said, "Kate, her attorneys and I are moving forward to work things out privately and amicably."
Tanika Ray, I have a sneaking suspicion that Kate`s people just might have something to do with Jon`s sudden revelation. You know, maybe they said, "All right. Yes, bring it on. But look at Kate, she is an even bigger star than ever now. You are never going to win, Jon Gosselin."
RAY: Absolutely. Yes. He can probably not even pay for his lawyer at this point. But I do have a sneaking suspicion by the time "Twist of Kate" comes out, we`ll hear a couple more things from Jon about a custody battle.
I don`t know. This is all so silly and messy. When it comes down to it, they both need to support their family and come to the table evenly and be able to be mom and dad, whether they`re together or not.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: And I just hope that Jon gets a little reality check like Kate has. You know, she had so much hate coming her way on "Dancing with the Stars." And it`s - not saying it`s justified but Jon needs a little reality check and get in line with what his kids really need and be a good dad. That`s all he needs to worry about right now, is be a good father.
HAMMER: Yes. I have a feeling that Jon would rather have a reality show than a reality check, but maybe that`s just me.
RAY: Oh, for sure. For sure.
HAMMER: Tanika Ray, Carolina Bermudez. Thanks, guys.
ANDERSON: OK. I think we may have to hand out a SHOWBIZ Slammy Award today. We are fired up all this stuff. Listen to this.
Did ABC and Fox really reject a hot new ad featuring a plus-sized model? Is the ad too racy or did the TV suits just think the plus-sized model was too big for TV?
And why Nike is being slammed today for sticking by Tiger Woods. Sorry, Nike, we`ve just got to just do it and give you a Slammy Award.
And Jimmy Kimmel slams "American Idol." You know, "Idol" just did their really great star-studded charity show, "Idol Gives Back." Well, Jimmy`s got another idea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE": After "Idol Gives Back" tonight, they`re planning another special for tomorrow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tomorrow, more mediocre singing on "Idol Gives Up."
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Oh, my. 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: "Avatar" DVD out today has no extras, four disc special edition out later this year. Sequel to Madonna-themed episode of Fox`s "Glee" already in the works!
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(SINGING)
ANDERSON: Beautiful. Huge stars on "American Idol`s" annual charity show, "Idol Gives Back." "Idol" winner Carrie Underwood there, Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys. And I can tell you today that more than 18 million people watched the show.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York.
HAMMER: And you know, Brooke, I think the idea behind "Idol Gives Back" is great. How can you deny it? So far, they`ve raised more than $140 million for children all over the world.
But did you see this? Check out what Jimmy Kimmel thinks sequel to "Idol Gives Back" should be.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIMMEL: This has been a very weak season of "Idol." I don`t think anyone is going to dispute that. But because it has, after "Idol Gives Back" tonight, they`re planning another special for tomorrow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tonight America comes together for "Idol Gives Back." Then, tomorrow, more mediocre singing on "Idol Gives Up."
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Only on Fox.
KIMMEL: To be fair, they gave up a long time ago. The only singer I can actually imagine singing professionally after this is Crystal Bowersox. She broke down and cried last night after she sang the song "People Get Ready." And when she explained why she cried, even a jaded person such as I was moved.
RYAN SEACREST, HOST, "AMERICAN IDOL": Why was that so emotional for you at the end?
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX, "AMERICAN IDOL" CONTESTANT: I just - my dad`s here. And this is the first time he`s been here and - I don`t know. I saw my dad.
KIMMEL: That`s very sweet, right. Her dad`s name is - her father, David Hasselsox, perhaps you`ve heard of him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hey, you`ve got to love the Hoff. Crystal is really good. But a lot of people are very blah about "Idol" this time around.
What do you think? It`s our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll - ""American Idol": Are you disappointed with the show this season?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: Listen to this. Melanie Griffith tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT her advice for Lindsay Lohan. And Kelly Clarkson is all fired up about her cigarette controversy. All this and more in "The Buzz" today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Kelly Clarkson smoking mad. Clarkson has just revealed a cigarette company that was sponsoring her upcoming concert in Indonesia has agreed to drop the sponsorship.
Clarkson was furious when she heard about the sponsorship saying she didn`t have anything to do with it but didn`t want to cancel the concert and disappoint her fans. After Kelly`s outrage, the concert promoters now say the cigarette company is dropping out.
The Osmond suicide autopsy. The L.A. coroner has just officially called the death of Marie Osmond`s son a suicide. Eighteen-year-old Michael Bryan died after jumping from an eight-story balcony in February.
But the coroner wanted to have a full toxicology report to make sure drugs weren`t involved before naming the cause of death. Brian was one of five children adopted by Marie.
Melanie Griffith`s advice to Lindsay. We were there as Griffith came to the premiere in New York of the newest "Shrek" film which stars her husband, Antonio Banderas. Griffith tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that she is winning her long battle with substance abuse and has some advice for troubled younger stars like Lindsay Lohan.
MELANIE GRIFFITH, ACTRESS: I don`t know if anybody would take my advice, you know, but I think it`s better to try to get to know yourself before you want fame. Or at least, if you want fame, at least be looking for yourself at the same time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: All right. You know that Snooki from "Jersey Shore" - well, I`m thinking all that fist pumping and self-tanning has really paid off.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Snooki is out of control in more ways than one right now. She`s booking very, very high-priced gigs and doing quite well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hey, don`t laugh. Snooki, Kim, Heidi - you`re not going to believe how much money they make. It`s a SHOWBIZ special report, Reality star salary secrets.
Instant accents, the bizarre shocking story today about people who speak one way and the next second sound totally different.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Imagine the only voice you`ve ever known goes from this -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`ve got fabulous things shared.
MOOS: To this -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I felt like I was going bloody crazy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is so strange. 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: Christina Aguilera to perform on "American Idol" season finale, May 26th.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Talk about giving a 110 percent effort. Did you see this? I love it. A Fordham University baseball player did this great superman leap over the catcher. Whoa, look at him go. Here he comes.
He needed to score the run. Remember this guy`s name Brian Kownacki. Give him a contract. This amazing move wasn`t all for nothing. Fordham came back and won the game after being down nine to one. Nice.
ANDERSON: Wow. But A.J., that`s nothing. Did you ever see our HLN softball team play? All right. The ladies of "The View" didn`t pitch Vice President Joe Biden many softball questions today.
They asked him what the heck happened when he got caught dropping the F-bomb at the signing of the health care reform bill? Biden had whispered to President Obama, "This is a big (EXPLETIVE DELETED) deal."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, UNITED STATES VICE PRESIDENT: I was just thankful my mother couldn`t hear. And it was a little embarrassing. I - look -
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Did you not realize there was a microphone?
BIDEN: No, I realized there was a microphone but I had no idea it was that sensitive. I was as far away from the microphone as there to here and I was whispering in his ear.
And after it was over we walked out and got in the limo to go over to another event and he was laughing like the devil. I said, "What`s so funny? I don`t see anything funny about this." And he said, "Well, Katie, my secretary, told me when you said that to me, everybody could hear it."
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It`s good to see that the V.P. has a good sense of humor.
HAMMER: We`re getting a whole bunch of iReports today about the "South Park" Mohammed controversy. A radical Islamic group with ties to Osama Bin Laden is just furious about the "South Park" episode spoofing the prophet Mohammed even possibly issuing death threats against creators of the show.
iReporter Adriana from Georgia says the Islamic group should look within themselves.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADRIANA, GEORGIA: Whenever I see a group overreact in such a manner, I have to wonder about their sense of security. How strong do they feel about their faith? How much do they know about it?
Do - somehow, they feel they`re lacking somewhere that they feel that when a situation like this arises, that if they don`t overreact, they piousness is somehow questioned?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: We appreciate that, Adriana. Love to hear your iReports as well and see them about the "South Park" controversy or anything you see on the show. Just grab your camcorder. You can use a webcam, a cell phone cam, whatever you need. Make us a video and head to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight to send us your iReport.
ANDERSON: And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
A hot new ad featuring a plus-sized model. Did ABC and Fox really reject it because they think the woman is too big for TV?
Nike slammed today for standing by its scandalized sports stars including Tiger Woods. Nike under attack today.
And a supermodel slam. Wait until you hear from the supermodel who called Heidi Montag a cheap plastic pool float. The exclusive interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. 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: Rachael Ray, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay to join a new network: The Cooking Channel.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - size matters? Outrage today over a sexy lingerie ad featuring a plus-sized model. Sure, she`s beautiful but is she too big for TV?
Plus, outrage at Nike for standing by its scandalized sports stars. An incredible brand-new, unbelievable attack on Nike today.
Instant accents, baffling surprising story today about people who speak one way and then all of a sudden, they sound totally different.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS (voice-over): Imagine the only voice you`ve ever known goes from this -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`ve got fabulous things shared -
MOOS: To this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I felt like I was going bloody crazy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: 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 is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today - a bombshell slam. An all-out war broke out today between plus- sized clothing company Lane Bryant and two major networks over a lingerie ad.
Lane Bryant claims the ad was shot down, rejected because the women are too big. It is a boob-gate controversy of epic proportions.
Joining me right now from Hollywood Tanika Ray, who is an entertainment journalist. And in New York, Carolina Bermudez, who is a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly" and co-host of "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show."
Ladies, I got to begin with this controversy today swirling over this new Lane Bryant ad. Take a look at the ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mom always said beauty is skin deep. A smile is the best makeup. And it`s what`s underneath that counts. Somehow, I don`t think this is what mom had in mind.
Introducing, Cacique Intimates exclusively at Lane Bryant. So sexy. So not what mom would wear. Nobody fits you like the new Lane Bryant.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That`s it. That 25-second ad -
RAY: That`s it?
ANDERSON: -- is causing this fuss. Lane Bryant claims that both Fox and ABC refused to run the ad in certain time slots because it`s too racy.
Tanika, Lane Bryant says, hey, the networks have racy scenes on their regular programs all the time. They run ads from Victoria`s Secret. Does Lane Bryant have a legitimate beef in your eyes?
RAY: Absolutely. I think men in general are a little scared of jiggly parts. Look, we`ve seen the Victoria Secret models practically naked writhing in ecstasy in all these commercials for their underwear and their bras and nobody seems to have a problem with it.
Then, again, they are pretty much prepubescent in their stature, their body figures. They`re very, very not shapely at all and very straight up and down. So is it something about actually having a waist and hips and being alluring that scares these advertisers? I don`t get it.
Yes, it`s sexy, but it doesn`t go over the top. It`s very classy. And I`ve got to tell you, that woman is gorgeous.
ANDERSON: She`s beautiful.
RAY: Women around the country want to aspire to her. She`s off the chain.
ANDERSON: She`s beautiful. She`s just Floating around her home getting ready for a date or a lunch or something. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out today to both Fox and ABC to get their response to Lane Bryant`s claims. A.J., what did they tell us?
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, Fox did tell us they did nothing wrong. And in fact, they tried to work things out.
Now, I want you to take a look at what the spokesperson told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Lane Bryant submitted a lingerie ad with the hope that we would air it during the 8:00 p.m. broadcast of `American Idol.` We requested they make some changes and they refused to edit the ad."
"Following their refusal, we agreed to air the unedited unchanged ad during the 9:00 p.m. broadcast of `American Idol.` 8:00 p.m. is family hour."
Now, Fox also responded To Lane Bryant`s claims today that they run Victoria`s Secret ads without the same concerns. Here`s what they tell us, "As far as Victoria`s secret, we`ve also aired Victoria`s Secret lingerie ads on "Idol," multiple ads, all during the 9:00 p.m. hour. We also asked them to edit their ads and they did."
All right. Carolina, are you buying that the Lane Bryant ad is too racy to show before 9:00 p.m.? I mean, when I think about everything else that`s on TV at 8:00 p.m., I`m not sure I get that argument.
RAY: Yes.
BERMUDEZ: You know, why do we have to edit the big girls? This is where I have a problem with. You know, why do you have to send it back for reedits? Come on, guys. At 8:00, they`re playing shows like "Family Guy" and "Simpsons."
RAY: Yes.
BERMUDEZ: And those are far more racy than this ad here. And what are we going to do to show people the product? Are you going to cover her up because it`s offensive? There`s nothing wrong with this ad whatsoever. And I think they just got called out. ABC and Fox, shame on you.
RAY: Absolutely. Absolutely.
ANDERSON: And A.J. talked about what FOX said in their response. Here`s what ABC is saying about Lane Bryant`s claims today.
Here`s what they told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Their statements are not true. The ad was accepted. Lane Bryant was treated absolutely no differently than any advertiser for the same product. We were willing to accommodate them but they chose to seek publicity instead."
Well, I personally think there`s plenty of skin and cleavage popping up all over network TV and not just 9:00 p.m. and later.
RAY: Oh, yes.
ANDERSON: I mean, come on. Take a look at this, for example. The choice of attire, or lack of it, for some of the dancers on "Dancing with the Stars" -
RAY: Exactly.
ANDERSON: Which is a show I love, love, love, love, love, and it is ballroom dancing. But sometimes they look like they`re dancing around in their underwear for heaven`s sakes.
RAY: Come on, Brooke -
ANDERSON: I just - I just -
RAY: They`re having sex on the dance floor.
ANDERSON: It is extremely sexualized. It is -
RAY: Yes.
ANDERSON: And I don`t think ABC or Fox - it is hard to have it both ways here.
BERMUDEZ: They show things on daytime television on the soap operas. Come on. This is ridiculous.
RAY: Yes.
ANDERSON: That`s true. Very true. During daytime. All right. I`ve got to move now to this brand-new controversy over Nike sticking with their scandal-scarred athletes.
We already know about Tiger Woods and now, Nike is also standing behind NFL star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who was accused of sexual assault in Georgia. To be clear, no charges were filed but the police report makes it clear that, according to the accuser, Ben definitely acted like a complete dog. And he`s just been suspended for six games. Well, listen to this, A.J., over to you.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. I mean, we were so blown away by this "New York Times" op ed today. I just think it is so dead on.
Listen to this, "What exactly does it take for Nike to dump a jock? Dog-fighting will do it. After Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty to running a felony dog-fighting ring, Nike took action. `We consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and unacceptable,` the company said at the time."
"But cruelty to women is OK. I don`t know how else to read the company`s inconsistent stand. Here`s a guy who treats women like garbage, yet a company that boasts of having humane corporate values uses him as their front man? Ditto Tiger Woods."
Hey, Tanika, we can`t argue with this logic at all, can`t we?
RAY: No. And I want to separate Ben from Tiger. Yes, Tiger was a dog but it was consensual with adults. Ben is prowling on like young girls. It`s disgusting.
And I`ve got to say Nike is making it very clear, "Don`t mess with men. Don`t mess with a man`s best friend, the dog. But women, no big deal. It`s OK. Go ahead and mess with them. We`re still going to stand by your side."
It`s wrong and Nike is going to have to really check themselves out in the mirror.
ANDERSON: Yes. And I do want to end with what Nike told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Here`s what Nike said, "Ben Roethlisberger is part of Nike`s roster of athletes. We decline further comment."
(CROSS TALK)
ANDERSON: Tanika Ray, Carolina Bermudez, thanks, ladies.
HAMMER: Right now, a brand-new, SHOWBIZ Special Report, cashing in on reality TV. Looks like hooking up on the dance floor really does pay off, huh? Reality show salary secrets, you`ll be shocked when we tell you just how much Snooki, Kim and Heidi are taking home.
A SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive, the supermodel who compared Heidi Montag to a cheap plastic pool float. She`s right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Wait until you hear why this supermodel issued a beauty beat-down for Heidi.
Instant accents. The bizarre, unbelievable story today about people who speak one way and then the next minute sound totally different.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS (voice-over): Imagine the only voice you`ve ever known goes from this -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`ve got fabulous things shared -
MOOS: To this -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I felt like I was going bloody crazy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: 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: Cartoon Network developing new "Looney Tunes" starring Bugs Bunny and Duffy Duck. Beyonce`s "Single Ladies" named most performed pop song at ASCAP Awards.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: And we welcome you back SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York.
HAMMER: And how`s this for a reality check? Right now, it`s a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Special Report that`s going to make your head spin. Why do reality show stars get paid such big bucks for doing, well, in some cases, kind of nothing?
Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kim is always late.
KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: I`m here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get out of our way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," "The Girls Next Door," "The Hills" and now, "Jersey Shore" - all hit reality TV shows that turned nobodies into rich somebodies.
DEANNA PAPPAS, REALITY TV STAR, "THE BACHELORETTE": Right after the "Bachelorette," a lot of people reached out to me. And you know, I had a lot of fun. I did a lot of corresponding for "Extra." I`ve done some stuff for "The Insider." I hosted my own show for a year on Lifetime. And of course, I want more.
WYNTER: You remember Deanna Pappas, right? She was a contestant on "The Bachelor" and was "The Bachelorette." It`s been years since she did both shows but the cash is still rolling in.
PAPPAS: I do tons of public appearances. I mean, I was just in Anaheim this week and they did, like a Comic Con down in Anaheim. Sometimes you do interviews and you get paid.
WYNTER (on camera): Some reality TV stars like Deanna Pappas have turned their 15 minutes of fame into a financial empire with lucrative deals that have made them mini-moguls.
LACEY ROSE, WRITER, "FORBES" MAGAZINE: gracing a red carpet before an event can earn you tens of thousands of dollars. A clothing line can net you hundreds of thousands. And a perfume could earn you millions of dollars in some cases.
WYNTER (voice-over): "Forbes" magazine writer, Lacey Rose has covered reality TV stars and their fortunes. She says not all reality stars are created equal. Only some have mastered the media and the art of selling themselves.
ROSE: I think right now, the "Jersey Shore" kids are really hot. I think you`ll see more from Lauren Conrad. I think you saw her sort of create this momentum behind her brand with "The Hills."
I think we`ll continue to see her do things with that. I think - you know, love her or hate her, I think it`s not the end of Heidi Montag. We`ll see a lot more from her.
WYNTER: And this is the man who`s helped many of your favorite reality TV stars make cuckoo bucks, Marc Marcuse. He runs the management company that represents reality TV stars who are looking to turn their fame into long- term success. Marcuse is currently working with Snooki of MTV`s juggernaut show, "Jersey Shore."
MARC MARCUSE, REEL MANAGEMENT: Snooki is out of control in more ways than one right now. She`s booking very, very high-priced gigs and doing quite well. You know, so we`re really happy that she`s breaking the mold on reality TV and sort of bringing a new kind of level to the whole thing.
WYNTER: And if Snooki can become an in-demand star overnight, then American dream is alive and well, at least for those who are willing to be on a reality show.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, one of the reality stars who has made a career out of her 15 minutes is Heidi Montag. Today, Heidi is getting slammed by beautiful supermodel Paulina Porizkova.
Paulina is also taking major swipes at Madonna and Kate Hudson. Well, in a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive today, she tells us why.
With me, right now in New York, Paulina Porizkova, who is, among other things, a blogger for "Modelinia.com" and "The Huffington Post." Great to have you back on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
PAULINA PORIZKOVA, BLOGGER AND SUPERMODEL: Well, thank you very much. Thanks for setting me up with slamming these famous women so I can - well, I didn`t - I don`t think I slammed them. I think I just sort of told the truth as I see it.
HAMMER: OK. Well, let`s let our audience be the judge of what we`re calling a slam. You are calling it the truth. This is what you said about Heidi Montag today. Now, Heidi has gotten a lot of -
PORIZKOVA: Yes, I did slam her. You`re right.
HAMMER: All right. So there you go. Heidi has gotten a lot of attention for having 10 plastic surgeries in one day, I might add. And in your blog on "Modelinia.com," you put Heidi up against some old Hollywood stars like Audrey Hepburn, Jean Harlow.
Here`s what you wrote, "Compare any one of these natural beauties to someone like Heidi Montag and it`s like comparing a Hastens Swedish handmade mattress to a cheap plastic pool float."
I think that`s well said. I think - look, I think Heidi obviously has some deeper issues here. But I agree with what you are saying. I think a lot of people in Hollywood take this fast track to stardom and go after what they perceive as beauty having, among other things, a boob job. And Heidi`s just one of them.
PORIZKOVA: You know what? You know - reality TV stars - I mean, we should not envy them. We should pity them because, frankly, fame is a bit like heroin. And I know this because I was famous not because I did heroin. But it is really addictive.
And so, this poor girl was on a reality show and she got really famous. And then, you know - and then it starts pulling away. But that fame thing, that thing of - like you walk into the room and you`re really important - it`s being taken away from her.
She`s having withdrawals, so she goes out and does this. And now she looks like - she looks like - like everybody else out there that has done the same procedures.
HAMMER: Yes. And for some reason -
PORIZKOVA: She was cute before.
HAMMER: And this is what I don`t understand - for some reason feels that that is going to help her career. Now, Heidi is one extreme example.
But you also reacted to photos in a tabloid that sparked speculation that Kate Hudson, of all people, got breast implants. Let me get to what you said here. Now, Kate has never admitted to surgery, but -
PORIZKOVA: Right. This is allegedly.
HAMMER: This is what you wrote on your blog -
PORIZKOVA: Yes.
HAMMER: Based on what you surmised from seeing the picture, "If big boobs make her happier, then more power to her. The issue here is this fixing something perfect to something else perfect is so much a sign of our times and one that truly saddens me. Instead of enhancing, she has diminished herself."
I think you are right. I mean, I think it`s sad that people are dissatisfied with their appearance. But you really took this personally, that the possibility that Kate may have altered her appearance.
PORIZKOVA: I tell you why. I tell you why. Because to me - I`m a fairly small-breasted woman, not completely flat but I have a lot of friends that are very flat. And to us, Kate was like the symbol of the most beautiful flat-chested woman. We loved her, the way her body looked, sort of feline and cat-like and, you know, alive.
I mean, she was so beautiful. And to sort of make herself look like everybody else, instead of the perfect example of who she was, she makes herself look like an OK example of somebody else. That, to me, is sad. I mean, why? You know, why do we do that?
HAMMER: You did take Madonna to task, as well. I`m not going to read all of what you said.
PORIZKOVA: This is more about aging.
HAMMER: But I`d like to put up a before and after picture of Madonna. We`re looking at that right now. It is sad because it makes me wonder - and again she`s never admitted to having plastic surgery but -
PORIZKOVA: She doesn`t have to.
HAMMER: But the thing is, it makes you wonder what happened to aging gracefully. Are you saying Madonna somehow lost that unique look that made her a star?
PORIZKOVA: That`s exactly what I`m saying. Because to me, she was the most fabulous version of a small, fantastically fit slightly hairy Italian girl. So if you were in that category, you could look up to her because she looked awesome.
And now, she looks like my mom, a cool Nordic blond. I mean, fantastic - she looks excellent. But she no longer looks like who I fell in love with.
HAMMER: Yes. It`s a shame. And hopefully, these women will really start to really pay attention what`s going on and take a hard look in the mirror. Paulina Porizkova, it`s so good to have you here. Appreciate it.
PORIZKOVA: Thank you.
HAMMER: I`m going to check out your blog all the time now. Thanks a lot.
ANDERSON: Instant accents. The bizarre incredible story today about people who speak one way and then one day sound totally different.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS (voice-over): Imagine the only voice you`ve ever known goes from this -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`ve got fabulous things shared -
MOOS: To this -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I felt like I was going bloody crazy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: Now, it`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Jack Nicholson offered "Hangover" type role geared for seniors. David Letterman on "Regis and Kelly" April 30th for first post-sex scandal interview.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Thanks, Charles. Did you see it this? Actors are able to do this all the time. They switch on and off an accent depending on a role. But in Britain, a severe migraine actually caused a woman`s English accent to turn into a Chinese accent. So why are some people finding their accents instantly change?
Well, here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): Politicians do it.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There`s nothing we can`t do.
MOOS: Adopt an accent.
OBAMA: We`ve got too many daddies.
MOOS: Actors do it.
KEVIN MCKIDD, ACTOR: This is not a fake accent. I`m not from Scotland.
MOOS: Adopt an accent.
MCKIDD: And you start to talk like that and, you know, you`re just like talking like that all the time.
MOOS: But this British woman used to talk all the time with an English accent until out of the blue, her accent changed into sounding Chinese.
SARAH COLWILL, ALTERED ACCENT: On the day that my voice changed, I found it difficult to speak. And when I did speak, it sounded Chinese.
MOOS: It happened after a migraine so severe, her husband called an ambulance. A week later, Sara Caldwell`s new Chinese accent changed again.
COLWILL: It sounded more Eastern European. And it have been like that ever since.
MOOS: Doctors diagnosed it as FAS. And the F does not stand for "fake."
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It`s Foreign Accent Syndrome.
MOOS: It`s caused by a stroke or a brain injury that affects -
GUPTA: The speech area itself, where you are actually forming words with your mouth.
MOOS (on camera): Imagine the only voice you`ve ever known goes from this -
JUDY ROBERTS, ALTERED ACCENT: We`ve got fabulous things shared -
MOOS: To this.
ROBERTS: I felt like I was going bloody crazy.
MOOS: Florida resident Judy Roberts was Indiana born and bred. She had never even been to England, but a stroke left her with an English accent.
ROBERTS: And if you ran into anybody you used to know, they would look at you like you had flipped your wig.
MOOS: In a piece on Foreign Accent Syndrome, ABC interviewed an American woman who not only got a new accent -
CINDY LOU ROMBERG, ALTERED ACCENT: The accent would be very Russian.
MOOS: Cindy Lou Romberg sometimes speaks in sounds that linguists say don`t resemble any known language.
ROMBERG: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
MOOS: From gibberish to Chinese -
(on camera): English woman gets Chinese accent. It sounds like a joke, but the people it happens to aren`t laughing.
COLWILL: Strangers who meet me think I`m foreign. And also, some people speak to me as if I am a bit silly or a bit stupid.
MOOS: (voice-over): Sometimes you get mocked for acquiring an accent.
MADONNA, POP STAR: I hadn`t quite adjusted to the tabloids.
MOOS: And sometimes an accent acquires you.
ROBERTS: Thank God I`ve got a voice.
MOOS: Now, Sanjay, do you do any accents?
GUPTA: No. Not really. Maybe off-camera.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I can honestly say, I`ve never heard of that before. It`s fascinating. Wow.
ANDERSON: Real condition.
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT now live at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday.
HAMMER: And of course, we are still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on HLN.
END
