Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Lindsay Lohan in Crisis; The Gosselin Kids Go Back to TV; Snooki`s Fists Go Flying; Did Heidi Montag Make The Biggest Mistake of Her Life?; Britney Spears Back on Primetime TV; Whitney Houston`s Concert Disaster
Aired April 26, 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, HOST: Making news, breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Lindsay Lohan in crisis, reportedly fired from her latest film. More disturbing new details breaking today about Lindsay`s life on the verge of collapse. Now, could Lindsay`s dad really get a court order to give him control over Lindsay`s life?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL LOHAN, LINDSAY LOHAN`S FATHER: I`m not going to stop until Lindsay sits down with me, or until something is done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Lights, camera, cue the kids. Jon and Kate`s eight kids get the green light to return to reality TV. Brand-new details today about their new show, "Kate Plus 8." But wait, where`s Jon?
From fist-pumping to fists flying. Snooki is in an out outrageous brand-new smackdown and it`s all caught on tape. See Snooki punch. See Snooki slap. See the "Jersey Shore" star issue a big old smackdown to a man twice as big as her hair.
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 with big news breaking today - Lindsay Lohan in crisis. There are explosive new developments today in the fight to save Lindsay Lohan from herself.
Lindsay`s dad is gearing up for a legal battle to get control over Lindsay`s life. And today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT heard directly from Michael`s new high-profile attorney, and she tells us, Michael will take every legal means necessary to get Lindsay the help, he believes, Lindsay needs.
For her part, Lindsay`s just furious over her father`s actions. And she has unleashed a barrage of Twitter messages, saying exactly what she thinks of him. And trust me, it isn`t pretty.
But wait, there`s more. This outrageous new public feud comes just as Lindsay is reportedly fired from her latest film. And that`s only the start of this dramatic day in the life of Lindsay Lohan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): It`s a story with a complicated plot. An accused deadbeat dad with a rap sheet and a flair for drama. A troubled starlet with a life that`s spiraling out of control. And today, a major ultimatum as Michael Lohan begs his daughter, Lindsay, to get her life back on track.
M. LOHAN: I can`t go every day wondering if it`s her last day or not.
HAMMER: His ultimatum is clear. He wants her to meet him today to sit down and figure out how to fix her life.
M. LOHAN: If Lindsay sits down and talks to me like a human being and she`s honest, and then it will all be up to her.
HAMMER: And if she doesn`t -
M. LOHAN: Well, then, I guess she`s going to have to, because I`m going to conservatorship.
JO PIAZZA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: And if she doesn`t then he`s planning to step in and try to take legal action, very similar to the way Jamie Spears, Britney Spears` dad took control over her life through a conservatorship.
HAMMER: But Lindsay has a long, complicated and emotional history with her dad. And today, she says she wants absolutely nothing to do with her estranged father.
In an angry tweet today, Lindsay called her father her "ex-con dad" and a "pathological liar" saying, quote, "As for the ridiculous `concerned father` interview, yet again, another cry for attention on his part and a public display of reaching out, when we have stated that he is not a part of our lives, nor has he been for a while."
PIAZZA: A part of me - I know this is wrong - wants to think that Michael`s not being a bad guy, like for once in his life, he`s trying to be a dad.
HAMMER: Michael`s track record as a father has been shaky, at best. But things really exploded when on Thursday, Michael made a dramatic and surprise visit to Lindsay`s apartment with several officers from the LAPD to check in on his 16-year-old daughter Ali who is living with Lindsay.
M. LOHAN: Ali said, "Who is it?" Now, she was focusing on the police, not even me and said, "Who is there?" And I said, "Ali, it`s Daddy and I`m with the Sheriff`s Department." And I said, "Ali, I want to make sure that you`re OK." She said, "I`m fine, Daddy."
HAMMER: The visit outraged Lindsay, who says she now wants a restraining order against her father. In an angry tweet, she wrote, "Let`s not forget that my father kidnapped me from a courtroom when I was four years old and is crazy. He has never paid child support. When will it ever end? It`s been going on my whole life with him. Hasn`t he caused enough pain?"
And Lindsay`s mother Dina was infuriated by Michael`s visit. She tells "Us Magazine" today, "We will be getting restraining orders. It will happen imminently. All my kinds - he`s never been there. He`s been in and out of jail for 10 years. This guy has to be stopped. He`s dangerous."
This intensely public family battle is only one part of Lindsay`s troubles today. There are brand-new reports that she`s been dropped from her latest film project, "The Other Side" because she`s just not bankable anymore.
PIAZZA: The cost of insuring Lindsay Lohan has gotten to be so high because she does have so many problems on the set. On "Georgia Rule," she was absent for at least a third of the time they were filming.
HAMMER: it`s safe to say Lindsay`s professional and personal lives are in the toilet. And while Michael Lohan is one controversial dad, he seems to be the only one who is trying to help his daughter get her life back on track, at least publicly.
PIAZZA: As crazy as Michael Lohan is, it`s still an adult figure there with a legal team there to try to help Lindsay get her life on track. If she continues on the path that she`s on right now, she`s going to keep spiraling downwards. And god only knows what`s going to happen to her.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, as crazy as it sounds, could Michael Lohan actually be Lindsay`s best chance at surviving a possible meltdown?
Right now, in New York, Lauren Lake, who`s an attorney and author of "Girl, Let Me Tell You." Also, right now, from Hollywood, Carlos Diaz who is a syndicated radio host.
Guys, I think Michael somewhere in there is genuinely worried about Lindsay Lohan at this point, his daughter. But what I don`t understand is why he`s not doing all of this behind closed doors.
Today, he`s lawyered up. He`s ready to fight for control over Lindsay`s life, if he has to. Carlos, I`m all for him wanting to help Lindsay but I`m thinking he`s going about this the wrong way. What do you think?
CARLOS DIAZ, SYNDICATED RADIO HOST: You know, A.J., I just had a 10-minute conversation with Michael Lohan. And you know what? He`s got me convinced that his heart is in the right place.
And I agree with you, A.J. I mean, you know, you have to wonder, is he going about it the right way with, you know, granting interviews to TMZ and being in front of the public eye? But there`s an old adage in TV, if there`s no video, it never happened.
And you know he`s doing what he can to help his daughter. And I`ve got to ask you this, how could this hurt his daughter? How could this hurt Lindsay? There are rumors, there`s a lot of speculation going around, you know, that Lindsay is on a downward spiral.
HAMMER: Yes.
DIAZ: So him stepping in right now - it can only help.
HAMMER: Well, him stepping in can only help potentially but playing it out publicly can only hurt in my mind in that it just ticks her off even more. And she`s pretty ticked off at the guy right now.
Michael, for his part, has admitted he hasn`t been the perfect dad. Maybe his troubled past is getting in the way of his good intentions and I actually appreciate this. Watch what he told TMZ live.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
M. LOHAN: I`ve been down that road. I`ve learned. I know. I`m doing the right things in my life. I`m involved - listen if it takes someone else, I`ll step aside. If it takes someone else to do the right thing for my daughter, I`m gone. Just get my daughter help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I mean, I love that he said that. I think that`s a great idea. Lauren, are you with me that if Lindsay does really need help, Michael should step aside as long as there is somebody there to pick up this fight?
LAUREN LAKE, ATTORNEY AND AUTHOR: Yes, I mean, at this point, this guy is not going to get conservatorship. By the time people protested and petitioned, he`s going to be looking like Satan`s sidekick in the court.
But fact that his actions may lead to a conservator being appointed, a third party, who can be neutral and partial, fair and really handle this young girl`s affairs while she get herself together, could be a good thing.
There`s no question, this child, this young woman, is in trouble. And so even though her father isn`t the greatest character, we`ve got to hope beyond hope that he is really trying to do the right thing even though he has a sordid past.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, we did learn today that Michael as retained Atty. Lisa Bloom, who is also a CNN legal analyst, to help him set Lindsay straight, and hopefully, if he goes to court, prevent him from looking like Satan`s sidekick, as you put it so well there, Lauren.
This is what Bloom tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "In the coming days, we will seek to meet with Lindsay and her attorney to come up with an appropriate treatment plan that will allow her to get her life back on course. If, however, that does not happen, Michael is prepared to pursue other legal action towards his one and only goal, to save and protect his daughter."
And as Lauren just mentioned, that action could include a conservatorship. That`s what Britney Spears` dad had over Britney taking control of her affairs.
But when you look at how toxic Lindsay and Michael`s relationship has been, Carlos, I am thinking, if it does come down to a conservatorship, this is the last guy who should be in charge of Lindsay`s affairs.
DIAZ: Well, and that`s - you know, and that`s a great point on your part. I mean, Lindsay and her dad have had a very tough relationship, to say the least. And you know, in talking to Michael Lohan, he said that he just wants to sit down with Dina, and kind of hash things out.
And I asked him, I said, "Well, is this like the Britney Spears situation?" He said no I`m looking at this as more of a Robert Downey, Jr. situation, where, you know, I have this incredibly talented daughter, you know, who`s falling on hard times right now.
HAMMER: Yes.
DIAZ: And Robert Downey, Jr. was going the same route. And now, he`s America`s sweetheart. And he thinks that Lindsay can, you know, rebound just as Robert Downey, Jr. did.
HAMMER: Right. And Dina, for her part - the mom doesn`t want anything do with him and says they`re trying to get a restraining order to keep dad away from the kids.
DIAZ: Right.
HAMMER: Ending it there. Lauren Lake, Carlos Diaz, I do appreciate it.
As we move on tonight, Hollywood is speaking out about Bret Michaels today. The "Celebrity Apprentice" star and, of course, front man of the band Poison remains in critical condition after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage.
Michaels` had a massive headache last week. He was rushed to the hospital. Doctors discovered bleeding in his brain. They`re still trying to locate the source. And new statement posted on Michaels` Web site says, quote, "Bret is and always has been a fighter and survivor and is under the best medical care possible."
Brand-new reaction today from Sharon Osbourne who is Michaels` co-star on "Celebrity Apprentice." Sharon telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, she is pulling for Bret.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHARON OSBOURNE, REALITY TV STAR, "CELEBRITY APPRENTICE": You know, he`s too good not to come through this and be, you know, the Bret that we know and love. He`s going to come through this. I know he is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, according to "BretMichaels.com," an official medical update from his doctors is expected this week.
As we move on, here come the kids again. Oh, yes, Jon and Kate Gosselin`s eight kids will be co-starring with Kate on her new show "Kate Plus 8." New questions today - should this single mom really use her kids on her new show? Should Kate even do a show without the kids?
The explosive message to Sandra Bullock from one of Jesse James` alleged mistresses. Today, alleged mistress number two says she`s sorry right to Sandra. We`re revealing all of the scandalous details.
And did you see this? Snooki fighting for her right to party in peace. I`ve got to tell you this pint-sized "Jersey Shore" star packs one heck of a punch. Wait until you see Snooki deliver a beat down-to a guy nearly twice her size. 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: Justin Bieber concert in Australia canceled due to crowd crush. Mel Brooks honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEL BROOKS, DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER: You`ve got to kind and please love Melvin Brooks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Ladies and gentlemen, you are not in Kansas anymore. You`re on Pandora.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: You should see your faces.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, those faces should be smiling because "Avatar" has set another record today. Just four days after coming out on DVD, "Avatar" has now sold 2.7 million Blu-Ray disks. That`s more than any other movie has ever sold. More than four million standard DVDs have been sold as well. What`s really amazing - this is not the 3-D version. Are there no extras on the disk.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. All right, you may want to hang on to your 3-D glasses because there is a 3-d frenzy going on in Hollywood right now, I`m here to tell you.
3-D`s obviously nothing knew but experts now say that they have technology to make 3-D bigger and better than ever.
Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter with the scoop on the future of 3-D.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAKE SULLY, ACTOR, "AVATAR": But we would send them a message...
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Avatar`s" message is that the future could mean big bucks when it comes to 3-D. Created and shot with 3-D technology, the film is the highest grossing movie of all time, with roughly $400 million coming from 3-D screens alone in the U.S.
SULLY: Outstanding.
WYNTER: With so much money-making potential, hopes are high that this latest 3-D boom doesn`t go bust, and there`s a movement underway to blaze this trail straight into the future.
(on camera): Is it fair to call you a 3-D guru? You`ve been doing this for, since the beginning of time.
BUZZ HAYES, CHAIRMAN, INSTRUCTOR/VICE PRESIDENT, SONY 3-D TECHNOLOGY CENTER: Sure. I mean, yes, but there`s a bunch of gurus out there.
WYNTER (voice-over): Buzz Hayes began working in 3-D before it was cool. He`s the lead instructor at Sony Pictures` brand new 3-D Technology Center, where filmmakers are immersed in an intensive, hands-on course on how to actually film in 3-D, a method much different from converting 2-D movies to 3-D. That process drew mixed reviews from critics, where it`s used in "Clash of the Titans."
(on camera): But some would say how important is this? Does the audience really see the difference?
HAYES: I think they already are. I mean, based on some recent releases in theaters, I think people are very vocal about the quality of 3-D that they see, both good and bad. So, we just wanted to raise the bar.
WYNTER (voice-over): And stay above it, says camera director Jack Messitt, who enrolled in the class because he says his future depends on it.
JACK MESSITT, CAMERA OPERATOR: The language of 3-D is really different than the language that we`ve all learned to utilize in 2-D. With the great increase in 3-D, I don`t want to be left behind.
WYNTER: One exec who says he`s ahead of the game is Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of Dreamworks Animation. He recently blasted the 2-D to 3-D conversion process, warning that it could turn audiences away.
JEFFREY KATZENBERG, CEO, DREAMWORKS ANIMATION: For the first time in well over a decade, we`re actually seeing admissions go up, and 3-D is the reason.
WYNTER: Yes, and they`re willing to spend a little bit more for that experience.
KATZENBERG: Well, if you give them something great, and that`s the thing we just, I think everybody is being very protective of right now. This is a beautiful golden goose and it`s, you know, giving us golden eggs.
WYNTER: And in this golden age of advanced technology where 3-D movies have fired up the box office, industry leaders like Buzz Hayes say the future looks bright.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. And just a little more proof that 3-D movies are here to stay, the new 3-D film, "How to Train Your Dragon" - it came in at number one at the box office over the weekend.
Well, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been ringing nonstop. So many people have been calling about the big developing story today - Michael Lohan`s shocking new effort to try and keep his daughter, Lindsay Lohan, out of trouble. Elizabeth in Kentucky questions Michael`s intentions.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I think if Lindsay Lohan`s dad was really sincere about helping her, he wouldn`t be on TV every time he turned around. He would be finding an organization and people that can actually help her. He needs to go away.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: I appreciate your call, Elizabeth. But Alicia from California called in to "Showbiz on Call." And Alicia says what Michael is doing is necessary to save Lindsay.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ALICIA, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: Absolutely. He did the right thing because, unfortunately, that`s the only way to try to get someone help. If you call the police, sometimes they can observe the person and judge for themselves that this person does need help. And unfortunately, this system has to change. But absolutely, he did the right thing.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Thank you for your call, Alicia. You can call us "Showbiz on Call." Sound-off on this the whole Lohan mess or anything at all.
The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open all of the time. The number right here - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. That`s 1-888-728-2899. Please leave us a voicemail because we would love to play your call here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The brand-new explosive response today to Heidi Montag`s incredible 10 plastic surgeries. Heidi`s mom telling Heidi, right to her face - her newly constructed face, that is - just how she feels about Heidi`s surgeries. So did Heidi make the biggest mistake of her life?
The explosive message to Sandra Bullock from one of Jesse James` alleged mistresses. We`re revealing the scandalous details from the apology letter Jesse`s reported other woman sent to Sandra.
Big breaking Britney news today. Which one of TV`s top-rated shows could Britney Spears wind up on? 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: "Dexter" star Michael C. Hall fully recovered from cancer. New seasons of "Entourage" and "Hung" start June 27th on HBO.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Did you see this? Conan O`Brien and Jim Carrey joining forces on stage to save mankind from boredom. Carey was just one of the many surprised celebrity guests this weekend at Conan`s "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television" tour.
Leave it to Jim to show up dressed up as Superman. Check out Conan and the Man of Steel, a.k.a. Jim Carrey, and their dynamic duet.
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Since they wound up on television, Jim Carrey and Conan go way back. Reportedly, it was Jim who suggested the two team up on-stage with this rousing musical number.
Well, a big battle today on "The View" over what Jillian Michaels said about getting pregnant. In an interview with "Women`s Health Magazine," the "Bigger Loser" trainer she would rather adopt than get pregnant because having a baby would ruin her very toned body.
Well, just this morning on "The View," Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who of course has three kids of her own, said she thinks Jillian may actually have a point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I think it`s a legitimate fear.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
HASSELBECK: Look, I mean, woman knows your body -
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I have one word for her - the Octomom. That woman popped out all of those kids and she looks good.
HASSELBECK: And let me tell you she was probably (INAUDIBLE).
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I would like to see a receipt for that.
HASSELBECK: She was probably watching Jillian`s DVDs to get back in shape, too, like I think that everyone kind of turns to Jillian and says, "OK. Hey, you`ve given us the way to lose this weight and feel fit and strong." You know, but any mom knows it`s not easy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Not just even on "The View." We`re getting a huge response to Jillian`s comments on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page.
Christian T. thinks that a fitness expert like Jillian should know that the miracle of childbirth would not change her body, "As a fitness trainer, she should know that the miracle of childbirth does not ruin one`s body. She`s the biggest loser here."
But Starla C. applauds Jillian for her decision, "It`s not a question of whether it`s better to be thin than to be pregnant. It`s a question of realizing what is important to you. I give her kudos for figuring that out before she has children."
You can join the debate on Facebook. Go behind the scenes of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and get breaking entertainment news alerts on Twitter. You can always call us on "Showbiz on Call." There`s always E-mail. "SHOWBIZ Connects" at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. This is what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Whitney Houston`s big comeback concert disaster again. The painful- to-your-ears evidence today.
So is Britney Spears coming back to primetime? The new plans to reportedly bring Britney back to TV.
Well, we know Jon and Kate Gosselin`s kids are coming back to TV. But should they appear with their mom on "Kate Plus 8?" This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - it`s more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: CBS to air daytime Emmy Awards from Las Vegas, June 27th. "Star Trek" scripts, William Shatner`s motorcycle up for sale in charity auction.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Kate`s kids back on TV. Kate Gosselin gets the OK to put her and Jon`s eight kids on a brand-new TV show. Good idea, terrible idea?
The mistress says, "I`m sorry." One of Jesse James` alleged mistresses apologizes to Sandra Bullock. Her shocking letter today.
The brand-new Snooki smackdown today. The "Jersey Shore" star gets into a bar fight - another one, and it`s all caught on tape.
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 with big news breaking today.
Lights, camera - hey, cue the kids. Kate Gosselin and her eight kids are headed back on TV. Yes, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learned today the Pennsylvania Labor Department has cleared the way for the Gosselin kids to work on TLC`s new show "Kate Plus 8."
So the adorable Gosselin kids are back, but is it a bad idea to put them back on TV again?
Right now, in New York, Lauren Lake - she is an attorney and author. And in Hollywood is Carlos Diaz - he`s a syndicated radio host.
All right. We know that Kate is coming off for ratings bonanza on "Dancing with the Stars." She`s got this new huge fan base as a result. Plus, she is starting her own gig next month. It seems to me Kate doesn`t really need the kids on TV to make money anymore.
And I have said all along, I think it is a bad idea to raise these kids on television. Carlos, is it a mistake to put them back on the tube?
DIAZ: A.J., you and I agree on a lot of things, and on this one, we differ. I`m sorry. I want to see these kids on TV. It`s not any kind of voyeuristic thing. It is - these kids are cute and they have entertainment value.
I honestly think that Kate, although she`s got a big fan base, as you just said - I think Kate`s show this summer is going to struggle on TLC. Because we like Kate but we love Kate with the kids.
So I think Kate with the kids and a big fat paycheck to help raise these kids is the best thing for these kids.
HAMMER: Yes. But Carlos, I love how you say, because you want to see them back on TV another, it`s a good idea. That`s pretty much what I took from that.
DIAZ: I`m very selfish. I`m very selfish.
HAMMER: But the last time that we saw the Gosselin kids on TV, of course, was when the family was just imploding. That was back when they were doing "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Since then, I`m guessing they`re into a groove. They don`t have all the cameras around and they were even crying when the cameras went away. And that`s what worried me.
So we`re asking in our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll this - "Kate Plus Eight: Should the Gosselin kids return to TV?"
Lauren Lake, I feel like you are on my side here.
LAKE: Well, I kind of am, because I`m concerned that we used to want to see the kids be cute, throw their toys around, have a little kid fight. Now, I`m wondering, is America watching these kids so they can see a train wreck?
HAMMER: Yes.
LAKE: And as a mother, if you know that your kids are adjusting and maybe going through some emotional issues, do you really want to say, "Hey, now, kids, we`re going back on stage. Cry it out." I just don`t like it.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, they`re just going to be excited because life can continue now in their mind because the cameras will be running.
LAKE: And that`s a problem too.
HAMMER: That`s problem here. That`s the problem all along. We did ask our Facebook fans today if they thought the Gosselin kids should return to TV. It`s safe to say the wall`s been overrun today. The response was fast and furious.
I think Beverly H. says it all here. Listen, "Seriously? Who is watching - the same people who slow down on the highway to look for body bags at the scene of an accident. Make it stop!"
OK, so Carlos, regardless of what we think, you know, I think this is - to Lauren`s point, there is going to be this huge train wreck factor here for "Kate Plus 8." People do want to see what the aftermath of a dramatic public family meltdown looks like.
DIAZ: And I respect Lauren`s opinion. She makes a great point. But the train wreck factor in this whole thing was with Kate and Jon. Jon and Kate. Not with the kids. And I`m telling you right now this show would work.
You have Jon and Kate for half of the show in counseling, so that`s the train wreck factor. And the other half is a few good times with Kate and the kids, so then you your, "Oh, look, they`re growing up. They`re there. It`s all beautiful."
That show is a hit and everyone wins because you make money. And as Jon is realizing, it takes a lot of money to raise eight kids.
HAMMER: Yes. All right.
LAKE: No question that it`s a hit.
HAMMER: And I`m happy that she`s making the money and raising the kids. Again, I thought it was so unhealthy when I heard how the kids were so upset when the cameras went away.
LAKE: And it`s not about being a hit. It`s about whether it`s good for the kids.
HAMMER: Exactly. Well, let`s move on. We do have breaking new details today about Charlie Sheen`s shocking split. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now tell you that Charlie and his wife with less than two years - they`re now living in separate homes.
And this comes after an explosive few months. Let me roll out the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT news line here. Look at what happened. Charlie got arrested for allegedly attacking Brooke with a knife on Christmas.
Brooke entered rehab in January. Charlie entered rehab in February. Charlie`s rep told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that Charlie and Brooke are trying to work things out while they`re living apart.
But Lauren, do you think that maybe divorce - and who are we to judge - but maybe divorce is the best thing for these two.
LAKE: At this point, never should have gotten married in the first place is the best thing for these two.
HAMMER: Yes.
LAKE: I can`t believe these two hot messes got married and now have to figure out how to be married when they don`t even know anything about themselves. So that this point, we can only pray for the best and hope for the best for them. Because until they get themselves together, they`re not having a marriage.
HAMMER: Well, that`s exactly right and they`ve had their oven individual issues. Brooke and Charlie have both been struggling with addiction. They both apparently had relapses in their short marriage.
And we cannot forget they do have these one-year-old twins. Carlos, it does seem like the decision to live separately could actually be the smartest thing these two have done in a long time.
DIAZ: Yes, and we really don`t know because we`re not there and experiencing what they`re going through. But here I`m going to reverse my stance and say the kids are the most important thing here.
And you do have twins in this marriage. You have Charlie with kids from his marriage with Denise. And you hope for the best for the children. So whatever`s best for the children in this case should be best for Charlie and Brooke.
HAMMER: Yes, and if it`s volatile or toxic, the two of them being together in the same house, then by all means, live separately.
Let`s move on now to the explosive new Jesse James` mistress apology. It`s the shocking letter just faxed to Sandra Bullock that`s rocking her world today.
Melissa Smith, who`s the second woman to say she had an affair with Sandra Bullock`s husband, writes Sandra in a letter obtained by TMZ this, "I know this letter will most likely go unanswered, but I want you to know that I am sorry for any hurt or pain that I have caused you. I never meant any harm."
I mean, Lauren, come on. Who uses a fax anymore? No, seriously. What do you think - what do you think --
LAKE: That was good.
HAMMER: I mean, really, it`s like, "Oh, we also made a carbon copy and a ditto." But what is the motivation here of this alleged mistress? Is this her dealing with her guilt? Is she looking for publicity? I mean this is outrageous.
LAKE: It`s only publicity, and I am so sick of this. This mistress mania is out of control. And the fact that you really think that you have a right to write me a letter and tell me something - "And oh, and by the way, and here`s my phone number. Just in case you or any other reality show producers out there might want to call me, I`m available." I`m tired of it.
HAMMER: Yes.
LAKE: I think they all need to go away.
HAMMER: After the show on busted out my mimeograph machine. Well, we did learn about this mistress apology on the same day Jesse James is now reportedly out of rehab. That`s according to TMZ.
Let me show you more of what I think is just a pathetic plea by this alleged mistress number two, "From the bottom of my heart, I hope that you accept my sincere apology. Please contact me if you wish to discuss on the phone or in person."
All right. I mean, come on. This woman has no shot of hearing from Sandra, meeting with Sandra, having any contact with Sandra especially since - I mean, look at it. The sincere letter is now on TMZ for all of the world to see.
I think that is almost even more offensive than the woman coming forward as a mistress. Shut up, already, right? I mean, Carlos, are you with me on this.
DIAZ: Totally with you on this one. And if I`m Sandra Bullock, I`m trying to figure out a way to fax back a picture of one of my fingers. And I`ll let you guess what finger that might be.
You know what? If you cheated on your wife, you cheated on your husband, you`re not good in my book. And if you`re one of the people they cheat with, you`re not good either. This is a terrible thing. It`s all a plea for attention.
HAMMER: And we will leave it there. Carlos Diaz, Lauren Lake, thanks, guys.
All right. Let`s move onto Britney Spears. You remember her. Well, I can tell you today Britney may be coming to a TV near you, and I think this would be terrific. One of the biggest shows on the air says, it may want Brit Brit. I`m going to tell which show and what they want her for.
Ah, Snooki you`re so small but you pack such a punch. You`ve got to see this brand-new video revealed today of "Jersey Shore`s" Snooki getting into another bar fight. The fists aren`t only pumping. They are flying and it just fun to say "Snooki."
And the biggest mistake of Heidi`s life? Heidi Montag`s mom gives it to her straight today. She thinks that Heidi looks worse after her 10 plastic surgeries. Does Heidi now regret what she did? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Archie Comics to introduce first openly gay character in September 1st issue. Tom Hanks reunites with the rest of "Bosom Buddies" cast at the TV Land Awards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to admit this is a great apartment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, but I`m dressed like a woman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s cheap.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DARLENE MONTAG, HEIDI MONTAG`S MOTHER: Nobody in the world could have looked like Heidi Montag.
HEIDI MONTAG, REALITY TV STAR: Are you telling me you don`t think I look good?
D. MONTAG: I thought you were more beautiful before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Heidi Montag`s mom giving it to her straight on "The Hill." She thinks her own daughter looked much better before she got her 10 plastic surgeries in one day. So did Heidi make the biggest mistake of her life? I`ve got that coming up in just a second.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
I want to get right to it. A "Jersey Shore" smackdown. Snooki`s brand-new bar fight caught on tape. And Melissa Etheridge opens up with emotional details about her shocking breakup. It`s all on "The Buzz" today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Melissa Etheridge`s break-up revelations. The singer opens up to Oprah Winfrey about her split from longtime partner, Tammy Lynn Michaels.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Was it mutual?
MELISSA ETHERIDGE, SINGER: Yes. Yes, it was, you know, as mutual as those things can be. And you know, it`s sad.
HAMMER: Etheridge`s ex has hinted that the split may not have been as mutual as Etheridge suggests. I`m guessing that there is more to this story.
Gabourey Sidibe`s "SNL" spotlight --
GABOUREY SIDIBE, ACTRESS: It is such a huge thrill to be hosting "Saturday Night Live."
HAMMER: The Oscar-nominated star of "Precious" got a chance to show off her comedy chops on "Saturday Night Live." Her opening monologue included a dance number in which she teased people who confuse her with her tragic movie character.
It`s a Snooki smackdown on South Beach. One the most recognizable stars of the MTV reality show, "Jersey Shore," got after it after a Miami bar patron reportedly tried to hit on her. The fight was all caught on tape and posted on "Radar Online."
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi first made headlines after a guy slugged her in the face at a bar during the show`s first season. I`m sensing a theme here. "Jersey Shore`s" moving to barroom drama to Miami this time around.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Oh, her mother must be so proud. So what really happened with Snooki? Was this whole smackdown the real thing? Or was it just a storyline for the new season of the reality show?
With me today from Hollywood, Jill Zarin - she`s one of the stars of "The Real Housewives of New York City" and author of "Secrets of a Jewish Mother."
JILL ZARIN, STAR, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY": Hi.
HAMMER: Hi, Jill. And in New York, April Woodard, who is a correspondent and host for BET. Let`s begin with this brand-new video today of "Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi.
She gets into this fight with a very big guy in an outdoor bar in Miami and all of it, of course, caught on tape. Roll it, Charles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, I`ve got to say, I`m not so surprised to see this. I don`t think that any of the "Jersey Shore" cast shy away from drama like this. They know how the show works.
Jill, let me go to you. You are a reality show star. You know some of the drama is real -
ZARIN: I am.
HAMMER: Some of it is done for show and just played up for the cameras. What`s case here?
ZARIN: Absolutely. Oh, I think - this is very clear. (INAUDIBLE) - it`s like a Jewish expression - (INAUDIBLE). Somebody said to him that "You need to go up to her and whisper something in her ear."
It was sort of - you could see him responding to someone behind the scenes. Now, clearly when the show airs, if you see his face as clearly as you do now and he signed a release, of course he knew what was going on.
HAMMER: Yes.
ZARIN: I`m not so sure about her, though. I think that she was a little bit setup.
HAMMER: I think --
ZARIN: It looks like somebody sent him over.
HAMMER: I think it`s almost sugar if you ask me. Well, we did reach out to MTV. We wanted to find out if it was all setup and if it was staged. They told us, no comment.
Now, April, you`ve got this young man. You`ve got a young woman rather. You`ve got a grown man, you know, twice her size there. They`re getting into a bar fight.
Ultimately, it is for the sake of entertainment. It is just ridiculous to me that this is what a lot of people want to see. But it really is what people want to see, isn`t it?
APRIL WOODARD, HOST AND CORRESPONDENT, BET: I mean, look at how popular Jerry Springer was. Here`s a reality show that its promo last year was her getting knocked in the face. So now, looky, looky, it`s Snooki fight back. I mean, you can hear the promo guy now, "Snooki fights back in season two," you know.
HAMMER: Oh, looky. It`s Snooki. I`ve got to move on from Snooki to the brand-new controversy today over Heidi Montag`s plastic surgery.
Now, Heidi`s own mother thinks that Heidi just made a huge mistake by having all of that surgery. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT got a hold of the season premiere of Heidi`s show today - "The Hills" is the name. Watch what Heidi`s mom said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
D. MONTAG: Nobody in the world could have looked like Heidi Montag.
H. MONTAG: Are you telling me you don`t think I look good?
D. MONTAG: I thought that you were more beautiful before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes.
ZARIN: Wow.
HAMMER: I don`t get the impression that Heidi agrees with mom at all here. Jill, do you ever think that Heidi will actually ever regret her decision to so radically change the way she looks.
ZARIN: She might, but I think she did this as a career move. Let`s face it. You know, what job is Heidi going to get after "The Hills?" Is she going to work in a grocery store? Is she going to be working in a clothing store? She`s made this her career.
She wants to be the next Pamela Anderson. That`s why she got those big boobies, the - all of these Marilyn Monroe-esque. That`s the game she`s in. I mean, that`s who she wants to be.
HAMMER: Yes.
ZARIN: And this is what she has to be that. I mean, that`s the game she`s in.
HAMMER: Yes. And it`s sad and it`s not just Heidi`s mom who`s saying Heidi might have made a big mistake here. There`s a brand-new report in the "New York Times" quoting Hollywood director Shawn Levy saying this, "Ten years ago actresses had the feeling they had to get plastic surgery to get the part. Now, I think it works against them to walk into a casting session. Looking false hurts one`s chances."
And Heidi specifically mentioned as an example. April, quickly, do you think that Heidi is going to prove her mom and everyone wrong by actually having a huge career because of the work?
WOODARD: No, I don`t really think so. In this case, mom knows best. She does look - she looked better before she the surgery. And I think that her mom had to give her a harsh lesson right there and tell her, "Look, honey you don`t look any better. You look worse."
HAMMER: Yes. And there are --
WOODARD: And I think that`s what everyone is saying as well.
HAMMER: There are much deeper things going on which we have said before. Jill Zarin, April Woodard --
ZARIN: It`s not irreversible. I mean, she could take those things out of there.
HAMMER: Got to end it there. Thank you and maybe she will.
All right. Let`s move on. You remember Britney Spears` reality show, the one that she did when she was married to Kevin Federline? Obviously, such a train wreck. Today, I can tell you, Britney may have another go at TV. You`re not going to believe the hit show she might wind up on.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Melissa Etheridge to perform on "Dancing with the Stars" results show on Tuesday. U.S. Supreme Court to decide if California ban on sale of violent video games is legal.
HAMMER: Robert Downey, Jr. is one of my favorite Hollywood A-list actors. He can handle pretty much anything. Well, he`s back in "Iron Man 2." In this one, Downey has a very talked-about kissing scene with Gwyneth Paltrow. So when our very own Brooke Anderson who caught up with Downey who was out promoting the movie, Brooke had to ask him just how was that smooch?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR., ACTOR: I honestly don`t remember it, which isn`t to say that it wasn`t memorable. I think also if I hadn`t been ratcheted into a bunch of resin composite and alloy metal pieces, I might had been a little more, you know, lusting or something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I can certainly understand that. And there are certainly worse things than kissing Gwyneth Paltrow, I suppose. "Iron Man 2" is out on May 7th. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Could it be? Is Britney Spears coming to "Glee." Well, our friends over "EW.com" are reporting that Fox show`s creator is thinking of doing a Britney-themed episode after Britney`s manager tweeted the idea.
The "Glee" cast has already done one featuring the songs of Madonna. People really liked it.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
And they`ve got a Lady Gaga episode coming up, too. That should be pretty cool. So why not Britney? Those wacky "Glee" kids aren`t (INAUDIBLE), though. There might even be a Courtney Love show in the works as well.
Oh, boy. I`m sorry to report this - Whitney bombs again. And this upsets me, because I knew Whitney Houston when she was at the top of her game. A lot of her fans reportedly walked out on her first London concert in more than a decade.
Whitney had trouble hitting her notes, and some people say she just didn`t look good, either. Take a listen and judge for yourself.
(SINGING)
Those are some bad sets. Whitney says she`s still recovering from a respiratory infection, and that`s why she`s off-key. Unfortunately, though, this wasn`t the only off-night Whitney`s had in her comeback tour. Her shows in Australia didn`t go so well.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
I take no pleasure in this. And Whitney, I think you`ve got to take some time off, get better, come back, kick some butt, knock it out of the park. And if you can`t, that`s OK, too. Just be straight up with everyone with what`s going on.
All right. Friday and all weekend long, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. Moments ago, we got the final results and here they are - "Unauthorized Oprah Biography: Are you anxious to read it?" It looks like all of you, not buying the book. Seven percent say yes; 93 percent of you say no.
Here are some e-mails. We heard from Niece in Minnesota, "Oprah does not have to answer to anyone. I am so tired of folks making money off the privacy of others."
Got another E-mail from Amanda in Florida, who kind of likes the idea. She says, "I think Oprah makes her life seem perfect to the public. So for someone to write a book that knocks her down to the rest of the world`s level, I think it`s great. It makes her more relatable.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Keep in mind SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is now live at 5:00 Eastern, Monday through Friday. And don`t forget, every night, we`re still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show and that`s seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
END
