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Showbiz Tonight
Stripped of Her Rights; Halle`s Breakup Drama
Aired May 03, 2010 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
A.J. HAMMER, HLN CO-HOST (voice-over): Big news, breaking today, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Stripper discrimination? The incredible claim today by one of Tiger Woods` alleged mistresses about hotel discrimination.
The mistress reality TV show. Our explosive one-on-one today with the host of a new show featuring celebrity mistresses.
MICHELLE HARRIS, HOST OF CELEBRITY MISTRESS SHOW: I don`t really think the mistresses have destroyed a home. They have been lied to.
HAMMER: It`s the exclusive headline-making interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Michael Douglas` outrage today, about his drug-dealing son`s sentence to prison.
MICHAEL DOUGLAS, ACTOR: News organizations took a minor drug-dealing sentence and blew this into a big story.
HAMMER: He blames who? Wait, wasn`t his son dealing meth?
And the Priceline is right. William Shatner`s mind-boggling $600 million Priceline payday.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, HLN CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today.
Was a former stripper linked to Tiger Woods stripped of her rights?
HAMMER: All right, let me get this out of the way. Let me just say this right off the bat. This may be one of the most ridiculous claims of outrage ever made by a stripper, and a high-powered attorney.
Stripper Joslyn James, who by the way also has porn star and Tiger Woods` mistress on her resume, she demanded today that serious action be taken against a swanky hotel for canceling her reservation.
Seems to me the hotel had reservations about her being there. And now she`s brought in her legal top gun who today called for an investigation based on discrimination.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): It`s the kind of case that could lead to protests in the streets. Angry boycotts. And maybe, just maybe, even a Supreme Court decision. It`s stripper discrimination.
NINA PARKER, PRODUCER, TMZ: Is there such a thing?
HAMMER: Apparently there is. According to Joslyn James. Stripper, porn star, and alleged ex-mistress of Tiger Woods. She`s claiming a ritzy Ritz- Carlton Hotel unfairly, ahem, stripped her of her reservation.
And today, Joslyn`s bulldog of an attorney, Gloria Allred, is on the warpath.
PARKER: She`s calling for the managers and the owners to do something about this, and she`s saying that she wants a response.
HAMMER: Joslyn was in Charlotte, North Carolina this past weekend to perform at this strip club. And Allred says Joslyn had booked a room at the Ritz.
PARKER: She says when she got there, they basically told her that they weren`t going to be able to accommodate her because she was too high profile of a guest and would create too much media attention, and basically they suggested that she stay somewhere else and they terminated her reservation.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigators spent today combing through the Ritz-Carlton`s Web site and found no mention of a "no stripper" policy. So why in the world would the Ritz turn poor Joslyn away?
Allred has her suspicions.
PARKER: Gloria Allred is saying that this is possibly because Tiger Woods was also in town for a golf tournament and there was a possibility he may have been staying at the same hotel.
HAMMER: Yes, while Joslyn was plying her trade in Charlotte Tiger was also in town doing his job, playing golf at the Quail Hollow Championship.
Let`s just say things didn`t go too well for him, either.
MICHAEL YO, E! CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, yes, he sucked. He didn`t even make the cut for the tournament.
HAMMER: Earlier in the week Tiger talked about all the paparazzi attention he`s been getting lately.
TIGER WOODS, GOLFER: There`s paparazzi everywhere, and at home helicopters here and there, people driving by, and paparazzi camping out in front of the gates. So that hasn`t changed.
HAMMER: So if Tiger`s paparazzi attention is bad now, imagine what it would have been if he and Joslyn were actually staying in the same hotel.
YO: If they were staying at the same hotel at the same time, Tiger and Joslyn, with Elin not around, I mean, you can imagine the stories, oh, did Tiger hook up with Joslyn?
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has obtained this angry letter Allred fired off today to the general manager of the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Allred writes, quote, "We are appalled to think that you might have chosen to accommodate a rich, famous golfer who has admitted lying to his wife over a woman whose heart he has broken, and whose only fault is that she fell madly in love with Tiger Woods."
YO: If she was done wrong by a hotel, most people I know won`t get a lawyer to put out a big press release about it.
HAMMER: He is Michael Yo tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he`s skeptical of Joslyn`s claims.
YO: I really believe Joslyn was there. If they were staying at the hotel, just to grab headlines, just to make this a story. Just to stay relevant.
HAMMER: But if this is a case of stripper discrimination, doesn`t Joslyn deserve praise for standing up against it? Kind of like a Norma Rae for strippers.
PARKER: Maybe she needs to be a part of a union.
HAMMER: Because, in America in 2010, strippers and mistresses should have the right to stay wherever they want. Or not.
YO: The hotel has the right to accommodate who they want. Build a bridge and get over it. That`s what I have to say.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So, the question is, did Tiger actually stay at the Charlotte Ritz-Carlton over the weekend? Well, we contacted the Ritz and Tiger`s reps for an answer. As of show time, they had yet to respond.
I got to say, it is a sad day when a stripper who is an alleged mistress in the biggest celebrity cheating scandal in the history is told you can`t stay at the Ritz-Carlton and she was there in town to perform at a local nightclub.
What has this world come to? I`m here to say the sad day has arrived. Let us weep.
With me now from Atlanta, Ryan Smith, who`s a host for "In Session" in New York. Tanika Ray is an entertainment journalist.
All right, the stripper discrimination. It`s got to be stopped at all costs.
TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Yes.
HAMMER: Now, Tanika.
RAY: You are working it today.
HAMMER: One can certainly appreciate how -- shall we say the fine linens and the superior service of a luxury hotel could help a night club performer adequately prepare for their night at the job.
RAY: Working it out. Yes.
HAMMER: So are you with me that justice must be served here?
RAY: No, A.J., you`re on one today. Absolutely not. This is ridiculous. This girl or chick, whatever you want to call her, she really is trying to grab the headlines. I really do think she`s kind of stalking Tiger.
She`s going on tour, trying to find out where he`s going to be for that ultra photo-op. Because it`s all about that photo-op. Because her-- he`s probably going up but she`s being seen in the same place, even if it`s 10,000 yards away, she -- her money, her fee is going to go up. And I think that`s what she`s banking on.
HAMMER: So it`s not a coincidence that she showed in the town --
RAY: Are you kidding, A.J.?
HAMMER: All right.
RAY: Come on.
HAMMER: But let me get back to this letter. This is just amazing to me.
RAY: Hilarious.
HAMMER: This is the letter from the letter that Joslyn`s attorney, Gloria Allred, blasted off to the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte on behalf of her client.
She wrote, "We are appalled to think that you might have chosen to accommodate a rich, famous golfer who has admitted lying to his wife, his fans, his business associates, and others over a woman whose heart he has broken, and whose fault is that she fell madly in love with Tiger Woods."
Ryan, are you simply appalled that Joslyn James was treated this way?
RYAN SMITH, HOST, "IN SESSION": I am appalled, A.J. You know what? A stripper -- it takes a lot of work, A.J. You`ve got to have the clean sheets. You want the Ritz-Carlton service. You know what I mean?
You`re not going to be on your game the next day. Look at Tiger Woods. He might have stayed there and he had a terrible weekend.
HAMMER: Let me ask -- let me ask in all seriousness, though, Ryan. Does she have any legal case should she choose to pursue it?
SMITH: She has about the legal case of a fly.
RAY: Absolutely.
SMITH: A.J., I don`t think it`s going to happen because you know what? The Ritz-Carlton can turn away whoever they want. They decided to turn her away. Tanika is right. It`s a photo-op. She follows him on a Tiger Woods strip tour, goes where he goes and that quote just keeps going up and up and up. She doesn`t need the clean sheets at the Ritz-Carlton. She can go down to the Motel 6.
HAMMER: I got to get one of those t-shirts of Tiger Woods --
RAY: Go ahead, Ritz-Carlton. Discriminating against trash. I love it.
HAMMER: I want everybody to know we did our journalistic due diligence. Once again I want to point out we reached out to the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte. As of showtime haven`t heard back.
Let`s move now from strippers to mistresses. Oh, why not. We have to move on to the brand-new outrage today over John Edwards mistress Rielle Hunter getting slammed because of her interview with Oprah.
Now Rielle Hunter sat down with Oprah to tell her side of the story. She even went so far as to defend herself as a mistress. And I have to tell you, I was pretty shocked by the calls we got into "Showbiz on Call" today supporting Rielle.
RAY: No!
HAMMER: Yes. Listen for instance to what Lashayla had to say about the whole thing. Roll that one, Charles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CALLER: I don`t see why everyone is down her throat. He`s the man who took the vows. He`s the man who committed to his wife. And he`s the man who broke his commitment. So let`s get down his throat and let`s leave Rielle alone.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Tanika, let`s take that for what it`s worth. I actually think Lashayla makes a great case because the man in this case is John Edwards. He broke his commitment to his wife.
Do you think, perhaps, could we step back to say Rielle is getting too much of the blame?
RAY: No. I think Lashayla might be a fellow mistress. I don`t know.
HAMMER: Oh no.
RAY: All I`m saying is no, she`s not taking too much blame. She went on Oprah to try to defend herself. John Edwards at least hasn`t tried to defend his actions. How dare you go and say but world, I`m in love with him and call him Johnny.
It`s just daggers in the throat of Elizabeth. It`s just disgusting. And no, she deserves all the blame that she`s getting.
HAMMER: Ryan, what do you think? It takes two to tango.
SMITH: It takes two to tango, but she brought the attention on herself --
RAY: Absolutely.
SMITH: -- when she decided to pose with Kermit in a men`s shirt for "GQ." I mean, what was that all about?
RAY: With Kermit.
SMITH: And then at this point, you know what? Every -- here`s the thing, whenever the story starts to die down from a perspective of, "You know what? Let`s be sensitive to Rielle," she brings it back up.
She`s just like Joslyn James, she`s looking for publicity. And every time she gets it, she says, why do you yell at me? I didn`t do anything.
RAY: Absolutely.
SMITH: I`m in love. You can`t have it both ways, Rielle.
HAMMER: Well, here`s what I`m thinking, if Rielle Hunter needs a job I can actually point her in the right direction because there is a brand-new TV show that will be featuring celebrity mistresses.
Well, this afternoon SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively went one-on-one with the host of the show who defends the mistresses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE HARRIS, HOST OF CELEBRITY MISTRESS SHOW: I don`t really think the mistresses have destroyed a home. They`ve been lied to. Again, we`re blaming the women when we should be blaming these men.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tanika, Ryan, you got to stick around. The exclusive headline- making interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming up.
ANDERSON: William Shatner`s Priceline gold mine today. He is the Priceline negotiator, and let me tell you, Shatner negotiated some deal for himself. We are talking a reported $600 million deal from these guys. $600 million. Where do I sign up?
And Michael Douglas` outrage today about his drug-dealing son. Cameron Douglas sentenced to prison, and Michael`s taking some of the blame.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOUGLAS: I`ve taken blames about being a bad father. I`ve also confessed to the fact that I was in rehab 20 years ago.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: But you won`t believe who else he`s pointing the finger at.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN. News and views.
HAMMER: And now the "Showbiz News Ticker," these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
GRAPHICS: Country singer Chely Wright reveals she`s gay.
GRAPHICS: Michael Jackson`s father denies reports that Michael was gay.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that today, actress Lynn Redgrave has died. Redgrave was part of a whole family of well-respected actors. She`s probably best known for "Georgy Girl" back in the `60s and got an Oscar nomination for her amazing role in the movie "Gods and Monsters."
Her sister is Vanessa Redgrave. Lynn Redgrave was battling breast cancer. She died with her three children at her side at her home in Connecticut on Sunday.
Lynn Redgrave was 67.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: Today the Priceline is right for William Shatner. I am talking $600 million.
And Bret Michaels` unbelievable recovery. It`s all in the buzz today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Bret Michaels` miraculous comeback. We just learned the rocker and "Celebrity Apprentice" contestant could be healthy enough to make the live series finale of the reality show on May 23rd.
That`s pretty incredible considering he`s been in intensive care since his brain hemorrhage last month. But doctors now say as long as an aneurysm isn`t found, he could make the live finale.
William Shatner`s Priceline gold mine. Shatner has reportedly made a mind- boggling $600 million as the pitchman for Priceline.com. Yes, $600 million.
The "Toronto Sun" reports that`s because Shatner asked for stock instead of cash when he signed up to be frontman for the online travel company 10 years ago. Priceline has been one of Wall Street`s biggest winners lately, and obviously so has Shatner.
Halle Berry`s breakup drama. People.com reports Halle was the one who broke up with Gabriel Aubry, her longtime boyfriend and father of their 2- year-old daughter. Aubry was the first to issue a statement, making it sound like the split was mutual.
But "People" reports Berry kicked him out a few months ago because, quote, "He wasn`t able to pull his weight in the relationship and she wanted to move on."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Remember that Halle Berry is nine years older than Gabriel Aubry. So what do you think? Could that have played a part in the split?
With me right now in Hollywood Wendy Walsh who`s a TV journalist and doctor of psychology.
Wendy, a lot of people, myself included, thought that Halle and Gabriel Aubry had a picture perfect relationship. They were together for five years, had a beautiful 2-year-old daughter together. But let`s think about this, Halle is 43, Gabriel is 34.
What do you think? Could that age difference -- could it had have anything to do with them splitting up? I mean couples like Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore manage to pull off the age difference.
WENDY WALSH, TV JOURNALIST: I don`t think the age difference is the problem, Brooke. I think the truth is that, depending on what study you look at, almost 80 percent of Americans have some kind of attachment disorder and my heart has gone out to Halle over and over as she seems to choose these perfect guys.
But I think the issue is maybe about her early life longing. Remember she was raised by a single mother. She`s probably longing for daddy. She picks guys who can`t please her. Can`t give to the relationship what they need to.
And I see it happening over and over that people keep these patterns up. And now there`s a child whose life is hanging in the balance.
ANDERSON: Yes.
WALSH: Whose emotional life is hanging in the balance and my heart breaks for the whole family.
ANDERSON: It is heartbreaking for the child at the center of this. And I, too, watch Halle Berry have breakup after breakup and just think, why can`t she find her Mr. Right?
And listen to this, Wendy, there is one report today that Gabriel really upset about all the media coverage and may fight for custody of their child to get away from the Hollywood spot light.
Quickly, could you see that getting nasty?
WALSH: I can certainly see it getting nasty because one thing, his love for a child, as we put our own infantile experiences into that kid and we fight like hard to make sure that they`re cared for.
ANDERSON: Right.
WALSH: Yes, it could get nasty. But isn`t it interesting that the pattern is repeating itself again? That this child is now growing up with a single parent and will grow up with tons of longing, and this is why I`m all about keeping families together as much as possible because this is where attachment injuries starts.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. Hopefully they can resolve everything in a civilized manner. We`ll leave it there for now.
Wendy Walsh, thank you so much.
HAMMER: Hey, Joslyn James, quit your whining. I`m talking about one of Tiger Woods` alleged mistresses. The former porn star claiming today she was discriminated against by a fancy hotel. Oh, boo hoo.
You know who else I think should quit his whining? Michael Douglas. Now he`s partly blaming himself today for his drug-dealing son getting sentenced to prison. But you won`t believe who else he`s blaming.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOUGLAS: I`ve taken blames about being a bad father. I`ve also confessed to the fact that I was in rehab 20 years ago.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And you will be shocked today when we reveal the stunning results of our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll. Should Sandra Bullock and Jesse James get back together for the sake of their kid? You`re not going to believe what people are telling us.
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: Meat Loaf to debut his new album "Hang Cool Teddy Bear" on QVC.
TEXT: Freddy Krueger slays `em at the box office. "Nightmare on Elm Street" is #1 this weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEREDITH VIEIRA, "TODAY" SHOW HOST: Now I know that you`ve agreed to do any obviously acting, singing, dancing, but no nudity. Are you drawing the line?
BETTY WHITE, ACTRESS: No -- very little nudity.
VIEIRA: Very little nudity.
WHITE: Just a little. You know, here and there.
VIEIRA: Just a little here and there?
WHITE: Mostly here.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Eighty-eight-year-old Betty White doing nudity?
ANDERSON: What?
HAMMER: No, she`s just playing around. Betty revealing on the "Today" show this morning what she will be doing when she hosts "Saturday Night Live" this Saturday.
Now I got to tell you, I think this week`s "SNL" is going to be the must- watch one of the season. The musical guest is Jay-Z. And now Betty White, she`s also friends with Sandra Bullock. So of course, you know, we need to hear a little something about that, right?
They co-starred in last summer`s "The Proposal." "Today" show`s Meredith Vieira did try to get Betty to open up about what Sandra is going through, her husband`s cheating scandal, the adoption of her baby boy. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITE: She is so wonderful. She is one of the most delightful human beings. She really is. She`s not only lovely and gorgeous, but she just - - she`s interesting. And I love her.
VIEIRA: Yes, and given what`s happened she`s had such an up and down year here between, you know, the awards and then her husband and now her baby. Do you know how she`s doing? Have you been able to speak with her?
WHITE: I -- I think her business is her business, and I try never to comment on it. Because it`s what should be the happiest, highest time of her life isn`t working out that way right now. So all I can do is love her and wish her well.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Got to respect Betty for that. She`s very classy, keeping things private.
ANDERSON: Well, just like the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Facebook page is on fire today about Rielle Hunter`s explosive appearance on Oprah.
John Edwards` mistress sparking controversy, basically saying, she did nothing wrong. Really, Rielle?
Andrea S. is disgusted by Rielle. "It is amazing what some people believe is true when they convince themselves it is true. She actually believes she did nothing. Amazing."
But Michelle M. says, "Back off. Why does everyone attack the woman? When are we going to put the blame on the married men who go looking for these women? An honest, loyal man would not be looking to cheat."
Join the debate on Facebook. Go behind the scenes of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and get breaking entertainment news alerts on Twitter. Call us at "Showbiz on Call" and there`s always e-mail, showbizconnect.CNN.com/showbiztonight.
HAMMER: And now the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is our unbelievable one-on-one exclusive interview with the host of a brand-new mistress reality show. And it features one of Tiger Woods` alleged mistresses.
And speaking of the mistresses, another of Tiger`s alleged mistresses claiming a hotel kicked her out.
Hey, lady, quit your whining.
Also the SHOWBIZ Obama watch. Yes, President Obama giving the cast of "Jersey Shore" a big shout-out.
And why Jessica Simpson wants to be just like First Lady Michelle Obama. Wow.
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: Jessica Biel sets sights on Mt. Everest climb!
TEXT: Seth Green marries actress/model Clare Grant on Saturday in California.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. The host of a brand-new celebrity mistress TV show featuring one of Tiger Woods` alleged mistresses. Right here in the exclusive interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HARRIS: I don`t really think the mistresses have destroyed a home. They have been lied to. Again, we`re blaming the women when we should be blaming these men.
HAMMER: Jesse James and Sandra Bullock. Should they get back together for the kids? The shocking results of our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll revealed today.
Michael Douglas` outrage today. He`s taking part of the responsibility for his drug-dealing son being sentenced to prison.
DOUGLAS: I have taken blames about being a bad father. I`ve also confessed the fact that I was in rehab 20 years ago.
HAMMER: But you won`t believe who else Michael is blaming his son`s troubles on.
Hey, Michael quit your whining.
Plus more stories breaking from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT news ticker.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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: Hi there, everyone. And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today.
Michael Douglas, quit your whining.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. In a brand-new, remarkable interview today, Michael Douglas spoke out for the first time about his drug dealer son. What he said today has got a lot of people asking if he`s trying to shift the blame.
Michael Douglas` son Cameron was just sentenced to five years in prison for dealing meth. But today, Douglas blamed the extent of the prison sentence on the media coverage.
Hello! He went to jail for dealing crystal meth. Lots of crystal meth. For years. So I got to ask, should Michael just quit his whining?
Right now in New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell who is the host, of course, of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL". It airs every night right here on HLN. She`s also the author of a fine book called "I Want."
And with me in New York Tanika Ray who is an entertainment journalist.
All right, guys. So even with Cameron Douglas getting five years in prison, this was still less than the mandatory sentence. People were citing celebrity justice left and right after his father, Michael Douglas, and a whole bunch of celebs wrote all these letters asking for leniency.
Well, this morning Michael Douglas defended the letters on the "Today" show but then he places blame on the media. You got to watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOUGLAS: We believe that they were personal letters to the judge that were to be sealed. But under heavy pressure from news organizations, who basically took a minor, minor drug-dealing sentence and blew this into a big story, because for their own purposes of selling newspapers, or keeping it going.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Minor drug dealing? Excuse me, again, 31-year-old Cameron was dealing crystal meth.
Jane, should Michael just quit his whining and be thankful that his son only got five years? I mean, come on.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, HLN "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": Absolutely. You know, the arrogance of these superstars is absolutely mind-blowing. This was not just a letter. This was a letter-writing campaign, conducted by a team of superstars, and the American public has a right to know.
When Michael Douglas and his superstar wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and his superstar dad, Kirk Douglas, and Pat Riley get together and write letters, one after the other, begging for leniency, OK? For a drug sentence.
What about the poor slobs out there who don`t have superstars to write letters for them, who are behind bars as we speak, doing far longer sentences, often decades, for less serious crimes?
HAMMER: Yes, you hear that, and it sounds like Michael just needs some perspective. And quite frankly I`m happy to give it to him.
Here`s why to me it sounds like a whole bunch of whining. First of all, Cameron Douglas was dealing crystal meth. He only got five out of the mandatory 10 years in prison. Now that is partly because he acted as an informant. But he is getting a second chance.
Tanika, how do you see this? Does Michael have a legitimate beef here? The media is to blame for the sentence that his son got?
RAY: Come on.
HAMMER: And how he was treated or should he just quit his whining?
RAY: He needs to not whine ever again. This is the problem, Michael Douglas is a celebrity. He grew up his entire life as a celebrity, and a son of a celebrity, so his perspective is completely skewed which is probably the biggest reason why his son is dealing crystal meth.
Because he didn`t have anybody there to say, no, stop it, you`re a bad boy, get your life together. And that is what this celebrity kids are having problems with.
You know Lindsay Lohan, all those kids are having issues. And it really comes down to parenting.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: Michael is completely delusional to think that this is OK and it`s a minor, minor charge. It`s huge. Somebody could sell one bag of marijuana and be in prison for the rest of their lives.
Five years, that`s nothing. And I hope he really gets his act together.
HAMMER: Yes. And to your point and to be fair to Michael, he did cop to some of the responsibility for his son`s missteps. I do want you to take a look at what he said about that on the "Today" show this morning. Roll that one.
DOUGLAS: Look, my son was a drug dealer. And he`s been trying to kill himself for awhile. And I can`t -- I can`t condone his behavior. This disease, as you look at it, certainly the family has a lot to do with it. I`ve taken blames about being a bad father.
By being a bad father is, you know, working your butt off trying to create a career at one time. I`ve also confessed to the fact that I was in rehab 20 years ago.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Jane, I mean, when you hear that, I don`t know about you, I have to give Michael at least some credit for stepping up and taking some of the blame there. What do you think?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely, I give him credit for going to rehab and for turning his life around and for admitting that he was a bad father. But what really gets me is this selective compassion.
You want to have compassion for your son, the addict, the ne`er-do-well, what about having compassion for all the hundreds of thousands of people who are doing hard time for nonviolent drug offenses? Who didn`t hit or shoot anybody.
They simply were caught with crack, and they go to prison for decades, sometimes for life. Why not get involved in that cause, Michael Douglas, if you`re watching?
GRACE: Yes. Let it go, keep the blame in the right place, for sure. All right, let`s move on. Because there`s more big news breaking today, and we`re talking stripper discrimination.
Perhaps Tiger Woods` alleged mistress/stripper Joslyn James should quit her whining.
Brooke, what is the latest on what I think is such an absurd story, please?
ANDERSON: A.J., it`s ludicrous. Joslyn James claimed today that the Ritz- Carlton in Charlotte, North Carolina canceled her room says vacations and told her she would have attracted too much media attention.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained today the angry letter sense to the Ritz by James` celebrity attorney Gloria Allred. Take a look at this. Gloria wrote, "We later learned that Tiger Woods was in Charlotte, North Carolina and might have been staying at the Ritz-Carlton.
"As a result we are now forced to ask the question, was Joslyn James canceled at the Ritz-Carlton because Tiger Woods was staying there? Or was expected to arrive?"
Allred in another part of the letter called Joslyn a celebrity. Somebody who should be accommodated.
But seriously, Tanika, Joslyn should quit her whining. This is laughable.
RAY: I`m sorry, I`m stunned on the celebrity part. Are you kidding me? Well, yes, this is ridiculous. And I love the line that said later we found out Tiger was there. Yes, right!
ANDERSON: Yes, right.
RAY: You knew Tiger was going to be there. Sister, you planned your schedule based on Tiger`s golf schedule. So I`m just not buying it. I just really think that she should go away. Maybe join the dating show and find herself another beau.
HAMMER: Yes. Yes, and to that, I don`t think it`s any small coincidence that Joslyn recently showed up near the Masters in Georgia.
RAY: No.
HAMMER: Where Tiger was playing. And yes, surprise, surprise, there she is where Tiger is playing in Charlotte and she was working at a nightclub nearby.
RAY: (INAUDIBLE)
HAMMER: Jane Velez-Mitchell, I am getting a sense that this heartbroken stripper -- those are the words of Gloria Allred -- is going to trail Tiger until she gets some sort of apology.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: She deserves an apology. I hate to burst everybody`s bubble, but last time I checked she was a human being. And if he is in recovery, part of that process is making amends, i.e., apologizing.
He`s apologized to everybody under the sun -- his family, the fans, his fellow players. Why not apologize to a woman who felt she was in a relationship with him? It doesn`t matter in recovery what that person did.
That person doesn`t have to be perfect. It`s you apologizing for hurting someone. She`s clearly been hurt by this. And she deserves an apology. It`s not going to go away.
RAY: Interesting perspective.
HAMMER: OK, but you know what, she can get that apology if you feel she deserves it but she can quit her whining simultaneously.
RAY: Yes, we don`t care.
HAMMER: I think it can all happen. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Tanika Ray, thanks, guys.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Thanks.
ANDERSON: I am so shocked by what Jane Velez-Mitchell just said, and I am so shocked by the results of our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll.
We asked you should, Jesse James and Sandra Bullock get back together for the sake of their kid? I`m about to reveal the results. And let me tell you, I cannot believe it.
And a TV show for mistresses? My exclusive one-on-one with the host of a new show starring mistresses looking for love. Even one of Tiger Woods` alleged mistresses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: I don`t really think the mistresses have destroyed a home. They have been lied to. Again, we`re blaming the women when we should be blaming these men.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And SHOWBIZ is on Obama watch duty today. Why in the world is the president talking about Snooki and the situation? And why does Jessica Simpson want to be just like the first lady?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
HAMMER: And now it`s time for the "Showbiz News Ticker." More stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
GRAPHICS: Plane carrying Michael Lohan struck by lightning, no injuries reported.
GRAPHICS: Madonna holds crucifix to her mouth in new interview magazine photos.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: And today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask the big question, should Sandra and Jesse get back together? Should they do it for the kids?
I could not believe the explosive response to our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll when we asked this. Sandra Bullock and Jesse James, should they reconcile for the sake of the kids?
It is official, we`ve hit a nerve. The results astounding.
But wait, there`s more. Would you watch a reality show that featured Tiger Woods or Jesse James` alleged mistress looking for love?
Well, there`s a new controversial show in the works that will do just that. And today I went one-on-one exclusively with the host of the show.
Right now in New York, Jill Zarin who is a cast member of the "Real Housewives of New York City" and author of the book "Secrets of a Jewish Mother." Right now in Hollywood Wendy Walsh who is TV journalist and doctor of psychology.
Jill, Wendy.
JILL ZARIN, CAST MEMBER, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY": Hi.
ANDERSON: Let`s begin with our exclusive poll. Here is the question. Sandra Bullock and Jesse James, should they reconcile for the sake of the kids? Only 6 percent said yes. A whopping 94 percent said no. The people have spoken. Barely anybody thinks they should reconcile for the sake of the kids.
Jill, are you surprised?
ZARIN: I`m a little surprised how weighted it is. But honestly, I mean, what kids? She doesn`t have children with him. They`re his kids. And now she`s adopted a baby on her own.
You know, the smell test with how long she was waiting for this baby, it really doesn`t pass the smell test. I can`t believe she was waiting for four years. But it`s her baby. I mean, so I don`t think that there are kids involved in this. And quite frankly, he crossed the line and there`s no place to go right now. They have to get divorced.
ANDERSON: The adoption process does take a long time in many cases.
Wendy, what do you think? Do you think people overwhelmingly voted against Sandra and Jesse`s reconciliation because they`re just so darned protective of Sandra?
WALSH: Let me tell you this, Brooke. I am shocked that so many selfish adult Americans don`t think children are perfectly good reason to learn some relationship tools, to learn how to forgive and build some intimacy and get back together.
The fact that what this individual rights and freedom to be selfish and find a new partner and then screw that up, too? Imagine the life that this baby is going to have. Now he`s potentially going to have a stepmother to deal with, a divorced dad.
ANDERSON: Yes --
WALSH: His kids have been --
ANDERSON: I know --
ZARIN: But it`s not his baby.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: I understand. It could be really, really difficult to establish full trust again. I understand. You know, virtually impossible in some cases.
WALSH: But better to be in a relationship with his mom.
ANDERSON: And ladies, I do want to tell you right now about one TV show that I`ll betcha Sandra Bullock has no interest in watching.
It features celebrity mistresses looking for love on a new reality show. You heard right. There is a new show in the works that will help infamous mistresses, including one of Tiger`s alleged mistresses, find true love.
The show is hosted by Michelle Harris, and this afternoon I spoke exclusively with her for the interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And I had to ask, are you serious?
Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: What do you say to those critics who feel that a show like this would be glorifying mistresses, celebrating women who`ve destroyed a marriage, destroyed a home?
HARRIS: Well, first of all, we have the wives on, too, so it`s not just the mistresses. And I don`t really think the mistresses have destroyed a home. They have been lied to. Again, we`re blaming the women when we should be blaming these men.
You know, in certain cases, you know, can`t speak for all of them, but that`s what`s happening. And most of the women watching the show right now, I bet they`ve been hit on by a married guy.
I certainly have. Even married celebrities have hit on me. And the things that they say, oh, we`re getting a divorce. Oh, it`s just for PR. We`re not human lie detectors. So I think everyone deserves a second chance. I say let`s give these ladies a second chance.
ANDERSON: And Jamie Grubs, one of Tiger Woods` alleged witnesses -- alleged mistresses is reportedly signed on to participate.
HARRIS: Right, right.
ANDERSON: So I know that you run in to a lot of people in your travels, Michelle. If you did run in to Elin Woods, what would you say to her about this show?
HARRIS: Well, I mean, coming from a wife perspective, obviously they`re seeing it in a different way. But because we are helping the wives, too, hopefully she would like it.
ANDERSON: Really?
HARRIS: Yes, because we`re helping the other wives who have been lied to. Both women have been lied to.
ANDERSON: If you`re Elin Woods, sitting at home, and you see a woman that you feel has essentially destroyed your family, your home, how could you like this show?
HARRIS: No, Tiger did that. And you`re right.
ANDERSON: I think --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Both ways, though.
HARRIS: No --
ANDERSON: She participated.
HARRIS: She participated but how knowingly?
ANDERSON: But do you believe these mistresses in everything that they`re telling you? Oh, I was completely lied to. You know, in a way, I`m a little bit skeptical. I think, hmm, they had to know. They had to know.
HARRIS: You know, I don`t necessarily know that. I don`t necessarily know that. Because you can`t ever know what someone`s marriage is like. There are people who are married for different reasons. And have different relationships where they do go outside the marriage. So how are you supposed to know that?
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Jill, very, very quickly, do you agree with Michelle there, that the mistresses are the victims?
ZARIN: No. They`re definitely not the victims. And I hope the show doesn`t get picked up. Just because she`s creating it doesn`t mean it`s going to be on the air. And I have no interest in watching mistresses trying to date. I just don`t.
I don`t know why they`re famous. I think it`s terrible. I certainly if I were one of them wouldn`t want my children one day to see this. That`s how my made my reputation --
ANDERSON: Yes, I agree with you.
ZARIN: My reputation is built on it.
ANDERSON: The host does insist that the show would have redeeming qualities but I`ll have to see that to believe it.
Jill Zarin, Wendy Walsh, thanks, ladies.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is on the Obama watch today. You know it seems like everybody has something to say about the cast of "Jersey Shore." Well, wait until you hear what our president just said about Snooki and the situation.
Plus, Jessica Simpson, why she wants to be just like Michelle Obama.
Now the "Showbiz News Ticker." More stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
GRAPHICS: "As the World Turns" soap star Helen Wagner dies at age 91.
GRAPHICS: Roman Polanski`s new comments on U.S. extradition case, "I only asked to be treated fairly."
ANDERSON: And now the SHOWBIZ salute to moms. Celebrities paying tribute to their mothers as we count down to Mother`s Day which is Sunday, May 9th. Today Brooke Burke`s special salute to her mom Donna.
Brooke told me she`s learning many valuable lessons from her mom, including how to hold it together while raising her four kids, co-hosting "Dancing with the Stars" and being a business owner.
Brooke is busy but always has time for her mom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKE BURKE, "DANCING WITH THE STARS" CO-HOST: I am so blessed to have an incredible mom who taught me so many things, most importantly unconditional love. I credit her for so many great things in my life and she`s there.
She actually works at Modern Mom with me so it`s very much a family affair over there. And I love you, mom. Happy early Mother`s Day. And I`ll be making you something very special on BingMothersDay.com. So expect that in the mail. And I`m looking forward to spending the day with you and the kids.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: She was just a pleasure to talk to. And that sounds great. I hope Brooke has a wonderful Mother`s Day with her mother and also a wonderful Mother`s Day for her as well with her kids.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Even though the mainstream press gives me a hard time, I hear that I`m still pretty big on Twitter, Facebook, or, as Sarah Palin calls it, the socialized media.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: President Obama got the crowd laughing at the White House Correspondents` Dinner in D.C. over the weekend. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is on Obama watch today.
The president got in some pretty good one-liners that everybody is still talking about. Let me tell you no one was safe from the president`s comedy routine.
The White House Correspondents` Dinner is really one of the biggest events on the D.C. social calendar. It`s pretty big deal. Every major star wants to get invited, and of course will gladly take a private jet to (INAUDIBLE) those with Washington`s elites and of course to see the president of the United States.
And this year the president entertained the entertainers. President Obama had them all begging for more. More jokes. And one of the best lines of the night just had to be listening to the president say "Snooki."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: This next provision is called the "Jersey Shore-Up." It reads, "The following individual shall be excluded from the indoor tanning tax within this bill. Snooki, J-Woww, the Situation and House Minority Leader John Boehner.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was a little strange hearing him say those names. Everybody was on the president`s radar. D.C. hasn`t had this many smack-downs since the health care battle. Listen to what our president said about Jay Leno.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I am glad that the only person whose ratings fell more than mine last year is here tonight. Great to see you, Jay.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: I`m also glad that I`m speaking first because we`ve all seen what happens when somebody takes the time slot after Leno`s.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now that is pretty funny. I`m wondering if the whole presidential thing doesn`t work, could President Obama have a future in comedy.
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., there were no shortage of stars at this year`s dinner. Justin Bieber, Ryan Seacrest, Jessica Simpson also there.
Take a look at Jessica who looks absolutely lovely in this yellow Carolina Herrera dress. The "Price of Beauty" TV stars says she is a huge Obama fan and wants to be just like First Lady Michelle Obama.
Check out what Jessica told "People" magazine, quote, "She`s such an incredible woman and she`s with such a powerful man. Everything she does, she exudes confidence. I`m really just here to celebrate her."
A.J., she looks radiant. I hope she had a wonderful time.
HAMMER: And it looks like it was a really good night for everybody involved. Wow. Got to get there next year, Brooke. You`re just going to have to get there.
Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We thank you so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Don`t forget, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is 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. Be sure to check us out seven days a week, 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
END
