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Showbiz Tonight
Sex and the Beauties; Plastic Surgery Backlash; Virgins for Sale; Tiger Woods Might Be Cracking Under Pressure; Cynthia Nixon on Her Girlfriend; Betty White on "Dancing with the Stars"?; The New Susan Boyle
Aired May 11, 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: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - sex and the beauties. The explosive controversy today over 51 beautiful Miss USA pageant contestants in push-up bras and fishnets. Why Donald Trump is now smack in the middle of the controversy and what he told us today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, OWNER, MISS USA FRANCHISE: I`m a parent also and I can tell you I know a lot about parenting and I disagree. I think that really what you have is beautiful pictures.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Plastic surgery backlash. Hey there, Heidi Montag. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is breaking news today that you get too much plastic surgery, you may not get a job in Hollywood.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel sorry for the actresses that go too far, because you can tell and somebody needs to give them a reality check.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s the must-see SHOWBIZ special report, "Plastic Pressure."
Reality show outrage today. Virgins for sale for big money.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, coming to you from New York City with big news breaking today - sex and the beauty. As Paris Hilton would say, "Now, that`s hot." There was a raging controversy today over oh-so-sexy pictures of the contestants in Donald Trump`s Miss USA beauty pageant.
And if you think the Donald has anything to apologize about, well, wait until you hear what he told us today, which is why SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants you to judge for yourself.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Meet the 50 states of America. Miss California, Miss Hawaii, Miss Massachusetts, Miss Georgia. It`s Miss USA`s sexy, outrageous, controversial new photo shoot called "Waking Up in Vegas."
But there was coast-to-coast outrage today over what many are calling a degrading photo shoot that sends the wrong message.
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": It saddens me that these women are being reduced to just a sex symbol.
HAMMER: Donald Trump owns the Miss USA franchise. And today, he told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT there is nothing wrong with the Miss USA contestants all decked out in their skivvies. It`s art.
TRUMP: These were inspired by art. They really are art. The pictures are beautiful. The girls are magnificent. And the ratings are going to be through the roof.
HAMMER: The Parents Television Council isn`t buying it. On the CBS "Early Show" this morning, the PTC said the Miss USA photo shoot is bordering on pornography.
TIM WINTER, PARENTS TELEVISION COUNCIL: There has been a growing debate over the line between a beauty pageant and soft-core pornography.
HAMMER: But when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with Donald Trump today on his California golf course, he told us it is nonsense to compare these photos to soft-core porn.
TRUMP: I`m a parent also and I can tell you a lot about parenting and I disagree. I think really what you have is beautiful pictures done by a great photographer.
HAMMER: On NBC`s "Today" show this morning, Matt Lauer grilled the head of the miss universe organization on the curious timing of the controversial photos, surfacing just days before the pageant airs.
MATT LAUER, CO-HOST, "TODAY" SHOW: This is marketing, isn`t it?
PAULA SHUGART, PRESIDENT, MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION: Well, yes. To some degree, it is marketing. Obviously, everybody is talking about the photos. But you know, we have always been the cutting-edge pageant.
HAMMER: The pageant got real cutting edge last year when Miss California, Carrie Prejean, burst on the scene.
CARRIE PREJEAN, FORMER MISS CALIFORNIA: A marriage should be between a man and a woman.
HAMMER: When these topless photos surfaced of Prejean, these people freaked out.
ALEXANDER: For Carrie Prejean - those photos of her, some people say those are very similar to all of these photos of Miss USA contestants. I have to say I find that a little bit hypocritical.
HAMMER: But Donald Trump tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that it wasn`t the photos that got Prejean fired.
TRUMP: Carrie Prejean was a much different case. She had issues other than just her pictures.
HAMMER: And another bad girl pageant diva, Miss USA 2006, Tara Connor, defended the photos today on the CBS "Early Show" saying, chill out. It is not that big a deal.
TARA CONNER, MISS USA 2006: Basically, a swimsuit is lingerie, just different material. So, I really don`t know why everyone has their panties in a wad.
HAMMER: But "Inside Edition`s" Megan Alexander, who has been a Miss USA judge, says she is not buying that argument.
ALEXANDER: I don`t agree with that. I think it is very different to pose seductively on a bed with an open shirt showing lots of cleavage versus walking across the stage in a swimsuit.
HAMMER: Let`s face it, it`s hard to tell whether you are looking at Miss USA contestants or a steamy ad for Victoria`s Secret.
The president of the Miss Universe organization says, yes, that was kind of the point.
SHUGART: The dream job for them would be to be in the Victoria`s Secret fashion show. And this was - that`s basically the thing that we planned for this shoot.
HAMMER: But Megan Alexander tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT if you are looking for a pageant of Victoria`s Secret models, fine. But don`t call them role models.
ALEXANDER: Miss USA either needs to completely go that direction and own it. But don`t come back around and say that these girls are still role models for young women and empowering women all across the world. One or the other, but you can`t be both.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So what do you think? Is all the outrage justified? This is clearly not your mother`s beauty pageant anymore. And what about what Trump told us today?
Right now in Hollywood, someone who certainly knows all about the Miss USA contest, Shauntay Hinton, who won the title back in 2002. And also right now in Hollywood, Shaun Robinson. Shaun has hosted Miss Teen USA. Shaun is also a weekend co-host and correspondent for "Access Hollywood."
So the PTC - Parents Television Council - they`re up in arms, I tell you. They`re calling these photos soft-core porn. Now, I think Donald Trump at Miss USA - they clearly decided to change the game this year and make some more money.
So some people might think this is brilliant on Donald`s part. But these contestants are posing seductively and in skimpy lingerie on a bed. Shaun, off to you first. Should people have a problem with this?
SHAUN ROBINSON, WEEKEND CO-HOST AND CORRESPONDENT, "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD": Well, A.J., you know, I`ve got to tell you, keep it real. This is a beauty pageant. This isn`t a pageant of girls who are, say, virgins. I`m sorry if we want to think of them that way but that is not the case.
You know, every year, we keep pushing the bar and pushing the bar and pushing the bar. There was one - at one point we would have kicked out a contestant who had any type of plastic surgery. That, obviously, isn`t the case anymore.
HAMMER: You don`t think?
ROBINSON: So you know, we have to - we have to understand what this pageant is about. It`s about beautiful girls. So if you are going to have a problem with the girls posing on the bed in sexy lingerie, you should have a problem really with the whole thing. You have to decide where you stand.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, yes. But there is also obviously a big difference between simply wearing revealing clothing and the way they are posing in these particular pictures.
Now, Shauntay, I`ve got to talk to you about this because you were Miss USA back in 2002. And they weren`t doing this back then. How would you have felt if they asked you to pose in photos like those wearing nothing but fishnets and lingerie?
SHAUNTAY HINTON, MISS USA 2002: I would say game on. I think that - I don`t see racy, smacy women in these photos. I see women who are super- comfortable in their skin. I mean, my goodness, this is a brilliant ploy on behalf of the Miss Universe Organization for branding and marketing, but it is just that.
You know, you have a choice. That is how Miss USA was started in the first place. Some of these girls, if they didn`t appreciate the photos, could have chosen not to take the photos, and as well as people who don`t - who are very offended by these photos. They can choose not to watch the pageant, not to be involved with the pageant anymore.
HAMMER: Yes.
HINTON: I see women who are super-comfortable in their skin. I mean, I worked hard on my body when I won Miss USA, but it is not always about these types of photos. I mean, people are acting like these are the only photos on the site.
HAMMER: Well, no. No -
HINTON: They have candids. They have an evening gown photo.
HAMMER: Absolutely, you had a good point.
HINTON: Yes.
HAMMER: But there is certainly a big difference between - or at least a fine line between selling sex and selling beauty. You know -
HINTON: And Miss USA -
ROBINSON: Well, I`m sorry, this is a very, very fine line.
HINTON: Miss USA has always been -
HAMMER: Well, listen, a lot of people call Donald Trump a hypocrite today because - and Donald, of course, owns the pageant. And they are calling him this because of all the controversy of those seminude photos of Carrie Prejean that came out last year. But today, Trump told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT there is a big difference here. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Carrie Prejean was a much different case. She had other issues other than just her pictures, although her pictures were obviously pretty far out there. I mean, there was exposure as opposed to what we are talking about. So Carrie was a much different case. I came to Carrie`s defense, but in the end, I could no longer defend her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Now, I actually don`t think that Donald is being hypocritical. Like you said, Carrie was involved in a whole lot of other drama. But Shaun, I think people are going to have a hard time seek the difference.
ROBINSON: There is no difference in my eyes and I really like Donald Trump. I mean, he`s great salesman and he is selling this pageant. I don`t think there is a difference between the pictures that Carrie took and the pictures that these young ladies have taken for the promo pictures.
I mean, when you talk about Carrie, she was, you know, just a little bit to the left and you would have seen, you know, nipple, if I can say that.
HAMMER: Well, you just did.
(CROSS TALK)
HINTON: Well, Shaun, I have to disagree. I have to disagree.
ROBINSON: But I don`t see - I don`t see any difference at all.
HINTON: These women are not topless. These women are not topless. I think that this issue is totally irrelevant -
ROBINSON: But I don`t know - is there a difference being topless -
HINTON: There is no difference -
ROBINSON: And being in fishnets and with the shirt open. I don`t think they`re - there is any difference at all.
HINTON: Shaun, there is no difference between what they are wearing and a two-piece bathing suit?
HAMMER: Hold it. Hold it.
HINTON: There is no difference between what they are wearing and a two- piece bathing suit? I mean -
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Hold on a second, ladies. To clarify, I think what Donald was saying is, yes, there was a picture in which Carrie Prejean was actually exposed and that is something that, for them, crossed the line. But that`s not why she got fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
HAMMER: Of course, these pictures, nobody is fully exposed. We have to leave it there. But I so appreciate you both.
ROBINSON: Oh, come on. This conversation is just getting good.
HINTON: I think I`ve got some more that I need to say.
HAMMER: All right. As we move on tonight, they robbed from the rich, like Paris, Lindsay, Orlando. And revealed today, one of the Bling Ring members, who is also a reality star, is going to be spending a lot of time behind bars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Paris Hilton was the first victim. Police say members of the Bling Ring broke into her house more than five times using a key they found under a door mat. They stole an estimated $2 million worth of property.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Virgins for sale today. Yes, you heard me right. Wait until you hear about this outrageous new reality show. It brings a whole new meaning to "sex for sale."
And I am still laughing today at Betty White. How incredible was she on "Saturday Night Live?" So, where is next for the 88-year-old? Well, how about "Dancing with the Stars"? 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: "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" tickets go on sale Thursday. "Idol" contestant Crystal Bowersox denies reports she planned to quit the show."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And what a reality check today for the Hollywood Bling Ring. Yes, the so-called Bling Ring was a group of teens who went on a burglary rampage in the homes of Hollywood stars, everyone from Orlando Bloom to Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.
But today, one of the teens, who later became a reality show star, is trading in her designer duds for jail stripes. Just an incredible story. Here`s CNN`s Ted Rowlands for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is 18-year- old Alexis Neiers. She was sentenced to six months in county jail after pleading "no contest" to one felony burglary charge. She already has her own cable TV show, and this is a moment she`ll no doubt be talking about on it.
She`s going to jail for her role as a member of the Bling Ring, a group of partying suburban L.A. kids that police say stole cash, jewelry, and clothing worth millions from the homes of a long list of Hollywood celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Audrina Patridge, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel Bilson, and Orlando Bloom.
(on camera): Orlando Bloom`s and the other celebrity victims` home are here in the Hollywood hills. According to police, the kids in the Bling Ring would wait until the celebrities were out of town and then use maps on the Internet to case the homes before they showed up to steal.
(voice-over): Surveillance video from Bloom`s home shows the suspects walking backwards, hiding their faces from the security cam. Here, they are outside the home of Audrina Patridge. Police say for nine months, from December 2008 until August of 2009, the burglary ring hit 11 different celebrity homes, which at the time, created a stir in Hollywood.
AUDRINA PATRIDGE, ACTRESS: Hopefully, we catch them and get our stuff back. They took all the same stuff, you know? All the girl stuff. Jewelry and clothes and everything.
ROWLANDS: Paris Hilton was the first victim. Police say members of the Bling Ring broke into her house more than five times using a key they found under a doormat.
They stole an estimated $2 million worth of property. Police say before they were caught, the thieves kept and even wore a lot of the things they stole, which is now helping prosecutors.
When 19-year-old Nick Prugo was arrested, he was wearing this shirt stolen from Orlando Bloom. Police say 19-year-old Courtney Ames actually showed up to her arraignment wearing this necklace, stolen from Lindsay Lohan.
And police say alleged ringleader, Rachel Lee. is wearing a necklace stolen from Rachel Bilson in this photo posted on a social networking site.
Outside Lindsay Lohan`s former home that was burglarized in the Hollywood Hills, L.A. police detective Brett Goodkins says the motive of the Bling Ring was to make money.
BRETT GOODKINS, L.A. POLICE DETECTIVE: There is some aspect of this that this burglary crew targeted these people because of a fascination with celebrity, and there is absolutely that. But this wasn`t a scavenger hunt of young crazy kids just trying to get close to celebrity and this was the best way they could do it.
ROWLANDS: But now the burglars are becoming famous. They`ve been interviewed by television shows and celebrity gossip sites like TMZ. Alexis Neiers has her own reality show on the E! Network. The absurdity of it all is summed up in this clip of her calling a reporter who wrote about her appearing in court.
ALEXIS NEIERS, REALITY TV STAR: I`m going to let you know how disappointed I am in your story. There`s many things that I read in here that were false, like you saying that I wore six-inch Louboutin heels to court with my tweed skirt when I wore four-inch little brown B.B. shoes.
ROWLANDS: Neiers will be wearing prison clothes starting in late June when she begins to serve her six-month sentence. Prugo, Ames, Lee and two other alleged members of the Bling Ring have pleaded not guilty. They`re scheduled to be in court for a preliminary hearing later this month.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Glad she cleared that up about the heels. That was CNN`s Ted Rowlands for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Now, Alexis Neiers stars in a reality show, "Pretty Wild" and won`t be getting wild any time soon. She was hit with a six-month jail sentence, three years probation and ordered to stay away from Orlando Bloom.
Well, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines - they have been ringing nonstop today. So many people calling in about "American Idol." Is the show in crisis? What does "Idol" need to do to juice the ratings?
We got this call from Mary in Massachusetts who says bring back Paula.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MARY, CALLER FROM MASSACHUSETTS: The reason why "American Idol" is losing all their fans, including myself - I have been watching them since day one is, number one, of course, everybody misses Paula and you have to lose a judge.
I mean, four judges and waiting for all the comments, you know, it just seems like it takes forever and it`s really boring. And they don`t have the X factor person, just say like Adam Lambert, someone that`s wild and crazy and that can actually sing.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Thanks, Mary. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call" to sound off on this or anything at all. We are open 24 hours a day at 1-888- SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
A showbiz special report today - "Plastic Surgery Backlash." Will too many nips and tucks spell career suicide for today`s Hollywood starlets? Yes, I`m talking about you, Heidi Montag.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel sorry for the actresses that go too far because you can tell. And somebody needs to give them a reality check.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Did you hear about this new reality show today, "Virgins for Sale?"
And wait until you see this new video today of the 81-year-old woman being called the next Susan Boyle.
(SINGING)
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: MTV adding two new faces to season two of "Jersey Shore." "The View" to feature male co-hosts each day next week.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: I love Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She`s one funny lady and she`s a real sport, especially when one of her biggest career moments almost got screwed up. That is until a CNN entertainment senior producer came to the rescue.
And Today, Julia told Ellen DeGeneres exactly what happened. Julia was just honored with her very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but a spelling snafu nearly ruined Julia`s big day.
She is Julia L-O-U-I-S Dreyfus, not L-U-I-S like the star originally said. Well, the mistake was caught in time, thanks to CNN entertainment senior producer, David Daniel. Watch what Julia said on Ellen`s show today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIA LOUIS DREYFUS, ACTRESS: Getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is spectacular. But then, to have that happen - I can`t tell you the amount of - I mean, it is so funny. It was a gift on top of a gift to have this happen.
The press that came after that was so intense. People couldn`t get enough of it. Oh, wait. And get a load of this. Do you know how they discovered it was misspelled?
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": No.
DREYFUS: Out from the subway station walks the copy editor for CNN. Walks by, sees them installing it and he goes, you know, guys it is supposed to have an O and a hyphen. He is the copy editor for CNN. I think that is uncanny, don`t you?
DEGENERES: Yes. Yes.
DREYFUS: He takes a picture with his cell phone and he`s the one who alerted them that morning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Fantastic. Thanks for the shout-out, Julia. And again, our hats off to the guy who snapped the spelling snafu. He`s CNN senior producer extraordinaire, David Daniel.
Well, "American Idol" is really doing something incredible. They put up this really detailed survey on their Web site. They are asking fans what they like and what they hate about the show.
I can tell you, a big debate happening right now on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page. So many of you, like Christine A., believe there is a simple solution to fix "Idol." Bring Paula back is what she is saying.
Now, Nikki offers this suggestion. She says, "The judges should have a musical background and each judge should represent a different music genre, like R & B, country or hip-hop."
Time for the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here is what is coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
New signs today that Tiger Woods could be cracking under the pressure from his cheating scandal. His golf game is way off. His coach just quit today.
"Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon is not holding back today when she is talking about the love of her life. Cynthia describes her lesbian lover as a small man with boobs.
Plastic surgery backlash today. Could too many nips and tucks equal career suicide for some Hollywood starlets?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It certainly is frustrating when you`re looking for that needle in a haystack person and there`s some impediment like plastic surgery that ends up, you know, losing them the role.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is a SHOWBIZ special report you do not want to miss. 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: Country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert get engaged. Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood both nominated for three CMT Music Awards.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a SHOWBIZ special report, the plastic surgery backlash. It`s an all-out revolt today against the actors who get too many nips and tucks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel sorry for the actresses that go too far, because you can tell and somebody needs to give them a reality check.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Betty White, "Dancing with the Stars"? Is 88-year-old Betty who just rocked "SNL" going "Dancing?"
And is this 81-year-old grandma the next Susan Boyle?
(SINGING)
All right. Plus more stories, breaking news today from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker." A major decision in the Roman Polanski case and "Playboy" magazine in 3-D.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking today.
So is Tiger Woods cracking under the pressure? I can definitely proclaim right here, right now, that Tiger Woods` week has just gone from bad to much, much worse.
It all began with Tiger dropping out of a golf tournament because of a neck injury. And then, we find out today that Tiger`s coach is dropping him like a hot potato via text message.
With me right now from Hollywood is Tanika Ray who is an entertainment journalist. Also from Hollywood, Erich "Mancow" Muller, who is a nationally syndicated radio host.
And we`re going to get to the big Tiger news in just a moment, guys. First, I`ve got to begin with all the outrage flowing today over a brand- new reality show. It involves an auction of virgins.
Now, the show is the brainchild of an Australian filmmaker named Justin Sisley. It is being shot in Nevada now - that`s after Australian authorities threatened to charge the filmmaker and his subjects with prostitution. The plan is to sell off three virgins to the highest bidder, two women and one man.
At least they are breaking it up. And they are to be paid $20,000 apiece, plus 90 percent of their sale price. I`ve got to say, while I think it`s a terrible idea, you know - I mean, I just - I`m sort of not surprised it is happening. But Mancow, how wrong is this?
ERICH "MANCOW" MULLER, NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO HOST: Well, the sadder but wiser girl for me. Who wants a virgin? I mean, they are way overrated. And so what? Some old guy is going to pay a bunch of money to disappoint the girl?
Look, I have two daughters. I have two four-year-old daughters. And I mean, this is Sodom and Gomorrah. This is dogs and cats sleeping together. This is end of the world kind of stuff, guys. This is just pure evil. Oh, really - evil, evil, evil. I hate it.
HAMMER: All right.
MULLER: This is as low as we go.
HAMMER: Personified on reality TV. Tanika, do you find it as vile as Mancow?
TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: I do. It is a pervy child project of this guy. I`ve got to tell you, the only reason people are virgins is because they have a religious situation and they want to save their virtue, or they are so disgusting nobody wants to sleep with them.
So what is the point here? These people are so desperate that they are trying to sell their virginity off? It`s just - it`s really disgusting to me. Kind of sad, actually.
HAMMER: Well, Tanika, they have their reasons. Now, one of the virgin contestants did do an interview with "News Limited," which is an Australian newspaper, because she wanted to explain why she is doing it. She thought it would be a good idea to lose her virginity this way and here`s why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VERONICA PAGE BROOKS, VIRGIN CONTESTANT: I am Veronica Page Brooks. I`m 21. And I`m a virgin. I`m not going to do it just like a drunken night. But this is kind of a good opportunity, because I can hopefully change what people think about sex and society.
And you know, I can benefit from it financially, which wasn`t the main reason why I wanted to do it. It was more about challenging the way people think.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. So there you go. Veronica says she is doing it to challenge the way people think. Mancow, I`m thinking -
MULLER: A.J. -
HAMMER: That`s like saying, "Oh, I buy `Playboy` for the articles."
MULLER: You know it is the great - it is the great lie that we have talked women into, OK? It really is. This idea that somehow being naked, being easy, dressing like you`re a prostitute - somehow that`s liberating and makes you a woman.
These girls need to work on their minds, not getting on their backs. I mean, really, this is - I don`t understand the C celebrities. You know, you`re (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
RAY: It is a guy too, though. It is a guy, too.
MULLER: The beauty pageant - but you were showing the beauty pageant girls. This idea that it is liberating to be exploited by men - I don`t quite get it and I don`t buy it. I feel sorry for her.
HAMMER: Yes. I do, too.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: And I want to move on now because I don`t have enough Purell in the studio to clean myself. There is new Tiger Woods drama today -
MULLER: Oh, yes, you do.
HAMMER: It`s Tiger Woods` worst day. Now, just days ago, he dropped out of a golf tournament in Florida because of a neck injury. Today, we learned Tiger`s swing coach, Hank Haney, has dropped Tiger.
Now, Haney tells the Golf Channel he wasn`t fired, it was just time. This is what he was saying, "I really believe that given the chance, mind- free and injury-free, we will all see Tiger Woods play once again like we all know he can."
Now, the best part of this story for me is that this guy dumped Tiger in a text message. How sweet.
RAY: Perfect.
HAMMER: Tanika, I know you are a huge fan of Tiger Woods and you really think he is going to survive this thing. But I don`t see right now how things can get much worse for him.
RAY: I`m a huge fan of what he represents. And you are right. I thought that he had gotten his home together and he fixed some things with his wife and his family. Apparently, he has not.
Because when you keep spiraling down, downwards, it is pretty evident he hasn`t fixed all the components in his situation. Here is the thing. He is hitting rock bottom faster than we can even talk about it.
But that`s a good thing ultimately in the big scheme of things. Tiger is going to lose his wife. His kids are going to go to Sweden and he is really going to have to fix what is going on with him mentally.
So yes, I`m a big fan of what his potential is. But I do think he has got to clean up his house a little bit more.
HAMMER: Yes. Well said and I do have to end it there. Tanika Ray, Erich "Mancow" Muller, thank you both so much.
As we move on, today a SHOWBIZ special report, "Plastic Pressure." What SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is about to reveal may shock you but I`m here to say, it`s about time.
For years, stars tried to stop the hands of time by getting a few nips and tucks to keep looking young so they can keep getting jobs. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal that all that plastic surgery - it`s starting to backfire on them. Are you listening, Heidi Montag? If not, you should be.
Here is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me what you don`t like about yourself.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Hollywood, it seems everybody is getting a nip here, a tuck there. Could it be for actresses too much of a good thing may actually be a turnoff when it comes to landing that perfect role?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think, you know, the Barbie-ization of people has certainly happened.
WYNTER: And it`s changed the casting game, says Emmy award-winning casting director, John Papsidera. He is shocked at the amount of plastic that has now plastered this industry. It has made his job tough.
JOHN PAPSIDERA, EMMY AWARD-WINNING CASTING DIRECTOR: I feel like it`s fine in moderation. But I think the reality is that when plastic surgery or something artificial enters into that, it changes the way your eyebrow moves. It changes the way your lips move.
Those are the things that you`re looking to capture. And when it gets affected, it`s a bad - you know, side product.
WYNTER: Made even worse when you see young starlets like reality show vixen Heidi Montag getting tons of press for being plastic surgery`s new poster child. Montag recently made headlines for her whopping ten- procedure full-body makeover.
(on camera): What about actors who made their career on their plastic surgery, for example, Pamela Anderson?
PAPSIDERA: Pam started in this business in a career where she was running up and down the beach in a bathing suit, you know. So sure, it helped Pam. But it was a different time and it was a different era.
WYNTER: Papsidera says in this new age of technology with high def and those healthy doses of celebrity Web sites, it is no wonder many stars are so desperate to stay a cut above the rest.
PAPSIDERA: Never before in society have we had such access to pictures of celebrities. Everybody is on the Internet circling, you know, body parts.
WYNTER (voice-over): And coming in with unrealistic checklists, says plastic surgeon to the stars, Dr. Linda Lee, who had her own reality TV show, "Dr. 90210."
DR. LINDA LEE, PLASTIC SURGEON: We absolutely have to draw a line. We are the gatekeepers.
WYNTER: Dr. Linda Lee says that means cutting them off.
LEE: I feel sorry for the actresses that go too far, because you can tell. And somebody needs to give a reality check saying, "Hey, you know what? It`s not real anymore." And in order to be really marketable, you need to be a real person.
WYNTER: So here`s the real deal from a top casting director.
PAPSIDERA: It certainly is frustrating when you`re looking for that needle in a haystack person and there`s some impediment like plastic surgery that ends up, you know, losing them the role.
WYNTER: And the lesson from that loss? Less may be more.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: About time. That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
Well, Cynthia Nixon calls her longtime girlfriend a short man with boobs. Really? Really. Wait until you hear what else this "Sex and the City" says about her girlfriend today.
Well, Betty White is just amazing. At 88 years old, she just rocked "Saturday Night Live." But is Betty now heading to "Dancing with the Stars" today?
Plus, is this 81-year-old grandma the next SuBo - Susan Boyle?
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Wow, that woman can sing. Pretty amazing. 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: 3-D Angel is the centerfold! June issue of "Playboy" to feature 3-D centerfold. "Iron Man 2" star Scarlett Johansson looks great on the cover of "V" magazine.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: I`m telling you, Betty White just knocked it out of the park on "Saturday Night Live," even strutting her stuff in that sketch. It all started with a "Get Betty White on `SNL`" Facebook fan page. So can lightning strike twice?
I can tell you, there is a big push today for Betty to work it again on live TV, and this time, dancing on "Dancing with the Stars."
Welcome to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
What do you think, dancing with Betty? Well, Facebook may have catapulted Betty White to "Saturday Night Live." But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT fans may force Betty to dust off her dancing shoes. Late today, we got in the remarkable results of our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll. Wait until you see them.
Right now, in New York, Ben Widdicombe - he`s a celebrity journalist. Also in New York is Bex Schwartz - she is a comedian and pop culture pundit.
All right. You`ve got to take a look at this, because I think it`s incredible. We asked in our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll this question - "Betty White rocks `SNL.` What should she do next?"
Look at this - 28 percent of you wanted her to replace Simon on "American Idol." Twenty-two percent say Betty should get her own talk show, replace Oprah. But an overwhelming majority, 50 percent, say, no question about it - Betty White should compete on "Dancing with the Stars."
And there`s even a report today that the dancing folks would love to have her. I think it is just genius. Ben, should Betty do "Dancing with the Stars?"
BEN WIDDICOMBE, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: I think she absolutely should do "Dancing with the Stars." I think she would be a huge hit. Look, people love Betty White. If you check out "IMDB.com" biography page, she has been involved in every aspect of show business since 1945, which was her first film credit.
There is nothing she can`t do. She would be great on "Dancing with the Stars."
HAMMER: Yes. As grueling as it would be, we can`t count Betty White out for anything. I think she`s proven that. Now, our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook wall was buzzing today about Betty.
Nikki M. wrote this on our wall. She said, "I made a Facebook page saying she should get an Emmy for hosting `SNL.`" Nikki may be on to something today. Other brand-new Facebook pages were popping up demanding that Betty co-host the Emmys or even host the Oscars.
Bex, what do you think? "Saturday Night Live" - it`s one thing. But the Oscars - do you think we`re at this new day in America where something like Facebook could actually land someone like Betty White on the Oscar stage?
BEX SCHWARTZ, COMEDIAN AND POP CULTURE PUNDIT: I don`t know. I feel like you get one Facebook campaign to put Betty White on TV and that sort of doesn`t work anymore. However, I would love to see her host anything.
I think she and Jimmy Fallon hosting the Emmys together could be amazing. I would love to see her production number opening the Oscars. I mean, like, look out Neil Patrick Harris.
HAMMER: Yes.
SCHWARTZ: Here comes Betty White.
HAMMER: Yes. So somebody suggested on our Facebook page that we actually should have her pose in "Playboy." Do we have time to put that picture up real quick, Charles? I don`t necessarily think that is such a good idea. Yes, no, not so much. Very quickly, Ben, we should reel it back in, right?
WIDDICOMBE: We don`t want any of those Miss Universe pictures, I think, with Betty White in them.
HAMMER: All right. Bex Schwartz, Ben Widdicombe, thank you very much. Yes, there is a limit to everything that anybody can do.
Well, Betty is certainly not the only classic TV star in the minds of Facebook fans. There is a new Facebook frenzy today that could actually send another sassy senior to "SNL."
We`re talking about the legendary Carol Burnett and the campaign for Carol - it is just one of the stories making big news in "The Buzz" today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Is Carol Burnett the new Betty White?
BETTY WHITE, ACTRESS: At my age, if I want to connect with old friends, I need a Ouija board.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Betty White`s hosting of "Saturday Night Live" was such a hit that Carol Burnett could be following in her footsteps. "SNL" picked White to host the show after a Facebook campaign.
Well, fans are at it again, this time demanding "SNL" let Burnett host. Thousands of people have already signed on to the same kind of Facebook page that got Betty White the "SNL" gig.
Katy Perry - now, that`s hot. At least that`s what "Maxim" magazine is saying, naming Perry the most beautiful woman in the world. "Maxim" says Katy tops the just-released hot list because of her sizzling combination of sex appeal and talent. And oh, yes, she kissed a girl, at least in her hit song.
Others in the top ten hottie list include swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker, "Avatar" star Zoe Saldana, "Gossip Girl`s" Blake Lively and Megan Fox.
Kristin Chenoweth`s gay rights stand. She is slamming a "Newsweek" essay that criticizes her Broadway co-star Sean Hayes. The essay uses Hayes as an example when asking if an openly gay star can convincingly play a straight love interest.
Chenoweth calls the article horrendously homophobic. The "Newsweek" writer, also gay, defends himself saying he wanted to inspire debate and examine an issue he claims is being swept under the rug.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, Cynthia Nixon loves her girlfriend because she`s like a short man with boobs. Those are her words, not mine.
The "Sex in the City" star, who came out as a lesbian in 2004, says this about her partner Christine in the June issue of "The Advocate," "A lot of what I love about is her butchness. Christine would probably kill me for saying this, but my daughter said one time that if you really had to break this down, it looks like she would be butch and I would be femme. But really, once you get to know us, it`s really the opposite."
Cynthia and Christine have been together for six years. They are engaged and as soon as same-sex marriage is legal in New York, Cynthia says they will get hitched.
All right. Obviously, you`ve heard about SuBo by now - Susan Boyle, the Scottish woman who blew everyone away with her singing on "Britain`s Got Talent."
Well, something has definitely got to be in the water in Scotland today. You got to listen to this 81-year-old Scottish grandma sing.
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Pretty amazing, right? But the question is, is she the new Susan Boyle?
It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Judge refuses Roman Polanski`s request to unseal testimony from original case. Taylor Swift to receive award at Songwriters Hall of Fame gala on June 17th.
HAMMER: And now, it`s time for this week`s SHOWBIZ buzz list. These are the five things that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff just can`t buzzing about today.
Of course, golden girl Betty White`s golden performance on "Saturday Night Live." The countdown to the "Lost" finale on May 23rd - I`m very sad about this.
Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda all back in "Sex and the City 2." It`s coming out on May 27th. In fact, I`ll be sitting down with the stars of the movie this coming weekend.
We`re also loving "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" book. It`s number two on the "New York times" fiction bestsellers list.
And we are gaga over the new documentary about babies called "Babies." This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Cute kid doing Lady Gaga. You can`t mess with that, right? Very Bieber-like, isn`t it? Did you see this? Sixth grader Greyson Michael Chance left his classmates just speechless.
Look at all the girls behind him while he`s doing that piano cover of Lady Gaga`s paparazzi at a school festival. Very impressive. And of course, now, he`s got himself a Facebook fan page.
And now, we`re going to jump ahead a few decades. Did you see this? Is this woman the new Susan Boyle? She`s 81-year-old Janey Cutler. She`s Scottish just like Susan and also, just like Susan, she wowed the crowd and judges of "Britain`s Got Talent." Listen to her belting out "No Regrets."
(SINGING)
Yes, that`s pretty good. More than 850,000 people have watched Janey`s amazing audition on YouTube. She`s already got the Hollywood friendly nickname lined up. Call Janey NuBo(ph), as in the new SuBo - Susan Boyle.
Well, give them to me, Jay. I have just now received the results of our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll. And these final numbers are incredible.
On Monday, I asked you, "Betty White Rocks `SNL`: What should she do next?" Twenty-eight percent want her to replace Simon on "American Idol." Twenty-two percent say replace Oprah with her own talk show. Fifty-two percent of you say she should compete on "Dancing with the Stars."
Let`s get to some of the E-mail. This is Dave in California writing, "Now that Barbara Walters is going to be absent from `The View,` I`d like to see Betty fill in." I think that`s actually a great idea.
Jordan from Nevada writes, "I think that Betty should definitely have her own talk show because I know people would definitely watch it. I would."
And Tian from Florida doesn`t like any of our choices, "I don`t think Betty White should do any of the options listed in your online poll. Instead, I think she should you host the Oscars." Well, that movement is already upon her.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks a lot for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT now live 5:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday. And we are still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
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