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Showbiz Tonight
Shocking Split; Palin on De-Fence; Battle of Star Scandals; Defending Star Mistresses
Aired June 02, 2010 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The shocking Al and Tipper Gore split. 40 years of marriage, now they`re breaking up. But is their split the biggest of all time? Bigger than Tom and Nicole? Even bigger than Brad and Jen? SHOWBIZ investigates today.
The battle of the star scandals: Charlie versus Fergie. Unbelievable new reports that Charlie Sheen may go to jail. Sarah Ferguson spills all to Oprah about her caught-on-tape scandal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH FERGUSON, DUCHESS OF YORK: I was in the gutter at that moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Who`s handling their mess better? Who will be forgiven? It`s a take-no-prisoners knockdown, drag out battle today. Charlie versus Fergie.
And defending the mistresses: the controversial attorney who represents two of Tiger Woods` alleged mistresses fights back today. Gloria Allred faces the burning questions in the fired up interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, coming to you from New York City, with big news breaking today.
Right now, the shocking split of former Vice President Al Gore and his wife Tipper is sparking big buzz everywhere.
Now, let`s make no mistake about it, the Gores may be political royalty, but they`ve also made a lasting mark on Hollywood`s A-list. So how could this seemingly perfect couple, married for 40 years, end up like so many celebrity couples on the road to Splitsville?
I mean, their lives, it really played out like a true Hollywood romance. Their relationship was even linked to the classic Hollywood film, "Love Story". So what went wrong?
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates what some are calling the most shocking celebrity split ever.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Forget Brad and Jen, Tom and Nicole are so yesterday; we`re now seeing what`s perhaps the most shocking celebrity breakup ever.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, are separating after 40 years of marriage.
HAMMER: Today, morning TV talk shows were buzzing about the breakup of former Vice President, Nobel Prize winner, and noted planet saver, Al Gore and his wife Tipper. The split was debated on "The View".
JOY BEHAR, HLN HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": I say after 40 years, you`re in your 60s, what is the point of splitting up if there`s not another person involved?
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Maybe they`re just not -- it`s not happening for them anymore.
HAMMER: And "Good Morning America" brought on a family therapist to dissect the Gore breakup.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People do grow apart, that`s true, particularly now that the kids are gone.
HAMMER: Yes, while Spencer and Heidi Pratt are trying as hard as they possibly can to get people to pay attention to their alleged breakup, which they announced late last week, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you it`s the Gores shocking split that has all of America talking.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is like an A-list celebrity breaking up.
ALICIA QUARLES, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: What? They`re getting separated? I hate it.
HAMMER: Today, everyone`s asking, how could this couple, who were the picture of marital stability when the Clintons were living a marital soap opera, and who gave us one of the most interesting kisses in TV history, just up and break up like this?
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, it appears the Gores have fallen victim to the same pressures of stardom familiar to all celebrity couples.
QUARLES: The Gores have been pretty honest about the fact that they have been growing apart.
HAMMER: Alicia Quarles of the Associated Press tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Al Gore`s punishing schedule as an environmental crusader and media mogul has been keeping the couple apart.
QUARLES: Their friends told us at the AP that basically they have been two separate lives and that takes a strain on the marriage.
HAMMER: And for those who think this may be another John Edwards or Mark Sanford situation, friends are telling reporters this political split does not involve cheating.
QUARLES: Friends say that wasn`t the case, Tipper wasn`t cheating, Al wasn`t cheating; this was just a case of two people growing apart.
HAMMER: Ever since the Gores met at a prom party when they were teenagers, they`ve lived a true Hollywood romance, literally. They were said to have partially inspired the book and movie, "Love Story". And then there`s that full-on make out session they had at the Democratic National Convention back in 2000.
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you go back with a stopwatch, it`s not all that long. I, you know, if she hadn`t been struggling so much, it would have been longer.
HAMMER: On "Larry King Live" back in 2002, the Gores talked about that kiss and explained the secret to their long marriage.
TIPPER GORE, WIFE OF AL GORE: Well, we fell in love and we stayed in love and worked very hard.
HAMMER: Now that they`re splitting up, the Gores are still putting on a good face for the public. In the e-mail statement announcing their split, the Gores wrote, quote, "This is very much a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together." They ended the statement, with, "We do not intend to comment further."
If only a certain other well know couple could follow that classy example in their so-called split.
QUARLES: Spencer and Heidi, you`re out there putting out press releases, telling the world about your separation and your breakup. Maybe take a hint from Al and Tipper, do it quietly and do it with grace.
HAMMER: Yes, the Gore`s breakup may be graceful and classy, but that doesn`t make it any less sad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: It is sad. And I`ve got to say, of all the big celebrity breakups, this one really shocked me, but is it the most shocking celebrity split ever?
Right now from Hollywood, it`s Ken Baker. He`s the chief news correspondent for E!; in New York it`s Carolina Bermudez, who`s the senior editor for "In Touch Weekly", Carolina is also the co-host of radio`s "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show".
People everywhere, buzzing about the Gore breakup today.
Ken right to you.
KEN BAKER, CHIEF NEWS CORRESPONDENT, E!: Yes.
HAMMER: Do you think people are struck by this split, not just because these guys were married for 40 years, but really because of the fact that this relationship truly played out like a true Hollywood love story?
BAKER: I don`t think it`s that shocking in a sense that, you know, Sandra Bullock and Jesse James, for example, because we had just seen them together at the Oscars and they seemed so close and so intimate, so publicly.
We haven`t really seen Tipper and Al together for a very really long time, so I think that this whole separate lives things that`s been given as an explanation, really plays in the fact of it not being so shocking, per se. I think it`s more sad and a lot of people are disappointed.
But at the same time, too, if you really look at Tipper and Al Gore, I mean, they are major celebrities. I mean, they`re among the most famous couples that there is out there, but at the end of the day, when you look at it. How could Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton still be married and Al and Tipper aren`t?
HAMMER: Oh I mean --
BAKER: Yes, but really that`s the big question. How is that possible?
HAMMER: No and you -- and you make another good opponent, Ken, the fact, that you know, the image that we have of Al and Tipper together, it`s years old at this point, but we do have that images particularly of that kiss emblazoned in our minds and that`s how we think of them.
They had a long and healthy marriage, really, by anyone`s standards, you know, let alone Hollywood`s standards. Here`s what we`re asking in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll today.
Which was the most shocking celebrity split ever? Is it Al Gore and Tipper? Is it Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston? Or is it Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman?
Carolina, to you for your pick.
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, IN TOUCH WEEKLY: I would have to go with the Brad and Jennifer for the most shocking ever. Only because there was scandal involved, there was promiscuity there, there was another woman involved.
And here with Al and Tipper, there really isn`t any meat to this story. I think they just grew apart. Their children aren`t home anymore, they do have grandchildren, but I think this is something that a lot of divorce experts are saying that they`re seeing as couples get older and as life expectancies grow, they are seeing that people aren`t really willing to stay together if they`re not as happy as they once were.
HAMMER: Yes and I`m right back there with you, Ken. And it`s just sad to see, you know, especially after 40 years, you think, oh, if they couldn`t make it, gosh we`re all doomed.
All right, I want to move on now to more big news breaking today. This is fantastic.
James Cameron`s titanic mission to stop the oil spill and this isn`t a joke here. The famed director of "Titanic" and "Avatar" has now joined the effort to stop the disastrous oil leak that`s off the Coast of Louisiana. He just met with some 20 scientists and engineers. They`re trying to brain storm ways to fix the leak. And I`m thinking, they`ve got the right guy here.
Check out here resume. Cameron pioneered new technology in underwater filming while he was making the "Abyss" and "Titanic". He developed deep sea submersible equipment. He has made documentaries exploring shipwrecks up to two miles below the ocean`s surface.
And I love this -- I didn`t know this before, he owns his own private fleet of deep-dive crafts. Ken, I am thinking that if he fixes this titanic mess, James Cameron will truly be king of the world.
BAKER: Yes. You know, it seems kind of ridiculous at first, it kind of seems like the cynics want to say, well, why don`t you just send "Bombshell" McGee out there for a flotation device.
HAMMER: Yes, all right.
BAKER: But -- but really he does have an expertise in these underwater submersible vehicles and he does understand a lot of that, but you know, this just in. We just saw, we just spotted off the Coast of Louisiana a bunch of blue skinny people and they were -- they were skinny dipping --
HAMMER: Ok, let me move right along to Carolina because, I don`t think she doesn`t have her material in front of her right now. But Carolina, seriously, to Ken`s point, you know, a lot of people might think it`s bizarre to get a big-time Hollywood director involved, but are you with me, that, hey, if James Cameron has a solution to the catastrophe, let him have at it?
BERMUDEZ: Absolutely. I think anyone at this point will be a great help to the situation that`s going on, and you look back, I think it was what, like the "Abyss" in the `80s where he is really started -- he really started developing all his underwater training with --
HAMMER: Yes.
BERMUDEZ: -- these deep diving water crafts and everything.
So, you know, whoever`s going to do it, it doesn`t matter who it is, but I would think that James Cameron, if anyone in Hollywood could do it, it would be him.
HAMMER: Get it done. Carolina Bermudez, Ken Baker, thanks, guys.
BERMUDEZ: Thank you.
HAMMER: All right, I`ve got to tell you about this big battle of star scandals today. It`s Charlie versus Fergie.
There are unbelievable new reports that Charlie Sheen may go to jail. Sarah Ferguson`s spilling all to Oprah about her caught-on-tape scandal. Here`s my question. Who`s handling their mess better? Who`s going to be forgiven in all this?
Defending the mistresses today, the controversial attorney, Gloria Allred who, of course, represents two of Tiger Woods` alleged mistresses, she is fired up today. There are some new allegations that Gloria`s fight is just about money.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLORIA ALLRED, ATTORNEY: Today was not an apology. It was a staged public relations stunt. My client deserves better than this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Gloria Allred facing the burning questions in the headline- making interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Kathie Lee`s plane scare, you`ve got to hear Kathie Lee Gifford in her own words describing what happened on a flight. She actually thought she was going to die. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN News & Views.
Time now for the "Showbiz News Ticker": it`s more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN, "KATE PLUS 8": I know what I want to do for their sixth birthday, and it doesn`t matter what Jon and I are doing. I`m down with my helper, I`m here by myself. It was a little nerve wracking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Sarah Palin is going on defense today by building a fence. It`s an all-out war between the Palins and their new next-door neighbor. This guy is writing an unauthorized bio about Sarah Palin. I`m thinking none of Sarah moose stew for him.
Here is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It may not be as great as the Great Wall or as infamous as the Berlin Wall, but Palin`s fence isn`t leaving anyone on the fence when it comes to its purpose. To block out the best-selling author writing a book about Palin who`s rented the house next door.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it`s kind of stalkerish.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Voyeuristic.
MOOS: And they`re not even fans of Sarah Palin.
But now author Joe McGinniss is firing back in a "Today Show" interview.
JOE MCGINNISS, AUTHOR: Sarah hysterically puts up this Facebook page with all sorts of ugly innuendo, which -- which, frankly, is revolting.
MOOS: Palin made McGinniss sound creepy, writing, "wonder what kind of material he`ll gather while overlooking Piper`s bedroom, my little garden, and the family`s swimming hole?" But McGinniss told the "Today Show", she posted his picture.
MCGINNISS: Surreptitiously, they photographed me standing on my own porch.
MOOS: Conservative like Glenn Beck call McGinniss --
GLENN BECK, FOX NEWS HOST: A peeping tom.
MOOS: Greta Van Susteren posted Palin`s fence with the caption, "To protect against the Wasilla stalker".
SARAH PALIN, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ALASKA: You know as they say fences make for good neighbors and Todd and his buddy started the fence yesterday and it`s looking good, it`s about 14-foot high.
MOOS: Palin`s now famous fence --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this blocks his view.
MOOS: -- started to sound like a knock-knock joke when "Good Morning America" came to call.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, are you Joe?
MCGINNISS: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just want to ask a question about --
MCGINNISS: I am going to have to call the Wasilla police.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I just ask you?
MCGINNISS: Get off my property -- now. I am going to put in the call.
MOOS: McGinniss has even gotten threats.
Palin counterattacked on Twitter after McGinniss accused her of inciting hatred, acting like a Nazi.
MCGINNISS: She has pushed a button and unleashed the hounds of hell.
PALIN: You know they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull, lipstick.
MOOS: What are the Palin`s brouhaha good fences don`t just make good neighbors, they make good marketing ploys. An Ohio company is now selling the Palin fence, pressure treated, as Sarah Palin herself has been. Palin captioned her photo of Joe McGinniss, "Hi, neighbor, may I call you Joe?" Remember the last time she said that to a guy named Biden.
PALIN: Hey, can I call Joe?
MOOS: A McCain aide later said she wanted to call him Joe to avoid the habit she had at adding an O.
PALIN: And Senator O`Biden.
MOOS: At least with a fence between them she won`t tempted to call Joe, O`McGinniss.
PALIN: A real pain in the butt.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
All kidding aside Sarah Palin is not the only one lashing out at her neighbor; you will never guess who`s got Sarah`s back in this neighbor war today.
Right now, in New York, Tanika Ray, she`s an entertainment journalist. You`re right here, I`m in New York.
TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: I`m right here.
HAMMER: We`re here. All right --
RAY: I don`t have her back, let`s make that clear.
HAMMER: Well, listen, all right, let me ask you this, because I do think the guy moving in next door to Sarah Palin`s family is a little strange, but do you think -- he`s being stalkerish or do you because Sarah Palin, champion of freedom --
RAY: Absolutely.
HAMMER: -- she should just be ok with this and let it go.
RAY: Yes, I kind of feel like, what do you got to hide, Sarah? What`s the problem? She is a champion of freedom, and this is the freedom of him living wherever he wants to live. I kind of feel like, karma`s a b, payback`s a b, deal with it, sister. I kind of think it`s genius and creepy all at the same time.
But I`ve got to tell you this, we`re all going to go out and read that book, because he`s going to have firsthand, direct access, and he`s got to know a lot of information we`re all going to want to hear. So, good for him.
HAMMER: All right, well, we all watched "The View" we know the ladies of "The View" are bitterly divided --
RAY: They went at it.
HAMMER: When it comes to anything having to do to Sarah Palin. That`s an understatement, saying that.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: But today Sarah got support from co-host Sherri Shepherd. Watch Sherri.
RAY: Shocking.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I don`t follow Palin and I think what he`s doing is despicable, because I think, he says that he got this house -- he said that he got the house for $1,500 and it was a really good deal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
SHEPHERD: But you know morally what you`re doing. You know this woman`s kids are in the backyard. You know, (INAUDIBLE) -- he said he moved to Alaska so he could interview the people in Alaska. Well, move your behind downtown.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, let me ask you this very quickly --
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: -- with all the drama going on, should he pack out and move out?
RAY: No, he should stay there, even more so now, because it`s pissing her off really. And when it comes down to it, he can live wherever he wants. Yes, it`s creepy. It`s not about the kids and I that`s what Sherri was really talking about the kid angle, but he wants to see what Sarah`s doing. And so do I.
HAMMER: Well, you said, karma`s a b, right?
RAY: And karma`s a b.
HAMMER: All right, Tanika Ray, here in New York. It`s always good to see you. Thank you so much.
RAY: Thank you.
HAMMER: As we move on, we are defending the mistresses today, we are speaking to the defender of the mistresses today, it`s attorney Gloria Allred. She represents two of Tiger Woods` alleged mistresses and there are explosive new claims today, Gloria`s fight is just about money.
So we booked Gloria to come on and face my tough questions.
It`s Charlie versus Fergie today. Now, Charlie Sheen may be going to jail, Fergie is spilling all about her caught-on-tape scandal, but who is handling their mess better?
And Kathie Lee Gifford`s frightening plane scare: you have got to hear Kathie Lee`s unbelievable story about how she thought she was a goner on a plane.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, News and Views.
Here comes the "Showbiz News Ticker", more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Kathie Lee Gifford`s frightening midair emergency. Kathie lee and her husband, Frank, were flying to Nantucket over Memorial Day weekend when the plane`s door flew open. I want you to listen to Kathie tell "Today" co-host Hoda Kotb about the scary moments.
Kathie Lee says she really thought she was going to die.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATHIE LEE GIFFORD, CO-HOST, "THE TODAY SHOW": The door at 3,000 feet --
HODA KOTB, CO-HOST, "THE TODAY" SHOW: What?
GIFFORD: -- went flying open. Everything that wasn`t hunkered down went -- like all newspapers and everything were just flying all in the cabin went flying out the door. We thought the door of the plane fell off and was going to kill somebody below.
KOTB: Holy mackerel.
GIFFORD: And we`re trying -- they don`t make any announcement or anything, because they`ve got an emergency situation --
KOTB: Yes.
GIFFORD: -- so all of a sudden, you know, they made a distress landing and we came back down and --
KOTB: I cannot believe that happened.
GIFFORD: You know what was interesting, though, everybody says that when you go through something like that and you think you`re going to die, they`re really --
KOTB: What happened? Did your life flash before your eyes?
GIFFORD: You know what? Frank leans over to me and takes my hand and we just prayed for our kids --
KOTB: Oh my God.
GIFFORD: -- and the pilot`s children, families. And I was -- it`s very interesting, I`ve never had such peace in my life.
KOTB: You`re kidding me?
GIFFORD: Uh-uh, and I`ve been in bad situations before on an airplane and I was like crazy scared. This time I was like, you know what?
KOTB: Peaceful.
GIFFORD: Nantucket is a nice place to go, but I`m going to someplace even better, so what the heck.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow, scary stuff, but it does of course, sounds like Kathie Lee has bounced back rather quickly.
Oh, boy, did you see this? Justin Bieber has a lot of young fans, but today I can tell you he`s now officially crossed over into the grandma age group.
You have to check out this brand-new bizarre video that`s making the rounds, it`s a grandma singing Justin Bieber`s baby.
Now, the woman says she`s not a Bieber fan herself, but she jokes that she has to sing because her grandson is holding her hostage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(GRANDMOTHER SINGING JUSTIN BIEBER SONG)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes all right, that`s -- we`ve had enough of remember that. At one point in the video there`s a voice off-camera, I`m assuming it`s this mysterious grandson holding her hostage. And he tells grandma that`s she`s going to be famous, granny responds, yes, but she`ll be known as the goofy grandma.
And she is right.
And it`s time for the "Showbiz Line Up". Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Charlie Sheen and Sarah Ferguson: who`s handling their scandal better today?
Defending the mistresses: the controversial attorney representing two of Tiger Woods` alleged mistresses; she`s right here, she is facing my tough questions. Is her fight about money?
And Heidi Klum and Seal, couples counselors?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, News and Views.
Now to the "Showbiz News Ticker": more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it`s the battle of the celebrity scandals.
Fergie versus Charlie. Sarah Ferguson slammed for selling royal access for big bucks; the new fallout today from her surprising Oprah confession.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, TV TALK SHOW HOST: Had you ever attempted to do anything like this before?
SARAH FERGUSON, DUCHESS OF YORK: No, I don`t think so. No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Charlie Sheen could end up in jail. Fergie versus Charlie, who will come out on top?
Defending the mistresses: the controversial attorney who represents two of Tiger Woods` mistresses right here. Is her fight about money?
Madonna`s shocking before and after, over 50 and flawless in Louis Vuitton, but I`m revealing what she looked like before getting all glammed up.
Plus more stories breaking today from the "Showbiz News Ticker". Lady Gaga gives CNN`s Larry King an exclusive look at her new video.
And a brand-new "American Idol" shocker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 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, with big news breaking today.
It is the battle of the celebrity scandals. It`s Charlie Sheen versus Sarah Ferguson. Both are mired in outrageous scandal today. Bad boy Charlie Sheen looking at some cold, hard jail time. That, of course, for a domestic violence case involving his wife. It has been months and still Charlie hasn`t spoken a word publicly about the scandal.
But Sarah Ferguson, on the other hand, she can`t stop talking about her royal mess. She tried to explain away to Oprah just why she offered to sell access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERGUSON: I needed -- a friend of mine needed $38,000 urgently.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Today, people can`t seem to figure out whether to forgive these controversial stars or just forget them. Can either of them really survive this backlash, this time around?
Right now in New York is Tanika Ray, she`s an entertainment journalist; also in New York, Carolina Bermudez, a senior editor of "In Touch Weekly and co-host of the fabulous "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show".
So Charlie Sheen and Sarah Ferguson have each dealt with their personal scandals completely differently. Charlie Sheen hasn`t said word one, publicly, about allegedly putting a knife to his wife`s throat. He`s only spoken through a lawyer or publicist so far.
Fergie, on the other hand, she laid it all out on Oprah Winfrey`s table. You`ve got to listen to what she told Oprah about what went down the night she took money for access to Prince Andrew.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERGUSON: I was in the gutter at that moment, so I know, I know exactly, I`m very aware of the fact that I`d been drinking, you know, that I was not in my right place. I needed -- a friend of mine needed $38,000 as urgently.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Fergie is hoping this interview will actually be a part of paving her road to redemption. And today, a lot of people are actually still trying to make sense of Fergie`s explanation.
Tanika, I, for one, think that maybe Fergie made an even bigger mess for herself by saying so much.
RAY: Absolutely. It`s kind of sad, to be perfectly honest. She`s kind of slurring through the interview. She makes kind Freudian slips like, I need -- I mean, my friend needed, and nobody believes that. It`s kind of like my dog ate my homework.
I just feel like she`s done more damage. And I was all over Twitter going, "Are you kidding, Oprah? Less than a week after the scandal, you already have her in your chair talking to her about her scandal?
Obviously she`s got some bigger issues to fry here. And people are talking about maybe going on "Celebrity Rehab". She obviously has some issues she`s got to work out.
HAMMER: It is sad, and especially against the backdrop of the fact that we all like Fergie.
RAY: We love her. She`s a woman who knows herself, but apparently when you talk in the third person, you`ve got some other issues.
HAMMER: Yes, well, that`s her you`re talking about. It`s you.
Today everybody is buzzing about the Oprah/Fergie interview, and some are even saying that they think she was lying at one point, especially when Oprah asked Fergie if she sold favors to meet royals before this incident.
RAY: I couldn`t figure that one out.
HAMMER: Watch this.
WINFREY: Have you ever attempted to do anything like this before?
FERGUSON: No, I don`t think so. No, of course not, no. No.
WINFREY: To sell your --
FERGUSON: No.
WINFREY: Anything, or to offer access to yourself or any member of the royal family? Have you ever attempted anything like that before?
FERGUSON: No, no, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, today on "The View", Sherri Shepherd was not buying what Fergie was selling. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEPHERD: I really feel sorry for this woman, because, I think, to me, it seems a little bit like she`s lying when she`s talking about that. I think she`s in kind of a destitute situation, even though she`s got free room and board, you know, the queen -- the duchess, you can`t go and get a regular job, you can`t work at McDonald`s.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Carolina off to you, in this battle of celebrity scandals, big one between Fergie and, of course, Charlie Sheen, do you think Fergie hurt her cause by speaking out on Oprah? I`m thinking perhaps she really should have taken a page from Charlie`s book and just kept her mouth shut.
BERMUDEZ: Definitely, I agree with you. Charlie knows how the whole PR machine works, so he`s just keeping a tight lip. He`s letting all of his representatives do the work for him.
But I don`t think Fergie could have been any less convincing. Here she is that she thought she knew this guy was a reporter, then after, she doesn`t know. It`s like, everybody knows that the "News of the World", they do these undercover investigations. So why would you accept money for a friend, even if that was the case, I mean it was just -- I couldn`t even follow her story after a while yesterday.
RAY: It`s nonsensical.
HAMMER: Yes.
And obviously it`s a very different situation than Charlie Sheen has gotten himself into. He is accused of doing something truly reprehensible, putting a knife to his wife`s throat. He could be looking at 30 days in jail, he may be spending some time in the pokey, but the truth is it really hasn`t hurt his career any.
He just renegotiated his deal with CBS. He`s going to bring in tens of millions of dollars doing two more seasons of "Two-and-a-Half-Men. Charlie recipe for scandal through the years has always been the same. Just don`t say a word, and it`s worked.
I actually thought, at one point Tanika, all right finally, this is the scandal --
RAY: This is it.
HAMMER: -- that`s going to sink Charlie Sheen and it hasn`t. What gives?
RAY: He just keeps making more and more money. Maybe it`s Stan, maybe it`s PR guy Stan who`s working it out and perhaps Fergie needs to make a phone call. I don`t know what`s going on, but he just seems that -- maybe this is it, we never put him on a pedestal. He was always a bad boy, so we never had any thoughts of him being a great guy with great character, so he`s not disappointing us.
We kind of know Charlie`s deal and he`s living up to it. But Fergie, she was a queen, she was a princess. She was this awesome woman that stood up for herself and we really admired her. It`s the fall from grace that I think really shocks us.
HAMMER: Carolina?
BERMUDEZ: Charlie Sheen has been a bad boy, quote-unquote, for over 30 years now. When is this guy going to get the message? And I`m sorry, but less than 30 days in the slammer for putting a knife to your wife`s throat.
RAY: He never has to pay the price.
BERMUDEZ: What kind of a message are we sending?
HAMMER: I`ll tell you what though. I will say this. I think his last shot at bad behavior. No, no, no, listen, something like this so reprehensible, if he gets caught again, I really believe he`s swung his last strike. I think that`s it.
And you look at what he`s doing now to sort of control the PR, the most we`ve seen of Charlie over the past few months, aside from the sitcom, is him in and out of court, until this week, brand-new photos surfaced of him hanging out with his kids and his ex-wife, Denise Richards, at Disneyland.
Let me remind you, just a few years ago, he and Denise, they were in the nastiest divorce in Hollywood history. Carolina, even his supposed worst enemy, his ex, now all cushy-cushy with him. What`s the secret to the fact that he`s surviving the scandal here?
RAY: Making a lot of money.
BERMUDEZ: Exactly. He`s working overtime to rehab this image. And I`m sorry, but Denise Richards, she may have an ulterior motive here too.
Look, anytime you`re using your kids as a PR stunt, come on, Charlie, when was the last time he was seen with his daughters before this photo op, I would love to know that.
RAY: Never. It`s true.
HAMMER: When it comes down to both Fergie and Charlie Sheen, how each of these two are handling their scandals, it seems pretty clear to me, despite the horrible thing he`s accused of doing, Charlie Sheen really has come out on top in this battle?
RAY: Touchdown, score, hands-down, he`s winning all the way to the bank. And that`s what`s so shocking is that you think that somebody would come out, mea culpa, they would have to pay the price and talk to Oprah. But he`s done none of that.
HAMMER: And it doesn`t seem that he cares about the public image as long as he`s still making the money.
RAY: He doesn`t.
HAMMER: Carolina, for you, between these two, who`s coming out on top?
BERMUDEZ: Unfortunately, Charlie Sheen, he`s the big winner --
RAY: Absolutely.
BERMUDEZ: I mean -- but he`s the big loser, as far as I`m concerned.
RAY: The biggest loser. There you go.
HAMMER: Well, maybe he needs to host his own reality show when this is all said and done. Tanika Ray, Carolina Bermudez, I thank you both.
RAY: Thanks.
HAMMER: Get ready for it. It`s my explosive one-on-one with Gloria Allred. Gloria, of course, is the controversial attorney who represents two -- count them, two -- of Tiger Woods` mistresses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLORIA ALLRED, VICTIMS` RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Today was not an apology. It was a staged public relations stunt. My client deserves better than this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And that`s two of Tiger`s alleged mistresses. Gloria, answering all of my big burning questions today. Is Gloria`s fight all about money? She`ll tell us.
Also, Madonna`s new photo spread for Louis Vuitton. It is definitely provocative. Look at her, does she look 51 to you in these pictures? Not to me either. But you may be shocked to see what Madonna looked like before the shoot and I am going to show you.
Love help from Heidi Klum and Seal. Yes, the "can`t keep my hands off you" couple are now preparing for a big new venture, it`s couples counseling.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN News and Views.
Now to the "Showbiz News Ticker": more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALLRED: Tiger is hiding behind handlers in a carefully crafted statement. The rehab that he needs is not just sex rehab. It is, instead, lying rehab, betrayal rehab.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That is powerhouse attorney Gloria Allred, challenging Tiger Woods, demanding justice and a big fat apology for one of Tiger Woods` alleged mistresses.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Today: defending star mistresses. The powerful attorney who`s represented mistresses involved in some of the biggest celebrity cheating scandals this year is speaking out today in a brand-new interview. Gloria Allred made Tiger Woods` alleged mistress Jocelyn James a household name when Allred led the public fight, demanding that Tiger apologize to Jocelyn.
Gloria has also defended Rachel Uchitel, the first woman to surface in Tiger`s big mess. And let`s just say that Gloria`s efforts haven`t exactly been embraced by everyone.
Well today, famed attorney Gloria Allred is here to defend herself. She joins me right now from Hollywood.
Gloria`s also featured in the new issue of "Harper`s Bazaar", it`s on newsstands right now.
Gloria, I appreciate you being here. I have a lot of burning questions about your choice to defend these mistresses, but I can`t start without asking you why you decided to wear a suit of armor for your photo shoot with "Harper`s Bazaar". Did you kind of feel like maybe you needed it to deflect some of the criticism that`s been flying your way since you started defending these mistresses?
ALLRED: Actually, it was a very creative idea that was proposed to me by "Harper`s Bazaar", and I always love those who come up with creative suggestions and I agreed to do it.
I am a warrior for my clients, I am a fighter for change, and I was very happy to wear that suit of armor. I`m in a war zone for women, A.J., on a regular basis, fighting against the rich and the powerful and the famous and those who would use and abuse women and hurt them.
And yes, I think a suit of armor`s appropriate.
HAMMER: All right. Well, you and I have spoken quite a bit about the fights you`ve been engaged in over the years. One thing I know from you, you never back down.
You vigorously defended Tiger Woods` alleged mistress, Jocelyn James. You even held a press conference on the very same day that Tiger made his very first public apology. You blasted Tiger because he didn`t mention Jocelyn`s name in his apology.
Let`s take a look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALLRED: She was in love with him and he told her that he loved her. And yet he did not acknowledge their relationship today or apologize to her by name.
Today was not an apology. It was a staged public relations stunt. It was a disgrace. My client deserves better than this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Gloria, a lot of people called your press conference a public relations stunt. What is your reaction to that kind of criticism?
ALLRED: Well, I`m an advocate for my clients. I think if a man lies to a woman, that he needs to apologize. He needs to do what Alcoholics Anonymous in steps eight and nine in their recovery program suggest, which is to make direct amends to the person that you have harmed. And direct amends means that you acknowledge the harm, and in this case, that would be lies. You acknowledge the lies and then you apologize to the person that you have harmed for those lies.
And I think whether that person that you have lied to is a wife, a mistress, a coworker, anyone else that you have lied to, you need to take responsibility for that and apologize, and Tiger Woods did not do that.
He pursued Jocelyn James; he had a three-year intimate relationship with her. He sent her, she alleges, over 1,000 texts, he saw her frequently. He flew her to various locations. He told her that he loved her and they would have a lifetime together. I think he owed her an apology and I still do.
And I am not a politician who puts my finger in the wind to see which way it`s blowing, to see what`s popular or not. I stand up for my clients and I do what I believe is right for them, and that`s what I will always do.
HAMMER: Well, it`s interesting, because that`s one of the quotes in the "Harper`s Bazaar" interview where I think you really summed up what your motives are so well which leads me to this burning question.
A lot of people may wonder if this is really about the money, because a lot of energy was spent on getting these apologies and a lot of, certainly, a lot of energy and attention and time.
So what about that, Gloria? What about the idea that, you know, these fights are so public, just to get an apology. There are people who may take issue with that and say, oh, it`s all motivated by money for these women.
ALLRED: Well, let`s put it this way. I think that Tiger Woods understands why I`ve said what I`ve said, why I`ve done what I`ve done. And of course he could have short-circuited the whole thing by simply apologizing the first time I asked him to provide an apology, but he never did that.
And all he had to do, by the way, he didn`t even have to do it publicly. The better way would have been to meet her in person or just pick up the telephone and talk with her privately, confidentially, and explain to her why he hurt her and lied to her the way he did.
HAMMER: It could have been that simple. Yes, I got you, Gloria.
We do appreciate you being here and I think hopefully some people will understand a little better where you`re coming from.
Gloria Allred, thank you so much.
Madonna`s incredible before and after. It`s Madonna like few have ever seen. Now, don`t adjust your TV, this is what Madonna really looks like. No fancy photo shopping here, no air brushing, this is the over-50 Madonna untouched by technology. She`s posing in a cool campaign for Louis Vuitton.
Now check out some of Madonna`s Louis Vuitton campaign photos after air brushing. Madonna`s air brushed face, side-by-side with the real Madonna. It`s pretty incredible, these before and after pictures. Left me kind of speechless when I first saw the pictures; I couldn`t even believe that was Madonna.
I think she looks better without all the clever photo tricks. I`m just saying.
Well, Heidi and Seal know a lot about love. They`re one of Hollywood`s strongest marriages. And now, they`re trying to save other couples from breaking up. Heidi and Seal, a couple of counselors?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN News and Views.
Now the "Showbiz News Ticker": more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Lovebirds, Heidi and Seal. Marriage counselors? What do you think?
Plus, new details about how child star Gary Coleman will be remembered.
All that making big news in "The Buzz Today".
Gary Coleman laid to rest. The funeral for former child star Gary Coleman will reportedly happen this weekend. His attorney has told several news outlets that Coleman`s estranged parents will be there to pay respects to their late son.
The family was infamously estranged after Coleman sued his parents for misappropriating his fortune. Coleman reportedly spoke with his mother just days before his death.
A Beatle in the White House: Paul McCartney`s latest gig is in the West Wing; the former Beatle performing today as he receives the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. McCartney says of all the awards he`s received this one still means a lot to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL MCCARTNEY, SINGER: I had no idea, of course, that one day I might be in such a place getting an honor such as this. I wouldn`t have believed you if you had told me as a kid growing up you in Liverpool this would happen. It`s very special for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Heidi Klum and Seal, couples counselors. The happily married couple who renew vows every year are developing a reality show called "Love Divine". In the show they would travel the country to offer married couples their advice and coaching. The show will air on Lifetime.
All right. On Tuesday, we asked you to vote in our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll. And just in, we`ve received the surprising results here. Bret Michaels, should he replace Simon Cowell on "American Idol"? Look at this 45 percent of you said yes, 55 percent of you say no; I call that an even split.
The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page buzzing big time today.
Andrea just posted who she thinks should replace Simon. It`s not Bret Michaels. She writes, "No way. This would be a stupid choice. I think Ryan Seacrest would be good. He definitely knows music and is already part of the family."
The "Showbiz On Call" phone lines were ringing nonstop today well. We heard from Beth in Florida and Beth called in to say she is rooting for Bret to take Simon`s spot at the judges` table.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BETH, FLORIDA (via telephone): I believe Bret Michaels is an excellent choice. His popularity right now is sky-high. He`s got the musical background, the popularity, the good looks, the honesty, and the wit. Excellent choice.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right Beth, thank you so much for your call. What do you think? Do you have an opinion on who should be the next "Idol" judge?
You have an opinion on anything you`d like to share? Call us at "Showbiz On Call", sound off on anything. The "Showbiz ON Call" phone lines are open 24 hours a day. The numbers are right here. 1-888-SBT- BUZZ, Put it on your speed dial. Why not? 1-888-728-2899. leave us a voice mail and that way we can play your call right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching.
I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is now live at 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Don`t forget we are still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific and of course, that`s here on HLN.
BEHAR: Tonight -- Al and Tipper Gore are splitting after 40 years of marriage. Maybe she`s jealous of all the attention he shows to that other woman -- Mother Earth.
Then Charlie Sheen will reportedly be sentenced to 30 days in jail, but it won`t interfere with his "Two-and-a-Half Man" shooting schedule. Why should America have to suffer, too?
And James Cameron has offered to help plug the oil spill. If he succeeds, will that make him king of sea world?
That and more after Nancy.
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