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Showbiz Tonight
Coleman Confessions; Hollywood`s Slippery Slope; Kate`s New Life
Aired June 04, 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. Gary Coleman`s ex-wife lashes out. An explosive new interview with Shannon Price revealed today her emotional decision to take him off life support.
Plus, Shannon`s fired-up response for her critics over the way she`s handling Gary`s death.
Will "The View" replace Oprah? Brand new reports today that settle this once and for all.
Leann Rimes cheating confession. Leann finally breaks her silence today about the shocking affair that broke up her marriage.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week, couple`s edition: Al and Tipper Gore, for their jaw dropping split; Heidi and Spencer for their fake split or Gary Coleman and his ex-wife.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking today, the Coleman confessions. The confessions come from Gary Coleman`s ex-wife who was with Gary the day that he suffered the injuries that led to his death.
An absolutely explosive, on-camera interview surfaced today of Shannon Price and she is taking on all the tough burning questions. What is she saying today about the speculation she may have had something to do with Gary Coleman getting hurt? And what about the great debate over whether she had the right to order Gary be taken off life support?
Well SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is right here today to reveal her answers because they were all caught on tape.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHANNON PRICE, GARY COLEMAN`S EX-WIFE: People are so cruel --
HAMMER: A week after Gary Coleman`s death, his ex-wife is defending herself in a new interview obtained by TMZ.
PRICE: I don`t want people to think I`m a bitch and that I didn`t care about him.
HAMMER: Shannon Price, who Coleman married in 2007, was with him at his Utah home when he suffered the head injury that killed him.
Police have said the death of the former child star is not suspicious but today, in that new interview obtained by TMZ, Shannon Price takes on speculations that she had anything to do with Coleman`s fatal injury.
PRICE: I had a lot of people sit there and say, yes, she pushed him. This and that, you know people are so cruel, they don`t even know. I was upstairs. He was downstairs. How am I going to push him? You know?
That affected me more than anything because of the scrutiny that just people come up with. They`re just heartless. Why would I want to hurt my husband, are you kidding?
KEN BAKER, CHIEF NEWS CORRESPONDENT, E!: They were apparently passing themselves off as husband and wife but legally they just weren`t married.
HAMMER: E! News Online`s Ken Baker, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT despite the fact that Price refers to Gary as her husband in the new interview, records say otherwise.
BAKER: According to records in Utah, she actually was not Gary Coleman`s wife at the time of his death. In fact they have been divorced since 2008.
HAMMER: Regardless of their marital status, the Utah hospital where he died tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Price was legally allowed to make the decision to take him off life support.
Now, in a new interview, Price is defending that decision saying Coleman was beyond hope.
PRICE: I mean Gary was gone. His eyes were dilated. He wasn`t -- you know, he was -- he was just gone. You know, the doctors told us that even if they had done surgery on him he would have died. He would have bled to death during the surgery.
I don`t want people to be so hard on me thinking that, you know, I had to pull the plug too early. He wouldn`t have made it anyway. His heart would have just given out.
HAMMER: Coleman`s death has critics turning their fire on Price especially after the release of that 911 call she placed after Gary`s injury.
PRICE: I`ve just been kind of sick. And you know, I don`t want to be traumatized right now --
NINA PARKER, PRODUCER, TMZ: There has been a lot of people who have, one, been to blaming her about her lack of action in the 911 call. You know, she really talks about herself in that 911 call. She talks about how she was sick, how she can`t stand to see blood.
HAMMER: "The Today Show`s" Matt Lauer criticized her.
MATT LAUER, HOST, "THE TODAY SHOW": It turns out that Shannon doesn`t appear to be the person you want next to you in the proverbial bunker when something goes wrong.
HAMMER: As did the "The View`s" Sherri Shepherd.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, "THE VIEW": It`s interesting that you don`t want to be traumatized.
HAMMER: In her new interview which apparently was conducted before the release of the 911 recordings, Price fondly remembers her husband`s generosity.
PRICE: He`s done a lot for me. He bought me a car, which he chose to do, which I never asked him for. I thought that was -- and I thought that was very sweet of him to do that.
HAMMER: But now that Coleman`s gone, Price says she`s broke.
PRICE: I don`t know how I`m going to survive. Now I basically have nothing.
HAMMER: And she`s asking fans to pitch in for his funeral.
PRICE: So I`m just wishing and hoping that people will pour out to us and really -- and really show their compassion like they -- like they have been sending the letters and the e-mails.
HAMMER: But today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned that Coleman`s funeral, originally scheduled for Saturday has been delayed as Coleman`s ex-wife faces a new battle.
BAKER: She`s getting a lot pressure from Gary Coleman`s parents.
HAMMER: Gary Coleman`s mother and father, from whom he`s been estranged for years, are starting a court fight over Coleman`s body. They say, as Coleman`s ex-wife, Price shouldn`t have a right to decide where the former child star should be buried.
So even though Gary Coleman is now free from the many struggles he knew in life, for those he left behind the struggles are just beginning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I honestly can`t believe all of the dramatic new details about Gary`s final days and his death. And today there are even bigger battles brewing over his body and his money. And I`m really worried that the worst could be yet to come.
Right now from Hollywood is Pat Lalama, she`s an investigative journalist; also in Hollywood, Jim Moret, he is the chief correspondent for "Inside Edition" and he`s also the author of "The Last Day of My Life".
Guys, the drama over Gary`s death, I`ve got to tell you, I find it really unfortunate. Clearly his ex-wife Shannon, feels like she had to speak out after what she says really happened in the final days and hours before Gary died.
But today she`s totally still getting slammed for the way that she`s handled herself. I have to tell you, Pat Lalama, I think that people need to back off. I think we don`t know what the real story was between these two and I think the critics are out of line. Are you with me at all?
PAT LALAMA, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: To some degree.
Here is the deal. I think to some degree back off, it`s a bad time. There is an exploitation of the facts. We don`t know what happened.
At the same time, I have to say call me heartless -- I find her behavior completely inappropriate.
I don`t care about the criticism. She needs do an interview where I have seen pictures where she looked perfectly -- I`m not going to say gleeful, but smiling. Just not a person who is suffering any kind of emotional trauma of the death of her -- of her, who knows, former husband, current husband.
But the point of the matter is, I think she`s inappropriate and she`s protesting too much. And I don`t like the fact that she didn`t tend to this man while he was downstairs. I don`t care what anybody says.
HAMMER: Yes, well, there`s a lot of debate over that because she made the 911 call and said it would have traumatized her too much. But I`ve been saying all along, look, we were -- but we weren`t there, we don`t know what was really going on and we all don`t know how we would react in this situation regardless of -- of whether or not she could have handled it.
But one of the things that I find really disturbing happens to be Shannon`s claims that she doesn`t have enough money to bury Gary. Watch what she said about that in this interview that was obtained by TMZ.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRICE: Right now, I`m struggling, you know, to -- to figure out what I`m going to do for funeral costs and -- I mean, I don`t know how I`m going survive. And it`s been a really rough -- rough while because Gary has not had much work because of his health.
Our finances were great when I met him. I mean, we had -- we had fantastic -- I mean, he had a lot of work and he was doing a lot of projects and stuff. But now I basically have nothing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes and I will say it does seem strange to me that now she`s crying poverty at this moment.
Jim, do you think she should be airing these details so publicly at this time?
JIM MORET, CHIEF CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": You know, there`s a lot about Shannon that`s hard to figure out. I talked to the two of them. I was in Utah right after they got married, I was there yesterday talking to her brother and to Gary`s manager.
She does act in ways that look outwardly to be inappropriate. She suffers from seizures. She doesn`t handle pressure well at all according to her brother and even Gary`s attorney said -- I know I hear Pat laughing -- you know, even her attorney said, yes, you listen to that 911 call and you don`t know these couple, she sounds heartless, she sounds cold, she sounds almost cruel.
The fact is they had a weird relationship. She did call 911. It`s not like she just let him lie there. She called 911. Did she act like you or I would have? No, the fact is --
LALAMA: She did let him lie there, Jim.
MORET: She -- she called 911. What can she do? If she is not capable emotionally, physically, psychologically, to deal with it -- look, I`m not -- I`m simply telling you --
LALAMA: She is capable of going to Las Vegas to spend plenty of money. I mean, that -- gee, there were no seizures and problems there.
HAMMER: All right. Let me jump in just really quickly, Pat. I want to get your take on this impending battle now because his estranged parents are going to fight her to get custody essentially of his body and be in charge of that.
You know, he may have not been married to Shannon but he was estranged from them. I don`t think that`s the right move. I think that`s a real disservice to Gary. Quickly, what do you think?
LALAMA: Are you asking me?
HAMMER: Yes, you Pat.
LALAMA: Well, I think if she`s not the -- you know, the spouse then I think that`s just the way it goes and that`s the way it`s going to have to end.
HAMMER: That`s -- yes. I guess --
MORET: but, how horrible. How ironic.
HAMMER: Yes, it is ironic after all those years and he worked so hard to not be with his parents.
Well, Gary and Shannon`s drama does make them nominees today as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week, it`s a couples edition.
They are up against Al Gore and Tipper Gore for their shocking split after 40 years of marriage; and Heidi and Spencer for their separation or whatever is going on there, revelations their marriage may have been a total fake.
Jim, Pat, stay there. The big reveal is on the way.
As we move on, is "The View" replacing Oprah? You know, there`s been a lot of talk about this. It seemed like a good idea. Today I can tell you that there is breaking news that should settle this once and for all and I`ve got the answer. I actually think "The View" replacing Oprah would be a good idea.
Miley Cyrus mad as heck and not going to take it anymore today. She has totally had it with being slammed for her provocative new music video.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MILEY CYRUS, SINGER: What my life is -- is not for them to give their comments. They can -- they can think what they want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And Leann Rimes finally breaks her silence about her affair today. It broke up her marriage. It broke up another marriage, too.
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.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Mariah Carey bails on a movie today. Is it because she is pregnant? Well, Tyler Perry posted on his Web site today that Mariah had to back out of his new film on doctor`s orders. Yes, this is definitely going to keep those Mariah pregnancy rumors going for a while.
Tyler writes this: "It`s five days before she has to go to work, nobody does that. We have a deal. It`s five days before she is supposed to go to work."
"I said `What? You know I want a doctor`s note, don`t you?`"
Welcome back to "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." I`m A.J. Hammer in New York tonight.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates Hollywood`s slippery slope. We always see stars on the front lines when disaster strikes. They are always ready to lend a hand, pitch in with cash, call on their friends who are big-time stars themselves to whip together some kind of benefit.
You know, in Hurricane Katrina we saw it, the Tennessee floods. But stars are pretty much nowhere to be found when it comes to the terrible oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. And so, the question is where are they?
Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, HLN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When disaster strikes, Hollywood is quick to respond.
CLINT EASTWOOD, ACTOR: Tonight we pay tribute to those who were lost.
WYNTER: A 9/11 tribute to heroes just ten days after the attack raised nearly $100 million.
CATHERINE ZETA JONES, ACTRESS: For those who have lost so much.
WYNTER: The Concert of Hope telethon raising millions more to help the victims of the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia.
MORGAN FREEMAN, ACTOR: Tonight we call up on the soul --
WYNTER: $30 million poured in to Shelter from the Storm for Hurricane Katrina relief.
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: More than three million go without clean water --
WYNTER: And most recently, in the Hope for Haiti Now event, celebrities raised $66 million for earthquake assistance.
So where is Hollywood in the Gulf oil spill crisis? Celebrity efforts thus far have been a slow trickle, compared to the fast flood of the oil leak. But some stars are taking action.
SPIKE LEE, FILMAKER: The people, again, here, are suffering but people don`t understand. This is going to affect the total United States of America.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, AC360: Yes.
LEE: It`s not just -- more than just the Gulf states.
WYNTER: Filmmaker Spike Lee is extending a documentary he`s making on Katrina`s aftermath to now include the impact of the BP oil spill. Actor Stephen Baldwin is also shooting a documentary on the catastrophe.
KEVIN COSTNER, ACTOR: We`re going to start to play offense and we`re going to go start to get the oil.
WYNTER: Kevin Costner has spent $24 million out of his own pocket developing an oil-spill separating device that BP plans to test. Ashton Kutcher also wants to help.
ASHTON KUTCHER, ACTOR: I was thinking of going down there this weekend. I don`t -- I don`t know what I`m going to do or what there is to do.
WYNTER (on camera): Usually after a disaster like this you see celebrities coming forward to help. But there`s been somewhat of a slow trick there. Why is that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, I think one thing that happened is -- at the beginning everybody thought BP knows what to do. They`re going to clean this up unlike Haiti. In Haiti everybody jumped in because it was so clearly a disaster and devastation in one instant. This has unfolded over, over a month.
ROBERT REDFORD, ACTOR: The Gulf disaster is more than a terrible oil spill. It`s the product of a failed energy policy.
WYNTER: Actor/director, Robert Redford is appearing in a spill- themed PSA sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The group says celeb involvement is crucial for getting the message out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The way to resolve this is not only to correct what went wrong in the Gulf but to get us on a clean energy pathway so we reduce our demand for oil so we don`t go into ever-more fragile environments. And I think the celebrities can play a really important role in doing that.
WYNTER: Other stars playing a role? "Avatar" director James Cameron has offered use of his underwater vessels from his "Titanic" days and is meeting with officials in Washington discussing solutions.
Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def and other artist joined up in an all-night jam session to record a song benefitting the Gulf. It`s available on iTunes.
TOM SELLECK, ACTOR: The town is very good at stepping up. And I think people will and we should.
WYNTER: And if past disasters are any indicator, it`s a safe bet we`ll see more stars lending a hand as the Gulf crisis grows.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. If you want to make a donation to aid in the Gulf relief effort, you can just head to GulfAid.org. I do think we`re going to see a lot more response from Hollywood as Spike Lee said so well during our piece. This is something that doesn`t just affect the Gulf States, it affects all of America and it will for some time to come.
Now, over to you for our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll. Gulf oil spill -- should Hollywood be doing more to help? What do you think, CNN.com/showbiztonight is where you vote or e-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
As we move on, there has been all kinds of talk about "The View" possibly taking over for Oprah when she goes off the air. I actually always thought that was a pretty good idea. But there is big news today that will settle this once and for all. Will Barbara, Joy and the rest of the gang replace Oprah Winfrey?
I think Kristen Stewart really put her foot in her mouth when she basically compared being hounded by the paparazzi to being raped. Well, today Kristen is saying she is sorry. But should we forgive her?
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week, couple`s edition: Al and Tipper Gore split, Heidi and Spencer`s fake split or Gary Coleman and his ex-wife.
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: Pity the fool that doesn`t like this show. One of my favorites from the `80s: "The A-Team." And now it`s a brand new movie.
In fact I can tell you is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s line producer the lovely Jen Gerardo (ph), she is so excited about this movie, she squeals when she hears the theme song, she`s been humming it all day long.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there in Hollywood for the premiere and this one rocked. An A-Team helicopter flew in, the cast rode in on a tank and of course, that famous, black A-Team van. Now, Bradley Cooper plays, "Face" in the movie, I mean, who else would this guy play, right? He tells us, he definitely thinks the movie does the TV show justice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRADLEY COOPER, ACTOR: Like any story that`s good you want to retell it. And certainly, the `80s had great figures. You had iconic images of the people. So I think that`s what the `80s gave us. And it`s a -- and I think, that the A-Team had, if you could at all capture the chemistry between those four characters, you know, it would be worth making a movie.
So hopefully we did that. And it has the grittiness of the TV`s -- that a -- that maybe the TV show did not have but it certainly we tried to capture the comedy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`m very excited about this. I`m definitely going out to see the "A-Team" which opens on Friday, June 11th.
And another movie that I want you to go check out, if you haven`t already "Get Him to the Greek". Get there now because SHOWBIZ TONIGHT happens to be in it as you`re seeing right now. There`s our own Brooke Anderson, doing a rally great scene with Russell Brand and Rose Byrne. It`s very funny. The whole movie is hysterical.
Now, Russell kind of ad-libbed the scene that he did with Brooke that you`re taking a sneak peak at right here. He told her that was pretty much par for the course during the filming of the entire movie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKE ANDERSON, HLN HOST: I really enjoyed it.
RUSSELL BRAND, ACTOR: You were in it?
ANDERSON: I know. I really enjoyed filming a scene with you and Rose Byrne. It turns out a pivotal scene in the movie.
BRAND: Vital.
ANDERSON: Yes.
BRAND: It was one of the scenes that sends me over the edge in the film because of meeting you, because what you do to me.
ANDERSON: I don`t think you looked at the script. How -- how -- I couldn`t keep a straight face -- how do you come up with all that stuff?
BRAND: Just what I do, right, is like -- there`s all words and ideas floating through the world. If you clear your mind, all the words and ideas can go into your mind and say them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Ok well, "Get Him to the Greek" is in theaters right now. You should definitely go check it out.
Now to the "Showbiz Lineup". Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at the bottom of the hour.
Leann Rimes finally breaks her silence today about the affair she had that broke up her marriage and another marriage.
Kristen Stewart says sorry today for comparing getting hounded by the paparazzi to rape. So should we forgive her?
Also, listen to this. Miley Cyrus is sick and tired about being criticized for her new sexy music video. Finally, Miley Cyrus is speaking out today.
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, "The View" replacing Oprah? Brand new reports today settle this once and for all. Will "The View" get Oprah`s spot on TV?
Leann Rimes` cheating confessions: the country star finally admits to an affair and says she doesn`t regret it.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming the most provocative celebrity of the week, couple`s edition. The Gores for their stunning split, calling it quits; Heidi and Spencer for their fake marriage; or the Colemans, Gary`s tragic death and controversy surrounding his ex-wife.
Plus, more stories breaking today from the "Showbiz News Ticker". Which star is headed to celebrity rehab?
And Katherine Heigl wants an Emmy.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour and I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking today.
So will "The View" replace Oprah? There has been wild, spectacular and just outrageous speculation that the ladies of "The View" are all set to replace the queen of talk, Oprah Winfrey, when her show ends next year. And until now this has been unconfirmed.
But today, we here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT have the answer. Are you ready? Right now in New York is Taryn Winter Brill, she`s a TV journalist; also in New York, Cooper Lawrence is a syndicated radio host and author of a fine book called "The Cult of Celebrity".
Well, here it comes. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now tell you it appears that "The View" will not replace Oprah after all. The "New York Post" reported today that ABC has in fact decided they`re going to keep "The View" right where it is in the morning.
Cooper, I actually always thought "The View" taking over Oprah`s slot was a great idea. Don`t you think they kind of missed out here?
COOPER LAWRENCE, SYNDICATED RADIO SHOW HOST: No. because it`s topical. I want to wake up in the morning and know what`s going on. I don`t want to hear it at say at 4:00 in the afternoon. Or whoever there as you know usually Oprah airs all over the --
HAMMER: Yes all over the country and all over the --
LAWRENCE: Yes, but it`s not only a show to syndicate. It`s very topical. It`s very, I want to know -- as soon as I wake up in the morning --
HAMMER: Ok.
LAWRENCE: -- what`s going on with Heidi and Spencer.
HAMMER: Got it, so in other words, it`s less about "The View" replacing Oprah. It`s not taking "The View" out of where -- the time slot where people see it?
LAWRENCE: Exactly, that`s it.
HAMMER: All right. Well, Taryn, what do you think, definitely a missed opportunity for "The View" at least in terms of the money it could have generated for them and these ladies. Are you surprised that they`ve ruled it out so soon? After all, Oprah show doesn`t go away for over a year?
TARYN WINTER BRILL, TV JOURNALIST: No. I mean, I`m not surprised. I completely agree with Cooper. I think it`s a morning show. And I think that`s the big draw of "The View", you wake up and you want to hang out with these five women.
It is unfortunate for them in terms of the money and the syndication deal. But to be honest, I think it`s going to take a lot more than five women to replace the mighty queen, Oprah.
LAWRENCE: Yes.
BRILL: I mean, I think, I think we`ve got to look in terms of -- maybe a Simon Cowell or I mean, something on of -- on that level, A.J.
HAMMER: We`re getting enough Simon Cowell. And that`s actually not a bad idea, though.
BRILL: Thank you.
HAMMER: We did call ABC about today`s report. We haven`t heard back as of show time. Now of course "The View" is not the only story making big news today.
Leann Rimes finally fesses up about her affair with Eddie Cibrian; and Ricky Martin, stepping up for the first time in public since coming -- all of that making big news in the buzz today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Martin steps out but doesn`t speak out. Martin has just made his first big public appearance since revealing in March that he`s gay. Martin was honored at a New York City event for his work fighting AIDS. But even though he was the guest of honor he refused to speak to the press on the Red Carpet.
Singer Kyle Minogue who hosted the event tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, how she feels about Ricky coming out.
KYLE MINOGUE, SINGER: When that news came out I felt such relief for him. He must really feel like he`s living and that`s the point so I`m very, I`m very happy for him.
HAMMER: A legal battle over David Carradine`s death. His widow has just revealed that she`s suing the French company behind his last movie role. Anne Carradine claims the producers of the film didn`t do enough to protect him as they shot the film in Thailand. David Carradine was found dead and hanging naked in a Bangkok hotel room.
Leann Rimes` cheating confessions: For the first time the country singer is fessing up that she`s to blame for having the affair that ended her marriage. Leann tells "People" magazine she is taking responsibility for her affair with Eddie Cibrian who she met while filming the TV movie, "Northern Lights".
Both were married and both are now waiting for their divorces to be finalized. Rimes says she`s sorry people were hurt by the affair, saying, quote, "I did one of the most selfish things that I could possibly do but I don`t regret the outcome."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So Leann fesses up and comes clean about her affair. But what I want to know is now, why did Leann come out about this a year after the speculation first started? I mean, Cooper, really what does that buy her in your mind?
LAWRENCE: Well, any time a celebrity comes out and tells you something that really is very personal -- you know, usually they say all that stuff very personal and we don`t want to share it with you. Why is she sharing it? It must be having an impact on her popularity and her record sales.
She must be still getting a lot of negative press, negative tweets. People -- with the Internet now, if they don`t like you --
HAMMER: Yes.
LAWRENCE: -- they let you know.
So my guess is she probably has to come forward and say you know, mea culpa, here is what really happened, because she has to be likeable again.
HAMMER: Yes.
LAWRENCE: She`s got to get her money; the girl has got to make her money again.
HAMMER: And the truth is, as you said, honesty really does go a long way into winning people back --
LAWRENCE: Absolutely.
HAMMER: -- especially when it is something so personal that a lot of people, in daily life, non-celebrities don`t like to talk about.
LAWRENCE: Right.
HAMMER: Now, "People" magazine is also reporting today, that Leann says her affair was, quote, "Very emotionally driven. I never once thought what I was doing was ok." And of her marriage to her soon-to-be ex-husband, Dean Shremet (ph), she says, "It wasn`t a marriage that fulfilled either one of us. It`s not ideal but marriages end, divorces happen."
Now Taryn, do you think that Leann handled the whole thing, the right way? Or should she have kind of kept silent about these details?
BRILL: Yes I think she`s being a little bit of a Monday morning quarterback. I think she could take a lesson from the David Letterman scandal. Look what he did, scandal hits and boom you respond to it and you know, you say you`re piece.
But A.J., I thought, she has a record coming out or something greatest hits, I mean, that would make sense as to why she`s coming out now if she does have a new sort of record to promote. That would make a lot of sense.
HAMMER: Yes well --
BRILL: But we`re not quite sure why.
HAMMER: And the truth is, what happens is, you get in these interview situations, particularly when you`re promoting something and people will ask you about that. And we don`t know how this went down. She perhaps chose to speak out about it.
But I do like, that she at least, Cooper, acknowledges, hey, you know, I feel really badly for what I did. But at the same time, hey, I`m really happy with how way things turned out. That`s as honest as it gets.
LAWRENCE: Yes, I guess, but it`s a little too late.
BRILL: Right.
LAWRENCE: You know, why didn`t she say that from the beginning, the fact that she`s saying t now, like Taryn was saying, it`s like well, she must have an album coming out. Oh, yes she does. She must be doing something that she needs us to like her right now.
Why now, always ask yourself, why now?
HAMMER: Right, but again, I`ll always defend the star because people will ask you those questions and they will want to hear. And she could have said, you know, I`m not going to talk about it. And then, we might be saying, oh, why isn`t she talking about that.
LAWRENCE: But you`re still going to ask her, even though she came out and said this, if she was sitting right here, you would still ask her about it.
HAMMER: Absolutely, absolutely.
All right, I do want to move on to another big-time confession making big news today. This is "Twilight" star Kristen Stewart apologizing for her explosive comments after telling British "Elle" magazine that the constant paparazzi hounding her, quote, "Makes her feel like she`s looking at someone being raped."
Now, we were all taken aback by these words and we thought maybe she wasn`t quite thinking before she spoke. Well, she is taking it all back. Listen to what she is telling "People" magazine today.
"I really made an enormous mistake. Clearly and obviously and I`m really sorry about my choice of words". Now, she says that she should have used the word "violated" instead.
Taryn, I think she got it exactly right. She had to say something and I think all is forgiven in my mind. What about you?
BRILL: Yes exactly. I completely agree. I think she was spot-on in apologizing immediately. But I think we all need to remember here, this is a 20-year-old girl, a young woman. And she`s acting her age. We`ve all been 20. This is the time when you make mistakes and you apologize for them.
And maybe if she was middle-aged we would say, why didn`t you think a little more? But come on give the girl a break, she is 20. And like I said, she apologized immediately. So I think she handled it with grace.
LAWRENCE: Yes.
HAMMER: Yes, Cooper, it is interesting because it is something that a lot of us are giving her a little bit of a pass because of her age. We did say when she first said this, wow, Kristen that was not the right thing to say. But it does seem, what are you going to do?
LAWRENCE: But it still speaks to the fact that the word "rape" was so desensitized to it. The fact that somebody her age would just throw it out there without really thinking about the weight of a word like that and what it actually means.
I mean, the people that have gone through that experience, it`s kind of very insulting to them. But that`s the idea, so it speaks to our generation and her generation and how we should maybe pick some words.
HAMMER: Let us -- let us call this Kristen Stewart`s teaching moment.
LAWRENCE: Absolutely.
HAMMER: Not just for her but for a lot of people.
All right, thanks so much. Cooper Lawrence and Taryn Winter Brill, I appreciate you both being here tonight.
LAWRENCE: Thank you.
BRILL: Thanks A.J.
HAMMER: Moving on to Miley Cyrus` new message for her haters. "Mind your business," that`s what Miley is saying. Is the teen queen turning into a pop diva? Well, Miley absolutely is slamming her critics today who refuse to let her move beyond Hannah Montana and her sexy new video.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYRUS: What my life is -- is not for them to give their comments. They can -- they can think what they want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Does Jesse James really think that he and Sandra Bullock can get back together? And just as "The Insider" reveals today, yes, he does.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming the most provocative celebrity of the week, it`s our couples edition. So will it be the Gores, for dashing everybody`s hope that love lasts. Maybe Spencer and Heidi? Heidi`s plenty fake and now apparently so was her marriage. Or is it the Coleman`s? Gary`s shocking death and his ex-wife`s questionable behavior.
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.
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HAMMER: Tonight, the big reveal as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity couple of the week. The nominees: Tipper and Al Gore for their jaw-dropping split after 40 years of marriage. Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, was their marriage all just one big reality show sham? And late, Gary Coleman`s and his ex-wife, Shannon Price is now speaking out, defending herself against critics that say she didn`t do enough to save him.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. We`re going to name SHOWBIZ TONIGHT most provocative celebrity couple of the week in just a moment.
But first, Miley Cyrus speaks out in a brand new interview and she is slamming her biggest critics. With me right now from Hollywood is Pat Lalama, she`s an investigative journalist. Also from Hollywood, Jim Moret, chief correspondent for "Inside Edition" and author of "The Last Day of my Life".
Well, I`m kind of not surprised by this. Miley Cyrus is just fed up with the critics who have been slamming her for her provocative new video for her song "Can`t Be Tamed". Miley apparently is not going to take it anymore guys. Listen to what she says in a brand new interview with BBC Radio.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYRUS: What my life is -- is not for them to give their comments. They can -- they can think what they want. I always just think it`s funny that the only time people really say what they think and talk negative is when they blog anonymously. And I think it`s fine that they have to be anonymous to say what they think. Because they couldn`t actually have the guts to say something to an artist or you know actually know the artist at all. It`s just what they think. And I think those are people that are close-minded and don`t understand art.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, I`ve got to tell you, I understand her point, but I think Miley is setting herself up to get slammed again by saying something like that. She`s very much in the public eye, she is a worldwide star and she has to accept the fact that there`s going to be criticism.
What do you think Pat, are you with me? Miley does have a point but I mean, come on, a little heavy-handed there?
LALAMA: I actually love the fact that she seems not to care what people think. I`ve lived my life that way. Why shouldn`t she? I really admire her -- and that was, not that I`m a celebrity but I`m just saying.
HAMMER: Example to the stars Pat.
LALAMA: I admire that about her -- her being -- thank you, being a young woman I say, go for it. Have that attitude. What really I find confounding is she refers to sleazing it up as art. I`m really sad that she`s taken the choice of being part of that assembly line of no-talent, overproduced pop chicks who wouldn`t have a record if it were not for showing their boobs.
And that -- where is the real art? Come on Miley.
HAMMER: All right, Jim Moret, what do you think about her speaking out so strongly against her critics like this?
MORET: Look, she has a right.
HAMMER: Sure.
MORET: And this is not anonymous, I`ll put my name on this. I think she has a right to feel the way she does, but come on. She`s 17. You can do a dance with a pole and call it art. I think it`s too far. And I think -- I think that it`s ok to get criticism. You`re inviting it.
She`s a role model for a lot of very young girls and I`ve got two daughters and I don`t want them thinking, you know what? I shouldn`t go to college. I should just take my clothes off and go dance on a pole.
HAMMER: Yes well there you go.
LALAMA: Right, right.
HAMMER: We have 7-year-olds doing that.
All right, let me move on to a brand new report just out today about Sandra Bullock and Jesse James. Now a source tells Radar Online, Jesse still thinks he and Sandra are going to get back together one day. And they just have to stay apart for a while for the sake of her public image.
Pat, if Jesse really does believes this, I think he`s being delusional.
LALAMA: I would say if he believes that I am going to own a network tomorrow. How about that?
HAMMER: All right.
LALAMA: That means just -- no way.
HAMMER: Yes, I will accept that as your Lalamalian theory on whether or not they`re actually going to get back together.
LALAMA: Exactly.
HAMMER: Well, Jesse James and Sandra Bullock did not make the cut for this week`s most provocative celebrity couples but I`ve got to tell you it is a very tight race, a tough competition. And it`s the first time by the way that we`re naming the most provocative celebrity couple.
This week`s nominees, Al and Tipper Gore, we can`t ignore them. They announced their stunning split after 40 years of marriage. Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt; now Heidi announced their separation but the question is were the two really ever married in the first place or was it all just a show for the cameras? Or if they were married are they really separated? And the late Gary Coleman and his ex-wife, Shannon Price; she is now speaking out in this brand new interview defending herself against the critics who say she didn`t do enough to save him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRICE: You know, the doctors told us that you know, even if they had done surgery on him he would have died. He would have bled to death during the surgery.
I don`t want people to be so hard on me and thinking that I had to pull the plug too early. He wouldn`t have made it anyway. His heart would have given out.
And I don`t want people to sit there and think I`m a bitch and that I didn`t care about him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Jim Moret, I want to go to you first my friend, it`s a pretty tough competition this week. Who do you think deserves the esteemed title of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity couple?
MORET: The Gores, shocking. Heidi and Spencer, I never want to hear their names again. I think the story we all talk about it as Gary Coleman and his wife.
HAMMER: Ok.
MORET: I vote for Coleman.
HAMMER: All right. All right, you`re going for Coleman? Well, let`s -- let`s find out.
MORET: Yes.
HAMMER: Time now for the big reveal as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity couple of the week. I need a drum roll -- there it is -- guys it`s Al and Tipper. Look after 40 years of marriage they got a lot of people losing hope that any couple can make it. Pat Lalama, you sound a little shocked. Are you?
LALAMA: Well, look, I was -- I`m right with Jim on this one. Because I`m sad about Al and Tipper and I could care less about Heidi and Spencer. But Gary and Shannon, that`s provocative.
But with Al and Tipper, hey, they made it 40 years, 40 good solid years.
HAMMER: Yes.
LALAMA: They were a great couple. Hey, more power to them. Maybe they`ve just gone their separate ways and that`s human too.
HAMMER: Yes and you know what? It`s kind of like when somebody dies at the age of 97, you say, wow, what a life. So maybe we should say, hey, what a great marriage it was for 40 years.
LALAMA: Exactly.
HAMMER: Pat Lalama and Jim Moret, thank you both.
Well, just when you thought that the whole Jon and Kate drama was over, I`m here to tell you Jon Gosselin is sparking a brand new controversy today. We have new details about Jon`s big city bachelor pad burglary. Could Jon`s own words come back to haunt him?
And now to the "Showbiz News Ticker": more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
And now the "Showbiz Buzz List", these are the things SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s staff just can`t stop buzzing about this week.
Happy birthday, CNN. All right, 30 years ago June 1st CNN went live for the very first time.
We`re all reading and loving "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet`s Nest". We`re also really psyched for the opening of Russell Brand`s hysterical new movie, "Get Him to the Greek". It finally open and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s own Brooke Anderson is in it.
Our speakers are cranked up with Katy Perry`s incredible summer jam. I love this song, "California Girls" especially that cameo by Snoop Dogg. And how can we not be stoked about the unofficial start of summer? It is finally here.
You are watching SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN News and Views.
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HAMMER: So did Jon Gosselin fake the break-in at his New York City apartment? Now, cops could go after Jon today for his alleged December bachelor pad burglary. At the time, Gosselin claimed that his ex, Haley Glassman, took his stuff.
Now Radar Online says text messages reportedly from Jon to Haley tell a different story. According to Radar, here is one of them, "Leave the key on the counter. Not kidding. Out before Christmas. Take the furniture and TV. That is a gift."
New York City cops did clear Haley Glassman. If an investigation actually proves that Jon faked this break-in, he could be charged with a felony.
Meanwhile, Kate Gosselin is speaking out today and says that life after Jon continues to be one of her biggest challenges, especially dealing with him. Kate just told "Today`s" Meredith Vieira how she`s holding up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR: Things are peaceful. He`s amicable at this moment. I never know when that`s going to change. It can be as often.
MEREDITH VIEIRA, HOST, "THE TODAY SHOW": So you always at the back of your mind worry about that?
GOSSELIN: I do. I worry every day where we`re going to be. But at this very moment, the kids are spending time with him at his apartment and I feel like things are moving along the way they should in more of a normal if you can call it divorced situation. And generally speaking, things are good at this moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Well, Kate also says that she`s not ready to start dating yet so give her a little time, guys.
Belinda Carlisle shares gut-wrenching new details about herb life as a drug addict. You, of course, remember Belinda as the lead singer for the 80s group, The Go-Gos.
Well today, Belinda is opening up about the pain and suffering associated with a 30-year cocaine addiction. Belinda said she loved the limelight but eventually drugs nearly destroyed her and left her broke.
Belinda Carlisle just sat down with HLN`s Joy Behar to explain her decades-long battle with drugs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BELINDA CARLISLE, SINGER: I was pretty much an instant addict when I look back. I spent all my money on it and, you know, for years I was able to afford it, afford a good habit. I spent pretty much every dime on coke and the behavior that went along with it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So good to see that Belinda is now clean and sober and has been for years. I`ve always been mad about Belinda. You can read about Belinda`s incredible life in her new memoir "Lips Unsealed". It`s in bookstores right now.
Well, on Thursday we asked you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. I have it in my hand, the final results just in. Heidi and Spencer; did you believe their reality TV drama is real? Let`s put up the results, shall we? Seven percent of you say yes. Who are you? Seriously? 93 percent of you said no.
Man, did we get a ton of e-mails on this. One from Maureen in West Virginia who says: "Sayonara Speidi. Speidi, just go away and stay away forever."
Teresa from Colorado says she is sick of Heidi and Spencer, saying, "I can`t believe they are still on TV. Please make them go away. I did check.
I did check, there are no e-mails supporting Speidi. And that is not shocking to me.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT live at 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show 7 days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
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