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Showbiz Tonight
Mel Gibson Tape Mystery Finally Solved?; Michael Lohan Charged for Harassment; Kate Plus 8 Plus Sarah?; Kardashian Photo Outrage; Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week
Aired July 23, 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 - is the Mel Gibson tape mystery finally solved? Startling news today about who may have released the explosive tapes of Mel`s suspected rage against his ex.
But wait, there`s more. We`re breaking news today. The inside story behind the tapes in the exclusive interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Unbelievable new Lohan family drama today. Lindsay in jail. Her dad now charged after allegedly attacking his fiancee as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask - are the Lohans the most dysfunctional family in Hollywood?
"Kate Plus 8" plus Sarah? The unbelievable news today that Sarah Palin and Kate Gosselin may be teaming up.
Outrage today over revealing photos of Kim Kardashian`s 14-year-old sister. Wait a second. Isn`t she way too young for this?
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 - has a big Mel Gibson tape mystery finally been solved?
There is startling news today about who might have leaked the tapes of the man believed to be Mel Gibson violently raging against his ex- girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva.
Now, this news comes on the same day that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has uncovered remarkable signs that despite the despicable things Mel might have said to her, more people are siding with him than her.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with today`s late-breaking developments in the tale of the tapes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): They are some of the most controversial and mysterious tapes since Richard Nixon chatted about Watergate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): (EXPLETIVES DELETED) gold digger -
HAMMER: The disturbing recordings of phone conversations purportedly between Mel Gibson and his ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): It`s a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) embarrassment to me.
HAMMER: The biggest mystery in this whole scandal, who leaked these secret recordings to "RadarOnline.com"? Was it Oksana? She says absolutely not. Was it Mel Gibson?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): No!
HAMMER: Probably not. Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you an explosive new report in today`s "Hollywood Reporter" says suspicion is falling on someone very close to Oksana.
ALLISON HOPE WEINER, SENIOR WRITER, "THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER": Authorities are looking at Oksana Grigorieva`s sister, Natalie. My sources believe that if you look at Natalie`s bank accounts that you`re going to find evidence that she was the one that sold it to "Radar Online."
HAMMER: So why would cops be so interested in who leaked the recordings to "Radar?" Mel and Oksana are fighting in court over custody of their eight-month-old daughter, Lucia. As we see from this video from "Hollywood.TV," Oksana is ready for war.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oksana, what do you want to get out of this?
OKSANA GRIGORIEVA, EX-GIRLFRIEND OF MEL GIBSON: Just my child. I`m fighting for the life of my child.
HAMMER: In one of the recordings, Oksana seems to accuse Gibson of having hit her and their baby girl, Lucia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (allegedly Oksana Grigorieva): You hit me and hit her while she was in my hands. Mel, you are losing your mind. You need medication.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): You need a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) kick up the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) for being a (EXPLETIVES DELETED) gold digging (EXPLETIVE DELETED). And I want my child and no one will believe you!
HAMMER: The tapes are such an explosive part of Oksana and Mel`s custody battle over their baby that the judge hearing the case ordered them sealed. So that could mean big legal trouble for whoever may have violated that order and leaked the recordings to "Radar Online."
HOPE-WEINER: If somebody sold the tapes at the behest of Oksana Grigorieva, then she could be held in contempt by the court.
HAMMER: Not only is Oksana`s sister reportedly under investigation today, L.A. sheriffs are already investigating whether Oksana herself tried to extort money from Gibson in exchange for the tapes. Oksana denies any extortion attempts or leaking the tapes.
HOPE-WEINER: That`s the issue. Why did she tape Mel Gibson? Was she taping him because she was in fear of her life? Or was she taping him so that she could extort a better settlement agreement out of him?
HAMMER: But Oksana`s troubles don`t put Mel Gibson in the clear. L.A. County sheriffs are on the record today as telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they have looking into Oksana`s abuse claims. And the vile things the man believed to be Mel says in the recordings have made Mel Gibson radioactive in Hollywood.
MARC MALKIN, COLUMNIST, "E!": I don`t think there`s any doubt in anybody`s mind that these tapes have hurt Gibson in ways that can`t be repaired.
HAMMER: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you a shocking trend is emerging today. More and more people appear to be taking Mel`s side in this ugly battle. Late today, we got the results of a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll asking, "Whose side are you on?" Sixty-three percent voted team Mel, much more than the 37 percent who said they are on team Oksana.
HOPE-WEINER: It`s not the best strategy for these tapes to be out there.
HAMMER: Today, "The Hollywood Reporter`s" Allison Hope-Weiner told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Radar Online`s" almost daily posting of new recordings and explosive allegations from Oksana may have actually blunted the impact of the disgusting words we hear -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): I`ll threaten - I`ll put you in the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) rose garden, you (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
HAMMER: And eroded sympathy for Oksana.
HOPE-WEINER: I think when you keep hearing these tapes over and over again that, eventually, people become desensitized.
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that when it comes to scorched-earth Hollywood breakups like Mel and Oksana`s, they have a tendency to burn everyone around them.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has reached out to the L.A. County Sheriff`s Department for comment on reports that Oksana`s sister is under investigation. Now, as of show time, they have yet to get back to us.
And today, Oksana Grigorieva herself told reporters her sister doesn`t have the recordings. She said this, quote, "She erased them a long time ago."
And we are breaking news today - the inside stories behind the tapes. It is the exclusive interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That is coming up in just a bit.
We move on now to big news breaking today in the Lindsay Lohan drama. Lindsay`s father, Michael, is speaking out today for the very first time about being charged with second-degree harassment for allegedly attacking his fiancee, Kate Major.
Wait a second, I should probably say former fiancee, because we learned today the wedding is off. Yes, big surprise there. And all this happening the very same week Lindsay got thrown into jail. That leads to today`s SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - are the Lohans the most dysfunctional family in Hollywood?
And now, from Hollywood, Tanika Ray, who is an entertainment journalist. With me, in New York, Meagan Alexander. Megan is a correspondent for "Inside Edition."
Megan, let me start with you right to the SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - are the Lohans the most dysfunctional family in Hollywood? I don`t see how they can`t be.
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": Well, it`s a very difficult question to answer because there are so many dysfunctional families in Hollywood, A.J.
HAMMER: True.
ALEXANDER: But to examine the Lohan family and at least try to learn something from it - Lindsay, fame at a young age. Same with Ali. Dysfunctional parents who have a bitter divorce.
Any counselor will tell you that if even your parents are divorced, they should try to work together to present a united front and put the children first. It seems these parents are always pitting the kids against each other, picking sides in terms of the family.
And then you`ve got drugs involved. So yes, it`s a huge mess. And I think, unfortunately, if you don`t have a strong family support, you`re in trouble.
HAMMER: Yes. It`s very complicated. And it`s sad, quite frankly.
ALEXANDER: Yes.
HAMMER: And we learn today Michael also had a mug hot photo taken this week after he was charged, just like the one you`re looking at here. Lindsay had hers done this week. Father-daughter mug shots. I don`t really see how you can beat that. Tanika, what do you think? Are the Lohans the most dysfunctional family in Hollywood by your standard?
TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Today, absolutely. And they are keeping it all in the family. You`ve got to love that. Yes, it was the O`Neals, as in Ryan O`Neal. But now, Lohans are taking over.
And it`s kind of sad and pathetic. But this is our world today. It`s unfortunate that Michael Lohan is, as I affectionately like to call him, an STD, as in, you know, spotlight chasing daddy - spotlight tackling daddy, if you will.
But there`s something about that. It`s like, he`s capitalizing on the fact his daughter is still in the spotlight. So why not he get out there and try to grab some of the spotlight himself?
And it is dysfunctional. You know, we all - Megan, you, too. We could have gone buck wild when we were teenagers.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: But if you don`t have parents that counterbalance your craziness, you`re just going to take it all the way to the bank as Lindsay has in her stay in jail. So hopefully, she`ll stay more than two weeks and get it all sorted out.
HAMMER: It has been a wild ride for this entire family, really. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just obtained the court documents that were filed by Kate Major against Michael Lohan. She accuses him of flipping her over, causing her to bump her head against a wall and kicking her in the mouth.
Well, today, Michael was on Nick Cannon`s radio show and he responded to these charges for the very first time. Listen to what he said.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHAEL LOHAN, FATHER OF LINDSAY LOHAN: I took my shoe off. First of all, if I ever did - if I ever did kick her in the face, there would be some kind of a mark. There`s absolutely no mark on her face. I wouldn`t kick her in the face anyway. If I did, there would be a mark on her face.
And she said she was pushed off a chair. She wasn`t even on a chair. She was on a couch. She said she hit a wall. There`s no wall there. It`s glass behind her. So you know, it`s all inconsistent and I see that.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. I have said it before. I`m going to say it again. Michael, you need to stop talking. I mean, Megan, what is he thinking talking about this? It`s a legal matter, number one. And it`s not doing anybody any good.
ALEXANDER: The problem here, A.J., is that the focus needs to remain on Lindsay. He continually talks about the fact that he fears she`s on prescription medication. This is taking the focus off of Lindsay, off of her recovery.
Yes, he has his own drama going on in his own life. And I feel like many other people have hoped at least her father had her best interests at heart.
HAMMER: Yes.
ALEXANDER: It is very disappointing. And again, it just takes the focus off of where it should be.
HAMMER: Well, and it seemed that way to me in terms of him having her best interests at heart, because all this is going on as Lindsay sits in jail for the fourth day now.
But Lindsay`s been getting visits from mom and from sister. They got a visit on Thursday from her ex-girlfriend, Samantha Ronson. Michael was turning things around, it seemed to me, getting people, including me, to listen to his claims that Lindsay needed help.
Now, Tanika, regardless of the truth in this situation, I think that people are going to stop listening if they were, don`t you?
RAY: We were never listening. Once Michael Lohan went to jail for the third time, we`re just sort of over him. We understand that he`s an accessory to the drama. And it`s pretty clear that he only rears his ugly head when something is going on in the media -
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: And it`s a chance for him to grab the light. That`s all there is to this. And when it comes down to it, Lindsay needs to escape and get away from her family. Her mom has done it; Orange Oprah has capitalized on it. Now, Michael is capitalizing on it. Ali, her little sister, did try to.
HAMMER: Right.
RAY: When it comes down to it, they all need an intervention and to separate - go their separate ways and get it together.
HAMMER: If Michael needs to talk, he needs to talk through his lawyer only. That`s it all I have to say about it. Got to end it there. Tanika Ray, Megan Alexander, thank you.
RAY: Or his therapist. Therapist -
HAMMER: Yes, that too. All right. Let`s move on. Will we be naming Lindsay Lohan the most provocative celebrity of the week today? How about Mel "possibly raving mad on tape" Gibson? Maybe it`s his ex- girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva for recording the conversations. I think the name we will announce is going to shock you.
Kate Gosselin, Sarah Palin - the unbelievable news today that these two may be teaming up and working together.
And Cameron Diaz` explosive and extremely controversial comments about marriage. She says long-term love is BS. And a major debate has broken out today over it. 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: Julia Roberts` brother, Eric, will appear on VH1`s "Celebrity Rehab." Christina Aguilera releases new music video: "You Lost Me."
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Talk about dreams coming true today. This is 12-year-old Greyson Chance with Lady Gaga. Now, Greyson was that kid who wowed us all with his version of Gaga`s "Paparazzi."
(SINGING)
Greyson just got to meet his idol backstage at Gaga`s concert in Oklahoma City. He got to take this very cool picture and put it up on Twitter. And get this, Greyson is working on an album for Ellen DeGeneres` record label. That is pretty cool.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
There is remarkable news today about Cameron Diaz` incredible marriage diss. But no marriage diss for the star who was once of Hollywood`s hottest bachelors because he`s a bachelor no more. All that making big news in "The Buzz" today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Love on the bloom. Orlando Bloom gets married. The "Lord of the Rings" star gave Miranda Kerr a wedding ring to seal the deal just a month after they got engaged.
The news that Bloom married the Victoria Secret model broke when Kerr released a statement saying she canceled a public appearance because the couple were away to quote, "celebrate an intimate ceremony and honeymoon together."
"CSI" Justin Bieber. We`ve just learned that Justin Bieber has landed his first big acting role. He`ll be guest starring on "CSI." "The Hollywood Reporter" says the Bieb will be in a few episodes playing a troubled teenager who winds up being in an explosive confrontation with the CSI investigators.
The Diaz marriage diss. In an explosive new interview, Cameron Diaz tells Britain`s "Style List" magazine she thinks the idea of marrying young and expecting it to last the rest of your life is, to put it mildly, baloney.
Says Diaz, "Who would want to be with the same person for 80 years? Why not break it up a little bit. Have someone for five years and another person for another five years. Life is long and lucky and, yes, love might last forever, but you don`t always live with the person you love forever."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So Cameron Diaz thinks everlasting love is something you only see in the movies. And today everyone was already taking sides. So does Cameron have it right?
Well, there is no one better to give us some perspective on this than Imogen Lloyd Webber. Imogen wrote a fantastic book. It`s called "A Single Girl`s Guide." Imogen joins me in New York.
And this is exactly what I love about Cameron Diaz. She knows what she wants in life and she is not afraid to speak her mind about it. I have to believe there are women and men out there today saying, "Right on, Cameron," for what she said. But do you think, Imogen, she got it right or is she a little off on this one?
IMOGEN LLOYD WEBBER, AUTHOR, "A SINGLE GIRL`S GUIDE": She absolutely got it right. If you look at the statistics, A.J., there are more single than wives in the U.S. She`s actually the norm, although she`s albeit a very beautiful Hollywood star norm.
HAMMER: Yes.
WEBBER: No, she`s absolutely - she`s on the money on this one.
WEBBER: All right. Well, Cameron also had some strong words about the pressure to get married. I want to read a little more from this U.K. interview in the U.K. "Style List" magazine just out today.
She says, "I think the big misconception in our society is that we`re supposed to meet the one when we`re 18 and we`re supposed to get married to them and love them for the rest of our lives. BS."
I should point out Cameron did not use the shorthand for "BS" like I just did. But do you think maybe she`s being a little cynical here? I mean, regardless of statistics, it`s nice to believe in love.
WEBBER: Oh, lovely, but she is being realistic. One in two marriages ends in failure. She`s actually very much the postcard for being single. She`s out now. Now, she`s living her life. She`s coping with ex-boyfriends. She recently worked with Justin Timberlake on the "Bad Teacher" movie.
WEBBER: And also, this is textbook - textbook Cameron, because the way to land someone like A-Rod, who is very much a serial womanizer, is to be somewhat aloof. So you go, girl. She probably would end up with him, you know (UNINTELLIGIBLE) put a ring on her finger.
HAMMER: All right. Let`s run down a little bit of her history because I think it speaks to what you`re talking about. From 1995 to `98 she dated Matt Dillon. That was her co-star in "There`s Something About Mary." Great movie.
From `99 to `03, she was with Jared Leto. And then, Cameron moved on to Justin Timberlake, you mentioned, that ended in `06. And yes, she`s with Alex Rodriguez now. But I`m thinking, Imogen - tell me if I have this wrong. By the track record she`s put forward so far, they`re not running down the aisle any time soon, these two.
WEBBER: You know what? There`s such a double standard here. Cameron is only 38 next month. If she were a man and said this in an interview, nobody would blink an eye.
HAMMER: Great point.
WEBBER: And quite frankly, it is boring. This is 2010. You go, girl.
HAMMER: All right. There it is. Cameron, we love you. She`s one of my absolute favorites. Imogen Lloyd Webber - I won`t mess it up this time - it`s great to see you.
Let`s move on. Is the Mel Gibson tape mystery finally solved? There`s startling news today about who may have released the explosive tapes of Mel`s suspected rage against his ex. We are breaking news today in the exclusive interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
There is big outrage today over revealing photos of Kim Kardashian`s 14-year-old sister. Look at these pictures. I`m thinking Kendall is way too young for this.
And "Jersey Shore`s" Snooki. She has been called many things, some of which I simply can`t repeat here today. But you, Willy Wonka fans, I can tell you Snooki loves being called an Oompa Loompa. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Jennifer Love Hewitt`s Lifetime movie, "The Client List," gets big ratings. Seventy-year-old singer Al Jarreau hospitalized in France with breathing problems.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Put this up. It`s pretty cool. Angelina Jolie at Comic-Con in San Diego. Angelina gave everyone a big surprise when she showed to plug her spy thriller movie, "Salt."
And get this, Angelina says she was actually scarred by the film literally. The Associated Press reports Angelina sliced her nose during a stunt.
A lot of big stars at this Comic-Con thing. It is a huge annual party for comic books, movies, videogames, a whole bunch of stuff. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, of course, right there.
Big stars showing up - Will Ferrell. Tina Fey was there. Of course, Angelina Jolie as well. We caught up with "The Dark Night" star - really good guy - Aaron Eckhart. He is at Comic-Con for his 2011 movie "Battle Los Angeles." Let me tell you, he really thinks Comic-Con is a great chance to interact with his fans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AARON ECKHART, ACTOR: It`s insane. There are thousands of people outside - all generations, you know, family. They all are true believers. They know the history of their favorite films. They`re queuing up in lines around the block.
And they`re fun to talk to, you know, because they know what they`re talking about. And hopefully, "Battle Los Angeles" will now go on to, you know, be a part of their history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, the SHOWBIZ iReport team is also right there at Comic- Con. We`ve been getting tons and tons of iReports from there. A lot of interesting things that we`re seeing. People really getting into this stuff.
You`ve got to check out this one particular iReport that I love. It`s from Allen M. He found an amazing replica of the "Ghostbusters" car, Ecto One.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We built this car to look like the Ecto Mobile from the "Ghostbusters" movie, the first one. This is all hand-built. They found all parts. Got everything, made it ourselves.
ALLEN M., IREPORTER: CNN I-report, Allan M. reports live from downtown San Diego where I became a Ghostbuster.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`ve got to get me one those. That`s pretty cool. All right. Are you fired up about something you saw right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT? Grab your camcorder, your webcam, your cell phone cam. Make us a video and a SHOWBIZ iReport. Keep it at 30 seconds or less.
Just check out our Web site at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. That`s where you can learn to make your iReport and send it off to us. It`s fun. It`s easy. And yours might wind up right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Now, the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Kate and Sarah. What a pair. Are Kate Gosselin and Sarah Palin really teaming up today?
Brand new outrage today over revealing photos of Kim Kardashian`s 14-year-old sister. I don`t know - isn`t she too young for this?
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT naming the most provocative celebrity of the week - Lindsay Lohan, Mel Gibson or his ex, Oksana? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, it`s the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: "America`s Got Talent" launching first ever nationwide tour. Season 10 "Idol" auditions kick off with 26,000 people in Nashville and Milwaukee.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, is the Mel Gibson tape mystery finally solved today? The big burning questions - who released the tapes? Are there more? We are breaking news today. The inside story behind the tapes in the exclusive interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Mel Gibson could be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week today. Could his ex-girlfriend Oksana get it? Or maybe it will be locked-up Lindsay Lohan. I`m telling you, the winner will shock you.
"Kate Plus 8" plus Sarah Palin? Are these two really teaming up?
Plus, breaking today from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker," the "Mad Men" star going to "The Simpsons." And big Anna Nicole Smith development.
ANNOUNCER: 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 - burning Mel questions today.
So many big, unanswered burning questions remain today about those outrageous, violent, degrading tapes allegedly of Mel Gibson raging against his ex. And today, we`re going straight to the source to get the answers.
Now, "Radar Online" has been revealing more and more of these explosive tapes day after day, week after week. And today SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the exclusive one-on-one with one of the heads of "Radar Online" to answer all of our questions.
Joining me right now exclusively from Hollywood, Dylan Howard. Dylan is the senior executive editor at "Radar Online." And we appreciate you being here, Dylan. So "Radar" has systematically been releasing tape after tape of these angry recordings.
And that brings us to our first burning question. Have we heard the last of these tapes or will more be released?
DYLAN HOWARD, SENIOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "RADAR ONLINE": Well, A.J., thanks for the invitation and good to be on the program. What I will say is that our investigations are ongoing.
And we have obtained more evidence in this crucial investigation surrounding Oksana Grigorieva and Mel Gibson. And we plan on releasing that evidence in the coming days.
HAMMER: OK. And will that include more tape recorded phone conversations?
HOWARD: I`m not going to get into specifics, A.J. But suffice it to say these are crucial pieces of evidence that had been presented to law enforcement agencies by Oksana Grigorieva`s team to support her allegations.
HAMMER: All right. I do want to listen to a bit of the latest tape that you guys released on "Radar Online." Charles, if you could roll that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (allegedly Oksana Grigorieva): Mel, you`re imbalanced. There`s something wrong with you. You need medication.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): Oh, you shut up. You, (EXPLETIVE DELETED)!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (allegedly Oksana Grigorieva): You cannot raise this child with these symptoms.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): What?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (allegedly Oksana Grigorieva): You`re acting as a crazy man right now. And you have been for many, many months. And you hit me and you hit her while she was in my hands. Mel, you`re losing your mind. You need medication.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): You need a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) kick up the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) for being a (EXPLETIVES DELETED) gold digging (EXPLETIVE DELETED). And I want my child and no one will believe you!
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: It really is unbelievable every time I hear these tapes. Now, Dylan, come critics do say that releasing small chunks of the tapes day after day really did nothing but draw the whole thing out. Why didn`t "Radar Online" post all of it at one time?
HOWARD: Well, if you had nine good stories, A.J., I`m pretty sure you wouldn`t put them all in one particular episode. I mean, this is an ongoing story.
We`ve continued to break key developments in this. And not just in addition to the tapes, let`s also not forget that "Radar Online" also obtained the photo of Oksana in which she says that two of her front teeth were knocked out. The veneer on one and another tooth chipped.
We also obtained the photo of Mel and Oksana`s baby, Lucia, with an apparent abrasion on her chin. So this has been good old-fashioned investigative journalism at its best, and we continue to set the agenda on this story.
HAMMER: Well, that is certainly true. I want to talk about that photo for a moment, Dylan, because there are people who have said it was inappropriate to make their baby`s photo public like that. When you hear criticism like that, what do you say?
HOWARD: Well, this is evidence that`s been presented to police, the court and the District Attorney`s Office, three separate law enforcement investigations. And we thought that it was in the public interest that this evidence, given that we were able to obtain it lawfully, should be presented for those - to make their own judgment. Now, of course, law enforcement agencies will tend to make their own judgment -
HAMMER: Sure.
HOWARD: On that particular evidence and whether or not it is, indeed, fact or fiction regarding Oksana Grigorieva`s allegations.
HAMMER: Well, something that we know people are casting a lot of judgment on is Mel Gibson, himself. And if these tapes are, in fact, of Mel, I think we can certainly say at very least his career is in a whole huge heap of trouble. Worst case - he may wind up behind bars.
I do want to listen to another part of the recording that "Radar Online" released where the man believed to be Mel threatens Oksana. Let`s roll that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): I need a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) woman. I don`t need medication. You need to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) bat to the side of the head. All right? How about that?
You need a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) doctor. You need a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) brain transplant. You need a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) - you need a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) soul.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, we have reached out to Mel`s camp every single day for a comment on these tapes. We haven`t heard a thing from them about it. Dylan, has "Radar Online" been doing the same thing?
HOWARD: Indeed, we have. I mean, we spoke before we released our very first story on this some three weeks ago to Mel`s publicist and also to Mel`s lawyers and afforded them the right to provide a comment. Of course, they haven`t.
Now, Mel`s silence on this is certainly very interesting. Of course, some are suggesting that he can`t say anything because if he does say anything, it could be tantamount to an admission.
HAMMER: Right.
HOWARD: And any evidence that he says or any comment that he makes would be admissible in any potential trial. That said, his silence on this is deafening. There is no doubting that it is Mel Gibson and "Radar Online" did their own investigations to establish the authenticity of those tapes. Tellingly, Mel`s camp hasn`t denied it.
HAMMER: Right. And here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, again, I have to say we cannot confirm the authenticity and say that it is, for certain, Mel Gibson.
But one thing we have been able to say all along is Oksana has denied releasing the tapes. You guys have stood by her on that from the beginning. And there`s been some breaking news about that today.
"The Hollywood Reporter" said that Oksana`s sister is suspected of releasing them. Dylan, did she? Was it Oksana`s sister?
HOWARD: A.J., you`re one of the top journalists in our field. I`m going to - I`ll stick to the rules. The golden rule of journalism is not to dish on your sources. But in this instance, I`m happy to comment on erroneous reporting.
What I will say is we`re not going to engage in a game of Cluedo as to who may have released these tapes to "Radar Online." But what we have said publicly and I`m happy to repeat that again is that Oksana Grigorieva did not give us these tapes.
HAMMER: What about the concern, Dylan, that - and a lot of people suggested that these tapes being out there may, in fact, hinder or hurt any case Oksana hopes to have against Mel Gibson?
HOWARD: It certainly is an interesting question. And I heard one legal analyst this morning suggesting that there are so many twists and turns in this case that it`s almost like a law school final.
There are so many things at play in this case and it`s going to be certainly very interesting to see how it plays out. Whether or not the release of the tapes will have an effect on her trial, that said, it certainly has gone to establish her and corroborate her allegations that Mel hit her.
And interestingly enough also, A.J., we obtained a text message which is being (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as part of evidence to the law enforcement investigation this week.
And in that text message, Mel Gibson went as probably close to an admission as to what happened on January 6th as we`ve seen so far in this case. In that text message he said that he was, quote, "Not safe to be around last night," end quote.
HAMMER: And again, we can`t confirm the authenticity of that text message. But there`s been an interesting shift that`s gone on here, Dylan. When "Radar Online" first released the tapes, it seemed everybody was instantly against Mel. There was no question about that.
But I do want you to check out the results. We just got them in late today from our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. We asked, "Mel Gibson`s Mess: Whose side are you on?"
And now, a whopping 63 percent voted, basically saying they`re on team Mel; 37 percent for team Oksana. Dylan, I`ve got to ask you, whose side are you on?
HOWARD: Well, I`m not on anyone`s side. The only side I`m on is reporting the truth in this case. And when I say the truth, I`m referring of course to the allegations that have been presented by both sides.
We`re not taking a side in this. Certainly, some other media outlets seem to be practicing advocacy journalism. That said, we continue to present key and crucial pieces of evidence in this case which is exactly what our purpose is, to shed light, if you like, on dark places for our audience.
HAMMER: Well, whatever people may think of the tapes or the fact that they`re out there, it certainly has captivated the nation. Dylan Howard, I thank you for being with us.
HOWARD: Thanks, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, we`ve been asking you to vote in that our exclusive SHOWBIZ TONIGHT poll today. Please sound off on this - "Mel Gibson`s Mess: Whose team are you on?" Team Mel, team Oksana? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
"Kate Plus 8," plus Sarah Palin? Did I really just say that? The shocking reason why TV`s most provocative moms are getting together. Kate can tell Sarah all about "Dancing with the Stars." And maybe Sarah can tell Kate how to make a mean moose stew or something. Something tells me these two are going to be doing more than sharing household hints.
The Kardashians and controversy and I`m not talking about Kim, or Khloe or Kourtney this time, but their 14-year-old sister and her nearly naked photo shoot. The explosive debate today - is Kendall too young for this?
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming the most provocative celebrity of the week. Will it be locked-up Lindsay? Maybe Mel Gibson - his toxic tape scandals just get messier by the minute. Or how about Mel`s ex, Oksana? It`s a real shocker. 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: Jury selection begins in Anna Nicole Smith drug conspiracy case. "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm to lend his voice to a character on new "Simpsons" episode.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: You know me so well. You know everything about me.
JON HAMM, ACTOR: I use our life all the time. If I work, they pay for that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: I must tell you, you could cut the tension with a knife in here, right? Right? That`s because we`re just moments away from naming SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week.
Will it be Lindsay Lohan for her lockdown drama? Mel Gibson for the continued nuclear fallout from supposed tapes of him ripping into his ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva? Or will it be Oksana herself facing possible extortion charges for the whole tape mess?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And we are going to name SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week in a moment. You won`t want to miss it.
But first, "Kate Plus 8" plus Sarah? There, I said it again. This is a mind-blowing report out today that two of the most famous moms on the planet are teaming up on a reality TV show.
Now, the report out today says that Sarah Palin could be appearing on "Kate Plus 8" in an episode that takes Kate and her kids to Alaska.
Right now in Hollywood, Tanika Ray. She is an entertainment journalist. In New York, Megan Alexander. She is a correspondent for "Inside Edition."
Well, there`s no doubt that Sarah and Kate have a lot in common. Let me run a few of these things down.
Kate and Sarah`s family dramas make them completely relatable. A lot of people love to hate both of these guys. And you just can`t take your eyes off either one of them when they`re on TV.
Megan, I`ve got to say, my hat is off to whoever cooked this idea up. I think it`s brilliant.
ALEXANDER: You know, I still haven`t decided what I think about this. It`s fascinating. Of course, they share demographic. I think for Kate Gosselin, it`s a home run. But I`m not sure about Sarah Palin.
I guess I envision there`s been speculation she`ll make a presidential run possibly in 2012. And I envision that presidential debate where one candidate says, "I`ve been off fighting poverty and you were appearing on a reality show with Kate Gosselin."
But I`m sure her team has thought of that. They`re smart. So this could be a calculating move. I don`t know.
HAMMER: They`re smart. Maybe they`re not. I don`t know. But having the endorsement of Kate Gosselin, given her popularity right now, probably not a terrible thing.
No coincidence, however, that Kate and Sarah could be teaming up. Kate`s show is on TLC. Sarah`s upcoming new reality show also going to be on TLC. Now, TLC could not confirm or deny this today.
But Tanika, admit it, love them or hate them, you know you`ve got to watch if this happens.
RAY: No, I don`t, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes, you do.
RAY: I don`t. The eye-rolling quotient is through the roof. One of them makes me gag. Two of them together, I guess, is ratings box office gold. I don`t know.
I just don`t understand. I think that people will watch because it is a train wreck cubed. And we love nothing more than two women who kind of disgust us from time to time, together at last.
(CROSS TALK)
Not everybody. Not everybody. Just everybody I know.
HAMMER: Tanika, I`ve got to say as I said before, love them or hate them, the popularity is undeniable -
ALEXANDER: Right.
HAMMER: Among the people who love them.
RAY: It is.
HAMMER: And certainly, the controversy they have been involved with has a lot to do with that. And I must move on now to eye popping controversy -
RAY: People you love to hate -
HAMMER: Involving the Kardashian family, more people we love to hate today. I do want you to take a look at these pictures. This is Kim Kardashian`s sister, Kendall, in a very sexy bikini posing.
Kendall is 14 years old. Now, Kim posted these pictures on her Web site. But Megan, it seems to me you shouldn`t be posting pictures like this of a 14-year-old on the Internet.
ALEXANDER: A.J., I remember attempting to walk out the door about Kendall`s age in a short skirt. And my father said to me, "You don`t know the message that sends the world, but I do. Go change." And I did.
Case in point, Bruce and Kris Jenner, I believe, should know better. Give it another four years. At least, let her be 18 years old. It`s a parents` job to protect their children`s innocence.
HAMMER: Yes.
ALEXANDER: Now, I will say this. I saw the photos of her in a Forever 21 campaign, fully-clothed. Darling, she`s a beautiful girl. She does not need to pose in a swimsuit, though, at age 14.
HAMMER: Well, again, Kim posted this. Kim Kardashian posted this of her sister. She doesn`t think she did anything wrong.
ALEXANDER: No.
HAMMER: This is what Kim wrote on her Web site, "They turned out so gorgeous. I am so proud of Kendall. I`m obsessed with these photos.
And Tanika, the thing is, I`m thinking that the wrong kind of people are going to be obsessed with these photos. And that`s the problem I`ve got with them although there are plenty of 14-year-old models out there. So I don`t know what to think.
RAY: Yes. I don`t think - A.J., I don`t think they care if it`s the wrong type of people or the right type of people as long as there are people watching.
And when it comes to the Kardashians, not much is out of bounds. I don`t know if you`re familiar with their show. But Chris Jenner, the mom, posed for "Playboy." She begged to pose for "Playboy," pictures that never actually aired, but she did it for her own personal use.
And she also encouraged Khloe when she married Lamar Odom to give him sexual favors so that she could get a house that was $2 million higher than his budget.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: So this is not a family that is, you know, going to church every Sunday. This is totally in line with what the Kardashians do. It`s all about marketing the family. And I think she`s a beautiful girl and I think she`s going to be incredibly successful. One more for the Kardashians. Good for them.
ALEXANDER: It`s unfortunate. It`s unfortunate. I wish it wasn`t that way.
HAMMER: It is.
(CROSS TALK)
RAY: That`s the - but you know what, Megan? This is the world we live in, girl.
HAMMER: This is the world we live in.
ALEXANDER: Not everybody. Not everybody.
RAY: Take off your panties, girl and get out of the limo.
ALEXANDER: Not everybody.
HAMMER: Despite all of this, neither Kim nor Kate, for that matter, nor Sarah Palin made the cut this week to be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week.
Here`s who did. Will it be Lindsay Lohan who, of course, turned herself into jail this week? Mel Gibson for the tapes of him supposedly ranting and raving at his ex-girlfriend, Oksana? Will it be Oksana, possibly facing extortion charges for the whole alleged Mel tape scandal? Megan, who`s your pick?
ALEXANDER: To quote the 1993 Robert De Niro film, "A Bronx Tale," there`s nothing sadder than wasted talent. I think "sad" has been the word that everybody has said for the Lindsay Lohan situation.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: Right.
ALEXANDER: I wish her well. Lindsay Lohan. It`s unfortunate.
HAMMER: All right. I need a drum roll to make this official. Charles, drum roll, please.
All right. Here you go. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT naming Mel Gibson`s ex- girlfriend, Oksana, as the most provocative celebrity of the week.
RAY: Yes, I knew it!
HAMMER: So Megan -
RAY: That was my choice.
HAMMER: You didn`t get it. Quickly, tell me, Tanika, so you picked this one?
RAY: Yes, absolutely. And I`m not going to say that she`s a celebrity. Let me make that very clear. But I think she`s very smart because Mel is right on the tapes. When she says nobody is going to believe you, he`s a billionaire.
And as you can see, more people are supporting him because he`s a celebrity. So she`s provocative because she took a chance. And whether or not she released the tapes, she`s being heard.
HAMMER: And if, in fact, it is Mel on the tapes. Tanika Ray, Megan Alexander, thank you, guys.
RAY: It`s Mel.
HAMMER: All right. Let`s move on. Did you see this? Paul the octopus is a real star. You remember Paul? He`s that psychic sea creature who predicted that Spain would win the World Cup.
Well, Paul actually almost became an appetizer for his controversial picks but Paul just honored by the Spanish town of Carballino - I hope I said that right.
The mayor even fed Paul, and I hope it was Wheaties, gosh darn it, because Paul is a champ. Paul is headed to retirement but not before he`s honored at the town`s squid festival next month. I`ve got to go to a squid festival.
Say what, Snooki? The "Jersey Shore" star loves it when they call her names. Is this true? Especially when they call her - wait for it - Oompa Loompa. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: GLAAD gives MTV excellent rating for inclusive programming. GLAAD gives ABC "good" rating for shows like "Modern Family."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Get out here.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Why are you guys yelling at us when we`re way upstairs? Just text me.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: All right. That`s not going to happen. And wow, you`re not wearing that outfit.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: What`s wrong with it.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Honey, do you have anything to say to your daughter about her skirt.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Sorry. Oh, yes, that looks really cute, sweetheart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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NICOLE "SNOOKI" POLIZZI: I`m ready to just blow this out of the water. I want us to have a good time without no drama. What`s wrong with meeting guys at the club and kissing them, honestly? It`s just making out, not like having sex, which I haven`t had yet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: "Jersey Shore`s" Snooki has been called many things, most of which I can`t say here. But today, Snooki says, "Hey, I can take it." And she blasts her haters in "Rolling Stone" magazine.
Listen to what she says, "Every time they call me a midget, Oompa Loompa, orange, they`re just jealous. It makes me want to be more ridiculous and more stupid."
Thanks, Snooks. Now, I got that Oompa-Loompa song in my head. It`s no good.
All right. Moving on to Kathy Griffin. "Life on the D List" for her got a lot more defensive. Any time you have to explain a joke, either it`s not funny or people need to lighten up.
On Wednesday, we told you about Kathy`s big smackdown with "View" co-host, Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Now, Elisabeth called Kathy "scum" for calling Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown`s daughters prostitutes.
Well, Kathy came to HLN`s "JOY BEHAR SHOW" to tell people, "Hey, I`m a comedian. Lighten up."
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KATHY GRIFFIN, COMEDIAN: The genesis of the joke - you won`t like - does anybody remember that the night he was elected, he made a joke? He clearly making a joke saying, "By the way, my daughters are available"?
And then, the Washington press beat up on him saying he was pimping out his daughters. So on "My Life on the D List," we actually had some real, you know, Washington insiders showing me, like, 15 pictures of people on the Hill, et cetera.
And my joke was I didn`t know who they were. So they showed me a picture of Sonia Sotomayor. And I`d say, "Oh, the maid from `Will and Grace.`" There`s the joke. Then, they show me Scott Brown and I go, "His daughters are prostitutes." Me - word association.
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": Right.
GRIFFIN: So people got their panties in a bunch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. I`m going to stay out of this one. I like my life right here on the "A and J List." Thanks for that, Ricardo.
Well, today, we are asking you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. Mel Gibson`s heated battle with ex-girlfriend and these alleged tapes of Mel ranting and raving. So, "Mel Gibson`s Mess: Whose side are you on?" Team Mel? Team Oksana? Look at the votes - 63 percent are on team Mel; 37 percent on team Oksana.
Now, Patsy just posted this message on our Facebook page and she supports Oksana. This is what she writes, "Regardless of what she may have done or not done, Oksana and her daughter should not have to listen to the verbal abuse. This is obviously Mel."
Well, we`re getting calls into the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines as well. Tracy from Pennsylvania is backing up Mel.
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TRACY, CALLER FROM PENNSYLVANIA: I`d like to know how everybody else is when they`re upset, when they`re being accused of things. I think Mel is being portrayed as a villain in the media. And I just don`t believe that`s true. I would like to see how she is behind closed doors.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks, Tracy. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call" to sound off on this or anything else at all. The "Showbiz on Call" phone line is open all the time - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail so we can play your call here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT now live at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday and still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on HLN.
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