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Showbiz Tonight
The New "American Idol"; Casting Call for Steven Slater; Jennifer Aniston Under Attack for Her Baby Comment; Jessica Simpson Under Attack for Her Weight Again; Mariah Carey, an "American Idol" Judge?
Aired August 11, 2010 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, "SHOWBIZ" HOST: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - the new "American Idol." Unbelievable frenzy today over the flight attendant who said, "Take this job and shove it." The SHOWBIZ great debates today - will he get his own reality show? And fasten your seatbelts for a SHOWBIZ casting call. Who should play this guy in a movie?
Stars under attack. The shocking brand-new attack on Jennifer Aniston today for saying women don`t need men to have a baby.
And Jessica Simpson under attack today over her weight again. What happened this time?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON: Hi, there. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today - the new "American Idol," and he didn`t even have to get past Simon Cowell.
The fed-up flight attendant who blew his stack and then high-tailed it off his airplane may not have to worry if he gets fired because there is all kinds of wild speculation today that America`s newest overnight celebrity may see his 15 minutes of fame last a whole lot longer than that.
There is talk today that he could be the perfect candidate for his own reality show. Could you imagine teaming him up with Snooki? And who will play him in the inevitable film, right? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with today`s frenzy over the furious flight attendant.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): He`s the newest hero of the skies, bigger than Superman and perhaps the biggest sky-high hero since Captain Chesley Sullenberger who famously ditched his commercial jet in the Hudson River.
But this hero ditched his job in grand fashion. And today, we are hearing from JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater for the first time -
STEVEN SLATER, JETBLUE FLIGHT ATTENDANT: I have to go take a bath.
ANDERSON: As we see in this brand-new video that was everywhere today after Slater was freed on bail last night, so many reporters and cameras surrounded him you would think they might have spotted Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to lose your job?
SLATER: More than likely.
ANDERSON: More than likely is right. He`s in big trouble for freaking out on this JetBlue flight to New York`s JFK Airport after a passenger conked him on the head with a piece of luggage and cursed at him.
On CNN`s "AC 360" a passenger described what Slater did next.
HEATHER ROBINSON, PASSENGER ON JETBLUE FLIGHT: Mr. Slater let loose over the P.A. and just started cursing the passengers, "(EXPLETIVE DELETED) you. I`m done with you." He said something about 20-some years of this. And, "I`m done. And for the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) who said (EXPLETIVE DELETED), well, (EXPLETIVE DELETED) you."
ANDERSON: That led to a scene that`s become so legendary it sparked this animated tribute seen on YouTube today. Slater grabbed two beers, open the plane`s emergency slide on the runway, and slid his way into pop culture stardom. Out and about in New York City today, Slater said he`s surprised he`s become so popular.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you have to say to all the people that are saying you`re a hero?
SLATER: Oh, it`s so encouraging and so special.
ANDERSON: Slater`s "take this job and shove it" act has become so popular, by late this afternoon, a fan page devoted to him already had more than 133,000 fans. One link poses the question, "Can Steven Slater get more fans than Justin Bieber?"
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The JetBlue flight attendant who flipped and became a folk hero walked out of the lockup -
ANDERSON: And America woke up today to see all the morning shows obsessing over this new American Idol. And last night, on NBC`s "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" -
JIMMY FALLON, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON": We have footage on what happened on the plane.
ANDERSON: Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton reenacted Slater`s dramatic escape.
PEREZ HILTON, CELEBRITY BLOGGER: (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
JO PIAZZA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: People are obsessed with talking about him. This JetBlue flight attendant should maybe get his own reality television show.
ANDERSON: That`s not a bad idea, because SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you this runway runaway has all the qualities needed to be the next reality show superstar.
For one, like all good reality show stars, Slater is clearly unpredictable. His onboard flip-out definitely trumps the table-flipping housewife on "Real Housewives of New Jersey." And Slater likes dropping F- bombs, like the kids on "Jersey Shore."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You want to go outside and have a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) outside?
ANDERSON: Plus, like any good reality show star, Slater definitely knows how to make a dramatic exit. Take that, Vienna from the bachelor.
VIENNA GIRARDI, REALITY TV STAR, "THE BACHELOR": I`m done with this. You are the meanest person I`ve ever met in my life.
ANDERSON: And if you don`t give Slater his own reality show, he`d be great in an existing one. We`d love to see him storm out of the stressful bakery in "Cake Boss" or bailing on Kate Gosselin and her eight kids. The list goes on and on and on.
PIAZZA: He quits "Project Runway." He gives Heidi the finger and grabs a martini and throws it in Tim Gunn`s face. I want to see Steve Slater quit every possible reality television show there is.
ANDERSON: So right now, the world is Steven Slater`s oyster, and that includes the reality show world. But here`s a tip for any reality show producers lucky enough to land this flight attendant, you better treat Steven Slater right, because we all know what happens when you tick him off at work.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
But before Steven Slater can taste reality show stardom, he`s got some legal issues to clear up. He`s been charged with two felonies for his onboard freak-out. And I can tell you that we did some checking.
And this afternoon the number one topic people are talking about on the Internet is, you guessed it, Steven Slater. So that leads us to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - is the fed-up flight attendant the new "American Idol"?
Right now, in New York is Brian Balthazar who is the editor for the site "PopGoesTheWeek.com." And in Hollywood, Jessica Weiner, who is an author and self-esteem expert.
So guys, more than 130,000 have joined a Steven Slater Facebook fan page today. And there are more YouTube videos dedicated to his flip-out than we can possibly even count. So Jessica, to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - yes, we both have been giggling throughout this entire piece.
JESSICA WEINER, AUTHOR AND SELF-ESTEEM EXPERT: Yes.
ANDERSON: Is Steven Slater the new "American Idol"?
WEINER: No, he`s not. He is the new American working class idol.
ANDERSON: Right.
WEINER: Let me tell you. I mean, he represents for everybody who has been burned by customer service, who works in it or - you know, he`s representing the big F-you to all those people.
But I don`t think he`s the "American Idol" and I would be hesitant to give him his own reality show yet. I think we have to see if he`s more interesting than this.
ANDERSON: He`s unpredictable. He`s outrageous. I mean, he deploys the evacuation chute.
WEINER: At least, we`ll see if he is predictable and if we can see it over and over again. We have to see if he can go on Snooki level, and then we can give him one.
ANDERSON: OK. Snooki level, then maybe. He will have earned his reality show. OK. Brian, over to you. What do you think? Is he the new "American Idol"?
BRIAN BALTHAZAR, EDITOR, "POPGOESTHEWEEK.COM": I actually think so. There`s a reason he`s resonating with so many people. It`s because people work hard and are often treated badly.
And who hasn`t once fantasized about making a big statement and these are best circumstances ever. He gets that on loud speaker, grabs two beers and jumps out, down a chute. You can`t create a better exit than that.
ANDERSON: Yes. No, you cannot. And I only wish I had witnessed it, because haven`t we all been delayed on planes for much more boring reasons than that?
(CROSSTALK)
WEINER: I do have to say - I`m going to be Debbie Downer for a moment. I do have to say, though, his exit with that that slide with ground control down the bottom - he has to be careful about stuff like that. If I was a passenger on the plane, I would probably get a little freaked out - amused, but freaked out.
ANDERSON: I would have whipped out my phone and videoed it stat, like, immediately. OK. Now, you just know, Jessica and Brian, that somebody, somewhere in Hollywood right now is already hard at work with the screenplay for the inevitable film about this fed-up flight attendant.
So the big question today is, who should play him? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s investigative casting team came up with three possibilities today.
First, hey, what about Paul Giamatti, or maybe Jim Carrey - that guy can play any role. How about Philip Seymour Hoffman? He actually looks like Steven Slater. We will be debating this casting call in just a few minutes. Jessica can`t stop giggling.
WEINER: I can`t.
ANDERSON: OK. But first, onto other big news breaking today - Levi Johnston getting dissed left and right for his planned reality show, featuring him trying to eventually become - wait for it - the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. That`s the town that Sarah Palin used to run.
Well, today, we heard from the mother of his child, Bristol Palin, who told "Us Weekly," "I never knew he had political aspirations. I`m glad that Levi has not given up on completing his education and is looking for steady employment."
Brian, I`m thinking Bristol is not going to be voting for Levi. He`s been pretty awful to her.
BALTHAZAR: I think you`re right. And I think people are going to be voting against Levi Johnston. You know, he is exactly what Steven isn`t. He does everything for the attention. There`s really no authenticity to what he does. And well, I think, people will tune in for "he`ll do anything factor." I think people are over this kind of character.
WEINER: I do, too. If we ever think for a moment why he`s famous, he knocked up a teenager.
ANDERSON: Yes.
WEINER: I mean, really, in the end, we have to really pick and choose our stories well. This is not a guy we want to follow. If he wasn`t as good looking, we wouldn`t know anything about him and he`d be another sad statistic. I think the less we talk about him, the better.
ANDERSON: He got a politician`s daughter pregnant. And then, he lied in public on national TV about this politician and her family. He admitted that. He`s been pretty horrible to all of them.
WEINER: Yes.
ANDERSON: And speaking of that politician, Levi is already shooting his show. And Sarah Palin is also currently shooting her reality show. It`s about life in Alaska. Which is why we asked this exclusive poll - "Reality Check: Whose reality show would you rather see?"
Late today we got the results. Get a load of this. Only 16 percent said Palin`s show over Levi Johnston. Eighty-four - a whopping 84 percent said they`d rather watch Levi. So Jessica, I`m sure you`re shocked by this.
WEINER: I am a little bit. I think people are really fed up with Sara Palin, but she`s had a long time to make us all sort of sick of her. Levi is just hitting that tipping point right now, and I want him to go right over the edge.
Again, I think it`s the cute factor. I think that people - you know, he`s gotten a little buzz from Kathy Griffin. He was at the Teen Choice Awards. He`s hitting a younger demo and he`s making it look cool to be an unwed father without big aspirations. So I`m saying, no. Let`s pick a new role model.
ANDERSON: You say cute. He may be cute, Jessica, but he`s dull. He`s got to work on that. OK. Jessica Weiner and Brian Balthazar, thank you both.
All right. There are big stars under attack today. Jennifer Aniston is being slammed. The shocking brand-new attack on Jennifer Aniston today for saying that women don`t need men to have a baby.
Jessica Simpson also under attack today over her weight, again. Why won`t people just leave Jess alone? .
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just received this dramatic Fantasia 911 call today. The new clues that could confirm the "American Idol" winner may have tried to kill herself. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: No comment from Fox on reports Jennifer Lopez won`t be on "Idol." Mike Posner album, "31 Minutes to Takeoff," tops iTunes album chart.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We welcome you back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with late-breaking news about Fantasia`s troubles.
Dramatic developments as the "American Idol" superstar recovers from an overdose of aspirin and a sleep aid. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained the frantic 911 call late today that seems to confirm reports that Fantasia tried to commit suicide. Did heartbreak and the sex scandal lead to Fantasia`s overdose?
Right now, in New York, is Janell Snowden. She is the host of "VH1 News." Janell, Fantasia`s overdose came after Fantasia read court papers in which a woman claims that Fantasia busted up her marriage by having an affair with her husband.
Janell, you just spoke with Fantasia, what, just a few weeks ago while she promoted her new album and her new season of her VH1 reality show. Did you have a clue that Fantasia`s world could have been crumbling around her like this? Were there signs?
JANELL SNOWDEN, HOST, "VH1 NEWS": There absolutely weren`t. In fact, I interviewed her the day after her birthday. She came into the studio. She was in great spirits. We talked about her reality show and how she was excited for it. We even get to see her doing a little speed dating on the show.
She did mention, though, that she has a nine-year-old daughter and that it`s very important to her that she not let her daughter see her do anything that she wouldn`t want her to repeat as a behavior.
So I thought that that was very interesting. I mean, Fantasia surrounds herself with people who are very spiritual, you know, very God- fearing. And as you`ll see on the show, she prays often and often with her family. So it was a very surprising situation for all of us, and our hearts go out to her.
ANDERSON: Yes. And her manager told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that she was overwhelmed and that she felt misled by this man, whom she says told her was separated from his wife. And Janell, we got a good sense this afternoon of how dramatically Fantasia`s world fell apart around her when we obtained the 911 call of Fantasia just moments before she was rushed to the hospital.
On the call we hear somebody saying that Fantasia was slipping in and out of consciousness after taking a bottle of aspirin. Janell, Fantasia has always been open and honest. Her VH1 reality show is as real as it gets. Can she bounce back from all of this?
SNOWDEN: I think she absolutely can. People can forgive. They might not forget, but they can certainly forgive. Fantasia`s life has been an open book. If you recall, she did a movie about her life.
And she came to know - we came to know her through a reality show. Now, she`s doing a reality show with VH1. So she`s always been, you know, very open. And she said her songs are, in fact, true stories. Her current single, "Bewildered" is, you know , she says, is about a past breakup.
ANDERSON: Yes.
SNOWDEN: So I think that if she`s honest - you know what? She`s not doing anything that people before her have not done, whether famous or not. You know, this type of situation unfortunately happens all the time, though we just don`t see it playing out in the public eye.
And we don`t know that, you know, these people have tried to commit suicide if that is, in fact, what happened. So I think she can rebound if she`s honest and she just comes forth.
If not for the fact that she, you know, had an overdose or suffered an overdose, I don`t think that people would demand any type of statement. But because, now, her fans want to know that she`s well and in a better place -
ANDERSON: Right.
SNOWDEN: I think that is what will help.
ANDERSON: Right. Yes. Well, her manager says she will recover from this. It is said not to be life-threatening. And he says this is not the hardest thing that Fantasia has endured and she is a fighter. Janell Snowden, great to talk to you. Thanks.
SNOWDEN: Yes. You, too.
ANDERSON: OK. The flight attendant who said take "this job and shove it" and then ditched his plane has got so many SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers fired up today.
Patty from Oregon sent us an E-mail and she doesn`t have any problems with what he did, "Those of us who travel frequently are fed up with those passengers belligerent and arrogant to us and flight attendants. It starts at boarding, with luggage and continues with no consideration for fellow passengers. I totally support Slater. He said what I can`t."
And the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been ringing nonstop about this. Pat from Florida says, shame on you, fed-up flight attendant.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I`m calling about the flight attendant who showed his temper tantrum on a plane. Everyone is making a hero out of someone that could have caused a complete disaster. Had he done such a tantrum in the sky, the results would have been disastrous for many people. So why would anyone make him a hero?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes. Luckily, there was no disaster. But you`re right, Pat. It could have happened. All right. Thanks for your call.
Call us. Let us know what you think about this or anything else that is on your mind. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open - 1- 888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Leave a message. We`ll play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
OK. Kim Kardashian is making bombshell revelations today about her love life. Fellows, step on up. But you`d better like lots of cameras in your face if you want to be with Kim.
Fasten your seatbelts today because SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is casting the movie for the flight attendant who said "take this job and shove it." Who should play this guy? Paul Giamatti? How about Jim Carrey, or Philip Seymour Hoffman?
And hey, you have got to see this. There`s already a song about this guy.
(SINGING)
And not just English songs - all kinds of languages.
And whoa! Check this out. It`s "Desperate Housewives" star, Teri Hatcher, setting the record straight once and for all. She is Botox free. 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: Neil Patrick Harris gets last minute Emmy nomination for hosting the Tony Awards. Beyonce appears in new ads for House of Dereon, her fashion line with her mom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAYLOR SWIFT, SINGER: Thank you so much for giving me a chance to win a VMA award.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
KANYE WEST, SINGER: Yo, Taylor, I`m really happy for you. I`m going to let you finish, but Beyonce has one of the best videos of all time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Watch out because Kanye`s coming back. I can tell you today that Kanye West is returning to the MTV Video Music Awards set for next month. He`s scheduled to perform as in sing, not snatch microphones from the winners like he did to Taylor Swift at last year`s VMAs.
OK. Today, I`ve got a big scoop about Britney Spears and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) "Glee." I told you that Brit is going to on appear on the show. An entire show will feature her songs.
Well, we caught up with "Glee" creator, Ryan Murphy, at the big premiere of Julia Roberts` "Eat, Pray, Love," the big movie Murphy directed. And he answered big, burning questions about Brit-Brit being on "Glee."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN MURPHY, "GLEE" CREATOR: She`s going to be on the show. It was her idea. The story is very reverential and it`s sort of a love letter to her music. So it`s sort of "Where`s Britney" idea
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I will definitely be watching that. All right. Wow. So many of you writing on our Facebook wall today after I posted the news that Levi Johnston may be getting his very own reality show.
Terrence C. writes, "He is doing anything he can to stay relevant. If a producer told that phony today that he would give him a reality show if he publicly walks up to Sarah Palin and kisses her on the lips, Levi would."
But Abby D. likes the idea, "I get a kick out of him, especially thinking how crazy he makes his future mother-in-law, Sarah Palin. These kids, Bristol and LEVI, will make up again."
Abby`s got faith. Join the debate today on Facebook. Get breaking entertainment news alerts on Twitter. Call us at "Showbiz on Call." And there`s E-mail. "SHOWBIZ Connects," CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Stars under attack today. Jennifer Aniston slammed for saying women don`t need men to have a baby. Jessica Simpson slammed over her weight, again.
And casting the flight attendant film. We`re going to have fun with this. The flight attendant who said "take this job and shove it" - who should play him? Paul Giamatti? Jim Carrey? How about Philip Seymour Hoffman?
And Mimi says, "Hire me." Will Mariah Carey be a judge on "American Idol"? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Olsen twins would love to dress Michelle Obama in their clothing line. Alanis Morisette and husband rapper SoulEye are expecting their first child.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Stars under attack. The shocking brand-new attack on Jennifer Aniston today for saying women don`t need men to be good moms.
Jessica Simpson under attack over her weight, again. The explosive magazine cover controversy that everybody is talking about today.
And the new "American Idol." More people are talking about the feisty flight attendant than Jennifer and Jessica. So who should play him? We`re casting the movie. Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman? What about Jim Carrey?
(SINGING)
Unbelievable brand-new songs about this guy, too. How long can this guy`s 15 minutes of fame last?
Plus, breaking today from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - Susan Boyle`s got a mini-me? And your first look today at Conan O`Brien`s new show.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Brooke Anderson with brand-new news breaking today - stars under attack.
There`s an all-out war today on two big Hollywood stars, Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson. And I can tell you that one of those wars is from the unlikeliest of places. It`s newsman Bill O`Reilly versus Jennifer Aniston today.
The talk show host is fired up over Aniston`s comment that women don`t need men to have a baby. He said Aniston`s comment is destructive to society.
But wait, there`s more. Poor Jessica Simpson. She is under attack today over her weight, again? Why in the world can`t this girl catch a break?
With me right now in New York, Megan Alexander, who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition." And from Hollywood, Jessica Weiner, who is an author and self-esteem expert.
OK, ladies, let`s begin with Jennifer Aniston under attack today. She said the other day that women are realizing it more and more knowing that they don`t have to settle with a man just to have a child.
Well, Bill O`Reilly had a field day with that one. Watch what he said on his show last night that`s gotten everybody riled up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL O`REILLY, HOST, "THE O`REILLY FACTOR": There are millions of single mothers who do a great job raising their kids.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do a great job -
O`REILLY: And then, they`re abandoned. And there are all kinds - and they do. It`s possible, but it`s not optimum.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it`s not easy.
O`REILLY: And that`s where Ms. Aniston is making her mistake, that she`s throwing a message out to 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds, OK, that hey, you don`t need a guy. You don`t need a dad. That`s destructive to our society.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. Jessica, let`s not forget, Jennifer Aniston is 41 years old. She hasn`t been able to find Mr. Right. Her options are becoming more limited. It is a fact when it comes to motherhood.
But at the same time, I agree with the part that Bill O`Reilly said that young girls should not look at that as the ideal way or the celebrity way to do it because it`s hard.
WEINER: Believe me, but there are lots of really smart girls out there who are not going to listen to Jennifer`s comment and take it as a license to go off and have - and become a single parent.
I want to invite Bill O`Reilly to the year 2010. And families look a whole lot different than they did before. There are single parents by choice and there are single parents not by choice. I think his comments are destructive and way out of line.
What she is talking about truth. Mothers can raise - and millions and millions of single mothers will attest to the fact they have raised healthy, well-adjusted kids without a man in their lives.
Is it optimal? Probably not. I think everybody who has a kid - do you have a kid? We want help with those kids.
ANDERSON: Right.
WEINER: But I think we`re taking this way out of context. He`s villainizing Aniston unnecessarily so.
ANDERSON: Megan, are you agreeing here with what Jennifer Aniston said or are you with Bill O`Reilly? I want to get your take now.
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": Well, I think there is a void right now in society. There`s not a lot of conversation about being pro-family. And so I think the reason that some people are siding with Bill O`Reilly is we seem to reduce men in this conversation to be just sperm.
Now, imagine if a guy had said that about a woman. Go to a Web site called "Fatherhood.org" and you`ll see that there are good men out there that want to be good fathers and want to be a part of the relationship. This is such a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -
(CROSSTALK)
WEINER: But Jennifer Aniston didn`t say anything about men in her statement, Megan. She didn`t say anything about men. She just said women are able to be good moms without men. Would you agree with that?
ALEXANDER: As a general statement -
WEINER: I mean, women are able to be good moms.
ALEXANDER: As a general statement, I think the child is best with both. Life is not perfect, absolutely. And women are doing a great job able to do it on their own.
WEINER: Right. But that`s not what she`s talking about. She was talking about single moms.
ALEXANDER: But when she said that women are able to - or don`t need to settle anymore - I can do it without men - I would argue for the child that I would hope would still get the best option of both having a mother and a father. And that`s why I think this is a hot button issue is because -
(CROSSTALK)
WEINER: There are women who choose to have babies on their own and bring them into loving homes.
ALEXANDER: And they`re doing a great job. I`m not at all saying they`re not doing a great job. I`m just saying that I do sometimes think we tend to forget in the conversation that there are guys out there that do want to do a good job.
WEINER: But Jennifer is not a legislation. She`s not legislating politics for us.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: I think we can all agree that it is beneficial for a child to have -
ALEXANDER: Right.
ANDERSON: Positive, solid influences in that child`s life in addition to the mother. But back to the whole fatherhood thing, I`ve got to say that Bill did not back down on his convictions about why a dad is so important and why he thinks that Aniston really has no business saying women don`t need men here. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O`REILLY: Aniston can hire a battery of people to help her, but she cannot hire a dad, OK? And dads bring a psychology to children that is, in this society, I believe, underemphasized.
I think men get hosed all day long in the parental arena. The fathers who do try hard are underappreciated and diminished by people like Jennifer Aniston.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. Jessica, I kind of agree with you. I think he`s stretching it here, because she wasn`t saying that good fathers should be underappreciated.
WEINER: No.
ANDERSON: She wasn`t saying that at all, because I think good fathers - we should be applauding them like, thank you, thank you, thank you.
WEINER: Absolutely. But I think this is exactly right. Bill O`Reilly is using Jennifer Aniston for even more publicity to himself. So let`s just put this into context.
What`s easy is to make comments like Bill O`Reilly made. What`s hard is to be a single mother and a single father in this country and try to raise a child in a healthy environment.
And I think we have to really not, I think, project too much onto this. I just think it`s becoming a story that doesn`t need to be. Jennifer is speaking like millions of people out there. We all have traditional and blended families. And that`s the reality of today.
ANDERSON: And I think it`s a little bit apples and oranges. She is 41 years old. She is in a different situation than the people that Bill O`Reilly is talking about, which are young, impressionable girls.
WEINER: My challenge, Brooke, is this - Bill O`Reilly loves to talk about single moms. But I want to know how many single mother organizations he sponsors, he gives to and he gets involved with, because we can talk about that as lip service.
But if you`re really going to get involved in the plight of a single mother, there are plenty of organizations who want help and support.
ANDERSON: And all my respect goes to those single mothers doing a good, committed job with their children.
ALEXANDER: And I agree with you both of you, ladies. I agree with you. I really do.
ANDERSON: I think we all agree that a lot of single mothers have been put in that position not because they asked for it.
(CROSSTALK)
There are deceased fathers. There are deadbeat dads. There are reasons that they have been put in that position.
ALEXANDER: Yes.
ANDERSON: There are reasons and it`s not ideal. But they are dealing with it. And I`ve got to say, our Facebook page today was really on fire as we all are over this.
And I`ve got to say there were a lot of people on team Aniston. J. Edward wrote this on our wall, "Bill O`Reilly needs to shut his pie hole. Show proof that it`s always better to have the two-parent household and I will show you Santa Claus and break-dancing Elvises who tour with Elvis."
Well, J. Edward got really creative with that one. And we could continue this conversation but I do need to move on to big reaction to another big star under attack.
And once again, it`s Jessica Simpson right in the middle of it over her weight. Simpson is being attacked for looking too thin on the cover of the new issue of "Lucky Magazine." There it is. The blogs have been going wild, claiming that Simpson may have been airbrushed to appear thinner on the cover.
Take a look at these headlines that have been plastered all over the Internet today - "Jessica Simpson thinned out on new cover?" "Photoshop strikes again: Jessica Simpson in `Lucky` magazine." "Jessica loves her curves, `Lucky` magazine does not."
Jessica, I say it was not her fault she was airbrushed. That is the culture of the magazines today. So why can`t she catch a break.
WEINER: Well, I think she`s living right now in a time were we are so hyper-focused on thinness as the one idealized form of beauty that magazines are following suit.
I will say there are clear winners and losers in this, Brooke. "Lucky" magazine, clear winner. They`re in the news. We`re talking about them. I never picked up their magazine before today, right? So we`re paying attention to them.
And I do believe that that`s a deliberate ploy. However, the losers are Jessica Simpson who, once again, does not deserve to be criticized about her body, nor does any woman, really, and the millions of girls who follow Jessica Simpson and who really want to learn to love their bodies and make peace - they`re the losers.
ANDERSON: And she is embracing her curves. You know, she`s talking about her insecurities with weight in the past, but now, she is embracing her curves. And late today, "Lucky" magazine got back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about all of this.
They didn`t confirm or deny that they airbrushed Jessica, simply telling us, "Nothing out of the ordinary was done with this cover in terms of any kind of retouching or Photoshopping. We always try to have our cover and the people featured on our cover and inside the magazine look their best, and nothing out of the ordinary happened in this cased in terms of achieving that.
And we`ll leave it there. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out to Jessica Simpson said today and she simply said, no comment. Megan Alexander, Jessica Weiner, thank you both for your insight and your positions. We do appreciate it.
OK. From fed up to famous. Everybody is buzzing today about that feisty flight attendant. But who should play him in a film? Get your agent on the phone. It`s time for the SHOWBIZ casting call.
Under consideration - Paul Giamatti. How about Jim Carrey? That guy can play anybody? Or maybe Philip Seymour Hoffman? But is this overnight sensation flight attendant a real star? New details about the fed-up flight attendant`s future.
Plus, tons of online spoofs of his rant are popping up everywhere today. We`re going to show you the best of the best.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
And Teri Hatcher takes it all off and reveals the truth. Teri is showing off her Botox-free face. The stunning new pictures that will shut down the Teri haters.
And Kim Kardashian`s love life confessions today. Is she in or out of love? 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: U2`s "Spiderman" musical to debut on Broadway in December. New Susan Boyle? Ten-year-old wows "America`s Got Talent" audience.
(SINGING)
ANDERSON: The fed-up flight attendant who went bonkers on a JetBlue flight is now a worldwide celebrity. So today here`s the SHOWBIZ casting call - who should play him in the film of his wild-winged wig-out?
Should it be the great Paul Giamatti or the man of a thousand faces, Jim Carrey? How about Philip Seymour Hoffman for his uncanny resemblance to the flight attendant.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And we`re going to get to that casting call debate in just a moment.
But first, is Hollywood the next destination for this newest American Idol? Today there are t-shirts, even a song written just for him. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fasten your seatbelt Steven Slater. Faster than a cross country flight he went from flight attendant to -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Steven Slater, he`s an American hero.
MOOS: With his own ballad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (SINGING): Never felt irate. Won`t you get irater. Well, my friends we have a hero now, Steven Slater.
MOOS: Reporters asked him -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why are you smiling?
MOOS: He made us smile when he went ballistic on the airplane intercom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To the blanking blanking who told me to blank off.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To the (EXPLETIVE DELETED), (EXPLETIVE DELETED) who told me to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off -
MOOS: He`s even swearing in Taiwanese. Already immortalized in an animation, his name flitted around Twitter, "My hero, free Steven Slater." "If the slide don`t glide, then give Steven Slater a free ride." It was if "Network" -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I`m as mad as hell.
MOOS: Met "Jerry Maguire."
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: I`m going do what you all think I`m going to do which is just flip out.
MOOS: On a double bill playing aboard Airplane Two.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`re also out of coffee.
MOOS: But in Slater`s case it was grabbing beer on the way out that captivated everyone and had morning hosts fantasizing in song -
(MUSIC PLAYING)
MOOS: And "The Daily Beast" called Slater the new Sully. "The Washington Post" coined the phrase "pulling a Slater," saying we all dream of activating an escape slide. Talk about an exit.
(on camera): When reporters asked his attorney why Slater took the slide, he answered, because it was right there. Even his ex-wife came to his defense.
CYNTHIA SUSANNE, SLATER`S EX-WIFE (through telephone): He definitely is the Joan of Arc of the flight world right now.
MOOS: You sound like you like him a lot for an ex-wife.
SUSANNE: Oh, yes. He`s fantastic. He`s wonderful.
MOOS (voice-over): But even wonderful people snap like in the Nicoderm commercial.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop it! Stop it, stop it, stop it. The last time I tried to quick smoking - only two carry-on items.
MOOS: Passengers seeking a moment of Zen from the indignities of flying might appreciate this pillow flight aboard a Lufthansa flight. It`s been a long time since flying felt light as a feather.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: OK. I think it`s hilarious that Steven Slater has been an overnight international sensation. But that leads to the question on everybody`s mind today - who should play him in the blockbuster movie of his flight fiasco? You know it`s coming. It`s the showbiz casting call.
Right now, in New York, is Brian Balthazar. He is editor of "PopGoesTheweek.com." Also in New York is Janell Snowden. She is the host of "VH1 News." Brian and Janell, let`s fire up the showbiz casting call with a cast-o-meter 2010, shall we?
Should it be Paul Giamatti, the brilliant character actor who can do crazy and lovable, all rolled into one? Or should it be the hysterical man of a zillion faces, Jim Carrey. Or should it play it right down the middle with Philip Seymour Hoffman who looks a lot like Steven Slater. Janell, who`s your pick?
SNOWDEN: My pick is Jim Carrey, but I was first thinking of picking Philip Seymour Hoffman because he`s such a great chameleon-like actor and, because like you said, he does look a lot like him.
But given Jim Carrey`s experience of recently played a gay character and given that we need someone who can certainly can bring the LOL moments that a reenactment of a scene like that will demand, I say Jim all the way.
ANDERSON: Jim can probably play crazed and over-the-top better than anybody.
SNOWDEN: Exactly.
ANDERSON: Brian, you`re now in the director`s chair. Who could you pick?
BALTHAZAR: Well, if Michael Kors (ph) was an actor, I would say him. He looks like him.
ANDERSON: You`re right.
BALTHAZAR: But I`m going to go with - yes. Philip Seymour Hoffman now just has - I think he`s got a little bit inner anger, too. And he`s got the look. Look at that. Come on. How can you deny that? Give him a trim. Take out the glasses. Give him two bottles of beer, and you`re ready to roll.
ANDERSON: I think he`d be a good pick, too. And he is the Oscar winner of the group, so the guy has got major range.
OK. Well, the outpouring of support for Steven Slater has really been remarkable. And everybody is chomping at the bit for his first big sit- down TV interview.
Last night, he did talk, for the very first time, about his newfound fame and his future just moments after he was released on bail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me what you think about all the support you`ve gotten?
(CROSSTALK)
SLATER: Wow. It`s been very, very appreciated. It seems like something here has resonated with a few people, and that`s kind of neat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to lose your job?
SLATER: More than likely. Is this my ride?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you care about that anymore?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I love it. More than likely - just so nonchalant about it. You know, his wings might be clipped, but I think his next gig could have him flying even higher. We are asking everybody to weigh in on this on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll.
Here`s today`s question - "Fed-Up Flight Attendant: Should he get his own reality show?" Janell, he is the most searched person on the Internet today.
SNOWDEN: I do not care. I`m so sick of our society rewarding crazy behavior. Just because a person acts a fool does not mean we need to put them on TV and exploit them.
Instead, let`s put them into therapy, OK? And then, maybe when they get better, think about putting them on TV. But since when do we reward this kind of craziness? No, no, no. I would not watch it. I don`t want to see it. I`m over it.
ANDERSON: Oh, Debbie Downer. All right. Janell Snowden, Brian Balthazar. And train wreck sells these days, whether you like it or not - "Jersey Shore," housewives of any city.
BALTHAZAR: Of course, it does.
ANDERSON: All right. Thanks, guys. It`s good to see you. I`ve got to move on now to Kim Kardashian`s big decision-making news today. Kim K`s bombshell revelation today about her love life. How will Kim`s love life drama play out on her hit reality TV show? 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: 3,300 hours of "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" to be posted online. First look at Conan O`Brien`s promo for his new TBS show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Conan is coming this November to TBS. Very funny.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Did you see this? Brand-new pictures today of "Desperate Housewives" star, Teri Hatcher that Teri just poised on her Facebook wall - on her Facebook profile. Teri wants everybody to know that these pictures are pictures that she is took. They are untouched. No clever camera tricks here.
This is Teri, fresh-faced and Botox free. Yes, I think Teri looks absolutely amazing. And I also respect that Teri took the risk to show the world what she really looks like so hopefully, once and for all, put an end to all the nasty the nagging rumors that she has had Botox.
Fresh faced Teri had this to say, "Thought about all the damn critics of my face. Love it or hate it, my face, that is, it`s no surgery, no implants, no matter what they say. Decided I`d shoot myself to reveal some truths about beauty and hope it makes all of you all easier on yourself." Way to go, Teri.
OK. Stunning "American Idol" news in "The Buzz" today. Reports that Mariah Carey may be interested in taking Simon`s spot. And Kim Kardashian`s new love life bombshell, the sexy new man she was just spotted with. But is she in or out of love? Plus, Julia reveals to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT her "Eat, Pray, Love" life-altering experience.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): "Eat, Pray, Love" Julia. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there as Julia Roberts strutted her stuff in New York City for the premiere of her new movie, "Eat, Pray, Love." Julia tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT working on the film reignited her passion for acting.
JULIA ROBERTS, ACTRESS: I still really love acting and working this hard and making this level of a commitment which really what I came away from it knowing for sure.
ANDERSON: Keeping up with the single Kardashian. Kim Kardashian has just revealed she`s single. She tells "Life and Style" magazine this will be the first time she`ll be filming her reality show with no boyfriend.
Kim was reportedly just seeing canoodling with international soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo. A soccer star may be just the ticket, considering her recent bad luck with NFL players Reggie Bush and Miles Austin.
Carey instead of Cowell? In a brand-new interview, Mariah Carey`s husband, Nick Cannon, says Mariah would love to be a judge on "American Idol."
Nick tells the "Hollywood Reporter," as much as Mariah wants to do it, he doesn`t know if she has enough time with her busy schedule. But Nick says let`s start the campaign.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So many names have been tossed around, I will say Mariah Carey on "Idol"? I`d watch it.
OK. Tuesday, we asked you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. Just moments ago, I received the final results. Reality Check: Whose reality show would you rather see - Sarah Palin or Levi Johnston? Only 16 percent want to see Sarah Palin. Eighty-four percent want to watch Levi. What?
Check out some of the E-mails we received. William from Oregon says, "Choosing between Sarah and Levi, I choose none of the above."
Tina in Kentucky, "Levi has taken advantage of everyone around him, starting with Sarah Palin`s daughter."
And that`s a wrap for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks so much for watching. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Take care.
END
