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Showbiz Tonight
Dina Lohan in Denial?; More Money, More Oprah; Katie Holmes` Confession about Tom Cruise; Fantasia`s Relationship Reality Check; Tyra Banks` Big Apology; Jesse James Dating Again?
Aired August 16, 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, CO-HOST: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Dina in denial? Lindsay Lohan`s mother slammed today for her bizarre interview about Lindsay on the "Today" show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DINA LOHAN, MOTHER OF LINDSAY LOHAN: I think that`s all propaganda.
MATT LAUER, CO-HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: How many times has she been in rehab?
D. LOHAN: Two.
LAUER: Two times?
D. LOHAN: I had to let her go and live and fall and fail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The burning questions. Did Dina outright lie? Or does she just not get it?
More money, more Oprah. The mind-boggling multibillion dollar deal today that will mean more O for more dough. Was Oprah forced into an about-face?
Katie Holmes` confessions about Tom Cruise. Why is she using the word "weird" today to describe their marriage?
Fantasia`s relationship reality check. The "American Idol" star out of the hospital today and caught on camera with the married man who may have led to her grief.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today - Dina in denial.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. Lindsay Lohan`s mother, Dina, is just getting slammed today for her absolutely disastrous first interview since Lindsay went to jail and rehab. The reason - Dina seemed to be living on another planet, a planet with a far different reality than the one Lindsay lives on.
And it led to a brand-new great debate today about who is doing a better job of protecting Lindsay - her mother Dina or her father Michael?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): It was Dina Lohan`s very first interview since Lindsay got out of jail and went to rehab. And there was big-time backlash today over Matt Lauer`s grilling of Dina. Matt demanded to know how Dina and her ex, Michael, could have helped Lindsay more.
LAUER: Have either of you done what you think you could have done to help her along through some very difficult times?
D. LOHAN: You have to let them go a little bit. She went out to Los Angeles when she was 19, and I had to let her go and live and fall and fail and survive. Without failure, there`s no success.
HAMMER: Lindsay`s failure was a small matter of getting arrested in 2007 twice, once for driving under the influence, and once for possession of cocaine.
Dina was reportedly not happy about her interview with Matt. "PopEater.com" quotes a friend of Dina`s as saying, "Dina felt ambushed by Matt. She was surprised how many tough questions he asked."
LAUER: There is this feeling with a lot of people that - that the people closest to Lindsay -
D. LOHAN: Her family -
LAUER: And I`m talking about you and your ex-husband and her friends, have done nothing to help her turn her life around.
D. LOHAN: That`s absolutely not true and that`s just propaganda.
HAMMER: Today, Michael Lohan says Dina wasn`t ambushed. Matt was asking good questions. He tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "It`s all about money and controlling Lindsay and my kids to Dina, when she has failed miserably. And it should be about our children`s well-being. Dina and I caused this, and we need to fix it."
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: I respect you and I have been taking it seriously.
HAMMER: Lindsay is now in a 90-day court-ordered stint in rehab after serving 14 days in jail for violating her probation. But Dina says it`s not Lindsay`s fault. It`s the judge`s fault for coming down too hard on Lindsay.
D. LOHAN: I think she went overboard and played serious hard ball with Lindsay.
LAUER: You don`t think she deserved time in jail?
D. LOHAN: You know, not for this particular offense.
HAMMER: Now, Lindsay might be released from rehab early.
JO PIAZZA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Dina, as a stable parent, should be saying, "Look, I want my daughter getting help for as long as possible and the best help possible."
HAMMER: The backlash today was enough to make your head spin. "The Daily News" posted this whopper of a headline over the weekend, claiming "Mom is at the throttle of Lilo train wreck."
And people were flabbergasted when Dina didn`t even know how many times Lindsay had been to rehab. Matt Lauer said it was the fourth time Lindsay had been to rehab, and Dina insisted it was only two. Watch what happened when Matt finally called her out on it.
LAUER: If I said this was her fourth stint - this was not a gotcha moment, by the way. You said this is her second stint. I went back and looked and I just want to talk to make sure we`re on the same page here. January 2007 she went to a place called Wonderland.
D. LOHAN: That was not court ordered.
LAUER: I`m not saying court-ordered. I`m saying times in rehab.
D. LOHAN: Honestly, you said court ordered.
LAUER: I meant this was her fourth time in rehab, correct?
D. LOHAN: Third, actually.
PIAZZA: She doesn`t want to admit how many times Lindsay has been to rehab. She doesn`t want to admit that Lindsay does need this time in rehab and did need that time in jail. She seems just to have no grasp on reality about what Lindsay really needs to get better.
HAMMER: The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines were overloaded with concerned callers.
CALLER: I feel that Lindsay Lohan`s mother Dina has signed her death warrant.
CALLER: With a mother like that, she definitely won`t have a chance.
HAMMER: Dina says that Lindsay will live in New York after she is released from rehab. But today, people are worried that that will only lead to yet another downward spiral for Lindsay Lohan.
PIAZZA: I think after finally hearing from Dina, it`s terrifying because it`s become very clear that once Lindsay leaves this rehab facility, she`s going to go back to New York. And there`s no clear plan in place to help her get over these very serious issues.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: It is extremely troubling to me that Lindsay is possibly going home to a mother who doesn`t seem to have a clue, which leads to today`s SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - is Dina Lohan in denial?
Right now, from New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell who is the host of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL" which airs every night right here on HLN. She is also the author of this fascinating book called "I Want." And right now, in Hollywood, Ken Seely, who is the founder of Intervention 911.
Jane, Ken, to me, Dina is clearly blaming everybody but herself for Lindsay`s issues. So Jane, to today`s SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, which is obvious to me, is Dina in denial?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": Well, Brooke, I have to say this, not in a mean way. But I do feel, in my humble opinion, that Dina is sick, too. And she is suffering from classic co- dependency, which I call the invisible addiction.
And co-dependents get confused. They think they`re helping the addict because they`re hooked on the drama of the addict and they want to help. But what they actually do is they enable the addict to continue their behavior by rationalizing, by covering up, by lying sometimes to themselves.
And the most important thing for a co-dependent is denial. That is the oxygen that they breathe so they can continue doing what they do. She is in denial. She is a co-dependent.
ANDERSON: Well, she is breathing a lot of that oxygen, Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes.
ANDERSON: She blamed the California court system. She blamed the judge. She blamed the tabloids. She blamed the paparazzi, she blamed the city of Los Angeles. Ken, to the SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - is Dina in denial?
KEN SEELY, FOUNDER, INTERVENTION 911: Yes, absolutely. She is so far in denial. And as you watched the interview, you saw how defensive she is. She is so defensive. Any question that you ask, her guard was up, and that is a sign of denial.
And what - if she was really there to help her daughter, what she would be doing is she would be saying, "Doctor, what can I do to support my daughter in recovery when she gets out? How can I work my 12-step program in order to know where the boundary is on healthy or unhealthy behaviors to support my daughter?" But she is killing her. She is killing her daughter.
ANDERSON: Yes. But instead, it was a litany of excuses. I think Dina is in complete and utter denial. And among the many moments that proved that point for me was how Dina reacted when the "Today" show`s Matt Lauer pressed her about the four times that Lindsay has gone to rehab. Watch how she responded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAUER: This is the fourth time she has been in some kind of rehab. And the only reason I bring it up is because that`s a lot of times to be in and out without some sort of success. And again, I ask you -
D. LOHAN: I wouldn`t know what - what do you mean by success? It`s court- ordered so -
LAUER: Well, it`s avoiding having to go back.
D. LOHAN: Right. But when it`s court-ordered, it`s not your judgment call. It`s the court. So she is back, and she is doing wonderfully there. And the judge was recused from the case that ordered this last one. I don`t know if you heard about that.
LAUER: No, I do. And -
D. LOHAN: It just broke yesterday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I don`t know if you heard about that, Matt. Jane, I don`t think Dina is winning herself or Lindsay any points with that attitude, because to me, she acted like a spoiled, petulant child, not unlike Lindsay.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I mean, she is insulting all of our intelligence. I mean, saying, "What do you mean by success?" It`s pretty obvious what success in rehab is. It`s getting sober and staying sober, something her daughter hasn`t been able to do.
And that`s just the perfect example of her denial, the fact that she couldn`t even admit this is rehab number four for her daughter. That was so difficult for her. And it`s kind of what I call the "my dog doesn`t have fleas" syndrome. It`s very hard for a parent to acknowledge that their child is troubled because it reflects on them.
So I think she has a narcissistic attitude about this. And she really is very ego-based as opposed to let`s just help this kid stay alive.
ANDERSON: Clearly, she seemed very irritated the entire time. And Lindsay`s father, Michael Lohan, just told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that both he and Dina are to blame for Lindsay`s problems and that he says they need to fix it.
Dina seems to take no responsibility here. So we`re asking today in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll - "Lindsay Lohan`s Parents: Who has done a better job of protecting Lindsay? Dina, Michael or neither?" Ken, who is doing a better job here?
SEELY: The judge. The judge is doing the best job. I mean, holding healthy boundaries. I think that`s the best thing that could happen for her.
A colleague of mine put it very clearly that co-dependency kills more addicts than the drug or the alcohol because if you let the natural progression happen, and the co-dependent didn`t jump in to try to rescue them, they would hit a rock bottom.
ANDERSON: Yes.
SEELY: But the co-dependent helps kill the addict.
ANDERSON: Well, out of Dina and Michael, I say neither parent. But at least Michael is admitting he`s made some mistakes. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Ken Seely, thank you both.
HAMMER: All right. We`ve got to move on now to the incredible controversy surrounding supermodel Tyra Banks for seemingly praising a super-skinny top model wannabe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN, CONTESTANT, "AMERICA`S NEXT TOP MODEL": I`m Ann and I`m from Dallas.
TYRA BANKS, JUDGE, "AMERICA`S NEXT TOP MODEL": You have the smallest waist in the world. Look at this waist. There is something about her that I like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There are a lot of people who didn`t like what Tyra had to say. And now, Tyra is apologizing today, but should she be?
HAMMER: More money, more Oprah. The mind-boggling multimillion-dollar deal today that will mean more O for more dough. I kind of like the sound of that.
Katie`s confession today about Tom Cruise. Katie Holmes says her marriage to Tom feels weird. 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: Mel Gibson is OK after crashing his Maserati in Malibu, California. Reality TV star Tila Tequila attacked by crowd during music festival in Illinois.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON: Rihanna`s powerful video with Eminem in based on their huge hit "Love the Way You Lie." The great debate today - does that video and other star stories about domestic violence send a mixed message about what is acceptable?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York with a SHOWBIZ special report.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. Rihanna`s new video with Eminem takes on domestic violence in a way that we have rarely seen. And the fact that it features Rihanna really only drives home the song`s message. But Rihanna isn`t the only star caught up in headline-making stories about charges of domestic violence.
You have Charlie Sheen. You have Mel Gibson. And some critics claim that their stories and their actions send a very mixed message. Here is CNN`s Carol Costello for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It`s a video sensation some 30 million YouTube hits in just over a week.
It stars Rihanna whose battered face shocked the public just a year ago, and Eminem who`s known for his turbulent relationship with his ex- wife. Together, along with two beautiful, popular actors, they tell the story of a violent relationship.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
The video ends with fire, then cuddling. Rihanna wouldn`t speak to CNN but she told "Access Hollywood" -
RIHANNA, SINGER: It was really a deep song and the lyrics were so deep, so beautiful and intense. And it`s something that I understood, something that I connected with, which made me think it was a hit. And I want to be a part of a hit, so - of course, I couldn`t say no to Eminem.
COSTELLO: But some domestic violence experts say whatever Rihanna`s intentions, she dangerously missed the mark.
AYONNA JOHNSON, WOMEN`S RESOURCE CENTER TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: It illustrated a sense of normalcy to a very abnormal dysfunction. It also tried to portray domestic violence as this reciprocal relationship. You`re loving me, you`re hating me, you`re abusing me as well as I`m abusing you.
COSTELLO: Johnson says that`s blaming the victim. It`s become a common theme. Take Mel Gibson. He denies abusing his ex-girlfriend despite his alleged enraged rants.
JOHNSON: I`ve heard numerous feedback about Mel Gibson`s former partner, Oksana, and the negative person that she is and she`s a gold digger and she`s this, as if we`re still not quite ready as a society to place responsibility and accountability where it lies which is on the abuser.
COSTELLO (voice-over): And she says nothing illustrates that better than the case against Charlie Sheen. This is a 911 call from his wife.
BROOKE MUELLER, CHARLIE SHEEN`S WIFE: My husband had me - with a knife and I`m scared for my life and he threatened me.
COSTELLO: Sheen did plead guilty to misdemeanor assault. His punishment - rehab, counseling and community service. And he`ll have ample time to star on his hit TV show.
(MUSIC)
COSTELLO: Maybe the best thing about all of this is that we`re talking about domestic violence, although advocates say not seriously enough.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was CNN`s carol Costello for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And by the way, Megan Fox, who also appears in the video - she has promised to donate the salary she received to a shelter for abused women.
ANDERSON: Hey, there is a heated debate on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook wall right now. Our fans pretty much agree that Dina Lohan is in serious denial about her daughter`s Lindsay`s long list of troubles.
Sue G. believes both of Lindsay`s parents are to blame, and so is Lindsay, "Both of her parents are to blame for this mess that Lindsay is in. But Lindsay is an adult now, and it is about time she grew up and took responsibility."
Princess D. offers this, "Dina and Michael Lohan dropped the ball. Dina is blinded by bling. Michael isn`t much better, but I think Lindsay has a better chance with her father than with Dina."
Join the debate on Facebook. Go behind the scenes of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and get breaking entertainment news alerts on Twitter. Call us on "Showbiz on Call" and there is always E-mail. "SHOWBIZ Connects," CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Get ready to see a whole lot more of Oprah. Yes, Oprah Winfrey is getting more dough today, and that means more Oprah on TV. And I`m talking lots more dough, like mega-millions here. But is that really a good thing?
Drew Barrymore famously flashed David Letterman from on top of his desk. Do you remember that? But believe it or not, that was not the most humiliating moment of Drew Barrymore`s life. We get Drew to reveal what it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DREW BARRYMORE, ACTRESS: Oh, god. I was busted once. It was the most humiliating experience of my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Fantasia`s new reality today. She is out of the hospital after her overdose. And now, she is caught on tape with the married man she allegedly had an affair with. I know, I couldn`t believe it either - a lot of drama going on here. 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: Michael Douglas` rep confirms to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT actor has tumor in his throat. Beyonce reveals she wants kids and will have one "when I am ready."
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SYLVESTER STALLONE, ACTOR: You want the money? Go get it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sly Stallone-Julia Roberts smack-down. His new movie, "The Expendables," crushes Julia`s new movie, "Eat, Pray, Love" in their opening weekend showdown.
Yes, a good old-fashioned, blow-up action movie beats out love. Bad news for Julia. It`s Sly versus Julia, the box office battle of the sexes. But who is the real winner?
Well, right now, in Hollywood, it`s Hyla. He is an entertainment journalist from "5DollarPrep.com." So "Eat, Pray, Love," Hyla, was one of the biggest books ever. Julia Roberts, obviously, one of the biggest movie stars ever.
Now, this was Julia`s first big movie she`s headlined since "Erin Brockovich." Are you surprised, Hyla, that Sly beat her this past weekend?
HYLA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST, "5DOLLARPREP.COM": Absolutely surprised. I would think, on paper, if you would have looked at this six months ago, you would have said, OK. You`ve got Sly Stallone. He`s going to write, produce, direct, act, cater - he`s do everything on this movie himself, versus "Eat, Pray, Love," huge book, Oprah-endorsed, Javier Bardem, Julia Roberts. You have the guy from "Glee" who is heading this project.
HAMMER: Yes.
HYLA: This was a no-brainer. And then, shockingly enough, Sly comes out on top.
HAMMER: Well, I want to take a look at this. It`s from the movie site, "RottenTomatoes.com." Only 43 percent of the reviewers liked "The Expendables." That`s really not so great. However, only 39 percent loved "Eat, Pray, Love."
Eighty-three percent loved this nerdy comedy called "Scott Pilgrim Versus the World." And it came in dismal fifth place at the box office. Hyla, I`m thinking right now, right here on paper, I have proof the critics just don`t matter anymore, do they?
HYLA: I`m telling you, it`s not about "Rotten Tomatoes" and the critics. It`s about word of Twitter. Not word of mouth either. Word of Twitter. As soon as you start hearing people saying, "I wasn`t feeling `Eat, Pray, Love`" -
HAMMER: Yes.
HYLA: "I`ll come watch Jason Statham." The girls are going, "Yes, I`m going to watch the hot guy that`s going to make my boyfriend happy."
HAMMER: That`s a great point, because as soon as people are walking out of the theater, you see them tweeting away. All right. Hyla, thanks so much, man.
ANDERSON: All right. Now, the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Tyra`s big apology. Is Tyra having second thoughts about saying this about a super-skinny model?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN: I`m Ann from I`m from Dallas.
BANKS: You have the smallest waist in the world. Look at this waist. There is something about her that I like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tyra`s stunning message to everybody to set the record straight once and for all about how she really feels.
Katie`s confession. Katie Holmes reveals intimate new details about her marriage to Tom Cruise. Why does Katie describe her marriage with Tom as weird?
Breaking Jesse James news today. Jesse might be moving on from Sandra Bullock. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Hilary Duff ties the knot with hockey star Mike Comrie. George Clooney`s representative denies the actor is engaged.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN: I`m Ann and I`m from Dallas.
BANKS: You have the smallest waist in the world. Look at this waist. There is something about her that I like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Tyra`s big apology today. Tyra Banks says "I`m sorry" for appearing to praise a super-skinny model. The fired-up debate - did Tyra really need to apologize?
More O for more dough. A dramatic mega-million-dollar deal today to keep Oprah on the air.
Katie Holmes` weird new confession. She is saying her marriage to Tom Cruise feels weird.
Plus, breaking today from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker, a "Jersey Shore" record and a shocking reality show breakup.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
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.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today - Tyra`s big apology. Tyra Banks finally responded today to the outrage over her appearing to embrace and encourage a scary skinny model.
Tyra, who has been a champion of women being any size, is seen oohing and aahing over a super-skinny model`s waist in a new commercial to promote the new season of her show, "America`s Next Top Model." Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN: I`m Ann and I`m from Dallas.
BANKS: You have the smallest waist in the world. Look at this waist. And how tall are you?
ANN: I`m 6`2".
BANKS: There is something about her that I like.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She is going to make Miss J. eat Tic Tacs and watercress for the rest of the season.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: With me, right now, in New York, April Woodard, who is a correspondent and host for "BET." And from Washington, D.C., Janell Snowden, who is a host with "VH1 News."
All right. You just saw Tyra oohing and aahing over this superskinny model`s waist. She got slammed for that. And then, today, Tyra apologized, big-time. A.J., what did she say?
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, I`m guessing that Tyra realized she had to do some explaining here.
Take a look at what she is telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about this, "In an effort to create a fun and entertaining sneak peek of the upcoming cycle, `America`s Next Top Model` released a trailer that was edited in a way that misconstrued our overarching message as a leader in celebrating and promoting healthy body image."
"I must admit that I regrettably didn`t see this clip before it was released to the public. But on behalf of the `Top Model` team, these were not the intentions. And we truly apologize for any confusion, anger or disappointment it may have caused."
Janell, what do you think? Did Tyra need to apologize here?
JANELL SNOWDEN, HOST, VH1 NEWS: You know, given that I work in media and I know how things can be edited, I kind of saw it and said, I don`t know if that`s exactly what she said. It seemed that there had been a cut.
So if anything, I think everyone knows, as you said, that Tyra is a famous champion of healthy weight - not skinny weight, but healthy weight. And I think if she had to issue an apology, maybe it was just for not getting to see the clip before it aired and, you know, for the damage that that clip did to people that don`t know what it is to work in television and know the beauty of editing or the dangers of editing.
ANDERSON: Well, she knows now, Janell, how important that editing can be, because you can promote a certain image that`s important to you for years and years and years. But one remark or one situation like this can - unfortunately, it`s just a fact - undo all of your hard work at times.
I want to send it to you, April. Do you think Tyra needed to apologize here?
APRIL WOODARD, HOST, "BET": I think she did need to apologize only just to clear the air and just - if there`s any criticism out there, just to shut people down. And I think that`s what she did.
Obviously, she has been an advocate of loving your own body. And she`s been doing that consistently on a consistent basis. And I think this was an error in what she had done. She didn`t approve this.
And I think that, you know, when you make a mistake, you just say "Hey, I`m sorry. I shouldn`t have done that," and move on.
ANDERSON: Yes. Tyra realized that this ad sent a confusing mixed message and she is trying to clear it up. She is very passionate about her stance on body image. So Janell, I want to ask you this. Now that she has apologized, do you think most people will accept it?
SNOWDEN: I think so. I mean, I think if you take her at her word, then you know that it was an honest mistake, and it`s not like she has changed her stance and she`s done a 180 on us, and now she is promoting a skinniness.
So, I think, yes, now that she has done it, everybody should just kind of cut her some slack, and hey, she is allowed one.
ANDERSON: April, do you think people will cut her some slack here?
WOODARD: Absolutely. I think people will see that, you know, she made a mistake. She was willing to apologize for it. And no harm, no foul.
ANDERSON: Yes. I think, too, that she is a smart businesswoman, and she did not want to turn off potential viewers with this ad before the new season of the show even began.
OK. So now I want to move from Tyra to Oprah. A lot of people think that Tyra wants to be the next Oprah, but today I can tell you, not so fast, Tyra. There is more O coming our way, but there`s a mega-million- dollar catch.
And an openly gay star is about to become a daddy twice. And Snooki battles a cartoon cat? What do you think? It`s all in "The Buzz" today.
No Snooki for Snooki. "Jersey Shore`s" Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi has just learned she will not be able to trademark her name. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said no because Snooki is already taken. A cartoon cat, Snooky, with a Y, was Snooky first. The publishers of the kids` book, "The Adventures of Snooky" own the name. Snooki with an "I" can appeal.
Twins for Neil. Neil Patrick Harris has just confirmed he and his long-time partner David Burtka are expecting twins through a surrogate mother. The star of "How I Met Your Mother" didn`t reveal the mom but tweeted, "So get this, David and I are expecting twins this fall. We`re super excited, nervous, thrilled."
If Oprah wants the dough, there`s got to be more O. Oprah Winfrey has just revealed she will be hosting or starring in a show on her upcoming Oprah Winfrey Network in addition to the one she has already agreed to do.
The announcement was made by Discovery Communications as it revealed it will pump another $89 million into its joint venture with Oprah on top of the $100 million it`s already spent. Oprah isn`t saying what kind of show it will be, but it will be in addition to the travel-type series she has already agreed to do. Her network launches next January.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: You know, I hear all this going on and it kind of sounds to me like Oprah`s new network is turning into a bit of a nightmare for the queen of talk. Maybe Oprah is going to be working a lot harder than she ever anticipated to make this thing a success.
And let`s not forget that when Oprah announced that she would be giving Rosie O`Donnell her own talk show on her cable network, hey, not everybody was bowled over by that news. Janelle, to you first. Are you getting a little concerned for Oprah Winfrey here?
SNOWDEN: Not at all, A.J. You know I`m the biggest Oprah advocate so I think that she knows exactly what she is doing. I think that you`re right - she is going to have to work harder than she probably imagined.
But I think she is going to definitely do what it takes. You know, starting your own network is no easy feat. So you know, how many Oprah fanatics are going to watch because her name is attached to it?
Now, just imagine their joy at knowing that she`s going to be on not one, but two shows. So I think that every move she is making is calculated. Yes, it`s going to cost more than they probably expected. But I think that it`s a risk and a calculated one worth taking, one that`s going to pay off in the long run.
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, let`s face it. Launching an entire network in 2010 is a whole lot different than launching a single talk show some 25 years ago. But one thing I`ve learned in this business is you never bet against Oprah Winfrey.
SNOWDEN: Exactly.
HAMMER: Are you at all worried here?
WOODARD: No, not at all worried. I thought $89 million - wow, that`s what she makes, like, in a day. That`s what she carries in her pocket.
HAMMER: Yes.
WOODARD: But you know, the thing you also have to think about is, she is going to get all of this money back, and so will Discovery when sponsors are lining up to get on this network.
They are lining up, and if the sponsors that, you know, decide they don`t want to be on her show, then there are other ones lining up to be on the show and pay for an opportunity to get, you know, Lady O right there in front of them and on two shows now.
HAMMER: Yes. I think she`ll be just fine, and where Oprah goes, people will follow.
OK. We`re going to shift gears now entirely because I do want to move on to these reports today that the fed-up flight attendant Steven Slater has been offered a reality show.
Now, listen to this. If this show happens, what would happen on this thing is Slater would reportedly help people quit their jobs. Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out to Slater`s brand new big time Hollywood publicist, the great Howard Bragman. Howard says they`re not going to be making any official statements at this time.
Now, Janell, let me ask you this. You know, regardless of what you think of this guy, the idea does seem a little inspired. Do you see this thing possibly taking off? Could you see it flying?
SNOWDEN: Unfortunately, yes. I could see it flying, but I certainly do not support it. I do not support promoting bad behavior. You know, for all of the parents who use television to, unfortunately, baby-sit their kids, you know, this is not what we want to promote.
It`s not like, you know - how can you say, "oh, stay in school and do good"? It`s like, "No. Just act a fool, quit your job and then you`ll get a reality show and make TV money."
HAMMER: Yes.
SNOWDEN: No, I don`t support that so I hope that it doesn`t fly, but I think that it will.
HAMMER: Well, exactly right. Yes, I think we`re all on the same page with that. I don`t think it will fly, but this is the nature of television in this modern day, isn`t it?
And let`s not forget, investigators are having a hard time finding any passengers who actually witnessed the exchange that Slater claims to have had with this unruly passenger on the plane before he decided to deploy the emergency slide.
So April, I`m actually thinking this whole reality show idea, while inspired it may be, could be a bit premature.
WOODARD: I think it is a bit premature. And apparently, in the public`s eye it`s OK to go postal but not OK to go aviation - it`s OK to go aviation - excuse me.
But I really think that it does show bad behavior. It welcomes bad behavior, and it`s not a good example. And I think that people should think about it because if they get this show on, maybe somebody else will come up with the same antics.
HAMMER: Yes. You have to hold who ever puts this whole thing on accountable is really what has to happen.
WOODARD: Right.
HAMMER: April Woodard, Janell Snowden, thanks, guys. I appreciate it.
ANDERSON: Shocking reports out today about Fantasia. You know she just overdosed, right? And today, the new pictures of the "American Idol" and the married guy she allegedly had an affair with are revealed.
And that`s not all. There is a Fantasia song out today that seems to be about the steamy affair. What is Fantasia doing?
I also want to know what Katie Holmes is doing today. Get this - unbelievable new Katie confessions. She says her marriage to Tom Cruise feels weird.
And Drew Barrymore`s most humiliating moment of her life. We get her to confess what it is. Oh, boy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRYMORE: Oh, god. I was busted once. It was the most humiliating experience of my life.
ANDERSON: Drew caught with her pants down early. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: Here comes the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Last Thursday`s "Jersey Shore" is its highest-rated ever with 5.5 million viewers. "Jersey Shore`s" Ronnie arrested for allegedly not paying parking tickets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just woke up and I was like, what the (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I don`t even know how I got in the bed. I woke up in a bad and I was just like (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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HAMMER: And now, they`re playing nice again - well, sort. I can tell you that Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston have reached a deal regarding the custody of their one-year-old, son Tripp.
Now, Bristol gets primary custody. Levi gets to visit twice a week. And this is the part that I think is really important here. The agreement says absolutely no trash-talking about each other. I think we can all smile about that, Brooke.
And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: Breaking details just in today about Katie`s marriage confessions. Katie Holmes is shooting down all the haters who said that her marriage to Tom Cruise would never, ever last.
It`s been almost four years for all of you keeping score at home. But today, Katie is revealing there is one weird thing about her marriage.
Right now in New York is Megan Alexander. She`s a correspondent for "Inside Edition." And in Hollywood is Hyla, who is an entertainment journalist for "5DollarPrep.com."
Megan, Hyla, ever since Tom and Katie hooked up, there have been all sorts of wild rumors their marriage is a sham. But today, a rare interview about their marriage. Katie tells "New York" magazine that there is one thing that`s really weird.
It`s weird that people are always talking about her marriage, "It`s one of those things. It must seem weird, I guess, having so many people watching. It is weird. I get it. But you just, you know, smile and nod."
Well, I think Katie just smiling and nodding is why some people think it is all weird. Hyla, is Katie`s confession going to put all of the talk to rest? Or is her weird response going to just kind of fuel the fascination?
HYLA: Any time she talks about her marriage, it`s going to fuel the fascination a hundred percent. And it is weird. I mean, when you`ve got posters of a guy when you were a kid and now, you`re married to him, it`s definitely odd. And not to mention all the rumors that Suri is an alien baby and all these other things.
ANDERSON: Oh, don`t mess with Suri.
HYLA: We don`t have to get into that. But yes, the relationship is weird. Not in the same weird that she is describing, but at least she is getting closer to what we believe to be true.
ANDERSON: Speaking of having those posters of Tom in her room when she was young, we all know part of the legend of Tom and Katie is that she loved him ever since she was a little girl, dreamed of marrying him one day.
In this new interview out today, Katie confesses that even though she is an accomplished actress, she is not sure she`s got the chops to star on screen with Tom, "I mean, he is Tom Cruise. His body of work is incredible. Every movie he has done has done really well. I look back, and everything is a classic. He is quite an incredible human being."
Megan, I`m thinking they could never be in a movie together because everybody would be looking up at the screen, and would just see them as Tom and Katie, no matter whom they were trying to play?
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": Well, I don`t know if Hyla agrees with me on this one or not. But I don`t think Katie Holmes could hold her own against Tom Cruise.
She was great in "Dawson`s Creek," but I don`t really think she is that good of an actress yet. So I think she`s smart in not starring in a movie with her husband. In terms of, yes, four years is wonderful, Brooke.
But let`s not forget Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are going on 22 years. So let`s check back with them in another six and see if they make it to the 10-year mark. But yes. I`m with Hyla. It`s been weird from the beginning and it`s just an interesting relationship.
ANDERSON: Yes. It`s all just weird. We`ll just keep using that word that Katie started with.
OK. There is more superstar couples news today, but this news is about a couple no longer together.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke, there is a brand new report today that Sandra Bullock`s ex, Jesse James, may be dating again. He was reportedly spotted with reality star and tattoo artist Kat Von Dee in Las Vegas.
They were having some kind of a very cozy dinner. Well, it hasn`t even been two months now since the ink dried on Jesse`s divorce papers from Sandra. And here he is, out in public with another woman full of ink.
Now, Hyla, I think he is fully entitled to go out and date. But given that this was - you know, it`s a tattooed mistress that led to his marriage imploding. I`m not thinking exactly thinking that he should be parading her out in public just yet.
HYLA: Being entitled and being smart are two different things.
HAMMER: Yes.
HYLA: Of course, he can go out with whoever he wants to. However, he is a smart man when it comes to the press and publicity, and he understands what that means. He is fully aware if he goes on a date with her, especially in Las Vegas -
HAMMER: Yes.
HYLA: People are going to talk about it.
ALEXANDER: Of course.
HYLA: So he must be OK with that, which is shocking to me.
HAMMER: Yes. It just seems a little insensitive, if you ask me, after everything they have been through.
I do want to move on to another marriage implosion, this one with Fantasia caught in the middle. There are brand new pictures out today of the "American Idol" star and her married alleged boyfriend.
Now, remember, Fantasia just got out of the hospital after a medication overdose, which was apparently related to her relationship with him being revealed. Their reunion was apparently being shot for Fantasia`s reality show. That blows me away. So Megan, again, I`m not sure they should be out parading in public.
ALEXANDER: Yes. Just a few hours ago, they are saying her married man lover moved out of the house with her. Now, he`s in an apartment himself. That was just from a few hours ago. A.J., I think everyone is happy and relieved that she is OK after this drug overdose.
HAMMER: Yes.
ALEXANDER: Very scary. And, you know, everyone fell in love with her story on "American Idol." She came from a very rough upbringing, single mother. And so we`re pulling for her. And it`s disturbing to hear this and a reality show on top of it. It`s not a PR move.
HAMMER: Yes. I think she has to be very careful.
ALEXANDER: Yes.
HAMMER: Very careful. Megan Alexander, Hyla, thanks, guys.
ANDERSON: Kanye West, Justin Bieber. Are these two teaming up today - the Bieb and Ye? No way. For real? Hollah.
Time now for And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Star of Bravo`s "Millionaire Matchmaker" Patti Stanger calls off her engagement. Relatively known Rooney Mara to star in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."
HAMMER: I love Drew Barrymore. Love her. Definitely one of the most down to earth Hollywood A-listers. And this is really funny.
Drew revealed her most humiliating moment ever to us when we were interviewing her for her new movie, "Going the Distance." We asked her what`s the closest she`s ever come to being busted while having sex. Watch to what DREW had to say to us about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRYMORE: Oh, god. I was busted once. It was the most humiliating experience of my life, caught in the act. Someone walked in the room, and it was just awful. It was just humiliating.
And I just kept trying to think of what it looked like from their perspective. And I will never forget that guy`s face.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where were you?
BARRYMORE: I can`t tell you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON: Kanye West a Justin Bieber fan? Yes. I can tell you these two have a bromance going on today. In fact, some people are trying to get these two to perform onstage together at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards.
Don`t laugh. This thing could happen. It all started on Twitter when Kanye tweeted, "Listening to Justin Bieber `Runaway Love.` I love Sunday mornings in the crib."
Then the Bieb tweeted back, "Kanye West, it`s not a so-what moment for me. I`m 16 and a fan. I`m kind of hyped you are listening to my stuff. Thank you."
Kanye then wrote, "I`m honored that you like my music, Justin Bieber. You`ve got to hear the album. Maybe we can do something together."
Kanye has got an upcoming album coming out and he reveal he has a song called "Runaway" on it. This all went on a little bit longer. Justin and Kanye talked about teaming up with rap group Wu-Tang Clan`s Raekwon, too. That would be quite a trio, right?
But that`s not all. Today, there`s a push for Kanye and Justin to perform live at MTV`s Video Music Awards on September 12th. A.J., how do you feel about that?
HAMMER: I don`t like it not one bit. I like Bieber with Ludacris. Kanye west, not so much. That`s just how I feel.
You want to see something even more out there than Justin Bieber and Kanye West possibly performing together? Well, check out this - it`s a SHOWBIZ iReport today from the "Star Wars" Celebration Five.
Now, this happens almost every year. It`s "Star Wars" director George Lucas` official celebration of all things "Star Wars."
Take a look. A short time ago, in a place not so far, far away, Orlando, Florida, Stormtroopers, Obi-Wans, Luke Skywalkers and Princess Leias rocked out to Journey and Michael Jackson.
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HAMMER: What a party - got to tell you. Thanks to Robert Reeves over at "POParitaville.com" for that incredible video.
So what about you? Are you fired up about something you saw here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT? Perhaps you`re running down the "Jersey Shore" and you run into a Jabba the Hutt jamming.
Well, grab your camcorder. Grab your webcam, your cell phone cam - whatever you got and make us an iPhone video with your SHOWBIZ iReport. Keep it to 30 seconds or less. Check out our website, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. We have all the information right there on that Web page. We explain it to everybody, Brooke, so people can send their iReports and we could and we want to play them.
ANDERSON: It`s simple.
HAMMER: Yes.
ANDERSON: Please send them.
HAMMER: We make them easy. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is now live at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday.
HAMMER: And don`t forget, we`re still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific here on HLN.
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