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Showbiz Tonight
Offensive Play?; "Dancing" Secrets; Ellen`s Beef With Gaga; Hollywood Moms Exposed
Aired September 14, 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, HLN ANCHOR: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: offensive play? Explosive claims today that a female sports reporter was sexually harassed in an NFL locker room; the startling suggestions that she invited it simply because she looked sexy.
John Mayer`s Twitter turnoff today, is John Mayer really cutting off his infamous tweets? And is Jennifer Aniston saying thank goodness?
Hollywood moms exposed. They`re all over 35. They`re sexy and they`re taking it all off.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These women are really saying you know what it doesn`t matter that I`m a mom I still have a really hot body.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A Lady Gaga shocker. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT uncovers startling brand new evidence today that Gaga`s outrageous behavior could be backfiring on her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, HLN ANCHOR: Hi there everyone I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today; and offensive play?
HAMMER: The play allegedly by NFL players. The offense, allegedly sexually harassing a beautiful sports reporter in the locker room and the outrage -- the outrageous suggestion today that may -- that she may have had it coming to her. It really seemed like you just couldn`t change the TV channel today without seeing this reporter telling her tale of what happened inside that locker room and what`s happened since.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, the big question today was whether the football players crossed the line. And I`m not talking about the 50- yard line.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: A sexy sports reporter for a Mexican TV station, (INAUDIBLE) and pro football players accused of making unwanted passes. It all adds up to an explosive story that had everyone talking today from NBC`s the "Today" show --
MEREDITH VIEIRA, NBC HOST: The investigation under way into the treatment of a female sports reporter during an NFL practice.
HAMMER: To a heated debate this morning on "The View."
JOY BEHAR, HLN HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": This girl would not be hired if she looked like Helen Thomas. Ok?
JO PIAZZA, AOL POPEATER COLUMNIST: Now this story has just blown up. It`s everywhere.
HAMMER: Ines Sainz, a former Miss Universe contestant and now a sports reporter for a Mexican TV station "TV Azteca" says she was subjected to an offensive line or two when she reported from the New York Jets practice facility on Saturday.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained this video of her visit. She says players intentionally threw footballs in her direction. And when Sainz got to the locker room to interview Jets star quarterback heartthrob Mark Sanchez, she says she heard catcalls from some of the other players.
She describes her treatment this morning on the "Today" show.
INES SAINZ, SPORTS REPORTER, TV AZTECA: All the guys look at me and they start to -- to whistle and make jokes that I notice is about me.
HAMMER: After her Jets visit, Sainz tweeted in Spanish, quote, "I`m dying of embarrassment. I`m in the Jets locker room waiting for quarterback Mark Sanchez while trying not to look anywhere."
PIAZZ: She`s not saying that she didn`t feel attacked or offended, just that she felt a little awkward.
HAMMER: After her tweet, reports of the piggish pigskin behavior exploded into the headlines. The Jets apologized. And the NFL is looking into possible sexual harassment. But this morning on the "Today" show, Sainz didn`t exactly label it as such.
VIEIRA: Do you now believe that it was sexual harassment?
SAINZ: No, because I am only a witness there. I prefer that the NFL make the judgment.
HAMMER: And now Sainz is finding herself in the hot seat. A men`s magazine has named her one of the world`s sexiest sports reporters. The YouTube channel of the station she works at isn`t exactly shy about promoting her sexy side.
PIAZZA: Obviously her -- her career is based around the fact that she`s an incredibly sexy woman.
HAMMER: And this photo Sainz tweeted of what she wore during her Jets visit is raising some eyebrows.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh you go, girl.
BEHAR: She`s got a -- she`s got a nice butt.
HAMMER: This morning on "The View", the hosts argued whether a sexy sports reporter like Sainz should expect a reaction from the he-men she is covering.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Do you think that she put -- to put the clothes on because she likes the attention? She looks good. Maybe she just likes how she feels in those clothes and is trying to do her job.
HAMMER: Sainz tackled the controversy last night on HLN`s "JOY BEHAR SHOW."
BEHAR: Some people are saying that when you call yourself the hottest reporter in -- in the -- in -- in Mexico and you`re wearing tight jeans, et cetera, that people say you shouldn`t be shocked if the men respond to you with catcalls. How do you respond to that?
SAINZ: I don`t believe that my dress is the -- is the point of -- of the discussion here because I done -- do not anything to provoke the team or the players. I -- I -- I believe that I only go to work my job and if the jeans are or not in the -- in the way that they like it or not, that`s not my problem.
HAMMER: So today the story of the sports reporter and the offensive passes she claims football players tossed her way has everyone debating whether the line was crossed into offensive play.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, I think I can safely say that this ferocious debate today is not about to go away any time soon. With me in New York, my good friend and colleague, Jane Velez-Mitchell, who is the host of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL" right here on HLN. Jane, also the author of an excellent book you must pick it up called, "I Want". Also in New York, Max Kellerman, Max is a CNN contributor and a boxing analyst for HBO Sports.
So, if this reporter was harassed, obviously it is simply not right. And regardless of how she dressed, she did not deserve it.
But Jane, do you get why there are a lot of people saying today, as outrageous as it is, that she invited it?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": I get it but I don`t think they`re right. And I just want to say for the record if I had a butt like that, I`d be wearing those jeans, too. But I don`t. So I won`t -- but I got to say this --
HAMMER: But are you shocked that people said you`re inviting the catcalls as long as the cat calls off?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, look, she didn`t even complain about them. She just pleaded that they made her uncomfortable. She wasn`t wearing an exposed breast. She wasn`t wearing a cutoff midriff. She was wearing tight jeans and a tank top. You go out on the street and you`ll find a dozen women within five minutes walking down the street in the exact same outfit.
HAMMER: Sure.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Does that mean that they deserve to be cat called and hooted?
HAMMER: Absolutely not.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Just because they look good and they have a great body? Some people have sex appeal. They have natural sexual charisma. Does she have to turn that off to walk into a locker room?
MAX KELLERMAN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: And no -- no wait -- well it depends -- it really depends what they were saying. If they were saying really lewd, disgusting things, then that`s harassment. It shouldn`t be done, it`s juvenile and -- and there should be some discipline.
But if they are giving her, a wolf, you know, that old yield, because she looks, isn`t that the point in looking good, to -- to attract attention from the opposite sex? It seems to me that this becomes sort of a cultural war issue but it`s really much to do about nothing.
Not only does she bill herself as the sexiest reporter in Mexico, but her station Azteca TV has her in bikinis on their Web site. She`s a former Miss Universe contestant. Clearly, she is using her attractiveness, her sex appeal in her job.
(CROSSTALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes and don`t you think Mark Sanchez uses his attractive and sex appeal? Don`t you think that he wears tight outfits too, tight pants?
KELLERMAN: And if you -- and do you think Jane -- and Jane do you think if Mark Sanchez went somewhere and a bunch of women were whistling at him, it would be a major issue?
HAMMER: But that -- I think that gets away from the point of this was in a -- a professional situation. She was there doing her job, allegedly being harassed by the people there she was there to do her job with. These were not fans yelling at her. As inappropriate as that maybe that`s --
(CROSSTALK)
KELLERMAN: She never said it was harassment -- she never said it was harassment. To me -- to me, some of this is the kind of -- not that she`s a celebutard (ph), but if you look on Twitter, the kind of narcissism that you see on Twitter where people hey, I just woke up, I`ve got a cup of coffee. I just got on the bus, I just got off the bus.
You know, they tweet every little thing about themselves. She was simply tweeting how she felt at a moment --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Exactly.
KELLERMAN: -- when she was doing her job. And then this has turned into this enormous issue.
HAMMER: And -- and clearly, though, obviously it was a big enough issue that the NFL felt it was worthwhile to apologize.
But I want to get to some of the reaction today because everywhere you look people have been talking about it. We put it up on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT my Facebook page. The response was completely mind boggling.
Let me get to one comment. This is Peggy B. writing. "As adults, we make choices. She chose her profession and knew she would be going into locker rooms. She should have been prepared for the comments and ready to combat them with her own. And she could have left at any time that she was offended. It is what it is. If you don`t want to deal with men, then don`t accept a job where you`re going to dress provocative and go into dressing rooms with half naked men."
Jane, I`m going to just let you go. What do you think?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well at a museum on the north, they had an exhibit where they had naked performers. And that didn`t mean people were allowed to grope them. Anybody who groped them was thrown out of the museum.
So that`s what civilization is, we have to keep it together even when --
KELLERMAN: She wasn`t groped, Jane. She wasn`t groped.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: No. That`s what I`m saying. She wasn`t even groped. But what I`m saying is it`s not incumbent on a person to cover themselves in a burka so that they are not --
KELLERMAN: Jane, Jane listen, listen you`re right --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: -- so that they are not harassed.
KELLERMAN: -- Jane you`re right, of course, about that. But come on. Some common sense here about her in particular. She took an hour to squeeze into those jeans. That`s not just like a normal outfit.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I don`t think so.
KELLERMAN: That`s an extremely provocative thing with high heel boots.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: There are plenty of women who simply exude sex appeal and they couldn`t even turn it off if they want to.
KELLERMAN: But Jane, if the shoe were on the other foot and I went into some locker room and I looked as good for a guy as she does for a gal, and I wore some skin tight stuff, not a suit but like a skin tight suit and I was in great shape and I got a couple of catcalls, it wouldn`t be an issue. Why it is an issue here?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I don`t --
HAMMER: Max, let me just ask you quickly, you`ve been in those locker rooms. Is it fair to say as a writer and viewer Peggy did that like it or not, it does come with the territory?
KELLERMAN: It -- these are -- these are issues of degrees. It depends how provocatively she was dressed. In this case, my own opinion is quite provocatively, actually, and it depends on what was actually being said. Were they saying really lewd, disgusting, obnoxious things? Then that`s the problem. A few whistles --
HAMMER: Ok.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think they said something like I want to be a Mexican because she`s from Mexico. Now, I don`t -- I don`t know that that`s necessarily offensive that could be a compliment. Hey I want to be with you --
(CROSSTALK)
KELLERMAN: So much --
HAMMER: We`re going to have to leave it there. This debate will certainly continue.
Jane Velez-Mitchell and Max Kellerman thanks guys, I appreciate it.
ANDERSON: Yes, it will.
Ok, now to Lady Gaga. She`s getting slammed today for her VMA meat dress by Ellen, yes, the queen of nice. Ellen DeGeneres, the woman that never really says anything bad about anybody. It`s the brand new shocking Ellen-Gaga meat dress war.
John Mayer`s Twitter turnoff, today this guy has got into so much trouble with his tweeting, now is he really giving his thumbs a rest?
Brand new revelations from the set of "Dancing With The Stars," co- host Brooke Burke right here on the show`s most controversy contestant. That would be Bristol Palin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What went through your mind when you heard that "Dancing with the Stars" was bringing on Bristol Palin?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It`s the interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: And this is the "Showbiz News Ticker", more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ANDERSON: Former "Real Housewives" of New Jersey Danielle Staub has not one but two new jobs today or so she says. Danielle tells HollywoodLife.com that she`s working on a new show called SOCIAL", a sort of new spin on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". Remember Robin Leach?
It`ll air on Wealth TV. Danielle also says ABC has approached her about another show and tossed names around for this one including my two moms.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York. And right now, secrets of "Dancing with the Stars".
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke, the new season of course is about to kick off. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you this may be the most controversial and explosive season yet. Now, the competition includes David Hasselhoff, "The Situation" and of course, Sarah Palin`s daughter, Bristol.
Now, this afternoon I went one-on-one with "Dancing`s" co-host, Brooke Burke. Now Brooke is not only busy with "Dancing with the Stars" but she`s also teaming up with Oral B on a project with Operation Smile. They do amazing work helping children with facial deformities around the world.
And as we talked about the show`s premier next week, I just had to ask Brooke what went through her mind when she heard Bristol Palin would be a contestant.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE BURKE, HOST, "DANCING WITH THE STARS": I get it. Because I think she`s that shock factor. And she`s the one that people are most surprised, including myself, to hear is joining the cast. I think, you know, being a new mom, she`s juggling that, those changes. She`s juggling, trying to put the dance together and retain it.
But also she`s the one that doesn`t have any entertainment experience. So when you`re talking about live television, millions of people being judged, putting something on that you`ve never done before, it`s going to be really challenging. I`m rooting for her though.
HAMMER: Yes.
BURKE: I think she can pull it off. And I get all the gossip about her wanting to be more conservative but believe it or not, the more you`re around the ballroom, the more comfortable it becomes. You know what I mean?
HAMMER: Well, let me ask you about it because there are reports coming that she is pretty nervous about it.
BURKE: Yes.
HAMMER: About getting there on the dance floor and even her dance partner has already said she needs to bring the sexy a little more. She needs to get more comfortable. And she`s not there yet.
BURKE: I totally get it. And -- and the gossip has really been about her -- her -- her fear of the scandals, sort of. But I will say this, my very first show I had on blue glitter makeup. And I remember looking at myself going, oh my gosh this is outrageous.
HAMMER: This is where you were contestant number --
BURKE: This is when I was dancing.
HAMMER: Yes, right.
BURKE: By the fourth week or the fifth week, it`s like, can I get a little more glitter please? And then you just get used to it.
I think she has to feel comfortable out there. And if there`s a wardrobe that`s going to make her more comfortable, as long as it makes sense with the style of the dance, she can pull it off. But most importantly she should be comfortable.
HAMMER: So what advice would you have for Bristol?
BURKE: She is going to help design the costumes with her pro and with the designers. And I think that she should find something that works for the style of the dance and be comfortable but be open. And she`s going to get used to it.
HAMMER: Yes.
BURKE: I give her three weeks and that`s going to be it.
HAMMER: I -- we`ll be -- we`ll be watching for sure.
So, of course, every year, every season as the show is getting set to announce who is going to be on the show, we sit here and pontificate about who we would like to see on the show. I do have to ask you who your dream contestant would be? I for one would like to propose Lady Gaga.
BURKE: Oh my God.
HAMMER: I mean, how can you beat that?
BURKE: Could you imagine?
HAMMER: You know she was dancing dressed in meat.
BURKE: Can you imagine her, God forbid, right? But can we imagine her costumes? Let`s see. I think Richard Simmons would be hilarious and outrageous.
HAMMER: Yes.
BURKE: And I think he would give us a run for the money. I`d like to see Kirstie Alley. And I`m really happy that Michael Bolton is joining us this season because I was -- I was hoping for him for a few years.
HAMMER: Let`s talk about this other show that you`re also hosting. It`s called "She`s Got the Look" and it`s a modeling contest for women who are over 35.
BURKE: Yes.
HAMMER: And coming up a little later in our show, we`re going to be celebrating women, big stars in Hollywood who are over 35 --
BURKE: Ok.
HAMMER: -- and not afraid to show it all off.
BURKE: I love that.
HAMMER: I feel like there`s a great movement going on right now in that direction.
BURKE: I`ve learned so much on that show. And I feel like the message is very positive for women. I think it`s totally inspirational. And I have a chance to work with women over 35 all the way up to age 54 that were mothers, wives, career women, successful women that were taking a chance to step outside their box at the middle of their life to try something new.
It took so much courage. I have so much admiration for them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Brooke is terrific. I wish her all of the best when "Dancing With the Stars" premiers next week.
And to learn more about Brooke`s Operation Smile Oral B Project and you should, just check out OralB.com.
ANDERSON: Breaking news today, Donald Trump on Rosie O`Donnell. Wait until you hear this. You know how Donald has repeatedly gone off on Rosie, right? Well, we`re going one-on-one with the Donald today and it`s what he didn`t say about Rosie that really surprised me.
Hollywood moms exposed. They are sexy and they are taking it all off. It`s a "Showbiz Special Report" today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These women are really saying, you know what, it doesn`t matter that I`m a mom. It doesn`t matter that I`m over 40. I still have a really hot body and they`re not afraid to flaunt it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: If you want to date "Jersey Shore"`s Snooki, you`d better listen up.
Snooki reveals secrets about her love life today, the star she`d love to date.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
HAMMER: Time now for the "Showbiz News Ticker", more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn`t have anything to do with the bombs, I swear. Just the airplane.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe you. But what`s the deal with your brother?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When the cops arrested Ralph, Alex snapped. Ralph was like a father to us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: A.J., those "Jersey Shore" kids are so popular and you know so many people are hoping that Snooki can snag Mr. Right. But that`s easier said than done right.
HAMMER: Yes that`s correct Brooke.
Well, today the entire "Shore" crew stopped by the "Ellen DeGeneres Show" and tried to figure out exactly who Snooki should date.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GENERES: What is it with you that you`re meeting the wrong guys? I hear that you can`t meet the right guy.
SNOOKI, "JERSEY SHORE"S: I think I`m just attracted to like the gorilla.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You need to stay attracted to them.
SNOOKI: And I --
DEGENERES: But people who don`t know what that means, gorilla --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gorilla.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A very big guy.
SNOOKI: It`s musclely guy.
DEGENERES: The last time you were here, you said you wanted a juice head.
SNOOKI: Exactly, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She probably is going to say it.
SNOOKI: But I think -- I think I want to move forward and I definitely want to, like, move to Brooklyn and find a good business Italian guy to take care of me.
DEGENERES: They are in Brooklyn? So you`re going to go to Brooklyn?
SNOOKI: Yes.
DEGENERES: And find a business guy?
SNOOKI: Yes. I want a business guy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey what I`m going to do is and I like, she`s like my sister. So whatever guy wants to date Snooki from now on, I`m going to screen him so all you guys out there that want to date Snooki, you`ve to see me first and if you`re right for her then you can date her.
DEGENERES: Then he`ll go through you first?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
DEGENERES: Do you think she should be a gorilla juice head?
SNOOKI: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it should be a medium, a half, like -- not strictly a business guy and not strictly a juice head, an in between.
DEGENERES: An in between?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes an in between.
SNOOKI: I want it all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She`ll find the right one.
DEGENERES: Yes, I think you will. You`re in a good place right now. You`re very popular when you go out.
SNOOKI: I hope so.
DEGENERES: Yes.
SNOOKI: I`m thinking Usher.
DEGENERES: Yes, really?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: A.J., Snooki, Usher, stranger things have happened I guess.
HAMMER: I think she needs to wear a meat bikini and then she will find the right guy. But that`s what I think Brooke.
ANDERSON: You got it.
HAMMER: And by the way, it`s all about meat on the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Facebook Wall. Today, I`m talking about Lady Gaga`s super controversial MTV VMA meat dress. Look at that, well, some of you like it, some of you are grilling Gaga.
Today, Melodie L. writing this, "Lady Gaga gets points for thinking outside of the box. I`ll give her that. But it was in very bad taste to wear a meat dress. Not cool at all.
Just like a barbeque sauce.
Lena P. likes the meat dress. "I love Lady Gaga. She is my hero. Be who you want to be. Kudos to her."
ANDERSON: A.J., even Ellen is getting into this whole meat dress controversy.
Now the "Showbiz Line up". Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Yes, Ellen slams Lady Gaga. Yes, Ellen DeGeneres whom I`ve never seen get mad at anyone is furious with Gaga today over the dress.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going to the butcher today to find out the meaty secrets of Gaga`s dress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The director of Meaty Fairway (ph), thinks it was brisket or flank steak.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see some resemblance to -- some of the parts of the outfit with the way the lines are running.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Sofia Vergara`s breast confessions today. "The Modern Family" star has shocking new revelations about her breasts.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
HAMMER: Now the "Showbiz News Ticker", more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Ellen`s Lady Gaga slam. Ellen DeGeneres all fired up today over Lady Gaga`s VMA meat dress.
Just in today, Donald Trump`s Rosie O`Donnell surprise. Trump speaks with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT but it`s what Donald doesn`t say about Rosie that`s really shocking.
Hollywood moms exposed. The smoking hot women who are redefining what it means to be hot in Hollywood. It`s a "Showbiz Special Report".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Demi Moore, Lisa Rinna (ph), Kelly Ripa, Jada Pinkett Smith -- all mothers, all Hollywood actresses, all over the age of 35 and all seem to be losing their clothes lately.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Plus, breaking today from the "Showbiz News Ticker", Eminem and Jay-Z`s big concert surprise and Demi Moore`s funny new movie role.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
And there is big news breaking today as a war ignites between Ellen DeGeneres and Lady Gaga.
HAMMER: You know Brooke, it is Ellen beef`s with Lady Gaga. Ellen blasted Gaga today for sporting raw meat couture on her daytime talk show. And now that Ellen had a little time to sanitize her interview chair, she is revealing today that she was pretty ticked off about Gaga`s red meat stunt.
With me in New York, Megan Alexander, who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition"; also right now in New York, David Caplan, who is an entertainment journalist.
So Ellen is an animal rights activist. She also happens to be a vegan. I found it particularly stunning to see Lady Gaga sitting down across from Ellen wearing that controversial dress made of meat.
Gaga of course wore it at the MTV Video Music Awards. Well, on Ryan Seacrest`s radio show on KISS FM today, Ellen revealed she was actually furious about it.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DEGENERES: I was like can she please change? Because this is going to be very awkward and this is a day time show, it`s not the VMAs. And she`s going to show up doing this and then it`s going to air tomorrow during day time and she`s sitting, you know, on my show in a meat dress.
And it`s going to be weird for her and -- I mean, whether you`re vegan or not, it`s just weird to be sitting next to somebody wearing slabs of meat on their head and their body. And it`s gross, you know, even if you eat meat, it`s gross.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Ellen did laugh with Gaga on her show. But behind the scenes, she clearly wanted Gaga to change out of the meat dress. Megan, I`ve got to say, I`m totally with Ellen here. But do you think she`s overreacting?
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": Of course, we will never doubt that Lady Gaga is a woman of rare and raw talent.
DAVID CAPLAN, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: That`s right.
ALEXANDER: You know, I`ve got to say, I think Ellen handled this so well. She has a problem with Lady Gaga. But she never takes it to the nasty level.
HAMMER: Yes.
ALEXANDER: Through that whole interview with Ryan Seacrest she said, look, I didn`t appreciate that she did that. But I respect that she was making a statement with that dress.
HAMMER: Right.
ALEXANDER: And Lady Gaga knows that Ellen has a love for animals and would be offended by it. But it was as if they were still respectful to each other and trying to do this dance.
HAMMER: Dancing the dance.
ALEXANDER: If politicians would take a cue from this, there is a way to disagree with someone but not get nasty.
HAMMER: Well, that will never happen but it`s wishful thinking.
Look --
ALEXANDER: It`s wishful.
HAMMER: -- look, I`ve said it before and I agree with the message that Lady Gaga was trying to put on with this dress. But as much as I like Gaga, sometimes I think she`s getting carried away with being provocative for the sake of being provocative. And I`m thinking it was actually kind of disrespectful to put Ellen in that position.
David Caplan, what do you think? Was Gaga out of line?
CAPLAN: Yes. I think she`s a little out of line in terms of offending Ellen. But you know what, she was dressing for the VMAs, she wasn`t dressing for the interview with Ellen which is going to be air the next day.
HAMMER: She had 20 outfits with her though, David. She could have put on another one, you know what I`m saying?
CAPLAN: You know, she wanted to push the button, but you know I think that Ellen really was really good about it. Because even in her blog post, she said, you know what? It made me think, how is this outfit different from people who wear leather. So it was sort of interesting that she`s pretty even-keeled about it.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Well, I think --
ALEXANDER: I --
HAMMER: Megan, I think you made a terrific point. That Ellen made the point that her show is about entertainment. She didn`t want to rock the boat. But this morning on Ryan Seacrest`s radio show she did say it was a firestorm waiting to happen. Listen to that part.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DEGENERES: I mean of all things that was just, you know, that was just a huge, you know, storm waiting -- waiting to happen. And it could have. And I just thought that`s not -- that`s not what I do.
That`s not what I ever want to do and it was a challenge for me and it was -- I always think things are presented to you for a reason. And that was just to -- it`s like, what are you going to do with this? And I just, you know, I just stuck to what -- what I wanted to do which is, you know, to let her feel good and enjoy the night that she was having.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, really well said. Ellen taking the high road there, she let Gaga express herself. But a lot of people have clearly had it with Gaga`s antics.
We asked in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll this: "Lady Gaga`s outrageous behavior, love it? Hate it?" The results handed to me moments ago, 34 percent say they love her outrageous behavior, but 66 percent say they hate it.
That`s a decided vote, Megan. Do you think Gaga needs to be a little worried about a backlash here?
ALEXANDER: I think she is right there on the edge of the cliff, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes.
ALEXANDER: I think there`s a point where you can have the shock value but also still be sexy or you can have the shock value and be disgusting.
HAMMER: Yes.
ALEXANDER: Some people -- someone was just telling me today, is she next going to be like Ozzie Osborne and bite a bat on stage? Or what did he do? You probably know better than I do -- taking it to the level of really truly horrifying people. She`s right there. And what is she going to do next? We`ll have to see.
HAMMER: And -- and that`s exactly what she wants, I think.
ALEXANDER: Yes.
HAMMER: She wants us to stick around. Well, I like Lady Gaga. As I`ve said before, I`m all about freedom of expression. But Brooke, I am thinking that Lady Gaga does need to -- well, maybe take it down a few notches or she could wind up doing herself more harm than good.
So I`ve got to ask whose side you`re on here? Team Ellen, Team Gaga?
ANDERSON: Well, I think all of you are being way too generous. Because Lady Gaga needs to take it down more than a few notches.
HAMMER: Yes.
ANDERSON: I am fully on Team Ellen here. What in the world kind of political statement was Lady Gaga trying to make by wearing this dress? Gaga, it`s just not real clear. It`s not super clear.
So please stick to making music, leave the raw meat out of it. Ok.
All right, A.J., I`ve got to move now to more big news breaking in "The Buzz Today". John Mayer quits Twitter. But is he running from controversy? Will.I.Am strikes back today after fans accused him of performing in black face. And big Penelope Cruz baby news today. Are Penelope and Javier Bardem expecting?
Penelope`s pregnant. Penelope Cruz and hubby Javier Bardem have just confirmed to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that she is expecting. After rampant speculation that the 36-year-old actress was sporting a baby bump, her rep finally revealed Penelope is four and a half months pregnant. The couple just got married in July.
Will.I.Am`s black-faced shocker. The Black Eye Peas`s front man is getting slammed for wearing what some are calling black-face on stage at the MTV video music awards.
Fans are blasting Will for appearing to bring back the racially charged practice. He fired back on Twitter saying, "Are you guys serious. My outfit set `black people back 100 years`? Just because I wore all black, including head mask as expression and emphasize my outfit, it shouldn`t be looked at as racial."
Mayer quits Twitter. John Mayer just announced he`s giving up Twitter, much to the dismay of his 3.7 million followers. A spokesperson for the singer who has repeatedly talked his way into trouble says since he`s wrapping up the current tour, he doesn`t need to use Twitter to talk to his fans. Although Mayer still has a blog he plans to keep.
Yes, never fear John Mayer fans. Because he`s going to keep blogging on a site called Tumbler which does not restrict you to writing 140 characters like Twitter does.
David, very quickly, we know that John`s got himself into Twitter trouble in the past. So here he is. He`s unrestricted. Do you think the worst may be yet to come?
CAPLAN: Yes. I mean he`s going to have more characters to say all these comments like Jessica Simpson, the sexual Napalm so -- it`s not the end of John Mayer on the blogs.
ANDERSON: He has got a whole lot to say, as we know. Megan Alexander and David Caplan, thank you both.
All right. I`ve got to move now to some of Hollywood`s hottest women. They are fit, fabulous, and they are superstar moms.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These women are really saying, you know what, it doesn`t matter that I`m a mom. It doesn`t matter that I`m over 40. I still have a really hot body and they`re not afraid to flaunt it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Hollywood moms exposed -- it`s a "Showbiz Special Report".
Ok, we go one-on-one with Donald Trump today. What the Donald didn`t say about his arch rival Rosie O`Donnell will surprise you.
Secrets of Lady Gaga`s meat dress revealed today. Skirt steak, prime rib? Only the butcher knows, and now so do we.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: The Director of Meaty Fairway, thinks it was brisket or flank steak.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see some resemblance to some of the -- some of the parts of the outfit with the way the lines are running.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
HAMMER: It`s time now for the "Showbiz News Ticker", more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And right now, a "Showbiz Special Report", Hollywood moms exposed.
ANDERSON: A.J., they are famous, over 35, and totally exposed. Demi Moore and Jada Pinkett Smith are just two of the current crop of Hollywood moms who are redefining what it means to be one hot Hollywood momma.
So why are these hot moms getting beef for looking so good? Here is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER: Demi Moore, Lisa Rinna, Kelly Ripa, Jada Pinkett Smith, all mothers, all Hollywood actresses, all over the age of 35, and all seem to be losing their clothes lately.
DINA SANSING, US WEEKLY MAGAZINE ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR: Suddenly some of today`s hottest stars, older mothers, are showing off their goods.
WYNTER: And then some, says "Us Weekly" magazine entertainment director Dina Sansing, who thinks that all started with the ageless Demi Moore.
SANSING: Showing a picture of herself wearing a bikini that she had posted herself on Tweet pics. And then it was followed by Lisa Rinna who said you know what? She has a hot body, so do I. She posted a photo of herself.
WYNTER: A sultry snapshot worth 1,000 words.
SANSING: These women are really saying, you know what, it doesn`t matter that I`m a mom. It doesn`t matter that I`m over 40. I still have a really hot body and they`re not afraid to flaunt it.
WYNTER: And they`re not the only sexy moms showing some serious skin these days. Sansing noticed even 38-year-old Jada Pinkett Smith and 39- year-old Kelly Ripa are getting in on the action.
Check out these super short shorts Pinkett Smith sported at an awards show and Ripa`s itty bitty bikini. So besides bragging rights of course, what gives?
US Weekly magazine`s Dina Sansing says, these in your face fashion statements send a loud message to Hollywood.
SANSING: These women are showing casting directors in Hollywood, don`t write me off. It`s a big statement for them to come out and say I still have a hot body at my age. It really helps in terms of getting new roles.
WYNTER: A big statement, maybe, but what about outside of Hollywood? Do these images send the wrong message by making middle age moms feel guilty about not looking like a Lisa Rinna or a Demi Moore who are by the way both in their 40s.
Los Angeles mother of two Christian Betlas (ph) says, yes.
CHRISTIAN BETLAS, MOTHER: To look like that is probably definitely a high standard. I don`t -- if you`re a working mom and you don`t have time to work out as much as they do and the money, then it`s kind of an unfair advantage for sure.
WYNTER: And perhaps the most important question is, is it appropriate for these moms to dress and act like a teen? Sansing thinks they`ve earned the right.
SANSING: At the end of the day, these women have worked very hard in their lives. So if they`re spending money on nutritionists or trainers or even plastic surgery, they certainly have the right to do that. They`re in Hollywood.
WYNTER: The land of the rich and famous, where like it or not, looks matter.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Ok and they`re not the only Hollywood moms flaunting it today. "Modern Family" star Sofia Vergara dropped a bombshell of her own today.
Joining me right now in New York, Ben Widdicombe is a celebrity journalist. And right now in Hollywood, Kim Serafin, who is the senior editor for "In Touch Weekly."
The gorgeous, talented, Sofia Vergara from "Modern Family" you guys who also is incredibly a mother to an almost 18-year-old son, admits today that her, well, her assets have helped her career.
In her new interview reveal today she tells "Self" magazine, "I`m a 34 DD". It`s hard to dress. No matter what I wear, I look like a stripper.
That said, I`m grateful I have them and honestly, they`ve helped me a lot in my career. And I`ve always felt sexy."
Ok, Sofia, admitting they`ve helped her career. But she does also share the downside of being a 34 DD. Kim, I respect her honesty. I applaud her for sharing such personal things, the good and the bad.
But do you think she is sending the wrong message here by saying it has helped her career?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, IN TOUCH WEEKLY: No. Not at all. I mean, look, she is curvy. She flaunts it. She`s not always saying, "Oh, I need to lose weight, I need to look like one of those skinny actresses." And how many of those pretty actress have we heard say, "Oh, I`m too pretty to get serious roles. Nobody takes me serious in Hollywood. I don`t get to audition for those good roles."
And that`s really boring to hear those actresses saying that. You know Charlize Theron didn`t do that, she went out changed her look, got a great role. It`s great and refreshing to hear --
ANDERSON: Sophia is voluptuous and she is embracing it. But Ben, do you think it sends the wrong message by saying, "My chest has helped my career?"
BEN WIDDICOMBE, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: Well, we`re always saying on this program that women should accept their bodies for what they are. And of course, it`s easy to accept your body if you are Sofia Vergara.
But I think it`s refreshingly honest. And you know, she has a great role.
ANDERSON: Yes.
WIDDICOMBE: Remember on "Modern Family" she is doing really well, she is a very talented actress. So I applaud what she said.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. And she doesn`t need to sell herself short. She is talented. She is very funny. It`s not just her body.
All right, A.J., I`ve got to bring you in here because that`s not the only controversy just in today.
Donald Trump and Rosie O`Donnell, calling a truce? What?
HAMMER: Well, it could be. We all know that the Donald really never misses an opportunity to trash Rosie O`Donnell. However, in a brand new interview with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Donald Trump truly shocked us because we asked him what he thought of Rosie O`Donnell`s new show coming to Oprah`s Network and this is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MAGNATE: Well, I`m not going to be watching but I hope she does well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some very tactical --
TRUMP: I couldn`t care, I mean, I just hope she does well, unlike her other shows.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, so he took a little jab at Rosie there, but really no drama, no insults. I was listening, I did not hear him call her a pig, as he has done many times in the past.
Kim, what do you think, it looks to me like the Donald may be done pouring gas on that fire.
SERAFIN: Well, I don`t know, there was like sort of a back-handed compliment in there. You know it wasn`t really, oh, I can`t wait to wait watch the show, everyone should watch the show.
Look, that got him publicity, if he just said the same old thing, would we even be talking about it? But I think anything for Donald that gets him publicity, he`ll say it and he`s brilliant at that. And if he keeps his name in the news he`ll do it.
HAMMER: You know Ben, we know that was very toned down for Donald Trump. Any time I`ve mentioned Rosie`s name to Donald, he goes on a laundry list that -- that he seems to recite over and over again of insults hurled at her. I think that`s a good sign.
WIDDICOMBE: I think it`s a great sign, I think he`s trying to be the bigger person for once and that`s great. Because we know it`s not easy to be bigger than Rosie O`Donnell. So I think it`s fantastic. It`s a step forward.
HAMMER: And whether or not we can actually call it a truce will depend on whether or not Rosie talks about it now or perhaps Rosie will have Donald on her radio show. I don`t see that happening anytime soon.
Kim Serafin, Ben Widdicombe, thank you. You can catch Donald Trump`s new season of "The Apprentice" when it premiers this Thursday on NBC.
ANDERSON: I have to tell you, only Lady Gaga can wear a head to toe ensemble made of raw meat. I think Gaga knew she was going to get thrilled for wearing a dress like this. So who was the -- who were the brains behind this outrageous looks? We are revealing the designer or should we say the butcher behind Gaga`s meat dress?
HAMMER: Time now for "Showbiz News Ticker", more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, making news today.
It`s time now for the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT buzz list, a special TV edition. Here are the new fall shows our staff cannot stop buzzing about it.
The new spy show "Undercover" is on NBC and it looks like it`s going to be a real thriller.
Over on the CW the new "Nikita," is kicking butt and taking aims and we love it.
A new "Hawaii Five-O" looks like a ten to us.
We have lots of hope for Fox`s "Raising Hope" and ABC is "No Ordinary Family" it looks like it`s going to be extraordinarily good.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One family will go from ordinary.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re telepathic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To extraordinary.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You two are freaky.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: And Lady Gaga left quite an impression at this year`s MTV VMA`s didn`t she, with her head to toe meat dress? Big controversy over this on, well, today SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is revealing the butcher -- I mean, designer of Lady Gaga`s meat dress.
Here is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with some sizzling answers to all of the burning Gaga meat dress questions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Who on earth would shop for a dress in a butcher shop?
CHER, ACTRESS: Lady Gaga.
MOOS: There she was, head to toe, in not so prime cuts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It doesn`t look like the highest quality meat so I don`t know I don`t see a lot of marbling.
MOOS: But you`ve got to give Lady Gaga credit for mounting the stairs wearing raw stake wedges.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God. I don`t like the shoes actually.
MOOS: Lady Gaga left Cher holding the bag, her bag made of meat.
LADY GAGA, SINGER: I never thought I`d be asking Cher to hold my meat purse.
MOOS: New York`s Fashion Week --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh meat, oh my gosh. She`s amazing.
MOOS: Gaga`s meat outfit met with raised eyebrows.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow, that`s pretty rare.
MOOS: But even some of the rare birds at Fashion Week didn`t find Lady Gaga`s look well done.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is revolting.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Revolting, I find it disturbing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did it smell? That`s what I want to know.
MOOS: It sure didn`t seem to hurt his appetite, though.
The animal rights folks at PETA gagged on Gaga`s latest stunt calling meat the decomposing flesh of an abused animal. MTV Style first reported that designer Frank Fernandez created the outfit and posted photos of it on his blog saying the meat came from his family butcher.
Unlike Cher`s full-on body hug Ellen DeGeneres kept her distance, Ellen is a vegan and presented Gaga with a veggie bikini and skirt.
DEGENERES: How is that?
MOOS: In the past the bacon`s raw has had a moment of fame on Flickr, the contestants on "America`s Next Top Model" had to compete wearing meat.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So I have to wear beef panties? They had meat wrapped around my neck.
MOOS: Gaga wore meat once before on the cover of Japanese "Vogue."
GAGA: I am not a piece of meat.
MOOS: But which pieces did she wear? The director of Meaty Fairway Market thinks it was brisket or flank steak.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You could see some resemblance to some of it, some of the parts of the outfit, with the way the lines are running.
MOOS: And then there`s that hat. You`re pretty sure that the hat is flank steak --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it looks it.
MOOS: The meat wasn`t dripping but Lady Gaga`s eyes were as she belted out her new song.
GAGA: Because God makes no mistakes --
MOOS: But he does make steak.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So we were thinking this is the first dress she would have to refrigerate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
A.J., I have to say, I thought it was repulsive whether you eat meat or not.
HAMMER: Yes, it`s a wrong way to steak your claim. I`m just wondering if the person who dressed her said, it`s nice to meat you.
All right, let`s pretend it`s there. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: We could go on all night.
HAMMER: I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is now live at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday.
HAMMER: MTV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific here on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
