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Showbiz Tonight
Brand-New "Teen Mom" Trouble; Jenny McCarthy on the Ashton-Demi Cheating Controversy; Lady Gaga and Beyonce, More Powerful Than Sarah Palin?; Jessica Simpson`s Stinky TMI
Aired October 07, 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 - brand new teen mom trouble today. The unbelievable reality show fight between a mom and her baby`s father caught on tape in front of their infant child.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the burning question, could the mom lose her baby?
Demi and Ashton`s war today. Jenny McCarthy`s shocking new slam of Demi Moore over the way Demi is handling reports of her husband`s cheating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNY MCCARTHY, ACTRESS: I would probably tell her to do some investigating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The SHOWBIZ Flashpoint today - are Demi and Ashton handling the cheating reports the right way?
Lady Gaga, Beyonce, both more powerful than Sarah Palin? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with a stunning group today.
Simpson`s big stink. Jessica Simpson`s new outrageous TMI body confession today. This one is a real stinker.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today - teen mom trouble?
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. There are brand new and, I have to say, very disturbing claims today about a young woman who is the focus of one of TV`s most controversial reality shows about teenage mothers.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is here to tell you that serious questions are now being asked today about everything, from whether the young mother might lose her child, whether the show itself is just being irresponsible.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can also now reveal that there is an absolute obsession with these teen mom reality shows, an obsession that could be fuelling a dangerous trend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY SHIRLEY, CAST MEMBER, "TEEN MOM": Get off me.
AMBER PORTWOOD, CAST MEMBER, "TEEN MOM": You need it shut your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) mouth.
HAMMER (voice-over): It`s a shocking and disturbing scene of domestic violence on one of the most popular reality shows on TV.
SHIRLEY: Amber -
PORTWOOD: No! I wish I was bigger than you. I`d beat your (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
HAMMER: On a recent episode of MTV`s hit reality show, "Teen Mom," we see 20-year-old Amber Portwood and her on-and-off fiance, Gary Shirley, in full-on blowout as they struggle to raise their one-year-old daughter, Leah. And the most disturbing part, Amber hauls off and belts Gary repeatedly.
PORTWOOD: I am at the end. Do you want to hit my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) face?
SHIRLEY: You want to hit me, don`t you?
HAMMER: MTV aired a domestic violence PSA during this disturbing episode.
PORTWOOD: Put them on the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) stairs.
SHIRLEY: Amber, are you done?
HAMMER: And there are reports today that police are investigating. Now SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking -
PORTWOOD: Don`t you ever come here again, you fat piece of (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
SHIRLEY: I don`t plan on it.
HAMMER: Should Amber face repercussions for her violent outburst? And did MTV go too far in showing this violent incident or in not doing anything to stop it?
MICHELLE GOLLAND, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: They have camera crews there. There`s obviously something being physically assaulted. I think the police should have been called.
HAMMER: In a statement, MTV tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "In this particular instance we confirmed that no one was hurt and monitored the situation to make sure that no one was in imminent danger and that the couple`s child was not in the home."
PORTWOOD: You`d better watch your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) back.
HAMMER: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that wasn`t the first time Amber`s hit Gary.
SHIRLEY: I`m leaving now because you`re pissing me off.
HAMMER: In an episode from last season of "Teen Mom," Amber and Gary had another blow up. But that time, their daughter was right there in the room when Amber hit and choked Gary.
PORTWOOD: Let me (EXPLETIVE DELETED) tell you something, you don`t talk to my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) dad like that, you (EXPLETIVE DELETED) hear me? You apologize to him!
HAMMER: Now, police in Indiana reportedly are conducting a domestic violence investigation. And today, Amber is expressing regret for her disturbing behavior.
PORTWOOD: I never notice how bad I am until I see it.
HAMMER: In this video clip from MTV, Amber, sitting next to Gary, said she`s also horrified by what she`s done.
PORTWOOD: I feel so terrible, and it`s like, did I really do that?
HAMMER: And in the new issue of "Us Weekly," Amber says she`s working with a counselor to learn, quote, "how to calm down when things happen. We are getting close to finding a solution. If I get mad, I always try to think about Leah and how an outburst will affect her."
She adds, quote, "A lot has changed. I haven`t hit him since that fight."
But even if Amber is starting to take responsibility for what she`s done on camera, what responsibility, if any, should MTV take? On one hand, it`s not like Amber is the only MTV reality star who gets violent on camera.
Fights break out on "Jersey Shore" about as often as The Situation flashes his abs.
GOLLAND: It was a domestic assault.
HAMMER: But clinical psychologist and "MomLogic.com" contributor Michelle Golland tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the apparent domestic violence on "Teen Mom" needs to be taken much more seriously.
GOLLAND: I`ll tell you, a mother or a father to act out physically to their spouse is also going to be more likely to be physically abusive to a child.
HAMMER: The last episode of "Teen Mom" earned more than four million viewers, a huge audience for MTV. And the show has been praised for showing how hard it is for teens to raise babies.
BONNIE FULLER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "HOLLYWOODLIFE.COM": I have two teenage daughters and I`ve asked this them about this a lot. And both of them have insisted that it makes them think, "I will never want to be a teen mom. I will never want to get pregnant."
HAMMER: But some of worried that scenes like this will give viewers another lesson, that domestic violence is no big deal.
GOLLAND: Now, we have an MTV show that is letting this go on. They should be embarrassed and ashamed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: So the reported brand new police investigation into what we saw happen on "Teen Mom" leads to today`s SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - "Teen Mom" Abuse Controversy: Should Amber`s baby be taken away from her?
Right now, in Hollywood, Wendy Walsh, who is a TV journalist and doctor of psychology. And right now, also in Hollywood, Kristin Cruz, morning radio co-host of "The Mark and Kristin Show." It`s on KOST in Los Angeles.
OK. Kristin, I`m going to begin with you. I think Amber`s behavior is deplorable. But to today`s SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, should her baby be taken away from her because of it?
KRISTIN CRUZ, CO-HOST, "THE MARK AND KRISTIN SHOW" ON KOST: Well, I`m not an expert on that so I don`t know. And what happens when the cameras are off, we don`t know that either.
But we do know is that this is show that`s being shown to teenagers, impressionable kids watching MTV sandwiched between other shows that are like "Jersey Shore" or "Johnny Knoxville." Can they tell the difference? Do teens know they should be learning from this? Or do they find it entertainment? Is it just glamorizing -
ANDERSON: So you`re saying it glamorizes teen pregnancy in a way?
CRUZ: Yes, exactly.
ANDERSON: I think if a teenager looks at this situation and says, "You know what? This is how I want to be famous. This is how I want to be on TV, by injecting myself into such a horrible, challenging situation." They have to have some screws loose, Kristin.
CRUZ: I don`t know. I don`t think that teenagers can tell the difference. I think it glamorizes pregnancy ala the movie "Juneau." Remember "the pregnancy pact" that happened after that. I don`t think it`s helping them learn. I think it`s just showing them you can be a reality star, too.
ANDERSON: I think it shows the horrific realities, the harsh realities that teen parents are facing, and it`s boiling over. And they can`t handle these situations. And Amber is apparently seeking therapy for her anger management problems.
She says she hasn`t touched Gary since the last incident caught on camera. Wendy, I want to throw it to you. To the SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - should Amber`s baby be taken away from her?
WENDY WALSH, TV JOURNALIST AND DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY: I don`t know about taken away, but this woman definitely needs anger management therapy. My biggest concern, and I want to underscore what Dr. Golland said in the package is that this is only a matter of time. This is a ticking clock until this woman strikes her child.
Because as you know - you`re a mom, Brooke - that kids know how to push your buttons. Believe me, they do. So I`m really concerned about the welfare of this child in this situation.
On the other hand, I`m also concerned about the mom because she said, "I didn`t realize I was that bad. Now, seeing myself on tape, it`s so upsetting." I`m worried about what reality TV does to create shame in people and shame, as we know, is a very dangerous thing. It can make people hurt themselves.
ANDERSON: Well, obviously they are too young, too immature to have handled being teen parents and possibly to have handled being on a reality TV show and in the spotlight in this way.
MTV tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it had monitored the situation between Amber and Gary during the show`s taping, but that their child, Leah, we know, was still in the room during at least one of the incidents.
So Kristin, do you think the producers, the photographers, had a responsibility to jump in there to intervene before it escalated the way it did?
CRUZ: I see what you`re saying. I think that is true. But ultimately, this responsibility needs to be put back on the parents. I don`t want us now making excuses that someone else should have stepped in when the mother and father, no matter what`s she`s going through, need to take responsibility for this.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. It goes back (UNINTELLIGIBLE). \
(CROSS TALK)
WALSH: You know, I disagree, Brooke. Those producers should have stopped that.
ANDERSON: Go ahead very quickly, Wendy.
WALSH: Those producers should have stopped it because when reality TV is happening, cameras are on there. They`re told to respond. They`re told to react. Those producers saw a law being broken and they should have stopped it right then.
ANDERSON: Maybe they will in the future. And I just think it is criminal for any child to be subjected to this sort of thing and to be in such a negative, abusive environment.
WALSH: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: But now I do have to move on to another reality TV story making big news today. A.J., I can`t believe this. A guy wants the world to control his life every minute of the day on a new reality show?
HAMMER: Yes.
ANDERSON: It sounds like reality run amuck to me.
HAMMER: And Brooke, I`ve been watching this all day. And the jury out for me but it is a fascinating concept. This guy is 25-year-old Tristan Couvares. His doing his Web-based reality show called "Control TV." It is being co-produced by the great actor, Seth Green.
I`m actually watching it on the computer right now. You get to vote on what Tristan wears, who he dates, all of his decisions for every waking moment over the next six weeks. Kind of like "The Truman Show," except this guy knows that he`s on a reality show.
Wendy, I think this could be wildly entertaining. I`ve been a bit bored by it today. But do you think it is brilliant TV or reality TV gone wrong?
WALSH: You know, I recently re-watched "The Truman Show" and it`s quite a message of warning for us. And here it is happening.
I think it`s TV gone wrong and I`ll tell you why. People need to learn to be real. And when there are cameras around, they`re really not real.
HAMMER: Yes.
WALSH: They`re performing in some way. So for six weeks this dude is playing a character. Come on.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, I guess he`ll learn quite a bit about himself. It could all implode. But I guess we`ll have to watch and see. Wendy Walsh, Kristin Cruz, thanks, guys.
ANDERSON: All right. Demi and Ashton`s war against startling cheating reports explodes today. Is Jenny McCarthy really slamming Mrs. Kutcher for the way that Demi is handling the whole scandal?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. I bring them up only because there were rumors about a break up. If she were here, Demi -
MCCARTHY: Yes.
BEHAR: What would you say to her right now?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We`re daring to ask today - are Demi and Ashton handling the cheating reports the right way?
Simpson speaks stink. Jessica Simpson`s new outrageous TMI body confession today. This one is a real stinker.
I`m a big Lady Gaga fan. She`s really talented. But is Gaga more powerful than Sarah Palin? We`ve got the astounding new proof today that she is. 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: Third hour of "Today" beats "Live with Regis and Kelly" for the first time in ratings. Bruno Mars` "Just the Way You Are" number one on Billboard singles chart for third week in a row.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We welcome you back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood, A.J. Hammer in New York.
HAMMER: Well, there is big news breaking in "The Buzz" today. I love "Mad Men" star Christina Hendricks, and apparently, so do the ladies. The new revelation about what killed Gary Coleman. Plus, an encouraging new milestone in Michael Douglas` brave cancer fight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Michael Douglas finishes chemo. Douglas` spokesperson just revealed that the Oscar winner will finish his last treatment for stage four throat cancer this week.
"People" magazine reports Douglas is not expected to need any more chemotherapy or radiation. Douglas fought through the grueling treatment while promoting "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps." His recovery will apparently take another six weeks, followed by periodic checkups to make sure he remains cancer free.
Gary Coleman`s accidental death. Utah police have just ruled the "Differ`nt Strokes" star`s sudden death an accident. The ruling could finally quiet the widespread speculation that Coleman`s ex-wife, Shannon Price, was involved in the actor`s passing.
But police tell "Salt Lake Tribune," quote, "There is no indication of anything else here than an accident." Price reacted to the reported on a local Utah station.
SHANNON PRICE, GARY COLEMAN`S EX-WIFE: I do believe everyone owes me an apology that has trashed me out there just because I`m not a horrible person. I would never want to kill my husband.
Mad about Christina Hendricks. The "Mad Men" star and "Harper`s Bazaar" cover girl just revealed she`s a sex symbol for both men and women. Hendricks tells the magazine her unique look attracts all sorts of attention.
When it comes to gay men, she says, "They say to me, `Well, I`m not straight but if I was -`"
And as for women, she says, quote, "Women hit on me. My husband thinks it`s odd that so many women hit on me."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: There`s also big buzz today about Bristol Palin and The Situation`s next showdown on "Dancing with the Stars." And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is breaking news today about who people think will get kicked off the show first.
Right now in Atlanta, Bert Weiss, who is the host of radio`s "The Bert Show."
Hey, Bert, despite having some of the lowest scores for their performances, The Situation and Bristol made the cut this week. But could their dancing days soon be over?
We asked in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll - "`Dancing with the Stars:` Who do you think will get kicked off first?" We just got the final results in today. And in our six years of polling here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, this has rarely happened.
Take a look, a dead heat. Fifty percent said Bristol would be first out, 50 percent said it would be The Situation first out. I predict "The Sitch" is going to go before Bristol. But Bert, do you think The Situation can outlast Bristol Palin?
BERT WEISS, HOST, "THE BERT SHOW": You know, Brooke, I think in a lot of ways that Bristol was at a disadvantage, even before she got on the set. And I don`t think it`s anything she did. I think her mom is just so polarizing that that might have put her at a disadvantage immediately.
But then, you look on the other side of things and The Situation is just so cheesy that he`s really - you can`t stomach him very much longer. So I can understand why it was 50-50.
ANDERSON: Yes. And The Situation is tanned. He`s gelled. He`s got abs that just won`t quit.
WEISS: Right.
ANDERSON: I love how you said how can you stomach him. But you know, how far can that really take the guy. You`ve got to show some skills, too.
Well, we`ve got to get ready to see a new Bristol Palin, by the way, on the dance floor next week, because Bristol broke the news today that she`s going to be stepping out of her comfort zone.
WEISS: Right.
ANDERSON: She`s telling "People.com," "We`re doing the sexy dance next week and I have to get into character. Dressing sexy will help me get into character more. Next week, I`ll be dressing sexy. This is it."
Now, Bert, before Bristol started "Dancing with the Stars," she said that her outfits would be modest. Now, she`s having this change of heart. I knew this would happen. It really only takes a few weeks for contestants to show a little bit more skin no matter how conservative they are.
But Bert, some are saying it`s desperation on her part. What do you think?
WEISS: I don`t know if it`s desperation or not. There`s a small part of me that thinks that she`s actually doing this just sort of as rebellious - just to be a rebel to her mom. So I really believe that. I`m not exactly sure. And we don`t really know what -
ANDERSON: And I think it`s all part of the show. They get pretty skimpy before it`s all over with. Bert Weiss, we`ll leave it there for now. Thanks.
WEISS: OK.
HAMMER: So Jessica Alba is one of my favorite stars for sure. Jessica obvious very easy around the eyes. So I`m having a hard time wrapping my head around Jessica`s new beauty bombshell. Why is she complaining about how she looks? Come on.
Justin Bieber meets Justin Bieber. The incredible story today of how the famous Justin has turned the life of another Bieber totally upside down.
Did you see this? A pair of Kermit the Frogs singing "Under Pressure."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What do two Kermits have to do with homelessness? You are looking at Kermit David Bowie and Kermit Freddie Mercury.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I am here to tell you this frog video has really got legs. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, it`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker." These are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: "Lost" cast to reunite at Spike TV`s Scream Awards October 19th. Bret Michaels shows his family life in new music video, "Riding Against The Wind."
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN BIEBER, JUSTIN BIEBER`S NAMESAKE: It`s just a little hard to sleep at night when the phones ring constantly. It`s messages from, "Hey, Justin Bieber, I love you" to "You`re the worst singer ever."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Did you see this? It`s Justin Bieber. I`m serious. This guy is Justin Bieber. No, he`s obviously not the teen pop star. This is 35-year- old Justin Bieber from Jacksonville, Florida. The real teen Biebs, of course, is one big old floppy haired pain for Justin from Jacksonville because Facebook shut down Jacksonville Justin`s account.
They thought he was impersonating the teen pop star. Jacksonville Justin said he`s just happy that people no longer call him Justin Bye- ber(ph). It`s how people pronounce his name before Biebs got big and famous.
Well, it is a joyous day today. It`s our very own Joy Behar`s birthday. We`re all very excited, we love you, Joy. Very happy.
ANDERSON: That`s right. Yes. All of us here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT are celebrating with you, Joy. And you know, the birthday well wishes for Joy started this morning on "The View" with "SNL`s" Fred Armisen who I think does a great Joy impersonation on "Saturday Night Live."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRED ARMISEN, ACTOR (as Joy Behar): That wasn`t a joke. So what? Who cares?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Armisen`s Joy Behar is pretty much on the money, right? Now, check out what happened when Fred met the real Joy on "The View" today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": You don`t look anything like Joy.
ARMISEN: A little bit.
BEHAR: In some strange way he does. He could be my son or my brother.
ARMISEN: Yes. We`ll see. Without the glasses, it`s kind of a -
BEHAR: Not really.
ARMISEN: I brought you a little something. Happy birthday, Joy.
BEHAR: Thank you.
ARMISEN: Open it.
BEHAR: It`s the birthday wrapping. Oh - it`s me and Fred.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: From all of us here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, happy birthday, Joy. And you know, A.J., my better half shares a birthday with Joy Behar. I want to say happy birthday to Jim, my husband.
HAMMER: Happy birthday, Jim. All right.
ANDERSON: Thank you. All right. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will name the most provocative celebrity of the week on Friday. And the nominees are: Mel Gibson`s ex, Oksana Grigorieva, for saying that she thought Mel was going to kill her; MTV teen mom, Amber Portwood, for beating up the father of their infant child right in front of their baby; or how about Lisa Rinna for admitting that she regretted getting lip injections?
Who do you think is the most provocative celebrity of the week? Send a text to 45688 the word "SBT1" to vote for Oksana Grigorieva, "SBT2" for Lisa Rinna, or "SBT3" for Amber Portwood. Sorry, that was a mouthful. We will reveal who we name Friday along with your votes.
HAMMER: Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher - their incredible war against cheating allegations. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, are they handling their scandal the right way?
Jessica Simpson - Jessica, stinky? Jess` incredible body confession today is a real gas.
Is Lady Gaga more powerful than Sarah Palin? The stunning proof revealed today. 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: The 14-year-old voice of "Dora the Explorer" suing Nickelodeon for exploitation. Singer Toni Braxton files for bankruptcy again, may owe as much as $50 million!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Demi and Ashton`s war today. Jenny McCarthy`s shocking new slam of Demi Moore over the way Demi is handling reports of her husband Ashton`s cheating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. I bring them up only because there are rumors about a breakup. If she were here, Demi -
MCCARTHY: Yes.
BEHAR: What would you say to her right now?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask today - are Demi and Ashton handling the cheating reports the right way?
Simpson`s big stink. Jessica Simpson`s new outrageous TMI body confession today. This one is a real stinker.
Kermit sings Queen. Actually two, Kermits.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS (voice-over): What do two Kermits have to do with homelessness? You are looking at Kermit David Bowie and Kermit Freddie Mercury.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is very funny but it has a serious message, too.
Plus, breaking today from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -"South Park" takes on "Jersey Shore." And big news for Tori Spelling and her husband Dean McDermott.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today - Demi and Ashton`s war.
HAMMER: Yes. The reports about Ashton Kutcher allegedly cheating on Demi Moore have been raging in the headlines and on TV for over a month now. And the big question today - does Demi Moore need a wakeup call.
Now, Jenny McCarthy, fresh out of her own breakup with Jim Carrey, has some words of advice for Demi Moore today that, quite frankly, none of us were expecting.
Joining me right now from Hollywood is Wendy Walsh, who is a TV journalist and a doctor of psychology. Right now, with me in New York, Brian Balthazar, editor of "PopGoesTheWeek.com." And he`s also a journalist and a comic.
OK. So it`s Ashton and Demi against the world right now. Ashton has denied the reports that he`s cheating on Demi. He even threatened legal action. But that was weeks ago.
The last couple of weeks, it`s been radio silence from Demi and Ashton`s camp on this subject. You`re going to hear in just a second what Jenny McCarthy is saying about this. But the cheating allegations - they keep coming every week in more and more intimate and gruesome detail.
Wendy, to you first. Do you think Ashton and Demi are handling this the right way by staying so silent?
WALSH: Absolutely. That`s the beauty of Twitter. You get to control. You give the illusion of openness and intimacy, but you get to create privacy when you want to.
And the truth is, who knows? Maybe they have an open marriage. Listen, A.J., if I had a husband who was almost two decades younger, I might outsource some of my responsibilities. Who knows?
HAMMER: All right. Well, Jenny McCarthy certainly has her own ideas about this whole Demi-Ashton drama. And she revealed them on HLN`s "JOY BEHAR SHOW," much different from what you`re saying, Wendy. She thinks Demi might need a big dose of reality herself. Watch.
BEHAR: If she was here, Demi -
MCCARTHY: Yes.
BEHAR: What would you say to her right now?
MCCARTHY: I would probably tell her to do some investigating, maybe don`t be so, you know, opinionated into one side of denial.
You want to investigate, see if it`s true. How you do that, I don`t know. But then, I would look at myself and go, "Let me reevaluate this relationship if it is true."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Brian, what do you think? Do you think Jenny has a point that maybe Demi is actually in denial?
BRIAN BALTHAZAR, EDITOR, "POPGOESTHEWEEK.COM": Well, maybe. But I think if I were Demi, I`d say, mind your own business. And maybe Demi has done her own investigation.
HAMMER: She was asked the question -
(CROSS TALK)
BALTHAZAR: Yes, I know. Absolutely. But I think that Demi may very well be doing her own investigating. And I think the less they say, the less it gets reported on. And once she says anything about this, we`re going to talk about it.
HAMMER: Yes. You`re throwing gas in the fire. Look, Jenny clearly thinks that where there`s smoke, there may be fire. You know, that`s kind of what she`s saying. So with so many reports in the news right now about the scandal, Jenny really thinks it is time for Demi to start digging around herself. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCARTHY: I`m not caught up to the latest scandal, but there seems to be so many people talking about it. And I know the magazines wouldn`t go as far as to say the things they are without having some proof.
BEHAR: Especially "People" magazine.
MCCARTHY: I know.
BEHAR: Yes.
MCCARTHY: So I would tell her to kind of just keep digging myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. And look, I`m with you, guys, on the panel here. I`ve said from the start that if reports are untrue, then that initial denial is really all they needed. And if they keep addressing the allegations, it will seem like they`re protesting too much and people will take notice.
But there are a lot of people who think they shouldn`t be hiding from these news reports and they should address them directly. Look, I think Demi should do what she feels is best.
But Wendy, to Jenny McCarthy`s point, do you think Demi should be launching some investigation of her own, if she hasn`t already?
WALSH: It depends on Demi`s views of monogamy. You know, there are all kinds of relationships in the world and all kinds of rules. And I think what they`re doing is the most important thing, is that they`re staying private. They`re working on their issues alone if there are issues. You know, and it`s fine. I think they`re doing the right thing.
HAMMER: Yes. All right. Well, that`s what we think, but now I`d like to turn it over to you, my faithful viewer. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. And here`s what we`re asking - "Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher: Are they handling reports of infidelity in the right way?" Let us know what you think at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. If you want to tell us more, E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
But Brooke Anderson, I`m curious to think - to hear what you think about this. Are they handling things the right way? They addressed them initially and, now, nothing.
ANDERSON: Yes. I think they are. You know, listen, I bet it`s an uncomfortable and potentially painful situation for them to even face and deal with these sorts of allegations, these sorts of rumors. They said what they wanted to say publicly. Now, let them deal with it privately.
But you know, A.J., the Demi-Ashton story is not the only outrageous report making news today. The brand-new "Forbes" report released today listing the most powerful women in the world has caused an uproar.
"Forbes" says Lady Gaga and Beyonce are more powerful than Sarah Palin. I`m not making this up. Wendy, let`s face it. Sarah Palin is influential, but she`s not in office. So they probably got it right.
WALSH: I think they got it absolutely right. And the other two, Beyonce and Lady Gaga, are at least more enlightened in my opinion. So that`s more power.
ANDERSON: All right. I want to take a look now at some of the highlights from "Forbes`" list. Here we have Michelle Obama. She tops "Forbes`" most powerful women list. Oprah Winfrey comes in third. Hillary Clinton is in fifth place on that most powerful list. And then, coming in seventh, "Forbes" says Lady Gaga, meat dress and all.
Seventh on that list - ninth, actually, on that list is Beyonce Knowles. Ellen DeGeneres comes in 10th on the list. Down in 16th place - there she is - Sarah Palin.
Brian, you know, if she were in office, I say, you betcha. She`d be higher on the list than Lady Gaga or Beyonce. What do you think?
BALTHAZAR: Well, absolutely. And I think Sarah Palin is divisive. The very nature of politics is that it`s divisive and controversial.
And Lady gaga and Beyonce both appeal to a wider audience and they`re entertaining. So they`re not raising the ruckus of the political scene like - well, now, Lady Gaga has gotten a little more political lately.
But I think, absolutely, Palin is polarizing and she`s not going to have the kind of clout that these two do.
ANDERSON: I wouldn`t be surprised if Lady Gaga tried to run for office one of these days.
BALTHAZAR: You never know. It could happen.
ANDERSON: Yes, you never know, right? Expect the unexpected with her. Well, I`m glad to see Michelle Obama at the top of the list. Wendy, is there any doubt that Michelle should be number one? She is the first lady. She is trying to effect change.
WALSH: No doubt at all. No doubt at all. She rocks, all right? She is the wife of the leader of the free world. She is in a position to influence people. I mean, that`s what power is, right? To be able to influence people.
Sarah Palin way down there at number 16. I think that`s a little high for her. I heard the tea party people are just a small little group compared to Beyonce. I`ve been to Beyonce`s concerts, by the way. There are a lot of people there.
ANDERSON: We know how you feel politically. Hey, Brian, what do you think about Michelle Obama number one? She`s up there above Oprah Winfrey. She`s up there above Hillary Clinton.
BALTHAZAR: I will say it`s a little bit surprising, because she`s rather quiet. She`s definitely opinionated. But she`s not exerting a lot of power other than being a role model to a lot of people. And that`s something right there.
But I`m a little bit surprised because I think Oprah is the closest thing to royalty that we have in this country. And while her ratings may be slipping, I still think she pretty much reigns supreme.
ANDERSON: Yes. As we like to say around here, when Oprah speaks, people obviously do listen. Brian Balthazar, Wendy Walsh, we`re going to leave it there for now. Thanks, guys.
BALTHAZAR: Absolutely.
WALSH: She is the queen.
HAMMER: And we will move on to the shocking tale of two Jessicas today. I`m talking about Jessica Alba and Jessica Simpson.
Simpson`s big stink. Wait until you hear this. Her outrageous new body confession today. It is a real stinker. I am talking TMI - Way TMI.
I think Jessica Alba looks great. I don`t think you`ll find a person who disagrees. But she is actually complaining about her post-baby body. Really? She looks amazing. The great debate today - should Jessica quit her whining?
Melissa Etheridge is outraged today over bullying and those tragic stories about teens who killed themselves because they were bullied for being gay.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELISSA ETHERIDGE, SINGER: What`s bugging you so much about sexuality that you`ve got to be this mean about it, you know? Let`s look at ourselves. Let`s look at - we`re the grown-ups now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Melissa has got a very important message about this. She`s revealing a great idea. 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: "South Park" to do a "Jersey Shore" themed episode airing October 13th. Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Amy Poehler to appear in "Women of SNL" special airing 11/1.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMY POEHLER, ACTRESS (as Hillary Clinton): I don`t agree with the Bush doctrine.
TINA FEY, ACTRESS (as Sarah Palin): I don`t know what that is.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: It is just about that time again. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will name the most provocative celebrity of the week Friday. And the nominees are: Mel Gibson`s ex, Oksana Grigorieva, for revealing she thought Mel was going to kill her; MTV teen mom, Amber Portwood, for beating up the father of their infant child right in front of the little girl; how about Lisa Rinna for admitting she regretted getting lip injections?
Who do you think is the most provocative celebrity of the week? Please vote right now. Send a text to 45688 with the words "SBT1" to vote for Oksana Grigorieva. Text SBT2 for Lisa Rinna. SBT3 for Amber Portwood.
You can also vote and tell us if we should have nominated somebody else on our Facebook page. We are "ShowbizTonightHLN" there. We will reveal who we name Friday along with your votes right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood, A.J. Hammer in New York.
And there`s big news, A.J., today, about Jessica Simpson`s big stink?
HAMMER: Yes. I don`t even know what to say. The woman described as sexual napalm by John Mayer is making an outrageous revelation of her own today.
In my opinion Jessica is just over-sharing on Twitter about her least sexy activity. Do I have to say it? Flatulence. OK, there I said it. Jessica tweets about her toots. So is this the ultimate in relatability? Or in my mind - are you agreeing with me that it`s just toot - too much?
Right now, in Atlanta, Bert Weiss, host of "The Bert Show" on radio station Q100. In Hollywood, Kristin Cruz, co-host of "The Mark and Kristin Show" on 103.5 in Los Angeles.
Now, guys, we know Twitter is a big place for stars to reach out to their fans without any filters. I think this needs a filter. But I get the whole idea of Twitter.
You do have to hear what Jessica just tweeted to her three million followers on Twitter, "This link just made my morning. The average person farts about 14 times each day. How to fart less?"
OK. I love Jessica Simpson. I think she`s really coming to her own recently, talking about body image issues. She`s really evolved. But Bert, I`ve got to tell you I don`t need for her to be that in touch with her internal body issues, at least not on Twitter. What about you?
WEISS: Yes. Too much information here. You know, she is a beautiful woman, but when it comes to these kind of issues, you know, these body issue-type things, she`s like a six-year-old boy.
You know, we saw her on a reality TV show belching. Now, we have this. It`s almost like she`s challenging us not to think she`s sexy, you know.
HAMMER: Yes. This does seem to be a pattern for her. In fact, I want take you to the SHOWBIZ news line as we take a look at her over-sharing back in May. Jessica admitted on "Ellen" she only brushes her teeth three times a week. In June, Jess tweeted about her vegan diet and how her body was, I should put it, feeling very clean internally.
Kristin, may I have a woman`s perspective here? Is all of this TMI? Or maybe, does Jessica Simpson get a pass because, well, hey, she`s Jessica Simpson?
SANCHEZ: Well, she`s definitely making herself relatable, I guess. I mean, I talked with some guys that I work with on my radio show.
And they said that they thought she was a cool kind of guys` girl that made her hang-outable, relatable, that they might be able to get that kind of girl, so they dug it.
HAMMER: OK. I`m just going to move on, because - really, I don`t know about the image issues are one thing. Her body activity is another.
There is a big body issue debate raging today about another Jessica, one of my favorite actresses, Jessica Alba. Brooke, what is it about?
ANDERSON: Well, it`s a body image shocker, A.J., about Jessica Alba. The beautiful actress and mother of a beautiful baby girl bares her rocking bod in a swimsuit on the cover of the British version of "GQ." And she proclaims every actress out there is more beautiful than her.
She goes on to tell "GQ" that since, you know, giving birth, having her daughter two years ago, quote, "My breasts are saggy. I`ve got cellulite. My hips are bigger."
OK. OK. I know a lot of people are going to look at her on the cover of that magazine and say, "What the heck is she complaining about?"
But Kristin, we`re both new mothers. As a mom, I can relate to what she`s saying, because no matter how hard you work - and she looks gorgeous. I`m sure she`s very confident. But your body is different. It`s changed.
CRUZ: Yes. You know, I don`t know if I have that much sympathy for this gorgeous, young movie star complaining about these poor little (UNINTELLIGIBLE). My skinny big jeans are in storage. I may not be able to wear it again.
But I don`t have personal stuff and all, this money and that, that, that to get the perfect body. And I think, Brooke, representing regular moms, she needs to just shut it, you know.
ANDERSON: Well, you know, it is hard to relate. I agree. It is hard to identify with all of those resources. But do you, at least, like, love that she`s being honest and open about some of her insecurities?
CRUZ: Not so much. I really just would rather that she just stopped.
ANDERSON: OK. We got there. We disagree. Bert, I am guessing that you`re looking at the cover of this magazine, Jessica there -
WEISS: Yes.
ANDERSON: And thinking, come on, she`s hot. What`s she complaining about? You know, I know you`re a man. but do you get where maybe I`m coming from, or Jessica`s coming from a little bit as to what women who have gone through after birth, yada, yada, yada?
WEISS: Well, first I want to let you know that I spent a lot of time looking at this cover just for you guys and this segment, a lot of time.
And you know what? When you say that she`s representing regular women, that`s not regular women right there. I think it`s going to be met by a lot of women that go, "Come on, I`m just not buying it." I really feel that she`s being too honest.
ANDERSON: Yes. She is a bombshell. She is. She looks beautiful. OK, we`ll leave it there for now, Bert Weiss, Kristin Cruz, thank you both.
HAMMER: All right. Shifting gears here. Melissa Etheridge outraged today about all those terrible teen suicides, kids who kill themselves after being bullied for being gay.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. Such terrible stories. But today, I can tell you that Melissa is trying to make something positive out of these tragedies.
We caught up with her at the premiere of the breast cancer documentary "One a Minute" in L.A. Melissa has a great idea for putting an end to bullying based on somebody`s sexuality.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ETHERIDGE: What we can do is look at ourselves and what we`re teaching, what examples we`re giving about our own fears. If you`re really afraid of somebody, if you`re so afraid of a gay person that you`re going to teach your kids to be - to hate them, let`s look at that fear.
What`s bugging you so much about sexuality that you`ve got to be this mean about it, you know? Let`s look at ourselves. We`re the grownups now. Let`s look and see what we`ve been teaching and what we`ve been doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Melissa says she was lucky she was not bullied in school and says her parents were very supportive.
All right. Two Kermit, one song. You`ve got to se this. Two Kermit the Frogs singing the Queen-David Bowie classic, "Under Pressure." Let me tell you - this is blowing up the Internet today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: What do two Kermits have to do with homelessness? You`re looking at Kermit David Bowie and Kermit Freddie Mercury.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This is really cute, but there is a very important message here, too. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: Time now for us to roll out the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker." These are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Eva Longoria to host 2010 MTV European music awards in Spain on November 7th. Oxygen renews "Tori and Dean" for a sixth season, picks up new "Tori and Dean" show, too.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN MCDERMOTT, ACTOR: We can`t even have a conversation because we have little munchkins talking over us and wanting to eat vegetables.
TORI SPELLING, ACTRESS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) anymore, you know?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Did you see this? A pair of Kermit the Frogs singing "Under Pressure." One does David Bowie`s part, the other Queen`s Freddie Mercury`s part. This frog video has really got legs, I`m here to tell you. It`s gone totally viral. But there`s a much deeper message here. It`s not easy being green or homeless.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): What does do Kermits have to do with homelessness? You are looking at Kermit David Bowie and Kermit Freddie Mercury performing their song, "Under Pressure," in front of a homeless sign.
(MUSIC)
And they were just warming up.
(MUSIC)
Practically overnight, the passionate puppeteer became known as the homeless man. And his video got more than 500,000 views.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They`ve been wondering about whether I was homeless or not.
MOOS (on camera): Some were suspicious, wondering, where was the homeless guy`s cup for change?
(MUSIC)
(voice-over) Turns out the homeless sign was borrowed from a real homeless man, the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) background as well. And the puppeteer, Sky Soleil(ph), made it clear that he`s not actually homeless.
SKY SOLEIL, PUPPETEER: This isn`t about me. This is about the men, women and children on our streets who don`t have green puppets on their hands, the people who aren`t as easy to see.
MOOS: It took Sky and filmmaker, Brian Maris, only three takes on a Saturday morning in Long Beach, California to make the video. Bowie and Freddie Mercury never actually performed "Under Pressure" in concert together, but YouTubers have made a mash-up duet.
(MUSIC)
Sky says the song suits the economic hard times and the video links to help the homeless Web sites.
(MUSIC)
MOOS: There is on the ground passion and quiet humor.
MARIS: My secret favorite shot is when Kermit coughs.
SOLEIL: Oh, yes.
MOOS: Turns out Freddie Mercury Kermit, screen right, opened his mouth when he wasn`t supposed to, so they covered the mistake by having him clear his throat. Sky says he loses himself in his puppets. He says he forgets -
SOLEIL: That they`re cloth.
(MUSIC)
MOOS: These frogs don`t croak -
FREDDIE MERCURY, SINGER (SINGING): Under pressure.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Now, the directors of the comic video want people to check out "Squidoo.com/Help-The-Homeless- for-Free." It pays to help out. And I think that sounds like an excellent idea.
Well, 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. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is now live at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. That`s Monday through Friday.
HAMMER: And we are still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific here on HLN.
END
