Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Demi Lovato in Danger?; Ricky Martin`s Emotional Tell-All to Oprah; Camille Grammer`s Confession About Kelsey; The Baby Hoff Controversy; Robert Downey, Jr. to Mel Gibson`s Defense
Aired November 02, 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 - is Demi in danger? The shocking drama today surrounding Disney teen queen, Demi Lovato, yanked off her tour with the Jonas brothers and mysteriously checked into so-called treatment. Our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - is fame to blame?
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Explosive new star revelations today. Ricky Martin`s emotional tell-all to Oprah today about revealing he`s gay.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICKY MARTIN, SINGER: I felt free. I felt liberated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Camille Grammer`s shocking new confessions today about her cheating ex, Kelsey.
ANDERSON: The brand-new Hoff baby controversy. The outrage today over a baby looking like David Hasselhoff, chest hair and all. What`s that about?
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.
ANDERSON: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today - a Disney star shocker. Is Demi in danger?
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. That was the disturbing question today after one of the most mysterious things we have ever seen involving one of Disney`s hot young stars. Demi Lovato, idolized by millions of teen-aged girls yanked off a blockbuster tour with the Jonas brothers and checked in for what`s being called treatment for emotional and physical issues.
And as with other former teen stars like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the disturbing questions were being asked today about the price of fame.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) It`s a sad case we`ve seen all too often. A young star falling victim to the twin pressures of being a superstar and being a teenager.
MEREDITH VIEIRA, NBC ANCHOR: Disney star, Demi Lovato -
HAMMER: Today, mixed in with their election coverage, morning news shows reported on Disney star`s Demi Lovato`s shocking new announcement that she`s dropping out of her international tour with the Jonas Brothers.
The reason? She`s checked into a treatment center to get help for what her representatives call emotional and physical issues. In a statement, her spokesperson tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "Demi has decided to take personal responsibility for her actions and seek help."
NINA PARKER, PRODUCER, TMZ: They are saying it has nothing to do with drugs.
HAMMER: And today, as headline after headline declares that Lovato is in rehab, Lovato is making clear she is not in rehab for substance abuse and her people are making sure everyone knows that.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": She is in rehab.
HAMMER: This morning, when the hosts of "The View" used the R-word to discuss the Lovato situation, her publicist actually called right in the middle of the segment to set the record straight.
BARBARA WALTERS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Listen, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
GOLDBERG: Demi`s publicist just called us and wants to make us know she`s not in rehab. She`s in a treatment center.
HAMMER: TMZ`s Nina Parker tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Disney wants to keep any whiff of scandal away from its hottest new star.
PARKER: They really want to be clear to everybody this is more of an emotional rehabilitation, nothing to do with any type of illegal activity.
HAMMER: Lovato stars in Disney`s "Camp Rock" movie and on the Disney Channel comedy series "Sonny with a Chance."
DEMI LOVATO, ACTRESS: I hate the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I know you and you hate this.
PARKER: This was the new "it" girl for Disney. Miley Cyrus is kind of rolling out of Disney. Demi Lovato - it`s her time to shine.
HAMMER: But 18-year-old Lovato`s super-fast rise to stardom has been rocky.
LOVATO: It was really a rough time in my life.
HAMMER: Just last month, Lovato opened up to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT revealing that she`s still tormented by the bullying she suffered in middle school.
LOVATO: I was listening to what these people had to say and it affected me to this day and it caused problems for me that I still deal with every day.
HAMMER: Plus, those close to Lovato reportedly say she`s struggled in the past with eating disorders and cutting herself. And TMZ`s Nina Parker tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Lovato`s tour with the Jonas Brothers didn`t make things easier for her.
PARKER: She actually was on tour, got into some type of confrontation, we`re told, with other people that she was with on tour. In addition to that, she had a breakup with Joe Jonas who she`s touring with.
HAMMER: When you hear a teen superstar like Lovato is getting treatment for her problems, it`s hard not to think about other ex-Disney stars like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears who had their own troubles while growing up in the spotlight.
But if there`s any silver lining in Lovato`s shocking announcement, it`s that she`s getting treatment now when she`s still considered one of the good girls of Hollywood.
PARKER: You`ve never really heard of Demi getting into any controversy other than who she was dating.
HAMMER: And by getting help now instead of waiting until after she`s made the same tragic, self-destructive mistakes Britney and Lindsay made, Demi still has a chance to become a child star success story.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: The shocking turn of events for Demi Lovato is a reminder that youth and fame can be a dangerous combination. That leads me to our Flashpoint, Demi Lovato in treatment - is fame to blame?
Right now in Hollywood, Ramani Durvasula, who is a psychologist on the Bravo series, "Intervention." She is also a professor of psychology at Cal State, L.A. Also, right now, in Hollywood, Tanika Ray who is an entertainment journalist.
OK. Ramani, Tanika, it sounds like Demi`s had issues for a while now, but I bet the relentless pressures of fame did not help the situation at all. So Tanika, to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - is fame to blame, do you think, for Demi`s problems?
TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: I think, partially. Definitely, Hollywood is a complicated lover and we all know that. We`ve seen it time and time again. But I also feel like, if you`ve got internal problems going on, especially emotional and you`re a teenager, you need to go away and deal with it silently.
For her PR people and her team to say, "There`s an accident, but don`t look over here," "It`s really good, but don`t look," it`s sort of like contradicting the point in the first place. And I know her being on tour -
ANDERSON: Does everybody a disservice.
RAY: Everybody a disservice. And I know being on tour with her ex- boyfriend has got to be hard. His new girlfriend is on tour. And that`s the person that they`re saying that she had a little confrontation with.
ANDERSON: Awkward.
RAY: Yes. So it`s a recipe for a disaster.
ANDERSON: Presents a big challenge for everybody involved.
RAY: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: Well, we know that Demi has said in the past that bullying has taken a major toll on their life. And on "The View" this morning, they showed Demi in a past interview talking about how she handled it. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOVATO: For a while there, I would have no idea why, because, you know, people would say, "Oh, they`re jealous girls." And you know, you don`t like to hear that. You want a reason, so you just keep pinning it on yourself.
And I wasn`t going to be the girl that`s like, "Oh, they`re just jealous of me." I remember looking back and asking the girls, "Why are you doing this to me?" And they didn`t have a reason.
Something needs to be done because some people don`t have any outlets and, fortunately, my outlet was music.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. She seemed to have that outlet. But today, Demi`s father, Patrick, tells "Radar Online" that the pressures of Hollywood did get to Demi and that was something both of her parents worried about from the beginning. So Dr. Ramani, to the SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - do you think fame could be to blame here?
DR. RAMANI DURVASULA, PSYCHOLOGIST, "INTERVENTION" ON BRAVO: Absolutely. The kinds of pressures that Demi is under most adults would never withstand in their life. We think it`s all glamour and it`s not.
She is a child being asked to live as an adult in essence. So it`s really no wonder this doesn`t happen more often. And I think it`s really courageous that she`s actually gone public with seeking treatment, because when there`s other young people who aren`t under this kind of pressure, they might say it`s OK to get help under these circumstances.
We set these kids up to fail. They`re children. We treat them as adults. And then, this is what happens. So I think this is great that she`s getting help. It`s courageous and it`s a strong message to her fans of all ages.
ANDERSON: Yes. Very brave of her to be so public. And I just think it`s a reminder that in Hollywood, it`s a reality. These young stars are expected to shine, to perform, to always succeed and give more and more and more. And sometimes that person can just break and it seems like she`s obviously having some major issues.
Glad she`s getting help. And now, we want to hear from you on this. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive news poll - "Teen Star Demi Lovato in Treatment: Is fame to blame?" Head over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Let us know what you think.
HAMMER: Yes, no question can be real difficult. And I agree with you guys and Dr. Ramani that it`s terrific that she`s getting the treatment, obviously, and being public about it.
All right. And I do want to move on now to big Charlie Sheen news breaking today. Charlie has filed for divorce from Brooke Mueller. This is now just a week after reportedly going on that hotel rampage in New York City.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained the divorce papers today. He`s claiming irreconcilable differences. Obviously, there was a lot more that we saw going on with those two. And he also said there was a prenuptial agreement here.
I`ve got to tell you, I find the timing of all this quite interesting because Charlie and Brooke have been separated since December. Tanika, let me get your take. Why do you think he filed for divorce now?
RAY: I really don`t know. I`m in the same situation you`re in. I guess he`s trimming the fat, making it easier for him to hang out with prostitutes in hotels - I have no idea.
I don`t understand why Brooke didn`t file for divorce. That`s the most confusing part. You`ve got a knife to your throat? Girl, file for divorce, period. I don`t really understand what`s going on.
HAMMER: And he`s back to work. He`s on the set of his hit show, "Two and a Half Men."
RAY: Of course, he is.
HAMMER: Today, kind of like nothing happened. And to me, this is part of the reason why Charlie seems to get away with his bad behavior. Doctor Ramani, how does somebody go from allegedly trashing a hotel room in a drunken rage and just, you know, showing up to work and, by all accounts, doing a great job?
DURVASULA: Let`s face it. Denial is a way of life for people who have problems with drug and alcohol. I think this is more of that. Let`s focus on the mess over here rather than the real mess we have to deal with.
RAY: Absolutely.
DURVASULA: This is somebody who needs to address his problems with alcohol. He`s not. So then, let`s just deflect attention and focus on divorce. This is bad timing.
HAMMER: Yes.
DURVASULA: I mean, he can get to that. This is probably not the week for it.
HAMMER: No.
DURVASULA: So I just think it`s a continuation of the denial.
RAY: And also, A.J. -
HAMMER: Tanika Ray, Dr. Ramani - we`ve got to leave it there, Tanika. Thanks.
RAY: OK.
ANDERSON: the brand new baby controversy over a baby looking like David Hasselhoff, chest hair and all.
(MUSIC)
I`m sorry. I think this is kind of funny and cute. But let me tell you, some people are really furious over this promo for David Hasselhoff`s new show.
Camille Grammer`s shocking new confessions today about her cheating ex, Kelsey Grammer.
And I`m totally speechless about this one. Just watch. Basketball star Shaquille O`Neal in drag singing Beyonce`s "Sweet Dreams."
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: Oh, my, my. I`m going to show you more of this Shaq attack. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: It`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: "Jersey Shore" edits episode with transgendered woman after GLAAD complains. Taylor Swift`s new album "Speak Now" sells more than a million copies its first week out.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York.
HAMMER: You know, Brooke, there`s a lot of wacky stuff going on in "The Buzz Today." Justin Bieber won`t wear his own line of nail polish. Cher keeps getting mixed up about what to call her own child and Oprah reveals brand-new details about her big interview with Michael Jackson`s family. Will Michael`s three kids be there?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Oprah`s gigantic Jackson family reunion. The Big O just revealed her secret interview with Jackson`s mom, Katherine, later next week. Oprah visited the Jackson family in Encino, California last month. And she says Joe Jackson and Michael`s three children will appear in the episode, too. Oprah`s tell-all interview with Katherine Jackson airs on November 8th.
Cher`s confusion about Chaz. Cher is opening up in a brand-new interview about how hard it is for her to get used to having a son named Chaz instead of a daughter named Chastity. She`s been supportive of Chaz` decision to undergo a sex change last year.
But Cher now reveals to "Vanity Fair" she continues to mix up his gender in conversation, admitting, quote, "My pronouns are (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I still don`t remember to call her `him.`"
Bieber nailed by his own nail polish. Justin Bieber has just backed off big time from lending his name to a line of nail polish. Last month, it was announced Bieber would back a collection colors called "One Less Lonely Girl," which would hit stores in time for holiday manicure.
But at a recent press appearance, Justin may have just put a nail in the coffin of his potential polish empire saying, quote, "It`s not really my nail polish line. Like I think it`s weird to think about that."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: that`s funny because I thought it was a little weird, too. But, hey, that`s showbiz. So has the nail polish business lost its luster with Bieber?
Right now from Charlotte, Brotha Fred, who is a syndicated radio host and co-host of "Fox News Edge" and our affiliate, WCCB.
Brotha Fred, when the Bieber-inspired nail polishes hit the stores next month, I am sure One Less Lonely Girl lavender or OMB bright red - OMB means "oh, my Bieber," will be flying off the shelves.
But in a new interview out today, Justin Bieber is saying this whole idea of having his own nail polish line is, quote, "a really weird concept." I get where he`s coming from. But Brotha Fred, a deal`s a deal. Does it seem like Justin`s having some regrets now?
BROTHA FRED, CO-HOST, "FOX NEWS EDGE": First of all, he`s faking it because I think that Justin Bieber is a waxer. I think he`s very metro- sexual so I don`t think that the nail polish thing is really, you know, too far from his realm.
I think the only acceptable nail polish for a man would be the clear kind on the little toesies to make them nice and shiny when you have the flip-flops on, not that I know anything about this.
But you can call it Brotha Fred nail polish or Brooke Anderson nail polish, as long as I`m getting paid. You can put my name on whatever you want. I don`t care.
ANDERSON: Yes. And no offense to all the men who do like to wear nail polish with color. A.J.?
HAMMER: Waxer? Hello, Brotha Fred. I mean, really?
ANDERSON: Not that you do, but you`ve got more.
HAMMER: And look, I want to point out that the Bieber`s nail polish is raising money for charity, so really, no matter how weird the concept maybe to him, it is going to great cause.
Let me move on though to another story that`s making big news today. I love this. Lady Gaga gets schooled, really. A professor at the University of South Carolina is such a huge fan of Lady Gaga`s. He decided he was going to teach a course on the Sociology of Lady Gaga.
Now, I`m thinking, if you`re studying fame, Lady Gaga is about as perfect as it gets for your focus. Brotha Fred, are you ready to sign up for that?
BROTHA FRED: Yes, I`m signing up for that. Absolutely, A.J. And I think it`s really interesting, but don`t be deceived by the title of this because I`m afraid - kind of like the human sexuality class that I took in college that I thought was going to be really, because - I mean, who doesn`t know about that stuff.
It turned out to be really hard. This guy is a mega-fan. He may go to a different level. He`s met her five times apparently. And I don`t know - it may turn out to be very difficult.
ANDERSON: Well, I`ve got to tell you I think Lady Gaga is a marketing genius. So I think students may be really able to learn some useful tools from what she`s accomplished. But Lady Gaga is not the first musician to have a college course based on her.
The university of Iowa offers an Anthology of Elvis course. UCLA and USC offer classes on The Beatles. You know, the Beatles and Elvis are music icons. So Brotha Fred, does this mean Lady Gaga has achieved icon status?
BROTHA FRED: I don`t think there`s any question about that. I wonder if there`s going to be any kind of meat cutting course in the class so can you wear the meat dress if you want to or whatever. Who knows?
They had an "American Idol" class around here someplace, UNC Charlotte or something like that. So I`m signing up for it. I`m in. Sign me up.
ANDERSON: All right. You`re in. You`re in for that entertainment - that sort of education. OK. Brotha Fred, good to see you. Thanks so much.
Hey, we`ve got Downey to the defense today. Robert Downey Jr.`s brand-new passionate defense today for Mel Gibson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR., ACTOR: When I was not hirable, he put his (EXPLETIVE DELETED) on the line and hired me and I couldn`t get insured. And he said, "I`ll take that chance."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Could standing by Mel backfire on Downey? And "Jersey Shore`s" The Situation gets grilled today over the way he treats women, especially the way he calls ones he thinks are ugly "grenade."
And Ricky Martin`s emotional revelations to Oprah today about revealing he`s gay.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": What was the defining moment that made you say, "I am not going to live the lie anymore. I`m not going to pretend to be anything other than what I am"?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Oh, god. 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.
TEXT: Rapper T.I. returns to Arkansas to serve 11-months in jail for violating probation. Fergie says she`s blessed to be alive after battling crystal meth addiction.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Poor Kim Kardashian. She just broke her toe. But her fingers are just fine. Kim had no problem using her fingers to tweet about her toe travesty. Kim says, "I knew my clumsiness would catch up to me at some point. I tripped on a suitcase on the floor and broke my toe. Woke up today with my toe an unusual shade of purple. At least it feels better."
But the question today, of course, Brooke, is, will this stop Kim K. from wearing those super-high heels that she`s always wearing?
ANDERSON: No. Never, A.J. I bet she says, to heck with the broken toe. The heels are way more important. All right. Right now, we got your very first look at Miley Cyrus in a steamy new music video.
HAMMER: Yes. Brooke, this is actually not Miley`s song. It`s Rock Mafia`s "The Big Bang." And I`ve got to tell you. Miley`s doing some pretty provocative stuff in it. Take a look at this.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: OK. By the way, the guy in Miley`s music video - it`s directed by (UNINTELLIGIBLE). That`s "Gossip Girl" star, Kevin Zegers.
And lots of you posted on our Facebook wall today. Courteney Cox is speaking out for the first time about her split from David Arquette. So we asked you, do you think they`ll get back together?
Jan S. would like to see that happen, "I certainly hope so as I think they really love each other."
But Bonnie S. is skeptical, "If he shuts his mouth and stops sleeping around, he may just get her back."
HAMMER: Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The brand new Hoff baby controversy. Outrage today over a baby looking like David Hasselhoff, chest hair and all.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Funny? Creepy? Why are people so fired up about this?
Camille Grammer`s shocking new confessions about her cheating ex Kelsey Grammer.
And The Situation on live TV over the way he treats women especially the way he calls women he thinks are ugly grenades. What`s that about? 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: Kim Kardashian is reportedly recording an album! Rihanna and Katy Perry working on an album together, Riri says she`d love to tour with Katy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - the huff over the Hoff. Why are so many people outraged today by a baby that looks like David Hasselhoff, chest hair and all?
Stunning star confessions today. Camille Grammer`s shocking new confessions about her cheating ex-husband, Kelsey.
Did you see this? Shaq trades in his basketball uniform for a dress and a wig.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Oh, my. Shaq channeling his inner Beyonce. Dude is seven feet tall and weighs 325.
Plus, breaking today from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker," are there new racy "GQ" "Glee" photos? And bikers dance to Bieber.
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 - Downey to the defense.
HAMMER: Yes. Robert Downey, Jr. is passionately standing by his long-time friend, Mel Gibson, today in a brand-new explosive interview. Downey credits Mad Mel for helping him rehabilitate his own Hollywood career. So what does he think of Mel now?
With me right now from Hollywood is Brian Balthazar who is the editor for "PopGoesTheWeek.com." Also in Hollywood, Tanika Ray, who is an entertainment journalist.
Robert Downey, Jr. made it very clear today his friendship with Mel Gibson is far more important than becoming a part of the media firestorm that has surrounded Mel throughout all of this drama.
I want you to watch carefully what Robert Downey, Jr. told Meredith Vieira this morning on the "Today" show when she asked for his take on all of Mel`s troubles. And I love his perspective here. Roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOWNEY: He and I have a friendship that spans well over two decades and he`s a stand-up guy. He always has been for me. And certainly, when I was not hirable, he put his (EXPLETIVE DELETED) on the line and I couldn`t get insured and he said, "I`ll take that chance."
VIEIRA: And so now that he`s going through his own issues, what goes through your mind when you see this happening to him, knowing what you went through?
DOWNEY: I think what goes through my mind is there`s the reality of what happens to people and the mistakes they make and the journeys they`re on. And then there`s the media and then there`s everybody`s opinion.
And so the way I honor my friendship with him is by not getting too involved in whatever the public discussion is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is why I like him so much. Hard not to respect Robert Downey, Jr. for clearly having his priorities in order.
Tanika, I think, you know, particularly, given all Mel Gibson`s been through and is going through, he`s pretty lucky to have a friend like Robert Downey, Jr. in Hollywood right now.
RAY: RDJ, that was very admirable. And let me tell you, he`s not the only one standing up for Mel Gibson. Yes, we have our opinion, too, on the show.
But Whoopi Goldberg is also standing up for Mel Gibson. He`s got friends that have his back. And that`s a beautiful thing to see here in Hollywood. That doesn`t mean he hasn`t done disgusting things in the past and he probably needs help for it.
But hands up, RDJ. That was really, really cool. And that`s what Mel needs right now is his friends to stay close to help him through this tough time.
HAMMER: Yes, Brian. I imagine a lot of people who are pretty close with Mel are surely running and hiding from the cameras so they`re not asked those questions. And I don`t think Robert Downey, Jr. could have said it any more plainly, he`s there when Mel needs him.
BRIAN BALTHAZAR, EDITOR, "POPGOESTHEWEEK.COM": Yes, I think a lot of celebrities are carrying around a 10-foot pole they do not want to touch this story with. And I think he took a very diplomatic approach. There are many people that feel really strongly about Mel Gibson.
Obviously, you know, his own coast star - Robert Downey, Jr.`s co- star, Zach Galifianakis, was partly the reason that Mel Gibson is not going to be in "The Hangover" sequel. So there are some really powerful opinions about this matter.
HAMMER: I think Robert Downey, Jr. preparing to watch a 3-d movie there with those glasses he had on. Speaking of "The Hangover," there were those reports of Robert Downey, Jr. did have a hand in getting Mel a cameo in "Hangover 2." And of course, after word got out of Mel`s "Hangover" gig, Mel was axed from the movie. Well, today, Meredith did ask Robert Downey, Jr. about that. Watch what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIEIRA: Let me ask you about something. It has been reported, maybe the media reporting this, that you tried to help him get a role in "Hangover 2", the cameo, unfortunately, that he did not - he got it and then it was taken away.
DOWNEY: First of all, he doesn`t need my help. He will always have my friendship. And that`s just talking about business and Hollywood stuff, which, to me, is nowhere near as important as friendship.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Doesn`t get more humble than that. Brooke, I think that Robert Downey, Jr. made himself very clear today in how much he values his friendship with Mel Gibson.
ANDERSON: Absolutely, A.J. He handled those questions perfectly. And while Robert Downey, Jr. was defending Mel, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino was defending himself.
The "Jersey Shore" star got himself into a situation this morning on the "Today" show when Al Roker pressed him over the way The Situation referred to some girls as "grenades" on the "Jersey Shore" and whether he`s being misogynistic towards women in his just-released book. Here`s The Situation. OK, watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE "THE SITUATION" SORRENTINO, CAST MEMBER, "THE JERSEY SHORE": It`s a humorous, humorous look at (UNINTELLIGIBLE), at you know, being your 20s, you know, eating, you know, going out, dating, working out and it`s sort of like a lifestyle, but a very humorous way to look at it - almost like "Jersey Shore."
AL ROKER, CO-HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: You don`t feel that your book - I fear it might be a little disrespectful to women.
SORRENTINO: No, it`s a humorous look. That word "grenade" that I actually just commonly - just came out with as a joke is such a popular phrase in the country right now. I didn`t mean it to - mean it to hurt anybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tanika -
RAY: Brooke?
ANDERSON: To hear he did not intend to be disrespectful towards women. But part of the cynicism, do you really believe him?
RAY: No, I don`t believe anything coming out of his mouth. Here`s what it comes down to. He is a (EXPLETIVE DELETED). He`s made money off of being a jerk. He is capitalizing on being a jerk.
So now that he`s saying like, "I didn`t mean to do it," yes, he did. And let me be really honest. If he was walking down the street and I didn`t know who he was, I would think he was a grenade himself, beyond himself.
ANDERSON: Brian, off to you. Do you think The Situation maybe is learning really fast here that he needs to be a little bit more sensitive in the way he refers to women?
BALTHAZAR: He`s laughing all the way to the bank. And you know, Al used the word "misogynistic" and I`m not sure The Situation knew what it meant. So he`s struggling through that.
RAY: He doesn`t.
BALTHAZAR: He`s working out his body a lot. He might want to work out his brain so he can come up with an articulate response to questions about why he uses words that are denigrating towards women.
HAMMER: See, I don`t think that he actually means to be denigrating towards women. He just doesn`t know what he`s doing. He has no idea.
RAY: He doesn`t.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: I`m actually cutting him some slack there, you know. Goodness gracious.
RAY: Are you really?
HAMMER: Yes. Well, only in that he really has no clue. All right. I do want to move on to the brand-new bombshell interviewing airing tonight on HLN`s "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW."
Now, Joy spoke with Kelsey Grammer`s soon-to-be ex-wife, Camille. Camille, of course, stars in "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." She`s 42 years old. She says that Kelsey told her he was leaving her, after their 13 years of marriage, for a 29-year-old woman.
Well, Camille talked with Joy Behar about how she dealt with that ego that comes with being a huge star like Kelsey Grammer. Watch what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMILLE GRAMMER, CAST MEMBER, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS": It`s very hard. You get used to it after a while.
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": You have to submerge your own ego, which I assume you have a strong one also?
C. GRAMMER: Yes. The only thing I regret is that I put so much time into taking care of him and making sure that his needs were met and, you know, he was OK, that, I, you know, didn`t take enough time to take care of myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`ve got to tell you, I have always been a huge fan of Kelsey Grammer`s. I don`t know the reality of what happened between the two of them. But Tanika, are you sitting squarely on team Camille or team Kelsey here? What`s your take?
RAY: Oh, gosh. I don`t want to take a side yet. Look, when it comes down to it, Camille has said very openly on that show that she wants to be famous and she wants to take care of herself and she wants to nurture her own sort of career.
So we all know where she stands. She`s going to take this and juice it for all it`s worth. I don`t really care that much. I feel like Kelsey`s a great actor. He hasn`t done anything publicly that we`re disgusted by like Charlie Sheen, et cetera.
So we kind of have to be hands off in this situation. Camille, juice it for all it`s worth, but you`ve got to live with the situation afterwards, and I don`t mean Mike "The Situation."
HAMMER: Of course. And Brian, I`ve got to get your take as well, because obviously, you know, there is stuff that comes along with living with and being married to such an enormous star like a Kelsey Grammer.
BALTHAZAR: A lot, and part of that is a lot of money. And I`m sure that was hard for her, too.
RAY: Ding dong.
BALTHAZAR: And I`m just going to say you go on a "Real Housewives" show and it`s not about character. Let`s be honest. So she`s going out there, creating a big personality, big story. So I`m not all that sympathetic. She`s getting her moment in the spotlight. And you know, what Tanika said, work it now. Work it now, baby.
HAMMER: Yes. She wants to make a name for herself and, wow, what a platform to do it. Brian Balthazar, Tanika Ray, thanks, guys.
ANDERSON: All right. We`ve got to move now to the huff over the Hoff? People outraged today over a baby that looks like David Hasselhoff, chest hair and all.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: The Hoff baby controversy is exploding today. Some people are really upset over this.
Ricky Martin opens up to Oprah today about his brave decision to tell the world he`s gay.
Did you see this?
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: What is this? Shaq sings Beyonce in a wig and a dress? But why? Why? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: Time to roll out the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Uma Thurman stalker reportedly contacted her, violating order of protection. Bikers dance to Justin Bieber "American Music Awards" promo.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Oh, baby. The iconic red shorts. The music. Why, that looks just like the iconic opening scene of "Bay Watch." But it`s a baby David Hasselhoff, chest hair and all. And I`ve got to tell you, it is sparking a debate today that`s hotter than the beaches of Malibu. Creepy or cute?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Trust me, we`ll get to the baby Hoff outrage in just a moment, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Yes.
HAMMER: But first Ricky Martin`s shocking new confessions today.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. Ricky Martin revealed painful new details to Oprah Winfrey today in his first TV interview about the road to coming out and revealing he is gay.
Ricky also tells Oprah for the very first time how Barbara Walters almost caused him to keep his secret hidden forever.
Right now, in New York, is Janell Snowden. She is the host of "VH1 News." Also in New York is Ben Widdicombe. He is a celebrity journalist.
Janell, Ben, Ricky Martin is one sexy man. He is adored by millions. But even with all that love, Ricky reveals that at the height of his fame, he hated himself for living a lie. Watch what he told Oprah.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: What was the defining moment that made you say, "I am not going to live the lie anymore. I`m not going to pretend to be anything other than what I am"? What was that defining moment?
MARTIN: I think it just - you just go to bed and you say, "I hate myself," and you just don`t want to say that again. It`s like look at everything you`ve done with your family, with your charity, look at all the love that you`ve given, how can you hate yourself? And Oprah, that was it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ricky obviously still has a hard time talking about his intense pain. Janell, I cannot even fathom Ricky Martin, megastar, going to bed every night hating himself. It`s shocking to hear him say that.
JANELL SNOWDEN, HOST, "VH1 NEWS": I know. And I can say that when I interviewed him on countless occasions, there were lots of girls at our office who would have happily said, "Oh, Ricky, please don`t hate yourself. I`ll give you a million reasons why you shouldn`t."
I can only imagine the pain he must have felt to have hidden what he thought was a secret. Let`s be honestly. It was only a secret to, you know, those who live in oblivion, I guess.
And so I guess he feared that he might lose those legions of fans. And like he said, I mean, he`s done so much for so many with his charity and with his music.
ANDERSON: Yes.
SNOWDEN: He`s been famous his whole life. So I`m happy if he`s happy. And I think that in his case, parenthood probably did what Barbara Walters couldn`t as far as -
ANDERSON: Well, speaking of Barbara Walters, listen to this. He also spoke out today about that now-infamous interview in 2000 when Barbara Walters asked him if he would put all the rumors to rest about his sexuality. He didn`t answer. And at the time, a lot of people thought Barbara went way too far, including Ricky. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN: She knocked me out.
WINFREY: Yes.
MARTIN: Because I was trying to - you know, I had my little monologue prepared, what I was used to answering. But she kept on going and going and going and I`m going back - I just wasn`t ready, Oprah. I wasn`t ready. It was not my moment.
WINFREY: At the end of that interview, Ricky, did you feel embarrassed? Did you feel ashamed? Were you mad at Barbara? What?
MARTIN: I felt anger afterwards because I felt invaded. I felt violated in many ways.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Those are stunning words. He felt violated. Barbara later apologized for pressing Ricky like that.
OK. I`ve got to move now to this. I`ve been waiting the entire show for this - the new David Hasselhoff outrage today. It`s a spoof of David` iconic run on the beach in the opening credits of "Bay Watch." But here`s a twist.
HAMMER: Yes. It`s a baby Hoff. And as you see in these pictures we`ve been showing you, chest hair and all, just like David Hasselhoff. I guess that`s what he`s known for.
And there are actually a lot of people out there pretty ticked off about this ad. It is actually an ad for David`s new reality show about his family, which is called "The Hasselhoffs." Take a look at this.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Yes. Some people are born awesome. Clearly, David Hasselhoff is one of them. I actually think it`s pretty funny. You know, we`re seeing babies turn into adults all the time on television now.
There`s major debate going on today. Some people are saying, you know, it isn`t right to show a baby like this. I actually read somebody on a blog somewhere who threw around the word "pedophilia." I thought that was a little strong. But here`s our SHOWBIZ flashpoint - pretty cool or pretty creepy? Ben Widdicombe, to you.
BEN WIDDICOMBE, CELEBRITY JOURNALIST: I think it`s completely creepy, but it`s also kind of effective. I mean, I went to the Web site. I wanted to see about the show.
I saw the other video which is of him in front of a bus singing to a crowd of stunned-looking San Diegans. So it would pique my curiosity. I think the only thing worse or more assuming that that baby with the chest hair would have been a mini-Pamela Anderson with a fake chest. That would have been worse.
HAMMER: That would have been worse. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did catch up with David last night on the red carpet during the "Dancing with the Stars" program. And he couldn`t stop talking about the baby Hoff. Look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID HASSELHOFF, ACTOR: I`ve got a series coming out on December 5th called "The Hasselhoffs." And we just launched a commercial today. Go to "GetHoffed.com" - H-O-F-F-E-D dot com. You`ll see the commercial. It`s really cute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. How thrilled is he that he`s getting all this publicity for it. So he thinks it`s cute. I`ve got to point out the baby really has nothing to do with the show. It`s about David`s kids trying to be pop stars.
But Janell, is the baby Hoff to you pretty cool or pretty creepy?
SNOWDEN: I actually love the commercial. But I also love those e- Trade commercials with the babies acting grown, too. I personally would rather see the baby running down the beach than the Hoff.
HAMMER: There`s your reality show right there. We`ll get right on that. Janell Snowden, Ben Widdicombe, thanks, guys.
ANDERSON: All right. There`s a new dancing diva blowing up all over the Internet today.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: Who is that trying to shake it like Beyonce? Oh, wait, it`s basketball star Shaquille O`Neal. Why, Shaq? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: Now, some people think that`s creepy. Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Mary Tyler Moore and Betty White to reunite on TV Land`s "Hot in Cleveland." "GQ" to post behind-the-scenes video from the "Glee" photo shoot on "GQ.com."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Introducing, one of my top clients, Shaqeeta(ph). Ain`t nobody better than this girl right here.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: All right. Did you see this? That`s one big woman busting a move to Beyonce`s "Sweet Dreams." Wait a second. That`s not a woman at all. That`s Shaquille. I mean, Shaqeeta O`Neal. Beyonce, better watch out. Brooke, Shaqeeta is in the house and she is ready to party.
ANDERSON: A.J., lots of people are talking about Shaqeeta`s new video. So who is this dancing diva?
HAMMER: Well, Shaqeeta, as I said, is actually NBA superstar, Shaquille O`Neal. Now, Shaq is introduced the world to Shaqeeta on Halloween. I don`t know trick Shaq used to squeeze that 7`1" body into that outfit. But here`s the treat, Shaqeeta, shaking it like Beyonce.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shaqeeta, ain`t nobody better than this girl right here.
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Fascinating to me and frightening all at once, Brooke. Imagine that showing up at your door on Halloween.
ANDERSON: Yes. No sweet dreams for me, A.J. It`s not so beautiful. But, hey, it`s funny and I love that Shaquille O`Neal has such a great sense of humor, don`t you? I mean, he likes to have fun and he loves to laugh at himself. He`s got the moves as well.
HAMMER: No question.
ANDERSON: All right. On Monday, we asked to you vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. Just moments ago, we did get those final results - "Charlie Sheen: What should happen to him next?" Check this out - 36 percent say rehab, 34 percent say nothing and 30 percent think he should get fired from his hit CBS show, "Two and a Half Men."
Here are some of the E-mails we got. Annette from Texas writes, "Charlie Sheen needs to stop thinking about women and concentrate on getting well by going to rehab."
Kris from California says this, "Charlie Sheen should be fired. He is sending a terrible message."
HAMMER: Well, we thank you for watching. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live 5:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday.
HAMMER: It`s still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. END
