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Showbiz Tonight
Mel Gibson`s Slap Scandal; Tiger Woods` First Mistress Breaks Her Silence; The Gosselin Kids Expelled?; Jessica Simpson Engaged; Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg`s Tearful Reunion; LeAnn Rimes Publicly Congratulating Her Ex
Aired November 15, 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, HOST: We`ve got big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Mel`s slap scandal. Mel Gibson reportedly admits he did slap his ex- girlfriend. Well, today, Mel`s explosive reason why he says he did it.
Tiger`s first mistress breaks her silence. Rachel Uchitel, the first woman Tiger Woods allegedly had an affair with makes a stunning confession today. Will anyone feel sorry for her?
The Gosselin kids expelled? Unbelievable new reports today that some of Jon and Kate`s kids have been kicked out of school. Is their reality TV fame to blame?
Jessica Simpson engaged. Jessica gets engaged just two weeks after her ex Nick Lachey does. Hmm. Coincidence or is something tuna fishy going on here?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking today - Mel Gibson`s explosive admission.
Today, we are hearing dramatic new details about Mad Mel`s messy breakup with his ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva. Now, Gibson reportedly admits for the very first time that he did slap Oksana.
We have seen the scandalous clip playing out in the headlines, those disturbing voice messages, Oksana`s accusations of violence and Mel`s outrageous threats. But in court documents TMZ posted today, Gibson apparently reveals for the very first time that he did, in fact, get physical with Oksana.
And if you think that confession is incredible, wait until you hear the reason he reportedly says he slapped her.
With me, in New York, is Sunny Hostin. Sunny is a legal contributor for "In Session" on our sister network, Tru TV. Also, in New York, Cooper Lawrence, who is a syndicated radio host and the author of this book, "The Cult of Celebrity."
So after months of hearing Oksana`s accusation, it really is something that we`re finally, finally getting to hear Mel`s side of the story. I want to go now to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter in Hollywood. Kareen, this goes all the way back to that reported explosive fight these two had in January?
KAREEN WYNTER, CORRESPONDENT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: That`s right, A.J. It does. This is truly wild. TMZ reports that Gibson talked about that fight in a court declaration last July. It was part of a long custody war between Mel and Oksana over their baby girl, Lucia.
Oksana has claimed that during an explosive argument on January 6th of this year Mel, punched her in the head and mouth and, get this, knocked out two of her teeth. But in Mel`s declaration - TMZ reports today that Mel claims he was just trying to save their baby.
In the court documents quoted by TMZ, Gibson reportedly says, and I`m quoting here, "Oksana was acting hysterical and Lucia was screaming as her rapid movements were causing Lucia`s little body to be flung from one side to the other, her head shaking violently."
"I could see that Oksana`s behavior had spiraled out of control. I feared the physical risk to Lucia associated with shaking an infant Lucia`s age known as `shaken baby syndrome.`"
Gibson goes on to say, quote, "I slapped Oksana one time with an open hand in an attempt to bring her back to reality. I did not slap her hard. I was just trying to shock her so that she would stop screaming, continuing shaking Lucia back and forth."
But, A.J., Gibson - and I`m going to make it clear here - he denies - denies he hit Oksana with a closed fist or that he struck their baby, both claims, by the way, Oksana has made in the past.
HAMMER: Yes. Mel Gibson saying he`s never, ever hit Oksana ever before. And it`s never happened except for this one slapping incident. Police investigating Gibson for domestic violence charges but no charges have been filed yet.
Sunny Hostin, off to you. Mel apparently admitting, yes, he slapped Oksana but it was for his baby`s sake. Is his reasoning a justifiable defense?
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION" ON TRU TV: No, no, it`s never a defense to hit another woman. A man should never hit a woman. And quite frankly, nobody should hit anyone else. That`s assaultive behavior.
Can it stand up in a court of law? I mean, there is a defense that you can try to protect your child, but I don`t believe that at all. He`s admitted to assaulting her and I think any jury, any woman on a jury, is going to find him guilty of domestic violence just based on that admission alone.
HAMMER: But it`s interesting to sort of understand why he would say that because he claims that she was acting so erratically and he needed to calm her down for the safety of their baby. Cooper, what do you make of Mel`s "I hit Oksana to save Lucia" claim?
LAWRENCE: No. You take the baby and you leave the house if you think that she`s put the baby in danger.
HOSTIN: Right.
LAWRENCE: It`s not a movie. You don`t smack somebody and they go - and they`re back, you know. He`s watching too many of his own movies. If he was really concerned with the safety of this child, he could have called 911. He could have taken the baby. He could have left. But the idea you never put your hands on a woman for any reason.
HOSTIN: That`s right.
HAMMER: I couldn`t agree with both of you more on that. Well, the Mel- Oksana fight in question appears to be this very same fight that we heard the ex-couple mention in those secret recordings that were made by Oksana and, of course, posted on "Radar Online."
And at one point in those recordings, you may remember this, Gibson appears to reference having hit Oksana. Let`s listen to that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (allegedly Oksana Grigorieva): You almost killed us. Did you forget?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): The last three years has been a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) gravy train for you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (allegedly Oksana Grigorieva): You were a hitting a woman with a child in her hands. You - what kind of man is that, hitting a woman when she`s holding a child in her hands, breaking her teeth twice in the face. What kind of man is that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): Oh, you`re all angry now. You know what? You (EXPLETIVE DELETED) deserved it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (allegedly Oksana Grigorieva): You know what? You`re going to answer. One day, boy, you`re going to answer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): What, are you threatening me?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (allegedly Oksana Grigorieva): Nothing, nothing. I`m not the one to threaten.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (allegedly Mel Gibson): I`ll threaten - I`ll put you in the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) rose garden, you (EXPLETIVE DELETED)!
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Sunny, understanding, of course, it is never right to hit a woman. You say that wouldn`t be a justifiable defense, even if he was trying, as he claimed, to help or save their child. When you hear that recording now after we`ve heard Mel`s apparent reasoning, again, trying to protect his daughter, do people need to start cutting him a break at all?
HOSTIN: No.
HAMMER: Not at all?
HOSTIN: No, not at all. I mean, he`s admitted to striking her. He admitted it on that tape. Now, he`s admitted it in a court affidavit. You don`t get a break for domestic violence. I mean, that is really just the bottom line here, A.J.
He hit Oksana and that`s enough for me and I think it would be enough for a jury and it would be enough for a court of law. He just doesn`t have a justifiable defense.
HAMMER: All right. Fair enough. I do want to move on because Mel is not the only one making an explosive admission today. Alleged Tiger Woods mistress, Rachel Uchitel, is breaking her silence and coming as close as she ever has or probably ever will to finally admitting an affair with Tiger.
Back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter in Hollywood. Kareen, what is Rachel Uchitel saying?
WYNTER: Well, in an extensive interview with the U.K.`s "Daily Mail," Rachel says that losing her fiance on 9/11 - it actually sent her into a downward spiral. She says, quote, "I plunged head first into relationships which I should never have been in."
She didn`t, however, A.J., answer specific questions about you-know-who, Tiger, probably because of that reported multimillion dollar settlement she reached with Tiger. But she was asked, pointblank, if she regrets sleeping with a married man.
She says, quote, "Yes, of course. I will never, ever do that again." And correct me if I`m wrong here, A.J., the article left little doubt about which married man Rachel was referring to.
HAMMER: Yes. Little at all. Well, this article really goes into this intense detail about how Uchitel says she felt with she lost her fiancee. That is certainly something that people can sympathize with. But Cooper, does this make you at all feel sorry for her knowing what she`s done, allegedly?
LAWRENCE: No, because I believe in personal responsibility. And we`ve all lost people. A lot of us have, myself included, we all lost people we were close with on 9/11. To walk around and use that as an excuse for bad behavior is just (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to the memory.
HAMMER: I don`t know if she was doing that. I think she was trying to give it context. I don`t know that she was saying, well -
LAWRENCE: There`s still personal responsibility.
HOSTIN: Yes.
LAWRENCE: There`s still the idea that she - also, you know, the fact that she was in love with Tiger, then what`s the $10 million for? She says she not a whore? Well, I have ex-boyfriends. I haven`t asked them for money.
HAMMER: Right.
LAWRENCE: So to me, that`s a whore.
HAMMER: And of course, there`s been no confirmation that she was, in fact, paid $10 million. Something else that Rachel says in this article caught my eye about her life now.
Listen to what she tells the "Daily Mail," quote, "Women don`t like me because they see me as a threat, but I just want to be loved. And that got me into trouble because I made some bad choices in men. What woman doesn`t understand that?"
Sunny, I go to you as a woman, not just a lawyer. Do you understand that?
HOSTIN: I don`t understand it. I don`t understand it at all. I`m sorry. Maybe I`m not that woman. Bu you know, she slept with a married man. I agree with Cooper. People - women lose, you know, their loved ones all the time but that doesn`t mean that they end up in the bed of a married man.
It`s such complete nonsense and for her to really use the 9/11 excuse is deplorable. It just makes me dislike her even more.
HAMMER: All right. We will leave it there. Sunny Hostin, Cooper Lawrence, I thank you both.
As we move on today, Sarah Palin`s brand new reality show just premiered. I can tell you millions of people watched this thing. So here`s the big question I`m asking today - will this show help Sarah if she decides to run for president in 2012?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FMR. GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK): People know me from the political stage or from my book perhaps. But I`m a mother of five and it`s important to me that my kids see everything that Alaska has to offer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A very different side of Sarah Palin. So is this just a big campaign tactic?
The Gosselin kids expelled? Wait until you hear this - unbelievable new reports today that some of Jon and Kate`s kids have been kicked out of school. Is their reality TV fame to blame?
And it has been one of the longest running reported feuds of all time. I`m talking about Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg. This has been going on for a quarter century. Today, they finally patch things up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Whoopi came up to me and she said, "Can I just ask you something?" Really? She said, "Can I just ask you something? Did I do something to you?"
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: These two finally get to the bottom of their mysterious feud. 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: Oprah, Britney Spears, Beyonce are highest-earning women in showbiz. Russell Brand addresses reports about his wedding to Katy Perry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here`s another rumor. Twenty-one camels, elephants and horses were part of the wedding procession.
RUSSELL BRAND, COMEDIAN: They were not. It was just mostly friends and family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And right now, Sarah Palin, a rock star? Well, not exactly. But Sarah Palin does go rock climbing on TV. Could this be a presidential campaign tactic?
President Clinton`s big hangover today. And today, another brand-new Michael Jackson song is released. All this in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Jackson`s new jam.
(MUSIC)
A brand new Michael Jackson song called "Hold My Hand" was just released online. This song is a duet with Akon and was recorded in 2007. And it`s the very first song of Jackson`s new album, "Michael."
(MUSIC)
Clinton and "The Hangover 2?" Former President Bill Clinton apparently just taped a cameo for the film in Thailand.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is this? Oh, my god.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is my tooth.
HAMMER: According to "People.com," Clinton plays himself in the comedy.
Palin presidential reality? Sarah Palin just debuted her brand-new reality show, "Sarah Palin`s Alaska," on TLC.
S. PALIN: Oh, my god!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`ve always wanted to be a rock climber, Sarah.
S. PALIN: Was it a rock climber or a rock star?
HAMMER: The all-access look at Palin`s adventurous side is sparking heated speculation that she`s not just scaling glaciers on the show. She`s actually chipping away at a presidential plot for 2012.
S. PALIN: We`re near the top of the world.
HAMMER: Palin has been hinting that she would run for president if no one else wants the job.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So if Sarah Palin does want the job, could this reality show be the key to her presidential hopes?
Right now, in Hollywood, Carlos Diaz who is a syndicated radio host. And in Chicago, Kelli Zink, the host of "CelebTV.com."
I`ve got to say, Palin`s show does have its entertaining moments. But Carlos, a lot of people just see this as a controlled way for Sarah Palin to boost her image for a possible run for the White House. Is that how you see it?
CARLOS DIAZ, SYNDICATED RADIO HOST: A.J., I`m going to kill myself for saying this - Sarah Palin is a genius. I said it, she`s a genius -
HAMMER: All right.
DIAZ: Because she`s doing everything right. She gets Mark Burnett involved in the show. By the way, numbers are in. Five million people watched the show. It`s the biggest new show ever in the history of TLC.
So she`s letting America see herself - letting America see her before she does a run for presidency, and I think it`s a great idea on her part. She`s in her natural environment.
HAMMER: Wow.
DIAZ: Everything about this is right. I know. I know it`s tough for you to hear this coming from my lips. But I would like to see Sarah Palin`s Washington, D.C. That`s the next show I want to see.
HAMMER: All right. That may be a bit away. But it`s interesting, Carlos, and I hope you don`t kill yourself, by the way. You mentioned the five million viewers who tuned in to see the show. It makes it the number one launch in all of TLC`s history.
It`s also making some big buzz among our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT iReporters. Cameron Harrelson of Baxley, Georgia tells us the show showed us a different side of Palin. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMERON HARRELSON, BAXLEY, GEORGIA: You know, so often we`ve been blinded by the media`s attacks on her and her family that we never get to see who this woman is behind the cameras. And you know, she really is an admirable person. So if you`re someone who`s trying to find out who Sarah Palin is and what she`s all about, this is the show for you to watch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks, Cameron. Now, the show does give us a different look at Sarah Palin. So if it is about boosting Palin`s image, I can see how, by our iReporter`s thinking, it could actually work.
Kelli, to you, this show - is it going to make her a bigger star or a bigger politician?
KELLI ZINK, HOST, "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD": Bigger star. Here`s the thing, A.J. If you don`t like Sarah Palin, watching the show is not going to make you like her any more.
For someone like me who is not the biggest fan of her politics, I laugh. I mean, she`s a character. If anything, it makes me want to travel to Alaska, which is beautiful.
But Sarah Palin - this is not going to help her campaign any more than Bristol on "Dancing with the Stars."
HAMMER: Well, let`s take a look at this because just handed to me the results of our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll, and here is what we asked - "`Sarah Palin`s Alaska`: Do you think Palin`s reality show will win her more fans?"
Now, 22 percent, a pretty low number, said yes, it will. Seventy-eight percent said no. And Carlos, I`m actually thinking, kind of like Kelli, that people who don`t like Sarah Palin - it`s not like they`re going to be tuning into the show, are they?
DIAZ: Well, it`s kind of - you almost want to tune in for the train wreck appeal. You know, you`re like - I mean, I`m not a big fan of Sarah Palin, but I watch a little bit because you want to see so you can like go into work the next day and go, oh, my gosh -
ZINK: We can`t have a politician who is a train wreck.
DIAZ: I know. But that`s the thing. I think we`re beyond Sarah Palin as a serious politician. But in the show, she can sneak in little tidbits like, "Oh, I like this fence in my front yard. We need this on the Mexican border." Or you see that she`s tough on her daughter`s boyfriend, so she`ll be tough with other things.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: It`s maybe a controlled way of her getting her message out there. She has control over this thing. Carlos Diaz, Kelli Zink, we`re going to leave it there. Thanks, guys.
All right. As we move on, there`s big news today from Jessica Simpson. She is engaged. But this is making me go hmm, because just days ago, her ex, Nick Lachey - he got engaged to Vanessa Minnillo. I`ve got to ask, is this a coincidence or is there something tuna fishy going on there?
There is something going on with those Gosselin kids. They have reportedly been expelled from school. We`re asking today - is their reality TV fame to blame?
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: Whoopi came up to me and she said, "Can I just ask you something?" Really. She said, "Can I just ask you something? Did I do something to you?"
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oprah and Whoopi`s tearful reunion. These two have reportedly been fighting for 25 years. And today, they settle it once and for all. Wait until we show this to you. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, it`s the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Brad Pitt in talks to make a movie about the trapped Chilean miners. Rihanna and drake debut video for their number one song, "What`s My Name."
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The next couple safe is Bristol and Mark.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There is no question about it. Bristol Palin stunned a whole lot of people by making it to the final four on "Dancing with the Stars." So what about this so-called tea party conspiracy theory?
Yes, there`s actually a theory out there that there`s some organized "get out the vote" campaign to keep Bristol on the show. Well, Bristol is speaking out today.
OK, so, obviously, the tea party movement helped Republicans take over the House of Representatives. And Bristol`s mom, Sarah, is of course a tea party favorite. So people have started wondering, could the tea party actually be organizing a "keep Bristol on `Dancing with the Stars`" campaign? You`ve got to listen to what Bristol just told "E! News`" Giuliana Rancic about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRISTOL PALIN, SARAH PALIN`S DAUGHTER: I work my butt off here. I come in every day. I rehearse every day. I`m totally out of my element here and I think I deserve to be here. And when people say, "oh, it`s just because of the tea party," I always think of - think of all the people out there to hate my mom.
Like, why don`t we talk about that? Why don`t that be another topic of conversation? So it can work both ways, me being Sarah Palin`s daughter. They could either hate me or they could love me.
I`m just thankful that we`re in this competition and I really don`t care who`s voting for us, but thank you for voting for us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I kind of understand the logic although if you don`t like her, you`re not going to vote for her. So I`m not exactly sure about it. But I think Bristol has clearly improved on the show. I`m also not alone in thinking she`s not in the same league as Brandy or Jennifer Grey, but you never know. Maybe she`ll win the whole thing.
Well, a lot of posts are coming in to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page today about Kanye West canceling his upcoming "Today" show appearance. Now, Kanye didn`t like his interview with Matt Lauer at all.
Here`s what Champel L. says, who is on team Kanye, "So what if Kanye doesn`t want to do the concert? Get over it. I`m sure they can find someone else."
But Minette C. is slamming Kanye, saying, "What a childish twit. He`s always shooting his mouth off and shooting himself in the foot. When he grows up, he can try again.
Connect with me. Join our debates on Facebook. We are SHOWBIZ TONIGHT HLN there. You can follow us @SHOWBIZTONIGHT on Twitter for breaking entertainment news alerts. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call" - 1-888- SBT-BUZZ. And there`s always E-mail; our address showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Wait until you see Oprah and Whoopi`s tearful reunion. These two have reportedly been fighting for 25 years. And today, they settle it once and for all.
LeAnn Rimes publicly congratulating her ex today, you know, the guy she cheated on. I`ve got to wonder what the heck is going on there.
And the Gosselin kids expelled? Unbelievable new reports today that some of Jon and Kate`s kids have been kicked out of school. 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: "Megamind" tops box office for second week in a row, makes $30.1 million. Scarlett Johansson named "Babe of the Year" by "GQ" magazine.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - the Gosselin kids expelled from school? The stunning new reports today some of Jon and Kate`s kids got kicked out of school. Could their reality TV fame be to blame?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: Whoopi came up to me and she said, "Can I just ask you something?" Really. She said, "Can I just ask you something? Did I something to you?"
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg - for the first time in 25 years Whoopi and Oprah face off to settle their reported feud once and for all today.
Jessica Simpson`s engagement bombshell. Jessica gets engaged just two weeks after her ex Nick Lachey pops the question to his girlfriend. Is something fishy going on here?
Plus, breaking today from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker," Christina Aguilera`s big Hollywood honor, and changes for Demi Lovato`s Disney show.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking today - you`re expelled.
Yes, unbelievable new reports today that two of Jon and Kate Gosselin`s sextuplets have been expelled from school. Now, "People" magazine is reporting today that the two kids are now being home-schooled.
The news comes just on the heels of Jon Gosselin`s public apology to his kids for putting them on TV in the first place. Today, Kate Gosselin, who now stars in the reality show "Kate Plus 8," along with her eight kids, isn`t commenting on the new report.
But I can tell you there is plenty being said about the kids staying on TV. And this leads to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - is their reality TV fame to blame?
HAMMER: With me, right now, in New York, Sunny Hostin, who is a legal contributor with "In Session" on our sister network, Tru TV. From Hollywood, Carlos Diaz, who is a syndicated radio host.
I hate to say it, but I am not at all surprised to hear that some of the Gosselin kids have run into difficulty.
Sunny, if the reports about the Gosselin kids being expelled from school are true, to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, is their TV fame to blame?
HOSTIN: No, to blame is poor parenting and that really is the bottom line here.
HAMMER: OK.
HOSTIN: It`s very difficult to be a parent. They`ve decided to have eight children. They had no way to really support that family. They get a divorce. They put them on television. It`s just poor parenting.
Quite frankly, I`m surprised that all of them haven`t been expelled. And the fact they`re now being home-schooled isolates them from everyone outside except for those in the home and is probably the worst thing possible.
HAMMER: So Sunny Hostin, you`re not holding out high hopes for these kids. You expect more and more of them to be kicked out of school.
HOSTIN: That`s right.
HAMMER: And look, I just can`t disagree with you that poor parenting - look, that plays into when things like this do happen. But Carlos, what do you think? I mean, having those cameras around - that can be pretty intense. Do you think their reality TV fame is to blame?
DIAZ: First I hate it with Sunny sugarcoats things. But secondly, you know, this whole thing is - these kids didn`t sign up for this, OK? They didn`t - it wasn`t their idea to be on TV. So you can`t equate them to, like, the stars of "The Jersey Shore" where they wanted to be on TV.
These kids were kind of forced into this. And as we get older and as these kids get older and they go through the trials and tribulations of being a kid, you`re going to keep running into this.
And I agree with Sunny. This is not a good idea to have these kids on TV. In all honesty, the ratings for the show were the highest when Jon and Kate were going at each other.
I know they`re divorced but Jon has now said he sees the error of his ways. So why not have Jon and Kate have a show again? Get these kids off camera.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: We did post today`s SHOWBIZ Flashpoint on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page. The comments were just flooding the site today.
I want to read some of which I find pretty surprising, including this. Marisa S. writing, "I don`t think it`s the show or being in the limelight. It really all comes down to the parenting," as you guys have been saying, "I know many kids that are brats, fight, and bully who are not celebrities."
OK. This one from Donna R., "It`s not because of the TV show. They aren`t the only six-year-old kids who were expelled for misbehaving."
HAMMER: So Sunny, I get lots of young kids misbehave. But look, these kids have had cameras in their faces. They`ve had the cameras taken away. and then the cameras came back. It`s not normal.
HOSTIN: It`s not normal, and they`ve had their family implode publicly. They`ve lived their entire lives under a microscope. I would never want that for my children. And for them to actually make that choice for their children shows what poor parents they are. That really is just -
HAMMER: All right. But keep - to my point and this is where I cannot extricate the TV cameras from the equation. They got so used to those cameras being around. The cameras were taken away. The fact that they have acted out does not surprise me at all, I guess, is what I`m saying here.
HOSTIN: That`s right. It`s no surprise at all, because, again, they`ve led their life publicly, and they`ve had so many changes publicly. They were probably taunted by other children. It just is probably the worst possible thing that could have happened to them.
HAMMER: I mean, when is the lesson going to be learned is the question I keep asking. Well, a lot of people have accused the Gosselins of being desperate to hang on to fame but Jon and Kate certainly are not alone.
Some reality stars` bad behavior on television has certainly followed them into their own personal real-life drama. Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter is here with this special report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CORRESPONDENT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT (voice-over): From brawls and booze fests to downright bad behavior. It`s reality TV train wrecks that make shows like MTV`s "Jersey Shore" a mega-hit. Audiences can`t get enough.
But after the fists fly and cameras stop rolling, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, do some stars pay a price to be a part of this disturbing entertainment? Yes, a costly one says reality-TV-bad-girl-turned-businesswoman, Omarosa.
STALLWORTH: Some of those folks get addicted to being in the limelight, and when it`s not there anymore, you feel empty.
WYNTER: Some wonder if the stress from being in the spotlight on these reality shows sometimes becomes too much for stars. Omarosa pins the blame on producers for intentionally casting people who can`t handle the 24-hour spotlight.
STALLWORTH: When I first did "The Apprentice," we had to go through a battery of psychological examinations. We had to sit down with a psychologist to make sure that we were mentally fit to forego that comfort. I don`t see a lot of producers doing that any longer.
WYNTER: Psychologist Jeff Gardere has his own take and says it`s actually those desperate for fame who are really accountable their outrageous behavior.
DR. JEFF GARDERE, PSYCHOLOGIST: I don`t think that reality shows are trying to get people who have personal problems. It really is about a numbers game, being able to get as much as possible the ratings and the way that you do that is by getting these very extreme personalities.
WYNTER: Like "Jersey Shore`s" pint-sized Snooki, who was arrested on a New Jersey beach this summer, charged with disorderly conduct for being a pest.
GARDERE: You make a deal with the devil when you do reality TV.
WYNTER: A deal that can either make or break a career. Omarosa tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she`s found a way to turn those 15 minutes into success. She`s now producing shows with her mentor, Donald Trump, and says it`s all about stepping into reality by reinventing yourself and showcasing some real talent.
STALLWORTH: What will become of Snooki in five years? Will people still be there cheering her on in her drunken stumbling? I am concerned that there is a consequence to what she`s going through right now. It does not last forever. There will be a new Snooki, a new Omarosa.
WYNTER: And you can bet a new twist on reality TV, the kind of warped entertainment that continues to push the envelope.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. And obviously, reality TV will continue to push the envelope for better or worse. And I`ve got to wonder about the brand-new story today about Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt announcing to the world that they`re going to renew their wedding vows.
Oh, goody. Now, count with me, if you will. I believe this is now the third time for them down the aisle. Let`s think back. They eloped the first time. Second time around, they did it for their reality show, of course, "The Hills." And this time they say, "We`re doing it for ourselves."
My question is if they are doing it for themselves, then, Carlos, please help me understand why in the world they`re telling us about it.
DIAZ: They`re not doing it for themselves, A.J. In fact, they`re doing it for the fame. They`re addicted to the fame. And here`s the thing.
When a star - when an actual star with talent like an actor, wants to regain fame, they go out and do a role that`s so out there and that, you know, they get a national acclaim and critical acclaim for a role.
But the reality star - all the reality star can do is do that in their personal life. And they push things like having - oh, I don`t know - 10 plastics surgeries in one sitting and renewing their vows for the umpteenth time. They`re pushing their own lives and we are getting dangerous with reality shows.
HAMMER: But why does anybody think we`re buying it? Of course, Sunny, this comes on the heels of Spencer and Heidi having that brief little split and they even filed those divorce papers.
HOSTIN: Yes.
HAMMER: And now this. How can you not see this as a publicity stunt? I don`t get it.
HOSTIN: I don`t get it and for me, I`m just horrified when I watch them. That couple is one of the couples that I don`t want to see.
I want them to go away and hide somewhere. I don`t want to hear any more about them because I think they`re so self-destructive. And if people are sort of aspiring to be Speidi, that is a very scary thing to me.
HAMMER: Yes.
HOSTIN: They`re totally addicted to this sort of false fame.
HAMMER: If you`re aspiring to be Spideyman, that`s good. Speidi the couple, that`s bad.
HOSTIN: Bad. Bad.
HAMMER: OK, as long as we`re clear on that. Sunny Hostin, Carlos Diaz, I thank you both.
Moving on to Jessica Simpson`s surprise engagement. Yes, Jess` big engagement announcement coming just days after her ex, Nick Lachey announced he`s engaged. Coincidence or is Jess trying to upstage her ex?
Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg - their tearful reunion today after 25 years of reportedly feuding with each other.
CNN`s Wolf Blitzer - he interviews world leaders and politicians all the time. But did you see this? Blitzer also knows how to boogie.
(MUSIC)
I assure you this is not to be missed. I`m going to show you more of Wolf Blitzer doing the "Dougie." Wolf, we love you, but this is really funny. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Demi Lovato`s Disney show reworked to allow her more time in treatment. Christina Aguilera gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Whoopi Goldberg sits down with Oprah today to address a decade- long burning question, "Hey, O, are you mad at me?" Turns out the answer is no and Oprah is not mad at Whoopi.
Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey starred in "The Color Purple" back in 1985. And since then, they haven`t really spoken which got a lot of people thinking, hey, do Whoopi and Oprah actually hate each other?
Well, Oprah reunited "The Color Purple" cast on her show on - today, that was - to celebrate the movie`s 25th anniversary. And Oprah and Whoopi settled the so-called feud once and for all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: She said can I just ask you something? Did I do something to you? And I said - I said what are you talking about? She says, "All these years, you know, we`ve been disconnected and I just want to know did I do something?"
I said, "All these years I thought you were mad at me." All these years I thought - I thought that you thought - I don`t know what I thought.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, ACTRESS: It`s crazy. It`s crazy.
WINFREY: It`s crazy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There you go. I am glad Oprah and Whoopi set the record straight, never a feud. There you have it.
But today, Jessica Simpson is happy to say, "I`m engaged, too." Almost two weeks after her ex-husband, Nick Lachey, announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend, Vanessa Minnillo, Jessica is now making an engagement announcement of her own.
Jess and her boyfriend of five months, former NFL player, Eric Johnson, are planning to get hitched. And today, a lot of people understandably are questioning the timing of Jessica`s engagement. Is she trying to race Nick to the altar?
Right now, in Chicago, is Kelli Zink. She is the host of "CelebTV.com." With me, in New York, Cooper Lawrence, who is a syndicated radio host and author of "The Cult of Celebrity."
Personally, I really hope this is just a pure coincidence that Jessica Simpson got engaged just two weeks after Nick Lachey did. Nick and Jessica don`t seem to think anything of the timing. Both have wished each other well on their new engagements.
But I`ve got to tell you, there are a lot of people who think that there`s a whole lot more to the story. And to me, that would just be creepy if they were doing it for any other reasons other than pure love. Kelli, what do you think? Coincidence, or is there something kind of fishy going on here?
ZINK: There is no such thing as coincidence anymore. I mean, there isn`t - we know what everyone is doing. Updates to the Twitter, with Facebook, with reps. If they wanted to keep it separate, if Jessica Simpson really was, you know, surprised by this proposal and she wanted to keep it secret, she could have.
She could have said, "Listen, I love you. Let`s release this news in a couple months." But then, A.J., would we be saying three months later, is she trying to race Nick to the altar? What really is the appropriate timing when your ex gets engaged?
HAMMER: Yes. Well, the truth is, if she`s really suddenly engaged and happy about it, she should be able to share it without holding it back. She`s been dating her fiance, as I mentioned, for five months now.
But she has been gushing about their relationship from the very start it. Jess recently said she is in love and there is no doubt she is with the right guy.
But that`s not all that she said. Jessica told "People" magazine this, which raised some eyebrows, "He`s the one for me right now. I`m very happy. I`m in a great place. And if right now could last forever, I`d take it."
Right now, huh? Well, on "The View," today the ladies said that Jessica`s choice of words does raise a red flag. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Is that Jessica Simpson`s kind of get-out-of-jail free card?
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I think it`s strategic.
SHEPHERD: It`s very strategic?
HASSELBECK: I think maybe. I mean, if it`s sort a, like, catch (UNINTELLIGIBLE) by men - you know, if there are some men that seem to like a chase and then seem to sort of rest on their laurels once they get what they`re chasing -
GOLDBERG: My gosh.
HASSELBECK: Maybe she knows it, keep him on his toes.
(CROSS TALK)
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": It`s her reality, in a way. You know, it`s like you know that the 15 minutes of the heat only lasts a certain amount of time. So she knows eventually they`re going to get bored with each other.
HAMMER: OK. That`s a little too cynical even for me. Cooper, do you agree with Joy that Jessica is expecting - yes, one day, this relationship is going to fail?
LAWRENCE: No, of course not. Nobody goes into a relationship thinking that. But you know, look, she did go into a relationship with Nick Lachey, thinking that was going to last. And then, she ended up having to pay him all this money.
So I think its cautious but she`s not stupid. No matter how many times we joke around about her and the whole "chicken of the sea" thing -
HAMMER: I don`t think she`s stupid at all.
LAWRENCE: I don`t think she`s stupid at all. I think she`s in love. I think she`s genuine. Those women are so cynical. How dare they?
HAMMER: Yes. All right. I wish them the best. I`m happy for her. God bless and move on.
All right. Jessica Simpson not the only celebrity who is celebrating an engagement. LeAnn Rimes took time to congratulate her ex-husband, Dean Sheremet, in his engagement.
Listen to what LeAnn wrote on her Twitter page, "Congrats to @deansheremet and @sarah_silver on your engagement. A little birdie told me the happy news last night. Wishes for a life full of happiness."
And just in case you are questioning her sincerity, she also added, "My congrats is from my heart. Sorry if you don`t understand it. I do not need the publicity. I get plenty. Please stop passing judgment."
OK. No judgment here but do I have to wonder why, oh, why, if there is nothing being done for publicity here would she choose to congratulate him on Twitter?
LAWRENCE: Thank you.
HAMMER: Now, Kelli, I know you talked to Dean Sheremet. What did he say?
ZINK: Listen, I asked Dean, "How do you feel about this girl who cheated on you - you guys don`t even talk - congratulating you publicly, like she`s, "I`m the good guy." I am judging, by the way.
And he said, you know, "It`s a well wish. All I can do is say thank you for your well wishes and be the bigger person." And that`s what he`s been throughout the entire thing.
But LeAnn Rimes needs to freeze her Twitter account. Her PR person needs to pull it from her, change the password and that`s that.
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, the idea, if she needs to rehabilitate her image, which was obviously hurt when she cheated on Dean Sheremet, she should just stop tweeting and talking publicly about this stuff.
We`re going to leave it there Kelli Zink, Cooper Lawrence, thank you very much.
Moving out from LeAnn`s congratulatory tweets to CNN`s Wolf Blitzer doing the "Dougie" dance.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: You`ve got to see this whole thing. It`s the brand-new video of Blitzer`s hip-hop dance debut. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Woman accused of attack Leonardo DiCaprio with wineglass pleads no contest. Tina Fey thanks Sarah Palin during her Mark Twain Prize acceptance speech.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TINA FEY, ACTRESS AND COMEDIAN: I would be a liar and an idiot if I didn`t thank Sarah Palin for helping get me here tonight. My partial resemblance and her crazy voice are the two luckiest things that have ever happened to me.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": I`m Wolf Blitzer and you`re in "THE SITUATION ROOM".
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: CNN`s Wolf Blitzer can be a serious man. His job requires that he talks to world leaders and politicians on "THE SITUATION ROOM" every day on CNN.
But today, I`m going to show you a very different side of Wolf Blitzer, hip-hop dancer extraordinaire. And I`m thrilled to be able to play this for you. Did you see this? It`s Wolf at the Soul Train Awards.
Wolf was invited to present an award but he wanted to do more than just present. Wolf wanted to do some dancing, too. You got to check out Wolf Blitzer doing the "Dougie" dance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The real reason I`m here tonight is not to bring you news as I do with "THE SITUATION ROOM" every night. The real reason I came here tonight is because I want to learn how to do the "Dougie."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, Doug E. Fresh!
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wolf Blitzer`s my hero. Wolf says he`s a huge fan of "Soul Train" and he says he was honored to a part of the show, the "Soul Train" awards aired November 28th on BET.
Well, Harry Potter is kissing and telling all today. Daniel Radcliffe just dropped a major bombshell today about locking lips in the new "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" movie. Radcliffe tells the Associated Press that kissing co-star Emma Watson was like kissing an animal.
Listen to what he says, "I thought it was going to be like a soft, sensual sort of moment and it was this vigorous kissing scene. She really went for it. It caught me slightly off guard but, yes, I`m not complaining. Many men would lose a limb to be in that position."
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows " opens on Friday.
On Friday, we asked you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. Moments ago, we got the final results. The question, "`Sarah Palin`s Alaska`: Do you think that Palin`s reality show will win her more fans?" Look at how this went. Twenty-two percent of you said yes. A whopping 78 percent of you say no.
Here are some of the E-mails. We got one from Darlene in New York who writes, "Sarah Palin on TV is 100 percent better than her being in politics."
This from Patty in Missouri who writes, "Sarah Palin is a big star and I hope her new show is a big hit."
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday and we are TV most provocative entertainment show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific here on HLN.
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