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Showbiz Tonight
Britney`s New Tape Tirade; "Women Who Roar": Gaga Over Gaga; Era of Oprah; Hollywood`s Weight War
Aired December 03, 2010 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
A.J. HAMMER, HLN ANCHOR: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Britney Spears spitting mad. Britney`s brand new remarkable response today to claims she was recorded talking about her boyfriend abusing her.
All about Eva: The woman caught in the middle of the Eva Longoria-Tony Parker divorce speaks out today for the very first time. Her explosive response to claims she and Tony had an affair.
The "Showbiz Flashpoint": Should Eva and Tony get back together?
Women worrying about their weight: Tori, Jewel, Kyra; at war today with Hollywood`s ridiculous obsession with weight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They`ve had enough. They`re fed up so to speak about everyone scrutinizing every single pound or half pound that they gain or lose.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week. Will it be Khloe Kardashian, Kate Gosselin or Hollywood`s hottest new couple Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking today.
It`s Britney`s new tape tirade. Britney Spears just unleashed a brand new barrage of bombshells today over those wild claims that her boyfriend beat her up and that Britney herself told all in a phone conversation recorded by her ex-husband.
You know, not since her public head shaving and panty-less partying has Britney been such a tabloid target but there is a big difference this time. And today Britney followed up with another counterattack.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that there is enough steam coming out of Britney`s ears to power a small city.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Today the tabloids are learning a lesson, don`t mess with Britney Spears. Britney is declaring war against RadarOnline and "Star" magazine, the publishings bearing questionable claims from Britney`s first ex-husband that Britney is being smacked around by her current boyfriend.
Now, Britney is smacking the tabloids right back.
MARC MALKIN, E! NEWS: Britney definitely sounds, well, upset, angry.
HAMMER: In a colorful new posting on Twitter Britney says, quote, "PS -- "Star" Magazine, RadarOnline, Jason Alezander and the rest of you liars, you all can kiss my lily white southern Louisiana (EXPLETIVE DELETED)."
For the record, the Jason Alexander Britney is referring to in her Twitter slam isn`t the one who played George on Seinfeld. It`s this guy, Britney`s childhood friend who she married during a wild Vegas weekend back in 2004.
MALKIN: The marriage was quickly annulled.
HAMMER: Now Alexander is showing up in a new interview in "Star" magazine on newsstands today. He reportedly claims that Britney recently confided in him that she is in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Hollywood agent, Jason Trawick. At the same time Radar Online which just happens to be owned by the same parent company as "Star" posted what it claims is a secretly recorded conversation between Britney and Alexander.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your problem is with your fiance.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That (EXPLETIVE DELETED) is not my fiance, I already told you (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought he proposed to you or something at the beach.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Before or after he beat on me?
HAMMER: In an angry new statement, Britney`s reps say the Radar Online recording is quote, "so obviously fake as to be laughable" and that the "Star" magazine story is quote, "completely and utterly false". Her reps say she hasn`t talked to her ex-husband Jason Alexander in years and that her boyfriend "has never laid a hand on Britney".
MALKIN: This is not something where she`s just going to saying, hey, you know, this is just a little lie. And this is not angry. This is anger, she`s not -- you know, this is not a joke.
HAMMER: "Star" magazine is sticking to its story and Radar is promising to release more of the alleged abuse recordings. But while Britney is telling "Star" and Radar to kiss her you-know-what, today it`s also looking like Britney is getting ready to sue their you-know-whats.
MALKIN: There`s no question about it. Britney has been meeting with lawyers to figure out what kind of lawsuits they`re going to bring about.
HAMMER: One thing`s for sure, the tabloids better as a wise man once said --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Leave Britney alone.
HAMMER: Because this is one starlet who is not afraid to fight back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And I`ve got to get to more big news breaking today.
The woman who some say is right there at the center of the break of Eva Longoria`s marriage to basketball star, Tony Parker, well, she is speaking out today for the very first time.
Today Erin Berry is telling her side of the story. But is that the whole story?
With me in New York is Cooper Lawrence, who is a syndicated radio host and the author of this fine book, "The Cult of Celebrity". Right now in Atlanta is Sunny Hostin, who is the legal contributor for "In Session" on our sister network, TruTV.
Erin Berry just went off today on all of the people out there who, she says, don`t have the story straight. Now, Erin`s name first came up after Eva and Tony first announced their split when reports claimed that Tony had sent hundreds of intimate texts to Erin, who is in the middle of her own divorce from Tony`s former teammate Brent Berry.
Well, today Erin Berry wrote this on her Web site, "I did not have an affair with Tony Parker, nor did I pursue Tony Parker. Unfortunately, because our divorces are occurring at the same time, great speculation has been cast on our relationship."
I find it interesting that she went through this trouble of denying the whole thing. But she didn`t mention the claims of the naughty texts at all.
Sunny, are we getting the whole story here in your mind?
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, IN SESSION, ON TRUTV: I don`t think we are. And just because -- let me say this -- just because someone hasn`t had a physical affair with someone doesn`t mean you`re not having an emotional affair with someone that can take that person away from their marriage.
Hundreds of naughty texts is in my view, sort of this sort of digital affair and that can be enough. And I think it`s very suspicious that she said absolutely nothing about that. But she does talk about the fact that they have a friendship.
HAMMER: Yes.
HOSTIN: And that`s very important.
HAMMER: Oh the old emotional affair. I remember we were talking about that when people were saying --
HOSTIN: Right.
HAMMER: -- that was going on between Madonna and A-Rod.
And -- and meanwhile Eva Longoria and Tony Parker were just seen having a seemingly friendly lunch together. And now there`s talk that these two cats could actually be getting back together.
Cooper, if the allegations of infidelity are true, is there any way you could see a reconciliation between Eva and Tony at this point?
COOPER LAWRENCE, SYNDICATED RADIO SHOW HOST: If Eva was my friend, I would say to her, "Don`t do it girl." I mean, right in the very beginning, five months in we heard about him with some model and now there`s some other model in London allegedly has come out and said that he went after her.
So I think he`s a dog. I -- I -- you know, Eva Longoria is too lovely a human being. She`s got her Haitian charity and everything that she`s working on. She should be with somebody as lovely as her and I don`t think it`s Tony Parker. It hurts, get over the hurt and move on, girl.
HAMMER: And again all unsubstantiated allegations or unsubstantiated allegations -- however I choose to say it today. I`m not exactly sure.
All right, I do want to move on now to another big story that is breaking today.
Who will SHOWBIZ TONIGHT name The Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week? Will it be Khloe Kardashian for her shocking revelation that she lost her virginity when she was 14? Will it be Kate Gosselin for going on TV yet again and insisting her children are fine even though a couple of them were taken out of school after she admits they were acting out? Or GyllenSwift, that Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift, of course, they still won`t admit they`re a couple despite some new pictures we showed you that seem to prove otherwise.
Well, we asked you to text your votes and let us know your pick on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page. And let me tell you, people couldn`t wait to weigh in.
Just ahead of GyllenSwift, and I mean barely, 38 percent as you see of the voters chose Khloe Kardashian. On our Facebook wall, an upset with Kate Gosselin getting 48 percent of the votes. Sunny, up to you for your pick, who do you think should be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week?
HOSTIN: I`m going to go with Khloe Kardashian because I think the fact that she came forward and talked about what -- losing her virginity at age 14 to an older guy I think was a very interesting and powerful message to our young girls today. And she said you don`t have to be forced into having sex at such a young age.
So I`m going to go with Khloe. Because I think her message is a powerful one and a timely one.
HAMMER: Ok, so the text voters go with Khloe, Sunny Hostin goes with Khloe. What about us?
Time now to reveal SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week. The drum roll pleas, it is Khloe Kardashian.
Cooper Lawrence, I don`t see how we could have gone any other way despite the provocativity of our other nominees.
LAWRENCE: Well, now I want to go with somebody different because I like to be a contrarian. But no, I think that the reason why it`s so provocative is because to lose your virginity at 14 and then look back on it and say, now she`s a role model so it`s very important what she says about these things whether we think so or not.
To look back on it and say it was a mistake, I was coerced into it, that`s the experience of a lot of 14-year-olds.
HAMMER: Sure.
LAWRENCE: So I hope they`re listening to her. And it`s -- its provocative in a good way.
HAMMER: Yes.
LAWRENCE: And hopefully it`ll influence kids to say, no, I`m not ready.
HAMMER: No, exactly right. I couldn`t be happier that she`s spoke out about it. All right. Cooper Lawrence and Sunny Hostin, thank you both.
LAWRENCE: Thank you.
HAMMER: And now, I want to tell you about some big news that we`re going to be breaking on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT this coming Tuesday. You will not want to miss it because that is when we will reveal who we name as the Most Provocative Celebrity of the Year. Who will it be? You think you know? Well, you`ll find out for sure on Tuesday. You might be surprised.
It`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right here on HLN at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern.
Well, I can tell you Oprah Winfrey -- I think I`m allowed to say this -- she`s not a nominee for Most Provocative Celebrity of the Year. But still Oprah, she`s been doing plenty of roaring this year and throughout her incredible year that has left the pain on her every word; Oprah and Rihanna being hit by Chris Brown. How Oprah empowered other woman in abusive relationships. Even Oprah`s unbelievable battle over beef, you remember that. And, yes, Oprah`s dramatic interview with Sarah Palin.
Women are roaring about their weight. I`m talking about Tori, Jewel, Kyra, all at war with Hollywood`s ridiculous obsession with body image.
And Lady Gaga`s war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LADY GAGA, SINGER/ACTIVIST: There can never be another.
So I have to think of even more ways to annoy and shock everyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I think Lady Gaga is certainly an amazing performer but are her over-the-top outfits, antics, the outrageous things she says and does brilliant or is Gaga a big old copycat?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN News and Views.
It`s time for the "Showbiz News Ticker" more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: And now here we are. This is our day. This is our moment. It all began here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: You are looking at Lady Gaga, roaring at the paparazzi in the New York Mets game, flipping the bird at them while in her underwear. Now, Gaga does plenty of out of control, overly outrageous things almost every day. But is her shtick pure genius or is it just a big copycat act?
Welcome back to the special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Women Who Roar". I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
BROOK ANDERSON, HLN ANCHOR: A.J., I am a big Gaga fan. She`s really talented and I know all that wild, crazy behavior is just one of the things that makes Gaga, well, Gaga. But there are some people who say that Lady Gaga is a phony, that she`s stealing ideas from other big stars. So is she a big poser or a pop genius.
It`s my revealing look at "Women Who Roar": Gaga over Gaga.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Is Lady Gaga the next queen of pop? She`s been called genius, androgynous and controversial. The Lady`s got all the ingredients to rock it to rock royalty but is she a musical innovator or an imitator? Gaga says her style has been influenced by a range of pop icons including Michael Jackson and Madonna.
GAGA: I think Madonna`s great. She`s been a wonderful friend and very kind and supportive and amazing.
ANDERSON: But is Gaga`s provocative approach a knockoff of Madonna`s. Take a look at this side-by-side comparison of Madonna`s "Like a Prayer" video to Gaga`s "Alejandro", naughty nuns, crosses and Catholic Church controversy to spare.
Gaga told CNN`s Larry King, she doesn`t mind the comparison.
GAGA: No bad comparisons to Madonna. She`s wonderful. And there can never be another. So I have to think of even more ways to annoy and shock everyone because she`s done everything.
Music journalist and Maxim magazine editor-in-chief Joe Levy isn`t surprised by the mirror imagery.
JOE LEVY, MAXIM MAGAZINE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: She is our first pop superstar who didn`t just grow up with Madonna but who grew up completely defined. Her life completely and absolutely defined by the world Madonna created. And of course she`s an inheritor of some of that. What`s interesting about Gaga is she`s inherited and worked with so many other things. She is a sponge. She soaks it up and she spits it out.
ANDERSON: Shocking videos aren`t the only thing Gaga is spitting out to spark reaction. The lady loves outrageous fashion.
GAGA: Well, some of the things that I wear are obviously created for me by designers or are recreations of all kinds of things worn in the 70s and in the 80s?
ANDERSON: 70s and 80`s ala Elton John? Sir Elton`s crazy style in his early days seems rather similar to Gaga`s over the top appearance. David Bowie is another artist Gaga say she admires. Did she borrow her gender-bending looks from Bowie?
GAGA: This time I`m trying to push the limit, push the boundaries as much as I can.
ANDERSON: Gaga has also been compared to Fiona Apple. Take a look at her video for "Just Dance" compared to Fiona`s "Criminal". Is this a criminal rip-off or just random?
LEVY: Gaga -- what`s interesting about her is -- she`s kind of a blender. I`m not sure she`s had one original idea in her life. What`s interesting is they all go into her head, she puts it on puree and it`s kind of a delicious idea smoothie.
ANDERSON: Early in her career Gaga was compared to Christina Aguilera but now critics and fan says Christina is trying to go Gaga with edgy sexuality.
LEVY: It`s not that Christina Aguilera is taking from Lady Gaga. It`s that she tends to take from the same thing Lady Gaga takes from. It`s -- it`s like they`re all eating at the same lunch counter and behind the lunch counter serving up delicious hot imagery would be Madonna.
I don`t care if Christina Aguilera rips off Lady Gaga and if Lady Gaga rips off Madonna as long as everybody is wearing shiny black leather bustieres. I think we all win.
ANDERSON: So perhaps when it comes to pop music imitation is art. And whether Lady Gaga is an eccentric genius or creative copycat, her fans don`t seem to care.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Yes, those fans definitely don`t seem to care. Lady Gaga has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide and has more than five million Twitter followers.
HAMMER: It`s just amazing.
Well, Brooke we posted on Facebook this question, "Who are your favorite roaring women of Hollywood and what makes you listen when they roar?
ANDERSON: Yes A.J. and the Facebook posts came roaring in. Sharon W. loves a roaring twilight star.
"I`d say Kristen Stewart did some roaring, she made some interesting points, too, about paparazzi and about young stars being forced to answer questions about who they are."
Megan L. says, "Sandra Bullock. She has such class and grace and she kicks butt at the box office, too."
And John F. offers up "Women Who Roar" smorgasbord, "Women like Whoopi, Joy Behar, Raquel Welch and yes, even Khloe Kardashian roars. They`re going to tell you what`s on their minds whether you like it or not."
HAMMER: Hey Brooke, another big star who roars, the lovely Jennifer Aniston. And let me tell you she got a lot of people roaring when she said "Women don`t need men to have babies or a guy in their lives to be a good mom."
There have been so many incredible moments where Oprah`s did plenty of roaring. Oprah`s earth shattering advice to Rihanna. Oprah taking on Sarah Palin. Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALICE TAN RIDLEY, GABOUREY SIDEBE`S MOTHER: At last my love has come along --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow, amazing singing, right? That`s actually Gabourey Sidibe`s mom roaring on her own. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Women Who Roar" on HLN News and Views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Women Who Roar", the women who aren`t afraid to speak up. And we listen to them.
I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And the "Women Who Roar" also have roaring bank accounts. Check out the Forbes list of Hollywood`s highest paid actresses from June 2009 to June 2010.
Sarah Jessica Parker with $25 million, Jennifer Aniston made $27 million, Cammy D., Cameron Diaz and Reese Witherspoon each made $32 million and the woman whose pocketbook roars the most, the lovely Sandra Bullock. Between the "Proposal" and the "Blindside" she made $56 million.
Well, Bullock may have roared in the money department but I really got to hand it to America`s sweetheart for keeping things truly classy when her ex-husband`s cheating scandal first broke and she said nothing.
ANDERSON: All right, Gabby Sidibe`s mom roars. Her name Alice Tan Ridley (ph) and her daughter is "Precious" star Gabourey Sidibe. Alice is a teacher that started singing in the New York City subways. So she auditioned for NBC`s "America`s Got Talent" and blew everybody away.
Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIDLEY: At last my love has come along my lonely days are over -- and I`ve been in love before --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Incredible, right? What a talented family. Gabourey gets the Oscar nomination. Her mom has a set of pipes, doesn`t she? She can sing with the best of them.
HAMMER: Yes and Gabby`s mom still performs in the subways. Actually that is pretty cool.
All right, back over to our Facebook wall, a lot of posts coming in about the women who make you roar.
Shea A. has a whole big list, "Susan Sarandon, Jen Aniston, Sandra Bullock, Ellen DeGeneres, seriously this woman get everyone involved in her charity work. And last but not least Jennie McCarthy.
Cita C., is a Jolie fan, "It`s Angelina Jolie, her features, family and humanitarian efforts. Her roar is tenacious and echoes throughout the entire universe. She is the real deal. Salute you Ms. Angelina Jolie."
Join the debate on Facebook. Go behind the scenes of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and get breaking entertainment news alerts on Twitter. You can call Showbiz on Call and there`s always e-mail. Showbiz connects CNN.com/SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And now the "Showbiz Lineup". Here`s what`s coming up on the bottom of the hour on this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Oprah is definitely a woman that makes people roar. She`s had such an impact, her most unbelievable moments that left us hanging on every word, like her explosive interview with Sarah Palin.
Women roaring about their weight: Tori, Jewel, Kyra at war with Hollywood`s ridiculous obsession with weight.
And Jennifer Aniston roaring that women don`t need men to have babies and be good moms and people roaring back at her comment.
This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Women Who Roar" on HLN News and Views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now on this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Women Who Roar.
Oprah Winfrey roars. How Oprah found her voice. Her most memorable moments and how she taught women all over the world to roar.
Women roaring about their weight: Tori, Jewel, Kyra, all at war with Hollywood`s ridiculous obsession with weight.
Selma Hayek Pinault, she roars and screams when she see a scary snake.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SELMA HAYEK, ACTRESS: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s ok, it`s ok. It`s not going to come up here.
HAYEK-PINAULT: Do something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s not going to come up here.
HAYEK-PINAULT: Oh my God there`s a snake. Somebody do something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
HAMMER: Welcome back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Women Who Roar". 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.
Hey, there is no doubt that Oprah Winfrey clawed her way to the top of the heap as the queen of talk. It has been the era of Oprah. And now that she`s leaving her daily show behind, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is investigating the game-changing Oprah moments that made Oprah roar.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): She`s adored -- influential --
WINFREY: I`m going to change with your help the laws in this country.
ANDERSON: Super successful, and ridiculously rich, topping Forbes` list of the most powerful celebrities earning a whopping $315 million last year alone.
She is, of course, Oprah and BET host, April Woodard tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, no one has built a media empire quite like Lady O.
APRIL WOODARD, HOST, BET AWARDS: She is just phenomenal and really has had an impact on culture. If you take a look at how things were before pre-Oprah -- we didn`t really confront some of our issues, our personal issues. Oprah took on those issues feet first.
ANDERSON: And when Oprah roars, people listen.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that the power of Oprah`s words cannot only pack a punch, they can also stop one. After Chris Brown was accused of beating up his then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009, Oprah sent a powerful message to any woman thinking of going back to a man who hits her.
WINFREY: Now, if a man hits you once --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
WINFREY: -- he will hit you again.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s right.
WOODARD: She really opened the doors and said it`s ok to confront this issue. It`s ok to talk about it.
ANDERSON: And over the years Oprah has roared about everything, from Tom Cruise`s head over heels display of his love for Katie Holmes --
WINFREY: You`re done, you are done.
ANDERSON: -- to roaring at author James Spry for hoodwinking her and everyone with his made-up autobiography, "A Million Little Pieces".
WINFREY: So do you think you lied or you think you made a mistake?
JAMES SPRY, AUTHOR: I think probably both.
ANDERSON: Even to Oprah backing Barack Obama for president.
WINFREY: Would you announce on this show?
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All right there you go. You know, I -- yes, I don`t think I could say no to you.
ANDERSON: Oprah`s support for Obama angered some supporters of the women in the 2008 White House race, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin.
WOODARD: She did deal with some flak. And but -- she`s fearless. She`s not afraid of dealing with controversy or dealing with criticism. And I think that`s the key with Oprah. Oprah does what Oprah wants to do.
ANDERSON: But eventually, even Sarah Palin came calling to Oprah on her show.
WINFREY: Should I be worried? Because I have heard that you`re going to get your own talk show.
SARAH PALIN, FORMER REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No.
ANDERSON: And when Oprah roars about a beef she has, it can really stir up trouble. During a 1996 Oprah show focusing on mad cow disease, Texas cattlemen claims they lost $11 million in sales after Oprah said she`d be steering clear of burgers.
"Entertainment Weekly`s" Lynette Rice tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the mad cow comments got the cattle men plenty mad.
LYNETTE RICE, SENIOR WRITER, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: There were ranchers that were fearful that these passing comments and the idea that maybe she really riled up her audience to be freaking out, it sent panic among these cattle ranchers and so they took her to court.
ANDERSON: But after years of legal battles, Oprah won and the case was dismissed.
WINFREY: Free speech not only lives, it rocks.
RICE: What she says has extraordinary weight and that people will listen to her and if people are fearful of what she`ll say and what she`ll do. If she didn`t feel the extent of her power then, she certainly felt it afterwards.
ANDERSON: As Oprah enters her final talk show season, talk of her influence is turning to talk of her legacy.
RICE: There are so many great moments. And to have that kind of power, to have that kind of ability to do something that everyone remembers, once Oprah leaves, we won`t see another talk show host last as long as she did.
ANDERSON: And as long as Oprah`s around, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can guarantee that when Oprah roars, people will always listen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Really just an incredible career; so many years, so many memorable Oprah moments. And that brings us to the "Showbiz Flashpoint". Which Oprah moment defined Oprah as a legend to contend with?
Right now in Hollywood, is Tanika Ray, she`s an entertainment journalist. With me in New York is Cooper Lawrence, she is a syndicated radio host and author of "The Cult of Celebrity".
Tanika, to the "Showbiz Flashpoint" which Oprah moment defined Oprah for you as a legend to contend with?
TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Oh, my God, this is the hardest decision ever. There are so many milestones along the way that really speak to her power. But when it comes down to it, everything was done for the advantage of her show and her brand. The one moment that wasn`t was the O -- was the Obama moment -- excuse me.
For her to step out on the ledge -- for a personal sort of passion of hers to sort of support this man that ended up being the President is so the pinnacle of her career and so makes her a legend for many generations and many centuries to come for sure.
HAMMER: Yes, I think that`s a great point and a great example of a moment that defined her. Is that the one for you, Cooper Lawrence?
LAWRENCE: I too. I think her power was defined by the whole beef industry thing. She said, she didn`t like beef and she brought down an industry. I mean, who can do that? So that`s power.
But I think the moment that defines her as a legend is the "you get a car" thing. And here`s why, because she didn`t do it from up high. Like I am Oprah and I`m giving you a car. She celebrated with them and she was just excited. It was teachers.
HAMMER: Yes.
LAWRENCE: And it was just -- it was just that moment where you felt like God, she`s one of us, she cares and that`s what made her a legend because she`s not speaking from up high. She`s speaking from somebody who really is your friend and really does want to give you a car. And the fact that she was able to give cars away, I mean, I haven`t gotten a car on this show so --
HAMMER: Well, yes.
RAY: We`re trying you know.
HAMMER: You don`t need a car. You live in New York City don`t you?
RAY: It`s also a tax break. Let`s be real.
HAMMER: Well, listen, I personally think the era of Oprah was also defined in such a major way by what has been come to -- come to be known as the Oprah effect.
She mentioned something on her show, bam that thing, person or place instantly became the most thing sought after thing, person or object on the -- on the planet.
LAWRENCE: Yes.
RAY: Right.
Through E.F. Hutton, when Oprah speaks, we all listen.
HAMMER: Yes that`s true but of course that`s coming to an end with the show coming to a close.
Perhaps -- Mary from Texas dialed up on Showbiz on Call phone lines and said Oprah`s one of a kind. Listen to Mary.
(BEGIN AUDIOTAPE)
MARY, TEXAX: I believe personally that I think it`s the end of a great era; that we are not able to replace Oprah with anybody no matter who it is. To me personally I think that -- that era is gone and she was one of the only few people that could reach people in the way she did. And it`s sad to say but there`s nobody like Oprah and she will never be replaced.
(END AUDIOTAPE)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot Mary.
Now Tanika, Oprah is clearly irreplaceable. I think we all agree about that --
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: -- as far as her role on TV, but do you think this will also mark the end of Oprah`s uber-influence as well? I don`t think so.
RAY: Come on. You know what I`m going to say, A.J., absolutely not. You know what, it`s a grind for her to shoot that show every single day for as many episodes a year. And I think she`s realizing in her later years -- you know, I like to relax a little bit more.
She`s got her magazines, she`s got her network. She`s going to be able -- be able to infuse her ideology through a bunch of different shows instead of just one. So I do not think she`s going away, I think she`s going to become even stronger.
HAMMER: Yes, I -- I agree. Quickly Cooper, I think she`s going to be able to make more of a difference now. Times are changing.
LAWRENCE: I disagree. Because the available audience on cable is minuscule compared to the available audience -- I mean, on her show, when she had 23 million --
HAMMER: But she`ll be using Internet and there will be other ways, I do believe.
RAY: That`s right.
LAWRENCE: I don`t think people will have access to her the way they did, the information. Not everybody has cable.
HAMMER: All right, that`s a good point. Cooper Lawrence.
RAY: They do.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Tanika Ray, thank you both ladies.
ANDERSON: I`ve got to move now to the women of Hollywood roaring about their weight. Tori Spelling is speaking out, Jewel, too. They join a long list of celebrities who are at war with Hollywood`s ridiculous obsession with weight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TORI SPELLING, ACTRESS: It hurts to call people overweight but when you talk someone underweight it`s just as horrible --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Jennifer Aniston, she`s a woman who roars. Jen`s incredible, controversial declaration, women can be great moms without men.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s not going to come up here.
HAYEK-PINAULT: Somebody do something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s not going to come up here.
HAYEK-PINAULT: Oh, my God, it`s a snake.
Somebody do something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Selma Hayek-Pinault, a woman who does a whole lot more than roar, she totally freaks out when she comes face to fang with a scary snake. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Women Who Roar" on HLN News and Views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to the special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Women Who Roar". I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
ANDERSON: Hollywood`s weight war: some of Hollywood`s top star are revealing their most intimate weight secrets, stunning secrets that have left them both frustrated and outraged. From Tori Spelling, to Kyra Sedgwick to Jewel; their revelations about their weight war exposed an ugly truth in Hollywood. There is still incredible pressure for female stars to be thin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): There`s a revolution brewing in weight conscious Hollywood. With reality star Tori Spelling revealing on national TV she is sick of being called skinny.
SPELLING: When you call someone underweight, it`s just as horrible.
ANDERSON: And singer Jewel calling on women to handle their weight issues like men do. And actress Kyra Sedgwick is revealing she`s so fed up with weight scrutiny she`s actually thrown out her scale.
JO PIAZZA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: They`ve had enough, they`re fed up so to speak about everyone scrutinizing every single pound or half pound that they gain or lose.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you this big news adds up to Hollywood waging a large scale weight war.
Tori Spelling started the weight war revolution with a bang saying she`s actually sick and tired of people calling her skinny.
PIAZZA: Most people would love to be called too thin or say oh, no she`s just too skinny.
ANDERSON: Tori explained her frustration on the "Today" show.
SPELLING: They understand that it hurts to call people overweight but when you call someone underweight, it just as horribly, it really knocks down your self-confidence.
ANDERSON: Singer Jewel is making her own headlines with a no holds barred shot at Hollywood`s weight on session. Jewel tells "Shape" magazine, "We should be more like men God bless them. They can take their shirts off and show their man boobs and they don`t give a hoot."
Entertainment journalist, Jo Piazza tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Jewel has a point.
PIAZZA: No one is scrutinizing men`s -- man boobs or their baby bumps or their over enlarged derrieres. If women are more comfortable and women are saying back off the way that men do, then maybe the media will start portraying these women as what they are, women that are comfortable and happy with their bodies.
ANDERSON: Jewel is also revealing that her own battle with body image almost took a devastating turn.
JEWEL: I read a blog ad that it`s about a certain time when I was a little overweight on the road. People were making fun me saying I was a fat Rene Zellweger. It didn`t make me happy. I mean I didn`t even like to look at myself.
ANDERSON: Jewel tells "Shape" quote, "My feelings were so hurt by that story I ended up binging on an entire cake. And afterward I actually tried to throw it all up but thankfully I couldn`t do it." Fortunately Jewel tells "Shape" she didn`t go down that unhealthy road.
JEWEL: Being in an entertainment industry I saw a bulimics, I saw a lot of anorexics and a lot of people with bad body image in my industry. And I struggled with the same thing. I was overweight but at the same time I didn`t want to do any harm to myself.
ANDERSON: Kyra Sedgwick is also making her own shocking revelations about her weight issues.
PIAZZA: Kyra Sedgwick is one of the last women in Hollywood that we would expect to have weight issues.
ANDERSON: In an interview with "More" magazine, the actress said food has never been easy for me.
PIAZZA: When she was taping a movie back in the 80`s where she played a holocaust survivor it forced her weight to go way down.
ANDERSON: About that experience Sedgwick tells "More" magazine, quote, "I came back from that and it triggered something, I ate everything in sight. My weight went up and then too far down." Then, Kyra says, she solved her problem in a radical way.
PIAZZA: Finally she just threw out the scale. She couldn`t deal with it anymore and decided "I am the weight I am and people are going to have to deal with it."
ANDERSON: Sedgwick tells "More" magazine quote, "I`m so grateful that I don`t get on a scale because it`s never going to be the right number."
PIAZZA: Women read these magazines and watch these shows and movies and see pictures of women that look impossibly skinny and impossibly perfect.
ANDERSON: Entertainment journalist, Jo Piazza tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she think Spelling, Jewel and Sedgwick`s weight war will have an effect that goes far beyond Hollywood.
PIAZZA: I think reading stories about celebrities that say I`m not perfect, I`ve struggled and I don`t love my body all the time just like you will make women more comfortable with their own weight.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I have to believe that when Hollywood women roar about their weight other women listen.
It is our "Showbiz Flashpoint". When female stars roar about their weight, do women listen?
With me in New York, Marvet Britto, who is a celebrity publicist; and in Hollywood, Jess Weiner, author and founder of the Actionist Network. Ok Jess, to our "Showbiz Flashpoint", what do you think when female stars roar about their weight do, other women listen?
JESS WEINER, AUTHOR AND FOUNDER OF THE ACTIONIST NETWORK: Yes, they do. And not only do other women listen, but girls listen, too. And so that`s where we have to be very delicate when we have this conversation. Weight is complex, Brooke, it`s complex for women and girls. It means a lot of things to a lot of different people.
But when you put it through the Hollywood lens, we only see one type of beauty.
ANDERSON: Yes.
WEINER: And even these beauties that were just discussed in this piece they all have the same struggles. So we have to really look at what`s going on beneath the surface for women out there and weight is just one component of where they struggle with --
ANDERSON: Right.
WEINER: Control and -- and feeling like they are in charge of their life.
ANDERSON: Yes I think it is so refreshing when high profile women open up about their struggles, about their insecurities in this way. And those ladies aren`t the only women in Hollywood who have roared about their weight.
Even Valerie Bertinelli, who has had a history of body image issues, hopes that she helps women and girls everyday with her public weight battle. Watch what she told Oprah on her talk show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VALERIE BERTINELLI, ACTRESS: If my weight loss has done anything, it`s encouraging other women to take care of themselves, too. And that is a complete honor. If I can help anybody else out there feel better about themselves then that`s all -- that`s all I need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Marvet, to our "Showbiz Flashpoint" when female stars roar about their weight do women listen?
MARVET BRITTO, CELEBRITY PUBLICIST: Absolutely. I think women going emotional roller coasters with their favorite celebrities. Celebrities do have the ear of the masses, the masses that really seek to emulate the lifestyles, the glamorous lifestyles. They see their favorite celebrity living.
So I think when they hear the pit falls and the perils of weight, weight loss and weight gain, they do listen and they do try to find ways to adopt their behavior patterns into their own journeys with weight.
ANDERSON: Yes absolutely, these women`s lives -- these stars lives are not perfect, even though a lot of people perceive them to be that way.
And I`ve got talk a minute about Kirstie Alley. Because I really think that she has a wonderful sense of humor about her weight struggles. And she spoke pretty candidly about it on her A&E reality show "Kirstie Alley`s Big Life".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIRSTIE ALLEY, REALITY STAR, "KIRSTIE ALLEY`S BIG LIFE": I have (INAUDIBLE) my whole life until I gained 75 pounds, then I lost 75 pounds and then I gained 75 pound. I hate being fat. I`m not one of those girls that goes oh, I`m loud, I`m proud, I`m large and in charge. I hate it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ok Jess, she`s brutally honest but do you think that women appreciate that? She is confessing even the ugly truth.
WEINER: I think some women appreciate that about Kirstie and then as a confidence and self-esteem expert I watch it with another sensibility, which in fact, I know that Kirstie now had gotten caught up in making money based off of her weight.
And that`s what`s so sad for me about when we talk about weight in Hollywood women, they`re so scrutinized -- but they`re also known as the industry. For you to gain weight, to lose weight, you become famous for your body and we don`t put men through that same rigmarole.
ANDERSON: No we don`t, you`re right.
WEINER: We definitely put women`s weight, and so when I think of double standard about that --
BRITTO: Kirstie is talking about that --
WEINER: -- I don`t know that she`s fully -- and nobody remembers what their weight journey but I know Kirstie is still struggling.
ANDERSON: In a way, though, they are all relatable and inspirational. I think.
WEINER: Right.
ANDERSON: Marvet Britto and Jess Weiner, thank you both ladies.
HAMMER: Moving on to Selma`s scary snake surprise. Selma Hayek comes face-to-fang with a super slithery snake. And this woman did more than roar she ran for her life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYEK-PINAULT: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ok, ok. It`s not going to come up here.
HAYEK-PINAULT: Somebody do something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s not going to come up here.
HAYEK-PINAULT: Oh my God, get the snake.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Somebody do something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wait until you hear how Selma sets the record straight about her scary snake story. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Women Who Roar" on HLN News and Views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYEK-PINAULT: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s ok, it`s ok. It`s not going to come up here.
HAYEK-PINAULT: Somebody do something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s not going to come up here.
HAYEK-PINAULT: Oh my God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Selma`s scary snake surprise. Selma Hayek-Pinault as she`s now known comes face-to-fang with a slippery, slithery critter. Selma is more than a woman who roars she gets out of the way in a flash. And I think she deserves a high five for being able to do so in super high stilettos.
Selma Hayek-Pinault`s snake freak out revelations. Now Selma was all set to do an interview with the show "Extra" when things got really scary for her. Selma and her "Grownups" co-stars Maya Rudolph (ph) and Maria Belo (ph) spotted a big old snake.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYEK-PINAULT: Oh, my God. No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s ok, it`s ok, it`s not going to come up here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Somebody do something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s not going to come up here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Selma set the record straight about her scary snake surprise on "Live with Regis and Kelly", plus she revealed the hero who saved the day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYEK-PINAULT: It was a five-foot snake that was hissing and the head was off and that`s edited and it goes by really fast. But the really dramatic part about it is that when the snake was -- like came out and we saw it, the 40 people around us, they left. They left.
Regis Philbin, host, "live with Regis and KELLY": No kidding?
HAYEK-PINAULT: There were bodyguards, like men, like really big, tough, they ran. And if it hadn`t been for my Aunt Rudolph`s hairdresser who came with his little hair bag, who went shoo, shoo. Once that that snake was already out that chair, I don`t know what would have happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, no one was hurt. That snake did not end up as a pair of boots. And speaking of footwear, how the heck did Selma get out of the way so fast in those high heels? That to me is pretty impressive.
ANDERSON: Yes it was.
Ok, I`ve got to move now to Jennifer Aniston, who is roaring about men and babies. Jennifer created an intense debate around the world for saying that women don`t need men to have babies.
She said, "Women are realizing it more and more and knowing that they don`t have to settle with a man just to have that child. What is amazing is that we do have so many options these days as opposed to our parents` days when you can`t have children because you had waited too long."
Well, her words created a firestorm of controversy right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Hey, I`ve got the utmost respect for single, committed mothers but -- but I don`t think that is the ideal way to have a child. But some women just don`t have any other choice.
Watch what "Life and Style" magazine`s contributing editor Rachel Zalis, told me when I asked her if she thinks Jennifer is right?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RACHEL ZALIS, LIFE AND STYLE WEEKLY CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Absolutely. We are not living in the 50s anymore, Brooke. I mean, families are completely redefined. And I think this is part of the reason that we love her. She`s rich, she`s famous, she`s gorgeous and even she can`t find a guy to have a baby with. I mean, this the problem --
ANDERSON: And I don`t think you need to settle for a man to have a baby but -- but if you can`t find a good man to --
ZALIS: Right.
ANDERSON: -- do it, because being a single parent isn`t easy.
ZALIS: Absolutely. But if you need to then do it.
ANDERSON: Right.
ZALIS: No reason why if you`re single you cannot have a child.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And the debate is --
HAMMER: Well that is it for the special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Women Who Roar". I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Take care.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
