Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Man Nearly Killed on Live Television; Kate Gosselin on "Sarah Palin`s Alaska"; Bristol Palin Battles Back; Josh Duhamel`s Flight Fiasco; Reality Stars Making the Most Money; Mel Gibson`s Comeback Movie; Kathy Griffin`s Bristol Slam
Aired December 06, 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: We`ve got big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - reality show madness. An unbelievable accident. A man nearly killed on live television. Today, why even Justin Bieber is shaken up over this.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Did Sarah slam Kate? Sarah Palin`s deep dig at Kate Gosselin while roughing it with her in the woods.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FMR. GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK): She`s going to rely on me to protect her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Palin`s daughter Bristol battles back. Her explosive response today to outrageous claims that Sarah made her do "Dancing with the Stars."
ANDERSON: Josh Duhamel`s flight fiasco, booted from a plane for not turning off his Blackberry. Is Josh a jerk?
HAMMER: Revealed today - reality stars making the most money. Kim Kardashian`s reported $6 million bonanza. The SHOWBIZ Flashpoint today - is Kim Kardashian worth $6 million?
ANDERSON: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show -
HAMMER: 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 - reality show madness.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. From Sarah Palin to Kate Gosselin to David Hasselhoff, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you there are astounding stories today of brand-new reality show madness. Sarah Palin giving it to Kate for whining. David Hasselhoff and that cheeseburger. We`re going to get to that all in just a moment.
ANDERSON: But nothing, and I mean nothing, can top the madness that happened on a Wise TV game show as stars, including Justin Bieber, looked on. It was a horrifying accident witnessed live by millions of people in Germany.
And today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learned the chilling details. A 23-year-old man tried to jump over a moving car but something went terribly wrong and listen to who was driving the car - his own father.
And scheduled to appear on the same show, everybody from Justin Bieber to Cameron Diaz to Cher.
HAMMER: With me in New York is Jill Zarin, who is a cast member of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey." Also, right now, Cooper Lawrence, who is a syndicated radio host.
Did I say "Real Housewives of New Jersey?" It`s New York, of course, Jill.
(CROSS TALK)
COOPER LAWRENCE, SYNDICATED RADIO: It`s the hair. It`s the hair.
HAMMER: You look like Princess Leia here.
JILL ZARIN, CAST MEMBER, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK": I do. I do.
HAMMER: All right. Let`s get right to this. This truly could be one of the most horrific things I`ve ever seen on live television. I can`t imagine being in the audience for this.
Today, it`s all people are talking about. Now, initial reports say the stunt man`s jumping shoes failed. He miscalculated the jump and he fell hip first onto the ground. The guy is in critical condition. Doctors fear he could be paralyzed, which is obviously terrible and this is the worst accident in the show`s 29-year history.
Cooper, to me, this just is proof that reality television has simply gone too far. I feel like we`ve said that before when talking about some of the train wreck personalities we`ve seen, but this is a whole other thing.
LAWRENCE: You haven`t seen her with Bethenny when they fight. I mean, that`s nothing. That`s nothing, A.J. But of course, it was going to look -- unless somebody dies at some point, it not really going to be satisfying for producers.
I mean, the reason they do reality shows - nothing personal - is because it`s cheap. You know, actresses cost a lot of money. I mean, now, you cost a lot of money but most people who are starting out in reality shows don`t, stunt men don`t cost a lot of money.
HAMMER: Right.
LAWRENCE: So you know, it`s a cost-benefit analysis.
HAMMER: Well, the entire - no, hang on just a second, Jill, because the entire audience - I mean, imagine being there. You`re sitting there in stunned silence, watching this happen. And who else of sitting there among them?
Justin Bieber. He was actually right there because he was scheduled to perform on the show that night and he tweeted as this horrific accident was happening.
Here`s what he said in his tweet, "Just want to let my people in Germany know I won`t be on `Wetten Dass` tonight as an accident has taken place and we all don`t think it is right to continue." I`m glad they said that. "Please pray for Samuel Koch and his family as we wait and hope for his health and safety," as we here, of course, at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT do.
Now, the show`s ratings are reportedly failing. Jill, you are a reality star. Do you get the pressure they may have felt to push things farther than they should have if that`s what they were doing?
ZARIN: I don`t know why everyone thinks it`s a reality show. First of all, who left the sun roof open? Seriously. I think, honestly, the father is going to have to live with this guilt. That has nothing to do with the reality show. It`s a terrible accident. It didn`t have to be televised. People do stunts off camera.
HAMMER: But you do get - you do get that they sort of have broadened the latitude of what they allow people on reality shows to get into. And sometimes, there are consequences.
ZARIN: No, Evel Knievel was doing stunts he is whole life without a reality show. Remember him? He was doing stunts just to make the world record books. I just don`t get (UNINAUDIBLE) with it being on a reality show.
Yes, it was televised, but there have been plenty of stunt people dumping televised - un-televised like Evel Knievel.
HAMMER: Yes.
ZARIN: And it was televised, but not for a reality show. I think it was a terrible accident, but the sun roof shouldn`t have been left open. And the father is going to have to live with this guilt and it is terrible.
HAMMER: OK. There was talk that the show would be yanked off the air after the tragedy. Late breaking today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the show will go on.
ZARIN: Yes. It should go on.
HAMMER: Jill says it should go on. Do you think the show should face some tough consequences there for what happened here?
LAWRENCE: What kind of consequences? I mean, it`s not the show`s fault.
ZARIN: Yes, but they do.
LAWRENCE: They should have better safety regulations. My guess is, you know, when you hire people -
ZARIN: And close the sunroof when somebody`s going to be on it.
LAWRENCE: Exactly. Somebody should have been in charge of making sure that it was safe.
HAMMER: All right. Brooke, I want to bring you in here because at this point, obviously, we`re hoping that the stunt man recovers from this horrific accident. I know you`re with us on that.
ANDERSON: A.J., yes, my heart goes out to him and his family and, of course, to his father who participated and witnessed the entire thing from inside the car. It really is horrific.
But I do want to move now to another reality TV story making big news today - Kate Gosselin and Sarah Palin, camping buddies?
It turns out that Kate Gosselin and her kids joined "Sarah Palin`s Alaska" on TLC. It`s for a brand-new episode of harrowing camping adventures in the Alaskan wilderness.
There were bears, guns and tents. Oh, my. But it turns out that Kate Gosselin was not a happy camper. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: December 12th.
S. PALIN: How would you like to go camping with Kate and her eight kids?
ANNOUNCER: It`s a Palin-Gosselin camp off.
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR: I have never camped for real.
S. PALIN: Our ruggedness is really a mystery to people in the lower 48.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, you can have a high population of bears that`s going to go -
S. PALIN: She`s going to rely on me to protect her.
K. GOSSELIN: I am freezing to the bone.
S. PALIN: Come on. It wasn`t that bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. The bear part - that would probably make me anxious, too. But poor Kate was at the point of a nervous breakdown, it seemed, after only two hours. Jill, I want to take your vote here. Who is the more controversial reality show grizzly mama, Kate Gosselin or Sarah Palin?
ZARIN: Well, clearly, Kate Gosselin. But you know, I had a house in the Poconos and I had a bear break into my garbage cans. So I think I`m qualified for the next episode. So Sarah, you`ve got my number. I`ll come. I want to go to the wilderness.
ANDERSON: You want an invitation.
ZARIN: I do.
ANDERSON: I would like to see that, Jill.
ZARIN: I want to go camping.
ANDERSON: Cooper, what do you think? Who is the more controversial grizzly mama, Sarah Palin or Kate Gosselin?
LAWRENCE: Well, Kate is more controversial, because you know, she used to be a regular mom. Now, she needs a stylist and a personal trainer and she likes to run. And there`s no gym there. And you know, she`s become quite a diva. She can`t stay in a tent.
ANDERSON: Yes. What were they even thinking.
LAWRENCE: My god.
ANDERSON: A.J., that entire episode of "Sarah Palin`s Alaska" airs on TLC on December 12th if you want to check it out.
HAMMER: Yes. Yes. I`m sure we`ll all be watching, Brooke. There`s also another big story breaking today - David Hasselhoff`s new show debuted on Sunday night. And he jumped in with both feet almost immediately talking about that infamous video where he`s lying on the ground, devouring a cheeseburger drunk.
He`s copped to that. In his new show, "The Hasselhoffs," David visits his daughter`s university to speak to her class and they immediately ask him, of course, about the burger incident. Of course, they`re going to do that. He said it was a sign from God. Chris, roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID HASSELHOFF, ACTOR: The hamburger incident was a private tape that was taken from me and my daughter. And it never should have gotten out and it broke my heart because my child was involved. Sometimes life gives you a wake-up call. It`s the how fast you get up, not how hard you fall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, I say good for David Hasselhoff, not only for speaking so openly about such a difficult moment in his life, but for really owning his behavior and ultimately fixing it.
Cooper, I think it does say a lot about him that he has developed such a sense of humor about what was such a low point in his life.
LAWRENCE: He has to, because for this audience, that`s all they really know about him. That`s actually the most interesting thing about him. And the fact he`s acknowledging it and using it as a tool and as a talking point to tell kids don`t do this, don`t be like me - you know, good. He found way to turn it into gold.
HAMMER: Yes. Yes. This audience there - they weren`t watching "The Knight Rider" show when that was on.
LAWRENCE: They were fetuses.
HAMMER: That`s probably true, even if that. Well, the new reality show, "The Hasselhoffs," features David and his two daughters who are both trying to launch their own careers in Hollywood. They`re auditioning. They`re singing.
Jill, you know, I look at them and I think seeing what their dad has been through, maybe they`d want to stay as far away from the spotlight as possible. But they say realizing their dream is totally worth whatever price comes along with that. As a reality star yourself, do you get where they`re coming from?
ZARIN: I do but I have to - I`ve just got to (UNINAUDIBLE) about the story. You know, why does he have to make it about him? He goes to visit his daughter in college.
I go visit my daughter in college. The last thing I would do is try to take away her thunder and do a personal appearance at her school or anything nearby.
HAMMER: Well, you don`t know -
ZARIN: Why is it that -
HAMMER: In fairness to him, we don`t know the back story of how that was set up and exactly why. And perhaps there is more (UNINAUDIBLE) the show.
ZARIN: OK. But you know, his children - they`re trying to use reality show as a platform. The risk is that their father definitely has an alcohol abuse problem and this could set him back off.
And I just doesn`t think it could help him. I really don`t. I mean, if he needs the money, then that`s why he`s doing it.
HAMMER: Yes. And I think he`s making it pretty clear, which was surprising to a lot of us, he does need the money. Jill Zarin, Cooper Lawrence, thanks, guys. Appreciate it.
ANDERSON: I want to tell you now about big news that we are going to be breaking on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Tuesday. That is when we will reveal the most provocative celebrity of the year. So who will we name? Find out Tuesday on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right here on HLN 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern.
HAMMER: Bristol Palin`s time on "Dancing with the Stars" was certainly very controversial. Some people said that Bristol didn`t deserve to be in the finals. And today, there`s outrage over what Kathy Griffin just said about Bristol`s "Dancing" days.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATHY GRIFFIN, COMEDIAN: She`s the only contestant in the history of the show to actually gain weight. No, come on. Come on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Kathy, there`s a reason the audience was reacting that way. You know I love you but going after Bristol`s weight, a lot of people think that was out of line.
ANDERSON: A.J., I think Josh Duhamel was way out of line for refusing to shut off his Blackberry on a plane when he was asked to do so. He got kicked off for refusing to power down. So is Josh really a jerk?
HAMMER: And speaking of jerks - Mel Gibson. We got your first look at this brand-new clip from his new movie, "The Beaver."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEL GIBSON, ACTOR: I`m sick.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you want to get better.
GIBSON: Who are you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m the beaver. (UNINAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Mel`s big return to the big screen but with a beaver? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Angelina Jolie says she hasn`t had plastic surgery and doesn`t plan on having any. Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj perform "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" at VH1 Divas.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer in New York.
HAMMER: And Brooke, there are some controversial stuff in "The Buzz Today." Fergie`s husband, Josh Duhamel, gets kicked off a flight. We`re going to talk about this in a second. A lot of people are really fired up about it.
Billy Joel`s daughter, Alexa Ray - her startling new revelations about her suicide attempt. And Oprah`s brand-new award. All making big news in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Oprah`s historic honor. Oprah Winfrey just received the nation`s top honor for an entertainer. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was with Oprah at the White House where she revealed the secret to her success.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": You know, I started out pretending to be Barbara Walters and figured out that I could be a better Oprah. So my best advice is always to find a way to your true self.
HAMMER: Other Kennedy Center honorees included Paul McCartney, Merle Haggard, Broadway composer Jerry Herman, and dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones.
"I didn`t want to die," says the daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley. Alexa Ray Joel is speaking out about her life a year after her suicide attempt.
The 24-year-old reveals to the "New York Post" that she called 911 after overdosing on pills because, quote, "I have a flair for the dramatic. I didn`t want to die. I just didn`t want to feel what I was feeling at that moment anymore."
She denies being clinically depressed saying, "I don`t like to believe in depression. I believe if you work hard enough, you can get yourself out of it."
Josh Duhamel is so sorry. Duhamel is apologizing to everyone after getting kicked off an airplane last Thursday for not turning off his Blackberry. He just admitted to "Access Hollywood" he shouldn`t have kept using his Blackberry when he was told to shut it off adding that being removed from the plane was, quote, "not my favorite moment." But now, he says, "I`m good, lesson learned."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: All right. Brooke Anderson, I`ve got to tell you I fly a lot. And I have to say while a lot of people wait to turn off their Blackberries until they get yelled at a couple times, I see celebrities do it all the time.
I never understand it. Doesn`t matter who you are, it`s the rule, turn it off. Even if you don`t agree with the rule, just put it away.
ANDERSON: Oh, so they leave it on. So you`re saying that you see them leaving it on even when they`re told not to.
HAMMER: No, I see them sitting there and they continue doing it. And they`re told, "Sir, you have to turn it off." And I won`t name names. And they don`t do it for some reason. And a lot of us, we think, OK, it`s a stupid rule but it is the rule and it holds everybody up.
ANDERSON: The rules are there - yes, rules are rules. They are for a reason and they decided to enforce them. And Josh Duhamel learned the hard way. I`m sure it was humiliating, embarrassing and frustrating for the other people on that flight.
All right, A.J. I`ve got to move now to something that is definitely going to get you into the holiday spirit. It is a fantastic food court flash mob. Did you see this?
HAMMER: And let me remind everybody, Brooke, what a flash mob is. A bunch of people get together in a public place. Voila, they are suddenly dancing or singing or something like that. Check this flash mob out. They`re singing Handel`s "Messiah," hallelujah, at the Welland Seaway Mall in Ontario Canada. Roll that.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: That is pretty, pretty cool. All right. Well, we didn`t ask what your favorite food court restaurant on our Facebook page is, but I was tempted to do that.
We did ask who was the biggest star, Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber. A lot of posts coming in today. There is one. This is Patti - Patti M. is writing, "Gaga has staying power. Bieber is just another teen idol."
But Lindsay W. is on team Biebs, writing, "Justin Bieber. He`s known for his singing. Lady Gaga is a joke. She`s known for her outrageous costumes."
This from Jonathan M., "It`s a draw. I would say Justin has more popularity due to all these preteen girls, but Lady Gaga has more talent, so for the pop vote, Bieber. Talent, Lady Gaga."
And that`s the vote on Facebook. Join the debate. We`re HLN - SHOWBIZTONIGHTHLN right on Facebook. You can follow @showbiztonight on Twitter for breaking entertainment news alerts. Call us at "Showbiz on Call." Our number is 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. And there`s always E-mail. Our address - showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: The Kardashians get totally skewered on "SNL. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`m Kim, the pretty one.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`m Kourtney, the smart one.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: And I`m Khloe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`ve got to tell you, I think this is really funny. But do the Kardashians really deserved to get slammed like this?
ANDERSON: A.J., I don`t think they`re feeling all that bad, though, because they made tons of money. In a brand-new report out today, Kim reportedly made $6 million this year. But is she worth it?
HAMMER: And happy Hanukkah to all of my Jewish brothers and sisters out there. This is one of the biggest and best YouTube videos out there right now, no matter what holiday you celebrate.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: You know that catchy tune "Dynamite"? Well, this is "Candlelight."
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: "Tangled" is number one at the box office this weekend with $21 million knocking "Harry Potter" to number two. Dane Cook`s half-brother ordered to pay him $12 million after embezzling money.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: This is your first look at and listen to Michael Jackson`s brand-new song. The song is called "Hold My Hand." It`s just out today. Michael recorded it with hip hop star, Akon, back in 2007. Jackson`s new album is scheduled to hit stores December 14th. That`s a perfect Christmas gift for all those Michael Jackson fans.
All right. From one musical great, Michael Jackson, to another, the Beatles. And this brand-new video out today is truly amazing.
Did you see this? More than 40 stars are lip-synching to the Beatles` classic, "Let It Be." And there are some huge names here - Glenn Close, Jason Alexander, Kathleen Turner. Some random ones, too - Tonya Harding, Fab Morvan from Milli Vanilli, Dee Snider from Twisted Sister. Take a look.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: All right. So the big question here is, how did all these stars end up in this video? Well, it`s a promotional spot for a Norwegian TV show.
And listen to this - "Married With Children" actor, Faustino, tells a Hollywood reporter he was duped into doing it. He was told that it was for charity. Were they all tricked? That`s not right. The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Norway office is looking into this. We will let you know what we find.
HAMMER: I didn`t we got a Norway office. Now, it`s time for the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
I love Kathy Griffin. Kathy, you know I love you, but I think you`re kind of out of line for what you just said about Bristol Palin`s time on "Dancing with the Stars." I mean, come on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: She`s the only contestant in the history of the show to actually gain weight. No, come on. Come on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Kathy. Our big debate today - is Kathy wrong for slamming Bristol about weight?
We`ve got your very first look today at Mel Gibson`s big comeback movie. He co-stars with a beaver. Is this a good career move for Mel?
Also your very first look at Mariah Carey`s baby bump. Wait until you see this. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Here comes the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Showtime renews "Dexter" for a sixth season. One of Michael Jackson`s famous white gloves sells for $330,000 at auction.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`m Kim, the pretty one.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`m Kourtney, the smart one.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: And I`m Khloe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - the Kardashians clobbered on "Saturday Night Live" for having no talent. But do Kim, Khloe and Kourtney deserve to be slammed like this?
ANDERSON: Kathy Griffin, Bristol Palin. Kathy slams Bristol about her weight on "Dancing with the Stars." so is Kathy way out of line here?
HAMMER: Mel`s big comeback - with a beaver?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIBSON: I`m sick.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Do you want to get better?
GIBSON: Who are you?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I`m the beaver. (UNINAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: We`ve got your very first look at Mel Gibson`s new comeback movie. Is this a good move by Mel?
Plus, breaking today from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker," Katy Perry`s salute to the truth and Willow Smith is going to rock New Year`s Eve.
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.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today - spoofing the Kardashians?
HAMMER: Yes. What a joke they made of Kim, Khloe and Kourtney on "Saturday Night Live." The Kardashian sisters - they got absolutely shellacked on "SNL" for everything from their recent Kardashian credit card scandal to their overall brand, and of course, the source of their worldwide fame, which has still yet to have been found. But did the Kardashian girls actually deserve to be slammed in the spoofs?
With me, right now, in New York, Cooper Lawrence, who is a syndicated radio show host. She`s also the author of "The Cult of Celebrity." And from Hollywood, the great Jon Lovitz, comedian and spokesperson for the Psoriasis education campaign called "Are You Serious." Great to you have here, Jon.
So the Kardashians have been in the news a whole lot lately, especially for this failed Kardashian card. It was cancelled after Connecticut`s attorney general called it outrageous and said its fees were predatory.
And of course, "SNL" gave its take on what the K-Dash girls might say to quiet the controversy. Take a look what they did.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: So you`re not endorsing the card anymore?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: We took our name off it immediately.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: So true. And that`s not all. We`ve also had to take our name off some other products like the Kardashian birth control pills.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Yes. They were Skittles.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I have to say brutal but absolutely brilliant as always. But I need to bring in the real expert here, former "SNL" cast member, Jon Lovitz.
So Jon, I`m thinking the Kardashian sisters deserved everything they got after signing on to that kind of a credit card scam. What about you?
JON LOVITZ, COMEDIAN AND FORMER "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" CAST MEMBER: Well, the thing is "Saturday Night Live" - it spoofs and satirizes pop culture. So if I were them, I would be - you know, you have a sense of humor about yourself and I would be honored that "Saturday Night Live" is imitating you. It`s really a badge of honor.
HAMMER: Yes. I think there`s more -
LOVITZ: I did the show for five years and the only person that didn`t like it was Harvey Fierstein. But I understand why he didn`t and he`s a nice guy. I was making fun of him but he didn`t like it. It was a little edgy, you know.
HAMMER: Yes.
LOVITZ: It could be perceived as mean what I did, so I understand it. But it`s really a badge of honor. I thought the sketch was funny.
HAMMER: Yes. I`m saying I think it`s one of the best things that`s ever happened to them. And the clobbering of the Kardashians didn`t stop with that part of the sketch. The "SNL" versions of the Kardashian sisters say they did learn a valuable lesson from their credit card scandal. Let`s look at that part.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Despite the setbacks, we want everyone to know that no one takes this more seriously than me and my sisters.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: We know we are really role models.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: And we`re sorry to the thousands of little girls out there who look at us sisters and dream that one day they, too, can be good at - hey, mom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I am glad to know that these sisters are well aware of their reputation of being famous for nothing. But the truth is, Cooper, now that "SNL" has spoofed the Kardashian sisters, they are actually famous for something.
LAWRENCE: Yes, for being spoofed on "Saturday Night Live." But no. This started with Paris Hilton and we see the "Jersey Shore" kids. I mean, it`s all about being famous for being a reality show star.
You don`t have to have a talent. You don`t have to sing. You don`t have to act. You don`t have to be funny. You just have to be on television enough and have people like you, and that`s its own thing now.
HAMMER: Yes. Jon, "SNL" has never taken its choice of spoofing victims lightly. So do you think we need to take the Kardashian sisters a little more seriously?
LOVITZ: Well, I think they`re brilliant at marketing themselves as celebrities. Like people say to me, "Are you a celebrity?" And I`m like, no. I do say I`m an actor and a comedian.
To me, a celebrity is famous for being famous. But I mean, you know, they planned the whole thing. They saw what Paris Hilton did and they had a plan and they did it and they got a show. You know, it`s part of entertainment now.
HAMMER: Yes.
LOVITZ: And I mean, they`re doing it brilliantly, you know, marketing themselves.
LAWRENCE: And that`s attainable. If you`re a kid sitting at home with no talent but you`re cute, that`s attainable. You look at the Kardashians and think, "Well, I can have a reality show, too. I could be famous also."
HAMMER: Yes. I just need to put out a sex tape and I`m on my way.
ANDERSON: No.
LOVITZ: It`s not that easy. It`s not that easy or everybody would be doing it.
HAMMER: I do want to move on right now to a Bristol Palin war today with Margaret Cho. Brooke, Bristol seems to be taking the whole "Dancing with the Stars" drama to a new level here. Tell me about that.
ANDERSON: She certainly does, A.J. Bristol is fired up and she`s striking back at her dancing co-star, Margaret Cho, today. And it`s all because Margaret claimed in her blog that the teen mom, Bristol, was forced - forced by her mother, Sarah Palin, to do "Dancing with the Stars" for political payback.
But Bristol isn`t having this at all. A.J., what exactly did Bristol say?
HAMMER: Well, Bristol just wrote a very long and quite blistering letter responding to Margaret Cho today. She says this, "Let me be blunt. My mom did not force me to go on `Dancing with the Stars.` She did not ask me either. The show approached me."
She goes on to say, "Anyone who watched the show could tell I performed better and felt better about myself when they were in the audience. I wanted to make them both proud. Politics had nothing to do with it. Loving my parents had everything do with it." Brooke, she is not standing down.
ANDERSON: No. Bristol really went to town in this long letter. But, Cooper, some may say, "Thou doth protest too much." But I think Bristol has every right here to defend herself.
LAWRENCE: Of course, she does. And you know, she loves going on Facebook and Twitter. That`s her bastion. that`s where her audience is. So you know, it`s the fact that she took it a little too far. She made some comments later on in that quote that were just completely inappropriate and probably not so healthy for her reputation.
ANDERSON: Yes. Getting some heat for that. And what exactly about did she mean, we will probably find out in another post on Facebook very soon.
I`ve got to move now to more bombshell Bristol Palin news today. Kathy Griffin`s booed over Bristol. Yes. Kathy Griffin was hosting the VH-1 Divas live special that just aired. And she really made some brutal jokes about Bristol and her weight. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: I`ve got two words - Bristol Palin. Yes, that`s right. Come on, come on.
(BOOING)
You`re going to like this. She`s the only contestant in the history of the show to actually gain weight. No, come on. Come on. She gained like 30 pounds a week. I swear to god. It was fantastic.
She`s like the white precious. She`s like the white precious. You can boo louder than that. Come on. Boo me. I love it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Jon, she`s like, "Bring it on. I love the booing. Bring it on." We know that Kathy Griffin isn`t the kindest or cuddliest comedienne out there. But you know, talking about a woman`s weight is a sensitive topic. Do you think she crossed the line here?
LOVITZ: I think Margaret Cho was just mean. Everyone knows if you`re on those shows, they have to ask you to be on it. To me, Kathy is making a joke. It`s kind of mean but it`s a joke. It was the camera. The camera adds 10 pounds. So she could only would have gained 20 pounds.
ANDERSON: Right. And Kathy exaggerated it 30 pounds per week.
LOVITZ: Yes. Yes.
ANDERSON: So yes. It`s a sensitive topic, but Kathy never -
LOVITZ: No, but she didn`t get weight. But it`s a joke. Usually, people get thinner and I guess she stayed the same.
ANDERSON: And Kathy never makes any apologies for her comedy. And this is just her approach. All right. We appreciate it, Jon Lovitz, Cooper Lawrence, thank you both.
And Jon, we want to let everybody know that you are the spokesperson for a new psoriasis education campaign. It`s called "Are You Serious?" People can check it out online.
HAMMER: And we`re moving on right now to Mel Gibson`s big new movie come back. Everybody`s talking about this. Mel is co-starring with a beaver. Is this a good move?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Look here.
GIBSON: I`m sick.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Do you want to get better?
GIBSON: Who are you?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I`m the beaver. I`m here to save your damn life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Kim Kardashian, Kate Gosselin or The Situation - which reality star makes the most? You`re going to be totally shocked when I reveal to you this year`s top money earner.
HAMMER: And the amazing brand-new YouTube Hanukkah video that is simply on fire. In fact, this one is more dynamite. It`s dreidel dynamite.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Now, that`s a Hanukkah you can groove to. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
It`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Charlie Sheen`s estranged wife, Brooke Mueller, checks into sober living facility. Katy Perry, Keri Hilson, and Jennifer Nettles perform for U.S. troops.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Did you see this? Get a pretty good look right here at Mama Mariah Carey`s baby bump. All right. Mariah looking radiant in her holiday outfit. She showed off her holiday cheer and that baby bump during the taping of Disney`s Christmas Day Parade.
This is going to be Mariah and her husband Nick Cannon`s first child together. We`re so happy for little Nick, Maria and their little baby-to- be. I said "little Nick" - I don`t exactly know why I already have named the baby, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Maybe they will name the baby "Nick." Mariah obviously glowing there. She looks great.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood, A.J. Hammer in New York. We`re talking about Mel`s crazy comeback?
HAMMER: Yes. This is a little bizarre. Today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT does have your very first look at Mel Gibson`s first return to the big screen since alleged racist, sexist, abusive phone rant against his ex-girlfriend.
But people are asking today if this movie, "The Beaver" could actually be the worst thing ever for Mel. And that`s because it`s all about a normal, successful guy who completely melts down and then suddenly does something so off the wall that people don`t know what to make of him.
With me now in New York is Jill Zarin. She is a co-start of "The Real Housewives of New York" and creator of Jill Zarin Home. In Atlanta, it`s Ali Velshi. He`s CNN`s chief business correspondent and host of "Your Money." Good to have you both here.
ZARIN: Thank you.
HAMMER: Ali and Jill, you must carefully now watch this with me. It is simply Bizarroland(ph), Mel Gibson in "The Beaver." Roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD ACTOR: Is dad gone?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: He`s not gone, honey. We just agreed that it`s better if we don`t live together anymore.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I`m glad you kicked him out. What a loser.
ANNOUNCER: This is the story of Walter Black, a hopelessly depressed individual. The successful and loving family man he used to be has gone missing. And no matter what he`s tried, Walter can`t seem to bring him back.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD ACTOR: Mom says yours got broken.
ANNOUNCER: So you can see that Walter is a man who`s lost all hope, but he`s about to find his voice.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Look at you.
GIBSON: I`m sick.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Do you want to get better?
GIBSON: Who are you?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I`m the beaver, Walter. And I`m here to save your damn life.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: The person who handed you this card is under the care of a prescription drug designed to help create a psychological distance between himself and the negative aspects of his personality.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: This is a joke, right?
GIBSON: No, son. It`s a fresh (UNINAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I`m not talking to you, nut job. I`m talking to mom.
GIBSON: Good morning, all. As of now, Walter is gone and putting me in charge.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: A beaver?
GIBSON: It`s the future.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Mr. Beaver wood chopper is selling out in droves.
JODIE FOSTER, ACTRESS: I`ve been very patient and I want you, not him.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: This man is a dead end. He`s gone.
FOSTER: I fought for you and I will continue to fight for you because I love you.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD ACTOR: I want daddy.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I know, buddy.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: All I ever wanted was to be like you. When I got older, I just wanted to be anybody else.
GIBSON: I know. Where do we start?
FOSTER: We start with the good part.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. I`ve got to tell you, all things being equal, this actually looks like a pretty heartwarming movie. But of course, all things are not equal here. We`re talking about Mel Gibson.
And Jill, I`m not sure, number one, people want to shell out their hard- earned money to see Mel Gibson to begin with, but separate from that, to see him as a disturbed man.
ZARIN: Well, he is a disturbed man. And I think the movie is almost foreshadowing. I think the name of the movie is creepy, calling it "The Beaver." I don`t know why. It just gives me a creepy feeling.
And I think it should go straight to DVD. I mean, to me, I look at this and say the producers want their money back.
HAMMER: Yes.
ZARIN: They`re tired of shelving. It happened. And it was foreshadowing for him to show that he`s a disturbed man. You look into his eyes and you start thinking of all the things we actually know about him.
HAMMER: Yes. They want to get some money. And that`s why I want to bring in Ali Velshi. "The Beaver" is directed by Jodie Foster. Jodie costars in the movie. She`s passionately defended Mel throughout all of his troubles.
"The Beaver" is set to be released in the spring after it`s been sitting on the shelf, Ali, for a couple of years. So it was made before all of this year`s drama with Mel took place.
But Ali, other than maybe wanting to capitalize or thinking they can capitalize on Mel`s mess, I don`t really get why anyone would think it`s good business to release a Mel Gibson movie right now. Do you?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I have to tell you, I would normally agree with you. I hadn`t seen that trailer until you just showed it to me and I have to say that the idea of a bucktoothed alter ego in these tumultuous times when everything`s a problem and we`re still worried about the economy and all.
I mean, we know we use movies as an escape and this escape of having someone from whom escape from your own problems with I think is actually kind of neat.
HAMMER: No. Not getting my money. Mel, infamous fury now leads us to the very rich and infamous. Brooke, Kim Kardashian may be famous for nothing, but of course, apparently that job pays really well.
ANDERSON: Oh, yes, it does, A.J. "TheDailyBeast.com" reported today that the reality show stars - they reported the reality show stars who are earning the most money. And at the top of that list is Kim Kardashian, banking $6 million. Kim - $6 million this year.
Jill, you`re a reality show star. Do you ever understand this? Is she really worth that?
ZARIN: You know, she`s worth it if you`re willing to pay for it. I mean, I hope you`re talking about me a year from now. Seriously, I`m building a brand myself so I`m not going to throw stones at glass houses.
I mean, I think she`s a smart business woman. She`s taking her reality show and building a brand. If you are willing to pay for her broadcasts, god bless America.
VELSHI: Yes.
ANDERSON: Yes. She`s not just a reality star anymore. She is a business mogul. We`ve got to leave it there now. Jill Zarin, Ali Velshi, thank you both. Good to see you.
HAMMER: I do need to tell you about some big news we`re going to be breaking on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going to name the most provocative celebrity of the year. And, boy, there were a lot of provocative celebrities to choose from.
HAMMER: I`m wondering who it`s going to be. I actually don`t know yet. All right, maybe do I know but the big reveal will take place Tuesday right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern on HLN.
ANDERSON: There are so many people anxiously awaiting this big announcement, A.J. You know, it really was not an easy decision and there was some serious, fired up debates among the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff.
HAMMER: Brooke, I am just beside myself of anticipation as I`m sure you are as well. Remember SHOWBIZ TONIGHT naming the most provocative celebrity of the year. It`s actually pretty cool. It is a tradition this time of year. You don`t want to miss it.
ANDERSON: Yes. That`s right. All right. From most provocative celebrity of the year to what could be one of the best YouTube videos of the year.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: "Spin the Dreidel." (UNINAUDIBLE). This video is absolutely dynamite. You`ve got to see the rest of this, next. 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: Robert Downey, Jr. set to star in upcoming musical comedy movie. Willow Smith to appear on "Dick Clark`s New Year`s Rockin` Eve."
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: This guy`s incredible. Everybody`s rocking out to Mike Tompkins` a cappella cover of Tao Cruz` "Dynamite." Listen to this - Tompkins takes all these hit songs and re-records them just using his voice to do all the singing and the instruments.
Occasionally, he might bring one in one instrument for a song. Anyway, it`s raw talent. It`s amazing. But there is a brand-new holiday spin today on Mike`s version of "Dynamite." There`s a brand-new "Dynamite" video everybody`s watching today, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. The Maccabeats brand-new take on "Dynamite" complete with dreidels and potato pancakes, which we call latkes and I like to have mine with applesauce.
Nearly three million views so far. So who are these Maccabeats? Well, they`re this a cappella group from the Yeshive University in New York. The Maccabeats did a parody of Mike Tompkins` cover of Tom Cruz` "Dynamite," Hanukkah style. Watch this.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: It`s very clever, A.J., very entertaining. And these guys aren`t just talented, but they obviously have a fantastic sense of humor. And I have a question for you.
HAMMER: Yes.
HAMMER: Have you ever played dreidel by candlelight?
HAMMER: Of course, I have and I`ll do that tonight. I`ll light my candles and I`ll give you a little translation "Maccabees," in Hebrew, it means "hammer." And there you have that.
Well, on Friday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. Just got the stunning final results here, Brooke. And this is the question we asked -"Eva Longoria and Tony Parker Spotted Eating Lunch Together: Should they try to save their marriage?" Look at this - 48 percent of you say yes, only 52 percent of you say no. So it`s a pretty even split.
This is probably Shane, although it says "Shanae" here, from Ohio - wants Eva and Tony to stay together, "Eva and Tony should save their marriage. They make a cute couple."
Sandra from Nevada, "I believe Tony will cheat on Eva if she stays with him." Thanks for your E-mails and thanks for watching. That`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday.
HAMMER: And we`re still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific here on HLN.
END
