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Showbiz Tonight
Portia`s Ballroom Bombshell; Kim Kardashian`s Model Split
Aired December 08, 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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): Inside, Elizabeth Edwards` last days, the emotional new details revealed today. Was her cheating ex, John, really around when she died? Plus, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Elizabeth Edwards` dramatic final interview.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST: A brand new Palin hunting controversy today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): A big time Hollywood director slams Sarah Palin over her reality TV show.
Plus, did Palin`s TV hunting trip really cost more than $40,000?
HAMMER: Caught on tape today.
HELEN MIRREN, ACTRESS: Not too much has changed Hollywood in the cannon of Hollywood filmmaking. It continues to worship at the altar of the 18-year- old to 25-year-old male and his penis.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Helen Mirren`s brand new rampage claiming Hollywood is obsessed with young men.
ANDERSON: Brand new worldwide reaction today to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT naming Lady Gaga the most provocative celebrity of the year. We`re asking you did we get it right?
HAMMER (on-camera): TV`s most provocative entertainment news show --
ANDERSON (on-camera): Starts right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi to everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today inside Elizabeth`s last days.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke, there is overwhelming reaction today to the death of Elizabeth Edwards in Hollywood and beyond. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Edwards, who died Tuesday after a long battle with breast cancer, clearly, made a lasting impact on so many people. I cannot help but admire all of her grace as she fought cancer while her estranged, cheating husband, John, fought of tabloid headlines that turned out to be true. There is no question that Elizabeth became the voice of so many people whose battle seemed almost too tough to fight.
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WHOOPI GOLDBERG, HOST: The sad headline this morning is Elizabeth Edwards losing her battle with breast cancer.
HAMMER (voice-over): As the day began, most of America had already heard the sad news. That Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former presidential candidate, John Edwards, died after a long and inspirational battle with cancer. But this morning on "The View, there was celebration amid the sadness.
GOLDBERG: We`re celebrating great life. She had the best possible life --
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you celebrities and others whose lives were touched by Elizabeth Edwards spent today praising the way she lived her life and handled her many struggles.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m sitting in the same chair three years ago when I publicly announced my battle with breast cancer.
HAMMER: On "Good Morning America" this morning while interviewing Edwards` friend, host Robin Roberts made a personal revelation. Elizabeth Edwards was the first person to call me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Classic, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And she had just recently had let everybody know that her cancer had come back, and she was offering words of encouragement.
HAMMER: Another famous cancer survivor, bicycling champion, Lance Armstrong is also remembering Edwards today. On Twitter he writes, quote, "RIP, Elizabeth. It was an honor to know you and to be your friend. I, like millions more, will miss you dearly."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People are remembering Elizabeth as a very strong and very smart woman.
HAMMER: Today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained this advance copy of the new people magazine which looks at Edwards` brave last days. "People`s" Joey Bartolomeo tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT doctors recently told her there was nothing they could do about her cancer.
JOEY BARTOLOMEO, SENIOR WRITER, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: She went home. She spent time with her family. People were there. They were crying, but they were also laughing and sharing memories.
HAMMER: It`s the end of an extraordinary life that had more than its share of tragedy. She and her husband of 32 years talked about the pain of losing their 16-year-old son, Wade, who died in a car accident in 1996. Just a day after the 2004 election when John Edwards was John Kerry`s running mate in his failed presidential bid, they announced that Elizabeth had cancer.
JOHN EDWARDS, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In s2006, two years ago, I made a very serious mistake.
HAMMER: Then in 2008, John Edwards went on ABC`s "Nightline" and admitted to a long rumored affair with Rielle Hunter. It later came out that he fathered a child with her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you forgiven her?
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, AUTHOR: Forgiveness is a hard word.
HAMMER: She told talk show host, Nate Berkus, about the status of her relationship with John. John and Elizabeth were separated at the time of her death.
EDWARDS: We found a new way of interacting with one another that is healthy, I think, for the kids and really easy for us, which is great.
BARTOLOMEO: John spent time at Elizabeth`s home over the last few days, and according to a friend of theirs, he was trying to do right in the end.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learns today, Edward`s funeral will be Saturday in North Carolina. She`ll be buried next to her son, Wade. In her final interview, Edwards talked of her one goal, to live eight more years.
EDWARDS: Jack`s 10. And so, if I could get Jack to 18, then I could see what kind of man he would be. And then, Emma Claire would be two years older. And by that time, they`ll be -- my daughter, Peyton is 28, you know. She will have gotten married and will have given me a grandchild. It`s one of life`s experiences that I really hope to have to be able to hold that chance (ph).
HAMMER: Edwards didn`t get that wish, but "People`s" Joey Bartolomeo tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, at the time of her death, this inspirational woman was holding out for one more wish.
BARTOLOMEO: Elizabeth had clung to the hope that death might bring her the chance to hold her first born son again. A friend of hers told "People" that she was at peace, and after so many years of struggling, it was a very easy passing.
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ANDERSON: Well, I think it`s got to be some comfort to so many of Elizabeth`s fans that her passing was peaceful, considering she had so many struggles in her life. With me right now from New York, K. Foxx who`s a New York radio host with the Hot 97 morning show. Here in Hollywood is Ken Baker, chief news correspondent for E!.
I`m almost in tears even watching that piece, but I think one of the saddest parts about all of this is that Elizabeth did not get to see her youngest son turn 18 or to hold her first grandchild but, Ken, even though she didn`t get her wishes, she touched, she inspired so many people by being honest about her cancer battle. So, she really does leave a lasting legacy for her kids, doesn`t she?
KEN BAKER, CHIEF NEWS CORRESPONDENT FOR E!: Yes. It`s very moving. It`s moving to hear your reaction. I think a lot of people are having a similar reaction, Brooke. And I think what was really poignant about the piece that we just watched is that she did find peace, and she was able to die surrounded by friends and family in her home, and I think that there`s a certain comfort that comes with that, and any caregivers, people who work in hospice say that, you know, that is the ideal way.
So, I think if there`s any positive takeaway, it`s that.
ANDERSON: Yes.
BAKER: And also, the way she lived her life, she`s very open and honest and brave, and she was like that right up until the end. Just in the last week, posting a Facebook message reminding us all of our mortality. It`s just a very moving way for her to go.
ANDERSON: Yes, she was incredible woman. Our condolences, of course, to her family and friends, but now, we have to move on to another big story breaking today. A.J., why is Oprah crying?
HAMMER (on-camera): Well, Brooke, Oprah did just sit down with Barbara Walters, and she does have that effect on people, but it was her brand new interview revealed just today -- and I got to say, Oprah got really emotional when Barbara asked Oprah about her friendship with her best friend, Gayle King. Take a look at what happened.
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OPRAH WINFREY, HOST: I don`t know about a person --
BARBARA WALTERS, HOST: Why is it making you cry?
WINFREY: Shoot. I`m going to cry here. It`s making me cry because I`m thinking about how much I probably have never told her that -- tissue, please. I now need tissue. I`ve never told her that.
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HAMMER: Look at that, she just busted out in tears. Clearly, she didn`t want that to happen, K. Oprah did not see that coming one bit.
K. FOXX, RADIO HOST, NEW YORK`S HOT 97: Well, I mean, Oprah is known as a woman of steel. You know, you never hardly see Oprah be that emotional about somebody.
HAMMER: Not outside her own set, certainly.
FOXX: Exactly. So, to see her in a human element is good for her fans. I think it`s good to see that side of Oprah.
HAMMER: Absolutely. And Oprah also set the record straight about those persistent rumors that just don`t seem to go away that she and her best friend, Gayle, are really lovers. Well, watch what she told Barbara Walters about that.
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WINFREY: I have said we are not gay enough times. I`m not lesbian. I`m not even kind of lesbian. And the reason why it irritates me is because it means that somebody must think I`m lying. That`s number one. Number two, why would you want to hide it? That is not the way I run my life.
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HAMMER: You see, that`s what I`ve always said, too, the naysayers out there. And Oprah has said this before. But, look, I think the fact that Oprah is saying this now so emphatically to Barbara Walters, people should really take that as the truth and just let it go. Ken, do you think this is going to finally put the rumors to rest about her and Gayle or are they just going to continue?
BAKER: I`d like to say it will, and I think that for most people who have conventional wisdom at their disposal, they will move on and take this as gospel, but there`s always going to be people out there who want to believe what they want to believe. And that certainly has always been the case with Oprah and Gayle and their relationship. I think Oprah dealt with it perfectly.
And I think that it`s pretty clear that they just share a very unique, intimate friendship, and we`ll just leave it at that. It doesn`t seem to be anything more than that. And I think it`s just another one of these obsessions that people have over people`s sexuality. And Oprah has just become a target of it, but what a great point. I mean, Oprah over shares. And I`m sure that if she did have something to share on that front, she would definitely share it.
HAMMER: Well, that`s exactly the point that, again, I`ve always said to people who just don`t believe it. She is just not the type of person. She would basically be putting her reputation on the line if she was anything other than truthful once she gave an answer, and she put it right out there. So, perhaps, it ends there. K. Foxx, Ken Baker, thank you both.
ANDERSON: All right. Moving on to brand new outrage today over Sarah Palin`s reality TV hunting and camping trip. There is a report today that the trip may have cost more than 40 grand. Is that amount totally obscene or no big deal? And one of Hollywood`s best known producers is calling Sarah deranged today over hunting.
HAMMER: Also this, Helen Mirren`s unbelievable Hollywood rant. You have got to see it.
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MIRREN: Really not too much has changed in the cannon of Hollywood film making that continues to worship at the altar of the 18 to 25-year-old male and his penis.
(LAUGHTER)
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HAMMER: Wow. Helen Mirren totally going off. You have to hear what got her so fired up today.
ANDERSON: A.J., so many people fired up about SHOWBIZ TONIGHT naming Lady Gaga as the most provocative celebrity of the year. There`s worldwide reaction today. Some people agree with us, some don`t. So, we`re asking, did we get it right? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
HAMMER: Time to roll out the "Showbiz News Ticker", get the more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Should we have told people or do you tell people? This time, I was just like, you know, let`s be positive, let`s keep the faith, and let`s tell everyone early and that`s what we did.
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LARRY KING, CNN ANCHOR: Remember the book and the film "Eight is Enough," is six enough?
ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: Ah -- I don`t know. No plans at the moment, but we`re always open.
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ANDERSON: CNN`s Larry King gets Angelina Jolie to reveal today if she`s going to have more kids. Angelina and Brad Pitt already have six, three adopted children, biological twins and a daughter, Shiloh. But it sounds like she`s not ruling out anymore.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood, A.J. Hammer in New York.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. And today, a story of recovery and redemption with Laura Ling. She and producer, Euna Lee, are back on track after being held captive by the North Korean government last year for five months while they were on assignment investigating human trafficking. Laura Ling hasn`t stopped her reporting and now joins up with E! Investigates. She`s got two incredible investigative reports debuting, one on the struggles of military families and the other on teen suicide. Obviously, a huge issue.
Laura Ling with me in New York. It is terrific to see you, and I do want to talk about the incredible work you`re doing with E! Investigates in just a moment, but you`ve been back now for over a year. It was august of last year when you finally returned. We all watched what unfolded with your story. We were all relieved for you that you returned. I got to ask how you`re doing because the transition has to have been just a stunning one to have gone through.
LAURA LING, HOST, E! INVESTIGATES: Thanks, A.J. Thank you for covering it. It was a slow transition to begin with. I mean, it was hard to get acclimated. But I am so good now. I mean, I feel so blessed every single day. I have a little baby girl. She`s 6 months old. And I just feel so fortunate.
HAMMER: There must have been a lot of therapy just in having your baby and every that goes along with that. I think (ph) it would be quite the distraction. I do have to ask will you ever go back to the region where you were when you got picked up and continue your investigation of human trafficking?
LING: I would definitely like to continue to shed light on that issue. The desperate women of North Korea who are being trafficked into China and forced into marriage and lured into prostitution. I wrote about my experience, and I hope that people can learn about it that way. And that was a big healing process for me.
HAMMER: Sure. Yes, that has been cathartic, indeed. And now, you`re working for E! Investigates. You have two new shows coming out. You have one on the struggles of military families, as I mentioned, and there`s another on teen suicide. I want to show a clip, a really disturbing clip, from the special report on teen suicide. Let`s roll that, Chris.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I drank about a half liter of vodka. At that point, I was already drunk, really drunk. Popped a bunch of pain killers. Right after that, I decided to drive. I didn`t want to stay here because I thought I could have a chance of getting saved. I can remember just like stumbling down this pathway, the visions getting blurry, and I made it to park bench right in the back, and I blacked out.
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HAMMER: And a couple found him on that bench, and they saved his life. I have to tell you, and we`ve been talking a lot about teen suicide and bullying, but I was just shocked to hear how many teen suicide attempts there are every year in this country, something like almost a million. What is going on?
LING: It really is a national crisis. I mean, every 40 seconds in the United States a teenager attempts to take his or her life. We interviewed for this E! Investigates episode, we interviewed young people from all around the country, and it really doesn`t discriminate. I mean, we`re talking about, you know, kids that seem like they have the perfect life and others that have a lot of family trauma going on. The underlying similarities, though, are a factor of depression. But depression is treatable, and so, there is hope. If people can just communicate and reach out and get help, there can be hope.
HAMMER: Do you think all the stars who are stepping in and trying to make a difference getting positive messages out and saying I`ve been there, too. Do you think that`s making a difference?
LING: I absolutely do. The more we can shine a light on this, the less it can become a stigma, and I think it`s wonderful.
HAMMER: Man, I mean, it truly is an epidemic. And I had no idea it was as bad as it is, and hopefully, your report will shed much-needed light on this. It`s great to see you, Laura Ling. Thank you so much for being here. Make sure you catch Laura`s investigation of teen suicide tonight on E!
Well, as we move on today, Brooke, there a lot of calls coming into SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, all about Sarah Palin`s controversial TV show hunting trip. I`m aghast about this.
ANDERSON: A.J., we got this call from Mark in North Carolina, though, who is not bothered by Sarah`s hunting one bit. Listen.
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MARK CALLING FROM NORTH CAROLINA: Sarah did a great job! She`s shown just how the hunters do it in Alaska. I wish I was in her shoes.
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ANDERSON: Thank you, Mark.
HAMMER: All right. We also had Tracy calling in from New York who, like me, was horrified.
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TRACY CALLING FROM NEW YORK: I was disgusted by Sarah Palin thing. I can`t believe that they didn`t give us a warning before time that she was going to be shooting something on that show. I am an animal lover, and I can`t believe that I had to watch that, and I was disgusted by it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Appreciate your call, Tracy. You can call us on showbiz on call, sound off on this or anything else that`s on your mind.
ANDERSON: The showbiz on-call phone lines are always open. Here`s the number, 1-888-SBT-BUZZ, 1-888-728-2899. Simply leave a voice mail. We will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, there is even more explosive controversy today surrounding Sarah`s hunting and camping trip. Did the trip really cost more than $40,000? Plus, the big time Hollywood producer who is just so furious at Sarah`s hunting on TV, he`s called her deranged today.
ANDERSON: A.J., nobody is calling us deranged, but some people don`t agree with us on naming Lady Gaga the most provocative celebrity of the year. There`s worldwide reaction today to our big announcement. So, did we get it right?
HAMMER: There is a big Kim Kardashian romance news to report today. Surprising connection here to Halle Berry. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
Time for the showbiz news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
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MARK HOPPUS, TALK SHOW HOST: Do you listen to new music?
OZZY OSBOURNE, SINGER: I don`t really listen to (INAUDIBLE)
HOPPUS: So, do you listen to a lot of Justin Bieber?
OSBOURNE: Who the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) is Justin Bieber?
(LAUGHTER)
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ANDERSON: Let me translate. That`s Ozzy Osbourne not knowing who Justin Bieber is. We just got this exclusive first look. It`s from "A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus". Mark`s from the band Blink 182. He also hosts the show on the Fuse Channel. Mark asked Ozzy what current music he likes. I guess, the Bieb isn`t on his iPod. Catch more of the interview with Ozzy on Fuse Thursday night.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood, A.J. Hammer in New York.
HAMMER: And Brooke, there`s a lot of big news in the buzz today. Kim Kardashian`s brand new big breakup and a stunning connection to Halle Berry.
Also, Portia de Rossi`s big decision. Will she be a part of the first same-sex (ph) "Dancing with the Stars" couple?
And Wesley Snipes is about to be put in prison stripes, but could a last- minute miracle keep him out of the slammer?
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HAMMER (voice-over): Wesley Snipes` last stand. The actor just revealed to CNN`s Larry King that he`s looking for a last-minute miracle before heading to prison this week.
WESLEY SNIPES, ACTOR: We still have friends out there, Larry, and we still believe in miracles. So, don`t send me up the river just yet.
HAMMER: The 48-year-old actor will report to McKean Federal Correctional Institution Thursday to begin serving a three-year sentence for failing to file tax returns.
Portia`s ballroom bombshell. "Entertainment Weekly" is reporting Portia de Rossi just declined an invitation to appear as part of the same-sex pair on "Dancing with the Stars." It would have been a first for the American show, although, the Israeli version has already been there, done that. EW is also saying that without de Rossi, producers of the US version will hold off on the same-sex pair.
Kim Kardashian`s model split. "People" magazine is saying Kim K. just split from Halle Berry`s ex, model Gabriel Aubrey. Kardashian and Aubrey had only been dating a few weeks, and people are calling the split friendly and saying that Kardashian has already moved on to New Jersey Nets player, Kris Humphries. Aubrey has a daughter with Halle Berry.
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HAMMER (on-camera): The way I look at it, the Nets haven`t been doing so hot. So, I`m sure Kim K. on the sidelines at the games wouldn`t be such a distraction for them.
ANDERSON: And now, the showbiz line up, here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a brand new Palin hunting controversy today. A big time Hollywood director slammed Sarah Palin and her reality TV show. Plus, did Palin`s TV hunting trip really cost more than $40,000?
Brand new worldwide reaction today to for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT naming Lady Gaga the most provocative celebrity of the year. We`re asking you, did we get it right?
I`ve got your very first look today at Celine Dion`s twins. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
HAMMER: It is time for the showbiz news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Brand new Sarah Palin hunting controversies today. Did her reality TV hunting trip really cost $40,000? Plus, a big time TV producer calls Sarah deranged today over her trip.
MIRREN: Really not too much has changed in the cannon of Hollywood filmmaking. It continues to worship at the altar of the 18 to 25-year-old male and his penis.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Mirren bashes Hollywood. Caught on tape, Helen Mirren`s stunning new rant and the surprising fired up fallout today.
HAMMER: Barbara Walters one-on-one with me today.
Justin Bieber. Barbara, I`ve always wanted to ask you this question.
WALTERS: Yes.
HAMMER: Do you have Bieber fever?
WALTERS: Baby, baby, baby?
HAMMER: Barbara`s surprising revelations about her most fascinating people list. It`s my headline making interview with Barbara Walters that you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Plus, breaking today from the showbiz news ticker, Katy Perry`s marriage move and Snooki`s dramatic New Year`s Eve plans.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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HAMMER (on-camera): 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 (on-camera): And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today. Sarah Palin`s caribou crisis?
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. Now, I want you to be very, very quiet because Sarah Palin`s hunting for controversy. Palin`s moose hunting episode on her reality show enraged People from the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and now, she`s square in the cross hairs of big time Hollywood producer, Aaron Sorkin. Of course, he`s best known for big hits like "The West Wing." He unloaded on Palin in a brand new blog posted today.
Sorkin just tore into her after she defended herself for shooting and carving up a moose on her reality show, `Sarah Palin`s Alaska." Well, today, Sorkin is accusing her of killing the moose not for food but for fun.
With me in New York, the great Chuck Nice who is a comedian, and right now in Hollywood, Kim Serafin who`s a senior editor for In-Touch Weekly. I got to tell you, guys, I am still disgusted by the graphic shooting of that poor moose, but my outrage, it is tame compared to the great Aaron Sorkin. Today, he lashed out after Sarah Palin called critics of the episode leather-wearing hypocrite. Brooke, what exactly did Sorkin say?
ANDERSON: Well, A.J., Sorkin did not mince words in his walk (ph) for the "Huffington Post" today. He says in part, quote, "you weren`t killing that animal for food or shelter or even fashion, you were killing it for fun. You enjoy killing animals. I can make the distinction between the two of us, but I`ve tried and tried and for the life of me, I can`t make a distinction between what you get paid to do and what Michael Vick went to prison for doing."
Later in the blog, Sorkin wrote this, "you didn`t just do it for fun and you didn`t just do it for money. That was the first moose ever murdered for political gain." He also calls Palin deranged, says the network which airs the show, TLC, should be ashamed of itself. Kim, I`m sorry, but the Michael Vick comparison is a stretch at best to me. Michael Vick tortured animals for fun. Sarah Palin was (INAUDIBLE) a way of life for many people in many parts of this country, but do you think Sorkin went too far or did Sarah Palin deserve this?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, IN TOUCH WEEKLY: Well, look, I think I`m a vegetarian, I support PETA. So, it would be great if she became a vegetarian, that would be wonderful, but she`s not. And I just don`t see the difference between what she`s doing and Lady Gaga wearing a meat costume to the VMAs for political purposes or for top chef using meat in their cooking segments or for project runway using leather or fur in their segment. It just looks nicer.
You don`t see the pig in the factory farm. You doesn`t see the cute cow getting turned into leather. So, in a way, maybe, she did more for animal activists` purposes (ph) because watching that, it really bothers you. Maybe, that will convert more people into being a vegetarian than seeing a nice pork chop on their plate.
ANDERSON: Possibly. Interesting prospective. OK. Well, there`s more big news breaking in Palin`s caribou crisis today. After Palin says she hunted moose to fill her freezer in a self-sustaining kind of way, a brand new report claims that all that self-sustaining costs thousands of dollars. What? A.J., break it down.
HAMMER: Yes. I`m here to crunch the numbers. Here`s some of the math. This is according to hollywoodlife.com, charting a round trip flight to Deadhorse, Alaska, perfect name. That costs over $37,000. Another private plane to take her camp troop to Kavik River, that costs a total of $1,200, add to that two nights of camping, 750 bucks a pop (ph), a couple of hours of flying to their hunting spot for about $2,100 for a grand total of $42,400.
And apparently, there are things in Wasilla, Alaska called grocery stores, as far as I know. Chuck Nice, Palin is trying to say she`s roughing it and hunting to provide food for the family. I`m seeing something a little different here.
CHUCK NICE, COMEDIAN: Well, now, I finally realize why my moose costs so much money when I`m at the restaurant.
HAMMER: There it is.
NICE: That`s number one. But the second thing is this is all for television. This is all for production sake, and quite frankly, Sarah Palin roughs it the same way I`m very handy around the house, which I am. I`m very handy. Not that I can fix a thing, but I have the number to the best carpenter that you`ve ever seen. So, that`s basically what`s going on here.
HAMMER: All right. I got you. I do need to move on to more big news breaking today, Brooke. The great Helen Mirren made what are some absolutely jaw dropping remarks on her war on Hollywood. What is she saying?
ANDERSON: She did, A.J. Dame Helen Mirren came out guns blazing over Hollywood`s double standard between men and women. Mirren won a leadership award at the Hollywood Reporters Annual Women and Entertainment Breakfast. And during her acceptance speech, she basically said, she is sick and tired of talented older women taking a backseat to young men in Hollywood. Watch.
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MIRREN: I`ve seen too many of my brilliant colleagues who work nonstop through their 20s, their 30s, and their 40s and only to find a complete desert in their 50s. With all respect to you many brilliant and successful women in this room, executives, producers, writers, directors, really not too much has changed in the cannon of Hollywood filmmaking that continues to worship at the altar of the 18 to 25-year-old male and his penis.
(LAUGHTER)
MIRREN: Quite small, I would think.
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ANDERSON: Kim, I`m thinking Helen got her point across there.
SERAFIN: Yes, she did.
ANDERSON: With humor.
SERAFIN: Yes. She made a very good point saying, you know, politics has changed. We have Hillary Clinton to Condoleezza Rice. Even on CNN, she called out CNN for explaining the interface (ph) of politics with women doing that. Things that she never would have seen in her lifetime, and that Hollywood she reflect what we see in real life.
ANDERSON: I admire her not just for her acting ability, but also her candor, and she does it with humor.
OK. Kim Serafin, Chuck Nice, thank you both.
HAMMER: The worldwide reaction to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT naming Lady Gaga the most provocative celebrity of the year continues to pour in today. There are a lot of people who think Lady Gaga does not deserve the most provocative crown. The great debate today, did we get it right?
ANDERSON: All right. Today, Barbara Walters is about to name her pick for most fascinating of 2010. There are some big name starts on Barbara list this year, J-Lo, Kate Middleton, Justin Bieber, and I think Barbara has a case of Bieber fever. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Justin Bieber, Barbara, I`ve always wanted to ask you this question.
WALTERS: Yes.
HAMMER: Do you have Bieber fever?
WALTERS: Baby, baby, baby?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A.J. is one-on-one with Barbara today.
HAMMER: Remembering John Lennon. Still, so hard to believe it`s been 30 years since his murder, and today, the stars reveal to us their personal Lennon reflections. They`re talking to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, host: Do you go by Mrs. Brand ever?
KATY PERRY, SINGER: I do. Actually, sometimes, when people try and get my attention like if I`m at an event or something like that, and they want special attention, they go, Mrs. Brand! I`m like --
DEGENERES: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Here`s your very first look at Celine Dion and her twin baby boys, Nelson and Eddy, and they are precious. Look at those cheeks. Celine and her fraternal twins appear in the brand new issue of "People" magazine. They were born October 23rd. Celine and husband, Rene, also have a 9-year-old son, Rene Charles.
For more on Celine`s baby joy times two, pick up the new "People" magazine. It is on newsstands Friday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood, A.J. Hammer in New York. And today, it is the announcement. This is making headlines around the world. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT named Lady Gaga the most provocative celebrity of the year.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. Today, everybody is buzzing about Lady Gaga. Love her or hate her, there is no denying that Lady Gaga, she knows how to make headline. Today, we want to know did we get it right? With me in New York, K. Foxx who`s the radio host of Hot 97`s morning show in New York City. Right now in Hollywood, Ken Baker, chief news correspondent for E!
So, right after we named Lady Gaga our most provocative celebrity of the year, we asked you, zip us off a text message, let us know if we got it right. I want you to check out the results. 63 percent said yes, Lady Gaga was the right choice, 37 percent said no. So, most of you say we did nail it. I really feel we did. Well, there certainly was plenty of competition. I thought Lady Gaga was absolutely the perfect choice. K. Foxx to you, did we get it right naming her the most provocative celebrity of 2010?
FOXX: You guys nailed it on the head. I think that she`s the only celebrity that I know that can walk into Yankee Stadium in her underwear, flip off the paparazzi, and we love it. These are the things that I love about these celebrities. I ate it up.
HAMMER: And this is why we keep talking about her which was a criteria. We also asked our Facebook fans what they thought about Lady Gaga being named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`S most provocative celebrity of the year. Brooke, what has the response been like on Facebook today?
ANDERSON: A.J., the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page has really been flooded with comments. Here`s one of them. Cynthia T. writes, although, Gaga is totally provocative, Tiger Woods` whole scandal is way more. I mean, he shocked everyone where Lady Gaga is already so out there, and everybody knows that already. However, Tiger was put up on a pedestal and then came to a crumbling disaster. Thank you, Cynthia. That is a fantastic point.
But I do think it`s important to remember one that of the criteria we used in deciding the most provocative celebrity of the year was they needed to provoke the most continuous shock and outrage, and I don`t necessarily think that Tiger Woods did that throughout the entire year. Ken, what do you think?
BAKER: Well, I think you got it wrong. Sorry, guys. For me, it has to be Mel Gibson, and I`m going to tell you why. First of all, Lady Gaga perhaps the most provocative entertainer, yes, that is true, but it`s all for show. It`s all artificial. It`s almost an artistic pursuit.
I don`t find it provocative in the sense of a Mel Gibson, who`s completely shocking us, who`s creating outrage, who`s managing to basically offend almost every subgroup of every type in humanity. I think that was particularly provocative for a long stretch of time this year. So, with all due respect, I give the prize to Mel Gibson.
ANDERSON: And you are entitled to your opinion, and Mel Gibson certainly was one of our top candidates. It was a very close call. But now, we do want to keep hearing from our viewers at home. We are asking in the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names Lady Gaga most provocative celebrity of the year. What do you think? Right on or do you agree with Ken Baker, you got it wrong? OK, thanks, guys, K. Foxx, Ken Baker, good to see you.
HAMMER: Right now, remembering the great John Lennon. Thirty years ago today, December 8th, John Lennon was gunned down just outside of his New York City apartment building. Thousands are gathering today to remember Lennon and just revealed a brand new John Lennon interview.
"Rolling Stone" magazine just unveiled the never before heard audiotape from the interview that they conducted with the music legend just three days before he was murdered. And in this interview, Lennon reveals intimate details about his childhood.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN LENNON, SINGER: I spent the whole of my childhood with my shoulders up round -- round the top of my head and my glasses off, walking with complete fear but with the toughest looking little face you`ve ever seen, you know. Getting into trouble just because of the way I looked but thinking that what it was, you know, wanting to be this tough James Dean all the time. It took me a lot of wrestling to stop doing that. I still fall into it when I get insecure and nervous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: John Lennon was famously private. So, Lennon opening up to "Rolling Stone" like mere days before he was murdered. I think it`s just remarkable.
On the 30th anniversary of John Lennon`s death, some of music`s biggest stars, I`m talking about Usher, Miley Cyrus, Kid Rock, they`re all talking to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about John Lennon`s huge impact on their music, the music industry and their careers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(SINGING) Imagine all of people living life in peace.
HAMMER (voice-over): Fans are remembering the life and legacy of John Lennon. His death 30 years ago shocked the world. And some of the biggest names in music open up to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about how much the former Beatle affected their lives.
WILL I.AM, SINGER: John Lennon is one of the most impactful songwriters to, you know, give us rich melodies, haunting melodies that stick with you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He had a wonderful way of writing a melody that connected perfectly to a lyric and it made you feel things.
FERGIE, SINGER: And you never knew which direction he was going to go in.
HAMMER: Sheryl Crow tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it wasn`t just the music, it was the message.
SHERYL CROW, SINGER: He was a great political writer. And he wrote about what was going on politically and had just had a huge presence.
HAMMER: A presence that embraced all genres.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wasn`t just strictly rock `n` roll. He loved blues and love soul music and country music.
HAMMER: And linked to all generations like Ozzy Osbourne and his daughter, Kelly, who wasn`t even born when Lennon died.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wouldn`t be (INAUDIBLE) talking to you right now if it wasn`t for John Lennon. John Lennon is my father`s idol, and he`s the reason why he`s started making music. I could never remember a time in my life when it hasn`t been a Beatle song playing in the background for all the most important moments of my life.
(SINGING) power to the people.
HAMMER: Usher just in diapers in 1980 grew to appreciate how Lennon`s lyrics provoked listeners.
USHER, SINGER: Utilizing music as a universal language, and allowing it to speak, you know, to address, you know, issues that are very hard at times, political issues, you know, love issues, life issues. That`s what it`s about. And without John Lennon`s beautiful touch, melody, music, we wouldn`t be what we are in music.
HAMMER: And Miley Cyrus` parents hadn`t even met when the legendary musician was gunned down, yet, the 18-year-old pop star tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the music icon`s untimely murder hunts her.
MILEY CYRUS, SINGER: It makes me think (INAUDIBLE) if someone that I think our world needed, but he`ll never be dead to me. He`ll always forever live and inspire me.
HAMMER (on-camera): Like so many people, I will never forget when I heard the news that John Lennon had been shot to death outside his room at the Dakota in New York City, the building where he lived with Yoko Ono. And all night long, fans gathered here to cry and sing John Lennon`s songs. And every year, they do the same, getting together at Strawberry Fields here in Central Park to remember John`s legacy.
NEYO, SINGER: John Lennon was doing what the Beatles were doing. They took melody to a whole new level, and I can honestly say that there would be no Michael Jackson, there would be no Prince, there would be no rock `n` roll.
HAMMER (voice-over): Hard to imagine three decades without John Lennon.
(SINGING) and the world will live as one.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right. Moving on to this now, we just named Lady Gaga the most provocative celebrity of the year, but who will be Barbara Walters most fascinating person of the year. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Barbara, I`ve always wanted to ask you this question.
WALTERS: Yes.
HAMMER: Do you have Bieber fever?
WALTERS: Baby, baby, baby?
ANDERSON (voice-over): Barbara`s Bieber fever. Will she name the Bieb most fascinating?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Time now for the showbiz news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, making news today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Time now for the showbiz buzz list. Here`s what the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is buzzing all about this week. We are still buzzing about naming Lady Gaga the most provocative celebrity of the year. The worldwide reaction today is simply awesome.
Hide your picnic basket, Boo-Boo. Yogi Bear in 3D. It stars Dan Aykroyd as the voice of Yogi and Justin Timberlake as the voice of Boo-Boo. It`s in theaters on December 17th.
We love that Wipe out (ph) is coming back. The winter version premieres January 6th on ABC. Shrek, the whole story set out on DVD and Blue Ray, and we say salute to Pink`s "Raise Your Glass" music video.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On Tuesday, we asked you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. We just received the final results. I find them extremely surprising. The viewers, they`ll put it up. Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp star in "The Tourist." 43 percent of you say you want to see it. I`m surprised (INAUDIBLE) 57 percent of you say you`re going to skip this thing.
It`s the time of year again. Yes, it`s the holidays, but it`s also time for the great Barbara Walters to reveal her pick for the most fascinating person of 2010. Her top 10 most fascinating people this year include Sandra Bullock, Justin Bieber, the cast of "Jersey Shore," Jennifer Lopez, Kate Middleton, Betty White and Sarah Palin. In fact, Palin making a list again for the third year in a row.
Well, I sat down with Barbara to ask her about that and try and convince Barbara Walters to tell me her pick for the most fascinating celebrity a little early.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Sarah Palin has been fascinating us since we all got to know her in the presidential election a couple of years ago, and here she is again, third year in a row.
WALTERS: This is our 18th year of doing the ten most fascinating people. Sarah Palin is the only one we have done three times, because every year, she does something else that`s fascinating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: If you ran for president, could you beat Barack Obama?
SARAH PALIN, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ALASKA: I believe so. Looking at the lay of the land now and trying to figure that out if it`s a good thing for the country, for the discourse, for my family if it`s a good thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: She`s very smart. She keeps her hat in the ring. She keeps everybody tantalized. She is not going anywhere, you betcha.
HAMMER: Let`s talk about the cast of "Jersey Shore," Barbara. I can`t wait to see how this went because here`s a group of young men and women who, quite frankly, a lot of people got famous for all the wrong reasons.
WALTERS: I sat down with all seven of them. You know, kind of cynical, what am I doing with them, you know. Yes, they`re fascinating and you know what, they were funny and they were nice. Each of them now has a career looking forward. They`re making all kinds of money. And I thought they were delightful.
HAMMER: Are they in on the joke?
WALTERS: They`re playing the joke.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: What`s the biggest misconception?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The money.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thinking that we`re Italian from Jersey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unintelligent.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unintelligent.
WALTERS: Unintelligent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s the big one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Justin Bieber. Barbara, I`ve always wanted to ask you this question.
WALTERS: Yes.
HAMMER: Do you have Bieber fever?
WALTERS: Baby, baby, baby? He`s a cute kid, and he`s a very sophisticated 16-year-old.
HAMMER: By my calculations, you and I have been sitting down. I think it`s our five-year anniversary of having this very conversation.
WALTERS: Congratulations.
HAMMER: Well, happy anniversary.
WALTERS: Happy anniversary.
HAMMER: It was my understanding to come again (ph), and correct me if I`m wrong, this is the year that you`re actually going to tell me right now who number one is.
WALTERS: I`ll tell you what I say every year to you.
HAMMER: Yes?
WALTERS: It isn`t you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Barbara reveals her pick for most fascinating person of 2010 on Thursday on ABC.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: You gave it a good shot. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live at 5:00 eastern, Monday through Friday.
HAMMER: Still, TV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
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