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Showbiz Tonight
Caught On Tape Drama; Sheen Scot-Free?; Oh No, They Broke Up?
Aired December 15, 2010 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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A.J. HAMMER, HOST (voice-over): Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Unbelievable, incredible events caught on tape. A shooting at a school board meeting
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please don`t. Please don`t.
HAMMER: A thief swipes more than a million dollars in chip from a Las Vegas casino and gets away. A dramatic rescue of a police officer who is being attacked by a suspect.
Brand new shocking star splits today. Scarlett and Ryan, Dexter star, Michael C. Hall and his wife. What the heck happened? And why some big stars are now saying I don`t to tying the knot.
Revealed today, an amazing new award for Sandra Bullock. Let me tell you, she definitely deserves this.
Big stars, big premieres and big fashion controversy. Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, their eye-popping dresses. Love it or hate it?
ANNOUNCER: The TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking today. Caught on tape drama. Yes. Today, there are so many truly unbelievable outrageous real life moments that played out on TV for all the world to see. I am talking about a horrifying gun battle, a made-for-Hollywood casino heist and a wild police rescue.
All dramatic moments that defy the imagination. All dramatic moments that were caught on tape, and I have to warn you, some of this video is very disturbing.
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HAMMER (voice-over): A dramatic standoff with a crazed gunman at a school board meeting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`ve got a feeling that you want the cops come in and kill you.
HAMMER: A straight out of Hollywood casino heist in Las Vegas.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Call it Ocean`s one.
HAMMER: And a cop under attack by a violent suspect who`s joined in his fight for his life by a non-identified passerby.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A roadside tag team match.
HAMMER: The big news shows today are filled with these shocking real life adventures, each of them involving ordinary people in extraordinary and horrifying situations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please don`t.
HAMMER: And each of them caught on camera and played around the clock today for the entire world to see.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`d already told us that he was going to die.
HAMMER: By far, the biggest stars of the day were the Florida school board members who survived an armed standoff after a gunman appeared at their meeting on Tuesday and took them hostage. Today, the school board members appeared on all the major morning news shows to share their terrifying story.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m just so thankful to be able to be here and talk with you.
HAMMER: A live internet feed of the school board meeting caught the whole chilling-scene, including the strangest part of the story, school board member, Ginger Littleton, sneaked back into the room after the gunman had let her go and tried to knock the gun out of his hand with her purse.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, Gin.
HAMMER: Fortunately, he didn`t harm Littleton. Today, on CNN`s "American Morning," Littleton revealed what was going through her mind at that super scary moment.
GINGER LITTLETON, BAY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD: My thought was that plan A had failed, and I didn`t have a plan B, which was probably not one of the smartest things I ever did.
HAMMER: After Littleton`s heroics, cameras also caught the standoff disturbing conclusion when the gunmen started firing at the terrified school board members. He didn`t hit anyone. Seconds later, he was shot by a security guard, and he later killed himself with his own gun. The survivors told CNN`s "American Morning," they`re grateful to be alive.
WILLIAM HUSSFELT, BAY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD: It`s a miracle. There`s no other excuse for it. I mean, God blocked those bullets, and I have no doubt about that.
HAMMER: Morning shows today also had field day with this brazen casino heist caught on surveillance cameras.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: The Bellagio is down technically about $1.5 million in chips
HAMMER: Police say a thief robbed the ritzy Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas of at least $1.5 million in chips.
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: (INAUDIBLE) right now.
HAMMER: Forget the high tech, highly choreographed casino heist George Clooney and his all-star thieves pulled off in the movie "Ocean`s 11." All this alleged casino robber needed was a gun, a helmet and his getaway motorcycle. Needless to say, the thief who`s still at large did not do any interviews today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My question is why aren`t the cops at the local Best Buy looking for the guy buying 20 iPads with casino chips.
HAMMER: Also today, TV news shows couldn`t get enough of this too wild to believe story, straight from the dash cam of an Ohio police officer. A suspect pulled over for a burned out taillight Saturday, turns on the police officer, and even appears to grab at his gun. Then, a passerby, a woman, comes from out of nowhere and helps the cop subdue the suspect.
Police aren`t releasing the name of the Good Samaritan, but the police officer she helped save appeared on "Good Morning, America" this morning and expressed his appreciation to the mystery hero.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would like to say thank to you her.
JO PIAZZA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: The woman that helps off the cop would make an awesome crime fighting duo with the woman who smacked the shooter.
HAMMER: It`s these stories of real life horror and heroism that makes for the most exciting television.
PIAZZA: I think it`s because everyone has a camera these days. We all have a camera on our phone or we`re carrying around a flip cam that we`re able to catch these crazy moments that can only happen in real life.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Well, police in Las Vegas say that casino robber man also hit another casino last week. And as we said, the suspect is still at large. So, we just might be seeing more video of his work in the future.
Well, there is more big news breaking today. Is the case closed in Charlie Sheen`s hotel meltdown? Well, today, brand new reports are spreading like wildfire saying that Sheen will not be facing charges over his October freak out in a New York City hotel. But, today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell that is not true. The N.Y.P.D. tells us the case is not closed, and the investigation is still on going.
With me right now in New York is Sunny Hostin. She`s a legal contributor for "In Session" on our sister network, TruTV, also in New York is Megan Alexander, a correspondent for "Inside Edition." We all remember what happened, right? Back in October, Charlie Sheen trashed a room at the ritzy plaza hotel and allegedly assaulted a porn star who happened to be in the room at the time.
Now, police took Charlie to the hospital on a psychiatric hold. No charges were filed. This investigation is still open, as I said, but Sunny, I have to imagine, there would be a lot of people just outraged if police do close this case, and once again, Charlie walks away scot-free.
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION" ON TRUTV: There very well could be, but, you know, it`s really up to the prosecutor`s office to determine whether or not they`re going to bring charges. And this was an incident, as you all remember, that he was in that room with this porn star alone. And so, it`s her word against his word and will the prosecution be able to build a case on her shoulders? Is she the most credible witness?
And that`s the really the question here. It`s not really what happened, but what they can prove. And from all the reports I`ve read, A.J., it`s not a slam dunk case. So, it`s very possible that they can`t bring a case here. Will people be upset about it? Probably so. They`re going to think he got away scot-free.
HAMMER: Yes. So, I guess, they can`t simply throw him in jail because they feel he`s always gotten away with everything he`s ever done and let`s get him for this one. I guess, it doesn`t really work that way.
HOSTIN: Doesn`t work that way.
HAMMER: No. All right. I do want to get to another big story breaking today. This is just fascinating to me. Today, MTV revealed the new cast of the controversial reality show "Teen Mom." Now, this is the show that follows four young mothers through the first year of motherhood. Here now is your first look at the new season just out today. Watch.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This January, MTV takes you inside the emotional lives of four new teen moms.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are gathered here today to join these two in marriage.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Explaining what it takes to raise a baby.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love you all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you`re still growing up yourself.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Party.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No party.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m just kidding.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, no.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "Teen Mom 2."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yay!
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HAMMER: I got to tell you, there are some people really worried that this show is sending a horrible message to teens. That leads to our Showbiz Flashpoint, does teen mom glamorize teen pregnancy? Megan, to you, what do you think?
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": Well, I have mixed feelings, A.J., about this show. If you watch it, it really doesn`t glamorize teen moms. I think it shows the hardships, the sacrifices. However, it`s reality television. So, we know there`s some poking and prodding going on here.
HAMMER: Sure.
ALEXANDER: To help out these situations. That`s where a lot of people I think have the most problem with this show. And the aftermath, the magazine covers, the interviews. I think many people are worried that now with the new season, other girls are saying, OK, the situation itself is hard, but look at what happen the same and so forth.
HAMMER: Maybe I can become "The Situation" by doing a show --
ALEXANDER: Exactly.
HAMMER: Yes, I want to talk more about that segment. First, Sunny, I want you to take on our Showbiz Flashpoint. Does teen mom glamorize teen pregnancy in your mind?
HOSTIN: It completely glamorizes teen pregnancy, A.J. And this really gets under my skin, actually. I mean, as many people know, my mother was a teen mom, and it`s not an easy road, and I think it`s glamorizing it. Now, you go and you speak to the students at high schools which I do very often, and you ask, what do you want to be when you grow up?
And instead of saying a lawyer or a doctor, or fireman or policeman, they say I want to be a reality star. And this is the message that`s being sent to our teens. You can get pregnant or you can act crazy, and you can be a star and make a lot of money doing that. And I think this sends the wrong message. It really, really burns me up.
HAMMER: Yes. And again, to Megan`s point, the plus side of what they`re putting out there is they show the fact that clearly these teen moms are in for some serious challenges, and the show never really does hide that fact. I do want to take a look at some more of these very tense moments from the upcoming season or the promo we just got today. Roll that.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What just happened?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s a court order for custody battle for my mom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: New heart breaks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good for her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to be strong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don`t be in my house if you`re going to be dating other people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t want to be around you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can just go to court.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) everything I`m out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As long as I`ve known him, he`s screwed everything up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He`s my child, not yours! I hate you! Get out!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She probably (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And there are reports out today that there are these young teens who want to get pregnant, so they can be on the show.
ALEXANDER: Right.
HAMMER: I mean, that`s just insane to me.
ALEXANDER: It is, and I want to know are there counselors on hand through this show? Are there psychologists along the way helping these folks? Or are they truly (INAUDIBLE)
HAMMER: I have to believe so that they have --
ALEXANDER: I hope so.
HAMMER: Sunny Hostin, Megan Alexander, I thank you both.
And as we move on, there are unbelievable amount of new shocking star splits. I`m really surprised by this, being the holiday season and all.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Yes, Scarlett and Ryan that was really shocked me. Then Dexter star, Michael C. hall and his co-star wife. What the heck happened?
Revealed today, an amazing new award for Sandra Bullock. Let me tell you she definitely deserved this one. I`m so happy for her about this.
And what just happened to Usher definitely will have him saying OMG. He gets kicked in the face by a fan, and it`s all caught on tape. I will show you this incredible video today. You do not want to miss it. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Time for the Showbiz News Ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, making news today.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Facebook`s co-founder, Mark Zuckerberg, he was just named "Time" magazine`s Person of the year. The 26-year-old multibillionaire beat up the Chilean miners, the tea party, and Afghanistan president, Hamid Karzai. Zuckerberg who is worth an estimated $7 billion donated $100 million to Newark, New Jersey schools. Zuckerberg has said he would like to give away most of his fortune for charity.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Well, Ed Norton isn`t a mega billionaire, but he is a successful actor, and he`s doing some great charity work of his own. The "Fight Club" star is a man with a mission. In fact, he just created something that he called the "Facebook of Philanthropy." This thing could actually revolutionize the way people give to charity. Here now CNN`s Alina Cho for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the terrific story of another big star who`s doing some big giving today.
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ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In his more than 15 years as an actor`s actor, what is less known about Edward Norton is the kind of charitable work he`s done off-camera. Along the way, it was something he noticed about how charities often use the internet that`s inspired his latest project.
EDWARD NORTON, ACTOR: We were very frustrated by what we saw out there. Everything was just -- we called it like use and drop. You know, it was just a button where you could donate but really like nothing more. And we wanted to communicate more than that.
CHO: Norton and his friends saw an opportunity to shake up how people give online. And he came up with what he calls the "Facebook of Philanthropy." It`s called Crowdrise, a fund-raising web platform that`s also a community.
NORTON: This is the platform where you plant the flag and say, this is who I am as defined by what do I care about? What am I passionate about? What causes do I support?
CHO: Within minutes, anyone can create a page, start a fundraiser, and ask for donations from friends, family, and perfect strangers.
NORTON: Look, you`ve got a generation of people coming along who are going to form their own new relationship with the idea of supporting the causes that they care about or changing the world, you know? And these people are not going to do it the way that our parents did it.
CHO: Which is why Norton was mindful to also make Crowdrise fun, putting the fun in fundraising by adding a gaming aspect. Members can earn points, even win prizes.
If you don`t give back, no one will like you.
NORTON: If you don`t give back, no one will like you. That is our core philosophy. We`re a bunch of dorks.
CHO: He`s also a celebrity who`s enlisted the help of his famous friends who are creating profiles on Crowdrise just like everyone else. Like Will Ferrell who`s raising money for cancer survivors.
NORTON: Like you can win a bottle of Will`s suntan lotion for a donation to his site, you know --
CHO: And it`s quite a picture.
NORTON: Yes, it`s a good one. Very sexy.
(LAUGHTER)
NORTON: Very sexy.
CHO: His hope is to revolutionize giving, one web page at a time.
NORTON: I think we really feel like Crowdrise could be something that 20 years from now people take for granted because that`s just how you do it. Like, if you`re going to raise money for something, that`s how you do it, you know?
CHO: That wouldn`t be a bad thing.
NORTON: No. You know, I actually, in the beginning, we`ve said this like it`s a pipe dream, but now I actually think it`s going to happen.
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HAMMER: He started giving back long before he was ever a star. That was CNN`s Alina Cho for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. You can catch Alina`s terrific special, is profiling more stars who are making a difference. Catch this thing called "Big Stars, Big Giving" on CNN Christmas Eve, and again, on Christmas Day.
We have so many calls coming onto the showbiz on-call phone lines today. I`m finding people really fired up about the whole Michael Jackson album controversy. What happen is Black Eyed Peas` Will.I.Am says Michael would never have wanted an album released without signing off on it. Well, Michelle calling in from Georgia doesn`t think it`s such a big deal.
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MICHELLE FROM GEORGIA: I`m about the outrage over the Michael Jackson music. And I`m a long-time fan, over 30 years being a fan. I think people are blowing it out of proportion, and basically, I think under the circumstances he would want his fans to hear this music. If he were alive, it might be a different story, he wouldn`t want things leaked, but given the fact that this is now what we have left to look forward to from him, he`ll be immortal.
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HAMMER: Appreciate you call, Michelle. Now, here from Melly in Pennsylvania who agreed with Will.I.Am.
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MELLY FROM PENNSYLVANIA: Will.I.Am has every right to be mad. He was in the studio for months with Michael in Ireland, and he knows Michael. And besides, that song "Hold My Hand" is awful. Horrible. That`s not what Michael would put out.
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HAMMER: We love (INAUDIBLE). And Melly, love your call, what do you think? You can call on showbiz on-call about anything that`s got you fired up. The showbiz on-call phone lines are always open at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. That`s 1-888-728-2899. That`s where you can leave us a voice mail, so we can play your call on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
What`s with all the star splits today? You got Scarlett and Ryan. They stun everyone, including me, by calling it quits.
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HAMMER (voice-over): And then, there`s Dexter star, Michael C. Hall and his wife. What the heck happened to these guys? I`ve got to look into this, and I will coming up.
Big fashion controversy today, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, their eye popping dresses. We`re asking, love it or hate it? Also this --
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Justin Bieber throws in the towel and all heck breaks loose. His fans going nuts over the Bieb`s sweaty towel. I guess, he could get a lot for it on eBay or something. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
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HAMMER (on-camera): And now, it`s the Showbiz News Ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, making news today.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Check out Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover of January issue of "InStyle" magazine. She looks great. This is a very special issue with the "InStyle" 200.
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HAMMER (on-camera): "InStyle" launched back in 1994. I can`t believe it`s been 17 years now.
And in this newest issue that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained today, country singer, Faith Hill, interviews Gwyneth. These two spent a lot of time together in Nashville while Gwyneth was shooting her new movie "Country Strong." Faith was actually able to get Gwyneth to spill a whole fun secret about her life in London with her kids and husband who`s Coldplay`s Chris Martin.
Gwyneth says this, "I like having dance parties at my house and being super goofy with my girlfriends. We just play dance music like whatever`s on the radio and then old stuff, Michael Jackson, disco."
Here`s a fun factoid, Barbara Streisand was on the cover of very first "InStyle" magazine. It`s a January 2011 of "InStyle" with Gwyneth on sale this Friday.
So, today, Mark Wahlberg is revealing the unbelievable way that he found out about his Golden Globe nomination. Mark`s new movie "The Fighter" got six nominations, including Best Drama. Mark got a Best Actor nod, too, and Mark`s production company is behind the hit-series "Boardwalk Empire." That got bunch of nominations as well. Mark tells Ellen today how he heard the news.
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ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST: How did you find out you were nominated?
MARK WAHLBERG, ACTOR: Yes. My agent called at 5:30 in the morning, woke up my wife and my 11 month old who was sleeping right next to us in the crib. That`s was the only downside about the phone call. She woke up screaming, but, yes, they called and said that I was nominated, the movie was nominated, all of my fellow cast members were nominated, director was nominated, and "Boardwalk Empire."
DEGENERES: And "Boardwalk Empire" as well. So, that`s three, right?
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HAMMER: Sounds like Mark has some good vibrations going on. The Golden Globes air Sunday, January 16th.
So, I just checked our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook Wall, tons of post going up about Gwyneth Paltrow. Now, she hinted to us that she might come out with a country album. You know, she`s in the new movie, "Country Strong." So, we asked on the Facebook, should Gwyneth do a country album? Here are a couple of comments.
Kenny L. thinks so. I love her voice. She can be a singer and actress. Others have and others will. She should go for it. She`s got it. But this from Misty C. who says, no, stick to acting. She only has a karaoke voice.
Thanks for writing. Connect with us. Join (INAUDIBLE) where SHOWBIZ TONIGHTHLN there. Follow at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on Twitter for breaking entertainment news alert.
Now, the showbiz line-up. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Revealed today, an amazing new award for Sandra Bullock. Let me tell you, I think she definitely deserves this.
Big stars, big premieres and big fashion controversies. Angelina, Gwyneth, their eye-popping dresses. Love it or hate it?
And OMG, Usher gets kicked in the face by a fan, and it`s all caught on tape. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Now, 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 shocking star splits today. Scarlett and Ryan, Dexter star, Michael C. Hall and his wife. What happened?
Plus, why some big stars are now saying I don`t to tying the knot.
Usher`s on-stage shocker. One minute, he`s getting up close and very personal with a fan. The next minute she kicks him in the face. It was caught on tape.
Hulk`s wedding day drama. Why fighting broke out just as Hulk Hogan prepared to walk down the aisle.
Plus, breaking today from the Showbiz News Ticker, "Madman" star, January Jones gets naked.
And which "Glee" star is going to do the "Simpsons?"
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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HAMMER (on-camera): And welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking today.
Welcome to Splitsville, USA. Yes. Just in time for the holidays, the ultimate shocking split. Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds calling it quits on their marriage. In a joint statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the now former couple tells us this, "After long and careful consideration on both our parts, we decided to end our marriage. We entered our relationship with love, and it`s with love and kindness we leave it."
So, just two years after exchanging vows, I got to ask what the heck happened here? And are Ryan and Scarlett just the latest example of why marriage may not be the thing to do if you`re in Hollywood?
Right now, in Miami, Steve Santagati is the author of "The Manual." And right now, with me in New York, Megan Alexander, who`s a correspondent for "Inside Edition." So, reports out today suggested Scarlett and Ryan split because their busy schedules kept them apart, and that Scarlett actually initiated the split.
And we`ve heard that scenario from Hollywood stars before. Clearly, they`re both huge stars in their own right. But, I don`t know, Megan, I actually had high hopes that this one would stick.
ALEXANDER: Did you? Well, here`s the thing, A.J.
(LAUGHTER)
ALEXANDER: Here`s the thing. If you want a marriage to work, you`ve got to have trust, commitment, and time together. If they were not working on their relationship, and they`re spending so much time apart, I don`t understand how you can continue to learn about the person and learn their quirks and learn, you know, about them.
So, I mean, in the olden days, honeymoons used to be longer than a week or two. It used to be a good time to get to know each other.
HAMMER: You may have well just looked at me, and said, really, A.J., what a stupid, stupid thing to say.
ALEXANDER: I have more than (INAUDIBLE) HAMMER: I`m sure you do. All right. Well, listen, Ryan is 34, Scarlett`s 26. It was just last month that Ryan was named "People" magazine sexiest man alive, and then Scarlett was named GQ`s babe of the year. Perfect couple, right? Let me go to the reliably cynical Steve Santagati now. Steve, they seem to have it all. And yes, who knows what goes on behind closed doors, but what the heck do you think happened?
STEVE SANTAGATI, AUTHOR, "THE MANUAL: Well, A.J., first of all, I`m not cynical, I`m realistic.
HAMMER: If that`s how you want to rationalize it, Steven.
SANTAGATI: Look, first of all, women go through this thing from 25 to 27 where they don`t need a man for anything other than basically sex, and Ryan has just been voted sexiest man alive. So, I`m sure he wants to take advantage of that position on the thrown, if you will.
HAMMER: Oh, OK.
SANTAGATI: They probably do love each other, but you know, you got to really wonder whether these people should have ever been married in the first place. They`re way too young. He`s not going to even realize his mortality until he`s like 38 years old. And she`s still sexy and has a career. Yes, they didn`t spend enough time with each other, but you know, if women spend too much time with a guy, they get sick of them.
HAMMER: I asked for your theory, Steven, and you think that maybe Ryan wanted to cash in on his new sexiest man alive --
SANTAGATI: Why not? Wouldn`t you?
HAMMER: I can`t take that away from you.
SANTAGATI: Wouldn`t you?
HAMMER: Let me move on to this other shocking star split this week. Dexter stars, Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter. Now, they announced their split after two years of marriage, and the same day that this happened is when Hall got his fifth Golden Globe nomination. We all remember, she was standing right by him when he went through treatment for Hodgkin`s lymphoma.
Obviously, a difficult thing. It can take a toll on a marriage. We have no idea if any of that is anything to do with it, and I wouldn`t dare suggest that. But, Megan, they`re going now from marrying and working together to divorce and working together, and I`m thinking that has got to be awkward.
ALEXANDER: First of all, this one did surprise me because this marriage weathered a storm --
HAMMER: Sure.
ALEXANDER: Where you really get to know each other, and when the rubber meets the road, are you going to stick with that person for better and for worse, and she did it. So, I think that`s one is surprising. Yes, there`s an interesting dynamic when you work together, but a lot of couples have, A.J., and survived. So, now to be divorced and work together, it just depends if they treat it maturely and are able to remain good friends.
HAMMER: Everybody has the best intentions, but really, sometimes, the idea of showing up back on set with somebody that you`re no longer with who you were with can be a difficult thing.
ALEXANDER: I think that`s going to be OK, though, because of all he went through, and she`s helped him out.
HAMMER: That`s fair enough. Well, you hear about all these celebrity marriages breaking up, you know, after just a few years, and then you hear stories from stars like Johnny Depp, one of my favorite guys in Hollywood. He hasn`t tied the knot yet. He seem to have figured it out. He has been with his girlfriend, Vanessa Paradis, for 12 years now. They have two children together. And you know what, Johnny tells "Extra" there is no need to sign any papers with that kind of love. Watch this.
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JOHNNY DEPP, ACTOR: From soul to soul, from heart to heart, you don`t need somebody to say, OK, you`re married, but some people do. So, that`s cool. I mean, you know, Vanessa wanted to get hitched, why not? The thing is I`d be so scared of ruining her last name. She`s got such a good name.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Paradis. Is that how you say it?
DEPP: Paradis, yes. It doesn`t get better than that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I really like him, but is he becoming Ozzy Osbourne?
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Now, Johnny does seem open to marriage, but he really doesn`t seem to care either. So, Steve, is Johnny on to something there? You know, why get married at all?
SANTAGATI: I`ve said this a ton of times, A.J., he has the exact attitude towards marriage that I do, which is marriage is the heart, it`s a commitment a man makes. No contract, no priest, rabbi, no matter what it is, is going to make you any more married than you are as the man and the woman. It`s unnecessary. And not to mention, the legal aspect and the financial woes if you end up getting divorced.
ALEXANDER: Oh, gosh!
HAMMER: I`m looking at the ring on Megan`s finger right now while you`re talking here.
ALEXANDER: You got it.
SANTAGATI: Well, women always benefit, A.J. Women always benefit. As a matter of fact, if I can just say one quick thing, back in the 1950s, it was a big, you know, bad thing to get divorced. Now, when women get divorced, they like, oh great, you dumped that guy. You get the money, the alimony, the child support.
HAMMER: Let`s talk about it in a Hollywood context, Megan.
ALEXANDER: Exactly.
HAMMER: I mean, we were just talking about a couple that split because they couldn`t afford the time together because of their lifestyle.
ALEXANDER: This is the thing, A.J. In Hollywood, ego reigns. It`s me, me, me, me. In marriage, it`s not one, it`s two. You`re not being selfish. You`re needing to be selfless. Now, I think Johnny Depp is an interesting case because he does seem that he`s committed to his lifetime love, Vanessa, but, A.J., how about this (INAUDIBLE) quickly. You have to take a pretty extensive test to drive a car and get a car lesson. I think couple should have to take premarital counseling.
SANTAGATI: Hollywood couples.
ALEXANDER: All couples.
HAMMER: Let me get to another big famously unwed star, Oprah Winfrey. Of course, she and Stedman Graham have been together since 1986, never got married. She just told Barbara Walters she`s got no regrets. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST: I`m so glad I didn`t get married.
BARBARA WALTERS, HOST: Really?
WINFREY: Yes. And I would have to say, and he would agree, I mean, I was just saying this one day over the kitchen counter, well, you know, if Stedman and I got married, we probably would be divorced. And then, he said "for sure." I went, what do you mean for sure? But for sure, we would have not still been together.
WALTERS: Because?
WINFREY: Because with marriage, there are expectations. Certainly, expectations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Steve, what do you think she meant by expectations?
SANTAGATI: She expected Stedman to be very, very rich if he divorced her.
HAMMER: And it`s the other way around.
ALEXANDER: Why do they have to be bad expectations? What happened to hold for richer or for poorer? That`s a tough one for Hollywood. It`s (ph) not to be bad, though.
HAMMER: Let me move on to some more big news breaking today. A big win for the biggest loser, XOXO to one of the gossip girls, and Mariah Carey`s twin surprise all in the buzz today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Twins for Mariah? Mariah Carey`s husband, Nick Cannon, is squashing reports that Mariah`s having twins. Cannon tells "Us Weekly" that rumor started because she said something about they, something like, I hope they don`t hate Christmas, but she was using the word "they" as in like he and she. Cannon`s also publicly said they want to be surprised and don`t even know the sex of the baby yet.
Goodbye to a "Gossip Girl." Gossip girl star, Leighton Meester, telling E! Online she`ll leave the show in, quote, "two more years because we`re under contract." At least, she`s got time to change her mind. The ones hot CW (ph) show has lost some of losster (ph). And like many of its stars before her, Meester is working on a film career, starring in the upcoming movie, "Country Strong" with Gwyneth Paltrow.
A new winner of "The Biggest Loser". Patrick House was just crowned "The Biggest Loser" after dropping 181 pounds.
(CHEERING)
The 28-year-old started the show six months ago weighing 400 pounds, pre- diabetic and he suffered a whole host of other health problems, but now, he moves forward with a new career, counseling overweight teens.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (on-camera): Moment ago, we`re talking about Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds splitting up. A lot of people upset by this, so I do want it turn it over to you. Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds` split, are you surprised? Yes or just Scar-Jo and Ryan calling it quits not surprise you at all? Go to CNN.com/showbiztonight. Got to e-mail us, you can do it at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, Angelina Jolie obviously a major fashion icon. In fact, she`s on the cover of this month`s "Vogue."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): But, the dress Jolie just wore on the red carpet at the premiere of her new movie, what do you think? Do you love it or hate it?
Revealed today an amazing new award for Sandra Bullock. I am going to tell you all about it. It is Sandra`s big honor today.
And Usher, obviously one smooth singer, but he was no match for a swift kick in the face of one fan. The incredible and dramatic new video coming your way. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Now, it`s time for the Showbiz News Ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, making news today.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Justin Bieber throws in the towel and fans fight to the finish over this. Did you see this today?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): The Bieb threw a towel into the audience during a recent concert. Well, as you would expect, a major tug of war erupted over his sweat-stained towel. Bieber stopped the show to settle the score, but watch as Bieber tries to get the party started again, and he breaks out with a serious case of the giggles.
JUSTIN BIEBER, SINGER: (singing) rewind. Stop it, stop, stop it.
HAMMER: Hey, it happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Big news just in today. We heart Sandra. "People" magazine has officially named Sandra Bullock as the Woman of the Year. Can you hear her roar? Something roaring. "People" magazine says she`s the one woman with the grace, style and a dignity to earn the title of 2010 Woman of the Year.
Joining me right now in New York, Suzanne Zuckerman, who`s the writer and reporter for "People" magazine. And also, in New York, Noelle Nikpour, columnist for South Florida`s Sun-Sentinel. And guys, what a year Sandra has had. I think she absolutely deserves the title of Woman of the Year. Let`s take a quick back in time, shall we, to some of Sandra`s highs and lows in the year gone by.
Now, it was March 8th when Sandra, of course, won her Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in "The Blind Side." And of course, we were cheering her all on. But that`s when things were really good and started to get really bad very quickly. Just ten days later, on March 18th, that, of course, when news broke that Sandra`s husband, Jesse James, was cheating on her with a tattooed stripper.
Now, Sandra didn`t waste any time. It was on April 28th when she filed for divorce and that`s when things started to get really kind of weird. Well, it was on April 29th, the very next day, Sandra is right there on the cover of "People" magazine presenting her newly adopted son, Louis.
And Noelle, as I said, I think Sandra really deserves this title in such a big way, so many highs, so many lows in one year, and she navigated the entire thing under this intense public scrutiny and seems to come out of it just fine.
NOELLE NIKPOUR, COLUMNIST, SOUTH FLORIDA`S SUN-SENTINEL: Well, A.J., I mean, you said it. You`re right on the money. Her highs and her lows, and she handled all of it, especially her lows with class. I mean, think about the traumatic things that she went through. I mean, just winning an academy award, that`s fantastic, the highs.
Coming down to the lows of your husband having a very public affair, and then, the other low of filing for divorce, and then, the high of adopting a baby. Think of all this. So, I think that "People" magazine naming her Woman of the Year is so well deserved, and I think it`s a role model that a lot of people, a lot of people can look up to. I think it`s fantastic.
HAMMER: Yes, I know. I think she was somebody that people just came to admire and maybe really through all of her darkness saw a side of her they didn`t know before. And this is the cover of the brand new issue of "People" magazine that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained today. Celebrating Sandra`s Woman of the Year. You can check out the full story when it hits newsstands on Friday. Suzanne, I can`t imagine a better pick for.
SUZANNE ZUCKERMAN, WRITER & REPORTER, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Well, we completely agree. I mean, if there`s anyone who is the quintessence of taking the high road, it`s Sandra Bullock. And she was also the dominant news story this year. Nobody made bigger news than Sandra with her adoption.
HAMMER: Pretty, pretty amazing and very, very inspiring, as we said. All right. I want to move on right now to one of my personal favorite games. I never thought I`d reveal that this is my favorite game, but it is here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. A little round of love it or hate it. We have two beautiful women who are walking the red carpet for their movie premieres.
You have Angelina Jolie. She was walking the carpet for her new film, "The Tourist." Gwyneth Paltrow, of course, she has gotten some pretty great reviews for singing and performance in "Country Strong." The thing is their choice of dresses very controversial.
So, let us begin our game with Angelina Jolie. Noelle, I`m going to go to you first, do you love it or do you hate it?
NIKPOUR: Oh I love her. I love this dress. I thought it was fantastic. And if you saw "The Tourist", it`s in line with all the outfits that she wore. They were sleek and are classy. Thumbs up. I love, love, love it.
HAMMER: So, tell me then, Noelle, why is it that people are saying it`s a bit controversial because we`re hearing some not so nice comments said about it as well if you`re reading on the blogs as I was earlier.
NIKPOUR: Yes. And you know what, I don`t understand because it`s sleek. It`s form fitting. It`s very classy. I think what they don`t like is probably that the sleeves go down to the gloves. But you know what, Angelina Jolie is a very avant-garde dresser, and I think if you`ll look at the clothes in "The Tourist," I think that you`ll see that this is pretty much true to form. I think it was a class act. I mean, I would love to personally even own that dress. I think it`s beautiful.
HAMMER: All right. Suzanne, I need to get your take. Love it or hate it? What do you think?
ZUCKERMAN: I`m with you guys. I love it. I think that she is a movie star. She was just nominated for a Golden Globe, and she is a throwback to old Hollywood in this gown. I absolutely love it.
HAMMER: All right. Fair enough. Let`s move on to Gwyneth Paltrow. A lot of people are talking about this. Well, I don`t know a whole heck of a lot about women`s fashion, but I can kind of understand why perhaps it`s getting a little bit attention for some of this detail here. I love my poise (ph). We`re going to go to you first, Noelle, love it or hate it?
NIKPOUR: I cannot stand it. I hate it.
HAMMER: No, really, how do you feel?
NIKPOUR: I do not like it. I think it shows a little bit too much skin. I think it`s kind of a mismatch for her. And I`m not very thrilled with her with the country crossover deal at all. I think it`s a big mismatch. And like I said, it`s not very flattering. It`s just a big white blob.
HAMMER: All right, Suzanne. Do you agree there?
ZUCKERMAN: I have to say I love it. Gwyneth is 38 years old. She`s the mother of two, and she works hard on that rocking body, she might as well show it off.
HAMMER: Now, do you think, you know, we`re talking about this big country crossover that Noelle is not such a fan of, do you think she can pull it off if she, in fact, wants to go down that particular path?
ZUCKERMAN: I absolutely think she can pull it off. At the CMA performance showed, she can sing, and I think the dress has a little bit of rock `n` roll and a little bit of country in it.
HAMMER: All right. I can`t wait to see her back on "Glee," personally. We`ll leave it there. Suzanne Zuckerman, Noelle Nikpour, thank you both.
Well, just in today, Hulk Hogan`s wedding drama.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Now, cops were called to Hulk`s Florida home on his wedding day Tuesday because a fight broke out as he was about to walk down the aisle. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can confirm the fight didn`t involve hulk or his bride but a member of Hulk`s security detail on a pesky (ph) paparazzo. Authorities tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT no one was arrested, and so, far charges have not been filed.
Usher gets kicked in the face by a fan, and it`s all caught on tape. Can you imagine? I`ve got the dramatic unbelievable Usher moment. It is going to leave you saying OMG and ouch. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Time to roll out the Showbiz News Ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, making news today.
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PAUL RUDD, ACTOR: Owen told me that, too, and he said, people always ask him like, you know, what was it like working with Jack Nicholson? And he just got so tired of saying I didn`t really have any scenes with him that - - I just started co-opting your stories as my own. And I notice that whenever he starts to talk and tell a story, I look around and everybody on the crew would stop working. They would always kind of catch something, you know?
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
HAMMER (voice-over): We all know Usher is smooth as silk. He has the voice the ladies just love. But, at a concert in New York City, something went very, very wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): He got kicked in the face. Now, Usher is the man when it comes to keeping his loyal lady fans satisfied and weak in the knees.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Usher is undoubtedly a hit maker but what about a hit taker? Did you see this? During a recent concert here in New York City, he was singing his song "Trading Places" to a fan and, well, he got more than he bargained for. Take a look at what happened.
(SINGING)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): I think it was a pretty good thing she wasn`t wearing spiked heels, but I`m also thinking maybe she did it on purpose so she could get all over his face like that. I`m not exactly sure.
All right. As we move on, is Willow Smith really whipping her parents into shape and running the show at home? Well, Willow`s mom, of course, is Jada Pinkett-Smith, and she reveals today that the 10-year-old "Whip My Hair" singer makes up her own punishments when she gets busted for doing something bad. In a brand new interview with UK (ph) Style magazine, Jada reveals she was not pleased when Willow set up a MySpace profile behind her back, but then, Jada says Willow did something even more shocking.
She said I was so mad I said what do you think I should do now? So, Willow said, mom, take my computer away. And I said how long for? She said a month. We don`t have rules, we come up with agreement.
So, on Tuesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll just moments ago. I will give you (ph) the final results to the question, Gwyneth Paltrow is considering making an album, should she? Look at this, 34 percent of you say, yes, she`s pretty good, 66 percent of you say no, she should stick to acting.
A couple of e-mails we got including one from Keandra (ph) in Kentucky who writes, I think she should stick to acting. Sorry, Gwyneth, I don`t like your singing.
Reta from Indiana thinks just the opposite writing, Gwyneth Paltrow should quit acting because she is a much better singer.
And Shirley from Texas called the showbiz on-call phone lines, and guess what, she doesn`t like Gwyneth`s singing year (ph).
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SHIRLEY FROM TEXAS: I think Gwyneth Paltrow is great as a singer, a wonderful actress, and she looks pretty good as a triple threat if you ask me. I think she should try her hand at recording, see how it works (ph) out. And if it doesn`t, she has her acting career to fall back on. But I certainly wouldn`t criticize her singing. She`s great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. And we think you`re great for your calls. We thank you for watching. That`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live at 5:00 p.m. eastern Monday through Friday and still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show seven days a week at 11:00 p.m. eastern and pacific here on HLN.
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