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Showbiz Tonight
Roasting Trump; Has Glee Lost Its Mojo?; Gilbert`s Duck Disaster
Aired March 16, 2011 - 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: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Hey, Donald, why`d you do it? Donald Trump roasted, toasted.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Donald, you`re also of course responsible for that awful show "The Apprentice."
HAMMER: And grilled. The remarkable Comedy Central Trump smackdown. So SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has got to ask, why in the world would he agree to get publicly fried?
BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST: Has "Glee" gone bad? The shocking claim today that "Glee" is way off key. Bad plots, lame songs?
Our SHOWBIZ flashpoint today, has "Glee" lost its mojo?
HAMMER: Christina out of hiding. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Christina Aguilera for the very first time since her drunken arrest.
ANDERSON: Vanessa`s new photo fury. Brand new nude pictures out there today of "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens. But is Vanessa making it worse for herself like going on the war path.
HAMMER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show --
ANDERSON: Breaks news right now.
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today.
Donald Trump roasted, toasted and grilled.
HAMMER: And well done I might add. Very well done.
Yes, today you could certainly still smell the lingering fumes from the raking over the coals. We just saw Donald Trump get what may have been one of the most fiery and funny roasts ever seen on Comedy Central.
And Donald buddy, got to give it to you on this one, you actually took it like a champ. But I have to ask what a lot of people were asking today, why in the world would Donald let his ego and his hair be subjected to such a remarkable public beating?
Well, in just a moment I`m going to be joined right here by SHOWBIZ newsmaker who got the chance to get right up there at the roast and turn the heat up on Donald, and I am talking way up.
But first, allow me to serve up a hefty plate of Trump toast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): As we see on "The Apprentice", Donald Trump fires people. Sometimes a little too casually.
DONALD TRUMP, HOST, "THE APPRENTICE": Lisa, you`re fired.
HAMMER: And he can be a little blunt.
TRUMP: She`s playing you a little bit like a chum.
HAMMER: But today we`re seeing something strange. People are actually feeling sorry for Donald Trump.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please welcome the second worst tragedy ever to hit New York City.
HAMMER: Today everyone is reeling from the pounding we saw Trump get on the Comedy Central "Roast of Trump" that just aired last night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Donald, you are gross, nobody likes you but you come back every couple of years and nobody knows why. You`re like the McRib.
HAMMER: It was brutal. Comedians at the "Roast" insulted Trump`s hair.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You look like Justin Bieber caught on fire.
HAMMER: His money.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tonight we honor a self-made millionaire. He started with nothing, worked hard and made a fortune. That man is Fred Trump, Donald`s dad.
HAMMER: His multiple marriages.
LISA LAMPANELLI, COMEDIAN: Donald is very happy with his lovely wife insert name here.
HAMMER: His reported presidential aspirations.
SNOOP DOG, RAP ARTIST: Donald said he wants to run for president and move on into the White House. Why not? It wouldn`t be the first time he pushed a black family out of their home.
HAMMER: And even his daughter Ivanka.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Donald and I have a lot in common. We both live in New York, we both play golf, we both fantasize about his daughter.
KIM SERAFIN, IN TOUCH WEEKLY: I don`t even know if he expected some of the things that we heard. It did seem like he was a little bit uncomfortable. At certain points in the "Roast" you almost wished Rosie O`Donnell was there because she might have been nicer.
HAMMER: As if the repeated brutal zingers weren`t bad enough, Trump even got knocked out of the headlines at his own roast.
MIKE "THE SITUATION" SORRENTINO, "JERSEY SHORE": People hate Donald because Trump is always firing people but it`s kind of OK because he completely let himself go into it.
HAMMER: "Jersey Shore`s" Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino got a shot at roasting Trump but the Sit was so bad the audience booed him.
SORRENTINO: Your wife is hot. The best part is she married you for love. Yes, she loves money.
HAMMER: The Situation`s big bomb got so much attention in the press today, poor Donald was all but left out of the coverage that the proud self- promoter craves which SW leads SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to ask, why would Trump, a man with an ego as big as his real estate empire, and an equally powerful television star, willingly subject himself to this kind of public trashing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got a great sense of humor. You`ve been so happy to embarrass yourself on "Saturday Night Live" and the casino business.
TRUMP: I know what you`re thinking. Mr. Trump, sir, why would you ever do this roast?
HAMMER: Turns out Trump did it all for money, reportedly $2 million, which he says will go to charity.
TRUMP: It was worth it because it`s all going to charity and they paid a lot, believe me.
HAMMER: But after watching what happed to him, America might be tempted to start a new charity. A "Be nice to Donald Trump" telethon perhaps? Maybe not.
SERAFIN: I don`t know if it made people feel sorry for him because he is a guy with a lot of money and a lot of beautiful women.
HAMMER: It all goes to show you that sticks and stones can break your bones, but "Roasts" will never hurt you, especially if you give the money to charity.
TRUMP: God bless America and good night.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: All right. So that`s what you saw on TV. Trump roasted and squirming, I thought. But what was it like to actually be in that room and get the chance to roast Trump?
The first roaster up is known as the roast queen. She is the amazing comedian Lisa Lampanelli, joins me now for SHOWBIZ Newsmaker interview.
First of all, great to have you here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
LAMPANELLI: Good to meet you.
HAMMER: Love having you here.
Look, you`ve done this for a long time.
LAMPANELLI: Yes.
HAMMER: You`ve roasted them all.
LAMPANELLI: Everybody.
HAMMER: Chevy Chase, Pam Anderson, Bill Shatner, David Hasselhoff. And you just killed at the Trump roast.
LAMPANELLI: Thank you.
HAMMER: But I have to imagine sitting there watching it that his massive ego made it all the more enjoyable for you to do.
LAMPANELLI: Absolutely. Any time you can take down somebody in power who has more money and gets laid more than me, I say, you know what, he`s going down.
HAMMER: Yes.
LAMPANELLI: That`s the thing. You know he`s great. The thing about Trump is he had no restrictions. We could make fun of anything we wanted.
HAMMER: Really?
LAMPANELLI: Usually there`s a couple of rules with these guys. You know, you have to leave some jokes out about their lives.
HAMMER: That`s good.
LAMPANELLI: He was an open book.
HAMMER: Yes.
LAMPANELLI: I thought he was a gentleman.
HAMMER: I mean he could be self-effacing.
LAMPANELLI: Yes.
HAMMER: I do want to take a look at one of your more tame shots. We can`t play them all, Lisa. Let`s take a look at what you said about Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAMPANELLI: Donald is very happy with his lovely wife "insert name here."
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, look, some people say it takes a lot of nerve to get up and roast a guy like Trump because quite frankly, and I`ve seen it, I`ve been in the room with him, some people find him very intimidating.
LAMPANELLI: Right.
HAMMER: Well, you -- even though you`ve been doing this forever, were you at all intimidated by being up there and slamming this guy so badly?
LAMPANELLI: You know, I`ve got to say no, I wasn`t, because I`m not employed by him. Like if I was going to be on "Celebrity Apprentice" --
HAMMER: Yes.
LAMPANELLI: Which I probably will be on when I`m a has-been in four years --
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: (INAUDIBLE). Yes.
LAMPANELLI: No. Yes, I think so.
HAMMER: You just made news right here.
(LAUGHTER)
LAMPANELLI: Write that down. But yes, I wasn`t really intimidated because, really, I`ve gone up against Hasselhoff and Gene Simmons from "Kiss"?
HAMMER: Yes.
LAMPANELLI: You know, so who cares? I figured -- and also it is for charity, he did volunteer it.
HAMMER: Right.
LAMPANELLI: He knew what he was getting into.
HAMMER: Now let`s take a look at some of the many faces he was making throughout the night because honestly I thought he was squirming in his seat a little bit. This is a little montage of his kind of uncomfortable faces, I think.
Do you think he was genuinely at least a little uncomfortable? I think he was.
LAMPANELLI: I think so. I think any time jokes are directed at you, you get a little hurt or uncomfortable. Especially about his wife and stuff. You know?
HAMMER: Yes.
LAMPANELLI: But, you know, look at the hair alone. I mean that`s an alba (ph) roast on its own.
HAMMER: Right. What are you going to do? I think his ego may have been further bruised today when all the headlines were about how bad The Situation bombed on "The Roast."
LAMPANELLI: Oh my god.
HAMMER: Let`s take a little clip at what The Situation put out there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SORRENTINO: Your wife is hot. The best part is she married you for love. Yes, she loves money.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Was that one situation The Sich shouldn`t have gotten into?
LAMPANELLI: Oh my god. He should never open his mouth again. I love him. He`s hot. His abs are harder than Larry King`s arteries but listen --
HAMMER: But he was as bad as we saw.
LAMPANELLI: Keep the mouth closed. But you know, it was worse that you thought .
HAMMER: OK.
LAMPANELLI: He got booed and that`s a first.
HAMMER: So great having you here, Lisa Lampanelli.
LAMPANELLI: Thank you.
HAMMER: And make sure you check out Lisa`s world television premiere special "Lisa Lampanelli: Tough Love." It debuts Sunday, March 27th on Comedy Central.
And right now I want to bring in comedian Heather McDonald. Heather is the author of this book. "You`ll Never bleep in this Town Again." You can read the book cover right there for the full title.
All right, Heather, what do you think, in the grand scheme of all these celebrity roasts, and all of the land, was the "Trump Roast" certainly one of the most brutal roastings you`ve ever seen? I was loving it. What about you?
HEATHER MCDONALD, COMEDIAN AND AUTHOR: I mean I think they did a great job, and -- except for The Situation. But as a comedian I`ve never done the "Roast." And I find it hard -- very hard to tell a joke about someone while they`re there.
I come from the old school thought of let`s talk behind their backs.
HAMMER: Yes.
MCDONALD: And so they don`t know. And if I ever talk about a celebrity in my act and I find out that they are in the audience, I definitely change it a little bit. Because I don`t know if it`s like Catholic guilt or what, but it freaks me out to think that I might hurt them or make them feel uncomfortable next to the person that they`re sitting next to.
Like I had jokes about herpes on my act, and if my girlfriends with herpes, and you were coming to the club that night, I took it out of my act. I could not take it. I have too much inner monologue going on about it, so - - but I do enjoy watching it at home. I thought it was very funny.
HAMMER: Well, Heather, I`ve got to tell you, Donald Trump happens not be in the room at the moment. So here now your opportunity to say something about Donald behind his back.
MCDONALD: You know what I will say, is I was always creeped out by Donald Junior. But I was watching "Celebrity Apprentice" the other day and they brought in the other son, Eric, and he is creepier than Donald Junior.
And that`s what I`ll say. I`ll say his sons are both like him but like a couple of chromosomes off, and it kind of freaks me out.
HAMMER: All right.
MCDONALD: So -- but I do enjoy "Celebrity Apprentice." I do enjoy it. I think it`s much more fun than watching Gary Busey trying to sell pizza than like some 25-year-old MBA student that no one cares about.
HAMMER: Because America loves a train wreck, Heather.
MCDONALD: So I actually like it --
HAMMER: We appreciate you being here.
MCDONALD: Yes.
HAMMER: Heather McDonald, thank you so much.
ANDERSON: OK, moving on to this. Selena fights back. Selena Gomez speaks out to us today. Why she decided to fight back against all those people attacking her for dating Justin Bieber.
HAMMER: Vanessa`s nude photo fury. Brand new nude pictures out there today of "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens. So is Vanessa making it worse for herself by going on the war path?
ANDERSON: Has "Glee" gone bad? I like the show, I really do, and there`s a shocking claim today that "Glee" is way off key. Bad plots? Lame songs?
Our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint today, has "Glee" lost its mojo? Coming up.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: Time for the SHOWBIZ news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
GRAPHICS: Charlie Sheen adds five new dates to his stand-up tour.
GRAPHICS: Katy Perry`s mom pitching tell-all book about her daughter`s career.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DARREN EVERETT CRISS, "GLEE": You move me, Kurt. And this duet has been just an excuse to spend more time with you.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: "Glee`s" first gay kiss, Kurt and Blaine, locking lips last night on "Glee." Ratings just in show 10 million people were watching but the great debate today, has "Glee" lost its mojo?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Brooke, I still love the show but could it be no glee for "Glee"?
ANDERSON: Well, A.J., there is a remarkable attack today on one of TV`s biggest shows. It`s a claim that "Glee" has lost its mojo, that it`s become pretentious and basically downright annoying.
"USA Today`s" television Robert Bianco just let loose on "Glee" in a startling smackdown of the show writing this. "What had been a musical comedy with at least one toe dipped in real waters now seems to be an overproduced, overly auto tuned variety show that exists merely to sell downloads of its covers. A modern version of `Your Hit Parade.`"
I want to bring now in Rachel Zalis who is a contributing editor for "Life & Style Weekly."
Rachel, take a look at our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint today. Has "Glee" lost its mojo? Is Robert Bianco dead on here?
RACHEL ZALIS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, LIFE & STYLE WEEKLY: Absolutely not. OK, I don`t understand exactly why Kurt is madly in love with a guy who steals all of his solo. But other than that, I think "Glee" is still the best show on TV.
Now you have a show that is so much fun to watch, it`s so creative, it`s highly intelligent and at the same time it is tackling topics that are so important today. So for all those naysayers out there who think the show has lost its mojo, take a look at that scene with Kurt and his dad having the sex talk. That was one of finest scenes I`ve seen in television in a long time.
So -- and it was still the best, highest-rated show of the night. So there you go.
ANDERSON: Right. Ten million people watched so a lot of people do still love it. Well, what really has gotten under the skin of "USA Today`s" TV critic in his brand new attack today is all the stunting on the show like bringing in stars, Gwyneth Paltrow, Britney Spears.
Take a look what he writes about that. "In some ways `Glee`s` slips are typical of shows that become too hot too fast, indulging in too many big named guests and too many gimmick-laden very special episodes. Last week gave us the worst of both worlds with an all-consuming Gwyneth Paltrow visit that played like a `South Park` spoof on after-school specials, one designed to encourage teenage sex."
I do think Gwyneth`s sex ed lesson on "Glee" was over the top. But Rachel, I still say bring on the stars. Maybe no more sex ed in that way, please. But even if the cameos are gimmicky, I just want to be entertained.
ZALIS: I totally agree. And you`ve got to realize that the fact that Oscar-winning actors want to do the show means there is something really important going on here. I love the Gwyneth episode. I think a lot of people are tuning in because music is so popular right now and to have that combination of these kids in high school, and I do think it`s a really accurate reflection of a lot of stuff that`s going on. And I love seeing all the big names coming on.
ANDERSON: I love those big-name cameos and I think Gwyneth has a really solid voice. I say bring her back. Holly Holiday.
ZALIS: I think it`s really even bigger for Gwyneth than for the show.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: I do think it was a great exposure for her and her budding singing career at the same time.
ZALIS: Yes.
ANDERSON: Rachel Zalis, good to see you. Thanks.
ZALIS: Thanks.
ANDERSON: And now I want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll, shocking new claim that "Glee" has lost its mojo? Do you agree? Yes, the show`s gone downhill, or no way, I`m still a hardcore "Glee" geek?
Vote at CNN.com/showbiztonight. You can always e-mail us, too, our address, showbixtonight@CNN.com.
HAMMER: The big Gilbert Gottfried duck disaster today debate today. Now he got fired as the voice of the Aflac duck for making insensitive jokes about Japanese earthquake and tsunami. And so who should replace Gilbert?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you hurt and you can`t work? Who`s going to help pay for gas? The mortgage?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aflac.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aflac. We`ve got you under our wing.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Would Charlie Sheen be a winning pick? How about Joan Rivers? How about Fran Drescher? That`s coming up.
ANDERSON: A.J., I think you could do it. That was pretty good.
All right, Howard Stern`s startling new sex confessions today. Why Howard now says he doesn`t need that much sex.
HAMMER: And Christina, out of hiding today. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Christina Aguilera for the very first time since her drunken arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINA AGUILERA, SINGER: I`m on a constant journey. I mean I`d not be the best I can if I wasn`t always taking the good with the bad and learning from things and experiences.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s the headline making interview you`ll see only on 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.
GRAPHICS: Demi Lovato returns to Twitter after leaving treatment.
GRAPHICS: Jason Bateman says he cried watching Justin Bieber`s movie "Never Say never".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JASON BATEMAN, ACTOR: When (INAUDIBLE) the movie, I`m bawling like I`m a little schoolgirl. But not because I`m -- you know, I`m oh, Justin, but because it gets very, very touching. It`s like this great movie. And you know, I`ve got the big 3D glasses on so I`m hoping that, you know, the pools of tears are not going to break through the bottom of the glasses and flood my cheeks and out me to my wife.
on a constant journey. I would not the best if I can if I wasn`t always taking the good with the bad and learning from things and experience.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Great news for Charlie Sheen today. His goddesses are back together. Whew. Charlie just posted this picture on Twitter of Natalie Kenly on the right, Rachel Oberlin, aka, Bree Olson, that`s her porn star name, on the left.
Rachel was just in Indiana to face a drunk driving charge but now she`s back as a Sober Valley Lodge. That`s Charlie`s name for his house. Charlie tweets, "Fastball, told you she`d be back. Jealous face much"?
Oh, boy.
OK, Tina Fey says all you Gwyneth Paltrow haters, back off today. In an explosive new interview with "In Style" magazine the "30 Rock" star reveals for the very first time why she`s got Gwen`s back.
I think Tina looks absolutely stunning on the cover of "In Style." Inside the magazine Tina goes off on people who slam Hollywood moms like Gwyneth and hold them to a different standard from any other working mom.
She says, "I remember reading some interview where Gwyneth Paltrow said something like, I miss my kids on the set one day, and I was crying. And I thought, yes, I`ve totally done that. But on the Web site I read these furious comments. But you`re a movie star. Yes, it`s much worse for a mom serving in Afghanistan, of course, but there`s just no forgiveness."
You can pick up the new issue of "In Style" on Friday.
HAMMER: All right. Lots of you posting on our Facebook wall today, all about the shocking "Bachelor" controversy. Brad picks Emily then they reveal that they split up for a little while. So I asked you on Facebook, do these two have any chance of making it work?
Let`s look at some of what you wrote. Viviana C. doesn`t think so. I am sorry but you can never find love on a reality show. What this guy needs is to stop looking for love and trying so hard.
But Christina S. thinks they`ve got a shot. Yes, they do have a chance because working through rough times that`s what tells you this is not fantasy land and that it is the real world and working things out is what a normal couple does.
We would love for you to connect with us. Join the debates on Facebook. We`re SHOWBIZTONIGHTHLN there. You can follow @SHOWBIZTONIGHT on Twitter for breaking entertainment news alerts.
ANDERSON: And now the SHOWBIZ line up. Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Selena Gomez`s amazing revelations to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT today.
Why she tells us she finally decided to fight back against all those people attacking her for dating this guy, Justin Bieber.
Christina out of hiding. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Christina Aguilera for the very first time since her drunken arrest. The headline-making interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And I can`t wait to tell you how you can enter for a chance to be the official royal wedding iReporter. That`s next.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: And here comes the SHOWBIZ News ticker, these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
GRAPHICS: Jermaine Jackson to release memoir, "You are Not Alone" this fall.
GRAPHICS: Singer Nate Dogg dies. He was 41.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Selena Gomez sounds off to us. Selena Gomez reveals why she`s fighting back against on all those people attacking her for dating Justin Bieber.
ANDERSON: And Vanessa`s nude photo fury today. Vanessa Hudgens lashes out after new naked pictures of her hit the Internet. But is Vanessa making it worse for herself by going on the war path?
HAMMER: Christina out of hiding. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Christina Aguilera for the very first time since her drunken arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AGUILERA: I`m on a constant journey. I mean I`d not be the best I can if I wasn`t always taking the good with the bad and learning from things and experiences.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Christina`s cautionary tale today for young stars following in her footsteps.
Plus breaking today from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT news ticker, an "American Pie" star enters treatment. And is Reese Witherspoon`s wedding date set?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today.
Selena`s Bieber fever. The Disney star today explained her pain to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT after she revealed this in an interview with radio station Z100 about how she really feels about all those diehard Bieber fans attacking her for dating Justin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SELENA GOMEZ, ACTRESS: It hurts, it really does. And I don`t -- I feel like I`m not doing anything wrong. I`ve been best friends with him for a very long time so it is very hard and it does hurt my feelings a lot. But I just try not to focus on it because I have such a -- such a strong family and I have great fans.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: But in a brand new interview with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT earlier today, Selena finally revealed to us the surprising reason why she says she just had to address it. We spoke to her in New York at a Disney press tour. Watch what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOMEZ: I think definitely the reason why I spoke up about that it`s basically like our relationship has just been a really big issue within -- amongst all the teen girls. I just want everybody to be happy and be nice. So of course, I did. I just said (INAUDIBLE).
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I want to bring in Shelley Wade, who`s a radio host with Z-100 in New York which got that big news-making interview with Selena.
Shelley, when you`re thinking about it, when you`re listening to Selena there, she makes a very valid point, doesn`t she, because she is in a way truly being bullied.
SHELLEY WADE, RADIO HOST, Z-100 NEW YORK: It`s true. I always like to call them Internet gangsters because people get a sense of bravado behind the computer that they don`t have in your face so they can hide behind the computer and say all kinds of bad things about you.
And these little girls actually believe that they have a chance with Justin Bieber. So yes, they are really bullying her. I agree with her.
ANDERSON: Yes, people can anonymously attack you. Don`t you think it was wise for Selena to speak up for herself, defend herself here?
WADE: I`m so happy that she came to Z-100 and talked to JJ about this because, you know, she had been silent about it and she needed to speak out because it`s really important for people to stick up for themselves and set the record straight so I`m really happy she did it.
ANDERSON: Good for her.
Well, I want to bring in Rachel Zalis now who`s a contributing editor for "Life & Style Weekly."
Rachel, do you think in time the Bieber`s diehard fans will leave Selena alone or do you think that this is just the way it is going to be for anybody who dates the Biebs?
ZALIS: I think as long as she is running her fingers through those luscious locks every night, she is going to be in trouble.
(LAUGHTER)
ZALIS: But I`m glad she stood up for herself. I mean there`s never any reason, even if you are diehard Bieber fan that`s have any problem with her. There`s enough love to go around.
ANDERSON: Do you think that maybe -- yes, do you think that maybe the Bieb should speak up and say everybody back off?
ZALIS: I think that`s actually a really good idea. I mean defend his woman`s honor. What`s wrong with him?
ANDERSON: That`s right. Be a man about it, Justin.
All right, we`ll see what happens.
A.J., I definitely think that those fans who are giving Selena a hard time just need to give it a rest.
HAMMER: Yes. It`s not going to happen.
ANDERSON: Back off.
HAMMER: I think it`s terrible what`s going on. Terrible. While she runs her hands through his long locks. Thank you.
ANDERSON: Luscious locks.
HAMMER: Luscious locks.
All right, let`s move on to even more big news breaking today. Christina Aguilera opens up for the very first time since her very public troubles.
Does Joan Rivers really know best? Apparently so. Her remarkable news today.
And get the popcorn ready for my barker lounger. An epic reunion is about to take place. It`s all making big news in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): A "Facts of Life" reunion. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has just learned the ladies of the `80s sitcom "The Facts of Life" are taking the good as they reunite at the upcoming TV Land Awards. They will TV Land`s Pop Culture Award.
The cast of "Welcome Back, Cutter" including John Travolta will also reunite at TV Land Awards on Sunday, April 17th.
River`s on a roll. Joan and Melissa Rivers have just gotten the green light for a second season of their hit reality show, "Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best". TV Guide reports the mother/daughter duo will return in January for 10 new episodes.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT breaks news with Christina Aguilera, her first interview since her recent troubles, including her boyfriend`s arrest for DUI. Aguilera just revealed details to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about being a judge on the upcoming reality show "The Voice." Aguilera tells us her past could help the contestants.
AGUILERA: I`m on a constant journey. I mean I`d not be the best I can if I wasn`t always taking the good with the bad and always learning from things. So that`s another great thing that I get to share with people, my own experiences throughout the years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, I for one am hoping that Christina`s involvement in this new show will her first solid step in the right direction, considering her very public missteps that people are still talking about.
And in that brand new interview that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsmaker interview with us, Christina would only make a veiled reference to her recent troubles. Watch what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AGUILERA: I`m on a constant journey. I mean, I`d not be the best I can if I wasn`t always taking the good with the bad and learning from things and experiences, and being inspired by my travels and my tours. So that`s another great thing that I get to share with these people, my own experiences throughout the years.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Rachel, she alluded to her bumpy road but she wouldn`t talk directly about her troubles, skirting around it a little bit. I say the sooner she addresses it, gets to the point, the better. And then everybody can move on. Otherwise people are going to keep speculating about what the heck is going on with her.
ZALIS: Yes, it true. I mean, it is always better to just outright come out with it but at least she`s showing some self-awareness. After the national anthem debacle, I thought for sure it`s time for the "genie to go back in the bottle. But I think, you know, she`s so talented, she is acknowledging that there is some bad going on. She`s obviously dealing with some stuff very publicly so I`m willing to give her another shot.
ANDERSON: Rachel, you`re on fire today. I love that "Genie in the Bottle" reference.
ZALIS: Thanks, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Well, there is a lot that Christina does need to address. I want to roll out the SHOWBIZ newsline now.
On February 6th Christina, as Rachel mentioned, bungled the national anthem during her Super Bowl performance. On March 1st Aguilera was arrested for public intoxication, her boyfriend arrested on suspicion of DUI.
Shelley, Christina was later released on bail. No charges were filed against her, although public intoxication is on her record. At some point she`s got to address all of this publicly, doesn`t she?
WADE: I think she should because -- I mean, otherwise it`s like, oh, she`s putting the smile on and she`s being fake. We all go through ups and downs. And I think that if she just admits what she`s gone through and how it`s affected her, then it would make us feel even closer to her because we all go through that stuff. She`s not alone.
ANDERSON: Yes. A lot of people can relate to the ups and downs of life.
Well, when we spoke with Christina about her new NBC show "The Voice," she also shared with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT what it was like when she first entered the business and the fact that she was so new to all of it, so green.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AGUILERA: I was so green to the business and I was so thrilled and excited to get my first record deal that I allowed myself to be sort of molded or let labeled some things, start to take ahold and making me out to be what they wanted me to be.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thankfully Christina is an adult now, free to make her own choices with her career, with her personal life. So here`s a crazy idea.
Shelley, do you think Christina`s recent public missteps were about Christina trying to find herself?
WADE: Well, it seems to me that she`s lost herself. You know she hasn`t been trying to find herself. And I think that once she comes to terms -- come to terms, excuse me, and actually admits to all of us what`s going on, then she`ll go about the business of finding herself.
I mean, I don`t know if it all stems from the divorce or what but she`s just been on a downward spiral. You know? But I`m --
ANDERSON: Yes.
WADE: -- interested to see how she does with "The Voice."
ANDERSON: Yes. It`s been a tough few months for Christina Aguilera. I think this show is a great step for her personally and professionally. I can`t wait to watch it. It premieres in April.
Rachel Zalis, Shelley Wade, good to see you, ladies. Thanks.
WADE: Thank you.
HAMMER: All right, so Gilbert Gottfried got the boot as the voice of the Aflac duck after those insensitive tweets about the Japanese disaster and now SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, who should replace him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you`re hurt and you can`t work, who`s going to help pay for gas? The mortgage?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aflac.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aflac, we`ve got you covered.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: How about Charlie Sheen? What about Joan Rivers? Maybe even Fran Drescher? I don`t know about her.
The great SHOWBIZ debate coming up next.
ANDERSON: What about A.J. Hammer?
OK. Vanessa`s nude photo fury today. "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens outraged after naked pictures are leaked online about her again. But is she making things worse for herself by going on the war path?
HAMMER: Howard Stern`s sex revelations today. Why Howard now says he doesn`t need that much sex.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now the SHOWBIZ news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
GRAPHICS: Reese Witherspoon reportedly getting married next weekend.
GRAPHICS: Amanda Seyfried makes her singing debut with a cover of "L`il Red Riding Hood."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York.
And there is big news just in today about who might fill the bill as Aflac`s new duck.
HAMMER: Well, it may not be Brooke Anderson even though I think it should be, but everybody is wondering who can possibly replace Gilbert Gottfried after his duck disaster.
The comedian was cooked as the voice of the Aflac duck after tweeting those insensitive jokes about the disaster in Japan. Now Gilbert has since apologized but Aflac, they`re moving on, they`re searching for a new celebrity voice.
Leave it to our good friends over at "People" to fire up the search for a quack-tastic star. In their brand new poll which was posted today on People.com, "People" is asking who should replace Gottfried.
Here`s some of the suggestions for who they think might quack us up the most. Now one is Fran Drescher, another is actually Charlie Sheen, there`s also "Modern Family" star the amazing Sofia Vergara. She gets my vote. What about Joan Rivers?
Well, let me bring in "People" senior writer Joey Bartolomeo.
Great choices here, Joey. How did you come up with this final four?
JOEY BARTOLOMEO, SENIOR WRITER, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: Well, you know, some of them are sort of obvious. If you think about Fran Drescher and her voice, sort of nasally and kind of ducky --
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Yes, I`m not (INAUDIBLE), but I actually think she does kind of fit the bill.
BARTOLOMEO: Well, you can -- no pun intended.
HAMMER: No pun intended really.
BARTOLOMEO: Right. But you can imagine her sort of saying Aflac. You know? And so there`s Fran Drescher.
Charlie Sheen obviously is someone that everyone is just dominating for everything these days.
HAMMER: Yes. If you`re going to talk about anything, mention Charlie Sheen.
BARTOLOMEO: Exactly. Sofia Vergara on a recent episode of "Modern Family," there was a storyline where her neighbor actually thought that she was a toucan when she was yelling for her husband.
And Joan Rivers, I mean, again a very distinctive voice --
HAMMER: A little crass.
BARTOLOMEO: Exactly.
HAMMER: OK. I totally see where you`re coming from on that.
Let us take a look now because I just checked online to see the current voting and how the race going. If we can put those up on People.com, this is what it looks like. Fran Drescher far and away, the number one pick right now to be the new voice of the Aflac duck, according to your readers. She`s got 64 percent of the vote.
Charlie Sheen a distant second, 12 percent there. Not winning.
What do you think? Fran Drescher really the perfect choice here? Are we missing anybody?
BARTOLOMEO: No. It almost seems like. I mean there could someone who surprises us, but people like Fran and you know, maybe she could be sort of the duck`s daughter or something like that.
HAMMER: And the word on the street today is every comedian on the planet is getting called for this thing. They`ve been doing auditions today.
I want to go to Hollywood right now to great comedian, Heather McDonald, she`s the author of this fantastic book, "You`ll Never bleep in This Town Again."
All right, Heather, who would you like to see as the new voice for the Aflac duck? And have they called you for audition for the gig?
MCDONALD: No, they have not. And I think just give it to some good, out- of-work voiceover actor that could really use the after-insurance. At this point who cares? Anyone can imitate the duck`s voice. I didn`t even know Gilbert was the spokesperson until all this came about.
HAMMER: Yes, that`s the thing --
MCDONALD: And he says --
HAMMER: No, I completely agree with you. It`s just so strange in my mind and I think it`s becoming clear to a lot of people it`s very strange that he was the guy who was doing this thing.
I get -- look, this is what he does, making insensitive jokes just like he tweeted about the tsunami disaster and the earthquake in Japan. A terrible thing that he did and said but all the insensitivity aside, Aflac is huge business in Japan. So I do get why the fired him, Brooke.
MCDONALD: No, I think --
ANDERSON: Yes.
MCDONALD: They should have fired him definitely because -- first of all, if you are going to take endorsement deals, then you need to maybe not say everything you want to say and especially on Twitter. If you want to have --
ANDERSON: I agree.
MCDONALD: -- that full freedom to say something --
ANDERSON: Heather --
MCDONALD: -- then get -- yes.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Think before you tweet. That`s what I think.
MCDONALD: Yes.
ANDERSON: Yes. It was really inappropriate what he did and the perfect example of way too soon.
But I got to move now to actually Vanessa Hudgens` nude photo fury today. The former "High School Musical" star is speaking out today about more nude photos that have just leaked out on the Internet, pictures taken a few years ago actually.
This afternoon here`s what her attorney tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT saying Vanessa is deeply upset and angered that these old photos which were taken years ago continue to resurface. Hudgens` attorney tells us they`ve gone to the cops to track down whoever is leaking these photos.
Now this is the second time in two years nude photos have been leaked of Vanessa.
Heather, I, too, would be really upset, doing everything I could to get to the bottom of who is behind this but some people are saying maybe she`s bringing more attention to it by talking about it. What do you think?
MCDONALD: Well, what has she done lately? Wasn`t she -- the "High School Musical" was kind of a few years ago, right? But also if you really have a problem with it, then they should have never been taken in the first place.
And I`m -- please, kids, could you not be posting pictures of you smoking a bowl on your Facebook page at 15? I mean you think anyone wants to hire you for an internship when they see that? I mean people --
ANDERSON: Right.
MCDONALD: Kids are so stupid.
ANDERSON: Yes. Exactly.
MCDONALD: They`re just stupid.
ANDERSON: Don`t take pictures of yourself in compromising positions and certainly just think about it because they most likely will get out in some way, shape or form, famous or not.
Heather McDonald, good to see you. Thanks.
MCDONALD: Thank you.
HAMMER: All right, right now I have to tell you about this. It`s an awesome new royal wedding contest that just launched today. You can enter today to win a chance to be CNN`s official iReporter at the wedding of Prince Williams and Kate Middleton.
ANDERSON: Yes. All you have to do is make an original video, no more than 90 seconds, please, telling us why you would be the ideal royal wedding iReporter.
We`re already getting some iReports on this. Take a listen to Sherri from Sri Lanka.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI, IREPORTER CONTESTANT FROM SRI LANKA: I would like to participate in the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I have been an ardent fan of the royal family and collect all the books on the royal family, whatever stuff, magazines, notes, news from newspaper articles and these are all the books that I got throughout the years.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, clearly a big fan, Sherri. Thank you so much for that.
You do have to be a U.S. resident to enter this contest. So head on over to iReport.com/royalwedding. Send us your video. You could win a trip to London for the royal wedding at the end of April.
ANDERSON: How exciting. And remember, I will be heading to London to cover the Prince William-Kate Middleton wedding of the year.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is teaming up with "People" magazine to bring you the very best coverage. So keep it right here.
Now we`ve got Howard Stern`s sex revelations. Why Howard now says he doesn`t need a lot of sex. Howard`s fascinating confession is next.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: Time for the SHOWBIZ news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
GRAPHICS: "American Pie`s" Seann William Scott enters treatment.
GRAPHICS: Rihanna tells Vogue she felt betrayed by dad after he spoke about Chris.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Howard Stern`s stunning new sex revelations today. In an eye- opening new interview, the king of all media and arguably the king of all things crude says he doesn`t need much sex. Really?
In the new issue of "Rolling Stone" magazine, Howard says after his painful divorce from his first wife he ran all over the place, quote, "bedding everything in sight." Howard now reveals that time in his life actually changed him forever saying, "After my divorce I realized, oh, wow, I can go have sex and I was running around, picking up women. Then all of a sudden it dawned on me that I really didn`t need that much sex. I just wanted somebody with me every minute. I was using women as a surrogate mother."
Howard is now happily remarried to Beth Ostrosky.
HAMMER: She goes by Stern by the way.
Making big news today, Demi Lovato gets inked for her fans, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Yes. The Disney star proudly showing off her new tattoos that are tributes to her loyal fans who supported her during treatment.
HAMMER: Yes. Now back in October Demi abruptly quit her tour with the Jonas Brothers and spent three months in a treatment facility for emotional and physical issues. And now in a new video posted on Cameo.com, Demi shows off her wrist tattoo that says "Stay Strong," and in a heartfelt message, she explains the meaning behind the message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEMI LOVATO, DISNEY STAR: The journey that I went through and the support of my fans was so meaningful to me that I wanted to thank my fans in a way that I know can never be forgotten.
So I went ahead and I got a little heart tattoo on my wrist. Together they say "Stay Strong," but this one has a heart which is something that my fans actually were drawing on their wrist while I was still in treatment. And some people even got tattoos of it. So I wanted to show you guys that I will never forget the support that you guys gave me.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Wow. At 18, A.J., Demi is showing so much strength and maturity after such a tough time.
HAMMER: Yes. She`s looking very humble about the whole thing. I am sure the best is yet to come for her.
ANDERSON: Yes. Me, too.
Hey, on Tuesday we asked you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive polls. Just moments ago we got some final results. Brad picks Emily on the "Bachelor". Do you think they will stay together? Only 15 percent of you say yes, they`re a great couple. A whopping 85 percent of you say no, these things rarely work out.
Here are some of the e-mails. Ciara from South Carolina says, "I don`t think they should be together because they don`t make a good couple." OK.
Rene from California says, "I don`t think Emily and Brad will stay together because Emily is a protective mom. If she was smart, she`d call it off".
HAMMER: Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday.
HAMMER: And don`t forget we`re still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
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