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Showbiz Tonight
Billy Ray Cyrus` Bombshell; Charlie Sheen for President?; The Skinny on Kate Middleton; The World`s Worst Music Video?; The Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week
Aired March 18, 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, CO-HOST: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Billy Ray`s bombshell. The startling revelation today from Miley Cyrus` dad about his plan to divorce Miley`s mom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL RAY CYRUS, COUNTRY MUSIC STAR: I think that for the first time, me and my entire family are really communicating with each other.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Is all well again with Miley and her family? Or is the mess bigger than ever?
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Charlie Sheen for president? A remarkable new poll revealed today showing Charlie beating both Sarah Palin and President Obama. Our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint today - would you vote for Charlie?
HAMMER: The skinny on Kate. The new royal wedding diet secrets revealed today. How Kate Middleton is staying fit and trim before her big wedding.
ANDERSON: The unbelievable worldwide debate today over a 13-year-old girl`s music video.
(MUSIC)
Is this the worst music video the world has ever seen?
HAMMER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show -
ANDERSON: Breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today - Billy Ray`s bombshell.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. Just when you thought he was out, Billy Ray Cyrus pulls himself back in, back into his marriage. We learned today that Miley Cyrus may not become yet another child of divorce after all.
Just four months after her dad once and for all destroyed the illusion that all is well in "Hannah Montana" family land, Billy Ray revealed today that he has filed to withdraw his request for a divorce from Miley`s mom.
But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can also tell you that it`s not like birds are chirping, the sun is shining and everyone is just skipping around smiling and hugging it out, because based on what we learned today, Miley and her family have a very long way to go.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
B. CYRUS: I think that, for the first time, me and my entire family are really communicating with each other.
HAMMER (voice-over): Finally, a truce in the great Cyrus civil war. Today, on "The View," Billy Ray Cyrus announced he and his superstar daughter Miley Cyrus have made up after her bong-smoking scandal and his explosive interview in "GQ" did a number on their relationship.
B. CYRUS: I feel like I kind of got my Miley back, in a way. And all things considered, hey, it`s all good.
HAMMER: And an added bonus, Billy Ray announced today that things are also good with Miley`s mom and his wife of 27 years, Tish, who filed for divorce last October. But like his feud with Miley is history, Billy Ray says that divorce is history.
B. CYRUS: I dropped the divorce.
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the paperwork to prove it. Today, we obtained the papers Billy Ray filed in a Tennessee court to withdraw his divorce petition. So after months of scandalous headlines about a family in crisis, today on "The View," Billy Ray is making his goals clear.
B. CYRUS: I want to put my family back together.
NINA PARKER, PRODUCER, TMZ: Sounds like they are one, big happy family now.
HAMMER: The reported Cyrus family feud blew up back in February when Billy Ray`s explosive interview with "GQ" magazine hit the stands.
MILEY CYRUS, POP STAR: I can`t believe it. I`m going out with a ninth grader. Woo!
B. CYRUS: Well, don`t believe it, because I`m not letting you go. Woo!
HAMMER: He bitterly complained he and Miley`s hot Disney show, "Hannah Montana," quote, "was driving a wedge between us." And he added, quote, "The damn show destroyed my family."
PARKER: He also talks about, you know, his daughter, Miley, and how he`s disappointed in her behavior and how he had no control over her.
HAMMER: Before you could say "Achy Breaky Heart," celebrity news sites were reporting that Miley was mighty ticked at her dad for his "Hannah" bashing. But on "The View" today, Billy Ray had nothing but love for the now-departed Disney show.
B. CYRUS: I love "Hannah Montana." I love Disney. That didn`t tear my family apart.
HAMMER: So, Billy Ray, we got to ask. If you`re so cool with "Hannah Montana" and Disney, why in the world did you diss them so harshly in "GQ?"
B. CYRUS: Keep it in mind, I did that interview in December and at that time, my life was out of control, looking at lawyers and divorce papers and my family falling apart.
HAMMER: Cyrus says he did the "GQ" interview back in December weeks after he filed for divorce from Tish and just days after Miley got caught on video smoking from a bong with friends. Now, Billy Ray admits that wasn`t the best time to talk to a major magazine.
B. CYRUS: First mistake I made was doing the interview, because I think I did learn this, that doing an interview when you`re mad and scared -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Emotions.
B. CYRUS: A whole lot like going to the grocery store when you`re hungry. It`s not a good idea.
HAMMER: But whatever damage Billy Ray may have done to his relationship with Miley, he says everything is fine now.
B. CYRUS: I feel like that we`re the daddy and the daughter that we were before "Hannah Montana" happened.
HAMMER: Back in 2006, I spoke with Billy Ray and Miley just weeks before "Hannah Montana" debuted. And they couldn`t be happier to work together.
B. CYRUS: Getting a chance now to work with Miley -
M. CYRUS: I really enjoy it, especially getting to work with him.
HAMMER: And if the Cyrus family has really patched things up, that`s a happy ending even "Hannah Montana" could love.
PARKER: Every family kind of goes through this. They are just doing it publicly. It`s good to see they were actually able to bring it all together. It`s rare in Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: OK. Now, I have those Billy Ray anti-divorce papers right here. And I`m no attorney - but I`ll take your glasses back. It does seem like the marriage is going to continue on. The divorce appears to be kaput. So now, maybe the whole family will live on happily ever after or maybe not.
With us today in Hollywood, Camille Grammer, who is a cast member on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Also with us, esteemed entertainment journalist and syndicated radio host, Carlos Diaz.
I`ve to tell you, guys, there are people today are saying, you know, Billy Ray was there, putting on a great PR show. He needed to save face. He needed to show that the whole family is together and happy.
I have to tell you, I`m not that cynical. I actually believe him. I think family has always been a top priority for Billy Ray. But Carlos Diaz, what`s your take?
CARLOS DIAZ, SYNDICATED RADIO HOST AND ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: A.J., I am cynical, as you know. But even being cynical, I like this, because when I heard this all coming down I`m like, oh, man, this is Britney Spears part two. Here we go again.
Another person growing up in the spotlight, feuding with their family. But Billy Ray today, even though - what`s with the hair, Billy Ray? Are we going back to 1990 with that thing, that mini-mullet?
Even though that is the case, I`m very encouraged that he`s working to put his family back together and I, for one, believe he`s going to do it.
HAMMER: Yes. I think he has great perspective on why this all happened and where it`s going to go if he doesn`t change things up. We heard Billy Ray telling the ladies of "The View" today his life was out of control and that fame did play a big part in all the chaos over the past few months. Watch what he said about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
B. CYRUS: When your life becomes more of an interview or something out of a page than what you`re really living, those lines can get blurred. But to set the record straight, I don`t think that "Hannah Montana" - I love "Hannah Montana." I love Disney, that didn`t tear my family apart. Now fame - fame is a different animal.
HAMMER: It sure is. Let me bring in "Real Housewives "of New Jersey," Camille Grammer who is with us in Hollywood. Great to see you, Camille. Billy Ray says -
CAMILLE GRAMMER, REALITY TV STAR, "THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS": New Jersey?
HAMMER: Billy Ray says - did I say New Jersey?
C. GRAMMER: Yes.
HAMMER: I must be out of my mind. Where`s my coffee? From "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" - Camille Grammer. It`s great to see you wherever you`re from.
You know firsthand, as we all know from your former marriage to Kelsey Grammer, how difficult fame can be to manage and negotiate. Are you optimistic that Billy Ray is going to keep his family and marriage together for the long haul?
C. GRAMMER: Absolutely. I think this is great news. I think they seem like a fantastic couple. And you know, when you have children involved, you want to make sure that you - you know, that you really work hard at this.
And it`s easy to leave. It`s hard to do the work. But I`m proud of him and I think they can make it work, absolutely.
HAMMER: All right. Brooke Anderson, first, I`m calling out Kristin Martin for writing New Jersey on my script. Off to you, Brooke. What do you think about this marriage (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
ANDERSON: Camille Grammer is so Beverly Hills. I just want to say that. But yes, I am hopeful about Billy Ray Cyrus and his family. They obviously faced a lot of tough challenges associated with fame.
And it seems like, now, at least according to Billy Ray, that they have a different - better perspective on all of it, and it is all about perspective. It is all about staying true to who you are, so I`m optimistic.
But now, I do want to move to another story making big news today. And we`re talking about Lindsay Lohan. Is she in deep trouble? "The New York Post" reports that Lindsay was out all night long, partying it up in New York City, bar-hopping with reality stars.
Now, they say she was not drinking, had a water bottle on hand the entire time. But today, there are reports that Lindsay`s family is furious.
Camille, out to you. I think that Lindsay needs to stay as far away from clubs and bars as possible. I mean, listen, she just got out of rehab. She`s still on probation, facing potential jail time for a felony theft charge.
Is this just a stupid move on her part? Or do we need to leave her alone?
C. GRAMMER: Absolutely a stupid move on her part. She`s at a bar, out with her friends? First of all, there`s a lot of enablers in this town. And she should be far away from a bar because the temptation is too great.
ANDERSON: Yes.
C. GRAMMER: This is the time for her to recover and heal.
ANDERSON: Don`t even tempt yourself. Lindsay is playing with fire, I think.
C. GRAMMER: Yes.
ANDERSON: Carlos Diaz and Camille Grammer, thank you both.
HAMMER: OK. You may want to sit down for this. Charlie Sheen for president? Now, let me be clear, he`s not actually running, as far as I know, but maybe he should consider it. In a brand-new poll, revealed today, Charlie could beat Sarah Palin, even President Obama.
ANDERSON: The skinny on Kate. New royal wedding diet secrets revealed today. How Kate Middleton is staying fit and trim before her big wedding.
HAMMER: OK. Could this be the worst song and worst video in the world? No, it`s not Kim Kardashian`s "Jam." It`s this.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: OK. It`s unbelievable worldwide debate today over a 13-year- old girl`s music video. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Let`s get to the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Demi Lovato reportedly donates $1 million to Japan relief. "30 Rock" takes on "Real Housewives!" Watch -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You need to call Tracy right now, because I know that he is your man, but he is my man, too. And TGS is my family. And my family is thick as thieves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer is in New York. And today, Jodie defends Mel.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster co-star in "The Beaver." Foster is the director, too. And with all of Mel`s recent problems, this movie has been a pretty, pretty tough sell.
But Jodie is standing up for Mel today. Listen to what she just told us when we caught up with her at the South by Southwest Film and Music Festival.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JODIE FOSTER, ACTRESS: Mel, I think, is unanimously the most-loved actor that I`ve ever worked with. And you could probably ask anybody that`s ever worked with him. He is perhaps the most beloved, behind maybe Chow Yun-Fat, who is also incredibly beloved.
He is fast and he comes to work with no nonsense. He has done whatever work he`s done on the character. He`s internal. He doesn`t, you know, tell everybody about it or have to go through a bunch of drama.
He`s an incredible technician. So it definitely was hard trying to find the right time to bring this movie out. It`s been pushed back a few times. But I think now is the time. I think - I hope, you know, that people will see his performance and understand him a little better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The reviews of "The Beaver" have been pretty good so far. Not all of them, but a lot of them. It`s out in select theaters on May 6th.
ANDERSON: Jodie doing the interview with her shades on. All right. Right now, SHOWBIZ investigates. Stars pay it forward. Lots of stars are stepping it up writing checks for the Japanese relief effort.
Sandra Bullock just gave $1 million. This is all fantastic. But here`s the question. Do star donations really motivate others to help out? Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Black Eyed Peas are raising awareness. Lady Gaga is raising cash. And they`re joined by megastars like Conan O`Brien, Diddy and Katy Perry, who are lighting up the Twitter-verse, urging fans to donate to the Red Cross to help the people of Japan.
Hollywood has a history lending a hand during times of urgent need. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants to know, are celebrity-backed fundraising efforts making an impact?
MARK YOUNG, PROFESSOR AND PSYCHOLOGY OF THE CELEBRITY EXPERT, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Once you get kind of a wave of celebrity help involved with anything, then I don`t see how anything really bad can come of that.
WYNTER: USC professor and psychology of the celebrity expert, Mark Young, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that stars are definitely making a difference, sometimes by simply using their fame to raise awareness.
But it`s those who really do their homework who are making the biggest impact.
YOUNG: What`s critical about celebrity involvement is the believability of the celebrity. Does he or she know something about the cause? If I was a celebrity and I wanted to try to get involved with a cause, I would model myself after what George Clooney does to see exactly how he does it.
WYNTER: And what exactly has George Clooney done? Well, just last year, for example, Clooney spearheaded the star-studded "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon to raise funds for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: This is a tragedy that reaches across all borders.
WYNTER: Clooney used his Hollywood clout to get the program to air across multiple networks, including CNN. The program raised $66 million to help the devastated nation.
Clooney told CNN`s Piers Morgan people need to find a cause and commit to it and, most importantly, know the facts.
CLOONEY: You have to be informed. You have to really - you know, you have to be able to answer the critics.
LADY GAGA, POP STAR: Are you listening?
WYNTER: Lady Gaga has answered the call to help Japan. The socially- conscious singer rallied her fans, Little Monsters, and raised a whopping $250,000 in two days by selling "We Pray for Japan" bracelets online.
YOUNG: She`s very clear in her political and social beliefs. So I think if she is supporting something, you can be sure that she`s done her homework and she`s very passionate about it.
(MUSIC)
WYNTER: The Black Eyed Peas are passionate about helping Japan as well. The Grammy-winning group shot a music video for "Just Can`t Get Enough" in Tokyo just one week before the devastating earthquake struck.
Now, the Peas tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that they`re using the video as a rallying cry to help the Japanese people.
FERGIE, SINGER, "BLACK EYED PEAS": If you watch the video, at the end, there`s a message, "Please contact Red Cross," whatever you can do. It`s just - these are people`s lives, people`s families, and it`s just horrific.
WYNTER (on camera): You`re in such a powerful position to make a difference. What are your thoughts on that? Is this the duty of a celebrity? Or is it more of a personal mission?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t think it`s a job of a celebrity. I think it`s the job of people that have a conscience that care. I`m so blessed to be in a group where people that are that way.
(MUSIC)
WYNTER (voice-over): As the devastation in Japan continues to get worse, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that celebrities like the Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga are leading the way in relief efforts and truly making a difference to those in need.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That`s tremendous. That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. Even Charlie Sheen is helping out with the relief effort in Japan. He`s donating $1 from each ticket sold on his "Violent Torpedo of Truth" tour.
HAMMER: Moving on to Michael Douglas` ex-wife who`s breaking her silence. She is locked in a battle over Michael`s money. Wait until you hear her fired-up message. It`s coming up.
ANDERSON: Charlie Sheen for president? A remarkable new poll shows Charlie beating both Sarah Palin and President Obama.
HAMMER: And listen to this. You have a shot today at winning a trip to London to cover the excitement of the royal wedding. Just make an iReport like this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIANE BATES, I-REPORTER: I hope you understand that as a Bates, I am one of the original families of England. My family goes back to the first century in England.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I`ll tell you how to enter for your chance to win to be the CNN royal wedding iReporter, coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Christina Applegate cast in upcoming NBC comedy pilot. NBC renews "Community," "Parks and Recreation," and "The Office."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You cannot make a mark.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: It is not a real charity. It`s stupid, Michael, and I`m not going to do it.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: All right -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You didn`t run from me when I thought I had skin cancer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: The worst video and song in the world. Well, that`s what Rebecca Black`s "Friday" is being called today. This 13-year-old YouTube and iTunes sensation is just getting slammed.
I can`t even repeat some of the nasty things people are posting about her online. For the very first time today, though, Rebecca`s emotional reaction.
"Friday" is a song about Rebecca`s eighth grade life and getting ready for the weekend. It`s actually kind of a catchy song, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Yes, it is, A.J., and a whole lot of people like it, because, listen to this, the song has gotten more than 16 million hits on YouTube. It is racing up the charts on iTunes today. Here`s a little bit more of "Friday."
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: Kicking in the front, kicking in the back. But for all of Rebecca`s fans, there has also been a mean-spirited backlash. She reveals on "Good Morning America" one of the most disturbing messages she`s read about herself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREA CANNING, ANCHOR, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": What`s the meanest thing you read that maybe hurt you the most?
REBECCA BLACK, YOUTUBE STAR: "I hope you cut yourself and I hope you get an eating disorder so you`ll look pretty and I hope you go cut and die."
CANNING: Have you cried at all throughout all of this? Or are you just strong?
BLACK: When I first saw all these nasty comments, I did cry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Horrible. Rebecca says she`s gotten over the attacks now and that set a huge new goal for herself, a duet with Justin Bieber, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes. It could happen. People should leave her alone. She`s 13 for goodness sake.
All right. Another singer is fighting back against haters today - LeAnn Rimes. Now, LeAnn lashed out after some people said that she had gotten scary skinny.
Well, over at the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page, a big battle is going on. Let me read a couple of the comments. Julie D. writing, "I think she looks great. Besides, who are we to say she`s too skinny or too fat? People need to mind their own business."
Sharon L. thinks LeAnn needs to get over herself, "She`s a singer, so naturally, she`s in the public eye, which means people are going to talk about her. She needs to just get over it."
ANDERSON: And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Royal wedding diet secrets revealed today. How Kate Middleton is staying fit and trim.
Charlie Sheen for president? What? A remarkable poll out today shows Charlie beating both Sarah Palin and President Obama.
And will we name Charlie the most provocative celebrity of the week? Or will it be Donald Trump who still got his eye on the White House after his brutal "Comedy Central" roast? Or Gilbert Gottfried, who was fired as the Aflac duck after tweeting insensitive things about Japan?
Camille Grammer will be right back to reveal the winner. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And this is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Kevin Costner cast as Clark Kent`s father in new "Superman" movie. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first look: Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Charlie Sheen for president? A remarkable new poll shows Charlie beating both Sarah Palin and President Obama. The SHOWBIZ Flashpoint today - would you vote for Charlie?
ANDERSON: The princess diet diaries. Kate Middleton`s slim-down secrets as she gets ready for her big wedding.
HAMMER: Michael Douglas` ex-wife breaking her silence, revealing today why she went after more of Michael`s money even while he was fighting for his life.
Plus, breaking today from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker," the Foo Fighters battle "Glee" and Billy Bob Thornton`s "Bad" return.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today - candidate Charlie Sheen.
HAMMER: Yes, Charlie Sheen for president? This could certainly be the most unthinkable presidential possibility ever. But there`s a brand- new poll out today that actually shows, in a hypothetical presidential race between Charlie Sheen, President Obama and Sarah Palin, Charlie Sheen is winning.
Look it there, I just saw a pig fly. All right. Let me break this down for you. This was obviously an unscientific poll. It was conducted by the partisan Public Policy Polling organization that largely works for Democrats.
Just for laughs, they decided to see how Charlie would do if he was stacked up against Sarah Palin if only Democrats voted. Take a look at this. The poll shows Democrats picking Sheen over Sarah, 44 percent to her 24 percent.
I turn now to "Inside Edition" correspondent and part-time poll pundit, Megan Alexander. Megan, what do think may have charmed those Democrats - Charlie`s winning smile or his ranting campaign style?
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": A.J., I want the information right here in front of me for whoever conducted this poll. This is madness, I tell you. I don`t think this shows the people have confidence in Charlie Sheen.
I think it shows they have no confidence in their officials right now, elected officials or potential candidates. This is a complete joke and whoever ran this poll needs have their head examined.
HAMMER: Oh, you think that`s something? Take a look at this, Megan. The poll also asks, what if just Republicans voted? And on the ballot, it was Charlie Sheen and President Obama.
Look at this. The poll claims Charlie Sheen would win with 37 percent of the vote. President Obama getting just 28 percent of the vote. What does this say about our country?
Marvet Britto, you`re a big-time celebrity publicist with your company, the Britto Agency. If Sheen were to run - I can`t believe I`m asking you this, but I will - what advice would you have for him?
MARVET BRITTO, CELEBRITY PUBLICIST, THE BRITTO AGENCY: I wouldn`t have any advice for him. I mean, I think it`s the irony of someone who exercises such poor judgment would ever be seriously considered for the most important position in this world.
So I think really this is just a play on the moment and the heat and the winning spin, but he`ll never win the highest office.
HAMMER: You`re taking this way too seriously for me. Come on, Marvet.
BRITTO: I really am. I really am.
HAMMER: All right. Here`s the truth. We all know what candidates say in the past comes back to haunt them eventually. So could you imagine if Charlie Sheen had to run for office, the fun his opponent would have with, say, something from his "Sheen`s Korner" show on the Internet? Let`s take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE SHEEN, ACTOR: Let`s do a scene. I speak first - duh. Me. Are you an assailant? Trust not your evil overlords. They will discard you and then abandon your precious family. Liars and fools, all of them. Get out while you can, good sir.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. You know, Megan, I`m listening to that, thinking, well, how bad is that really compared to some of the things we`ve heard candidates say in the past who actually do run for office?
ALEXANDER: The debate would be entertaining. I would like to see him at the table with all the different candidates. A.J., his politics are lean and mean and I`m not talking about his budget cuts. They`re basically nonexistent.
Let`s get back to the matters at hand and have the good candidates come out of the woodwork here and take him to task.
HAMMER: But imagine having a president with Adonis DNA and tiger blood. Brooke Anderson, does Sheen have your vote?
ANDERSON: No, no. This really just made me laugh, A.J. I think it is much more of a partisan political statement by the people who participated than having any sort of faith in Charlie in this way. I, for one, will not be voting for Charlie Sheen.
And fear not, everyone, because there`s more big Charlie Sheen news breaking today. That little tour that he just launched - well, it`s getting really big. Sheen is expanding his tour dates, and it looks like he`s coming to a city near you.
Is "Glee" obsessed with Gwyneth Paltrow? Her big return. And why "American Idol" is winning big time. It`s all making big news in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) "Idol`s" two-and-a-half triumph. "American Idol" has just been named TV`s biggest cash cow, leaving Charlie Sheen`s old show, "Two and a Half Men," in the dust.
"Forbes`" brand-new list of TV`s richest shows says "Idol" is catching in faster than any other primetime show, generating an average $7.1 million in ads every half hour for Fox.
That`s far ahead of the second-place finisher, "Two and a Half Men," which makes $2.9 million every half hour for CBS.
Gwyneth`s gleeful return. "Glee`s" co-creator has just spilled a giant "Glee" secret. Gwyneth Paltrow will be bringing her sex-ed teacher character, Holly Holiday, back again next season.
While speaking at a conference, Ryan Murphy revealed that he`s planning for Gwyneth to, quote, "come back next year," and even confessed she`s his inspiration, saying, "Gwyneth is sort of the muse of the show. She`s also somebody who I write on the weekends and say, `What do you think about this for an episode even if you`re not in it?` She has opinions. She`s great."
Charlie Sheen`s road show, winning. Sheen has just added 12 more cities to his live stage show. That`s 20 total and counting. Tickets for the first two dates of "My Violent Torpedo of Truth" tour sold out in minutes.
And now, he`s expanded to Canada, added Vancouver and Toronto. Charlie debuts in Detroit April 2nd, which is sold out. Tickets for the new cities range from $47 to as much as $800 for a chance to meet Charlie.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
There`s more big news breaking today. Michael Douglas` ex-wife breaks her silence about dragging him to court and trying to get half of his profits from "Wall Street Money Never Sleeps" 11 years after their divorce and while he was battling cancer.
Diandra Douglas strikes back at her critics and reveals why she went after Michael`s money in the first place.
In a brand-new interview out today in "Harpers Bazaar" magazine, she says she is not, quote, "greedy by nature," but that she got desperate after losing money in Bernie Madoff`s Ponzi scheme and getting defrauded by her manager, Kenneth Starr, who also went to jail.
Take a look at what she says, "Because of the type of human being I aspire to be, if Starr and company hadn`t happened, and Madoff hadn`t happened and if a lot of other things hadn`t happened, to tell you the honest truth, I really believe I would have walked away."
Megan Alexander, are you buying that as a good reason to go after Michael`s money 11 years after their divorce?
ALEXANDER: Yes. Well, to remember, Brooke, you know, she did make away with, I think, $45 million, 11 years ago, one of the biggest divorce settlements ever.
This is something you never want to say, though, "due to my problems with Bernie Madoff and Kenneth Starr." You don`t want to make excuses. I`m surprised that she was given advice maybe to say that.
It certainly, to the average person, appears very un-classy, 11 years later, to go after somebody`s money. Let bygones be bygones and move on. But you know, in terms of the divorce settlement, I guess there`s some language in there that says if a movie is connected to this "Wall Street" movie that she`s entitled to the money.
ANDERSON: Yes. Maybe she`s entitled.
ALEXANDER: But in a sense - there`s a couple different ways to look at it. It`s un-classy, but I guess she has the right to pursue it.
ANDERSON: Well, I`ve got to tell you, Megan, Diandra was also demonized after Michael was diagnosed with throat cancer soon after she first went after his money in court.
But Diandra says that she didn`t even know that he was sick. Here it is, "Michael didn`t know he was ill. I didn`t know he was ill and the gods didn`t know he was ill. I`m not into going after sick people for things that don`t belong to me."
I think that`s key, "things that don`t belong to me." Marvet, I don`t think this interview that she did is going to win her sympathy points considering this is the same woman who, as Megan mentioned, walked away from her divorce with $45 million.
BRITTO: Well, it is a bit of a PR disaster. It really - and particularly where she states that it was due to her loss of income, really related to her poor choices and bad investment.
So I really think it shows that she`s extremely insensitive and this really, if she felt that she was rightfully owed the money, she should have handled it privately rather than put it on public display.
ANDERSON: Divorces are usually not pretty, but this one is certainly really, really ugly. Megan Alexander, Marvet Britto, thanks, ladies.
HAMMER: Well, as we move on, have you checked your calendar? Because it is just over a month and counting until the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Revealed today, Kate`s wedding diet secrets.
Also ahead, this is so cool. How you can enter to win a chance to cover the excitement of the royal wedding.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BATES: I hope you understand that as a Bates, I am one of the original families of England. My family goes back to the first century in England.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Send us on iReport like this one from Diane Bates and we may be sending you to London. I`ll be there. You could be, too.
HAMMER: It`s that time again. Who will SHOWBIZ TONIGHT name the most provocative celebrity of the week? Charlie Sheen for selling out his tour and making a fortune off of it? Donald Trump, who says he`s seriously considering running for president even after his brutal "Comedy Central" roast?
Or will it be Gilbert Gottfried for getting fired as the voice of the Aflac duck after his offensive tweet about Japan? Well, our good friend, Camille Grammer, back with us to reveal this week`s winner. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Here`s the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Foo Fighters` Dave Grohl doesn`t want his band`s music on "Glee." SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first look: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Ties" posters revealed.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. We will reveal our most provocative celebrity of the week in just a moment. But first, princess diet diaries.
The royal wedding on April 29th is only a little over a month away and all eyes are on Kate Middleton. Today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you the secrets of Kate`s princess diet.
Now, Kate is known for her sleek physique, but what is she doing to make sure she looks flawless when billions of people watch her marry her prince charming? You can read all about Kate`s slimming secrets inside this week`s issue of "People" magazine.
Joining me right now from "People" magazine is their senior editor, Nancy Jeffrey. Nancy, good to see you. And hey, there`s been a lot of talk in the last few weeks about Kate Middleton`s seemingly thinner frame.
Here are some pictures of her on March 8th at an appearance in Belfast. There are some who say that Kate is starving herself for her wedding day.
Nancy, what have palace insiders told "People" magazine about Kate`s princess diet? Is she on some sort of extreme weight loss plan?
NANCY JEFFREY, SENIOR EDITOR, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Well, Brooke, there`s been a lot of buzz lately about Kate`s thin frame, but sources close to William and Kate tell "People" there is no panicky shedding for the wedding.
Kate has a healthy appetite. She enjoys food. One friend from school told us she never missed a meal in school. And just recently, she was out to lunch with her future mother-in-law, Camilla, and enjoying sea bass and pistachio souffle with ice cream.
ANDERSON: OK. So she likes to eat. That`s a good sign. Ice cream, always a good sign. Well, I want to open up now, Nancy, the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Kate Middleton look book.
You can see that Kate has always had a great figure. She knows how to wear just the right outfit to show it off. It all seems really effortless. But Nancy, "People" found out that staying active is part of the princess diet.
JEFFREY: Absolutely. Kate`s real secret weapon - she loves to exercise. She has been sporty and athletic since her school days. And she loves to swim. She loves to run. She`s on the road. Recently, she`s been seen working out at London`s Harbor Club gym where Prince William`s late mom, Princess Diana, worked out.
And Kate and William themselves have a sports-loving relationship. They do all kinds of things together, from skiing to swimming, and Kate routinely kicks her fiance`s royal butt on the tennis court.
ANDERSON: I love that they are a sporty couple together and that they love to participate in activities and sports together. That may be a sign of a really strong relationship, hopefully.
Well, we all know that William`s mom, Princess Diana, really felt the pressures of royal life, and it was a factor in her battle with bulimia. Nancy, how has Kate`s princess diet helped Kate deal with similar pressures of life in the spotlight?
JEFFREY: Well, Princess Diana famously said that the pressures of palace life drove her to bulimia. But Kate is a very different person. First of all, she`s 29. She`s almost a decade older than Princess Diana was when she got married. She has a lot of confidence in herself.
And her love of working out helps her deal with all kinds of pressure. In fact, in 2007, when she and William went through a brief breakup, that might have sent someone else running for the pint of ice cream, but Kate ended up working out and training for a charity rowing race.
ANDERSON: Yes. She sounds like a very secure person. And very quickly, Nancy, it seems to me that Kate has a secret weapon, too, because she`s got really good genes, doesn`t she?
JEFFREY: She definitely does. For all her moderation with her diet and her working out, you have to look at her mom, Carol, who looks absolutely smashing at 56. You look at her sister, Pippa -
ANDERSON: Yes, very -
JEFFREY: They all have the same wonderfully slim frame.
ANDERSON: A very good looking family. And Kate and of course, Prince William are a gorgeous couple. Nancy Jeffrey, thank you so much for sharing your insight. We appreciate it.
JEFFREY: Thank you.
ANDERSON: And remember, I will be heading to London to cover the Prince William-Kate Middleton wedding. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is teaming up with "People" magazine to bring you the very best coverage, so keep it right here.
And coming up, how you can enter to win a chance to cover the royal wedding. Send us an iReport like this one from Diane in California.
BATES: Hi, my name is Bates, and I would love to be the Susan Boyle of CNN and would love to cover the royal wedding in England.
I hope you understand as a Bates, I am one of the original families of England. My family goes back to the 1st century in England.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We will show you more of what Diane had to say, coming up straight ahead.
HAMMER: It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Billy Bob Thornton in talks to star in "Bad Santa 2." FBI probes celebrity hacking ring targeting female stars including Vanessa Hudgens.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you the very best from the South by Southwest Film and Music Festival in Austin, Texas. We just caught up with Jodie Foster. She directs and stars in "The Beaver" with Mel Gibson, which premiered to sold-out crowd at the festival.
Now, this is a dark complicated drama. But Jodie Foster says, like many of her other films, ultimately, this one has a positive message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Well, all my films are about a spiritual crisis. My first movie was about a spiritual crisis in a seven-year-old and all of those sort of near times and issues that I`ve been through as well and how I`ve come out the other side.
And the important part is coming out the other side. I think my films do tend to be about people who survive them and are smart and intact and what they have to do to get there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: A very special guest, "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" co- star, Camille Grammer, back with me now. All right, Camille. Right now, it is time for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to name the most provocative celebrity of the week.
Here are your nominees - Gilbert Gottfried fired as the voice of the Aflac duck for his insensitive tweets about Japan. Trump considering a run for president, but can we really take him seriously after that brutal "Comedy Central" roast?
Maybe Charlie Sheen could be pres. We told you about a new poll today that claims Charlie could beat Sarah Palin and Barack Obama. Between that and his "Torpedo of Truth" tour selling out in a matter of minutes, he definitely makes the list again. Camille, who`s your pick in this contest?
C. GRAMMER: My pick would be Gilbert. Well, I think you think before you tweet, Gilbert. You are working for an insurance company which helps people during their more difficult times in their lives. I think it was just very insensitive.
HAMMER: Yes, and a company that does an awful lot of business right there in Japan.
C. GRAMMER: Yes.
HAMMER: So right now, I can confirm SHOWBIZ TONIGHT does, in fact, name Gilbert Gottfried as the most provocative celebrity of the week. And for my part, Camille, I think he unquestionably deserved the title this week.
C. GRAMMER: Yes.
HAMMER: Sensitivity - look, it was never Gilbert Gottfried`s M.O. But wow, are you with me that he wrecked a sweet gig, sensitivity aside? I mean, that has to be the easiest job on the planet. He`s been doing it for, like, 11 years.
C. GRAMMER: I agree.
HAMMER: And to think, you know, now, he probably has to do a lot of back tracking, wouldn`t you imagine, if he wants to keep any of his gigs, particularly family-friendly cartoons in order.
C. GRAMMER: I agree also, but maybe too little, too late at this point.
HAMMER: Yes.
C. GRAMMER: Maybe not.
HAMMER: He has come out and apologized for what he said. But yes, too little, too late. Camille Grammer, always great to see you.
C. GRAMMER: Great to see you, guys.
HAMMER: All right. Now, the SHOWBIZ royal watch. Here is your chance to win a trip for two to London to report to cover the excitement of the royal wedding, Brooke.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. All you have to do is send us an iReport showing why you think you should be the CNN royal wedding iReporter.
If your iReport is picked as the winner, well, then, you`re off to the U.K. to cover the Prince William, Kate Middleton wedding hoopla in April.
HAMMER: Where Brooke will be. And I`m going it tell you how to enter in just a second. But first, you`ve got to check out this royal wedding iReport. It`s from Diane in California.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BATES: Hi. My name is Bates and I would love to be the Susan Boyle of CNN and would love to cover the royal wedding in England.
I hope you understand that, as a Bates, I am one of the original families of England. My family goes back to the first century in England.
Also, I had the opportunity to meet Prince Charles long, long ago when I was quite young and he was quite young, and I found him to be very dashing and handsome. However, I was a divorcee from Baltimore. End of subject.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: She`s technically a royal. Many, many, many times removed. Thanks, Diane. Head on over to "iReport.com/royalwedding" to send us your video today. Tell us why you would be the best royal wedding iReporter. You could be the one who wins the trip to London. Remember, I will be heading to London to cover the Prince William-Kate Middleton wedding.
HAMMER: And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Take care. END
