Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
NBC-Ya; Britney Getting Married?
Aired April 07, 2011 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
A.J. HAMMER, HOST (voice-over): Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Donald Trump`s push to become president. The Donald`s remarkable revelation today about the connection between wanting to run and "Celebrity Apprentice."
DONALD TRUMPH, AMERICAN BUSINESS TYCOON: Well, I hate to say it, I have the number one show on NBC.
HAMMER: "Showbiz Flashpoint", should Trump run for president or just stick with "Celebrity Apprentice"?
Explosive reports today of Lady Gaga taking over TV, but is there such a thing as too much Gaga? Lady Gaga`s choreographer facing that tough question right here today in a headline making "Showbiz Newsmaker Interview".
Kate under, stress disturbing new reports today that Kate Middleton`s royal wedding may be getting to her. Losing weight, smoking. Should we be worried?
LeAnn`s bikini bombshell today. LeAnn Rimes tweet her brand-new picture to try to prove she is not scary skinny, but did it backfire?
TV`S most provocative entertainment news show breaks new, right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today. NBC-ya.
HAMMER: I was so hoping you are going to sing that, Brooke. Yes. NBC "Today" show this morning could have been called the see ya later show. In an explosive interview, "Celebrity Apprentice" host, Donald Trump dropped bombshell after bombshell about his possible presidential campaign, which would mean an end to his hit NBC show. Now, the person interviewing him, Meredith Vieira, who is also reportedly thinking about leaving NBC and her job as co-host of the "Today" show.
And looking on, Matt Lauer. Just as new reports served us today, he may also be saying NBC-ya later, but let us begin with the Donald, shall we? Watch what Trump said this morning when Meredith asked him why the heck don`t you just say you`re running for president?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEREDITH VIEIRA, HOST: what are you waiting for?
TRUMP: Well, I hate to say it, I have the number one show on NBC.
VIEIRA: What does that have to do with it?
TRUMP: It has a lot to do with it. It sounds so trivial, and I hate to even bring it up, but I`m not allowed to run during the. You`re not allowed to have a show on and be a declared candidate. It`s a great show, and it`s got phenomenal ratings, and until that show is over, I can`t declare because, otherwise, NBC would have to take the show off the air, and I think that would be very unfair to NBC.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You got to love the Donald. "I hate to say it, I have the number one show on NBC." Come on, Donald. You love to say it. Give me a break.
My good friend, syndicated radio host, Carlos Diaz, joins us from Atlanta where he`s guest hosting HLN`s "Prime News," seeing everyday 6:00 p.m. eastern right after SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. So, Carlos, let me say flat out, first of all, I don`t think there`s any chance that Trump is going to announce that he`s running for president, at all. Are you buying his "Celebrity Apprentice" excuse for now?
CARLOS DIAZ, GUEST HOST, HLN`S "PRIME NEWS": Well, you can say that it`s proof that he is going to run today, because, you know, if he wasn`t going to run, he would just say, I`m not running. So, you know, he does make a point. He says he`s going to run with the tea party, although his hair is definitely left-wing.
HAMMER: Yes.
DIAZ: But, no, you know, once given, it`s Donald Trump being Donald Trump and being the mastermind that he is. We`re all talking about him again today. So, he gets his way.
HAMMER: Yes. I don`t think it`s proof at all. I think it`s proof he loves to publicize his show. To Donald`s credit, he has become an NBC icon of sorts, thanks to "Celebrity Apprentice." But just minutes after his interview this morning, he got absolutely slammed by another NBC icon who was also on the "Today`s" show. Wow. This was unbelievable. It`s Bill Cosby. The cause -- I mean, he just unloaded on Trump. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIEIRA: Donald Trump was guest on the show. He`s --
BILL COSBY, HOST: Oh, please, with Donald Trump, take him home with you.
VIEIRA: Now, why do you say that?
COSBY: Because he`s full of it. You kept saying -- somebody kept saying, are you going to run, are you going to run? He jumped. You run or shut up.
VIEIRA: Well, he said he can`t announce yet. Nobody really has announced yet.
COSBY: Please. Anybody can announce. You can run. You can run now. Start running now. But the only thing he`s running is his mouth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Come on, Bill, tell us what you really think. "Inside Edition" correspondent, Megan Alexander, is with me today in New York. Megan, you heard Bill Cosby. He seems to think that Trump`s presidential talk is just a whole bunch of hot air.
MEGAN ALEXANDER, "INSIDE EDITION" CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
HAMMER: What do you think?
ALEXANDER: Well, look, Donald Trump has said that he was running for a few decades now. It seems like he`s continually dipping his toe in the water. So, I believe it when I see it, A.J. I believe it when I see him in Iowa or New Hampshire flipping pancakes to some diner and shaking hands with people. (INAUDIBLE) is being relatable. The man has a condo on Fifth Avenue in New York City, but can I just say, Melania, his first lady, oh, the fashion fun we would have.
HAMMER: Yes. Let`s not even travel down that road. Let`s not get ahead of ourselves. He ain`t running. Come on. Look, I may have my doubts about whether or not he`ll actually run for president, but you certainly can`t discount the Donald`s passion. You got to watch what he told Meredith Vieira this morning when she asked if America is ready to elect a reality show host as president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIEIRA: People would look and then go the other, they`d say, you know, the guy, he has a reality show. I mean --
TRUMP: Not a reality show.
VIEIRA: Is this the kind of person that`s presidential?
TRUMP: Not a reality show, a huge, successful reality show.
VIEIRA: Still a reality show. What makes you presidential?
TRUMP: I`ve made a tremendous success. I`ve put hundreds of thousands of people to work. I have built a great company. I will be better than anybody. I will do the best job. If I decide to run, I will do the best job. I will be best for this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Is it me or does that kind of look a comedy sketch right there? Look, Donald is, obviously, very confident about his presidential qualifications, but are you? Here`s what we`re asking in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll, Donald Trump, what would you rather see him do, run for president or keep on hosting "Celebrity Apprentice"? Vote at CNN.com/showbiztonight. E-mail, our address is showbiztonight@cnn.com. That`s our poll.
As for the other polls, look, you can`t ignore the fact that Trump is running at the top or close to the top of some of the polls about potential Republican candidates. Carlos, what do you think? Would America give the "you`re fired" guy a real serious look if he does, in fact, run? Really?
DIAZ: And I know that you`re doubting here, A.J., and I respect that. But why not have Donald Trump run for president? What`s wrong with it? He shakes up the system. A.J., we`re always saying these politicians are so boring. They always say the same thing. They say what we want to hear. Donald Trump is going to come in here ala Ross Perot and shake things up and maybe be more honest than the rest of them.
HAMMER: I`m not doubting that he`ll actually shake things up if he does run. I`m just saying, he`s not going to run. He`s not going to disclose his finances. It`s not going to happen. Look, while they were talking about Trump`s future this morning, well, on the "Today" show it was also impossible to ignore all of the talk about Meredith and Matt`s future. All of this brand new reports about "Today`s" host, Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer. Brooke, that was definitely a big white elephant in the room they weren`t talking about this morning.
ANDERSON: Yes, no kidding, A.J. First came the reports earlier this week that Meredith Vieira is considering leaving the show when her contract is up in September. Now, there are reports today that Matt Lauer might also leave when his deal is up at the end of next year. Carlos, the "Today" show has been the number one rated morning show for years and years and years. If Meredith and Matt both say NBC-ya later, do you think that could be devastating?
DIAZ: Well, it depends on who they get to replaces them, Carlos and Brooke.
(LAUGHTER)
DIAZ: I want to say, though, is that we`re seeing is that, you know, maybe the "Today" show is not the only, you know, show on the block anymore. And I`m not saying it even has to be a show. So many people in broadcasting are realizing that with this new technology that`s out there, the internet, you know, everything that has to do with the internet, it`s not just broadcast TV anymore. So, there are options to be had out there. You got a guy named Charlie Sheen who`s $7 million touring the country. So, you don`t have to just be on network TV to be relevant and to make money these days.
ANDERSON: Yes, you make a good point. And you know that when these things -- these kinds of things happen, there`s always going to be wild speculation. And I got to tell you, guys, one of the more interesting possibilities raised today is that Matt could reteam with his old "Today" show co-host, Katie Couric, for a syndicated talk show. Megan, if that happened, would that just rock? I think it would. Or do you think that could potentially be a bomb?
ALEXANDER: I think for everything that Carlos just said is why this is big news. These things don`t just happen overnight. It takes time to have a good team and placing that chemistry. When Katie Couric left, we all thought that Meredith Vieira would not be able to seamlessly slip in and continue to make that show a hit, and she did.
ANDERSON: And she did.
ALEXANDER: The fact that both of them may not be leaving, Matt and Meredith, I think there`s trouble. I think you got to have the right combination. And Katie Couric did it once, maybe she can do it again, but now that Matt`s gone, you got to find the male replacement.
ANDERSON: Carlos is raising his hand me, me, me.
DIAZ: I don`t know what you`re talking about. I`m sorry. I was just kind of fixing my hair. Sorry.
ANDERSON: We`ll send them your resume tape.
All right. Carlos Diaz, Megan Alexander, thank you both so much. As A.J. mentioned, Carlos is guest hosting HLN`s "Prime News" seen every day at 6:00 p.m. eastern right here on HLN. It`s your audition, Carlos. Good to see you, guys.
DIAZ: Thank you.
HAMMER: All right. Moving on, to Kate under stress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): Yes, there`s a disturbing new report today that Kate Middleton`s royal wedding may be getting to her, losing weight, smoking. Should we be worried?
ANDERSON (voice-over): And LeAnn Rimes is getting ready for her wedding, and there`s brand-new controversy today over her weight. LeAnn just tweeted a brand-new picture to try to prove that she is not scary skinny, but did it backfire?
HAMMER: Britney`s wedding bells? The brand-new report today that maybe, just maybe, Britney Spears could be getting married again, but is she really ready?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): It`s time for the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER GARNER, ACTRESS: Don`t get me wrong here, but I just think I`d rather be married to him. My thing is I kind of want to get home to my kids. I want to do a good job, but if my director is the guy who is telling me when I can go home and it`s also the guy who, you know what I mean, I`d just be like, OK, you got it. no, you got it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMIE OLIVER, CELEBRITY CHEF: If I told you that I`m not even allowed to ask students anything about their school lunches.
There is the place to go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I make the decision. You will not be in our school.
OLIVER: I just received a school that all permits have been revoked for our show.
ANDERSON: A big new battle brewing today over Jamie Oliver`s "Food Revolution." It`s Jamie`s controversial reality show. Jamie says that he is trying to help kids eat better. Others think, he`s going too far.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer is in New York.
HAMMER (on-camera): Yes, Brooke. Celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, has been banned from Los Angeles schools. School officials didn`t want Jamie bringing his provocative new series "The "Food Revolution" into their cafeteria. So, I sat down with Jamie today to find out why he thinks he`s facing so much resistance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Here you are. You`re this British guy. You`re coming into America, and you`re telling us -- you`re basically slamming the way that we eat. You don`t hold back one bit, which is what I love. I want to watch a little bit of that right now.
OLIVER: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLIVER: Can I have a cheeseburger, chili burger. Thank you, brother. Welcome to America.
Do you know what made is?
Does anyone know what that is?
Why can`t we put better food on the plates for those kids?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. I have to think that those kids, besides their parents, you know, don`t want to necessarily hear what you`re having to say because they love their fast food. You got to get a lot of pushback for this.
OLIVER: You know what`s interesting about this year is I didn`t see that this year. Actually, certainly with the teen-agers, anyway. The teen-agers I spent time with wanted change, and they couldn`t understand why they couldn`t have it. So, all the sense --
HAMMER: The kids aren`t screaming at you?
OLIVER: This year, no.
HAMMER: Give me my nuggets?
OLIVER: No. We give test where we gave them two choices and two limes, and I could do exactly what I wanted, and they wanted the home cooked food. And I think what`s quite interesting is, you know, in a lot of the poor parts of L.A. where I was working, there was 80 percent childhood obesity and 100 percent free school meals. And, when we cooked fresh food from scratch, they went all that.
HAMMER: Oh.
OLIVER: And they went straight for it. So, you know, as far as they`re concerned, they wanted it, and they were kind of sick of the old stuff. I mean, I think, at the end of day, it`s about, you know, trying to get -- I mean, the idea of the show is to get parents and people passionate about standing up, having an opinion and expecting more. And everything that I saw slam here in America is exactly the same as what I do back home in England, as well.
HAMMER: Right.
OLIVER: I mean, England and America are very much aligned in the fight against obesity at the moment.
HAMMER: I know that you started the show back in your homeland and you made a real difference back there, and people really got into it, but there`s other big news that`s breaking out of your homeland right now, all about the royal wedding. Everybody`s all excited, whipped up in a frenzy about it. We officially learned that the butcher and the local pub owner in Kate Middleton`s hometown are invited to the wedding. First of all, do you have an invitation?
OLIVER: I don`t.
HAMMER: you don`t have an invitation. If you had an invitation and you were to go to the royal wedding, Jamie Oliver, what from your "Food Revolution" would you bring to that royal wedding because there`s going to be some rich and decadent food there. What would you bring?
OLIVER: I was just saying earlier, I don`t know -- it`s the worst month -- I mean, it`s literally the end of the winter. So, we`re a month away from having beautiful ingredients. That poor chef is going to have literally going scrimp and scrape all around England to find the stuff that just growing that`s going to be fed to those 500 people, but, you know, I don`t know. I mean, that`s a big job, isn`t it? That`s a career defining moment.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: One way or the other.
OLIVER: I cooked for the G-20 a year ago and for your president, and that was hard enough but, you know, 500 people, ouch.
HAMMER: Big pressure. Jamie Oliver, thanks so much.
OLIVER: Thank you very much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I think the work he`s trying to do here in the United States out in Los Angeles is important work. It`s a shame he`s getting such pushback for it. Hopefully, he will succeed, though. Jamie Oliver`s "Food Revolution" premieres Tuesday, April 12th on ABC.
ANDERSON: All right. I am really excited to tell you how you can win a trip for two to cover the excitement of the royal wedding. Yes, you have a shot to be the official CNN iReporter. It`s simple. Just make a video telling us why you are the man or the woman for the job like Deidre.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEIDRE WILSON, WANTS TO BE ROYAL WEDDING IREPORTER: I`m Deidre Wilson. Your CNN iReporter reporting from London on the wedding of the century between Prince William and Kate Middleton. Now, we are outside of Buckingham Palace right now awaiting the transportation of Kate Middleton to Westminster Abbey. She`s going to be traveling in a beautiful Rolls- Royce with large glass windows so the on-lookers can actually see her inside the Rolls-Royce.
Now, after they get married, they will be transported in a beautiful carriage, and it`s the same carriage that Princess Diana and Prince Charles used when they got married. I`m Deidre Wilson, your CNN Rreporter reporting from London.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Impressive. Thanks, Deidre. Head on over to iReport.com/royalwedding to send us your iReport, and if it`s picked as the one big winner, off to London you go. I will be in London the week leading up to the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William with the biggest and best coverage. So, keep it right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: All right. On to a big Lady Gaga controversy today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): Explosive reports today of Lady Gaga taking over TV, but is there such a thing as too much Gaga? Lady Gaga`s choreographer facing that tough question right here today in a headline making "Showbiz Newsmaker Interview."
ANDERSON (voice-over): Kate under stress? Disturbing new reports today that Kate Middleton`s royal wedding maybe getting to her. Is she losing weight? Is she smoking? Should we be worried?
HAMMER: And next, Ashley Judd`s sister, Wynona and mom, Naomi, speak out about Ashley`s stunning new claims that she was sexually abused as a child.
JOY BEHAR, HOST: Do you feel that Ashley was neglected?
NAOMI JUDD, MOTHER OF ASHLEY JUDD: In a way, I do.
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.
ANNE HATHAWAY, ACTRESS: Whether it was great, whether it stunk, who knows? I still got to walk out on the Kodak and see those people, and I will always be able to have that until my grandkids got (ph) it, hopefully.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you do it again?
HATHAWAY: Um, why not. I don`t know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s good.
HATHAWAY: Maybe. Perhaps no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHLEY JUDD, ACTRESS: I`ve even had a few people say to me like, you know, what happened to you wasn`t a big deal, and they are I stand strong in my recovery today and I`m autonomous with the God of my understanding, but when someone minimizes that, it`s a re-abuse.
HAMMER: Ashley Judd on "The View" Wednesday, her emotional claims about being sexually abused by several people including a family member. Today, Ashley`s sister, Wynona and mom, Naomi, speak out about Ashley`s stunning revelations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Brooke, this is really such a disturbing story. Ashley`s out with a brand new book, and in it, she claimed she was a victim of incest and abuse as a child.
ANDERSON (on-camera): A.J., this is horrific, and Ashley says that she kept the abuse a secret. She never told her country singer mom, Naomi. But today, on "The View," Naomi and Ashley`s sister, Wynona, revealed that they definitely support Ashley.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WYNONA JUDD, ASHLEY JUDD`S SISTER: I wanted to come out today and say, listen, we agree to disagree in our family, but we show up because we support each other for who we are.
BEHAR: Do you feel that Ashley was neglected?
NAOMI JUDD: In a way, I do, but the thing I want to acknowledge is that I adore my daughter. These two girls and my husband, of course, Larry, are the joy of my life, and I support Ashley. You all mothers out there, I know everybody up here is a mother. I would give anything if my mother would acknowledge my reality and -- you know what I`m saying?
WYNONA JUDD: We`re allowing each of us to have a voice. It`s Ashley`s turn. We`re getting ready to have the own show come out on Sunday. We`re telling our story. We all have three different realities of the same car ride to the nightmares we were in. And, it`s her turn to tell her side of the story
BEHAR: Have you read the book?
NAOMI JUDD: No, I have not read the book.
BEHAR: Have you read the book?
WYNONA JUDD: I`ve been kind of busy on tour with this Judd.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Wynona has already written about her abuse in her 2007 book. Naomi told the ladies of "The View" that she had been abused, too.
HAMMER: All right. Moving on now, lots of posts on our Facebook wall all day long today about Mariah Carey posing nude and showing off her baby bump on the cover of "Life & Style" magazine.
Christina D. gives a thumbs up to the pictures. "Other stars have done this before. I don`t get the issue. She`s covering up her breast, and I personally think she looks fabulous."
But no vision of love for the shot from Shirley W. "I personally don`t find anything attractive about anyone`s baby bump. I think some people will do anything for publicity and think they look great no matter what."
ANDERSON: And now, the showbiz line-up. Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Explosive reports today of Lady Gaga taking over TV, but is there such a thing as too much Gaga? Lady Gaga`s choreographer facing that tough question right here in a "Showbiz Newsmaker Interview."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Also, Kate under stress? Disturbing new reports today that her royal wedding may be getting to her.
And LeAnn Rimes tweet a brand new picture to try to prove that she is not scary skinny, but did it backfire?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Let`s roll out the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Britney is getting married? Britney Spears makes a stunning revelation about tying the knot again, but is she ready?
ANDERSON: Explosive reports today of Lady Gaga taking over TV, but is there such a thing as to much Gaga? Lady Gaga`s choreographer facing that tough question right here today in a headline making "Showbiz Newsmaker Interview."
HAMMER: Disturbing reports about Kate Middleton`s royal wedding stress. Losing weight, smoking. Should we be worried about Prince William`s bride to be?
Plus, breaking today from the "Showbiz News Ticker," Kate Gosselin sued and Carrie Underwood`s husband a hoarder?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.
ANDERSON (on-camera): And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with big news breaking today. Britney the bride?
HAMMER: Yes. There`s a brand new report today that Britney Spears may walk down the aisle for the third time. Yes, I said third. Let`s take a trip down memory lane, shall we? You remember when Britney shocked the world getting hitched in Vegas back in 2004, that was to her childhood friend, Jason Alexander? Well, that marriage lasted 55 hours, if you recall. Then, later that same year, Britney made our heads spin again getting hitched to Kevin Federline. That lasted for two years, but that was then, this is now.
Britney Spears has just done a brand new terrific interview with "Us Weekly" that is out today and is dropping big marriage hints in this thing. With me from Los Angeles, Melanie Bromley. She`s West Coast bureau chief for "Us Weekly." She joins us for this "Showbiz Newsmaker Interview."
So, Britney is beaming on the cover of "Us Weekly," and you got her to reveal so much. Other than performing, we really don`t get to peek behind the curtain of Britney`s life, certainly not as much as we used to. Melanie, were you surprised that she wanted to open up about her kids and her boyfriend so much?
MELANIE BROMLEY, WEST COAST BUREAU CHIEF, "US WEEKLY: Well, I think it really indicates actually what a great place she`s in at the moment. We had been working on doing this interview for a long time, and I did it myself, and I think that there`s a part of Britney that people really want to know. They want to know that she`s happy and the fact that she talked so much about Jason, her wonderful boyfriend, and also about her future plans just shows that she`s at that place that she`s finally ready to talk about that. She`s secure and she`s happy.
HAMMER: Well, it`s nice to hear that, and you got the vibe being right there interviewing her for this. I want to get right to that marriage talk. I want to read what Britney tells you and "Us Weekly" about her boyfriend of two years, Jason Trawick. She says, "We have such a great time together. He makes me laugh, and we are so comfortable being ourselves."
But, when you guys ask the marriage question, here`s what she said. "Maybe. Never say never. I`ve never been happier." Melanie, does it sound to you like Britney is saying she is getting ready to get married again?
BROMLEY: Well, I think it`s very hard because I think Britney being a traditional girl, it would be very difficult for her to give a definitive yes, you know, because, obviously, it will be Jason that will propose. So, I think that she kind of gave as much as she could, but friends close to the couple have told me that they are probably going to get married.
That Jason and Britney are so happy together that it`s something that they`re working towards, that they talked about.
HAMMER: Yes.
BROMLEY: So, I think watch the space. I`m sure it will be a story that we will be talking about at some point later this year.
HAMMER: Certainly possible. I mean, they have a very rich history. Britney revealed that her boyfriend, Jason Trawick, who used to be her manager, was right there during her darkest times, the nasty custody battle, when she was admitted to the psychiatric hospital in 2008. Just three short years later, Melanie, do you think Britney`s ready to get married again?
BROMLEY: I do think she`s ready. Jason has been through everything. As you said, he is her confidante. He was a really good friend to her before they became a romantic couple. This has been a long time coming this relationship. It`s something that has a solid foundation in it, and they get along so well. They understand one another. He is by her side all the time. They`re actually living together right now. They`re on that path, and I really see that this relationship works for her. She seems better and happier than ever before.
HAMMER: Yes.
BROMLEY: And that`s really like the message I want to this article to portray.
HAMMER: Well, nice to see. Great to get that report card on how well she`s doing. Melanie Bromley, thank you so much.
There is more big Britney news breaking today. I`m thinking a major celebration is in order here, Brooke Anderson.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J., because Britney`s got a it on her hands. We learned today from Billboard that her new album "Femme Fatale" is number one. It is Britney`s sixth number one album, and let me put that into perspective because only two other women have achieved six number ones on the Billboard Charts ever. So now, it`s Britney, Mariah Carey -- look at them -- Janets Jackson. So, if you had any doubt, that ends right here, right now today. Britney`s back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
ANDERSON (voice-over): I love it. I can`t help myself, I love this song.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (on-camera): Right now with me in Hollywood is choreographer and creative director, Laurieann Gibson. And Laurieann, there is not enough time on this show to run down all of the superstars that you have worked with. I`m talking Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, The Jonas Brothers, just to name a few, and I also want to mention Laurieann is also launching her own brand-new show on E!. It is called "the dance scene."
Laurieann, congratulations. Let`s talk Britney for a second, shall we? She`s number one again, and it`s certainly not really a comeback, though because, even though, her personal life might have gotten rough there for a while, her fans have never wavered, through all the craziness, the head shaving, the hospitalizations, her fans have stuck by her. So, should we be surprised?
LAURIEANN GIBSON, CHOREOGRAPHER: No. I mean, absolutely. That`s what it`s about. That`s the power of the music, and the fans love the music. And congratulations, Britney. You have an amazing gift as a dancer and performer. And I know a lot of hard working producers put their heart and soul into that album. So, I say congratulations and let the music live on.
ANDERSON: Yes. She`s on top of the world right now. Well, somebody who certainly hopes to replicate maybe, possibly surpass Britney`s success is lady Gaga. You have worked so closely with Lady Gaga as her choreographer and creative director. Right now, it seems that Gaga is not just dominating the music charts, she`s taking over TV. There are reports today that she wants to appear on ABC`s hit show "Modern Family," and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that we have also just learned that the next all-Gaga episode of "Glee" is going to be supersized running 90 minutes instead of just an hour. "Glee" is gaga for Gaga.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING) I want your loving, I want your revenge, you and me could write a bad romance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Awesome. Do it. So, that brings us to our "Showbiz Flashpoint" today, is there such a thing as too much Gaga? Laurieann, we know that you may be biased, but is it even possible to have too much Gaga?
GIBSON: No, absolutely not. And I love "Glee" and a shout out for the choreography is on point. Fan of "Glee." But never too much Gaga. This is a hard working, songwriting, amazing artist that brings us entertainment every step of the way, phenomenal singer, sings live, dances. There`s never too much Gaga. She`s not stopping. She`s number one. She won`t quit. World-champion. Never too much Gaga. Sorry --
ANDERSON: She is certainly a hard worker. We know that she puts her heart and soul into it. Let me ask you this, Laurieann, do you and Gaga strategize or talk about how much exposure is just right?
GIBSON: You know what, we don`t really talk about that stuff because, you know, we`re just so blessed the gifts that God gives us. We trust Him for the ultimate position and how they`re going to manifest themselves in the world today. So, to sit around and wonder what`s too much, no. We thank God we got here. That our dreams are being fulfilled, and we humbly stay, you know, in the game, working hard. We don`t have time to worry about that. We`re just so grateful that her fans appreciate the motivation.
ANDERSON: Really great approach and perspective. Well, you are a life long dancer and choreographer. Your new show "The Dance Scene" debuts on E! this Sunday. I`m sure that you have some special inside about "Dancing with the Stars." Wendy Williams just got kicked off. I want to know who do you think will take home the disco ball trophy. Let`s make some news. Who`s your pick?
GIBSON: You know what, I love Kendra. I mean, she`s so strong. She has such a center. She`s like (INAUDIBLE). And at the end of the day, that`s the thing about dancers, we`re athletes. It`s a certain conditioning. And I`m looking for her to really step up and take the competition.
ANDERSON: All right. We`ll see what happens. Well, we also saw you in all of your fierceness on "Diddy`s Making the Band." Now, you`ve got your own reality show, as I mentioned, "The Dance Scene." What can we expect to see?
GIBSON: You know, it`s not just any dance show. You really see what it takes to be a dancer, how to maintain number one. What it takes to follow me around every day as a choreographer, creative director, to inspire, to change and ultimately to fight for your dream against all odds and never let anyone tell you that you can`t be something. So, "The Dance Scene" is very --
ANDERSON: I am looking forward to seeing it. Laurieann Gibson, you look fabulous as always. Thank you for being here.
GIBSON: Thank you.
ANDERSON: And don`t forget to check out "The Dance Scene" on E! premiering Sunday, April 10th.
HAMMER: Kate Middleton under royal stress today?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): Disturbing new reports that Prince William`s bride-to-be might be letting the pressure of the royal wedding get to her, losing weight, smoking. Should we be worried?
ANDERSON (voice-over): LeAnn`s bikini bombshell today. LeAnn Rimes striking back again at critics who say that she is scary skinny with a brand-new bikini photo, but could her swimsuit stunt backfire?
HAMMER: All right. We know Charlie Sheen can do sitcom, but can he do improv?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Charlie Sheen.
(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)
HAMMER: Charlie`s brand-new gig today. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with your first look at Charlie Sheen`s improv debut.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): And now to the "Showbiz News Ticker," these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got to take control on you, man.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you put on some clothes, please.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m sorry, is this bothering you? Beautiful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): Well, the Bronx Zoo`s cobra has a new name today. After nearly 100,000 submissions and votes online, the cobra that became an overnight celebrity after escaping New York`s Bronx zoo will now be known as Mia. That`s right. Andm of course, that could also mean missing in action. M-I-A. Well, Mia even tweeted today. "So, the vote is in. They want to name me Mia, but in my heart, I`ll always know that my true name is Mrs. Justin Bieber.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Very nice, Mia.
ANDERSON (on-camera): Even the cobra has got a crush.
HAMMER : Yes. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Brooke`s in Hollywood. Is the pressure, Brooke, of royal life taking a toll already on Kate Middleton?
ANDERSON: I hope not, A.J. There are only 22 days left until the royal wedding, and today, brand new reports suggest that Kate may be cracking under the pressure of wedding planning. I can only imagine the weight on her shoulders. So, I want it know how can Kate keep the royals frenzy from taking a toll?
I want to bring in Melanie Bromley. Melanie is the West Coast bureau chief for `Us Weekly." Melanie, today there are brand new report that Kate is so stressed out that she`s smoking cigarettes, she`s losing too much weight. Melanie, I think any bride feels the pressure to be perfect on her wedding day, but the pressure on Kate has to be magnified times a thousand.
BROMLEY: It`s incredible. You got about two million people are expected to tune in for this wedding, and so, Kate is under a lot of pressure. As far as smoking, she isn`t smoking, she`s never smoked, she`s always been very athletic. But when it comes to her weight, it definitely is something that is worrying people. She`s very slim, and Kate`s aware of that. She wants to not be that skinny.
She`s actually, according to sources close to her, has told us that she`s been eating carbohydrates, and she`s very aware of what happened to Princess Dianna under the same pressure, and the palace do not want her to follow Princess Diana`s path.
ANDERSON: OK. Conflicting reports then. You`re saying no smoking --
BROMLEY: No smoking. No smoking.
ANDERSON: I hope you are correct. All right. Good to hear, Melanie. Well, speaking of Princess Diana, I want to go over to Robi Ludwig. Robi is psychotherapist and author of the book "Till Death Do Us Part." Princess Diana, remember, she said the pressure of palace life was so hard on her that it led to an eating disorder. Robbie, how would you advise Kate so that she can avoid the unhealthy turn that Diana took?
ROBI LUDWIG, PSYCHOTHERAPIST: Well, it seems like Kate Middleton has a much healthier family life and better support system than Princess Diana did. So, that certainly works to her advantage. And she`s also more of a developed human being. This is a woman who has a college education. She has a career. She`s led a more full life prior to getting into this new lifestyle that she`s about to head into.
So, I really do think she`s going to be fine, and this is just the media kind of stirring up some mischief a bit, just to make us curious about what`s going on with Kate Middleton.
ANDERSON: Yes. And Kate is so much older than Diana was when she got married. I really think Kate is so poised. She`s going to get through the whole thing beautifully, and I am really excited to witness all the pageantry of the royal wedding. I will bring all of you a front row seat to all the festivities straight from London. I want you all to watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for the best royal wedding coverage on television.
But A.J., Kate is not the only famous bride to be who is being criticized for her weight before her big day. LeAnn rimes is on the defensive today.
HAMMER: Yes, again, Brooke, today, LeAnn is furiously defending her weight after critics called her scary skinny. Now, LeAnn first sparked big buzz when she showed up to sing the national anthem at the NCAA basketball finals. Looking surprisingly thin to a lot of people, now, LeAnn is defending herself on Twitter.
LeAnn tweeted this picture of her bikini body and she told her haters this: "Dear Lord, I do not work out too much nor do I starve myself. I`m so over this and moving on." Melanie, I think LeAnn looks good. I have to wonder if she keeps responding to her critics, isn`t she just fueling the fire here?
BROMLEY: Absolutely. And actually, I think she does look too skinny. I think that she should be a role model to young girls, and she`s too thin. And I think that to say that -- to be upset that she`s getting attention for her weight and then to be tweeting pictures of her body, it doesn`t make sense. And, she really needs to decide whether she want the attention for her weight or not, but tweeting pictures of her body is not the way to deflect attention.
HAMMER: Well, she`s also tweeting, Robi, about the fact that she loves junk food. She says she loves thin mints. I never know where to buy Girl Scout cookies. I`m always elated when someone I know has -- does she need to justify her eating habits?
LUDWIG: I don`t buy it. It`s like when you have to go that out of your way to say you`re eating junk food, and most thin people will tell you after a certain point in time, they have to work at it.
HAMMER: So, in this case, protest (ph) too much is what you`re saying.
LUDWIG: I do think so, and she just seemed too thin, and it does sound like she likes - LeAnn Rimes likes the way she looks, but she`s a little bit of the mark here.
HAMMER: All right. Robi Ludwig, that`s why we ask you, and Melanie Bromley, thank you both.
ANDERSON: We know Charlie Sheen can do sitcoms and he`s picking up steam on his violent torpedo of truth tour, but can Charlie do improv?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Charlie Sheen.
(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)
ANDERSON (voice-over): SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with your first look at Charlie trying his hand at improv. This is not an easy thing to do.
HAMMER (voice-over): It is time now for the "Showbiz News Ticker," here come more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD, SINGER: He`ll keep like shirts and stuff and I`ll go through and I`m like, you know what, you online show, you go shopping, he loves shopping. He`s going to kill me.
(LAUGHTER)
UNDERWOOD: And he has stuff come in, and I`m like it`s not going out fast enough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Time now for the showbiz buzz list. Here`s what SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff is buzzing all about this week. We are mad for "Mob," the extraordinary reality show about flash mobs has been picked up by Fox. "Essence" magazine is searching for the next RnB star. The winner debuts at the Essence Music Fesitval. Play ball. Major league baseball, thankfully, is back.
Check out your favorite teams on the MLB on TBS. They are part of our family right here. A turner, we are totally sucked in, the new "Green Lantern" trailer has just been released. It looks amazing. And it is time to get wild again. The "Real Housewives of New York City" are back. The new season just kicked off on Bravo.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have a perception of reality that is completely skewed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. I just see what I see.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Wow. I don`t understand what you`re talking about. So, we don`t speak (ph) to English.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Charlie Sheen.
(APPLAUSE AND CHEER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Charlie Sheen, everybody.
CHARLIE SHEEN, ACTOR: Thank you. How you doing?
HAMMER (voice-over): So, can Charlie Sheen do improv? Well, as you see, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just got an advanced look at Charlie appearing on Drew Carey`s "Improv-A-Ganza" on the game show network, trying his hand at improv comedy. He might do OK on this even after his violent torpedo of truth tour got off to that rocky start. Drew Carey`s "Improv-A-Ganza" premieres Monday on the game show network.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Is Jim Belushi replacing Charlie on "Two and a Half Men"?
ANDERSON (on-camera): Maybe, A.J., Jim has been a sitcom star. Remember, ABC`s "According to Jim"? Well, now, he`s starring on the CBS legal drama, "The Defenders," but that didn`t keep people from saying he`s one of the guys at the top of the list to step in for Sheen?
HAMMER: Yes, and today at a brand-new interview on "Good Morning, America," Jim tells George Stephanopoulos, maybe I am taking Charlie`s old gig.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HOST: There is a job opening now over at "Two and a Half Men" if you`re interested.
JIM BELUSHI, ACTOR: I`m in negotiations for the replacement right now.
(LAUGHTER)
BELUSHI: They`re going to make me John Cryer`s boyfriend, but we`re negotiating the script right now.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you think any chance he goes back?
BELUSHI: Charlie?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Yes.
BELUSHI: I think Charlie is just -- I think he`s terrific.
(LAUGHTER)
BELUSHI: I just think he`s terrific. He`s a terrific actor, "Platoon." He`s a terrific comedian, and he`s creating a great marketing thing right now. Everything he does is just doing great. I think he`s cool.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Nice maneuvering there, Jim. And jilting (ph) from the sarcasm, he`s not in the running, I would say, but Brooke, I do think Jim was great and hysterical on "According to Jim," so he does fit the bill. The problem is he`s doing Broadway now, so he`s already got a day job.
ANDERSON: Yes, he does. And I agree he was great in that sitcom, but it`s funny, I thought, how he believes Charlie`s wild tour, the tiger blood T-shirts and all, all the crazy things he`s doing are a terrific marketing thing. So, I don`t know. Maybe, Charlie Does know what he`s doing. Maybe.
All right. On Wednesday, we asked you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. Just moments ago, we got those final results. Royal wedding, should Prince William and Kate Middleton sign a pre-nup? Fifty- percent of you say yes, 45 percent say no.
An e-mail, a great fan from Minnesota writes, "The royal family knows what they are doing and this is only between Prince William and his lovely bride, Kate Middleton. They are a perfect, beautiful couple, and I wish them a happy marriage.
HAMMER: And so do I. And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. 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 we`re still TV`s most provocative entertainment news show at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
END
