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Showbiz Tonight
The Rise and Fall of Nicolas Cage; Lady Gaga Blasphemy?; Brooke Mueller Back in Rehab?; Halle Berry`s Custody Drama Continues; Surprising Support for Donald Trump`s Possible Presidential Run
Aired April 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 - the rise and fall of Nicolas Cage. From "Leaving Las Vegas" to arrested in New Orleans. Cage caged - accused of domestic abuse and being drunk in public. As SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, what the heck happened to Nicolas Cage?
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: SHOWBIZ investigates the great royal wedding mysteries. Who will design Kate`s dress? Are their exes really invited? And why won`t William wear a wedding ring?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the aristocratic process in which he mingles, it`s not uncommon for a man not to have a wedding band.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - should William wear a wedding band?
HAMMER: Lady Gaga blasphemy? The fury today over Gaga`s new song, "Judas." Catholic leaders outraged. The great debate today - is Gaga out of line?
ANDERSON: Charlie Sheen`s ex back in rehab? Brand-new reports today that Brooke Mueller is back in treatment. Will Charlie now get custody of their kids?
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 coming to you from Hollywood and with big news breaking today - we`ve got the rise and fall of Nicolas Cage.
HAMMER: Yes. Brooke, Nicolas Cage was un-caged today. He`s out of jail. He`s back on his movie set. But if his life was a movie, you might have thought he was shooting the sequel to the drunk, out-of-control character that won him an Oscar in "Leaving Las Vegas."
Cage was arrested over the weekend in New Orleans. Let`s put up his mug shot. There he is, right there. He was charged with being drunk in public and alleged domestic abuse.
That had everybody wondering today whatever happened to the guy who once made $20 million a movie, who ruled Hollywood, but now seems to be trapped in a downward spiral that seemed to begin about a year and a half ago with the news that his life had become a financial fiasco.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter is with me from Hollywood right now. So Kareen, take me back to the beginning of Nic`s apparently wild weekend.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, A.J. Talk about out of control. Well, Nic Cage - he is in New Orleans. He`s shooting a movie. And we`re told he showed up for work today.
His newest mess began inside a tattoo parlor Friday night. That`s where got into an argument, a big one, with his wife, over the location of an apartment they were renting, of all things.
I want you to look at the video for yourself. And as you can see, Cage - he`s holding some sort of beverage in his hand. And I think it`s fair to say, A.J., it probably was not a glass of milk.
HAMMER: Yes. I don`t think it was. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained this video inside that tattoo parlor from TMZ today. And looking at it again, you can clearly see Nic and his wife - they`re arguing over something. What happened next, Kareen?
WYNTER: Well, police tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that Cage - he apparently took the fight with his wife out into the street. They say he was quite intoxicated, A.J., continuing to argue over that rented apartment.
Now, police say Cage - he then grabbed his wife by the upper arm to push her towards the apartment. He began hitting vehicles parked on the street and tried to get into a cab.
That`s right, A.J. Cage - he got arrested. He got his mug shot taken and was charged with domestic abuse battery, disturbing the peace and also public drunkenness. So he`s in a little bit of hot water here.
HAMMER: Yes, Kareen, wild weekend indeed there. And the story did not end there because - wait, there`s more. As if things couldn`t get any stranger. Dwayne Chapman - you know, Dog, the Bounty Hunter, from that A & E reality show - Dog Chapman posted Cage`s $11,000 bond.
I am just so astounded by this. It wasn`t all that long ago that Nic was a guy who could do no wrong in Hollywood. That leads us to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - what the heck happened to Nic Cage?
Let me bring in Jane Velez-Mitchell, who is the host of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL" right here on HLN every weekdays 7:00 p.m. Eastern and the author of this fine book as well called "Addict Nation."
Look, to say that Nic has issues right now I think would be an understatement. So to our Flashpoint, Jane, what happened?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": Well, I think a big clue is the alcohol. He may very well have a drinking problem. And that would go a long way toward explaining his bizarre and grandiose behavior, the purchase of castles and of bevy of Rolls-Royces and palatial homes.
That`s the kind of grandiose behavior that comes with alcoholism, and also the rage. Drinking too much and rage go hand in hand - alcoholism and having a rage problem. It would make sense. Otherwise he doesn`t really make sense.
HAMMER: Yes. I keep flashing back to his character from "Leaving Las Vegas."
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes.
HAMMER: We can`t forget. I`m talking about rage and the guy who was walking around in that alcoholic stupor all the time, always ranting and raving about something.
Let me bring in Vikki Ziegler. Vikki is a family attorney. What do you think happened to Nic Cage, Vikki?
VIKKI ZIEGLER, FAMILY ATTORNEY: You know what? Clearly, when there is alcohol involved, people don`t make rash decisions. And I think grabbing somebody`s arm - that is really what is alleged to have happened - is domestic abuse.
And I think the police did the right thing. They had to arrest him. Whether or not his wife is going to go along with it and actually move forward and be a cooperating witness, we don`t know. She doesn`t have to do that.
HAMMER: Right.
ZIEGLER: The prosecutors can go forward. But you know what? The question becomes out-of-control behavior in front of people, public drunkenness - it does not make sense.
And really, he`s got to curtail his behavior. He`s not on the movie set. This is his wife and friends allegedly from that video.
HAMMER: And we`ve been dealing with seeing Nic having issues for some time now. We know that Nic has been in a financial mess since 2009.
That`s when he sued his business manager. He was accusing him of mismanaging his finances. He`s been battling tax liens and foreclosures. His business manager did counter-sue claiming that he even warned Cage about that opulent lifestyle he was leading.
That included two castles, 15 palatial homes, a flotilla of yachts, a squadron of Rolls-Royces.
Jane, Cage has also been criticized lately for cranking out mediocre movie after mediocre movie. Does he seem desperate to you here?
VELEZ-MITCHELL He does, because I went on IMDB and I`m like, wow. This guy`s got a lot of credits, but what kind of credits? These look like pay check gigs.
And it`s got to be humiliating for a guy who, a decade and a half ago, won an Oscar for his amazing performance in "Leaving Las Vegas." He`s so talented. And to have to stoop to this? Imagine how humiliating that has to be.
HAMMER: Yes. It`s a shame to see, and hopefully, if he does need help, he`s instantly going to be seeking it right now.
Brooke Anderson, let me bring you in here. Clearly, it would seem that Nic Cage has a lot of issues, including apparently with his wife. And we know we have more big news breaking today involving another troubled couple, or should I say, ex-couple, Charlie Sheen and his soon to be ex-wife Brooke.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. We learned even more disturbing news today, and it could mean Charlie Sheen could get full custody of their twin boys. There`s a huge courtroom showdown tomorrow related to news that we got today about Brooke Mueller.
Back SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter now here in Hollywood. Kareen, what do you know?
WYNTER: Brooke, there are several brand-new reports today that Brooke Mueller - she`s back in rehab after allegedly going on a crack cocaine bender. "Radar Online" is also reporting Mueller refused to take a court- mandated drug test at home and also checked herself back into treatment.
Now, this disturbing news came after Brooke was seen trying to sell an expensive watch at a pawnshop. Well, we learned today that Charlie is reportedly asking for full custody of their twin boys.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out to both Brooke`s attorney as well as Sheen`s attorney, but as of show time, Brooke, we had not heard back.
ANDERSON: Kareen, thank you so much. A reported crack cocaine bender. Good grief. And get a load of this - if the judge sees it Charlie`s way and grants him full custody of the twin boys, TMZ is reporting that Charlie wants to stop the $55,000 monthly child support payments that he has been making to Brooke.
Back over to family attorney Vikki Ziegler. Vikki, Charlie has his own share of troubles these days as we know. Can you see a judge giving Charlie his kids back?
ZIEGLER: You know what, Brooke? Possibly. The only person I don`t want to be in America tomorrow is that judge. Because really, this is about two parents that really cannot properly parent or haven`t in the past.
So the question is, are they safe with Brooke`s parents, pending experts coming in, psychiatric evaluations, getting drug tested from both parties and then this court making an informed decision?
Or does this judge say, "Wait a second. You know what, Brooke? You`re not ready to take care of these kids on a full-time basis. Charlie Sheen, you may be the better solution now although you`re on tour."
I don`t know what the answer is right now because we really don`t know if these allegations are true or not.
ANDERSON: Yes. That judge has a really tough job ahead of him. And Jane, at this point between Charlie and Brooke, I don`t know who the better parent is to take care of the kids. I mean, at this point, I want to take the kids and take care of them until they could iron out their issues.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Brooke, I wish you could take these kids. You`re a far better parent, obviously, than either of these two. Have I to say, though, it`s not surprising.
Rarely in a couple do you see one who is an angel and the other is a devil. Usually, water finds its own level. It`s very common to see a couple share an addiction. And that seems to be what`s happening here, is that they both walked into this marriage with their share of addiction troubles and it`s playing out with both of them. Again, I really feel sorry for these twin boys.
ANDERSON: Oh, me, too. I feel tremendous sympathy for those little boys. They`re two years old. And Vikki, you know, as you mentioned, there`s a possibility that a psychologist could come involved. Charlie could have to face tough questions from a psychologist.
So should Charlie be treading very lightly here? Because, Vikki, I`m thinking that maybe he doesn`t want to be anywhere near a psychologist. Is he opening a can of worms on himself?
ZIEGLER: Major league, Brooke. I would keep him away, all of the people that represent Charlie Sheen. Because remember, if he gets a psychological evaluation that says he`s crazy, bipolar, insane, slightly, that could be used in any of the litigation.
And it could be used by Denise Richards in her custody case. So they want to make this go away quietly and make sure that the best interests of the children are taken care of.
ANDERSON: The best interests of the children should be everybody`s priority. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Vikki Ziegler, thanks, ladies.
HAMMER: Moving on to brand-new Lady Gaga fury today. Is her new song "Judas" blasphemous? Catholic leaders are up in arms. The great debate today - is Gaga out of line?
ANDERSON: Kate Middleton booted from Facebook? No, no. Not that Kate Middleton - the other one. Other Kate Middleton is right here in a headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
HAMMER: It`s a SHOWBIZ viral video. Prince Harry dancing at the royal wedding? The queen shaking her groove thing? You`ve got to see this.
ANDERSON: A big star backs Donald Trump for president. You`ve got to see who it is. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: And this is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Simon Cowell confirms Mariah Carey to take part in "The X Factor." Reese Witherspoon says fans have been supportive of her new marriage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REESE WITHERSPOON, ACTRESS: You know, it`s nice when people support you. I`ve been in this business a long time. People have watched me grow up and all sorts of changes in my life.
And it feels really good to be, you know, loved and, you know, so much love coming at you from so many different place. And I really feel it and I really enjoy it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ viral video. It`s the royal wedding YouTube style. A dancing William and Kate and even the queen boogie on down the aisle. You`ve got to stick around and see the royal wedding spoof that`s already gotten over 4.5 million hits.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. A.J. Hammer is in New York. And today, we have an interview with Kate Middleton.
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. I actually might need courtesy information from you on exactly the right protocol here. Because Kate Middleton is with me right now.
OK, it`s the other Kate. It`s not the Kate Middleton who has her choice of palaces after she marries, the heir to the British throne. This Kate is from Massachusetts.
Get this. She was actually kicked off of Facebook simply because she shares the same name as the future queen of England.
Joining me in New York right now for a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview, it`s the other Kate Middleton. It`s a pleasure to meet you here. I do feel like I`m in the presence of royalty over the name alone.
But listen, I would have thought you would have had a lot of fun, perhaps getting some benefit sharing the same name as the royal Kate. But that really hasn`t entirely been the case. What happened with Facebook? They booted you off?
KATE MIDDLETON, SHARES THE SAME NAME AS PRINCE WILLIAM`S FIANCEE: Facebook deactivated my account for using a fake name. And in order to get back on Facebook, I had to E-mail them, at which point they wrote me back saying they would put my request in the queue and get back to me.
HAMMER: No, kidding. So do you have it back now?
MIDDLETON: I do have it back now. Yes.
HAMMER: OK. So you own Kate Middleton - not a problem. I don`t think the other Kate is probably on Facebook, do you?
MIDDLETON: Probably not.
HAMMER: So what happens in the course of her becoming popular and people becoming aware of her name? Were people trying to friend you thinking perhaps they were going to friend British royalty or future royalty?
MIDDLETON: Actually, no one on Facebook really tried to friend me. What happened was, the day they got engaged, I got a hundred new followers on Twitter. And trending worldwide on Twitter was Kate Middleton. And if you clicked my name, there was my profile.
HAMMER: Really? Did you take advantage of that and start, you know, tweeting a lot and sending out lots of stuff?
MIDDLETON: Well, I run a spin class at the bike shop where I work, ATA Cycle. And I said, "Don`t miss your chance to have the future queen of England whip you into shape."
HAMMER: Nice. Perfect. You may as well take advantage of it, right? So when did you first realize that there was this Kate Middleton who was going to be marrying the prince?
MIDDLETON: I interviewed for a job, and I got a callback for the job. And the interviewer said, "Wow, I didn`t know you were dating Prince William." And I said, "What are you talking about? I didn`t know I was dating Prince William either."
HAMMER: Were they serious?
MIDDLETON: Well, no -
HAMMER: Did they make the connection that maybe you`re not that same Kate?
MIDDLETON: Yes. I mean, she probably wouldn`t be applying for a job as a bartender. It`s my gift.
HAMMER: Have you worked on your British accent at all?
MIDDLETON: No.
HAMMER: Can you at least just say, "I really enjoy watching SHOWBIZ TONIGHT?"
MIDDLETON: I really enjoy SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Look at that, ladies and gentlemen. Kate Middleton said she really enjoys SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Well, it`s a pleasure to meet you. Maybe you`ll get some good dinner reservations if you call up and say -
MIDDLETON: Absolutely.
HAMMER: Kate Middleton, table for four. Good luck.
MIDDLETON: Thank you.
HAMMER: I had so much fun. All right. Thanks so much, Kate.
ANDERSON: All right. There`s more big Kate Middleton news today. A.J., Kate is dancing down the aisle.
HAMMER: Yes. Now, this is kind of true, Brooke. Well, it`s a showbiz viral video today. You remember, of course, the YouTube wedding sensation. It was the wedding party that danced down the aisle. T-Mobile created a royal scene of that wedding dance to the tune of "House of Love" by the group E17. This thing has gotten over 4.5 million hits so far.
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: I love it and the actors were pretty convincing. But somehow, I doubt we`re going to see those same moves on April 29th. But if it does happen, I will be there to tell you all about it. I`ll be in London to cover the royal wedding beginning April 25th. So keep it right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and HLN for the biggest and best coverage.
OK, the royal wedding just days away now. Still so many unanswered questions. Will Kate take a page from Princess Diana?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kate`s dress will look very different from Princess Diana`s. Don`t look for a big poufy dress.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Who will design Kate`s dress? Why won`t William wear a ring? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates the great royal wedding mysteries.
HAMMER: Cindy Crawford`s modeling confessions. Does she really think she couldn`t make it as a model these days?
ANDERSON: Come on, Cindy. And emotional new revelations from "Prison Break" star, Lane Garrison about getting locked up for drunk driving.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANE GARRISON, ACTOR: The minute I decided to plead guilty is the minute that everything changed in my life as a man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes. Lane Garrison tells all. You don`t want to miss it. 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.
TEXT: "Seinfeld" alum, Julia Louis-Dreyfus to play VP in new HBO comedy, "Veep." Lady Gaga`s "Born This Way" cover revealed.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Lindsay Lohan`s good excuse today. Lindsay Lohan is scheduled to face a judge this Friday over that $2,500 stolen necklace ordeal.
Now, Lindsay is apparently asking the judge to postpone the hearing because it`s Good Friday. The judge is said to be OK with that, but Lindsay still has to appear in court to formally make the request.
Her attorney, the D.A., and the judge reportedly talked about taking the day off, and they are all said to be in agreement over this. Lindsay was raised Catholic and, according to "Radar Online," plans to observe the holy day.
Well, the Obama girls all grown up? President and Mrs. Obama may have the Secret Service to keep their nine and 12-year-old daughters safe from the world. But the Secret Service cannot do a thing about keeping the girls from growing up.
On "The View" this morning, the First Lady revealed how she and the president are coping with two girls, Sasha and Malia, getting a little older. Mrs. Obama says it hasn`t been easy, especially for the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE OBAMA, UNITED STATES FIRST LADY: Malia`s like, "Ma, I need to talk to you." And it was 10:30 and we talked and we talked and we talked.
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": What did you talk about?
M. OBAMA: Well, we talked about makeup, actually.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": How`s President Obama about the fact that they`re going to be teenagers? Is that kind of, you know -
M. OBAMA: He`s cool.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know -
(CROSS TALK)
M. OBAMA: The first time Malia went out for a party and she was dressed, all right? She had her hair done -
BARBARA WALTERS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": And she`s tall.
M. OBAMA: And she`s tall and she had on a pretty dress.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
M. OBAMA: You could see him. He was sort of like - gulp. I was like, "Easy, Dad." Right. It`s only the beginning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes. Only the beginning, indeed. Malia turns 13 in July. Sasha, not even a teen yet. She turns 10 in June.
ANDERSON: It is time now to reveal the results of the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Office" text poll on Friday. We asked you, who do you think should take over for Steve Carell`s character, Michael Scott, on "The Office"? Will Ferrell, the original "Office" creator, Ricky Gervais, or will Rainn Wilson replace Dwight on the show takeover?
Look at this the results just came in. You chose Will Farrell, 50 percent of the vote. Will, followed by Ricker there at 33 percent. Rainn Wilson got 17 percent. Thanks, everybody, for voting.
HAMMER: Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Lady Gaga blasphemy? Why Catholic leaders are outraged over Gaga`s new song.
Halle Berry`s custody drama continues. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the latest chapter in Berry`s battle for her baby.
Surprising new support for Donald Trump`s possible presidential plan? You won`t believe who is backing Trump today. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
It`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Chris Klein officially back for next "American Pie" movie. "Glee`s" Matthew Morrison releasing mash-up duet with Elton John on new album.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking today on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Lady Gaga blasphemy? Some Catholics are furious today over Gaga`s new song "Judas." The great debate today - is Gaga out of line?
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates the great royal wedding mysteries. New clues about Kate Middleton`s dress today. Will Kate take a page from Princess Diana?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kate`s dress will look very different from Princess Diana`s. Don`t look for a big poufy dress.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Plus, the new international outrage over Prince William ditching his wedding ring.
HAMMER: Real Hollywood tragedy. Emotional revelations today from "Prison Break" star, Lane Garrison, from playing an inmate to the real-life horror of prison life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARRISON: The minute I decided to plead guilty is the minute that everything changed in my life as a man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Plus, breaking today from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker," new Sarah Palin tell all. And shocking "Teen Mom" divorce.
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 coming to you from Hollywood with big news breaking today - Lady Gaga`s Catholic controversy.
HAMMER: Yes. Let me throw a couple of terms out at you - eye-popping, over-the-top, visionary. All words that people have used to describe Lady Gaga`s shocking style and her music.
But today, there is new outrage because some Catholics are saying Gaga has just gone too far this time, during Holy Week no less. Gaga has got a battle of epic proportions over her new song, "Judas," today.
Has she crossed the line? Gaga`s drama is just one of the big stories making news in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Halle custody drama. Halle Berry is now dropping out of her Broadway debut. And it appears her custody battle with her ex is to blame.
The producers of the Broadway show, "The Mountaintop," released a statement to the "New York Times" saying, "Ms. Berry would not be appearing in the role due to child custody issues."
Berry has been locked in a back-and-forth battle with her ex, Gabriel Aubry, over custody of their three-year-old daughter, Nahla.
George Michael`s royal gift. George Michael is sending a unique present to Prince William and Kate Middleton. And he gave CNN`s own Piers Morgan a first look, or should I say, a first listen. George told Piers that his cover of Stevie Wonder`s classic "You and I" was the first gift for the royal couple.
PIERS MORGAN, HOST, "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": It`s a beautiful song, George. I`m thrilled that you`ve given us this global scoop. And we are now going to play "You and I" by George Michael. Thank you very much, George.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Gaga`s Catholic controversy? Religious leaders are up in arms over Lady Gaga`s latest song, "Judas." Bill Donahue, the president for the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights tells "HollywoodLife.com," "This is a stunt. People have real talent and then there is Lady Gaga."
Donahue adds, "Lady Gaga tries to continue to shock Catholics and Christians in general. She dresses as a nun. She gets raped. She swallows the rosary. She has now morphed into a caricature of herself. She is falling short. She wants to shock. Does she actually believe her own BS?"
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So Lady Gaga`s controversial new song, "Judas," is now the number one track on iTunes. And yes, it is making Catholic leaders furious. Let`s listen.
(MUSIC)
Religious leaders are calling this one blasphemy and accused Lady Gaga of using shock tactics to sell her new album, "Born This Way."
So joining me in New York right now for a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview, Bill Donahue. Bill, of course, the outspoken president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.
So Bill, look, we can`t deny the fact that Lady Gaga is a Grammy winner. She is absolutely an icon. She`s beloved by fans and critics alike. What is your issue with the song?
BILL DONAHUE, PRESIDENT, THE CATHOLIC LEAGUE FOR RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL RIGHTS: That`s exactly it. She is a Grammy Award winner. One wonders then, why does she have to all rip off Catholic iconography? Why does she always have to push the envelope with Catholics?
Why can`t she just be a singer? Diana Ross and people who have great talent (INAUDIBLE) Broadway today. This woman doesn`t have to act like this. Why does she have to pull her little stunt in order to prop up her own imagery?
I think it`s offensive, too. The timing is not coincidental. Come on. She comes out with this on Friday, the eve of Holy Week? We know what`s going on here.
DONAHUE: So would you have less of an issue if this song had come out with different timing?
DONAHUE: Yes, I would. Yes, I would. I always look at these kinds of things. Every year, around Easter time, we the Catholic leaders have been tracking these kinds of things. We`ve had one example after another. And the same thing with the Christmas wars. Now, these people know exactly what they`re doing
HAMMER: Now, Bill, to be clear, you know, being shocking nothing new for Lady Gaga.
DONAHUE: Right.
HAMMER: I want to put up this picture right here, lady Gaga posing as Mary Magdalene - if we have that one, Charles. This is for an upcoming video for "Judas." And you`re saying that she wants to shock people with these images.
But really, again, what is new about that? She`s always used this as part of her art and she`s been quite transparent about the fact that she does it.
DONAHUE: Well, that`s exactly it. And you know, look, I run a Catholic civil rights organization. When we sit back here and allow Lady Gaga, a wannabe, and Madonna, the same thing.
Notice that they`re both ex-Catholic girls, OK? She says she`s confused. She told Larry King about religion. I don`t think she`s totally confused. She knows what buttons she wants to push.
I`m not going to sit here and pretend she doesn`t know what she`s trying to do. I mean, look, it`s not the worst thing in the world. But she`s trying to tweak Catholic sensibilities. Let her try it on Muslims and see what she does then at that point.
HAMMER: Well, Bill, you heard me mention a moment ago the song is now number one on iTunes.
DONAHUE: Right.
HAMMER: Perhaps coincidental with the fact you came out with this interview and these statements, you know, blasting it. Are you concerned that we`re sitting here right now and we`re helping to sell the song? There are people downloading it as we speak.
DONAHUE: Let me tell you something. If this was somebody of a lesser performer, somebody who didn`t have a big name, a Lady Gaga wannabe, I wouldn`t go on the show. I wouldn`t speak about it, all right?
But this woman is a major star. She`s a major figure in our pop culture. And all I`m saying to our cultural ordinance - there are normative statements in our society. This woman here is trying to push the boundaries even further. I think our society already resembles, to some extent, a cultural sewer. This woman has made her contribution.
HAMMER: All right. Bill Donahue, always good to get your opinion on these things. Thanks so much.
Moving on to real Hollywood tragedy. Today, former "Prison Break" star, Lane Garrison, speaks out for the very first time about going from Hollywood fame to infamy overnight.
Garrison literally went from a hit TV show set in a prison to serving cold, hard time in a very real prison. Back in 2007, Garrison acting career was just beginning to take off and he was becoming well-known playing the character, Tweener, in the hit TV series, "Prison Break."
But his life took a sudden and abrupt turn when he got behind the wheel of his car drunk, crashed into a tree, killing a 17-year-old passenger. Lane Garrison`s TV role suddenly became all too real.
Today, Garrison reveals in an emotional brand-new interview that no one hour goes by that he doesn`t think about the family of the teen or the chilling realities of life in prison.
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GARRISON: You have to trust that one of these guys, when you close your eyes, is not just going to wake up in the middle of the night, pull you off your rack and beat you with a lock or stab you.
HAMMER (voice-over): Lane Garrison recalls the pain and fear of prison life to NBC "Today" host, Matt Lauer. He sis his time in the Los Angeles County Jail was hell on earth.
MATT LAUER, CO-HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: You witnessed violence behind the bars?
GARRISON: I probably saw about 300 fights. I saw - I had a bunky who was killed by cell people - stabbed, you know. I don`t know if they made it or not.
HAMMER: The hell he describes behind bars is the result of what Garrison says was 26 minutes at a high school party in 2006.
GARRISON: I had two drunks. I downed two shots.
HAMMER: His blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit when he got behind the wheel of his car with two 15-year-olds and a 17-year-old and slammed into a tree. The 17-year-old was killed.
GARRISON: I say a prayer for that family every night.
HAMMER: He was charged with vehicular manslaughter. In an emotional plea that day in court, he begged the teen`s family for forgiveness.
GARRISON: I`m sorry for my behavior that evening. It`s not representative of who I usually am.
HAMMER: Many thought he would try and fight the manslaughter charge, but he didn`t.
GARRISON: I`m guilty, your honor.
HAMMER: Today, Garrison told NBC "Today" host, Matt Lauer, that on the day he pled guilty, he grew up.
GARRISON: The minute I decided to plead guilty is the minute everything changed in my life as man.
HAMMER: But his life would never be the same again, starting on that first day in jail.
GARRISON: You are basically thrown up against the wall. Your clothes are stripped off. You`re standing there naked. Your name is gone. My number was F95770.
HAMMER: He believes he had guardian angels who protected him from the regular and horrific beat-downs he witnessed in prison.
GARRISON: I don`t know why nothing happened to me because I would be sitting there in the yard. And someone sitting right next to me would literally just get clocked. And I was never touched. That`s why I`m (INAUDIBLE) I`m sitting here with you today.
HAMMER: Today, Garrison says he will spend his life warning and educating others about the perils and consequences of drunk driving.
GARRISON: I think the message is simple here. Drinking and driving - most people don`t have an intent to hurt somebody, but it happens and it can happen to anybody.
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HAMMER: Such a powerful cautionary tale. Lane Garrison is also trying to rebuild his career as an actor. He`s starting off with a character role on NBC`s "The Event."
ANDERSON: OK. There`s royal ring controversy today. Prince William says that he won`t wear a wedding band. Boy, and I can tell you that is sparking international outrage today.
We know Kate`s getting a wedding ring on the big day, but what about Will? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT great royal wedding mystery number four - Why won`t William wear a wedding band? Is he just plain wrong or not? It`s the SHOWBIZ Flashpoint today - should Prince William wear a wedding band?
HAMMER: Cindy Crawford still stunning at 45. But today, the supermodel reveals why she doesn`t measure up to Taylor Swift.
ANDERSON: Yes, you do, Cindy. OK, from the board room to the West Wing. Today, surprising new celebrity support from Donald Trump if he decides to run. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
HAMMER: Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: Fmr. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to make guest appearance on "30 Rock." Former Sarah Palin aide to write a tell-all book about former governor.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Brooke Anderson is in Hollywood with the biggest royal wedding mysteries uncovered.
ANDERSON: A.J., I`ve done all kinds of research ahead of my big trip next week to cover the royal wedding. And I`ve got to say that some of the biggest wedding secrets are locked up tighter than the crown jewels in the tower of London.
But nothing stops us here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. So William and Kate, watch out. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates the great royal wedding mysteries.
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PRINCE WILLIAM, HEIR TO THE BRITISH THRONE: We`re like sort of ducks, usually very calm on the surface, but with little feet going under the water.
ANDERSON: The wedding -
WALTERS: The parade. Then the stop. Then (INAUDIBLE). Then the carriages.
ANDERSON: The dress -
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Once he saw her on the catwalk, you know, he said, "Hey, Queeny."
ANDERSON: The ring -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can`t get over the ring, though, that he won`t be wearing one.
ANDERSON: So many mysteries, so little time. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is about to blow the lid off of some of the biggest royal mysteries of William and Kate`s blockbuster wedding.
PRINCE WILLIAM: I wouldn`t believe what I read in the paper.
ANDERSON: We wouldn`t either, Prince William. So let`s start with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s great royal wedding mystery number one. For crying out loud, can someone tell us who will design Kate`s wedding dress?
"People" magazine`s senior editor, Nancy Jeffrey reveals the details.
NANCY JEFFREY, SENIOR EDITOR, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: From Bruce Oldfield to Alice Temperley. For a while, Ysa was named. Ysa is the designer of Kate`s blue engagement announcement dress. But many people think that Kate will stick with a British designer.
ANDERSON: But will Kate take a page from Princess Diana?
JEFFREY: Kate`s dress will look very different from Princess Diana`s. Don`t look for a big poufy dress. Look for long, clean lines and a sleek, modern look. That is Kate`s signature.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have been going out on dates, and you split up.
PRINCE WILLIAM: In that particular instance, we did split up.
ANDERSON: That`s true, back in 2007, which leads to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT great royal wedding mystery number two - are Prince William and Kate really inviting their exes to the wedding?
JEFFREY: Will dated a number of really beautiful, young English women. Kate had a boyfriend at St. Andrews before Will. Sources have told "People" that at least a couple of exes are going to be at the ceremony.
PRINCE: I want to give her a chance to back out if she needed to before it all got too much.
ANDERSON: Too late. She`s already your princess-to-be. At least we think so. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT great royal wedding mystery number three - what the heck should we call Prince William and Kate after they get married?
JEFFREY: The morning of the wedding, the palace will announce their new royal titles. And it might be that Will is getting a dukedom, but either way, Kate will become a princess.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What kind of ring is it? Are you an expert?
PRINCE WILLIAM: I`m not an expert at all. Well, I`ve been informed that it`s a sapphire with some diamonds.
ANDERSON: We know Kate is getting a wedding ring on the big day, but what about Will? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT great royal wedding mystery number four - why won`t William wear a wedding band?
JEFFREY: Sources have told people that William just isn`t a jewelry kind of guy and that, in fact, in the aristocratic classes in which he mingles, it`s not uncommon for the man not to have a wedding band.
ANDERSON: Women around the world may be outraged but, hey, it`s not like we won`t know that this prince finally found his princess.
PRINCE: We`ve come to the decision, you know, pretty much together. I just chose when to do it and wanted it to be extremely romantic. I did it extremely well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Aww. Yes, I don`t think there`s any doubt that with or without a wedding ring, ladies around the world are going to know that William is off the market.
But there`s still tons of outrage over William`s choice to go ring-less. That leads to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - should Prince William wear a wedding band?
Joining me now is Maria Menounos. She`s "Access Hollywood`s" special correspondent and author of the newly released book, "The Every Girl`s Guide to Life."
And I`ve got to tell you, Maria, I love the picture you put on the front. I mean, we all, men and women, multitask to the nth degree. So I can`t wait to read all of your tips.
But I want to get your thoughts first on our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint. What do you think? Should Prince William wear a wedding band?
MARIA MENOUNOS, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD": Well, it`s not like no one`s going to know whether he`s married or not.
ANDERSON: Right.
MENOUNOS: I mean, he`s an international figure and I think everyone on the planet is probably going to be watching this wedding. I think an estimated two billion people are expected to watch the royal wedding. So I don`t think he`s going to be able to go to a bar and pretend he`s single.
ANDERSON: So it won`t be any sort of a secret. You`re right.
MENOUNOS: And I think it could be a sign of things to come. You know, this is a new generation. And I think that, you know, this is maybe one little inkling as to how they`re going to handle their lives in the public.
ANDERSON: Yes.
MENOUNOS: Maybe they`ll be doing things differently that are untraditional.
ANDERSON: Modern take on marriage for them, doing things, yes, like you say, a little bit more differently. Well, Maria, we know that you are an extremely busy woman. In your new book, "The Every Girl`s Guide to Life," you explain how you juggle it all and juggle it successfully.
Kate Middleton, as we know, is going to have a lot of responsibilities now that she`s going to become a royal, a princess. What advice would you give her?
MENOUNOS: Well, I think she should photocopy my black book or call me and I`ll E-mail her a PDF version. The black book will totally organizer and everyone could help her run her life without having to ask her not a single question.
The black book is actually great for women who, you know - or single moms or just moms who have a babysitter that pops in. Maybe they can call Direct TV for them and help them get the cable fixed or little things like that.
But the book is really helpful for people because it helps you set yourself up for success. It streamlines your life. It makes things simpler for you. It`s an A to Z guide for women of all ages to do everything better, faster and cheaper. And we all want that.
ANDERSON: Just organized. Absolutely. Well, thanks for sharing those tips with us. Maria Menounos, always good to see you. Thank you so much.
ANDERSON: And the book - again, the name of it is the "Every Girl`s Guide to Life." Pick up a copy.
HAMMER: Moving on to Donald Trump`s shocking news, star supporter breaking today. The mogul and reality stars unofficially announced his candidacy. But one of Trump`s famous friends says sign me up. The surprising new support for Trump 2012, next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
This is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news today.
TEXT: "Teen Mom 2" Leah Messer reportedly files for divorce.
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HAMMER: Cindy Crawford, not talented enough to be a model? The 45-year- old supermodel is still in high demand. But she reveals why she thinks she couldn`t make as it a model today.
In a new interview with "Parade.com," here`s what Cindy says, "I just saw the CoverGirl commercial with Taylor Swift and I thought, `Wow, it is so hard for a model to get a job these days. You have to sing and act, too.` It doesn`t seem to be as much work specifically just for models."
Cindy is also concerned that models are much thinner now than they were back in her day. And she tries to let her young daughter know that she shouldn`t get hung up on her weight.
All right. Donald Trump is still on his presidential tirade. Believe it or not, Donald Trump is actually doing well in some presidential polling, even better in some cases than Mitt Romney, who, Brooke, is an actual candidate in 2012.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. But leave it to Donald Trump to use one of his understated one-liners to explain why he`s the better candidate. Listen to what he just told CNN`s Candy Crowley.
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DONALD TRUMP, BUSINESS TYCOON: I have thousands and thousands of jobs that I`ve created over the years. Hundreds of thousands.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: (INAUDIBLE) better businessman that is a selling point for you -
TRUMP: Well, I`m a bigger businessman and have a much, much bigger net worth. I mean, my net worth is many, many times Mitt Romney.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Trump will not make his candidacy official until the finale of the "Celebrity Apprentice" next month. And I`ve got to tell you, this show has been completely off the hook this season, thanks in part to that guy, the wacky Gary Busey.
Now, he just got fired but Gary told Wendy Williams this morning that he would hire Donald Trump to be the next president of the United States.
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GARY BUSEY, ACTOR: He`s a great man. He`s got an awareness level that`s very high. And I`m going to vote for him for president and I suggest you all, too, because he has the wherewithal to turn this country over, turn the dump over, get out of where we are now.
This is a con job, although I do respect the sitting president, but nothing has happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A.J., how does Trump-Busey 2012 sound to you?
HAMMER: Yes, perfect. Perfectly elect-able, Brooke. Can you imagine? Let`s move on to some callers now, because we have team Trump callers that are just lighting up our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines. I want to hear from Gail in South Carolina. Listen to this.
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GAIL, CALLER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA: You both could take some lessons from Donald Trump. I love Mr. Trump. He would make a fantastic president for us. He`s got money. He knows how to make money. He will just jam up for this country.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks, Gail.
ANDERSON: Remember the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open. Here`s the number - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. That`s 1-888-728-2899.
HAMMER: And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is live 5:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday.
HAMMER: And don`t forget we are still TV`s most provocative news show at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific here on HLN.
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