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Showbiz Tonight
Secrets Behind Lady Gaga`s Judas; Did Trump Fire Himself?; Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week; Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen
Aired May 06, 2011 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Big news breaking tonight, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT lady Gaga exclusive. The secrets behind Gaga`s controversial new "Judas" video.
(MUSIC)
Religious leaders outraged. Exclusive tonight, Lady Gaga`s creative mastermind right here in the headline-making interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Did the Donald just tell himself -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, ENTREPRENEUR/REALITY TV STAR: You`re fired.
HAMMER: Trump bails on driving the Indy 500 pace car but would he have been canned anyway?
And the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE SHEEN, ACTOR: An odyssey of epic proportions. Epic, epic proportions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT uncovers the disturbing clues behind Sheen`s stunning meltdown, going back some 20 years ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEEN: Excuse me. Boiled egg.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, coming to you tonight from New York City with big news breaking - a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive. Lady Gaga`s secrets revealed.
Yes, today the world finally got see Lady Gaga`s music video for her hit song, "Judas", which has infuriated some religious leaders.
The video begins with Jesus wearing a crown in corn rows. Lady Gaga is on his motorcycle. Jesus leads a convoy of bikes headed down a highway and driven by the apostles dressed in leather.
Judas is seen as a thug-like character and Lady Gaga is torn between Jesus and Judas. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you the secrets behind the video.
With me tonight for a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive, Lady Gaga`s creative mastermind - she laughing her head off listening to all this - Laurieann Gibson who directed the "Judas" video, among the many other creative endeavors for Gaga. It`s great to see you as always.
I want to get right into and take a look at some more of this music video. Roll it out, Charles.
(MUSIC)
All right, Laurianne. You`ve always been fiercely defensive of Lady Gaga`s provocativity(ph) as have I. I think she does what she does and it`s great. However, I did hear you almost backed out of doing this music video because you thought maybe it was too provocative.
Let me read something you actually said. This is you speaking, "I believe in the Gospel. I don`t want lightning to strike me." So obviously, you get why some people may be offended by this video.
LAURIEANN GIBSON, DIRECTOR OF LADY GAGA`S "JUDAS" MUSIC VIDEO: Well, first of all, let me say that, you know, I have a sense of humor. Don`t take it out of context - listen.
HAMMER: OK.
GIBSON: And I am a believer, saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. And I am defensive about Lady Gaga because she works so hard, because artistically, basically, we work so hard to collaborate the fashion, her fight, her struggle to provide inspiration.
For me, as the director, "Judas" is a metaphor. You know, many people cling to things that aren`t good for them, their Judases in their lives. And ultimately, Jesus, the marvelous light, is the option that we all should be reaching for.
So to be that literal - and listen. I love Jesus. I can`t even tell you how much I love him. If I could ride on the back of his bike - oh, my god. If I could just touch him - yes.
HAMMER: And for the record, you haven`t been struck by lightning, correct? I mean, you look fine -
GIBSON: Never.
HAMMER: OK. Let`s take another look at a part of this video where we actually seeing Gaga torn between Judas and Jesus. Roll that, Charles.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: All right, Laurieann. As the creative mastermind here, I want you to share some secrets of exactly what you and Lady Gaga were trying to depict there in her being torn between Judas and Jesus in the video.
GIBSON: Well, collectively, it was completely about the inspiration. And you know, for her, she would speak more on it. For my directorial and my opinion of it, she`s so brave. She`s transparent.
When we talk about being transparent, fighting between the things that you want to let go of and the beautiful fateful things that you want to cling to - she`s so brave. And she showing kids that, you know what? Don`t be afraid to reach for something better.
HAMMER: Yes. And I always thought that was a terrific message she does put forward.
GIBSON: Yes.
HAMMER: Now, obviously, and we know this and we talked about this before, anytime you bring religion into pretty much anything, but particularly a creative endeavor, you`re going to push buttons. It`s going to be polarizing.
Was there was any point - tell me about the kind of conversations you may have had with Lady Gaga behind scenes doing this video, any point where you said, "You know what? Maybe we are going a little too far. We should rein it back in"? Did that come up?
GIBSON: I think - there was no religion conversation. There were two super-creative, confident women, you know, on a mission to inspire people. And so there was no idea that we would throw anything religious in there just to have shock value.
There were conversations where, for me, yes, we would collaborate and I would say, no, let`s not touch that. OK, but maybe it`s this. No, I don`t want to touch that.
HAMMER: And she`s amenable to doing what you have to say as the creative -
GIBSON: Listen, she has a heart of gold. She is a fighter and there is nothing religious and that`s the problem.
HAMMER: Right. Well -
GIBSON: Religion is binding. Jesus is freedom. He`s love. So just saying -
HAMMER: There are people within the religious community who obviously disagree with that. And as you well know, before this music video came out, the Catholic League was all over this thing.
They told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it was outraged by the songs and lyrics. In fact, the Catholic League`s president told me right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the song was downright blasphemy. Watch what this guy said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Lady Gaga making her contributions to a cultural sewer is what he`s saying there. Separate from all that, Laurieann - and I see the look of shock in your face.
GIBSON: No.
HAMMER: You don`t even need to address that. But what`s the biggest thing that would surprise us about what Lady Gaga had a hand in making this video about?
GIBSON: She completely had a huge hand in it, and like I said, a brave, fearless artist. The choreography is amazing. She`s dancing incredibly. The fashion is beautiful. It`s an inspiration. It`s motivation.
I think what they don`t know is that, in her being transparent and fearless, she`s actually saying, have faith, believe, reach. And in your reaching, you know, you`ll find a better way.
HAMMER: And you mentioned fearless. And that brings me to something I want to talk about, because Gaga not necessarily as fearless as some people may imagine. You also directed her highly-anticipated Lady Gaga special that`s going to debut on HBO on Saturday night.
For the very first time, we`re going to see Gaga`s amazing performance that was filmed at Madison Square Garden. I`ve seen a bit of it. It is incredible.
And we get to see Gaga backstage. I`ve got to tell you, I was floored to see Gaga`s emotional revelations about her own insecurities. Let`s watch that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LADY GAGA, POP STAR: I just sometimes feel like a loser still, you know? It`s crazy because it`s like we`re at the garden, but I still sometimes feel like a loser kid in high school.
And I just got to pick my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) up. I`ve got to pick myself up and I have to tell myself I`m a superstar every morning so that I can get through this day and be for my fans what they need for me to be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, I see that and that`s nothing but honest emotion to me. There are actually people out there who are saying that Gaga is just playing to the cameras, Laurieann, which I don`t believe for a moment. But reveal the secrets behind the scene there. Was she at all playing to the cameras?
GIBSON: You know, as the director - and we`ve been fighting. We came together four years ago, both of us struggling to deliver our dreams and fight for our dreams and give inspiration.
Let me tell you something - that was not for the cameras. This artist works hard. I work hard. We all work hard. Like I said, we came out of nothing, you know. When we were collaborating in the beginning, no one knew her.
It takes a lot of work and dedication - great songwriter, great performer. This was not for the cameras. Watch the HBO special. I directed it. I`m proud of it. It`s brilliant.
HAMMER: I can`t wait. Yes. And I have to say -
GIBSON: And it`s super-colossal.
HAMMER: Congratulations on all that and the music video. I think you guys are just getting started. Laurieann Gibson, it`s great to see you.
GIBSON: Love you, A.J.
HAMMER: All right. Moving on now. Did Donald Trump just fire himself from driving the Indy 500 pace car? Would he have been canned anyway? I kind of think so. Donald Trump in the running tonight to be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week.
The others - Jesse James for blabbing again about his shocking split from Sandra Bullock. Cameron Diaz and her startling comments that marriage is dead.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special even, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEEN: I have to have, you know, a place to go and some place to focus the energy or I get kind of distracted by, you know, the elements of life.
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT uncovers the disturbing clues that could have hinted at Sheen`s stunning meltdown.
It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Paul McCartney engaged to girlfriend of four years. Tina Fey, Amy Poehler spoof "Jersey Shore" on "Late Night."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Oh, I`ve got a tingle in my dingle and that can only mean one thing - a lady`s in the house!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
HAMMER: And right now, the showbiz salute to moms. Mother`s Day is this Sunday. Some of our favorite stars are sending shout-outs to their moms and all the special mothers out there.
Here now is Hillary Swank, Adam Lambert and the latest star to get the boot from "Dancing With The Stars," Kendra Wilkinson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KENDRA WILKINSON, ACTRESS: Happy Mother`s Day, Mom. And for Mother`s Day, I`m going to make you a cake.
ADAM LAMBERT, SINGER: Everybody out there, have a happy beautiful Mother`s Day.
HILLARY SWANK: Happy Mother`s Day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Bristol Palin goes under the knife? Well, that`s the buzz everywhere today, because this. Did you see this? Take a good look at the picture on the left. That is Bristol last year. On the right, with the longer, darker hair - that`s Bristol just this week.
Now, some people say that Bristol`s nose and chin look different. Plastic surgery or weight loss? You be the judge.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with big news breaking tonight - the big spin.
Donald Trump in the headlines today for apparently saying "you`re fired" to himself. Yes, the Donald was offered a chance to drive the pace car at the Indianapolis 500. And then came the outrage, including a Facebook page called "We don`t want Donald Trump to drive the Indy 500 pace car." Got to love that.
But Trump blew it up and backed out. Did he just get ahead of the game and try to spin it before he was fired? Is there a doctor in the house?
Oh, wait, yes, there is. It`s our resident spin doctor, PR guru, Howard Bragman, the founder of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations. All right, Howard. Great to have you here as the resident spin doctor. We`re going to put you to the test right now.
So Donald Trump - here he is. He`s decided he`s not going to be driving the pace car. He says it would be inappropriate since he may be announcing he`s running for president. He says he`s too busy.
Does he really think people are that stupid? Howard, spin it within a minute.
HOWARD BRAGMAN, FOUNDER, FIFTEEN MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: Number one, nobody is that stupid to believe that he actually doesn`t like the attention.
But I tell what you did happen. Just a week ago at the White House correspondents` dinner, he was booed by a handful of journalists.
Can you imagine going out at the Indy 500 being booed by tens of thousands of people? He didn`t want it, so he tried to get ahead of the story a little.
HAMMER: I think he really misfired. And I can`t wait to see how Trump is going to spin this brand-new - there`s a brand-new CNN poll just released today asked, is Trump honest and trustworthy?
And look at that - nearly two-thirds, 61 percent say no. Howard, how can he possibly spin that one? Spin it within a minute.
BRAGMAN: He really can`t, not that he ever cares what people think as long as his name`s out there. But I`ll tell you, last time I was here, a couple weeks ago, he was on top of the world.
HAMMER: Yes.
BRAGMAN: He was the buzz. He was the leading candidate. Today, this guy is in the gutter. He has no respect and, actually, has become a joke as Obama did to him.
HAMMER: So bottom line on Donald Trump -
BRAGMAN: The bottom line is, political terms, you peaked too soon, Donald.
HAMMER: Peaked too soon, Donald. Get your heads out of here, because we`ve got to move on our next spin mission today.
Of course, Jesse James - I think he needs some serious spin control. He`s promoting his new book. He`s being asked about cheating on his ex, Sandra Bullock.
And James proclaimed this doozy to ABC when he was asked if he was worried about Sandra`s reaction to the book.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSE JAMES, SANDRA BULLOCK`S EX-HUSBAND: I can`t worry about her anymore, you know. I think I`ve spent a good chunk of the last five or six years worrying only about her and what she thinks and what I should do and, like, you know, controlling all my movements and everything else.
And I don`t think - I think it`s time to worry about Jesse and making sure Jesse`s happy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Ay, ay, ay. Spin it within a minute, Howard. What do you do about that.
BRAGMAN: Well, my first response was, Jesse James wrote a book. My question was, has Jesse James even read a book?
HAMMER: There`s that.
BRAGMAN: You`ll never get ahead by trashing somebody - particularly somebody as loved as Sandra Bullock.
HAMMER: Exactly.
BRAGMAN: Bad PR move.
HAMMER: All right. Bottom line on Jesse James, Howard Bragman.
BRAGMAN: He`s our least wanted.
HAMMER: Get out of here, Jesse James. Just get out of here. All right. Thank you, Howard Bragman, spin doctor extraordinaire.
Moving on now, right now, are new moms overcome with "Twilight" fever? There`s a new trend that`s making big news in "The Buzz Today." Plus, Beyonce`s blessing. Her emotional new tribute for some very special New Yorkers. And is case closed for Nick Cage. All that making news in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Nick Cage dodges charges. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can confirm that Nicolas Cage will not be charged in the alleged domestic violence case stemming from his arrest last month in New Orleans.
Nick`s attorney, Harry Rosenberg, tells "People" magazine, "The New Orleans district attorney has confirmed that no charges of any kind will be pursued against him. After their investigation, the DAs refused all charges against Nick and the matter has been closed."
"Twilight" baby mania. If you think you`re hearing the names "Isabella" and Jacob a lot more these days, you`re right. And you may have "Twilight" to thank for it.
The names "Isabella" and "Jacob" are the top baby names of 2010 according to the Social Security Administration. And they also just happen to be the lead characters` names in the hit film.
Beyonce`s CNN exclusive. CNN`s "Piers Morgan Tonight" had a treat for viewers Thursday, the TV exclusive premiere of Beyonce`s latest single, "God Bless the USA."
(MUSIC)
All proceeds from the song will benefit the New York Police and Fire widows and Children`s Benefit Fund.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
We are about to name SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week. The nominees are - Jesse James, of course, blabbing about his split from Sandra Bullock again; Cameron Diaz who says marriage is dead; and Donald Trump who attacked Seth Meyers and got trumped by President Obama.
And a SHOWBIZ special event - SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEEN: I have to have a schedule. I have to have, you know, a place to go and some place to focus the energy or I get kind of distracted by, you know, the elements of life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Coming up, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT uncovers the disturbing clues behind Sheen`s stunning meltdown. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Taylor Swift makes final "Speak Now" tour rehearsal a benefit show for tornado victims. House featured in "Home Alone" sells for $2.4 million.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
MACAULAY CULKIN, ACTOR: Up here, you moron. Come and get me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Oh, yes, it`s that time. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about to name the most provocative celebrity of the week.
Will it be Jesse James for dishing some intimate details about his split from Sandra Bullock? What about Cameron Diaz for her shocking statement that marriage is dying? Or Donald Trump for making mean comments about "Saturday Night Live`s" Seth Meyers after Seth dared to poke fun at Trump at the White House correspondents` dinner.
It is a tough one, all three of them so outrageous. Maybe there will be a tie. Maybe not. So controversial, so out there this week, all these guys, that any of them could be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week.
But who got our nod? Dawn Yanek, who is the "Life and Style Weekly" editor-at-large, joins me in New York. We had to sort through the choices. Who do you think should get it, Dawn?
DAWN YANEK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "LIFE AND STYLE WEEKLY": The award in my opinion goes to Jesse James, hands down. It`s like, won`t this guy ever shut up and won`t he ever learn from his mistakes? I mean, apparently the answer is no. He went on that whole mea culpa tour.
HAMMER: Yes.
YANEK: He said he made horrible mistakes and that he was so sorry. But here he is, trotting out the details of his sex life with Sandra Bullock, saying his current fiancee is better in bed, saying he shouldn`t care about Sandra Bullock`s feelings. Disrespectful (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HAMMER: None of that is right. Obviously, Jesse said some super- provocative things about his ex this week. In fact, he said some of them on "The Howard Stern Show" revealing the reason that he actually thinks Sandra dumped him for good and not because of that little indiscretion with that stripper. Now, Jesse actually said Sandra dumped him to save her image. Listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JAMES: Her, like, kicking me to the curb - it`s like, yes, you go girl.
HOWARD STERN, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Right.
JAMES: You will never take that dog back. And then, if she makes me back, then -
STERN: Then she looks like an idiot.
JAMES: Yes, she kills her image.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: So was that enough to get Jesse James the title of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative of the week? Let me get to the big reveal. Drum roll, please.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is name being Cameron Diaz our most provocative celebrity of the week. She said marriage is a dying institution in an interview with "Maxim" magazine.
Her marriage slam provoked a ton of outrage from fans on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page. Here are a couple. Michelle M. wrote this, "In Hollywood maybe marriage is dead, but for my parents married over 51 years, it was beautiful. You should be so lucky to have someone want to grow old with you."
Listen, I absolutely adore Cameron Diaz. But obviously, declaring that marriage is dying, that`s huge. And judging from all of the Facebook comments that we`ve gotten and that I`ve read, it looks like he really touched a nerve.
So Dawn, even though you did pick Jesse James, can you understand why so many people are so fired up over what Cammie said?
YANEK: Absolutely. It`s a hot button issue. But it`s nothing out of line with what Cameron Diaz had said before. So I think, for me, it would have been more shocking if she said, "Yes, I want to settle down tomorrow, wear the big white dress and have babies."
HAMMER: And here`s my thing - even though she can do no wrong, it still is a pretty provocative thing. All right. Dawn Yanek, thank you very much for helping us out with the most provocative celebrity of the week.
Next, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEEN: And odyssey of epic proportions. Epic, epic proportions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT uncovers the disturbing clues behind Sheen`s stunning meltdown, going back some 20 years ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEEN: Excuse me. Boiled egg.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event - SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents, "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
SHEEN: It`s the hair, babe.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT uncovers the disturbing clues lined Sheen`s stunning meltdown going back some 20 years ago.
SHEEN: I want to play homosexuals and lovers and gamblers and thieves.
HAMMER: Tonight, we`re daring to ask is the Charlie Sheen of today -
SHEEN: An odyssey of epic proportions - epic, epic proportions.
HAMMER: The same guy in these interviews from the `80s and `90s.
SHEEN: I`ve got to thank (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for augmenting my beard. With you, I`m always having the eyes of a thousand universes of pain.
HAMMER: The interviews that were so bizarre -
SHEEN: Excuse me. Boiled egg.
HAMMER: So warped -
SHEEN: Did I already talk about this?
HAMMER: They`ve never been seen, until now. A SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event, "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, rolling, speed, action.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome to the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents, "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
Tonight the disturbing clues behind Sheen`s stunning meltdown, which actually go back a long time. Charlie`s story today is one of failed marriages, abuse charges, addictions, porn stars and a nasty battle over the hit show he got fired from, "Two and a Half Men."
But Charlie Sheen`s life began with hope and aspiration. In the beginning, Charlie`s dreams were simple. He wanted to be a star. He was determined to be a Hollywood legend.
Actually, in spite of having so many demons, overall, Sheen has had a lot of success in his career. But tonight, in SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s "Real Star Stories," you will see that when Charlie first began his movie career, there were tell-tale signs that the troubled man we see today was lurking in the eyes of a young Charlie Sheen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Charlie Sheen with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Just a few days after his 29th birthday in 1994, Charlie Sheen was celebrating a high in his career, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
SHEEN: On the third day of September, 29 years ago, I was brought into this world by my mother and father as Carlos Irwin Estevez.
HAMMER: On that breezy Hollywood day in September, it was all about Charlie and his family. Hollywood royalty.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look this way, look this way!
HAMMER: With Charlie that day, his brothers, Emilio Estevez and Ramon, his mom Janet and sister, Renee. His young daughter, Cassandra, who he had when he was 19 with his high school sweetheart and his bigger-than- life Hollywood legend father, Martin Sheen, who, on that day, was proud of his son.
MARTIN SHEEN, ACTOR: We just want to you know how much we love you.
HAMMER: But he had already been in and out of rehab once, battling addiction to drugs and alcohol and those demons we`ve come to know so well.
SHEEN: I`ve got to thank Brown Day for augmenting my beard, weepy wipes and always having a thousand universes of pain standing close by.
HAMMER: In late 1980s and early `90s, Sheen was a heartthrob. He had his father`s good looks and bad boy image.
CARLOS DIAZ, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: People in their 20s don`t know Charlie Sheen as a serious actor. But Charlie Sheen, in "Platoon," was part of the best picture that year.
HAMMER: Charlie Sheen first made his name in Hollywood in 1986 with that lead role in Oliver Stone`s Oscar-winning role, "Platoon."
SHEEN: Come on, boy. Get the big skin on that thing. Dig - haven`t got all day. Dig, dig!
HAMMER: It was the beginning of his career and his very public battle with addiction.
SHEEN: That`s what this place feels like, hell.
HAMMER: "Platoon" was shot in the Philippines, an important place for Charlie, who lived there when he was 10 while his father, Martin, filmed his own career-defining movie, "Apocalypse Now."
M. SHEEN: I love the smell of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the morning.
HAMMER: Charlie says his father didn`t want to split up the family. Where Martin went, so went the family. Charlie`s life was centered around acting and Hollywood.
He made his first screen appearance in 1974 in his father`s Showtime movie "The Execution of Private Slovitt." And he made High Eight(ph) movies with his school friends and later fellow stars, Sean and Chris Penn and Rob and Chad Lowe.
But he would say that his most impressionable moments as a kid were on the road with his father and his family.
SHEEN: Growing up on location, various arts, seen most of the world by age 12, which was quite fascinating.
HAMMER: Living in the Philippines during the filming of "Apocalypse Now" was a life-changing experience for Charlie, who revealed it was there that he was first introduced to his life-long love of guns and drugs.
DIAZ: He allegedly got his first joint from Laurence Fishburne, you know, on the set of "Apocalypse Now."
HAMMER: Sheen says that time in the Philippines set off years of teenage angst and aggression that included getting arrested for credit card fraud and possession of marijuana when he was 16.
SHEEN: I had aspirations of wanting to play baseball professionally. And that didn`t come together when I didn`t graduate high school.
HAMMER: Charlie`s bad boy ways and his red hot temper prevented him from passing his final exams during his senior year of high school. But Charlie says that failure would wind up leading him to acting.
SHEEN: Acting was the only other thing I knew how to do at the time. And I was trying to kind of shelf my baseball dreams, you know.
HAMMER: And act he did. In 1984, he made his first big movie, "Red Dawn."
SHEEN: It`s getting out. Where? Where?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Right here.
HAMMER: In 1985 and `86, Sheen returned to the Philippines for the first time since his youth to film "Platoon." And once again, the country proved to be a powerful and dangerous player for Charlie.
SHEEN: It`s just the way the whole thing works. People Elias get wasted. People like Barnes just go on making up the rules any way they want.
HAMMER: "Platoon" was a huge hit and Charlie admits the fame went straight to his head.
SHEEN: I was in love with the idea of being a movie star, you know. And although I hate that labeling, I spent a lot of time out with my brother, Emilio and Rob Lowe and Judd Nelson and Tom Cruise and the whole brat pack thing going, which I was never a member of.
HAMMER: Charlie was finally feeling like an equal to his already successful older brother, Emilio Estevez.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Charlie Sheen, the son of Martin Sheen, the brother of Emilio Estevez.
HAMMER: But Charlie`s newfound fame came at a price.
SHEEN: When it finally hit and I couldn`t go anywhere all of a sudden, it was like suddenly I walked into a room and I felt like I wore my second head that day, you know, or my fly was open.
Certainly, it was nuts, you know. And you know, there was no gradual lead-in to this sudden onslaught of, you know, this is your life, welcome to it.
It`s nice to be appreciated and respected in the business, but at the same time there`s an added pressure of, like I said, what`s next.
HAMMER: What came next was partying - outrageous, out-of-control partying.
SHEEN: I have to have a schedule and I have to have a place to go and someplace to focus the energy or I get kind of distracted by, you know, the elements of life.
HAMMER: In a 1987 "People" magazine interview, Charlie Sheen talked openly about his wild ways and his womanizing, admitting to drinking until dawn on the day "Platoon" was nominated for an Oscar.
He even stopped the interview with "People" to try to get him to pick up a model. Charlie`s career kept forging full steam ahead. For Charlie, no role was too dark or too gritty.
SHEEN: I want to play homosexuals and lovers and gamblers and thieves.
HAMMER: In 1987, a 24-year-old Sheen gave a very telling interview that revealed his worst-case scenario if movie roles ever dried up for him.
SHEEN: I`ll just jump on TV and play the same character for five years, which is what I want to avoid. Howard, I thought you were a gentleman...
HAMMER: But it wasn`t time for sitcoms yet. In 1987, he had another box office success, starring with his father in another Oliver Stone film, "Wall Street."
SHEEN: Well, congratulations. You just did a great job embarrassing me and not to mention yourself.
HAMMER: Sheen admits he was drinking heavily during filming, telling this "Movieline" magazine in 1990, "I showed up on the set one day for a big scene with Michael Douglas. I was so hungover that during the rehearsal, I couldn`t keep my shades off. Just sipped water to keep from vomiting on Michael."
Sheen`s troubled ways didn`t go unnoticed by director Oliver Stone.
OLIVER STONE, DIRECTOR: I don`t know Charlie anymore. Obviously, he`s a nice guy. You know, he always was. But he`s had his share of demons, you know, even then, as a young boy.
HAMMER: "Wall Street" was a box office hit for Charlie Sheen. He wanted to star in Stone`s next big film, "Born on the Fourth of July."
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: I volunteered, Tommy. You don`t know what you`re talking about. Where were you? Were you there? Were you there? You can move on or just leave it, Tommy.
HAMMER: He claims Stone offered him the role, but then gave it to Tom Cruise. It was a major disappointment for Sheen who "Playboy" in 2001, "He couldn`t even call me and say, `I`ve changed my mind, I`ve made mistake. I`m going with Tom.` That I`d respect. Nothing is worse than getting a job and then it goes to some schmuck who pisses all over it."
But Stone says Charlie had changed in the years since his success in "Platoon."
STONE: Charlie moved into another lifestyle, another way of life.
HAMMER: Instead of moving on to more challenging, dramatic movie roles, Charlie switched gears.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
But soon, the laughter stops. Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents, "Real Star Stories," Charlie Sheen, the addict. We are uncovering the first of many of Charlie`s ugly battles with addiction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEEN: I have too much in life to live to be in a path of slow suicide.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Also, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the mysterious woman who went to rehab with Charlie that very first time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I believe that I was the first adult film star that he ever dated. I wanted to be supportive. I wanted to be there for him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And that was just the first time. You`re watching a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents, "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents, "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
And there were hints of the erratic, troubled Charlie Sheen that we`ve always come to know today as far back at 1986. That`s when Sheen became mega famous with his role in the Oscar-winning movie, Oliver Stone`s "Platoon."
But with Sheen`s dizzying success came shocking addiction. Charlie got in way over his head partying and more. And with the partying came big time trouble with the law.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHEEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) are going right down the tubes.
HAMMER (voice-over): dramatic roles like "Wall Street" and "Platoon" put Sheen on the map in the late `80s.
SHEEN: I`ll walk you out.
HAMMER: But by the early `90s, the dramatic roles started drying up and so he turned to comedy.
SHEEN: I had no intentions of pursuing any sort of comedic career. It just kind of worked out that way.
HAMMER: In 1989, the man who once dreamed of playing professional baseball would star in "Major League" as Ricky Vaughn, followed by other comedies including "Men at Work" and "Hot Shots."
Charlie was making a buck as a funny man and in his honest way, he made no bones about it.
SHEEN: I can be in little art movies for the rest of my life. But I don`t want to spend that much time and that much energy making a movie that nobody`s going to see.
HAMMER: But what nobody could see was that the Charlie`s life was imploding. Charlie was losing his battle to addiction.
SHEEN: Things were a little out of hand. And it`s time to look in the mirror and change what was happening.
HAMMER: Charlie`s partying was so out of control, his family staged an intervention in 1990. Former porn star, Ginger Lynn Allen was dating Charlie at that time and reveals to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just what happened.
GINGER LYNN ALLEN, FORMER PORN STAR: When we first met, it was in February of 1990. And probably six or eight months into our relationship, his parents, friends and family - they did an intervention.
HAMMER: Charlie told CNN about it in a 1991 interview.
SHEEN: I checked in to a hospital and just said - you know, I wasn`t too proud that I couldn`t ask for help. I
ALLEN: I wanted to be supportive. I wanted to be there for him. So I decided to get with sober with Charlie and together, we stayed sober for over a year.
HAMMER: In the year that Charlie was sober, he had a philosophical take on his addiction.
SHEEN: I`ve got too much work to do. I have too much life to live to be on the path to slow suicide, which it is, you know.
HAMMER: It would be the beginning of a troubling pattern for Sheen - get clean, fall off the wagon, repeat. The early `90s would be a blur for Sheen. The comedies continue for Charlie. In 1993, he starred in "Three Musketeers."
SHEEN: Yes, this is a little gift from Planet Hollywood, from the "Three Musketeers."
HAMMER: And that same year the sequel, "Hot Shots Part Deux." But even as Charlie was out promoting "Hot Shots Part Deux," clearly, his hard live and fast life was taking a toll on him.
SHEEN: Hold on. Let me - I`m sweating up a little. Let me get a tissue -
HAMMER: Watch what happened during this interview for the movie.
SHEEN: It`s a better story, first of all. Did I already say that? Last interview.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SHEEN: Last interview. But I don`t know. What was the first question originally? I`m sorry.
HAMMER: In March of 1994, Sheen`s sequel, "Major League 2" flat lined at the box office.
SHEEN: What was that last pitcher threw me?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: It`s called the eliminator.
SHEEN: I didn`t feel as involved in the comedic film, you know. I never really am in these comedies. So where am I going with this?
HAMMER: And this chilling, behind-the-scenes footage of Sheen in 1994 as he intended to promote "Major League II" and "The Chase" gives insight into his state of mind at that time.
SHEEN: Excuse me. Boiled egg. Did I already talk about this?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no. So - I`m dying here. This is CNN? Everybody sees this?
HAMMER: But his battle with addiction and a series of mediocre movies didn`t seem to impact his popularity. Sheen was still a beloved movie star and a constant source of fascination for his fans. In 1995, Charlie`s life began to unravel again, this time, because of prostitutes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you recall the substance of your telephone conversation with Ms. Fleiss?
SHEEN: Yes, I do.
HAMMER: In July of 1995, Sheen admitted to spending over $50,000 on prostitutes through the infamous Madame Heidi Fleiss.
SHEEN: The acquisition - meeting of a young lady.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For what purpose.
SHEEN: For sexual services.
HAMMER: Sheen`s confessions were startling. He admitted to hiring prostitutes through Fleiss at least 27 times. And just one month later, he surprised everyone by announcing that he was getting married on his 30th birthday to model Donna Peele.
SHEEN: I only knew her for about (UNINTELLIGIBLE) before I proposed.
HAMMER: He was married to Peele for five months when he filed for a divorce. He told "Us Weekly" magazine, "There was a voice, not like drug induced voices, but there was a voice that kept telling me this will not work."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Charlie Sheen`s issues with women were about to get much, much worse. Next, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents "Real Star Stories" the disturbing details around Charlie`s first bout with the law with domestic violence and Charlie`s dad, Martin Sheen.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s "Real Star Stories" reveals Martin`s emotional and public battle to save his son`s life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
M. SHEEN: My son was admitted here yesterday as a result of a drug overdose. Do anything you can to get between drug and your kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You`re watching a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents, "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to this SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT presents, "Real Star Stories: Charlie Sheen."
In 1995, Charlie Sheen didn`t make a single movie. His life became a whirlwind of drugs, prostitutes and legal problems as Charlie`s carefully balanced house of cards finally came tumbling down.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) In 1996, Charlie Sheen was still making movies, including the extraterrestrial flop, "The Arrival."
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Why did they leave?
SHEEN: They didn`t.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: How do you know?
SHEEN: Because we aren`t dead yet.
HAMMER: But in May of 1996 Charlie announced that he had found God.
SHEEN: I had an experience, some spiritual awakening and secured a relationship with God.
HAMMER: He claimed that the power of Jesus had helped him find strength after a year of partying, prostitutes and scrutiny.
But later that year, in December of 1996, a bombshell allegation. Girlfriend and porn star Brittany Ashland claimed that Charlie had beaten her brutally. Gloria Allred represented Ashland.
GLORIA ALLRED, BRITTANY ASHLAND`S ATTORNEY: A split lip which required seven stitches, injury to her face, to her neck and to her leg and she was unconscious as a result.
HAMMER: Sheen would be charged with battery. And in 1997, he pleaded no contest. He was given a suspended one-year prison sentence, was put on probation for two years.
Sheen was still battling addiction to drugs and alcohol. And the next year, in 1998, all hell broke loose.
M. SHEEN: The very first thing I want to assure you of is that my son Charlie Sheen is very much alive.
HAMMER: Charlie had gone on a major bender and overdosed. He later told "Playboy" magazine he couldn`t stop taking drugs so he decided, "If I can`t stop, I`m going to take this thing as far as I can. Let`s get on a horse and drive this (EXPLETIVE DELETED) circus completely out of town."
M. SHEEN: My son was admitted here yesterday as a result of a drug overdose.
HAMMER: A tired and emotional Martin Sheen held a press conference the morning after Charlie`s overdose.
M. SHEEN: Do anything you can to get between drugs and your kids.
HAMMER: In reality, he was alerting the court that Charlie had violated probation from his domestic violence charge the previous year.
Martin asked the court to arrest his son and Charlie was sentenced to five months court-ordered rehab. By the end of 1998, Charlie came out of rehab clean and optimistic about the future.
SHEEN: Today was a good day. I`m very grateful today.
HAMMER: It was a good day, and Charlie`s newfound sobriety would lead to many more good days, including newfound love.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How did you propose?
SHEEN: Very traditionally.
HAMMER: And Charlie`s major career reinvention into a sitcom superstar.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has revealed how he lived his life through the `90s would offer clues to the Charlie we see today.
And that is it for the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special event, "Real Star Stories." I`m A.J. Hammer.
END
